The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-24 00:00:00

VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.

The Hirendell, from London to Melbourne, Nov. 30, lat
6 N., long. 21 W.
The Stornoway, from Liverpool to Calcutta, Jan. 3, lat
41, long. 30._ . _

The Elizabeth (schooner), from Liverpool to Port Philip,
on the Equator. _

The Reliance, from the Clyde to Demerara, 19th, lat
31 N., long. 40 W.
The Pandora (barque). bound to Liverpool, lat. 22 N.
long. 39 W.

The Bell Bird (s.), from the Clyde to Port Philip, Dee,
22, about 360 miles S.W. of Madeira.

The Java, from London to Melbourne, Nov. 29, lat. 7
N., long. 25 W. . _

The Wilhelmina Catharine, from London to Port Philip,
Dec. 9, lat. 4 N., long. 32 W.
The Delta, from London to Port Philip, Dec. 14, on the
Line.

GOVERNMENT SCHOOL OF MINES, CORNWALL.—The
report of the gentlemen appointed at a county meeting
to draw up and prepay e a plan for establishing a Central
School for Miners, together with local schools in connec-
tion therewith in the county of Cornwall, has just been
published. It recommends that in the central school in-
struction should be given in mathematics, natural phi-
losophy and mechanics, applied mechanics, plain draw-
ing, surveying, levelling, machine drawing and con-
struction, mine accounts and mine surveying, che-
mistry, with especial application to metallurgy and
assay, mineralogy and preparation of ores. A compe-
tent knowledge of these subjects may be acquired by a
diligent pupil in two yearly courses, extending over six
or eight months in each year. The fee for admission is
to be 201., which is to be reduced in the case of young
men engaged as practical miners. The students are to
be examined annually, and certificates of progress
awarded to those who pass such examinations. The
teachers of the central school are to make periodical
tours into the mining districts under the direction of the
governors of the central school, to inspect the local
schools, and to give lectures. It is also proposed that
these schools should be in connection with the " School
of Mines" in Jermym street, by which all the advan-
tages of communicating with a central source of infor-
mation would be secured. This scheme has met with
the approval of several of the members of the county,
and it is probable that it will be shortly carried out.
THE BIRKENHEAD DOOKS.—In consequence of the
late severe weather the works at these docks have been
latterly partially stopped. An extra contract has boon
entered into by the dock trustees with Messrs. Brasseh
M'Cormack, and Co., for the completion of works to the
extent of 300,0001., which, with the original contract,
will make the whole engagements to amount to 600,0001.
It is expected that in the course of a fortnight, the new
docks will present a busy scene, and that no fewer than
2,000 men will be employed. At present there are 500
men engaged upon the outer works, which will be com-
pleted in about three or four weeks, after which the
inner works will be proceeded with. No difficulty is
anticipated in obtaining workmen ; but as there is not
half a dozen unoccupied cottages in Birkenhead, it is a
question how so large a body of men are to be accommo-
dated with dwellings.—Liverpool Mercury.
A RUSSIAN VIEW OF ENGLAND.--ST. PETERSBURGH,
Jan. 9.—lt must be considered as a remarkable pheno-
menon in Russia, that ever since the outbreak of war
with Turkey our newspapers are more profuse in foreign
news, and contain the long articles from those papers
which are friendly to Russia. One thing is clear from
this manoeuvre, that great irritation prevails against all
those States which are not for Russia, and more espe-
cially against England. No opportunity is allowed to
pass by without it being plainly told that Europe is in-
debted to Russia for not being ingulfed in the stream of
revolution, and that the safety and tranquility of the
world solely depend on Russia ; white, on the other hand,
England is the very seat and plantation of anarchy and
insurrections; and, consequently, the general enemy of
order and universal peace.— Weser Zeitung, Jan, 18.