The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-10 00:00:00

STATE OP TRADE.

S T
clothmarket
day, but it simply arises fram the fact that buyers mostly
succeeded in placing their orders last week. Manufac-
turers of shirtings suited to India and China are under
contract for extensive deliveries during this and succeed-
ing weeks, and a further advance of 1:1-d. per piece is
established, making a rise of 3d. per piece within the
last 10 days. heavy domestics, T•cloths, and 36-inch
shirtings are in better demand, and almost all descrip-
tions of goods have partaken of the improvements, at
tho full pries
• sof last week. There has also been a fair
business is yarns, with very full prices, and if there is
any change in them it
_is that they are a shade dearer.
The chief business has been in 16's to 30's water twist
and 49's mule for India and China. For 50's and 60's
India mule there has also been rather more inquiry.
Buyers for the Mediterranean are doing rather more
busine=s in extra hard twist and water, Nos 4's to' 14's
and 16's to 24's. The season for the Germans is closing,
but they are buying to some extent. The result of the
activity during the last. 10 days bas been to place spin-
ners extensively under contract, and stocks are light.
Messrs. John Slagg and Co. report :
"The improved demand for India and China goods
noted in our last continues, and a further advance of
11d. per piece on shirtings, making fully 3d. in toe last
10 days, is established. Since Thursday last nearly all
kinds of goods have participated in this improvement,
and a steady general business has been dune at the
full rates of this day week."
Messrs. George Fraser, Son, and Co. report :
There has been a steady and firm market, but the
amount of business has been limited by the increased
prices asked by spinners and manufacturers. Our quo-
tations are as before."

LEEDS, DEO. 9.
At the halls this morning there was a fair attendance
of buyers, and an average business was transacted, the
demand being chiefly for cloths of medium quality.
The Huddersfield market is reported as showing a de•
cided improvement, both in the cloth-hall and in the
warehouses, and low-priced fancies and low goods are
in good demand. There is also inquiry for clouds and
better-class goods. in 'wool the trade is brisk.

FATAL ACCIDENT in Pint to A tADT.—A fertiftil
accident happened to a maiden lady, named Miss Mary
Hog, living at 2v Itighbui•H4.te, fall:160k eft
day thoillitig last, between 11 sod 12. The lady had just
concluded her breakfast, and the morning being bitterly
cold, the was seated with her feet on the fender before a
large fire holding her dress and apron to it for greater
warmth. Fler confidential housekeeper, Miss Jones, who
has lived with her for upwards of 30 years, said she
really believed she :vas on fire ; but the lady strongly
protested against this, and directed the breakfast things
to be removed. A maideeiwant coining down stairs and
meeting the housekeeper avowed her strong suspicion,
from the strange smell, that Miss hog was on fire. In
a moment or two the lady screamed, and both domestics
rpm to he assistance, when they found her standing
enveloped in names. The housekeeper tried to smother
the flames with her stuff gown, burning herself in the
endeavour, whilst the other servant of rugs, &c., and
the fire was soon got tinder and the lady quietly seated
in a chair. Almost immediately, holvever, the chair
Miss Hog had previously Zweupted burst into flames,
but was removed to the garden by the housekeeper,
owohnotinfeulledup,oon the frozen ground in so doing. The lady
bed.excited,
Medical
ls
aidw i t d
was
h fi
prevailed mite
arm. Towards nightfalld
inesties continued to watch by
sound sleep, but the ?
highly
loy t o
once obtained, and somerehloawtiveveser,wethree
Isnodoyn,fienilatithetnod-a
ilredhuouprosn at
She was not much burnt, chiefly
of the servants. She was
timely aid
arms. owing to the
d
her, and at 9 the following morninagho(Futritdhaey)hsahnedodinendd.
I at litighburrplace.
of advanced age, .30 had lived all her life in her house

After a short conversation between the chairman and
Mr. Nicholay relative to the late deputation to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the business of the day
was proceeded with.
Mr. CARPMAEL, being called upon by the chairman,
said it was not his intention to trouble the board with
any lengthened observations. He reminded the board
that the plan agreed to by them on the 22d of October
had been sent back to them, and unless they took some
action upon the question of the sewerage of the metro.
polis, it would lie in abeyance, since her Majesty's Board
of Works had no power to originate drainage measures.
He would not no e; refer to bygones, inasmuch as he
thought that all these had been condoned for by the last
nterview with the First Commissioner of Works. There
were two courses open to the board ; first, to adhere to
their determination of having the outfall at B ; and,
secondly, to revoke the resolution in favour of plan B,
and throw open the question of ontfalls. He thought
that the reasons which should induce the board to adopt
this latter course were so evident, that he should not
waste the time of the board by detailing. them, but
would simply move "That the resolution of the board of
the 22d of October lakt, adopting the engineer's plan
marked B in his report, dated 25th September, 1856,
and directing the same to be presented to the Commis-
sioxer of her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings, be
evoked."

Mr. SAVAGE seconded the motion, and said if such a
motion were not adopted the works entrusted to the
board would come to a dead lock.

Mr. H. L. TAYLOR inquired whether, if this resolu-
tion were carried, the entire question of outfall would
be thrown open ? (Yes.) If so, then he could readily
conceive why a certain section of the board should be
willing to adopt the proposition. But Mr. Carpmael
proposed to follow up his motion by another in favour of
plan B (*). That being the case what possible advan•
tage would accrue from going one mile nearer to Erith.
In his opinion there would be no possible equivalent for
expending 103,0001., necessary for carrying the sewage
from point Bto B (*). If it could be shown to
him that any advantage would result from such
en increased outlay he would be willing to pocket
the affront of revoking the resolution for which he
formerly voted. He wanted to know if those gentle.
men who went up to the Chief Commissioner had
made any compromise with him, as the board was
not represented ? Many of the representatives of
the largest parishes were not there, and notwith-
standing that there was a complete bandying of compli-
ments, and all went merry as a marriage-bell, there must
be no compromise upon this matter. He considered
that if they took the outfall to the point at B 09, it
would be more objectionable than stopping at point B.
If they were required to go below that, the Government
ought to pay the expense.
Mr. WILKINSON said if they sent up a plan for the
outfall at B CI, they would adopt a plan which would
satisfy no one ; bat they must look at the position in
which they were placed, and if the plan was objection-
able, they must throw the responsibility upon her Ma-
jesty's Commissioner. Still as they could not proceed
without his sanction,' although he agreed in all that had
been stated by Mr. Taylor, he should support Mr.
Carpmael's motion.
Mr. BURSLMI opposed the rescinding of this resolu-
tion, and having voted against a similar motion, he
should be consistent and vote against this one.
Mr. WrRIGHP believed that the scheme A was the best,
both in a-practical and sanitary point of view, and yet
he bad voted for the resolution, making that the
point of outfall, being rescinded. Although he was stil
of opinion that the outfall would be better at A than B
or B (*), still he could not forget that there was another
that could control their acts, and if they bad adhered to
their former resolution it must inevitably have the effect
of bringing the board to a dead lock.
Mr. Flows supported the resolution, and said if they
took the course recommended by Mr. Taylor, it would,
as stated by Mr. Wright, inevitably bring the board to a
dead lock, and involve them in difficulties from which
they would never be able to extricate themselves.
Mr. Deputy Heituisorr asked to have read the resolu-
tion formerly agreed to, and which was now proposed to
be rescinded.

Mr. WOOLRYCH read the resolution, which was to the
following effect :—" That the eLgineer's plan marked B
in his report, dated 25th Sept., 1856, be now adopted
and presented to the Commissioner of her Majesty's
Works and Public Buildings, and that it be intimated
to them that this Board have also under their
consideration other plans for discharging the sewage
into the river below Gravesend; but that it appearing
that such extension would add between 1,000,000/. and
2,000,0001. to the outlay, and that this sum would be
spent, not to the benefit of the inhabitants of the metro-
polis, but to meet the wishes of the people of Kent and
Essex, who reside on the banks of the river, this board
has declined to entertain any such scheme. Neverthe-
less, if it should be the opinion of her Majesty's Govern-
ment that such an extension is desirable, this board will
readily undertake the work, the Government providing
such additional outlay out of the national revenue."
Mr. Deputy HARRISON said it was quite clear that the
board had no desire to rescind the latter part of this
resolution.
Mr. SEELEY said there was no difficulty about the
matter, for the deputation had laid the latter part of the
resolution before Sir B. Hall, and that they could not
now rescind it. They had merely to rescind the propo-
sition for forming the outfall at point B.
Mr. TURNER suggested that the motion should be
altered, so as to rescind as much of the original resolu-
tion that committed the board to plan B.
Mr. CARPHAEL at once adopted the suggestion as being
the meaning of bis own resolution, but the latter clause
of the resolution had been retained by a mere accident.

sugTghheeestocerdaiginal resolution was then altered in the manner
.
The CHAIRMAN then put the motion, when there ap-
peared—
For the motion
Mr. Against
tMajority
said,
in rising to move 3l
Ca" That the
report of the engineer in respect of the ()cattails at B (*)'
suggested in Captain Bursters report, and approved by
Sir B. Hall, be adopted," he would admit with the hon.
member for the City of London that he was guilty yin
some degree of inconsistency, as he was still of opinion
that point A was the proper point, and the one that
ought to be carried out. Still there was another body
that must be consulted, and until the two bodies were
agreed upon some plan nothing eauld be done,
whether that plan was to make the outfall at A, B,
or B (5). If, however, as a professional man, and
holding the opinions he did he was asked if he would re-
commend the board to go to B (*), he would at once
express his willingness to do so rather than at once throw
this subject in abeyance for some indefinite period. He
foundifrom the public prints that certain questions would
arise on different schemes, And therefore he should have
to deal with them at some length. He then referred to
Mr. M'Clean's plan, and said he had read the letter ho
had written to their chairman in answer to some obser-
vations be bad made on his schema at a former board.
He found that Mr. M'Clean by his seLeme proposed to
continue the engineers plan on the north side of the
Thames ; but on the south side ho made no provision
for the sewage at Dulwich and Kennington, .and those
districts must in cases of heavy rains be comcletely
flooded before he could get hi.: sewage to his puuil,,ing
station at Southwark-bridge. (Hear, hear.) He the:'
_
proposed to carry it by means of
60i froneept_a
pipes
muchove
e over
Southwark,bridge, but be had not stated what the
Southwark-bride Company would charge for such
a purpose. HoweVtit, to get it over Southwark
n
glow at any past of the line. His plan would be more
expensive by 400,0001., in going from Wanstead, eight
1n?
why,
g over and
iriadtgeer bee must uLs the
prop sewage
eeed by their own en-
miles from London, than the cost of the plan of their
engineer for taking it to B (*). As to the; plan of Mr.
Leslie for dividing the rainfall from the sewage, he
would observe that this board had no power les any
Power, what Lad
over again they had sanctioned the districts in making
sewers which should bring down sewage and rainfall, and
sackth ey beenpurp ()e
doing; ant
for if
th eth
last ey b3ad months that
ths
yet they had never heard a word of objection on the part
of Mr. Leslie as to their doing so. Their engineerhad told
them that the pumping power in the sewers must be
equal to a quantity of sewage delivered from the metro-
polis when it was increased in population to 3,500,060,
and would allow the reception in the sewers of 18,000,000
cubic feet a provision which put Mr. Leslie's
scheme quite out of the question. A great deal bad
been said as to what the board intended to do, and
its effect on Erith and Gravesend. He was one of those
ready to state that the board had no right to pour into
the river what would b a greater nuisance than at
present. Let them, ho wee ver, examine the question for
themselves, and not be frightened at the proposition,
in the way that an hon. baronet had been endeavouring
to frighten the people of Erith and Gravesend. There
were 25 miles of river in the metropolis, a d
n if 50,000
cubic feet of sewage is poured into it daily, it becomes
mixed with a large quantity of water, the sewage being
one in ten of the whole. Was that a state of things
to be continued, to pour into the river one in ten

. 33

from the sewers ? If they made the reservoirs in the
Way proposed, for 2A hours that sewage would be
discharged and carried down for miles, being mixed
with a volume of water in the proportion of 400 to
1. That was the mixture that was proposed to pass
ith, and he would ask whether that board
was prepared at an outlay of between 1,000,0001.
and 2,000,000/, to carry that so much further down
the river? The works of the Romans 'had been
pointed out to them ; but the question was were they to
carry cut large works that were not required ? If they
executed such works they would be large, but they would
not be great. He had detained the board longer than he
intended, but he eat down with confidence, hoping that
the plan for carrying the outfall at B (C) would be carried
out, and he accordingly moved that it be adopted.
Mr. FEW seconded the motion.

Mr. WILKINSON said he thought he should most con-
sult the convenience of the board by submitting the mo-
tion on the subject of deodorising, of which be had placed
a notice un the paper, as an amendment ; one discussion
would thus suffic. Referring to the report of the depu-
ta'ion, he confessed it was to him very unsatisfactory.
The only communication made to them by the chief com-
missioner was such as might wail have been made by
letter, without any deputation, and such as ought to
hare been made nearly six months ago, and thus spared
the board the tedious and unprofitable discussions upon
the outfall with which they and the public were alike
wearied. He failed to perceive any advantage in the
point adopted by the chief commissioner over that sub-
mitted to him by the board at all equivalent to the in-
crease of, expense of upwards of 100,0001. involved by it.
If the Tbatnes were to be admitted at all as the receptacle
of f itl sewage, surely it would have been more expo lient
to have obtained without expense, and by the mere
breath of a Minister, such an alteration of the word-
ing of the act as would have permitted the discharge at
the point B than to mulct the ratepayers of the. metro-
polis in this enormous addition, simply to satisfy the
stringency of the technical language of a section of
the act; for the board would remember that it had
been abundantly proved that .point B was as efficient
for all practical purposes of purifying the metropolis
as the point now forced upon them. After express-
ing his strong dissatisfaction at the manner in which
the late deputation to the chief commissioner on the
subject of plan B conducted the interview, Mr.
Wilkinson proceeded to urge the board once
more to pause before it stamped with its final
approbation a plan which not a single member believed
would be carried out in the form in which it was sent up
to the Government. Let them not incur the discredit of
sending up an imperfect and impracticable plan, after all
this weary and unprofitable discussion—a plan which
would be scouted by the public, and for the modificat'on
of which, to meet the real wants of the metropolis, the
Government, and not the board, would obtain the credit.
He would not weary the board by d welling at any length
upon the very grave objections which attach( d, not only
to the
.present plan, but to any plan propor ing a discharge
of undtadorised rewage into the river, but he must be per.
mitted shortly to notice them, that he might contrast
them with those said to attach to the plan of deodorising

which ho advocated. In the evidence given before the
House of Commons on the Drainage Bill it was stated
that the daily sewage of London would cover the area of
Hyde-park eight feet deep if spread over it ; or, if in the
form of a stream, would be in depth and bulk equal to
the Thames at Kingston. Was it not almost an insu't to
common sense to argue that such a mass of filth as this
could be daily and continuously discharged into the
Thames without the most intolerable nuisance and injury
to health ? He had heard it objected that by the process
of deodorising the sewage the residue was rendered
valueless as manure. He did not admit this even now
entirely, and he entertained the most sanguine c mfidence
that chemistry would ere long substitute some mode of
precipitation for that by means of acid at present adopted
which would completely preserve to the purified sewage
all the available qualities of manure ; but, conceding for
the present argument that the residues were worthless,
but harmless, was it nothing that by this means the ob-
ject of getting rid of the sewage might be accomplished
without injuring one locality for the benefit of all, and
without depriving the river of its accistomed contribu-
tions of water ? Was not the superior economy of attend.
ing this system equivalent to a large value ? Without
fatiguing the board with statistical details, he was pre-
pared to prove a saving of upwards of a million in the
outlay, as contrasted with the proposed outfall at Long
Reach ; but, indeed, their own engineer had relieved him
from the necessity of labouring this point, he having
himself, in his report, asserted that there would be a sav-
ing of nearly half a million by its adoption for the West-
ern area alone. Surely, then, a complete answer was
furnished to this objection, and it must not be forgotten
that by any plan contemplating a discharge into the river
the sewage was net only utterly wasted, but rendered
noxious. Another objection was, that the process of deo-
dorising could not be carried out without some nuisance
and that its products were not entirely inoffensive ; but
how entirely this was answered, not by hypothetical as-
sertion, like that upon which those relied who would
persuade the board that excessive dilution would purify
the sewage, but by abundant and unimpeachable testi-
mony! He might readily multiply instances, but one well
proved fact was as good as a thotvand. For nearly two
years had the process been carried on in the large town
of Leicester, and be had himself received personally the
evidence of gentlemen of the first standing and respecta-
bility resident there, and entirely without interest in the
sewage works, that not only had the process been carried on
without nuisance, and the products, tons of which he saw
heaped about on the premises, were inoffensive, but that
the sanitary condition of the town had been strikingly
improved and the river restored to its original purity.
Indeed, their own engineer, Mr. Haywood,. an able en-
gineer of the City of London, Mr. Carpmael himself, and
he believed all the leading engineers in the kingdom, ac-
cepted this as an established fact. Butit would, perhaps,
be said his proposal involved endless delay and a re-
opening of the whole discussion. His answer was that it
did not. Their engineer in his report expressly told them
that the system of metropolitan intercepting sewage
which the board had approved could 'readily be adapted
to the plan of deodorisation.' He had noticed the supe-
riority of the deodorising plan in point of economy and
of freedom from engineering difficulties, and the oppor-
tunity it presented of getting rid entirely of the sewage
without inflicting injury upon the locality for the benefit
of all. In addition to this it obviated the necessity for
withdrawing so large a proportion of the supply of water
from the Thames, and permitted the discharge of puri-
fied water at points where such discharge would be of
the greatest value by maintaining the bulk of the stream,
and aiding in the removal of mud banks. It admitted a
partial and comparatively inexpensive trial. Let it be
applied, as proposed by the engineer, to one districtfirst,
and even if it failed the cost would not be useless ; it
would be so much in furtherance of the present plan.
But if this plan or any other plan for a discharge into
the sea were adopted and failed, the whole expense would
be wasted. In 1853 a Select Committee of the House
of Commons, presided over by Lord Seymour, himself a
Chief Commissioner of Public Works, had reported in
favour of the plan he now advocated. Ali engineering
authority was in its favour. Surely, then, he had said
enough, and more than enough, if not to prove the su-
periority of the deodorising system over any other, at
least to induce the board to institute a searching and
competent inquiry before they undertook to reject it.
He pressed it upon them most earnestly from a convic-
tion that they were not performing their duty if they
neglected this, and from a most sanguine belief that such
an inquiry would result in a complete and effective plan
for the drainage of the metropolis, which would reflect
credit upon the board and satisfy the nation.
Mr. CRELLON seconded the motion.
Mr. DOULTON said he objected to plan B—first, be-
cause it did not comply with the act ; secondly, because
it involved the construction of largo sewers ; thirdly,
because he did not think it would be a final or satisfac-
tory settlement of the question ; and fourthly, because
lie conceived that gross injustice would be committed on
the inhabitants of Frith and other towns if the plan were
carried out. All these exceptions except the first applied
with signal force to plan W. Besides, there was no
person who for a moment believe I that if plan B" were
sent up to Sir B, Hall it would be adopted in its in-
tegrity. They would be affording that right hon. gen-
tleman materials for taking the matter out of the hands
of the board altogether.
Mr. WRIGHT argued very strongly against the system
of deodorisation advocated by Mr. Wilkinson, and en-
tered into a chemical dissertation with a view to show
that the process did not destroy the noxious qualities of
the sewage, but only absorbed it for a time.
Mr. IRWINE supported the amendment, and said the
experiments at Leicester had been perfectly successful.
After a few words from Mr. Hows,
,Mr. WARR moved " that the debate be adjourned to
Tuesday next ;" but, the motion being negatived,
Mr, ITIFFANGER moved, as an amendment, " That,
inasmuch as the plan B" baying an ()titian near Rain-
ham Creek, the nearest point to the metropolis at which,
under the Local Management Act, the sewage of London
can be discharged into the Thames, the plan B* be for-
warded to the. First Commissioner of her Majesty's
Works, not with a view to its being carried out, as that
would merely be crausierring the nuisance from our own
locality to that of o,ar neighbours, but for the purpose of
ascertaining what suiu the ratepayers of the metropolis
could be called upon to pay for the extension of the
eee, er from West Ham on the north and Deptford on
the south, should Government or any private body be
willing, !miler the circumstances above mentioned, to
carry the se Nage down to the sea or dispose of it by other
means."
Mr. NICROLAT seconded the amendment.
After a few observations fro m Mr. Bristow, Mr. Offor,
and others,
The CHAIRMAN said the lacesrd wore directed.bynnthee
act of Parliament to send up to the Chief
dCm
is-
oemnmt "vies
Chief Commis-
send s tor
a plan to be approved by him. The an t
send up a plan not to be approved y Chief
b
sioner. Therefore he thought it was a question that
could not be put.
The debate was then adjourned fill Tuesday next.
The board then adjourned.
--.see

We learn by the Australian papers received yester-
day that Mr. R. 11. Horne, author of " Orion," is a
candidate for a seat in the Legislative Chamber of Vic-
toria. The news of
public in England

Sir,—The expedition sent out by the Governments of
England, France, and the United States of America, in
December, 1853, to survey the proposed canal route
across the Isthmus of Darien from Caledonia Bay on the
Atlantic coast to the Gulf of San Miguel on. that of the
Pacific, is generally supposed to have proved a complete
failure, and indeed the circumstance that none of the en-
gineers engaged in it has made any report would seem to
justify that supposition. It can, however, be easily shown
that, notwithstanding the deplorable mismanagement of
the expedition, aed the very hasty and incomplete eta-
initiation made of the country, with a tunnel of three
miles in length a canal between these two points is prac-
ticalde. The only published accounts of the expedition
"official account." in the
are Commander F'revo,t's
"Journal of the loyal Geographical Society" for 1855,
and a pamphlet b 3 Dr. Cullen, entitled "The Mismanage/
Darien Expedition of 1854," published by Effingham
Wilson. Commander Prevost's report has no bearing on
the question of the practicability of the canal, as the
course he took from the Pacific side was three points of
the compass westward of the proper route. Appended
to it, however, there is a section of the isthmus, and
a very accurate map, compiled, I believe, by Captain
Fitzroy and Mr. Arrowsnlith, in which the longitude
of each coast is corrected in accordance with the
surveys of Commander Parsons and Captain Kellett.
The rivers Sucubti and Chuquanaqua are in it laid
down from an accurate Spanish survey, found
in the archives of Bogota. The levels are those
taken by Mr. Gisborne and his assistants,
Messrs. Bennett, Armstrong, Devenisb, and Band.
From this map and section the following facts appear to
be established :-
1. The harbours on both coasts are admirably adapted
for termini of a grand ship canal.
2. The Savana river is quite free from obstructions,
and is navigable to the mouth of the Lara.
3. From the junction of the Lara with the Savana to
the Chuquanaqua, opposite the mouth of the Sucubti,
a distance of 12 miles, the country is of such a character
as to present no engineering difficulties, nor for that
distance would any deep cutting be required in the con-
struction of a canal.
4. The next stage, from the Chuquanaqua to the con-
fluence of the rivers Asnati and Sucubti, a distance of 9
miles, the country is of the same character.
5. From the confluence of the Asnati and Sucubti for
the next six miles, to the little Indian hamlet of Sucubti,
there is no diffimlty to be surmounted.
6. For the next three miles the land gradually rises
from 180 feet to an elevation of 420 feet. _ .

7. In the next three miles, in the direction of the At-
lantic, the ground rises into a peak 930 feet high, so
that here a tunnel would be required.
8. From the foot of this peak to the Atlantic sea
board, a distance of only two miles, the ground is very
to v, and presents no difficulty whatsoever.
9. The whole length of the canal to be cut would
bo 35 melee.
Such are the facts, and it should be horns in mind
that in the map and sectioniwhich .1 have mentioned
above the existence of a valley across the Cordillera is
not taken into account, and I regret to say no search
was made for it. I myself have repeatedly and dis-
tinctly seen it from Caledonian-bay, and taken the bearing
of its entrance, which was nesrly due west of Isla del
Oro, or G.ilden Island. The mountain which, acoordinF
to Mr. Gisborne, would require tunnelling is south-east
of it. This mountain, Dr. Cullen says, is called Agla
by the Indians.
The country being overgrown by a dense forest of tall
rees and high bruilvvood, and Mr. Gisborne having
made only a very hurried examination of it, the valley
remained unseen by him, and its existence was there-
fore ignored. It is, however, very plainly marked on
Commander Parsons's survey of Caledonia-bay and Port
Escoses, 1854, lately published by the Hydrographic-
Wass).
Again, Dr. Ross, who accompanied Commander Pre-
vost, in a conversation which I had with him a few weeks
ago distinctly informed me that he descended into an-
other valley transverse to the Cordillera, several miles
to the N.W. of that opposite Golden Island. This would
show that the mountain running parallel to the shore of
Caledonia Bay, instead of being, as is generally sup-
p iced, part of an unbroken range, is really isolated.
Mr. Gisborne himself, in a letter to Commander Han-
cock, dated her Majesty's ship Espiegle, Caledonia Bay,
April 4, 1854, says :—" I am quite aware that in now
concluding my surveying operations there is a great deal
of interesting information still wanting, and that the
examination of the isthmus is not so perfect as I had
hoped to make it."
Commander Prevost, in a despatch t• Rear-Admiral
Fairfax Moresby, C. 8., at Callao, dated her Majesty's
ship Virago, Savanna River, Jan. 7, 1854, says—
" Fording the river (the Cbnquanaqua), we began to
ascend, entering, as we supposed, the Cordillera, and
during our progress passed over several hills, the highest
of which we e-atinated at 70(f and 800 feet in height.
From this and other summits we were able to see,
though indistinctly, over the surrounding country, which
showed the ranges of hills to be broken, assuming a
sugar loaf form, apparently having narrow passe! •r
valleys at their bases, along which several rivers -- '
mountain streams may find their way into the Atlan
In fine, I think there are sufficient grounds to jr
her Majesty's Government in sending a few verse
war to Caledonia-bay and the Gulf of San Mi
whence parties of ta:: ors, marines, and engineers I
be landed to survey the four or five miles of gi
which separate the head waters of the Aglaseniqu
the Tucubti, and which are, I believe, traversed
valley,

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Yc,ur obedient humble servant, I
WILLIAM MTERMOTT, M.D., Surge
R.N., late of her Majesty's Ship Espiegle,
the Darien Expedition.
23, Northumberland•street, Strand, Dec. 8.

SCOTTISH HOSPITAL.

The annual dinner of the Scottish Hospital took place
last night (St. Andrew's-day falling this year on a Sun-
day) at the London Tavern, when that eminently .Eng-
lish establishment was Scotticised especially for the
occasion. There were Scottish banners, and other em-
blems of nationality, tastefully arranged by Mr Douglas
—Scottish) dishes (including the far-famed haggis' the
savoury cockie-leekie, and King James's favourite dish,
the singed sheep's head)—the Scottish beverages of
whisky and whisky punch— Scottish dresses, which
later were furnished by the guests themselves, who ap-
peared in every recognised variety and colour of ,High-
land costume—the Scottish national music of the bag-
pipe, performed by her Majesty's own piper—and Scotch
songs sang by a most efficient vocal corps (under the
direction of Mr. Genge.)
The Lord Mayer presided, and was supported by the
Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, the Baron Darniers,
Haytian Charge d'Affaires (a gentleman of colour), Sir
Fenwick Williams of Kars, General Monteith, General
Campbell, Judge Hallyburton, United States, Serjeant
Shee, &c.
The customary tribute having been paid to her Ma-
jesty, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales (under his
Scottish title of Duke of Rothsay), the Duke of Cam-
bridge, and the rest of the royal family,
The LORD MAYOR proposed the health of the tf aytian
minister, at whose presence he expressed a feeling of
high gratification, and coupled with the toast the foreign
diplomatic body at the English court generally.
The Baron DAMIERS, in an eloquent and appropriate
address, spoken in the French language returned thanks;,,
The LORD MAYOR next gave "The Army and Navy,
uniting with the toast the healths of Gen. Sir4F. Wil-
liams of Kars, Gen. Monteith, and Gen. Campion.
Gen. Sir F. Wieeraets, in acknowledging threcompli •
mont, said it had been his good fortune on several occa -
Eions to respond to the toast which bad just been drank
with such enthusiasm, but he had never ri-ien'to do so
with more pleasure than now. With regaid to the
army he was glad to say that it stood now on a far better
footing than it did at any former time since the great
war. It had been for a long time the custom to cut 1
down the army to the lowest possible limit—that, how-
ever, experience had shown to be anything but true
economy. Thank God, the spirit kel
ofthe country ve!ts now
opposed to that c aurae of policy, and it was not yto
be repea• ed. He thanked them for the honour
they bad
done him in coupling his name with that gallant British
army that fought and conquered in the Crimea. Though
he had no part in the military operations there, he c old
assure them that nothing was so heart cheering—nothing
touched their sympathies so directly—no renown was so
great as the approbation of their fellow-countrymen.
(Hear, hear.) He was sorry that no member of the
navy wan present to return thanks on behalf of
that branch of the military profession, but having been
intimately connected with the navy during ten 3 ears,
having know four admirals and sailed in four fleets, he
thought he might venture to perform that duty ; and
he would add his own opinion that if in the late war
the enemy had afforded that noble branch of the service
r
au opportunity of meeting their fleet, no incident of
our pa=t naval history would have reflected more
glory upon the country than would the result which.
must have followed.
General MONTEITH also returned thanks.
The next toast was "The Scottish Hospital," which,
the CHAIRMAN said, in proposing it
' w
charity in the kingdom.
During the twoas the oldest
centuries of
its existence it had done great good in providing for the
sick and aged of the sister kingdom who were reduced
to destitution in this country, and in educating their
children. These were three glorious points embodied
in one institution, and sufficient to entitle it to the
warmest sympathy not only of all Scotchmen, but of the
public generally.
Mr. Weir. acknowledged the toast, and warmly ad-
vocated the claims of the charity.
Judge TIALLIIIIIRTON gave the Corporation of London,
coupled with the health of the Lord Mayor, and in the
course of his speech declared his preference fur old
institutions, au hereditary nobility, and an established
church.
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks.
Several other toasts followed, and a liberal contribu-
tion to the funds of the charity marked the practical
1 effect of the conviyiality.

The Medical Staff Corps having been found of great
value when employed as hospital orderlies and nurseerit
has been determined to increase the strength of ittl,
force from its present establishment to about 1,800 pies
The number of men attached to the head-quarters of tk'"
corps at Chatham does not exceed 500, but as sooti=alSt
the augmentation has taken place it is intended that
least ten men of the medical staff shall be attached _
every cavalry and infantry regiment, both at home and
abroad. Volunteering for this corps is actively proceed -k1
ing, and the number of troops who have volunteered
from ;the several depots at the Provisional Battalion,
Chatham, is close upon 100.
On Monday night a large number of troops from the
Sab Regiment, stationed in the Isle of Wight, arrived at
the Provisional Battalion, Chatham, under the command
of Lieut. A. S. Young, 55th Regiment, the whole
having volunteered for the depots of the 32d, 35th (Royal
Sussex) 45th, and 70th Regiments stationed atChatham.
Sir Robert Peel, M.P., the Junior Lord of the Admi-
ralty, visited Portsmouth yesterday, and embarked in the
steam-yacht Fire Queen, Mr. W. F. Paul, Master, R.N.,
commanding, to board the Shannon, 51, commanded by
his gallant brother, lying at Spithead ; but, although the
Fire Queen neared the frigate, the roughness of the sea
and the extreme violence of the gale rendered Sir R.
Peel's attempt to board impracticable, so the brothers
c )mmunisated ssith each other by speaking trumpets.
It blew very hard all day from the S.S.W., and the men
of war at the anchorage struck lower yards and topmasts
—the merchant vessels which put in to anchorage at the
Motherbank for shelter, reported very heavy seas and
strong gales in the Channel.
Lieut. George Thomas (b), 1312, has been appointed
by the Lords of the Admiralty to Greenwich Hospital in
the room of Lieut. Rivers, deeeased.
The Cruiser brig, coal laden, whice drove ashore near
Southsea Castle during the height of the gale on Satur•
day night, has become a total wreck. Her remains will
be sold by auction.
Her Majesty's screw sloop Plumper, 12, Commander
Flag well, was paid off at Portsmouth yesterday.
The steam d-spatch gunvessel Cormorant, 6, was taken
out at Portsmouth yesterday to prove her engines.
Her Majesty's ship Spartan, 26, Capt. Sir W. Hoste,
was at Singapore on the 2411 October, all well. All the
squadron was at Hongkong. Mr. Julian W. Bradshaw
is promoted to be Acting Surgeon of the Spartan.
Mr. R. H. Pearson has been appointed First Assistant
Engineer of her Majesty's ship Pembroke at Portsmouth.
The body of officers composing the select committee of
Woolwich Arsenal assembled yesterday morning, at 11
o'clock, at the practising range in the Arsenal marshes,
for the purpose of directing some experiments which then
took place, tending io prove the important advantage to
be obtained by the substitution of liquid iron in the
uses to which red-hot shot has been hitherto applied.
Lord Panmure, who expressed his intention of
being present arrived punctually at 11, and took parti-
cular interest in the prosecution of the various teats
which were carried out. The experiments consisted in
firing a number of Martin's shells, filled with about 301 b.
of molten iron, at a bulkhead, near which were erected
some wooden sheds. These latter were occasionally the
butt, and were speedily ignited by the contact occasion-
ing the sudden explo•ion of the shell and the expansion
of the liquid fire. The result was proved to be consi-
derably more certain and effectual than that produced
by hot shot, and the supply furnished with much more
readiness and facility from a melting crucible than from
the heating furnace. The experiments were ordered to
be repeated.
Master-Commander Allen, of the Admiralty yacht
Vivid, having returned to Woolwich from Portsmouth,
whither he conveyed her Majesty's ship Roebuck, re-
sumed the command of the Vivid yesterday morning,
in consequence of a telegraphic message ordering the
Vivid on immediate and especial service.

The freight ship Migrator arrived off Woolwich
Arsenal yesterday, and commenced shipping a quantity
of ammunition for Colombo. The Marechal Pelissier
arrived at Woolwich at the same time, and is taking in
ammunition for Adelaide.

The following appointments were made yesterday at
,he Admiralty :

CAPTAIN.

G. 11. Richards to the Plumper.

LIEUTENANT.

W. Moriarty, to the Plumper.

MIDSHIPMEN.
A. B. Wodehouse, to the Eurydice; E. W. R.
Everard, to the James Watt.

MASTER'S ASSISTANT.
H. M. Atkinson, to the Trident.

THE NEW STREET THROUGH SOUTHWARK.

We reported last week the proceedings of a public
meeting held by the ratepayers of Southwark, for the
purpose of opposing the new street through the Borougb,
for the construction of which the usual Parliamentary
notice has been given by the Board of Works.
Yesterday the deputation agreed upon at the meeting
waited upon Sir B. Hall, to enforce their views in favour
of Mr. Pennethorne's plan. The deputati. n, which con-
sisted of many of the most influential inhabitants of the
Borough, was received by the right hon, baronet with
his usual courtesy.
Mr. PURVIS, one of the churchwardens of the parish
of Christchurch, opened the proceedings, by stating that
he attended as the representative of the crowded district
through which the proposed street was to pass. He ex-
plained to the right hou. baronet that it was not only
the feeling of the parishioners that the scheme of the
Board of Works was a bad one, but that there was every
reason to fear that if the street were made it would be
little used, while that proposed by Mr. Pennethorne
would not only have the advantage in directness,
but would save the parish 57,000/., and at the same
time sweep away a great deal of property of the most
objectionable character, and at present in the most
objectionable state. Both himself and the members of
the deputation were convinced that, under all the cir-
cumstances of the case, the formation of the street pro-
posed by the Board of Works would be utter waste of
the public money, and they therefore advocated Mr.
Pennethorne's plan on theground that it wasthe cheapest
line by the sum already stated ; that it was the only
straight line and the shortest, and that if Mr. Penne-
thorne's plan were carried out it would remove property
which at the present moment;so far from being valuable
was a burden on the ratepayers, and a hotbed of disease,
pauperism, and crime. By removing the Town-hall and
one or two houses a noble entrance would be made into
High-street, and the objections to Mr. Pennethorne's
plan would be removed, in addition to which the confu-
sion which would arise from carrying a new street in the
immediate vicinity of the bustle of the Borough-market
would be obviated.
Messrs. A. Kibblethwaite, W. Day, Parr, Reece, and
Bowditch pointed out to Sir Benjamin the varieue impe-
diments which frequently arose to the trait° through
Stamford-street in consequence of the number of teams
which daily issued from the streets leading to the water
side. Even the widening of Stamford-street, which
could only be effected at an enormous expense, would
not remove the impediments referred to.
Sir B. HALL said, he had certainly received theplan of
the Board of Works at a very short notice. If be had had
it six weeks or two months earlier, the public would then
have been put in possession of all the facts. The plan for
the proposed new street had been received in sufficient
time for the necessary Parliamentary notices, but not in
time to allow any opposition to it to be entered. As the
deputation were aware, he had given his adhesion to the
plan of the Metropolitan Board of Works, and he had
done so under the impression that it was a popular plan,
because no other plan had been so
apnardtimcuolraerlyesraeidciylbaellfore him. If the deputation considered
that Mr. Pennethorne's plan was more desirable, they
could oppose the bill promoted by the Board of Works
when it came before a Parliamentary committee.
The deputation then thanked Sir B. Hall for the atten-
tion he had paid to them, and retired.