The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-15 00:00:00

never occurred to me—namely, the opening of
some port in the Poyang Lake. Hughes is to be
left with a gunboat, and Swain is going in her to
make a survey of the Poyang Lake while the
expedition is at Hankow. On our return Parkes
will decide according to the information thus ac-
quired. The matter is very safe in Parkes's hands.
He astonishes me by his talent for gaining in-
formation in a wonderfully short period, and he is
not a man to shirk trouble. He came on board the
Couper late at night for the purpose of tallang this
matter over.

" SATURDAY, MARCH 9.
" I wrote some of the foregoing yesterday and
some to-day. We left Kewkiang this morning,
and shall do eighty miles to-day ; the best day's
work we have done yet. We are now reduced to
the Coromandel, the Couper, and the Snake, and a
gunboat following as best she can. To-morrow
(Sunday) we stop, Monday we expect to be at
Hankow. The Atalanta was left at Hukau. The
overland party have been turned over to us. The
Couper will probably go on beyond Hankow with
them, and we shall ' e left on shore there. The
Snake is to remain at Hankow. The Admiral is
to proceed up the river.
_ _

The navigation of the river is remarkably
easy. The charts have proved very correct. All
difficulties are over when Kiangyin is reached ; in
fact, the Langshan crossing may be said to termi-
nate the difficult navigation. There are six feet
more water in the river now than when the last
expedition was here, and a vessel drawing 20 feet
of water could have accompanied us so far. Boats
sail up against the stream in all parts of the river ;
they cheat the tide by hugging the shore. The
greatest strength of current we have experienced
since we got above tidal influence is two to two and
a-half knots per hour. We have gone very slow
until the last two days—either towinglunboats or
keeping company with vessels that did, and only
travelling by daylight, and yet I shall have been
just ten days under steam from Woosung to Han-
kow, and some of them broken days. That, there-
fore, T should consider the longest passage a steamer
ought to make, barring stoppages.
" We have seen more junks on the river to-day
than all the time since we left. The rebel posses-
sions terminate at Nanking, and although evidences
of former ravages of the rebels are everywhere visi-
ble, the aspect of the country perceptibly improves
as you ascend.

"I close this, as the Yang-tse is expected to take
letters, and she may pass us any moment on her
return."

DEATH OF THE DUK.E 01 BED-

FORD, E.G.

The Duke of Bedford, who has for some months
past been in declining health, expired yesterday
afternoon at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, shortly
after two o'clock. Lord John Russell, and Mr. F.
H. Russell were summoned by telegraph at an
early hour, and at rived at Woburn in time to be
present at the Duke's death-bed.

The late Right Hon. Francis, seventh Duke an d
Earl of Bedford, Marquis of Tavistock, Baron
Russell of Thornhaugh, and Baron Howland of
Streatham, county of Surrey, in the peerage of
England, was the eldest son of John, sixth Duke,
by his first marriage with the Hon. Georgiana
Elizabeth Byng, second daughter of George, Vis-
count Torrington. He was born May 13, 1788,
and married August 8, 1808, Lady Anna Maria
Stanhope, eldest daughter of Charles, third and late
Earl of Harrington, by whom, who died in July,
1857, his Grace leaves issue an only son, William
Marquis of Tavistock, now Duke of Bedford. The
deceased peer was educated at Westminster School,
whence he removed to Trinity College, Cambridge,
to complete his studies. Before he graduated as
M.A. in 1808 he had gone the tour of Europe, as
customary in those days. On his return to Eng-
land he entered the House of Commons as M.P.
for Bedfordshire, which county he represented
in six consecutive Parliaments, until he was
summoned, in December, 1832, to the House
of Lords in his father's barony of Howland.
The late Duke, during his public career in the
Lower House, voted on all occasions with the Whig
party, and, although an unfrequent speaker in the
House of Peers, invariably supported the views and
measures of the Whig Governments. On the death
of his father, in October, 1839, he succeeded to the
dukedom. In 1852 he was appointed Special
Deputy-Warden of the Stannaries, and on the death
of the late Earl de. Grey was made Lord-Lieutenant
of 13edfordebirc. In 1R46 he was made a member
of the Privy Council, and the year following a
Knight of the Order of the Garter. On the death
of Lord Macaulay he became High Steward of
Cambridge. By his death the extensive estates
belonging to the house of Russell in Bedfordshire,
Devonshire, Herts, Cambridgeshire, and Middlesex,
as well as the titular honours, devolve upon his
only son, William, born in 1809. The present
duke was M.P. for Tavistock from 1832 to 1841.

THE GREAT SHIP COMPANY.

Tho following circular from the Great Ship
Company shows the critical state of the company's
finances:—

The Great Ship Company (Limited), 90,
Cannon-street, London, Mey 10.
Sir,—By the desire of the directors I appealed to
the principal proprietors by a circular, dated the
1 23d April last, to raise the sum of £35,000 on de-
, bentures at six months date, bearing interest at
the rate of 7 per cent. per annum. I regret in con-
• sequence of the response to that appeal having
been so small, that I have again to address you.
The directors now offer you an additional induce-
ment. The state or your affairs is critical. By
immediate aid your property will be saved, with-
out it it will be sacrificed. The decision in the
Court of Common Pleas in favour of Mr. Russell
has thrown an additional liability on the company
(including principal and costs) of about £21,000,
to say nothing of the great loss sustained in pas-
sengers, owing to the uncertainty created in the
minds f the public by the writ of execution. The
directors have paid in cash £8,596 9s. 4d.,
and have given a mortgage to Mr. Russell for
£11,340 (payable one month after the return of
the ship to Liverpool), together with other mort-
gages and liens,amountieg in the whole to L 35,000.
If the money is not raised within the stipulated
time the ship will be sold by the mortgagees. By
great exertions the directors overcame the difficul-
ties which occurred almost at the eleventh hour.
The ship sailed on the promised day in perfect
order and equipment. They have no doubt that
the results of the voyage will increase the estima-
tion to which she is entitled, and that her value
will thereby be augmented. They ask you now to
contribute towards releasing her from her difficul-
ties. The security is unquestionable ; the pecuniary
inducement offered is large, and they feel confident
you will respond to their appeal. The directors pro-
pose to raise the above sum of £35,000 on deben-
tures at 12 months (in any amounts z,f not less than
£lO each) bearing ten per cent. interest. A first
mortgage will be given to two trustees' with poli-
cies of insurance to cover the amount. There will
be no other claim on the ship, and these debentures
will stand prior to any future claim. The directors
beg your immediate reply, stating the amount of
debentures you will be willing to take, and for
which purpose a form of application is annexed. I
should add that the directors are precluded from
accepting any offer for the employment of the ship
in America or elsewhere until the present mort-
gagees are satisfied. The directors _have resolved
upon calling a special general meeting of the pro-
prietors for Friday, the 31st inst. I enclose a copy
of the advertisement convening the same ; but the
directors think it due to the proprietors that they
should have an opportunity of discussing affairs
prior to the date when a meeting can be legally
held. lam therefore desired to request the favour
of your attendance at meeting, at the
a preliminary
London Tavern, Bishopsgate•street, on F
next, the 17th inst., at one o'clock precisely.—
I am, Sze. J. H. YATES, Secretary

REMOVAL OF A TOMBSTONE BY ORDER OF THE
Bisrcor OF RIPON.-A tombstone placed at the grave of
the late W. Priestman, Esq., in the parish churchyard of
Richmond has been forcibly removed. The stone consists
of an ornamental cross, with a crown of thorns encircling
the sacred monogram "1.R.5." The stem of the cross
divides the front of the stone into two compartments, on
the left side of which is the following inscription :—" Of
your charity pray for the repose of the soul of William
Priestman, who departed this life September 6, 1860, aged
62 years. R. I. P. Eternal rest give to him, 0 Lord."
Running down the :Aim of the cross are the following
words—" Miserere me Deus." We need scarcely remark
that the interference has arisen in consequence of the pur-
gatorial doctrine implied in the inscription. After the stone
had been up for about a week we are informed an order was.
received from the Bishop of Ripon, addressed to the rector
or his representative, that it should be at once removed.
This having been notified to the family of Mr. Priestman,
they declined to comply with bishop's orders. On the com-
munication of the refusal, the church authorities directed
the immediate removal of the stone, which was carried out
(N 3 Saturday 14fiti—Port clonfcki