The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-22 00:00:00

WYLD'S FORTS ON THE PEIHO.

Another startling proof has been given of Mr.
Wyld's extraordinary promptitude. Scarcely have
we recovered from the first surprise of the disas-
trous news received from China when there comes
fluttering to us from our great geographer's estab-
lishment, or from one of his many establishments—
from Charing-cross, or the Royal Exchange, or the
Great Globe in Leicester-square—a little timely
" Sketch of the Attack on the Forts at the
Entrance of the Peiho River." That attack
took place on the 25th of June, 1859. News of it
did not reach this ceuntryuntil September had some
time commenced. And this, for one sufficient
reason, namely, that the breadth of the globe, or
at any rate the width of the whole hemisphere in-
tervenes between the scene of the atrocity and our-
selves. And that intervening space has yet to be
trailed across by the wires of the telegraph—bring-
ing the ends of the earth, as it will assuredly in
time, into instantaneous communication. Well—
September has already begun when the news reaches
us from the Peiho river. And here, on Thursday, the
22d of September—thanks to Mr. Wyld's energy,
and skill, and speed in manipulation—here is an
accurate " Sketch" of the relative situation of the
Chinese forts and the English gunboats—the Chi-
nese coloured Yellow, the British Bed, the French
Green, and the Americans White. Here is the bar-
rier of "strong iron stakes." Yonder is the dotted
line of chain cable (blown up). Here is the Plover
indicated at the spot where it was " Burnt"—here
the Cormorant where it was " Sunk"—here the
Starling "in the mud, disabled." There, on either
side of the shallow current of the Peiho, are the
dreadful mud banks, " dry at low water." Yonder
is the First Ditch—yonder the Second Ditch—and
beyond that again the terrible range of the " very
hoary guns" of the Chinese Batteries. At a glance
we take in the whole catastrophe. Again we thank
Mr. Wyld. The Sketch is most timely and there-
fore most acceptable.

EXPLOSION OF A STEAM TUG.

SHIREHAMPTON, IVEDNESDAY EVENING.

This afternoon, about half-past four, a terrible
explosion occurred in Kingroad, by which some
lives have been lost and several men have been
seriously if not fatally injured. The name of the
ill-fated vessel was the Fury tug, of Bristol, and at
the time of the explosion she was lying alongside
the bark Ant, bound for Quebec. The captain of
the Fury, George Hopes, was on board the Ant
when the accident occurred, and is unable to assign
any cause for it. The tug was literally blown to
atoms. The crew were five in number. The
fireman, John Case, 52, is missing; a boy named

George Rogers, 10, was blown on board the Ant,
and has since been removed in a very precarious
state to the Bristol Royal Infirmary. The mate,
name unknown, was picked up on a piece of the
floating wreck, comparatively uninjured. The
engineer, James Jones, 55, is missing, and there is
little doubt that he has perished.
. . _ .

A collision occured at Sandbed Point, in the river
Avon, this morning, between the firefly, Wexford
steampacket and the Monkey steam tug, by which
the latter was sunk. The crew was rescued.

Viscount Glcntworth, who has been on a visit to
the Earl and Countess of Limerick at Sherborne House,
Limerick, has joined the Rifle Brigade, preparatory to em-
barking for Malta.

Viscount and Viscountess Campden have arrived
at Mount Stewart, county Down, on a visit to the Marquis
and Marchioness of Londonderry.

Viscount Falkland has arrived at the St. George's
Hotel.

The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert. left London on
Tuesday afternoon, for .Wilton House, Wilts.
DEATH OF VICE-ADMIRAL JOHN BRENTON.—We
have to record the death of the above gallant veteran, which
occurred at Ryde, on Saturday, in the 77th year of his age.
The deceased Admiral was mate of the Caesar in the actions
fought off Algesiras and in the Straits in 1801, and was
Acting-Commander in charge of a division of gunboats at
the defence of Riga, and in an expedition against Mettau,
in 1812. He became Captain in 1822, Rear-Admiral in
1852, and Vice-Admiral (Retired) January, 1858.
The Prince Regent of Prussia continues at Baden
and in that neighbourhood. Engagements made by him
with regard to the permanent bridges on the Rhine will
render the presence of his royal highness there for some
time a matter of necessity; and a family reunion is to be
held at Baden on flte 30th inst., on the occasion of the birth-
clay of the Princess of Prussia. The Prince Regent, the
Prince and Princess Frederick William, and all the other
members of the royal family who can conveniently attend
are expected to make their appearance.
THE CANADIAN MAILS.—The Montreal Ocean
Steam-ship Company's screw steamer Hungarian, sailed
from the Mersey at two o'clock yesterday afternoon, for
Quebec and Montreal, with the Canadian mails, 152 pas-
sengers, and a large cargo of merchandise.
ENORMOUS OVERLAND MAlL.—Threo months
since the heaviest overland mail that was ever despatched
to the East consisted of 186 boxes. This number, however,
was much exceeded on Monday night, for no less than 204
boxes were shipped on board the mail packet at Dover, and
were conveyed to Calais en route to India, China, the Mau-
ritius, and Australia.
THE PACKET CONTRACT COMMITTEE.—The report
of this Committee, published yesterday, contains incidental
evidence on the question of the competition to be expected
next year between the East Kent and the South-Eastern
lines for the traffic to Dover. The South-Eastern Com-
pany represent that, although the East Kent will save 11
miles, it cannot effect much saving of time, owing to bad
gradients and. other causes. On the other hand, it
is shown that the reduction of fares is likely to be
considerable, the first class price of the . East Kent,
according to their Act, being 15s. 9d., while on
the South-Eastern it is 225. With regard to the
mails, the Post-office authorities appear disposed to avid
binding themselves by any contract for a term, and to keep
the power of selecting whichever line may ultimately prove
best able to perform the service. Supposing the two lines
to act in harmony instead of opposition, there can be little
doubt the natural facilities of the East Kent might be much
more powerfully developed than is otherwise likely to be
the ease ; but it is asserted that no serious attempts at
I.lnalgamation have been made, and that the various reports
circulated on the subject have been merely for stock-jol.bing
purposes. Nevertheless the manager of the South-Eastern
Company seems constrained to admit that such a result is
"eventually inevitable?' Meanwhile the latter company
are supposed to entertain a wish to encourage a postal route
through Folkestone in preference to Dover, but although
they admit that this would strengthen them in any ulti-
mate rivalry with the East Kent, thoy do not promote it
specially with that view. Among other arrangements con-
templated is the erection of a pier at Folkestone, which, at
the 6=ll cost of £15,090, would meet the requirements of
tl2O packets in all states of the tide.