The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-22 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

ARRIVAL OF THE PACIFIC.
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.
This morning the United States mail steam-ship
Pacific, Captain Nye, arrived in the Mersey from
the United States and British North America. She
sailed from New York on the 11th inst., and has
brought besides the mails 60 passengers and nearly
600,000 dole. in specie on freight. _

The North Star steamer arrived at New York
from California with nearly two million dollars in
gold. She confirms the loss of the steam-ship
Yankee Blade, with 40 lives.

Sir Edmund Head, the new Governor-General,
arrived at Quebec on the 9th.

At the departure of the steamer the money mar-
ket had a very unfavourable aspect. Stocks were
duller, and declining.
_

The- cotton market is reported one-eighth lower
and dull.

The breadstuff market inactive and prices un-
changed.
The market for provisions had a more lively
appearance. _ _

Freights unaltered.
Exchange on London, 1091 to 1098.
Exchange on Paris, 5.131 to 5.161.
Several failures are announced.

LAUNCH OF THE SCREW STEAMER
VITTORIO EMMANUELO.

A fine screw steamer, the second of a fleet of ten
was yesterday launched from Messrs.
ships intended for the Transatlantic Steam-packet Com-
extensive works at Blackwell. This
ell3nlatanerYrepoArfinsGdineCgnoo.ac's'orepany has been formed and established
under the most favourable auspices, his Majesty Victor
Emmanuel, the King of Sardinia, himself taking a deep
interest in the prosperity of the undertaking, and being
in fact one of the largest of the shareholders. The com-
panyinpean of North and South America.
l ports in the south of Spain,
propose to establish steaE and direct postal com-
munication
pciosrinntci one continents
of considerable magnitude, but
between Genoa, Marseilles, Barcelona, Gib-
ar, and
The
pr
l t a rew,
enterprise
nehrdtthihseee
one which at the same time will ne doubt achieve
for itself some most successful results. Few, if any,
of the minor states of Europe have within the last
few years made such rapid progress as the kingdom
of Sardinia in foreign commerce and in the develop-
ment of its rich and varied industrial resources. Its
mercantile marine numbered according to the last re-
turns 3,467 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 160,000
tons, and giving employment to more than 250,000 per-
sons. In addition to the native vessels employed in the
trade of the country, not fewer than 4,400 foreign ships,
with a tonnage of 378 tons, entered the various ports of
the kingdom. A large and rapidly increasing trade also
exists between Sardinia and the United States, which
will no doubt be greatly facilitated by the establishment
of the proposed route.
The vessel which was launched yesterday was 245 feet
in length between the perpendiculars, the length of the
keel for tonnage 224 feet, her breadth 35 feet, tonnage
1,459 tons, and she is capable of stowing 430 tons of
coals. She is to be fitted with two engines of 250-horse
power, new in course of construction by Messrs. S.
Rennie and Co. Her build is remarkably handsome,
.and appears well adapted not oily for fast sailing, but
forlargestoage accommodation. The vessel, after
being successfully, christened by Miss Draper, passed
clown the " ways in gallant style amid the cheers of a
large number of guests invited to the august ceremony,
among whom were the Sardinian Minister, the Marquis
d'Azeglio, the Sardinian Consul, the Chevalier Julien de
80110 (managing director of the company), and a large
number of Italians and foreigners resident in this
GO= try.. _ .

After the launch a portion of the visitors proceeded to ex-
arsine the extensive foundries and smitheries of Messrs.
Mare, and the process of hammering, rolling, and planing
the massive plates of iron intended for the new floating
batteries was watched with intense interest. Each of these
plates of iron is four and a quarter inches in thickness,
three feet in breadth, twelve feet in length, and weighs
upwards of three tons ; but from the apparent ease with
which these burning masses were moved about and ope-
rated upon no idea could be formed of their enormous
weight. The two batteries in course of construction at
Messrs. Mare's are to be named the " Meteor" and the
"Thunder." Their dimensions are :—Length between
perpendiculars, 172 feet ; keel for tonnage, 146 feet ;
extreme breadth, 43 feet 11 inches ; breadth of tonnage,
43 feet 5 inches ; moulded, 42 feet ; and depth, 14 feet.
They are pierced upon one side only, and for sixteen
guns. The frame work and deck will be of oak 8/
inches thick, and the massive plates of iron will be
bolted to the outside of the batteries. They will have
two decks, and will be propelled by the screw. The en-
tire weight of the iron plates for each battery will be
nearly 400 tons, and the experiments recently made
have proved that at 300 yards the heaviest shot will be
shattered to pieces on coming into contact with the iron
plates of these dimensions. It was stated that sixty of
these batteries will be completed by the spring, thirty
being furnished by Prance, and thirty by this country,
and ready for operation at the opening of the navigation
in the Baltic.

LORD PALMERSTON IN PARIS.—To the surprise and
mystification of people, the Emperor was seen on Satur-
day evening to draw up the cabriolet and pair of horses
he is co fond of driving at the door of the Hotel Bristol,
in thelPlace Vendome, alight, and enter mans cerentonie
His Majesty was simply paying a visit to Lord and
Lady Palmerston in the manner of a personal
friend. This circumstance has, however, created a
sensation, and inferences are drawn which may not
after all be very unreasonable. It is concluded, in
fact, that where such friendship exists there will be
very unreserved communication, and that a perfect
identity of views between the English and French Go-
vernments will be established between the Emperor and
the only member of the British Cabinet who is worthy
to deal with the great questions of foreign affairs and
war.

PROBLEM POB, MAJOR POWYB.—If you punish the
soldier's widow for having been deserted by her hus-
band, then, if a soldier deserts his colours, ought you
not to flog the regiment ?—Punch,

THE BATTLE