The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-26 00:00:00

Thompson, Capt. J. T.

.... •• 1 1 0

Telver, S , E5q..... 1 1 0
Townshend, J. V. S., Esq 1 1 0
Towry, G. E., Esq ,
F R.G S. .
Tremenhere, Seymour,
•
Trevelyan, Sir W. C.,
Bart., M.A. F.R.G.S. 5 0 0
Tudor, Henry, Esq 2 2 0
Tudor, Edward Owen,
Esq., F.R.G.S 2 2 0
Turner, Henry, Esq 5 0 0
Urquhart, James, Esq. 2 2 0
Vaughan, Col. Wright
Vernon, John, Esq.
" Vivent les Bellots"
Vyner, Robert, Esq. •
'ane, J. C.. Esq.
Waley, S. W., EN.
Walker, Capt. Robertson 2 2 0
Walker. Captain W. H.,
H.C.S., 2 2 0
Washington, Capt. John
R.N., F.R.S., F.R.G.S. 2 2 0
Weld, C. R., Esq., .. 1 1 0
West, Admiral Sir John 5 0 0
Whitton, Rev. Robert .. 1 1 0
Wilkinson, Conrad, Esq. 2 2 0
Wilkinson, Horace, Esq. 2 2 0
ivilkinson, Norman, Esq. 1 1 0
Wilkinson, William, Esq. 1 1 0
illiams Rev.D.,D.C.L.,
F.R.G.S. • • • • 1 1 0
I Willich, Chas. M., Esq.,
F.R.G.S. • • " 1 1
I Winslow, f Dr. Forbes,
.. .. 3 0 0
1 Wood, Sir W. P. 5 0 0

F•• • . 1 1 0
Holland, Sir H., M.D.,
F R.S., F.R.G.S. • • 5 5 0
Holman, Pr. (Phcenix) .. 2 0 0
Hoplinson, w.. Esq. .. 0 10 0
Ditto for the family • • 010 0
Horner, Rev. J. M. •• 1 0 0
Howard, Capt. the Hon.
Edward 1 1 0
Howden, Rt. Hon. Lord 10 0 0
Hudson, Capt. J., R.N. 1 1 0
Subscriptions are received by Messrs. Bare ay, Bevan, and CO., 54,
Lombarl-street ; Bouverie, Murdock, and Co., 11 Haymarket;
Messrs. Glyn, Mills, and Co.. 67, Lombard-street : Messrs. Coutts and
Co., 59, Strand ; Messrs. Drummond and Co., 49, Charing-cross ;
Messrs. Ommanney and Co , 40, Charing-Cross ; Cocks, Biddulph,
and Co., 43, Charing-cross (Treasurers) ; and at the apartments of
th Royal Geographical Society, 3, Waterloo-plate. •

Wynniatt,
(Phosnix) 2 0 0
Young, T., Esq., F.G.S. 5 0 0
Younghusband, Captain
R.A., F.R S. 1 0 0

Lieutenant

HANDSOME GIFT-BOOK.—MEMORIAL OF THE GREAT
EXHIBITION.
In Four Handsome Volumes, cloth lettered, gilt edges, price Four
Guineas, including the Supplementary Volume,
T" OFFICIAL DESCRIPTIVE and
ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of the GREAT EXHIBI-
TION of the WORKS of INDUSTRY of all NATIONS, 1851.
" Every branch of science, art, and industry is here fully and effi-
ciently represented."—Morning Herald.
" The Exhibition has lived its allotted time, and died; but this
catalogue is the sum of the thoughts and truths to which it has
given birth—and which form the intellectual ground whereon the
generations that we are not to see must build."—Athenreum.
" Long after the rare and curious contents of the Crystal Palace
have been scattered over the world, this work will be valued as a
memento and reflex of that marvellous collectlon."—Atlas
. . _ _

A few Impressions remainineof the Imperial 4to. Edition, printed
for the Royal Commissioners, to be by thee► presented to Foreign
Governments, &c., are now on sale, cloth lettered, price Twenty
Guineas.

London : Office at Spicer Brothers, 19, New Bridge-street,
Slacktriars.

AMERRY CHRISTMAS and CHRISTMAS
FE,TIVITIES.—Good cheer, smiling faces, warm-hearted
wishes, visits, balls, amusements; everything pleasing—variety tri-
umphing over monotony, pushing tha dull system of things entirely
out of practice, and helping every one to be merry and cheerful.
All observers of the preparations made for Christmas festivities by
E. "Mons and SON will easily understand how this is accomplished.
There is not anything more necessary to cheerfulness than first-rate
Attire, and hat presented by E. Moses and Son exhibits greater ex-
cellence and variety than on any previous season.
For the festive season E. Moses and Son have rendered their
gigantic commercial resources available for every one, the best and
cheapest articles of Attire being offered for Ladies, Gentlemen, and
Children.

The variety in Overcoats and Winter Clothing is produced by an
extraordinary association of skill and experience, which has selected
the most fashionable and durable materials, and fashioned them to
the most celebrated habiliments of the age. The variety in Dress
for Christmas parties entirely surpasses description; every material
in which taste and fashion is conspicuous is made into the most mag-
nificent attire ever witnessed. _ _

Juvenile Attire is rendered universally attractive by new modes of
cutting, making, and Trimming ; many now styles are introduced as
distinguished for fashion and comfort, as the Goods are for Durability
and economy.
The New Stock in the Ladies Dress Department comprehends all
the Novelties in the World, and Hosiery Goods for Ladies and Gen-
tlemen the richest and cheapest articles ever offered,

Variety is the charm of ChristMfis—iiiiii;;,litit it was never so
magnificently provided as this year by E. Moses and Son, and in
presenting the best and cheapest articles of Dress to all classes, they
wish their Frien&s, Patrons, and the Public " A Merry Christmas."
CAUTION.—E. MOSES and SON regret having to guard the
public against imposition, having learned that the untradesman-like
falsehood of " Being concocted with their Establishment," or " It's
the same concern," has been resorted to in many instances, and for
obvious reasons, they beg to state that they have
No CONNEXION WITH ANT OTHER HOUSE IN OR OUT OF LONDON,
except their own Establishments, as follows :
London City Establishment, 154, 155. 156, and 157, Minories, 83,
34,85, and 86, Aldgate, opposite the Church, all communicating.
London West-end Branch, 506, 507, 508, New Oxford-street, 1, 2
and 3, Hart-street, all communicating.
Bradford (Yorkshire) Branch, 19 and 20, Bridge-street.
Sheffield Branch, 311, Fargate.
CMonial Branch, M,lbou ne, Australia.
Merchant Tao., Clothiers, Hatters, Hosiers, Furriers, Boot and
Shoe Makers. snd General Outfitters for Ladies and Gentlemen.
IMPORTANT —Should any article not give satisfaction, it will be
exchanged if desired, or, if preferred, the money will be returned
without hesitation. All goods are marked in plain figures, the lowest
price, trom which no abatement can be made.
' The Establishments are closed from sunset Friday to sunset on
Saturdays, what business is resumed till 12 o'clock.
A new Book, " The Epitome of Comfort and Economy," contain-
ing full lists of prices, our system of self-measurement, &c., &c.,
may be had on application, or post-free.
• Ili l'on part Francais. Qui si paria Italian°.
Hier sprtchman Deutsch. Aqua se hablek Evan°

Nothing, in the progress of a new country, is a
more striking and important sign of advance than
the first beginnings of public enterprise. The keen
struggle for existence absorbs the energies of the
early settler. He has to hew and to burn that he
may clear the ground on which to rear a precarious
harvest, or he explores with his cattle and herds
the unknown solitudes of plains and valleys. Ele
conquers nature, lie seizes ou the advantages she
offers, and overcomes the obstacles interposed in
his course. He occupies the land that is to be his
home ; the safest harbour is selected, the best
water carefully looked for, a sheltered site for a
town secured, and the capital of the colony springs
up, while homesteads and stations begin to dot
the surface of the interior. This is the first stage
of colonial history. The second is characterised
by the introduction of au organised Government,
by the establishment of law and order, by the de-
velopment of local resources and the growth of a
foreign trade. Public buildings arise to adorn the
capital ; associations are formed to promote objects
of general interest, or to carry on in common the
pursuits of commerce. But as yet the necessities
of the day are still the first objects of all. The-
colony has to be made, its place has to be won by
the exertions that are expended to promote it, and
by the capabilities of which it can be shown to be
possessed. If the flood of emigration sets in
strongly, so that fresh elements of wealth are con-
tinually added, and if circumstances are peculiarly
favourable, a colony may make an advance in its
second stage with as marvellous a rapidity as has
been exhibited in the province of Victoria. And
before we can distinctly say that the second stage
has passed away, the third has begun. The time.
has come when men gain something like a clear
conception of the future destinies of the country
they inhabit. Sure of their, own position, they in-
vestigate the relations they occupy to their neigh-
bours and friends. Individuals act together for a
' remote and general object, and not only to further
private and particular interests. Undertakings
are entered on, the success of which is wholly' de-
pendent on new wants being certain to arise in
the community, if means of ministering to them
are provided, while these means are necessarily of
a nature that demands concert in action, and a
wide appreciation of the less obvious interests of
the society. And such enterprises, when crowned
with success, bring with them not only the fruits
which are ieir primary object, but also a sense,
perpetually heightened, of public confidence, and
a desire for public advantage.. If fair play is given to
the wishes of the colonist, the form of Government
becomes adapted to she altered mood of public
opinion, and power from being external andmerely
executive becomes local and deliberative. This is
the stage on which Australia is now entering, and
though the very peculiar conditions of her progress
have enabled her to outstrip all calculation, yet in
her rapid advance we may see coMpressed into the
compass of a few years what,)rin colonies of a
slower growth, it has taken genetrations to unfold.
Public works of every kind are being urged for-
ward with an energy and rapidity that almost out-
herods the Americans. Schemes are being set on
foot which, if originating in a pritate source, have
vet a wide and public aim. The'eye of the specu-
ator both travels on to the possibilities of the
.°Liture, and, traversing the artificial boundaries of .
his own peculiar district, sweeps over the wide ex-
tent to which the natural conformation of the
whole territory conducts it. Thus province is
contemplated as united to province, and something
of a national character seems to be impressed upon
the whole. We mighi watch with interest and ad-
miration the public works of Australia, if we saw
..effected in them nothing but the untiring perse-
verance and indomitabhienergy of the race ; bht
such feelings are heightened .to a tenfold degree
when we are thus lei to perceive the opening of
a new phase of the colonial history, and to detect
the first germs of a new, though perhaps subject,
nationality.

Of all such public works railways are by far the
most important. We have already learned from
America how steam can be used as the pioneer of
civilisation, and how rapidly it unites the distant
and heterogeneous members of a great society.
Railways in Australia are still in their rudest in-
fancy, and are the creatures of promise rather than
of performance. But still enough has been done,
and is doing, towards their formation, to serve as
an indication of the stage of its history on which
this great empire of the south is entering ; and if
we watch their intended course we learn, with a
clearness not otherwise to be attained, the natural
facilities and difficulties of a country that is strange
to us. Its soil, its rivers, its declivities and eleva-
tions, are presented to us as viewed by the light of
the greatest local experience ; and nothing can be
more suggestive of what our Australian colonies are
than to trace the course of intended railways, and
ascertain the purposes they are meant to subserve.
We cannot here enter into the details of the schemes
which have been either projected or partly realised,
but we can assure our readers that any one who
attempts to make himself master of those that have
received the sanction of public approval in the co-
lony will find himself amply repaid. In South-
Eastern Australia, for instance, we may point to
the line, very shortly to be opened, which will con-
nect Melbourne with its harbour. We are all by
this time familiar with the mournful history of the
vexations, the perils, the waste of money and time,
to which the voyager to the land of gold was ex-
posed in the last nine miles of his course. After
thousands of miles of ocean travelling be found
himself stopped in sight of the spot he had come so
far to gain by the necessity of getting himself and
his goods up a miserable little stream full of sand-
bars, and so tortuous inits course that in no wind
can sails be employed. The navigation of the
Yarra will now be' in a great measure superseded
by the possibility of unloading at a sea harbour,
and then ten minutes of a railway will take the
eager traveller into the midst of, perhaps, the
ugliest, worst-built, newest, richest, and dearest
town in the globe. Another railway, again, will
soon connect Melbourne with Geelong. Victoria,
has now two capitals, each possessing some conve-
niences and advantages, and both labouring under
some counterbalancing deficiencies. But when a
railway has bound them together, each will share
the advantages of the other. And these under-
takings seem small and insignificant by the side of
the great scheme which proposes to connect Mel-
bourne with Sydney. A line is in contemplation
which will first carry the digger to the gold rocks
of Mount Alexander, and then sweep away to the
north-east. Instead of having to waste days in
lumbering over a road intersected with gullies,
and often ending abruptly in a quagmire, the
mining adventurer may soon spend a pleasant
morning in Melbourne, looking for a wife or a bar-
gain, and still be back by the down express in
time to have a good day's work with the mattock
and cradle. When it has brought the digger to
his location, the train will hurry the traveller
bound for the capital of New South Wales over
the rich plailas lying at the base of the Austra-
lian Alps, and watered by the 'numerous streams
that feed the great tributaries of the Murray.
The line will find an opening through the
great chain of mountains by means of one of the
great passes that admit the waters of the Yass, and
then, entering on the long valley which gives a
channel to the Shoalhaven and the Hawkesbury,
will terminate at the harbour of Port Jackson. It
will probably be some years before the London and
Diverpool of Australia, as they have been termed,
will be thus united ; but colonial energy will not
day longer than is abso-
lutelysuffer thenecessary. time t o
017 e a
the 500 miles over which the
line is to extend, one half is on a dead flat, and the
gradients of the remaining half is by no means
great. Perhaps further investigations may show
that it is necessary to vary the details of the pro-
posed scheme ; but, in one way or another, the
colonists of this generation may expect to see Syd-
ney and Melbourne united. We need not dwell
on the political and material advantages that would
be sure to ensue. If nothing more were effected
than a diminution of the jealousy and rivalry of
two provincial cities, both new, and both elated by
rapid prosperity, enough would be done to make
the work a good one.

MESMERISM IN FRANCE.-At a time when mesmeric
notions are tui ning almost every head, still more
than mesmeric agencies turn our tables, it will not
be without interest to the thinking world to hear
that the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of
the Institute of France has at length offered a prize
for the best philosophical essay on " Sleep, Dream-
ing, Natural and Artificial Somnambulism," &c.
The essays are to be in the hands of the secretary
of the Academy by the end of this month, and the de-
cision of the academicians will come out in April, 1855.
We shall wait with some anxiety for the result of the
competition, and for the expressed opinions of such prac-
tised thinkers as are M. Victor Cousin and others of
European renown who compose the section of philosophy
of mind in the above-mentioned academy, on this
im-
portant point in the science of man, which, although so
much debated hitherto, is, after all, ad huc sub judice.
Some authors of repute are said to have entered the list
with a view to gain the academical laurels.—Petita
Affiehes de Londres.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY, DEC. 23.
Any step undertaken by the enterprise of a public
company to afford rapid and efficient steam communica
tion with the Australian colonies is now a matter of great
public interest. The experimental voyages to Port
Philip and Sydney, accomplished by the General Screw
Steam Shipping Company's ships Harbinger and Argo,
have been the most successful of any efforts yet made to
shorten the distance between Australia and the parent
country. A strange fatality has, in fact, attended tne
operations of every other company up to the present
time, and the expectations indulged by various interests
who have hitherto attempted to solva the problem, have
been productive, if not of actual failure, at least of great
and serious irregularity.
The General Screw Steam Company is now about to
follow up the favourable impression first made by more.
decisive efforts, and is just about to occupy the field by
the adoption of measures which promise to supply the
great object hitherto unattainable, which is no less than
a regular steam communication with Australia by means
of the employment of ships of such a class as from their
size, power, equipment, and capacity appear destined to
command a practical and enduring success.
The first of the new line of steamers of this charac-
ter made her appearance in the Southampton Docks
last week. She is named the Crcesus, and is com-
manded by Captain J. V. Hall. This noble ship, the
largest merchant steamship which ever left the Thames,
and the finest screw steamer that has yet been exhibited
in Southampton, is of 2,500 tons burden, and was
built by Messrs. Mare and Co., of Blackwall, who
are also preparing for sea, to follow the Crcesus, three
other ships of similar dimensions, to be respec-
tively called the Golden Fleece, the Jason, and the
Prince. A description of this magnificent steamer may
loot bg uninteresting, embodying as she does every im-
priWement,- both of cthistruttion, equipment, and fitting
which science and skill can suggest. The Crcesus is
built of iron, in watertight compartments, the dimensions
being as follows :—Length between perpendiculars 280
feet, length over all 300 feet, breadth 43 feet, depth 31i
feet. She is full bark rigged, with an immense spread
of canvas sufficient to force the ship through the water
(irrespective of steam power) with a strong breeze at the
rate of 13 or 14 knots. The Crcesus is, of course, pro-
pelled by the auxiliary screw, and her engines, by
Messrs. Rennie, are of 400 horse power, on the
direct acting horizontal principle, having an immediate
connexion with the shaft of the screw. The screw itself
is a two-bladed one of 161 feet diameter, with a 231-
feet pitch, and weighs five tons.' By' ari . 'inge-
niously contrived hoisting apparatus it can be discon-
nected and lifted bodily out of the water, so that
when the vessel is under canvas alone (which will fre-
quently be the case) no obstruction will be offered to the
speed which may be obtained from the force of the wind
acting upon the sails. The cylinders of the engines have
a diameter of 63k inches and the steam is generated in
four tubular boilers, which are so arranged that they
may be used singly or collectively, according as it may
be.necessary and prudent to expend 'or economise fuel.
The engines perform about 52 revolutions per minute,
withl6lb pressure of steam, and a vacuum of 27 in the
condenser.

The arrangements for the accomodation of passengers
are of the most complete kind ; 200 first and second-class
can be carried, and for their benefit the saloons, bed cabins,
bathrooms, and other conveniences are of the most com-
modious description, and comprise every necessary luxury
and comfort that can be desired on board a steam-packet.
The sleeping-berths are ranged entirely on the main-
deck, which has a communication from stem to stern,
the officers' and servants' cabins being built upon the
upper or spar-deck, thus economising the space for pas-
senger accommodation of near 40 person. A glance
round the ship exhibits the excellence of
.the general ar-
rangements, and shows that the Crcesus is intended 'to
be a commercial and purely self-supporting steam-ship.
Besides the great space allotted to passengers, the Croesus
has a capacity for 1,300 or 1,400 tons of, measurement
freight, will carry 1,000 tons of coals, possesses stowage
room for 300 tons baggage and stores, with 103 tons of
water in tanks, in addition to an apparatus for condens-
ing 700 gallons of water per diem. This ship and the
others of the company's fleet have been fitted out under
the entire supervision and direction of Captain John
Ford, late of the Ottoman navy, the superintendent and
manager of the General Screw Company.
The Crcesus started from dreenhithe on Monday
morning last at 10' o'clock, having on board Captain
Shuttlewortb, and one of the directors, and Captain
Ford, the superintendent of the company ; Mr. Lam-
bert, the engineer of the company ; Captain Halstead,
R.N., Mr. Rennie, jun., and Mr. Scott, the manager of
Messrs. Rennie's establishment. Before putting into
Southampton, the object of the gentlemen on board was
thoroughly to test the steaming and sailing qualities of
the vessel by a trip down Channel, and this has been
accordingly done in the most satisfactory manner, and
with the most pleasing results. Immediately on gettinc,
under way (the ship at starting having a dead weight of
1,480 tons on board with a draught of water of 1S feet)
full steam was put on, and rapid progress made to the Nore,
where the ship dropped anchor for the night. The next
morning the anchor was again hoisted, and the ship steamed
on at a great rate through the Downs, after passing which
a run down the Channel was made to a distance of 15
miles below the Start. In the three days and nights
during which the Crcesus was kept at sea before return-
ing to Southampton, several opportunities were afforded
for trying the speed under every variety of weather.
The maximum speed under canvas, with a strong breeze,
and the screw disconnected, was 13 or 14 knot.. Close
hauled, with double-reefed topsails, courses, trysail, and
jib (canvas alone —no steam power 'applied), 101 knots.
In smooth water, with no sails, the ship steamed 101 to
11 knots, and in coming up Channel against a heavy
north-east gale, with a rough sea, all yards across, the
engines forced the ship through the water at the rate of
41 to 51 knots. These trials of speed, under every cir-
cumstance, were therefore deemed most satisfactory—
the engines worked admirably, with no symptoms of hot
bearings, the boilers giving a full supply of water at . all
times.

The Crcesus is to sail on the 10th of January, and
will, we understand, go direct from Southampton to
Port Philip without touching at any intermediate port.
This feature in the voyage of a steamer to Australia will
in itself be a novel one, and the experiment will be
watched with much interest. The great stowage and
carrying capacity of the Crcesus will enable her to carry
sufficient fuel for the whole voyage out, while we are
told that, in addition to this, 600 tons of coals are to be
stowed in the hold to be used for consumption on the
homeward voyage. It is likely, therefore, that the
Crcesus will start from Southampton with sufficient
coals on board (supposing she is favoured with mo-
derate weather) to perform a voyage to Australia and
back. Without being sangaine of the entire suc-
cess of this attempt to solve the hitherto almost in-
superable difficulty of coaling the Australian steamers,
we may remark that the experiment is a roost im-
portant one. Coals cannot at present be shipped from
this country to Australia at a less freight than 4/. to
'5l. per ton, and adding to this 2/. per ton for the cost of
landing them at Port Philip, the deterioration of quality
to which they are subjected, and the expense of again
placing them on board the steamer, it is not too much
to say that the saving effected by the company upon the
quantity (600 tons) to be taken in by the Crcesus for
the homeward trip will be from 6/. to 71. per ton. The
consumption of coals by an auxiliary screw-steamer
during a voyoge of this duration is entirely dependent
upon the weather that may be encountered. With fine
breezes and moderately fair winds, the fires may be let
out for days or weeks together ; hile, in light breezes,
calms, and head winds the full power of the engines must
be exerted to save both time and distance. With the ex-
patience of the voyage of the Argo as a precedent from
which to draw conclusions, we may infer that the Crcesus
will be enabled to make the run from Southampton to Port
Philip (by way of the Cape) with an expenditure of
about 1,000 tons of coals ; that a larger quantity will be
required on the homeward trip, and for this purpose it
will either necessary to add to her stock at the Austra-
lian ports, or to call at St. Vincent's for a replenish-
ment on the way home. Whichever course may be
adopted, it is fully expected that this fine ship will make
the passage either way in 60 days or under, and we
have no hesitation in pronouncing that she is the finest
and most suitable steamship which has yet departed
from this country for the great colonies of the south,
and the enterprising association to which she belongs
merits in a large degree the patronage and support of
the mercantile community for having (unaided by Go-
vernment subsidies or assistance) commenced and carried
out, with an expenditure of such an immense of capital,
so important and gigantic a line of steam-ships,

ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF SALMON IN THE TWEED.
—We understand that the Duke of Roxburgh is at
present, engtaged in forming a pond for the artificial pro-
pagation of fish, ou the same principle as that recently
adopted at Perth. The pond is situated on Stodrig
Burn, within the Floors policy, and is expected to be
ready for the reception of the ova in a short time. The
works will consist of four boxes, 24 feet long by 18 inches
wide, divided into compartments (i feet long And 12
inches in depth. We understand that a pond of a simi-
lar description is in course of formation, and a portion
of it is already finished, at Knapton Burn, the cite for
which has been granted by Mr. David Milne Home, the
proprietor. boxes sufficient to fecundate 205,000 sal-
mon fry have been laid down at Knapton Burn. The
expense of the whole work is estimated not to exceed
601., which has been raised by private snbscription.—
Kelso Mail.
TRAGEDY IN HAVANNAH.—A great excitement has
been created in Havannah, by a most brutal murder, per-
petrated by an actor attached to the Tacon Theatre, on
his wife, Matilda Domin
g„,s, psis a donna of the Spa-
nish Opera, also belonging to the same company, and
a great favourite in that place. With a poniard he
inflicted 32 wounds on his victim, and then stabbed him•
self 11 times, but without effect. In his wounded state
he was taken to prison, where he now remains, and is
recovering. Sentence of death has been pronounced
upon him, and as soon as ho has sufficiently recovered
he will be garrotted. The cause assigned for the murder
was jealousy, and the refusal of the wife to furnish him
with money.

We have an immense fleet of coal-laden vessels in the
Tyne, which have been accumulating during the past 10
days. In fact, the continued easterly gales are causing
a very serious detention of shipping—the Wear. Hartle-
! pool, and the Tees being as full of vessels as the .Tyne.
There is not a vacant berth in Shields harbour. The
weather has been very rough at sea. and the waves
break heavily on the coast. The few vessels that have
left here laden within the time mentioned have either
had to put bank or seek places of shelter in Leith-roads
or Holy Island. It is very fortunate that we have had
so few vessels, more especially laden vessels, on the
coast during the prevalence of the gales, and the ship
ping casualties reported bear a slight proportion to the
losses by similar gales in past seasons. The ouly vessel
belonging to this port of the crew of which there seems
now, to be no hope, is a brig named the Agenoria. She
sailed coal-laden for London. Subsequently one of her
' boats was washed ashore near Aldborough. Neither
vessel nor crew has been beard of, and there is every
reason to conclude that she is lost with all hands. The
side of a vessel has come on shore near Bridlington, of
which there is no account, and a derelict vessel is re-
ported to have been off Sunderland. About 200 light
colliers reached here from London during Monday and
Tuesday, after very quick_ passages. About half-a-
dozen light vessels ran, ashore on the same day in a
breeze in taking Hartlepool, but it is not supposed that
they will sustain any serious' injury. When the wind
veers about, and the sea gets down on the coast, there
will be an extraordiny sea tide,,and.an immense fleet of
' laden colliers will leave the northern parts for the Lon-
don market—not less than 1,000 sail of vessels.
The consumer of coal, with the coalowner and Siiip_
owner, is interested in the removal of obstacles impend-
ing the ingress or egress of collier-vessels from -the
northern seaports, as the effects of the easterly gales
clearly show. Owing to the increase of large vessels`
frequenting the coal-ports, a good deal of attention hag
been recently paid to plans for increased harbour accom-
modation, and the making of docks for the shipment of.
coal and merchandise. There are now extensive docks
at Hartlepool and Sunderland. The directors of the
Sunderland Dock are extending their accommodation,
and are spending a large, sum of money in Making a
sea entrance. The Tyne Improvement Commissioner•
have also procured powers to excavate a large dock.`on
that river fcir the shipment of cold 'at the Haylide.,
The execution, of. the works• is. now in the
slat*: of
contractors. The York; Newcastle, and Berwick Rail=.
way. Compariy -.are- ale) • apiflying to Parliamerit; for
powers to build a large dock, in Jarrow Slake, fgr. the.
shipment of the produce of the Durham coalfield ';LfUld. 1
another company has a pf-oject to build au' eitbrisiVe"
deep waterclock at St. Pe;er,s,; near Newcastle:,cingyne.'
There is also a project on foot to build a dock and 'give'
increased haibour accommodation' to vessels engaged in
the coal trade at Blyth, a little seaport_ on the Northum-
berland coast. But the most important improvement
projected in connection with' the' Tyne' is the building os
piers at the mouth of the river, with the object of deepen-'
ing the water on the bar, and protecting vessels enter-
ing and leaving the port. The River Tyne Improve-
ment Commissioners have an act giving them powers to
make those works, and to collect the necessary dues.
But as the Admiralty have a veto, and as there was a
want of agreement among the towns on the banks of
the river as regards the be'st -set of
,Plans, the appoint-
ment of an engineer to execute those works was left in
the hands of their lordships.' , They. nominated Mr..
Walker, civil engineer, and that gentleman has just
presented an elaborate report setting forth his' views on
the subject, and it is anticipated that the 'works will be
Proceeded with in the beginning of the year,.
The wind has veered round to the N.W. to-night.
The weather, however, looks very black and threaten-
ing, and we ha've had a great deal of rain.
The crew of a billyboy, which had been roughly used
by the gale outside, brought word into Sunderland on
Thursday that they had seen a schooner and a galliot
in distress not far off our coast. This report has not
been confirmed, and is not generally believed in.
Coal freights to London on Newcastle quay to .day
were from lls. 6d. to 12s. per ton, but there were no
light vessels in port to take them.

INDICTMENT OP TWO FEMALES FOR
SHOPLIFTING.

At the Quarter Sessions for•the Borough of Colchester,
Mrs. Bathia Webb, of Great Bentley, and Miss Eliza-
beth
Holby, of Thorpe, whose connections are highly
respectable, were indicted on several charges Of shop-
lifting. The case excited the greatest interest, and
during its hearing the . court was crowded to an extent
equalled bn any former occasion.
Mr. Walford prosecuted, and Mr. Parry was specially
retained for the prisoners. -
It appeared in evidence, that the prisoners went toge-
ther to the Colchester Bazaar, on the 10th of this mouth,
and made some trifling purchases. Two pairs of stock-
ings, two handkerchiefs, a pair of plush cuffs, a quantity
of velvet trimmings, and other articles, were missed by
the prosecutor, having been stolen, and were subse-
quently found concealed under the bed and mattress in
the room kept for ladies on market days at the Sea
Horse Inn. Mrs. Webb, it was proved, dined with her
husband (a respectable frequenter of the market) on the
same day ; but Miss Holby was not with them then.
Upon the articles being found, Miss Holby exclaimed,
"My sister is innocent. I alone am responsible." She
was very much affected. •
The articles having been produced and identified as
the property of Mr. Marsden, the proprietor of the
bazaar,

Mr. Parry addressed the prisoners. He observed
that, with regard to one of them, he was extremely
pained as to the course he was compelled to take, but,
after the admission she had made, it was impossible for
him to struggle against the fact, that in a moment of
temptation, either dazzled by the finery of the establish.
ment, or unconscious for the moment of the conse-
quences of what she was doing, she did commit an act
which must bring upon her some punishment. In a
moment of agony, feeling the misery she had brought
upon herself, and was likely to bring upon her sister,
she confessed her guilt. The learned counsel then con-
tended that Mrs. Webb had not committed a single act
that looked like that of a guilty woman, and her posi-
tion, with the prospect of soon becoming a mother, was
one that must cause the jury a greater anxiety to rescue
her from the disgrace of having her first child born in a
gaol.
A number of witnesses having been called to character,
The jury acquitted Mrs. Webb, and found Miss Holby
guilty, who was sentenced to four months' imprison-
ment and hard labour in Springfield Gaol.
A second indictment against the prisoners was with-
drawn.