The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-14 00:00:00

" HUGH WiLmAms, Portreeve of St. Clear,
Carmarthen, South Wales.

" Oct. 4, 1851."

A number of ladies and gentlemen have been seen
about the streets of Southampton with rosettes in
their bosoms and coats, formed of the Hungarian pa-
triotic coloured ribbons, scarlet, white, and green.
The Countess Pulski, the celebrated Hungarian
authoress, has arrived at Southampton.
The Southampton corporation committee appointed
to conduct the management of the banquet to Kos-
suth, met yesterday, and settled the programme of the
toasts to be given at the banquet. The usual loyal
toasts will be given, due homage will be paid to the
virtues and genius of the most distinguished guest at
the banquet, the illustrious Magyar, Kossuth ; the
duties of national hospitality to the politically op-
pressed of all naticns will be enunciated ; and the
constitutional Governments of Great Britain and of
the United Sates will be recognised as alike opposed
and inimical to republican tyranny and imperial
despotism.

THE MESSAGE BALLOON.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sla,—lt would appear by the information obtained
respecting the descent of a message balloon in Glou-
cestershire, that some thoughtless person has played
off a hoax upon much too grave a subject to be so
treated—the fate of Sir John Franklin and his com-
panions.

- That Sir J. Franklin was not supplied with bal-
loons is, however, very much regretted by those who
have some knowledge of cerostation. Had he been
provided with, and thorougly instructed in the mode
of inflation of substantial balloons, suited to the pur-
pose of conveying a message some six or seven hun-
dred miles, under a condition of a strong gale blowing
from northwards, it is quite likely that, out of a
number set free, one would, with a message attached,
have been picked up on the continent of America by
somebody engaged in the fur trade. Message bal-
loons of sufficiently substantial material, properly
varnished, might have been made in large numbers, at
a cost not exceeding 2s. 6d, per balloon. The inflation
might have been accomplished by hydrogen gas in a
nearly pure state, obtained by the decomposition of
water, as practised by Mr. Stephen White ; the fuel
❑ecessary for the purpose could at the same time have
afforded warmth for the crew between decks.
Should another searching expedition be sent to the
north, it is hoped it will be supplied plentifully with
the necessary aerostatic means of dispatching south-
ward a message when it may be deemed advisable to
send off information for the chance of its being found
and reaching England.—I remain, Sir, yours, &c.,
October 13, 1851.

NAUTICUS.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMODTII, MONDAY.—The Chatham transport
sailed yesterday from Spithead with a company of
Royal Sappers and Miners for Bermuda.
The royal yachts Victoria and Albert and Fairy,
Captain Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, G.H.C., are
expected to return to this port from Liverpool to-
night.
The Admiralty telegraphed to the Commander-in-
Chief at this port yesterday that the report from
Gloucester relative to the Franklin balloon*was a
hoax. This official information was speedily dissemi-
nated throughout the port by the kindness of the
Port-Admiral.
The Ranger, 10, is hourly expected at this port
from the coast of Africa, and the Sidon and Retribu-
tion from the Cape of Good Hope.

TH
E SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.—At the
meeting of the Edinburgh Town Council on Tuesday, Bailie
Dick pressed the Lord Provost to send a memorial to the
Lords of the Admiralty as to the propriety of sending another
vessel in search of the missing vessels of discovery in the
Arctic regions. The Lord Provost had been assured it would
be too late to send any vessel in the present season. In the
view, however, of reminding the Admiralty
.as to the pro-
priety of sending out a vessel early in the spring, he had no
objection that the matter be remitted to his committee. He
should put himself in communication with the relatives of
the officers in London and elsewhere, and would prepare
such a memorial as would have the desired effect.

ESCAPE
seatSCA Polt
William
--- - ------ - - ---
FlRK.—BlackwoodHouse,
had a narrow escape from fire. On
E. Hope Vere, Esq., has ° r
the
BLACKWOOD Ho u s E.
Lanarkshire,-- - N er u
three o'clock the following morning Lady
usual. About
the evening of the 6th, the
_family had retired to ;est as
'
Elizabeth Hope Vere was awoke by a strong smell of burn-
ing, which seemed to proceed from the large drawing-room
immediately below her ladyship's room.
On alarmidg the
household, and inking an inspection, it Was discovered that
the main beam of the floor of the drawing-room was nearly
burnt through, having caught tire below the grate, and been
ignited from another smaller piece of wood. In a short time
the fire was happily extinguished, and in so prompt and
orderly a manner that, although a large party were as-
sembled in the house, many of them were unaware of the
danger they bad escaped until informed of it at the break-
fast table. From the situation of the room where the fire
originated, nothing could have saved the house from total
destruction had it not been arrested in the first stage.--
Edinburgh Courant.
ATTEMPTED SUlClDE.—Yesterday morning, be-
tween eleven and twelve, a ycung man of respectable ap-
pearance attempted suicide by throwing himself from the
tunnel bridge into the Regent's Canal. It appeared that he
was in company with two other men, and before they could
stop him he jumped on to the bridge and threw himself into
the water, at the same time wishing them good bye. A
on shots, sistance was at once at hand, and he was conveyed
Ass.
and restoratives applied, happily with success. _

We understand that Mr. N. T. Hicks, whose per-
formance of Mazeppa has attracted such crowded audiences
at Astley's Amphitheatre for about 300 nights during the
past and present year, concludes his engagement at that
house this evening, when he will join the highly-talented
corps dramatique at the Marylebone Theatre, at which house
hia brit OPPONLIO 4 Wised t'vx Dlcoutiay uezt.