The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-16 00:00:00

TUSCANY.

Intelligence up to the 6th instant has arrived from
Florence.

The Bishop of MULTEPULCIANO (Tuscany) issued
a pastoral letter to his diocese on the Ski instant,
calling upon the people to take up arms in obedience
to their SOVEREIGN and the distress of their country.
GUERRAZZI, the ultra-democrat, had no chance of
attaining Ministerial power ; and as Baron BETTING
RICCASOLI, Mayor of Florence, persisted in refusing
to organize a Cabinet, the GRAND DUKE insisted that
the Ministers who had resigned, among whom are
some of the most esteemed statesmen, as Counts
RIDOLFI and BALDOSSARONI, should remain at the
head of affairs. The Ministers having declared that
they would not take power unless they could calcu-
late on the sincere support of the representatives of
the nation, the two Chambers held an extraordinary
Sitting in the night of the 6th, and passed by accla-
mation a vote of confidence in the Ridolfi Cabinet.
That Cabinet accordingly withdrew its resignation,
and the GRAND DUKE published the following pro-
clamation on the 6th :
" Tuscans ! if the force of arms alone could com-
pletely preserve us from the dangers which threaten us
so nearly, it would undoubtedly be a generous resolu-
tion to place all hope of salvation in arms alone. But at
present we should not have the certainty of being able to
resist, alone and ill prepared, a conquering enemy, who
has already invaded the territory of two neighbouring
states, without fearing the obstacles which may check
him. All hope, however, is not lost, and victory may
again come to crown the confederated arms.
" The forces of Italy are not exhausted in consequence
of the reverses sustained. The encouragements of Eu-
rope, which animated her in such a glorious enterprise,
have not abandoned her. As for ourselves, we do not
despair of the destinies of Italy, and we are decided to
persevere in the cause which has already made us asso-
ciate our arms to those of the King Charles Albert, from
which, notwithstanding'our reverses, we can never sepa-
rate. But we must now have time to repair the losses
sustained, and to save the country from an unforeseen
danger.
"In thus acting, we have in nowise thaintention of
compromising honour, but to maintain intact our forces
for better chances. The means are offered us in the
spontaneous mediation of England and France; this me-
diation gives us the confidence that the frontiers of our
state will not be violated it• interior order be maintained,
and if the measures which the Government must and
desires to take, and which it has already taken, for de-
fence, be executed without agitation. My Government,
strong by the vote of the National Assemblies, has be-
lieved it right for the common welfare to accept the
amicable offers of the said two powers.
" Tuscans! The moment is solemn; a single act of
imprudence might envelop the country in fatal calami-
ties, the consequences of which could not be forgotten
during. our whole lives. Let us be united by the ties of
concord to sustain the severe trials which the times im-
pose on us. I repeat to you I shall al ways be with you
to sustain a national cause, and to maintain the institu-
tions which have consolidated public liberty among us.
On your part you promise me to labour in an efficacious
manner to sustain and maintain the majesty of the laws,
in order that the regeneration of Italy may not be ex•
posed anew to extreme perils.
" The destinies of the country are in our hands. I
will see that honour receives no injury ; but, for our
part, let us save what after honour we have most dear.
To the arms of the citizens I confide the guardianship
of order ; let them recal to mind that in courageously
resisting whoever may endeavour to excite disturbances,
they will combat the enemies of the country ; for who-
ever desires disturbances desfres the foreigner, and with
him all the evils of a provoked invasion.
" Given at Florence, the 6th August, 1848.
" LEOPOLD.
(Counter-signed) " Count RIDOLFI, President of
the Council of Ministers."

THE DEATH OF MR. GEORGE

STEPHENSON.

It is with much -concern that we announce the decease
of Mr. George Stephenson, the celebrated engineer. He
died at his establishment in Derbyshire, on Saturday
last, aged 67. Few men have obtained, or deserved, a
higher reputation. Be rose from the humblest life from
the elasticity of his native talent overcoming the obsta-
cles of narrow circumstances and even confined educa-
tion. In his profession he was as happy and ingenious
in his discoveries as generous in imparting the benefit of
them to them to the world; In the history of railway
enterprise and movement the name of George Stephen-
son will live.

The following Biography is from the Post•o/lce
Railway Directory, for 1848

" Stephenson, George, Civil Engineer, father of
Robert Stephenson, Esq., Civil Engineer. The father
of the railway engineers, whose improvements of the
locomotive have greatly contributed to the progress of
the system. Director of the Norfolk Railway, and late
chairman of the Dunstable Railway; was a Director of
the York and North-Midland Railway; Engineer of the
Whitehaven Junction Railway, and Manchester and
Buxton Railway; constructed the London and Birming-
ham Railway, York and North-Midland Railway, and
many other works, but of late years has resigned his
chief civil engineering business to his son. An exten-
sive locomotive manufacturer at Newcastle, and has
supplied great numbers of locomotives both here and on
the continent. Justly prides himself on having, by in•
dustry and genius, raised himself from a humble sta-
tion. Was a coal viewer, 'took an interest in the deve-
lopment of the railway system, engaged in the great
Liverpool and Manchester 'contest, and produced the
best locomotive ; from that moment took the lead in
railway engineering. Knight of Leopold of Belgium
(for railway services); F.R.S. Has been employed in
France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Spain. A large
colliery owner, particularly at Clay Cross tf 24, Great
George-street, Westminster, Newcastle.upon-Tyne,
Tapton-house, Derbyshire."
We also copy the following account of his worthy
son and successor:—

" Stephenson, Robert, Civil Engineer, F.R.S., M.P.
for Whitby; born 1303 ; only son of George Stephen-
son, Esq., Civil Engineer • married the daughter of
John Sanderson, Esq.; a celebrated railway engineer and
locomotive manufacturer, the leader in the narrow guage
interest; educated at Newcastle and Edinburgh; Engi-
neer of the London and North-Western Railway, South-
Eastern Railway, West London Railway, Leeds and
Bradford Railway, Midland Railway, Trent Valley
Railway, Norfolk Railway, Aylesbury Railway,
Eastern Counties Railway, Bedford and London and
Birmingham Railway, Londonderry and Coleraine Rail-
way, Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway, Whitehaven
and Furness Railway, York, Newcastle and Berwick
Railway, Great North of England Railway, Bucking-
hamshire Railway, Dunstable Railway, Newcastle
and Berwick Railway, Chester and Holyhead
Railway, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle
Railway, North Staffordshire Railway, Shrews-
bury and Birmingham Railway, Shrewsbury and
Hereford Railway, Reading. Guildford, and Reigate
Railway, Newmarket Railway, East and West India
Dock Railway, Cork and Bandon Railway, York and
Newcastle Railway, ,infield and Edmonton Railway,
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley Rail-
way, Birmingham and Gloucester Railway, Fleetwood,
Preston, and West Riding Junction Railway, Shropshire
Union Railway and Canal, and numerous foreign and
projected lines i Chairman of the Pontop and South
South Shields Railway ; a Commissioner for the Health
of Towns; Knight of the order of Leopold. Is the in-
ventor of improvements in the locomotive engine, and of
the continuous tube of beam bridge proposed for the
Chester and Holyhead Railway. Constructed the Lon-
don and Birmingham Railway and Branches, Black-
wall Railway, Norfolk Railway, Aylesbury Railway,
Dunstable Railway, Chester and Birkenhead Railway,
Bedford Railway, Northern and Eastern Railway, and
has now under his care, in progress, the Chester and
Holyhead Railway, Lowestoft Railway, North Stafford-
shire, Buckinghamshire, Shrewsbury and Hereford
Railway, &c.; 24, Great George-street, Westminster ;
34, Gloucester-aquare, Hyde-park; 2, Walbrook.

An omnibus is now running,n we are informed, be-
tween the Ealing station on the Great Western and the
Kingston station on the South Western Railways, pass.
log through Hampton Court, Teddington, Twickenham,
Richmond, and Brentford. Persons desirous of travelling
on either of the above lines, living in the forenamed
localities, or travellers passing from one line to the other,
can now, by adopting this conveyance, avoid the delay,
inconvenience, and expense of coming to London.
OPENING OF THE MALDON, WITITAN., AND BRAIN-
TREE RAILWAY.—This line of railway, the property of
the Eastern Counties Company, was opened yesterday
for public use. It crosses the main line, or rather
branches from it on each side at Witham, the portion to
Maldon being about six miles in length, and the branch
to Braintree eight miles. The works are now very
heavy. At present it will be only worked for good.
traffic, in order that the road might be properly consoli-
dated for passenger trains.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—Last night, at a luarter-past
ten o'clock, an accident occurred, attended with loss of
life, to a man connected with Bartholomew's Hospital.
It appears that the deceased, who was rather in liquor,
was proceeding to the City in a Clapham omnibus,
which on passing through the Elephant and Castle toll-
gate came in contact with a Brixton omnibus coming in
the contrary direction. The deceased was thrown from
the roof, and he was carried into the surgery of Mr.
Thomas, London-road, whose assistant, with Mr. Fair-
brother, a neighbouring surgeon, did all in his power;
but the deceased was past human assistance; he died in
a very few minutes from the time of his fall.
MONEY MARLET.—The premium on gold at Paris
is' 1 1 per mille, which, at the English Mint price of
3k 17s. 104 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an ex-
change of 25.42; and the exchange at Paris on London
at short being 25.321, it follows that gold is 0.38 per
cent, dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from
Hamburgh the price of gold is 434 per mark, which at
the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10Id. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.9 k; and the
exchange at Hamburgh on London at short being 13.8,
it follows that gold is 0.0 per cent. dearer in Ham-
. ,
urgk than ia London.