The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-23 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

Tho Queen held a Court yesterday afternoon at
Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty gave audience to the
Bishop of Chester.
Sir Edmund head was presented to the Queen at an
audience by Earl Grey, her Majesty's Principal Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies. Sir Edmund had the
honour of kissing hands on being appointed Lieutt uAnt-
Governor of New Brunswick.

Earl Grey had an audience of the Queen.
Her Majesty was attended by the Earl of Morley,
Lord in Waiting, and Major the Hon. Robert Boyle,
Groom in Waiting.
A deputation of Officers of the Army and Navy had
an audieece of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, yes-
terday, at Buckingham Palace. The deputation con-
sisted of—Officers of the Army—General Viscount Be-
restord, General the Hon. Sir Alexander Duff, Major-
General Kenah, K. 8., and Major-General Sir John
Bolt, K C.B.—Officers of the Navy, Rear-Admiral Sir
Coghill Coghill, Bart., Captain Suteby, Captain Kelly,
and Captain Lloyd.
Mr. Briggs, who had been Consul in Egypt from
1803 to 1810, and Lieutenant Wughorn, R.N., were
also present.
Her Royal Ilighness the Duchess of Kent visited
the Queen yesterday.
His Serene Higbee: s Prince Frederick of Hesse
visited his Royal Highness Prince Albert yesterday.
His Royal Ilighness the Duke of Saxe Coburg, ac-
companied by Count Arthur Mensdorff, and attended
by Captain the Hon. A. Gordon and Baron Fritsch, left
town yesterday morning for Maidenhead, on a hunting
excursion. The royal party returned to Buckingham
Palace soon after four o'clock.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by their
Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe
Coburg, and Count Arthur Mensdorff, honoured her
Majesty's Theatre with their presence yesterday evening.
The royal suite consisted of the Marchioness of Douro,
Madame la Baronne do Wangenheim, the Earl of
Morley, Colonel Buckley, and Baron Fritsch.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, ac-
compani,d by his Serene Ilighness Prince Frederick of
Hesse, and attended by Baron linesebeck, honoured the
performance at the Haymarket Theatre with her pre-
sence yesterday evening.
Tke Royal Commissioners for inquiring into the Mer-
chant Seamen's Fund hold a meeting yesterday at the
office of the Board of Trade. The Commissioners pre-
sent were the Earl of Ellenborough, Admiral Sir Ed-
ward Codrington, Mr. Loch, and Mr. Enderby. The
Commission sat three hours.
Mr. Humphrey Brown, M.P., had an interview with
the Right lion. E. Strutt yesterday, at the office of the
Commissioners of Railways.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat
yesterday and heard an appeal from Bombay, " Ramboll
Thackoorseyduss v. Sovjuminull Dhondinull."

TUE INCOME-TAX.—A requisition to the Mayor
of Reading has been presented, signed by a large ma-
jority of the influential inhabitants, for a meeting, to
which the Members are invited. The expressions of
dissatisfaction with the proposed increase of taxation
are loud and general. A very large meeting is ex•
pected. At Newbury, too, a town meeting is being
convened; and requisitions aro being signed in the other
towns of Berkshire.

[PR ICE SD.

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A- ,4 Ti3O hsisidred and I..eliti enrsivetos-f.pt:thia tie—
honoured institution was held last night at the li.::_.. '
/. ...-•""-. ...-14- 6,"•*- masons' Tavcre. This s:-eiety, instituted in 17:3 for that
maintenance of aged mifticims, their widowe, s.--ej,. -
'eve eyee ,___ _
_.,..
orphans, can say, in the words of Dr. Burney, tat "'-
charitable institution can be more out of the reeeli 44
, abuse, embezzlement, or partiality, or regulated with
more care, integrity, and econele-'y, or have its income so
immediately derived from the talents or activity of its
own members, than this." The first musicians in the
country, and the most exalted personages, have been its
patrons and supporters from the commencement.
The evening was mainly devoted to music, and the
speeches made were very short. Among them, Dr.
Horsley' reverted with great feeling to his own ease In
early life, he said, he had met with many difficulties;
his health failed, he had family misfortunes to en•
lure; but when lie joined this society, he felt compare.,
live ease and tranquillity, and lied been a member
of it in health and strength for fifty years.
M. Berlioz, whose health, in conjunction with that
of the other French musicians, was drunk during
the evening, returned thanks in French to the
public for its paternal kimieess, and the press for their
patronage. Mr. Kiiyvett's health was also drunk, as the
actin r of the society. lie was, he said, in returning
thanks, already the father of fifteen legitimate children,
and it was too bad to saddle brain with so large a family
besides; but he hoped his children, at any rule, would
not forget their old father.
During the evening songs were sung by the veteran
13raham, who was greeted with rounds of applause, and
by Mr. S. Reeves. We ought also to mention J. S.
Smith's glee, " Return, blessed days," which was most
beautifully rendered, and Mr. Iletton's song, " Day
and Night," published 01 iginady under a German
name, and well worthy of a German Master.
Mr. R. Palmer, the member for Backs, was in the
chair, in the absence of the Duke of Cambridge, who
was prevented from attending by gout. Amongst the
company were several distinguished musicians. Messrs.
Horsley, Berlioz, Benedict, Bruham, and many others.
The subscriptions announced amount to 4581.;
amongst which were 26/. from the Duke of Cambridge;
21/. from the committee of Covent garden; 10/. from
Sir T. Ackland; 101. from the Bishop of Bath and
Wells; 5/. from 11r. Palmer, M. 13emAliet, and the
Messrs. Broad wood.

THE ARMY iN INDrA.—The Hindostan and Boyne,
with troops, arrived at Bombay on the .sth of January;
and her Majesty's ship Athol, with troops, arrived at
Colombo on the 28th of January. tier Majesty's 4th
Regiment is expected to embark for England about the
24th of February. Her Majesty's 25th Regiment to
move from Cannanore to Fort St. George, Madras; her
Majesty's 91st, from Fort St. George to Cannanore.
28th Foot, headquarters, under Colonel Messiter, were
to embark o❑ board the Emperor on the 25th of January
for England. The remainder, under Major Adams,
were to embark on board the Malabar on the 18th of
January. The 18th Regiment (Irish) arrived at Cal-
cutta on the Ist of January per Earl of Balcarras.
The G bservateur Frarcais relates an extraordinary
rubber of whist, which, for a wager, was played, to the
great astonishment of the Parisian Gaetano's, during the
most severe day of the late cold weather, on the frozen
Spine, by four distinguished members of the Paris jockey
Club ! They were well nigh congealed to ice them-
selves, but they persevered notwithstanding, and, by the
aid of brandy, which was copiously administered to
them, succeeded in bidding defiance to the cold, until the
rubber was finished, and their wager won.
THE OLDEST INHABITANT.—This far•famed and
well-informed individual must surely be a lady in Mos•
cow, who is in her 168th year, and who in her 122 d
married her fifth husband !---Cologne Gazette.

Sir IL Hume P. Campbell, Bart, of Marchmont,
has intimated to his tenantry that they may kill game
on all their farms.— Caledonian Mercury.
A DECKED WELLED SCHOONER.—A small schooner
of about 35 tons burden, which was cast ashore a little to
the eastward of Cockenzie during the storm of Decerne
her last, has, we understand, been purchased by Mr.
Cadell, who is now fitting her up with a well, for the
purpose of employing her in the fishing trade. This is
highly creditable to the enterprising spirit of Mr. Cadell;
and it is to be hoped he will reap a goodly harvest from
the undertaking. Mr. Dempster, who has inspected the
schooner, states that he believes such a vessel to be well
adapted for working the trawl-net in Aberlady-bay, and
fishing for soles and other descriptions of ground fish—
hut that a well properly constructed for the purposes (X
Cie deep sea fisheries in which cod might be preserved
alive for several days, or even we ells, requires to be
perforated with a greater number of holes than could be
safely done in an 013 vessel. There are some peculiar
fastenings requisite for securing the well, which are
known to only a few builders in England, who make a
point of keeping them as private as possible. In pro-
perly constructed fishing smacks, the well is a part of
the framework of the vessel.—Caledonian Mercury.
DEATH OF J. P. ALLIX ESQ., LATE M.P. FOR CAM..
URIDGESIIIRE.—This gentleman, who represented the
county of Cambrite, in the last Parliament, died en tha
19th instant, at Swriffliarn, in that county, aged 63.
JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.—The Bill which was
introduced into the House of Commons, just before its
rising, on Monday night, respecting joint-stock com-
panies, bears the following title :—" Bill to Amend the
Acts for facilitating the winding up the affairs of joint-
stock companies unable to meet their pecuniary engage•
meets, and also to facilitate the dissolution and wire:ine.-
up of joint-stock companies." It was presented and
read a first time. It was ordered to be read a second
time on Mondey next,
LIEUTENANTS OF THE ROYAL NAVY.—A meet-
ing of naval officers holding the sunk of lieutenant, was
held cs terday at the London Tevern, Lieutenent Sir
Henry Jervis, Bart., in the chair, fir the purpose of
adopting a memorial to the Queen for the redress of cer-
tain grievances. They complained that a number of
lieutenants had been left on half-pay without any pro-
motion since the war, although they were squally de-
serving as other officers who had been gradually raised.
The system of promotion, as it now stood, was most ut.-
satisfactory, except where Parliamentary or Admiralty
influence could be brought to bear. Several gentlemen
addressed the meeting, complaining of the treatment
they had receive d at the hands of the Admiralty, and
a memorial, to be entrusted to Capt. Pechell for presen-
tation, was unanimously adopted.
NARROW ESCAPE OF THE RAILWAY KING.-011
Saturday last an alarming accident occurred upon the
North Midland Railway, similar to that which occurred
on the same line the week before. Of the particulars
of this disaster one of the passengers gives
the following account :—We left London, says he,
by the express train for Edinburgh, at half-past
nine o'clock. There were three first-class carriages,
.ere of which was " engaged" for Mr. Hudson and
his friends. The train went on steadily and well till we
came to the bridge at Derby, where we were detained
some minutes by Mr. Hudson holding a conference with
one of his officials. The time thus lost had to bo re•
gained, and we went at a terrible pace until about it
mile beyond the tunnel north of Chesterfield,
when a violent tossing and pitching began, with
a dreadful shock. The engine-driver soon stopped
the carriages, and on scrambling out this fearful
state of things appeared. The train consisted of one
second class carriage, three first class, and a luggage van
behind, the second class carriage and the first of the first
class carriage's were uninjured. The next carriage, in
which was Mr. Hudson, had been dragged along on the
fore wheels, without any hind wheels or axle; the back
part, was nearly knocked to pieces, and how it could
have escaped an upset it is difficult to imagine. The
third first class carriage was left a quarter of a mile be-
hind on the ground, but erect, without any wheels or
axles at all, and beyond that, the luggage van was
knocked to pieces, and turned over twice. By some
extraordinary providence amidst this fearful catastrophe,
no one was serioesly hurt. A distinguished northern
nobleman was in the centre part of one of the first-class
carriages with his family, and was lecked in; he behaved
with the greatest coolness, and it was only when the
guard got out of the fragments of the luggage van and
joined us that we could extricate them. The rails were
torn up for some length. Mr. Hudson bustled about
with his usual volubility, and after a stay of three
quarters of an hour, the passengers and luggage were
packed into he uninjured carriages, and wo sped on to
Norwanton, one passenger slightly wounded in the head
and another in the le;.--Leeds Mercury.
PARTIAL DE,TRUCTIOS BY FIRE OF ARBOTT'iI
LEIGH PARISH CHURCH, SOMERSETSUIRE.—BRISTUI
MoNDAY, FEB. 21.—A horse express arrived in this
city yesterday afternoon, bringing intelligence that the
parish church of Abbott's Leigh, distant about five miles
from here, was on fire, and in danger of complete de-
etruetien. The engines of the West of England, Impe-
rial, Norwich, and other offices, were horsed and des-
patched at a rapid rate to the scene of conflagration. It
would seem that Divine service had been celebrated in
the morning by the vicar, the Rev. Martin Whish, and
it was intended that another service should be held
in the afternoon, at three o'clock. Shortly before
that hour, however, it was discovered that the church
was on fire. The stove which is employed to warm
the building had, by soave means, become overheated,
and had ignited a portion of the woodwork of the nave
of the sacred building. On its being discovered,
the utmost consternation and alarm was excited
in the village, and messengers were dispatched in various
directions for assistance. The fire rapidly extended,
and at one time threatened the destruction of the whole
edifice. William Miles, Eq., the Member for East
Smoimleerfrsoemt, e
whose
was speedily on the spot with
numerous domestics, and lent most efficient aid, as well
church, was
situated at about a quarter of a
oonextaeirntsio:ver of
by judicious directions as by assisting personally in
cthaerr)fi.irnegmowe ater artihders ti
. T
and
ancient monuments of the Norton family, who formerly
osniuhile'ti cilligurethhe
occupied the Court House, and who sheltered King
Charles after his defeat at the battle of Worcester; as
also a costly mural erection recently raised in eam-
mensoration of Philip John Miles, Esq., of Leigh
Court, the father of the Members for East Somerset
and Bristol. As soon as it was found that the internal
fittings of the nave could not bo saved all efforts were
directed to the saving of the chancel, iu which the
monuments are. Ilappily these exertions were not
thrown away, and although the interior of the nave was
destrdyed, and the walls themselves damaged, yet the
tower and chancel were preserved witbcut having ex-
perienced any considerabls damage. The church, which
was one of great antiquity, fermi ly belonged to the
Abbey of St. Augustine, Bristol. It was not insured in
any office, and as the entire population of the village
only numbers a few hundreds, its re-erection must,
unless private liberality should step in to their aid, fall
heavily upon them.
THE YEOMANRY FORCE OF THE COUNTRY.—A re-
turn, moved for by Mr. Hume, M.P., shows that the
yeomanry force of Great Britain consisted, on the let
of January, 1647, of 16,829 men, including 993 officers.
In 1840 the force was 20,791; in 1836, 22,712; and in
1829, 8,351.

Tbirbi Tiatittton
SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Cluck.

IMP2RIAL PA iILIA MENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

Sir WILLIAM HEATHCOTE moved that the
order of the 17th day of December, 1847, for the sus-
pension of Standing Order No. 145 be discharged ;
that the said Standing Order be suspended, so far
only as affects railway Bills ; that no railway Bill be
read the first time unless it be presented not later
than three clear days after the Committee on Railway
Bills shall have reported thereon to the House.
Motion agreed to.
SECOND READINGS.

The following Bills were read a second time, and
ordered to be committed :

Birkenhead Dock Commissioners (transfer of powers
to new Commissioners, effecting arrangements with
the Crown, and amendment of Acts) Bill.
Birkenhead Dock Commissioners (levying additional
rates, and alteration of Birkenhead Dock Rates
and Liverpool Dock Rates, and amendment of
Acts) Bill.
Morley Gas Light Company Bill.
STANDING ORDERS.
Sir W. lIEATHCOTE brought up the report of
the Committee on Standing Orders with respect to
private Bills.
RIVER DUN NAVIGATION BILL.
On the motion of Mr. STRUTT, the second read-
ing of this Bill was postponed until this day fort-
night.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHARITABLE TRUSTS