The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-17 00:00:00

ITAL Y.

- - -
The Paris Constitutionnel has the following from
Ronne:—

" We have received intelligence from Rome to the
10th. The news from Paris arrived there on the 7th,
and produced a great sensation. The Holy Father re-
ceived the news with the calm serenity which never
abandons him. Ho was to proceed on the following
Sunday to the church of the Holy Apostles,
on occasion of the Immaculate Conception; he went
there accordingly, as night began to fall, by
the Corso; an immense crowd awaited him at the
church and on his passage, and every one could see
that nothing could alter his serenity. It cannot be
said that the army expected the measures taken by
Prince Louis Napoleon. General Gemeau having con-
voked at his quarters the commanders of the several
corps, it was unanimously agreed that tho army had
nothing else to do than to continue its mission of main-
taining order on tho one hand, and on the other of pro-
tecting the spiritual head of the immense majority of
the French. As to the Freneh residents at Rome, our
correspondent states that their satisfaction is exceedingly
great."

LITERATURE.
THE SCOTTISH DRAUGhT-PLAYER.
Second Edition. By John Drummond.
The game of draughts, which is more popular in
Scotland than in England, proceeds upon the most
simple elements, but it involves the really scientific
player in configurations of great complexity and
difficulty. In some respects, indeed, it may be
considered by the more enthusiastic class of players
as superior even to chess. The design is generally
more concealed, and only becomes developed after a
considerable number of moves, so that the vanquished
player is often quite ignorant of the real source of
his defeat. To pursue the game of draughts success-
fully between scientific competitors, therefore, re-
quires, to a certain extent, a calculation of a more
abstract kind than that of chess. The Scotch have
long been almost universally devoted to draughts as
their favourite game of calculation, and they are
continually effecting improvements upon previously
established modes of play. Hence their undoubted
superiority over English players. Mr. Drummond
is the acknowledged systematiser of the game in
Scotland, and the new editio❑ of his excellent work
embodies all the known improvements up to the pre-
sent time, besides several new games, such as the
" Provost, Joe's, Kelso, Stirling, Cross, Odd, and
Mindozie" games, which are intersected by a vast
number of critical positions and brilliant variations.
The principle of what is called the "move" is also
treated mathematically, and useful rules are deduced
for the calculation of its changes under every com-
bination of cuts. The investigation of these rules is
a very original discovery, and is a most important
addition to the fundamental science of the game.
The most expeditious and satisfactory way for an
amateur to acquire a sound knowledge of the game
is to play through such a work as the present, care-
fully committing to memory the leading moves,
noticing every ingenious artifice or expedient,
and endeavouring as much as possible to
assign a reason for each particular move.
By proceeding deliberately in this way, and occa-
sionally sharpening his perceptions by actual play,
he will, if he possess but moderate ability, soon find
himself to be superior to what may be called a
mere "sight player," though of far greater experi-
ence ; and this superiority will be chiefly due to a
sound knowledge of the strong openings of the game.
The game of draughts ought to be more encouraged
in this country. It is a most inexpensive, innocent,
and rational amusement, and particularly calculated
to cultivate habits of caution and forethought; and
Mr. Drummond's talented work is now immeasur-
ably superior to every other treatise on the subject.

REPRESENTATION OF GREENWICH.—Last evening
a meeting of the electors of the borough of Greenwich was
held at the Literary Institution, Woolwich, for the pur-
pose of hearing from Mr. Montagu Chambers an exposition
of his political views as a candidate for the representation of
the borough. After expressing himself, as at Greenwich on
the preceding day, in favour of household suffrage, the
ballot, triennial Parliaments, the abolition of the property
qualification for members, more equal electoral districts, and
the removal of Jewish disabilities, he said that as he was
the first in the field he should certainly go to the poll, and
ke was satisfied that neither himself nor his gallant oppo-
nent, Admiral Stewart, would resort to any but the most
honourable means to secure the election. At the conclu-
sion a vote of confidence in Mr. Chambers was unanimously
passed.

Mr. Augustus Hill Bradshaw, late Accountant-
General at the Army Pay-office, died on Saturday last at an
advanced age. This event effects a saving of two large pen-
sions to the public.

EARTHQUAKE IN THE EAST.—The Impartial de
Smyrne, in its correspondence from Salonica, has melancholy
accounts of an earthquake at Beret. We learn that a part of
the fortress had been thrown down, and four hundred soldiers
buried in the ruins. Some days after the catastrophe, and
after great exertions, their lifeless bodies were withdrawn
from the ruins, and their numbers ascertained. About three
hundred houses, two mosques, and a church suffered consi-
derably. and many are no longer habitable. The Governor
of Yanina sent tents and assistance to the remainder of the
soldiers in garrison there. Among Christians and Mussul-
mans eight hundred persons are missing, but it is as yet un-
known how many among those have been lost, or how many
have sought safety in flight. Near to Berat the top of a
mountain was detachei from its base, and thrown to a con-
siderable distance. In the centre a crater has been formed,
from which dense volumes of black smoke, stones, and lava
are emitted. Fetid sulphurous exhalations escape and cor-
rupt the air. The villages and environs of Berat have eel.
fered great damage.

GREAT RUNNING MATC/I.—TWENTY MILES UNDER
ONE Houn IFIFIT.EIGHT MIN. THIRTY SEZ.—This unpre-
cedented effort came off yesterday at Copenhagen-grounds;
more than 2,000 spectators were present. blanks made his
start at apparently a very easy pace to himself, going over
the first mile in 5 min. 56 sec., and completing his 10 miles
in 56 min. 56 sec. At the commencement of the 20th or
last mile Minks had just six minutes and three seconds to go
over it to win the match, or to perform 20 miles in less time
than Maxfield did the same distance on the Staines turnpike
road in 1844. This Manks succeeded in accomplishing,
having just 42 seconds to spare. At the finish Manks ran or
rather fell into the arms of his backer, evidently considerably
exhausted from his doing this great and never-equalled feat.
Betting before starting was 6 to 4 on Old Father Time ; con-
siderable sums were taken at those odds.

M. AND MADAME and Madame
Thiers, with their family, may in a day or two be expected
in London, where we understand it is their intention to re-
main until they see what turn matters may take in France.
M. Thiers arrived in Brussels on Saturday, on his way to
London, where he was to await the arrival of Madame Thiers.
It was thought they would stay a few days in Belgium, with
the mother-in-law and brother-in-law of the author of " Z he
Consulate." It is a curious coincidence that Louis Blanc— a
man of entirely opposite opinions to these of Thiers, but also
an exile—should have been in Belgium at the time Thiers
arrived. Louis Blanc has since then returned to England.—
Advertiser.

NORTH AND SOUTH-WESTERN AND DOVER AND
BRIGHTON JVNC'Ti®N RAlLwAY.—This' new line, intended to
answer a purpose similar to that of the railway round Paris,
is proposed to encircle the metropolis by a circuit of six miles,
uniting the termini of the London railways, besides accom-
modating Tooting, Streatham, Mitcham, Wandsworth, Mer-
ton, Morden, Malden, and Cheam.
SHOCKING DISCOVERY.--A clerk, in Bristol, who
is accustomed to make himself a cup of tea in the afternoon,
was horrified on Friday week on discovering that he had
been living on stewed mouse all the week. He had noticed
an obstruction in the spout of the kettle for the last few
days, and on making a close investigation on Friday, he
drew forth, amid the laughter of his fellow-clerks, the body of
a ria9m boildd AILUOtit t 9 a jelly.

Railways. Paid. Nominal Prices. Btus!nese dela
to-day.
Aberdeen di&
Aberdeen, No. 2, 7 pr. et. 2%
Caledonian 10/. • • • • 10 7%
Chester and Holyhead all 15% 15%
Dund. Per. & Aber. Jane. all %a.
East Anglian (31. 10s.)
6 per cent. .. .. • • all 2 =2%
Eastern Counties Exton.,
per cent. No. 1 .. p pre
Do. No. 2 ••• • •• all par p %
pre
Do. New 6p. cent. Stock 10 10% —ll x.d 1.11.
Eastern Union, Scrip
guaran. 6 per cent. .. all 10 10%
Do. 101. Deben. Shares . all
East Lancashire, 6 per
cent. quarter shares .. an • • —. •
E. &W. York. June. sths all
.• • •
Edin. Per. &Dun. 54 p, et. all •
1 dls.
Glasgow & Consol. 100
Gt. Northern, 5 per sent. all 13% 13% 13% %
Do., sp. c. Redeem. Scrip 3% % % 3%
Great South. & Western
(Ireland) eighths . all 1% —l% p,
Gt. western (Barks and
Rants Ex., 5 per Cent.) 6 • • —•• P.
Lancashire and York-
shire, F. 201. .. • • 6 • • cll5.
Do. 6 per et. Stock .. 100 133 125 135 134%
Leeds Northern, 6 per
cent., No. 1 •11 7.7 p
Do. quarters, 1848 .. 9 • • P
London, Brighton, and
S. Coast, guar. 5 per et. 100
Do. pref., 1. p et. 5k,1851 100 • • —• •
Do. new guar., 6 per et. 100 141 —143
Lon. & N. West. (Coy. &
Nuneat.) 5 per cent. 13% • • —• •
London &S.-W., uew • • 6 2
Mauch., Sheffield, and
Line., guar. shrs.,No. 1 all 10% 11% 11%
Do. new, 101. .. • • all 12% 12% 12%
Do., 61. .. • • 3 % 94 P
Midland Con. 6p. c. stock 100 ..
Do. Consel. Eristel &
Binning., 6 per cent • • 100 132 133
Do. Bristol & Glouccs. all .. —••
Do., Leic. & Swanning.,
8 per cent. guar. ~ 100 • • —• •
dis.
Do., Preference • . 5
Norfolk Extension • • all lb% le%
Do. guar. 15% per cent. all 4 —4%
North British • • .. 5 4%
Oxf.Wor. &W 01.151.6 p.c 8 %die par
Shrews. & Bir., new guar. all 9% 10%
Shrews. and Ches. (Nor.
W. Min.) 8 per cent. all 115% —l6
South Devon • • • • • •
york,Newc.% p
Bn4dßorw. alllO 1-1
South-Eastern,
Gt. Nof E. Fur. .• all 1514 16%
Do. 5 3% —4%
York and North Midland
11. and S. Parch. .. 10 1 1 dia.
FOREIGN.
loulogne and Amiens •• all 10% 10% 10% %
Central of France (Or-
leans and Vierson.) 19
41? dis. 19 18%
BDuasttchinßdihmeniah..
18
2% 3
p.
Do. do. do. 90
Great Indian Peninsula all •% P.
Ditto ditto • • • • 3% %—% P.
Louvain a la Sambre _
Luxembourg • • • • • • 13 •
—2%
Ditto (Railway) • • 10 2X
Ditto (Canal) .. •. 2 % %
Maria Antonia •• 271 6s Bsl
Ditto, New •• • • 834 ..
Namur and Liege .. .. all 6 634
Northern of France .. 16 15% —l6 15% % X
Orleans and Bordeaux .. 9 4% —434 d. 4% %
Paris and Orleans .• all 87 —39
Paris and Rouen .. • • all 2134 25% 2434 5
Paris and Strasbourg .. 18 4% 3-X dia. 13% %
Rouen and Havre all 9 _.9 91% 9
Sambre and Meuse • • all 3% —3% %
St. And rew's &Quebe.(A) 2
,DO
Tours and Nantes .. .. 17 •91% 9 dLs. 7% x.d
Tourney, durblse. Lan.
den, end HMO _ all .;
Flaud(r3 14, 8% 2 r.