The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-24 00:00:00

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship
Alhambra, Captain J. K. Joy, arrived at Southampton
yesterday evening, with mails in charge of Lieutenant
Bridges, R.N., Admiralty agent, to the following dates :
—Gibraltar, Dec. 15; Cadia,l6 ; Lisbon, 19; and Vigo,
20. She did not communicate with Oporto.
This steamer brings 27 passengers, 21 packages of
specie, value 13,0731,, and a cargo consisting of 353 half
chests of oranges, 1 box of lemons, 14 barrels of raisins,
7 quarter casks of wine, 1 box of cigars, 94 boxes of
tangerines, 15 packages of elephants' teeth, 5 bales of
wax, 1 b)xof melons, 116 eases of eggs, and 15 packages
of general merchandise. She has had fine weather
throughout the voyage.
Deo. 19. Off the Barlings, the 'Alhambra passed the
English steamer Douro, bound to the south-west.
Gibraltar advices are of the same date as those re-
ceived by the Sultan.

The Alhambra left Lisbon on the 19th, when there
were no foreign ships of war in I.A.
The Lisbon exchanges by this mail for bill' at three
months are quoted generally at 543 for London, although
some transactions were done at 541 and 4f and shorter
bills wore in demand. Paris in demand at 515.
Other places nominal, at 433 for Amsterdam ; Hamburg
48k ; and Genoa, 514. Stock-market dull, and few
buyers for Three per Conte. at 45 to 46, registered ;
Coupons, 45 to 45i ; and Deferred, 27 to 23. Bank of
Portugal shares, 8 to 9 per cent. premium, and Oporto
Bank shares, 22 to 23 per cent. premium.
Our Lisbon correspondent writes on the nth:—
" The weather has, fortunately, continued cool, and
no check has been given to the gradual decrease of the
fever. The new cases reported during the last 10 days
up to 10 p.m. on the 17th are 370, and the deaths 199,
instead of 892 cases and 885 deaths during the pre.
vious ten days. On the 16th there were only 17 new
cases, and on the following day only 11 deaths—
the lowest numbers during the last three months ;
but I am sorry to add that some of the few cases
which now appear and end fatally are classed
by the best medical authorities as the very worst type,
and very unusual when an epidemic is about to cease.
From what I hear in this matter, and my general know.
ledge of the people, I am convinced that even the young
King's energetic exertions will not suffice to get the
town freed from its pestilential sewerage system before
it is visited by another more serious epidemio than the
one which now appears likely to be temporarily sup-
pressed by the cold temperature."
The Deputies meet daily merely for the formality of
recording the presence of some 40 to 44 members, while
nothing under 54 will constitute the House, and unless
70 or 80 be present the Government cannot carry on
public) business, since 40 concordant votes are required
upon all questions, and the Opposition so far has bad
daily as many members present as the Government. It
is consequently unlikely that anything will be done in
the way of legislation this year, which is, under the cir-
cumstances, and after the King's good example, no small
discredit to the Cortes and Government.

THE CASE OF TimmAs PooLET.—Mr. Coningham,
M.P., has received from Sir George Grey word that
Thomas Pooley, who was sentenced at the Bodmin
summer assizes to one year and nine months' impri-
sonment for the alleged offence of blasphemy, has re-
ceived a free pardon, Sir G. Grey having advised her
Majesty to that effect. Mr. Coningham had presented
to the Home-office a memorial from Brighton on this
matter.
STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPANISH P BTEee—
SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday.—The screw steamers Liam-
burgo, Captain Lagier, and Barcelona, Captain Argento,
sailed hence, the former on Monday morning for Ham-
burg, and the latter this morning for the Spanish ports,
with passengers and merchandise.
THE BISHOP OF LONDON AND KENSINGTON SCHOOL.---
On Tueiday the Bishop of London presided over a
numerous meeting at Keneingtou School, for the purpose
of distributing the annual prizes. After the reports of
the various examiners had been received and some
pieces had been recited by the boys of the school, the
Bishop proceeded to distribute the prizes to the success-
ful candidates. His lordship then, in a very impressive
speech, spoke of the varied studies of the school, and
the close connection of one branch of them with our
Indian empire, for the service of which a large number
of the boys are destined. He spoke of the career
which was opening before those who were looking
forward to service in India, and bestowed high praise
on the generosity of Sir Henry Willock, who, for 19
successive years, had presented for public competition
in the school an appointment to the East India College
at Addiscombe. His lordship closed his speech by some
remarks evincing an affectionate interest in the welfare
pf the boys of the school. Sir H. Willock and several
other gentlemen addressed the meeting, and spoke of
the large number of the scholars who had distinguished
themselves in India; and expressed the mingled pride
and sorrow they felt for those who had fallen in that
country. F. G. Willock and Quintyn Bettye, who both
fell before Delhi, were at the head of this distinguished
list. Allusion was also made to the successes of the
scholars at the universities, and at Woolwich and Ad-
discombe. A vote of thanks, proposed to the bishop by
Archdeacon Sinclair, concluded the proceedings of the
day.
PORTUGAL—The Thalia steamer, with a cargo of
oranges, has arrived at Falmouth with Lisbon dates of
December 16. There were no foreign ships of war in
the Tagus. The Peninsular packet Alhambra landed
her English mails at Lisbon on the 12th, and left the
same day for Cadiz and Gibraltar. The Royal Mail
packet Avon, with the outward mails for Brazil, coaled
at Li.,bon, and left at 9 on the morning of the 14th for
Madeira. Our Lisbon correspondent reports the con-
tinued gradual decease of the fever, the new cases for 24
hours up to 10 p.m. on the 84th being 30 ; deaths, 16 ;
and cures, 58 • a great diminution in the average of 89
cases and 38 deaths per diem for the ten days up to the
Bth, the date of the last Peninsular mail report. The
House of Peers had assembled in numbers sufficient to
constitute itself for business; but the Deputies came for-
ward very slowly; the largest number which had met,
being 45, was too small to open the session.
THE TERMINUS OF THE WEST END OF LONDON RAIL-
WAY. —This commodious terminus is to be at the end of
the Chelsea Suspension Bridge, affording a most conve-
nient station for Chelsea and Belgravia. The works of
the station are now being rapidly proceeded with, and
Messrs. Bidder and Fulton, the engineers, state that"the
railway will be opened for public traffic about the middle
of March. The terminus is within a mile of Eaton and
Belgrave-squares, and a pier will be attached to the
station, at which the Citizen steamboats will call. The
public will be enabled from this station to reach the fol-
lowing places, viz. :—Brighton, Dover, Portsmouth,
Southampton, Richmond, Windsor, Reading, the Crys-
tal Palace, &c. It is also intended to apply to Parlia-
ment during the next session for an act to allow the
extension of the West End Railway across the •river,
along the Grosvenor Canal, to near the west end of
Victoriwatreet, Westminster. It is therefore intended
to apply to Parliament for powers to make a loop line
between Balham-hill station and West Croydon station,
to avoid the Crystal Palace station, by which some
distance will be saved, the heavy gradients, sharp curve',
and long tunnels of the West End line will be avoided,
and thereby enable the Dover and Brighton traffic, to
be worked with safety and punctuality.
SUPPOSED MURDER.—A few days ago some partiosuolmaree
were given in Thea Sun respecting the discovery of
h ght to
remains at Miidleton, Norfolk,
be those of Mr. John B:11,
uest toek place yes-
wee mur,leted. Tle adjourned
_i!?ekin,
place ale ut eight years ago, and who it is now Euvo3ed
who
disapp rreed from that
district co our,
ferday Middleton, before Ac!r: w
i but their evidence was
Many witnesses were xae
Live was ascertained. e
belonged w
riecipal y of a conjectuAral'picnubrieracwteari,, earl
jiniocthdhl ro.si.
ch
WA identified as haring formerly to Mr. Bell.
A a itoe,s, named Collison, deposed that while at work
at Middle on in November, 1849, he heard a great deal
of scuffling and groaning near the place where Cie re-
ma ne have been found, and afterwards, when Mr. Bell
was massed, the witness mentioned the circumstance to
tee , persons, but nothing more specific arose out of tl
witnees's testimony. The Coroner, in suggesting an
adjournment, referred to the statement made by Colli
son, which be said Wll3 Exceedingly important, and Le
believed they were on t!,3 threshold of a startling in-
quiry. He wished it to be publicly known that at the
t 7ne Mr. Bail disappeared—and there could be no doubt
that 1 e had been foully murdered—bills had been issued
offering a reward c f 2201. for the conviction of the
guilty persons or persons. He should cause those
bills to be re-issued, and adjourn the inquiry for a
fortnight,