The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-16 00:00:00

~~


CELEBRATION OF EARL GROS-
VENOR'S MAJORITY.
Chester was on Tuesday wholly given to festivity to
celebrate the coming of age of Earl Grosvenor, eldest
son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster.
The bells of the cathedral and other churches rang
forth merry peals, bands paraded the streets, and all was
hilarity and mirth. Two thousand tickets, value seven
shillings each, available either in silver coin or meat and
drink, were distributed among the citizens as a gift from
the Noble Marquis, to enable them to " make merry
and be glad " on this auspicious occasion; and various
social parties assembled at the different hotels and inns
to enjoy a good dinner, and to drink long life and hap-
piness to the respected heir of the Noble House of
Eaton. About twelve o'clock the boys of the Blue Coat
Hospital, preceded by their excellent juvenile band,
marched with their elegant banner and new flags pre-
pared for this festivity, to Eaton Park, where a scene of
universal rejoicing presented itself. In front of the
splendid mansion of Eaton Hall mall marquees
were erected, in which an immense body of
the tenants of the Noble Marquis, their la-
bourers, and dependents, were feasted with a
most substantial dinner of good old English cheer,
with potations of the choicest juice of the " barley
bree;" and most heartily did the assembled throng do
justice to the bounty of Lord Westminster, and most re-
solutely did they cheer the bumper toast to the health
of.the Earl Grosvenor. The festivities at Eaton Hall
were continued on Wednesday and Thursday, when the
females resident on the estates of the Marquis, and
others to whom his kindness on this occasion has been
extended, were regaled with tea and other entertain-
ments; and the children of the various schools which are
supported by the liberality of the Grosvenor family had
also the happiness of partaking in the universal
joy. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster,
the Earl Grosvenor, Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor, the
Honourable Mr. Lawley, and other members of the
family circle, honoured the festivities with their pre-
sence; and a great number of the neighbouring gentry
and of the most influential citizens of Chester were
spectators of the joyous scene. At five o'clock in the
afternoon about two hundred of the principal gentry
and tradesmen of the city and neighbourhood sat down to
a banquet at the Royal Hotel. In the unavoidable ab-
sence of the Mayor, Mr. Thomas Dixon discharged the
duties of the chair. The greatest conviviality animated
the party, and the toast of the evening, to the health
and
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cheers. About nine o'clock there was a magnificent dis-
play of fireworks on the Itoodee (for which a liberal sub-
scriptionty,tht
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Chesteros t Courant.

SUICIDE OF A BARRISTER.—Late on Wednesday.
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inquiry took place at the deceased's residence, No. 15,
Gloucester-road, Regent's-park. It appeared by the evi-
dence of several witnesses that for some time past de-
ceased had laboured under great depression of spirits,
and entertained a fear, which it appears was unfounded,
that his pecuniary affairs were becoming embarrassed.
On Tuesday morning he rose at his u:;ual hour, and
went to his dressing-room, whire shortly afterwards the
report of fire-arms was heard. Mrs. Jordan and the
servants went to the room, and found deceased lying on
his back, having discharged a large horse pistol into his
chest. Dr. Jones, a neighbouring surgeon, was imme-
diately called in, and pronounced life extinct. Verdict,
" That deceased destroyed himself, being at the time of
unsound mind."

DEArit OF A DwAßr.—On Friday a diminutive
Woman, named Johanna O'Connor, aged about 50, from
the sister isle, was brought into Nottingham for the pur-
pose of being exhibited i❑ the fair. Persons who ho-
noured her with their company on that day were struck
with the ghastliness of her appearance, and took especial
care not to repeat the visit. On Saturday, at noon, the
" wonder of the world" was taken ill, and died at two
o'clock. On Sunday afternoon the remains of the unfor-
tunate pigmy, who but a few days previous had been the
subject of " a challenge to the world," were conveyed to
the cemetery.—Nottingham Journal.

MEXICAN BONDS.
The following highly important communication on the
subject of the Mexican debt, with a copy of the opera-
tive part of the " dispatch," has been forwarded by
Senor Gomez Ferias the younger, son and representative
of the Mexican Minister of Finance. It will be observed
by the second clause of the dispatch that the Mexican
Government contemplate a re-exchange of the old for
the new bonds as the chief thing to be done at present;
and by the third clause, that there is a notion of some
new terms, yet undefined:—
"TO THE EDITOR OF TIE TIMES.
" Sir,--I am informed that the continued silence of
Mr. Murphy with regard to the determinatoin of the
Mexican Government on the subject of the arrangement
of its foreign debt lately made in this city, has excited
much uneasiness among the bondholders, and an unfa-
vourable feeling towards the Government of the Re-
public.

" Desirous of calming the apprehensions of those in-
terested in the public debt of Mexico, I beg to assure
them that the resolutions of my Government disapprov-
ing the conversion made under the late administration
of General Paredes, have been adopted, not from mo-
tives of party, and still less from those of interest, but
solely from the conviction that the country could not
fulfil the engagements which Mr. Murphy, without any
powers to such effect, had contracted.
" Since, therefore, it appears that Mr. Murphy re-
fuses to make public the orders which he received by
the last steamer from his Government (and which I de-
livered to him in person on the 7th inst.), that the bond-
holders may know the real intentions of the present
Mexican Administration, I beg to accompany herewith
a translation of that part of the dispatch which contains
the orders referred to, and soliciting its publication.—
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

"B. GOMEZ FARIAS.
" Queen's Hotel, Clifford-street, London, Oct. 15."

" Ilis Excellency the General-in-Chief charged ad in-
terim with the government of the nation, declares—
" 1. That the conversion of our debt into the consoli-
dated fund of 10,241,6501. sterling is hereby annulled,
and your Excellency is responsible for whatever loss or
detriment may from this operation result to the republic.
"2. That public notice be immediately Oven through
the London journals, in order that the holders of the
said converted debt may go and receive back the bonds
which they had previously delivered for conversion,
giving in exchange those that they may have received of
the new consolidated fund.

"3. That due notice be likewise given through the
public journals to the holders of Mexican Bonds that the
Government of the republic intends to propose, through
other agents, a new plan, based upon an equitable ar-
rangement, and in which the Government will contract
❑o obligation which it cannot fulfil.

"4. That your Excellency being hereby relieved from
every charge and office held from the Government of the
republic, will deliver over to the Secretary of Legation
the archives, and whatever papers and documents may
be in your power, relating to the particular affairs in-
trusted to your Excellency.
"I communicate this to your Excellency by supreme
order for your intelligence and effects corresponding.
God and liberty.

" Mexico, Aug. 28. " GOMEZ FARIAS.
"E. S. D. Thomas Murphy, Minister Plenipotentiary
of the republic to her Britannic Majesty."

MARVELLOUS RAIL WAY INCI-
DENT.
On Monday last, Oct. 12, a gentleman of the name of
Parker, of Sydenham, Kent, was travelling by the mail
train from Derby to London, in a first-class carriage;
his only companion being a gentleman about thirty
years of age, remarkably handsome, and perfectly gentle-
manly in his appearance and manners. After some pee-
liininary conversation, he requested to have the windoW-
kept open, and offered Mr. Parker his wrapper if he felt
inconvenienced by the cold. Other conversation ensued,
and he stated that he once possessed a large fortuno,
which he had squandered; that he had now retired from
the army, and had not been so happy for a long period
as at that moment; adding that some friend had given
him 1,100/. to pay his debts, and 500/. more to
buy furniture, and that the first thing he intended to
do was to buy a dressing:case, which would cost him
thirty-five guineas, which Mr. Parker remarked he
thought would be a great pity, as no doubt he already
possessed one. After some further conversation, whieir
began to alarm Mr. Parker, he suddenly dropped on
his knees, and in a most energetic and fervent manner'
prayed for his friends the Dukes of Beaufort and Wel-
lington, and more particularly that his dear mother, who
had died in his infancy, should appear, &c. After rising
from his knees he exclaimed to Mr. Parker, " Did you
hear a noise ? You must have heard that God was
speaking to me." At the same moment a train passed,
the engine of which he declared to be hell. Mr. Parker
by this time being greatly alarmed, tried in vain to
soothe him ; his only reply was, Have you repented of
your sins?" at the same time throwing off his boots,
coat, and shirt, with his gold watch, chain, and seals ;
he began to slap Mr. Parker in the face, exclaiming,
" You must come along with me !" and thrusting his
own head through the window, he cut his head and nec 1
in a most shocking manner, and was soon covered with
blood. He then returned with double fury, and beat
Mr. Parker about the head and face most severely. Ex-
pecting to be murdered every moment, Mr. Parker en-
treated him (in order to gain time) to pray again, which
he instantly did ; while Mr. Parker, at the imminent
risk of his life, opened the door and made his v lay to
the next carriage, where there was only one gentle-
man, who, having heard all that had passed, helped him
in and shut to the dour. They had scarcely done, this
when the madman appeared, endeavouring to force his
way in also, and it required the united efforts of both to
keep him out, so he returned to his carriage. This hap-
pened near the Watford station. Frequent and unavail-
ing appeals were made to the guard for assistance, stating
that a gentleman was dying, aed the reply was that being
after their time they could not stop, as the Manchester
train was close behind them. This, however, was no
excuse for the guard not going to the carriage to ascer-
tain what was the matter. All Mr. Parker knows fur-
ther of this strange companion is, that the guard of a
following train saw a man in a state of nudity running
by the sido of the road, which can only be accounted fur
by his having thrown himself off the train, which %las
then going at an increased speed. A servant was at the
terminus of the Euston-square station, waiting for his
master; but Mr. Parker being in a dreadfully bruised
state, and most anxious to get home, did not wait to hear
the result of this strange encounter. We are happy
to say he is now nearly recovered from the effects of his
violent bruises and most alarming position.