The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-28 00:00:00

THE FUNDS--(CLOSING PRICES)
BRITISH FUNDS.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced
New 34 per Cent
India Bonds, 1,0001..
Ditto under 1,0001.
Consols .................... 1004
Indian Stock 2864
Exchequer Bills, 1,0001., 1id.... 62 pm.
Ditto 5001.
Ditto Small
FOREIGN FUNDS.

Columbian Bonds 6 aer Cent l4
Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840.
Ditto 3 per Cent. 3B;
Dutch, 4 per Cent ...- 64*
Ditto, 5 per Cent
SHARES.
Birmingham and Gloucester, 100 paid
Bristol and Exeter, 70 paid 664
Bristol and Gloucester, 30 paid .. 43
Caledonian, 5 paid
Chester and Holyhead, 5 paids
Churnet Valley, 2 paid
Direct Northern, 2i paid
Direct Norwich, 1 paid ••• 1
Dublin and Belfast Junction, 2i paid... ... 44
Dublin and Galway, 2i paid
Eastern Counties, 25 paid...
Great Southern and Western (Ireland), 5 paid 10}
Great 'Western, 75 paid 149
Ditto Half Shares, 50 paid 9O
Hull and Selh7, 50 paid .., 68i
London and Birmingham (Stock) .. .. 228
London and Blackwall, 161 7i
London and Brighton, 50 paid
London and South Western, 411 paid 7si
London and Croydon, 131. 15s. 9d. paid .. 171
London and York, 2i paid 44
Manchester and Leeds, 70 paid
Ditto Quarter Shares, 2 paid ... ll4
Ditto Sixteenths, 11 paid
Manchester and Birmingham, 40 paid 53
Midland, 100 paid
Newcastle and Berwick, li paid
Northern and Eastern, 45 paid 5B
Norwich and Brandon, 8 paid 134
South Eastern and Dover, 33/ paid 404
West Cornwall li paid
Yarmouth and Norwich, 20 paid 271
_
York and North Midland, 50 paid
Ditto Scarboro' Branch, 10 paid
Ditto, Selby Scrip, 20 paid
Ditto Extension...
Orleans and Vierzon, 2 paid l2l
Orleans and Bordeaux, 2 paid 7 i
Paris and Lyons, 2 paid
Paris and Rouen, 20 paid
Paris and Strasbourg, 2 paid ...

994

31i

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAT.
GLOBE.—In the United States, as in England,
there is more uncertainty than usual, as to what the
new year will bring forth. Great changes seem to
be impending in the commercial policy of both coun-
tries, but their indications are yet extremeiy vague.
This is especially apparent in America. Every paper
in the Union presents us with a different opinion,
not only of what the President elect means to
do, but of his ability to do it. His position is,
in some respects, not unlike that of Sir Robert
Peel in 1841. It is pretty clear that a few
months will put him and his party in power. He is
about to take office upon the understanding that his
policy will differ materially from that of his prede-
cessor. Yet what is to follow, no man ventures to
predict, with even the appearance of confidence,
and no two men predict alike. Polk and Peel
are alike inscrutable. No art could reach the
designs of Sir Robert—no cunning in a strategy,
no bitterness of taunt, availed to obtain a glance
at the prescription, till the physician was regu-
larly installed, and the fee paid. He could not
be either driven or wheeled into depriving his mea-
sures of what power they might derive from their
novelty when brought forward for application. Mr.
Polk has taken a similar course ; and there is a real
resemblance in the two cases which seems to justify
the imitation, if it be one. When the elevation of
a man to responsible office is already determined,
any particular declaration of bis policy is often un-
necessary ; it always operates as, a tie, and, under
ordinary circumstances, can purchase nothing.
Even in the present positions of these two statesmen
there is enough to continue the resemblance. A dis-
cussion of the expediency of continuing the income-
tax, with its inevitable pendant, a discussion of our
tariff, is looked forward to as certain in the approach-
ing session. And everybody expects that a modifica-
tion of the United States tariff will be one of the first
measures of their new Government. There is now no
room to doubt, that if either tariff be touched, it must
be for the purpose of making a further application of
the principles of free trade. So far, all is as clear as
political anticipations well can be. We see the chart,
and our probable course upon it, but (in both cases)
the man at the helm persists in keeping his mouth
shut ! Shrewd politicians, desirous of trimming
their sails to the coming breeze, congregate around
Mr. Polk, but can gather no indication of the quarter
it is to blow from. He meets and wards off their
well-meant thrusts at his internal man with a cool,
unvarying, and impenetrable " politeness" in the ex-
ternal; and they retire to spread, not reports of what
Mr. Polk says and intends, but rumours that he is
turning out a much cleverer fellow than anybody ex •
pected. In the heat of the recent contest he was called
a " Repudiator." Now few seem inclined to say
more on this point than that he is not disposed to ha-
zard the existence of the Union in a desperate attempt
by the federal Government to coerce the delinquent.
States. Even the slavery question is admitted to stand
upon very similar ground. A secession from the
Union, of the States implicated in slavery, would
undoubtedly ensue, were the question now raised
and pushed to extremities. The particular evil would
not be lessened, but another, of incalculable import-
ance to America, would be created—the substitution,
as to two great sections of the Union, of division and
weakness for union and strength, would be unavoid-
able. On the tariff, but one course seems open.
Yet, there are grave obstacles to that. Mr. Cal-
houn's opinions cannot fail to have considerable
weight, and it is well known that liberal prin-
ciples of commercial intercourse between nations
never had a stauncher or more consistent
advocate : but even in the United States there
is an anti-free-trade party, and that of no contempti-
ble strength. In this country, public opinion already
shows a tendency to favour the retention of
the income-tax, provided it can be made the
basis of corresponding relief from taxation in other
and still more oppressive forms. The Customs'
duty on raw cotton, the Excise on paper, and
the Assessed Tax on windows, are already
put prominently forward for reduction or repeal ;
and as the time for action draws near, we may
expect that other taxes will find their especial foes—
and that "provincial Chancellors of the Exchequer"
will again incumber the facile Premier with their aid,
and draw down the mild thunders of the Treasury
Bench. All this, however, while the oracle is silent,
will only thicken the fog in the political world.
England and America, then, are now in the hand)
of men who have at least the ability to keep their
own counsel; and to both it does a double service: it
makes what power they possess more effective, and
leads people to think them much wiser than they are.
It is not impossible that the coincidence marks the
commencement of a new era of statesmanship—in
which taciturnity and mediocrity is to do the work of
eloquence and wit. Were there a fair prospect of the
work being better done, we should have nothing to
object to the change. But this, as yet, is sadly wanting.

THE VANGUARD STEAMER
AFLOAT.

(From' the Cork Southern Reporter of Tuesday.)S
We are happy in being able to announce to our
readers that the Vanguard steamer has at length
been got off. At about four o'clock this morning
she was got off the rock amid a hearty cheer, from
all whom curiosity or duty had drawn to the spot,
which was oft and heartily repeated. A detail of the
operation to get off the Vanguard may be interesting.
On Monday, the Victory steamer left the Quay at
three o'clock, and proceeded down the river, for the
purpose of taking a warp from the Vanguard, and
to assist in towing her off. The Eagle also left the
Quay at five o'clock, with a large number of empty
casks, but, as the sequel will show, the Vanguard
needed not the assistance of them. Captain White,
who, from the commencement showed an
activity and diligence in managing the vessel
which entitle him to the highest commendation, made
a minute examination of the hull of the Vanguard,
and having discovered the apertures through which
the water gained ingress, succeeded in stopping them,
by which means, joined to the assistance afforded by
the pumps of the vessel, which, by the bye, were
effectively worked by her own engines, she was very
soon got off. Another impediment had also to be
removed, which was the rocks, that not only sur-
rounded the vessel, but had actually broken through
her bottom ; this was, however, easily effected by
means of chisels, hammers, and pickaxes. A tank
was then constructed in the vessel, and every other
preparation having been completed, four o'clock this
morning, owing to the flood tide, was the time ap-
pointed to make the attempt to bring her away. The
Victory having sent out a hawser, it was made fast to.
the Vanguard, when, as the rope was drawn to a strain,
the vessel floated off without the least difficulty.
This is important to observe, that the Vanguard had
her own engines at work at the time, and by their
means solely was she backed off the rock. The vessel
being got out into deep water she floated right well
for some time, say about an hour, when the leak be-
gan to spring again, but not to a great extent. She
was towed by the 'Victory towards Spike Island, but
when opposite the Buoy it was found necessary to cut
her loose, as she would not steer well, by reason of
her being attached to the other vessel. This being
done, she then made the rest of her way unassisted,
and ran in upon the mud bank at Spike, where
she now is, waiting for the ensuing tide to bring
her up to Passage, where it is said she will be re-
paired. Of this, however, we cannot speak with cer-
tainty. The Vanguard is not much injured, in
fact, the hull is nearly as sound as when she
was turned off the stocks, and her engines also are in
complete working condition, which was shown to a
nicety in her passage this morning across the Bay to
Spike Island. There are some remains of the cargo
still on board the vessel, but they are not worth
noticing. The surprise is general that a vessel which
had suffered so much, and into which the water of
every tide had found an extensive entrance, should
yet have come off in so comparatively uninjured a
condition. When the Vanguard was being backed
off this morning, the hawser which had attached her
to the Victory was snapped asunder, though nine
inches thick, so suddenly did the former vessel glide
out into the water from her position on the rock.
We understand the Victory was anchored at
the time, which was the cause of the occurrence.
There was also an accident happened to one of the
seamen of the Victory ; when they were taking in
the slack of the hawser, it struck the poor fellow in
the head, and cut him most severely. That was the
only accident which was reported, and is certainly
rather singular, considering the number of men em-
ployed on the occasion, and the unseasonable hour at
which they laboured. We cannot close this state-
ment without offering one or two lines upon the
parties who were more immediately interested in the
fate of the Vanguard, and who had exerted them-
selves to get her off. We have already alluded to
Captain White's activity and efforts, but we must
add, in justice to him, that both were indefatigable.
Ever since the vessel had met with the ac-
cident, Captain White was on the spot, and
no matter how inclement the weather, or how arduous
the labour,'his duties knew no relaxation. Mr. Taylor,
one of the Dublin agents, was also down, and he
spared no pains on his own part to get the Vanguard
to rights. Captain Hirst also deserves the greatest
credit for his exertions ; nothing that could be done
did he neglect, while the men under his command
showed themselves ready and willing to lend every
assistance. We had almost forgotten to mention that
Captain M'Kinnon exerted himself very laudably in
endeavouring to get the Vanguard off. The exact
amount of the damage sustained by the Vanguard has
not yet transpired.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ATMO-
SPHERIC RAILWAY.
(From the Leeds Mercury.)
M. Hallette, an experienced engineer and maker
of steam-engines, at Arras, near Calais, in France,
has patented an invention, which he regards as an
important improvement on the atmospheric railway
of Messrs. Clegg and Samuda, and likely so far to
perfect that principle of railway construction as to
give it an unquestionable and great superiority over
the present methods of constructing and working
railways. The subject is of sufficient interest, in
these days of railway enterprise, to justify us in en-
tering somewhat into particulars.

THE LATE MURDEROUS ATTACK BY A BAND OF
POACHERS ON THE EARL OF COVENTRY'S KEEPERS, AT
CROOME.—Yesterday, Superintendent Harris, of the
Pershore station, accompanied by Superintendent Pet-
ford, apprehended three men in Pershore, suspected of
having been concerned in the fatal affray. They are
severally named Francis Dingley, Samuel Turvey, and
William Brimfield. They were conveyed to Upton, and
this day taken for examination before Mr. Stone, but,
in consequence of the witnesses being at Worcester, in
attendance at the inquest on the body of poor Staite, no
evidence was adduced, and they were all remanded till
to-morrow. We understand that Turvey and the three
other prisoners have already been convicted of poaching,
and that strong suspicion exists that all participated in
the late deplorable outrage. Government has offered a
reward of SOL, in addition to that offered by the trus-
tee of the Earl of Coventry, for the apprehension and
conviction of the murderer of poor Staite, besides a free
pardon to any person not being the actual individual
who injured the keepers. The Inquest on Staite was
commenced yesterday, and after the examination of
several witnesses, was adjourned to the 7th of January.
—From the Woree.ster Herald of this day.
SCILLY.—On Thursday, the 19th instant, the
schooner Amy, Johnson, of Ipswich, from Liverpool,
with a cargo of salt, in entering, the harbour of New
Grimsby, struck on a sunken rock, and before she could
be got into the harbour, was obliged to run ashore on
the rocks where she filled with water, and the salt in a
few tides was entirely dissolved. The vessel, which has
since been got off and brought in, has received consider
able damage, particulars of which are not yet precisely
known. We have now nearly a hundred sail of vessels,
in the different harbour; the masters of which, particu:
larly those from foreign parts, loudly complain of our
want of a regular post communication with the mainland,
being anxious to advise their owners, consignees, and
friends, of their arrival thus far on their passage home.
—West Briton.

The means contrived by Clegg and Samuda for
attaching the carriages to the piston, was to make a
groove along the tube, covered with a leathern flap,
which being weighted and covered with wax, allows
a cable or bar, connecting the piston with the car-
riages, to traverse—opening with ease to admit the
passage of the cable, and closing after it, so as almost,
but nut entirely, to prevent the admission of air. The
apparatus is extremely ingenious, but complicated ;
it requires the application of a heated iron in
advance of the piston, to melt the wax, and a
roller following the piston to re-seal it; and it
allows of a leakage which the patentees calculate
es Equal to fifteen per cent. of the power em-
ployed to exhaust the air, but which Mr.
Robert Stephenson believes to amount to 36 per
cent., and even at the higher velocities to 74 per cent.
Several of the most eminent engineers, both English
and French, have examined the operation of the at-
mospheric railway, and have reported most favour-
ably amongst them may be named Messrs. Brunel!,
Cubitt, and Gibbons, and also Messrs. Teisserenc and
Mallet.

The improvement made by M. Hallette is in pro-
viding a means of opening and closing the longitudinal
groove, so as to prevent the loss of power by leakage.
He has endeavoured to imitate nature, by providing a
pair of flexible lips to the groove, which allow of the
passage of the piston bar or cable without admitting
the air. It is possible, as every one may find on trial, to
pass a quill or pencil between the lips from one side
of the mouth to the other, without admitting the
least air into the mouth or out of it. M. Hallette
has made artificial lips, by disposing along the parallel

EFFECTS OF PUSEYISM.—As a proof of the state to
which Mr. Blunt has brought matters at Helston, on
Sunday morning last the three galleries of the church
contained but one adult person besides the organist,
although capable of containing two hundred and fifty ;
and yet the Bishop says that such men as the curate of
Helston are not the least successful of the labourers in
Christ's vineyard ! West Briton.

orb trio fi
get
oedufelsatoef tlhlye longitudinal
that. thealconcaovvee oftw two little
oenecyclilyindnde cylinders,
is opposite to the concave of the other; and, fillimx
each cylinder with a kind of hollow gut or tube, of
leather or other material impermeable to air, which
tubes, being filled with compressed air, and lying in
close contact with each other, form a kind of elastic
lips, that open like the lips of man, and allow a bar or
cable to pass along them without admitting any air
into the large tube.
Such is the method; and we have seen a letter
from M. Hallette to a French gentleman in this town,
who acts as his representative, stating that, after ex-
periments made publicly on a short railway at Arras,
he has proved that the artificial lips placed along the
groove of the tube hermetically close it, and effec
tually prevent the admission of air into the exhausted
portion of the tube as the piston passes. His in-
vention also affords the means of bringing the piston
wes i and train to a stand much more quickly than any
other system, and of course it is better adapted than
any other to the descent of considerable inclinations.
M. A rago and other distinguished men of science
in France have declared their approbation of M.
Hallette's invention ; and a Commission, composed of
Messrs. Charles Dupin, Arago, Seguier, Morin, and
4 Piobert, has been appointed to report upon it to the
2i Academie des Sciences.
~.1 If the plan should succeed, it will so cheapen the
atmospheric principle of railway as to remove all
2i
doubt of its superiority to the use of locomotive
.), 5.. l5 paid 10} engines. M. Hallette expects that a stationary
149 engine every five and a quarter miles will suf-
-90 fice to exhaust the tube, instead of (as by Clegg
228 k and Samuda's plan) an engine every two and a
7i third miles. If the invention should realise the
52 expectations formed of it, all the advantages of
paid 7si the present atmospheric railway will be realised in a
d. paid l7i higher degree. Railways might be carried over ele-
-12 vations of more than 400 yards; and of course the
1i
necessity for tunnels, embankments, and cuttings
41 would be nearly done away, and the expense of the
I paid 53 construction of railways would be exceedingly dimi-
-114 nished. Much lighter rails might be used, as the
7i enormous locomotives (which chiefly require the rails
58
134 to be so strong and heavy) would be done away ;
aid 4O/ and much lighter carriages would also suffice, be-
-24 cause collisions would be impossible. The risk of
accidents would be reduced to the smallest possible
Lid
)aid amount. The trains would pass without noise,
and with very little vibration. The expense of work-
ing the trains would be exceedingly diminished ;
there would be no need for the large workshops and
the great numbers of first-rate mechanics on rail-
ways.
Should the invention succeed, it will furnish a
means of cheap and rapid traction on canals and
rivers, and may be applied to many other purposes of
great utility.
We understand that patents have been taken out
for M. Hallette's invention in England,'Scotland, and
Ireland. If any of our readers should wish further
information on the subject, we have no doubt that M.
Chevalier, of this town, who acts for M. Hallette
would immediately supply it.