The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-08 00:00:00

AMERICA.

The health of her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent is re-established. Tier Royal Highness will leave
Frvmore House next week to visit the Queen at Osborne.
His Majesty the King of the Belgians, accom-
panied by the Count of Flanders, took leave of the Queen
yesterday morning.
We are authori se d to state tht there is no truth
in the report that it is the intentaion of her Majesty the
Queen to visit Ireland this year.
PROTECTION OF THE TEMPLE FROM FIRE.—
The benehers of this ancient inn have lately had a new and
powerful engine added to their fire-extinguishing appa-
ratus, of the same size and power as the ordinary brigade
engine, which, upon being tried within the quadrangle of
the building, was found to be able to project water over the
flag-staff of the Temple Church. The machine is manu-
factured by Mr. Merryweather, of Long-acre, and promises
to be of great assistance in the event of a fire taking place
amongst such valuable property as is contained in the
archives of that establishment, as the engine is capable of
discharging half a ton of water in a minute to a height of
130 feet.
PRACTICAL JOKING IN THE ARMY.—The Dublin
correspondent of the Cork Reporter supplies the following:
—" On Saturday a melancholy event took place here. Two
officers of a regiment stationed in this county had been
hauled up and tried by court-martial for one of hose wit-
less, brainless, and filthy practical jokes wh t
all had
ich
hoped had died out. Upon hearing the sentence of the
court 'that both be cashiered,' one of them betook himself
to the river, and there, in continuation of his folly,
drowned himself, If the lesson taught be only equal to the
or
rll willr rules efsinc:df common time
to
-d seYeepLay t.h " ise
with
people
gloom which it has spread through his regimentthe lesso
no
n,
though dearly paid for, may have its ultimate good, as
civilian
Whoota
u crang e
DISQUALIFCATIONS OF RO'MANISTS.—A bill of
jr. Massey, My, Pollard Urquhart, Sir W. Somerville,
oad jr. r. Henry Herbertrelieves Romanists from a certain
disability under which they still lie. It repeals a part of
t}l®lati,4ap. of the Act 10th George Ty. cap. 7, so as to
allow persons of the Romish persuasion to hold the office of
Lord Hof
Chancellor, Lord Keeper, or Lord Commis-
sioner of the GT Sear of Ireland. But the bill by no
;Aeons qualifies a Romanist to be "keeper of the Royal
coaspipAce" in this country,

The Toulonnais of Tuesday publishes at the
head of its columns, in large type, the following
" communicated" note from the Prefect of the
department :—" It has been remarked, not without
astonishment, that the Toulonnais in various num-
bers has given details on maritime movements
which are stated to have taken place in these latter
times. Without seeking to know whether this
journal were veil 6r ill-informed, the deplorable
facility with which it accords publicity to rumours
which, if they were well founded, would be of a
nature to inform the enemy of arrangements he
may have interest in knowing, is to be regretted.
It will no doubt suffice to point out the possible
consequences of such publication to cause them to
cease completely."
The Debats contains the following :
" According to Austrian despatches, Admiral
Romain-Desfosses has taken possession, without
resistance, of one of the Illyrian islands, at the
northern extremity of the Archipelago, called the
Island of Lossin. We may remark that this island,
which is about ten miles long, and from one
to two broad, has an excellent port and good
anchorage ground outside, covered by islets,
which shelter it and may serve as a defence. We
may further state that Lossin is commanded at
its northern extremity by a mountain, where a
look-out allows the sea and the approaches to
the island to be closely watched. Lossin is 25
miles from Pola, 40 from Fiume, 50 from Ancona,
and 75 from Venice. Though unacquainted with
the ulterior designs of the fleet, we are inclined to
see in the occupation of the island and port of
Lossin the judicious choice of a base of naval
operations, with an evident intention of not
touching on the territory of the Papal States. The
peremptory refusal of Admiral Jurien to have any-
thing to do with the towns of Ravenna and An-
cona, or the events there occurring., seems to fa-
vour this hypothesis. The Illyrian isles are not
included in the Germanic Confederation ; 'they ex-
tend all along the coast of Dalmatia, which is
also unconnected with the Confederation. The
taking
_possession of this island is therefore per-
fectly justifiable, and we have good reason to
think that the French fleet is about to establish at
Lossin its depots of coal, ammunition, provisions,
and its hospitals, if necessary, as also to leave, its
transport vessels there, in order to operate on the
enemy's coasts with war vessels clear of all impedi-
menta, just as an army leaves behind its
in convoys,
baggage, and even knapsacks, when g g
in
actual conflict."
A letter from Valeggio; in the Union; ,says :
" The siege of Peschiera, properly so called,
to
has not yet commenced. General Froissard traced
out for the Piedmontese a line of counter-valla-
tion which is now in course of execution, but
which, unfortunately, is not to surround the
place. The garrison of Peschiera may therefore
make sorties in the open space and attack the
assailants. The corps of General Niel, which has
crossed the river, is nearly two leagues off. The
garrison keeps up a constant fire from large guns
on the blockaders, and it is the continual roar of
their artillery which gave rise t 3 the idea that the
'siege had commenced."
Another letter from Valeggio says :—" The
Guard on entering Solferino made the not unim-
portant capture of 26,000 blankets. General Vinoy's
division was the first the next morning to cross the

()I•. L

SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY EVENING.
The steamer Fulton, Captain Wotton, has arrived
at Cowes with mails of the 25th ult., and proceeded
to Havre. She has 122,300 dols. for England, an
881,218 dols. for France, and 180 passengers ford
England and France.
On the sth of July, in lat. 49.55 N., long. 17.30
W., the Fulton spoke the British ship Toronto,
steering westward ; on the 6th, in lat. 49.42, long.
10.12, passed a screw steamer bound westward ;
same day, in lat. 49.41, long. 9.35, spoke the British
ship Conqueror, steering eastward ; and lat. 49.45,
long. 9.4, spoke the ship Black Hawk, of New

Bury port.
Enchange on Europe continued very dull, money
was rather more active, and in a few instances de-
mand loans were marked up to 6 and even 7 per
cent., but lenders found difficulty in obtainsng such
high rates. Mercantile paper unchanged.
The stock market was duller than at this period
of last year. Western stocks generally continued
to decline. State stocks in active demand.
The cotton market was quiet, and sales confined
to about 400 to 600 bales, in lots, chiefly to spin-
ners. Good brands of fresh ground State and
Western flour were firmly held, while old brands
were dull and lower. Sales of all kinds moderate.
Southern flour without change of moment.
Corn was more buoyant with a fair amount of
sales, including old Western mixed at 80c. ; new
ditto delivered at 81c. to 821-c.; round white at
82c. ; round yellow at 83c.; and Western ditto at

84c.
Sugars were firmer and more active, and closed
at an advance on the week's sales of fully lc. per lb,,
the largest advance being on refining goods, which
were scarce ; refined sugars were also higher, and
closed at an advance of to le. per lb. on the
week's sales. The heaviest rise was said to have
been realized on coffee and sugars. The sales of
raw goods embraced about 1,400 hhds. and 212
boxes, mostly to the trade. Coffee was more active,
with sales of two cargoes of Rio, comprising about
4,300 bags in all—on private terms, with some
other small lots, at 91c. for St. Domingo, and
14 e. for Java. Freights were steady, though
engagements were moderate, included in which
were some 300 bales of cotton for Liverpool, at C.
to 5.32 ; 500 boxes of cheese by steamer, at 255.,
and 1,500 barrels of resin to London at is. 6d.
The lowa Republic State Convention had adopted
a resolution condemning General Casso.
The flour markets at Baltimore, Philadelphia,
Buffalo, Cincinnatti, and Albany were generally
dull.
The cotton-market at Charleston declined lc. to
-lc. on tho lower qualities; better grades unchariged
and firm ;• middling fair, 2c.
Advices from California are to the 6th ult. There
has been a sudden advance in navigation. Stock
quoted at 40 per cent. General business was
active, and accounts from the mines were flattering.
Gloomv accounts continued to be received from
Fraser. River.
Havannah advices are to the 19th of June. No-
thing of importance. The sugar market was dull,
witha stock of 400,000 boxes on hand.

AFFIXING POSTAGE STAMPS.

The best mode of affixing postage stamps is to wet slightly
the corner of the envelope and the gummed side of the
and then gently to press the stamp till it is firmly
stamp,
fixed. The practice of dipping the stamp in water is objec-
tionable, because, unless the stamp be immediately with-
drawn and care be taken, by the use of blotting paper or
some other absorbent, to remove
thenay excess of moisture,
the gum may be washed off or stamp may be rubbed
off the letter.
By the use of envelopes bearing an embossed stamp, all
risk of the stamp being detached may be avoided. Envelopes
bearing a penny embossed stamp may be purchased at any
post-office ; and on application at the office of Inland Re-
venue, Somerset-house, London, W.C. ; embossed stamps
of any value are placed on envelopes, newspaper-wrappers,
or letter-paper.
By command of the Postmaster-general,
ROWLAND HILL, Secretary.
General Post-office, July' 9, 1859.

THE DIPLOMATIC SERYIOE.—It was currently
reported yesterday that Lord Chelsea, Secretary of the
British Embassy at Paris, has been recalled, and was
Legation
at Stockholm. The Hon. Mr. Elliot will remain Minister
at Naples, and Sir Arthur Magennis will represent the
Queen at Lisbon. If, as we have reason to believe, these
statements are correct, other changes in the diplomatic
service must shortly be announced.—Daily News.
TII E IRISH CON STABU LARY .—The general force
of the constabulary employed to keep -the peace and to re-
press crime in the sister kingdom of Ireland includes 12,306
men and 346 horses ; the reserve force is 432. Thisarmy
of police cost the country last year £568,641, pler
expenses not applicable to counties, but paid within the
year, which raises the total amount of expenditure to
£653,256 ; £639,391 is borne by the public, and 113,865 by
counties, cities, and towns.
IMPROVEMENTS IN NEEDLES.—MR.WALKEIt'S PATENT
—" Difficult as it may appear to entirely change the struc-
ture of so small an article, this patent shows what may be
done even with the eye of a needle. A ridge or slightly
raised part is made before the eye, and a groove beyond it,
into which the threfd falls while sewing; the usual pres-
sure of the thimble drives the needle with its thread at once
through the cloth, affording relief of no ordinary character
to the tailor or sempstress, and saving much of their time.
We have submitted these needles to a good judge of such
articles, who has declared them superior to all others, not
only as above stated, but particularly also with relation to
facility of threading."—The Engineer.