The Sun.
London, England, 1818-05-13 00:00:00

ARC"! IC ILXI'EDI I'ION.

The importance ot this Expedition, and the in-
terest which it must excite in every part of the
Globe, render us happy in the opportunity of
presenting to our Readers the following authentic
Letters :

Extract of a Letter frain an Officer employed on the
Arctic Expedition.

" LERWICK, APRIL 30,-181R.

" On our arrival here this afternoon, we find
the Ister is to sail very early in the morning, and
will take a mail. I have been busy all the after-
noon in assisting in setting up the clock and
Transit on shore, in readiness for obtaining our
fir St observation to-morrow for the rate of the
pendulum, and I have now but little time left to
address a few hasty lines to you.
" After we once got out of the Swin, which we
were prevented ooing for some time by strong
easterly winds, we had Fr quick and pleasant pas-
sage here. The -ships sail tolerably well ; but,
what is of more consequence to ris, they beOve
well in a sea, notwithstanding they are so deep :
they roll deep, but both without straining► or
jerking. The Alexander makes 16 inches of we-.
ter in 2-1 boors, which is, as I was. informed by
the of the llock-yard at Deptford, and
others, almost a necessary consequence of do►►-
hling ships : but she makes no more in bad wea-
ther, than in fine, and will probably improve.
daily. We have, of course, not yet made any
observations worth sending you. Our chrono-
meters go tolerably well—EAß NSH A W's have the
decided preference, however, both with SABINE
and myself. The last pocket watches supplied
(mine is ARNOLD'S) have no rate at all ; but we
hope, during our stay here, to be able to obtain
one. We are both► extremely well manned ; and
it would not be easy to mention a thing wllich we
are in want of."

Extract of another Letter.

" His Majesty's ship Isabella, May 1, I /11 $.

" LERWICK --Arrivekl yesterday.—Wind S.W.
" I have the pleasure to acquaint you we had
an excellent plssAge from Cromer, where my last
was dated from, to Lerwick, and find our chrono-
metets going to admiration :—the wind being
against tis, we have set up the clock, and if it
continnes we shall have some observations on the
pendulum to-morrow. The dipping needles are
also on shore; but we have got our fiddler, and
another live bullock, and, if the wind will let us
ont, we shall be off men ily. We have been lucky
enough to catch the Ister before site set off for
Shithead. FORREST filled us up with bread and
water, and we had no occasion to let a man go on
shore. Ido not think they would have run, but
it is as well not to trust them. lhe Dorothea has
not arrived vet.

" P. S. The Dorothea is just coming iH, and
the %vimd is shifting to the Easteard. We sail at

day-light:'

Bahama Gazettes to the later end of March hare
been tecri'ved, but they contain no news of im-
portance. The General Assembly had been pro-
rogued, by a Proclamation of his Excellency the
G,.vernot, from the 3(1 of March to the 14th of
April. The Royal Gazette of the 10th of March
gives a long arcount, of the piratical seizure of
the British sloop Favourite, while lying at anchor
in the port of Surma, on the coast of Cuba, by a
hmat commanded by a white man (an American),
and nine others. They sent the Captain and crew
of the Favourite on shore, and took away the
sloop with all her cargo. The number of Inde-
pendent cinizers was still increasing. By a Pro-
clamation, dated the 10th of February, the im-
portation of all kinds of merchandise and grain
was to be permitted in British-built ships, owned
by British subjects, into the Bahama islands, until
the 21st (lay of August next, unless sooner pro-
hibited by an order from his Majesty by and with
the advice of his Privy Council.
Yesterday, soon after one o'clock, her MA-
JESTY, accompanied by the Duchess of GLOUCES-
TER and the Princess of HESSE HOMBOURG, rode
out over Westminster Bridge to Clapham, &c.
and returned over Battersea Bridge, and arrived
at the. Queen's Palace at half-past two.

Yesterday morning the Duchess of GLOUCESTER
visited the PRINCE REGENT at Carlton-house, as
did the Dukes of YoaK and CLAREtacm.

Yesterday, soon after three o'clock, the 'Prince
of HEssE Hom Emilio arrived at the Queen's Palace,
atter a somewhat hasty visit to Portsmouth, the
Isle of Wight, Lymington, Southampton, 'Win-
chester, Salisbury, Bath, Bristol, Clifton, &c.
His Serene Highness only left the Queen's Pa-
lace on Friday morning.
Yesterday morning the Royal Sovereign yacht
sailed from Deptford to proceed to Calais, to be
in readiness to receive the Duke and Duchess of
CAMBRIDGE.