The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-09 00:00:00

TILE AFFAIR OF NEUFCHATEL.

The following despatch appears in the Gazette
d' Augsburg :
" BERND, Oct. 2.—M. de Salignac-Fenelon, French
Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation, paid an official
visit yesterday to M. Stampfii, president of the Con-
federation, for the purpose of asking from him, in the
name of the French government, an amnesty on behalf
of the Royalists of Neufchatel."
The Bund, which is the organ of the federal govern-
ment, in answering the remarks of the New Prussian
Gazette, says :—" It is desirable, for the sake of the King
of Prussia himself, to have it well understood at Berlin
that a method of settling the difference, even after the
events of the 4th of September, yet exists, and a mettle()
which Switzerland is quite ready to adopt as soon as the
two parties concerned shall find in it a legitimate satis-
faction to their honour and their interests. We need
not more particularly indicate this method, which must
at once be apparent.' Le Nord thinks the proposal in-
tendett is' a general amnesty for the persons who are
under prosecution for the affair of the 4th September,
and that this is to be the price offered the King of Prus-
sia for renouncing his claims to the principality.

THE EUROPEAN AND AUSTRALIAN ROYAL
MAIL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.

SOUTHAMPTON, OCT. S.
The fine screw steam-ship Oneida, Captain Hyde,
arrived at Southampton this morning, and was this after-
noon placed in the dry dock, where she will undergo a
thorough overhaul prior to her departure for Australia
with the first mail under the new contract,
There were a great number of persons present to wit-
ness her entrance into the dock, and her fine propor-
tions and her trim appearance excited general admira-
tion.

The Oneida came here from Greenock, and from
Cambray Head to the Needles averaged a speed of 11
knots per hour. The length of this splendid ship is 335
feet over all, having a beam of 40 feet ; her gross ton-
nage is 2,850 tons; her engines are of 530-horse power
(nominal).
It will be recollected that she has been engaged in the
transport service, and having rendered essential service
to the Government, the Crimean medal was awarded to
her officers, being the only transport thus distin-
guished.
She will be commanded by Captain Hyde, a well-
known and favourite officer of the General Screw Com-
pany, who made the four quickest passages to Australia
in the Screw Company's steam-ship Argo, each passage,
to and from, averaging about 63 days,
The saloon of the Oneida is fitted up in the most costly
and magnificent style ; the dirneneions are 80 feet by 40
feet, and capable of dining 150 passengers. The whole
arrangements of the ship appear to be of the most per-
fect kind.
The new Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Darkly,
and lady, will take their departure in the Oneida. The
accommodation provided for them is of the most
echerelte description.
She will leave on the 18th instant for Melbourne and
Sydney, with the mails, parcels, and first-class passen-
gers only.

THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SHIP DONALD
DPKAY,

LIVERPOOL, Wednesday.—The Royal Mail ship Donald
Maay, Capt. If. Warner, belonging to the Rack Ball
line of Australian packets, and which tailed from the
Mer3ey on Monday at 2 p.m. for Melbourne, with the
Australian mails and passengers, had to come to an
anchor off Queenstown yesterday afternoon, in conse-
quence of the death of the surgeon during the passage
down Channel. Captain Warner at once proceeded to
Cork, where he engaged the services of Dr. Harris, who
will have the medical charge of the vessel. The owners
of the Donald M`Kay received a telegraphic message
from Queenstown to-day, stating that she would be ready
to sail at noon to-day. She had 570 emigrants on board.

ey,,M