The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-17 00:00:00

THE LATE DIVISION.

(From the Times.)
Mr. Raikes Currie complains, with very intelligible bitter-
ness, that he has been " unjustly gibbeted" as one of the re-
negades on Lord Ashley's amendment. Mr. Raikes Currie
has been a consistent opponent of the ten hours' clause, and is
not therefore obnoxious to the charge of having suddenly
stultified his former votes. The clerks of the House of Com-
mons are alone to blame for the mistake, the Hon. Member's
name having been erroneously inserted on the divisTnnleisatds
as having supported Lord Ashley in the first division, instead
of that of Captain Plumridge.
- - -

Sir,—Seeing you have distinguished my name, with the
names of about a dozen others, as having voted against Lord
Ashley's clause on Friday last, inconsistently with previous
votes in favour of 10 hours, I beg to inform you that in every
case where a restriction to 10 hours has been proposed, I have
voted against it. The mistake has probably arisen from my
having voted also against 12 hours, which, as a supporter (4'
an 11 hours bill, I conceived the 'only course open to me.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Houie of Commons, flay 15,1844. W. ALDABI.

REFUGE HARBOUR COMMISSION.
DOVER, MAY 14.—The Refuge Harbour Commission ar-
rived yesterday at the Ship Hotel, consisting of Admiral Sir
Byami Martin, Lieutenant-General Sir Howard Douglas,
Rear-Admiral Deans Dundas, Captain Sir Wm. Symonds,
Captain John Washington, R.N., Lieutenant-Colonel Colqu-
houn, Lieutenant-Colonel Alderson, Sir John Pelly, Captain
Fisher, R.N., James Walker, Esq. As early as eight o'clock
this morning they embarked on board the Trinity yacht,
and have been the whole day out surveying.
This place is getting quite gay from the constant accession
of visitors, while th© passage to the Continent is decidedly on
the increase, particularly to and from Boulogne. The Ma-
gician rises daily in favour with the public, and maintains
her unrivalled celebrity.

FIRE IN LONG-ACRE.—Wednesday. night, shortly
after ten, a*fire broke out at No. 7, Leg-alley, Long-acre,
occupied by a number of personF. The flames were quickly
extinguished ; not, however, until the whole of the upper
part of the building, together with the furniture contamed
therein was destroyed. The origin of the fire could not be
ascertained. None of the parties were insured.
BRUSSELS, MAY 12.—Her Royal Highness. the
Duchess of Kent is expected to-day from Paris. The King's
dispatches frOth Ardeune is delayed on this accounts

EIGHT. • --
On some occasion in the Peninsular war ten thoiisnnd
Spaniards were ordered .to attack a position on the brow of a
till.. - 'They had scarcely caught a sight of the enemy when
they found the work too hot fur them, and took to their heels,
exalosed to a tremendons'cross-fire of grape all the way down
the bill. Though their loss wasdreadful, it was inipossibtenet to
be amused.at,their precipitation ; and the Duke, who was look-
ins' on, observed:that he had never befere seen a race Tsui by ten
thimaand men. The said Duke must fed a little of this,
airusement at the sudden flight of the eighty-eight from the
position which a month since they were storming with such
gallantry.' Of course he thinks they could not da better, as
was, we believe, the ease with dui aforesaid Spaniards; and
it is - equally evident that Pie eighty-eight, like the
ten. thousand, have not come . off with their skins
entirely whole. Yet we doubt not that he and his
colleagues have I- enjoyed -a little private amusement
at the expense of these unfortunates ; and they are perfectly
justified in doing so. Each of these eighty-eighteantienien
hopes to escape individual notice by being lost in the erovsd.
They run en masse, and think in that way to give plias opi.
nion the go-by. - Nay, the subject is so excessively diseigrece
able in some respectable quarters, that we don't expect they
I will at present receive the duo reward of their sins. Ent we
are not disposed to let them pass without haying a fling or
two at them in tranQa; besides laying by the black list. fir
i future use, just as -a judicious tradesman stores in his desk or
his memory the names of uncernecated bankruate and ether
I unsafe customers: In the first place, wnat do these gentle
I men gain by cloing the thing with a high hand, and trying to
I brazen -it out with numbers ?. Not much. Each in-
dividual will, escape a distinct and separate ex hibi-
I then in that pillory which a tender rsnscience can-
not fail to have suggested ; but there is such -a thing
as arcumulated -shame, the results of which are more scrims..
thin any single exposure. It. is impossible. to reckon the
damage which has been done ill the present instance. Here
I is-the name of Conservatism, such as it is, blackened forever;
l Parliament tarried inSide out for the amusement or disgust of
I the populace; Lord Ashley made a joke 0f... All this, besides
other consequences Of a more public character, which the
' eighty=-eight-don't appear to feel very aeutely—such as the
loss of national credit, and the perpetuated hardships of the
poor women and young people. Not to he too indiscriminate,
there are, we will grant, clegrees of delinquency in this busi-
lies's. First. and -foreunost comes that never-to-be-forgotten
trio, Messrs. Arland, Liddell, and. Gaily _ Knight, who would
not be content to-do-the thing quietly, but must needs blunt
the edge of public shame by ostentatiously announcing that
they were going to act contrary to their consciences. They
remind one of the definition of ",a shameless man" in the
Oheracters of Theophrestus:—" In the middle of the day he
takes his station betore a tavern, and proclaims to the forum
that he -is going -to get drunk." Mr. home is the only
itlember who has hitherto hail the effrontery or the candour
to declare his vote to be contrary to his opinion, and he has
monopolised a certain sobriquet in consequence. The other
day he gave an amusing illustration of his practice. lie bad
made a point of at least one sessional attack on the folly of
having a Viceroy at. Dublin, except' when Lord Ebrington,
or somebody of the right sort, was there, and then, he said,
he had held his tongue. Well, in the vicissitudes of human
affairs, it is possible that we may before long have some-
body of Mr. Hume's right sort in Downing-street
again. Deplorable as such a change would be, we
shall .find a consolation in the circumstance that the
above trio, and perhaps the eighty-eight, will vote as thew
like. After the three come the fifteen who voted for ten hours
in April. and twelve hours in May. Their numbers and their
names will not be forgotten. 'ten of these gentlemen are
zealous Conservatives, and either county Members or of that
stratum. Sir John Chetwode is a nominee of the Duke of
Buckingham, and indicates what, we are to expect in the
Lords. Mr. Montagu Gore is an author, and has written
on the corn-laws. Ile is under a professional obligation to
defend his vote in writing. We expect another " Letter to
the Duke on the Present Crisis." Mr. A. Hope is more
than a Conservative—he boasts to be a " Tons" anal is
a very promising one, fresh from academic; honours,
and full of academic spieit. Surely the early wreck
of such a .man's character might have been Spared
I
Next in honour are the eighty-eight, including the
above fifteen. The great majority of these are Con-
servatives. After them must be classed somewhere about a
hundred Members, still more prevailingly Conservative, who
did not feel strong enough on the question to vote before
Easter, but stood by the Premier on Monday. Some of their
names will suggest the rest—Messrs. Bagge, Bruges, Cart-
wright, Cripps, - Escott, J. Round, Sir J. T. Tyrell, Lord
Norrys—all patriotic men, and props of the agriculture! in-
terest. Last come the original opponents of the ten hours'
clause. Of that body also Conservatism is the most prominent
feature—Conservatism in every form, pious, agricultural,
political, humble, ambitious. 'lf any of our readers can
think of any recent election for county or borough
where heaven and earth were moved to return
some thoroughly sound, able, and conscientious Con
servative—some particularly disagreeable, stingy, and ex-
clusive Conservative, perhaps, against some rather amiable
Whig—when the salvation of the country was declared to de-
pend on the result, and every tradesman was solemnly required
to offend half his customers, every doctor three quarters of his
patients, and every clergyman nine-tenths of his parishion-
ers, to return this most valuable man—then yon will he sure
to find him in Sir Robert's majority. It is useless to single
out names in so large a list, but we will just mention six, be-
cause we find them in the Committee of the Agricultural
Protection Society, which professes to protect, not capital,
but industry. These are Messrs. Allix, Bell, and Buck ; Lord
Ingestre, Sill J. Trollope, Hon. 'l'. Veseys and Mr. Wodes
house;" of whom the four last, not. haviilespreviouslv in-
terfered, gathered on Monday to the Preniier'e rescue.
Whom they pretend to protect, when they S'kon't lim-
tect 'women and young persons from worling"k tlateett
hours and a half a day including meals, is a mystery to 'm-
aculae which we have in vain bestowed another lialf-hour on
the pamphlet they have recently given to thy; world. We
appeal to the understanding of every man of common honesty,
whatever his opinion may happen to be on the ten hours or
the twelve hours' question, whether so sudden and enormous
a change in the opinions, or rather votes, of the House, is not.
a lamentable and a fearfuli event? It smack-ant' the successful
introduction of a new argument—the MiniSterial argument.
"Whatever we bring forward, you must support us, or we
resign ; and then you are cast on the wide world again,
with a dissolution, or the Whigs in prospect." No
Minister would dare to use this language if he did not
feel himself backed by some superior power, which, in the
present instance at any rate, is not the power of the people.
So there is an end of the representative system, liberty of the
Parliamentary conscience, and of the House of Commons it-
self. It must only meet as the later Senate of Rome met, to
record the decrees of the Consuls, who were of course the no-
minees of the Emperor. One now understands what the
Duke meant by saying, in the debate upon the Reform Bills
that he did not see how the business of the nation could be
conducted with a Parliament so chosen, i. e., with a strictly
representative Parliament. He has been agreeably surprise&
The House of Commons does the business of the nation ad-
mirably. It is as an fait at its work as a well-regulated Go-
vernment office. Sir'Robert is the head of the department,
and keeps the clerks in order. But will these three hundred
gentlemen, at least the half of them, who have openly given
their voters to the Minister, just look to the end, as a Gre-
cian sage advises all to do? Every act of any significance
is only one of a series, and helps to determine the character
of subsequent acts. Let them just ask the obvious question,
What next? They have voted away the protection of the
factory women and children this session, perhaps the con-
clusion of the series will be a vote in which their own pro.
tection is concerned. When that shall come—for come it
assuredly will, as no one knows better. than the Premier—
who will pity the agriculturists? Who ever pitied these
who were incapable of pity for others P—Thees.

SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN'S
AND MARINERS' SOCIETY.
The sixth anniversary festival of this institution was ce-
lebrated on Wednesday, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-
street. A few minutes after six, the Right Ron. the Earl of
Haddington took the chair, supported by Mr. Vivian, M.P. ;
Admiral Sykes, Lord James O'Brien, Admiral Skipsey, Ge-
neral Fair, Admiral Sir John Wood, Sir Edwin Stanhope, the
Rev. Dr. Burnett, and others:
Upwards of 250 gentlemen sat down to a very excellent en-
tertainment. The hall 'was tastefully decorated with flags,
and on the different tables, in addition to the other lights,
were miniature models of lighthouses already erected, and in
process of erection. _ _

On the removal of the cloth, the usual loyal toasts were
given and duly disposed of; General Fair and Admiral
Skipsey returning thanks for the army and navy.
The Noble CitAmmAN then proposed the health of the Vice-
patrons of the Institution, the Kingjof Prussia and his Royal
Highness the Duke _of Cambridge. Of the latter it was un-
necessary to speak, while of the former he would only say
that he had, unsolicited, transmitted a handsome donation in
aid of the funds of the Society.
The toast having been disposed of,
The Noble CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of the
Rev. Dr. Burnett, and the Prelates, and others of the Clergy
who had lent their valuable assistance, by preaching charity
sermons in its behalf, and in other ways, to the Institution.
The Rev. Dr. Burnerrr returned thanks.
The Noble CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, which
was the toast of the evening, made a most feeling appeal to
the company present, in behalf of an Institution which pre".
sented so many urgent claims to the charitable consideration
ofa community so eminently commercial as was this. The Noble
Chairman adverted to the good which the Society had already,
during its brief existence, effected, as a cheering augury of
its future operations. Since its first establishment, 482
widows, 1,722 orphans, 315 aged parents, 5,891 shipwreck
persons, and 502 distressed fishermen, had been relieved-
making a total of those who had experienced the benefits of
sy 50 aged parents, 2,166
the Society of 8,512 persons in distress. During the course
and 60
These distressed
thingshad fishermen,onlyto be
eh had
mentioned become
of last year 82 widows, 246 orphan
objects
ofits bPoetrsuc)itlyls.r
to induce the charitably disposed to come forward and con
tribute in the most liberal manner to the funds of aSoeie;
t
which had already effected so much good, and was calculated
if properly supported, to accomplish so muchmore. The
Noble Lord then proposed
"'The Shipwrecked Fishermen's and
Mariners Benevolent Society, and the health of Sir George
Cockburn, its Founder."
Major OLIPHANT returned thanks, and stated, that on tlia
20th of June a fair would be held in the Colosseum, in aid of
the funds- of the Society.
The SECRETARY read the report of subscriptions for the
current year, and which included, amongst other subscrip-
tions,from the Earl of Haddington, in addition to former
donations, 201.; Earl St. Germain's, 10/. ; Sir G. Cockburn,
in addition to former subscriptions, 5/. ; Admiral Sykes, 10
guineas; the Duke of Sutherland, 101.; Admiral Stopford,
5/. ; Lieutenant Waghorn (who stated that his life had often
been saved by fishermen), 10/. ; Lord James O'Brien, 5
guineas, &c. ; the whole amount approaching to nearly 1,300.
The musical arrangements, which were under the direction
of Mr. Hobbs, gave great satisfaction, and included Mess*.
Hawkins, toe, and Chapman, Masters Stevens and Sullivan,
and Mr. Ellis Roberts, a Welsh harpist, whose performancee
afforded much pleasure, and were encored.
It is satisfactory to notice, from the increasing number of
its supporters, that this valuable Institution is fast gainiegj
public estimation.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT OAT BOARD THE AIERCUR
STEAMER,—On Monday whilst the General ehricarllSistleir Navigt;
Lion Company's vessel, Mercury, waspassage
Ramsgate, the passengers on board were greatly alarmed,
when offithe lore, in hearing loud shrieks proceeding from
the engine-room, and which were soon ascertained to come
from a poor fellow named Navel], stoker, from having become
entangled in the machinery. It seems that he had but a
few minutes previous replenished the fire, and, on doing ae.
sat down on a piece of skirting-board to smoke his pipe.
Unfortunately, through some unaccountable cause, the
board suddenly slipped and he fell amongst the moving
machinery. Ilia cries immediately brought assistance, ande
after great difficulty, the engine being stopped, he was ex-
tricated, when it was found that his left leg was completely
crushed in several places, and was only hanging by ligatures.
The steamer being close to Sheerness, she bore down to one
of her Majesty's ships for medical aid. This was gained.
and the vessel proceeded on to Ramsgate, where the man
was landed, and in the course of the evening the limb was
amputated just above the knee. He still lies in a bad way.
He has a wife and six young children totally dependent on
him for support.