The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-27 00:00:00

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

SOUTHAMPTON, JUNE 25.—The Peninsular and Orien-
tal Company's screw steam-ship Bengal (Captain Kel-
loch), reached here this morning about half-past ten
o'clock, bringing with her the heavy portion of the East
India mail. The Bengal left Alexandria on the 11th
June, Malta 15th, and Gibraltar 20th. She brought
with her 130 passengers, amongst whom were Sir F. and
Lady Currie, and Capt. Humbley, of her Majesty's 9th
Lancers, from Calcutta; Major Lestady and Lieutenant
Blagrave, who were blown up and nearly killed at Ran-
goon, from Madras • Dr. Bowring, her Majesty's consul
at Canton ; and Lord Bury, from Ceylon ; Commanders
Gardner and Campbell, of the Indian navy, from Bom-
bay, &c. The freight of the Bengal consisted of 986
bales of silk, 156 ditto of wool, 703 ditto of flax, 20 cases
of gum, 50 packages of elephants' tusks, 132 ditto of
general cargo, and 16 live turtle.
The homeward passage of the Bengal was not, com-
pared with her voyage outwards, so quick as was anti-
cipated. At Alexandria she was detained nine days,
waiting for the India mail. She halt brop<TA hisme two
Bombay mails besides her usual China and .1 ndian letters.
The Bengal also did not arrive at Gibraltar until the
19th instant, having experienced strong head-winds and
very thick weather. She was detained there about
twelve hours longer than was necessary, on account
of her having reached after the port gun had fired a
signal by which all ships are excluded from being
visited by the officers of the port for the night.
Great dissatisfaction was caused amongst the passen-
gers on account of the delay, and also various opinions
existed with regard to the retention of the mails. Such
a practice may be very well for Gibraltar, but consider-
ing that the principle of steam directs the mode of busi-
ness matters in England, such an unnecessary cause of
delay shoUld certainly be remedied. During the stay of
the Bengal at Alexandria she was visited by very many
persons of distinction, who had heard of the renown she
had gained for her very superior qualities of steaming
power. Amongst them were his Excellency Khered
Ebn Pacha (Minister of Commerce), Arakel Bey (assis-
tant ditto), his Excellency the Governer of Alexandria,
&c. The screw steamer Taurus arrived in Alexandria on
the 11th inst. From the very great demand for ship-
ping she was soon filled with cargo.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday,
at Gloucester House.
REPRESENTATION OF STROUD.—The writ was. received
on Friday, and has been proclaimed by the returning
officer, who has fixed Tuesday next for the nomination,
and Wednesday for the poll. Mr. T. A. Sloughton,
the third candidate, who declared himself last week, has
retired, finding he was too late in the field ' - so that the
contest will be between Mr. Horsman and Mr. Merry-
weather Turner, both of which gentlemen express their
full determination to go to the poll. The friends of Mr.
Horsman are sanguine as to the result, and every liberal
should exert himself to secure the return of that tried
reformer.
PETERBOROUGH ELECTION.—The polling commenced
on Saturday in a very spirited manner, and each side
seemed confident of success. Towards mid-day Mr.
Whalley slightly gained over his opponent, and at the
close of the poll the numbers stood :
Whalley
Hankey
Majority —2l
DURHAM ELECTION.—The polling commenced on Sa-
turday morning at the usual hour, and closed at four
o'clock. The numbers then were as follows :
Mowbray 529
Douglas
Majority —B5
The number of voters left unpolled is about 100. The
official declaration was delivered by the Mayor from a
balcony in front of the Town Hall, amidst the greatest
uproar.
COUNTY OF MM LOTHIAN ELECTION.--The election
of a member of Parliament for the county of Mid-Lothian
(Edinburgh), took place on Saturday, in front 'of the
County-buildings, Edinburgh. The only candidate was
the Earl of Dalkeith, son of the Duke of Buceleuch,
who had been invited to stand by a very numerously
signed requisition. The noble earl was proposed by
Sir George Clerk, of Pennycuick, Bart. (who represented
Dover in last Parliament); seconded by Mr. Dickson,
farmer ; and declared duly elected. His lordship re-
turned thanks, and the proceedings terminated.
SUICIDE BY A CLERGYMAN.—On Friday a painful
excitement was created in Worcester and its neighbour-
hood by the fact of the Rev. H. J. Stevenson, vicar of
Hallow (three miles from Worcester) and examining
chaplain to the bishop of the diocese, having destroyed
himself under circumstances of singular determination.
The rev, gentleman was one of the honorary canons of
Worcester cathedral, and had been "in residence " last
week, but, having been attacked with nervous excite-
ment, his medical adviser ordered him to suspend
all clerical duty for the present, and to return home
to Hallow. The deceased gentleman followed this
advice, and appeared to be getting better. On
Thursday night he retired to rest with Mrs.
Stevenson at the usual hour, and appeared in good
spirits. About 1 o'clock he rose, as he said, for the
purpose of taking a composing draught, and shortly
afterwards Mrs. Stevenson heard something trickling on
the floor, and, supposing he was spilling the medicine,
she got out of bed and went to him, when she was hor-
rified to see that her husband was cutting his throat
with a razor. She heard him say, "I don't know whe-
ther I can do it enough," and, though she had seized his
arm, he managed so to turn the blade as to sever at once
the jugular vein and carotid artery, and lie fell on the
floor a corpse. All was the work of an instant, and
Mrs. Stevenson could do nothing more than cry for
help, but when the family rushed to the room they found
the doors all locked. The key of the bedroom could not
be found, and au agonising suspense of nearly half an
hour had to be endured while the village blacksmith was
roused, who, on his arrival, forced open the door with a
lever. The key was afterwards found in the deceased's
slipper.

ROYAL YORKSHIRE YACHT CLUB.—A silver cup of
great beauty of design and appearance, one of the 1001.
prize cups, the gift of her Majesty to the Royal York-
shire Yacht Club regatta, is now on view at Messrs. E.

and E. Emanuel, silversmiths to the Queen, at Ports-
mouth. It is nearly two feet in height, the bowl repre-
senting a shell, with dolphins as handles, supported by a
reef of coral, with figures of Neptune and Minerva, on
sea horses, in frosted silver, and holding tridents. The
vase represents the sea in bright and frosted silver, dol-
phins, &c., issuing from the waves. The pedestal is of
ebony, and on the front of the shell is engraved, " Pre-
sented by her Majesty the Queen to the Royal York-
shire Yacht Chib, 1853." The design and construction
reflect great credit on the manufacturers, Messrs.
Emanuel.