The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-20 00:00:00

BALLOON ASCENT.

--
One of the most perilous ascents ever attempted by
any aeronaut was accomplished by Mr. Green during the
storm on Monday night, and happily without any serious
result, in the " Albion" balloon, from the grounds of Ore-
morne House, Chelsea. At the time Mr. Green entered the
car the rain poured in torrents, and he was advised by
many gentlemen not to ascend, but he replied that he
was determined in spite of wind and weather to make an
ascent rather than disappoint the expectant public. To
take up the fireworks which had been prepared by the
artist of Cremorne House Mr. Green found was impos-
sible, as they were completely saturated with rain. The
balloon, which took at first a direction almost due north,
was visible for some time, from the light emitted by the
lamps which Mr. Green had provided to assist him in
his descent. After travelling through the storm for an
hour, in the most unpleasant predicament, he effected a
safe descent, at eleven o'clock, in a field at Harrow, aided
by four young ladies, who had followed the balloon for
some miles.

Mr. Green calculates that at least a ton of water must
have fallen during his voyage from the balloon. By
ascending during rain lie carries with this balloon an
additional weight cf about 350 pounds by the netting
and silk becoming saturated, consequently he did not
take up above 200 weight of ballast. The balloon having
bee❑ packed up, and a conveyance procured, Mr. Green
returned to town, at about three o'clock yesterday morn-
ing. Ile will ascend to-night from the Waterloo-ground
at about ten o'clock, with fireworks of a splendid and
extraordinary character, most ingeniously contrived by
Darby, the celebrated pyrotechnist and artist to the gar-
dens. The balloon will likewise be illuminated by " the
buck" and a variety of coloured lights.

IMPORTATION OF WHEAT, &C.—Yesterday are
turn was issued, procured by Mr. Trotter, showingithe im•
portation of wheat, &c., from January to July, from Ireland
The wheat was 149,603 quarters; barley, 26,232 quarters
oats, 976,644 quarters ; wheatmeal and flour, 816,462 cwt.

and oatmeal, 607,041 cwt.
A MAN STRUCK DUMB.—Yesterday morning,
between seven and sight o'clock, as a man named Benjamin
Reynolds, residing in St. Andrew-street, Seven-dials, was
conversing with some of his companions, he suddenly ex-
claimed, " I am losing my speech," and the next moment was
unable to utter a word, though in full possession of all his other
faculties.
THE GREAT WESTERN.—LIVERFOOL, TUESDAY.—
The steam-ship Great Western arrived in the Mersey last
evening, after a passage of 18 days, the unusual length of which
is attributable to the heavy contrary weather she experienced.
Amongst her passengers, of whom there was a large number,
we notice Mr. Melville, the newly-appointed Secretary of Le-
gation at the British Court.; the Hon. Mr. M‘Kay and three
daughters, Mr. Skinner, bearer of dispatches ; and the Right
Rev. M. O'Connor, Bishop of Pittsburgh.
DISCOVERY OF AN OTTER'S NEST 1N TIIE RIVER
LEE.—On Monday afternoon a young man named Wilmot,
together with some of his fellow-workmen, were angling at
Roxbourne, on the river Lee, when he observed an otter.
They traced it for a considerable distance, when they suddenly
lost it among some willows. Shortly after, however, their at-
tention was drawn to one of them by a young terrier, and one
of the party declared he heard a noise inside like that of young
cats. They subsequently procured from an adjoining farmer
an adze, and having broken into the root of the tree they dis-
covered four young otters, the parent otter escaping into the
water. About fifteen years since a similar capture was made
at Waltham of these destructive creatures. _ .

CURIOUS FOOT-RACE.—Yesterday (Friday) aspor
ing match over 100 yards was run in the Rine Croft, Walling
ford, between Mr. Richard Tull and Mr. Alfred Stevens, for a
small wager, the former gentleman weighing about eighteen
stone, and the latter carrying 721bs. to make him equally
weighty. About half-way Mr. Tull put his foot in a hole, and,
rolling over, was beaten by his antagonist. Berkshire
Chronicle.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER.—On the after-
noon of Friday last the following fatal accident occurred on
the River Thames, off Mortlake, Surrey. About five o'clock,
as a skiff, in which were four persons, three males and one
female, was proceeding up the river, when off the Surrey shore
at Mortlake, the boat by a sudden squall was upset, and the
whole party were immersed in the river. Several boatmen
who witnessed the accident immediately put out to their assist-
ance, and by great exertions three of the party, two males and
the female, were rescued. The fourth, a promising young man,
of the name of Connolly, whose friends reside at Thayer-street,
Manchester-square, had sunk before the boats could reach him,
and although the drags were promptly brought into requisition,
the body of the unfortunate gentleman, who was about twenty•
one years of age, was not found until Saturday, when it was
brought ashore and conveyed to the dead house at Mortlake
Church. Yesterday an inquest was held upon the body, be-
fore Mr. W. Carter, the coroner for East Surrey, at the Sun
public-house, Mortlake, when the above facts having been
proved in evidence, the jury returned a verdict of" Accidental
death."
THE ARMY IN IRELAND.—The army in Ireland
consists of 7 regiments of cavalry, viz. :-2d Dragoon Guards,
3d Dragoon Guards, Ist Royal Dragoons, 2d Royal North
British Dragoons (Royal Scotch Greys), Bth (Royal Irish)
Hussars, 11th (or Prince Albert's Own) Hussars, and 13th
Light Dragoons. Infantry Regiments-sth Northumberland
Fusiliers, 6th Royal, 15th (service companies), 16th, 24th,
26th (Cameronian), 30th, 32d, 34th, 41st (Welch), 44th,
54th, 64th, 67th, 70th, 73d (service companies), and 83d
Regiments. Total 17 regiments. Dept'its of Infantry-Ist
Royal Ist battalion, 7th Royal Fusiliers, 15th, 19th, 33d, 35th,
38th, 46th, 48th, 66th, 72d ( Highlanders), 73d, 77th, 79th
(Highlanders), 82d, 85th (Light Infantry), 88th (Connaught
Rangers, 93d (Highlanders), 95th and let battalion Rifle
Brigade—Total 20, and 9 companies of Royal Marines, forming
an effective force of 21,500 rank and file of all arms, not in-
cluding recruiting parties.
IiER MAJESTY'S 'DI EATRE.—The last performances
of the expiring opera, like the last song of the swan, are de-
cidedly the best--at least this year. Not only the artists strive
to their utmost to leave an impression, but we find their ener-
gies this year much less impaired by the fatigues of the season.
fhe Puritani went off last night with the utmost brilliancy;
which is no doubt as much due to the artists as to the opera.
Grisi, having shaken off her indisposition, was as admirable as
ever in Elvira, infusing into the part even youthfulness. As
for the dancers, they were so bent upon triumph, and so
piqued by emulation, that they outshone themselves. Lucile
Gratin was so aerial that one, the more cuphuistie of her many
admirers, observed that it appeared as if she would fly off and
disappear, if there were not a roof to the theatre ; and, as to
Cerito, the applause of the audience beat time to the measure
of her steps. On Thursday all these marvels will vanish ; on
Friday the Italian artists leave London for their provincial en-
gagements.
IMPORTATION OF SUG AR, Sze.—Yesterday a return,
moved for by Mr. Barkly, was issued, giving an account of the
imparts into the United Kingdom of sugar, molasses, rum,
coffee, and cocoa, from the \'s est Indies and British Guiana,
distinguishing each colony, for the year 1844. From the 17
colonies the importation of sugar in the year was 2,453,050
cwt. ; of molasses, 579,590 cwt. ; of rum, 2,566,625 gallons ;
of coffee, 9,•40,27r31b; and of cocoa, 3,128,4001 b.