The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-08 00:00:00

THE PRISONERS IN ABYSSINIA.

By the mail steamer which arrived at Bombay on
the 10th we learn (says the Bombay 7 imes) that the
political resident returned to Aden from leave of
absence to England on the 13th December, on
board the Victoria, having touched at Massowah on
his way from Suez. lie brought with him the en-
gineers and artificers selected from the dockyard
and arsenal at Woolwich, together with large quan-
tities of engineering tools and implements of all
kinds for the Emperor Theodorus. Mr. Flad was
still at Massowah on Dec. 9, waiting anxiously for
a reply from Theodorus to the letter he had ad-
dressed to his Majesty, informing him of his arrival,
and asking for an escort to convey him to Magdala
No answer had up to that date been received by
Mr. Flad, thongh the letter to the King had been
despatched eight weeks previously. Accounts from
the mission down to the end of October, which is
the latest news we have of them—state that Mr.
Bassani, Dr. Blanc, Lieutenant Prideau, and the
rest of the captives were in good health, though they
were still confined in the strong fort of Magdala,
under guards and in chains. They were, however,
kindly treated by the authorities of the place. Five
of the original captives have been released from their
fetters, as they had consented to take service under
the King ; they were two Germans and three
Frenchmen. Colonel Merewether again proceeded
to Massowah on the 28th December, taking with
him the artificers, engineers, and presents of all
kinds intended for Theodorus. It is hoped that
when he returns, about the 17th January, more de-
cided news of a cheering nature may have been re-
ceived at Massowah.

THE GREAT EAST::ItN BLOWN OFF THE GRIDIRON.
—Tinder the pressure of the gale on Wednesday inorLin

some of the anchors holding the Great Eastern on the
" gridiron" at Liverpool yielded, and the enormous vessel
drifted to the eastward—that is to say, nearer the centre
of the Mersey—and grounded on the soft mud, where the
receding tide left her, it is said, "in comparative safety."
Various estimates aro given as to the distance the ship
dragged her anchors, the master of ono tug asserting that
it was at least 150 feet, and another shortening the dis-
tance to 40 feet. It is matter of congratulation that the
casualty was not more serious, for it is hardly possible to
estimate the fearful amount of damage which might be
occasioned by so ponderous a vessel drifting amongst the
shipping at anchorage in the Sloyne.
ACCIDENT TO THE BRIGHTON WEST PIER.--Yes-
terday the public were prohibited from using the now
Brighton West Pier in consequence of an accident which
happened to that structure during tho night. The hull
and a large portion of the framework of a brig stranded
near Shoreham drifted along the coast, and struck the pier
near its shore end, and smashed through the iron piling
by which it is supported. Seven of the piles with all the
intermediate stages and bracing were carried away, and
the pier was thereby unsafe for public use, but it is ex-
pected that it will be repaired in a short time.
PRINTERS' SUNDAY WORK.—At a meeting of
the Free Church Presbytery of Glasgow, held yesterday, a
minute was given in from the session of Gorbals Free
Church to the effect that Mr. Robertson, the printer, whose
case was formally before the Presbytery, had not seen his
way to give up his situation entailing Sunday labour. In
these circumstances, on the motion of Professor Gibson,
the kirk session was instructed to strike Mr. Robertson's
name off their communion roll.—Edinburgh Courant.
WINES.—The consumption of wines in the United
Kingdom, according to the published" returns, has just
doubled during the past ten years, this rapid increase being
mainly due to recent reductions of duties. French winos
more particularly have made greater strides in 1866 than
in any previous year, as much as 3,300,000 gallons having
been consumed. Tho Wine Trade Review publishes a
statement of the quantity of wine paid duty upon during
the past year by various houses in London, the largest of
which are as follows : Galls.
W. and A. Gilbey ... 437,687
Martinez, Gassiott, and Co. 215,982
Hooper and Sons ... 140,369
Bandeman, Sons and Co. m m m 138,268