The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-03 00:00:00

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's screw
steamship Sultan, Capt. Neil Cook, arrived this
day, at two p.m., with the usual Peninsular mails,
in charge of Lieut. Pearson, R. N., Admiralty
agent. The Sultan brings 18 passengers, and on
freight specie to the value of 37,1351., 1,100 boxes
of oranges, 185 elephants' teeth, two barrels of to-
matoes, 19 cases of dates, 80 boxes of chestnuts,
seven barrels and eleven cases of lemons, 25 casks
and four cases of wine, 167 cases of eggs, and 19
packages of sundries.

SWITZERLAND.
The following are some details relative to the
respective attributions of the political bodies now
sitting at Berne, to protect the interests of the
Helvetic Confederation. The sovereign power
resides in two councils, the national one and that
of the States. The former is composed of deputies
of the Swiss people, in the proportion of one for
every 20,00 G souls. The Rumber of members is
120, who are elected for three years by universal
suffrage, every citizen who has attained the age of
20 having a vote. The Council of the States is
composed of 44 members, two from each canton.
The two councils form together the legal repre-
sentation of the Confederation, under the name of
the Federal Assembly. This body, which holds
an ordinary session every year, and extraordi-
nary ones as are called for by circumstances, is
sovereign on all questions of general interest,
political laws, finances, police, mlitary organisa-
tion, and revision or modification of the constitu-
tion. Next comes the executive power, which
bears the name of the Federal Council, and which
is oemposed of seven members, elected for three
years by the Federal Assembly, and chosen with-
out distinction from amongst all Swiss citizens,
with this single restriction, that no two of the
members can belong to the same canton. The
Federal Council is charged with the internal ad-
ministration and with the direction of the foreign
relations of the confederation, but the initiative
and the decision on all general questions belong to
the Federal Assembly.
letter from Berne of the 28th nit. gives some
details concerning the late attempt at arrangement
made there by the diplomatic corps :
" Mr. Fay, the American charge d'affaires, and Mr.
Gordon, the English Minister, assumed the initiative in The amount of specie to be forwarded by the India and
endeavouring, for the last time, to see whether it were China mail is estimated at 430,0001., almost entirely
not possible to bring about an arrangement and avoid a silver. Although the heaviest shipments are for Bombay
disastrous war. To that end, Mr. Fay invited his col- and Calcutta, a portion is destined for Hong Kong,
leagues of the diplomatic body to meet at the Hotel de Shanghai, and Canton.
la Couronne. Every one entered heartily on this diffi- CHATHAM, Jan. 2.--The Iris, 26, commissioned by
cult task, and finished by drawing up a plan of arrange. Capt. W. Loring, C. 8., for the Australian station, has-
ment to be submitted to the Federal Councils and to already received a number of seamen, and is being made
Prussia. According to this project, the Federal ready for sea with all despatch. Her marines are to be
Council was to engage to propose to the Federal As• selected from the Chatham division.
sembly the release of the prisoners ; and the diplomatists SUICIDE OF THE CHIEF WARDER IN MILBANK
in the name of the powers of which they were the PRISON.—On Thursday morning Mr. Bedford, the West-
representatives on their part engaged to interpose their minster coroner, held an inquest at Milbank Prison on
good offices with the King of Prussia, to solve the the body of Mr. John Jackson, aged 45, the principal
Neuchatel question according to the wishes and de. infirmary warder, who committed suicide on Tuesday
sires of Switzerland.' This project was communicated last by taking prussic acid. James Higgs
(a pt isener)
to M. Steeenspflt by Mr. Fay and Mr. Gordon. M. deposed that on Tuesday last he was sent by Mr. Clark,
Stcempfli not finding in it sufficient guarantees, required the compounder of medicines, to call Mr. Jacksoe. He
that it should be egsressly said that the Confederation went to the deceased's room
and, after knocking at the
`in the exercise of its sovereignty' consented to release door for some time without receiving
the prisoners ; and that it should be added that the in, and saw him lying on the bed. Witness went up to
any answer, looked
powers would interpose their good offices to obtain the him and pulled him -bv the coat, but he still gave no
cession of Neuchatel.' The diplomatists yielded, al. answer, and appearednA -as if
though some of them loudly declared that such a word. noise like snori he was asleep, making a
small bottle was in one of his
ing of the project would not be signed by their respec- hands. Dr. aley he was exceedingly good
tive courts. In the end the project was accepted on and active, but
sometimes he presented the appearance
both sides, but, as the diplomatists had not instructions of a personwhose
ad hoc, they were obliged to apply for the ra'ification of Dr. Bailey mind was confused by drink, although
never saw him intoxicated. On Tuesday
it from their respective courts. The Belgian minister, morning the deceased looked very strange, and was
who does not appear to have any cypher, would not trust much flushed in the face. Half an hour afterwards
to the Swisstelegrapb, and setoff for the French frontier witness was called to his room, and found him lying en
in order to correspond with his government by the French the bed suffrit g fr.,m the effects of poison. The stomach
line. His sudden departure gave rise to a rumour that pump was used, but the deceased expired while the pipe
he had left for Berlin on a mission from the diploma- was in his throat. The bottle contained a few drops of
tic body. At last the replies came one after the other, prussic acid. The deceased, being chief infirmary war-
but lam only aware of part of them. Belgium refused der, had free access to all the medicine. An ounce
to interfere in the Matter, prussic acid was missed from the dispensary.
and Russia, Austria and bottle of
Mrs. Jackson, the widow, who was much affected, said
France formally refused their signatures. The de; etch
of Count Walewskt to M. de Salignac. Fenelon still gives ; that when he went to the prison he left a paper on
some hopes of maintaining peace. If I am well in- 1 which were written the following words : —"Williams
formed, it was as follows You will not sign the de- owes you 15s. and a book ; Turner, ss. Adieu." The
claration ; we maintain our propositions, and we repro• jury returned a verdict of " temporary isanity."

She left Gibraltar, Dec. 26th, Cadiz 27th, Lis-
bon 29th, Oporto and Vigo 30th.
Her Majesty's ships Urgent and Curlew were at
Gibraltar ; Duke of Wellington, Caesar, Colossus,
Centurion, Exmouth, and Sanspareil, were at
Lisbon.

A severe gale of wind commenced at Gibraltar
on the 20th ult., causing a heavy sea. Among the
casualties reported are the following :—The British
barque George, of Sunderland, in ballast, from
Carthagena to England, was caught by the gale,
and being light was unable to weather Europa
Point, and was consequently driven on Shore near
Sunara. The Sibina was blown out to sea from
Motril, having lost both Anchors, but had since
returned. The French barque Sophia, from Mar-
seilles for Matacon, struck on the reef of rock,
running from the Green Island towards Cabrita
Point, and will probably become a total wreck.
Another gale of wind blew with great violence on
the 25th and 26th, in which five vessels were drive*
on shore—three of them on the Neutral Ground,
and two near the Ragged Staff. Several vessels
parted from their anchors. No lives were lost.