The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-11 00:00:00

ITALY.

The discussion of the law abolishing Ecclesiastical
privileges in the Sardinian dominions commenced in
the Senate of Turin on the sth inst.
The English Ambassador at Florence gave a
feteon the 2d, at which the Grand Duke of TUSCANY
and the Duchess of BERRI were present. grand

DEATH or DR. PROD; F.R.S.—This distinguished
member of the medical profession expled at his residence,
Saukville-street, Piccadilly, on the 9th inst., at an advanced
age. Dr. Prout was deservedly well known to the members
of the medical profession and the public generally by his
various contributions to the advancement of medical science,
particularly by his Bridgewater Treatise on Chemistry, Me-
teorology, and the Function of Digestion considered with
reference to natural Theology. The lamented deceased Shad
also contributed many valuable papers to the Philosophical
Transactions.

DEATH OF THE REV. CANON EATON.—It is
with deep regret that we have to announce the death
of the Rev. Joseph Eaton, which took place on the sth
instant, in the 82d year of his age. He was the oldest
member of the cathedral, to the service of which he de-
voted his energies; having for many years, as well as being
a Minor Canon and Precentor, held the appointment of
Chapter Clerk, during his retention, of which last-named
office he was presented with numerous testimonials for the
improvement he effected in the cathedral property. He
also held the living of Handley, and the Perpetual Curacy of
St. Michael's in this city. His scientific entertainments
were of the highest order, being one of the first mathemati-
cians of the ay. He was also one of the oldest members of
the Royal Society of Antiquaries.—Chester Courant.
BIDEFORD, TUESDAY, APRIL 9.—(From a Corre-
spondent.)—Yesterday's examination of the Birds terminated
in a remand of the prisoners until Friday next, for the pur-
pose of procuring two additional witnesses on behalf of the
prosecution.

In the Bankruptcy Court yesterday, in the case of
Chisholm and Chisholm (father and son), wholesale drug-
gists
n
at Daking and Ludgate-hill, the Commissioner sus-
pended the certificate of the elder Chisholm for three years,
and that of the younger Chisholm for twelve months, and
refused protection the principal charges against the bank-
rupts were reckless trading, imperfect book-keeping, making
false representations to creditors, and dealing in accommoda-
tion bills. The bankrupts,accommodation bills wit it appeared, had dealt largely in
a person named Henry Leigh
Hunt, who, since the failure of the concern, was, according
to the statement of the bankrupts, nowhere to be found.
THE NEW POSTAL CONVENTION WITHFRANCE.
—lt appears that the visit of the Right lion. the Marquis of
Clanricarde, the Postmaster-General, to Paris, for the pur-
pose of entering into a new postal treaty with the French
,
Government for the reduction of the postage on letters be-
tween the United Kingdom and France from 10d. to 6d., and
an assimilation of the weight from under a quarter of an
ounce to not exceeding half an ounce, as on inland letters in
England, to the British colonies, the -United States, Por-
tugal, Spain, the Mediterranean Egypt, India, Hong-Kong,
and China (by the monthly mails, pia Southampton), Hol-
land, Hamburgli, &c., has been most successful. This
important arrangement it is stated is not only confined
to letters between the two countries, but it is to be ex-
tended to all letters passing through France from Great
Britain to other parts of the continent. The high postage
on letters to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon,
India, &c.-12. 10d. per quarter of an ounce, and on news-
papers 3d.—by the fortnightly overland closed mails through
France, via Marseilles, has also been the subject of his
Lordship's consideration, and a reduction in the tariff, or
postal tax, is likewise to be extended to them. When it
is considered that the average number of closed iron boxes
passing fortnightly from tins country (on the 7th and 24th
of the month) by the overland mails, rid Marseilles, to our
eastern empire, is from 50 to 60, closely filled with letters
and newspapers, this alteration in the charges will be wel-
comed not only by the commercial interest and public at
home, but by these in India. The exan.ple shown by
England in the reduction of her postage on inland letters to
Id. has had a most beneficial influence on the Continental
Governments. France has already followed a similar system -