The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-25 00:00:00

HOLDERS.

SPANISH AMERICAN BOND-

The following letter has been aldressed to Messrs.
Schneider and Co. by the chairman of the Committee of
Spanish American Bondholders:—

" 13, Austinfriars, Nov. 23.
" Gentlemen,—Having laid before the Committee rsi
Spanish American Bondholders your letter of the 17,h
inst., with its enclosures, together with the copy of a
nage, published by the Consul of Mexico in the news-
papers, dated the 16th inst., transmitted to the com-
mitteeby the said Consul. lam requested by the com-
mittee to express their expectation that you will not,
under existing circumstances, comply with the demand
made upon you by the Consul of Mexico and Mr. B. G.
Farias, dated the 16th instant., for delivering up the
bonds, monies, or securities held by you in respect of
the Mexican debt.
" The committee trust it is not necessary for them to
advert io the responsible position in which you stai2,l
this matter towards the bondholders.

" I remain, gentlemen,
" Your most obedient servant,
•
" G. R. ROBINSON, Chairman.
" To Messrs. John Schneider and Co."

THE RIVER PLATE.

EXTRACTS, OF LETTERS RECEIVED FROM MONTE VIDEO

PER HER MAJESTY'S PACKET.
MONTE VIDEO, SEPT. 14, 1846.—Mr. Hood sailed
last night in tbe. Gorgon, and we hope and trust he will
soon be in England. All sorts of malicious reports end
erroneous statements are current respecting him and his
mission since his departure, which it would 'be ridiculous
to repeat, but it is melancholy to see how parry feeling
and passion has blinded men in this unfortunate efts.
We have been informed that her Majesty's steamer
Alecto has been getting in readiness for some days past
for a long voyage, of which parties are to be kept in
ignorance. Ascension is the first place she is to go to,
and yet the coast of Africa is not her destination, con-
sequently it is supposed she will proceed to England,
and that the object of her going is by a more expeditious
route to arrive before Mr. Hood in the Gorgon, with
Messrs. Ouseley and Deffaudis's statements respecting
the part they have taken in the late affair; and we siacu!tt
not be very much surprised to see the Baron himself go
in her, especially after what we have lately heard; andi
you may rust assured that no stone will be left unturned
by these men to establish their case, if possible;at t •
we do not lose sight of a thing of this kind, thou'
•
all, it may prove to be a mistake.
S .me rumours are current here of a revoluttOttinCor7.- •
rientes, which: we believe to be all fudge.
MONTE VIDEO, SEPT. 15.—The Griffon has soddenly`
been ordered to leave for hio, but we have no idea with
what object. Nothing further transpires respecting the
Alecto.
We have dates from Buenos Ayres to the 13th iest ,
but nothing of interest has occurred in politics.
(From a Stcond Edition of the Liverpool Times of
yesterday.)
We have received a Rio paper of the 3d October,
which is a day later than those of which we have given
an account in another column. It brings down the
news from Buenos Ayres to the 15th September, aed
from Monte Video to The 19th. From Buenes Ayres
we learn that Dr. Wlienna and Mr. Tenker, both
medical men, and the latter an American citzien, bud
been apprehended for not wearing the red ribbon., Cre
symbol of the Hoses party.
• Nothing had been heard in Buenos Ayres from Cor-
rientes, and a letter of the 15th says, that people ageffk
begin to call Urquiza a traitor.

-- -
POLYTECHNIC INSTITU T EON.
Schonbein's powder cotton and other explosives have
formed the subject of Dr. Ryan's lecture this week; [he
Doctor, first of all, explained that all explosives might
be classed under four heads. First, those whose pow-r'
depended merely on sudden expansion, as steam of high
pressure—liquid carbonic acid and compressed air.
Secondly, those whose power depends upon the sudden
separation of elements which had been held togeth#o by a
very feeble affinity, such as iodide of nitrogen and chloride
of nitrogen. The latter compound, the Doctor explained,
was composed of two elements, which in their separate
condition were gaseous, but under the influence of che-
mical attraction became liquid. The moment, however,
that the affinity is overcome an explosion occurs, owing
to the return of the chlorine and nitrogen to their
original condition. Thirdly, those whose .expktsive
action depends upon the sudden chemical union of
certain elements which previously had only been in s
state of mere mechanical mixture, such as the explosion
of the two gases oxygen and hydrogen by the electric
spark. Fourthly, such as on ignition suffered
decomposition, and formed consequently new and
distinct compounds. To this class belongs gunpowder,
the fulminates, the carbazotes, and the powder cotton.
In speaking of the latter substance, Dr. Ryan lamented
that he was so placed as to be unable, without a breach
of confidence, to communicate the precise secret of
Schonbein's mode of preparation. However, he entered
into a clear statement of the peculiar action of nitric acid
upon vegetable fibre, giving numerous instances of the
observance of facts, apparently not important in them-
selves, which had evidently led to Schonbein's disco-
very. Amorg the most pleasing of the Doctor's experi-
ments were those in which he produced explosive pre-
cipitates, by pouring into water the solution in nitric
acid of starch, cotton, linen, sawdust, &c. The pre-
cipitate from the first he showed to be xilordine
01. Bracconnot ar:d of Pelouze, and the nitramidine of
Dumas. He also showed most clearly that, although
the precipitates thrown down from cotton and linen re-
semble in its general character that produced froiu
starch, yet there existed some slight molecular diae;-
gti.Ce._such es may exist between starch and sueur: ful`
while the starch precipitate was. The Doctor prof:use:l
that, as Dumas had called the one nitramidine, the °Vier
should be called nitroliguine. Tho Doctor principally
confined his experiments on the cotton to such as showe,t
its <sa,y inflammability, its explosion without smoke, and
its consequent value in mining operations. On tic
table we noticed the gun which had been burst in Mr.
Lancaster's hands, while firing a charge of 83 grains.
The effect on the metal was, certainly, most curioug.

LAURENT'S CASINO.—This novel place of enter-
tainment, in which the amusements of the concert and
ball room are so happily blended, is now entirely
established in public favour; it is nightly crowded by a
highly respectable company, who are apparently very
vtell pleased with the entertainments presented by the
spirited proprietor, Mr. Ellis. Not a vestige of the
scientific instruments, which formerly, to so little pur-
pose, stocked the gallery, is now to be seen. The con-
cert consists usually of a dozen well selected pieces from
the compositions of Mozart, Bellini, Donizitti' B*lfe,
&c. A very well arranged orchestra, under the able
direction of M. Laurent, jun., gives due effect to these
selections. The vocalists engaged are Miss Clairton,
Messrs. Binge, De Courcy, J. Hoe, and the popular
*oink' singer, Mr. Sharpe, all of whom sing in a very
praiseworthy style the music allotted to them.
dances. are each evening varied, and comprise the most
popular quadrilles, polkas and waltzes; among which arc
"La Peri," Musard; " the Brunnaw," Tinney; The
Tzanmeister," Suauss, &c. Six efficient masters of the
ceremonies render the dances orderly and complete.
By a judicious arrangement the amusements cease half
an hour before midnight, by which means late hours end
consequent fatigue are avoided, to the comfort of the
visitors.
THE FIRE IN CLERKENWELL.—ADDITIONAL PAR-
TICULARS.—The fire which broke out usterday morn-
ing upon Messrs. Palmer's candle f rory, in Allen-
street, St. John-street, Clerkerm ell, briefly noticed in
this journal yesterday, was attended with serious- de-
struction of property. At the lowest estimate it will
reach to several thousand pounds. The factory; weich
is totally destroyed, was upwards of 120 feet long by 60
or 70 feet wide. It was filled with gdods, some finished
and others partially. The firemen were unable to get
the flame 3 entirely extinguished until nearly six o'clock.
Although diligent march has been made, nothing tend-
ing to explain the cause of the disaster could be ascer-
tained. When the factory was closed the previous night
everything appeared perfectly safe. We are given to
understand that upwards of one hundred men will be
thrown out of employment by the calamity. The follow-
ing
neis:2lmr.estag.idpwaohnod:sesoffifacetioarlyritnpAorltl:if-sttrheeet,dm r
down, and contents destroyed—insured in the Phcenix
Nos. 1,2, 3, and 4, Compton-court, let out in tenements,
front scorched and window glass demolished ; Nos. 5;
6, and 7, several squares of glass broken in buildings,
and damage to furniture by removal ; No. 61, Compton- *
street, J. Holland, engineer's tool maker, back trout
scorched ; No. 62, ditto ; Mr. S. Hill, watch and clock
maker, similar damage ; No. 63, ditto, like dattage ;
No. 64, G. W. Young, licensed victualler, damage to
stock by removal, and some glass br‘ ken ; Messrs.
Hooper, black lead mills, roof damaged by fire and cut-
lug away—insured in the Norwich Union Office.
PROPOSED BREAKWATER AT BRIGHTON.--A pub-
lic meeting of the inhabitants of Brighter' was lied at
the Town-hall, on Monday, for the purpose of takint".,,
into consideration a communication from the Bright9n
Suspension Pier Company, respecting their intention
ire
construct a fixed breakwater at the southcienshdert.,
chain pier for its protection, and to.oaffi
ships, steam-packets, yachts, boats,
and 'eth,e
the high-constable, was called p
voefspsealsss,,,anngdertso,
aentdh emeemrethfihaa.s4rnblh<diie_npisZaridi.vv.d. scseimartbts,a,r}rlnt:;i
stehe pier-head, not exceedg
be erectsd on the south. o
of
the
dPlb.erreaCkne-matrenr7;vheixehPilsirßido
tl3hreawparintchiepleenogfi'ateheerpropof
mailcerdelLteanntcef,orlet-mndeeaxsttentdoinwgesatb,ouwthti,hrldei
noose' afford
ccess to the pier at all times. The breakwater will he
saaqinuearlteenrgtofh
siahaelter for steam-packets of all classes,.
constructeda of a series of iron bars, formed ihto tr inas-
sive framework, and well ballasted with granitt
The section in depth was to be eighty feet, so as to ! !:
completely the force of the waves. The experi.::,
estimated at 15,000/. Sir C. Malcolm and other
tors of the company having spoken in favour (,Y ;!,0
principle and advantages of the proposed structure,
min Pechell declared his wilingness to support in P
liament the Bill, which will be applied for next a
authorising the completion of the plan. The
then separated.
On Friday morning last the early railway train
between Kendal and Lancaster ran over and killed a ii .e
black cat, which was crossing the line with a mouse, ze,id
was too intent upon her prey to notice the approa;.,ll of
the engine. The cat was afterwards found comPlitel
cut in two, with the mouse firmly fixed betweealwr
teeth:—Carlisle Patriot.
PRESENTATION OF A PURSE TO THE PRINCF
WALES.—Mrs. Fead, the lad'Y of Colottel F,ad,
late of the Grenadier Guards, who resides near Brack-
heath, presented his Royal Highness the Prieve of
Wales, en . his birthday, with a most magnificent and
unique purse, worked with her own hands. Her Mejeitty
has most graciously acknowledged the present, and con-
descended, in the name pf the Prince, to accept the same