The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-11 00:00:00

By the monthly " Army List" for December, we
observe that her Majesty has been graciously pleased
to approve of the names of the following General Officers
being added to the Consolidated Board of General Officers:
—Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Dalbiac, K.G.H. ; Ma-
jor-General Henry Shadforth ; Major-General Sir David
Ximenes, K.G.H. ; Major-General Henry Doyley ; Ma-
jor-General George Reeve, C. 8., K.H. ; and the General
Commanding-in-Chief has directed the four Major-Generals
to form, with a President (Lieutenant-General Sir Joseph
Fuller, K.G.H.), the acting Committee for the inspection
and regulation of the clothing of the army, the investiga-
tion of claims, and all duties heretofore performed by other
Boards of General Officers. These four vacancies have
been caused by the promotion of the former Committee,
Sir Charles Pratt, K.C.B. ; Sir W. Johnson, C.B. ; Gen.
Newberry, and Sir John Mean, K.C.8., to the rank of
Lieut.-Generals at the Coronation Brevet.

EXTRAORDINARY DRAINAGE OF THE NITH
AND OF FHE CLYDE.—A correspondent informs us that
on Tuesday last, whether by means of the flood being swal-
lowed up by some subterranean cave or crevice, or otherwise,
the channel of the Nith at Enterkinefoot or Slunkford, was
left so dry that a person could have walked through it
without wetting his stockings. This is certainly an extra-
ordinary circumstance ; and we communicate it to the
public just as we have got it, not by any means vouching
for the particulars, which have not yet reached us.—Durn-
fries Times.—[The same extraordinary circumstance oc-
curred on Tuesday last with regard to the Clyde. About
twenty miles up from Glasgow, numbers of people cros:ed
the bed of the river without wetting even the soles of their
shoes, and the fish were easily caught by the hand in shal-
low pools. So great was the depression of the water, that
the machinery of New Lanark mills could not be driven.
It will be recollected, that last week the barometer stood
lower
than it was known to have done in the aleatory of
man.]—Glasgow Argus.

LORD DURHAM.—TORY INSULT.—We
learn
from the Western Times, that a Mr. Furlong, with others,
on the occasion of Lord Durl,am passing through Exeter,
attempted to repress the expression of regard felt by the
citizens towards his Lordship. This Mr. Furlong, in a
speech as long as his name, would seem to indicate that he
condemned the conduct of the Earl of Durham—denounced
him as having suspended the Habeas Corpus Act—said that
he was suspended between accusation and trial—and con-
cluded a long address, as savage as a boisterous, bellowing
delivery could make it—by moving as a distinct motion,
" that no address he presented to Lord Durham." He and
his Tory clique, however, lost their motion—there being for
it 10, against it 17,

(FROM THE MORNING PAPERS •o 7 THIS DAT.)
POST.—The Stock Markets continue to be favourably
operated upon by the intelligence received on Saturday
from Canada. The " Bull" party have to-day purchased
with much confidence again, and prices have further ad-
vanced in the English Market one-eighth per cent. on the
previous quotation. Consols left off at 93i to 4 for the
Opening, the Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities 921 to
3, the New Three-and-a-Half per Cents. at 101/ to j for
the Opening, Bank Stock 2021 to 3, and Exchequer Bills
at 645. to 665. prem.
In the Foreign Market, Five per Cent. Dutch Stock
was quoted 1001 to /, Two-and-a-Half per Cent. ditto
54a to t, Brazilian 76i to /, Colombian 26 to /, Five
per Cent. Portuguese 291 to Three per Cent. ditto
191 to -1, and Active Spanish, with the overdue coupons,
1641 to sa.
The Share Market remains without animation. London
and Birmingham Railway are nominally 77 to 8 prem. ;
Great Western 10 to 11 prem. ; London and Brighton
to dis. ; British North American Bank Ito prem. ;
and Ryan's Patent Anti-Dry-Rot Company's Scrip 4 to
per share.

The New York sailing packet President, Captain M.
Chadwick (London line), arrived o❑ Saturday evening at
Plymouth, with accounts to the 24th ult., having left New
York simultaneously with the Great Western steamer.
The Presic/2.;t of course brings nothing of later date, but
so extraordinary a passage has necessarily led to a great
deal of remark among our commercial men. Had the
Great Western been bound for London instead of Bristol,
and no preparation been made by the news-agents for her
arrival, it is quite possihle that the President might hare
been beforehand with that vessel in the delivery of her des-
patches. Captain Chadwick's exertions are at all events
entitled to the highest commendation.

LONDONMECHANICS'INSTITUTION.

Wednesday evening (the sixteenth anniversary of the
laying the foundation stone of the Institution) a general
meeting of 'lhe members was held in the great hall of 'the
Mechanics' Institution, Southampton-buildings ; Richard
Taylor, Esq., F.L.S. in the Chair. Mr. A. MTARLANE,
Secretary, read the minutes of the last meeting, which
having been confirmed,
The CHAIRMAN said, that the last quarter's report would
be submitted to the meeting ; before that was done he
would congratulate the members on their having witnessed
the successful completion of the fifteenth year of the Insti-
tution's existence.—(Cheers.) The presence that evening
of many young men, who were born the year in which the
foundation stone of the Institution was laid, must excite a
lively interest on those old friends of the Institution, who
were not only present at that ceremony, but have the gra-
tification
The
SECRETARYto behold itt hfleonu
readrishi flourishing.—(Hear,
14s. 6d. sixteenth(}e
r 9
quarterlyhear. ) report
ter
.0
sincen ted
tt
ho
e 47 last9l.
q9us
a.
rit
edr. i
andnc l u
tdui ne ge
xap
ebnadl
tnucree
toof
of the Committee of Management. The receipts for the
sq
ia.r
3971. 98.4 d., leaving a balance of 81/. 19s. 9d. in the
banker's hands, and 10/. in the Secretary's for contingent
expenses. The Institution is subject to a liability of
2,5901. for building debts and library deposits. Numerous
donations have been received during the quarter. The
present number of students is 131, of which 75 are new ;
and the total number of members and students is 1,120.
Seven members' sons, and nineteen ladies, have paid for
lectures or classes. The average number of members and
students for the year, has been 1,112. The classes are
generally well attended, and in every other respect conti-
nue to give unmingled satisfaction. The Report, in con-
clusion, stated that in commencing the sixteenth year of
the Institution's existence, it must be gratifying to all, but
more particularly to their revered President, Dr. Birkbeck,
to know, that having overcome many difficulties, their ex-
ample has been successfully followed, not only in the me-
tropolis, but in many parts of the United Kingdom. The
Report was adopted.
Mr. GROVER moved a resolution to the effect that all
candidates for the Committee should be members of six
months' standing, and of 21 years of age.
Mr. CLIFTON seconded the motion, which passed.
Mr. GROVER said that rule 5, section 8, enacted that
members should nominate their candidates for the Committee
21- days baloro the election. He would propose that, if at
the expiration of the time for nominating the -candidates
there were n't then nominated ten working, or five non-
working members, that the time for putting forward candi-
dates should be prolonged to within 14 days of the elec-
tion.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. SPICKETT objected to the proposed alteration.
After some observations from Messrs. Howell, Grover,
Collis, Spickett, and other members, Mr. Grover's proposi-
tion was carried ; after which he proposed some verbal alte-
rations in two other rules, which were approved of.
Mr. CoLLIs, in reply to a question from Mr. Curry, re-
specting the music class, said that the principal object in-
tended by the Committee was to make the teachers inde-
pendent of the pupils, by paying the former out of the funds
of the institution. The classes will be divided into four
branches—the wind and string instruments, vocal and ge-
neral practisers. The subscription to each class will be 35.,
and 2s. 6d. entrance. The class has been invariably in
debt, which the Committee will liquidate.--(Hear, hear.)
The proposed alteration in the music department, and the
determination of the Committee to take it under their pro-
tection, out of the hands of the present d rectors, excited
strong remonstrances on the part of the latter, which occu-
pied
an hour, and which were terminated by the Chairman
deciding that the Committee had sole power over every
branch connected with the Institution.
Mr. GLovtx said that it was with deep regret he heard
of the illness of their Presidents Dr. Birkbeck. He with-
out further remark would propose a vote expressive of their
hearty
sympathy in his present illness, and of their grati-
tude for his invaluable services in giving gratuitous lectures.
The vote passed amidst the greatest acclamation.
It was announced that the following Lectures will be
delivered during the present quarter :—Mr. Adams, on
Mechanics ; Mr. G. F. Richardson, on the Language and
Literature of Germany ; Mr. Adams, in continuation ;
Mr. Hill and Mr. Adams, on the Progress of Civilization ;
Dr. Vaughan, on the History and Antiquities of the Arabs
in Spain ; Dr. Birkbeck and Dr. Vaughan, on Saponifica-
tion ; Dr. Southwood Smith, on Life ; Colonel P. T.
Thompson, 'on Wages ; Colonel Thompson and Dr. Smith,
on Taxation ; Mr. Sturgeon, on Galvanism ; Mr. Logan,
on Phrenology ; Messrs. Ogilvie and Logan, on Insects ;
Mr. Elton, on the Genius and Influence of Shakspeare,
with illustrations of his varied powers ; Dr. Birkbeck, on
Weather Prophets ; Mr. Ogilvie, on Insects.
Mr. MORRIS having moved a vote of thanks to the
Chairman, the meeting separated.

LONGEVITY OF THE NOBILITY.—The ages of
(act hexa eel
eal pu,vrsBcei
rvsl
aee,
gnteothf
eo the
Knightshy7oe2ußoyalnf
youngest
sof t
eta
te hte each. The
Garteruyhkeae
nedlodfeldest
sßt
Foreign
uiseet(twenty-five in m
eeuperhi
Earin o 3 e2osn).fu—aLf
fEoboner,sr,
glisßlußnaiisz'Ts
otasnuacG.
AR.
MARKET, DEC. 7.—Wearied
with a gradusaa4l;e. and slow improvement in prices, the specu-
lators, desirous of jumping to a conclusion, have advanced
sugars 3s.
this
a to
operation
a tio
n we
cwt.
strongly Whether
doubt.t
rr
heconsumers
demandwil I
from the country was never more stagnant, and this advance
will only increase an unusual caution and reluctance to
purchase. The attention of the grocers will now be more
and more directed to the probability of a re-action, and
happy, we think, will he be who finds himself in a situation
not to be obliged to recommend his friends to buy.—
Bristol Mercury.
SHEFFIELD AND ROTHERHAM RAILWAY.—
We are informed that from the Ist to the 30th of Novem-
ber last, inclusive, 37,644 passengers have been conveyed
on the above railway, averaging more than 1,254 persons
daily. Up to the 4th instant (thirty-four days), 43,765
passengers had been taken. Independent of the passenger
traffic, considera;)le quantities of corn, iron, &c., have been
conveyed on the railway. We congratulate the proprietors
on their prospects, and most sincerely wish them every
success. The duty of one halfpenny per mile for every four
passengers conveyed on the above railway up to the 4th
havebeen
Gen azseutrteve.
yinSHOOTERS-HlLL.—Theins--Doncastert., willproduce to the revenue no less than 112!.145. 9d.
SEMAPHORE ON SHOOTERS-HILL.—The engi-
neers gground between Shooter's-
hill and Woolwich, for the purpose of erecting a semaphore,
and perhaps a fort, upon that spot. Should a battery be
erected there, it would be found that one or two traversing
guns will command the river below the Royal arsenal._
Rochester Gazette.
On Saturday evening a poor woman, named Ha-
milton, while sitting by the side of an apple stall which she
kept at the corner of Great Pulteney-strect, Golden-
square, was knocked down by a waggon that was passing,
and the wheels goincr over her body, killed her on the spot.
The driver was taken into custody, and the body conveyed
to St, James's Workhouse, to await the holding don inquest.