The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-27 00:00:00

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here and there a yellowish or greyish tinge, something like
the appearance which follows our severe frosts in October.
This colour, unusual at so early a period as the Ist of Sep-
tember, became more and more marked, and at length at-
tracted sufficient attention to induce the farmer to examine
the " tubers" or " roots." To the no small surprise of those
who had viewed the changes in the tops or " shaw," as the
result of a sharp frosty night, the potatoes were found dis-
coloured on the surface—soft and friable ip places, and the
interior much changed in colour wherever the disease had
manifested itself. Examining furrow after furrow, as some
had done, where the tops showed the withered appearance,
and finding the same untoward condition of the " roots," the
greatest alarm has been caused amongst those who have the
misfortune to possess such crops, and this alarm, we need
hardly add, has taken possession of the purchasers.—Carlisle
Journal.

FIELD LABOURERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Witnessing the conclusion of a most bountiful har-
vest, my attention has been called to the state of the field
labourers in harvesting the allotments of their half acre,
quarter of an acre, and some few from one to three acres. Their
little ricks of corn, safely gathered, the spade is immediately
at work, women and children busily engaged in getting
potatoes and beans.
Hundreds of families here have allotments. All hands are
employed. Viewing the country from a fine eminence, it
looked like a terrestrial paradise, but seeing no labourers'
cottages, asked where are the poor workmen ? One said, driven
into towns or large villages, sleeping four or five in a bed.
The Duke, said the man, would build us cottages, but great
objections are made by the farmers, who are afraid of having
too many of us, and cannot allow us to get a little food and
comfort. Three hundred labourers left here for Australia a
few years ago ; they blessed the day that caused them to go,
where land could be had. Meeting the Rev. Mr. Hawkesley,
of Souldrop, he told me he had fifty tenants ; the Rev. Mr.
Thornton, of this parish, the same; John Gibbard, Esq., the
same, and many others.—Yours, &c.,

MATTHEW PHILLIPS.
Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, Sept. 24, 1845.

FLANDERS MAIL.

BRUSSELS, SEPT. 23.—The average price of wheat in the
week ending on Saturday, the 20th of September, was 23f.
15c., and that of rye 15f. 78c.
The general discussion ofthe project of law relative to corn,
&c., was opened in the Senate to-day, and closed in the same
sitting. The Senate will proceed to •morrow with the dis-
cussion of the articles. The report presented by the Duke
d'Ursel, in the name of the Committee charged with the
examination of the law, shows that the members of the Com-
mittee unanimously approve it. The discussion cammenced
immediately after the reading of the report.
As in the Chamber of Representatives several members
dwelt on the necessity of executing the public works already
decreed, the discussion was well supported, but did not go
into any details which have not already been the subject of
observation in the other Chamber. The Senate will likewise
proceed to the project of law for a vote of credit to finish the
works of the Canal of Campine.

This morning, at eight o'clock, a salute of twenty-one guns,
fired by the artillery of the civic guard, and the ringing of
the bells of all the churches of the capital, announced the
solemnity of the first day of the anniversary of September.
The Gazette of Aix-la-Chapelle announces that the King of
Prussia has consented to the construction of the railway from
Aix-la-Chapelle to Dusseldorf by way of Herzogenrath and
Gludbach. The King has also consented to a line from Cre-
velt to Ruhrart, and to that from Maestricht to Aix-la-
Chapelle. Besides the importance of these new lines to the
manufactories and trade of that part of the Rhenish pro-
vinces, the works will provide employment during the winter
to many families, who will thus be secured against want. For
these two reasons we owe much gratitude to the King for
having granted these measures at this moment.
BELGIAN FUNDS.—Bausszt,s, SErr. 24.
Actual Debt, 2% per Cent ....
Rothschild's Loan, Five per Cent
Loan of Thirty Millions, Four per Cent
Ditto Three per Cent. • • • • • • • • • • •
Ditto Thirty-seven Millions, ditto ......
Ditto, ditto, 1840 .. . ...... . . lOl%
Ditto, ditto, 1842 ..... 104%
Ditto of the City, 1844 ................ 101%
• Ditto, 1843 ...... .................
Bank ofßelgium...... ..... • 735
—Brussels Papers. Sept. 25.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—Vimou, SEPT. 17.
5 per Cent. Meta111que5............
4 per Cent. ditto ..... ................... 101%
3 per Cent. ditto • ••••• • • • • • 77%
Loan, 1834 . .
Ditto, 1839 129%
Bank Shares ••••••••
Esterhazy's Loan ........
RAILWAYS.
The Northern, or Ferdinand .. 223%
Vienna—Milan . .
Gloggnitz .............. • ....... 155%
Leghorn •• • ...... 1 ....................
Perth ••• • • • •.................... ..... 115%
—.Allgemeine Zeitnng. Sept. 21.

COACH ACCIDENT.—NARROW ESCAPE. —A few
evenings ago an accident took place between the towns of
Watford and Harpenden, by the upsetting of a coach which
had nearly proved of serious consequences to a number of
passengers. It appears that about eight o'clock the Beehive
pair-horse coach, belonging to Messrs. Bryant and Seymour,
had taken up a number of passengers at the Watford sta-
tion of the London and Birmingham Railway, to proceed to
St. Alban's and Luton, and had arrived between Harpen-
den and the latter, when the coachman, in carelessly and
negligently taking too wide a turn to pass a cart, ran the
coach upon a bank, which caused it instantly- to upset, and
nine outside passengers were thrown on the road with great
violence. Fortunately there were no fractures or broken
limbs, but two of the passengers, a lady and a gentleman, Mr.
Baldwin (of the respectable firm of Baldwin and Aders, of
Bishopsgate-churchyard), were seriously bruised by the fall ;
however, not so much so as to prevent their proceeding on
their journey. Mr. Baldwin was, however, so much bruised
and shaken, that he was obliged to keep his bed for three
days, but is now nearly recovered. It is his impression, from
the night being moonlight and fine, that much blame is
attributable to the coachman, whose name it appears is
Reeves. _ _

POISONING BY COPPER.—At the present season,
when preserving operations are usually in active practice,
it may not be amiss to notice a subject adverted to at
Guy's Hospital by Mr. Alfred Taylor, who in the course of
his discourse observed upon the reprehensible practice of
using poisonous substances in the manufacture of preserves.
The lecturer observed that "itis a common practice for
people to colour their preserved green fruits by adding to
them a quantity of the sulphate or the acetate of copper, and
the presence of either may easily be tested by introducing
into it a needle, which' in a very short time will be coated
with metallic copper. Copper may also be detected in such
substances by galvanism by aid of a platina capsule and a
piece of zinc." In respect ofusing copper vessels for culinary
purposes, he observes that " these vessels are liable to become
impregnated with the poison, and if common salt be pre-
sent, the chloride of copper is readily formed. But there is
this important fact to be considered—any liquid boiled in
copper vessels is only liable to be poisoned if it is allowed to
cool in them, otherwise no injury is created. Copper utensils
are sometimes lined with tin, but it is far better to keep them
untinued for this season, unless they be well tinned and kept
in a proper condition ; if a portion of the surface of the copper
becomes exposed, the tin and the copper together will excite
a galvanic action, and any acid liquid will displace - the salts
of the copper formed. If soups be boiled in copper vessels,
it is necessary, in order to prevent any accident, to pour the
soup out while hot, and allow it to cool in another vessel."
THE GRAND LONDON AND DUBLIN APPROXIMA-
noN RAILWAT.—The project of forming a direct railway
communication from London to Holyhead is not altogether
new, but it has hitherto been considered to be so surrounded
by difficulties, that it has been deemed all but impracticable.
At no period, however, were men's minds so determinately
set upon overcoming difficulties (physical as well as moral)
as the present. The undertaking for uniting the two capitals,
which is now contemplated, could not have been submitted
to the public at a more favourable moment. The
map that has been published to accompany the pros-
pectus, indicates very clearly the proposed line of
route, and shows the great saving that will be effected
in 11.1 e distance from one metropolis to the other. It not
less evidently demonstrates the numerous other advantages
which will result from the adoption of this grand and noble
scheme. From the intercourse which has already taken place
between the two countries in consequence of the great works
commenced in Ireland, and that which is certain to take place
from those in projection, we feel fully justified in the belief
that the shareholders in this railway will derive a far larger
profit from their investments than from any other line in the
kingdom. The Government alone will avail themselves of
this railway as a vehicle for the transmission to Ireland of
troops and military stores. Merchants and travellers of
every description will select it as a route by far the most con-
venient in every point of view, whether regarded as to
cheapness, distance, or expedition. The rich and populous
counties through which it will pass will have a direct inte-
rest in promoting it to the utmost of their power, as they will
derive a corresponding advantage from its immediate con-
nexion with the metropolis. We cannot conclude these ob-
servations without expressing a sincere hope that
the Directors will listen to no remonstrance or
persuasion that would induce them to abandon
that independency of character which they have
thought it right to assume from any apprehension of the
powerful opposition they may meet with from different com-
panies, and be thereby prevailed upon to unite themselves
with interests which would at once mar the integrity of the
scheme. They may be assured that so long as they hold out
such certain prospects of advantage as this line offers to the
public, they will receive, as they are well entitled to do,
public support and confidence, and we do net hesitate to say
that the sanction of the Legislature will be obtained, not-
withstanding the most fActious opposition to a scheme
fraught with such manifest advantages to the nation at large.
The shareholders will then have no reason to repent their
having lent their aid in furtherance of a great national un-
dertaking, and we fearlessly anticipate the period, perhaps
not far distant, when this Company will become one of the
most powerful and lucrative associations in the kingdom.
OLDHAM.---THE FACTORY HANDS AND THEIR Em-
PLOYERS. —We are glad to hear that the factory hands of
this town have invited their employers to a tea-party and
ball, the object of which they state in their address to be,
"to return to them their most sincere and heartfelt thanks
for the liberal manner in which they have acceded to their re-
quest for an advance of wages." The festival is fixed for
Monday next, and the operatives request the favour of a half-
holiday on that day. We trust that the effect of this meet-
ing may be to cement the good feeling which now exists be-
tween masters and men.—Manchester Guardian.

PULMONARY CONSUMPTION.—From the fourth an-
nual report of the Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the
Chest, the following statistical facts may be gathered;—" Of the
60.000 deaths which annually occur in England and Wales from
slow and lingering disease, upwards of 35,000 are due to pulmonary
consumption ; and as the duration of the disease, taking one with
another, is about two years, it follows that more than 70,000 per.
sons are constantly suffering from consumption.' It may be well to
add that many, very many, of these poor sufferers are the acknow-
ledged victims of unventilated workshops, ill-constructed dwellings,
long hours of work, and the want of open places for exercise and
recreation. The new hospital for consumption, dm., now in the
course of erection at Brompton, by those extensive builders the
Messrs. Bird, of Hammersmith, will be opened for the reception of
patients early in the forthcoming spring.

GLASGOW PIG IRON TRADE.—These few days
past this market continues very animated, with an upward
tendency in prices. Sales have been made at 85s. nett cash.
At this price holders are very firm, and few disposed to accent
of it. Contracts have been offered to the makers for large
quantities at 80s. nett cash—say immediate payment for
future delivery—which has been refused, their demands
being 90s. per ton. We quote the prices of to-day as 87s. fd.
nett cash, although a few small parcels may be picked up at
85s. nett.:—Glasgow National of Wednesday