The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-13 00:00:00

DIXSCZZLANZOI7B.

The amount of contributions to the repeal fund during the
last week amounted to 3,2001., and from all accounts it will
go on increasing for some time.
A. numerous party of the subscribers to the Royal Free
Hospital dined together at the London Tavern on Tuesday
evening in commemoration of its 16th anniversary. The
chair was occupied by Lord Ashley, M.P. The usual collec-
tion was made in the room, and the sum of about 1,170/.
raised, including a donation of 1001. from the Bank of Eng-
land, a similar sum from the Hon. East India Company,
521 10s. from Dr. Marsden, the founder (being that gentle-
man's third donation), 40/. from Miss Harley, &c.
On Tuesday the Merchant Tailors' Company gave their
annual banquet in the Hall, in Threadneedle-street, on the
occasion of the election of scholars to St. John's College, Ox-
ford. The Master of the Company, Mr. C. M. Hullah, was in
the chair, supported on the right by the Rev. Dr. Wynter,
President of St. John's, and Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Oxford, the Senior Fellows of St. John's,
the Lord Mayor, the Marquis of Downshire, the Earl
of Eldon, Lord Viscount Hereford, Viscount Mahon,
Hon Win. Ashley, and Sir George Murray, and on the left by
the Vice-Chancellor of England, Sir L. Shadwell, the Mar-
quis of Salisbury, the Marquis of Londonderry, and the Chief
Justice of the Common Pleas. The brilliancy of the meeting
was somewhat diminished in consequence of the absence of
the Cabinet Ministers and other members of the Govern-
ment, who were prevented from attending by the business in
both Houses of Parliament.

THE STAR COMPANY'S BOATS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

took a trip to Gravesend yesterday by an afternoon
packet from London, landed at the town pier, and finding
that the last packet would leave at eight o'clock, made up
my mind to enjoy the country as long as possible, and return
at that hour. The great reduction of fares to Gravesend has,
of course, immensely increased the numbers resorting there,
and more-particularly on the holiday of the working classes.
On reaching the pier at ten minutes to eight, to my regret, I
found the:packet inconveniently crowded, and several people,
like myself, fearful of venturing aboard. The Star packet,
from the other pier, in a few minutes also passed up, filled
to excess, and I, in company with many others, had the
prospect of staying in Gravesend all night. To my de-
light, however, upon leaving the pier, I found a man in-
forming the people, that in order to prevent disappoint-
ment the Meteor would, immediately upon her coming
down from Blackwell about nine, return at the usual
fares. Comforted by this, I took a short stroll, and in pas-
sing down the High-street, about a quarter of an hour after-
wards, I saw the very person who had given the grateful
information, being marched off to the police-station by three
people in Pier uniforms and two others, followed by a con-
course of persons. Upon inquiry for the cause, I was much
surprised to find that the crowd on the Town-pier after hear-
ing the announcement of a packet from the other pier, had
hired a small tug, put her alongside, inveigled some people
into her, demanded double the fares charged during the day,
and because this man continued to inform the people of the
Meteor's intended passage at the usual fares, and of the cer-
tainty of her being at Blackwell an hour before the tug, and
saving the last train, without extra charge, seized him with
such violence as to tear his clothes, and locked him
up. I know nothing of Gravesend laws ; but this
does seem extraordinary. The man's information was most
grateful to many people, who, but for the very considerate
course adopted by the Star Company, must have experienced
great inconvenience in purse or person. The mode of con-
veying the information, viz., by word of mouth, was the
only one for the-occasion, and was, as the result fully and
satisfactorily proved, correct to the letter. I, with nearly
400 persons, went by the Meteor, a little after nine ; we
passed the tug about Purffeet, though she started half an hour
before us. We paid the usual fares, for which we were also
conveyed upon the Blackwell railwa7 to London. Now, Sir,
this great extra accommodation afforded by the Star and
Blackwell Railway Companies should be known, and must
be appreciated ; fur, without it, many people must have en-
dured the annoyance of staying from their homes for the
night, and thereby caused great uneasiness to their families.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Whitechapel, June 10. T. BRITTEN.

We take this opportunity of correcting the error
that appeared in our journal of Tuesday under the heading
" London University," in reference to the pamphlet written
by Dr. Blarney. At a general meeting of the students Dr.
Blarney was elected to write an address to the Professors, and
also a poem to his fellow• students. The author recited the
poem publicly in their presence on the 24th of May last, when
it was unanimously resolved that it should be immediately
published, which was done accordingly. These proceedings
took place at the University College, not at the London Uni-
versity, as we mentioned last evening. The latter, which was
the original name of this College, has been since changed for
the present.

DUEL.--A duel was fought at Boulogne, on the
morning of the 7th instant, between Captain Bulkely, at-
tended by Mr. William Hill, and Mr. Fitzgerald Higgins,
attended by Mr. Finucane. Three shots were fired by each
party without effect ; after which they left the ground. The
meeting was occasioned by. Mr. Higgins having made some
very offensive observations to the Captain at the Café du Pas-
sage the preceding evening;