The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-04 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

SUBJECT FOR THE HULSEAN PRIZE.
CAMBRIDGE, JAN. 3.—The late Rev. John Hulse
having bequeathed to the University of Cambridge cer-
tain estates for the advancement of religious learning.
and having directed in his will that out of the rents and
profits, so soon as annuities and other encumbrances
would admit, an annual premium should be given " for
the best dissertation in the English language on the evi-
dence in general, or on the prophecies or miracles in psr-
ticular, or on any other particular argument, whether
the same be direct or collateral proofs of the Christian
religion, in order to evince its truth and excellence;" to
be written by a member of this university tinder the de-
gree or standing of a Master of Arts, the trustees have
given notice that a premium of about 100/. will this
year be given for the best dissertation on the following
subject:—
" The History of the Extinction of Paganism in the
Roman Empire, viewed in relation to the Evidences of
Christianity."
The dissertations to be sent to one of the trustees (the
Vice-Chancollor, the Master of St. John's College, or
the Master of Trinity College) on or before the 19th of
October, 1851, with the names of the respective authors
sealed up.
The author of the essay best approved is to print it at
his own expense, and is not to be a second time a can-
didate for the premium.

We have received information from the Admiralty
that our correspondent at Plymeuth was misinformed in
stating that the crew of the Indefatigable were dissatisfied
with the new Admiralty order for the supply of provisions to
the navy. We are assured, on the contrary, that the crew
of that ship are perfectly satisfied and contented, and alto-
gether animated with as good a spirit as ever pervaded the
crew of a ship of war. We are also informed from the same
source that the operation of the new order in question is
likely to be attended with the happiest results to the service.

THE MERCANTILE MARINE ACT.-IMPORTANT
NOTICE —ln consequence of a communication from the
Naval Department of the Office of the Committee of Privy
Council for Trade, in which reference is made to the incon-•
venience, which might arise from a strict enforcement of the
letter of the 30th section of the Mercantile Marine Act, the
collectors and controllers, and other principal officers of the
Customs' department at the several porta throughout the
kingdom, have received directions from the Commissioners
not to insist on the production of certificates of competency
or service from masters or mates of foreign-going ships (or,
in other words, ships outward bound to foreign parts) before
the Ist of February next, but to clear such ships outwards
until that day without such production.
CHARGE OF CRIMINAL ASSAULT AGAINST AN
HOSPITAL SURGEON.-An extraordinary investigation into a
charge of the above serious nature at Cheltenham has
caused an unusual sensation in the town, the accused being a
medical practitioner of some standing, and one of the sur-
geons at the Cheltenham Public Dispensary. An inquiry into
the affair before the magistrates has been the result. The accused,
Mr. Theodore Sheldon, was charged on the information of
Lydia Stride, with a felonious assault upon her in the surgery
of his private residence. The girl swore that, having had an
order for medical assistance at the Dispensary, Mr. Sheldon
attended her, and on three several occasions on which she
had visited his surgery, he had committed a capital offence
upon her. From the evidence of witnesses called for the de-
fence, it was proved that it was next to impossible that such
occurrences could have taken place without exciting notice.
The magistrates having heard all the evidence, retired for
about a quarter of an hour; on their return into the public
court, the chairman, Mr. Filkington, informed the parties
that the magistrates dismissed the case, and he added, that
Mr. Sheldon left the court without the least stain on his cha-
racter. The inquiry occupied six hours, and created the ut-
most curiosity.

HOW TO MANUFACTURE A " MIRACLE."-(From
a Correspondent.)—Take an oil painting of a wounded man,
cover the back of the canvass with pitch, cut out a portion of
the latter immediately behind the part depicted as a wound,
pierce the canvass at that part with several stabs of a cob-
ler's awl from back to front, place in the openings made by
the removed pitch a piece of sponge saturated with blood
thinned with water, cover the opening with a plug of pitch,
the application of a hot iron removing the appearance of a
seam round the plug. The " miracle" may now be worked
by gentle pressure either from behind or in front of the
pictured wound, which, squeezing the sponge, causes the
bloody liquid to exude through the holes made by the cob-
ler's awl, and trickle out in the most natural and surprising
manner, to the edification of all beholders. This " miracle '
is capable of being produced by other means, but upon the
same principle. The application of a white handkerchief to
the wound, and with some pressure, will assist in establishing
the " miracle."

DEATH OF VISCOUNT ALFORD, M.P.—We have
to announce the demise, after a protracted illness, of Viscount
Alford, M.P. for Bedfordshire, who expired at eight o'clock
on Thursday evening at Ashridge Park, his Lordship's seat,
near Hemel Hempstead: The Marquis of Northampton, the
Earl Comptbn, and other family connexions, were staying at
Ashridge Park at the time of his Lordship's dissolution,
which had been anticipated for some weeks past. The Noble
Viscount had been in declining health for the last two years,
and he and Lady Marianne Alford passed the winter of last
year in Egypt, and did not return until the summer, when it
became apparent to all his friends that he had not derived
any permanent benefit from his residence abroad. John
Hume Cust, Viscount Alford, was the eldest son of the Earl
of Brownlow, by his first marriage with Sophia, second
1 daughter and co-heir of the late Sir Abraham Hume, Bart.,
and Lady Amelia Egerton. He was born October 15, 1812,
and married February 10, 1841, Lady Marianne Margaret
Compton, eldest daupter of the Marquis of Northampton,
by whom his Lordship leaves issue two sons, the eldest of
I whom is in his ninth year. The Noble Viscount was Colo-
nel of the North Lincoln Militia. He was first elected Mem-
ber for Bedfordshire at the general election in 1836, in con-
junction with Lord Charles Russell, and he continued to re-
present that county in the House of Commons in the succes-
sive Parlianients of 1837, 1841, and 1817. His Lordship was
a Protectionist in politics.
BATTERSEATARS AND THE NEW SUSPENSION
BEIDGE.—The inhabitants of Chelsea, Battersea, and Vaux-
-1 ball are at last relieved from their suspense respecting the
proposed new bridge between the above places, so long on
the tapis. It is now four years since the necessity for such
a bridge was first discovered, and it was proposed to erect
one in connexion with the new park, then and now in
course of construction at that part of Battersea which im-
mediately faces the gardens of the Royal Hospital (which
Also are at last made available for the recreation the public).
rrhe first piles of the new bridge were driven a few days
ba ek; and we may hope in the course of the:ensuing sum-
mer. to see it hurrying towards completion. It is to be hoped
that, when completed, the fate of the present old and
clangorous Battersea.bridge will be sealed.
Mr. William Ratcliff, of Walesby, Nottingham-
shire has now in full bloom a quantity of fine polyan-
,
I thuses in his garden; and on Christmas-day he gathered a
cowslip in lull vigour.