The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 15, 1644.

. .„
NATIONAL SWIMMING MATCHES
Th morning yesurd,y, being somewhat showery, had
the effect of thinning the attendance, but, not‘tithstand-
ing, there was a considerable number present, including
several respectable individuals, and a sprinkling of the
military, who appeared to regard the scene with some
interest. On the usual signal being given by Mr.
btrachan, the competitors jumped into the river. The
swimming was excellent, and indicated much improve-
ment, all being close at the finish. The usual society's
men were at hand, in the event of accidents occurring to
any of the competitors, but it is gratifying to state none
happened.
The following is the result :
SILVER MEDAL POE 3:NN.
Joseph Townshend 1

Charles Farmor
James Ford

Two others, who were, however, not placed, started.
The distance was across the Serpentine and back. The
three do•tailed went off together, and so kept throughout,
Tow nshenci finally winning, Farmer being a close second,
and Ford an excellent third. On coming in, they were
loudly applaudtd, and the winner Iles congratu!ated on
his succes.s..

SECOND BACE--SUBSCRIPTION PURSE FOR BOYS, YOUNG
3IEN, &C.

William Shaw..
Willivm Smith

Thomas Clark 3
Three cthers, not placed, also started.
Shaw and Clark, from being previous victors, were
the favourites, the latter havirg the call of his opponents.
The race was splendidly contested, the two first being
nick end neck throughout, Shaw prevailing at the finish,
and winning by a short length. The distance was half
that of the men's, only to the middle of the Serpentine
and back.

At the conclusion of the latter race, the day's sports
terminated.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
At the eighteenth half-yearly meeting of this Rail-
way Company, held at Bristol on the 15th inst , a
report was read, which we are glad to say is of a satis-
factory nature, and will justify an increased dividend,
arising chiefly from the improved state of the revenue
during the last six months. The receipts have exceeded
those of the similar period in 1843, by 39,0561. ss. Id.;
a proportion of which is unquestionably due to the
greater length of the Bristol and Exeter ilailway—viz.,
from Taunton to Beam-bridge, open during four months,
ned from Beam-bridge to Exeter during two months,
with a few days' traffic on the Oxford Railway, which
was completed for use on the 12th of June. On the
Great Western Railway, however, separately, without
any difference of distance, the receipts have increased over
the corresponding period to the extent of 24,1371.55. 11d.,
the earnings of the half-year amounting to 299,4331.78.6 d.
The r4.ceipts for the Bristol and Exeter Railway have been
59,160/. Os. I Id. ; fur the Swindon and Cirencester Line,
10,286/. 19s. 9d. ; and for the Oxford Railway, during
nineteen days, 1,0131. 15s. 11d., making up the total
revenue of 369,9041. 4s. ld. The expenditure of the
half y~ ar has been 127,235/. 4s. 2d., or 34,157 on the re-
ceipt. In this sum the Government duty and parochial
rates are included, 24,522/. 4s. 5d., which in 1843
amounted to 20,2201. 35., being an excess of 4,3021. Is. sd.
The w bore difference of charge for the half-year is only
2,497/. Os. 6d., satisfactorily showing that there has been
an actual reduction of expenditure, although the extra
distance worked has been equal to about twenty miles on
the average of the six months. After deducting the
rent of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, and the balance
of interest, there is a disposable amount of 133,2431.
I Is. Id„ which will enable the Proprietors to order a
dividend of 3i per cent. on the paid up capital of the
Company.

LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY.--Three lads

in the t mploy of Mr. Newman, of Patcham, near Brigh-
ti.n, were charged before the Earl of Chichester, Mr.
ige,nt 1)'0) ley, Major J'aine, and other magistrates,
dt the Lewes bench on Tuesday, with having, on Sun-
day afternoon, placed an obstruction on the railway.
The boys all pleaded guilty, and Mr. H. Faithful!, soli-
citor to the railway company, then stated the case, from
which it appeared that the boys had placed on the
rails a " tarry," that is, a truck with- four wheels
used by the plate layers in conveying their tools and
materials fi om place to place on the line, and
were amusing themselves by riding on it, when one of
the Hassocks pleasure trains came in sight, and notwith-
standing the efforts of the boys to remove the obstruc-
tion from the rails, they were unable to do so entirely,
and the consequence was that the engine struck a corner
of the " larry." The driver of the engine, however,
on observing the obstruction, had reversed the steam
a i d pu twoarsi tphe
ro
ba bbreaks,ly
ey v
e;
twhich
ed. meansh a
o C omtha
ttifyu ac-
cident
not
pressing for a severe punishment, the boys were fined in
the lowest penalty of 5/. each, and in default of payment
were cLmmitied to prison for four days each.
DRIED FRUITS.—The Lords of the Treasury having
had under consideration a report of the Commissioners
of Customs, on an application of Messrs. Joseph Travers
and Sons and others, importers of fruit into the port o!
London, praying rel'ef with respect to the practice at
present pursued by the officers of the Customs, of de-
manding the duty upon the diffi rence between the land-
ing aid export weight of packages of fruit, their Lord-
ships hate authorised the Board to give directions
that the duty en all reasonable deficiencies of
boxes, drums, and baskets of figs and raisins, ascer-
taimd on delivery for exportation from the legal quay
warehouses, may be remitted upon a certificate from the
landing surveyor in each case that no fraud is suspected,
and that the deficiency has arise n from natural causes.
Copies of this order have been furnished to the officers
of th.. departments for their information and government.
FATAL EFFECTS OF MENTAL ANYIETY.—Mr.
Wakley, M.l'., held an inquest yesterday at Mr. Blake's,
ct rner ofJockt y - steps, Bedford-row, on the body of Mr.
William Manly, aged sixty, a commercial clerk, lute of 10,
Warwick-court. Frew the evidence of Mr. Stevens, de-
ceased's landlord, it appe at ed that the deceased, who had
previously enjoyed what he termed "a prucli:dousconstitu.
don," upon returning home yesterday week complained
that anxiety about business made him very ill. Last Sun-
day he appeared quite recovered, but on Monday morning
he was found dead in bed. Mr. Wakley said that it was
amazing how many persons died suddenly through
anxiety produced by tnisiortune in trade. When a sud-
den change took place in their affairs, the workhouse
staled them in the fact,, and the result was that they
either di d suddenly or became insane. It was a fact
(continued the Learned Coroner) that many stately
mansions of our wealthiest merchants became private
lunatic asylums from the same cause. Some time ago he
had in his own district twenty-four cases of suicide in
twelve days. Se veral jurors corroborated the statements
of the Coroner, and subsequently returned a verdict of
" Natural death."

THE WEST INDIAN STEAMER TAT.—We learn
from a private letter received by the Hibernia yesterday
aim Bing, that the Royal West India Mail Company s
steamer Tay, w hile on her hay from Kingston to Ha-
rannah, with the mails from England, on the 2d of June,
lay some mischance or other, went ashore on a dangerous
reef of rocks on the Ilavannah side of Cape Antonio,
called the " Coleradoes." The mail agent, immediately
after the accident, btarted in an open boat, and delivered

the bags on the 15th of July at Havannah. A Spanish
Government steamer, and the. Royal Mail Steam-Packet
Company's schooner Lee,' then went to her assistance.
The steamer succeeded in getting her off; and she en
tered the harbour of Havannah on the 17th of July,
making tin% e feet of water per hour. All the quick-
sit% er, anchors, cables, and heavy stuff on board, with
the exception of about twenty tons of coal, had pre-
viously been thrown overboard.—Liverpool Courier.
A GooD OLD AGE.—Thomas I,overing, of Gert
.1

in the parish of Combmartin, now in hisThundredtli
year, joined his workmen in the harvest field on Fri-
day last, and is in good health. lie has occupied the
same estate for more than half a century.— Western
Luminary.
THE TWELFTH OF AUGUST.—From a Cumberland
correspondent we learn that the sport on the moors in
Cumberland and Westmoreland, on Monday, was most
excellent. Birds were plentiful, but it required the
greatest ingenuity to come within range of them, they
being universally strong on the wing. The lion. Col.
Lowther, Sir James M'Adam, W. Holmes, Esq., and
other gentlemen, on Shap and Birkbeck Fells, the pre-
serves of the Earl of Lousdale, made a tolerable good

day's sport. Colonel Lowther bagged sixteen brace, but
his sporting companions were not quite so fortunate. Sir
George Musgrave of Eden Hall, Bart., Capt. Salmond, and
others, were more successful on the worthy Baronet's
preserves, on the moors near Kirby Stephen, in
Westmoreland. Sir George, we understand, brought
down twenty-five brace, end the other gentlemen of his
company made some excellent sport. W. Marshall, Esq.,
M.P., who was accompanied by three other gentlemen,
on Croasfell, traversed many a weary mile, and on their
return to the shooting box on the Fell,, in the afternoon,
were well loaded with fine birds. H. Howard, Esq., of
Greystile Castle, and his friends, were or, Skiddaw
Forest, where the birds were numerous, but being packed
together in large numbers, they were difficult to come
at. However, by unwearied perseverance, they made a
good day's sport, killing eight brace each on an average.
Accounts received from several other moors say that the
birds are numerous, but, in consequence of the long-
continued dry state of the weather during the hatching
season, they are packed and remarkably wild.
AlEstonim, TO THE LATE EARL OF DURHAM.—
On the 28th instant the foundation-stone of this tribute
to the late Peer will be laid on Pensher-hill, with
masonic ceremonies, by the Earl of Zetland, the Grand
Mater of the order.—Tyne Mercury.
OLD GUNS FOR THE TOWER.—One of the three
long brass guns brought from Aden to this country, and
deposited in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, has been
selected for conveyance to the Tower, to be permanently
deposited amongst the other specimens of engines of de-
struction in that ancient fortress. There is a lengthened
inscription near the breach of the gun, in Persian or
Hindostanee characters ; and some idea of the value of
this piece of ordnance may be formed, when it is known
that it weighs 7 tons 5 cwt. and 191b5., and is 17 feet in
length. The value of ordnance is calculated at 1831. per
tun. The other two brass guns brought from Aden and
deposited in the Royal Arsenal are each about the same
dimensions as the one intended fur the Tower. An iron
gun, about eight feet long, recently brought home froin
the Isle of France, and having the fleur-de-lis and cap of
liberty engraven near the breach, has been set aside for
the same destination. It is numbered 11, and the figures
2,300 are cut at the breach, denoting, it is supposed, that
it weighs that number of kilogrammes. The iron gun
must be, from its appearance, at least half a cen• ury old,
and is a very close approximation in pattern and in every
other respect to Monk's mins, and tends to confirm the
old adage, "there is nothing new under the sun."
LATEST FROM AMERICA.—" Did you present your
account to the defendant ? " inquired a lawyer of his
client. " I did, your Honour." " And what did he say?"
"Ile told me to go to the Devil." " And what did you do
" Why, then I came to you,"

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM
RAILWAY..
TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE SUZY.
Six,—May I ber of you to give publicity to a gross
extortion, pactiseer upon me at the Watford station
on the London and Birmingham Railway.
Yesterday I went to meet a lady with her infant,
who were to arrive at that station from the north of
England, but was informed by one of the porters that
I must obtain the leave of the clerk at the stadon to
assist the lady in alighting from the railway carriage
and obtaining the luggage, but that I had only to
make the request to have it granted. The clerk
(Mr. Lukin), however, refused me the permission,
unless I would state the lady to be an invalid, which
I would not do, as I did not know her to be such,
although if I had made such a statement it would
have been perfectly true. Having travelled by every
railway in England, and never having met with, or
heard of any obstacle, on any railway, to the-friends
of a passenger, whether male or female, receiving him
or her, and knowing such to be allowed on the Lon-
don and Birmingham Railway, both at Euston-square
and at Birmingham, I stated such to be the case, and
insisted as a right on what I had before requested as
a favour, when the clerk told me if I would use my
eyes I might see an order against such being allowed
on that station. I did use my eyes, but could not
see any such order. The clerk then ordered one of
the porters 'to show it me; this porter, after some
search, found, and showed me a board with the fol-
lowing writing on it :—" It is requested that no per-
son pass this gate without a ticket;" the board, how-
ever was not at the gate leading on to the railway,
but against a wall, and with the side on which the re-
quest was painted placed next the wall, so as not to be
visible. I then told the clerk this was no order or
regulation, but a mere request, and insisted on being
allowed to receive my friends ; but he said I should
not, and again referred me to the board. It then be-
came apparent what he meant, viz., that I should pay
for a ticket; and as he continued to refuse me per-
mission to receive my friends, I was compelled to, and
and did pay three shillings (the fare to London) for a
ticket, to enable me to pass the gate and descend to
the railway. . _ _

Upon the arrival of the train I found my assistance
most acceptable to my friends, after journeying for
fourteen successive hours, and who, in the change of
carriages which had taken place at York, had been
deprived of a carpet bag and its contents, which, up
to the present time, have not been recovered.
I enclose my card for your own satisfaction, and
am your very obedient servant, VERAX.
August 13.

THE NEWSVENDERe WEST-END PROVIDENT INSTI-
TUTION.—Yesterday a large body of the most influen-
tial members connected with the newsvending trade, who
had formed themselves into a new society to promote the
objects of affording relief in sickness and old age to the
more humble members of the trade, made their first ex-
cursion on board the Laurel steamer, to the Rose Cottage
Inn, Richmond Hill. The present society has
started into exertion, in consequence of the failure
of an excursion some time since, to augment the
funds of the parent institution, when circumstances
rendered the trip unproductive, leaving a loss to
their already but too slender funds. At half-past
ten in the morning, the party, consisting of nearly 200
persons, including the Committee, Messrs. Swallow
(treasurer), Walker, Wilson, Hilton, Holl, Wells,
Horne, Wright, Duncombe, Ayres, Byfield, and Hutton,
embarked at Waterloo-bridge, and proceeded up the
river to Richmond, accompanied by an excellent brass
band, who enlivened the passage by the performance
of the most popular country dances, to the
great delight of the female portion of the company.
At half-past two the party reached the town of Rich-
mond, and proceeded at once to the Rose Cottage Inn,
where 180 persons sat down to dinner, the remainder of the
company spreading themselves into pie-nic parties
throughout the spacious grounds. Mr. Hutton was
called to the chair, and Mr. Wright, vice. The customary
loyal and patriotic toasts were given and responded to
with great fervour, and the Chairman (Mr. Hutton), in
a brief address, stated that the new Society had com-
menced with no feelings of envious rivalry, but with the
more laudable spirit of adding to the comforts of their
necessitous brethren, and promoting an interest in the
diffusion of mutual good feeling. The company re-em-
barked, and arrived in London at ten o'clock. From the
unusually large number of tickets disposed of on the oc-
casion, a handsome sum will be realised to the infant
Institution.

SINKING OF A VESSEL AND LOSS OF LIFE OFF
GRAVESEND.—Yesterday an inquiry was instituted
before Mr. Carttar, Coroner, at the Town-hall, High-
Ntreet, Gravesend, respecting the death of Mr. William
Jackson, aged 44, master of the Providence sailing
smack, of Milton, near Chatham, who lost his life by
the sinking of that craft, under the following circum-
stances. From the evidence of a lad named James
Buck, an apprentice on board the Providence, it ap-
t ears that early on the morning of the 3d inst., as
the above vessel was proceeding down the river with
a cargo of bricks, and when off the Clifton Baths,
close to the Essex shore, a brig was noticed a short
distance ahead, and her sails being set, the deceased
imagined that she was under weigh, and beating over
to the opposite shore. Such, unfortunately, was not
the case, she being at anchor at the time, and
before the Providence could be brought up, a
most fearful collision took place between the vessels,
the deceased's brig, the smallest one, receiving the
greatest injury, so much so, that she immediately
began to fill. The apprentice and his captain instantly
got into the boat that was hanging at the stern, for
the purpose of saving themselves, but before they could
remove the rope that held her, the Providence gave a
sudden lurch, and went down head foremost, dragging
the boat with her unfortunate occupants down with her.
The crew of the brig rendered the most prompt assist-
ance, and on the lad rising to the surface of the water he
was picked up and saved. The deceased, however, was
never seen afterwards, and the supposition is that he
was unable to extricate himself from the wreck. The
Coroner and jury being satisfied that there was no blame
to be attributed to the persons in charge of the brig, a
verdict of " Accidental death" was returned. The wreck
lies in a very dangerous part of the channel, more par-
ticularly at low water, and to prevent any accident, the
Brethren of the Trinity House have caused to be placed
a beacon to signalise her track, andin a few days attempts
will be made to raise her.
LICENSED VICTUALLERS AND POLICE INFORMA-
TIONS.—Henry Jeremy, Esq., the presiding Magistrate
at the Greenwich and Woolwich police-courts, in a
police information against a licensed victualler, which
was dismissed, remarked that it was wrong to make out
the information with " knowingly permitting," &c., with-
out it could be clearly proved that the landlord knowingly
suffered such to take place, which in most cases was not
done. For instance, a lawless mob might rush
into a house, create a disturbance. and the land
lord do his best to eject them from his premises,
and yet the police might pass at the time and see them.
It must be satisfactorily proved that they have received
liquor or beer iu the house whilst in a state of inebriety,
or been there to get so, that the licensed victualler
would be liable to be fined if he served them in that
state. He much wished this point should :meet the at-
tention of the Police Commissioners in all future cases,
which would save time and trouble to both parties in
cases of this description. The remarks from the worthy
victuallers of these towns.
JOINT-STOCK
given great satisfaction to the licensed
COMPANIES.—We were in error in
statingm agi sr athe t he
other
day
that Captain O'Brien had been
appointed Principal Registrar under the provisions of
the Joint-stock Companies' Bill. Mr. O'Brien has been
appointed to the railway department of the Board of
Trade, an office which, from his business habits, he is
well qualified to fill.—Evening Paper.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN DEPTFORD DOCKYARD.
—On Tuesday, between the hours of one and two
o'clock, p.m., as Jacob Pope, a shipwright, was employed
in moving a heavy piece of African oak on board her
Majesty's ship Phoenix, he met with an accident by
which he was crushed to death in a most frightful man-
ner. It appears that the deceased was adjusting a piece
of oak timber, weighing about two tons, from a crane
into the hold of the ship, and by some unforeseen cause it
swung round, and catching his temple, crushed his head
with great force against another timber, which had been
made fast beneath the deck. The poor fellow was im-
mediately relieved from his perilous situation, and re-
moved to the Dispensary in the Victualling-yard, under
the care of Dr. Browne, the medical storekeeper. On
the arrival of the surgeon, a minute or two afterwards,
it was manifest that life had become extinct within a
few seconds of the unfortunate occurrence,•his skull, on
examination, being found crushed like a broken egg. His
clothes and the place from which his body was removed
were literally deluged with blood. An inque st was held
yesterday, before Mr. Carttar and a respectable jury, in
her Majesty's Victualling-yard ; and after a long and
patient investigation of the circumstances, a verdict was
returned of " Accidental Death." The deceased was
twenty-nine years of age, and has left a widow far ad-
vanced in pregnancy, and two children to deplore his
untimely death.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—An accident, which it is
feared may be attended with fatal results, occurred on
the evening of Tuesday last, to a private in the 2d Bat-
tallion of the Scots Fusilier Guards, stationed at 'Windsor,
named Hannent. The unfortunate man, in attempting
to climb up the ragged pieces of granite of which the
pedestal of the bronze equestrian statute of George 111.
(on Snow-hill, at the extremity of the Long-walk) is
composed, unfortunately missed his footing, and fell from
a height of upwards of twelve feet, terribly shattering
himself against the projecting stonework, before he
reached the ground. It was feared that his back was
broken, and he was conveyed to the hospital, with as
little delay as possible, in the most excruciating torture.
Up to yesterday afternoon he was considered to be in a
most dangerous state. From the manner in which the
stonework of the pedestal is constructed it is a feat at-
tended with extreme danger to climb to the summit ;
but it is next to an impossibility to descend again (how-
ever great the caution used) without the aid of a rope or
ladder. This is not the first accident of a similar nature
which has occurred at the statue, arising from fool-
hardiness.

CHEAP FRUIT.—On Saturday night cherres were
cried in the streets in Shureditch at one farthing per
pound.
There was a terrible encounter on the 23d July,
in the morning, on Wall-street, Louisville, between Dr.
Holland and a chap pretty well known in these parts by
the fancied cognomen of " Judge Rowan." We under-
stand that the fight was for along time of doubtful issue,
but that the Judge finally bore off the Doctor's spectacles
as true trophies of victory. Expectation of a duel is now
all on tiptoe,—New York Paper.

buuLglAluestlitinl
The foo4w,aslBi‘4s4a.ed
‘Cv ig °llyUmiiontscirtis .ogrrCactliafsylt-til
Castle,
lA;
this morning:—
Eight, A M.
" The Queen is convalescent.
" The infant Prince continues well.
"JAMES CLARK, M.D.
CHARLES LOCQCK, M.D.
" ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D."
" Her Majesty's recovery is so far advanced, that
no more bulletins will be issued."

His Royal Highness Prince William of Prussia ar-
rived at the Castle to-day from town, to pay a visit to
his Royal Highness Prince Albert. His Royal High-
ness travelled by the Great 'Western Railway, arriv-
ing at the Slough station twenty mintates before one
o'clock. The Prince and suite entered one of the
Queen's carriages and four, which was in readiness
at the station, and immediately proceeded to Windsor
Castle, where he arrived five minutes before one
o'clock. His Royal Highness was atenlei by his
Excellency Chevalier Bunsen, Prussian Minister; the
Count Konigsmark ; and Captain Meyncll, Groom in
Waiting to her Majesty.
On alighting from his carriage his Royal Highness
was received by Col. the Hon. Charles Grey, Equerry
in Waiting to her Majesty, and the Earl of flard-
vvicke, Lord in Waiting. His Royal Highness Prince
Albert (attended by Col. Bouverie, Equerry in Wait-
ing) received his illustrious visitor in the entrance-
hall of the Queen's entrance.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived
at the Castle soon afterwards, from her residence,
Frogmore Lodge. _ _

A-dejeune was served to their Royal Highnesses
Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, and Prince Wil-
liam of Prussia.

At a quarter-past three o'clock Prince William of
Prussia took leave of Prince Albert, and quitted the
Castle, attended by his Excellency Chevalier Bunsen,
the Count Konigsmark, and Capt. Meynell, in one of
the royal carriages and four, and proceeded to Bushy
House, Bushy Park, to pay a visit to her Majesty the
Queen Dowager; and from Bushy Park proceeded to
the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
at Kew.

The Ducless of Kent returned to Frogmore Lodge.
Sir Robert Peel arrived at the Castle from town
this afternoon, and had an audience of his Royal
Highness Prince Albert. The Right llon. Baronet
afterwards took his departure for the metropolis.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert took a drive in
a carriage in the afternoon, attended by Mr. George
Anson and Colonel Bouverie.
The Earl of tiardwicke left the Castle this afternoon.
Sir James Clark and Dr. Ferguson took their de-
parture from the Castle to-day.
Among the nobility and gentry who made in-
quiry yesterday and on Tuesday at the Castle after the
health of her Majesty were, the Earl of Rosslyn, Lord
and Lady Bloomfield, Admiral Sir Edward Codring-
ton, Miss Maria and Miss Emma Codrington, Sir
Moses and Lady Montefiore, Hon. and Rev. Henry
C. Cust, Colonel Sir George and Lady Couper and
Miss Couper, Rev. Dr. Keate, Mr. Ralph Neville,
M.P., Mr. Filcher (ex-Sheriff of London), and Mr.
and Mrs. Harcourt.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited
he Queen this evening, and dined with his Royal
Elighness Prince Albert.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester
paid a visit to her Majesty the Queen Dowager at
Bushy Park, on Tuesday (her Majesty's birth-day).
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent, the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Hereditary
Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, also paid
visits of congratulation to the Queen Dowager.
A dejeune was served to the Illustrious party in the
afternoon at Bushy House.
At five o'clock, her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent took her departure on her return to Frogmore
Lodge. The other royal visitors also left for their
respective residences.
Sir Robert Peel left town yesterday morning for
Windsor Castle. The Right Hon. Baronet returned
to town about five o'clock in the afternoon.
A deputation from the Clothworkers' Company,
accompanied by Sheriff Musgrove, had an interview
with Sir Robert Peel yesterday.
Lord Wharncliffe left town yesterday for Cowes.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVALS.

Lord and Lady Torrington, from the Isle of Wight ;
Mr. A. Greville, at Apsley House, from Hillingdon, near
Uxbridge ; Count and Countess Seebach and suite, in
Dover-street, from Russia • the Hon. Capt. A. Gordon,
Grenadier Guards, at Lord Aberdeen's, Awyll House ;
the Rev. E. S. Ireland, from a tour on the Continent ;
Mr. and Mrs. Hughes and Mr. and Mrs. Hazeldine, at
Nelson's Hotel, Portland-place, from Dover ; Rev. E.
Pemberton and Mrs. Pemberton, at ditto ; T. Sweeten-
ham, Esq., at ditto ; J. Robinson, Esq., and Mrs. Robin-
son, at ditto, from Bury St. Edmund's ; A. Chichester,
Esq., at ditto, from the Continent.

THE PROPHETIC ALMANACS AND
THE " WEATHER CYCLE."
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The period is approaching for the announcement of
the nioaanacs for the ensuing year, and presents a fit
opportunity for devoting a few passing observations
on a subject universally canvassed, and on that ac-
count alone entitled to attention—namely, the weather.
What may be advanced in these observations is in-
tended by way of caution to the public—caution
against those moon-and-star struck impostors, the
weather prophets and astrologers, who still infest the
community, and endeavour, by artfully playing upon
the natural disposition of all men to pry into the
future, to abuse the public mind with absurd specu-
lations as regards the weekly or daily weather, and
with. debasing superstition as respects astrological
predictions.
Any explanation, however, on the subject of the
coming seasons, simply yet philosophically treated,
certainly ought to command more serious attention
than seems to be bestowed upon it. It is a matter
highly interesting in itself, and there is little doubt
that when stripped of all mystery, it may, upon
further investigation, be rendered familiar to the
most ordinary capacity. It is worthy of considera-
tion, if on no other account than that it is impossible
for any one, learned or unlearned, to live through the
year, or even through the month or the day, without
feeling the influence which the weather has upon his
own comfort, and upon the state of all things around
him. In this country, where the changes are so fre-
quent, and the contrast so striking, the subject is con-
stantly before everybody; and be it in the city or on
the common—in the palace or in the farm-house—in
the garden or on the wide-extended moor—the weather
of the season or the day forms the sure preliminary
topic of conversation.
No observation is more common, and on no oc •
casion, perhaps, is the almanac so frequently consulted,
than in forming conjectures on the state of the
weather; but the general remark goes no further
than this—that changes from wet to dry, and from
dry to wet, usually happen at the changes of the
moon. A reliance upon such a theory would lead to
the supposition of the moon having some influence
upon the currents in the atmosphere, as well as on the
currents and tides in the ocean ; but to say the least
of it, this subject is involved in great doubt and ob-
scurity, and is one which can only be elucidated—if
ever it can be proved—by long and careful ob-
servation.
If the moon be supposed to have such influence,
why not the sun ? This point has been started and is
maintained by Lieutenant George Mackenzie, of
Perth, in his " System of the Weather," who has
discovered, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that there
is a cycle of the weather—that there always has been
such a cycle,—and that there ever will be correspond-
ing cycles. We require no further evidence of this
fact than the personal knowledge of many living in-
dividuals, of the periodical recurrence of dry summers
and wet summers, and of mild winters and winters of
long-continued storm. Mackenzie affirms that no
conclusion as to the character or the state of the
weather can be arrived at by lunar periods, and
although he seems disposed to admit that the moon
may be the source of a certain quantity of the wind
that blows, yet he insists that the weather of itself is
a solar, or rather a magnetic effect. We are gratified
to find that the discoveries of Lieut. Mackenzie, and
his frequent explications on this very interesting sub-
ject for upwards of twenty-five years, have recently
been adopted and followed up by the British Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science. Upwards of
forty years ago, when he began to record his obser-
vations—which are highly valuable, and founded es-
sentially on the magnetic principle—that gentleman
fixed upon the Ist of November as the commencing
point of the weather year; and Sir David Brewster,
in a communication to the Secretary of the Associa-
tion, published in the Athenteunz, on the 31st of
August, 1839, states, " that at the new stations ap-
pointed for observing the weather, the observations
commenced on the Ist November (preceding), the
beginning (as he then called it) of the meteorological
year." Professor Whewell, while in the chair at the
Plymouth meeting of the Association in 1841, seemed
so strongly impressed with the importance of the new
light thus thrown on the system of the weather, that
be stated in his address "we ought to have me-
teorological observations and observers distributed
over the face of the globe"—a suggestion, by the way,
which has been only partially adopted. Of late years
a magnetic apparatus has been erected near the Royal
Observatory at Greenwich, under the able superin-
tendence of_Professor Airy and Mr. Glaisher ; and
besides several other stations throughout Great
Britain, we have similar establishments in North and
South America, the Cape of Good Hope, &c. Some-
thing ought to.he elucidated from the united observa-
tions thus in progress at a vast expense ; but if the
results be not placed before the public in a popular
form—a form adapted to the reasoning faculties and
understandings of the people—then the inevitable
concluson is, that the parties entrusted with this im-
portant duty have not succeeded in discovering the
elements of the subject of inquiry ; and persons are
thus unfortunately compelled, for want of anything
tangible or authentic, to fall back upon the usual
predictory schemes of the weather-almanac-makers,
though there are unquestionable grounds for believing
that these are altogether unfounded and absurd.
With regard to the analogy between the lunar in-
fluence on the tides of the ocean and on the atmos-
pheric currents insisted on by some writers, we are
in possession of one fact worth a hundred disquisi-
tions—namely, that M. Bouvard examined more than
100,000 observations made at the Royal Observatory
of Paris, embracing a period of eleven years, and he
found beyond question that the tides caused in the
atmosphere by the action of the moon were so small,
or rather so imperceptible, that it is utterly impossible
to reckon upon them for any purpose of experimental
or practical application. thus, our scientific friends
must look elsewhere than in the influence of the
moon for a solution of the phenomena producing the
weather, and account in some other way for the cer-
tain and periodical recurrence of favourable or un-
favourable seasons. On this subject, we have seen a
private communication from Mr. Mackenzie, wherein
he says—
"l am very curious about the keen pursuit upon
the subject of magnetism, because this property of
the earth is the sole foundation of the weather, for,
without it, there would be no weather whatever. Its
first sensible effect is to operate upon the loadstone or
compass needle, which is sensible to the sight ; the
next step, or property, is on the winds, which is
sensible to the feeling, but not to the sight; then
come the clouds, rain, and all the phenomena belong-
ing to the weather. Perhaps the professors expect to
discover the laws of the weather from continued ob-
servations upon the mechanical (so to say) variations
of this recondite principle upon certain bodies. In
this, I believe, they will be disappointed, since the
cycles of the winds embrace every moment of time,
and every part of the surface of the globe, and fully
explain the coming changes on all these periods (of
time), and in all places. When I mention that the
magnetic principle is the foundation of the weather,
I should have stated that this property is wholly de-
rivable from the solar action. It may be true that
half the winds are produced by the lunar body ; yet
the weather has no reference to lunar influence. So
far, this is certain ; and as the weather recurs in
cycles by the solar, or calendar months, the influence
of the moon is so far settled."
That there are cycles of the winds, and that they
have been discovered, as stated by Mr. Mackenzie—as
there are cycles in every other system of nature—we
have every reason to believe to be the case. We
know—indeed for centuries it has been known—that,
at the end of every eighteen years, the new and full
moons happen at very nearly the same times of the
year, with all the recurring phenomena of the
heavenly bodies at their regular times. The great
error in forecasting the weather seems to have origi-
nated in connecting and combining a system which is
purely a property of the earth with the planetary re-
volutions and appearances, which have as little influ-
ence on the weather as they ever had on the destinies
of man—this last being a system of gross astrological
superstitious prediction and imposition, at once de-
structive of the intellect and morals of mankind—by
which the reason and common sense of the people
were rendered completely useless—the good and the
bad depending upon an ideal destiny, no effort on
the part of the man having power to alter it—a de-
basing and delusive system, which even in these days
is helped to be perpetuated in certain almanacs and
publications, edited by persons of whom better things
might be expected.
With respect to the winds, it may not be amiss, in
concluding this notice of Mackenziea discovery, to
advert to the opinion of M. Alphonse Blanc, who ob-
serves that the winds are mostly, if not always, caused
by the expansions on condensation of the air due to
changes of the temperature. Between the tropics
the winds are very regular, the cause being perma-
nent, and the equilibrium constant. Prom this regu-
larity it may justly be concluded that the north and
south winds which we have originate in the north ;
for we cannot for a moment suppose that a south
wind should come to us from a quarter where the
contrary wind is constant. On this view, the south
wind is caused by
a condensation, and the north wind
by an expansion, of the polar atmosphere, and the
barometer ought to fall with south winds, and rise
with north winds—the effect, indeed, usually ob-
served. In other words—and as has been long ago
explained—it may be demonstrated that, owing to the
unequal distribution of heat upon the surface of the
globe, and the gradual decrease of temperature from
the equator to the poles, the elastic fluids of the at-
mosphere must perpetually circulate between the
colder and the hotter points, flowing from the former
to the latter on the surface of the earth, and return-
ing from the latter to the former in upper opposite
currents. Owing to various causes, but chiefly to the
unequal distribution of water and land upon the sur-
face of the earth, the course of the winds is by no

means so regular as is assumed in this proposition
but this grand system of balancing currents is be-
lieved certainly to exist, and being governed in parti-
cular regions by varying circumstances, give rise to
minor systems of compensating currents. This is the
substance of Mackenzie' discovery; and any one, in-
deed, may convince himself that such systerits prevail
in the atmosphere, by watching, as he has done, the
progress of the clouds ; for in this way he will be
able often to detect more than two such currents ex-
isting together. Upon more minute observation, it
will be found that one of these streams of the air be-
comes 'suddenly checked, and that the others will
continue to flow on fora time in their primary di-
rection, on account of their original impulse ; and as
a deficiency of the aerial fluid is thus produced in one
part of the atmosphere, an equivalent accumulation
must at the same time result in some other part,
which is the supposed, and indeed the only feasible
cause, of all storms, tornadoes, and other extraordi-
nary phenomena in the system of the weather. "The
wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto
the north : it whirleth about continually, and the
wind returneth again according to his circuits."—
Eccles.

We regret that it should be necessary, at this time
of day, in the nineteenth century, to notice the
new " Stellar" philosophy, propounded and lately
advocated by certain meteorological journals. This
we look upon as the revival of the follies, the absur-
dities, and superstitions of astrology ; and if the in-
fatuation were to be encouraged, we need not wonder
to find the destinies of mankind subjected to the same
fertile source of imposture as they were in the darker
ages of the world. To counteract such an error, it is
imperative to repeat, again and again, that all the
changes in the moon's appearance are satisfactorily
explained, upon the simple facts of the motions of the
moon and earth ; and therefore they neither have, nor
can have, any of those influences which superstition—
the child of ignorance—ascribes to them. Thy
planets being all much more remote from the earth
than the moon is, and having little difference in their
appearances, saving what arises from their own mo-
tions, and those of the earth round the sun, have
nothing whatever about them that claims attention as
connected either with the weather, or the appear-
ances of the year. Influence upon the earth, upon
the changes of the seasons, or upon anything that in any
way affects the comforts or the ordinary pursuits of
mankind, they have none whatever; and therefore, •
the explanations of their appearances and motions are
very properly left to the further study and improve-
ment of astronomical research.

We will examine the "cycle" more particularly on
the publication of Lieutenant Mackenzie's Annual for
1845, which usually makes its appearance long be-
fore its brethren—namely, about the Ist of October
—an announcement for which the public oup.-,ht to be
indebted to us, as it will atFord them an opportudtr
of satisfying themselves on the subject of this im-
portant discovery.