The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVEN ING, NOVEMBER 7, 1848.

prisoner Stokes, though t 2 years of age, was sentenced
to twelve years' imprisonment for sheep stealing. He
was taken ill of dysentery, of which he died; but Dr.
Baly said this was wholly distinct from Cholera; ver-
diet, " Nattu al death." In answer to the Coroner, Dr.
13aly said that there was no fresh case of cholera, and
those who had been attacked were well.
THE LORD CNANCELLOR AND THE -BAR. —On
Saturday a numerous meeting of the members of the
equity bar was held at the Old Hall, Lincoln's Inn-fields,
for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety
of petitioning the Lord Chancellor to render the sittings
of the courts at Lincoln's-inn more permanent. Shortly
before four o'clock the chair was taken by Mr. S. Lovett.
There were at the time about forty gentlemen, including
the Solicitor-General, present. The chairman, in open-
ing the proceedings, said that although he was generally
in favour of publicity, he thought it would not be an act
of respect to the Lord Chancellor to sanction any rerort
of the meeting to go before the public. He therefore
hoped that if any gentlemen present were attending as
reporters they would withdraw. The reporters then
withdrew. Mr. Malins, at the rising of the Vice-
Chancellor's Court on Saturday, requested the postpone-
ment of a cause in order that he might attend the meet-
ing of the bar respecting the proposed alt( rati9ns of the
sitting of tne court, and at the same time expressed a
hope that his Honour was favourable to the wishes of
the bar in desiring that the sittings might be held as
long as possible at Lincoln's-inn for the convenience of
the junior bar. The Vice-Chancellor said he was de-
cidedly of opinion that the new regulation for holding
the sittings at Westminster during the session of Parlia-
ment was the most salutary that could be come to. He
thought, moreover, that the juniors did not do them-
selves justice.

ENLARGING AND IMPROVING THE EASTERN COUN-
TIES TERMINUS AT BISHOPSGATE —Considerable im-
provement is being made at this terminus, to enable
trains to run into the arrival platform, and to protect
passengers from the inclemency of the weather. The
iron roofing is being lengthened, which will add much to
the convenience and comfort of the station. Another
hag, warehouse is being added to the present extensive
premises forming the goods depot at Bethnal-green.
THE BLACKWALL RAILWAY EXTENSION TO THE
EASTERN COUNTIES.—Much interest is excited in the
engineering world by the construction of the two stupen-
dous iron bridges of the Blackwell Railway Extension,
over the Commercial-road and Regent's Canal. They
are erected on a new principle, ani in point of extent
arc the largest railway bridges to be found in the vi-
cinity of the metropolis. This branch, which was ex-
pected to have been opened in the course of this month,
will, it is said, be completed on the Ist January next
year. It is about two miles in length, and is formed on
brick arches. It joins the Eastern Counties line at
Bow. The gauge on the Blackwell Railway is being
altered to admit of locomotive traffic. _

- --
FREE BATHS- AND—
WASHHOUSES.—Yesterday the
committee made a special report accompanied by an ap-
peal for assistance, in support of the institution in Glass-
house-yard, East Smithfield, for promoting cleanliness
amongst the poor by baths, washhouses, and cleansing
and purifying their dwellings, without a farthing, of ex-
pense to those who resort to its advantages. During
the last twelve months, 33,655 had bathed, 34,543
washed :and dried, and 12,610 bad ironed. The ra-
ceipts of the baths and washhouses for the past year
were 29.11. 63., whilst the expenditure amounted to
3671. ss. I Id.
WESLEYAN MISSIONS. Last night the annual
meeting of the Southwark branch of the Wesleyan
Missionary Society was held at the Southwark Chapel,
in Long-lane; W. Atherton, Esq., in the chair. 'I he
report stated that the total income of the parent society
for the past year was 108,6131. Ils. 4d., while the ex-
penditure during the same period amounted to 114,606/.
17s. 6d., leaving a balance of 5,9931. 6s. sd. due to the
treasurers. The income of this branch during the past
year had amounted to 4351. I Is. 5d., showing a falling
t.tr of nearly 40/., as compared with the previous yt ar.
The report concluded with an earnest appeal to the
meeting not to allow the missionary causs to decline
through apathy or want of funds.
TRANSIT OF MERCURY.-011 Thursday next, the
9th of November, a transit of the planet Mercury across
the disc of the sun will take place. According to the
tables of Lindenau, which are used in the calculations
for the Nautical Almanac, the planet will be in contact
with the limb of the sun at 11 h. 1 min. 55 secs. A.M.,
Greenwich mean time, and during the remainder of the
day will traverse his disc, appearing as a round black
spot, about 10 seconds of space in diameter. The
nearest approach of centres, 2 min. 45 sec., occurs at
1 h. 44 min. Ex., and the sun will set in the latitude of
London, about eight minutes before the planet leaves his
disc, so that the ingress only will be visible. No other
transit will take place until the morning of the 12th of
November, 1861. A telescope of very ordinary power
will st rve to exhibit the phenomenon.
COMMUNICATION WITH BELGIUM.—The Moniteur
Beige publishes the official announcement of the new
arrangement relative to the departure of the Ostend and
Dover Nlail steamers, and which we have already made
our renders acquainted with in part. On and after the
12th of Novewter next the mail-boats will leave Ostend
every night between the hours of 10.30 P.M. and 3 A.M
so that letters will arrive in London at half-past 10 on
the morning following their departure from Brussels.
On and after the Ist of November the steamers will
leave Dover every night between the hours of 11.15 P.M.
and 3 A.M. So that the mails which leave London at
eight o'clock in the evening will arrive at Brussels and
Antwerp in ordinary weather at noon next day, and
letters for Germany can arrive at Cologne in the same
day.

WESTMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY. - The usual
monthly meeting of the members of this Society was
held last evening at the York Hotel, Upper %V ellington-
eachair.ppro approved. M
The minutes
uo
nf
etehye
last r e
meetingt; Mr.
G e
weresi
e
begged to suggest that some gentleman should move a
ind
andthe
r. solution to the effect, that although the S, c:ety de-
precated the violence and crime perpetrated lately in
this country, under the name of liberty, yet still they
would ne,,er cease agitating legally, until a more fair
it pc< sentation of the people was carried, believing that
rvtorm was certainly necessary. He would not take
upon himself to move the resolution, as, since a reso-
lution condemnatory of General Evans had b. en placed
upon the books, he could not but feel that the promi-
nent position he had formerly taken in the Society's
affairs had been altogether altered. The Chairman
thought nothing had occurred to cause the observation
made by Mr. Pouncey. Ho believed no member of the
society was more respected than the gentleman in ques-
tion. Several members impressed upon Mr.
Pouncey
the benefit which might accrue to the society from the
resolution appearing in his name. The matter was,
however, eventually referred to the Committee of Ge-
neral Purposes, which would have its meeting next
Monday, when that committee would convene a general
meeting of the society upon the subject. After the dis-
posal of some private business, thanks were voted to the
chair, and the meeting separated.
THE WEATHER.—We had a heavy fall of rain,
sleet, and snow, on Friday morning, and at daylight all
the hills within sight of our elevated city were covered
.aw_nhgci
ec
adh
fecrdooonmi tiiann uno
reatdihe trticol
ul
wrSyeu. s nt,d aa yn
dmo rnin
brought,
with the white mantle of winter. Towards evening a
a fresh, which still continues, but with only a slight
keenwabhaetne mftrehones ttwosi fented oi
PIG IRON AT GLASGOW.—We had some prospect
of an improvement in the early part of the week, but
prices have again gone back, and quotations are flat at
42s 6d. for mixed Nos., cash.

EXPENSES Or THE Swiss s
Colonel Abys, the Chief War ONDERBUND WAR.—
Commissioner of the Swiss
Confederation, has just presented to the Federal Direc-
tory a re port upon the expenses occasioned by the war
of the Souderbund,
which terminated about a year ago
in the signal discomfiture of the
It appears that the expenses Roman Catholic cantons.
amount to the sum of
4,576,5821. (Swiss).
THE GOVERNMENT AND TEE TURNPIKE TRUSTS.
—lt is stated that the Government intend to deal with
the general question of turnpike trusts in the next. ses-
sion of Parliament, and areendeavouring
effect. to obtain iriain
formation to enable them to do so with
circu-
lar has just been addressed to the clerks of the different
for various returns connected with the
trusts, calling
working of their local Acts, and the management of
highways in general. A particular account is required
of the cost of collecting the tolls and maintaining the
staff necessary for a turnpike board, which are enor-
mous compared with the amount actually laid out in the
repair and support of the roads. In Est.ex,t he the
funds trustees
have come to the resolution of apply* ,in
hand to the paying off the debts of the board, and abo-
lishing the trust, by the striking out their Act from the
Annual Turnpike Continuance; Bill, leaving the roads
to be repaired by the parishes.
The Basingstoke Canal Cornpany held, yesterday
their half yearly general meeting at the
Gray's Inn
Coffee-house. The minutes of the last general meeting
were read and confirmed, as also was the statement of the
receipts and expenditure of the company for the pat
year. On the motion of Mr. Lamb, a proprietor, it was
resolved that the sum of 1,5001., now invested in Ex-
chequer-bills, should be sold out, and that amount in-
vested in debentures of one of the great railway com-
panies. A committee of three was at the same time no-
minated for the purpose of selecting the railway com-
pany in whose debentures the investment should be made.
After some other formal business had been transacted the
meeting separated.
COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. —Amongst a numerous
list of fashionables present at the representation of
Flaydee 'nit evening were the following;—His Royal
Highness Prince George of Cambridge, Duke of Devo-
shire, Earl of Cardigan, Earl and Countess of Herring-
ton, Count Kielmansegge, the American Minister, Lord
William Lennox, Baron Rehausen, Baron Andrian
Marquis of Donegal, Lady Caroline Sanford, Lady Bill:
teel, Lady Domville, Mrs. Gore, Sir Archibald Mac-
donald, Sir Henry Webb, Sir J. East, Major Gage,
Major Buckley, Captain De Bathe, Hon. Mr. Vernon
lion. Mr. Bosville, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Hawes, Jr,
L. Clayton, Esq., Sandford, Esq., Sir Benjamin Smith,
Lord Adolphus Fitzclareuce, Henry Baring, Esq., Henry
Greville, Esq., &c.
THE NEW POSTAGE STAMP.—Yesterday an adhe-
siver' tenpenny postage-stamp was issued tu the public.
It has an octagonal edge, within which" is an oval-shaped .
lozenge; around the rim is inscribed Postage Stamp
Tenpence," a raised bust of her Majesty, white on a red,
dish-brown ground, oecupying the centre.
CHOLERA BELTS.—The troops in this garrison
have received orders to wear the " cholera belts', for
the future. They are composed of flannel, and cost 2s.
—Athlone Independent.
Andrew Govan, M.D., a " characte_r;roeaf
great;
frnckpt,
lately died there. lie had exhibited a
for dress and cleanliness, and appeared so
poor
many persons who had known him when his . that
circum-
stances seemed better, frequently bestowed alias 011 him
which he thankfully accepted. He has left more than
'
2,0001.