The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-04 00:00:00

MALTA.

To secure the safety of this island Vice-Admiral
Sir W. PARKER, Naval Commander-in-Chief, has
issued the following orders, accompanied by secret
instructions :

" Hibernia, at Malta, June 16.
" (General Memorandum.)
" As it is essentially necessary, in the present dis-
turbed state of Europe, that the character of all vessels
entering the harbour of Valletta or Marsamuscetto by
night should be distinctly ascertained, to guard against
any hostile surprise, or the machination of evil-disposed
persons,
" It is my direction that the guard is rowed with such
vigilance during the night, as will, in combination with
the boats of the marine police establishment, effectually
ensure the strict examination of every vessel, however
small, which may approach either harbour between sun-
set and daylight.
" The Wee Pet steamer, or some other vessel, is to be
stationed, during the summer, off Fort Ricasoli, where
moorings are to be laid down of sufficient strength for
the security of a sloop of war or steamer of the third
class, should it be required.
" The ship having the guard is in future to prepare
two guard boats for the duties of the night, one of
which is to repair to the Wee Pet, or other vessel (not
actually in commission) which may be anchored off
Ricasoli at gunfire, and to place in her a guard of six
men with muskets and blank cartridges, under the di-
rection of a mate or senior midshipman, who is to be
provided with sky rockets, blue lights, and flash pans,
with powder, for signals. Ball cartridges are also to
be provided, but they are not to be issued to the men
unless there is reason to apprehend an attack from any
quarter.
" This party is to be under the direetion of the guard,
and is not to be finally withdrawn before sunrise, but
may be relieved during the night as the captain of the
ship having the guard may direct.
" The guard vessel, off Ricasoli, is to be visited once
at least every night watch by the officer of the guard,
but always at uncertain hours, to ascertain that the
men are on the alert, and that a good look-out is kept.
The night guard boats are to be constantly in the har.
bour's mouth, and in fine weather to row once or twice
in each watch, so far us the warping buoy at the entrance;
being ,at liberty, in rough weather, to make fast to the
guard vessel from time to time.
" On the approach of any vessel to the harbour, notice
is to be given from whatever point she may be first dis-
covered, by a flash of gunpowder, which must be re-
peated by the guard vessels and guard-boats of her
Majesty's ships. Arrangements are also made that
this flash shall be, in like manner, acknowledged by
the guards in forts Ricasoli, St. Elmo, Tigne, and
Manoel ; by those of the Health Department, stationed
on shore in quarantine harbour, and by the marine
police watch boats. Thus it is hoped nothing stirring
will escape observation, and that every speronara or other
vessel will henceforth be examined without fail. But
the officers of the guard-boat are to be very cautious not
to subject themselves to quarantine unnecessarily.*
" If any vessels are found to contain passengers in
addition to their proper crews, they should be imme•
diately accompanied to the police boat, and no person
allowed to land till the object of the vessel is satisfac-
torily ascertained.
" Any occurrence of a suspicious nature is to be re-
ported to the flag or senior officer's ship without delay. .
" Should the naval guard vessel or boat discover the
approach of two or more armed steamers or any other
vessels of doubtful character, whose movements are
suspicious, they are immediately to burn a blue light,
closely followed by a rocket, and to fire muskets in quick
succession, till answered in a similar manner by the
nearest ship of war, and the guard-boat is to repair to
the flag or senior's officer's ship as expeditiously as pos-
sible to report thereon, when measures are immediately
to be taken to assemble the crews at quarters, or man
the boats, as circumstances may require.
" If no doubt is entertained that the strange vessels
are approaching with hostile intention, two rockets are
to be tired, one immediately after the other.
" But should either of these signals be made by the
guard-boats, anti the strangers are afterwards discovered
to be friends, two blue lights, about three yards asunder,
are to be burnt simultaneously, to announce the same.
" The ship having the guard is always to have a suf-
ficient watch on deck, with boats at the guess warp ready
to act, in the event of fire or other accidents. The
captain of her is always to sleep on board, and, without
especial permission from the senior officer in port, is
not to proceed to any distance by day from which he
cannot be called on board at the shortest notice.
" A confidential communication, sealed up, of the ar-
rangements which will be observed by the garrison in the
event of any hostile act, is herewith delivered to the
Rear-Admiral Superintendent and the respective cap-
tains and commanders, a copy of which is to be delivered
to the officer of the guard, and to be only opened by him
in case of two rockets being fired, in quick succession,
from Forts Tigne, Ricasoli, or St. Elmo. It is to be re-
turned to the captain or commander of the ship when-
ever she may be relieved in the guard.
(Signed) " WM. PARKER, Vice-Admiral.
"To the Rear-Admiral, and respective Captains and
Commanders of her Majesty's ships and vessels under
my orders."
On shore strict military duty is enforced, and mea-
sures quite necessary for an island situated as Malta is,
with so many strangers there from all European coun-
tries, political refugees, &c., are being taken; and several
posts at which till now a corporal or sergeant's guard
were on duty, are to be supplied by a subaltern's guard,
and others are to be doubled.
A chain is to be laid across the harbour. No boat,
however small, enters at night without being brought to
and examined.
The fleet still remains, but is quite ready for anything.
The quarantine lately imposed by the Sicilian Govern-
ment on arrivals from Malta has been taken off at the
request of the Government.
His Royal Highness the Prince d'Aquilla has sent his
horses (part only) and carriages to the island, from
Naples, and is expected to arrived here himself on a
future -day. A man named Byrne is in charge
of them. To judge of the quantity of specie which ac-
companied-the stud, it is presumed that other Members
of the Neapolitan Royal Family may make their ap-
pearance.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Caput], is strictly
prohibited from having the use of any portion of his
brother's stud.
It is said that the French steamer Menette has been
taking soundings at the back of the island, and that
on the 2411 the fourteen ships of war were descried
from the heights of St. Gozo.

AMERICAN NEWS.
SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY MORNING.

The Ocean Steam Navigation Company's ship Her-
mann, Captain E. Crabtree, arrived of Cowes, Isle of
Wight, at midnight, after a passage of 11 days and 22
hours from New York.
The Hermann brings 66 passengers and 300,000 dolls.
on freight, and a considerable cargo for Bremen.
By this arrival we are in possession of our usual cor-
respondence and files of American papers, and advicos
from New York to the 20th of June.
The Acadia and Washington steamers had arrived
out, but their news had produced no perceptible effect on
monetary or commercial affairs.
Trade was dull, and business men were generally
contracting their operations, to be prepared for a dull
summer.
The probable average weekly import of specie at
different ports of the United States was about
3,000,000 dolls.
Congress was once more in session, but had not yet
decided on the points of the Oregon Bill.
The Naval Appropriation Bill had passed the House of
Representatives. It assigned 375,000 dolls. for various
internal improvements.
The bids for the Government loan were opened on
the 17th of June. They amounted to 33,333,195 dolls.
at an average premium of 3.30 per cent. There were
near 500 bidders. The largest bid is on 14,000,000
dolls. by Messrs. Corcoran and Riggs at 3.02. This is
said to be principally on account of English capitalists.
The amount required by Government was only
17,000,000 dolls.
The Court of Inquiry had not closed its labours.
General Scott had gone to Shenandoah Springs for his
kealth.
Quite a serious difficulty has occurred between the
citizens of Alexandria, Mo., and the inhabitants of
lowa near the line. It appears that eight slaves were
stolen, followed by their masters, recaptured, brought
before a justice of the peace, and ordered to be taken
back by the masters, when a mob rescued them and put
the owners completely at fault.
The Ron. Isaac Teucey, of Connecticut, has been ap-
pointed Attorney-General of the United States, in place
of Mr. Clifford, resigned.
The Hon. Arthur P. Bagby, now Senator from Ala-
bama, has also been appointed Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia, in place of R. J.
Ingersoll, recalled at his own request.
Great fires have occurred in Norfolk, Va. and in Al-
entown, Pa. In the former no less than 62 houses were
destroyed.
A very important treaty has just been concluded
between the United States and the Government of New
Grenada. The most striking feature of the treaty
is the fact that it secures us the right of way
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, across the isthmus of
Panama.

MEXICO.
The treaty havinglbeen ratified, the American troops
are withdrawing from the country. The siege train and
the heavy artillery have already left the city of blexioc);

also General Patterson's division of volunteers, which
are to be followed by General Marshall's, General
Kearney's, and General Worth's division bringing up
the rear.
The American Commissioners had not left Q ieretaro
at the last advices.
Exchange on London, 1101 to 111; on Paris, sf. 20c.;
Amsterdam, 41 to 42; Hamburgh, 361 to 36k; Bremen,
81 to 82.
Cotton unchanged. Flour remained quiet. Grain
dull. Wheat had declined. Provisions in fair demand.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(YESTERDAY.)
HOUSE OF LORDS.
LORD SHAFTESBURY'S COMMITTEE.—NORTH
STAFFORDSHIRE (Deviation at Willington).—Preamble
proved and clauses agreed to.
LONDON AND ENNISKILLEN (Abandonment of Line
from Omagh to Enniskillen).—Preamble proved and
clauses agreed to.
ABERDEEN (Additional Capital).—Preamble proved
and clauses agreed to.
YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BERWICK (Great North
of England, Clarence, and Hartlepool Junction).—Pre-
amble proved and clauses agreed to.
GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND GREENOCK (Amendments
and Branthes).—Preamble proved and clauses agreed to.
SCOTTISH MIDLAND JUNCTION (Amendments and
Branch to Brannon).—Preamble proved and clauses
agreed to.
STRATHTAY AND BREADALBANE EXTENSION.—Pre-
ambIe proved and clauses agreed to.
GROUP No. 2.— SALISBURY AND YEOVIL.— The
object of this line is to extend the South-Western
Railway from Salisbury to Yeovil. After the case had
been opened, Mr. Hill, on behalf of the promoters, took
an objection to the appearance of the Great Western ,
Railway Company, who were opponents of the measure,
and were anxious to advance their Berks and Hants
extension as a competing line. The objection was i
argued at some length, and ultimately the Committee I
decided that the Great Western Company had no locus
standi. The evidence for the promoters was then Pro-
ceeded with.
GROUP No. 3.,—GREAT WESTERN, BERKS, AND
HANTS EXTENSION.—The object of this Bill is to enable
the Great Western Company to extend their Berks and
Hants line from Hungerford to Westbury-, to join the
Milts, Somerset, and Weymouth line, with a branch to
Devizes. The promoters contended that this line
would form a competitor to the Salisbury and
Yeovil line, and applied to the Committee before the
case was gone into to refer this Bill to the previous
group. The Committee, after giving the application
their best consideration, came to the conclusion that the
line could not be considered in the light of a competitor
to the Salisbury and Yeovil, and they consequently re-
fused to accede to the request of the promoters. The
evidence in favour of the Bill was then proceeded with

ELECTION COMMITTEE.
DUBLIN.
The scrutiny into' the validity of Mr. Reynolds'
majority was proceeded with yesterday, and in the course
of the day the petitioners succeeded in striking off three
additional votes.

BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD
JUNCTION RAILWAY.
The adjourned special general meeting of the proprie-
tors of the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway
was held yesterday at the King's Arms Tavern, Old
Palace-yard, Westminster. There were not more than
five or six shareholders in attendance, and the meeting
was further adjourned till half-past ten o'clock on Tues-
day week, to be held at the same place.