The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-17 00:00:00

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.

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SOUTHAMPTON, DEC: 16.—The Peninsular and Ori-
ental Company's steam-ship the Queen, Captain Russell,
arrived at half-past two o'clock this day from Gibraltar.
and landed the Peninsular and other mails, which were
forwarded to London by the three o'clock train. Her
dates are, Gibraltar the 7th, Cadiz the Bth, Lisbon the
10th, Oporto 11th, Vigo 12th, and Corunna the 13th.
The Queen has the following passengers :—Mr. New-
port, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Mr. Hadida, Viscount Car-
reira, Mr. Almerda, and Mr. Driesman. The Tagus
was seen on the 9th off Cape St. Vincent, and on the
12th the Royal Tar running into Vigo. The Queen bas
the following cargo :-516 boxes oranges, 5 boxes of
dates, 16 boxes eggs, and the usual quantity of specie.
The Pacha steam yacht, Captain Burney, will leave
the docks to-morrow en route for Gibraltar, with the
Mediterranean and Peninsular mails, 25 passengers, and
ra full cargo of manufactured goods.
The Avon, Captain Norton, will leave this port to-
morrow, with the West India mails, 45 passengers, and
a full cargo of stores belonging to the company.
The Forth, Captain Chapman, may be expected on
the 21st instant, with the Havannah mails from St.
Thomas's.

The Oriental steam ship, Captain Soy, will take out
the India and Chinese mails of the 20th instant.

THE TEN HOURS BILL.

Mr. Ferrand, M.P., has addressed the following letter
to Mr. Arrowsnaith, of Manchester, in reply to an invi-
tation to dine with the operative cotton-spinners and
self-acting winders of that town and its vicinity, on Sa-
turday next ; their object being to express their senti-
ments on the important question of shortening the hours
of labour for all factory workers :

" Hotel du Rhin, Place Vendome, Paris,
Dec. 14, 1845.
" Sir,—Your letter has been forwarded to meat this
place. I leave to-day for England ; and, as the political
aspect was so uncertain when the last papers left
home, I cannot state how I may be engaged on Satur-
day next.
" The shortening of the hours of factory labour has
been one of the dearest objects of my public life, and
if my being with you on Saturday next will be of ser-
vice to you (my engagements in England allowing me),
I shall be most happy to be present at your dinner.
" Should I not be able to join you, let me warn you
against allowing any one in whom you may confide, or
have confided, to snake your sacred cause a subject of
barter for the advancement of any political object or
personal advantage ; for I have reason to believe that
the most base and most perfidious public man that ever
disgraced the page of history will hereafter attempt to
enfold himself in its hallowed mantle, to enable him once
more to hold up his head in the House of Commons, and
there propose that ' the Ten Hours Factory Bill' shall
form ' part of an enlarged and comprehensive system' of
legislation.
" Your holy and righteous cause has hitherto been
kept aloof from even a breath of the political atmos-
phere ; men of all parties have joined hand and heart in
supporting it ; and now that it is a second time on the
threshold of victory, it would indeed be hard to behold
it again blighted by the touch of the man who, though
wallowing in wellth extracted from your fathers' sinews,
has resisted (with a virulence which can only have been
whetted and excited by a sensitive feeling of the debt of
gratitude he owes you) every attempt that has been
made to achieve for you and your cause a glorious vic-
tory, and for advocating which he persecuted the im-
mortal Sadler to death.—l am, Sir, yours faithfully,
" W. B. FERRAND.
" Mr. W. Arrowsmith, Manchester."