The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-13 00:00:00

Shipwreck and Narrow Escape.

Intelligence has been received from Hong Kong
of the total loss of the ship Libelle, while on a
voyage to that port from San Francisco, having on
board a valuable cargo, specie to the extent of
£76,000 in dollars, and a number of passengers,
among whom were Madame Ann Bishop (the wife
of Sir Henry Bishop, the composer), Miss Phelan,
Mr. M. Schrutz, and Mr. Charles Lascelles, of the
English Opera Company, who, with other artistes,
were on a musical tour. The ship was cast away
on the night of the 4th of March on an uninhabited
and dangerous reef, called Wake Island in the
China seas. The passengers remained on board dur-
ing the night, the sea breaking fearfully over the
wreck all the while. They were all landed with
difficulty, through the breakers, the following day.
After an ineffectual search over the island for water
for three weeks, and suffering much privation, it
became imperative to take the boats and endeavour
to reach the nearest habitable island friendly dis-
posed to defenceless shipwrecked people. Several
days were spent in finding a suitable and safe point
for departure, the breakers encircling the island,
which appeared to be some 20 miles in circumference.
Taking such provisions and water as were saved from
the wreck, the passengers were transferred to the
ship's long-boat, in charge of the first mate, the
captain preferring another boat, and on the 27th of
March both boats sailed for the Ladrone or Mariana
island. To attempt a voyage 1,400 miles, subject
to equinoctial storms, calms, and a tropical sun,
with short rations, and an ocean studded with hidden
rocks and coral reefs, gave but poor hopes of arriv-
ing at a port with life. However, after encountering
great dangers, and enduring horrible sufferings for
13 days and nights, the long-boat arrived off the
town of Guan. An error in six degrees longitude
had brought them off that place. The lady passen-
gers, and in fact every one in the boat, were in a
pitiable and forlorn condition.
His Excellency Francisco Mosoosey Lara, Go-
vernor of the Mariana Islands, on being apprised of
their landing, directed every help and succour to be
afforded them. The poor creatures were loud in
their expressions of thanks for his hospitable con-
duct. Nothing had been heard of the other boat,
containing the master and the rest of the crew up to
the departure of the last mail. They parted com-
pany on the first night after their departure for the
island. Unless the boat was picked up by some

chance vessel, it was apprehended it must have been
swamped, as heavy cross seas were met with that
night.
His Excellency has sent a schooner in search of
the missing boat among the islands to the north-
ward, and then to proceed to the wreck and recover
the £76,000 in spece. It had been saved from the
wreck, and had for security been buried in the island
on the beach.

Letters from America.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)

Our last letter left us just landing at New York.
Since that moment the anniversary of American
independence has occurred, accompanied and fol-
lowed by such continuous hot weather as America
has not seen for a century. In spite of this intense
heat, however, the people turned out in immense
numbers to celebrate the national birthday. Every-
thing passed off well. In Philadelphia, especially,
the scene was one of unusual interest—the battle-
flags of all the volunteer regiments of Pennsylvania
being placed that day in the hands of the State
authorities. It was a stirring sight to see these
thousands of returned citizen troops, led again by
the officers they had followed in battle, with martial
music and step, bearing aloft the insignia of their
well-won victories. They were no hired soldiery,
fighting at the bidding and for the ends of despotic
power. They were the supporters of the Republic
of their own choice, voluntarily surrendering their
arms and trophies to the sacred keeping of the com-
monwealth, and quietly retiring to the peaceful pur-
suits of private life. Never did the city of WILLIAM
PENN present a nobler sight of the kind, or one
better fitted to pourtray the nature of the free in-
stitutions of America.

It will be noticed that the number of Pennsylva-
nians coming to England is steadily on the increase.
The staid character of the better class of the Eng-
lish people pleases the more central States. In fact,
some of the best investments made by Europeans
are in this immediate quarter, including Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland, and Western Virginia. The
Atlantic and Great Western Railway, which has
been so long and so deservedly popular in England,
derives no small share of its marked success from
the great wealth of the points indicated. As you
pass on to the Maryland line, the developments of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company are
worthy of special mention. This company has
already so direct an interest in England that it sup-
ports an independent line of steamers between Bal-
timore and Liverpool. Grain, flour, beef, pork,
bacon, oil, and other products are supplied in such
abundance to the Baltimore market that it becomes
a valuable entrepot for European trade. Some of
the largest wholesale houses connected with Eng-
lish commerce are in Baltimore, and the number is
steadily on the increase. New lines of steamships
are being started to Richmond, Charleston, Savan-
nah, and other more Southern cities, whose facilities
must extend the area of European traffic. From
the shores of Chesapeake Bay to the banks of the
Ohio river the country abounds in agricultural,
bituminous, mineral, and petroleum wealth. The
capital of the nation is only thirty miles distant
from Baltimore. Its navigable waters are open at
all seasons of the year to a large class of shipping,
and steamers can always secure an abundant supply
of coal at reduced rates.

Let these real intrinsic merits of Baltimore have
their due weight with the readers of THE ANGLO-
AMERICAN TIMES.

Interesting topics of correspondence are constantly
multiplying ; but, in accordance with previous ar-
rangements, each letter will be brief. Much might
be said in praise of Baltimore. It is a beautiful
city. The population is four hundred thousand,
and daily on the increase. Its monuments, public
buildings, and parks are among the best in America.
It was here that GEORGE PEABODY began his suc-
cessful career as a merchant. Here are some of the
best flouring mills in the world. The Howard-
street brand of flour is always popular in any mar-
ket. The people are remarkable for their socia-
bility among themselves and their hospitality to
strangers.

The columns of the Philadelphia _lnquirer are
taken up with the names and incomes of the inhabi-
tants of the city for the purposes of taxation. A
number of letters protesting against the expose also
appear. But the Inquirer justifies the publication
on the plea of necessity, this being the only means
by which true returns can be obtained. It must be
a profitable plan for the Government—for the mass
would prefer to over-estimate their incomes than
than to under-estimate them, if the figures are to
be discussed by their neighbours. If such a system
were in vogue in London, and the figures were
quite reliable, what a wonderful expose would be
the result ! What fortunes would be seen where
no fortunes were looked for, and what hollow
swindles would be exposed. Houses in Belgravia
would become vacant, and many carriages would
cease to appear on the drive of the park. A
very handy text-book also would be supplied to
fashionable shops; a guide would be furnished for
mammas, and some young ladies would be deprived
of half their attractions; the occupation of a good
many gossips would cease, and the pleasing uncer-
tainty which now envelopes so many families in
mystery- would be turned into the sober realities of
hard facts.