The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-27 00:00:00

COMMITAICUTIOB WITH INDIA.

gip
The question of the quickest and surest means of c°0113:
munication with our Indian empire is of such vast 01
portance that all su.zestions- bearing on it dein:,
attention ; and with this view we print the followleg •
" CAPTAIN FORD'S SUGGESTIONS RESPECTING THE BEST ROOS:
INDIA FOR TROOPS AND TILE BEST CLASS OF snipe TO OSA
THEM W. t 0
Mine 'failure of all endeavours hitherto mole cis
effect a rapid and direct communication with
the Cape of Good Hope, whether attempted in atisijo
or full-powered steam ships, has been occasionedb "0.
insufficiency of tonnage and power of the vessels
ployed, and by. the loss of time inseparable from cllot
at so many different stations. Our only indepell"l-ir
and natural high road to India is by the ocean. 0
command that route, but have not yet made the best "e 4
of it. In order to overcome the delays and difficult;
adverted to, I suggest the immediate establishment°
line of first-elms iron screw steam ships, of 5,000 tool
measurement each, and fitted with engiue3 of
horse-power. 300
" Tnese ships can bs so constructed as to average
miles per day—a rate of speed that would enable t13,,p
to perform the voyage to or from India, with certait Y
in 41 days—viz,
Eiigland to Cape of Good Hope, or
vice versa
Coaling at the Cape
Cape of Good Hope to CAlcutta, or
vice versa

Total 4l dart.
" The stowage capacity of each ship would coror';'
ample space for 2,000 troops, with their officers, offie'r,,
hones, artillery, baggage, and a large amount of rovr.
tions of war, together with 24 days' fuel, and the I.
quislte quantity of provisions and stores.
"The political advantages of Great Britain PP,gO
sessing a distinct available fleet of this descril'°to
are so obvious as to require no comment, ex•iePtilocl
mention that, in the event of an European war,
an urgent demand for troops, each of thole errd
thous and powerful vessels, upon an emerge d
of that nature, could convey 3000 men from Indifliit
land them at Gibraltar in thirty-six days, or at ga""tbe
thirty-nine days. Should neither the Admiralty Orbipt
East, India Company feel disposed to manage the 800,
referred to, such an addition to our national resoutiod
can only be created and properly worked by 3 1380
company, established under the auspices of her
Government, and which company, if arlevatelf, 6Tril
pi,:ted, I am prepared to orgauise without delay tool
whole matter is simply a question of tonnage, 8, the
power, and capital ; and the events arising out °f ego'
Indian mutiny are likely to be such as to givis
tinuous employment, during many years, to the c'''re
powerful ships alluded to. The Times has trill,
marked that—
" * Transport is the weak point of our naval 81-
It is too evident that we have not yet completed 010
of our nati, nal establishment, and it ought to bq
without delay.' Iba
" Under these circumstances, and con3ideriosl,/
graye position of pubic affairs in the Batt) I, ill'?

well-fmindel hope; that my suggestions will be, dir
mately adopted, although in the meantime antle'doris
comfort and disappointment will have to be e toP'
before her Majesty's troops are conveyed to and or
India in the spacious, well-ventilated, swift, and PllO
ful transports which I am auxidua to establish 013
important route as early as practicable.
" Cry Club, Aug , 1857:" "Jollii 0119'

WRECK IN THE CHANNEL.--LIVEEPOOL, Wedr-e-
--Totebi- rice was received here this afternoon frOndoo
laud by telegraph announcing the total loss in 131.1%/'
Bay, near Trglee, of the Lexington, Capt. Dickinn",
large American ship, laden with cotton and stave', too°
New Orleans, and bound for this port. She is und°P,Defr
to be largely insured in this country. No laves are
tioned as having been lost.
rt
BRITISH ARCHLEOLOGICAL A SSOCIATION.—vO
Syi
day the members visited St: Andrew's Hall, °I d
and the remains of the convent of Black Friars, 11;jett'
paper upon the sulj ct was read by Mr. T. J. • d
grew, Vice-President. The members next visite ire
cathedral, respecting which a paper fall of historiet'op
search was read by Mr, 11. Burnell. The CO'll'l fed
after visiting some other places, went to Caistor, ,pef
miles from Norwich. At Caistor Mr. Fitch read s!ilest'
descriptive of the encampment, and Sir John 13,- De°
ve an account of an examination which ha .Idinß
made for tracing the foundations of a small ,buiroel'
near the spot. A pamphlet by Mr. Hudson ur"
in which that gentleman expressed his conviction°, o
Norwich and not Caistor was the Venta Icenertiof,'
of the RomaLe, was distributed among the ceteo,so
In the evening there was an assembly at the Gni' p/'
Norwich. Mr. Pettigrew, in' the absence of the itio'
Dr. Husenbeth, read a paper prepared by that gelikfr'
man on some of the sacramental fonts of Norfolk.
Planch4 read a brief communication from the g' tie of
Poste, describing some representations of miestriea
painted glass of an early period formerly belOg got
St. James's Church, Norwich. Mr. W. H. Biaeirlie'
a report of his examination during the day of the 'Proor.
dral records. The congress then adjourned till fooP
day, which was occupied with a visit to King's
pF
•
and Castle Rising. g t
A SCANDAL TO THE ADMIRALTY.--THE RENV,;OOO
AN OLD Samox.—Ou Wednesday (yesterday) nsfol
Grant, a veteran sailor, aged 101 years, appeared v
the Chelsea board of guardians, he being destiWe'ool,
laying claim to Chelsea as his parish, from the fast, 00
being apprenticed at Chelsea, to the River Than3e:,
waterman. From the centenarian's statement, 1310 je
born at Maidstone, in Kent, on the Ist of Jas.;, can
He married in 1780, but his honeymoon was a it3a pip
-
one, for on the very day on which he had takes ug Cti
he was met coming from church by a pressigf'D ijd
Tower-hill, and despite Tom's showing fights "t
maiden wife's tears, the Chelsea waterwan was of
,kidnapped and taken on board the London, sloop °„goilj
and proceeded to sea. After being in several e,„ 191
merits, the London was ordered home and 14"
al-aim to complete the nuptials with Susan, rrel-
vbe:ase'iP'
Jones's sailing off Whitehaven deferred the con, wt,
tion of their union for the London was orderedvvt,t, o'et
in pursuit of the for
pirate. In 1801, ;' vain,
with Nelson hotly engaged at Copenhagen, an a Var
this, his ship was captured by the French, g'ool3eo',
spent, 11 years of 'his oluquered life in a Prsilloool,l
Pars. In 1813 he was oil board the saucy frainit)o
and got his leg shattered by a cannon ball lo
Chesapeake. Sir Charles Napier was a to'cl!sacly
nian-of-war e hich Tom served. Although at 8e
.0 01 ,
extreme ad age the veteran has the complete übsctil3o
his faculties, and fights his battle over again
savageness quite retresning. The board adiuitrte.,
e.‘
as an inmate, where he soon found another vets
of- war's man, William Fry, and the twain
yarns and grievances, without a quid of tolNe!.
their grateful countrymen to heal their
vital fur
beard will, however, apply to Greenwich }loop
retreat for Grant.