The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-14 00:00:00

DIZSCZIMANEOUS.

The first Concert of Ancient Music for the season was
given on Wednesday evening, under the direction of the
Duke ofCambridge. The pieces selected were chiefly from
Handel, Naumann, and Purcell. The Duke of Wellington
was present, and it was doubtless in his honour that the occa-
sional overture was played, in which " See the conquering
hero comes " is introduced.

The anniversary meeting of the members of the Literary
Fund Corporation, founded in 1790, for the relief of authors
of genius and learning reduced to distress, or deprived of the
power of literary exertion, was held on Wednesday afternoon,
at the Society's chambers, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury.
From the Report it appeared that the sum distributed in
relief to distressed authors, their widows, and children, during
the past year, had been 1,1451., making a total of 30,228/. ap-
plied to the same benevolent purposes since the Society's
formation. The Marquis of Lansdowne was re-elected Pre-
sident ; the Marquis of Northampton, the Right Hon. Sir
Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, Earl of Arundel and Surrey,
Sir R. H. Inglis, Bait., M.P., and other noblemen and gen-
tlemen, were re-elected Vice-Presidents.
Tie increase of small-pox in the metropolis is shown in
the extra number of cases which have in the last few weeks
been entered as patients at the Small-pox Hospital, at King's-
cross. The districts in which it chiefly prevails are Cromer-
street and the neigbourhood of Brunswick-square, Islington,
Lambeth, and Kensington. Since the commencement of the
present year there have been admitted twice the number of
patients over any year since 1838, when small-pox was so
very prevalent and fatal.
Messrs. Barclay and Co., the eminent brewers, have set-
tled annuities on the widows of each of the two unfortunate
men who were killed on their premises a short time ago. The
names of the deceased were Roberts and Standman. To the
widow of the first has been ordered the sum of 401. a year for
life, and to the widow of Standman 251. a year for life.
The Irish Landlord and Tenant Commission have arranged
to commence their inquiries in the North forthwith. They
commence at Dundalk and proceed thence to Newry, Ar-
magh, and Belfast.

At a late meeting of the Union Debating Society held in
the University of Oxford, the question for discussion was :
" That a repeal of the present corn-laws would be highly be-
neficial to society." After an animated discussion, the mo-
tion was negatived by a majority of 69 ; there being for it, 9 ;
against it, 78.

THE NEW METROPOLITAN BRIDGE.—The Bill that
was introduced into the House of Commons on Friday night,
by several of the metropolitan Members, and which is to au-
thorise the formation of another bridge, to stride the West-
minster portion of old Father Thames, bears the title of the
" Westminster and Lambeth Suspension Bride Bill, for
making a Suspension bridge across the river 1 hames from
Church-street, Lambeth, to Market-street, Westminster."
This Bill was, on Friday evening, read a first time, and or-
dered to be read a second time ; but no day has yet been fixed
for that next stage being taken. It will probably be re-
membered that, some time since, a steam ferry-boat was
proposed to be established about the same part of the river
that it is now contemplated to cross by this new bridge.
PROVINCIAL LECTURES IN IRELAND.—By the fol-
lowing letter from the Chief Secretary for Ireland, it ap-
pears the Government is disposed to increase the grant for
lectures in the Irish provincial towns : " Irish Office,
March 2, 1844.—Sir,—In reference to your letter of the 14th
ult., I beg to apprise you that her Majesty's Government will
be prepared to propose that the grant made to the Royal
Dublin Society, for the purpose of providing lectures in the
provincial towns of Ireland, may be increased from 3001. to
5001. I am, &c. ELlOT.—William Keleher, Esq., Cork."
PUBLIC BATHS.—We learn with great pleasure
that the Marquis of Bute has subscribed the sum of 10/. 10s.,
Lord Ashley 31. 35., Lord Blantyre 51., and Lord Stewart
2/. 25., to the fund for the erection of the public baths. The
subscriptions are the more liberal and philanthropic, when it
is taken into consideration that none of thde noblemen are
directly connected with the city, and that the three last,
especially Lord Ashley, are wholly unconnected with this
city.—Edinburgh Paper.
CHEESEMONGERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—
Tuesday the eighth annual meeting of the friends and supporters
of this charity was held at the London Tavern, Mr. Davies, Tree.
surer, in the chair. Mr. Simpson read the Report, and it appeared
that the subscriptions for the past year exceeded those of the pre.
vious year by 321., and the donations also exceeded those of the
previous year by 1821. The receipts for the • past year were
1,0541. 10s. 9d., and the funded property was 6,3001. The pen.
siona to aged and decayed members of the trade amounted to 560/.,
and 3001. stock was purchased during the year. Two pensioners
were elected, making in all 28 recipients of the charity's bounty.
A Cm', OF THE OLD BLocx.—An old stager, in
the practice of robbing wrecks on the Cheshire coast, had con.
trived to get a puncheon of ruts on shore, and with great caution
had it conveyed to his own dwelling, and placed it in his yard
under some stale dung and other manure. He had flattered him.
self that it was perfectly safe, as not an individual but his own son
had assisted him, or had the slightest knowledge of the theft or
the place of eoncealment. After a few days, finding everything
quiet, he resorted to his booty for. the purpose of drawing off some
for sale. The cask was safe in the position In which he had left
it ; but, diamond cut diamond, the son had robbed his father of
the rum in the night, and disposed of it to.hls own advantage.
EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY.—" The centenarians
are falling off," says a letter from Konigsberg, published in the
Prase; "we have just buried in this town a veteran of the seven
years' war, named Siehring, aged 108 years. He was born at
Messein, in 1736, and joined the army of Frederick the Great,
after the battle of Torgau, in 1760. He was the last surviving
veteran of the war of seven years who resided at Konigsberg,
wkere a perfect recollection exists of Sergeant-Major Condratowitz,
who died in 1838, at the age of 105, and who assisted as a sim-
ple hussar, under the command of Seydlitz, at the celebrated battle
of Rossbach, which was gained by Frederick the Great, against the
French and Austrians united.''
AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH FROM PASSlON.—Yes-
terday morning a schoolmaster, residing at 11, Friar-street,
Blackfriars-road, after having a few words with his wife,
proceeded to chastise a boy named Arthur Johnstone, one of
his pupils, and while doing so he dropped down in a fit of
apoplexy. The whole of the boys immediately left the school-
room, and gave the alarm ; but the medical gentleman who
attended, at once pronounced life to be extinct. The unfor-
tunate man was, it is mentioned in the account, forwarded to
us, very much respected in the neighbourhood, - •