The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-29 00:00:00

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
ROYAL, YACHT SQUADRON REGATTA.
COWES, AUG. 27.

PRINCE ALBERT'S CU?.—One of the members having
protested against the cup being given to the Heroine, on
the grounds that she started before the second gun was
fired, and that she bad been foul, the Committee decided
that neither the Heroine nor the Drift could claim the
cup, and that it should be sailed for again. Both declared
not to start again, and the Duke of Beaufort's yacht the
Intrepid, of 55 tons, sailed alone and won the cup. His
Grace does not intend to hold it, and it is said it will be
again contested for on Monday next.
Things do not seem to go on very pleasantly amongst
the nauticals. Some troublesome folks will always, some
how or other, introduce themselves into the best regu-
lated societies.
Lord Cardigan's splendid yacht the Enchantress is on
White's patent slip to be coppered.
Lord Fitzhardinge gives an elegant silver cup to be sailed
for by the yachts of this squadron on Saturday next.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTI-

_
TUTION.
Those who are interested in the subject of lamps and
improved gas burners would do well to attend one of
Dr. John Ryan's excellent lectures at the above esta-
blishment, on the subject of artificial light. So clear and
defined is the learned Doctor's method of handling the
subject, that dull indeed must be the comprehension of
that man who fails to become master of the theory of
combustion and luminous flame. In these lectures Dr.
Ryan is very careful in painting out the laws of combus-
tion, the nature of our hydrocarbons, and the, necessity
for the presence of solid matter in flame in order that
light may be produced. His experiments in proof
of these positions were certainly most apt and successful,
and, especially the separation of solid carbon from
olefiant gas, elicited loud and continued applause. We
could not help noticing, however, that the necessary
exhalation of the mixed gases in the experiment caused
the learned gentleman most acute pain. In fact we
learnt, with great regret, that so enthusiastic is the
Doctor, and so venturesome, that more than once he has had
to be carried home after a lecture of this kind. In the
other portions of the institution we find there are still
frequent accessions of new and interesting objects.
Among other useful and ingenious models is one of Mr.
Charles Lewis's Phenedirective Shower-baths, certainly
one of the most scientific applications we have yet seen,
and one which will deserve the patronage of the medical
profession.

HIGHLAND COMPETITION,
SPORTS, &c., AT FORT-WILLIAM.
(Pimp the Inverness Courier.)
The Highland Society of Landon lately advertised a
series of prizes for various objects connected with the
Highland dress, Gaelic songs, games, &c., in order to
keep alive that Celtic enthusiasm still characteristic of
a large portion of our countrymen. The competition
was fixed to take place at Fort-William on Thursday
last, and a great concourse of persons assembled on the
occasion. Among those present were—Glenaladale,
Ardshiel, Ballaehulish, Mr. Walker of Lochtreig, Mr.
Cameron, yr. of Inveracord, Sheriff Fraser, Mr. 2Eneas
Macdonnell, advocate, Mr. M‘lan (the well.known and
able artist), Captain Stewart, RN., Colonels Ross,
Cameron, Cochrane, and Campbell. Mr. Macgregor,
banker, Mr. Macdonald, &c. Even Ewen Macphee, the
well-known singular outlaw, left his solitary fastness at
Glenquoich to be present at the animating scene, and
appeared highly delighted with it. The number of
spectators was estimated at from 3,000 to 4,000, and a
considerable proportion of the men were arrayed in the
Highland dress. The scene of action was the fine
smooth beach near the Fort, and surrounded with mag-
nificent Highland scenery—with Loch-Eil, Ben-Nevis,
&c.—a finer spot could not have been selected for such
a display. A number of ladies and gentlemen were
seated on the ramparts of the Fort, which commanded
an excellent view of the whole. Fortunately, the
weather was favourable.
Nine prizes were announced to the best-dressed High-
landers who had for the longest time worn the kilt as an
habitual garb, and to those who became bound hence-
forth to wear it habitually. The first of these prizes
was awarded to a genuine mountaineer, Donald Mac-
donald, who never wore trousers but on one occasion,
when, after two hours' trial, he felt so uncomfortable
that he took them off, and carried them on his shoulder !
The other prizes were distributed after careful delibera-
tion, and a list of the whole will be found below. The
competition for Highland dancing excited much interest;
and Gillie Callum was admirably danced by two young
men, Stewart and Mackenzie, between whom the judges
found it difficult to decide. M. Mackinnon, the post-
master of Fort Augustus, obtained a prize for his dress
of home-made Tartan, and also distinguished himself by
his vigour and activity in dancing a reel into which he
was forced by his friends. Throwing the hammer,
putting the stone, and other sports, afforded
much interest, and there were two excellent
races on foot—a long and short one. They
were run round the parade ground—the long race four
times, and the short race once round. For the long race
there started four Highlanders and a gentleman's ser-
vant; the latter was very soon distanced by his compe-
titors in the kilt. Swifter running we never witnessed.
Before beginning the last round only two were on the
field. One of these was known as Ceann Ruadh, and
the other as Ceann Dubh, from the colour of their hair.
Ceann Dubh ran fastest at first, Ceann Ruadh not seem-
at first to exert himself till about the middle of the last
round, then putting forth his strength, he overtook and
distanced his antagonist. This part pf the scene was
most animating, and created all the excitement of a
steeple chase. Prizes were offered to the two best-dressed
Highland women in Highland fashion and home- made
materials, and four competitors appeared. Their decent
comfortable appearance and modest demeanor excited
universal admiration and
,prizes were awarded to the
whole four. If maidens competed annually for these
prizes, the premium would form no bad recommenda-
tion by way of Locher; for taste, industry, and economy,
are equally manifested by the competition! The exhi-
bition of games, &c., terminated about five o'clock, and
during the whole day the interest in the proceedings was
unabated:

WRECK OF THE STEAMER
LONDONDERRY.
On Friday the non-arrival of the steamer Scotia, Cap-
tain Cumming, which should have arrived here from
Campbelton at half-past eleven A.M., but did not make
her appearance until about seven P.M., occasioned con-
siderable anxiety, such an irregularity never having
before occurred. On nearing the harbour, her decks
were observed to be literally packed with people, in
every costume. These were soon discovered to be Irish-
men, bound for the harvest ; but how they came to be
on board the Scotia could not be easily conjectured. On
her arrival, however, we were informed by Captain
Cumming, that they were part of the passengers of
the steamer Londonderry, from Londonderry to Glas-
gow, which ran on some rocks opposite to Kiehl House,
near the Mull of Kintyre, about half-past eleven on
Thursday evening. After various endeavours to back
the Londonderry off the rocks, the boats were got
out, some of the passengers landed, and an express
for assistance was dispatched to Mr. Watson, Lloyd's
agent at Campbelton. He immediately engaged
the Scotia. and at a little after four o'clock the
steam was got up, and she proceeded to the wreck. The
water in the boilers of the Londonderry having been let
off, to lighten her, for many hours persevering attempts
were made to tow her into deep water • but the tow
ropes were broken, and the attempt proved futile. Im-
mediately after high water, finding all efforts useless,
the Scotia was put alongside the Londonderry, and be-
tween five and six hundred male and female passengers,
who had been already thirteen hours on the wreck, were
taken off. The Scotia then proceeded to Camphleton, to
take up her own passengers, and arrived here shortly
after seven o'clock in the evening. Captain Cumming
stated that his Irish passengers were most orderly,
obeying his instructions with alacrity and cheerfulness.
The last train for Glasgow having departed a few minutes
before the arrival of the steamer, the agent (Mr. T.
Steele) proeeeded to the residence of Mr. Smythe,
manager of the railway—at present residing in Ayr for
the benefit of his health—and through him and Mr.
Young a special train was obtained for the conveyance
of the reapers to Glasgow, where they. would arrive
shortly before ten o'clock. While the train was prepar-
ing—for which every description of carriage had to be
pressed into service—the steps and the street in front of
the depot presented a curious scene. The crowd em-
braced men and women of every description, arrayed in
every variety of fashion, and armed with that potent in-
strument in peace, the reaping-hook. Hunger, too, was
seen engaged in active war with kitchenless loaves, that
the bakers' shops readily supplied for mites of money.
About one hundred, who had got ashore in boats, were
left in Kintyre. As the night and day were calm, no
lives were lost. We learn from a private letter, that
after being lightened of part of her goods, and the night
tide proving a better one than the day tide, the London-
ierry was got off, and taken to Greenock.—Ayr Observer.

TRADE WITH JAPAN.
The attention of the Government having been lately
called to the possibility of opening a trade with Japan
under an old neglected treaty of 1613, the following sug-
gestions, offered to Lords Aberdeen and Dalhousie last
year by Mr. R. M. Martin, may be read with interest :
" 1. An attempt to form a commercial communication
with Japan, containing about 30,000,000 civilized inha-
bitants, whose Government, being aware of our successes
in China, are now better disposed to enter into friendly
negotiations with us. Before this feeling has passed
away we ought to avail ourselves of its existence.
" 2. The arrangement of commercial treaties with
Siam, Cochin China, and the adjacent rich countries,
containing an estimated population of 50,000,000, hitherto
neglected. These countries abound in gold and silver,
and are rich in valuable mercantile products. Their Go-
vernments have also heard of our successes in China, and
would be disposed, under their present feelings, to ad-
mit us on fair commercial terms to their ports, which the
Americans and French are now visiting.
" 3. The establishment cf a trading station (not an
expensive colony) on the peninsula of Corea, or on Quel-
parts Island, at the southern extremity of the peninsula
of Corea. Corea belongs neither to China nor to Japan;
it has a fine climate, good agriculture, timber, fruits,
&c.; it has a population of about 20,000;000, and we
ought to establish a commercial intercourse with them.
A trading post in this neighbourhood would soon pro-
duce commerce with all the large surrounding regions,
including Mantchouria, Northern China, the Kurile
islands, Japan, &e., and be an excellent station for our
whaling ships, or for intercourse with the western coast
America. " R. M. MARTIN."

RACE HORSES FOR RUSSIA.—Yesterday the Victory
steam-ship, for St. Petersburgh, left the St. Katherine
Wharf with the celebrated horse Coronation and another,
well known on the turf, which have been ,purchased for the
Emperor of Russia at Tattersall's.