The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-21 00:00:00

THE NAVY.—The fallowing resolutions were ,
agreed to in the House of Commons on Thursday :-
1. " That a sum, not exceeding £12,000, be granted to her
Majesty, to defray the charge of retirement to officers of
the navy, which will come in course of paymont during
the year ending on the llst day of March, 1861." 2. " That
a sum, not exceeding £33,000, be granted to her Majesty,
to defray the charge of a grant to the officers, seamen, and
marines employed in the late naval operations in China."
Mr. Wilson, at the last dates, was suffering from
sickness, and had been for a short time unable to attend
the meetings of the Legislative Council at Calcutta. Sir
James Outram had proceeded on a voyage for the recovery
of his health.

THE ELECTRIC AND INTERNATIONAL TELE-
GRAPH COMPANY.-At a meeting of the board of directors
of this company, held yesterday, it was resolved to recom-
mend to the proprietors, at the general meeting to be held
at the London Tavern on the Ist of August next, to con-
firm a dividend of £3 10s. per cent. for the last half-year.
INCREASE OF THE SPIRIT DUTlES.—Numerous
meetings of the licensed victuallers have been held within
the last few days, in different parts of the metropolis, at
which the following resolution was agreed to by very large
majorities :—" That on and after Monday next an advance
of ld. per quartern be charged on all spirits."
POPULATION OF AUSTRALIA.—The European
population in the Australian colonies at the latest returns
was 1,063,71a—namely, in Victoria, 504,519 ; New South
Wales (including Queensland, formerly called Moreton
Bay), g 42,062 ; South Australia, 118,21.5 ; Tasmania,
84,080 ; Western Australia, 14,837. The returns are made
up to the end of 1858, extent Western Australia, which is
completed to the end of 185'9.
FAILURE OF ARISTOCRATIC DESCENT.—Of the
twenty-five barons who were appointed o enforce the ob-
servance of Magna Charta, there is not now in the House
of Peers a single male descendant.—Sir Bernard Burke' s
Second Series of Vicissitudes of Families.

The office of Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey is
rendered vacant by the death of Major-General Mundy.—
Army and Navy Gazette.
It may, we believe, be considered as certain that
two or three more assistants will be appointed to Colonel
M'Murdo, in the inspection and organisation of the Volun-
teer Corps. None of the additional appointments, however,
are yet actually decided on. Lieutenant-Colonel Ibbetson
has been appointed to the vacancy caused by the resigna-
tion of Major Stewart.—Army and Navy Gazette.

It has been long an object with the Lords of the
Admiralty to see the list of active captains reduced below
350, so that some deserving commanders might receive at
their hands the reward of zealous services. We can now
remind their lordships that there are three vacancies on this
particular list, as the death of Captain Eyres reduces the
number to 347.—Army and Navy Gazette.

We hear that at the last examination of candi-
dates for direct commissions at Chelsea, out of 143 candi-
dates, only about 60 were found to NM the requirements
of the examiners. We cannot pretend to say. what the
cause was; but the fact is one of many coming to our
knowledge, which would make us anxious to see a search-
ing inquiry instituted as regards the whole question of mili-
tary examinations.—Army and Navy Gazette.
By the death of Lieut.-General Lord Sandys,
and the death of Major-General Mundy, reported in our
last, the following army promotions will take place, viz.,
Major-General E. F. Morris, Colonel of the 97th Regi-
ment, to be Lieut.-General; Colonel Richard French, Un-
attached, and W. Parlby, Commanding the Cavalry Bri-
gade in Ireland, to be Major-Generals; Lieut.-Colonels
Harvest, unattached, and Preston, 45th Regiment, to be
Colonels; and Majors W. L. Stewart, 2d Depot Battalion,
and A. Pigott, Staff-Officer of Pensioners, to be Lieutenant-
Colonels in the Army.—Army and Navy Gazette.
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF LOLA MONTES.—Late on
Tuesday evening we were surprised to learn that the cele-
brated Madame Lola Montes, Counties of Landafelt, lay at
the point of death, and was not expected to survive the
night. On Saturday morning she arose in her usual health,
but soon complained of giddiness, and, lying down, was at
once deprived of speech and motion by a paralytic stroke.
Sunday and Monday she was able to partially recognise
those about her, but on Tuesday seemed to have lost all
consciousness, and was pronounced by her medical atten-
dants as beyond hope of life. For some time past she has
resided at No. 15, Clinton-place, and during her sickness
has been faithfully cared for by several of her intimate
friends.—Xew York Tribune, July 7.
DEATH OF MR. GEORGE SOANE.—Amongst
those who have lately gone from amongst us, and whose
professional repute should not allow them to pass away
without recognition, we have now to record the name of
Mr. George Soane, who died at his residence, 38, Charlotte-
street, Portland-place, on Thursday, the 12th inst., at the
age of sixty-nine. Mr. George Soane was the youngest
son of Sir John Soane, the eminent arohitect, who died in
1837, and bequeathed his splendid house and museum in
Lincoln's-inn-fields to the nation. An unhappy difference
had existed for many years between father and son, which
originated in the latter having criticised with unbecoming
levity some of his father's performances. Whatever might
have been the offence it is to be regretted that to all ap-
peals on behalf of his son Sir John remained inexorable,
and the result was that, deprived of his inheritance, Mr.
George Soane had through life to depend upon his
pen for his income. During the last forty years
he was an industrious contributor to periodical
literature, to which he brought the advantages of a fine
taste and ripe scholarship. To the stage he furnished many
popular pieces. The interesting melo-drama, " The Inn-
keeper's Daughter," written for Miss Fanny Kelly, had a
very successful career; "The Falls of Clyde," "Lillian
the Show Girl," and other dramas of that class, obtained
great popularity at Drury-lane, the Old English Opeala
House, &c. ; and the was he author of the original version
of * Der Freyschutz." He wrote the libretto of many
operas that gained a great name in their day, and there
are several novels that attest the freshness of his fancy, of
which the one entitled " The Frolics of the Fairies," will
be, perhaps, best remembered. His latest dramatic con-
tributions were the libretto of " The Night Dancers," and
a musical piece for Madame Anna Thillon, Balled "The
Young Guard," both produced at the Princess's Theatre.
For the last few years of his life ho ceased to write for the
stage, and with augmented means lived in comfortable
retirement. A daughter of his, Miss Rosa Soane made a
successful debut some few years since as a vocalist.—Era.
The interests of Leeds are not to go unrepre-
sented before the Superior Council of Commerce now sit-
ting in Paris. At a meeting of the Leeds Chamber of Com-
merce, on Wednesday, the President announced that an
influential deputation will be requested to proceed to Paris,
and to give any information that may be required by the
English Commissioners appointed to negotiate the treaty
with the French Government.--Leeds Mercury.
NEW STAGE MANAGER FOR SADLER'S WELLS,

At the opening of the approachinc, season the important
post of stage manager will be filled by Mr. IV. H. Josephs,
formerly a member of the Sadler's Well's company. Mr.
Josephs has been favourably known during several years
for the efficient discharge of duties similar to those which
he now assumes, at the Theatres Royal Edinburgh and
Glasgow. Miss Fanny Josephs will be one of the new
additions to the company.—Era.
MEDALS AND PRIZE MONEY FOR INDIA.—The
authorities at the Horse Guards having received great
numbers of applications from men formerly of the Indian
army for medals and prize money for the late campaign
against the mutineers, it has been intimated by the India
office that such medals (excepting in the case of the Ist
Madras Fusiliers) will not be ready for distribution for
some time to come. With regard to prize money 18 months
is given as the time likely to elapse before the distribution
can be arranged•

SEIZURE OF A LIVERPOOL STEAMER.—By a
special despatch from our foreign correspondent we are in-
formed that a Liverpool steamer, the Ellen Vannin, for-
merly on the Isle of Man route and four other steamships
have been seized by the Neapolitan Government. The cause
assigned for the seizure is that the Government, having
learnt that Garibaldi had funds in the hands of Neapolitan
agents, suspected that they were in treaty for the purchase
of these vessels ; and, accordingly, orders were issued to
seize and detain them at Naples. This circumstance has
caused great excitement among the commercial community.
—Liverpool _Daily Times.
STATE OF TRADE: MANCHESTER, July 20.

We have no improvement in prices. There has been ra.
ther more business since Tuesday for cloths, but it could
only be effected by making a slight concession in prices.
There has been rather more done to-day in light shirtings
for Bombay and Calcutta. The quotations for long-cloths,
T-cloths' and domestics are nominally unchanged, but
sellers are obliged to give way a little to secure sales, which
are mostly in moderate quantities only. Printing cloths
are also dull, and prices drooping. No change in yarns,
except that prices are again easier, including hard twists,
which have hitherto been rather steadier than other spin-
nings.

DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.—The screw
steamer Great Britain, Capt. Gray, sailed from Liverpool
yesterday for Melbourne. The noble ship, owing to her
surprisingly quick run home last voyage, has again become
a favourite, and, to employ a common phrase, she is more
than full of passengers, for not only was every berth of
every class engaged some time ago, but many temporary
berths were fitted up ; and, notwithstanding this, a num-
ber of applicants for a passage in her were disappointed.
She left her dock at noon on Thursday, and proceeded to
sea at half-past nine yesterday morning. As usual, she
appeared " by the head," but this appearance is occasioned
by the absence of forecastle rails. She was rather deep,
but otherwise in excellent trim.
JULY BlLLs.—More than 30 bills have been
brought into the House of Commons in this present month
of July, and the tide is only now stopped by the resolution
of the Lords fixing a day after which they will begin no new
business unless it be of urgency. Among these measures
have been the Larceny Law Amendment Bill, for abolish-
ing the whipping of males above 14 for simple larceny; the
Metropolis Hackney Carriages Bill, prohibiting the use of
cabs, &c., for the conveyance of persons in infectious disease
or of the dead, and enabling unions to provide vehicles for
the purpose ; the Theatres and Publiohouses Bill, for closing
all publichouses and beershops in the metropolis between
1 and 4 a.m., and requiring a favourable certificate of the
Lord Chamberlain, or of four justices, before a license is
granted for the sale of spirits, &c., in a theatre ; the May-
nooth C, liege Bill, giving power to the Public "Works
Commissioners to advance money on the security of the
future payments from the Consolidated Fund ; the Anchors
Bill, providing greater facilities for proving the strength
of anchors used in merchant shipping, and compelling ships
conveying passengers or troops to use anchors which have
been subjected to proof; the Rifle Volunteer Corps Bill,
giving facilities for obtaining practice ground; and the bill
to continue the Irish Peace Preservation Act for two years.
MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE AT LITTLEHAMPTON.
—Two hundred men of the 21st Depot Battalion are re-
ceiving rifle instruction at the fort here. Last Wednesday,
after the practice with the long Enfield at 400 yards' range,
the men were pointing their unloaded rifles and snapping
caps at each other while the officers were engaged in com-
paring the register of the shots made with the target. One
of the men, named Deckerell, when directed to unload had
not done so, andito conceal this, when ordered, as usual, to
ground arms, had removed the cap. Forgetting—so we
learn on inquiry—what he had done, he joined with his
comrad s in pointing his rifle at one of the groups who lay
around, and having placed a cap on he directed his piece at
a comrade named Cotton, who, with two others, Dwyer and
Green, was present at the time. The rifle, of course, went
offimmediately, and the shot took effect on the right side
of Cotton's nose, carrying away part of his jawbone and
passing out at the right side of his neck. Dwyer had moved
a little on seeing, the piece levelled, and thus he escaped,
but the bullet, after passing through Cotton's neck, entered
Green'a throat, passing out at his mouth, and taking with it
several teeth and a portion of the jawbone. Green was not
out of danger on Thursday evening last, and but slight
hopes are entertained of the recovery of Cotton. 4