The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-14 00:00:00

COURT CIRC ULAR.

The Puke of Wellington had an audience of the
Queen yestirdsy, at Buckingham Palace.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert presided yesterday
, eternoon at a meeting of the Chairmen and members of
Committees of the Royal Commission f,r the Exhibition
of 1851. The meeting was hekl at Buckingham Palace,
at thr•a o'clock, and was attended by Earl Granville,
Lord Stanley, Sir Richard Westrnacott, Sir Charles
Lys!), Sir Henry do la Becl.e, Mr. William Cubist, Mr.
Thomas F. Gib■or, Professor On en, Mr. Brunel, Mr.
Pusey, ?LP., and Dr. Boyle. Mr. Scott Russell attended
as Secretary to the Commission. Lieut.-Colonel Reid,
RE., Mr. Henry Cole, and Mr. Charles W. Dilke, jan.,
were in attendance as members of the Executive Com.
wittee. Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, his Royal
Highness's Private Secretary, also attended. The meit-
ing broke up at twenty minutes betore eight o'clock.
The Royal Family took their usual walking and pony
exercise yesterday.
The Lord Chancellor and Lady Cottenham, Lord
George Lennox, and the Right Hon. Sir Francis and
Lady Arabella Baring, had the honour of dining with
her Majesty and the Prince yesterday evening, at Buck-
ingham Palace.

Didpatehes from the Governor of the Bahamas were
received yesterday at the Colonial-office.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday, and resumed the hearing of an appe-il from
Bengal (part heard), " Anund Lal Sing Des. v. Maha-
rajah Djeraj Gurrood."

--- - - -
BRITISIT AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. --- Yes-
terday evening the 45th annual general meeting of the
Bread-street branch of this association was held at the
London Coffee-house, Alderman Sidney, M.P., in the
chair. The proceedings having been or coed by prayer,
the Chairman said he was glad to be able to congratu-
late them upon the prosperity of the society. In the ad-
dress which they heard in the House of Commons the
other night, in which the Prime Minister propounded
government to all our colonies to the utmost bounds of
the world, he had not mentioned a word about religion,
because the Bible societies and other kindred institutions
preceded him there, even before regular government
was established. It appeared from a view of the plans
and operations of the society, which was submitted to
the meeting, that during the forty-five years of its
existence the society had put into circulation
nearly 22,000,000 copies of the Scriptures, either in
whole or in part, and its expenditure for this pur-
pose had exceeded 3,500,000/. sterling. Tie receipts
for the past year alone had amounted to 95,933/.
16s. Id., arising from the usual sources of donations,
annual subscriptions, sales, and legacies; the payments
during the same period having been 88,8311. is. 2d.,
and its engagements had exceeded 67,0001. There had
been issued from its depositaries, at home and abroad,
within the same ear, no fewer than 1,107,518 copies,
and if the aggregate issues of foreign Bible societies
were added to those of the British and Foreign Bible
Society, the grand total would amount to more than
36,000,000 copies of the entire Bible or New Testament.
or integral portions thereef, in different languages. The
society had promoted the distribution of, printing, or trans-
lation of the sacred volume in whole or in part, directly in
81, and indirectly in 59 languages or dialects. Within
the United Kingdom there were no fewer than 3,217
auxiliary brances or associations, and 525 in the British
colonies and their dependencies. There were also more
than 50 principal foreign societies, with their respective
branches, spreading their salutary influence over the
states of Europe, all more or leas effective in the distri-
bution of the Scriptures. The adoption of the report
having been passed, several practical resolutions were
agreed to, and officers for the ensuing year were elected,
and the meeting separated, after the usual courtesy to
the chairman.

RECOVERY OF HER MAJESTY'S MAIL.PACRET
ONYX.—lntelligence has been brought by the Sir Ed-
ward Banks, which arrived last night at St. Katharine's,
of the floating of the mail steam-packet Onyx. The
vessel having been lightened by the removal of the pad-
dle-boxes and all the heavy fittings, a successful effort
was made on Tuesday to tow her off the beach at
Ostend. The operation was favoured by an unusually
high tide, and at about half-past one o'clock, a good pur-
chase having been obtained by the vessels ordered on
the duty by the Admiralty, elle glided into deep water
as if leaving a dockyard slip, and was taken in tow by
the Princess Alice and brought into harbour. A. soon
as the weather permits she will be towed to Woolwich
to be repaired.
INAUGURATIOX OF THE GREAT TUBULAR BRIDGE
OVER TIIE MENAL—Wednesday last, the second tube
was lowered to its permanent seat on the Carnarvonshire
side, in the presence cf its distinguished founder, Robert
Stephenson, M.P. So eucceseully was every part
brought to bear on lowering the tube on the rock tower,
that an extension of thret -tixteenths of an inch took
place, denoting great rigidity. The gale on We Inesday,
and again on Saturday, when the wind was west and by
south, or at right angles with the bridge, did not affect
the structure in the least, though a pressure of seventeen
and a half pounds to the square foot was ascertained.
The only unfinished operations connected wi h this
bridge are the filling up of the gap on the near side, and
the grand junction with the Carnarvonshire tower, for
which a period of three weeks will suffice—two other
weeks will suffice for lining the rails—from which it will
he seen that the line will be in readiness fur opening
within a period cf five weeks from this date. Of course
there will be a public demonstration on so interesting an
occasion; and we know it to be the intention to get up
an ovation for Mr.:Stephenson in the manner of a public
entertainment.—North Wales Chronicle.
METROPOLIS WATER BILLS•---TIIO folio% ing
portant order was adopted by the Rouse of Commons,
on Tuesday, on the motion of Sir G. Grey—" That no
Dill for the supply of water to the metroplie, or an
part thereof, be read a second time bel9ie Alter.

THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF
BISHOP'S ROCK LIGHTHOUSE OFF
SCILLY.
Amongst the various disasters and loss of property
which occurred in the terrific gale of Tuesday night,
the sth inst., we have to record a no less serious oc-
currence than the total destruction of the Bishop's
Rock Lighthouse off Scilly, the erection of which was
rapidly approaching completion. The rock is situated
about eight or ten miles westward of the Land's
End, and the lighthouse was in progress of erec-
tion by Mr. Douglas for the Honourable Corpora-
tion of Trinity House, under the superintendence of
Messrs. Walker and Burges, the eminent engineers.
As to the immediate cause which produced the dis-
aster, of course no definite information can as
yet be obtained.. All that is known is, that on the
Tuesday night, the lighthouse was standing, and few,
if any, had any apprehension of its safety. On the
following morning not a trace e.f its existence was
visible upon the turbid mars of waters on whose sur•
face it had before risen as a warning beacon.
As our readers have already been made acquainted
by us, the lighthouse was formed of cast-iron columns,
braced and stayed with wrought iron rods. The
columns were sunk into the roc k ; and the present
surmise is, that in penetrating the rock fur this pur-
pose, some fissure of which the engineer might not
have been aware, has thus been rendered a greater
source of that insecurity of which we now record the
result ; and that the rock with the light-house upon it,
has been swept away by the fury of the waters.
The lighthouse had been constructed by Messrs.
Robinson, of Pimlico, and the lantern was in progress
.by Mr. Wilkins, of Long-acre. It was anticipated
that the erection would have been complete early in
summer. It would have been upwards of 120 feet
high, being 20 feet higher
.than the far-famed Eddy-
stone, and had been considered peculiarly adapted,
notwithstanding its apparent lightness, to withstand
the heavy seas which fall in at that point, as from
its construction the sea would pass through without
taking any hold in comparison as it does when meeting
with a solid body. The centre column was about
three feet six inches in diameter, and the entrance to
the light was by the interior of this column to the
hopper, over which, and under the gallery, were the
living room, store, &c. The whole of this structure
has now, however, become a total loss.—Penzance
Gazette.

A BRILLIANT METEOR.
On Monday evening, about a quarter before eleven
o'clock, a brilliant meteor, according to all ac-
counts intense beyond any on record in modern
timer, was en throughout the metropolis. The
direction in which it travelled appears to have been from
W. to E., and it is described by observers as having
been remarkable for the beauty and variety of its co-
lours, the intensity if the light proceeding from it, and
the length of time during which it was visible. The
body when first seen resembled a large ball of fire of a
deep red colour, and the coarse traversed by it seemed
to be a curse, in its passage over which it gradually ac-
quired the appearance of a broad stream of fire of vari-
ous hues—green, crimson, purple, violet, &e. The light
evolved was so vivid as to approach that if noonday,
and cast very strong shadows on the ground. Immedi-
ately before it disappeared, its light seemed to be con-
centrated, when it burst like a rocket, producing an ex-
plosion the echoes of which resembled distant thunder.
One of the most remarkable circumstances attending the
phenomenon was its long continuance, which extended
to fire or six seconds. It was simultaneously observed
in various parts of the kingdom.
The following letters have been addressed to
the editor of a morning contemporary :
Sir,—Yesterday evening, at about half-past ten o'clock,
I was observing the peculiar clearness of the atmos-
phere, the weather having rapidly changed from stormy
rain, which had prevailed throughout the day, to that
brilliancy of sky which usually betokens, at this season,
frost; when, suddenly, I was almost bereft of sight by
the appearance of a magnificent meteor which made its
appearance in a westerly direction, and passing rapidly
across the zenith, exploded in the east, about 15 dog.
above the horizon. It was followed by a luminous tail
of extraordinary length and brilliance, and the disk of
its neuclus appeared to be nearly half the diameter of the
moon when full. Fire balls of a bluish colour fell from

----
the tail in profusion.
Some idea may be formed of the intense light cast
from it when I state that I could discern nothing
whatever for several minutes after ; indeed, many
families in the neighbourhood sitting in w ell-
lighted rooms, where there were apertures or
crevices through the shutters, were alarmed,
and went out completely terrified. Pheasants com-
menced crowing on their roosts, and dogs were barking;
in tact, all living creatures out of doors were evidently
disturbed by it. The wind which had been blowing
boisterously nearly the whole day from the south-
west was, at the time, west by south-west, and mode-
rately brisk.
The explosion of this brilliant specimen of an eccen-
tric and, I believe, unexplained varitty of aerial phe-
nomena was not, as is sometimes the case, audible, and
I conclude, therefore, that, although doubtless within
our atmosphere, its distance from the surface of the
earth must have ten very great; hence, probably, it
was observed in other parts of the country by indivi-
duals far more scientific than myself, who may, perhaps,
furnish you with a better description f it.
In the absence e f such you may possibly deem ac-
ceptable the humble communication r f, Sir, your most
obedient servant, G. 1110)11'50N, Jun.
Preatwood, Stourbridge, Feb. 12.
Sir,—At a quarter before eleven o'clock last night,
beit g in conversation with Mr. John Liner, in front cf
his house, which directly faces the north, he called my
attention to a falling star. When I first observed it it
was coming from the north-west, and did not appear
much larger than failing stars usually are; but it con-
!limed its course, so try moment increasing in brightness,
and exhibiting a tail of a blue colour and remarkably
vivid, until it had reached the east, when it exploded
into thousands of brilliant coruscations and disappeared.
After an interval of about 90 seconds it was followed by
a loud clap of thunder, of a very peculiar crackling na-
ture, of long duration, which passed off into the north-
east. Yours,
Padbury, Buckingham, Feb. 12.

It. VICARS, Jan.

iioxTON RAGGED SCHOOL —A tea festival, fol-
lowed by a public meetinr, :took place at seven o'clock
last evening, at the Iloxton Academy Chapel School, for
the purpose of receiving subscriptions to liquidate the
debt incurred by the erection of the Hoxton Ragged
School. The meeting was principally composed of re-
spectable females, with a few clergymen and gentlemen
interested in the success of the institution. The chair
having been taken by Joseph Bateman, Esq., the even-
ing's proceedings were opened with a prayer and a hymn.
Subscriptions and donations were banded in to the
amount of about 121, after which Mr. Benjamin Cobden
proceeded to lay before the meeting the re-
port of the committee, from which it appeared
that the total cost of the building amounted to
6501.; the donations and subscriptions received to 2201.,
leaving a sum of 4301. to be paid off. The course of in-
struction which it was intended should be carried on in
the school, would be for infants daily; for grown-up boys
and girls, three nights in each week; and tor parents
and o'd persons, two nights in each week, with constant
Sunday-school instruction. It was also intended, as
soon as sufficient funds had been raised, to ( pen indus-
trial eassts, so as to fit those of the pupils who might
wish to emigrate to the colonies to become useful and
industrious citizens. The meeting was subsequently
addressed in brief terms by the Rev. Messrs. Johnson,
Rotheray, and Addison, as also by Mr. Joseph Payne,
who forcibly pointed out the necessity that existed for
establishing and upholdieg such useful institutions, as,
by their agency, thousands were saved from perdition,
and taught, by a superior discipline to that which nas
practised in gaols and penitentiaries—the discipline of
Christian love and of the Gospel—to become useful, intel-
ligent, and respectable members of society. 'The meet-
ing, at half-past nine o'clock, was closed with au appro-
priate prayer and hymn.

DEATH FROM SHAMEFUL NEGLECT.—On Friday
an inquest was held at Bradley, on the body of Thomas
Cox, a boy shoat nine years of age, whose death re-
sulted from the reprehensible though common practice
of leaving old coal pits without any fence around or any
covering over them. The deceased, who lived at Brad-
ley, Ist; home on Wednesday morning, with his father,
for the purpose of going to work in a coal pit, near
Dar'Aston. When they got into Mr. Loxdale's field,
near Potter's-bridge, the deceased's bat was blown off,
and they both ran after it a short distance. It began to
rain, and deceased's father desired him to go into a
hovel close by, whilst he (the father) looked tor tLo hat.
As the morning was dark and windy, he could not find
the hat; and in going to the hovel to meet his son, he
had, using his own words, "a very narrow escape of his
life, in not falling into an old pit, which was exposed
without any fence round or over it." He could not find his
son, and it then occurred to him that he had fallen down
the pit. Some tackling was obtained, and the de-
deceased brought up, with his head fractured, both his
legs broken, and otherwise dreadfully crushed, quite
dead. "The pit in question," the boy's father said, "is
an old coat pit, situate in the Old tiquirrel field, near
Billiton, the property of Mr. Loxdale, and in the occu-
pation
of Mr. William Baldwin, of Bilston, coal and iron
master. A public road passes within twenty ards of
the pit in question, and there is no fence against either
the road or the pit. The pit is about 35 yards d,h
of)
There are two or three other pits near the one in
ques-
tion, in an equally dangerous state." The jury
opinion
that there had been great want of proper
a verdict of "Accidental death;" exprcss i
n at; an returned
ttention and
care on the
part of the occupier of the
pit in question in
r of having seen that it was properly protested."— Wei-
verhampton Chronicle.
°moral. CHANGES.—We give the following as
to
Victualling yard, Gosport,
they have reached us—namely, that Mr. T. T. Grant,
hsa-srekeeper of the Clarence
accepted the office of Comptroller of the Victualling
Department of the Navy, vice Meek (paymustf r and
purser), retired; and that Assistant-Paymar-Genr.,:t.l
Anderson will succeed the, respected veteran officer Mr.
Brigp, as Accountant-Genet al of the Navy, and not
Mr. Bromley, who, a short time since, jumped from a
second-class Admiralty clerk to be secretary to the
Audit Commissioners. It is said that the !att.r is to
have a superior appointment at the War-office.— Herald.
THE SANITARY CONDITION OF BRISTOL --- The
Town Council of Bristol i aving forwarded a memorial
to the General Board of Health, Mr. George F. Claike,
one cf the superintending inspectors, commenced a public
inquiry es to the sanitary state of the borough yesterday
(Wsclutisliy), iu ths.Quildligli Bristol.