The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-24 00:00:00

OCTOBERI-24,

2,200 men, as the old reserve battalions had been
dismissed after the proclamation of peace."

SWEDEN.

CHRISTIANA, Oct. 14.—The solemn dissolution
of the Storthing took place to-day at one o'clock.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and
Viceroy entered the hall, accompanied by a numer-
ous procession of ecclesiastics and civil and military
officers, and took his seat next to the throne. His
royal highness then read the following speech :
" Good Sirs and Norwegian Men,—l bring you
the hearty greetings of his Majesty, my much-
beloved father The assurance of the sincere sym-
pathy of the faithful Norwegian people is a great
consolation to him in his illness, whichwe have all so
much reason to deplore. May an all-wise Provi-
dence grant our prayers, and restore him to
health. Being obliged by circumstances to re-
nounce the honourable position in which the King's
favour had placed me in Norway, and in which I
gladly avail myself of this occasion which brings
me once more among you, to express my gratitude
for the many proofs of your affection and confidence
which 1 have received, and among which the re-
cent resolution of the Storthing authorising me
to assume the government during the illness of his
Majesty, gives evidence of a cinfieling trust in my
good will and my upright intentions, of which I shall
always endeavour to prove myself worthy. You
have recently been made acquainted with the
solemn promise that I have made in the Council of
Sta'e ; this promise I will never break. The
Storthing has responded with alacrity to his Ma-
jesty's gracious proposals regarding the increased
means required for the further development of the
industry and well-being of the country. The
satisfactory redemption of the Sound dues, carried
out with the co-operation of the Storthing, has af-
forded his Majesty much gratification. His Ma-
jesty is also pleased to have been able to append
his signature to the several law reforms required
by and conducive to the public well-being, and
by which the present Storthing has considerably
furthered the interests of the realm in various di-
rections. His Majesty deplores, however, that the
Storthing has not thorned th expedient to adopt the
various royal propositions tending to facilitate
commercial intercourse bPI-AvaAn Neaway and
Sweden, to relieve the shipping interests of both
countries, and to a satisfactory regulation of certain
judicial relations betwceen the inhabitants of the
two countries, all of which measures are founded in
the nature of the union, and in the interests of both
nations. However, the manner iu which the first
matters alluded to were settled in the Storthing gives
his Majesty reason to hope that the time is not far
distant when clearer, conceptions will prevail
regarding the important relations between the
uuited kingdoms arising out of the union, and
when, in consequence, all causes of mutual distrust
will be removed. Wishing you, in the name of
my august father, awl from the bottom of my
heart, all the best bless'ngs of Heaven, I hereby,
in accordance with the 80th paragraph of the
Constitutional Law, declare the 15fh ordinary
Storthing of the kingdom of Norway to be
dissolved."

The Plasident (Mr. Harbitz) having replies' in a
few words to the speech from the throne, the as-
sembly dispersed, after giving utterance to a hearty
"God protect the King, the fatherland, and the
sister kingdom."

PRIVILEGE OF THE BAR IN FRANCE.

In yesterday's Moriteur is published a corre-
spondence between the Prefect of Police and M.
Jules Favre, the bold and clever advocate who de-
fended M. Migeon in the late extraordinary trial
at Colmar. The Prefect of Police writes as follows :

Paris, Oct. 19.
Monsieur,--Upon instituting proceedings against M.
Jules Migeon, the Precursur-General of Colmar re-
quested my intervention, in order that he might procure
information respecting the morality of the accused. I
complied with the wish of that high functionary by for-
warding his a report, which has given rise to one of the
incidents in the trial in which you have defended M.
Migeon.

As the tribunals are alone competent to deal with this
matter, it cannot become me to discuss here the veracity
of the information collected by my information ; but I
have every reason to believe that if a judicial investiga-
tion were to be made upon this information you would
be the first to regret your having contested its accuracy.
Be that as it may, I find this day in the journals a re-
port of your pleading, which contains expressions that
seem to impugn the consideration due to my office, and
which I ought to regard as a personal offence to myself,
both as a government official and as a private individual.

The prefecture of police has invariably given its aid to
inform and prepare the investigations of justice, at the
instance of magistrates, by reports which generally serve
as a basis for criminal proceedings, as elementary data,
but which it bas never given as documents absolutely
judicial, since by the very nature of things they cannot
be established through cross-examination. Moreover, it
leaves to the discretion of the magistrates the care of
determining the use to be made of these preliminary
documents.

I fully admit that when these documents are brought
forward at the trial and pubrely made known, it is the
right and duty of the defence to discuss them freely ;
but I cannot believe that an advocate of your experience
and authority can have given to such a discussion a form
that would gravely inculpate my office and affect my own
dignity. lam obliged, however, as you will easily un-
derstand, to appeal to your good faith for some explana-
tions calculated to guide public opinion, and to satisfy
my own mind respecting an incident by which my sense
of delicacy and my susceptibility are acutely touched.—
Accept, Monsieur, the assurance of my distinguished
consideration.

TELE PREFECT OF POLICE, PIETRI.

The following is the answer of M. Jules Favret—

Monsieur le Prefet,—l have just received the letter
you have done me the honour of writing this day, and in
which you inform me that the incident brought before
the public audience at Colmar, in the trial of Migeon,
and relating to a report from your office, has acutely
touched you, and, willing to appeal to my good faith,
you ask me how I was induced to censure energetically
that document. I answer you with frankness. Defend.
ing M. Migeon in a trial which involved his whAi
honour and prospects, a trial which excited as you were
enabled to perceive, the most ardent passions, I saw him
struck by a series of revelations which were extremely
serious, which emanated from your office and were cc
companied by no proofs. Each of these alleged facts M.
Migeon met with a flat denial. I was bound to regard
them as disproved, and until a demonstration of the
contrary I shall hold the same opinion. I rose indig-
nantly to protest against the danger of such productions
which, whilst they have not undergone the control of
justice, may entail deplorable errors. But I had no in-
tention of attacking either your delicacy or uprightness
as a publio functionary. I believed your subordinates
had been misinformed, and that you were also misin-
formed thereby, and that all the scandal got up against
M. Migeon had been caned by erroneous information.
This, M, le Prefet, was the full extent of my idea. I de-
plored the use made by justice of documents the whole
value of which must subsist in their being tested by cross
examinatica, and I think that on a question so vitally
affecting the honour of citizens and the defence of the
accused, your exoellent mind will admit that truth was
on my side.--Receive, &c,
JULES FAVRE.

TIIE WATERLOO-BRIDGE TRAGEDY.

A NEW INVENTIOIV FOR PIZBVENTING

COMBUSTION.

Yesterday afternoon a party of scientific and lite-
rary gentlemen assembled at 34, Alfred-place, Bed-
ford-square, by invitation of Messrs Schnessel and.
Thouret, to witness some experiments illus-
trative of the capabilities of their new invention
for preventing combustion. The inventors pro-
fess to be able, by this discovery, to render incom-
bustible every substance hitherto liable to be con-
sumed by fire, and they state that by its applica-
tion conflagrations in theatre and private houses, on
railways, and on board ship, will be impossible,
while persons dressed in any material whatever
which has been prepared with the preventive will
no longer be exposed to danger from fire. When
the sad loss of life and the domestic tragedies which
are of such frequent occurrence, from the ignition
of muslin and other dresses and of light cur-
tains, are borne in mind, any means by which such
occurrences can be even mitigated, if not entirely
prevented, are deserving of public consideration.
Messrs. Schussel and Thouret yesterday first ex-
posed to the flame of an ordinary candle unprepared
pieces of muslin, plain and flowered, which of
course were rapidly ignited and consumed. The
same kinds of muslin, prepared, were next held to
tue flames for a considerable time, the only effect
being to char the fabric. Not the slightest flame
was visible, and the effect of the application of the
candle was confined to those parts with which the
flames came into immediate contact. Shavings,
twisted in the way in which cigar and pipe lights
are often made, were next tried in the flame of
the candle, with the same effect. A small
box of ordinary deal, which had been prepared,
but was incased in inflammable canvass, was then
placed on a clear, strong fire, and its force aided
by a liberal supply of firewood all round, for a
quarter of an hour. At the end of that time the
box was removed, broken up, and handed round
for inspection, showing that the outside only wan
blackened and charred ; during the whole process
not the slightest flame was produced from the box.
Lastly, upon a tall screen with two cross bars four
long pieces of flowered muslin were hung, 2 unpre- •
pared pieces below, and 2 prepared pieces above. The
undo. strips were opoodily lighted, the flame rising
with great force to the upper pieces, but with a similar
effect as before ; the parts with which the flames
came into contact were charred, not ignited ; and
the attempts of several of the gentlemen present to
set other portions on fire by means of lighted
torches ended in the same result. The inventors
say that the material will be as cheap as
common starch, or that a bale of linen, or cotton,
or mt.slin, one cubic foot square, may be pre-
pared by it at a cost of a penny, that the cloth
so prepared will preserve its anti-inflammable
qualities until it is again washed, and that
mere wear has nb effect upon it, and lastly
that the preparation is of such an innocuous nature
that it not only leaves the fibre unaltered in
strength and character, but may be applied to the
most delicate colours in all textures with the excep-
tion of light rose and blue silks, with which extra
pains must be taken. The experiments yesterday.,
so far as they went, fully sustained these state-
ments, and we understand that they were prelimi-
nary to au exhibition of the invention upon a larger
scale in the course of a few days, to which the public
generally will be invited. The annual loss, both
of life and property, which could be prevented by
the general adoption of a cheap and effective
method of preventing combustion, is so great even
in a pecuniary point of view, that if the inventors,
upon an extended trial, are found to have dis-
covered an effectual antidote, they will have con-
ferred an invaluable boon upon society.

A telegram from St. Petersburg quotes the exchange
on London as low as 36.

LIVERPOOL, Friday.—The screw steamship Antelope
has arrived, with dates from St. John's, Newfoundland,
to the 12th inst. Unfortunately, she has brought no
late papers, The screw steamship Indiana, bound from
New York far Southampton, put into St. John's ati the
12th, after being 12 days out.
PROPOSED NEW STATUTES.—CAMERIDGE, October V.
—Among certaia new statutes recommended by the
Councif to the Senate, is one appropriating about &third
of the endowment of the Lady Margaret Professorship
to the Norrisian Professorship, to come into operation at
the next vacancy of the former.
It is understood that all the arrangements connected
with the Ottoman Railway from Smyrna to Aidin have
been completed, that the contract for the entire line has
been taken, and that the whole of the shares have been
rweaotrkeeslawie.raesscommenced
eon g
governor
eertar
ao
f"Sreopptrei tbe ed Tithheg
of Smyrna and by several of the consuls.
COLLISION OFF THE OWERS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Friday.
—The brig Geljon, Capt. Bechen, bound from Santos to
Altona, with a cargo of coffee, came into collision on
Wednesday night last with the brig Rowley, Captain
Elliott; of Shields, bound to Algiers with coal. The
nnllision tnnk place off +ha Owen, and the brig ißoarleir
almost immediately sank. The captain and crew were
taken on board the Gefjon, which vessel arrived here
this afternoon for repairs.
ELECTRIC LIGHT.--We learn that the launch of the
Great Eastern steamship, which it is expected will take
place early in the corning month, will be effected under'
the brilliancy of the electric light, as far as the moving
of this wondrous iron monster is done during the nights
and which must occupy a considerable portion of the
darker hours, seeing that it will require a period of et
least 16 from the moment of her first leaving the upper
stays or cradle, until she quietly rides in her future ale'
ment. It is to be presumed, therefore, hat the ceer
mencement will be during the night, that her final gliue
into the river may be witnessed by thousaiso n the clear
light of day. The use of the electric light will, flier"
fore, be of great moment in this important operatics
in which, it may be said, the whole nautical world
interested. On the other hand, it will fully test the
merits of the various improvements made in this eysten;
of removing darkness, for, if the lights to be &Tette°
burn steadily and brilliantly throughout the night, thel
will meet the requirements of the Trinity House, as rf
spects the illuminating power for lighthouses. TP.°
brilliancy of the electric light has never been Wier'
tioned, and the great difficulty hitherto has been la
securing density and steadiness,. These points nre
overcome, we are assured, by the application of nief'
cury instead of carbons, and that a lunar light, Pure:
dense, steady, continuous, is now obtained. This, es
we have already said, will now be fully and plenliuni
tested. The point to be determined is even .„"
more universal interest than the Great testers
steam-ship itself • for, if what is represented Li
established beyond controve or dispute, a great OPs
tional boon will be secured. Nothing can be of V
value to this country than an efficient and powerful
light for the coast. Those now in use are not suffioientl
effective, and during fogs and severe weather, are tr's
quently useless beyond the immediate precincts of 'o
lighthouses, whereas the new light—the mercurio-eleett4o_
we suppose it may be called—is unchangeable in color%
and its penetrating powers in fog and thick weather 0.,
revesented as perfectly extraordinary. Little has ber.
said or is known of this new plan of overcoming the di
culties which carbon light presented, but the discoverer'
have been persevering in thoir trials and tests, so as
is to
lio
make every point perfect before its submission to pn't,"
display. We understand that the discovery is due.,b
Professor Way, but that other gentlemen identified sets
the prosecution of the question of electric light hove
assisted in bringing the matter to its present stet° jd
perfection. The test to which it is to be put is a e°os
one, and is of itself an earnest of the sincerity of the 4
who consider it perfect for all useful purposes. We tr
their efforts will be crowned with success as brilliant::,
their own light, not only on their account, but as a MO
ter of national import and interest. It will be a able`
feature indeed in this extraordinary feat of lawn
crn"
this monster ship.—Missing Journal.
.01°
TEE LATE SUPPOSE "D CASE OF HOCUSSING
ROBBERY.—Yesterday a long inquiry took place ater,t•
Lord Wellington Tavern, Tottenham-court-road,
Mr. Wakley, coroner, on view of the body of Mr. Ivo,
Ashton, aged 53, lately carrying on the business !.•
woollen factor, at Garstone, in Lancashire; who 7•1,
discovered lying upon the pavement in DrutunoePon
INasot.rthin-Waensternßailway terminus,
insensible state. VIII,.
dt
33'11 tpolice-constable,al'righhte deposed that he discovered the eft
street,
ceased, and had him conveyed in a cab to the Universi_L;
College Hospital. By the Jury—l did not notice 03
marks of violence oa his person,
with the exception %,1
slight bruise on the forehead, which no doubt he receives,
in falling. Same further evidence having been giLite
Mr. Mus,het, of the University College filoseilel,"
that the deceased's death was the result of the "plash], 00,
kidneys being diseased. A verdict was returned io
curdance with the above evidence. • g
CUSTOMHOUSE. This building is undergo° .
thorough repainting, but not before it was neeege the
note for the clnvenience of the public and health ?lord
officials. The dark, dismal passages once clirea•
white, and the gloomy-looking " long-room" and ..ot
sury," in wLicb places the largest portion of the di", for
duty connected with customs is performed, will, leir
years of shady-looking antiquity, be restored to tb
primitive state.—Civil Service Gazette.
ES arrell2(
BREAKING DOWN OF THE BRIDGES ON THE
COUNTIES LINE.—On Thursday night and yeah ling
inori.ing too of the bridges on the Eastern Countess'
were carried away by the flood. The traffic bey tee
Broxbourne is entirely stopped. In this dilernol3coce•
directors applied to the London General Oniniboe 0,01.
()any to all them. 'rt. Landon General Omnibt" A 100
pail at once offered to provide fifty omnibuses eu"vie
h )rses to assist them; and several of the enulPileor
woolbu,eB are now working the traffic between is
bourne, Ware, and Hertford. The traffic wilt

hoped, be resumed in a few days on the railway 1,01:0
CORREGGIO'S " MAGDALEN.' —A private letter boo
Dresden says An English artist named 17.°96,, iP
created quite a sensation here by the successful ‘4lll Lb.
which he has copied sereral of the pictures 1400 r•
gallery, particularly the celebrated Magdalen,'
of the
ggio. Tile last picture is considered the gem out.'
g..llery, and the German a!tists admit that our c39,,1e,
,rytnatt's copy is the best that has ever beep loto
Is nut this a feather in Our artistic cap ?" A duhP„ prc;
of ti " painted by Correggio, tu- Al'
Pert), of Lord Ward, was in the Al anchestely tho
Trea<ures Exhibition, and a third pic'.ure, also ,is
artist, but differing somewhat from tho other „co
in the Florence Gallery.