The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-26 00:00:00

FRANCE.

[The following appeared in our Fourth Edition of
last night]:—
We read in the .31oniteur:—" The vigilance exer-
cised by the Government over all the reports more or
less alarming which certain journals take pleasure in
propagating, and the care it takes to rectify or con-
tradict them, before there has been time for it becom-
ing accredited, are beginning to bear their fruits.
Thus forewarned that attempts to impose upon the
credulity of the public, without being caught in jla-
grante aelieto, in falsehood or error, the press in
general uses more circumspection and reserve in the
choice of its news, and the reports to which it gives
echo by its publicity. But malevolence, confounded
and defeated in Paris, has reared itself again in the
provinces, where it flatters itself that the distance
from the central authority will render confidence
more easy to be surprised and truth less
prompt in becoming known. Scarcely a day passes
without our reading in the departmental papers,
representatives of parties the least interested in the
stability of order and the Republic, the most alarming
reports on the state of the capital. They represent
Paris as being the theatre of civil war, and even as a
prey to triumphant insurrection, hoping to make
anarchy profit by these rumours skilfully spread
abroad. But in all parts these perfidious inventions
are received with the incredulity and contempt which
such perfidious inventions merit. Everywhere the
good sense and good spirit of the people, their
sympathy for the Republic, and confidence in the
future inspired by the past, destroy the manoeuvres
of factions reduced to the most shameful expedients.
Everything concurs in assuring France against a
return of the unexan.pled scenes which caused bloc('
to flow in the capital, for the raising of the state
of siege, recommended by the Government itself,
is the most striking testimony of its strength and
security."
It is not alone the departments of France that are
the scenes of the intrigues of those meneurs, there are
those who have recently become connected with the
newspaper press in England, who, forgetting the
nobility of their birth and station, forgetting that, in
England at least, noblesse oblige are content to be-
come the mere- understrappers of M. Emile de Gir-
ardin, and to adopt at second hand the " enormous
lying" which the reactionary party in France has
organized into a system, in hopes, perchance, that
they may be rewarded when the restoration arrives,
by succeeding the Duke de Praslin in the •Royal
confidence, or be permitted to share with the De
Beauvallons, D'Equivellys, and Granier de Cassaignacs
in the proceeds arising from the sales of places con-
ducted in the interior cabinet of the President of the
Council.

General Lebreton has addressed the subjoined
letter to the Presse :—" Some journals attack in
terms which I have no need to qualify the reflections
which I presented on the 21st in favour of the army.
These journals only follow their trade ; when people
live on abuses they must defend them. I have no
need to answer them. But it is not such a motive

which dictated to you the phrase, ' General Lebre.,
ton committed a great injustice in accusing the
Minister of War of having attained his position by
chance. France knows his services, and General
Lebreton who has served in Africa ought, less than
any other, to require to be reminded of them.' Permit
me then to observe that I know the services of
General Lamoriciere, as I know those of the Generals
Baraguay Bedeau, Changarnier, Duvivier,
N6grier, and so many others with whom I served in
the war of Africa, who have not been Ministers of
War any more than Marshal Bugeaud, but who,
however, would have been by the same title as Gen.
Lamoriciere, if good and noble services sufficed. I

was consequent& able to say, without disregarding
the services of General Lamoriciere, which, in my
opinion, are not superior to those I have indicated,
that chance or fortune had placed the destinies of the
army in his hands. I could also say that he bad made
a bad use of it. As a general officer, it was my right
to think it, as representative of the people, my right
to say it."

FRANKFORT.
In the National Assembly of Frankfort, on the
20th, a discussion took place, on Articles 2 and 3 of
the Constitution :—" Art. 2. No part of the German
Empire can be united in a single state with coun-
tries not German. 3. In the case in which a German
country shall be governed with a country not German
by the same Sovereign, the relations between the two
countries must be settled on the basis of a simple
personal union" (like Sweden and Norway, for
example). This important question excited the
greatest interest, from its effect on the Austrian
Empire, and it was discussed by the different speakers
with ability. Some insisted that the dissolution of
the Austrian Empire as it at present exists, and the
incorporation of the German portion of it in tie
German Empire, were indispensable,to the interests of
Germany; others maintained that it would be dan-
gerous to Germany not to keep Austria as now con-
stituted ; and some declared that to dissolve would
cause civil war. The principal speech of the day was
by M. Giskra, an Austrian, who excited prolonged
applause by crying " No more Austria—no more
Prussia—nothing but Germany, even should thrones
fall in ruin I" The debate was adjourned.

(From the Liverpool Mercury of etle-elbly.)
On Wednesday evening last, Octobeheretarred an aurora borealis, vi Lid), for letegthWerarar-
Con, brilliance, and variety of € ffects, hes—iscrelittieFer—
not been excelled, if equalled, for many s'efaiis, 1 VMS,
ti
thought desirable to place on record some of the fea-
tures of this phenomenon, in the hope that due atten •
tion may in time be drawn to an effect of nature at
once mysterious and beautiful, and which is so much
neglected, and. so rarely seen with attention even when
it occurs. The summer of 1848 has been unusually
wet and cold. The easterly winds, of which we have
generally an average of two spells in a year, which
bring fine clear weather in summer and frost
in winter, set in about a week ago. The 13th
instant was extremely cold for the season, there being
ice in many places, a rather rare thing in England in
October. During the course of the day
a few
showers of fine snow and hail indicated the state of
the atmosphere, which became gradually free from
clouds towards sunset, after which, and as night ap-
proached, the are. of the heavens presented a cloudless
and starry sky of intense blue.
At a quarter to seven a plain whitish light began
to diffuse itself over the northern hemisphere, em-
bracing fully 180 degrees of the horizon, having the
north for the centre, and extending to the zenith.
This faint suffusion of light slightly dimmed the
stars which it covered, was most intense or whiter at
the extremes, east and west, and gave the southern
hemisphere an appearance of depth of blue, of dark-
ness, and brilliance of star light apparently mere
intense, but which must be attributed to the contrast.
As the evening proceeded faint vertical rays began
to shoot from the horizon towards the zenith, which
gave every indication of an appearance of this pheno-
menon of unusual magnitude. As these rays, still of
a pale colour, increased, an arc of shadowy darkness
but having evident light behind it, began to occupy
the northern part of the horizon, extending to about
30 degrees each side of the north point.
About half-past seven the light corruscations began
to assume colours of the most delicate reds, blue
greens, and some of the most indefinable gradations,
varying in effect and intensity of light till nine o'clock,
when every accompaniment of this phenomenon in-
creased in brilliancy and effect.
The shadowy arc extended in length and altitude,
overtopping Ursa Major, and becoming double, its
light edge being surmounted by a dark ridge or arch,
which was again tipped with light, and from this last
ridge the vertical rays chiefly ascended. This shadowy
arc did not preserve its form in continuance; it
assumed different altitudes, and occasionally became
indented in its surface, so as to form a series of seg-
ments of the circle. The character of the shadowy
arc was particularly noticed, because light could be
seen through it, and although the vertical rays were
seen chiefly to ascend from its edge, yet they evi-
dently ascended from beneath the horizon, because,
when one of unusual magnitude and intensity of
light arose, the shadow was not strong enough
to conceal it ; it could be distinctly traced be-
hind the shadow, which appeared as a veil, to
the line of the horizon. Although coloured
rays appeared at various times, the greatest
intensity was from nine to eleven o'clock. The
central rays due north were chiefly of the pale blue
greens, lilac, pale blue, and grey ; the red rays were
chiefly confined to the extreme east and west, and
were more coloured near the zenith, where a broad
expanse of the most luminous and beautiful red was
slightly purpled by its transparency showing the blue
of space beyond ; this red, as it decayed, mingled
gradually and softly with the sky, becoming more
purple as the red grew weaker, till lost to vision in a
cloudy appearance at the zenith.
During the culmination of this effect a most extra-
ordinary appearance ensued ; the rays had chiefly
moved vertically, and from the horizon towards the
zenith, but they now began to move occasionally
horizontally, crossing each other with the rapidity
of lightning, and, it is believed, always from east to
west. This had a most extraordinary appearance,
and whenever it took place a corresponding change as
rapid took place at the zenith, as the illuminating
rays changed their position.
At about a quarter-past nine a splendid meteor
passed from east to west, its course being nearly
horizontal ; it was speedily exhausted, and it left the
ocular deception of a train of light after it, which is
often seen. Afterwards the moon rose and gave
increased beauty to the scene. At eleven the splen-
dour and intensity of the rays began to decrease;
instead of the sharply•defined rays which previously
shot in streams from the edge of the shadow, and
which continued to be most dense at the extreme
east and west, broad expanses of delicate light and
colour continued to ascend from the shadowy arc
occasionally seen behind it, and gradually decreasing
till a soft blue grey light suffused the heavens as at
the beginning ; and a little after one the effect ceased,
save that a softened twilight pervaded the north, the
southern hemisphere having throughout preserved a
continued and intense darkness, unaffected even by
the slightest reflection.
The aurora borealis assumes different characters,
and may be classified into four descriptions, as eel-
lows : That which presents a dark shadow,y arc,
assuming various altitudes, surrounded by a faint or
strong colourless light, but without rays proceeding
from it. Second, that which, in addition to the above,
projects rays to the zenith, which assumes various
colours, and adds the additional phenomenon of motion.
The first seldem extends to mere than sixty degrees of
the horizon having the north for the centre; the second
extends to various distances, but never beyond ninety
degrees each side the north point, nor beyond the
zenith of the spectator. The third has an expansive
light, without the dark concave shadow, and without
rays—but in diffused masses ; this is the strongest
with regard to colour ; their transparent masses of
brilliant reds and purples, and more delicate tones
covering the heavens, but through which the stars
may be seen ; these masses frequently extend beyond
the zenith, and beyond 180 degrees of the horizon,
the north being the centre, the masses of colour
ceasing, changing, or pervading the sky with the
utmost rapidity. The fourth and last is rarely seen,
even by those whom habits, from whatever cause,
have led them to watch atmospheric effects at all
hours, and for many years. These are horizontal
rays of the aurora borealis, which shoot from north
to south, arising and terminating in a point; which
keep near the surface of the earth, are colourless, and
said to be accompanied by a slight rushing noise, as
of a switch gently struck through the air. The
effects of this description are exceedingly faint and
delicate, appear to be confined to the lower portions
of the atmosphere, and are unaccompanied by any
demonstrations of light or colour in the higherregions
of air.

To whatever cause the whole of these phenomena
may be ascribed, whether of electricity or any other,
we leave to those able to speculate on the subject.
We Nvish only to offer a few remarks on the colour of
the aurora, to show that it is simply an effect of the
common law of light, which is the origin and cause
of all colour. _ _ _

Affirming pure light to be white, and the absence
(
of all light to be darkness or black, all gradations of
colour between are the result of the density of the
former and its admixture with the latter. This
theory is established by the agreement of the effects
with the cause, which are as follow :—Light pro-
ippted into a pure atmosphere, illuminated by itself, fs
colourless V. ..a_z, L.,,
~, ... .
L.,*
TIP 111UnliniltP(1 mpai,....=
through which light passes becoming more dense, it
becomes yellow, and so increases to the utmost den-
sity that light is capable of being traesmitted by,
which is red, which is the most powerful of all co-
lours. The least mixture of pure white or light with
darkness produces blue; a snore dense stage of light—
namely yellow, mixed with darkness, is green ; and
its most dense stage, or red rays, mixed W'ith dark-
ness, become purple. These can be modified infi-
nitely, to every possible grade of colour, every shade
of which will agree with the theory of their cause—
namely, light and darkness. As, for instance, the
least possible degree of darkness mixed with the
utmost density light is capable of, namely red, pro-
duces crimson, crimson diluted again with pure light
becomes pink, &c.
These remarks are thought neeesszi, because the
effects of the aurora borealis exactly coincide with the
theory here expressed, the colour of the rays being
neither more nor less than their light (from whatever
cause) being modified by density and mixture with
darkness. This accounts for the crimson rays being
chiefly confined to the east and west, where we have
shown the light was most dense and accumulated,
the crimson being caused by the most dense or red
rays, still being so thin and transparent as to cause
the darkness or blue beyond to be dimly seen
through.

From the same cause the different rays assumed
different colours, exactly in proportion as the light
was more or less dense, and capable of overpowering
or amalgamating with the darkness it penetrated.
The reason why the rays nearer the earth were more
faint in colour, and those more distant more intense,
is accounted for entirely on the principle of density;
the same that causes the zenith of daylight to be
more blue from thinness, and the sun to be red at
setting.
We have endeavoured, with some difficulty, to
render our account of this phenomenon as familiar as
possible, and free from technical terms, being desirous
that all classes of our readers should avail themselves
of a description by an eye-witness of this extraor-
dinary and beautiful effect.

MARBLES FOR THE MUSEUM.—The large quantity
of ancient marbles which have recently been brought to
this country from Bombay, by one of her Majesty's
ships, for the British Museum, have been deposited in
that establishment. The p2eliages in which they were
contained were fifty-five in numbs.

DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND AND
THE SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY.
(From the Scotsman.)
The Agnewite outrage at Perth hat, as we ex-
pected, drawn from the public and the public
organs a prompt expression of contempt and in-
dignation ; and subject for contempt and indig-
nation, not only as regards the railway officials,
but the national name, will the affair remain
for many a day. Tie secretary, it is true,
has come forward with an " explanation," but one
which does not in the least spoil the affair, but leaves
it much as it stood—a hideous illustration of the
folly, hypocrisy, and oppression of which the Agnew-
ites are the authors, and of which the Scottish Central
Company, against their will and their votes, have
been tricked into being the instruments.
All that the secretary denies is, that he was the
man that interdicted the Duchess—all that he makes
dubious is, the question how her Grace should not
have been timeously aware of the preposterous and ty-
rannical regulations. The fact still remains that the
Duchess, bent on a pious and imperative errand,
besought to get on along with the mail bags, and
was refused. The secretary indeed obscures, but
does not deny, that the nature of the errand
was known to his subordinates. He says, " I
am sure no one connected with the railway would
'have refused to facilitate her Grace's journey by
fry means possible, had the circumstances attend-
W:g it been made known to them ;" but he at the same
time admits that "the train was stopped" while the
Duchess's entreaties were being communicated to one
or more of the officials,•and that on his own return
alter the departure of the train he "learned the very
pressing nature of her Grace's journey." Of course
he cannot mean us to understand that the Duchess
was careful to give no intimation of her errand
while entreating to be allowed to pass on, but post-
poned it for a message to be delivered to the secre-
tary after the train and she were off in different
directions. The thing is impossible. What the
secretary says about a message on Saturday, and his
recommendation of the Edinburgh and Northern
train, are also somewhat difficult to understand, and
are likely to remain so, unless, which is not likely in
the afflicting circumstances, some explanation should
come from the other party. It is easy, however,
to imagine several reasons why the Duchess
could not take the Edinburgh and Northern train.
'For instance, Edinburgh is not the way from
Perth to Carlisle, but fifty miles out of the way;
and, as her Grace could not have reached Edinburgh
in time for the morning train to Carlisle by the
Caledonian, the result of her coming to Edinburgh by
the route suggested by the secretary would simply have
been that she would have been forced to remain
stationary for the whole day in this city, no nearer
her destination than if she had remained at Perth.
The effect of the secretary's explanation, in fine,
leaves untouched the disgraceful and damning fact
that her Grace, bent on an errand of religion and
mercy, was refused a passage along with the mail
bans; and, worse still, that this is the silly and
tyrannical system on which this public company at
present acts to all classes and in all cases.
It will be impracticable for us all to go, like the
Duchess, with our prayers and our money to the
railway platform and tell our pitiful stories, without
any notion of what mercy we have to expect—learning
the "day's disaster only in the secretary's morning
face. Let our masters be merciless, but let them
have some method in it. . . . Both the necessity
of some fixed rules on their parts, and the hypocrisy
of the regrets and professions put forth by the Ag-
newite organs in the case of the Duchess, are
obvious fros the fact that the Agnewites have
up to this time been loud in declaring that
such a Cl/33 es the Duchess's is not a case
ef necessity or tazifey. Did not their great leader
in the west, Mr. C Tilliche wan, declare
in his place 13 the Glasgow Town council, the!
ler a child to travel en Sunray to receive hi.;
pa-
rent's dying breath was an iniquity to he forcibly pr
vented here and f-arfully punished heresf:er ?
not their great champion in the east, Mr.
Crichton, repeakdly declare in public that he wouid
deem it a heinoui sin to travel on Sunday to be
present in the dying Moments of his dearest child?
And hive not these atrocious sentiments been openly
adopted by many more of the sect, and repudiated by
not one ? Then why is it that all of a sudden they
now ru,ll forward crying that to go to a parent's or
naiad's deathbed is a lawful Sunday act, and ought not
to be prevented by their tools ? A change so marvel-
sudden and so eagerly avoxed must have a
powerful moving cause. And so it has.
Tne cause of the wonder:lll change of opinion and
tene on the part o the Agnewites is simply this, that
-they h ippe.n " indiscree'ly" to have exemplified their
kresumptuous folly and tyranny in the person of a
Duchess. There is no getting over that fact. Will
they pretend to say that what was inflicted on Sunday
week on the Duchess, and has made such a noise, must
not, in the nature of things, be inflicted every Sun-
day on thousands of others whose position does not
favour or allow any publicity at all ? The matter is to
a great extent one of simple arithmetic. There are only
about a dozen duchesses in the empire—there is a po-
pulation of conynon folks to the amount of thirty
What happens once to a duchess, there-
fore, will happen 2,500,000 times to other people.
But oar Agnewites remain inflexible at the afflictions
of the two millions and a half, and pour out tender
apologies and regrets for the afflictions of a single
duchess. Out upon them, Scribes and Pharisees !
especially those who unite both callings
It is impossible that in this country it can long be
borne that the trustees of the highway shall either
shut it entirely up at their own discretion for twenty-
four hours, or open it only to such passengers as have
.errande that please them. It is a matter in which the
Legislature must ultimately decide, for one board of
directors, such as that at Perth, have the power not
only of shutting up the inhabitants of :their own dis-
trict, bat of breaking off the communication between
north and south, and east and west. We shall have
a patch shut here, and another open there, according
as may suit the hair-brained zeal of Campbells of
Moniie, or the personal and directorial intrigues of
Peter Blackburns. This is absurd and intolerable.
Since the English papers have at last taken up the
question so well, we cannot refrain from adding that
it is a debt they owe us, having laughed at us in the
case of the Edinburgh and Glasgow, to let the Eng-
lish public know that that those Scotch railways which
arc kept closed on Sunday are so kept, not in
trickaecosrd-f
ance with Scotch public opinion, but by the
a small but organized and active clique. And we do
o
not know if our English coaternporaries could better
begin this work than by reprinting the following in-
structive circular now being circulated by the
Ag-
newites among " safe hands," which of course accounts
for its finding its way to ours :
[Private and Confidential.]
OBSERVANCE OF TIE SABBATH.
SCOTTISH CENTRAL' RAILWAY.
Sir,—We would rtsspectfully urge,,upon you the
necessity of making an effort to stns,2,t'nen the Sab-
bath cause, at the present time, in the Saottish Cen-
tral Railway.
There is every proabability that a proposAsswill
shortly be made to run miil trains, with pasaenglaa,
en the Lord's-day ; and in order to meet this, and to
maintain the existing arrangements, whereby there
has been no travelling on the line on the Sabbath
since it was opened, the friends of the cause are required
to redouble their exertions.
wenist, therefore, particularly request of you to
eurehase shares in the company, and to use Four
7,bgeeneee with other or' the Sabbath to do
the same without loss of time. The stock is at nre,.J
sent very low (231. per share of 250, and, therefbre,
offers considerable inducement as an investment, there
being every prospect, according to the statement made
at Ike last meeting, of the arrangement being sanc-
tioned which has been completed with the four com-
panies—the London and North-Western, Lancaster
and Carlisle, Caledonian, and Edinburgh and Glasgow
and Carlisle, Caledonian, and Edinburgh and Glasgow
—securing a guaranteed dividend of seven per cent.
or 355. per share. Ten shares give tensvotes, and sixty
shares twenty votes.
Much good might also result from your bringing
the subject, by letter or otherwise, before such of the
shareholders and directors with whom you may be
acquainted ; showing them, in the light of God's
Word, and of past history, that the permanence and
stability of all that is most valuable in the land are
dependent upon the preservation of our Scottish
Sabbaths; and reminding them that, according to
the Act of Parliament, if the running of trans be
once commenced, it will be impossible to limit the
number of passengers.
We plead the extreme importance of the matter at
the present moment as our apology for pressing it on
your notice, in toe name of the shareholders who
supported the resolution moved and seconded by us at
the February meeting.—We are, Sir, yours faith-
fully,

!,LL

_
ALEX. CAMPBELL, Monzie.
GEORGE; F. BA.RBOUR, Edinburgh.
Sept. 13, 1848.
Any. communications on the subject .rnay be ad-
dressed to No. 11,_George's-square, Edinburgh.

This epistle needs no explanation. It is the mani-
festo of an organization formed to swamp the bona
fide constituency of this and other Scotch railwayi—
to obtain votes in the cornpzny, not for profit or busi-
ness, but in order to enforce on the public by corn_
Lulsion certain theological ob7.ervances. Let our
English contemporaries mark and tell that in the only
Scotch company (the Edinburgh and Glasgow)
where the question has been sgitsted and decided
against Sunday trains, the so-called victory was
gained only by nig means—by a most extensive sys-
tem of purchasing and splitting with a sole view to
one side of this question—and that, even after the
A
gnewites had been spending their money and
strength for months,
Sc b there was s!ill a majority of
shares in fav3ur of trains. 'Let them tell that
since then, the Scotch shareholders of all the i

other railways centring in Edinburgh have
ide-
cided in favour of Sunday trains by ELjoilties
varying from twenty to one to- saved to one, 'and
that just in proportion as the stock of any com-
pany has been held in Scotland has been the
largeness of thin majority. And let them by no means
forget that even in the case of this Scottish Central,
the shareholders decided in favour of tr.i'ns by a ma-
jority of 6,000, although a majority of the directors,
for reasons yet to be made known, have delayed obe-
dience. These facts, to which many similar might
be added, will disabuse the English mind of the idea
that we in Scotland are as priest-ridden and :illy as
they are fond of representing us, and will show that
the "M'Mawworms and M'Tartuffes" are not the
nation, but only a miserable minority, rendered
somewhat pestilent by their secret organization.
The above circular is a specimen not only of the
unfairness of their means, but of their own conscious-
ness that it is necessary or decent for them to "shun
the light." They mark their circular " private and
confidential," and direct replies to be sent, not to any
man, but to a certain house (is there anything wrong
with the repute of " No. 12, George's-square," that
its tenant cannot be named?). Surely, when they
have thus become ashamed of what they do, and their
means of doing it, they can hardly expect the public
to refrain from joining heartily in the condemnation
they pronounce upon themselves.

THE ARMY.
His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge in-
spects the five troops of the Bth Hussars at Newbridge.
Major-General M'Donald has arrived at Dublin from
Kilkenny-.

Lieut."-General Sir G. K. Williams is to succeed the
late Sir Maurice O'Connell in the colonelcy of the 80th
Foot; and Lieut.• General Sir Guy Campbell the late
Charles Maxwell in the colonelcy of the 3d West India
Regiment.

A detachment of the 83d Regiment, under command
of Brevet Major Townsend, on Thursday last joined
held-quarters at Fermoy, from Cahir. There are now
four companies of the 83d Regiment at head-quarters,
under the command of Colonel Trydell; and their very
excellent band, which so long contributed to the enjoy-
ment of our fellow-citizens, now performs each Tuesday,
in the barrack square of Fermoy, attracting a large at-
tendance of the fashionablas of the vicinage.
Yesterday the Lord Bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and
Ross, consecrated the new burial-ground to the rear of
the barracks for the use of the military. The troops in
garrison assembled and marched to the burial-ground,
and in their presence the Lord Bishop performed tbh
ceremony.

f -
DRUNKENNESS IN THE ARMY.--The following cir-
cular has been issued:—lt being prescribed by the 78th
article of war that the instances of drunkennesv, where-
by it may be proposed to prove a charge of habitual
drunkenness, are to be such only as are to be entered in
the defaulter's books, it becomes indispensable that the
last of the instances should, in all cases like the others,
be so recorded; but the punishment of such last instance
must be left to the court, which will award such a sen-
tence upon such last instance as may he deemed equit-
able, after hearing evidence of the circumstance. By
command of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, Com-
mander-in-Chief ; John Macdonald, Adjutant-General.
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSbIOITTII, WEDNESDAY.—The Orestes, IS, at
this port ; the Amazon, 19, at Devonport•; the Daphne,
ls, at Sheerness, and one or two other vessels, will be
commissioned to-morrow.
The Vernon, 50, Ciptain Fi'zgerslil, arrived this
morning from the East Indies. She did not touch at
the Cape, and her news from St. Helena has been fore-
stalled by the Rosamond. She is ordered to Chatham
to be paid off.
The Geyser steam-aloop, Commander Brown, was sent
to some part of the coast of Madagascar, to endeavour to
establish a trade between the Mauritians for the supply
of beef.
The Eurydice, 26, Captain Talavara Anson, was in
Simon's-bay, to Lill on the 9Lti of September for the
M,•zimbigue Channel, where the Arab, -12, Commander
Morrig. was crult-ing.
The Nimrod, 20, Commander Belgrave, had returned
from S. Helena, and also lay in Simen's-bay when the
Rosamond left.
The Brilliant, 22, Captain Wat:on, rearlinal at the

Rear-Admiral Reynolds, the new Commlnder-in-
Ci:ief for the Cape, in the Southampton,. 50, Captain
Cory, had paned Madeira about a fortnight before the
itwanarati touched herr. The Southampton had two or
three esges of small-pox on board.

---
The Rosamond steam-ves,;el (formerly the Eclair)
arrived at Cowes on Tuesday evening, at six o'clock, and
was placed in quarantine, having had sickness on board
on the passage home. She ob'ained pratiquesyesterday
morning early, and made Portsmouth about eight
o'clock. She sailed from Simon's Bay on the Bth of
September. Captain Fulford, late commander of Ad-
miral Dacre.s' flag ship, took pass.sge home in her. She
will be paid ofT, although hut two years in commission.
The 1 ;santiond is in most admirable condition ; her en.
gines and boilers are in the beat working order. She
made, the passage from England to the Cape in 47 day,
and has mule a return voyage in 4G days, including 10
days at anchor. She has brought presents from the
Queen of Madagascar to Queen Victoria, invalids from
th!! :quadro:l, and Captain Fulturd, promoted from the
President.

The Driver steam-slooop, Commander Johnston,
s.iiied from Portsmouth yesterday, fur Ireland.
The Ganges, 84, at Sheerness, has, we regret to hear,
had a case acholeca among her crew.

PPOIN TM E TS.

Mates.—G. A. W. Welsh, to the Powerful, 84 guns,
at Portsmouth ; C. C. Day, to the Vengeance, 84 guns,
at Naples.

Assistant-Surgeon.—Thomas Breen, to Ganges, 84
guns, at Sheerness.

Midshipmen.—C. Atkins, to the Fisgard flag-;hip, at
Woolwich; G. H. Broadhead, to the Vengeance; Mr. T.
Parks, to the Kingfisher sloop at Portsmouth; R. Mon is,
to the Fisgard, at Woolwich; Viscount Guilin:T:l°re, to
the Victory flag-ship, at Portsmouth; G. It. Bell, to the
Driver steam-vessel.

Masters' Assistants.—W. Long to the Medina steam-
vessel, at Woolwich; J. G. N. Millet, to the St. Vincent,
120 guns. at Spithead.
Naval Guiet. —The Hon. J. B. Vivian, to the Victory.
PLYMOUTH., OCT. 24.—Her Majesty's steam-sloop
Hermes, 6, came in from Portsmouth on the 22d inst.
She is ordered to recei►e on board jurymast and gear for
her Majesty's frigate Arethu,a, 50, at Pembroke.
The riggers at Devonport Dockyard are t• mast and
rig her Majesty's frigate Amazon, 26, ready fur com-
mission.

LOSS of the VELOCITY STEAMER.
ABERDEEN, OCT. 23.—The Velocity, John Stewart
master, which has for several years past traded regu-
larly between this port and Newcastle, is now a total
wreck, having gone to pieces last evening off the
mouth of the harbour. The following is a brief nar-
rative of the unfortunate occurrence :—The Velocity
left Newcastle at nine o'clock on Saturday, with a
general cargo and seven passengers, the crew num-
bering 20, making in all 27 souls. She got over the
bar at Shields about 11 rake, a strong easterly run-
ning, and the wind blowing rather fresh, veering
from E S.E. to S.E. At four A.M. a strong wind
blew from the S.E., with a heavy sea to eastward.
The vessel had, however, a favourable run, and at
four r.ax. was off Aberdeen harbour. The tide not
serving, she stood out to sea, and laid off until a suffi-
cient depth of water admitted the vesssl going over
the bar, which was about six P.M. The helm was
then put about, and she bore direct to the harbour.
'On nearing the bar betwixt the two breakwaters
ti heavy " freshet" out of the harbour caught
the vessel on the larboard bow. A strong sea
running at the same time caught her on
the starboard quarter, thus destroying all command
of the helm. The master, in this critical position,
ordered the engines to be backed, but the effort was
useless, the tide having so much power on her lar -
b,fatit4n,w, that le-was impossible to get her hove
round. At this juncture a sea struck her and threw
her on the point of the breakwater; a second sea
turned her further round, and a third threw her
athwart the rocks. The vessel then parted in the
centre through the engine-room, andiher head canted
to the southward, with her stern towards the harbour,
when she settled down on the rocks, and immediately
began to break up. On the vessel first striking all
hands were called to get out the boats, three in num-
ber; the starboard boat was then lowered, and the
steward, stewardess, carpenter, second mate, two
seamen, and the two apprentices got into it, and
succeeded in getting ashore. The ship's life-
boat was then attempted to be got out, but un-
fortunately it was found that the tackle had been
cut, which rendered it impossible to get her afloat.
In this distressing situation, the quarter deck,
on which the remaining crew and passengers stood,
broke away from the hull and providentially floated,
.in comparatively smooth water. A scene of painful
excitement took place among the large crowd of per-
sons who had by this time assembled
on the pier. The
life-boat belonging to the harbour had been sent for
on the alarming danger becoming apparent, but an
hour elapsed before it was launched, owing to the
neglect of the person having the keys in his
posses-
sion. The door of the boat-house was at length
broken open, and the boat quickly manned by the
harbour pilots. They proceeded to the wreck and
took off the remainder of the crew and passengers,
the master being the last to leave the ill-fated vessel,
No injuries were sustained by any of the passengers;
the master was severely bruised by the falling of"' the
mainmast, which also struck a seaman, injuring his
head to a frightful extent. The whole of the pro-
perty of- the p issengers and crew lost, and the
entire cargo. The Velocity was built on the Clyde
about 20 years since, and wa.s, we believe, the first
stewner !on at Aberdeen. Sbe was insured to an
average amount

IV, regret to find that one of the French National
Guard was yesterday robbed of his purse, containing
monoy to the value of 501., by some of the thieves who
infest our public places, particularly on all occasions of
bustle and c,-owding. The victim ited !_rone by a steam•
boat from Westminster to London;hridge, and cn his
arrival at 'ni.3 destination discoverer: his serious loss,
having barely suffieiont money left in his pockets to take
him back to Calais, where he resides,