The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-27 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —Your able advocacy of an efficacious design
for the relief of shipwrecked mariners upon the
Goodwin Sands, induces me to put you in posses-
sion of facts relating to this int q.esting subject,
which may surpri=lo your humane readers.
I am intimately acquainted with an officer of
rank, who not only urged upon the First Lord of
the Admir dry the advantage you have proposed,
but almost in the same words urged upon his lord-
ship the necessity of stationing a large steamer,
with two life-boats attached, near the inner edge of
the Goodwin Sands, so as to be ready to assist the
unfortunate in their time of utmost need, arid en-
'orcing his recommen.lation by stating the fact,
which seems to have escaped general observation,
that a vessel so stationed would he nearer the scenes
of disaster by five and half miles than the brave
hol.tmen at Deil, Ramagatt.., or Broadstairs, and,
therefore, that relief might be afforded before the
gall ►nt men on shore had been made acquainted
with the circumstance, or the ship become a totAl
wreck.

I know, also, that this officer volunteered his
services to mass a winter in the steamer (not an en-
viable position) to organise the crew of the life-
boats, and t.) tonal them, by his experience, the
best means, under the varied phases of winds and
tichs, of giving the most prompt and effectual aid.•
But, like the point-blank refusal given to a depu-
tation of the merchants of London, headed by the
Duke of Northumberland, the noble president of
the Royal National Life-boat Institution, the
answer to this officer's appeal was brief, cold, anti
discouraging, "That his I.,xdship did not deem it
expedient to place a steam vessel in the Downs, m
a largo life-boat."
Thus, it would appear, that the lives of two or
three hundred brave seamen, or loyal subjects,
were not worth the trouble or the expense !
I remain, ke. HTMINITY.

DRATII OP THU PERT REV. PRINCIPAL MICFARLA.N.

—The Rev. Dr. Macfarlan, Principal of Glasgow Uni•
varsity and minister of the High Church, died on Wed-
nesday, at his residence at the college.
INDIAN MISSIONS EXTENSION FUND.—Yesterday
meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel was held at Willie's Rooms, King-street, St.
James's, for the purpose of adopting resolutions •for
strengthening and ex'endiog their missions among the
Ilindoon and Mohammedans. The Archbishop of Can-
terbury presided. The following resolutions were unani-
mously agreed to :—" 1. That the Church of England
is called, by the late calamitous events in India, to
adopt more energetic measures for the diffusion of the
Gospel in that benighted land ; and that this meeting
I will give its hearty support to the Society for the Pro-
pagation of the Gospel in its efforts to strengthen and
extend its mission among the "Endow! and Mahome-
dans." "2. That the proposal of the society to establish
missions in the presidential and other principal cities,
with a view to bring the truths of Christianity before the
upper as well as the lower classes of India, is descrying
of the mast cordial approbation and encouragement; and
that it is desirable to promote, by every available means,
the education, training, and ordination of the more
advanced native candidates for the work of the ministry
among their own countrymen."

INDIAN LETTIRS OP INTRODUCTION.—" As in all
probability the European will be furnished with several
letters of introduction, it may be as well to warn him
that upon the delivery of those credentials, (which
should be sent on hie arrival by a Sepoy belonging to
the hotel or club at which he is staying, with his
card and address in full,) the following morning he
should make a persenal call, such being the etiquette
observable in India. He must not anticipate to be nor
dially received, or to have a carte blanche' given him
to renew hie visits whenever he may think proper or
convenient ; for an old resident of India, although most
unbounded in his hospitality, must have some intimate
knowledge of an individual—some insight into his habits,
character, ere he fraternises with, or allows a Griffin
(ai a new corner in India is termed) 'to put his legs
under his mahogany' whenever he likes. He will be
received with marked and studied politeness, and then
br w,d out most courteously ; and not until he has es-
tablished himself, and becomes better kno n (either
personally or by report) to the old Indian, must he look
for anything beyond the polite bow or nod of recognition,
and perhaps, as a mark of great condescension, an
occasional invite. Still, should any unforeseen misfor-
tune overtake him, then, upon making an application to
him (provided that his entire conduct has been fair and
honourable), the old Indian resident will relax his
rigidity and interest himself most warmly and heartily
in his behalf, and serve him to the very best of his
ability and the uttermost of his power ; buto if,outulixe
other hand, the Griffin has been guilty f any ,fa
pau,' or has acted indiscreetly, he has nothing to expect
at the hands of the resident ; his letter of introduction
will not then have the slightest weight with him. So
that, in fact, these credentials are not of much value to
any civilian or European on his entrance into Indian
life.—Bradshatv's tiverland Guide to India."
LIB LEVIATHAN.—It is more than probable that in a
day or so another effort will be made to launch this
monster ship. Since the last failure hundreds of work-
men and labourers have been daily employed in recon-
structing the buttresses against which the hydraulic
presses are worked. These, it will be reeollected, were
completely smashed in ; so great was the power brought
into action, without being able to move the ship one
inch. Toe new buttresses are of prodigious extent, and
the engineers employed under Mr. Brunel are sanguine
that they will be able to resist the utmost power that
can be brought to bear upon them. The fore mooring s
chain, which gave way, has been replaced by another
greater strength ; this, with the other chains laid out
from the ship, were all taut last evening, and it was
generally understood that to-day an attempt will be
nade to haul the ship up by the head, so as to place her
in a line with her stern on the ways. Her stem, it will
be rewerukred, moved down the ways some three or
tf,ur feet further than her stern did, the effect of which
was that her cradle got jammed in the iron trams on the
ways. In the event of this being effected, an endeavour
will be made to lower the ship down immediately to low
water mark, and there let her stip until Wednesday or
. Thursday next for the spring tidee.