The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-11 00:00:00

LETTER FROM SIR JOHN BO WRING.

( Prom the Western Times.)
We last week published an extract from a letter re-
ceived by a lady in Exeter, from Hong Kong, in which
there was a very touching account of the poisonings,
and a hymn of thanksgiving composed by Sir John Boa -
ring, and sung in the service which bad been offered up
to the Almighty, in gratitude for his sparing mercy.
We regretted to have to issue that noble effusion with-
out the opportunity of offering some remarks on it ; but
the excitement of the pending election forbade it.
We know Sir John to be a man of the purest benevo-
lence—a lover of peace from his youth upwards, full of
the noblest and loftiest aspirations for humanity. We
have felt that he must necessarily be right in this ques-
tion, whatever aspect it may bear ; and the following
letter, received by an Exeter friend of the right hon.
gentleman's wi I show that the same principles which
won him favour in the eyes of the public still animate
his judgment, and direct his councils whilst clothed with
the responsibility of office :
" Government-house, Hong Kong, 15th Feb., 1857.
"My dear Sir,—l receiveregularly the IVestern Times, and
thank you for sending it. Now and then I get a Devonian
hero to interest himself in it. At present we have here
Captain Fortesque, who commands the Barracouta, and
excellent service he has done. The vessel is the terror of
the enemy.
" No doubt you have heard of the attempt to poison the
European resident of the colony. No one of my family
escaped, and I had Several guests, all of whom eat of the
poisoned bread. Lady B. suffered much, some of the
arsenic having got into her lungs. I hope my life has been
preserved for some purposes useful to my country and to
mankind. It is a perplexing position to know that a price
is set on our heads, that our servants cannot be trusted,
that a premium is offered to any incendiary who will set
fire to our dwellings, to any murderer who will poison or
destroy us. Yet re try to possess our souls in peace, and
I have the fullest persuasion that all which is taking place
is co-operant to good—to great and permanent good.
"If my life and health be preserved, and I still am
honoured with the confidence which is placed in me, I
trust to render a good account of my stewardship.We
have many grievances to redress, and I will try to redress
them; many securities to obtain, and I mean to obtain
them. lam sure we shall be accompanied by the good
wishes of good men. With kind regards to those who re-
member,

" My dear Sir, most faithfully yours,
" JOHN BOWRING."

DESPATCH OF THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.—This day,
the mails for West and South Australis, Victoria, Mel-
bourne, New South Wales, Sydney, Van Diemen's
Land, Hobart Town, and New Zealand, will be made
up and despatched by the contract mail steam-packet
Etna, via Southampton and the Isthmus of Suez. An
additional despatch will take place via Marseilles, on
the evening of the 16th inst.
MAIL FOR THE CAPE OF GOOD HOP/I.—ACCIDENT TO
THE TRANSIT.—Yesterday, by command of the Post-
master-General, notice was issued at the Chief Office,
St. Mar in's-le Grand, that in consequence of the accident'
to the Transit, the mails on board for the Cape of Good
Elope would be tran Arirped on bcard her Msjtsty's
Fth,amer ifilus.aya, to Not from Port.unouth on the
arrival of the post from Lonc7n on the evening of the
15th inst. Supplementary mails will also be despatched
for the Cape of Good Hope by the Himalaya. All
newspapers and letters must. be specially addressed "By
her Majesty's steamer ihmalaya.",