The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-15 00:00:00

U 1 E 13 A Y EVENIN

all about want to v. -
dritaul the samples,
to Noigh tht am iri to balance, to test theidlliy all
the lrapid and refined tests of their mercantile

e.xperit,nce.
Dr. I'.4ITINGSTON is, therefore, at once, good
humour edly but searchingly catechised. Mr.
CEIEETH Of, M.P., stands before him on the plat-
form lik e an embodied note of interrogation. The
travelled. missionary is called upon to evidence
before ral attentive audience of merchants and
manufacturers, powers of memory in some respects
more extraordinary than those formerly displayed
by G.IiIORGE BIDDER, or those now-a-days exhibited
by poor purblind JA.CQITES WINCICLER, the Swiss*
calculator. Dr. LIVINGSTON has recollections,
however, to fall back upon vouchsafed to not one
other man among all the millions of his contem-
poraries. He can laugh to scorn every system of
Mnemonics, however ingenious. He can snap
his fingers in the face of Major BENIOWSRI and
his competitors. He has witnessed sights with
his own eyes that to behold once is to remember
ever afterwards. Recalling some of the more
curious among his many strange remembrances,
he begins his recital.

It is the country traversed by the great Zambesi
River that he is describing—the fruitful African
regions traversed by that Silent Highway and
irrigated on either hand by the waters of its
numerous tributaries.

He talks of pasturage there, the grass of which
flourishes to such an astounding height that when
he rode through it, seated upon the back of an
ox, he had to hold his hands above his head to
keep it out of his eyes ! He tells of wheat grow-
ing there the ears of which extended from his
waist to the tips of his fingers ! The soil where
these Brobdignagian blades of grass and corn
abound, he describes as fertile almost beyond the
limits of credulity. All it requires, he declares to
be simply this—that a slave woman with a little
hoe should make a little hole in the ground, drop
a few seeds in and push back the soil with her
foot. As a consequence of which, he says, there
is a crop of wheat four months afterwards ready
for the sickle ! This simple operation of the hoe
and the toe of the slave woman answering all the
purposes of subsoiling, ploughing, draining, lim-
ing, and manuring ! It is for all the world the
realization of the land of plenty once wittily de-
scribed by DOUGLAS JERROLD as a region so rich and
so sympathetic to the toil of the husbandman
that you had only to tickle it with a hoe and it
laughed into harvests ! So it really is with Africa
all along the verdurous course enriched by the
fattening current of the Zambesi. There—Dr.
LIVINGSTON tells us, not upon hearsay but from
his own personal knowledge—abound twenty or
thirty different kinds of fruits altogether strange
to the palates of European epicures ; fibrous pro-
ducts finer and stronger than flax ; elephant-ceme-
teries of ivory 1 countless apiaries full of beeswax!
iron ore, copper ore, even malachite ! Mr.
CHEETHAM asks him a pertinent question very
much like the humourously impertinent one
CHARLES LAMB put to a correspondent of his, to
whom he was writing all the way to the then re-
gion of the penal settlements in Australia—" Da
you grow your own hemp ?" Well, replies Dr.
LIVINGSTON to his Querist—lf the Africans don't
grow hemp they grow a number of fibrous plants,
and among them buaze, the fibre of which is
worth from 501. to 601. a ton. Above all says
the great African Traveller they grow cotton—
And from cotton Commerce ! And from
Commerce—Civilisation and Christianity. A
magnificent prospect opens before our ima-
gination at those suggestive words—a pros-
pect gloriouo for Africa, for Eugland, for the
whole Eastern Hemisphere. In talking thus
we are not simply dreaming dreams, we are talking
of what is actually practicable, of what we believe
to be at this moment to be within reach of our
grasp, within the limits of realization. May the
project be indeed and very speedily realized !
Then will the noble:4 earthly recompense have
fallen to the lot of an earnest and true philan-
thropist.

ROYAL VISIT TO WENTWORTH-HOUSE —The Sheffield
Independent of Saturday hat states authoritatively that
the Queen and the Prince Consort will honour the Earl
of Fitzwilliam with a visit at Wentworth-house, near
Rotherham, on their return from Scotland, on Thurs-
day, the 15th of October next. Her Majesty, when Prin-
cess Victoria, visited Wentworth-house, with the Duchess
of Kent, in September, 1835, on their return from the
grand musical festival at York.
His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the
Countess de Persigny will leave the residence of the em-
bassy on Thursday, for Paris, en cone for a short period.
His Excellency the Count Chreptowitch, Russian
Minister at this Court,,has returned to Cheshain House
from a tour of visits in Scotland. The Countess Chrep-
towitch is still sojourning at Wiesbaden.
The Duke of Beaufort arrived in to wn on Saturday
last, from Badminton. The noble duke, accompanied
by Sir W. C. Codrington, Bart., M.P., left yesterday, to
attend the race meeting at Doncaster.
The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland are at Dunrobin
Castle, surrounded by a select circle of friends.
The Duchess Dowager of Norfolk and Lord and Lady
Edward Fitzalan Howard have left town, on a visit to
the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, at Dunrobin
Castle. _ _

The Marquis de Noailles has arrived at Claridge's
Hotel, from Ryde, Isle of Wight.
The Earl of Wilton arrived yesterday at Heaton Hall,
near Manchester, where the countess and family are
staying, from a cruise in his lordship's yacht. The noble
earl goes to Doncaster to-day.
The Earl Fitzwilliam and the Ladies Wentworth Fitz-
william have arrived at Wentworth House, Yorkshire,
from Milton Park, near Peterborough. Viscount and
Viscountess Milton have joined the family patty from
his lordship's seat in Ireland.
The Earl and Countess of Macclesfield returned on
Friday from a Continental tour, and have since gone to
Sherborna Castle, Oxfordshire, for the autumn.
Baron Ebury (Lord Robert Grosvenor) is staying at
Ardgowan, in Scotland.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston entertained his
Excellency the French Ambassador and the Countess de
Persigny, and a small party, at dinner, last evening, at
Cambridge House.
Lord Panmure and Lord Stanley of Alderley were
expected in town last night, from Scotland. The noble
lords have been called to town expressly to be present
at the meeting of the Cabinet, appointed to meet at
Viscount Palmerston's official residence, in Downing•
street to-day.
Tee Counts Bethlen and Kornes (attaches to his
Majesty the Emperor of Austria) have arrived at the
Brunswick Hotel, Jerrnyn-street, from Vienna.
Dr. Rae's schooner, the Iceberg, with which he in-
tended next spring to go in search of Sir John Franklin's
remains, is supposed to have been lost on Lake Ontario
with ail on board.
CLOSE OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY.—On Friday the
National Gallery, Trafalgar•-square, and the Vorn'n and
Turner Collection of Paintings at Marlborough House,
Pall-Mall, were closed to the public until Monday, the
2Gtir of Oct., when they will be re-opened.
ANECDOTE OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPTL—I think
the most curious fact, taken altogether, that I ever heard
of the eleutrio telegraph was told me by a cashier of the
B ink of England. " Once ripen a time, then, on a cer-
tain Saturday night, the folks at the Bank could nut
make the balance came right by just 1001. This is a seri
ous matter in that little establishment : I do not mean
the cash, but the mistake in arithmetic; for it Pensions
a world of scrutiny. An error in balancing has been
known, I am told, to keep a delegation of clerks from
each office at work semetimes through the whole night.
A hue and cry was of course made after this 1001., as if
the ()id lady in Threadneedle-street would be in the
9azette for want of it. Luckily on the Sunday morning
a clerk (i❑ the tnidula of the sermon, I dare say, if the
truth were known) felt a suspicion of the truth dart
through his mind quicker than any flash of the telegraph
its(ll. He told the c:rief cashier ou Monday morning
that perhaps the mistake might have occurred in pack
ins some boxes of specie for the West Indies, which
ha•l been rent to Southampton for shipment. The sug-
gestion was immediately acted upon. Here was a race
—lightning against steam ! and steam with 43 hours'
steel given. Instantly the wires asked whether such a
vessel had left the harbour ?" Just weighing anchor,'
was the answer. 'Stop her,' frantically shouted the elec-
tric telegrapb. It was done. Have up on deck eel -
tain boxes marled so and so ; weigh thorn careful!y.'
They were weighed ; and one—the delicquent-
found heavier by just one packet of a hundred soy reigns
than it ought t) be. 'Let her go,' said the mystezi. u
telegraph. The West India folks were debited with ju_t
100/. more, and the error was corrected without ever
looking into the boxes or delaying the voyage by en
hour. Now that is what may be call I 'doing business.'
_Letters of R, E. H. Gruson.

SUICIDE Paoli WATEBI.OO MuDGE.---Yestesday morn-
ing, about four o'clock, a man dressed like a mechanic
precipitated himself into the Thames. At low water the
body was found, and taken to Lambeth 'Workhouse to
be owned, and for an inquest.

The Stock Exchange Committee have appointed Tues-
day, the 22d, as se!tling day for the National Guaran-
teed Manure Company, but the shares are not to be
marked in the official list. The several shares of the
Eastern Counties Railway are henceforth to be quoted
as stock.

COLLISION OFF GRAVESEND.—The Lord Mayor yes-
terday received a communication from Mr. C. NV. James,
the principal harbour-master, stating that at four o'el :ck
that morning the screw steamer Fyenoord, of Rotter-
dam, and the tug Sampson, belonging to the Shipowners'
Company, had come into collision in Gravesend Reach,
and that the latter vessel was sunk outside the coal-hulk
Magnet.
M. Jullien (says the Musical World) has left London
to repose from his labours, and renovate himself for the
winter season at her Majesty's Theatre. Always active,
ho Never, oven in the holidayg, he will visit Vienna, to
conclude an engagement with the popular Jetty Treffz,
whose immortal " Trab, trab" is.once more to fascinate
a London audience. . _

SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.—During the week
ending Sept. 12, 1857, the visitors have been as fo'lows:
—On Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free days,
2,997 ; on 'Monday and Tuesday, free evenings, 5,863.
On the three students' days (admission to the public, 6d.),
367 ' • one stedents' evening, Wednesday, 102. Total,
9,329.
Intelligence from Cbina, vin Kjachta, give a deplore-
Ile picture of the condition of Pekin and the southern
provinces of the empire. Commerce has almost ceased,
and the wretchedness of the people is augmenting daily.
The Goverrnioent has issued iron money to pay the em-
ployee, and to purchase corn, whilst it requires the taxes
to be paid in silver.
THE CHINESE IN AIISTRALIA.--The numb& of Chin a
men in the district of Ballarat East, according to the
la,t census, is 10,000, of whom six are married to
women of European descent. It may not be unihterest-
ing to k now that the majority of the ladies claim Scot-
land as their birth-place.--Australian and New Zealand
Gazette..

THE PRESS OF AIISTRALIA.—The total number of
newspapers now issued in the Australian colonies
amounts to 81. Victoria has six daily and 38 weekly
and 'bi-weekly ; New South Wales two daily and 18
weekly and hi-weekly ; Tasmania five daily and three
weekly and tri-weekly ; and in %V tern Australia there
ara four weekly journals.—Australian and New Zealand
Gazette.

The Journal de Constantinople states that the Porte
has granted a concession to Messrs. Price, Larkins, and
Joyce for a _railway from Sameoun to Sivas, a distance
of 250 miles, through a very fertile country. The capital
is to be 4,000,00001., with a 7 per cent. guarantee from
the Turkish Government. It is intended to construct
the line in three portions, the second of which will ter-
inmate at the copper mines of Tokat.
According to a circular of Arles Dufour, of Lyons,
the French silk market continues heavy, owing to the
natural tendency to reaction from the late exaggerated
rise, and the general decreate in consumption. The
period, however, is approaching for the receipt of the
Ame ican orders for the spring trade, as well as those
of the European manufacturers, and as the latter are be-
lieved to have completely exhausted their stocks a partial
revival is anticipated.
The Star of Peace has arrived from Australia with
91,522 sovereigns, and the Sardinian with 4,965 ounces
of gold, valued at 19,860/. The George Marshall is also
reported, but the gold by her is stated to amount to only
2.1301. The Atrato frms the West Indies has brought
174 0001., of which 90,000/. is gold. The Tagns from
the Peninsula has 3,1201., and the Arabia from New
Yo k 11,0001., making an aggregate receipt yesterday of
301,6321.
ADDRESS TO THE WIDOW OF THE LATE BISHOP OF
LoNDoN.—Yesterday the family of the late Bishop of
London took their departure from the episcopal palace
at Fulham. Prior to leaving, an address, signed by all
the inhabitants, was presented to Mrs. Blomfield, ex-
pressing " their grateful and respectful regard to Mrs.
Blomfi•ld on the intended removal of herself and her
family from the palace, which they have now occupied
for nearly 20 years."
DEATH OF AN ATTEAPTED MURDERER.—On Saturday
Mr. Bedford held an inquest at Milibank Prison, on the
body of George Dickinson, aged 56, a convict therein.
It appeared that deceased, who was formerly an afflaent
tradesman in Leeds, was received into the above prison
on the 7th May last, under sentence of transportation
for 20 years, for havirg attempted to murder his wife.
He died on Monday n'ght last, the cause of death being
cancer in the stomach. Verdict—Natural Death,

In the general business of the Port of London during
the prat week there has been moderate activity. The
number of ships reported inward was 206, being 54 less
than in the previous week. These included 26 with
cargoes of grain, rice, &c., 6 with cargoes of coffee,
11 with cargoes of eager, 3 with cargoes of fruit, and
one from Snanghai with 7,120 packages of tea and
995 bales of silk. Tie total number of vessels cleared
outward wal 120, including 12 in ballast, showing an
increase of four.

The Inverness Courier says :—" His Grace the Duke
of Leedc, after enjoying the sport of deer-stalking last
week in the Colen Forest, paid a visit to Shieldaig of
ApplecrosA, a part of his estate. lie was waited upon
by a deputation of the Free Church party, supplicating
his Grace for a site fur a -free church and manse. His
Grace at once offered them a free gift of the same.
During his visit he also pointed out to his factor a house
belonging to hie Grace which he wished to be immedi-
ately repaired and converted into a school for the use of
the village children."
THEFTS UNDER TIN GALLOWS.—There were four
cases of robbery from the person at the execution of
Captain Rogers, at Kirkdale, on Saturday. In one case
Edward Smith was charged before the Liverpool
magistrates with steiliag the silver watch of Alexander
Martin, bat as there vas no conclusive evidence, the
prisoner was diech4rged. There were three charges
against a lad named Smith, upon all of which ho 'was
committed for trial. He stile a watch from George
Taylor, an old man ; another from John Connor, a
sailer ; and picked the pocket of Miss Adelina. Clark of
6s. 6d. and a handkerchief.

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENIAT BATTERSEA BRlDGE.—Yes-
terday morning a shocking accident occurred to Win.
Smith, a labourer employed in the repairs of Battersea
Bridge. The unfortunate man was working at a lever,
when some of the tackle connected with the machinery
erected on the bridge gave way, by which he war pr. -
cipitated into the well beneath. When extricated from
his situation it was discovered that both his legs were
fractured severely, and ho had also received severe
contusions on the head. He was conveyed to St.
George'e Hospital.
THE FLOATING ISLAND ON DERWENTWATER.—This
remarkable phenomenon was seen for the first time this
year on Tnursday week, and ie much larger in appear-
ance than has been seen for several years back, its length
being about 30 yards by 10 broad ; and it is somewhat
remarkable that it should invariably appear in Septem-
ber, as we find in 1849_ it appeared on the 13th, in 1850
on the 22d, in 184 on the 27th, and in 1854 on the
13th, brit on ail these occasions it was only visible for a
few (lays, being submerged in consequence of heavy
rains, but if fine weather continua it may probably re-
main visible for a longer period.—Kendal Mercury.
THE LICENSED PORTERS AT DOVER.---At a meeting of
the Dover Local Board of Health, on Thursday, the
master of the porters, named Griggs, and a porter
named Baker, were suspended—,the former for three
months and the latter for one month. Yoe offence of
Griggs was that he had omitted to eater in the report
book a complaint against Baker, who had insolently
refused to carry a passenger's luggage to Waterloo.
crescent. The mayor observed that, in the course of the
investigation, a sad want of discipline and order had
been found to pervade the body of licensed porters, and
that the board, if they acted upon his suggestion, would
promptly set itself t ) the task of remedying the. same.
A MAGISTRATE FINED FOR SHOOTING WITHOUT A
GAME CERTIFICATE.—At the Aylesbury Petty Sessions
on Saturday last (before Capt. Hamilton and a full bench
of magistrates), Mr. J. . T. Senior, one of the magistrat,s
of the county, residing at Broughton Hail, near Ayles-
bury, was charged with shooting without a game certi-
ficate, whereby he had rendered himself liable to a
penalty of 51. It was proved that the defendant eves
seen to fire at a covey of four partridges, and that ho
wounded one of the birds. The defendant's solicit.T
admitted the fact that Dlr. Senior had no game certifi-
cete, but said it was entirely an accidental omission on
his part. The fact was, that he bad made application
fer the certificate to the old assessor instead of the new
one, 'and that was the reason he was not iu possession of
out. He submitted that, as there had been no intention
to defraud, a very moderate fine would be suffleient.
Captain Hamilton ordered the defendant to pay a fine of
51., including costs.
PAINFUL CATA.STROPHE.—The tidings reached Edin-
burgh on Sunday of a very afflicting casualty having
taken place at Dunbar the prievous afternoon, whereby
Mr. William Wilson, of London, and three of his family
lo,t their lives. The family had recently come from
Loudon to enjoy a few weeks' sea-bathing, and severel
t.f them were on the beach on Saturday afternoon. Two
of the youngest, it is sa'd, went in to bathe, when the
rough sea becoming too much fer them they were iti
danger of being drowned, when the father and eldest
brother rushed in after them ; but all of thorn perished '
in the PiaPCF. The distracted mother, too, it is added,
endeavoured to fo low them, into the water to give her
vain assistance, but was only saved by being forcibly
drawn back again. The eldest daughter Helen was 16
years old, the younger Alice 14, arid the son James 18.
The father's body bad not been recovered on Saturday
evening.

YOUNG LADY ATTACIKED BY A BEAll.—Such of our
readers as have joined in any of the summer excursions
to the Flat Helms, will have doubtless had their notice
attracted by a bear of Some size, which is kept tethered
by the owner of the Oa Monday last a young
lady of Clifton, was on the Helms, walking in c)mpany
witt a gentleman, when she unfortunately approached
too close to the brute, whose tether v. as of consideravle
I,.ngth, and was attacked by him with great ferocity.
The bear ft.t2i.ed his teeth in Ler person, threw her
down, and larzgtd Ler with great violence. Her
screams and the shouts of the gentleman who was with
her attracted others to the spot, and efforts were imme-
dAttely used to induce the beast to release Lis victim.
Chia proved a work of some difficulty. Oae gentleman
broko Lis mnbrtlla to pieces in beiabouriog him, while
oth,rs triad the efr,cts of blows and kicks upon the
beazl, but all was in vain, until Mr. Hazard, of the Hot-
well:4, made use of a heavy stick which be had with him.
was brought home to Clifton in the steamer,
and has since been under the care of Mr. Greig, sur-
geon. We are told that the saute bear tore a man's
hand a short time previously. Surely something ought
to be done to protect the voyagers from violence.—
.Beiaq Mercury.