The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-10 00:00:00

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH

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TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS.
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geahtiooillioub:
from Mr. Davidson, of Hull, respecting " Steam na-
t‘ovfeeenxtBrainctgi
to which you refer to the remarks which you did me
na-
vigation
Fly," on the necessity for a post near Cape York in
Torres Straits. In this out-of-the-way corner of the
kingdom I have little opportunity (except through
your journal) of learning what is going fOrward in
these matters, but as I feel much interest in them, you
will perhaps excuse my laying before you the follow-
ing observations.
It appears to me most desirable, not only for the
interests of the company working this route, but for
the general benefit if the Eastern Archipelago, that
the company should enter into as intimate and
amicable relation as possible with the Dutch East
Indian Government, should look to that nation for a
great part of the support on which they are to rely,
and endeavour therefore to accommodate both its
Government and public (if the latter can be said as
yet to have a distinct existence from the former) by
all the means which will not retard the rapid com-
munication between our own possessions. During
about eight months of the year, front March namely
to November, the Dutch at Batavia have no
means of communicating with their eastern pos-
sessions (Timor and Moluccas), except by a war
steamer dispatched on purpose. A regular monthly
communication at trifling cost, would, therefore, be
of great importance to them, but of still greater to
these islands whose resources might thus be rapidly
developed, and their commerce speedily put on a
better and freer footing than at present, and one
eventually more profitable to all parties. The de-
struction of the spice trees by Government authority
in order to keep up the price, which was fbrmerly an
annual operation, would no longer be possible in the
open face of the world. Publicity alone is wanting
to put an end to such practices. Now, there are
not wanting indications on the part of the
Dutch of their wish to adopt a better commercial
and political system than they have hitherto acted
on, if it could be done without injury to their re-
venues. A great high road through their dominions
would be one of the strongest incitements to such a
change. Let a monthly English steamer travel this
route full of sharp observers and eager speculators,
and the Dutch would be compelled to take care that no
glaring faults should meet the eye of the one, and that
legitimate fields of action should be opened for the ope-
rations of the other. I think, then, it will behove the
company about to start, to take largely into account
the nature and capabilities of the Dutch possessions,
through which a good part of their route will lie.
Among other things, it appears to be important
that there should be calling or touching places at or
in the neighbourhood of Sourabay and Coepang.
The first is quite obvious, and no doubt forms part of
the company's plan. The second will not at first be
so inviting, but will, I think, be advisable for the
purpose of creating a traffic. Coepang itself is but
little out of the route, and during the easterly mon-
soon affords good anchorage and landing places.
Both are to be found, I believe, during the westerly
monsoon in the northern part of the straits of
Lemao. A station, however, might perhaps be formed
in or near the strait of Rottee, which would serve
during both seasons, and would be in the direct route
of the steamer. From this point sailing vessels, even
prahus, could at all times reach, not only Coepang,
but Banda and Amboyna, without much difficulty.
It would not be easy to overrate the importance
to those places of a certain passage to windward at
all seasons of the year, instead of having to wait
for a change of monsoon. An easy road into, and
frequent communication with, the Spice Islands,
would surely be an event in the history of the " Far
East."
As to Lombock, little, perhaps, could be done with
it at present ; but if the steamer pass through the
straits of Alass, as is probable, she will find it to her
advantage to heave to for an hour, to purchase stock,
and thus may be laid the foundations of a free native
trade with that island, which may ultimately rise into
importance. On the north side of the fine island of
Zindana, or Sandalwood Island, is Paddasway Bay,
which would be directly in her route should any
establishment be hereafter formed there. This is also
a free independent island.
I still adhere to my opinion of the superiority of
Cape York over Port Essington, as the nearest coal-
ing place to Sydney, for several reasons, but for this
especially, that Cape York is more distant from
Sydney in time than in space. None of the calcula-
tions respecting the route which I have seen appear
to take into account the intricate nature of the navi-
gation among the coral reefs to the southward and
eastward of'Cape York. In traversing them the
steamer will often have to go at half-speed under the
most favourable circumstances ; she will Ise compelled
to anchor at night while among them, and to pause
during the day when the sun comes ahead of her.
I think we might safely assume that that part of
the voyage will be from 24 to 48 hours longer
than would be calculated from the mere distance as
measured on the chart implies. She will also be al-
ways liable to such accidents as grounding in that
neighbourhood, which, although not likely to be fa-
tal, must yet cause delay and expenditure of coal,
and render it highly important that assistance and
fresh supplies should be as close at hand as possible.
I observe that Mr. Davidson mentions " squat-
ters" in connexion with Port Essington. I would
beg to ask him what they are to do there? What
are they to squat for—and what are to be their occu-
pations ? Sheep would not live, or would have no wool,
and, from Dr. Leichardt's recently published journal, it
appears that his horses and cattle, as also himself and
party, suffered greatly from the climate when they de-
scended from the high table land south of the Alli-
gator river to the flat country within 100 miles of the
coast. Few men would be tempted either by the
pleasure or profit of residing there to breed buffalos,
yet what else they could do Ido not know. The com-
munication with New Guinea, which he alludes to,
is obviously more easy from Cape York. The tri-
pang also, or beche de mer, is infinitely more abundant
and more easy to be procured among the coral reefs
of Torres Straits than about Port Essington. Had
the Bugis once discovered Torres Straits, nothing but
its greater distance would prevent them entirely
deserting the other part of the coast. Mother of
pearl shells, tortoiseshell, and cocoa-nuts are even now
to be procured in some quantity from the islanders of
the northern part of Torres Straits.
I do not advocate the anandonment of Port Essing-
ton : if a Chinese or Malay colony can be located
there, so much the better; let them try what they
can do. I only doubt the probability of its " rising
into a place of importance," either in five or any given
number of years; and, wish to impress upon those
concerned the far higher importance of Cape York or
its neighbourhood as a commercial post, and a point
commanding the navigation of the neighbouring seas,
whether traversed in sailing vessels or steamers.
I am, &c. J. BEETE.JUKES.
Sept. 7, 1847.
Geological Survey of Great Britain,
Yolrytty Evan, Denbighshire.

DEATH PROM DRINKING BRANDY.—Yesterday an
inquest was held before Mr. Baker, at the Town of
Ramsgate, Wapping, on the body of John Colbert, a
dry-cooper. It apps ared, that on Monday the deceased
got employment in the London Docks; he was engaged
near the Brandy-quay, where it was discovered he had
tapped a hogshead which contained over-proof brandy,
and from which he extracted about a pint, which he
drank, and shortly after became insensible. He was
attended by Mr. Malcolm, surgeon, who applied ithe
stomach pump and other means, but without effect, and
he died the same night. Verdict, " That the deceased
died from taking an excessive draught of over-proof
brandy."
ALLEGED DEATH FROM REMOVAL FROM AN HOS-
PITAL WHILE UNDER TYPHUS FEVER.—COLCHESTER,
THURSDAY.—Last evening concluded an inquest which
had occupied not only the entire afternoon, but several
hours on the preceding day, and had excited a very
strong feeling throughout. Pie town. The subject of it
was the death of a woman named Sarah Kerridge, who,
while engaged as a nurse at the Colchester and Essex
Hospital, was seized with typhus fever, and while suf-
fering under which she was ordered to be removed to the
union house. Public opinion was roused by the suppo-
sition that her end was accelerated by exposure in that
state to the cold. It was stated, a delay occurred of at
least half an hour, during which the woman remained
in a cart, the wind (it was stated by one of the wit-
nesses) blowing very cold. The jury, after consultation,
returned a verdict, " That the deceased died of typhus
fever, but the jury regretted her removal from the-hos-
pital, arising from the circumstance of that institution
not having a fever ward."
Yes-
THE NEw MODEL PRISON, CLERKENWELL.—
terday communications were forwarded to the magistrates
for the county of Middleiex, requiring. them, after the
28th instant, to commit prisoners for trial, and those re-
manded for further examination exclusively to the New
Model Prison, Clerkenwell, named the Middlesex House
of Detention, which utter that date will be open for the
reception of such persons. This prison contains one
thousand separate cells, fitted in the same manner as the
Pentonville Model Prison, with stool, table, hammock,
and lavatory. The entire building is in the form of a
cross, the chapel forming the centre, and the four wings
on either side contain 250 cells each. Persons under
deters 'ion will be kept strictly apart, even the exercise
grounds and gratings for the reception of visitors are so
constructed that they can neither see nor speak to each
other.
THE HEIR OF ABBOTSFORD.—From a War-office
notification in the Edinburgh Gazette of last night, it
appears that Lieutenant Walter Scott Lockhart, of the
16th Light Dragoons, has been permitted to a-sume the
name of Scott, in addition to that of Lockhart.—North
British Mail.
T. Winterbottom, son of Lieutenant Winterhottom,
Ist Life Guards, has just joined the riding establishment
at Maidi.tone as a cadet.
His Excellency the Bavarian Minister and the
Baroness do Cetto and family have left town for
)361009, whin* they arpose min the Wiliam