The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-10 00:00:00

ORDNANCE SURVEY OF SINAI.

According to Captain Wilson's report, the Ord-
nance survey of Sinai is progressing very favourably.
He writes from Camp Wady, Feiran, on January
17,
.to say that the survey of Serbal is proceeding
rapidly, the poling finished, and observing com-
menced. The task of surveying and levelling would,
he expected, be completed during the next week,
when he would commence the two-inch survey.
This, he anticipated, would occupy three months
more, by which time he would have a fair map of
the most important part of the peninsula. The time
occupied by these special surveys has been a
drawback, and the roughness of the ground
is shewn by the fact that only two of the numerous
watercourses of Serbal can possibly be either
surveyed or levelled. Some interesting rums have
been found, with inscriptions, which are likely to
throw some light upon their nature. Captain Wilson
inscribed
should that some of the smaller stones thus
should be brought home at the cost of the British
Museum. Fifty pounds would cover all expenses,
and enable the party to bring home some of the
Egyptian tablets from Surabit El lihadem. The
want of funds is a serious obstacle to the work in
many ways. We are glad to see that a series of
photographs is being taken, illustrating both the
vegetation and the geology. A careful inquiry has.
shewn that the deposit round the wells at Am
Musa is almost entirely composed of the shells of
dead diato2nacea, which fact is supposed to account
for the elevation of the wells above the surroundtrio,
country.

FOREIGN NOTES•

INDIA.

Lord Mayo landed at Calcutta on the 12th of January,
and was at once sworn in as her Majesty's Viceroy and
Governor-General. He met with a brilliant reception.
The streets were impassable from the number of natives.
On the previous evening 250 representatives of all classes
gathered together in the town hall, at a farewell
banquet to Sir John Lawrence. Sir William Mans-
field made one of the principal speeches of the evening.
He enlarged upon the services of the retiring Viceroy,
justly remarking that the capture of Delhi and the pre-
servation of our Eastern Empire in the PunjAb was
greatness enough for one man. Sir W. Mansfield kept on
safe ground, too, in dilating on the magnificent scheme
recently elaborated for the irrigation of India, at a cost
of thirty millions, for the completion of the system of
railways, and the construction of forts and barracks. But
he clearly went beyond the mark in adding that the
despotic character of the Government and the want of
publicity for its measures prevented its receiving that
public support which is given to constitutional Ministries.
He forgot that the Government itself was to blame for the
want of publicity, and has already confessed its sins by
promising better things for the future.
Sir J. Lawrence replied, says the Times correspondent,
in a low and broken voice, which more than once hesitated
from emotion, and could be distinctly heard only by
those near at hand. But for the famine, he declared,
he left a healthy and prosperous administration to his
successor, for whom he expressed the warmest wishes.
In his resiew of his olirecr_ses ,tgICIMQX-CfrOll4o,l iv gays