The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-27 00:00:00

THE INDIAN MAIL.

The Oriental Company's screw steamer Bengal
arrived at Southampton on Saturday with the heavy por-
tion of the Indian and Chinese mail. She left Alexandria
on the 11th inst., Malta on the 16th, and Gibraltar on the
20th. She brought home about 130 passengers, and a large
cargo, consisting of wool, flax, gam, elephants' teeth, silk,
&c., &c. On the 14th inst. she met the Indus Mil steamer
steering for Alexandria, and on the 20th the British brigs
Prince Albert and Masonic steering for Carthagena.
She also pealed the Swedish brig Julie off Cape SBen t. Vin-
cent. li.M S. Antelope was at Gibraltar. The gal
experienced strong head winds and thick weather. The
following has been the combined steaming and gaffing per-
formances of the Bengal on her outward and homeward
voyages. Op her outward voyage she left Southampton at
3 p.m. on the 20th alt., and arrived at Gibraltar at 6 p.m.
on the 24th, thus winnable distance of 1,121 miles in 4
hours, or nearly 11 mil days 2 es an hoer. She left Gib-
raltar at 10.40 p.m. onthe th, and arrived at Malta at 6.5
pan. on the 28th, a distance of 1,011 miles, in 8 days IN
hours, or 114 miles also an hoar. She left Malta at 9.30
a.m. cm the 1131 h, and arrived at Alexandria at 0.36 cm.
on the tad hest., a distance of 829 miles, in 2 days 3
boars, or above 18 miles an hour. On her homeward
voyage she left Alexandria at 5.65 p.m. on the 11th Met.,
sad arrived at Malta at 6.57 all. on the 16th, or above ten
miles an hoar. She left Malta at 0.30 p.m. on the 16th,
and arrived at Gibraltar at 9.67 p.m. on the 19th, or above
9i miles an hour. She left Gibraltar at 7.66 cm. an the
20th, and arrived at Southampton at 10 sm. ea the 115th,
rather mere than 9 miles an hoar. She has dap
the voyage oat and bome, a distance of 6.921 is 21
days, ,cad avenged 260 miles a day, or 11 mils as Mar.
She came from Alexandria to Southampton Mame seal*
at any intern ning port. Her bunks bN 706 Mom of
coal ; and, when under steam, ohs abase 40 toes
a day. A paddle wheel steamer, to UMW mood of the
tgl, would consume doable the cpumety. Indepen-
of the saving of fuel by such vends as the Bengal,
there is a saving of time occupied in melt* and the exemp-
tion of passengers from the intolerable Balance of coaling
operatioas. The Bengal, starting from Oeuthanipton with
700 tons of coal, could reach the Cape ti Geed Hope with•
out stopping, and be under steam the Mob distance, ex-
cepting when she experienced strew and favourable
winds. This is a mat important fact, itemise it is from
the employment of steamers which mould sot do this, that
our steam communication with Australia has hitherto
failed. Among the passengers who came in the Bengal
were Sir Frederick Carrie, the eminent civilian in the East
India Company's service, from India ; Lord Bury, from
Sues; Admiral Harvey, from Malta; Dr. Bowleg, the
distinguished British Consul in China, from Canton; and
Osimillah Behan, a native Mahommedan gentleman of
Caunpore, from Calcutta. Both in personal appearance
and mental accomplishments Osimullah Behan is can of the
most favourable specimens of the East Indian ram that ever
visited this country. lie speaks English fluently, and le re-
markably well informed on all political and religiane topics
of European interest. He is a perfect gentleman hi moaners
and feeling. Both himself and two followers Inn SS first-
rises passengers. He has friends in this ocialey, amongst
whom is Lord Ashburton.

•
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH ACROSS MI SOLINT.—
The project of having a submarine taw* amen the
Solent, for the purpose of extending a talegesebis =emu-
nication with the Queen's marine residence, is the Isle of
Wight, has been abandoned from pecuniary seem In
consequence of this, and the prospect that an addialemal
submarine telegraph across the Channel, to easmsat Paris
sad London, will shortly be required, Captain Pen*. Of
Southampton, who Srst suggested the telegraph deem She
Solent, has projected a submarine telegraph leallele Tint.
nor, at the back of the Isle of Wight, and Cepa D'Antiter,
in France,abont 15 miles from Ham. The Wows between
these two points is not greater than between places where
a submit'se telegraph has been laid down, nor is the
Channel deeper between the former than losiereen the
letter. By this protect Paris could have antler tele-
graphic communication with London. Han*, the Liverpool
of France, besides Rouen and other important towns,
would hare a direct communication with England. Them
wJuld then be no difficulty in connecting, telegraphically,
the Isle of Wight, as the residence of royalty, with the
main Ind.