The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-27 00:00:00

yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an in-
terview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday,
at his official residence in Downing-street.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a
meeting yesterday afternoon, at the office in Whitehall-
place. There were present the Bishop of Chester, the
Bishop of Lichfield, the Bishop of Ripon, and the Dean
of Westminster.
Baron Brunnow, the Russian Minister, and M. For-
tique, the Venezuelan Minister, transacted business yes-
terday at the Foreign-office.
The boys of the Royal Military Asylum, 300 in num-
ber, with their band and colours, and also the girls of
the establishment, visited the American dwarf, General
Tom Thumb, yesterday. Mr. Barnum, the General's
guardian, expressed the General's delight at the honour
conferred, and hoped they would repeat the visit.
Dispatches were sent off yesterday from the Colonial-
office for the Governor of Van Diemen's Land.
Mr. and Mrs. Grote have arrived at their residence in
Eccleston-street, from the Continent.

STATE or TRADE.—We have had a very quiet week,
both buyers and sellers suspending operations until the
intentions of Government are made known. It is, however,
expected that no sooner will their plans be declared, than
a great demand will spring up for produce ; and it
is generally thought higher prices will be obtained.
Cotton this week barely supports its position, and
buyers operate with an advantage over last week ; specu-
lators are very shy. For Manchester goods large
orders have been received, but the English
agents purchase with great caution. The corn
trade is again assuming a gloomy aspect, and
prices are now so surely on the wane, that it will
in a work of time to effect any material reduction
of the present rate of duty ; the consequence is,
that bonded stock can be purchased on terms equi-
valent, or nearly so, to the present duty-paid rams,
less the duty of 17s. per quarter for wheat. Ship-
ping business is active, chiefly owing to the enor-
mous demand for guano traffic. All low-priced vessels
have eagerly been taken for this business, and many
ships have been sold at rates nearly double the price de-
manded twelve months ago. Others have refused to sell
and their vessels have gone out on owners' account. The
ships now arriving are yielding very extravagant profits,
but it remains to be seen whether the fleet of vessels now
on their way to the African islands will afford the same
result. Surely, if the demand for this manure continues
to take off the supplies as they arrive, we shall, ere long,
feel its effects in the reduced prices of provisions.—
Liverpool Mercury.
HORRIBLE DEATH.—On Friday an inquest was
held at the Lye, on Jeremiah Morris, who came by his death
in the most extraordinary manner. The deceased had visited
the works of Mr. Evison, chain-manufacturer at the Lye, on
Wednesday, for the purpose of seeing the men. An appa-
ratus connected with the fire is used for the purpose of pre-
venting the immediate heat in contact with part of the work
from destroying the iron of which it is composed, a portion
of cold water being conducted through a pipe to an aperture
surrounding the part, which becoming warm from the office
it has to perform, is returned through another pipe in a
steaming hot state. The return pipe, from constant use, is
frequently obstructed, and it is a custom with the workmen
to blow down it to clear it. On the present occasion, the de-
ceased coming into the shop essayed to clear an obstruction
which had taken place in the pipe, after others had failed in
the attempt, and, having blown forcibly down the pipe, in
drawing his breath for another and more powerful attempt,
drew from the pipe the next inspiration, which, creating a
vacuum betwixt his mouth and the obstruction, the sub-
stance, whatever it might have been, assisted as it was by
the power of steam behind, rushed upwards towards his
mouth, and deluged him with steam and scalding water. The
unfortunate man died in great agony.— Wolverhampton Chron.
POOR-LAW AUDITORS.—(From a Correspondent.)
—lt is said that there is an intention of disposing of the pre-
sent auditors under the poor-law, and substituting district
auditors. A district auditor will audit for several unions,
attending, most probably, at the union houses periodically to
audit, and giving notice for parish officers when to meet him
with their accounts.
DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN IN LONDON.--A vocal
and instrumental concert, in aid of the funds of this charity,
was given last night at Covent-garden, and if the number of
the audience be any index of the amount of funds given to
the Society, we regret to say, they must have had more to
pay than to receive, for a more wretched house we never
saw. Among the vocal and instrumental performers
kindly gave their assistance, we may_. mention Miss
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evening.
THE KING or THE FRENCH.—We understand that
there no longer exist any doubts respecting the visit of the
King of the French to this country. The precise period of
his Majesty's arrival has not yet been definitely decided, but
there is, we believe, every reason to suppose that he will land
at Portsmouth. His Majesty has selected. Portsmouth in
shl
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preference to Southampton at the suggestion of some naval
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officers, on account of there being a clear channel at all times
of the tide at the former place.—Post.
public R O YAr
meeting
rsetßheneri tedoeii:lTtnotithe friends and subscribers of this Institu-
ok(,uvetsa.tatrheibtfunbelie school-room, Cowper-street, City-road; Alder-
mantlegtuvhh. Dr. Campbell, Rev. T. Archer, Rev. I'. Lorimer' and
many other friends of education were present. The report'
stated that there were above eight hundred males and females
now in the school, and that the sum in the hands of the
Treasurer amounted to 1521. 18s. 2d.