The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-20 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY

Paid. Nominal I rices Business done
to-day.
Anglo •Mexican(is. Si. p.) 100 .. —• •
Asturian .... •• • • ...... 15 .. —..
Australian .... •••• • • .. 4 3 —3% 3%
Barossa Range .. ..... 1 13 0 3% -3%
Blaenarvoti Iron and Coal .50 .. —• ,
Bolanos Scrip ....
..
British Iron.. ••.. • ..... 13 5 .. —.•
Brazilian Imp (is. 51. p.) 24% .. —..
Do. Cocaes and Cuiaba 30 3% —3%
Do. St. John del Rey.. 15 14% 15
Cobre Copper - • .... ... 40 331,i 32% 33
Coplapo ..... • ..... • • • —• 4% —4%
General •• • • • . . • 20 .. —..
Real Del Monte, Unreg. .. —..
Do. Black Debentures .
1)0. Red Debentures — .. —.
Santiago de Cuba ..
Tin Croft .. ••• • • 1 7 .. .
United Mexican ......• .28 28. 5% —6%
BIISCELLA.NEOUS.
\ Canada .•..•••• • • .• • . 32% 41li - 42%
Gen. Steam Navigation . 14 26% 27
Penni. & Oriental Steam. 50 79 —BO
Royal Nail Steam

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
CITY, TWO O'CLOCK._
_ _

The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were 3,000
bales, all to the trade. The market is sfe ady, and prices
are id. per lb. against the buyer.
The sales comprised
2,500 American, 200 Pernam and Maranharo, at Bd. to
80.; 200 Egyptian, at B.ld. to 9d; and 200 Surat at sd.
to 6d. per 15.—1 n Railway Shares a good business was
done at improved rates.
In Mark-lane this morning Wheat is held very firmly,
and the foreign supplies are small.
The West India mails have come to hand, and we have
likewise the Chagres and Pacific letters by this oppor-
tunity. Viii New York, however, an outline a their
contents, and especially of the Californian intelligence,
came to hand. The information from Jamaica of the
prevalence of cholera has caused considerable regret and
anxiety among parties connected wi!h that colony.
The condition of trade in the different West India
islands was much the same as previously, but there is
still an exhibition of spirit in regard to the prosecution of
new branches of agriculture which is highly satisfactory
and promises excellent results. The cotton cultivation is
of necessity beyond every other in imi..ortance, and we
may hope that ere many years the staple will be ex-
tensively exported from Jamaica, &c.
The steamer with the West India mails brings
9i 3 000 dollars, principally in silver, and if report
speaks truly, nearly every sixpence is bespoken for
shipment to the continent, one large firm having
almost entirely engrossed it. The demand for
silver still continues, and the price is ss. Old.
per ounce, new dollars being worth as much as
4s. 11d. Yesterday there was again a general
decline in the rates of exchange, Amster-
dam being quoted 11 171 to i; Antwerp, 25
30 to 35; Ilemburgh, 13 61 to 7; Frankfort, 1191 i;
Trieste, 12 25 to 30, and Paris, 25 35 to 37i. The ba-
lance of trade, or the balance of payments, at any rate,
is against us; and the question ts, when the influence of
the Dutch and Belgian currency movements will be over?
. .

The Continental mails have ali been behind this
morning in the time of their arrival.
The Funds are gradually creeping up, and in
the absence of adverse foreign news there
is rather more inclination to deal, although
the transactions cannot be called large. Con-
sols have been quoted 97 to 974 for Transfer. and 971
to 97i for Account. The New Three-and-a Quarter
per Cents. have been 97i to 981 ; and the Three per
Cents 96i to Exchequer-bills have been quoted 675.
to 705., and India Bonds 87a. to 89s. premium.
The Foreign Market has been very inactive, but
prices are supported generally. Spanish Five per Cents.
have been 181. Brazilian Old Bonds have realised 88.
Mexican Stock is at 32, and Peruvian at 80. Russian
Five per Cents. are worth 108, and Dutch Two-ar..l-a-
Half per Cents. 57.
Railway Shares are all exceedingly buoyant again,
and there is an extensive buEiness doing. North-
Western have risen 1 to 1, Great Western about 1, Mid-
land 1, Aberdeen 1, North Stafford -I, and others in pro-
portion; but Chester and Holyhead do not support the
extreme advance of yesterday.
QUARTER TO TFIREE.
Consols ... ••• 96i 97
Ditto Account ... ••• 97 971 i
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
From the Official List.)
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities.... 961
3 per Cent. Consols Anne
New 314 per Cent. Ands.
Long Annuities. Exp. Jan. sth, 1860_ 7z,, 7 13-16
D 0.30 Years, Expire Oct. 10,1859 7 9-16
Do. 30 Years. Expire Jan. 5, 1860 8
India Bonds under 1,0001
South Sea Stock
Ditto Old Annuities
Consols for Account 97:0/0142d.
if.xchequer Bills. IlA2d.
March. June.
1,0691.
5001.
Small 7O p
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. BB
hi ox ican Bongs, 1846, 5 per Cent., Coupons
Ditto Ex Jan. Coupons
Peruvian Bonds, 41l per Cent
Ditto Account
Ditto Deferred
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent lOB
Ditto 41, per Cent 9611,8
Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent
Ditto Account . lBl4
Dividends on the above payable in Lonnon.
Dutch 21,‘. per Cent., 12 Guild

COURSE O.
A.msterdelm 11 16

EXCHANGE.

Dit-w, three months.. 11 17 IA
totterdam 175 u
25 35
Brussels.. • • ..... 25 35
fl•traburgh .... • . M.B. 13 6
• • ....
days'slght 25 171

Gibraltar.. • • ..........
Leghorn ........ • • .. • . 31 0
(leaoa ............ •... 26 0
Milan ................
Venice
Naples 41
Palermo, per0z........ 1:33i
Mevsina .............. 124
Li5b0n................ 6:4%
Oporto .............. • • 34,
Rio Janeiro ........ • •
Buenos Ayres ........
New York, G 0 days'slght
Philadelphia .... • • ....

Ditto, 3 months .... 25 40
Marseilles •• •• 25 40
itourdeaus.... ..... •

Frankfort on Maine....

Vienna, Kee. flo•. •• 12 30
Trieste, •• 12 30
Petersburgh,Sll. Elle.. 3736
Madrid •• .• •• ........ 49%
Cadiz •• •• •• •• •• •• 50
Barcelona •• •• .• •• •• ••

PRICER OP BULLION. PER OZ.
Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0
Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0
New Dollars .•.. •• 0 4 11
Silver in bars 0 5 0%

Seville•..• •. •• •• •• •• •4.

THE LAUNCH OF A SPANISH
WAR-FRIGATE.
Yesterday was launched, from the extensive ship-
building premises of Mare and Co., of Blackwell, the
Spanish steam-frigate Isabella Secunda, built for the
royal navy of Spain. The vessel, which is constructed
of wood, and is to be propelled with engines of 500-horse
power, by Messrs. Maudslay and Field, is of 230 feet in
length, breadth 23 feet, depth 25 fret, and of 1,565 tons
builders'measurement, is one of the finest ships turned out
of the Thames building establishments, and as a war vessel
attracted the attention and criticism of a vast multitude
who throrged the premises of Mare and Co.
The Isabella Secunda is one of a squadron ordered
by the Spanish Government to be built in this country
(Messrs. Wigram launched another at the same time),
and will be fitted up immediately and sent over to
Spain. probably to reinforce the division at Cuba. The
launch, from a slip from which few Royal dockyard
people would ever conceive a ship to be fketed, was a
most successful one, for the vessel glided out of her
earthly tenement with a facility truly wonderful, after
she had been named by the' pretty daughter of M. Zu-
lueta, and amidst the clashing of appropriate strains of
the efficient bard of the Royal Horse Guards, and the
cheers of thousands, floated in Bow Creek—a handsome
specimen of navel architecture, fully capela!e, without
doubt, from her seemly draft of water, of carrying the
armament designed for her, namely, 14 65-cwt. 68-poun-
ders, and two 95-cwt. pivot guns, to be mounted on gun
carriages of a new construction, which diminishes to a
considerable extent the number of men requited to work
the guns.
After the launch a distinguished and brilliant company
adjourned to the mould loft of the establishment, when
to the surprise of every one the rude apartment was con-
verted into a splendid banquetting-hall, fitted up with
various flags, and otherwise most tastefully embellished.
Here then assembled, as the guests of Mr. Mare, the
Spanish Ambassador, M. Lturitz and suite; the Spanish
Consul-General, the Austrian Ambassador and suite,
suite of the Ottoman Embassy, Commodore Llanes, of
the Spanish navy, Mr. Anderson, M P., Captain Ford,
of the Ottoman navy, M. Zulueta, Mr. Rolt. Mr. R. N.
Pinhorn, Mr. Newbon, Mr. Macdonald, R.N., Captain
Rowland, Mr. Pepss, Mr. Laming, Mr. Brocklebank,
and about two hundred ladies and gentlemen, who par-
took of a most recherche entertainment, in the course of
which the health's of the Queens of England and Spain
were drunk with deserved enthusiasm, and other com-
plimentary toasts were given and received with due
regard and respect for the subj. cis of them, and the fes-
tivities of the occasion were prolonged to the evening.
It is worthy of notice that the Spaniards. who have
supplied this country with the best models for the Royal
navy of England, are now the most liberal customers of
the English ship-building firms of this country for the
reinforcement of their fleet of steam-vessels; and what
England won by the hardihood and enduring bravery of
her seamen over a gallant enemy—the finest ships of the
world, Spain is now acquiring from this country by her
cold; for it is universally admitted that the best steamers
'aunehed from the establishments of our most eminent
naval architects have been those war steamers constructed
for the Spanish navy.

WHITTINGTON CLtjn.—The members of this club
held an assembly last night, in their spacious rooms, Arundel-
street, Strand, to celebrate the re• opening of the great room,
which had been for some time past undergoing extensive
alterations. It is now certainly a ncble apartment, fitted
out with great artistic taste, and calculated, in an eminent
degree, to answer the purposes for which it was intended. It
was appropriated on this occasion as a ball-room, where the
young and beautiful of the other sex enjoyed, with their
gallant partners, the amusement of the merry dance, with
joyous hearts and pleasant thoughts, little regarding what
events, wtiether for good or evil, the future may bring
forth. In addition to the charms thus afforded to a large
and brilliant assembly, music and singing were intr, duced
at intervals; and in this manner did a delightful night slip,
almost unperceived, over those who thus innocently and
gaily enjoyed themselves.
THE LATE MR. PENNINGTON.—It has been ascer-
tained that the double-barrelled pistol with which the late
Mr. Pennington destroyed himself was purchased on the
aursday atternoon, at the shop of Mr. Whistler, pawn-
broker, in the Strand, about three-quarters of an hour before
the melancholy occurrence took place, for which, with the
powder-flask which was bought at the time, the daceased
gentleman paid 3/. Mr. Whistler states that the same pistol
i;,(1 I,pen. while ,n his pos,ea. ion, twice st,,ipo, and t,,,e thief
on each occasion detected, tried, and convicted, the first being
sentenced foreu years' transportation, and the second to
&fourteen yea, he being Au old offender.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—As you, in common with other journalists,
have recently tallen into a error respecting the real
authorship of the electric light now exhibiting, I de-
pend upon your justice and liberality for the insertion
of the following explanatory letter, which appeared in
lust Saturday's edition of the Mining Journal. lam
not in any way connected with the invention itself,
either directly or indirectly, and am merely induced
to uct in the matter as a general and determined
FOE TO PIRACY.
334, I Monday, Nov. 18, 1850.

Sir,—Depindir g upon the good faith of a corres-
poudint, in whose truthfulness of report and care in the
collec‘ion of accurate information you were, doubtless,
induced to pl,ce the fullest confidence, you have per-
mitted your columns, for the last fortnight, to be made
the vehicle for a series of remarks, and rather laudatory
criticisms, upon the so-culled invention of Mr. Fennell
Allman—the electric or voltaic light. Since the pub-
lication of the articles to which I refer, a considerable
degree of doubt his been thrown upon the genuineness
and fluff enticity of Mr. Fenntll Allman's invention, and

he circumstance has induced me to revert to the sub-

jec:, and investigate the real facts of the case, more
closely than in all probability I should otherwise have
done. The result is—and I feel bound, in common jus-
tice, to lay it before your leaders—that the invention of
the voltaic light is neither more nor less than the pa-
tented invention of Mr. W. E. Staite, with whom Mr.
Petrie cooperated—gentlemen whose original thoughts
and unswerving perseverance, so long and so arduously
directed to this difficult branch of practical science, are
so well known, that I feel convinced their ingenious and
successful contrivances for the development of electrical
illumination are not only familiar to your readers gene-
rally, but aro by this time patent to the whole world.
The first patent, embodying the principle of self-regula-
tion, as applied to the preservation of a uniform distance
betwec n the electrodes, was granted to Mr. Staite in

1847—the specification ;appearing in the beginning of
1848. The object of this patent was to render that
continuous which had previously been fluctuating and
inconstant; and this important end was obtained by the
employment of the dynamic power of the eh ctric cur-
rent. This power had never before been employed in any
forms for the regulation of the electric arc. The idea was
entirely due to the ingenuity of Messrs. Smite and
Petrie; and yet in the face of this fact—in the face of
the patent granted to Mr. W. E. Staite in 1847—Mr.
Fennell Allman takes out a patent for employing this
very power, for this very purpose, in 1849, and is now
publicly exhibiting it as his own invention at the Poly-
technic Institution. Mr. Allman must be perfectly
aware of these facts, and so also must the party who
made your columns the medium for the publication of
his so-called invention. _ _ _

But, perhaps, Mr.—Allman will say, in defence, that
the details of his system of automatic regulation are
differ; nt from those employed by Mr. Steite. In what
respect? Do they, or do they not, operate by the dy-
namic power of the elec•ric current? If they do not,
your informant has furnished you with incorrect infor-
mation; and if they do, then you are bound to cha•
racterise the affair as a deliberate imposition upon your-
self as a journalist., and as a palpable and unblushing
piracy upon the original invention set forth in Mr.
Staite s patent. Yours is not the only journal which has
been made the vehicle for disseminating these circum-
stantial misstatements and evasive sophistications. Most
of the daily press, not excepting even the Times, have
fallen into the same error. Perhaps it may be said by
superficial thinkers that a philosophical principle can-
not be made the groundwork of a patent. True; but
the application of this principle to a useful purpose is
not only patentable, independently of any modification
of detail, but is the true and legitimate basis of almost
all the patents which pass the Great Seal.
It is certainly ;he basis of Mr. Staite's patented inven-

tion for the regulation of the electric light—an invention
which has been as clearly pirated, as manifestly invaded
and appropriated by Mr. Allman, as any invention could
possibly be. As you have been made the unconscious
instrument for the circulation of a gross error, so will
you now, I am sure, be the willing medium through
which its refutation may be established and made known;
and in further justification of my present remarks, I pro-
pose next week to return to the subject, and give your
readers a few important details which have come to my
knowledge in the progress of this investigation.
London, Nov. 14. BETA.

ACCIDENT AT THE WORKS IN HYDE- PARK.—
About four o'clock yesterday afternoon a melancholy acci-
dent occurred at the works in Hyde-park, which has, we re-
gret to state, been attended with fatal consequences. From
inquiries mad, on the spot it appears that at the time stated
a painter, while engaged in painting one of the iron girders
at the top of the building, at the eastern end, had the girder
break under him, and fall with him on to the scaffold under-
neath, on which several carpenters and labourers were at
work, which was broken through, and one of the carpenters
and a labourer fell with the girder and painter to the ground.
The unfortunate men were immediately picked up and placed
on stretchers and conveyed to St. George's Hospital, where
on examination it was found that the painter was dead, but
that the carpenter and labourer were still alive, although
most extensively injured.

A petition is in course of signature at Plymouth,
humbly praying " That her Majesty will be pleased to sus-
pend the Bishops of London, Exeter, an.t Oxford, believing
that the Protestant religion will ever be in danger so long as
those high dignitaries preside over the Established Church
in this kingdom." It is intended as a national petition. All
those who are favourable to the petition are requested to get
as many signatures as possible, and forward the same to Mr.
Latimer, George-street, Plymouth.
SEA AND FIRE LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.—Yes-
terday his Honour blaster Tierney was attended by Mr.
Ernest, the official manager, and by Messrs. Galsworthy,
solicitors to the estate, on the subject of the claims of credi-
tors, which amount altogether to about 12,0001. A large
number of persons connected with ship insurances and at
Lloyd's are concerned in the settlement of the affairs, and an
important question arises between the Port of London As-
surance-office and this company as regards an alleged amal-
gamation of the two undertakings. The petitioner for
winding-up, Mr. J. Richardson, states on affidavit that its
promoter absconded and left England in April, and that the
business, which commenced in 1849, after incurring various
liabilities, was discontinued in May, 1850. A call of 20s. per
share was made by the directors on the proposed capital of
100,0001., but a large portion of the shareholders rdlused to
pay it. Negotiations are going on with the late solicitors of
the
for
allege
t ht the
they have
delivery up
lienof
athe
5,b cooookLs and papers, on
which they
GREAT EXHIBITION AND THE RAlLWAYS.—Ac-
cording to the Railway Commissioners returns published in
in July last, it appears that nearly 29 millions of journeys
of 15 miles each were made during the half year ending
the 30th June, 1849. It is calculated, therefore, that if the
s 7
estimate,3when it is per cent. This
cannot
Exhibition gives rise during the first half-year of 1851 to
immoderate
nrvavatiy will be, and that
esitors
only 10 millions additional journeys of 15 miles, it will in-
crease
s incomederenumerousd oa of
no
ut
irhmfeomr
erniadgih
many of them on their visit to the Exhibition will avail
themselves of this opportunity to see the other portions of
the United Kingdom. It is to be hoped, therefore, what with
thought
ebe
howe o netconsidered
this probable accession of traffic and the buoyant state of
trade, railway proprietors may consider that the crisis is
past, and may with confidence look forward to better divi-
dends and a more healthy state of things in 1851.
NOVEL ELECTRIC TELEGRAPEr.—M. Dumont, an
engineer, who has, with the permission of the authorities,
fixed wires for an electric telegraph from the passage Jouf-
froy along the tops of the houses in various parts of Paris,
has published a long statement with an account of telegra-
phic communications from variou4 quarters, with a view to
show the advantage of th,s mode of communication for the
capital. Ha proposes, if his plan be approved of, and the
necessary capital be raised, to establish stations, so as to
enable the inhabitants of the capitaL to communicate with
each other, for business or otherwise, with instantaneous
promptitude.—. Paris Paper.

BOMBAY RAILWAY.-This railway, according to
the accounts just received from India, has now commenced.
The first portion consists of the embankments across the
Sion Marsh, which separates the islands of Bombay and
Salsette.

~--EAST ANGLICAN RAILWAY..--It is again stated,
with some confidence, that an arrangement is about to be
made between the Great Northern and the East Anglican,
which will be greatly for the benefit of the latter company.
WESTERN VALLEYS RAILWAY.—The Government
Inspector passed over the line on Tuesday and Wednesday,
and will pay another visit of inspection in eight or ten days.
It is said that he has consented to the line being opened in a
B .p Societyasi
8.-Davidson,
oa have called; E d v,.a tord tAh.e
cbaarr
I,yaonnd,
M.A.werei
fortnight.— Monmouthshire Merlin.
da3L.
evening in
I:hrte.ll_henfoorlalocewini.gwmrigehmt,bers of this
U. lleygate, M.A. -
PERILOUS SITUATION.—The vessel Lancefield
; sworn
Eanscid• %;
laslmit
ae
mer-s
of
London, which arrived in the Clyde on Saturday from St.
Übe's, brings the following romantic story :—While in lat.
40, lon. 13 30, west, on the 3d instant, she spoke the barque
Emerald, bound for London from Cadiz. The latter ship
had en board the master of a Portuguese vessel, who had
been picked up when floating on a bundle of corkwood, about
twenty miles from land. He had been on this precarious
raft for three days and nights, and during the whole of that
period was destitute of food or fresh water. When got on
board he was quite exhausted and insensible, but through the
kindness and attention with which he was treated by Capt.
Hall and the crew of the Emerald, he rapidly recovered.
Glasgow Daily Mail.
GLASS SHADES.—The largest ever produced rotas
lately blown at Birmingham by an English workman. It is
62 inches by 261/2 inches in diameter, and contains nearly
401bs. of metal. Until lately, a Frenchman was considered
theto a correspondentworkmanmostskilfuloftheva
inily txheewse,mployment of Messrs.
Chance, in whose manufactory the shadwehaollgudiveedsttohhe asbeen
blown. This man earns no less than 91. a week, according
dimen-
sions of this monster "shade." A secret in blowing great
glass bubbles we lately described. It consists simply in
moistening the mouth with a little water before blowing,
The water is converted, in the interior of the drop, into
steam, which vastly aids the breath in extending the dimen-
sions of the " bell."—Builder.
COMMITTAL OF AN INCENDIARY.--After a pro.
longed and careful inquirytibwefpo
prop
oe a
erty oufnccrey.,GE.
Pigott,
theo tt,
tßbeevia rlrlxaktKpeorri,deartshWaiini,slow, John Collins, late
W. occupier of
Esq., Assistant Poor-law Commissioner, which was burned
on the 30th of October, charged with having wilfully and
maliciously set fire to a barn oil the said premises, and thereby
caused the destruction of buildings, ricks, and corn, was hilly
committed to Aylesbury g-rot for trial. A dozen witnesses
were examined; their evidence was circumstantial.
agent of the Royal Exchange As urance Company proved
that the accused had made a fraudulent demand on him.
Bail was refused. The
,prisoner will he tried at the assizes.
—Oxford Journal.
MILDNESS OF THE SEASON.--AS a further proof of
the continued mildness of the season to that which was last
week adduced, we may mention that on Sunday last Jobn
Howell, Esq., corn-merchant, Priory-street, had a dish of
fine peas served at his table, which had ben grown in the
open air in a garden adjoining that in which D. Prytherch,
Esq., gathered those alluded to in our last.—Welshman.
The Right Hon. Lord Wodehouse has accepted
tha office of President of the Norfolk and Norwich Literary
Institution.