The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-17 00:00:00

SARDINIA.

The Independance of Brussels, which had stated
that the Sardinian Government had issued a cir-
cular on the subject of the rumoured war with
Austria, now declares that no circular had been
sent, but that several European Courts, moved by
the projects ascribed to the Piedmontese Govern-
ment, requested explanations from it, and that the
verbal replies given by Count de Cavour were in
the spirit ascribed to the circular, reassuring as to
the intentions of Piedmont, but less satisfactory as
regards the state of public opinion in Italy and
the eventualities of the future.

The Piedmontese Gazette publishes the reply of
Count de Cavour to the address presented to him
by the merchants of Genoa. In this reply the
President of the Council thanks the mercantile com-
munity for their friendly sentiments, and promises
that the further reforms alluded to in the address
shall receive his careful consideration and firm sup-
port within reasonable limits.
A letter from Lombardy, in the Opinione of
Turin, states that on the night of the Bth the
sentinel Stationed at the Military Forage Ma-
gazine at Pavia, perceiving a flickering light at
some distance, went to the spot, and found that
an attempt had been made to set fire to one of the
doors of the depot, by laying on oil of turpentine
with a brush and then applying lucifer-matches.
The flame which had begun to rise was easily put
out, but the culprits were nowhere to be found.
During the same night, the letter states that sever
ral Austrian soldiers were pelted with stones by an
unseen hand in passing through a lonely street.
A telegraphic despatch from Malta, dated the
14th, received at Marseilles, states that the steamer
Tamise, from Alexandria, had sustained some slight
injury to her machinery in the port of Alexan-
dretta, and that consequently her arrival at Mar-
seilles would be somewhat delayed.

FRANCE.

PARIS, THURSDAY.

The Grand Duke Constantine will reach Paris
on Sunday or Monday 'n ex t . His Imperial High-
ness was expected earlier ; but as the health of the
Dowager Empress has slightly improved he will
probably proceed with less rapidity towards St.
Petersburg then originally intended. The Grand
Duke travels Incognito under the name of
Admiral Itomanoff.

It is stated in some of the journals that the
Government intends to propose in the budget to be
submitted to the Legislative body that the indem-
nity to deputies shall not be a certain sum per
month according to the length of the sessions, as
heretofore, but 40,000 fr. a year, which is what the
deputies under the first empire were paid.
Several of the Paris journals publish articles on
the speech delivered by Mr. Bright at Manchester,
and give a running commentary •on the various
topics of Parliamentary reform touched on by that
gentleman in his address ; but, generally speaking,
the remarks are but a repetition, in different terms,
of the opinions which they had expressed when
that gentleman maaehis first appearance this season
at Birmingham.
The Univers seems to think that the opinions of
Mr. Bright, advanced as they are, will in the end

be far outpassed by the general body of reformers,
for the reason that England is becoming each year
more and more democratical.

The Presse considers that the House of Lords
must yield, to a certain extent, if they wish to
avoid the danger which is impending.
The price of bread for the second fortnight of
the present month remains fixed at 32c. the 21b.
loaf, first quality.

Light snow fell for upwards of an hour yester-
day morning in Paris, but melted as it came down.

BOURSE, Dee. 16.---The tone of tke market has
been somewhat better, owing to a report that the
Board of Directors of the Bank of France would
debate to-day on the proposition to reduce the rate
of discount to 21 per cent. The settlement of
shares has passed off easily, but prices continued
heavy. Threes have been done at 73f. 5c., and
arc now at 73f. 20c. ; Alobilier varied from 907 f.
50e. to 975 f. ; Orleans, 1,390 f. to 1,395 f. ; Lyons,
876 f. 25e. to 880 f, ; Southern, 580 f. to 582 f. 50c. ;
and Northern, 995 f. to 997 f. 50c. The following
,are the last quotations

41 per Cents. .... 97
Do. end month.

3 per Cents. 73 1.5
Do. end month 73 30
Bank Shares. 3050
Credit Mobilier 9BO
Do. Account' 9Bl 25

Credit Fonder
Belgian 41
.
Piedmonteso (5)
Roman 93
Austrian
Spanish Threes 48
Home Debt 43 75

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern . lOOO .. 1002 50
New ditto — 840
Lyons and. Mediterranean BBO 880
New ditto
Geneva
Midi
Southern
Western 6lO 607 50
Eastern
Grand Central —
Sardinian 4lO .. 415
Austrian
Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 121 c. ; money,
25f. 10c. ; three months, paper, 241. 971 c. ; money, 24f.
95c.

621. 25

PRINCE ALFRED.

SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY.

Prince Alfred landed at Gibraltar from her
Majesty!s ship Euryalus on the 29th nit., amid
great honours. His Royal Highness took up his
residence at the Convent, where he received the
principal persons in Gibraltar, who were intro-
duced to him by the Governor, Sir James Ferguson.
In the course of the day the Prince was present at
a review held in the Alameda.

On the Ist inst. the Prince visited the galleries,
signal-station, and St. Michael's Cave, and in the
evening honoured by his presence a ball given by
the Governor.
On the 2d the Prince took an excursion in her
Majesty's steamer Redpole round the back of the
rock, beyond Catalan Bay. The Redpole after-
wards crossed to Algesiras, and the Prince visited
the town privately.
On the 3d his Royal Highness hunted with the
Calpe hounds, and in the evening dined with Cap-
tain Warden.

On the 4th, the Prince, attended by Major
Cowell, and accompanied by a small party of
ladies and officers of both services paid a visit to
Ceuta in her Majesty's steamer Redpole. Don
Manuel Gosset, the Governor of the place, accom-
panied his Royal Highness round the fortifica-
tions. Horses were then provided, and an excursion
was made beyond the walls and the Moorish out-
posts. After returning to Gibraltar the Princ e
dined with Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton and the officers
of the 25th, at that garrison.
The Euryalis left Gibraltar on the 6th. Crowds
of soldiers from the garrison cheered the Prince on
his departure. The Tangier correspondent of the
Gibraltar Chronicle supplies the following part-
cul ars to that journal :

" TANGIER, DEC. 7.

" Her Majesty's-steam frigate, Euryalis, Captain
Tarleton, C. 8., with his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred, arrived in this bay yesterday at one p.m.
Tier Majesty's Charge d'Affaires, Mr. Drummond,
proceeded in a Moorish launch to the ship soon
after her arrival to wait upon his Royal Highness,
and was saluted by the Euryalus with 11 guns. The
Prince disembarked shortly afterwards under a
salute of 21 guns from the town batteries, a com-
pliment which was immediately returned by the
ship, and was received on landing by the Moorish
Minister fol. Foreign Affairs, the Governor of the
town, and a numerous guard of honour. Saddled
horses were also in attendance in case his Royal
Highness should wish to ride into the town.
Accompanied by the above escort the Prince walked
up to the British Mission, where he took up his
quarters for the period of his stay at Tangier. His
Royal Highness, with Mr. D. Hay, Captain Tarle-
ton, and a large party of British officers (naval,
military, and civil), called in the afternoon upon
the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Governor
of the town, and made a tour through the place,
visiting some of the Jews' houses and bazaars. This
morning the Prince rode out into the country, nu-
merously attended, and witnessed the manoeuvring
of a large body of cavalry, under the command of
the Lieutenant-Governor of the town. His Royal
Highness was present a little later in the day at
the marriage of a beautiful young Jewess, the
daughter of one of the principal merchants in the
place, and re-embarked at two p.m. in the Eury-
alus. which took her departure immediately after-
wards."

TILE WA Vl'.

The Government transport Enthusiast arrived
'estcrday at Woolwieh pier laden with war stores
'r©m Gibraltar.

The screw steamer Tweedside, Capt. Watt, ar-
rived at Spithead at 7g,m, onWednesday last froth.
Calcutta for Lmidon. She has been engaged in car-
rying troops to India, also between Madras and
Calcutta. The Tweedside sailed from Gravesend
with detachments in March-last for Madras, which
port she reached in 73 day's, including stoppages.
She proceeded to London after coaling.
On entering the Humber last Saturday night, her
Majesty's gunboat Sandfly ran down the brig Her-
mann, coal-laden, from Sunderland to London.
Most of the men on board the brig were in bed,
and just saved themselves by scrambling on board
the gunboat in their night attire, leaving a man at
the wheel, whom they afterwards saved. In about
20 minutes the brig went down with all sails stand-
ing. After being taken to Hull, the rescued crew,
who were destitute, were forwarded to Sunderland,
after being lodged and provisioned, and having some
clothing given to them by Commodore D. Brown, on
behalf of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Association.
The naval cadets belonging toiher Majesty's train-
ing ship Illustrious, Capt. It. Harris, at Portsmouth,
break ap to=day. They will have six weeks' holi-
day, and on their return will join the Britannia.
Capt. H. Eyres, C. 8., is progressing favourably
from his late attack.

Her Majesty's troop and store paddle-vessels Rha-
damanthus, Mr. Sturdy in command, and Dee, Mr.
Pullen, arrived yesterday morning at Portsmouth
from Cork, with Government stores, which are
being delivered at the Royal Clarence Yard.
Her Majesty's troop-frigate Himalaya is being
supplied with coal from colliers admitted into thee
steam-basin at Portsmouth. Her officers and crew
are berthed on board the Victorious hulk.

The Eagle, coast-guard depot, at Pembroke, has
received a large number of coast volunteers on her
bo)ks during the past six months, the corps having
become much more popular in the district, owing
to the judicious management of her captain to en-
sure the comfort and well-being of the men while
under his command. The Admiralty have algo
provided accommodation for the officers.

The Greyhound, 17, screw, at Pembroke, build-
ing.—The launch of this vessel has been postponed
until March next.

The London 90, at Devonport, was taken out on
Wednesday and tried at the measured mile, wheri
het engines gave, perfect satisfaction: MT. Dennen
was in attendance.

The Revenge, 91, screw, is now rapidly progress-
ing towards completion, at Pembroke, and will be
launched at Pembroke yard early in the ensuing
summer.

The Dee, 4, paddle troop and store ship, Master
Commander Thomas C. Pullen, arrived on Wed-
nesday at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, and went into
Portsmouth Harbour yesterday. She is freighted
with stores and provisions from Cork.
The Bustler, steam vessel, left Woolwich yester-
day, having in tow barges laden with about 100
tons of antiquities, which were landed at West-
minster, and conveyed to the British Museum.
The Supply, steam vessel, is ordered to undergo
repairs to her machinery, and will then leave
Woolwich, for Boudroun, Asia Minor, to receive a
similar cargo.
The Rifleman, steam vessel, having undergone
repairs in the basin at Woolwich, will be removed
to No. 2 dock to-day for completion, and be brought
forward for service.

We understand an application has been made to

the Admiralty to make the distance between the
Breakwater and the Eddystone Lighthouse the line
and distance of trial of steam ships at this port.
The present measured mile, running parallel with
the Breakwater, is neither considered a sufficient
distance for a fair trial, nor is it considered safe, as
there is not sufficient space to round a ship with
trial speed on her without a risk of touching the
shoals.—Plymouth Mail.
DOCKYARD PENSIONS.—The following important
Admiralty order, relative to the pensions to be
granted to first-class dockyard labourers, was yes-
terday posted at Woolwich Dockyard, by direction
of the admiral superintendent :—I have to make
known to all concerned that their lordships have
been pleased to notify to me that leading men of
labourers, single-stationed labourers, labourers at
machines, and labourers employed with skilled
mechanics, who are selected from the ordinary
labourers, and who are permanently in receipt of a
higher rate of pay than that granted to ordinary
labourers, are to be allowed pensions, although
entered since the year 1833.—Signed, JOHN SHEP-
HERD, Rear Admiral Superintendent, Dec. 16,
1858." This order, which will take effect in the
whole of her Majesty's naval establiqhments, has
given the, utmost satisfaction, and will prove a
great boon to a large and deserving body of men.
The following. appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :
Assistant-Paymasters—Henry J. Ray and John Evans
to the Royal Albert.
Master's-Assistant—Alfred Thomas to the Liffy.

THE AR11.1.17.

THE STAFF COLLEGE.
The following General Order was issued yester
day :

" Horse Guards, S.W., Dec. 6.

" The subjoined list of successful candidates for
admission to the College Staff on the Ist of Feb-
ruary, 1859, with the number of marks gained by
each, and the examination numbers of those who
were successful, are published with reference to the
last paragraph of the general order, dated 3d of
June, 1858 :