The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-14 00:00:00

SZONE BLOCKADES.

The following curious despatch, written more
han half a century ago, appears in a contem-

porary :

(MOST SECRET.)
Downing-street, 9th February, 1804.
Sir,—lt being thought advisable under the present cir-
cumstances of the war, that an attempt should be made for
carrying into execution the project suggested in the enclosed
paper for choking up the entrance into the harbour of Bou-
logne; and the success of such an enterprise depending in a
great measure upon the secrecy and despatch with which the
preparations may be made, I have the King's commands to
signify to you his Majesty's pleasure that you do take these
preparations under your immediate control, and that you
communicate confidentially with Mr. , supplying him
with such funds, and giving him such orders for the pur-
chase of vessels, and providing the stone and other materials
which you may judge necessary to be embarked, as shall be
requisite for accomplishing the object in view. The ad-
vances you may have occasion to make for this service will
hereafter bo replaced by the treasury. As soon as the ves-
sels shall be sufficiently laden, you will give instructions
that they should proceed with all possible expedition to the
Downs, where all further orders will proceed from Lord
Keith.—l am, Sir, you most obedient servant,

HOBART.

To Sir A. S. Hamond, Bart., Comptroller
of the Navy.
[The case referred to in the above letter is not parallel
with That of Charleston. Boulogne was virtually then,
not a commercial, but a naval harbour. Were the
French to choke up Portsmouth harbour, or we to
choke up Cherbourg, in the event of a war between the to
countries, it would be quite justifiable. But, were Liver-
pool or Havre the harbours it Nlkas attempted to destroy
civilisation would cry open shame at the attempt. Charle-
ston is not a naval arsenal, but a commercial port.—En.

The Marquis of Salisbury is entertaining a shoot-
Lag party at Hatfield House, Herts. The Marquis and
marchioness and family come to town on the sth of next
month for the season.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn will
shortly leave Baron's Court, county Tyrone, for Brocket
Hall, Hants.
Lieut.-Colonel Cuddy has left town for Ireland,
on a visit to his brother-in-law, John Claudius Beresford,
Esq., cousin to the Most Honourable the Marquis of
Waterford.
32D LIGHT INFANTRY.--His Royal Highness
the General Commanding-in-Chief has been pleased to
direct. Mr. W. Henry Brogden to leave his regiment, for
the purpose of undergoing a course of musical instruction
at Kneller Hall, Middlesex, to afford him the position of
bandmaster, according to an order dated Horse-Guards,
23d December, 1861.
Messrs. Seyton and Wainwright, of New York,
observe that the possibility'that the large Government ex-
penditure may result in the suspension of specie payment
contributes to sustain prices in the stock market.
NEW YORK, Dec. 27.—The C. Matthews, at
Portiand, from Matanzas, reports that on Dec. 8, in the
latitude of Savannah, in 40 fathoms water, she was boarded
by a boat from the Eliza Bonsall, of Charleston, under
British colours. The officer reported that they were trying
to get into Savannah, off which port they had been for four
days, and that the previous day they had seen the Great
Republic and three American men-of-war, but were not
spoken. Three days afterwards, off Cape Hatteras, the C,
Matthews was spoken by the gunboat Ituske, bound south,
the commander of which, on the above facts being stated,
said he would look after the case. The Eliza Bonsall,
when last seen, was standing north, with the wind east.
The Eliza Bonsall, Stalker, sailed from Liverpool on the
14th of October.
TOTAL WRECK OF Two FOREIGN VESSELS IN
TILE CIIANNEL—DOVER SAILORS' HOME, Monday,—At
11 this morning the captain, his wife, and daughter, and
the crew of the Dutch schooner Pelican, laden with wheat
from Trieste for Antwerp, and which sprung a leak and
sunk in mid-channel in the late gales, were landed at Dover
from the brig Eliza Jane, of Shoreham. This vessel stood
by the Pelican until all hands were picked up, and then
brought them on to Dover, where they will all be taken
care of at the Sailors' Home, and be forwarded to London
to-morrow. They all speak of the great kindness of Capt.
Lelett, of the brig Eliza. The crew of the French lugger
Petit Pieare, run down and sunk by an Austrian brig, were
also brought to the Sailors' Home in an utterly destitute
state. The hon. secretary of the Home has this morning
received a very gratifying letter from the French Minister
of Marine, expressing the thanks of the Emperor's Govern-
ment for the efficient services rendered to the crews of 35
wrecked French vessels by the Dover Sailors' Home.
THE SHAKESPEARE FUND.—The following sub.
seriptions have been lately added to this fund :—fix' illiam
Leaf, Esq., £100; Frances Countess Waldegrave, £2O;
Lady Willoughby d'Eresby, £5; Sir James Prior, £5; S.
Christie, Esq., M.P., £10; W. Scholefield, Esq., M.P.,
£5; S. R. Solly, Esq., F.R.S , £10; Thomas Brasseh
Esq., £10; G. W. Norman, Esq., £5; C. H. Elt, Esq.,
; Messrs. Dickinson, £lO ; T. B. and W. H., £10; W.
11. Reece, Esq., F.S.A., £5; John Noble, Esq., £10;
Thomas Kerslake, Esq., £5; William Middlernofe, Esq.,
£5; W. L. Sargent, Esq., £5; Charles Shaw, Esq., £5.
We are requested to state that the account of the fund is
kept at the Western Branch of the Bank of England, Bur-
lington-gardens, where the sul scriptions in aid of its ob-
jects will be thankfully received.

The last mercantile advices from British Colum-
bia indicate that a large British immigration is much de-
sired. A letter dated Victoria, Vancouver's Island, the
16th of November, says :—" City business is good, and the
town is full of rich miners, many of them with 15,000 to
20,000 dollars, and none with less than 2,000 to 5,000 dohs.
From all accounts Carriboo is the richest gold country ever
known. Almost every one talks of going in the spring, and
everyonewho tans thus expects to make a fortune.- There
will be a great; rush, no doubt. Every man with industry
may be sure of a few thousands of dollars in the season."