The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-19 00:00:00

febtrb 72bitton

READING, GUILDFORD, and REIGATE
RAILWAY COMPANY.
The HALF-YEARLY GENERAL MEETING of the Shareholders
in this Company will be held, pursuant to the Act of Parliament, at
the Offices of the Company, on FRIDAY, the 15th February next, at
One o'clock precisely, for the general purposes of the Company.
And the said Meeting will be made Special for the purpose of then
authorising the Directors to conclude certain arrangements between
this Company and the South-Eastern Railway Company, notice of
which willbe given fourteen days before the said meeting.
The Books of the Company will be Closed frem the 2Ah instant
until after the said likeeting.

2, Royal Exchange-buildings,
January 18, 1850.

DAVID SALOMONS, Chairman.

MINING INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Mining Journal of this day.)
The market continues firm, and a large amount of
business has been transacted ; still inquiries have been
made for a much greater number of shares, at ad-
vanced prices, than sellers could be found to supply.
Tin has advanced, and the metal market is generally
firm, with an upward tendency.
At the Camborne Consols Mine a considerable
improvement in the silver lode has taken place. It
consists of a soft friable killas, interspersed with
small quartz crystals, throughout which fibrous native
silver is thickly disseminated.
At Devon Great Consols there has been a very
considerable improvement at Anna Maria, in the
70 fm. level, both east and west.
At South Tamar, the lode in the 70 end south is
greatly improved ; the lode has not been taken down
:or some days, and is found to be worth 20 cwts. per
fir., the present end continuing the same. The 60 is
also improved ; 40 tons is expected to be raised this

East Tamar, the 60 end south is much im-
other ends are looking well, and the pros-
r month.ovte ;
pros-
pects generally highly encouraging.
Tincroft still continues improving, and large re-
serves of both tin and copper are being made. The
amount of business in these shares this week have
been large, and at advanced and advancing prices.
West Buller, South Frances, South Tolgus, West
Caradon, Alfred Cons&s, and South Basset have been
in request—the former espeeially, at an advance.
Cook's Kitchen still continues to improve, and
shares are readily sought for at better prices.
South and Eist Tamar and Bedford United con-
tinue in demand.
Holmbush shares are in request, and business done
at higher prices. The lead lode in the 120 continues
highly productive, being 6 ft. wide, producing 3 ton•
per fm. in the present end; the bottom is worth
7 tons, and the stopes 21 tons per fathom.
Cwm Erfin Mine is reported to have very consi-
derably improved, and with sufficient capital and
careful management, we have no doubt of this mine
becoming permanent and rrofitable.
North Pool continues to look well; and we learn
that she will pay 22/. 16s. per 100th share through
the present year, if not an increase.
South Basset is represented to maintain the late
improvement on William's lode. At West Buller,
the prospects were never so good as at present ; up-
wards of 40,0001. worth of ore has been discovered;
and the dividends in future will be bi-monthly, when
15/. per share has been promised.
At Wheal Se,tor, they have a good lode in Tilley's
shaft, which will place the mine in her former posi-
tion, and will continue to pay regular dividends.
Tywarnhayle Mines are considerably improved, and
are likely amply to remunerate the spirited adven-
turers in resuming operations here.
Penzance Consols is represented to have much im-
proved within the last few days, and a local demand
has been made for the shares.
The Goginan Lead Aline has declared a dividend of
2,500/. on the two months' working—being Si. per
share. The profits would have admitted a larger
amount, but for the expensive operations now being
carried on to bring the mine ultimately into a more
permanent and profitable position.
At the West Buller account meeting, a dividend of
101. per share was declared from the September and
October profits. The mine is stated to be looking
splendid ; and an increase of dividend may be fairly
calculated on at the next account.
At the West Providence quarterly meeting, a divi-
dend of 21. per share was declared, leaving a balance
of about 100/. in hand. We have not received the
official statement of accounts ; but the above may be
considered authentic.
At the Great Consols meeting, a dividend of Si. per
share was declared, leaving a balance in hand of
1,4001. 85 3d.
_ _

At the Wheal Buller meeting, the accounts showed,
ores sold, 2,4501. 18s. 11d. A dividend of 101. per
share was declared, leaving balance of 3761. 103. 3d.
At the Devon and Courtenay meeting, the accounts
presented, showed, ores sold, 2891. 17s. 2d., leaving
a balance against the mine of 17/. 17a. 7d.
The General Mining Association declared a divi-
dend of 10s. per share for the half year, and another
10s. may be expected in Juno next, being the usual
amount paid annually (20,0000 for the past four
years. The collieries, which are situate iu
Nova Scotia, are progressing in a satisfactory
manner ; and from the present favourable posi-
tion of the manufacturing districts of the United
States, the demand from the surrounding colonies,
and the increase of steam navigation, tends to render
the company's property of immense value. The
numerous difficulties which they have had to en-
counter are now overcome, and the probability is
that the dividends will be permanent and increasing.
Shares in the following mines have changed hands
since our last :—Devon Great Consols, South Basset,
Tincrofr, Treviskey and Barrier, West Buller, Tre-
lawny, West Caradon, Mary Ann, South and East
Tamar, Wheal Prosper (Dartmoor), Tregorden, East
Buller, West Providence, Wheal May, Trehane,
Stray Park, Kirkcudbright, Holmbush, Cwm Erfin,
Wellington Mines,
Callington, Trethellan, Devon
and Courtenay Consols, &c.
In foreign mines the transactions have been chiefly
confined to St. John del Rev, Copiapo, United
Mexican, &c.

i(iFEr
NAVYomthe
ESTIMATES.--The
iitmedATSßerse:_ieeTGh
ea zAetdtemoifratlhtiys
THE ARMY
AND NAVY.
engaged for several weeks past at Somerset-house, in
"reference to the estimates •in course of preparation
for the ensuing official year. have been
" The reduction, as we
have already stated, will exceed
a quarter of a million.
ROYAL MARINES.—The reduction, which is said is
about to take place in this branch of the service, is to
consist of ten companies, and thereby afford the op-
portunity of old veteran officers to retire from the
corps. It is rumoured that First Lieutenant Richards,
of the Chatham division, has tendered his resignation
to the Lords of the Admiralty.
THE VACANT COLONELCIES.—The 68th and 80th
Regiments are still vacant, in spite of our reminder
last week ; of course all sorts of rumours are afloat.
Amongst them is that Major-General Dangles
Mercer, C. 8., is to have the 68th, and Major- General
James Ferguson, C 8., the 80th.
VICE-ADMIRAL SIR W. PARKER'S FLEET.—Our
last account from the Mediterranean left the fleet,
under the orders of Sir -W. Parker, Bart., G.C.B
lying at the island of Mosconini on Christmas-day•
The gallant Admiral was about to quit, in a day or
two, for Salamis Bay.
A NEW SQUADRON OF STEAM-VESSELS.—We un-
perstand that, in anticipation of securing the contract
for conveying the mails between India and Australia,
and of performing the whole of the Mediterranean and
Bombay service, the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany have determined on building seven new and
powerful paddle-wheel steam vessels. Todd and Mac-
gregor, of Scotland, are to build two of the number,
they having succeeded so well with the Sultan, the
ship last built. The vessels are to be built of iron.
A NEW SCREW STEAM-CORYETTE.—TheAdMiralty
have ordered Mr. Mare, of Blackwall, to construct
for her Majesty's service a new screw-corvette, of
1,300 tons, to be named the Highflyer. She is to be
built of wood, and to have engines of 240-horse
power.
SAILS v. STEAM.—The Admiralty have determined
to try, in a long run, the qualties of a pure sailing-vessel
against a steamer. The Indefatigable, new 50-gun
frigate, and the Terible steam-frigate, are ordered to
leave Devonport together on Tuesday next for
Lisbon, and they are to make the best of their way
to join Commodore Martin's squadron in the Tagus,
perfectly independent of each other. The steamer
will not use her coals if she has a fair wind, but she
is always to keep a forward course.
YELLOW FEVER AT ANTIGUA.—The 40th Regi-
ment has suffered much from the attacks of fever,
having lost one-fifth of the non-commissioned officers
and privates during its prevalence.
STAFF OF IRELAND.—Lieutenant-General the
Right Hon. Sir E. Blakeney, G.C.B , has returned
to the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin, from
leave ofabsence in Eogland, and resumed the command.
-Major-General F. J. Wemyss,
Colonel St. John Clarke, 0.13., has arrived in
Lonthaa from Athlone, on six weeks leave of absence.
K.H., Assistant Quarter-
Master-General of the Belfast district, has proceeded
on leave of absence.
A SCREW COMMITTEE.—Captain Chads, C. 8., of
the Excellent, gunnery ship,
has been associated
with the Surveyor of the Navy and the Comptroller
of Steam Machinery as a Committee of Naval Officers
to investigate reports and suggestions connected with
the application of the screw propeller to vessels of
war, as principal and auxiliary, and the experience
already gained in her Majesty's service.

APOTIIECALIESe-lIALL.—The following are the
Carnes of gentlemen who passel their examination in the
science ar,d practice of medicine, and 'received certifi-
cates to practice, on Thursday, Jan. 17 : —Andrew Hamil-
ton,
.Scarborough ; John Hollingworth, Staveley, Der-
byshire; leopard William Sedgwick, Boroughbridge;
Thomas Warburton Benfield ,Leice3ter.

A VAGRANT'S STORY
(From the Morning Chronicle.)
The following is a statement of a female vagrant,
a young girl with eyes and hair of remarkable
blackness. Her complexion was of the deepest bru-
nette, her cheeks were full of colour, and her lips
very thick. This was accounted for : she told me
that her father was a mulatto from Philadelphia. She
was short, and dressed in a torn old cotton gown, the
pattern of which was hardly discernible from wear.
A kind of half shawl, patched and mended in several
places, and of very thin woollen texture, was pinned
round her neck ; her arms—which, with her hands,
were full and large—were bare. She wore very old
broken boots and ragged stockings. Her demeanour
was modest.
"I am now 18," she stated. "My father was
a coloured man. He came over here as a sailor,
I have heard, but I never saw him ; for my
mother, who was a white woman, was not married
to him, but met him at Oxford; and she married
afterwards a box-maker, a white man, and has
two other children. They are living, I believe, but
I don't know where they are. I have heard my
mother say that my father--that's my own father—
had become a missionary, and had been sent out to
America from England as a missionary by Mr.—.
I believe that was fifteen years ago. I don't know
who Mr. was, but he was a gentleman, I've
heard my mother say. She told me, too, that my
father was a good scholar, that he could speak seven
different langauages, and was a very religious man.
He was sent out to Boston, but I never heard
whether ho was to stay or not; and I don't know
what he was to missionary about. He behaved
very well to my mother, I have heard her say, until
she took up with the other man (the box-maker),
and then he left her and gave her up, and came to
London. It was at Oxford that they all three were
then ; and when my father got 'away, or came away
to London, my mother followed him (she's told me
so, but she didn't like to talk about it), as she was
then in the family way. She didn't find him, but
my father heard of her, and left some money with
Mr. for her, and she got into Poland-street
workhouse through Mr. --, I've heard. While
there she received ls. 6d. a week; but my father
never came to see her or me. At one time my father
used to live by teaching languages. He had been in
Spain, and France, and Morocco. I've heard, at any
rate, that he could speak the Moors language, but
know nothing more. All this is what I've heard
from my mother and my grandmother—that's my
mother's mother. My grandfather and grand-
mother are dead. He was a sawyer. I have a
great grandmother living in Oxford, now 92, sup-
ported by her parish. I lived with my grandmother
at Oxford, who took me out of pity, as my mother
never cared much about me, when I was four
months old. I remained with her until I was ten,
and then my mother came from Reading, where
she was living, and took me away with her. I
lived with her and my stepfather, but they were
badly off. lie couldn't get much to do at his trade
as a box-maker, and he drank a great deal. I was
with them about nine months when I ran away. He
beat me so ;he never liked me. I couldn't bear it.
I went to Pangbourne, but there I was stopped by a
man my stepfather had sent—at least I suppose so—
and I was forced to walk back to Reading—ten miles,
perhaps. My father applied to the overseer for
support for me, and the oversEer was rather
harsh, and my father struck him, and for that he was
sent to prison for three months. My mother and her
children then got into the workhouse, but not until
after my stepfather had been some time in prison.
Before that she had an allowance, which they stopped.
I don't know how much. I was in the workhouse
twenty-one days. I wasn't badly treated. My mo-
ther sweared my parish, and I was removed to St.
James's, Poland-street, London. I was there
three weeks, and then I was sent to
New Brentford—it was called the Juve-
nile Establishment and I went to school.
There were about 150 boys and girls ; the boys were
sent to Norwood when they were 15. Some of the
girls were 18—kept there until they could get a
place. I don't know whether they all belonged to St.
James's, or to different parishes, or how. I stayed
there about two years. I was very well treated, suf-
ficient to eat ; but we worked hard at scrubbing,
cleaning, and making shirts. We made all the boys'
clothes as well, jackets and trowsere, and all. I was
then apprenticed as maid of all work, in Duke street,
Grosvernor-square, for three years. I was there
two-and- a-half years, when my master failed in
business and had to part with me. They had no
servant but me. My mistress was sometimes kind,
pretty well. I had to work very hard. She some-
times beat me if I stopped long on my errands. My
master beat me once for bringing things wrong from
a grocer's. I made a mistake. Once my mis-
tress knocked me down stairs for being long on
an errand to Pimlico, and I'm sure I couldn't
help it, and my eye was cut. I was three weeks
before I could see well. [There is a slight mark
under the girl's eye still.] They beat me with
their fists. After I left my master I tried hard
to get a place, I'm sure I did, but I really
couldn't ; so, to live, I got water-cresses to sell up
and down Oxford-street. I stayed at lodging-houses.
I tried that two or three months, but couldn't live.
My mother had been through the country,' and I
knew other people that had, through meeting them at
the lodging-houses. I first went to Croydon, begging
my way. I slept in the workhouse. After that I
went to Brighton, begging my way, but I couldn't
get much, not enough to pay my lodgings. I was
constantly insulted, both in the lodging-houses and
the streets. I sung in the streets at Brighton, and
got enough to pay my lodgings, and a little for food.
was there a week, and then I went to the Mendicity,
and they gave me a piece of bread (morning and
night) and a night's lodging. I then went to Lewes
and other places, begging, and got into prison at Tun-
bridge Wells for 14 days for begging. I only used to
say I was a poor girl out of place, could they relieve me ?
I told no lies. I didn't pick my oakum one day, it
was such hard stuff; 3ilbs. of it to do from nine to
half-past three, so I was put into solitary for three
days and three nights, having half a pound of bread
and a pint of cold water morning and night ; nothing
else, and no bed to sleep on. I'm sure I tell you the
truth. Some had irons on their hands if they were
obstropelous. That's about two months ago. I'm
sorry to say that during this time I couldn't be vir-
tuous. I know very well what it means, for I can
read and write, but no girl can be circumstanced as I
was. I seldom got money for being wicked ; I hated
being wicked, but I was tricked and cheated. lam
truly sorry for it ; but what could a poor girl do ? I
begged my way to London from Hastings, and got
here on Saturday last, and having no money, came
here. I heard of this asylum from a girl in White-
chapel, who had been here. I met her in a
lodging-house, where I called to rest in the day-
time. They let us rest sometimes ,at lodging-
houses in the daytime. I never was in any
prison but Tunbridge Wells, and in Gravesend lock-
up for being out after twelve at night, when I had
no money to get a lodging. I was there one Satur-
day night, and got out on Sunday morning, but had
nothing given me to eat—l was in by myself. It's a
bad place—just straw to sleep on, and very cold. I
told you I could read and write. I learned that
partly at Oxford, and finished my learning at the
juvenile establishment at Brent ford. There I was
taught reading, writing, sums, marking, sewing, and
scrubbing. Once I could say all the multiplication
table, but I've forgot most of it. I know how to
make lace, too, because I was taught by a cousin in
Oxford, another grandchild of my grandmother's. I
can make it with knitting needles. I could make
cushion.lace with pins, but I'm afraid I have forgot
how now. I should like, if I could, to get into ser-
vice again here or abroad. I have heard of Australis,
where I have a cousin. lam sure I could and would
conduct myself well in service, I have suffered so
much out of it. lam sure of it. I never stole any-
thing in toy life, and have told all I have done
rong.."