The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-13 00:00:00

THE BURNEY PRIZE.

The late Mr. Richard Burney, M.A., of Chritit's
College, having signified his intention of founding an
annual prize, not exceeding 1051., for the best English
essay " on some moral or metaphysical subject, on the
existence, nature, and attributes of God, or on the truth
and evidence of tha Christian religion ;" and his inters•
tiou haring; been carried into effect by his sister and
execetrix, Miss Jane Caroline Burney,
The Vice-Chancellor bas given notice that the subject
for the prrsent year id, " The unity of design, which
pervades the successive dispensations of religion recorded
in the Scriptures is an argument for the truth of reve-
lation."

The candidates for the prize are t) be the Bachelors
of Arts in their first year of standing; and the essays
are to he sent in to the Vice-Chancellor on or before the
12t4 c f November, 1850, with the names of the re-
spective authors sealed up.
The author of the essay best approved is to print it at
his own expense, and to deliver, or cause to be delivered,
a copy, of it to the University Library, to the Library of
Christ's College, to the University Libraries of Oxford,
Dublin, and Edinburgh, and to each of the adjudicators
of the prize, who are the Vice-Chancellor, the Master of
Christ's College, and the Norrisian Professor of Divinity.
TRINITY COLLEGE.
THE DEALTRY PRIZES.
The sum of 1,050/., Three per Cent. Consols, was,
on the 31st ult., transferred to the master, fellows,
and scholars of Trinity College, Cambridge, to found
two annual prizes of 15 guineas each, to be called
the " Dealtry prizes," in commemoration of the
high esteem in which the late William Dealtry,
D.D., Archdeacon of Surrey, and formerly fellow
of Trinity College, was held by his friends and former
pupils. Amongst the contributors to this fund are the
Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of
London, Winchester, Oxford, Lichfield, and Gloucester,
and Bristol; the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer and
Baron Parke; the Dean of Winchester; the Warden of
New College, Oxford; the Master and Senior Dean of
Trinity College, Cambridge, &o.

GENERAL SCREW- STEAM SHIPPING COMPANY.—
Yesterday was the day fixed for the trial trip of the
Company's fine new iron steamer the Propontis, in-
tended to trade between this country and the Mediter-
ranein and Constantinople. Shortly before one o'clock
the Propontis started from the Brunswick Pier, Black-
wall, and proceeded down the river. The weather was
well suited to test the powers of the screw-vessel, as it
blew strongly from the west, amounting early in the
day almost to a gale of wind, which moderated towards
evening, but was still sufficient to oppose considerable
resistance on her return up the river. Her perfor-
mance was in every respect satisfactory. Notwith-
Winding the stiffness which necessarily attends the mo-
tion of new and untried machinery, she attained the
speed of io knots in the first hour and accomplished
the whole distance run, about 24 miles, in less than two
enginesTarakiankging on an average 60 revolutions
into consideration the state of
in hours,
the hermi n
u te.
the wind and tide, the speed reached by the new vessel is
about equal to that of her predecessors, the Bosphorus
and the Hellespont, on their trial trips, and en increase
may reasonably be expected when the machinery shall
have gained freedom by a little exercise. The dimensions
of the Propontis are as follows:--
Length between perpendiculars, 17i feet.
Brealth, 25 feet.

Depth, 17 f et.
Tonnage, 560. She has two engines, each of 40-horse
power. Accommodation is provided for 20 first-class
and 6 steerage passengers. A handsome entertainment
was furnished on board to those who accompanied the
vessel on her first excursion. Amongst those present we
noticed Mr. Laming, Mr. Margetson, Captain Ford, of
the Ottoman Steam Navy; Mr. Howell, Captain War-
den, RN., Baron Moncorvo, Captain Halsted, Mr. How,
Mr. Maudslay, M. Echapparre, Lieutenant of the Rus-
sian Imperial Service, and Mr. Jackson. The Propontia
has been built in the short space of four months by
Messrs. Mare and Co., from the designs of Mr. T.
Waterman, of BlackwalL The engines have been sup-
plied by Messrs. Maudslay and Co. Wo may add that
the substantial and appropriate fittings of the cabins re-
flect credit on the parties who furnished them.
THE ADVERTISEMENT DUTY.—Among the Par-
liamentary papers issued during the last session was one
showing the number of advertisements on which duty
was paid in each year from 1833 to the end of 1840.
This is the last return, and as the subject is to be
brought before the House of Commons by Mr. Ewart,
on Thursday, the information contained in the return is
of some value. In England the number of advertise-
ments in 1826 was 775,356, and the duty (3e. 6d. each)
was 135,6871. 61.; in 1827, the number was 765,593, and
the duty 133,9781. 15s. 6d.; in 1328 i,
itBh2, thee9num numberberwas
779,250, ar.d the duty 136,3681. 15s.;n
was 777,445, and the duty 136,0521. 17s. 6d.; in 1830,
the number was 788.091, and the duty 137,9151. 185.6 d.;
in 1831, the number was 787,649, and the duty
137,3334 lls. 6d.; in 1832, the number was 783,557, and
the duty 137,1221. 9 . 6d. The duty was :educed to
ls. 6d. from the sth of July. 1833. In 1834, the number
9w0,555091.
717:4i4151.18
58:1: he duty 73,3081. ls. 6d.; in 1835, the
number Mai 1,038,041, and the duty 77,853/. ls. 6d.; in
1836, the number was 1,173,136, and the duty 87,985/.
45.; in 1837, the number was 1,206,680. and the duty
duty in 1839, the number was
the number
98, number was 1,315,581, and the
6681 I
is.
1,351,421, and the duty 101,3561. 1 ls. 6d.; and in 1840,
the number was 1,425,387. and the duty 106,904/. Os. 6d.
There is at present filling the office of alderman at.
Sydney, an ex-convict who was transported from
Limerick, about twenty-six years ago, for the murder of
a tailor. This elevated personage was sentenced to
hise execution,
uftioonn a
,bpuotinw:osfrleapw.rieved through the exertions of
Sergeant Howley, his leading counsel, and who saved