The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-12 00:00:00

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Pacific to the whole of the Australian colonies and
Asia generally. Sailing ships, in returning from
the Australian colonies or from the south of the
Equator, would return by the westerly winds below
the tropic, and then through the Isthmus of Panama
by the West India Islands, and taking the course
home followed by the West India traders, thus avoid-
ing the Cape of Good Hope and also Cape Horn.
That the opening of the Isthmus of Suez would
not have the same advantage be believed, for the
reasons assigned by Mr. Stephenson, viz., the dangers
of that narrow navigation of the Mediterranean,
the Red Sea, and also the Indian Ocean. Therefore,
the open route to India was preferable for commerce
as having less risk. From London to Singapore and
from Singapore to Canton by the shortest possible
navigable line would of course be (passing by Suez,
but not by way of Marseilles or Trieste, but going
through the Straits of Gibraltar to Alexandria, and
by the Red Sea), he believed 9,500 miles. That was
from London to Canton. The nearest possible line
from London to Canton, via Panama, would be
13,700 miles on the globe. From London to Canton,
via- New York and Oregon, crossing by the proposed
railway, would be about 10,000 miles. The nearest
possible line from New York to Canton, via Panama,
was 11,200 miles. Mr. Whitney said that with re-
gard to his Pacific Railway, the country for 700 or
800 miles to the westward of the line to which rail-
ways had yet been carried was almost level ; but then
he stated that the region which succeeded that level
country was at an elevation of some 7,000 feet. Now,
a rise from a level country to a height of 6,000 or
7,000 feet was an elevation altogether unprecedented
in railway enterprise. A rise of some hundreds of
feet was a formidable obstacle to the engineer ; but

to carry a railway through a wild and totally unin-
habited country, advancing ten miles at a time,
would take a very considerable number of years to
complete the first 700 or 800 miles. Then, again,
with regard to the transport of goods, there
was little likelihood of a transhipment, because with
the power of steam in the present day water carriage
of any distance was a very small expense, and the
time was certain ; therefore the prospect of commer-
cial remuneration in the sequel appeared to be very
remote. But he thought Mr. Whitney was mistaken
in saying that the voyage could be made from Oregon
or Vancouver's Island, across to Canon, with equal
facility either way. The voyage could be made from
the west side to America without difficulty ; but
from the trade winds the voyage in ihe contrary di-
rection was attended with great difficulty. However
valuable the project, therefore, might be to the United
States, it could not possibly be of use to Europe
and the Asiatic world. It seemed to him to be a
question more relating to the United States and the
Canadas than to Europe. He had made these remarks
with the view of eliciting observations from other
gentlemen.
The Rev. C. G. NICOLAY said the point in which
he differed with Mr. Whitney was as to the greater
facility of constructing his proposed railway through
United States territory than through British. He
had no doubt if Mr. Whitney got his route that the
whole of the land would be settled very shortly.
But he preferred the northern route for the rail-
way to the southern, believing that in our territory
there were greater mineral resources, and that large
fields of labour would be opened up there. Doubt-
less a great project of that description ought to be for
the benefit of the whole world ; but he could not but
see that if Mr. Whitney's original plan were carried
out, all the local advantage and profit would go to the
United States.

Colonel LLOYD said it would take 220 years to com-
plete this project, and we could not afford to wait so
long as that. Besides, it would place the whole of
our commerce at the mercy of the United States and
of our own North American colonies. Another ob-
jection was, that all our merchandise coming from the
tropics, the East Indies, China, and all those parts,
would have to traverse so vast an extent of country,
and having arrived at New York or Nova Scotia,
would have then to undergo the transit to England by
a passage which was the most injurious of all to goods
during three or four months in the year.
Major CARMICHAEL SMYTH thought the project
ought not to be exclusively regarded as a route for
commerce, but also as affording employment and
facilities for the settlement of the people. It had been
said it would only benefit Canada and the United
States, but what wus an advantage to Canada be could
not but regard as equally a bene-fit to England.
Mr. VIGNOLES thought they must be content to take
the ocean as the cheapest and most economical of high-
ways, but he was not the less thankful for the magni-
ficent idea brought before the society that evening,
which came well from the great country to which Mr.
Whitney belonged.
Mr. T. SAUNDERS advocated the carrying out the
project through British territory for the settlement of
our surplus population, and to divert the stream of
‘migration from the United States.
Mr. A. CAMPBELL supported the same view.
Sir EDWARD BELCHER, R.N., considered the pro-
ject untenable as a route for commerce, and thought
that if the land was settled, and gold should be found
in the interior, the gold would not pay for the expense
of carriage to the coast.
Mr. Warrsiarbriefly replied, observing that the
question bad been greatly misunderstood, in the dis-
cussion having been turned into a capital and dividend
question, with which it had nothing to do, its main
objects being settlement and civilization.
. The cordial thanks of the society were awarded to
Mr. Whitney for his interesting paper, and the meet-
ing separated.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
DEATH OF ADMIRAL COCHET.
Admiral of the Red John Cochet has been reported
as deceased at the advanced age of 81 years. This
venerable officer entered the service as early as 1775,
rather too early, it would appear, to qualify him for
those honours and decorations which were bestowed
on younger men, although he served on full pay for
29 years, most of the Limo afloat during the war.
The following sketch of his career is from" O'Byrne's
Biography :"-This officer entered the navy Dec.
22, 1775, as ordinary, on board the Blonde, 32,
Captain Philemon Pownall, with whom, after cruiz-
ing for some time on the coast of North America, be
removed to the Apollo, 32, of which ship be became
a midshipman in October, 1778. On the 31st of
January, 1779, he assisted at the capture, off the
French coast, of the 26-gun frigate L'Oiseau, which
only surrendered at the close of a sanguinary action
of an hour and a half ; and on June 15, 1780, he
further contributed, near Ostend, to the defeat of the
French ship Stanislaus, of 26 guns, whose fire killed,
including Captain Pownall, six, and wounded 20,
of the Apollo's people. From December follow-
ing, until the receipt of his first commission,
August 26, 1789, Mr. Cochet was employed
on the American, home, and Mediterranean
stations, in the Amphion, 32, Captain John Bazely,
Charlestown, 28, Captain Edm. Griffiths, Powerful,
74, Captain Thomas Fitzherbert, and Southampton,
32, Captain Andrew Snape Douglas. In March,
1790,,be joined the Zebra sloop, Captains Hon. Robert
Forbes and Wm. Brown, and in December, 1792, on
his return from the Mediterranean, the Phaeton, 38,
Captain Sir A. S. Douglas. After sharing in the
capture of various vessels, amongst which were Le
General Dumourier privateer-her prize, the St.
Jago * a Spanish galleon of immense value-and La
Prompte, of 28 guns, he removed to the Queen Char-
lotte, 100, bearing the flag of Earl Howe, with whom
he served in the action of June 1, 1794. Having ob-
tained the rank of commander May 27, 1795, Captain
Cachet, January 4, 1796, joined the Rattler, 16, and
on the Gth of May following, when in company with
the Diamond, 39, took, off Cherbourg, Le Pichegru
privateer, of 10 guns and thirty-four men. On De-
cember 9, 1796, he was posted in the Abergavenny,
of 50 guns, in which ship we find him superintending
the naval arrangements at the evacuation of Port-au-
Prince, St. Domingo. He was subsequently ap-
pointed, June 14, 1698, to the Thunderer, 74; and,
January 11, 1799, to the Valiant, 74. In the latter
ship he returned to England with a large convoy,
and was placed on half-pay, May 30, 1799. After
which he officiated with great credit, especially at
the battle of Maids, as principal agent for trans-
ports in the Mediterranean, from May 2, 1805, until
June, 1810. He commanded next the Ardent, 64, at
Bermuda, from March 3, 1813, until April, 1814 ;
and lastly performed the duties at Halifax of resident
agent for transports and prisoners of war, from the
latter date until May, 1815. Admiral Cochet, who
has not been since employed, became a rear-admiral
August 12, 1819 ; a vice-admiral July 22, 1830 ; and
a full admiral November 93,1841. He married, first,
May 19, 1796, Miss Charlotte Jefferys ; and secondly,
July 15, 1811, Lydia, widow of Captain Long, of
the 89'h Regiment, which lady died Sept. 9, 1839.
By the death of Admiral Cochet the following pro-
motions take piece:-
Vice-Admiral of the Red George M'Kinley (an
octogenarian), to be Admiral of the Blue vice Sir
Thomas Livingstone, Bart., to be Admiral of the
White, vice H. R. Glynn, to be Admiral of the Red.
Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Anthony Maitland,
C. 8., K.G.M.G., to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue,

" The treasure of silver, &c., found on board this
vessel, was conveyed to the Bank from Portsmouth in
twenty-ona viaggens, and was estimated at a million
sterling.

vice Sir F. Mason, K.C.13., to be Vice-Admiral of the
White, vice Sir Charles Malcolm, to be vice-Admiral
of the Red.
Captain Arthur Fansletwe
sted(Oct. 17, 1816), ex-
Commodore and Commacen-Chief on the coast of
Africa, to be Rear-Admiral of the Blue, vice w. F.
Carroll, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the White, vice
Phipps Hornby, C. 8., to be Rear-Admizel of the Red,
Retired Captains Arthur Philip Haaeiltoe, Daniel
Lawrence, Robert Henry Rogers, sed George Bent-
ham, by virtue of their seniority, become entitled to
the rank of retired rear-admirals, but without increase
of pay.
Captain Houston Stewart, C.B. (1817), one of the
Lords of the Admiralty, is now the senior captain on
the active list.
By the promotion of Rear-Admiral Fanshawe the
appointment of a naval aide-de-camp to the Queen
reverts to the patronage of the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty.
Captain R. L. Baynes, C.B. (1833), becomes one
of the senior captains, and Captain W. H. Henderson,
C.B. (1838), comes within the second senior list.
ARRIVAL OF THE WEST INDIA FLAG-CHIP WEL.. LESLEY.—The Wellesley, 72, Captain George Gold-
smith, with the fl .g of Admiral the Earl of Dune
donald, G.C.B. (blue at the main), arrived at Spit-
head on Tuesday, from Bermuda, having been re-
lieved by the Cumberland, 70, Vice-
Admiral Sir George Seymour. The Wellesley came in through
the Needles—not a common passage for a ship of the
line. The Gallant Admiral landed at Portsmouth
late in the evening. The Sprightly, steam-tender,
was placed yesterday at the disposal of the Noble and
Gallant Admiral, and he landed at the dockyard about
eleven o'clock, accompanied by Captain Goldsmith
and his flag-lieutenant, to payhis respects to the port
admiral, the Hon. Sir Bladen Capel. Lord Dundonald
dined at the George Hotel, Portsmouth, yesterday,
and it was expected would strike his flag at sunset,
the Wellesley proceeding to Sheerness, where the
ship will ba paid off.
DEPARTURE OF THE TURKISH SQUADRON.---The
Turkish frigate Mirati Zafre and the Turkish brig
Surai Bahir took their departure for Constaetinople
yesterday, -getting under weigh at Spithead at ten
Bothe...e i. , having
vessels
hoistedsaluted
thgsh red
eligarrisoennsi\gn
with
at h
twenty-one
te fore.
guns, which was returned by the platform battery.
The wind being light from the southward, they had
to beat out, but were out of sight at Ave P.M.
Hogue, 60, screw-ship, Captain M'Dougal, weighed
at one rev. at Spithead yesterday, and proceeded
outside the Nab light, under steam. She then made
sail for Cork. It is probable this ship will go to
Lisbon.

Ajax, GO, screw-ship, Captain Quin, also weighed
at one r.m. and steamed out • when last. seen she was
still under steam, steering down Channel for Cork,
where she will remain, still having a reduced com-
plement of men.
Commodore Lord John Hay returned to Devon-
port Dockyard, from leave, on Monday evening, and
rehoisted his flag on board the St. George on Tues-
day morning, and resumed his duties in the dockyard.
Caledonia, 120, Captain Carter, is hourly ex_
pected at Davonport, from the Mediterranean, to be
paid off.

PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY AYTERNOON.--The
Nile, Indianian, for Calcutta, sailed this morning.
The Sir Robert Peel, American packet, arrived this
morning, and will sail to-night for New York.

ROYAL MARINES.
PORTSMOUTH, JUNE 11.—First Lieutenant C. F.
Menzies, son of Colonel-Commandant Menzies, 11.11,
of the Portsmouth division, is appointed Superin-
tendent of the Company of Gentlemen Cadets on board
the Excellent gunnery ship, in succession to First
Lieutenant Alexander of the Royal Marine Artillery,
who disembarks.

First Lieutenant Driver, of the Portsmouth divi-
sion, proceeds in the contract mail packet of the 19th
to fill the vacancy in the flag-ship Queen in the Me-
diterranean.

Woonwicu, Jogs 11.—The Meg era, 10, iron.
screw steam-frigate, left Sheerness on Saturday last,
and worked very satisfactorily until Mr. Humphrys,
chief engineer at Woolwich Dockyard, quitted her,
after satisfying himself that the machinery was in
good order, according to external appearance and
working capability ; but he had not left the vessel
long to return to Woolwich when her engine crank
broke, and the Hecate steam-sloop, Commander Hand,
was sent from Portsmouth to take the Megrera in tow
and return with her to Sheerness.
The Brisk steam-sloop has been jury-rigged here,
and is expected to leave Woolwich to-morrow in
charge of Mr. C. P. D. Bean, of the Fisgard, and a
party of men, who will navigate her to Greenock, to
have her engines put in by Scott and Sinclair. The
Barracouta steam-sloop, in charge of Mr. Brown,
assistant-master-attendant at Devonport, is daily ex-
pected here.

" Ways" have been sent up from Woolwich to be
attached to the flighflyer screw steam-sloop, building
at Bluckwall, preparatory to her being launched during
the next spring tides.
Vessels in Duck—The Pluto, Mittler, and Fury
steam-vessels.

In the Harbour—The Fis.gard flag-ship, Blaok
Eagle, Lig,htuing, Monkey, Zephyr, and Furious
steam-vessels.

In the Basin—The Trident, Dwarf, Antelope,
Minx, Hydro, Greenock, Brisk, and Shearwater
seam-ves,,els.

PLYMOUTH, WICDNESDAY.--lier Majesty's stem.
frigate Devastation arrived this morning from Ports-
mouth, having passed the Wellesley off the Needles
as she came out. The Devastation takes the Devon-
port soy to Bermuda, and then proceeds to North
America.

The Right Hon. Lord John Hay returned on Mon-
day from leave of absence, as Commodore Superin-
tendent of the Devonport dockyard, and on Tuesday
hoisted his broad pennant on board her Majesty's ship
St. George. _

Her Majesty's steam-sloop Triton, Lieutenant-
Commander C. J. P. Glin, employed on mail service
in the Mediterranean, arrived yesterday afternoon,
and went up harbour, but was sent back to Baru.
Pool, where she is now waiting orders. Her dates
are—Port Mahon, May 29; Gibraltar, June ;
Lisbon sth, sailed Gth. Lying at Gibraltar, her Ma-
jesty's ships Prince Regent, Phaeton, Arethusa,
Dauntlesq, and Janus ; the French line-of-battle ship
Henri IV., and a small French steamer of war. Her
Majesty's ships Arrogant and Leander said on the
sth on a cruise. The Triton has brought the follow-
ing passengers:—Dr. Heckett, Inspector of Hospi-
tals, Gibraltar, and three daughters; Miss Colin
Smith, Lady Georgina and Lady Olivia Stratford,
the Rev. Mr. Mahony, Lieutenant Godfrey Cooper,,
44th Regiment, on leave ; and 13 seamen and marines,
invalids.
It is understood that the Triton has oanbaoagrdunlheer
body of Lord Cottenham, brought from Italy, for In.
termen t.
Corporal Wilson, Royal Artillery, n
Evans, stationed at Bovisand battery, lost their lives
on Friday night last, on returning from Devonport
in
a boat, the bows of which were stove in while A
unaer
canvas, near White-patch, Stsddon heights,

DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION
NEAR BARNSLEY.
This neighbourhood seems to have attained a pain-
ful degree of notoriety by the frequency, fatality,
and extent of its colliery explosions. In March,
1847, the fearful explosion at the Ardsley Main "-
fiery occurred, when about 80 persons, men and boys,
were suddenly launched into eternity, and many a
family rendered desolate. Scarcely had the remem-.
brance of this been effaced from the public mind, when
in the early part of 1849 there occurred another at
the Da:ley Main Colliery, in the immediate vicinity
of of tho Ardsley Main. The second was affseteetrsnas
them
its force and as blighting in its desolating
the neighbourhood
but there was scarcely a family in
first. Upwards of 80 lives were lost. bythis catastrophe
respect or other.
but suffered bereavement
somein
nwas becoming of "the
the neighbourhood
The memory of this
last by an explosion at a
was startled on Mon.istye
things that were," whednaalssouddenly
vicinity of the scenes of
This explosion has proved
colliery in the immediate
The proprietors of the
ftehtoesle atoll u d
threee d t.onpkaelburosgvo
nag .
new shaft, with which they
were dsl favourably, and got a considerable
were pro-
colliery
On n the shaft as usual to pursue their cus-
tomary morning three man
vocation,
carrying lighted candles in tomarytheir,
They had scarcely reached the bottom of tbs
hadcdeeePdt hipi).rgo progressed
s
hand:.
when
a tremendous explosion ensued, which
strucka terror to the hearts of those who heard it.
The rope by which the men 'had been lowered was
immediately drawn out of the pit, when a shocking
sight presented itself. The bodies of two of the un-
fortunate men were found attached to the chain by
which they had been lowered, but they were burned
to a cinder. The body of the third manad be
wenasblo mis-
sing. There can be no doubt that he
by the force of the explosion from
itbehchain by whichwa
to the bottom.
One was being lowered, and hal
i pitx is the
One of the unfortunate men hadff'hieeenn
nin four previ-
ous explosions which have occurredTA'o of these were the
neighbourhood of late yearasn.d
Darley Mains. with
explosions in the Ardsley_
respect to the causeof the explosion, it is thought
the shaft had opened up a
that the miners in sinkingwith some old workings.
Through this the
fissure communicfatuini
foul
into the new shaft, and on
air which had been there accu-
mulating found a
coming in contact
with the lighted candles of the
workmen ignited

THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE MIDLAND COUNTIES
EAu wAT.—Yesterday a large reward was offered for the ap-
pe-drrtrer
rehenion of Samuel
.t.etton, of Derby, the engin
on theseidland Countiesr Railway, charged on the verdict of
the coroner's jury with the manslaughter of John Meynell,
Esq., and Mr. J. Blake. Stretton absconded immediately
after the catastrophe, and is believed to be trying W got Out
of she G9WattrY%