The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-12 00:00:00

i

VIIE LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 12, 1845.

TOWN HALL, WINDSOR.
MONDAY.

THE LATE ELECTIONEERING RIOL-At the conclusion of
the routine business before the sitting magistrates (Thomas
Clarke, Esq., mayor, and Robert Blunt, Esq.,), the following
conversation took place on the subject of the military dis-
turbanco, which occurred in the town on Saturday evening,
between the bench and an elector of the borough.
Elector—May I ask, Mr. Mayor, if any attempts were
made, on the part of the police of the town, to take into ens-
te,dy any of the soldiers who.were guilty of committing the
most flagrant assaults on the inhabitants on Saturday even-

big?
'The 111 Avon—I believe not; but I wac not there.
Elector—Are you not aware whether the police were
ordered to act or not?

The illnyoit—As I was not present at the time, I really
cannot say.

Mr. Darvill (a member of the town council, who happened
to be present) observed, that if the soldiers had not been
there, there would have been no disturbance.

Mr. Blunt—lt is certainly a great pity the soldiers were
out of barracks.

Elector—Do you intent!, Mr. Mayor, as the chief magis-
trate, to forward any complaint to the Horse Guards on the
subject of the conduct of the soldiery ?
Mr. Blunt—l don't think, Mr. Mayor, you ought to an-
swer that question.
The MAYOR—If any complaint is made by the inhabitants
to the authorities, it- will be attended to
Mr. Blunt said the police acted very well in the business.
Mr. Darvill repeated if the soldiers had not been there, no
disturbance would have occurred. They ought to have been
kept in the barracks.
Mr. Blunt—We have nothing to do with that. (To the
elector)—Were you there ?
Elector—No, certainly not.
Mr. Blunt—Then you arenot competent to give an opinion.
Elector—l can only say, sir, that everybody who had a
regard for life and limb was glad to get home safe.
Mr. Blunt here remarked that he was present during same
part of the disturbance in High-street and Peascod-street,
and that he saw a soldier knock down a man near Mr.
Adam's, the butcher, near the market. Mr. Blunt further
observed that, seeing this occurrence, he went up to the sol-
dier, and said to him, "My good fellow, what are you doing?
You are doing great harm to the colonel's cause, I assure
you ; pray go home."
Elector—But did you not give him into custody?
Mr. Blunt—Oh, no; I was surrounded by the mob.
Mr. Blunt then observed that he had been to the barracks
to intimate if the military were required they should be in
readiness.

The MAron, after 01;serving that it had been rumoured
Another row was expected to take place last night, and that
he had in consezfuence of the report remained in the town till
past ten o'cleck, the conversation dropped.

REMEDIES FOR THE IMPENDING
EVIL-IRISH COAST FISHERIES-PUBLIC
WORKS.

We copy the following article from the Dublin Evening
Mail. The allusion to the Dublin and -Galway Railway is
deserving of public attention :
As we anticipated, the letter of our correapondent, " A
Member of the Legislature,' on the subject of the Coast
Fisheries of Ireland, has attracted public attention on both
sides of the Channel. We subjoin some sensible observations
from "A Connaughtman," pointing to a portion of the subject
which especially deserves the consideration of the Government
—the construction of sufficient boat harbours. In the ab-
sence of these, any other species of encouragement would
obviously be of very limited application;_ and we trust the
matter may be, without delay, attended to in the proper
quarter.
At the present crisis, however, remedies for the impending
evil, to be useful, must be capable of much more prompt and
ready employment than any plans for the encouragement of
the fisheries could be expected to be—more particularly in
localities to which the remarks of the "Connaughtman' are
applicable. Boat harbours ought unquestionably to be con-
structed, and that without delay ; bat this csold, under no
imaginable circumstances, be done in time to render available
service in the substitution of food for that destroyed by the
potato disease. To meet the emerge:icy, other re-
sources 'must be called into operation, and that, too,
with vigour and promptitude. In a private letter which
we received this morning from a remote western dis-
trict, the writer says, " Our potatoes • here are nearly
all infected with the disease—some in the incipient stage,
others farther gone, and what we are to do with the people in
such a district as this, except some extensive public work is un-
dertaken to give employment, I cannot see. Much lasting injury
has been done already here by gratuitous relief in 1822 and
1832, and no one who wishes this country well could desire to see
us again receiving charity."
We take the liberty of quoting this passage, because it puts,
in the smallest possible number of words, the real pinch of the
case ; and it also points to the appropriate remedy which a
merciful Providence has, in the course of events, brought at
this moment to our hand. The wild mania of railway specula-
tion, mischievous as it may appear to have been in other re-
spects, will bring its advantages, if properly used anddireated.
I'o give gratuitous relief now, in the districts to which our
correspondent refers, would be an unnecessary blunder.
Large sums of money are now lying useless in the Bank,
ready to be employed in those very quarters in the construc-
tion of a public work, which, while it will afford remunera-
tive employment to the peasantry, will also lay the founda •
tint of a permanent source of wealth, and will not cost the
State a single farthing. The work to which we allude is
the Irish Great Western Railway, with its branches to Cas-

debar, Westport, and Roscommon. Every preparation has
been made for the commencement of this undertaking, and a
requisition has been forwarded to the Speaker, asking for his
warrant, to authorise the lodgement in the Court of Chancery
of 81,000!., being ten per cent. on the capital required to be
deposited by the standing orders of Parliament.
There are other projected lines, of a bond fide character,
nearly as far forward as the Great Western; and we trust no
unnecessary delay, or vexatious stock-jobbing opposition, may
be permitted to stand between the people and the means of
subsistence, which they will so beneficially and opportunely
supply.
The lines for which Acts have been obtained should, of
course, be brought into operation by their managers, with all
the energy of which they are capable. The panic will pro-
bably be so far useful, as it will tend to prevent that energy
from being dissipated in wild speculations.—

" TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUBLIN EIENING MAIL.

" Mayo, Nov. 4th, 1845:

" Sir,—l have read with attention the letter of the Member
of the Legislature' in your paper of the 3d inst., calling the atten-
tion of the Government to the encouragement of the Irish coast
fisheries, as the means of relief for the coast population in the
present crisis, and I agree with the writer of that letter that the
fisheries of Ireland are capable of giving employment, and of

supplying food to an inconceivable extent. Providence has,
indeed, been most liberal to us, but, Sir, are we permitted to
take advantage of His beneficence? In every part of Great
Britain man's skill and energy has been drawn forth by the
fostering aid of Government, and thus the liberality of a merciful
Providence has been taken advantage of, but not so in Ireland :
our harbours are, for the most part, unimproved and unknown to
Government, and our fisheries profitless to Great Britain and Ire-
land, because, under such circumstances, fishermen are unable to
reap the noble harvest almost within their reach.
"Look at the western coast of Ireland—we know it abounds
with fish—can there be a finer fishery in the world than that al
Achill Head ? And why does it lie unproductive, almost un-
known ? The fostering hand of Government is withheld—our
harbours are neglected—and not even a pier within its reach,
although a kind Providence has supplied a harbour close to it,
Keele, which, with a comparatively small outlay, might be made
a harbour to accommodate at all times the largest vessels. Pei.
mit me, then, Sir, through the medium of your journal, to inform
the ' Member of the Legislature,' that it is not boats, canvass,
cordage, twine, nets, nor yet salt, that Irish fishermen require to
enable them to profit from the liberal provision of Providence; but
let the resources of Irish fisheries be tested, as the fisheries of
Great Britain have been, by a due care to improve our harbours,
and thus the ample resources of our coast fisheries, to give em-
ployment and to supply food, not only for Irishmen but English.
men also, will be proved to the advantage of the nation at large.
This is the .means—the only means—required from the Govern-
ment to set the Irish fishermen to work to find food for themselves
and the multitude.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,

" A CONNAUGHT MAN."

FIRE AT LIVERPOOL.

About a quarter after 11 on Saturday forenoon, an alarm was
given that a fire had broken out in the cellar of a warehouse
belonging to Messrs. Green and Taylor, situated about half
way down Gibraltar-row, on the left hand side. The street
called by this name leads from that part of Great Howard-
street, lying contiguous to the New Northern Hospital
to the Prince's Dock. A pile of new, substantially-built,
and fire-proof warehouses occupies the whole length of the
left hand side of the street ; and it is said that on Satur-
day the merchandise in those warehouses amounted
to about one million pounds in value. The opposite side
of the row is filled with a number of small houses
and narrow courts, inhabited by the lower classes. The
warehouse, in the cellar of which the fire was discovered,
is called " Murray's" (313), and some idea of the ex-
tent of danger to the surrounding property which this fire
was likely to cause may be gathered from the fact, that
the cellar contained about thirty casks of turpentine, two
hundred and seventy-five casks of tallow, and two hundred
casks of olive oil. Labourers were employed during the
morning in removing some of the barrels of turpentine front
the cellar, and it was supposed that the fire was caused
through some carelessness on their parts in carryinglanterns
about the place, and fixing them in certain positions to afford
light. A dense mass of smoke from the cellar entrance was
the first intimation the inhabitants had of the breaking
out of the fire. An alarm was instantly conveyed to the
station, and in a very short space of time Mr. Hewitt
was on the spot with three engines and two water-carts.
He was speedily followed by Mr. Dowling, Lieutenant
Maxwell, R.N., Inspector of Salvage, and a large detach-
ment of the fire-brigade. In this case, singular to say,
there was a sufficient quantity of water procurable from the
mains, so that the engines were got into play almost im-
mediately after their arrival. Lieut. Maxwell, Mr. Hewitt,
and about ten -of the fire-brigade resolutely entered the
cellar, in order to see in what quarter the fire was
raging, and to render assistance as might be neces-
sary in removing some of the combustible materials
out of the way. In doing so they had to make their
way through the suffocating smoke from the oil and tur-
pentine, which very nearly cost some of them their lives.
They had not been down many minutes before officers
310, 178, 453, and 3SO had to be brought out, laid upon
some chairs in the street, and, after restoratives had
been administered, sent off to the Northern Hos-
pital. Lieutenant Maxwell and Mr. Hewitt sustained their
positions inside a little longer, but they, too, had eyentally
to leave the suffocating atmosphere, to breathe some fresh air,
and to swallow a little brandy. They did, however, good
service while in the cellar; they directed the hose to the
barrels of tallow and turpentine which were in flames, and
mainly succeeded in extinguishing the fire in the course
of an hour-and-a-half. The casks of oil escaped uninjured,
and the damage to the tallow and turpentine. though not
accurately ascertained, was not extensive. The property,
which was all insured, belonged to different firms. We
are glad to say that Lieutenant Maxwell and Mr. Hewitt
speedily rallied, and that the officers whose numbers we have
given were able to leave the Northern Hospital by two
o'clock, though they were all suffering more or less when
conveyed there.—Liverpool Albion.

Mr.. S. M. Allen was elected Mayor for the
borough of Buckingham, on Monday. the 10th inst. Mr.
Allen was proposed by George Parrott, Esq., banker, and
seconded by Thomas Hearn, Esq., solicitor. -11 r. Allen is a
Whig and a Dissenter.
The infant son and heir apparent .of the Earl and
Countess of Eldon will take the title of Viscount Eneombe.
The Earl and Cottntess bad previously four or five daughters;
but no son.
The Duke of Wellington, who is expected to pro-
long his sojourn at Weimer Castle Until the Close of the week;
will hold the annual Harbour Sessions at Dover, on Thurs-
day next, as Lad Warden of the Cinque Ports.
The Earl of Warwick, Viscount Villiers, Lord
Leigh, Lord Guernsey; Lord EAcott; lion, W. N. Leigh;
C. N. Newdegate; Earl., M.P., have guaranteed liberal sub=
scri2tions for live years for the support of Warwick races.
DEATH OF JOHN IRVINE, ESQ., M.P.—This
highly respected gentleman died ott Monday Morning, at his resi-
dence in ftichrtiond,terrAte, At thd age of seventy-eight. lie hid
been for many years hiettibet for firamber, and always a centistent
supporter of the Tory and West Indian interests; but his high
character and strict integrity cordolanded the respect and esteem
ef men of all parties, Ills death causes a vacancy in the repre-
sentation flit the cdunty of Antriat.
Altad ED ROM ER t A+ TI#E 80 - ESTERN
ItAIL*AV iiiMxtis,--.4aities floating, a lad of seventeen years Of
age, guard to Messrs. Preabott and Son; carriers, df Ciedrge-yard,
AldernianbtirY; was charged with stealing a Hutch cheese at the
Sotitharkitdri Want/5, on iattirday evening last. from
the evidence it appeared that Bosch, One of the rail Way officers,
had watched the prisoner, and dbeerved hint take a butch cheese
from a basket Arid Place it in a daeretit part of the waggon. The
ti4,llPon being charged Willi the otenee, adthitted he had taken
the 'cheese„ctit a piece off to irate; and Placed it In the Waggon till
he gdt the df Butslaelo put on to avoid detection. Mr. James
called witnesscs,,Who gave the pilioner eiteellent dhatiater; and
diSpiisocl of the bait by iitipoiin* a Peciiiiiery petigity
or it I.; ititEli was paid.
Professor Faraday has succeeded in obtaining
~
ex-
perimentally what ,he ,has, long sought ,for; pairi4 " the direct
rriainettii4 to light." 8f hid
experiMents, which exhibit magnetisation of light, the illumine-
ben of the lines of magnetic forces,, and a new magnetic condition
ofmatter Will he presented to the Ito l .4OClety briniedlately.
ai•rijiiialnis A&IERIC:AN r
child. bdin in Cincinnati is still alive, and hal not yet reached
Middle aoe and during uiti timg tb4 cityy iiai acquired eo,Ooo in.
1.86 ftrsi. Who i)rerit ithit Slat of dt;to; when
it was a howling wilderness, now walks a hale and hearty man
among 2,000,000 of inhabitants.--American Paper.
The trustees of the Fife estates have laid aside a
sum of no less than 20,0001. to be used in surface draining
under the direction of their frters: , „
The confirmation of the translation of Dr. riagdt,
Bishop of Oxford, to the See of Bath and Wells, is appointed
to take place on this day', the 12th, instant; at Bow Church,
City.
Captain Beadon3 of the Royal Navy, has re-
cently patented a rowlock inladd either of bfass dr ircitil of peculiar
construction, and applicable to all t,este'lA propelled y bath. it
works upon a moving pivot let itito the gunwale, arid the rise and
fall of the oar is perfectly simple and easy, by means Of a semi-
circular swing, on which rests a brass ring that is fixed to the loom
of the oar. Leathering is not required, as there can be no chafe,
and the usual rattling noise that was made by pulling with the old
rowlock is entirely obviated. A portion of the principle has
already been adopted in the Navy, and we make no doubt that the
improvements we have mentioned will be the cause of its being
iLtr -cloud throughout the service.—United Service Gane4ig.

Such is the demand at the present time for ship-
wrights at her Majesty's dock-yards at Portsmouth, that our
city is placarded, offering liberal wages and a free passage t 9
lbrty good workmen.—ter Journal.

TUESDAY NIGHTS GAZETTE

ST. JAMES'S PALACE, OCT. 30, 1845.
The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of
Knighthood upon John Augustus Frs cis tiropkinson, Esq.,
one of her Mklesty's Counsel, and 'treasure"' of the Honour,.
Able Society of Lincoln's Inn.
CROWN-OFFICE, Nov. 11.
- -

MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT.
Boiouort OF NEW WINDSOR.—George Alexander Reid,
of Bulatrode Park, in the county of Buckingham, Esq., in
the room of John Ramsbottom, Esq., deceased.
WAR-OFFICE, Nov. 11.
4th Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Lieut. J. Cunningham,
from the 32d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Townsend, who ex-
cliang,3, Nov. 11.
7th Light Dragoons—Lieut. T. H. Preston to be Captain,
by purchase, vice Sutton, who retires ; Cornet J. Hely to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, Tic© Preston, Nov. 11 ; Cornet and
Adjutant E. Ireland to have the rank of Lieutenant, N0v.12 ;
Cornet W. Ricardo to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice
Miles, who retires, Nov. 13 ; W. Babington, Gent., to be
Cornet, by purchase, vice Hely, Nov. 11 ; W. C. Cooke,
Gent., to be Cornet. by purchase, vice Ricardo, Nov. 13.
Ist Regiment of Foot—F. Evans, Gent.. to be Ensign by
purchase, vice Halsev,'who retires, Nov. 11.
3d Foot—Ensign D. Stewart to be Lieutenant, by purchase,
vice Downing, who retires ; Ensign R. G. A. Luard, from
the 51st Foot, to he Ensign, vice Stewart, Nov. 11.
Bth Foot—W. P. Howell, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur-
chase, vice Loder, who retires, Nov. 11.
23d Foot—Lieut. F. E. Evans to be Captain, by purchase,
vice Willoughby, who retires; Second Lieut. J. Vincent to
he First Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Evans; E. Howell,
Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Vincent,
Nov. 11.
32d Foot—Lieut. J. G. Townsend, from the 4th Dragoon
Guards, to be Lieutenant, vice Cunningham, who exchanges,
Ncv. 11.
34th Foot—Lieut. A. C. Robertson to be Captain, by pur-
chase, vice Heathcoate, who retires; Ensign D. M. Fyfe to
be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Robertson ; NV. Scott, Gent.,
to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Fyfe, Nov. 11.
35th Foot—J. Bickerstaff, Gent., to he Ersign, by pur-
chase, vice O'Callaghan, appointed to the 51st Foot, .Nov. 11.
39th Foot—Ensign H. E. Reader to be Lieutenant, with-
out purchase, vice Davenport, deceased, Aug. 9; B. Hume,
Gent, to be Ensign, vice Reader, Nov. 11.
51st Foot—Ensign E. O'Callaghan, from the 35th Foot, to
be Ensign, vice Luard, appointed to the 3d Foot, Nov. 11.
55th Foot—Brevet Major A. O'Leary to be Major, without
purchase, vice Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel N. Maclean, who
retires upon full-pay ; Lieutenant H. T. Butler to be Captain,
vice O'Leary ; Ensign J. J. Gordon to be Lieutenant, vice
Butler, Nov. 11.
57th Foot—Captaid W. F. Harvey, from the 84th Feot, to
be Captain, vice McCarthy,'who exchanges, Aug. 13.
65th Foot—Ensign H. R. Holmes to be Lieutenant, by
purchase, vice Langton, who retires ; N. Kendall, Gent., to
be Ensign, by purchase, vice Holmes, Nov. 11.
67th Foot —Lieutenant T. B. Tuite, from the 2d West India
Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice M‘Donagh, who exchanges,
Nov. 11.
76th Foot—Captain R. Gardiner to be Major without pur-
chase, vice Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Martin, who re-
tires upon half pay; Lieutenant J. B. Flanagan to be
Captain, vice Gardiner; Ensign R. H. H. Keightley to be
Lieutenant; vice Flanagan ; J. C. Clarke, Gent., to be En-
sign, vice Keightley, Nov. 11.
79th Font—Lieutenant H. Mac Neal to be Captain, by pur-
chase, vice Smith. who retires ; Ensign H. A. Murray to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Mac Neal ; A. C. Smith,
Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Murray, Nov. 11.
84th Foot—Captain W. J. MacCarthy, from the 57th
Foot, to be Captain, vice Harvey, who exchanges, Aug. 13 ;
Ensign G. W. Muriel to be Lieutenant, without purchase,
vice Somerville, deceased, July 29 ; Ensign R. C. Stewart to
be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Muriel, whose promo-
tion, on the 16th September, has been cancelled, Sept. 16 ;
C. Collins, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Stewart, Nov. 11.
98th Foot—Lieut. H. T. Richmond to be Adjutant, vice
Grantham, who resigns the Adjutantcy only, June 1.
2d West India Regiment—Lieut. J. M‘Donagh, from the
67th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Tuite, who exchanges,
Nov. 11.
BREVET.—Captain George M`Gregor, of the Bengal Artil-
lery, to be Major in the Army in the East Indies, Nov. 11 ;
First Lieutenant Henry Edward Lander Thuillier, of the
Bengal Artillery (an officer to the Honourable East India
Company's depot at Warley), to have the local and tempo-
rary rank of Lieutenant in the army, while so employed,
vice Pogson, Aug. 21.
MEatoßANoust—The appointment of C. P. King, Gent.,
to be Second Lieutenant in the 21st Foot, as stated in the
Gazette of Oct. 24, has been cancelled.
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, Nov. 8.
Royal Regiment of Artillery—Second Lieutenant F. Van-
sittart to be First Lieutenant, vice Lucas, resigned, Oct. 7.
Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Riding of
Yorkshire.
First West Yokshire Yeomanry Cavalry—H. J. Newbold,
Gent., to be Cornet, Oct. 28.
WHITEHALL, Nov. 4.
The Right Hon. Sir Nicolas Conyngham Tindal, Knt., Lord
Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, has appointed
Robert Benjamin Wheatly, of Staines, in the county of Mid-
dlesex, Gent., to be one of the perpetual Commissioners
for taking the acknowledgments of deeds to be executed
by married women, under the Act passed for the abo-
lition of fines and recoveries, and for the substitution
of more simple modes of assurance, in and for the county
of Middl, sex, also in and for the counties of Surrey, Berks,
sod Bucks.
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, Nov. 7.
Whereas John Bates, Patrick Beirne, Patrick Brennan,
Owen Barrett, Daniel Camon, Michael Casey, Cormick
Connell, Samuel Carson, Robert Campbell (2d), Francis
Clancey, Michael Duggan, John Drysdale, Martin
Doyle, James Dennan, James Earls, James Eylifard,
Daniel Fragean, Martin Frain, Patrick Gallagher, Patrick
Harte, William Hunter, David Jones, Patrick Kelly, John
Keegan, John Kilchriest, William Latimer, Francis
Leahey, Laurence Mahon, John Martin, James. Mahon,
John Mahon, Patrick Mahon, Daniel M‘Cay,„ Philip
M'Cabe, James APPonnell. " Thomas D. 1114Man-
away, Hugh M•Donald, Thomas M'Cleary, Patrick
M`Gann, Henry l'il'lntyre, John M‘Kenzie, John M‘Murray,
Francis APSharry, James Moylett, Thomas O'Brien, Patrick
O'Callaghan, Thomas O'Farrell, Hugh O'Neill, Francis
Ray, John Rielly, James Ryan, Arthur Rooney,
Thoinas Rooney, Thomas Robinson, William Rodgers,
Michael Sheeran, Robert Small, Daniel Sullivtn,
John M. Sadler, William Shanley, John Thompson, Patrick
Thornton, Henry Tighe, Patrick Whyte, being person's hi-
therto employed in this department, have left the same for
the purpose of assisting in the survey of projected railway
lines and other works, and have in their possession appoint-
ments from the Board of Ordnance, enabling them for the pur-
pose of the Government surveys to enter lands without being
deemed trespassers; notice is hereby given, that the
above-named persons, having ceased to be employed by this
department, such appointments have become cancelled, and
any use being made of them, for the purpose of entering
lands after this notice, subjects the offender to a penalty of
50/., and all persons to whom any such appointments may be
presented are authorised to detain them, and forward the
same to R. Byham, Esq., Secretary to the Board of Ord-
nance, London.
By order of the Master-General and Board of Ordnance,
R. BYHAM, Secretary.

LITERATURE.

'HE MASTER PASSION, iffc.: By T. C. Grat.

tan, 3 vols..
There volumes contain many tales and sketches which
have already appeared in different periodicals, but are
now collected for the first time. They chiefly consist of
travelling reminiscences, anecdotes, and legends, or por-
traits of original characters whom the author has met
with in his wanderings. The style is bold and animated;
it interests without fatiguing. This is a necessary
quality in a work of fiction. We may read a
dull history f4,r the sake of obtaining tnformation,
but in a novel we only seek for amusement ; and amuse-
ment we are sure to find in Mr. Grattan's writings :
there is no affectation, no striving after effect, all is free
and unstudied, full of vigour and reality. We are told
that many of the incidents are true, many of the cha-
racters; real this may be so or not, it matters little, it is
enough that they are naturally described and may rea-
dily be believed, and in this is their great charm, the
impossible may interest, but it is probability that
amuses.

The principal tale, "The Master Passion," appeared in
Cutburn's Magazine some years back. It is a legend
of Chamouni, and is full of intereA. The hero is one of
those dark and dreadful characters, happily more often
found in fiction than in reality, hating and despising the
world, shunned and feared by all. This gloomy misan-
thrope is sof:ened by love for a young peasant girl—this
feeling becomes the " master passion ' of his life, the
redeeming trait in his dark character ; but we are told,
"Love flows like the Solway, and ebbs like its tide ;"
the master passion of love being changed to jealousy,
renders him even more terrible than before. The con•
eluding chapters of this tale are powerfully written, and
are full of thrilling interest. Many of the other stories
are of a very different character, some light and trifling,
only calculated to amuse—others full of reflections on
individual dispositions, tending to show that—
" The proper study of mankind is man."
The first volume is embellished with a portrait of the
author. The following extracts will show Mr. Grat-
tan's opinion of the wisdom of his countrymen, and his
excuses for American vanity :
The extreme diversity of shades in Irish character is not
more remarkable than the wild harmony with which they
blend together. Almost every individual is made up of con-
tradictions, or at least of contrasts. The joy of an Irishman
has always a dash of melancholy in it; and there is a rain-
bow even in his most clouded sky.
It is incontestable that Ireland is more fertile than any
other country in what is generally called folly; folly in all
its Proteus forms, but specially of that humiliating sort I
have just alluded to. lam almost inclined to think that it
is quite a matter of chance whether any given Irish infant
turn out a wise or a foolish man; and in the majority of
adults it is hard to say to which category they belong. They,
almost without exception, seem to hover through life between
the two attractions : and in nine cases out of ten a feather
would turn the beam. It is this uncertainty which gives
such a racy flavour to Irish humour, and such picturesqueness
to Irish conduct. Other nations scarcely know how to esti-
mate us. Our fools perpetually say the shrewdest things;
our wise men constantly do the most foolish.
And is it then, really, I have often asked myself, that the
quickness of intellect which is admitted to distinguish the
mass f my countrymen, is but a chance item in the balance-
sheet of the national character, and that, due allowances for
shades of difference being made, and the proportions between
sense and nonsense fairly struck, it is even doubtful which
ought to be held predominant? Is the boundary between
intellect and idiotism so narrow? Is it a mere accident of
cerebral formation that makes one man an orator and another
an " innocent?" Of what are "Irish eloquence" and "Irish
wit" compounded? And how are we to draw the line be-
tween them on one hand, and bombast and ribaldry on the
other? Does the reputation of our bold-voiced demagogues
and spirit-stirring speakers in Parliament hang on the simple
thread of a phrenological subdivision ? May Dryden's couplet—
" Great wit is sure to madness near allied,

And thin partitions do their bounds divide,"
be specially applied to Irishmen ? and must we be content to
prove a pendant to the truism of an old Latin writer, that
" scholars are the most foolish men in the world?"

Is it not unfair, or at best puerile, in English travellers to
be surprised or angry winh the Americans for their extreme
displays of national vanity? Have they not a right to con-
sider themselves one of the greatest nations existing? and
that point conceled, is it wonderful that they should consider
themselves the greatest? Why, then, those expressions of
annoyance and disgust at this strongly-developed failing of
Transatlantic character?
Let it be remembered that the United States of America
have made for themselves a distinguished position in the
scale of national greatness—they have fought for and gained
their liberty from one of the most powerful people of Europe.
In a later contest, they maintained gallantly what they at first
so gloriously won. They see their population and their power
every day increasing with almost incredible progression.
Their greatness is all visible, while their remoteness from
other countries leaves them without contrasts to show them
their inferiority on miner points. They hear fro* one end of
the Union to the other but the language of reciprocal praise.
The voice of sarcasm or blame comes faintly across the At-
lantic deeps ; and, when heard in feeble echoes. it sounds like
envious whisperings rather than full• toned reproof.
A blustering self-sufficiency is the inevitable consequence
of all this internal combination ; and a perpetual accession is
given to it from outward sources. Every ship-load of emi-
grants that reaches the American shores brings a fund of
practical eulogy to increase the stock of American pride.
Each new settler is a living tribute to the worth of the land;
and all who come predisposed to admire and flatter, soon be-
come an integral part of the vanity they feed. The good opi-
nion they at first formed for the country is not likely to de-
crease when it is converted into pride of themselves. Thus
every additional settler abets the general disease, and few of
the few travellers that Europe sends out to make a temporary
sojourn, can have ill-bred candour to combat the prevalent
weakness of self-satisfied millions ; civilisation alone can
cure it.
But is America likely ever to become a truly civilised
nation, if civilisation be taken to imply expansion of mind
and refinement in manners and habits of thought ? It is the
constant contact with other countries that alone can
rub off the asperities of national prejudice—the great bar to
true refinement. Such a remedy America can never have until
the days when her overgrown empire shall break into frag-
ments of territorial separation.
Then every rival State will discover faults in its neigh-
bour which it never saw when their interests and feelings
were in common, and jealousy will see defects in the very
qualities that self-love considers as perfections. Northers,
southerns, monarchies, and republics—despots and oligarchs,
will then, by opposing efforts, disperse the very prejudice
they had while united upheld ; and every separate branch
lopped from the great national tree will lessen the mass of
congregated vanity which overshadows the land. But, until
then, we must bear with the Americans, and even excuse
them, while they say, and write, and believe their country
to be

NEW RAILWAY SCHEMES.

The London Gazette of Monday evening cont -ins notices of
applications to Parliament in the ensuing session for Bills
authorising the construction of the following Railways :
Chester and Birkenhead—to widen and enlarge, and lay
down additional lines of rails, and to make four branches.

North British—twelve branches and one extension.

To authorise Lord Francis Egerton to make a railway from
the top-locks of the Bridgewater-canal, to join the Grand
Junction, with a branch.
Line from Exeter, to join the Southampton and Dorchester
at Fordington••tield, with two branches.
To amend the Gravesend and Rochester Railway and
Canal Act.

Line from the London and Brighton at Redstone-hill to
Dorking.
Line from the Brighton and Chichester, at the Woodgate
station, to Bognor.

Junction between the London and Brighton and the South-
Western lines.

Line from the Brighton and Chichester to Littlehampton.
Line from the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings, at Southerham
corner to Seaford, with one branch.

Line from Hailsham and Folkington, or one of them, by a
junction with the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings, to East-
bourne, and Southbourne, or one of them.
Blackburn and Preston—to amend the Act and make two
branches.

Line from the Eastern Union at Bentley, to Clay Wall
Farm, Hadleigh.
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle.
Junction between the Lancaster and Carlisle, and the Fur-
ness lines. _ .

Junction between the London and Birmingham, and the
Bedford and London, and Birmingham lines.
Sale of the Aylesbury to the London and Birmingham
Railway Compaay.
Line from the Lynn and Ely to Boston, with two branches.
London, Hounslow, and Western—line from Falconbridge
to Staines, with a branch.
Windsor, Slough, and Staines Atmospheric.
Teuby, Saundersfoot, and South Wales.
Thames Haven Dock and Railway—to amend the Act.
Launceston and South Devon—to re-introduce Bill.
South Devon—to re-introduce Bill, giving extension of
powers, and to make a branch to Tavistock.
Guildford Junction—to re-introduce Bill, authorising sale
of line, &c.
South Devon—five branches, abandonment of parts of
line, and substitutions in lieu.
Junction between the London and Birmingham, and the
London and Birmingham and Dunstable branch line.
Great North of England and Yorkshire and Glasgow Union
Junction. _ _ _

Line from either the East Lancashire or the Leeds and
Bradford to Adlingham, with three branches.
North Metropolitan Junction—line from between the
London and Birmingham at Chalk-farm, to the Eastern
Counties, at Stratford-le-Bow.

Line from the London and Birmingham, at Weedon to Kid •
derminster, with a branch from Middletown to the Barnet-
green station of the Birmingham and Gloucester.
Bradford and Cambridge Extension.

Lancashire and Yorkshire North-Eastern, and to amend
the Leeds and Bradford, the Leeds and Thirsk, the Church
Fenton and Harrogate, and other railway Acts.
Boston, Grantham, and Midland Counties Junction.
Grand Junction—to amend the Act and make a line from
Ha ton to Warrington.
Hull, Sheffield, and Midland Direct.

Shropshire Union Railway and Canal (Shrewsbury to
Stafford).
Eastern Counties, Barking, and Thames Junction
Shropshire Union Railway and Canal (Newton to Crewe).
North Gravesend.
Louth and Gainsborough Direct.
Midland—purchase of Leicester and Swannington, and for-
mation of branches, &c.
Midland—Erewash Valley branches.
Nottingham and Erewash Valley.
Line from the Eastern Counties at Stepney to the river
Crouch, with a branch to Southend.
Rochdale, Ilaywood, and Manchester.
Line from the Hull and Selby to Barnsley, with branch to
Great Driffteld. _ _ _

Line from the Hull and Selby to Barnsley, with power to
vary a part of the course of the Ouse, and make a navigable
cut in lieu. . . _

Liverpool, Preston, and North Union Junction, with •x--
tension to Blackburn, and branches to Southport and Wigan,
and other places.
South Midland, with a branch.
East Dereham and Norwich, with two branches.

Harwich and Eastern Counties Junction.
Direct Northern, with branches between Stevenage and
Clapham, Bedfordshire; Buckden and Hartford; Stilton and
Whittlesea, with nine others.
Exeter Great Western, with two branches.'
Great Kent Atmospheric, with seven branches, and power
to purchase or lease the Gravesend and Rochester, and to

improve the same.
Line from Oxford to the Great Western, at the West
Drayton station.
Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal (Old-
ham, &c., branches).
The same (Cooper-bridge Branch and Huddersfield Diver-
sion).
Southampton, Manchester, and Oxford Junction.
Clitheroe Junction, with two branches, and power to sell
or lease to the East Lancashire, and to unite and consolidate
with them, and to amend parts of the East Lancashire
Railway Act.
Line from Ardwick to Saddleworth, with four branches.

Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead, with a
branch and power to sell or lease and purchase the interests
of the proprietors of the Stour Navigation.
Direct London and Portsmouth—reintroduction of Bill,
and also notice of another Bill for making additional
branches.
Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, with branches.
London and York—re-introduction of Bill.
Line between the Sutton station of the Chester and Bir-
kenhead to Llangollen, with branch.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
BELFAST AND BALLYMENA RAILWAY.
(FRost A CORRESPONDENT.)
On Thursday, the 6th inst., the ceremony of raising the
first sod of this projected railway, took place on a field in the
neighbourhood of Whitehouse, a village three miles from Bel-
fast, on the road to Carrickfergus.
At one o'clock, the field was crowded by a large assemblage
of people, and soon afterwards Lord Massereene, who was to
officiate on the occasion, arrived, accompanied by a number
of the Directors. The portion of the field which was enclosed
was gaily ornamented with flags fluttering in the breeze. The
band of the 26th Regiment were in attendance, and before the
speaking properly commenced "discoursed" to the crowd.
A great number of ladies witnessed the proceedings, and
among the noblemen and gentlemen present within the en-
closure, were—Lord Massereene, Hon. G. Handeock, A. Mul-
holland, Esq., Mayor of Belfast ; 1). R. Ross, Esq., M.P.,
Peter Kirk, Esq., M.P.. J. M'Neile, Esq., J.P., D.L., G. J.
Clarke, Esq., J.P., Steeple, Antrim ; E. Grimshaw, Esq.,
J.P., Robert Wright, Esq., Fortfield ; S. K. Mulholland,
Esq., R. Davison, Esq., A. K. Millar, Esq., A. Davison, Esq.,
Broughshane ; C. Lanyon, Esq., county surveyor for Antrim,
and engineer of the line ; Dr. Stewart, Captain Manly,
Carrickfergus ; Dr, M'3lechan, Rev. Dean Chaim, J. Ham-
son, Esq., R. Thomson, Esq., John Kane, Esq., J. M'Neale,
jun., Esq., Jas. Simpson, Esq., of Edinburgh, Ste.
Before the initiatory process of raising the first sod was
performed,
Lord MASSENEENE came forward, and spoke to the follow-
ing effect ;—Ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate you all
on the auspicious circumstance which has brought us
together this day. The present is a period of very great
distress, owing to the failure of the crop which forms a large
portion of the poor man's food. A work of this kind is,
therefore, so much the more needed on that account, as it
will be the means of circulating a great amount of
money among the labouring classes. They will, therefore,
be more enabled to meet the calamity I have referred to.—
(Cheers.) We ought to cherish gratitude to Divine Provi-
dence for allowing us to meet together and commence an un-
dertaking which will result in so much public benefit; and
I trust that the first spade full of earth turned up this day
will eventually produce a plentiful harvest to the share-
holders, whilst the first advantage will accrue to those who
need it most, the working classes.
When his Lordship ended, cheers arose which made the
welkin ring. He then took the spade provided for the occa-
sion, dug up a portion of the sod-covered soil, and having
thrown it into a handsome mahogany barrow, he wheeled it
forward a distance of five or six yards along a primitive tem-
porary wooden railway, popularly called a plank. Arrived
at the terminus, the Noble Lord emptied the virgin earth
from the car, and returned with it amid the prolonged accla-
mations of the crowd.
The Hon. G. HANDCOCK, Chairman of the Directors, then
took up the spade, saying he would follow the good example
set by his Lordship, although he doubted whether he could do
it in such a workmanlike manner. After he had acted accord-
ingly, several others of the Directors went in succession
through the same form, as did also Mr. Lanyon, the en-
gineer of the line, and Mr. Dargan, the contractor. At the
conclusion the band struck up the national anthem, and
three cheers were given by the assembled multitude for the
Queen. The meeting then dispersed.

The Manchester and Southampton Railway Company have,
in addition to their new extension line from Droitwich to
Wolverhampton, through the densely populated districts of
Stourbridge and Dudley, announced the final adjustment of the
negotiations with the Marquis of Aylesbury—through whose
large property the line is to run for several miles—by which
his Lordship's cordial support has been obtained, in public
proof of which, his eldest son, Earl Bruce, has formally added
his name to the powerful and influential list of Directors.
This adhesion makes perfect the concuring, support along the
entire line, of all the great landed proprietors, from Sir John
Barker Mill, Bart. (th chairman) at one end of the line, to
the Earl of Bathurst, also a director, at the other. The sup-
port and co-operation of the Salisbury and Yeovil Company
is also secured, and what has all along been the great fea-
ture to our eyes, the purchase of the Andover Canal, has
been completed. The deposits are all paid up, and the sur-
veys finished. The notices which are required by the stand-
ing, orders of Parliament have been most carefully revised,
and await insertion in the Gazette of next Tuesday.—Hamp-
shire bidepcialant.

BRIGHTON, LEWES, AND HASTINGS.
Monday a special meeting of the proprietors was held at
the London-bridge terminus, for the purpose of confirming a
resolution passed on the 30th of June last, relative to the
sale of the line to the London and Brighton Company.
Mr. ROWLAND HILL, the chairman of the Company, pre-
sided, and said that the meeting, which was a matter of
form, was for the purpose of confirming a resolution passed
some time ago, with reference to the Act for extending the
line to Ashford, and also for the purpose of confirming a
resolution, transferring the rights of the Brighton, Lewes,
and Hastings line to the Brighton Company. He moved—
" That the Keymer branch, and also the Hastings and
Ashford line, be made over by the Brighten, Lewes, and
Hastings Railway Company to the London and Brighton
Railway Company, if (and when) Acts shall be obtained for
making the same or either of them ; it having been arranged
that the Lon(lon and Brighton Railway Company are to re-
pay to the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway Com-
pany all expenses incurred by them in relation to the said
Keymer branch and the 'Hastings and Ashford, whether such
Acts shall pass or not, be and are hereby confirmed. And that
the corporate seal of the Company be affixed to the transfer,
and the London and Brighton Railway Company have all
the powers granted to the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings
Railway Company by the Act passed in the last session of
Parliament, enabling the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings
Railway Company to make a branch railway from South-
over, Lewes, to join the London and Brighton Railway at
Keymer; and also the powers of another Act, also passed in
the last session of Parliament, to enable the said Brighton,
Lewes, and Hastings Railway Company to make a railway
from Balverbrittle, in the county of Sussex, to Ashford, in
Kent, s;) far as the same relate to such portions of the rail-
way authorised by the said last-mentioned Act as has not
been transferred to the South-Eastern Railway Company,
pursuant to the provisions in the said Act contained ; toge-
ther with all the rights and privileges of the Brighton,
Lewes, and Hastings Railway Company, in or over so much
and such parts of the said railway and works authorised by
the said last-mentioned Act, and the stations and conve-
niences connected therewith ,as have been transferred W the