The Sun. — London, England, 1854-04-14 00:00:00

n cir 28. President the Black ,nd hearty discussed difficult! members wa y to & lepended• ,t to Con . structions Madrid. •eparation rt granted demand f i t [V i s well 3d . himse lf m foreign n a nd de' ,on on the is P 1 1; for w 133 i n their s tate i ) exen 3 P C requir f e l by. publi beca o moot the yel,. Enver°. is, and t body there Y . , an 3 pf Neco n fl nor ations• ese Iva ° ;eived• ned by before i n dir philip• donate 3ortion lalne 0 protec t reP° 4 slave r y oses to • as pror fideoc ° , f irer to U n ton , lie A? Zjtt trb ;, 4 1 0- 4 4 -Ce - t 4 SUN OFFICE, o' Clock. THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) IN . At the Council Chamber, OßDEß Whitehal COUNClL l, the 11th day of April, 18 54, by the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. The Lords of the Council having taken into considera tion certain applications for leave to export arms, ammu nition, military and naval stores, &c., being articles of which the exportation is prohibited by her Majesty's Pro elaination of February eighteenth, one thousand eight hundred and fifty four ; their lordships are pleased to and it is hereby ordertd, that permission should be gr rated by the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treisury to export the articles so prohibited to be carried coastwise to ports in the United Kindom. and likewise to ail Places in North and.Soui h America, except the Russian Pcs•essions in North Ainei lea; to the coast of A frica, west cf the Straits of Gibraltar, and round the south and east coast of Africa ; to the whole coa st, of Asia not within tho Me , literra lican Sea or the Persian Gulf, and not being part of the Rus sian territories ; to the whole of Australia, and to all British colonies within the limits aforesaid, upon taking a bond from the persons exporting such prohibited articles th a t they shall be landed and entered at the port of destination; Md that all further permission to export such articles to ^ other t° the L parts of the wortl be only granted upon application ords of the Council at this Board. C. C. GREVILLE. BUCKINGHAM PALACE, APRIL 11. 17 7 his . da.y had audience of her Majesty:—Rear-Admiral s. of the Royal Swedish Navy, Envoy Extraordinary a nd .3.lini4ter Plenipotentiary frm his Majesty the King of 4 eden an d Norwa po y, to deliver o his credentials Te which he was introduced by the Duke of Newcastle, " n e of her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and Kurt, b y Major-General the Honourable Sir Edward ' n ' tn it, "COAL, her Majesty's Master of the Ceremonies. FOREIGN-OFFICE, APRIL 11. Th e Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. B ern h ar d n math—g as Consul at Port Adelaide for his Royal High- Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. WAR-OFFICE, APRIL 14. If a 4 h Regi men t o f D ragoon G uar d s —M a j or Thomas Le ikTabaut, from half-pay Unattached, to be Major (paying S.difference), vice Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Charles rtn. Morley Balders, . CB., who exchanges ; Assistant geon William C a ttell, f rom 23d F oo t, t o b e Assistant urgeon, vice Woods, who exchanges, April 14. ave 6 til Drago ons —C orne t an d Adj u t ant A rc hib a ld W e i r to th e rank of Lieutenant; Coruet John Stewart (. 0 be Lieut., by purchase, vice Jones, who retires, April 14. 16 th Dra goous —J ames P r i ce W. G w y nne H o lf or d , G ent., 40th t 4 ° ,., be, Cornet, by purchase, vice St. Clair, appointed to th e Foot, April 14. ts Fusilier Guards—Hon. Charles Rowley Hay to be Nu and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice the Hon. George Gre yGr a Dalrymple, whose retirement was announced in the g azette of the 17th Feb., 1851, April 14. 44th Regiment, Lieut.-Col. Henry C. Cobbe, from the 2d West , Itegiment, to be Lieut.-Colonel, vice Arthur Hill ' i e n v °r, who r e ti res upon h a lf- pay, A pr il 14 . 'Ail Foot —Brevet-Colonel llouourable Henry Sutton el e, from half-pay Unattached, to be Lieutenant-Colo s' v ice Ch ar l es Crawford Hay, who exchanges; Major abert S anders, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, by purchase, billeem.Pane, who retires; C a pt a i n H enr y Edward McGee to bypurchase, vice Sanders ; Lieutenant Oswald • li e ln e stua Grins to be Captain, by purchase, vice h ; Alexa n d er F raser U ne tt , G en t ., t o b e E ns i gn b y pure e, April 14. if 3d Fo ot — Assistant-Surgeon David Woods, from sth Is,i,ll_looexch anll Guards, to b e A ss ist a nt-S urgeon , v i ce C a tt e ll , April 14. th P cot—Lieutenant Frederick Rhodes to be Captain, Phone urchase vice Johnstone, who retires ; Ensign Hen r y Patton to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice b °ties Y purchase rles Edward Stewart, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Patto n , April 14. A .viet2,sl3ts,h POot----- Paymast er Hodder Roberts to be Lieutenant, to bf e Plan, appoi n t e d P a y m a s t er; Li eu t . J o h n N ow l an 4-0 -3 711 easter, vice Roberts, a pp o i n t e d Li eu t enan t ; ut so enant Joh n Th ompson t o b o Adj utant, vice Murchi who resigns the Adjutantcy only, April 14. Acura, Fo o t— G entleman Cadet the Hon. Arthur Ernest I , ‘ , r ris, from th e Royal Military, College, to be Ensign, about purchase, vice Scovell, deceased, Aprill4. 73,1 Foo t — Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick George i'll-ntlgustus Pinckney to be Lieutenant. Colonel, without Colonel vice Eyre, who retires upon half-pay ; Brevet ,n onel Hardress Robert Saunderson, from Major halt-pay loattached, to be Major, vice Pinckney ; Brevet-Major oert Parker Campbell to be Major, by purchase, vice i?._lpieclerson, who retires ; Lieutenant John Cox Gawler r Captain, by purchase, vice Campbell ; Ensign Poole r, a ncia Shuliiham to be Lieutenant, by uchase, vice nwler ; Honourable Crosbie Richard Ward p o r e Ensign, Purchase, vice Shuldham, April 14. ;o e 92 c a n p d ta F i o n o , i—Lieutenant Honourable Walter Charteris to by purchase, vice Horne, who retires ; Ensign .„.eorge Hubert Parker to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice uharteris ; Percy .1 , ielding Gooch, Gent., to be Ensign, by Purchase vice Parker, April 14. Depot Battalion at Parkhurst—Paymaster Francis Fene hu, from the 95th Foot, to be Paymaster, vice Mackenzie, aPPointed to Fermoy, April 14. Depot isattalione.t Walmer—Paymaster James Fagan, from the 98th Foot, to be Paymaster, vice Fen eran , ap pointed t o Parkhurst, April 14. Depot Battalion at Winchester—Paymaster Peter Va lentine Wood, from half-pay 14th Foot, to be Paymaster, April 14. Depot Battalion at Fermoy — Lieutenant-Colonel Ed hiund William Wilton Passy, from half-pay 55th Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel • Paymaster Hugh Beillie Mac kenzie, from the Depoeßa;talion at Parkhurst, to be Pay -31134ter, April 14. gDepot Battalion at Templemore—Paymaster George ar , from half-pay 54th Foot, to be Paymaster; Cip t4in Samuel William Henry Hawker, from half-pay 6th F' r ° et, to be Adjutant ; Quartermaster George Thompson, rum the 27th Foot to be Quartermaster, April 14. illtEvET.---Colonel Hugh Henry Rose, C. 8., to have the "A 4 elt of Brigadier-General, whilst employed with the army Ple-4 a particular service, April 8 ; Lieutenant Colonel nias Perronet Thompson, half-pay, Unattached, to be elonel in the Army, Nov. 9; Captain Edward Stopford teremont, of the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, to have tie l ' a nit of Major in the Army, while employed on a par 'liar service, April 14; Captain Robert Blane, half-pay, 4,e,l,tivat,ttaoched (on the Saff of the Army proceeding to Tur be Major in the Army, Nov. 11. q e vSPITAL STAFF.—Staff-Surgeon of the Second Class th:ge aurae Reade, from half-pay, to be Principal Apo to -41 7, April 11; Kentish Jenner, Gent., to be Purveyor the Forces, April 27. Errata in the Gazette of the 11th instant. eli-41T.---For Brevet -Colonel John Bloomfield Gough, G et ' u elf-pay 3rd Light Dragoons, Deputy Quartermaster %beta' in the East Indies, to be Deputy Quarterma.ster liti:rall 4.1 Ireland, vice Colonel Pennefather, appointed e,eftdier-General on a particular service, read Breet lfr:nel John Bloomfield Gough, C. 8., half-pay 3rd Light eo°l2e, Q u artermaster-General in the East Indies, &c. p, Ol ePot Battalion at Ferrooy—For Brevet- Lifutenant to L')2ae,l Vandeleur Creagh, from half pay Unattached, ltur',-dajor, read Brevet -Lieutenant-Colonel Giles Vande -4 , re agh &c. Pop:ltoßallouni.--The Christian names of Paymaster appointed to the 47th F oo t on th e 24th M arc h , are Ra ted ew, and not John Alexander, as previously i..t Z 11 01 3,,, ,The date of the appointment of Lieutenant Feb., - 1 - 1, 0, per as Adjutant of the 47th Foot to be 20th Co; 11 l ieu of 17th March, as previously stated. lle - : IS SIOIsTS SIGNED BY LORD LIEUTENANTS. 4 4 ,f 4 aent of Royal London Militia—Captain Graham -tilv,"„, l e to be Major, vice George Mac Call, promoted . ; 1 1. 4 'tl3 Charles Twentyman, Gent., to be Ensign, April 1 ,,1th -` Royal South Middl esex R eg i ment of Militia— Lieutenant %Royal bet r eon, Gent., late . 6th R o y a l R eg i men t, t o b e I,thor April 6. 74c1 Ar 1 Elthorne Lio•ht Infantry Regiment of &bow, Gent., to b Ensign, East te4l es , , ie °t Regiment of Militia. —James O'Donel An "tnt ~ to b e E ns i gn, April 5. 4Pr . MO ; e(leh la Regi men t o f Artillery—Phillp Henry il c°44e Currie, Gent. , to be Second Lieutenant, 17 11:1, ittn"ric,Regiment of Militia—William GeorgeS ,s mi_j_t s h . 117_, o. en tr .rs e€l., to be Captain ; Charles Thornton Win; ' be Lieutenant, vice Raikes, resigned, April ' 4 4 % ito‘eilatu Rall Wilkinson, -Gent., to be Lieutenant, Gent t eon, April 12 ; Elwin Shutt . Bell . , ST °be Eusi , geon. v ._ „ ;George . Earle Gent.. to be Assistant ). the 442'1', -•olipland, resigned, 11. '"'eut enati 'L -tfi t John Campbell, Gent., tobe Second West t; April 4. & ant. j'A' I r eoniany . Cavalry—William Scott, jun., " 4 .Pril7 . be Cornet, vice John Bramston, promoted, 0 4 Queere s lievLairielay....enLilit:tecituoyal Regiment of Staffordshire Yeomanry ant-Colonel the Hon. William Begot to keld, deceased A °l°°43l Commandant, vice the Earl of -Lich- 13 A-I\TZ op ENGLAND* An Account purauard to the and Bth Victoria, cap 32, for the Week. n ° —4l a 7 y t t h he Bih day of April, 18 3 4 . lest% DEPAaTmENT. Ni4risinied 27,3479,605 government debt.... 11,015,100 Other securities.- 2,9,14,900 Gold coin and bullion 13,379,603 Sliver - £27,379,605 BiAItSILILL, Chief Cashier. ba ted h th e 13th day of April, 18 42 7,379, , ,05 BANXI NO DE trOkleti, .9 4 eq. rs capital .. 14,553.000 lc d epos i ts •.. •• 3,154,657 thl,„._ tin coZ!_ng_pachequer.' 11:'11418 loners of .• hit' 411,ebt, Bay -8 Ita ~,14/14„ t. 89 and Yth,, 'l,O Aecounta) 2,683,754 aeveji ter'o,l, 4 ••• • • • 13,819,988 ,h i n... 437 a nd other .....:... 1,177,7 4 3 435,339,152 ..„..—.....„. Cashier. bate.. q th e 13th day : : s A ,3 p B l' 9 ;l: s • 1 2 85 31 4 : MARSHALL, Chief Ca,shi :PARTNENT. Government securities (includg.Dead Weight Annuity) .. • • •.• • . 13,939 132 Other sect/rites ...... 15,720,271 /4(.tes • • .... •• ••• • • • 4,964,755 Gold and silver coin" 760,994 • Th,, PRICE OF SUGAR. ir - ave rage . oni th —.go price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed 4 Prii ° returns made in the week ending the 11th day of th e 4. 1 851, i s 2 15 0 dnti es 4 8. 7ild. per hundredweight, exclusive . of rta..; of Custonis paid or payable thereon on the un "on thereof into Great Britain. --- Th BANKRUPTS. 144 °that Ashley, licensed victualler, Coleman-street, to likir!Mer, April 22, at Half-past twelve, and May 26, at efe.Past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Canaan, s;t4l assignee Aldermanhury ; Dirnmock and Burby, °li tl ' t tie 4ne, Cannon -street. . h, nrY A.nstey and William Watson, drapers Erming bi;:. Aprd 27 and May 25, at ten, at tho Birmingham keiaii::ti,„.et Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; kworthington, and Shipman, Manchester; Motteram 4 '.4ight, Birmingham. lit ~kes Risden draper corawall, April 25, and May 15, 11, -110 , at the Court of 'Bankruptcy Hirtzel, official as t7,7e,?. Exeter • Rooker, Lavers, and Matthews, Plymouth ; Radon, Exeter. rojaire Leblond, hat manufacturer, Southwark-bridge -"' A ka 22 t 1 d June 3, at half-pafot twelye, % oa t au 7` i at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, 1 NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. Guildhall-chambers ; Baker and Parson, Pancras-1 tne. TILE MO CHINA William Henry Dean auctioneer, 91, Fieet-street, April 25, at half-past two, and May 23, at eleven, at the C our t of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee ; Levy, Arundel street. The Zephyr, the Otter, the Minx, and a timber of small steam-vessels, are to be converted into gun-boats, and the Vivid and Princess Alice, formerly Dover mail packets, are to be paid off and immediately recommis sioned for service, as gun or despatch vessels, to serve with the Baltic fleet. The Admiralty have ordered an increased supply of Dr. M. Thomson's coloured signal lights from a house in Birmingham, for the use of the Baltic and Black Sea fleets. A new night-signal book, published by the authority of the Admiralty, has been ordered to accom pany these lights, so that now all ships may communicate as freely by night as by day. Lighters have been towed from Sheerness to recover the anchor and chain of the Hannibal. She has been masted at Folly Point, and proceeded to Chatham for fitment. Robert Roberts, tailor, Liverpool, May 1 and 22, at eleven, at Liverpool District Court. Cazonove, official assignee, Liverpool ; Thornely and Jevons, Liverpool. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Thomas Best, merchant, Aberdeen. Angus Macgregor, M.D., Edinburgh. William Shaw, manufacturer, Kilsyth. Robert Graham, boarding-house keeper, Glasgow. Curry, Macfarlane, and Co., commission merchants, Glasgow. SIR J. BURGOYN E AND THE ORDNANCE, We had hoped that, with the present machinery of Government, and with the reforms that are daily made in every department, the acts of favouritism and job bing, which disgraoed most Ministers before the passing of the Reform 8111, and which greatly conduced to its enactment, would have ceased. We had hoped that., with the present Ministry, more than with any other, all appointnieots in the military service --a service at pre sent embodying every interest most vital to the welfare of the ‘-,tate—would have been made solely wi ii regard to the greater, efficiency of our arms, and not with reference to clanship, personal or political influence. Such expectations, unfortunately, have not been ful filled. An instance to the contrary has been painfully forced upon our attention ; and we feel that we shall only be doing our duty in bringing it before the notice of the public. Our readers have, doubtless, traced with interest the progress of the mission to the East of Lieutenant-General Sir John Burgoyne. The rank of that officer, his well-known services, his undoubted skill and abilities, and the position held by him as Inspector-General of Fortifications, inspired the public with a confidence in bis judgment, which •has long been felt in the army, and in which the Coalition Ministry seemed`to share. Sir John Burgoyne, despite of the advantages—by selecting him as the officer most fitted to prescribe the operations which are so shortly to be carried on—under which he laboured, in leaving his home and the comparative repose to which the ardu ous services in earlier life had entitled him, accepted, without a moment's hesitation, the difficult task assigned him, arid di-charged, with the activity which distin guished his early services, those duties which now pre sented themselves to him. The hero of Egypt and the Pe ninsula has been, first in the field. His conduct has been universally appreciated. The British, the French, and the Turkish Government's have eagerly listened to his sugges- Cons, and availed themselves of his experience. Let us look to the reward held out to martial ardour—let us see the palm offered by Lord Aberdeen to him who has me rited it. The Ordnat.ce Department comprehends in its duties the regulation and organisation of two grtat mili tary corps, viz.—the Royal Engineers and the Artillery. The first are under the special seperintendence of the Inspector-General of Fortifications ; the second are supervised by the Deputy Adjutant-General of Artillery who, however, are both responsible, and subject, to the orders of the Master-General of Ordnance. The office of Adjutant-General has been held up to the present moment by Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Ross, junior in rank as his functions are inferior in consideration to those discharged by Sir John Burgoyne. Sir Hew Ross is, doubtless, a deserving officer, but his talants, mili tary or administrative, h a ve never p asse d th e rank "re spectable " The Tartarus, 4, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Lieut. Commander Richard H. Risk, was taken into the fitting basin on Wednesday, to make good her defects and pre pare for service in the Baltic. Boiler-makers and engineers are to be sent . to her from Woolwich to expe dite the work. The Cuckoo steam•vessel is to be fitted with three traversing pivot guns of large calibre, and is to join Capt. Ommanney's squadron for the Baltic. The Cuckoo left Sheerness yesterday for Hull, to bring seamen volun teer,i from the Horatio steam-frigate for the Majestic. The Miranda, 15, screw steam-ship, Captain Edmond M. Lyons, is put out of dry dock and moored in the fitting basin. In consequence of the defects in her. boil ers being more extensive than was at first discovered, boilermakers from Woolwich factory are now engaged upon her, who are working extra hours. She will in future be steered by a powerful iron yoke, to increase the steerage leverage, which is at present too small. Admiral Percy has left Sheerness on 14 days' sick leave, and Captain Richards, of Chatham yard, takes command during his ah,ence. " Whence comes the difference ? The answer Iw. The following — letter from an officer of one of the ves• sels composing the fleet, dated Kioge Bay, April 8, gives some interesting Particulars of the progress of opera- ons : " Since I last wrote to you we have received a great ed ition to our fleet. The Cesar arrived on the sth ' • the Conflict, the M ag i c i enne , th e D r i ver, an d th e Cruiser have also arrived. The Desperate arrived on the morning of the 6th, bringing a mail and several cases of Colt's revolvers ; she made a very quick passage, having left the Downs on the 2.1 inst. She came through the Sound, not being able to ce.tain a local pilot for the Great Belt. Colt's revolvers are to be distributed to the officers and boats' crews, and I have no doubt will be found very acceptable. " This bay is well chosen for the safety of the fleet ; there is sufficient space for the ships to work out with ease, but water is scarce, , and Grant's distilling galley will be found of great use. Several of the largo ships have steam up in one boiler, from which is a pipe leading into Grant's con denser, by which sufficient water is made in a few hours to supply the ship for four or five days. "We had bad weather yesterday. The Cressy parted from her anchors, and was driven about four miles from the anchorage. She got her steam up, proceeded inside the fleet, and brought up with her sheet anchor; being then nearer the shore, she rode more easily. "I hear from a good source this morning that we leave here for more active service in a few days. " Sir Charles is at Copenhagen, in the Odin. "Rear-Admiral Plumridge is away with a squadron, on special service. The Arro e ant and Hecla left on Thurs day night, I believe, to join him. ." I shall endeavour to write by the next mail, when I hope to be able to tell you more of our movements " Lieutenant William F. Ruston (1851) is re-appointed to the Penelope, steam-frigate, for service with the Baltic fleet ; Lieutenant George A. W. Welch (1851) has also been re-appcinted to the Penelope. Commander William •Hoseason (1846) and Lieutenant Griffith G. Philips (1838) have been appointed agents for trans ports. Master Joseph K. Martyn (1831), is appointed to the Royal William, 120, guard-ship of ordinary at Devonport. George F. Grigor (1851), Clerk to the Victory, flagship, at Portsmouth ; and Philip J. Barry, Clerk's-Assistant to the Scourge, steam-sloop, at Ports mouth, for service on the West Coast of Africa station. The depot of the 71st Hi2,hlanders at Chatham re ceived orders on the 19th ult. to hold themselves in readiness for foreign service, and will join the head quarters of the let battalion at Corfu. No 2 company of the Royal Sappers and Miners will leave Chatham on Saturday or Monday next for Woolwich, preparatory to embarking for service in the East. " Let those who object take one fact, and then say if the man that could conceive the idea and honestly set himself at such a time to carry it out be a common man, or a man only under the influence of common motives. It is this—that he keeps 400 men constantly employed upon the Bible, and his army are colporteurs of the ' Word of Life.' "I say, rather, must not be be inspired in a high sense to have found out what few, even in En g l an d, h ave arrived at, though th e hi s t ory of Christendom uniformly shows that nations can only be civilized, christianized, and regenerated by the incorruptible Word ? "How small a field he had wherein to learn the truth of that Scripture—' Them that honour me I will honour ;' and yet how truly has he learnt it. " They give themselves 12 months from the time of the northern army leaving Nankin to win the empire, and have agreed to a separation of the sexes for that time. During the absence, however, of Sir John Burgoyne, Sir Hew Ross has been appointed- to the revived office of Lieutenant-General of Ordnance, and has by this meansbeen placed over the head of Sir John Burgoyne, his senior in rank, and his superior in experience. We ask, what , has been the reason, of this appointment? We presume that, when Parliament meets, we shall be favoured with an answer. Fift een days, however,.will elapse ere the recess is over—fifteen days, in a period big with events which will decide the fate of nations. This is too long a time for the duration of a gross in justice. Let us hope that, In answer to the question on this subject, which will doubtless be put to her Ma jesty's Government on the re opening of the session, we may be informed that reparation has been made to General Burgoyne for the slight so wantonly and rashly put on - him, and that war with Russia, so just in its foundations, so noble in its tendencies, may not be dis graced by an occurrence which must destroy confidence in the discretion of a Government, as evincel by hasty and injudicious bestowal of patronage on the part of those who are responsible to the Crown and country for every act that, directly or indirectly, may stand in the way of a speedy solution of the fearful pro blem now before us. We have pointed out the injustice. The remedy is obvious. Let it be applied before it is too late. Let a graceful reparation have the precedence of a forced retribution.—Morning Post. "This is a trial to Chinese, who are very jealous, and shows they do not care to have any half-hearted among them. " The women are organized and armed for the de fence of Nankin, and are employed in many out-door employments, but are also under religious instruction. " For the present no one is allowed to have property, all belonging to the State, which finds them in every thing necessary. " They had not had any specific intelligence from their army, but they had intercepted a letter from the old Emperor, in which he stated that two-thirds of Pekin was in a state of siege by the insurgents. " Our authentic news of their movements is that they are encamped seven miles from Tien-sing, at the mouth of the Pi-ho. This will stop the main channel of supply to Pekin, and is the next most important acquisition after Nankin. Reinforcements, said to amount to 40,000, were going by the Grand Canal to join the nor thern army when the French were at Nankin. " Whatever may happen to Tae-ping, who is still at Nankin, or to his party, the Tartar dynasty must cease to reign in China Proper at least ; they are very unpo pular with all except those whose immediate interests are bound up with them, and even these, if they could see an opening to get out of it, would also manifest their national exclusiveness, for the Tartars are not incorpo rated, and their struggle to extricate themselves from their difficulties only sinks them deeper and increases their unpopularity. "No one continues under their standard without large pay, and this has exhausted nearly all their re sources, ancl involved them in liabilities which they can never meet. The depot companies of the 88th Regiment, from Burnley Barracks, passed through Manchester yesterday morning by railway, and were joined there by the depot companies of the 7th Fusiliers. They proceeded by London and Noith-Western Railway to Birmingham, en route to Winchester and Basingstoke. There were in all 7 officers and 464 rank and file (259 of the 88th Regi ment and 205 of the 7th Fusiliers). The regiments, each 850 strong, have already sailed for Turkey. The destination of these troops was not known.. The Ist Royal Dragoons have not yet left Manchester, but have received orders and counter-orders several times. The first division of the 18th Regiment (Royal Irish) has landed at Gravesend, on their return from service in India, and now occupy the barracks at St. Mary's, Chatham, where the other division with invalids•from India will join them on arrival. The 18th left the 29th Regiment at Calcutta, daily expecting orders to pro ceed to Burmah. The troops stationed at Rangoon have cleared and drained it, awl the soldiers assert that it is not nearly so unhealthy as it was, and that by a little more trouble and expense Burmah will become as healthy as any other part of India. A private letter friirn Gibraltar states that Lieutenant- Colonel Dacres, commanding one of the divisions of the field batteries for service in the East, has left Gibraltar for Tbrkey, and has taken the acting adjutant with him as his aide-de-ca►np. Captain Levinge's troop of Royal Horse 'Artillery called at Gibraltar for water, and landed their horses for a few hours' quiet exercise. The 92d Highlanders, stationed at Gibraltar, are reduced to the staff and colours, the others having volunteered into regiments for active service. Captain M'Coy has taken the command of the Royal Artillery, vacated by Lieutenant -Colonel Dacres. The Mangerton, of London, No. 17, horse transport-ship, was taken into the basin 'at Woolwich yesterday, and 59 horses of Captain Anderson'S small arm ammunition 'brigade swung on board, and the men embarked in the after noon. There is only one other horse transport-ship, No. 18, to come down from Deptford, to complete the embarkation of the whole of the first division of Royal Artillery for the East. The siege battery is ready for embarkation. No. 20 horse transport-ship was towed down the river yesterday fro:n Deptford, and held on for Portsmouth, to embark cavalry. Nine transports were hourly expected ) eisterday at Portsmouth from the eastward, five of which are to convey the 17th Lancers to, the seat of war, and four to receive stores and provi sions from the Clarence-yard for conveyance to the fleets. It is reported that the Peninsular and Oriental steam ship Euxine is going to Portsmouth to embark 70 of the 17th Lancers, horses, baggage, &c. "As I had anticipated, the obtaining possession of Amoy has been a sad loss to the Imperialists, both in character and pocket. "Flushed wits their suecess they committed atro cities which f u ll y s h owe d that die Chinese character for civilisation was at best but lacker. " They violated pledges, and, in, fact, acted as men visited with judicial blindness. "Their pirate allies bullied the mandarins and robbed their friends, and obtained an amount of funds that left them unable to pay their troops, who are now disaf fected. " They have now only 3,000 troops, not to be de pended on, and the whole country is in a state only short, of rebellion ; and notice is given by the insurgents that they mean to return immediately ; and who shall answer for what will be the result of a recapture, except that Europeans, especially Englishmen, will be secure, since the insurgents who acted with such moderation have been taught how little dependence can be placed upon the tender mercies of the mandarins ? " If attacked it cannot fail to be taken, as the man darins, &c., are such cowards. When Amoy fell into their hands this time they were aware that the insur gents were about to evacuate it,—that they had no friends, no ammunition,—and yet they were allowed to depart in open day without molestation ; not a man of the 20,000 besiegers venturing to plant a ladder till all had left, and the main column, advancing too early, was driven back by the fire of only two men. " When the insurgents were all gone they commenced a massacre of the aged, the helpless, and the friendless. " Our men-of-war and the missionaries saved 400 who were in the process of being decapitated or drowned, 250 of whom were wounded, besides many who were saved by the merchants by giving them shelter in their hongs ; and our countrymen are proportionably popular and better protected in consequence than they could be by men-of-war. The route of the 91stfroat Dublin to Limerick has , been cancelled, and the depot of the 3d Buffs is to re place the 14th Regiment in the latter garrison: The service companies of the 14th Regiment, under Lieut.- Colonel Barlow, were inspected on Monday, instead of Tuesday, as originally intended, in the square of the new barracks, by Major-General Fleming, GB. accompanied by Colonel C.ix, K.H. and his aide-de-cainp, Captain Fleming, 63d Regiment. Major-General Fleming con gratulated Colonel Barlow on the effectiveness of the regiment, and excellent discipline of the men. The artillery guns in Limerick are to be moved to Wool wich. The 11th Hussars, now in readiness, and hourly expecting orders for immediate embarkation, have bad their swords sharpened within the last few days at Mr. Lamprey's, Westmoreland-street. The workmen of the salmi) establishment are now actively engaged in shar pening the sabres of the 4th Dragoon Guards, also under orders for service. " It may be that the masses are apathetic to an extent that prevents them from taking active measures ; this rather arises from their not knowing the respective merits of the cases ; but this apathy is fast passing away, and a spirit of inquiry is abroad that will result in their deter mining suddenly. Depend upon it the nation will be born to a measure of civil liberty almost in a day. They certainly give no assistance now to the Mantchoo ; let them but determine, even in comparatively small numbers, and their municipal and other organisation will be made available for bringing in and establish ing the Government they elect ; and it is most import ant, when considering the probable of China, to bear this in mind, and this further fact, that Chinamen have such a keen sense of their own interests, and are so practical that they are not likely to elect as a Go vernment a set of men without power or prospects of success. Let, then, Tae-ping take Pekin and China will become his, and not in a state of disorganisation as many suppose ; the effort of the masses in China is conserva tive of local government and order. _ ROYAL NAVAL, COLLEGE, April 13.—At the monthly examination for candidates for promotion and entry into the service, completed this day, the following passed : Mates for Lieutenant—Messrs. J. F. Prowse and W. H. Wilberforce. • • Second-Masters for Masters—Messrs. J. T. C. Webb, G. Batt, and R. S. Dyer. For Naval Alasters-Assistants—Messrs. J. W. Grandy, H. Lindguist, J. C. Chevalier, G. G. Brown, and H. B. R. Rowlandson. For Naval Cadets—Messrs. J. Buchanan, J. E. Bruce, W. Allen, H. G. Fitzgerald, D. G. Tandy, W. J. Lees, W. W. M. Molyneux, A. E. Kay, J. Hamil ton, and T. Carpenter (all from Mr. Eastman's naval academy) ; also G. R. Dunkin, .C. T. Shute, W. C. Beames, J. S. Eaton, C. R. D an i e l , W. H. F. Pen gelly, . King, and P. C. M. de Vismes. Fur Marine Cadets—Messrs C. D. H. Rabilliard, G. R. Rodney, J. D. Broughton, R. L. Price, C. Mac donald, T. M. Hewett, A. A. Pascal, A. Mackintosh, F. L. Parry, and C. G.-N;Colomb. For Clerks-Assistants—Messrs. J. G. Sullivan and H. Knight. " Jan. 25. " Our latest news is, that they are fighting near Pekin, but do not expect to take it till they get the reinforce ments seen by the Cassini's people at the entrance of the Grand Canal. " The French authorities satisfied themselves that the stories of the massacre of Roman Catholic Christians were without foundation ; that the insurgents had not killed any as such ; but they have killed some for breach of their laws. _ _ "The last news from Shanghai is, that the insurgents of that place had been unable to communicate with Nankin, and were rather in difficulties ; that the French and English authorities were trying to arrange an eva cuation without bloodshed ; this will be difficult, as the Imperialists are so treacherous, and have a strong feeling of their right to decapitate freely, and, indeed, perhaps, feel that it would be acceptable to their court ; if they do so, it cannot fail to add to their unpopularity, and tend much to hasten the final settlement of the question against the Mantchoo. LAUNCH OF A SCREW STEAM-SHIP BUILT FOR THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT.—SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY. To-day, a screw 31-gun frigate was launched from the and of Messrs. Wigrana, Northam. The launch was me of the finest which we have ever witnessed, and had it not been for the breaking of a la rge cable chain, which inquestion, Unfortunately, the however, swhaips gr:tn a from Eta. agroundthe T hbnernefla3tlrchmi the was intended as a check to the vessel when afloat, the breaking other christeninge t r h e si d c h e ni e n i affair would have passed off v%ith admirable success. the river Itchen, and it was not until the flowing of the second tide, which took place about an hour after the she to Mrs. Archdeacon Wigrarn, and most waslaun launch, entrustedtha t ably performed by that lady from a platform, which was erected immediately beneath the bows of the vessel. The vessel was christened the Reditzsky. She is wood built, and is of 1,826 tens burthen, old measurement, and capable of carrying 31 guns of heavy'calibre. Her length is 250 feet over all ; extreme breadth, 43 feet ; depth of hold, 27 feet 5 inches. Her engines, which are constructed by Messrs. Maudslay, Son, and Field, are of 300 horse-power. ' As soon as the ship floated she was, by the assistance of two steam-tugs, towed round to the Southampton Docks for the purpose of being rigged. She will then leave for London, when sh e w ill ;.)e properly equipped for the duties for which she is built. She is a fine vessel in appearance, and is doubtless capable of doing great service in whatever cause she may be engaged. Her ultimate destination for the pre sent, of course, remains enveloped doubt.S TOCKPORT.—We THREATENED STRIKE AT regret that there exists at present 'a rupture between a portion of the factory operatives of Stockport and their employers, , which may probablj• lead to a second partial turn-out. The employers announce their intention to withdraw . the advance of 10 per cent, c on c e ded at the conclusi on of the strike some months ago, and to return to the rate 0# wages paid in May last, -" The exports from China have been enormous, and no doubt will continue to be so, as all are desirous to realise or place their property in foreign keeping, lest the chiefs of either party should take it. " The emigration to California and Australia is im mense. lam told E ng li s h s overeigns are at a p rem i um of 25 per cent, in C a lif orn i a ; they are shippin g them from here. ACCIDENT TO THE SCREW STEAMER GLASGOW.— GLASGOW, Wednesday.—We regret to state that a rather serious accident befell this fine steam-ship this morning. She left the Broomielaw yesterday afternoon for New York with a bumper cargo, and nearly 400 passengers, including deck and steerage. On account of the lowness of the Clyde she grounded with the receding tide a short way below the harbour, but lay quite easily. About 1 o'clock this morning, when the tide again made, the Glasgow floated, and started on her voyage ; but she had not proceeded above a mile and a-half down the river when she came in conduct with a large boulder stone, or small ledge of rock, on which, in spite of every effort, she became fixed for the time. As the tide re ceded the immense mass hung by this point of rock, which lay right under the boilers. By-and-by these were forced upwards, and the ship began to make water. The passengers were removed about 7in the morning. The Glasgow was got off by this afternoon's tide, and will as soon as possible be placed on the slip. It is to be hoped that the injury to both ship and cargo is not great, but still the loss must be considerable ; and great incon venience must result to the numerous body of passengers, as the ship cannot again be ready for sea for some weeks, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 14, 1854. The following interesting letter is from the naval officer whose communications from the Chinese ports have before appeared in our columns : " ongkong, Jan. 1. "I sent y ou a Nora China Herald H because of a letter of some interest, descriptive of the habits and usages of the insurgents, knowing that it came from a reliable source. "Its statements, as well as the information brought down by the Hermes, have been fully confirmed by the return of the French war steamer Cassini, with M. Bou balon, the French Minister, and, indeed, even much enlarged. Thus they found a million or more in Nankin, while the insurgents claimed to have but that number in all China at the time of the Hermes's visit to that centre of all-important interest, and only not all-absorb ing because of its distance and the imperfect information concerning what is being enacted or originated there. " To my mind, unable to enter into the cavils of, per haps, good men in the fullest sense, it is a scene of deeper interest, and involves vastly greater consequences than those about which the western world seems stirred. "Events are fast finding an issue here that in their reaction will influence not simply the two or three hun dred millions immediately within the limits of the Chinese empire, but the whole habitable globe. "The French, as we, found them snore frank, honest, truthful, and brave than any Chinese they had previ viously met, and animated by a confidence (the prime element of success) that could only proceed from their sense of the justness of their cause, or from a motive wholly foreign to the ordinary Chinese mind. "A Chinaman seldom goes straight for his object; these men always do. leave to those who impute their motives. " The French say they found much ignorance a Christianity and much superstition among the masses; but in what country of Christendom is this not the case ? I will venture to say that there is ten times as much in Catholic Spain ; but who shall determine where Chris tianity ends and superstition begins ? I fear that there might be a cross -action between them if this came to be discussed ; and yet how little comparatively, is there of superstition in t writings, taken as a whole. I say not that these superstitions are unimportant, but surely in estimating these men or their writings the amount and character of the good in them should not be ignored, and the faulty only dwelt upon, " Since the Hermes was at Nankin they have pub lished only a few unimportant and not erroneous tracts, hut, on the other hand, they have published the re mainder of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, and Matthew, and it is by these they should be judged and the cha racter of their motives estimated, for it is palpable that it is these they mean to be guided by, and that they really mean to make the ' Holy Book,' as they term it their rule of life ; and doubtless, as they have put for ward statements and opinions at variance with it, it is because they have not as yet learnt their incompatibility therewith, thence to San Francisco and Valparalio,' for further orders. You are distinctly to understand that it is not their lordships'_ intention to send. up a ship from the Pacific station to communicate with Grantley Harbour in 1855, and you are therefore' positively to ,-leave Beh ring's Strait in that year, as directed. " In case of your not being able to place the Plover in the harbour at Point Barrow, or in any other: safe position north of Grantley Harbour, you may return to that port (,Gnintley Harbour), and, having deposited all spare provisions and stores with her Majesty's ship Rattlesnake, you may at once proceed to Valparaiio as before directed, as there does not exist :iny necessity • for retaining two ships at that port, Commander Trol lope having been directed to continue there - until the summe r of 1855, as per copy of the enclosed orders. " In the event of any accident having occurred to. the Plover, rendering her unseaworthy, or of her having been, on survey, found unfit for further service, my lords desire that the ship be placed in eiie safe position as a depot, to afford shelter to any travelling or other party, and that you proceed, with the officers and crew, on board H.M.S. Rattlesnake, or whatever ship which may have been sent from Valparaiso, and consider yourself as a passenger in that ship. " the event of England being at any time involved in hostilities with any other Power during your employ inent on the above service, you are clearly to understand that you are not to commit any hostile act Whatever, the ship _under your command being fitted out for the sole purpose of aiding in scientific discoveries, and it being the established practice of all civilised nations to consider vessels so employed as exempt from the operations of party had been seen i n the interior, but had gone on. The broken English of these people was difficult to understand, and they generally answered a leading question according to what they supposed the wish of the interlocutor. A force of 60 New Grenadian soldiers and convicts had been for some time encamped on the beach to aid in the survey, heal there been one. Meantime Mr. Gisborne, dis appointed in his original plans, had hired an influential Indian from the Rio Diablo, who knew the value of money, to accompany and procure him guide 4 across the country for $5OO. Lieut. St. John, of the English Engineer Corps, went with him. As time went on, the only hope for the safety of our party was through Panama, and the Cyane sailed for Aspinwall for intelligence, leaving the Chimere and Scorpion at Cale donia. The Espiegle had gone to Carthagena for provi sions. The steamer Devastation had looked in and sailed. Nothing had been heard of our party at Panama, though communication was constant with the Gulf of San Miguel, the Savana and the Chuqunaque. Ou the sth of March they had been absent 45 days. It was next to impossible that they should have survived and not found their way to the coast in this time. At the moment of sailing in the George Law I /net Lieut. St. John, on his way back to England from • San Miguel. In his journey across the Isthmus he had found no traces of Strain's party ; but the Indians reported that they had gone down the Chuqunaque, and were lest. I had no time to obtain from Mr. St. John a full account of his trip. They had heen guided by the Indian through a devious path, ranging along the Isthmus to the west of the villag e of Sucubti, on the river Sucubti, a bran c h o f the Chuqu naque, thence to Morti, similarly sit ua t e d, an d c l own t h e Morti, across the Chuqunaque, to the path cut by Captain Prevost over the comparatively level country west of the Cordillera. While Mr. Gisborne and Lieut. St. John were in the interior, letters were received from them at Cale donia Bay, stating that the Indians were assembled iu force at the villages above mentioned, and had taken a hostile attitude, owing to a rumour that three of their people had been carried off. prisoners by the Chi mere to Carthagena. They 'were with difficulty pro tected by their guide until those stories were proved in correct. Lieut. Strain depended upon the good faith of the Indians, and should they have proved tresachero us , our national experience of Indian warfare, p ar t icularly in the semi-tropical regions of Florida, shows how little chance a small body of men, even when on their guaricle,nhs,avheetainst savages on their own ground. If the Ind to er, have attacked Mr. Strain's party, why did th e y n our own much smaller one ? We have reason to suppose that every step of our progress was watched by them. Just before we left Caledonia Bay, the principal chief of the coast, in talk with the New Grenadian commander, re peated the old assertion that God never intended a canal there, and added, "God will take care that no one who goes to seek a passage shall escape." The Indians may consider themselves the agents of Provider/win carrying out his will. Lieut. Strain's ammunition was entirely in cartridges ; our experience proved that these would soon be unserviceable from the constant showers and dampness of the interior. As merely a volunteer to the expedition, I offer no opi nion as to its outfit or management. Lieut. Strain had no personal knowledge of the Isthmus, and trusting to the reports and maps of Mr. Gisborne, anticipated little diffi culty in his preliminary reconnaissance. He wished to get a general idea of the country, and afterwards to carry a line of levels across would have been merely a question of time and bush whacking. I have taken the narrative form in this statement that the facts might appear as they came to us. From Capt. Hollins and the officers of the Cyane the enterprise met with hearty co-operation ; two of those gentlemen went with parties into the interior, and all were ready to take any steps for the relief of the missing. The officers were occupied in a complete survey of the bay and channel. I refer to their chart for details. The harbour is a fine one, the trades blow home, making a leading wind for entering; it is not difficult to beat out, nor always necessary. On review, the principal points determined, with regard to the proposed canal route are these. The Caledonia River is a rapid, shallow stream of clear, abundant water, falling about GO feet i n the first six mil es . At thi s poin t' is the large village of Naga, with considerable level ground, where are the Indian plantations. A furlong below the village the river divides ; its several branches have been traced up, as above stated, to mere torrents. Parallell to the coast, and directly across the route, is the main dividing ridge of the isthinue—a massive rugged range of porphyritic mountains, densely wooded, broken into gorges, wild and impracticable. Th e summ it s of this range, concealed often by cloud and mist, rise in full sight from the bay, from 3,000 to 4,000 feet high. No passage was found by any of our parties lower than 1,200 feet to 1,500 feet, and this not a single ridge, but after crossing the terraces of hills which are the "Appian" of the chain on both sides. Crossing the Cordillera, you find streams flowing into the valley of the Chuqtmaque, a large river draining the Pacific slope, and winding in a long circuit to the Gulf of San Miguel. Between this river and the Savana, is a long range of hills, mistaken by Mr. Gisborne for the Cor dillera ; except these, a level marshy country extends to boat navigation on the Savana. This plain was traversed by Captain Prevost, about 12 miles to the westward of Mr. Gisborne's proposed route. Entertaining a high per sonal respect for this gentleman and his officers, I look with interest for their authentic report. The Savana, in its lower course, becomes a broad estuary. The former error in longitude being corrected by Captain Kellett's ob servations, the width of the Isthmus, from ocean to ocean, becomes 52 to 53 miles. The whole country is densely wooded, and on the Pacific side, iu the low ground, almost impassable. "I am, &c., W. A. B. IluintoN. "To Commander Maguire, her Majesty's Sloop Plover." It showered constantly among the mountains, and when the Cyane sail3(l, there were signs of the approaching rainy season. As an elevated country, this part of the Isthmus is healthy; there was no sickness either on board the ships or among the parties on shore. There is game, though not very abundant, especially on the Pacific side—deer, taper, monkeys, turkeys, ducks, iguana, conejo, ; alligators in the rivers, the so-called tiger of the country, serp en t s o f various kinds ' • same fish in the rivers. I cannot d we ll u p on th e natural history of the Isthmus, as this communication h as already grown to a considerable length. With regard to the missing party—there is no proof, though some grounds for suspicion, of treachery on the part of the Indians, If not, they have probably followed clown the Chuqunaque, under the impression of arriving speedily at tide-water. Deceived in this, they may have had no other resource but to push on, and the great length of their absence makes it almost conclusive that in this solitary region, their provisions calloused, and unable to procure game or food, they have perished. There is a pos sibility, however, that some news may be had from the mouth of the river, and Capt. Hollins will do everything in his power to succour the survivors. ROYAL WEST INDIA MAIL STEAM_ PACKET COMPANY. • The probable loss of 22 persons, with several of whom I had been connected in the intimacy of a voyage and a brief companion life, is a melancholy subject of tught to me. My indignation at the fraud practised by the canal pro jectors is increased tenfold when I remember that, besides leading expeditions of the three maritime powers on a fool's errand, it was their representations and their maps that misled our party. I can hardly believe the evidence of my own senses in contradiction of all the published reports. It was supposed by Lieut. Strain that Mr. Gisborne would be in Car thagena and join his party with his own, but meantime the British and French ships had been de tailed, and he joined them at Jamaica. Though this statement may have reached a tedious length, I have been obliged to omit many things bearing upon the subject. The facts have all been submitted to Capt. Hollins, and approved by him and the officers. Mr. R. E. Holcomb, civil engineer, who had direction of our second party, and Dr. Bird, both of whom returned in the George Law, entirely concur with these statements. Should you desire further information, I shall be happy to communicate it. —I have the honour to be your obe dient servant, THEO. WINTHROP. No. 51, William-street, New York, March 17, 1854. At a meeting of the Royal West India Mail Steam-packet Company held yesterday a dividend fof 21. per share was declared. Previously to the adoption of the rep or t a l eng th ene d di scussion took . placewith regard 'to the general position of the undertaking. Several of the shareholders urged e l iability, iuo rr neodf. he atur The rough that the management was d efective, and that the account s s h owed a large amount of outstanding ill success attending th e construe ,vessels, and the enor mous expense in repairing the Parana, were alio topics of co mplaint, and it was questioned if the board were justified in recommending the pay ment of a dividend. The chairman (Mr. Colville) explained that the construction of the vessels had been intrusted to the most competent parties, and that, although the Parana had not originally answered the expectations formed of her, the re pairs would, it was thought, place her in a satis factory condition. With regard to finances, the directors considered there was nothing to . excite apprehension. An important addition having been made to the fleet without any demand, upon the proprietors, they had, of course, been obliged to avail themselves largely of their credit. In any other circumstances they must have made a heavy call. The repairs of the old and new vessels had ab sorbed the whole of the fund appropriated to that purpose, leaving, besides, an adverse balance ; but in future this would be gradually diminished. The resources of the company had been interfered with by the great advance in the price of coal and the rates of freight and labour. Iu the course of the debate an amend ment for the appointment of a committee of inves tigation was brought forward and warmly. sup ported, the conduct of the engineering department at Southampton encountering severe animadver sion. Upon being put to the vote, however, it was lost by a largo majority. There was subse quently a contest fur a 1 aealit seat in the direc tion, but the new candidate was defeated. The following is an abstract of the report : - ' ' "The company's existing contract with her Majesty's Government for the conveyance of mails for 11 years front the Ist of January, 1851, Naas entered into upon an under standineb that, as compl a i n t s h a d b een prev i ous l y ma d e o f the speed of theelass of ships constructed for the company's packet service in the first instance, a superior description of vessels, built upon principles which intervening experience had proved to be preferable, had been brought into opera tion as speedily as possible. Accordingly, since that date 10 new ships have been contracted for, and three others purchased, maki ng i n th ese 13 s hi ps a total of 23,662 tons, and 6,580-horse power added to the company's floating stock, the expenditure for which may be estimated at about 800,000/. Within the hist throe years, accomplished without any call upon the proprietary body, but with assistance from loans. With only one exception, all those new ships have been launched and completed for service, and (hiring the last six months there have been no complaints on the part of the Government or the public as regards the speed with which the mails are now conveyed, the company pos. sassing a fleet of steam-ships adequate to the due perform ance of every branch of tha contract service. It should be noticed that, while the new ships were in course of prepa ration, the Avon, Dee, Clyde, Teviot, Trent, and Thames were thoroughly repaired, their manchinery improved, and the two first named lengthened, to give increased speed for intercolonial service. When the decision was taken to build vessels of greater size for the Transatlantic commu nication, the tonnage and power alone being fixed by the directors, the shape of the hulls was left to the unfettered judgment of the contractors, being some of the most emi nent shipbuilders in the kingdom ; and the manufacture of the steam machinery was intrusted to equally first rate .engineers, the only stipulation being for the highest amount of speed which their united skill could accomplish; and the directors reg ret to add that, in th e case o f th e Parana, though b u ilt upon the same specification as the other ships, after a careful and minute survey, it has been deemed expedient to strengthen her, and, with a view of improving her capacity and speed, to lengthen her 25 feet in the•fore body.- As the whole of the new ships. will shortly he in operation, the directors had made prepara tion for the sale of several of. their original vessels. In fact, proposals had been received from parties desirous of be coming purchaseis, but these offers were declined as inade quate; and, means of transport being much required by the Government, the directors deemed it their duty to use every exertion in order to place as many ships as possible at the disposal of the Lords Commissioners of the Admi ralty. The Orinoco, Trent, and Medway are accordingly now on their way to Gallipoli, each with a complete regi ment on boat d, the Orinoco having previously conveyed the Ist battalion of the Coldstream Guards in nine days from Southampton to Malta, and the 44th Regiment in four days from Gibraltar to the same place. Looking to the impediments created by strikes among the workmen, the directors congratulate the proprietors on their possess ing a foundry at Southampton . for the repair of steam engines and the construction of new boilers, as otherwise the . service must have been completely disorganised for want of sufficient artisans, and a seasonable assistance was - also afforded by the ccanpany's Sontlaampton establishment in completing for service the Atrato and Wye at a moment when few or no workmen could be hired to finish those ships at Greenock. As stated in the report at the last general meeting, the principal increase in the working ac count is for coal, wages, and stores; the causes then as signed for such additional expenditure continuing in ope ration to an e , pial if not greater extent at the present mo ment. Upon coals alone there is an aligiiaentation of charge as compared with th e p rev i ous year.atininuting to 54 7 30: and to prove beyond qdue that this increase is .1 , solely to fir s t c o s t, f re i g ht , an d labour, greater consu,lll.tion, the quantity use.ils b),O 3 ali:Tj8(! not to any . is actually withe,tuall less thank that cuitstuned in the year 1, . wages, fur while the number of officers and. me n . 1 employed does not materially (Mier in t . l e : rsl' world, l3'l e paymentanthe 1./ in excess, occa:=ione, y the great for wages is 14,16 . The recent ad demand for seamen in every part of van c consequent in the t the two of gene ral consumption account, in a great measure, for the also is su ffi cient to . ipsericienoftbaell rate of wages. of 6,5891. for stores. Although the additional charge receipts on the working account exhibit, as anticipated, anincrease com pared with the half-y ear en di ng t h e. 30th of June last, and also over those of the correspond ing six months of 1862, there is a diminution on the whole year 1853, as compared with 1852, amounting to 19,7911., occasioned, as stated at the last meetin g , by th e ravages o f fever cholera in St. Thomas's, Jamaica, and other West India isla nds, interrupting, to a serious extent, the inter course . with those places. The balance of profit and loss, after the usual debits, is 71,118/, to provide for repairs, de terioration, and dividend. Reserving 29,680/. for dividend at the usual rate, the amount remaining would be 41,438/. —equal to 5 per cent, on the value of the ships on the Ist of January, 1853 ; and, although this state of the accounts _ would not justify the directors in proposing a continuance in the usual rate of dividend, yet, looking to the gradual • but certain ces sa ti on of many heavy sources of expense, the' , increase of passengers arising from the disappearance of sickness abroad, and that scene addition will accrue to the receipts of the . company from the hire or sale of surplus ships, the directors feel warranted in recommending the Payment of a dividend, as before, at the rate of 21. per share, free of income tax." . . ROYAL FREEMASCNS' GIRLS SCHOOL. Yesterday the quarterly general court of" the gpvernors of this charity was held at th e Freemasons Tavern, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, Brother Richard Herv6 Geraud, B:G.D., ,in the Chair. Brother F Crew, the secretary, read the minutes o the last: quar terly court, which were unanimously confirmed. Oh the motion that a sum of 5401. 18s. 6d. be drawn out of the bank for the paymentof the tradesmen of the institution - the secretary mentioned that Mr. Labouchere, of the • firm of Williams, Deacon, and Co., had said that he and his partners were so pleased with the excellence C ., of the new school-house lately erected at Wands - - Worth,_that they would be at all times willing to advellct a few hundred pounds, free of interest, for the itse of, the charity. Mr. Benjamin Bond. Cohen, UPS, then re-elected - treasurer, a ft er w hi c h the genera - cam mittee vraa . .xionainotoct for the • ensuing year. A. Ebert - discussion then occurred, in which Brothers W hite, G. S., Patten, De Yeaux, G. 5.8., Dawson, Rev. .Mr. Cox, S.C., andVarren took part, with respect to one of the bye-laws, at the conclusion of which a poll took place.and three children were elected to the benefits of the institution from a list of five candidates. A. vote of thanks to the worshipful chairman terminated the pro. ceedings. EAST Isnia. Hoirse:--Yesterday a Court of Directors was Major Jamel Oliphantheld at wa t s h c e i o E s a e s n t c l - b n a d i i r a m a H n o , u a s n e d , whe n Elliot Macnaghteu, • Esq., deputy chairman of the East India Company. THE BALTIC FLEET.---A. young officer on board the• Vulture, writiog Immo to his friends at Plymobth,:under says :—" W e expect to b e . date of Copenhagen, April e, ordered over to Revel. Throe ships were sent there a day or two ago to capture three American ships, which are supposed to Va-there Waiting orthe f ice to break up, in r onler to diseharge their cargo of powder, shot, &c lone the Russians. S o our ships are one down to nobble' them as j ust and lawful prizes, and I hope that this affair will turn up a little prize money. The Con flict has just arrived from the fleet. The weather up here is verr fine. It blows like fun—and is as cold as blsps !" This you; gentloilasa appoars to spicy it. ARCTIC EXPEDITION. The following instructions have been addressed to Captain Maguire, of the Plover, now engaged in the Arctic Regions in the search for Si r John Franklin's expedition : " Admiralty, Jan. 11,1854. " Sir,—My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, by their instructions to you, dated the 15th of February, 1853, and transmitted to Behring's Strait by her Ma jesty's ship Amphitrite, directed the return of her Ma jesty's ship Plover, under your command, from the winter quarters at Point Barrow to Grantley Harbour so soon as the season of 1854 would permit. lam now commanded by their lordships to acquaint you that Captain Maclure, in her Majesty's ship I nves ti ga t or , arrived at a harbiinr on the north-east shore of Banks' Land, on the 24th of September, 1851, and subsequently communicated with Melville Island, thereby insuring the safety of the crew of that ship. " By your letter of the 21st of August last it appears that her Majesty's ship Enterprise had been seen by the natives of the northern shore of America, near the Col ville River, in August, 1851. If • Captain Collinson should have found the same extent of open water along that shore as was experienced by Captain Maclure, and if he pursued the same tract, their lordships have rea son to expect that he may have been enabled to r each a thence, by to the eastward of Cap e Bathurst, and by means of travelling parties, to have obtained, from the records left by the officers of the Investi b at, ,r , in formation of the proceedings of that ship as a guide t o his future plans. "In whatever position the Enterprise may at this time be placed, it, is obvious thathtem the enstnitagecl ksotpefmr: his znai spring reduced (1854) Captain Collinson, onl abindon his ship, :eastward of the M ackenzie supplies, will be compel led be presumed that, if: W , z River, and having found the records of Captain M'Clure, he will push on with hi s crew to the n or th- eastward, with the view o f reaching Melville Island, or h e may divide his ship's company, and send one portion by the Mackenzie .River, with the intention of reachin the Hudson's -bay. posts.. g "If, however, by any unfortunate accident the En terprise has been lost, it is by no means improbable that Captain Collinson may have returned to the Plover. If such should have been the case, there will 'exist no further necessity for the detention. of •ths Plover and Rattlesnake at Behring's Strait, and .my Lords desire you will accordingly proceed to San Francisco and Val paraiso to wait their further orders. - - . --- .- - "But should no further information have reached you respecting the Enterprise since she was reported off the Colville, it will be necessary for you to consider the expediency of remaining -..for another 'season at Point Barrow, with the view of affording assistance to Cap tain Collinson and his crew, should he still be com pelled to fall back on the Plover. On this point we are unable, from want of information relative to your proceedin€o since August last, and the further sidings you may have gained respecting the Enterprise, to give ymi any definite instructions ; their Lordships en tirely rely on your judgment as to the necessity of your remaining another year. They desire me to ac quaint you that the Plover and Rattlesnake are now detained solely on account of and to afford assistance to Captain Collinson and the crew of the Enterprise.. If you feel.- certain that the crew of that ship is safe, you are hereby directed to discontinue your present service and to return to Valparaiso.. If you should; however, after full deliberation, deem it to be essentially necessarY : , to extend this rservices of the Plover to another winter, it is tlapin lordships' directions that you should exchange any of your officers or men, revictual the ship, and again proceed to Point Barrow, provided the ship and your crew are efficient; but so soon as the season of 1855 i will admit, that you proceed to Greatly H arbour, wad COURT CIRC\ULAR. WINDSOR, APRIL 13. The dinner party at the castle yesterday included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Anna Maria Dawson, Lady AuguSta Bruce, Lady Frances Bruce, the Baroness de Speth, Sir George Couper, aid Colonel Lockyer, commanding officer of the 97th regiment. The Queen and Prince walked in the slopes this morninz. The Princess Royal and Princess Alice rode on horse. back. On Monday and Tuesday in this week the customary bounties were paid to aged and meritorious poor at the Ahnonry in Whitehall, under the direction of the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Lord High Almoner, and the Rev. Dr. Jelf, sub-almoner. The annual charities incidental to Maundy Thursday were distributed yesterday to 35 aged men and a cor responding number of aged women, with the usua formalities, in the Royal Chapel at Whitehall. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon a procession, consisting of a detachment of the Yeomen of the Guard, com manded by au Usher (one of them carrying the alms in a gold satirer of the reign of King William and Queen Mary), the Rev. Dr. Jelf, the sub-abnoner, Mr. Joseph Hanby, secretary and yeoman of the almonry in ordinary, and his assistant, accompanied by six children (three boys and three girls) from the national schools in West minster, who had been selected for their good conduct to participate in this privilege, proceeded to the chapel. The procession was joined in the chapel by the Lord Bishop of Oxford, the Rev. Dr. Wesley, sub-dean of the Chapels Royal, the priests, the gentlemen, and the cho risters. The procession then advanced to the communion table, and, having taken their respective stations, the church service a pp o i n t e d f or th e a f ternoon commenced. The clergy present were the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Lord High Almoner, the Rev. Dr. Jelf, sub-almoner, Rev. Dr. Wesley, sub-dean, the Rev. Dr. Vivian, and the Rev. Messrs. Haden, Povah, Pack, Hall, Helmore, Repton and Balfour. The gentlemen of the Chapel Royal, St. James's, were Messrs. Hobbs, Bradbury, Earnby, Machin, Chapman, Lockey, and Gray. Sir George Smart presided at the organ. The - Ri4bt . Hon. Sydney Herbert left town yesterday :or his seat, Wilton House, Wilts. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.-YESTERDA.Y. A thin attendance, and very little progress made in business. NEWMARKET HANDICAP.—Virago was backed for 1001. at evens, and 3 to 1 offered against Bracken. GREAT NORTHERN.—Virago was also in the ascendant for this event —lOO to 40 was taken. CHESTER CUP.—Baalbec was backed for 501. at 12 to 1 ; but the Star of Surrey, who was on a par with him last Monday, fell to 500 to 30 offered. Marc Antony was nominally at 12 to 1 ; in all probability higher odds might have been obtained. DERBY. - Some fresh investments were made on Au tocrat at 5 to 1 and 9 to 2- -the latter odds were taken to " 100 sovereigns ;" 6 to 1 taken about King Tom, who was backed at the Club for 1,000 even agst Dervish, about whom 13 to 2 was wanted. 1,000 to 40 and 2,200 to 100 taken about Andover, and 700 to 20 about Bessus. New Warrior was in the onward march ; after 40 to 1 had been taken to upwards of 2001., 1,000 to 30 was booked twice. In the early part of the after noon 1,000 to 25 was taken about the Knight of St. George, but at the close 50 to 1 was offered. L4TEST PRICES. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. Even on Mr. Howard's Virago. 3to 1 agst Mr. Newland's Bracken (offered). GREAT NORTHERN. sto 2 agst Mr. Howard's Virago (taken). CHESTER CUP. 11 to 1 agst Mr. F. Knowles's Baalbec (12 to 1 taken). 12 to 1 agst Mr. J. Powney% Marc Antony (t). 16 to 1 agst Mr. Howard's Star of Surrey (offd). 20 to 1 agst Lord Wilton's Duchess of Lorraine colt (taken). 25 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklarn s Peggy (taken). 50 to 1 agst Mr. F. Knowles's Talfourd (taken). THE DERBY. 9to 2 agst Mr: R. E. Cooper's Autocrat (t). 6to 1 apt. Baron 11 ,, thschild's King Tom (t). 6to 1 agst Lord Derby's Dervish (take 13 to 2). 22 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Andover (taken). 33 to 1 agst Mr. Siiepherdson's New Warrior (t). 35 to 1 ag.it Mr. Greville's Bessus (taken). LO to 1 agst Mr. Morris's Knight of St. George. Lavaca AT TFIE DOCKYARD, DEVONPORT.—The Phoebe, a fine frigate of fifty guns, was launched from this dockyard at half-past four yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a numerous body of spectators. The cere mony of christening the vessel was performed by Miss Hillyar, daughter of Lady Hillyar, of Torpoint, and on the platform in front of the Piicebe's bows were as sembled a considerable number of the elite of the neigh bourhood. The Phoebe is a sister ship to the Inde fatigable, and is of the following dimensions :—Length of keel, 174 ft. 8i in. ; between perpendiculars, 180 ft. ; extreme breadth, 51 ft. 6 in. ; depth of hold, l6ft. 6 in. ; burden in tons, 2,043 82-94ths• She went off in beau tiful style, amid the plaudits of those hi the dockyard, as well as a considerable number in vessels afloat, And assembled on the opposite he ghts. On the completion of the launch she was taken in charge by the Pike, Copfiance, and Avon steam-tugs, and conveyed along. side the hulk, where she will be fitted. It is usual for recently launched vessels to be taken alongside the jetty, but at this will be required during the embarka tion of the troops here, the general rule was departed from, and she will be completed with all despatch. THE DARIEN EXPLORATION. LOSS OF LIEUTENANT STRAIN AND PARTY. The following interesting account of this expedition, showing the impratticabiiity of the route, and the fright ful results to which it has led, are detailed in a letter to the eiitor of the New York Tribune, by Mr. T. Win throp, one of the exploring party. Sin,—As much anxiety is felt with regard to the Darien expedition, and for the safety of Lieu. Strain and his party, I feel called upon to mak e a genera l statement of what has happened. Ido not, however, presume, as a volunteer to the expedition, to anticipate the official report, which the Secretary of the Navy will no doubt make public. The facts connected with the despatch of the party are well kuown—the story of Dr. Cullen, the sending of Mr. Gisborne to verify it—his official report, with its m a p s , plans, profiles, and estimates—all placing the project of a line of communication across the Isthmus of Darien in the most favourable light. The highly respectable character of Mr. Gisborne's constituents caused the public to overlook certain assumptions in his statements ; and though it was evident that his estimates were incorrect, yet it was impos sible to regard the whole scheme as a bubble, and when our Government, in its characterof protector of thelsthmus and patron of inter-oceanic communication, was approached by an agent of the company, there was no hesitation in extend ing the cruise of the Cyane to Caledonia Bay; and in placing a small appropriation in the hands of Lieut. Strain, to form a party for the reconnaissance of the proposed route. Little difficulty was anticipated, and the resources of a man-of war were supposed to be nearly sufficient for the survey. It can hardly be believed that nearly all the representa tions with regard to the Isthmus by the canal projectors have been proved false ; that the main features of the ccuntry were totally misconceived, and that a scheme which was only an astounding fraud, has become a most criminal one, as involving the safety of Lieut. Strain and his party of 21 officers and men. The Cyane touched first at Carthagena for information with regard to the Isthmus, and to secure the co operation of the Government of New Granada. While there, intel ligence was received that a British and a French man-of war had been detailed for the same service, and that the Cyane was expected to join them.- Her instructions took no cognisance of this, and after waiting 10 days for Col. Codazzi, superintendent of the General Survey of New Granada, she sailed for Caledonia Bay, where she arrived. Jan. 17. Little information had been obtained at Cartha gena, but that little was unfavourable. Two gentlemen had been sent by the governor to see the Indians and pre pare the way for the survey. Caledonia Bay, extends into the channel of So,sardi, in a fine harbour, perfectly protected by a range of coral keys and rocky islands. The western entrance is shallow and exposed ; the eastern, though narrow, carries abundant depth of water. A complete chart of this bay has been made by the Cyane's officers. The general aspect of tke country from the water is most unpropitious —ranges of.hill above hill rise back to a lofty chain of mountains, all densely wooded. Immediately upon the arrival of the ship, the Indians from the neighbouring villages came on board and re quested that no one should land until the chief had been consulted. Several of them speak imperfect English, picked up among the coast traders. Next day a grand council was held on board the Cyane. The principal men of the coun try, for 50 miles up and down, assisted. They showed, as we had expected, great jealousy of any attempt to enter their territory. They represented the hills and forests as barriers placed by the Almighty against any canal; they spoke of the danger s from wild beasts, from swamps and forests. At last, full permission was given to traverse peacefully the country, and this was confirmed some days afterward by an envoy from the head of the nation at Mending° Bay. These Indians are a diminutive but active race, skilled in the use of fire-arms and the bow and arrow. They cultivate the cocoa to a considerable extent, the pro duct of this coast being much esteemed. Capt. Hollins took all possible precautions against hos tility on the part of the Indians, and there has never been reason to suspect them of treachery. At this time we were not informed of the murder of Capt. Prevost's men ; afterwards, when the natives were charged with it, they said that tluepeople of the interior, seeing these intruders, treated them as enemies, as they had entered the country without permission. I merely mention this to show that they pretended, at least, to consider their permission as a guarantee against attack. The mouth of the Caledonia River, whose course the pro posed canal route follows, is not accessible on account of the heavy surf ; the only safo landing is about two miles and a half distant, in shallow water. The action of the waves has raised a dyke at the mouth of the river, forming a deep pool above ; the water flows rapidly over this dyke about 10 feet wide, and waist deep. The other streams flowing into the bay aro much smaller. A mile above its mouth the Caledonia becomes a shallow rapid stream, run ning over a pebbly bottom. When Mr. Gisborne went up with his party, he pointed out the point where the Indians turned him back on his previous trip, about three miles from the beach. Our course lay along this stream, sometimes wading in its bed, sometimes cutting in the thick jungle on its banks. Six miles up by the windings of the stream, about four in a straight line, the river divides ; both its branches have been traced up, and found to have their sources 1,500 to 2,000 feet high in the Cordilleras. The descent of the river up to this point was about 60 feet. The party which left the Cyane consisted of 27 persons— Lieut. Strain, Messrs. Puxtim, Maury, and Garland, of the navy ; Dr. Bird, Messrs. Boggs, Kettlewell, Mayo, and Hollins, of the Survey ; LOllOll3, Castillo, and Polanco, despatched by the Governor of Carthagena ; Messrs. Holcomb and Avery, volunteers at Carthagena, and my• self, with 13 picked men from the Cyane. Every man car ried his own provisions for 10 days, blanket, arms, ammu nition, &e. The object was to make a run across the coun try, determine its general character, and return for the regular survey. Had Lieut. Strain anticipated the kind of work we found, his preparations would have been different. Mr. Gisborne's official report led him to expect a plain country, divided by a ridge of hills 150 feet in height, and on the other side of this the valley of the River Savana flowing direct to the Pacific. In following up the west branch of the Caldeonia, on the third day, and having already attained an elevation of about 200 feet, we came to a gorge in the mountain where the porphyritic rocks, precipitous on each side, formed a pool in the stream, too deep to pass without wetting everything. The order was given by Lieut. Strain to pass over the slope above this gorge, and rejoin the river be yond. We clambered up, and in about twenty minutes five of the party found their way separately into the bed of the stream above. It was a bad bit of hill, covered with a tangled tropical forest growth. After waiting a suaicient time, it was supposed that the remainder of the party had, in pursuance of the order, reached the stream higher up, and we proceeded slowly along, firing shots, as concerted ; we heard shots in answer apparently from above, and, con firmed in our previous belief, continued on, leaving notes of progress. We encamped that night on a few square feet of rock, having reached an elevation of about 700 feet in the midst of impracticable mountains, the stream, a more torrent, falling in successive cascades. The next morning we cut to the top of a hill 800 or 1,00 feet above us (1,500 feet above the sea), nothing was tobe seen except an unbroken mass of densely wooded mountains. As we had no compass, progress was impossible in the woods. We returned, and finding no traces of the party, made our way to the ship for a new attempt. We were still on the Atlantic side of the Cordillera. No anxiety was felt for the main body ; our party consisted of Messrs. Holcomb, Bird, Hollins (son of the captain of the Cyane), myself and one of the crew. Mr. Holcomb, an engineer of experience in South America and the Isthmus, and my self, were the only ones among the original party who had any knowledge of the country. During our absence, the British b r i g E sp ie g l e , sc h ooner Scorpion, and the French steamer Chimera, had arrived and landed a joint party of 60 under the guidance of Mr. Gisborne. I anticipate to say that they returned, after a fortnight, entirely baffled. They had found the same range of lofty mountains everywhere. Mr. Gisborno said that he had been entirely mistaken. Dr. Cullen was of the same party. There was but one opinion with regard to those persons ; the representations of both were proved totally false. Two parties were now despatched from the Cyane ; one to examine still furtker the mountain to the eastward, the other, consisting of those separated from Mr. Strain, with a reinforcement, was to join him if possible ; if not, to continue the exploration of the interior. The first Marty returned after a few days, having reached the summits of the chain in their direction, and found the mountains equally impracticable. Little anxiety was felt for Mr. Strain ; it was not sun posed that he would cut off his communications. We were this time provided with compass and cutting tools, and by their aid, on reaching our point of separation, were . able to fi n d t races o f our party. As they were proceeding dispersedly over the mountain, they had fallen in with a faint Indian trail leading westerly, and without sufficient consideration of the face that some of the party would, in pursuance of orders, proceed along the stream, they had hastily followed this trail, leaving scanty marks of their way. On arriving at their first station we found a note from Lieut. Strain, specifying the missing, and recom mending that if any should reach this point, after a certain period, that they should reture to the ship, as he would be too far in advance. Before reaching this station we had crossed several ridges, the highest near 1,500 feet. From this place Lieut. Strain had followed a small stream flow ing north-westerly, under the impression, derived from Mr. Gisborne's account, that it must be a tributary of the Sevens, the river whose course the proposed canal was to follow. But this person, who had overlooked entirely the existence of the Cordillera, had also failed to discover that between the valley of the Savana and the mountains is the valley of the main river of the Darien, the Chuqunaque, which flows for a long distance nearly parallel to the coast, draining the greater part of the Pacific slope of the range. He had mistaken the low hills to the westward of this river for the dividing ridge between the two oceans, and supposed that thii was the same stream upon which, a few miles from the Atlantic, he had been turned back by the Indians. What must be said of mistakes like these by an engineer, and what portion of the responsibility rests upon him if Lieut. Strain, still trusting to his map, has perished in the forests and swamps of the river? The necessary condensation of a communication like the present obliges me to omit much that can make the sub ject clearer. This humbug upon the three great maritime nations cannot be fully expressed in a paragraph. We proceeded on a direct course by compass, hoping to intersect the route of our companions. On the third day we crossed a range of the Cordillera, more than 2,500 feet high, and thence, by cutting away the trees, had a clear view of Caledonia Bay, distant from 12 to 14 miles. The ships were just visible. Descending this range, we found a river flowing in a favourable direction, and followed it, constantly expecting to find traces of our partY• We passed but one Indian hut, recently left by its three in habitants, and several stations for drying game ; we also saw three light canoes. N o thi ng , h owe ver, indicated a numerous population, and we have since ascertained that the principal villages are to the westward. As we proceeded, the stream became too deep to wade in and the vegetation more impenetrable. The scenery was exquisite—a New England mountain stream overhung by a tropical forest. We kept on until only just enough pro visions remained to enable us to reach the ship. The river had already diverged from the proper course, and we had determined it to be some tributary of the Chuquaque. At our extreme point we ascended a hill 600 feet high, and had a view of hill ranges and forest country extending from 12 to 15 miles westerly. We retraced our steps to the ship by the way we had carefully cut, eking out our provi sions by some plantains found in the deserted hut. Our return journey was a very exhausting one. I have se en much rough travel in the wilds of our own and other coun tries, but none so severe as this. On our return, we of course placed ourselves at the dis position of Captain Hollins, should he dispatch other par ties. There was as yet little apprehension for the safety of Lieut. Strain. It was supposed that he had crossed the country, and, if not finding it convenient to recross, would be returning via Panama. Letters were dispatched for him through a trading Indian, at the village of Sasardi, but they were brought back, with the batelhgence that the war. JS•