The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-15 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-With reference to the late accident at the
Joint Terminus of the Brighton, Dover, and Croy-
don Railways, in the Kent-road, we consider it ne-
cessary shortly to state, that although we are the
Contractors for the whole of the works at that station,
our Firm was not concerned in the erection of the
Iron Roofing to which the accident occurred, nor
were any of our workmen employed thereon.
We shall be obliged by the insertion of this expla-
nation.—We are, Sir, your obedient servants,
GRISSELL and PETO.
Lambeth, April 13.

THE THREE-AND-A-HALF PER CENTS.—Holders
to the amount of 8,000,0001. have concurred to take the
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. Annuities. This
stock only comprises a seventieth part of the National
Debt, or thereabout : i. e. 10,000,000/. As the price of
the Three-and-a-Half per Cents. of 1818 is now 103, it
follows that the few remaining holders will lose that per
cent. less the half year's dividend to October next, by re-
maining passive. Although we have on a previous occa-
sion R arned the holders of the Three-and-a-Half per
Cents. to send in their adhesion, or they must take 1001.
cash for 1001. stock, it may be as well to state that their
position will be damaged to the extent mentioned, if they
do not assent before Saturday next. Holders residing
abroad have an extended period allowed to them. As
respects the other portions of the Three-and-a-Half per
Cent. Annuities, in the gross amounting to 240,000,0001.,
the dissents (for the holders of these were required to
say nay, if ill-pleased with the Chancellor's offer), as
mentioned under this head a fornight since, do not place
the Treasury in any difficulty, as under 100,000/. will be
required to settle their claims. A word or two more as
to the remaining 2,000,000!. of Three-and-a-Half per
Cents. of 1818. Those who have dissented, as well as
those holders who have assented, must regret the course
they-bevy taken, seeing-that the Three-am:la •Half per.
Cents. obtain an average of about 31 per cent. above
par. The Directors of the Bank of England have taken
means to inform the holders of the 1818 Stock that they
must assent, or they will be paid off at par, by sending
round circulars, the numerous inquiries at the office of
their chief cashier proving that there are still many who
do not understand their position.—Observer.
ROYAL PALACES, GARDENS, &C.—On Saturday a
Parliamentary return was issued, showing the sums re-
ceived by the Commissioners of the Woods and Forests.
on account of each of the Royal palaces, gardens, parks,
&c., for rents, pasturage, sale of unserviceable timber,
&c., for the year 1842-3. It appears that 1,080/. 4s. 10d.
was received from Hyde, St. James's, and the Green
Parks, of which sum 6621. 10s. was as rent of grass land
and pasturage ; 701. was paid for pasturage in Kensing-
ton Gardens ; 551/.155. 5d for the like in Regent's Park;
379/. 18s. 6d. in Richmond Park ; 311. 14s. in Windsor
Park, and 1,060/. 6s. Bd. for the same in Phoenix Park,
Dublin. Greenwich Park only produced in the year 6!. for
old timber, &c. It appears that 314/. 13s. was obtained for
keys of the pleasure grounds in the Three Parks, and 379/.
2s. from the same source in the Regent's Park. The return
shows the receipts since the year 1838. Prince Albert
purchased on behalf of the Crown, of the executors of
William the Fourth, certain stock on the farms called the
the Norfolk and Flemish, and the Home Park Farm.
His Royal Highness paid in 1838, 2,4021. 1.). 6d.; in
1839, 2,7291. 12s. 2d.; in 1840, 2,6781. 9s. Bd.; in 1840-1
thne sums of 3,320/. 165., 1,771/. 10s. ld., and
3,4921. 7s. 6d.; and in 1842-3, the sum of 2,000/. The
stock so purchasad was the private property, of the late
King. The return was moved for by Mr. Williams.
UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE.—On Monday after-
noon two little boys, tempted by the fineness of the day,
went to play in a wood at a short distance from their re-
sidence, at Lamgum, .Pembrokeshire. They unfortu-
nately met with a quantity of the roots of the hemlock
of which they both partook so freely, that en their re-
turn home one of
.them fell down insensible; the other
lad went to call assistance, which was procured, and the
poor little fellow, after being conveyed to a neighbouring
cottage, died in violent convulsions. Duringe tim
e
the t
the other lad had strayed off, and being missed,
w-as
found on the bank of a neighbouring river quite dead.
A small quantity of the above root is fatal, if taken into.
the stomach.—Bristol Mercury.
On the departure of Bishop Selwyn for his diocese
of cannibals, New Zealand, the Rev. Sydney Smith is said
to have taken leave of him in these affecting terms :
"Good bye, Selwyn ; I hope you will not disagree with
the man that eats you."—liuu Advertiser.