The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING:, OCTOBER 15, 18K

THE _RECENT TRH' OF 711 E " ONTARIO."

INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.

The following remarks from the Boston Post refer
to the now American line between Liverpool and
Boston, of which the Ontario is the pioneer. In a
short time this line will be in full operation, and
the public may judge, from the way in which it has
been inaugurated, what its future performances are
likely to be :
The steamship Ontario, on her first voyage from
Liverpool, has given promise of what may be ex-
pected from her in the future. With new machinery,
aud with more than the usual average of head winds
and seas, she made the run from Queenstown in
ten days and a few hours. She left that pert 24
hours after the steamship Russia—the fastest of the
Cunard fleet—and she arrived here 48 hours after
that vessel reached New York ; that is to say, she
was only 24 hours longer on the passage than the
latest and finest British steamvessel. This is a
good beginning, and it substantiates the posi-
tion which has always been taken by this
paper—namely, that American merchants and
mechanics are entirely competent to plan, to
construct, and to manage ocean steamers, and
that nothing is wanting in this country, and in this
community, but energy and courage to establish and
to sustain trans-Atlantic steam lines which shall prove
profitable to their owners, invaluable to our com-
merce, and honourable to our national character.
Below we give our readers an interesting corre-
spondence which took place between the cabin pas-
sengers of the Ontario and Captain Hallet, on the
eve of their arrival, and which we are sure will give
satisfaction to every well-wisher of the line and of
this city
Steamship Ondario, at Sea, Sept. 19, 1807.
Captain Franklin Hallet : _ _

Dear Sir,—Being near the completion of our voyage
from Liverpool to Boston, the undersigned cabin passen-
gers cannot forego expressing to you their high apprecia-
tion of your uniform urbanity and attention to them, and
strict devotedness to your duties, an t unceasing watchful-
ness in performing them, ably wended by the officers
under your command.
Of your beautiful ship and really splendid accommoda-
tions we cannot speak in terms too warmly, and believe
that they will prove equal to your highest expectations.
Nor can we omit in this connection to express our ad-
miration of this renewed instance of the liberality of the
merchants of Boston in furnishing the millions of dollars
required for the full equipment of the steamships intended
for the new American lino.

We beg to thank you, and to congratulate you on the
successful termination of the first voyage of the Ontario.
Ws are, dear sir, respectfully and ♦ery truly yours,
ROBERT S. BUNKER,
JOSEPH J. COMSTOCK,
G. MAITLAND,
E. BILEEPT,
A. EVERETT,
J. MACCURDT,
And others.

Steamship Ontario, Sept. 19, 1867.

Gentlemen,—Your very flattering letter of this date, re-
garding the performance of this steamship, upon her first
Western passage, and the complimentary remarks ex-
pressed towards myself and officers, I fully appreciate ; and
in thanking you for the same, beg also to add lay voice in
praise of those whose enterprise and liberality have placed
our flag again upon the ocean, and initiated a steam line
which deserves the aid of our countrymen in establishing
it upon a successful and permanent footing.
Wishing for yourselves and fellow-passengers SUCC4IIS
and happiness, I am, very truly your,

F. lIALLET,
Commanier steamship (Mario.
To Robert S. Bunker, G. D. Baldwin,
and Joseph J. Comstock, Exis.

to Congress for a loan of $50,000,000. These
agents have been trying alike in vain to soften the
hearts of Wall, street capitalists, or to excite their
cupidity. The liberality of their promises is neu-
tralised by the history of their performances ; but
the question is still open whether men may not vote
away the national money in a direction they decline
to loan their own funds. General Banks, chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Senator
Morton, are to accompany Mr. Romero during this
month to Mexico, and on their report the House
will be advised to act. A telegram was received in
New York announcing the arrival of the body of
the late Emperor Maximilian at Vera Cruz, and
news had reachel Vienna from Mexico, dated 7th
Sept., announcing the success of Admiral Tegethoff's
mission, :and the arrival of the Emperor's remains
at Mexico, whence it was to be carried to Vera Cruz,
and deposited on board the ship commanded by the
Austrian Admiral.

General Hancock left Washington on the even-
ing of the 26th Sept. for St. Louis. Ho will not start till
the middle of October to assume command of the Fifth
District, General Moore being responsible till then.

Senator Cragin, of New Hampshire, arrived at
Washington on the 25th ultimo.

General Sheridan, at the request of the veteran
soldiers of New York, was to be serenaded at the Union
League Club House on the 30th Sept.

A controversy between Major James Walker and
Colonel J. Albert Smith, ex-Federal officers from Indiana,
ended in a pistol fight in the billiard room of the Stracy
House, Nashville, Tennessee. Walker, who attacked
Smith, received a ball through the lungs, another in the
thigh, and a third in the shoulder, which it is thought are
fatal. Smith got off unhurt, but was arrested, and bailed
in $B,OOO.

Madame Ristori will take the character of Myrrha
in her next performance. The Tribune says, "Thus far
this season she has not created that wild excitement which
attended her first appearance in America."

Echoes say that Colonel Gowan, the American
engineer who took unsolicited charge of the British graves
in the Crimea, has done more than the Pan-Anglican
Synod could ever hope to do—he has raised The Twelve
Apostles from among the Russian fleet sunk at Sebastopol.

M. de Lesseps has asked English capitalists to
subscribe £4,000,000 effective, or £6,500,000 nominal, to
complete the Suez Canal. The Times writes a leader in
the "don't you wish you may get it" style, which will
certainly not add to M. Lesseps' chances of success.
Mrs. Hildreth, widow of the late American
Consul at Trieste, Richard Hildreth, the historian, died at
Naples of cholera. Ralph Waldo Emerson includes
"Truth," "Success," and the Man of the World" in his
new series of lectures.

Mr. Dion Boucicault has been informed by the
Board of Trade that the article in the literary convention
between England and France, relating to dramatic copy-
right, will be revised, and that next session Use grievance
complained of will be redressed.

Mr. T. Buchanan Read, of Philadelphia, artist
and poet, has taken a studio at Rome. He was enter'a'nod
at the Grand Hotel, Paris, by about a hundred gentlemen,
principally Americans, on the 24th Sept. Senator Doo-
little, Judge Allison, and several well-known gentlemen
wore present.

The President's son-in-law, Senator Patterson,
has had a personal encounter with Goneral Kyle, of Ten-
nessee. in this quarrel blows passed, and at least one of
the combatants had a narrow escape of being shot. A re-
conciliation was, however, effected, and the affair ended in
a drink.

The New York Herald, commenting on the noble
solf-sacrifice of President Roberts, as displayed at the le-
cent convention at Cleveland, says ho declined to accept
the position unless Congress would guarantee half a
lion dollars for the cause. This Congress declined, but
ultimately wont in for a quarter million, upon learning
which the patriot nobly consented to come down in his
price and serve the cause until the last cent was gone.
With such a spirit among the leaders, who can despair of
the Irish Republic ?
Samuel R. Mallory has been pardoned by the
President, at the request of Secretary Seward, Attorney-
General Stanbery, Major-General H. C. Wright, Governor
Marvin (of Florida), Governor English (of Connecticut),
the Lieut.-Governor and State Treasurer of Connecticut,
74 members of the Connecticut Legislature, and throe
Republican members of Congress. Mr. Mallory had boon
member of a Confederate Cabinet. He surrendered in
1865, when he was confined in Fort Warren, being re-
leased at the request of Senator Wilson.

It was reported in New York that Thaddeus
Stevens was dying. He is suffering from dropsy on the
chest. A subsequent telegram, however, reports that
he had rallied.

On the 24th September a private funeral service
was solemnised at Trinity Church, Boston, on the late Sir
Frederick Bruce. The next day the remains were shipped
in the China for England. The organs of the deceased
ambassador were reported to bo all in a sound state by tho
many eminent physicians who examined the body. Death
in their opinion was caused by the combined effect of
dysentery, from which Sir Frederick had for some days
suffered, a sore throat, and the great fatigue experienced
on the journey from Narragansett Beach to Boston.
. _

Thaddeus Stephens is again dangerously ill at
Lancaster, Pennsylvania. _ _

General Banks, chairman of the Committee of
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, intends
visiting Mexico in company with Senor Romero, the
Mexican Minister at Washington, early in October, in
order to make a personal observation of the condition of
the country under the Juarez Government.
General Hancock will establish his headquarters
at Baton Rouge during the prevalence of yellow fever at
New Orleans, where 50 persons have lately been dying
daily.
General Schofield has ordered the ballots of the
white and negro voters to be taken separately in Virginia
in deference to the great repugnance expressed by the
whites in many quarters of that State.
General Pope has ordered the election for a State
Convention in Georgia, to be held on the 29th, 30th, and
31st Oct. The Convention will consist of 169 delegates.
Colonel Mereweather, Resident at Aden, left that
station for Massowah in command of the pioneer oxpedi_
tion to Abyssinia on the 28th ult.
O'Loughlin, one of the assassination conspirators,
died of yellow fever at Dry Torgugas.
Tho brother of Prince Salm Salm, a subject of
Prussia, petitioned his Sovereign to intercede for the
Prince's life. Application was made by the Prussian
Government to Mr. So ward, who obtained a commutatioa
of the sentence of deal h to imprisonment through the
good offices of the Mexican Envoy at Washington.
Mr. Thornton, C. 8., at present Minister at Rio
Janeiro, has been appointed Minister at Washington.
The Democratic Convention of Massachusetts
met on the Ist inst., and nominated John Quincy Adams
for Governor.
General Sheridan has,been
aetntchulesviaselatincdallaydvo
re-
ceived at Newark, Cork, and Brooklyn. The General's
responses contained no allusion to politics.
General Logan in a speech
cated the election of negro Congressmen.
General Canby has ordered the suspension of all
taxes in North and South Carolina except those imposed
by the Federal Government,
The Postmaster-General of Russia, Tolstoi, is
dead.

It is said that General Grant receives many
warning letters, the writers of which think he is in danger
of being assassinated. Ile is advised to be careful whom
he admits to his presence, and to beware of theatres.
Lord Belmore has been appointed Governor of
Now South %Vales.
Prado has been re-elected President of Peru.
M. Molina, the Nicaraguan Minister, was pre-
sented to the President at Washington, on Monday, the
10th ult.
It is estimated that yellow fever had, by the 25th
ultimo, decimated the prisoners and soldiers in the Dry
Tortugas, and the plague was assuming a more malignant
typo.
A native Californian plant, the " semper viva,"
or over-living rock-rose, is on exhibition at Cleveland,
Ohio. It is peculiar that it grows iu clefts without earth.
Its sustenance is drawn from the air and dews. It can be
kept for months in a dry box, without earth or water. It
boars a cluster of delicate White or scarlet flowers once a
year.

DIVIDENDS.
(Front the Wall-street Journal, Sept. 21.)
The Navassa Phosphate Company have declared
a dividend (being the fourth) of $2 per share, pay-
able at the office, 81, St. John-street, New York, on
September 30th.
The Hartford and New Haven Railroad Com-
pany have declared a dividend of $5 per share, free
of income tax, payable on October Ist next.
The Washington and W alnut Bend Oil Com-
pany has declared a dividend of sc. per share, and
the Oil Basen Petroleum Company a dividend of
one per cent., payable on demand at their respective
offices in Philadelphia.
The coupons due on October 1, 1867, on the
bonds of the Syracuse, Binghamptom, and New
York Railroad Company, will be paid at maturity,
on presentation of the coupons on the Continental
National Bank of this city.

will be held at Cleveland, on October Bth next, to
vote upon the question of the lease of the Cleveland
and Toledo Railroad to the latter company, and to
vote upon an increase of the capital stock of both
companies.

The Buchanan Farm Oil Company will hold their
annual meeting for the election of trustees at the
office of the company, 14, Beaver-street, New York,
on Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.
The following, from a financial source at Nash-
ville, is interesting to holders of Tennessee Ponds :
"In answers to yours of August 28th (which I
have delayed until I could procure the information
in a reliable form), I have from the forthcoming
report of the Comptroller of State as follows :--

The entire taxable property of the State is $230,357,631
The rate, $4 50 per $l,OOO, producing 1,096,609
Revenue from Clerks of Courts
Revenue from p01l tax

Total, exclusive of railroads
"The Comptroller has not made out all the

liabilities of the different railroads for interest.
Receivers have been appointed for several, which
will insure the net earnings to the State, and the
certainty that other receivers will be appointed for
any that may default in January next will have a
salutary effect on the remainder. The Comptroller
has declared that the railroads must comply with
the letter of the law, and pay the interest into the
Treasury 15 days before it falls due in New York.
I know that Governor Brownlow intends to pay
the interest promptly, if there is any virtue in
energy, and if the officials who have charge of it
will not do so they must expect to be removed, so
far as he has the power."