The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-02 00:00:00

MAILS FOR MAURITIUS.

Information has been received that the Government of
Mauritius have made arrangements for the conveyance
of mails once a month by steam packets, between
Aden and that colony, in connection with the Overland
Indian Mail despatched from London via Southampton,
on the 20th, and via Marseilles, on the 26th of each
month.

The regular mails for Mauritius will accordingly be
made np and despatched from London, in future, on the
20th and 26th of each month ; but, in order that advan-
tage may be taken of any intermediate opportunity that
may offer of communicating with the Mauritius, via
Aden, supplementary mails will also be made up, for
conveyances as far as Aden, by the packets leaving
Southampton on the 4th of the month, and by the route
of Marseilles on the 10th of the month.
By command of the Postmaster-General,
ROWLAND HILL, Secretary.
General Post-office, Dec. 31, 1.856.

ALTERATION IN RATES OF POSTAGE ON
BOOK PACKETS FOR AUSTRALIAN COLO-

NI S.

On the 13th January next, and thenceforward, book
packets between the United Kingdom and the Colonies
of New South Wales, South Australia, Western Aus-
tralia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, will be sent through
Egypt, and will be liable, in lieu of the rates of postage,
heretofore chargeable, to the following rates, viz. :
Not exceeding lb. in weight, Bd.; above # lb. and not
exceeding 1 lb., ls. 4d.; above 1 lb. and nit exceeding
2 lbs., 2s. Bd.; above 2 lbs. and not exceeding 3 lbs., 4s.
No book packet exceeding the weight of 3 lbs. can be
sent to New South Wales ; but on books, icc., addressed
to any of the other colonies above mentioned, the postage
for heavier packets will increase by two rates of postage
for every pound or fraction of a pound, without limit.
The regulations under which these book packets are
forwarded through the post, as detailed in Instructions
No. 10, 1855, remain unaltered.

The book post not having been yet extended to Vic-
toria, book packets for that colony can only be forwarded
at present at the ordinary letter rates of postage.
By command of the Postmaster-General,

ROWLAND HILL, Secy.
General Post-office, Dec. 30, 1856.

COMPULSORY PRE PAYMENT OF POSTAGE
ON LETTERS, &c., FOR THE AUSTRALIAN
COLONIES.
All letters and newspapers addressed to the Austra-
lian colonies, including Tasmania and New Zealand,
posted on the 13th Jan. next, and thenceforward, will
be forwarded (un►ess otherwise especially directed) via
Suez, by the new line of contract packets established to
run once a month between this country and Australia,
and will be liable to the following rates of postage :
Via Southampton.—Letters—Not exceeding oz.,
6d. ; above oz., and not exceeding 1 oz., ls. ; above 1
oz,, and not exceeding 2 oz., 25.; above 2 oz., and not
exceeding 3 oz., 3s. ; above 3 oz., and not exceeding 4
oz., 4s. ; above 4 oz., and not exceeding 5 oz., ss. ;
above 5 oz., :and not exceeding 6 oz., 6s. ; above 6 oz.,
and not exceeding 7 oz , 7s. ; newspapers, Id. each.
Via Marseilles.—Letters—Not exceeding oz., 9d. ;
above oz , and not exceeding 1 oz., Is. ; above oz.
and not exceeding I oz., ls. 9d. ; above I oz. and not
exceeding 1 oz., 2s. ; above 1 oz. and not exceeding 11
oz., 3s. 3d. ; above 11 oz. and not exceeding 1} oz.,
35. 6d. ; above 1i oz. and not exceeding 11 oz., 3s. 9d. ;
above 11 oz, and not exceeding 2 oz , 4s. ; newspapers,
3d. each.
Under a new arrangement with the Australian colo-
nies, the present regulations for the optional pre-pay-
ment of postage on letters to and from these eolonies
will cease on the 12th January next. After that date
the postage of all letters, as well as of newspapers posted
in the United Kingdom, addressed to the Australian
colonies (including Tasmania and New Zealand), must
be paid in advance, or they cannot be forwarded. The
postage also of letters, &c., posted in the Australian
colonies, addressed to the United Kingdom, will be re-
quired to be prepaid by the senders.
The payment made upon letters for those colonies will
be regarded as an indication of choice of route (whether
via Southampton or via Marseilles), on the part of the
sender, and letters will be forwarded accordingly.
The regulation heretofore existing, under Instructions
No. 21, 1854, for the transmission by private ship direct,
of all letters for Western Australia, when not specially
addressed to be forwarded by packet, is now cancelled,
and letters, &c., for that colony will hereafter be for-
warded by packet via Suez, as a rule.
By command of the Postmaster-General,
ROWLAND HILL, Secy.
General Post-office, Dec. 30, 1856.

EXPLORATION OF AFRICA FROM ZANZIBAR.

(From the Bombay Times. )
Captain Burton and Lieutenant Speke left on Mon-
day by the Elphinstone for Zanzibar, to c ‘mmenee a
series of explorations into the interior, for which two
years have been assigned them. They expect to be joined
by Dr. Steinhauser from Aden, and this completes
the arrangements of the expedition. It is not supposed
likely that the travellers will be able to remain mere
than a twelvemonth at a time in the interior ; when
they find their supplies and resources begin to fail
them, they will probably visit Zanzibar, and make a
fresh departure inland. Their first object is to make for
the shores of the Great Lake or series of lakes in Central
Africa, which 20 !years ago were only known by imper-
fect rumour, and from time to time were washed from
or replaced on the map, as our supposed knowledge
regarding them waxed or waned. We have every rea-
sel to believe that sheets of fresh water of large expanse
exist in Central Africa just under the line, and so as far
south as the twentieth parallel, or probably over a space
nearly as large as the peninsula of Hindostan. Tbat
this is a continuous inland sea we have no sufficient
ground for believing. That the lakes are united, is more
than probable ; that some of them are of vast magnitude
is almost certain ; but not only are we ignorant of their
size, their connections, width, and relations to each
other, but we are not so much as aware whether or not
they form a great independent lake and river system un-
connected with the ocean, or whether they may not send
off a portion of their waters to the sea. Captain Burton
is of opinion that from some of them the Nile derives
its supplies. And the travellers from Zinzibar are not
without hope of meeting the great exploring party, now
proceeding southward from Egypt, and so between them
solving a problem which has formed the mystery of the
past 20 centuries. The Greek geographer, Ptolemy,
speaks of two extensive lakes, which owe their existence
to the melting of the snows on the Mountains of the
Moon as feeders of the Nile. These he describes as 6
and 7 south and 57 and 65 east. If we subtract the cor-
rection of 10 degrees required by all Ptolemy's observa-
tions, this will place them three or four north. Accord-
ing to Ptolemy, when the correction just referred to has
be,n applied, the Mountains of the Moon are very nearly
under the line, and this is the position now assigned to
the Great Snowy Range. It is to these wonderful regions
that the eyes of geographers in all parts of the world are
at present directed, and thitherward two bodies of bold
adventurers, one from Cairo, another from Bombay, are
at present directing their steps, with an enterprise before
them, laborious and dangerous as it is, often paralleled in
labour and in danger, but never certainly surpassed in
interest. The marvel is, that a field of such achieve.
merit should have been left to the present day nearly
unimproved.

THE RECENT &CAPE PROM THE HOUSE OF DETEN-
TlON.—Notwithstanding the vigilance of the police and
the officers of the prison, Davis, the prisoner who. re-
cently escaped from the House of Detention is still at
large. A melancholy incident in connection with the
matter occurred on Sunday last in the death of Nathaniel
Forth, an old and excellent officer of the prison, result-
ing from nervous excitement. Forth was warder in that
part of the prison from which the escape was effected,
and it seems that the circumstance so preyed upon him
that he went out of his mind, and died in a state of
raving madness, it having taken four men to hold him.
He has left a wife and large family. On Monday last the
visiting justices concluded their investigation into the
affair, and the result was that they resolved to reinstate
the sub-warder Merrick, who was suspended from duty,
with a severe reprimand, and injunctions for the observ-
ar.ce of greater vigilance in future.
PUNCH AND JUDY.-1 cannot help thinking OUT Punch
is an abbreviation of the
Neapolitan Polichinollo.
During a long residence at Naples, in 1843 I
naturally
frequented the theatres, and was much diverted by this;
personage, who answers to our English clown. One feature particularly struck me, his perpetual restlessness.
If his master makes him sit down, he cannot keep bit
legs and arms a moment quiet, but is annoying every-
body who comes within their reach. The more, there-
fore, the Pulichinello agitates himself the better the actor
is considered. In some magazine which fell into my
hands at Naples, the word is derived from polu kinco
to move much, which seemed to me at least plausible.'
considering the founders of Neapolis were a Greek
colony, and their descendants retain still very many
features of their original country.—F. W., in Notes and
Queries.

Naval and Milnaiy Intelligence.

Her Majesty's steam frigate Dragon, 6, Captain
Houston Stewart, C. 8., left Portsmouth yesterday at
noon for Woolwich, with the Resolute discovery ship in
tow. She goes round to discharge her stores.
Her Majesty's steam blockship Pembroke, 60, Capt.
Fraser, left Portsmouth harbour for Spithead yesterday,
and took up moorings at the anchorage. She saluted the
Port Admiral on going out.
The Stmoom steam troopship, Commander Cooke, was
taken down to Portsmouth harbour yesterday to sailing
moorings off Gosport. It is reported she will soon em-
bark troops for foreign service.
The Transit steam troopship was taken into dock yes-
terday at Portsmouth for repairs. She, too, is, believed
as likely to convey troops to the East.
The Resolute steam troopship was undocked yes-
terday at Portsmouth after refit. It is believed she
will speedily be required to convey troops on foreign
service.

Captain Milne, one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Greene, director of engineering and
architectural works to the Board, arrived at the George
Hotel, Portsmouth, on Wednesday night, and yesterday
morning proceeded to Gosport to witness the working
of the patent hauling-up slip and railways for the berth-
ing of the gun and mortar boat flotilla, &c.
Her Majesty's ship Antelope, ordered to be ready for
sea on the 30th ult., has had her sailing instructions
countermanded by direction of Commodore Shepherd,
superintendent of Woolwich dockyard, with the sanc-
tion of the Lords of the Admiralty, by reason of the
repairs and internal arrangements being still incomplete.
She is ordered to be fitted with Clifford's apparatus for
lowering the ship's boats. Directions have likewise
been issued from the Admiralty, ordering the 120-gun
flagship Waterloo, the 7S-gun ship Indus, the paddle-
wheel steamer Locust, and the Rhadamanthus to be
appointed with the same apparatus.
The steam yacht Imperador, about to be presented to
the Emperor of Japan, is removed to the river, off
Woolwich dockyard, and is now under the hands of
Mr. Wakeling, the Admiralty upholsterer, who has bsen
granted an unlimited order to supply the cabin furniture.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 1.
The Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir George
Seymour, accompanied by Flag-Lieutenant Malcombs,
and Rear-Admiral Superintendent Martin, proceeded to
the new slip-way at Haslar, for the purpose of inspecting
the interesting operation of hauling up the screw gun-
boat Gnat, she being the first gun-boat to be placed
under cover of the new shed of protection from sun and
weather. We also observed Captain Superintendent
Dacres, of Haslar Hospital, who was exceedingly active
in giving able assistance and advice; as well as Mr. James
Underwood, master attendant of the Portsmouth Dock-
yard; Mr. Andrew Murray, engineer in chief; Mr. Wm.
Miller, assistant engineer ; Mr. Wm. Moody, assistant
master shipwright, with a host of scientific persons, who
were present on the occasion. At 10.30. a.m. the land
engine was set in motion—(we should state the immense
wheel which had originally beea ordered at Manchester,
but which could not be brought down, was abandoned,
and a London firm manufactured a new wheel, which
was constructed in halves, and when placed in position
performed its duties admirably)—and the Gnat gun
boat, was cleverly hauled up the slip-way. This having
been accomplished in a most satisfactory manner
the gun boat was placed on a cradle athwart ship
of the several tramways laid down to receive the
vessel. In a few minutes a locomotive was attached,
and freely moved with her burden the distance
of some 300 feet from the slip to the shed. We
observed that the locomotive was heavily ballasted to
make it equal to the stupendous weight of gunboat and
cradle. Having arrived opposite the abed a portable
donkey-engine was attached to the cradle to clear the
vessel up the tramway, and tackle-falls were also intro-
duced to assist the donkey-engine in getting the gun-
boat under the shed. Some little time elapsed during
this performance, but by the energy and tact of the
Master Attendant Underwood at the "fads," and the
determination and skill of Mr. Humphries, the civil
engineer, supported by Mr. Thomas White, shipbuilder
and inventor of the slip-way, all difficulties were over-
come, and the gunboat, amidst hearty cheering and
congratulations, was placed on her blocks in safety.
From what we observed we do not hesitate to say, that
this operation has consummated a triumph over engi-
neering difficulties which insures success for the future.
The following appointments were made at the Admi-
ralty yesterday :
Masters—Henry A. Martin, to the Cyclops ; John
H. Allard, to the Simoorn.
Naval Inspectors—Gustavus .Dittman and Charles
Stark, to the Excellent.

LORD PALMERSTON AND THE SOUTHAAIIII.

TON ELECTIOV.

SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 1.
Seldom has an election contest been so pregnant with
events of an exciting and irritating character as that in
which this town is at the present moment involved. Every
day some new incident arises to foment the angry feeling
wheih.prevails, and even the Premier of England has been
drawn
,into the vortex. His Lordship, in a moment of
friendly forgetfulness, expresses an opinion upon the
merits of the two Liberal candidates ; this opinion is
rnmediately made use of as public property in the
interest of one of those gentlemen ; his rival writes to the
noble Premier on the matter, and receives a reply from
him; which letter the candidate, in turn, requests permis-
sion from his lordship to publish, together with the otherpor-
tions of the correspondence. At this stage the whole
question now rests, Lord Palmerston not having as
yet replied to the last letter. We have been waiting,
day by day, in the hope that the correspondence would
be completed, before t,,uching this piquant little piece
of election gossip ; but, as it would appear that his
lordship is taking time to consider we now proceed to
a narration of the facts of the case, as far as they are
at present before the public.
About 10 days since one of the Premier's tradesmen,
Mr. W.Laakester, a partner in an extensive ironmongery
firm in Southampton, was Bent to Broadlands, to see his
lordship on business matters, and this arranged, his
lordship referred to the pending election, and Lked
how matters stood. Mr. Lankester replied to the
effect that they were in a great bustle ; that they had
thought Mr. Weguelin would have united the Liberals
in his favour when Mr. James had left the field,
but that Mr. Andrews had split the Liberal party
by the course he had pursued in coming forward as a
candidate three weeks afterwards. On this (according
to Mr. Lankester's narrative, from which these facts are
gathered) Lord Palmerston remarked, " Very impolitic ;
he is not fit for it," and said that though Mr. Andrews
was a good fellow enough he was uneducated. Mr.
Lankester then informs his lordship that Mr. Weguelin
had come down to Southampton with the highest intr )-
ductions, and his lordship is reported to have replied—
" Oh, he is quite the right man ; he has position, influ-
ence, education, and a high character ; he is quite a fit
and proper man for such a town as Southampton, and
the other is not fit." Mr. Lankester expressed his fears
that the result of Mr. Andrews coming forward would
be the return of the Conservative candidate, and that
Mr. Wilcox would then res!gn his seat, ending in South-
ampton being represented by two Tories ; and his lord-
ship observed —'.Very sad; he (Mr. Andrews) is not fit."
The interview ends, and the curtain falls on the first act
of the drama.
On the following evening (Tuesday) we are introduced
to act the second. A public meeting of Mr. Weguelin's
friends had been convened at the Victoria Rooms, and
forth with Mr. Lankester, who is the chairman of
Mr. Weguelin's committee, unfolds a document and
reads from it his notes of the above conversation. As
may be imagined such a revelation produced no little
consternation and surprise, and great was the storm it
evoked.

As scion as Mr. Andrews heard of the matter he wrote
a letter to Lord Palmerston, enclosing a copy from the
reporter's notes of Mr. Lankester's statement, and re-
questing to be informed whether the conversation had
been correctly stated. Three gentlemen of his committee
went over to Broadlands on Wednesday with their letter,
but the Premier bad gone to London, and so an inter.
view with the noble lord was frustrated. The deputation
returned to Southampton, and the third act was over.
Christmas•day and boxing-day pass away, and on the
Saturday morning Mr. Andrews receives a letter by
post from Lord Palmerston, wherein be compliments
Mr. Andrews on the high position he has attained in
the municipality, which he views as his proper and
legitimate sphere of duty, and admits having used the
expressions attributed to him. His lordship, however,
deprecates the idea of intending to interfere in the
election in any way, and says that he has written to
Mr. Lankester, who had committed " a gross viola•
tion of confidence" in making public that which
was merely a private conversation. After consulting
with his friends, Mr. Andrews again wrote is his Lord.
ship on Monday, requesting permission to publish the
correspondence. To this letter no reply has yet been
received from his Lordship. The fourth act concluded,
people are now awaiting with interest the rising of the
curtain for the grand denouement, as the playgoers have
it, which will, it is hoped, introduce the letters of his
Lordship upon the scene, everybody being anxious to
read for himself the Premier's opinion.
_..

This nice little episode in election matters has, as
might naturally be expected, created great interest in all
quarters, and has had the effect of increasing the fury of
the raging flames.

STOCK AND SHARE FLUCTUATIONS DURING THE PAST
YEAR.—Throughout the whole period the extreme
range of Consols was log per cent., that of the preced-
ing year having been 74 per cent., while in 1854 it was
10g. The difference between the opening and closing
prices shows an improvement to have been established
of 6 per cent. In railway shares the average range of
fluctuation has been at least 20 per cent., while the final
result has been an improvement of fully 15 per cent. As
regards the Bank bullion, its amount at the commence-
ment was 10,536,909/. ; it reached 13,073,758/. in June,
declined to 9,530,1521. in November, and is now
10,513,8231. At the Bank of France the total at the
beginning was 8,600,000/. In November it was as low
as 6,500,0001., but it has since recovered to 8,000,0001.
On the Paris Bourse the advance established has been
little more than 2 per cent., or about one•third of that
which has taken place in the English funds. The corn
market has experienced a great change. The price of
white wheat on the Ist of January was 845., and it has
declined to 675. Cotton, on the other hand, has steadily
advanced from 6el. to %d. per lb. With respect to the
declared value of our exportations the Board of Trade
tables thus far, which comprise only 11 months of the
year, show a total of 105,845,6311., against 86,847,280/.
ii the corresponding period of 1855. The movements
of the Bank rate of discount, which comprised eight
alterations in 1855, have been the same in number on
this occasion. In January the charge was 6 and 7 per
cent. ; in June it was 41; in November it was again 7,
and now it is 6.