The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-05 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Gloucester
an .1 th Duke of Cambridge left Richmond Park, at half-
past two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, for Bushy
House, Bushy Park, and visited her Majesty the Queen
Dowager and her Serene Highness the Duchess Ida of
Saxe Weimar.

The Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Cam-
bridge left Bushy House in the evening, and returned to
Richmond Park.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge left
Richmond Park yesterday, for town.

HARBOURS OF REFUGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—As your spirited journal has from time to time
urged upon the Government the important subject of
harbours of refuge, I respectfully solicit your indulgence
for a few brief remarks respecting these great national
undertakings, through the medium of your columns. It
appears that a large sum of money has been voted for
the commencement of a breakwater at Dover, and the
policy of so large an expenditure upon such an experi-
mental and doubtful site, while a more eligible spot, se-
lected, and so strongly recommended by the Harbours of
Refuge Commissioners, remains apparently unnoticed,
bas most justly been questioned by many maratime and
practical men. The fine, noble Bay of Seaford, pos-
sessing an unusual depth of water, being about mid-way
between Portsmouth and Dover, having the harbour of
Newhaven (so capable of great improvements) in its im-
mediate vicinity, with the advantages of a coast railway
near to the shore, seems unfortunately to have been
overlooked, or to have had an inferior weight in the pre-
sent decision of Government. It is not an unfrequent
spectacle during the prevalence of easterly winds to see a
fleet of from thirty to seventy vessels, and sometimes
more, of all sizes, lying at anchor in Seaford Bay, enjoy-
ing the natural shelter there afforded, and many thou-
sands of British tailors are well aware how impossible it
is to round Beachy Head, at all seasons of the year, in
contrary winds. It is much to be hoped her Majesty's
Ministers have only delayed the works at this superior
bay for a short period only, otherwise there will be no
secure shelter for merchant vessels and steamers between
Portland and Dover, thus leaving an extensive and dan-
gerous portion of the southern coast entirely unprotected,
and which it may be too late to lament in the event of war.
I will only further remark, that the est imates (as contained
in the Commissioners' Report of last year) were, for
Dover, 2,500,0001., and for Seaford only half of that
amount, viz., 1,250,0001. You have frequently expressed
your editorial remarks in favour of the Bay of Seaford,
and trust this groat question, so highly important to the
country at large, wilt again receive your early attention,
and the serious consideration of the Admiralty and the
Government. —I remain, Sir, yours, most respectfully,
Aug. 26, 1845. A READER.

Mr. HupsoN.—Our opinion of Mr. Hudson has
been repeatedly expressed. What he is he has chiefly to thank
himself for. Prudence and energy are curiously mingled in
him. Natural sagacity he possesses very largely ; and be
seems gifted also with no small share of common sense. We
doubt whether he has shown his accustomed tact in seeking
for a seat in Parliament. Mr. Cobden, it is true, obtained a
similar position, and has won very high repute as a legislator,
but then Mr. Cobden is a brilliant exception to a general
rule, and had the additional advantage of being very well edu-
cated, of having travelled through the greater part of Europe
and the United States, and of having obtained very high repu-
tation as a political writer before he entered Parliament. Add
to this the advantage of comparative youth, while his mind, in
many ways, had obtained fah maturity.—Railway Express.
BARNET FAlR.—This great cattle fair commenced
yesterday. The stock offered for sale this year was exceedingly
great, and the business was brisk. The black cattle occupied
a very considerable portion of the fair-field, and were in much
better condition than Welsh cattle generally are at this season
of the year, which is attributed to the plentifulness of pasture.
The prices obtained was from Si. to 81. Bs. ; Scots made 14/.,
and fat beasts averaged 4s. per stone. Mulch cows met with
ready sale at prices varying from 141. 10s. to 18 guineas, and
heifers done calving 91. 9s. The sheep-pens were not exten-
sive : good down wethers ma !e ss. per stone, and lambs for
stock 17s. a head. Prime young cart-horses obtained good
prices, but old and inferior ones met with a dull sale. The
droves of Welsh ponies were thick, and a good many were sold.
Upon the whole, neat stock made 10 per cent. increase on last
year's prices, and the general account from the several counties
is, that there is an abundance of feed for grazing, and that the
price of stock will be lower. _

MURDER AND SUICIDE.—On Tuesday afternoon an
inquest was held at the Springfield goal, Chelmsford, on the
body of William Blackburn, who attempted self-destruction by
cutting his throat immediately after murdering his wife, at the
village of Stondon, Mopey, in that county, in June last, and
against whom a verdict of " Wilful murder " was returned by
the coroner's jury. The man and his deceased wife had lived
as servants in the house of Mr. Ffrench, of Stondon Hall, and
she was found n her bedroom, lying on the bed, dead, with
her throat cut. The husband was nowhere to be found, and
later in the day was met with near a neighbouring wood, having
also inflicted a frightful wound in his own throat. A razor
was discovered in his pocket, and he acknowledged committing
the injuries. Ile was unable to take his trial for the murder of
his wife at the late assizes. Latterly he became more rational,
but exceedingly dejected. A turnkey was constantly with him,
and extreme exhaustion ended his days on Friday last. The
jury returned a verdict " That the deceased died from the
effects of a wound in his throat, inflicted by himself whilst in a
state of temporary insanity."
SHOCKING WAGGON ACCIDENT AT BAYSWATER.—
Yesterday afternoon a man, named Vincent, was getting off
the shaft of Johnson's Uxbridge waggon at Bayswater, in
doing which he slipped and tell to the ground and before
it was possible for the driver to stop his horses the front
wheels passed over his legs, fracturing both of them in a
shocking manner, and the hind wheel passed over his body. He
was removed to St. George's Hospital, and without hopes of
recovery.
TILE SILK-TRADE.—A meeting of the silk manu-
fact.", s of the metropolis was held at the Weavers'-hall, on
Wednesday, in reference to the Act of last session, known at
the Silk Nl' e.tvers Act. The object of the meeting was
to adopt proceedings to carry out the Act, and it was agreed
that from the 20th instant, the imperial measure of thirty-six
inches in the yard (instead of the present 37 inches) should b.)
introduced, and that the same should be recommended for
the general adoption of the trade. The meeting considered
the new Act as a mutual protection to masters and weavers,
and resolved to pay their men for work not returned at the rate
of 36 inches in the yard, from the 9th ult., when the Act was
passed. A committee was named to draw up a form of ticket
required by the Act, and to recommend its adoption through.
out the trade. The resolutions were ordered to be advertised
!II all the daily paper,.