The Sun.
London, England, 1831-02-10 00:00:00

NATIONAL CONGRESS.—SITTING or FEB. 5.

The Order of the Day was the debate on the Chapter
of the Constitution, headed Transitory Regulations.
The Assembly then proceeded to the article upon the ter-
ritory and its divisions. The debate on the 12th article
was very warns. It is to the following effect
Art 12. The State has not the right to interfere in the
nomination and installation of the Ministers of any reli-
gion, nor that of prohibiting them from corresponding
with their superiors, and from publishing their acts, re-
serving in this latter case the usual responsibility i❑ affairs
relative to the Press. _

M. Forgeur proposed the following amendment
" Marriage before the Civil Magistrate must always
precede the nuptial benediction, reserving the exceptions
to be made by the law."
The article and the amendment were adopted after a
very long debate.
The 16th Article, On the Right of Association, also
gave rise to a long discussion. Messrs. Serosa and Beyts
spoke warmly against that article, which they proposed to
suppress. They considered that it would render it pos-
sible to restore religims societies. The article was adopted
with a slight amendment.

ANTWERP, FEB. s.—This morning, about ten o'clock,
an extraordinary explosion filled the city with alarm.
The bad weather which we have had for these three
days had caused the gun-boat, No. 2, to run aground near
Fort St. Lawrence. This vessel was commanded by Lieut.
Van Spyck, a young officer, 18 or 20 years of age, and had
a crew of 31 men. Some armed men of the free corps on
duty in the port hastened on board the gun-boat, and
wanted to have the flag struck. Yoking Van Spyck hav-
ing refused to obey this summons, the flag was immedi-
ately taken down by the assailants. Immediately the
young officer went down into the hold and -set fire to the
powder magazine. The vessel blew
,up instantly, and all
that were on board or near perished, victims to the self-
devotion of the young commander. Only two men of the
crew were saved as if by a miracle. The number of the
wounded is considerable.

We have to deplore the loss of Captain Gregoire, of
the corps of the Commandant Gorter, who is also
wounded ; of Lieut. Collier, of the corps of .the Com-
mandant Carpentier, who has not been yet found, Young
Carpentier is dangerously wounded. The number of killed
is 10, and that of the wounded 21.
It seems that there were 1,5001b5. of powder on board,
and that orders are given, in case of accident, to blow up a
vessel rather than surrender. The Comet corvette, which
was very near experiencing a similar accident some time
ago, had 158,0001b5. of powder on board, which would
have been sufficient to blow up a part of our city. The
two men saved were conveyed to the hospital by the care
of M. Ellerman, who had done eminent service to the
victims of this deplorable event. Twelve men are missing
of the troops of the line on duty in the port, and frag-
ments of the vessel, arms, and legs, were thrown in all
directions, and to a great distance; eleven men were con-
veyed to the military hospital, of whom six are dead ; 18
were taken to the civil hospital, of whom three are dead.
Many of those who were killed in the explosion have not
yet been found.
Being obliged to depend on information snore or less
correct which is given us respecting the particulars of this
catastrophe, which has greatly afflicted our city, we shall
not at present give any opinion on this unfortunate event.
It would perhaps be dangerous in this moment of irritation
to say the whole truth.

Tiiis event has rendered our position more gloomy.
Peace, unless
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change, will s
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ANTWERP, FEB. s.—An event equally cruel and ex-
traordinary has just happened on the Scheldt. A Dutch
gun-boat, at anchor in the road, was driven o❑ shore near
Fort St. Lawrence. As soon as its distress was perceived
a great many workmen and several guards hastened to the
vessel to protect it if necessary, and to afford it all the as-
sistance which men owe to each other in distress. Capt.
Gregorive went on board to assure the crew of his good
offices, while his comrades were preparing to assist it. At
that moment it blew up with a terrible explosion. The
whole crew was on deck. It was then that the Captain,
a violent and resolute man, set fire to the powder maga-

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