The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-31 00:00:00

RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF STEAM COMM UNI-
CATION WITH AUSTRALIA.

A contract has been concluded by her Majesty's Go•
vernment with the European and Australian Royal
Mail Company, for the conveyance of mails once a
month, by the route of Suez, between this country and
the Aw3tralian colonies.

The packets under this contract will depart from the
port ,af Southampton, and, as in the case of the Indian
mail, in addition to, and in connexion with, the direct
packet, a special service will be maintained via France,
for the conveyance of supplementary mails from this
co-antry.

The first mail to be despatched, via Southampton,
under the new arrangements, will be made up in Lon-
don on the morning of the 24th February next,
and the first mail to be despatched, via Mar-
seilles, will be made up in London on the
evening of the 28th February. Subsequently to those
dates, the mails will be despatched uniformly, via South-
ampton, on the morning of the 12th of the month (com-
mencing with the month of March), and via Marseilles
on the evening of the 16th of each month.
On those occasions, however, when the 12th of the
month falls on a Sunday, the mails for Australia, via
Southampton, will be made up and despatched on the
previoxs evening, and when the 16th of the month falls
on a Sunday, the mails will be made up and despatched
on the following evening.—By command of the Post-
master-General,

ROWLAND HILL, Secretary.
General Post Office, Dec. 30, 1856.

The Earl of Clarendon arrived in town, yesterday,
from visiting her Majesty at Windsor Castle.
The Countess of Erroll arrived in town, last week,
from Slaines Castle, Aberdeenshire.
The Earl and Countess of Desart have arrived in town.
The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P., is at pre-
sent on a visit to his uncle, the Rev. Dr. Cardwell,
Principal of St. Alban Hall, Oxford.

A. letter from Nice states that the Baroness Vigier
(Sophie Cruvelli) is at present residing in that town for
her health. She is seen almost every day in a pony-
carriage, which she drives herself.

The Rev. Father Ventura had a few days ago an
attack of apoplexy, which placed his life in danger ; but
he is now recovering.

THE GUANO TRADE.—There is no duty'on guano. In
the 11 months ended November the quantity imported
was 175,688 tons.

A powerful man named Jone 3, alias Giles, was yesterday
fully committed for trial from the Southwark Police-
court for highway robbery. Ile was the holder of a
ticket of leave.

The ship, John Bunyan, has arrived off the Start,
from Sydney, with dates about six days later than those
received from the same port by the Red Jacket. The
amount of gold brought by the John Bunyan (if any)
remains to be ascertained.

THE FOREIGN TRADE OF THE COUNTRY. The
number of vessels employed in the foreign trade of the
United Kingdom, in the 11 months ended the 30th
ultimo, was 28,147 that entered inwards, and 38,867
that cleared outwards.

It is at present believed that the shipments of specie
and bullion by the Colombo, which will leave South-
ampton, with the India and. China mails, on the 4th
January, will certainly exceed 600,000/., but this is
merely a rough estimate.

DEATH Or-a
WOMAN IN THE SURREY TREATRE.—
Last night Mr. W. J. Wayne, the deputy coroner, held
an inquest at the Workhouse of St. Gee rge the Martyr,
on the body of ivlartha Baker, who came to her death
suddenly in the lobby of the boxes of the Surrey Theatre,
on Saturday night last. The sergeon veto was sent for
said she had died of a disease of the heart. The jury
returned a verdict of " Natural death."
TRADE REPORT—MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—Under
the renewed influence of a further excited cotton
market in Liverpool yesterday, the prices of yarns and
goods were again quoted higher. The active demand
which arose a few days ago from several unexpected
quarters of the world has sufficed to take of any pre-
existing stocks, and the usual requirements of buyers
are not likely to be obtained except at permanently
higher rates than at present.
CAPTURE OF PAUL FOR THE FRAUDS AT THE CITY OF
LONDON UNION.—John Paul, late assistant clerk of the
City of London Union, in St. Mary Axe, who has been
e.harged with several "misdemeanours and felonies," in
the misappropriation of sums to a very large amount,
was captured about six o'clock last night, in the vicinity
of Hackney, by Daniel May, one of the most intelligent
of the detective force connected with the city of London
constabulary.
ACCIDENT TO MR. CIIIRLES MATHEWS.—Various
rumours having been in circulation respecting the health
of Mr. Charles Mathews, we are requested to state that
he has been confined to his bed for the last week under
a most painful affection of his arm, the result of an acci•
dent at the :Manchester Theatre. A severe operation
was yesterday performed for his relief, and although he
is still seriously ill, every hope is entertained that ho
will soon be enabled to resume his professional engage.
ments.
Dr. Wynn. of Finsbury-square, was yesterday placed
before Mr. Hammill, at the Worship-street Police-court,
cherged with violently assaulting Mr. Benham, an attor-
ney's clerk, residing in the same house. The complainant,
whose head was enveloped in bandages, said on the
preceding eveniug the doctor rushed out of his, room and
commenced assaulting him so violently that, he became
insensible. There bad been some mieunderstanding
betwceu them relative to the pussessi on of the Leese.
The magistrate ordered Dr. Wynn to appear at the
sessions to answer the charge. Bell was accepted.
An interesting archmelogieal disc every has just been
made at the village of Trigueres, near Mon targis, de
partment of the Loiret, in France. It consists of the
remains of a Roman amphitheatre, 230 feet long, by
195 wide, capable of containing 10,000 spectators. The
walls in some places are bet when three and four feet
thick, in others almost double. There are two large
staircases at each extremity, leading to the upper rows
of seats. The complete exploration of the ruin has not
yet been effected.—Literary Gazette.
The process of painting the interior of the new read-
ing-room at the British Museum has at length been
completed, and the scaffolding removed. There are
twenty panels in the ceiling, each of which is painted
in light blue, the decoration of the intervening girders
being executed in gold, which has also been liberally
employed in ornamenting the cornices and other acces
sories. The effect is considered extremely satisfactory,
the colours being brilliant in themselves, and from their
lightness investing the vast dome with an appearance of
grace and airiness which could hardly have been expected,
considering its colossal proportions.—Literary Cazette.
A RIVAL OF MR. STURGEON .—A young gentleman of
the name of Guiness, a relative of the great Dublin
brewer, has lately been creating a sensation among the
religious public in Devonshire. His admirers say that
he has a voice quite as powerful as Mr. Spurgeon's,
and much more sonorous and persuasive. He preached
at Crediton on Tuesday last, when the Baptist chapel,
not being found capable of holding half the applicants
for tickets, the Music-hall at the Public Rooms was
hired for the occasion, and although more than 500
people were there crowded together, great numbers went
away who could not gain admission.
LYCEUM THEATRE.—An incid out occurred at this
theatre on Monday which for the time excited consider-
able apprehension. In the opening scene of the
" Corsair," Submarine ascends, attended by a naiad.
Last evening the light dress of the latter was suddenly
observed to be in flames. The sensations of alarm were
speedily changed, however, to shouts of applause at the
presence of mind of some gentleman connected with
the theatre, who dashed forward from the wings and
with his hat succeeded in beating down and extinguish-
ing
the flames. It was, nevertheless, some time before
the plaudits of the people could reassure the trembling
little naiad.
EXPLOSION OF GAS IN A STREET LETTER-BOX.—
During the past summer the Post-office authorities fixed
a number of letter-boxes for public convenience at the
extremities of the borough of Wakefield. One of them
was erected at the top of Wrengate. On Christmas
Day, two boys, who reside in that locality, wanting
a light, one of them struck a lucifer match against
the iron pillar, when an explosion of gas immediately
took place, and one of the youths was severely burnt
and the other somewhat injured. Mr. Rowland Hurst,
the postmaster at Wakefield, at once despatched Mr.
Howson, one of the clerks in the Post-office, to ascertain
the particulars. From inquiry, it appeared that the
gas had escaped into the box from the mains in the
street, the door of which was blown open, and the bag
which receives the letters was tossed, with its contents,
to a considerable distance.
DEATH IN THE CASUAL WARDS OF ST. PANCRAS
WORKHOUSE.—Yesterday, at the meeting of the direc-
tors of the poor of St. Pancras, held in the Board-
room adjoining the workhouse, at Camden Town, M
Churchwarden Streeten in the chair, very considerable.
sensation was created by a report that a young woman
named 'Ann Lane, who had been admitted into the
casual wards of St. Pancras Workhouse in t
ao stbaeteeof
destitution, and who had been discovered
x-
ceedingly ill by the nurse, had been allowed to remain
in the ward in an exposed place, Where
the window
panes had been broken, for nearly 48 hours, without
medical treatment, and that shes
tohad there expired.
Considerable discussion ensued a
the board entering into any the propriety of
theirs investigation until after
the coroner's jury had made; and a motion,
moved by Mr. Churchw Wyatt,ard that a special
board be cal
; and alled after the inquest was held, was nega-
and seconded by Me tive an amend inquest
moved by Mr. Lawford,
11 .
ock ton, was carried by 13 to
conduct that the board at set
Once proceed to investigate the
of their officers. Eventually
adjourned till after the coroneesincieeetth.e inquiry was
THE PLANET JUPITER.—This planet will again be
occulted by thet will come
on the afternoon of Friday next,
January 2. It
awned llin.contact with her limb at two
min. before 5 o'clock,
emerge at one minute after
6. The disappearance will
take; place 15 at a point deg.
from the moon's vertex, counting roun 1. by the right band,
in an inverting telescope ; the re-appearance at an angle
of 284 deg. reckoned in the same manner. During the oc-
cultation Jupiter will be near the meridian of London,
and
consequently in a very favourable position for obser-
vation. All four satellites will be visible at the time, the
fourth at a considerable distance from the planet on the
left hand in the inverting telescope, the third about
half as far from it on the same side, and the first and
second near together on the right of Jupiter. On this
occasion the planet will be entirely hidden by the moon
for about an hour, the metropolis being far within the
limiting parallels of latitude for the occultation. On the
Bth of November last the upper limit passed very close
to the northern suburbs of London, and hence occurred
the interesting phenomenon of a partial occultation of
the planet, the predicted and actual circumstances agree-
ing almost exactly.