The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-29 00:00:00

" From the north, at the approach of winter, the
Herald again turned her prow towards the south, and
after surveying the island of Guadaloupe, which is
about 100 miles to the north of Mazatlan, arrived at
the latter place on the 21st of November. From
Mazatlan she continued down the coast, touching at
San Bias, and arrived at Panama in January, 1849.
Continued the survey of the coast from Point Mala,
the northern point of Panama Bay, to Point Barica,
the southern point of Costa Rica, in lat. 8 deg. north.
" This completes the survey of the entire west coast
of South America by the British Government; and,
in fact, the whole South American continent has now
been surveyed by the British and French—by the
latter on the east coast as far south as the River
Plate, and by the former from the Plate round to
eight degrees north in the Pacific.
"From Costa Rica the Herald came direct to these
islands, and arrived here on the Bth of May. After a
short stay here, she sailed again on the 19th for
°tab eho attowsrf tho
year, which she did not then succeed in doing.
" It was not a little gratifying to hear it asserted
'by the officer of the ship, who very obligingly com-
municated the above information, that of all the places
touched at on the cruise they had found none that
equalled Honolulu as a pleasant and agreeable place,
for its intelligent society, and for the peaceful and
orderly character of the town. May such commen-
dations ever be merited.

" We have no means of knowing exactly, but have
estimated the distance sailed by the Herald since
leaving England at 50,000 to 60,000 miles. And
now, instead of turning her course homeward, after a
cruise of nearly four years, she again launches out
lamong the icebergs of the Arctic sea, in pursuit of an
object that does honour to humanity, and reflect great
credit on the Government that sends her forth. We
hope that success may attend her, and that she may
enjoy the satisfaction of affording relief to an expe-
dition that has awakened the most lively interest and
sympathy of the whole civilized world.
" Surveying voyages, like the one in which the Herald
has been engaged, are not usually attended by those
brilliant incidents that attract the notice of the world,
but their results and benefits are chiefly reduced to
practical value in the form of maps and charts; and
while laboriew, and self-denying to the officers and
men engaged in them, are equally creditable to those
nations that sustain them for the benefit of all com-
mercial countries.

" The Pandora, which has been connected with the
Herald in her surveying cruise, is now here, and will
sail in a day or two for England. _ _

"We have seen it intimated in some of the Ame-
rican prints, that, under the cover of surveying, she
had, in fact, been engaged, in smuggling. We have
good authority for contradicting this assertion, and
for expressing our disbelief of it. As a national
vessel, she was under obligation to render assistance
to British merchants; and doubtless, during the
troubles that have occurred upon the west coast during
the past few years, she may have thus been so em-
ployed. But that a British Government vessel is
justly chargeable with the crime of smuggling, we
have no idea whatever. England has too much trouble
in preventing the violation of her own excise laws,.
not to refrain from allowing such a breach, by one of
her commissioned vessels, of the laws of another
kingdom. Self-interest and self-respect, had she no
higher motive, would prevent such an infringement
of the rights of others. Iler rights England has no
occasion to wave or secure by evasion."

RECOVERY OF THE LOST JOURNALS OF THE
ilotiSE OF LORDS —lt may be recollected that at the
great conflagration of the Houses of Parliament, which
took place in 1834, several books and important papers
were either lost or consumed, amongst which were some
of the manuscript journals of the House of Lords.
Within these few days, however, it has been ascertained
that a portion of the latter at least was not consumed,
and their existence was brought to light in the most sin-
gular manner. It appears a few days since that a gen-
tleman residing at Wulworth was passing along the
Walworth-road when his attention was attracted by some
old books, &e., in the shop of Mr. Terry, cheesemonger,
at the corner of Amelia-street, and which the latter had
purchased as waste paper. On closer inspection he dis-
covered. no less than twelve books which appeared to be
:ho journals or daily minutes of the proceedings of the
House of Lords, comprising the following dates:-1780,
1781, 1787, 1788, 1789, 1790,1791, 1792, 1798,1799,1801,
1803, 1805, 1806. The gentleman accordingly, on Monday
purchased one of the apparent journals, with which he
repaired to the library of the House of Lords to learn if
it was genuine, when some of the parties there instantly
detained it, and having been informed where the rest
were, yesterday morning three mess( ngers proceeded to
Mr. Terry's, and purchased the whole 12, which
r
really-
proved to be the actual journals of the above
ndates. The price they paid for these important
docu-
ments was merely that of common waste paper,
account
being no
The
more than 11. 15s. fur nearly
oonseomcwo t
time since,
given by Mr. Terry is, that h
pur-
chased them, with nearly a ton w;eig_ht of other papers,
at a sale of the effiets of the late Mr. Croft, one of the
librarians of the House of Lords., How they came to
remain so long in that gentleman s possession, or to ha
mingled with his private effects, is at present involved in
mystery. It has not yet been intimated to the gentle-
man who was instrumental in the recovery of the above,
whether he will receive any reward for his valuable in-
formation.
GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY,—The
half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday
at their offices, 1, Lombard-street; John Wilkin, Esq.,
in the chair. A report and statement of the accounts
for the half-year ending the 30th of June last were read
and receive( with mach approbation; by these it ap-
peared that the affairs of the company continued in a
most prosperous state. The usual dividend, free of in-
come-tax, was drclared, and thanks being voted to the
chairman and directors, the meeting separated.
OPENING OF THE COAL EXCHANGE.—We are
authorised to contradict a statement which has appeared
in several of the newspapers, to the effect that the New
Ccal Exchange will be opened on the 3d of September.
The building will not be completed at that time, and it
will not be publicly opened until it is finished.