The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-27 00:00:00

ASCENT OF MOUNT BLANC.

The hazardous and unfortunate attempt made to
ascend this celebrated mountain, in 1820, by Dr.
Hamel, and Messrs. Dornford and Henderson, will
doubtless be familiar to the recollection of our readers.
Since that fatal occurrence the attempt has been se-
veral times renewed, both by foreigners and by our
own countrymen. Mr. Clissold, we believe, in 1822,
reached the summit, but as far as we recollect, no ob-
servations of any particular interest were made by him.
In August 1825, Dr. Edmund Clark, accompanied
by Capt. Sherwin, resolved to undertake a fresh ex-
pedition ; they set out on Monday, 25th Angust, at
seven o'clock A. M., from Chamouni, accompanied
by seven guides. At Pierre Pointue they quitted
their mules. When they reached the Grand Plateau
the rays of the sun were painfully scorching, and the
party found considerable oppression in breathing. At
Petits Mullets the wind became strong and cold, and
at five minutes past three they reached the summit.
This ascent seems to have been performed in a far
shorter time than that of any former adventurers. The
barometer, on the summit, stood at 15 inches 9
6-10th lines, whilst by cotemporary observations at
St. Bernard, it was 21 inches 1 7-10th line, and at
Geneva 27 inches 0 15-16th line. The thermometer,
exposed to the sun, stood at half a degree below zero,
whereas at Chamouni, in the shade, it was 14 degrees,
and at two P. M., at St. Bernard, 10 degrees below
zero, and at the Botanic Garden at Geneva, 19 de-
grees. Great difficulty of breathing, paleness, and
headachs, were experienced on the summit ; and Capt.
Sherwin described his sensations as if his body pos-
sessed an extraordinary degree of elasticity and light-
ness, and as if his feet scarcely touched the ground.
The party returned to Grand Mulct, where they slept,
and next morning arrived in safety in the valley.—
( Bibliotheque Univers.)

EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS

IN WATER COLOURS.

That the art of painting in water colours has been '
cultivated in this country to a degree highly honour- I
able to British talent was, long since, proved by the
productions of the Society which now submits to the
public judgment its twenty-second exhibition. Though
the present display, which commenced yesterday, offers
many specimens of superior excellence in this pro-
vince
of the graphic art, we do not think that, on the
whole, the Exhibition vies with those of some former
years ; with thit of last Spring it certainly does not.
We find, however, in the collection, some specimens
of genius in composition and skill in execution—force
and beauty of conception, and grace and truth of out-
line, which have not been exceeded by any past exam-
ples. We are sorry not to find among these the la-
bours of several of our old favourites, among whom
Glover held a very conspicuous situation. However,
we had the satisfaction to be greeted by not a few of
the pictures of Barret,• Hills, Copley, Fielding, Varley,
Richter, and Stephanoff.
Of Barret's pictures, the most distinguished are, a
View from Richmond Hill—a View of Greenwich
from the Park—Morning.---Evening—B,oys bath-
ing—and a Moonlight Scene. In these much of the
Artist's close observation is apparent ; his points of
sight are judiciously chosen, his trees are happily
grouped, and his open Spaces clearly and beautifully
displayed : yet to these observations we must add, that
we are not always pleased with his foliage—too gene-
rally, it is woolly and confused, and not unfrequently,
too full and bushy. In the Bay of Naples, of Cop-
ley Fielding, we were struck with the diversity of co-
louring given to the noble expanse of land and water,
and the very effective advantage offered and embraced
by the powers of this Artist's pencil : his Bridge at
Totness bears the same evidence of his accu-
racy of discernment, and felicity of adorning
his perspective with all its most striking and
ornamental tints. The Lane Scene of Hills is
charmingly sequestered. The tranquil serenity by
which he has characterized his sky is greatly acces-
sary to the main intended effect ; and the whole
is so natural, that to gaze intently on the picture,-is to
imagine yourself on the spot. With Varley's
Land-
scape and Mill, and View near Chiswick, we were
much pleased. The first, we presume, is a composi-
tion ; if so, it does credit to the painter's imagination,
and, though we think we could have recommended -to
Mr. Varley a more eligible point from which to have
taken his view, it is due to his skill to say, that he ap-
pears to have made the most of the scene, as he has
chosen it. Many others of the pictures which were
presented to us would have our notice, had we more
space to devote to this subject, to which, perhaps, we
may hereafter return.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, APRIL 26.
PRINCE V. LEWIS.

, - - ---
This was an action brought by the Proprietors of
Covent-garden Market, against the defendant, for selling vegetable's
in a cart before his own door in James-street, with a view of de-
frauding the plaintiff of the tolls, which, on application, he
refused to pay, because he did not sell within the bounds,
it was tried before the Lord Chief Justice in Hilary Term, and the
plaintiff was nonsuited, with liberty to move to have the nonsuit
set aside, and a verdict entered.
Mr. GURNEY having obtained a rule this Term to have the non-
suit set aside, •

MT. MARRY.IIII', With whom was Mr. SCARLETT, appeared
this day against the rule. They contended that the plaintiff was
not entitled to a verdict, on the grounds that by his franchise he had
not right to demand a toll for any thing sold outside of the denter-
stone. Unless he could shew that there had been room in the
market at the time in question, and this his own witness failed to
prove.
Mr. GURNEY, with whom were the Common Serjeant, and
Messrs. Brougham and Hutchinson on the other hand, maintained
that it was the.defendant's business to shew that there had not been
room in the market.

The LORD CHIEF Jusvez was of opinion, that to entitle the
plaintiff to a verdict he must shew either that there was generally
room is the market for those who frequented the place, or that no part
of it was occupied by his consent for purposes different from those
for which the franchise had been granted,—it appeared that the
public accommodation was obstructed by illigitimate erections
whereby the plaintiff profitted—if there had been any spare room
in the market, it was competent for him to convert it to what
ever purpose be pleased ; but as there was not space enough, the
public-houses and china-shops which were within the railing ought
to be removed, otherwise the plaintiff committed a fraud on the
public by contracting this convenience for the advancement of his
own gain.
The other Judges concurred, and the rule was discharged.