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

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1844.

GRAND DINNER AT MERCERS'

HALL.

The Surveyor-Accountant of St. Paul's School, and
the Master Wardens and Court of Assistants of the
Worshipful Company of Mercers, gave a most magnifi-
cent dinner to the company who attended the apposition
at the school, and they extended their imitations to
many distinguished guests.
Amongst the company invited, and whom we noticed
as present, were—Sir Robert Peel ; Lord Hawarden;
the I.ord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer,
the Bishops of Durham, Lichfield, and Ripon ; Sir
Thomas Fremantle, Sir George Clerk, Sir Charles
Clark, Mr. Richard Lambert Jones, the Chairman of the
Joint Gresham Committee ' • Mr. Tite, the architect of
the New Royal Exchange ; Mr. George Palmer, M.P. ;
the Examiners and the Masters of the school, and the
Court of the Mercers' Company.
The chair was taken by Mr. Walney, the Master of
the Company. The dinner consisted of every delicacy
of the season. The wines were Of the 'finest quality,
selected from the well-stocked cellars of the Company.
After the usual loyal toasts were drank amidst accla-
mations,
The MASTER proposed the health of their distin-
guished guest, Sir Robe% Peel, whom he characterised
as the greatest man and the kindest gentleman who had
ever honoured the Company with his presence.
Sir ROBERT PEEL; who appeared to be in excellent
health and spirits, acknowledged the toast in a manner
that delighted the whole company. He always, he said,
felt great pleasure in dining with the citizens of London;
but the pleasure he now,„felt was greatly increased by
the interesting occasion on which he was invited, and
the distinguished company by which he had been in-
vited. The Right Hon. Baronet then spoke very highly
of the Irish estate of the Company, and declared that
they had set a noble example to all landlords; that they
had utterly disregarded considerations of pecuniary gain
in carrying out the great objects of promoting religion
amongst, and in increasing the happiness and comforts
of, their tenants. So intent had they been in accom-
plishing these most liberal and useful ends, that with a
large nominal rental they never suffered any part of it
to be employed for other purposes than such as made
their estates an example to the whole of Ireland.
He was most happy to hear of- the flourishing condition
of the school, which had furnished no less than three
gentlemen, now living, who had filled the high and ho-
nourable ffice of Attorne3tsiG-eneral, viz., Sir Charles
Wetherell, Sir Thomas Wilde, and his Noble Friend,
the present Chief Baron, Sir Frederick Pollock.—(Loud
applause.) Here Sir Robert Peel warmly and justly
eulogised the character of the Chief Baron, and said
that that able and enligl*ned individual had attained
his present distinguished position, not by the smiles of
Court favour nor by aristocratic patronage, but by his
own legal skill and knowledge, aided by. his great private
integrity and worth.—(Cheers.) He wished for the per-
petuity of the Company, because he was satisfied that
they would exercise their powers and wealth for the
promotion of religious and sound education amongst the
youth of that class to which his Hon. Friend belonged.
—(Cheers.) Sir Robert Peel concluded by saying, that
if he might take the applause with which they had done
him the honour to receive him as an evidence of their
approval of his public conduct, he should feel most
grateful, and that it would constitute to him the highest
reward for the past, and the most powerful incentive for
the future.—(Loud and long continued cheering. Even
after the Right Hon. Baronet had sat down for some
time the applause was frequently reiterated.)
The next toast was " The Chief Mercer," who re-
plied with remarkable feeling, and stated, that twenty-
six years ago he had sat as a schoolboy at a similar
banquet; that under the auspices of the Mercers' Com-
pany he had proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge,
where he became a student, and was subsequently ap-
pointed a fellow.—(Cheers.) He concluded by propos-
ing " The health of the Master, the Warden, and the
Surveyor-Accountant, Mr. R. Sutton."
The Master acknowledged the toasts ; and having
drank the healths of the Recorder, the Examiner, and
the Master, the meeting broke up after an evening of the
highest enjoyment.

EARLY CLOSING OF TRADES-
MEN'S SHOPS.

The Lord Mayor yesterday stated at the Mansion-
house that his attention had been called to a subject,
which appeared to him of a very important nature. A
highly respectable firm in the borough of Southwark
who, to their credit, took an interest in the intellectual
and moral welfare of that numerous class of persons,
shopkeepers' assistants, had urged him in a letter, backed
by an address from the town of Liverpool, to make an
effort for the limitation of business hours in the metro-
polis and its environs.
The following are the letter and address to which his
Lordship alluded, and the publication of which would, in
his opinion, materially aclvance the great object of the
humane writers :
"TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD MAYOR.
" My Lord,—The receipt of the enclosed address from
one of our correspondents in. Liverpool has again forcibly
impressed our minds with the necessity for shortening
the hours of labour in the retail, `wholesale, and manu-
facturing establishments of the metropolis and its en-
.

wrens.
" The spirit that is at 'work at Liverpool and other
provincial towns would, we doubt not, spring into lively
exercise in the metropolitan city under the influence and
sanction of your Lordship.
" My Lord, when you reflect upon the immense
amount of moral good that may be effected, the de-
velopment of intellect, the comfort of families, and, above
all, the promotion of Christian principles, likely to arise
from the adoption of measures so wise and salutary, we
feel confident that your Lotdship will not hesitate to
bring them before the public in that way and manner
which may be most accordant with your Lordship's views.
" Christianity, philanthropy, interest, all demand that
this subject should be seriously considered; and should
your Lordship be pleased to take the lead in a course so
noble, we feel assured that a victory would be achieved
that would gladden the hearts of thousands who are
living under your Lordship's judicial influence.—We
servants, BIKER' ON AND SONS.
Lord ?our Lordship's obe-
dienthave the honour to b,e,,
51 and 52, Castle-street, Southwark."
" COMMITTEE
" For promoting the Closing of the Shops at Seven
o'clock in the Evening. His Worship the Lord Mayor
in the Chair :
" Rev. H. M'Neile, Rev. Fielding Ould, Rev. Thomas
Nolan, Rev.T. Parry, Rev. F. Barker, Rev. D. Raffles,
Rev. W. Bevan, Rev. John Kelly, Rev. Dr. Crichton,
Rev. C. M. Birrell, Rev. Dr. Beaumont, Rev. D. Fer-
guson, John Cripper,
Smith, Esq., W. B. Hodgson, E s
q. e
Robertson .
Bushell,
Adam Hodgson, Esq., Thomas Blackburn, Esq., John
Shuttleman, Esq. (Treasurer).
" At a meeting of the Committe, held in the Town-hall
of Liverpool, on Tuesday, April 26, 1844, it was re-
solved to adopt and circulate the following
" ADDRESS TO THE TRADESMEN OF LIVERPOOL.
" The Committee appointed to carry out the designs
of the public meeting,
held en the 10th instant, consider
that they would fail in their duty if they did not promptly
call your attention to the object they have in view with
reference to the hours of
desire foe officious interference. They have no wish to
prejudice your interests ; but they cannot remain in
silence when humanity business. They disclaim all
an justice demand vigorous ef-
forts in behalf of 15,000 persons, retained in your em-
ployment, and in whose character and wellbeing your
own prosperity is materially involved.
"The Committee are persuadedthat to many of your-
selves the inconvenience and injury resulting from late
hours, are as great as to your assistants, and that you
would hail a longer evening for personal improvement
and family comfort with delight. They are in posses-
sion of information which leads them to believe that in
many cases the gains of these houses are small, and in-
adequate to compensate for the expenditure of money,
health, and time ; that in a few no real profit accrues
from nightly transactions; and, hence, that many among
you would soon appreciate the economical argument.
They are, also, firmly of opinion, and this opinion they
place prominently in the view of your customers, that
all the demands of general convenience may be met in
every department of business before seven o'clock in the
evening, while provision may be specially made for the
unfrequent cases of urgent necessity ; and, therefore,
that you would be in every point of view the better, but
in none the worse, for the adoption of their principle, and
the release of your assistants at that hour.
-
"The Committee cotinbine with their appeal to you
an earnest call upon- the community at large. They
will endeavour to sustain a system of operations
which, is its effect upon the public mind, will
be productive of advantag6 rather than damage to
yourselves. Their object is not to secure immuni-
ties to one class at the expense of another, but to pro-
mote the weal of all. They desire to destroy all neces-
sity for the extension of your business hours beyond the
suggested limit, not that your business may be con-
tracted, but so concentrated within a reasonable time,
that your profits may be increased. Not less do, they
seek that you should have the satisfaction of seeing your
assistants enter into the proper enjoyments of their
being, having time both for obtaining and doing good.
At present they have neither ; and it is no matter of
surprise that they should seek, as tke only brief grati-
fication they can command, that which is alike ignoble
and prejudicial.
"The Committee are gratified in observing in some of
the shops a notification (honourable to those who have
spontaneously put it forth), that henceforth they will
be closed at seven o'clock. They wish you all to co-
operate in the plan, and prove that you respect the rights
of men, cf minds, of souls, in those whom you employ.
" The Committee consisting, as it does, of not a few
ministers of the Gospel, attached to various religious
denominations, feel assured that if the opportunity were
afforded, measures would-be taken to advance the moral
and spiritual improvement of your assistants, while
through other channels they would obtain the means of
intellectual elevation. Is it wise, is it just, is it safe,
that they should be as they now are, entirely cut off ?
We appeal to you as those who are accustomed to esti-
mate the profit of every transaction, whether it be not
more advantageous to you to be surrounded by persons
of intelligence and virtue fitted to discharge aright the
social duties under the commanding influences of the
Christian religion?
" The Committee solicit from you the recognition of
their principle—its conscientious adoption—its constant
observance. Let all your assistants be released froth
business every evening at seven o'clock. Let it be the
honourable distinction of the tradesmen of Liyerpool
that they stand foremost in this beneficent movement.
Those who refuse so equitable and expedient a proposal,
will then be held in public estimation as the known sup-
porters of a system which public opinion, public mo-
rality, and Christian principle-have concurred to con-
THOMAS SANDS, Chairman."
demn .—Signedf by order of the Committee,
The LORD MAYOR observed that there was everything
44 in the important results of such a change to recommend
it to the adoption of every thinking man, and untiaini

ABINGDON ELECTION.

RETIREMENT OF DIR. pIIFFIELD ; MR. THESIGER

A CANDIDATE.
(From the Oxford Chronicle.)
The inhabitants of this place were greatly surprised on
Saturday morning by an address from Mr. Duffield resign-
ing the representation of the borough, and by an address
from Mr. Thesiger, soliciting the suffrages of the electors.
The borough was completely taken by surprise, and the day
appears to have been chosen as affording particular advan-
tage to the candidate, as there is no post to London on that
day, and the next day being Sunday, when no meetings, or
business arrangements could be made. •
The principal agent of Mr. Duffield was engaged for Mr.
Thesiger, and was very early on foot ; retainers were also
offered to every professional man in the place, and taken
with one exception, in the case of a gentleman who was not
sufficiently professional to accept an engagement to promote
a cause to which he was not favourable. Mr. Thesiger;
therefore, commenced his canvass, surrounded by a body of
retainers and followers sufficient to hunt down a constituency
of much greater magnitude than that of Abingdon.
The electors are about three hundred-in number, and may
be classed withopt any great inaccuracy as follows ;
One hundred Liberals, not of the most hearty and patriotic
species. . . . .

One hundred Conservatives, with no veryeettled princi-

pies or defined objects, but who think they know on.which
side their bread is buttered, and moreover are gregarious, and
do together what they are bidden.

One hundred loose fish, and dependents, on whose account
the costly machinery of agency is worked ; all things being
equal, a majority of this class would prefer to vote for a Libe-
ral candidate.

The Liberals have for years forborne attempts to gain the
seat, partly from respect to Mr. Duffield as a neighbour; but
with good reason looked forward to a successful contest when-
ever Mr. Duffield was out of the field. But the late member
has so played the cards that he has contrived to nominate his
successor. _ _

It is observable that Mr. Thesiger, in his address, does not
say a single word having any bearing upon either of the great
branches of a Member's duty. He does not say a word re-
specting taxation, nor about any improvements in the laws,
or their administration.
So secretly has this job been managed, and so prompt
have Government officials been, that the election, of which
only those in the secret were aware this time last week, will
be over before the week ends. Some of our readers will hear
of the resignation and the new election at the same time.
Mr. Duffield will lose much of the respect hitherto enter-
tained for him, by being i party to tricky and dishonourable
proceedings such as these, which Lord Stanley would cer-
tainly call " thimble-rigging."
Some of the trafficers think to make use of Mr. Thesiger,
and already, chuckle over the advantages they hope to gain
through his influence ; some, like Tony-Fire-the-Faggot, of
Cumnor, think to convert their borough leaseholds into free-
holds for an easy cGnsideration. Of this more anon. Our
readers will remember that the Lords of the Treasury have
not yet sanctioned the new and partial terms which the Town
' Councillors have slipped into their leases ; nor has the borough
property yet been converted into private property.'

- MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCES
ON THE RIVER.
On Wednesday evening, between the hours of half-pas
five and eight o'clock, no less than three accidents, each at-
tended. by fatal consequences, took place on the river. The
first accident occurred at Battersea-bridge, the second at
Putney-bridge, and the third and last opposite the old
church, Chelsea. It appears that about half-past five o'clock
a gentleman, who is apparently not more than 22 or 23 years
'of age, was rowing up the river in a wager boat, and had
nearly cleared the arch on the Middlesex side of the centre of
Battersea-bridge, when his scull caught in one of the cross-
pieces of the wood-work. In the endeavour to extricate it
the scull snapped in two, and the boat capsized, throwing
the gentleman headforemost into the water. The circum-
stance was witnessed. by. George Bulger, one of the carpen-
ters employed on the bridge, and who was at the time cut-
ting away a cross-piece from one of the adjoining piers. He
immediately jumped into his boat, and rowed towards the
place where the gentleman had sunk. On his way thither
he saw him rise twice, but on reaching the spot he had alto-
gether disappeared. Some watermen put off, both from. the
Chelsea and Battersea shores, with drags, and commenced
searching for the body. Bulger collected the deceased'seloth-
ing, which was floating, and took it, with the broken scull,
to the Old Swan Tavern, Battersea, and Mr. Luttell, the
landlord, took charge of thtm. In one of the pockets of a
tweed wrapper was found a letter addressed to " Charles
Wilson, Esq., 6, Doncaster-place, Old Kent-road." A water-
man went to that address, and about nine o'clock at night
two gentlemen came to the Swan, and identified the cloth-
ing and other property found as belonging to that gentleman,
who, they stated, was a solicitor, a very talented and ami-
able young man, and the sole support of his father and
mother, and four sisters. No pains have been spared in the
attempt to recover the body, but all efforts have as yet been
unsuccessful.
Scarcely had the melancholy circumstance become known
to the numerous gentlemen who were rowing up the river,
when their feelings were further shocked by hearing that a
gentleman had been upset out of his boat and drowned at
Putney-bridge. A gentleman, about twenty years of age,
named Archer Ryland, who had offices at 36, Carey-street,
Lincoln's Inn-fields, and residing at 24, Grove-lane, Camber-
well, and we believe the second son of Mr. Ryland, barrister,
undertook to row againit another gentleman, whose name we
have not learned, from Chelsea-bridge to Putney. Both
combatants were seated in very large wager-boats. The
match was well contested, and -Mr. Ryland's opponent got
through Putney-bridge first, some boats' length ahead. Mr.
Ryland was following, when his boat struck the abutments
of the fifth arch on the Fulham side, and directly went down.
Mr. Ryland sunk instantly, and it is supposed that the ex-
hausted state he was in prevented him-making any efforts to
save himself. He screamed once, and his right hand came
above water twice,but after that nothing more was seen of him.
The most extraordinary cart of thr affair is, that there were
at least twenty boats encircling him, many of them cutters,
and yet none of their crews acted promptly. Every one seemed
to be panic-stricken. There were at the time several matches
ready for starting from the bridge. In less than five minutes
after the accident had happened the drags were used, but
without success. A most melancholy circumstance attended
the case. Two of his brothers, one about 18, and the other
12 years of age, were in a wherry, accompanying the match,
and they witnessed the striking of the boat against the pier
of the bridge, and the sinking of their brother. Their dis-
tress was beyond description, and they were taken, in an al-
most lifeless state, into the Eight Bells Tavern, where Mrs.
Avis, the landlady, paid them every kind attention that could
tend to soothe their mental anguish. The elder brother
fainted away soon after he was brought in, and some time
elapsed before he exhibited symptoms of returning anima-
tion. The search after the deceased gentleman was con-
tinued until late at night, and commenced again at sunrise
yesterday morning, but up to the time of our writing, the
body had not been discovered.
The third and last accident that took place on the river
occurred off the old church at Chelsea. Four persons, viz.,
three men and a woman, were passing down the river in a
wherry, about 8 o'clock in the evening, and had reached the
old church, when one of the men got up to relieve the woman,
who was rowing. This action caused theboat to cant on one
side, and in an instant the whole four. persons were in the
water. They cried loudly for assistance, and several water-
men put off. The woman and two young men were picked
up by two watermen, named South= and Foot, and taken
to the Cricketers, but the othei man, who was the husband of
the woman saved, was drowned. His name is Henry Wench,
he was a scala;beam-maker, and resided in Waterloo-place,
Kennington. Dr. Gardener, of Cheyne-walk, was called in
to Mrs. Wench, and with much difficulty restored her. Mr.
Wench's body has not been found.

WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES AND WOOL.—Accounts
of the quantities of wool imported and exported in the, year
1843, also of the quantities and declared value of British
woollen manufactures exported from the United Kingdom in
that year, have been printed, on the motion of the Members
for London and Leeds, Mr. Masterman and Mr. W. Aldam,
jun. It appears from this paper, that the gross total quanti-
ties of sheep and lambs' wool imported into the United
Kingdom in 1843 amounted to 47,785,0611 b. • and that the
nett total quantity retained for home consumption amounted
to 46,443,0321 b., of which 17,736,3841 b. were entered at a
duty of Id. per lb.; 7,804,9181 b. at id. duty per lb. ; and
20,901,7261 b. duty free. The total quantities re-exported
from the United Kingdom in the year 1843 were 2,734,5411 b.,
and the quantities remaining warehoused in bond on the sth
of January, 1844, 3,827,5831 b. By far the greatest quantity
of the above wool, &c., comes from Germany and New South
Wales. The total quantity of British sheep and lambs' wool
and woollen yarn exported from the United Kingdom in
1843 amounted (the former) to 8,179,6391 b., and the latter
to 7,410,3131 b. The total quantity of Alpaca and Llama
wool imported into this country last year was 1,458,0321 b.,
and that of mohair, or goats' wool, 575,5231 b. More than
two-thirds of our exports of sheep and lambs' wool are taken
by Belgium, and the remaining third (on a rough calcula-
tion). by France. 'We also find that the gross total declared
value of Bt itish woollen manufactures exported from Great
Britain and Ireland during the year 1843 amounted to
6,790,232/.
LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—The 49th annual
meeting of this Society took place yesterday at Exeter-hall.
With the exception of the Sunday School Union, this was by
far the *lost numerously attended. meeting of the season.
The chair was occupied by Mr. W. Evans, M.P., who, in
opening the business, adverted to the- large amount of good
effected by that Society during the last half century, -and
congratulated its friends upon the increased prosperity of the
finances. The secretary then read the report of the managing
' directors. As it was the first, so it was the greatest of the
missionary societies, its sphere of operations being confined to
no particular country or continent, but spreading all over the
habitable globe.. The report then gave a minute detail of
the Society's domestic and foreign operations. It was "stated
that the Bible haying. been translated into the Hindostanee
language, through the liberality of the British and Foreign
Bible Society, there were upwards of 400,000 of the natives
of India receiving religious instruction. In the West Indies,
where slavery had so lately existed, and where it
appre-
hended was
that the transition to freedom would have be
education
at-
tended by fatal 'results, the effects of Scripturaloi,duct of the negro
were happily demonstrated in the orderly;
pfuonpdnlatbounr,imngantyh,
eofpwasltiomyealrdiad
11;ecTun,i,eicclioiantarissbuocitoarteiotnostliine
tiaiised a subscription for the
London and the provinces h
f
sail P-acitic Ocean. Th
wipurchaseichlwas
a ofs t
oa missionary i)
thearye
ouship,thersae
of nest cargoo a n
os ,f
The total
missionaries for the islands in the
evaanis
Intl.dVearn\.e,
receipts of the yearnaemoti,nsstelfttoliB,bll,lBrls2enl.l—entthseoziriepditure to
income of
83,5231" but as had been reducedioousse to
of
thet e
year
r
comparedinease of t o t that
subscriptionso fthep
overretNh' year, and
extent of 4,320/., the committee t •
en ertamed no
t
doubt but that the deficiency would be made good by in-
creased 43
exertion. The meeting was addreised by Mr. C.
sioinhi,dtilemey,u3er;,.l).
J.,.. tshhepeor
Sherman,
leeisnoceni.et'3l:ll,se
objectsre clergymen and
t.gefernnthtlinated.
"AN ASKER."—A lady was recently visited by a
female servant who had been married, and seeing that
.
she presented an appearance of having very much
bettered her circumstances, she inquired the nature of
her husband's profession. To this interrogatory the
Young woman replied, "Heis an asker, ma'am." "An
asker I" inquired the good lady with amazement, "and
what in the world is that ?" " Oh, ma'am, he stands in
the street and asks." " Why, you don't mean to say
that you have married a beggar, do you?" "Yes,
ma'am, but it's a very good business. My. husband
thinks it very bad work indeed, if he don't bring home
more than five shillings a day."
MR. DISRAELI'S " CONINGSBY ; OR, TIIE NEW
GENERATION."—We are requested to state that " Con-
ningsby ; or, The New Generation," by B. D'lsraeli,
Esq., M.P., in 3 vols. post Bvo., is published this day by
Mr. Colburn, of Great Marlborough7street, and may now
be had at all ;the libraries, and o all the booksellers
throughout the kingdom. Agents for Scotland, Messrs.
Sell and Bradfute, Edinburgh ; for Ireland, Mr. John
Cumming, Dublin.