The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-27 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

have read in The Sun of this day an ac-
count of the loss of the Superb steamer and of eleven

ivies.

The latter calamity is attributed to the same cause
as in several rece-nt instances—namely, to the boats
being lowered down without having the plugs in.
13-fore suggesting a simple and sure remedy for
such a common and yet dangerous oversight, I may.
explain to your non-nautical readers that " plug-
holes" are apertures made in the bottoms of boats to
allow the escape of any water when the boats are
hoisted up, and that the "plug is taken out for that
purpose and replaced when the boat is lowered down,
though, as we have just seen, in moments of danger
the " plug" is sometimes forgotten. My own expe-
rience turnishes many instances of boats so lowered,
though in men-of-wars' boats, even should the plug
be lost, we soon find resources not in the power of a
crowd of frightened passengers.
My suggestion, then, is that all passenger vessels
should have their boats fitted with valve plugs to
open outwards an d not inwards, a contrivance (as
every common pump-maker knows) both simple and
inexpensive, and analogous to the valves now used in

steamers.
The cost certainly would not exceed ten shillings,
and, as many lives would be saved, surely the law
might require such outlay from all owners of vessels
carrying passengers.
Being much engaged in other matters (trying to
save another ship), I must beg you to excuse haste,
and, I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
E. PLUNKETT.

Travellers' Club, Sept. 26.
[A. simple remedy might be adopted to obviate
this too often fatal neglect. Let a small chain be
attached to the plug and fastened to the bottom of the
boat. The plug would thus be readily found in any
ency, whether by day or by night.—En. Sun.]

emer;

THE IRISH EXILES.
JOHN MITCHEL The last account of poor
Mitchel is supplied in an Australian paper, which
announces the arrival of the Neptune convict ship at
Hobart Town, and states that John Mitchel had re-
ceived his ticket of leave, and on account of his deli-
cate state of health will be allowed to reside at Both-
well, where he can enjoy the society of John Martin.
TERENCE BELLEW WMANUS.—TiIIS gentleman
obtained permission from the Government to reside
in Launceston.—Freeman's Journal.

ENCROACHMENTS ON Sr. JAMES'S AND THE GREEN
PARKS.—MEETING OF THE VESTRY OF ST. JAMES'S.
Yesterday a numerously-attended meeting of the vestry of
St. James's took place at the vestry-house, St. James's
Churchyard, Piccadilly, for the purpose of considering,
amongst other matters, the encroachments by the Commis-
shiners of Woods and Forests on St. James's and the Green
Parks, f r the improvement of Buckingham Palace, the re-
moval of the marble arch, &c. William Geeson, Esq., the
churchwarden, occupied the chair. Mr. Nelson having
strongly condemned the proceedings of the Commissioners
of NV uods and Forests in reference to the so-called park im-
provements, and having charged those functionaries with a
breach of faith to Parliament, said that he would in the
nrst place move as a resolution That the ycatry of St.
James's object to the encroachments in St. James's-park as
contrary to the understanding with the House of Commons
when the grant was made;" and then he would give notice
that he would move "'That a petition be presented to Par-
liatnent to require the Commissioners of Woods and Forests
to deposit plans and give notices of any proposed alterations
in the property belonging to the Crown and the public, as
required by individuals or public companies under the stand-
ing orders of Parliament." Mr. Watkins seconded the reso-
lution. After some observations from other speakers, all of
whom, with one exception, stated their approval of Mr.
Nelson's views, that gentleman, for the sake of regularity,
withdrew his mod n, and gave notice of the more practical
one, calling on Parliament to insist on the Commissioners of
Woods and Forests giving notice, and putting in their plans
of any alterations in accordance with the standing rules of
Parliament. This course having been assented to by the
meeting, it shortly after separated.
THE ERECTION OF MODERN WAREHOUSES.—If
our country readers desire to know how we get up buildings
in London, we would recommend them to a sight which at-
tracted our notice in passing down Wood-street the other
evening, where we found a crowd of persons watching the
progress of a gang of labourers working by gas light, to
complete an additional large building for the Messrs. Dent,
Allcroft, and Co., the wholesale glovers. The effect of the
men busily occupied amidst so novel an illumination upon a
skeleton scaffold, which thus appeared more than usually
fragile and mysterious, was certainly curious, and from the
rapid and successful termination of their duties, may lead to
the adoption of this plan of " double ganging" to many
buildings like unto this, where the most extensive trade
operations are carried on, and where the cessation of business
but for an hour would be attended with serious inconvenience
to a widely .spread connexion.
SPIDERS A CURE FOR AGUE.—Seeing a note on
this subject reminds me that a few years since a lady in the
south of Ireland was celebrated far and near amongst her
poorer neighbours for the curd of this disorder. Her
universal remedy was a large house-spider, alive, and en-
veloped in treacle or preserve. Of course the parties were
carefully kept in ignorance of what the wonderful remedy
was. Whilst I am on the subject of cures, I may as well
state that in parts of the county Carlow the blood drawn
from a black cat's ear, and rubbed upon the part affected, is
esteemed a certain cure for St. Anthony's fire.—.Noics and

Queries. •
An interesting discovery has just been made near
Fontenav, between Soissons and Compiegne.
A great num-
ber of Roman antiquities having been found in digging, the
workmen were instructed to continue, and soon came to the
foundations of Roman buildings covering a surfac of mure
than 34,000 metres, and diyid9rl into 311(143 thrill 200 ;owns
cq 011§.-.-Galignani.