The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-30 00:00:00

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EASTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending May 27, 1854 £16,033 11 8
Corresponding week last year 15,679 2 6

Increase in 1854

£354 9 2

GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending May 27, 1854 £5,202 18 1
corresponding week last year 5,021 6 9

Increase in 1854

£lBl 11 4

WEST-END Rumouns.—Rumours were rife at the
West-end all yesterday, and acquired more credence
late in the evening, to the effect that important political
changes are impending. We have heard the details of
new combinations, but think it better to forbear, for the
present, laying them before the public.-11forning deer-
aser.
The Duke of Devonshire has left Devonshire House
for Chatsworth, Derbyshire, The noble duke will re-
turn to London early in the ensuing week.
The Duchess of Sutherland entertained a select party
of the haut ton on Saturday evening, at Stafford House,
St. James's. The vocalists included the German com-
pany of vocalists from Cologne. The company assembled
to the number of 250.
LUMLEY V. GYE.—The rule in this celebrated cause
for a new trial is specially appointed for argument in the
Court of Queen's Bench on Thursday morning.
THE Ntw MONSTER STEAMER.—The keel of the gi-
gantic steamer for the Eastern Steam Navigation Com-
pany is now being laid in the yard of Messrs. Scott
Russell and Co., Millwall, opposite Deptford dockyard.
Her proportions are to be nearly twice the length of the
great Himalaya, and more than three times her ton-
nage. She is to be completed in two years, and is ex-
pected, it is said, to do the distance to Australia in little
over thirty days, and, if necessary, to carry sufficient
fuel for the voyage out and home. . She is to be fitted
with paddle-wheels and screw propelling power.
THE RUSSIAN TRADE.—The following extract of a
letter from a house at Newcastle-on-Tyne in the Rus-
sian trade furnishes an instance of perplexities still pre-
vailing regarding the alleged blockade of the Baltic :
" The blockade in the Baltic is a farce. The Customs
at this port refused to clear a Netherlands vessel with
coals for Riga. The Dutch Consul-General in London
then applied to the Government, when orders were sent
down that all neutral vessels were to be cleared for Rus-
sian ports, provided they had no munitions of war."
ORIENTAL GAS COMPANY.—A meeting of the Oriental
Gas Company took place yesterday, when the report
detailing the progress of operations was adopted. It
appears that of the capital of 50,0001., 32,0001. has
' been subscribed in this country, leaving 18,0001. to be
distributed in India, when arrangements shall have been
completed for constructing the works. A contract has
been secured for the public lighting of Calcutta, in ac-
cordance with the privileges and terms recommended by
Lord Dalhousie ; meanwhile great economy is exercised,
and the deposits are placed out at 43/4 per cent. interest.
The chairman (Captain Barber) explained that, when the
preliminaries for the local act of incorporation and the
settlement of the contract shall have been arranged,
there will be no difficulty in distributing the reserved
shares in India. Additional capital may hereafter be
required to extend operations, if the authorities at
Bombay and Madras find it desirable, but the existing
contract will, it is alleged, yield a profitable return
upon the amount invested. The native coal has been
found available for the manufacture, from experiments
conducted in London.
The Northamptonshire Militia have unanimously re-
solved to offer their services on active duty. The offer
was communicated to the Government through the
Lord-Lieutenant ; and Lord Palmerston has replied that
this very handsome and honourable offer of service shall
be duly considered in making choice of the militia regi•
meats to be embodied,