The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-01 00:00:00

THE MISSING AFRICAN MAIL STEAM-

SHIP CLEOPATRA.

LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.

Considerable uneasiness is beginning to be felt at
the nonarrival here of the Royal Mail steam-ship
Cleopatra, from the West Coast of Africa, which is
now overdue three weeks. The ship Majestic, be-
longing to Messrs. Charles Ilorsfall and Sons, ar-
rived in the Mersey this forenoon from Bonny, with
dates to the 28th of July, eleven days later than
the news brought by the steam-ship Athenian ; but
she brings no iutelligence of importance. Trade
was dull.

The Majestic reports that up to the time of her
leaving Bonny the African Royal Mail steamship
Cleopatra had not made her appearance at that
port. Now, as we had information by the last mail
steamer (the Athenian) of her arrival hence at Sierra
Leone on the 12th of July, and sailing for the lee-
ward coast on the following day, it is conjectured
that, if nothing more serious has happened to her,
a breakage in her machinery must have occurred
between the ports of Sierra Leone and Bonny, as
they are only two days' steaming apart, whereas
the Cleopatra was then out 15 days from the time
she left Sierra Leone. If such be the case, the
Cleopatra would endeavour in all probability to get
into the track of the next homeward bound steamer

(the Macgregor Laird), due here on the 10th of
October, and until she arrives we are not likely to
receive any more definite intelligence regarding the
missing steamer.

?HE MIDDLE LEVEL-TRIAL OF THE
SYPHONS.

LYNN, TUESDAY, Noox.

Yesterday afternoon the six syphons completed
were tested in the presence of a great number of
most influential persons. The trial (in which a con-
siderable amount of interest was manifested) took
place under the superintendence of Mr Ha wkshaw,
C.E., Mr. Linn, C.E., resident engineer, Mr. Ap-
pold, C.E., and other eminent engineers, and must
be regarded as in every way successful. The syphons
consist of large tubes, 140 ft. long, with a three feet
six-inch bore, and each weigh 45 tons; the whole
16, which it is intended to fix, weighing about 700
tons, The centre of these pipes, which are made of
cast iron, rest in an horizontal position on the dam,
and descend to the bottom of the cut about equal
lengths on each side, at the bottom of which are
platforms of concrete faced with planking.
At about two o'clock yesterday afternoon, at a
signal from J. T. Leather, Esq., the eminent con-
tractor, a number of sturdy navvies set to work and
lifted up the panels or sluice doors on the upper
side, and immediately the water rushed in and soon
filled the reservoir, rising several feet above the
mouths of the six syphons already completed. The
air-pump, which has been fixed up by Mr. Appold,
the centrifugal pump maker, was then set at work,
and in a few minutes it was evident the air was be-
ing exhausted, for the valves on the upper side of
the dam were forced open, the atmospheric pressure
being removed, and the water coursed its way up
ascending pipe and down on the other side, when
it forced the doors open, making a free course for
itself to the sea. The result of the trial gave the
most entire satisfaction to the engineers and the
authorities who were present. The syphons having
once been set at work continued to discharge nearly
22,000 gallons per minute until nearly six o'clock,
having by that time poured between 6,000,000
and 7,000,000 gallons of water off. The air was
again admitted, and the water stopped with the
greatest ease. They are again at work to-day, and
will continue to do so till the rest are completed.
Crowds of visitors are flocking down to-day, and it
is expected that many thousands will be here dur-
ing the present week.