The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-14 00:00:00

In a letter to Admiral Washington, he said—

The sight of the new dhow gave me a hint, which I may
mention. She was 50ft long by 12ft, and ft deep. I would
never think of carrying more than the engines and boilers
past cataracts like ours. One could build a hull more easily.
At the foot of the lake there are many trees 30ft high with •
out a branch, and 3ft in diameter.
To Si: R. Murchison, he continued—

They pay one fathom of calico (value one shilling) for a
boy, and two for a good-looking girl. Yet the slaves would
not pay but for the ivory they carry, A trader with 20
slaves must pay at least the price of one slave per day for
their sustenance. It is a joint ivory and slave trade which
alone renders the speculation profitable.
He wrote to Admiral Washington—

I knew this of old, but Captain Wilson, of the Gorgon,
has lately discovered it, and mentions it in his last " Slave
Trade Report." It was the knowledge that I was working
towards undermining the slave trade of Mozambique and
Iboo by buying up the ivory, that made the Portuguese
exert all their obstructive powers. I trust that operations
in the interior, under a more able leader, will not be les
sight of. These will do more to stop the slave trade than
all the cruisers, and without them I see no hope of the
Portuguese giving up slavery.

His letter to Sir Roderick Murchison then pro
ceeded thus—

This is the crowning place for nearly all the slaves that go
to Quilea, Iboe, and Mozambique. A few go down to the
end of the lake, and for cheapness cross the Shire. But here
lies the great trade route to Kutania, Kazembe, &c. The
Babisa are the principal traders, and the Manganja are the
cultivators of the soil. The Arabs—the same we met
before—were very civil. They came forth to meet us,
and presented rice, meal, sugar-cane, and a piece of male
chite. Leaving them we went due west, and in three days
ascended to the edge of the plateau, which from below
looks like a range of mountains. The long ascent, adorned
with hill and dale and running streams, fringed with ever-
green trees, was very beautiful to the eye, but sore for the
legs, often causing us to puff and blow as if broken winded.
The heights have a delicious but peculiarly piercing air. It
seemed to go through ns. Five Shupanza men, who has
been accustomed all their lives to the malaria of the Zan-
zibar delta, were quite prostrated by that which to me was
exhilirating and bracing. We travelled about ninety miles
west, then turned up to the N.W. The country is
level. The edge of the plateau is 3,410 feet above the
sea. At the Isangwa, of the lake the height shown is 3,270
feet, The direction of the streams verifies these appropriate
beights,and your famous hypothesis too,for the Isangwa of the
lake finds its way backwards to the Nyassa; another, called
the Isanwa of the Moravi, flows to the westward and enters
the Zambesi Zumbo, The feeders of these rivers are boggy
valleys with pools in their courses. We were said to have
crossed one branch of the Mortals, or Moitawa, which flows
W.N.W. into a small lake called Bemba. The valleys in
which the rivers rise closely resemble those in Lends or
Lunda ; but here each bank is dotted over with villages,
and a great deal of land is cult vated. Th• vegetation
is more stunted, and the trees covered with flat lichens
like those on old apple trees in Scotland, and a long
thready sort like orchilla shows a humid climate. We
were going in the direction whence a great deal of
ivory is drawn by the people on the slave route, and
this induced them to put hindrances in our way, refus-
ing to sell food, and misleading us. The time that could
be spent with safety had expired, our European food was
expended, and dysentery fell upon us. I was under ex-
plicit orders not to take any long journey, but have the
Pioneer down to the sea by the earliest flood. I might have
speculated on a late rise in the river, but did not like the
idea of failing in my duty with the vessel, and gave up fur-
ther progress, The temptation to go on was that Lake Bemba
was said to be but 10 days distant. Thence, according to
native and Arab report, issues the River Loapula Luapula,
which, flowing west ward, forms the Lakes Mofa or Mofae
and Moers ; then passing the town of Cazembe, it turns
round to the north and is lost in Zanganika on the west into
the River Kasai easterly, where I formerly crossed the river.
All agreed in asserting that no river flowed eastward into
Lakt Nyassa Two small ones do, but at a distance of say
89 or 90 miles from the lake; the watershed is to the west.
One should have no bias in investigating these questions by
the aid of travelled natives; but I had a strong leaning to
a flow from Zan ganyika into Nyassa. I was stoutly opposed
by all, and I had crossed so many running streams which,
from entering the lake among weeds, had not been observed
from the boat in our first visit, that before reaching Kotakota
I had come to the conclusion that a large river was not
needed to account for the perennial flow of the Shire. lam
sorry to give only native information instead of observa-
tions by` my own eyes ; but having been confined to work of
much more importance than exploration, the above was all
I could do when set free. The work on which I had la-
boured for years has all been spoilt by the Portuguese
slave hunting. As we (the steward of the Pioneer and
myself) were on our metal not to overstep the limited time
at our disposal, it may be worth mentioning that we
travelled 660 geographical miles in 55 travelling days,
averaging twelve miles per day in strait lines. The new
leaves on the trees of the plateau were coming out fresh and
green there, and we reached this on the 31st of Oct., to find
all except the evergreens by the streams as bare of leaves as
in mid-winter.

To Admiral Washington be writes in con-
tinuation :

We now went due west on the great slave route to the
Babisa Katanga and Cambe, for say 90 or 100 miles, then
turned up to the N.N. W., but before we had gone far our
time was expired. We had ascertained that the watershed
was clearly to the west, After crossing the branches of the
Loangwa of the lake, we had the Loangwa of the Moravi
which enters the Zambesi at Zumbo. We were on a level
plateau, 3,440tt above the sea, in lat. 12.46 8. A rivulet
called Motala, or Motawa, flows N.N. W. into Lake Bemba,
which is Paid to be the source of . the Loapula. This
flows westward, and forms two lakes, Moero and Motu or
Mofue, then passes the town of Cazembe, and is lost in
Zanganyika. These were the reports we heard, and though
Bemba was said to be ten days distant I was afraid to
speculate on a late rise of the river in view of Lord Russell's
explicit orders not to undertake a long journey. All reports
agreed that no large river flows into Lake Nyassa from the
north. Two small ones do. This agrees with the general
watershed. Nearly all the travelled natives and the Arabs
mentioned that the Loapula, or Luapula, flows into Zan-
g,nyika. I thank you for the charts of the Bovuma, and I
shall endeavour to take soundings, not on the bar, for these
is none, but opposite the mouth. The cnly thing like a bar
is at half ebb and up to the time the tide turns, when the
water, rushing out of the river, falls from three or four
fathoms into 19 fathoms. The water tumbling into deep
just at the mouth might swamp a beat, but no sooner does
the flow begin than all is smooth. I believe that the
Bovuma may be navigable for a vessel of light draft during
eight or nine months in the year.
Shupanga, Feb. 10.

I intend to go northwards—perhaps to Bombay—in search
of a market for the Lady Nyassa, there being no probability
of our disposing of her at the Cape.

The following ie to Sir R. Murchison :

Shupanga, Feb. 10.

,
The river rose in tremendous force on the 19th of Janu•
ary—much later than usual. This extracted many a groan
from me, for it was plain that I had plenty of time to have
examined Bemba, the beginning, I suppose, of the drainage
system; which finds an outlet of the Congo, Mofu, or Motue,
which was seen, I believe, by Monteiro in his journey to
Caz3mhe. We travelled part of our way on the route from
Quilon to the same chief. I hope a report of my being
murdered has not reached you or my family, as they may
believe it the more readily on account of the loss already
sustained, 1 have never known any difficulty with an in-
terior tribe, or any other engaged iu alaving.
A paper we read by the Secretary, from Mr

Cooley, respecting certain portions of the district
over which Dr Livingstone had journeyed, and
written on a previous occasion. Mr Cnoley also
contributed a map in explanation of his particular
views. He took particular objection to the direc-
tion which Dr Livingstone had given to ,the
northerly part of Lake Nyassi. Mr Cooley placed
the northern portion of the lake considerably more
to the north-west than did Dr Livingstone—in fact,
to a divergence of almost 45 deg.
Upon this paper a very animated and interesting
discussion ensued, in which Captain Speke, Captain
Kirk, Mr Macqueen, and several other gentlemen
took part.
Captain Kirk, who had travelled with Dr. Living
s'one in the very neighbourhood of Lake Nyassa,
and had taken observations of is bearingo, con-
firmed the direction which the doctor had given it,
and contended that Mr Cooley was altogether
wrong, end that the position which had been as-
signed to the lake by Dr Livingstone was known
400 years ago.

Upon the proposition of the Chairman, votes of
thanks were given to Dr Livingstone, Captain
Kirk, end Mr Cooley.

Death-bed of Major-General J. Stuart.

- --

The following notice of the last hours of the
gallcnt and distinguished Confederate soldier Major
General Jeb Stuart, is from the .Richmond
Examiner :

"No incident of mortality since the fall of the
great Jackson has cccasioned more painful regret
than this. Major-General J. E. B. Stuart, the
model of Virginian cavaliers and dashing chieftains,
whose name was a terror to the enemy, and familiar
as a household word in two continents, is dead,
struck down by a bullet from the foe, and the whole
Confederacy mourns him. He breathed ont his
gallant spirit resignedly, and in the full possession
of all his remarkable faculties of mind and body, at
22 minutes to 8 o'clock, Thursday night, at the resi-
dence of Dr. Brewer, a relative, in Green-street,
in the presence of Drs. Brewer, Garnett, Gibson,
and Fontaine, of the general's staff, Rev. Messrs.
Peterkin and Kepler,and a circle of sorrow-stricken
comrades and friends.

"We learn from the physicians in attendance
upon the general that his condition during the day
was very chargeable, with occasional delirium, and
other unmistakable symptoms of speedy dissolution.
In the passing moments of delirium the gallant
general reviewed in broken sentences all his glori-
ous campaigns around M'Clellan's rear on the pen-
insula, beyond the Potomac, and upom the Rapidan,
quoting from his orders, and issuing new ones to
his couriers, with a last injunction to make haste.'
"About noon, Thursday, President Davis visited
his bedside, and spent some 15 minutes in the dying
chamber of his favourite chieftain. The President,
taking his hand, said, ' General, how do you feel ?'
He replied, ' Easy, but willing to die, if God and
my country think I have fulfilled my destiny and
done my duty.' As evening approached the gene-
ral's delirium increased, and his mind sgain wan-
dered to the battle-fields over which he had fought,
then to wife and children, and again to the front.
A telegraphic message had been sent for his wife,
who was in the eountry, with the injunction to
make all haste, as the general was dangerously
wounded.

"As evening wore on the paroxysms of pain in-
creased, and mortification set in rapidly. Though
suffering the greatest agony at times the general
was calm, and applied to the wound, with his own
hand, the ice intended to relieve the pain. Daring
the evening he asked Dr Brewer how long he
could live, and whether it was possible for him
o survive through the night. The doctor
knowing he did not desire to be buoyed by false
no;es, told him frankly that death, the last enemy
was rapidly approaching. The general nodded, and
said, ' I am resigned if it be God's will ; but I would
like to live to see my wife. But God's will be done.
Several times he roused up and asked if she had come.
" To the doctor, who sat, holding his wrist, and
counting the fleeting, weakening pulse,he remarked,
Doctor, I suppose I am going last now. It will
soon be over. But God's will be done. I hope I
have fulfilled my destiny to my country and my
duty to my Gud.'
" At halt-past seven o'clock it was evident to, the
physicians that death was setting its clammy seal
upon the brave, open brow of the general, and they
told him so—asking if he had any last message to
give. The general, with a mind perfectly clear and
possessed, then made disposition of his staff and
personal effects. To Mrs General R. E. Lee he
directed that the golden spurs be given as a dying
memento of his love and esteem for her husband.
To his staff officers he gave his horses. So parti-
cular was he in small things, even in the dying
hour, that he fully exhibited the ruling passion
strong in death. To one of his staff, who was a heavy
built man, he said, ' You had better take the
larger horse—he will carry yon better.' Other
mementoes he disposed of in a similar manner. To
his young son he left his glorious sword.
" His worldly matters closed, the eternal interests
of his soul engaged his mind. Turning to the Rev.
Mr. Peterkin, of the Episcopal church, and of which
he was an exemplary member, he asked him to sing
the hymn commencing
"'hock of ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.'

he joining in with all the voice his strength would
permit. He then joined in prayer with the minis-
ters. To the doctor he again said, 'I am going fast
now. lam resigned. God's will be done.' Thus
died General J. E. B. Stuart."

Railway and Public Companies in
Parliament,

Yesterday, in Lord St.alley's committee on the East
London Railway Company's project, Mr. Round sought to
establish a locus standi for the Great Eastern Railway Com-
pany in opposition to the bill, on the ground of comps tition
with the East London and City portions of their undertak-
ings, but the committee, after hearing Mr. Serjeant
Q.C., on the other side, decided that the Great Eastern had
no locus standi in that particular respect, as their petition
against the bill, while containing other general allegations,
did not specify their intention to oppose on the principle of
competion. The remainder of the sitting was occupied with
the evidence of Mr. Burke on the engineering features of the
proposed line. The bill for the Stonehouse and Nails-
worth Railway was rejected, and Mr Coleridge, QC.
stated the case for the Worcester, Dean Forest, and Mon-
mouth Railway Bill, which proposes to empo wet that com-
pany to make a line of eight miles from a junction with
their authoiised line of 1863 at Newest to the Gloucester
and Dean Forest line of the Great Western at North _Ham-
let, near Gloucester; to lay rails for the narrow gauge on
the portion of the line of the Great Western Railway from
the intended junction therewith into its stations at Glouces-
ter; to contract with the Great Western for its working,
and to raise £150,000 by new shares and £50,003 by loan.
Wi,nesses were examined by Mr Somerset for, ana by Mr
Venables and Mr Hill against, the measure. Another case,
opened by Mr Denison and opposed by Mr Islerewether, for
the London and North West ern' was that of the Shrewsbury
and Potteries Junction Railway, which seeks incorporation,
with a capital of £500,000 in shares and £166,000 loan, to
construct eight extensions, the two leading ones being, first,
one of 20 miles, from Hanley via Burslecu and Tunstall,
and thence south-eastward under the Grand Junction to
Market Drayton, The second, of nine miles, from the latter
at Hodnet to the Shrewsbury and Crewe line of the London
and North Western about two miles no th of Shrewsbury,
with six other short connecting links, with power to contract
with the London and North Western, Great Western, or
South Stafturdshire, to construct, or work or use. After
hearing counsel and taking evidence on the traffic and en-
gineering, the committee passed the bill for the Carmarthen-
shire Railway for extensions to the South Wales, Great
lines, for a lies of 10 miles to the mountain branch
of the Llanelly Railway, and to the Southpit and Vuffryn
Collieries, the capital required being £225,000 in shares and
£75,000 loan. The bill for the Hereford,
Railway is wiehdrawn. In the Lords the bill Andmell s
Hay, and darer ~o,n
Patent Improvements in pneumatic railways . tubes wa.-,
passed, and the opposition to the bill for the improvements
of the sewage of Edinburgh and Leith occupied the cora-
mittee of which Lord Monteagle is the chairman.

SINGULAR CITY CUSTOM.—" SWEARING ON
GRAVES" BY TUE CITIZENS.—In early days, the
citizens of London were et liberty to discharge themselves
from all pleas of the Crown by " wager of law," or ;u other
words by the oath of his "Jury of Compurgators." As,
however, in the progress of such criminal plea his selected
compurgators might die, a custom prevailed in the City of
London for the accused party—or perhaps others—to testify
solemnly on oath upon the graves of the deceased who had
been summoned as compurgaters, precisely as to their in-
tended verdict. The foregoing custom was repealed by the
9th charter of Henry 111., after which it was dierillowed.—
City Press.

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 O'CLOCK.

PRUSSIA.

I BERLIN, rune 13.—Count de Bismark yesterday
&-eceived a deputation from Schleswig. He after-
w►ards had a long conference with Prince Gortscha-
koff. In the afternoon a Council of Ministers was
held,. In the evening the King received Prince
Gortachalleff and Count de Bisrcark, and hgd a
long otHience. The Prince will leave to.morroq'
for Kissiegen.