The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-27 00:00:00

THE OCEAN SHIP CANAL.

The official report of the Darien Canal expedition,
though not in some respects encouraging, does not
shut out hope for the future. The survey, which
occupied several months, was begun in Caledonia
Bay on the Isthmus, which is easy of access and
well protected from tilt) north winds and heavy seas.
There are only two other harbours on the Atlantic
side of the Isthmus, which are suited for the ter-
minus of a ship canal. One of the first objects
which Commander Selfridge, the leader of the
expedition, set before him, was the explora-
tion of the water courses of the Isthmus
with the view of ascertaining the lowest level of the
country, and. of finding passes through the ridges
of the mountains. The great obstacle' to the .pro-
gress of the explorers was the thick underbrush of the
primeval forest, through which they were compelled
to cut their way, in some parts, by the compass, the
sky itself being shut out of sight. They pushed on,
however, and presently got over the mountains to
the Pacific slope, and reached the villages of the
mountain Indians, who belong to the Sacubti tribe.
There is a river of this name, which, with its
tributaries, drains a large area of country, and
its bed forms the lowest level in those parts.
Careful observations were made down its course,
and when one direction was abandoned another was
tried; but the best result showed that a mountain
area of twelve miles would require tunnelling. This
was the more disappointing as the rest of the route
was practicable enough ; but the southern part of the
isthmus remains to be explored, so that we need not
regard this important and interesting undertaking as
indefinitely postponed. The Government of the
United States proposes to resume the surveys with-
out delay, carrying them up the valley of the Tuyra
across the Cacarica Lake, near the mouth of the
Atrato, thus utilising the watercourses of the
isthmus.

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HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, Oar. 24.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice, went
out in the morning, and visited the Lochnager Girls'
School. Her Majesty drove out in the afternoon with
Princess Beatrice, attended by the Hon. Lady Biddulph.
The Queen, held a Council in the morning, at which her
Majesty gave her consent to the marriage of her Royal
Highness Princess Louise to the Marquis of Lorne. Earl
de Grey and Ripon, the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, the
Right Hon. W. E. Forster, and Mr. Edmund Harrison,
Clerk of the Council, were present.
Earl de Grey and Ripon and the Right Hon. W. E.
Forster and Mr. Edmund Harrison left the Castle.
His Excellency Monsieur, Madame, and Miss Van de
Weyer had the honour of dining with her Majesty.

The Princess of Wales drove out yesterday, attended
by the Hon. Mrs. Grey.

THE CAPTAIN RELIEF FUND.

A meeting of the London committee for the relief of
the relatives of the seamen and marines lost in her
Majesty's ship Captain was held at the Mansion House
yesterday. The Lord Mayor presided, and among those
present were Lord Henry Lennox, Sir John Heron Max-
well, Admiral Richards, Sir Thomas Gabriel, Mr.
J. P. Gassiott, Captain Sherard Osborn, and
others. Mr. Lewis Lloyd and Captain Biddlecome.
were added to the committee. Mr. J. P. Gassiott inti-
mated that the amount at the banker's last night was
£1,718115. 9d. It was arranged that the Portsmouth
Committee should be informed weekly of the amount of
subscriptions received in London. Lord Henry
Lennox handed in a list of subscriptions which

he had received, including £5O fromi the Duke
of Sutherland, £2O from the Duke of Cambridge, and
also some small sums collected by the Princess Mary.
The sub-committee appointed to examine a scheme for
making provision for the relatives of the crew of the Cap-
tain, intimated that they would make their report next
week.—The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated.

THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARDS.—Lord Lawrence
and the Rev. Canon Cromwell, principal of the Training
College Fulham, are announced as the Church cancli-
dateaor the School Board in Chelsea. The former is
known to entertain strong evangelical opinions, while
the latter is decidedly High Church. Mr.
Eastwick, M.P., who might have been accepted
by both sections, will thus be squeezed out of
the running. The Liberals have concentrated
their strength on a Wesleyan and a Congregationalist—
Mr. Kiell and Mr. Freeman. And thus for want of timely
concert and co-operation the matter will drift into a con-
flict of religious parties. There are still, however, very
few clericarcandidates in the field, the only other namesof
any mark or likelihood being those of Dr. Miller, of Green-
wich, and the Rev. Dr. Rigg, of Westminster Training
School. The number of M. P.'s desiring to stand increases.
To the names of Mr. M`Arthur and Sir Charles Dunce
are now added those of Mr. S. Morley, Sir J. Lawrence,
and Mr. Holms.

A BOON FOR LADIES.—Highly as sewing machines are
prized, there is one great fault to which they are addicted—they
make a great noise while doing the work ; a noise so great that
for a worker herself •to talk at the same time is out of the ques-
tion. We need not say how trying this must be to a lady. To
be not only prevented from talking, but also from listening to
the gossip of those around her—the very thought of such a
thing is unendurable. Well, an inventor has come to their
rescue with a SILENT SEWING MACHINE; and as it comprises
all the appliances and devicesfor varied work with which all the
best sewing machines are provided, and several in addition, and
exercises them all so NOISELESSLY that the ladies may gossip
even in whispers, and the infant or invalid sleep on in peace, we
expect that most of the old machines will ere long be heard, or
heard of, no more, and that "LA SILENCIEUSE," the Silent
Sewing Machine (at Messrs. POLLACK, SCHMIDT, and Co.'s,
210 A, REGENT-STREET, LONDON, W.), will quietly take their
place, as the universal domestic helper.—"lnvestment Circular
and Financial Record," September 7,1870.

LITERATURE

A Wicked Woman. One Vol. F. E Arnold

The favourite heroine of the modern novel, especially
when of a sensational character is not the all fair per-
fection of former days, but an impersonation of beauty
and crime, ala Brinvilliers. Such is the heroine of the
tale before us—a tale that is likely to find favour with the
lovers of sensational adventure. An Italian Marchesa,
with green eyes, which appear to render her fascinations
irresistible—is, when we make her acquaintance, a
widow having lost one husband under very
suspicious circumstances. An English baronet, travelling
with his daughter, becomes a victim to her arts, and
follows the fate of his predecessor. His daughter, the
gentle Mabel, is in every way a contrast to her step
mother, and deserves a better fate than that which befala
her through the machinations of the " Wicked Woman."
We have given a very slight glimpse of the incidents and
mysteries of a story well calculated, as we have already
said, to find favour with the admirers of sensational ro-
mance.

Inhalation for Diseases of the Lup. By Dr. R. G. Watts.
Fifth Edition. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.
The fact that this little treatise has already
reached a fifth edition seems to render any com-
ment upon its merits unnecessary. In the hope
of securing some alleviation to the numerous di!"
eases of the chest and lungs so prevalent in this
country, Dr. Watts has for several years directed his atten-
tion to the principle of "exhibiting remedial agents by
inhalation " and with marked success. The decided
curative powers of medicated inhalations being now
established, he is desirous of making the system more
generally knoivn. The mode of treatment by inhalation
for consumption, asthma, bronchitis, and affections of
the nose, throat, and air passages, is fully explained in this
little work. The importance of the subject, and (to say
the least of it) the reasonableness of the mode of treat-
ment render it well worthy of very general and attentive
consideration.

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