The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-31 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—ln your paper of the 3d of December you
did me the honour of inserting a letter which I had
addressed to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for
the Liome Department, and in which I took the
liberty of recommending that all institutions of a
monastic character in these countries should be placed
under the surveillance of the civil magistrate, in order
to prevent any abuses from the compulsory detention
or improper treatment of persons in them. I am
much obliged to you for the publication of my letter,
and I beg leave now to call your attention to the
account which appeared in the Globe or Standard of
the 23d, respecting the escape of a young lady from a
convent at Banbury, and to the late extraordinary
conduct pursued by two Romanist gentlemen to Miss
Munk, at Exeter, as remarkable and unexpected
examples, in confirmation of the apprehensions which
suggested the rational precautions which I recom-
mended in that letter, which I hope that you and
your colleagues of the press will insist upon. Ac-
cording to the old proverb, " Res non reria,"
a short
Act of Parliament, placing all such institutions under
the superintendence of the civil power, would tell
more in asserting the legitimate supremacy of the
Sovereign, by quietly putting it in force, than many
long speechest and empty resolutions, which are of no
use, against the influence of a spiritual power, on the
minds of those who are superstitious enough to ac-
knowledge it.—l am, Sir, &c.,
JOHN PERCEVAL.
Kensington, Dec. 28, 1850.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.—Some weeks since
we stated that the Earl of Chichester was to be proposed for
the vacant office of Chairman of Committees in the House of
Lords next session. since then, however, it has been found
that his Lordship could not possibly discharge the duties of
that office along with those which devolve on him as head of
the Ecclesiastical Commission, and all intention of putting
him forward has been reluctantly abandoned. We believe
we are correct in stating that Lord Wharncliffe will be now
proposed to fill the vacant office, with every likelihood of
success. Colonel Hugh Rose, Consul-General for Syria, has
been appointed Secretary of Embassy at Constantinople. By
this appointment a saving of 1,0001. a year will be effected,
as it is not probable that the vacancy in Syria will be again
filled up.
Cardinal Wiseman has received autograph letters
of congratulation from their Majesties the Queens of Spain
and Portugal, completing the number of the Catholic Sove-
reigns of Europe who have addressed his'Eminence on occa-
sion of his appointment.
Mr. Lovi, an English engineer, inventor of a diving
machine, by which a person can remain several hours under
water, at a great depth, has been called from Scio in order to
try his machine in the port of Constantinople, at the place
where the Neiri-Chevket sunk. He experimented with the
greatest success in the presence of TT. E.F, Admiral Suley-
man Pacha, Vice-Admiral Mustapha Pacha, and several of
the superior officers of the Turkish navy. Mr. Lovi, furnished
with his apparatus, descended on to the deck of the Neiri-
Chevket, which vesFel he found at the depth of about twenty
fathoms, deeply embedded in the sand. The fore part of the
vessel lay split open, and her boats overturned on the deck,
which was covered with remnants of the rigging. It is ex-
pected that Mr. Lovi will be appointed to raise as much of the
vessel and stores as can be recovered.—Malta Mail.
THE LATE DE. M'FADYEN OF JAMAICA.—WE Ob•
serve that this gentleman is among those who have fallen
victims to the appalling ravages which cholera has been
making in Jamaica. Dr. M'Fadyen was a native of Glas-
gow, and eon of the late Mr. J. M'Fadyen, wellknown as the
oldest music-sellers in Scotland. The doctor went to Ja-
maica in 1824. Having been highly respected by all classes,
his death would have been deeply regretted in any circum-
stances; but falling, as he has done, under the heavy pro-
fessional labours imposed on him by the prevalent epidemic,
his removal has affected all with a feeling of peculiar sorrow.
Dr. M'Fadyen was a member of the Linnaean Society of 1
London, and had attained much distinction as a botanist.
He was author of the well-known " Flora" of Jamaica, a new
edition of which he was preparing for press when he was
suddenly ent:off --Daily Mail.
LEIGEL.—TRE SILK TRADE.---We are glad to state
that there is this winter much more employment in hand-
laaaysilk weaving than has Wen
known in this neighbour-
hood, for many years. The operatives have been fully em-
ployed
.during the last two or three months a period in
iother,;
years when the majority have been waiting for
work; 'lt is said that the briskness is in anticipation of a
good demand for English silks during the Exhibition of 1851.