The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-09 00:00:00

VENICE.

The Trieste papers, together with the Augsburg
Gazette, announce the arrival at that port, on the
h ult., of the English frigate Spartan, from Venice ;
the English brig Alutine, from Corfu ; and the French
steam corvette Brassier, from Ancona; and on the
the English brig Harlequin and the French
reamer Asmotlee, from Venice. Great discontent is
said to prevail in Venice, in consequence of the neu •
trality of the French ships. A report was current on
the 2:6th that Welden had taken Treport.

The Admiralty, during the past week, have signi-
fied to the Iledie of the Departments at Somerset-house
thie their Lprdships will henceforth hold each presiding
officer solely responsible for the due efficiency of his
department, and for confining the expenditure of money
allocated to the several branches strictly within the este-
' meted amount.— United Service Gazette.
LAUNCH OF A MERCHANT VESSEL.—One of the
two steamers ordered by the Peninsular and Oriental
' Company, to bo constructed of wood, by Pitcher, of
Northfieet, was launched on the 2d inst. She is of
about 1,300 tons, and is to have engines of 450-horse
power. The other is nearly ready for sending off the
stocks. These vessels when first ordered were intended
to improve the communication between Suez and Bom-
bay, but, in consequence of some new arrangements by
-the Admiralty, it was thought that their services would
not be required, and they were offered for sale to their
'Lordships. The Admiralty, however, declined to pur-
chase them, and subsequently, we believe, one of them
was disposed of to a foreign Government. They are
lsonsiderecl the stoutest and best-built steamers ever
turned cot by a public company. The vessels, by their
'scantling, argahoroughly adapted for war purposes. In
-the course or heir construction they have been surveyed,
by express orders of the Admiralty with that view, by
Mr. Chatfield, of the Shipwright Department of Wool-
wich Dockyard, and Lieutenant Julius Roberts, of the
•Reyal Marine Artillery.—lbid.
• THE STAFF.—It appears that at the present moment,
of the regimental officers holding staff appointments,
.fifteen belong to the Guards, eight to the Cavalry, seventy-
.five to the Infantry, eight to the Artillery, and eleven to
the several Colonial corps. A stronger proof could not
be given, if any were necessary, of the great and undue
favour shown to the Guards. The Regiments of the Line
have not, it seems, one officer per regiment on the Staff,
while the Guards have not less than five in each corps
so employed. It is not enough that they get a large
proportion of the Colonelcies of regiments, lucrative
commands and honorary distinctions: they must have
the Staff berths also to indemnify them for guarding the
person of the Sovereign !—/bid.
SALE or A WIPE.—A young man of Edmin-
stowe, named Freeman, having resolved to withdraw
himself from the Eden of wedlock, brought his wife to
Mansfield market, and offered her for sale. In the
midst of the corn-market, close to the Town-hall, the
fellow with his unloved and unloving spouse took up his
position to carry his resolution into effect. There she
stood, a comely country-looking girl, of some eighteen
ears or so, with her waist engikdled by a new halter,
ught expressly for the occasion. The husband, at-
tired in the habiliments:of an agricultural labourer, an- '
neuneed his intention, and speedily disposed of his '• ange.
love," halter knOluded, for the astounding sum of is. 6d. 4
The purchaser disposed of the halter for 3d., and thus I
eventually obtained the precious allotment for ls. 3dl
After the sale Freeman demanded of the woman the
wedding-ring he supposed her to have on her finger.
The wily woman, having surmised that such a circum-
stance might probably occur, had provided herself with
a penny brass ring, which she presented to him instead
of the gold one, and which the unblushing salesman,
with much:apparent complacency, deposited carefully in
his pocket. Nature having infused no large amount of
bashfulness into their composition, there was ao diffi-
dence displayed on either side, nor were the parties in
Ilhe least disconcerted by the laughs and jeers of the
arowfl of idlers that witnessed the novel spectacle.—
Notiivitam Review,

MISCELLANEOUS.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
a. d. X. a. d.
Australian Astriculturl 100 0 0 30 0 0
Anglo-Mexican Mint..
11. 49. 10 0 0 10 0 0 16
Ditto, Half Shares.. 2 10 0
Caunpadpra Canada Bonds
5G11..
per
rr
cent.cent
. 100 0 0 32
_lO 0 263
City Bonds.— .. •• .. 3341. pr cent. 82
Comp .Cppr Mars Eng. 51. percent. 100 0 0 70 0 0
Gen. Revers. & Invest. sp. c.& bs, 2/ 100 0 0 100 0 0
Equitable Reverslonry 5/. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 91%
Gen.SteamNavigatiou 11. Ss. 15 0 0 14 0 0
London Institution ... 10
Peninalr & Orient.Strn. Sl. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 53
Reversionary Int. Soc. 4341. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0
Royal Mail Steam •• • • 3341. pr cent. Ico 0 0! 60 0 0
South Australian • • 11. per share. 25 0 0 125 0 0
Van Dieman's Land., 100 0 0 123 0 0 Universal Salvage •• • • 25 0 0 5 0 0

NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.—A facile means
of hastening the completion of these works has b een re-
sorted to by the adoption of Parian cement, a recent dis-
covery. Unlike other plasters, this is better for painting
over in less than twenty hours. Its crystalisation is
likewise so complete that cubes of a large size may be
seen at the factory at Nine Elms, which, although
painted upon all sides shortly after their formation, have
not exuded the slightest moisture. It will mix with oil
or water, and as it does not set for four or five hours, it
f can be worked to any desired end ; but so soon as it
does set it rapidly becomes consistent, and assumes the
hardness and closeness of, and will take as high a polish
as marble. It differs from scagliola, inasmuch as the
most delicate colours blend into each other without any
piecework, and it is not unlikely to take a high position
in domestic architecture. From the absence of all free
acids, glass and other expensive tools are not requisite,
nor need the upholsterer fear his delicate paper-hangings
will suffer from a similar cause. Although this cement
is of little more cost than the ordinary plasters, it is a
considerably more economical one, when the saving of
time, its check to rising moisture, its great
.beauty, and
enduring nature, are taken into account. In inlaid floor-
ings, and the minute purposes of utility and ornament,
it possesses its peculiar qualities—it does not swell, warp,
or shrink while in the course of induration.
A PRECIOUS BUSTLE.—The wife of a Cornish
bankrupt, who was recently examined in the Exeter
District Court of Bankruptcy, was supposed to have
concealed about her person, money or other property of
value, belonging to her husband's estate. She was
searched a few days since by two females, by direction
of the officers from the court, and in her " bustle,"
which was unusually bulky, were found watches and ar-
ticles of jewellery of the value of 1001.—Cornwall
Gazette,

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS
FROM THE ➢IOR\ING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

TIMES.—The trial at Clonmel has concluded in a
verdict of Guilty, accompanied with a most emphatic
recommendation to mercy. Everybody will feel that
both justice and mercy are satisfied by this return.
Of Mr. O'Brien's actual guilt there could be no
serious doubt, though the splendid ability with which
his defence has been conducted did just suggest the
CI apprehension of a verdict, which we are sure would
have been most injurious to the prospects of Ireland.
"For many reasons," we are ready to join in the
• prayer of the jury, as, indeed, we have long before
expressed in anticipation of this result. Mr. Smith
• O'Brien, with some qualities that crave our compas-
s sion, cannot be considered an entirely accountable
person. His enthusiasm scarcely allows him to be
% conscious of his own intentions. In other words, he
hardly knows what he wants or what he means. On
a former occasion he excited the ridicule of the
nation, and even of his brother Repealers, by a piece
of childish obstinacy, without either meaning or
point. His present vagary has been of a more serious
character, but they who identify the martyr of the
coal-hole with the hero of Ballingarry will desire
for him nothing more than an entire and
- final withdrawal from the excitement of political life.
All the pleas of the defence have gone to prove that
Mr. O'Brien is not capable of a real intention, and
•"' that words and deeds which are usually held con-
- elusive as to the existence of a settled determination,
in his particular case, and considering his character,
mean nothing at all except the imago of some project
flickering before the mind. Mr. O'Brien had posi-
tively announced a rebellion beforehand, and invited
the people to arms with that design. How is this
_ met ? He had only done so for effect. It was a
mere demonstration to bring out the spirit and
strength of his party. Again, whatever exceptions
!cw. may be made to Dobbin's evidence, and even if it be
rejected altogether, it is not disputed that Mr.
O'Brien and his confederates discussed in Dublin last
summer the time, the occasion, the manner, the
armament of a projected insurrection. This how-
ever, which in a strong-minded man would have im-
plied an intention, in a dilatory, vacillating, and theo-
retical character, might mean nothing more than a
dreamy anticipation of possible results. Again, Mr.
O'Brien went a tour of agitation with several plain-
ce I spoken confederates ; he delivered himself very
strongly as to the necessity of a revolt, and also
stood by while his companions went into the pike
and rifle part of the business. All this, it is
assumed, was only an emphatic way of talking, and
did not imply a serious design. By and by Mr.
O'Brien appears on the last closing scene, surrounded
by a considerable number of men, more or less armed.
He invites them to resist the police and the troops.
These untoward appearances are easily disposed of.
As Mr. O'Brien never had any serious intention of
rebellion, much less has he now:He is only standing
on the defensive. Before long Mr. O'Brie❑ is found
peremptorily demanding bread for his men, and ;carts
and horses for the construction of barricades. The

bread he pays for, and takes very meekly a point
blank denial to his other demands. This proves that
Os. either his resolution or his influence was not very
; strong. He barricades the highway against
I her Majesty's troops, but lets them through
1% when he had ascertained that he was not
• himself the object of their march. This
incident, which looks so Parisian, is pleaded
in his favour as positively proving the ab-
-4 sence of revolutionary designs. He writes to a min-
_
63,‘ mg company telling them he is attempting a revolu-
-4,4 tion. He did not mean what he said. He had no
• such intention, though he declared that he had, and
' acted as if he had. His words were a falsehood, and
his army a hoax. He meant just nothing at all by
either the one or the other. Finally, he and his
army see a body of policemen approaching. They
spontaneously attack the police, pursue them to a
ice- house, and besiege them till beaten off. It is nothing
but self-preservation. Mr. O'Brien never had in•
tended a collision with the police. He had announced
• a collision, and now to all appearance was fulfilling
his promise, but the announcement was a flourish,
and .the fulfilment was an accident. Mr. O'Brien
was the victim of a runaway tongue and of the
chapter of accidents. He spoke in excitement, and
acted by force of circumstances. He said he would
rebel, but did not tnean it ; he did rebel, but it was
contrary to his wishes. Re procures weapons—lays
them aside, pauses, relents—is pursued by the con-
sciousness of his own ill• intention—advances mecha-
nically to his fate—falls in with his enemy, wrangles
—provokes—wounds— and in self-preservation is
obliged to complete the crime with a weapon, of
which he could, indeed, hardly say himself whether
he had it about him for the purpose or not. If all
vacillations, reserves, inconsistencies, aed follies were
to be admitted in apology for crime,scarce a criminal
would be punished, and weakness would rescue its
twin brother wickedness from its doom. It is enough
for the purposes of truth and justice that the criminal
act should be: found to agree with the declared or
otherwise evident intentions of the doer. Where the
design has developed itself its preparations, and those
preparations have been actually used for the end-
- where the tragedy is consistent throughout, and one
thread of intention connects the whole, that is all the
insight into the mental history of a criminal act that
any earthly tribunal can expect to obtain. The
struggles, the hesitations, ani the self-deceptions of
• the inward man are beyond human scrutiny.
CHRONICLE.—The first of the " state trials" is

over, and William Smith O'Brien has been convicted
34 lof high treason by a jury, of his countrymen. As,
throughout the whole period which elapsed between
the arrest of the leaders in the Irish insurrection and
the commencement of their trials, we urged the in-
expediency of committing so important an [...flair to a
tribunal evidently unfitted for it, so we have much
pleasure in admitting that (except as regards the pri-
mary and fundamental error to which we have alluded),
the manner in which the proceedings hive been hitherto
conducted is, so far as we have the means of judging,
creditable to the Government and to its officers. We
retain our opinion that it was not fair to subject the
gentlemen of Tipperary to the dangers and tempta-
tions inseparable from the anomalous position in
which they were placed, or to put the issue of
justice upon the hazard that not one out of the
twelve men taken by chance from tho panel,
would, yielding to the influence of motives which
I
05 it is easy to conceive, shrink from the performance of
his duty ; nor, as we have often said, do we see that

any moral weight whatever has been gained by the
'95••7.4 adoption of a " constitutional" course. But having
determined upon their course of action, we must say
that the Government have shown n-?,ither indiscretion
ss. nor timidity in their subsequent proceedings, and that
1% the case against Smith O'Brien has been conducted
't with equal judgment, fairness, and moderation. The
_ _ _ _

_
speech of Mr. Whiteside, on the contrary, and the line
.34 of cross-examination adopted by himself and his fel-
e,'
od low-advocates, appear to us as untoward as they have
proved unsuccessful. The fact is, that the case against
43 the prisoner was too strong. There was absolutely
nothing worthy of real consideration to be said for
6d
the prisoner, except with a view to extenuate his
icrime ; and the only hope which his advocutes could
entertain was that of either confusiug the jury,
Ni6s. by diverting their attention from the real merits
od of the question submitted to them, or by acting upon
.od. their feelings so as to pervert their judgment. The
whole of the evidence, for example, by which Mr.
- Whiteside offered to how that Lord John Russell
cu's and his colleagues were prepared to carry the Reform
Bill by an armed insurrection, is no more a defence
of Smith O'Brien against a charge of treason, than
evidence of dishonesty on the part of any given public
, man would be a good defence for a delinquent,
caught in the act of picking pockets ; and so, again,
the fact that Mr. O'Brien had often, at different
times of his life, expressed to his friends his admira-
tion for the Constitution, and his dislike of anarchy
and civil war, possesses no more value, against the
irrefragable proof that he endeavoured to subvert the
Constitution and to levy civil war, than would attach
to the testimony that the aforesaid pickpocket had
often expressed a theoretical preference for honest
ways—if he could have afforded to live by them.
When Mr. O'Brien left Dublin for the last time be-
fore the insurrection, he had no intention whatever of
appealing to arms ; and it was only when he learned
that the Habeas Corpus Act had been suspended, and
that a warrant was issued for his arrest, that he saw,
for the first time, the hopelessness of playing out the
game which he had planned. That he was a gentle-
man, a man of honour, and a lover of his country, it
would be cruel affectation to deny ; but that the jury
who convicted him have been, in every sense of the
word, justified in treating him as a rebel and a
traitor, will be equally admitted by every just and
impartial observer throughout the civilised world.
The best thing that can be said for him is, that he was
the dupe and the tool of men far worse than himself,
that he is now their scapegoat, and that, if they had
been successful, he would, in all probability, have been
their first victim.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]---A most awful Wound Cured
by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—George Morris, a
mechanic, of Newport, was for months rendered totally
unable to work, or even move about the house, from
the_effects of a dreadful abscess which had formed in his
thigh, and which had been repeatedly lanced, under the
advice of various surgeons; ultimately he was admitted
into the hospital, from whence, after the best medical
skill bad been tried, he was dismissed as incurable. Yet,
to the astonishment of all, this dreadful bad wound was
soundly healed by the use of Holloway's Ointment and
Pills, a supply of which was kindly presented to him by
the minister of his parish. Sold by all druggists, and
at Professor Holloway's establishment, 244, Strand,
London.
BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, OCT. 6.—The sales
sinco our last have been considerable, both for pan and
scale purposes, and prices may be quoted fully 6d. per
cwt. higher for all descriptions. The refined market is
also dear, with but few goods offering. Rum very dull.
—Bristol Mercury.