The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

THE LAYIATHAN.

Tho anticipated launch of the Leviathan did not
take place this morning, in consequence of the
necessary arrangements for the accomplishment of
so desirable an object not being completed in time
for !the afternoon's tide. Mr. Bamel was early
this morning in the yard, accompanied by Mr.
R. Stephenson, M.P., whose assistance and ex-
perience will no doubt facilitate the operations.
We believe it is their intention to continue the
men at work during the night, so as to be able to
attempt the launch with the morning tide. Should
they be successful the Leviathan will be in her
proper element before daylight.

NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1858-DECEMBER 31, 1857

1.
The Old Year's hours are numbered,
Fleeting—phantom guest !
With those that long have slumbered,
Go—subside to rest.

2.
The young heir peeps already
Upon his dotard sire,
Mocking his gait unsteady,
Regardless of his ire.

The Old Year sayetiissdly—
" Little now is left,
The bells aro ringing gladly,
I am all bereft."

Midnight is impending,
Dear life waneth fast,
Dark and dawn are blending--
Future and the past.

Minutes grow more solemn,
Fraught with shapeless fear,
And a broken column
Marks a perished year.

ALFRED DE KANTZOW.

MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL.—Tickets for
admission to those parts of St. James's Palace to which
spec' ators will be admitted on the 25th ofJanuary are to
be had only at the ocfice of the Lord Chamberlain, at St.
James's Palace.
THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL —lnvita-
tions were issued yesterday from the Lord Chamberlain',.
department, by command of her Majesty, for a grand
entertainment at Buckiogbam Palace on the 25th prox.
Tne cards of invitation specify it to be a "full-dress"
entertainment.
The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and family, who
are surrounded by a large family circle at Bowhill,
intend to come to town on the 18th proximo, from Scot-
land, in order to be present at the nuptials of the
Princess Royal and his Royal Highneis Prince Frederick
William of Prussia.
The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton were to leave
Nice on Monday last, accompanied by their family, for
Rome, for the winter.
The Duchess (Dowager) of Hamilton rethrned to town
on Tuesday last, from Brighton, after a short visit to
that watering-place.
Viscount an'l Viscountess Sydney are entertaining a
succession of visitors at Frognall Lodge, near Footscray.
The circle will n t separate until after Twelfshnight.
The Dowager Lady .Duckett and Miss Meakin have
arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood, tom
Gloucester-gardens.
We regret to hear of the death, on Sunday last, at
Upfield, near Stroud, of Edward Bullock, Esq., late
Common Serjeant of the city of London.
The Journal de Qand states that General and Madame
L►moriciere are certainly coming to France before the
let of January. They are selling their furniture at Gand,
and intend to live in a country house belonging to them
near Amiens.

THE DANISH QUESTION.-A telegram from Frankfort,
dated 30th December, announces that the Commission
entrusted with the examination of the affairs of the
duchies of Holqtein and Lauen burg was to present its
report to the Federal Diet on the following day. The
report is Raid to be very satisfactory.
DR KAHN'S MUSK:W.—We wtre somewhat surprised
on entering this museum the other day to find that it
presented so many novel features. We bad been accus-
tomed to look upon it simply as an anatomical museum,
but, with its change of residence, it has changed its
features a'so, and presents a complete and perfect Ga'-
lery of Science. All that can illustrate the nature of the
mysterious forces by virtue of which we " live, and
move, and have our being," is gathered together in the
beautiful hall, once known as the "Salle Robin." The
most varied and costly apparatus is at the disposal of
the lecturer for illustrating the share which electricity,
magnetism, chemistry, pneumatics, &c., possess in the
growth and condition of the human frame; and when we
say that the lecturers avail themselves of these to the
utmost, and that, consequently, the museum presents a
lout ensemble unparalleled in the world, we have said
enough to induce all our readers to pay it an immediate
visit,

LIVERPOOL, D 3c. 50.—Tbe screw steamship North
American, belonging to the Montreal Ocean Steamship
Company, BOA to-day for Portlacd, Maine, with the
mail for the British North American provinces and 50
paesengerct. The royal mail steamship America(Cunard)
sails for Halifax and Breton on Saturday, the post-of ee
remaining open until 8 a.m., but letters are received
with late fee until 9 a.m., and at the landing stage at 10
a.m. There will be no Collins steamer for New York
before the 16th of January, after which date the service
for that line will be monthly instead of fortnightly, so tar
at least as the first four months of the year are conc-rnsd.
FIRE AT THE DEICE OF PORTLaND.S. - Yesterday
morning, at half-past 10 o'clock, a fire broke out in the
bedranua of the Duke of Portland, at his aulsion, 19,
Cavendieb-7quare. Hir grace has for some time been
suffering from a chronic disease of rheumatic gout in the
hip, and was accustomed to allay the pain by inhaling
the vapour from a spirit of wine lamp, and had been
doing so yesterday morning, attended by Mr. Lewis,
his house steward, when, from a slight accident, the
curtains of the bed caught fire from the flame of the
lamp, and the spirits of wine being upset, soon com-
municated to the other portion of the bedding. Mr
Lewis promptly obtained assi-tance, and succeeded in
conveying the dukraL to the library; he then took the
pr, cant ion to close Re door of the bedroom, the servants
and firemen, who had in the meantime arrived, pouring
in buckets of water until the fire was subdued, but not
before the eatirOtpriture of the room was destroyed.