The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-07 00:00:00

" F. T. GOVER, U.S.N., Boarding Officer."

This individual then returned to his boat, and I
was, after a detention of an hour and a half, per-
mitted to proceed on my voyage.
Now, in all this there is nothing to complain of
if the Bahama Islands and passages are undo
blockade by the United States' naval force, since all
the customary forms prescribed for such a case were
complied with ; but up to the time of my sailing
from Nassau no notice of such blockade had been
made public, and I have been unable to find any
such notice in the newspapers since my return to
England.
The United States' vessels now on duty off Abaco
are the Mercedita, Quaker City, and Albatross, and
their vigilance and attention 10 the business in hand
are such that no vessel bound to or from Nassau
can peas either way without being overhahled and
searched, except by a rare and fortunate accident.
Such vessels as the commander of the cruiser fancies
he seizes ; others he permits to escape. I consider
myself fortunate in being among the latter on the
present occasion.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
GILBERT ERIKSON, Master of the British
schooner Albert, of Liverpool.
Liverpool, Aug. 4.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—One of the Banana plants
(musa ensete) in the Crystal Palace is just bursting in
flower in a remarkable manner. The petals of the bud are
of the same nature as ordinary leaves of the plant, but
smaller and more delicate, and, at present, of a cream
colour, where not exposed to the light, instead of that
peculiar tint so characteristic of the musa family. The
bud springs out of the centre of over so
as to bp r.. 11, and trom the interior of it comes the
flower itself, unusually large, and full of promise of fruit.
The flower is fast opening, and every new wheel or circle
of incipient fruit is disclosed, but, at present, the unopened
portion has the appearance of a short thick closed umbrella,
about 9 inches in diameter, and 2 feet long, with the point
towards the spectator. So large a bud has not been seen
before on the Bananas in the palace, indeed, it is probable,
that even under a tropical sun, and in the most favourable
circumstances, neither plant nor flower attain the great
size which these have reached. The tree is in the basin in
the tropical end, close to the monti fountain, and exactly
opposite the Alhambra court. But no one who looks for it
can fail to see it.

LOCH TAY SALMON FISHING.—Loch Tay has
during the past week been in fine ply for angling. On
Saturday and Monday, especially, good sport was enjoyed,
and a number of large salmon in fine condition were killed.
At the east end of the loch salmon and grilse are plentiful,
and both have risen freely to the flies in the evenings and
mornings since the weather set in milder. Fishers have
also been very successful on all the neighbouring streams
during the last few days, and good spore is enjoyed with
minnow after sunset.—Scotsman.

DUNBAR HERRING FISHING.—A very large
number of boats went out on Monday night. About 20 of
the Irish boats returned to the harbour at 9 o'clock, fearing
a gale; the remainder of the Irish and all the other boats
kept at sea, and were rewarded by a splendid fishing. Many
of them had 20 crans. The fish were of the best quality,
and current prices were 275. and 28s, per cran. Although
a few of the last boats sold at 255., this price is exceptional.
—August s.—Scotsman.

_
THE COAL TRADE TO THE METROPGLIS.--The
returns made of the quantity of coal conveyed to the metro-
polis by railway, canal, and seaborne, still show a very
marked diminution. For the present year 755,85 ) tons
14ewt of coal have been carried by railway, against 958,713
tons llcwt for the corresponding period of 1861, or a do.
crease of 182,862 tons 17cwt. The canals show 6,722 tons,
against 11,815 tons 15cwt, or 5,093 tons lsowt less this
year than last, The seaborne coal has declined 53,072 tons,
the quantity for the present year being 1,932,581 tons, as
compared with 1,985,653 tons for the first seven months of
1861. For July last the London and North-Western Rail-
way have conveyed 50,029 tons lcwt ; the Great Northern,
25,0662 tons; Midland, 14,588 tons; Eastern Counties,
12,256 tons; Great Western, 7,212 tons; Chathsra and
Dover, 243 tons ; llewt ; Tilbury, London and Southend,
60 tons, total, 109,455 tons 2cwt, against 119,677 tons
15cwt in the month of July, 1861. The receipts by canal
for the last month were 534 tons, against 1,660 tons for
July, 1861. The importations from Newcastle have been
80,999 tons ; Sunderland, 79,724 tons ; Hartlepool and
West Hartlepool, 57,397; Seaham, 24,959; M idd les-
borough ; 4,427 ; Blyth, 2,224; from Wales, 9,553 tons;
Yorkshire, 3,140 ; Scotch, 1,334. Of Duff, 1,559 tons ;
small, 1,313 ; and cinders, 2,358, making a total of 209,408
tons, against 290,918 tons for July, 1861.

HEREFORD, HAY, AND BRECON RAILWAY.—
Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this company was
convened at the offices, 9, Bridge-street, Westminster, but
as a sufficient number of shareholders were not present to
form a meeting, it was adjourned. The report, which was
circulated, referred with satisfaction to the fact that the act
authorising the construction of a line from IVngton to
Eardisley, forming a junction there with the company's line,
and calculated to form an important auxiliary, had been
passed, and also the company's deviation bill. The report
of the engineers, Messrs. Macneill and Piercy, stated that
notwithstanding the difficulties and delays that had occurred
they had every reason to believe that the line would be
ready for opening up to Norton Canon during September
next, and that negotiations were in a forward state for car-
ry ing on the section beyond. The Hon. G. Morgan, M.P.,
had been chosen chairman, and Mr. W. B. Buddicomb,
deputy-chairman. Mr. W. L. Banks had been elected a
director in the place of Mr. Watkins; and Mr. R. Swan
had been appointed secretary. The cash account showed a
total receipt to June 30, of £105,951, and a balance in hand
of £344.
THE LATE CASE Op CRUELTY.—The statement
made in the House of Commons on Monday night, by Sir
G. C. Lewis, to the effect that Sergeant Ashton, who ordered
the man Bishop to be scrubbed with sand, had been dis-
missed the service by the Commander-in-Chief, is in some
respects incorrect, inasmuch as Sergeant Ashton still re-
tains his rank in the regiment, having been superseded
only as chief officer of the military police, by which he loses
6s. a day. Evidence has been obtained which proves that
Bishop is a deserter, and a court-martial is ordered to in-
vestigate the platter. An official inquiry has taken place
relative to the cruel punishment to which this man was
subjected, and although the result has not been made
public, we believe we are correct in stating that the prac-
tice of scrubbing prisoners with sand has been carried on to
a considerable e4tent in the cells at :Woolwich, and under
the direction of an officer holding a high position under the
commandant. A sergeant of the regiment, who formerly
acted as officer of the military police, invxiabli 'cle-
chned to cart out
was whio out this punisht unleas he received an
order in writing, ne'ver given• but it is stated
h9t Sergeant Ashton: acted 4 on verbal instructions from hie
uluiriar officer.