The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-13 00:00:00

DOVER-(SUNDAY).

GRAND FETE AND BALL AT ST. OmEn.—The French
Consul here has received instructions from the Secretary
of the Duke of Orleans to send a list of such ladies and
gentlemen of Dover as may wish to attend the ball to be
given by his Royal Highness at St. Omer on Wednesday,
the 14th inst. In the letter of invitation his Royal High-
ness graciously condescended to acknowledge the kind
attentions he has on various occasions received while pass-
ing through Dover. We understand that about twenty io-
diviJuals from this place intend being present at the fete
(which expected to be a most splendid affair), including
the principal civil and military authorities of the town and
garrison.
The 54th Regiment, stationed at the Heights, will not
kayo Dover so early as was expected. The regiment, it
is understood, will remain in their present quarters till the
end of the summer.

On Wednc sday the whole of the troops in garrison, con-
sisting of the s.ith Regiment, the 34!1i depot, and the
Royat Artillery, were reviewed at the Wester[? Heights by
Colonel Munro, Commandant of the Garrison, ;.,om whom
their discipline and soldier-like appearance drew forth the
highint encomiums.
During the la:A few days a number of distinguished in-
dividuals have passed through Dover, including his Ex-
cellency- Count IT:;11 Kielmansegge, the Hanoverian Ambas-
sador, to Calais ; the Earl of Shelburne and La;ly Kerry
and suite, to Paris; the Earl of Roden, Viscount Powers-
court and suite, &c., from the Continent; Lord and Lady
Glengall and suite, Lord and Lady Leveson, Baron
Stockmar and suite, Sir Francis and Lady Sykes, &c., to
the Continent.

AUNCII OF HER MAJESTY'S WAR-STEAMER
THE GEYSIIII.—This magnificent steam-vessel of war, the
Geyser, which for several months past has been building
in her Majesty's Dock-v ard, Pembroke, was launched on
Thursday, amidst an immense concourse of spectators.
The Geyser, which is of the first class of steam-vessels o
war, was laid down at the latter end of last year, and, con-
sidering her tonnage (1,050 tons registered measure), it
shows that an unusual degree of activity prevailed in
building her. The above day having been fixed upon for
the launch, the country for miles round sent forth its po-
palatine, and every spot, even to the tops of the houses
which commanded a view of the Dock-yard and sea,
was crowded to excess. The inside of the Dock-yard was
filled with the elite of the town, and during the time
occupied by the shipwrights in knocking away the sup-
porters which kept the vessel; on the stocks, the various
bands amused the spectators by pe.-forming some of the
most popular airs. At length the teeir of five arrived, the
hour appointed r the launch, when everything being
ready, the supporters were removed, and the Geyser glided
majestically into her native element, the band of the garri-
son playing the national anthem. The colours belonging
to the different vessels were hoisted on this interesting oc-
casion, and several pieces of cannon were discharged from
different points. On board of the Geyser was a large as-
semblage of persons of both sexes, who joined with those
in the dock-yard and outside in giving three cheers on the
occasion. The Geyser is to be got ready immediately for
sea, and her -guns are to be of the largest calibre. The
utmost activity at present prevails in the dock-yard and
vicinity, in consequence of orders having been issued by
the Lords of the Admiralty to build four more steam ves-
sels of war, of a similar size and description to the Geyser.
HONG-KONG.—We find evidence of this island
possessing a good harbour and good water, in Captain
Hall's " Voyage to Loo Choo" :—" It was indispensably
necessary, hoeever, before steering to the northward into
seas so little known, to complete our stock of water ; and
we made sail accordingly for the island of Hong-kong, one
of the great cluster called the Ladrones. Here we found
a noble ca,eade ; and the night being perfectly calm, with
a sea ES smooth as a mill-pond, in consequence of the
anchorage being land-locked on every side by lofty islands,
we filled our water-casks easily, and towed them on board
cetbe
fictaenlorotnwiy twenty at a time—an expeditious method
butinrafts
pra when the distance happens to be
small, and the sea unruffled, It was almost dark when
we anchored ; hut the moon, which was nearly at the full,
rose shortly afterwards above the bills. The islands in
this quarter lay so close to one another, that even in the
daystime it. was difficult to discover any outlet; but at
night, the mountains appeared to forma continuous bar-
rier. The nature of the ground also being black and un-
broken, it seemed as if the ships had been transported by
some magical process toHtihgecaenndtrgeleonf. a
ssooolintarayftelrakwee.
lying in the bosom of a hl
had taken up our station near the witerfall,but
wbefhoerne
this curious basin was lighted by the moon, and
the most perfect silence prevailed over the whole scene, a
fleet of several hundreds of Chinese fishing-boats suddenly
advanced, in large groups of 40 or 50 each, from behind the
islands. They were rowed about with great celerity from
the bow, with
to place, and in each boat two or three men stood in
flaming torches in their hands, which they
waved backwards and forwards, while others of the crew
were employed in beating, in the most furious manner,
several large gongs suspended to the masts. To give full
force and finish to this extraordinary serenade, a chorus of
yells and shouts was set up from all the boatmen, at the
full stretch of their voices—an uproar which awakened
the echoes of all the surrounding hills, and rendered the
whole scene so truly diabolical, that the sailors, astonished
and delighted at this sudden irruption, insisted upon• it
that a legion of Chinese devils must surely have been let
loose to frighten away the Ambassador. But this tumul-
tuous
uproar was evidently intended tp drive
ing e
centre of the harbour into nets placed
the
fish and
tro am mu ,
thacross the narrow channels, between the surroundin
g
islands."

REACTION.—.The Town Council of Perth have
-
followed the example so n bly h b the Corpora..
tions of Edinburgh, Glasgow,
:
ing a gentleman to represent them in the ensuing General
As whose opsembly, asnedt ottheerar burghs, by elect-
inions are favourable to the mainte-
nance of law and order. This election is rendered more
emphatic by the circumstance, that for several years past
the Town Council has been in the habit Of return-
ing
as their representative a gentleman who happens
to be a Non.lntrusionist ; but though still favour.
ably disposed towards that gentleman personally,
the members have this year felt themselves im-
peratively called upon to discounteni.nce the lawless pro-
ceedings of the Church, by returnirg a member whose
opinions are more in accordance with their own, ,4 The
subjoined list (says the Edinburgh Observer) must prove
a heavy blow and great discouragement to the leaders of
the dominant faction in the church :---Edinburgh, Glas-
gow,or,
ssc
Aberdeen, Perth, Stirling, Dumfries, Inverness, Ar-
broath,b Banff, Cupar-Fife, Dunbar, Kirkcaldy, Dnochesides the great proportion of the smaller burghs,
have
specially elected representatives to oppose the doings
e,
of " the wild men."

•

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS UAY.
I.l,rning ;1 minutes after 6 I E►ening 37 minutes after 6