The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

This is a fine state of things indeed ! Piratical
barbarians, within hail almost, are allowed to make
"a run for it," after committing the most sicken-
ing atrocities afloat, almost under the nose of the
naval Commander-in-Chief of the station, but no
movement is made to pursue them for twelve hours
after the ship they have plundered and deluged in
blood returns to port, because, when the report is
made to him, his excellency was at dinner ! Beau-
tiful independence ! Exquisite stoicism ! What if
all merchantmen of the China seas got pillaged, and
their passengers or owners got their throats cut, if
the admiral only got his dinner undisturbed !
Verily the duties of naval Commander-in-Chief upon
the most commercial station in the world had bet-
ter in future be centred in Mr. Walker, the super-
intendent of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Navigation Company's flotilla at Hong Kong.
That gentleman, evidently, by the promptitude of
his movements and the energy of his application in
person, understood what should be done, and how
to do it, but the old lady in the swabs did not
choose to take a lesson from that quarter. We
hope, however, she will be taught one, at her own
expense, from another. Her conduct beats that of
the old ]ady at Devonport, in the matter of the
Amazon burning, "all to fits."—Hampshire Ad-
vertiser.

GAS ExmosioN.---Yesterday forenoon an explosion
happened in the Crown and Thistle publichouse, the
property of Mr. T. Heritage, in Great Peter-street.
Westminster. The whole of the facie over the front of
the house was found lying on the ground ; one of the
expensive lamps which adorned the right angle was
blown a considerable distance and destroyed, the ceiling
in the bar was blown down, the flooring of the club-
room was lifted from its original bearings and splintered
into pieces. The rooms above were likewise terribly
shaken, and a vast quantity of the stock in trade was
severely damaged by the utensils containing the liquors
and spirits being disloged from their usual positions. It
is supposed that the gas had escaped, and, after filling
the vacant space behind tho wainscoating, had become
ignited.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.- -The following gen-
tlemen, having undergone the necessary examinations
for the diploma, were admitted members of the College2si
at the meeting of the Court of Examiners on the tl
ult.:—Messrs. Thomas Prior Hall ; John Wrigot,
Mount Sorrell, Leicestershire ; John Major Coleman,
Wolverhampton ; William Williams Thomas,
Fish-
guard, Pembrokeshire ; Richard Eustace, Royal Navy ;
Joseph Parker, Yoxford, Suffolk ; Thomas Duncan,
Chelsea ; Frederick Trestrail Bond, Hon. East India
Company's Service, Bombay ; and Thomas Joseph
Cookson Powell, Bristol. At the same meeting of the
Court Mr. Charles Harper passed his examination for
naval surgeon. This gentleman had previously been
admitted a member of the College, his diploma bearing
date July 2, 1849.
THE NEW STAMP ACT.—The following information
may help to elucidate the difficulties of some readers
respecting the new act. The receiver of a promissory
note at 30 days, two, or three mouths ; or a banker's
draft at seven or fourteen days, is obliged to give a
stamped receipt for the amount. Railway companies
are obliged to give stamped receipts for fares above
forty shillings received in cash over the counter at the
station. Auctioneers are compelled to give stamped
receipts for amounts above forty shillings, for goods
purchased at auctions. Farmers and cattle dealers are
obliged to give stamped receipts for corn and cattle sold
at fairs and markets. A stamped receipt must be given
for moneys paid on account (Ala bill delivered, not actu-
ally settled. Tradesmen are obliged to give stamped re-
ceipts for goods sold over the counter, such as grocers,
drapers, &c. But in all these cases the person paying
the money must ask for the receipt, otherwise there is
no obligation on the person receiving money to give the
receipt. One merchant can draw a draft on another
merchant for the amount of an account without passing
through a banker, provided the penny stamp is attached
thereto, and an acknowledgment on the back of the
draft will be a legal receipt. Letters by the General
Post, acknowledging the safe arrival of promissory notes,
bills of exchange, and other securities for money, are
exempt from the receipt duty ; the law in this particular
is the same it was previously to the passing of the new
act. A receipt may be given on the back of a duly
stamped draft for its contents.

PEESERVATION OF VEGETABLES.—M. Schettenmann,
an agriculturist of Bouxviller, has just published a pro-
cess which he has employed for the preservation of beet-
root, and which is equally applicable to potatoes, carrots,
&c. The plan pursued by him is described as follows:—
"At the time of gathering the crop I cut off the leayees
s,
and having first strewed a layer of the ashes of lignithe
on the ground, place a layer of beetroot on it, and then
unti
go on with alternate layers of ashes and beetroot' l
the whole are deposited, after which the pile is covered
with ashes, so as to keep the roots from the cold, the
air, and the light. Where the pile rests against a wall
or a partition, ashes must be thrown between it and the
roots. For vont of the ashes of lignites, coal or turf
ashes may be used, or even dry sand ;. but the last-
named article is not so effectual in absorbing the damp.
This manner of proceeding prevents the roots from ger-
minating, and consequently preserves them fitofforpeursseo.n"
THE DUBLIN EXHIBITION.—The number
Bp6e3aredT-h-ines
who visited the Exhibition on Friday was 18,
attendance was the greutest that ever yet ap
the building.
The receipts amounted to 450/
THE BANQUET TO Mn. DARGAN.—The Right lion.
Hon. the Lord Chancellor, the Right 1-1
the Right lion. Justice Jackson , and the
More O'Ferrall,
the Right
1H) e Honing.
the Lord Mayor, have signified their intention of
present at the Exhibitors' Banquet to Mr. Dargan, which
is to take place on Wednesday, at the Mansion-house.
The governors and heads of
t
n the city, and many municipal representatives from
England, will also attend to do honour to the occasion.
ENCUMBEREDESTATESCOURT.-- Anotherextensive pro-
perty7that of Peter
the Knight of Kerry_
Fitzgeral, Esq., commonly called
cwas disposed of on Friday in the
Encumbered Estates Court. it consisted of lands in
the counties of Kerry
sum of 56,9951 and Limerick, and produced a
on the be.ng at an average of 20 years' pur-
chasel 6 lots into which
estimated yearly value. Eight out of the
the property was divided were bought,
in trust for the inheritor,