The Sun.
London, England, 1822-09-12 00:00:00

PRESTON GUILD-MONDAY, SEPT. 9.

The ascent of Mr. LIVINGSTON in a balloon
took place this day from Woodcock's-yard, Friar'sgate, into
which persons were admitted on paying five shillings each.
There was a n ninneroits assemblage of Ladies and Gentlemen,
amongst whom we noticed several personages of rank. .The
ascent was to have taken place at 11 o'clock, but in consequence
of the want of gas, with which the balloon was inflated, it did
not take place till three. The firing of cannon throughout the
day announced the several stages of filling the balloon, attaching
the car, ascent of the pilot, and presentation of the.banners.—
At three o'clock all the preparations having been ' finished,
and the different instruments, provisions, &c. securely stowed,
the Countess of Derby anal the Mayoress presented the ban-
ners. The ropes were then cut, and the intrepid' aeronaut
standing in the car, the balloon rose in a slow and majestic
manner. amidst the cheers of the surrounding spectators,
who crowded all the adjacent streets, and covered the imi,
nendes and roofs of houses which commanded a view of the
interesting exhibition. The wind at the time blew strongly
from the west, , and of course the balloon took an easterly di-
rection, inclining a little to the north. Its progress was slow,
considering the strength of the wind, but it soon obtained an
elevated situation and was in view nearly a quarter of an hour.
when it disappeared in a dense cloud, having previously passed
through two smaller ones.
Two post chaises were despatched at an early hour for the
purpose of watching the progress of the balloon.
We understand ►t is the intention of Mr. Livingston to ascend
again on Saturday next. The lateness of the hour prevents us
from detailing further particulars.
The Races did not commence this day till a late hour; in
consequence of the absence of all persons to witness the ascent
of the balloon, and the course was not very numerously at-
tended when the first heat co►mnenced.

NORTHUMBERLAYM HousE, &c. The repairs and im-
provements are all expected to be completed ere Christmas
Day. The workmen have been obliged to under Pin the whole
of the edifice. The grand marble stair-case is completed ; it,
next to that of Chesterfield House, will be the finest thing of
the kind in London. The Upholders are expected to complete
the interior decoration by the 24th of March ; and in the month
of May a Grand Fete is expected to be given. His Grace is
also making great improvements at Alnwick Castle. Sion is
finished. The Duke of Northumberland had it in contempla-
tion to take the ground on the north side of Be%eley-square ;
but finding the space in the rear would cramp any future ex-
tension, the idea was given up. At this period it was proposed
to erect twenty houses, at 3001. a year, on the ground whereon
Northumberland House now stands.

•
Inconsequence of the Lotto CHANCELLOR'S de-
cision in favour of the trustees of the British illaseum, the lat-
ter are going to build two wings in the garden behind, 315 feet
long by thirty-five feet wide. The estimated expence is two
hundred thousand pounds, which the Government will advance
by instalments of twenty thousand pounds a-year, during ten
years. The present house is not to be pulled down, but re-
paired and beautified,
.so as to correspond, as near as possi-
ble, with the new work. The library, the Townley collection of
marbles, and those things that are the heaviest, are to be re-
moved into the new wings, so that only the light articles will
be in the present house.

LeGT.RDEMAIN, CHEMISTRY, &-c.—We noticed
last week the new Exhibition brought forward
in King's Arms Hall, Cornhill, by Mr. COR-
NILLOT, a very ingenious foreigner. We attend-
ed it again last night, and witnessed his extraor-
dinary talents in this respect. The company
were gratified with many new experiments, all of
which displayed such skill and science as con-
stituted the completest deceptio visas perhaps
ever presented to the public. The Room was
very well attended, and ►everal Ladies and Gen-
tlemen assisted in the tricks, without, however,
having the least idea of the means by which they
were accomplished.
On Saturday last a very full meeting was held
in the County Hall, Perth, of the Lieutenancy
of the County (Sir A. M. M'KENZIE in the
Chair), when a Committee of their number was
appointed to wait upon his Grace the Duke of,
ATHOLL, for the purpose of requesting his Grace
to name a day when he could honour the Lieu-
tenancy with his company at dinner, to give
them an opportunity of expressing the sense en-
tertained by them of his Grace's polite attention
and hospitality during his MAJESTY'S visit to
Edinburgh. The resolutions to this purpose were
moved by Sir DAVID MONCREIFFE, seconded by
General Sir DAVID BAIRD, and unanimously and
warmly approved of. --(Edinburgh Courant,
Sept. 9.)
At the late Lewis Assizes, a landlord brought
some wine to a Gentleman dining in a private
room, which he did not approve, and he re-
quested it might be changed. The landlord ex-
pressed his surprise at this, as he said it was
greatly admired by the Gentlemen of the gar,
who were drinking it above stairs. " Aye," re-
plied the other very coolly, " they are not Judges."
THE REPORT, OF AN HISTORICAL. FACT.—
When Miss ANN PITT, sister to the great Wm.
PITT, afterwards Earl of CHATHAM, received a
pension from Lord BUTE, her brother wrote her
a very angry note, saying " he never wished to
live to see the name of PITT and pension together."
When the same WILLIAM PITT received a pension
from the same Lord BUTE of 3000/. per annum,
his sister sent him back his own letter.