The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-05 00:00:00

fl4' t'ueninC

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1844.

The great meeting which took place on Thursday
last at the Manchester Athenaeum, of the various
literary societies and mechanics' institutes of that
and the neighbouring towns, is one of those signs of
the times which it is impossible to contemplate
without the sincerest satisfaction. Men of all parties
and shades of party here met as on neutral ground;
political asperities were laid aside ; the Conservative
fraternised with the Whig, and the Whig with the
Radical ; the aristocratic landowner rejoiced to
hold out the right hand of good-fellowship
to the humbler manufacturer, and coveted
no other distinction than such as might
be awarded to him for his intellectual powers. It
was delightful to see such men as Lord Joux MAN-
NERS, and Messrs. SMYTHE and DISRAELI, who
occupy a high position in society, abandoning all
conventional claims to notice, and desiring only to
produce an impression on their Manchester hearers
by the lustre of their eloquence, the force of their
reasoning, and the truth and elevation of their
sentiments. The speeches delivered by these
gentlemen— more especially those of Messrs.
DISRAELI and SMYTHE—are among the most
impressive we have read for many a long day,
exhibiting not merely a copious flow of poetic
imagery, very rarely to be met with in these days of
matter-of-fact Utilitarianism, but giving utterance to
valuable truths not less lofty than fervent and gene-
rous in their character. But twenty short years ago,

how would the proud, exclusive aristocracy of England
have started—how would their conventional preju-
dices regarding rank and pedigree have been
shocked—had one of their own equestrian Order
presumed to hold language like this at a meet-
ing of mere Manchester manufacturers :—" Gentle-
men, the very Ambassadors now sent to us from
foreign courts are, so many reproaches to
our neglect of letters. Who is the Ambassador
from Russia ? A man who has risen by his pen.
Who is the Ambassador from Sweden ? An author
and a historian—the historian of British India. Who
is the Ambassador from Prussia? An author and a
professor. Who is the Ambassador from Belgium ?
Again, a man who has risen by literature. Who is
the Ambassador from France ? An author and a his-
torian. Who is the Ambassador from, I had almost
said, our fellow-countrymen in America ? Again,
an author and a professor !" Independent, high-minded
language like the above is enough to snake the bones
of an aristocrat of the old exclusive school shake in
their ancestral tomb. What, a member of his own
patrician Order indirectly advocate the raising of
mere plebeian men of letters to posts of high
political distinction—posts which should be held,
as of old, solely by the PELHAMS and the NEW-
CASTLES—men who are born statesmen by virtue of
hereditary descent, and who lay claim to superior
wisdom as an inseparable adjunct to their Peer's co-
ronet'. Monstrous heresy! Flagrant assault on the
exclusive privileges of rank and blood ! So would ex-
claim an aristocrat of the old school. But, thank Gov,
the youthful generation of our nobility are, many of
them, of a different mettle to their more bigoted sires!
The striking historical vicissitudes of the last half
century and upwards have not been regarded by them
with indifference ; they have derived valuable lessons
from the stirring events that have been passing in the
world about them; they have seen the broad cur-
rent of public opinion pressing on, in spit? of all the
dams and locks that aristocracy conjointly with
priestcraft has set up to check its progress ; and
seeing this, they have wisely and nobly resolved to
fall in with the temper of the times, and to become
conspicuous among their fellow-countrymen rather
by their intellectual wealth than the lucky accident
of birth, since, after all, intelligence is the only true
lasting power—the power that moulds individuals and
nations—that hurls down the showy Falsehood, how-
ever exalted be the pinnacle whereon it is perched,
and uplifts the sterling Truth, no matter how humble
or disregarded be its position among men. We say
no more than the strict truth, when we say that
by far the best speeches at the Manchester
Athenaeum were made by those who were the
most distinguished among the meeting by their posi-
tion in society ; and we may search among the re-
cords of Parliament for the last ten or a dozen years,
without finding such displays of the truest and purest
eloquence—that, namely, of thought and sentiment—
as characterised the orations of Messrs. Satv TUE and
D'ISEAELI.

The late deplorable calamity at the Haswell Col-
liery has attracted, as was naturally to be expected,
an extraordinary degree of sympathy for the melan-
choly fate of its victims, and the scarcely less de-
plorable bereavment of their Aurviving connexions.
Upwards of one hundred human beings, engaged in
the honest pursuit of their laborious and dreary call-
ing, were swept out of existence by a sudden escape
and explosion of that noxious gas which is always
generated in greater or lesser volume in coal work-
ings. Nearly as many more, in the various relations
of wives and children and dependent kindred, have
been in a moment deprived of their natural protectors
and supporters. The dead have perished without
warning; the living are left without provision for
their future subsistence. No one survives to tell the
tale of this frightful disaster ; so that its cause, and
the manner of its operation, are left to conjecture, or
to be collected from the opinions and experience of
witnesses who had either quitted the pit before the
explosion took place, or who have examined it since.
But these witnesses, so far as the laborious examina-
tions of the coroner's inquest have yet gone, seem to
concur, all of them, in the declaration that up to a
period of within half an hour of this dreadful blast,
they had found the pit "exceedingly well ventilated"
—some aver that it has been always considered by
them "particularly safe ;" and others deposed that
they had never been employed in workings where so
powerful a stream of fresh air was kept up. One of
the men examined before the inquest has already
proved that, at times, this stream was so powerful,
that ho and his fellow-workmen hare been obliged to
solicit the master worker to moderate it, by shutting
to " the brattice." But whether the mischief origi-
nated from the displacement of a "Judd" (one of the
supporting pillars of the mine which is taken away
when the adjacent chamber or space is worked only)
or by the incautious exposure of a lighted DAVY
!amp to the air of the mine—this fact, which it might
have been so essential to the interests of humanity
and science to have ascertained, can, now, never be
duly ascertained. Upon all reasonable assumption
we may, probably, infer that, notwithstanding the
vague, though general impressions, of the witnesses
whom we have referred to, there must have been a
large previous accumulation of the fatal " coal damp,"
as it is called ; and we must own to a strong pre-
possession that, had any adequate scheme of mining
supervision been in operation, under due authority
and efficient management, the great probability is
that this desolating sacrifice of human life might have
been avoided. So much we feel ourselves justified in
assuming; and in doing so, we feel that we neither
anticipate nor prejudice the finding of the coroner's
jury.

Now, this brings us again to notice a matter which
we have often, and very recently, urged upon the at-
tention of our readers—namely, the slovenly and dis-
graceful manner in which pending Bills, and all the
unconcluded measures of the session, are hurried on
with railroad velocity and reckless carelessness, as
the Parliamentary recess or prorogation approaches,
to the limbo of legislation defunct before maturity.
They are pitchforked, by wholesale, into the great
cemetery of "a second time this day six months."
When the next ensuing session is commenced, the
same initiatory proceedings, the same tedious pre-
liminaries of debate, and announced amendments,
have to be gone through again, to the great hindrance
of public business, the grievous waste of public time,
and the exclusive profit and pleasure of the Parlia-
ment printer and her MAJESTY'S Stationary-office.
These, however, are simply inconveniences. That
the same practice may occasionally lead to graver and
more lamentable results we are not sure that this
very call of the Haswell Colliery does not demcn-
strata. On our table we have had for the last fort-
night, among other Parliamentary prints then issued,
a copy of "A Bill for establishing District Registers
of all Mining operations in England and Wales,
prepared and brought in by Mr. HODGSON HIND and
W. ORD, and ordered by the House of Commons to
be printed, Ist of August, 1844." This Bill, there-
fore, had it been introduced earlier—or had it, after
its introduction at this later period of last session,
been carried through both Houses, received the royal
assent, and passed into a law—this very Bill might
have established such a precautionary and salutary
mining supervision as we advocate. For what is its
object, as we collect it from the preamble ? That " it
is expedient to establish a systematic registration of
all mining operations carried on throughout Eng-
land and Wales and in the Isle of Man, for better
preventing the loss of human life, the occurrence of I
many grievous and unexpected injuries to mining pro-
prietors, and the large and fruitless expenditure of
capital and labour which result from an entire igno-
rance, or an imperfect record of mining operations."
There was, some months ago, a memorable strike
among the pitmen. Some new hands—a few, at
least, there were for the first time working in this
pit, are sacrificed in this terrible explosion. How
possible is it that, from their want of a minute or
practical acquaintance with the nature of the various
workings—which were considered by the more ex-
perienced miners to: be dangerous—these poor fel-
lows may have, by some momentary imprudence
or other, originated the explosion ? How pos-
sible is it that, had there existed " a systematic re-
gistration" of the " mining operations " of the Has.
well district, this " loss of human life " might have
been " better prevented." In such a case it might
not have fallen to our painful lot to publish that an-
nouncement which has created so vivid a sensation
throughout the metropolis, of one of the most hideous
casualties that has occurred in our mining districts
for these thirty years past. The Bill would have
fully embraced all the regulations, the want of which

has, perhaps, been the proximate cause of this memo-
rable calamity. The classification of its clauses goes
under the following heads:—General Provisions ;
Officers and Offices for Registration ; Expenses of
the Act ; Notice of Registration ; Mode of Ditto ;
Inspectors of Registers and Copies ; Evidence ; Po-
licies; Accounts of Registrars; Injuries to Mines
after Registration ; Power of Board of Trade, &c.

Madrid journals of the 27th ult. have been re-
ceived. The Gazette contains two decrees for effect-
ing sayings in the War Department—one reducing
the supplies allowed for the equipment of recruits,
and the other for suppressing the military libraries
established last year. The saving is reckoned at
12,000,000 reels. The QUEEN was to open the ses-
sion of the Cortes at the Palace of the Senate, not,
as had been the custom, in the Hall of the Deputies.
On the 16th the French had evacuated the island of
Mogadore, and next day all their ships of war had
left for Algesiras.
The Three per Cents. were done at 28/ for cash,
and 28i at 60 days; the Five per Cents. at 20i- for
cash, and 21 at 60 days ; the Floating Debt at 66 at
60 days ; the Debt without Interest at 6i for cash,
and time.

On Thursday afternoon the King and Queen of
the FRENCH, Madame ADELAIDE, and the Duke DE
MONTFENSIER left St. Cloud for the Chateau d'Eu.
They were accompanied by the greater portion of
the members of the Court, who will accompany
Lours PHILIPPE on his visit to England. M. GUIZOT
and Admiral DB MACKAU were to leave Paris on
Sunday for Eu, where they will join his MAJESTY.
The QUEEN and Madame ADELAIDE will remain at
Eu till the return of the KING from England. They
are all expected to be back in Paris by the 20th of
this month. The Duke DE NEmouns, the Prince
DB JOINVILLE, the Duchess of ORLEANS, the Duchess
DB NEMOURS, the Princess DE JOINYILLE, and the
Duke and Duchess of SAXE COBURG, will remain at
St. Cloud during the absence of his MAJESTY. Some
of the papers state, that at a Council of Ministers
held on Wednesday, an ordinance was passed con-
ferring upon the Duke of Niceouns all the powers
of royalty during his MAJESTY'S absence, and ap-
pointing him Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom.
These functions are not to be exercised but in a case
of extreme necessity, and the act is a mere measure
of precaution. The Constitutionnel says, "We are
assured that the Minister of War has just dispatched
to the generals commanding the military divisions
particular instructions relative to the KING'S ap-
proaching absence from France."

The Siecle and National have two brief articles
particularly fitted to keep up a bad feeling between
England and France at the time Louis PniLirrE is
about to pay a friendly visit to Queen VICTOR IA
That from the Siecle is not entitled to the slightest
credit, but we give it as follows, to show the mis-
chievous spirit which prevails among certain parties
in France :—" Sir ROBERT 'WILSON, Governor of
Gibraltar, openly says that the peace concluded be-
tween France and Morocco will not last ; he is trying
to enlist all the refugees and adventurers he can find
for Morocco ; he pro,nises them money and rapid
promotion. On the other hand it is well known that
he is employing every means to irritate the Emperor
ABDERRHAMAN against us. It is the same Sir
ROBERT WILSON who, in order to dispel the fear
which a war with Spain might give to Morocco, has
negotiated and procured peace between these two
Powers. Sir R. WILsoN displays in all these mea-
sures, and betrays in his language, too much perse-
vering animosity to permit of one's supposing that he
is acting without the English Government's approba-
tion." The following is the article in the IVational:

" England has required from our Ministers that they
should conclude peace with Morocco, without taking the
precaution or receiving the guarantees usual in such
cases. We possessed points of occupation on the coast of
Morocco, which would have served as a pledge. We
abandoned them because England was mistrustful of our
arlike ardour, and feared that, by retaining possession
of Mogadore until the execution of the treaty concluded
with Morocco, we might infringe on the balance of power
in Europe. The French Government obeyed. We may,
therefore, be accused hereafter of many crimes, but cer-
tainly not of ambition in the style of Napoleon. The
English, however, whose moderation is proverbial, and
who, as every one knows, respect the European equili-
brium, are labouring to secure the monopoly or the
passage across the Isthmus of Suez. They have al-
ready marked out their stations by fortified houses be-
tween the two seas, and they are now about to con-
struct a railroad, by which they will retain possession
of the two extremities and monopolise the road. This
is the fifth pacific conquest which we would be wrong
to attribute as a crime to the ambition of the Bri-
tish Government, for what can be more philanthropic
than to connect the least with the west by means of
a railroad ; and why not return thanks to the Power
which is willing to become the gatekeeper of the
commercial wicket between the two worlds ? But this
is not all. There is in the other hemisphere another
isthmus which separates the Atlantic from the Pacific"
Ocean, and the piercing of which has for a long time
occupied all the nations of Europe. The English have
consequently directed their eyes to that quarter. They
have considered that if ever the Isthmus of Panama gave
a passage to vessels from Europe proceeding to China or
to India, it would be well for them to have the key of it.
They have in consequence, without noise or without
consulting any Government, adjudicated to themselves
an entire kingdom. It way be recollected that England
blockaded, without any plausible pretext, the port of
Saint Jean de Nicaragua, and no complaint was made.
She now takes possession of the entire kingdom of Mos-
quito. If the piercing of the isthmus be practicable, she
will effect it, not fur the advantage of commercial na-
tions, but for their own. This mode of proceeding is
conformable to the genius of England, and we cannot
be astonished at the complaisance with which our rulars
regard the successive encroachments of the great mari-
time power. Have they not all declared that France
could not become a naval power ?"
The loan of 300,000,000 francs (12,000,0001.) had
been contracted for by Messrs. ROTHSCHILD, in Three
per Cents., and was to appear in Saturday's Moniteur.

THE BOURSE-THURSDAY, OCT. 3.

First highest Lowest Last

Price. Price. Price. Price.
French Five pore snts .. • • 118 85 .. 118 85 .. 118 55 .. 118 60
Three per Cents..•.. 81 95 .. 82 .. 81 90 .. CI 90
Bank:of France 3070 3070 ..3070 ..3070
Lailitte Bank, I,ooof. Shares] C 65 ..1085 .. 1085 ..1085

Belgian Bank...• •• •••• •••• 662 50 .. 662 50 .. 662 50 .. 662 50
Belgian Fives, 1831..

1840 • • • • .... 106

.. 106

.. 106

.. 106

1842 •••••••• 107; •• 107; .. 107; .. 107;
Spanish Passive ...... 5/ .. 5f .. 5; .. 5;
Times •••••• •• •• 351 .. 351 • • 351 .. 351
Active •• •••••• •• 32; .. 32; .. 32 .. 32
Portuguese Five per Centa•. 48; .. 48; .. 481 • . 48;
Neapolit4ui •••••••• •• •• • .. 98 75 .. 98 75 .. 98 75 .. 98 75
Rom •• ... .

RAILWAY SHARES.
St. Germain. • . • • • • .... • . • • 925 .. 925
Versailles, R.B •• • • • • • • .- • • 385 .. 385
Versailles, L.B. • • • • • 260 .. 260
Rouen •..• • • • •.•. • • .. 985 . 985

.. 925 .. 925
.. 385 .. 385
.. 255 75 .. 258 75
.. 98,6 .. 985

Rouen to Havre•.••
Orleans 982 50 .. 982 50 .. 982 50 .. 982 50

Strasburg to Bitle.. •• ••.... 261 25 .. 262 50 .. 261 25 .. 261 25
Avignon to Marseilles.. •• .. 760 .. 760 . 760 .. 760

RAILWAY SHARES FOR THE ACCOUNT, OCTOBER 15.
Rouen

Rouen to Havre....

Orleans ..• • . • • •..... • • •• • . 985

.. 985

.. 986

.. 985

Strasburg to Bale—. .• •• 262 50 .. 262 50 .. 261 25 .. 261 25

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, FRIDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert
walked for some time in the grounds adjacent to the
Castle, and visited the Duchess of Kent at Frogmore
Lodge. In the afternoon her Majesty and his Royal
Highness walked to the royal gardens at Frogmore,
the royal party afterwards returning to the Castle in
carriages.
All the Royal Family were taken their accustomed
airings in the forenoon, in the pleasure-grounds of
the Castle. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of
Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice,
were taken a carriage airing this afternoon.

The Lord Steward arrived at the Castle this morn-
ing, and left again in the afternoon.
Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey took his departure
from the Castle to-day.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited
the Queen and Prince Albert in the afternoon.
The Viscountess Canning left the Castle this morn-
ing. The Countess of Gainsborough succeeds her
Ladyship as the Lady in Waiting on her Majesty.
Lady Caroline Somers Cocks also left the Castle
to-day.
The Hon. Amelia Murray and the Hon. Lucy Kerr
are the Maids of Honour in Waiting on the Queen.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and Lady
Charlotte Dundas will dine at the Castle this evening.

Count de St. Aulaire, the French Ambassador,
accompanied by Count de Jarnac, transacted business
yesterday at the Foreign-office.
Mr. Turner, M.P., had an interview with Sir
Robert Peel yesterday.
Mr. Charles Russell, M.P., and Mr. C. A. Saunders,
of the Great Western Railway Company, and Mr.
Charles Castleman, and Captain W. S. Moorsom, of
the Dorchester Railway Company, had an interview
with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the office of
the Board of Trade.

His Excellency M. Dedel left town yesterday on a
visit to Lord and Lady Wilton, at Binstead Cottage,
Isle of Wight.
Mr. Ed* ard Drummond Hay, President of the
Virgin Islands, transacted business yesterday at the
Colonial-office.
Sir Robert Peel left his residence in Whitehall-
gardens yesterday afternoon, for Brighton.
A deputation from the South-Western Railway

Company, consisting of Mr. Chaplain, Mr. Locke,
Mr. Smith, Mr. Boothby, and Mr. Henderson, had
an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday,
at the Board of Trade. _

Dispatches from the Governor of the Cape of Good
Hope were received yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Dispatches were also received yesterday from the
Governors of Van Diemen's Land, the Mauritius, and
Sierra Leone.

THIS DAY'S NEWS.

MARYLEBONE VESTRY.

(THIS DAY.)
THE OXFORD-STREET PAVEMENT.

It having.been reported throughout this district,
for some days past, that it was the intention of the
Vestry to take up some of the wood pavement laid
down in Oxford-street, and to replace it by granite,
the, old contest between the advocates of wood and
stone was likely to be renewed with as much ani-
mosity as ever. The proceedings of the Vestry at
the usual weekly meeting, this day, when it was
expected the question would be determined, were
looked to with much interest. There was a tolerably
full attendance of vestrymen. Sir Peter Laurie,
whose interest in the subject is well knows, was
amongst the first who arrived.
At eleven o'clock, Mr. Lord was called to the
chair, and the Secretary read the accounts of the
week, and the minutes of the last meeting. The
only important part of the minutes was the resolu-
tion for taking up the wood pavement in Oxford-
street, from Well-street to Charles-street (Stead's
patent), and laying down granite blocks. The
question having been put that the minutes be con-
firmed,
Mr. WILSON said, that in consequence of the reso-
lution come to on last Saturday to take up this small
portion of the wood pavement, a good deal of misre-
presentation had gone round the public press—and an
impression was generally received, that the Vestry had
condemned wood pavement generally. Now, that
was a question of too great importance to be disposed
of hastily in that vestry.—(Hear, hear.) The com-
parative merits of different kinds of pavement was
one of great importance to the public, and he wished
it to be understood that in agreeing to this resolution,
and confirming the minutes, they were expressing no
opinion upon wood pavement generally.—(Hear.)
The pavement in question had been down five or six
years, and as the surveyors reported that it required
to be taken up, he thought it would be right to re-
place it by granite, because it happened to be placed
between two patches of granite.—(Hear.)
A VESTRYMAN said that the advocates of wood
pavement always wished to have it girded by rows of
grabite, and could not complain that the specimen in
question had not had fair play, because it was bordered
by granite.
Mr. JOSEPH agreed with his friend Mr. Wilson in
thinking the minutes should be confirmed, but it was
not right on that account that the public should be
misle d by the supposition that the Vestry was op-
posed to wood pavement.—(Hear.) He believed that
if a fair examination were made into the subject, it
would be found that this had been for the many years
it had been down, the cheapest pavement the parish
ever used.—(Hear.)
Sir PETER LAURIE said that the gentlemen oppo-
site made a merit of necessity on this occasion, as they
knew they had not the slightest chance of maintain-
ing the wooden doctrine, and rescinding the resolu-
tion.—(Hear, and a laugh.) He was very glad that
the subject had been taken up by the press, as that
was the best way to open the eyes of the public to its
real merits.—(Hear.) If the people of Oxford-street
thought, the wood pavement a luxury, it was too much
to expect that the rest of the district which had no
relish for such a luxury should have to pay for it.—
(Hear.) There was the finest street in the world,
Regent-street, until it got the wood pavement—
(Laughter)—and there was the finest regiment in
the world, the Life Guards, which had not gone down
Regent-street since July last, and never would go
down it again whilst it was paved with wood.
A VESTRYMAN observed that the worthy Knight
was mistaken ; and, as we understood, the inconve-
nience of the dung was the cause of the Guards not
taking that route, so much pains being taken to keep
the pavement free from that annoyance.
A VESTRYMAN said that the pavement referred to in
the, resolution was rotten, and the surveyors not only
recommended its removal, but that granite should be
substituted for it.

Mr. WILsoN denied that he bad any prepossession
in favour of wood, but as the worthy Knight. had re-
ferred to Regent-street, he would say that he thought
the people of Oxford-street had as good a right as
those of Regent•street to their pavement being kept
clean and in good order.—(Hear, hear.) But the fact
was their comfort was very much neglected.—(Hear.)
Sir PETER LAURIB said that the cleansing of Re-
gent-street daily was the result of a private arrange-
ment between the inhabitants and the Board uf
Woods and Forests.

Mr. CLARK said that when it was proposed to take
measures fur cleansing Oxford-street similar to those
used in Regent-street, inquiry was made as to the
expense, and it was found to be enormous.—(Hear.)
There was no doubt that Regent-street was the best
kept of the wooden pavements. But was it a reason
that the rest of the parish should pay for Oxford-
street because the Woods and Forests paid for Re-
gent-street—(Hear, hear)—and kept it as neat as a
drawing-room ?—(Hear ) If that were done for Ox-
ford-street, the rest of the district would require the
same attention. Tichfield-street, and Princes-street,
and other streets, would demand a wooden pavement,
so great was the rage for it.
Sir P. LAURIE—Oh, not now. That fit is all over
—(Laughter, and cries of "No, no.")
Mr. CLARICZ proceeded to argue the granite was
far superior to the wood for paving, and as a proof,
referred to the state of Rathbone-place.
After further conversation much to the same effect,
the minutes were confirmed, and the Vestry proceeded
with the routine business of the day.