The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-02 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

The advices received from America fully confirm the
intelligence of Mr. Polk's election to the Presidency, and
we subjoin a table of returns, with the addition of such
other States whose decisions we have since received :
Clay. Polk.
26

Pennsylvania
Ohio 23
Connecticut ......
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Maryland 8
New York
Virginia
New Jersey 7
North Carolina
Michigan —
Georgia
Massachusetts l2
Kentucky l2
Indiana —

Maine
Delaware 3

86 121
STATES NOT ASCERTAINED, BUT CONCEDED.
Vermont' 6
South Carolina
Alabama ... 9
Illinois 9

Missouri —
Arkansas —

92 158
STATES NOT ASCERTAINED, NOR CONCEDED.
Mississippi 6
Louisiana
Tennessee
• The great importance of the political complexion of
the Unites States Senate_had— gigiveure int Win g's
and remarks to show its probable constitution, the elec-
tion of Democratic Legislatures in Arkansas and New
York having :ettled the question that the senators to be
elected by those will be of the same politics :
Whigs. Democrats.
" Hold over
New senators already
elected—
Mississipi
Connecticut
Vermont
Certain to be elected,
from the political
complexion of the
Legislatures already
chosen—

Maine 0 ...
Massachusetts ..... 1 ... 0
Rhode Island
New Yolk
...
New Jersey 1 0
Pennsylvania
Maryland 1
... 0
Ohio 1 ~. 0
Indiana 1 ... 0
Tennessee
Missouri
Arkansas 0 (vacancy) 1

25 24
There is also a senator to be elect( d in Virginia, whose
Legislature contains a Whig majority of two Members,
another in Delaware, and a third in Michigan. In the
last-mentioned State the Whigs have no chance. There-
fore, in order to maintain a majority in the Senate, they
must elect the senator from Virginia and the senator
from Delaware. Unless they get the Virginia and Dela-
ware senators, the slave and Texas party will have the
practical majority, through the casting vote of the Vice-
President of the United States.
Delaware has elected a Whig senator ; what Virginia
has done we cannot as yet say.
As respects the new House of Representatives, there
had been elected 123 Members. (whole number 223),
showing a Whig gain of four Members, and Democratic
loss of ten.. One hundred Members are yet to be elected,

FATAL COAL-PIT ACCIDENT-
FIFTY LIVES LOST.

Among the casualties incident to the working of
mines and collieries, in this country, we regret to have to
record this week, the loss of fifty lives, by the terrible
agency of fire-damp, at the Cwm Avon Colliery, Neath,
on Wednesday last. On account of the shattered state
of the works, consequent on the explosion, and the
noxioui effluvia, only four bodies had on that day been '
taken out. Our information as to details, considering
the distance we write from the fatal spot, cannot be
copious ; but of the painful truth of this frightful catas-
trophe, there is, we regret to state, no room to doubt.—
Monmouthshire Merlin of Friday.

ORLEANS, TOURS, and BORDEAUX
RAILWAY.

Three of the Directors, accompanied by the engineers
of the Company, have just completed a tour of inspec-
tion over the section of this line between Orleans and
Tours, preparatory to the delivery to the Company by
the Government.
Of the 114 kilometres (72 miles) comprised in this
distance, there are 94 kilometres ready for the imme-
diate commencement of the bal'asting and laying the
rails. The remaining 20 kilometres are in an almost
eepill state of forwardness, except in the immediate
vicinity of the city of Tours, where the earthwork is
very light.
The stupendous bridge over the Loire, at Mont Louis,
had the last arch keyed-in in the presence of these gen-
tlemen. It is a noble structure of 12 arches, each 25
metres span (82 feet English), and is built with the ,ew Palace-yard is at the present time under-
beautiful stone of the country. It reflects the highest going considerable change. A large space of ground,
credit, as indeed do all the works on the line, upon the extending from the grand entrance to Westminster Hall
Government engineers, MM. Foulon and Moraudiere, to the corner of Judges' Chambers, has since yesterday
upon the latter of whom, more especially, has devolved Leen enclosed with a high paling. It is understood that
the direction of the lower part of the.line. workmen have received orders to commence on Monday
Not only the masonry, but the earthwork also is corn- morning the erection upon this site of a range of tern-
pleted, with the exquisite finish which characterises all porary buildings. It is intended to apportion twelve
the work of the French engineers. The embankments rooms for Committees of the House of Commons, and two
are constructed in successive layers of from half a metre others for Vice-Chancellors Bruce and Wigram. Persons
(20 inches) to a metre in thickness, laid in from barrows i conversant with the subject are of opinion that the
or carts. The slopes are dressed off with the most care- number of Committees which will sit next session, will
ful precision, and the cuttings are faced with stone be altogether unprecedented. 'With regard to the new
pitching almest to the eery top ! This mode of con. Houses of Parliament, though there are persons who
struction is much more expensive than is usual in our speak of their being ready for use within a few months,
railway works in this country ; but we are not quite an examination of their present state cannot but dispel
sure that it is not cheaper in the end. At all events the any such idea, and convince even inexperienced persons
Company, who have to work and maintain the line, have that their completion will not be witnessed for a very
abundant cause to rejoice at the carefulness and solidity i considerable period.
of the construction throughout. ESCAPE or PRISON/MS.—Two prisoners, Robert
After much deliberation aced considerable difficulty Stephenson, and Thomas Pearson, under confinement
with the department of Public Works, the joint sta.ion for trial at the ensuing sessions for the North Riding
at Tours for this and the line to Nantes is definitively of Yorkshire, charged with three separate acts of
fixed to be at the very gates cf the city, which will be an larceny, effected their escape from the lock-up at
immense convenience to the public, and no small advsn- Melton, during the night of Tuesday last. They
tage to the city itself. The plans are approved, and the were labourers, formerly residing at Seamer, but have
erection of the buildings will be commenced fora with. latterly been living at Cayton, near Scarborough. Ste-
The Company will ha, ean independent station at Or. phenson is about twenty-eight years of age, five feet ten
leans also, communicating, if needs be, with that of the or eleven inches high, fresh coloured, and walks erect.
Paris and Orleans Company. The other stations will be Pearson is about 30, stiff built, five feet six or seven
commenced without delay, and have been deferred inches high, has dark hair, and a sallow complexion.—
hitherto only that the wishes of the Company might be Durham Chronicle.
consulted as to the sites and general disposition of the By the death of the Princess Sophia of Gloucester,
buildings.
• a pension of 7,0001. a year and the Rangership Gr,eu-
Ab9ut 100,000 metres cubQ of coarse sand and &mai, wick l'srk foil in.