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

BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.

Tho official returns of the trade and navigation of the
United Kingdom for the month ending Nov. :3() ha.-to
been issued.

The comparison of imports for the month is as
under :

1854. 1855.
Live animals
Coooa lbs. 84,066
Coffee lbs. 6,092,462
Wheat qrs. 114,907
13arley qrs. 9,291
Oats qrs. 65,076
Indian corn qrs. 69,241 ...... 73,379
Flour cwt. 43,719
Cochineal cwt. 3,201 ...... 1,6F8
Indigo cwt. 2,498
Flax cwt. 65,820
Currants cwt. 10,143
Guano tone 30,936
Hemp cwt. 158,078
Mahogany tons 4,766
Oil, palm cwt. 59,231
Opium 1 bs. 7,219
Provisions cwt. 30,440
Quicksilver lbs. 179,401
Rice cwt. 56,966
Saltpetre cwt. 41,407
Silk, raw lbs. 317,434
Cassia Lives lbs. 23,571
Cloves lbs. 192,626 . 10,298
Pepper lbs. 1,094,850
Ruin proof gallons 1,350,098
Brandy proof gallons 193,821
Geneva proof gallons 6,779
Unrefined sugars cwt. 482,568
Talle w cwt. 123,927
Tea lbs. 6,508,556
Tobacco lbs. 6,746,149
Wine gallons. 537,095
Sheep's and lambs' wool lbs. 7,627,389
The declared value of some of the principal exports,
fompared with that for the same articles during the cor•
responding month of last year, was as follows :-

1854.

1855.

....
Beer and Ale 81,617
Coals and culm 151,376
Cotton manufactures 1,773,959
Cotton yarn
Earthenware 84,756
Haberdashery and millinery... 153,386
Hardwares and cutlery
linen manufactures
Linen yarn
Machinery and millwork
Silk manufactures
Silk Thrown 15,996
Woollen manufactures
Woollen yarn
The total declared value of all the enumerated exports
in the momth was 7,674,7181., which, compared with the
corresponding period of 1854, shows an increase of
1,902,916/.

THE MAIL STEAM-SHIP WASHINGTON.

SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. 28. The United States mail
steam-ship Washington, Captain Casendy, which put
beak from Bremen to this port on Sunday last, in conse-
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
alight accident daring 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 oft easily.
The weather being hazy and calm, the ship received little
damage beyond a slight displacement of copper. Had
the Washington remained iu 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-
ieg, 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 wee
not discovered until it was close to the port hew of the
Washington. No light was shown by the sailing vele.
sel. As soon as the pilot on board the Washington 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 nece,ear
to render the ship seaworthy, the Post-office authorities Y
have permitted a detention of the Washington untiliy
light on Sunday morning week, when she will sail f' am-
this port with the usual English,from
French and German
mails, together with a special mail, which, will arrive in
time for her conveyance. The Washington would have
been got ready to sail on her apoointed 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 Steant Navigation Compan is expected at this
port from Antwerp on Sunday or y 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-
tain Jack) and officers, together with any important
Personages who may accompany the vessel, to a dejeunc.-,
to take place, if possible, at the Royal Victoria Assenl•
bly Rooms, on Monday next.

Boors lIZ
POST TO TILE SEAT OP WAR.—" A Soldier's
Friend," who is anxious to transmit a hook to a brother
soldier in Turkey, i❑ a letter to the Times, says I
find, on inquiry at the Post-office, that the cost of post-
age is da., which is more than the cost of the book—
' It can only be seat to Turkey as a letter, and not am a
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 hoop of cheap postage of books might be
accorded to them."