The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-31 00:00:00

of defence to the eastward, and to the north up the
Soochow creek. A short distance beyond these
inner defences to the westward our outer line
stretches north and south. Our local readers have
doubtless looked with astonishment at the hills of
mud thrown up from the creek on the site of the
old racecourse,
,forming apparently as formidable
obstacles to the defender as they would be to the-
attacking force. Though not ourselves learned in
the practice of warfare, 3 et, under the instruction
of an intelligent bombardier, we have enJeavourcd
to comprehend the method in which these mounds
of earth are to form a bulwark, and one of the safe-
guards of the settlement. Comm2reiPg at the Soo-
chow
creek we find a large mound cf earth close to
the boundary stone. On this we understand will
be placed a 32-pounder gun, which will speak to the
rebels should they appear on the other side of the
creek, in language not to be misunderstood, at a
distance of 2,000 yards. From this point trending
southwards we find a parapet or mudbank, seven
feet high, six feet wide at the top and 13 feet at
the base, bordering on the new canal ; and at a dis-
tance of 100 yards from the large gun, an angle is
formed in which one of the artillery field pieces can
be placed when required. A similar arrangement
is also in progress where the Bubbling Well-road
crosses the canal, at which point a drawbridge is in
course of construction. From here the parapet con-
tinues at a slope towards the ditch, leaving a space
as a walk outside the work. Before arriving at the
present grand stand the canal takes a sharp turn,
where another 32-pounder will be placed. Passing
the stand another drawbridge joins the old and new
race courses, with a convenient platform for a small
gun. Between this and the Yang-kiang_pang Creek
the parapet continues in a zig zag form, having
three places for guns to be properly mounted. At
the embochure of the canal with the creek another
32-pounder is proposed to be placed, so as to sweep
the country round with a clear range of 2,000 yards.
The entire length of this outer line of defence is
about three-quarters of a mile, which it is calcu-
lated that 600 men with guns in the various spots
appointed for them could defend the settlement
against any number of the Taeping rebels. When
to these details of the state of our inner and outer
defences, we add that we could muster on an emer-
gency an armed force of foreigners—military, naval,
volunteer, and civilian—of nearly 4,000 men, we
consider ourselves in a comparatively strong state
of defence to that which we have been against the
insurgents, should they dare to attack Shanghai.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

PORTSMOUTH, SATURDAY.

The Union Company's Cape Royal Mail steamer
Cambrian, Captain W. Strutt, arrived here this
morning with the usual monthly mails. She left
Table Bay Feb. 22 ; St. Helena, March 3 ; Ascen-
sion, March 7. She brings 75 passengers, among
whom are the Lord Bishop of St. Helena (appointed
to the diocese of Colombo) and family. Her cargo
consists of 720 bales of wool, 15 cases of feathers, 40
packages, 1 case, 300 tusks ivory, 505 bags copper
ore, 14 cases aloes, 132 bags of argol, 2 hogsheads,
8 quarter casks, 5 aums, 4 half auras, 1 anker, 2
kegs, 2 casks, 14 cases wine, 313 bales hides, and
several cases of sundries. She had very fine weather
all the way home. At the Cape the leading topics
vc ere the death of the Prince Consort, and the
probability of an American war. The last mail
steamer, the Dane, arrived out on the 15th of Feb-
ruary, but her news of the death of the Prince
had been forestalled by the Jin Kee, a paddle-
wheel Dutch steamer from England for China,
that put into Table Bay Jan. 30, with English news
up to Dec. 24. Heartfelt sorrow and sympathy
for the Queen and her children were expressed by
all classes throughout the colony. The melancnoly
event was feelingly alluded to by the ministers in
the various places of worship ; meetings were held
and addresses of condolence to her Majesty agreed
on, the Dutch reformed church taking the lead
among the various religious bodies in Cape Town.
The probability of an American war had occasioned
prompt preparations for defence in the colony. New
batteries were being erected at Cape Town and
Port Elizabeth, and the Cossack, 20, screw corvette,
Captain Moorman, was stationed in Table Bay.
Troops had been ordered down from the interior to
reinforce the garrisons of the two principal seaports.
The whole of the volunteers had offered their services
to the Government, and had been accepted, and
they, in company with the soldiers of the line, were
being drilled to artillery practice. On the frontier
native affairs were quiet; peace had been established
between the Basutos and the Dutch republics. The
separation movement had been extinguished, the
league committee having resigned, giving as a reason
the very sufficient one, " because they no longer
found any sympathy and support from the people."
A deputation of Eastern Province gentlemen bad
waited on the Governor to claim compensation for
losses sustained by Kaffir wars. His excellency
promised to give the subject his serious considera-
tion. The annual session of the volksraad com-
menced on February 3. The colonial parliament
was to meet April 24.

The long-deferred judgment in the Supieme Court
in the case of Long v. the Bishop of Cape Town had
been given in favour of the Bishop, together with
costs; this decision being given by a majority of the
presiding judges, viz., the Chief Justice and Mr.
Justice Watermeyer, against Mr. Justice Bell, who
held in favour of the plaintiff. A subscription was
being got up to assist the plaintiff in an appeal from
this decision to the Judicial Committee of the Privy
Council. The Cape Town and Wellington Railway
was opened a distance of 21 miles on the 12th of
February. Much comment was made on the new
Governor's conduct in this matter. The Governor
had previously agreed to open the railway publicly
and officially. But on the news of the death of
the Prince Consort reaching the colony his Excel-
lency announced that he " could not, after the
melancholy news whieh had just been received,
take any part in any public rejoicings, and could
not therefore open the railway in state," No pro-
vision was therefore made for the public having a
holiday on the occasion, yet the railway was opened
in a semi-official way on the day originally named,
and his excellency, with his staff and the various
heads of departments, passed over the line in a state
carriage, examined the various stations, and then
partook of a champagne luncheon.
The railway was paying far beyond the most
sanguine expectations. The crew of the American
barque Waverley had been brought into Table Bay
from the waterlogged wreck of that vessel ; the chief
officer and a seaman bad been washed off and
drowned. Part of the crew of the ship Asia, of
Glasgow, had succeeded in reaching Saldanha
Bay in a boat, she having been abandoned in a
sinking condition through having sprung a
leak.
American ship A. IL Stevens was wrecked on
Robben Island when coming into Table Bay in a
very leaky condition.
Business had much improved during the month,
and trade was brisk. The colonial banks had just
published their annual statements, which were very
satisfactory as to profit to the shareholders and
security of the business done.
Discounts had ad-
vanced during the month. The batiks were offering
5 and 6 per cent. for
deposits, and there NV 11.8 still a
great dearth felt of loanable. capital for investment
on mortgages. There NV" bilittlein the way
of freights,
and rates had declined.
The Cambrian, having landed her mai's here and
arepton•
partors oo
uf
tl ;le r passengers, proceeded on this afternoon
f

The .Kreutz-Zeitung states that a committee has
just boon constituted, having for its object the union of a
common action of all the adversaries of the progressionist
party. The committee is not composed of the chiefs of the
feudal party, but the above-named journal, the organ of
that opinion, declares that it looks upon its formation with
pleasure.