The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-11 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIA INTEREST.

It is extremely gratifying to observe that the great West
India question, which for years had assumed an aspect of
hopeless and interminable complexity, has at length re-
ceived a solution of an agreeable kind, and with some appear-
ance of finality. The proceedings by which this conclusion
has been brought to pass have been exceedingly remarkable.
The planting interest, incessantly represented as in a state of
depression and decay, anticipated of course, in common with
other " sufferers from recent legislation," a certain measure
of relief from a Protectionist Government. When the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, however, reviewed the ascertainable
claims of these several interests in his financial statement, he
found himself compelled to show that these very British colo-
nists, alleged to be expiring under the effects of free
trade, had positively increased their exports to this coun-
try, had, by the latest returns, entirely overborne their rivals,
and were actually at that moment commanding the metro-
politan market. Under these circumstances he naturally
refrained from attempting to accomplish at the expense of
the country what the West Indians were most effectually ac-
complishing for tlbemselves; and limited his boons to a pro-
position which apl )ears to be thought of extremely equivocal
value. But the s wbject was not permitted to rest with this
confession. The Ivree-traders resolved to exact a little more.
Mr. Disraeli, while admitting the results, impeached the
legislation under which they occurred, and Mr. Wilson there-
fore, in a most effb ctive speech, brought forward a motion, of
which the purport. was to show that the said legislation had
really been " just, and beneficial," and that the conse-
quences under review were due to its direct and natural ope-
ration, and not to :any unforeseen or accidental circumstances.
In some respects, !indeed, the motion was a counterpart to
that of Mr. Villiens, but it had at least a different termina-
tion ; for Sir J. Pakington, though he delivered a laborious
defence of his °pill Lions, could not controvert the facts, and
made nu objection, to the vote. Such was the history of
Thursday's debate..—Times.

THE FRENCH :EMBASSY.—The Count Walewski, who
returned to the Embassy, in Grosvenor-square, on Thurs-
day evening, fro a Osborne House, where he delivered his
fresh credentials, :has received the usual instructions to de-
liver passports in the name of the Emperor of the French.
The French miiais::,er at Brussels issued the first from his
embassy, on Thursday, to General Lamoriciere, who in-
tended departing forthwith on a tour in Germany.
THE DERBY ELECTION INQUIRY. The Committee
resumed their inquiry yesterday with the examination of
Frail, Morgan, and Radford.
THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.—The valuable
estates at Putney. in East Surrey, called the Cedars, and
College of Civil lOngineers, and the Rectory estate at Eal-
ing, in the count' of Middlesex, have been purchased by
this society for distribution amongst its members.
PRINCESS'S TEIEATRE.—On Tuesday next, the cele-
brated melo-drama of The Corsican Brothers, matchless in
stage effect and unequalled in popularity, will be performed
for the hundredth time since its production in February
last.
SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 10.—The Government emigra-
tion to Australia from Southampton will be commenced
on the 3d of January, the Emigration Commissioners
having just taken up the Harriet, a fine ship of 600 tons,
to start from Southampton Docks on that day, conveying
emigrants sent out by the commissioners.
ENGLAND AND BELGIUM.—We understand that the
contractors wait only for favourable weather to submerge
the cable which is intended to inclose the medium of
electric communi cation between Great Britain and the
north-eastern portion of Europe. Their Royal Highnesses
the Duc de Brabant and Comte de Flandres, on their re-
turn homewards, visited the office of the Submarine
Telegraph Company at Dover.
OSTEND, DEC. 9.—The landing of the Belgian Princes,
which took place this day, at half-past 12, was nearly
proving fatal to many lives. Just as the Belgian steamer
came alongside the quay, when they were preparing to
place the gangway on board, the platform gave way, and
20 or 22 persons were immersed in the water. Two
minutes later and the Princes might have shared the same
fate. They appeared much affected at the melancholy
sight. Fortunately assistance was near, and boats were
lowered from the steamers, and it is believed no lives were
lost. Several persons wers slightly wounded, some from
the muskets of the soldiers who fell in the wrter.
COLLISION IN THE RIVER.—In the Court of Queen's
Bench yesterday the case of Morris v. Venus was resumed.
It was an action to recover damages for an injury occa-
sioned to the plaintiffs' steam-vessel the Star, by the do-
fendants' vessel the Rose Castle, a large coal brig, running
aboard of it. The question was which party was in fault.
The plaintiffs' witnesses stated that the Star was coming
up from Gravesend against the tide, and was keeping in
" the slack" of the tide close to the Essex shore, when the
Rose Castle, having the tide in its favour, reached across
the river, and by not tacking in time occasioned the mis-
chief. The defence was that the Rose Castle was beating
down the river against the wind, and that in such circum-
stances the Star, which was a steamer, must be deemed in
the condition of a vessel going free, and was therefore
bound to give way. The jury found for the plaintiff
damages 2001.
ALARMING FIRES IN LAMBETH.—Yesterday mornin,
two alarming fires, which were nearly attended with fatal
conFequences in each case, happened ; one in the Waterloo-
road ; the other in the house of Mr. J. Watson, licensed
victrtaller, carrying on business at the " Three Compasses
Tavern," No. 107, Lower Marsh, Lambeth. At the time
the first outbreak commenced a boy was sleeping in the
first floor, and was woke by a suffocating sensation, and
on arising found the bed on which he was lying on fire.
Having succeeded in effecting an escape, the engines of the
London Brigade and the West of England office attended,
and the fire was extinguished before any considerable
damage was done. Mr. Watson was insured in the Sun
Fire-office. The other fire originated in the back parlour
where a young female was sleeping, and had it not been
for the praiseworthy exertions of another female living in
an adjoining room, there is no doubt but the occupant of
the first-named room would have perished.
SAILING OP THE ADELAIDE FOR SYDNEY, MEL-
BOURNE, AND PORT PHILIP.—This fine British-built,
commodious, and tastefully fitted-up ship left the East
India Docks this day, conveying a most valuable cargo of
merchandise, and a numerous quantity of passengers,
among whom were some gentlemen connected with the for-
mation of a new fire insurance office for Sydney, buildings
and other property being so greatly on the increase. Also
mechanics of every trade, mostly carpenters, builder; en-
gineers, and printers, several of the latter, it is understood,
being engaged, or partiy so, for new publications at Mel-
-bourne and Port Philip. Many of their friends were pre-
sent at their parting, and many females were to be seen in
tears, on leaving, probably for the last time in their lives,
their dearest parents, whilst others seemed happy at turn-
ing their backs on what was once happy Old England.
The ship is expected to reach Plymouth on Tuesday next.
andso
Southamp-
ton Oriental
I.2am
p
Company's
DETENTION AT MALTA OF THE OUTWARD INDIA
MAILS.—By accounts from Malta to noon of the 2dDecem-
ber,weregrateetamto-shleiap iirntandtliat
ntghtol2
the Peninsular,
ton the 20th November, and might therefore be considered
which left
as due at Malta on the 29th or 30th Nov., had not yet
arrived. This vessel, it will be recollected, had upwards
of 430,000/. of specie on board for Alexandria, India, and
China, besides a valuable cargo of merchandise, and 160
passengers, chiefly for India.
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH COMPANY. The 'Belgian
Princes, the Duke de Brabant and Comte de Flandres,
paid a visit to the offices of this Company at Dover, on
their way to the Continent. We understand that the
cable containing the electric wires intended to communi-
cate between Great Britain and Belgium, will be sunk in
a few days, weather permitting.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COMPANY.—The half-yearly meet-
ing of the South Australian Company was held yesterday,
when a supplementary report was presented, describing the
favourable reaction in that colony since the first announce-
ment of the gold discoveries in New South Wales and Vic-
toria, and referring also to the important details recently
received of the opening up of an extensive gold field within
its own boundaries. The tenants of the company, it was
stated, although making occasional excursions to Mount
Alexander, showed no disposition permanently to desert
their lands or neglect the cultivation of them, and the in-
come for the half-year ending the 30th of April, for rents,
&c., was 10,8671., being only 1751. less than in the preced-
ing six months. Among the new leases granted were two
blocks of land on the Murray, the attention of the colonists
being now drawn to the probable introduction of steam
navigation on that river. 1,497 acres of land had been
pm-chased since the last report. The mining operations of
the company had been nearly brought to a close, and, to
facilitate their transactions in land, application has been
made for a charter of incorpowaSira,