The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-09 00:00:00

SPOTS ON THE SUN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—An immense spot, plainly visible to the naked
eye, is to day upon the face of the sun. It caught
my eye, by an accidental glance, without any previous
knowledge of its existence, while the sun's bright-
ness was conveniently reduced by the fog. .it is
situated a little above the centre of the disc.'. As
such a sight is not very common, and may probably
remain visible for four or five days; perhaps some of
your readers may be glad to verify it with theii•own
eyes. On viewing the sun afterwards with a tele-
scope, I found a crowd of small spots near the principal
one, which doubtless added to the impression made
upon the unassisted eye.—l remain, Sir, your most
obedient servant,
Starfield, Jan. 7.

W. LAESELL.

HEALTH OF LONDONduring the WEEK.
(From the Registrar- General's Return.)
In the week ending last Saturday, 1,133 deaths were
registered in the metropolitan districts ; in the first week
of ten previous years (1840 9) they ranged from 869
to 1,510; and the average of the ten corresponding
weeks, raised according to increase of population,
which is estimated at 1.55 per cent. annually, is
1,252. As compared with deaths registered weekly
in last December the present return exhibits an. in-
crease of nearly 100. The mortality from bronchitis
has increased in two weeks from 78 • deaths ta.103,
while that from pneumonia has increased from:69 to
95; the averages of the two diseases in the:same
week of ten previous years are 57 and 104. From
phthisis there were 129 deaths, which is sligbly under
the corrected average. From small-pox there were only
8 ; in the ten corresponding weeks of 1840 .9' 'this
epidemic ranged from 5 to 86. Whooping-cough,which
' was fatal to 23 children, is also under the usual number.
Measles, scarlatina, and typhus produce nearly the
ordinary amount of mortality; but all the five epi-
demics, with the exception of measles, are now much
less fatal than in the same week of last year. The
daughter of a labourer, aged six years, died in Scott's
Cottages, Shepherd's-bush, on the 31st of December,
of " marasmus after cholera," after as illness-of six
months' duration. From diarrhcea there were only
deaths, but 6, which is rather more than usual, oc-
curred from dysentery ; 123 deaths were registered
last week as having occurred in the workhouses of
London, and 94 in hospitals. Seven old pensioners,
whose ages ranged from 62 to 82 years, died at
Greenwich between the 28th of December and Ist of
January inclusive.
The daily mean reading of the barometer at Green-
wich was above 30 inches on Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday. The mean of the week was 29.867
inches. The mean temperature was lower than the
average of seven years on every day except Thursday
and Friday ; on the latter it rose 7 deg. above the
average of that day. The mean temperature, Which
was 43 deg. on Friday, fell to 34 deg. on Saturday.
The mean of the week was 35 deg.

COFFEE AND EATING-HOUSE
KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The history of the rise and progress of coffee-
houses would make a very entertaining and instruc-
tive column. They have had a good deal to do with
the moral and intellectual improvement of large
masses of the people, and some of our most popular
periodical writers have gone the length of placing
them in the same category as mechanics' institutions,
so much good do they produce and so powerful are
they in disseminating information and spreading
knowledge. They have wonderfully increased of
late years, not only in the metropolis but in every
town of importance throughout the country, and
when it is remembered that the majority of them
partake as much of the character of a library or
reading•room as of a place of refreshment, they are
not unworthy of the support of all who have. the
interest and welfare of the industrious portion ,of
society at heart. It is, therefore, perhaps, less sur-
prising than it is gratifying, that a comparatively-
speaking modern institution like the Coffee and
Eating-house Keepers' Association should. have met
with so much external success. Its object is stated' in
the original address of its founders to be for
providing the means of permanent support
for decayed members of the trade, and
although it has been in existence something less
than ten years, it has now a fund at its disposal
amounting to nearly 2,5001., which has enabled its
managers to afford temporary relief to some of the
body who have been suddenly overtaken by misfor-
tune, and permanent shelter to others when old age
or bodily infirmity have deprived them of the power
of maintaining themselves. It is estimated that there
are more than a thousand coffee-house keepers in the
metropolis alone, though scarcely a third of that
number have as yet joined the association ; but it is
"proposed to found a school where the orphans of de-
ceased members will be educated, clothed, and fed,
and rendered fit for melting their own way through
the world ; while the executive committee have it 'in
contemplation to establish a life assurance department,
and so doubt when these improvements are effected
in the constitution of the society it will bring a large
additional increase of persons within the sphere of its
beneficial operation.
Last night the annual entertainment in aid of
the funds of the association was given at the Royal
Grecian Saloon. It consisted of Rossini's popular
opera of La Gazza Ladra ; or, the Maid and the
Magpie; a concert, and finally a comic pantomime,
called Harlequin and the Wild Fiend of California.
The pertormances gave considerable delight to a
large and respectable audience. At the close of the
dramatic entertainment a ball was given in the large
room of the Eagle Tavern, which was exceedingly
well attended. Dancing was kept up with great
spirit till an advanced hour this morning. The ball-
room at one period was very much crowded, but the
tact and urbanity of Mr Mott, who officiated as
master of the ceremonies, secured every comfort for
the visitors. Nor were the committee or Mr. Rouse,
the respected proprietor of the tavern, at all back-
ward in exerting themselves to please their patrons,
and the ball passed off to the satisfaction of all who
were present. The proceeds of the entertainment
will make a very handsome addition to the funds of
the association, and there is no doubt that with an
energetic management the Coffee and Eating house
Keepers' Association is destined to become one of the
most flourishing charitable institutions that adorn the
great city of London.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER-TUESDAY.

LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.— 15 to 1 agat Rattrap,
18 to 1 agst Knight of Gw)nne, 20 to 1 agat Fanny
Gray (t), 20 to 1 agst Chandler, 20 to 1 agat Agitation,
25 to 1 agst Vain Hope.
METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.-20 to 1 agst Black
Eagle, 20 to 1 agst Testator, 25 to 1 agst any other.
CHESTER Cur.-1,000 to 25 agst Peep• o'-day 1307
(offers to take), 40 to 1 agst Lady Evelyn, 50 to 1 agat
Cossack, 50 to 1 agst Mahon, 1,000 to 15 agat any other
(offered).
DERRY.-9 to 1 agst Bolingbroke (offers to take), 11
to 1 agst Ghillie Callum, 12 to 1 agat Knight of Avenel,
15 to 1 agat The Italian, 15 to 1 agst Voltigeur (take 16
to 1), 18 to 1 agat The Nigger, 1,000 to 12 agat Black
Susan colt (offers to take).

EFFECTS OF FREE TEA DE. DIMINUTION or
BANILR UPTCY.—The following table shows the number
of baukrupteies notified in the London Gazette during
the month which ended yesterday (Jan. 8), compared
wish those gazetted in the corresponding period of last
year. From this it will be seen that the bankruptcies so
notified during the last month of the first year of free
trade are leas than one-half of the parallel period the
year before :
Dec. 15, 1848
~ 19 ll
~ 22 l4

Dec. 14, 1849
„ 18 lO
„ 21 3
„ 25 $
„ 28 3
den. 1, 18S0
„ 4
99 8

„ 26....

99 29 8
Jan. 2, 1849
f 9 5
fl, 9

Total

T0ta1......... 46

LOSS OF THE SAILOR unfortunate
vessel, Captain Mliatchner, master, bound for New
Orleans, from this port, had upwards of 400 persons on
board, of whom 375 were emigrants—men, lyoranTilaandd
children, the chief of whom were froni
counties. The wreck took
Can•
t
cum. The weather is reported to have been hazy at the
e
of November, on a reef
place
"cothzietrnivihtteoef land th
thelne
of rocks near the island of
itni time,
f,eiwn
btblaberms,isdbset obfe,wahmicebashpeergfoect
perfect wreck.
rtehceb r. o
Theks, wchreerew:
who acted with gieat humanity,
whole of the emigrants on the island in safety, but there
their sufferings became frightful. Little or no provisions
satn:thihaaenn unfortunatel
3inhtealadintense
e rfs
bet
:.
creatures
ttuTi. a
aihn
0,
shiptp weressytwwn gotts
h 7i
suchonouo2t
t4oohavoc
es r wreck,ntahmo e onn, fewerg
and was insured to the amount
of 9,800/.—Liverpool Chronicle.
THE REV. JAMES SHORE.—The London committee
for the purpose of
receiving subscriptions on behalf of
the Rev. James Shore, who was lately released from
Exeter gaol, where he had undergone imprisonment for
noe:payintriv of costs to the Bizhop of Exeter in a suit
insittuted against him (Slit re) in the Court of Arches,
and on the :übsequeut appeal, made a report statiug
that they had received as subscriptions 6141. 2s. 7d., of
which they had expended 525/. 15s. 10d. (including 3104
16s. 4d., the cost above alluded to), leaving a balance of
881 6s. 9d., which the committee have handed over to
the Rev. Gentleman, in aid of the expenses he had per-
sonalty incurred during the lengthened proceedings.
BORNEO.-11 e understand that the Peace Society
and A bortkAines' Protection Society intend to take up
the subject of Sir James Brooke's recent pry ceedings in
the Eastern Archipelago. A public meeting is to be
held in the city of London just before the opening of
Parliament, where not only the Boinean question, but
the whole system of head-money, as now practised by
the Government of this couutiy, will be brought under
review.
According to the Wanderer of •Irielina; the
peror of Austria has sent his portrait to the Pre04441:
of the French Republic, accompanied by an aiggitaltb
letter.