The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-25 00:00:00

FOREIGN PRODUCE.

We have on numerous occasions in the course of the past
season noticed the extensive importations of cattle and pro-
visions generally from the various supplying Continental
States, and have frequently enumerated the quantities of the
different kinds of fruits as they arrived in season, which have
been brought for the supply of our markets and vendors of
the article, and it may not be altogether uninteresting, or
unprofitable, now that the fruit season is drawing to a close,
and that the traffic from the northern German and Dutch
ports may in all probability in the lapse of a short space of
time be partially, if not entirely, closed for navigable and
commercial purposes, to take a cursory review of the relative
importance of the different Continental States in our regard
with respect to the supply of the various articles alluded to
for consumption in this country. First with regard to fruit,
-which, of every kind, has been brought during the past season
to an ettent unknown in previous years, the palm must cer-
tainly be given to Holland for the early supply, for not only
were her productions in the fruit way of every kind in our
markets before the introduction of our own, but singularly
enon gh, before the more southern states of Europe, not even ex-
cepting France. But in justice to other countries, it must be
allowed that the produce of Holland, in regard to fruit, al-
though of very excellent, if not unexceptionable quality, can-
not be compared with the productions of France, Belgium,
and other countries usually furnishing us with that article.
An evident intention existed of being the first in our
markets, and in that she doubtlessly succeeded most fully.
Holland has produced us in succession currants, cherries,
plums of every kind, more particularly green gages, and sub-
sequently pears, nuts, grapes, &c., the latter-mentioned
article of moat superior quality; known' as the Hamburgh
grapes, and, as we have before. stated in an especial notice,
very little inferior to our best samples of hothouse produc-
tion. France, although rather later, has not been behind her
in her.sup.plies of fruit, for she has in turn supplied us with
larger eptantities of each particular description of fruit, and
also a fair quantity of the more valuable kinds of table deli-
caciee, such as peaches, nectarines, the whole being of
superlative quality, especially the walnuts, without the sup-
plies of which we should, in consequence of the mildew and
total failure of our own crop, have been very deficient. The
only remaining place requiring any especial mention for
its supplies of fruit is Belgium, which has also been of
very great service. The inference to be drawn from the
past importations of fruit is, therefore, that all three of the
countries named are of importance in that especial particular,
Holland being the first in the market with her produce.
There is no doubt, also, in consequence of the reduction in
the price of sugar, and the extensive importation from abroad
of the various kinds of stone fruits, that the public have been
enabled to lay in a much larger stock of preserves than for-
merly. With reference to the importation of cattle from
abroad. which has this year increased to so great and impor-
tant an extent, and of foreign provisions generally, we have
so frequently and fully enumerated the particular arrivals
from time to time, and dilated on their quality and their
bearing with reference to our markets and consumption,
that it is superfluous now to enter into a recapitulation of
the matter at the present moment. We will only observe,
that the palm must be in the question of cattle, both in the
case of horned beasts, sheep, and indeed cattle of all descrip-
tions, be given to Holland, the quality and breed having
been improved to a remarkable extent, and the large quan-
tities which have arrived weekly during the summer being
beyond all precedent. The varieties also of every other es-
teemed article of food which have been introduced from that
quarter,. increasing in extent, and the universally-allowed ex-
cellent quality of the whole, give 'a degree of importance to
Holland in regard to the supply of this country with cattle
and edibles of every description, which, previously to their
introduction to their present extent, certainly did not exist,
notwithstanding its importance in other matters of trade and
commerce. Tl-e importations of cattle from Hamburgh have
not increased in extent, neither can tha quality of them be
compared to the Dutch produce, but the importance of that
city, also, tn- the supply of all other sorts of provisions, can-
not be called in question. Next in importance is Belgium,
which is constant in her supplies of butter, eggs, and at this
season of the year, poultry of various descriptions, besides
rabbits, which, as we have, we believe, previously stated in
a fq.ner particular notice, abound in that country. The im-
ports of articles of food from France are confined to poultry,
which at times arrive in considerable quantities, and eggs,
the extensive importation of which is so universally known
that they scarcely require to be mentioned.

ACCIDENT ON THE BRISTOL
AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.
(Faom A CORRESrONDENT.)
_ _

An accident occurred on the above railway on Satur-
day night, which, from the extreme carelessness evinced
by the servants of the Company, might have been at-
tended with serious loss of life, yet most fortunately the
result was only a few scratches to an engine-driver and a
fireman. The following are the particulars as far as can
be a,certained, but the officials of this railway always
maintain such a mysterious silence respecting any acci-
dent that there is no little difficulty in giving a correct
statement. A gentleman, who was very desirous of pro-
ceeding into South Wales by the mail from Gloucester,
finding all the trains had left Bristol for that place, had
no alternative but to order an express engine and car-
rlage. This was soon in readiness. Upon reaching
Standish junction, where the Bristol and Great Western
lines join, about eleven miles from Gloucester, on the
Bristol line, the engine ran into something on the line,
which proved to be the last truck of agoods-train stand-
ing across the line, without any signal lights, or in fact
any light at all. The concussion threw the engineer
and stoker of the express train engine off the engine
some yards distance, both escaping with a few slight
bruises. The passenger also most providentially escaped
with a severe shaking, and was enabled to proceed at
once by the Great Western mail train from London,
which ran past a few minutes after the accident hap-
pened.

The engine was very much broken, and the trucks
were knocked to pieces. As before observed, the acci-
dent was entirely the result of not putting signal-lights
0.1 the goods train. Conduct so reprehensible deserves
the severest censure; and whoever is to blame in this
instance ought to be severely punished, as at this part of
the line, even in broad daylight, is very dangerous from
the junction of the two lines (the Bristol and the Great
Western). The guard of the goods' train was given into
custody for a breach. of the bye-laws, in not hiving a
signal lamp with him, and to-morrow an investigation
will take place by the Midland Company, who now have
the management of the traffic on this line.

A SQUIRREL'S RETREAT.—A Young lady, resid
ing in the neighbourhood of Tarvin, has two pet squirrels, in
whose frolics she naturally takes considerable interest; duriat,
a recent visit of some friends, they were taken out of their
cages, when One of them suddenly disappeared; anxious
search was wade, but without effect, till a sl:riek from one of
the rural beauties of the party led to the startling discovery,
that the mischievous little animal, in its hustle to escape, had
actually taken refuge in that part of the fair girl's ve'tments
which is supposed to give additional grace to the female
figure.— Liverpool Mail.
THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON. —Letters dated
the 4th of November, announce that the opportunities of
testing the sailing qualities of the experimental squadron
up to that date, had been but few, although of a decisive
nature. On the 29th of October a trial took place with the
line-of-battle ships Wind one point free, under all plain
sail, with a head swell—Canopus, Ist; Superb, 2d ; Rodney
and Albion last and equal ; the Daring, 12, keeping her
station during the trial, which she was enabled to do, sparing
Os. jine-of-13ati.le ships, "courses, royal, and flying jib."
"42411")6a140‘1•"h. ' - ' ,n a wind, with a cross head sea, I
'Which
i Which psails, topgallant sails and course,
,Cc.' '‘four rril
, (which
1 'i• respect!'
~....\- mire reiv,
(... The 12-gun brig, Daring, gained
eye of Canopus, Rodney. and Superb
each other), and were themselves
windward nf*the Albion.—Hamp-
NI It S

test four *efec b ayrops
ed
les in the Iv ncts e
k were all close' to
tlyely 2111111er*
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