The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-30 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, DEC. 29.
Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather the Queen
was unable to leave the house this morning.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial Office
from the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, St.
Helena, and Canada.

Despatches were sent to the Governors of Malta, the
Mauritius, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Labuan, and the Australian
colonies.

Cornet Edward W. Pritchard, of the 17th
Lancers, has been empowered to sell out, in conse-
quence of his recent escapade in India.
A change of some interest to the military world
is understood to be on the eve of announcement,
in the form of a new issue of the Dress Regula-
tions.

SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.—During the week
ending Dec. 27 the visitors have been as follows :
On Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday (free days),
open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 14,841; on Wednesday, stu-
dents' day (admission to the pubic 6d), open from 10 a.m.
till 4 p.m., 246; total, 16,087. From the opening of the
museum, 3,648,312.
PORTSMOUTH, Monday.—A strong gale from
W.S.W. set in here yesterday, and continued
through the night and early part of to-day, accompanied
by a heavy fall of rain. Since noon to-day the wind has
gone down and the rain has ceased, with the mercury sta-
tionary in the Victoria-pier barometer at 29.5, at which
pcint it stood at 10 a.m. to-day. On Saturday, at 10 a.m.
the mercury had risen to 30-43. Yesterday, at 10 a.m., it
had fallen to 30'15; and this morning, at the same hour, it
had fallen to 29.5, at which point it now stands.
THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.—An under-
standing had been come to that a train should
start from the Paddington and Victoria-street Termini at
12 o'clock yesterday morning, but a few minutes after that
hour a telegram was received at the latter place stating that
no train would be run during the day. The certificate of
Colonel Yolland for the opening had not been received by
the company at the closing of the offices in the evening. It
is, however, expected that it will be received to-day. It is
stated that the line is now quite ready for traffic.
NEW RAlLWAYS.—Wolverhampton and Bridg—
north Railway.—The Parliamentary estimate for
this new line is £150,000. It is to commence by a junction
with the Severn valley Railway, near Bridgnorth, and
terminate by a junction with the Grand Junction section
of the London and North-Western, nrar Wolverhampton.
North and South Staffordshire Junction Railway.—The
estimated cost of this new line is £130,000. It will run
from the Trent Valley, near Rugeley, to the Potteries line
of the North Staffordshire, near Uttoxeter, with branches
to Colwich, and from Stowe to Abbott's Bromley. Focha-
bers and Garmouth Railway.—This new Scottish line is
proposed to be constructed from the Fochabera station o
the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway to Gar.
mouth, in the county of Elgin, at an estimated cost o,
£40,000.

SHOCKING SUICIDE BY A RETIRED GOVERNMENT
OFFICER.—An inquest was held at a late hour on
Saturday night by Mr. W. Carter, at the Royal William,
Dorset-street, Clapham. road, to ascertain the cause of death
of John William Miles Brooks, who, as alleged, committed
suicide on the morning of the 26th inst. by cutting his
throat. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased
had been for many years in her Majesty's Customs, and
about two years ago, when the offer was made to some of
the old servants to pension them off at the same rate to
which they would be entitled after ten years further ser-
vice, the deceased, who was then upwards of 50 years of
age, applied for and received his pension. Ever since that
time he has been more or less in a desponding state, and
regretting the resignation of an appointment that afforded
him active employment. The evidence showed that on Fri-
day morning he was found in his bedroom with his throat
cut from ear to ear, and with such premeditation that he had
actually put the basin on the floor, and held his head over
it as he inflicted the fatal wound. The jury returned a ver-
dict of suicide whilst in a state of mental derangement."
THE GREAT EASTERN.—The following is pub-
lished in the New York papers of the 17th :—" We,
the undersigned, having carefully examined the steamer
Great Eastern—including her zepairs, which have been
done in a scientific and workmanlike manner—are of opi-
nion that she is in every way seaworthy and in condition to
carry passengers with safety and comfort, and a full cargo
of any description to any part of the world. The acci-
dent and subsequent occurrences have fully demonstrate]
the great value and safety of a double bottom. We fur-
ther certify that, having examined into the circumstances
connected with the accident to the steamer off Montauck
Point, we are of opinion that no blame can be attached to
Captain Paton, who, from the cross bearings of the dif-
ferent lights, knew the exact position of the vessel when
she struck a submerged rock, not laid down in any chart,
though in the fair-way channel.—Robert Mackie, Lloyd's
agent ; Wm. 11. Burleigh, president Board of Port War-
dens; E. B. Seaman, port warden; Wm. C, Thompson,
vice president Neptune Insurance Company; Erasmus W.
Smith, engineer; Benjamin Hitchman, port warden; John
M. Marks, United States inspector of hulls; Charles H.
Haswell, surveying officer, Board of Underwriters."—The
Great Eastern is to leave New York for Liverpool on
Saturday next, and, in addition to a large cargo, it is
expected that she will bring a considerable number of I
passengers.