The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-18 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF A NEW STEAM-SHIP.

Yesterday another splendid new steamer, named the
Clarence, and destined, we believe, for the Leith station,
was launched at Blackwell, by the General Steam Naviga-
tion Company, from the yard of Messrs. Green and Wigram,
the builders. She was christened by Lord Adolphus Fitz-
clarence, from whom she takes her name. She is the fifth
steamer which this spirited and national Company have
launched during the present year, the four others having
been the Caledonia, Girafe, Ocean, and Countess of Lons-
dale, averaging 700 tons each. The number of steamers
belonging to the Company now in active service is not less
than forty. Previous to the launch Lord A. Fitzclarence
and the other visitors inspected the Clarence minutely, and
appeared much struck with the strength of her frame and
the character of the workmanship. She is, in point of size,
the second or third steam-ship which has been built, and is
considered to be in form and construction one of the most
perfect vessels ever completed. Her actual admeasure-
ment is about 800 tons. Her length is 182 feet, with 29
feet beam, and she has a large and very commodious poop-
deck. The engines, of 250-horse power, with six feet
stroke, are in readiness at the Company's factory, and will
be immediately fixed in the ship, which is expected to be
ready for sea in six weeks.

The Monarch, which is the largest anti finest steam-
ship hitherto constructed for commercial purposes, and the
Menai, well known for her elegance and speed, both be-
longing to the General Steam Navigation Compary, also
attracted the attention of the visitors, who went on board,
and were welcomed by Captain Bain with his accustomed
frankness and hospitality. The beautifully arranged accoma-
modations of the Monarch, and the yacht-like appearafte
of the Menai, excited general admiration.
The band of the Blues commenced playing at three
o'clock, soon after which hour the Ocean steamer, gaily de-
corated, and crowded with spectators, anchored near the
wharf ; having also on board another military band, which
played alternately with the former. At about four o'clock
the launch was effected in beautiful style, amidst the cheers
of an immense concourse who crowded the banks ; and at
five, the Directors and their guests, to the number of
seventy, sat down to an elegant entertainment Ont the Bruns-
wick Hotel.
After the usual toasts of the King, Queen, and Royal
Family,

The Chairman, Mr. W. ATTWOOD, in proposing " The
health of Lord Adolphus Fitzelarence," said it was unne-
cessary for him to detain them by expressing at length the
acknowledgments that all were ready to tender to the
Noble Lord for the gratification he had afforded them in
presiding at the ceremony of the day. His Lordship, as a
distinguished member of the British navy, would, he was
satisfied, concur with him in the wish that the happy union
which had hitherto subsisted between the navy and the
commercial marine might in like manner for ever maintain
the supremacy and prosperity of the empire; and with re-
gard to the latter service, he felt entitled to say that the
numerous steam-vessels which now traversed the seas in all
directions formed no unimportant portion of it. In the
event, too, of another war, he felt convinced that they would
constitute an effective power whether for aggressive or de-
fensive operations, and would, by their assistance, con-
tribute to render the naval triumphs of Great Britain more
brilliant than ever.

Lord A. FurzcLARENcE said he entirely coincided in
the feelings and opinions of the Chairman. There never
had been, nor would there ever be, any jealousy between
the two branches of the marine service. He proposed
" Prosperity to the Steam Navigation Company, and suc-
cess to the Clarence wherever sh goes."
Mr. ATTWOOD returned thanks, and proposed " The
health of the ladies present," saving that if the number of
bright eyes which had smiled upon the proceedings of the
day might be deemed a favourable omen, no vessel was ever
sent upon the waters under more cheering auspices than
the Clarence steamer. _ _

Several other appropriate toasts were drunk, and th©
party broke up at 8 clock.
Among the company present at the launch and the din-
ner were :—Lady Eleanor Lowther, Mr. Orby Hunter,
Mrs. Orby Wombwell, Lady Wheatley, and two Misses
Wheatley, Colonel and Mrs. Bouverie, Sir R. and Lady
Campbell, Sir C. Doyle, Mrs. and Miss Doyle, Sir H.
King, Colonel Hill, Sir J. Reid, M.P., Mr. T. buncombe
M.P., Mr. Robinson, M.P., Mr. Theodore Hook, Mr'.
Thompson, M.P., Sir H. Willoughby, Vic,, &c.

NEW STRAND THEATRE.—On Monday night a
musical burletta called Innocent Sins was produced at this
theatre. The scene lies in Spain, and the plot binges on the
intrigues of two grandees, who fall in love with each other's
wives, and who are each drawn into a private interview with a
veiled lady, who turns out to be his own lawful partner. With
the laugh of the ladies at the expense of their husbands the
piece concludes. The plot is stale enough ; the dialogue is
flat and heavy ; and where any attempt at wit occurs, it too
frequently indeed borders on indecency. The music was of
of an indifferent order, and sung with a noble disregard of
tune. The only situation calculated to cause a laugh was,
when the two husbands see one another each in his (the spec-
tator's) balcony, and attempt to fight a duel across the street.
However, one situation is not enough to carry off a long piece,
and even the exertions of that clever actor Hammond, who
performed a pert Spanish valet, of the Figaro class, were
scarcely sufficient to produce a smile. The part of a lady's
maid was well acted by Miss Daly. Of the rest we say
nothing.
- -

CECILIA DAVIES.—We have to record the death
of this once-celebrated vocalist, which took place early in July,
at a very advanced age. She had been bedridden for a long
time, and existed on a pension of 251. per annum from the Be-
nevolent Institution, with a donation from the Royal Society of
Musicians, and an occasional trifling present from a few old
friends who knew her in better times. She was conveyed to
her final home attended only by an old nurse and a faithful do-
mestic, though she had created some sixty rears ago, as much
sensation, when prima donna at the King's Theatre, as Mali-
bran and Grisi do now-a-days I And she had the honour of
giving instruction to three daughters of the Empress Maria
Theresa, who afterwards became Queens of France, Spain, and
Naples.—Musical World.
THE OPERA S_EAsoN.—...Laporte, on winding up
the accounts of the King's Theatre for the season just closed,
finds so considerable a balance in his favour that he is again
comparatively a rich man. The sum is differently stated, and
we have heard it named within the last two days from 5,000/.
to 25,0001. The last is certainly a gross exaggeration, and
the first is considerably below the truth. The expenses last
season were very heavy it is true, but the receipts were very
large, and sometimes, especially on benefit nights, beyond the
apparent sum in the house, calculating from the number of
auditors ; no night occurred after Easter when the sum taken
at the doors was not much beyond the charges. Centuries
almost may pass before four such fine singers as Grisi, Rubini,
Tamburini, and Lablache, are produced, much less combined,
in the same opera. We are likely to have Taglioni among us
again next year.
LIVERPOOL COTTON-MARKET, AUGUST 16.--
We have bad a good demand for cotton to-day, and full prices
have been obtained. Sales above 3,000 bags.

ishes of the people, and robbed them of th.elimiefits
ie reforms proposed at the commencement: OP the
;ion. He even boasts of the mischief whielr'hii
Tons have perpetrated, and parades the opposition of
Lords as a /Spectacle of admiration to the very
le upon whose rights they have so insolently
ppled. But this is not all. After asserting in to-
plain terms that his Majesty was guilty of a
lie in giving utterance to " the promises foisted
into -tile royal mouth. some six months back, and
the then estimates of the national position and
prospects," our Contemporary attempts to conciliate
the favour of his Majesty in behalf of the Peers by
the most absurd and disgusting flattery—if flattery it
can be called, which attributes to the Sovereign feel-
ings adverse to the interests and wishes of the people.
It is our respect for the Monarch that induces us to
put the public on their guard against the gross misre-
presentations whiCh would make him a party to the
iniquitous opposition which faction arrays against na-
tional improvement. If the Times would be content
to amuse its readers with its usual amount of abuse
against the supporters of Reform, we should not per-
haps think it necessary to allude to observations which,
however indecent or malevolent, generally bear their
own antidote ; but when it attempts to involve the
Sovereign in the danger which impends over those
who oppose the consummation of the national will,
it is time for every friend of the throne ti rally
round its occupant and protect him from the machina-
tions of his and his people's enemies. If his Ma-
jesty's speech shall not embrace a direct censure on
the conduct of the Peers, it is at least essential that it
should disclaim, in the strongest and most unequivocal
terms, all participation in the sentiments which actuate
that intolerant and infatuated body. The Peers have
drawn such a distinct line of demarcation between
themselves and the people, that it is impossible any
longer to preserve an identity of interests or feelings
between the House of Lords and the friends of popu-
lar government. We do not wish unnecessarily to mix
up the Royal authority in the struggle, especially as
the people 'have ample powci.in 4-hemselves secure
the victory by their own unassisted abets—but if the
Sovereign be forced to declare himself, we have the
fullest confidence that his inclinations will harmonize
with his duty, his interest, and his safety, and that he
will not desert his people in their hour of need.
Heaven forbid that William IV. should ever be found
leading on the forlorn hope of a faction whose days
are already numbered !—Morning Advertiser.