The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-01 00:00:00

Raform, and Union, 9d.; and at the Conservative,
Travellers', and Oxford and Cambridge, ls.

Loss OP THE SARAH PALMER, EAST INDIAMAN.
—The Liverpool Mercury announces the loss of one
of the finest ships that ever entered the Mersey, the Sarah
Palmer, Captain Reid, belonging to Liverpool. She sailed
from Calcutta on the 21st January, bound to Liverpool,
with a cargo valued at £120,000, and consisting of 1,770
maunds saltpetre, 19,553 maunds rice, 2,926 maunds seeds,
2,036 bales jute, 2,147 bales of cotton, a quantity of indigo
and other produce; and from information received at the
rooms of the Underwriters' Ass ciation, on Wednesday
afternoon, from Mr. J. W. Walsh, agent for Lloyd's a
Wexford, it appears that she was wrecked near Tuskar on
Wednesday, that one boat containing several of the crew
is missing, and there is no probability of any portion of her
cargo or materials being saved till the gale moderates.
The Liverpool steam tug Rattler was in attendance at
the scene of the disaster in order to render assistance.
The officers and crew of the Sarah Palmer number about
40 men.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN A TYNE BUILDING
YARD.—About three o'clock yesterday morning, a
man passing along the street adjoining the extensive iron
shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Palmer Brothers, Wellington
Quay, which is situated on the river Tyne, a few miles
from Newcastle-on-Tyne, discovered that a fire had broken
out on the premises of those well-known ship builders. He
at once gave the alarm, and the manager of the yard, Mr.
Clennand, was aroused. A mounted messenger was
despatched to North Shields for the fire-engine. The7iiver
engine and the Shields engine arrived about an hour after
the discovery of the conflagration. It was found to have
originated amongst a quantity of timber, planks, and props,
stored in an open space at the west end of the yard, The
quantity of wood was very large. As a strong breeze was
blowing at the time from NNW., the flames
spread with dreadful rapidity. For a length of time the
water poured upon the burning mass appeared to be in-
effectual in checking its destructive progress. A large iron
vessel, of about 1,000 tons, nearly completed, was placed in
imminent danger by the fire. The scaffolding at that side
next the flames was speedily destroyed. The fire then laid
hold upon the shores and keel blocks. The shores were
burnt, and had to be replaced, at great risk to the men who
undertook the petitions task. The keel-blocks were only
saved from total destruction by continuous streams of water
being poured upon them. Had they given way the ship
must have fallen over and been destroyed. As it is, she is
much damaged, the side nearest the flames having at one
time been red hot. Her decks are partially burnt. About

six o'clock the fire was subdued, but not before it had a

most burnt itself out. The damage sustained is very con,
siderable, being estimated at several thousands of pounds,
but we understand the loss is covered by insurance.—

Scotsman.

TERRIFIC EXPLOSlON.—Yesterday morning, be-
tween 10 and 11, a terrific explosion took place on
the premises of Mr. Darby, artist of fireworks, Regent-
street, Lambeth, which it is feared will terminate with loss
of life. A man of the name of Thomas Davis was so severely
burnt that he was conveyed to the hospital.

THE CHARITY COMMTSSIONERS.—The report of
the Charity Commissioners for the past year has
been issued. The number of special applications made to
the board during the year was 1,234; in the previous
year the number was 1,179. No appeal from their
orders, which are commonly without any cost, has yet
been prosecuted. The annual transfers to the official trus•
tees have progressively increased. The sum of £330,131
10s. 2d. transferred to them during 1862 is the largest
reached in any year. The amount of stock standing in the
name of the official trustees of charitable funds on Dec. 31
was £1,379,227 Os. ld., which is apportioned among 2,617
charities, and the commissioners report that "the duties
connected with the apportionment and regular remittance
of the dividends on these sums, which amounted in the year
1862 to an aggregate amount of £39,233 9s 6d. to the ad-
ministering trustees, though much complicated by the nu-
merous changes among the recipients,which are of most fre-
quent occurrence, have been discharged with great exacti-
tude and efficiency."

THE ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS, EARLSWOOD.—The
annual general meeting of the subscribers to this
charity was held at the London Tavern yesterday, to re-
ceive the various reports, and to elect thirty applicants,
viz., five for life, and twenty-five for the ordinary period
of five years. The number of candidates was 160, of whom
21 were in the life case list. Mr. Alderman Abbis presided.
Mr. Nicholas, the secretary, read the report, which stated
that the Prince of `Vales had extended his patronage to the
charity. The inmates of the asylum numbered 337. The
board were desirous of adopting at all times beneficial
amendments, but they could not forget that they were the
guardians of the finances of the charity. The gross income
of the year, including the balanceof £1,446 10s. 4d. on hand
at the last audit, had been £21,675 14s. 3d. The pupils'
payments had amounted to £6,993 17s. 9d. The legacies
had been £2,510 14s. 3d., among which had been £l,OOO
left by the late Rev. Dr. Andrew Reed, and a like amount
left by Mrs. Ann Cutts. After meeting the necessary ex_
penditure, a balance remained of £915 16s. 3d. The report
was adopted.

The unemployed operatives of Manchester have
formed themselves into a society for the purpose of
emigrating to Canada. In a few weeks 1,000 persons have
enrolled themselves on the books, and from the small pit-
tance doled out weekly to them they subscribe alt they can
to the furtherance of their object.

LONDONDERRY, April 30.—The steamship North
American, from Portland on the morning of the 19th inst.,
arrived hero this evening. Her news has been fully antici-
pated by the City of New York, vas Queenstown,