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

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1 great and evident decay. Its numbers have shrunk, itt
zeal has flagged, its money has run short. It is
found impossible either to recruit the rank and file
with ordinary partisans, or to fill up the commissions
of the odious service. In vain do a few would-be
leaders persevere, or rather affect to persevere, in their gro-
tesque endeavours to " get up the steam." They cannot find
either hearers or speakers, or readers or writers. They can
neither raise funds, nor discover what to do with the money
when they have it. They tax the brains of men who can-
not argue, and the pens of men who cannot write; and when
they have flung the waste paper broadcast over the land, the
committee reports that no snore tracts are wanted, because
those already distributed have not yet been read, Could
, we suppose the assemblage of a corn-law monster meeting,
. there would be nobody competent to address them. Could
we suppose a corn-law agitator of common sense or elo-
quence, he would have to " waste his sweetness on the desert
' air," for there would be none to listen. A corn-law meet-
' ing, a corn-law speech, a corn-law pamphlet, a corn-
law argument, a corn-law fact, a corn-law sentiment, a
corn-law Duke, a corn-law Member of Parliament, are
things which the public is prepared to find the very
worst of their kind, and is never by any chance disappointed.
The only mitigation of the failure is that there is not even
that mediocrity which escapes the ridiculous. The agricul-
tural movement has not stopped at common-place—happily
for the patience of the public, it has dwindled to a joke. If
there are any protectionists who think that public opinion is
still susceptible of a reaction in their favour, or that there is
the least vitality in their cause, we beg to call their attention
to a remarkable fact, which we challenge them to deny if
they can. Has a single clergyman of any name come for-
ward, within these two years at least, in support of the corn-
laws? There are fifteen thousand clergymen in England, a
large proportion of whom are enthusiastic, able. tolerably
well informed, a little disposed to be forward, confident, and,
in fact, with every quality for agitation. An unusual propor-
tion also are writers—writers on many other subjects besides
theology. Moreover, according to the more prevalent
opinion of anti-corn-law authorities, though, we are
bound to add, contrary to our own, the clergy are
specially interested in maintaining the corn-laws. The
Tithe Commutation Act leaves their income ex-
actly dependent on the price of corn, and throws out
of count all other kinds of agricultural and titheable produce,
such as hay, straw, meat of all kinds, milk, butter, cheese,
eggs, poultry, underwood, &c. Now, it is the general expec-
tation that a free trade in food will permanently lower the
price of corn, but raise the price of all those other articles,
as partaking of the character of luxuries, and being, there-
fore, likely to come into increased demand on the more gene-
ral employment and prosperity of the people. On this view
the income of the titheowner will fall on the repeal of the corn-
laws, and his expenses rise: so that he will be impoverished in
the midst of agricultural prosperity. This view, problematical
as we think it, is a very common one. The clerical tithe-
owners have, notwithstanding, kept entirely aloof fronithe
pro-corn-law movement—we should have said to a man
were it not possible that here and there some good
easy soul had been trepanned by his squire into an agricul-
tural dinner, and perhaps into a minute and a half of protec-
tionist talk. That the fact, however, is as we state it, we
may appeal to a very unexcepti-nable authority. There are,
unfortunately, among the chief agitators against the corn-
laws one or two who would only be too happy to spy out
a stray parson in the ranks of the enemy. Have they done
so ? Can they mention one clerical pamphleteer, one speech-
maker, one agitator ? They cannot. Now this is a signifi-
cant circumstance, and worthy the attention of those who a
few years back had great hopes of uniting the titheowner
and the landowner into one " Church and horned cattle
interest." Protection cannot boast either clerical sympathies,
or clerical intellect. We are not disposed to overrate the sa-
gacity and information of clergymen, but we must say that
it augurs ill of a cause that it cannot allege the support of
one clerical writer out of fifteen thousand educated and, as it
is commonly thought, interested men.— Times.

- •
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, •DEC. 19.—Her Majest3-'s steamer Lizard is
to be ready for sea and paid wages to-mozrJw, and if the
weather will admit, to proceed direct to the River Plate with
dispatches and some officers appointed to the squadron at the
Brazils.

The Cornet steamer returned last night from Sheerness.
Her Majesty's ship Endymion, at Devonport, has bad her
compasses adjusted by Commander Strange, and is lying in
the Sound ready for sea; she is intended for the West Indies,
and will carry out dispatches for her Majesty's ship Pique to
proceed up the Mediterranean.
The weather has been so boisterous that the Alarm frigate
was compelled to put back to St. Helen's, and only got awaj,
yesterday; from the present appearances, she will very pro-
bably have to return. The Rodney and the Superb have
struck top-gallant masts.
The shipwright and other apprentices in the dockyard,
amounting to upwards of 200, from the several trades in the
Arsenal, have concluded their half-yearly examinatiou. The
subjects brought before them are questions in arithmetic, a
little algebra to such as are in the senior school, geography,
and divinity, The selection of them reflects great credit on
Mr. Bennett, who conducts the education, and he has adapted
them to the capacity, and in numerous instances to the trade
of the pupil. The following are a few of those which were
given to the upper class to answer:—
" If von were directed to cut a piece equal to a solid foot
from a2i inch plank, 8 inches wide, what length would you
cut off?

" If you were directed to cut a piece equal to a square
foot from a board 7A inches wide, what length would you
cut off ?

" ller Majesty's steam-ship Scourge is armed with a
mortar. New the weight of the bomb-shell is 217:1- lbs.,
and its diameter is 13 inches. Required its thickness.
Note Dr. Hutton says that a 4-inch solid iron ball
weighs 9 lbs.
"The 'Testing-house in this yard contains a beautiful ap-
plication of Bratnah's press, for the purpose of ascertaining
the strength of chain cables, anchors, &c. The diameter of
the pump piston is in., and the diameter of the cylinder is
10i in. Moreover the piston of the cylinder is of solid iron,
one part of which exactly fits the cylinder ; and the other
part is 5a in. diameter, and protrudes through a water-tight
collar at the end of the cylinder, so that the water acts on
a shoulder, or on a surface the area of which is the difference
between two circles, having diameters respectively of 10/1
and 5,1 in. Now, admitting the pressure on the pump piston
to be 1,0001b5., what is the power of the machine?
"On the 14th September;lB2s, her Majest'sy ship Princess
Charlotte was launched at this dockyard; on which occasion
a fearful accident occurred by the giving way of the gates of
one of the decks. Now, supposing that the gates were 57
feet wide, and that the water was 25 feet high, how many
tons pressure were against them ?
" Our mixed metal sheathing nails used for securing the
copper on her Majesty's ships are composed of copper, tin,
and zinc, in the proportion of 281 b. of copper, 31b. of tin,
and Ilb. of zinc ; now the specific gravity of copper is
7.788, of tin 7.291, and of zinc 7.191 ; what is the specific
gravity of the nails?
" In the building and equipment of a ship, what stores
come from abroad, and from whence do they come ?"
The whole are interesting, and in some cases very amusing
to the younger lads, at the same time combining instruction..
The questions in divinity are simple and practical, and which
every boy who reads bis Bible can readily explain ; they
are arranged by the chaplain of the Dock-yard.
Simmuenss, DEC. 18.—The Bittern, 16, Commander Thos.
Hope, having completed her fittings in a most hurried man-
ner, was discharged from the basin yesterday, and is row
having her compasses adjusted in the harbour. She will go
to the Nore to-morrow to take in her powder, and undergo
the usual inspection by the Commander-in-Chief, and will
probably sail on that day, or on Saturday, for Spithead, from
whence she takes dispatches to Ascension, as already stated.
One subaltern and one private of the Portsmouth division of
marines are to embark on board on her arrival at Spithead
for a passage to Ascension. It is understood that theßittern
will ultimately go to the East Indies.
The Electra, 18, and Snake, 16, refitting for commission,
will be ready by the middle of January. The Dido, 20, and
Ferret, 10, will not be ready before February. The Dido
must have a new keelson, many new timbers and planking.
This vessel, though only built in 1836, is almost destroyed by
the dry rot.
The Havannah, 20, razes, continues her fittings for com-
mission in the basin. The figure-head of this ship when
viewed obliquely from behind on a line with the bow-post,
presents a most admirable and striking likeness of the late
Premier, Sir Robert Peel.

The Horatio, 44, intended for oneof the block-ships at this
port, is in dock, having her copper stripped off; her hottsing
and ordinary fitting have been removed. -
The Fury steamer, building, is complete, with the excep-
tion of her paddle-cases, which are being proceeded with;
the artificers are still at work on her from 6, A.M., to 8, P.M.
The Cockatrice and Magpie schooners are refitting at
Chatham—the former as a victualling vessel for the coast of
Ireland, the latter as a water-tank for the general service of
the port.
Commander the Hon. Walter Bouchier Devereux, who re-
cently paid off the Snake here, from the Mediterranean, has
been promoted to the rank of post-captain.
The committee appointed by the Admiralty to inspect the
various metals at the Government establishments, composed
of Captain 11. R. Brandretb, director of architectural and en-
gineering works ; Mr. Lloyd, chief engineer and inspector, of
machinery at Woolwich; and Mr. Owen, superintendent of
the metal-mills at Portsmouth, paid an official visit to Chat-
ham Dockyard, on the 10th instant, and to this dockyard on
the following day; and, attended by Captain Mould, RE.,
director of work., the master smith, the conductor of the
lead-mills at Chatham, and the leading man of millwrights,
made a long inspection of the several metals at these yards.
The penant was hoisted on board the Sampson steam-
frigate, on Wednesday, by First-Lieutenant Henry S.
Hawker, Captain Henderson not having yet arrived.
In Harbour—Trafalgar, 120, flag-ship ; Ocean, 80, ordi-
nary guardship ; Bittern, 16 ; Raven,3 ; and Wildfire steamer.

11Ake

EARLY CLOSlNG.—Yesterday (Friday) evening a
meeting, which was numerously attended, was held in the
new School-room, Union-street, Borough, to assist in the
movement now going on with the view of 'shortening the
hours of labour in all trades. On the platformwe noticed
the Rev. Mr. Curling, the• Rev. J. Adey, R. D. Grainger,
Esq., lecturer at St. Thomas's Hospital ; Mr. Mayler, of the
firm of Poole and May-ler; and Mr. Brooks, of High-street,
Borough, drapers. The Rev. Mr. Curling, the chairman,
commenced the business of the meeting in a speech showing
the great mental, physical, moral, and religious injuries which
were inflicted by the late hour system, and demonstrating
that it was not sought to favour the interests of one class at
the expense of those of another. R. D. Grainger, Esq., de:
tailed the physical evils consequent upon employment being
continued for a great number of consecutive hours. He then
proved, by official documents prepared on the health of
towns, that in thirty years the wealth of the country had
increased in the enormons proportion's f 136 per cent., while
human life had undergone a similar alteration, but in an in•
verse ratio. The value of life, in some of our large manu-
facturing towns, had decreased from fifty to fifteen years.
He concluded by calling upon the meeting to pledgesthem-
selves, individually and collectively, to use all means in.its
power to carry out the object for which they had met; add
which, having been seconded by Mr. Brooks, was carried
unanimously. Several other resolutions were passed, and
the meeting separated.
CURIOUS CAPTURE.—On Sunday afternoon, as save IP
ral youths were amuslng themselues at golf at the top of the
North Inch, their attention became attracted to evidently a
living object, every now and then rising to the surface Of
the, water, and again disappearing. Flom the struggles of
the animal; they were persuaded it was attached to some-
thing, and believing it to be a salmon at sonic poacher's line,
they took measures to get it ashore. Accordingly, they un-
whipped the cords from their clubs, and having fastened the
strings together, they tied a stone to the end by way of a
creeper, and after a good deal of perseverance and troub'e
got the line to land. Their surprise may be imagined when,
instead of a salmon, they found a wild duck affixed to one
of the hooks, and five fine whiting.—Perthshire Courier.
Cows MILKED BY PIGS.— Mr. Harrison, farmer,
of St. Helen's, near Barnsley, has, for some time past, had his
cows milked, but in so mysterious a way he never could dis-
cover the person that committed the mischievous act. On
Tuesday last, however, on going into the farm fold, he dia.
covered two of his pigs, which are about sixteen weeks old,
'standing upon their hind legs sucking the bag of one of the
cows, which seemed to stand as comfortably as if on -
domestics had beenperforraing th• operation in
—Doncaster amuck.

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