The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-26 00:00:00

FRENCH GUN-BOATS.

A letter from Toulon of the 23d inst. informs us
that the gunboats which form the flotilla in that
port are being dispersed. Those which are destined
for the ports in the Atlantic leave two at a time.
The gunboats of the second class, which are going to
Cherbourg, are escorted by those of the Ist class,
which are to be laid up at Brest. The Eclair and
the St. Barbe were the first to leave on the 18th.
They were followed on the 19th by the Fleche and
the Lance. The Redoute sailed the same day,
accompanied by the steam-cutter Promethee. The
Arquebuse, the Salve, and the Poudre were prepar-
ing to sail on the 23d. Three launches had been
placed at the disposal of Admiral Desfosses, by
whom experiments are to be made, as to their speed
and their capability of carrying artillery. The
Tiratneoze, a stebto, latioeh ~-£ 20 horse-pu wer, armed
with three cannon, commanded by a lieutenant, with
a crew of 40 men, and two launches of 16 horse-
power, plated with steel, according to the new sys-
tem, armed with one gun, commanded by a lieute-
nant, with a crew of 10 men, are about to commence
a series of experiments. Admiral Dupony has re-
turned to Toulon on board the steam-frigate Ulloa,
bringing with him the operatives who had put to-
gether the gun brigs at Dezenzano, which were in-
tended to be used on Lake Garda. The Emperor
made a present of these five small boats to King
Victor Emmanuel, and their crews returned to
Toulon on board the Ulloa. These gunboats had
been taken to pieces at Toulon, sent to Genoa, and
thence to the banks of Lake Garda, where they
were to have been used against Peschiera.

His Excellency the Greek Minister and Madame
Tricoupi and Madlle. Tricoupi have left town for Torquay.
The Earl and Countess of Fingal and the Hon.
Mr. Plunkett have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper
Norwood.
Viscount Palmerston left town yesterday for
Osborne, on a visit to her Majesty.
Lord and Lady Ashburton have been staying at
his lordship's shooting quarters in th. Highlands since the
commencement of grouse shooting.
Count John and Lady Cecil de la Field have left
Prince's-gate for Clandon Hall, en route for Devonshire.
Baron and Baroness Henri de I'Espee have arrived
at the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, from Paris.
The Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, Bart., M.P.,
and Lady Mary Wood and Miss Wood have left Belgrave-
square for Hickleton Hall, Yorkshire.
His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury,
attended by the Vicar-General, Dr. Travers Twiss, and by
the Principal Registrar of the Province, Mr. Francis Hart
Dyke, arrived at the Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster,
yesterday at about 3 o'clock, when his Grace, having
directed the Royal writ to be read, prorogued the Convoca-
tion of the Prelates and Clergy of the Province of Canter-
bury, pursuant to the Royal writ, to Friday, Oct. 28.
DEATH OF THE COUNTESS (DOWAGER) OF NOR-
BURY.—We have to announce the demise of the Countess
(Dowager) of Norbury, who expired yesterday morning at
an early hour, at her residence in Belgrave-square. The
late countess married on the Ist January, 1808, the late Earl
of Norbury, which unfortunate nobleman was murdered at
his seat in Ireland in January, 1839. The deceased coun-
tess was mother of Lady Grace Vandeleur, Lady Georgiana
Rebow, Lady Braybrooke, and Lady Isabella Stewart.
The lamented lady was only daughter and heiress of Mr.
Wm. Brabazon, of Brabazon Park, county Mayo.
DINNER TO MR. BONHAM-CARTER AND MR. S.
LEFEVRE.—Yesterday evening a dinner was given at the
Corn Exchange in Winchester, to Mr. Bonham-Carter,
M.P. and Mr. J. Shaw Lefevre, the Liberal candidates for
the city' at the last election. Upwards of 400 persons were
present, among them being the Right Hon. Sir Francis
Baring, M.P.; Mr. T. G. Baring, M.P., Under Secretary
for India ; Sir J. C. Jervoise, M.P. ; Captain Buckle,
R.N. ; Mr. Markham Carter, Mr. Alderman Sheppard, of
Portsmouth; the Rev. W. Thorne' Mr. Johnson, Mr.
Wright, &c. Dr. Crawford occupied the chair.
SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.— The directors of
this company have resolved to recommend the proprietors,
at the ensuing half-yearly meeting, to declare a dividend of
12s. on each £3O stock, being at the rate of 4 per cent. per

annum.
MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—The
directors of this company have decided upon recommending
the proprietors to declare a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent.
per annum, free of income-tax, for the half-year ending the
30th June last.
The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the Thames
Haven Dock Company was held yesterday. The committee
of inquiry appointed inFebruarylast presented their report,
which gave rise to much discussion, the result being the
rejection of the report„and the adoption of a resolution, the
object of which is to allow the committee and the directors
of the company to present a joint report at an adjourned
meeting to be held in October next.
The light portion of the Calcutta and China mail
will be delivered in London early on Saturday (to-morrow)
morning. The steamer Northam reached Aden on the 17th
inst. (one day before the contract time), with dates from
Sydney to the 14th of July. from Melbourne t o the 17th,
and from Adelaide to the 20th. The light portion of this
mail, as well as of the Bombay mail, is expected in London
about the 3d of Sept. ; whilst the heavy portion will pro-
bably arrive about the oth of Sept., by the Ripon.
THE SUNKEN FLEET AT SEBASTOPOL.—The ar-
rival of the barque Guisaehan (Mr. R. Hammond, agent)
in thisport, enables us to confirm the statement which we
published a few weeks ago respecting the forlorn appear-
ance of the fortress-city of Sebastopol. The Guisachan left
Sebastopol on the 30th of May, after taking in a part cargo of
guns and bones, and arrived at Balaclava the following day.
Here she completed her cargo, consisting of 400 tons of can-
non and 250 tons of bones, and finally left for England on the
23d June. No enbrts are being made to restore Sebastopol,
and the houses, excepting such as are occupied by the
various ,government functionaries—who are the chief, if
not solo residents—are in the tumble-down state they were
left by a victorious foe. Of legitimate trade there is abso-
lutely none, and when the shipment of guns and bones
shall have ceased, and the sunken fleet of Russia, by
American ingenuity and enterprise, shall have been rescued
from oblivion, utter inanition appears to be the fate of this
memorial of despotism. Operations connected with the
sunken fleet are proceeding rapidly and successfully. Be-
fore the Guisachan left only some 23 vessels remained to
be raised, while the time of the contract, it was understood,
does not expire until May of next year. An attempt was
about being made to raise the Twelve Apostles, which is by
_ far the largest vessel sunk in the harbour.—Hull Advertiser.