The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-09 00:00:00

ourvr—WASNIONABLE.

The Earl and Countess of Eldon entertained at dinner last
evening, at their mansion in Hamilton-place, his Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. Howley, Lady Harriet
Paget, the Misses Paget (two), the Hon. Ridley Colborne,
M.P., Mr., Mrs., and Miss Farrer, Mr. Obler Farrer, Mr. Tay-
lor, and Mr. Baddeley.
Lord Bateman entertained a small party to dinner at his
Lordship's residence on Sunday, in Portman-square' among
whom were Earl Spencer, the Earl of Oxford, Lord Harley,
Lord Rodney, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Knight, and Capt. Main-
waring.
Lord and Lady Sydney left Cleveland-square on Monday
for Dover, en route to Germany.
Lord Eliot and Lady Jemima Eliot entertained a large

party at dinner on SatUrday last, The party consisted of the
Earl and Countess of Glengall, Lord and Lady Georgiana
Bathurst, Viscount Eastuor, Lord and Lady Sondes and the
Hon. Miss Milks, Mr. and Lady Mary Vyner,.Mr. and Lady
Blanche Balfour, Lord James Butler, Mr. Maxwell, M.P.,
Mr. Lushington, and Mr. Leslie.
The Marchioness of Normanby has left the Clarendon
Hotel, on a visit to Lord and Lady Ravenswortb, at their
villa, Percy's Cross, on the banks of 'the Thames, where a
select family party has assembled.
Sir Robert and Lady Peel, and a distinguished party, were
entertained at dinner, on Saturday last, by Mr. Harcourt, at
his residence, in St. James's-place.
Mr. and Mrs. Standish Standish entertained at dinner, on
Friday last, the Marquis of Huntly, Viscount Northland,
Lord and Lady Aylmer, Lady Morgan, Sir John and Lady
Gerard, Mr. and Mrs. D'lsraeli, Mr. Stuart, Mrs. Wilson
Patten, Count Koudriaffsky, &c. Mrs. Standish had a soirée
afterwards.

WEIS CEXMILNEOUS.
Mr. Richard Spooner has accepted the invitation of the
Tories to come forward as a candidate for Birmingham. Di-
vision' we regret to say, still exists among the Liberals, and
both Mr. Scholefield and Mr. Sturge are canvassing the
electors. _

" On Saturday morning," says a writer in the Warder,
"Mr. O'Connell commenced his great literary labour—his 'Lift
and Times,' or by what other style and title his projected
autobiography is to be distinguished, employing Mr. O'Neill
Daunt as his amanuensis."
_ _ _

--kireat deal of dissatisfaction has been caused with respect
to the recent promotions to the office of Landing Surveyors,
in consequence of two of the gentlemen who have been for-
tunate enough to obtain the appointments having been
passed over the heads of several officers :of acknowledged
talent and undeniable probity, who have been acting in the
vacancies caused by the recent dismissals, &c., for a:consider-
able period, and who, therefore, expected to be promoted in
their proper turns, according to the established rule and
practice.
The works for the new harbour at Aberdeen have been
contracted for by Messrs Oldham, builders and railway con.
tractors, of Cheltenham. The sum is 99,6601. When com-
pleted, the new harbour will be one of the most commodious
in the kingdom.
Last night the Philharmonic Society concluded a brilliant
season, the most brilliant that it has had for many years.
The royal and noble directors have officially appointed Mr.
Loder leader of the Ancient Concerts, in place of Mr. Francois
Cramer, resigned.

THE IRON TRADEAS an instance of the in.
creasing briskness of the above trade, we may mention that
the shipping agent, at Newport, of a large establishment on
the hills, in one day last week received by post advices of
charter parties, for cargoes to be shipped, amounting to 3,000
tons of railway iron. The rails are chiefly for Charleston,
S. C.—Monmouthshire Merlin.

OPENING OF LETTERS.----On Thursday last, at
Cupar, before Mr. Sheriff Jamieson, a young woman was
charged, at the instance of the joint Procurators-Fiscal,
with contravening the statute of 1 Victoria, cap. 36, sec. 25,
in having, while in charge of the post-office in a
village in the country, on the 6th day of May last;
opened a post .letter . which had been put in there.
She pleaded .guilty, and her agent, Mr.. M'Glaaban,
stated several circumstances in mitigation of punish-
ment, ,and produced certificates of her good character.
The sheriff in pronouncing sentence stated, that he believed
she had opened the letter out of thoughtless curiosity; hut
that there was nothing more sacred than letters put into the
Post-office; that the arrangements of our Post-office were
guarded by Act of Parliament, which made severe punish-
ment applicable to offenders against its laws, and hence its
present efficiency. He therefore sentenced her to pay a fine
of 51., or to be imprisoned for sixty days. The fine was im-
mediately paid.—Scottish Record.
ACCELERATION OF THE NORTHERN MAILS.--YeS-
terday the mails from the General Post-office, conveying
newspapers and letters to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and places
beyond those cities, were accelerated by the command of the
Noble Earl at the head of the department. It has been stated
that the morning and evening mails would leave London one
hour earlier than heretofore, in order to give to the above
places additional deliveries; but this, it appears, is not the
fact. The mails will leave London at the same hour, morn-
ing and evening, as formerly, and we were yesterday
(Monday) informed at the General Post-office, that the
additional advantages to the northern districts, which
have been for some time in contemplation, will be
secured through the following means. :—According to
the old practice, the mail -bags to Edinburgh, and
those also which have to be forwarded beyond that
city by cross- road mails, were dispatched at eight in the
evening from the General Post-office, thence to the ter-
minus of the Birmingham and Grand Junction Railways to
Lancaster, where they arrived at fifty-one.minutes past seven
the following morning. At twenty minutes past eight a.m.,
they were forwarded by coach to Carlisle, and thence to
Edinburgh, arriving there at forty-three minutes past one
a.m., thus occupying twenty-nine hours and forty-three
minutes in the transitfrom London to Edinburgh. Yesterday,
instead of their being forwarded by Lancaster, they were
dispatched to Newcastle (north), and thence to Carlisle by
the newly opened railway, thus saving upwards of an hour,
the whole distance to Edinburgh being completed within
twenty-nine licurs. The morning mails from London will
be dispatched at nine o'clock a.m., as usual, from the General
Post-office ; but, instead of arriving at Edinburgh at twenty-
five minutes past two p.m., on the ensuing day, it will reach
its destination shortly after one o'clock. To effect this great
-improvement, arrangements have been satisfactorily con-
eluded with the London and Birmingham, the Grand Junc-
tion, the North Union, and the Newcastle and Carlisle lines
of railway. The above acceleration of the mail bags will
also allow of more time for posting in Scotland, and also per-
mit of bags being brought from a greater distance round
Edinburgh and Glasgow, for delivery 'along the line, and in
the metropolis and its environs.
THE KING or SAXONY.—On Sunday his Majesty
the King of Saxony, attended by his usual suite, visited the
city of Bristol, and proceeded to the Bath Hotel, Clifton.
His Majesty, after attending Divine service, proceeded to
view the various beauties of Clifton, and was, as we under-
stand, particularly struck with the romantic grandeur of St.
Vincent's rocks. This morning he proceeded to view the
steam-ship Great Britain, on board which his Majesty was
received by the Right WorshiVul the Mayor (Mr. W. L.
Clarke), Captain Claxton, R.N.; Mr. T. R. Guppy, Civil
Engineer;- and Captain Elton, by whom his Majesty was
conducted through every portion of the ship, which excited
the most marked commendations from the Royal per-
sonage, who expressed repeatedly his astonishment at her
stupendous size, and the massive and powerful machinery
with which she was fitted. His Majesty then proceeded
to Leigh Court, the seat of Mr. P. J. Miles, which has been
so often visited by Royalty, where he viewed the superb
gallery of paintings, and partook of a dijeurter. On Monday
evening, it is understood, his Majesty would depart for-
Wales, to view the Dowlais Ironworks, the 'property a Sir
J.Siuest.