The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-16 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES.

LETTER FROM THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE
LIVERPOOL AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The Liverpool American Chamber of Commerce
forwarded an invitation to the Hon. James Bu-
chanan, the new ambassador for the United States
to this country, immediately after his arrival in
England. The following reply has been received
from him, from which it will be seen that he is not
able to accept the invitation at present. It will be
seen that Mr. Buchanan's letter enters somewhat
fully into several questions of interest. It is as
follows :
" United States Legation, London, Sept. 5, 1853.
" Sir,—l have had the honour to receive the resolu-
tion adopted on the 30th ult., by the American Chamber
of Commerce at Liverpool, inviting me to a banquet to
be given by them, as a mark of respect and welcome
upon my appointment as minister of the United States
of America to England, and requesting me to name a
day when it will best suit my convenience to attend.
" Whilst highly and gratefully appreciating this
honour, I regret that it is impossible for me, with a due
regard to my public duties in London, to say when, if at
all, their kind invitation could be accepted. I fel,
therefore, constrained respectfully to decline it. In
doing this, however, I beg to assure them that no man
in either country estimates more highly than myself the
commerce conducted between Liverpool and the United
States ; and no man more ardently desires that it may
long continue to extend itself in peace and prosperity.'
and to confer mutual benefits upon both nations.
" The period in the world's history seems at length to
narrow
and arrived when mankind have discovered that
and unjust restrictions upon foreign trade most surely
defeat their own object, and when selfishness itself is
enlisted in favour of a liberal policy. The philanthropist
at the same time rejoices in the knowledge that the
mutual dependence which commerce creates between
nations is the surest preventive of war, by rendering
peace the interest of all. For my own part, I firmly
believe that the unsettled questions known to exist be-
tween Great Britain and the United States, judged alone
according to the value of the material interests involved,
are not worth six months' suspension of the trade be-
tween the two countries. It is, therefore, greatly to
be desired that these questions should be speedily, ho-
nourably, and finally adjusted, and that hereafter both
nations should enjoy a smooth sea and a cloudless sky
for a friendly competition in all the pursuits calculated
to enlighten and benefit the human race. The greatest
revolution, so far as the interest of commerce and ma-
nufactures is concerned, which has ever been commenced
anitmg men, is that now in apparently successful pro-
gress in China. Should this terminate in opening a free
access to that vast empire of 300,000,000 of human
beings, the United States and Great Britain will have a
harvest presented before them which, even with all their
energy, enterprise, and resources, they will scarcely be
able to reap. Then will a noble and generous rivalry
also spring up between them, which shall contribute
most effectually to promote the cause of Christianity,
civilisation, and freedom among this ancient and strange
people.
" With sentiments of great respect,
"I remain your obedient servant,
"JABLES BUCHANAN.
" William Brown, Esq., ISI.P„ Chairman, &C."

NA VA

!ENC.& t-4

PORTSMOUTH, SEPT.
The Princess Royal, 90, was docked to-day in
factory basin dock to complete for trial. Such has been
the expedition with which this ship has been worked
upon since launching by the engineer department of this
steam factory that she will be ready for trial at Spitheid
in about three weeks. She will be ready to get up steam
in her boilers in about one week from the present
time. It is believed to be the Admiralty's intention
to man and officer this ship and the Cressy (sister
vessels) from the London and Prince Regent, sailing
90's, now in Rear-Admiral Corry's division of the Chan-
nel fleet.

The Fairy Royal yacht, Master Commander Welch,
shipped Mr. Scott s patent two-bladed screw this after-
noon, and will make a trial of it on Monday. It appears
like the old form of screw, with a piece cut out of each
blade, making it resemble the letter Z. It weighs double
the weight of her old screw.
The Dauntless, 24, screw frigate, was removed from
the steam basin dock to the basin to-day, to continue
her fittings for sea. It is rumoured Captain Adams,
late of the Gladiator, will have the command of her.

The Sprightly steam tender, Mr. George Allen,
Acting Master Commanding, proceeded to Plymouth
with supernumeraries, &c., on Tuesday evening, and re-
turned thence at 3 o'clock this morning. She has coaled,
and is again ready for service.
At the monthly examination of candidates for promo-
tion and entry into the navy at the Royal Naval College
yesterday and to day, the following passed :
Mates for Lieutenants.—Messrs. W. D. D. Selby, J.
A. F. Luttrell, and H. St. John de Robeck.
Second Masters for Masters.—Messrs. E. Wise and
B. D. Connor.

For entry as Naval Cadets.—A. L. Nugent, H. J.
Clifford, T. H. Tapp ; and Messrs. G. B. Evans, E.
Pilkington, and G. H. Blake, from Mr. Eastman's pre-
paratory college. '
For entry as Clerks' Assistants.—W. Ward, J. Rivers,
B. Mitford, and H. F. Alldricks.

PLYMOUTH, SEPT. 14.
The Lords of the Admiralty, at an early hour this
morning, accompanied by Colonel Jebb, inspected the
steamyard at Keyham, the Gunwharf, and the Royal
Arsenal, with a view to select a sortable site from the
Ordnance land on which to erect a prison for the recep-
tion of convicts, who are to be employed on Govern-
ment works now that the system of transportation is
abolished. Their lordships proceeded direct from the
Black Eagle to Keyham, where they were received by
Mr. R. Townsend, civil engineer, the engineer in charge
of the works. A full account of this establishment ap-
peared in The Sun of the 20th of May, when the new
caissons of Messrs. Grissel and Co. were tested. Since
that period the officers' offices have been completed, and
the buildings for the military main guard, and for the
police have been advanced. The fitting and erecting
shops to the south of the great quadrangle, and the
brass and copper smiths' shops to the east, are in a for-
ward state. The water pipes and mains are laid, and
the ground is in progress of being levelled. The enormous
crane by Fairburn, of Manchester, will be completed in
a week. This ponderous machine plumbs 35 feet, and
will be tested to the extent of 60 tons ; the jib end stands
67 feet above high water mark, which is considerably
higher than the buildings of the Quadrangle, to the west
of which, and on the edge of the north basin, it is
erected. A tunnel, 11 feet by 12 feet, from Keyharn
under New passage to the Gunwharf and dockyard is to
be constructed ; about 100 yards of the northern mouth-
piece are already finished. The new steam-yard is in-
tended to be opened on the 15th of October. It is un-
known whether any public display will take place.
Should the Lords of the Admiralty come down, it is
very probable that the Channel fleet will be ordered to
rendezvous at Plymouth. The south basin, with its
lockg and docks, and the caissons, are all ready for ser-
vice, and in case the fleet came here, one of the largest
ships would most likely be selected to go into this basin
through the entrance lock, the foundation of which was
laid by Lord Auckland in 1845.

The Lords of the Admiralty, after expressing their
approval of the advanced state of the works, went to the
Gunwharf, and then proceeded to the dockyard, where
they were received by Commodore Seymour and the
principal officers. The staff, artisans, and labourers
were mustered, when they returned to their duties, and
their Lordships proceeded to the storehouses, masthouse,
and sail loft, in which sails are preparing for the Mada-
gascar, Saracen, and Scorpion. The blockmakers are
busily engaged making blocks for the Keyham works.
These buildings have been examined, the ships under
construction were inspected.
In slip No. 1 is the 50-gun frigate Narcissus, 1,996
tons, 180 feet long, 50 feet 10 inches broad, and 15 feet
10 inches deep. She was begun in October, 1849, and
can be completed next year.
In slip No. 2, the 50-gun frigate Phcebe (sister to the
Narcissus), 2,043 tons, 180 feet long, 51 feet 6 inches
broad, 16 feet 6 inches deep, begun August, 1848, is in
a forward state, and could be launched this year.
In slip No. 3, the 90-gun ship Algiers, converting into
a screw, 3,165 tons, 210 feet long, increased say 9 feet,
entire length 219 feet, 60 feet broad, 24 feet 5 inches
deep, begun July, 1848, is ready for launching.
In slip No. 4, the 90-gun ship Exmouth is in course
of conversion into a screw, 3,093 tons, 204 feet long, 60
feet broad, 23 feet 8 inches deep. To be completed by
the close of the financial year, March 31, 1854.
_ . _

In slip No, 5 is the 100-gun screw-ship Conqueror,
3,300 tons, 240 feet, long, 55 feet 6 inches broad, 24 feet
6 inches deep ; keel just laid down.
Besides these, the new screw-ship James Watt, 90, is
receiving her boilers, weighing 11 tons each, in the
North Dock ; the Cambrian, 40, is repairing in No. 3
dock • the Ddalus 20, is being stripped, and the

Leander, 50, is refitting.
The Lords of the Admiralty left the arsenal at 5
o'clock, and dined in the evening with Port-Admiral Sir
John Ommanney, at Mount Wise.

The Avon steamer is appointed to sail to-day with
riggers for Pembroke, to navigate the Casar, 90, screw-
ship, to this port.

SHEERASS, SEPT. 15.
The Cyclops paddle-wheel steam transport, Master.
Commander Pore, passed down Sea-reach yesterday,
from Woolwich, at 2 p.m., for the westward.
At 4 p.m. yesterday the Netherlands ship Hendrika,
of Rotterdam, H. Reiniersen, commander, from London.
bround to Melbourne with a general cargo and 26 pas-
sengers (emigrants), arrived here in tow of the steam-tug
Eagle. Captain Reiniersen reports that between 12 and
1 o'clock on the night of the 13th instant., his ship then
being off Dungeness, the light bearing N.W. by N., and
Cape Grisnez the wind at the time southerly,
the ship being so closehauled as to keep the jib and stay-
sail shivering in the wind, he was run on board of by a
deep-laden English ship coming up Channel free. The
Hendrika, was struck between the starboard cathead and.
the forerigging, by which her foremast and maintopmast
were carried away, and considerable damage was done
to the hull by the anchor of the ship (supposed to be the
Sea Park, from Ceylon). The full figure of a man of
colour, representing the great African traveller Munge
Park, was left on the deck of the Hendrika, also part of
the standing and running rigging of a bowsprit and jib-
boom, which was cut away to clear the ships. The masts
and wreck of the Hendrika were cut away to prevent
further damage being done to her hull. A survey (by
Lloyd's surveyors) will be held immediately on the da-
mage, preparatory to repairs taking place. Captain.
Reiniersen has proceeded to London to his agents for
advice and instructions. The ship is perfectly tight, the
damage all being above the copper.

JERSEY, SEPT. 12.

Lord
Milne,ordo
fthe
accompanied Admiralty,
with
LordAd Raglan,
Admiral
dasn ande irECasptt
Sir
oon Burgoyne,
Friday and
morning,Co
l Caantdo r,d
en. v
0 ttdA. , arrived
the at
greater
Alderney
part of the day to the inspection of the forts and the har-
bour of refuge works in Braye-bay, accompanied by Gen.
Sir John Bell (governor), Col. Alexander, R.E., Colonel
Fraser, R.A., and Mr. Walker and Mr. Cooper, civil
engineers. In the afternoon the party crossed to Guern-
sey in the Black Eagle and Vivid steamers. After in-
specting the Guernsey Artillery on Saturday morning,
they arrived in our harbour (St. Heliers), at 4.30 p.m.,
when they were met by our Lieutenant-Governor, Gene.
ral Love, and by our bailiff, Sir Thomas Le Breton.
They have since inspected the harbour of refuge works
now in progress in St. Catherine's-bay, Mr. Walker and
Mr. Cooper, with Mr. Bean, the contractor, being in at-
tendence.

The harbour will contain about an area of 150 acres,
and will, when finished, be most useful as shelter from
storms in these dangerous seas, there being at present
no harbour in which vessels can run for refuge at low
water. Their lordships are expected to leave to-morrow.

SUICIDE OF AN AGED MAN.—Yesterday morning
William Crowhurst, a man upwards of seventy years of
age, and formerly a porter in the Bank of England,
committed suicide by hanging himself in his bedroom, at
his lodgings, Little Bell-alley, Moorfields. He was die.
covered hanging by a cord suspended from a nail in his
door. No cause whatever can be assigned at present
for the commission of the act, as the deceased appeared
in his usual health, and was not suffering under pe.
cuniary embarrassment, as a sovereign, a half-sovereign,
and some silver, were found in his pocket.
MELANCHOLY SIIICIDE.—The town of Dorchester way
yesterday morning, greatly shocked by the perpetration
of an act of determined suicide by Mr. John Edwards,
surgeon. The unfortunate gentleman appears to have
been labouring under some pecuniary difficulties, and
between nine and ten o'clock the sheriff's officer appeared
at the house to put in an execution. Mr. Edwards' man
servant, who had been just engaged in assisting him to
dress, informed his master that the officer, calling him.
by his name, wished to speak with him, upon which Mr.
Edwards desired his servant to leave the room, saying
he would be down stairs directly. It then appear;
that the man who accompanied the officer for the
purpose of remaining in possession fancied he heard
a gurgling kind of noise, and apprehending on the mo-
ment that something was wrong, rushed up stairs,
and found Mr. Edwards lying on his bed gasping, and
in the agonies of death. He raised an alarm, and medi-
cal assistance was immediately sent for, but the unhappy
man expired in a very few minutes. On a search being
made, a small bottle, which had contained prussic acid,
was found by his bed-side, and there was no doubt that
he had destroyed life by swallowing a very large dose of
Igteoisn ,rewmhaorkfoablthat
for many
a the deceased's
narsen enjoyed
father,that d al
idkleywpios poison. oans.
a very extensive andur
superior practice inytyheis town and
neighbourhood, ,came to an untimely end, between thirty
and forty years ago, by deliberately opening the jugular
vein before a looking-glass with a scalping-knife- The
deceased was a very kind and humane man, and ren-
dered many gratuitous and valuable services to the poor
and needy in his vicinity. He was a widower, about 54
years of age, and has left a daughter about 15 to; *mourn
his loss.