The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-12 00:00:00

WEST COAST OF AFRICA MAIL.

LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.
The steamer Ethiope, from the West Coast of
Africa, has arrived here with dates from Benin to
Dec. 24 ; Fernando Po, Jan. 14 ; Toneriffe, Feb.
1 ; and Madeira, 2d inst.
The Ethiope brings 2,331 oz. of gold, and £1,400
in specie.

On Jan. 16 she passed the steamer Cleopatra.
The steamer Athenian arrived at Madeira on the
2d inst.

H.M.S. Alecto was at Cape Coast Castle.
The other news brought by the Ethiope is unim
portant.

" THE NEW BANKRUPTCY BILL.

The main features of the scheme now before the
house are these :—The appoinfizent of a chief
judge in bankruptcy; the retention of the present
commissioners with their present functions ; the
assimilation of the law of bankruptcy and insol-
vency ; the transfer to the county courts of all
estates under £300; and generally the reduction
of the official charges now pressing so heavily on
the creditor. The chief judge will have the
power to refuse the certificate, suspend the order
of discharge, or commit the bankrupt to prison
for a period not exceeding one year in certain
cases not strictly coming under the law of misde-
meanor, but yet evincing gross misconduct. On
the other hand, the oppressive powers now vested
in the creditors will be abolished. It will be
recollected that the great stumbling-block of last
session was the assimilation of the law of insolvency
and bankruptcy. The objections then raised with
regard to the bankruptcy of non-traders Sir Richard
Betbell now disposes of, we think, with tolerable
fairness, by three tests-Ist, absconding from the
country with the deliberate intention of defrauding
creditors ; 2d, remaining abroad with a similar
intent; 3d, remaining in prison beyond a specified
time with the view of keeping the creditors out
of their property. The mode in which it is
proposed to get rid of the existing compensa-
tions and deal with the claimants under the new
bill, as well as the reductions it is intended to effect
in the present expenses of the court, we shall dis-
cuss upon a future occasion. The right hon. gen-
tleman seems to anticipate a great simplification of
the existing system, and a considerable saving of
the creditors' money ; and jedging from the general
assent given to the principle of the bill his antici-
pations appear to be well founded. Many hopes
have been sacrificed at its shrine. Even the cor-
poration of the City of London owes something to
the fate impending over Basinghall-street. It is
to be hoped the Fates have been propitiated, and
that a really salutary measure, in accordance with
the wants of the trading community, will be the
result of the labours of the session of 1860-61.--
Morning Herald.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARRET.—Her Majesty,
the Prince Consort, and her Royal Highness the Princess
Alice honoured the performance by their presence last
evening.

LYCEUM THEATRE.—Last evening a new drama,
entitled "The House on the Bridge of Notre Dame," was
successfully produced at this theatre. We are compelled by
pressure on our space to defwr the insertion of our critique
until to-morrow.

BRADFORD ELECTION.—The election of a burgess
to serve in Parliament for the borough of Bradford, in the
place of Mr. Salt, resigned, took place yesterday. There
being no opposition to the return of Mr. W. E. Forster
(Liberal) the proceedings excited less than the usual inte-
rest, but there were from 1,500 to 2,000 persons present.
Mr. Forster was proposed by Mr. Alderman Brown and
seconded by Mr. Alderman Mitchell.

BOLTON ELECTION.—The election for this borough
took place yesterday morning on hustings erected in the
Market-square, where about a thousand people were col-
lected. Mr. Robert Hayward proposed Mr. Thomas Barnes ;
Mr. Jabea Johnson seconded the nomination. There being
no other candidate Mr. Barnes was declared duly elected.
In returning thanks, the hon. member expressed his desire
to give the people greater power and influence, and said he
was in favour of a separation of Church and State.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, SATURDAY EVENING.

MELANCHOLY CATASTROPIIE AT KINGSTOWN,
intelligence reached town this afternoon that
Captain Boyd, of her Majesty's ship Ajax, and 14
men of his crew, were unfortunately drowned about
12 o'clock to-day outside Kingstown Harbour.
The reporter of the Freeman's .Journal gives the
following details in reference to this event :

" Kingstown, Sunday Night.
" It is too true about the fate of poor Captain
Boyd, of her Majesty's ship Ajax, and his gallant
companions. They are gone—lost in their humane
efforts to save the lives of their brother sailors.
Captain Boyd, you are aware, was an Irishman—l
believe anative ofDerry. During his sojourn among
us he gained the esteetn of all for his many good
qualities. A nobler fellow never trod the deck—
beloved by his officers and men. The particulars
under which he came to his death are as follows:
Three large brigs were perceived drifting in towards
the rocks at the back of the East Pier, near to a
short break water that was run out some time ago.
Captain Boyd at once observed their perilous situa-
tion, and, with the true spirit of a sailor, immedi-
ately summoned his men to man boats for the pier.
They landed, and at once proceeded to the other
side of the pier, where the vessels were drifting.
The vessels came on and were smashed on the rocks.
The shrieks of those on board were heard far above
the tempest. Ropes were thrown towards them,
but they were driven back by the force of
the storm. A mortar was used to throw a line,
but it was utterly useless, the wind being too strong.
The poor sailors were then seen to throw them-
selves overboard, and met with instantaneous death.
Some of Captain Boyd's men procured ropes, lashed
themselves with them and plunged into the surf,
to endeavour to get on board either of the ill-fated
vessels, but the sea was too powerful. At this
time a large number of people collected, all willing
and able to assist, but their good intentions were
powerless. Their fellow creatures were drowning
before their eyes at a few yards' distance, and
nothing could be done to save them. Capt. Boyd
saved a few of his own men from death by pulling
them out of the surf. It was at this time 12 o'clock
noon, blowing fearfully. At last there was a
treacherous lull, and an enormous wave came round
the point of the breakwater on which he and his
brave crew were standing, and, as it receded, swept
all that were there into the sea—the gallant cap-
tain and his courageous crew were seen no more.
Others who were standing as spectators narrowly
escaped death—fortunately they wereextricated in
time from their perilous situation by others. A
man named Anderson, who was standing within
a few yards of Capt. Boyd, got his thumb jammed
between the roeks, and thus was miraculously pre-
served to his family. Those who escaped were
bruised and otherwise wounded by the rocks. The
doctors of the town dressed the wounds, and those
sailors who were injured were immediately taken
on board the Ajax, and attended to by Dr.
Buchanan, the surgeon of the ship. This gentle-
man broke the sad intelligence of the fate of poor
Captain Boyd to his wife, who resides on broad.