The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-01 00:00:00

FRASER'S MAGAZINE.

Notwithstanding its Toryism, which is notoriously
of inveterate character, this Magazine speaks out on the
subject of " Lord Ellenborough and the Affairs of
India" with a boldness, and even fierceness, that
could scarcely be exceeded by the sourest member of
that unhappy party whose hard lot it is to sit striving
on the Opposition side of the House, uncheered
this, their s',ason of gloom, by the slightest prospect
of again basking in the sunny paradise of office. Not
only is his Lordship accused of a " bad temper,"
" haughty disposition," and " insufferable self-con-
ceit," but Fraser deliberately adds that, " by the pe-
culiar constitution of his mind, he is quite unfit to be
'entrusted with the chief management of the affairs of
India!" His proceedings in Sinde and elsewhere are
then canvassed in a strict, minute spirit of inquiry,
and a verdict of unqualified condemnation is pro-
nounced upon all of them. Poor Lord Ellenborough!
He seems doomed to find opponents among Tories as
well as Whigs ; and, as if he had not quite enemies
enough already to contend against, he has contrived,
according to Fraser, to render himself obnoxious to
the entire Council of Calcutta, by designating them as
" old women," and the Lord Bishop as " the greatest
old woman of them all l" This, it must be confessed, ,
is black—the Bishop will no doubt think it Atheis-
tical—still, we hope the Governor-General is not '
wholly without the pale of pardon, even though he
may have presumed to question the absolute wisdom
of a Calcutta Prelate. " A Fine Day in the Strand"
is a hackneyed subject, dressed up with tact and
adroitness. The historical and other associations
connected with this great thoroughfare are touched
on lightly and pleasantly, and with a gusto that would
have gone far to win the heart of old Johnson. Other
quarters of London possess their local peculiari-
ties, but the Strand is cosmopolitan. Regent-street
is the favourite resort of whiskered dandies,
and foreigners who live by their wits—Chan-
cery-lane, of grave, fox-like lawyers—Cornhill, of
shrewd, flinty men of business—Paternoster-row,
of publishers, on whose shelves slumber, in unmo-
lested serenity, innumerable unsold copies of Mr.
Robert Montgomery's poems—but the Strand is the
resort equally of all classes. Here may be seen at
some hour or other of the day, Peers and pickpockets,
authors and actors, men of fashion and men of busi-
ness, lawyers and politicians, to say nothing of a stray
bishop or two looking as sleek and comfortable as
cows in a clover field. To our thinking, the Strand,
with its constant bustle, cheerfulness, and endless
variety of objects, is the place of all others best suited
to the tastes of the genuine Londoner. The " Luck
of Barry Lyndon" is the continuation of a tale by
Titmarsh, and is penned in a spirit of acute observa-
tion and racy humour. In the notice of " Mrs. Grant
of Laggan and her Contemporaries," occurs the follow-
ing remark, which we notice for the purpose of pointing
oat its inaccuracy :—" The most celebrated authors of
our country have been silent and embarrassed in ge-
neral society." Now the very reverse of this is the
fact. Burke was notorious for his colloquial powers
—Johnson spent at least one half of his life in con-
versation—Coleridge and Scott were unrivalled as
talkers—Burns fascinated all who met him in the
social circle—Sir James Mackintosh owed half his
fame to his conversational abilities—Sheridan softened
even attorneys by his flow of wit and humour—Moore,
when in the vein, talks quite as well as he writes
—Professor Wilson, it is said, even better—and we
all remember the panegyrics lavished by his contem-
poraries on the free and easy chit-chat of Ben Jon-
son. The truth is, a full mind must relieve itself in
some way or other ; this is one of the primary neces-
sities of its nature ; and conversation is the easiest
and pleasantest means it can adopt of pouring forth
its stores.' Doubtless " a still tongue maketh a wise
head," but such wisdom is of the lowest order, being
nothing more than a man's own consciousness that
he possesses a dull, dry, unimaginative, and scantily
furnished intellect. Be sure that no one maintains a
reserved demeanour in company who has ought to say
worth listening to, unless, indeed, he has been a re-
cluse half his life. In nine cases out of ten, the pos-
session of a faculty implies its exercise. We subjoin
from " Military Tableaux" a graphic sketch of Napo-
leon as he appeared at the battle of Wagram :
" As the feeble remnant of our regiment was formed
in line, only fifteen yards behind where he had stationed
himself, I was for several hours enabled to observe the
man who then wielded the destinies of Europe in his own
grasp. He was surrounded by a numerous staff, and at-
tended by ten or twelve orderly officers; who, drawn up
in line, stood motionless within reach of his voice. On
the right were the guards in close column, and with ordered
arms; their artillery was on their right. As we were
nearest the Emperor, we looked upon ourselves as his
personal guard on this occasion. He wore, as usual, his grey
great•coat over the plain uniform of the chasseurs of his
guard; rode a small white Arabian, and held a light
riding-whip in his hand. His face, while we could ob-
serve him, betrayed none of the emotions he might be
supposed to feel at such a time, but seemed perfectly
calm and collected. lie listened quietly and attentively
to the reports brought him, and issued all his directions
in a similar manner. If he had an order to send, he
called loudly, Officer d'Ordonnance e when the orderly
officer who hapened to be on the right of the line, in-
stantly came forward as first for duty. Having given
his order in a slow and deliberate manner, the Emperor
added, Repetez: If the officer had not seized the exact
meaning of the words, he repeated them over again, add •
ing, as berore, ' Repetez ? if satisfied that their import
was fully understood, he briefly said, • Allez,' and the
officer instantly started off at the best speed he could
command. That under_ the empire French horseman-
ship *as as indifferent as ungraceful is sufficiently well
known to all who recollect the French cavalry of the
period.

" By degrees our station ceased to be secure; from
the first, and as long as the battle, though raging fiercely
along the whole line, had Item:lined stationary, we had
received an occasional shot from the batteries near
\Vagrant, which lay exactly in our front. The success
of the Austrian right wing, however, brought us shot
from the left; and they continued to advance even from
the very rear. Several shot struck among the guard
and round the ground on which the Emperor was sta-
tioned; but he never moved from a post whence he had
Ilse whole battle-scene spread out like a panorama before
him. He was, indeed, as little disturbed by the reports
from his marshals as by the shot of the enemy: the
news that ' the Austrians had turned the left wing of
the army,' that they had defeated the corps stationed
to protect the bridges,' seemed to make little impression
on him; though it greatly disquieted the officers of his
staff. Only once I observed a striking change in his
manner. He had desired an orderly officer to bring
up the sixty pieces of fight artillery of the guard, and
the forty extra pieces attached to the same corps;.' and
as they did t not immediately arrive, he rode impatiently
along our front, striking his boot with the riding-whip,
and repeatedly taking snuff."

THE ARTISTS' GENERAL BENE-
VOLENT INSTITUTION.

The Twenty-ninth Anniversary Dinner of this ex-
cellent institution took place on Saturday evening, at
the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street, when
upwards of 200 gentlemen sat down to dinner.
Sir R. 11. Inglis, M.P., presided. The dinner was of
the most excellent description, and the viands, of
which there was no scarcity, vied with all former at-
tempts of the proprietor of this establishment to give
satisfaction.
Sir R. Inglis and the members of the Committee
entered the spacious hall about half-past six o'clock,
immediately upon which the demolition of the good
things of this life commenced.
The cloth having been withdrawn, the Benedictus
wa: sung in excellent style by Mr. 'l'. Cooke, Master
M‘Dermott, and Messrs. Hawkins and Broadley.
The health of the Queen was then drank with four
times four, amid great cheering.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the "Health of the
patron of the institution, Prince Albert."—(Cheers.)
He believed that his Royal Highness was not only
one of the patrons of the arts, but was one of the
most enlightened artists of the present day.—(Cheers.)
" Long life to the Queen and the Prince."

The CHAIRMAN then proposed the " Health of the
QueenDowager."—(Cheers.) Her Majesty, from the
first to the present moment, had exhibited the
proudest specimen of every domestic and social virtue
—(Cheers)—and since she had been withdrawn from
public life by a calamity that all must deplore, she
had shown herself the most strenuous supporter of
every charitable institution throughout the country.
—(Cheers.) There was no case of misery ever came
before her Majesty that she did not immediately
take into consideration, and give relief.
The toast was drank amid much cheering, with three
times three and one cheer more.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed the " Health of his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and all the
Royal Family." He trusted that what the Edwards
had achieved in war would be an example to his
Royal Highness in later times to adopt by the means
of peace.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the " Army and
Navy," which was most enthusiastically drunk, amid
great cheering.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the next toast, which
might be considered the toast of the evening—" The
prosperity of the Artists' General Benevolent Insti-
tution."—(Great cheering.) It was perhaps pre-
sumptuous on the part of one who appeared for the
first time among them to attempt to state the merits
of the object they had in view; but when he re-
collected that out of 8,6001. a-year they had relieved
860 cases of distress, he could not but feel grateful
and delighted at the course they were pursuing.
From the funds they had obtained they had in fact
relieves poverty and distress.—(Hear, hear.) The
Present institution was not one of those which was
supported by the great body of the people, but it was
kept up pre-eminently
.by the artists of England—
(Cheers)—and such being the case, they had not
only a claim on those who were the supporters of the
arts in England, but on those who supported them
abroad.—(Hear, hear.) While this institution had
been enabled to give so much relief, it had considered
not only the ease of the receiver, but the giver.—
(Cheers.) The instances which he had brought
before that meeting he hoped were sufficient to prove
Hon.
drunk
amid con-
cluded by proposingthat the institution ranked high among the institu-
tonsofthecountr
country. The
Thetoast, which was
much cheering.
Mr. H. S. THORNTON proposed the next toast,
which was " The Health of the Chairman." It had
been his happiness to know the Hon. Gentleman from
his earliest infancy, and, from that time to the pre-
sent, he had.ever found him a supporter of the Fine
Arts.—(Cheers.) The toast was then given, and
drank amid loud plaudits.
Sir R. INoms returned thanks, and, in doing so
passed a high eulogiut-n upon Sir Martin Archer Shee,
whose health he proposed, and which was drank most
enthusiastically.
The following toasts were also proposed and drank :
—" The Commissioners for Protecting the Fine
Arts ;" "The British Institution, and other Societies
established for the Promotion of the Fine Arts ;"
" The Artists' Annuity and Benevolent Fund ;" " The
Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Directors, Honorary Se •
cretary, and Officers of the Institution ;" The
Ladies ;" " The Stewards and the Stewards elect."
We cannot conclude this notice of the dinner
without expressing our admiration of the manner in
which the musical department was conducted. It is
only necessary to mention that Mr. T. Cooke, Mr.
Hawkins, Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Broadley, Miss Alley-
maine, and Master M‘Dermott, were engaged.
Sir R. Isionss, before quitting the chair, stated
that the subscriptions for the institution amounted to
upwards of 5001.—(Cheers.)
The Chairman having retired, the hilarity of the
meeting was kept up to a late hour.
The following were some of the most important per-
sons present:—T. Phillips, R.A., T. Uwins, R.A.,
P. Hardwick, R.A., C. Barry, R.A., Charles Land-
seer, A.R.A., Thomas Webster, A.R.A., Thomas
Creswick, A .R.A., Sir W. Ross, R.A., P. M`Dowell,
A.R.L., C. R. Cockerell, R.A., W. Tite, Andrew
Robertson, W. Brcckedon, H. Corbould ; and, among
those who may be classed as subscribers, we have
been enabled to collect the following :
:British Institution, fourth donation, 501.
Sir George Hayter, fourteenth donation, 10/.
Richard Cook, Esq., R.A., eleventh donation, 51. ss.
Robert Burfield, Esq., 51. ss.
Sir G. T. Staunton, 51.
Lord Bexley, third donation, .5/.
Sir John Swinburne, thirteenth donation, 101.
Duke or Sutherland, eighth donation, 101. 10s.
Duke of Northumberland, twelfth donation, 10/. 10s.
Benjamin B. Cabbell, Esq., nineteenth donation, 51. ss.
Lady Chantrey, third donation, 20/.
T. Phillips, Esq., RA., twenty-sixth donation, 51. ss.
J. H. Mann, Esq., sixteenth donation. 5/. ss.
Sir W. Ross, R.A., fourteenth donation, 51 ss.
Gee. Jones, Esq., R.A., twenty-second donation, 51.55.
C. R.. Cockerell, Esq., R.A., twentieth donation, 51. ss.
Sir M. A. Shee, P.R.A., nineteenth donation, 51 ss.
S. Jones Loyd, Esq., third donation, 10/.
W. Wyon, Esq., R.A., sixth donation, Si. ss.
H. S. Thornton, Esq., 10/.
Charles Barry, Esq.,. R.A., sixth donation, 5/. Si.
Henry Graves, Esq., seventh donation, Si. ss.
In this list we have doubtless omitted many Yalu-
able contributors.

The meeting then adjourned, after spending a most
delightful evening. We must not forget to say that
the arrangements on behalf of all parties were ex-
cellent.

PRINCE ALBERT.—The Princess Alice returned to
Dover yesterday morning, bringing back Captain Seymour,
Sir Edward Bowater and Colonel Bouverie only accompany-
ing the Prince to Germany. The Prince was received at
Ostend by the King of the Belgians. His Royal Highness,
after passing the night at Ostend, left yesterday morning at
half-past six A.M., for Brussels, by special train, and it is ex-
pected he will reack Gotha by to-morrow (Sunday), where
he will remain a few days with his brother and the other
members of his family, and thence proceed to Coburg for the
arrangement, it is said, of some important business. The
Prince will return to England on the 11th of April ; and the
Princess Alice is ordered to be at Ostend on the 10th, to bring
him across. The King of the Belgians is expected to land at
Woolwich on Monday.—Dorer Chronicle of Saturday.
DRURY LANE THEATRE.—An extension of only
three nights leave of absence has been granted to M. Duprez,
and he consequently appears here on Monday next, in Guil-
laume Tell.

Although the fact is not set forth in the report of
the Commissioners, we are enabled to state that it is in-
tended to give the public a footway of 20 feet in width
from "Whitehall-place, to Westminster-bridge.--,Observer.
MALTA, MARCH 17.—MELANCHOLY AFFAIR.—OR
hursday week last the English brig Chieftain, Captain
Reay, arrived here from Spalatro, bound to Hull, with a cargo
of bones. The.object of her putting in here was to be enabled
to change her crew, by the advice of her Majesty's Consul at
Fiume, they being in a high state of insubordination, as also
to obtain a legal opinion as to the consequences of? a fatal
circumstance which recently occurred, in which the captain
is .the actor and of which the following is a narrative :
Whilst loading at Spalatro the crew, which had been on
shore, returned in a state of intoxication. Between ten and
eleven r.m., the master was aroused by the carpenter (a man
byjthe bye of very questionable respectability, who requested
his immediate attendance on deck to silence the people who
were in a state of mutiny. Reay put a pair of loaded pistols
into his pocket and went on deck. Here the circumstance,
which cost a man his life, becomes involved in obscurity.
The carpenter, the only person who appears to have the
slightest knowledge of the fact, himself one of the principal
rioters, swears that the captain levelled his pistol at the cook,
and shot him. The captain was arrested and tried, and
though not positively acquitted, the proceedings were, ac-
cording to the law of Austria, suspended, for want of suffi-
cient evidence, and the man released from durance. The
question is, will the criminal courts at home take cognizance
of this offence? Of ourselves we are unable to answer the
question, but should lean to the opinion that the unhappy
man has nothing to fear, even if they should do so ; for it is
a remarkable fact, that the whole crew, although mutinously
disposed, declared, when on their oaths, that the treatment
experieaced by them from Reay on every occasion was
kind and indulgent—thus leading to the conclusion that
the unfortunate tragedy was purely accidental. The vessel
has sated for Hull.

EMBANKMENT OF THE THAMES.

The first Report of the Commissioners appointed
to inquire into the most effectual means of improving
the metropolis, has just been laid before Parliament.
It is a very lengthy document. The principal part of
the Report refers to the Thames embankment, of
which the following is an outline. The Commissioners
say " We have been induced to present a detailed re-
view of the very voluminous evidence and the great
mass of professional opinion which we have collected
with reference to an embankment of the Thames, by
the conviction that we could not, by any more sum-
mary exposition of it, have done justice to the im-
portance of the subject itself—to the various and ex-
tensive interests connected with it—to the high cha-
racter and station of the eminent professional gentle-
tlemen from whom we have derived so much valuable
information (most readily and unreservedly afforded),
and also to the authors of the several plans which we
have considered in comparison with each other.
We have observed with great satisfaction the al-
most unanimous concurrence in opinion, upon all the
main topics to which our inquiries were directed,
amonc the scientific and practical gentlemen thus
consulted; and it was with a corresponding confi-
dence that we finally came to the following resolu-
tions :

1. That it appears to the Commission that the pre-
sent state of the river Thames above London-bridge
is such as to render highly expedient the adoption of
some proceedings for remedying the existing defects,
and fbr preventing the further deterioration of the
navigation.

2:That, for securing these important objects, an
embankment of the river would be the most effective
measure.

3. That, though a general embankment between
Vauxhall and London-bridges appears to be highly
expedient, yet that. it is most urgently required on
that portion of the Middlesex, or left bank of the
river, which lies between Westminster and Black-
friars-bridges.
4. That such an embankment might be advanta-
geously combined with the formation of a carriage
and foot line of communication between Scotland-
yard and Blackfriars-bridge, whereby the great ob-
jects of public recreation and health would be pro-
moted, and considerable relief be given to the existing
insufficient thoroughfares between the eastern and
western districts of the metropolis.
5. That by the adoption of the general principles
of embankment presented in the plan of Mr. Page, or
plan B (with certain modifications which have been
suggested, and others which may be suggested here-
after), there is reason to expQct that the great public
benefit of the improvement of the river, and the ob-
taining a new line of communication, may be ac-
quired without detriment to the trade now conducted
on the Middlesex shore.

6. That the Commission, being disposed on these
grounds to recommend the adoption of this great me-
tropolitan improvement, will proceed forthwith to
ascertain as nearly as it can be done the probable ex-
pense of carrying it into execution ; and also to in-
quire in what manner the fundi required for the pur-
pose may best be provided, so as to press with the
least possible weight and inconvenience on the in-
habitants of the metropolis and its environs.

In pursuance of these resolutions, it became neces-
sary for us to place ourselves in immediate communi-
cation with Mr. Page, and to direct his attention to
such modifications of his plan as had occurred to us
in the course of this inquiry. These modifications,
however, necessarily involved many deviations from
the estimate already before us, and we directed, there-
fore, that further and detailed estimates might be pre-
pared and submitted for our consideration. The
nature of these modifications will be best explained
by reference to the appendix. They involve, as will
be seen, in principle, no departure from Mr. Page's
original plan.
The estimate based upon the plan originally pro-
posed comprised an embankment and roadway between
Blackfriars and Westminster-bridges, on the northern
shore of the river, 40 feet in width, and varying from
3 feet 6 inches to 10 feet above Trinity high-water
mark, with carriage-road, footpath, balustrades, &c.,
from Middle Scotland-yard to Blackfriars-bridge.
The whole outlay upon this portion of Mr. £
Page's plan would have amounted to 192,728
Add for gas-fittings, lamp-posts, irons, &c 2,450

195,178
Add for contingencies, 10 per cent 19,517

214,695

The further estimate which Mr. Page was directed
to prepare and lay before us, was to comprise an em-
bankment and terrace 20 feet in width, from West-
minster-bridge to Whitehall-place, and 50 feet in
width for the remainder of the distance, varying in
height from 3 feet 6 inches to 10 feet above Trinity
datum ; and to show the relative expense of construct-
ing these.-Ist. With brick walls faced with granite;
and, 2d, With brick walls and granite dressings only.
The following was the result:—

For an embankment and terrace 50 feet in

width, and varying from 3 feet 6 inches to
10 feet in height, having brick walls and a
facing of granite £366,409
For a like embankment and terrace, having
brick-walls, with granite dressings only
As the mode of connecting the general line of the
proposed embankment with the frontage of the pre-
mises now occupied by the residents in Privy-gardens,
and also with that of the Temple-gardens, may be
subject to modifications of various kinds, with a view
to meet the convenience of the respective parties, the
foregoing estimate maybe affected by the ultimate de-
termination respecting these portions of the work,
probably so as to diminish the cost of it the public.
We have adverted to the manner in which the
funds required for the improvement in the City of
London, connected, more or less, with the approaches
to London-bridge and also the great alterations more
recently sanctioned by Parliament, and now in pro-
gress, have been provided ; and although it may not
appear strictly a part of our duty to accompany our
recommendations of such further improvements as
may appear to us to be the most desirable by sugges-
tions of pecuniary resources for defraying the cost of
them, we trust that we shall not be considered as
transgressing the limits of our commission if we sub-
mit to your Majesty our views of the means which
appear to us the most readily available, and with the
smallest degree of pressure and inconvenience to the
inhabitants of the metropolis and its vicinity, for the
immediate object of our present report, and also for
some of those further improvements which it will be
our duty hereafter to submit for the approval of your
Majesty and of Parliament.
We have stated that the coal duties of Bd. per ton
in the port of London are now charged until the year
1862, with the improvements already made or in pro-
gress. The whole rate of duty upon this article, as
now collected, is ls. 3d. per ton ; viz., Bd. charged as
before mentioned, 4d. received by the Corporation in
lieu of certain ancient rights and interests, and ld.
also collected by them for compensation to be paid to
individuals, and other expenses incidental to the coal
market, on the occasion of the new regulation of the
coal trade under the Act of 1831.

It is estimated that the charges upon the last-men-
tioned duty of Id. per ton will be extinguished in
about three years from the present time.
Such being the existing state of these duties, it is
our opinion that it may be advisable to augment the
total rate of the tax collected from 13d. to 18d. per
ton ; making the duration of the whole contempora
neous with that of the duty of Bd. per ton as above-
mentioned—excepting, of course, the duty of 4d. per
ton belonging to the city of London, which is
permanent. By these means there would be at the
disposal of Parliament for metropolitan improvements
and more immediately for that which is the subject of
our present consideration, the produce of a duty of
6d. per ton until the duty of hi. per ton, appropriated
to the coal market, is set free, and of d per ton for
the remainder of the term. It is estimated that the
annual amount would be, in the former case, 54,8751.
and in the latter, 65,8511.
We are anxious that your Majesty should be
assured that we should not lightly recommend even
this comparatively inconsiderable augmentation of
local taxation, nor without a careful consideration of
the interests of that great community on which this
additional temporary burden would be imposed. We
should not, indeed, venture to offer this suggestion
except under the strongest conviction that benefits
much more than equivalent to the sacrifices thus pro-
posed would result from the adoption of the plans
now submitted for your Majesty's approval. The la-
bours of successive Committees of the House of Com-
mons who have pursued elaborate inquiries, and have
expressed decided opinions on the subject, have spared
us the necessity of setting forth in detail the grounds
upon which we consider that an addition to the coal
duties is (within certain limits) the most equitable
and the least burdensome mode of providing for im-
provements of this description ; and we therefore
cannot hesitate to recommend it as the best resource
for the accomplishment of a measure having for its
object to secure to the metropolis the advantages of
an improved and better regulated navigation of a
great portion of the noble river which flows through
it, and calculated at the same time to contribute
largely to the convenience, the recreation, and the
health of its inhabitants.

The principles of Mr. Page's plan are distinct in
character from those of Mr. Walker, and in some re-
spects opposed to them. It proposes an embankment
with side channels, the embankment of itself forming
a continuous public terrace. Assuming every abstrac-
tion of tidal water from a navigable river to be inju-
rious to the navigation below the locality of the em-
bankment, by depriving a portion of the river of its
scour, Mr. Page proposes-Ist, To avoid encroaching
upon the capacity of the river for the reception of its
tidal waters, and to make the prevention of encroach-
ments, at any future poriod, as far as practicable, a
leading feature ; 2dly, To leave to the wharfingers
and others interested in the trade of the locality the

possession of their present accommodations on the
river shore ; and, idly, To provide increased facilities
of communication between the east and' west end of
the town by a public road constructed in the river.
The details of a plan professing to be founded upon
these principles must, it is obvious, be far more ex-
tensive and complicated in their character than those
of any plan based upon an alternation of solid em-
bankments and recesses only. A river wall inter-
posed between the navigable channel and the shore
must have openings to afford facilities of intercourse
between the two. The position of these openings
would form one subject for inquiry; their width an-
other; the facilities of access at different states of the
tide another. These openings could, of course, be
passable only by bridges ; and those bridges, in ac-
cordance with one of the leading principles of Mr
Page's plan, should be of sufficient width and height
to admit of the accustomed traffic of any locality at
any state of the tide. On the other hand, Mr. Page's
terrace was to pass under the respective bridges which
connect the Middlesex and Surrey shores of the
river ; and hence it would appear impossible to satisfy
one of those conditions without conflicting, in some
measure, with the other.

Another point, the importance of which was not to
be overlooked, was the convertibility of these side chan-
nels into docks or floating basins. The treatment
of this question involved the discussion of locks,
their position, their capabilities, their size, and
their probable cost ; the relative advantages •of
tidal docks and floating basins, in reference to the
trade and the navigable interest of the river ; the su-
pervision necessary to the regulation of either : their
respective tendencies to silt, and the facilities for
cleansing and keeping them free from mud, furnished
further subject for inquiry, and the Commissioners
are compelled to add for much conflicting opinion.
After adverting to these points they come to the
most important—the difficulty of entrance to the side
channels from the river. The number, position. and
dimensions of these, they say, might be modified at
almost any period previously to the commencement
of the works, and we confined ourselves, therefore, to
points less susceptible of modification. Mr. Hay, a
lighterman, observes, " I think Mr. Page's plan is the
bist I have seen, and if a project of that kind is to be
executed, I have never seen any equal to it ; but, if
the river is narrowed, the tide will go up with greater
velocity. We have great difficulty now in bringing
up our craft. Now we can bring up to the wharfs,
and bring up in a recess, and get out of theovay ; but
I doubt whether we can ever bring up of all when
the tide is running so hard as it would. Still Mr.
Page's plan is a very excellent one ; I have seen no-
thing equal to it, if these difficulties of getting in at
the openings can be done away with." On being
further questioned whether his objections would
equally apply to open entrances, he replied, "If
there is a plan intended to be carried into
effect on the river, there cannot be a better; but I
fear when we come to the openings the tide will carry
us by." Mr. Lucey, also a lighterman, apprehended no
difficulty whatever ; referring to the entrances of the
London and St. Katherine's Docks, he depended upon
the eddy to assist him, and gave his reasons for that
dependence. Mr. Taylor thought there would be
be no difficulty, " unless the speed of the tide were
very much increased. In the flow of the tide
it would then require some very experienced
bargeman to bring up, and ring-bolts or piles must be
resorted to for the purpose." Assuming an increase of
15 per cent. upon a velocity of three miles an hour, he
anticipated no difficulty whatever. Mr. Harvey had
conversed with an intelligent lighterman, and inferred
from the same causes, that admission would be more
difficult. Mr. Pocock adverted to the increase of
existing difficulties, since the removal of Old Lon-
don-bridge, and was also of that opinion, attaching
little importance to the drift or eddy anticipated by
Mr. Lucey; and Mr. Peache, referring to the fact
that a great portion of the craft were worked by
only one man, considered that there would be diffi-
culty, in such cases, in getting in without further as-
sistance.

Looking to this question as one having rather a
practical than scientific bearing, the opinions of the
engineers consulted were, perhaps, not unexpectedly,
discordant. Mr. Hartley and Mr. Cubitt, disapprov-
ing of the particular entrances shown in plan B, were
nevertheless of opinion that there would be no diffi-
culty in designing entrances such as should afford
entire protection against strong currents and high
winds; the first, however, saw no necessity for locks,
the second admitted locks in deep recesses. Mr.
Gordon also was of opinion that there would be no
difficulty, thought the gates in the plan " judiciously
placed," and recommdnded the addition of others.
Mr. Rennie observing that " all the entrances to the
various docks at present on the river are occasionally
affected by currents and high winds," assumed that
" a careful observation of the prevailing winds would
determine their position." Mr. Giles, that " they
would be affected by the same causes, but that these
would not impose greater difficulties than exist at the
entrances of the various docks on the river, and which
might, by the means resorted to in these cases, be
overcome." On the other hand, Mr. Macneil was of
opinion, that "these entrances would impose difficulties
and obstructions such as do not now exist at the en-
trances to the various docks or wharfs on the river;"
and Mr. Rendel, " that they would be difficult, if not
dangerous, except for an hour•and-a-half, at most,
before and after high and low water,"
The experience of Captain Maughan may, here, be
again of service in elucidating a practical question.
To questions whether the entrances should be at right
angles with the stream, he replies, " As regards
facility of entrance, I think that is of very little im-
portance. The craft will have to stop outside first of
all, and if there is no tide, which I apprehend there
will not be, close to the embankment wall, they will
go in as they like ; I do not think the stream will run
rapidly close to the terrace, so as to prevent the easy
ingress of barges." He apprehended no difficulty in
getting in, no pressure of the tide upon the vessels at
the entrances. In his letter he observes, " The diffi-
culties which have been raised about entrances at
right angles I confess I cannot understand ; they ap-
pear to me very much exaggerated. With a floating
platform or dumb-lighter, and piles driven down at
proper distances to check the barges, any lighterman
could pass in his craft, even should the stream run up
rapidly outside, but which I very much doubt its
doing, as stated in my evidence.

INCENDIARISM.--On Thursday night, about a quar-
ter-past ten, a wheat rick, the property of Mr. John Harris,
at Abbey Farm, Little Marlow, was discovered to be on tire.
An alarm was immediately given, and the engine from Mar-
low was shortly in attendance, but notwithstanding the rick
was consumed. It contained about seven loads. By the
exertions of the neighbours of Mr. Harris, further damage
to the adjoining ricks was prevented. Tho constable of Little
Marlow apprehended James Holbrook the same evening.
The prisoner underwent an examination on Friday before the
magistrates, and was committed for trial.

On Saturday* the following notices of robberies
were circulated and inserted in the Police Gazette :—At the
pit entrance of Drury-lane theatre, the Rev. R. A. Bolder,
of Gower-street, of 151. in 5/. Bank-notes, endorsed with the
name " Evans." Mr. Edwin Thomas, of Globe-fields, Mile-
end, of his watch, &c., at the pit of the Pavilion Theatre.
Mr. Wilson, Portugal Hotel, Fleet-street, of a gold oval
brooch, a pin and a gold signet ring at the Victoria
Theatre. Mr. Brown, of Narrow-street, Limehouse, of his
watch (maker's name " Oliver, Falmouth,") at the Garrick
Theatre. Information was also given, that Mr. Thomas
Bayne, of 13, Tower-street, Westminster-road, was robbed
at a public-house in Holles-street, Soho, of a tin case, six
501. Bank-notes (Nos. 93,768, and following numbers to
93,773), a 101. Bank-note, and a moleskin bag containing 271.
in gold.

REVIVAL OF THE CENTRAL RAILWAY.—We un-
derstand that, since the agitation of the rival lines of railway
to Chatham, a number of influential gentleman have had it in
contemplation to establish a company, to continue the line
that may be selected by Parliament to Chatham through the
central parts of the county of Kent, as far as Dover. We
doubt not that this scheme will meet with the cordial support
of Sittingbourne, Faversham, Canterbury, the Isle of Thanet,
and other places which have at present no direct communi-
cation by rail with the metropolis, or have been omitted in
the existing schemes of railways. And it is not unlikely ge-
neral support would be given to such a railway, as it would
be by far the shortest and most direct line to the Continent.
—Canterbury Journal.
On Saturday a Commission of Lunacy was opened
before Mr. Commissioner Barlow, at the King's Head, Egham,
to try the state of mind of Mr. A. M. Woolhouse, formerly
holding a commission in her Majesty's 68th Regiment, but
for some time past an inmate of Sir John Chapman's lunatic
asylum, near Egham. The commission was supported by
Mr. Collins, of the Chancery bar. No opposition was offered,
and it was clearly established that Mr. Woolhouse was
wholly incapable of managing his own affairs. The jury re-
turned a verdict " That the insanity had commenced from
the Ist of August, 1837."
AFFLICTING AND FATAL ACCIDENT.—One of the
most afflicting accidents which we have ever had the sad
opportunity of recording occurred on Wednesday, in the
neighbourhood of this town, and has cast a gloom,
not only over the extensive circle in which the victim
of this appalling visitation moved, and spread the
lustre of the most amiable of virtues, but among every
class of society, rich and poor, which had the good for-
tune to be acquainted with the admirable traits of her
highly exalted character. The deceased was wife of
John Tuthill, Esq., of Rapla, the mother of a numerous
and interesting family, and sister of Mr. Justice Jackson.
She breakfasted as usual on Wednesday morning with
the family party, Mr. Tuthill and her five sons—and
proceeded up stairs soon afterwards, to a room in the
utmost story, in which she was about ordering some
repairs. Nothing more is known of her until her
lifeless corpse was discovered, in about half an hour,
in the area bruised—her hair dishevelled, and the
back part of her head broken in by the shock it
sustained in contact with the ground. It would
appear that she fell from the window of the rocm
to which she had gone, into the area, a height of about
GO feet—and that death was instantaneous. No one
witnessed the accident. No one can conjecture how
it occurred, except that the lamented lady over-reached,
and losing her balance, was precipitated below. Mr.
Tuthill was the first to discover the lifeless body in the
area; and it is needless to remark that the poignant
sensation which he endured can be more easily ima-
gined than described. An inquest was held on the re-
mains in the course of the day, by James Carroll, Esq.,
and a verdict according to the circumstance was returned.
—Tipperary Vindicator, '7 • •

THE FACTORIES BILL DIVISIONS
ANALYSED.
Government. Lord Ashley.
No. 1. Monday, March 18 172 181 -
2. bitto
3. Friday, March 22 ......
4. Ditto
(Tellers included.)
In each of the four divisions
I l4l voted uniformly with Government 1(1 ) Conservatives
a 4)( Liberals.
6'Cn
es er v
139 voted uniformly with Lord Ashley 'r't
t
Loi bra ls.ativa
No. 1. No. 2.
Govt. Ashley.
141 139

Govt. Ashley.
Throughout
Not again 5 5
Absent, No. 2 only
Ditto 3 and 4
Govt. 1,2, 4, Ashley 3 1
Govt. 2, Ashley 1,3, 4 — 1

12 23
1 -
1 -

155 163
No. 4.

Govt. Ashley.
141 139