The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-25 00:00:00

THE CORN TRADE.

(From the Mark-lane Express.)
beehe weather has, during the greater part of the week,
ga as favourable as could be desired, and there is now
ene prospect of the long •retarded harvest in the north
sit length completed. Had the wet continued
di er,
would probably co remaining out in the backward
arias rhave been wholly destroyed, and
that great mischief has been done to the grain by so long
still
sure in the fields is unquestionable. As it will
rate .
itssomet time
m
to finish the harvest, no very eu
estani2te can
yet be formed of the result; but that
wit,h‘." 6 "4 quality of the wheat of this year's growth
eld ad
, niuch inferior to the produce of any previous sea-
Zia.. for many
years past, appears to be the almost
hasversal opinion. From all quarters where thrasaiug
cl3cle progress, the report; agree in describing the
au
4:lltite as much short of expectation, prepared as farm-
were for an indifferent yield. Regarding the quality
accounts are not so universally bad ; the early-saved
7;
tthat carted after the weather became broken, was
tt:3B_lY carried in d amp condition and a great deal
,Dore f, is indeed wretc he d stuff ; a, fair proportion was,
weeer got in under more favourable nuepices, and
,r)tigh far from fine, is of tolerable quality. The weight
weielee the best secured is light, very few samples
gain. over 601 b. er bushel.
tkr e are at all times unwilling to create unnecessary
ertt.cl, but we cannot shut our eyes to the somewhat
14.c1i Position of affairs. That the wheat harvest of
pm? is decidedly below that of usual average years is
veelPuted ; the stocks of old are closely worked up
st of foreign wheat, whether free or in bond, the
ipeiantitY in the kingdom is so insignificant as to be wholly
ett7-cltlete to make good the deficiency in the home pro
the In addition to these facts it must be recollected
at the
fur a I Potato, so useful an auxiliary in supplying food
gyrebsarge proportion of the community, has failed to. a
(I,racr or less extent in all parts of the United King-
dise-,,; no district appears to have entirely escaped the
aud it is even doubtful whether the potatoes,
etvnarently sound when dug up, will keep through the
ar,,,,t'r• On the whole, therefore, there are ample rea-
et;
°t t° fear that the value of bread stuffs may rise to an
e to occasion some inconvenience to the poorer
1,15'3. Already wheat has risen from 15s. to 20s.
4, quarter from the lowest point ; and the upward
G44l:eient seems at present likely to continue. Very
Is th''f the wheat lately secured can be in a fit state
Parp,""lll6h unti next March ; and from the corn-
-10 t;`,veler small]quantity of fine, farmers are not likely
deliv,,2 a hurry to part with the latter. Only moderate
ate ones from the growers can therefore be expected ;
as
eoawilterehants and millers are by no means largely
th","• there is some chance of the supplies falling short.
part' ,;.claantity required for consumption. Under ordi-
Nh-I,rctinistances, a similar auspicious change to that
4flv, has this week taken place in the weather would
klettlitaediately checked the rise in prices; but so con-
Ntoare holders at present that all they have will be
°Y the', that little effect has been produced on the trade
tlered alteration from very wet weather to that of an
At Le character.
tap' several of the leading provincial markets held since
41elear, considerable eagerness has been displayed to
tali'''vesttnents in wheat, which has enabled sellers to
Ti' le further enhancement.
Se: Liverpool market was on Tuesday visited by
"Ich -,?.118 buyers from different parts of Ireland, which,
!eitit,`„" increasingly unfavourable reports from that
' Nlich regarding the failure in the potato crop, caused
tt a ,vxenement Not only was wheat in lively request,
6a«4.1115e or 3d. per 701 b. on free, and 3d. to 4d. on bonded,
l are „eether descriptions of corn and pulse, as well as
r;iees-"4 oatmeal, were bought up at greatly enhanced
telil on the whole, a large amount-of business was
eth,, jester in the week the excitement increased
SSkeetan dinainir,hed, and on Friday red Lower Baltic
151 e „"4s sold in bond at Bs. per 701 b., United States
‘‘alettli 41). 308. per barrel, while 355. per barrel was paid for
~141)1 -„,4econnts from Yorkshire are of a somewhat more
"rll/‘ll-"tone,, purchasers having apparently deemed it
etit
, kh,„ pause ere entering into fresh engagements at
pore aced rates demanded by sellers. Neither at
IrtiAel at Leeds were the transactions of much
oR Tuesday. At the first-named town
.a rise of
lheasweeter was, in partial instances established on
hr4l4 u,,,at at Leeds buyers declined paying' enhanced
The ad • from Wakefield, of Friday, are by
e, . vices
:40
al 4:3 animated ; and though the best qualities of
Illolanded full terms, ordinary sorts were scarcely
v 14 elble
,t the as on that day week.
Voetit'e
_eestern and north-western markets, the value
'4Pgi 'tts this week risen materially. At Bristol, on
NOY, the best qualities of old were quoted 45., and
11111,1;_, nPei. qarter hiher than on that day
to se'nniuite gh2s.
t ;
l'yqpC;;,er on 13irmuing
all kinds.hamghe advance amounted
t q
ye44iLericultural districts prices have also moved
41t rioti:lY, and it is now evident, that in spite of the
47 to eel of the new wheat, the averages must shortly
6ept extent to cause a considerable reduction in
2tch letters give a. very sad account this week
h.e,Lead of potato disease in that country, and
qta 4'anding the rather quiet tone of the Mark -lanere-
kileta- Monday last, much excitement prevailed at
k;„4kt el? on Wednesday. Wheat was readily
1,4107. to 4s. per quarter above the rates of that day
; whilst barley rose 35., and oats fully ls. per
fear This rise in prices was attributed entirely to
t; of the failure in the crop of potatoes.
Iriki,latiel the same causes have been productive of
as relts. The conviction that potatoes will be
\42 4eglY deficient has become so general on the
elyaitem of the Channel, that measures have already
yiiP,ted to guard against the anticipated scarcity of
t~rtrkt,.", a view to this end purchases of grain, flour,
,‘l,` have lately been making on Irish account in
the English markets; it is probable, therefore,
itl;(41 3aPPlies from that country will fall off materially,
re,rtitL,st have an influence on the value of corn—oats
ee'ae‘ arrivals
this side.
kll k,-11rietals of wheat coastwise into London have
`"'!'t-ti'°;.l; the greater proportion of the 10,536 qrs.
qt k;fin has gone direct to millers. The show at
byland land-carriage samples from the home
tleas, since Monday, been very small; and though
kt‘l,eti 41 or caution has been displayed by millers.
eillog their operations, prices were fully as high
(IV se as in the commencement of the week.
)tjtttlii 0:544 free wheat having been required for mixing
4 It ki 41113 parcels of new English, the former has met
:(4411: share of attention, and the recently establish-
-6t55 leedCe has not only been supported, but in many
korts'r have been enabled to realize terms for the
Iltit previously obtainable.
the at, Re a good deal of local speculation in bonded
thjtrticlhave experienced rather a lively demand for
tmltle,ic,' on Irish account, and the operations have on
4,4",11e5e-„ been important. The sales made both on
„'lere„-Y...and Friday were at an advance of Is. per
Monday's currency, and many holders were
k,s3' k,'.,4llwilling to part with their property. Mode-
ky•t`ee b.e4 qualities of ted brought 525., whilst superior
ked4o at"as held at 555. to 565. A cargo of Dantzic,
litiisupee,„44 fine sold at 575. per quarter on Friday,
etit high mixed could not have beeu secured
beVre, Zeg 58s. to 60s. per quarter.
f,,s- Present position of the averages it is scarcely
the duty to fall materially this month, but
e'lltee,ht of November wheat will be admissible at
e( hiearter— a rate, however, few importers are
le°llooY, as a further decline is certain to occur in
11114:qkerTig month.
111et,ttl'el" spice of town-made flour must be regarded as
k:,PI4, %III:ilia millers calling it 565., whilst others
afle t sack. Ship flour has commanded full
0,541 at ivatkof colonial and foreign manufacture has
rates.
l'llkkkilltitypi..es of barley have slightly increased ; still
11la 1)1 lid,of received has been small. Malting sorts hay.e
k!? brow he advance of Monday, and feeding quail:-
lel te ght Is per quarter more than was obtain-
-4t is et ea, •
el 4 l'YEts b -Y •
1144 een Much sought after, and prices of the
vt!ah!esh -
a continued to tend upwards.
eihtßly nd Scotch oats have come to hand very
Itsieptkrreto' (4. Irish 16,113 quarters have been received,
ett:• •Plit'r"ad the supply has consisted of 15,680
tOtl„,tlatic,4 a belief that the failure of the potato crop
t'4 %ma greatly increased consumption of meal in
tsllchotlrit Ireland, and that the arrivals of oats from
oagerePles Will therefore be very small, has led to
perie-tie4s to get into stock. On Wednesday fac-
e staterteepeed no difficulty in selling at 6d. per quarter.
,e„4 to ]rates, and at the close of the week the rise
An 1,4 cgrter, 3' Per quarter. Bonded oats have also been
Oei."(ifee4e4 as much as 20s. to 21s. per quarter had
114veArehangel under lock.
ehe Participated in the general advance, and
ell'etToeirl la• per quarter dearer at the close than in
itt:!te ras Zliq the week.
ee• ee4cl demand has again revived, and both
4ki hav
uave commanded enhanced prices. Gray
hashfl erA e not excited so much attention ; the lat-
oevertheless held with greater firmness on

THE ARMY.
4',1i0 113.0.1 T CAVALRY. . Grays), Porto:
1,1 likt, Tort I3ritish Dragoons (Scots
head-quarters
....uarters
(; tit% aek.3, 19) b,.
Ric
L,4lsty 4nt-eoi u nn—Officers present .
Major Lieutenant
mAIII3 ti
,onel Clarke, commanding , t .
tvxdj4t ieod, suliwan Clarke, and Gran
Pigott,
at
4';4444:nit leid, Phillis: Riding-master Robertson,it
(.: '3' Sir Geor PF
cis Hanipson, heaa
q • ketts
V‘ititeh.°l'netilt Ribbjte, iloazaier, Amphlett,
v astG.Hr 'Crawford,
OtilletrZet:'LP3,ll, and Buchanan ; Pa
-1T Asesistant-Sur-
.l/4
us
ison, Surgeon Winterscai9, -
Effective
oh,k Ith •-e' kb veterinary Surgeon Jex.
. .., . Bart
~anEdarBrof
:4, .;,% 18 „ tegnnental sergeant-major, 6
283 rank and
lb,:u4 (q 4•geants, 7 trumpeter, farriers,
Recruiting :
2 i'ivete ers' At and 266 troop horses.
..
dstone :
liit i• At Chatha' ; 4 • -ates sick. troop sergeant-
At Mai
41)4441 Ale, and 2inti• Phorses. Officers onleave
,ricAL,.. a troopNov._ _
44 an Campbell, to is, 609
ullit p
INFANTRY.
411)1 ttt'}l3:4_l!, 18t
Battalion ; Depot, Nenagh—O,ffi
s Ormsby
tir'l N9,1,ir1-quarters, Major Deane, K.H. Captam
t r, Gor-
-09 4. 'e, Lienten t Hawkins,de utBr Paymas e and
iiii '"t adjllt an s
P cers pre-
-1 Gillum,
tok ains. s ant ; Ensigns Sharpe, 0 es,
110 INl.knie, Surgeon llutchison. Effective strength of
_tthumree-
at4*---, 1 acting serrreant-major, 9 sergeants, 4 d
company,
tl ea t '.51 rank and' file ; at Borrisokane, 1
tkillik t a'n Mein, 1 ensir.m, '2
sergeants, 1 drumme.rc,k and
s at
Llkai4ktilttiri 'id tile. Recruiting 10 rank and -
r, ',..,4 rank and file. Officers onleavefiloef abiselice9
1.4.'64- 'art'er. to De
11-11.N4k 't•ly?atitZtit\-arotv. 15. Dec.
Poole, to Nov. 1 ;
3Lkieuats._raa
t()a ZlPernumerEarnysigrnieCn d ght, consisting of
hai
arlewto:ni
t,
ilngseragneand t 7, fibOoyr az kunad.nedt
(41.kkoi4rab,ct,rk for the West Indies, to join their service
thiTtl94,, to I\l. laJOr Deane, K.H., is ordered to proceed fro:-
a, VOgh, and resume the command of the depot co _ .
rout
org,ge embarkation of this officer with the draught
4,rettintit..{:rB for the West Indies is countermanded for the
leylN or;a1 lien, Depot \Tau—Recruiting parties are
.ttilarelt for Dublin' 'there to embark per steam-
titiolitand, en. route to,Bath, and Lewes, in Sussex, to
-.
4 captain is ordered to embark with the draft

recruiting party

at. Spike Island, for the West Ind
marched from Naas for Beggar's Bush Barracks, recruiting
depot, Dublin, to embark at the. North wall per steam-vessel
for Liverpool, en route to Norwich, there to be stationed.
11t1i Foot—The head-quarters of this corps, on board the
Castle Eden, crossed the Line on 19th August, all well on
board; the only casualty on board up to that time was the
death of a child.
32d (Cornwall) Regiment, Athlone—The detachment sta-
tioned at Elphin, county of Roscommon, under the command
of Captain E. W. D. Lowe, is ordered to remove from their
present ha!f- billet premises to another house as the detach-
ment is to be reinforced, so as to be completed to a full com-
pany. Officers present at head-quarters. Major Hill com-
manding, Captains Gardener and Kyrie, Lieutenant King,
Ensigns Phillips, Birtwhistle, Boissier ; Paymaster Moore,
Quartermaster Garforth, Surgeon Scott, M.D. Strength, 1
company with the band and colours. Stall; regimental ser-
geant-major, 13 sergeants, 8 drummers, and 283 rank and
file. At Mohill, 1 company under the command of Lieutc
nan t-Colonel Frederick Markham, Captain Baines, Lieutenant
Belling,ham, Ensign Hedly, Assistant Surgeon Moorhead,
M.D. Strength, 6 sergeants, 2 drummers, and 68 rank and
file. At Carrick-on Shannon, 1/, company, under Major
Brooke, Captain Smyth, Lieutenants Pigott, Vavasour ;
Ensign Kyrie, 3 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 90 rank and file.
At Druinshambo, 1 company, consisting of Brevet Major
Browne, Lieutenant Weare, 2 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 50
rank and file. At Roscommon, 1 company, under Captain
Eveegli' Lieutenant Cunningham, Ensign Davies, 3 ser-
geants, 1 drummer, and 70 rank and file. At Elphin, half
a company, Captain Lowe, Lieutenant Maunsell, 2 sergeants
1 drummer, and 38 rank and file. At Castlerea, 1 company,
Captain Robyns, Lieutenant Duberlw, 3 sergeants, 1 drum-
mer, and 60 rank and file. At Ballygar, 1 ensign, 2 ser-
geants, and 26 rank and file. Recruiting, 6 sergeants, and
12 rank and file, Lieutenant and Adjutant Kelly, on leave
till Oct. 31; Lieutenant-General Sir John Buchan, K.O 8.,
is colonel of the regiment.
34th (Cumberland) Regiment—Two of the service com-
panies march from Fermoy to Cork October 17, and arrive
same day. 4 companies and head-quarters, under the com-
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Airey, march from Fermoy for
Cork October 21, and arrive same day, to embark on board
the Java, freight-ship, 1,175 tons, for conveyance to Corfu.
Lieutenant-Colonel Airey, Major Brown, Captains Simpson
and Schreiber, have joined at Fermoy from leave of absence.
38th Regiment; Depot, Londonderry—The draught, con-
sisting of Captain Cam, Lieutenant Heckett, 1 sergeant, 1
drummer, and 40 rank and file, 1 sergeant, and 5 rank and
file, supernumerary men in waiting, disembarked from the
steam-vessel Rhadamanthus on the 16th October, at Spike
Island, Cove of Cork, for further conveyance to the West
Indies, to join the service companies.
41st (Welsh) Regiment, Royal Barracks, Dublin—Officers
present, Lieutenant-Colonel Gore Browne, C. 8., command-
ing; Majors Carpenter and Montizambert, Captain and Brevet
Major Dempster, Captains Donaldson, Seton, Maydwell,
Butler, Downes, and Sadlier • Lieutenants Lawrence, Eman,
Adjutant Pratt, Farmer, Tuckey, Rawlins, Wells, Hicks,
Wethered, Neville, Taylor, Goodwyn, and Arkwright ; En-
signs Page, Wilson, Greathead, Jenner, Clark, and Meredith ;
Paymaster Dickson, Quartermaster Gillon, Surgeon Wilkins
(sick). Assistant-Surgeon Hart, M.D. Effective strength,
46, sergeants, 17 drummers, and 782 rank and file. Recruit-
ing, 1 sergeant, and 10 rank and file. At Fort Pitt, Chat-
ham, 1 sergeant,.lo rank and file. Officers on leave -of ab-
sence, Lieutenant Stewart, to Nov. 25; Ensigns Lennox and
Rawlins, to Nov. 25 ; 1 company is stationed at Portobello
Barracks, and 3 companies at Beggar's Bush Barracks.
Honorary distinctions, the Prince of Wales's plume, " Gwell
augau neu Chwilydd," " Detroit," " Queenstown," " Miami,"
" Niagara," " Ara," " Candahar," " Ghuznee," " Cabool."
Sir A. Darling, G.C.8., is colonel commanding.
43(1 Regiment—On Tuesday the 43d depot had a field day
on the extensive drill-grounds at the Western Heights, in
the presence of General Lord Fitzroy Somerset, who expressed
his high approbation to Mr. Fitzroy Frazer, of the celerity
and precision of many difficult manoeuvres which this fine
corps were put through, and which they executed in a very
superior style.—borer Chronicle.
44th (East Essex) Regiment, Richmond Barracks,Dublin—
Officers present, Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. A. Spencer,
Majors Ferryman and Gray, Captains Turner, Browne,
Rodon, Staveley, M‘Mahon, and Carey ; Lieuts. Mossy, Mol-
ler, Robinson, J. Le Merchant Carey, Walter, Daubeney,
Faucett, Fenwick, Noake, Greene, and Howard; Ensigns
Hanmer, Dunkin, Parker, Hon. Charles Welbore Herbert
Agar, opland, Hothain, and Cooper; Paymaster Captain
Kennedy, Quartermaster Walsh, Assistant-Surgeon Pratt.
Effective strength, 1 sergeant-major, 43 sergeants, 17 drum-
mers, and 779 rank and file. Officers on leave of absence—
Captains, Gardiner, to 20th November • Owen, to Ist No-
vember; Lieut. Fielden, to 10th November; Ensign Dunkin
joined from leave of absence; Ensign Ottley, to 30th Novem-
ber; Lieutenant and Adjutant Phillips, on leave to 30th No-
vember. Recruiting, 3 sergeants and 6 rank and file. Cap-
tain Stevens is doing duty with the Ist West India Regiment.
70th (Surrey) Regiment, Great Ship-street Barracks,
Dublin—Two companies, under the command of Major
Reed, consisting of Brevet Major Paschal, Captain Edwards,
Lieut. Pilling, Ensigns Ryan and Willis, 6 sergeants, 2 drum-
mers, and 118 rank and file, marched from Naas for Island
Bridge Barracks on the 20th October, and arrived same after-
noon, there to be stationed, having been relieved by the depot
of the 7th Royal Fusiliers.

72th (Cameron Highlanders) Depot, Belturbet—Officers
present at head-quarters, Major Elliott, Captain Clepham,
Lieut. Hunt, under orders for embarkation for Gibraltar;
M'Neal, depot paymaster; Reeve Forrest, depot adjutant;
Ensigns, Farrer, sick; S. M. Ferguson, Robertson, Maitland.
Effective strength—Two companies, 1 acting sergeant-
major, 9 sergeants, 5 drummers, 3• pipers, and 88 rank and
file. At Cavan—Two companies, Captain Taylor, 4 sergeants,
and 107 rank and file ; total, 195 rank and file. At Chat-
ham-1 sergeant, and 3 rank and file. Recruiting-2 ser-
geants, and 14 rank and tile. Draught at Cork—Captain
Napier, 1 sergeant, and 50 rank and file, 5 supernumeraries,
and 6 boys. Captain Gaisford is in Dublin till embarkation,
on leave to the 31st October.
82d (Prince of Wales's Volunteer's) ' • Depot, Kinsale—
A recruiting party is ordered to march for Cork, there to
embark for Liverpool, en route to Birmingham, there to be
stationed. Captain Watson's company is quartered at Dun-
manway. Major Wm. Slater is commanding.
85th Light Infantry; Depot, Newry—Ensign the Hon.
W. Stewart Knox has joined head-quarters from leave of
absence. Ensign the Hon. P. R. Fielden is on leave to the
28th February, 1846._ _ _ _

88th (Connaught Rangers); Depot, Boyle.—Officers pre-
sent at head quarters :—Major Shiny (commanding); Capt.
Walker; Lieutenants—Depot Paymaster Brown, Maxwell,
Burke; Depot Adjutants—Ensigns Mauleverer and Steere;
Assistant Surgeon St. Croix Cooper. Effective strength of
three companies :-1 acting sergeant-major, 9 sergeants, 5
drummers, and 192 rank and file. At Sligo-1 company,
consisting of Captain Maxwell, Ensign Conyngham, 2 ser-
geants, 1 drummer, and 60 rank and file; recruiting, 7 rank
and file. Draught at Cork for embarkation for alta to
join their service companies—Captain. Mackie, Ensign Gore,
1 sergeant, 60 rank and file, 6 boys, and 6 supernumerary
men. Captain Adams, 88th, has joined the depot at Boyle,
from Malta.

for the mysterious phenomenon. The wise saws, who are
great, in the magic of the marvellous, consider the potato
disease as in some sort a sign that the world is nearly as old
as it ever will be, and that the present crop of tubers, though
a bad one, is the last reaping we shall have. What neces-
sary connexion there is between the end of the world and the
potato epidemic, or whether this said calamity is any proof that
the aforesaid globe is nearly worn out, we are not able to say,
nor on this point do the mystery-mongers inform as. The physi-
cal philosophers say electricity is at the bottom of it all, or rather
that it is not at the bottom; in other
.words, that the
potatoes had not been electrified enough. Without telling
us to whose measurement, calculation, or instinctive sagacity
they are indebted for the fact, they gravely give us to under-
stand (if we had sufficient sagacity of belief for the feat),
that in those parts of the island and continent, not forgetting
America, in which the electricity above has behaved better
to the territories below, and, to use a monied phrase, " has
come down handsomely," that in those said spots the
potatoes are in their usual health and strength, and looking
" very much like themselves." If we were in_ the mood
for joking, as unfortunately we are not, we should say
that this sublime enunciation " looks very much like a
whale." Taking advantage of the experience of that stupid
old man who tried to pelt a lad out of affarMtree with
tufts of grass, they suggest (the philosophers we mean) that
we should compel the electricity, whether it chose or not, to
come down to the dust and to do its work as quick as light-
ning, instead of idling away its time in visiting amongst the
clouds, and doing no good at all. Some propose to disturb
and displace the said fluid by the erection of multitudes of
iron rods, well spiked, bristling like bayonets, and seeming
to say that they don't mean to be trifled with; others sug-
gest that it shall be invited to sundry iron pots, made at-
tractive by being permanently electrified; and others pro-
pose to traverse the earth with metallic culverts for the
electricity to run up and down in. "In the name of the
prophet-figs!" These sublime ingenuities, these vast crea-
tions of fancy, these mighty minds in travail with mighty
projects, which
Seem as 'twere
An ocean in labour an ocean to bear,

all tend to the solemn secret of growing potatoes 1 Would
that as much talent were brought to bear upon the more
hidden and important secret of cooking them The physical
philosophers aver, and they may safely do so for any practical
disproof they are likely to meet with, that if only means be
employed which any one of them proposes, we may always cal-
culate upon an immunity from potato disease. We don't
doubt it for a moment ; we feel as certain of it as of catching
sparrows by throwing salt upon their tails !
Less sublime and speculative than the physical philoso-
phers, but far more practical and minute, come the micro-
scopists to settle the question of the potato epidemic. They
see deeply into the depths of things, and of course are ex
pected to draw therefrom much valuable matter that un-
aided optics must always be strangers to. In fact, a
man with a microscope may see anything ; and, as
" seeing is believing," we see no just cause why he
should be expected to doubt anything. We antici-
pate, consequently, that the time is not very far distant when
credulity, properly so called, will be regularly defunct, and
such people as our forefathers would have called " easy of
belief," will be bond fide matter of fact men under the irre-
sistable persuasion and proof of the microscope. This instru-
ment, as we have said, has been brought to bear, with artil-
lery-like precision, though with less point, upon the " potato
murrain,' and wonderful have been the discoveries in conse-
quence ! Fungi of all sorts, sizes, and shapes, and colours,
have been found fattening themselves, cormorant like, upon
the poor potato ; sporules, granules, cells, and dust that de-
served no better name, all have been found upon the potato;
and many a discoverer has been obliged to rub up his Greek
to furnish technicals for the unknown objects that have tum-
bled in the way of his observation. Talk of special trains,
they go nothing so fast as discovery has lately gone along the
line of damaged potatoes!
Next come the chemists, with their prodigal paraphernalia
of apparatus and tests, to acquaint us with the malady of the
potato. They find alkalies where acids ought to be, and the
converse; they state, to a shadow of a shade, the particular
blush of blue which iodine gives the sickly potato, in con-
trast with what it gives the potato that is sound; they tell
us, precisely, what the former has lost in meanness and gained
in waxiness—what is due to the condition of the starch, the
mucilage, and other such things—that good potatoes lose 75
per cent. by drying at a gentle heat, whilst the bad ones lose
77 !—and, finally, the man with a chafing dish, glass tubing,
oxide of copper, caustic potash, and other like simples, waves
his wand, and, lo 1 an ultimate analysis settles the point at
once, by proving that some delicate decimal is wanting tc
make up the due amount of a certain constituent which has
been most rascally robbed of " its fair proportions" by another
certain one ! "So much for Buckingham !"
After this amount of detail, to say nothing of the amount
of trouble we have had in practically getting it ready, we
may perhaps claim a hearing for ourselves. We, "the plural
nominative singular," in our triumph of tripod, feel that it is
our right to state both what we know, and what we think.
upon the matter at issue.
We have looked at the electricity with " our mind's eye,
and, like Mathews in the play, can " see nothing at all in
it." We have looked through the microscope, and have seen
ten thousand curious sights in the morbid potatoe, but no-
thing equal to what we have seen in a pinch of musty horse
manure. We have tortured the pc or potatoe in retorts, cru-
cibles, and tubes of glass, but products and educts have told
us nothing more than we knew aforetime. Amidst this
Babel of investigation and discovery, it occurred to us to
think that there might be something "rotten in the state
of "—the potatoe! And after wiping from our eyes the
films created by philosophy and fancy, we saw a clear
evidence of a simple decomposition in this said tuber! And
what is there that philosophers cannot find- worthy to talk
about, microscopists to stare at, and chemists to analyse, in
rottenness! We have always thought it a wonderful field
for minute investigation, and such it has proved to be, as
the present condition of the potatoe crops can testify.
To close this part of our subject, for we shall take occasion
to complete it finally in another article, we give it as our de.
cided opinion that " potato disease" and " potato murraid'
are merely idle terms that bear no relation whatever to
existent things. There is no "disease," no "murrain,
properly so called ; the potatoes are just rotten, and that
is the long and the short of it. The discolouration, cam•
mencing in this spot, and extending to that, the soft-
ness, the waxiness, the fetor, all these things, and many
more such like, we have seen a score time in
potatoes that have spontaneously rotted in a damp dark
cellar. We can confirm what the microscopists and che-
mists say about appearances and reactions, and tell them
plenty of untold truths besides; but not potatoes only, any
vegetable of similar composition will give like results when
in a state of decay. These acids, alkalies, atomic defects,
sporules, granules, ruptured cells, dust, dirt, &c., are in Con.
sequence of the potato mischief, and not a cause of it. There
is nothing new in the circumstance; we have been familiar
with it from childhood, and so have many simple observers
who are older in the art of taking notice than ourselves are.
It is no novelty in this country, any more than elsewhere;
it attracts attention because of the almost universality of its
prevalence. And has not the cause been as universal? Cold
water is the fountain head ! Take our word for it, there is
no mystery in the affair; cloudy skies and drenching rain
have done it all I

How TO SELL GAME WITHOUT A LICENSE.—It
is stated in the London, and some of the local papers,
that the Duke of Buckingham has given to his tenants
on the Avington estate, near this city, the right to kill
game on their respective farms. Our contemporaries,
when heralding forth his Grace's excessive liberality,
should not forget to mention that an increased rent is
charged for the game boon. However much the tenants
may gain by the permission to kill the game they feed,
his Grace can be no loser. Suppose that his estate at
Avington and Easton consists of two thousand acres of
land, which is let to four farmers—and that every
farmer pays an additional rent of 201. each for the
pertnissioa to shoot over his farm. His. Grace,
would thus receive 801. per annum for his game on
these four farms, a sum much more than he could have ob-
tained under the old system of keeping hired keepers, and
supplying licensed dealers in game—to say nothing of
the expense of keepers and the occasional prosecution of
a poacher. The Duke of Buckingham had made a good
bargain, and sells his game to much greater advantage
then heretofore.—Hampshire Independent.
THE POTATOES.—Potato-raising is now being pro-
secuted in our district, and we regret to state that
the reports, which have reached us respecting the
crop are very unfavourable. The black potatoes
are decidedly a failure, and being the kind more
generally planted here are likely to cause a serious
loss and deprivation to that class of the community
which is least able to bear it. The amount of the
crop is not only deficient, but the distemper which
has been detected in the south country and has
caused considerable discussion in the journals, is also
found to exist in the crops here. After being raised
from the ground they early show symptoms of rotting
and going to decay ; when boiled, a portion of them
is unwholesome, and consequently wasted. These
are the complaints which for some time have been
before the public in reference to the crops raised in
the earlier districts in the south, and which have at-
tracted the consideration of the professors in agricul-
ture without the cause or a protection against a re-
currence having been discovered. The white or long
potatoes are supposed to be of good quality, but the
quantity planted of these is much short of the black
kind, and the yield of the crop does not exceed if it
amounts to an average. There is every reason to fear
that potatoes during the winter will be in short supply ;
buyers from other quarters have already been here, and
we have been told that one merchant in his town has
sold two thousand bolls to a purchaser from Belgium.—
Berwick Arbe,tiser.
REPRESENTATION OF SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE.—
WARWICK, SUNDAY.—The writ for the return of a Mem-
ber for the representation of the southern division of
this county is expected to arrive on Tuesday next,
and the election to take place in the early part of
the ensuing week. Lord Brooke, the only candidate
announced (and that announcement made not by his Lord-
ship, but by his friends only), is still on the Continent, and,
so far as the public are yet informed, it is not improbable that
he will remain absent even at the election. This, however,
will not matter much, except, perhaps, that it may save his
Lordship an unpleasant catechism from some of the agricul-
tural discontents of the county. Absent or present, Lord
Brooke will be duly proposed and seconded, and it is said
that his return to Parliament may be deemed certain. The
election creates the least possible degree of interest in the di-
vision ; but it is not improbable, seeing the near contiguity
of Warwick to Birmingham and Coventry, that before the
day of nomination something may arise to impart life and
spirit to the proceedings.
[An VERTISEMENT.] —Tfl E EARL OF ALDBOROUGH
AND HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.—An astounding cure by this mi-
raculous medicine, after every other means had failed.—See
extract of his lordship's letter, dated Villa Messina, Leghorn.
February 21, 1845.—" To Professor Holloway ; Sir,-1 beg
to acquaint you that your pills have effected a cure of a disorder
in my liver and stomach, which all the most eminent of the
facn3ty at home, and all over the continent, had not been able
to effect—nay, not even the waters of Carlsbad or Marienbad.
( Signed) ALDBOROUGH." These wonderful pills will cure
any disease of the liver and stomach.--Sold (also Holloway's
Ointment) at Professor Holloway's establishment, 044, Strand;
and by all medicine venders throughout the civilized world.
A Stock Exchange was opened in Leicester on
Wednesday, at the saloon of the theatre. The association
consists of eight firms, comprising thirteen individuals,. The
subscription is 201. per annum, and the security I,OOW. The
hours of business are from eleven to half-past, and from two
to half-past. The dealings are for cash on delivery of scrip
or transfer.
The avevraalguee o
fthenumber
property
Britishdestr sohyiepdwarbeocukt s
tiwnona year
is lostpmaAbTou
CANDIDATE.
illst,as6;LGf
0001 millions l
El the
RO
cs
Ks t.e_r I ipn gE; F aEn, t hoe n.u(mithezr of
AL lives
T
—Con Friday an election,took place in the Richmond ward of
PE
rtbepeeaclietyr,
and Mr. Hall, anTahnetic-arenpdeidalaetres. wAetrte MheeriosKe eolfly, a
the
poll Mr. Hall was 109, and Mr. Kelly 98. Majority against
the repealer, 11.

THE STTN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 25, 1845.

COAL FIELDS OF , A

ON THE ANTIIARACITE AND OAL FIELDS OF
CHINA; THE SYSTEM OF MINL,G, AND -2HE PRICES OF
COAL, AND LABOUR IN ITS PRODUCTION, AND TRANSPOR-
TATION TO PEKIN. BY RICHARD C. TAYLOR, PHILADEL-
PHIA.

We have seen the recent announcement of the sailing of a
vessel containing 308 tons of Pennsylvania anthracite, des-
tined for Hong-Kong, in China. Some very natural specu-
lations have arisen from this circumstance, as to the proba-
bility of that country furnishing a market for American an-
thracite. As no details accompany the statement alluded to,
we are not in possession of material facts whereby an
eitimate can be formed of the probable success of the under •
taking, in a commercial sense; and we are not sure but the
coal may have been employed for convenience merely, as
ballast.

In the East Indies various depots of European coal lW
been established, for the service of the British Government.
steamers. This fuel, for the most part, it is understood, con-
sists of the anthracitous and partially bituminous coals of
SouthWales,of course obtained at great expense. It appears
that 5,000 tons of English coal at a freightage of 21. per
ton, are annually imported into Bombay for the Company's
steamers. Bituminous coals have been derived from much
less distant sources ; among which the Burdwan coal field,
in the vicinity of Calcutta, may be named. Mergui Island,
also, in the Bay of Bengal, has lately furnished some steam
coal to Singapore. The steam-ships on the China seas,
during the war with that vast country, were supplied from
these various sources.

I do not propose to discuss the profitableness, or other-
wise, of a Chinese market for our American anthra-
cite. But as during the process of collecting statis-
tical information for a proposed volume on " the geo-
logical and geographical distribution of coal and other mineral
combustibles," some notes reached me of an interesting cha-
racter, which are not generally accessible to the majority of
readers with relation to the Chinese coal fields, it has struck
me that a portion of these details, in an abridged form, might
be just now acceptable, particularly as the intercourse with
that country is on the increase.. I venture even to omit, for
the present, the authorities for the facts I shall have to com-
municate, reserving them in detail for the volume ad-.
verted to. It must, nevertheless, be remised that
to the Jesuit fathers, the French missionaries, who
were permitted to reside at Pekin during the 18th and pre-
ceding centuries, we are indebted for details of the highest
interest, not alone on this subject, but on many other objects
of philosophical inquiry in that little-known region.
It is probable that coal was discovered, and was in com-
mon use in China, long before it was known in the western
world. It is mentioned by a noble traveller of the 13th
century, as abounding throughout the whole province of
Cathay, of which Pekin is the capital, "where certain black
stones are dug out of the mountains, which stones burn when
' kindled, and keep alive for a long time, and are used by
many parsons, notwithstanding the abundance of wood."
The good missionaries were fully capable of describ-
ing the coals which were supplied to Pekin, since
they there orected a furnace nr DEoro, in which they
experimented on the properties of those combus-
tibles, particularly with reference to the ordinary domestic
uses, and for the warming of apartments and the purposes
of their laboratoi v.

Among the people of Pekin, three kinds are in use :-
1. That employed by the blacksmiths. It yields more
flame than the other qualities ; is more fierce, but is sub-
ject to decrepitate in the fire; on which account, probably,
the blacksmiths use it pounded in minute particles.
2. A harder and stronger coal used for culinary purposes,
giving out more flame than the other sorts so employed ;
it is less quickly consumed, and leaves a residuum of gray
ashes. There are several gradations of these. The best are
hard to break, of a fine grain, a deep black colour, soiling the
bands less than the others. It sometimes is sufficiently
siliceous to give fire with steel. Others have a very coarse
grain, are easily broken, and make a bright fire, leaving a
reddish ash. Another species crackles, or decrepitates, when
first placed on the fire; and falls down, almost entirely, in
scales, which close the passage of the air, and stifle the fire.
3. A soft, feebly-burning coal, giving out less heat than
the second-class ; consuming more quickly, it breaks with
greater facility, and in general is of deeper black than the
sorts previously mentioned. It is commonly this description
which, being mixed with coal dust and a fourth part of clay,
is employed to. form an artificial and economical fuel. This
being moulded in the form of bricks and balls are sold in
the shops of Pekin. Waggon loads of coal dust are brought
to that city for this sole purpose.
The coal merchants have also an intermediate quality be-
tween the classes two and three.

and Cue ifulaunuablo gas is forced up in jets, twenty
or thirty feet in height. From these fountains the
vapour has been conveyed to the salt works in pipes,
and there used for the boiling and evaporation of the salt;
other tubes convey the gas intended for lighting the streets
and the larger apartments and kitchens. As there is still
more gas than is required, the excess is conducted b2yand
the limits of the salt works, and there forms separate chin'-
, nee s or columns of flame.

One cannot but be struck with the singular counterpart of
this employment of natural gas, which may be daily wit-
nessed in the valley of the Kanawha, in Virginia. The geo-
logical origin, the means of supply, the application to all
the processes of manufacturing salt, and of the appro-
priation of the surplus for the purposes of illumi-
nation, are remarkably alike at such distant points
as China and the United States. Those who have
read, even within the present month, the account
of the - recent extraordinary additional supply of gas,
and the service it is made to perform at the Kanawha
salt-works, must be impressed with the coincidence of all the
circumstances with those which are very briefly stated in the
previous paragraph in relation to China. In fact, the parallel
is complete.
To the coals and combustible minerals of China I cannot
further advert here. But what a conviction itresistibly
presses upon the mind, as to the incalculable utility of the
railroad system and coal mining improvements in such an
empire. If ever there were concentrated at one point all the
circumstances especially and unequivocally favourable to that
system, and imperiously calling for improvements of the
character suggested, it :.eerns to be presented in the case of
the city of Pekin. Here, with its enormous population of
1,500,000 souls, it is situated only at a day's journey—
computed at thirty miles—from an immense region of
coal, comprising several varieties. Yet its inhabitants
cannot purchase the best qualities of this coal, brought from
the mountains on the hacks of mules and camels, under 11
dollars GO cents per ton, and the very worst for less than
7 dollars 75 cents per ton.
Without making unnecessary or invidious comparisons, it
might not unreasonably be suggested that a Pekin railroad,
in connexion with the coal mines, would be a far more pro-
fitable enterprise in its results than the transportation of
American coals to China.

We cannot in this place recite the numerous details which
are furnished by these intelligent fathers. Suffice it to add,
that nearly the whole of the properties and applications are
now in every-day use in the United States, and are familiar
to all. They are, in fact, the natural results suggested by
qualities possessed in common by the combustibles of remote
parts of the same globe. Even the modern method of warm-
ing all the apartments of our dwellings, which we view as
the result of superior practical and scientific investigation,
was in use, with very little deviation, centuries ago by, the
Chinese. Many a patented artificial fuel compound, both in
Europe and America, has been in practical operation in China
at least a thousand years.
4. Anthracite—Another description of coal abounding
about thirty leagues from Pekin, but which was not then in
such general use there as the other kind,i, is called by the
Chinese Che-tan. Che means a stone, but tan is the name
they give to wood charcoal. Therefore, according to the
genius of the Chinese language, this compound word signi-
fies a substance resembling or having the common properties
of stone and charcoal. There can be little difficulty here, in
recognising the variety of coal which, in our day, has been
denominated anthracite, a compound word of similar
meaning.
The Chinese glance coal forms a remarkable exception to
the unfavourable conclusion prevailing against Oriental coal;
and, according to more recent authority than those we be-
fore cited, deserves to rank at the head of the list, in respect
of its purity as a coke ; although in specific gravity it doel
not come up to the character of the Pennsylvania or Welsh
fuel ; neither has it the spongy texture which contributes
much to the glowing combustion of the latter.
So late as 1840 a Russian officer has described the coal
formations of the interior, as occupying the western moun-
tain range of China, in such abundance that a space of half
a league cannot be traversed without meeting with rich
strata. The art of mining is yet in its infancy among the
Chinese ; notwithstanding which, coal is thought to be at a
moderate price in the capital. Anthracite occurs in the
western range of mountains at about a day's Journey, or
about thirty miles, only from Pekin. The coal formation is
largely developed, in which thick beds of coal occur. They
appear to be of various qualities. Some of this coal,
occurring in shale beds, is singularly decomposed,
and its particles have so little cohesion, that they are
almost reduced to a state of powder. Beneath these coal
shales are beds of ferruginous sandstone, and below those
occur another series, consisting of much richer seams of coal
than the upper group.
In this range are seen also both horizontal and vertical
accompanied by seams of coal, which
conglomerate for the roof, and diorite or greenstone
cefloonogr.l ome
As
amte, i g
ht be expected, this coal very much re-
sembles anthracite. It is shining, of compact texture, fhboeardvse theotfh
diffi-
cult to ignite, does not flame in burning, or give out any smoke.
Its substance is entirely homogenious. Everything respecting
it leads to the belief that there had been a great de-
velopment of heat at the period of its formation, or
subsequently. The horizontal coal beds are the
most important and valuable, and are denominated large;
but no greater thickness than three and a half feet is quoted.
The blacksmiths, and those who work in copper, prefer this
coal, on account of the intense heat which it gives out.
Throughout the whole of this mountain range may be con-
tinually seen the outcrops of this combustible, where they
have never, as yet, been touched by the hand of man.
In those parts of China where wood is very dear, coal is
worked on a great scale for the Pekin market ; but the process
of mining is very little understood by those people, whoexeel
in the preparation of charcoal.
Coal in other parts of China—The missionaries and
others inform us that coal is so abundant in every pro-
vince of China that there is, perhaps, no country of the
world in which it is so common. The quays at Nankin are
stored with the finest native coal. Some of the coal which
was brought down to the coast, from the Pekin country, to
the Gulf of Pe-tchee-lee, was anthracite, partaking of
the character of plumbago or graphite. Coal, apparently
of the brown coal species, exists extensively in the di-
rection of Canton; while all the coals seen on
the Yang-tse-kiang river, south of Nankin, resembled cannel
coal. Near to Canton it possessed the comparatively mo-
dern character of brown coal. It was abundantly.offered
for sale in the different cities through which Lord Amhurst's
embassy passed, between Lake Po-yang-how and Canton,
and the boats were largely supplied with it. It is there
obtained by means of pits, like wells ; and we infer that,
like nearly all the brown coal deposites, the beds were hori-
zontal, and at no great depth. A sulphurous coal, inter-
stratified with slate, and in the vicinity of red sandstone,
also prevails towards Canton.
Thus, therefore, we possess evidence, the main object
which this communication was designed to exhibit, that ex-
, tending over large areas in China are beds of tertiary or
brown coal, of cannel coal, a dozen varieties of bituminous
coal, of anthracite, glance coal, and graphitic anthracite; all
of which, for ages, have been in common use in this remark-
able country; and have been there employed for every do-
mestic purpose known to civilised nations of all times, in-
cluding gas lighting, and the manufacture of iron, copper,
and other metals.

I will only add one circumstance, which had nearly escaped
me. Borneo, " the largest island in the world," which is
only twenty degrees due north of Canton, has lately come
into repute for the great quantity of coal which it contains,
not only accessible to ships along the coast, but extensively oc-
curring in the mountains of the interior. Much information
has also been acquired from the natives ; and the facts which
are already elicited are regarded as of considerable import-
ance, in respect to the facilitating the steam navigation of the
China seas.

Philadelphia will, of course, have her share in the enlarged
commercial intercourse with China. Would it, then, be asking
too much of those who ar© personally interested in this im-
proving trade, to communicate any additional facts which
are either unknown to, or have boon omitted by, the author
of these scanty notes?

Philadelphia, April 28, 1845.
[Nova.—The prices and admeasurements which are quoted
in the foregoing article, were reduced to the United States
and English currencies and measures, from the Russian, as
furnished by the engineer Kovanko, who, in like manner,
converted them into the Ruisian from the Chinese standards.
In consequence of this triple conversion of standards, addi-
tional care has been taken to avoid error in these calcula-
tions.l—Franklin Journal.

THE WEATHER.
STORM IN INVERNESS-SHIRE.

The weather continues wet and story—very uncon-
genial for the completion of harvest. Wednesday last
was fair, and both shearing and leading were carried on
with spirit. On the two following days the constant
rain prevented the cutting and in-gathering of the
crops. On Saturday we had a strong gale of wind,
which, ere night, penetrated to the heart of the wet
sheaves, and rendered the crop tolerably dry ; but, we
regret to add, only to be exposed to a thorough soaking
next day. The river Ness has been in full flood all the
week. On Saturday a few sheep were observed strug-
gling in the midst of the current, but they got safe to
land. Monday will not be readily forgotten. All day
it blew a hurricane, until towards evening, when the
violence of the wind greatly abated, and a good deal of
corn was housed overnight. Throughout the day it
rained heavily, and the river continued to rise. About
ten o'clock a large tree, which had been torn up by the
roots, rolled down the stream, and shortly afterwards
another followed. On the Castle Hill it was impossible
to stand or walk, unless under cover of the building.
Several of the windows were shattered ; chimney-cans
and slates were thrown down into the streets ; and in the
country, trees, fences, and other materials, were dislodged
and scattered about. At sea, we are afraid the results
would be more serious ; for the storm was as general as
it was severe. Fears were entertained for the stack-
yards about town, and we observe that in some of them
portions of the thatch have been carried away on the
sides most exposed. Stooks are also laid level wherever
they stood. On a field of barley near the Thornsbush
Pier not one sheaf stood erect—they were all blown
over. At Kessock the tempest prevented the ferry-
boats from crossing. The Maid of Morven, steamer,
lay at anchor in the roads, her owner deeming it unsafe
for her to undertake the customary trip. The Duke of
Wellington was also anchored at the ferry ; her cargo
could not be got on board until yesterday forenoon,
when she proceeded on her voyage southwards. A boat
which lay at anchor a short way above the pier broke
her cable, and drifted down into shallow water, near the
mouth of the river, when she was secured. A gentle-
man from this town who was in Ross•shire on Saturday,
states that the Conan and the Orrib were swollen to a
large size—the former extending its waters where corn
had stood but shortly before. On the west coast the
hurricane commenced on Sunday evening about 9 o'clock
and continued till 12 the following day. Nothing
so severe has been experienced for at least 30 years
about Fort William and the neighbouring district. On
Loch Ness the blast was terrific ; the spray blew on the
land like a snow-drift. The three lochs—Ness, Oich,
and Lochy—were higher on Monday, in consequence of
he rains, than they have been since the great flood in
November, 1834, when they rose to an unprecedented
height. We are glad to learn that the operations on the
canal, though much retarded, have not been damaged
by this storm, owing to the judicious arrangements and
exertions of the contractors ; and the Culloden steamer
nobly breasted the gale on Loch Ness, making the dis-
tance from Dochgarroch to Fort-Augustus in three hours
and five minutes. The roads beyond Leterfinlay are
cut up by the flood, and several large trees were floated
down from Lock Arkaig to the east end of Loch Lochy.
The late boisterous winds and rains have rapidly
stript our woods of great part of their variegated foliage.
Some of the birch plantations on the hill-sides, however,
still wear a picturesque appearance, and in some sheltered
situations the leaves and verdure continue fresh and
green. It was curious last week to note the moorfowl
congregate in the cornfields, to escape the stormy blasts
of the hills. Throngs of grouse and blackcock had
descended from the heights, and literally blackened the
stooks that still stand exposed in some of the fields.
A correspondent writing from Strathspey, on Satur-
day, reports as follows :—" The weather is singularly
changeable and unsteady, and at this date, October 18,
there is not above one-fourth of the crops secured in
Strathspey. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday last,
were good days, with a strong, steady breeze from the
west, very favourable for drying the corn, cut and
uncut. Fields were rapidly clearing, and stack-yards
filling apace ; but this happy state of things was sud-
denly overturned yesterday, when a perfect deluge of
rain fell. To-day it blows a hard gale from the north-
west."—lnverness Courier.

COURSE OF EXCHA/
Amsterdam CF. 12 10,E
Ditto, at sight l2 7
Rotterdam 2 11. 12 11
Antwerp 26 15
Hamburgh M.B. 1313/'
Altona

Paris, 3 days' sight 25 75
Ditto, 3 months 26 5
Marseilles
Bourdeaux 26 10
Frankfort on Maine
Petersburgh, 3 Us.—
Berlin

Vienna, effee. ft 10 6
Trieste, ditto
Madrid 36i
Cadiz
Bilbao —
Barcelona .....
Seville

Mode of Mining Coal in China —lt might be ex-
pected that in China, where most of the practical arts
have, from , time immemorial, been carried on with all
the perseverance of that industrious people, the opera-
tions of mining coal would be conducted with some
regard to science, in relation to sinking, draining, and ex-
traction. We have, however, good authority, especially in
regard to the environs of Pekin, for stating that the process
is still in a very imperfect state. Machinery there to lighten
labour is unknown. They have not even an idea of the
pumps indispensable to draw off the water. If local circum-
stances allow, they cut drainage galleries ; if not, they aban-
don the work whenever the inundation has gained too far
upon them. The mattock and shovel, the pick and the
hammer, are the mining instruments--the only ones,
in fact, which the Chinese employ in working the
coal. The water of the mine is emptied by the slow
process of filling small casks, which are brought up to the
surface by manual labour. Vertical shafts are not used. In
working horizontal coal seams, the timber is expensive, and
the materials cost 2 copecs per` pound. 8 dollars 50 cents
per ton, English wand being sold by weight in China.
The coal, when mined, is put into baskets, and drawn upon
sledges, which are raised to the surface by manual strength.
Each basket contains about three pounds of coal, and one
man can raise about eight baskets in a day. This is equi-
valent to 1,032 Russian pounds, or to 12 cwts. English, per
day. The miners' wages are at the rate of 30 copecs a
basket, which is equal t 0,240 copecs (copper currency), or
46 cents of United States currency per day, being 76 cents
U. S. per ton.
Prices at Pekin—At the pit's mouth, this coal is sold for
60 copecs per lb.,== 4 dollars 63 cents per ton of 20 cwt. It
is then conveyed on the backs of mules through the moun-
tains, and thence on camels to Pekin, where the price is II
rouble, francs, = 29c. United Sates per pound ; which,
if our calculation be correct, is equal to 11 dollars 60 cents
United States, or 21. Ss. 3d. per ton of 2,240 pounds English.
,We perceive, therefore, that the best of fuel is expensive at
Pekin, and hence the necessity for resorting to the artif.cial
compounds and subsitutes to which we briefly alluded.
There is, however, a kind of coal sold in that city at a
much lower price, particularly when it is mixed with one-
half or coal dust. This coal, in 1840, sold for one rouble per
pound, which is at the rate of 7 dollars 75 cents, equal to
I/. I2s. 3d. per ton. It is of indifferent quality, however,
giving out but little heat, and is quickly consumed.
The compound fuel, consisting of coal dust and clay, is
still prepared after the mode described by the missionaries
last century, but its use is chiefly confined to the indigent
classes.

Coal Gas Lighting in China—Whether, or to what extent,
the Chinese artificially produce illuminating gas from bitu-
minous coal, we are uncertain. But it is a fact that spon-
taneous jets of gas, derived from boring into coal beds, have
for centuries been burning, and turned to that and other
economical purposes. If the Chinese are not manufacturers,
they are, nevertheless, gas consumers and employers on a
large scale, and have evidentlybeen so ages before the know-
ledge of its application was acquired by Europeans. Beds of
coal are frequently pierced by the borers for salt water,

TGE.—(YESTERDAY.)
Gibra1tar.......... .....
Leghorn
Genoa
Milan
Venice
Naples ...... 39i
Palermo, per oz ll9l
Lisbon ........... 53*
Oport0.,
Rio Janeiro ....
Bahia
Buenos A yies
NewYork,2ldyssight
Philadelphia
PRICES OF BULLION, PER co
Foreign Gold, bars £3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin 3 17 5
New Doubloons..... 0 0 0
New Dollars 0 4 101
Silver in Bars

DIRECT WESTERN RAILWAT.—It was expected
that the shares in this Company would have been distributed
by this time, but we understand the allotment has not yet
been completed. The applications for shares from persons
along the projected line have greatly preponderated over
those from other parts ; and as the Direct Ors very naturally
wish to give preference to the former, without entirely ex-
cluding the latter, their office of allocation involves both
time and difficulty. We are informed that the shares may
not be expected before the end of next week, as the lists
of allotment are undergoing a scrupulous revision.—The
Railway Sing.

- -
PILCHARD FISHERY.—On Wednesday morning
several tine shoals of fish were seen off the Lizard, and during
the forenoon they came in shore. The seiners at the Lizard
missed them, but at Cadgwith a fine shoal was enclosed and
taken up, of about 400 hhds. ; and at a cove near Cadg-
with, two other seines shot, and took together 150 hhds., all
of which have been cellared. They are remarkably fine fish,
and very fat.—Plymouth Journal.
GOLDEN PLOVER.—Within the last four days the
downs in the vicinity of Andover have been visited by several
strong flocks cf that highly-esteemed bird the golden plover.
Whenever the migratory visitors make their appearance on
these sheep-walks, we may be certain that the October frosts
are close at hand. In the company of these wanderers have
been noticed a sprinkling of dotterel, a very rare bird in these
parts, which are greatly prized by the sportsman.—Sherburne
Journal.

We are requested to caution the public, and more
especially that portion of it who are in the habit of bestowing
alms indiscriminately upon vagrants, against the deception
practising by a female who is travelling through this
county, and presenting fictitious notes of recommendation,
purporting to be addressed from respectable individuals in
one parish to others in an adjoining one. The plea, in one
instance brought under our notice, is for assistance to get a
child into an institution for the blind, and a well-written
note, falsely alleged to be from a clergyman at 'SVrittle to a
lady at Great Baddow, was presented by the applicant.—
Chelmsford Chronicle.
A covey of partridges, five in number, settled on
the pavement of the upper end of Bridlesmith-gate, in this
town, on Friday afternoon last. An unusual scene ensued.
One was captured by a sweep, who bore his prize home in
triumph ; and the others, after some little difficulty, were
also secured by " uncertfficated sportsmen." Such an event,
in the very centre of a large manufacturing town, is de-
cidedly novel.—Nottingham Review.
FORTUNATE SPECULATION.—On the 7th instant,
a person bought 40 tons of oatmeal for 131. per ton in Armagh
market. Next week he sold the same in I'ortadown for 19/.
per ton.—. Dublin Evening Mail.
We are glad to find that the Directors of the
London and Brighton Railway have adopted the plan of
setting apart a carriage in every train for ladies only, This
is an instance of attention to the comfort and—as recent
experience on some other lines has shown—to the safety of
females travelling alone, which cannot be too highly coin-
mended.—Brighton Gazette

PUBLIC DINNER to MR. HUDSON,
M.P., AT SUNDERLAND.
SUNDERLAND, WEDNESDAY, Ocr. 22.—Yesterday evening
a public dinner, in honour of Mr. Hudson's return for this
borough, took place in the Polytechnic-hall, Fawcett-street,
which had been fitted up and decorated tor the purpose.
The walls were covered with banners used at the election,
and opposite the chair was placed a likeness of the Hon.
Member, taken by an artist in Newcastle. Upwards of 350
gentlemen sat down to dinner, the room thereby being in-
conveniently crowded. J. J. 'Wright, Esq., was in the chair.
On his right were G. Hudson, Esq., M.P. ; Lord Adolphus
Vane, the Hon. H. T. Liddell, M.P; Alderman Richardson,
of Yolk : the Sheriff of York ; R. Pemberton, Esq., cf the
Barnes; and C. Bramwell, Esq. On his left, Lord-Seaham •
Sir J. H. Lowther, M.P. ; Colonel Wood, M.P. g Hod son'
'
Hinde, Esq., M.P. ; Matthew Bell, Esq., M.P. • the Rev. Dr
Townsend, Prebendary of Durham ; Rev. R. Skipsey, R.
Webster, Esq., &c. &c.
The principal vice-chair was filled by R. Sporr, Esq.
The .dinner was a very sumptuous entertainment, with a
plentiful supply of champagne and other wines.
On the withdrawal of the cloth,
The CHAIRMAN gave, in succession, " the Queen," " the
Queen Dowager," " Prince Albert," "the Prince of Wales,and the rest- of the Royal Family," and " the Navy and.
Army." In proposing the latter toast (which was acknow-
ledged by Colonel Wood) the Chairman adverted to the fact
that on that day, forty years ago, the hero Nelson fought his
last battle in defence of England—the battle of Trafalgar—
and uttered his memorable saying, "England expects that
every man will do his duty."
The CHAIRMAN next gave " the Bishop and Clergy of the
Diocese," and in doing so, remarked that the venerable
Bishop, although he conscientiously differed from them in
political sentiment, yet, it must be admitted, by the exem-
plary discharge of the duties of his exalted office, by his mu-
nificent contributions to public charities, and by the manifes-
tation of much kind feeling, had secured for himself the un-
feigned respect of the inhabitants of the county, and especially
the inhabitants of Sunderland.—(Applause.)
The Rev. Dr. TOWNSEND, in responding to the toast, ad-
verted to the beneficial effects of railways, and expatiated on
the public and private character of their guest, which he
stated was in every respect highly commendable.
The CHAIRMAN then said—We now come to the leading
toast of the evening—the health of the esteemed and distin-
guished gentleman in whose honour we are assembled at this
festive board—(Applause)—in erder to proclaim the high
estimation in which we hold his talents, the unqualified re-
spect we entertain for his character, the satisfaction with
which we have the honour to see him our representative in
Parliament, and our confidence that he will discharge the
duties of that sacred trust with honour to himself, credit to
this borough, and advantage to the country.—(Applause.)
So much has been said in eulogium of Mr. Hudson's abilities
and high reputation, both on previous occasions in this
borough and by the newspaper press throughout the country,
that I cannot but feel it is impossible for me to advance
anything new or interesting upon the present occa-
sion. There are three lights in which I should desire to
place Mr. Hudson before you, in every one of which he
shines with a brightness of character of which he may
justly be proud, which does him infinite credit, and reflects
honour upon his name—l mean as a man of business, as a
politician, and as a private gentleman.—(Applause). The
reputation of Mr. Hudson as a man of business anti enter-
prise stands unrivalled in the present day. As the great ac-
complisher of railway undertakings, the public spirit and the
indomitable perseverance which have marked all his opera-
tions, the astonishing rapidity with which all his great works
have been executed, and the signal success which has at-
tended all his efforts, have become matters of national record,
and the theme of wander throughout Europe. So strongly,
gentlemen, is his fame felt, that you cannot take up any
newspaper, whether Tory, Whig, or Radical—whether local
or metropolitan—nay, whether English or continental,
without finding some article to his praise or observations to
his honour.—(Applause.) He has identified his name with
the national character by the works be has already
accomplished; and such is the opinion formed of his power,
and such the reliance placed in his judgment and integrity,
that he wields at command and presides over an amount
of pecuniary capital exceeding that of any other man in
this empire. He may be said to be a sort of Chancellor of
the Exchequer in railway matters, whose duties, however,
are more to give than to receive; for he has founded a
national stock which has not only provided for the security
of the investments, but returned to the possessors their capi-
tal doubled, trebled, or quadrupled in premiums and divi-
dends, and opened a new fountain of prosperity which has
flowed in copious and refreshing streams *rough the coun-
try.—(Applause.) There is another peculiarity attending
Mr. Hudson's enterprise—whilst it has benefited the rich, it
has disseminated advantages through every class of society
in this great commercial community. He has provided en-
gagements for the artisan, employment for the labourer, a
field of operation for the skill of engineers, trade for the
shopkeeper, a market for the manufacturer, hannels for in-
dustry, and oceans of business unequalled in the history of
this empire.—(Great applause.) Having conferred benefit
upon every class-of the community, he has raised a pyramid
to his fame which statesmen may envy, and which has called
forth a spontaneous testimonial of gratitude which does
honour to the national character, and confers splendour
upon the age.—(Applause.) As a politician, Mr. Hudson is
known to cherish, and, on all fitting occasions, he is ready
to uphold those great Conservative principles of devotion to
the Church, love to the altar, attachment to that unrivalled
Constitution which constitutes the glory and security of
the British nation. Especially do. I feel justified in stating
to this meeting, from all the addresses Mr. Hudson made to
this constituency, that he will be always ready to maintain
the necessity and enforce the justice of fair protection to
the agricultural, manufacturing, and shipping interests of
this great country, in opposition to those mischievous prin-
ciples of unlimited free trade, which would break down the
barriers raised to protect native industry and give up all na-
tional advantages, without any just return or equivalent con-
sideration.—(Applause.) The electors of this borough owe
Mr. Hudson a debt of gratitude for the noble stand he made
in support of protective principles on the recent arduous
struggle in this borough, and for having defeated the ma-
chinations of the Anti-Corn-law League, that modern mon-
ster of political violence, and vanquished one of the most
talented and experienced, and one of their original advocates,
and scattered all their hired lecturers in confusion.—(Great
applause.) That contest and victory was expressly a Con-
servative contest and victory. The issue joined between
the parties, which I expressly put to the electors on the
hustings, and which was confirmed by my honour-
able friend the candidate,, was this—a Conservative
Government on the - one hand, Whig policy on the
other ; just protection to the interests of the country
on one hand, and unlimited free trade on the other ;
and the 'constituency decided these questions by the vic-
tory that we won.—(Applause.) I say it was the triumph
of Conservative principles, and so it has been received and
understood throughout the country—it was the voice of
Conservative feeling, expressed in accents not to be misun-
derstood, and which has rung the death-knell of the Anti-
Corn-law League in all their future attempts to domineer
over the constituency.—(Applause.) Mr. Wright then
eulogised Mr. Hudson as a private gentleman, and concluded,
I will not detain you, for I see the feeling is rising in your
bosoms ready to burst in peals of enthusiastic applause.—
(The toast was drunk with repeated cheers.)
Mr. Hunsox, on rising, was again loudly cheered. He
said, in rising on this occassion to offer to you my best
thanks for the compliment which has just been paid me by
drinking my health, I feel under difficulty to find words to
give expression to the grateful feelings of a warm and affec-
tionate heart. lam deeply sensible of the obligations
which I owe to the electors of Sunderland for the man-
ner in which they returned me to Parliament ; but I felt
that in appearing before them I was not fighting my own
battle, but the battle of the Constitution, and seeking to
promote the welfare of this great country.—(Applause.)
The gentlemen who waited upon me to solicit me to come
forward will do me the justice to say that at first I shrunk
from the offer with some alarm, but on explanation I felt, as
every Englishman I hope will always feel, that a fair and
proper call being made upon me by my fellow-countrymen,
I had no right to consider my own feelings and convenience.
—(Applause.) I also told them, that if at the eleventh hour
any gentleman with whom they were acquainted came for-
ward, who could fight the battle, which they considered great
and important, with an equal probability of success, they
were at ,liberty to reject' me and take him.—(Applause.)
Having accepted your invitation to stand as a candidate for
Sunderland, I did my best, and I am gratified in knowing
that best aucceeded in defeating a body of gentlemen who
have been so admirably characterised by your Chairman
this evening.—(Renewed applause.) I came here upon prin.
ciple, relying for success solely upon those great Conservative
principles which I have held ever since I took a part in
public affairs. It is true I came here a stranger, only
known to two or three gentlemen, but before I had been
twenty-four hours in your borough, I found that I Wall
among a body of Englishmen who had hearts to feel for the
well• being of their country. This soon won my affections,
and it would be the severest trial which has ever tried me to
lose your regard. Gentlemen, we triumphed over a body of
men who thought they could carry enslaved at their shrine
the constituency of Sunderland. We have shown that when
fairly and openly met they are easy to defeat—that their
principles are not sound, that their views are selfish, and
that they endeavour to carry away the minds of the people
by specious arguments.—(Applause.) Having now, how-
ever, obtained a victory, let us endeavour to appropriate it to
the promotion of local and national advantage. I do not
hold lightly those great principles which ought to govern
this free country—l think they ought to be paramount on
all occasions, but having maintained them fearlessly, let us
unite with all parties in promoting the local and social ad-
vantage of the town and port of Sunderland.—( Great ap-
plause). Peaceful times are those in which only we can
take a calm and judicious view as to what will promote the
welfare of a town. Political agitators, who are constantly
exciting the people, in season and out of season, are not the
wellwishers of the country. Let us, Gentlemen, as Conser-
vatives, show a bright example to those agitators, and to
the political demagogues who exist in every town, by using
advantageously the victory we have obtained by promoting
the local interests of the port—let us endeavour to cultivate
good feeling towards those who are politically opposed to us,
and prevent political feeling from interfering with our en-
deavours to promote the local advantage of the town. I am
satisfied if you act thus, you will win over to us those who
will strengthen us, the party will grow stronger and stronger,
and the time will soon come when Mr. Liddell and myself
will not be the only two Conservative Members for this great
county.—(Applause). I again thank you : all I-can say is, I
am deeply sensible of the kind manner in which the Chairman
and my ttev. Friend have spoken of me, and I trust their
eulogiums will induce me never to forget the duties of the
position to which I have attained, and act as incentives to my
endeavours to serve my country, Your Chairman has ad-
verted to matters which were the subject of discussion during
my election. I am sure you will do me the justice to say,
that on that occasion I studiously abstained from any re-
ference to them. On this point I can appeal with confi-
dence even to my political opponents; but I was not un-
mindful of the position which this important port holds in
the country, and although I then thought it unfair to give
any pledges, or even refer to it in my speeches, my views
were then formed, and I was quite ready to have developed
them, had it been prudent to do so, in the same manner that
I did the other day, and which I am happy to say met with
the approbation not only of gentlemen who supported me,
but of some who felt it their duty to oppose me.—(Applause )
This district is, perhaps, one of the most important in the
kingdom, and if its resources were fully develsped Sunder-
land and Newcastle might rival Liverpool and Manchester.—
(Loud applause.) But to accomplish this we must not suffer
political feeling to interfere ; we must not allow politics to
intermix in the management of these affairs, and by avoid-
ing this conduct we shall win overmany to the principles we
profess,
and show a bright contrast to those trading politi-
cians who mind everybody's business but their own.---(A p-
plause.) I shall go to Parliament with an ambition to follow
the steps of the gentleman on my right (Mr. Liddell), and
of other gentlemen connected with the district, whose prin-
ciples and conduct I admire ; and I trust, by doing so, I shall
discharge my duties ill a manner satisfactory to you and the
gentlemen whom I have the honour to represent.—(Cheers )
Mr. HUDSON again rose, and gave " The healths of the
electors of Sunderland ;" which was drank with cheers.
A great many complimentary toasts followed, and the
company broke up at midnight.

His Excellency M. Dedel had an interview with Lord
.berdeen yesterday, at the Foreign-office.