The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-21 00:00:00

Launch of the Sylvia.

Her Majesty's screw steam-vessel Sylvia, of four
guns, was launched in a most successful manner at
Woolwich Dockyard yesterday, from No. 2 slip, in
the presence of a large number of spectators.
The sum allowed by the Admiralty for the launch
was expended in a most judicious manner by the
erection of a platform with raised seats on the build-
ing slip at the bow of the vessel, for the accommo-
dation of ladies and those provided with tickets ;
and precisely at 4 o'clock, the tide being then near
its full, the ceremony of christening the Sylvia was
performed by the niece of Commodore-Superinten-
dent Hugh Dunlop, C. 8., and the vessel glided at
once from her cradle into the Thames amidst the
cheers of the spectators, after which she was made
fast to a dockyard buoy. The Sylvia was laid down
at this dockyard about six years ago, but her com-
pletion was suspended in consequence of the decision
of the Admiralty to discontinue the building of tim-
ber versels. About two years since she was sur-
veyed, and it was then determined to make some
alterations in her designs, and convert her into a
vessel adapted in every respect for the surveying
service. This work has been well carried out under
the superintendance of Mr. Turner, master ship-
wright ; and Mr. Reed, chief constructor of the
royal navy. The Sylvia is a smart-looking vessel,
having fine lines, and is well adapted for speed
either under steam or sail. She is fitted with a very
commodious chart-room, and her interior arrange-
ments are excellent. She has received her screw and
shaft, and will be removed into the basin to be fitted
with her machinery and completed for commission.

A scene at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall.

On Sunday afternoon a scene which is seldom
witnessed at a London church occurred at the Chapel
Royal, Whitehall. It had been announced that the
sermon would be preached by the Rev. Charles
Kingsley, I4LA., Regius Professor of Modern His-
tory in the University of Cambridge, author of
" Alton Locke," " Hypi:tia," " Westward Ho !" and
many other works which are familiar to the public.
Long before the doors were opened carriages rattled
down to the chapel, while a vast crowd soon gathered
round the building, consisting of bishops and other
Church dignitaries, peers, members of the House of
Commons, and persons of almost every class. A
few minutes served to fill the spacious chapel, and
so densely were the people packed that men were
obliged to hold up their hats on sticks and um-
brellas to save them from being crushed.

Prayers were read by the Rev. Erskine Knollys,
M.A., chaplain to the Bishop of London (who was
present), and Mr. Kingsley preached, selecting for
his text the 12th chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the
Hebrews, v. 26, "Whose voice then shook the
earth," &c. He referred to the changes which had
taken place in men's minds at various stages in the
world's history, and denied that the demand for in-
quiry in the present day led to doubt ; on the other
hand, he held that it tended to reverence for God's
truth, He denied that the present was an irreve-
rent age, and urged chat such times as the mediaeval
ages were irreverent when the cloistered monks set
up their petty cosmogonies as the word of God.
He ridiculed the doctrine of those ages that there
was a material hell either in the earth, the sun, the
comets, or elsewhere. It was a doctrine of heathens,
and entirely repulsive to Christianity, which was
founded upon the moral work of God. He argued
also against the doctrine of everlasting punishment,
and expressed his belief that, as at the Reformation
in the sixteenth century men threw off opinions
which had prevailed for a thousand years, so now
God might be directing men's minds with regard to
theology, ethics, and science into new channels, so
that He might make new revelations to them.
The sermon was listened to with profound atten-
tion and not a little astonishment by the vast con-
gregation. N3tice was given that there will be ser-
vices morning and afternoon to-morrow (the day of
humiliation), and it is said that the Prince and
Princess of Wales are likely to attend them.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, March 19.

St. Patrick's day and night have passed over with
unprecedented quietness. There was scarcely an in-
toxicated person to be seen in the streets of Dublin.
Yesterday it was the same. No one seemed to
honour the Saint in the old fashion, except by the
wearing of the shamrock.
In opening the Autumn Assizes at Belfast on
Saturday, Mr. Justice Fitzgerald made some general
remarks on the state of the county. A seaport
town, and such a great hive of industry, with a
varying population, it was hardly to be expected to
escape Fenianism ; but he was glad to find that
loyalty was the rule and a disloyal person the ex-
ception. Parliament had passed a merciful measure
to put down the evil, and they had a satisfactory
assurance that whatever legislation could do to re-
dress real grievances would be done. But it rested
with themselves to eradicate the evil and cure the
wound. The proper place of every proprietor was
on his own estate, among his tenantry, firmly ad-
ministering the laws, and lending every aid to the
Executive ; and he took leave to say that any Irish
gentleman who was, without just excuse, now absent
neglects a great duty and neglects the interest of
his country.
At Do wnpatrick, on Friday night, John Logue
was found guilty of the murder of Thomas Graham,
a mere youth, and sentenced to be hanged on the
19th of April. The prisoner had been suffering a
heavy penalty for another felony, and this crime
with two others was committed shortly after his
liberation. He seemed perfectly unconcerned all
through the trial, and unmoved by the sentence,
smiling as he left the dock.
As the same assizes, Mr. Robert R. Tennant, a
gentleman of property and position in the county
Down, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment
and a fine of £lOO for an aggravated assault on Mr.
Nicholas Delacherois, his brother-in-law. The
offence was committed on Sunday, the 25th June,
in his brother-in-law's house, while the latter was
holding out to the prisoner the hand of friendship,
without any reason then assigned, but the cause
was something that had occurred between Mr. De-
lacherois and his wife, the prisoner's sister. The
scene between Mr. Tennant and his friends when he
was carried off to gaol was very affecting.
The Archbishop of Dublin held a confirmation in
Christ's Church on Saturday, when the total num-
ber of children presented out of 11 parishes was only
74. These are the old city parishes, in half a dozen
of which there are not more Church people than
would make one good congregation, and, where,
consequently, there is a great waste of Church pro-
perty and of ministerial resources. The names of
the 11 parishes aro Christ Church, St. Michan's, St.
Luke, St. Nicholas Within, St. Nicholas "Without,
St. Patrick's Deanery, St. John, St. Audoen, St.
Paul, St. James, and St. Jude.
March 20.

If in former times St. Patrick's-day happened on a
Saturday, there would have been a large number of
persons charged with drunkenness at the police offices
onMonday morning. Yesterday the number was not
greater than'on ordinary occasions. The only case of
Fenianism connected with the day is a curious one. A
respectably dressed young man, named John Lee-
dom, in the employment of the Great Southern and
Western Railway Company, went up to the sentinel
on duty at the Kilmainham Gaol on Saturday even-
ing and asked him to go into a public-house and
have a drink, saying; ".I am a Fenian." The
soldier immediately called the sergeant of
the guard, and Leedom was arrested. In his de-
fence before the magistrate yesterday he produced
an officer of the company and a constable to prove
that there was not a more loyal man in Dublin, and
that he had himself some time ago given a person in
charge for using seditious language. It was under
the influence of drink that he acted so foolishly, and
it should never occur again. In consequence of this
evidence in his favour the magistrate let him off on
his giving bail for his good behaviour.
The Clonmel Chronicle of Saturday reports a
daring attempt made on Friday night in the town
of Tipperary on the life of a policeman. Constable
Quaid and two others were on duty about 11.30
p.m. It was very dark, and Quaid, observing two
or three persons lounging about, went across the
street to see who they were and what they we.re,
about. One of the men instantly fired atb a Qll uaid
from an eight-chambered revolver. The
en-
tered his great coat and pierced a thick leathern
a pair of
pouch containing a bundle of letters
handcuffs, between whichtiie ball
doing any harm. Quaid then
rushed
assail-
ant, wrested the revolver out of his hands, struck
him with it on the bead, knocked him down, and
made him a prisonar. The offender's name is
Walsh, son of a coach builder in the town. He
was fully committed for trial at the next assizes.
Yesterday Laurence Donnelly, a railway guard
on the Dublin and Belfast Railway, pleaded
Guilty" to the charge of stealing a bracelet, value
£lOO, which had been forgotten in a railway car-
riage. He got an excellent character from the
officers of the company, which the magistrate took
into account, and sentenced him to three months'
imprisonment with hard labour.

'fhb Lurgan Gazette reports a case of forgery by
a clerk, who passed a false cheque in the name of
Richards, Brothers, and Co., Belfast, got £192 2s.
for it in Dublin, and has escaped—it is supposed to
America.

At the Mayo Assizes, Jame 15.a1mon was found

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, March 20.
The Lord Chancellor has issued a notice that—
" Whereas the Education Committee of theßoyal
Agricultural Society of England have made the fol-
lowing requests to the delegates of local examina-
tions :—' 1. That the delegates will permit =Ai-
' dates for the special prizes offered by the society to
be examined at the same time and places as the
candidates for the certificates of the university. 2.
That they will permit the papers set for these prizes
by examiners selected by the Royal Agricultural
Society to be printed and circulated with the other
papers. 3. That, with a view to meet the addi-
tional expense attending on the examination of the
candidates for these special prizes, they will accept
a reduced fee not exceeding half the usual fee re-
quired by the university."
In the Convocation to be held on Friday next, the
23d- inst., at 2 o'clock, the following decree will be
proposed :—" That the delegates of local examina-
tions be authorised to make such arrangements as
may appear to them expedient in order to meet the
wishes of the Royal Agricultural Society of England."
CAMBRIDGE, March 20.
The Ifulsean Professor of Divinity proposes lec-
turing in the Eastern Term on St. Paul's Epistles
to the Thessalonians. The lectures will be held. on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 1 o'clock,
in the Arts' School, commencing on Friday, April
20. Gentlemen desirous of attending with a view
to obtaining certificates are requested to leave their
names at Messrs. Deighton, Bell, and Co.'s.
The Lucasian Professor gives notice that he in-
tends to deliver a course of lectures on Optics in
the ensuing Easter Term. These lectures will corn-,
mence on Wednesday, April 11, and will be cos_
tinned on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fri-
days, and Saturdays, at a quarter to 1 p.m., in the
Optical Lecture-room of the New Museum. Terni,
of attendance, two guineas for the first course ; after,.
wards gratis. Gentlemen desirous of attending :Ire
requested to put down their names at Messrs. neigh-
ton, Bell, and Co.'s, or at Messrs. Macmillan and
Co.'s.

There will be two minor Scholarships at Clam
College open for competition to those intending to
commence residence in October—one of £6O and one
of £4O, tenable for two and a half years or till ex-
changed for a foundation Scholarship. The exami-
nation will commence on Thursday, the 7th of Jur.e,
at 9 a.m. The following are the subjects for exa-
mination :—Latin and Greek translation (no fixed
subjects), Latin composition, Euclid and plane trigo-
nometry, arithmetic and algebra, elementary
Divinity, with four Gospels in Greek. Preference
will be given to those candidates who show special
proficiency either in classics or mathematics. Can-
didates to send in their names, with testimonials as
to character, to the Rev. W. Raynes, Tutor of the
College.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

T ECIS DAY.—Merning, sh. sm.—Afternoon, 511. 28m.
Ta-Dionaow.-Mornii4, sh. 50m.—Afternoon, 6h. 14w.