The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-12 00:00:00

THE THUNDER-STORM YESTERDAY.

Yesterday afternoon the metropolis and adjacent
parts, within a circle of twenty miles, were visited with
a thunder-storm. The atmosphere in the morning was
unusually cool for this season, with a gentle breeze from
the westward, which, between one and two o'clock, was
succeeded by a dead calm, the sky became thickly over-
cast, and the atmosphere was dull and oppressive, with
every indication of a coming storm, which approached
rapidly from the W.S.W., with frequent and vivid
flashes of forked lightning and successive peals of thun-
der. It commenced raining hard about three o'clock,
and continued without ceasing for nearly two hours,
during which time peals of receding thunder were
frequent.
About half-past three the cupola of Trinity Church,
Trinity-square, Borough, was struck by the lightning.
The Bishop of Winchester was at the time holding a
confirmation in the church, which contained 300 or
400 young people. Just as the right reverend prelate
had concluded the ceremony and was about to ascend
the pulpit, a flash of lightning struck the northern side
of the cupola which surmounted the steeple, and knocked
off a large piece of solid masonry, weighing more than a
hundredweight. Fortunately it escaped the roof, and
struck the north east angle of the church, where it broke
into several pieces. A cabdriver, who was waiting
with his cab near the north-east gate, narrowly escaped
being killed, as the greater portion fell within a few feet
of him.

2REERNESS.—At 12 at noon yesterday Sheerness was
visited by a terrific storm of lightning, thunder, hail,
and rain. Previous to the storm the barometer fell
nearly three-quarters of an inch, and the thermometer
rose from 20 to 22 degrees.

The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, M.P., has re-
covered from his late severe indisposition, and is now
able to attend his Parliamentary duties.
LISBON, May 3.—His Majesty and the Duke of Oporto
will be present at the Paris Exhibition, and intend to
visit England and Italy before returning to Portugal.

THE REPRESENTATION OF RENFREWSIIIRE.—The no-
mination for Renfrewshire, on account of the resignation
of Colonel Mure, takes place on Monday, the 14th curt.
Sir M. Shaw Stewart will be unopposed.
THE 19TH REGIMENT.—Lord Raglan has granted a
gratuity of 51. each to Privates Samuel Evans, James
Callaghan, and Thomas Keating, three soldiers of the
19th Regiment, for gallant conduct before the enemy.
At the monthly meeting ju,t held of the Committee
of the Silk Trade at the London Silk Conditioning-
house, the progress of silk-conditioning was stated to be
so far satisfactory that the number of bales and weight
of silk received in April was larger by 10 or 12 per cent.
than in any previous month, the total being 153 bales,
weighing 27,7261 b.
A Mr. Frederick Barnett writes to claim the sugges-
tion, lately attributable to Mr. J. A. Franklin, of mak-
ing the penny stamp on checks payable by the receiver
by requiring an adhesive stamp to be affixed before pre-
sentation. Mr. Barnett says he proposed the method
in 1848.

At the Court of Bankruptcy yesterday the examina-
tion of Mr. M. Boyd, whose embarrassments have arisen
from his connection with the Royal Bank of Australia,
was adjourned, his accounts requiring further time for
preparation.
ARRIVALS OF GOLD.—There are further arrivals of
gold to notice. The Victoria, from Adelaide, South
Australia, brings 30,0001. in sovereigns, and the John
I{ollett, from the same port, 25,0001. in sovereigns and
198 oz. of gold, which, with the previous arrivals of the
present week, make up a total importation of the pre-
cious metals of about 519,748/.
CHAPLAINS TO THE EAST.—The Rev. Mr. M'Nair,
of Gourock, has been appointed one of the chaplains at
Scutari, in connection with the Established Glasgow
Mission, and will leave iturnediately.—Edinburgh,
Cou rant.

The supply of money is abundant in the Stock-Ex-
change for loans on Government securities at from 14 to
2 per cent. In the discount market likewise there is in-
creasing ease.
Letters from St. Petersburg state that the American
vessel which got into Revel before the blockade has since
left for Konigsberg in ballast.
The Ellenborough has arrived from Sydney, with
1,550 ounces of gold, valued at 6,2001. The Kate is also
reported, but her amount, if any, remains to be ascer-
tained. The Rattler screw steamer, arrived at Liver-
pool, has brought 9,0001. from Lisbon.
ST. MARY-LE-STRAND. —A. vestry meeting of this
parish was held last evening (Friday), in reference to
Sir Benjamin Hall's Bill for the better Local Manage-
ment of the Metropolis, when resolutions were passed
unanimously approving the general scope and objects of
the measure, but " entirely and utterly objecting" to
the introduction of the Vestries' Act, commonly called
Hobhouse's Act, which would have the effect in this
parish, and in all other metropolitan parishes,the number of
whose ratepayers do not exceed 1,000, of limiting the
vestry to twelve in number, and of a stated qualifica-
tion. A committee was appointed to watch the pro-
gress of the bill, and to petition Parliament, or take
other steps to preserve to the ratepayers their existing
rights.
DUEL PREVENTED.—CoIoneI Godfrey Munday and
James Hawker; Esq., appeared before Mr. Hardwick,
at the Marlborough-street police-office, yesterday, charged
with contemplating a breach of the peace by fighting a
duel. Admiral Hawker stated that from circumstances
which had come to his knowledge it was his belief that
the defendants contemplated fighting a duel. Mr.
Hardwick ordered the defendants to enter into their own
recognisances In 1,000/. each, and to find two sureties in
5001. each, to keep the peace.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS IN NORTH NOT-
TINGHAMSHIRE.—D uring the last day or two the weather
in this part of the country has changed, and we have
had a copious fall of rain, though by no means sufficient
for our fields and gardens. The wheat crop is later
than usual, and it presents a very various appearance,
but there :s yet time enough, with favourable we ther,
for most of it to turn out well at harvest. Grass being
very late, many farmers have been seriously inconve-
nienced to find keep for their cattle and:shesp. The late
dry weather has been very favourable for the working
of land, and potatoes (of which we hear of no disease
in the frames) have been planted in the best con-
dition ; the soil is also in a good state for turnips. Pears,
plums, cherries, and apples are safe, the blossoms nos
having expanded yet. The fallowing facts have been
noted by an accurate observer of the seasons :—Swallows
were first seen this year at Worksop on the 19th ult.
The foliation of a horse-chestnut tree, which has been
registered kere for the last 18 year?, showed leaf this
year on the 18th, being 12 days later than the average.
Stags shed their horns this year on the 24th of March,
and the bucks on the 6th of April—about the usual time.
The cuckoo has not been seen or heard, the usual period
being the first week in May.
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—SOUTHAMPTON, May 11.
—The Lismoyne, 506 tons burden, Captain H. Kent,
left this port on the 6th instant with 212 emigrants
for Adelaide. The Lloyd's, 1,069 tons burden,
Captain S. M‘Beatla, sailed on Tuesday- last with
437 emigrants for Sydney. Previous to this ship
leaving the docks a fire broke out in the deck-house,
occupied by the craw. Mr. Smith, the Government
emigration officer stationed at this port, immediately
went on board, and by the application of Phillips's
fire annihilator, one of which is placed, by special
orders, in each emigration vessel, the fire was speedily
extinguished. Had it not been for the prompt inter-
ference of the superintendent, Mr. Smith, there is little
doubt that the ship would have been destroyed, for, in-
stead of at cnce availing themselves of the advantage of
the annihilator, the crew were endeavouring to get the
assistance of the dock fire engine, therebygiving sufficient
time for the fire to have gained a hold upon the ship,
which it would probably have defelted all endeavours to
subdue. The Maria Hay, Capt. C. Middle ton, 1,007 tons'
burden, is in dock receiving her passengers, for Geelong.
She is to carry 322 statute adults, and will leave for her
destination about Monday, The Gilmore, for Sydney, is
expected to arrive at Soutleampton on the 6th of June,
and the Milton, for the same port, on the 21st. The
Oriental, for Adelaide, is due here on the 14th proximo.
The Government Emigration Commissioners have this
week chartered the Bucephalus, which will sail from
Birkenhead for Adelaide, and the Balnageich, which
will leave Plymouth for Portland-Bay early in July.
We believe it is the intention of the commissioners to
fit some of their emigration vessels with Didle's patent
ventilating apparatus, so as to give it a trial in reference
to an improved construction in these generally crowded
thips.