The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-27 00:00:00

COURT CI ROULA R.

It is understood that her Majesty's second concert
will take place on Friday, June 2, and the second state
ball on Tuesday, June 20.

OSBORNE, MAT 26.
The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred visited Ports-
mouth Dockyard yesterday afternoon, when they were
received by Rear-Admiral Superintendent Martin, and
the officers of the dockyard, and conducted over the
establishment.

Their Royal Highnesses afterwards went on board the
Victory flag-ship, accompanied by Vice-Admiral Sir
Thomas Cochrane, and returned to Osborne at 7 o'clock.
Yesterday morning (the birthday of .the Princess
Helena) the band of the Royal Marines played a selection
of music on the terrace, at a quarter before 7 o'clock.

Mr. Buchanan, the American Minister, transacted
business yesterday at the Foreign-office, Downing-street.
The Bishop of London had an interview with the Earl
of Aberdeen yesterday, at his official residence, in
Downing-street.
A deputation from the Thames Marsh Drainage
Committee bad an interview with Viscount Palmerston
yesterday, at the Home-office. The deputation con-
sisted of Sir Culling E. Eardley, Bart. (Chairman), Mr.
James Macgregor, M.P. (Vice• Chairman), Mr. James
Renshaw, Mr. George Bower, and Mr. Frederick Horn-
fray (Secretary to the Committee), and was accompanied
by Mr. Richard Jebb (Chairman), and Mr. E. H.
Woolrych (Secretary of the Metropolitan Commission of
Sewers.

The Master of the Rolls of Nova Scotia bad an inter-
view with the Duke of Newcastle, at the Colonial-office.
Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, and Mr. Pressly, had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Sir Thomas
Fremantle, Chairman of the Customs, had also an inter-
view with the right hon. gentleman at his official resi-
dence in Downing-street.
A deputation, including Mr. Charles Russell (chair.
man), Mr. Saunders (secretary), and Mr. Brunel (engi-
neer), of the Great Western Railway Company, had an
interview with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell and Lord
Stanley of Alderley, yesterday, at the Board of Trade.
Mr. R. Dolling and Mr. J. Anketell, a deputation on
the subject of an Irish Railway, had an interview with
Viscount Palmerston yesterday.
Despatches were sent to the Governor of Gibraltar
yesterday from the Colonial-office. Despatches were
received yesterday from the Governor of Sierra Leone.

OUR NORTH-WESTERN COAST

DEFENCES.

The following letter on this important subject appears
in the current number of the United Service Maga-
zine :

" Sir,—You may have observed that, in a letter to the
Morning Chronicle, I reverted to your able article pointing
to the unprotected state of the towns on the north-west
coast of England. Since the appearance of th at number of
your publication, Sir James Graham, replying, in the Com-
mons, to a question of Colonel Beutinck, is reported to have
said that no danger could menace this country, so long as Sir
Charles Napier could pen the Russian fleet into the Baltic,
and blockade the enemy's coast. But, sir, such a state of the
question presupposes, in our naval combinations, a long-
sustained and unlimited degree of success, as well as the ab-
sence of all privateers. It leaves everything, in fact, to what
Napoleon aptly termed the 4 lottery of war.' A few hostile
cruisers could now destroy our commercial shipping, or exact
heavy ransoms, and be off long before sucJour could reach
from the Downs. The coast-volunteers, on which the First
Lord of the Admiralty seemed partly to rely, could be effec-
tive only in case of a serious attempt to land. You can only
meet ship by ship. A nava station on the north-east coast
is required for national security. Lord Hardwick's sugges-
tion of a reserve squadron for home defence, will, it is to be
hoped, be adopted by the Executive. Turning now to the
north-west shore, Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, and
the other sea-port towns, wholly unguarded, seem to court
attack. A second Paul Jones might plunder that coast with
equal success and equal impunity—no friendly sail is at hand.
Even that vast mart of commerce, Liverpool, looks only for
defence to a battery of no great strength. It is perilous to
offer to the foe such tempting, such easily secured baits for
enterprise. This momentous subject will, I trust, continue
to engage your attention, and to profit by your personal ex-
perience.—And I remain, your obedient servant,

" PHILIP H. HOWARD.
" Corby Castle, Carlisle, 21st April, 1854."

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—This morning a respectable
man, named Mr. Thomas Leak, aged 45 years, who re-
sides at No. 3, Cottage-place, New-street, Vauxhall,
attempted self-destruction under the following circum-
stances. It appears he was found in his bed-room with
his throat cut in a frightful manner (the windpipe and
the carotid artery being nearly divided), and with a large
clasp-knife clenched firmly in his hand. He was removed
without loss of time to the accident ward in Guy's Hos-
pital, Borough, where Mr. Stolman, the house surgeon,
attended by the medical staff of that institution, gave
prompt attention to the sufferer ; but from the severe
nature of the wound, little hopes are entertained of his
recovery. Nothing at present has led to the discovery
of the cause of the unfortunate man committing the rash
act.

COLONEL PERRONET THOMPSON.-It appears to me
certain that it is to the uncompromising opposition of
Colonel Thompson to all improper practices, and to his
(Mr. Clay's) own acquiescence in them and belief that
they were necessary to the success either of himself or
of any other candidate professing similar political
opinions, that Mr. Clay alludes, when declining in Jan.,
1842, to come forward as a candidate while Hull is
" hampered by Colonel Thompson, who makes it im-
possible for any reformer to have a chance."—Commis-
aioner Flood's Report, Bull A dvertiser, 21st April, 1854.
ROYAL LONDON YACHT CLUB.-It will be remem-
bered that the third-class match of the Royal London
Yacht Club, which was sailed for last Saturday, re-
mained undecided in consequence of a protest which had
been entered against the Mischief and the Kitten, the
two first boats. The ground of the protest was that both
vessels exceeded the measurement of their class. The
sailing committee, after a full investigation, have de-
cided that both vessels were duly qualified. The Mis-
chief, therefore, receives the first prize, and the Kitten
the second.

COAST GUARD.—We are glad to learn that the Trea-
sury entirely concur with the Board of Customs that the
men of the Coast Guard who may have temporarily
joined the navy should nct be deprived of the advantages
to which the regulations of the Coast Guard service en-
title them ; and, in pursuance of this resolution, pensions
have been granted to the widow and two children of
Robert M'Uuire, late boatman at Bourne Bottom, in
the port of Poole—to the former of 151. per annum, and
to the latter of 21. 10s. each until they attain the age of
15 years, to commence on the date of the decease of
M'Guire, who was killed by accident a few days after
he had joined the navy.—Civil Service Gazette.
THE CIVIL SERVICE. —Mr. Edward James Smith, a
senior clerk in the Inlan(1 Department of the General
Post-office, has been selected by Lord Canning to act as
postmaster to the British expeditionary force in Turkey ,•
he is to be stationed at Constantinople, and will be placed
under the immediate orders of the Commander-in-Chief.
Mr. Stapleton has been appointed to a clerkship in the
Secretary's-office of the Ordnance, Pall-mall. Mr. Syd-
ney Smyth has been appointed Ordnance clerk at Upuor
Castle, vice Ward, deceased. Mr. Oakes has been
ap-
pointed Ordnance clerk at Harwich, vice Blacket, super-
annuated. Messrs. M. Hillier, Eagle, and Tarn, have
been appointed temporary clerks at Woolwich. Mr.
Hill has been appointed third-class clerk in the Paymas-
ter's account-office at the Admiralty, Somerset-house,
vice Stanhope. The appointment of landing-waiter at
the Customs, London, will shortly be vacant, vice Mr.
J. Baden, first-class landing-waiter, the Board of Cus-
toms having forwarded his superannuation paper to the
Lords of the Treasury of 1601. per annum, in the gift of
the Lords of the Treasury. The appointment of land-
ing-waiter, London, is vacant, caused by the absence,
without leave, of Mr. W. H. Hart ; in the gift of the
Lords of the Treasury, 1601. per annum. The appoint-
naent of tidewaiter is vacant, cawed by the superannua-
tion of Mr. G. Gordon, first-class tidewaiter ; 701. per
annum, in the gift of the Lords of the Treasury. Mr.
John Billings has been appointed clerk at the West
India Docks, London. Mr. C. J..Hoffmeister has been
appointed clerk to the tea department in London,—
Service Qaz(tfe.