The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-01 00:00:00

and Noutier, assuring them at the same tithe
that she really was very ingenious and clever in
the loom at other silha, although she certainly
had never made any such as this, and the masters
at once, very much to their credit, decided upon
giving
so industrious a girl a fair trial. Some
of the thread silk was accordingly given out to
her, and she set about her work without delay ;
but before she had finished the weaving of many
inches of it in the loom, the 'nesters saw at a
glance that she was perfect mistress of her work,
and that no person in the trade could be more
competent to complete it. Thenceforward, for
16 months, did this young girl unceasingly labour
at her task until she bad completed with her own
hands nearly 200 yards of this splendid and in
this country unique specimen of British manu-
facture. Mary Davis is her name, and she re-
„sides with her father in South Conduit-street,
Bethnal-green-road.. The labour and difficulty
of making this silk may be judged of by the
fhet, that the quickest of the weavers who
worked at it—and this young female was one of
them—could not complete more than 15 inches
t it in the day ; and the wages for this arduous
Work was only
.!..)f. per yard. We mentioned in
a former artiPle, that the weavers of this silk,
finding that they could .not maintain themselves
upon the rate of wages then paid to them, such
Was the shetertess and labour of the work, com-
plained of:circumstance, and induced a re-
presentation to he made to his Majesty to that
effect ; and that the moment the complaint had
reached the Royal ear, his Majesty was gra-
ciously pleased to direct, that thenceforward the
actual weavers should receive double wages from
his Majesty's bounty until the completien of the
whole of the work.
Under the new terrace of the Cattle, com-
mencing at the Brunswick tower, and terminatieg
at the south-east angle, forming a crescent, and
enclosing about two acres of ground, is the
orangery, desceia'eer gently from the north side
and looking towards the south. This terrace
itself is a favourable instance of the strength and
solidity, as well as the taste with which Sir
Jeffery Wyatville is carrying on the improve-
ments in this palace. Immediately under the
gravel surface of the terrace is a floor of lead,
and, beneath this again is one of iron ; and,
lastly, there is a floor directly over the orangery
composed of wood and plaster, the whole form-
ing a mass of strength and durability, that may
with truth almost be said to defy the inroads of
time itself. This substantial work, it should be
observed, extends only to that part of the ter-
race which is over the orangery, and is intended
chiefly as a protection for the portion of the
beautiful garden which this terrace encloses and I
partially covers. Ali the other parts of the ter-
race are entirely of stone, having loop-holes, in
which cannon are intended to be placed, this
being the only accessible point of -the Castle in
case of attack. The whole of the garden with in
this terrace is proceeding rapidly towards per-
fection, and will be an object of great attractioe
when entirely arranged, under the able direction
of Mr. Afton, of Kensington, the King's
gardener ; and will boast of some of the choicest
plants and flowers that Europe produces. Some
of the orange-trees that are already planted are
of immense size, being from 16 to 18 feet in
height, and the divrietcr of the stem einla and
ten inches, and as the orange tree is known to
be of very slow growth, these must at least be
100 years old, and were presented to his Ma-
jesty by the present King of France.
The eastern wing of the Castle, viewed from
the footpath that leads through the Little Park
from Frogmore to Datchet, is the nearest view
that can be had of the external beauties and mag-
nificence of this palace, being a distance of about
half a mile only, and this view presents a diffe-
rent feature from any other part of the Castle,
The appearance of this wing would seem much
too uniform, but for the recent improvement of
raising the north-east tower at the one end, and
the newly built octagon tower at the other. At
equal distances between these two towers are four
heavy projections, and in these projections are
contained the splendid Gothic windows of his
Majesty's principal rooms, and no approach to
this wing of the Castle is permitted nearer than
the footpath of which we have spoken. The
view of this wing, however, is by
.no means so
picturesque as any of the other sides of the
building. The most advantageous view, beyond
comparison, is from the London road, on the
Eton side ; for although this portion of the
Castle lying north is principally in shade, yet
etanding as it does in a lofty eminence, and sur-
mounted by its beautiful minarets and splendid
towers (for of the latter there are here several—
viz., Julius CEesar'st Tower, ViTykehatn Tower, the
New Brunswick Tower, and the Round Tower,)
presents a grandeur of effect to which it woulel
be difficult for description to do justice. The
lofty Sunning-hill side presents also a most
splendid view ; for although less commanding
and sublimely grand than that which we have
just described it possesses, in a high degree, time
advantages of light and shadow, which the other
wants. The necessity of' gieing a greater eleva-
tion to the Keep, or Round Tower, is very ap-
parent in this view; for although an object of so
decided a character in the building, it scarcely
raises its head above the less marked features of
the structure, and, indeed, were it not for the
magnitude of the Royal Standard, which always
surmounts this tower while hie Majesty is at
Windsor, it would be almost lost to view as at
ail remarkable. The Royal Standard thus.
hoisted here is of very extensive dimensions, the
drapery being 30 feet in length, and of a proeor-
tionate depth, and the flagstaff upward, of 40
feet in height. To those who have ever seen
Carlton house in its perfectly furnished state,
much of the ferniture at present occupying the
King's and Queen's new apartments in the
Castle would be racily recognizable, although in
its new situation :t appears to much greater ad-
vantage, and is far more attractive ; but on this
head we shall speak more particularly when all is
arranged, fcr this is as yet by no means the ease.
Some of the most eminent artists have been
consulted in the arrangement?, and Messrs.
Chantry and Wilkie, the Royal Academicians,
have had, by command, seine private audiences
of his Majesty, it is supposed, with reference to
the busts and pictures in the corridor, and pro-
bably to receive orders for other new ones. A
trial has been had by his Majesty and a select
party, of the octagon music-room, and the effect
of the music in the first instance was not quite
satisfactory ; but some very slight alterations, it
is known, will not fail to remedy the defect.

A LITTLE LEARNING.—A Cockney ex-
porteli himself in August last, per steam-boat Cr to
to Calais, f r a whole day, under theiinpression th.it a dip
in the French might be superior to one in thc. Margate
sea. He proceeded to the harbour, and to low his pro-
ficiency in the Gallic language, inquired (as he thought) if
he could bathe there? but, by an uellucky tubstitution of
haleine for bale, his question was, " Can l catch a whale
here?" Explanations followed, and er..n the French po-
liteness was forced to give Way to natural laughter.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRENCH PAPER .
(Flom the Gazette de France, dated Dec. SO.)

PARN, DEC. 29.--A telegrephic despatch has
brought orders to Toulon to send away the hay which
is in depot at that port. Th.t forage is intended
for the support of the horses during the voyage.
Their return will- very-shortly take ,plate; thirty
vessels, lately hired to convey them, are now fitting
up for that purpose. Orders have also been giren to
embark the wine, the contracts for which have been
confirmed.

EGINA, Nor. B.—The President Colocotroni,
Commander-in-Chief of the troops in the Pelopon-
nest's, ;Lod Noti Botzaris and Nosso Photomaro,
are Members of the Council of State.
On the sth, the Commander-in-Chief Demetrius
Ypsilanti left the camp at Meg►ua for Sod:ma, with
his guard and the Chiefs Saroto, Devounioti,
Eumorphopoulo, and Vasso. These brave men,
who have been kept so long inactive, contrary to
their inclinations, are going with the greatest enthu-
siasm to combat the enemy, and to acquire fresh
laurels, like their brethren in arms, Kitzo, Tsaveila,
and I. Straw. The Chilearchs Karatasso, Hadeschi,

Petri), and Nic. Kusiati, ‘vho seemed destined to
form the reserve, remained at Megan'.
FRENCH FC 111)5.—PAElli, Dec. 29.—Fire per Cents.
107 r. 109 f. 9.5 c.; Three per Cents. 71:f. se. ; Bank
Stock, 1,812 f. 50e. ; Naples Stock, 77f. 85c. ; Bova'
Spanish Loan, 781 f ; Spanish Rente Pei-Mr:elle, 49. f. ;
hytian Loan, 525. Exchange on Lontiose, one 'eolith,
25f. 25e. ; three ruontl-s, 2M. 10c.

ANSWER OF DR. CURTIS TO THE DUKE

OF WELLINGTON.

Drogheda, Dec. 19,
.My Lord Duke.---I have never been more
agreeably surprised in my life than by the unexpected
honour of receiving your Grace's very kind and even
friendly letter of the II th instant, which, coming
from so high a quarter, I should naturally wish to
reserve if possible; but as it was franked by your-
self, the news of its arrival was known all over this
town (as might be expected from a provincial post-
office) before the letter reached my hands; so that
I was obliged, in your Grace's defence and my own
to communicate its contents to a few chosen friends,
for the satisfaction of the multitude, who might
otherwise fabricate in its stead some foolish, or per-
haps mischievous, nonsense of their own. But, for-
tunately, your Grace's letter cositained only such
liberal and benevolent sentiments as all parties must
eulogize, and none could possibly malign. Besides,
it very seasonably strengthens the testimony that I,
as a faithful witness, have on all occasions given of
your generous, upright, and impartial disposition.
It would be somewhat worse than ridiculous in me,
to offer any thing in the shape of political advice to
a consummate statesman, at the head of the first ca-
binet in or out of Europe; but as your Grace has so
humanely condescended to mention some of the dif-
ficulties rending to paralyze your efforts to settle the
Roman Catholic question, I beg leave to submit to
your superior judgment a few reflections, made to me
by some well-informed and unbiassed friends, us well
Protestants as Catholic:, who certainly understand
the subject much bet ter than I can pretend to do.
They have read with great pleasure and gratitude the
noble declaration, in whief: your Grace so strongly
expresses your sincere anxiety to witness the settle-
ment of the Roman Catholic question; \Odell, you
arc convinced, would, by benefitting the stare, confer
a benefit on every individual of society ; and you re-
gret that you see no prospect of such a settlement,
because violent party feelings are mixed up with that
question, and pervade every discussion of it to such
a degree, as to preclude the possibili•y of prevailing
upon men to consider it dispassionately. But that if
it could be buiied in oblivion for a short time, and if
that time were diligently employed in the considera-
tion of the question, you would not despair of seeing
a sat ii factory remedy.
These humane and etetesman-like sentiments (as
far as they go) do'great honour to your Grace's head
and heart, and might appear sufficient if you were a
private nobleman, but not in your present exalted
station, with power to wield, when necessary, all
the resources of Government; for it would be a slur
on the unrivalled and far-famed British Constitution
to assert, that even when well administered it does
not possess or supply treteis for establishing any-
thing known to be essential fur the peace, welfare,
and tranquillity of the empire at large, and for
pulling down or removing any intrigue or party
spirit that might wantonly attempt to oppose so
great a blessing.
My friends allow that sued momentous exertions
may be sometimes unsuccessful when Government
is emalucted by weak or unsupported heads or hands,
and that they require such a prime minister as the
nation has now, and, I hope, will long have, the
happiness to enjoy ; who, after as uninterrupted
series of the greatest victories, :17 d It successful ar-
rangement of the most important interests that
perhaps ever yet occurred, has been placed at the
head of Government by the err ire and well-earned
confidence of our most gracious Sovereign, and with
the universalnpplause of the-whole empire, and, in-
deed, of ail other nations. Under such a chief, exert-
ing his legitimate prerogative, they say that no
party would dare to oppose the general good ;
and that if your Grace would intimate your se-
rious resolution to settle the Roman Catholic ques-
tion, its opponeets would instantly fly and appear
no more ; and if the settlement were once car-
tied, it woul4 in a few days be no more spoken or
_thought of than the concessions now arc that were
lately made to the Dissenters; for the enemies of such
• arrangement are trot half so angry in reality as they
new appear to be, in order by that bugbear to carry
their point. But my friends have no hesitation in
declaring that the project mentioned by your Grace
of burying the Catholic question im oblivion, for the
purpose of considering it more at leisure, is totally
inadmissible, and would exasperate in the highest
degree those who are already too much excited, anti
would only consider that measure as a repetition of
the same old pretext so often employed to elude and
disappoint their hopes of redress; but that if it even
were adopted, it could only serve to augment the
difficulties by allowing the contending parties, and
pat ticularly the enemies of all concession, the oppor-
tunities they seek for preparing their means of re-
sistance and violence, which they have latterly car-
ried to the most alarming lengths, which they have
avowed and publicly announced in atrocious and
sanguinary terms, to which, however, I should
not here allude, for I never wish to be
an accuser, but that I am certain your Grace must
have read those horrible threats, often repeated in
the Brunswick and Orange public prints; and to
this latter subject at least I must beg leave to call
your Grace's attention, and to implore your power-
ful protection, humbly praying that you will not
suffer public peace and concord to be violated or dis-
turbed under any pretext whatever. An effectual
remedy would cost your Grace but one word. Ido
not, however, hereby mean to meddle in temporal
affairs, but I consider it my bounden duty to labour
incessantly, in concurrence with all my venerable
confreres, to impress upon the minds and hearts of
all those committed to our spiritual care, sentiments
of true Christian charity, moderation, and kind for-
bearance, towards all men without exception.
I beg your Grace will excuse the length of this
letter, and vouchsafe to consider it as a proof of my
unfeigned regard, and of the sincere respect with
which I have the honour to remain, my Lord
Duke, your Grace's most obedient mid most hum-
ble servant,

R. CURTIS.

To the Society of Antiquaries in Scotland the
Earl of Fife 137... s prevented coins lately fund of the unfor-
tunate Mary. To which have been added, a sp-sr, 15 fe't
long, nose-rings, Mexican mills, ohl wooden wheels, and
other curiosities.

A 3 an instance of the increase in the trade of
it may be mentioned, that about six thouvand tons
of coals have been entered at the Customs for the lust
quArter, ending 10th of October, for the port of Dundee
alone.—Scotch