The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD hOPE.

The commercial aivices recieved yesterday front the'
Cape of Good Hope furnish interesting particulates of the,
progress. of that colony. Inrprevious letters it• was
stated that the export of wool for the year 1855 wag ex-
to reach 10,000,0001 b. That quantity bas been
exceeded tram the port of Algoa Bay alone, whence;
however, nearly the whole of the wool produced in the
colony is shipped. The excess over the previous year'
was 3,700,0001 b., nearly equal to the whole quantity
shipped from teat port in 1852. The total value was
upwards of 500,000/ , and, supposing existing prices tO'
be maintained and peace preserved, the estimate
that the value for the present year will not fall far short
of 750,0001. Twenty years ago wool scarcely figured
as a colonial export in the Custom House returns. Witie'
was then the principal article, but it is now of minor
portance. There is still, however, a large consumption
of it within the colony, and the manufacture of brandy,
of a very respectable quality has steadily increased:
Notwithstanding the boundless extent of grazing land in
South Africa, the colony, it is stated, will never be able'
to export large quantitiee of hides, the pasture being too
poor and scanty, and the scarcity of water- prOverbial.
But to the production of wool there would appear.to
be-
almost no limit. There are still throughout the
country large numbers of the fat tailed 'Cape sheep,,
which have no wool ; but the sovereignty anci adja-
cent extensive pasture lands,- considered' by many to
be of superior quillity, are.. at .present tenanted
.;al,:
most exclusively by the: springbok, quagga,. osfriche•
wildbeest, and other wild -animal% The -predietions .of
those who attempted toJ stem the mania for copper:
mining have been fully verified. Indeed the results
t)ve proved worse than were anticipated. Pie aocounts.-
from Namaqualand are very discouraging, and most' of.
the companies have been brought to a deadlock.• Eveia
rock that looked greien was pronounced to be rich cop-:
per ore, since found in most cases to be valueless. From
being a year aro insanely sanguine, there is now the
usual danger of the colonists passing to the opposite ex=
treme. It is still said to be beyond doubt that'lstart4-
qualaod is rich -in copper -.ore, Although it is not to be
quarried throughout the district,. as was once supposed:,
During the last two years about 3,000. tons of ore have
been shipped to England, averaging, it is believed,
about 30 per cent. of copper,but nearly the whole of
this has been from private arms, whcr.went to work with
more caution than the companies. It is believed that a
similar quantity will be exported during this year. Mr.
Wyley, the. Cape geologist., bad'published his report -of
inspection of the so-called goldfields In the •savereigritY;
It is in everyrespect unfavourable, and does_not•efface
the previous impression that the whole affair Was It de'
ception. The Caffres, it appears, remain quiet, bet
there it as yet no cor.fidenee that this condition will
be permanent, 'With regard to the liquidation of Home,
Ealear' and Co., whose London house failed in January,
1855, for 130,0001,, expectations were' entertained by
some persons that they will pay 153. In the •Peund ;* by
others the probable dividend is stated- to bp, 10s. 'ln
any case the realisation is likely to occupy severs.l.years
owing to the debtors to the firm being. country dealers,'
who require time. • -

THE RUSE OF A PIED lIIONTEqE SOLDIAIt

A letter from the Crimea, published by the Prase
d' Or ice, shoWa how a Sardinian soldier contrived to fill
his purse on the day of the conference between the Staff
of thearmita on the subject of the armistice :--"During
the interview of the chiefs of the Staff, some -Zona-vie
were seen upon the banks of the Tchernaya with bottles
in their hands, making sidhs. to the Russians,invitiag
them to come and partake.
,-,.:14ut how was it to bedontil
The,Traktir bridgn was reserved for the passage of the
Generals, possibly because it was wished to prevent a
crowd at the place where the conference - was ;
multitude of officers and Soldiers, nevertheless, ardently
wished to cross the river to Ike Rhasians ; a boatman
would have made his fortune that day. Every one
complained of the tate which kept him on the bank. All
of a sudden a strong, healthy Sardinian soldier entered
the stream, and offered, fora soli per head to pass to
the other side of the Tchernaya any one who would'
mount his shOulders.

" He was instantly overwhelmed with Orders, and for
two whole hours.he remained in the water, transporting
the enemy's bank every amateur who presented him-
self. Oneion 1_ Every one cried out how cheap it- was,
and vied with each other. in embarking upon the shoulders.
of the intrepid and generous trooper. On touching the
opposite bank they tendered_bini their 'warmest thanks,
rallying him a little upon &jug- ao much for' eolittlo
money. He replied with a •malicious smile, which no
one understood, but-which, nevertheless,' bad its sight.'
finance, as they very f-oon discovered.
"After the interview all who had passed the river
upon the soldier's back wished to return,to the left side
by the same road. They. called to the aquatic Warrior,
and made sins to him to. approach, but he .replisd,
laughinz in a most provoking manner, that the waterwae
cold, and that he was afraid of the rheumatism. But
how are •we to return to the camp they cried inl
an excited .manner. - As you have done part of
the work, you must finish it.' " I am ready to
consent,' repied the-. cunning Piedmontese, 'but if I
catch a cough, I wish to have the means of making
broth, as I like it. In place of a sou you must pay me
a franc.' A na.;versal cry was raised against this increase
of price, but be would rot swerve fr, m it. If you find
it too dear,' said Le, with resistless argument, ' ford the
stream your-e'f. After all, you are not so sensitive-to
the cold as I am, and you will find the water good
enough.' In brief,.it waShecessary to pay
_him what he
asked. They treated the matter as pleasantly as tbe,V=
could, and in a few moilutns the soldier found himself in
possession of a good round sum. Gentleman,'siid• he,
v.itildiawilig, 'I have had 63 much water outside,
that you'll not think ill of me if I now put si little
wino in."! - -

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