The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-08 00:00:00

Expedition in Search of Leichhardt•

The ladies of the colony of Victoria have planned
a new geographical expedition in search of Leich-
hardt. Our readers will remember that the minute
narrative of Leichhardt's death, as spread about by

the natives of Maranoa, in 1849—a narrative
which was perfectly plausible, and readily credited
at the time—has long been doubted. Since that
time the squatters have extended their sheep
stations to the place where Leichhardt and his
companions, together with all the animals of his
expedition, were said to have been attacked
and murdered. The colonists live with the na-
tives on the best of terms—the very natives who
where supposed to have committed the murder. Yet
no one knows anything of Leichhardt's fate, nor of
the place of attack, where the bones of men and 70
oxen and horses would surely leave some trace.
Nor is it likely that all the natives would be equally
discreet in concealing facts for which they would
not have to fear punishment. The expeditions
which followed in search of Leichhardt in 1852, in
1858, and in 1861, are known to have been unsuccess-
ful, the fate of the bold traveller remaining wrapped
in darkness and mystery as before, till lately, Mr.
M'lntyre, on an inland journey, 22 deg. S. lat. found
2 horses which had become old in uncontrolled liberty,
and which are supposed to have belonged to Leich-
hardt's expedition, as no other traveller has been
known to have left behind or lost horses in those
parts. This becomes more probable still by the
next discovery of Mr. Denman M'lntyre, in 20 deg.
S. lat. of two Ls marked in trees. Thus the course
of Leichhardt is almost established for 350 miles
further. The probability that Leichhardt, or any
of his companions, is still among the living, is
certainly very small, but it is not an impossibility.
If he lives, it can only be under the protection
of a tribe, and it is well known that he would
never be able to get his liberty in such a case,
kind as his treatment otherwise might be.
Morrell's account of his flight proves this
sufficiently. King, of Burke's expedition, was well
trated by the natives ; Morrell lived with them 17
years, Buckley 30 years, an escaped convict 11
years, Kangaroo Jack also 11 years. Why should
not Leichhardt, or some of his party be in a similar
position ? At all events, if the newly-projected
expedition cannot benefit Leichhardt, science will
profit by it, no doubt. The Ladies' Committee
have addressed themselves to Queen Victoria, the
Empress Eugenie, and the Crown Princess of
Prussia for help. Why not the German Queens
and Empresses? Was Leichhardt not a German ?
—A then mum.

THE WILLIAM NELSON.—New York papers pub-
lish the following letter from the captain of the
French mail steamer Lafayette, to the agent of the Gene-
ral Transatlantic Company at 1\ ew York, giving an ac-
count of the rescue of some of the passengers of the ship
William Nelson, recently burnt at sea :—" June 27, at 4.30
p.m., about lat. 42 deg, 16 min., long. 52 deg. 21 min., fell
in with two boats of the ship William Nelson, burnt at
sea, and took from them 24 male and six female passengers,
including the captain of that ill-fated ship. I obtained
from him the following statement I was in command
of the ship William Nelson, 1,039 tons, with a crew of
30 men. I left Antwerp on the 2d June, and Flessingen
on the 4th, with 600 tons of merchandise and 450 emi-
grant passengers, for New York. On Saturday, June 26,
at 12.30, lat. 41.21, long. 50.22 (having just taken observa-
tion), I was informed that the ship was set on fire while
fumigating, and the flames spread so rapidly that I had
only time to order the four boats to be lowered, which
were immediately filled by those nearest, and finding all
efforts useless I soon followed. The scene on board was
horrible in the extreme. Next morning, at 4 o'clock, the
ship had entirely disappeared. I stood out for the north-
west, the other three boats keeping company as long as
they could.' I stood south in search of the two missing
boats, and at 7.40 p.m. sighted a boat at a great distance.
Stood for her, but the Russian ship Il Mari, Capt. Adolph
Niska, having come up, the 14 passengers in the - boat
were picked up by that ship, and at once transferred to the
Lafayette. I learnt from these passengers that the remain-
ing fourth boat parted from them about 4 o'clock on the
previous evening, that she contained 37 passengers, and
must be in a south-easterly direction. I stood, therefore,
in that direction, searching for her part of the night, firing
signals every five minutes, but did not succeed in discover-
ing this last boat."
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.—It will increase the appre-
hensions naturally entertained in Scotland as to the
spread of the cattle disease from the sister kingdom to know
that the " Rinderpest," or Russian plague, has broken out
in Northumberland, among the cattle on a large farm which
on one side is bounded by the Tweed, at no great distance
below Kelso. The disease appears to have been, beyond
doubt, in this case communicated by infection from animals
brought from the continent. It appeared first among a lot
of 14 foreign cattle, which are understood to have been im-
ported by way of London. Six of these cattle have fallen
victims to the disease within a week, and five of the others
were on Saturday seriously affected. The imported cattle
were on their arrival on the farm, with unfortunate confi-
dence, put into a field along with a number of home-bred
cattle in very good condition, and in consequence three a
the latter caught the disease and had to be slaughtered•
Two other home-bred cattle, of a lot kept in an adjoining
park, have also been attacked by the plague and destroyed•
When the Tweed is as low as it has been foi some time, the
cattle on opposite sides of the river, as it may be easily sup"
posed, now and then interchange visits; and we have reason
to believe that onlytheotherday an animal from the Scotch
side had actually strayed "over the border" into one of the
infected fields. Of course nothing may come of this accident;
but, if anything should, the incident ought to be taken
another lesson that a disease, against the spread of which
it is impossible to guard when it is once in the countri,
must henceforth be by all possible means kept out!'
Scotsman.

BRINGING SHEEP TO MARKET.—As good mutton
as was ever brought to market is now sold in this
city at 20c. por lb.; beef continues at 30c. The decline la
the price of mutton is due to the fact that large droves all
on their way hither from Texas. The practicability '2.'l
driving sheep such a great distance has been fully prove:
by experience. Three years ago large droves of sheep wer"
driven to this city from the Rio Grande, and the sheep
rived here here in better condition than when they left. They
are driven across a country which, at this season of
thei
year, is one great rich meadow, with frequent ponds °
fresh water and salt lakes and marshes, and thus, by easYr
marches and careful herding, arrive here in much be
of
condition than the poor, imprisoned, crowded inmates°,
steamboats and flatboats, which get nothing to eat on the
voyage but dry hay. What is thus done with sheep y
also be done with cattle ; and these droves of sheep
li-
prove the avant courriers of like droves of fine, fat and d of
ciously flavoured beeves from the musquit pastures
Texas.—New Orleans Picayune.
A SAMPLE FROM' A LANCASHIRE MILL-rf
.-
rter,
Registrar of Preston, in his return, for the last (1118 f
notes that in it he registered the death, through old fr
r`it;
a Lancashire woman aged 100 years. She had 'oee
married, each time to a cotton weaver, and herself vi.°'
in a cotton factory as a reeler, &c., up to her f3Oth year,
100 she could see to read without spectacles,