The Sun. — London, England, 1857-04-27 00:00:00

HER M AJESTY'S THEATRE. First appearance of Madlle. ORTOLANI. GIUGLINI, BENETENTANO, BELLETTI, POCCHINI. TO-MORROW, TUESDAY, April 28 (first time these seven years), Belliui's Opera of I PURITANI. Elvira, Madlle. Ortolani (her first appearance in Englanl); Arturo, Sig. Giuglini. After which, the Tbird Tableau of LA ESMERALDA. La Esmeralda, Madlle. Pocehini. For particulars, see bills. A limited number of Boxes in the Half-circle Tier have been specially reserved for the public, and mly be had on applica tion at the Box-office. at the Theatre Colonnade, Haymarket. Price One Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. fr ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. L!. TRAVIATA. PICCOLOMINI. GI LTGLINI, BENEVEN T ANO, POCCHINI EXTRA NIGHT, THURSDAY EVENING, April 3). LA TRAVIATA. Violetta, 3ldlle. Piccolomini. Ballet—LA ESMERALDA. La Esmeralda, Mdllc. Pocchini. For particulars see bills. A limited number of boxes in the Half Circle Tier have boon specially reserved for the public, and may be had on ap plication at the Box-office at the Theatre Colonnade, Hay. market. Prig() One Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. ROYAL rRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING, will be performed Shakespere's tragedy of KING RICHARD TUE SECOND. King Richard 11., Mr. C. Kean ; Queen, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by A GAME OF ROMPS. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET, Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. NEW ARRANGEMENT OF PRICES OF ADMISSION. THIS EVENING, and during the week, the new Drama of A LIFE'S TRIAL. Messrs. Buckstone, Comp ton Howe, W. Farren, Rogers; Mesdames Reynolds, Poyn ter, Fitzwilliam, &c. After which, the stnecessfu' Classical Love Sto*y. nn der the Apple-lation of A rALANTA or, The Three Golden Apples : in which Miss M. Oliver will appear; also Miss M. Wilton, and Miss Ellen Ternan. Concluding with LENT) ME FIVE SHILLINGS. In future the prices will be:— Orchestra Stalls (which may he retained the whole of the evening), 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. s. d. Second price. s, d. Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes '3 0 Upper .. . Boxes .... 3 0 Upper 80xe5...... Pit . . Lower Gallery 1 0 Lower Gallery 0 0 Upper Gallery 0 t No half-price to Upper Gallery. EIEA.TRE ROYAL. ADELPHI, Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed LIKE AND riULIKF, Chara'ters by lfessrs.Wright, Paul Bedford, dm.; Madame Celeste, Miss Windham, dz.e. Followed by THE ELVES, in which Madame Celeste win perform - To conclude with the new awl original domestic sketch, entitled WELCOME, LITTLE STRANGER. Mr. Wright Mr. Tani Bedford, &T. OYAL SURREY THEATRE, PIA Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Crnswick. THIS EVENING will be performed BRUITS. Brutus, Mr. Creswick. After which, OUR lIELLY. Nelly Bell (with songs), Miss Poole. FolMwed by THE MIME SAVOYARD AND HIS MONKEY. The Monkey, Mr. Flexmore. OYAL OLYMPIC TH.EATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, will I,e performed a new drama, called DADDY HARD ACRE. Mr. Robson, &c. The new drama, by Torn Taylor, Esq., A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHING. To conclude with THIEVES ! THIEVES ! ! Messrs. F. Robson, G. Vining, &c. Commence at balf-past Seven. ALSTLEY'S ROYAL AMP 'lira EATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. THIS EVENING (continued Sneceps), the highly succeasful Military Spectacle, called THE FRENCH INT ALGIERS; or, The Battle of Constantine. Novel and effective situations by Mr. W. Cooke's beantifnl Horses, trained by him. After which, the inimitable SCENES in the CIRCLE, in troducing Miss Kate Cooke on her b2autlful charger, Snow &op. The performance of Agnor Corelli and Family. To conclude with A MIRTHFUL FARCE. Commerco at seven o'clock. Dress Razes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, as. ; Private Boxes, from I/., no charge for booking ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. ; Upper Gallery, 6d, Rox•office open from Eleven till Four. Stave Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CANTERBURY HALL. Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists aro engaged for the performance of `elections from all the popnla.: Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, &c., viz.: Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunel], Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. longhmans, 11. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jones. J. Harker, W. Melling, P. Corn Senor Antonio M. de Solla, and E. L. Hime ; Masters Bennett and Corri ; Messrs. Sam Cowell, Sam Collins, and E. Maokney. Pianoforte, Mr. Coca Hicks; harmonium, .T. Caulfield, jun ; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre cisely. Suppers, &c., until twelve o'clock. MGR WATER AT LONDON BIM-MP,. Tuts DA :—Morn. 39 41111. aft. 3 —Evening 2 mid. aft. 4 To-Momtow—Morn. 26 min. aft. 4—Evening 49 min.aft 4 TrIE WEATHER—SIIN Ornme, APRIL 26. THERLSOMETICII, THE SRAM 49 •highest rinse noon yesterday. 41) lowest this morning and during the night. 42 this day st noon. BAROMETER. 29'70—now 29'93. wrNn.—N.E. to E..T.E ; blowing a strong gale, with bitter cold weather. Arm. 27. 4G highest since noon yesterday. 40-I)west tht corning and during the night. 45 .oi• day at noon. PAtiOlititTSß. 30.06. WIND, N.E.—Light, but Ytterly cold, with dull weather. 6:=4 „If , N.94lriA' • LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1857. Reform is the watchword ! It is the Key to the whole Mystery of the Future in regard to this Flfth Parliament of our Gracious SOVEREIGN. The New Hol:se of Commons is essentially a Rouse of Reformers. The Prime Minister—as we have insisted again and again —must, what ever else he may be, must necessarily, absolutelv, imperatively, be—A. Reformer ! That, as we ob served in so many words on Saturday, his come st last to be a positive Necessity. There is no blinking the matter. It glares upon the public recognition. It is a truth obvious and unde niable. The fact that it is so, is blazoned in cha racters so clear and legible that who3oever " runs may read "—it is blazoned, that is to say, in the long catalogue of the 654 representatives of the city, borough, county, cinque port, and university constituencies. So clearly and ao legibly that everybody appreciates the fact already, the unde niable and incontostible truth, that the late Gene ral Election has given tho causo of Reform not simply an enormous majority, but an overwhelm ing preponderance. Whoever, Runs, we say, Ca!l React this wholly indisputable truth, that the present Parliament, more peculiarly than any other since the passing of the Reform Bill, is essentially the Reform Par liament,. Does any one yet require some supplonaentary and conclusive testimony that it is, literally, as we are here insisting —Ai we have been insisting we don't know how long so pertinaciously 1 Any one so insatiably thirsting for corroboration, will find the last drop trimming over the Cup of his Incredulity iii —the Times of this morning ! The Times of this morning, Monday, the 27th of April, 1837, distinctly declares for Reform. That, we take it, is conclusive testimony (suppos ing any to have been still wantinl., , ) that the time for Reform has indeed at lenzth arrived. For— unlike any trivial Straw thrown up to show how the breez9 is blowing—the Times appear s On l y capable of being acted upon by a force equivalent to that of a hurricane ! It is the charac• teristic of our great contanaporzey. Insomuch that, without w i s hi n g to be merely complimentary, we may say of it with literal truth what L)rd BYRON said of the Banner of Free:loin in his Childs Harold (retaining Lord BYI-toN's own italics in our quotation), that actua:ly the Standard of its Opinion— "Streams like a thunder -aloud against tho wind!" That is literally the "bearing" of the Times in the avcrae current of eveLti—in fact, until the force of that uaTent, as we h ave i nt i mated, be- comes tAnt mount, 'so to speak, to the force of a Politics were, therefore, eschewed, bat there was hurricane ! something of scarcely less importance, that might safely be touched on. There were the indefatig able and efficient services rendered to the con stituency at large—the earnest attention and energetic action in every cause where the interests of the borough, or even of indivi dual electors, were concerned. The moment the election was over and the return made, the member was the representative as well of the minority by whom he had been opposed, as of the majority by whom he had been chosen. Sir A. COCKBURN never forgot that wholesome rule. Although engaged in legal practice, he sedu lously attended to commercial interests. Time, peculiarly valuable to the eminent advocate, was readily bestowed in every matter interesting not only to those who had shown their just appre ciation of his high qualifications, but also to others who had, through political differences, con scientiously opposed him. He remembered only that he was their represent%tive, the legitimate channel through which their wants and wishes should be expressed. And therefore, the warm and sincere gratitude of the commercial men was bestowed on him, who had well deserved it. Wherefore we hail to-day with peculiar and unaffected satisfaction the declaration' made in favour of Reform by our distinguished contem porary. What we have so long demanded, the Times now declares to be necessary—Reform bold, instant, and comprehensive ! There can no longer, therefore, be any mistake at all about it—even in the minds of the least credulous, with these final "Signs of the Times" before them challenging observation—there can no longer be any mistake at all about it, that the Pear is ripe at last Re form is virtually outs at this moment. Lot us be sure this time that it be adequate for the occa sion. We don't want any longer what even the very leader of the Conservative Opposition desig nated, in his address to his constituents, a series of bit-by-bit improvements. We don't want any longer any mere nibblings at evils requiring entire removal, root and branch. Whoever our Prime Minister is to be—we cannot tire of saying this, now that we are upon the eve of the new par liamentary session he must be A Reformer. And not simply A Reformer, but The Reformer. The man who will bestow upon his country the benefactions of the most well-considered, the most comprehensive, and the most urgently-required improvements ! 1 This is a salutary lesson to other Members. It teaches them what is required at their hands, and also encourages them to proceed in the right path, in the expectation that conduct like that which was so justly eulogised, may meet a simi lar reward, which even the most exalted, might refer to with pride to the last hour of his existence. To other Members, who hope to retire with honour from Parliament, we commend the example of Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN, and em phatically say, " Go thou and do likewise." We trust, however, that the political career of Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN has not altogether terminated. There is yet a mode by which his bri:liant oratory, and sound common sense, a no less important qualification, may be made avail able for other beside judicial services. He can not obtain a seat in the House of Commons, but he may in the Peers. The hereditary branch of the Legislature, the tribunal of ulti mate appeal requires such a man._ Of course we do not presume to dictate to our SOTEREIGN as to the mode in which she may be pleased to exercise her undoubted prerogative. But should she be pleased to call Sir ALEXA.NDER COCKBURN to the Upper House, it would not only be satisfactory to the entire community, but at tended with vast advantage to the national interests. He has proved beyond the pos sibility of doubt that ho possesses that grasp of intellect that enables him to take enlarged views of the great questions of legal reform, and the power of giving clear ex pression to his opinions, so that he who runs may read. The only person who could suffer by such an exercise of the prerogative is—him self. He would have new duties, the conscien tious performance whereof, and his past career affords the best evidence that they would be conscientiously performed, would involve great additional labour. Lord. COCKBURN could not be more honoured or distinguished than Sir A. COCIEDURN. Would that we could see him carrying out, or even aiding and assisting in carrying out the admirable measures of legal reform on which ho has so frequently spoken. He is not " the mere lawyer" or the persuasive advocate, but something more—not only a legal machine fitted to pronounce judgments, but one peculiarly qualified to take large and comprehensive views, and to achieve tho arduous task of cleansing the Augean Stable. To the knowledge of the truest technicalities of the law, he adds the discriminating power, which enables him to see where there is a fault, and the creative one to suggest an adequate remedy. And those improvements ! What are they to be ? We mint have them enumerated explicitly and categorically. The community is no longer t• have its hunger satisfied by mero vague gene ralities. It require:, and it will have, at the hands of its statesmen—not the old illusory Pro mises of Reform, not merely the Fore-sha.dovrings of Prospective Improvement—but positive Mea sures, Practical, and Substantial. And First of all these Reforms—let us put the matter distinctly—there is the BALLOT That, we say at once, as plainly as words can at a'l ex press it, is the First Requisite ! Any further R--form, without " The Ballot," will be nothing less than " a mockery, a delusion,. and a snare." The Ballot, and The BATA alone, can really secure to the industrial voters throughout the country the power of inthpe.ndently exercising the el-:ctive franchise entrusted to their hands by the Constitution. Therefore, we repeat, DIE BALLOT among all RefortnF, must necessarily be the First and Foremost. Without "The 13 , 1t0t," all the hopes of Liberalism are the merest delusion. With " The Ballot" the pathway is smooth and level before the new Reforming Par liament.. We believe that upon the re- cognition, the candid and manly recognition of this one essential Precursory Reform, the Question of the Premiership may be at once de cided. Lot Lord PA.LMERSTON declare for it let Lord JOHN RUSSELL declare for it—whichever of the two might pronounce for The B slot first would instantly have all the Advanced Liberals of the lend at his back as his supporters. There would follow in due sequence all the rest of the great national requirements —an extension of the suffrage an approximate equalisation of the electoral districts—the disfranchisement of sundry old, and the organisation of sundry new constituencies. These and divers other kindred innovations. But, first of all and as an essential prelimigary to them—The Billet ! Reform, we have said, is the Watchword of the New Parliament. " The Ballot " has hitherto been the Shibboleth, let it now be the Rallying Cry of our Reforming Statesmen. It is always satisfactory to recognise the exist ence of a cordial and friendly understanding be tween a Member of Parliament and those by whom ho has been chosen for that high position. It is oven more gratifying to find, when that con nection has permanently terminated, the expres sions of mutual good will and affectionate regard —to know that the parties have been pleased with each other, and can refer with honest pride to the manner in which they had discharged their respective duties f Tile grand banquet at the Audit-hall, Southampton, given by the Chamber of Commerce to their 1 tte representative, Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN, was alike honourable t o the distinguished guest and to hii hosts. It was as SaLIESPERE said of " the quality of mercy," " twice blessed," reflecting almost equal credA on all concerned. The learned Lerd Chief Justice had ample cause for remembering with gratitude the manner in which he had been treated by those who enabled him to achieve a brilliant Par liamentary reputation, and who, from first to last, rendered a disinterested support. Even his opponents merited the graceful allusions made, to their conduct, in his speech. There was never any factious opposition got up for the mere sake of annoyance. As he truly declared, when "offi cial advancement interrupted his tenure in Parlia ment, his political opponents"—he had no private or personal enemies—" exercised a generous for bearance, and troubled him not with opposition." When there were contests of principle, they "fought manfully and fairly," while his friends fully merited the name, too often abused, and by their indefatigable exertions ensured the triumphs he invariably achieved. HEALTH OF THE DUCHESS OF GLOU- CESTER. The fullowingbulletin was issued this morning : " G 1 )ucester House, April 27, 9 a.rn. "Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester's state his undergone no change, except a slight diminution of strength; (Signed) "F. HAArxiNs, M.D. " ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D. " E. H. HILLS, M.D." It was not merely as representative, that the Right Honourable Chief Justice was connected with Southhampton. It was there when a young and comparatively unknown man, that be had fulfilled his first judicial duties. Sixteen years since he had been appoint)d Recorder of South ampton, and in that station had displayed all the high qualities required for the more exalted position he now occupies. As the Chairman— Mr. J. R. STEBBlNG—declared, his conduct as Recorder was as free from taint as he believed would be his career as one of the Chief Justices. He had fairly and honourably won the confidence subsequently bestowed on him, and it must have been "the hour of his life" one worth living for, when ho found all parties—those who were ouce fuel, as well as friends, but now all friends with out exception—vieing with each other to render him the !velour be had so 'eminently merited. The banquet differed from many of those that take place during the Parliamentary recess, or immediately before the meeting of the Legislature. Politics and party questions were expressly tabooed. There is a salutary judicial etiquette that prohi bits the judges of the land from appearing at public entertainments save at the Mansion -house of the cityof London. But all will admit that in the present instance the rule was " more honoured in the breach than iu the observance." The questions of the day, these that must inevitably be brought under the netice of the Legislature were not di..- ces‘ - ed ! There was nothing to show that the honoured and imparfal Judge had any bias as to the creation of the 1 tws that be might subse quently be required t ) ictarprt t. Generally speak ing the birth of the Judge bet ,keued the death of the politician ! From that moment he ceased to be a legiA dor. His -no less arduous and his- portant task was to int , g-pret and decide on the enactments which ha.;.l obtained, or might yt,t rr eeive the legislative sanction. The most enthu siastic legal reformer in such a position must en deavour to administer "the law 3 as they- are, not as they ought to be," and from that duty we are fully convinc?l that Sir ALELTONDER COCKI:1111N will Dot swerve cr nevii,te in the't-lightekt degree. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY E Nry , AP"I IL 27, N L eit , NCH OF THE ROYAL SOVEREIGN. the list century. Tlio following are their relative dimensions : (FURTHER PAITICULARS.) PORTSMOUTH, SATURDAY. Another noble steam thre,e-decker has been added to the British fleet this day, with unsurpassed, if not unequalled éclat so faras the successful launch ing and the interest mani!csted in that event can indicate. No launch within the remembrance of any shipwright or spectator present was ever more dashingly exhibited than that of the Royal Sove reign. She is the most perfect model three-decker afloat, and an improvement upon all others. She was originally designed and framed as a sailing ship of 110 guns, after the sample of the Queen, and was commenced building in December, 1849, but after the success of the experiment of cutting the Windsor Castle, (similar ship) in two, and making a steam 131-gun Duke of Wellington of her, and the satisfactory repetition of the experiment with the Marlborough, it was ordered that the Royal Sove reign should undergo the like process, and about two years ago, when up in frame, she was length ened 23 feet amid-ships, 7 feet for the screw aper ture, and 5 feet on the bow, and thus we have the splendid and powerful screw 131 gun battery of to day. She is the produCtion of the present Naval Architect General, Capt. Sir B. Walker, Bart., K.C.8., and has been built under the immediate direction and personal superintendence of Mr. R. Abethel, the master shipwright of Portsmouth Dockyard. We gave her dimensions ani armament in The Sun of Saturday, but we repeat the former for the purpose of showing the growth of our first-class line-of-battle ships as compared with that time-honoured hulk of the same class of the last century (the Victory), and to found a few prelimi nary remarks upon the development of the steam fleet generally. The first steam-vessel that carried the Admiralty pennant, we believe, wai the Comet, built by M r . Lang, at Deptford, in 1822, but she was not built to carry guns, as may by imagined by her circumscribed dimensions and toanage - - _ --- T -- - - I •v; 1 ~.. :,-; • , Si rz 0; g Dlinuis!ons. ,F.gb-- ~ t. 1 t 52. ::-. 14 WI C. / ' a •-• ''''' p.o . a A-. ~, ~.t. 4 ;ir, ---.—.. ___...... _.—....___ ..--........... ------- Ft. In. Ft. In. Ft. In. Ft. In. Length from forepart ) of figurehead to after • • 278 6 . 986 4 280 1 part of the taffrail.. Length between the } 186 0 240 6 ! 245 1 210 7 perpendiculars Length of • keel for / 153 ... , fx "101 11% 206 31 , 201 11% tonnage ' Breadth extreme.,.... t)1 6 60 0 61 2% 60 0% Breadth for ,teounge.... .. 59 2 G O 4% 59 2% Breadth nnulded .. 54 4 , 59 6% 58 4% Depth in hold Burden in tons ... Horse .power .. .. •• .. None. 700 803 Bro Length betwe en p e rp en di culars Feet. Inches, 115 0 Length of bed for tonnage lOl 2 Breadth, extrem e Depth in hold ..... Burden in tons 238 She was a paddlewheel vessel of 80-horse power, with beam engines by Boulton and Watt. This at the time was a " wonder" in the fleet. The little pioneer hai done much work in her time, and done it well, and we never heard of her engines break ing down. They are as good now as they were at first, and she is still doing ( I .uty. The first attempt at a steamvessel to carry guns was the Salamander, builr ten years after the Comet (1832), by Mr. Seaton, at Sh eerness, of 818 tons, 220-horse power, paddlewheel, and which realised a maximum speed of 8 . 9 miles. She was one of a batch comprising, among others, the following : When and where Horse built. Tons. pm Builder. Dee Woolwich, 1852 704 200 Seppings&Lang. Radamanthus Ply mou th , 1832 815 220 • Roberts. Phoenix Dee W oo l w i c h , 1833 835 359 Lang. These mounted from two to four guns, and wore considered steam-sloops ; but five years later we attempted a vessel of the dimensions of a frigate, and classified as a steam-frigate ; this was the Gorgon, of 1,111 tons, 320 horse-power, and whose greatest speed recorded is 11.1 miles per hour. She carried six upper deck guns, and was pierced for a maindeck armament (designed by Symonds, and launched in 1837), and this is the official record of her character—" Failed to carry her guns ; could not steam off a lee shore." The next attempt at a steam-frigate was the Cyclops, also by the architect of the Gorgon, but larger and 12 feet longer ; she was launched in 1839, was of 1,195 tons. 320 horse power, and pierced for an upper and main deck armament ; she "failed to carry her guns." These two vessels when introduced to the service were the admiration and pride of the navy, and the Gorgon created as much curiosity as did the Great Britain when she first lay alongside Black wall pier as a show ship. But, alas for the mute blity of naval as well as human things, the Dee, Rhadataanthus, Cyclops, &c., have been long transports of stores from port to port, and the Comet, eon an Admiralty, and once the Queen's yacht-, now fills the office of a supQrnumerary tug in Portsmouth harbour. The attempt at building a 7,iears,-frigate having failed, the designer of tir,,se notW•ilities turned his uction of one out o f a sa ili ng f a lor t ip t ga e e n ,t t eo io fa n ture to azi‘ t yu h n e prod l', s, ale. For this p ur p ose th e Pene built at Chatham in 1829, was taken in 'nand. She wa s o f th e following propor tient& • Peet. Inches. length between perpendiculars 215 2 Breadth, extreme Depth in hold 26 8 Tons burthen Horse-power (paddle-wheel) 650 Her character is handed down to posterity in these terms :—" A French frigate ruined. Converted to a steam-ship. Useless except as a troop-ship. Slow. A 42-gun sailing frigate, lengthened amid ships 63 feet, and fitted for sea as a steam-frigate with engines of 650 horse-power, at an expense for hull and machinery of 59,4891. !" Convertad in 1842. Her greatest speed was 9.6 miles per hour. Another hand was commissioned to produce, (if possible) a floatable and fightable paddlewheel steam frigate ; the French Gomer having in the interval of the advent of the Penelope and the order for an other attempt made le:r appearance in this harbour with the late King of the French, here was a model to be copied and improved upon, and in 1845 we have the four-funnelled monster Terrible, built by Mr. Oliver Lang, of the following dimensions : Feet. Inches. Length Breadth 42 6 Depth 27 4 Toes 1,850 Horse power (paddle) 800 Her greatest speed recorded is 12.5 miles per hour ; the official opinion registered of this ship is, that " from her large power and size she should have done 16 miles an hour with ease. She cost 101,0001. ;" and this to carry only 21 guns, but then we eclipsed the Gomer, and that was con sidered. something. Paddles still reigned the fashion at Whitehall, and hull after hull was launched constructed for that rapidly dying out means of propulsion. The great historical fact re mains that about this time the Admiralty barge was towed (their Lardships being in her) at the rate of 10 miles an hour ou the river Thames by a vessel propelled with the screw. The day after this won derful experiment au official letter was received by the inventor to the effect that the screw was " not applicable to her Majesty' service. ' The little Rattler in the meantime had been developing seri ous and importaet advantages of the screw over the paddle in numerous experimental trials on the Thames and the Channel, and, all the enormously powered paddle steam frigates having yielded so little serviceable efficiency in return for the great ness of their cost, the Surveyor tried his hand at an old sailing frigate of the Seppiugs' build, and con verted her toa steamer with a power of a 300-horse screw as fin auxiliary, and in 1849 produced the Amphion at a cost 76,4111. Her dimensions were : Foot. Inches. 177 0 43 2 13 41 Length ... Breadth Depth Tonnage 1,474. She was fitted with Count Rosen's rotary engines, and has distinguished herself and her numerous in ventors and experimentors by braking down oftener than any other steamer afloat. The cost of 76,4111. was up to the time of her leaving Sheerness " converted," but since that time (1847) we believe she has cost a good proportion of the same sum. She is now in ordinary at Sheerness. Conversion having done so little to produce either a good paddle or a screw steam frigate worthy of the name, a new hand was commissioned to build a "genuine" frigate, and in 1848 Mr. Fincham gave to the navy the Arrogant : It will lie seen by the above figures that the steam three-decker of the present day is nearly 100 feet longer than the old sailing ship, and is as much an improvement in all internal requirements as in ex ternal appearantee. It would be impossible to frame a handsomer or more graceful body of the same great dimensions than the Royal Sovereign, and the eag,-r desire manifested on the part of all classes to obtain a good view of the launch proves that tie interest of such national spectacles has not died away or diminished with the frequency of the exhibi , ion. The time appointed for the ceremony of naming the ship and releasing her from the stocks was about 20 minutes to 12, but by 9 o'clock the public began to crowd into the dockyard. Com fortable accommodation was made by Admiral- Superintendent Martin for the berthing of about 10,000 spectators in at-dls, and a grand stand was erected at the he ad of the ship for the Admiralty and military authori ties an. I their visitors expect - ed. Her Majesty's ship Si. Vincent and the receiving ship Bellerophon, which wee moored off the front of the slip, were crowded with company, and nu merous yachts and steam-packets, as well as a great flotilla of hired boats, alt hadeu with company, and themselves gaily dressed ;n flags, lent a picturesque feature afloat to the animat •d scene ash ire and within the building shed, which was hand-onnely decorated in various ways, and resounded with the lively music played by the band of the Royal Ma rine Light Infantry of the Gosport Divi ion. The stands were n ,, t much more than half full at 11 o'clock, at which time the tide had risen so high that the ship manifested eymptoms of getting ic • alive,e and it became imperative to nacre and launch her to prevent the annoyance of her 1 tunch ing herself. A shout was rased, and Miss Seymour, the eldest daughter of the Commander- in-Ch ef, took the bottle of wine from Mr. Abethel, the master shipwright, and, pronouncing—" Success to the Royal SoJvreign, and honour to all who serve on board her," desired it against the st.e7o, and in five minutes more the stupendous fabric glided majestically and securely into the sea, amid the reiterated plaudits of 40,000 spectators. She " broke on launching " three inches, and her draught of water when afloat was—forward, 14 feet 6 inches ; aft, 20 feet 2 inches. Her en gines, of 800 horse-power, by Maudsley, are already here and waiting to be fitted to her, which will be done under the superintendence of Mr. Robert Taylor, Chief Eni,ineer, R.N., late of her. Majesty's ship Colossus. Never was the axiom of " time and tide wait for no man" proved more aptly than iu the launch of the Rod al Sovereign, for not even the necessary presence of the First Lord of the Admi ralty was waited for ; the time of tide having ar rived delay became dangerous, and off she went. But Sir Charles Wool's disappointment was shared by the Duke of Richm , nd, the Prince of S ixe- Weimar, the Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant- Governor, and other dignitaries, as well as by thou sands on thousands, who flocked•into the dockyard from country places, excursion trains, dec. Sir George Seymour, Admiral Martin, Mr. Abethel, and other officials all entertained large parties of visitors on the occasion, which was male a gala day in and out of the dockyard. Fent. Inches. 200 0 45 4 15 1 Length.. Breadth Depth • Tens 1,862 Horse power (auxiliary) 360 This was a decided success. At last we had achieved the object for which so many hundreds of thousands of pounds had been spent, and a model was sat up, from which have sprung the Imperieuses, Euryal uses, and Shannon of the navy. The Arrogant was the pioneer of the new system, which has gone ou improving in success with eaoh attempt under the present scientific and practical constructive depart malt of the navy and under the surveyor-general ship of Sir Baldwin Walker. The next impoitant adaptation of the screw was to line-of -battle ships, and tho French having started the construction of "block" ships, we began to look around for some " old materials" out of which to " convert" the new class of bulwark. The experiment was unhappy. The selection fell upon Cu Blenheim, built at Deptford in 1813 by the thou "sir veyors of the navy ;" she was a 74, fitted out at a cost of 80,0801., repaired from 1814 to 1844 at a cost of 74,4551., fitted for a steam blockship on leaving Sheerness for Portsmouth. (October 27, 1847) at a further cost of 76,9981. We thus get a blockship which steams about seven miles an hour with 450-horse power at a total " trifle" of 231,5331, We now come to the steam three-decker of to day, as compared with the sailing three-decker of THE GMAT W BOUGHT-IRON GUN. The following report has been recently issued by the Admiralty authorities : " February 5. "The committee are not in possession of any informa tion respecting the manufacture of this gun, but have requested the Mersey Steel and Iron company to furnish them with full details of the processes of the mnnufa - ture, as a record and for - future guidance. The dimen sions of the gnn are as follows : Ft. in. llztreme length ... Length of bore Diameter of bore 0 13.05 Diameter at base-ring Diameter at trunnions $ 3.75 Diameter at muzzle • 2 3.5 Weight of guns, 21 tone 17i cwt. Weight of carriage, 7 tons 1.1 cwt. " When the gun was delivered by the company two flaws had existed in the bore—one at the extreme end, which it was understood was bored out and the cavity filed by a plug 8 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep, being driven or screwed in ; the second commenced at the edge of the first and extended two-and-a-half inches towards the side and one-third of an inch in depth. This now exists in its original state. To ascertain the range of the gun at different elevations it has been fixed 10 rounds at each of the following—viz., point blank, 1 deg., 3 deg., 5 deg., 7 deg., 10 deg., 12 deg., 15 deg., and 18 deg. ; the charge, 50th. ; weight of shot (solid), 280th. "The result of the practice is as follows :-- IILLETATIOtt. DIFLKITION—YARDS. Ist Graze. Extreme. Ist Graze. Extreme. P. 8......, 599 1 deg 1 deg 5 deg 7 deg 10 dog 12 deg 15 deg 18 deg "The vent having become worn, the gun was bouched after the completion of the firing at 7 deg. elevation (in the first instance the vent had been bored out of the metal of the gun, no bouching being used). After the completion of the whole of the above number of rounds, the flaws previously described as having existed in the first instance appeared not to have undergone any change ; the impression taken shows, however, a thin crack extending from the plug at the bottom of the bore about 3 inch in length. In comparing the ranges of this gun with others it appears that the ranges are greater than those of the 68-pounder 95 cwt. smooth bore gun ; that they are al.o greater in a slight degree than the Lancaster-bore 68 pounder 95 cwt. gun up to 5 deg., but at higher elevation the Lancaster gun ranges the furthest ; at 18 deg. the Lancaster being 5,300 yards ; 13 inch gun, 4,966. In comparing these ranges, it must be remembered the windage of the guns are, 13 inch gun 2, 68 pounder gun smooth bore 2, 63 pounder Lan caster bore .08. The committee have now completed the practice to ascertain ranges, &c., with 50 lb. of pow der and solid shot, as arranged with the Mersey Com pany, but they beg to add that the above experiments do not enable them to form any opinion as to the strength and advantages of guns of this weight, material, and mode of manufacture, the gun not having been placed at the disposal of the Government for such purpose. " W. CATOB." LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, April 27.—Wind this day at noon, N.N.E. moderate bret•zo and cold weather. WITEAFORD.--Sailed — Jenny Lind, for Quebec HULL, April 26.—Wind N.E.—Sailed—lsabel (s.), for Davis Straits. GRlkTSßY.—Sailed7Gyppr, for Quebec. FALMOUTH, April 26.—Wind E.N.E., strong breeze.— Arrived—Eliza, from Demerara; Stewart, Rungoon ; Prusee, Matanzas; Harloop, Plymouth. PORTSMOUTH, April 26. --Wind N.E.—Arrived—Stir lingsbire, from Savannah ; City of Bristol, Loudon, and sailed for Australia ' • her Majesty's ship Devastati on , De vonport, and sailed for tilt) eastward ; Emperor, London, for Japan. HOLYHEAD, April 26.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrived—Am bassador, from Plymouth for Liverpool, towed in by the Albatross (s.), from Liverpool to Cers, with lose of bows sprit, and considerable damage to bows, from collision with the latter. STONEHAVEN, April 26.—The jessamine, of this port, caught fire last night, and was sunk to extinguish it. RAMSGATE, April 26 —The Lewis, from Newcastle to Batavia, has put in leaky, having been on shore; will dis charge, . _ _ SWANSEL, April 26.—Wind B.N.B.—Arrived—Con grecs. from s!avannab. Shawl—Catherine, for Ma leirs. BELFAST April 25.—Saile , l—Lsconic, for Quebec. WARRENFOINT.—Arrived— Claud, from St. John, N.B. ABERDEEN, April 25.--Wind S.—Arrived—Saxon, from Moulmein. YSTAD, April 27.—The Titania, from Memel to Scot land, is stranded near Baskanolla, and most likoly wrecked. PORTRUSH, April 24. —The Revival, of Douglas, Isle of Mao ' is supposed to have p r i c k e d upon her anc h or; i s sunk. (PER ELECTRIO TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Monday Morning. Wind E.N.E. Arrived—TOrkshire, from New York; Mansanito, Sa raonah; Arab, Biltioa; Koweot, Amsterdam; F. E, Bil boa; haidue, Cork; Arcadia, screw steamer, Constanti noPl*; Ebro, screw steamer, Marseilles; Prima Donna, Mauritius; Crystalline, Montevideo. Sailed—Jurnelles, for St. Louis ; General Parkhill, Charleston; Huntress, Arensberg; Industrie, Ostend. (BY SUBXABINE AND Barris 1 TKLEG ELAM) GRLYESEND, Mondy, 9.55 a.m. Wind N.E. ; tide hat hour's ebb ; strong and cloudy. Arrived—Virceniging, from Landscrona. Sailed—Franklyn, for Demerara. COMMANDER IN-CALIEF AT DEVONPORT.—It is confi dently rumoured is professional circles that the appo in t. went of Comsaandor-in Chief at Dovonport, in soccestiion to Admiral Sir William PArker, has been offered to Vice-Admiral S;r Charles Napier. Should this prove correct, the gallant cfficer, should he accept the appoint ment, will be under the necessity of reli nqu i ? hi ng his seat for Southwark.—Un i ted So-t• ice Gazette. .SAT E'S 1. 1 3 1 ? • • DRESDEN, SUNDAY. The Journal de Dresde states, in its corre- spondence from Vienna, that Prussia and Austria act perfectly in concert ou the Holstein question, and they have agreed to grant a further delay until Denmark shall have definitively recons tuted her Cabinet. BERNE, APRIL 25. Dr. Kern will set out to-morrow for Zurich. He is to return to Paris. The most influential members of the Gl,vern ment of Neuchatel, have declared themselves in favour of the proinsals of Frady and England. The Paris correspond , nt of the Times (S cond Edition), in his letter dated yesterday, says:— " The impatient politicians who desire d and ex pected. that Piedras nt would have taken the initia tive in declaring war against Austria imtned'a.ely afti her rupture with that Power, without taking into account the present polit•cal situation of Ea rope and the maii3 difficulties in the way of a terza riscossa, complain bit er•ly of the slow march of events in Italy. On the other hand, every man of common sense, and indeed I may say the majority of the populatioe, approve the prudence and ability of the statesmen who are at the head of the Sardinian Government. The'r policy is wise acid mode rate ; they sustain the hon ur•and the inte . ets of their country ; and they successfully uphol I the national cause before the great Council of the Powers of Europe. This policy is not what Austria would prefer ; I,er views would be better answered by a totally different conduct. Finding herself in danger of being completely isolated o►i the continent, she is doing her best to regain, by the intrigues in which she is such an adept, the ground she has lost, and to excite , Igainst a country whose moderation is so inconvenient to her, and whose form of govern ment inspires her with dislike and fear, every sort of embarrassment. The Cabinet of Vienna takes advaivage of the rupture between the two Governments to open a sort of crusade in Italy and Germany as in 1848. On the 2d of April Count Buol communicated to the various Courts of Germany a circul•r note, in which are related the particulars of his last interview with the Marquis Gantono, the Sardinian Minister at Vienna. He states in that paper that when expressing his regret to the Marquis at not having rece:ved an official answer to the " special grievances" (I quote the words of M. Buol) set forth in his note of the 16th March, the Marquis handed him a private letter from Count Cavour, in which, without en tering into details, the head of the Sardinian Government repeats briefly, but decidedly, the firm resolution of the King's Government to fulfil towards Austria after the rupture as before it, all the obligations which are imposed by existing treaties. In the circular note M. de Buol shows plainly his desire that the policy of Austria towards Piedmont should be adopted by the German Courts. He concludes in these words :—‘• It now only remains for us to await the solution of this question, and to see whether the attitude of the Canimet of Turin will be modified so as to permit us to resume regu lar diplomatic relations." The two-fold object of Austria is evident from that note, viz., to associate the whole of Germany in her own interests in the Austro-Sardinian question ; and to cause Germany to share her views of the conduct of Sardinia. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post (Second Edition) says :—"I believe I may assure you the Government of Piedmont has declared to France and England that no attempt will be made to disturb the tranquility of Europe ; on the con trary, Sardinia desires peace, and her policy is purely defenNive. Austria appears to feel deeply the diplomatic blunder she has committed in break ing off friendly relations with her Italian neighbour, mad is anxious to repair the error. Piedmont is willing to effect a recoucilliation, but will never make the first approach, whatever amour:t of in trigue may be set on foot to induce her to do so." FRANCE. PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING. The Sentinelle de Toulon asserts that the visit of the Emperor of Russia to the Western Courts is decided upon. The Grand Duke Constantine's visit to the French Court will be of a fortnight's duration. From the Ist of May there will be a series of fetes, reviews, balls, and spectacles in honour of his Im perial Highness. Tne Prince will employ his mornings in visiting the principal public monu ments, scientific estat.lishments, and museums. O❑ the 10th the Prince will leave with the Court for Fontainebleau, end remlin there unt.l till 13th. He will then return to Paris aryl remai❑ fur two days, taking his departure on the 15th. Ou leav ing Paris the Prince will proceed to Bordeaux, and afterwards visit the different ports on the Atlantic and in the. Channel. The installation of Cardinal Morlot as the four• teenth archbishop of Paris took place this day al two o'clock at Notre Dame. The MoNiteur has a letter of the 22d, from Nice. The Empress of Russia quitted Nice on the 21st, and embarked at Tillafranca on board the steam frigate Oiaff, which sailed on the following day for Civita Vecchia. The Empress left 20,000 f. for " pious uses," 6,000 f. irkad of fou n di ng a savings bank, and sums to be divided among several hos pitals. The Moniteur publishes the trimensal report of the Minister of the Interior, and the Frenchmen decorated for acts of srlf devotion and valour in the last quatter of 1856. BOtritSß, April 25.—The following were the last quotations ; Cash. fr. C. 4i per Cents ......... 92 25 3 per Cent 5..,,....... 69 50 Bank Shares .........4,395 Credit Mobilier ...... 1,357 50 Roman Do. Account. ......... 1,3 t • —.Austrian Belgian 41 ......... 100 i— Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) 9O 10 Home Debt ... End of 3ionth. 92fr. --c. 69 60 itAILViTAYS-IFOR CASS. tr. c. tr c. Orleans 1,4071 Wostern Northern 1,030 Strasburg Lyons 1,530 New Ditto Mediterranean 2,135 Grand Central 3 — Geneva - Sardinian . 5BO Midi a — London, April 25, 1Z o'clock, Consols 93k, One, 93k. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, April 24.—The Oesierretchische Zeitung of this mornmasays the correspondence of the Times) has a leader, in which it is said that the breach between Austria and Russia" is not s 'w id e as it was a short time ago," but it is pcthctly well known to me that the very reverse is the case. Russia and Austria hate each other with such a deadly hatred, • that they would probably come to blows if they were not both Bo miserably poor. So jealous are th e Aus trians of the attentions paid by Prance to Russia and her sons, that they are now endeavour ing to persuade themseives that the reception given to the Grand Duke Constantine will be exactly the same as that which the Archd u k e F erdioaud Maxi milian met with in the month of September, 1855. There question of a re newa l o f th e dip!o nate can relations o between A ustr i a and Sirdinia for a : some time to come, but it affords me satisfaction to b e able to state that both Governments are equally desirous to avoid any measures which could widen the breach. Intelligence from Vienna confirms the assertion that Itus3ia has declared, through Baron de Bud berg, that she completely coincides with the Aus trian Cabinet in it 3 view of the affair of Mon tenegro. A letter from Vienna of the 20th, in the Bourse Gazette of Berlin, say :—" Couru. Issue Brahe, ambassador of Denmark to this court, had a long interview yesterday with Count de Bu 1. The re suit was to for the Danish ambassador, as Court de Buol declared that a strict compliance with the demands of the Austrian and Prussian Governments would alone deter the latter from bringing the question in dispute before the Frank fort Diet at an early DENMARK. Accounts from Copenhagen of the 20th state that the Ministry of Foteign Affairs in the new Cabinet, which had been offered to Baron de Mow, represent -dive of Denmark to the German • Cotif,•dflration, has been declined by hitt], and that M. Bluhme and M. Tiilisch have po;•itively refused to join any Cabina. M, and M, Andra© will, it is wide !, End it difficult to obtain good Minister for affi.irs of 1 - 1012 t .in. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of 20th have reached us ; but we find no news of political iuter(st in theta. The Archbishopric of Burgos, Mgr. Corilo, had, after much hesitation, consented to be trans lated to the archbishop of T(iledo, which is th e primacy of Spain:. The existence of a conspiracy is said to be the 1 eason why the Queen w . ll not opea the Cores in pers. n. A consdet able amount ofscae dal is going on - a . Cout t, owing to the quarrels which openly take plate between the King ;knd the Queen about money affairs. Some d sturbances to the cry of " Long bye Charles V!" had tak,ll place 0 Valls, in Ca' alonil, but had been promptly sula pre,sed. The bind captured in the neighbourhoud of Haro had admitted themselves to be Carlists. It, was generally hrli= ved that M. Martinez de la lio•a would be elected preside:it of the Corte 3 without opposition. A Berlin letter, in tie Cologne Gazette, says "The Marquis de Moustier, Ambassador of - France has just. delivered to Vie King a letti,r from his relat ng to the Neufchatel question. The s.lutien of thri affair on the basis of the arrangement propost-d by the four Powers is eon' sidered ceita,iu here." The Russian Government ha 3 just decreed that the shar , s of the gr.-.at Ittisian Railway Comps' l l shall be r,c,ived at the cur+et,t pric-, lit;e ttie fun of the St:tte for the various securities required iv the public departments. The Emancipation of 13rissels :TIT; It was said on Thursday in the lob i s of the Chamber that the Government had resolved on proposing; to the L-gislature a dowry of 250,000 f. in capital to the Princess Cha , L)tte, and several members ex" pressed surprise that the sum was not higher ; but we believe that the Minis . ry has adopted that amount because the Austrian Government gave 3 dowry of 100,000 florins (about 260,000 f.) to the Archduchess Marie Henrietta on her marriage to the Duke de Brabant." WEETING OF PARLIAMENT, The following circular has been addressed by the Premier to the presumed supporters of his Govern ment in the ensuing Parliament : "94, Piccadilly, 29th April, 1857. " Sir,—l take the liberty of informing you that the House of Commons will meet on Thursday, the 30th of this month, and will proceed on that day to the choice of Speaker ; and that the address in answer to the Queen's Speech will be moved on Thursday the 7th of May. " I hope it may be consistent with your con venience, attend on those days.—l have the honour to be, your obedient servant, ‘`PALL3LEB,STON." Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice completed her fourteenth year on Saturday. The royal standard was hoisted at the usual places. Saturday was also the birthday of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Glou cester, whose illness occasions such anziety and regret in ail circles. The august and venerable lady was born on the 25th of April, 1778, and is therefore now in her 81st year. Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Alice, the Princess Royal, Prince Arthur, and the Princesses Helena and Louisa honoured the Princess's Theatre with their presence on Saturday cvening. On Saturday the Princess Alias, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Princesses Helena and Louisa, Prince Arthur, and Prince Leopold honoured Madame Tus4auu's Ez%ibition, in Baher•street, with a visit. The royal suite comprised Lady Caroline Barrington, the HOD. Lncy Kerr, the Hon. Mary Bulteel, Lord Alfred Paget, and Mr. Gibbs. A. Cabinet Council was held on Saturday, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury,.in Downing•street. The Minisers present were :—Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Earl of HarroNby, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Cla rendon, Mr. >3ecretary Labouebere, Lord ?anmure, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. R. Ver non Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Duke of Argyll and the Hon. M. I'. Dairies. The First Lord of the Admiralty, the Right Hon. Sir C. Wood, Bart., arrived at the residence of Sir Augus tus Clifford, at Ride, Ma of Wight, on Friday, and crossed over to Portsmouth on Saturday to witness the launch of the Royal Sovereign—returning in the after. noon in the Fire Queen, steamer. On Monday (to-day) Sir Charles visits ilaslar, to inspect the slipway for hauling up the screw gun-boats. The Prince Lucien Bonaparte and his Excellency the Sardinian Minister were among the fashionable company attending the Royal Italian Opera on Saturday evening. The Earl and Countess Spencer are expected in town in a few days from Altiaorp Park, where they have been entertaining company for some time past. The Earl and Cauntess of Egrn int are expected in town in a few days from Cowdray, Sussex, for the sea son. The F...arl and Countess of Kintore have left the St. George's Hotel for Brighton. The Viscountess Palmerston left town on Saturday afternoon for St. Leonarre-on-Sea. Her Ifvjesty's Ministers and chief officers of state are invited to dine with the President and members of the Royal .academy of Arts, on Saturday next, at their apartint,ctr at the National Galley. Capt an the Lion. J. R. Drummond, C. 13., has been appointed Private Secretary to Sir Chas. Wood, First Lord of the Admiralty, iu the room of Mr. T. G. Baring, M. P., resigned. The Buahop•nominate of Norwich (the lion. and Rev. J. T. Pelham) has appointed the Rev. J. J. S. Perowne, B D., Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and _Leo4a-ex is Ilaraw and Divinity in King's Colege, London, to be his tximioing chap:aiu. THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS. We have reuive-i the following telegraphic de spatch from Marseilles : " MALTA, APRIL 23. " The agent of the Peninsular and Oriental Com pany received, under date the 19th inst., frolu Alexandria, a t elegraphic communica ti on from Suez, announcing the arrival there of the Europe in, but no mention is made of any tidings of tht; Oneida. " The .zEtna left for Alexandria on the 21st inst." LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY. The Cunard steamer Canahril arrived at Malts fr-In Marseilles on the 20th inst., and the lEtriey from South inipton, on the 21st. They experieuce 4 bad weather. The steamer Colombo, from Alexandria, has ar: rived at Malta, reporting by telegraph the arrival of the Australian Mail sieamer European, at Suez, with the homeward mails from Australia, &c. Those via Mar- eilles will be due in London on Saturdai next, and on the Wednesday iollowing the heavy portion of the mails may ba expected at Southan 3 P' ton. We have &so received the following telegraph : l message from the Secretary of the Peninsular an d Oriental Steam Navigation Company, from which; it will be seen that the supposition of the agent a" Suez that the vessel in sight was the Australi9l, steamer should be received wi h soma degree 01 hesitafon, Hs the European was not clue at Su er until the 22d inst., and to have arrived on thel9t h Inst. must have made the run from Sydney in nearly five days less time than the Sind°, wh'el laet ves , e' was due on the 24th and arrived on the 26th. It would also appear almost impossible that the vessel in sight at Suez should have been the Oneida , since no mention is made of her in the telegraphic' despatch, via Trieste, as having reached Galle .of Aden. " MARSEILLES, SUNDAY. " The Vectis arrived at 6 this morning a ll w&1. ' " Th 3 Peninsular and Oriental Company fi s , at 'amer Azof reached Ad e n o n the 6th inst. the Mauritius mail of the 25th of March. "At Al, , xsodria, on the 19th inst., at half an hour after noon, a t degraphich despatch was re" ceived from the agent at Suez that, at 11.37 ti•in" a steamer, supposed to be the Australian steamer, was in sight, but would not arrive in loss than ene or two h,Jurs." ALARMIN 0 FIRES. During yesterday morning and Saturday several serious fires took place in and near the metropolis* Ott Saturday the whole of the troops stationed it: Aldershott Camp were suddenly aroused by an alaral of tire, which quickly spread through the entire en campment. The fire broke out in the comrnima: rist (amp bake' y. This comprised two mills worked by horse-power, and on the ground-floor were sit spacious ;ovens for baking bread, and two o ther mills, also worked : by horse-power, for mixing and in the brewhouse at the side were four large boilers used for brewing yeast. The whole of th e building formed almost a parallelogram, and ill" a eluded beyond those abov e enumerated spacioni range of stabling in which several horses belonging to the officers were kept, the new forage s ere) the bread stores, th e coa l yar d , oven houses, and timber huts. In th e upper story of one part of the bakery were not f ewer th an 3 56 sacks of flour, an d several thousand l oaves of bread, besides vario us other descriptions of stores. In the centre was * large open yard, in which stood only a waggc :l ' worth about 80 guineas, which was speedily re duced to ashes ; had there been ten times as raarl•?, in the saraa place, the whole unquestionably mus e have been consume d. Whil st t h e men vier" engaged in the bakery, they were astonished at se!: ing an unusual body of flame in one of the boil'', ings used as stores. An instant alarm of "F' ira was raised, and re-echoed through the ranks, anei a very brief stat e o f ti me th e t roo p s were o rder!: out, and a brigade of firemen attended with thn engine. It was then f o und that nothing short O t the most strenuous exertions if those on the 5 1 )0 6 could save the surrounding buildings. The flanl e f rising through the roof illuminated every part O t. the camp and the country for many miles dista l 3 Before they could be entirely extinguished the larg e bakery was consumed, all that remains being ttu e tall chimney shaft ; six of the extensive ovens also burned out. The camp bakery is consume d ' T wo large mills are gutted and their contents are 21'5.' ,, consumed. About I,oooloaves of bread and a q uanti t y of flour have been saved, damaged by th e beau . . water thrown upon them. A telegr a phi c message' 1 " - immediately sent to the Royal Insurance-orli ce j where the property was insu re d b y M essrs . Be a ,,, and Co., the contractors, of Austin-friars ; w be c i Mr. Johnson, the Secretary of the company, a n Mr. Hadsoll, the surveyor to various fire offiee s i went to the spot, and were enabled to save much the stock. As to the cause of the fire nothing ti t could be depended upon could be ascertained. is expected that the business will be able to be 1 " °- sinned as usual to-morrow (Tuesday). te A fire also took plac e on S atur d ay n i g ht, a t a la ir , hour, in a speci ous pil e of, premises belonging „ 1 ; Mr. Halstead, sa il manu f ac t urer an d s hip- c handl er : Everett-t errace , Vi ctor i a (L on d on ) D oc k-rot! The discovery was made by a police-officer. In td course of a few minutes the parsA engines attende; followed by those of the London Brigade fi w School-house-l a n e , Jeffrey, and W e llclose-s4 l - 126re stations. Th e fl a mes being f e d :sy a gre at quallt it, , e ', of ships' sails and other equally inflammable artie',„, used in the trade, rolled out of every window' itt,"" tie building and through the roof, bringing . relief the shipping in the river Thames, and ma'' o l the water like the colour of gold. The fire n olo reached the premises of Mr. Everett, No. 2 , o n same terrace, but the firemen eventually succeed ed in getting the flames extinguished, not, horrevnj until the builoing was burned to the ground, r.„ 130 the stock in trade and other effec.s consumed. total loss is very coesid, rible, and it could petr learned whether or not the sufferer was insu re s The adjoining house of Mr. Everett is also c o n' siderably damaged by fire, &c. a t de - On Saturday mornirg a fire involving a great den struction of property happened between 11 and 1; 6 ,/__ , the premises of Mr. T. Gosling, packing-casein aKe . "., Cursi t or- street, Chancery-lane. The premises; question cover a large spot of ground, and are c ° , eige fleeted with houses on all sides. Some of the n „ boors observed sparks issuing from the worksh o p s in Grey - stoke-place, which runs into Fetter -lapel and immediately informed the police. The enginese, of the London Brigade, which promptly from Holborn, Coandos-street, Watling-street &c., and those of the West of Eugland got to work 'under the direction of Mr. Braistwood ; tissues, nevertheless, spread with amazing rapin s and stack after stack of timber in Messrs. S' rea l and Emery's yard caught fire. Mrs. ggiitleY arriv coffee-house was reduced to ruins. The adjoii-TT , houses of Mr. Willford, boot and shoe maker, DAL_ I'earse, and Mr. Hunt, t a ilor, were conside r ab ly damaged. Cause and insurance unknown. THE BROTHERTON MEMORIAL .— It has been deter nnued that the intended memorial to the late Jos. Bra" therton, Esq., M.P. for Salford, shall consist of a monu ment over his tomb, in the Saltord Cemetery, at NeW Barn, and of a bronze statue in the Peel-park, Sa)ford• The commission for the statue has been given. to B' , 11. • Matthew Noble, and its cost will be 1 ; 000 guineag. b 0 pedestal will be of granite. dedar Was w P o t t i (Ins 6 I); %IntS been ear Its ~\ ( In )11( 1857 1856 )a ttll li kbk Der i ie w '° l lll It I) "nu p,,,