The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-17 00:00:00

THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

CITY OF WESTMINSTER.—A. meeting, convened by
the High Bailiff of Westminster, in aid of the Patriotic
Fund, took place yesterday afternoon, at St. Martin's-
hall, Long-acre. The chair was taken by the High
Bailiff at two o'clock, at I% hich hour, although there
were a considerable number of ladies in the galleries,
very few persons occupied the body of the hall. On
taking the chair the High Bailiff announced that, in
consequence of the unfavourable state of the weather,
and the receipt of letters from several noblemen expres-
sing regret at their inability to attend that day, the gen-
tlemen assembled in the committee-room—amongst whom
were the Earl of Aberdeen and the Bishop of London.—
had suggested the propriety of adjourning the meeting
for a fortnight ; and it would be adjourned accordingly.
One of the hon. members for Westminster (Sir John
Shelley) was then present on the platform, but their
other hon. and gallant member (Sir De Lacy Evans)
was, as they knew, well employed at the head of one of
the divisions of the British army in the Crimea—a posi-
tion in which he had highly distinguished himself. The
meeting then adjourned.
WAREHOUSEMEN AND CLERKS.—We. learn by an ad-
vertisement that on Monday evening the Lord Mayor
will preside at a meeting of warehousemen and mercan-
tile clerks, to be held at the London Tavern, for the
purpose of promoting the Patriotic Fund. e feel
assured that the meeting will be successful, and that a
good working committee will be appointed.
CLAPHAM.—A. public! meeting was held in the Boys
Parochial School-room, Clapham-common, on Wednes-
day last, the,lsth inst., Thomas Puckle, Esq., chairman
of the Surrey quarter sessions held at Newington, in
the chair, when, after a most feeling address by the
chairman, it was resolved, " That the meeting heartily
concurs with the designs of her Majesty's commission,
and gladly embraces the opportunity it offers of testify.
ing their loyalty and love to her person and throne, by
cheerfully responding to the benevolent object it has in
view ; and under a deep feeling of sympathy for the
widows and orphans of those gallant men who have
sacrificed their lives in the present war in the East,
resolved, that a subscription be immediately opened,
and a house-to-house collection made in the parish of
Clapham in aid of the Patriotic Fund."
SCOTLAND.—The Edinburgh subscription has now
reached nearly 7,000/. ; that of Glasgow in less than a
week was close on 16,0001. The inhabitants cf Porto-
bello have sent 2021. to the treasurer of the Edinburgh
fund. The Patriotic Fund list in Greenock commences
with 1,2001., including the vote of 1001. by the Corpo-
ration, the subscriptions of a few of the leading mercan-
tile firms, and some other gentlemen. A large meeting
was held in Dundee on Monday. Provost Rough pre-
sided, and speeches were made by Lord Panmure, Vis-
count Duncan, M.P., Mr. Duncan, M.P., &c. Lord
Panmure, in the course of his speech, said :—However
proud some may be of glory, I beg to say that 1 approve
of the efforts made by her Majesty's Government up to
the eleventh hour to preserve peace, even in the face of
invectives from many of their friends ; and I further ap-
prove of the manner in which the war has been conducted
since it has pleased Providence to suffer it to burst ever
our heads. We are carrying it on with resources far
superior to those which our senators bad any idea of
when they cried down our naval and military establish-
ments as unfit for the exigencies of the country ; and we
are carrying it on in such circumstances as, under Pro-
vidence, shall not compel us to conclude a hollow peace.
No one is more averse to war than I am—l join most
earnestly in the prayer " Scatter those that delight in
war ;" but I say that, for the honour of our country and
for the stability and maintenance of the liberty of the
world, we cannot have a patched-up peace—we cannot
have a peace which would leave us as if Europe were
slumbering like a volcano. That would be no peace at
all, and I trust the war will be prosecuted until such a
peace is obtained as will be alike lasting and honourable.

IREL A.N D.

DUBLIN, THURSDAY MORNING.

ARRIVAL OF THE LORD-LIEUTENANT.—the Excellency
the Lord-Lieutenant and the Countess of St. Germans,
accompanied by Major Ponsonby, private secretary, ar-
rived in Kingstown Harbour shortly before two o'clock
yesterday, on board the Prince Arthur steamer. The
Earl of Howth, aide-sle-eamp in waiting, went on board,
and congratulated their Excellencies on their arrival.
On landing they wore received in the most cordial man-
ner by those congregated on the pier. Immediately on
landing the viceregal party were welcomed by Mr.
George Roe, who was received by his Excellency in the
most cordial manner. The noble earl and his countess
appeared in excellent spirits. The railway company,
with their usual promptness, had a special engine in
readiness, and in a few seconds the viceregal party
stepped into the carriage provided for them, and, ac-
companied by Mr. Roe and a few others, were whirled
at a rapid rate to Dublin.

THE PATRIOTIC FUND.—The following letter fr.)m
Mr. Bernal Osborne, M.P., was read at a meeting held
in Clonmel on Monday, for the purpose of forwarding
the Patriotic Fund :

" Newtown Abbey, Nov. 11. 1854.
"My dear Sir,—l beg to enclose you Lady Osborne's
and my own contribution to the Patriotic Fund in this
district, of which you have been appointed treasurer, viz.:
—Twenty pounds from myself and five pounds from Lady
Osborne. I should have sent you a larger contribution
had I not been called on to subscribe to the fund now
forming in England.—l am, dear sir, very faithfully yours,
"RALPH OSBORNIL

" Wilson Kennedy, Esq., Clonmel."
ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY'S AGRICULTURAL SHOW.—
The annual show of farm produce, promoted by the
Royal Dublin Society, was opened yesterday for the
inspection of the judges only, but will be opened to the
public on Friday. The show is unusually large, and the
various specimens of produce are of the most splendid.
growth and description.
GREAT LEINSTER FAIR AT NAVAN.—This important
fair commenced yesterday, and was very numerously
supplied with black cattle and sheep of a superior de-
scription. There were also a large number of pigs, but
horses were not plenty, neither were they of a good
class. Good prices were realised.
DREADFUL EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN BELFAST.—The
Befast Mercury of Wednesday contains the following :
"This morning, about half-past two, we were startled
t
by a loud explosion which shook our office,and
first led us to fear that some extraordinaryaccident lad
occurred to the place. Upon
At
going out into High-street,
however, the cause of alarm was soon explained.
the High-street corner of Caddell's-entry a unshop, in
which also we understand there w_esegu gunpowder and
and theree the fireworks, was kept by Mrs. N 1
ex-
plosion had occurred. The effect was
adjoining, in
hiccethalats tremendous. The
entire lower front of that anditerrp
stationer and news-
the occupation of Mr.
agent, were cempleteOlywen
work and other materialsc :We were out,sc a tear eedd qtuhiet e across
the mo this -
ment wide street to the oarinarmmairnkget.sc•
meat A most exciting and
persons occupying the first floor
bited. number of
extending over the two shops having been startled from
their beds, were seen at the windows, whilstevery moment
the floors were expected to sink beneath them. Immedi-
ately after the explosion the fire burst out with much
fury, and the greatest alarm was caused by a repetition of
Minor explosions, like discharges of musketry. In a
short time the fire brigade made their appearance, and
applied their hose at first with little apparent effect ; but
soon after there was a tremendous crash, the entire front
of the houses tumbling down, and burying the burning
materials. After this the fire gained little head, and the
engines continued to play upon the ruins till all was ex-
tinguished. For a time much anxiety was felt respecting
the adjacent houses, but fortunately little further injury
was done. This extraordinary and really fearful catas-
trophe demands the most serious examination. It was
perfectly frightful, in the centre of the town, to see such
a cenfl tgration, accompanied by such a continued series
of explosions as Were enough to deter persons from ap-
proaching the place. The remains of Mrs. Nicholl were
found in the course of the day in a dreadfully mangled
state. Several other persons are seriously injured. Mr.
Kerr was not injured."

SPAIN.—The Jesuits ordered to leave the Basque
Provinces have at length consented to take their depar-
ture ; they have accepted an asylum offered them by
the Bishop of Bayonne, at Larressorre, on the Frenoh
fron tier.
THE SURMAN TESTIMONIAL—At the performance o
" Judas Maccabeus," on Monday evening next, a testi-
monial will be presented to Mr. Surinan, the conductor
of the London Sacred Harmonic Society, as an acknow-
ledgment on the part of the members and subscribers of
the zeal, energy, and ability he has displayed since its
formation, and the personal sacrifice he has made for the
advancement of the society, and the cause of sacred
music, generality.