The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-24 00:00:00

SlE,—Kossuth is hourly expected to land at
Southampton. A letter, has been received from him,
stating that he was about to start in the American
ship Mississippi, which would either bring him direct
to England, or, failing that, would land him at Gi-
braltar to proceed hither by the English mail-steamer
due to-morrow or next day. Now is the time to give
this patriot and hero a reception worthy of his cha-
racter and his deeds. When barbarian despots, either
generals or statesmen so called, or kings or emperors,
visit this country, our aristocracy rush forward to
fête, to feast, to honour, and to glorify them. Now
then, on the other hand, is the time for the people of
England, the people, 1 repeat, of this great and free
state, to show at how much higher a price they esti-
mate true valour and disinterested patriotism. Let
it not be a reproach to us, that Englishmen care for
no other liberty than their own. If it be really so, I
will not invoke its destruction, but I will say that we
are not worthy of the liberty we enjoy. The -most
glorious period of the most glorious reign in the
annals of this country was that of Queen Elizibeth,
when she fought the battle of civil and reli-
gious liberty upon a foreign shore. Alas !
those days are long since passed away, end all gene-
rous feeling for the well-being of other nations is ab-
sorbed in the selfish principle of non-interference,
whilst our own liberties remain unassailed. Oh, let
we beseech my countrymen, if their love of liberty
be so narrow, or so torpid, or so cowardly, as that
they are unwilling or dare not to enter the battle field
when opportunity offers, to contend side by side with
the oppressed against the oppressor, in whatever land
he may he found, let them at least do all in their
power to console in his misfortune, and honour in his
exile, the most virtuous patriot, and one of the greatest
men of this or any other age. W. A. S.
[Since the above was written, authentic informa-
tion has been received from Constantinople of the 10th
instant, announcing that Kossuth was actually on
board the Mississippi.—En. Sun]

THE TIMBER TRADE.—The Commissioners of her
Majesty's Customs have granted permission for all ships
laden with timber from foreign parts to discharge their
cargoes from six to six, instead of. as formerly, from eight
in the morning until four in the afternoon; also ships laden
with deals and other wood goods, from seven in the morning
until five in the afternoon, when discharging in any of the
docks under charge of the revenue officers. This relaxation
of rules will be of great benefit to the merchant and ship-
owner during the long days. In the winter months it is not
required.
A meeting of the leading merchan-ts connected with
the Australian colonies took place yesterday at the George
and Vulture Tavern in relation to the aspect of affairs con-
sequent upon the gold discoveries. The chairman (Mr.
Flower) referred to the state of uncertainty in which all who
are interested in the trade with Australia have been placed
by the recent news, and pointed out the necessity for ascer-
taining what steps the Government intend to take, especially
with regard to supporting the colonial authorities in main-
taining p oper regulations. A discussion then followed, and
it was finally resolved that a deputation should be formed to
wait upon the Colonial Minister with the view of obtaining
a conference upon the subject.

The Droit has the following rather incredible
story : —" A commercial traveller, whose business frequently
called him from Orleans to Paris, M. Edmund D—, was
accustomed to go to an hotel, with the landlord of which he
was acquainted. Liking, like almost all persons of his pro-
fession, to talk and joke, he was the favourite of everybody
in the hotel. A few days ago he arrived, and was received
with pleasure by all, but it was observed that he was much
less gay than usual. The stories that he told, instead of
being interesting as formerly, were of a lugubrious character.
On Thursday evening, after supper, he invited the people of
the hotel to go to his chamber to take coffee, and he promised
to tell them a tale full of dramatic incident. On entering
the room, his guests saw on the bed, near which he seated
himself, a pair of pistols. story,' said he, ' has a sad
eilmottenzent, and I require the pistols to make it clearly un-
derstood.' As he had always been accustomed, in telling
his tales, to indulge in expressive pantomime, and to take up
anything which lay handy, calculated to add to the effect,
no surprise was felt at his having prepared pistols. lie be-
gan by narrating the loves of a young girl and a young man.
They had both, heSaid, promised, under the mostsoletnn oaths,
inviolable fidelity. The young man, whose profession obliged
him to travel, once made a long absence. Whilst he was
away, he received a legacy, and on his return hastened to
place it at her feet. But on presenting himself before her he
learned that, in compliance with the wishes of the family,
she had just married a wealthy merchant. The young man
thereupon took a terrible resolution. 'lie purchased a pair
of pistols like these,' he continued, taking one in each hand,
• then. he assembled his friends in his chamber, and, atter
some conversation, placed one under his chin, in this way,
as I do, saying in joke that it would be a real pleasure to
blow out his brains. And at the same moment he pulled
the trigger.' Here the man discharged the pistol, and his
head was shattered to pieces. Pieces of the bone and por-
tions of the brain fell on the horrified spectators. The un-
fortunate man had told his own story."

FIRE AND MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.--A fire of a very
alarming character, and nearly attended with the loss of
two or three lives, happened at a late hour on Monday
night in the premises belonging to Mr. L. Doxatt, of the
Observer newspaper, residing at No. 30, Henrietta-street,
Covent-garden. The flames commenced in the back attic,
at which time a servant and a young child were asleep in
the room. The moment the discovery was made an alarm
was raised, but the fire had made such progress that it was
extremely difficult for any one to get to the room in ques-
tion. Mr. and Mrs. Clark, who also lived in the house,
rushed through the fire in order to save child and servant.
In so doing both were very severely burned over the hands
and face; fortunately the child and servant succeeded in
getting upon the roof, and having passed on to the next
house they remained there until the Royal Society's fire
escape came up, when both were carried down in safety.
The engines of the parish, London Brigade, and West of
England Company quickly attended, and a plentiful supply
of water having been obtained, the firemen set to work most
vigorously, and at length succeeded in subduing the flames,
but not until the top rooms of the house were burned out,
the staircase destroyed, pert of the roof consumed, and the
lower portion of the dwelling much damaged by water. The
origin of the disaster is unknown. Fortunately Mr. Doxatt
was insured in the Sun Fire-office.
SEIOREDITCEI N EW ALMSHOUSES.—Yesterday after-
noon the first stone of the almshouses opposite St. Mary's
Church, Haggerstone, for 20 poor aged females, was laid by
the Lord Mayor. Spacious tents, most tastefully decorated,
were erected, and a great concourse of people assembled to
?fitness the ceremony. The proceedings were admirably
managed. It is estimated that 1,5201. will be required to pay
for the land and build the houses; 8041. towards this amount
was collected on the Ist of September, leaving a deficiency
7101., which it is expected will be soon realised, as sub-
scriptions come in fast. The following words are inscribed
on the stone
The first stone of these almshouses for 20
poor aged women of the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch,
was laid by the Right lion. the Lord Mayor, Sir John Dios-
, grove, Bart., on the 23d September, 1851, Blessed is he
that cßasidc L tl4O poor.' " • .