The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-27 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE ERCOLANO.

Intelligence has been received from Turin, of yester-
day's date, which states that the steamer Ercolano has
been lost off Villa Franca. Among the passengers lost
were 15 English—Mr. Thomas Halsey and family of
five, Mr. Knight and family of five, Mr. Joseph Hayes
and family of three, Mr. Charles Sanson, and Sir Robert
Peel's servant. Five were saved—Mr. Edward Down.
ley, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. George Wilkinson, Mr. Ed-
ward Knight, and Mr. Charles Boston.

SOLAR RINGS AND MOCK SUNS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—An interesting phenomenon commenced at 5.45
this afternoon and lasted until 6.40. It consisted of a
circle of light of 46° in diameter, which had the sun for
its centre ; three mock suns were situated on this circle,
the one at the apex, and the others on the east and west
horizontal level of the sun. These mock suns had long
tails proceeding from them in a direction diametrically
opposite to the true sun. A second ring (of which about
190° of the upper half was visible) of 90° in diameter
also having the sun for its centre, on which there were
two other similar mock suns situated on the sun's hori-
zontal level, and a third ring of 45° in diameter, the
centre of which was situated at the apex of the first-
mentioned ring, and the base of which passed through
the true sun. The rings and the five mock suns were
faintly tinged with prismatic colours. Cumuli clouds
near the phenomenon. After sunset cloudless.—l have
the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
E. J. LOWE.
Thgbfield-house Observatory, April 24.

CO IVES, ISLE OF TVIGIIT.-Aprit 26.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

DAY OF HUMILIATION.—The day has been kept in the
strictest sense of the word ; no work nor business of any
description has been done. There has been service in
all the churches and chapels, and handsome collections
made for the wives and children of the soldiers fighting
the battle of freedom in the East. Last night the com•
mittee of the Compassionate Fund distributed 150 cwt. of
coals amongst the widows and other poor and destitute
families in this town. _ . .

HUNT EXTRAORDINARY.—The majority of the juve-
niles and adults of this town and neighbourhood were
out during the whole of Monday searching the woods and
cliffs for two of the Parkhurst boys, who had broken out of
prison, and been seen soon after four a.m. in Northwood
Park. Thirty shillings each having been obtained for
the capture of the last blessed pair of urchins that
escaped, our sailors and lubbers acquired a great taste
for these "jail-birds," but they were too wide awake to
be taken. During the morning they escaped over the
park wall, and made to the copse between Dottens and
Gurnard (the property of the National Freehold Land
Society). where they remained till the evening, defying
the police, the natives, and their dogs, when, being
starved out, they made for the town, and were taken by
a straggler near Moore about nine p.m., to the great
gratification of numerous old ladies residing in the coun-
try, though there was nothing very formidable in the
appearance of two boys of 14 years of age, one being
only 4 feet 5 inches, and the tallest but 5 feet ; still not
a few of our dowagers and old maids were in no small
fright, having no taste for such visitors. They are now
safely located in their former cells in the Parkhurst Pe-
nitentiary.

The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and suite
have arrived in Paris, en route from Genoa, to London
and Sion House for the season.
The Duke and Duchess of Wellington have arrived in
Belgrave-street from Italy, where their graces have been
passing the winter. The duke will resume his duties as
Master of the Horse to-day at her Majesty's second
Drawing. Room.
The Earl and Countess of Jersey and the Lady Cle-
mentina Villiers, who have been passing the holidays in
comparative retirement at Middleton-park, return to
Berkeley-square to-day.
THE DUKE OF PORTLAND.—This nobleman is still
labouring under severe indisposition, at Harcourt House,
Cavendish-square, whither he went on account of ill-
health before the death of his venerable father, the late
duke. His grace, who has deeply felt the severance, has
not been well enough to visit Welbeck Abbey, but he
has given orders that no diminution shall be made iu
the establishment nor amongst the various workmen
employed on the estate, and it is said he intends to pen-
sion off the old labourers who, through age and infir-
mity, may be past work. He has further ordered that
the same efficient measures for irrigating the land on the
estate, so successfully carried out by his late father, shall
be
.continued, and that the tenantry shall have the same
privileges which they enjoyed under the late lamented
duke,