The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-19 00:00:00

THE FORMIDABLE.

By a letter from Barcelona, dated December 2, we
have the following particulars of saving the above
fine man-of-war :—At a quarter before eight on the
night of the 29th, going four knots, the ship struck
the ground heavily (it appears 14 miles to the west-
ward of Barcelona). A boat was immediately die.
patched to Barcelona for assistance, and at daylight a
French steam-vessel, many boats, and small cTaft,
came to assist. The stream had been got out, and
the steamer carried out a bower. During the c
30th, two other steamers arrived from the westwa rd,
a French and Spanish ; and at five the Rodne
much to our joy and comfort, arrived and anchor( *I
a mile from the Formidable, then in four feet les e
water than she drew. The Rodney sent two cables
an end, and the Formidable two to meet them, amf
both ships hove together. The water was startedi
and pumped out, all the lower deck guns thrown over--
board, with three of the main, a quantity of shot, and'
at a quarter before 12 on the night of the 30th she was
hove off, having been 28 hours ashore. The bottom was
a soft clear sand, but being near the breakers, some
heavy rollers occasionally coming in, made the ship
thump heavily. The weather was fortunately very
fine; the rudder went soon after grounding. The
ship was dragged, by main strength, at least half a
mile, judging from the buoy of the rudder and the
first gun thrown overboard. The ship's company,
during the whole time worked well, and their conduct
is said to be beyond praise. The ship was towed toßar-
celona, from which she has proceeded to Port Mahon.
Damage sustained—(From the report of an excellent
diver.)—The false keel is gone in many places, from
ten to twelve feet in one place ; the forefoot gone ; the
rudder gone; main keel damaged in places; two leaks
forward; a small leak in the bread-room ; she makes
eight inches water per hour; between the main and
mizen masts she hung and thumped heavily. The
Cyclops, steam-frigate, had arrived, and had been sent,
to try and recover the rudder and guns. The Belvi-
dera arrived at Barcelona on the 2d inst. The writer
adds, " I am firmly of opinion that, if the Rodney had
not arrived as she did, the Formidable might have
been erased from the Navy List."—Hampshire
Telegraph.

BOARD Or GUARDIANS, GREENWICH, SATURDAY.
—At a meeting of the Board of Guardians, the
Chairman (Mr. B. Carter) brought forward the subject
of allowing roast beef, plum-pudding, and strong beer,
to the inmates of the union on Christmas-day. He
thought there could be no objection on the part of the
Board to the usual allowance being given. Mr. James
(the clerk) said that the new rules of the Poor-law
Commissioners were so stringent as regarded the
dietary of the paupers, which was only to be altered
by the medical officer, that he did not consider the
Board would be justified in making the order. Mr.
Moze said there would be a great deal of dissatisfaction
amongst the parishioners if those in the house were
debarred from that small enjoyment. Mr.Warman, the
relieving officer, said that the out-door poor, who had
only a shilling or eighteenpence per week allowed, and
never had a mouthful of meat from one month's end
to another, were more deserving objects of a little
extra allowance. The Chairman said that no doubt
anAdshteofotrheone
rules,was trheeaydyontol
some hundred pounds would be subscribed for that
becomeonly
prescribed a c con-
tributor. then -
t ri b o purpose,r
dietary, for Sundas and week days, but ys, not a word
was said about " Christmas-day," they
.must exer-
cise what they had very little of—" a discretionary
power."—(Laughter.) If they happened to do a
little wrong they would, at the same time, do •
great deal of good ; so the best way was to let the
poor enjoy themselves, and the Board must make
friends with the Commissioners afterwards. He did
not anticipate that would be a task of any great diffi-
culty. The resolution to grant the allowance was
unanimously agreed to.
NORFOLIC.--STRANGE STORY.—Messrs. Gulley, of
Cossey, have lately built a didling boat, and employed
men to take the soil from the bottom of the river in
front of their mills. A few days since these men
found a human skeleton, and a coroner's inquest has
since been held. It appears that about nine years ago
a Jew, whose name was said to be Abrams, visited Ta-
verham in the course of his trade, sold some small
articles, for which he gave credit to the purchasers,
and left the public house there in the evening, on his
way to the Lion, at Drayton (the next village), with,
as now reported, a sum of 901. in his possession. At
Drayton he disappeared, nor did he ever again come
to claim the amounts due to him at Taverham. Some
time afterwards a mars named Page was apprehended
for sheep-stealing, tried, and sentenced to be trans-
ported for life. During his imprisonment he told
divers stories of robberies and crimes, most of which
turned out to be false. But, amongst other things,
he wrote a letter, promising that if he were released
from gaol and brought to Cossey, "he would show
them that, from under the willow tree, which would
make every hair in their heads rise up." The man
was not released, but the river was drawn, and some
sheep's skins and sheep's heads were found, which
were considered to be the objects Page alluded
to. From under this willow tree, however, the
skeleton has been fished up by the didlers, and it it.
said there is proof ,that the corpse /'as fixed down by ts
muck crome. The common belief in the neighbouring-
villages is, that these are the bones of the missing
Jew, and that Page knew of the murder if he were
not an accomplice. The Magistrates, we understand,
believe that they have obtained a clue to the mur-
derers, and have been and still are earnestly engaged
in pursuing the discovery."—Norwich Mercury.
BROKEN••WINDED HoasEs.—The public ate fre-
quently imposed upon by horse-dealers selling broken-
winded horses, which are termed " warns ;" and which
defect they contrive temporarily to conceal from the
purchaser in the following manner :—" They thrust a
quantity of leaden shot, intermixed with a portion of
lard, down the horse's throat, which so operates
upon the lungs, that it keeps the health of the horse
in order for more than twenty-four hours, so as the
most ingenious dealer cannot detect the disease." If
the animal can be sold during this time, well and
good ; if not, a dose of castor oil removes the shot,
, &c. The next day the shot is again applied, and so
every alternate day the horse is fit to be exposed to
sale, which in the end seldom fails to entrap a
purchaser.
MR. WlLSON.—ahis favourite vocalist, who 'ass
honoured by singing before her Majesty at Taymouth
Castle, and who has since met with continuous success
in Scotland, will make his first appearance for the
season, at the Music Hall, Store-street, next Monday
evening.