The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-23 00:00:00

11ITSOZLill7rE0178.

A trial of new compositions by the members of the
Society of British Musicians took place on Saturday
afternoon, in the Hanover Rooms, by a numerous
band, led by Mr. R. Hughes. The compositions entered
upon the list for trial consisted of a symphony in C sharp
minor, by G. A. Macfarren ; a symphony in D minor.
by C. Horsley ; overtures by Messrs. Rackstraw, W. S.
Macfarren, E. Stephens, and A. Mitchell—the latter is
totally blind. The specimens produced on this occasion
evinced very great merit.
At present there are practising, in England and Wales,
15,000 attorneys. They have contributed, in stamps for
their articles, to the revenue, 1,500,0001. ; for their cer-
tificates, 100,0001. more, besides their annual licenses.
A few nights ago a destructive fire (which is supposed
to have been caused by an incendiary) broke out upon
the premises of Mr. Parsons, a farmer, at Bramley, near
Basingstoke. I❑ the course of less than an hour, a barn
filled with barley, a stack of wheat, and a bean-rick, were
totally consumed.
Saturday evening, the White Fast of the Jewish
nation, which is one of the severer fasts in the year,
commenced at half past five o'clock, and will termi-
nate this day at sunset. So strictly is this fast observed
by the "ancient people," that, during its continuance,
they partake of no kind of nourishment, not even
water. Yesterday morning, at daybreak, the Jews
might be seen wending their way to the City syna-
gogues, clothed in the habiliments of death, over which
they wear a white surplice, and continue in fasting and
prayer in the synagogue the whole of the day, wearing
their shrouds and other death garments. The fast is in
commemoration of the rebellion of the Children of Israel,
and the consequent. dispersion of the twelve tribes.
The following singular and rare (if not unique) oc-
currence has just taken place at the royal aviary, in
the Home Park, at Windsor. It having been deemed
advisable by Mr. Walters, the superintendent of her
Majesty's aviary, in order to improve the breed of the
genuine Dorking fowl, that it should be crossed
with that of the Cochin-China fowl, the ne-

ler 'IIE NATIONAL GALLERY.—The National Gal,
t,tZ is now closed for the vacation, and will not be re.
fled until the 28th of next month. The Westinin.
,eAtot-hall exhibition having also closed, the British Mu-
killl_ IS now the only place open for the gratuitous ad-
sl"en of the public.
MPORTAXT FROM MONTE VIDEO.—LIVERPOOL,
EVENING.—The following very important intel-
liZr'nee, being part of a letter to a commercial house
ack,' was posted in the rooms of the Underwriter's As-
-I„,lation this afternoon :—" Bahia, July 30.—The
iZst dates from Rio are to the 17th inst. ; the packet
Qifi been detained in consequence of a new treaty, the
cscation of which is to oe sent on by her. It is
of °„teported that Monte Video is again to be ionie
ptallne Brazils, she having solicited the protec of the
r tee, under the guarantee of Great Britain and
for nee- It is evident that there are preparations made
(14i: ending troops to the River Plate. —[This news re-
es confirmation—ED. Sun.] EFFECT OF LIGHTNING UPON THE BRAIN.—A re.
e SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY AFTERNOON.—The ex- markable case, illustrating the powerful effect of this
bacur Zon train to London for Bs. second class thence and agent upon the nervous system, is detailed in the last
15, ,1111 Y time before Wednesday afternoon next, and number of the Lancet. The patient, a young lady, was
aft• the first class, left at half-past three o'clock this seated in the country, at an open window, contemplating
Afteernoon, the time specified, to a minute. It comprised the horrors of a thunder-storm, when she was suddenly
to en second-class and two first-class earriatres, taking struck by flash of lightning. Transient insensibility
ther about 400 passengers. It was joined at Birlop- was produced, followed by a violent fit of hysteria. in-
had Stoke station by another train from Gosport. which also tense headache, tic doleureux, drooping of the eyelids,
nyeragreat many passengers. No less than 240 came and sickness, which existed with little intermission for
QEd 'rum Guernsey and Jersey this morning, in the I several months. The patient, however, ultimately re-
tiree, besides which number there were about 100 on covered, the stroke not being sufficiently powerful to
IttlarY pleasure excursions and business. annihilate at once the functions of the brain, and pro-
testEbUCTloN OF RAILWAY FARES.—On the first of duce sudden death. An instance like this should operate
io the fares
a very considerable reduction will be made as a warning to those who wilfully neglect the means of
z,,,cestares.on the London and Birmingham railway.— safety when placed within their reach.
vAt tershzre Mercury. 1 RAILWAYS AND THE TRUSTEES OF COMMON
Ree 01)1;11rn °AcuiNo WINTER.—" If the passage of wild 1 Vignoles, in his evidence before the Rail-
.l7l4:3;r° the frigid to the temperate zone," says the way Committee in May last, mentioned a case in connec-
of et,id`riel Alsacien, " be any indication of the approach ' don with the St. Helen's Railway, where the Company
win w'ather, we may this year expect a very early we;-e cranioebiled by the caprice of the trustees, to expend
was r, fur this week aa ,- of sevnt,t,n -i-; 110,00 J/. achnional in carrying a common road over the
414clinseen flying over Mulhouse, from north to south. In line, instead of under it, as proposed by himself, the
tic), arY times they do not arrive in these parts before engineer—the one road being in every respect as good as
ember or December." the othez—Railway Record.

eessary arrangements were made for that pur-
pose. A Dorking hen, which has roosted for some
time past with the fowls from China, has recently
been in the habit of laying twice, and sometimes thrice
a week, eggs containing double, or two distinct yolks.
Mr. Walters, determining to try the experiment of at-
tempting to hatch one of these double-yoked eggs,
placed it, with several other eggs, under the hen. The
result was, that two chickens were produced from this
single egg ; one is a cock bird, of the pure Cochin-China
breed, and the other is a hen chick, of the Dorking genus.
Her Majesty has an elegant Erard pianoforte on board
the royal yacht, also another at Blair Athol, which was
sent thither by the Queen's express command.