The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-18 00:00:00

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.BLE INTELLIGENCE.
ARRIVALS.

Count Baptiste Metaxa from Greece, at Mivart's Hotel
Sir George B. Hamilton, K.(3.11., at the Grosvenor Hotel ,
Mount-street, from the north ; Sir John anti Lady Gerard,
and Captain Gerard, at the Clarendon Hotel, Bond-street, from
New Hall, near Warrington, Lancashire ' • Mr. Norton Knatch-
bull, at ditto, from a visit to Watts Russell, Esq., M. P.,
at Biggin
Staffordshire; Lieut.-General Sir Frederick
and Lady Muleaster, on Hyde Park-terrace ; Mr. Hodgson,
M.P., in Carlton-gardens, from Paris.

DEPARTURES.
Lord Harielagh and the Ron. Miss Jones, from Bolton-row,
on a vi,iting tour ; Lord Beauchamp, from Portman-square,
for Brighton ; J. P. Deering, Esq., from South-street, for
his seat, in Bucks ; Rear-Admiral Lysaght, for Bath ; the
Earl arid Countess of Shrewsbury, from the Clarendon Hotel,
Bond-street. on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Leeds, at
Hornby Castle.
CHANGES.

The Duke of Buckingham, at his sporting scat, Wotton
House, from Stowe, Bucks; Lord Brooke, at Warwick Castle,
from a visit to the Earl of Aylesford, at Packington Hall ; Lord
Wiiton, at Egerton Lodge, Melton Mowbray, from Heaton
Hall, near Manchester ; the Earl and Countess of Home, from
the Hirzel, near Coldstream, for the south ; the Hon. Mr. and
Mrs. King Harman, at Cheltenham, from General Lord Lor-
ton's seat, Rockingham Castle, Sligo; Prince Bariatinsky, from
a visit to Miss Master, at her seat near Cirencester, from
Melton Mowbray ; LieEt.-General Buller, at Bath, from a
visiting tour to Mr. and Lady Fanny Howard, on a visit to Lord
Burlington, at Holkar Hall, Milnthorp, from Lord Otirlisle's,
Castle Howard.

PIRBRIGHT.--DISCOVERY OF OLD COINS.----011
Thursday, the 4th instant, as William Russell Hore, digger,
was boring for stone on the common, at the foot of the hills,
running from Bag-hot to Farnham, he saw what he thought,
on the surface, a button, but on examination it proved to be a
coin of Elizabeth, 1565. On removing the earth, he found
several others which caused him to search diligently, and he
discovered 100 pieces more in a good state of preservation.
They are all of Elizabeth, 1565 and 1567 ; some of the size of
half-crowns, others shillings and sixpences, all silver, but
much thinner than the present coins. Several persons have
searched since the 4th instant, and have found twenty other
pieces. —3laidstone Gazette.
BRIGHTON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17.--We regret to
hear that Sir Francis Burdett is suffering from indisposition.
After the funeral of Lady Burdett, the Misses Burdett will -re-
side in Brighton, where a home is taken for them. Miss
Burdett Coutts has a house in Eastern .terrace. The Marquis
and Marchioness cf Thomond, after a stay of three months,
purpose taking their departure next Tuesday. The Marquis
and Marchioness of Ailesbury will remain here till the end of
the month, probably longer. 'I he Duke and Duchess of So-
merset intend to stay in Brighton till March. Lord and Lady
Granville continue at the Duke of Devonshire's mansion isa
Kemp Town. The Marchioness and the Ladies Cornwallis_,
the Earl and Countess of Beauchamp, Captain and Lady
Augusta Seymour, Lady Harriet Gamier, Sir Augustus d'Estse,
are among the latest arrivals. Lord and Lady Petre, Lady
Rivers, and family, the Earl and Countess of Jeimyn, Lady
Chantrey, Sir Charles Dalbiac, the Dowager Duchess of Rox-
burgh, Captain and Lady Louisa Rabett, Lord Polwarth, the
Earl of Belfast, Lady Hutham, the Earl and Countess of Airlie,
Lord Ogilvy, Lord and Lady George Seymour, Lady Keats,
General Mundy, Lady Champagne, &c., &c., are still in
Brighton.

PORTSMOUTII.—The Duke and Duchess of Rich-
mond have paid a visit to Portsmouth, to take leave of Major.
General Sir Peregrine and Lady Sarah Maitland, who have
sailed in the Zenobia frce•trader, for the Cape of Good llope,
where Sir I'eregrine will succeed Sir James Napier in the go•
vernment of that colony. The corvette Satellite, IS, Com-
mander Rowley, is nearly ready for sea, and will depart to the
Brazils in about ten days, calling at Plymouth. Jho new
steamer Firebrand is nearly ready for the pendant, and will be
commissioned this week. It is generally believed that Vice-
Admiral Sir Francis Austin, K. C. 8., of this neighbourhood,
will receive the appointment of Commander-in-Chief at Sheer-
ness. At Spithead.—Penelope. In harbour.—St. Vincent,
Victory, Excellent, Satellite, Volcano, Echo, Fearless, and
flag tenders.—Brighton Gazette.

MUTUAL. LIFE ASSURAICE SOCIETY—The annual
general meeting of the members of this S ciety w as held yes-
terday at the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry. There was
a very lull attendance, and the chair was occupied by Mr. God-
son, M. P. The Report stated, that the present condition of
the Society fully rcalis d the expectations of those who founded
it ten years ago, when it came into operation without one six-
pence being raised to meet expenses beyond the first premium
of 241. From that moment it never needed the aid of loans,
and now it was pcnsersed of a real and accumulated capital of
68,0001., a real divisible surplus exceeding 80,0001., every
policy being added to in proportion to its amount and duration.
At the end of six years, since the 31st December, 1537,
the number of policies was three times as many as there
were at that date; the capital sums assured under those
policies were nearly doubled in amount, and the correspond-
ing income derived from annual premiums was also nearly
double. The accumulated and fund'd property of the Society
was four times as great as it was at the cud of that year, and the
divisible surplus six times as much. By rigidly adhering to
the principle and practice of economy with which it had set
out, and which was th• great secret of its prosperity, the ex-
enses of management decreased during the past year, making
them b 771. less than in the preceding year. Every expense
was paid out of the mere interest upon the contributions of
members, and dropped policies, leaving nearly 6,00C1. to be
carried out of that interest, in addition to the capital itself. The
report having been adopted, votes of thanks were presented to
the directors, the chairman, and to Mr. Hardy, the actuary,
of whose abilities and services Mr. Godson spoke in the highest
tems.

IRONNIASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING.—The Ja-
nuary quarterly meeting of ironmasters is generally anticipated
with considerable anxiety, and this year especial:), it was
considered of unusual importance, from the unsettled state of
the trade during the last twelve months ; the attendance of
ironmasters and others interested was, oonsequently, very
numerous, particularly at the meeting in this town on' Thurs-
day. There has existed a little faltering in prices during the
last quarter, and the circumstance that transactions were knoen
to have taken place at low er quotations than the regulated
price, induced many persons to anticipate a downward move-
ment ; but it being generally understood that the sales made at
lower prices were forced, for time purpose of meeting engage-
ments arising out of the closing of a hulking-house, which took
place in the course of last year, and the consequent calling in of
their advances, which were large to some is on firms, and that
these sales were made to meet the instalments as they became
due to the bank, they have not had any effect upon the market;
on the contrary, there was a firmness with regard to price,
and a tone of confidence among the masters, able') was
highly satisfactory, proving that the demand, though not great,
is steadily progressive. 'I he circumstance of Welsh bars hav-
ing been lately sold so low as 41. per ton net cash, being 21.
below the rate of some Staffordshire houses for six months,
might have been expected to operate for a downward tendency,
but the fact is that the Welsh works being in active operation,
and very flush of orders, especially for railroad iron, has
caused a rise in their prices which must shortly be felt in the
Staffordshire market. the confidence in this is grounded oe the
numerous notices of railroads for which Bills will be applied for
in the ensuing session of Parliament, relating to lines extending
to 600 miles in length ; and so confident are the projectors of
obtaining their Bills, that they have been eager to make con-
tracts even before the passing of the Bills, and many such have
been entered into for the formation of lines, at an expense, in-
cluding stations, of 10,000/. per mile—a rate so favourable to
the projectors as to ensure a profit, and induce a further exten-
sion of these great national works, thereby creating a large
demand for the next two or three years. The Shropshire iron-
masters firmly maintain the price of the last quarter, with
some intimations in regard to a rise.—Birmingharn Gazette.
The Berlin Gaze tie of the 3d inst. publishes a
Cabinet order forbidding Prussian subjects to play at the gam-
ing-house of Coethen. The following are the provisions :
All such persons as shall play, or cause stakes to be played for
their own account, whether for gain or not, shall be liable to a
fine of from 10 to 100 crowns, and on non-payment to imprison-
ment for from 15 days to six months. All civil and military
officers may, in addition, according to circumstances, be dis-
charged. All students who shall play at the same house, or
shall cause any one to play for them, shall be expelled from the
University.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN CUMBERLAND-MARKET.---
Shortly before five o'clock yesterday (Wednesday) morning,
as Sergeant King, 10 S, of the metropolitan police force, was
patrolling his section, he discovered a lire raging in the lower
part of the spacious premises occupied by Mr. Dennis, licensed
victualler, 2, Cumberland-market, Regent's-park. He in-
stantly proceeded to alarm the inmates, but so soundly asleep
was Mr. Dennis that the officer was fearful he would be
burned to death. The potboy, however, heard the cry of
" '1 he house is on fire ;" and without a moment's delay he told
his master, and then ran down stairs. Finding that the whole
of the lower part of the premises was in a blaze, and that
the flames had caught the liquor-vats containing some hun-
dred gallons of spirit, he ran up to the seeond.floor, let
himself down by a rope, and dropped from the lamp-iron in
front of the premites. His master followed him ; and thus
i they were saved from a horrible death, as the floor foil n
immediately afterwards, and the ignition of the gin, rum, and
brandy, the stock of which was very considerable, caused the
tire to burn with a destructive energy seldom witnessed. 7he
fire, by six o'clock, had exhausted all the materials within the
house, having in that short time destroyed all the stock, fit-
tings, furniture, and floors, and left the house nothing but bare
walls, inclosing a heap of ruins. The excellent party walls of
the adjoining houses saved both of them from destruction, the
damage to them is insignificant. The loss to Mr. Dennis will
amount to several hundred pounds—the house having been
recently fitted up in an elaborate manner, and the stoce being
well supplied, he not having entered upon the premises more
than three weeks.

UNPUBLISHED ANECDOTE OF TILE LATE CHARLES
MATIIEWS.—Mathews could effect so extraordinary a change in
the appearance and expression of his face, by simply tying up
the tip of his nose with a piece of catgut, that he has frequently
taken leave, as if for the evening, of a company, amongst whom
were some of his most intimate friends, and returned to them
some time afterwards, so transformed, that not one of
them has recognised him. He once indulged in this frolic
in a manner as whimsical as it was remarkable. lie was
dining with an acquaintance, Mr. A. —, a respectable pawn-
broker in the Strand. In the course of. the dinner
Mr. A— was summoned to the shop below, upon some latiinese
of sufficient importance to require his personal attention.
Presently, Mathews snatched a couple of spoons from the table,
quitted the room, disguised his face in the manner described,
put on his hat, left the house by the private door, and, entering
the shop, offered to his friend himself the two spoons in pledge;
having received the sum he demanded, and a duplicate, he re-
entered the house, and quietly resumed his seat amongst the
company. Upon the return of Mr. A—, to his utter amaze-
ment, Mathews placed before him the duplicate and the money
which, but a few minutes before, his entertainer had given to
him for his own property, removed from his own table !
It is now some ten days since we wero assured, on
good authority, that several important deviations from fact
were contained in the first notice we published of the pro.
ccedings of Mr. Wakley, Coroner for Middlesex, in reference
to the proposed sale of effects stated to be the property of
Lieutenant Munro, of the Royal Horse Guards. We lost
no time in making the most careful inquiry into the accuracy
of the statements in question, and, with the readiness with
which we are always anxious to admit even an unintentional
error, we feel bound to say that very serious mis-representa-
tions did occur in the account that was furnished to us. The
person who supplied us with the paragraph had clearly beets
deceived by those from whom be derived his information,
though we acquit him of having wilfully misled us ; and so
far from there having been any unnecessary harshness on the
part of Mr. Wakley in reference to the sale in question, the
result of our investigation convinces us that the conduct of that
gentleman was marked throughout by the most scrupulous
delicacy.—Post.
with
j'fX)arrived
don, S SOUTH
June,SEA o i2l
twenty-it Ty
e
Charleston packet,
the Mozambique Channel, by the
New Brun,,delr, was at
at St. Helena. The Euphrates, of
of sperm oil, leaky,
last with 300 barro s
Gallapagos August , barrels, ie
also,nit;
Tmohnethgl:oxlioun
and with loss of sails.
of coals imported into
o f FLooi nn ld
London
tduurriiinsas thatlgewmonth tohfe
December
was 295,70 tons, carried in 1,003 vessels. In comparing the
Coals.—The
return of the present month with the corresponding morals of
last year, we find an increase of 6,779 tons, bet on the whole
year there is a decrease of :34,680 tons.