The Sun.
London, England, 1837-10-14 00:00:00

TOTAL ECLIPE OF THE MOON.

Last night a total eclipse of the moon took place, being
the second appearance of that grand and impressive pheno-
menon during the present year. The sky was interspersed
with light flecy cloud, becoming more thickly congregated
towards thc east and west. The air was clear and bright,
though far colder than it had been since the setting in of
the autumn, so that the spectator had ample opportunity
to observe the progress of the change of the appearance of
the moon, which durlng the preceding part of the night had
been shining in full refulgence.
At 3'2 minutes past eight o'clock, Greenwich time, the
moon entered the penumbra, or exterior shadow of the
earth. At. 31 minutes past nine, when she had attained an
altitude of 38 degrees, the first contact between the disc of
the brilliant satellite and the dark or full interior shadow of
our planet was observable. The dark body of the earth
swept gradually over the orbit of the moon, its circular
proportion still lessening, and the obscurity beneath becom-
ing deeper, until, at 31 minutes past ten, the eclipse be-
came total, and the darkness attained its greatest degree of
gloom. After a solemn interval of an hour and thirty-two
minutes her bright outline again became visible, and the
light- increased us the interposing body advanced in its
transit, until three minutes past one this morning, when
the light was once more circular and strong, though it had
to penetrate through the faint veil of the penumbra. At
one minute past two the last trace of the obscurity of the
eclipse had followed in the wake of the earth, and except
during the shadow thrown down from the occasional pas-
sage of a fleet of clouds, the moon's brightness continued
until daybreak.
During the progress of the eclipse the moon was conse-
cutively in the zenith of those places in Africa which are
on a line with Zorzella, on the coast of Ajan to the east,
and Sierra Leone to the west, and consequently including
a very considerable portion of Upper Guinea and the
northern extremity of the kingdom of Benin.
The darkness was by no means thick, for while the moon
was totally immersed in the interior shadow the refraction
of the sun's light by the atmosphere of the earth was so
strong as to cause the surface of the moon to be dimly
perceptible, imparting to it a dull reddish hue, such as may
be observed when the moon is sometimes seen on a foggy
night. '
The contrast between the refracted and direct rays of
the sun at the time of emersion was very striking ; the
eclipse passed away, the inward edge of the bright portion
of the moon's disc occasionally presented a very ragged
appearance, owing to the solar rays first illuminating the sum-
mits of the high lunar mountains. The different pheno-
mena that presented themselves during the meeting, as
viewed through a telescope, were at once curious, beauti-
ful, impressive, and creative, exciting the fancy and the
science to wander through the immensities of the solar sys-
tem, until the spectator, exhausted by questions that seemed
to multiply and extend as he proceeded, desisted from the
inquiry, and mingled his astonishment with religious humi-
lity and gratitude.

THIRD AND LAST EMBARKATION
OF HIGHLANDERS TO AUSTRALIA FOR
THE SEASON.

The arrival of the ship Brilliant at Tobermory, for the
conveyance of emigrants to New South Wales, took place
on the 16th September. The size and splendid fittings of
this vessel created a sensation in Mull never before equal-
led ; the Highlanders having only been accustomed to see
small vessels fitted for American emigration, and when the
time of embarkation arrived, many families came from a
distance prepared to embark, if those engaged should change
their resolution, as every thing appeared so comfortable
and requisite for such an undertaking. The state of the
weather on Monday the 25th enabled the embarkation to
be completed with the utmost regularity ; and on Tuesday
afternoon a farewell sermon was preached in Gaelic by the
Rev. F. M'P►herson of Tobermory to 320 souls about to
leave their native land. The people to be conveyed by
this vessel are decidedly the most valuable that have ever
left the shores of Great Britain ; they are all of excellent
moral character, and from their knowledge of agriculture,
the management of sheep and cattle, must prove a most
valuable acquisition to a Colony like New South Wales.
The greatest credit is due to the clergymen, the proprie-
tors and their agents, for the kind interest and attention to
the poor people's wants, as there is not one family but are
amply provided with every thing necessary for the voyage.
Among the many visitors that came to see the irilliant
was a gentleman, a native of the country of their adoption,
Mr. James M'Arthur. The interest created by this gen-
tleman's visit was truly astonishing, and Mr. M'Arthur
expressed himself highly gratified with the prospect of
having so valuable an addition to the Colony, and pre-
sented all he met with letters of introduction, which were
joyfully received as passports to sure and profitable em-
ployment.
The ship was towed out of Tobermory by a steamer on
Wednesday at day-light, with a fine light breeze, and sin-
cere and true were the kind wishes of all who beheld her
depart.
The embarkation was superintended by Dr. Boyter,
R.N., the Government Agent, to whom most grateful ac-
knowledgments were made for his kind attentions to all
interested.

The following is a list of the districts from which the
emigrants were taken, and the numbers from each :

Ardnamurclian and Strontian
Coll and Tiree
Mull and lona
Morven
Dunoon

Teachers
Surgeons

Total

—lnverness Con, ier.

. 322

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial
Department from Major-General Sir J. Carmichael Smyth,
15...C.8., the Governor of British Guiana,