The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-05 00:00:00

THE SPECIAL COMMISSION.

According to the Clonmel Chronicle, it is still un-
certain whether Messrs. Duffy, Leyne, and O'Do-
noghue will be tried at the special commission to be
held for that county, but the trial of Mr. O'Brien
there is positively decided upon, that being the main
object of the commission. The Chronicle also states
that—

" The informations in Smith O'Brien's case, which are
very luminous, and of immense length, are at present
in the hands of a Dublin artiste for the purpose of being
lithographed. We believe such a course is never
adopted but in cases of high treason, when a large
number of copies are required, in which there would
be a possibility of mistake if prepared in the usual
manner. In lithographs, however, there is no such
liability."
It is expected that a military force of little less
than 4,000 men will be located in Clonmel, and
the neighbourhood, during the sitting of the com-
mission. _ _ _

-----
INCREASE OF THE POLICE FORCE.
The following statement appears in the Limerick
Examiner :
" We have heard from very good authority that Go-
vernment intend augmenting the police force to 30,000
men, to whom the peace, protection, and possession of
the country are chiefly to be intrusted ; the morel im-
portant fortresses only being selected for military
occupation. The means will thus be afforded of
withdrawing great part of the present army of occupa-
tion. It is stated that ten pieces of artillery—field
pieces, will be appropriated to the police force in every
county."

INAUGURATION OF THE GREAT
NORTHERN RAILWAY OF FRANCE.-FES-

TIVITIES AT DUNKIRK.

DUNKIRK, MONDAY MORNlNG.—Yesterday, for
the first time, the shrill whistle of a locomotive awoke
the echoes round the old battlements of Dunkirk.
Extensive as were the preparations that were made at
Calais for the ceremony of opening the great Northern
of France Railway on Saturday, they were as nothing
compared with those made by the good people of
Dunkirk for the same event. For many days past
the town (one of the most beautiful in France) has
been busy in anticipation of the great event which
yesterday gave a direct line of rail way communication
from the Northern coast to Paris.

- Visitors have been pouring into the town ever
since yesterday morning, and the throng still in-
creases. The streets, all day yesterday, were literally
choked up with pleasure-seekers, and unalloyed en-
joyment seemed to reign in every quarter. The
townspeople appear indeed to have been animated by
a desire to eclipse everything that has hitherto taken
place in the shape of public rejoicing in their neigh-
bourhood. As soon as the day for the opening of the
railway was announced, the authorities commenced a
subscription, and in a very short time a sum of up-
wards of 3,0001. was subscribed to carry on the fes-
tivities, with which to do honour to the inauguration
of the Great Norther❑ Railway of France.
At half-past nine o'clock yesterday morning a pro-
cession was formed in beautiful order opposite the
Hotel de Ville, and proceeded to the railway station
which crosses the Calais road inside the ramparts.

A splendid canopy has been raised over an altar
opposite to the passenger station for the ceremony of
the benediction.

The various companies of the national guards
hav-
ing been drawn up in the open space surrounding
the station, the Cardinal Archbishop of Cambria, and
the clergy of the district, ascended the altar, and
awaited the arrival of the train from Calais, contain-
ing the directors of the line and their friends.
A burst of artillery having announced that the
train was in sight, the municipal authorities, all
wearing tricoloured scarfs, placed themselves in line
on each side of the railway, and the train having
drawn up to the platform, the directors alighted and
were introduced to the municipal authorities, and by
them were conducted to the foot of the altar. The
Cardinal Archbishop then addressed them, and in
warm terms complimented them upon their having
succeeded in extending railway communication to
Dunkirk. He enlarged upon the advantages which
would result to France by the extension of the rail-
way system from Paris to the northern frontier, and
said that as France, par excellence, had always taken
the lead in matters connected with the civilization of
the world, so she ought to be foremost in widely ex-
tending the railway system.
The ceremony of the benediction then commenced.
The platform on which the altar was placed was
crowded with priests of various classes, in the midst
of whom stood the Archbishop, attired in all his
splendid pontifical robes. Leading to the altar from
the station was a broad flight of steps covered with
crimson carpeting, and on the top of those steps the
Cardinal stood and blessed first the engines, then the
road, and finally the military and the people.
The ceremony concluded, the principal authorities
on the railway formed into procession again, and
marched back into the town with banners flying and
military bands playing.

We never saw any place display such animation
and general rejoicing as Dunkirk did on the proces-
sion entering the town. Every house was crowded
with spectators, and from every window in the place
depended festoons of tricolour. Down each side of
every street poles had been thickly planted, round
which evergreens were twined from the ground, and
carried along the tops of the poles for the entire
length of the street. At intervals of about three
yards were carried across the streets, sashes of red
and blue and white drapery, interspersed with gar-
lands of beautiful flowers. The windowsin every
house were ornamented with diamond-shaped tri-
coloured lanterns, each containing a variegated lamp
for the illumination at night.
The procession having arrived at the Place Jean
Bart, the Cantate Inauguration was performed upon
an elevated stage in the centre of the square, near to
the statue of the celebrated Jean, after which the
authorities proceeded to the harbour to witness the
launch of an iron war steamer, called Le Biche, and
again returning to the Place Jean Bart, a military
musical performance took place.
At four o'clock a splendid banquet was given by
the authorities of the town to the directors of the rail-
way, and the leading visitors. The banquet was held
at the college; and amongst the company present
were M.M. Marie, Gamier Pages, Pallier, ol-
lowski, and several other members of the National
Assembly.
In the evening the town was splendidly illumi-
nated, and public balls were given in various parts
of the city, and it was a late hour before the festi-
vities of the first day were brought to a close.
To-day the rejoicing commenced by a distribution
icceehsdl s s
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will
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aa/c epin,e u srt
personage
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bearing
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resemblance to our own Gog and Magog. This in-
dividual is a figure twenty-two feet high, and is
attired in a sort of ancient costume.
In the evening there will be a concert of vocal and
instrumental music, followed by a grand ball • and
to-morrow the festivities will be brought to a'close
by regattas, races, and amusements of that descrip-
tion.

A great number of English visitors are here, ex-
cursion boats having been running from Dover since
Saturday last.

Ttuo, Saturday lt
lAalsT someAr BRIDGEre st
ACROSS Nr TwEED.—On
S
e.acited by the appear-
once, the first time, ".,c a railway carriage thit-rt
.
class) on the temPo'7.ry wooden bridge aeros,3 tile Tweed.
aaclvi nte
The carriage, which was filled with people, was, pushed
to and fro several times along the bridge—even the div. 73,
height from the river not preventing many from hang-
ing round it. A piece of artillery planted on the bridge
was fired in honour of the erent, and the structure was
also decorated with a number of flags. The temporary
bridge is ready only across the river; the communica-
tion with the embankment behind Tweedmouth is not
yet formed. It is anticipated, however, that this will be
made by the Ist of October, when the trains will pass
without interruption, and the delay and expense of
omnibuses for passengers, and carts for goods, coke,
&c., will then be avoided. The temporary bridge at
Newcastle was expected to be opened to-day (Friday).
—.llerwid; irarder.