The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-26 00:00:00

MUSICAL CHIT-CHAT.

The Phil-Har►nonic Society have their first trial night
for New Mu4e, to be selected from during this season, to-
night. Anticipations are very high respecting the perfor-
mances to be given by this inimitable Orchestra, which
there is little cause to suppose will not he most abundantly
realized. . .

General rehearsals have already been comnlenced at the
Italian Opera-House ; and report breathes, that exertions
of unprecedented energy are likely to distinguish die efforts
of the present management..

DovER, JAN. 23.—The weather has been so
severe here, in consequence of a strong easterly wind, that
very little intercourse has taken place between this country
and France fur the last two or three days. Yesterday
neither the Znglish nor French packets would put to sea;
but, as the Secretary to the Russian Embassy, and another
foreign gentleman were charged with important despatches,
and were anxious to reach the opposite coast, the master of

one of our great boats offered. to take them across at a cer-
tain price, which was agreed upon. As soon as it was
known that a boat was about to sail, other passengers, both
male and female, were eager to embrace the opportunity of
crossing the Channel, on the severest cold morning we
have experienced thia winter, with a strong easterly wind,
and a tremendously heavy sea. Among the latter were
a Mrs. Erskine and her sister, who were determined to
brave every danger to see once more some dear relative at
Boulogne, who was lying at the point of death ; and we
are happy to add, die whole- party arrived quite sale, the
boat having this evening returned. No vessel has arrived
to-day front France. Yesterday his Majesty's packet the
(t Salamander arrived from Calais with four carriages and
several passengers, amongst whom were Lady C. Lindsey, •
the Misses Berry, Colonel Hugh Baillie, Lord Altamount,
and Captain Brown. His Majesty's packet the Crusader
aucceeded in getting nut this morning, but was obliged to
proceed to Boulogne with the mail, the wind not permit-
ting her to get to Calais.
The grass land at Cyrene (says C4ptain
Beechey) is much infested by a dark-coloured centipede,
almost black, with red feelers and legs ; we usually found
half a dozen of them in taking up the mats in our tenta,
and had great difficulty in killing them. Any part which
chanced to he sc.parated from the rest of the body,
would continue is run about as if nothing had happened ;
and were the reptile even divided into 20 pieces, each part
would travel about as if in search of the others, without
any of them seeming to be the worse. The only mode by
which we could kill them at once, was by crushing the
head, which effectually destroyed life in, every other park
instantaneously.

MELANCHOLY EVENT.—On Sunday last,
John and Gilbert 111‘Corquodale, brothers, and John Pear-
son, brother-in-law to the former, all deep sea pilots, be-
longing to this place (Greenock), being at the isle of Lite
tie Cumbrae, on the look-out for inward-bound vessels,
:8 observed the brig King's Core going out of the Frith. •
ieri There being no wind, and the water as smooth as a mill-
; pond, they went on beard of this vessel in their little punt
or yawl, leaving their large boat at anchor. Having re-
mained on board until the miter of the brig wrote a let-
. 6 ter, which one of them took charge of and promised to
deliver, they got into their little vessel at half-past four
o'clock in the afternoon, and commenced plying their
couple of oars for Cumbrae, which was distant four miles.
having rowed for about half an hour, Pearson, who pulled
the after-oar, requested John M'Corquodale, who was Pit-
ting in the stern, to take a spell. The latter immediately
got up to do so, but while he and Pearson were in the act of
changing positions, the yawl went off the equilibrium, cap-
sized, and the party were instantly immersed in the water.—
Being all excellent swimmers, especially Pearson, they soon
recovered themselves and got hold of the boat, which was
now bottom uppermost. In this situation, than which
the 'lnman mind can scarce figure to itself one more ap-
palling, they remained for a considerable time, at short
intervals shquting with united, voices in order to attract
the attention of the crew of any vessel which might be
passing. So placid was the state of the water, and so
collected were these individuals, that Gilbert M'Corquo-
dale repeatedly took his watch from his pocket, and, the
moon shining clear at the time, announced to his compa-
nions what o'clock it was. The strength of Pearson at
length failed, and he lost
.his hold of the boat, but was
speedily enabled to regain It through the exertions of the
former, who having •suceeeded in divesting himself of his
boots, could exert himself with greater effect in the water.
In a little time, however, Pearson, in struggling no doubt
to obtain a better position, reversed the boat, which turned
completely round, whelming J M'Corquodale and himself
under it. Gilbert, after swimming about for a second or two,
succeeded in again altering the position of the boat, when
his brother and Pearson made their appearance, the latter,
who was now speechless and insensible, having the former
firmly clutched in his " death gripe." The brothers spoke
to one another, but it was impossible to rid John of the
hapless Pearson, nor had either of them a knife with which
they might have accomplished that end, by cutting away
the parts of John's clothes which Pearson had in his grasp.
They struggled for some time, and at length both went
down. Scarcely had Gilbert, the survivor, looked for en
instant at the circling eddy caused by their disappearance,
when he was picked up, after being above two hours in
the water, by a boat from the sloop America, Duncan,
master, and carried on board of that vessel. The two
men who have thus met with an untimely end were re-
spectable in their line, and have both left widows and fami-
lies, very indifferently provided for. Indeed, we believe
the case of Pearson's widow is peculiarly distressing, she
having six children, the eldest under nine years of age, and
herself being far advanced in a state of pregnancy,
Greenock Advertiser,