The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-01 00:00:00

DEATH OF BRIGADIER-GENERA L
S. HUGHES, C. 8., COLONEL OF HIE 2f,Ta
BOMBAY NATIVE INFANTRY.

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This distinguished officer died at the Bomb ai,--
&Ley on Monday, the 9th August. 110 ht."a retri, el:----
- --'--
from the command of the southern division of the at ree
in 1848, en account of ill health, and was extace-) ii:
England shortly, to join his family, who are in this
country. Ho was married in 1831 to the second daughter
of John Taylor Gorden, Esq., M.D., late physician to
his late Majesty William IV. and to his Roy al Highntss
the Duke of Cambridge. By this lady, who survives
him, he has issue one son and one daughter, who, with
their mother, are in England. Brigadier-GeueralUughes
had no other family, having been only once married.
The late Brigadier Hughes entered the army as a cadet
in 1800, at the early age of fourteen years, end mas con-
sequently in his 63d year. He obtained his ensigccy on
the Ist of September, 1801, was promoted to lieutenant
on the 25th of July, 1805, to captain on the 4th of May,
1820, to major on the 13th of April, 1826, to lieutenant-
colonel on the 9th of February, 1830, and to
colonel on the 26th of December, 1841. Brigadier
Hughes obtained his regimental colonelcy ou the
16th of August, 1845. He was actively employed in
1818-19 in the Concan with the forces under Colonels
Prother and Kenaedy, during which he shared in the
reduction of the enemy's strongholds. After this he
held the appointments of brigade-major in the Concan,
and military secretary to Sir C. Halkett when Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Bombay army. He was made
a Commanuder of the Bath on the 26th of September,
1831. He was appointed Commandant of the Garrison
at Bombay on the 4th of March, 1843, and very shortly
after became involved in a quarrel with the Town-unejor,
which led to the trial of the latter officer at Pooled),
in August following. The decision of the curt•
martial and remarks of Sir T. 111‘Mahon furnished
food for anything but favourable comment at the
time in all the military circles in India. He was
placed at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief on the
17th of July, 1843 ; appointed a brigadier of the second.
class, to command the Deesa Brigade, on the 27th of
December, 1843; to the temporary command of the
Mhow Brigade on the 3d of April, 1844, in which he
was confirmed on the 11th of December to the 4th of
July, 1844, the date of the decease of Major-General
Fearon; and to the divisional staff of the army and
command of the northern division on the 31st of August
of the same year, vice Major- General Fearon, deceased,
during the absence of Major-General Morse beyond the
limits of the Presidency. On the expiration of the tour
upon the staff of Major-General Delamotte, Brigadier
Hughes was permanently appointed a brigadier-general
on the divisional staff from the 25th of April, 1845.
About the middle of the year 1846 the health
of Brigadier-General Hughes began to tail him,
and in September he visited the Presidency'
on sick certificate. Hence he proceeded early
in 4ovember to the Mahabuleshwar Hills on
the same account, where he remained until the end of
May, 1847. Ho next proceeded to the Deccan in search
of health, where he remained until appointed to the
command of the southern division of the army on the
departure of Major-General Morse for England. In
this command he continued until the Ist of April, 1848,
when he was permitted to resign. The Government no-
tification of his resignation, dated March 2, is as fol-
lows:—” In announcing this resignation, the Hon. the
Governor in Council desires to record his high sense of
the honourable and faithful services rendered by Briga-
dier-General S. Hughes, C. 8., during his long career of
forty- four years, and will have much satisfaction in
bringing the same to the special notice of the Hon. the
Court.of Directors." Brigadier Hughes was a man al-
most universally beloved by those with whom he came
in contact either in public or private life, and his death
will be sincerely regretted by not a few.

HIDDEN DANGERS AT SEA.—Our readers will no
doubt remember the sudden appearance some eighteen
years ago of a small island, and very soon after its
nearly as sudden disappearance off Sciacca, on the south-
west coast of Sicily, a region noted in past ages for its
submarine volcanoes. Accounts from Malta by the
overland mail report that the Terrible steam-frigate,
sent to take soundings on the shoal, had returned after

finding the water much shallower than it is marked on
the charts, and another shoal of much greater Extent
had been discovered not marked at all, which leads to a
strong presumption that some volcanic action is in pro-
gress. For the more minutely examining the new shoal
the Rosamond steam-sloop, of less draught of water,
was dispatched from Malta on the 22d, and had net up
to the 24th yet returned. Sir William Parker, the coin-
mander• in-chief in the Mediterranean, had also dispatchE d
from Malta several of the launches of the ships in port,
accompanied by the Oberon and Spitfire steam• sloops, to
seek for (by means of dragging) a hidden rock, which,
though said to have been seen by several Greek and
Maltese seamen during the past forty years, is still classed
among the doubtful dangers, and upon which it is sup-
posed the Earl of Auckland steamer struck in March
last, situated from 87 to 95 miles due east of Malta.

NORFOLK ESTUARY COMPANY. -- Yesterday the
sixth half-yearly meeting of the proprietors in this
undertaking was held at the Gray's Inn coffee-house,
Holborn, Sir W. B. Ffolkes, Bart., in the chair. Mr.
Wing, the solicitor, read the report of the directors. It
commenced by congratulating the shareholders upon
their success on obtaining an amended Act of Par-
liament which extended the time for the completion of
the works, and compelled the corporation of Lynn, and
the Eau-brink commissioners to contribute 60,0001.
each towards the undertaking. The financial state-
ment showed the receipts of the half-year—comprising
a call of 11. 10s. per share, 7331. 10s. ; interest thereon,
91. 18s. I Id., and a balance on the last account
of 5,1131. 9s. sd.—to amount to 5,856/. 18s. 4d. The
expenditure, including three separate sums of
1,0001. each to the,engineers, the parliamentary agents
and the solicitors, on account, amounted to 3,343/. 14s.
Oid., leaving a present balance of 2,5131. 4s. 3id. The
report having been adopted, the following resolution was
agreed to:—" That to enable each shareholder the
better to understand his true position, the directors be
requested to make contracts conditional on the approval
of the shareholders at the half-yearly meeting of Fe-
bruary next, for the cuts and all works preliminary and
appertaining thereto, and report the short particulars to
each shareholder at least three weeks before the meeting
in February next." After a vote of thanks to the chair-
man, the meeting separated.
DESTRUCTION OF FARM PROPERTY IN ESSEX.—
Between eight and nine o'clock last evening a fire broke
out at Dagenham, on the premises belonging to Mrs.
Tuck. At the usual hour in the evening, when the la-
bourers left off work, the farm seemed perfectly free from
tire. Shortly afterwards, however, and while some of the
men were regaling themselves at a public-house, an alarm
was raised that flames were issuing from the premiss s.
All the assistance the neighbourhood could afford at the
moment, in endeavouring to suppress the fire, and res-
cuing the horses, cattle, and agricultural implements,
was rendered. The live stock, with many of the agricul-
tural implements, with the dwelling-house, were saved,
but the farm buildings, with a large farm, the granary
having been pulled down to escape the ravages of the
fire, although it was slightly burnt, and no fewer than six
stacks, four of hay and two of oats, were consumed,
causing a very serious loss. A body of the K division of
police from Dagenham arrived early at the fire, and
made a strict investigation into the cause of the disaster.
It is conjectured that it was the work of an incendiary.
We understand that the property destroyed Has insured
in the Union Fire-office.
TEE OLDEST VEThRAN IN THE ARMY.—At the
age of 91, died a short time since, General Sir George
Nugent, who, when living, was the senior veteran in
the British army. Of these 91 years 72 were spent in
the service of his country—in active and useful service,
Although not so brilliant or beneficial as those of many
of his co-veterans. The General served in Holland
undrr the Duke of York, in British North America, in
Jamaica, and was mainly instrumental in the suppression
of the rebellion of '9B in Ireland. He was a good soldier,
that is be was strict in his discipline, yet humane to Lis
men. The old veteran is now at peace ; and a marble
tablet, commemorative of his deeds, is about to be placLd
in the church of Little Marlow, Bucks, where his ashes
repose.