The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JULY 163 1844,

.• fixed there an insuperable barrier against the pro-
gress of further discovery; and were it not so,
still little public interest can attach to a region
which can never be rendered available for useful
purposes, and where the scanty population are in that
state of irreclaimable barbarism that they may almost
be said to be aliens to the great family of human
nature. The author's narrative of his second journey
on the Polar Sea is the most entertaining, because it
is the most fruitful in point of incident, and con-
, tains among other piquant particulars, one or two
curious descriptions of bear-hunts on the ice; one
brute was killed after a desperate struggle by the
lance of a Cossack, and it was found that he measured
above nine feet from the snout to the tail, and was so
heavy from excessive fat that it required more than
twelve strong dogs to drag him along. We close our
brief notice with the authors descriptions of a night's
bivouack on the Polar ice :
" The day was now so far spent, and both men and
dogs were so wearied by their exertions, that we deter-
mined to stay where we were for that night. The tent,
before described, formed the centre of the little camp ;
four smaller tents, or pologi, belonging to the merchant
Bereshnoi, and to the richest of our drivers, were
pitched near it ; and the sledges were drawn up, so as
to form an outer circle, within which the dogs were
tethered. This arrangement afforded entire security
from any unforseen attack by bears, for they could not
approach the camp without being discovered at some
distance by the keen scent of the dogs. The weather
was beautiful, and we availed ourselves of the bright
evening twilight to warm ourselves before lying down to
rest, by practising shooting and throwing spears at a
mark. A piece of ice was made to represent the bear,
certain spots on it were marked as the eyes, the nose,
and the heart, and whoever hit one of them obtained a
right to join in the next bear-hunt. During these exer-
cises some of the party were engaged in repairing the
damages which the sledges had undergone among the
hummocks ; others in skinning and cutting up the bear
which had been
.killed and preparing supper, &c. In
doing this, the greatest frugality was observed in respect
to wood ; the care of the fuel was entrusted to one of
the Cossacks, whose duty it was to see that the least pos-
sible quantity was employed in boiling the tea and soup,
to extinguish the fire the moment the cooking was over,
and to preserve every fragment of wood, or of embers, for
the next day's use. We were no less careful in respect
to provisions."

FOREIGN QUARTERLY REVIEW. No. 66.
Chapman and Hall, London, 1844.
The modern French novelists, more especially
Balzac and George Sand, are discussed at some
length in the opening article in this Number. The
Reviewer is an ardent admirer of Sand, and under-
takes to defend him—or rather her, for though as-
suming a man's name, the author is a female—from
the charge of immorality in her numerous works of
fiction. The defence is more ingenious than suc-
cessful, for few who have read "Jacques" can hesi-
tate to pronounce it an immoral production. Of
Balzac, we are told, " there are few Frenchmen
who write so incorrectly, none more detestably. Not
to speak of his neologisms, nor of his use of
active verbs in passive tenses, his style is crabbed,
prolix, startling, and affected. French, in his hands,
is no longer the light, idiomatic, easy, pointed, bril-
liant language we know it, but unwieldy, unintelli-
gible, and perverse!! These are great drawbacks to
a novelist's popularity; but then, to make amends,
Balzac possesses infinite vigour and minuteness of
description, and a knowledge of character unsur-
passed, if equalled, by any of his contemporaries.
The " French and English Bar" furnishes an admir-
able sketch of the celebrated living advocates, Dupin
and Berryer, the latter of whom is the most
eloquent, earnest, and intrepid lawyer in France.
In the article on the " German Newspaper Press,"
the Reviewer remarks that this press is without in-
terest, without influence, without character, without
sympathy, and is wholly devoid of all external autho-
rity. The article is written with ability, and to all
appearance, in a strictly dispassionate spirit. In the
" Anglo-Indian Army" we find, inter alia, a digest
of the late memorable proceedin?s of our troops in
the Affghanistan campaigns. Of the few remaining
articles, the most entertaining is the quizzical notice
of M. Alfred Michael's " Narrative of a Visit to
England."

COLLOQUIES CHIEFLY ON POETRY.
Orr and Co., London, 1844.
"A few months ago," says the author of this work,
"I, as a printer, commenced undesignedly and with-
out manuscript, a page whimsically headed Collo-
quies on Poetry.' The one page germinated and be-
came two hundred, forming an unpretending volume,
the first, it is presumed, that since the birthday of
typography, has ever been mentally and mechanically
the exclusive work of one individual unassisted
throughout by copy, and subject moreover to con-
tinual disconnecting contingencies, comprehensible
only to such as are acquainted with the fitful
routine of a provincial jobbing-office." A volume
produced, under the circumstances here stated
may certainly be deemed a " Curiosity of Li-
terature" as remarkable as any recorded by
D'lsraeli ; but it is something better than a mere
curiosity, for though the author's manner, as might
be expected, is throughout his "Colloquies" studiously
involved, and not always in strict accordance with
grammatical propriety, yet his matter is frequently
very good, and in the instance of his observations on
the poetry of Wordsworth, show that he is a just
and subtle thinker, and by no means deficient in
critical perspicacity.

A TRIP TO ITALY. Mitchell, London, 1844.
In this slender octavo volume we have an account,
by a barrister, of a trip made to Italy during the last
long vacation. The author quitted England by way
of Southampton, whence he embarked, per steam,
for Havre, and thence for Rouen, of whose fine
church of St. Ouen, which is the admiration of every
tourist in France, he gives a brief but vivid descrip-
tion. There is nothing in his account of his Italian
trip which demands particular notice. He travelled,
with scarcely one exception, over perhaps the most
hacknied ground in Europe, and adds little to our
stock of information respecting the towns, and cities,
and picturesque landscapes which he visited. He
narrates easily and V.easantly enough, but his obser-
vations are all exceedingly superficial ; and his work
is better suited to please a private party of friends,
than the public at large.
LL/Alll C

Wl_ ~AXTON. C. Knight, London, 1844.
This is a biographical memoir of the celebrated
printer, William Caxton, of whom it may be remem-
bered, Jonathan Oldbuck, in Scott's " Antiquary,"
was so enthusiastic an admirer, and whom he was
so proud to claim as his ancestor. The memoir is
very minute and circumstantial in its details; is em-
bellished with several apt wood-cuts, and forms the
first volume of Mr. Knight's " Weekly Volume for
all Readers."

HISTORY ---------OF CHINA. Vol. I.
Allen, Lyndon, 1844.
Mr. Thornton, the author of this work, of which
the first volume only is as yet published, has under-
taken a most difficult task in attempting to give an
account of China from the earliest records down to so
late a period as the treaty with Great Britain, in the .
year 1844. He as we learn from his prefale, a
decided believer in the authenticity of the earliest
Chinese chronicles, observing, in justification of his
theory, that " there exists (and, a cording to the na-
tive authors, always has existed) a Tribunal of His-
tory in China, the peculiar functions of which are to
record the events of each reign, and to protect these
records from sophistication ; and instances will be ob-
served in Chinese history of attempts made by legi-
timate Princes, as well as usurpers, to falsify the
annals, which have been defeated by the honesty of
the guardians." In the more civilised periods of the
world's history there might, unquestionably, exist
a Chinese tribunal of the nature which Mr.
Thornton describes, but the Chinese annals pro-
fess to reach back to the very infancy of mankind, and
surely there could be no native chroniclers at that pri-
mitive and benighted period ! The volume before us
commences with the year 2205, before the Christian
era—an epoch whose annals must surely be apochry-
phal, if not altogether fabulous—and concludes with
the Tcin, or seventh Chinese dynasty, A.D. 420. The
volume evinces a world of curious and frequently
entertaining research ; but the last half of it is the
most useful and instructive, because there the histo-
rian is treading on somewhat firmer ground, and is
not so frequently compelled to resort to the aid of
speculation and conjecture. The work is embellished
with a map of China on a most enlarged scale, and
drawn up apparently with the most scrupulous regard
to geographical accuracy.

ROMAN REMAINS IN THE CITY.--Last week, in
the course of some excavations which are being made in
Huggin-lane, Upper Thames-street, for the formation of
a sewer, the men discovered an ancient Roman wall, about
thirty yards from Upper Thames-street. It extended about
50 feet up the centre of the lane, and was about 4 feet wide,
about 3 feet from the surface, and 6or 7 feet deep It was
composed of flint stones, bricks, and mortar, irregularly
intermixed, and so firmly cemented that an iron wedge was
obliged to be used to separate the mass. A few days pre-
vious, while digging in Bread-street-hill, an adjoining
thoroughfare on the west of Huggin-lane, leading out of
Upper Thames-street, two other Roman walls, of a similar
construction, about 5 feet from each other, were found, and which form a junction with the wall in lluggin-lane. These
two walls, which front the river, it is supposed, extend a
considerable way westward, as when the earth was opened to
make a sewer, last year in I ye-foot-lane, they reached
there ; and as some remains of a Roman wall, within the last
day or two, have been met in Peter's-hill, several hundreds
of yards westward. A great number of red Roman tiles were
found, some of which had inscriptions on them, from which
circumstance it is concluded by antiquarians who have
visited the spot, that at this locality, about 1,700 years ago,
there was a Roman temple. Amidst the gravel, which was
a few feet from the surface at the end of Bread-street-hill,
were the ruins of what appeared to have been a first-rate
Roman mansion. There were, throughout a distance of
several feet, fragments of walls, many pieces of which had
beautiful fresco paintings on them. On one of them the
honey-suckle flower was distinctly traced. There were
a fe,v pieces of Roman tesselated pavement, besides
which were some Roman and silver coins, one of which was
of the reign of Vespasian.

BIRMINGHAM ELEC T lON.
RETURN OF MR. SPOONER.
For some days past nothing else has been talked
of either in the public streets, in places of business,
or in private society, but this election. There
seemed, from the first, to be but one opinion as to
the result, in the event of the three candidates going
to the poll. The announcement of Mr. Sturge's de-
termination not only to proceed to the poll, but to
keep it open to the last, filled Mr. Spooner's friends
with delight, and struck the supporters of Mr. Schole-
field with dismay. Mr. Sturge himself never dreamt
of success, but conceiving that he had preferable
claims to Mr. Scholefield, having been in the
field several years ago, and retired in favour
of Mr. Muntz, to prevent a diversion in the
Liberal interest, considered himself unfairly and
unhandsomely treated by Mr. Scholefield's friends, in
putting that gentleman forward to oppose him. The
intense interest felt in the result of the election was
strikingly exhibited by the aspect of the streets this
morning. Everywhere the eye was attracted by colossal
placards, issued by the various candidates, and in
every corner of the town were to be seen small
groups of persons talking over the all-engrossing
topic. The polling booths were crowded by the
friends of the several candidates a considerable time
before the process of polling commenced. At eight
o'clock, when the poll opened, many of the booths,
seventeen in number, were literally besieged by the
more zealous supporters of the respective candidates,
all eager to record their votes, in the hope that others
would be induced to follow their example, and that con-
sequently a favourable start would be made in favour of
their side. From eight in the morning till three o'clock,
when the constituency were pretty nearly exhausted,
cars were to be seen flying about in all directions,
hurrying to the poll those of the electors who pre-
preferred to be conveyed by such means, to the more
common-place mode of transit, namely, that of walking.
The conflict might be said to have fairly commened
with the opening of the poll. From that hour all was
bustle and excitement in every part of the town, and
the constest was carried on with remarkable spirit
until two o'clock, when despair began to take pos-
session of the friends of Mr. Scholefield. The state
of the poll had by that time, as will be seen by the
figures which follow, assumed an utterly hopeless
aspect for them. The following is the state of the
poll at the various" hours from eight in the morning
till four in the afternoon :
HALF-PAST EIGHT o'CLocK.
Spooner
Scholefield
Sturge
NINE O'CLOCK
Spooner
Scholefield
Sturge
TEN O'CLOCK

Spooner
Scholefield
Sturge
ELEVEN O'CLOCK.

TWELVE O'CLOCK.
Spooner
Scholefield
Sturge

- ONE o'CLocx
Spooner
Seholefield
Sturge

- Two o'CLocx
Spooner
Scholefield ....... .
Sturge

-THREE o'CLooK.
Spooner
Scholefield
Sturge
CH—CLOSE.

Spooner
Scholefield
Sturge
Fours o'CLo,
Spooner
Scholefield
Sturge 345
Mr. Scholefield's committee gave Mr. Spooner three
more votes than reported by his own friends.
Throughout the whole day the best feeling prevailed
in the borough, but it was not a little remarkable to ob-
serve the impression amongst the working classes in
favour of Mr. Spooner.
There can be no question that Mr. Scholefield's defeat
is in a great degree to be attributed to the disunion
created in the Liberal ranks by the conduct of Mr.
Sturge; but still, as will be seen by the numbers polled
by Mr. Spooner, the opinions which he represents have
made a great advance. At the first election, when Mr.
Spooner started, he polled only 940; at the second, 1,800;
and now his third and successful attempt, 2,101.
After the state of the poll had been declared,
Mr. SPOONER presented himself at one of the windows
of the Public- office, and was received with a burst of
enthusiastic cheers from the electors, who occupied the
whole of the street in front of the building. When the
acclamations had subsided, the Hon. Gentleman said,
he thanked the electors sincerely for the honour which
they had conferred. It was a common adage, " When
rogues fell out, honest men came by their own."—
(Laughter and cheers.) This had been verified by the
result of the contest which they had that day brought to
so glorious and triumphant a close. He could only thank
his numerous friends, canvassers, and agents, for their
incessant exertions in his behalf. He was well aware
that men were too apt to attribute such effects to the
personal claims of the individual in whose behalf they
were made ; but in this instance he was satisfied it was
not the character of the man, but the cause in which
they were embarked that had contributed to their suc-
cess.—(" No, no;" and cheers.) He believed he had been
merely the humble instrument in achieving a victory,
the benefits of which he sincerely trusted would be
sensibly felt by the borough which he now had the
honour to represent.—(Cheers.) He hoped they would
permit him to offer to the Conservative electors of Bir-
mingham his congratulations on their having achieved
a share in the representation of the borough, to which
they were justly entitled, and which ought never to have
been refused, and which he boldly affirmed would never
be rescued from the party into whose hands it had now
been committed.—(Loud cheers.) He had also to con-
gratulate them that the name of "Radical Birmingham"
had been extinguished, and that the Whig faction, who
had so long attempted to govern the town, had been
brought to its proper level.—(Hear, hear.) They had
suffered, most justly suffered, the defeat which they
merited, and which invariably attended all wrong.
headed politicians, who foolishly led men to
lengths which their judgments condemned.—(Loud
cheers.) Mr. Spooner, in continuation, observed that
as there were many present who had not had an oppor-
tunity of hearing him express his sentiments on the pre-
vious day, he would repeat what he then said, in order
that there might be "no mistake" in the minds of any
of his supporters as to his political opinions. The Hon.
Gentleman here entered into a recapitulation of the
leading topics of his speech at the nomination, and pro-
ceedel to say, that so long as the present Government
adhered to the spirit of the Constitution—so long as they
carried out those principles which had placed them in
power—so long might they depend on his support ; but
he hesitated not to say that a deviation from that con-
stitutional course on the part of her Majesty's Ministers
would meet that opposition from him which he was
sure his constituents would wish him to offer.—,
(Cheers.) He was free to confess that events had
lately taken place in Parliament which were not cal-
culated to raise that House in the estimation of the
country. There had been two or three Ministerial
measures which had been handled and dealt with in a
manner unworthy of the men who had the conduct of
them, and unsatisfactory to the country at large. Twice
or thrice had the House of Commons come to solemn
decisions on the most important national points, and as
often, at the bidding of the Minister of the day, rescinded
those decisions and exhibited a weakness and imbecility
unworthy of the British Senate.—(Hear, and applause.)
The Hon. Gentleman, in conclusion, complimented the
Mayor for the firmness and impartiality which he had
exhibited in the discharge of the onerous duties of his
office, and which was worthy of all praise ; and retired
from the window amidst loud and enthusiastic cheers.
Mr. SPOONER subsequently addressed a meeting of
the non-electors in the large room of the Public-office,
and on his return to his bank in New-street was loudly
cheered by the populace.
Neither of the other candidates made their appearance
at the close of the poll, nor was any public demonstra-
tion made by their friends. Indeed it is reported that Mr.
Sturge left town by the 2 p.m. train for Gloucester, and
" has not sinco been heard of."
The official declaration of the poll will be made on
Monday, at 12 o'clock, but we need scarcely say that it
will not affect in the slightest degree the final result,
C,

APTAIN ARNER'S INVISIBLE SHELL.—Consi-
derable interest has been excited during the last week
among naval and military circles, by an intimation, very
generally circulated, to the effect that a trial of Captain
Warner's newly-invented explosive power, for destroy-
ing ships, fortresses, &c., would be made off Brighton
Chain Pier on Saturday. The experiment was an-
nounced to be upon a very large scale. Mr. Joseph
Somes, the eminent ship-owner, who is believed to be
somewhat sceptical as to the action of Captain Warner's
formidable missile, having granted a large ship of be-
tween 300 and 400 tons burthen, named the John
o'Gaunt, for the purpose of being experimentalised
upon, a considerable number of scientific gentlemen, and
some noblemen, who have manifested an interest in the
invention, including Viscount Ingestre, Lord Loftus, and
Lord Longford, left town on Saturday morning, for the
purpose of being present at the promised trial, Captain
Warner having engaged by the discharge of a single
shell to blow the ship into a thousand pieces. On
arriving at Brighton, however, the company were
greatly mortified at finding that, owing to the prevalence
of a strong westerly wind, and the absence of any steam
tug to contend against it, the John o'Gaunt had not
been able to make Brighton; nor, from the best informa-
tion that could be obtained, was it supposed that she had
been able to reach Dungeness. Under these circum-
stances a postponement of the experiment was absolutely
necessary, and the company returned to town not a little
chagrined at the disappointment they had experienced.
A large number of military officers who had been pre-
sent at the review were to have gone down by the two
o'clock train, and a special train had been engaged to
convey them home in the evening; but fortunately an
express which was forwarded to London by Captain
Warner, arrived in time to prevent their leaving town.
It is now expected that the experiment will be made on
Tuesday.

Frequently, since the establishment of the low rates
of postage, it has been found that letter bags, on being
opened at the Post-office, emitted a stench scarcely en-
durable, but as nothing appeared on the face of the let-
ters or parcels to account fur this strange circumstance,
the cause remained unknown until within a few days
back. The discovery took place in this way, and we
have positive authority for stating the fact :—A packet
was posted in a country town, addressed to a surgeon in
London, the envelopes of which, on its arrival at the
General Post-office, having been almost destroyed by a
quantity of blood having oozed out, it was carefully ex-
amined, and found to contain a portion of a human body,
evidently forwarded for the purposes of dissection. The
attention of the authorities was immediately called to
the shocking fact, and we understand that measures have
since been adopted to prevent any recurrence of so dis-
gusting an outrage on public feeling, and so gross au
abuse of the facilities of communication afforded by the
betlface...Obsorver.

A PREMIER'S MODEST Y.
RAILWAY BILL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—Our glorious Dictator, Sir Attila Mar-
' plot, improves daily ! every evening's discussion
in the House, develops some new virtue—some cap-
tivating grace.
The latest gem which has turned up from the
exhaustless mine of his merits is—his astounding
modesty !
At the fag-end of an exhausting session to a
fatigued remnant of legislators, he brings forward a
Bill founded on an enormously voluminous report
of packed evidence (see Mr. Russel's speech), the said
Bill affecting only some seventy millions of invested
capital, and an equal amount purposed, or expected,
to be invested in like manner.
Some of the Members, adverting to the immense
importance of the question, request an adjournment,
that they may have a little more time to consider it ;
and this modest Minister (this Cabinet Cymon !)
actually snubs the parties in the manner which Dr.
Birch may be supposed to assume towards his refrac-
tory school-boys preparatory to a horse-ing ! ! !
The cool insolence with which Ministers and Mem-
bers now assume the right of meddling with the
private enterprises of the British people, is really
exemplary.
A few weeks since Lord Ashley proposed to regu-
late the hours of labour of half a million of opera-
tives. Sir Attila Marplot has just passed through
the House a Bill shackling the whole currency of the
empire, and now he modestly proposes to transfer (in
effect) to Government the management--nay, almost
existence—of railways (vide the able comments of the
Times of Tuesday,) and actually hectors at Members
who dare to ask a day or two to consider his exqui-
sitely modest propositions.
He has lately adopted a new trick-- -(is there not a
character in one of Dickens's works named " the
Artful Dodger ? ")—this is, to request that the House
will be so polite as to suffer his Bills to be read a
second time (almost as a matter of form), and to take
objections at the next stage. Now I have always un-
derstood that the passing the second reading of a Bill
sanctioned its principle, and that future opposition
was understood to be limited to matters of detail; so
that his request is, " declare that it is right to limit
the profits on railways, and you can afterwards decide
if we shall insert 10 or 11 per cent."
COMMON SENSE.
P.S.—Another beautiful specimen of Sir Attila's
modesty is to be found in his justification of these
enormous grasps at power :
" What motive," says the bashful Minister, " can
Government have, except the desire to benefit the
public, in bringing forward measures unpalatable to
great and powerful bodies ?" " What motive," might
Caesar have said, " can I have to desire to be made
perpetual Dictator, and absolute disposer of the lives
and properties of the Roman people, except a desire
to benefit them ?" Johnny is certainly tolerably
thick-sculled, but does the " bashful Baronet " really
think this will pass ?

CRIME IN FRANCE.—Ninety-five parricides in ten
years! This is the progress of morality since it has
been attempted to render it independent of religion ;
this is the progress of what M. Guizot, in his doc-
trinary neologism, would call laic morality. We may, at
the same time, e permitted to believe that the Pro-
cureur-General alluaed only to such parricides as have
been condemned, and by public punishment have satis-
fied human justice. How many have escaped the axe of
the law? Ninety-five condemnations imply more than
ninety-five accusations, and it would be very rash to
conclude that every one of those who have been ac-
quitted was innocent. It is not enough, then, to set down
the number of parricides in ten years at only ninety-
five. Still this number was sufficient to alarm the
people, ordinarily so frivolous, who seek in the Court of
Assizes and the scenes it discloses for emotions and ex-
citement. It has become the topic of conversation in
every society, and is commented on with strange feel-
ings. The application of extenuating circumstances
to the case of Rousselet, an application which is badly
understood, or not at all comprehended, seems to
have added to the general terror. People ask them-
selves, why was this indulgence granted to a man who
had not only acknowledged his guilt, but who publicly
detailed all the circumstances of his crime, and hoped to
find exculpation by making a charge of complicity,
which was not only denied, but was legally proved
not to have existed ? Was the jury wanting to the
law ? Was the law wanting in justice ? We repeat
these questions which we have heard put—but who
can dare to answer them ? There are frequently,
in the administration of criminal justice, mysteries so
profound that every man of true conscience must
humble himself betbre them. However, amidst all
the uncertainties, there is one fact, unfortunately, but
too certain—the constant and almost regular increase in
the number of crimes since 1830. This is a subject of
painful reflection, not only for the men who govern, but
also for those who, through the press, have influence
over the public mind. It would be well to search out
the causes of the evil thus spreading over society, and
the means by which its progress may be stopped.—
Quotidienne.

ABUNDANCE or MONEY.—A feature in the state
of the Money Market, as respects the transactions of the
present week, is that the Reduced Three per Cent.
Annuities have touched par, while the Three per Cent.
Consols have realised—the half-yearly dividend included
—lOO4. Such is the abundance of money, notwith-
standing the various and increasing means of employ-
ment afforded by the railway and other companies, now
so numerously brought before the public, that almost
any amount of stock, probably hundreds of thousands
excepted, would meet with immediate purchasers, if
offered in the open market. The statement we made on
this day week, that the surplus revenue of the financial
year ending on the sth of April last, about 600,0002,
would be applied in diminution of the Funded or
Unfunded Debt, appears to have been very nearly
correct. A much larger sum, however, is to be ex-
pended in the cancellation of Exchequer Bills than was
anticipated. It appears by the notice from the Lords
Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, that in the
quarter ending on the 10th of October next there will be
applied to the purchase of Stock, in aid of the Sinking
Fund, 23,8561. 17s. 4d., and in taking up Exchequer Bills,
made out in pursuance of the Act 53d George 111.,
500,0001. Inclusive of the sums received as donations
and bequests, the total to be invested in the way just
stated will be 527,403 L 4s. 2d., being one-fourth part of
the income of the United Kingdom above the expendi-
ture in the year ending the sth of April last. The daily
purchases of stock in reduction of the Debt will be soon
over, but the investments by the Government brokers
for the Savings' Banks and the Courts of Chancery and
Bankruptcy form in the aggregate too formidable a sum
to induce Bear speculators to operate with much con-
fidence. In short, this class of operators are becoming
gradually almost extinct, though extraordinary political
events would doubtless resuscitate them. The principal
transactions in the British securities this week have not
ranged higher than from 15,0001. to 40,0001. or 50,0001.
—Observer.

APPREHENSION OF A GANG OF COWERS.—lnfor-
mation having been received by the police that a gang of
coiners were in the habit of assembling together at a house'
situate in Half-moon-alley, Milton-street, St. Luke's, for the
purpose of manufacturing counterfeit coin, and that in order
to elude the vigilance and suspicion of the police they carried
on their illicit trade on Sundays, Inspector Penny, Redman
224, and Sergeant Brennan, 20 G, determined on visiting the
place yesterday morning at eleven o'clock, for the purpose of
making a capture of the delinquents, and being given to un-
derstand that they would have a desperate party to en-
counter, they armed themselves, in order to prepare for re •
sistance. On their arrival at the house they were arranged so
as to make a safe capture, and acting upon the information
they had received, cautiously proceeded up stairs to the second
floor, where they overheard voices and parties at work, evi-
dently coining. The door was barred and fastened inside, but
the officers instantly burst through, and discovered a man
sitting before a large fire with a plaster of Paris mould excel
lently executed, for the purpose of making sixpences. A woman
and a girl were also in the room assisting in the manufacture.
The woman screamed and the girl fainted away. The man,
however, smashed some moulds under his feet, and swallowed
several counterfeit shillings that had been fresh made, and
by which he was nearly choked. The officers, finding they
had a desperate character to deal with, commenced securing
him with handcuffs, but he fought, bit, and kicked at them
like a madman. The officers searched the room, and found
plaster of Paris moulds, Queen's metal, pewter, tin, salt and
water, scissors, and all the implements applicable to the
purpose of coining, and also a quantity of base coin newly
made, with " Gots," all of which were so hot that Inspector
Penny's hands were much burnt in seizing them. The
officers took possession of everything in the shape of evidence,
and secured the prisoners, in spite of considerable opposi
tion from the mob that had assembled. The male pri-
soner gave his name Henry Brown, the elder woman Emma
Brown, and the girl Eliza Jones. It appears that the party
had for some time past occupied the apartment in the above
house, and numerous persons of suspicious character were in
the habit'of visiting their place, no doubt for the purpose of
purchasing and manufacturing base coin. Sergeant Brennan
was very severely injured, in consequence of the extreme
violence and resistance of the male prisoner, who is known
as a perfect adept in the nefarious traffic for which he was
apprehended.
MOORISH DESIGNS.—The Emperor of Morocco
is raising troops in Europe. Already the Brussels journals
announce that several scores of Braves Beiges have been en-
listed, and are on their way to Abd-el-Rahman. We need
not French soldiers to destroy, these paltry mercenaries. Let
the Government hire half the number of Dutchmen. But
there is a nation of much greater importance, which is busy
in the field against us—a nation alwayi.3 perfidious and ready
to wreak against France its diabolicalill-will. We need not
say we allude to England. A well-informed correspondent
from London writes—" War will be declared next month." I
have this intelligence from the most positive authority. All
the gun-makers of London are busy preparing arms; im-
mense provisions of lead and powder are making daily. I
myself went with Sir Bouledog (a young Baronet and Mem-
ber of the Upper House) to inspect a store of weapons, of
which he selected two formidable instruments, and when I
asked for what purpose, he replied with insolent calmness—
" My. good friend S. and a party are off to the Moors." The
day is fixed for the 12th of August, half the young aristo-
crats of England have given themselves rendezvous in Mo-
rocco ; and this is our ally—this is the entente cordiale,
this is England, in a word. We summon the Minister; we
adjure the insulted nation ; we recal the wrongs of eight
centuries of hatred ; we demand, is this true ?—The National 11
(translated by Punch).

We announce with much pleasure the abolition of
slavery in the British settlement of Hong-Kong. The ordi-
nance issued for this pu ..se has appeared in the Hong-Kong
Gazette.—Anti-Slavery • irter.
A GENUINE BULL.--An Irish paper lately gave an
account of a duel, and announced the result of the meeting
in these words :—" The one party was severely wounded in
the chest, and the other fired in the air." Query, who
wounded the sufferer?
Mr. Bunn left London last evening for Italy, to
make engagements for the ensuing season at Drury-lane.