The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-29 00:00:00

BOARD , OF TRADE RETURNS.

The official returns of the trade and navigation of the
United Kingdom for the month ending Nor. 30 har•
been issued.
The comparison of imports for the month is as
under :

1854. 1855.
Live animals
Cocoa lbs. 84,066
Coffee lbs. 6,092,462
Wheat qrs. 114,907
Barley qrs. 9,294
Oats qrs. 66,076
Indian corn qrs. 69,241
Flour cwt. 43,719
Cochineal ewt. 3,201 ...... 1,668
Indigo cwt. 2,408
Flax cwt. 65,820
Currants cwt. 10,143
Guano tons 30,936 ..... 12,011
Hemp cwt. 158,978 ...... 110,497
Mahogany tons 4,766
Oil, palm cwt. 59,231
Opium lbs. 7,219
Provisions cwt. 30,440
Quicksilver lbs. 179,40%
Rice
Saltpetre cwt. 44,407
Silk, raw lbs. 317,434
Cassia Lignea lbs. 23,571
Cloves lbs. 192,626 10,298

..
.......
Pepper lbs. 1,094,850
Rum proof gallons 1,350,098
Brandy proof gallons 193,821
Geneva proof gallons 6,779
Unrefined sugars cwt. 482,568
Tallow cwt. 125,927
Tea lbs. 6,508,556
Tobacco
Wine gallons. 537,095
Sheep's and lambs' wool lbs. 7,627,389
The declared value of some of the principal exports,
8 npared with that for the same articles during the cor•
responding month of last year, was as follows :

1851.

1855.

Beer and Ale 81,617
Coals and culm 151,376
Cotton manufactures 1,773,959
Cotton yarn 570,733
Earthenware 84,756 ...... 95,336
Haberdashery and millinery 153,386
Hardwares and cutlery
linen manufactures
Linen yarn
Machinery and millwork
Silk manufactures
Silk Thrown 15,996 ...... 17,110
Woollen manufactures
Woollen yarn
The totaldeolared value of all the enumerated exports
in the month was 7,674,7181., which, compared with the
corresponding period of 1854, shows an increase of
1,902,9461.

TEE MAIL STEAM-SHIP WASHINGTON.

SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. 23.—The United States mail
steam-ship Washington, Captain Casendy, which put
bank from Bremen to this port on Sunday last, in cense-
quence of the quantity of ice which had formed in the
Weser, went into the graving dock this morning for the
purpose of having her bottom examined, owing to a
slight accident during the passage from the North Sea.
About noon on the 22d inst., in consequence of the
North Sea pilot mistaking one light ship for another, the
Washington touched on the Long-sand, where she re-
remained for about 71 hours, and then floated off easily.
The weather being hazy and calm, the ship received little
damage beyond a slight displacement of copper. Had
the Washington remained in her perilous position ano-
ther tide it was probable she would have become a total
wreck, as the weather shortly afterwards set in with a
heavy gale from the westward. On the following morn-
ing, while entering the Straits of Dover, the Washing.
ton came in contact with a ship (name unknown) stand-
ing towards the English coast. The weather being very
thick, and a gale blowing from W.S.W., the vessel was
not discovered until it was close to the port bow of the
Washington. No light was shown by the sailing vet.
sel. As soon as the pilot on board the Washiugton per.
ceived the danger he ordered the helm to be put hard a.
port ; but a strong sea existing, the vessels Were driven
alongside each other, and in the collision the_Washing-
ton's paddlebox guards were stove in, and other minor
damages done. In consequence of the delay necessary
to render the ship seaworthy, the Post-office authorities
have permitted a detention of the Washington until day'
light on Sunday morning week, when she
will sail from
this port with the usual English, French, and German
mails, together with a special mail, which will arrive iu
time for her conveyance. The Washington would hay.
bcen got ready to sail on her appointed day, but she had
to wait a turn in the
graving dock, and the work has
been delayed by the bad weather and Christmas holi-
days. The first vessel belonging to the Belgian Royal
Mail Steam Navicration Company is expected at this
port from Antwerp on Sunday or Monday next. It is
named the Belgque, and is a screw steam-ship of 2,500
tons burden and 500 horse-power. In celebration of
the formation of this new line from Belgium to New
York via Southampton, the mayor and corporation of
this port have decided on inviting the commander (Cap.
tam Jack) and officers, together with any important
personages who may accompany the vessel, to a dejeune.,
to take place,
if possible, at the Royal Victoria Ansera-
bly Rooms, on Monday next.

Booxs DT POST TO THE SEAT OF WAR.---" A Soldier's
Friend," who is anxious to transmit a book to a brother
soldier in Turkey, in a letter to the Times, says :—"
find, on inquiry at the Post-office, that the cost of post-
age is 65., which is more than the cost of the book—
' It can only be sent to Turkey as a letter, and not as
book open at the ends—this privilege not extending to
Turkey, or any other foreign country.' Surely our sol-
diers are entitled to greater privileges than they yet
enjoy, and the boon of cheap postage of books might be
accorded to them."