The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-06 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—l send for your perusal, and for publication,
if you think fit, a copy of a letter from Mr. Lati-
mer Clark, C.E., contrining some interesting infor-
mation relating to his tests and observations of the
insulation and working of the cable. Mr. Latimer
Clark is the engineer on behalf of the Atlantic
Telegraph Company, for testing the work of the
contractors.—l am, sir, yours truly,

GEORGE SAIVARD,
Secretary and General Superintendent.
Atlantic Telegraph Company, 12, St. Helen's-place
Bishopsgate-street Within, 8.C., Aug. 4.

" Valentin, July 30.

"My dear Sir,—Herewith I have the pleasure to forward
you a certificate of the completion of the 1866 cable, which
is similar in every respect to the one which, after consul-
tation, has been given to the Anglo-American Telegraph
Company.
" The cable, as you have doubtless already heard, is in a
most satisfactory electi:cal condition, and with the appa-
ratus now used gives fully six words per minute. With
improved apparatus it will give much more, and by the use
of codes I expect fully thrice that speed will be obtained.
The present signals are strong and excellent.
"Before leaving Sheerness the insulation of the cable
was 713 million Siemens USK3 per knot. This steadily in-
creased as the cable was pail out, and is now as high as
2,300 million units per knot. This increase is due partly
to temperature and partly to pressure, and I will shortly
calculate the influence of these combined causes, and give
you the insulation of this cable and the Persian Gulf cable
at a uniform temperature and pressure for compai:son
"It is to be, regretted that the Newfoundland line is not
in an efficient state, as that would have added greatly to the
eclat of the opening. We have one and all formed the most
sanguine opinions as to the pet.nanence and security of the
line, as well as concerning the probability of 2epliring the
1865 cable, which we quite expect to see put to work aga'n
shortly.
"It is almost unnecessa'y for me to congratulate you
on the success of this part of the work, and the wonderful
prospects of pecuniary success which the first day's work
has opened out to us.—Believe me, &c.,
" LATIMER CLARK.
" Mr. G. Saward, Secretary, Atlantic Telegraph
Company."

MR. ALFRED MELLON'S CONCERTS.—The operatic
performances having terminated, Mr. A. Mellon begins his
slimmer concerts, to which the public have now been for
some years accustomed, at Covent-garden this evening.
THE LAST NUMBER OF THE "OWL" for the pre-
sent season appeared on Wednesday, and was mainly com-
posed of prose and poetical trifles concerning Mr. Edmond
Beales. It is generally understood that Mr. Baillie Coch-
rane is one of the most energetic contributors and gatherers
o: intelligence for this fashionable sheet.
MR. GEORGE VIRTUE, of the well-known publish-
ing firm, and for many years an active member of the
Society of Antiquaries, we regret to announce as recently
deceased.

THE " SPURGEON JEST BOOK," announced some
hue since, has been reproduced in New York, under the
itle of "Five Hundred and Ninety-five Pulpit Pun-

gencies."
We have reason to believe that the Poor Law
Board have decided upon appointing an additional inspec-
tor for the metropolitan distract. It is intended that the
new officer should be a medical man, and the choice of
Mr. Hardy has fallen upon Dr. Markham, consulting phy-
sician of St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington,who attracted the
attention of the Government by the valuable assistance hi
afforded in connection with the recent inquiry into the
medical arrangements of the military and naval services.
Mr. W. Corbett, at present inspector in the manufacturing
districts, will be transferred to London, and associated
with Ik. Markham in his important duties. Dr. Smith will
be Mr. Corbett's successor in Lancashire, and Mr. Farnall
will probably be selected to succeed Pr. Smith at New
York.
FATAL ACCIDENT IN WINDSOR PARK.-011 Sa-
turday evening, about eight o'clock, Mr. Oliver, of
Windsor, accompanied by Mr. Foakes, Mrs. Foakes, and
two children, were driving in Windsor-park, the party
occupying a waggonette. As they came down Snow-hill,
which is crowned by the equestrian statue of George 111.,
the horses commenced kicking, and finally ran away, leav-
ing the carriage road for the park. Mr.Foakes, becoming
alarmed, sprang from the carriage, and in doing so was
thrown backwards on to the ground, with which his
head came in violent contact. Ho was killed ou the spot,
the dreadful occurrenc3 being witnessed by his distracted
wife and children. The body of Mr. Foakes, who was 36
years of age, was removed from the park to Mr. Oliver's
residence, in Trinity-place, Windsor, to await an inquest.
FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.—Yesterday afternoon a
young man, named Thomas Lockwood, employed
at the Leeds Post-office, was at a beerhouse kept by a per-
son named Dennis Spinks, in York-street, Leeds, and took
up a gun which
Mrs. Spinks was preparing to go out with some friends,
was lying on a table in the sitting-room.
who wera waiting for her in a cab at the door, when
Lockwood said, " Let's see you look sharp," and then
took up the gun, as he has since said, raised the ham-
mer, and the gun, which was loaded, went off and shot
Mrs. Spinks dead. The shot from the weapon entered
her head and literally blew her brains out. It appears that
Lockwood was not aware that the gun was charged, and
there is no ground to suppose that he had any malice
against the deceased. The poor woman, who was about
26 years of ago, has left three or four children. Lock-
wood at once gave himself into custody, and he is de-
tained in Fiscal till the corQuer'§ intlePt be held.