The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-07 00:00:00

GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION

-
COMPANY. • -
Yesterday, at half-past one o'clock, another steamer was added
to the unrivalled fleet of the General Steam Navigation Company.
The Mercury, steam-vessel, with the Chairman, Mr. Wilkin,
the Secretary, Mr. Wilson, Captain Laurence, Mr. Richardson,
Mr. Pepys, and other gentlemen belonging to the Company, with
the Hon. Thomas Spring Rice. Commissioner; of Customs, Mr.
M'Gregor, and Mr. Porter, of the Board of Trade, proceeded from
London-b:idge to Bow Creek, Blackwall, where they witnessed
the interesting launch of the new steam-vessel, built of iron, by
Messrs. Ditchburne and Mare, the Hon. Mrs. Rice naming her
" The Triton," with the usual ceremony, as she went off the stocks
amidst the cheers of the workmen and the casual spectators. She
is a very smart-looking vessel, of 461 tons burden, builder's mea-
surement, is 165 feet long, 24ft. beam, and 14ft. deep in hold ; and,
judging from her position in the water, she will doubtless add to
the already high character of the Company for the great safety and
dispatch of their passengers and goods.
After the launch, the Triton was towed by the Mercury out of
the creek ; and leaving her to be warped into the East India Dock,
to have her engines (direct action) fitted, of 83-horse power, the
Mercury proceeded on a short trip to try her machines and speed.
This vessel is nc.w one of the most perfect belonging to the General
Steam Navigation Company; from being lengthened in her fore
body 17 feet, and from having an increase of 20-horse power, with
tubular boilers, she can now take comfortably, at an average rate
of 13 miles an hour, 170 passengers and 200 tons of goods.
A very elegant cold collation was served on board the Mercury,
in her little cruise, which was partaken of with the gentlemen, by
Mrs. Spring Rice and a number of ladies, in the course of which
several high compliments were paid to the General Steam Naviga-
tion Company. The Hon. Spring Rice, as Commissioner of Cus
toms. gave great credit to the Company, and praised its officers
for their very strict attention to the Customs' regulations in pre-
venting smuggling. The fleet of steamers of the General Steam
Navigation Company was superior to that of any other ccuntry.
Mr. M`Gregor attributed the establishment and improvement of
the Royal steam navy to the example which was shown to the
Government by the efficient fleet of the General Steam Company,
and many warm eulogiums were passed on the Chairman, Mr.
Wilkin, for his devotion to the business of the Company, and for
its able management.

Mr. Wilkin most appropriately acknowledged the handsome
expressions used towards the Company and himself, and reiterated
the determination of the Company to check as much as they pos.
sibly could the iniquitous smuggling which was encouraged in a
great degree by persons on shore, and which tended so much to.
wards demoralisation. The worthy Chairman took credit for the
efficiency of the Company's steam.vessels, and announced his deter.
urination to maintain them so, and thereby the best interests of the
shareholders.

We must not forget to state that the health of the Hon. Mrs.
Spring Rice, who performed the ceremony of naming the Triton,
was drunk with much respect and applause.

" Steam Navigation, wherever it exists," and several other
toasts connected with it and the Company, were likewise duly
honoured.

The Mercury came up to London.bridge, and landed her pas.
sengers early in the evening.

BRAZILS.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
When, instead of arguments or ratiocination, scurrility
and buffoonery are resorted to, whether by Governments or
individuals, it is a strong indication either of weakness of the
intellect, or the badness of the cause, of those who adopt such
despicable means. "Goad a galled'donkev and he will wince,"
is an'old adage, and is very applicable:at die:present moment, to
our Ministry, who, having been pricked in a sore place, are
beginning to kick, and bespatter all who come in their way
—witness the attack yesterday in the Herald, on the people
and Government of Brazils; because they have had the spirit
to resent the indignant treatment they have experienced
at the hands of our Premier and the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, in continuing the prohibitory duty on their sugars,
and opening our ports to those of all the world besides.
Brazils has retaliated by an avowed intention of levying
20 per cent. differential duty on our cotton manufactures—a
measure Mr. Gladstone and other members of the Cabinet
would insist Brazils would not have recourse to. Our
merchants and manufacturers, naturally alarmed at
this menacing obstruction to their trade, and irri-
tated at the delay which has taken place in the
concluding a new treaty with that important empire,
whereby their property has been deprived of the protection
hitherto afforded it by our Consuls and Judge Conservator,
have strongly remonstrated with the Government. The
Premier has no consolation to offer them but holding out de-
ceptive hopes that the new treaty will place our relation with
that country on the same footing as before the expiration of
the old; but how can that be possible, whilst we attempt to
give the law to Brazils, as an insignificant and unimportant
country whose trade we can command, if not by fair means
by foul, such as defrauding its revenues by smuggling our
cotton articles. What an insinuation for a Government
organ to promulgate against a country amicably disposed
towards us, and one of our best customers ! .

The language used by our Contemporary is most unjustifi-
able and absurd—if they cannot convince by argument, they
will never succeed in conciliating Brazils by " bullying and
braggadociaing," or bring her to consent to take the law
from us, whose duty it is, as a more rich and powerful
country, to set a good example to others, not only in a
moral and religious, but likewise in a commercial, fiscal,
financial, and honourable point of view.

TRAVELLING IN 1845.—ARRIVAL AT DOVER OF
TIM INDIAN MAIL—The officer in charge of the above mail ar-
rived at Boulogne yesterday morning from Marseilles in the short
space of 65 hours. In one hour and fifty-five minutes the same
was conveyed across the Channel to Dover, by the Ondine steam_
vessel, and in four hours from that time the mail was in London ;
the entire distance from Marseilles to London being thus performed
in less than eighty hours !

WILL ADMIRAL SIR JOHN C. WHITE, K.C.B.
—Probate of the will and two codicils of the late Sir Jelin
Chambers White, of Park.square, Regent's Park, and of Sheer-
ness, Kent, Vice-Admiral of her Majesty's navy, and Knight
Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, who died
at Sheerness on the 4th of April last, has just been granted to the
executors and trustees, Sir Adolphus John Dalrymple, Bart ,
Colonel Edward Fanshawe, and Henry Dalrymple White and
Adolphus Leighton White, Esqrs., the sons of the deceased. The
personal effects in England, within the province of Canterbury,
sworn under 60,000/. Leaves to his son Henry Dalrymple his
house No. 23, Upper Wimpole-street; and to his son Adolphus
Leighton, two hundred shares in the Marhattan Bank, New York.
The residue of his property he leaves to be equally divided among
his said two sons and daughter Charlotte, except his plate, jewellery
and such like, which by a codicil in his own handwriting he has
apportioned amongst them. The will is dated February 27, 1845.
Witnesses—John Simpson and Robert A. Mitchell, Henrietta.
street, Covent-garden.
THE NAIL TRADE IN STIRLINGSHIRE.—This branch
of trade has long been in a very depressed state, chiefly arising from
the use of machine-made nails, and also from a spirit of competi.
tion smong the employers. The average earnings of the nail.
makers in this quarter, for some years past, have not exceeded 7s.
a week; for though in some few instances Bs., 10s., or even 12s
have been realised, yet these sums were only got by extra labour,
or perhaps a better paid kind of work. About six months ago the
workmen obtained a penny additional for making 1,000 nails; and
after some agitation on the part of the workmen, several of the em.
ployers have this week very handsomely advanced another 3d. on
the same quantity. This will have the effect of raising the nail.
maker's weekly earnings to about Bs. 6d. or 95., or from 20 to 30
per cent. on their wages, which, though still a small pittance, must
be productive of a little more comfort to this long depressed body
of men.—Scotch Paper. _ _

-....---- ---
THE GREENWICH PIERS.—The town of Green.
wich was yesterday In a state of considerable excitement in con-
sequence of information having been communicated to the Directors
of the Floating Pier Company that the Lord Mayor had given
directions to the water-bailiff to adopt forcible means if necessary
to remove the barges moored off Garden.stairs. On Monday, at
twelve o'clock. the deputy water.bailiff went to tke floating pier,
and gave notice to Cavill, the pier master, to remove the dummies
and barges, intimating that if not taken away forthwith he was
commanded by the Lord Mayor to bring steam-boats, or such other
means as might be deemed necessary, to remove the nuisance and
obstruction. Some gentlemen from Greenwich, on behalf of the water_
men, determined on waiting upon the Lord Mayor, and proceeded
to the Mansion.house, and had a private interview with his Lord-
ship. They were courteously received, and after the statement
had been laid before his Lordship, together with the plans of the
river and its embankments, he was pleased to say he would stay the
order, and reconsider the matter.

DARING BURGLARY.—Yesterday morning, between
°tic and seven o'clock, a daring burglary was effected upon the
premises of Mr. Atkins, wine and spirit merchant, of Lower.road,
Islington. The thieves gained an entrance from the rear of the
premises, and after ransacking the counting-house, stealing from
thence between 301. and 401. in gold and notes, besides various
articles, they broke open the cellar, and after indulging themselves
with some of the choicest wines, they proceeded to draw off a hogs.
head of cyder before they took their departure.
SAC RILEG E.—Yesterday information was received
by the police that on the night of the 30th ult., or early on the
morning of the Ist inst., the parish church of White Waltham,
near Maidenhead, Bucks, was sacrilegiously broken open, and
robbed of about fifteen yards of black cloth, forming the hangings
of the pulpit and reading desks. The thieves arc supposed to
have been disturbed, as no attempt was made to force the vestry
door.

ETON AQUATICS.—The first annual match of the
season came off on Friday last, between what is called by old Eto-
nians the two sides of College, which caused the usual degree of
interest consequent on its being for the purpose of ascertaining the
merits of the crews, with a view to the selection of the best eight,
who will take the challenges of the Westminster, Oxford, and Cam.
bridge Universities during the season. The distance was, as usual,
from the Brocas round the Rushes to Windsor-bridge, about four
miles. The crews were as follows :—The Prince of Wales, taking
the Eton side of the stream, was manned by Tremaync (stroke),
Watkyns, Mr. Hanbury, Talfourd, Leslie, Parker, Stewart (steerer),
The Victory, taking the Windsor side, was manned by Adlington
(stroke), Boughton, Luttrill, mi., Richards, Fellowes, Buller, Law-
ford (steerer). The Victory had the decided advantage at starting,
and on arriving at the Clump was half a boat's length in advance,
the Prince of Wales closely pressing them to the Point, where it
was expected bumping would take place, but by dint of skill and
great exertions on the part of the crew of the Victory, they suc-
ceeded in avoiding this friendly salutation of their opponents, and
by the time they arrived at Upper Hope they had gained two boats'
length in advance, gradually increasing their advantage to the
Rushes, and from thence to the bridge. The Victory came in a
winner by between six and seven boats' lengths.
FIRE NEAR TEMPLE-BAR.—About two o'clock
this morning, a gentleman, named Finch, observed smoke issuing
from the shop windows of the house of Mr. Martin, tailor, 3,
Bell yard, Temple-bar. A cry of " fire!" was instantly raised,
and after considerable trouble the inmates were aroused. By that
period the flames had obtained the complete possession of the shop,
and were ascending the staircase. Several persons quickly made
their appearance at the upper windows bewailing their distressed
condition. A blanket was instantly procured from Mr. Sergeant,
of the adjoining house, and the same being held by some of the
neighbours, one or two children were thrown from the second
floor, and escaped without personal injury. The fire-escape flora
the Blackhorse-court police-station was brouglitueplais,soem,baeftt.oc
err,
when three or four other parties effected their escape by jumping
from the upper windows into it. Not many minutes
Mr. Braidwood, supet intendent of the London Fire Establishment,
reached the spot, with five engines and a strong muster of firemen.
The New River Waterworks yielded an instant a'sd an abundant
supply of water, but they were unable to extinguish the flames
before the shop and its contents were destroyed, and the staircase
and upper part of the building seriously damaged by fire.
SINGULAR FACT 1N NATURAL IIIaTORY
the accidental or eccentric deviations from th'e—liavfv
nature, which happens all
amongleutihecirfeatliereo tribes, were
recorded, it would furinTahep
following n,, addition to the studies
occur-
rence (similar to the mysterious remarkable of the ornithologist.
of Great Britain, and the cowbunting
oi
. ofAmerica.)the cuckoo
was
discovered lately, within eighty yards of the residence
of Mr. Bruce, gamekeeper
wasamekeeper to Lord Lovat, at Beaufort
Castle, A n
fhoeuni,isd,eings. which,hr there were a wood-
cock's and a bantam
first possessor of
the " local habitation" cannot be asceertained ; but, at
all events, there the woodcock sits close, and so tame
that slte remains undisturbed by visitors who are anxious
io notice the coming out of her brood. Should all the
eggs produce birds, the movements of the pullets will
be watched, in order ;9 ntserve whether they remain
with their foster Barents, or j )in the first party of
chicken.. -.
. ._ ,Liey meet with.—lnverness Couticr.

LITERATURE.

AN APPEAL TO THE OPPONENTS OF THE
MAYNOOTH GRANT. By Eneas Mac Don-
nell,Esq.

This gentleman published numerous letters in a Morn-
, ing Journal some years since, relative to the Govern-
ment of Ireland, and was strongly opposed, if we re-
member correctly, to measures proposed by the
Whigs, and generally approved of by the Liberals in
both countries as remedies for Irish grievances. This
pamphlet, however, exhibits a different spirit. Its
ohject is to remove misapprehensions respecting the
Catholic faith, to encourage peace and Christian
charity among all classes, and to promote a measure
which he believes to be beneficial to his country and
to the United Kingdom generally. These are strong
proofs of repentance, and, therefore, looking at this
ephemeral production in that light, we are induced to
call the attention of our readers to the subjoined ex-
tracts. In reference to the charge made by some
parties that the scheme is a " Popish plot," directed
against British gre,ttness and British glory, he

There is something most unseemly in all this. No
man denies that the Catholics o: Ireland were subjected
to grievous impoverishment by British rulers, for Bri-
tish purposes. Yet, now, when this comparatively small
proffer of liberality is made to them, an outcry is raised
by those who pretend to exceed all others in liberality.
and thou4ands of petitions are concocted, in the hope of
paralysing the hand by which the offering is tendered !
Such are the notions, and such the practice of our self-
styled admirers of British greatness and British glory
Let them beware. Resistance of this sort begets and
nourishes perilous reminiscences which should not ob-
tain any portion of public countenance or favour. Thiry
may, nay must aid Irish agitation, but they injure, in
the same proportion, British fame and British strength."
1-3.nd in another place, to show the utter hopeless-
ness of diminishing the number of Catholics by perse•
cution, he invites attention to facts :
_

"There was printed in London, in the year 1689, a
publication entitled—' A letter from Duke Schomburgh's
Camp, giving an account of all the Papists in Ireland,
their number and estates, &c., from the Camp at Dun-
dalk, November 4, 1689.' It will be found to contain
the following statement :—"rhe whole of them (Papists),
men, women, and children, are but one million,—of
which 40 or 50,000 in arms. . . . There are four
titular archbishops, 23 bishops, and 2328 parish priests.'
"From the time when that letter was published a sys-
tem of Anti-catholic legislation was pursued, which I
shall not distress myself or others by more specifically
deta9ing, than by assuring those opponents of the May-
nooth grant, that it fully accorded with their views, and
was expressly framed for their declared purpose of pre-
venting the growth of Popery.' Let those opponents
now mark the practical results of their policy.
" The Roman Catholics of Ireland, who, in 1689,
amounted, men, women, and children,' to one million,
are returned by the Commissioners for taking the Irish
census, in 1841, as amounting to 6,427,712 !
" This fact requires no illustration from commentary;
but I may, in reference to the present subject of May-
nooth, direct attention to the fact, that whereas the
Episcopal offices are now precisely the same in number
as they were in 1689, the number of parish priests, or
rather parochial clergy, for the 6,427,712 of Irish Ro-
man Catholics in Is4l, was 2239, being actually less, by
89, than the number of parochial clergy, for the one
million of Irish Roman Catholics in 1689, which we find,
stated to have been 2328."

With a view to refute the accusation which im-
putes to Roman Catholic pastors the desire and
habit to exclude from theircongregations the influence
of the Sacred Scriptures, he publishes a pastoral
charge of the Roman Catholic Prelates of Ireland,
addressed to their clergy and congregations in the
year 1824, in which the authority of the instruc-
tion given is made to rest chiefly upon these Divine
revelations, and introduces it with the following re-.
marks :

" I entreat most particular attention to the lengthened
extract which I shall furnish, in the first instance, froth
a grave and unquestionable record of that advice and
instruction, framed, adopted, and promulgated, some
years ago, by those Most Rev. and Right Rev. Prelates.
On reference to the signatures affixed thereto, I should
add, that the majority of those prelates were at the
time, or had been closely connected with the College-
of Maynooth, either as trustee, superior, or student. I
feel assured that whenever the hurly burly of the pre-
sent organised Anti-Catholic agitation ceases to hold
possession of the mind, and restrain the exercise of
reason, I shall be secure of obtaining the admission that
such a document should be considered a better tand
i safer test of Roman Catholic instruction, than the m-
putations of avowed and actively hostile opponents."