The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-21 00:00:00

MEC EIANICS' INSTITUTE.

On Wednesday evening, Mr. Clarkson discussed
the project of connecting the Mediterranean with the
Red Sea, by means of a canal or railroad across the
Isthmus of Suez. The time chosen for the lecture
was most opportune, as the above subject occupies a
prominent place not only in the English, but the con-
tinental papers, and has called forth many able
pamphlets. Not that there is any novelty in the idea,
but it seems at the present moment to be taken up
with more earnestness than on any previous oc-
casion. The canal that was used in bygone times
(and of which considerable traces remain) to
connect the Red Sea with the River Nile, sug-
gested to Bonaparte nearly half a century ago the
practicability of a navigable canal being constructed
from north to south, a distance of about 70 miles ;
and he accordingly ordered the engineers who ac-
companied his expedition to Egypt, to survey the
ground, and to furnish plans, &c. Copies of these
plans and a vertical section were exhibited by the
lecturer, together with a large and distinct map of
the localities under discussion, which rendered the
different bearings of the subject intelligible. Mr.
Clarkson gave a history of th© navigation of these
parts, from classical authors, and pointed out, very
distinctly, the principal geographical and topographical
details connected with them. The advantages that
would accrue to Europe in general, and to England
in particular, by effecting a communication between
the two seas, are obvious enough ; and, therefore, i
was the lecturer's object to put his auditoryinposo-
session of the information absolutely necessary t
enable them properly to appreciate the merits of the
contending plans now under discussion. For having
done this in a most lucid and efficient manner, he de-
serves the thanks of every friend of the Institute.—
Cambridge Independent Press.

MELA'NCIIOLY DEATH FROM TAKING LAUDANUM.
—An inquest was ,held in Whitehaven, on Monday, the
17th inst., before IN ru. Lomb, jun., Esq., on view of the
body of Jane Temple, who came to her death in the
following melancholy manner:—lt appears that the un-
fortunate sufferer was ill on Friday last, and her
mother sent a boy of about, eight or ten years of age,
to Messrs. Randleson and }ogees shop with a teacup,
for some tincture of rhubarb,
.wl!ich the boy obtaineT,
but, on returning home, spill( d it, in consequence of which
a girl, a year or two
,older than the boy, was sent upon
the same errand. The girl stated distinctly that she
asked for the tincture of rhubarb, which she obtained,'
as she supposed, and returned home with the cup. The
mother administered a dose of the supposed tincture
and she felt asleep.
.When she awoke the dose was re-'
peated, but as it (ba not produce the desired effect
Mr. Clark, surgeon, was sent for, and on examining'
the cup, he at once discovered that, instead of
tincture of rhubarb, the. unconscious mother had ad-
ministered two doses ot
.laudanum to her suffering
daeicbter. Mr. Clark applied the usual remedies. His
tc ao
fr e,f,llAl
cciindveensttaii effoits preserve life were unavailing, and she
aaftyererdai
gdied i
Bs o(o) tf
tthfet etc-,aseT, hte.
death, caused by laudanum 14v,ing been, administered
by mistake for tincture of rhubarb.' 4t the request
of the jury, the Coroner severely reprimanded
Messrs. Randleson and Fosters shorboy forte careless
matinee in which he had sent the poisonous narcotic from
his master's shop, llad the usual and necessary precau-
tion been taken of labelling the cup containing the drug
with the word "poison," the melancholy cfrcunastanee
would, in all probability, have been prevented.

COURT CIRCULAR.

'WINDSOR, FRIDAY. —The Queen and Prince
Albert took their accustomed early walk in the plea-
sure-grounds of the Home Park. _ .

Hi; Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on
horseback, attended by Major-General Sir Edward
Bowater.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
Prince Alfred were taken airings this morning.
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited
her Majesty at the Castle this morning.
The Earl of Liverpool, Lord Steward of the House-
hold, left the Castle to-day for town.
The Countess of Gainsborough was prevented
coming to the Castle yesterday.
The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening
included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent,
Lady Fanny Howard, the Countess of Wratislaw,
Sir George Cowper, Major-General Wemyss, and
Lieut.-Colonel Colvile, Scots Fusilier Guards.
__

her Majesty's private band attended after dinner
in the Castle, and performed in the evening.
The Queen has honoured Mr. Thorburn with
sittings during the week for her portrait.

Lord de Mauley had an interview with the Earl
of Dalhousie yesterday, at the office of the Board of
Trade.

The Lords Committee of the Privy Council for
the affairs of Guernsey and Jersey sat yesterday in
the Council-chamber. There were present the Lord
Chancellor, the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, Mr. Baron Parke, the Chancellor of the
Duchy of Cornwall, and the Judge of the Admiralty
Court.

Mr. Burge, Queen's Counsel, resumed and con-
cluded his reply on the subject of the two petitions
from the Royal Court of Guernsey, touching the con-
duct of the Lieutenant-Governor of the island.