The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-24 00:00:00

ITAL Y.

Letters from Turin of the 17th state, that the
Cabinet of Olmutz, intoxicated by the success of
RADETZKT has insisted upon terms, compliance with
which is impossible ; not only do they demand the
occupation of the Sessia territory and of Alessandria,
but the payment of an indemnity so absurdly exorbi-
tant, that it is evident Piedmont could never raise the
amount required, and thus, in fact, the important
fortress of Alessandria would be ceded to Austria.
It is, therefore, by no means improbable that the war
may be renewed, and that the French army of the
Alps may march to the assistance of Piedmont.
On the 16th inst. a courier was dispatched from
Florence to the Grand Duke of TUSCANY at Gaeta.
This ccurier was followed by a deputation with the
adhesion of the several municipalities. 'The deputa,
tion consists of M. YANNI, President of the Chamber
of Deputies, and M. CAstpusr, President of the
Senate, and several members of the municipalities of
Sienna, Pisa, Lucca, &c. Count DEMIDOTE placed a
steamer at the disposal of the deputation. The Mi-
nisters of England and France have sent to request
the Austrian General KOLLOWEAT to suspend his
march towards Cerreto, in Pontremolese, and Mas-

setano.
On the people of Leghorn being informed of the
state of affairs at Florence, they were highly indig-
nant, and assembled on the public place and named
twelve citizens, who are denominated the Commission
of the Government of Leghorn. The gates of the
city are guarded by the National Guards and the ar-
tillery, and a strong guard patrols the streets during
the night. The city was otherwise quiet. The com-
munication with Florence is interrupted.

EGYPT.
A correspondent at Alexandria writes on the 7th
to the Courrier de Marseilles :—" A few days ago
arrived here, and immediately went on to Cairo,
MOIIALDER BEY, Chargé d'Affaires from Egypt to
Constantinople. It appears that he is gone to demand
of the Sovereign of Egypt, in the name of the SUL-
TAN, 50,000 men, 1,000,000 talaris, and the best
ships of her fleet. The Government has definitively
refused the application made by an English company
forits license to form a railroad to Sues; but, at the
same time, it is believed to have tho intention of
cutting a new canal from Mahmoudy to run to
Scheborkit."

THE WEST INDIA MAIL.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY MORNING.
The Great Western steamer, with the West India
mail, arrived here early this morning. She brings
390,000 dollars on merchants' account only, and 369
serons cochineal. Tampico was quiet, and the islands
healthy.

DREADFUL BOILER EXPLOSION

(THIS DAY.) - _
Between' the hours of eleven and twelve this day a
most awful catastrophe occurred on the premises of
Messrs. Kay and Co., sawyers, whose works are carried
on in Back Church-lane, Whitechapel.
The men were all engaged at work at the time above
stated, and suddenly an awful explosion took place in the
engine room. All the neighbourhood was excited in-
stantly, and from every quarter persons arrived to
ascertain the cause.

The greatest confusion for a time prevailed, and for
an hour nothing authentic could be obtained to be relied
on, more then that several cf the men had been conveyed
to the London Hospital, where every attention was paid to
them by the medical authorities of that valuable insti-
tution,

.The utmost confusion still prevails up to the time of
writing this account, and, notwithstanding the inquiries
made by the Fire-brigade and West of England Com-
panies as to the cause, no correct informtttiou is likely to
be obtained for some time,

A report has just been spread that two of the suf-
ferers are dead; but, although the cases are reported as
dreadful, nothing positive is yet known.

EAST INDIA HOUSE--(THIS DAY).

THANKS TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, AND THE
ARMY IN INDIA.
A Special General Court of the Proprietors of East
India :;took was held this dly, at twelve o'clock, for
the purpose of considering motions of thanks to the
Governor General, the Commander in-Chief, and the
efficers and men of the army in India, for their services
in the recent military operations in the Punjaub. Major-
General Sir Archibald Galloway occupied the chair.
The attendance of proprietors was not large.
1110
,CHAIRMAN said it was a peculiar pleasure to him,
at this early period of his sitting in that chair, to have to
announce to them the achievement of a great and decisive
victory of their army under the Commander-in Chief
Lord Gough, on the 21st February, over the combined
forces of the Seikhs and AfWians, near Goojerut. It
was his duty to propose a resolution embracing thanks
to the Governor-General, to the Commander-in-Chief,
and to thei general and other officers, both European and
native, and non commissioned officers and privates who
had, in their several stations, conitaihed to obtain this great
and decisive victory.—(Cheers.) That was the sixta time
during the last ten years that they had arse mbled to perform
a pleasing duty like this.—(Cheers.) The Indian army
had won for them an empire, and had earned for them-
selves an imperishable renown. To Lord Dalhousie
their thanks were peculiarly due for the zeal and ability
with which the cembined resources of the British forces
in India had recently prosecuted the war in the Pun-
jaub. In its present numerical strength and equipment
their army had never been surpassed in any period of
Indian history.—(Hear, hear.) The assembling of
25,000 men in one camp was a spectacle of which
British power in India, nay, even themselves might be
justly proud—(Cheers)—assembled not for the purpose
of aggresive war, but for the purpose of humbling an
ungrateful and treacherous foe. At such a sight their
pride must be more than usually alive.—(Cheers.) It
was the army that, under the personal command of Lord
Gough, overthrew with irretrievable destruction the
army of the Seikhs, consisting of 60,000 men with 60
pieces of cannon.—(Loud cheers.) The history of
military achievements spoke of the achievements of
Lord Gough in all quarters of the globe, but it
was with his services the Eastern hemisphere that
they had to deal. China submitted to his powerful arms.
He had fought and conquered in no less than
six general actions—six great battles. Such were
the eff eta of his glorious perseverance and enthu-
siastic gallantry, and in resigning into their hands
the ceminand of the Indian army, which he
had commanded with so much gallantry, he would leave
a model to the army of a great battle—a practical example
of science, united discipline, and unflinching courage,
which made up for the tremendous deficiency in numbers
of his army as compared with that of the enemy he had
to encounter. It was satisfactory that this great vic-
tory was gained with comparatively a small loss.—
(Cheers.) It was, nevertheless, of a most decisive
character, because it showed clearly to the presump-
tuous enemy that it was utterly unable to stand on equal
terms against us. Thousands were slain on,the field, and
their entire camp and equipage were left on the ground
Their thanks were no less due to the gallant officers and
men by whom the victory was achieved. The officers
who particularly deserved their thanks were Major.
General Sir Joseph Thackwell, whose services were well
known in the Indian army; Major General Sir Walter
Gilbert, who had been a distinguished member of that
army for nearly half a century; Major-General Whish,
another officer of the Indian army, who had, in another
quarter of the globe, gained great renown; Brigaeier-
General Dundas, Major Campbell, Major Tennant,
and to other officers. On occasions like these
only those of high rank were mentioned; but in every
rank, from the general to the subaltern, their army
abounded with gallant and distinguished men.—(Loud
cheers.) During this war there had been ample
proofs of the uncommon talent, judgment, and bravery
of the youngest officers. Their services could never be
forgotten, and they would some day or other shed
additional lustre upon the army in India. lie spoke
also in the same high terms of the Generals, officers, and
army who achieved the conquest of Moulton. Major-
General Whish and his army on that occasion had dis-
played power united with discipline in a more than or-
dinary degree.
The vote of thanks was unanimously agreed to.

THE ART UNION OF LONDON.-
(THIS DAY.)
The annual general meeting of the Art Union of Lon-
don was held this morning at the Theatre 10) al Drury-
lane, at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of receiving the
report of the council, and of distributing the amount
subscribed for the purchase of works of art. Some time
before the chair was taken, the pir, boxes, and the stage
of the theatre were pretty well filled with a fashionable
audience, a great proportion of whom were ladies.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was ex-
pected to have presided, but illness prevented his Royal
Highness being present.
Mr. GoDWIN, one of the honorary secretaries, read a
letter which he had this morning received from Baron
Knesbeck, stating that he had received the commands of
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge to inform
him that his Royal Highness had been confined to his
room for the last the weeks, and was not likely to be
able to leave it at present, and he had to express his
Royal Highness's regret at not having it in his power to
attend the general meeting of the Art Union of London
this day. Under those circumstances, Mr. Godwin con-
tinued to observe, Lord Monteagle had been invited to
preside at the meeting, but a special messenger had that
moment brought the following letter from his Lord•
ship:—
" Dear Sir,--You will see from the enclosed, which is
an order from the House of Lords to attend a Select
Committee on the operation of the Irish poor-law, has
left me no choice but to attend the Committee of the
House of Lords; consequently, it will not be in my
power to take the chair at the meeting of the Art. Union
of London, which I much regret.
" I have the honour to be, &c.,
.(Signed) 3rIONTEAGLE."
_ _

In the absence of his Royal Highness the Duke o!
Cambridge and Lord Monteagle, Mr. Sergeant Thomp.
son, one of the couacil, would take the chair.

Mr. Sergeant TAOMPSON begged to thank the meeting
for the honour they had done him. He would not fur-
ther occupy their time, but at once request the secretary
to proceed to business by reading the report for the last
year.—(Applause.)
Mr. GODWIN the Secretary, then read the report, the
adoption of which was moved by Mr. John Rennie and
seconded by Mr. Harrison and carried.
The CHAIRMAN said, they would excuse him for a
moment, not that the report required the addition of one
observation from him, yet perhaps in the situation in
which he stood ho might be allowed to state some cir-
cumstances which must have their due effect on the au-
dience present. He was quite sure that throughout
the country the advantages of the Art Union were not
known and were mistaken even by many in this metro-
polis. No doubt there were many circumstances which
gave rise to the deficiencies in their funds which they
had to administer, and among others, he could not but
think, was a misconception of the effects of the Art Union
itself. As to the matter of the lottery, it
was a very different thing seducing people
to throw away their money in fruitless schemes to plac-
ing it out in a way which was an advantage to the fine
arts, whilst they tnemselves got value for it. Many men
of genius were not men of opulence; many men who
had great talent in art had no means of making that
talent available—at least they had none before the Art
Union was instituted; and if' they could see the strug-
gles under which artists had to contend against, the
effects of poverty in many instances, and other circum-
stances of adversity which pressed upon them, they
would be able rightly to appreciate the solid and useful
character of this institution.—(Cheers.) A very small
sum when given to the Art Union would produce an
effect which only could be produced by a
union of strength and means among persons
who had in view a common object to serve.
Of the great utility and importance of the insti•
tution there could be no doubt ; works of art carried
the mind into a region which was favourable both to
virtue and happiness.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. BLAITHWAITE said it appeared to him
that a satisfactory reason had not been assigned for the
great diminution of the number of subscribers to the
Art Union. In the country, from whence he
came, the reason why so many had withdrawn their
names as subscribers was because of the very indifferent
character of the engravings.—(Applause.) There were
three reasons assigned in the report last year for the
diminution of the subscribers. The first was stated to
be on account of the discussion between the Art Union
and the Government. Now be believed that not fifty
out of the 16,000 subscribers withdrew their names on
that account.—(Hear, hear.) Every member who
withdrew his name did so expressly because
the engravings were so indifferent—so vile, he might
say, to use a strong term—that he would no longer ecru-
tiuue a subscriber.—(Applause.) Again, the committee
distinctly stated that they had an intention of withhold-
ing them altogether, and he (Mr. Blaithwaite) thought
it was a great pity that they did not do so—(Ap-
plause)—for they were so indifferent, that, for his pert,
he tore his up and threw them into the fire ;
and he would not have risked degenerating his
child's taste by putting them into its hands. If they
could not produce better engravings, he thought they
had better employ the funds in some other way, either in
charity—(A hiss)—or at least in any other way than in
wasting the money.—(fjear, hear.) He could say of his
own knowledge, that with far less pretensions and far
less money at its command, the West of England Art
Union produced better engravings than the Art Union of
this metropolis.
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the justice of what
the Rev. Gentleman had said with respect to some of
the engravings; but as soon as the fault was
discovered, the committee had adopted a different
course, and he thought that no one would complain
of the illustrations they had produced of Milton's "Il
Pensereso."—(Cheers.) He did not mean to defend the
engraving of "The Convalescent," but ho felt
bound to say, in justice to the engraver, that he had
been seized with a fever, and was unable to do justice
to the work.

Mr. GoowiN thought that they had satisfied the ma-
jority of their subscribers that the Council had done all
in its power to further the interests of their subscribers.
The 1.4 port was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. HURLESTONE moved the next resolution, which
was a vote of thanks to the Council for their exertions.
Mr. WARREN seconded the resolution, which was car-
ried unanimously.
Mr. DoNALDsoN then proposed a vote of thanks to the
Secretaries, Mr. Godwin and Mr. Pocock.
Mr. WARD seconded the motion, which was carried
amid acclamativn.

Mr. Gonwim returned thankF.
Tro drawing of th,, prizes then commenced, and the
followirw is a list of the principal ones:—
J. lives, Throgmorton-strect
J. D. Littht, Pri,r(gAtive Court ...
Mrs. Milky Cobbarty ..•
W. F. Gale Kerr ...
George Appleyard, 27, St. James's-place

J. Chapman, Edmonton ...
R. H. !Stacey, Carmarthen ...
W. Wiggins, Henley ...
H. A. Shaw, St lby
Mrs. Lyon, Hull ...
'l'. H. Harrison
W. Smith, Wisbcach
George Dodd, M.P.
C. Hawkins, Petworth

~ £l5

201)