The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

(PY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY, 9.45 A.M.—The Pe-
ninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's
steamers Sultan and Indus have arrived here, with
dates from Constantinople, April 22; Smyrna, 25th;
Malta, 30; Gibraltar, May 6.
The Sultan brings a large number of passengers
and a full cargo of Levant produce—fruit, flax,
ivory, wool, silks, &c.
The transport amps Eveline and Blundell, hav-
ing part of the 17th Lancers on board, arrived at
Gibraltar on the 3d inst. Four horses were lost

on the voyage.
The transport St. Vincent passed Gibraltar on
the 3d inst., and the Gomeln, arrived same day.
Her Majesty's steamer Megvera., with the
Highlanders on boa d, passed Gibraltar on the 7th
instant.

STEAM GUN-BOATS IN THE BALTIC.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

- -
noticed my name in the course of the
discussion on this important question, I hasten to cor-
roborate all that Mr. Scott Russell has said as far as I
am concerned.
It is perfectly true that I did feel it my duty to try
what little influence circumstances justified me in think-
ing I possessed, more, however, privately than officially,
with certain of the authorities, and anticipating a re-
quest for further information, I called upon Mr. Scott
Russell to let me know whether, it invited thereto, he
could take in hand any number of vessels either similar
to the Pruth (now a Russian steam gun-vessel in the
Danube), or to the Nix and Salamander, built by him-
self, which came under my observation, and which were
still more heavily armed. Hearing that contracts had
been taken by several eminent builders for a class of
gun-vessel admirably designed, I have no kind of doubt,
if approved by the Surveyor of the Navy for heavy
guns, but wanting in what I conceive to be the point of
the greatest, of first-rate importance, extremely light
draught of water, I lost no time in sending his reply to
a proper quarter.
With respect to the class of vessel, I have thought it
my duty, as a naval officer of some experience in steam
navigation, to advocate, I can only say that I think one
such vessel, unless, or until disabled, would, where she
had room for action, in all senses be more than a match
for all the armed launches of all the fleet England has
at sea, or is able to send there. Anything like a boat
of wood she ran at or that came in her way she would
cut in two. If they were daring enough to hook on,
and she at full speed, she would tow them under or
smash them with her wheels.l She could follow them into
the sane water, as there would be little or no difference
in that respect between her and heavily armed gun
row-boats ; and, as to firing broadsides from her eight
guns (63's and 32's), it would be heavier than the one
gun from either end (and they can only fire one with-
out winding) of the launches of a 20-sail of-the-line,
unless they are more heavily armed than they
were in the last war. On this point I speak from
experience, having had the honour to command
the crack launch of a fleet, I think of 12 sail-of-the-
line, on the Tagus, under the present gallant Admiral
Berkeley, when a Lieutenant only. We drew when light
over four feet of water. Our best speed was not much over
four miles an hour, except on spirts, when, if the nerves
of the men were not shaken by the whizzing and splash-
ing of shot, and consequent crab-catching, the speed
might have reached five mileS, but that depending on
wind and muscle never lasted long, and it is my firm
belief now that one such x'essel as the Pruth in the hands
of the enemy on the Tagus would have entirely prevented
our acting, as we did under the admirable management
of our commanding officer, for so many months as spies
in advance, and almost in the face of the lines of our
enemy—it would, in fact, have been impossible.
We may be pi ecisely in this position in the Danube,
where the enemy has hosts of gun boats of heavy arma-
ment, and certainly one at least with all the appliances
I humbly venture to advocate, and would, if I were suf-
ficiently backed, send out with all despatch.
I have the honour to remain your obedient servant,
Battersea, May 11. C. CLAXTON.

MARKET 1V EIVS-(THIS DAY.)

COVENT GARDEN.
Very large supplies of vegetables were here to-day, and
an extensive business was transacted at the above quota-
tions. Fruit was tolerably firm.
FRUIT.—Pine apples, English, 6s Od to 10s Od each
ditto colonial, is Od to is 3d each ; hot-house grapes.
8s to lOs ; foreign ditto, is 6d to 3s Od per lb ; apples,
Os to 8s per bush. ; pears, 3s to Os Od per doz. ; goose-
berries, 3s to 5s 6d per half sieve ; apricots, green, 6d to
is per pottle • strawberries, 6d to is Gd per small basket ;
lemons, 9d to 2s ; oranges 4s Od to lOs per 100 ; almonds, 2s
to 3sper lb.; Barcelona nuts, 24s per bush.; co-nuts, 110 s
to 120 s per 1001bs ; chesnuts, 2s to 4s per peck ; filberts,
85s to 100 s per 100 lbs ; walnuts, 8d to I s 6d per 100.
VEGETABLES.—Cabbages, 9d to is Gd ; Brussels sprouts,
is Od to 2s Od per half sieve ; brocoli, 9d to is 6d per bund.;
greens, 3s Gd to 5s 3d per doz. bunches ; French beans, is 6d
to 2s Od per 100 ; potatoes, 140 s to 180 s per ton ;
new ditto, 6d to is 6d per, lb.; asparagus, 2s to 6s 6d per 100;
sea-kail, 9d to 2s per punnet; garlic, 8d to is per lb. ;
young turnips, is Gd to 2s young carrots, is lOs to 2s per
bunch ; cucumbers, Os 3d to is Od each ; celery, 6d tc
is 6d per bundle ; spinach, Is Ocl to 2s Od per sieve;
spring onions, 4d to 10d per bunch ; Spanish ditto, is to 3s
per doz. ; leeks, 1 d to 2d per bunch ; shallots, 5d to 8d :
horse-raddish, 28 Od to 4s Oil per bundle ; parsley 3s Gd to
5s Od per half sieve ; rhubarb, Os 3,1 to Os 7d per
bundle ; endive, 2s to 4s Od per score ; beet, is to 2s Od
per dozen bunches; parsnips, 10d to 2s Cd per dozen ; small
salad, 2d to 3d per punnet; mushrooms, Od to is 3d per
pottle ; artichokes, 3s to 5s Ocl per doz. ; cabbage lettuces,
6d to 8d per score ; sorrel, 6d to is Od per half sieve ;
radishes Gd to is per dozen hands.
NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.
Turkey poults, 5s to is ; Goslings, 5s 6d to 7s each ; Duck-
lings, 2s to 4s; tame Rabbits, is to is 6d ; wild do., 8d
to is 2d ; Guinea Fowls, 3s to 3s 3d ; Pigeons, 7d to 9d,
each; Surrey Fowls, Os Od to Os Od ; ditto Chickens, 5s Od
to 6s 6d; barn-door Fowls, 3s 0.1 to 4s 3d per couple;
Capons, 3s to 4s Ocl ; Chickens, 2s Od to 2s 9d per couple ;
leverets, 3s Oil to 4s Od each. English Eggs, 7s 6d. to
8s 6d; French ditto, 5s Od to 7s Od per 120 • Ostend fresh
E
butter, 9s to lls ; ngILINGSGATEish, lOs to 15s per dozen.
BIL.
Turbots, 2s Od to lls ; Brills, is to 7s Od each ; Salmon
is 2d to is 9cl per lb; Cod Fish, 2s to Os Od each ; Soles,
4d to is Gd per pair ; Eels, 8d to is per lb ; Lobsters, 6d to
2s 6d ; Crabs, 6d to 2s 6(1 ; Whitings, 35 Od to 12s per doz.;
Doreys, 2s to 7s 2 - Mullets, Gd to 2s Gd each ; Common
Oysters, 9s Od to lOs Od; Natives, 40s Od to 48s Od per
bsh; Mackerel, 32s to 40s per 100; Smelts, is Oil to 5s pr doz.;
Skate, 6d. to Od per lb; Shrimps, is 6d to 2s 6d per gallon;
;
Bloaters, is 6d to 2s Od per doz. Fresh Herrings, 8s Od
to Os Od per 100 ; Haddocks, Os to 12s per doz. •, Plaice,
4d to is Od each ; Carp, 2s Ocl per brace ; Tench, 2s Od
to Os Od per brace ; Gurnets, 4d to is Od each ; Halibut,
6d per lb. • Salt Fish, 2d to 5d per lb. ; Prawns, 2s Od to
4s Od per lb. ; Flounders, is to is Gd per dozen ; Sturgeon,
Od per lb.; Pike Od per IbBRE. ; spAD.rats, 3s Od per bushel.
The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are froni
10d to lid; of household ditto, Sid to 9d per 41b loaf. 1
NEWPORT.
Beef from 3s 4d to 4s 4d ; mutton, 4s Od to 4s 10d ' •
lamb, 5s 6cl to 6s 6cl; veal, 4s 4d to 54 4d ; pork, 3s Bcl.
4s 10d per 81bs.
WHITECHA.PEL.
Beef, from 3s Od to 4s Od ; Mutton, 3s 8d to 4s 10c1 ' • 1
Lamb, 5s 2d to Os 2d ; Veal, 4s 0:1 to 5s 2d ; Pork, 3s 4d
to 4s 8d per 81bs. by the carcase.
HIDES AND SKINS.
Market hides, 561 b to 64.1 b, 24d to 3d; 641 b to 721 b, 3.1
to Ocl; 721 b to 801 b, 3d to aid ; 801 b to 881 b, 3td to 3id ;
881 b to 961 b, 3id to 4d ; 961 b to 1041 b, Od to Ocl ; 1041 b
to 1121 b Od to Od. Horse hides, 6s 6d to Os Od; calf skins,
light, 2s Od to 3s Od; ditto, full, 5s Od to Os Od; polled
sheep, Os Od to Os Od; Kents, 7s Ocl to 8s Od; Half-breds,
Os Od to Os 0(.1 ; Downs, 5s Od to Os 3d; Lambs, 2s Od to
3s Od; Shearlings, is 61. to is 7d.
HAY MARKETS.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to '5/ Os ; clover
ditto, 3/ 15s to Cl Os ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2/ 2s per load.
A full average supply, and a sluggish demand.
UIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 16s to 5/ 5s ; clover
ditto, 3/ 15s to Cl Os ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 21 4s por load.
Supply moderately good, and trade rather dull.
WHITECEIAPEL.—Meadow hay, 21 12s to 51 Os; clover
ditto, 31 15s to 6/ 6,3 ; and straw, 1,16 s to 2/ 2s per load.
Both hay and straw sold slowly, on former terms.