The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-29 00:00:00

MALTA.

SEPT. 15.—The French Government steamer, which
left Toulon on the Bth instant, called in here for coals on
the 12th and proceeded on her voyage to Alexandria
with despatches on the 13th. The Prometheus left
about two hours after with despatches for the British
Admiral, sent off from London on the Ist, per Oriental,
and on the 4th per overland mail.
The Oriental arrived at Malta on the 12th, having
left Falmouth the 2d, and Gibraltar the 7th instant.
She brings sonic merchandise, a large sum of
money for fruit purchases in the lonian' Islands,
and many passengers, besides one hundred and
three men of the .77th Regiment, and twenty-
seven of the Artillery. Nett!.er the Little
Liverpool nor the Montrose have yet arrived. She has
remained here forty-eight hours over her time, at the
Jeaftnendation of Rear Admiral Louis, who thought
A. liable that 'she should await the French steamer
n% -the, East g•for-Lintelligence, from "Alexandria. She
. tett 'at three,P.m. this,,clay.•
' ' The,Nalta,Dock-yard has lately chartered the barque
Fortuna, brigs POYne and Herald; and'
schooner- Jane,
to convey coals to Farnagousta, in. Cyprus, all which
vessek have sailed. The Maltese barque Salvatore,
Captain Vella, with cotton from Alexandria, bound
to Trieste, was upset by a wa•er-spout and whirlwind
on the 31st ult., seventy miles off Cephalonia, where
the captain and crew managed to get in, in the long-
boat, after undergoing severe privations from want of
food and water. The vessel is insured at Malta.

ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE A
GENTLEMAN--CAPTURE AND EXAMINA-
TION OF HIS NEPHEW.

On Saturday morning last, upon the arrival of the
mail train at the Paddington terminus of the Great
Western Railway, considerable excitement was created
by two persons of highly respectable appearance de-
siring the conductor, immediately on their alighting upon
the platform, to open the door-of one of the first-class
carriages, which they asserted contained a man who had
shot at and wounded his uncle, a wealthy gentleman, re-
siding at Dorchester, in Oxfordshire. The request was
speedily complied with, and on the suspected person
leaving the vehicle slith the rest of the passengers, he
was rushed upon by his two pursuers, who held him
until the arrival of some constables, when a desperate
struggle ensued ; the accused was overpowered and pro-
perly secured, and on being searched by Collard, the
chief cfficer of the Company's police, there were
found in his possession two horse pistols heavily loaded
with powder and ball, a sword stick, and about 30s. in
gold and slyer. Canard explained to him the nature
of the charge preferred, and after cautioning him with
regard to anything which he might say, he in a few
words asserted his innocence. He was handcuffed, and
shortly afterwards conveyed away in custody.
The facts of the attempted assassination. are these :
The prisoner, whose appearance is that of a mili-
tary officer, has, since attaining his majority (he is now
only twenty-three years of age), squandered away a
fortune, and has constantly been living at a fashionable
hotel. About a fortnight ago, he arrived at Dorchester,
and after importuning his uncle for money, the latter
presented him with 401, at the same time giving him
some good advice as to his future conduct. On Friday
evening last, between eight and nine o'clock, as the
uncle alluded to, who is a Guardian of the Poor of his
parish, was returning to his house through his own
garden, having attended a vestry meeting a short dis-
tance off, he heard what he imagined to be the explo-
sion of a percussion cap, and almost at the same mo-
ment a pistol, or some other description of fire-arm,
was discharged at him, and some hard substance struck
with great force on his breast. He was not wounded,
although severely bruised ; but had he been walking
with his face towards 9 large laurel-tree, behind which
his intended assassin was, to the best of his belief, con-
cealed, he would in all probability have been killed upon
the spot. In a state of great fright, and im gining at the
moment that he had received some serious injury, he ran
in doors, crying " Murder ! help!" and on the circum-
stances being detailed by him to his brother and a' neigh-
bour, the most di'igent inquiry was promptly instituted
by them, from which they learned that a person answer-
ing the description of the prisoner had, on the same even-
ing, been seen to come from the direction of the pre-
mises. Suspecting that he would make his way up to
London by the railway, they went in pursuit, and on
their arrival at Reading found him in the act of step.
ping into one of the first-class carriages, his boots and
trousers indicating by their dirty condition that he had
walked many miles. Deeming it prudent not to cap-
ture him then, owing to the confusion and bustle that
prevailed, they touk their seats in another carriage, and
on reaching Paddington gave the prisoner into custody
as previously stated. Collard conveyed him away by
the next down train ; and on the same evening he (pri-
soner) underwent an examination upon the charge of
"shooting with intent to kill," before Mr. Ashfol,
chairman of the Oxford quarter sessions, at the
resi-
dence of the intended victim, and after an inquiry which
lasted several hours, he was remanded till Saturday
next. At ten 'o'clock on the same night Collard. lodged
him in Oxford-castle gaol. 'rho prisoner is hen.-at-law
of the uncle, at whose decease he would be entitled to
considerable property.

EXPORTATION OF HO SES.— R.—The following
race-horses were on Wednesday shippel for Russia on
board the Manchester, from the stables of Mr D. Russell,
Black Horse Inn, Carr-lane. They Isewer e property of
Mr. Kirby of York :—The Alderman, olutioa, Nar-
cisms, Rose, Bradwardine, Ant, Remedy, Tivy, Lalla
Rookh, Juvenile, Marchioness, Filly by Huutingdou.—
Hull Rockingham.