The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-19 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

NEW YORK, Nov. 30.—The National Legislature
convenes on Monday, the 2d of December. The
greatest doubt and uncertainty as to the policy which
Congress will pursue at their approaching session,
pervade the mind of every calm-thinking man.
None—no, not one is prepared to give an opinion
upon which he is willing to act three months hence.
One thing is certain, and that is, the election of Mr.
Polk has already had an injurious effect upon all the
operations of trade. It has alarmed the ever-timid
capitalist, and must, through him, ere long reich all
classes of society. It is not for me to say whether
there is, or is not, sufficient cause for such apprehen-
sions. I state the fact as I know it to exist.
In coining to any conclusion on this subject, the
state of political parties must be constantly kept in
view. In the House of Representatives the Loco-
focos have an overwhelming majority. In the Senate,
at their last adjournment, the Whigs had a majority
of six, but during the recess two vacancies have
occurred—viz., Mr. Wright (a Locofoco), one of the
New York senators, has been elected Governor of the
State; and Mr. Talmadge (a Whig), the other New
York senator, has been appointed. Governor of Wis-
consin. These vacancies will be filled by two Loco-
focos; consequently, the Whigs lose one of their ma-
jority, while their opponents gain a member, thus
reducing the Whig majority to four—amply suffi-
cient for all practical purposes, if they remain firm
and united. But will they so remain ? On the
answer to this question everything depends.
In my last letter I briefly suggested what appeared
to be the feelings of many Whigs. So far as I can
judge, some from one cause and some from another,
a very respectable minority of the party is favourable
to the scheme of allowing the Locofocos to carry all
their plans into operation immediately. The Whigs
would not vote for these measures, but on the final
question some of the Whig senators would retire,
leaving the power in the hands of their opponents.
In sueh an event Texas would be annexed, and the
tariff of 1842 would be repealed. Or, if these pro-
positions failed, they must fail by Locofoco votes.
It is true the Whigs who now favour this project,
generally take counsel from their irritated feelings;
perhaps they may think and act differently when
more under the control of calm reflection.

That the Locofoco friends of the tariff have already
become alarmed for its safety is certain. The coal
and iron of Pennsylvania are most liberally protected.
Without that protection they must languish, perhaps
perish. They employ a great number of labourers,
and constitute much of the productive wealth of the
State. While the Locofoco journals of the south are
revelling in the prospect that the tariff, through the
instrumentality of Mr. Polk, is to be annihilated, the
same party journals of Pennsylvania and other tariff
States are crying aloud, that Mr. Polk was elected as
the friend of the tariff, and that if he should now
abandon those " who have thus elected him, he would
be worse than a traitor."

As the period for Mr. Tyler's retirement to private
life approaches, he appears anxious that some measure
should be adopted by Congress that might be called
his measure. The annexation of Texas to the United
States is claimed as a suggestion of his ; but this
claim is ridiculed and laughed at by the 'Washington
Globe, and kimdred prints. Be that as it may, while
the President claims it as " his thunder," he will
sacrifice say and every other measure, if necessary,
to accomplish this much-wished-for object.
For some months past nothing has beeh heard on
this exciting subject. If any further negotiation
between the Governments of the United States and
Texas has taken place, the American people are in
ignorance as to the character of such negotiation.
IVithin a few days, however, we have had advices from
Texas, which state, with entire confidence, that Mr.
Jones, the President of that Republic, is opposed to
the annexation. If this rumour should prove to be
well-founded, it will put a new face upon the trans-
action, and may thus compel President Tyler, as a
last resort, to fall back upon Oregon.

The Whig journals throughout the country seem
to be recovering from that state of astonishment into
which their late defeat had thrown them. Those
that have recovered recommend in strong terms an
immediate rally in opposition to the measure of an-
nexation, and in favour of the tariff of 1842. Should
this counsel prevail, nothing of importance will be
done during the approaching session, and Mr. Tyler
will retire from public life under deep disappointment
and mortification.

But he will not be the only mortified man. The
South Carolina Nullifiers will share his disappoint-
ment. A restless band, as they are, will require of
Mr. Polk prompt action. They will press upon him
the necessity of an extra session, for the purpose of
taking up the exciting topics of annexation and the
tariff. Whether they will be able to induce him to
issue his proclamation for such session is problema-
tical. If not, they will commence intriguing against
the Executive and his advisers.

The President, in his annual message, may, and
probably will, speak of the prosperous condition of
the finances of the country; and well he may, for
never were they in a more gratifying state. The
tariff of 1542, a Whig measure, rescued the nation
from impending bankruptcy, revived public and pri-
vate credit, and furnished full and profitable employ-
ment to the industrious labourer. This subject, I
think, the President will handle with caution. It is
probable that the annexation of Texas will be taken
up in a separate and distinct message. Should this
be the case, details will not be given in the opening
communication.

Very few members of Congress have yet reached
this city on their way to Washington. There is,
therefore, no probability that a quorum will be pre-
sent on Monday; perhaps not until the middle of
the week.

The following is the amount of duties collected in
this port during the months of September, October,
and November, 1843, viz.:—

In September
In October
In November

3,407,332
In September, October, and November, 1844, viz :---
In September
In October .
In November

4,474,671
In September, October, and November, 1844, there
has been exported from this port in specie, viz.
In September .. 5609,292
In October
In November

Total exports in specie during the last
three months
Imported during the same period, viz. :
In September $34,350
In October
In November

106,108

Exports of specie in three months
beyond imports .. . . $2,873,734
—Times. A GENEVESE TRAVELLER.

QUARANTINE.

A private letter from Messina, dated the 30th ult.,
mentions that his Majesty the King of the Two Sici-
lies has made the following reductions in the quaran-
tine department :-
1. Vessels arriving from Constantinople, if furnished
with a clean bill of health, and a consular certificate, will
perform 14 days' quarantine, instead of 21, as formerly.
2. Vessels from Algiers (the country) will perform 7
days, provided no goods from the interior of that regency
be on board.

3. Vessels from the port of Algiers, from ports of
Russia, the Black Sea, and Azof, will b© admitted to
free pra:ique, when furnished with the consular certifi-
cate as above.

4. Restrictions for shipping goods in America, except
the Antilles and the Mississippi, are entirely abolished.
5. Restrictions on all vessels coming from Spain, Por-
tugal, the Balearic Isles, and Gibraltar, are also abolished.
6. The quarantine on vessels coming from Tangiers,
Tunis, Greece, and the lonian Islands, having been im-
posed by foreign Powers, no alteration has been deemed
necessary by his Sicilian Majesty in this respect.—Ship-
ping Gazette.

LEVIES AND HASTINGS RAILwAT.—Works have
now begun at Southeram, on the eastern side of the river
Ouse, being the first commencement of the Hastings line.
Upwards of 100 men have already been engaged, and in
the few days they hare been occupied, they have com-
pletely changed the face of the country on which they
are at work. heavy cuttings have been made, and large
embankments already show themselves. We understand
that, as soon as the legal arrangements can be completed,
the wcrks will be prosecuted with vigour at Bexhill and
other parts on the line.—Sussex Express.
WORCESTER, DEC. 16.—A meeting was held at
the Guildhall to• day, the Right Rev. the Bishop of Ro-
chester, lean of Worcester, in the chair (in the absence
of the Mayor from illness), to take into consideration the
sufferings of the poor at the present inclement season.
Various resolutions were passed to carry out the object
of the meeting, and nearly 1501. was subscribed on the
spot. The Bishop of the diocese (unable to attend the
meeting), with his accustomed liberality, subscribed 201.
AsitToN- UNDER-LYNE.—COLLTERS' WAGES.—On
Saturday last, the notices given to the coal-masters, by
tho colliers of this district, for an advance of wages, ex-
pired ; when it was expected that a strike would take
place at many of the pits in the neighbourhood. We are
happy, however, to state that the matter has been
amicably arranged between the masters and men ; the
latter having received au advance upon their wages of
twopence in the shilling. Coals have been raised in
price one halfpenny per hundred weight, which is thought
by the manufacturers in this locality to be most exorbi-
tant ; and many of them have determined to get their
supplies from other parts of the country.—Manchester
Guardian.

MORE MONOPOLY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUIV.

Sin,—ln consequence of the new bastardy-law being
passed, forms for the use of justices' clerks became ne-
cessary. As monopoly seems to be the order of the day,
Mr. Lumley, one of the assistant-secretaries at the
Poor. law Commission-office, has drawn the various re-
quisite forms, and none can be legally used except
those forms, which are to be had of Messrs. Shaw and
Son, Fetter-lane. Therefore, justices' clerks throughout
the country, must (without regard to inconvenience or
char; e) send to London for those forms whenever they
have occasion for a supply. A printer in .the country
has actually been proceeded against for printing forms
required under this new bastardy law ! Strange as these
circumstances may appear, they are no more strange
than true. I at—, &c.
Dec. 18th, 1844. A JUSTICES' CLERK.

ICE LIFE FRESERVER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—The following simile, yet, I trust, efficacious
plan, is suggested for saving the lives of persons from
Perishing when immersed by the breaking of the ice. It
applies more especially to Li radon, and other large cities,
where multitudes assemble to enjoy the invigorating and
healthy amusement of skating and sliding :—Let a
strong line. similar to that used for suspending clothes
to dry, or such as is employed in the whale fishery, be
provided, and of sufficient length to extend from one
side of the water to the other, at its greatest breadth.
To one end of the line a ring is to be fastened ; it is
then to be carried across the centre of the pond or lake,
and passed over the summit of two strong poles, twelve
or fifteen feet high, secured in the ground, then strained
tight, so as to enable persons to skate or slide without
causing obstruction. A strong rope, like a waggon rope,
some feet longer than the line, will be required, to which
a hook is to be attached, and;must be very carefully coiled
and placed on a light carriage, which is to be stationed
near the poles. As soon as au alarm is given that an '
accident has occurred from a fracture of the ice, and that

lives are in danger, a pre-concerted signal is to be made,
by raising a hand-flag, which will be seen on the oppo-
site side ; or, if the weather be foggy or misty, a
coloured lamp may be substituted. The poles and line are
to be immediately detached, and carried towards to the
spot with the utmost celerity, and at the same moment
the rope is to be conveyed with equal speed. The hook
is now to be passed through the ring, and, on a signal
given, the line is to be quickly,drawn in on the other side.
This will carry with it the rope, which is then to be
dropped over the persons in the water, who having seized
it firmly (which they will no doubt eagerly do), they
will be carefully and successfully brought to the nearest
bank ; and in this manner their lives will, in almost
every instance, be preserved from destruction. To pre-
vent any mistake or confusion from occurring, it may be
necessary to give the above plan a few trials, by a little
previous training ; and this may be accomplished in the
autumn, or some time before the setting in of the frost,
by using a small boat containing a few persons. Two or
three may be directed to plunge into the water, to afford
an opportunity for the apparatus to be tested in the
manner previously explained. The entire operation
should be entrusted to the police, or icemen, with the
exception of drawing in the rope. From its weight, it
will be necessary to obtain the aid of the bystanders,
who will very readily afford their powerful assistance in
rescuing their fellow-creatures from a watery grave.
And should this invention be the means of saving but
one life, the writer of this article will feel abundantly
compensated, in the gratification and pleasure of being
the humble instrument of aiding the linmane Society in
its praise-worthy endeavours to do good.
Grey Friars, Gloucester. 11. IL WILLIAMS.