The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-19 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Hecate steatn•aloop,
temporarily manned and officered from the Superb, with
Commander William C. Aldham, of that ship, in charge,
anchored at Spithead last evening at sunset, from the
Downs. She came into the harbour this forenoon, and
is to be delivered up into the charge of the authorities
of the Blenheim without delay. Lieutenant Cochran,
who went out in htr, has returned to hie duties t the
Admiralty-house, as Flag• Lieutenant to the Commander-
in-Chief.

The Madetra packet Eclipse arrived here last evening,
and landed 36 passengers. Her news was forestalled by
her Majesty's steamer Grappler.
The Wellesley Indiaman, 1,400 tons, Captain Arrow,
sailed from Spithead this afternoon, for Madras and Cal-
cutta, with numerous passengers.
PLYMOUTH, JUNE 1?.—The Castor, 36, Commander
Wyvil, arrived here this morning, at noon, accompanied
by the Sampson steam frigate. On coming within the
Breakwater she saluted. She will be paid her advance,
preparatory to proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope.
The Shearwater steamer, 2, Lieutenant E. E. Tumour,
arrived here yesterday from Portsmouth, and will take
Admiral Dickson's goods to the Cove of Cork.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, JUNE 18.
STOCK EXCHANGE. —We had a fair amount of buslnees transacted
to day, and prices had an upward teeaency. The sales are—East
Lancashire, 171Ai—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, 3% c. die.—
Ditto,
321. Shares, 71/4 dia.—Ditto, Halves ([Huddersfield and Shrews-
bury), 12y, dis.— Ditto, Halves (London, and Bury), 11% dis—
London and North-Western, 125—Ditto, New Quarters, 2% p.—
Ditto, Fifths, 51. 6s. 3d. p.—Ditto, Quarters (C), p•—Midland,
Halves, 121. Bs. 9d. dis.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire,
Eighths, 434—South-Eastern and Dover (No. 4), 6/. 133. 9d.—York,
Newcastle, and Berwick (Extension, Nos. 1 and 2), 6 dis.
MANCHESTER, JUNE 18.
STocic EXCHANGE.—The transactions to-day were "as follow :
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, 1114—Man-
chester and Grimsby, 201. Shares, 12 7-16 dis.—Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincolnshire, 14% dis.—Midland Railway Consols, 68%—North
Stafford hire, 5 South-Eastern and Dover, Thirds, 6 11-16—East
Lancashire, Quarters, 414 —Ditto, New, 17 —London and North-
Western„ New Quarters, 2% P.—
Lancashire and West Riding
Union, 4 7-16 dis.—Lancashire and Yorkshire (32/., late Extension),
7 3-16 die.

JUNE 18.
STocs EXCHANGE —The only transactions to-day were—North
British, 6 per cent., Preference, par Shrewsbury, Preference,
1% p.—Shropshire Union, dis.—Great North of England Pur-
chase, 3%.

YORK, JUNE 16.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The transactions to-day have been as fel
low :—Great Northern, , lo—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 20;(? -
Ditto (Newcastle Extension), 14—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase,
41. 3s. lid.

FLOATING OF THE BRITANNIA
TUBULAR BRIDGE OVER THE MENAI
STRAITS.
BANGOR, MONDAY EVENING.—The launch of this
mechanical monster is now no longer conjectural, Mr.
Stephenson and his staff of engineers having fixed Tues-
day, at half past five o'clock, when the tide will in every
way favour the intention. Bangor, two miles from the
tube, is fall of visitors, se are Conway and Beaumaris.
A great rush of trains and travellers is expected to-
night and to-morrow from Liverpool and Manchester.
Amongst those who arrived this morning, and inspected
the stupendous works, are Lord Vivian, Lord and Lady
Clonmel, Colonel Douglas Pennant, Lord Mostym, Arch-
deacon Fronde Sir Francis Head, Sir Richard Bulkeley,
Mr. Locke, M.P., Mr. Brunel, Mr. Guppy, and several
of the authorities of Carnarvon, Chester, and Beaumaris.
The whole area of the straits presents a scene of the ut-
most animation, and the greatest anxiety is evinced as
regards the success of the grand operation. Mr. Ste-
phenson, Captain Claxton, and-the assistant engineers,
Messrs. E. and L. Clark, and Mr. Wild, are on
the works unremittingly day and night. Several
thousand tickets have already been issued to the spec-
tators, who will be on the top of the tubes, and on the
adjoining heights along the coast. To-day there is a
soft south-western wind with every probability of its
continuing to-morrow, and in that event it will ma-
terially assist the motion of the great voyager. The
ropes that are to tow it along on the pontoons would, if
extended, cover a space of fifteen miles. Ropes a quar-
ter of a mile long are strung at the pier heads along the
straits, on which are suspended every variety of flags.
The entire width of the straits at this point is 11,000
feet, and the depth at high water over which the tube
will have to be moored between ten and twelve fathoms.
andothen th e
iAr ng distinguishedl eseaside has
visitors.b e e n
raised
e c ifaolr
the tier o f seatsdirectors
The total weight of the mass of iron to be floated is
3,000 tons. Multitudes are walking to-day, inside, out-
side, and on the top of the great tube, which, owing
to the sultriness of the day gives a retreat, cool and
quiet as a Druid's cave. The only persons who will be
on the u
will be Mr. Stephenson, Captain Claxton, Mr. Edwin
Clark, and mn ursild, thus progress
a position of peril,
wherever
you peril there be. The inquiry on all bands,
train
you go in Wales, or into whatever
you step, is,
occupying onpontoons to the piers
the
" Have you seen the tube b 'd ge?'' in Welsh " pont-
piball," though the word'" tube" is being
imported alto-
gether into the language from the fact of such a novel
piece of mechanism being first constructed in the princi-
pality. Every available car and conveyance in the dis-
trict is engaged, and provisions are being stored in as
though for the victualling of an invading army. The
most accurate registers are kept in connexion with the
state of the tide, and the tide table for the month tends
to show that the day fixed is most favourable for the
operation. To-day its height, at 7h. 46m., is 17.4; to-
morrow it will be 18.4; and on Wednesday it will be
19.3, the highest. The entire operation is expected to
be over by eight o'clock, exactly 11 minutes after which
the tide suddenly turns. The two end tubes are nearly
finished, as well as the grand central tower. A number
of gentlemen's yachts and small boats are plying up and'
down the:, stream, between the bridge and Bangor.