The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-24 00:00:00

THE GREAT AURORA BOREALIS.

Most of the journals of the departments which have
been received to-day in Paris speak of the aurora borealis
referred to in our number of yesterday. It is astonishing
that this phenomenon, which was seen simultaneously at
notes, Strasburg, Troyes, Rennes, &c. was not observed
in Pai:is.—Courrier Francais.
A splendid aurora borealis appeared last evening about
half-past S o'clock in Rennes, and spread for a moment
some alarm in the city. The brightness from the clouds
was such that it resembled a large fire breaking through
the roof of an edifies?. Cries of " Fire " caused the guard
to turn out, and the soldiers ran in the direction of the
street Aux Foulons, and the square of St. Anne, to offer
their services to extinguish the fire. The ponipiers were
putting their engine in order, when it was discovered that
the cause of the alarm was a magnificent aurora borealis,
which illuminated the sky during several minutes.—Auxi-
liaire Breton.
STRASBURG, OCT 19.—Last evening, between eight and
nine o'clock, a rather extraordinary phnomenon caused a
general uproar in our c,ty. A dazzling light suddenly
spread over a large extent ef the sky, which soon appeared
totally on fire. The alarm it, occasioned was very great,
when it was discovered to be all aurora borealis. It was
a beautiful sight ; two immense c olumns of light rose to
a considerable height in the atmosoliere, in opposite di-
rections, like two columns of fire. The light was at first
pale, but soon after the whole mass appeared to vibrate,
and the light became by degrees more intense. The phe-
nomenon lasted nearly half an hour, so tat we had full
time to contemplate the surprising spectacle.--C'ourrier du
Bas Rhin.

Mr. John Tait, editor of the Glasgow L.l6erator,
and long known as the able and unflinching advocate of the
trades in the west of Scotland, died of fever this morning,
at six o'clock. Mr. Tait, from the prominent and liberal
part he took in all the political and municipal topics of the
day, was known all over Scotlandi. His loss will be severely
felt by the numerous body with which he closely identified
himself.—Glasgow chronicle.
NEW TAX UPON NEWSPAPERS.—We see that a
paragraph is going the round of the Tory papers, stating
that " the Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes, satisfied
that their patrons, the Whig Ministry, in reducing the
Newspaper Stamp Duty, have been fishing for popularity
Only, without regard to the effect on the revenue, have de-
termined to make up the deficiency from any source within
their power, and that an intimation has accordingly been
given to the Liverpool papers, that the insertion of the
corn-market reports in a second edition will suliect the
newspapers which print such editions to the payment of
double duty for every advertisement ;"•upon which we have
authority to say, that the order alluded to from the Stamp-
office was issued in misconception, and that on the matter
being stated in its true light by the proprietors of the Liver-
pool papers and their friends, the order was immediately re-
scinded, and the Liverpool and other papers allowed to print
their second editions as usual, without any extra charge.
It is a happy thing for a country when they have at the
helm of public affairs states:nen who seek popularity by di-
minishing the burdens of the people. If the Tories, during
Mr. Pitt's long administration, had sought popularity in the
same way, we should not have had our present enormous
load of national debt, nor taxes to the amount of nearly thirty
millions a-year to pay the interest of that debt, which will
always render Tory rule very dear to the country.—Leeds
Mercury.
The North Durham registration, at Durham and
Wickham,' gives the following results :—Objected to by
Liberals 2G, struck off 19.; by Tories 66, struck off 8 ; new,
claims allowed, Liberals 23, Tories 7.
The revision of voters in Sir Robert Peel's own bo-
rough of Tamworth has, according
to the Stalbrd Exa-
miner, been this year decidedly in favour of the independent
interest ; several Peelites having been struck off the list.
The Reformers are prepared to carry the election of one
.
of their own party there on the next occasion ; they feel
themselves sufficiently strong they ought to try for Beth seats.
ALARMING FIRE AT RlCHMOND.—Yesterday,
a little before twelve at noon, a fire, which threatened to be
very destructive in its consequences, broke out in the work--
shops at the rear of the house in the occupation of Mr.
• Pigott, upholsterer, George-street, Richmond. Upon the
first intimation of its discovery, as it was a very crowded
neighbourhood, the greatest alarm was excited, and messen-
gers were instantly despatched to the neighbouring parishes,
as also to London, where, at the head station-house in Wat-
ling-street, information was received about one o'clock, in
consequence of which an engine was from thence despatched,
with Mr. Braidwood and several men of the brigade, who
reached Richmond in about fifty minutes. Three other en-
gines of the establishment also left London, but by the time
they reached the fire had been overcome. Engines ar-
rived from Sion House (the seat of the Duke of Northum-
berland, at Isleworth), and from Twickenham, Islaworth,
Ealing,&c.;when, by the activity of the authorities of the
town, and by
the assistance of the townspeople and the
labouring classes, aided by an abundant supply of water, the
conflagration was fortunately checked, though not without
doing -much damage to the back of the houses in King-street,
as well as to the work-shops next door. Had the fire broken
out at night the consequences might have been most disas-
trous. The cause of the fire has not been ascertained. The
property is insured in the Pheenix office. The greatest
praise is due to the exertions of the inhabitants of Richmond.