The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-21 00:00:00

ITALY.

A letter in a contemporary, dated Naples, Sept.
13, says :—After an absence of upwards of a year, a
British fleet has again made its appearance in the
Bay of Naples, and very amusing have been the
speculations of the journals as to the why and where-
fore of the visit. Perhaps it is not unnatural, in
the rather exceptional state in which Italy is at
present placed, that a political motive should be
sought and found for even the slightest move-
ment which takes place; but who would have
imagined that the possible event of Murat touching
at this point could have been supposed to set
our iron-cased steamers in motion. The fleet did
not come into the bay before Saturday last,
having called at Palermo en route. It consists
of the Marlborough, 121 guns, Captain Fellawes,
carrying the flag of Admiral Sir R. Smart; the
Royal Oak, 35 guns, iron-cased, Capt. F. Campbell ;
the Resistance, 16, iron steamship, Captain W. C.
Chamberlain ; and Gibraltar, 81 guns, Capt. J. C.
Prevost. The entire squadron went into Castella-
mare on arriving—the Resistance only coming up
to Naples on Sunday morning. All the vessels
will, however, come over on Saturday morning,
and remain, probably, till the 25th instant.
Nothing can be more simple than the object of
the visit, which is
gun practice and the general
exercise of the crews. A p)rtion of the press
express a hope that some precautions will be taken
to prevent the excesses formerly committed by our
men under the influence of 6' Marsala, Cognac, and
rum," and, if reports are to be believed, it has been
arranged that patrols without arms shall be per-
mitted to land to look after their companions
Those who have been here during the last four
years will readily admit that the spectacles which
our sailors have exhibited in the streets of Napes
not been very edifying or creditable. Still
much of the excess complained of must be attri-
buted to the wretched poison which is publicly
sold in every Calle
and eantino of the city, and the
authorities would do well, in the interests of the
public health, to introduce some regulations to
correct the evil.

Another mysterious event has just occurred,
plunging a distinguished family in sorrow. Nearly
seven persons were all but sacrificed last week by
taking poison which had been secretly adminis-
tered in a soup. The attempt appears to have been
directed against the life of a lady whoae daughter
is married to a son of a Senator of the kingdom.
Suspicion first fell on the cook, who was arrested,
but, it having been proved that he had given a
portion of the soup to his own family, every mem-

ber of which became seriously ill, suspicion fell on
Signor V--, for whose arrest an order was imme.,
diately given. For the moment he could not be
found, but later he presented himself, and so far
this fact is in his favour. He has, however, been
committed to the prison of S. Francisco, and judi-
cial proceedings have been commenced. Signor
V--, whose father is
.a Senator, belongs to a
highly respectable and patriotic family, and some
hopes are entertained that he himself will be proved
to have been only the victim of a diabolical attempt.

Death of Mr. C. A. Saunders, of th 9 Great
Western Railway.

Yesterday morning, upon the resumption of business at
the general offices of the Great "Western Railway Company,
and indeed at all great railway sta'ions in the metropolis, a
painful feeling prevailed, consequent upon the information
being received of the lamented death of Mr Charles Alex.
Saunders, who for many years held the important conjoint
post of secretary and general superintendent of the Great
Western system of railways. The melancholy event took
place on Monday afternoon at the residence cf the deceased
gentleman, Westbourne-lodge, Harrow-road, where he has
been confined from indisposition for some time past, Mr
Saunders, who was in his 68th year, it will be remembered
by all connected with the railway world, was appointed as
secretary and general superintendent of the Great Western
line almost at the commencement of its operations, and
from that period up to little more than a year ago he con-
tinued to perform his laborious and onerous duties, not only
to the satisfaction of the shareholders (with, as of course
in all large undertakings, few small exceptions), but also
to the noblemen and gentlemen who have from time to
time acted as chairmen and members of the board of
direction. Mr Saunders was not only quite au fait as
a general superintendent of the working of a large line
of railway, but was a most invaluable auxiliary to the
directors and engineers in advising and instructing counsel
in the heavy proceedings before the committees of both
Houses of Parliament in dealing with the multifarious
schemes which were brought forward in every session, either
is the interests of the undertaking, or competing schemes,
which, if allowed to pass, must have materially affected
their property. Almost the last work of magnitude of this
character was the great fight for the amalgamation of the
West Midland and the South Wales lines with the Great
Western Con'pany,which was, after a severe struggle, passed
in the session before last. The shareholders then suggested
to the directors that a policy cf "rest" should be adopted,
and none appreciated it more than Mr Saunders, who, with
age creeping upon him, felt the mental and bodily effects of
the great exertions he had made beginning to toll. The
consequence was that as the amalgamated undertaking had
now assumed such a vast magnitude it was decided that
Saunders should retire on a handsome pension, still giving
his advice to the board with the intention of ultimately tak-
ing his seat as a director ; and also that the offices of secre-
tary and general superintendent should be henceforth held
separately. This was carried out, and Mr G. F. Saunders,
the sou of the deceased, was appointed as secretary. The
deceased was highly esteemed by all with whom he came
in business contact, and his loss will be greatly felt by his
late colleagues at Paddington.

HARTLEY INS EITUTION, SOUTHAMPTON.—The
R 617. Alex. J. D. D'Orsey began last night a course of three
lectures on the English language, originally given at the
Royal Institution.

'Toulon letters mention that preparations are
being made in that port for the immediate embarkation for
Algeria of an entire division of from 10,000 to 12,000 men
who are to follow Marshal de Mae Mahon. A body of
1,200 men of the 21 Artillery, under the command of Col.
Maz-,1, arrived there on the 16th, to embark. Two strong
detachments of the 69th and 71st of the line, who are to go
and replace mon discharged from the array at Rome, have
also reached that point by railway.
An Imperial ukase authorises the emission at St.
Petersburg of three new series of exchequer bills, each of
three millions cf roubles, The two first series bear interest
from Aug, 1, 1804, and the third from Oct. 1 of the same

year.
The Chambers of Commerce of several towns of
Prussia, particularly those of Koenigaberg and Magdeburg,
have voted addresses, calling on the Cabinet of Berlin to
firmly ma'ntain the treaty of commerce with France, and
demanding that no concessions shall beemade to Austria
relative to Art. 31, which they consider as the capital point
of the document.
" It appears from an cfficial return,, says the
Ga:ctte de France, "that during the first six months of the
present year the Piedmontese army occupying the King-
dom of Naples has sent 17,016 soldiers with fevers to the
hospitals, at which number 431 have died."
THE BISHOP OF LONDON IN DANGER.—The
Bishop of London and family recently made an ex-
pedition to the island of Arran in a small steamer, where
they spent the day. When returning in the evening, the
sky became overcast, the weather stormy, and the night
dark. When near the entrance to Loch Fyne, they were
suddenly startled by the cry, " Breakers ahead I" and, be
fore the steamboat's course could be altered, they were
aground upon rocks. The captain informed them that, the
boat being iron, it would be dangerous to back her off for
fear she might have received such injuries as to
make it impossible to keep her afloat. They were
therefore obliged to land in the small boat. When the
party reached the shore, a new difficulty presented itself.
They discovered that they had landed, not upon the main-
land, but upon a rock which might possibly be covered by
the flowing tide. They soon, however, found that they
were safe at least from that danger. They were able to
construct a tent by means of some tarpauling, and under
the shelter which it afforded they spent the night. When
day dawned they were soon relieved from their disagreeable
position, and we are glad to hear that none of the party
have suffered from exposure during a night of somewhat
stormy weather,--Record.
A REHEARSAL AT MADAME MALIBRAN'S.—The
rehearsal passed off most satisfactorily. The weather
was insensely hot, and what with the anxiety and the limited
dimensions of the apartment, produced the effect of our
perspiring most profusely. We dared not open the windows,
fearing that it might have alarmed the natives. However,
having finished, the room was ventilated by throwing open
doors and windows; and then our ()harming hostess
invited us to partake a draught of that exhilarating fluid
called champagne. She also said she would cool us after
the manner of the South Americans, which operation
was executed by nouring eau de Cologne into the palm of
her hand, and rubbing it over our heads. And we also en-
joyed breezes produced by the action of a monstrous Chinese
fan. The relief experienced was delightful. But ono of
our party came to grief, in the person of the then pt into
tenore of the Drury establishment. When it came to his
turn to enjoy the refresher, he kept bobbing his head up
and down. At last our hostess got him steady, and rub-
bing his head vigorously, away went the luxuriant scratch,
leaving him under a bare pole, to the groat amusement
of the assembled party. The disconcerted tenor made
a rush to recover the fugitive jasey ; but Madame was
beforehand, and, grabbing hold of the curly flaxen decora-
tion, she refused to give it up until he consented to the
cooling and balmy process so much enjoyed by the lookers
on. That completed, she said, "My dear Mr T., I'm de-
ceived; I did not think there was anything false about
you;" and on replacing the wig on the distracted block,
whether from accident or design, she turned the hind part
'before, so that the drooping ringlets decorated this figure-
head, to the great delight of the laughing throng.—Recol-
lections and Wanderings of Paul Bedford,
The NEW FLOATING BRIDGE.—We have had an
opportunity of inspecting the new floating bridge
intended to take the place of the bridge which at present
works the traffic between Portsmouth and Gosport. She
is now on the point of completion, and will, vet 3 believe, be
placed on her chains very shortly. She is 100 ft long (or
16ft longer than the present bridge) and about 15ft wide.
The contract was taken by Messrs Lewis and Stockwell,
iron ship builders, of Blackwell, London, who entrusted
the engines and machinery to the eminent firm of James
Watt and Co., of London and Soho. The engines are of
the collective nominal power of 50 horses, with duplicate
boilers—the condenser, air pump, and frame being all com-
bined, and forming a strong and compact structure. Much
attention seems to have been paid to the accommodation for
passengers, the want of which has been so much felt in the
old bridge. Two large and roomy cabins above Bft high are
placed at each end, and are well lighted by means of domes
or cupolas, which are further utilised on the upper deck to
form comfortable seats for passengers. Upon the upper deck
also the present inconvenience of want of room is removed,
and the openings over the chain wheels being made flush
with the deck, a clear space for promenading is secured. The
gasholders, of which there are two on board of lift Gin dia-
meter, are conveniently disposed under the carriage deck, one
on each side the bridge ; and the spaces similar to those on
which the gasholders of the present bridge are situated are
available for further cabin accommodation or for refresh-
ment rooms, a suggestion to which the attention of the
directors should be directed. The prows are massive, per-
haps a little too heavy in appearance for the rest of the
structure, but well built, of wood, firmly bound beneath by
iron girders, and an especial point has been introduced in
connexion with the working of these prows which, SO far
as we know, is of a novel design, Attached to the
machinery are a pair of oscillating engines, which may be
worked on the carriage deck by means of a lever, and which
give the option of raising and lowering the prows by either
hand or steam power, these oscillating engines also work
the powerful bilge pumps on board the bridge. In the pos-
sible event of the disabling of the machinery provision has
been made by which the bridge can be worked across its
passage by hand-power only. The work throughout seems
to be of the strongest and most substantial character, while
the comfort and convenienc3 of the passengers have been
consulted both in reference to the appearance and fittings
of the bridge; and the highest credit is due as well to the
contractors, Messrs. Lewis and Stockwell, as to their super-
intending engineer, Mr Trevithick, of Great George-street,
Westminster, and to the constructors of the machinery.—
ilampehire ,TelrgrapA.

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Sept. 20.—Although military and poli-
tical events in America are much more favourable than
previous ones had been to the war party, the intelligence
has not done more than give a slight appearance of dimi-
nished weakness to the prices of cotton in Liverpool, with
a small increase of business. Any greater effect is pre-
vented by the state of money matters. A like effect has by
no means ensued' in our yarn market. Spinners seem to
have comp to town with their minds made up to accept
prices (if only they could got them) which they were not
generally prepared for last week. In this yielding mood,
some of them have proved weaker in bargaining
than they thought of being. The prices of all descriptions
have thus been markedly lower than they were on Friday.
They have, it is true, been very little tested by offers ; but
producers have made it plain to inquirers how matters stand
'The fact is, that the dulness of the last two months has
caused a certain amount of accumulation in first hands,
which everyone is anxious to be rid of; and in some in-
stances the same feeling is produced or increased by the stock
of raw material that may be hold. On Friday great surprise
was occasioned by the report of a single sale of 22,0001 b. of
good 32's twist cops at 2s per lb, for a small quantity of
which for spinning the same person had paid 2s 5d only three
days before, the quotation being 2s 51d. To-day some other
sellers have been willing to take 2s for equal quality; and
the current nominal rates have fallen to 2s 3d and 2s 2d.
This class of twist is, however, subject to greater and more
rapid variations than any other. Bat producers of India
mule twist have abated lid and 2d per lb from what they
wanted on Tuesday, in order to clear off stocks which had
been gathering for many weeks back ; and similar reductions
have been offered to tuyers by spinners of 60's to 80's cops,
warps, and bundles, and by holders of doubled yarns. For
very fine singles and twofulds decidedly lower prices have
been submitted to for the sake of making very limited sales.
It is found that KM middle counts of yarns are being sold
or offered at 6d, 71c1, and 91b per lb under th.: late highest
prices, while the raw material is only down 3d, 41d, and 6d.
Our statement respecting the anxiety of spinners to get rid
of stocks, and the consequent weakness of prices, is applic-
able in the main to the makers of piece good. How much
will be yielded is, however, more apparent in the case of
the former than the latter, because these are less tested by
offers. The fall should be less in twist and weft than in
cloth, for when it began the last article was relatively
cheap©r than the first two. Spinners and manufacturers
must go away from this day's market far from inclined to
abate that rapid curtailment for production which is taking
place.

HUDDERSFIELD, 20th.—Business has been quieter in our
market to-day, the attendance of buyers having been un-
usually small, and those who had been present not having
purchased largely. Fancy trowserings in new goods
have bean again in chief demand, but fresh arrivals
of these are, for the mast part, delivered to order. Unions
and low woollens have not been so much in request by the
shipping houses to-day, and stocks of these goods in the
Cloth Hall are slightly on the increase just now. The
country trade is moderately brisk, witneys and winter goods
generally having sold well of late. Wools have been in
quieter demand here during the week. Prices keep firm,
both for wools and goods.
LEEDS, 20th.—Trade was very inanimate in the Cloth
Halls to-day. Both merchants and clothiers appeared to be
astounded by the suspension of the Leeds Banking Com-
pany, and neither class were disposed to operate until the
extent of the mischief was ascertained. Several houses in
the town have already succumbed to the pressure upon them,
and it is feared that others must soon fellow. The clothiers
continue busy in preparing for the spring trade,