The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-25 00:00:00

THE NEW GUANO ISLAND.

We extract the following intelligence touching the
newly-discovered guano island, and the rich deposit
thereon, from the Cape of Good Hope Shipping Ga-
zette, Nov. 29 :—" It is to Mr. Marsh, the Govern-
ment Resident at Saldanha Bay, the colony is in-
debted for the valuable discovery of the guano de-
posit on Madagas Island, situate in Saldanha Bay,
of which the following is a description from the most
authentic sources we have been enabled to obtain :
This superb harbour (Saldanha Bay), and especially
Hoetjes Bay, within the said bay, one of the most
commodious in the world, is in lat. 33 S., and long.
17 52 E., and is one of the harbours on the west
coast of the colony, at the Cape of Good Hope, about
one deg. N. from Table Bay. There is no danger to be
apprehended in approaching and entering it, if the
navigator be in possession of good charts ; for,
although the entrance is not very capacious, it is suffi-
ciently so, as the prevailing winds are favourable, and
there is no hidden danger. On the south-western side
of the entrance is a small island, having a hill in its
centre, forming two small peaks, called J utton Island,
opposite to which, on the northern shore, is Madagas
Island, or the guano island. After passing these islands,
in the centre of the entrance is Marcus Island,
which divides it into two channels, by either of
which it may be safely entered, the southern
channel leading round to the anchorage on the
western side of the hay and northern to that in
Hoetjes Bay. Round the promontory to the south of
Marcus Isle are two small bays, the first called Sala-
mander, the other Charonaut Bay, in either of which
there is good anchorage in from three to seven fathoms,
having Aleeuwen and Schapen Islands to the
south. Off Meeuwen Island the water is deep, and
vessels may be anchored tolerably close in, out of
the tide way, which runs rapidly between the islands ;
but from the northern shores of Schapen Island
a bank projects, on which there are but two
fathoms of water. In Hoetjes Bay vessels can anchor
in three to seven fathoms, close in, and being land
locked, are safe in every respect. At the Government
residency the main springs of the country have been
found to flow into that part of the bay within eight
feet of the surface, and about twenty yards of high
water mark. By the most simple and efficient con-
trivance, a small portion of the flow was arrested in
its progress into the bay, and by means of a tube, se-
cured in the head of a cask, was made to rise about
twelve feet above the level of the spring, and to yield at
the rate of five gallons per minute; and at this place
ships may be supplied with good water. The first
cargoes of guano which reached here from Ichaboe
were not of such superior quality as those which
arrived afterwards, after the layer had been fairly
broken in ; and this, no doubt, will also be the case
with Madagas Island. An eminent chemist, of this
town, speaks favourably of the first promiscuous
samples which have been sent here and analysed by
him. In the meantime, by the erection of stages on
the island, every facility will be afforded by yarn-
ment in the removal of the guano, on such conditions
as are stated in our Number 45, of the 18th inst."

PRINCE ALBERT AND THE DUKE OF ROTHESAY.—
It may not be generally known that his Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales is Duke of Rothesay, as well as
Duke of Cornwall, and which it would appear from the
following incident which has recently occurred, was
either unknown to or forgotten by his royal father. One
morning a card was presented at Buckingham Palace to
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, upon which was en-
graved " The Duke of Rothesay," and an audience so-
licited. Ilis Royal llighness seemed puzzled and re-
peated
the name several times, saying he did not recol-
lect ever having heard of such a nobleman, but he con-
sented to give the required audience and ordered the
Duke of Rothesay to be shown in, when he was agree-
ably surprised by the entrance of the heir apparent, at-
tired in fall Highland costume, attended by her Majesty's
piper. The above amusing incident was productive of
considerable entertainment to the royal circle.
DEATH OF THE COUNTESS OF 'OTMO
have to notice the death of the above Countess, who. on
Thursday last, died, at her residence at Bath, after a
short illness. The deceased Countess was in her 69th
year,,and was second wife of the late Earl of Fortmore,
title now extinct.