The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-27 00:00:00

ever being executed in our country. Their wages
are almost nothing ; I have seen a man engaged
carving foliage on some of the jasper vases, iu a
etyle not excelled anywhere in Europe. whese
wages were three shillings and eightpence per month
with two poods, or thirty-six pounds of ry-e-tlour
Per month made into bread—meat he is never sup-
posed to eat. I have seen another man cutting a
head of Ajax, after the antique, in jasper of two
colours—the ground a dark green, and the head a
yellowish cream colour—ie very high relief, and
intended for a brooch. It was a splendid produc-
tion of are, and would have raised the man to a
high position in any country in Europe except
Ru=sia. He, also, poor man ! received his three
shillings and eightpence per month, and his bread.
There are many men employed in these productions
possessing great genius ; were they free to use their
talents for their own benefit, this country might
send into civilised Europe numerous works of vast
merit." Very little is said about the Siberian exiles ;
indeed, as the work is dedicated to the Emperor
Alexander, it would be invidious. On one occa-
sion the author mentions passing a large party of
convicts marching to eastern Siberia ; seventeen
men and women, in chains, led the van,
who were destined for Nertchinsk, : and had
to march more than 4,000 versts, which would
take them eight months. The others were more
fortunate, having only a march of six months before
them. Eleven women rode behind, some of them
following their husbands into exile. A gang leaves
Ekaterineburg every Monday morning. The author
remarks, that among these convicts are some very
bad men is doubtless, but there are also many who
have been driven by cruel treatment to rebel against
their masters, and a word or blow is enough. Oa
quittine Siberia the author pushed his way into the
steppes of ancient Mongolia, and his account of his
adventures there is full of intei est. He describes
the aouls of the old patriarch chiefs, surrounded by
their flocks and herds, and camels, numbering thou-
sands. By all he was most hospitably .'received,
and mixed freely among them. The meet
exciting part of his narrative is his visit to
the robber chief, Koubaldos, who pretendel to re-
ceive him hospitably, -but -in reality planned to
at►ack and plunder him. It was only at great risk,
and through the greatest caution that the party
escaped. This part is infested by bands of robbers,
who plunder in the most daring manner; and the
author only owed his safety, on one occasion, to
being taken for a robber chief. His fire-arms were
of gaol service to him, as they greatly impressed
-the av,ld and savage beholders. Speaking of this
country, he says, "He who follows -on nay track
will find his rifle will be required for more pur-
poses than obtaining a dinner. His courage and
determination will be tested by men who seldom
show fear, and are ever on the alert. It only by
a steady hand, a quick eye, and skill with his wea-
pon, that he can remain safe from acts of violence.
Plunder is the common trade ; and what is still
worse, the traveller, if not murdered, is carried off
into certain slavery." Many of his most beautiful
sketches were obtained among the mountains.
Speaking of the great chain that separates Siberia
and Mongolia, he says the best idea that
Can be formed of its magnitude, is
by cc mparing it with the Alps, " which can be
crossed in four or five days, while the wanderer
among the Asiatic Alps has lost no time if he con-
trives to cross them is thirty-five." Adventures
with wolves and serpents, with boars and bears, be-
sides the storms on the mountains and the robbers
of the steppe, give excitement and variety to the
work. The novelty of the scenes and the variety'
of the incidents will at once secure for it the inte-
rest and attention of the public. A map of the
writer's course will be of service to the reader in
following his extended route, and the numerous
woodcuts convey an excellent idea of the spots de-
scribed. Besides these, there are numerous coloured
lithographs, which greatly enhance the attractions
of this valuable and interesting work. •

SHIPW.RACKS ON THE GOODWIN-SAXDS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE sm.
SlR,—Your able advocacy of an efficacious design
for the relief of shipwrecked mariners upon the
Goodwin Sands, induces me to put you in posses-
sion of facts relating to this interesting subject,
which may surprise your humane readers.
I am intimately acquainted with an officer of
rank, who not only urged upon the First Lord of
the Admiralty the advantage you have proposed,
but almost in the same words urged upon his lord-
abip the necessity of stationing a large steamer,
with two life-boats attached, near the inner edge of
the Goodwin Sands, so as to be ready to assist the
unfottunate in their time of utmost need, and en-
forcinc,t' his recommendation by stating the fact,
which seems to have escaped general observation,

that a vessel so stationed would be nearer the scenes
of disaster by five and a half miles than the brave
boatmen at Deal, Ramsgate, or Broadstairs, and,
therefore, that relief might be afforded before the
gallant men on shore had been made acquainted
with the circumstance, or the ship become a total
wrdek.
I know, also, that this officer volunteered his
services to pass a winter in the ateamer(not an en-
viable position) to organise the crew of the life-
boats, and to teach them, by his experience, the
best means, under the varied phases of winds and
tides, of giving the most prompt and effectual aid.
But, like the point-blank refusal given to a depu-
tation of the merchants of London, headed by the
Duke of Northumberland, the noble president of
the Royal National Life-boat Institution, the
answer to this officer's appeal was brief, cold, and
discouraging, "That his lordship did not deem it
expedient to place a steam vessel in the Downs, as
a large life-boat."
Thus, it would appear, that the lives of two or
three hundred brave seamen, or loyal subjects,
were nut worth the trouble or the expense !
I remain, &c.

DEATH OB THE VERY REV. PRINCIPAL MACPARLAI.
—The Rev. Dr. Mactarlan, Principal of Glasgow Uni•
versity and minister of the High Church, died on Wed-
nesday, at his residence at the college.
INDIAN MISSIONS' EXTENSION FOND.—Yesterday a
meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel was held at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St.
James's, for the purpose of adopting resolutions for
strengthening and extending their missions among the
Hindoos and Mahorumedans. The Archbishop of Can-

terbury presided. The f Mowing resolutions were unani-
mously agreed to :—" I. That the Church of England
is called, by the late calamitous events in India, to
adopt more energetic measures for the diffusion of the
Gospel in that benighted land ; and that this meeting
will give its hearty support tl the Society for the Pro-
pagation of the Gospel in its efforts to strengthen and
extend its mission among the Hindoos and Mahome-
dans." "2. That the proposal of the society to establish
missions in the presidential and other principal oitiee,
with a view to bring the truths of Christianity before the
upper as well as the lower classes of India, is deserving
of the most cordial approbation and encouragement ; and
that it is desirable to promote, by every available means,
the education, training, and ordination of the more
advanced native candidates for the work of the ministry
among their own countrymen."

INDIAN LETTIRS OF INTRODUCTION.—" As in all
probability the European will be furnished with several
letters of introduction, it may be as well to warn him
that upon the delivery of those credentials, (which
should be sent on his arrival by a Sepoy belonging to
the hotel or club at which he is staying, with his
card and address in full,) the following morning he
should make a persenal call, such being the etiquette
observable in India. He must not anticipate to be cor
dially received, or to have a carte blanche' given him
to renew his visits whenever he may think proper or
convenient ; for an old resident of India, although most
unbounded in his hospitality, must have some intimate
knowledge of an individual—some insight into his habits,
character, &c., ere he fraternises with, or allows a Griffin
(es a uew corner in India is termed) `to put his legs
under his mahogany' whenever he likes. He will be
received with marked and studied politeness, and then
bew ,d out most courteously ; and not until he has es-
t iblished himself, and becomes better known (either
personally or by report) to the old Indian, must he look
for anything beyond the polite bow or nod of recognition,
and perhaps, as a mark of great condescension, an
oecasiocal invite. Still, should any unforeseen misfor-
tune overtake him, then, upon making an application to
him (provided that his entire conduct has been fair and
honourable), the old Indian resident will relax his
rigidity and interest himself most warmly and heartily
in his behalf, and serve him to the very best of his
ability and the uttermost of his power ; but if, on the
other hand, the Griffin has been guilty of any faux
pa.,' or has acted indiscreetly, he has nothing to expect
at the hands of the resident ; his letter of introduction
will not then have the slightest weight with him. So
that, in fact, these credentials are not of much •alue to
any civilian or European on his entrance into Indian
life.—Bradshaufs, Gver/and Guide to India."
Tan LEVILTILtN.—Ii. is wore than probable that in a
day or so another effort will be made to launch this
monster ship. Since the last failure hundreds of work-
men and labourers have been daily employed in recon-
structing the buttresses against which the hydraulic
presses are worked. These, it will be recollected, were
completely smashed in ; so great was the power brought
into action, without being able to move the ship one
inch. The new buttresses are of prodigious extent, and
the engineers employed under Mr. Brunel are sanguine
that that they will be able to resist the uTthmeo
fsorpeow mooring
can be brought to bear upon them.
chain, which gave way, has been re placed by another of
greater strength ; this, with the other chains laid out
from the ship, were all taut last evening, and it. was
generally understood that to-day an attempt will be
wade to haul the ship UP by the head, so as to place her
in a line with her stern on the ways. Her stem, it will
be remembered, moved down the ways some three or
four feat further than her stern did, the effect of which
was that her cradle got jammed in the iron trams on the
ways. In the event of this being effected, an endeavour
will be made to lower the ship down immediately to low
water mark, and there let her stop until Wednesday or
Thureday next for the spring tides.