The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-10 00:00:00

PENINSULAR BONDS.

In answer to several applications from the
country respecting the payment of the half-years'
dividend on Portuguese and Spanish Bonds, we
regret to say the following is the only informa-
tion we can at present furnish. The Portuguese
Dividend (only half of what is due) fixed by the
November decree, is in course of payment in
London at present, but the limited hours for re-
ceiving it are sadly complained of. The money
is paid by the finance agency of Portugal. The
dividends, though really due in ,December, were
not tobe paid, according to the new arrangement,
till the Ist January. Respecting the two half-.
years' dividends expected to be paid on the
capitalised coupons of Spanish Bonds, we can
state absolutely nothing certain; and we can only
advise the bondholders, who have had so many
disappointments from that quarter, to mistrust
every statement till their broker informs them
that he has received their dividends.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AND EX-
TENSIVE LOSS OF LIFE.
, We have this moment received the following
letter :
" TO THE EDITOR OP THE MORNING POST.
" SIR,—I am directed by the office to let you
know that.a tremendous and most singular oc-
currence has just taken place in the immediate
neighbourhood of our city. In the confusion
which prevails I cannot, of course, be expected.
to transmit particulars with anything like accu-
racy; but rather than delay, I send you a gene-
ral statement, conceiving that the earlieSt pos-
sible notice will be interesting to the public
through the medium of your popular Journal.
Between lbw and five o'clock this evening, and
when almost twilight, the entire surface of a very
large piece of ground more than seven acres, at
Combe Down, gave way, owing to the work-
men having conducted their excavations in a
stone quarry far beneath an angle, or rather
street, of that populous village, of which above
eighteen houses, with its beautiful new church,
school-house, &c., were thus completely un-
dermined, and have been, by the instantaneous
subsiding of their foundations, involved in
ruin; and multitudes in the buildings and
accidentally assembled on the spot have perished;
" Though late when I write, the various ave-
nues in the outlets of the city are thronged with
anxious thousands crowding towards the scene of
desolation.- The bells of the Abbey and other
churches are ringing violently, and the authori-
ties are hastening to Combe to render what as-
sistance they can 'to the surviving sufferers.
Nothing like truth can be obtained as to the loss
of human life and property by this strange cala-
mity. Report speaks of hundreds slain and mu-
tilated.
" This hurried account shall be speedily fol-
lowed.by a less confused detail of what has hap-
pened. I am, Sir, &c., "A. SISSON.
" Warden Office, 53, Milsom -street, Bath,
Sunday, January 9.
" P.S. Our paper is published on Wednesdays
only."—Morning Post.

AMESBURY UNION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR-I have been informed, on indubit4ble
authority, that sonic time since a very high pa-
negyric appeared in your paper, on the conduct
and management of the Amesbury Union and
house.

As an ex-officio Guardian of that Union, I am
intimately acquainted with all its transactions,
and must beg leave to contradict any assertion as
to its very superior merits. I must honestly un-
deceive the public by saying, that in its conduct
and management I consider it inferior to the
rnjority of the Unions in the kingdom.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
EDWARD DUKE. •
Lake House, Wilts, Jan. 7.
[Will our Correspondent inform us when the
panegyric on this Union appeared?]