The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-07 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR.,—Seeing in your paper of this day, an extract
from the Journal des Debats, stating that England
is sinking in the scale of nations into wretchedness
and poverty, I beg to contradict that statement. A
respectable farmer told me yesterday, that the rents
of farms in Somerset had more than doubled within these
forty years; and I know myself, and can prove, that,
since 1750, land in most cases has quadrupled its
value, without the owners of it laying out one six-
pence to produce this result. So that, although we
know millions are starving, yet thousands are better
off, without any exertions of their own.
Bath, Sept. 3, 1842. SKELETON.

POST OFFICE.

MONTHLY STATEMENT OF LETTERS DELIVERED IN

THE UNITED KINGDOM :
Week ending Aug. 21, 1842 . . 3833880
Week ending Aug. 22, 1841 . . 3,697,949
Week ending Nov. 24, 1839 . . 1,585,973
Increase since 1841, on the week's
letters . . . . . 135,931
Increase since 1839, on the week's
letters . . . 2,247,907

MELANCHOLY AcCIIANT AT SEACOMEE, CHE-
SEIRE.—SEACOMBE, SUNDAY.—This village, situate on
the banks of the Mersey, opposite Liverpool, was last
evening the scene of a heart-rending occurrence. Be-
tween eight and nine o'clock last evening, when the tide
was coming in strongly, a young female, named Evans,
staying at the house of Mr. Bevington, tea-broker, of
Liverpool, and sister to Mrs. Bevington, accompanied
by Mr. Bevinp.,,ton's servant, proceeded down the garden
steps on the river side to bathe, but they had no sooner
leaped into the water, than the strength of the tide car-
ried them out into the river, and before assistance could
be procured they had sunk to rise no more. Several
persons witnessed the distressing calamity, but the
action of the tide was so rapid, that it was impossible to
rescue them, and the bodies were washed away. Miss
Evans was about being united to a gentleman, now in
America, to whom she had despatched a letter a few
days ago by the Great Western steam-ship. This
morning the bodies were discovered at low water, some
distance from the spot Where the accident happened.
CORONER'S INQUEST.—DETERMINED SUICIDE OF A
MAN, AGED NINETY-SEVEN YEARS.--Yesterday, at
eleven o'clock, an inquest was held at the sign of the
Coburg Arms public-house, in Webber-street, New-cut,
Lambeth, before 'William Carter, Esc., the Coroner for
Surrey, on view of the body of William Humphries,
aged 97 years, who was found lying dead in his bed on
Sunday morning last, with his throat cut. The soft
parts of the neck were completely cut through to the
bone. The evidence adduced proved that the deceased
committed the act himself ; he had for some time past
been bedridden, and his mind had evidently become
affected by the infirmities incidental to his advanced
years. Verdict—" Temporary insanity."

13, Great Marlborough-street.
LIVES OF THE QUEENS
OF ENGLAND.

By AGNES STRICKLAND. •
NEW ani REVISED EDITIONS of the FIRST FOUR.

VOLUMES of this WORK
Are now ready, and may be had of all Bookse:lers.
The FIFTH VOLUME, comprising the LIVES of QUEEN
KATHARINE PARR and QUEEN MARY, is also- just
published.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborougb.street.