The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-27 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females..

Total ..

1,789

THE NEW FRENCH SETTLEMENT IN
THE PACIFIC.

The Minister of Marine has received further intelli-
gence from the new French possession of New Cale-
donia. In a report, dated from the village of Balade,
December 5, 1853, Admiral Febvrier des Pointes states
that having in October despatched the John Millay, an
American vessel, to Sydney, for provisions, he sent an
armed boat to visit the mouth of the Jahot river, and
ascertain whether it might be a proper place for win-
tering. The expedition was quite successful, having
found a spasious bay with a clayey bottom at theanouth
of the above-mentioned river, twelve miles from Balade.
Meanwhile a strong blockhouse was constructing at the
last-mentioned place, to guard against any attack
from the natives. The Prony having arrived on the
30th of October, the admiral was enabled to visit the
bay himself, which he found partly formed by the steep
coast of New Caledonia, and partly by a considerable
island, which, by its high mountains, shelters the bay
from the west and south-west winds. The sea is broken
by the coral reefs which surround the island of Bou-
lablo, and by a sandbank which bars the entrance to
the bay on the north. At the mouth of the Jabot
is a bank of clay, which, however, is at a depth of
three metres and a half at low water, and is not
dangerous, as vessels cannot break against it. M.
des Pointes employed a fortnight in surveying the
river, which is bounded by fertile plains. At six
miles from its mouth, and all along, as far as the
bank already mentioned, the depth is never less than
seven metres. The zeal and activity of the officers and
men, both at Balade and at the bay, are stated to be
above all praise. Brick and lim&-kilns, forges, and saw-
pits, have been established, and walls and roofs erected
as if by magic. The block-house, mentioned above, is
nearly completed ; it is all of stone and brick, and de-
fends a magazine, now building, which may contain pro-
visions for a year sufficient for 600 men. The top of
this magazine is to be constructed so as to fit it for bar-
racks, with battlements ; so that the cross fire from
these two buildings would render any approach to them
impossible. The sanitary condition of the crews of the
Phoque and Prony was excellent, showing that the cli-
mate is healthy. Iron, copper, spar, and porphyry
have been found on the very surface of the island, which
must therefore be rich in mineral wealth. In a second
despatch, of Dec. 30, Rear-Admiral des Pointes an-
nounced the arrival of the steam-corvette Catinat on the
7th ; and his own departure on the 31st for America.

THE SCREW STEAMER SnaA.—GLASGOIV, Monday.
The fleet of the Peninsular and Oriental Company kas
received a magnificent accession in the screw steamer,
Simla, which, having been just completed by Messrs.'
Tod and Macgregor, sailed to-day from the Broomielaw.
She will remain a day or two at the G-areloch' to have
her compasses adjusted, whence she sails to Southamp-
ton, from which she will carry the Indian mail to Alex-
andria on the 4th proximo. The Simla is constructed
of iron, and is one of the finest ships which have ever
been constructed on the Clyde. Her dimensions are as
follows :—Tonnage, by new measurement, 2,440 tons ;
by old measurement, 2,600 tons ; her power is equal
to 650 horses ; by inside measurement she is 335 ft.
in length, 39ft. bin. breadth, and 28ft. in depth. It
will thus be observed, that of the Peninsular and
Oriental fleet, the Simla is next in size to, and only
a few feet shorter than the Himalaya, and she is confi-
dently expected at least to rival her in her sailing powers.
The Simla is a three-decker, and her fittings and general
accommodation, including baths, light, and ventilation
for a numerous body of cabin passengers, are of the most
magnificent description. Her saloon will accommodate
at dinner 150 passengers at one sitting. Within 43 hours,
hovever, all her ornamental trappings can be removed,
when she might be transformed into .
- n tiooptteamer,
capable of carrying 1,500 men. The Simla commanded
by Captain Brooks, the oldest commander in the service
of the Peninsular and Oriental Company. The rapidity
with which this ship has had her engines put on board,
and her internal accommodation completed, may be
learnt from the fact that she was only launched in the
end of February.