The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-07 00:00:00

LONDON MONDAY
7 474 •y ,
.k 1 G
T 1.3
JAN ARY 7 moo.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

MALTA, DEC. 24, 1849.—The only naval news
we have of the slightest interest consists in a report
which reached us by the Oberon on the 10th instant,
from Constantinople, to the effect that the fleet was
about to leave the Dardanelles, or rather Besika-bay,
for Malta, the Russo-Turkish differences being at an
end.

The news of the decease of her Majesty the Queen
Dowager reached Malta by the Medina on the 14th
instant. Orders were issued on the following day for
mourning, and the flags were hoisted half-mast on
the Palace, the forts, the ships of war in port, public
offices, and Consular fl igstaffs, till the evening of the
21st, on which day minute guns were fired as follow :
Fort St. Angelo, 60 guns ; her Majesty's ship Ceylon,
30; Prince Regent, 30; Thetis, 30; and Hercules
store ship, 15. Oa the following day the flags were
fully hoisted, but the mourning still continues.
The India mails by Me lina may be looked for to-
morrow.

DEC. 23, 1849.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON

In Malta Harbour—Tho Ceylon receiving ship,
bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Edward Harvey,
Superintendent of Malta Dockyard, and second in
command ; Prince Regent, 92, Captain Martin ;
Thetis frigate, 36, Captain H. Codrington en route
to England ; Volage, 6, surveying ship, Captain
Thomas Graves; Spitfire steamer (laid up), and
Hercules, 12, store ship, Captain R. Fulton.
At Gibraltar—The Janus steamer, Lieut. Powell.
At Leghorn—The Porcupine steamer, Lieutenant
E. F. Roberts.

At Naples—The Locust, manned by the officers
and crew of the Antelope.
At Cephalopia—The FrOlio, 16;:Ciptain N. Van-
sittart, and Sharpshooter steam gun-vessel, Lieut.-
Commander Bailey.
At Cyprus—The Auxiliary, surveying-tender to
Volage, Mate, J. H. Glover.
At the Piraeus of Athens—The Racer, 12, Captain
C. Beddoes.

100 0

At Salonica—The Research, surveying-tender to
Volage, Lieutenant Lord John Browne.
At Besika Bay—The Queen, 116, Captain C.
Wise, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W. Par-
ker, G.C.8., the Commander in• Chief ; Caledonia,
120, Captain T. W. Carter; Howe, 120, Captain Sir
J. Stirling ; Bellerophon, 79, Captain R. L. Baynes ;
Powerful, 84, Captain the Hon. R. S. Dundas ; Ven-
geance, 84, Captain Sir H. M. Blackwood; Firebrand
steam-frigate, Captain T. 0. Knox ; Bulldog, Com-
mander Key; Rosamond, Commander Foote; and
Ardent, Lieutenant Nowell, steam-sloops; Ganges,
84, Captain H. Smith ; Spiteful steam-corvette, Com-
mander J. Carmichael.

At Constantinople—The Win, the Hon. F. Pel-
ham, and Dragon, Captain W. H. Hall, steam-fri-
gates ; and Tartarus steam-vessel, Commander Sir G.
Webster.

At Alexandria—The Growler steamer, Commander
Stoddart.

MAIL STEAM-PACKETS.

At Malta—The Antelope, Lieutenant F.; Smyth,
repairing; Merlin, Lieutenant J. 11. Turner; Oberon,
Lieutenant Gardiner.

En route from Malta to Marseilles—The Medusa,
Lieutenant Bathurst.
En route from Malta to the lonian Islands and
Greece—The Triton, Lieutenant Glinn.
En route to Malta from Alexandria—The Medina,
Lieutenant A. Darby.

Second-Master Napoleon Levell, whose appoint-
ment to the Saturn Wig- ship at Pembroke was given
on the 231 December, 1849, will still be borne on the
books of that vessel, and have the charge of the
quarantine ships at Liverpool.
Lieutenant Edward E. Maunsell (1846) joined at.
Woolwich factory on Thursday last, for the purpose
of studying steam.
Lieutenant Robert 11. I3urton (1849) has been
appointed to study steam at Woolwich factory.
The Niger steam-sloop was taken out (ef the inner
basin to-day, and plac.d under the shears, and will
be completed in the engineer department on Monday,
the 7th instant. Captain Superintendent H. T.
Austin, C.B ' superintended the removal of the
Niger, from the inner to the outer basin ; :and the
gallant officer has not been absent from his duties at
this dockyard for a single day since Commodore
Henry Eden went on leave, consequently no other
officer has had charge of the yard for a single hour
during the same period.
The Enterprise, Captain Collinson, C. 8., and the
Investigator, Commander ill‘Clure, have received their
final orders for sailing, which are as follows :—They
are to leave Wool wich on Wednesday, the 9th inst.,
and proceed to Greenhithe the same afternoon, and
Captain Johnson will be there in waiting to adjust
their compasses on Thursday. On Friday the crews
will be paid wages in advance at Greenhithe, as it is
not intended that they should touch at any of the
eastern ports if all goes well during their progress
round. On Saturday, the 12th inst., they will leave
Greenhithe on their searching expedition, and the
Monkey and African steam-vessels will tow them
through the Downs. The Niger will then accom-
pany the Enterprise. and Investigator until opposite
'Devonport, when the two latter will hold on their
enterprising voyage, and the *former be taken into
that port to be kept ready as an advanced war steamer
in the room of the Gladiator, recently commissioned.
A great number of visitors went on board the Enter-
prise to-day, in the stream ; amongst others, Mr.
Collinson, a barrister, and the Rev. Mr. Collinson,
brothers of her gallant commander. Lieutenant Peter
A. Halkett, R.N., also went on board, but he did not
require any of the dockyard boats to convey him to
the vessel, having brought his own boat with him.
It was composed entirely of Macintosh cloth, and is
only 201bs. weight, although capable of holding two
persons with the greatest ease. The gallant officer
inflated his boat in about one minute on the
landing place, and on launching went into it and
rowed himself to the Enterprise with a small double
scull. Lieutenant Halkett then inflated a Macintosh
overcoat of 20Ib. weight, capable of holding one per-
son, and with two small oars, similar to Chinese fans,
moved about on the river with great facility. After
exhibiting the buoyancy and usefulness of his inven-
tion, Lieutenant Halkett obtained the consent of one
of the ladies on board the Enterprise to go on shore
with him in his boat, and it was found admirably
adapted for conveying two persons, and easily
managed. One of the Macintosh boats and one of
the cloaks have been supplied to the Enterprise, and
one of the boats and one of the cloaks to the Investi-
gator. The other arrangements for giving every
facility to the searching ships are of the best descrip-
tion. Mr. Lang, master shipwright, has had a tem-
porary rudder on his plan, which can be attached to
a vessel by lashings, supplied to the Enterprise and
also to the Investigator. Forty ice-sledges have also
been put on board, one half of them Eft. by lft. 4in.
in dimensions, and the others double that size. The
Louisa lighter, from Deptford, was engaged all day
in delivering stores, which are ample for the
wants of the missing voyagers, and of the best
description. A number of suggestions have been
made to enable the vessels to penetrate through
the ice. Commander Smith submitted to the
Admiralty a plan for firing a grapnel or anchor
several hundred yards across the floes, and moving
the vessels onwards by the aid of the capstans. Others
have proposed melting a portion of the ice by steam to
allow of the centre pieces being drawn back to make
room for the passage of the vessels; and there are a
considerable number of 14 feet ice-saws put on board,
to work if required on the old plan. Lieutenant Gale
has suggested the use of a balloon to reconnoitre for a
far greater distance than can be done from the mast-
heads of the vessels. Others have suggested the simply
flying of kites during favourable weather, which might
be seen at a long distance by the missing voyagers if
they are still alive. A large kite could support a light
in the night time, which would be easily distinguished
from a star by its different degrees of elevation as the
kite ascended and descended, or its different position,
effected by the variation of the wind. Light rockets
might also be sent up attached to the tail of a kite, to be
discharged by a slow match when run up to a high
elevation, which if successful would give them a double
or treble higher position at the time of explosion. It
is satisfactory to know that, although many of the
suggestions made are only theoretical, the gallant
officers on board the Enterprise and Investigator I
have paid every attention to them, and will avail
themselves of all that has been stated according to
the means in their power when any emergency takes
place.
The Bulldog, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Astley
C. Key, is ordered home from the Mediterranean,
and will be brought to Woolwich, to have her en-
gines of 500-horse power examined here.
The Sampson steam-frigate is ordered to be made
ready for commission.
The Prometheus steam-sloop is to be brought for-
ward for commission at this port.
The Rosamond steam-sloop, Commander J Foote,
on the Mediterranean station since she was commis-
sioned in November, 1846, is ordered home.

CHEAP CAPITAL for AGRICULTURISTS.
- (From the Spectator.)
Sir Robert Peel's example, in aiding his tenantry
with capital for improvements would no doubt he
more re miry and generally accepted but for one
slight difficulty—the inability of landlords to coin
mand the siid capital. Some prudent men have it,
and in thoe cases where prudence unites with libe-
rality, the capital will be duly av;:ilab'e for the aid of
the tenants. But untirtunately, although an c xalted
standard of excellence presumes the union of both
that: good qualities, it must often happen that they
are found in separate individuals. Very ninny iwel-
ligent and liberal English country gentlemen will
feel that Sir Robert Peel's plan is en excellent one
for him, and for others whose princely fortunes arc
not loaded with the accumulated burdens of collateral
interests and the indiscretions of each successive heir
through a long line of inheritance. Even one pre-
maturely enjeving heir, or one generation of
daughters and younger sons, may impose serious
burdens on the patrimony; how much more many
such. The fact is, that in the vast majority of in•
stances the members of the landed gentry command
just as much money as is requisite for their own
personal expenses, and no more.
Then, if such advances are for the benefit of the
estate, why not charge them upon the estate ? Be-
cause the estate is in most instances already charged
to the full amount of its credit, so that capitalists
would need some better security than a share, and
that not the first share, in the right to the land on
mortgage or the like.
The difficulty would be surmounted, if the Govern-
ment were to advance the money under an extension
of the Drainage Acts ; but there are two grave ob-
jections to such a course, without mentioning several
others:- La the &at place, Government has not at its
disposal the requisite funds ; and "'la tat the country
for the benefit of the landlords," would be counter to
the whole course of public feeling at present, In the
next place, if Government could command the requi-
site funds for the general reinforcement of agricul-
tural means throughout the country, so vast a money
operation would inevitably open the door to enormous
abuses. Immense sums would go to the creditors of
heirs, to ballet- dancers, and such pensioners, to young
gentlemen who bear a veiled escutcheon with a bar
sinister, and a variety of ultimate recipients quite
different from farming stock or arable fields.
Concurrently with the peculiar pressure of want of
capital in the agricultural world just now, is an
extraordinary pressure of redundant capital in the
moneyed world ; insomuch that the undoubted " pro
sperity " of the commercial orders is checked by the
competition of capital with capital. To open a gate
by which the pent-up flood of gold could be poured
upon the fields, would be relief to capitalists not less
than to agriculturists ; only it is restrained by the dif-
ficulty which we have mentioned above.
Thus far we have only been stating facts, and we
believe that those who are severally experienced and
informed in the different positions to which our state-
ment refers will give us their testimony to its cor-
rectness. On a comparison of the want on the one
side and of the redundancy on the other, the deside-
ratum is, some means of enabling the redundant capital
to be employed upon the exigent land, with security
for its being properly laid out and duly recoverable
by those who advance; as it would be by Government
under a measure like the Drainage Acts. Such are the
facts : the conclusion which they indicate is, that if
you could place the general body of capitalists, in this
behalf, on the same footing with a Government pro-
ceeding under a drainage Act, you would obtain all
that is needed. Now this would be a much more
simple process for rendering capital " cheap" than
any Disraelitish plan of national stockjobbing, and
much more effectual. The measure would be born
of the facts. Practically it might be put into this
shape. Let an Act of Parliament be passed, authoriz-
ing companies already existing, or formed for the
purpose, to advance capital precisely on the terms of
the Drainage Acts, by a similar machinery, with
similar guarantees, and with a similar right of recovery
prior to every other claim or charge upon the land.
This would be an extended Drainage Act, only that
instead of capital being drawn through the medium of
taxation or Exchequer loans, it would be obtained by
placing the capitalists and the agriculturists in direct
communication with each other, under the sanction,
guarantee, and control of the imperial Government.

LORD WHARNCLIFFE AND THE
YORKSHIRE PRO I'ECTIONISTS.
(From the Yorkshireman)
We are favoured with a copy of the following able
and admirable letter, written by Lerd Wharncliffe,
in answer to the requisition circulated by Mr.
Thompson, of Moat Hall, preparatory to convening
the proposed Protectionist Meeting in the city of
York. Seeing that his Lordship is a distinguished
Conservative, and possessing the highest influence in
this county, the document we copy underneath will
fall like a bombshell in the ranks of the Protectionist
combination. The letter requires no comment from
us; it is sufficiently forcible of itself :
" Wortley, Sheffield, Dec. 31, 1849.
" Sir,—l am directed to address to you my answer
to a circular which I have had the honour to receive,
conveying a requisition for a meeting at York in
order to consider the best means of obtaining from
Parliament the enactment of a fixed duty on grain.
" I regret that I can in no degree concur in that
proposal; and as I wish neither to appear indifferent
on a question so important, nor disrespectful to the
gentlemen whose names are attached to the circular,
I take the liberty of adding a few words in explana-
tion of my reasons for dissent.
" It is my firm opinion that there is nothing in the
present prospects of agriculture to justify such an ap-
plication to Parliament.
" There appear to me to be circumstances in the
commercial history of the last few years, and in the
actual condition of the markets, which, together with
the effects of an ill defined and exaggerated alarm
prevailing at this moment, are amply sufficient to
support the conclusion that the extreme depression of
agricultural prices at the present juncture is owing to
temporary causes.
" Be this, however, as it may, I cannot think that
the remedy for such depression is to be sought in a
revival of taxes upon the most necessary articles of
human food, and of general consumption; more espe-
cially since it cannot be denied that, as consumers, the
cultivators of the soil have larely shared in the benefits
arising from the reduced prices of many of these
commodities.
" The proposed requisition contemplates such an
enactment in a double point of view, as a measure of
protection and a measure of finance.
" So far as the question is to be considered as that
of a financial arrangement, it appears to me that this
proposal is misplaced. It is the business of the Go-
vernment to judge whether the exigencies of the state
require any addition to its income by general taxation.
If the Government sees no such necessity, for any
class in the community to assert it is, to say the least,
unusual. If there are indeed any taxes on articles of
general consumption the removal of which would
more than counterbalance, to the community at large,
the renewal of taxes on grain, let them be distinctly
pointed out. It is the duty of Government and of
Parliament to remit these without any countervailing
increase of taxation, if this be possible ; and it will
be time enough when these particular duties are
specified, and when we are quite sure that their re-
moval cannot be otherwise anticipated, for those who
hold an opinion on the question to say how far they
think such remission could secure the proposed com-
pensation.
"As a measure of protection—in which light it is
clear that the proposal is mainly to be considered--I
am fully convinced that the corn duties cannot be
restored, and that to expect it is mere delusion, than
the propagtion of which nothing can be more per-
nicious to the true interests of any branch of industry.
I can therefore take no part in any proceedings for
such an object.
" What the agriculture of this country really needs
is a wider and more energetic application of capital
and skill. To invite this should be the end and aim of
every true friend to its prosperity. To accomplish it,
the one thing requisite above all others is a reliance
upon settled prospects, without which the hope is
small of attracting either the one or the other. lam
therefore firmly persuaded that no course can b 3 so
deeply prejudicial to the cause of domestic agriculture
as that which tends to promote and continue agitation
and uncertainty, for objects whose very nature is, to
say the least of it, in the highest degree problematical.
I request that you will lay this letter before Mr.
Thompson, of Moat•hall, and the other gentlemen
who have signed the circular of the 26th of December
at the earliest opportunity.
" I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
WIIALLNCLIFFE.
"Mr. T. Richardson, Black Swan." ,

We have great pleasure in being enabled to an-
nounce that amongst the earliest measures to be sub-
rni.ted to Parliament by the Government in the ensuing
session will be Bills to provide an extension of the
suffrage both in England and Ireland. We are not in
possession of the details, but we have ree son to hope
that the scope of the proposed measure will meet the
views of a large section of the really liberal Members.
It is not improbable that a reform of such importance
mill be recommended in the Speech from the Throne.
Weekly Chronicle.

[PRICE SD.

THE ROCHDALE SAVINGS' BANK.
(From the Manchester Courier)
The investigation into the affairs of this bank has
not yet been brought to a close ; and until !hattakes
place there will of course he no official inquiry before
Mr. Tidd Pratt. It was thought that Mr. Ken-
worthy's inquiry would have been finished before
now ; and under that itT,rtssion Mr. Tidd Pratt, in
reply to a letter from Mr. Richard Hunt, solicitor,
R !cip1,11,2, who acts on behalf of many of the deposi-
tors, writes as follows:

5, adton s!reet„ Piecadilly. London, Dec. 28, 1849
" S:r,—l am in daily r xpectition of hearing that Mr.
Kenworthy, the !ice:Aintant, has elk4sed his exatnin..ltion;
my Fesent intention is to attend at the saving,'
bank n o'clock on Tuesday, the Bth of January, and
I would su.zr.c2s that on that rnor:)ing we hould arrange
so that C,e question as to the per ,oust of the
truve s and managers should be argued before me in
the course of that week. I hire written to Mr. Jackson
to the same effect.—Yours f' ithfuily,

" J. TIDD PRATT.

" To Richard Hunt, E,q., solicitor. It~chaale."
Mr. F. L. Johnson, secretary of the friendly socie-
ties interested in the funds in the savings' bank, having
written to Mr. Pratt, asking when it would be con-
venient for him to receive a deputation from those
societies on the subject of the bank, received a reply,
of which the following is a copy :
" London, 28th December, 1849.
" Sir,—l have written to Mr. Jackson (solicitor to the
trustees) and Mr. Hunt, intimatirg that it is my inten-
tion to be at the savings' bank at Rochdale on Tuesday
morning, the Bth of January, and I have suggested that
on that day it would be advisable to appoint a time
during that week on which the question as to the per-
sonal liability of the trustees and managers should be
argued before me; and perhaps the question respecting
the friendly societies may stalid ovsr until I have decided
that point, but this can be tieWlinWhen I arrive at Roch-
dale.-wYours faithfully, , _ _

" J. TIDD PRATT."
Mr. Jackson, in reply to a letter sent to him, and
which was similar to that addressed to Mr. Hunt,
sent the following to Mr. Pratt :
" Rochdale, 31st Dec., 1849.
" Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note
of the 28th inst. The accountant's inquiry will occupy
some further time, and I can hold out no expectation of
being prepared by the time you mention to go into the
question of the liability of the trustees and managers,
Besides, the week in which the Bth of January falls is
our first market week, and the time of holding our
quarter sessions, and I shall be occupied every day in
the following week with the sales of the late George
Haworth's property. I should be glad to ba furnished
with the names of the depositors who had required an
arbitration, and the dates of their applications. in order
that I may be prepared to meet them.—l am, &c.,

. .
" ROBERT JACKSON.

" To J. Tidd Pratt, Esq."
On the following day, the Ist of January, Mr.
Pratt writes to Mr. Hunt as follows :

" London, Ist January, 1850.
" Sir,—lt was my intention to have been at Rochdale
on Tuesday next, but I have this day received a letter
from Mr. Jackson (a copy of which I enclose), and in
consequence thereof I must, for the present, postpone
icy intended journey. In the meantime, as Mr. Jack-
son requires to be furnished with the names of the depJ-
itors who have required an arbitration, and the dates
of their application, I have, in order to save time and
expense, enclosed you the form of application which has
been adopted on other similar occasions, and a copy of
which should be dated, signed, and forwarded to me by
every depositor who requires me to adjudicate upon his
claim.-1 am, sir, yours faithfully,

JOHN TIDD PRATT.

" R. Hunt, Esq., Rochdale."
The following is a copy of the form alluded to :
" Sir,—lnasmuch as I am a depositor in the Rochdale
Savings' Bauk, and claim to be entitled to the sum of
1., as deposited therein, which bank has stopped
and refused payment thereof on the day of
1849, I request you will, in pursuance of the provisions
of the statute in that case made and provided, adjudicate
upon such claim, and determine whether I am entitled
to be paid my deposit out of the bank funds, if any such
there be, or by the present or any other trustees and
managers of the said bank, personally, or any and which
of them are personally liable under the circumstances
of the case.—Dated the day of 2_1850 .
—, Depositor.
" To John Tidd Pratt, Eiq,, the barrister-at-
law appointed under the Acts relating to
savings banks."

A note, the contents of which were precisely
similar to those of the one addressed to Mr. Hunt
on the Ist of January, having been sent to Mr
Johnson, the latter sends the following letter to Mr.
Pratt :

[ROCHDALE BANK.]
" Albion Inn, Ruch.ia•,e, Jan. 4, 1850.

" Sir,—l atn in receipt of yours of the- lot inst. and
its enclosures, which I will take au early opportunity of
laying before the friendly societies having funds in the
savings' bank. As they will wish to be informed whe-
ther your investigation into the affairs of the bank will
he considered a Gcvernment inquiry, or each individual
applicant have to pity the fee fixed by the statute, wbera
yea are called upon to arbitrate between the trusteos and
the depositors, your early answer will much oblige
yours most respectfully, _ _

" F. L. tiouNsori, Sec. to the Friendly Societies.
" J. Tidd Pratt, Esq."

We understand that the friendly societies intend
addressing a strong memorial to the Secretary of
State for the Home Department on the subject of
their claim upon the bank.
An adjourned meeting of depositors was held last
Friday evening in the Public Hall, Bailie-street. On
the assembling of the meeting Mr. Edward Taylor
was called to the chair.

The plt..card calling the meeting having been read,
Mr. HUNT, solicitor, read his correspondence with
Mr. Tidd Pratt, and stated that he had been at the
savings' bank that day, and had learned that the claims
upon the bank amounted to nearly 100,0001., that
there was cash i❑ Government security to the amount
of 29,0001., and that in all probability Mr. Haworth's
effects would realise 15,0001. more.
Mr. LUKE SCOTT then moved, and Mr. Jornc
Hov.Le seconded—" That there be a committee of five
appointed on behalf of the depositors to seek an
interview with the trustees and managers of the bank,
with full power to take such measures (not legal) for
ascertaining the state of the funds of the bank, and
the position of the depositors, as they may think
proper, and to report to the depositors at a future
meeting, and that Mr. Edward Taylor, Mr. T.
Livesey, Mr. John Ashworth, Mr. James Mellor, and
Mr. Henry Armitage form the committee."
The meeting was then adjourned, it being left to the
committee to call another meeting of the depositors
when they thought it would be requisite.

CONSECRATION OF THE NEW GREEK CHURCH.—
Yesterday the first building erected in London, or in-
deed in England, in connexion with the Greek Church,
was consecrated with unusual ceremony. The edifice,
which has been recently erected, is situate in London-
wall, opposite to All Hallow church, and is designed
for the accommodation of the families of the Greek
merchants resident in London, numbering between
200 and 300 persons, almost all of whom were present
at yesterday's ceremony. The church, which presents
a remarkably handsome exterior, is internally in the
Byzantine style of architecture. The exterior is a sort
of composite style, the Corinthian and Byzintine pre-
dominating. Hitherto the members of the Greek
Church have assembled for the performance of their re-
ligious services at No. 9, Finsbury-circus, the back
drawing-room containing the altar, and the front being
set apart for the congregation. The officiating priest
was the Rev. M. Morphinos, who, after the altar ser-
vice and the act of consecration, ascended the pulpit
and delivered an animated and impressive sermon in the
modern Greek langauge. He remarked that the day
selected for the consecration of their new temple was
peculiarly appropriate, inasmuch as it was the day on
which they were called upon by their Church to com-
memorate the birth of the Saviour of the world. The
Greek Church had not adopted the new style, so that it
was twelve days later in its observance of Christmas-day
than any other Church. The edifice has been erected
at a cost of nearly 10,0001. On the front there is an in-
scription in the Greek language, which sets forth that
the church was erected in the reign of Queen Victoria,
in the midst of the Great British nation, to the honour
of God She Saviour, and in the veneration of the custom
of their fathers. The interior is richly ornamented,
and in general appearance is not unlike the chapels of
the Roman Catholic body. It is intended that there
shall be one service every Sunday, commencing at
eleven o'clock.

THE PROTECTIONIsTS.—Who, of the old play-
going world, does not remember and laugh at the
remembrance of Liston's Apollo Belvi, in Killingn
Murder, attired as a mourner, with most preposterous
hat-band, scarf, and weepers, announedinegunheitsocsnde
cease, and explaining that the lamented f
had all his life been
car-
ried off by sudden death, to whielit
throughoutewith true
th Li
country,stonian
face,very subject.are
and with every appearance of unimpaired vitality, pro-
plainTgLAe pPolrlr Protectionists,
is
pro-
claim that deadtheyaasrebeenr e
apa t
ed toweariness,
and gone. B But the
and w
farce is ae
very ohl one, has
not call to mind the time when agriculture was not
cp3enrishing,
so subject has it ever been to the chronic corn.
plaint of Liston's character, sudden death. For so it is
that agricultural man never is, but always to be, ruined.
He has been poisoned as often as Dickens's Mantilini, and
is no whit the worse, or nearer his end, after all. What
is it that makes rural calamity of so long a life ? How
is it that it is ever sinking, and never gets to the battom?
When are we to come to the promised wilderness ?
When is the plough to be deposited in the British
Museum as a curiosity belonging to a past and destroyed
world ? How much longer are sowing and reaping to
go on, just as if farmers thought of selling and living by
something different from a loss ?"—Examiner.

To
To
To
To

To
To
To
To

THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS.
The general t ' w loh s In on Thursday pro-
veiled during riday, but on aturday morninr7fhe .._
mercury in the thermometer ell considerably, 'an
.d'
uring the night was as ow as 28—Otti degrees
elow freezing point. This sudden chfinge in the
weather caused the ice on the varioui:lonsinental
waters in the 'royal parks, which durink,.the preced-
...•
ing days had partially broken up, to likcOme„. again „.,.., ~),
united. The ice, however, was far frooleiiig„:it, `7' ,L
that portion under the immediate surfaee4efug'.#x"" `v
ceedingly rotten, and boards announcing thatAittft,,
were put up along the several banks in the parks,'.•fist
which it was expected would have deterred any one
from venturing upon the same. Such, however, will
be seen from the official reports below was of no
avail, and many thousands emus:A themselves during
yesterday upon the frozen water', in spite of the
cautions issued by the Ito.yal Humane Society. The
wind during yesterday varied from north in)rth east
to due north, and at nine o'clock last night the. g4tss
was still fulling, and from the quarter the Wind Was
in there appeared every probability of the frost con-
tinuing for some time longer. At that 1.)-rincl a kavy
hoar frost was falling. Notwithstanding the extreme
coldness of the day many thousands of spectators
lined the diff:rent footpaths to witness the skating.
The members of the Skating Club mustered in strong
number daring the day upon the Long Water in
K,!nsington gardens. The ice here, although dan-
gerous was str,mger than in the other parks, but in
the Serpentine it was in a much worse condition, and
several accidents occurred, ot.e, unfortunately proving
fatal.

This occurred about half-past 12 o'clock on the
Serpentine, in Hyde park, when a respectably-attired
young man, who was skating on the south side, broke
in, and became suddenly immersed in twelve feet
water. Deputy-Superintendent Murphy, and Iceman
Joseph Deze, immediately proceeded to his assistance
with breaks, ladders, &c., but such was the unsound
state of the ice, that it kept breaking away, and the
men could not possibly reach the spot. Murphy him-
self also broke in while making the attempt, and it
was with great difficulty that he extricated himself.
At length the young man was got out, but not until
he had been some minutes under water, and was
evidently quite dead. It was, however, deemed neces-
sary to convey the body to the Royal Humane Society'
receiving-house, where prompt attendance was given
by Messrs. Sowyer, Christain, and Woolley (sur-
geons), who used the most unremitting exertions, with
hot baths and usual restoratives, for upwards of an
hour, but unfortunately without effect. The body
of the deceased, that of a fine young man aged about
twenty-four, and weighing nearly fourteen atone, was
then removed to the parochial authorities to await
the inquest, and also to be owned. From letters
found in his pockets, and marks upon his apparel, his
name is supposed to be Thomas Drayton: At the
spot where deceased broke in, the ice was only one
inch in thickness in consequence of its having been
cleared a few days since to supply some ice-wells,
but under the direction of Mr. Superintendent
Williams every precaution had been 'made by the
erection of a board marked "Dangerous," and poles
were also placed around to keep persons off. In
addition to this the deceased had, an hour previous to
the accident, been warned by Murphy to keep clear of
the place.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The observations which have recently ap-
peared in the newspapers relative to the proposed lines
of steam communication with the Brazils and with
Australia, and in which the comparative merits of the
screw and paddle-wheel have been more than once
alluded to, have induced me to request your attention
to the following statement of the results of the work-
ing of five screw-steamers belonging to the General
Screw Steam Shipping Company, for the year 1849.
They have made altogether 170 voyages outwards and
homewards, with cargoes, and have made good a dis-
tance, from port to port, of 110.849 knots, at an
average speed of Bto 84 knots per hour. Only one
casualty has happened to any of the company's vessels
during the year; the incident here referred to oc-
curred in the Thames.

I beg also to hand you a report of one voyage of
the new screw-steamers Bosphorus and Hellespont,
to and from Constantinople, showing a mean of 7.91
knots. These ships have been laden with 360 tons
of merchandise, besides 120 tons of coals.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JAMES LAMING, Managing Director.
General Screw Steam Shipping Company,
2, Royal Exchange-buildings, Jan.].

The following statement will show the actual
working of the screw as a propelling power in the
vessels of this company, from January Ist to Decem-
ber
_3lst, 1849 :

City of Rotterdam. 272 tons. 3C-horse power.
Rotterdam ... 20 voyages
Dunkirk 19 „
Bayonne ... ... 1
Middleburg • . 2 „

Total . . 42 voyages-15,450 miles.
Average speed, 8 knots.
City of London. 272 tons. 30 horse power.
Rotterdam ... ... 8 voyages
Dunkirk ... 34 „
Harlingen ... 1 „
Middleburg... 1 „

Total ... 44 voyages-13,327 miles.
Average spted, 8 knots.
Lord John Russell. 320 tons. 40 horse power.
To Harlingen ... ... 49 voyages
To Middleburg ... . ... 1 ~

Total ... 50 voyages-25,379 miles.
Average speed, 8i knots.
Sir Robert Peel. 320 tons. 40-horse power.
Liverpool to Constantinople 3 voyages
London to Liverpool ... 2 „
To Roche Bernard (Biscay) 1 „
To Rotterdam ... 18 „

Total ... 24 voyages-28,206 miles.
Average speed, 8i knots.
Earl of Auckland. 450 tons. 60-horse p3wer.
To Oporto 1 voyages
London to Liverpool... ... 3 „
Liverpool to Constantinople 4 „
To Rotterdam 1 „
To Dunkirk (out) ... 1 „

Total ... 10 voyages-28,487 miles.

Total ... 110,849 miles.

Performance of the new screw•steamers Bosphorus
and Hellespont on their first voyages from Liverpool
to Constantinople, 1849 :
Bosphorus. 536 tons. 80-horse power.
&tiled from Liverpool Sept. 15th.
Time on passage, 16 days 15i hours.
Average speed ...
Sailed from Constantinople Oct. 101 h.
Time on passage, 15 days 11 hours.
Average speed ... ~,
Ilellespont. 536 tons. 80 -horse power.
Sailed from Liverpool Oct. 15th.
Time on passage, 16 days 20 hours 25 min.
Average speed ••• ... ~, ,
Sailed from Smyrna Nov. 14th.
Time on passage, 18 days 6 hours 30 min.
Average speed ...

8.02 knots.

8.50 knots.

7.93 knots.

7.20 knots.

4 ) 31.65

Average speed of four passages 7.91 knots.
Speed at trial of Bosphorus.
The measured mile in Long Reach, 9.68 knots.
Speed at trial of Hellespont.
The measured mile in Long Reach, 9.65 knots.

COUNTRY QUARTERS, A NOVEL, BY THE COUN.
TESS OF BLESSINGTON. With a Memoir by her Niece,
Miss Power.—" This is a tale of light- hearted Irish
girls and light-heeled red-coats. which latter, in place
of loving and riding away,' for r the most part stop
and propose,' greatly to the profit and delight of the
little town where the scene is laid. Rich gifts and com-
fortable entertainments make its pages glad; and, allow-
ing for the selfishness of one or two hardened women of
quality, and for a little mesh-room frivolity, we do not
often encounter so shining a display of the beauties, the
virtues, and the luxuries which brighten and smooth this
vale of tears.' Country Quarters' is prefaced by Miss
Power's graceful and affectionate biographical sketch.
The tale itself is equal to any of the series which it con-
cludes. It is full of incident."—Athenteute.
ALARMING OCCURRILNCR AT THE ROTUNDA,
BLACKFRIA RS -ROAD.—Liate on Saturday night an alarm
of fire was raised in the Rotunda, Blackfriars-road,
whilst the amusements were going on, which had well
nigh been attended with most disastrous results to many
of the persons present. Whilst the pantomime in oae
part of the house was being represented, and Middle•
ton's wax-work exhibition was open in another, and each
building. In an instant the dense mass of
confusion
persons present left their seats and rushed to the
doors
gihthe
n filled
order
to
people, an alarm of "Fire, fire," ran
gain the street. The passages not
pass,being csauuffisceidenttlhye
greatest
wide
to allow so great a
prevail,numbe and
rtod
several persons were forced down, and a few trodden
upon- A boy was picket up who bad been
knocked down by the crowd, at the entrance to the
premises, and conveyed to the surgery of Mr. Rose, at
the corner of Stamford-street. lie was then perfectly
insensible, and it was at first feared that he had been
fasally injured. He however aeon recovered, and was
able to be removed to his own residence. Two other
boys were knocked down, and although much hurt,
were enabled to walk home. The engines of the West
of England and London Brigade, from the Waterloo-
road stations, quickly attended, but their services were
not required. Respecting the cause of the accident two
versions are given—one is, that some blue fire used for
lighting up one of the scenes set the gauze curtains in
flames; and the other that some wax, while being
melted, caught fire, and being seen burning in the pro-
perty-room behind the stage caused the confusion.
Happily, no life was sacrificed, although several persons
had tiarn)w escapes.
Count Schitnmelpenninck, the Netherlands Minister,
has left town for the Continent.

INTERESTING LITERARY PRESENT.
NOTICE! PEPYS' DIARY
AND CORRESPONDENCE.

Edited by LORD BRAYBROOKE.
A FEW COMPLETE SETS of the New, Enlarged, and Cbeancr
Edition of this interesting work have been elegantly bound, ex-
pressly for PRESENTS, in French morocco, with gilt edges, and
may be had of alt Booksellers, is 5 ♦ols., at the original price 01
2L 12s. 6d.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

THEATRE ROYAL. DRURY-LANE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. JAMES ANDERSON.
The Lessee respectfully begs to submit the following scale of Prices
of Admissicn for public approval: -
Private boxes, 3/. 35., 2/. 12s. 6d., 2/. 25., IT. I Is. 6d., and 1/. Is.
Stalls, ss. each.
s. d. s. d.
FIRST PRICE. SECOND PRICE.
Boxes - - 4 0 Besse - - 2 0
Pit - - - 2 0 Pit - - 1 0
Lower Gallery - 1 0 Lower Gallery - 0 6
Upper Gallery - 0 6 I No Half-price to Upper Gallery.
THIS EVENING,
Will be presented, by her Majesty's Servants,
Shakespere's Play of
AS YOU LIKE IT. Duke, Mr. Cathcart ; Amiens, Mr. Rafter;
Jacques, Mr. Vandenkoff; Orlando, ,Mr. James Anderson ; Adam,
Mr. Cooper ; Touchstone, Mr. W. H. Angel ; Rosalind, Mrs. Nisbett
To-, be followed by a New Grand Historical, Metaphorical,
APegorical, and Diabolical Pantomime, by the author of " Bluff
King Hal 'to be called HARLEQUIN and GOOD QUEEN BESi ;
or, 3IEIIIIJE ENGLAND IN THE OLDEN TIME,
" Then the ladles with large ruffs, tied round about their necks
so fast,
Would gobble up a pound of beefsteaks for their breakfast.
0 ! the golden days of Good Queen Bess,
Merry be the memory of Good Queen Bess."—Old Song.
The Overture and Music entirely new, composed by Nobody-
koowswhu, assisted by Mozart, Bishop, ROSSilli, Ware, Handel, Rod-
well, Haydn, and the Ethiopian Serenaders. The Rounds are the
reposition of a select Circle. The Catches are by Locke.
The Ballet Department under the superintendence of Madame
Louise.
The Scenery painted by Messrs. Brunning, Jones, Wilson, C.
Adams, and Assistants.
The Properties, Magic Tricks, and Transformations invented and
executed by Mr. W. Biamire.
The Costumes by Mr. Palmer and Miss Biggs. The extensive
Machinery by Mr. Adams.
The whole produced under the Direction of Mr. T. Thompson.
Immoarsis.
Christmas, Mr. S. Jones; The Spirit of John Rich, Mr. Darcie ;
The Spirit of High Tragedy, Mr. J. Parry; The Spirit of Punch,
Miss Ennice ; Spirit of Mother Goose, Gulliver, Baron Munchausen,
&e., &c., by Scc., &C.