The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-09 00:00:00

THE PRESIDENT'S DINNER.

On Saturday ever.ing, at 5 o'clock, the usual pre-
sidential dinner of the members of the British Asso-
ciation took place in the Music-hall. Upwards of
two hundred gentlemen sat down to dinner. Colonel
Sabine, President of the British Association, occupied
the chair. After dinner,

The CHAIRMAN proposed the usual toasts, which
were drunk with all honours. He then gave " Pros-
perity to the British Association." The Association,
he said, was never in such a state of prosperity as at
present, and he augered the best for the future.

The CHAIRMAN -next gave, after a few complimen-
tary remarks, " The local officers and committee,
Professor Wilson, Mr. Allen, Dr. M'Gee, and that
most valued and steady friend of the Association, Dr.
Patterson." At no period did he recollect seeing the
arrangements so good—certainly not better than on
the present occasion.—(Cheers.)
Professor WiLsoN returned thanks.

The CHAIRMAN next gave the toast of the eminent
foreign gentlemen who bad honoured them with their
presence, coupled with the health of the Prince de
Canino.

The Prince DE CANINo replied. He believed that
however proud a man might be of his own country,
however great might the love of the land of his birth,
no greater compliment could be paid him than to be
called a citizen of Britaln.—(Loud cheers.) He felt
the compliment they had paid doubly increased, when
he reflected that he had the honour to be associated
with the Cuvier of England (Professor Owen)—not
only the Cuvier of England, but the Cuvier of the
age.—(Loud cheers.) Wherever he went he was
in the habit of mixing a good deal with the
people ; and he was delighted to find that in no town
in England had he seen them taking so much interest
in the British Association as the people of Belfast
had done.—(Loud cheers.) That very morning,
when coming from the shore, there were several per-
sons in the raiiway carriage who had the newspapers
in their hands, taking a lively interest in the scientific
discussions of the association; and he could assure
them he heard a great many remarks that could be
offered at any of their sections. Among them was a
lady, who was telling him of a kind of section which
she had in her own house—(Laughter)—and he had
no doubt there were others who had the same.
That circumstance reminded him that he had another
reason to offer them. The same lady showed him, cut
out in the profile of the mountain, the very resem-
blance of a relative of his own.—(Loud laughter and
cheers.) He was struck very much with that re-
semblance, especially to the cast of Napoleon made
after his death ; and he (Prince Bonaparte) would
here observe that, though Napoleon might not have
had as peaceful intentions towards them as he (Prince
Bonaparte) bad, he certainly carried to his grave as
great a respect for them as he (the Prince) enter-
tained.—(Loud cheers.)
Professor FOWLER, of America, also replied on be-
half of the foreigners.
Dr. LLOYD then said it had fallen to his lot to pro-
pose a toast, because, he supposed, he was one of the
oldest members of the association, and thereby had
many opportunities of judging of the character and
abilities of Colonel Sabine, President of the British
Association.—(Cheers.) After the eloquent dis-
course which had lately been pronounced by a distin-
guished member of the association touching the choice
of a president, it would ill become him (Dr. Lloyd)
to say a word regarding Colonel Sabine ; but being so
long associated with him, and united to bim by ties
ottriendship, he could not refrain from saying he
fully concurred in everything that had been said of
tahlieuirdeßresident on the occasion to which he had just
them for
of the°B•
ril:le therefore gave them, " The President
eutish Association."—(Cheers.)
health had
The
ti'l'euimArt said he felt deeply thankful to
beeextremely kind manner in which his
guished cornpann
the honour theyYja
proposed and received by that distin-
adAll he would now say was, that
tinuance of that just done him was only a con-
ceivedGenratiof the British Association.
dethness which he had always re-
pose
to from
3,
o u the"the s7, :ail':
The Cuantscats—
nen, I now have to pro-
ayor and Corpora-
whom
xv ur thanks are emi.
of) theoza
tion of Belfast."—(Cheers.
by them in a
e were invited to this
town ; dbuuet otourthtehmaLbsy are •
particularl d
for the admirable arrangements mai!, ue to them
nently
of ways for our reception.—('6
of us can visit Belfast without being struck) None
variety
one
useful improvements that are being
made the.
every respect, and which promise that before 1 'll
Belfast will be among the most remarkable towns ° II
the empire. It is under the mayor and corporatio-
- are going on ; and none 4
that these improvements . can
doubt that under the same auspices improvements
will continue to go on. I therefore propose, " The
Mayor and Town Council, and prosperity to Belfast."
Mr. GORDON THOMSON, in the absence of the
mayor, returned thanks. He trusted the town_vim. ofl
Belfast would soon be honoured by a second
from the association.
'
The CHAIRMAN then gave " The Queens College
of Belfast." In no place had they been so well ac-
commodated, and he regretted that they could not
carry the Queen's College with them.—(Laughter.)
Rev. Dr. HENRY replied. The chairman had re-
ferred to the Queen's College in terms of regret that
he could not take it away with him, but he (Dr.
Henry) thought he would not be able to take away
with him the brick, and stones, and mortar that con-
constituted the exterior of the
greatly • ,
mistaken, however, or they would have with
them the hearts and,
that
to thinkinstitution. It afforded them much satisfaction
, that they were succeeding in the question
~, education, es re
garded the Queen s Gallege, and he
re-
gard to
the c that, in the face of all opposition in re-
tuate in the Queen's Colleges, the effort would even-
tuate
and
the
eparodmotion of peace, harmony, and good-
The clurazancement of science.--(Applause.)
Universities aor --"I have now to propose " The
Learned Societies of the United
Kingdom."—(Cheers.) This is a toast, on which I
names of two most(l' have.s coupled with the toast the
Britiab Association
_ ..,_tin guished members of the
7 n"914 L MI sure
yoU will hear

LONDON,

with delight and pleastire—Dr. Lloyd, one of the
Senior Fellows of Trinity Collage, Dubli▪
n, and Pro-
fesvir Owen, a gentleman who nes been named the
Cuivier of the age, by whom the soci▪
eties of the
United Kingdom will be proud to be represented
(Cheers.) I therefore give you
kingdom."
" The Universities
and Learned Societies of the United
De. LLOYD said it would iii become him, at that
late hour of the evening, b occupy much of their
time. He thanked them for the kind manner in
which they had received the toast of the universities
of the United Kingdom. Of the University of Dub-
lin, he could say it had
made progress, and had not
deserted the duty for which it was founded in its own
immediate sphere of action. It was customary for
the older universities to have their office somewhat
limited, but at present they had a university in
Dublin which took its place in the higher walks of
science; and in proof of the truth of that assertion, he
needed only to refer to such men as Hamilton,
M'Cullagh, and others, who were all alumni of that
pnb
ceoil
fpi elsveoe, do
wo tohheea
nwt ait
thhue nauil vi eni rit
university.—(Cheers.)
sity should hoalodtifoogrtohoththeTathlaepmyri
of Dun
byfaeeiralsocaidtsyt:o
oDulutibvliatne ftahileedvartioousdobrtahnaothedsutoyf—sowiehneone_it
when it turned out that it had no person competent
to teach certain sciences, it broke through its estab-
lished usages, and associated with it some of the
most eminent men of the day. He need not name
such men as Apjohn Ball, &c., who were now
connected with the university, but were not in-
corporated with it. He might observe that one of the
happiest meetings of the British Association was once
held within the walls of the University of Dublin,
and it was long the wish of the members of that col-
lege that the association should again revisit it.—
(Cheers.) He believed that none present would sup-
pose it was from want of inclination that a request
had not come from the University and Societies of
Dublin for the association to visit it. The cause
was a simple one ; it was for want of that element of
power which had been alluded to that night—juxta-
position. The meeting in Dublin before was a pros-
perous one, but it wanted one element, and that was,
that the different sections of which the association
was composed were widely separated. In the Uni-
versity they had not sufficient accommodation to afford
the association, but as soon as they got new lecture
rooms added to the building, an invitation from the
University, backed by the various societies in Dublin,
would be sent to the association to pay a second visit
to the metropolis of Ireland.—(Cheers )
Professor OWEN also returned thanks, and con-
cluded by observing that the spirit of the association
was not confined to their own empire ; it extended
much further, and bound in one brotherhood the
nations of the whole earth.—(Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN—I am sure I should not be fulfil-
ling your wishes if I did not respond to the observa-
tions that were made by Dr. Lloyd regarding our
meeting in Dublin.—(Cheers.) We have received
pressing invitations to go to various places in England
and Scotland, and I may remark that, in deciding at
which place we should meet next, we will be in-
fluenced very much by priority of invitation ; and I
would beg Dr. Lloyd to remember, that the sooner
the invitation from Dublin is given us the better.—
(Laughter and cheers.)
The CHAIRMAM gave "The Harbour Commission-
ers and Railway Boards," coupled with the names of
Mr. Whitla and Mr. Allen.
Mr. Allen replied for the railway boards ; Mr.
HEYN, in the absence of Mr. Whitla, for the harbour
commissioners.

The concluding toast from the chair was " Pro-
fessor Phillips," who replied, after which the pro-
ceedings terminated.

ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—We have lately heard a great deal of Mr. Moore,
who is Registrar of the Prerogative Court of Canter-
bury, and we know he is a son of Archbishop Moore.
But I wish to ask some of your readers to aeswer this
question—Who is Mr. John Mott? Is he son of an
archdeacon, a proctor, or a registrar?—for I find, in the
famous return No. 711 of 1850, to which public atten-
tion has been so often directed, great mention made of
this gentleman. It appears that in the diocese of Lich-
field there is an almost innumerable quantity of those
now notorious tribunals called " ecclesiastical courts,"
and I find the name of " John Mott" as holder of the
following offices:—ln the Bishop's Consistory Court he
is deputy-registrar and sealer; in the Dean's Court he
is registrar and sealer; in the Dean's Court of Harting-
ton he is registrar, sealer and auditor; in the Pre-
bendal Court of Colwich he is registrar, sealer,
and auditor ; in the Prebendal Court of Ec-
cleshall, the same three offices; in the Prebendal Court
of Gnosall, the same; in the Prebendal Court of Hands-
acre and Armitage he is registrar; in the Prebendal
Court of Prees ho is registrar, sealer, and auditor; in
the Prebendal Court of Whittington and Baswich he
is the same; in the Royal Peculiar Court of Penkridge,
the same ; in the Royal Peculiar Court of St. Mary,
Shrewsbury, the same; in the Royal Peculiar Court of
Tottenhall, the same; in the Royal Peculiar Court of
Wolverhampton he is registrar; and in the Manor
Court of Burton-upon-Trent he is registrar, sealer, and
auditor ! Thus it appears that John Mott holds no less
than thirty-seven offices in ecclesiastical courts, which,
according to their return, vary in annual value from
1,1231. 1 is. lod. to a small sum.
Who is this wonderful man, John Mott? and how does
he get through his arduous duties?

Yours, &c.,

LAICIIS.

PRACTICE WITH MINIE RIFLES.
A SOLDIER SHOT.

PARSONSTOWN, TUESDAY EVENING.—A painful
sensation was created in the military barracks here
yesterday afternoon, a report having reached that
one of the soldiers of the 16th depot had been shot
dead. On inquiry it was ascertained that at two
o'clock a party of four men of the depot, accompa-
nied by Captain Peacocke and Lieutenant Higginson,
proceeded to Clonoughill bog, about two miles from
the barracks, for the purpose of practising with the
Minie rifle.
The practice was at a distance of 300 yards from
the targets. After about 100 shots had been fired,
one passed through the mound and hit the bugler
Nugent in the back of the head, when he exclaimed,
" Oh, my God, lam shot !" and died instantly. The
corporal who was at his side made signals to the
party, when the firing immediately ceased, and Cap-
tain Peacocke with others ran up; but Nugent had
then ceased to exist. The ball lodged in the oppo-
site side of the head, smashing the skull to atoms.
The body was then removed on a cart to the bar-
racks, and Private Thornhill, who had fired the last
shot, was placed in custody to await the result of the
coroner's inquiry.

SEABORNE MA IL S.
[N signifies that the mails aro sent from the General Post-orde
by the night—and M by the morning—dispatch.]

When made up Dal From what
PLACES. General Post-office' port die- When
London; patched. due.
America (by Brit. pkt.)N Sept. 24 .. .. Liverpool .. Sept. 11
America (by U.S. pkt.) N,Sept. 10 .. • • Liverpool .. Sept. 14
America (by U.S. pkt.) M' Sept. 17 .. Sonthampt. Sept. 9
Australia (via South-
ampton) M 20th ofeachrronth Southampt. Sept. 24
Ditto (via Marseilles) N,24th °reach month Dover .. Sept. 19
Ditto, via C. of G. Hope Nl2d & 14th each mo. Plymouth.. Sept. 29
Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plymouth Uncertain
Alexandria* • • ...... N 1915 & 30th of mo. Dover .. Sept. 18
Belgium • . .. •• N, Daily • • .. .. Dover .. Daily
Brazil .. • .. 3119th of the month Southampt. Sept. 12
Buenos Ayres • • .. 31,9 th of the month Soathampt. Sept. 12
Califomia(viaChagrei)Mld & 17th of montb Southampt. Sept. 16
Cape of Good Hope Ni 14th of the month Plymouth.. Arrived
Cape de Verde .. N 2d of the month .. Plymouth.. Arrived
Constantinople* •• If 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. Sept. 10
Central America .. M 2el & 17th of mon. Southampt. let ea. me.
Channel Isles N Mon., Wed., &Fri. Southampt. Tu. Th.iiat
Chili .. . 3f,2d & 17th of math Southampt. ,Sept. 16
France .. M NlTwice daily .. .. Dover .. rl`vricedaily
Greece* •• Nlth 17th27th of mo Dover .. Sept. 19
Hamburgh N Tuesday & Friday London ..'Toes. Sat.
Holland M Wednes. & Satur. London .. Sun. Thais
Honduras . N 17th of the mouth Sonthampt. Sept. 16
Ireland •• M & N Twice daily Holyhead .. Twicedally
India (via Southamp.) M 20th of the month Sonthampt. Sept. 24
India (via Marseilles) N BthSv24th efmonth 'Dover .. ;Sept. 19
India, via C. of G. Hope N 14th of month !Plymouth.. Arrived
Maaritius Nll4th of month !Plymouth ..Arrived
Mediterranean (via
Southampton) .. 11,20 th of the month Sonthampt.lAng. 28
Mediterranean (via
Marseilles) .. N Bth&24th of month Dover ..,Sept. 19
Mexico 3,112 d of the month.. Southampt.,lst ea. mo.
Madeira • • .. M,9th of the month Southampt. Sept. 12
Malta* 7th,17th,19th,27th Dover Sept. 19
& 30th of month
Naples'" N sth 15th 25th ofmorDover .. Sept. 12
Papal States* N sth 15th 25th of mo, Dover .. ISept. 12
Peninsula .. • . M 7th 17th 27th of mo ' Sonthampt. Sept. 16
Peru .. Mld & 17th of math ! Soathampt. !Sept. 16
Tuscany* .„ N sth 15th 25 th of mo Dover • • ,Sept. 12
West Indies 3f 17th of the month Sonthampt. ,Sept. 16

Naples* .• .. ..
Papal States* .. ..
Peninsula .. •• ••
Peru •• •• ••
Tuscany* ••
West Indies ••
West Indies (except
Savanna & Nassau) M
r„.rench pac* l'he malls to thoser- c
In-

I2d of the month ..18outhampt.
onntries thus marked (*) are conveyed by

laab otAut twoTitTeall;driTao: :
ifh-street w
jeweller,
Mr. Potter, EV
Priory Alills, javerfordwest, in
go:brie:C:or A YOUTH.—On Saturday
a er lad than
swim,assist-
ofseized litchinge
at of . . i u w o a or-
bt h hdf
the spot where Hitchingrs hadBwirnnung' instantly swam to
disappeared, and upon his
endeavoured to pull him
llitchings grasping Pratt by his lee, but in consequence of
rageous efforts of the latter neutrt not
"1Y vrere the cou-
was placed in imminent danger. used, but his own safety
Both struggled
the water, and at length Pratt succeeded in disengagingtogether in
self from the grasp of Hitchings, but still him-
- life was in danger, and • seeing that his
cornpanion'b
peril from which be had himself escaped, he made
the
another
effort to save him, and, grasping him by the hair of his head
actually succeeded in bringing Ilitchings safely to terra
firma, and no doubt saved him from a watery grave.
Welshman.
PARIsIAIf SWELLMOMMEN IN LIVERPOOL.--The
ordinary routine of proceedings in the Liverpool Police-court
was yesterday varied by the committal tor trial of two mem-
bers of the Parisian swell mob, named Louis Montagnat and
Edouard Malvert, who, unfortunately for themselves, had
been making a trial of their skill in Liverpool. The pri-
soners had plundered at different times the Eagle Hotel, in
Lime-street, and the Queen's Hotel. At the latter place they
rifled a Pcrtmanteau, au Lri&l gentleman% of about 01. in
1 notes.

Fir 4„.„,
et) Iro I_4 t t4k it+

TA ITERSALL'S.-TIIIS EVENING.
Six O'CLOCK.
GREAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.
4 to 1 agst Knight of the Garter
10 to 1 egst The Twin
CHAMPAGNE STAKES.
500 even on The Reiver

ST. LEGER.

3 to 1 agst Songstress—taken
3 to 1 agst Stockwell—taken
7 to 1 agst Trousseau—taken

ITALY.

Letters from Turin of the sth inst. state that
several of the French refugees residing at Nice had
been removed to the interior of Piedmont at the re-
quest of the French Government, their presence so
near the frontier being considered dangerous during
the visit of the President to the department of the
Var.

General Pepe and a French General arc to assist
at the manoeuvres of the Sardinian army in the plain
at alarengo.
M. His de Buttenval, Minister of France at Turin,
had arrived at Chanibery, where he intended to re-
main until the arrival of the President at Lyons.
The Duchess of Orleans and her two sons had left
St. Gervais for Eisenach.