The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-22 00:00:00

CREMORNE GARDENS.

On Tuesday evening a large concourse of persons
assembled in these delightful gardens, to witness the
ascent of Mons. Letour, in his newly-constructed para-
chute. The public will doubtless remember that this
Frenchman, a few days since, was announced to repeat
the experiment made last year in the Champs de Mars,
in the presence of the Emperor of the French, at the
Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, where two attempts were
made, but were unsuccessful, owing to he balloon not
having sufficient ascending power. After which, Mr.
Wardell, the lessee, refused to allow another attempt to
be made, which led to his being engaged by Mr. Simpson,
the proprietor of the above gardens.
At seven o'clock all was in readiness, the " Royal
Cremorne Balloon " was inflated for the purpose of taking
up this novel piece of machinery, and Mr. Adams, a very
experienced and skilful aeronaut, who give good promise
of following in the same track of the " Veteran Green,"
took his station in the car. The' machine, with the
parachute attached, in which was seated the intrepid
Frenchman, Mons. Letour, left the earth amid the
cheers of the large assemblage. After travelling in a
south-east direction, and at an altitude of 6,000 feet--
upwards of a mile—the parachute was seen to leave the
car, and slowly descend to the earth.
At 11 o'clock it was announced that Mons. Letour
had descended in safety on Blackheath, and soon after-
wards he appeared on the platform to receive the ap-
plause of the company, who heartily welcomed him. As
regards the utility of this newly-constructed parachute,
, we cannot state anything in its favour ; but Mons.
Letour declares, in positive terms, that he can steer
through the air—a feat never yet accomplished.
' Previous to the closing of the gardens, Mr. Adams,
the aeronaut, made his appearance, and was loudly
cheered by the multitude, who congratulated him on his
success in taking up the parachute—a task in which
Mons. Godard, the celebrated French aeronaut, had
twice failed.

THE CHARTERED AUSTRALIAN LAND AND MINING
COMPANY.—The committee of investigation of this
company (one of the undertakings professedly estab-
lished on the cost-book system) have issued a report pre-
paratory to a. meeting to be held to-day, throwing
considerable light on the way in which many of
these affairs were got up. The solicitor, it is alleged,
negotiated for 2,585 acres of land, supposed to be
worth, at the utmost, about 3,0001., and induced the
company to give 64,6401. for them in paid-up
shares. The directors also received 500 shares
each, besides 2011. for their aggregate services, and,
with one exception, did not embark a single shilling in
the concern. The board alloted 28,100 shares, but the re-
THE MAIM—SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday, June 21.
quired payment of 11. each was made only on 11,680. The
brokers through whom the applications for shares were to The United States mail steam-ship Washington, Captain
be made charged 1,5001. commission, but consented to re- J. D. Lines, sailed this afternoon for New York, taking
ceive 1,0001., while there was at the same time a so-
licitor's bill for 8441. All these preliminaries being out the usual semi-weekly mails, 215 passengers, and
about 550 tons of German, French, and English freight.
settled, the company commenced. its career, the sole
result of which seems to have been the collection of 142 The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Com-
pany's ship Ripon, Captain E. Cooper, took ber depar-
ounces of gold in Australia, valued at 5321. 10s. Their ture yesterday, the 20th inst., for Gibraltar, Malta, and
present liabilities are 1,1921., and their assets, including Alexandria, with the heavy portion of the East India,
the land, are estimated at 6,0041. Of. course, the com- China, and Mediterranean mails, 66 passengers, a full
mittee state that it only remains for the company to wind general cargo, and specie valued at 457,6141. ss. 7d,
up, and they propose that they should be empowered to sterling, the major part of which is in silver, for India
treat with the directors for that purpose, or to com- and China. The Simla, Captain George Brooks, is ap-
raence a suit in equity, if those gentlemen should refuse pointed to take out the India, China, and Australian
to negotiate on a satisfactory footing. mails of the 4th proximo. The Peninsular and Oriental
CORK AND BANDON RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the
week ending June 17, 1851 .................. £216 3 9 Company's steam-ship Tagus, from Vigo, Oporto,
Lisbon,
Cadiz, and Gibraltar, is due at Southampton on
Corresponding week last year,,,,, ................ :,. 193114 a the 24th inst. .