The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-08 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

It is considered very likely that Major- General Sir
Joseph Thackwell, K.C.8., will be appointed to the
colonelcy of the 16th Lancers, vacant by the death of
Sir John Vandeleur. Sir Joseph was employed
during the Peninsular war, and was present at the
battle of Corunna. He served in the campaigns of
1813-1814, and was engaged in the battles of Vit-
toria and the Pyrennees, the blockade of Painpeluna,
battle of Orthes, affair of Tarbes, and battle of Tou-
louse. He served in the campaign of 1815, including
the action at Quatre Bras and the battle of Waterloo.
He commanded the cavalry division of the army of
the Indus during the Affghanistan campaign, was
present at the storm and capture of Ghuznee, and
commanded the second column of the army on its
march from Caubul to Bengal. He commanded the
cavalry division at Maharajpore, and the cavalry at
the battle of Sobraon ; and, lastly, commanded the
cavalry in the late campaign in the Punjaub. He was
severely wounded at Vittoria, and lost his left arm at
Waterloo. Sir Joseph is now employed upon the
staff in the East Indies.

No officer has been mentioned for the colonelcy of
the 4th Dragoon Guards, in succession to Sir George
Anson ; nor for the Royal Hospital ; but it is more
than probable that Sir Colin Halkett will, under any
arrangement, be removed from the situation of Lieu-
tenant Governor to that of Governor of the estab-
lishment.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

CAMBRIDGE, Nov. 7.—At the anniversary meeting
of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, held yesterday,
Professor Stokes, Vice-President, in the chair, the fol-
lowing new member was elected: John Rigg, M.A., St.
John's College; and
Thevundermentioned gentlemen were elected officers
and council for the ensuing year
PRESIDENT.—Professor Willis, Caius College.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.— Professor Stokes, Pembroke Col-
lege; the Master of Catherine Hall; Professor Sedgwick,
Trinity College.

TREASURER.—Dr. Paget, Caius College.
SECRETARIES.—Mr. William Hopkins, M.A., Peter-
house College; Professor Miller, St. John's College;
Mr. C. C. Babington, M.A., St. John's College.
OLD COUNCIL.—Rev. W. C. Mathison, M.A., Trinity
College; Mr. Adams, M.A., St. John's College; Rev. H.
Goodwin, M.A., Caius College ; Rev. P. Frost, M.A.,
St. John's College; Rev. J. G. Mould, M.A., Corpus
Christi College; Professor Clark, Trinity College; Mr.
F. Fuller, M.A., St. Peter's College; Mr. Parkinson,
M.A., St. John's College.
NEW COUNCIL.--Rev. J. Power, M.A., Clare Hall;
Professor Challis. Trinity College; Rev. W. H. Stokes,
M.A., Caius College ; Mr. Hensley, M.A., Trinity
College.

MANSION HOUSE.—The Lord Mayor and the Lady
Mayoress entertained last evening at dinner the chair-
man, the architect, and the committee of the corporation
(with their ladies) who were intrusted with the erection
of the building, and the management of the opening of
the new Coal Exchange; as also the twelve gentlemen
(and their ladies) who were selected by the Court of
Common Council to be associated with them on the
occasion of the Royal visit. Covers were laid for eighty.
To-day the usual farewell banquet will be given by the
Lord Mayor and the Lord Mayor elect, and the former
has invited the members of the Common Council of his
ward, who have all along felt a warm interest and a just
pride in the splendid mayoralty of their respected
alderman.

TESTIMONIAL 'lO MR. HENRY BROWN, LATE
LIBRARIAN TO THE BEAU3IONT PHILOSOPHICAL INSTI•
TUTION, MILE-END.—Yesterday a deputation of sub-
scribers of the Beaumont Philosophical Institution
waited on Mr. Henry Brown, at his residence, for the
purpose of presenting him with a testimonial of their
appreciation of his services while holding the office of
librarian to the above establishment. In presenting the
same (a handsomely chased silver tankard), Mr. Wil-
liams, in a short, eloquent address, complimented Mr.
Brown on the manner in which he had performed the
duties of his office, and which had gained for him the
universal approbation of the subscribers. Inscription on
the tankard:—" Presented to Mr. Henry Brown, late
librarian to the Beaumont Philosophical Institution, by
a few subscribers, as a memorial of their esteem for the
assiduity and courtesy which have characterised his
services on all occasions."
NOVEL RESEARCHES IN ELECTRICITY.—Since the
time when Volta and Galvani first astonished the learned
by the announcement of their discoveries, electricity has
given to science electro-metallurgy, the electric tele-
graph, and the electric light. Every day indicates that
electricity will yield more important results for the benefit
and happiness of mankind, and Mr. Alfred Smee, F.R.S.,
has lately developed a system of mental philosophy,
founded on voltaic laws. He states that, from his re-
searches in electro-biology, he has been led to believe
that every act and even every thought, however trifling,
is a voltaic phenomenon, and if this view should be found
to be correct, metaphysicians in future must be electri-
cians, and every mental problem must be solved by vol-
taic laws.

ELEMENTS OP A NEW STYLE or ARCHITECTURE.

—The elevation of the Strasbourg Railway Station at
Paris is a noticeable production, from the originality of
its conception, the picturesqueness of its effect, and its
consistency with the use of the building for which it
was designed. On the first inspection we foal that it is
not on the model of a Roman or Greek temple, of an
Italian palace, or a conventual building. It tells its own
tale at once. The architect has thought for himself,
and has endeavoured to design a building in accordance
with the wants and the taste of his own times. The mo-
nument he has produced is not without errors of detail,
and its internal arrangements are very faulty; but on the
whole there are marks of originality which are quite
refreshing (if such a vnlgarism be allowable) in the pre-
sent day, when architects appear to consider the greatest
merit to consist in copying what has been done before.—
Builder.