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 astonishing question. It reviewaa
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.Tiomer 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 are still enveloped in obscurity and mystery.
The authorship of
.the " Letters of Junius," de-
cidedly tha most popular of these subjects at the
present time, has been ascribed to at least half a
dozen persons, and numerous volumes have been
written to establish the respective claims of each
of the 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." One of the most 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 Dauphin is strenuously asserted.
For those who interest themselves in such researches
the nsideration 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 thatis 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 ele-
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 Gosse'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:C011.•
tinned, as usual.

Vhittlings from the West. By Able Log. J.
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.

TaE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—We have received files
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 Llnye.'s agents, the Messrs.
Garrett and Gibbon, sailed for New York this evening,
with a favourable breeze off the land.
PRESENTATION TO A CLERGYMAN.—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 guine-as.
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH AT THE CAPE or 'Goon
HOPE.—Art official document has just been published
from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, together with a
proposition from Mr. J. W. Pains, stating "the terms
on which he is prepared to e,tairl;sh a line of electric
telegraph communication between Simooin's Bay and
Cape Town." Tire tenderer undertakes to complete the
work within four months of signing the contract, and to
superintend its acient working for the period of six
months, for the sum of 5001. His grace requests the
opinion of the governor upon this subjeot.—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 Dan-
garvan the loss or retention of what lie called, at the
commencement of the canvass "my borough." The
BAlot 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 morning at about 11 o'cloCk at the
caotitchouc 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 hut t as td prevent his being spoken to.
The second engineer was killed, and the stocker was re-
moved to ri.e of the London hospitals seriously, if not
mortally iej•ired. The shock was felt by many of the
surrounding inhabitants, and very soon the vicar, Mr.
Churchwarden Forager, Drs. Hall and Brickwell, and
the Rev. J. S. Winter, were upon the spot, with other
p..rish autho-ities-
A meeting of the Liverpool Steamship Association
was held on Tuesday, when the first annuli report was
read arid adopted. It re:erred principally to the efforts
made by the association to procure a modication 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 bad 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 for 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.t, he pro-
oeedings a committee was appointed for the ensuing
year, Mr. Lamont being re-elected chairman. ;.,
Exaggerated reports are prevalent with regard to the
losses t:•at will fall on London from insurance (Amami in
jank:Likrilaegin
is:.
al.ek ew, 1 l asl
ntohte a
th
thee
connexion with the fire at Memel. Some random esti-
mates have put.them at 700,0001. It is believed, how-
. ever, that about 30,0001. is the limit of the policies open
at our fire-offices, and, even as regards that amount, it
is
whichnot
havecertain
been
nt the
destroyed.goods
ye rde d
aanreda
tmh ee n
i‘g 1 tat
Ignrasuorteatincepooriocieess hoanvegosooldnse,tbt
all risks, fromy have
these,. it is . pro.
PbaebteierstbbuergwbtoolEe England
tboubtere
utmost exceed 150,0001. met° her'
No further intelligence of a definite character has been
received in relation to the commercial difficulties at
Liverpool, but it seems to be greatly doubted if the
arrangement lately stated to have been arrived at with
retard to the affairs of Mr. Edward Oliver can be carried
out. Ol:tHe d that
e n rYa
t a n
the dCo.,
,:ho
faliredthoenctahsee sotihMinessstr.,s'itjaiemersep
lia-
bilities amount to 500,0001., a
and that the prospects of
the creditors are extremely unfavourable.
According to the telegraphic accounts from China tod
day, which reach to the 22d of August, the rate of ex.
change hexperienced aad fresh decline,
sufficient
to re-
move the probability of further
any large shipments of
silver from this country. At Canton, the quotation by
the previous mail was 4s. lid., and it is now 4s. Bd.,
while a
Shanghai it has receded from 6s. * ld. to 6s In
exchanges
the Indian. • likewise there has been a move*
ment in favour of this side.
DEATH OF A PAUPER FROM DRlNKlNG.—Yesterdo
an inquest was held by Mr. Carter on the body of Hes-
ter Wilson, aged 80, a pauper inmate of the workhouse
of St. Mary, Newington. From the evidence of several
witnesses, it appeared that on Friday last the deceased
suddenly disappeared from the workhouse, and was not
beard 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 he
the whole of the money she obtained in drink,being
intoxicated day after day. On Tuesday
_waene
the
was seiz-d with vomiting and purginoga,d, d
Trinity.stjuare
order of Dr. Hampton, of Untioon:r
Newington
placed in a cab and conveyed
n.,,, • workhouse,
• _on the way freni.eichaustio . vr. Hamptom
but expired
his dee-de i n inion
having given . . c P.t
that the deeeased had.
died from exhaustion caused by l.la =plow:l9l4 the jury,
000rdance,
returned a verdict Ina _ .