The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-11 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

A letter from St. Petersburg, in the Deutsclaand
of Vienna, says :—lt is well known that the Rus-
sian Government intends establishing a communi-
cation between the Caspian Sea and the Sea of
Aral by means of a canal, or rather by changing
the bed of the river Oxus, and making it fall into
the Caspian. The Government and the Geogra-
phical Society have already several times sent
engineers to examine the course of that river ;
and it has now charged M. Schmercon, pro-
fessor at the University of Moscow, to proceed
to the spot to complete the previous surveys.
Another important enterprise is said to be in
contemplation—that of forming a communica-
tion between the Caspian and the Blade Seas.
The Government some time back sent a commis-
sion to the spot, and according to their first report
the operation will not be difficult, as a canal might
be readily formed from the Mamyss, which is a tri-
butary stream of the Don, and running to the
Kuma, which falls into the Caspian. More recent
surveys, however, made under the direction of the
celebrated geographer Bcehr, have shown that the
scheme will be attended with much greater diffi-
culty than the commission appeared to think, and
would entail an enormous expense."

.....011•-•••

BELGIUM.

The Nord publishes the letter which the Viscount
de Kerchove, Minister of Turkey at Brussels, an-
nounced two or three days ago his attention of ad-
dressing to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in reply
to the recent publication in the Belgian Moniteur
on the subject of M. Blondeel, the Belgian. Min-
ister at Constantinople. M. de Kerchove expresses
surprise that he should be accused by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs of having, by a want of respect
to the Belgian Government, " contributed to bring
about the solution which has been given to the dif-
ference between that Government and the Sublime
Porte ; he expresses still greater surprise that the
minister should hive made the accusation, not to
him (the viscount) personally, or to the Govern-
ment which he represents, but in the columns of
the official journal ; and he contrasts this
proceeding with the conduct of the Turkish
Government, which, notwithstanding its differ-
ences with M. Blondeel, allowed no journal of
Cocstantinople, official, or non-official, to at-
tack him. As to the despatch of 30th May,
the communication of which caused offence to
the Belgian Government, he explains that it
was a telegraphic despatch from the Turkish
Government, and therefore necessarily brief
and abrupt in its terms ; and he says that he
communicated it, not officially, but merely
officieusement to the &cretary-General of the
department of Foreign 'Affairs ; ho says also
that he E 0 communicated it because no reply had
been given to a note sent by him so far back as the
4th April last, suggesting that M. Blondeel should
be replaced. He declares that in the note by
which the minister returned to _him the despatch in
question he can find no word of blame, so
.that he
could not suppose the minister had taken offence at
the despatch. He concludes by expressing his re-
gret that he has been placed under the necessity of
making these explanations public, and by declaring
that whatever may be the solution of the affair be-
tween Belgium and Turkey (the friendly relations
between which countries he has for eight years
laboured to maintain), he will have the consolation
of having done his duty.

The Dresden Journal publishes a royal ordi-
nance, which prohibits the circulation of foreign
paper money in Saxony. It, however, contains
the exception already spoken of in favour of the
notes of foreign banks which shall prove they are
able to pay in specie on presentation.

The Minister of Marine of Denmark some time
ago charged a commission to examine into the state
of the navy in Denmark, and it has just reported
that the number of vessels, and especially of steam
frigates, ought to be largely increased. The Swedish
journal Svenska Tidningen, on its part, publishes a
long article on the necessity of increasing the navy
of Sweden.

DREADFUL DISASTER IN THE ST.

LAWRENCE.

QUEBEC, JULY 27, 10 A.M.
Intelligence has just reached the city of a me!an-
eholy disaster that happened to the steamer Mon-
treal last evening, and by which over 200 lives are
supposed to have been lust.

The steamer was nearing Cape Rouge, when
flames were discovered by some of the passengers,
who in giving the alarm caused the wildest panic to
prevail, and a general rush for safety.
The officers of the boat endeavoured to restore
quiet, but this was found to be impossible, as the
flames, despite the efforts of those in charge,
spread rapidly, and were soon beyond all human
control.

A large number of the passengers had already
jumped overboard and were drowned; others were
burnt on the ves'el, while a few succeeded in reach-
ing the shore by swimm.nc,...
Thera were in all about 500 passengers on board,
and out of this number only 175 are known to have
been saved, leaving 325 to be accounted for.
Hopes are entertained that the majority of them
have been rescued ; but it is certain that at least
200 have perished. Cape Rouge, the scene of the
heartrending disaster, is between this port and
Montreal. _ _

There wag a small insurance on the vessel, which,
with the cargo, is a total loss.

CAPTAINS. B. LYNOll.—The Shah of Persia has con:
ferred the honour of the Order of the Lion and Sun,
with the title of Khan. upon Capt. H. B. Lynch, C. 8.,
in token of his regard for the manner in which Captain
Lynch brought about the treaty of peace between this
cc.untry and P,ersia.
Madame Ugdale, the accomplished prima donna of
the Theatre de l'Opera Comique,, Paris, has announced
a morning concert for Wednesday at the Dudley GallbrY'
Egyptian Hall. The fair artist first appeared in Eng•
land, at her Majssty's Theatre, in 1853, in Auber's
Prodigo," since when, if we mistake not, she has not
visited this country. The brilliant vocalisation of Ma.
clime Uvalde has made her one of the greatest favourites
of the Opera Colin:Vie.
DUBLIN, FRIDAY.--77::5 MURDER OP Mn, LITTLE.
-",-,CODtrary to Expectatiod, and, indeed, to all mit
151P°11011'd sgn was not ~--.3.ducad at the ad-
journed investigation yostefday, Ituffit l helieved to be
dofibtftil whbthet his viainitiatfon will be'sgont. into
.or
no; on MolieDy
•
day it isBDPP(Mod
case for the Crown will be closed and a formal demand
made for the commits! of the accused. There were two
or y three slight links added yesterday to the chain of
cikitinistantiAl evidelnoe altead
but the cases it must be ailiiiiiY in proof a Spollon,
e€l; Is very far from being
complete, and unless svne stronger teal-atoll/ 1,8 in re-
serve, there is, apparently at least, but a faint dlinAde
of the law overtaking the assassin of Mr. Little. Did
inquiry was further adjourned to Monday next, at 11
o'clock.
Detachments of the 50th and 77th Regiments
arrived at Liverpool yest-rday from Dublin in the
steam-ship Prince. They proceeded to Colchester.
troops b,,fore repotted yesterday morning, and
dropped out to Spithead. She sails this morning
for India.
Tie Rb adman an thus steam store- ship, Mas ter-
Commander Brown, was yesterday taken into the
inner basin of Woolwich dockyard to ship a
cargo of steam machinery for the western yards.
The Rhadamanthus has assumed the appearance
of a new ship, having INen rfuovatel throughout.