The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-22 00:00:00

ANNEXATION OF THE FIiVEE ISLAXDS

The commercial value of the Fejee Islands is, no
doubt, far inferior to their political importance, for
it would secure us a good position in the mighty
archipelago of the Pacific, where we have not a
single station, while the Americans have several,
and the French are making rapid strides in that
direction, and have already obtained possession of
New Caledonia, with the Loyalty Islands, Otaheite,
the Marquesas, the Gambier group, and Clipperton
Island. There can be no doubt that there would be
great advantages gained by the possession of the
Fejees, especially when the Panama and Australian
steam communication shall have become a redlity,
as they will then become a convenient coal station ;
while their sheltered harbours and delicious fruits
and excellent provisions will not fail to make them
in future a favourite resort of navigators in those
distant regions. It is true that the present pro-
ductions of these islands are but of limited extent,
but they are capable of great development, which
would assuredly follow if placed under the security
of the British flag. The only produce fitted for
exportation is now confined to sandal-wood, cocoa-
nut oil, and beche de mer ; but from Mr. Pritchard's
account, both the soil and the climate are admirably
adapted for the cultivation of the cotton plant, and
there is no doubt that not only the sugar-cane, but
coffee, tobacco, and arrowroot may be cultivated
with success. But this development can only be
expected to take place under the security of impar-
tial administration of justice and a strong and
recognised Government. The Wesleyan mis-
sionaries have been singularly successful in their
endeavours to pave the way for civilisation by their
example and precepts, and that, too, at a con-
siderable pecuniary sacrifice, for we are enabled to
state, in proof of their disinterested conduct in the
cause of humanity and Christianity, that their
missions in the Fejee Islands have cost them no
less than £BO,OOO. Hitherto the principal trade
with this group has been chiefly confined to the
enterprising merchants of New South Wales, who
export ironware, clothes, gunpowder, furniture,
and other articles, receiving in return the native
produce.—Australian and IVeta Zealand Gazette.

2HIS DAY'S SHIPPING.

LONDON, April 22.—Wind this day at noon, North •
Westerly ; moderate breeze, and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.

CROOKHATEN, April 18.—Arrived—Flying Eagle, from
Mazatlan, with mainmast sprung, and other damage, and
a 1... w..u.si overboard ; Aurora, from Philadelphia;
Polly, from Rio Grande ; Anna M. Roberts, from Phila-
delphia.

PLYMO U TH, April 21.—Wind N.—Arrived—Westbury,
from Launceston; Taganrog, screw steamer, from Shields
for Taganrog.

CLYDE, 41.11 20.—Wind E.—Arrived—Helena, from
Mauritius; Marathon, from New Orleans. Sailed—Sea
Nymph, for Trinidad.

WATERFORD, April 18.—Wind S.E.—Sailed—Albert,
for Quebec ; W. N. Townsend, for New Orleans ; Laga,
for Quebec.

LIMERICK, April 19.—Wind N.E.—Sailed—Hope, for
Quebec.

OFF PLYMOUTH) April 20.—Wind N.—Arrived—Nord
Am erike, from Charleston for Bremen.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, Monday Morning.
Arrived.—Haddington, from London ; Geneva, steamer,
from Liverpool ; Argyll, steamer, from Carentan ; Idalia,
from Swansea.
Sailed.—Enterprise, for Cardiff ; Jane Cochran, for New-,
port ; Hero, for Ely; Genova, steamer, for London.

(BY SUBMARINE AND MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)

GRAVESEND, Monday Morning.
Arrived, April 21.—Holmesdale, from Calcutta; Mar-
garet, from Dominica; Harkaway, from Whampoa ; Gar-
dim, from New York; Maria, from Santander; Marshal
Pelissier, from Mauritius ; Pudsey Dawson, from Mauritius;
Merse, from Foo-chow-Foo ; Maria, from Libau ; Victoria,
from Some ; Europa, from Cochin ; Leonora, from Guern-
sey; Actif, from Oporto ; Reward, from Guernsey; Venus,
from Odessa.

Arrived, April 22—Chevalier, from Dragomeister ; Jessie
and Heinrtch, from Dantsic ; Sylph, from Antwerp; Hope,
from Santander ; Hcnry, from Guernsey.
, Monday ing.
Passed in tow—Newcastle, fr D
omEALC alcutta ; Morn
Seine and
Tamise, screw steamers, from Paris; Genova, screw steamer,
from the West—all for London ; Penope, and Suez, for
Genoa ; Mazurka, for Malta ; Cyprian, for Quebec ; Epsom,
ford Montreal ; Isabella, for the Cape of Good Hope—all from
London.
Two large ships and a bark, for London, towed through
before daylight.

THE REV. DR. GUTHRIE AT ALDERSHOT CAMP.
On Sabbath last the Rev. Dr. Guthrie, of Edinburgh,
preached twice in the iron church. The congregations were
composed not only of officers and soldiers of all ranlcs, from
generals down to privates, but of people gathered together
from the surrounding country and towns. A party of 50
came from Guildford, 10 miles off. His audience was com-
posed not merely of Presbyterians, but of Episcopalians,
Wesleyans, Independents, and of a considerable body of
Roman Catholics, all of whom were unanimous in their
high admiration of the gifts of the preacher. Manyseemed
most powerfully affected by his grand and expansive views
of divine truth and his touching appeals to their hearts. Dr.
Guthrie's visit to this camp will be long remembered and
spoken of. Why should not the soldiers of our army have
every opportunity of hearing such eloquent and earnest-
minded men as Dr. Guthrie ?
A NOVELTY IN FIRE INSURANCE.—An American
paper tells a droll story :—" A clergyman At the west in-
sured his manuscript sermons in the -.Etna Insurance Com-
pany some ten years ago. I. moving into another house,
his log hut, in which the manuscript sermons were left
behind, were burned. He went to the company for thein-
surance money, which was refused and an action resulted.
The defence was that the sermons were valueless. The
clergyman produced witnesses who testified that the ser-
mons had done them good, and the jury gave a verdict of
2,000 dollars."
CONDEMNED CULPRITS.—The law is left to take
its course in the case of William Williams, who was con-
victed at the last Brecon assizes of the murder of his aunt,
and sentenced to be hanged on the 23d inst. Appeals have
been made to the mercy of the Crown on the ground of his
youth and ignorance, but the crime was of so heinous a
nature as to render a commutation of the sentence altoge-
ther incompatible with the due administration of justice.—
In the case of Elizabeth Griffin, convicted at the last Salop
assizes of the murder of her infant child, the Crown has
commuted the sentence of death to penal servitude for life.
PURCHASE OF SILVER BULLION FOR INDIA.—
A financial operation of some importance has just been
effected. We are enabled to state that the Indian Govern-
ment has just purchased from the Bank of England the
whole of the £948,362 in silver bullion which, as stated in
the last return, is held by that establishment. This amount
comprises the balance of the £2,000,000 of silver which was
taken by the Bank some months ago from the Bank of
France, in exchange for an equivalent amount of gold. It
will be despatched to India on Government account in
instalments by several packets. As notes have been issued
against this sum t.f £848,362, its withdrawal will operate
upon the money market in precisely the same way as if it
were gold. The magnitude of the specie requirements of
the Indian Government has excited some surprise. It is
said to be connected with the reduction in the cash balances
in the Indian Treasuries. We have alluded before to the
increase which has occurred during the last few days in the
mercantile demand for service in the East. As there is no
supply of the metal now in this 'parka, what private ship-
pers want must be procured on the Continent, until the
promised Mexican remittances come forward, and gold will
be sent to the Continent in papeent. Some stimulus will
probably be given to the deraaAd for money.—Daily Arocs.