The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-02 00:00:00

out from morning till night, and after they returned at
night they had a supper of potatoes. They had no beer,
nor anything but the mere potatoes.
Mr. BROUGHTON asked how many her master had in the
same condition as herself ? The girl said he had two
females and a boy, who played the tambourine, They
all fared the same as herself, but one of the girls had
that morning been taken away by her father in conse-
quence of the ill treatment.
A foreigner, who is himself a skin dresser, and em-
ploy-s several young foreigners of both sexes as wander-
ing minstrels, came forward in corroboration of the com-
plainant, whose services he was manifestly desirous of
securing for himself, and he set forth in glowing terms
the superior treatment which his young people received
from him. They had the usual breakfast of bread and
butter and coffee, and a potatoe supper at night, but then
he gave them twopence each for dinner, just double the
allowance given by the other master.
Mr. BROUGHTON wondered what sort of dinner the
poor creatures could get for a penny or twopence either,
but, surely, said he, you give them a little beer, or some-
thing with their potatoes at night.
The man said that beer would not do for them, they
never had it when at home, but he sometimes gave them
a leelle bit of meat.
The first master being sent for, attended with his wife,
and alleged that the complainant had been bound ap-
prentice to him by her mother, who was to receive the
remuneration for her services. He undertook to pro-
duce the indentures here at an appointed time, and Mr.
Broughton directed that the other girl who had been
taken from him should also be then in attendance.

LONDON AND DOVER RAILWAY.

The completion of the works from Abbot's Cliff to
Dover, which is now so anxiously looked for, has
(since the period of our last observations) been the
scene of the most active and persevering operations
night and day ; and had it not been for the recent fall
of the cliff at the east entrance to Abbott's Cliff, we
doubt not that the anticipations contained in the last
able report of Mr. Cubitt to the Arectors, would
have been fully verified (viz., the opening of the en-
tire line by the Ist of January, 1844), considering
the advantages the late favourable weather has af-
forded. _ _ _

The tunnelling through the core of the fallen mass,
however, is going on rapidly, and, taking into account
the nature of the work, with much spirit, under the
able management and exertions of Mr. llodges. This
work, we observe, is now about two-thirds finished,
and in the course of eight or ten days, we may expect
it will be wholly so. It is satisfactory to observe
that the permanent rails are laid to and from this un-
fortunate barrier, which, when it is removed, an en-
tire opening will be almost instantaneously effected.
The works from Shakspeare Cliff to the terminus are
waiting the completion of this portion of Abbott's
Cliff Tunnel. The lengthened scarpment of the range
of cliff adjoining Arch Cliff Fort, which protruded on
the line, may be said to be finished, and the timber
dike, which retains the formation of the platform in
its front, is also finished. The continuation of this
dike in front of the terminus is fast advancing ; and
we may here observe that its construction is consi-
dered to be quite new in this country. That portion
of it in front of Arch Cliff Fort (the severest attack-
ing point of the sea), having the double flanged
piles and a backing of cement concrete, seems to be
almost a facsimile in detail of that designed by Mr.
Steward, of Dover, for the construction of his piers
in the propsed Harbour of Refuge here, with the ex-
ception, perhaps, that Mr. Steward introduces stone
casing and stone ties, instead of the timber casing
and ties.
We observe that a passage-way in front of Arch
Cliff Fort, of several feet wide, is in progress, and
that to facilitate its formation, the old sea-beaten
brow of the Fort has been removed.. A distribution
of cast iron and timber groins is in course of being
planted in front of the terminus, for the purpose of
retaining the shingle in front of the platform. This
work, together with the dike and viaduct, from the
immensity of the undertaking, and the manner in
which it is executed, reflect the highest credit on the
contractors, Messrs. Finnis and Walker, as well as on
the professional merit of .Ir. Geo. Turnbull, their exe-
cutive engineer.
We understand that the preliminary operations for
the immediate erection of the splendid terminus is to
be proceeded with on Monday, January Ist, by Mr.
Grimsdell, the contractor, whose estimate for the
work, which we have already noticed, amounts to
29,4751.
We hope the people of Dover will not forget the
hint we gave them some time since, to be prepared to
give the Directors a cordial reception on the opening
to Dover of this great undertaking.— Dover chronicle.

THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE.—At the conclusion
of the banquet at Windsor Castle, on Tuesday evening
last, her Majesty and Prince Albert, with their distin-
guished guests, retired as usual to the green drawing-
room, -the - Queen's private- band being stationed in
the adjoining apartment (the crimson drawing-room),
the folding doors of which were thrown open. In
the course of the evening her Majesty left the private
apartment, arm in arm with the Duke of Welling-
ton, and seated herself with the Duke on her
right hand, and surrounded by the Court, near the
band. After listening to the performance of two or
three compositions, the Queen rose from her seat to
retire, a movement which was, of course, followed by
the who!e of the Royal party, with the exception of
the Duke, who had fallen into a profound nap. Her
Majesty, smiling, and evidently enjoying the involun-
tary forgetfulness of his Grace, playfully tapped the
Duke on his shoulder with her bouquet, which speedily
brought him from a state of momentary oblivion to
perfect consciousness, when the Queen, with a gracious
smile (amidst the suppressed titterings of the illustrious
guests), made his Grace a low curtesy, and taking the
noble warrior's arm in the most kind and affectionate
manner, and laughing the while, proceeded from the
crimson to the green drawing-room, where coffee was

served.
When the body of Casimer Delavigne was lying
in state, three women, closely veiled, were seen to ad-
vance, and throw holy water on the coffin. These ladies
were Mademoiselles Mars, Rachel, and Plessy. Jules
Janin being asked who were these mysterious mummers,
maliciously answered, " that it was the grande come-
dienne (surname of Mademoiselle Mars), the grande
tragedienne (surname of Rachel), with the young lady
who was neither the one nor the other." He might
more justly have said, " the lady who was both." One
very elegant lady excited general curiosity and sym-
pathy. Hidden beneath her thick veil, which prevented
the least feature to be discerned, she followed on foot the
procession throughout the day. She was said to be a
lady. to whom the poet had inspired a most tender
passion without ever seeing her, and who followed him
about for years—in all his travels present, but unknown
and unseen.—Paris Letter.
EXTRAORDINARY FREE TRADE DEMONSTRATION.
—On Friday morning last the inhabitants of the village
of Coalbrookdale, in Shropshire, and the immediate
vicinity, were astonished by the announcement, by pla-
card, that a meeting would take place that evening, in
the new Lecture-room, for the purpose of commencing
subscriptions in aid of the Great League Fund of
100,0001. Notwithstanding the very short notice, the
absence of many of the "Stars" of the League, and the
smallness of the population, the room was comfortably
filled ; Abraham Darby, Esq., in the chair. After
speeches from the chairman and others, the subscrip-
tion-cards were handed in, and the amounts
and names were afterwards read. The first
was the ladies' subscription of Coalbrookdale,
(anonymous), 150 Z ; then came Abraham Darby,
Esq., 50/. ; Alfred Darby, Esq., 50L (these gentlemen
having already given 2001. this year at the Liverpool
meeting); Henry Dickinson, Esq., 501; Richard Darby,
Esq., 50/. ; W. H. Darby, Esq., 51. (in addition to his
donation at Liverpool) ; Joseph Robinson, Esq., 21.
(besides a subscription at Liverpool) ; William F. Sim,
Esq., Si. ; Edward Edwards, 2/. 2s ; ten of IZ, besides
various smaller sums, making in all 148 subscribers ; the
total amount being about 3501. The whole amount of
last years' subscriptions, in this part was under 901.
Liverpool Albion of Monday.
A BACKSLIDING TEETOTALLER.—The New York
papers of the 4th of December contain the following
statement regarding the suicide of a temperate back-
slider ; but when names are not given in such matters
suspicions arise. However, here is the article, and if it
check one " inordinate glass" it will do good :—" We
learn from the Monticello Watchman that a man named
Crocker put an end to his life in the Bethel Church, in
that village, on Saturday last. He had been a drunkard
for twenty-five years, until about three months' since,
when he became a member of the Temperance Society,
and held fast to the pledge till within a few days, when
he joined a hunting party, and was induced by his com-
panions to indulge in liquor. He remained drunk for a
week, and on recovering from his debauch his remorseful
feelings were so strong as to make life a burden. He
shot himself with his rifle, leaving directions that his
body might be prepared for burial by those companions
whose solicitations induced him to return again to the
maddening bowl 1"
POOR-LAW VERSUS MORALITY.--A lasting memo-
rial of the folly, wickedness, and depravity of the Bas-
tardy clause in the New Poor-law Act, which exone-
rates the fathers of illegitimate children from any claim
for their support, is yearly shown by the increase of
poor-rates, and the number of illegitimate births. In the
Morpeth Union, during the year ending September last,
out 04476 births, 49 were illegitimate ; and in tho town
itself, containing a rural population, one out of
every six. The workhouse has thus been converted
into a lying-in hospital, and the industrious rate-payers
burthened with the maintenance of mother and child for
twelve or fourteen years, while the depraved father
laughs at the law, and seeks out another victim of seduc-
tion. It would be well if the local clergy, instead of at-
tempting to revive obsolete and unmeaning ceremonies,
would attend to the morals and instruction of their
people. We understand the guardians of the Morpeth
Union are about to petition Parliament against this ob-
noxious clause of the Act, and we trust to see it followed
up by the various Boards throughout the kingdom.
On Saturday afternoon, two porpoises were ob-
served gambolling in the river Thames, at a short dis-
tance from Westminster-bridge, on the north side. The
singular novelty attracted a great crowd of persons.
They were visible for a long while at intervals.
The Town-council of Brighton have purchased a
full-lent portrait of his Grace the Duke of Welling-
ton, by'Siinpson, who for upwards of twenty years was
the principal assistant to Sir T. Lawrence. The portrait
is to be placed is the Town-hall.