The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-25 00:00:00

ITALY.

Accounts from Rome of the 14th state that a Com-
mission of Finance has been appointed by the POPE.

The Nazionale of Florence declares thist Russia has
refused to act as mediator between England and Tus-
cany. The Austrian Ministerial journal says, on the
contrary, that Itussia has accepted.

PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.—Mr. Evvart, on Tues-
day evening deferred his motion. He will, on Tuasday
next, the 30th inst., move for leave to bring iu a Bill " to
abolish the punishment of death."
SOCIETY or ARTS.—Yesterday the sixteenth ordi-
nary meeting of the members and visitors to this society was
held at the offices, John-street, Adelphi, Mr. Tooke in the
chair. The first communication read was by Mr. J. Pym,
and its subject —" How to supply the Metropolis with pure
water in ample quantity." This paper, after setting forth the
impurities of the various sources of water now existing in
the metropolis, proceeded to show that the only feasible plan
of increasing the supply of wholesome water was to increase
the number of artesian wells; but as it was clear that if all
the water collected in the chalk of the London Basin were
brought to the surface it would not supply an hundreth part
of the water wanted, Mr. Pym proposed to increase the
quantity in the chalk basin by turning a portion of the
Thames water into it, and as soon as it was filtered pumping
it out again for use. The paper next explained the ap-
pliances necessary for carrying out the plan, one advantage
of which was that whilst it would deprive no other locality
of water, the engines, machinery, and tubing of the existing
water companies might be rendered as serviceable as they
are at present. After some discussion upon this proposi-
tion, a paper by Mr. R. Laming on " The purification of coal
gas," was read by the secretary. Thanks were then voted
to e authors of both communications ; the gentlemen
proposed as members were elected, and the meeting dispersed.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—Her Majesty's box at
the Royal Italian Opera was occupied on Tuesday evening
by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cam-
bridge, who were accompanied by her Royal Highness the
Princess Mary. In the Royal suite were the Baroness
Ahlefeld, Mrs. Brydges Taylor, Major Stevens, and
Mrs. E. St. John Mildmay. Among the fashion•
able company present on Tuesday evening were—their
Royal Highnesses the Infante Don Juan of Spain
and the Archduchess Beatrix of Este (who were accompa-
nied by General Count Cabrera and General Zangenau), the
Duchess of Inverness and party, the Duke of Devonshire
and party, the Marchioness of Westmeath and party, the
Earl and Countess of Mahneabury, the Earl Beauchamp, the
Countess Dowager of Essex and Miss Johnstone, the
Countess of Cardigan and Lady Augusta Baring, Earl
Granville, Viscount Cranbourne, Viscount Exmouth, Vis-
count Sydney. Viscount Clifden. Lord and Lady Foley, the
Hon. Miss Foley, and Lady Adeilea Fitzalan Howard; Lord
and Lady Carrington and the Hon. Miss Carrington, Lord
Elphinstone, Lord Arthur Hay, Lady William Powlett and
Lady Carolire Masse, Lord Brooke, M.P., Lord George
Manners, M.P., Lady Wallscourt and party, Lady Dinorbin
and Miss Smythe, Lord and Lady Paget, Lady Seymour
and the Hon. Hermoine St. Maur, Lady Suffield, Hon.
F. Leveson, Colonel the Hon. G Dawson Darner, Major
the Hon. J. Needham, Hon. John Fortescue, M.P.,
Hon. George Miller, Hon. T. Jenkinson, Hon. Mr. and
Mrs. G. Wrottesley, Sir H. Webb, Sir George and Lady
Carroll and the Misses Carroll, Sir William de Bathe,
Sir Charles Marshall, Sir George Osborne, Sir Sey-
mour Sadler, Hon. Theobald Dillon, Lade De Bathe and
party, Miss Burdett Coutts and party, Mr. William Rose,
Mr. Bulteel, Hon. E. Upton, Mr. Mountjoy Martin and
party, Mr. Augustus Lumley, Mr. George Mitchell, Mr. Mar-
shall, M.P., and Mrs. Marshall, Colonel Brownlow Knox,
M.P., Colonel Sykes, Mr. Cavan and Miss Cavan, the Misses
Byrne, Mr. Standish Standish, Sir John Burgoyre and the
Misses Burgoyne, Mr. Harry Greville, Lady Goldsmid aid
the Misses Goldsmid, Capt. Ruddeman, iIL Bernadestas be.
DEATH OF THE GOVERNOR OF BERWICR. This
sinecure situation is again vacant by the death of Sir James
Bathurst. Throughout the whole period of his appointment
Sir James was never known to be within the walls of the
town he was presumed to be governor of; and the knowledge
of him here in that capacity was only maintained by his
name appearing in the list of subscribers to local charities...,
Berwick Advertiser.
DEATH OF THE POET LAUREATE.—The good old
Laureate, William Wordsworth, Esq., died at his residence,
Rvdal Mount, near Windermere, on the 23d instant, at
about twelve At noon.
DEATH OF BAILIE GULLAND.—MY. George Gul-
land, one of the magistrates of this city, died on the evening
of Monday. He had been complaining for some months,
but his illness was not considered serious till within about
fourteen days of his demise. Mr. Gulland has taken an
active interest in public business, especially in connexion
with the burgh of Canongate, for fourteen or fifteen years—
having at all times been distinguished by sound judg-
ment, energy of character, and genuine liberality, and
that in the broadest acceptation of the phrase.
lie took a leading part in the movement which
resulted in the abolition of the exclusive privi-
leges of trades incorporations, being chairman of the associa-
tion by whose exertions that reform was chiefly accomplished ;
and in most of the public questions which have agitated the
community since the passing of the Reform Bill. He succes-
sively served as treasurer and bailie of the Canongate. He
was elected by the First Ward a member of the town council
in November,. 1847; and was again returned last November,
and was subsequently elected one of the bailies. In private
life Bailie Gulland was one of the kindest and most disinte-
rested of friends. his word was equal to his bond; to shuffle
was as foreign to his nature as contrary to his practice. The
Bailie was in his 48th year. He has left a widow with a
large family to lament his loss. We may add that this is the
only instance of the death of a bailie in office that has oc-
curred in Edinburgh for about thirty years.—Scotsman of
Wednesday.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.—WOOLWICH, APRIL 24
Lieutenant-Colonel Evans, 1 sergeant, and 17 gunners of the
Sth battalion, embarked this morning in a freight. ship, at
the Royal Arsenal, for a passage to Ceylon, the Gallant Lieu-
tenant-Colonel to take the command of the Royal Artillery
at that station, and relieve Lieutenant-Colonel Grantham,
who has been in command since May, 18411. The sergeant
and 17 gunners proceed for the purpose of filling up the
vacancies in the two companies of the Royal Artillery
serving in Ceylon. Sergeant-Major Hassell having been
promoted to Quartermaster of the Bth battalion, vice Porter,
retired on full-pay, Colour-Sergeant Scott is promoted to
be Sergeant-Major, vice Hassell.
REVENUE PAYMENTS IN LIGHT GOLD.—With re-
ference to an order of the Lords of the Treasury, dated the
22d May, 1849, which allowed parties to pay duties in light
gold, at the rate of 19s. 9d. for sovereigns, and 9s. 10d. for
half-sovereigns, the same being received by the Bank of
England, after being defaced, at the rate of 8/. 17s. 6d. per
ounce in London, and 3!. 17s. sd. at their branches, the col-
lectors and comptrollers, and other principal officers of the
Customs department at the several ports and places thisaigh.
out the United Kingdom, have recieved directions to trans-
mit to the Comptroller-General an account, showing the
light gold taken, and the loss, it any, which has been sus-
tained by the revenue at their respective ports on such light
gold received, under the authority of the above-mentioned
order, up to the sth January last, and to make arrangements
for taking audit for the same in the official accounts.

SPECIE.—The vessel Columbia, which has just
arrived from Fort Victoria, Columbia River, and Honolulu,
Sandwich Islands, has brought 21 cases of gold ore and spe-
cie, 2 packages of gold ore, and 4 other packages of specie,
consigned to different parties. The vessel Lord Haddo, also
just arrived from the Mauritius, has brought 1 case of specie,
addressed; the Grecian, from Port Adelaide, 3,639 bags of
copper (ore), to order; the Catherine Jenkins, from Iqui-
que, 9,524 ingots of copper, consigned to order; the Char-
lotte Jane, from Canton and the Cape of Good Hope, 1 pack-
age of gold, and 1 chest of gold and silver, addressed, and 1
chest of gold, consigned to order; the Robert Small, from
Canton, $4 boxes of silver, consigned to order; the Bernard,
from Sierra Leone, 16 cwt. 1 qr. and 171 b. weight of copper
addressed; and the vessel Admiral Moorson, from the Bay
of Banduas, Mexico, has brought 1 cask and 3 other pack-
ages of dollars, consigned to a firm in the metropolis.
FIRE IN THE STRAND.—Shortly before two o'clock
this morning a very alarming and extensive fire happened
on the premises of Mr. Whitfield, hatter, opposite St. Cle-
ment's Church. An unusual light was observed by the
police, who forthwith gave the necessary alarm, and by great
exertions the family of that and the next house effected a

temporary retreat. The fire-escape, parish, brigade, and
West of England engines were promptly in attendance, and
such was the abundance of water, that the firemen were en-
abled to stay the destruction, not, however, until all the
property of Mr. Whitfield was destroyed, and damage done
to the shop adjoining, that of Mr. Dixon, manifold manufac-
turer. The cause was not known. Another fire hap-
pened some time previously in Lincoln-court, Lincoln's
Inn, by which a female was so dreadfully burned, that on
her removal to King's College Hospital her life was des-
paired of.

This is peculiarly the season of panoramas. It
commenced with the American, remarkable chiefly for their
length, which have been succeeded by the brilliant produc
tions of Grieves, Telbin, and Phillips, bnt the most gigantic
and truthful is reserved for Denson at the Surrey Zoological
Gardens. We have had the favour of a glimpse, and it cer-
tainly exceeds in magnitude, beauty of design, and colouring,
anything yet produced at this popular establishment.

There is no foundation for the report that the Lis-
bon squadron, under Captain Martin, is about to return to
Portsmouth, or that any court• martial upon a captain in that
squadron is about to be held.
ROYAL PALACES.---A return of the sums voted
and expended for the different royal palaces for the last three
years has been published. In 1847.48, 43,3011. were voted,
and 44,8111. 3s. 2d. expended; in 1849-49, 45,075/. were
voted, and 35,3311. 6s. 2d. expended; and in 1849.50,
411,5951. were voted, and 112,1721. 15s. sd. expended. The
account for works done since December 31, 1849, not
having been examined and made up. the return in so far is
incomplete, but the sums already voted. it is stated, will
be sufficient to answer the contemplated expenses to that
period.

DISCOVERY OF A ROMAN PAVEMENT INCIIFSTER,

—A few drys ago, as some men in the employ of Mr. Wynne,
builder, of Bridge-street, Chester, were engaged in digging
on his premises in the Feathers-lane, for the purpose of lay-
ing a drain, they discovered, at the depth of tour feet,. a tea-
selated Roman pavement, in an excellent state of preserva-
tion. The tiles are about three inches and-a-half square,
and on some of these are double eagles, on others double
dolphins, Stc.. Since the first discovery Mr. Wynne has
fund the continual ion of the pavement, which he has com-
pletely. uncovered and cleaned for the inspection of the curi-
ous. The pavement appears to have led in a direct fine to
the baths in Bridge-street.—,Liverpoel Courier.