The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-04 00:00:00

MAILS DUE.

Australia and New Zealand, via Southataptoa.....May 2).
Ditto, via Marseilles . .. May .4.
Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet. ..... ....May 5 .
Ditto, by French packet May V.
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena May
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Sondiampton May 3
Ditto, via Marseilles
Falkland Islands

Gibraltar, via Southampton
India, via Southgmptou May 3.
Ditto, via Marnilies May 8.

THE MISSISSIPPI LEVEES.—Failing in their efforts
to secure an appropriation from Congress, the people along
the Lower Mississippi went vigorously to work to repair
their damaged levees and construct new ones. The spring
freshets, however, appear to have overtaken them in the
midst of their work, and entailed the accustomed loss and
destruction. The New Orleans Picayune is apprehensive
that a portion or all of the city may be submerged'
owing to the " critical" condition of the' levee at and above
and below Carrolton. A week ago to-day, Colonel Clai-
borne telegraphed to Governor Wells, from Point Coupe'
—" Big crevasse at Grand Levee. No chance to close it."
At the same time the water was reported to be breaking
through the artificial banks at various other points. We
are now informed by a despatch from New Orleans that
the richest portions of South-western Louisiana will be
devastated ; seven parishes already are overflowed. The
grand levee of the Morgan Sea, one of the largest works
of the kind in the world, has given way, while another
has broken, nine miles below Baton Rouge, which will
occasion "immense damage." It is a source of regret that
the people delayed so long to begin the task of repairing
their defences, in the hope that the general Government
would perform the work for them. Had operations been
commenced earlier in the season, the present destruction
and ruin would have been averted.
SMELTING IRON WITH PEAT.—The Fishkill Iron
Company have used peat at their furnace for about eleven„
weeks, and report the results as " entirely satisfactory'
During a portion of the time they used one-half charcoal
and one-half peat, and subsequently increased the propor-
tion of peat to three-quarters. W. S. Dudley, Esq., of
Fishkill, writes to the Iron Aye: —"Our peat was not
sufficiently dry, as we did not house it until late in the
fall, but the results gave the fullest satisfaction, as our
heat increased very perceptibly, and the amount of lime-
stone for ffica for the same was much lessened in con-
sequence; and we could, therefore, make the iron much
faster, and at a saving of fully twenty-five per cent•
less cost, than with either charcoal or anthracite ;
and the quality of the iron, is pronounced by the
proprietors of some of the largest foundries in this section
equal, if not superior to, any iron they ever saw ; so that
I feel myself warranted in saying that good peat, properly
prepared, will smelt iron ore equal to any fuel now known ;
and it is our present intention to commence to get in
operation again this spring, as early as possible. Thin
'uel must become valuable in this and some of the adjoin-

ing counties; as they abound with a very superior quality
of both the hematite and magnetic ores ; and I belie"
that peat is destined to become valuable wherever it ill
found of good quality."
OLDEN TRAVELLING.—On the 20th of February',
1797, Thomas Jefferson left his home to be inaugurated
President of the United States. A leaf from his memorial"
dum book of expenses furnishes an opportunity for e
comparison between the time and money needed for *
trip from Alexandria to Philadelphia, then and now. Air'
Jefferson's memorandum is as follows :—" Left Alex-
andria after dinner, February 23, and reached Baltimore on
the 26th. The fare, $4.75. Thence reached Philadelphia,
March 2. Fare, $7. Whole amount of travelling el-
penses from hence, including $l2 to send Jupeter and the
horses home from Alexandria, $49.03." Fare from Ales'
andria to Philadelphia now, $5.50. Time, 41 hours.--
Alexandria Gazette.
MANUFACTURE OF SILK IN NEVADA.—A Nevado
paper announces that there is a project on foot to plant
mulberry trees and introduce the. culture of silk. It saYs :
" The mulbeiry has been grown with enire success. The
few that have been planted flourish as if this was the home
of the tree. We do not know that the silk worm has
been tried as far up in the mountains as this in California+
but we do know that silk worms do exceedingly well ill
worse climates than this. There seems to be no reason in
the world why silk may not be an important branch of
industry in this region. We should say that the country
about French Corral and along up as far as North 5°31
JURR, in fact the whole of Bridgeport township, is 11'
splendid field for the introduction of the mulberry."

Births.
CAMPBELL—On the 2d inst., at Cairnhill, Ayrshire, the
wife of Major Hamilton Campbell, of a daughter.
LUBBOCK - On the 3d inst., at Gorings, Downe, Kent, the

wife of Henry Lubbock; Esq., of ailiughter:
SCOTT—On the Ist inst., at Gosport, the wife of Capt. A'
De (Jourcey Scott, Royal Engineers, of a son.

Marriages.
BESSEMER—TETLEY—On the 2d inst., at Christ Church,
Forest-hill, Alfred George, younger son of H. Bessemer'
Esq.. of Denmark-hill, to liary Jane, third daughter 0"
Edward Tetley, Esq., of Forest-hill.
MEDLEYCOTT MEDLEYCOTT— On the 2d inst., at 31ilbornef
Port, Somerset, John T. Medleycott, Esq., only son
the Rev. John T. Medleycott, of Rocketts Castle, titer of
of Waterford, to Florence Caroline, fourth daughter
Sir Wm. C. Medleycott, hart., of Von, Sotnorset.

Deaths.
ABBOTT—On the 2d inst., at West Green Lodge, Wef3t-
green, Tottenham, Mr. James R. Abbott.
CLIFFORD—On the 2d inst., at Tjgbrooke, Cbudleigb, Derri
the Hon. Edmund C. H. Clifford, aged 9 years ash
months.
HEATH—On the 24th March, at Kurrachee, East lndion
ieg,
Major-Gen. J. C. Heath, commanding Scindo Divis
Bombay Army, aged 60.
MOBERLY—On the Ist inst., at Portswood, near South-
ampton, Wm. H. Moberly, Esq., aged 61.
Nrurros —On the 3d inst., at Lower Norwood,
Newton, Esq., of 10, Lancaster-place, Strand.

London: Printed and Published by WILLI9,II ANDUBW,I4;
of No. 112, Strand, Printer,• at THE SUN °Mee, No
t ' 1`
',,,
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the couuY '
,
blidcUesex.—Saturday, May 4,18e7.