The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-21 00:00:00

LATEST NEWS FROM AMERICA.

(From N',:ve York Papers received of the Ist instant inclusive.)
THE STEAM-SHIPS.
The s'team.ships, having crossed the ocean with unprecedented dis-
patch, arrived at New York on the 23d, bringing with them the most
irmfragable testimony of the practicability and usefulness of steam navi-
gation between the Old and New Worlds.
The Sirius, a powerful and well.built vessel, of about 700 tons
!Arden, commanded by Lieutenant Roberts, RN., left Cork on the 4th
instant, and after encountering some very severe weather, arrived inside
the Hook on Sunday evening the 22d inst. The took the ground there,
but floated again with the rise of the tide, and came to anchor in the
North River early in the morning of the 23d. The news spread like
wild-fire through the city, and the river became literally dotted all over
with boats conveying the curious to and from the stranger. There
seemed to be an universal voice in congratulation, and every visage
was illuminated with delight. A tacit conviction seemed to per-
vade every bosom that a most doubtful problem had been satis-
factorily solved ; visions of future advantage to science,
to commerce, to moral philosophy, began to float before the " mind's
eye ;" curiosity to travel through the old country, and to inspect ancient
institutions, began to stimulate the inquiring; in short, there seemed to
be a complete maze, a whirl of fancies and projects through the general
mind; all were delighted, every one was a speaker, every Englishman
we, giving vent to the proud emotions of his heart and calm reflection
was for a time at an end.
Whilst all this was going on, suddenly there was seen over Gover-
nor's Island a (lenge black cloud of smoke, spreading itself upward, and
betokening another arrival. On it came with great rapidity, and about
three o'clock in the afternoon its cause was fully manifest to the accu-
mulcted multitudes at the Battery. It was the steam ship Great Wes.
tern, of about sixteen hundred tons burden, under the command of
Lieutenant Hosken, R.N. She had left Bristol on the 7th instant,
and on the 23d was making her triumphant entry into the port of
New York. This immense moving mass was propelled at a rapist rate
through the waters of the Bay, she passed swiftly and gracefully
round the Sirius, exchanging salutes with her, and then proceeded to
her destined anchorage in the East River. If the public mind was sti-
mulated by the arrival of the Sirius, it became almost intoxicated with
delight upon view of the superb Great Western. The latter was only
fourteen clear days out, and neither vessel had sustained a damage
worlh mentioning, notwithstanding that both had to encounter very
heavy weather ; nor had either vessel the necessity to suspend the
action of its steam machinery, notwithstanding the long and heavy seas
through which the vessels had to plod during the gales. The Sirius
indeed, has but two masts, which may be designated fore and mizen
masts. The Great Western, from its uncommon length, had necessarily
four masts.

TIM SIRIUS AND VIE AMERICAN INSTITIITE.—At nine o'clock
'yesterday, A.M., a delegation from the American Institute visited the
Sirins, agreeably to arrangement, when Mr. George F. Hopkins, one of
the vice-presidents, and Chairman of the delegation, addressed Captain
Roberts as follows :

" We are a Committee deputed from the American Institute—a
Society whose object is the encouragement of enterprise, industry, and
the useful arts. We desire to give you a cordial welcome to our
country. We hail the eve::t of your arrival as one of peculiar impor-
tance. It is an era in na, 'gat ion, and we hope it will be the harbinger
of the most beneficial consequences, both to England and the United
States. W e trust you and your officers have experienced, and will
continue to experience, al! the ho,pitality to which you have so fair a
claim, and that you will leave our country under the most favourable
impressions."
To which Captain Ituberts replied, with that free and gentlemtw'7l
spirit which characterises the officer and the man
Gentlemen,—l am proud and happy to see you, ar"::. can say that
the friendly welcome I have received in this country -,„oes tar beyond any
expectation of mine. It will give me much l'l"Thsure to aid in forward.
ing the objects of your institute, and, as '.. 'slope frequently to have the
pleasure of being among you, will do everything in my power toward
maintaining the friendly fec:ing save witnessed. America truly seems
to me like home, except that. .1
have received in America even more
evidences of good feelin, than at home. I everywhere meet with indi-
cations that we have the same blood running in our veins."
After showing the de:egation everything interesting on board, particu-
larly the machinery, Captan Itol.erts presented them with several valu-
able papers relative to the sciences and the arts, and left them, on part-
ing, deeply impressed with their interesting visit.
Th

le British Consul, upon the arrival of the Sirius, sent the following
characteristic letter to her commander :
Her Majesty's Consulate, New York,
23d April, 1838.
Sia—l have the honour and happiness to congratulate you on the ar-
rival of your steam-ship across the Atlantic, at a season when strong
gales so generally prevail, thereby proving that British skill has accom-
plished a most important enterprise, which will produce such a revolu-
tion in commercial and social intercourse, as we cannot justly appre-
ciate. Permit me, Sir, to add, that I have, in common with my fellow_
subjects of her Majesty in this city, a farther cause for rejoicing in the
fact that the honour of accomplishing the enterprise has been won by
on officer of the British navy, and that it was completed on St. George's
Day.—I have the honour to be, Sir,

(Signed)
Richard Roberts, Esq ,
Commander of the Bs itish steam-ship Sirius.
The following he sent to the Corporation :
Her Britannic Majesty's Consulate,
New York, 23d April, 1838.
Sir—l have the honour to Inform you that the steam ship Sirius
arrived last evening, and is now at anchor in the North River. Should
it meet the convenience of the Honourable the Corporation, I shall be
at the City Hall on Tuesday, the 24th instant, at one o'clock, to attend
the honourable body en board, in acr'ordance with their resolution, as
marking the importance of that tvent—an event so calculated to pro-
mote the commercial interests, and draw closer the ties of friendly inter.
course between England "and the United States.
I have the honour to be, &c., &c.,
J. To Joseph Miele, BUCHANAN.
e, Esq., Chairman Committee of the Corporation.

Your humble servant,
J. BUCHANAN.

(From the New York Daily Whig of the Ist. inst.)
DINNER TO LIEUTS. ROBERTS AND HOSKINT.—At two o'clock yester-
day, the Mayor, Corporation, and their guests left the City Hall for
Peck Slip, where they embarked on board a steamer, and were conveyed
to Blackwell's Island. Among the guests were the British Consul, Cap-
tains Roberts and Hoskin, Mr. Whittaker, of the Sirius, and several
of the Great Western, whose names we not remember.
After arriving at the Island, and viewing the works, about six
o'clock the company sat down to a sumptuous dinner. The knives
rattled, the champagne corks popped, the joke passed freely, and wit and
good humour ruled the roast.

His Honour the MAYOR (who was Chairman), commenced the toast-
ing, by giving the health of the President of the United States, which
was drunk with three cheers.

His Honour next proposed the hellth of Lieutenants Roberts and
Hoskin. This was received with the heartiest cheering, and Lieut. Ro-
berti immediately r:,se, and responded in a neat and appropriate address.
He handsomely ,Icknowledged the kind reception he had met in this
country.

We regret that the late hour at which the Corporation saw proper to
discharge us from Blackwell's Ish.nd, prevents our giving a full and par-
ticular account this morning; yet our friends may look out for it here.
after, Several beautiful speeches were made by distinguished guests,
and all highly complimentary to the gallant commanders of the Sirius
and Western. The Mayor styled Capt. Roberts the Colu.nbus of steam.
The health of the Queen of England was next drunk with most rap.
tuous applause and deafening cheers.
It will be seen that two present leave our shores this morning.
We allude to Lieutenant Roberts and Mr. Whittaker, both of Si-
ring. They will return to England immediately, and be the first to
carry back the tidings of the success of the great undertaking.
We have received them with perfect enthusiasm. We rejoice at their
success, for linked as the two countries are, we must consider that suc.
cess as almost our own. We are conscious that the English Government
will appreciate the triumph of Captain Roberts, as much as we do, and
his gifted and liberal Queen will not forget either him, his officers
or crew.

NEW YORK MONEY MARKET.
MONDAY, APRIL 30, Six, P.M.—This has been foreign bill day for
the packets which sail to-morrow. The business done in exchange on
London has been very moderate, the demand generally much less than
anticipated—the asking rate at opening by the leading drawers 7 per
cent., which soon gave place to 61 per cent., at which the best bills to a
salad extent were sold—the rate further declined to 61 and 6i per
cent , at which price the leading houses were offering their bills on
'Change. Late in the afternoon we heard of sales at 6 per cent. of
good bills. Bills on France opened at 5,321 a 5,35, and fell early
to 5,37 i.

SALES AT THE STOCK EXCHANGE.-(THIS DAY.)
SATURDAY.

108 shares U 9 Bank
i
32 do Bank of State, N. Y
605 do Delaware and Hudson Canal lO4 104
74 741
20 do Farmers Trust Co a7s
•..105 105
30 do Equitable Insurance Co.
345 do Harlem Railroad Co. ..
110 do Stonin;ton Railroad Co.
5 do Utica Railroad
50 do Long Island Railroad
12 do Merchants Bank
50 do Greenwich Bank
100 do American Trust Co. -
150 do Mohawk Railroad 63i to 64i
10 do N. Jersey and Trenton R. 11. -
22,700 Dollars Treasury Notes

APPALLING STEAM-BOAT DISASTER..
LOSS OF ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY. FIVE LIVES.
(From the Pensylranian Courier of the 30th.)
An extra by Express Mail, from the office of the Cincinnati Whig.
fyrnishoi the following appalling particular,. It it dated Wednesday

night, eight e. if. All comment is unnecessary. Th• details are heart-
rending indeed, and shocking to relate, the whole is attributed to impru-
dence and carelessness on the part of the captain. Our correspondent
writes :
" It becomes again our painful duty to record one of the most awful
and destructive occurrences known in the terrible and fatal catalogue
of steam-boat accidents.
" This afternoon, about six o'clock, the new and elegant steam-boat,
Moselle, Captain Perrin, left the wharf of this city (full of passengers)
for Louisville and St Louis, and with a view of taking a family on board
at Fulton, about a mile and a half above the quay, proceeded up the river,
and made fast to ali mber raft for that purpose. Here the family were
taken on board, and during the whole time of the detention the captain
was holding on to all the steam he could create, with an intention of

chewing off to the best advantage the great speed of the boat as she passed
down the whole length of the city. The Moselle was a new brag boat,
and had recently made several exceedingly quick trips to and from this
place.

Soon as the family were taken on
from the raft, the boat shoved
off, and at the very morni—' •
boilers burst
tier wheels made the first evolution her
”-'"
""n a most awful and astounding note, equal to the most
violent. clap of thunder. The explosion was destruttlVe and heart-
rending in the extreme, as we are assured by a gentleman who was
stting on his horse on shore, waiting to see the boat start. Heads,
limbs, bodies, and blood, were seen flying through the air in every direc
tion, attended by the most horrible shrieks and groans from the wounded
and the dying. The boat, at the moment of the accident, was about
thirty feet from the shore, and was rendered a perfect wreck. She
seemed to be torn all to finders as far back as the gentlemen's cabin,
and her hurricane deck (the whole length) was entirely swept away.
The boat immediately began to sink rapidly, and float (with a strong
current) down the river, at the smie time getting farther from the shore.
The captain was thrown by the explosion entirely into the street, and
was picked up dead and dreadfully mangled. Another man was thrown
entirely through the roof of one of the neighbouring houses, and limbs
and fragments of bodies scattered about the river and shore in heart-
rending profusion. Soon as the boat was discovered to be rapidly
sinking, the passengers, who remained unhurt in the gentlemen's and
ladies' cabins became panic-struck, and, with a fatuity unaccountable,
jumped into the river. Being above the ordinary business parts of the
city, there were no boats at hand except a few large and unmanageable
wood flats, which were carried to the relief of the sufferers as soon as
possible, by the few persons on the shore. Many were drowned, howe-
ver, before they could be rescued from a watery grave, and many stink
who were not seen afterwards.

We are told that one little boy on shore was seen wringing his hands
in agony, imploring those present to save his father, mother, and three
sisters, all of whom were struggling in the water to reach the shore, but
whom the poor little fellow had the misfortune to see perish, one by one,
almost within his reach. An infant child, belonging to this family, was
picked up alive, floating down the river on the fragments of the hurri-
cane deck.

Dr. Wilson Hughey, of the United States' Army, and brother-in-law
to our estimable fellow.citizen, W. P. Hughey, ct the Pearl-street
House, is doubtless among the slain, as he was known to have been cn
board, and some pieces of the military coat he had on were picked up
among the fragments.

Mr. Powell, a highly respectable grocery merchant of Louisville, and
brother.in.law of Mr. Wilson M`Grew, of this city, is also supposed to
be lost, as he was on board, and no tidings have since been heard of him,
notwithstanding the active inquiries of his friends.
We are unable as yet to particularise any other persons lost, as the
boat sunk in about fifteen minutes after the accident, leaving nothing to
be seen but her chimneys and a small portion of her upper works, and
also as a scene of distress and confusion immediately ensued that alto.
gether baffles description. Most of the sufferers are among the hands of
the boat and the steerage passengers.
It is supposed that there were about two hundred persons on board,
of which number only from fifty to sevcnty.five are believed to have
escaped, making the estimated loss of lives about one hundred and
twenty.. five! 0, tale of woe!

The accident unquestionably occurred thr,ugh sheer imprudence and
carelessness. The captain of the boat was desirous of showing off her
great speed as she passed the city, and to overtake and pass another
boat which had left the wharf for Louisville a short time before him.
Dearly has he paid for his silly ambition. The clerk of the boat, we un-
derstand, escaped unhurt. These are all the particulars we have yet
been able to learn. In to-morrow's Whig we shall, no doubt, be able
the names of many others who have been lost or killed.

THE CANADAS.
(From the New York Courier of the 28th.)
It is stated that all the prisoners under sentence of death at Toronto
and Hamilton have been reprieved, except Theller. The Montreal
Herald of the 24th inst. says—

" There has been a serious disturbance at Brockville among the volun-
teers, and it is reported that an individual was killed in the affray. A
company of the 83d regiment was dispatched en route to Brockville yes-
terday morning.

" The affray commenced in consequence of an individual having ex.
posed in his shop some caricatures of the officers and men recently dis-
banded, who in revenge broke his windows, and threw his goods into
the street. The rifle corps was called out, and succeeded in restoring
peace.

" We have heard from an authentic source that martial law has
already been, or soon will be, superseded by the suspension of the Habeas
Corpus Act over the whole province."

The statement that the bodies of Lount and Matthews were denied
to their -friends for interment is contradicted in the Hamillon Express.
The report that a daughter of Mr. Lount had died of grief since his exe.
cution is also contradicted.

The Kingston Chronicle gives the result of the late elections for
Members of the House of Assembly in the places of the exiles, and says
the new Members " are all good and true"—that is, high-toned Conser
vatives, or Tories.

A Mr. Dawson of Niagara has been arrested, it is said, at Lewiston,
in this State, charged with having been one of the party that attacked
the Caroline. One account says that he has been removed to Lockport,
and another to Batavia. He came over, the Lewiston paper says, to get
married, and was committed by the Jilstice before whom he went for
the performance of the ceremony,

LONDQN AND SOUTHAMPTON
RAILWAY.

The Directors and Proprietors of this important undertaking, pre
paratory to its opening to the public this day, gave on Saturday a very
handsome entertainment to between three and four hundred of their
filend, of both sexes on Working-common, near Guildford (the point
to which the railway is at present comple•ed). All the arrangements
ware excellent; the weather was much more agreeable than it had been,
owing to the cessation of the easterly winds, and nothing could have
gene of better than the whole affair. As the conclusion of the
kurney is upon an open healthy common, where pleasure parties
may pitch their gipsy encampments, or wander far and near, enjoy-
ing the bright sun and the clear atmosphere, nothing beyond a cold
collation could be expected, but what the season afforded was pro-
vlded, and we never saw claret and champagne in greater abundance.
The Directors and their zealous Secretary gave a hearty welcome to the
party in a very large marquee, to which several smaller tents were added,
forming recesses like chapels in a Gothic cathedral, but all under one
rneral roof. If theae had been a discontented person among the corn-
! any, he must have been one of those resolutely dissatisfied individuals
laughed at by the comic poet,
" Who would not, if they could, be gay."

, We have seldom seen a larger collection of cheerful faces, and those of
the ladies, in the bright and varied costumes of the spring, were of course
peculiarly attractive in their smiles.
But we may be said to have arrived at the conclusion of our journey
before we have, in fact, commenced it. The company were conveyed to
Woking-Common by two long trains of open and inclosed carriages.
\Vhether open or inclosed, it was impossible to exceed the comfort and
facility of this mode of travelling. The only fault seems to be that the
cushions are so soft, and the sense of motion, excepting from passing ob-
jects with great rapidity, so little felt, that sleep is almost invited, and
the bland but fresh atmosphere, so different from the smoke and dulness
of the metropolis, contributes not a little to the effect. The progress is
more like flying than any thing else, for literally each passenger seems
rather to float through the air than to have any connection with the
earth. The smoothness of the passage is very remarkable, and whether
from the excellent mode in which the rails have been laid down, or from
any other cause with which we are not engineers enough to be ac-
quainted, we know not, but not the slightest jar, and scarcely the
least undulation, is perceptible. Shakspeare talks of " shoeing a troop
of horse with felt," and the effect of journeying on this railway is more
like the running of wheels of ivory over velvet, than any thing else we
can imagine.

The first train started from the terminus near Vauxhill-bridge shortly
before and the second shortly after one o'clock, but as it was material,
with a view to the collation, that both parties should reach their
destination at the same time, a short delay of the first train near
'Thames Ditton, in the midst of a delightful prospect, was of little
consequence. In fact, all the way down the railway runs through a
charming and richly diversified country—pasture and arable, woodland
and lawn, chequered by hedge-rows of the liveliest green, and sprinkled,
at different distances from the road, with farm-houses, villas, and more

imposing residences in their park and pleasure-grounds. The myste-
fions progress of vegetation and the industrious pursuits of agrieulture
can be watched with improvement during the whole way, and these new
and cheap modes of conveyance into the country are likely ere long to
remove much of the reproach under which the inhabitants of London
generally labour, and which is conveyed in the single and distasteful word
" cockneyism."

The journey is divided by various stations, at Wandsworth, Wimble-
don, Kingston, Ditton, Esher, and, we believe, some others which have
escaped our memory; and each was duly decorated for the occasion.
Here, too, the rustic inhabitants of the vicinities were collected to greet
the trains with hearty cheers as they passed ; but the engines and car-
ri.iges only stopped once on the way down to take water, which was a
process of very brief duration. The entire distance, as our readers are
probably aware, is abut 23 miles.

Both parties entered the marquees at the same time, and in due order.
It is said that at the Coronation Banquet of George IV., the only confu-
sion was occasioned by the eagerness of the Aldermen to get at the
edibles; but if any disposition of the same kind, arising from appetite
generated on the road, had existed at Woking, it would have been effec-
tually checked by the presence of ladies, themselves the models and the
motives of decorum. The viands having been dispatched (at least
as many of them as were needed, for much more had been provided
than was necessary), and relished by a few glasses of French
and Portuguese wines, thanks were moved to the Directors, as well as
to Mr. Locke, the engineer, and to Mr. Reid, the Secretary of the Com-
pany, each returning thanks with becoming spirit and judicious brevity.
Mr. M. Philips, M.P., in proposing the health of the ladies, made a
few humourous allusions to his own delinquency as a bachelor, and pro-
mised " to repent and marry" (not to marry and repent) without delay.
We hope that he will keep his word, for the sake of the " Lancashire
witches." All this portion of the business was despatched with great
hilarity, and, as we have mentioned, nothing but the most decorous
cheerfulness prevailed throughout. All were mirthful, and none
boisterous.

The return to London was also by two distinct trains, and the dis-
tance was performed by the first train, in which we came, without the
slightest impediment, and with perfect ease, in one hour, no stoppage
being required for any purpose connected with the machinery, which
appeared to work admirably. Perhaps no body, of three or four hun-
dred persons, ever enjoyed a pleasanter trip, or spent a more agree.
able day.

The railway, as we have said, is to be opened to the public this day,
and trains will start at different convenient hours, passengers being
conveyed to the terminus at Vauxhall by steam-boats from London.
bridge, Hungerford.market, &c., as well as by omnibuses and other car-
riages. During the Epsom races additional trains will be employed, and
carriages of all kinds will be provided at Surbiton.hill to take parties to
the course, a distance of less than six miles.
With regard to the completion of this great work, we understand that
about forty miles from London will be finished on the Ist of September
next, bringing the line within six miles of Basingstoke. At the other
extremity the distance from Southampton to Winchester will be opened
at the same rate, leaving only a comparatively short interval.

EVISING BARRISTERS.—Returns of the total
number of days in each year during which the whole of the Barristers
appointed to revise the lists of voters for the counties, cities, and
boroughs in England and Wales, were employed in performance of their
duties—of the number of Barristers appointed in each year—and of
the total cost of such Revision in each year—(ln continuation of the last
Return to an Order of the House, made in 1836) :
Year 1836 :-175 Barristers...3,l46 days...total cost £26,871 7 2
1837 :-172 3,654 total cost 31,080 19 9
Whitehall Treasury Chambers, May 11, 1838. E. J. STANLEY.
Prices in wools and manufactured goods remai❑ firm
and the demand in most articles is improving,—Leicestershire ►fercury.

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 21, 1?-38.