The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-27 00:00:00

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

The General Screw Steam-shipping Company's
packet Queen of the South, Commander West
Norman, arrived at Plymouth yesterday. Her
homeward dates are Sandheads, Dec. 16 ; Madras,
20 ; Point de Galle, 24 ; Mauritius, Jan. 5 ; Table
Bay, 21 ; St. Helena, 30 ; Ascension, Feb. 3 ;
and St. Vincent's, 14.
General Cathcart was on the Cape frontier
settling the position of the Fin goes and Tam-
bookies ; the Kafirs were quiet.
The elections for members of Council com-
menced on the 9th of January, and would continue
nearly all the mouth. The eight at the head of
the poll for the western province were Ebden,
Vigne, Rutherfoord, Whicht, Barry, Reitz, De
Witt, and Luderberg. The seven for the eastern
province—Siockenstrom, Wood, Fleming, Valine,
Goodlouton, Metellerkamp, and Meinhies.
Her Majesty's ships Meander and Deo were in
Simon's Bay. The Hydra, 6, Commander Henry
G. Norris, was spoken on the 9th of January in
lat. 64.40 S., long. 26.5 E., by the ship Thorwald-
sen, from Calcutta for London. The General Screw
Company',, mail-steamer Sir Robert Peel was in
Table Bay. The Calcutta, from Plymouth, arrived
at the Cape on the 20th of January, and was ,to
leave for Calcutta on the 22d. The Golden Age,
Captain Potter, from Liverpool, arrived at the
Cape on the 11th of January, and left on the 16th
for Australia.
In Table Bay.— The Oronide, the Anna, the
Christabel, the George Wilkinson, the Jabez King-
ston, the Mary Ann, the Mersey, the Northern
Light, the Ocean, the Gem, the Perseverance, the
Rokeby, and the Shelbourne.
Arrived at St. Helena, on the 30th of January,
the ships Thorwaldsen, from Calcutta ; Success,
from Ceylon ; and ifeight-ship Perle, from Bombay,
which spoke, November 30th. in longitude 76 deg.
0 min. 2 sec. east, the barque Royal Lily from Bom-
bay ; January 10th, in latitude 34 deg. 50 min.
south, longitude 19 deg. 30 min. east, the ship
Robert Barbour, from Calcutta ; January 14th, in
latitude '34 deg. 4 min., longitude 18 deg. 30 min.
east, the ship Aram, from Bombay ; January 15th,
off Cape Agulhas, the Dutch barque Cassella, from
Java.
At Ascension on the 3d inst. were her Majesty's
store-ship Tyne, 4, Master-Commander James B.
Tucker, having had a passage of 33 days from Eng-
land ; the store-ship Athol, 4, Lieutenant-Com-
mander William A. Pearse, from the Coast of
Africa ; the brig Crane, Commander Thomas Mil-
ler, refitting ; and the store-ship Tortoise. The
United States frigate Constitution and sloop Dale
were at anchor on the 12th at Cape Verde. The
Constitution was to leave on the 14th for Madeira.
A large steamer from Liverpool, for Australia,
arrived at St. Vincent's on the 10th of February.
The Queen of the South has a general cargo, and
brings about 50 passengers, among whom is Col.
Wigstone, 18th Royal Irish. She signalled, on the
29th of January, lat. 18.14 S., long. 3.33 W., the
brig Nina, from Colombo for London ; 30th Janu-
ary, lat. 17.30 S., long. 3.50 W., the ship Anne
Cropper, from Calcutta for Liverpool ; Ist Febru-
ary, lat. 12.3 S. long. 10.22 W., spoke the ship
Planet, from Canton for London ; 20th February,
lat. 36.30 N., long. 23.14 W., signalled the barque
Sappho, Greenock.
From Mauritius, the Queen of the South brings
dates to the sth of January.
The sugar crop is estimated at 10,000 tons over
that of the previous year. Quantity exported in
December, 39,975,9241 b. Price from pi to SSA-;
Freights 3/. 10s. to 3/. 15s. Bank bills, 30 days'
sight, 1 per cent. discount ; document bills, 90
days, 5 per cent. discount.
Ships Sailed since Dec. 21.—The Cassiope, Scott,
Elizabeth, Ellen, Earl of Derby, Huntly, Duke of
Break, Affghan, Empress Corneath, Mayo, John
Bright, Mary Sparks, John Martin, Saggitarius,
Conqueror, and Competitor.
Ships Loading.—The Mama Rambler, Chieftain,
and Norfolk.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's screw
steamer Norman, which left Southampton Nov.
14, arrived at the Mauritius Jan. 4.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY. —The whole of the ma-
terials of the numerous buildings lying between Great
and Little Carter-lane and Old Change having been sold
by auction, a number of workmen were employed on
Saturday morning in pulling down and removing the
materials, and in the course of a few days the whole of
the buildings will be removed, which will completely
open the line of thoroughfare of the new street, Cannon-
street West, in a line from the magnificent pile of new
warehouses in St. Paul's-churchyard, throughout to
London-bridge, on the south side, which, when com-
pleted, will he the finest street in the City of London.
THE CANADAS.—No portion of this country is making
more marked and rapid progress at the present time
than the western section of Canada. We are surprised
at the rapid growth of the Western States and cities of
the American Union. And yet since the year 1800 the
growth of Canada West has been nearly twice that of
the United States. In the last fifty years the increase
of the States, according to the best authorities, has been
about 400 per cent ; but during forty years, between
1811 and 1851, the increase of Upper Canada was up-
wards of 1,100 per cent. Take even the three great
States of the West— Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, and
compare them with Canada West, for the past twenty
years, and great as has been their growth, our Canadian
neighbours exceed their increase during the same period
by the large ratio of 55 per cent. This immense in-
crease in Western Canada is not confined either to the
cities or the rural districts. It is a general movement,
and there are potent causes in operation which will ac-
celerate the growth of the next decade. The increase of
the city of Toronto, when compared with cities in the
States, is found to exceed that of Boston, New York,
St. Louis, and Cincinnatti.—Boston (United States)
TrOnicript.

_ SOUTHAMPTON., FEB. 25.
The steam-ship ilinfalaYa 'sailed earl) this morning
for,,Plymouth and ,Maltai 'The Australasian Pacific
Steam Compel')Cs steamer Pnu, Captain Irdward Stamp,
also took herdtiparture at eut goon` for Dublin, to em-
bark the 33d 4egiment for,conTance to Malta.
The beautiful new ste*ttiLship Golden Fleece, of 2,600
tons, belonging 'to ihelGefleral Screw Stearn-shipping
Company, is now reaciy-firtwai and we ham is to leave
.the East India Docks.o*Pesdfay,4 prcceed to Green-
hit-he; *hettats leek ad_plAtii:tg 'her clomp/saes and corn-
' geting her stock of coats, She the Morning
Of 4th March for Leith, to take on Voard the 4ililtegi-
ment from that port. The Golden Fleece has been
arranged to accommodate 37 officers, a few ladies, 917
rank and file, 54 women, 75 children, and 12 horses.
After leaving Leith she is ordered to touch at Plymouth
to fill up coal, water, and provisions, and to await sail-
ing orders from the Government. Ten days ago it was
thought almost impossible to prepare this steamer, then
unfinished, in so short a time, but, under the energetic
direction of Captain Ford, the superintendent of the
company, who employed nearly 500 men and artisans of
different classes, the task has been accomplished, and
no delay in embarking the troops will take place. This
steam-ship is the second of the new Australian line
undertaken by the General Screw Company.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 25.

The Vulcan did not get out of harbour last night, but
went to Spithead at 8 o'clock this morning with the 2d
battalion of the Rifle Brigade on board. On leaving harbour
they were vociferously cheered all along the shore to the
King's Ravelin by the inhabitants of the garrison. The
young wife, who managed to get on board in the uniform
of her husband, was of course detected, but we believe
the Countess of Errol interceded in her behalf, and she
consequently went to sea in the ship. Her husband went
with the draught by the Himalaya. We believe about
200 of the wives and children of this gallant corps are
left destitute in this borough by the departure of the
battalion, and the subject has caused a deep impression
on the inhabitants. Many of the wives of the Rifles
being Canadians, they have no parish to be sent to here,
and must all become chargeable to the local union, or
starve. With a view to devise some plan for meeting
the difficulty, which is every day increasing by the em-
barkation of troops from the district for foreign service,
the Mayor of Portsmouth, at the request of some 200 of
the most respectable inhabitants of the borough, has
called a public meeting. Another battalion of Guards
will embark at this dockyard on Tuesday, in her Ma-
jesty's screw-ship Simoom, which went out to Stokes
Bay to-day to test her engines and speed after her refit.
ShscoetsmFaduseilieeirghGt
ukenrodtss
inasnpelicotuedr.
herT wtobisoffi c
afternoon,
of
ns
oon,thtoe
ascertain the nature of her troop accommodation. The
remainder
Gorgon
d Friday
earn and Sprightly
night,
the
2and steam-vessels
3 d
R
this
oa l
morning Welsh
F ouv
embarked
teor
s, Cowatnhe
and
landed them at this dockyard to form the head-
quarters. This regiment is also under orders to pre-
pare for foreign service, as we stated yesterday, and they
will embark on the 12th proximo. There are no signs of
Rear-Admiral Corry's squadron yet. They are looked
for anxiously, although the Admiral had permission to
cruise until the lit, making good his appearance at
Spithead by that day. Rear-Admiral Chads' flag-ship
Edinburgh, 58, Captain Hewlett, repaired the slight de-
raugement in her screw at Spithead, and was fully sup-
plied with coals to-day by the Orestes floating depot.
It is rumoured that Captain Richards will be appointed
Captain of the Fleet under Sir Charles Napier, so the
Admiral's flag-ship will carry two captains. His secre-
tary is Mr. Ozzard, paymaster, R.N., a gentleman who
served with Sir Charles in a similar capacity when he
last had his flag up ; Mr. Biddleeembe, at present master
of the St. George, 121, who was also with Sir Charles
in ;the St. Vincent, will be Master of the Fleet, or
master of the flag-ship ; Mr. Ward is already appointed
Sir Charles's inspector of machinery in the fleet. The
Flag-Captain Commander and Flag-Lieutenant we have
not yet heard named. Sir Charles has been guest for
a day or two this week with the Commander-in-Chief at
this port, Sir Thomas Cochrane, who has also enter-
tained the Duchess of Sutherland, the Dowager Lady
Napier, the Earl and Countess of Errol, Lord H. Len-
nox, the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford, the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Kildare, the Hon. Lady Cuffe,
the Earl and Countess Grosvenor, Marquis and
Marchioness Camden, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence,
Lord Francis Conyngham, Lady Elizabeth Douglas,
Sir John Maxwell, the Honourable Joseph Denman,
&c. Sir T. Cochrane went to Spithead this morning
to see that -all was comfortable on board the Vul-
can before she started, which she did about noon,
and as she steered through the anchorage for the
Solent the crews of the ships at Spithead—the Prin-
cess Royal, 91, Captain Lord Clarence Paget ; the Bos-
cawen, 70, Captain Glanville ; the Edinburgh, 58, Cap-
tam Hewlett ; the Leopard, 18, Captain Giffard ; the
Dragon, 6, Captain Willcox ; and the Frolic, 16, Com-
mander Nolloth —manned bulwarks and rigging, and
gave them loud cheers at parting. These were as
heartily acknowledged.
This fine weather is peculiarly advantageous for the
outfit of ships, and those in progress at this port are
getting on wonderfully. The Neptune, 120, Captain
Smith, C. 8., is well advanced, and manning fast. We
believe she has shipped 400 coast-guardmen to-day to
make up her complement. The St. Vincent, 101, is
being equipped to take her place. The Caesar, 91, Cap-
tain Robb, has still the large force we have before men-
tioned employed upon her, and will be ready to join the
fleet in a fortnight or less. The Blenheim, 60, screw,
Captain the lion. F. T. Pelham, will be out of hand,
we expect to-morrow, and will join the others at Spit-
bead in a day or two after. The Excellent gunnery-
, ship, Captain Sir T. Maitland, C. 8., exhibits some smart
drill and gunnery daily in training her crews. At no
period have the value and importance of this establish-
ment been so apparent as at the present moment. The
gun drill batteries of the Royal Marine Artillery corps
on Southsea-common, and at their head-quarters, are
also daily used to train the men to ship gunnery.

SUNDAY, FEB. 26. .
The Rhadamanthus steam-vessel arrived this morning
from the Thames with a propeller for the Cnsar, 91, and
80. Having discharged
these, she with machinery
fourhe
andes
a,b
funnel willproceed
f for for the
he Colossus, t
losou p
Algiers,s' 9
il .
The Diligence naval
transport arrived at Spithead titis morning ; the Argus
revenue (screw) cruiser, with co stguardmen, this after-
noon ; and the Hogue, 60, Ca ain Ramsay, from Ply-
mouth, this evening.
The Centaur, 5, steam-frigat flag-ship of Rear-Ad-
miral Henderson, C. 8., ComMander-in-Chief on the
Brazils station, is immediately o*dered home, we are in-
formed by the United Service Gazette. We hope the
report is correct, and that a heaVier armed ship will be
forthwith sent out to relieve her, for, at the present mo-
ment, the single Russian frigate at Rio carries more
guns by about 18 than the whole of the vessels of the
British squadron on that station put together I

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 25.

His Grace the Duke of Sutherland has sent a donation
of 2001. to aid the wives and families of the soldiers of
the 93d regiment, and Mr. R. Morris, of the Branch
Bank of England, is taking subscriptions for the same
worthy object. We understand that, through the good
offices of the Commander of the Forces for the Western
District, some arrangement will be made for organizing
the distribution of these moneys, so that the object of
the humane .donors shall be fully attained.
After the 93d have left the Oitadel the Ist Royals are
expected to occupy their quarters, preparatory to em-
barking for the East ; and the Bth Hussars will leave
Dorchester on the 28th inst. for Enter, en route to this
port.
Captain Henderson, Controger-General of the Coast-
guard, who left Plymouth on Wednesday, accompanied
by Colonel Tulloh, Superintendent of Pensioners, and
Captain W. H. Kennedy, R.V., proceeded to Exeter,
where they examined the seaman and marine pensioners,
and then went on to Taunton, Bristol, and Bath, ap-
pointing the pensioners to Coastguard or ordinary duty,
according to qualification. Etery alacrity was evinced
by the men to serve the Queen; in their new capacities.
Captain Henderson returned to London on Thursday.
At the Royal William Victualling-yard 12 ovens will
be set to work on Monday, the 27th inst. The number
in ordinary use is four, and they were doubled about a
fortnight since. The bakers will make nine days every
week until further orders.

FEB. 26

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company's new
ship Himalaya, Captain Kellock, arrived here last even-
ing, after making a passage in keeping with her previ-
ous character for rapidity. The Needles were passed
against a flood tide at a quarter to 10, and she steamed
thence to abreast of Portland, 34 miles, by a quarter to
12, making 57 miles from Southampton,. in 34 hours.
From Fortiaad to the Start, if) miles, two-thirde of the