The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-02 00:00:00

THE AFFGHAN MASSACRE.

A handsome tablet, executed by an eminent sculptor in
London, has been erected in Alverstoke Church, near Gos-
port, to the memory of the officers and soldiers of the 44th
Regiment who fell in the Affghan war, over which hangs
the colours of that ill-fated regiment. The following is the
inscription :
" Sacred to the memory of Colonel T. Mackrell, A.D.C. to
her Majesty; Major W. B. Scott, Captain T. Swaine, Cap-
tain R. B. M'Crea, Captain F. R. Leighton, Captain T. Ro-
binson, Captain F. C. Collins, Lieutenant W. H. Dodgin,
Lieutenant W. G. White, Lieutenant W. G. Wade, Lieute•
nant H. Cadett, Lieutenant S. Swinton, Lieutenant F. J. C.
Fortye, Lieutenant A. W. Gray, Paymaster T. Bourke, Lieu-
tenant and Quartermaster R. B. Halahan, Surgeon J. Har-
court, Assistant-Surgeons W. Balfour and W. Primrose. and
645 non-commanding officers and soldiers of the 44th Regi-
ment, who fell upon the field of battle in the disastrous Aff-
ghan war of 1841 and 1842. They sank with arms in their
hands, unconquered, but overpowered by the united horrors
of climate, treachery, and barbarous warfare; their colours,
saved by Captain J. Souter, one of the few survivors, hang
above this stone, which is erected to their memory by the
Officers of the 44th Regiment.—June, 1844."
" And if Thy people Israel be put to the worse before the
enemy, because they have sinned against Thee; and shall
return and confess Thy name, and pray and make supplica-
tion before thee in this house ; then hear thou from the
Heavens, and forgive the sins of Thy people IsraeL"-6th
chapter of the second book of Chronicles, 24th and 25th verses.

DEPUTATION OF RAILWAY DI-

RECTORS TO SIR R. PEEL.

Yesterday a deputation of Directors from most of the rail-
ways waited upon Sir Robert Peel, for the purpose of laying
before the Right Honourable Baronet their views on the sub-
ject of the Ministerial measure respecting the railways of
the kingdom.

Amoiig the members of the deputation we observed the
Chairman of the London and Birmingham, the Great Wes-
tern, the South-Western, and the South-Eastern Rail-
ways. (The names of the gentlemen present will be found
in the Court Circular.)
The Right Honourable Baronet received the deputation
with his usual courtesy, and listened with great attention
to their case, which was laid before him at considerable
length. A long conference ensued, in which the Directors
enlarged on the objectionable character of the whole mea-
sure, both in its principle and details, and concluded by ex-
pressing a hope that, at the present late period of the session,
the Bill would be postponed.
Sir Robert Peel declined acceding to the request of the
deputation for a postponement until next session.

We have authority to state that a British Consul
has been appointed for Manila, and that he will proceed to
his destination by the July mail ; and also that arrangements
have been made, which take effect immediately after the
arrival of that mail in the east, under which there will be in
the three ports of Java to which foreign vessels have access
—namely, Batavia, Samarang, and Sourabaya—persons duly
authorised to certify the origin of Java sugar in the manner
required by the Sugar Duties Bill now before the House of
Lords.—Times.

--THE LIBRARY OF THE LATE DUKE OF SUSSEX.—
Yesterday the sale of the first division of the very extensive
and valuable library of the late Duke of Sussex, was com-
menced at Evans's, Pall. mall. This portion, which consists
entirely of theological works, will occupy twenty-four days,
and consists of no fewer than 5,546 lots. Although by no
means containing any specimens of the more valuable works,
the books disposed of yesterday fetched, in many instances,
high price& Thus Lot 167, Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, first
edition; Compluti, 1514, sold for 16/. ' • and the next, Biblia
Sacra Polyglotta, Auto. piantan,- 1569-72, fetched 101. This
edition a the Polyglot was, at the time of its publication
(according to Calmet), called "the wonder of the world."
The greater part of the impression was lost at sea, in a tern-
Se,stuons voyage to Spain. Another edition of the Biblia
acra Polyglotta, edente Le Jay, Paris 1645, sold at 11/. ;
and one panted at London in 1657, "with the Republican
preface,' fetched exactly twice the sum, 221. Then came
Lot 172, being also Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, but "with the
Royal preface," which was knocked down at 231. 10s. The
room was filled with literary and antiquarian gentlemen,
and the utmost interest seemed to be excited among all
present.
We understand, from the best authority, that should
Ministers be in a minority to-night, or only have a small ma-
jority on Mr. Duncombe's motion, referred to at length in
another article, they will resign to'morrew. Theyhave written
to all their supporters, entreating in the most urgent manner
their presence at the division of to-night, and intimating, in
terms not to be misunderstood, the consequences of a defeat.
We trust that this will only have - the effect of insuring an
unusual muster of Members on the Opposition side of the
House.—Morning Advertiser.
DRIED STRAWBERRIES.—Last summer, by way of'
experiment, when strawberries were plentiful, I attached
threads to their stalks, and hung up a few which were over-
ripe to dry. I placed them inside a window facing the south,
where they have remained from June last until the present
time (March 28). They have just been tasted, and the re-
sult is most satisfactory. That sweet refreshing acid which
is peculiar to the strawberry in full perfection; the flavour of
the fruit, without any watery taste, is delicious; it dissolves
in the mouth as slowly as a lozenge, and it is infinitely
superior to the raisin, which so soon brings on a feeling of
satiety. The strawberry thus dried is a stomachic. The ex-
periment may be tried when the fruit is so ripe as to be
scarcely worth gathering, without any further expense or
trouble than being hung up.
A LONG FACT.—There is a manufacturer in Pud-
sey who has lately got an order for eight miles and a quarter
of cloth. He has already executed a few miles of the order.
—Leeds Mercury.
RATS.—If they are troublesome, sprinkle un-
slacked lime in their holes and about where they congregate,
and they will depart without fail. This is more simple than
a tr& p.
improvements in this
R
under the direction of the Commissioners of
her Majesty's Woods and Forests,
are at present proceeding
Royal
;rk ROOD PARR:I—The
very satisfactorily. A number of workmen are employed in
completing that portion of the new carriage-drive between
park,
Dumbiedykes and St. Leonard's, which was commenced last
season. The old wall which divided the valley from the
fagade of Salisbury Crags is being pulled down, and the ad-
jacent ground tastefully formed into gradually sloping banks.
To the eastward, the " Washing-house," with the unseemly
walls around it, have been cleared away. The house over-
lookingas St. Ann's-yards, long occupied by Mr. David John-
stonetogether with the house adjoining it
on the west, are also removed. The remainder of the south
wall of the Archer's-garden, part of which was lately blown
over during a high wind, is now taken down. We trust that
the " Rood-well" will be preserved and properly protected.
The draining of the meadows—one of the most important
parts of the contemplated improvements—will, we hear, soon
be proceeded with. Thus, Holyrood is, at last, in a fair way
of being rendered fit for the occasional residence of our
beloved Sovereign and her illustrious family.—Edinburgh
Courant.
Lord Milton's yacht the Merlin came up the river,
froorni
the Noble Lord sails
f
intending to visit the Earl of Mor-
ton's, Dalmahoy Castle, Mid-Lothian,
thCeo coastwes losfle Scotland,o flig and to-day
CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.--A proof of the voracity
of the cod may be adduced from what follows :—One
was caught at Invergordon last week, in the stomach of
which was found a silver-handled pen-knife in the best
state of preservation, the carving on the handle being
of beautiful workmanship in silver, and noways injured
by' its" encasement in the belly of the.fish.—Glasgow
National