The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-04 00:00:00

THIP SUN, LONDOR, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 4, 1861.

•
SPOBTIIVG INTELLIGENCE.

ME W MARK E T RACE S—WEDNESDA.Y.
Sweepstakes of 100 sovs each, h ft ; colts Bst 71b, fillies Bst
31b, with 31b and 51b allowances. New T.Y.C. 3 subs.
Mr. Merry's Chieftain's Daughter, Bst 31b • . (Custance) 1
Count Batthyany's Pergula, Bst 31b ............ (Wells) 2
Betting-6 to 4on Chieftain's Daughter, who waited
upon the non-favourite into the bottom, where she went in
front, and won with extreme ease by three parts of a length.
Match-200, h ft. Chesterfield Course.
Mr. Barnard's Wolsey, 2 yrs, 7st 41b .... (A. Edwards) 1
11r. J. Smith's Bayonet, 3 yrs, Bst 121 b (Fordham) 2

Betting-11 to Son Bayonet.
Wolsey jumped away with a slight lead, which he held
to the end, and won cleverly by three parts of a length.
Handicap Plate of 50 soy.", for 3-yr-olds and upwards.
Chesterfield Stakes Course.
Mr. French's Leontes, 6 yrs, Bst 41b (A. Edwards) 1
Lord Chesterfield's Jacintha, 3 yrs, sst 101 b (car. Est lib)
(Roper) 2
Mr. Barber's Ellen, 4 yis, 7st 61b.. (Grimshaw) 3
Gibraltar, Restes, Pomona, Clio, The Prophet, Apollo,
Boabdil, Pescatore, and Carbine also ran.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Leontes, sto 2 agst Carbine, Bto 1
each agst Jacinths and Clio, 10 to 1 each agst Apollo and
Restes. •
At the third attempt the horses left the post in compact
'order. Leontes was, however, the first in action, and in con-
sequence obtained a decided lead, followed by Clio, Ellen,
Pescatore, and Jacintha in the order we have given them ;
Carbine, with Gibraltar on the lower ground next the rails,
following, with-the others, headed by Restes and Apollo,
close up, but widely spread. On coming through the
bottom Ellen passed Clio and went on second, and rising
the hill Jacintha took the third position, with . Clio, Car-
bine, and Pescatore in close attendance. Leontes, how •
ever, was never approached, and won...with the most con-
summate ease by four lengths. Jacintha, catching Ellen in
the last stride, obtained the barren honours of second by a
neck; Clio finished fourth, Carbine fifth, and Pescatore
sixth; the others beaten off, and were pulling up as they
passed the stand. The last trio were Gibraltar, Prophet,
and Restes.
Sweepstakes of 10 Boys each, for two-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b;
and fillies, Bst 41b. The winner to be sold for 200 sous;
if for 100 sous, allowed 51b. Chesterfield Course. 4 subs.
Mr. Ten Broeck's Reporter, (0100), Bst 21b (G. Fordham)
Mr. Flutter's Hambleton Lass (L 100), 7st 131 b
(A. Edwards) 2
Lord Uxbridge's Evangeline (L 100), 7st 131 b (Charlton) 3
Mr. Wybrow's Robertson's Twinkle (200), Bst 41b
(J. Brewtey) 4

Bettting-7 to 4 agst Hambleton Lass, and 2 to 1 each
agst Reporter and Evangeline.
Hambleton Lass was the first off, and made strong run-
ning to the foot of the hill, where Re.porter got to her
girths, and after a little rousing he obtained a slight lead,
which he held to the end, and won cleverly by a length.
Evangeline and Twinkle finished third and fourth, beaten
off a long way. The winner was claimed by Mr. Flutter.
Sweepstakes of 100 soya each, h ft, for 3-yr olds; colts, Bst
71b ; fillies, Bst 41b. Suffolk Stakes Course. 7 subs.
Baron Rothschild's Janus, Bst 71b (Wells) 1
Lord Stamford's Walloon, Bst 71b .(A. Edwards) 2
Mr. R. H. Nevill's Begonia, Bst 41b .. (G. Fordham) 3
Betting-3 to lon Janus.
The favourite made play at a steady pace, followed by
Walloon and Begonia to half-way up the hill, where he had
them both beaten, and he cantered home a winner by 20
lengths, a like distance separating the second and third.
The Stamford Plate of 200 sovs, given by the Earl of Stan*
ford and Warrington, added to a Sweepstakes of 15 sovs
each, 5 ft; for 2-yr-olds and upwards; weights for age,
with certain allowances ; a inners extra. The winner to
pay 20 soya to the judge and 20 to the starter. Last 6

furlongs of B.M. • 60 subs.
Mr. Alexander's Thunderbolt, .4 yrs, 9st slb (E. Sharpe) 1
Sir W. Booth's Stampedo, 4 yrs, Bst 51b.. (L. Snowden) 2
Baron Niviere's Fabius, 3 yrs, Bst 51b.. (H. Grimahaw) 3
The following also ran --Giraffe filly, Maggiore, Her-
man, Ballerino, Touch-me-Not, Waterwitch, Victrix, and
Twilight.
Betting— 7 to 4 agst Maggiore, 4 to 1 agst Thunderbolt,
5 to 1 agst Waterwifch,•and 8 to 1 agst Stampedo.
After two failures, caused through the fractiousness of
Waterwitch and Ballerino, the lot got away upon favour-
able terms, Herman, to the extreme right, having a slight
lead, followed in the centre of the course by Stampedo,
Maggiore, and Fabius, the others, headed by Thunderbolt
and Waterwitch, coming on nearly in a line. At the quar-
ter of a mile post Herman gave way to Stampedo, who took
a decided lead, and shortly after Maggiore was beaten,
Thunderbolt going on third. Half•way up the hill the lat-
ter got to Stampedo's head, who immediately exhibited his
usual currishness, and cut it as if shot, and although he was
driven home, he was beaten in a canter by two lengths,
Fabius was s bad third, and the Giraffe filly fourth, Mag-
gicre was fifth, Twilight sixth, Waterwitch and Totch-me-
Not seventh and eighth.
The Town Plate of 60 sous ; for 3-yr-olds, colts Bst 711,1

and fillies Bst 31b. B.M.
Mr. H. Jones's Eastern Princess
Lord Stamford's Malta (Ed wards) 2
Mr. H. Savile's Ducat
Lord Chesterfield's brother to Teddington (Rogers) 4

Betting-7 to 2on Malta.
Eastern Princess made all the running, and won in a
canter by three lengths ; a bad third ; the other was beaten
off.
Plats of 50 sovs., for maiden two-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b ;

fillies, Bst 41b. New T.Y.C.

Lord Stamford's Donna del Lago (Edwards) 1
Mr. Rogers's Night Revel
Baron Rothschild's Molly .
The following also ran :—Master Fenton, Lass o'Gowrie,
Concertina colt, Strawberry Leaf, Baylock, Grasshopper
colt, Vela, Fantasia, Sugarstick, Mistral, Ballet Girl, and
Dioncea.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Donna del Lago, sto 1 agst Molly,
Bto 1 agst Master Fenton and Mistral, 10 to 1 agst Night
Revel, Fantasia, and Lass o'Gowrio.
Several failures were caused by some breaking away, after
which a capital start was effected. The lot getting away
together, Sugarstick made play, followed by the favourite,
Molly, Lass o' Gown* and Night Revel to the bottom of
the hill, when Donna del Lago took a clear lead, and with
the others in close company, made the rest of the running,
and won easily by two lengths ; a neck between the second
and third ; Fantasia fourth, Strawberry Leaf fifth, Lass
o'Gowrie sixth, and Master Fenton and Ballet Girl the last
two.
Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each ; for two-yr-olds, Bst 41b ;
three-yr-olds, 9st. Fillies and geldings allowed 31b. The
winner to be sold for 40 sovs if demanded, Stc. Last
half mile of New T.Y.C. 4 subs.
Lord Clifden's Barb Pigeon, 3 yrs (Rogers) 1
Lord Uxbridge's Evangeline, 2 yrs
Mr. Rayner's Conundrum, 3 yrs
Count F. de Lagrange's Flaub, 2 yrs (Grimshaw) 4
Betting-5 to 4 agst Evangeline, 6to 4 agst Barb Pigeon,
3 to 1 a.gst Conundrum.
Barb Pigeon made all the running, and won by three
lengths ; two lengths between the second and third ; a head
between the third and fourth.

CARLISLE RACES.—WEDNESDAY.
The Corby Castle Stakes of 5 sous each, with 30 added, ;
two year olds, 6st 11b ; three, Bst 71b ; fillies and geld-
ings allowed 31b. T.Y.C.
Mr. Thomas's Lachesis, 2 yrs, Est 121 b ........ (Doyle) 1
Mr. Wilkinson's Wallachia, 2 yrs, Est 131 b.... (Sinclair) 0
No betting. After Wallachia had bolted several times a
moderate start was effected; Lachesis being first on her
legs, but was immediately passed by Wallachia, who car-
ried on the running for about 200 yards, when ho ran
against a post and fell, rolling off Sinclair. After this
Lachesis cantered home at her ease. We are glad to say
Sinclair is not so seriously hurt as was anticipated.
The Scurry Handicap Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 25 added,
for all ages. T.Y.C.
Mr. Watson's Ettrick Vale, 4 yrs, Bst 71b .. (Robertson) 1
Mr. Osborne's Zachariah Taft, 3 yrs 7st 121 b (Challoner) 2

Betting-5 to ton Ettrick Vale.
Zachariah Taft made the running to the distance, when
Ettrick Vale joined him, and won rather cleverly by a neck.
The Lottery Stakes (handicap) of 5 scvs each, with 40
added. One mile and a quarter.
Mr. Winteringham's Interest, 4 yrs, 6st 81b.... (Noble) 1
Mr. Alexander's Oldminster, 3 yrs, 6st 21b .. (Doyle) 2
Mr. Fobert's Underhand, aged, 9st (in. 41b ex.)
(Challoner) 3
The following also ran :—Desmond, Montrose, Hegira,
and Young Viscount.
Betting—Even on Interest, 2 to 1 agst Underhand, 5 to

1 agst Montrose, and 8 to 1 bar three.
The race is soon described. Upon settling into their
places, Interest took the lead, was never afterwards headed,
and won cleverly by three-quarters of a length. There were
twoleng,ths between the second and third horses. Desmond
was a bad four th. Underhand and Oldminster ran against

a post.
Consolation Scramble Handicap of 3 save each, with 20

added, for beaten horses. Half a mile

Mr. Peck's Young Viscount, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (Doyle) 1
Mr. Menzies's Montrose, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (Madden) 2
Mr. Colon's Camphor, 3 yrs, Est 61b (Hunter) 3

Betting-6 to ►on Montrose, and 2to 1 bar one.
Montrose made the running for the first two hundred
yards, when Camphor took it up, and carried it on to half
way up the straight ; here she was beaten, and Young
Viscount took the command, maintained it to the end, and
won cleverly by a length. Camphor was a good third.
It is the intention of the Clerk of the Course to fix this
meeting in future on the Thursday and Friday in the Now-
castle race week, so as not to clash with Worcester and
Newmarket.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER—WEDNESDAY.
There were some changes in the Liverpool Cup betting
Dnefoot was supported as low as 7 to 1, but ultimately 10 to
1 was laid and offered ; then 12 to 1 was taken about York-
minster, and afterwards 16 to 1 was laid and offered,

Slingsby finished favourite, but a fair amount was done on
Feodorowna and Weathervvitch,—For Goodwood Stakes,
the only animal in request was Shipwreck (a rather ominous
name), who had friends at 9to L Starke seemed a little
out of favour, 100 to 6 was taken, but it was afterwards
offered.—Nothing done-on any, of. the events coming off at
Worcester. Closing prices .

LIVERPOOL CUP.
Bto 1 agst Slingsby (taken)
10 to 1 agst Doefoot (taken and offered)
10 to 1 agst Feodorowna (taken)
10 to 1 agst The Brewer (offered)
12 to 1 agst Weatherwitch (taken)
12 to l agst Heiress (taken)
12 to 1 agst General Hesse (taken)
12 to 1 agst Flash-in-the-Pan (offered)
12 to 1 agst Northern Light offered)
16 to 1 agst. Predictor (offered)
16 to 1 agst Yorkminster (offered)
GOODIVOOD STARES.
8 to 1 agst Schism (taken)
9to 1 agst Shipwreck (taken)
16 to 1 agst Starke (taken and offered)
16 to 1 agst Brownie (taken)
100 to 3 agst Canary (taken)
100 to 3 agst Royal Sovereign (taken)

LATEST BETTING.
THE LIVERPOOL OVP.
7to 1 agst Slingsby (taken)
9to 1 agst Feodorowila (taken)
10 to 1 agst The Brewer (taken)
10 to 1 agst Yorkminster (taken)
WORGESTEII3IIIRE STAKES.
4to 1 agst Von Stroom (taken freely)
4to 1 agst Fairwater (offered)
7to 1 agst Zodiac (taken)
7to 1 agst M. Philippe (taken)

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, .REGENT'S PARK.

The third and last exhibition of plants, flowers, and
fruits in the grounds of this society for the present sea-
son took place yesterday, and was unusually well at-
tended. Amongst the distinguished visitors present
were the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary of Cam-
bridge, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Duchess of Mont-
rose, the Marchioness of Waterford, the Countess of Buck-
ingham, the Earl and Countess of Zetland, the Countess of
Harrington, the Countess of Suffolk, and the Greek,Danish,
Portuguese, Spanish, Austrian, and Brazilian Ambassa-
dors. A very excellent selection of music was performed
on the occasion by the bands of the Ist and 2d Life Guards
and the Horse Guards (Blue). The show was an excellent
one. The following is a list of the prizes awarded by
the council :

Extra Gold Medal.—To Mr. Wm. May, gardener to
Joseph Spode, Esq., Hawksyard Park, Rugeley, Stafford-
shire, for 16 stove and greenhouse plants ; to Mr. Strne,
gardener to J. Day, Esq., Tottenham, for 20 exotic orchids.
Large Gold Medal.—To Mr. B. Peed, gardener to H.
Treadwell, Esq., St. John's Lodge, Norwood, for 16 stove
and greenhouse plants; to Mr. Milford, gardener to E.
M'Maland, for 20 exotic orchids.
Medium Gold Medal.—To Mr. R. Baxendine, gardener
to W. H. Smallpiece, Esq., Millmead House, Guildford,
Surrey, for 16 stove and greenhouse plants; to Messrs. J.
and J. Fraser, nurserymen, for 12 stove and greenhouse
plants; to Mt. J. Green, gardener to Sir A. Antrobus, for
10 stove and greenhouse plants; to Mr. B. Peed, for 20
exotic orchids; to Mr. Page, for 12 exotic orchids.
Gold Medal.—To Mr. W. Cutbush, nurseryman, Barnet,

for 12 stove and greenhouse plants ; to Mr. Chilman, gar-
dener to Mrs. Smith, Ashstead, for 10 stove and greenhouse
plants; to Messrs. Jackson and Son, nurserymen, King-
ston, Surrey, for 10 heaths; to Mr. B. Peed, gardener to
G. Treadwell, Esq., for 8 Cape heaths ; to Mr. G. H.
Bunney, nurseryman, Stratford, for 10 exotic orchids; to
Mr. Baker, gardener to A. Basset, Esq., for 12 exotic or-
chids; to Mr. C. Turner, nurseryman, Slough, for 6 pelar-
goniums; to Mr. Nye, gardener to E, Forster, Esq.,
Clewer, Berks, for 10 pelargoniums.
Large Silver Gilt Medal.—To Mr. Rhodes, nurseryman,
for 12 stove and greenhouse plants ; to Mr. W. Kail,
gardener to Earl Lovelace, for 10 stove and greenhouse
plants; to Mr. Page, gardener to W. Leaf, Esq., Park-.
hill, Streatham, for 6 stove and greenhouse plants; to Mr.
Rhodes, for 10 Cape heaths ; to Mr. Page, for 8 Cape
heaths; to Mr. S. Wooley, nurseryman, Cheshunt, Herts,
for 11 exotic orchids ; to Mr. Green, for 6 exotic orchids ;
to Mr. E. Harper, gardener to J. F. Bennett, Esq., Tulse-
hill, Surrey, for G fuchsias; to Messrs. J. and J. Fraser,
for 12 pelargoniums; to Mr. Bailey, gardener to Drake,
Esq., for 10 pelargoniums; to Mr. C. Turner, for 6 pelar-
goniums, large size ; to Mr. T. \Vindser, nurseryman, for
6 scarlet pelargoniums; to Mr. Henderson, gardener to the
Duke of Sutherland, for a collection of fruit; to Mr. Till-
yard, gardener to J. Kelk, Esq., Priory, Stanmore, for a
collection of fruit; to Mr, Ruffett, gardener to Lord Pal-
merston, Broekethall, for a collection of fruit.
Large Silver Medal—To. Mr. J. Legg, gardener to Baron
Hambro, for 6 Et-ive and greenhouse plants ; to Mr. W.
May, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., for 6 Cape heaths ; to
Mr. Chilman, for 6 exotic orchids ; to Mr. C. Turner, for 6
fancy pelargoniums; to Mr. Shrimpton, gardener to G. E.
Docks, Esq., for 6 fancy pelargoniums ; to Mr. C. Turner,
for 6 pelargoniums of 1860,

EEPORT OF THE SELECT' COMMITTEE

ON THE TRANSPORT SERVICE.

Yesterday morning the report was issued of the
select committee appointed to inquire into the
organisation and management of those branches of
the Admiralty, War office, India-office, and Emi•
gration Board, by which the business of transport-
ing, by means of shipping, troops, convicts, emi-
grants, materials of war, stores, and any other
similar aervies is now performed.
The report, which is dated the 26th ult., consists
of upwards of five pages, The following are the
chief recommendations :

" The immediate separation of the transport
from the victualling department of the Admiralty.
The removal from the India-office of the transport
of all troops and stores to and from our East India
possessions. The abolition of the Emigration-office,
and consequently the transfer to the Colonial-office,
to which it legitimately belongs, of all business con-
nected with the various laws passed by the colonial
legislatures relating to land or emigration, the con-
sideration of land claims, the preparation of mineral
leases, the framing of orders in council relating to
land, and all similar duties now performed by the
Commissioners of Emigration. Simultaneously
with these important, but necessary changes, the
committee recommend the formation of a distinct
and separate Transport-office on the principle of
the late Transport Board, properly organised, and
directly responsible to a department of the state, for
transport of every kind required by the Govern-
ment to any part of our coast, and to all our colo-
nies and possesions, including India. Under the
charge of this office your committee recommend
that there should be depots at Southampton,
Birkenhead, and Plymouth, and so much of the
valuable and already organised machinery of the
Emigration-office as may be found necessary, as
also the services of the most competent agents,
clerks, and surveyors now attached to the India
Transport and Emigration offices who may be
willing to transfer their services if required. When
these changes are effected, every department of the
Government requiring transport would apply to
the transport-effice, the head of which office should
be held responsible for the quality and soundness of .
all vessels engaged by and the manning, fitting,
provisioning, and ventilating of those vessels. He
should also be responsible for the stowage of all
cargo, and for due care of the health, comfort, and
safety of all troops and Government passengers,
from the time they were embarked till landed at
their port of destination. Separate and distinct
accounts should, in the opinion of your committee,
be kept at the Transport-office of the cost of the
work done for each department of the Government,
and rendered periodically, and a distinct estimate
of the entire annual cost,
.divided into separate
heads, should be annually ;aid before Parliament as
a transport estimate."

GREAT FIRES AND GREAT WARETIOUSES.—The
Manchester warehouses have grown int@ enormous store..
houses, full of the most combustible materials, without hav-
ing any partition walls at all. Cook's warehouse, in St.
Paul's churchyard, is perhaps the most striking example of
this evasion of the letter of the law. It contains no less than
1,100,000 cubic feet of space, filled with cotton goods, or
900,000 feet more than the space contemplated by the law.
And Cook's warehouse is only a sample of these kind of
buildings that are growing in every direction in the heart
of the city. Mr. Braidwood was never tired of raising his
warning voice against these centres of dire conflagrations.
These warehouses, he was often heard to say, are inaugu-
rating an era of gigantic fires, against which the efforts of
the Brigade will be powerless. The buildings, too, are so
constructed as to render the firemen afraid to enter them.
Iron girders, supported by iron columns, hold up the floors
of these enormous buildings, and when these become red
hot, in consequence of the fierce blast to which they are
subjected, the fireman plays upon them at his peril, as the
water suddenly contracts them on one side, and they snap
and shiver in an instant, bringing
the whole building down
With a run,—Once a Week.

THE C 01.11 2.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STN.

SlR,—Having obtained observations of the splen-
did comet now visible on three successive evenings,
I have been enabled to calculate the elements of its
orbit, which I now transmit, together with a few
particulars founded upon them.
The comet arrived at its least distance from the
sun about 1 o'clock on the morning of June 10, in
heliocentric longitude 244 deg. 35 min., being then
separated from him by 76,000,000 miles. It crossed
the plain of the earth's orbit from the south to the
north side in longitude 279 deg. 1 min. on June
28, in a path inclined 85 deg. 58 min. to the ecliptic.
The true orbital motion is direct.

Its distance from the earth on Sunday evening
was rather over 13.000,000 miles, and a little less
than 15,000,000 at 11 o'clock last evening. It is
therefore receding slowly from us, as well as from
the sun. The apparent length of the tail last night
was 70 deg., corresponding to a true length of
16,000.000 miles. The nucleus, which is extremely
brilliant, was about 400 miles in diameter.
The comet has a very striking and interesting
appearance in the telescope ; but it would be diffi-
cult to describe it without the assistance of a dia-
gram. It is certainly not the comet of Charles V.
(1556), th 6 return of which has been anticipated
about this epoch.
I subjoin a few places, calculated from my ele-
ments, which will sufficiently define the track in
the heavens during the ensuing week :
FOn MEAN MIDNIGHT AT GREENWICH.
Right Nortb. Distance
Ascension. Declinat.on. from the
h. m. deg. min. Earth in miles.
July 3 .. 9 47:8 .. 66 3 .. 16,503,000
„ 4 10 57:7 .. 66 51 .. 18,400,000
„ 5 11 531 .. 66 8 .. 20,500,000
„ 6 .. 12 34:8 .--. 64 40 .. 22,700,000
7 .. 13 41 .. 63 0 .. 25,100,000
~ 8 .. 13 26.5 .. 61 22 .. 27,500,000
~ 9 .. 13 43 0 .. 59 51 .. 30,000,000
„10 .. 13 55.6 .. 58 28 .. 32,500,000
I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,
J. R. HIND.

Mr. G. Bishop's Observatory,
Regent's-park, July 3.

This new visitor, which has taken even astrono-
mers by surprise, shone with great brilliancy last
night, exciting universal admiration. The reason
why it was not observed before is that, up to the
30th ult., its distance from the pole was such as to
make it set together with the sun ; whereas, from
that date, it has approached so near the pole that it
cannot set at all. Its size does not at present exceed
that of 1838, and it differs from it materially in this
respect that its tail is straight instead of being
curved. The observations taken by MM. Lepissier
and Lcevy on the 30th ult, were as follows :
Mean Time, Paris. Right Asc3nsion. Distance from Pole.

H. M. H. M. S. DEG. M. s.
9 5 6 37 40 44 11 1
11 27 6 40 37 43 20 9
11 44 6 41 1 43 13 5
Yesterday its distance from the pole was not mere
than 35 degrees, it having thus performed nearly
eight degrees northward in the course of 24
hours. It is composed as usual of a very bril-
liant nucleus, a luminous aureola of considerable
breadth, a tuft on the side turned towards the sun,
and a large tail in the opposite direction, Accord-
ing
to M. Chacornac the tuft is eccentric, and com-
posed of six curved and radiant branches, each not
more than a minute in length ' • they are all curved
in the same sense. As might have been expected,
the comet gave rise to an animated discussion at
yesterday's sitting of the Academy of Sciences. M.
Elie de Beaumont read a letter from M. Gold-
schmidt, the amateur astronomer, in which he stated
that the comet was 35 degrees in length, and be-
tween three and four in breadth, so that it measures
17,000,000 of leagues. M. Babinet remarked that
M. Hind's Ephemerides of Charles V.'s comet give
it the precise position of the present one. M. Bo-
mine had predicted its return in 1858, and Mr.
Hind admitted that it might return between 1856
and 1860. Considering the imperfect manner in
which observations were taken three centuries ago,

it would surprise no one that a difference of six
months should exist between the time of its sp•
pearance and the time calculated. If this were so,
the present comet was the same that had been ob-
served in 1556, and caused the abdication of Charles
V. It had previously appeared, according to Pingre,
in 1261, when it was supposed to announce the
death of Pope Urban IV. • and its appearance had
been recorded even earlier, in July, 975, by the
Chinese. M. Leverrier was not of M Babinet's
opinion. Mr. Hind's table showed different posi-
tions which Charles V.'s comet might occupy in the
event of its return, and the question was so unde-
termined that it was no wonder to find a position in
the table answering to that of the present comet.
And, indeed, there was one corresponding to the
position of the 30th of June ; but the motion of the
present comet in the course of 24 hours was so dif-
ferent from that given in the table, that the identity
of the two comets could no longer be admitted.
Here the subject dropped.— Galignani's essenger.

Letters from the French departments contain
fresh details relating to the terrific hailstorm which caused
so much damage on the 22d of June. At Touhan, near
Lyons, the storm was so intense that roofs of 50 and 60 feet
long were stripped off houses, and the largest trees were
tern up by the roots. At Saint-Seine and the neighbour-
hood the hailstones lay so thick on the ground that a trust-
worthy witness asserts that he saw a bed of hailstones three
feet thick on the road between Saint• Seine and Vaux-
Saules. All the carriages travelling on the road at that time
were overturned. The lightning at the same moment killed
several horses in the fields. In the Yonne, on the same
day, and at the same hour as in the Cote d'Or, the crops
were totally destroyed in the districts of Soigny, Auxerre,
Sens, and Tonnerre. The appearance of the country is
desolate. Vineyards are deprived of vegetation, gardens
are laid waste, and cornfields are ploughed up. The light-
ning, moreover, killed a number of cattle in that depart-
ment. In the Nievre the wind and rain destroyed the
growing crops, levelled more than 100 houses, and tore up
thousands of trees, particularly in the neighbourhood of
Cosne. In the Allier three men were killed in the fields.
Numerous rabbits and fowls perished in the poultry yards.
The corn crops suffered great injury. The loss in that de-
partment is estimated at above 1,000,000 francs. In the
Jura the hailstorm which was experienced on Sunday week
laid waste eight communes in the neighbourhood of Cou•
liege. In the Marne numerous dwelling houses were
stripped of their roofs, church steeples were thrown down,
and several persons injured. In the Rhone the commune
of Chamelet escaped more serious injury by a heavy fall of
rain, which dissipated the hailstorm. As a slight compen-
sation, the hay crop is described as excellent throughout
France.
A CREMONE BALLOON FOR THE CONTINENT.—
A balloon ascent is, generally speaking, an evening novelty
used by managers of public gardens. This usual order of
things was broken through yesterday by the Cremorne
lessee, who allowed a spirited amateur gentleman to take a
private morning pf-rformance on his own account, which
though commencing at these beautiful gardens, will pro-
bably not terminate till he has the opportunity of having
an interview with our neighbours across Channel. The
arrangements for this trip were not completed till between
nine and ten yesterday morning, and therefore the fact of
the balloon passing over the metropolis as early as three
p.m., is a fact which may be mentioned as reflecting credit
upon the London Gas Company, the management of the
gardens, and Lythgoe, the aeronaut. The wind has now
continued N.W. for some hours, and we may therefore an-
ticipate that, taking into consideration the speed at which
the intrepid voyagers passed over London, they are, some
hours since, safely landed on the territory of France.
PRUSSIAN MANNERS.—Travelling Englishmen
have of late been stigmatised in Prussia somewhat severely
in connection with the celebrated " Macdonald affair," and
State Procurator Miller was pleased to apply some hard
epithets to the class during the recent judicial proceedings;
but, judging from the following narrative, taken from the
NeumiAmstertlamer liandelsblcat, the Prussians have much
need to look at home before they east undeserved asper
sions on others :—" A few days since a noble officer of 4"
Prussian Guards was present with a lady in a saloon of a
steamboat on the Rhine. A gentleman in civil costume
entered, when the officer ordered him in a very rude manner
to remove his hat. The gentleman appeared not to hear the
demand, when the officer knocked the hat from the gentle-
man's head. The gentleman immediately called the cap-
tain of the vessel, and requested him, Recording to his in-
structions, to put the alleer ashore at the first station they
reached. The eat t via hesitated to put his instructions
in force in the case of an officer of the Guards, and
paid no attention to the demand. As the next station
was passed without the officer being set on sly-xe, the
gentleman repeated his request ; and as anotdhetr
remainstatton
was also pissed, and the officer was stiillsseulfffeasre
thoeon board, board, the gentleman announced h.'m
dTehnet o f
captain the P run:, AlaonnglNelrinrisetfeursse,dt.he
ThrreneneffiofeeH,r ohheegn_gzoedlleze
him most severely for his conduct
prince's pardora, upon which he replitendwtahradtshae could punish
andish
that his future regullost;ations
bnnt thatf tthe
efuturebe would co atenn't hiliimtilisreYlfprboysPheacvtis'awgotuhled
a lesson. 'fhe offender was put on shore vessel earri,;..d out, in order that the officeramtretlliacextt,aluanghdt.,
in place',