The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-03 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

A meeting of the Wellington Committee was held on
Tuesday, at which Sir Peter Laurie protested that his sole
reason for intruding himself into the Mansion-house, on the
day of fixing the statue, was his anxiety for the honour of the
presence of the King of Saxony, that the event might be re-
corded in the annals of the Corporation.
In consequence of the Duchess of Buccleuch's fete at
Montagu House to-morrow, the proposed meeting of the
ladies patronesses of the Waverly fancy dress ball has been
deferred until Friday, when the final arrangements are to be
determined on. _

On the 2d instant a new steam-frigate, called the Retri-
bution, was launched at Chatham. Her engines are to be of
800 horse-power. She is to carry 10 guns-2 guns of 8-inch,
112 cwt., and 4 guns of 8-inch, 65 cwt., and 4 32-pounders,
of 25 cwt. The dimensions of the Retribution are—between
perpendiculars, 220 feet; and burden in tons, 1,641 10-34.
A public meeting was convened at the Lecture-hall of the
Greenwich Institution, on Monday evening, to consider the
conduct of the church authorities in the late seizures for
church-rates, and to form a protective society, to be called
"The Borough of Greenwich Anti-Church-rate Association."
Admiral Dundas, M.P., in the chair. After some brief
speeches resolutions in accordance with the objects of the
meeting were passed, and a Committee appointed to carry
them into effect.

INCENDIARISNI.—We hear that there are nine pri-
soners at our gaol on charges of arson, and one for
sending threatening letters ; at Ipswich gaol ten for
urson, and two for sending threatening letters ; at Bec-
cles House of Correction four prisoners for arson, and
one for threatening to burn, waiting for trial at the next
assizes. The following persons have been committed
during the week for trial at the Cambridge Assizes, on
charges of arson—viz., Robert Murrell, John Robinson,
Samuel Baker, Joseph Dorrall, and George Fairhead, by
J. S. Tharp and J. Dobede, Esqrs., charged with having,
on the 14th instant, at Snailwell, set fire to a haulm rick,
the property of James Gittus. These men are railway
labourers, and strangers to the county. William Fuller
and Robert Munson, of Burwell, labourers, by the same
magistrates, charged with having, on the Bth instant, at
Burwell, set fire to a stack or straw, the property of
Charles Phillips, Gent —Bury Post.
ESCAPE OF A SOLDIER FROM THE STRONG-ROOM
IN THE TOWER.—On Sunday night last, Thomas Hodges, a
private in the Scotch Fusilier Guards, made his escape from
the strong-room attached to the barracks in the Tower. He
was under sentence of sixty days' confinement, for disobe-
dience of orders, and is believed to have been in possession
of a quantity of valuable jewellery which had been stolen
from a gentleman named Studly, at North Brixton, by his
servant, who was transported for the offence at the last Old
Bailey Sessions. The girl was taken into custody in the
Tower, 'while on a visit to Hodges, who was seen several
times, by his comrades, with jewellery and a number of so-
vereigns, after that occurrence. He was taken into custody
and examined at Union-hall, but discharged for want of evi -
dence. Since then he had been tried by a Court-martial,
and sentenced to sixty days' confinement. He contrived to
get a suit of private clothes on Saturday, and was seen in
possession of a diamond ring and about twenty sovereigns.
He is supposed to have gone to Hereford, and a handsome
reward is offered for his apprehension. He is about six feet
high, well made, light complexion, and sandy hair and whis-
kers, aged twenty-six.
BRASSFOUNDERS, COPPERSMITHS, AND BRAZIERS'
INSTlTUTlON.—Yesterdathis Company held their sixth an-
niversary dinner at the White Conduit House Tavern, when
the Treasurer, William Devey, Esq-, presided. This Insti-
tution was established for the purpose of providing support
for the decayed members of these respective trades, and we
have the pleasure to say that few have been the occasions
upon which the objects of the supporters of charitable insti-
tutions of which we have been cognisant, have been more
successful, taking into consideration their limited means.
The Chairman was ushered to his seat amidst the cheers of
the company, which consisted of about 300 persons. He was
supported on his entrance by two knights in splendid brass
armour, the construction of which was very creditable to
the manufacturers of it. After the usual loyal toasts, &c.,
the worthy Chairman, who appears to have the goodwill of
all connected with him in business, expressed himself de-
lighted with the spirit displayed by the working classes ge-
nerally, but especially by those with whom he was more im-
mediately connected, in looking forward to and providing for
a time when it is impossible for any one so to exert himself
as to provide the necessaries for the daily maintenance of
himself and those dependent on him. He was glad to see a
spirit of independence growing and spreading throughout the
country amongst mechanical men, which would be sure to
establish goodwill and prosperity for them all.
CHANGING SEATS.—A club of nine persons agreed
to dine together every day as long as they could alt down to
table differently arranged. To have clone so, they must have
all lived 110 years andl7o days, and ate 062,000 dinners.