The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-14 00:00:00

SCREW PROPELLERS.

The advice' from the Cape yesterday were very wel-
come in the City, but the private letters do n. t express
so much confidenca in the rapid termination of the war
as is conveyed by the newspapers. "It is the opinion
here (it is remarked) that the contest will be of some ,
continuance—probably 12 or eighteen months—as
Harry Smith has expressed his determination to finish it
in such a way as to render it unlikely that the Kafiri
will ever again repeat the attempt." The perfortnauce
of the Bosphorus, in completing her first voyage, appear
to have given satisfaction. On her outward passage she
was 40 days, but the delays at the diff rent ports touched
at occupied upwards of two days, while the deviations
from the direct course consequent upon these calls is es-
timated at more than four days. Sierra Leone was
reached in less time than by any other steamer, and
the rate of speed up to that point was 210 railes 4-
day; but, eut:eequently, owing to an uelo,ked-tor
and as it is believed an exceptional etaie ut the trade
wind, it did not exceed an average of 177 miles. The
return passage occupied thirty-eight days (the contract
time both ways being thirty-five days), but the excess
in this case was caused by the want of Warlich'e fuel
at Sierra Leone, and the bad quality of the coal which
was taken in in lieu of it. An error is also stated to
have been ascertained in the contract distance from the
Cape to Sierra Leone. By the contract it is 1,634 miies
instead of 3,160, the difference being equal to 21 days
run. This added to three days lust at Sierra Leone,
makes five days to be deducted from the total of thirty-
eight. The new propeller with which the vessel is fitted
is said to have acted admirably. It is constructed so
that the blades may be placed in a position to offer no
resistance whatever to the progress of the ship when
under sail alone. There were several opportunities of
testing it, and " both by night as well as by day, and in
all weathers, the position was changed in a few minutes."

A CHAPTER Or ACCIDENTS.—We have seldom to
record such a succession of mishaps as has befallen the brig
Gipsy, Captain M'Gregor, which sailed from this port for
Newfoundland on tke 7th of Dec:mber last, and pu back on
Sunday, after having been three months at sea. On the 3d
of January she encountered a severe gale, and shipped a very
heavy sea, which c .cried away the band of the forestay, top-
mast stay, and s--tap of the jibboom, bringing in the jib-
boom, damaging the boats, and rendering them useless; and
washing away the cookhouse and utensils, and carrying the
cook, James belonging to Greenock, overboard.
Abiut the lst ult., the Gipsy fell in with a great quantity of
ice, when she was about 15 miles to the west of her destined
port, and on the 14th, finding it too heavy, and getting sh• rt
of provisions, put about for G.• eenock. Oa the 20th she car-
ried away the foreyard, and on the 23d, blowing heavil
from the S.W. to N.W., the ship, running under double
reefed maintopaail, pooped a heavy sea, which carried away
bulwarks, roundhouse, wheel and compasses, and disabled
the captain and John Fulton, seaman. - Greenock Advertiser.
ARTPTALPAL AGGRESSION ADDRESSES.—A return
has been obtained by Mr. Newdegate, and was issued yes-
terday, setting forth the number of addresses which have
been presented to her Majesty on the recent measures taken
by the Pope with regard to this country, whence they ema-
nated, and the number of signatures to each. The total
number of these addresses is 8,145, bearing 1,006,708 signa-
tures, besides two Roman Catholic addressee expressing
loyalty and fidelity, with 254,961 signatures. They are
classified according to their origin in the following manner :
—archbishops and bishops of the Church of England, 1 ;
archbishops and bishops of the Unitid Church of England
and Ireland, I ; deans and chapters of cathedral or collegiate
churches, 10; Church of Scotland, ministerial and elders, I ;
clergy of the United Church of England and Ireland, 89;
clergy and others, 880; Wesleyan Committee of Privileges,
1 ; Protestant dissenting ministers of the three dominations,
1 ; universities - viz., Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, and St.
Andrew's. 4; colleges—Royal College of Physicians, Queen's
College, ,Birnr.ingham, Sion College, London, the " Bedden,'•
York, 4; hospitals, 2; county meetings, 35; other public
meetings, 139; corporations, 46; associations or other bodies,
20; City of London, 4 ; members of the English bar, 11 at-
torneys, solicitors, and proctors of England and Wales, 1 ;
Isle of Man, 1 ; Society for Promoting Chriatian Know-
ledge, 1.

A MONsTER SEAL—Several of the fisheries along
the coast have of late been much annoyed by the ravages of
voracious seal', which appear to make a practice of regularly
inspecting the nets, and devouring their contents. With the
view of putting a stop to the ravages of these intruders,
Messrs. Gray, Hutcheson, and Co. Lad a net constructed for
the capture of seals at their fishery at Woodeton, and the re-
sult has been that they have caught a seal of the following
enormous proportions—length, 8 feet; girth, 51/a feet; and
weight, 86 stones —Aberdeen Herald.
ON) FRANC PIECES.—It may not be amiss to cau-
tion the public to be very careful in taking change, as there
is at present a very large number of French and Belgian one
franc pieces in circulation throughout the metropolis. They
are rather defaced on each aide, and pass easily as a shillin g
to those who are not acquainted with the coin, which is only
worth B,d. or 9d. As there will be an immense number
of foreigners of all nations in this capital during the Great
Exhibition of May next, licensed victuallers, inn and coffee-
house-keepers, and shopkeepers of every description, as well
as the public at large, must look before they give and take
change, us a large quantity of foreign coin will undoubtedly
be brought over, and tried to be put into circulation, not
only in London, but other puts of the United Kingdom.
THE CHAPEL ROYAL OF ST. GEORGE, WINDIoR.
—On Wednesday last the trials for the situation of lay clerk,
vacant by the death of Mr. Francis, took place in St. George's
Chapel, before the canons and minor canons of Windsor, and
nearly the whole of the lay clerks. There were thirteen can-
didates, from which the following four gentlemen were se-
lected, via - Mr. Hill, from Westminster Abbey; Mr.
Dyson, from Canterbury Cathedral ; Mr. Sheard, from the
Duke of Buccleuch's private chapel, Dalkeith ; and Mr. Sey-
mour, from London. Mr. Sheard was ultimately elected.
He has a tenor voice of fine quality, is a good sight singer, as
well as an admirable solo singer. The talent of the other
three gentlemen primed to be of the first order, although all
were unanimous is the election of Mr. Sheard.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.--Young Farmer, No.
I.—" Well, Charley—have you had much shooting lately ?"
Toting Farmer, No. 2.—" Why, no; what with hunting two
days a-week, and coursing two days, I don't get much time
to gu out with a gun."—Punch.
Tan CoMMINARIAT CHEST.—The commissariat
chest account for the year 1849-50 has been printed. The
cash balance on the 31st of March 1850, was 7.8,2951. The
total amount of sums received was 6,657,1951., and the sums
disbursed amounted to 5,388,8991.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.— WOOLWICH, MARcH 13.
Lieutenant-Color el Tomkyns, appointed to the command of
the royal artillery at Hong-Kong. has obtained leave of ab-
sence to the end of the present month. The gallant Lieu-
tenant-Colonel will embark at Southampton in the early
Haiggeh-street,
0---uph..iafedteyreastloeurg-
part of next month, and proceed by overland route to
Chins.
yMbleclhoaveeldfo r his
DEATH OP COLONEL A
day , at
ahisat
residence,the ad viend nnirrT,Pßor.tMern.
illness, Arnett,
late of the Royal Marine corp
many excellent qualities, and deeply regretted by a very
numerous circle of friends.
PATENT Omeiecs•—A good deal of excitement was
occasioned yesterday in the line from Bayswater to Charing-
cross by the appearance of a new omnibus, which certainly
•
brings to bear many, if not all, the desired end of such con-
veyances.traveller has a
Each seat to himself--and such
seat is as private as a box at the Opera, while ladies may
thus ride as secure from annoyance as in their • own carriage.
The contrivance altogether is certainly
Ingenious, and di-
vested of all cumbrous appearance, the •et whole not weighing
more than an ordinary omnibus. The most novel feature is
the way in which the passengers obtain their places both to
the body of the omnibus and to the roof—to the latter, in-
deed, a child may ascend without fear of injury. The ap-
pearance of so useful a means of transit at this particular
moment may be looked upon as an evidence that ingenious
minds are at work to provide effectively, not only for the ap-
proaching crowds, but for the ultimate comfort and security
of the cheap travelling community.
DEATH PROD( PAsstop.—Yesterday Mr. Wakley,
M.P., held an inquest on Sarah White, aged 56. Deceased,
who was a laundress, flew into a great rage with a man in
her employ, because he bad neglected taking home the wash-
ing at a proper time. In her passion she fell down in a fit,
and although surgical aid was procured, she died the follow-
ing day, without recovering her consciousness. Death was
produced by congestion of the brain. Verdict, " Deceased
died of axtravasation of blood on her brain produced by
passion."
SINGULA
CHOICE OF A LAST RESTING-PLACE.—
In a gentleman's garden, in a parish distant but a few miles
from Hereford, is a grave seven feet deep, which was dug
some years ago, and which is intended to receive the mortal
remains of the proprietor and occupier of the premises (at
least such seems to be his wish) when he shall " shuffle off
this mortal coil." The grave, we understand, is partly dug
and partly cut out of a rock, and is covered over with a
tomb. Upon the tomb appears the following curious in-
scription :
" Full seven feet deep and fast asleep
I lie, by my direction.
Let no one stir a bone of mine
Until the resurrection!"
Tun GAME LANrs.—On Monday, at Ixworth pet ty
sessions, Isaac Haw dar , a labouring man, was committed
for trial on a charge of perjury, in having falsely sworn that
he saw a Mr. Devereux fire at and shoot a partridge on this
lands of West Stow,
on the 23d of September la at. Thf,
magistratee required substantial bail from the prie net, VAd
not Wing ided with it, he was Sea to Bury ga pl.