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Lord Elphinstone died on Thursday in King Street, St. James's. He was born in 1807, all was Governor of Madras from 1837 to 1842; he afterwards returned to India as a private traveller. Returned to Eng- land, he a was Lord in Waiting from 1817 to 1853.„ when he returned to the East as Governor of Bombay. He distinguished himself in his government, particularly during the Mutiny, for which he received the thanks of Parliament, the Grand Cross of the Bath, and a peerage of the United Kingdom, his own title only being that of a Scotch peer. He died of no disease, but of sheer exhaustion, having stayed in India too long, but it was done at the request of the Government.

Sir William Horne died on Friday week at his residence in Harley Street. He was one of the oldest living members of the bar' having been called at Lincoln's Inn in 1798, and was Attorney-General so far back as 1832, when the present Lord Chancellor was his Solicitor-General. He declined to be appointed a Baron of the Exchequer, and afterwards accepted a Mastership in Chancery, an office he resigned in 1853.

The Astronomer Royal and his staff, embarked on board the Himalaya placed at their disposal by the Admiralty, arrived outside the bar of flu. boa on the evening of the 9th instant, courteously received by the Spanish Consul and other authorities. Mr. Airy, and a large party, left for various points of the central line of the eclipse. Mr. Vignoles, C.E., Mr. Bold, the railway contractor, and Mr. Sewell, the manager, have hospitably performed the parts of hosts at Bilboa and Santander. The authorities of the Spanish Governent have also admirably aided the efforts of the astronomers.

Mr. J. R. Hind contributes an interesting account of the eclipse on Wednesday ; he calculates that the commencement of the eclipse was some twenty or thirty seconds later than the predicted time :--

With adequate magnifying power on Mr. Bishop's 10-feet equatorial telescope, inequalities on the preceding and following limbs of the moon were very distinct; they were °sated enough to render pretty certain the visibility of Baily's beads in the line of totality. Three solar spots were visible to the naked eye.

At 2h. 29m. there was, to my eye, a perceptible diminution of sunlight, i

and the blue of the sky, n breaks towards the N.E., was certainly deepen- ing. At 2h. 32m. sensibly cooler. At 2h. 34m. the decrease in daylight was more perceptible, but a rather heavy nimbus cloud in the N.W. pro- bably heightened the effect of the eclipse. At 2h. 37m. a large expanse of clear sky in the South ; the blue was not of the ordinary tint-it appeared duller, or more of an indigo-blue; the air very chilly. At 2h. 42rn., or about sii minutes previous to the greatest eclipse, the deeper colour of the sky was very marked, in a break N. W. of the zenith. Near the horizon a mistiness had arisen, obscuring objects which were distinct enough at the beginning of the eclipse. At 2h. 48m., about the time of middle, with the sun shining clearly, the light thrown over the grounds of the Park was yellow, as frequently remarked on previous occasions when the sun has been equally obscured.

At 3h. the eclipse was evidently lessening its effects, and six minutes later there was a very considerable difference in the blue of the sky, where it had been most changed. At 3h. 14m. the sun had almost recovered his full power.

The following observations of the times of contact of the moon's limb with spots upon the sun's disc were taken by Mr. C. G. Talmage, assistant at Greenwich Observatory :-

h. In. s.

First contact with large dark spot 1 54 51 Central bisection 1 53 32 Last contact 1 56 14 First contact of W. spot of two 2 44 9 Last contact 2 44 28 First contact of E. spot 2 44 44 Last contact 2 44 59 A dark spot wholly emerged 2 59 32 Another spot clear of the moon 3 23 20

Mr. G. J. Symonds supplies meteorological observations :- "The barometer was only read occasionally, as the very careful observa- tions in 1858 failed to show any variation which could be connected with the eclipse.

The highest temperature in the shade during the day was 71.8 degrees ; in the sun, the highest was 114.0 degrees during the forenoon, yet the very instrument which had read thus high before the eclipse fell to 651 during it.

"The lowest temperature during the time of the eclipse was, on the grass, 60.2 degrees, between two and three p.m."

A telegram from one of the Astronomical party, who left England to observe the eclipse, informs us so :- "The success was complete. "We have two photographs of red flames, which prove they belong to the sun, and many photographs of other phases." • The East Indian Railway Company intend to offer to public subscrip- tion 1,500,0001. new 5 per cent debentures, term, five years with the option of renewal on one year's notice.

The prospectus of the General Mercantile Bank at St. Petersbugh, will shortly be published ; the capital is to be 2,000,000/. in 201. shares, of which Si. will be called; the shares will be to bearer, and involve no further liability : the concession is for fifty years. Messrs, David Salo- mons, James Hutchinson Alexander Miller, and Mathew lizielli, are provisional directors in London.

At the annual meeting of the City Bank on Tuesday, a dividend and

bonus of 1.1 per cent was declared, making for the year ending June, 71 per cent ; being an increase of 1 per cent more than last year.

The Commercial Bank of London has declared a dividend.for the last half year at 8 per cent ; the bank has not been affected by the late fail- ures in the leather trade.

The St. Catherine's Dock Company have declared a dividend of 4 per cent; the gross earnings in the past six months have been 134,530/., and the expenditure 96,1291. - Considerable dismay has been felt from a proposition of a call of 1001. par share on the London and Eastern Banking Corporation. Some hopes were entertained that 16/. per share out of the original 501. subscribed, would have been returned. Colonel Waugh is living in good style in Paris, but it is stated, Branksca Castle-his property will not clear its mortgages.

The London Joint-Stock Bank meeting was held on Thursday. The directors, dealing candidly with the shareholders, admit a loss of 40;0001. by parties in the leather trade. The amount of paper under discount from failed houses is 130,000/. involving 160 coucerns. Streatfield and Co. were the oldest customers of the bank. The net profits for the, six months are 62,034/., of which 37.500/. is appropriated to a dividend at the rate of 12f per cent, and the balance is carried to profit and loss new account.

The half-yearly meeting of the London and Westminster Bank de- clared a dividend on Wednesday at the rate of 20 per cent per annum, out of nett profits on the half year 106,748/. 10s. 6d. The rest, or sur- plus fund amounts to 205,000!.; and a balance, 11,2221. Is. 11., was car- ried to the credit of next half year.

The Mercantile Discount Company declared a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, out of profits 65501. ; the reserve-fund is stated at 4215/.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Mutual Life Assurance Society of London, the annual income was stated to be 62,000!.; the invested assets, 353,000/.

The Life Association of Scotland reports its annual income at 163,177/. ; the accumulated fund at 49,5,800!.; and the assurances of the past year alone amount to 531,820/., yielding a revenue in premiums of 17,890/.

Her Majesty will hold a review of volunteers at Edinburgh on the 7th of August.

The Victoria Rifles (let Middlesex), had a match on Wednesday, in their own practice ground, for a silver cup value twenty-five guineas. Mr. Mar- tin Ridley Smith of the 11 company was the winner.

Mr. N. Davis, the gentleman wounded at the sham fight, writes to the Times, "that his wound is little more than skin deep and will probably in- convenience hint but for a few days."

Lord Clyde arrived at Dover, and was received by the Mayor and Town- clerk officially, and a crowd of admirers enthusiastically. A corporation address was presented to him, to which he returned a simple and soldier-like reply.

The gallant little vessel the Fox was visited by the Queen and Prince Consort on Thursday, at Southampton. The royal visitors minutely ex- amined the vessel and her instruments for soundings. Complimenting Dr. Rae on his great services, her Majesty remarked to him jocularly, that Arctic voyaging "could not be such very bad service after all, as he was looking remarkably well." Mr. J. It. Crosskey was also introduced as the originator and paymaster of the expedition ; and her Majesty held long conversations with Captain Young and Colonel Shaffner, who fully explained their views as to the intentions and probable results of the expedition.

Abraham Cann, the veteran champion wrestler, who is in necessitous airs cumstances, is now in London. The subscription to purchase an annuity for the old man amounts only as yet to 401.

M. Jules Farm, the distinguished French advocate, was examined as a witness in the Court of Probate, upon technical points in the French law relating to wills. The expectation that M. Berryer would come over is to be disappointed ; preparations had been made to give him a welcome by the English bar.

The clipper ship, Eagle, Captain Murphy, arrived in the Mersey on Satur- day front Australia, with 13,072 ounces of gold dust.

A return has been laid on the table of the House of Commons contain- ing particulars of a payment of 3608/. to Messrs. Baxter and Co., for ser- vices connected with the preparation of the Reform Bill, now withdrawn ; 74 per cent is deducted in lieu of taxation.

A scheme has been mentioned in Paris (says the Sienderkind Herald) for running steamers direct from Newcastle to Paris and back, charged with iron, coal, chemicals, fire-bricks, &c., on one way, and carrying wine and other French produce back. In combination with this plan is the idea of carrying French produce intended for Russia to Newcastle, as an entrepot, whence it may be forwarded by steamer to St. Petersburg.