The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-30 00:00:00

Esq., the Registrar-General for Ireland. The main
object seems to be to show the relative progress
made in the several counties and provinces in the

cultivation of flax.

In Ulster the increase in the number of acres
under flax is, for 1859, no less than 43,873
over the year 1858, being about one half the
total number of acres, viz., 86,385 against
130,258 acres in 1859 ! This is progressing with
a bound in the province of Ulster ! Now in the
other three provinces the tide of improvement is at
a very low ebb indeed ; for in Munster the total of
1859 is less by 40 acres than that in 1858. In Lein-
ster, on the contrary, there is a small improvement
of 290 acres in the present year ; while in Con-
naught the improvement is about double that, being
537 acres. The total acreage under flax in Ireland
in 1858, was 91,646, while in 1859, it amounted

to 136,613 acres.
The growth of flax seems to have been neglected
for the years 1855,1856, and 1857 ; and why is to us a
puzzle. If it were in spirits we can understand
than an increase in the duties of excise might
be a reason, but in a purely agricultural
production, such as flax, the thing is unaccount-
able.

We are of opinion that the produce of flax might
be increased four-fold in a very short period ; but
the question arises will it pay ?—We think
it would—but the farmers must be the best
judges.

DEPARTURE OF THE QUEEN FOR

SCOTLAND.

Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince Consort,
accompanied by the Princess Alice, Prince Arthur,
Princess Helena, and Princess Louisa, arrived at
Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon from
Osborne. Her Majesty was escorted from the
Nine-elms station by a detachment of cavalry.
At half-past eight o'clock last evening her Majes-
ty and the Prince Consort, accompanied by the
younger members of the royal family, left Bucking-
ham Palace for the King's-cross station of the
Great Northern Railway, where a special train was
in attendance to convey the illustrious party to
Scotland.
Mr. Packe, M.P., was in attendance on the part
of the board of directors to receive her Majesty.
The Queen and Prince Consort alone occupied
the state saloon, which was fitted up with great
taste as a sleeping apartment.
The Princesses occupied a second saloon with
Lady Churchill, and a third was devoted to the
accommodation of the young princes.
The train left King's-cross punctually at nine
o'clock, and is timed to arrive at Edinburgh at
eight o'clock this morning.

YORK, TUESDAY, 2.15 A.M

The Queen arrived at the North-Eastern Junc-
tion, outside the walls of this city, five minutes
before the appointed time.
Her Majesty was attended throughout the
journey from King's-cross by Mr. Hussey Packe,
M.P., deputy-chairman, and Mr. Astell, M.P., one
of the directors of the Great Northern Railway.

-- -
At Biggleswade, -where the first stoppage for
water took place, her Majesty expressed her perfect
satisfaction with the arrangements made for her
convenience and comfort. Shortly afterwards the
curtains of the royal carriage were drawn, the lights
dimmed, and her Majesty retired to rest.
The royal train stopped at the appointed stations,
viz. :—Peterborough, Newark, and Doncaster; but
the royal travellers made no sign at either place
and were not disturbed.

Mr. Denison, chairman of the Great Northern
Company, was in attendance at the Doncaster
station.
The directors of the North Eastern Railway have
just taken silent charge of the royal train, which
has proceeded on its northward journey.
[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]
EDINBURGH, TUESDAY, 8.15 a.m.

The Queen alighted at St. Margaret's station at
eight o'clock, and immediately proceeded through
the Park to Holyrood amid the acclamations of her
Scottish subjects.
The Prince of Wales met his illustrious parents
at St. Margaret's station.
The Queen's arrival was announced by a royal
salute from the Castle heights.

The journey throughout has been performed
without the slightest interruption.

THE GREAT EASTERN.

Few or no policies of insurance have been taken
out on the Great Eastern at Lloyd's, the under-
writers being generally unwilling to transact any
business until the completion of the trial trip.
Almost the only reason assigned for this course is
the possibility of the vessel not getting safely out
out of the Thames.
It appears that some hours previously to the pub-
lication of Mr. Lever's amended offer to charter the
Great Eastern a reply had been sent by the com-
pany again declining to entertain his proposition.
There was, therefore, no occasion for its being
paraded before the public.
A letter in a contemporary says :—As all Ameri-
cans must take the same interest in the success of
the Great Eastern steam-ship as Englishmen, I feel
sure that any views or ideas that may emanate
from one of the former will not be unacceptable in
an undertaking which will redound so much to the
enterprise and genius of the Anglo-Saxon race.
Although I am a Philadelphian, and the citizens of
that city are accused of mercantile jealousy towards
New York, still every American knows thatN?,w York
is the great centre of trade for the United States, and
New York is the only city that the Great Eastern
should be sent to, if she crosses the Atlantic. A-
though Portland may have its advantages as a safe
harbour, still its great distance from all trade and
travel will create so many difficulties in reaching
it, that one of the principal sources of making her I
first trip "pay" will be completely annulled. At
the season of the year she would reach New York,
that city will be crowded with merchants from all
sections of the States making their fall purchases.
Also with the many southern families returning
from northern watering places, besides the immense
population of New York and surrounding cities.
Now, if the Great Eastern is open to visitors upon
paying a fee while at New York she would be
crowded for at least two weeks, and would reap
the benefit of the immense influx of strangers in
New York at that season, which she would not do
if sent to that out-of-the-way place Portland. And,
moreover, from the central position of New York,
with the gaieties of a large city and her immense
hotels, thousands would avail themselves of an
opportunity of making a trip to that gay city in
conjunction with a visit to the " big ship." The
amount she would receive from visitors, if Eent to
New York, would be no small item, and, I think.
should not be overlooked in selecting her place of
destination in the United States. I have been led
to address these few lines to you from the spirited
offers of Mr.l,ever. to the company, and the judgment
he has shown in selecting New York as her destina-
tion, as every American will agree with him that that
city is the only one she should go to, instead of an out-
of-the-way town. I have crossed the Atlantic upwaras
of 20 times, and know full well the difficulties cf
navigation in St. George's Channel and off the Irish
coast, and think no safer port could be selected for
her departure than Galway, as in a few hours she
would be safe on the broad Atlantic with her im-
mense cargo of human beings.

CUSTOM-HOUSE, THREE O'CLOCK
This magnificent ship, the largest in the world,
was this day officially entered "outwards" at the
Custom-house, by the commander, Captain Harri
son; her destination being named New York.

On Friday evening last his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales attended for the fourth time the perform-
ances at the Queen's Theatre, Edinburgh. The first piece
played was the melodrama of " Belplieg-or," in which
Charles Dillon appeared. The second piece was " The Irish
Lion," and the third the burlesque of "Kenilworth." In one
of the intervals between the pieces the orchestra played the
Queen's Anthem, the whole audience, including the prince,
rising ; and a loud cheer was afterwards given for his Royal
Highness, who very gracefully acknowledged the general
salutation.
Lord and Lady Chelmsford and the Hon. Miss
Thesiger are expected at the family residence in Eaton-
square at the close of the week, from a tour in Switzerland.
Lord and Lady Alfred Paget arrived at Melford
Hall, Suffolk, on Wednesday last, from a cruise off the nor-
thern coast of Scotland.