The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-14 00:00:00

FRANCE.

It appears from the weekly account published by
the Bank of France, that its stock of bullion has in-
creased within the week by 7,000,000 f. (280,000/.),
whilst its notes in circulation have diminished to
nearly an equal amount. The amount of the com-
mercial bills under protest has decreased by about
1,000,000 f. (40,0001.) And the balance to the credit
of the Treasury has decreased by a sum of 3,000,000 f.,
or 120,000/.

ROME.
The following is the Pontifical edict which has
restored tranquillity to the Romans :
" The agitation which has seized upon the public
mind in consequence of the different events which are
taking place require us to make every effort to restore
confidence, and with confidence calmness. The Mi-
nistry, which had for a long time past tendered its re-
signation, has this day requested to be allowed finally to
withdraw. As things could not remain in this position,
we have summoned to Rome Count Edward Fabbri, Pro-
Legate of 'Urbino and Pesaro, who btu already arrived,
and wbo will take office in the new Ministerial arrange-
meat. These cares on our part ought to awake confidence
in the minds of all good people, which will be still further
strengthened by the measures which the Government
itself shall think fit to adopt. Meanwhile some complain
that we have not made provision in consequence of the
events which have occurred in the Ferrarese, and these
complaints are uttered, although we lost no time
in making known our sentiments, which were published
'by our Cardinal Secretary of State, and have been also
repeated in. Vienna. We have also said, and we repeat,
that it is our will that the confines of our State be de-
fended, and fur this purpose we had authorised our late
Ministry to make suitabla arrangements.
" For the rest it is but too true, that in all times and
under all governments extreme dangers are put to
profit by the enemies of order and public tranquillity to
disturb the minds and hearts of their fellow-citizens,
whom we have always desired, and desire particularly
at the present time, to see united and at peace with
one another. Almighty God, however, guards and
watches over Italy, over the States of the Church, and
commits the immediate keeping of it to the Great Pro-
tectress of Rome, Mary, ever blessed, and to the
Princes of the Apostles ; and although more than one
sacrilege has desolated the sapitul of the Catholic world,
still our confidence does not tail, that the prayers of the
Church will rise before God, and bring down blessings
to confirm the good, and to recal His enemies to justice
and honour.
" G:ven at Rome, at St. Mary Major's, under the ring
of the Fisherman, Aug. 2, ISIS, the third year of our
Pun ti ficate.

"PIUS, P.P. IX."

CIIOI,EItA.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
A lecture was on Saturday delivered in the theatre
of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, by the gentleman
who has recently attracted a large share of the public
attention by his investigations into the phenomena
of thunder-clouds and the cause of lightning. The
subject which elicited the scientific knowledge of
Mr. Isham Baggs was one which recent occur-
recces have invested with an enthralling interest—
we mean the devastating epidemic called the Asiatic
cholera. A more absorbing theme could not by
any possibility have been selected, and that theme could
scarcely by any possibility have been treated
in a man-
ner more daring or admirable. We say admirable in a
twofold sense, admirable for the nervous energy of the
lecturer, and admirable in a particular manner for the
profound and philosophic sobriety which imparted
weight to his many startling and extraordinary
propositions. It would be impossible, however,
to estimate properly tho general effect produced by the
lecture just delivered in the Polytechnic Institution,
without considering for a moment the position of events
under which it was introduced, and the thrilling sound
of the tidings which had already announced the ap-
proach of this dread visitatior. Last year the antici-
pated arrival of the Asiatic cholera, or the cholera
morbus, as it is called by physicians, was spoken
of fir a considerable time. The circumstance cannot
be forgotten. Since then the winter of 1847-1848 has
elapsed, and as yet no cholera has made its appearance.
Time has flitted past, it is true, but the mysterious dis-
ease is nevertheless striding towards us rapidly. It has
emerged from the pestilential swamps of central Asia,
it, has passed the frontiers of Persia, it has
moved over the • vast plains of Russia, it has
progressed from Novgorod to Moscow, northwards to St.
petersburgh, southwards to Odessa, it is ravaging the
cities of Gallicia and the crowded porta of Egypt;
it has spread from the remote tributaries of the
Ganges and the Vistula, to the mouths and stag-
nant places of the Nile. In all the more
western kingdoms of Europe, with scarcely another
exception beyond Belgium, the Government officers are
snaking preparations for the mitigation of the severity
of the scourge. Even in England this movement is per-
ceptible, not only in the metropolis itself, but in se-
veral of our remote municipalities. At such a
period, therefore, it becomes a matter of pe-
culiar importance to hear a theorem adduced
of such an extraordinary character as the one
propounded on Saturday by Mr. Bans. His theorem
is nothing less than that tl,e cholera is produced by the
peculiar condition of the atmosphere when charged with
a superabundance of magnetic electricity. Nothing
could be more cogent than the reasoning of the lecturer,
illustrated as his deductions were by experiment, eluci-
dated by the graceful and comprehensive fluency of his
delivery, and enforced by a multitude of arguments
drawn from the storehouse of natural philosophy.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN

RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—To relieve the public mind from the anxiety
which has been expressed on the subject of the late
strike of the engine-drivers and firemen on this line,
I am instructed to state that the directors have taken
effectual measures to provide for the safe working of the
trains whatever may be the course of proceeding of
these misguided men.
Many of them have withdrawn their notices, and
others may be expected to follow the example.
A sufficient number of new and practised enginensen,
with unexceptionable testimonials from their former em-
ployers, have been taken into the service, and employed
in working the trains during the last week.
In addition to these resources, a number of men
scientifically as well as practically conversant with the
construction and management of the locomotive, have
been supplied by the Government departments.
Notwithstanding, therefore, all that may have been
said to the contrary, the Directors are enabled to repeat,
with perfect confidence, that the trains will continue to
be worked with perfect safety to the public.
I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
R. CREED, Secretary.
Office, Euston -station, August 12, 1848.