The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-27 00:00:00

.THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 27, 1845,

difficulty of organising a large staff of serial its, but
when they were properly organised the expense would
not be more than 36 per cent.
A SHAREHOLDER, whose name we did not hear,
rose and said, that the proposition was one that the
Shareholders ought not to agree to. The Eastern
Counties shares were now at a premium, and it was not
to be supposed but that if four and a half millions of
money were to be raised on new shares, that quantity of
shares would send those now g
tie
down to a
ci;;;eount. Besides, in his opinion, Ile amount of „,..!ty
thatwould require to raise on new shares would
be nearly 9,1;;;0,0001. instead of 4,506,`,_`901
Mr. WiLuaits saki ;;.'at their receipts were at pre:,
nearly 7,0001. per week, whist} fold give a dividend of
five per cent. on the capital. They might 4014114-te .I}£!t if
the working expenses of the line did not exceed 36 pc:r
cent., which would give about one-fifth of the receipts for
working, that if they repeived 1,2501., the profit would
amount to 1,0001. They had every reason exnect an,
ine:Gase in their traffic, and he looked orwail Confi-
dently to the time when they should receive 10 per cent.
There was evs:v reason to believe that, in a short time,
the dividend wrnuit. be Six arid two-thirds, and why
should they give that up ,°*r rw guarantee of 6 per cent.,
e
having a prospect of 10 per cent., tedep ndentiv of their
York traffic? The least offer that cou:,i' leave beenw made
was a guarantee of 7i- per cent.
The CHAIRMAN said, that if such an offer Nvre
they could not have any chance of participation in their
future profits. The question was, however, one of mere
speculation, and those who chose to be content with what
they had already could do so, while those who chose to
take the chance of more had an opportunity of doing so.
Mr. GURDEN said that he did not see how they
had any right to bind absent Proprietors by their
proceedings of to-day. They were an adjourned
meeting in order to consider the resolution that
was laid before them at their last meeting ;
but as the resolution brought forward to-day was to-
tally different, he could not see how they ought to be
binding on persons who were absent. He should like to
know the effect of the proposition on the quarter-share-
holders if it were carried. If they declined taking any
part in it, they would receive nothing for four years,
as 6 per cent. was already guaranteed for that time. He
had great respect for Mr. Hudson, but if he were with
him sitting at that table, he had no doubt he should be
able to point out to him some better way of protecting
their railway right and increasing their profits. Under
all the circumstances, he for one gave it as his opinion
that the plan was one that it would not be wise to adopt.
Mr. WARD said that the point mooted. by Mr. Garden,
whether the absent proprietors shall be bound by what-
ever is finally determined on in this meeting is decided
by the words of the Act of Parliament, which bind all
absent Proprietors by whatever is done by the
majority in any duly announced meeting. At the
same time he must add, he was sure there was
nothing in the meeting adverse to the interests
of the Eastern Counties Proprietors; they had met
them (the Eastern Counties Shareholders) a fortnight ago;
propositions were laid before them, and their objections
had been met in all fairness. It was said the Eastern Coun-
ties Company must have an alternative; the Directors went
accordingly to the North Eastern Company's Board, had
got an alternative, and now brought it before them, yet
it is said to-day the Directors have given no notice of the
meeting. They certainly wish no advantage over the
Eastern Counties. Gentlemen knowing the meeting
had been adjourned ought assuredly to have been
present. He would not go into the details about
the working expenses, as they have been Introduced to
the meeting. He did not see what advantage the two
Companies could derive from going into a scrutiny here
of each other's expenses, and cutting them down to the
lowest sum. Mr. Hudson's name had been mentioned,
and with that good feeling and respect which it deserves.
That gentleman, it ought to be remembered, had gained
his name for his economy ; he has in every case
reduced expenditure, and been thereby able to return
a very large dividend to the Shareholders. One word
as to the amount of receipts. The Eastern Counties
Shareholders will have 6 per cent. up to 1847, during the
construction of the Norfolk line ; that line, when made,
will throw the whole traffic along the main line, and
they will come in for their share of the profits on the
whole traffic. Mr. Gurden had prophesied often, but
falsely, in that room. Mr. Gurden had said the shares
of this Company would fall ; the market gives the
answer. He said he would oppose the amalgamation ; if
be had done so successfully, it would have been the ruin
of the two Companies, for in making the arrangements
they had not only been liberal to others, but also to them-
selves—they saw that the amalgamation would be for the
mutual good of both. He thought a very valuable pro-
position had been laid before them. Those who chose
the 6 per cent., who are unwilling to speculate, will re-
ceive the 6 per cent., and afterwards share in the profits.
On the other hand, those who are willing to speculate
may have two shares, and in case of failure have their de-
posit paid back to them. Unless amalgamation of the two
lines be accomplished they will be a great bar to each
other's interests. Competing lines will certainly start.
The calculations of a gentleman who had already spoken,
giving an issue of 7,8, 9, and even 10 per cent., can only
be realised by shutting out competing lines; and the
means to that is amalgamation, and nothing else.
Mr. HUXLEY had supported the proposition made at
the last meeting with great pleasure, much wore than at
the present, when the relation of the North-Eastern to
the Eastern Counties is as one-third to two-thirds, one-
third more instead of one-fourth as proposed last meeting.

CLYDE, Nov. 25.—Wind N.W.—Arrd. St. Mary, White-
side, Jamaica. Sld. Afliana, Spence, Valparaiso ; Janet,
Fraser, St. John's, New Brunswick ; Maranham, Fleming,
St. John's, New Brunswick; Orion, Colquhoun. St. Thomas.
DUBLIN, Nov. 25.—Arrd. Conservative, St. Andrew's.
KINGSTOWN, Nov. 25.—Arrd. Looshtank, St. John's, N.B.
BELFAST, Noy-. 25.—Put back, Independence, for New
Orleans.
SHIELDS, Nov. 26.—Wind W.N.W., strong gale.—Arrd.
Fanny, Smith, Prince Edward's Island. Sld. 25th, Ostrich,
Smith, Madras and Calcutta.

Merchant, Saldanha Bay.
26,-,The William Alexander, Durant,
wlachput in here, 19th inst., and the Ondine, Dessen, on
thL2Oth, commenced discharging to-day to repair.
Hu u., Nov. blew a strong gale frornW. to W.S,W.
last night, and continues. The Resolute, l,)e!lam, from New-
Wi6 in 404:itae4 with Ov gastkaGliugats, Eaton,
from 'Neil, York, and lost bowsprit, &c. The Wariska ;„ r,
from Uleaborg to this port, got on the Sunk yesterday,
but is expected off to-dv.

ItAILWAY SHARE MARKETS,
LIVERPOOL, Nov. 26.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Eastern Counties,
18 '/) -Grand Junction, New Quarter Shares, 31 p.-Ditto,
Eighth Shares, 14% p.-Ditto, 401. Shares (L. M.), 48-Great
Western, Quarter Shares, 1214 p.-Liverpool, Manchester,
and Newcastle Junction, % p.-London and Birmingham,
208-Manchester and Leeds, Fifth Shares, 91/0 p.-North
Staffordshire, 50s. Gd. p.-Dublin and Armagh, 36 dis.-Ja-
maica, 29 p.-Jamaica and South Midland, 1 p.
MANCHESTER, Nov. 26.
STOuz EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Boston, Newark, and
Sheffield, 2-7,,_-Caledonian, 71,3-Glasgow and Dumfries, 2-
Huddersfield, 1-torox, and Bradford, 51. 175.-Huddersfield
c.-Leicester and Tamworth, 42
-Manchester
ilr7 4
ml.-zham, 65-Manchester South-
ampton, and Pool, 3%-Preston find Wyre Extension, 14
-Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, 2'-Sheffield, Ro-
therham, and Goole, 54-Seuth Midlana, 4/. 125.-West
Riding Union? 5/.125.
LEEDS, Nov. 26.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Hull and Selby, 100
-London and Croydon, 18%-Manchester and Leeds, Fifth
Shares, 94 p.-Sheffield and Rotherham, 33-Huddersfield
and Sheffield, 14-Leeds and Bradford Extensions, 37 cash
-Leeds and Dewsbury, 16% c. n. cash-Leeds and Thirik,
10N-Newcastle and Berwick, 9-North British, New Car-
lisle Branch, 24-Oxford, 'Worcester, and Wolverhamptoi,
15-London and York, par-Direct Northern, 1%-Liverpool,
Ormokirk, and Preston, 3-Wept Riding Union, 41/it-Buck-
inghamshire (late Rugby), ss. dis-Grand Union, par-Lan-
cashire and North Yorkshire, par-Lancashire, Yorkshire, and
North Eastern, 7s. 6d. dis.-Leicester and Bedford, par-
Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 295. p.-North
Staffordshire, 355. p,-NorthjWestern, 2-South Midlands,
p.-Wakefield and Harrogate, par,
HULL, Nov. 26.
STOCK KCHANGE.-The settlement for the Hull and
Barnsleys, which has been looked to with no inconsiderable
degree of anxiety, has passed off very satisfactorily, .4 de-
termination has been come to on the part of the brokers to
insist upon the fulfilment by their clients of the contracts
entered into by them, and which, with very few exceptions,
they doubt not will be generally honourably fulfilled, This
settlement, which has retarded business for some time in this
market, is expected will relieve the members of the Exchange
from the doubts that have lately existed, and prevented the
business being caned on with that confidence which was
formerly felt. The sales are-Hull and Selby, 10 per cent.
guaranteed, 100-Grand Union, 1%-Hull and Barnsley
Junction, 2s. Gd. ex n.-Nottingham and Boston, 1%.-
South Midland, 41. 2s.
YORK, Nov. 26.
STOCK EiCIIANGE.-The sales are-York and North Mid-
land Extension, 184-Newcastle and Berwick, 8%-Lon-
don and York, 2 tAt-Cambridge and Lincoln, 234-Grand
Union, 1/. Bs.-North Staffordshire, 41g-Welsh Midland, 2%.
HUDDERSFIELD, Nov. 26.
STOCK EXCIIANGE.-The sales are-Huddersfield and
Sheffield Junction, 1634-London and York, 3/. Bs.-Grand
Union, 1/. 11s. Gd.-North and South Junction, 21. 25.-Not-
tingham and Boston, 2/.Bs.
BRISTOL, Nov. 26.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Bristol and Exeter,
7934-Ditto, New, SN-Caledonian, 81/X-London and York,
2%-Midland, New, 15%-Vale of Neath, 2%-Dutch Rhe-
nish, 6)(,.
SHEFFIELD, Nov. 26.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Eastern Counties,
19-Hull and Selby, Quarter Shares, 20-East Lincolnshire,
24-Sheffield and Lincolnshire, 2%.

Mr. RHODES (of Leeds) was certain that the Eastern
Counties Shareholders would agree, that if the Bill in
Parliament be obtained they have obtained a great
good. Messrs. Levi and Luck will sustain no loss, they
run no risk—this is all borne by another Company.
Mr. ILisTIE, M.P., speko shortly, in commendation
or the proposition.
The CHAIRMAN now put the resolution to the meeting,
when 35 voted in favour, and 4 against it.
Thanks were moved to the Chairman and the
Directors. _

As the meeting was about to dissolve,
The CHAIRMAN reminded them that Mr. Hudson at
Cambridge had again suggested an amalgamation be-
tween them and the London and York. Mr. Pyne had
kindly offered to carry the'suggestion before his coad
jutors, but nothing had reached him from that Com-
pany. lie thought that the position of the London and
York Company was now different from what it was,
and such as to lead the Proprietors to see that their
interest lay in amalgamation. All railways start
with these objects, return for capital, to meet the in-
terest of the landowners, or that of the merchants; they
started with the first object before them, the last had
assuredly left them. The cut made by the North
Eastern Counties up to Hitchin saves much; there is but
one mile of difference between this line and the London
and York, but the London and York line up to that
point is carried through one-fifth of the way by tunnels.
He had no doubt that the London and York would ulti-
mately unite with them, and they would certainly re-
ceive them with all liberality.

P WO Mittton

tiftIPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

Parliament was formally further prorogued to-day by Com-
mission to Tuesday, the 16th of December.
Lord Denman, in consequence of the continued indispo-
sition of the Lord Chancellor, officiated as the principal Com-
missioner.

The Lords Commissioners (Lord Denman, Lord Wharn-
clitre, and the Earl of Haddington), on taking their seats
below the Throne, in their full robes, at twenty minutes be-
fore four o'clock, commanded Mr, Pulman, the Deputy-Usher
of the Black Rod, to summon the House of Commons to the
House of Peers, to hear her Majesty's Commission for the
further Proroguing of Parliament read, shortly after which
Mr. J. Ley, and several of the officers of the House of Com-
mons, appeared at the bar.

Mr. Currie, the Clerk at the Table, having read the Com-
mission, and the usual preliminaries having been gone through,
Lord DEN AN, in her Majesty's name, declared the
present Parliament prorogued to Tuesday, the 16th of De-
cember.

There WAS not a single Member of the House of Commons
present, and the whole ceremony occupied only a few
minutes. The lateness of the hour at which the proroga-
tion took place was adopted in order to meet the convenience
of Lord Denman, whose judicial duties detained him till
half-past three o'clock.

EXCHEQUER-THIS DAY.)
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
KENNEY V. WILSON.

This was an action for an assault, to which the defendant
had pleaded that he was not guilty.
➢ir. Martin and Mr. Prance appeared for the plaintiff, and
Mr. M. Chambers for the defendant.

The plaintiff was a pianoforte maker, in the employ of a
person of the same name, who carries on the business of a
pianoforte maker in the Hackney-road, and the defendant was
a publican in the same neighbourhood. On the 31st of July
last, between the hours of twelve and one in the morning, the
plaintiff happened to be at the Green-gate public-house, in
the Hackney-road, when a knock came to the door, and Mr.
Gander, the landlord, asked the plaintiff to goand see who
was there. He did so, but had no sooner opened the door
than the defendant rushed in, knocked him down, and beat
him most violently. The result was: that he was laid up, and
unable to attend to his business for a week; and he brought
the present action to recover compensation for the injury he
had received.

Evidence having been given in support of this statement,
Mr. ➢i. CHAMBERS urged that it would have been much
better had the matter been made the subject of a complaint
before a magistrate, rather than the cause of a civil action.
Ile affirmed that the assault was occasioned by the miscon-
duct of the plaintiff, who slammed ➢lr. Gander's door in the
face of the defendant, and it was this act which gave rise to
the assault.

Evidence having been adduced to prove that the plaintiff
gave the first provocation, by rudely pushing the door in
the defendant's face after he had been invited to enter the
house by the landlord,

-flelearued LORD CHIEF BARON summed up, and the
jury afterwards returned a verdict for the plaintiff—
Damages 151.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.)
LONDON, Nov, 2i_—Wind S.W., moderate breeze and fine.

•
DEAL, Nov. 2G.—Wind W.S.W., moderate.—Arrd. India,
Sutherland, Hong-Kong; Mary Ann, Marshall, Singapore;
Camilla, Sprague, Demerara; Cybele, Griffiths, Demerara;
Cato, Scott, St. Vincent. Put back, John Witt, Madras;
Gibraltar, New Orleans; Urgent, Charleston.
Poorx, Nov. 23.—Std. Anglicania, Clark, Quebec.
BlDErono, Nov. 22.—Arrd.Talisman, Popham, Miramichi;
Romance, Atkinson, Quebec.
LtviritrooL, Nov. 26.—Wind W.N.W.—Arrd. Duke of
Wellington, Harman, Calcutta; Sarah (late Jones), Bonny,
left Sept. 3, and Fernando Po; Cantab, Ferguson, Porto Ca-
bello ; Martha, Snow, New Orleans ; IVilliam and Eliza-
beth, Pitcher, ew Orleans ; Howard, Callan, Savannah ;
Seraphine, Afflick, Miramichi.

OCCASIONAL SKETCHES—HERE body. His own breast is the sole depository of his secrets,
AND THERE. 1 xv.icl his Cabinet possesses not a key with which to unlock
A PENCILLING OF PRESIDENT POLK, i• t. Cautions to an extreme, he suspects where no ground
for suspicion exists ; and possessing only fifth-rate
At a time when American men and matters attract so ,
betters, an
much attention as they do at the present period, a few: 1 taents, he refuses to avail himself of the counsels of
d more able men than himself. It will be
sketchy notices of each may not be altogether uni.a. well if his obstinacy about Oregon does not result in mis-
teresting. During a recent protracted tour through ..the chief. Yet, with nothing but disaster before his eyes,
United States the wrier has had frequent opportun'Aies he is not a man to forsake a course which he has once
of
and acquromirihisng
sk information and of observing chara,,tter ; determined to adopt. He will proceed in a wrong course
fk t.e now proposes copyinrs. a few
outlines. The reade-e who may look for finisile'd pie- because he will. Having been unexpectedly made Pre-
tares will assurtetly be disappointed, but, at the same . sident, he seems determined to have his own way in
everything, and as he is not considered to be very far-
time, the seeker after facts will have no mason to sighted, his own friends tremble for the results.
complang the last presidential election, when Henr in.
Mark that striking looking man near him, with an
Dui
Zlay, of Lexington, Kentucky, or as his friends delighted
y abundance of snow-white hair floating over his fine fore-
head, and half hiding his coat collar, and whose dark,
to call him, "Harry of the West," and James K. Polk, piercing, lustrous eyes are bright with the fire of in-
of Nashville, Tennessee, were the rival candidates, the tellect. His face is highly coloured in consequence of
sneering question put by the opponents of the Demo- some cuticular disease and his frame is very spare, but
cratic candidate was, " Who is James K. Polk?" This he walks the marble floor with the dignity and grace of
query was a rather difficult one to answer, for, compared a monarch. What a contrast does his tall, commanding
with the great Whig candidate, Mr. Polk was an un- form present to the little pinched up figure of Mr. Polk.
known man. He had never done traything which could That is George M. Dallas, one of the soundest scholars
by possibility have rendered. 'aim sufficiently distin- and ablest lawyers of the United States, of which he
guished to entitle him to aspire to the Presidency, has just been chosen Vice-President. Mr. Dallas has
whereas Clay enjoyed no,`„ only an American, but an long been one of the leading members of the party to
European reputation fo'r brilliant and substantial acquire- which he belongs, and enjoys the esteem and respect of
ments. It was almost as if a candidate had arisen out of even his political opponents. He has long been engaged
the earth at a moment's notice, fbr, in the early stages in public life, and although holding so high an office in
of the election, Mr. Polk was considered even by his own his native land, he still practises as counsellor-at-late in
party to be a nobody, and merely put forward to ha- the United States Courts. He is a beautiful speaker,
rass and annoy the Whigs. . 13ut as the time of and very effective in his addresses—in short, he is in all
election drew nearer and nearer monstrous letters
respects, with the exception of his political opinions, the
on monstrous flags proclaimed the fact that there very opposite of Mr. Polk.
was such a person as James K. Polk. Newspapers "Here is the inaue•-ration speech of President Poke,
of all sizes, and with amazing names, started suddenly which he spoke at the capitol," shouts a newsboy, within
into existence, over the leaders of every one of which a five minutes after the speech has been delivered. The
valiant cock was represented in the act of crowing, crowd begins to break up, and as it is raining as if a
whilst above the rooster's head floated triumphantly the second deluge were about to drown the collected
iniquity at Washington, let us be off to Coleman's, and
" star-spangled banner." Occasionally the columns of
t
these election journals would be adorned with likenesses there brush up our recollections of a greater than Polk—
of a stern looking gentleman, one of whose hands rested
Daniel Webster. WHIZ.
affectionately on the head of' an eagle, and beneath whose
effigy was written in double caps, " Young Hickory ;"
to explain which appellative, I should remark, that
General Jackson, Mr. Polk's patron, had for many years
been styled " Old Hickory," from his tough, stubborn,
unbending nature, which bore some supposed resem-
blance to a branch of the hickory tree. Indeed, hickory
wood became quite the rage. In the shops, or rather
stores, nothing but hickory walking-canes were for sale.
l3ofore almost every other house was a hickory pole, on
the lofty summit of which hung a "cap of liberty," and
from whente floated the stars and stripes, or a banner
on which was depicted a cock, crowing valiantly over
a deceased animal called a " coon."

American politicians are desperately fond of elec-
tioneering emblems. When General Harrisoa Was
elected, loghouses, in which hard cyder was frP,ely dis-
pensed, were erected in every street, because once upon a
time General Harrison had lodged in a loghouse and
drank hard *cyder ! The Clay emblm was a coon ; but
I could never satisfactorily mertain why the Whigs
adopted it : suffice it 0 say, that this 'cute-looking
animal was to be seen almost everywhere : sometimes
he was represented seated on a rail " taking a sight" at
the cock ; in many localities he was to be seen perched
on an ash pole in a very victorious attitude ; but, as if
in mockery of him, the loco-foco party would frequently
hang a dead coon opposite him, and little boy republi-
cans would sing with amazing glee a song, the burden of
which was—

" Oh, poor Cooney Clay,
Oh, poor Cooney Clay,
You never will-be President,
I heard the people say."
With all these flags and emblems it may well be sup-
posed that the city of Philadelphia seemed to be quite
startled from its demure propriety. There was scarcely
a house to be seen without its flag or emblem, so that
the political opinions of its inhabitants could be pretty
well "guessed" at a glance. Where, however, no party
feeling was indicated, an American flag was sure to
glitter in the sunshine ; for every building, from the
State-house downward to the poorest frame hut was
decorated in this way. The stars and stripes floated in
the air wherever a pole could be erected or a rope
stretched ; and these flags were of all sizes too, some
big enough to carpet Exeter-hall, and others of conve-
nient pocket handkerchief dimensions—in fact, thou-
sands of little boys dishonoured the national flag by
blowing their noses in it. Standing at the end of Ches-
nut-street, and looking downwards towards the river,
one gazed through a bannered vista—from either side
white stars gleamed from blue fields, and so many
hundred stripes fluttered and dazzled, that to look at
them was almost like putting one's eyes upon a red-hot
gridiron.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,--Through the medium of your widely-circulated
paper, I beg to complain of wbat I call a grievous impo.
sition. lam a poor man and have lately had a house
left 'me worth 2501., and I felt desirous to.insure it for
2001. On applying to an office, I was informed, that it
would be done for 35., with which I was satisfied; but,
judge of my surprise when the clerk told me that there
was an additionnal 6s. OrNernment duty, and ls. 6d. for
the stamp, making 10s. 6d. Now if this is not a heavy
tax on property, ido not know what is. Surely Sir R.
Pe-el never iliought of this when he put on the new
propert:,--tax in another shape. There is room for some
a your judicious remarks on this subject.

But the National Eagle seemed to take, also, a very
conspicuous part in these electioneering proceedings :
for that King—l beg his pardon—President of Birds was
to be witnessed everywhere, and in every imaginable
position. Sometimes he was drawn so mild, that had it
not been for the striped shield which served, him as a
breast-plate, he might have been mistaken for a sitting
tailor-bird. In another place he was represented as a
screaming, ferocious monster, with widely expanded
wings, grasping half-a-dozen olive branches in one claw,
and a bunch of newly-forged thunderbolts in the other ;
and having something like a long surgeon's bandage,
with directions for application written on it, in his beak
—occasionally he appeared to be busily engaged in
waving a banner, or in the act of dropping a wreath from
his tahins on the head of General Washington or the
Democratic candidate—in short he was to be seen
•in every imaginable position excepting that of
repose. This universal eagle never winked his fierce
eye, or folded his majestic wings, as common every-day
eagles do. No ! he was a wide-awake, go-a-head sort
of bird ; and these were his characteristic qualities and
appearances of whatever colour ho might he,,pr to which
over party ho seemed to belong—indeed, some of them
seemed to be savagely disposed to both Whigs and De-
mocrats, for under one savage-looking bird was written—
" The eagle shall swoop from his perch on the rock,
And his grasp shall be death to the coon and the cock."

This was a " native American" eagle ; but it would
be needless to farther particularise, for their propen-
sities seemed to be as various as the tints,of their painted
feathers, and there were many differences in this par-
ticular, for there were visible eagles with plumage vary-
ing from the "golden'' down to any remarkable shade
of colour which the artist, not being, by any means, so
particular as Audubon, might conceive.
If I were writing a book, instead of a mere newspaper
article, I might fill page after page with sketches of Ame-
rican electioneering scenes. But space forbids my pen,
although it is much inclined, to travel through oyster-
cellars, and bar-rooms, and committee head-quarters,
and public meeting places, picking up hero and there
little " bits" of character, which might be rendered
vastly amusing. Nor must I catalogue the valiant pro-
ceedings of the " Young Hickory Clubs," nor tell how
" the Democrats were summoned to rally,' " nor de-
scribe the ceremonials attending: the raising of a hickory
pole, nor even hint at the torch-light out-of-door mass
meetings, nor the noisy in-door assemblies. I must pass
over all these matters for the purpose of introducing the
reader to the individual, who by his blustering about
Oregon, has gained a notoriety which he never would
have known but for a chance combination of circum-
stances. Some men are born great, many achieve great-
ness, and others have greatness thrust upon them—to the
latter class belongs James K. Polk, President of the
United States.
Accompany us, reader, by a flight of fancy to Wash-
ington—the city of magnificent distances,' as some one
has called it. It is a sprawling, scattered, uncomfortable
city, with streets unfinished, and, excepting in the time
of the session, houses uninhabited. It is full enough,
however, to-day, for it is the 4th of March, and Mr.
Polk, to the astonishment and even dismay of many of
his friends, has been elected, and is about to be inaugu-
rated. All the world and his wife are thronging to the
capitol to see the new President, and from north, south,
east, and west, flow in living streams of curiosity hunters,
office-seekers, and sight-seers of all descriptions. Surely
never was seen before such a motley sight, nor heard
such a Babel of discordant sounds. Every window and
piazza is crammed with genteelly dressed men and
women. At a single glance, you may see the classically
pretty little lasses of New York, the intelligent-looking
women of Boston, the luxurious daughters of the Caro-
linas, and the belles of the union, the beauties of Balti-
more. Music is sounding, canons are booming, and loud
huzzas every now and then proclaim the appearance of
some popular personage. Let us escape from the dense
crowd, and watch the procession as it passes by.
There is a faint and rather a melancholy cheer given
as a carriage approaches, in which is seated three or four
gentlemen, one of whom has such strongly marked
features that from the pictures we have seen of the late
President we at once recognise John Tyler, whose un-
expected elevation to the chair of the Chief Magistrate,
ssi g
owing to the death of General Harrison, earned for him
the title of " His Aceidency." He is a tall thin man,
with a head half bald, badly sot on his shoulders, a low
unintellectual forehead, furtively glancing eyes, and a
nose of enormous prominency. In the expression of
I John Tyler's face there is something amazingly little
and mean; it is not insignificant, but ridiculously sense-
less. Whilst gazing on such a face one might feel cer-
tain that its owner could not by possibility be guilty of
doing any great action. As he passes on, some laugh
outright, many jeer, and no or.e regards him with ap-
parent respect. From obscurity he emerged—to ob-
scurity he is returning. Let him pass on, for by the
hubbub that is making behind him, there comes, it
should seem, " metal more attractive."
Sitting bolt upright, in a close carriage, and evidently
making an effort to be dignified, sits a man with a stern
aspect, coldly responding to the cheering of the multi-
tude, who bellow out the name " Polk" with asto-
nishing perseverance and power of lungs. The new Pre-
sident, for it is he, bows ungracefully to the ladies who
wave their handkerchiefs to him—his face is of an ashy
goes, let us follow him to
the Capitol.
paleness; in his hand he grasps nervously a roll of paper,
his
Passing inauguration speech: on he
over the preliminary proceedings, and without
noticing the minor incidents of the occasion, h t us now
confine our attention to the man of the day—and lo !
whilst the air is rent with acclamations, the gentlemanwe
saw in tho carriage comes forth in front of the building,
and now we can observe him more narrowly.
He is short in stature, thin and bony in frame, and
somewhat awkward in his carriage. His iron grey,
wiry hair is brushed back from his temples' and on the
summit of his forehead bristles up stiffly. His brow is
high, but narrow, and beneath it are two deeply-set
greyish eyes ; the nose is short and thick, and the
mouth thin lipped and compressed ; he is dressed in plain
black, and looks like a stern, obstinate man. There is
no dignity, no suavity about him. He appears as if it
would be painful for him to look pleasant, and as he
reads his speech his voice sounds harsh and husky, and
his manner is awkward and ungraceful. Such is James
K. Polk, who, in appearance does not belie his character.
He keeps himself wt apped up iu a carment of self-suffi-
ciency, which be loosens not, though adviscii to do so by
114 best friends, lb relies on no one; and clietigsts ever/

APPREHENDED IRISH FAMINE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,---My attentien has been called to a paragraph which
appeared first, I believe, in the Standard, and hes since found
its way into various other papers. stating chat I had pur-
chased 2,0001. worth of rice tbr my Irish tenants.
This statement is grossly incorrect, as all those who are
acquainted -with the actual posieim of the Devon estates
most be fully aware, but I slimeht not have thought it worth
while to give it a formal contradiction if I had not wished to
take the opportunity of making a few observations upon the
painful subject which has given rise to that statement ; more-
over, I ant unwilling to take credit for an act of liberality
which I have not performed, or, as others may probably view
the matter, to be supposed guilty of a large and inconside-
rate expenditure ill-suited to the means at my disposal.
But whilst I repudiate the praise, or the blame, which may
be bestowed upon this supposed expenditure, I am fully
aware of the obligation that rests upon all persons connected
with land in Ireland to make all necessary- exertions, including
the requisite pecuniary sacrifices, cheerfully and promptly to
assist in averting the evils of scarcity, with which the coun-
try is threatened.
I know that the trustees in whom tho property of the late
Earl of Devon is vested, as well as many other very excel-
lent friends of mine in Ireland, are prepared to do this, and
are only anxious that the measures which they adopt shall
be rendered as extensively useful as possible.
The purchase of a stock of food to supply, when necessary,
the scarcity of potatoes, is of course one of the essential
points to be attended to; but as I presume that no man
conceives the idea of feeding, gratuitously, the whole agri-
cultural population of Ireland, the next point, hardly se-
cond in importance, is to consider in what manner the
people may obtain the means of purchasing the food so pro-
cured.
I see no advantage in county or public meetings, in re-
solutions or in speeches. It is not necessary to proclaim the
evil. This will make itself felt soon enough. Our busi-
ness is to act, not to talk; and the more quietly we act me
better.
Every landowner, large or small, may have the swans,
and assuredly ought to feel the duty, of. contributing his
quota of usefulness at the present crisis. There is scarcely a
square mile of land in Ireland which does not (eel for some
improvement of a nature to increase its permarent value to
both landlord and tenant, and at the same tin" to add to the
stock of human food.
What a field does this offer for the employment of the
people ?
Let each landowner only consider what improyementsrnay
be effected upon his own estate, and let him proceed to carry
these out by such means as are within his reach. If he has
capital, he cannot employ it better than to protect from want
the people from whose labour his future income is to be de-
rived, and at the same time to improve permanently the
sources of his wealth.
If his estate is heavily burdened with debts, or from other
causes he has no command of capital, he has a right upon
an emergency like the present to look for that assistance
from the State of which the Legislature established the prin-
ciple many years ago, by the statute 1 and 2 William IV.
c. 33.
Other Acts have since passed in the same spirit, and all
founded upon the acknowledged truth " that greatly to im-
prove the resources of any part of the empire, tends to the
welfare of the whole."
The Legislature, in the Act referred to, proceeded with re-
ference only to the constant and ordinary pressure arising
from want of employment. With how much more force may
they now be called upon to give aid towards removing the
extraordinary pressure that is now impending, and to arrest
the fatal consequences of an actual want of food ?
It will be the duty of the Government to propose, and of
the Parliament to decide, the extent to which assistance ought
now to be given, and the terms upon which it shall be granted :
sure I am that terms may be arranged, advantageous alike to
the landowner and to the State !
The proprietor who cannot advance the 1,0001. or the
5,0001. which the circumstances of the time call for, may be
well able and contented to pay interest and an annual instal-
ment ; and even the mortgagee or annuitant may find it to be
consistent with their truest interest to make a small annual
sacrifice to uphold and improve the security upon which they
depend.
rho Government have also to look to other modes of giving
assistance at the present moment. Some public works may
be usefully undertaken at the public cost. Many others,
such as extensive drainage for example, may be carried on
under Government superintendence, partly at public, partly
at private cost. I will not assume that Government are
neglectful of this duty because they make no extraordinary
stir; on the contrary, from the constitution of the commission
which they have appointed, I augur that their object is to
take a wide and comprehensive view of the whole subject,
and to be prepared with such measures as the actual state of
the country, after inquiry and examination, shall appear to
call for.
But whilst we look to Government and to Parliament for
aid upon the present occasion, let us not overlook the duties
and responsibilities that attach to each of us as individuals.
Some circumstances at the present time are favourable to the
success of the work that is now before us.
The works upon railroads which are already in progress in
Ireland are very generally performed by the labourers of the
neighbourhood ; and although the work is heavier than that
to which they have been accustomed, and they were at first
hardly willing to undertake it, yet, by judicious management,
they have, in various quarters, been led to apply themselves
manfully to their new task, and, by taking piece-work, are
enabled greatly to increase their earnings and generally to
improve their condition.
Much praise is due to Sir John Macneill for the judgment
and perseverance displayed by him in dealing with his
countrymen at their first introduction to this new kind of
work. His example has been followed by others; and the
same course may be adopted most usefully both in public
end private works; and I am sanguine enough to believe
that if Paddy is fairly put into the right way, he will bo both
ready and willing to earn more money, and to get better
food for himself and family, by a more energetic exertion
of his bodily powers than circumstances have hitherto called
upon him to make.
This visitation of Providence may teach us all some useful
lessons ; if we profit by them rightly, good may arise oat of
the present evil ; and I indulge the hope that the result of
the next year's exertions in Ireland may be a great and last-
ing improvement in that country, and a large amount of con-
sequent advantage to the empire at large.—l remain your
obedient servant,
Nov. 26.

DEVON.

SUSPENSION BRIDGES.—Mr. Dredge has just com-
pleted two bridges in Ireland—one across the river Bann,
county Down, the other over the Blackwater, county Tyrone.
This last is for the Earl of Caledon, and is the second built
across the same river, which Mr. Dredge has built for his
Lordship within the last year, and the fourth he has erected
within the last four months. Two of them are county bridges,
and all of them are calculated to contain a heavier load than
can possibly come upon them.—Mechanics' Magazine.
THE TURKOMAUN'S POWER OF SMELLING.—An
extraordinary power of smelling in a Turkomaun was indi-
cated to me :—" I smell a caravan of Usbecks," said Khan
Saat, drawing up his nostrils; and in a few hours a caravan
from Organtsh arrived, full of them. It is remarkable how
the Turkomaun's know, by the footsteps in the desert, the
person who has been there ; nay, the very tribe of Turko-
mauns or Calmucks see people talking from a distance. I
frequently heard them say, "Let us draw our ears." They
then lie down on the ground, and hear from a distance what
even two persons whisper together, and relate the exact con-
versation.—Dr. Woff's Mission.
STATE OF TRADE IN MANCHESTER,—The depres-
sion which has characterised this market for some weeks past
continues without much alteration. Goods are generally
offered at lower prices than last week ; and some business has
been dens at the reduction. There is little more demand for
qualities of yarn suitable for the Indian markets ; and a fair
amount of business has been done in them at full prices of
last week. Other sorts, however, continue much depressed.
—Manchester Guardian of yesterday.
DEATH OF A MILITARY KNIGHT OF WINDSOR.—
We regret to state that Captain M'Lachlan, one of the Mili-
tary Knights of Windsor, who left that town for London, a
few days since for the purpose of taking leave of his two
daughters, who were about to proceed to Ceylon, expired at
lilt apartments in Northumberland-court, Strand, on Satur-
day. The late Captain M'Lachlan, who was in the sixty-
eighth year of his age, had enjoyed excellent health until
within a very few days of his disease. The Misses M'Lachlan
sailed on Monday, from Gravesend, in the Tigris.
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
—On Wednesday morning an accident of a very serious
character happened at the works of the new Houses of Par-
liament. In the :early part of the morning, as two men
named Patrick Malyn and Henry Lott were at work on some
scaffolding at the Victoria Tower, nearly forty feet high,
some part of it gave way, and they fell to the ground.
Several of their fellow-workmen went to their assistance,
and both the men were found in a nearly insensible state.
Without loss of time they were conveyed to the Westmin-
ster Hospital. Malyn is suffering from a severe concussion
of the brain. Lott has one of his shoulders dislocated, and
'is otherwise much shaken. Notwithstanding the magnitude
of the works at the new Houses of Parliament, an accident
of this character has not lately happened.
PEEL'S GAMES.—We understand that the Premier
is shortly about to publish a new edition of Hoyle, embracing
all the new games and tricks of which, by a skilful know-
ledge of how to play his cards, Sir Robert Peel has become
master. He intends devoting an entire chapter to shuffling,
which is an art of itself, and one which the Premier has ear-
ried to the utmost perfection. There will be a few pages de-
voted to hints on cutting, with remarks on the proper time
to cut, and a few general observations on the treatment of
the pack, so as to make a good hand of it. Tricks will oc-
cupy a very large space in the Premier's work, but the games
will be the chief feature. Cribbage, as played at the expense
of the Whigs, will be elaborately explained ; and a chapter
on revokes will explain how it is that there is nothing irre-
vocable in the games of the Premier. The work will be em-
blazoned with a splendid portrait of Sir Robert Peel as the
Knave of Spades, in which character he appeared the other
day, at the commencement of the works on the Trent Valley
Railway.—Punch.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday Mr. Wakley,
M.P., held an inquest at the King's Head Inn, in the village
of Acton, on the body of George Graham, aged 18 years.
Deceased was the son of Mr. Graham, a carrier, at Acton.
On the sth instant, in the evening, the deceased was in a
cart with a younger brother, nine years of age, and they
were returning home from town, when, at Shepherd's Bush,
his brother discharged a cracker, by which the horse was so
frightened that he started off at full speed, and the deceased,
in his endeavours to stop him, was thrown out of the
cart, the wheel of which passed over his body. He was im-
mediately picked up by policeman Dale, T 213, who con-
veyed him in his cart to his father's residence, where evar y
proper surgical assistance was rendered him ; but the internal
red on
injuries he had received were so severe that he
expired
the
Sunday last. Verdict—" Accidental death through in-
cautious discharge of a firework."
SAPIENT POLICY OF THE ENGLISH CUSTOMS. One
day last week the Mary Ann Purdy, Cook master, came into
this port (Yarmouth), and discharged seventy
tons of nutmegs, which being the produce a
of Dutch colonies,
cannot be admitted berg for home consumption, although
such is their ultimat destination. These are consigned to the
care of Messrs. Shelly and Co., and were placed under the
surveillance of the Customs in the bonding warehouse of Mr.
William Saunders, whence they are to be shipped to the Cape
of Good Hope, there to be reshipped back again, to be sold
here as the produce of British colonies.-- Canibridge Adrfrtiser.
ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY, AND ESCAPE OF THE
TniEvEs.—This morning, a few minutes after one o'clock,
police-constable 24 F, discovered the shop-door of Mr. Day,
the poulterer, of 73, Blackmoor-street, Drury-lane, open, and,
from the appearance of the shop, it was evident that the
place had been forcibly entered. An alarm being given,
Mr. Day, with two officers, went over the house, but the
thieves had made their escape. The next house is under-
going repairs in consequence of a recent fire, and it is sup-
posed the fellows had effected their escape that way. Some
suspicious characters, a short time previous, were noticed
near Mr. Day's.

No fewer than seven children in Lancaster and its
neighbourhood have died within the last few days front the
effects of burning, in consequence of their clothes having
caught f:re during the absence of the persons who had the
charge of them.—Cumberland Pacquet.