The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-01 00:00:00

THE SHAMROCK STEAMER.
BRISTOL; 'SUNDAY.,---I am happy to inform you that
this vessel arrived here by this morning's tide, and has
suffered very little damage; though it win be seen by
Captain Hyde's statement that she rode out the whole
of the tremendous hurricane from Thesday night to
Thursday morning., Captain Hyde speaks in the highest
terms of the Shamrock as a sea boat. She is one of the
best steamers out of the port ; during the whole of the
time 'she had not three inches of water in the hold,
though the hatches: were open. The only damage done
to the engines is the loosening of one of the cranks,
which occurred when the vessel was about forty miles
;corn Dublin.

The following is the statement:—
"We left Dublin at eleven o'clock'on Tuesday morn-
ing; at eleven o'clock at night we sighted the Bishop's
light, and the wind veered to S.S.W., and blew a heavy
gale with thick rain. At eight o'clock on Wednesday
morning the wind shifted to W. and W. by N., and blew
a perfect hurricane until one o'clock on Thursday morn-
ing, when it moderated. Finding she could not make
head against the gale, I got up the storm-trysails, and,
with head to northward, drifted the whole of that time.
At four o'clock on Thursday morning, finding by my
soundingS of about twenty-five to thirty-five fathoms,
and judging by the drift, I supposed I was near Aberyst-
with. As soon as daylight appeared I found myself
about ten miles to the southward of Aberystwith, and at
nine o'clock that morning I made into that port. Having
made such temporary repairs as were necessary, and
taken in coals and stores, she was ready to sail again
on Friday evening, but on account of the dangerous na-
ture of the port for large-sized vessels, it was deemed
prudent not to attempt to sail till Saturday morning.
During the gale we lost 400 pigs, but none of our crew.
The man at the helm, in consequence of the heavy sea
striking her quarter, was dashed from the wheel, but
fortunately seized hold of her sail, and saved himself.
The spokes of the steering wheel were broken to pieces,
but the vessel did not lose a shred of canvass, nor sustain
any material injury."

COURT OF SESSION.--On Wednesday only
_
nine Judges were present in Court, a circumstance
which, we believe, has,not occured on a regular sederunt
day in the memory of any individual now connected
with the legal profession. The four Judges absent from
indispdsition were Lords Meadowbank, Moncreiff, Jef-
frey, and Cuninghame. Lord Moncreiff- is, however,
expected to be out again to-day. Lord Jeffrey, who
has not been in Court since July, is now in England for
the benefit of his health, which all sincerely hope may
be re-established, so as to enable him to perform his
duties dui ing the'summer session. Lords Meadowbank
and Cuninghame have been confined for some time,-but
both will-ere long resume their seats.—Caledonian Mer-
cury.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER
HALL.—Handel's Oratorio of Solomon is announced for
performance by this Society on Wednesday next. It is
one of his best productions, and comprising as it does
several
of his matchless double chorusses, affords an ad-
mirable opportunity for 'the display of the unrivalled
choral band of the Society.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex and
the Duchess of Inverness entertained a distinguished
circle to dinner on Sunday evening at Kensington Palace,
including the leading members- of corps diplomatique.
ABSENCE OF MIND.—A girl once blew her
lover out of doors, and then kissed the candle.—Boston
Post. •

The answer to inquiries at Marlborough
House is, " Her Majesty continues daily to im-
prove in health and spirits. The calls of the nobility
and gentry have been very numerous since her Maje Sty's
return to town.

PROTECTION OF THE DOCKYARDS FROM
,FIRE.—OFFICIAL INQUIRY BY THE LORDS OF THE AD-
MIRALTY.—In consequence of the destructive fire in
Devonport Dockyard, a strict inquiry has been made
into the means for preventing fire at the other dockyards
in the kingdom. Mr. Braidwood, of the London Fire
Establishment, has been engaged in the investigation,
which has proved that the means of prevention are
`generally very deficient. The inquiry has been
devoted to the establishments at Woolwich, Chatham,
Sheerness, and Portsmouth, but those at Plymouth and
Pembroke have not yet been visited. The first inquiry
uas addresied to Woolwich, subsequent to the fire
which occurred there, and we understand that, although
nearly twenty engines were in the dockyard, they
were very clumsy and inefficient for the purpose. Mr.
Braidwood's next visit was to Sheerness, where the
place was found badly protected, as the only supply of
water that could be obtained was from the docks and
quay. The engines were in good condition, but from- this
circumstance could not be made available on an emer-
gency for the protection of the dockyard as well as the
town of Sheerness, and it was suggested by Mr. Braid-
wood that waterworks should be raised on an eminence
in the neighbourhood in order to combat any fire which
might take place. .The next place visited was Chatham,
which it is well known is one of the most valuable and
venerable dockyards. Here there_ was an extraordi-
nary want of protection, for although there was a steam-.
-engine which it was said would extinguish any fire, it
was ascertained that this could not be the case : the en-
gine was proved to possess no more power than an ordi-
nary engine, and, being at a remote part of the dock-
yard,- would be of little use. It was also-suggested that
water should be obtained from an eminence, and several
places on the line were pointed out as suitable to the,
purpose. At Portsmouth the means of protection were
found to be very superior, and immediate assistance was
near at hand both from the garrison and ships in the
harbour. Two large iron floating fire engines, of the
same power and magnitude as that of the fire brigade at
Southwark-bridge have just been completed for some of
the Hull dockyards, and -are now to be seen on the south
side olßlackfriars-bridge.
,PATENT IRON-MASON.—A machine under
-this name, for which a patent has just been taken out, is
about to be erected in one of Mr. Neilson's quarries, at
%%roodside, Glasgow. The stones go into the machine
rough as they come from the quarrymen's pick, and
come out polished ashlar on- the surface, and cut parallel
and square on the sides, fully prepared for the builder,
and this at an expense of not more than a fourth of work
done by hand. The present machine is calculated to do
the work of 250 men, reckoning only six hours' work
out of every ten. The machine, with the expenses of
experimenting and patents, has cost 1,0001., although
new machines of the same size can now be made for one-
third of that sum, and smaller ones proportionally
cheapen—Practical Mechanic and Engineers' Magazine.
The rejoicings on account of, the christening of
the Prince of Wales have been general—we may say
universal—throughout .the country. In our own neigh-
bourhood, independently of- Kendal, where the event
was celebrated well and- worthily by the public meeting
Abe have recorded, celebrations have taken lace in Lan-
caster, where upwards of one hundred sheep • were
slaughtered-and-distributed among the poor ; in Kirkby
Lonsdale, Ulverston, Middleton, Penrith, Sedberg, Settle,
Burton, and many other places, which we cannot even
find room to enumerate.—Kendal Mercury.
LONGEVITY.—On Saturday the remains of
Mrs. Mary Painter, who had reached the advanced age
of 94 years, were interred in Limehouse Churchyard.
The funeral of this ancient dame caused a large assem-
blage of persons. The chief mourner on the occasion
was Mr. Benjamin Blaby, usher of the Thames Police-
court. The sister of the deceased, Elizabeth
died
lizabetah
few
wmpwkeienks
who was upwards of 90 years of age,
s
ago, at Brackley, in Northamptonshire. The two sisters
retained the full possession of their faculties until within
a short period of their deaths, and were natives of War-
wickshire. Several other members of the same family
have lived to the age of 80, 90, and 100 years ; and an
ancestor of Blaby's reached the 'age of 105.
SUICIDE OF JACOB SIMMS, ESQ., ONE OF
THE MAGISTRATES OF ESSEX.Late on Thursday even •
ing the inhabitants of Leytonstone, Essex, were fear-
fully alarmed by the announced suicide of Mr. J. Simms,
who terminated his existence by cutting his throat.
From what has transpired on the subject it appears that
the deceased gentleman attended business as usual in
the City on that day, at his counting-house, George-
yard, Lombard-street, and after attending 'Change to
meet his connexions as a shipowner, ordered his chaise
and drove home with his groom. He reached his resi-
dence about half-past five, to join, as was supposed, his
dinner-table, and before seeing any of 'his relatives went
to his dressing-room to prepare for that purpose. His
footman, who attended him, saw nothing marked or al-
tered in his manner, and after having fulfilled the re-
quirements of his master, left him at the washhand-stand.
It was not long, however, before he heard a heavy fall, and
proceeding to his master's room, from whence the sound
emanated,' discovered, to his great horror the unfortu-
nate gentleman lying on the floor bleeding profusely
from a wound in his neck. lie could not at first dis-
cover the extent of injury his master had inflicted upon
himself, as he did not wait to remove his cravat ; but hav-
ing aroused the household, proceeded with all haste to the
nearest surgeon to procure medical assistance. This was
speedily procured, but unfortunately it was without avail,
for on their arrival Mr. Simms had just expired; This
sad calamity has not only spread a-gloom over the neigh-
bourhood in which it occurred,- but also. in the City,
where Mr. Simms was known as'a merchant of high cha-
racter and integrity, and as a Director of several public
companies. A circumstance that is supposed to have
preyed on his mind, was the elopement of his only
daughter with one of his nephews, now said to be in
India. A reconciliation had,' however, been long since
effected through the intercession of the friends of the
family. Mr. Simms was a fine, hearty, robust-looking
man, and about 53 years of age.
SHAWLS FOR THE QUEEN.—Monday last, an
order was received by the Provost to send up some spe-
cimens of Paisley shawls, from which the Queen might
make a selection, with a view to give encouragement to
Paisley manufactures. We need scarcely saythat all pronip.
titude was exercised to comply with her Majesty's wishes.
A committee of selection was speedily formed, and
a great variety ofshawlswere submitted to their inspection.
There were about thirty shawls sent, varying in price
from fifty to two hundred and fifty shilling's. The value
of the whole amounted to 1571. ss. 6d. They were
'Decked in cartoon boxes by Mr. .Kirkland, and sent off
by mail the same evening, addressed to her Majesty, at
Windsor Castle. The goods sent were of a most beau-
. tiful description, and the style from each house being
wholly differ, nt, a great variety was afforded for taste
and choice.

FLOGGING IN THE NAVY.—We have been in-
formed on good authority that since the Vindictive left
this port on Sunday week three seamen have received
four dozen lashes each ; thus the flogging system still
c nitinues to the disgrace of Old England.—Hampshire
dependent.

Letters from Vienna state that Count Colloredo,
the Austrian Ambassador at the Court of Munich, is
destined to replace at Londo❑ Prince Paul Esterhazy ;
and this intelligence is confirmed by the Augsburg
Gazette.