The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-20 00:00:00

AMERICAN PAPERS.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR DOD, OF PRINCETON
COLLEGE, NEW JERSEY.
We regret to learn, by the last steamer from America,
the death of Professor Dod, of Princeton College—a
gentleman well known by repute in this country. Pro-
fessor Dod was celebrated for his conversational talents,
which were little, if in any way, inferior to those of Samuel
Taylor Coleridge. We copy the following tribute to his
memory from a Boston paper :
Professor Dod, of Princeton, is dead. He breathed
his last yesterday afternoon (Thursday), at a about half-
past four o'clock, after a week's illness.
The College of New Jersey, of which the deceased was
a distinguished professor, will long mourn its irrepar-
able loss—the Church"; of which he was' a learned and
eloquent minister—the country, of which he was an
intelligent, patriotic, and faithful citizen—the friendly
and the family circle, of which he was the hope and the
ornament—each will mourn a dispensation—so little
anticipated—so inscrutable, so overwhelming.
Albert B. Dod had reached his fortieth year, and
was, therefore, in the vigour and promise of life ; with
all his faculties bent to the accomplishment of the great
trust to which he had devoted himself—that of advancing
and perfecting liberal education.
His department in the College was mathematics, but
his intellectual grasp comprehended all the kindred
sciences—and his thirst for knowledge, combined with
a discriminating taste, led him to the cultivation and
appreciation of the classics and belles lettres. He was
indeed a fine illustration of an accomplished scholar
and Christian gentleman—showing in all things the
liberalising influences of good studies upon an ingenuous
nature.

In his intercourse with the students of the College,
Mr. Dod was most happy in conciliating their regard,
while exciting their emulation. He taught them to
value knowledge, as much by his example as his precepts,
and he, in like manner, taught them, too, that neither
talents nor knowledge are valuable, or to be valued,
except as founded on and strengthened by good principles
and good conduct.
Of his social and domestic qualities, we will not trust
ourselves to speak—for what to those who knew him
not in those relations might seem exaggeration, would,
to the friends that lo%ed him, sound like faint and feeble
praise.
But he is gone.
Mullis ille bonis flebilis occidit,
Nulli flebilior quam mihi.
OREGON.—The origin of the proposition to which
allusion has been made, for the adjustment of the Oregon
question, appears to be indicated in the following para-
graph from the Toronto Banner ;—" Mr. Buchanan, late
British Consul at New York, has proposed a plan for
preventing collision, which has been submitted to both
Governments. It has been noticed by the New York
papers, and suggests a Board of Commissioners mutually
chosen. If this board does not agree, it proposes
that a portion of the territory shall be set aside as
mutual ground till 1860, or till it shall have contained
100,000 inhabitants for the five previous years; that
then, if two-thirds of these inhabitants agree, it will be
open to them to become an independent state, or to
annex themselves to Britain or America, as they see fit,
reserving to both countries equal rights of trade.
The worthy ex-Consul's plan may be a very good one,
but it would be better that every question between
our belligerent neighbours and us were settled at once.
It is impossible, however, to think that the formidable
preparations for defence of the English coast, are dic-
tated from fear of an American war. The British
Cabinet must have information, that, in .such an event,
France will be likely to take part with the United
States. The value of the Oregon territory is not great,
in itself, but our Government will not allow herself to
be bullied out of what is conceived to belong of right to
the British Empire."
The Washington correspondent of the Charleston
Courier thus writes :—" It is, I have uo doubt, the wish
of the people of the United States to treat Mexico ge-
nerously and liberally in this matter—more especially
since she has offered us the olive branch. We
ought to be willing to grant her an ample equive.,..
lent for the boundary which we propose to take, or
rather have taken. This is the proper time, also, for por-
chasing the Californias of Mexico. Her hold is exceed-
ingly weak on that State, and she must relinquish it to
England. Would not our people do well to take Cali-
fornia, with its fine harbours and fertile lands, while
they can be got for a few millions, instead of marching
an army across the Rocky Mountain to conquer from
the British some wild and worthless lands on the
Pacific North of Columbia River ? This is the time to
settle this matter."

WELL DESERVED TRIBUTE.—The following is a
copy of a letter addressed, by T. G. Grattan, Esq.,
British Consul for Boston, Massachussetts, to Capt. Up-
ton, of the ship Governor Davis, one of Train's Line of
Liverpool Packets :
" B. M. Consulate, Boston, Oct., 17, 1845.
" Sir—l have to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of yesterday's date, accompanied by one from
Captain Salter, of the British ship • Glenview,' detailing
the particulars of your humane conduct, in rescuing, at
great risk, from the wreck of that vessel, the muter,
officers, and crew, consistin of twenty-two individuals,
and your having provided them with clothing, subsisted
them on board your ship for three weeks, and treated
them throughout with the greatest kindness.
"For this conduct I beg to offer you my cordial
thanks, and to assure you of the gratitude of the persons
who owe their lives to you. Such instances of gene-
rosity and humanity are by no means uncommon in the
American merchant-service ; and I shall have great
pleasure, as I have had on similar occasions, in report-
trig the circumstances of the case for the consideration
of her Majesty's Government.
"I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" T. C. GRATTAN.
"Captain Upton, of the American ship
Governor Davis, Boston."
Mr. Grattan is the well-known author of " Highways
and Byeways."

The Marquis and Marchioness of Douro are ex-
pected to return to this country on the 15th of the ensuing
mouth, from Rome, after a tour of nearly six months in
Germany and Italy. They were to leave Rome for Naples
this month, and thence to l'lorence.
___

THE NORTHERN COLLEGE.—We are enabled to
state that the Vice-Principalship of the Northern College bas
been conferred upon Dr. Thomas Andrews, of this town.
This reponsible situation was tendered to Dr. Thompson, of
Glasgow, and by him refused. Dr. Andrews is a gentleman
of high scientific attainments, and is at present Professor of
Chemistry in the Medical School attached to the Belfast In-
stitution.—Belfast Chronicle.
GLASTONBURY.—FREE-TRADE MEETING.—In this
benighted, Tory and priest-ridden town, the seeds of free
trade have at length struggled through many impediments
and brought forth fruit. On the evening of Thursday se'n-
night a public meeting of the inhabitants and its neighbour-
hood took place. to try the strength of free trade with pro-
tection, and it is with much pleasure we state that the opinion
in favour of opening the ports was unanimously expressed.—
Somerset County Gazette.
BEVERLET.—REPRESENTATION.— 0 wing totbe un-
certainty which prevails as to th• course which Lord John
Russell will adopt, no positive announcement has yet been
made as to the intention of the two parties in Beverley, but
we understand the Liberals will be fully prepared with two
" good men and true," should an election take place.—Hull
Advertiser.

SALE OF A CURIOUS COLLECTION Or BLACK-
LETTER BOORS AND MANUSCRIPTS.—Yesterday a sale by
auction, of a curious collection of black-letter books and
manuscripts, forming a portion of an episcopal library, re-
ceived from the Continent (commenced on Thursday), was
resumed, and concluded at Mr. Fletcher's rooms, in Piccadilly.
The following, from their rarity, are deserving of notice
" 13iblia Germanica," without date, place, or printer's name,
but printed in 146-2. This book (the catalogue stated) is
a first edition of the German Bible, and of the utmost
rarity, being alluded to by De Buie, Clement, and Vogt,
in their works. It consists of 404 leaves, each page having
two columns, each column containing GO lines. The book
sold for 15 guineas. Two copies of the first edition of Lu-
ther's Bible, with wood-cuts after designs by Albert Durer
and Lucas Cranach, sold respectively for Si. 2s. 6d. and
81. 15s. The autographs of the various German monarchs
fetched very low prices, the highest price being 11.45. for
the autograph of Charles V., Emperor of Germany. An auto-
graph of Napoleon fetched only 95., and one of Charles XII.
of Sweden but 18s.

COAL-PIT ACCIDENT.—THREE PERSONS KILLED.—
An inquest was held at Aspull, on Saturtav last, before Mr.
Henshall, deputy county coroner, on the bodies of John Shep-
herd, agel 44, William Shepherd, his son, 13 years of age,
and William Butterworth, aged 18. From the evidence
adduced, it appeared that the unfortunate individuals, who
were colliers, were at work, on the Thursday previous, in a
coal-pit at Aspull, belonging to Earl Belearres ; there was
some foul air in the pit, which came in conduct with a lighted
candle, and caused an explosion to take place. Another man,
named Thomas Seddon, who was working in the same level,
was also so dreadfully injured that he is not expected to
recover. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death in
every case; and the coroner severely reprimanded the over-
looker of the pit for not using greater caution in examining
into the state of the pit, as to the existence of foul air in it,
and also preventing the men from working with lights that
were not properly guarded.—Liverpool Mercury.
CHRISTMAS Boxas.—The Corporation of Colchester
have taken the necessary steps to prevent the police, town
sergeants, and other paid officers, from receiving Christmas
boxes.—Essex Standard.
WRECK OF A COLCHESTER VESSEL.—It is our
painful duty to record the total wreck of the brig Mercury, of
this port, with the loss of three lives, viz., Captain Nunn,
jun., and two of the crew. She was on her passage from the
north, coal laden, and on Thursday afternoon last, whilst off
Whitbv, encountered some rough weather with a very heavy
sea. About six o'clock she shipped a sea over her stern.
which carried away the jolly boat and stove in her stern
frame, with all the bulwarks to the main rigging. The crew
then hove to till about nine o'clock, when another tremen-
dous sea went over her, washing away the long boat and
breaking in the main hatch ; the fore bulkhead also gave
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feet of water was found in the hold, so that the only chance
of the crew saving their lines was to run her for the shore,
upon which about eleven o'clock she struck. At this junc-
ture the captain's rope broke and he was washed overboard,
but the rest of the crew took to the rigging, where they re-
mained nearly four hours within a short distance of the
beach ; the sea, however, was so heavy that the life-boat
could not put (if to their assistance; but hy means of a
rocket a rope was ultimately pa4sed over tie vessel, by
Ivhich four of the crew, named M'Nish, Ezekiel and S. Ben-
nett, and J. Baker, were pulled asbose. Robert Barrett,
mother seaman, unfortunately lost his hold of the rope and
was drowned; and a third, named Joseph Humm, who was
in the fore-rigging when the ship parted, met a similar ma-
lancholy fate. The body of 'lntim was picked up the fel-
lowing day, but neither the captain nor Barrett had been
found.—Essex Standard. _

----
NI -
A SER.--A few days ago, died wretchedly in a
garret at Boulogne, a woman who had ettained her eighty-
tifth year. Her relations, when they examined her chamber,
found concealed in a closet money to the amount of 1,730 f.
She was the owner of a farm, and also of a Louse, at Bou-
logne, both well let, and vet had the audacity to beg in the
streets. She had when fciund by the tenant of her farm who
came on business, been dead, as declared by the medical men
called in, at least thirty-six houre, and probably from starva-
tion, as not a morsel of food was to be found is the room.
The prOyerty of this miatrableMlA 4 SWUM tt 42,0.0 t