The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNINO, SEPTEMBER 7, .844.

LITERATURE.

7HE FREE-LANCE. 3 Vols. Bentley, London, 1844.
The White Company of Free-Lances were a body
of English military adventurers well known on the
Continent, and more particularly throughout Italy, in
the fourteenth century, for their skill in war, their
bravery, their enterprise, their licentious conduct, and
the cruel excesses with which all their victories were
sullied. Owing allegiance to no one particular Power,
they freely gave their services to whatever potentate
would pay them highest; but at best they were
troublesome, not to say dangerous, allies, and their
friendship was almost as much to be deprecated as
their enmity. Of this once renowned company, and
the achievments of its enterprising but sanguinary
leader, Sir John Hawkewood, the volumes before us
profess to give an account ; the scenes for the most
part are laid in Italy, where the Free-Lances perpe-
trated some of their worst atrocities, and of course
their enterprising chief figures conspicuously among
the personages of the story. This character, indeed,
is drawn with evident care, and no ordinary ability,
and is by far the completest portrait which the
author has penned. The story throughout is alive
with bustle and incident ; it is, however, singularly
faulty in construction, and must depend for success
solely on its stirring melodramatic character and the
quick changes of its scenes. We have battles, sieges,
skirmishes, and massacres in profusion ; in fact, there
is no repose in the story, but a constant succession of
exciting incidents which at length almost fatigue the
reader. The love passages between Reginald, the
nominal hero of the tale, and Margherita, a young
Italian girl of humble birth and most changeful vi-
cissitudes of lot, serve to relieve by their softness the
sterner features of the narrative.

NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE.
(From th© Times.)

TO RICHARD LAMBERT JONES, ESQ.

POETICAL EPISTLE ON THE SCULPTURE IN THE PEDI-
MENT OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.
Dear Jones, our cits are quite at sea,
Your pediment's a mystery—
'Tis something wonderful, no doubt,
Do tell us what it's all about.
I write to you, old friend, and not
To Trotman Tite or Westmacott•
In chiselling stone or cutting bricks,
Those fellows may play curious tricks ;
But you conceive, create, control,
They're but the body—you the soul.
So now, dear Jones, as you're the man
T' enlighten us (if any can),
Expound, we pray, the sculptur'd riddle—
Who is that lady in the middle,
Perch'd on a stool ? We see the words,
" The earth, et cmtera," are the Lord's ;
But what the lady has to do
With these, we can't divine—can you ?
Is she Britannia in undress,
The Queen, or Lady Mayoress ?
Perhaps a gentler name she owns—
Do tell us—is she Mistress Jones ?
Who'er she is, she seems to stand
With some queer gimcrack in her hand,
Quite unconcern d, with vacant stare—
She can't have any business there.
Look at those worthies clothed in sacks
Who ungallantly turn their backs ;
'Tis clear they think it very strange
The lady should be seen on 'Change.
As for the gentlemen, we guess,
They're all engaged in business,
But why th' establishment's divided,
And cut in half, we're undecided.
Has our friend's genius here designed
Some grand division of mankind—
Two sorts of men, and only two—
Those who don't pay, and those who do ?
Or is this distribution meant
Two principles to represent—
Profit and loss, in civic tongue
Synonymous with right and wrong ?
To some of us who see display'd
The several branches of our trade,
Those gentlemen who sell and buy
Wholesale and retail typify,
And so the dame sans occupation
At home, may stand for exportation.
You've fairly puzzled us, that's certain ;
Give us one peep behind the curtain—
Give us, dear Jones, as Frenchmen say,
Your (if you have one) grandeidee.
If not, some wise interpretation
Or ex post facto explanation.
Give this—we've nothing more to ask.
And now remains the pleasing task,
To pray—may Providence protect
The painter, sculptor, architect—
The something more, for rumour tells
You set the clock and tune the bells—
May history, in future ages,
With Jones's name fill folio pages—
May mighty Wren himself make room,
(Barry, of course, we leave to Brougham),
And Inigo (Heaven rest his bones !)
Give place to Richard Lambert Jones.
J. SMITH.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.—DUNSTABLE, SEPT. 5.—A
very destructive fire broke out here last night (Wednes-
day), which commenced about ten o'clock at night in the
farm-yard of Mr. Henry Goude ; it first began at a
straw-stack in the centre of the yard, which soon spread
to the adjoining farm buildings, and from thence to the
stack-yard, at the same time taking the barns and other
farm premises and rick-yard of Mr. Howe, farmer, also.
The large Wesleyan chapel adjoining Mr. Howe's rick-
yard, soon caught fire, and after raging with great rapi-
dity for about half an hour, fell in with a tremendous
crash. By this time (about eleven o'clock, or a little
after) the fire was at its greatest height, and the awful
glare of the large number of buildings, on about three
acres of ground, was awfully grand. It has been :ascer-
tained that the number of buildings totally destroyed by
the devouring element amounted to the enormous number
of sixty-four, including thrashing-barns, stables, cow-
houses, piggeries, hen-houses, ricks of wheat, barley,
oats, peas, hay, straw, stubble, whiting sheds, the large
Wesleyan chapel, &c. &c. It is thought by some per-
sons that the damage will not be less than 6,000/. ; it is,
however, fortunate that all the parties are insured at
nearly the full amount, with the exception of the Wes-
leyan chapel, which is not insured for more than 4001.,
having cost about 1,200/. in the erection. The fire is
still raging, but all further danger is at an end. The
fire is supposed to have originated through the act of
some diabolical incendiary. Fortunately all the valuable
horses were got out unhurt ; no live stock was burnt,
with the exception of a few fowls, pigeons, ducks, &c.
The bookseller, Campe, of Wurtemburg, has pub-
lished the calculation that a woman reading sixteen
hours a day, must live nine hundred and sixty-three
years to peruse all the books on cookery issued in
Germany.
GENEVA, AUG. 30.—The influx of visitors to the
Lake of Geneva exceeds what it has been for many years
past. Almost all the champagnes in the neighbourhood
are taken by English or Russian families. 'The Grand
Duchess Constantine continues to reside at La Boissiere;
the Prince and Princess de Radale are at the Diodati
Villa; Sir John and Lady Thorold at Chatelaine.
Amongst the latest arrivals are the Marquis and
Marchioness of Queensberry and family, the Bishop of
Rochester and Lady Sarah Murray, Lord Monson and
family, Lord and Lady de Saumarez, the Hon. Lady
Palmer, Lord and Lady Charles Hervey, Lord Alfred
Hervey, M.P., Captain and Mrs. Brymer, &C., &c. At
Lausanne, Lord Vernon has taken for the season one of
the most beautiful country houses on the Lake, and
several English families have announced their intention
of passing the winter at Vevay. The following is a list
of the arrivals during the month of August:—Lord
George Quin, Mr. Bailey, M.P., the Lord Bishop of
Cashel, with his chaplain and suite, the Ladies Georgina
and Emily Bathurst, the Rev. J. and Mrs. Leslie, Mr.
and Mrs. George Haldimand, Rev. Messrs. Irving,
Mackie, Penrose, Colonel and Mrs. Milner, Miss Hob-
house, Lady Lilias Oswald, &c., &c.
SHOCKING CASE.—The Baltimore papers of Mon •
day, August 12, contain the particulars of a most dis-
tressing case of death by violence. It seems that a
young lady, living with her married sister, was receiving
the attentions of a young man very obnoxious to her
sister and brother-in-law. Returning home with him
one evening, her lover and her sister's husband had a slight
scuffle in the hall, and the young lady left the house,
and stayed all night with a neighbour. The next morn-
ing she returned to the house by the back way to get
her smoothing irons and some coal, which she had been
using, and found her sister, who immediately commenced
an altercation, and told her she should not have any of
the coal. The other replied that she had bought a part
of it and would take it, and was stooping to get it from
the bar, when her sister seized the shovel and struck her
twice on the back of her head. She immediately fell,
and was taken insensible into the neighbour's house
where she had passed the night—the lady hearing the
noise, and running to see what was the matter. This
was about two week's ago ; and the poor girl, after
lingering in great distress, died on Thursday night of
last week. The names of the parties in this most
lamentable transaction are withheld.

On Monday last, a woman named Twomey com-
mitted suicide by hanging herself at Ballyvoduck, while
labouring under temporary insanity. In the circum-
stances of her death she discovered the extreme caution
and discernment of the means of procuring it which
people in that most dreadful condition are frequently
found to exhibit. The particular turn of her insanity
appeared to be constitutional, for her mother haddrowned
herself. A short time previous she sent all the persons
who happened to be in the vicinity of the house in which
she lived upon different feigned errands, tied her own
hands behind her back, and even provided that an article
of furniture upon which she stood should, without the
possibility of her design failing, slip freely from beneath
her feet.—Cork Reporter.
TAXES' DELINQUENT.—Mr. Coode, a surveyor o
taxes of two districts in Nottinghamshire, has possessed
himself of money (to what amount does not appear) be-
longing to Government, and absconded. The receiving-
officer, it also appears, is to make good the deficiency,
he being considered blameable (though apparently done
with the best motive) in allowing collectors to stand in
arrear past days of receipt, and which enabled this Mr.
Coode to finger the cash and afterwards decamp. This
will, we should think, be a lasting lesson for other re-
ceiving-officers and collectors.

DISEASE AMONG CATTLE.—We regret to learn
that the contagious disease, which lately caused such
havoc among the cattle, has again made its appearance
in this district, and that some losses have occurred in
consequence.—Derry Sentinel

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, SEPT. 4.—The Cork .Reporter of yesterday
contains the following statement :
" There are lying at present in Core Harbour ten of
the finest ships which the merchant navy of any country
in the world could produce, awaiting the embarkation of
troops for service in India ; but no orders have as yet
arrived that the two regiments about to be sent abroad
should embark."

The Earl of Devon and his brother Commissioners
attended at the Court-house in Tralee on Saturday. Ilis
Lordship expressed his regret that none of the gentlemen
named as witnesses were in attendance. The Com-
missioners afterwards proceeded to Killarney, where they
examined several witnesses.
CONVICTION OF SMUGGLERS.
At Kingstown, yesterday, the magistrates formally sen-
tenced the captain and mate of the Ceres to six months'
imprisonment ; and then proceeded to hear evidence in
support of the charge against eight of the crew—namely,
of being found on board a vessel which contained contra-
band tobacco.

The crew, which consisted chiefly of foreigners, were
then placed in the dock, and wore occasionally informed
of what was going forward by Joseph Wills (one of the
prisoners), who, though a Dutchman, understood Eng-
lish very well.

Much laughter was created by one of the crew who
did not appear to know a word of English, exclaiming,
during a portion of the evidence against him, " That is
a - lie."

The Magistrates, at the close of the investigation, said
that the charge preferred against the prisoners had been
fully proved, and sentenced each of them to be impri-
soned for six months.

When the committals were prepared, the prisoners
were conveyed to Kilmainham. The tobacco, which
amounts in value to about 4,0001., will be sold, and the
produce divided amongst the captain and crew of the
Albert, who so gallantlycaptured the notorious smuggler.
EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST A

MAGISTRATE.
The Limerick Reporter of yesterday contains the fol-
lowing statement, which, if the facts be accurately set
forth, must lead to a decided step on the part of the Lord
Chancellor :

" On Friday last, pursuant to seizure and advertise-
ment of sale, Mr. Michael Hanrahan, of Ballingarry, in
this county, agent and driver of John Baldwin, Esq., of
Queen's County, proceeded to the lands of Cartown, in
the county of Limerick, occupied by John E. Langford,
Esq., J.P., to sell the crop and stock for non•payment
of rent Hanrahan, and those who went to purchase,
were prevented from going on the land by the said Mr.
Langford, and a party of about twenty men, armed with
bludgeons, some of whom assaulted Hanrahan, though he
appealed for protection to the justice of the peace !
Among those who came to the intended sale, were Mr.
James Potter, of Farm-lodge ; Mr. James Enright, Mr.
John Mulqueen, Mr. Devonport, high constable of the
barony, and several other respectable parties. Hanrahan,
thus baffled, proceeded to the residence of the Rev. Mr.
Waller, of Castletown, who took informations against
such of the parties as Hanrahan knew, and advised the
police to arrest them forthwith. The constabulary ac-
cording effected their arrest, with others whom Hanrahan
identified, but of whose names he was ignorant. An in-
vestigation is to take place before the petty sessions
bench, at Pallas Kenry, next Monday. The corn was
afterwards sold from the road, as the mob would not
allow the purchases upon the ground, and it remains
there still, as Hanrahan and those who bid. for it are
afraid to remove it upon peril of their lives. As for the
cattle, they could not get near them even to see them.
Hanrahan left a keeper in the place after he was obliged
to decamp himself, and Mr. Langford ordered him to be
off, or to mark the consequences. It appears that the
stipendiary magistrate was not at home to uphold the
law. If a poor peasant's crop was seized, would such a
proceeding be permitted by the authorities? We think not.
It was alleged by Mr. Langford that executions were
laid on by the sheriff, but the latter had been served
with a notice, and not being there to pay the rent due,
Hanrahan was proceeding to sell under the instructions
he received when he was defeated by violence. Hanra-
han has sent a memorial of the facts to the Government,
praying for an investigation into the conduct of Mr.
Langford as a magistrate."
VICEREGAL COURT.—The Lord Lieutenant enter-
tained the following party at dinner on Monday, at the
Viceregal Lodge :—The Archbishop of Dublin, Sir E.
Blakeney, the Recorder, Right Hon. J. F. Kennedy,
Right Hon. A. R. Blake, Archbishop Murray, Sir Henry
Meredith, Bart. ; Lieut.-Colonel ii ane, Dr. West, Mr.
Ennis, Captain Conroy, A.D.C. ; Mr. A'Court, Mr.
Wingfield, A.D.C.; Colonel Bowles, and Captain Meade,
Aides-de-Camp in Waiting.

RICHMOND AND WEST-END
JUNCTION RAILWAY.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in the proposed
line of railway from the Hungcrford Suspension-
bridge to Richmond, was held yesterday at the Hall
of Commerce, Threadneedle-street.

_
About half-past twelve o'clock, William Pearse,
Esq., took the chair.

After the minutes of the last meeting were read
and agreed to, _ _

The SECRETARY read the following report, which
was agreed to:—
" The prospects of the Company continue to bear the
most favourable aspect. The Hungerford and Lambeth
Suspension-bridge Company, at a recent meeting, adopted
such clauses as would secure to the co-operation of the
Bridge Directors and the privilege of carrying a line
across the Thames to a terminus in Hungerford Market.
A deputation had waited on the South-Western Railway
Company, who announced that they would he ready to
receive the deputation as soon as they had satisfied them-
selves upon the probable cost of the undertaking from
the estimates, valuations, &c. The inhabitants of
Richmond had expressed their entire satisfaction with
the plan of the proposed line, and especially with
the great advantages offered in having the terminus
brought to so central a point as Hungerford-market.
The proprietors of by far the greater part of the
land through which the line is proposed to pass, had
given their sanction to the undertaking, and many were
willing to operate in carrying it oat. The following in-
fluential gentlemen have also agreed to canttibute their
valuable services, and their names are now added to the
Provisional Committee :—Sir W. Clay, Bart., M.P. ;
C. F. Whiting, Martin Stutely, Edward Chapman,
William Evans, John Palin, LL.D, J. B. Byron, Wm.
Cremer, Henry Smith, W. J. Felton, and W. Fletlhney
Black, Esquires. The share list was so rapidly filling
up, that the Committee had reason to believe that it
would be closed at an early day. They had also much
pleasure in stating that the applications for shares were,
for the most part, from persons of undoubted respecta-
bility."

A conversational discuAsion ensued, in which one
or two gentlemen seemed to be of opinion that they
should await the report to be made to the South-
Western Company, before they proceeded further for
the present.

Mr. CHADWICK, the surveyor, stated that already
there had been applications for 16,000 shares, for the
most part from persons of the highest respectability.
On the motion of Mr. F. BLACK, a resolution was
passed authorising the Sub-Committee to persevere
in obtaining the required capital, and to enter into
such arrangements as might be deemed advisable to
secure the co-operation of the South-Western Com-
pany in carrying out this undertaking.
The resolutions will be found in our azveziising
columns.

A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman,
after which the meeting separated.

DIRECT RAILWAY FROM LON-
DON TO YORK.

On Thursday a great sensation was produced in the
railway world, by the announcement that the Direc-
tors of the Wakefield, Lincoln, and Boston Rail-
way, had united with the promoters of the pro-
posed London and York Direct Railway, and that
the latter line, as surveyed by Mr. Locke, would
be brought before Parliament in the ensuing session,
supported by a majority of the House of Com-
mons, and favoured by the Government. A union
with the Wakefield, Lincoln, and Boston Railway
will, in fact, be a union with the powerful and
wealthy Manchester, Leeds, and Hull line ; and
it appears that the condition on which the Wake-
field directors have consented to transfer their
subscriptions and coalesce with the London and
York is, that the entire scheme of the
Wakefield, Lincoln, and Boston Railway, both
as to its connexion with the town of Wake-
field and occupation of the Foss and Witham Banks
to Boston, form a part of the undertaking ; and that
the line joins the Hull and Selby line at the latter
town, and from thence direct to York, which, they
confidently state, will make the most extended and
complete railway communication presented to the
public, at once bringing the great manufac-
turing and agricultural portions of the kingdom
into railway communication with each other, as well
as with the metropolis, reducing the distance of the
principal towns in Yorkshire and the north from 10
to 35 miles with London, while the natural facilities
for its formation are such as to insure its completion,
at a cost of little more than one-third the amount ex-
pended on existing railways connecting Yorkshire and
the north of England and Scotland with London.
The entire line from London to York will not have
a greater deviation from a dead level than 1 in 800 ;
it will contain neither a tunnel nor a bank, or cut-
ting exceeding 13 feet ; and it is estimated
that in its construction, and in providing
the working stock, the advantage of being
guided by the experience and warned by the error,
of others will be equivalent to a saving of nearly
2,000,0001. The united Companies are determined
to bring into operation upon the new line all the
latest improvements in railway locomotion; the car-
riages, waggons, and engines are all to be of the most
approved construction ; and this, combined with the
favourable gradients, will, it is added, secure a rate
of speed that may be fairly averaged at thirty-five
miles per hour.
These are large promises, and in the case of parties
unknown to the public they might be looked upon
with suspicion ; but the character achieved for
themselves by the leading individuals in the new
alliance, the directors of the Wakefield, Lincoln,
and Boston Railway, seems to set all doubt at rest.
These gentlemen, as we have already stated, are
also the directors of the Manchester, Leeds, and Hull
Railway, which for cheapness of rates, and general
attention to accommodation of all classes, not except-
ing the most humble of the population, stands second
to no similar undertaking in the country. It first set
the example of low fares, and it has carried the plan
out with undeviating constancy, until all the great
lines have been obliged to follow in its wake.
The direct York I;ne will have its terminus at
King's-cross.

LONDON and CROYDON RAILWAY

Thursday the eighteenth half-yearly meeting of the
Proprietors of this concern was held at the London
terminus, William A. Wilkinson, Esq., in the chair.
From the report the Directors submitted to the
meeting, it appeared that the " spoil banks" in the
Forest-hill cutting had been relieved of a consider-
able quantity of earth during the summer, and were
now in a very satisfactory state. The line from the
Bricklayers' Arms to Croydon was opened on the
Ist of May, according to contract, and the number
of trains nearly doubled; the gross receipts were
almost twice the amount, and the number of pas-
sengers trebled in the first month, compared with
the corresponding month of last year. Ihe toll for
each passenger averaged about 1 fd. ; if it had been
4d. the amount would have equalled half the gross
receipts ; but the result, however satisfactory, was no
criterion of what may be expected in future. So far
as the Directors of the Greenwich Railway were
concerned, the question in dispute had been settled
by their agreement to a proposition for bringing
the atmospheric railway to London-bridge. In con-
sequence of the terms agreed upon, the tolls payable
to the Greenwich Company, averaging lid. per pas
senger, were more than double those produced in the
same space of time from a rate of 41d., and the gross
receipts, at reduced fares, were slightly increased,
but as the great bulk of the traffic had been to Lon-
don-bridge, the Greenwich Company were chiefly
benefited. Since the last meeting, the Brighton and
Chichester, the Brighton and Hastings, and the
Croydon and Epsom lines had received the sanction
of the Legislature ; and the London and Chatham,
and Chatham and Portsmouth Junction, had been
brought under the notice of the Directors. One of
these, the Epsom line, had been obtained after a hard
struggle, but the South-Western Railway Company
threatened another attempt to carry out a rival pro-
ject. This the Directors thought was sufficient to
justify the course they had pursued, and intended
still to persevere in. Failing, as the Directors have,
in their attempt to form a junction with the South-
Western line, they had received overtures for a
direct line from Portsmouth to London, and satisfied
of the facilities of the atmospheric system, they have
directed Mr. Cubitt to make a preliminary survey
between Epsom and Portsmouth. This line Mr.
Cubitt reports to be free from difficulties, being
nearly stright from London on the one hand, and to
Chatham on the other, and effecting more perfectly
than had been contemplated the original object of the
London and Chatham, and Chatham and Portsmouth
lines, in connexion with that of Croydon and Epsom.
The Directors repudiated the idea of interfering with
the interests of other concerns, but did not consider
they were bound to forward the interests of others if
they ran counter to those of their own Company ;
for, while respecting the rights of others, they were
bound to forward those of the Proprietors, and, as the
Proprietors of the South-Western Railway had armed
their Directors with full authority, they trusted the
same confidence would be placed in them.
The accounts presented an increase of the Croydon
traffic, as compared with the corresponding half-year,
of 2,5001.; upon the toll of the Brighton Company
of 1,500/. ; and upon that of the Dover Company of
2,300/. ; and, although the expenses had slightly in-
creased, and 7,000 new shares were now participating,
the sum devisable might safely be greater by 25 per
cent. than in the corresponding half-year. The
Directors therefore recommended a dividend of ss.
upon 40,000 shares, free from the income-tax.
After the statement of the Directors had been re-
ceived, several resolutions were agreed to, approving
of the report and the recommendations it contained ;
after which a dividend of ss. a share was agreed upon.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman was then passed,
and the meeting separated.

THE " TOUTING CASES."
TOIVN HALL, GRAVESEND.
Yesterday, James Adams, the newly constituted
" keeper of the streets," applied for several summonses
against the redoubtable " touter" of the Star Steam
Company, Samuel Roe, who has been already con-
victed in a multitude of similar cases, and in every
case of conviction an appeal has been entered. Tne
circumstance of so many convictions, and of appeals
in every one of them, has, it is stated, attracted some
attention in a quarter in which the administration of
justice is anxiously watched over, it being urged as
the ground of appeal that the convicting magistrates
are interested as shareholders in the Diamond Com-
pany, which is opposed to the Star Company, of the
latter of which companies Mr. Samuel Roe is an
active agent, or " touter."
When the usual business of the court was closed,
Mr. OAKES (with whom were on the bench Mr.
Staff, Mayor, an i Mr. Spencer) read from The
Sun, of the 30th of August, an article commenting in
strong terms of animadversion on the conduct of
Messrs. Oakes, Staff, and Spencer, who adjudicated
in those " touting cases," being themselves "noto-
riously, flagrantly, and directly interested in them as
shareholders in the Diamond Company," and stating
that Messrs. Oakes, Staff, and Spencer, continued so
to adjudicate, inflicting heavy penalties on parties
connected with the Star Company, after Messrs.
Cruden, Smith, and Tickner, town magistrates, con-
nected with the Star Company, ha I delicately de-
clined adjudicating in these cases, feeling conscious,
that as persons interested in the Star Company, they
could not, without rendering themselves liable to an
imputation of partiality, sit in judgment on them;
at the same time proposing to refer all such cases to
the decision of the county magistrates.
Mr. OAKES, having read the article, asked Mr.
Staff and Mr. Spencer whether they were, as in this
article stated, interested in the Diamond Company
To which both gentlemen replied that they were in
no way whatever interested in that company ; and
that the imputation conveyed against them in the
article in question was a foul calumny.
Mr. OAKES—As fur me, I despise such imputa-
tions. I have acted in the cases referred to me in
accordance with my duty, without leaning to the
Star or the Diamond Company, in either of which I
have no interest whatever. But if it be your wish
to take legal notice of this foul calumny, I will make
no objection.

After some further conversation on the subject be-
tween these gentlemen, the paper containing the
accusatory article was handed to Mr. Combo, soli-
citor and town-clerk, who (as we understood him)
said that he would advise as to what course ought to
be pursued in reference to the publication of the
calumny in question.

THE INrAtcr ROYAL FAMILY.—There appears to
be very little chance of Osborne House, in the Isle of
Wight, being occupied by any portion of the Royal
Family during the present autumn, for we hear that her
Majesty has decided upon their Royal Highnesses the
Prince of Wales and the Princess Alice taking up their
abode at the Pavilion, Brighton, during the absence of
their illustrious parents in Scotland. Indeed, it is ex
petted that the infant Prince will also be taken to
Brighton, there to remain during the same period. The
Royal infants will be confided to the care of Dowager
Lady Lyttelton, the preceptress to the Princess Royal.
HER MAJESTY'S YACHT.—PORTSMOUTH, THURS-
DAY EVENING.—The royal steam-yacht Victoria and
Albert, Captain Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, this after-
noon proceeded to the eastward, having been ordered
round to Woolwich to embark her Majesty, on Monday
next, for Scotland. Every preparation has been made
on board, not only for the reception of her Majesty and
Prince Albert, and their suite, but also for the reception
of the royal children, should her Majesty purpose to take
them with her. Nothing can be more comfortable and
convenient than the whole of the arrangements of the
nursery ; the steerage and the cabins on either side hav-
ing been fitted up for the accommodation of the Prince
of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice,
and their nurses and immediate attendants. There is a
communication to the nursery from her Majesty's own
apartment, which is placed immediately under, and forms
a continuation of the royal staircase. Since the royal
yacht has returned from the westward she has been re-
decorated and painted, and looks remarkably well.
A very interesting experiment was made on hoard her
during her trial cruise, to ascertain the most expedi-
tious mode of recovering a man who might fall'overboard
while the vessel was going at full speed ; whether
the better plan would be immediately to stop and reverse
the engines and give the yacht stern way, or to put the
helm up and wear ship. For this purpose, and while the
vessel was going thirteen knots and a half through the
water, a buoy was dropped overboard, and the order was
immediately given to back the engines, and although the
yacht had left the buoy nearly a quarter of a mile astern
before she could be stopped and stern way got upon her,
yet four minutes and two seconds only elapsed from the
time the buoy was dropped overboard until it was picked
up again. The yacht was then got to exactly the same
speed, and the buoy was dropped overboard a second
time. The helm was immediately put up, and the yacht
wore round, and, what is very remarkable, the buoy was
recovered by this mode in exactly the same time as by
the previ, us one, four minutes and two seconds. Since
the yacht has been fitted with tubular boilers instead of
the old ones, there has been much greater accommoda-
tion in the engine-room, and the engineers have now
cabins erected on the additional space gained by the
change of boilers.

FASHIONABLE MOVEMENTS AT BRIGHTON.—The
Earl and Countess of Einnoul have taken a large house
in Brunswick-square, and are expected in the course of
the week with their family. M. Van de Weyer, the
Belgian Ambassador, and Madame Van de Weyer, have
arrived at the Albion Hotel. They have taken a house
on the Marine-parade. Lord and Lady Granville are
expected at the Dike of Devonshire's house in Kemp
Town at the end of the month. General Sleigh has
arrived from Southampton and taken a house in Re-
gency-square. Baron Alderson arrived on Tuesday,
and took his departure the same day for Dieppe,
by the General Steam Navigation Company's packet the
Menai. The Honourable Mr. Wellesley (son of Lord
Cowley, our Ambassador at Paris), and his family were
passengers in the same boat. Sir Matthew and Miss
Tierney arrived yesterday at their residence on the
Pavilion-parade, from London. Lord Mountford arrives
on Monday, in Oriental-place. The Earl and Countess
of Beauchamp have left the Albion Hotel for Worthing,
Baron Brunnow, the Russian Ambassador, is at the York
Hotel; the Countess of Erroll, Lady Frances Hay, and
Miss Georgiana Poore have left the Norfolk Hotel, for
Southampton ; Lady Heytesbury and the Countess of
Glengall are continuing their stay at the Bristol hotel;
Sir Hugh Palliser and the lion. Mrs. Lockart have
arrived in the King's-road, from Cheltenham; Lady
Hotham and Miss de Trafford have returned to her
Ladyship's residexce,Western House, from a continental
tour.

THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA'S VISIT TO GUILDHALL.
—On Thursday the Prince of Prussia arrived at Guild-
hall in one of her Majesty's carriages, and was con-
ducted over the principal apartments of the building by
Mr. Temple, the Hall- keeper. He had dined in the Hall
in 1814, when the Sovereigns were entertained there, and
he expressed surprise at seeing that there were no
galleries round the noble building, having no notion that
such splendid galleries as were erected on that occasion
coald have been merely temporary. He examined the
painting of the royal entertainment in the reading-
room with great curiosity, and showed that be had a
lively recollection of that brilliant scene. Having in-
spected the library, he wrote his name in the visitors'
book. As he was leaving the Hall, about five o'clock,
the crowd assembled to witness the election proceedings
gave him an immense cheer.
THE CHURCH MILITANT.—The Univers publishes
a pastoral letter of the Bishop of Chalons, ordering
prayers throughout his diocese to thank the Almighty
for the recent successes obtained in Africa, particularly
before Tangiers and Mogadore, and at the battle of Isly.
" What an admirable spectacle," says the prelate, "it
must have been to see his Royal Highness the Prince
de Joinville advancing proudly at the head of his
fleet to take up a position under the fire of the place op-
posite formidable ramparts, and thence, by the thunder
of his ships, silence all the batteries, which, not-
withstanding an obstinate defence, were soon converted
into a heap of ruins. All this is sublime and worthy of
the French name. We accordingly salute most cordially,
and with transports of admiration, the noble Stiffren, all
the ships of the fleet, all our brave seamen, and offer
to Heaven in their favour our most affectionate wishes.
We vow a similar homage to the brave army of Marshal
Bugeaud, which, although so inferior in numbers, per-
formed prodigies of valour, and witnessed the disap-
pearance before his intrepid battalions of legions of
barbarians, who, by that severe lesson, will have been
taught to know and respect France. In order to testify
our gratitude to the Almighty for so signal a victory,
and secure for ever His protection to our land
and naval armies, all the clergymen in the
i t
diocese shall recite at the holy
mass, during
beitegn;
days, the orison, collect., and post-communion, pro o a
victoria. The parish priests will read this letter on
Sunday next to their parishioners. Let us not forgetoften to invoke during the present war the great fs
t.
Louis, the model of warriors and kings, who also fought
valiantly in Africa, and left to us everywhere such
noble examples to imitate."
BLUNDERING LEGISLATION.—The Poor-law Amen-
dment Bill was one of the last measures of the last ses-
sion. All the humanity people, backed by young Eng.
land, bestowed their talk and their tediousness on it night
after night, and yet, instead of ameliorating one alleged
obnoxious law of the old Act, it fearfully an shamefully
aggravates it. The second clause enacts thattoagnoy
before
woman being pregnant, or having had an illegitimate
child, instead of going to the overseeer, is
the magistrate, and he, satisfied of the trnth of her state-
ment, may make an order on the putative father for the
payment of two shillings and sixpence a week. So far
so well ; but then the woman must collect the money
herself from her seducer, and the said seducer may, by
offs
with
asnh;ottai notice, ,ehi ermaoenNvvden
st
hhe the
ex
expense,
to
oot hnyeforuesessions,nt confront
hnkiin;
t:nghl eehs segres
t%l ei
sery
—unless she then can herself support the child, she is to
be committed as a rogue and a vagabond. This throw-
ing the unfortunate and the vicious a second time in the
way of temptation struck the Bishop of Exeter, and Go-
vernment promised to amend it. his 'Worship the
Mayor and Mr. Rushton, who has given more attention
to the poor-law operations than any magistrate on the
bench, went to London to have it altered : and they
were told that it should be altered ; yet, in the hurry of
legislation, it remained to perplex overseers and puzzle
the magistrates.
—Liverpool Journal

THE SHIRT-MAKERS AND THE
WoRK-WOMEN OF THE ARMY CON-
' TRACTORS.
Some new terms have been put out for the prices
to be charged for all work made for Government, and
it will be seen whether the poor shirt-makers of the
slop shops are not better off, or, at any rate, as well
paid, as the poor creatures who have to work under
the Government contracts, though probably the mem-
bers of the Government know nothing of the pro-
ceedings. The following are the prices, and many
are the long faces and unshaved beards that carry the
work home :
Police.—For double-breasted great coats and lap-
pets, so that when one is worn out another can be
put on, 35.; the profit to the middleman, who are
responsible for the work, and give security for 501. to
the contractors, being about 3d., while the labour in
the work amounts to eighteen hours, they have to
pay for their own thread, &c., and a tailor would
charge 9s. Dress coats are the same, and occupy
sixteen hours, tailor's price Bs. Trousers, undress,
eight hours' work, 101; the full dress, Is. 3d., which
takes ten hours ; the one being 4s. and the other ss.
as the tailors' prices, and it should be remembered
that men work at these.
The Regiments of the Line.—The great coats with
capes, 5d., after seven hours' work, the usual price
being 3s. 6d. With fourteen hours' work a red coat
can be made, and I Id. is paid for it ; the tailors
price is. Gd., looping is 7d. extra. The undress
white jackets, sd. and 7d., with five hours' work, and
usual price 2s. Gd. Trousers, white and grey, sd.
and Gd., and it takes six hours to make them ; tailors
charge 3s. Drawers, linen and flannel, 31e1., four
hours' labour, 2s. by the trade.
The Pensioners of the Army.—The old Chelsea
pensioners, with their large red coats, lined with
blue shalloon, arc supplied by the poor workwomen
at ls. ld. each, occupying twelve hours in the
making, and the tailors charge 6s. The trousers,
which are heavier work than the Guards', are paid
for at the same rate. Recently it was expected many
of the old pensioners would be called out, and for
Ithat purpose they had a double-breasted coat, with
stand-up collars and loops. 2s. 2d. was the remune-
ration for eighteen hours' work, and what ought to
have been charged 9s. for ; trousers, 6d., and six
hours' work ; wages ought to be 3s. ; shirts of linen
for 3d.
Cavalry.—ln the Life Guards and Blues, the very
expensive leather breeches are made in the barracks,
for which tailors are employed at 2s. 6d. a day, and
it will occupy a man two days. A tailor in Bond-
street would charge 30s.
The chief contractors for the army work ate the
Messrs. liebbett, of Pall-mall East ; Prater, of
Charing•cross; Dolan, of St. Martin's-lane; Gilpin,
Northullberland-street; and the proprietor of Paul's
Wharf, Upper Thames-street.—Post.