The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

By the Alexaudrina, arrived at Plymouth, we
have advices from Algoa Bay to Feb. 22, and Cape
Town Feb. 13. Affairs iu British Kiffraria were
giving cause of uneasiness. Robbery and violence
were on the increase. A letter from Fort Peddie,
dated Feb. 15, states that oxen to the value of
1001. bad been stolen from the vicinity of the Toie
Camp, while another communication from the
same quarter, published in the Graham's Town
Journal, speaks of some horses having been stolen
and that the police, who were on the spur of them,
had been confronted by a large body of Kaffir.,
computed at 1,000, will fired upon them and
drove them back. The Governor was in the east
district, and was about to visit the frontier. The
Cape Monitor and other papers mention reports of
disorders on the part of the Gelman Legion, but
the King William's Town Gazette declares that the
facts haste been exaggerated.

A letter from Philippopol (Roumelia) of the 9tl',
in the Augsburg Gazette, says :—" The phanariote
bishops of Bulgaria and Roumelia, are the most
bitter enemies of the Slavonic element, and the
following circumstance testifies to their hostile dis-
positions. The bishop of this district handed in to
the Divan a denunciation, in which he described
the inhabitants of the town and district as revolu-
tionists ; ho even asserted that they were medi-
tating an insurrection. The Governor of Adria-
nople, Ismail Pacha, was ordered to proceed t 3
Philippolool to examine the truth of this state-
ment. On the governor's arrival, the bishop denied
that he had ;Tilden to the Divan, but was con-
founded when the paella produced his very letter.
The inquiry proved that the assertions of the bishop
were calumnies, and the latter then endeavoured to
gain over Ismail Pacha to his cause by sending him
a present of 26,000 piastres (about 2001.), and three
fur cloaks, valued at 18,000 piastres. Ismail Paella
returned these presents, and departed for Constan-
tinople to report the whole proceedings to the
Divan, taking with him two delegates chosen by
the district to represent the calumnies to which
they have been subjected."

Accounts from Posen state that not only in
Russia, but in Poland, great apprehension is felt
by the persons who had undertaken to supply pro-
visions and stores to the Russian troops during the
late war. The extent to which these persons car-
ried their adulterations and deceit in the goods
delivered is said ta exceed all belief; and already
proof has been obtait'ed for an amount of several
millions of rouble. The Emperor, these accounts
state, has expressed his ford determination to pun-
ish severely in every case of detection, and hence
the alarm felt.

A letter from Vienna of the 19th, in the Bourse
Gazette of Berlin, says :—" According to a recent
despatch from Count Colloredo, Austrian Ambas-
sador at Rome, the Pontifical Government i 4
actively engaged in introducing the reforms pointed
out in the first conference at Paris as best calcu-
lated to calm the public mind. The preparatory
labours are already so far advanced that the m3a-
sures may be shortly carried into effect. It is only
on the question of the formation ofnative troopsthat
the Hoty See finds the greatest difficulties, pattly
arising from therepuguance felt by the inhabitants of
the Sta`es of the Church to serve in the army.
The Austrian troops at Bologna and Ferrara can-
not therefore be very shortly removed, as their
withdrawal depends entirely on the formation of a
Pontifical army."

A letter from Stockholm says—" Questions rela-
tive to religious liberty predominate in the discus-
sions of our Diet. The order of the clergy recently
adopted resolutions declaring that the of i laws re-
lative to the observance of Sunday, which bad fallen
into desuetude, ought to be enforced; but the order
of the burgesses, on the contrary, demands that the
laws in question shall be revised in a spirit of
toleration. The committee on the constitution
has, on its part, proposed serious modifications in
the constitution, to the effect that the King shall
not enter into negotiations for treaties, or conclude
treaties, without consulting the Council of State,
and that his Majesty shall be interdicted from ac-
cepting a foreign crown without the consent of the
Diet."

_
The Duke and Duchess de Brabant gave a second
ball on Wednesday at the palace at Brus=ela. A
considerable number of the guests figured iu the
costumes they wore at the fancy ball on Monday.
The Duke and Duchess de Braban', the Count de
Flandre, and the Princess Charlotte were in ordi-
nary ball dress, and danced several times.

THE LAUNCH OF THE ROYAL
SOVEREIGN.—(This Day.)

(BY LLECTIZIO TELEURAPII.)

PORTSMOUTH, SATURDAY.

The Royal sovereign, of 131 guns, was launched
to-day in beautiful style, and without an accident.
The admirable arrangements of Admiral Martin
were fully carried out, and better accommodation
could not have been made for the immense number
who flocked to the dockyard to view the interesting
event. The dogshores ►ere knocked away shortly
before twelve o'clock, and this most magnificent
specimen of naval architecture glided slowly and
majestically into her native element, amidst the
cheering of the vast assemblage.

The three-deckers Prince of Wales and Victoria,
building on adjoining slips on either- side of the
Royal Sovereign, hail galleries affixed to them
on the side next the launch. The figure-head
of the Royal Sovereign is an exceedingly
clever likeness of the Queen, a nobly propor-
tioned bust, executed by Mr. Hellyar, the
carver of such matters for the Admiralty. The
ship is considered a handsomer hull than the Duke of
Wellington, having a finer entrance and other im-
provements. The following are her principal di-
mensions and intended armament :

Feet. Inches.
Length from fora part of the figure.head to
after part of the tafrail 2BO ... 10
Length between the perpendiculars ..
Length of keel for tonnage
Breadth extreme
Breadth for tonnage
Breadth moulded
Depth in hold 23 ... 4
Burden in tons, 3,765-49-91thq.
ARIIAMENT.
Calibre. Cwt. each. Feet Inches. No.
Lower deck ... ' 8-inch 6 i
32-pounders... 58 or 56 9 6 ... V
?, ••• Middle-deck ... 8-inch 65
... 32-pounders... 58 or 56 9 6 ... 30
Main-deck 32-pounders... 42
~ ... 32-pomiders... 25
Upper-deck ..-. 68-pounder 195
pivot ...... j
____

Engines of 800 nominal horse-power are being
manufactured for the Royal Sovereign by Maudslly
and Co.
Thirty or forty thousand persons were present.

IMPORTANT DECISION LV A SM&GOLINO
CASE.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.
This morning John Barnes, purser of the European
and American steamship Golden Fleece, appeared before
the magistrates to answer a charge of smuggling pre-
ferred against him by the Comptroller of her Majesty's
Customs at this port. Tne particulars are briefly these.
The Golden Fleece left this p)rt for Hamburg a short
time since for cargo and passengers destintd for the
Brazils. She returned to Southampton on Wedoesdah
and left this afternoon for her destination. On her le
turn from Hamburg to Southampton she was boarded
(as usual) by the Custonithoue authorities, and the
purser was asked what tobacco be had on board. He
acknowledged to a certain quantity, which he declared
was all he had. On search being made, however, tobacco
and cigars of the weight of 26lbs. were found in his cabir.
Mr. Leigh, so'icitor for the defence, now contended
that the Golden Fleece was nicking a continuous voyage
from Hamburg to Rio, and therefore had a right to do
what she pleased, with her cargo, and the tobacco which
had been seized was held by the purser for the use of
the ship.
The magistrates held that it was not a continuous
voyage, that the tobacco was concealed, thus proving a
guilty knowledge.
The full penalty of 1001. was then inflicted, which: was
mmediately paid under protest.

ROYAL PANOPTICON.—We regret to see that thi TT az-
nificent i,tracture in Leicester ..quare is to he brought
the hammer, uod,r a decree of the Court of Chancery, on
Thurzid4y nex . Me6srp. ck and Gaiswor;•h are
entrusted w,th the sale, and we trust the purcha-ers
may be more successful than the late proprietors. We
shall regret to find the property destroyed.