The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-31 00:00:00

MEETING IN BIRMINGHAM.

TUESDAY EVENING, FIVE O'CLOCK. —Since Mr. Dun-
combe's disclosures in the House of Commons respecting the
Grahamising, as it is termed here, of the letters passing
through the Post-office, the utmost desire has prevailed
amongst the working classes to pay that gentleman a tri-
bute of respect for his conduct in bringing to light what is
deemed by all as a most gross violation of those rules which
ought to govern so important a branch of our national esta-
blishments as that of the Post-office. With a view to carry
out their feelings, a committee of working men was ap-
pointed last week to make the necessary arrangements, and
they obtained the use of the Town-hall, and the consent of
Thomas Weston, Esq., Mayor, that he would preside on the
occasion of a public meeting to receive Mr. Duncombe. To-
day was accordingly fixed for the meeting, and at one o'clock
the Mayor took the chair, amidst very great cheering, which
lasted for some time.

The MAYOR explained the object of the meeting, and
paid the working classes some high compliments for their
conduct. _ _

Mr. CLARKE came forward to move the first resolution,
and in doing so, said they were met that day to do honour
to the man who had presented a petition signed by three
millions and a half of the men of England—the man who
had in fact proved himself the greatest friend they ever had
in the House of Commons. They were assembled to do
honour to that man who, above all others, had done more
towards exposing the oppressions of the labouring classes in
the House of Commons than any other man who now occu-
pies a seat in that House. They honoured Mr. buncombe
not because he was more honest than he ought to be ; but
now that they had so few honest men in the House of Corn •
mons, they ought to appreciate the man who had courage to
come forward as Mr. buncombe had done. He had nobly,
he had' honestly done his duty ; and he (Mr. Clarke) felt
great pleasure in proposing the following resolution :—" That
we, the inhabitants of Birmingham, in town meeting assem-
bled, having with inexpressible pleasure the presence
amongst us of Thomas Slingsby buncombe, Esq., M.P.,
take this opportunity of thanking him in person for the
manner in which he has advocated the cause of the persecuted of
any class or country, but particularly for the services which
he has rendered the working and industrious millions of this
empire by strangling that monstrous specimen of tyranny,
the Masters and Servants' Bill, and for his conduct in bring-
ing to light the most disgraceful act of which the honesty
of our country speaks—namely, the opening of letters in her
Majesty's Post-office, which department, we consider, ought
to be held as sacred as the innermost recess of the closet of pH.-
vacy. And wefurther hope that Mr. Duncombe will not rest
satisfied until there is a full and public exposure of all the
circumstances connected with this most most disgraceful
transaction."
Mr. DUFFY seconded the resolution, attacking the Bir-
mingham Whigs for not having joined the working classes
at the late election, when Mr. Sturge was candidate for that
borough. But they might depend upon it the people had
taught the Whigs a lesson which they would never forget.
They would keep this party down now they were down, and
never, until they came forward in favour of the great bject
of the people's affections, would they receive the support of
the masses.

Mr. DUNC(DIB, then came forward, and was re-
ceived with great cheering, which lasted a long time. He
said the Mayor had told him the more he saw of the people
of Birmingham, the more he respected them. Now, he. (Mr.
Duncombe) could assure them that the more he knew of the
people of England, the more he respected them, and the more
fully convinced was he that they were justly entitled to those
rights and principles for which they were contending. He
could not but feel extremely grateful for the distinguished
mark of respect they had paid him ; and if he should at any
time stand in need of a stimulus to renewed exertions, he
would find it in the recollection of the exceeding great kind-
ness he had received at the hands of the working classes dur-
ing the last few days. The day before, he met in the town
of Sheffield thousands and tens of thousands of the working
classes, all of whom were actuated by the most intense de-
sire to promote those great principles which had been so fully
and forcibly laid before the people during the last four years.
He could with great truth say he saw the day before an im-
mense demonstration—a whole riding. turned out to welcome
him, and do honour to those principles of which he had
been the humble advocate. They might depend upon it the
spirit of the people was most decidedly in favour of liberty,
and it only required combination to insure success. The Hon.
Gentleman then proceeded to the consideration of the two

important points in the resolution they had just passed,
namely, the Masters and Servants' Bill, and the Post-office
delinquencies. In reference to the first measure, he said it
was a most iniquitous attempt to tyrannise over the working
classes. With respect to the Post-office regulations referred
to in the resolution, the Hon. Gentleman said it had been
pretty well ascertained that the Government, aye, that the
Queen herself, had been made instrumental in spying into the
letters of unfortunate men, who desired the welfare of their
own country. England had been, without all doubt, engaged in
spying forforeign despots. But it was not only foreign letters
that were opened ; but he believed it had been proved before a
Secret Committee of the House of Commons that letters had
been opened in England. Yes; in Manchester letters had
been opened, in the year 1842, when the strike for wages
took place amongst the working classes. Whatever might
be the result of the Committee now sitting, it would yet be-
come a question whether the people of England would allow
the Government to posses the power which they now enjoy,
from an absolute and base Act of Parliament. This, how:ever,
they must make up their minds to do—they must resolve
upon union.—(Hear,- hear.) They must sink all small diffe-
rences. They must insist upon their representatives demand-
ing the removal of those Acts; and, above all things, they
must cordially work together to place men in the House of
Commons who would insist upon the removal of those infa-
mous and defrauding laws, which gave to any Ministry the
power to open their letters, and become acquainted with the
most secret transactions of their lives.—(Loud cheers.) He
could not say anything that would have the effect of creating
in their minds a greater horror of the iniquitous system which
has been pursued by the Government, than what already
existed ; but he considered it right to tell them, that what-
ever, might be, the result of the Committee now sitting on the
subject, it would still rest with the people to say whether
the Government should have the power they had been so long
in the habit of exercising. They must cause those Acts under
which Sir James Graham took shelter to be repealed—they
must be swept away from the statute-book, or they would
have no security that the next Minister, whoever he might
be, would not practise the same outrages upon their feelings.
—(Great cheering.) The Hon. Gentleman, after delivering
a very effective speech, sat down amidst repeated cheering,
and was followed by
Mr. RICHARDS, who, after briefly addressing the meeting,
proposed a resolution in favour of the Charter ; which having
been seconded, and Mr. F. O'Connor having addressed the
meeting, the resolution was carried.
Thanks having been given to the Chairman, the meeting
separated.

Lady Brougham's soiree, not ball, as erroneously
stated in some papers, takes place on Friday.
METROPOLITANJUNCTION RAILWAY.—London,
which is a county in itself, is now fairly promised the
benefit of internal railway communication, and by a very
feasible scheme the great railways which have their
termini at present at various points on the outskirts of
the City, are to form one continuous line, connecting
the North, South, and West of Digland. This junction
line is to pass from Waterloo-bridge, across the West-
minster and Vauxhall roads, to the South-western
terminus, thence by a railway bridge at Battersea, across
the4iver, to Kensington, and the termini of the Great
Wye tern, and London and Birmingham lines. The boon
to the public secured by this undertaking may be esti-
mated from the fact that, at present, as much time is
occupied in transporting goods, by the Regent's canal,
to the Euston station, as from the Euston station, by
railway, to Bath or Bristol. When Sir John Rennie's
report upon the survey is before the public, we shall
return to a consideration of this subject. In the mean
time we with the project success ; it is one of national
value. -

LITERATURE.
HIGH LIFE IN NEW YORK. 2 Vols.
How, London, 1844.

In these sketchy volumes we have a series of letters
supposed to be written by Mr. Jonathan Slick to his
father, a Justice of Peace in Connecticut, illustrative
of the manners and personal peculiarities of the Yan-
kees, and more especially of the state of fashionable
society in the city of New York. The letters are
written—as the far-famed conversations of Sam Slick
were recorded—in the homely, uncouth dialect of
humble provincial life in America, but have little of
the wit, smartness, and cutting practical sarcasm of
Mr. Halliburton's admirable work. The most divert-
ing incident contained in them is the writer's account
of his interview with Fanny Elssler, after one of her
performances at the theatre, and the effect her grace-
ful figure, manners, and picturesque dancing produced
on his mind.

WALKS IN THE COUNTRY.
illo.ron, London, 1844.
There are many graceful images, and healthy, un-
affected sentiments scattered through this little un-
pretending volume of poems, which, like all Lord
Leigh's productions, is characterised by quick, ac-
tive feeling, and chaste felicity of versification. His
poem entitled " The Estate Oak," is a lyric worthy
of Collins, if only for the easy and delightful flow of
its melody.

THE LATEST PARIS FASHIONS.
(From Le Moniteur.)
The present may be considered as our fashionable re-
cess, during which very little is offered to those who
look forward for innovations as the chief attractions. If
we are to direct our attention to any quarter for ex-
amples of the most recent modes, we must depart from
our modern Babylons into the rustic recesses which are
at this period of the year so much coveted, to the fashion-
able watering-place or salubrious sea-coast.
For neglige3, coutil worked, embroidered, and even
plain, are adopted by the most elegant amongst the
fashionable circles.

For the most dressy day toilettes, the bareges and
glace silks, coloured tarlatanes, lace scarfs and shawls,
mantelets of embroidered muslin, capotes of crape
tulle and paille de rix, may be specially quoted.
Barege dresses have almost the monopoly of volans—
these latter belong especially to dresses which are soft
and do not crease, for nothing is more unbecoming than
a rumpled dress. With organdis or dressed fabrics, the
full species of trimmings in gathers is impossible, plaits
alone must suffice, under penalty of not being able to sit
down. Festoons, white and coloured embroideries suit
all sorts of dresses, plain or a mine raies, and all sorts
of transparent fabrics.
Many tartalanes, embroidered in colours, may be seen;
skirt plain, with volans, embroidered in the form of peas
shaded, and bordered with a festoon shaded in like man-
ner. These dresses are very pretty.
We cannot at present record any alterations in the
forms of hats, and there is hardly cause of regret in this, '
for every one of taste must acknowledge the pretty styles
which now prevail.
The ornaments, however, and various accessories are
considerably varied—roses, strawberries, variegated
daisies and bouquets of eglantine are adopted.
For a white crape hat, roses mingled with crape lisse
assort very well. Flowers are worn with all rice straws.
A Icapote in straw-coloured crape, trimmed with lilac
biais and straw, is most attractive in appearance. The
same with crape of white and rose-tinted, and trimmed
with roses biais shaded.

Lace is worn as plentifully as ever. The Point
d'Alencon is in high favour. The difficulty of execution
and length of time which some takes for its completion,
make it costly and recherche.

FASHIONS FOR AUGUST.
(From the London and Paris Ladies' Magazine of
Fashion.)
Bareges Taglioni, in checks of moderate size, Mous-
selines Giselle, fil de Marie, and toiles de Chine, with
foulards of endless variety, are the materials best
suited for the present month. In neglige, redin-
gotes are worn of English jaconet, or muslin,
lined ; the bodies are generally open in front ;
the sleeves wide, but very short, and under ones
of muslin bouillonnes ; many peignoirs are of
white barege, trimmed with ruches of white ribbon.
The corsages, with revers pelerine, continue in fa-
vour, as well as the half long sleeve, with under
ones of white ; but these, it must be observed, are
seldom with wristbands, but preserve their width to
the bottom ; the revers worn on the corsages are
sometimes so large as to have the appearance of an
open pelirme, to which a fancy fringe gives addi-
tional - width ; a similar fringe ornamenting the
skirt, in two rows, as a flounce, and the edge of the
closed jockey which surmounts the sleeve, also finished
with fringe. Velvet is much used to ornament dresses,
numerous rows of it forming a border at the bottom of
the skirt, just above the hem, lessening in width as they
ascend; it is also used on black net dresses, forming
heading to the flounces, which commence at the waist.
Pardessus, mantelets, and mantilles, are of every variety;
the paletots of taffetas d'ltalie are much in fashion; but
for the promenade the colours are confined to black or dark
blue, trimmed with black lace ; the sleeves are rather
wide, but not lower than the elbow ; and a broad rib-
bon encircles the waist ; for carriage wear they are of
light silks, trimmed with ruches of ribbon or white lace.
In fichus, the embroidered guimpes and little collars
la Jannette, covered by several rows of Valenciennes
l.ce, are worn, as well as revers formed of inlets ; frills
of three rows of lace, and the standing up collar, with
three or four rows of ruches. _

There is no change just now in bonnets ; the form of
allies de riz is a little more open ; and capotes of straws
lave crowns a la bonne femme.

WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE.

The following is the report of the Select Committee ap-
pointed to inquire into the present state of Westminster-
bridge, and into the expediency of continuing the present
expenditure thereon, or of erecting a new bridge on or near
the site thereof, and also into the amount of the bridge
estates, and the liabilities thereon ; with power to report
their opinion, together with the minutes of evidence taken
before them, to the House:—

" That on a review of the whole of the evidence, no case
has been made out to justify the Committee in recommendibg
to the House the pulling down the present bridge and the
constructing a new one.
" That it is desirable that the inclination of the roadway
over the bridge be improved by lowering its summit and
raising its extremities.
" That the parapets of the bridge be lowered as much as is
practicable and consistent with safety."

SHANNON NAVIGATION.-A return of payments on
account of the Commissioners for the improvement of the
river Shannon, in Ireland, and for works under their direc-
tions whether by grants or loans, has been obtained and or-
dered to be published, on the motion of Colonel Sibthorp.
We find, on examining the return before us, that the gross
total payments for the salaries and expenses of the above
Commission, under the Act sth and 6th William IV., cap. 67,
amounted for the period between November, 1835, and March,
1837, to 4,907/. ; for that between April, 1837, and March,
1838, to 6,989/. ; for that between April, 1838, and March,
1839, to 7,039/. ; and for that between April, 1839, and the
close of the Commission, to 1,7671., making a gross total
amount of 20,7031., of which the sum of 14,2211. was appro-
priated to salaries, 1,6071. to labour, and 4,8741. to travelling
and contingent expenses, &c. All the above amounts were
paid by grants, through the Lords of the Treasury. The
amount of 20,7031. (above stated) comprises not only the
salaries and allowances to Commissioners and clerks, but also
the whole of the expenditure incurred for pay to engineers,
surveyors, draughtsmen, et id genus omne, in making the pre-
liminary surveys and drawings of the river; as also the ex-
penses attendant on the valuation of property required to be
taken for the purposes of the works, the particulars of which
were fully detailed in a return madeC to Parliament in the
month of April, 1840. A further sum of 6,000/. was paid in
February, 1841, in part discharge of bill of costs for payments
to assessor, fees to counsel, and advances on enrolments. The
gross total amount paid for the salaries and expenses of the
Commission under the Act 2 and 3 Victoria, cap. 61, from
1839 to March, 1844, both inclusive, was 12,348/. of which
the sum of 9,3291. was for salaries, and 3,0181. for travelling
and contingent expenses. The estimate of the salaries and
expenses of the Commission for the year ending March 31,
1845, amounts to the sum of 2,797/. 2s. As regards the
expenses of the works, it appears that the gross total sum
paid, from 1839 to March, 1844, inclusive, amounted to
302,5751., of which the sum of 151,287/. (or one half) was by
grants, and 151,2874 (the other half) by loan. The amount
to be expended in the year 1845 cannot yet be ascertained.
The amount that the Treasury have still power to advance
for woyks, under the Act 2 and 3 Victoria, cap. 61, is alto-
gether 259,307/., viz., 127,267/. by grants, and 131,340/. by
loan. _ _

PLEASING RESULTS.—With the gaiety assumed by
nature in the brightness of the summer season there are
few disinclined to participate; and in pursuit of those
rational enjoyments personal agremens, in all their
variety, are necessarily objects of desire—those, of
which the perfection and durability are at once obvious
and important, meet their most available preservative in
Gowland's Lotion ; first, as a decided remedy for all
cutaneous impurities • and, secondly, as an elegant, mild,
and effective appendage to the toilet, removing every
species of local discolouration, defending the skin from
all the well-known effects of heat upon its surface, and
as contributing largely to continued delicacy and fresh-
ness of the complexion.
A BALLOON IN TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE,
JULY 10.—Monday last we enjoyed the view of the as-
cension of Mr. Comaschi in his balloon. He alighted
safely about forty miles off, in Asia, and the Turks
can scarcely believe that he was not lost on the
way, as he had to cross' the Sea of Marmora,
and went to an enormous height before we
lost sight of him. The
half Sultan, all the Mi-
nisters, ambassadors, and the population
of Constantinople, were collected to see him
off. The plain of Haider Pacha was like an immense
garden—parties of gaudily-dressed people in various
colours, looking just like flower-beds. The Turks now,
for the first time, believe that a man can trust himself
in such a machine, and I dare say Mr. Comaschi will
finish by taking up a few of them to prove that it is as
comfortable a way of travelling as anything but a rail-
road, of which they have as feeble an idea.
RISE IN VALUE OF GROUND NEAR GLASGOW.—
On Thursday week the lands of Stobcross, to the west of
Finnieston, and extending from the Clyde northward to near
Dumbarton-road, were sold by public roup at the price of 3s.
per square yard, imperial measure. These lands extend to
about 63 Scotch or about 80 imperial acres, which being
about 387,000 square yards, makes the price amount to some-.
where about 58,0001. ; but as the purchaser pays the auction
duty, which will be about 1,0771., as well as the half of the
conveyance stamp, the price will actually amount to upwards
of 60,000/. We understand that these lands were purchased
by the late Mr. Phillips (by whose trustees they have been
sold), in the year 1817, for about 3,700/., making a rise in
value of upwards of 56,0001.—Scotch Reformers' Gazette.
The Right lion. the Speaker of the House of Com-
mons, on Saturday next, gives his customary entertainment
to the officeri of that branch of the Legislature, Previous to
the adjournment of the lietue.