The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-18 00:00:00

'SCILLY ISLES.

(From the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette.)
The Scilly Islands are situate about 30 miles to
the west of the Land's End of England ; they form
a group of 100 islands, in the best geographical
situation as a port of call for ships arriving at the
Channel for orders, as Scilly is 70 miles from Fal-
mouth. Ships coming up to the entrance of the
Channel with east winds, can reach Scilly many
days before they can get up to Falmouth, especially
dull sailing ships with heavy cargoes ; -and also, the
position is much more easy of access than Queens-
town. The islands form an archipelago, shaped
like a horse-shoe • every roadstead well protected
by islands at the horse-shoe;
N., N.E., E., S.W.
The least protected part is fr'Oin W.S.W. to N.W.
.by W., but the sunken reefs in Broad Sound form
a natural breakwater to the. W.
Our port (St. Mary's) is most valued during the
prevalence of easterly gales. We have had as ninny
as 300 sail at ono time in the different harbours.
St: Mary's loads is capable of containing a fleet of
200 sail. There are five or six fathoms of water,
with excellent holding ground of blue clay ; there
is access to our roadstead by different channels, all
deep at sufficient for a line-of-battle ship at low
water.w There arc experienced Trinity pilots, at five
pilot stations on different islands, having eleven
pilot cutters, and numerous pilot gigs. The pilots
are out cruising in the heaviest gales. The islands
are quite bold at the north, east, and south; there
are not any sunken reefs lying any distance off the
shore. The great dangers of Scilly lie to the west
of St. Agnes' Light, but those dangers are now pro-
tected by a light (dioptrie) erected on the Bishop
Rock, the extreme western rock of the islands, and
at the entrance of the S.W. channel. At theisl and
there are facilities for repairs of ships ; masts
and
spars are kept in stock by the different
also ti parties in
business. There is a patent rope-
'
sail-
makers, blacksmiths, &c. The principal trade of
the port
hpoartve been
sh ip bb
td iantgt
;he islands,
Yesriseis.of upwards of 500
t Shipsthethree
receiviug
channelsorde
rs at
lly canproceed to
either without having
to round any angle. There is a steamer running
thrice a week, with imilg to Penzance ; and we are
in expectation of having an electric wire laid down
to the islands, next summer by Messrs. Glass,
Elliott, and Co. A company is now forming for
the purpose.
There is a small military station at Scilly, and,
_during the late war, the port formed the rcuctezvou
Srof Edward Peilew's fleet, AS the advanced
western station. A wire to the islands is important
in a national point of view, as information might
thus be forwarded to our authorities in England. of

my force of the etTeny passing around the land
towards Ireland, or *any part ot the north coast of
England pr Wales. We hope to get a small subsidy
towards this important national object at a time
when the coasts are being put in a state of defence.
X.B.—There is a bountiful supply of ftnortfrPsh
water, and at all timed large stovka of fresh and
other provisions, and a supply of steam coals always
on hand.

STATE OF TRADE.—Manchester, Tuesday.--T1 e
market to-day is rather quieter, with a very limited busi-
ness at a slight decline in most sorts of yarns. In cloth
there is a somewhat improved demand, especially for the
heaTier eortsLand prices are in favour of sellers.