The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-12 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

A deputation from the South Wales Railway, con-
sisting of R. Frederick Gower, Esq., J. K. Brunel,
EN., Mr. Hunt, the Solicitor and the Secretary, had
an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at
the office of the Board of Trade.

The accounts received in town yesterday morning
from Drayton Manor, Staffordshire, respecting the
health of _Miss Peel, were slightly favourable. At
seven o'clock on Tuesday evening there was some
very slight amendment in Miss Peel's state. The
pulse was lower, though still at 120.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colo-
nial-office from the Governor of Hong-Kong.

SIR R. PEEL AND THE MAN-
CHESTER PUBLIC PARKS.
We have very sincere and very great gratification
in laying before our readers the copy of a letter re-
ceived by the Honorary Secretaries of the Public
Parks Committee from the Premier—a letter which
reflects honour upon the Right Hon. Baronet for the
sentiments it avows,' the associations adverted to, and
the acknowledgments made ; and which we commend
to general attention as a noble example, worthy to be
follciwed by many other gentlemen formerly con-
nected with Manchester, and on whom it has much
stronger ciairsislositlx. The following is the
Premier's letter
" Gentlemen,—Although I hare no longer any per-
sonal connexion with the town of Manchester, by pro-
perty or other local tie, yet, considering Manchester tc
be the metropolis of a district, to the industry of which
I and my family are under very deep obligations ; and
most heartily approving of the wise and benevolent de-
sign to provide for those who are doomed to almost in-
cessant toil, the means of healthful recreation and harm-
less enjoyment, I willingly contribute to the furtherance
of that design, and offer mycordial wishes for its success.
" I request my name may be added to the subscrip-
tion which has been commenced for this purpose, for the
um of one thousand pounds.—l ani, Gentlemen, your
obedient servant, " ROBERT PEEL.
" Malcolm Ross, Esq.
" Edward Watkin, Esq."
This munificent donation is, to our mind, greatly
and liberal terms
pinienhancededwgehi
tc
hhai
it value lea
the
h conveyed.
estimationt h e
Ire hail it, too, as a
of every benevolent
mind, no petty party feelings should be allowed to
obtrude into this excellent design for the benefit of
a large and industrious community. That object
which commands from Sir Robert Peel on the one
hand, and from Mr. Mark Philips on the other,
such substantial proofs of their cordial and generous
support, can scarcely, even to the most suspicious
mind, be deemed a political movement to serve a
party purpose. We trust to find the example of Sir
Robert Peel, addressing itself with all the weight
that justly belongs to it, to those who, after having
realised handsome fortunes in Manchester, are now
enjoying them in other parts of the kingdom. They,
too, are under deep obligations to the industry of
Manchester; and we hope they will not lose so fa-
vourable
insensible to the claims
Drovingvo u r abl e
that a n
theyareopportunitynot
as is now presented, for
herein made upon their liberality. Lit the strength
of their past associations and reminiscences be shown
by their present zealous and cordial generosity.
We understand that, at a meeting of the Commit-
tee on Public Parks on Monday, a resolution was una-
nimously adopted, expressive of their high apprecia-
tion of the opinions expressed by Sir Robert Peel,
and conveying to him their sincere thanks for his
munificent gift, and for the gratifying terms in which
he has communicated it.—Manchester Guardian.

PASSAGE OF THE INDIAN MAIL THROUGH FRANCE.
—The following is an example of the rapidity with
which the French carriage which conveys the English
and French dispatches from Calais to Marseilles now
performs the journey :—The Indian mail which left
London on the 7th of August arrived at Calais at two
and three-quarter minutes past eight on the morning of
the Bth. Having left that town at ten minutes past nine
o'clock, it arrived at Paris at thirty minutes past one in
the morning. Having left Paris at forty minutes past
two o'clock, it arrived at Marseilles on 11th August at
thirty minutes past four in the morning, having accom-
plished the distance from Calais to Marseilles within the
space of 37 hours 20 minutes. The carriage con-
tained 50 iron chests of a foot square, in which were
Inclosed the English dispatches, and 16 wooden cases
of various dimensions containing the French dispatches.
The moment they arrived at Marseilles they were con-
reyed on board an English steam-boat, and in half an
hour afterwards they were on their way to Malta, where
a boat belonging to the Oriental Company was waiting
to receive them. From Alexandria they proceed to Suez,
And thence across the Desert to India. Less than five
a ecks sufficed to effect the passage from London to Bom-
bay. The same speed is observed on the return of the
mails from India. Two couriers, one French and the
other English, always accompany the carriage. Inde-
pendendly of these arrangements, the English Govern-
ment is about to conclude a contract with the Oriental
Steam-boat Company, in order to have the Indian dis-
patches conveyed from Alexandria to Southampton di-
rect. By these means letters from India may be received
in London every fifteen days."—Sud de Marseilles.
COMMERCIAL PROSPERITY.—AII experienced com-
mercial authority, in noticing the remarkable revival of
trade, states that the export trade continues good, and
certain articles bought for the Continent have improved
in value, whilst others are still quoted at steady rates.
The healthy tone of commercial business has not this
year, or, indeed, for the last six years, been more plainly
perceptible than of late. Business for the last two
months has been particularly brisk, prices generally
high and steady, with little undue speculative operations
having been entered into. Money has been plentiful,
and commands only easy rates, still the additional im-
pulse to speculation by the readier means of procuring
the necessary funds on the first onset by new firms, has
not been injuriously acted upon. Articles adapted for
manufacturing purposes command a ready sale, and
former advanced prices are firmly maintained. The ex-
tent of actual business in the manufacturing districts
continue upon a large scale,
and several houses are said
to have received orders too extensive to be immediately
executed. The price of labour around Manchester.
Bradford, Leeds, &c., has advanced in consequence of
the greater demand for it, and a good season is likely to
be sustained throughout.—Durham Advertiser.
A supplement to the Gazette of Tuesday gives,
at length, a programme of the ceremonial at the baptism
of his Royal Highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, un
Friday last. The programme has already appeared in
our columns.