The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-13 00:00:00

West Coast of Africa.

The Royal Mail steamship Athenian arrived at Liverpool
on Sunday night with the West Coast of A fries :mils. 1.66 IL
ounces of gold dust, and £5,110. Her advices are to the
oot 24, New Calabar end Bonny
Nov 7, Lagos Nov 10, Accra Nov 12, Cape Coast Castle
Nov 14, Cape Palmas Nov 16, Sierra Leone Nov 21, Ba-
thurst Nov 25, Teneriffe Dec 1, and Madeira Dec 3.
In consequence of the death of the purser of the Inter-
colonial steamer there is no news from Fernando Po, Came-
roons, Old Calabar, and Brass, further than that the Euro-
peens at those places are in good health, that trade was
tolerably good, and that the Liverpool ship Express, with a
cargo of palm oil, was totally wrecked on Brass bar in en-
deavouring to put to sea.

Trade was active at Bonny, and the health of Europeans
wan good. The Laughing Water was totally wrecked on the
bar on Oct. 27. At Benin trade was totally stopped, and
was not to be reopened until the fine imposed upon the
natives some time ago has been paid. Health was good.
In consequence of the temporary opening of the Abeokuta
road, a large quantity of cotton has been received at Lagos,
and awaited shipment for England. On Oct. 21 H.M.S.
Investigator arrived from a cruise of 400 miles up the Niger,
bringing highly satisfactory reports as to the resources of
the river for trade. Dr Baikie, who established a native
colony, and has resided for some years in the interior, re-
turned by her. He purposes proceeding to England by next
mail steamer. Trade at Lagos was moderately good. The
colony was healthy.
At Accra trade was moderately good. Europeans were
healthy.
The natives of Cape Coast Castle expressed themselves
annoyed in consequence of the Governor having levied a
very just tax upon licences for the sale of spirits, &c., to
assist in meeting the heavy expenses incurred during the
Ashantee War. Trade was good. The colony was healthy.
The Agrippina, of Liverpool, and bound to that port,
had put back to Sierra Leone in consequence of all the crew
being sick of African fever.
At Sierra Leone the weather was intensely hot, the dry
seeson having fairly set in. Trade was improving, and the
health of the colony was tolerably good.
At Bathurst trade we; dull. Nov. 19 being St. Elizabeth
of Hungary's day, and the sour (1:3 fete of the Queen of
Spain, a grand lev6e was held by the Captain-General in
Teneriffe. The troops of the garrison were reviewed, and
subsequently blessed by the Bishop of the Canary islands
from the balcony of the palace. Mr B. Oliveira, late M.P.
for Pontefract, was present. He had received much atten-
tion during a stay of some weeks at Teneriffe, in consequence
of his having taken part in the Spanish campaign in Mo-
rocco, for which be has received a medal. Oa Nov. 22 the
Infante of Spain, Vice-Admiral Don Enrique do Bourbon,
arrived in the Spanish rrigate Isabel Segunda. Ilis highness
was received with a Royal salute from the batteries, and the
Spanish and French ships cf war in the harb3ur. This be-
leg the first Roycl visit over paid to the Island of Teueriffe,
the excitement among the inhabitants was immense. It was
rtuneured that his highness wan temporarily exiled to tLis
place for political reasons at present unknown, lie had evi-
dently lett Spain in great haste, as he brought with him a
single portmanteau, and was accompanied by only one ser-
vant. He bad been indebted to the hospitality of the inha-
bitents for almost every necessaep The wealthier of them
made arrangements to provide him, during his sojourn
among them, with house accommodation, a carriage, plate,
linen, &c. In return he every day made it a rule to invite
two or three of his benefactors to dine with him, thus deli.
cately acknowledging the favours they have done him.
Trade was rather dull in Teneriffe owing to the high price
of cotton goods and the uncertainty of peace in America.
The cochineal crop is not so good this year as it has been
for several years past, and in consequence of the ordiuns
having destroyed the greater portion of the grapes, very
little wine has been produced.

sun-TING INTELLIGENCE,
At Benin were the Benin, the Medea, and the Eagle's
Wing, At New Calabar, the Annie Nel ty and the Richmond
—sailed, 0ct.31, the Ethiopian for Liverpool, and the Bark-
hill for Carisco, At Bonny, the Charles Ilorsfall, the Royal
Arch, the Iphigenia, the Ferozepore, the Ellen Grant, and
the Belle of the Ocean (the last named about to sail for
Liverpoll)—the Laughing Water was lost on the bar on the
27th October, At Lagos, her Majesty's ship Investigator,
the Sylphide, and the Alenehester. At Accra, the Louisa.
At Cape Coast Castle, no ships. At Cape Palmas, the
Royal Mail steamship Armenian arrived and sailed for the
Iccward—all well. At Sierra Leone, the Sobraon, the St.
Magnus, the Sepia, the Maud, the Arehitecite, the Lc°.
the Phoenix, the Gazelle, and the Agrip-
la, •
pard,'n.t thAetNßl'Lurst, her Majesty's ship Pandora and the
•
Kingston—sidled the Menai en Nov, 24, and her Majesty's
ship Gladiator Nov. 20, for the leeward, Sailed. trourTe-
riffe, Nov. 4, the St. Elwine for Palmas, and the Royal
Nlail steamship Armenian for the Gambia-17th, the
Rapid, for Az)res.-20th, the Sidney Hall for London, At
Madeira, her Majesty's ship Skarphootert

--a
TATTERSALL'S.--Last Evening,

TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
4to 1 on the field (offer
THE DERBY.
sto 1 agst Liddington (offered)
11 to 1 agst Breadalbane (take 12 to 1)
22 to I,agst Christmas Carol (taken)
33 to 1 apt Brcomielaw (taken)
33 to 1 agst Longdown (taken)
40 to 1 asst Brick (taken and offered)
40 to 1 agst Brahma (taken and offered)
40 to 1 agst Ariel (taken and offered)
66 to 1 agst Friday (taken)
66 to 1 agst Congress (taken)

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1865.
JANUARY.

Manchester 2
FEBRARY.
Lincoln U
....

MARCH.

Derby 5pring.......... 2
Liverpool Spring ...... 7
Stirewtzbury Spring 9

Northqmpton 4
Crovon Palk 7
Durham
Newmarket Craven

Newmarket Ist Spring.. 1
Chester
York Spring

Epsom Summer (con.) 1
Manchester 7
Ascot
Alexandra Park 2O
J 1.7

Newmarket July
Carlisle
Pontefract

AUG

Huntingdon
Reading
Egham
Oxford
York August 22

Doncaster Spring ... • 14
Wary. ick Spring
Chelmsford Spring .... 28

Catterick Bridge
Minsk l9
21
Epsom Spring

ISalisbury
.. 18
Bath
Epsom ,t'uturuer ........ 3O
'NE.

i Hampton • 21
Newton ... 21
Newcastle
... 27
Worcester Summer ..... 29
'LY.

MBER.
Richmond .... l9
Monmouth .... 2l
Manchester Autumn 22
Newmarket Ist October, 2G
'OBER

Nottingham Summer .. 18
Chesterfield
Goodwood
,ST.

Plymouth .. 24
LieLfie:d . ... 28
Devon and Exeter 29
Derby Summer .. 30
Weymouth

SEPTE:
Weymouth (continued).. 1
Leicester
Doncaster

Brecon
OCT,

Northallnton
Newmarket Second Oct 95 I
NovE:

Worcester Autumn

Newmarket Houghton.. 23
Worcester Autumn ...t, 31
:MBER.

(continued) 1

Agricultural Prospects.

The weather was dry on the first day of the
week, but sunless and dull, while Monday was a
fine bright sunny day, very unlike December.
Wind S.W., thermometer 48 deg , barometer 30in.
down to 29.80, and still falling. Tuesday was
another fine dry day, but not so clear as the pre.
vious one ; barometer rather higher. Our advises
from Lancashire run thus—" Though latterly we
have had a deal of rain there has not been too much,
and field work in West Lancashire has made steady
progress. The wheat plant is highly promising, but
many of our farmers have sown less of this ime
portant cereal this autumn, in consequence
of the unremunerative prices. Potatoes are
plentiful, good, and cheap. There are fewer
complaints now of turnips." In Northuma
berland it was stated, on the same day, " The
weather since our last report has been mild, but
damp, with the exception of Thursday and Sun.
day, when it was fine. Wind W. and S.W." Ire
Suffolk the weather was reported to b© mild and
open for the season. Wednesday was a dull day,
with some slight rain at night. On Thursday much
rain fell up to noon, with a low barometer—down
to 29.50 in. Wind still S.W. Thermometer, 46
deg. The land having now been pretty well seta.
rated of late, a little water begins to run into the
ponds, and some additional showers would now tell
and replenish them sufficiently. This refers to farms
well drained, as those not iu such condition have
been better off, and the brooks in low situations
have at last been running, and as mill-streams are
full at places; giving again thepower to make flour,
which has been withheld so long by the very
dry season. This has been much against wheat
thrashing ; but the farmers show no anxiety to
bring out their winter stores, seeing that the prices
are so low, with no immediate prospect of improve,
ment—this, too, in spite of the groat falling off in
the imports from all quarters of the globe, which
during the winter are likely to be less than for many
years past at the same period of the year. Ulti-
mately, such a decrease may cause a revival after
the condition has been mended by a little sharp
frosty weather, and when the Christmas rents have
been paid. The average price this week was
388 6d ; the corresponding week of last year was
40s 9d ; the previous year, 463 9d ; and that in
1861, 60s 4d per imperial quarter. 'The contrast
is very great, and has a desponding tendency on.
agriculturists generally with no ameliorating cir-
cumstances to cheer up the downcast, struggling
to make up the amount 'wanted for the landlords.
The unfavourable weather is not so much against
the thrashing of barley, hard samples being a little
mellowed by the soft atmosphere ; and this work.
ing is going on lustily, furnishing supplies faster
than can be taken off by the regular demand. The
amount returned this week is the largest of the
season, being 117,789 qrs., but at only 293 2d ; last
year it was 133,260 qrs., at 333 6d ; the previous
year, 126,747 qrs., at 31s 10d ; whilst in 1861 the
amount was 121,642 qrs., at 37s per qr,—showing
much depression. Oats, beans, and peas command
more favourable prices, but then the yield has been
so deficient as to prevent any benefit in the results
over former seasons.-211ar1 lane Express.

THE OIL-BEARING ROCKS OF CANADA.—The
extraordin +Ty and interesting nature of the development
which hes been made within the last six years with regard
to production of mineral oil ia Canada, has caused much. in-
quire on the subject, both on the part of scientific and come
mercial men. The out crop of the coreiferous limestone in
Canada occupies a vast extent of country, Although in some
measure concealed by thick deposits of drill-clay, it has
been found at many points to yield petroleum, and in such
condition es to leave no doubt of its 'rein; derived from its
native beds. The oil appears to have accumulate' along
the summit of a fiat anticlinal arch running east and west
throughout the entire peninsula. An upheaval of the paleo-
eerie rocks, such as this implies,would naturally be attended
by subordinate effects, resulting in the formation of numer-
ous fissures into which the oil would flow and be retained.
In the oil-bearing region of Pennsylvania, where the rocks
are far more exposed at the surface than those of Canada,
the principal supply of oil has been obtained from strata,
which exhibit evidences of the greatest degree of dislocation.
The physical condition of the oil-bearing rocks may be
adumbrated by glancing at the remarkable history of the
flowing wells. On Jan. 16, 1862, the first of these was
struck in the flats of the Black Creek Valley, at the depth of
200/1. Immediately ai terward a other flowing wells were dis-
covered in rapid succession,tnore or less remotely situated ;
so that, in the month of September follow ing, there were no
less than 25 flow:rg wells in operation, besides 200 worked
by pumps. An idea, however imperreot, of the amount of
oil yielded, may be gathered from the fact that Shaw's well
alone produced 2,800 40-gallon barrels, exclusive of the ime
mense quantity that had run to waste before the flow could be
brought under control. The fissures yield 'ng oil in such pro-
fu,,ion are situated at or near the same level,having a more or
less direct connection, is evident from the striking circum-
stance that all 'he flowing wells ceased simultaneously on
the Bth January, 1863. Those situated on the bush tract
beCame exhausted about three months sooner, 'When the
deep wells ceased to flow the supply in the pumping wells
became reduced. This general diminution of supply come
menced towards the west end of the tract, and gradually ex-
tended in an easterly direction. In June, 1863, the supply
increased, when several of the flowing wells which had
ceased recommenced yielding oil, although in comparatively
limited quantities. This improvement, singular to say, took
place in the reverse order of the previous failure, namely,
from the east towards the west. All the facts ascertained
prove the existence of a vast subterranean reservour at the
depth indicated, deriving its supplies from great distances,
its several sections being connected, though not without
interruptions. It is thought from the manner in which
the oil and gas are generated that the first causes which
have produced these reservoirs of oil are no longer in opera-
tion, and that once exhausted, like the coelflelds, they be-
come exhausted for ever. In contravention of this theory,
however, there is positive evidence that petroleum springs
in some parts of the world which had flowed from the
earliest periods still continue to yield as copiously as ever.
—Tnetish eirterica, by S. P. Day.
(I,TF-roN BUSPENSTON MOOG E.—People flocked
to the new suspension bridge et Clifton on Sunday in
crowds. Throughout the whole ci the atiernoon the toll
people had positively more work than they could well ma-
nage, and the greatest difficulty was experienced in getting
tickets. The bridge was severely tested. There was con
siderable crush ug at the gates in the effort to get out, but
the difficulties encountered by the offiei,ds were lessened
by the assistance of 11Ir Alderman Ford, one of the bride e
directors. It is compu'ed that the number who crossed the
bridge during the day was nearly 30,000.—W0tp.?;
Press.