The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-15 00:00:00

EXPLANATION.

Barometer corrected and reduced to 32 deg. a sea level. The letter
r., rising; f., falling; a., steady—indicate direction of tuoticn of the
mercury within last 14 hours. Thermometer exposed in shale.
Extreme Force with its Direction during last 24 hours, Z.—eaim
Weather : b.—blue sky ; c.—clouds. detached ; f.—fog ; h.—hail;
; m.—misty, hazy ;o.—overcast, dull; r.--rain ;s.—snow;
t,—thunder. Rain-fall. snow or hail (melted) during last 24 hours.
Sea disturbance.
REMARKS.

Barometrical pressure has not changed much in the last twenty-
four hours: at no station does the reading differ one-tenth of an inch
from that of yesterday. In the W. of Ireland a tendency to decrease
has sbewn itself since last evening, and readings are comparatively
low in southern and western districts. A difference of nearly four-
tenths of an inch exists between pressures at Nairn and L'Orient.
Temperature is a little higher than it was yesterday. Easterly winds
were prevalent yesterday, and blew strongly on our S. and E. coasts ;
and this morning they are generally from the same quarter, but are
strongest in the S. of Ireland from E.S.E. The weather is cloudy. A
thunderstorm is reported from Toulon.

The news brought by the Shannon partly confirms and
partly disputes the first intelligence of the earthquakes in
Peru and Ecuador. There can now he no doubt that the
disasters really did occur, for the passengers on board the
Shannon state the precise time at which the first shock,
that of the 13th, was felt at Lima, and give some details
of its effects. It now remains to be determined whether,
as we still hope, the report by the Atlantic telegraph was
exaggerated. The particulars brought by the Shannon cannot
be deemed decisive on this point, but some facts which may
be gathered from the two meagre bulletins are worthy of
consideration. In the first place, the towns which are
said to be destroyed lie for the most part in a group round
about Arequipa. Now, Arequipa is 500 miles south of
Lima and Callao ; so that a' subterranean convulsion
which might be slightly felt at the latter place might be
most disastrous in a district so much further south. Lima
and Callao really constitute one city, and the evidence
which comes from both these places must be deemed the
evidence of one place only. But the loss of life was not
greatest in Peru, where this group of towns, which has
been destroyed, is situated. Whilst 2,000 lives are
reported to have been lost in Peru, the loss of life in
Ecuador is estimated as high as 22,000. Ecuador lies to
the north of Peru, and its frontier is 1,000 miles distant
from Arequipa. Litna lies between the two points. It
is, therefore, remarkable that the earthquakes should have
been terribly fatal in Ecuador and very destructive in the
south of Peru, whilst a city lying midway between
the two points should have escaped. Unfortunately such
a phenomenon is quite possible, and, further, the mere
fact that the earthquakes were felt over a district of such
immense extent in some degree goes to prove that the
shocks must have been severe and their effects disastrous.
Intelligence of the recent events in South America
comes from both sources. The Paraguayan account states
that the garrison of Humaita, numbering 4,000 men,
passed into the Chaco, and had there to sustain daily
combats with forces " ten times its number." After
fighting from the 25th of July to the sth of August, half
of the Paraguayans succeeded in forcing the line of the
allies, and joined their force at 'limbo. The other half of
the heroic garrison was left on the field of battle. A civil
war in the Argentine Republic was considered imminent.
An encounter had already taken place between the insur-
gents supported by Mitre and the troops of General
Urquiza. The Brazilian account says that the force of
4,000 Paraguayans was captured or destroyed. It takes
no account of the insurrection. The news leads the Times
to conclude that Lopez must hays prepared to fall sword
in hand with as many of his f dlowers as are willing to
abide with him to the last. His position on the Tebi-
°nary must sooll, be invested tn ali Ocjeo Fi_d retreat
T.O
an.