The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-27 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHIDA,

(From the Calcutta _Englishman ()Vali, 22.)
Up-country produce has begun to arrive from the
opening of the rivers, and it is to be hoped that we
have the "commencement of the end" of the terri-
ble stagnation in trade from which our merchants
have for so lor,tr, suffered. Exchange has been very
dull, 2.0 5-l6ths for b bills, and corresponding
:aces for credit and document bills. The news from
Bombay received this morning has caused a great
amount of excitement in our piece-goods market,
and a fair advance of 4a. for a 71b. shirting is the
result, but little trade is doing at the moment.
Buyers still hesitate, hoping some fortunate chance
may bring down the present rates, and the mer-
chants here are unwilling sell unless at good pro-
fits, and rightly too, as, unless we are greatly mis-
taken, they have the game in their own hands, and
inasmuch as but a small amount of production and
export from England is going forward there can be
nothing to force holders op the market.

Government Securities.—There has been rather
more activity in the stock market this week ; the
4 per Cents, have been largely dealt in for account
of Bombay.
Money Market.—There is no change in this
market. Money is abundant, and obtainable on
Government securities at from 4,-1 per cent. to 5 per
cent. The Bank rate is, however, unaltered.
Exchange.—This has been another dull mail for
business in exchange, the sales on London of bills
of all classes have not probably exceeded £60,000.
The rates for the Bank bills have been 2 0-1-, to
2-0 5-16; credits, at from 2.07, to 2-0 7-16; docu-
mentary, at from 2-0-1 to 2-0 9-16.

Freights.—Business within the last fortnight for
the United Kingdom has continued dull ; we have
therefore to report no change in freights.
CHINA.

HONG KONG, JULY 12.

During the past fortnight no political event worth
recording has occurred. The allied troops remain
within their lines at Shanghai, and their sanitary
condition is much more satisfactory. Two strong
outposts are held at Fa-wha and Sik-a-way, respec-
tively distant about 12 miles ; but the rebels have
retired from the neighbourhood, and are reported
to have fallen back on Nanking, where they are
said to be hard pressed by the Imperialists. Thefe
is a great want of reliable information, however,
regarding their real position in that respect ; and
the usual heavy rains of this season of the year, now
set in, may have something to do with their appa-
rent inactivity. The young Emperor at Pekin has
been doing honour to the memory of A dmiral Protet,
and has ordered furs and silks to be sent to his
family in token of the Imperial gratitude.
The latest intelligence from Tien-tsin is to the
21st ult, The Shan-si rebels were reported to have
gone to the south-west; but trade had not revived
as a consequence of their absence.
The investigation of the great opium frauds still
continues, and Standford, master of the receiving
ship Tropic, has been committed for trial. Appli,
cation has been made to the Macao authorities to
deliver up Rustomjee, the principal actor in the
swindle; but, during the absence of Governor
Giumaraens, at present on a diplomatic mission to
Pekin, they are unwilling to incur the responsi-
bility. Meanwhile, however, they make sure of
him by placing him in one of the forts.
Much anxiety to kno ve the decision of her
Majesty's Government as to future relations with
this country continues to be felt, more especially as
in three or four mouths the weather will again
allow of military operations if determined on.

WRECKS ON THE BRI7ISH COAS7S IN

1861.

The Board of Trade returns of the wrecks and
casualties which occurred on and near the coasts of
the United Kingdom in 1861 has just been pub-
lished. From this report it appears that the num-
ber of casualties is greater than that reported in
any of the preceding nine years, and 261 in excess
of the annual average of the last six years. The
numbers (exclusive of collisions) were, in 1857,
866 ; in 1858, 869 ; in 1859, 1,067 ; in 1860, 1,081 ;
and in 1861, 1,171 ; and the increase is ascribed to
a great extent to the gales of January, February,
and November, in which alone there were 465
casualties, exclusive of collisions. The number of
collisions, again, though slightly in excess of 1860,
is under the number of 1859, the three years 1859,
1860, 1861, having the respective numbers, 349,
298, and 323; and on the whole the increase in the
number of collisions is not proportionately so great
as the increase of other casualties. In the number of
lives lost there is a large increase as compared with
last year, caused by the gales of January, February,
and November, which increased the number of
casualties. In 1860 there were 536, while in 1861
there were 884, but this number is less than the
numbers in 1854 and 1859. The comparatively
small number of lives lost in 1860 and 1861 is owing
chiefly to the absence of the loss of any large psi-
senger ship on the coast. From a table appended,
showing the force of the wind, it appears thr.t nearly
one-half of these casualties happened with the wind
at and under force 8, or " fresh gale," or under cir-
cumstances in which a ship, if seaworthy and pro-
perly manned and sound, ought to be able to keep
the sea.

Appended to the report are various other tables
comparing past years with the present, and classi-
fying the casualties in various ways. The most
important of these shows the geographical distri-
bution of the wrecks. According to this, the three
most fatal districts are from the Fern Islands to
Flamborough Head, from Flamborough Head to
North Foreland, and Skerries and Lamlay to Fair
Head and Mull of Cantire. In the former distract,
in 1861, there were 40 chips wrecked, with a ton•
nage of 5,129 tons, and 244 men ; and the loss was,
totally wrecked, 31 ; partially, 9; and the number of
lives lost, 147. In the second district the figures are—
ships, 24 ; tonnage, 3,998 ; men, 189 ; total wrecks,
18; partial, 6; lives lost, 111. And in the third—
ships, 28; tonnage, 5,832; men, 216; total wrecks,
22; partial, 6; lives lost, 144. This, in the two
first districts, is greatly above the average of the
last twelve years, which, for the one district, is
55 10-12, and the other 89 ; but this is probably
accounted for by the increase of the number of
casualties to ships of the collier class, through the
prevalence of N. end E. to S.E, winds. In the
third district the average of the twelve years,
133 1-12, is but slightly exceeded.
The number of lifeboats under the management
of the National Lifeboat Institution has increased
from 124 in 1856 to 179 in 1861, and as compared
with 1860 the increase is six. The number of life •
boats under other management was 59 as compared
with 63 in 1860. Out of the whole number, 106
are subsidized by the Board of Trade direct, with-
out the intervention of the institution ; and of those
remaining, 14 are maintained by the institution,
and 54 by local bodies. During last year the Board
of Trade and Admiralty have supplied the crews of
some of the Ccast Guard stations with Capt. Ward's
lifebelts and lifelines, the use of which will diminish
the risk they run in putting to sea. To the mortar
and rocket apparatus and lifeboats, as means for
saving life, great credit is given ; and from a tabu-
lar statement of the lives saved by assistance from
the coast during the last seven years, it appears
that the numbers have increased from 1,098 in 1855
to 1,516 in 1861. The sum paid to the Lifeboat
Institution in 1861 is £2,877 3s. 2d. The payments
by the Board of Trade direct for rewards and gra-
tuities and for scrvicr s at wrecks amount to £1,292
Is. 6d. The expenses of maintaining the mortar
and rocket apparatus is £2,246 64. 4d., being a
total payment of £0,415 1 ls. for saving and endea-
vouring to save life during the year 1861.

The public, who never tail to take a loyal ar d
affectionate interest in all that concerns the happiness of the
Royal family, and especially of the heir apparent, will be
rejoiced to hear that the marriage of the Prince of Wales
with the Princess of Denmark will be celebrated early in
the ensuing spring. General Knollys, who so long com-
manded the camp at Aldershott, has been appointed Con-
troller of the Household of his Royal Highness, and Marl-
borough-house is bring preparel as quickly as possible ;or
his reception.
The " 'Messiah " will be performed at Exeter-hall
to-night at half-past 7, with
,band ;;and chorus of 7;.;0 per-
formers, under the direction of Mr, G, W, Martin,

SCIENLIFIC BALLOON ASCEN7I..

s

The following are Mr. Glaisher's observations on
his recent Scientific Balloon Ascents, from the
Crystal Palace and Mill-hill, Hendon, on the 20th
and 21st August :-
On Wednesday, August 20, Mr. Coxwell's large halloo.n,
left the Crystal Palace at 6h. 26m., with nine gentlemen in
the car, and three in the ring above the car, toy instrument
being fined outside the car, beyond the influence of its
occupants, the temperature of the air at the time being
66 deg., the wet bulb thermometer, reaching 52 deg. lower.
At 6h. 35m. we were half a mile high, the temperature was
56 deg. ; at 37m. we were three-quarters of a mile high, and
still ever the Palace. At 6h. 43m., at the height of nearly
one mile, we passed through a thin c.oud, the earth being
just visible ; the temperature at this time was 50 deg., the
wet bulb reading 48 deg. We continued at this elevation
and temperature some little time, and then fell 200 or 300
feet ; at 6h. 55m. the Palace was seen, and was barely
visible through mist at 6h. 57m.: we kept at this eleva-
tion till 7h. 2m., when Kennington-oval was in sight ;at
7h. 9m. St. Mark's Church, Kennington', was immedi-
ately underneath. We were now about one mile in height,
with a temperature of 48 deg. ; the hum of London was
heard. We then descended gradually. At 7h. 12m. lights
were being lighted over London, the hum of London greatly
increasing in depth. At 7h. 22m. the half of Kennington-
oval was lighted. At 7h. 16m. shouting was heard of
people below who saw the balloon. At this time we were
within 1.500 feet of the earth, and continued between
1,500 and 2,500 feet till 711. 40m., the temperature varying
but little from 59 deg., the wet bulb reading about 3 deg.
less. The appearance of London lighted up at this time
was fine, and associated as its appearance was with the
deep sound, or rather roar, of the traffic of the metropolis,
constituted a truly remarkable scene. For a long time
Kennington-oval and Millbank Penitentiary were in sight,
and it seemed as though we could not get away from them.
At 7h. 40m. Mr. Coxwell determined to ascend
above the clouds. We were then about 2,400 feet
high and the temperature was 53 deg. At 7h. 42m. we
were 3,500 feet high, the temperature being 51 deg. At
7h. 47m. we were a mile high, and the temperature was
45 deg. It was very dark looking downwards, but there
was a clear sky above, and a beautiful gleam of light ap-
peared. We still ascended till the clouds were below us,
tinged and coloured with a rich red ; the temperature had
now fallen to 43 deg., and we were enveloped in a fog again.
At 7h. 52m. the str.king of a clock and tolling of a bell were
audible. It was quite dark below. At 811. sm. we were
above the clouds, and it became light again. The hum of
London gradually died away. By this time the temperature
had increased to 55 deg., the barometer reading about 23in.
After this we descended, and it became too dark to read any
instruments. London again was seen, very different indeed
in its appearance to when we could pick out every square,
street, bridge, &c., by its lights. Now as seen through the
mist it had the appearance of a large conflagration of enor-
mous extent, and the sky was lit up for miles round. This
spectacle was certainly very grand, and it was with reluct-
ance we again ascended. After a time the lowing of cattle
was heard, and we seemed to have left London, therefore
Mr. Coxwell determined to pass through the clouds and
examine the country beneath. We passed from the com-
parative light above to the darkness beneath, momentarily
increasing, and found ourselves some little distance front
London. It is in the management of a descent under such
circumstances that the skill of the aeronaut is taxed to the
utmost. The darkness precluded the use of the grapnel on
this occasion, and also the possibility of observing the nature,
of the ground, until skirting the tops of trees. Mr. Coxwell
proved himself perfectly competent, the balloon ascending or
descending at his will, and shortly touched the ground, so
gently that we were scarcely aware of the contact, in the
centre of a field at Mill-hill. about one mile and a half front
Hendon. It was resolved to anchor the ballon for the night,
and I engaged it for the morning for the British Asso-
ciation observations. Mr. Coxwell assured me that he
could attain an elevation of ful y three miles, a height as
high as the barometer I had with me was adapted to work.
On the morning of Angus; 21, by half-past 4, my instru-
ments were replaced outside the car, and we again left the
earth. The morning was warm but dull, the sky overcast
with cirro-stratus cloud. The temperature was nearly 61.
dog., and the wet bulb read 59 deg.

There were in the ear, besides Mr. Coxwell and myself,
Capt. Percival, of the Connaught Rangers; Mr. Ingelow,
and my son—Mr. Ingelow taking charge of the barometer,
as he had done the evening before. We at first rose slowly.
By 4h. 38m. we were 1,030 feet high, and the temperature
was 8 deg. At this time Mr. C. xwell's pulse was 90, Mr.
Ingelaw's EO, Capt. Percival's 90, and mine 80. At 4b. 41m.
there was a break of clouds in the east, and a beautiful line
of light was seen, with gold and silver tints ; here and there
morning mist was sweeping over the land. At oh. 51m.
the temperature 'was 50 deg., the wet bulb read 47 deg. ;
scud was below us, and the night cloud was in a transition
state, forming into cumuli at the same level as we were—
viz., about 3,500 feet; black clouds were above, and mist
was creeping along the ground. At 4h. 53m. we were
above a mile high, the temperature was 43 deg., and the
wet bulb only 1 degree lower; we were just entering clouds.
At 4h. 57m. we were in clouds surrounded on every side by
white mist, the temperature of the air and dew-point were
alike. as both the dry and wet bulb read 394 deg. The light
rapidly increased, and gradually we emerged from the dense
cloud into a deep basin surrounded with immense mountains
of cloud rising far above us, and shortly afterwards we were
looking into deep ravines bounded with beautiful curved
lines. The sky immediately overhead was blue dotted with
cirrus and cirro-cumulus clouds. As we ascended, the tops
of the mountain like cloads became silvery and golden. At
sh. lm. we were on their level, and the sun appeared flood-
ing with golden light all the space we could see for many
degrees both light and left, tinting with orange and silver
all the remaining space around us. It was a glorious sight
indeed. At this time we were about 8,000 feet high, and
the temperature had increased from 38 deg in the clouds to
41 deg. We still ascended rather mom as the sun's
rays fell upon the balloon, each instant Oltebliag up to us ra-
vines of wonderful extent, and presenting tbrour view a mighty
sea of clouds. Here arose shining masses of silvery heaps,
there large masses of cloud in mountain chains rising per-
pendicularly from the plain, dark on one side end silvery
and bright on the other, with summits of dazzling white-
ness; some there were of a pyramidal form, and a large
portion of a wavy form, in some places subsiding into hol-
lows, and in one place having every appearance of a huge
lake. Nor was the scene wanting in light and shade; each
large mass of cloud cast behind it its shadow, and this cir-
cumstance, added to the very many tints, formed a scene at
once most beautiful and sublime.

At sh. Sm. we were nearly two miles high, the tempera-
ture was 37 deg., and the wet bulb read 5 deg. lower, the
air was, therefore, dry. At sh. 18m. we were above 2 miles
in height, the temperature was 3l deg., and here it Nvis
found that Mr. Coxwell's pulse was 90, Capt. Percival's 88,
Mr. Ingleow's 100, and mine 88. The pulse of Capt. Perci-
val was so weak he could scarcely feel it. Mr. Coxwell, on
the other hand, thought his somewhat stronger. By sh.
31m. we were about three miles high, the temperature was
23 deg., and it decreased to 19 deg. by sh. 34m., the wet
bulb being from 5 deg. to 6 deg. lower, showing that the
temperature of the dew •pcint was some degiees below zero.
We then continued at a little above three miles for half an
hour, during which time the temperature at the same height
increased 5 or 6 deg., as the sun rose, and at this .time the
number of pulsations in a minute were taken :—Mr. Cox-
well's, 94; Mr. Ingleow's, 112; mine, 9S; and Capt. Per-
cival's, 7S ; but the last-named gentleman could scarcely
feel any pulsation at all.

Shortly after 6 o'clock it was determined to descend ; we
were then above three miles from the earth, the tempera-
ture, which had been as high as 27 deg., had fallen to 23
deg. At 6h. 13m., at the height of two and a quarter
miles, we heard a train. At 6h. 20m. we were two miles
high, and the temperature had increased to 39 deg. ; and
at this time I noticed the loud ticking of a watch. Capt.
Percival said he could not hear it; he was seated and I was
standing, and some experiments were made, when it was
found that when the ear was at the same level as the watch
no sound was heard, but it was remarkably distinct on the
ear being situated above it.
At the height of two miles the barking of a dog was
heard, the temperature at this time, Oh. 24m., was 43 deg.,
the wet bulb reading no less than 10 deg. lower. The sha-
dow of the balloon with the encircling oval of prismatic
colours was here very remarkable, and it increased in dimen-
sions and vividness of colour, till we entered a cloud at 6h
29m. ; the increase of temperature which had in
been
pro-
gress during the descent was immediately checked, and on
emerging from the cloud at Gh. 33m., the temperature was
41 deg., and the wet bulb 40 deg. The earth was now in
i
sight, without a ray of sun:light falling upon t ; the tem-
perature gradually increased to 56 deg. at 1,000 feet high,
and 62 deg. on reaching the ground, as gently as on the
preceding evening, a little after 7 o'clock, at t unton Lodge
near Biggleswade, on the estate of Lord Brownlow, where
we received every attention and assistance from his agent,
Mr. Paulger. A little after his my pulse was
77 Mr. Cox-
well'a 77, and Capt. Percival 's 83.

JAMES GLAISHER.

COURT CIRCULAR.

BALMORAL, AUGUST 25.
Tho Queen Grove out on Saturday with Prince Leopold/
and attended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce.
Prince Arthur, attended by liojcr Elphinstone, drove to
Indigo, the residence of Dr. Robertson.
The Princess Helena rode on horseback to Brick-hall,
attended by Lieutenant-Gnetal the Hon. C. Grey and
Madame HocCd6.

The Princess Louis also rode, attended by the Marchio-
ness of Ely.

On Sunday the Queen attended Divine service at the
Castle with the Roy al lan-tily and household.
Tlw Rev. Dr. Norman Macleod, D.D., who is staying
at th 9 Castle on a officiated.
The Prince of Wales and Princess Helena afterwards
Went to the parish church of Crathie, when Dr. Macleod
again performed the service.

CRYSTALPALACE —ONE SIIILLINGDAY.—TUES
DAY, Aug, 26.--Admissions on payment, 13 ,560 ;
ditto, by
season 4cliets, 884; total, 12,444.