The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-12 00:00:00

CROSBY HALL.

Mr. Wilson is at present giving a series of his enter-
tainments on the Songs of Scotland. in this fine old hall ;
they are given on the Tuesday and Friday evenings, and
are to extend to seven, he having already given four.
We were present last night, and along with every one in
the well-tilled hall, enjoyed a rich treat. The entertain-
ment comprised " An hour wi' Burns," and an " Act of
Miscellaneous Songs ;" in the former we had some of
the finest lyrics of the great peasant poet, sung only as
Wilson can sing them, and we had " Tam o'Shanter "
besides, given in so excellent and so unmistakeable a
way, as to call down the most hearty plaudits.. Every
point of the poet was given with great truth, and Tam's
journey, and his mishaps by flood and field, was detailed
with great humour. Wilson's reading of Tam o'Shanter,
is a treat of no common kind. Ia the second part there
was a judicious selection of those songs which Wilson
has rendered so popular, such as " Who'll- buy caller
Herring ?"—" Come under my plaidie "—" Tulloch -
.gorum," &c. The audience was as hearty and enthusi-
astic as ever. In the peculiar walk he has chalked out for
himself Wilson has had many followers, but where are
they ?—vanished into obscurity, and he alone is still the
public favourite, and deservedly the only one that will
be received as the delineator of the Songs of Scotland.

DEATH OP LIEUT.-GENERAL SiIORTALL.—ThiS
officer, who for many years held the appointment of
keeper of the powder magazine in the Pncenix Park.
Dublin, expired at his residence, in that city, on the 7th
instant, at the advanced ago of 86. lle entered the
Royal Irish Artillery, as second lieutenant, February
12th, 1793 ; and his other commissions were thus dated
—lieutenant, August 7th. 1793 ; captain, May 9th,
1796 ; major, September 25th, 1803 ; lieutenant-colonel
July 25th, 1810 ; KI aj or- general, July 22d, 1830 ; and
lieutenant-general, November 23d, 1841. The gallant
fficer served with much distinction on the continent
under the Duke of York in 1793, 1794, and 1795.

WINDSOR, FRIDAY EVENING.—Among the im-
provements contemplated in the royal gardens around
Windsor Castle is the formation of separate establish-
flents for the younger branches of the royal family as
they grow up. Thus, it is said, Frogmore Lodge (the
resent residence of her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent), is to be converted into a separate establishment,
,r domicile, either for the Prince of Wales or the
?rincess Royal ; and, in furtherance of that objezt, the
Duchess of Kent is said to be in treaty for St. Leonard's
Hill, so long the seat of the Harcourt family, in the
northern district of Windsor Forest.

DISTRESS IN THE HIGHLANDS.—In reference to
he distress in the West Highlands, the following is a
touching and melancholy fact, given on the authority of
s medical gentleman of extensive practice and long ex-
perience:—" A woman, with a sucking infant at her
`)reast, came on board the Free Church schooner to beg
Or a handful of meal. I looked to her, and the sight
went to my heart; the natural nourishment fur her in
'ant was clean gone. She held in her hand a small
oiece of the flesh of a salted eel. Masticating this, she
ipplie,l it from time to time to the mouth of her babe; it
was all that she had; she did what she could as a mo-
ther; the infant shrunk, but tasted it." Who can read
this~ hort but pitiful tale of misery, and not sympathise
-with a people on whom adversity is pressing so severely.
—Greenock Advertiser.

THE SUB-MARINE EXPLOSIONS IN THE TYNE.—
On Tuesday we mentioned some sub-marine operations
Nhich were conducted at the mouth of the river Tyne,
m Monday, for the purpose of blowing up the wreck of
the Lady Feversham. On Wednesday the operations
-vere resumed. Four charges of 1701 b. each were de-
msited under the bows of the vessel, and as soon as the
necessary preparations were completed, were fired—on
this occasion with success. A tremendous report accom-
nulled the explosion, and the vibration reached both
shores. An immense column of water was blown to a
;Teat height, accompanied by coals and timber; and in
a few minutes the whole surface of the harbour was
covered with pieces of wreck, including the bowsprit
and one of the masts. Deafening shouts rose from
both sides of the river, and innumerable boats put off to
profit by the occurrence.
SUICIDE BY A MANIAC.—Last night Mr. Payne
held an inquest at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, on the
body of John Skeate. aged 84. The deceased, who lived
et No. 7, King-street, St. Luke's, was a pensioner of the
East India Cfotncany, from which he receiveda
shilling
t day, and he received a similar sum from he Govern-
ment. A few days ago he was found in his room with
his throat severed in two places, and two razors were in
his hand. He was immediately removed to the above,
institution, where another woundiVls. found his
h I
sto-
mach. Deceased observed that e inflicted the wounds
as he had a pain in his chest which he wanted to get rid
of. He had been married three times, the last time seven
hospital he was constantly
years ago. While at the
insane. Verdict—" Temporary insanity."
THE SUSPECTED MURDER OF A WIFE BY TIER
FlusnaND.—Yesterday evening Mr. W. Payne resumed
and concluded the inquiry at the Three Tuns, Red Cross-
street. Barbican, on the body of Eleanor Elizabeth
Wright, aged 34, who died under the suspicious cir-
cumstances detailed inThe Sun of yesterday. The
inquiry had been adjourned to afford time to analyse
the contents of the stomach, and yesterday evening Mr.
Thomas Taylor, surgeon, of New Bridge-street, had ap-
plied every test in order to detect the existence of poison,
but nothing prejudicial to life was found, and there was
disease of heart and lungs sufficient to account for death.
rhe coroner summed up the evidence at great length.
rhe jury returned a verdict of natural death, caused by
diseased heart and lungs.
EDINBURGH AND PERTH RAILWAY.—The prelimi-
naries for the formation of a new company to carry out
this undertaking are proceeding most satisfactorily.
Public meetings have been 'held during the past week at
Perth, Kinross, Milnathort, &c., supported by the lead-
ing landed proprietors on the intended line, and at Perth
presided over by the Lord Provost, and countenanced
by most of the magistrates, manufacturers, and bleachers
of the town and neighbourhood. At the town council
ineetirg, on Monday, power was given to the Lord Pro-
vost in his official capacity to act on a provisional com-
mittee, and a decision upon the propriety of encouraging
the undertaking was, as required by the rules, deferred
to another meeting.—Perth Courier.
EFFECT OF RAILWAYS.—On Thursday the Bedford
coach, which for above half a century has run on the
road between London and Bedford, with harness, horses,
&e., was disposed, of by auction. The coach was given
up on account of the opening of the railway from the
London and Birmingham line to Bedford. There were
40 horses belonging to the couch.