The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-28 00:00:00

ATHLONE ELECTION PETITIONS

Three petitions had been presented against the
return of Mr. William Keogh, the Member for
Athlone, and separate recognizances entered into by
Mr. Thomas Behan, barrister, and the Rev. Edwin
Biron in one case; by Messrs. Tipping and Cullen in
another ; and by Mr. O'Beirne (late candidate) in a
third. Objections were lodged on behalf of the sitting
Member in all the cases, and the inquiry which has
just terminated was prosecuted for some days back,
before Mr. Booth, the examiner of recognizances.
The case excited considerable interest, as the sitting
Member conducted his own case ; and, in the opinion
of all present, by whom he was warmly congratulated,
did so with great ability and tact, fully maintain..
ing the high character he has already acquired at
the Irish bar.

The result was in every one of the cases unfavour-
able to the petitioners, the objections having been
allowed, and in the first case with cost;.

Mr. Keogh is now secure in his seat, as the
petitions cannot be proceeded with further.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PLYMOUTH, DEC. 25.—Colonel Edward Smith
Mercer, Colonel-Commandant of this division of
Royal Marines, expired at his official residence in the
Royal Marine Barracks, Stonehouse, on Friday
morning at four o'clock. Colonel Mercer entered
the corps on the 25th of March, 1797; became First
Lieutenant, July, 1803 ; Captain, Sept. 22, 1810;
Brevet- Major, July 22, 1830 ; Lieutenant-Colonel,
July 10, 1837 ; Colonel, Feb. 12, 1842. He belonged
to the Topaa when she engaged two French frigates
off Corfu, and served in her boats in cutting out
several armed vessels at Santa Maure in 1809, and
also in Albania in various cutting-out expeditions.
Colonel Mercer had been forty-four years on full'
pay service. Colonel John M'Callam, Second-Com-
mandant of the Portsmouth division, is the next in
seniority.
Up to Sunday afternoon no definite arrangements
had been made in reference to the funeral.
The Adelaide, Brazilian brigantine, detained by
her Majesty's ship Waterwitch, on the 12th of
August, off Mayumba, fitted with slave equipments,
arrived at St. Helena, on the 6th of September, for
adjudication, in charge of Mr. George Pearce Selo*
cold, midshipman of the Waterwitch.

DEATH OF Miss EMMA STANLEY.—We regret
to record the death of this amiable and clever
actress, which took place on Sunday morning last,
atter an illness of but short duration. So sudden
and unexpected a•as the demise of this favourite
performer, that she was even announced to appear
last night, at the Princess's Theatre, in a new piece,
called Above and Below. Notwithstanding an attendance
at rehearsal on Chi istmas• eve, she unfortunately became
so much worse on the following day, as to render a
change of performance evidently necessary, and the
next message conveyed the melancholy intelligence of
her decease. •
LEITH.—The amount of shipping and tonnage
within the harbour and docks of Leith is at present un-
usually large for the season of the year. In the old
harbour there are at present 42 vessels, 3,764 tons ; in
wet dock, 129 vessels, 18,100 tons—total, 171 vessels,
21,864 tons. The harbour and docks are so incon-
veniently crowded, that the Queen's Dock has been con-
siderably opened to the use of merchant ♦essels ; and
the state of the port in this respect indicates the neces-
sity which exists for the additional accommodation now
in active preparation. Some of the above vessels have
put in wind•bound, and there is besides a large fleet in
the roads, detained by the same cause.—Caledonian
Mercury.
STEAM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND
THE UNITED STATES.—The British and North Ameri-
can Royal Mail steam-ship Cambria, Captain Judkins,
will leave this port for New York on Saturday next,
with the mails and passengers. She will be the first
vessel belonging to that company to piy regularly be-
tween this port and Now York. On the same day the
company's steam ship Hibernia will leave New York for
Liverpool.—Liverpool
ELECTIONS FOR MARRIAGE PORTIONS.YeSterdRY
three young women, educated in the schools founded by
Mr. Rainey, the celebrated brewer, in St. George's-in-
the-East, were elected to the marriage portion of 1001.
each, for good and virtuous conduct since leaving the
establishment. These marriage portions are annually
given, by order of the benevolent founder of these
schools. _ .

----___
A BLACK. DRLUGHT.—The other day a respectable-
looking man walked into a druggist's shop in this town,
sod, in a confused and hurried manner, asked for an
ounce of laudanum. The shopman did not like the ap-
pearance of his customer, and, fancying that he intended
to make his own quietus, refused to execute the order.
The-man pressed his demand with much importunity,
and, at last, said he would be content with only half the
quantity. A lucky thought crossed the mind of the
druggist, and he turned round to his bottles, apparently
with the intention of furnishing the laudanum. Instead,
however, of taking hold of the bottle containing the som-
norific poison, he handed down that containing black
draught, which in appearance is not much unlike a
strong tincture of opium. Having transferred the de-
sired quantity to a small phial, the man in the shop
eagerly seized it as it lay on the counter, and, " before
you could say Jack Robinson," swallowed the contents.
A police officer was immediately sent for, and to his
tender mercies the would-be suicide was consigned, but,
as the statute law of England affords no punishment for
drinking " black draught." the poor fellow was set at
liberty, and :it is hoped that, having repented of his
folly, he has spent a " merry Christmas," and will live
to enjoy " a happy new year."—Liverpool Albion.
THE WEATHER.—Throughout the greater part of
the past week the weather in this vicinity has been cold
and gloomy, with biting winds from the 0 tstward.
Slight frost has prevailed during the mornings, and,
from the misty state of the atmosphere, snow has bean
daily predicted, but has not yet made its appearance.
There have been slight falls of snow.in the north, which
clitiekly passed off,--Liverpool

AMERICAN NEWS.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.

By the packet•ship Mary Ann, Captain H. Patten,
arrived in the Mersey this morning, we have accounts
from New York to the 4th, and from Boston to the
6th instant. She brings no specie on freight.

El Republicano, published at the capital on the
4th, says—" That a sufficient number of Members
had arrived at Queretaro on the Ist of November for
the transaction of business. A letter from Queretaro
direct announces that Congress had organized on the
2d of November, and that Senor L. Jos Marial Eody,
a deputy from Guenaxuato, had been selected presi-
dent, and Senor D. Jos Marial Hernandes, a deputy
from Durango, was elected vice-president."
Santa Anna was believed to be secreted at Vera
Cruz waiting to escape. There had been a political
emeute at Guadalaxara.

There had been little doing in foreign exchanges at
New York on the 4th. The rates were 9to 1

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, DEC. 3.
The markets since the Ist have continued very
dull, and the business now going forward is extremely
light, even for this period of the season, in which
there is usually but little doing. The recurrence,
too, of mild and rainy weather has suspended the
activity in domestic produce noticed in our last. The
Erie Canal at last accounts was navigable from Buffalo
o Albany.
The weather again proved very inclement, and a
steady rain fell during the greater part of the day,
which interrupted all out-door business. Flour was
steady at yesterday's quotations, with a fair amount
of sales. Wheat remained about the same, without
sales of moment. Corn sold to a moderate extent,
at previous rates. Meal continued steady, with
considerable sales. Rye sold at yesterday's prices.
Oats were somewhat less firm, and sales made on terms
slightly in favour of purchasers. Provisions were
inactive. Pork was nominally the same, while sales
of all kinds were very limited. There was nothing
new in groceries. The rain storm prevented sales by
auction in the streets.
Cotton—The market remains dull, and sales were
effected with difficulty.
Freights-800 brls. of flour, were engaged for
Glasgow, and 500 ditto for Liverpool, at ls. 6d. to
each port. It was said 9d. was offered for corn in
bulk to Ireland. To London, previous rates con-
tinued to be demanded. To Antwerp, ashes were
taken at 305., while to Havre there was no change.
New ORLEANS, Nov. 25.—The 'cotton market is
quiet ; prices rule in favour of the buyer. Sugar is
without change. Molasses—Sales at 18f to 18i
cents, with but little in first hands for sale. Flour is
dull at previous prices. Corn—Sales at 44 and
46 cents.
In freights we have no new engagements to report.
Exchanges—No alteration in previous rates.