The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-25 00:00:00

and the three marten() towers lately erected, viz., the
two at Pembroke, and the western one just finished,
are the result of these reports. A fortification of
considerable strength at the Stack Rock has now
been commenced, and will be completed in two years,
the contractor having engaged to complete the work
within that time. This erection is intended for the
defence and protection of the entrance to the haven,
and on its summit will be placee three guns of great
calibre. These will be mounted on circular plat-
forms, thus commanding every approach to the tower
and harbour, from whatever point of the compass.
On the completion of this tower at the Stack Rock,
another of considerably greater size and strength will
be erected in the haven, and in the course of the en-
suing year a fortification at Pembroke of a still more
formidable character, for the defence of the dockyard
and arsenal will be commenced.—Portsmouth Times,
and .Naval Gazette.

THE MERCANTILE MARINE ACT.
The following notice was issued on Wednesday at
the Custom-house relative to the election of six mem-
bers to the London Marine Board of the port of
London, which new Act is so important to the mari-
time interests of this commercial metropolis :
" Notice is hereby given that an election of six mem-
bers to the London Marine Board of the port of London
will be held under the provisions of the Mercantile Ma-
rine Act of 1850, at the Guildhall, in the city of Lon-
don, on Friday, the 25th day of October inst. (this day),
between the hours of 11 in the forenoon and 2 in the
afternoon. Every person named in the revised list of
voters is qualified to vote at the election of members of
the Local Marino Board, and is re quested to bring a
paper with the names of the persons for whom he votes
written thereon, and signed with his Dame and address.
A copy of the list will be delivered to any voter apply-
ing for the same at the Remembrancer's-office,
"THOMAS FARNCOMBE, Mayor."

" Notice to Master Mariners and Mates.—The provi-
sions of the Mercantile Act require that, from and after
the Ist of January, 1851, masters and mates engaged in
foreign-going ships shall produce to the officers of Cue-
toms certificates of competency or of service certificates;
and certificates of service will be granted to all those
who have been engaged in the above capacities previous
to the 31st of December, 1850. The Lords of the Com-
mittee of the Privy Council for Trade are pleased to
direct that claimants for certificates of service shall
make their claims forthwith on forms to be procured at
70, Lower Thames-street.
" By order of the Board,

~
"J. H. BROWN, Registrar-General of Seamen."
The above new Act will cause the greatest satisisfac-
tion to the merchants.

THE ARMY.

DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL SIR PATRICK Ross.

—Advices from St. Helena to the 31st of August an-
nounce the death, after some months' illness, of bis
Excellency Mejor-General Sir Patrick Ross,
G.C.M.G., K.C.H. He was interred with great so-
lemnity on the 30th. He was 73 years of age, and
had been a long time upon the island as its governor.
He entered the army in 1794, became a major, Sep-
tember, 1803; lieutenant-colonel, 1807; colonel,
1814; and major-general, July, 1821. Sir Patrick
Ross served nine years in India as captain of the 25th,
afterwards the 22d Light Dragoons, in the Mysore
campaign under Lord Harris, in 1799, including the
battle of Mallavelly, and siege of Seringapatam ; with
the division under Sir Arthur Wellesley, in the cam-
paign of 1801, against the Mahratta Chief Dhoondiah ;
and from 1802 to 1804, in the Mahratta country, and at
the reduction of the ceded provinces. He returned
from India in 1805, soon after which he was ap-
pointed major ; and, in 1807, lieutenant-colonel of the
23d Light Dragoons. Having exchanged to infantry
he joined the 2d battalion of the 48th Regiment
in Portugal, in 1810, and as the senior officer held
the command of General (the late Lord) Has bri-
gade until compelled by severe illness to return to
England. On his recovery he was placed as assistant-
adj utant• general on the Home Staff, on which he con-
tinued till the peace of 1814. In 1816 be was ap-
pointed to the 75th Regiment, joined it in the lonian
Islands, and remained in command of that corps, and
of the island of Santa Maura and Zante until 1121,
when he was appointed to the rank of major-general.
In 1824 he was appointed to the staff of the lonian
Islands, from which be was advanced to the govern-
ment of Antigua, Montserrat, and Barbuda, in the
following year. Subsequently he was appointed go-
vernor of Malta, and then of St. Helena. _ _

By the death of Lord William Beresford, Ist Life
Guards, Lieutenant Winterbottom, who has risen
from the ranks, will obtain a troop, and the Earl of
Mountcharles a lieutenancy, without purchase.
Lieutenant Winterbottom served in the Peninsula,
and has received the war medal for the battle of Tou-
louse. Lord Mountcharles is one of the oldest cornets
in the service, his commission bearing date as far back
as December, 1844.

COURT CIRCULAR.
OSBORNE, OCT. 24.
The Queen and Prince Albert walked this morning
in ()Thorne Park.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of %Vales and
the Princess Royal, and the younger members of the
Royal Family, took their accustomed walks and rides.
Mr. Thorburu has been honoured with sittings
during the week from his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, for his portrait in the pictorial group of him-
self and his brother the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha.

The Mayor of Southampton had an interview with
Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office.
Earl Spencer had an interview with the Chancellor
of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence,
in Downing-street.
Lord John Russell left town yesterday afternoon
for Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, the seat of the
Duke of Bedford.

The Msrquis of Lansdowne left town after the
Cabinet Council on Wednesday afternoon, on his re-
turn to his seat, Bowood Park, Wilts.
Dispatches were sent off last evening from the
Colonial-office for the Governors of Malta, Ceylon,
and Hong-Kong.

MR. WRIGHTSON'S EVENINGS WITH ALFRED TEN-
NYSON AND ELIZA COOK.— We have the gratification of
stating, that an arrangement has been entered into with
Mr. Robert Charles Wrightson, late private secretary and
chamber reader to the Earl of Cloncurry, and formerly pupil
of the celebrated Shakesperian Lecturer, Charles Pemberton,
Esq , to deliver two lectures on the above popular and en-
chanting poets at the Mechanics' Institution in this town;
the time fixed is, we believe, Tuesday the sth, and Thursday
the 7th November next.—Derbg Reporter.

Pet() and Batts, the eminent contractors, have
undertaken to reclaim the Norfolk estuary of 32,000 acres,
and so to drain the Bedford Level, and the adjacent low
lands, corn rising nearly half a million of acres, as to get
rid alrnost tntirely of the present expensive system of drain-
age by wind and steam. The land proprietors have con-
tributed 60,0001. towards the cost; and an equal sum has been
voted by the corporation of Lynn, in consideration of the
improvement of the Ouse.
SoUTII-EASTERN RAILWAL—THE BRIDGE OVER
JOLNEI•STazET.—A special general meeting of the East
Divis,on of the Southwark Paving Commissioners was held
yesterday, at the office, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the state of the iron bridge across Joiner-street,
with a view to adopt such measures as the safety of the pub-
lic and the traffic might require; Mr. Nash, the chairman
of the board, in the chair. It was agreed upon that the
inquiry should be further adjourned until Sir John Rennie
and Mr. Brunell should make their report to the board, in ad-
dition to the opinion of Mr. Barlow, which was now taken.
THE NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR.—We believe we are
not premature in announcing that the vacant office of Vice-
Chancellor has been conferred on Baron Rolfe. With re-
spect to the two Vice-Chancellorships, it is to be observed
that the statute 5 Vict. c. 5, 5. 10, under which the two last
Vice-Chancellors were appointed, provides, that upon a va-
cancy.occurring in the office of the Vice-Chancellor first ap-
pointed, it shall be filled up; but that in the case of the one
second appointed, it shall not be filled up. Independently,
therefore, of the question of any further necessity for the
Vice-Chancellors, as the law stands, one appointment only
can now be made. The question of continuing three Vice-
Chancellors is one altogether for the Legislature; but we be-
lieve no proposal to that effect will be made by the Govern-
ment, the pressure of equity business, which called for an
increase in the number of the judges in the Court of Chancery
at the time of the passing of the Act, having very materially
diminished. Evening Paper.
THE ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER.—We are
assured, on good authority, that the appointment of Cardi-
nal Wiseman as Archbishop of Westminster, in conjunction
with the partition, by the Pope, of England into Roman
Catholic districts, has created considerable displeasure, as well
as surprise in Downing-street. We are not jn a position to
say whether the matter was brought before the Cabinet at its
meeting on Wednesday, but we do know that it has formed
the subject of serious conversation between the Premier and
some of his colleagues. At present, as far as our information;
goes, it is not the intention of Lord John Russell to take any
definite step in the matter, but arrangements are in progress for
making a great metropolitan demonstration on the subject,
which will be immediately followed by demonstrations of a
similar kind in Liverpool, Manchester, and most other large
towns in England and Scotland. We are enabled to add that
many Roman Catholics will cordially join in tkese expres-
sions of public indignation at the arrogance of the Church of
Rome, on the double ground that her conduct in this matter
is a virtual attack on the supremacy of her Majesty, and is
calculated, in the end, to do injury to the cause of Roman
Catholicism in England by the feeling of hostility which it
must necessarily engender in the minds of all her Majesty's
loyal subjects towards a religion whose earthly head could
have had the effrontery to act as he has done. —Advertiser.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.—We are glad to learn that the
Right Rev. Dr. Delany has formally appointed the Rev.
John Clancy Catholic Administrator of the North Parish ;
an office of high distinction, and one eminently merited by
the Rev. Gentleman in question, who is sincerely:respected by
all who know him, and who can therefore appreciate his
modest worth, and untiring but unobtrusive zeal. The Rev.
John Clancy has been for several years the senior curate of
the parish of which he is now the administrator, and has
been over twenty years in the ministry ; and we venture to
say that no man in the Church has more steadily retained
the affectionate regard of his flock, and the esteem of his
brethren, than he has throughout that long period.—Cork
Examiner.

ROYAL ARTILLERY.—WOOLWICH, OCT. 24.—The
large detachment of this corps serving at Shoebulyness, for
the purpose of carrying on experiments at that practice-
range, under the command of Captain Walker, has returned
to head-quarters here for the winter season.
The incumbency of St. Anne's Church, Wands-
worth, rendered vacant by the appointment of the Rev. R.
L. Townsend, A., to the recory of the parish, has been con-
ferred on the Rev. HWY 11911320.