The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-25 00:00:00

WOOLWICH, TUESDAY.

The Comet steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Prettyman, took a party of the Woolwich division of
Royal Marines to Chatham on Saturday, returned to
Woolwich on Sunday, and on Monday towed the
Scourge steam-frigate to the East India Docks, to
be fitted with her engines, by Maudslay, Sons, and
Field. The Comet left the river the same evening for
Portsmouth.

The Lightning steam-vessel, Master-Commander
S. B. Cook, left Woolwich on Monday for Ports-
mouth, with the paddle-box boats for the Locust
steam-vessel.

The Princess Alice steam-vessel, Master-Corn.
mander L. Smithett, arrived at Woolwich on Sunday
from Dover, to have the damage she sustained by
coming into collision with the Princess Mary steam-
vessel made good at this dockyard.
The Alban steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
F. Lowe, is ordered to Woolwich to have her defects
made good.
The Black Eagle is to be fitted with Mr. S'alauel
Hall's smoke consuming apparatus.
The intended trial of the Retribution steam-frigate
on the 27th inst. has been postponed.
A boat is to be built on the plan of Captain George
Smith, the inventor of the paddle-box boats, upon
the sameprinciple as the paddle-box boats, but adapted
to steam-vessels fitted with screw propellers.
Strict orders have been given to the workmen at
the Woolwich Dockyard not to introduce Lucifer
matches into any part of that establishment
Mr. Sydney E. L. Wright is appointed clerk to
the Rattler steam-vessel.
Mr. Alexander Sistland is appointed second en•
gineer to the Redwing steam-vessel.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOIt,TUESDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert
walked early this morning in the grounds adjacent to
the Castle, and visited the Duchess of Kent at
Frogmore House.

In
the afternoon her Majesty and Prince Albert,
attended by the Countess of Charlemont, tidy
Caroline Cocks, Hon. Miss Devereux, Viscount
Hawarden, Lord Charles Wellesley, and Sir Edward
Bowater, went to the small lake in Frogmore•giounds.
Her Majesty, the Lady in Waiting, the Maids of
Honour, and the Lord in Waiting, here witnessed
the remainder of the royal party partake of the diver-
sion of skating, the skaters being Prince Albert,
Lord Charles Wellesley, Sir Edward Bowater, Mr.
G. E. Anson, Captain Francis Seymour, and Dr.
Prcetorius.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal took a
carriage airing to-day, and her Royal Highness
the Princess Alice was taken for walking exercise.
Sir Henry Wheatley left the Castle to-day.
The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening
included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent,
Lady Fanny Howard, the Countess Wratislaw, Mr.
George Edward and the Hon. Mrs. Anson, Major-
General and Lady Isabella Wemyss, and Ce.ptaiss
Francis Seymour.
The band of the Royal Horse Guards was In at-
tendance during dinner. Her Majesty's private band
afterwards attended.

The Duke of Cambridge visited, her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Gloucester p-s:sterday, at Gloucester
House.
Her Majesty's royal charities, of five shillings each,
to upwards of nine hundred poor and aged persons,
were distributed on Monday and Tuesday last,
under the orders of the Lord High Almoner, the Lord
Archbishop of York, and of the Sub-Almoner, the
Venerable Archdeacon S. 'Wilberforce.
In consequence of the severity of the cold, the dis-
tributions were extended to a greater number of per-
sons than usual.

The Royal Gate Alms were distributed at the
same time to one hundred and sixty-eight persons,
who received thirteen shillings each. Many of the
aged poor who received the royal bounty are blind
and suffering under bodily affliction.
The payments are made by Joseph Hanby, Esq.,
the resident Secretary and Yeoman of the Almonry.
The Marquis of Downshire had an interview with
the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the office of the
Board of Trade.

Dispatches from the Governor of Gibraltar were
received yesterday at the Colonial-office. Dispatches
were sent off last evening for the Governor of
Gibraltar.

THE ALPACA. TEXTURES.—(From a Correspond-
ent.)—As a proof of the beneficial effects of royal pa-
tronage bestowed upon any particular branch of our
manufactures, I may mention that the httridsrmie recep-
tion at Windsor given to the Bradford deputation who
carried up the dresses made from her Majesty's alpaca
fleece has thrown fresh life and activity into this new
branch of trade. Orders for alpaca cloths are pouring
in, many intended for exportation, this article having
become a great favourite in Germany and the United
States, owing to its cheapness and extraordinary dura•
bility. The black plain lustre, of the natural colour,
is particularly liked by the Spanish ladies far their
soya, or church dress, and as in softness, gloss, and
pliability it exceeds silk, it is becoming fa.shionable
among us for clergymens' and lawyers' gowns. To
show you how much the manufacturers in this quarter
are on the qui vive, I may add that from the description
only of the apron manufactured by Messrs. Gregory,
imitators are now setting up looms, coming as near to
the pattern as they can, some in inferior materials—that
is, in common wool for the weft and cotton for the warp.
Messr. F. and T. Ellison, of Berkinshaw, have taken an
order for 700 pieces, equal to 22,000 aprons and Mr.
Cowling Arkroyd, of Horton (both near Bradford), for
500 pieces, or 18,000 aprons. Considerable orders for
fac similes of the Quoen's dresses are also coming in to
the original manufacturers, Messrs. Fison and Gregory,
several of the nobility being anxious to have them. This
new branch of manufacture may therefore now be con-
sidered as firmly established, and therefrom I leave you
to judge of the public service rendered, and the =abet
of additional hands thereby employed, with families
dependent upon them of at least three members each.
We have also now a new article:to send to the foreign
market, and it is to be borne in mind that with the com-
petition against which we have to contend, variety in
articles is of moment.

DISTRIBUTION TO THE POOR.—Yesterday, in pur.
suance of the will of the late Major Wright, of the Tower.
Hamlets Volunteers, the trustees commenced the diy
tribution ofl 200 four-pound loaves, an 200 eight-pot:tad
pieces of beef, at the parish church of St. Qoorge's in
the East, to the industrious and deserving peer off the
parish, whose characters could bear investigation. Up.
wards of 120 persons received individually two four-
pound loves and a piece of beef. In addition to the above,
a society, entitled the Royal Victoria Philanthrepic
Society, an institution which was established at the
Ship Tavern, Chapel-street, in honour of her Majesty's
accession to the throne, and which is wholly. supported
by voluntary contributions from private inhabitants
of this populous parish, will commence this week distri-
buting bread and coals to the necessitous poor—upwards
of 4,000 four-pound loaves, and 2,000 half-hundreds of
coals. In this parish, upwards of 1,000/+ per year is
voluntarily contributed ,by the parishioners, and distri-
buted according to the exigency of those pressing eases
which are brought under the notice of the committee.
The rector, the Rev. Bryan King, M.A., is the donor of
the sum of 2501. per annum.
CHRISTMAS AND THE POOR.—The inclemency of
the weather, and the prevalence of contrary winds, has
within the last few days produced a considerable rise in
the price of those important essentials of life, isoals and
potatoes, In many parts of the metropolis the price of
the former is is. Bd. to 2s. per cwt., and very inferior
potatoes are sold at the ordinary charges of the beat
Both on Saturday and yesterday the supplies at Covent-
garden and Spitalfields markets wore not nearly equal to
the demand. On account of the late abundant harvest,
however, the price of bread at the easter* and poorer
distrieta of the metropolis remains at 6d. and 6id. per
qnartern loaf. The leading environs of Whitechapel
at the average prices in these districts.
and Shoreditch were yesterday supplied with meat of
excellent quality,
an inquest at the 131ue Leo, Curtain-road.
A CHILD BURNED TO DEATII.--Yesterday Mr.
body of Mary Ann Malmisbury, aged
Baker held
beth Charelen stated that she resides
ihtiglaewith deceased's parents, On Monday
isSnehrotehrnee dsi
years.atcmh said
coonuErt
evening she was ill leer own room, and on accidentally
looking out of the window, saw a great light or blase in
deceased's parents' apartment opposite. Witness hams.
diately ran down, and upon entering the house eltIV de.
ceased enveloped in flames. With assistance sle Atha-
guished the fire, but not until deceased had been dreatiu
fully burned all over her body. Mr. Sraith, a sargues
was sent for, who promptly attcndeil. ancladminiaterad
the proper remedies, but withp,et avail. Verdict- AA*.
cidental dest4,"