The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-12 00:00:00

and Uiet:
to
.13 dolls. 503.
f3;,3,c limns are dull, but firm, at 12 dolls. We.

Tobacco—Tl;o m:trliet is firm with a fair demand.
The sales to-day a:r e 200 hltds, Kentucky leaf, 10c. to
13A,!.; 60 choice ditV2i, 191. c.; and 50 htals. Maryland, 64c.
Wool—The marl:rt i; very active. The suit's of the
day are large, and embrace 12,0001b5. Washington Co.
fleece, 50c.; 10,0001bs. Dutchess Ce., 503.; 15,000 to
20,0001b5. State fleece, 46c.; 7,oooats. ditto, 44c.; and
some other small tots at 35c. to 453. Fine qualities have
realiwd an advance of sc. per lb. Pulled wool has also
risen about lc.
Hemp—Only a retail business in dew-totted American,
at 112 dolls 50c. to 125 dolls., and dressed American,
145 to 160 dolls.

STEAM ROUTE TO AUSTRALIA.
The h tter in the Times to-day on the various steam
routes to Australia has attracted attention from the
practical nature of its statements. It tends to confirm
all the arguments that have lately been put forward with
regard to the complete superiority of the Western line,
from Panama to Sydney, and has increased the unfa-
vourable feeling with which the leading persons inte-
rested in the welfare of Australia have long regarded
the strange want of decision shown by the Government
on this important question. While the attention cf the
whole world is turned to the Pacific Ocean, and to the
vast ccmiceicial benefice that are destined to arise from
the extension of enterprise in that direction, the
solo object with our Ministers seems to have
been to carry the route through the Indian Seas,,
(where the development of our traffic calls for
no extraneous aid) at an alleged additional coat 143 com-
pared with the Pacific route of at least twelve days in
time wad 100 per cent. in the charges for freight and pas-
sage, besides unnecessary ribk and inconvenience.
" Throughout the entire zange of the Pacific route, both
going and returning, fine weather, smooth seas, and a
pleasant temperature almost everywhere prevail," while
in the course from Singapore through Torres Straits it
is believed that, even apart from the best nautical skill,
vessels must always be liable to irregularities, and also
to the most serious accidents. To pay the penalty of
longer time and double fares for the latter line
seems, therefore, an inexplicable proposition, yet
it is surmised that although the Government
plan has been obstructed by the India House,
there is a probability that rather than it should
be abandoned an effort will even still be made to carry it
through by some temporary expedients. Should any
such attempts take place, the mercantile classes will look
with strong interest for whatever explanations may be
given with respect to it on the meeting of Parliament,
since from the facts that have thus far been shown • the
selection seems so preposterous that people find it diffi-
cult to believe there is not some reason in fafour of it
which remains yet to b 3 stated. Meanwhile, however,
all parties are kept in suspense, and fresh irritation is
engendered in the colonies, where the accounts that con-
stantly arrive of the success of the final postal service
established by the United States Government to Califor-
nia, even before the gold mines were discovered, are
calculated to keep alive the most unsatisfactory compa-
risons.—Times.

LICENSED l ICTUALLERS' ASYLUM.
The annual election for inmates into this institution
took place yesterday. The number of applications to be
placed upon the foundation of this noble charity was
46, and the vacancies amounted to only 14.
The following were the successful candidates:—
Present Former

election. election. Total.
Woriter
Cusena - - .... . 13,822
Hall
Chatfield
Watkins ~
Cox ... . ............. 6,941 ~.... 4,214
George .... ...... ..... 6,836
lisrbizr
Henthcote
Drysdale
Flynn
Gurr
0
Bishop
,i 9
t 8
H . illing
The Chairman having announced the natr„,s, the
court
adjourned to January 3.

HAYMARKET THEATRE.
Last evening Mr. Macready appeared in two of his
most popular characters, namely, King Henry, in the
second part of King Henry the Fourth, and Mr.
Oakley, in the Jealous Wife, thereby exhibiting his
histrionic genius both in tragedy and comedy. His
performance of the above-mentioned parts is too fami-
liar to the London public to require a lengthy criti-
cism from us. The dying scene of Henry is amongst
his sublimest Shaksperian illustrations, and his ver-
sion of Mr. Oakley remarkably pointed and effective,
although, to our thinking, somewhat hard in manner,
too petulant, and deficient in the easy but dignified
grace which should appertain to what is termed
" high comedy" Mrs. Warner was an admirable
Mrs. Oakley, and the other characters were effici-
ently represently by Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Stanley,
Mr, Cooper, Mr. Howe, Mr. Rogers, and Mr. Buck-
stone. The house was very crowded.

AD ELA IDE GALLERY.
Those who are fond of lively music, or tripping it
on " the light fantastic toe," should pay an early visit
to the grand salon de danse at the Adelaide Gallery,
where Borini's band, :perhaps one of the best of the
kind in London, is becoming as attractive as Laurent's
at a similar establishment further west. The selec-
tions of music embrace all the favourite works of the
day, and solos and concerted pieces follow each other
in rapid succession. There is besides a vocal and in-
strumental concert given every evening under the
direction of Mr. J. W. Sharp, whose powers of
rendering comic songs in the best possible style
are only surpassed by the rich fund of humour
which he seems always to have at his com-
mand. Miss G. Hodgson, a pleasing and tasteful
vocalist, has this week been added to the list of
performers, and her nightly reception by the habitu‘s
of the place is :flattering in the extreme, though,
perhaps, not more flattering than her abilities
to warble plaintive ditties, and her exertions to
please, entitle her to. At the conclusion of the
concert, the body of the gallery passes into the
charge of Mons. De l'Motte, who, assisted by
four or five polite masters of the ceremonies,
marshals the votaries to Terpsichore, and conducts
them through an endless variety of polkas, qua.
chilies, waltzes, &c.,
unflagging spirit till&e., which are kept up with
the hollow clock of St. Mar-
tin's warns them that it is time the chef d'orchestre
and his corps terminated their labours, for one
night at least, and betook themselves to their re-
spective domiciles.

AL

_ __...... ---..,lMllmilnim•
_LMAN'S PATENT VOLTAIC LIGHT.
This new invention now forms the staple of a very
interesting lecture, delivered daily by Dr. Bach-
hoffeer, in the Chemical Theatre of the Royal Poly-
technic Institution, Regent-street. The discovery of
Mr. Allman differs from every other invention in-
tended as a light-giving
agent, inasmuch as the
electricity which is the cause of the light is made its
own governor, after the 'banner of the application
of the governor to the steam-engine. The principal
by which Mr. Allman develops this invention is the
well-known instrument called the galvanometer, the
maintaining power being dependent on the deflection
of the magnetic needle. Thus, as the power of the
current is diminished, the needle returns to its normal
condition—that is, on a line parallel to that of the
passage of the electric current. The main point in
which Mr. Allman's invention differs from those of
Messrs. Staite and Petrie consists in the electrodes
being maintained at the same constant distance from
one another, by which means the uniformity of the
light is provided for. This object is attained, as
.s
we
have said, by the galvanometer, within
placed an arrangement of magnets,
disposedw h
in c 1
ther
shape of a fan, and turning about an horizontalthe action
pivot
resting on friction wheels, by which means
r
is rendered the more delicate.
When more
fluid is passing than the normal or adjusted o or
situationless
of the electrodes requires, the deflection of the lever
which immediately results corrects the variation
which has also been occasioned in distance
accordingly be-
tween
the electrodes. The patent the
experiment made with the
rest all doubts as to
light
ofangly in-
suresyesterdayhe
highly successful, and set at
of fluid could be at-
an uniformity in the intensity t
washe
light. T
at-
tained. Dr. Bachhoffner,
elapsed since he had last prefacinginct, explained a that very
during
the interval which
inte-
resting lecture on the subject,
on the subject
of the electric light, one
ad-
dressed an audiencehaatithe institution
previously stood in the way of
of its practical applica-
ofnthe difficulties which had
of Mr. Allmann, been
tion had, by the invent
was now secured. In
sideratum of perfect continuity
light exhibited at the
fact, the brilliant and dazzling most effectually and satisfactorilylu removed. The de-
and by a proportionate sup p y
a longer period.
lecture was in steady actrouglforoornme
ahtoeuriralancdoualhdaloff
course be made to last for,

The patentee expresses himself sanguinely as to
the superiority of electricity over coal gas as a light-
giving agent, and as a manufacture, both as regards its
beauty, cleanliness, simplicity, safety from explosion,
and its economy. Gas pipes, he contends, are more
than one hundred times the expense, length for
length, of electric mains. The insertion of gas re-
quires much cutting and alteration of premises.
Electricity, on the contrary, requires none ; and
whereas gas joints require careful fitting, to prevent
annoying smell and explosion, eleCtric wires require
no fitting, contact being sufficient, or at most a sol-
dering. It appears that a slip of silver, as thin as
tissue paper, passed acrcss the ceiling, and painted
over, is an ample conductor for the light of 2,000
candies. in every respect the patentee claims im-
mense advantages for electricity over gas, when its
usefulness shall have been fully developed; but at
present, he contends, it holds out to the chemist a
more extensive field for manufacture than was ever
presented by gas, and that if it can now, in its crude
state, produce for a given expenditure, or even at an
expense twenty limes greater, as much light as gas,
the outlay of money, combined with engineering
and chemical knowledge, would speedily place it far
beyond gas on the score of economy.