The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-13 00:00:00

frankness and openness with which men attack
questions of depth and difficulty. The second
article suggests an astonishingquestion. It reviews a
work by a Rev. Mr. Hannay, entitled " The Lost
Prince, Facts tending to prove the identity of Louis
XVII. of France and the Rev. Eleazar Williams,
missionary among the Indians of North America."
It is remarked that some years ago an article in
the Edinburgh Review asserted that there were six
historical problems which had never been satisfac-
torily solved.

“ Where was Homer born?
Who was Perkin Warbeck?
Who was the man in the iron mask ?
Who wrote Eicon Basilike' ?
Who wrote the Letters of Junius' ?
Who wrote the `Whole Duty of Man' ?” -
" Some of these have since been answered, while
otherS aro still enveloped in obscurity and mystery.
The authorship of the' Letters 'Of Junius," de-
eidedly the most popular :of these u bje cts at the - •
present time, has been ascribed to at feast half a
dozen persons, and numerous volumes have been
written to establish the respective claims of each
of tho assumed authors.; yet, in the opinion of the
public, the question is still undecided. One thing,
however, is to be learned from the unsatisfactory
result of the investigations on this subject, namely,
that a political secret can be kept for eighty years
where it is the interest of the parties concerned to
keep it." Ono (,f the lip ,st perplexing and exciting
of the queries alluded to is the third, and it would
seem to be the one least likely to be solved. The
work of Mr. Hannay is a partial reprint, with cor-
rections and additions, of some articles which ap-
peared in Putnam's Magazine. The critic com-
pares his statements with those of M. de Beau-
chesne, in which the Dail phin is strenuously asserted.
For those who interest themselves in such researches
the consideration of " The Last Historical Prob-
lem," as it is called, will prove attractive. In
an article, entitled " Phases of Unbelief," a
very correct observation is quoted, which says that
that he who should supply popular replies to the
popular arguments against the truths of Christi-
anity would be the world's benefactor. It is justly ,
added that the educated and thoughtful can fol-
low the learned controversialist in his exhi-
bition of the fallacies and ignorance which is
paraded as wisdom and truth, " but who is to
clear up in the minds of the unlearned a fallacy
which is founded on so-called learning ?" Thou-
sands will read the vaunting assertion in the penny
newspaper, it is said, but not one will read, or
perhaps meet with, the pages demanded for its refu-
tation. The lowest intellect can use the weapon of
ridicule against the highest intelligence, the greatest
science, the sublimest truth. All can laugh, but
few can comprehend. It is this that is the barrier
in the way of moral and religious improvement in
the lower classes. Those who feel themselves in-
ferior in education or capacity feel a kind of ele7
vation or superiority in despising and contemning
what the rest of the world reverence and believe.
Certainly the holders of these atheistical doc-
trines may have the satisfaction of differing
from Milton and Shakspere, and of feeling
that their reasoning and logical powers surpass
those of the discoverer of the laws of gravitation.
There are also articles on the " Ecclesiastical
Courts," and the " Wonders of the Deep." The
latter is founded on Goose's Aquarium, and similar
works by the recent investigators of the inhabi-
tants of the sea. The " Journal of Facts and Pro-
gress," and the "Literature of the Quarter," is.con•
tinned, as usual.

Whittlings from the West. By Able Log. I.
Hogg, Edinburgh.
The motto of this work is—
" Laugh at all things,
Great and small things,
Sick and well, on sea, and shore."

which sufficiently explains that it is of a comic and
amusing description, and chooses the plan of the
laughing philosopher in preference to that of his
opponent. It consists of a series .of sketches of
travel in America, originally published in Hogg's
Instructor, and now dedicated to its readers. It
forms a lively, entertaining series of adventures,
opinions, and experiences of every description,
though occasionally some narratives are introduced
with something of romantic interest. Many others,
besides the readers of the " Instructor," will de•
rive pleasure from its perusal.

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—We have received filei •
of papers from the Cape to the 9th August inclusive.
Everything at the colony was progressing favourably.
PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Christiana, American
liner, under the command of Mr. E. Hammond, arrived
at Spithead to-day, from London, and having embarked
passengers and stores from Lloyd's agents, the Messrs.
Garratt and Gibbon, sailed for New York this evening,

with a favourable breeze off the land.
PRESENTATION TO A CLERGTBIAN.—The congregation
of the parish church at Blackburn have presented the
Rev. E. A. Lang, curate of the late vicar, with a purse

containing 200 guiaeas.
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH AT THE CAPE OF GOOD
HOPE.—An official document has just been published
from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, together with a
proposition from Mr. J. W. Pilkins, stating "the terms
on which he is prepared to establish a line of electric
telegraph communication between Sitnoom's Bay and
Cape Town." The tenderer undertakes to complete the
work within four months of signing the contract, and to
superintend its efficient working for the period of six
months, for the sum of 5001. Ilis grace requests the
opinion of the governor upon this subject.—Graham's

Town Journal, July 29.
FROME ELECTION.—The coming election for this bo-
rough will be hotly contested. Both candidates pro-
fess liberal opinions, but the contest is between
a ballot man and an anti•ballot man. Mr. Nicoll"
is one of the council of the Ballot Society, and
both in time and money a warm supporter of the
ballot, while the only marked feature in his opponent's
(Lord Dungarvan's) political creed, is his opposition to
the ballot. Every effort will be made by both parties to
gain the election. The contest involves also to the people
of Frome their political independence, and to Lord Dun•
garvan the loss or retention of what he called at the
commencement of, the canvass "my borough." The
Ballot Society sent by post to every elector on the regis-
ter a selection of pithy tracts on their question.
FATAL EXPLOSION.—An explosion of a fatal character
took place yesterday moruing at about 11 o'clock at the

caoutchouc factory at Tottenham belonging to Messrs.
Warne and Co. It is impossible at present to give any
particulars respecting the cause, as the chief engineer is
so dangerously hurt as to prevent his being spoken to.
The second engineer was killed, and the stocker was re-
moved to one of the London hospitals seriously, if not
mortally injured. The shock was felt by many of the
surrounding inhabitants, and very soon the vicar, Mr.
Churchwarden Ful:ager, Drs. Hall and Brickwell, and
the Rev. J. S. Winter, were upon the spot, with other
parish authorities.
A meeting of the Liverpool Steamship Association
was held on Tuesday, when the first annual report was
read and adopted. It referred principally to the efforts
made by the association to procure a medication of
the various clauses of the Merchant Shipping Act of
last session deemed objectionable by the steam-vessel
interest, and which on several points proved successful.
It also stated that a correspondence had been held with
the Dock Committee on the inconvenient distance of
the steam docks from the centre of the town, as well as
on the best means fur a general increase of dock facili-
ties. The association have likewise given attention to
questions connected with pilotage and lighthouses, and
various other subjects. At the conclusion of the pro-
ceedings a committee was appointed for the ensuing
year, Mr. Lamont being re-elected chairman.
Exaggerated reports are prevalent with regard to the
losses that will fall on London from insurance claims in
connexion with the fire at Memel. Some random esti-
mates have put them at 700,0001. It is believed, how-
ever, that about 80,0001. is the limit of the policies open
at our fire-offices, and, even as regards that amount, it
is not certain that the goods so covered are among those
which have been destroyed. Lloyds and the Marine
Insurance offices have something at stake, as they have
granted policies on goods, taking alle
wrisiks,n.efrto_amtif
tSththe.e
Pbaebteierstbhuergwhtoule England
amuu tbuubtermecektonliienrg th.elsle, it is pro.
utmost exceed 150,0001.
reeNeievef g eeet
lndo e cgae
ther oaf, frpi
eathscommercial
ciovndefinite
rd
emrehaccounts
erituoencnl
ynriheat:aalesrdrdafndcr
sufficient
otvit ef
:me
thuclahttshii
China
beepdifficulties
at
t
du rtihnerreileatteiollni
be ea doubted
aLrirvaenrgpeornole,ntbulatteilty
at with
regard to the affairs of Mr. Edward Oliver can be carried
out. In the ease of Messrs. James M`Henry and Co.,
cdwhahten,
lia-
bilities amount to 500,000/., and that the prospects of
re-
movet e ccgrcw failed
1)
oet
hdhrheipnrogreernoexabtaprtoaceellbrteieihletsxieonttts
probability
seemseatiohmtnefesedtl2ay:t2onounfavourable.
further
ufr tAh eu rg uat
large
the rate of ex-
silver from this country. At Canton,. th.e qshuioptmateinontsboyf
the previous mail was 4s. 11d., and it is now 4s. Bd.,
while at Shanghai it has receded from 6s. ld. to 6s. In
the Indian exchanges likewise there has been a move.
merit in
DEATH
OFavour of this side.
D
APBAOU, a PAUPER DRlNYlNG.—Yesterday
.
an inquest was held by Mr. Carter on the body of Hes-
ter Wilson, ageci pauper inmate of the workhouse
of St. Mary, Newington. Front the evidence of several
witnesses, it appeared that on Friday last the deceased
suddenly disappeared from the workhouse, and was not
heard of by the authorities until she was brought to the
house in a cab on Tuesday evening last, about eight
o'clock, when, upon lifting her out for the purpose of
conveying her to the relieving ward, it was discovered
that she was dead, her eyes being dreadfully bruised
and blackened. During the time of her absence she
admitted to a woman of the name of Tyrrell that she
had not left with the permission of the authorities,
but had "fenced it," or got over the wall. She pawned
her shawl and part of her clothing, and expended
the whole of the money she obtained in drink, being
intoxicated day after day. On Tuesday morninify the
was seized with vomiting and purging, and w
'atys,-square,
order of Dr. Hampton, of Union-road,
the the deceased had
b placed
ut expired in a coanb
the
ed conveyed
way f
rom
exhaustion. t e
having given his decided opinion
NiefingtoDninriornkahmopnatoen,
:at...perm., the jury
rnfroodmaeyxheraclius:tioinn
mocausrdaed
nboty
rcitsietUd