The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

THE STEAM-SHIP CONSTITUTION.

WEST HARTLEPOOL, Sept. 3.—The fine iron screw
steam-ship Constitution, the pioneer of a new line of
steamers between Antwerp and New York, arrived in
West Hartlepool on Monday last, for the purpose of
being docked and finally surveyed by Lloyd's, prior to
her departure on her first voyage to New York.
The Constitution was built at Amsterdam, and made
the passage from that port to West Hartlepool in 24
hours, maintaining during the voyage an average speed
of about 11 knots an hour. She is of the burthen of
2,200 tons, and 360 nominal horse power. Her dimen-
sions are 310 feet long over all, 38 feet wide, and 32 feet
deep in the hold. Her engines, also of foreign manu-
facture, are built after the model of those of the British
steam frigate Arrogant, and are of the same size and
power. She is fitted up for conveyance of German emi-
grants to the United States, 500 of whom she can ac-
commodate, and the berths are so constructed as to be
easily unshipped and made available for the stowage of
cargo on the return voyage. Since her arrival in our
docks the colossal craft has been visited by a large num-
ber of people, and those who are supposed to be com-
petent to form a judgment on such matters concur in
pronouncing her to be a remarkably fine specimen of
naval architecture. In addition to the emigrants' berths,
the Constitution is also provided with accommodation
for 40 first-class passengers, and her saloons and cabins
are extremely spacious and elegant. She carries a crew
of 84 hands, and is commanded by Capt. Pougin, a gen-
tleman who unites the qualifications of experienced sea-
manship with the greatest affability and politeness of
manner. The Constitution will be speedily followed to
West Hartlepool by the Leopold, on a small errand, and
we believe we are correct in stating that the whole of
the ships of this important line will make the spacious
graving docks at this port the rendezvous of their
future surveys and repairs. The clipper ship Istam-
boul (Captain Cole), built by Mr. John Pill, and
launched at West Hartlepool in February last, is also at
present in our docks. She has recently been engaged in
the transport service, and is about to be fitted up for the
Australian trade, for which she is now destined. She is
fitted with the auxiliary screw, and is of the burthen of
1,500 tons.

The branch line of the Great Western Railway between
West Drayton and Uxbridge is to be opened for the
conveyance of passengers and parcels on Monday next.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Alhambra, which has just arrived home with the Gib-
r +.ltar mails, is to be sent to Alexandria, on the 10th inst.,
to bring home a cargo of silk, &c., lying there from
India and China.

Count Walewski has just received from Queen Vic-
toria, as a souvenir of the treaty of the 38th March,
a splendid gold snuff box enriched with diamonds, and
bearing a medallion representing the portrait of her
Mpjeity. M. de Billing, chef du cabinet, has also re-
ceived a handsome writing-desk, and M. Benedetti an
equally handsome token of remembrance.
The Lyons Gazette announces that the camp of
Sathonay is to be gx'eatly increaie,l, and that the con-
struction of the huts will be modified.
M. de Latnartino, who is now at Macon suffering
from a violent attack of rheumatism, has, it is stated,
just received from the Brazils the sum of 100,000 fr.,
the price of 5,000 subscriptions to the " Cours Familier
du Lit6ratur,."

A Bailin letter of the Ist says that the College of
Rural 'ec, nomy has reported the crops, with the ex-
clotion of oleaginous plants, to be good in all the
monlrehy, and as likely to exc3ed the usual average.
It is said that the Court will return to Paris about the
20th inst., and will soon afterwards go to Compiegne.
The Prussian Bank has r4i,ed its rate of discount
from 4 to 5 per cent, for bills, and from 5 to 6 per cent.
for loans on security.

Count Ne,selrode has selected Dresden as his future
abod,.. and retreat, and ha, already purchased a house
there with extensive grounds for that purpose.
TRIESTE, Sept. s.—Despatches have been received
from Constantinople, dated August 30. Admiral Sir
Houston Stewart had arrived there on the 28th. M.
De Blutenteff, the Russian ambassador, had asked the
Porte for permission for ten Russian vessels coming from
the Baltic to pass through the Bosphorus.
The Walter Hood has arrived from Sidney with 4,734
ounces of gold and 4,200 sovereigns, making a total of
23,136/.

The Bank of Belgium has raised ita rate of discount
from 24 per cent, to 3 per cent. This is on account of
the large exportation of 5-franc pieces which has lately
taken place.
The cashier and sub-cashier of the Northern of France
Rail way are said to have disappeared with more than
40,0001. It is supposed the bUal was obtained by the
sale of shares deposited with them.
The advices from St. Petersburg report a slight reac-
tion in the rate of exchange, so that the probability of
gold being sent from this country is for the present re-
moved.

In the corn-market yesterday morning there was a
"urther decline of 3s.

1 pillar letter-box has been placed for public accom
modation at the corner of the Strand and Wellington-
street, leading to Waterloo-bridge. The public having,
by the numberof letters now deposited in the pillar post-
office in Pall-mall and Fleet-greet, signified their appro-
val of them, they are to be placed in all the great tho-
roughfares.
FIRE AT LlVERPOOL—Yesterday morning a fire broke
out at the extensive vinegar-works at Kirkdale, Liver-
pool, owned by Mr. Bushby, and, though every effort
was made to subdue the flames, it was completely gutted
in a few hours. When our parcel left the fire was still
burning, and the loss will be very considerable.
Tess SUPPOSED Loss of A SCREW COLLIER.—SIIIELDS,
Thursday Night.—After a careful inquiry t I learn
that neither the owners nor agents of the Whitley Perk
screw collier have received any account of her since she
left the Tyne on the 17th of August, laden with coals for
Havre, and there is not the least doubt in the minds of
seafaring people in this port that she has foundered with
all hands, and has not left a record of her fate behind
her. Vessels that were navigating the North Sea
immediately after she proceeded upon her voyage en-
countered gales of wind and a heavy sea; in fact,
it is stated that one of the Llndon and Tyne
goods steamers which sailed with her was obliged
to throw some goods overboard to save the ship while
crossing Boston Deeps, and it is conj, ctured that the
Whitley Park, which was deeply laden, must have ship-
ped a sea while making that passage and gone down
with all hands. She bad ei6her 15 or 16 hands on board
when she left the port, but as Havre is considered to be
in the coasting trade a copy of her articles was not depo-
sited at the shipping office, and their names cannot be
ascertained. She was commanded by Mr. Gardner, of
Dundee. Her mate was Mr. Proctor, formerly master
of a Newcastle and London trader. The Whitley Park
was built at Jarrow in 1854, is registered 431 tons, and
was the property of Messrs. G. and C. M. Palmer, of
Jarrow,land Messrs, J. J. Allport and M. Kertley, of
Derby.