The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-13 00:00:00

WATERSPOUT AT TUNIS.

The following is an extra td t letter received by the
Governor of Malta from the British Consul at Tunis,
dated Nov. 26, and giving some details of the effects of
a whirlwind and waterspout, which burst over the port
of that place a few days previously :—" I have the
honour to acquaint your Excellency of the loss of two
Maltese vessels, viz., the schooner Angiolina, and the
brig Caval Marino, the former having arrived here on
the 12th, and the latter on the 13th inst., with general
cargoes, consisting mostly of English manufactures, of
which the Angiolina had only discharged a portion. This
unfortunate event took place in the Bay of the Goletta
en Sunday last, the 18th inst., at about 8 o'clock in the
morning. Conflicting winds had prevailed since day-
break, with lightning and a hailstorm, when suddenly
a violent whirlwind accompanied by a water-spout arose,
and in the space of a few minutes upset the two &hove-
l; L♦entioned vessels, and two French and one Sardinian,
:
. . wasted another French vessel, unroofed several
'uses at the Goletta, and caused considerable damage
at the arsenal. As soon as the squall bad subsided, the
French packet-steamer Mitidgia, and other merchant
vessels that bad been spared by the whirlwind, lowered
their boat.s, and hastened to rescue the crews of the
sinking vessels. The croiv of the Angiolina were all
saved by that of the Tuscan brig Commercio, Captain
G. Pagano, and the crew and various passengers of the
Caval Marino were partly by the French steamer, and
partly by the Maltese brig Corriere. Three men, how-
ever, I am sorry to say went down with the Caval Ma-
rino, viz., the Mate Vincenzo Tabone, and two passen•
gers, whose names I have not as yet ascertained, but I
am informed were poor goatherds. Up to this day the
vessels and their cargoes remain under water, for want
of adequate means to draw them out, although I lost
no time in making application to the local authorities
for assistance, and was supported therein by the French
and Sardinian Consuls, who are also interested in the
affair."

DRUBY-LANE THEATRE.

THE BAL MASQUE.

The enterprising lessee of Old Drury last night sur
passed his former caterings In the way of public enter-
tainments of this peculiar genre, and the patronage was
The decorations of the interior
proportionately large.
were gay and cheerfulin the extreme, and the lighting
managed with great tact and taste. The scene, as viewed
from the audience part of the house, with its gay dresses,
its rapidly-moving groups, threaded by numerous pow-
dered masters of the ceremonies, in quaint court suits ;
the innumerable c doured lamps, flowers, and plants ;
and, above all, the lively strains of the band, mingled
with the peculiar hum of so manyl merry voices in con-
versation y gratifying to all but
vereation and laughter, was
a misanthrope, as one of general hilarity and enjoyment.
The costumes were not 80 numerous or varied as we
have seen on other similar occasions, which seems to
prove that a ball, rather than a masquerade, is more in
accordance with English taste. Ats the general arrange-
ments were liberal we hope the lessee Cud projector of
the entertainment received a liberal return.

COURT CIRCULAR,
OSBORNE, DEC. 12.
The Quecn and Prince walked in the grounds at Os,
borne yesterday.
There was uo addition to the Royal dinner party.

A deputation from the City of London, consisting of
Mr. Alderman Finnis, Mr. Alderman Cubitt, ST,P , Mr.
Alderman Eagleton, Mr. William Jones (chairman), Mr.
T. H. Hall, Mr. John Wood, Mr. H. L. Taylor, Mr.
Parker, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Cox, Mr. Fry, Mr. Gres-
ham, Mr. Ross, and the City Rer*embrancer, had an
interview with Sir George Grey 3 esterday, at the Home-
office.

A deputation, consisting of Mr. John Cowan (vice.
chairman), the Rev. Henry Brown, M.A., rector of
Woolwich, the Rev. James Carlile, D.D., guardians of
the Greenwich Union, and Mr. Saw, the clerk, had an
interview with the Right Hon. B. P. Bouverie, the Pre.
sident of the Poor-law Board, at the office of the Board,
in Whitehall, yesterday, on the subject of medical relief
in the Woolwich distriot Of the union.

His Excellency the Ambassador of France had an in.
terview with Viscount Palmerston, yesterday.
OFFIOIAL APPOINTMENTS.—We understand that Mr.
Romilly has resigned his office of one of the civil service
commissioners, and is likely to be succeeded by Mr.
Wickham, lately chairmen!. of the Stamps and Taxes De-
partment. The Duke of Argyll, Postmaster-General,
has appointed Mr. Charles Francis Scott to be his grace's
private secretary.
PROROGATION OF CONVOCATION.—Yesterday morning
the Archbishop of Canterbury, aocompanied by Dr.
Travers Twigs, the vicar-general cf the province, and
Mr. Francis Hart Dyke, her Majesty's proctor, attended
at the Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster Abbey, for the
purpose of further proroguing Convocation, which stood
adjourned till yesterday from the 24th of October last.
Mr. Dyke, at the archbishop's request, read the schedule
of prorogation, from which it appeared that the clergy
of the province of Canterbury will be cited to appear for
the despatch of business, in the Jerusalem Chamber, on
Friday, February 1, 1856.
NEW ACT ON PLEADINGS.-13y an act which has lately
corns into operation, the Act of the 13th and 14th Vic.,
enabling the judges of tie superior courts to make
alterations in the forms of pleadings, has been extended
for live years.
CIVIL. SERVICE OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.— An
examination of candidates for appointments to the civil
service of the East India Company is to take place in
July, 1856. The conditions and regulations to be ob-
served by candidates will be found in our Advertising
columns.

The Salut Public of Lyons states that the Mint in that
city, which has hitherto only coined copper money, is
soon to he employed on gold and silver.
CRYSTAL PALACE—SHILLING DAY, Dec. 12.—Ad-
missions on payment, 667 ; ditto by season tickets,
187 ; total, 554. Corresponding day last year, 1,019.
According to the Echo de l'Let, it is in contemplation
nest spring to form a camp on the banks of the Moselle.