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

MONDAY ' " •A\ but4‘. JANUARY 7, 1850.
- -

Second. Master . Napoleon; Leven, whose appoint •
meat to the Saturn flsg. ship at Pembroknwas 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 H. Burton (1849) has been
appointed to study steam at Woolwich factory.
The Niger steam-sloop was taken out of the inner
basin to-day, and placed under the shears, and will
be completed in the engineer department on Monday,
the 7th instant. Captain Superintendent H. T.
Austin, C. 8., 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 M'Clure, have received their
final orders for sailing, which are as follows :—They
are to leave Woolwich en 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 witrisold on their
enterprising voyage, and the former be taken into
that port to be kept ready as an advanced war steamer li
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,
hrothers 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 301bs. 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 201 b. weight, capable of holding one per-
son, and with two small oars, similar to Chinese fees,
moved about on the river with great facility. After
exhibiting the buoyancy and usefulness of his inven.
Lion, 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 bestdescrip-
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 64. by lft. 41n.
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 alight
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
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
tatiis oapp,osritn.
The Commander en-
gines of 500-horse power examined here.
The
Rosamond Prometheus
st steam-sloop am.
sloop,
Sampson steam-frigate is ordered to be made
ready for commission.
commission
at s
t-esleoopisto b
ebrou for-
wardjghFteeteon th fore
Mediterranean
she was commis-
sioned in November, 1846, is ordered home.

POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH

FRANCE.
The following is a copy of a document which has
beenmercial and manufacturing towns within the last few
days
:_
."lo the Right Ilonourable Lord John Russell,
m.p., First Lord of the Treasury, eze•
"The memorial of the undersigned merchants,
bankers, and others, of
" Humbly showeth, That the present postal com-
munication between England and France does not
offer those facilities which the great interests of the
two countries require.
" That the mail service via Dover and Calais is
performed with much unnecessary delay, and con-
veyed by a circuitous and expensive route, to the
great detriment of commerce and international com-
munication.

" That by the substitution of the more direct and
less expensive route, via Folkestone and Boulogne,
letters posted in Paris in the evening would reach
London in time for the first morning delivery, and in
time, also, for the early morning
and west of England. mails to the north
" That the delay caused by the present postal
service between the two countries affects not only
the correspondence between London and Paris, but
the mails from India and China, and thereby occasions
much inconvenience to the general trade and com-
merce of the country.
" That the service between Folkestone and Bou-
lo,gne could be performed with certainty and regularity,
except during the prevalence of south-west gales of
wind, which render the port of Boulogne inaccessible
for, not more than twenty times in the year, when the
mails might be landed at Calais, and carried by special
conveyance to Boulogne.
" That even under such circumstances the mail
would be conveyed in the same time, and delivered at
the same hour as at present via Dover and Calais,
where there is an insurmountable, fixed, and regular
delay, occasioned by the additional length of Chi
miles of road; and that the present failures in the
service, which not unfrequently occur during north-
east gales of wind, when Calais is inaccessible, would
entirely cease.
"That your memorialists therefore pray, that for
the interests of commerce, and the promotion of
amity and intercourse between the two countries, the
mail service may be transferred to the direct and
natural highway between London and Paris via
Folkestone and Boulogne.
" And your memorialists will ever pray, &c."
A copy of the above memorial lies for signature
at the office of the Amiens and Boulogne Railway
Company, Royal Exchange-buildings.

AN ELIGIBLE OPPORTOPPORTUNITY.,_"For sale, a Co-
loured girl, of very superior qualifications, who is now
in Mr. llall's gaol in Nor,olk. She is what speculators
call a fancy girl—a bright mulatto, fine figure, straight
remarkably neat and
belleaacnklyhianirherapnedrsvoenr.y laveetteire venture say that there is not
a better seamstress, cutter and fitter of ladies' and chil-
dren's dresses, in Norfolk or elsewhere, or a more fan-
ciful knitter of bead bags, money purses, &c. Any lady
or gentleman in Norfolk or Portsmouth who may wish
to purchase a girl of this description (whom I consider
may take her and try her
and if she does not suit
the most
omnaonthssty‘oerrm valuabletoiri
the
at idn(
mig ri
sVirptilikuon:) here
given, may return her
to Mr. Hall. The cause of offence for which I intend
(though reluctantly) to sell her i 3, that she has been
recently induced, by some coloured persons, to make her
escape with them to the north, is which she fail,d, and
is now for sale. Apply to the subscriber in Suffolk, or
to Mr. James Murdatigh, or C. C. Robinson, of Ports-
mouth, for further information.--JOSEPH HOLLADAY."
—Anti-Slavery reporter.

CHEAP CAPITAL for AGRICULTURISTS.
(From the Spectator.)
_ _ _

Sir Robert Peel's example, in aiding his tenantry
with capital for improvements would no doubt be
more readily and generally accepted but for one
slight difficulty—the inability of landlords to com-
mand the said capital. Some prudent men have it,
and in those cases where prudence unites with libe-
rality, the capital will be duly available for the aid of
the tenants. But unfortunately, although an exalted
standard of excellence presumes the union of both
those good qualities, it must often happen that they
are found in separate individuals. Very many intel-
ligent and liberal English country gentlemen will
feel that Sir Robert Peel's plan is an excellent one
for him, and for others. whose princely fortunea are
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 enjoying 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-
meat 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. In the first place, Government has not at its
disposal the requisite funds ; and " to tax 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, £0 vast a money
operation would inevitably open the door to enormous
abases. 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 expelienced 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
fects : 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 Dieraelitish plan of national stockj ebbing, 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
Drainagec harg charge u
Act,p(sn onlyth e land.
that
This prior
would
e every
eo tahne r
extendedcl claim
of capital being drawn through the medium of
taxation or Exchequer loans, it would be obtained by
im or
placing the capitalists and the agriculturists in direct
communication with each other, under the sanction,
guarantee, and control of the imperial Government.

LORD WHARNCLIFTE AND THE
YORKSHIRE PROTECTIONISTS.
(Prom the Yorkshirenuzn)
We are favoured with a copy of the following able
and admirable letter, written by Lord 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 fur 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 questionais 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 end 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-4
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 be 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 26. h of December
at the earliest opportueity.
" I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
" WHAILNCLIFFE.
"Mr. T. Richardson, Black Swan."

__—
We have great pleasure in being enabled to an-
nounce that amougst the earliest measures to be sub-
mi.ted to Parliament by the Government in the ensuing
session will be Bills to provide sin extension of the
suffcsge both in England and Ireland. We are not in
possession of the details, but we have re7.son toe
h
that the scope of the proposed measure will mcet the
views of a large section of the really libcral Members.
It is not improbable that a reform of such importance
iil be tecommended in the Speech from the Throne.
Weekly Chronicle.

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 thattakes
place there will of course be 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 impression Mr. Tidd Pratt, in
reply to a letter from Air. Richard Hunt, solicitor,

lto-chlth?, who acts on behalf of many of the deposi
:ors, writes as follows :

5, Bolton. street, Piccadilly, London, Dec. 28, 1849.
" Sir,—l am in daily expectation of hearing that Mr.
Kenworthy, the accountant, has closed his examination;
and my present intention is to attend at the wings'
bank at cc n o'clock en Tuesday, the Bth of January, and
I would suggest that on that morning we should arrange
so that the question as to the personal liability of the
trustees and managers should be argued before me in
the course of that week. I have written to Mr. Jackson
to the same effect.—Yours faithfully,
" J. TIDD PRATT.
" To Richard Hunt, Esq., solicitor, Rochdale."
Mr. P. 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, intimating that it is my inten-
tion to be at the savings' bank at Rochdale on Tuesday
morning, the 8:h 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 stand over until I have decided
that point, but this can be settled when I arrive at Roch-
dale.—Yours 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,
Isaules, 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 be 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, 1550.

" 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 (ivy of which I enclose), and in
consequence thereof I must, for the present, postpone
my intended journey. In the meantime, as Mr. Jack-
son requires to be furnished with the names of the depo-
sitors who have required an arbitration, and the dates
of their application, I have, in order to save time and
xpense, enclosed you the form of t...pplication which has
been adopted on other similar occasions, and a copy of
Well should be dated, signed, and forwarded to me by
every depositor who requires the to adjudicate upon his
claiw.—l am, sir, yours faithfully,
" R. Hunt, Esq., R9cl.dale."

` JOHN TIDD PRATT.

The following ia a copy of the form alluded to:—

" Sir,—lnasm—uch as I am a depositor in the Rochdale
Savings' Bank, 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 previsions
of the statute in that case made and provided, a'ijudicatu
upon such claim, and determine whether lam 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 th© said bank, personally, or any and which
of them aro personally liable under the circumstances
of the case.—Dated the day of , 1850.
.4 —, Depositor.
" To John Tidd Pratt, Esq, 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

~"

THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS.
The general thaw which set in on Thursday pre-
vailed during Friday, but on Saturday moreing the
mercury in the thermometer fell considerably, an d
during the night was as low as 28—four degrees
below freezing point. This sudden change in the
weather caused the ice on the various ornamental
waters in the royal parks, which during the preced-
ing days had partially broken up, to become again
united. The ice, however, was far from being safe,
that portion under the immediate surface being ex-
ceedingly rotten, and boards announcing that fact
were put up along the several banks in the parks,
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 amused themselves during
yesterday upon the frozen waters, in spite of the
cautions issued by the Royal Humane Society. The
wind during yesterday varied from north north-east
to due north, and at nine o'clock last night the glass
was still falling, and from the quarter the wind was
in there appeared every probability of the frost con-
tinuing for some time longer. At that period a heavy
hoar frost was falling. Notwithstanding the extreme
coldness of the day many thousands of spectators
lined the different footpaths to witness the skating.
The members of the Skating Club mustered in strong
number during the day upon the Long Water in
Kensington gardens. The ice here, although dan-
gerous was stronger than in the other parks, but in
the Serpentine it was in a much worse condition, and
several accidents occurred, one, 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 Deae, 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 stone, 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 male 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.