The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-17 00:00:00

THE RIVER PLATE.
MONTE VIDEO, MARCH 25.—Colonel Rodriguez, ex-
Minister of Bolivia, was found the other morning on the
beach at Buenos Ayres, killed by a deep sabre cut on the
head. His dress and valuables were untouched.
It was generally believed in Buenos Ayres that the
same will which had caused so much blood to flow in
that unhappy city had also ordained the forcible death
of Colonel Rodriguez. The Dictator has taken no steps
either to remove those suspicions, and from this circum-
stance an inference unfavourable to his innocence is
drawn.
It cannot be forgotten that the deceased, as charged
with the affairs of Bolivia, was one of those public agents
who surrendered themselves entirely to the will and
service of Rosas. To the discredit of his public cha-
racter, he occupied, gratuitously, a house which the
Rotator had conf Ated from its rightful owner, and
placed at his disposal : he was one of those who served
Rosas with their testimony in the protest against the
declaration of the Anglo-French blockade ; he extolled
him in the most servile manner in his documents pub-
lished even in Buenos Ayres ; he at length went so far
as to declare to Rosas' Minister, Arana, that the Boli-
vian Government, which he represented, " had done
very wrong" in naming General Guilarte Minister Ple-
nipotentiary to Buenos Ayres.
Neither can it be forgotten, that while Rodriguez was
doing all this, he was writing letters to Monte Video, in
which he class:fied Rosas' as " an assassin Government,"
and declared that he himself was influenced to certain
acts by his fear 3, because in Buenos Ayres " none—not
even those public agents s who had cannons '—were safe
from the knife of an official assassin."
The man who wrote so has been found dead in the
streets of Buenos Ayres, with his head smashed in pieces.
IHow fatally has he proved a true prophet!
The police gathered up the body as they would that
of the most obscure or common person; and, after under-
going an examination, it was sent to the cemetery in a
common cart, without a funeral attendance, without a
demonstration of any kind. When the packet left
Buenos Ayres four days had passed since the body was
discovered, and yet, extraordinary as it may seem, the
Gaceta (Rosas' official paper) had not so much as an-
nounced the event. Judging from its silence, one would
say it was ignorant of Rodriguez's death. The British
Packet is the only paper which mentioned it four days
afterwards.
For some weeks pact there has been a very active
demand for all description of goods suitable for the
winter season, which is now approaching. The bulk
of the purchases have been made for the Buenos Ayres
market and the enemy's camp. The stores are com-
pletely cleared of their assortments, and the prices
paid, in many cases, such as the merchants chose to
demand; such is the paucity of supplies of suitable goods.
Freights
now exceed the late high quotations, the
slipping in port not being at all adequate to the necessi-
ties of the purchasers of produce.
The rates freely paid are:—Salted hides, 85s. to 905.;
dry hides, 110 s. to 1205.; tallow, 90s. to 955.; bales of
hair, 655. to 70c.; ditto of wool, 60s. to 655.
Even condemned ships are in active requisition; some
of them have adopted the national flag, changed their
names, and are now filling.

Exchange is firm at 45d.
Salt is worth 16 to 17 reals on board, per fanega.
Some English and French steamers passed to the
eastward yesterday, conveying, it is supposed, the rem-
nant of Rivera's army, and the general himself, from the
island of Martin Garcia to Maldonado.
This city remains quiet, under siege, as usual.

HOP INTELLIGENCE,
MAIDSTONE.—Our hop bine is now as vigorous as
could be wished at this time of the year, but it is fol-
lowed up by the fly and lice to such an extent that in all
probability it will shortly give way to their attacks.
The blight, as usual, is more particularly at the outskirts
of the grounds, and in confined situations. The large
plantations are much more clear, but they are more in
danger from the effects of the latter fly. Duty, 170,0001.
to 175,0001.
FARLEIGH.—Our hops look well, but there is some in-
crease of fly.
BoxLzr, AYLESFORD, AND Bunitem.—The hop bine
in these parishes has not grown so much during the past
week • but it is very full for the time of year, looking
healthy, with scarcely any fly.
STAPLEHURST.—The plant is looking healthy, al-
though in some grounds the fly is still numerous. The
cold nights this week have rather retarded its progress.
WROTHA3I, PLAXTOL, IGHTHAM, AND SHIPBOURNE.
—The hop plant Ist the above named districts continues
to grow vigorously, notwithstanding the cold winds, and
the unfavourable nights of the past week. There is to
be found considerable fly in the grounds, and the hail
storm has decapitated many of the bines, but upon the
whole there are at present prospects of a good crop.
TICEHURST.—The hop bines in this parish are look-
ing well ; but a great many fly at places, particularly
where the bine is weakly.
BATTLE.—The hops continue to thrive in this neigh-
bourhood. There has been some talk of vermin, but it
is thought by many good judges that the plant is in so
forward a state that it will be able to withstand any
attack that may be made upon it.
BURWASH.—For some time past the growth of the
hop bines here has been rapid. To keep pace with
them the tiers have had to work incessantly. Their
services are now, however, nearly at an and. Fostered
by the lat t easterly winds. we have considerable fly,
which seems most prevalent in low situations. It does
not, however, appear materially to retard the progress
of the plant.
EASTIWATRLY.—The fly on most of the bine in this
district were for a time completely eradicated, but they
have since made their appearance in increased numbers
yet the bine in most instances looks strong and vigorous,
and at present bids fair to over .ome all its enemies.
FARNHAM.—The hops have made very great progress;
they reach in some places to the top of the poles. They
never looked more healthy, and continue free from fly
and blight of every description.
GkounnunsT.—The hop bine in this neighbourhood is
looking strong and healthy, and is generally beyond the
tier's reach. The fly during the past week has made its
appearance in some of the grounds, while others are quite
exempt.
LIoRSMONDEN.—Our hops are still very foul, but the
presence of fly is certainly more partial than it was ten
days since. The bines are growing fast, but not so ra-
pidly as they were, in consequence of the very reduced
temperature we have experienced for the last week.
MAYFIELD.—The cold nights of the past week have
retarded_the.progress of the bine, but it still looks in
a growing state, and to all appearance doing pretty
well. The bine is still very full of fly, and should the
weather become more congenial they will overcome
any ill effects the vermin has had upon them.
PEASNARSH.—Our hops are growing rapidly, and of
good colour. Since Saturday fly has made its appear-
ance and increased daily; upwards of fifty on a leaf
have been seen, and from three to ten generally through
the ground.
RYE.—The cold of the last few days, while it has
checked the hitherto vigorous growth of the hops, has
also had the effect of checking the ravages of the fly.
Previous to the late cold nights this insect was very much
upon the increase.
CRANBROOK.—We have a great deal of fly still, but
the bine continues to prosper.
LITTLE CHART AND PLCCILLEY.—The bine is grow-
ing very fast, and looks very promising, with but very
little fly. Some of the grounds in I'luckley were never
looking better than at present.
BETHERSDEN AND SMARDEN.—The bine is generally
growing well and at present bids fair for a food crop.
Some of the grounds arc rather backward. The bine is
mostly clear of fly.
BIDDENDEN.—The bine is looking very healthy, and
some pieces have a good deal of fly.
TUNBRIDGE.—We have plenty of bine, but it is not
free from insect, although daily improving.
ALTON AND COUNTRY DISTRICTS, JUNE 14.—Some
plantations have suffered from the cold nights, and we
have a considerable quantity of fly and vermin. The
plantations which produced such large crops last year
appear to a certain extent to be exhausted, and we do not
expect a heavy crop in thp ensuing spagon.

BRADSHAR9B RIILWAT AND CONTINENTAL
GUlDES.—Besides the usual monthly Guide to Railway
Travellers in the British Islands, Mr. Bradsaw has just
issued a compact and reasonably-priced railway guide
for those who are journeying through the continental
kingdom. The map prefixed to this excellent publica-
tion is really beautiful, and is alone worth double the
amount of the little book itself. The information, which
is lavishly condensed into the pages, is admirably ar-
ranged, and, as the phrase is, " well digested:'
HAND-BOOK TO THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPII.—A
second edition of this ingenious little hand-book to the
most marvellous of modern discoveries, has just been
published. It is illustrated by neat diagrams engraved
on wood, and is written in a very comprehensible strain.
LAUNCIIES AT BLACKWALL.—A fine frigate-built
ship for the East India trade was launched from Messrs.
Green's building-yard, at Blackwall, yesterday afternoon.
She was named the Sutlej, and from what we could judge,
not having the advantage of the builder's information, she is
about 1,300 tons. A smaller vessel of about 450 tons was
launched at the same time. A flag amid-ships, we presume,
gave some indication of her name—" The Free Trade," and
we understood that she is to have an auraliary screw pro-
peller, and is to be employed in conveying cattle from the
Continent. She is of rather a handsome form of body, and
floated well, but we should say that there are vessels turned
out in the river better adapted for the screw than this " Free
Trade." There was a very large number of spectators present,
including some of the directors of the East India Company,
some of the members of the Trinity Corporation, and, we be-
lieve, Lords Alfred and Clarence Paget.
arrivals
tl s acno:nfl t
theeemx t extensive
ns alf
bot eryr a taiitolhnespairnrtsothsotef.
POST-OFFICE ARRANGEMENTS.•--We believe that
dispatchcsoetrlia e
Scotland
d of
andi
are
r :nor rrt
office authorities, and will probably come into
operation in the course of the next two or three
weeks. In the first place, tit • s expected that the
considerably
London mails will shortly be
the opening of
When this line the
opens,
Newcastle
expedited on
e and Berwick Railway.
the London day mail, which ar-
rives here at present about 9 A.M., is expected to arrive
about 6 A.1+1.; and the London night mail, novv arrivin,i,
about 8 P.M., will arrive about 5 P.M., being a gain of
ttbout three hours in both instances.—Scotsman.