The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-31 00:00:00

RAMSGATE, DEC. 29.—The Emerentia (late An-
dersen), from New York for Hull, with turpentine, put
in hero yesterday; had her decks swept on the 16th of
December, and with loss of anchor and chain, having
been on the Goodwin Sands during the morning.
BREST, DEC. 26.—The Duo Fratelli, from Odessa, &c.,
for Gek or Falmouth, put into this port on D: comber 24,
Qvith much water in her hold, part of cargo, &'., thrown
overboard, loss of three boats, and other considerable
damage, and must discharge.
CORUNNA, Dcc. 19.—1 t has blown a heavy gale at
S.W., W., and N. W., since Dec. 14, and still continues
blowig hard, with a very heavy sea cn. The Ville
d'Amiens, from Dunkirk fur Marseilles, put in here on
Dec. 18, very leaky.
CONSTANTINOPLE, lIEC. 14.—The Clara (French
vessel), from the Sea of Azoph, has been wrecked on the
north side of the Black Sea.
CHRISTIANSAND, DEC 18.--The Sarah, from Faxhee
for London, has put in here leaky, with pumps choked,
and must discharge.
STETTIN, I)Ec. 24.—The oak logs and the seaman's
chest, belonging to one "Muller," of the Proteus, Mi-
chaelis master, which were picked up along the west
side of Shetland previous to Dec. 13 (see paragraph
dated " Lerwick, Dec. 13 ") are supposed to have be-
longed to the Zephyr, hence for Glasgow, with timber,
which vessel passed the Sound on October 24, and has
not since been heard of. Oue Ludwig Muller, formerly
of the Proteus, left that vessel in August last, and joined
the Zephyr.
COPENHAGEN, DEC. 24.—The brig Louise, from
Batavia for this port, is on shore on the Swine bottoms.
ELSINORE, DEC. 23.—The Flora, of and from Stettin
for London, which put in here previous to Dec. 20, after
being on shore near Ystadt, is discharging, as she makes
water, and is damaged in her keel.
ANTWERP, DEC. 29.—The Magdalen, which sailed
r..,. 3.7-..spaa-bt.o ror queenstown on Oct. 8, put back
previous to Oct. 26 leaky, and was discharging.
SCILLY, DEC. 27.—The Vesper from St. John's, New-
foundland, arrived here Dec. 25, with decks swept, loss
of bulwarks, and hull damaged, having been thrown on '
her beam ends during a gale from S.S.W. to W. by N.
on Deo. 10.

t QUEBEC, DEC. 13.—The river is full of floating ice,
and winter has now set in, with every appearance of its
being severe.
NEW YORK, DEC. 14.—A hermaphrodite brig was
' seen on shore on Brigantine Shoals, Dec. 9, apparently
just on.
The Belize, which put into Hellesund, threw over-
board the greater part of her deck-load in a gale on
Dec. 2.
The Alexandre, which arrived at Valparaiso from Rio
Janeiro on the 4th of October, was very leaky, and had
discharged previous to the 24th of October.
The Maria' from Amsterdam for Hamburgh, was lost
Dec. 24 on the Island of Ameland; crew saved.
The British brig Pursuit drove on shore at Fortune
Island previous to the 30th ult., and has become a wreck;
crew saved.
GRAVESEND, DEC. 30.—Wind W., fresh, cloudy.
Arrived—Najaden, from Stockholm; Norforlk Tar,
from Gottenburg; Wizard, Mellona, and George and
Eliza, from Guernsey; Eleutheria and Pacific, from
Honduras; George, from Odense; Cerito, from Corunna;
Spartan, from Jamaica; Nautilus, from Leer; Leader,
from St. Alalo; Ann, from St. Michael's; Roman, from
China; Roscommon and Diana, from Harlingen; Stadt
Dordrecht, from Dordt; William Jolliffe, from Havre;
Soho, from Antwerp; City of Paris, from Boulogne;
Superb, from Konigsberg; Elizabeth Middleton, from
Rouen; Magnet, from Amsterdam; Patriot, from Me-
mel; Ancolina, from Emden; Caesarea, from Jersey.
Sailed—Penyard Park for Sydney; Robert Newton,
for Ferrol; Uncle Billy, for Dunkirk; Minerva, for St.
Michael's; Blanche, for Cadiz. t

THE BRAZILS.
FALMOUTH, DEC. 29.—The packet Crane, Lieut.
Parsons, has arrived here this evening from Rio de
Janeiro, from whence she saiied on the 13th ult., and
brings as passengers Messrs. Conway, Savill, West-
wood, and Prado, also Senhor Nileroi, Brazilian
Consul. General and Charge d'Affaires at Liberia.
When the Crane left Rio the exchange was at 29k.
She brings about 10,0001. on freight.
General Guida, Buenos Ayres Ambassador, had
left Rio de Janeiro for Buenos Ayres, in the British
Government steamer Rifleman, the Brazilian Govern-
ment still refusing to give the satisfaction demanded
by Rosas. _

MONEY MARYET.—Discounts continued to rule at 7
per cent., and as this inquiry was freely met for ap-
proved paper there was abundance of unemploytd
capital.

SPEClE.—Dulness prevails—large parcels were re-
ceived, and the value of all descriptions declined.
SHARES.—Monte de Socorro were sold at 142 dolls.,
Omnibus at 129 dolla., considerable sales of bank at 716
dolls., 720 dolls., and 723 dolls.
COFFEE.—Advices favourable, and supplies coming in
very freely; the aclvices from Europe and the United
States being favourable, prices had advanced 200 to 250
reis., and freights had also risen 165.; and when the
packet lef-, a considerable business was doing in this
article, principally for Falmouth and the channel. The
gales of coffee on November 7 ware 20,000 bags.
Freights to the channel, 605.; London, 40a. to 453.;
Liverpool, 455.

. .
British ships of war at Rio :—Southampton and
Croscont.

BUENOS A YRES.
LIVERPOOL, MoNDAT.—By the arrival of the
Navigator at this port we have advices from the city
of Buenos Ayres to the 26th of October inclusive.
At that time no hostilities had commenced. In
fact the news previously received respecting war in
La Plata seemed to be mere talk.
Business affairs were exceedingly dull, and the
rates of exchange and freights were quite nominal.

- - ---
THE CAPE COLONY.
The following " Government notice" has been
issued :

" King William's Town, Oct. 21.
" The Governor left Simon's Bay in her Majesty's
steam-sloop Hermes at a quarter before 10 o'clock A.m.
on Thursday, the 17th inst., for East London, where he
landed on Sunday morning, the 20th inst., and arrived
at King William's Town on the evening of the same day.
From what came under his Excellency's observation on
the road, the Kafirs, consisting of a portion of the tribes
of Umhala and Pato, were in a state of perfect tranquil-
lity. The accounts which his Excellency has received
from that able officer, Colonel Mackinnon, are of the
most satisfactory nature. A great meeting of all the
chiefs and influential men will take place at King
William's Town iu a few days. The kind of panic which
has lately prevailed among the farmers on some parts of
the frontier is as much to be regretted as the cause for
such excitement was unfounded. While some of the
Kafir servants were, it is true, leaving their masters, the
T'Slambie and Gaika Commissioners were receiving
daily applications for employment within the colony.
" By his Excellency's command,
" JOHN GAROOCIE, Private Secretary."

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S—YESTERDAY.
CHESTER CUP.
40 to 1, to 801. _laid agst Wallflower-300 to 5 agst
Seaman (Irish)—and 1,000 to 15 agst Garfortb.
DERBY.
20 and 25 to 1, to 1251. agst Lamartine-1,000 to 20
agst Balsamo—and 2,000 to 40 agst Lightfoot.
The afternoon's business was confined to the bets
quoted above.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, Dec. 30.
The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
took their usual early morning walk.
The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise
in the grounds around the Castle.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on
horseback, attended by Colonel Bouverie.
The Chevalier and Madame Bunsen, the Marquis
of Douro, and Sir C. L. Eastlake, are expected to
arrive at the Castle to-day, on a visit to the Queen
and the Prince.

The Royal dinner party this evening will include
his Excellency the Chevalier and Madame Bunsen,
the Marquis of Douro, the Rev. Lord and Lady
Wriothesley Russell, and Sir C. L. Eastlake.
The band of the Royal Horse Guards attend during
dinner. Her Majesty's private band will afterwards
attend, and perform the following selection :
Overture, " Leonora" . . . ..... Beethoven.
Fantasia, Violin, M. Sainton ....... Sainton.
Concluding with a Cantata, performed
by the gentlemen of the choir, and
the boys of St. George's Chapel
Royal, under the direction of Dr.
Elvey, and the Queen's:private band, Dr. Elvey.

The Earl and Countess Grey, and Lady Alice
Lambton, arrived in town yesterday, from a visit to
the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne at
Bowood Park, Wilts. ,
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor of Canada, and also from
the Governors of the other North American provinces.

THE GREAT BRITAIN.--We stated on Monday last
that this noble steam-ship had been purchased for the sum
of 18,0001. by Mr. Patterson, the eminent shipbuilder of
Bristol. It seems that Mr. Patterson purchased her for the
well-known firm of Gibbs, Bright, and Co., of Bristol and
Liverpool. These gentlemen were the agents at Liverpool
for the Great Western Steam-ship Company, and they are
extensively engaged in the passenger and carrying trade
between the United States, Australia,
the Pacfic, and British
North America. It is intended that the large engines now
on board shall be removed, and now ones adapted. It is not
improbable that this " Leviathan" will convey a large num-
ber of our Transatlantic friends to view the World's Exhibi-
tion of 1851.

NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
MONDAY NlGHT.—There can be but little doubt,
from what has transpired durieg this day (Monday)
that the dispute between the authorities of the London
and North-Western Railway and their engine-drivers
is all but settled. The notice issued by the directors
on Friday night and submitted to the men of the
southern division individually, has had the effect
which was desired, not only on the part of the com-
pany but on the part of the public, and all who have
a friendly feeling towards the men themselves.
Our information having been derived from official
sources may be relied on, and from this it appears
that at the present moment there are 138 drivers
upon the northern division and Grand Junction por-
tion of the North-Western Railway, and about 130
drivers employed upon the southern division, which
comprehends the whole of the line between London and
Birmingham and its branches. The notice referred to bad
up to a late hour list evening been handed to about 210
of the drivers, who were at the time of its presentation
called upon to reply to the question—" Are you pre-
pared to remain without strike in the company 'a
service ?" And the result which this has produced
was satisfactory, as, with the exception of some 20,
the %hole of the men replied in the affirmative, and
elected to remain in the employ- of the company. At
the Camden station there are, including the men en-
gaged in the New West India Dock Junction line, 53
drivers and 53 stokers. The question previously quoted
had last night been put to the vat mejerity of the
men ; and our information is, that, without an excep-
tion, the men expressed themselves satisfied with their
present position.
It will be remembered that the whole of the dis-
pute originated with the proposal of the locomotive
superintendent of tho northern division, Mr. Treve-
thick, that the men should give and receive a three
months' notice, instead of a fortnight, as at present;
and the information derived from the north yesterday
is, that the men, upon mature reflection, instead of a
" strike," or anything approaching to it, have come
round, and agreed to the three months' notice. The
whole cause of grievance is thus removed, and this
augurs well for the belief with respect to the men of
the southern division, who had no cause of quarrel or
complaint of their own, that if they adopt a spirit of
forbearance as well as discretion, all may yet be ar-
ranged to the mutual satisfaction of the directors and
their employes.
Should the unfortunate differences have resulted in
a " strike," there can be little doubt but that it
might have resulted in serious pecuniary consequences
to the company and inconvenience to the public, but
the men themselves must also have been sufferers to
a much greater extent, for it
,is quite clear, from
all that has transpired, that there is now no longer
that dearth of good and efficient engine-drivers which
necessarily existed when railways first came into
existence. In proof of this it is asserted upon un-
doubted authority, that in reference to the northern
division of the line, applications for employment as
drivers had, up to yesterday, been received from no
less than 230 men ; and 26 new bands have been al-
ready engaged, and are actually working in the
engine sheds, ready for any emergency of the com-
pany. Upon the southern division applicationa have
been received from 128 men, and 42 have already
been engaged. It is also stated that these men have
individually accompanied their applications with tes-
timonials of a most satisfactory character; but, never-
theless, it must be borne in mind that it not only re-
quires a practical knowledge of a locomotive engine,
but of the line on which it has to run, and therefore,
in this instance, a large amount of local knowledge is
required to be added to efficiency in other respects.
It would appear that the directors of the company
feel their position so strong that they have com-
pletely turned the tables upon the men, and have
given notices to thirteen or fourteen men of the
southern division, but it is believed that this will not
be extended to above two or three men. It is stated
that the men thus selected for notice of dismissal are
the most inefficient men upon the line, and notices
have also been served upon them that they must give
up their cottages rented of the company in a week ;
but in order not to inconvenience them, they have
been informed that should that time not prove enough
to enable them to remove their furniture, a larger in-
terval, upon information being communicated to that
effect, will be permitted.
Should the present drivers and firemen consent to
remain in the company's employment there will be no
desire to dismiss them ; and although so many new
hands have been engaged, ample employment will be
found in the shops and elsewhere on the line, as it is
calculated that at least eighty additional drivers will
be required in May next in consequence of the Great
Industrial Exhibition.
It really would appear, from all that can be col-
lected even from the mouths of the men themselves,
that the drivers of the southern division have no
ground of complaint themselves, but they at the out-
set made the dispute between the northern men and
the company their own. There is not one amongst
those our reporter has conversed with but admits the
consideration with which the men are individually
arid collectively treated. A reference to the pay-list
of the past week shows that out of forty passenger-
train drivers from the Euston terminus, eleven of
them have received upwards of 31. per week each in
wages ; and that upon the Banbury branch (the work
upon branches being easier than trunk-line traffic)
two men have received respectively 31. 15s. 4d. and
3/. 165. as wages for the past week. It is only jus-
tice to the men to state that this high amount of
wages resulted from working over-time, but still it
is a rate of pay which probably no other class of
mechanic can expect to realise. In addition to this
the directors give Si. per annum to the drivers and 31.
to firemen, as good conduct premium.
The matter rests thus—the three months' notice
upon the northern division has been generally as-
sented to by the men, and the fortnight's notice upon
the southern division has not been disturbed ; for as
the resolution to the men to agree to three months'
notice extended to the whole of the line, and it has
not been accepted upon the northern division, of
course it falls to the ground as far as the southern di-
vision is concerned, and although it is stated that the
directors would regard it as a grateful concession
upon the part of the men south of Birmingham to
suggest that a month's notice should henceforth be the
rule, they are not themselves, at all events at present,
about to propose it.
In the North of England it is generally considered
by employers that, owing to a variety of causes, a
longer notice is required from workmen than in the
vicinity of the metropolis, and accordingly it is stated
that upon the Liverpool and Manchester line, which
is the oldest in the kingdom, the original custom was,
the men to deposit 251. as a good conduct guarantee,
and to give three months' notice. If their conduct
was grossly bad the deposit was forfeited. Recent
legislation has, however, rendered the deposit system
unnecessary, but the three months' notice still re-
mains, and this it appears was the precedent which
Mr. Trevethick was no doubt anxious to adopt, the
three months' notice, however, being given on both
sides, and not as has been stated, being extorted from
the men to the directors, whilst the directors gave the
men only a fortnight.
The January time-tables have been issued, and
with the exception of about a dozen trains, which are
either stopped or altered, no change is perceptible.
At the same time perfect arrangements have been
made as to the stoppage of a large number of trains,
should the directors be placed in such a dilemma as
to render such a course necessary, and yesterday, the
following announcement was posted at the Euston ter-
minus :
" LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY-NOTICE.
" The public are requested to take notice, that the
usual time-bills for January, with the following altera-
tions, will be issued on Monday, the 30th inst., but the
directors must, upon the present cooasion, reserve to
themselves the power of withdrawing such bills at any
moment, :for the purpose of substituting another bill,
showing a considerable reduction of trains, which has
been prepared, and is ready for issue should such a
course become necessary."
A special reference to the trains the running of
which has been altered is then made.

MERBLAND, A STORY OF SCOTTISH LIFE. By
the author of " Margaret Maitland." Of all the new authors
who have during the last season or two come before the
public, the writer of "Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret
Maitland" has created perhaps the most favourable im-
pression on the reader, and great, therefore, has been the in-
terest felt respecting the new novel from her pen, under the
title of " Merkland," which has just appeared. It is, like
its predecessor, a domestic story of Scottish life, of the
deepest pathos—one of those fragments of family history
that at once rivets the attention of the reader, and holds it
firmly till he is made acquainted with the whole chain of
strange and even fearful incidents that form the story-
There can be no question that as an illustration of the do-
mestic affections under very singular trials, and with circum-
stances that render it as impressive as it is interesting, the
tale of " Merkland" will sustain the reputation of the
de-
servedly popular author of" Margaret Maitland."—Evening
Paper.

SUFFOCATION IN A CHURClL—Considerable excite-
ment was produced in Reading, on ➢londay evening, by the
discovery that a man had been suffocated in the stove vault
of St. Mary's Church. This edifice is warmed by air, heated
in an apparatus placed in a vault of the church. For the last
two years and upwards, a man, named William Beesley, has
been employed attending to the fires, and it was his custom
to go to the vault every Saturday evening in the winter to
light the fires. He was seen between eleven and twelve
o'clock on Saturday night as he was going to the vault.
Nothing more was seen of him; and his absence throughout
Sunday and Monday haying excited suspicion, the vault was
visited, and he was discovered quite dead, lying on his back
in front of the stove, the appearances indicating that he had
been suffocated by carbonic acid. A jury next day returned
a verdict of " Died from suffocation."

THE LEwri.—We learn that on Mr.: and Mrs.
Matheson leaving Stornoway Castle for the season, the latter
caused a quantity of bedding and clothing to be supplied to
Dr. Miller for the use of his poorer patients. The gift will
no doubt be judiciously- used, and will prove of much benefit
to those for whom it was intended, and thus the kicd feel ng
which dedicated the gift will be gratified. During thelr
long stay in Stornoway Mr. and Mrs. Matheson saws and
more : endeared themselves to the inhatitants.--Inverziess
Courier.