The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

ANGULAR TEA PARTY.—On Monday, Mr. Richard
Jennison, landlord of the Horse Shoe Inn, Bulwell, gave a
tea party to a number of females, whose ages were above 60.
The old ladies were fetched from their respective homes in a
fly, engaged, with laudable consideration, by their worthy
benefactor for that purpose. At five o'clock tea was served
to 42 persons, whose united ages amounted to 2,746 years;
and the scene, which will long be remembered, was one that
created much excitement in the village. Amongst those
present were Jenny Burton, aged 95 ; Nelly Wain, 92 ; and
Jane Key, 71; the last of those, the wife of Robert Key, a
pensioner, was present at the taking of Copenhagen, in 1807,
and in Sir John Moore's retreat from Sahagun to Corrunna,
two years afterwards. Tea being- over, the Rev. S. Rogers,
with a party of gentlemen and ladies, entered the room, and
were received with great respect ; a young gentleman present
presented those who smoked with an ounce of tobacco, and
the rest with a shilling each in money. Ale was then handed
round, and the ancient matrons drank the healths of the vi-
sitors and their worthy host and hostess, with every demon-
stration of delight and gratitude for the kindness which had
been shown them. The fly then began to carry them home;
and in a short time the party was broken up. Mr. Jennison's
conduct upon the occasion was most praiseworthy; he has
certainly followed the apostolic direction touching the invi-
tation of guests, and his example is worthy of imitation.—
Nottingham Paper.
Extract of a letter from Milan, Sept. 15 :—" A
circumstance has lately occured in this: city which has ex-
cited much curiosity and interest,: owing to the peculiarity of
some of the causes which have led to so unfortunate an
eaposi. The parties are moving in the higher circles of so-
ciety, and are well known both at Florence and Nice. The
facts, as far as we have been able to learn them, are these :
It appears that, for a considerable time, Colonel 1— and
his wife have lived most unhappily together, notwithstanding
the fact that they were married at Gretna Green thirty years
ago, and have a family of eighteen children ; they deter-
mined to separate, but could not agree on any arrangement
respecting the children, the colonel insisting they should all
remain with him, to which Mrs. A. would not consent.
Matters were in this state when the lady (who is in delicate
health) went with the colonel's permission to the Baths of
Acqui, taking with her two children, and from thence she pro-
ceeded (without the knowledge f her husband) to Milan,
having her passport signed for England. The colonel, being
apprised of the movement, started off in pursuit of his runa-
way lady, and hearing she was still at Milan, made a formal
application to the Austrian Government to have her arrested,
and sent back to Genoa, where he then was. His request
was immediately complied with, notwithstanding the strong
objections urged on the part of the lady, and her absolute
refusal to quit Milan. The police were inexorable, having
politely informed her that when a woman was once married
her proper place was with her husband, and that if the did
not quietly set out the next day, she would be escorted to
the frontier by the gendarmerie ; this hint was sufficient,
and the colonel had the pleasure of receiving his wife and
children safe and sound, two days after at Genoa. The lady
is sister to the mother of a Radical Cornish Baronet, who is
now a candidate for a seat in Parliament. She was for-
merly well known as a celebrated beauty both at Bath and at
Cheltenham."
SINGULAR DEATH.—A considerable degree of ex-
citement has been occasioned in Yarmouth, by the death of
a man named Purdy, on Sunday week, under circumstances
which may be justly deemed remarkable. He was about 75
years of age, and had for several days prior to his decease
been suffering from pleurisy and inflammation of the lungs.
Mr. R. R. B. Norman, the surgeon, who had been called in
to visit him, considered it a hopeless case, and prepared the
family to expect a fatal result. On Saturday night Purdy's
wife, who was sitting up with him, fell asleep from fatigue ;
and during her sleep the poor man, in a state of delirium, got
up, left the house with only his bed-dress on, and imagining
his donkey had got loose, was feeling about the shutters of a
neighbouring house for his stable, when he was perceived by
the female occupant of the dwelling, who, started by the
sight of an object so apparelled, gave an alarm. Henry
Royal went to her assistance, and taking the midnight wan-
derer for the redoubtable street disturber known to the public
by the appellation of "Spring-heeled Jack," proceeded to
inflict summary punishment upon him, and beat him vio-
lently about the face. The neighbours went to his assist-
ance, and recognising the poor fugitive in his delirious
state, conveyed him to his own house, where he died on the
following day. An inqueit was held on Monday evening,
beft pre Mr. W. S. Ferrier, coroner, and an intelligent and re-
spectable jury. Several witnesses were examined, amongst
whom were Austin Woodthorpe, the woman with whom Royal
lived, Elizabeth Brindley, and John Ingram, all of whom
deposed to the violent conduct of Royal to the delirious man,
and some of them imputed to him a knowledge of the victim
of his unprovoked attack; alleging further his declaration,
that he " did not care about killing him." Blood was upon
the forehead of the deceased when he was taken home. and
the indications of delirium could not be mistaken. The evi-
dence of Mr. Norman and Mr. Costerton, who conducted the
post-mortem examination, went to prove that the injuries in
the face and over the right eye-brow were in all probability
inflicted by a man's hand or knuckles ; but they did not con-
sider them as the cause of death, which was the result of in-
ternal disease. They could not even say that it was acce-
lerated by the treatment he had received. The jury, after
ten minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict ascribing death
to natural causes. Purdy was in 1812 engaged in the Duke
of York's memorable expedition into Holland.—Suffolk
Chronicle

SOCIETY FOR TDB PROMOTION AND IMPROVEMENT
OF THE GROWTH OF FLAX IN IRELAND.--The usual monthly
committee meeting of this society was held in the Commer-
cial Buildings, Belfast, on the 10th inst., W. S. Crawford,
in the chair. The treasurer's report showed some addition
to the funds since last meeting; and the secretary was or-
dered to call in the subsidies of the branches and farming
societies, which had qualified for agriculturists. The greater
number of agriculturists still continued to be occupied in
several districts, and the late fine weather had been very
favourable for their operations. Several samples of the new
crop of flax were shown, and appeared to be of good quality.
Sonic parcels, grown in the county Louth, were laid on the
table, being specimens of the first grown in that district; and
their appearance gave much satisfaction, and promised well
for the future prosecution of flax culture in that county.
Some specimens of Longford flax were also shown; but hay-
ing been prepared on the old system, too soon pulled, not
half steeped, and fire dried, they were very inferior, though
the flax would have been very good had it been handled
better. The agriculturist in charge of the districts in the
county of Cork, which had been qualified for his instruc-
tions, had gone to Skibbereen and Clonakilty, to report on
the management of flax in those localities. A considerable
quantity Is there grown, small patches, but managed in a
wretched way. The attention, however, of some gentlemen
in the neighbourhood is now directed to the subject, and they
are endeavouring to set on foot the increased cultivation of
the plant on an improved system, with a view to revive the
manufacture of coarse linens. The secretary stated, that he
had made arrangements to attend the Royal Agricultural So-
ciety's meetings at Ballinasloe, and through the instrumen-
tality of the members of the Flax Society, who would be
there present, to call attention to the Society's views. The
meeting then separated.
CHURCH BUILDING ACTS.---4, question is likely to
arise of some difficulty respecting the appointment of church-
wardens under the Act of last session (8 and 9 Vic., c. 79),
entitled "An Act for the further amendment of the Church
Building Acts." By the seventh section it is provided that
two persons shall be annually appointed churchwardens for
any new church (without a district) already built, or here-
after to be built ; the first appointments of such persons to
take place within two calendar months after the passing of
the Act (31st July last), with respect to a church already
built and consecrated, and within two months after the con-
secretion of a church to be hereafter built. One of the church-
wardens is to be appointed by the minister of the church, and
the other by the renters of pews therein only the majority at
any meeting to be summoned. Where there are no rented
pews, the minister is authorised to appoint both. The ques-
tion is whether the election is to be confined to renters of
timonercellayurseenitn
tsheaetaAacrte. to
oTr
hwelriee tihsenr
THE FISHERIES.—ST. IvEs.—No pilchards' have
bewl included. 11 d pews,ed.
been seen from the hills during the week.
_Mackerel are
othinotseerpwrehtao

very plentiful on the coast, but the weather has prevented
the boats from driving. Two boats went out on Tuesday
night, and caught about 2,000 each, which were sold at 12s.
per 120. West Briton.

CHEAP LAw.—At the recent sessions held at
Wakefield a person was indicted for stealing two hen eggs,
and being convicted, was imprisoned a month. The expenses
of this trial, paid out of the county rates, was seven pounds
three shillings over and above the charges for apprehension,
depositions, &c., before trial—so goes the county money in
cheap law and justice at every man's door.—Leeds Times.

TEMPERAMENT OF VOLTAIRE.
His nature was open and ardent ; he had the irrita-
bility which oftentimes accompanies genius ; but he had
the warm temperament, the generous self-abandonment,
the uncalculating effusions of sentiment which was also
its attendant, and which sixty years' living in the world
never cured, hardly mitigated, in Voltaire. His ex-
pressions were, no doubt, stronger than his feelings,
but we know that this strength of expression has a cer-
tain re-action, and excites the feelings in its turn, cer-
tainly is ever taken into the account when its objsct
makes a bad or a cold requital, and irritates the minds
from which it had proceeded, if in no other way, at
least by wounding their pride. Nothing can be more
extravagant than the technology of Voltaire's affections.
" My dearest friend" is too cold to be almost ever used ;
it is " my dear and adorable friend," " my guardian
angel," " my adorable friend," and often, to the Ar-
gentals especially, the union of both, " my adorable
angels." All philosophers are Newtons, all poets Vir-
gils, all historians Sallusts, all marshals Caisars. The
work of the President Henault is not certainly " son,"
but " votre oharmante, votre immorel ouvrage," being
the most dry and least charming history that ever was
penned, and which never would be read but as a con-
venient chronicle. The expressions of affection, of eter-
nal, warm, even passionate affection, are lavished con-
stantly and indifferently. Nay, to one friend, a Marshal
and Duke (Richelieu), he says, addressing him as mon-
seigneur, " Il y a dans Paris force vieilles et illustres
catins sl qui vous ayes fait passer de joyeux moments,
mais it nyen a point qui vous aime plus de moi." With
all this vehemence of feeling and facility of effusion, as
well as of exaggeration, there was joined an irritability
that brought on cold fits occasionally, and then the snow,
or rather the hail, fell as easily and abundantly as the
tepid showers had before descended. Nothing can ex-
ceed his affection for his nieces, especially for Madame
Denis ; but he must have outraged her feelings severely
to draw from her such a letter as she wrote in 1754. The
same exaggeration that pervades his expressions towards
others is observable in all that he writes himself, whe-
ther upon the sufferings of his mind, or those, somewhat
more real, of his body. He had, unhappily, a feeble con-
stitution, and having taken little care of it in early life,
he was a confirmed invalid for the rest of his days ; but
especially between forty and sixty. He suffered from
both bladder complaints and those of the ali-
mentary canal ; and his surgical maladies, besides the
pain and irritation which they directly occasioned,
gave him all the sufferings and inconveniences of a bad
digestion. There was, therefore, a sufficient foundation
for frequent recourse to the state of his health. But he
writes as if he was not merely in constant danger: he is
generally at the point of death, and it is observable, that
the more deeply he is engaged in any vexatious dispute,
and the more he has, or thinks he has, occasion to com-
plain of maltreatment, the more regularly and the more
vehemently does he describe his alarming, nay, his dying
condition. In such circumstances it iv a figure never
wanting to round a period, or to fill up the measure of
his own wrongs and bis adversary's oppressions. It is
singular that a man of his genius, one especially who had
so well studied the human heart, and painted so strik-
ingly the dignity of our nature, should invariably, and
even with the least worthy antagonist, prefer being
plaintive to being powerful, and rather delight in being
the object of compassion than of terror.—Lord
Brougham's Lives of Men of Letters.