The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-04 00:00:00

SWEDEN•

-- -
A letter from Stockholm, of the 27th, gives the
following details relative to the late discussion oil
the Riligious Liberty Bill, the rejection of which
has beau communicated by telegraph :
"The debate, interrupted for two days by the tem-
porary illness of Count Hamilton, marshal of the king.
dorn, prsident ex oriel° of the assemblies of the four
orders, was resumed the day before yesterday, and
almost exclusively occupies the attention of every class
of parsons in the kingdom. Ainonz the members who
in the first sittings spoke with much force in favour of
maintaining the pain of banishment against any one
quitting the state religion (Protestant) was Count
Sparre, formerly Minister of Justice in Sweden. His
arguments,
alt marked by a certain tx iggeration,
seem to have produced a very strong impression on the
assembly, and to have influenced a certain number of
d,ubtitu votes in the class of the burgesses and the
country party. These persons voted for the amend-
ment proposed by the constitutional commission,
and winch allows the punishrnent of exile to remain
in full force. The debates in the chamber, on a
subject so open to controversy, naturally cause much
agitation out of doors. Tue members of the Lu-
theran clergy have held meetings in almost every
province to pronounce for or against the govern-
ment measure. Out of 457 ministers composing the
clerical body in the province of Sehoneu, 280 ple-
clared in favour of the law of banishment. The
respectable minority of in members of tho clergy
in favour of abolishing penalties repugnant to the
feeling of the present age seems to demonstrate the
existence of liberal tendencies in religious matters ;
but it is well known that the influence and autho-
rity of the high cLrgy
influential over the general mass of the ecclesias-
ticalbaday. ' in Sweden are always most

N
SPAI.
The Madrid journals of the 30th ult. confirm the
statement made by the London and Paris journals
that Mexico has accepted the mediation of England

and France in the dispute with Spain. Considera-
ble progress was being made in the establishment of
lighthouses on the coasts ; and when the proposed
sytem is complete there will be 105 in all. Some of
the journals state that the new cabinet will follow
the same policy as the preceding one, though it will
endeavour to make it of a more liberal character,
and will present liberal laws to the Cortes. It is
known that the negotiations of M. Mon with the
Holy See have resulted in what the Spanish govern-
ment desired, namely, the approval by the Pope of
the sales of ecclesiastical property made in 1855
and 1856, the conclusion of a treaty relative to the
continuation of such sales on payment of an indem-
nity to the clergy ; the suppression of seventeen
holidays in the course of the year, and the power to
bishops to accord dispensations for marriages up to
the third degree.

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Tagus, Capt. E. Christian, with the mails from
the Peninsular ports in charge of Lieut. J. Reid,
Admiralty agent, arrived at Southampton yesterday
at 9 a.m. She left Gibraltar Oct. 24; Cadiz, 25 ;
Lisbon, 29 ' • Oporto, 30 ; and Vigo, 31. The Tagus
experienced strong northerly winds on the coast of
Spain and Portugal and fine weather through the
Bay of Biscay.
This steamer brings 15 passengers, 2 packages of
specie value 5001., and a cargo consisting of 30 boxes
of onions, 160 boxes of eggs, 14 baskets of chestnuts,
80 hides, and 36 packages of general merchandise.
During the voyage home the Tagus passed, on
the 29th ult., the screw steamer Teutonia steering
direct for Lisbon on the 31st a large paddle
steamer, with two funnels, steering to the south-
west ; and. on the 2d inst., in lat. 48 52 N., long.
4.55 W., the steam-brig Brilliant, steering south-
' west. Capt. Christian also reports that on the 2d,
in the Channel, ho passed a splendid Aberdeen
clipper, proceeding down Channel under full sail ;
but, although he hoisted his colours and made sig-
nal, asking the name of the ship, the people on
board had not the common courtesy to answer, or
take the slightest notice of the signals.
Dates from Gibraltar are to the 24th ult., at
which time the Curlew was the only British ship of
war lying in the bay. The Vulture, Capt. Campbell,
left on the 16th for the eastward, to join Admiral
Lyons's squadron, which was expected to arrive at
the lonian Islands from Greece about the end of
the month. Dr. H. Fisher, of the Royal Artillery,
took his passage in the Vulture for Malta, whence
he proceeds to India via Alexandria.
The steamtugs Reldole and Orient had returned

to the Bay from their search after the French bark
Adolphe at Laura, which was in collision with the
steamer Rhone in the Straits on the 14th ult. ;
but, beyond a boat belonging to her and some
boxes floating, containing lucifer matches, which
were picked up by the crew of the Orient, nothing
was discovered of the ill-fated vessel.

A large British steam-ship, supposed to be the
Australasian, with the mails of the 12th for Aus-
tralia, passed the garrison to the eastward at 7
o'clock on th& morning of the 17th ; sho was full
of troops, and signalled all well on board.
Two screw steamers, the Albanian, Capt. A.
Bruce, for Genoa and Leghorn, and the Melita,
Capt. Lanzlancls, for Malta and Constantinople,
arrived at Gibraltar from Liverpool ou the morning
of the 22d.

Gibraltar exchanges on the 24th were quoted as
under :—London, 90 days' date, 501 ; Paris, do.
sf. 37c. ; Marseilles, do., sf. 38c. ; Genoa, du., sf.
39c. ; Madrid, 8 days' sight, 1i dis. ; Cadiz, do.,
± dis. ; Malaga, do., par ; Seville, do., i dis. ; Ali-
cante, i dis. : Valencia, i dis. ; Barcelona, i dis. ;
Spanish pillared dollars, 4 per cent. premium, none;
no demand.
When the Tagus left Lisbon on the 29th ult. the
Portuguese ships of war were decked with flags
for the birthday of his Majesty Don Fernando, ex-
Regent, and a levee was to be held at the Palace of
Necessidsdes. There were no foreign Yessels of war
in port.
The reports of the fever at Lisbon vary little from
the last received by the Petropolis steam packet.
The new cases for 24 hours up to the 10 p.m. on the
26th were 230—deaths 77, and cured 132 ; and up
to the same hour on the 27th 231, with 92 deaths,
and 162 cured; under treatment in the hospitals,
648 ; and in private houses, 965. The weather con-
tinued cool and rainy.
Little money offered upon the Lisbon exchange,
and the Board of Public Credit was the principal
take of London at 541 for three months. Paris was
done at 620 ' • Ameterdam' 431 ; and Hamburg,
481. Genoa, 516, nominal.
Business generally continued suspended, and
stocks are quoted nominally the same as by last
packet.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Alhambra, with the outward mails of the 27th
from Southampton, was at Vigo.

LADY FRANKLIN'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SL TN.

SlR,—The enclosed letter from Captain M'Clintock
will, I think, be read with interest if you will obligingly
insert it.

I pro, Sir, your obedient servant,
Athanmurn, Nov. 3. Joax limutow.

" Yacht Fox, lat. 71 deg., off Cape Cranatonn.
closed at Uppernavik, Aug. 6.
"My dear Fa row,—Althougli I have but little news
to relate, I am sure you will be none the less rejoiced to
hear from the poor little Fox. Here sbe is off Cape
Cranetonn, in lat. 71 deg., having on board an Esqui-
maux and 10 very fine dogs obtained at Disco. She
also is complete with coals, having filled up at the coal
cliff,' in Waigat Strait. I have sent home one of my
crew, who proved to be comsumptive, and, having proved
the others pretty hell, I can answer for their soundness
and willing cheerfulness. We get on admirably—exactly
as in the old Intrepid. At Lively I saw two whaler
Captains, whose ehipe were crushed in Melville Bay last
June. They seemed to think I should not experience
any difficulty. I cannot find that we have forgotten
anything, great as was the hurry of sailing. We are
very comfortable ; our provisions are most excellent.
The Fox sails well, but steams slowly in consequence of
the screw being too small. As she gets lighter she wi'l
go better. I have tried her among the ice, and find that
her sharp bow readily opens a passage where a bluff one
would knock in vain.
" I did not stop at Atonkerdluk, where the fossil wood
and leaves are, so have none to bring home for your
friend.
" I write by this opportunity to beg that the Admi-
ralty may grant to my crew upon their return, if aucces-
ful, that their time for pension may be allowed to count.
I am most fortunate in my officers and crew ; all deserve
my praise alike.

Aug. 6.
"Blowing strong from the southward. Hove to off
Uppernayik. We have got 30 dogs, and are .about to
proceed on our ♦o_yage, so I !Bust eud rather hastily.
" Yours vey pike rely,
" F. L. APCLINTocK.

THE GAS COMPANIES' COMBINATION.

Yesterday, at the meeting of the Board of Works for
the Holborn District, Mr. Baldock in the chair,
Mr. HOPWOOD, the clerk to the board, read the report
of the committee to whom it had been referred to inquire
as to the intention of the gas companies in putting an
end to competition to raise the price of gas to con-
sumers, which stated that the committee had had in-
terviews with the London, the Chartered, and the Im-
perial Gas Companies, and inquired of each of the com-
panies whether it was a fact that the several companies
bad entered into a contract to divide the metropolis into
districts amongst themselves, with a defined boundary to
each company, and also whether, if such an arrangement
had been come to, the public may expect to derive an ad-
vantage by a reduction in the price of gas, or what were
the ultimate views of the companies.
While the directors of the gas companies admitted
that such an arrangement had been come to by the ess
companies, they stated that the objects in the course pur-
sued was to realise capital whicti bad fur a long time
remained unproductive through competition, and to avoid
in future the groat public inconvenience which had been
canoed by the same line of road being opened and
re-opened by conflicting companies, for the repair and
use of the several pipes and mains, together with the
great and useless expense to themselves caused by the
serious injuries done to their property by rival workmen
of different companies.
The committee received a positive assurance from the
directors of the several companies, that they had no in-
tention in the arrangement referred to of raising the price
of gas to the consumers, but the committee failed to ob-
tain a like assurance from the companies that they had it
iu contemplation to diminish the expense to the con-
sumers ; the committee being reminded by one of the,
companies, in answer to an inquiry upon this point, that
gas was supplied to the consumers at a low rate already,
and that the sxpense of the alterations at present being
made was such that the companies could not give any
positive assurance upon this point.
With regard to the quality of the gas, the London Gas
Company Wed that it woul l in future be their study
to keep it up to the proper standard, for which purpose
they had appointed an eminent scientific chetnis; to
periodically test it, and they invited the board, or the
public, occasionally to take means at any time t) check
and test the quality, by the appointment of a competent
person on their part,

NOMINATION OP SHERIFFS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES.
—Thursday, the 12 il instant, has been appoint-41 for the
nomination of gentlemen to serve the office of sheriff"; for
England and Wir.:es during the next year. The Chance'.
lor of the Exchequer. the President of the Council, and
other ministers of state will attend, and the whole of
the
judges will be present for the purpose of submitting their
nominations for her Majesty's selection and approval
The proce-dings will take place iu the Court of Facile
quer, Weetwineter Hall.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—kThis Day.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

(Sittings in Banco, before Lord Campb6ll, Justices
Coleridge, Wightman, and Erle.)
SEED V. HIGGINS.

Mr. Knowles, Q.C., said that this was an action tried
before the Lord Chief Justice, at the last sitting at
Guildhall, when a verdict was returned for the defen-
dant. The learned counsel moved for a rule to show
cause why the verdict should not be set aside, and why
ou certain issues the verdict should not be entered for
the plaintiff, on the ground that the verdict was against
evidence and on misdirection by the learned judge. The
action was for an infringement of a patent for certain
improvements in machinery for preparing, &c., of
cotton.

The court granted the rule.
PRESCOTT V. PURNES AND OTHERS.

Mr. Monck, Q.C., moved for a rule for a wow trial, on
the ground that the verdict was against the weight of
evidence. This was an action for an assault and per-
sonal injury,whereby it was alleged the plaintiff had lost
the eight of her eye, tried before Mr. Baron Channell
at the last Liverpool assizes, in which the jury returned
a verdict for the plaintiff, damages 2001. Furnes was
a landlord, keeping an inn between Manchester and
Stockton ; the plaintiff bad previously been in trouble
relative to some silk he had offered to Mes,,rs. Syddale
and Co., in whose employment Cross, one of the defen-
dants, was at the time, and Prickett, the third defen-
dant, was said to be a man of no means. It appeared
from the evidence of Prickett, that they were all at
Furnes when Cross resented some remarks made by
the plaintiff with reference to Meters. Syddale.
The parties were, however, pacified, but some-
how or other the quarrel was resumed, when
Fumes ordered the plaintiff out of his house,
and in so doing pushed bun into another room,
turned the gas out, and plaintiff was struck. He was
unable to say who struck him, but he believed it was
Fumes. Prickett he did not see. Hayes, a man who
accompanied the plaintiff to engage Furnee's house, and
was in personal conflict with. Cross at the time, stated
that Furnes and Cross struck the plaintiff.

Lord Campbell said it appeared to be a case of con-
flicting evidence, and asked if the learned judge who
tried the case had expressed dissatisfaction at the ►er-
dict /

Mr. Monsk said the learned judge assented to an ap-
plication to stay execution.
Lord Campbell said the Court would consult him
before granting the rule.