The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-19 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE CHIMES; A GOBLIN STORY.
Chapman and Hall, London, 1644.
11r. Dickens's " Christmas Carol," which was pub-
iiahed about this time last year, was unquestionably
the most effective hit that this popular author ever
Illade. The spirit that pervaded it was so thoroughly
catholic ; its purpose was so benevolent ; its humour
'1:'°1:1violls, unforced, and seasonable in its character ;
And its mixture of the imaginative and the matter-of-
fact so dexterously and easily managed, the one
eliding into the other imperceptibly and without the
'lightest apparent effort, that it could scarcely fail to
Please all classes of readers. Then, too, there was
811 ch abundant feasting going on in every chapter-
-111101 boisterous merry-makings—such relishing de-
4eriptions of Christmas dinners in high life, in middle
life, and in low life—that so far from being surprised
that it reached a tenth edition, our only surprise is
that it has not yet reached a twentieth. It rarely
falls to the lot of even the most successful author to
cbilatse two such hits in a life-time ; and accordingly
17 amusing little story before us—though
contains some passages equal in force and
humour to any that Mr. Dickens ever wrote—
" a whole, inferior both in conception and execu-
-411 to his "Christraas Carol." In so saying, we
415 far from meaning to imply that it is an indifferent
Pr'ciuction but only that it is not to be put in com-
Pkis °rl With the author's acknowledged master-piece.
The hero is Trotty Veck, an elderly, simple-minded
ticket-porter, whose usual post is near the door of a
tstarch, to whose chimes—like Quasimodo in Victor
e I°'a " Notre Dame"—he has long been in the
shit of listening with a sort of vague, mysterious
4118° of mingled awe and pleasure. One day, while
:hsting for a job in the convivial Christmas season,
agreeably surprised by the sight of his only
14111811ter Meg, with a plateful of tripe in her hand,
,""ieh she has brought for her father's dinner. While
til'ae ld
d o Man is busy doing justice to this dainty on
)2
"oor-steps of an Alderman's house, Meg's sweet-
""t, Richard, comes up, and a little innocent flirtation
4:1 on between the young couple, which is, however,
4111 Y interrupted by the appearance of Alderman
st.
and his two friends—one, a political economist,
,-;,`4 the other a disciple of the " Young England"
1,""°°12 Rho enter into conversation with Trotty, the
1:1,34,1t of which is to convince him that he is a very
h-e'ehecl, worthless fellow who has no business to be
Its •
the burdening the earth with his presence. Soon after
IILY leave him, he goes to the house of a pompous
rinat who proclaims himself the friend of the poor
ind talks with prodigious self-complacency of his dis.
"'rested devotion to the cause of the lower classes ;
bd b
o,.._""ing delivered the letter wid which he was
etCasted to this pompous patron of the destitute and
411,friendless, Trotty returns home, and there, like
tho•" 4 Runyan, " dreams a dream" about the church
te 411") which he imagines make all sorts of wonderful
itjtel"lobs respecting himself, his daughter, and his
erkled son-in-law, Richard. The story concludes
Itith
his Waking up from his dream, and finding his
thends about him, anxious to celebrate the nuptials of
it: Young couple. This is but a faint outline of the
thrj, Which, however, is exceedingly meagre in its
thmacter, and is far less obvious and useful in its moral
ih the " Christmas Carol." Nevertheless, it contains
tt) Y clever and some few brilliant passages, which
ne
but " Boa " could have written, and which are
trNlated to make a profound impression on the mind
the
reader. There are also several admirable touches of
hih,pt; 'O'er interspersed throughout it, and some caustic
t the pseudo-philanthropy of certain well-known
it,-"cians• The humour, too, is excellent, though it
qi,-(4 always free from the author's besetting vice of
tilt-ggeration, who, in his love of drollery, is some-
s: apt to run a joke fairly off its legs. As a fa-
tb sample of his more serious manner, we quote
kb,,°"wing speech of a destitute labourer, which is
sf.`„rs"d to be delivered at a meeting of the Friends
the poor
Th .
4%4,1 ragged visitor—for he was miserably dressed—
t° thet°und upon the company, and made his homage
G.,,Tvith a humble bow.
4.4°A —"folks," he said, °"
You've drunk the Labourer.
.Tae !,
" jt,:t come from gaol," said Mr. Fish.
thefr, first come from gaol," said Will. "And neither for
s'urth.,, 0, nor the second, nor the third, nor yet the
kr, 1-,•1
Itta Ilse was heard to remark testily, that four times
libt3ce)ivie.r the average ; and he ought to be ashamed of
,I:Gentlefolks !" repeated Will Fern. " Look at me I
ace I'm at the worst. Beyond all hurt or harm ;
04°.4d your help ; for the time when your kind words
bieind actions could have done ms good "—he struck
upon his breast and shook his head—" is gone,
the scent of last year's beans or clover out the air.
h; ale say a word for these," pointing to the labouring
the in the ; "and when you're met together, hear
e,tokal Truth spoke out for once."
4:- There's not a man here," said the host, "who would
4 him for a spokesman."
14;stike enough, Sir Joseph. I believe it. Not the
I).4true, perhaps, is what I say. Perhaps that's a proof
4
tr.„'" Gentlefolks, I've lived many a year in this place.
4,1:‘ Nay see the cottage from this sunk fence over you-
3've seen the ladies draw it in their books a hun-
Ltit thraos. It looks well in a picter, I've heerd. say ;
'"ere an't weather in picters, and maybe 'tut fitter
th,rthitt than for a place to live in. Well I I lived
It. 04?: now hard—how bitter hard I lived there, I
ttp i'pv. Any day in the year, and every day, you
Vine for your own selves.'
kotied ;poke as he had spoken on the night when Trotty
111, oi'vs"itil in the street, His voice was deeper, and
• Ii 'sky, and had a trembling in it now and then ;
klio, es never raised it, passionately, and seldom lifted it
.Ce,„tile firm stern level of the homely facts he stated.
bp d''ls harder than you think for, gentlefolks, to grow
Nwe''ent commonly decent : in such a place. That I
tbat ed up a man and not a brute, says something for
• I Was then. .A 3 I am now, there's nothing can
for me, or done for me. I'm past it."
,lier,L• 4111 glad this man has entered," observed Sir
4t kr' looking. round serenely. " Don't disturb him.
,kkhlettrs to be Ordained. He's an Example ; a living
ltiNlipe. I hope and trust, and confidently expect, that
h,i` not be lost upon my friends here."
• o...,„cirtagged on," said Fern, after a moment' a silence.
▪ ;;ektiovc". Neither me nor any other man knows how ;
or de
,"eavv, that I couldn't put a cheerful face upon it,
.INl,„74''e believe that I was anything but what I was.
/Pllsl,' gentlemen—you gentlemen that sits at Sessions—
Yt)11 You see a man with discontent writ on his face,
.;15111;115 to one another, he's suspicious. I has my
1(41. ,;`, says you, about Will Fern. Watch that fel-
• t don't say, gentleman, it ain't quite nat'ral, but
des 'tis so ; and from that hour, whatever Will Fern
;'),,ov lets alone—all one—it goes against him."
Pocks ('ute stuck his thumbs in his waistcoat -
at aets, and leaning back in his chair and smiling, winked
boui,sleighbouring chandelier. As much as to say, " Of
bla9l I told you so. The common cry Lord
htf'", You, we are up to all this sort of thing—myself
\l'inraan nature."
tari'vw, gentlemen," said Will Fern, holding oat his
I'S Land flushing for an instant in his haggard face.
Ite'tl,4kow your laws are made to trap and hunt us when
Vt,:, brought to this. I tries to live elsewhere. And I'm
teska°l'°lld. To gaol with him I comes back here. I
ktillittang in your woods, and breaks—who don'tf—
ht,rlll,°tr branch or two. To gaol with him I One of
ttit-hiketPers sees me in the broad day, near ,
my own
" ilea; of garden, with a gun. To gaol with him .
akin 4 naeral angry word with that man, when I'm free
To gaol with him I I cuts a stick. To gaol
kith h!tn.! I eats a rotten apple or a turnip. To gaol
4tD. '1"n1 It's twenty mile away ; and coming back, I
the a trifle on the road. To gaol with him ! At last,
doe.,°°stable, the keeper—anybody—finds me anywhere,
apd f; anything. To gaol with him, for he's a vagrant,
gat,,,gaol:bird known ; and gaol's the only home he's

heresy, which is now exciting such a commotion in
the Church :—" Tractarianism is an error of the most
subtle and deadly character; it is a poison-drop in the
cup of the water of life. It is not a party question;
it is one that affects the Church of Christ in its grand
and distinctive features, and which every member of
that Church is bound to repudiate. I speak strongly.
I have reason to do so, for I shall never cease to bless
and thank God that my eyes have been opened to see
my own danger. I know of no one whose natural
heart was more inclined to approve the doctrines of
the Tractarian party, or whose natural taste was more
disposed to be captivated by the seducing appeals to
the imagination which they put forth." In his
Sermons, which immediately follow the preface, the
Author takes every opportunity of impressing on his
readers the danger of their paying the slightest atten-
tion to the jesuitical appeals of the Tractarians, and
the absolute necessity of their strictly abiding by the
Word of God as revealed in Holy Writ. These ad-
monitions he enforces in earnest, energetic terms, and
does not hesitate to repeat, whenever the course of
his argument leads him, directly to the condemnation
of Tractarian tenets. His Sermons are penned in
plain, perspicuous language, without ornament or
metaphor, and can hardly fail to make a favourable
impression on their readers, if only from the evident
tone of unaffected sincerity that pervades them. For-
tunately, also, they are all short, and may be easily
read at a sitting, which is no ordinary recommenda,
tion to compositions of this sort.

JOYS AND SORROWS.
Darton and Clarke, London, 1844.

" Joys and Sorrows" is the apt title of a prose tale,
written by Mrs. Sherwood, expressly for the enter-
tainment and instruction of young people. It is no
easy thing, as has been often remarked, to pen a popular
child's book, but the authoress of the story before us
has, we think, succeeded in her experiment, and pro-
duced a work calculated, by the simplicity of its lan-
guage and incidents, to be a great favourite with
youth. The volume is neatly printed, and is embel-
lished with two pleasing engravings.

UNIVERSITY OF BONN. Parker, London, 1844.

In this unassuming little volume we have an ac-
count of the University of Bonn—one of the most
eminent seats of instruction on the Continent, where,
among many other illustrious individuals, Prince
Albert received his education—of its rise, progress,
and present state, together with a concise sketch of
the college life of his Royal Highness. Bonn was
formerly, it seems, the splendid palace of the Arch-
bishops of Cologne, and stands on the south side of
the town of Bonn, occupying a vast space of ground,
with a finely wooded lawn in front, and forming one
long range of buildings, which from the centre
extends to a considerable distance towards the east
and west. It is a well-endowed University, conducted
on a liberal and comprehensive scale, and has attached
to it upwards of fifty paid professors. The supreme
authority is vested in the Minister of Public Worship
at Berlin, but is practically delegated to the Curator,
as first resident officer under the Government, who
acts co-ordinately with the Academical Senate—a
body composed of professors with the rector at their
head, who is assisted by a judge appointed by the
Crown. The salaries paid to the ordinary and extra-
ordinary professors vary in amount from a hundred
and fifty to three hundred pounds per annum, but the
chief source of their income, is derived from the de-

livery of public lectures. It is greatly to the credit
of this University that Protestants and Roman Ca-
tholics are admitted indiscriminately, and no in-
vidious distinctions are kept up between thorn, but
both are treated with equal impartiality. When will
Oxford and Cambridge adopt such a liberal system ?
We quote some particulars respecting Prince Albert
and his brother's residence at Bonn :
" The young Princes had, as the chief officer of a se-
lect household, conducted with the greatest order and
regularity, a German nobleman, who is represented to
have acquitted himself to their entire satisfaction. It
consisted of fifteen persons in all, including domestics,
and both brothers had conjointly a choice stud, in which
not only were several of the finest and best horses that
could be found in Germany, but also some excellent ape.
cimens of the English breed. In fact, Prince Albert's
establishment at Bonn, though limited in extent, yet
evincing, as it did, the true grace and dignity of exalted
rank, was, in all respects, suited to the position of an il-
lustrious personage, whom the very highest destinies
have since awaited.

" During the time required for completing the various
culinary and other arrangements, the table of the
Princes was supplied by Mr. Schmidt, of the Star hotel,
at Bonn, where many an epicure from all parts of
Europe, with a most fastidious taste and unaccommo-
dating palate, has involuntarily felt himself obliged to
admit that he had never before fared better in the whole
course of his travels. Far, very far, however, were the
two Princes of Coburg from indulging or cultivating any
such taste during the period of their residence here. On
the contrary, they had the character of setting an edify-
ing example of the greatest moderation and simplicity in
their repasts. Though they frequently gave costly ban-
quets to parties of between twenty and thirty students,
selected entirely for their personal worth and talents, and
without any regard to the circumstances of birth or
fortune, they themselves could hardly be said to partake
of the rare luxuries provided for the occasion, so rigidly
temperate were they both, and more especially Prince
Albert.
" The people of England were not a little surprised at
first, to hear that the Queen and the Royal Consort were
seen walking together at a very early hour on the morn-
ing of the very day after their marriage. But while at
Bonn, Prince Albert was particularly distinguished from
all the other students of the same rank, for the salutary
habit of early rising, one which he had uniformly per-
severed in from his boyhood, and therefore it is very
natural that he should have adhered to it after he had
come of age, whether in England or in any other coun-
try, and be likely to do so all the days of his life.
" At Bonn the Prince generally rose about half-past
five o'clock in the morning, and never prolonged his re-
pose after sin. From that hour up to seven in the even-
ing, he assiduously devoted his whole time to his studies,
with the exception of an interval of three hours, which
he allowed himself for dinner and recreation. At seven,
he usually went out, and paid visits to those individuals
'1
or families who were honoured with his acquaintance."

FATAL STEAM-BOAT COLLISION

OFF GREENWICH.

Another awful accident (an announcement of which
appeared in our Third Edition of Tuesday night)
involving the loss of two lives and the peril-
ling of many others, occurred on the river on Tues.
day afternoon, during the fog, by two steam-boats
coming into collision. The one is the Orwell, Itackharn
master, running from London to Ipswich, a steamer of
230 tons burthen, and 80-horse power, and the other is
the Sylph, Swaisland master, of 32-horse power, be-
longing to the Woolwich Steam-boat Company, and
plies between London and Weolvvich. In this terrible
contact, it appears, the vessels did not meet each other
stem to stem; but the Orwell, more than double the;size
and power of the other, encountered with her bows the
Sylph's broadside, about ten feet forward from the right
paddle-box, and, carrying that part of the vessel in, cut
through the fore cabin, and brought up on the opposite
side, nearly rending the ill-fated vessel in two.
Thus the yes: els lay for some minutes, the water
rushing into the wreck of the Sylph, and the only means
of escape for the passengers in the fore cabin being en-
tirely blocked up. When, however, the Orwell backed
astern, the Sylph was consequently inundated ; but her
water-tight compartments with which she was fitted,
which were not ruptured, kept her from going down
altogether; and when the water had drained into the
foremost bulkhead, the sternmost parts of the vessel,
including the engine-room, were afloat, and remained so
until she was towed ashore by the Witch, Young
master, another of the Woolwich Company's steam-
boats, when she then settled, and the tide flowed over
her, showing her funnel, at nine o'clock, about ten feet
above the water.

The details were with much difficulty elicited, neither
the parties on board the Orwell nor those of the Sylph
showing any great willingness to talk on the matter ;
but, as regards the crew of the Sylph, the sudden danger
which overwhelmed them, and their narrow escape from
destruction, had almost paralysed their faculties ; the
master fell into a state of stupor after the event, and the
crew knew nothing more than that they had to scramble
for their lives on board the Orwell and into the boats,
and finding them secure, they next turned their attention
to the salvation of the passengers. The statements by
each party as to the precise spot at which the accident
occurred are at variance ; but they will, doubtless, be
properly investigated at the coroner's inquest.
It appears that the Sylph was on her trip from Lon-
don to Woolwich. She landed passengers at Greenwich
and embarked others, and, with about thirty in all, at
two o'clock, in a dense fog, had left the pier at Green-
wich, and was standing out to the middle of the
River towards Black wall. They had just got outside the
vessels lying off Greenwich, and whilst opposite the
lower end of the Hospital Wharf, and proceeding
across from the southern or Greenwich side towards

the opposite shore, as her people allege, about the
middle of the River, the Orwell suddenly came upon
them with the terrific effects above related. One man
who was on board, and belonged to the Sylph, was in the
cabin at the time, taking the money. lie states that
there were eight or nine persons there, and hearing the
captain of the Sylph call out suddenly, " Ease her—
stop h ,r—run astern," in quick succession, he went on
deck just in time to witness the Orwell on board of them
He immediately jumped on board the Orwell, but seeing
that the Sylph did not sink, he returned to.thativessel to
render ail the assistance he could. Another of the crew
of the Sylph, who was at the wheel, saw just through the
fog the Orwell coming on board of them, and imme-
diately the bows cf the Orwell cut through the side of
the Sylph. He also scrambled on board the former vessel,
thinking the latter would sink, and, on recovering from
the fright, assisted in saving the passengers. The Orwell
lay across the bows of the Sylph, and the passengers
in the forward part of the vessel rushed on board the
Orwell on her larboard bow, and as many of the pas-
sengers aft as could reach her also got on board. A
great number of wateresen's boats had put off from
all the wharfs of Greenwich on hearing the tre-
mendous crash and the terrible shriek of the passengers
on board the vessels at the concussion, and re-
ceived as many of the crew and passengers as they
could get at, or who found their way to them. Some
passengers on board the Sylph, and the boatmen, then
begged the Orwell's people to go astern, and when they
did so, the water rushing into the cabin floated the bodies
of those out who had been there confined, the Sylph
lifting also when relieved of the weight. The scene
then was of the most heartrending description. The
poor creatures in the water were struggling to keep
afloat, and clutched at everything they fancied within
reach. Four women who thus floated out of the cabin
were secured. One of them had an infant in her arms,
and holding the infant, and at the same time grasping
the splinters of the wreck in the greatest possible human
agony, turned to the people with the most piteous sup.
plication, saying, " For God's sake, save me." Her
appeal was not made in vain, for she was saved and her
child too. In the meanwhile the crew, who had returned
to the Sylph, with the assistance of the crew of the Or-
well and the watermen, picked up two or three other
females, one of whom was hauled out of the cv bin by the
steersman ; and two children, floating on the water, were
also saved and taken on board the Orwell. Just as the
Orwell was coming on board, a woman was sitting on
the cabin skylight, and most probably owed her life to
one of the crew calling to her, " For God's sake, go aft.'
The Witch steamer, above alluded to, had passed the
Sylph just before the accident occurred, on her way from
Blackwall to Greenwich. She bad scarcely got to the
pier at the latter place, when those on board hoard the
crashing sound of the collision, and at the same moment
the, thrilling shrieks of those whose lives were jeopardised
pierced their ears through the thick mist. The master
having left the Orwell some distance astern in his pas-
sage from Blackwall, instantly guessed the reason of the
awful sounds and cries, and, landing his passengers in
the quickest time possible, was at the scene of the disaster.
By the time he arrived there the Orwell had run astern,
and had got clear of the wreck. The Sylph had sunk
forward, but her aftermost part still floated, the water
not having reached the midships nor aftermost bulk-
heads. She was lying across the river, and lots of boats
were round the vessel endeavouring to get out any bodies
which might have been in the fore-cabin, then under the
water. Eight persons had floated out of it and had been
secured. The Witch attached a tow-rope to the stern
of the Sylph and towed her ashore off Colechild's Wharf,
and while so doing the watermen hooked out two men
from the fore-cabin and continued groping for others.
When they got the Sylph ashore her afterpart was
then above water; but she gradually filled as she
grounded.

OF the passengers those who were so fortunate as to
get on board the Orwell, or to get into watermen's
boats, were landed at the opposite wharf, or at the pier ;
those who were taken out of the cabin and the water
were conveyed to different public-houses and the Dread-
nought, seamen's hospital-ship.
One of the men was dead when taken up, and his
death must have been caused by being jammed to the
side of the Sylph by the catwater of the Orwell. He
presented a shockingly-mutilated appearance. Over his
left temple was a gaping wound, laying open the skull
for nearly three inches ; his shoulder-bone was protrud-
ing ; the left arm was broken, his hands were crushed,
and his right thigh was shattered. It would seem that
he was putting on or had taken off a boot, as he had but
one on, and the stocking en his other foot was sound.
He was a man about 40 years of age, and was neither
claimed nor recognised fer some time. About half a
dozen duplicates were found OR him, bearing the name
of Shepheard, and Is. 6d. in silver. He wore a smock-
frock and corduroy breeches, with leather leggings. He
was taken to the Union public-house, where he lies
awaiting the coroner's inquest. It is said that ho was a
hawker, and lived in Kent-street, in the Borough.
The other poor fellow was evidently drowned. He
exhibited symptoms of animation when taken up, but
when he was brought on board the Dreadnought, at
forty minutes past two o'clock, every means was used to
restore sensibility, but without effect, and the body was
given up to the parish authorities at Greenwich, and
conveyed to the bone-house. His name is unknown ; he
was a labouring man, and apparently about thirty years
of age.

ADVENTURES OF AN OFFICER IN TIIE SERVICE OF
RUNJEET SINGIL—We are requested to state that Mr.
Colburn, of Great Marlborough-street, has this day pub-
lished " The Adventures of an Officer in the Service of
Runjeet Singh," by Major H. M. L. Lawrence, Bengal
Artillery, British Resident at the Court of Nepaul, in
2 vols., small Bvo., price 21s. bound, which can now be
had of all Booksellers. Mr. Colburn has also just pub-
lished the following new works :-2. " The Crescent and
the Cross," by Eliot Warburton, Esq., 2 vols., small
My all Bvo.
with numerous illustrations, 255. bound.-3.
Ad-
ventures," by Colonel Montgomery Maxwell, 1.H., 2
vols., small Bvo., with portraits, 21s. bound.--4." The
Nelson Letters and Dispatches," Vol. 1., 15s. hound.-5.
" A Journey Overland from India across the Desert,"
by Major and Mrs. G. Darby Griffith, 2 vols., small Bvo.,
with twenty-one illustrations, 21s. bound.-6. " The
Voyages and Services of the Nemesis in China," cheaper
edition, with maps and plates, 18s. bound.-7. "Reve-
lations of Russia," by an English Resident, 2 vols.,
small Bvo., with plates, 245. bound ; and, 8. " The
Comic Miscellany for 1845," by John Poole, Esq., Au-
thor of " Paul Pry," &c., in small Bvo., 10s. 6d. elegantly
bound.
EXPLOSION ON BOARD A SSRAVP.TIMINIEL.—Tuesday
morning some sensation was created in the vicinity
of Old Shades Pier, owing to an explosion having
taken place on board the Propeller, plying between
the latter place and Sheerness. The above vessel was
formerly worked with the Archimedian screw, but
about twelve months ago was altered into the old sys-
tem, with paddle-wheels, and has regularly plied be-
tween London and Sheerness. Yesterday morning,
shortly before her time of starting, the engineer, after
leaving the engine ready for proceeding on the jour-
ney, went on deck to speak to the captain ; he had
not left the engine-room two minutes before he heard
a load explosion from the latter place, followed
by an immense body of steam, which prevented
him from going below for some time. When the steam
had subsided he ascertained that the bottom of the
boiler, near the fire-box, had fallen out, owing to
some portion of the iron being in a rotten state.
The Propeller is built on the new system, with air-tight
bulk-heads, which fortunately prevented the steam from
entering the cabin and other parts of the vessel.
REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCE.—BOSTON, Nov. 23.
—We were informed yesterday by a fisherman, just in
from a cruise, that during his absence he had witnessed a
most singular phenomenon, the like of which has never
been known in this latitude. The smack in which he
vas had been unsuccessful, very few fish having been
taken, and on many of the old fishing-grounds not one
could be found. In returning along the south shore of
Long Island, their attention was attracted to the beach,
which was literally strewed with the bodies of dead
fish, just washed up by the sea. Black fish, cun-
ners, lobsters, and crabs, and many other species
which inhabit our shores at this season, lay promis-
ingly on the sand. On examining the well of the smack
it was discovered that the fish which they had taken
were also dead. As far as the shore was examined
eastward toward Montauk Point, it was found to be
covered alike with dead fish. We are also informed that
the smack Caroline, on Friday last, while about 15 miles
from land, passed through a " rip.' of the sea (formed by
adverse tides, we suppose), and that as far as could be
seen in either direction, the " rip" was filled with dead
fish. Soon after this the well of the smack was exa-
mined, and every fish in it found to be dead. These re-
markable facts require scientific investigation. Similar
phenomena have been observed in the Mediterranean
after a volcanic irruption ou some neighbouring moun-
tains ; and it is quite probable, we think, that the de-
struction to the finny tribe noticed above was caused by
a like irruption at sea near our coast.—American Paper.

Vie others were all females. Miss Williams, of
Woolwich, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Morris, and Mrs. Rennell,
wore supported to the Golden Anchor public-house,
where they fainted on arriving. They were put to bed,
and restoratives having been applied by Messrs. Appleton
and Downing, surgeons, they soon recovered. Their
friends arrived at the tavern for them, and at Woolwich
one or two had left, and the others were expected to
follow to their homes. To the Chest Tavern a female
was conveyed, slightly hurt, and at the Torbay Hotel a
woman and child were taken. The child was insensible,
but under care of a surgeon both recovered sufficiently
to be removed. On board the Dreadnought three
females were conveyed at twenty-five minutes past two,
named Maria Green, Rachel Tustin, and Esther
Sullivan. They were put to bed, and the two latter
left the ship as soon as their clothes were dry. Mrs.
Green, up to two hours after the accident, had bewailed
the loss of her infant ; but, to her great joy, which
mothers only can truly estimate, it was restored to her
in safety. This poor woman received a blow on her
face, but she was well enough to quit the Dreadnought
at night.
The master of the Orwell states tbmt he anchored at
Sea-reach on Monday night, in consequence of the weather,
and that he came slowly up the river the next day; that he
was on the northern side of the river, which was his
right course, and that the Sylph was going across the
river at the time of the accident, probably to feel her
way down to Blackwell by the northern shore. The
Orwell was as close to that shore as her safety would
admit, and if the Sylph had headed the Orwell she must
have run aground. He saw the Sylph, when within 100
yards, and called out to stop the engines ; but the Sylph
drawing so rapidly towards him, with the way on the
Orwell, they could not prevent the collision. As soon as
the accident took place the master of the Orwell took off
his eoat, and, with his crew, rendered every assistance in
their power to preserve life and property.
The Orwell went alongside the Greenwich Pier,
landed her passengers, who proceeded thence to their
respective destinations, and also landed her cargo. She
started yesterday for Ipswich, but the master remains
on account of the expected coroner's inquest. The Or-
well has sustained no damage.
It was expected that the tide would leave the Sylph
dry at low water, at midnight, when it would bo ascer-
tained if any more bodies were in the cabin. In all
probability, however, all who were there have been ac-
counted for.
This sad accident drew a great number of persons to
Greenwich from Woolwich, Blackwell, and London, to
make inquiries after their friends, and up to a late hour
at night the wharfs opposite the wreck were crowded
with people.

1.4° Alderman nodded sagaciously, as who should say,
Zery good home, too l'
Vvh° I say this to serve
.Mir cause!" cried. Fern,
bkk 0 can give me back my liberty, who can give met
tlibt,„l", Y good name, who can give me back
wide
innocent
lint" I Not all the Lords and Ladies in wide England..
tee, ktentlernon, gentlemen, dealing with other men like
ot;:egin at the right end. Give us, in mercy,
.better
bett,,s4 when we're a laying in our cradles ; give us
kitt-tirfood when we're a working for our lives ; give us
d el ILWs to bring us back when we're a going wrong;
%on `4oll't set gaol, gaol, gaol, afore us, every where we
tsb,;„ There ain't a condescension you can show the
'rer then, that he won't take, as ready and as
Rllli tkrul
as a man can be ; for he has a patient, peaceful,
'6141 neut. But you must put his rightful spirit in
tgs, ; for whether he's a wreck and ruin, such as
tpih.;• is like one of them that stand here now, his
41;; tg divided from you at this time. Bring it back,
entb7folks, bring it back I Bring it back, afore the day
ande,l when even his Bible changes in his altered mind,
tiitt,,"le words seem to him to read, as they have some-
-I:read in my own eyes—in gaol : Whither thou
lode,; Can Not go ; where thou lodgest, I do Not
`404
; thy people are Not my people ; Nor thy God
,4
'Zl.—:)sudden stir and agitation took place in the Hall.
the WO thought at first, that several had risen to eject
114 t
.; and hence this change in its appearance.
411 ilaillOther moment showed him that the room and
hit de company had vanished from his sight, and that
I3ytaughter was again before him, seated at her work.
ut
k 0 Li • Poorer. meaner garret than before ; and with
hail by her side.

77iACTARIANISlif NOT OF GOD.
h; Longman, London, 1844.
tt,th 4 preface to this volume of Sermons, the
°-, the Rev. C. Taylor, of Chester, thus strongly
"41:111.4611 himself on the subjeet of the Travtarien

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 19 1844.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Tuesday afternoon the utmost sensation was created
along the rater-side and at the various steam-boat piers
along the river, in consequence of one of those unfortu-
nate collisions which, though common on the other side
of the Atlantic, are of rare occurrence in this country.
The ill-fated beat which has suffered by the event is the
Sylph, belonging to the Old Woolwich Steam-boat Com-
pany ; the one which has been the cause is the Orwell,
belonging to the Ipswich Company. From the meagre
particulars which the reporter has been able to obtain, it
appears that about half-past two, or from that to three
o clock, the Sylph started from London-bridge Wharf
for Greenwich and Woolwich; at London-bridge she took
on board 24 passengers; on her arrival at the Thames-
tunnel she took in 10; and with this number of passengers
she proceeded on her course to Greenwich. On proceeding
down the river the heavy fog which had hung over the
metropolis during the morning, had not departed from
the river, and, as the boat neared Greenwich, the den-
sity of the fog was so great as scarcely to permit the
captain to see a boat's length before him. From some
cause, which at present remains unexplained, the Sylph,
it appears, was on the north or Middlesex side of the
shore, and was in the act of crossing for the pier at
Greenwich, when a large vessel was seen close to her.
The captain of the Sylph instantly cried out " Stop her ;
go astern ;" which commands were promptly attended
to, but too late ; for the next instant a tremendous crash
was heard, and in an instant the fore-cabin of the Sylph
was filled with water, and, melancholy to relate, not one
individual in that part of the boat has escaped. So in-
stantaneous was the collision that it was impossible to
give any alarm to the passengers. Those on deck for-
tunately escaped. The statement of Captain S. Wrack-
ham, the commander of the Orwell, as connected with
this melancholy event, is to the following effect :—The
Orwell was due at five o'clock on Monday evening, but
on corning up the river, and when on the other side of
Gravesend, the fog was so heavy that it was found neces-
sary to cast anchor. About nine o'clock on Tuesday
morning she heaved her anchor, but in consequence
of the continuance of the fog, she came up the river
at a very slow rate. Between one and two o'clock she
was off Woolw ich, and was two hours making the distance
from that point to Greenwich. When off the latter
place the Sylph was making for the pier, and, it being
high tide, she was under the necessity of going at her
full speed. In crossing from the north to the south shore
the Orwell came in sight of the Sylph, when the pilot,
whose name is Wiggens, being at the wheel of the Or-
well, seeing the danger which the smaller boat was in,
called out, " Stop her ; ease her," and the Orwell was
backed three turns astern. Unfortunately, the Sylph
was not able to clear herself ; for, although the backing
took place, she was struck in the fore-sponson, or in
front of the paddle-box on the larboard side, and in-
stantly filled, the figure-head of the Orwell coming
across the deck of the Sylph. The cries and shrieks of
the unfortunate passengers were truly alarming ' • but
before any aid could be rendered the Sylph pitched head
downwards. The crew and passengers of the Orwell
rendered every assistance, and dragged several of the ill-
fated passengers through the aperture which had been
made ; but for this, the loss of human life must have
been much greater. At the time of writing the
account the actual number of persons lost could not be
ascertained, but there is no doubt that the number
stated—viz., seventeen, is, unfortunately, within the
mark, for before Captain Wrackham left nine bodies had
been recovered, consisting of men, women, and children,
most, or all of whom are supposed to belong to Green-
wich, Woolwich, and its vicinity. None of the bodies
at the time they were found were identified. Captain
Wrackham states, that had he come up at full speed,
he must have run completely over the Sylph and sunk
her ; had this occurred, not a single life would have
escaped to tell the particulars of this deplorable ac-
cident. _ _ _

TURN-OUT of the COAL-MINERS

OLDHAM, TUESDAY.—The miners at nearly all the
collieries in Oldham and the neighbourhood absented
themselves from their work on Monday morning,
having turned out for the purpose of procuring an
advance of wages of 3d. in the shilling: for shaft
mining, besides the extra allowances of 3d. per cwt.
for short quarters, and 4d. per cwt. for long quar-
ters. Between Saturday evening, when the fortnight's
notice expired, and Monday morning, a few of the
employers acceded to the terms proposed b,y the turn-
outs, namely, Messrs. Brideoake's, of Union Ground
colliery, and Mr. Abraham Lees, of Oldham Edge
colliery.: Messrs. Alexander Collinge, J. Mills, and
a few small colliery proprietors, at and near Sholver
and Shore Edge, are said to have come to a satisfac-
tory understanding with their men on such terms as
will yield a fair proportion of advance when compared
with the Oldham prices. The very large number of
miners in the employment of Messrs. Lees, Jones, and
Co.; Joseph Jones, jun., and Co.; and Barker, Evans,
and Co., are our, but they have received intimation
that an answer will be given to-morrow (Wednesday)
as to what course these firms will pursue in reference
to the demands of the men. The strike has extended
to the collieries of Messrs. Jesse Ainsworth, Pit
Bank ; Job Lees, North Gate and Moor Field ; and
Harry Bentley, Barrowshavv ; but these parties are
endeavouring to bring about an arrangement. The
miners in the employ of Mr. 'William Wrigley, of
Low Side, have likewise struck work. The entire
number of turn-outs, including boys as well as men,
will not be far from 1,000. A large meeting of the
coal miners and other operatives, " to lay before the
public the various grievances existing between them
and their employers," had been announced to take
place on Monday afternoon, in the open air on Curzon-
ground, but was ultimately held in the Working -men's
Hall, Horsedge-road, a spacious, well-arranged build-
ing, not quite completed. The number of individuals
present appeared to be about twelve hundred.

A miner, of tho name of Benjamin liaw•ksworth,
was called to the chair.

The proceedings commenced by the singing of the
miners' hymn.
A miners' delegate, of the name of PARKINSON,
from the county of Durham, addressed the meeting.
He remarked that on the employment of the miners
depended the existence of many other trades ; and as
to the masters, they were reckless, money-amassing
monopolists. Ile was informed that, in Oldham, the
masters had several times advanced the price of coal
without giving any advance whatever to the men.
Another miners' delegate, of the name of Em-
DLETON, from Newcastle-on-Tyne, next addressed the
meeting. He felt convinced the operatives would be
crushed if they did not effectually combine to protect
the interests of their trade.

The ill fated vessel, the Sylph, was only built last
spring, and was an iron boat, being built on the newest
principle ; she was divided into three compartments--
the fore part, including the fore-cabin, the engine-house,
and after part ; each of these are completely water-tight,
and although one portion may be struck and knocked in,
yet the other portions cannot be effected by the water ;
and from this circumstance alone is to be attributed the
saving of some of the passengers, for the instant she
filled the stern rose out of the water, and to that part all
the passengers on deck rushed, where they clung hold of
the seats, sides, &c., until rescued from their perilous
situation. The Sylph was of about 50 tons' burden, while
the Orwell is of 150 tons, having twu engines of 40-horse
power, and has been under the command of the present
captain (who, for skill and attention, bears a very high
character) for about three years.

A miner of the name of HARRIS, who spoke some
time, asserted that the American slaves were better
treated than the miners of England ; but they were
determined, at all risks, to be better paid for their
labour than they had hitherto been. He con-
cluded by moving a resolution to the effect, " That, in
the opinion of the meeting, the miners of Oldham had
been grossly oppressed by their employers, and that
the meeting pledged itself to do all in its power to
protect the miners in their struggles to gain their
rights."
A miner of the name Of ROBERT WHITWORTH se-
conded the motion.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
From an inspection of the wreck of the Sylph, several
ccnversations with parties on board at the time, and
other persons who were witnesses of the accident, the
reporter has gleaned the following particulars :
It appears, that as the Orwell was coming at a rapid
rate towards London the Sylph had just left the pier at
Greenwich for her destination at Woolwich. At that
time the fog was very thick upon that portion of the
Thames, and before the necessary alarm could be given
or fully understood, the cutwater of the Orwell caught
the smaller vessel and stove her in, literally cutting her
to pieces. At the moment this happened there were on
board the usual crew, consisting of captain, steersman,
engineer, stoker and assistants, a few persons on
deck, and about twenty passengers in the cabin. Their
shrieks were most appalling, being heard all along the
shore as far as Greenwich Pier. The vessel which was
struck was seen to reel most frightfully, and it was in-
stantly discovered by the watermen lying off the quay
that she was filling fast. Numerous boats were at once
unmoored and pushed off, and by the time they came
alongside several persons were struggling in the water.
Fortunately, by the praiseworthy exertions of the water-
men, the crew were saved, as were also five or six other
persons, including four women and an infant child.
In the ease of the mother and her infant, not seven
months old, the most piteous scene presented
itself—the mother battling with the waves, and
stretching out her arms, as in piteous suppli-
cation,:tovvards her child, which had escaped from her
arms in the struggle between life and death. By an ex-
traordinary effort on the part of two men, named William
Brown and Joseph Facey, belonging to Ship-stairs, in
their boats, both were happily saved. In a few mo-
ments the body of a man, frightfully mutilated, but to
appearance still alive, rose to the surface. This being
hauled into one of the boats, was immediately conveyed
to the Dreadnought Hospital-ship ; but the poor fellow
ceased to breathe a few minutes after he was received
there. Next appeared another man, dreadfully crushed,
and apparently quite dead. He was brought ashore, and
taken into the Union public-house, opposite the part of
the river where the accident occurred. Three women,
who were taken out of the water, were conveyed to the
Crown and Anchor public-house ; and Mr. Appleton,
surgeon, being sent for, their contusions were attended
to, and warm baths and beds provided without delay by
the humane landlord and landlady. From the statement
of one of the sufferers, who was sitting by the fire-place
in the cabin at the time of the collision, it appears that
there were about twenty below at the time of the oc-
currence, and that several ran upstairs the instant after-
wards, the water rushing violently through the apertur
made by the force of the concussion. Two men were
thrown violently on the flour of the cabin, and the vessel
instantly capsized.

DIXON, of Manchester, then made a lengthy
speech, in which he remarked, that such was the in-
fluence of wealth, such the power of their oppressors,
the coal kings, that it was an easy matter to get
penny-a-liners to write all manner of hard things
against the poor colliers; the very parties who had
preached up the doctrine, that wages were regulated
by the principle of supply and demand, were those
who turned against the operative the very moment he
began to put these principles into practice. The coal
proprietors had been induced to advance the price of
coals through what the lying press had said, that the
miners were united for the purpose of imposing high
prices on the public.
Other speeches were made, and the proceedings
concluded by the appointment of a Committee to
effect the purposes of the turn-out.

TILE NORTH BRITISH RAILIVAT.—This under•
taking is advancing rapidly in the neighbourhood of
Berwick-on-Tweed. The excavations having been
commenced in the Duke of Northumberland's property
adjoining the town, should the weather, during the
winter, bo at all moderate, this section of the cutting is
likely to be completed by March or April. In a circular
issued from the Directors' office in Edinburgh, on the
6th instant, we observe it stated " that the works on the
main line will have all been let to respectable contractors
at prices considerably under the estimate, that they are
progressing in a very rapid and satisfactory way, and
th lt they have every reason to think they will be com-
pleted, and the line opened, within the stipulated period,
viz., by Ist May, 1846."—Berwick Advertiser.

On Saturday we had the wind from the south, and
a little mildness in the air. Yesterday a gentle and
pleasant thaw came on with a brilliant sun, which was
very grateful to all. This day the mildness continues,
and there seems every probability that the frost, at
least for the present, has passed away. It is very
curious that though all France and England have been
visited by this severe weather, it has not approached the
south of Ireland, where rhododendrons are in full bloom
in the open air.—Boulogne Gazette.

DEATH FROM COLD.—Betwixt Saturday night
and Sabbath morning last, an aged female was dis-
covered lying in a corner at the end of Riccarton-bridge,
in a state of inanimation ; and, on an attempt being
made to arouse her, it was discovered that she was dead.
She had a daughter's house to go to ; and when seen
wandering about on the Saturday evening, she was ad-
vised to go home, and shelter herself from the incle-
mency of the weather ; but whatever object she had in
view, she continued her peregrinations, which had such
a fatal termination. The name of the deceased was
Crump.—Kilmarnock Journal.
BURT.—On Monday afternoon last, the bellman
went through the principal streets of lleywood, staling
that a meeting of factory operatives and others would
be held at eight o'clock that night, at the Star Inn,
Market-place. The meeting was accordingly held,
when delegates from Rochdale and other places were in
attendance, and requested the factory hands at Heywood
to give a fortnight's notice of their intention to leave
their employment unless they received an advance of
wages. 'l'he hands at some few places have already
given this notice.
A MARRIED WOMAN CONCEALING THE BIRTH OF A
CnlLD.—Within the last week the body of a newly-born
infant was discovered in an outhouse at Leytonstono,
and it was ultimately traced to belong to a young woman
married only about seven weeks ago, and who resides
at the above place. A warrant has been issued for her
apprehension, but not having recovered from her con-
finement, two of the police remain in the house till she
is well enough to be removed to undergo an examina-
tion before the county magistrates. Cambridge Ad-
vertiser.

We are requested to state, that a paragraph which
appeared in our last paper, copied from the Perthshire
Courier, having reference to the sale of the estates of
the late Lord Lyndoch in Perthshire, is incorrect in
several places. The sales of Lynedoch and Balgowan,
to Messrs. Simpson and Thomson, are made by Mr.
Graham of Balgowan, not by the trustees of Lord Lyne-
doch, and are conditional sales, dependent upon Mr.
Graham's power to sell, which is disputed by the heirs
of entail, and will form a question in the courts of law.
—Edinburgh Advertiser.

NOVEL IMPORTATION INTO SCOTLAND. Last
week the Helen Scott, of Kincardine, reached the Nith
direct from Montreal, laden with Canadian wheat, flour,
barley, oatmeal, and peas—the first arrival of the kind,
as far as we know, hitherto reported in Scotland. The
cargo on board, with the addition of a lining of boards
and staves, has been consigned to Mr. Beveridge, baker,
miller, and flour dealer, Maxwell-town, and will be fol-
lowed by others, should the venture realise the hopes of
the exporter. The different articles will pay the altered
rate of duties set forth in the Act of last session,
♦ia., 6d. on barley and peas, Is. 2d. per cwt. on oatmeal,
and Is 6d. per quarter on oats. The flour, we under-
stand, is remarkably fine.—Drumfries Courier.
DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.—We have this week
to announce the death of the oldest inhabitant of Brigh-
ton. Mr. Edward King, residing at 2, Kensington-
gardens, died on Friday, in his hundredth year, having
about a month previously completed his 99th year. Mr.
King was a clerk in the Middle-street Brewery before
the time even of the late Mr. William Wigney, and con-
tinued in the counting-house till he was nearly 86 years
old, discharging his duties with accuracy and fidelity.
About twenty years ago he retired from Messrs. Wig-
ney's service on a pension, which Mr. George Wigney
paid up to the day of the centenarian's death. Mr. King
was a man of great integrity, and enjoyed the esteem of
all who had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with
his worth.—Brighten Guardian.

METROPOLITAN luntovinastas.--Tuesday some
houses situated in Alie-street, Goodman's-fields, and in
Wentworth-street, Whitechapel, were sold by auction,
to be cleared away for the site of the new street, from
Spitalfields Church to the London Dock. There is now
a direct communication the whole distance, about 200
houses haying been disposed of for the purpose.
SHOCKING SUICIDE ON A RAILWAY.—OH Sunday
night, shortly before the train which leaves Manchester
for Birmingham at a quarter past six o'clock, had
reached Wilmslow station, it passed over something on
the rails, which afterwards proved to be the body of a
young woman, about twenty-eight years of age. It ap-
pears, from inquiries subsequently made, that her name
was Elizabeth Frith ; that she had left her home, at

Audley, in Staffordshire, a day or two before, and had
since been wandering about, apparently uncertain as to
her movements. Just before the passing of the train,
she had placed herself across the rails, being in a state
of insanity ; but nothing was known of it till after the
accident took place. An inquest was held on the body
at Wilmslow, en Monday night, before Mr. Roscoe,
coroner, when the jury returned a verdict to the effect
that she had " placed herself across the rails while in a
state of insanity, and was then and there killed." She
was struck by the buffer, and one of her legs was nearly
taken off. She died almost immediately. It was stated
that she had had a severe attack of illness the spring
before last, and a renewal of it last spring, which is sup-
posed to have impaired her intellect.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
?Ron THE EVENING PAPERS OF TEsti;.ttplY.
GLOBE.—Mr. Justice Coleridge, in the course of'
his charge to the Durham Grand Jury on Monday
last, made some strong remarks on the general mode
of arranging the jury lists, which will, we trust, lead
to an early improvement of the present system. His
Lordship alluded to the exemption—by a custom
which is unsanctioned by the law—of persons placed
on the special jury-list from serving on common
juries. When the heavy pecuniary expenses in-
curred by a residence of several days in an assize
town, at a time when the price of food and lodging is
increased by the influx of strangers, joined to the in-
convenience and loss to which the small farmer or
tradesman is subjected by being removed from his
avocation, are considered, the injustice of placing this
combination of inconvenience and loss on those least
able to sustain it, becomes obvious. As if to en-
hance the unfairness of the system, the special jury-
man is paid a guinea in every cause he serves
nn ; while the common juryman receives only eight-
pence in every civil cause on which he is sworn,
and nothing in criminal cases. The distinction is
manifestly unfair, and pointedly invidious and
ought to be abolished. " The gentry," said Mr.
Justice Coleridge, " to use a common term, never
serve on common juries." To be sure they do not.
If, through inadvertence or mistake, the officer of
the county has summoned one of the privileged
orders on the common jury, he regards it as a per-
sonal indignity—an affront to his rank and sta-
tion. We have occasionally witnessed the manifes-
tation of wounded pride with which one of the
" gentry" will address the Court, and plead exemp-
tion from serving on the common jury, on the ground
of his name being on, or his quality giving it a right
to be on, the special jury list. The claim has been
allowed—rather in compliance with custom than
in conformity with law. Mr. Justice Coleridge has
openly declared that the custom is " unsanctioned by
law." His Lordship has also pointed out the injury
inflicted on the administration of public justice by
the practice, as well as the inequitable distribution of
the inconvenience and expense of serving on juries,
which it entails :—" If the special juryman, said
his Lordship, " had no right to be exempted from
serving on common juries, he was enjoying
a privilege at the expense of his poorer neigh-
bour without the sanction of the law. In addi-
tion to numerous other reasons, he could not help
thinking that it would be desirable, in many cases of
an intricate character, that there should be a little
more intellect upon the common juries than was at
present always to be had; and he thought, therefore,
it was absolutely necessary that the common juries
should be drawn from the whole jurors' list of the
county." If individuals of a certain class be sum-
moned to serve on a special jury, that service is inci-
dental. It is additional to the general obligation which
ought to be shared in common by all those whose names
are on the jury-list. It is therefore made the subject of
special provision. The richer suitors choose to have
their cause tried by a jury chosen from a superior
class of society; and he pays for his preference. The
special juryman receives his guinea for the special
service he has been called upon to give—not to the
public justice of the country, so much as to the pre-
ference of the party who thinks proper to have his
cause made " a special jury cause." Mr. Justice
Coleridge also alluded to the frequent lack
of intellectual competency in jurymen. " Ile could
not help thinking it would be very desirable, in
many cases of an intricate character, that there should
be a little more intellect upon common juries than
was at present to be had." To obtain this increase
of intellect, the Learned Judge " thought it was
absolutely necessary that the common jurors should
be drawn from the whole jurors' list of the county."
It is only necessary to enter a court of
justice—whether of civil or criminal juris-
diction—in an agricultural district, to induce a
cordial concurrence in Mr. Justice Coleridge's
remark. The clodpoles who are often to be
seen in the jury-box, on whose verdict the
property, the character, the liberty, possibly the life,
of an individual may depend—but whose vacant stare
during the proceedings evinces a lamentable lack of
ability to understand the evidence, or their duty with
reference to it—exhibit the danger, no less than the
indecorum, of the existing system. Trial by jury is
valuable because of the protection it affiards to the li-
berty and property of the subject. But, to secure its effi-
ciency, juries must understand their duties. Ignorance
may prove as mischievous as corruption. If the common
jurors were drawn indiscriminately " from the whole
jury-list of the county," there would be an infusion of
instructed mind into the constitution of juries, which
would give dignity and efficiency to the administration
of the law. "The glorious privilege of Englishmen,
trial by jury," is often on the lips of men who, most
inconsistently, shrink from taking their fair share of
the duties connected with the privilege. To this in-
consistency may be traced the deplorable incompe-
tency of the juries in many parts of England, and
universally in Wales. Let the " gentry" no longer
shun the common jury-box, as a place in which it is
beneath their station to be found; and their humbler
fellow-citizens will, by their aid, become more com-
petent for the duties of jurymen. The reproach which
is occasionally cast upon the most valuable institution
of the country will then cease.
STANDARD.—Mr. Thomas Attwood, of Bir-
mingham, and the Morning Post have clubbed their
geniuses to demonstrate a fact which has hitherto, we
believe, escaped the observation of all other persons
—namely, the fact that there is no such thing as rent
in England. The demonstration is somewhat tedious
and a little perplexed ; but here is the propositum
laid down in the very words of our morning Contem-
porary :—" We insert in another column a letter
from Mr. Thomas Attwood, on the subject of the an-
nihilation of rent in England—a result which we
lately attempted to show has been virtually ef-
fected by the action of Sir Robert Peel's recent
industrial policy, combined with the action of his
deadly Currency Bill." As we have said, the de-
monstration of Messrs. Attwood and the Morning Post
is tedious and somewhat perplexed, and therefore we
decline the task of replying to it in detail, which
would involve the previous task of unravelling it ;
and we avoid the labour the more willingly, be-
cause there is, we think, not only abundance of evi-
dence patent to all, as well as a vast body of wit-
nesses easily produceable, to prove that there is still
lingering a remnant of rent in this ruined country.
If we wanted to convince a stranger upon this
point, we should lead him from Leadenhall•street,
ma Cornhill, Cheapside, Ludgate-street, Ludgate-hill,
Fleet-street, Strand, Charing-cross, Haymarket,
Piccadilly, Regent-street, and so on to Portlind-
place, a promenade, say, of about two miles, in the
course of which he would see exposed for sale by re-
tail, more goods in value and amount than are in all
the cities of all the world beside, and then we should
remind him that all this vast amount of property was
held out to tempt a class of the community said to
be rentless, for as the Leaguers admit that they, as
manufactures, are only "summer birds" (hoarse
anti-corn Crakes), all the goods exposed for sale
on the 18th of December must be intended for some
persons deriving their means of purchase, directly
or indirectly, from the land. In the same pro-
menade the stranger would no doubt see, if the time
were between four and six P.M., more n 1. erous
and more splendid equipages than all th- • d
muster, and at least nine out of ten of ta -s
would belong to the class said to be re e
of the classes immediately dependent as.
This is patent proof that there still lin: . nt
of rent in England. And let us, by the' • • , take
leave to remark that we have offered precis•ly this
same proof before to the Leaguers, when they
pretended, with about as much truth as Mr. Attwood
and the Morning Post new advance their paradox,
that the retail traders have no interest in supporting
the landed interest, as certainly they would have none
were rent annihilated. But this proof that rent
survives, though as obvious and satisfactory as
that of the philosopher who proved the possibility
of motion by walking across the floor, is not in direct
terms, and therefore we shall call a witness above ex-
ception—a gentleman known to the whole country,
and deservedly respected for talents and integrity by
all who know him ; agentleman, moreover, whose com-
petency to give evidence upon the point every one
must admit. Our witness is George Robins, Esq.,
who has probably transferred more landed property
than any other man ever did. Well, Mr. Robins ;
you frequently in a day sell three or four hundred
thousand acres—do these acres pay any rent; and if
not, what consideration do you offer for the 301. or
40/. per acre that you not unfrequently obtain for the
seller ? We will abide by the answer of Mr. George
Robins. We might produce a score or more highly
respectable gentlemen, extensively, engaged in the
same lini of business, but one of a class is suffi-
cient. We next request the evidence of the Commis-
sioners of Property-tax. We would respectfully
ask of these gantlemen, from what funds do they
suppose the landowners have been able to
pay the millions that they have pain within
the last two years ? But next, we have,
indeed, a crowd of witnesses, honest and
hearty fellows, but a little boisterous in mirth or
anger, and not likely to be put into the best of
humours by offering it as a doubtful question,
whether there is any such a thing as rent ? Let the
hearer prepare his ears for such a roar as never
before greeted them, when the question is put to
the farmers, " Is there any such thing as rent ?"
That shout is decisive ; but, indeed, we need not go
beyond the Morning Post's own article for proof of
the ludicrous absurdity of its proposition. " Can
landowners afford to hand over to the mortgagee
the last acre of their possessions ?" asks our Con-
temporary ; but if its proposition that the land
affords no rent be true, the question ought to be,
can " mortgagees afford to take the land off the
hands of its owners," paying or sacrificing a loan
at the same time. There may be concerns, perhaps
the Morning Post knows something of such, that

no prudent man would purchase at any price,
or even accept as a gift ; we take it that
hind affording no rent is one of ti; se concerns.
But why should rent be annihilated? The
average price of the quarter of wheat is this t'Lly 48s.
.sd. The average price of the quarter of wheit this
day ten years was 415., this day nine years 368.; st:
that the quarter of wheat is now worth is. in money
more than it was ten years ago, 12s. in money more
than its price nine years ago—through what leak is it,
then, that rents have disappeared ? The population
has augmented one-seventh within the ten years;
and, as no more foreign corn has been imported, nor
are the people much worse fed than ten years ago,
rent, instead of disappearing;
must have increased
in pretty much the same 0 00,
unless the cost
.
of cultivation has become grealrr; but every
outlay
improvement in agriculture, every additl<
of capital upon land, renders the cost of ctilu::atien
much less, and it is notorious that many improft.:4-
ments have been effected in agriculture since 1834,
and that much capital has been laid out upon land'.
Must we then not, however reluctant to oppose such-
high authorities, come to the conclusion that Messrs.
Thomas Attwood and the Morning Post are mistaken,
and that rents are not yet either actually or virtually
annihilated.

LA W INTELLIGENCE.
PRIVY COUNCIL, Dec. 18.
THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF GUERNSEY.
The Committee of the Privy Council for the affairs of
Guernsey and Jersey sat to-day, at the Council-office
Whitehall, for the purpose of hearing the further argu-
ments in the part-heard ease with respect to the course
pursued by the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey.
Mr. WADDINGTON resumed his arguments on behalf
of the Crown, and in support of the Lieutenant-Go-
vernor; and occupied their Lordships the whole morning.
The Learned Counsel i-as ing concluded,
Mr. BURGE proceeded ;o reply, but not having con-
cluded when their Lords! ips rose, the further considera-
tion of the case was adjourned till Friday at ten o'clock.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Dec. 18.
(Before Sir J. WIGRAM.)
his HONOUR was engaged hearing motions, the argu-
ments on one of them alone occupying the whole morn-
ing. It was a motion for an injunction of the Court to
restrain a glove-maker named Thompson from infring-
ing a patent possessed by the plaintiff for cutting-out
pieces of leather used in glove-making, of a triangular
shape, called fourchetfes, which are inserted between the
finger-pieces. This patent, it was alleged, Mr. Thomp-
son had invaded ; the affidavits were numerous, and se-
veral cuttings of Pother were produced as exhibits. On
the part of the deft•naa,at it was contended that there was
no novelty in the invention, and that it was not such a
patent as could be infringed.
His HoNotrn directed that the plaintiff be at liberty to
bring an action at law to establish his right as patentee,
the motion to stand over till the decision of the com-
mon-law court should be obtained. The defendant
could, of ceurse, apply to the Court in case the plaintiff
should not proceed at common law.

COURT 01 QUEEIV'S BENCH; .Dec. 18.
:Sittings at Nisi Prius at the Guildhall, be-fore Lord
DEsmAN and London Special Juries.)
HAYNE V. RHODES AND OTHERS.

This was an action against Messrs. Rhodes, Beauvoir,
and Lane, of Chancery-lane, to recover compensation in
damages for an alleged negligence of their duties as.at-
torneys, by which the plaintiff had been induced to ad-
vance 6001. upon insufficient security.

Mr. BALL opened the pleadings.
WATSON, in opening the case for the plaintiff,
said, that in the year 1839 the plaintiff had seen an ad-
vertisement for a secretary to some new formed com-
pany, and had, in consequence, applied to a Mr. George
Ross, who informed him that he was projector of a new
company for the improvement of Holborn, and
that the secretary to the new company would have
a salary of 400/., which office the plaintiff should have
on condition of his advancing to Ross 600/., for the pur-
pose of forming the company, Ross undertaking to give
security for the return of the 6001. in the event of the
company not being formed. The security proposed was
a reversionary interest, which Ross alleged he possessed
in a certain freehold estate at Tittenhall, in Somerset-
shire. The plaintiff employed the defendants as his
attorneys in the transaction, and advanced the 6001. to
Ross upon the proposed security. The company was
not formed, and when the plaintiff attempted to have re-
course to his security, it was discovered that it was
valueless, inasmuch as the estate in question had been
disposed of to the person now in possession before the
date of the conveyance to Ross.
Evidence having been called to prove the plaintiff's
Case,
Mr. PLATT (with whom was Mr. Peacock), on the
part of the defendants, took various technical objections
to the pleadings, which proved fatal, and
Lord DENMAN directed the plaintiff to be nonsuited.