The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-06 00:00:00

ROME.

Several representatives of different States of Italy
have arrived at Rome to attend the Roman National

Assembly. The question as to whether or not Rome
should declare war against Austria is to be considered
in a Secret Consistory. The Roman army, under
the command of General DURANDO, composed of
11,000 infantry of the line, four battalions of the
Civic Guard, and 500 volunteers, commanded by
ZasinEccArn, has passed the Po, and is marching
towards Mantua. General FERRARI, with 6,000
men, is still at Bologna waiting for the artillery of
the Civic Guard. It is believed that this corps will
move into the Venetian State to oppose the troops of
General UGENT.

THE NEW TELEGRAPHIC
LIGHT-HOUSE.

That numerous shipwrecks have occurred of late
years from the mistakes arising from the present
very defective state of the light-house system, in
which, as the colour and the times of the appearance
and the disappearance of the resp-ctive lights are the
only means by which the navigator can distinguish
one light from another, is matter of notoriety. It is
almost impossible when at sea in rough weather to
observe with accuracy either the colour of the light
or the times its of disappearance and re•appearance,
nothing therefore has been more common of late
years than to find that one light has been mistaken
for another, and that shipwreck, involving great loss
of human life and property, has been the consequence.
In the existing plan the colour of the light seems to be
the main point of dependence, whereas colour alone is
to be least trusted, changed as it perpetually becomes
in its character by variation in atmosphere, by rain,
fog, &c., and hence mistakes, and the fearful evils
arising therefrom.
The unnecessary height of the present structures is
a further source of mischief, as it causes them to ap-
pear to the mariner to be at a greater distance than
they really are, whereas the spectator requiring to
know where the danger lies, should have the light
indicating such danger almost parallel with his eye.
The insufficiency also of the light caused by the
want of more powerful reflectors, and their similarity
of appearance, leads seamen to be quite at a loss to
make out their real position when at sea during the
darkness of night, hazy atmosphere, or fog.
In consequence of the numerous shipwrecks which
have recently occurred from these causes, Mr. George
Wells, of the Admiralty, Somerset House, has been in-
duced to turn his attention to this subject, and he has in-
vented a new species of light• house which he terms the
new telegraph light- house, by which many of the defects
the present system are remedied. Mr. Wells proposes
That four (or more) circular apertures be cut in all
the existing buildings just below the lantern (circu-
lars being less calculated to weaken the structure), and
the opening thus made fitted with a sash glazed with
ground plate glass, with the first letter of the name of
the particular light• house painted in an opaque colour
thereon, the lights being so reflected as to render the
unpainted glass transparent, and thus exhibiting the
letter itself in bold relief:

The length of the letter being double that of the
lantern itself, the letter will consequently be more
clearly visible—remove all grounds for doubt as to what
light-house it is, and thus afford that security to the
mariner which is not experienced under the existing
system, with which this suggested improvement will
In noway interfere.
A model of the new telegraphic light-house was
exhibited at a recent scientific conversazione at the
Marquis of Northampton's, where it was the subject
of much attention by the scientific men present, who
declared it to be a very great improvement on the
present system.
Several experienced naval officers to whom the
model has been submitted have borne their testi-
mony to the great merits of this new light-house.
Had one of the new telegraphic light-houses been
erected at Dundrutn, exhibiting as it would have
done the letter D. Captain Hosken could nut possibly
have mistaken it for the light on the Calf of Man, and
the Great Britain would have escaped shipwreck.
The name of Mr. Wells will henceforth stand in
the roll of the benefactors of the human race. He
Will be the means of saving an immense amount of
life, and of preserving property to a value incalculable
from destruction.

DEATH OF MR. THOMAS ARCHER, COMEDIAN.—
Ank,ther well-known member of the dramatic profession
has quitted the mortal and mimic scene. Thomas
Archer, for 25 years attached to Drury-lane, Covent_
garden, the Lyceum, and other Theatres, a dramatic
author of no mean pretensions, and a contributor to the
periodical literature of the day, expired on Wednesday,
the 3d inst., at his residence, Mount gardens, Lambeth,
at the age of 59. Archer was a remarkable man, and
had a liberal share of theatrical talent, with the advan-
tage of a manly appearance, and a voice of singular
richness and dignity.
THE COMaIISSION OF FINE ARTS.--MS Royal
Highness Prince Albert presided yesterday afternoon at
a meeting of the Commissioners for promoting anu
encouraging the Fine Arts in the rebuilding the Palace
of Westminster. His Royal Highness arrived at three
o'cl.ek at the new Palace, attended by Captain the Hon.
Alexander Gordon, Equerry in Waiting. The commis-
sioners present were Lord Colborne. the Earl of Lin-
coln,JamesViscoiint Mahon, the Right Hon. the Speaker, Sir
paired off
__Graham,fir Robert H. Inglis, Mr. Benjamin
Hawes,Mr.Easttalkr.e Hallam, and Mr. Wyse, The secretary,
, was in attendance. The meeting 'broke up at five o'clock.
Lord Enfield •
in favour of the Bill f
LYING-IN Lord Ernest Bruce,.
kith
Hiles. or the removal of Jewish disabi-
has been pleased to extend
GENERAL
1-Her—agHe etor t
h.is Majestyexce
lent charity, by granting to it the annual subscription of
. .. .
twenty guineas,