The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-26 00:00:00

THE SUN,. LONDON,

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

Cape papers have arrivf.:d of the 2d ult. inclusive.
I The proposed constitution for the colony was the nil-
engrossing topic of interest. Too following extrac:s
from the local journals contain all that it is necessary
to give upon this suhject
(From the South AfiicunCommercial Advertiser. Sept. 28.)
His Excellency the Governor has reqm-sted the five
official and two remaining unofficial members of the
Legislative Council to assemble as a board of commis-
sioners, to consider and report to him upon the pro-
posed constitution for the colony; and -the four popu-
larly elected or popularly-proposed members who have
resigned their seats in the Council have, at the re-
quest of the Board of Commissioners of the Munici-
pality of Cape Town, and they trust in accordance
with the wishes of their late constituents throughout
the colony, undertaken the same task. Both schemes,
when completed in their main provisions, will be
submitted to the inhabitants, whose privilege and duty
it will be to express their opinions upon them, in peti-
tions to her Majesty and both Houses of Parliament,
with the least possible delay, that a speedy and happy
termination may be put to the present painful agitation
which afflicts society throughout the whole of this settle-
ment, and which, if continued much longer, may pro-
duce very great calamities.
(From the same of Oct. 2.)

So far as public opinion has been expressed, there
seems to be perfect unanimity on the following points:-
1. That the future government of the colony shall be
entrusted to a governor, a legislative council, end an
assembly elected by the inhabitants, which shall be
called the Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope.
2. That the Parliament shall possess all the legislative
powers which embrace all the internal affairs and domes-
tic policy of the colony.
3. That the Queen, acting immediately in her own
person or capacity as Sovereign, or i❑ the person of her
representative the Governor, and the two Houses of
Parliament. shall be supreme within the colony, as the
Queen and the two Houses of the Imperial Parliament
are supreme in Great Britain.

On this simple but solid foundation the five gentlemen
who were nominated Members of the Legislative Council
by the municipalities and road boards, i❑ the name of
the inhabitants, in the spirit and understood meaning end
intention of the Government Minute of the nth of May
last, have framed a scheme, or instrument of government,
in sixteen articles, which, in their opinion, will secure to
the people of this settlement all the rights, privileges,
and advantages of self-government.
This scheme has been approved and adopted by the
Commissioners of the Municipality of Cape Town, and
will this day be submitted to the bouseho!ddis assembled
in the Town House. It hss also been lorw4ided to the
municipal and road boards throughout the colony for
their consideration and decision.

EXHIBITION OF 1851.

COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE

COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS.
Nov. 8, 1850.
My Lord and Gentlemen,—We, the undersigned,
having regard to the great urgency which exists for the
establ►shment of publ►c water-closets and urinals in the
metropolis—an urgency likely to be much increased by
the visits of numerous foreigners, who are accustomed
to the use of such conveniences in their own capitals—
beg leave to request your attention to the following
clause in the Metropolitan Sewers Act (11 and 12 Viet.,
c. 112) :
" And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the
Commissioners to provide and maintain water-closets,
privies, and like conveniences, in situations where they
shall deem such accommodation to be required, and to
defray the expense thereof, and any damage occasioned
to any person by the erection thereof; and the expense for
keeping the same in good order, out cf the district
sewers ra.e."

And we should be much obliged if you will inform us
whether you propose to provide these important con-
veniences, having reference to the great influx of fo-
reigners to be expected next year, before the opening of
the Exhibition in May.
I❑ case you have not considered the subject in this
aspect, we trust you will do so at your convenience.
We have the honour to be, my Lord and Gentlemen,
Your obedient humble servants.
[Here follow the signatures.]

WINDING UP OF JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.

DIRECT EAST AND WEST JUNCTION RAILWAY.—OR
Saturday a meeting was held before his Honour Master
Farrer, respecting the claim of Sir John Rennie against
this company for engineering, amounting to 2,600/.
Messrs. Freshfield appeared in support of the claim, and
Messrs. Galsworthy for Mr. Jay, the official manager.
'The surveys were from Kidderminster to Hereford. His
Honour deferred going into consideration of the claim
until the books and papers were in the possession of the
official manager, and until the list of contributories
were settled. It was stated that there is a sum of
10,7001. out of the 19,0001. received as deposits, for which
the director, will be called on to account.

MERIONETHSHIRE SLATE CODlPANY.—Yesterday the
proceeuings fur the settlement of the affairs of this com-
pany, which was established in 1846, for obtaining stone
and slate from quarries in Merionethshire, were opened
before his Honour Sir W. Horne. The list of cor.tribu-

.
tones was brought in by Mr. Ernest, the official mana-
ger, and Messrs. Goodwin and Partridge, solicitors, but
his Honour declined going into the question of the liabi-
lity of those on the list until Mr. Condell, solicitor to the
company, and who is understood to have the books and
papers, is examined. A summons was issued for Mr.
Condea's attendance at the next meeting.
BRITISH AND AMERICAN STEAM NAVIGATION COM-
PANY.—Yesterday, butore his Honour Sir U. Rose, three
gentlemen were proposed to act as official managers to
this undertaking—Messrs. Button, Sandeman, and
Cidetuan. His Honour appointed Mr. Hutton, official
assignee, of Moorgate-street.
BRITISH AND FOREIGN GAS LIMIT AND METER
COMPANY.—Yesterday the proposals fur appointment of
official manager to this company came in before his
Honour, Master Dowdeswell (v. ho will continue to offi-
ciate until his successor is formally appointed). The
company was established in 1846, in Gresham-street,
tor carrying out improvements in gas lighting and gas
met'rs, and continued up to 1848; and in April last, at
a meeting of the shareholders, it was resolved to bring it
under the Winding-up Act. About 650 shares out of
1,000 of 251. each were taken, and a deposit of IL is.
paid on them. The debts, which were compromised by
payments on the part of the directors, amounted to 6001.
Messrs. Goodchap, Ernest, Hutton, Sandeman, Norris,
and others were proposed as official managers, but no
appointment was then made.

THE LIGHTING OF PRIMROSE HILL PARK.—The
North London Anti Enclosure Society having undertaken
the above task, as a sanitary improvement, the secretary of
the society applied to the Board of Health for their co-
operation ; the following reply, however, is another proof
that until the board isallowed more power than it really has at
present, it will continue anything but a Board of Health :
" Sir—l am directed by the General Board of Health to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th inst , with
reference to the lighting of the new footway through Prim-
rose-hill Park, and to inform you that the board have no
power of interference in the matter. I am, Sir, your obedient
servant, T. TAYLOR, Assistant Secretary.—Mr. H. D. Grif-
fiths."

The VACANT COLONELCIES.—The latest quotation
(last night) gives the following.—Lient.-General Sir A.
Pilkington to be transferred fr m the 82d to the -40th Foot.
Major-General Sir H. Watson from the 63d to the 15th
Foot. Major-General Thomas Kenah, C. 8., to have the 63d.
Major-General F. M. Williams to be colonel of the 82d, and
Major-General Sir James Reynett the 48th... United Service
Gazette.

THE YEAR 1851 AT TUE MANSION •HOUSE.—The
Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress have already expressed
their intention t.• give, during the Great Exhibition in the
ensuing year, in addition to the usual civic entertainments
at the Mansion-house, several public evening receptions, to
which will he invited not only the remarkable men of our
own country, but all foreigners of distinction who may then
be in London. It is considered by those who have looked
over the Mansion-house, for the purpose of ascertaining the
adap, ation of the building to that hospitable intention, that
there is no residence in the metropolis so admirably calcu-
lated to supply the necessary accommodation. The liberal
project of the Chief Magistrate and the Lady Mayoress will,
in the opinion of their fellow-citizens, not only give a new
feature to civic hospitality, but will accomplish the desirable
object of introducing to each other persons of eminence of
all nations who rni.:,ht otherwise remain without the advan-
tage of such knowledge. The opening of the Mansion-house
for so elegant and generous a purpose will redound to the
credit of the mayorality, and will, no doubt, be duly appre
ciated by the English community, as well as by those dis-
tinguished foreigners for whom the r, ceptions are, perhaps,
more immediately intended with the view of giving them a
hearty welcome to our shores, and holding out to them the
right hand of fellowship, conviviality, and peace.
WINTER ASOZES FOR YORK AND LANCASTER.—
Yesterday a Special Commission was issued for a Winter As-
size of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery
fo the aunties of York and Lancaster. The judges ap-
pointed to proceed thereunder and hold such assize are Mr.
Justice Patteson and Mr. Baron Martin for the city and
county of York, who have appointed Tuesday, the 10th day
of December next, for opening the Commisiou for that county
at the Castle, at York, and the Right Hon. Mr. Baron Al-
derson and Mr. Justice Coleridge for the county of Lancaster,
who have appointed Saturday, the 7th day of December
next, as the day for opening the Commission for that county
at Liverpool.
The accounts of the state of trade in the provinces
for the past week show general steadiness, although the mar-
kets are still affected by the unsettled state of affairs in
Germany.
Prom the present indication of the foreign ex-
changes, a general impression is entertained that the Bank of
England advances during the shutting of the transfer-books
this quarter will not take a lowerpienrtceernet
itnhaenxetewaos
.
and a half per cent., which
will
aee a
bet a half
of their recent rates on similar occasions.
_ _

HEALTH OF V THE LORD ADVOCATE —The Lord
Advocate is still, we are happy to state, progressing favour-
ably, though his ecove, yis slow. His Lordship was visited
by Lord De Mauley on Thursday.—Edinburgli Courant.
PAPISTS AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY.—Not long since
some Romigh enthusiasts went in a body to Westminster
Abbey on " St. Edward's" Day, and wished to proceed from
his tomb to pray to that of Queen Mary, but were deterred
by finding that she and Elizabeth repose in the same vault.
ANTI-TODACCoN ALIANS.—The belithall of Spittal
proclaimed through the streets of that village on Saturday
last that the men of that town had, in consequence of the .
rise the price of Tobacco, resolved to abstain from its
use for one moutb._Berwick Advertiser.

SUlClDE.—Yesterday an ir coest was held before
Mr. Wakley, at the King's Arms, Rawstone-street, Goswell-
road, on the bot.y of a labourer named Brown. From the
evidence it appeared that the wife of deceased, on Friday
test, went out ts usual o work, leaving her husband at
home, and oi, her return she found the deceased hanging by
the neck to the bedpost. Leceased had been dependent on
his wife's earnings for some time. Verdict—" Died from
strangulation while in an unsound state of mind."

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
NATIONAL CONCERTS.
Sphor's new ekscriptive symphony, entitled The
Seasons, was performed for the first time in this
country at the National Colcrts last evening, and
by the production of this truly classical work the
directors of these concerts have proved that they are
in earnest in their endeavours to improve the musical
taste of the Englih public, by placing it within the
power of all classes to hear the best music of the best
masters, performed in the best and most efficient
manner. This symphony may be regarded as one of
the great works of Sphor, and is perhaps the most
perfect specimen of descriptive music that we have
had since the decease of Beethoven. The first part
describes the departure of Winter, which it does by
waning passages of gloom and austerity, artfully
preparing the ear for the second movement which
undertakes to demonstrate Spring, in which
the light and jocund sentiment of nature is depicted
with characteristic grace and elegance. The blithe-
some spirit of this period of the year is happily painted
by the obligati allotted to the wind instruments, the
management of which eiempliflies the dramatic in-
telligence of Spohr in its best colours. The Autumn
section, in the minor key, is mysterious and ominous,
and the modulations are picturesque and effective, the
entire movement being studded with images, which
repetition, no doubt, would invest with increased
beauty. The fourth part returns to Winter, which
opens, ala chasse, with frankness and spirit, leading
to a melodious theme, which is treated with discursive
vivacity by the stringed instruments, and closing with
a bold and energetic climax. The execution of this
symphony, by the orchestra, was worthy of the mag-
nificent work itself, and of the high reputation of the
performers. It was conducted by Mr. Balfe, with a
nice appreciation of the beauties of his author, giving
due effect to its lights and shadows, and, at the same
time, with such precision that the whole orchestra
" went " like one vast instrument. The audience
were very attentive during the performance, and at
the close the applause was most enthusiastic. The
Berlin Choristers have received from the King o
Prussia an additional conge for a week ; they ap-
peered last night, and were as delightful as ever.
Theirs is the very perfection of part singing.