The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-27 00:00:00

LORD GOUGH.

The Hon. Directors of the East India Company
have lost no time in bidding welcome to that gallant
commander, Lord Gough, on his return to this
country. Already it has been determined to cele-
brate the event by giving a grand banquet to his
Lordship at the London Tavern, at which all the
Cabinet Ministers and a distinguished circle of guests
will be present. The 23d of March is the day fixed
for this entertainment.
The Noble and Gallant Lord left his son's resi-
dence, in Upper Brook-street, at an early hour yester-
day morning, and proceeded to the East India House
for the purpose of having an interview with the chair-
man of the company. Sir Archibald Galloway
crossed the Noble Lord on his way into the City,
and was himself at the residence of Captain Gough
before eleven o'clock, in order to pay his respects to
the noble and gallant veteran. Sir Archibald after-
wards met Lord Gough at the India House, and had a
long conference with his Lordship. Viscount liar-
dinge was one of the earliest to pay his respects to
his noble companion in arms, having called at his re-
sidence at half-past ten o'clock for that purpose.
The Noble Viscount accompanied Sir Archibald
into the City, and there, for the first time, met the
brave old general, by whom he was greeted with
all the sincerity of the heartiest friendship. Lord
Gough, on returning home, left his card at Apsiey
House for the Duke of Wellington, who is at present
at Strathfieldsaye.
A great many members of the nobility and gentry
made complimentary calls on Lord Gough yesterday,
and entered their names in his Lordship's visiting
book.

The members of the United Service Club have an-
nounced their intention of entertaining the Noble and
Gallant Lord upon an early day, and the list of guests
is already more than full.
The Goldsmiths' Company intend to confer the
freedom of their ancient guild upon his Lordship, and
a magnificent entertainment will be given to the gal-
lant veteran at their hall on the occasion of its presen-
tation.

Exeter, Feb. REPEAL OF THE WINDOW-TAX.
To the Honourable the Commons 21, 1850.
King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament
assembled.
We, the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of
Exeter, have, for a number of years deemed the window-
tax opposed to the great and gracious bounty of Divine
Providence, inasmuch, ES millions of her Majesty's sub-
jects have been deprived of light and air, necessary for
their health, comfort, and convenience; in consequence
of house buildings having only about half the required
number of windows and openings they ought to have,
but, would have all which are required were this tax
abolished.
" That to continue this tax for revenue,' "—upon
light and air,—appears to us totally indefensible upon
any just grounds of humanity or state policy; and, we,
therefore, hope and expect, that as Government has now
a surplus revenue of two millions at their disposal, they
will forthwith apply this same to the repeal of this most
obnoxious tax.
And your petitioners will humbly pray, &o.

COURT OF ALDERMEN.— Yesterday a court was
held for the dispatch of business. The Lord Mayor in-
formed the Court that the Lord Bishop of Ely and the
Rev. Charles Marshall, the chaplain to the Lord Mayor,
had been appointed to preach the Spital sermons at
Easter. The Court proceeded to confirm the Rev.
Charles Marshall mas mister St. James, Duke's-
place, on the nomination of the Right Lion. the Lord
Mayor, in the room of ;the Rev. Dr. M'Caul, resigned.

~~y_

NAVAIjiLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, UESDAY.—Admiral the Hoe. Sir
Bladen Cape!, the Commander-in-Chief at this
t;ort, struck his flag last evening at sunset, on board the
Victory, 104, Captain Blackwood, and went this day on
lave until Thursday next.
--Thes Phaeton, 50, Captain G. Elliot, arrived a Spit-
head this morning from the Downs, and saluted the
flag of the acting Commander-in-Chief (Rear-Admiral
Superintendent 11. Prescott, C. 8.) with 15 guns, which
was duly acknowledged by the flag-ship.
The St. Vincent, PO, in ordinary, was brought down
to-day to the jetty for overhaul, ts:c.
The Basilisk steam-sloop will be taken out of harbour
to-morrow by the officers and men of Captain Hender-
son's steam ordinary, to test her speed and machinery,
now that every portion is properly fitted for sea.
The Cygnet, 6, Commander Robertson, arrived at St.
Helena from Benguela on the Bth ult.
One of the new boilers making in this dockyard for
her Majesty's yacht the Victoria and Albert, under the
superintendence of Mr. Murray, the chief engineer of the
estalishment, was tested by hydraulic pressure at 401 b.
t 9 the inch, and stood the test, as was expected.
Mr. John Ward, R.N., is appointed chief engine •r of
the first class to the Blenheim, at this port, for service
in the steam squadron in ordinary.
The following exit act of a letter gives details of a me-
lancholy catastrophe off the Piraeus:
'• The launch of the Ganges, 84, was upset in a squall
when it was dark, and 16 men thrown into the water.
Six men were drowned, and the rest got to a small unin-
habited island; here they were in sight of the squadron,
and endeavoured to make signals of distress, but without
success. They were not found for two days, when four
of the men with Lieutenant Breen, were found—starved
to death; the others were nearly so. They were hud-
dled together in a cave. A midshipman, one of the
party, was kept alive by the warmth of the bodies of those
hesp€d around him. What makes the affair doubly
shocking is that they were all the while in sight of their
own ship, but unable to make known their terrible
situation."