The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-16 00:00:00

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.

PLYMOUTH, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Tagus, Captain Edward Christian, from Gibraltar
for Southampton, arrived here this morning, hav-
ing in tow the dismasted ship Martin Luther, Cap-
tain Gordon, of and from Liverpool, with 498 pas-
sengers for Quebec. The Tagus left Gibraltar on
the 6th of April, Cadiz on the 70, Lisbon on the
9th, and Vigo on the 11th. Her cargo consists of
10 packages of specie value 4,1.32/., 117 boxes of
eggs, 11 quarter-casks of wine, 609 A cheats of
oranges, 3 half-boxes of tangerines, 143 boxes of
dates, 61 bags of coffee, and 23 packages of sundries.
Among the passengers ate Lady Buchanan, from
Gibraltar, Sir Morton Peto and Major Atcherly,
from Lisbon.
At Gibraltar the screw steamships Cressy, 80,
Captain Richard L. Warren ; the Curlew, 9, O.
W. Horton ' • the paddle-wheel steam-ship SViinx,
6, Capt. A. Wilmot; and the s w
cre steam-ship Ma-
jestic, 80, Capt. J. Hope, left for England on the
6th of April.
At Lisbon the screw steam-ships Princess Royal,
91, Capt. G. Giffard ; Exmouth, 90, Capt. Harry
Eyres ; Colossus, 80, Captain T. S. Thompson ' .
a
Brazilian corvette, a Dutch screw steam -ship ()f 8
guns, and.the Belgian steam-ships Telonia and Me-
tropolis ; the screw steam-ship Atlantic, and
Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship
Alhambra, with the out ward mails, arrived at at Vigo
on the morning of the 11th, having experienced
very heavy gales.
April 11 passed a yacht a showing Union Jack
over No. 59, running towards Vigo.
The Martin Luther, 1,241t0ns relfster, left Liver-
pool on the 9th with 498 passengers and 1,200 tons
general cargo for Quebec. On Sunday, the 12th, in lat.
50 N.,long. 8 W., she experienced. very heavy wea-
ther rom the north-west. At Bp. m., when under
double-reefed topsails and
with a
them
reefed
-LT-gallant mast was carried
l foresail, the main-
Monday, when under away. A 5 a.m. on
close-reefedt maintopsail only,
the fore and niaintopm
to the caps, taking with
carried away close
sem the boatswain, John
Westwood, of Dunfermlinewh Peter Branagan, and
,
three other seamen,
endeavouring o were on the weateer yard-
armto secure the foresail, which had
broken adrift. They were all unfortunately
drowned. In order to clear the wreck the officers
and crew cut away the mainmast, which dragged
the inizenmast with it, and she thus became un-
manageable. On Tuesday morning she was fast
drifting to leeward before a heavy sea and noitii-
west wind, and was only 18 miles from Usbant,
when she was providentially sighted by the Tagil-,
Which, after considerable danger to herself and
damage to the lifeboat, succeeded about noon in
rescuing her. The hull of the Martin Luther is in
good condition, but in consequence of the heavy
weather most of the berths were broken and
knocked down,
,and the passengers have suffered
severely.

SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY, 10 A. m.
The Tagus steamer has just arrived from Ply-
mouth, bringing the-, Southampton portion of the
Peninsular mails, all the rest having been landed
at Plymouth. She had a full cargo.
At Lisbon, on the 9th April, were Ler Majesty's
ships Exmouth, Princess Royal, and Colossus.
The Plumper had left the previous day.
Lisbon Exehange—Bills at three mouths on

Londou were quoted 531, with money over, and a
scarcity of paper ; Pans, 533, in. demand ; Ham-
burg, 47 ti 47i, in-demand.

Ttae stamer Genova, from the Brazils, put into
Lisbon on the Bth for coals. She left Rio eight
days after the Tamar. Her dates were—Rio de
Janeiro, March 5 ' • Bahia, 10th ; Pernambuco, 14th;
St Vincent, 28th; Madeira, April 5.
The mail steamer Medway arrived at Pernam-
buco on the sth, :and was expected at Rio in time
to leave for Southampton on the 17th.
Sugars iii active d, mand at Pernambuco, avd an
advance on browns. Freights dull. Exchange
271 d. Yellpw fever had quite disappeared, and
Pernambuco heal hy.
At Bahia sugars also in active demand. 'No
cotton on hand: Freights so London, 40s. ; Liver-
pool, 305..; the Charnel, 455. Exchange 281 d.
Gibraltar Exchaoges, on the 4th of April, were--
London, 511 d. to 510. ; Paris, sf. 360.

ELECTION OP SCOTTISH REPRESENTA-
TIVE PEERS.

Tho election of 16 Peers to represent Scotland in
the ensuing Patliament took place on Tuesday
within the Picitrie Guiltily of Holyrood-house.
Principal e openel the proi:eedings with prayer.
Mr. John Russ.il read the Royal prodlamation
appointing the 'election, as also a certificate that the
proclamation had been read at the Cross of

burgh.
The following 18 peers answered to their names :
The Duke of Atholl, the Duke of Montrose, the
Marquis of Tweeddale, the Marquis or Lothian, the
Earl of Morton, the Rirl of Perth, the Earl of
Lauderdale, the Earl of Wemyss and March, the
Earl of Airlie, the Earl of Leven and Melville, the
Earl of Kintore, the Earl of &afield, Viscount
Stratballan,, Lord Blantyre, Lord Colville of Cul-
ross; Lord Belhaven and Stenion, Lord Rollo, and
Lord Polwarth. The oaths of allegiance, supre-
macy, and abjuration were administered to and
subscribed by these peers.
Their votes were then called for by signed lists,
which each'peer first read and then handed in to
the clerks. All of the lists contained the names of
the 16 peers who repreienied Scotland in the House
of Lords in the last Parliament—namely, the Mar-
quis of Tweeddale, the Earl of Morton, the Earl of
Home, the Earl of Strathmore, the Earl of Airlie,
the Earl of Leven and MelviLe, the Earl of Sel-
kirk, the Earl of Orkney, the Earl of Seafield,
Viscount Strath.allan, Lorl Grey, Lord Sinclair,
Lord Elphinstone, Lord Colville of Culross, and
Lord Blantyre, and Lord Polwarth.
r. Russell then declared the 16 Peers named
duly returned to serve in the ensuing Parliament,
and signed and sealed the return in the customary
form, .
The assemblage then.dispersed.

EDUCATION IN THE ARMY.

GENERAL ORDER.

HORSE GUARDS, S. W.,, 9th April, 1857.

His Royal Highness the General Commanding-
in-Chief having had under his serious considerations
the question of Araiy Education, especially as re-
lating to qualifications for staff' appointments, is
pleas.-3d to promulgate, for general information,
that from and after the Ist of Januar3, 1858, t
undermentioned acquirements. will be ,considered
indispensable before appointment to the situations
annexed.

Every officer, before appointment, will be re-
quired to undergo an examination on the subjects
mentioned, in such manner as shall be hereafter
announced.

This regulation is not intended to affect officers
now on the staff.

QUALIFICATIONS OF STAFF OFFICERS.

To write a distinct and legible hand, and com-
pose English correctly.
To have a good colloquial knowledge of one
foreign language.

Tohave-a good eye for a country, and to be able
to produce an intelligible sketch of it.
To know the use of the sketching compass, or
pocket sextant—in order to lay down and protract
the leading features of the country to be described.
To have a thorough knowledge of regimental
duty,—and tactics, and field movements on an ex-
tended scale.

_
Also a knowledge of field fortification, both as
regards construction and correct description on re-
connaissance.
To have all the qualifications of a good adjutant
—the same acquirements as are exacted from an
aide-de camp--and a thorough knowledge of mili-
tary law, and the Army and War-office regulations.
The following further acquirements will he re-
quired to qualify for Deputy-Ass:stants Adjutant
General, and Deputy-Assistants Quarter Master
General, _ _ _ _

Practical sketching, both on horseback, called
" flying sketching," as well as correct and finished
[,lotting; practical trigonometry and geometry,
with knowledge of logarithms.
To write, read, and speak at least one foreign
language—to judge of ground and its proper
occupation by all arms;—to-have a perfect know-
ledge of castrametation, and the principles of per-
manent fortification ; ,
And to be thoroughly acquainted with geography
and military —especially as relates to the
campaigns and modern commanders.
a
To the whole of the foregoing will be added for
Assistants Adjutant and Assistants Quarter-Master
General, the elements of mechanics, hydrostatics,
and geology ;—the construction of military bridges',
dams, &e. ;—an aquaint nee with the principles a
strategy ;—and statistics of the army.
All staff officers should be able to ride well.
By c,)mmand of his Royal Highness, the General
Commanding-in-Chief,
G. A. WETHERALL, Adjutant-General.