The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-14 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern
New ditto 795 ..
Lyons and Moditerranean 835 .. 833 75
New ditto

Geneva 535 , .. 635
Midi . — ..

Southern - 512 50
Western 592 50 .. 590
Eastern
Grand Central
Sardinian
Austrian

Exchange on London, at sight paper, 2.5 f. 171 c. ,• money,
25f, 121 c.; three months paper, 251. sc. ; money, 25f.

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.

CORFU, FEB. 8.

Mr. Gladstone went in state to the Assembly on
the sth. He addressed the Deputies in Italian ;
his speech seemed to make considerable effect upon
them.

" Mr. President and Geritlemen,—l have received
under date of 2d February, the answer of the Pro-
tecting Sovereign to the petition of the Legislative
Assembly of the lonian State for the union with
Greece, as well as her Majesty's commands to make
it known without loss of time, and in the most
solemn manner, to the Legislative Assembly and to
the lonian people, in Order that bOth the one and
the other may frilly and clearly comprehend their
actual position."

The answer is as follows :
" VICTORIA REGINA.

" Her Majesty has taken into her gracious con-
sideration the prayer of the petition presented by
the Legislative Assembly of the lonian Islands
with reference to the interests of the islands them-
selves, of the States in their neighbourhood, and of
the general peace.
" Having regard to these objects, her Majesty,
invested as she is by the Treaty of Paris with the
exclusive protectorate of the lonian State, and con-
stituted the sole organ of that State in the councils
of Europe, can neither consent to abandon the
obligations she has undertaken, nor can convey, nor
permit, any application to any other Power in
furtherance of any similar design.
"Her Majesty does not desire to impose new
fetters on opinion ; but she will enforce, wherever
it is placed in her charge, the sacred duty of obe-
dience to the laws.

" Her Majesty has adopted, on her part, the
measures which she deems most conducive to the
good of the lonian people ; and she awaits the
enlightened co-operation of their Parliament.

"V. R."

DESPATCH OF TIIE MINISTER FOR THE COLONIES
TO THE LORD HIGH COMMISSIONER.

"Downing-street, Feb. 2, 180.

"Sir,-1. The petition of the Legislative Assem-
bly of the lonian Islands adopted on the 30th of
January, has been laid before her Majesty.
"2. The petition sets forth the warm desire and
disposition of the people of the Seven Islands, and
of the Assembly, to be brought into political union
with the kingdom of Greece, and prays her Majesty
to consent, and to obtain the consent of the other
Powers of Europe, to this measure.
"3. Her Majesty is pleased to return the answer
which I now transmit.

" 4. Her Majesty commands you to make it
known, without loss of time, and in the most solemn
manner, to the Legislative Assembly and to the
lonian people, in order •that both the ono and the
other may fully and clearly comprehend their actual
position. _

" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your most obedient servant,
" E. B. LYTTON.
" The Right Hon. the Lord High Commissioner
of the lonian Islands, &c."

THE GREAT EASTERN STEAM SHIP.

RAISING THE PADDLE SHAFTS THIS DAY

The difficult operation of raising and placing on
board the paddle shafts and cranks of the Great
Eastern Steam Ship was successfully performed to-
day, by means of a " floating derrick."

To the uninitiated spectator everything about a
floating derrick is strange and singular-looking
in the last degree. It is strange in shape, in
make, andin purpose—mote strange even in name.
The whole thing is really a floating crane of gigan-
tic size and power, the hull, its base, being of such
a shape as best suits a light draught of water with
a counterpoise to the leverage of the crane. In
shape the Derrick is cruciform up to the arms of
the cross, being a tripod-shaped iron stand, tied
together with wrought-iron braces. The cross of
the Derrick is called the boom, all made of wrought-
iron. The upper limb of the cross is called the king
post. Thus from one arm of the cross the weight is
raised by pulleys, which, passing over the king post,
are brought over the other arm to the body of the
vessel. The whole principle of the machine is, in
fact, acquisition and distribution—as fast as the
weight is acquired it is distributed over the whole
frame of the Derrick, and thence throughout the
hull equally. Two oscillating engines work a set
of crabs, independent of each other, the united force
of all giving a hoisting capacity of no less than 100
tons above the surface of the water.

The immense piece of machinery, weighing
nearly 45 tons, was lifted, with the greatest ease,
from Scott Russell's building-yard at Millwall, at
ten o'clock this morning, and in about half-an. hour
was lying alongside the Great Eastern.
Orders were given to commence the novel hoist,
and at five minutes to 12 it was level with the deck
of the ship. A quarter of an hour afterwards it
was placed in position ; and thus a work of great
magnitude was performed in a comparatively short
time.

The proceeding on board the Floating Derrick
were under the superintendence of the chairman and
other officials of the Floating Derrick Company,
while those on the. Great-Eastern were conducted by
Captain Harrison. _ _ _

The expeditious manner in which the work was
performed reflected the highest. credit upon all
concerned,

The Wallachian deputation charged to deliver to
Prince Alexander Couza the official act of his nomination
has been welcomed at Jassy with the most lively enthu-
siasm. It was received on the 10th by the Prince, who
is said to have replied to it with great dignity and
moderation.

It is said that negotiations between the British
and French Governments on the subject of Newfoundland
are about to be resumed, and that the Baron de la Ron-
ciere Le Noury is appointed a Commissioner to conduct the
negotiations on the part of the French Government. The
Minister of Marine has selected the steam corvette Gassendi
to proceed to Newfoundland with the officer appointed to
command the French ships of war on that station.
IRISH COUNTY ELECTIONS.—The poll at Irish
county elections is limited to one day (as in England) by
a bill just brought in by Mr. Collins, Mr. Bagwell, and Mr.
Blackburn. The time and mode of proceeding to election
is also to be assimilated to the simpler and shorter system
which obtains in England. Tho seats of bankrupt members
must be vacated after four months instead of twelve.