The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-16 00:00:00

VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.

Dundee, Newcastle to Cape of Good Hope, Dec. 27, lat.
39 N. lon. 13 W.
Isabel, Jan. 1, lat. 43 N., long. 12 W.
New York, from New York, Dec. 26, lat. 42 N., long.

49 W.
Alderman Thompson, for the Westward, Jan. 8, let. 48
N., long. 12 W.
Confidence (barque), London to Callao, Nov. 16, lat.
21 N., long. 30 W., reported the death of the master.:
Apame (brig), of Dundee, for Callao, Jan. 6, lat. 46 N.,
long. 19 W.

THE REV. Da. WoLrr.—Dr. Joseph Wolff, the
celebrated missionary and traveller, whose journey to Bok-
hara gained him so much distinction, preached three times
yesterday in St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Considerable
interest was evoked by the circumstance, and the congrega-
tion at each service was large in consequence. The Rev.
Mr. Gerdon, the incumbent of the chapel, officiated at the
reading-desk. In the evening, prompted by the recent
"aggression," to which he referred, Dr. Wolff made his dis-
course the vehicle for a rapid review of several of the
tenets held by the Church of Rome in opposition to Protes-
tantism, giving at the same time an exceedingly graphic
and interesting description of the manner in he be-
came acquainted with them—first in the qualified form that
they are maintained by Cisalpine Catholics, and latterly
as they are inculcated in their full breadth and development
at Rome itself, where during the pontificate of Pins VII. he
was a resident, and studied at the Colleggio di Roma with
Maatai Ferretti, the present occupant of the Papal chair, as a
fellow-pupil. The Rev. Doctor's narrative and ex position
were listened to with the most marked attention. The col-
lections were for Lehoof of the poor connected with the con-
gregation, and amounted, we believe, to a liberal sum.—
Glasgow Daily Iliad of Friday.

THE ARMY.
The fullowing eireuhir hag been issued:—
(Circular No. 1,084.)

" War-office, Jan. 13.
" Sir.—lt having appesred to me that throngh the in-
er.-ased opportunities of edueation which have been lately
rdd to army, a ready means is offered of ()butte-
ii.,g soldiers from the ranks capable of tilling the situa-
tions of clerks in the several military offices on foreign
sttv ions, while at the same time a fair reward would be
,secure f to the well-conducted and intelligent soldier, I
have the honour to acquaint you, that I have obtained
the concurrence of the Commander-in-Chief, and the
Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, in the
prospective: introduction of such a measure; and I have
accordingly to request that on the occurrence of a
vacancy among the clerks in the several military offices
within your command, you will apply to the command-
ing olifer of any regiment on the station, to recommend
to-you a steady and intelligent soldier capable of filling
the same, tarter a period of probation not exceeding three
months. This soldier, if confirmed as fit for the situa-
tion, shall be removed from his regiment, and be attested
for general service, in order that while holding his office
he shall continue to be a soldier in the army, and liable
if removed from his appointment for irregularity or in-
capacity to be ordered to military duty with any regi.
moat then on the station.

" Any men so confirmed in his appointment will have
the rank and pay of sergeant, with clothing, rations,
lodging and fuel, and light, or with money allowances in
lieu thereof; and will have the chance of rising in some
of the offices, by succession, to the senior clerkship, in
which event he will be entitled to the rank, pay, and al-
lowances of sergeant-major.
" The service, as clerk, of any soldier confirmed in the
appointment will be allowed to reckon towards pension
as non-commissioned officer.

" You will be pleased to report to me any such ap-
pointment which may be hereafter confirmed by you.
" I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient,
humble servant, "F. MAULE.
" The Genera!, or other Officer commanding
her Majesty's Forces."

IRELAND.
SALES OF ENCUMBERED ESTATES.
DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.-Eight proper-
ties, none of which presented any remarkable feature,
either as regarded territorial extent or net value of the
rental, were set down in the list of sales for yester-
day. Of these the sales of three estates were altoge-
ther adjourned for want of competition, and a similar
fate befel several of the lots of the other properties,
which found partial purchasers only. Anything,
however, really worth the attention of the speculator
was readily bought up at, at least, the fair average rate
of purchase under this court. The Cork estates of
Mr. Garret Standish Barry were offered in twelve
lots, only two of which changed hands, the amount
produced being 4,2501. A small estate in the county
of Tyrone, the property of the Hon. Andrew Godfrey
Stuart, yielding an annual profit rental of 2721. 15s.
41, was one of the very few desirable investments
offerd during the day, and was warmly com-
peted for, a gentleman named Gunning being finally
declared the purchaser at the high figure of 4,570/.
The estate of the Messrs. Knox, in the county of
Mayo, containing 4,693 acres, yielding a rental of
about 3501. a year, subject to an annuity of 3001. per
annum, payable to the petitioner in the cause, " Bar-
bara Knox White," was 'sold in five lots for 1,1811.
Another attempt was made to sell the estates of Mr.
Samuel Maunsell, in the counties of Limerick and
Kilkenny, but with no better success than attended
the former experiment. With the exception of some
house property in the city of Kilkenny, which realised
about '2501., the other portions of the property found
little or no favour, and the sale of the several lots
stood adjourned for a third trial. The estate of Mr.
Thomas Gowan (owner and petitioner), consisting of
304 acres of land in the county of Wexford, produc-
ing a profit rental of 2001. per annum, sold for
1,4001. This wound up the proceedings of a rather
dull day.

THE LATE LORD MAYOR.
The Court of Queen's Bench gave judgment yes-
terday in the celebrated case of " Wauchob v. Rey-
nolds," which first came before their Lordships in
Michaelmas term, 1849. Its last form was in the
nature of a demurrer taken to the validity of the re-
turn filed by the late Corporation, alleging, in answer
to the mandamus to proceed to the election of a Lord
Mayor in the place of Mr. Reynolds, that the office
was full. The judges, with the exception of Mr.
Justice Perrin, decided that the return was no answer
to the writ, and allowed the demurrer, with costs.
It was intimated at the close of the proceedings that
the case is to be brought.before a superior tribunal,
so that, after 18 months' litigation, the whole ques-
tion, thanks to the "glorious uncertainty," remains
virtually undecided.