The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-22 00:00:00

THE BRITANNIA BRIDGE.

MENAI STRAITS, THURSDAY.—As briefly intimated
by telegraphic dispatch yesterday, the unparalleled ex-
ploit of depositing the tube, after ono or two misadven-
tures, which, contrasted with the magnitude of the
labour, sunk into insignificance, was accomplished after
two hours of the most anxious and critical toil. In ad-
dition to Mr. Stephenson, Captain Claxton, Mr. Clarke,
Mr. Brunel, and Mr. Locke were on the tube, rendering
valuable and unceasing assistance throughout the pe-
rilous process. The applause of the multitude, mingled
with salutes of cannon, continued for upwards of half an
hour after the completion of the experiment, which was
celebrated by the engineers on the tube and pontoons in
successive rounds of champagne. The tube was floated
obliquely, and then gradually swung round with its face
to the space between the piers. Arrived here, the next
step was one of the most anxious character, seeing that
if, from the run of the tide, or any giving way in the
great net-work of tackle, or the tube overstepping the
line of destination parallel with the piers, the experi-
ment must have failed, and the process of bringing it
back would hare been one of great difficulty. Fortu-
nately, however, such was the nicety of the arrange-
ments, and skill, and quickness of the directing power
on the top of the tube, and the moment of its progress to
the spot so geometrically measured, that the success of
the final step was unerringly secured by the vigorous
action of a giant vice upon the Anglesea end of the tube,
which clinched its extremity, and instantly held it fast.
The next operation, that of elevating the tube to its per-
manent position, will be accomplished as soon as possible.
This is to be done by huge hydraulic presses ot a mag-
nitude commensurate with the size of the works, one cy-
linder alone being almost large enough at the entrance
to contain a man standing, and of the ponderous weight
of 40 tons. It is the most powerful machine ever con-
structed. The two end tubes will now be raised, and
it is expected, from the rapidity ot the movements, that
this great iron highway over the Straits will be ready
for the passage ot trains in the autumn.

reitalciers of ton are wearing
interesting chit-chat,.thraetestes,
FASHION.—It may be hmee j 'tined as a tnorceau of
made of a completely new
flowers in their head d
material.atlscrutiny.
To the
thenatureof which has dtfied
best
withoutit its brittleness. It is capable
the description s
a ki closestnd
oCI eft;
ut
of taking
the richest colours, and the more minute
flowers and fruits made of it, when artfully placed amidst
the blonde, feathers, &c.. of the coiffure, have much the
bewitchingly glittering effect of the fire-flies held captive
in the aerial robes of the Oriental beauties. The origin
and exclusive dispersion of this novelty may be traced to
the Messrs. Jay and Co., of Regent-street, who have
bestowed their customary elegant taste in a great variety
of sweetly pretty head-dresses for the especial display
of this petite addition to their extensive salons en haut.
—Post.

FIRE NEAR REGENT.6TREET.-- This morning,
shortly before one o'clock, the extensive premises in the
occupancy of Messrs. Cox, music printers, situate in Old
Burlington-mews, Regent-street, was discovered to be
on fire. The premises containing a vast quantity of type,
the flames, as they communicated with the cases, caused
the letter to run through the flooring like a stream of
liquid lead, which, falling upon the helmets and shoul-
ders of the firemen, materially injured their dresses. In
spite of the torrent of water discharged over the fire, it
was nearly two o'clock before the flames could be extin-
guished, and not until they had travelled completely
through that portion of the premises in which they had
commenced, and had either consumed or materially
damaged the contents.
ROYAL GENERAL ANNUITY SOCIETY.—The Fancy
Fair of the Royal General Annuity Society will, we un-
derstand, Le continued over Friday and Saturday, and
t rema'niug articles will be sold by public auction.
GOLD FROM CALIFORNIA..—LIVERPOOL, JUNE 21.
—The brig Jessie, Captain Luce, arrived this morning
frem California and Valparaiso. She Lrings on freight
gold to the amount of 60,000 dolls. This is the first im-
portation into Liverpool of the precious metal, direct
from California.
We have received files of papers from Adelaide
• (Australia) to the 6th of January, and from Wellington
(New Zealand) to the 3d of March. They bring no in-
telligence of interest.

TjPg Sa E GAL TITLE ASSURANCE but with reference to the general interests of Europe,
COMPANY. and from the value which they attach to the mainte-
(Provisionally Registered, January 17, 1849.) nance of peace, sincerely deprecate any attempt to settle
Capital, 2,000,00 CL, in 80,000 Shares, of 251. each.
preliminary Deposit, 2s. 6d. per Share, the differences between the Pope and his subjects by the
prospe•Anses and Pall information may be obtained at the Tempo- military interference of foreign powers."
..ary ott.?,as of the Company, 12A, Cannon-row, Westminster, on ap-
plication And yet, notwithstanding this distinct disapproval of
armed ietervention in the affairs of Rome notified to
him in this note of the 28th' January, the PRESI-
DENT has the modest assurance to declare that in all
these mattters England was d'accord with him. Tbat
France has deceived everybody is evident even from
this correspondence, for Lord PALMERSTON, in one
portion of it, speaks of " the minority who now exer-
cise authority at Rome." We imagine that
events have proved that the minority is the
other way, and that the Government of Rome,
that emanation of universal suffrage, represents not
only de jure, but de facto, the will of the majority.
It is evident that in thus speaking of the Government
of Rome Lord PALMERSTON was speaking from in-
formation derived from the French Government, and
we cannot sufficiently admire that those who in
France have, on the ground of being the emanation
of universal suffrage, not scrupled, if not to abuse,
at least to use their powers to the very
utmost, should thus deny the power of those
who in Rome are likewise the emanation of universal
suffrage. The position of the POPE, as described by
Cardinal AOTONELLI in his letter to the various Powers,
stands in ludicrous contrast with his claims. He, the
clai,ner of omnipotence and infallibility, has been co-
erced into the commission of grievous error, and he ap-
peals to those over whom he claims supremacy to aid him
in chastising his re bellious children, on vc hom the
thunders of the greater excommunication have it
seems lost their effect. Nay more, he the head of the
orthodox, appeals to the heretic Queen of ENGLAND,
whom, as in duty bound, he regularly once a year
anathematizes on the publication of the bull In
—r. ZAL, Li.AYMAILit;„„ Canna Domini,to aid him against the Roman Catho-
c• -4'nter, Sele Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton. lies who, following the example of herself and
111 EVENIS
Will be performed a new and original tragic Play, in Five Acts, her subjects, have set his power at deft-
entitled STRATIINIORE. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Kean, ante and laughed at his threats. Whatever
H. Vandenhoff, Buckstone, Howe, Stuart, Rogers; Mrs. C. Kean,
Mts. Fitzwilliam, and Miss Reynolds. j may be the result of the armed interference
be reltowed by FUR ROUGH LIA3IOND.
for the restoration of the POPE to temporal power,
-11 d,, with the Farce of LEND 31E FIVE SHILLINGS.
this much is certain, that after such an amusing exhi-
I bition of impotent Omnipotence and fallible Infal-
libility, the moral power of tile Papacy is gone for

G. F. HOWE, Hon. Sec., pro tern

DIRS. TROLLOPE'S NEW NOVEL.
New ready, at all the Libraries, in 3 vols.,
PIE LOTTERY OF MARRIAGE.
By MRS. TROLLOPE.
" Mrs. Trollope is beyond a doubt one of the cleverest and most re-
markable writers of the day"—Quarterly Review.
"Mrs. Trollope has scarcely ever written a more clever book, or
one that will afford a greater amount of amusement to her numerous
admirers."—Messenger.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
Signor PUZZI'S Benefit.
On THURSDAY EVENING,
Will be performed Donizetti's celebrated Opera,
DON PASQUALE.
After which a grand Pas de la Couronne, by Mdlle. M. Taglioni
and 31. Dor.
To be followed by the Last Act of the celebrated Opera,
IL GIURAMENTO,
in which 3ldlle. Parodi and Signor Moriani will appear.
To conclude with the Divertissement
LA PRIMA. BALLERINA.
The principal parts by Mdlies. Petit Staphan, Marra, Thomassini,
Julien, Aussundon, Lamorenx, and M. Paul Taglioni.
Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the
Box-office of the Theatre, where Pit Tickets may be obtained as
usual, price 10s. 6d. each.
Doors open at Seven ; and the Opera to commence at Half-past
Fe\ en o'clock.

JAMES'S THEATRE.
FRREXCQ PLAY and OPER.: CONIQT.TE.

T.. 2 Perfcrmances w

THIS EVENING,

EXTRE3..

',past Seven o'clock with

7Tte Celeste.

Will he pet

_ll,l EVENING,
—el THE KNIGIIT OF ARVA.
Anew grand Extravaga,,za, entitled THE DEVIL'S
CIO Ir AND THE REVOLT OF TUE FLOWERS.
To be followed by a novelty in the shape of A LOST UNWAR-
RANTABLE INTRUSION, which will be committed by Mr. Wright
o the annoyance of Air. Paul Belfcrd.
To conclude with JOHN JONI.X

ROYA

Will be perforinefl
After which ati or
?

To be followed t
To conclude wit

Under the I,,trona;-.e 01

The following ens rent
equeitrian talent
on, tina,
Mdlle
Jet.

Jeanett,

Aklelahle
21* Woc

'HI EA

ever.

Since our observations on the court-martial upon
Captain DOUGLAS appeared in the leading columns of
The Sun, on the 11th ultimo, the finding of the
Court, together with the approval and confirmation
by the QUEEN, have been officially published. It
will have been doubtless observed by the majority of
our readers, that the decision of the authorities at
the horse Guards has been as severe and damaging
ns it could by any possibility have been rendered.
The unfortunate officer has been harshly and peremp-
torily cashiei ed—the verdict of Guilty being pro-
nounced upon each of the four charges successively,
with the supplementary and ignominious expression
that his conduct throughout was " unbecoming
the character of an officer and a gentleman.''
As to the prisoner having obtained her MAJESTY'S
permission to receive the value of his commission,
that can scarcely have assuaged one pang cf the
bitter anguish arising from that shaft of obloquy
which must, more or less, ever after this rankle in his
bosom. For the gist of the several charges preferred
against Mr. DOUGLAS (late Captain of the 16th Regi-
ment) is nothing less than the accusation of having
uttered a wilful falsehood. Upon this accusation he
has been condemned. After an examination extend-
ing over eleven days he has been declared A Liar,
! and the finding of the Court has received the appro-
bation of the SOVEREIGN. A superficial view
of the case would certainly appear to indicate
that nothing further remains to be said upon the
court-martial ; that the sentence being announced,
nothing need be, nothing can be, nothing ought to be
remarked in reference to the transaction. It is said
—The decision is conclusive ; for, remember ! that
decision is the calm and deliberate opinion of
fourteen officers guided by the presence of the
Deputy-Judge Advocate ; and remember also ! that
those fourteen officers deliberated as to the nature of
their verdict not only during the eleven days occu-
pied by the court martial, but for a consider-
able time afterwards, and that their ultimate
"finding" has been weighed by the supreme mili-
tary authorities at the Horse Guards, headed by
Field Marshal his Grace the Duke of WELLINGTON.
Now it is precisely because these things are said, it is
precisely because this notion of the necessary correct-
t nese of the decision is prevalent among the unthinking,
that we, who have perused this singular trial with the
most dispassionate caution, and who recognise in the
evidence adduced not one solitary reason sufficient to
lead to the condemnation of the accused—it is pre-
cisely from these considerations that we find ourselves
impelled to revert to a sentence such as must, to our
thinking (unless reconsidered), tend directly to propa-
gate the seeds of demoralization in the army. As far as
the decision itself goes, we acknowledge at once that
it is certainly " conclusive ;" but we altogether repu-
diate the notion that it is irrevocable. So long as
there is such an office in the administration of the
affairs of the Empire as that of the Judge-Advocate
General, so long as the Judge-Advocate General
receives a salary of 3,000/. annually, so long must
any verdict of any court-martial be liable to revision,
and even in extreme cases to an actual revocation.
To maintain that the dignity of the service requires
an unmurmuring submission to the adjudication of the
Court, is an outrage to the conscience of humanity.
Good GOD ! is the dignity of the service of importance
superior to the first principles of justice ? Are we,
forsooth, to bend unconditionally to the decree of
fourteen gentlemen simply because they are gen-
tlemen ? Are we to regard them as the Catholics
regard the spiritual office of the POPE, namely, as
infallible ? Are we, with all our estimation of the

dy, entitled WHO SPEAKS

rr., WOMAN

AND COX

'lt, 2s ; Gallery, Is. No

Itrect, <9 b?k

acen, his Royal Illglrm>s

form the greatest amount of female
this or any other establishment at

a!e, Valentine, Louise Touirnaire, La Jeane
rd,_Barrand, Davi&on, Avery, and La Petite

In addition to the above Mr. Batty has great pleasure in announc-
ing that he has engage t that peerless equestrian Marie Macarte,
whose brilliant triumphs on the Continent ami in America havu ac-
quired for her the acp.:lllati,,it of the Equestrian Enchantress.
TtlIS EVEN ING,
The performance will commence with a Grand Military Equestrian
Spectacle, entitled
MOOLTAN and GOOJELIAT ; or, the Conquest of the Setkhs.
To be rollowed by an inimitable display of SCENES IN TIIE
mitcLE. in which Marie Macarte will appear, supported by the first
Equestrian talent of the .!ay.

To co:
!ARM.

ale with a favour

feloclraina, entitled THE WHITE

LOYAL SUItREY ZOi

Four

IMMEti

-.,;AL GARDENS.
Enga;ment of M. JULLIEN.
AND UNPARALLELED SUCCESS.
\les: Gracious 'Majesty, her 3fajesty the
11 Highness Prince Albert, &c.
nroneunced the Storming of
d life-like exhibition.
are respectfully-informed
resort Is open every
DAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY.

Under the patron tg.e of her

Queen Dowal,

The Ptr,tic Press
Batiaioz to b

The N)hii
that this fav
IVIONDA:

the me

st perfect au
:1 the Pahli

Gentry
to place

Danson's glgautge modelled Panorama of the TOWN AND
FORT OF BADAJOZ, pronounced by the voice of public
opinion to be the most perfect and life-Me exhibition ever
presented—Splendid Menagerie—Ju lien's unrivalled Band—Vo-
cal and Instrumental Concert—Sever d Favourite Songs and
Ballads by Miss Frances Mildmay, Miss Ellen Rowland and Mr. G.
Tedder—Solos by Kcenig, Richardson (Flute)—Violin and Violon-
cello by Viotti and George Collins, varied alternately—and other at-
tractions, concluding, wills a vivid representation of the Storming of
Bs.lajoz, pourtraying the advance of the British army—bombard-
ment and attack—gallant defence—rush to the breach by real troops
—and final ta'Aeaux in honour of the " hero of a hundred fights."
Doors open at Nine o'Clock, A.M. ' • feeding of the animals at Five ;
Pelicans and White Bears half-past Five ; Concert at Six ; storming
of Badsjoz, at Dusk.—Admission One Shilling.
REFRESHMENTS.—The frequenters of these Gardens have long
complained that Refreshments from the Contectionary-rooms only
could be procured. Arrangements leave been effected, and a distinct
portion of the Gardens set apart, where Itefresinnents may be had
of the first quality, and at the usual Prices.

T Ei WE A T.d E a.—SuN Oznez, JUNE 22.
Lowe.in, 50; Highest, 72; Noon, 65.

BAROXETER, 30.23.

WIND W.—light ore: za and fine sucsbiny weather.

-,c-A.1.73 AT LONDON BraD4E.
Tae DAY 46 rain. after 2 Evening, 12 min. after 3
To-Moaacw—Morning, 3.5 min. after 3 I Evenin, 59 min. after 3

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Otceninix

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1849.

We rejoice to find, from the copies of the corre-
spondence between Viscount PALMERSTON, the Mar-
quis of NORMANBT, and the Prince of CASTELCICALA,
relative to the affairs of Rome, which have been laid
before Parliament, that the British Government is en-
tirely guiltless in the matter of the French attack
upon Rome, and that throughout these events Lord
PALMERSTON has acted strictly on the principle which
he laid down in his note to the Marquis of NOR-
MANDY, of 28th January, 1849, wherein he states--

"With respect to the attitude which Great Britain
would is any ca3c assume in regard to these affairs, your
Excellency will say that the attitude of this country
would be that of observation, and that Great Britain
oould take no part in such matters beyoud expressing, if
it should appear to be necessary, the opinion which her
Majesty's Government might entertain thereupon."
But while the publication of this correspondence
completely exonerates Lord PALMERSTON, it renders
more than ever inexplicable that of the Government
of the French Republic. In the note of the 28th
January, from which we have quoted the above, we
find the following passage :
" With regard to the proposal made by Austria to
Franco for a combined military action by Austria,
France, and Naples, for the purpose of re-establishing
the Pope in the Roman States, your Excellency will say
that her Majesty's Government concur with the Go-
vernment of France in viewing with much regret this
announcement of the wishes and intentions of the Aus-
trian Government."

great actions and the illustrious career of the Veteran
Duke, to look upon his opinions as oracular ? Or are
we to regard the members of courts-martial, and the
authorities at the Horse Guards, as (like the rest of the
human family) creatures liable to error ofjudgment
The answer is obvious. It is the answer of common
sense ; the naked response of reason. And, feeling
this, we now avail ourselves of our enviable preroga-
tive as journalists to speak to the people on behalf
of those whom we regard in our conscience as
injured.
Such we assuredly conceive Captain DOUGLAS (or
Mr. DOUGLAS, as we must now call him,) to be—a
man injured beyond the reach of compensation,
beyond the reach almost of alleviation. Such we
believe him to be, simply through a careful perusal
of the details of his trial on court-martial—
for personally we are not only entire strangers
_ _

The Government of France, therefore, had at that Ito Mr. GEORGE DOUGLAS, but we have never
period expressed its regret at a proposal for re..esta- once bad any communication with him or
blishing the Popx in the Roman States by a corn- his. As a stranger, as one in whose interest
on with other Powers. How came
bined military action
we are in no measure prepossessed, we take his
it, then, that in April France undertook to do alone' case into consideration. We do this, moreover,
Austria that which she had expressed her regret at
scarcely so much from having imbibed a sympathy,
with herself and 1 for hiscalamities
proposing to undertake, in concert
i individually, as from our convic-
the?rave most prejudicial to his gal-
other Catholic Powers ? Is it that the PRESIDENT . tion that the effect of kis treatment must, if allowed
to pass unnoticed,
1 lant profession. Individually there would, of course
of the Republic reeks to establish his personal in-
Ito
at Rome, to the exclusion of the influence i
_be ample cause for commiseration, ber - 1
every other Catholic Power, with the intention of I
as we do, to have fallen 1""
Mr.
a victim
hereafter wielding the ultramontane influence in
to circumstances. Individually, we say, there
DOUGLAS,
France for the purposes of personal aggrandizement.
Has he a vision of a new Plus crowning a new NA- would ; for he has lost by a blunder at
POLEON ? Does he already regard France as his the very most, not by a crime, that which
appanage, and waste her blood and her treasure for
SHAIESPEEE panegyrised as almost identical with the
mere dynatic purposes, as though he were already a soul of man—his reputation. It is Cassio who ex-
king ? These are questions which we leave to be
claims in an agony of sorrow—" Reputation, repute-
settled between himself and his electors, for it is tion, reputation ! 0, I have lost my reputation ! I
abundantly clear that their interests as Repub. have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself. My repu-
licans would rather demand an armed inter- tation, lago, my reputation !" Much, however, as
vention in favour of the Roman Republic than we feel far the painful and invidious position in
in favour of the Pope. But there is a giros- which the late Captain of the 16th Regiment is
tion with which we as Englishmen are con- placed, we are induced to refer to the peculiarities of
cerned in common with the French people, his trial less by that motive, than by our sense of
and which certainly requires some explanation. In the injurious effect his condemnation is calculated to
his Message the PRESIDENT of the French Republic, have upon the army of England.
after his expes6 of the foreign policy of the Republic, In our previous comments upon the trial at
in which he goes at length into the history of the ex- Guernsey, we marked out as clearly as we could
pedition to Civita Vecchia, says—" In all these I within the compass of a leading article the incon-
questiabs we have always been in agreement gruities, and contradictions, and errors which are
(d accord) with England." Thus leading to the conspicuous throughout the whole of the report. At
conclusion that England had approved of the military present we can only find the opportunity to
expedition to Rome ; and yet, so long ago as the 28th direct attention to one or two things which
January, Lord PaLmEasTaN thus expressed himself : were not mentioned in our previous observations,
" Her Majesty's Governmeat do no; pretend to pass We would particularly impress upon the judgment of
judgment in respect to those differences between the the public the fact that the principal witness en the
Pope and his subjects which led to the retirement of the
Pope to Gaeta; but her Maj=33ty's Government would / trial (Colonel LE MEztURIER) was not permitted to
upon every account, and not only upon abstract principle, ibe cross examined by the prisoner (see page 41),*