The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-25 00:00:00

Ihe African Traveller, Mr, S. Baker.

The following communication from Mr Pethed
rick, late her Majesty's Consul at Khartoum, who
concludes his communication at Berber on his wo9
home, has been published

Khartoum, June 8, 18G4.
My dear Sir,—Since my last, dated May 23, I havo had
several interviews with lihurshid Aga's men from the /11'
terior of Gondokoro.

They unite in their statements of having accompanied
➢lr Baker to Kamraei's residence, where they had met with
a good reception ; that Mr Baker was in excellent health,
but that he had lost ti,e whole of his cattle, and had boa
training bullocks for riding.
From this point all agree that Mr Baker and his 10 mono
under the guidance of a confidential person of the chief, left
to inspect a lake, but thenceforth the stories told by the
men are conflicting. Some say he went to the Lutu Nzigly
while others maintain that ho left for the Lake Nyallot
and that he did not intend to return, but to proceed onward
to Zanzibar.

it is, I fear, but little light that is in my power to throW
men upon h's movements, but of the two versions I tail
more inclined to give credit to the first—viz., his jouxutlY
to the Lutu Nzigi.
From what I have been able to glean by cross question-
ing., I am disposed to think that Mr Baker intended to have
returned to Kamrasi, in older to join the trading party 01:1
their return journey, or he would have consigned letters to
them respecting his future requirements from Khartoutps
as also for posting letters at ►his place for Europe.
Ten men of llhurshid Aga remained stationary, while
the majority with the proceeds of their trade, went to G-on-
clam, there to be reinforced for the purpose of returnia
to forna a permanent trading establishment at Kamrasi'fi
residence.

I have stated in my last that these men ccnveyed a
packet of letters from Gondokoro to Mr Baker, but, plod"
ing want of porters, they refused to take charge of sundry
previsions I had sent for his consumption.
From these men Mr Baker will have learnt the departure
of the boats from Gondokoro, and their absence during the
rainy season ; therefore, until the next trading compaigll
nothing more can be heard of him.—Believe me, volt

sincerely, yours, JOHN PETHERICI+I.
Sir Roderick I. Murchison, President of the
Royal Geographical Society, &c.
P.S. My wife's very serious illness, together with our
departure from Khartoum, prevented my completing and
forwarding this letter until this day at Berber—narnelY,
August 11, 1864.

-----
SUBWAYS IN LoNDoN.—The Metropolitan Beard
of Works has determined to carry out th© plan of
constructing subways, as in King-street, Covent-gardeet
and Southwark-street, behind the embankment of the new
Thames Way. The same body will shortly, we believe, tat
into consideration the propriety of constructing passages
beneath the most dangerous crossings in the metropolis.
The City authorities have the same thing in view ; and the
time will, we trust, not be lung ere passengers may traverse
such streets as Cheapside, Fleet-street, King Williana•
street, the Strand, and Bridge-street, Westminster, with
safety to life and limb, and without interrupting the carriage
traffic or waiting till a policeman gives signal for a rush. It
has been ascertained that at least half the "blocks" in :110
great thoroughfares are caused by the necessity for allow .
ing persons on foot to proceed. If it be:not found conve-
nient to have sub-crossings, surely light iron bridges svoula
answer the purpose; these might be extremely elegant ill
appearance. and give a picturesque aspect to a street.
objected that infirm persons could not use these sub-cross-
ings or street bridges ; in reply we may ask, how then does
the small proportion of such passengers now traverse the
thronged streets? Doubtless the foot bridges added to the
viaduct over Ludgate-bill will prove public convenieucl
and lead to the construction of others. These bri,lges wit
be opeh for 116 V in a very bLurt time.