The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-17 00:00:00

IEArA RKI

During yesterday a general diminution In atmospherical pressure
took place at all stations: the change exceeded three-tenths of an inch
in the north, but was slight elsewhere. The difference of readings
between Nairn and Plymouth is four-tenths of an inch. Temperature
has risen in the north : it continues generally high at other stations.
The prevailing winds yesterday were light and westerly at southern
districts, but variable in the north and east. This morning light
northerly winds are reported from stations on the Channel coast.
The weather is generally cloudy, and fog is reported from the west
of Ireland, where rain has fallen.

. The Crown Prince of Belgium is still very ill, and it is
feared that he may not grow up to man's estate. There
is gossip in some circles about his sister being married to
the Prince Imperial of France. The ages of this mature
pair arc 12 and 10 respectively. Prince Leopold is the
only sot.

Notwithstanding the flourishing account given by every.
body who has visited the works on the Isthmus of Suez,
from M. de Lesseps to the Duke of St. Albans, there is
great difficulty in raising sufficient money to carry them on.
There seems to be no doubt that the engineering difficulties
described by our engineers some seven or eight years ago
were greatly exaggerated, and that they will be overcome.
But it is by no means certain that the undertaking will
answer financially-. It is probably the doubt on this
point which renders the Parisians so " backward in
coming forward." An appeal is now being made in some
of the Paris journals to the Government for assistance.
There is a good deal of fine writing, a la Franfaise, about
'le increase of French influence. But this is scarcely the

time for the Government to be incurring fresh liabilities.
The despatches of Sir Robert Napier, received at the
India Office on Saturday, are published in the Gazette.
They contain a complete narrative of the attack and
capture of Magdala. Being warned on the 3rd of April
that Theodore had marched out of his fortress and
intended to occupy the ravines which commanded
its approaches, Sir Robert determined to give
him battle as near the prison of the captives as
possible. He therefore made a hurried march to seize the
Jedda ravine erg Theodore could come up. Referring to
the appearance of the fortress he had to storm, the com-
mander writes : " Altogether, without taking into account
Magdala itself, the 'forinidable character of its out-
works exceeded anything we could possibly have
anticipated from the faint description of its position
which had reached us." After giving a very minute
end interesting account of the engagement of the 10th,
the despatches deal with the negotiations with Theodore
for the release of the captives. " I considered," says Sir
Robert, " that a fuller atonement than the surrender of
the captives when they could be retained no longer was
absolutely required, and must be exacted ; and, painful as
was the thought of the possible consequences to the
captives if Theodore's rage should become excited, I
relied for their safety on the apprehension of a renewal of
the conflict which demoralised Theodore's troops, and
from which Theodore himself was not free, as was involun-
tarily betrayed by Dejach Alema. I relied also on my
threat of unrelenting pursuit and punishment of all who
might in any way be concerned in the ill-treatment of the
European captives. I pointed out how the power of Great
Britain had already reached Magdala, that no corner of
Abyssinia, however remote, could screen anyone whom
we wished to punish." The prisoners safe in the Brit:sh
camp, the attack on Magdala, was commenced on the 13th.
The artillery was massed to support the attack, but it was
not until after long and laborious efforts that an entrance
was effected by the leading. men of the 33rd Regiment.
Theodore shot himself at the second gateway when he
heard the fatal intelligence. His troops fled in the wildest
confusion, throwing away their arms in their flight.
Those who had given themselves up were escorted out of
Magdala on the 15th and I(th, and conveyed to a place of
safety, and on the afternoon of the 17th the gates of the
fortress were blown up and the buildings committed to the
flames. Having been unable to complete his despatches,
Sir Robert Napier promises to send the conclusion by
the next mail, which will include the account ,of re-
embarkation of the greater portion of the troops, and a
specification of the special services of the officers and men
requiring to be brought under the notice of the Govern-
ment. Of the troops under his command, Sir Robert
speaks in the highest terms. Appended to the com-
mander-in-chief's despatches is one from Major-General
Sir Chailes Stavely, detailing the operatio24 of
.1141;
AratsilittwOUANktO. giYOL