The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-31 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

- -
We have been favoured with the sight of a print
entitled the " English Ceres," which has been ea'
graved by, Bellin from an original painting by the
Madame Soyer. The picture is a half-length of
plump, buxom, rosy-cheeked young woman, who is
holding large bunches of corn in her hands, and looks
the very emblem of health and happiness. Apps''
rently, she has just been gleaning, for in the back'
ground there is an expansive range of fields, studded
with upright sheaves of corn, and bordered -wig,
luxuriant hedges. The drapery of the young gletqlef
is very gracefully and naturally disposed, and there Is
a sweetness of expression in her truly feminine coun-
tenance, on which the eye rests with pleasure. The
sylvan picturesque background tends greatly to vary
and enliven the picture, and the skilful manner in
which the perspective is managed, convinces us that
Madame Soyer must have been a painter of no ordi-
nary abilities. The print is dedicated to the Duchess
of Sutherland, and would show to advantage in $
plain gilt, or maple-wood frame.

SUDDEN DEATH OF MAJOR RUTHERFORD.--Lat
evening an inquest was held at the Feathers, Duke-street,
St. James's, before Mr. Higgs, on view of the body of Major
Rutherford, aged 58, Major of the 88th Foot unattached, who
was found dead in a closet in the Army and Navy Club-
house, St. James's-square, on the preceding day. It appeared
from the evidence, that on Saturday last deceased called on
his cousin, Dr. Rutherford, of Devonshire-street, Portland •
place, and complained of pain in his chest. Bleeding was
recommended, but to this deceased objected, consenting, how-
ever to be bled at the Army and Navy Club-house, On
Monday, at half-past two, if it should still be deemed ReCeS-
sary. On Monday, at one o'clock, deceased went to the
club-house, and desired the hall-porter to send a gentlemal3,
whom he expected to call on him, up stairs, He then well
up stairs himself. At a quarter-past two Dr. Rutherferu
called, and was sent up stairs according to deceased's instruc'
tions. Not finding him in the room as he anticipated, he
waited about three-quarters of an hour with some anxiety,
and then went to the ball-porter, to ascertain whether the
Major had left the house. He was informed that he had not,
and further, that some one was in the closet, and had been
there for some time; that the door had been knocked at se-
veral times, but that no answer had been obtained. After
some further delay, the door of the closet was broken oPeel
and the deceased was found on his knees quite dead, an'
apparently having been dead for some time, the limbs having
f
become rigid. An empty corked phial was found in Inc. of
his pockets, which, upon being taken to Mr. Taylor, chemist,
Pall-mall, was pronounced to have been perfectly fee from
everything of a poisonous nature. The pry immediately
returned a verdict of " Died by the Visitation of God."
THE ROYAL MINT.—The employes at this national
establishment commenced on Monday last striking the new
silver coinage, which is to be issued by Government inunr
diately after her Majesty's Royal proclamation, calling's
the old silver coinage of King Geccg.e 111., issued in 1816
George IV., in 1821 ; and King William IV., in x 1831;
the greater part of it is so defaced by wear and tear, and
so deteriorated in weight, that many of the half-crowns era
not worth more than 25., the shillings 9d., and the
pences 3d. The panic that was anticipated by the flaw'
of England, in consequence of the Royal proelarnatioe
of the 2d of October last, on the light gold current'
having subsided in the public mind, the old silver coinage
will be called in soon after the assembling of Pat-Hamel
without any loss being sustained by the public, as the ne
coinage of 1844 will be given in exchange without deduc-
tion for the old currency. The great deficiency of Silver
that is felt in the large manufacturing and agricultural coun-
ties. particularly at Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmin
ham, Sheffield, Nottingham, Norwich, Leeds, York, D°ll-
- Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Buckinghamalat
Cheshire, &c., will be fully supplied from the Royal Igint,—
Government officers are to be appointed in the different alai
tricts throughout the United Kingdom for the distribution°
the new coinage as soon as a sufficient quantity is ready for
circulation. The following is the legal current weight of the
various silver coins :—The crown, or ss. piece, 18 penny-
weights 4'4-11 grains ; the half-crown, 9 pennyweights
grains; the shilling, 3 pennyweights 15•3-11 grains; and 1m
-
sixpence, 1 pennyweight 19/-11 grains ; the fourpennr
piece, I pennyweight 8 grains. The gold sovereign, 5 Pe%
weights 2i grains ; the half gold sovereign, 2 pennyweig_A,
13 grains h. The amount of bullion at present in the BIT
of England is fifteen millions sterling, which is more MO'
derable than has been known for many years.
29.
THE SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.—DOVER, -
—A private opening of this line, to the terminus at
took place on Saturday. An engine from the Folkestone '"fs
tion was first dispatched, unaccompanied by any carriage'..„6
a pioneer to test the line, and everything having been lOni
perfectly smooth and safe, it returned to Folkestone, atil'e
brought back a carriage, containing Mr. Baxendale,
ittf,
chairman, with others of the Directors, together with.r, es
tcoonannedetfreodmwilithoikthesetolinnebe.
tlhnealllas,
William Cubitt, the chief engineer, and other execn..,":,-a
leavirip
last trans troneeycarrs weireagelr°lng
Dover for London at four o'clock. This experimental to.
has afforded great satisfaction to the directors and el4Lneethe
Although there have been great difficulties thrown L".., by
way of the completion of this portion of the line, b°t" ter
the attacks of Neptune and the falls of the cliff, and
exertion has consequently been made to finish the "'was
yet the rails appear to be firmly settled, and the traction so
so easy as to justify a speed of upwards of twenty luileelea,
hour, the distance from Folkestone having been
the last trip, in fifteen minutes.
morn.
ACCIDENTS AT DEVONPORT.--011 Saturday
ing a building in the market of this town, which -wcasar_ell,;,
ported on pillars, and appropriated for hanging the
,`,; 0,
of pigs on the cross-beams attached thereto, tell downnte
number of persons who were engaged in business under I,e,
roof. The utmost confusion ensued. When the Per_;,..
were taken from the ruins, it was discovered that a I,la
dealer from the country had his leg and thigh brok
was otherwise injured ; an industrious woman, a b's-itchurt,
wife, had also a leg broken. Four others were severely
and many were slightly injured.
perforu

BIRTHS.
the ladyOn the 26th of January, at Bury St. Edmund's,
of John Greene, Esq., of a son. h, the
On the 27th of January, at Athol-crescent, Edinburg 380
lady of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Campbell, Bart'
RegimQnt, of a son and heir.

M.
On the 25th of JanuaryAßßlED ,
at Brompton New Church, `1"
stance Clare Murray, Esq., of Lower Grosvenor-pro:10
Sarah, widow of the late W. E. Lake, Esq., of

lED,
On the 13th of JanuaryD,
at the Hague, Sir William Jolla"
ston, of that ilk, and of Hilton, Bart., aged 84.
On the 26th of January, at Hastings, Lady Oakeley, the
wife of ~4...rebdc.ncen Herl;::rt Onke Bart

London : Printed and Published by MiIJRDO YOUNG'
ti°
No. 112, Strand, at The Sun Office, N 0.112, Strand, in t
County of Middlesex, Wednesday, January 31,1844.