The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-07 00:00:00

SINGAPORE.

The steamer Diana, whose despatch to Borneo for the
purpose of demanding the release of the passengers and

EVIiNIN4....S.EiN ''_!

crew of the Sultana, detained by the Chief of that island,
I mentioned in my last, returned to Singapore on the
11th of September with the whole party. A narrative
by Captain Page, of the captivity of himself and his
fellow-prisoners, has been published, containing many
interesting particulars, and will well repay perusal. The
chief officer and two passen gers,wh o, it will be remembered,
were permitted to leave in a native prow some time pre-
viously, have also arrived from Tlnnganu, where they
had put in for a supply of provisions. All these unfor-
tunate people have undergone much euffering, and the
Bornean chief deserves punishment fo'r his cruel, and
rapacious conduct.

One of the Lascars belonging to the S.lltana reports
having seen at Maladu, in the northern part of Borneo,
a European female, dressed in the Malayan costume, and
residing with Malays. The incident is a strange oneihut
there exists no reason for questioning its truth.

CEYLON.

DISTRICT COURTS.—An important meeting was held
at Colombo on the 30th of October, when an Address to
the Queen was agreed to, praying that in future none
but lawyers in profession should be appointed,to fill the
offices of Judges of the District Courts. The adminis—
tration of justice has long been a subject of complaint
in Ceylon ; and this will hardly be wondered at when it
is considered that civil and military servants, who have
by r,2 means made law their study, have been hitherto
permitted to preside as Judges. Frequent appeals, and ":
reversions of decisions have been the nature:, conse- 4
quence ; and the system, wrong as it is in principle, has,,:)
been now proved to be fraught in practice with iunumel,
rable evils. That it may be discontinued is the wish off?,
all who desire to promote the interest of the colony. .To
their present spirited proceeding the community appear
to have been incited by the appointment of Mr. Longs-
low (a lawyer) to one of the Courts, which awakened
general desire to have the remainder presided over in
like manner.
A public meeting is likewise about to be held at Kandy
for the furtherance of the above views.
STEAM COMMUNICATION.—For some time past the:.
expediency of obtaining a steamer to ply between Co-
lombo and Bombay, touching regularly at the different
ports on the coast, not only for the conveyance of passen-
gers and mails, but for purposes of trade, has been in
active discussion. The opinion now seems to be, that
while the Colonial Government's steamer Seaforth re-
mains on the line, no effectual support is likely to be ac-
corded to the scheme ; and indeed the community of
Colombo appear perfectly well satisfied with the Sea-
forth, slow as she is, and totally inadequate as she will ever
be found, to carry out the objects contemplated by the
establishment of such a comprehensive system as that,:
above referred to. The commercial prosperity both otO
Ceylon and Bombay, would increase to no little exten4,o
by a more certain and regular intercourse ; while,. as reviol
gards the ports on the coast, the advantages which wouldit
accrue to them are incalculable. Should the Seaforth "
be sold, as is anticipated, it is to be hoped some exertion;
will be made in the matter. The governments of Bout;
bay, Ceylon, and Travancore, are all favourable to th,fit
project, and a little public enterprise is all that is wet:aloe'

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