The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-02-11 00:00:00

PORTUGAL

CHANGE or MlNlSTERS.—Dispatches from Portugal are
from Gibraltar the 27th, Cadiz 28th, and Lisbon the 31st ult
The attempt to overthrow the constitution had fully suc-
ceeded at Oporto, where the charter was proclaimed on the
27th by the municipality, with the full concurrence of the
garrison ; and a provisional government appointed with Costa
Cabral, the ex-minister of justice, for its chief. This news
occasioned great consternation at Lisbon, where the ministers,
for the purpose of averting the suspicion that they favoured
the move movement of Costa Cabral, had decided on tender-
ing their resignations, which, however, the Queen refused to
accept. They would only consent to return to office on a
pledge that Costa Cabral should be dismissed, which was re-
luctantly given and redeemed. In spite of her majesty's
compliance with their demands, however, they eventually
resigned in earnest, and the Queen is now occupied in forming
a new administration.
The Duke of Terceira had declined to become a member
of the new cabinet. An application to the Duke of Palmella
was more successful, he having accepted the presidency of the
council. The other members of the new cabinet are said to
be Jose da Silva Carvalho, minister of finance, the Baron de
Cam panha, minister of war, and Jervis d'Atonguia, minister
of marine. The departments of justice and the interior had
not been filled up when the Margaret sailed.
A majority of the deputies in Lisbon had protested against
the movement.

INDIA

AND CHINA

Our last publication contained a few brief particulars of
the operations of out troops in China, and we now supply the
details connected with the interesting and important events
of the capture of Chusan and Chinhae.

CAPTURE OF CRUSAN

The Chinese haveVeeiiir;ilefatigabic in croons batteries
since the British forces werc withdrawn in February last; and
it is almost inconceivable that so much has been done by
them. From the western extremity, outside Guard Island,
to the eastern termination of their works, which extend half
a mile beyond the commanding position of the Joss-house
or Temple-hill, (now greatly strengthened,) there is a conti-
nued line of strong battery on the sea-face, principally con-
structed of mud, comprising 267 embrasures of guns, and 95
of various calibre, actually mounted on different points, in-
dependently of 41 planted on the ramparts of the city, and
numerous ginjalls in every direction.
The rapidity of the tides in the different channels of Chusan
harbour is so great as to render large ships frequently quite
unmanageable, even with the assistance of steam-vessels ; and
the chance of placing them in any precise position for action
so uncertain, that it was at once seen our object would be
best effected by landing troops, seamen and marines, to the
westward of the sea defences, and take them in reverse.
Our resources in boats did not admit of more than one co-
lumn being landed at a time, including a portion placed in the
Fhlegethon and Nemesis, and finding these small vessels had
scarcely time to tow the boats with the troops against the
tide, I was compelled to keep the Sesostris to facilitate their
disembarkation. With this additional assistance it was
nearly half-past ten o'clock before the first column, under
the gallant commander-in-chief, reached the shore, when
they were assailed by a heavy discharge ofjingalls and match-
locks from the heights, but immediately formed. and sup-
ported by the fire of the ships, the advance quickly ascended
the bill, and gallantly carried every thing before them, al-
though a more resolute stand was made by the Chinese than
had been previously made in any encounter with them.
The marines and part of the seamen were landed as fast
as the boats could return from them, but before the second
column got on shore the Chinese abandoned the western end
of their sea defences, which were entered by part of the
troops of the first column, who completely cleared the line
of batteries, and took possession of the Joss-house-hill.
The steam-vessels moved into the inner harbour as soon
as the troops were landed, to assist in the reduction of
Tinghae, on which the main body was rapidly advanced; the
walls were escaladed without opposition, and by two p.m.,
the British colours were flying in every direction.
Thirty-six new and well cast brass guns are mounted in
the batteries, and will be shipped in one of the transports. I
believe a considerable store of government rice has been
found in the city.
I fear the troops have suffered a loss of one ensign and one
private killed, and about 24 men wounded. Tha casualties
in the squadron are confined to one seaman in the Cruiser
severely wounded, (since dead,) another slightly wounded,
and one man of the Phlegethon slightly wounded. The
Blonde had one of her quarter deck guns disabled, but no
further mischief was sustained.

CAPrURE OF CHINIIAE.
The city of Chinhae, which is enclosed by a wall thirty-
seven feet in thickness, and twenty-two feet high, with an
embrasured parapet of four feet high, and nearly two miles
in circumference, is situated at the foot of a very command-
ing pensular height which forms the entrance of the Tahee
river on its left or north bank. On the summit is the cita-
del, which, from its strong position, is considered the key to
Chinhae, and the large and opulent city of Ningpo, about 15
miles up the river; and it is so important as a military post,
that I trust I may be excused for attemptjng to describe it.
It stands about 250 feet above the sea, and is encircled
also by a strong wall with very substantial iron-plated gates
at the east and west ends. The north and south sides of the
height are exceedingly steep ; the former accessible only
from the sea by a narrow winding path from the rocks at its
base; the south side and eastern end being nearly precipi-
tous. At the east end of the citadel, outside its walls, 21
guns were. mounted in three ,batteries .ot- masonry and sand
bags, to defend the entrauce a the river.
The only communication between the citadel and city is on
the west side, by a steep but regular causeway, to a barrier
gate at the bottom of the hill, where a wooden bridge, over a
wet ditch, connects it with the isthmus and the gates of the
city, the whole of which are covered with iron plates, and
strongly secured. The space on the isthmus between the ci-
tadel bill and the city wall is filled up, towards the sea, with
a battery of five guns, having a row of strong piles driven in
a little beach in front of it, to prevent a descent in that quar-
ter ; and on the river side of the isthmus are two batteries
adjoining the suburbs, and mounting 22 and 19 guns, for
flanking the entrance : 28 guns of different sizes, and num-
berless ginjalls, were also planted on the city walls, princi-
pally towards the sea.
The main body of the Chinese forces were posted on the
right bank of the river, in fortified encampments, on very
commanding and steep hills ; field works and entrenchments
being thrown up in every advantageous position, with 23 guns
and innumerable ginjalls mounted in them, to impede the
advance of the troops. The principal landing place on this
side is within a considerable creek, close to the south entrance
of the river, and across this creek we found a row of piles
driven. Four batteries, mounting 31 guns, were also newly

constructed on this side of the river, to flank the entrance,
and about half a mile above its mouth a similar obstruction,
of larger piles, was carried completely across, space only be-
ing left for one junk to pass at a time. In short, the Chi-
nese had exercised their ingenuity to the utmost to make
their defences secure, and a great amount of treasure and
labour must have been expended in the execution of these
works, fully evincing the importance which they attached
to this position.

The plan of attack agreed upon by the General and myself
was to laud the troops in two columns on the right bank of
the river, inside the small islands called the Triangles ; the
main body, under his immediate command (about 1040
strong), to disembark a short. distance beyond the creek above
referred to; the other (about 500 strong) immediately at its
entrance, where it appeared to us practicable to put them
securely on shore outside the piles, under cover of one of the
brigs, good anchorage being found within a few yards of the
spot. _ _ _ _ _ _

The attack of the citadel and city on the left bankt of the
river was assigned to the naval branch of the force
ened by about 23 of the Royal, and 12 of the Madras reslgrt-
il-
lery, under Lieutenants the Hon, F. Spencer and Moles.
worth, and 50 Sappers, under Captain Cotton and Lieut.
Johnston, ofthe Madras Engineers. It was calculated that
the advance of the two columns of troops by different routes,
would not only secure every point on the right bank, but cut
off the retreat of many of the Chinese; and, by a simulta-
neous bambardment of the citadel and city, by the squadron,
we entertained confident hopes of complete success, which
has been happily realised in every respect,
On the evening of the 9th the whole of the squadron, and
the transports, were anchored off Chinhae, in convenient

p racticable-.
The citadel hill cannot be approached for an attack by
large ships, except on the north side, and the water in that
direction is so shallow, that it is only in the calmest weather
that they can be carried with safety sufficiently near to tire
with effect. The day was fortunately every thing we could
desire, and the Wellesley, as soon as the tide served was
towed by the Sesostris into an excellent position, where the
anchor was dropped, about a quarter before nine o'clock, in
four fathoms, about 130 j yards from the citadel and town
walls. As the water ebbed, she settled imperceptibly into a
bottom of soft mud, and was as steady as a land battery,
Commander Ormsby (with very commendable activity) im-
mediately afterwards brought in the Blenheim ; the Blonde
and Modeste, favoured by a light breeze, too their stations
under sail, and every ship was placed to my entire satisfac-
tion, as close as possible; the Blenheim and Modeste touch-
ing the bottom at low water. The precision of the fire, both
of shots and shells, from all, exceeded my most sanguine ex-
pectations ; and the destruction of the works from the com-
mencement of the attack was never doubtful.
As the troops on the right bank of the river moved forward,
Commander Giffard advanced the sloops towards the entrance
of the harbour, and the steamers all took up very good posi-
tions, and performed excellent service with their guns; they
were for a considerable time under a heavy fire from the
river batteries, but fortunately sustained no damage.
About eleven o'clock we had the gratification of seeing the
British colours planted by the troops on One of the batteries
on the opposite shore, and within a few minutes the others
on that side were all carried, and the Chinese observed flying
in all directions before our gallant.soldiers on the heights.
At a quarter past eleven the wall of the citadel was breached
by the fire from the ships, and the defences being reduced to
a ruinous state, the Chinese abandoned their guns, which
they had hitherto worked with considerable firmness, and a
large portion of the garrison retreated precipitately toward
the city. Not a moment was lost in making the signal for
landing the battalion of seamen and marines, with the de-
tachments of artillery and sappers (the whole under the
command of Captain Herbert, of the Blenheim.) Before
noon the boats were all on shore; every impediment pre-
sented by the difficulty of landing on rugged rocks was over-
come, and the force gallantly advanced to the assault, with
a celerity that excited my warmest admiration. An ex-
plosion at this time took place in a battery near the citadel
gate, and the remnant of the garrison fled without waiting
to close it. The citadel was therefore rapidly entered, and
the union-jack displayed on the walls. Our people had
scarcely passed within theM, when another explosion oc-
curred, happily without mischief, but whether by accident
or design is uncertain.
Captain Herbert having secured this post, quickly reformed
his men, and advanced towards the city ; the Chinese still
occupying in considerable force the walls of it, as well as the
batteries beneath the hill on the river side, against which
our troops had already turned some of the guns taken on
the bank. A few vollies of musquetry speedily dislodged
them from both positions, and the battalion of seamen and
marines pushed on in steady and excellent order to attack
the city. The wall (26 feet high) was escaladed in two
places, and in a short time complete possession was taken of
Chinhae, the Chinese troops hating made their escape through
the western gates.
While in the act of scaling the city wall, a third and for-
midable explosion took place at one of the river batteries,
withic a short distonce, by which I regret one man of the
Blenheim was killed ; there is strong suspicion that it was
caused by a mine, intentionally sprung ; and considering the
number of our men which were assembled at the time, it is
most providential that the consequences were not more dis-
astrous.

WINDSOR COURT CIRCULAR.-WEDNESDAY

This morning her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince
Albert took walking exercise. .

In the afternoon her Majesty rode out in a pony phaeton,
the Prince driving, accompanied by their Serene Highnesses
the Princes Ferdinand, Augustus, and Leopold of Saxe Co-
burg, and attended by Lady Jocelyn, the Hon. H. Paget, and
the Hon. G. Liddell, in pony carriages. The Earl of Mor-
ton, Captain Duncombe, and Col. Wylde were on horse-
back. .

The band of the royal horse guards (blue) will be in
attendance at the Castle this evening.
Since yesterday there has been a most favourable change
in the weather, and from present appearances her Majesty
may anticipate a fine day to-morrow, for her journey to
Brighton.
Their Serene Highnesses the Duke Ferdinand, and Prince
Augustus and Prince Leopoid of Saxe Coburg, attended by
their respective suites, took a carriage airing in the Great
Park.

Her Majesty will take her departure for the Pavilion at an
unusually early hour to-morrow. The royal carriages are
commanded to be in waiting in the quadrangle at 8 o'clock.

From the extremely heavy state of the roads between Wind-
sor and Brighton, it is expected that the journey (a distance
of 64 miles) will not be performed in less than seven hours.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent will not leave
Clarence House for the Pavilion until Friday.

The Court, upon leaving Brighton, will proceed to town,
and remain at Buckingham Palace until a few days before
Easter, when her Malesty will return to the castle.
The only addition to the royal dinner party, this evening,
is Lieut.-Colonel Bouverie.
Covers will be laid at the Pavilion, to-morrow evening,
for twenty-two. _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Her M'ajesty's private hand, and the band of the royal
horse guards (blue) will be in attendance at the castle this
The route her Majesty will take to Brighton, to-morrow,
will be through Hampton Court, Ewell, Reigate, Crawley,
and Hickstead.

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON WEDNESDAY

(Front yesterday's Times.)

More than the usual amount of interest was evinced yes-
terday evening, both in and out of the house, to hear the re-
sult of Sir Robert Peel's exposition of the intentions of go-
vernment with reference to the corn-laws. At an early hour
a large body of persons had congregated in the neighbourhood
of the members entrance to the house, and a considerable
number had also assembled in the lobby for the purpose of
obtaining admission into the Stranger's Gallery. As soon as
the door was opened a violent rush ensued, and every seat
was in a few minutes occupied. There was a sufficient num-
ber of persons with orders from members to fill a gallery six
times the size to that appropriated to the use of strangers. A
few minutes after four o'clock a number of the anti-corn-law
delegates marched in procession down Parliament-street, to
the house, and made an attempt to station themselves in the
lobby. Had this been permitted, the members of the house
would have experienced great difficulty in obtaining admission.
To avoid this dilemma, the police and officers on duty were
compelled to oppose their entrance, and at one time it
was thought that a deadly conflict would have ensued.
After a considerable expenditure of ammunition in the shape
of abusive epithets, the delegates retired from the field, and
stationed themselves outside the house, from which situation
they saluted the different members as they passed with cries
of " No sliding scale," " Total repeal," Fixed duty," &c.
It was evident, that even among the opponents of the corn-
laws out of the house, there did not exist anything like
unanimity of opinion. In the House of Commons the scene
was particularly animating. By half-past four o'clock the
benches were nearly filled, and by five the house was literally
crammed. Below the bar was seen a number of distinguished
strangers ; among them the Duke of Cambridge was very
conspicuous. He appeared to listen with marked attention
to the whole of Sir R. Peel's speech. The Premier did not
enter the house until a quarter to five. Every eye was di-
rected towards him. After taking his seat he conversed
briefly with Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham, and ex-
actly at four minutes after five he rose and requested that the
house resolve itself into a committee to consider the trade in,
corn. He then requested that the Clerk of the House should
read that portion of her Majesty speech relating to the subject.
Sir R. Peel's speech was listened to with profound attention.
His observations for the first hour and a half were principally
of an introductory character, and it was not until after he had
been speaking for nearly two hours, that he made any direct
allusions to the modifications of the corn law which the go-
vernment intended to suggest for the consideration of parlia-
ment. We noticed a number of the leading members of the
House busily engaged in taking copious notes of Sir Robert
Peel's speech. Lord J. Russel was so employed. Mr. C.
Buller, Mr. Ewart, and the member for Manchester, Mr.
Cobden, were similarly occupied. It was curious to notice
the intense anxiety exhibited whenever Sir Robert Peel was
thought to be about to develope his plans, and when he did
at last commence his explanation of the contemplated propo-
sals of government, the members in the side galleries rose
almost in a body from their seats, and leaned anxiously for-
ward in order to catch every word that escaped from the
Premier's lips. After the ministerial scheme had been pro-
pounded, arid Sir Hobert Peel had read the scale of du-
ties which he proposed to substitute for those now
in existence, considerable excitement was manifested in
the opposition benches, and immediately a number of
members rushed out of the house for the purpose, as we
thought, of communicating to their friends, the Anti-Corn-
Law delegates, the -piitfeiplee of Sir. R. Peel's-measure. No
discussion followed the premier's 'speech, and none was an-
ticipated. Lord J. Russell merely requested that some
return which Sir R. Peel alluded to be laid upon the table,
and an adjournment was on the eve of being proposed, when
Mr. Cobden, looking exceedingly lachrymose, rose from his
seat for the purpose, as it was generally thought, of inflicting
upon the house one of his stereotyed corn-law speeches, but
as it was clearly evident to the hon. member, that his own
friends were not disposed to listen patiently to a long ha-
rangue, he had the good sense to bottle up his indignation
for a future occasion.

Lord Ashburton has fixed to-day for his departure for
Spithead, where the frigate now lies in which he is to embark
for New York.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, it is said, was robbed on
Wednesday evening, on his way to Kingstown, to embark
for Liverpool, of two hundred pounds. This sum was ab-
stracted from a carpet bag. The city gold chain had an
escape; but this ancient purtenance of authority is quite
safe, as his lordship had the childish vanity to walk into the
House of Commons with the ornament around his neck.--
Dublin Evening Mail.

Loss OF ONE OF THE HASTINGS AND LONDON TRADING
SMACKS.—We sincerely regret to have to record this dis-
tressing event, which took place yesterday week. The
James, which had been unloading on the beach during the
previous tide, was hove off the shore through a heavy surf,
and succeeded in getting under weigh, the wind then blow-
ing heavily from the S.S.W. When off Fairlight Church,
it was observed by the people on shore that something was
wrong, as the vessel bore up, lowering her foresail and haul-
ing up the main-tack. Misgivings arose in the minds of
some that she had shifted her ballast, but no danger was ap-
prehended. The rain coming on, she was lost sight of in the
mist, and seen no more. On Friday the ton-mast of a fore-
and-aft-rigged vessel was discovered above water about three
miles to the southward of Rye harbour. by the Phcenix, also
one of the London traders ; and the James not having ar-
rived in London, for the first time fears were entertained for
her safety. During Saturday morning a fore-hatch, marked
with the name of the unfortunate vessel, was picked up, as
well as several sou'westers. When the Plicenix floated in
the afternoon of Saturday, she immediately bore fur the
wreck, and cutting off a portion of the top-mast, found their i
worst fears realized. The vessel had sunk n about six
fathoms water, and every hand must have perished. The
Phoenix immediately returned to Hastings with the melan-
choly tidings. The crew consisted of Robert Phillips, mas-
ter, who has left a wife and one child, Thomas Carpenter,
mate, who has left four orphan children, and Charles Sweet-
man,
i Richard Wrenham, and William Ball. The supposi-
tion s, that the ballast having shifted, the vessel could not
sustain the squalls, and consequently filled and sunk. She
was the property of Mr. J. Breeds, jun.—Times, Thursday.

TIGHT LACING.—Pn Saturday last, a fine blooming girl,
aged 14, daughter of Mr. Palmer, of the Crown Inn, Chard,
after running a short distance, complained of a pain in her
side, fell down, and died Shortly afterwards. A post mortem
examination was made by N, W: Spicer, Esq., and it was
found that death was caused Immediately by the rupture of
a blood vessel on the lungs, induced by the running and the
pressure of tightly-laced stays.
RAILWAYS.—It appears that railway companies are to be
subject to further parliamentary c6ntroul. On Thursday, in
the House of Commons, Sir T. Freemantle gave notice that
it was the intention of the. Vice-President of the Board of
Trade, on the Bth instant, to move for leave to bring in a bill
for the better regulation of railways.
THE LATEST Intstirsm.—The Derry Sentinel gives us
" the latest" in its way, the prpposition by a town councillor
of that city to divide the year into six quarters. Now we
have one in its way, " most positively" the latest. A friend
of ours, residing not a hundred miles from Dublin-street,
while drying at the fire a letter which he had just written,
and happening to scorch it, immediately appended the follow-
ing P.S. :—" Please excuse this ; don't blame me for it. It
was burned in the Postoffice."—Carlow Paper.
A young woman, named Clotilde Falcoz, only 24 years of
age, who had been seduced and abandoned by a young man,
came from Paris a few days since to Noyers, in the Saone et
Loire, and there, in the hotel where she took up her abode,
destroyed herself with the fumes of charcoal. She had
brought a brazier and a supply of charcoal with her from
Paris in her trunk. Before carrying her fatal design into
execution, she wrote a long letter of four pages to her faith-
less lover, in which she begged that he would have her buried
by the side of his own mother.

THE LATE VISIT OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA TO NEW-
OATE.—It was stated by mistake in some of the newspapers,
that on the 31st of January, when his Majesty the King of
Prussia visited Newgate, Mrs. Fry read to the prisoners in
some religious work ; what she selected that day being the
12th chapter of Romans, and one of the Psalms. It is the
invariable practice, not only of Mrs. Fry, but of all the ladies
in connexion with the several prison committees when read-
ing to the prisoners, to confine themselves entirely to the
truths conta►ned in the Holy Scriptures.
SACERDOTAL COURTS.—The Cork Constitution again calls
attention to the fact of their reverences the- Romish clergy
having established the above tribunals throughout various
parts of the country. The justice-priests sit generally twice
a-week ; summonses are issued ; a jury, where a complicated
case occurs, regularly impanelled ; and, of course, the deci-
sion of the holy man must be meekly bowed to, under the
penalties prescribed by " Mother Church." The Constitu-
tion directs the attention of one or two of the local magis-
tracy to the existence of this shameful abuse of the laws. It
may be that the old leaven of the inquisition has not yet en-
tirely evaporated, did a fitting time occur for its development.

THE FUNDS—WEDNESDAY EVENING,—This has been a
quiet day in the funds, with but trifling variations, although
with a slight improvement in prices. Consols left off 89
sellers for money and buyers for account. Exchequer Bills
19s to 21s premium. India Stock 243 to 5. Bank Stock
167 to 8. Towards the close of the market the appearance
of a few buyers led to an unexpected rise in Spanish of about
1 per cent., but a slight re-action left the Active with the
Coupons at 241 to 4, or abdtt 4 better than the closing prices
yof esterday. Portuguese Five per Cents were 32 to 1, the
Three per Cents 19 to 1. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents
improved to 514 to 1, the Five per Cents 1011 to 4. Belgian
103 to 4. Brazilian 654 to 663. Mexican 324 to 1. Colom
bian 214 to 24.

A party of the directors of the Birmingham and Derby
Junction Railway, accompanied by Mr. Birkinshaw, the
engineer and other officers of the company, made an excursion
yesterday along the newly ,constructed portion of their line
from this town to Nether Whitacre, thus completing the
railway from Birmingham to Derby, which is opened to the
public this day. The directors expressed themselves much
vraiineu .r eh 44. rk.,
inspected en route, and also with the solidity and admirable
state of the line. A very elegant and commodious station,
adapted to the increased traffic which may now be expected
on the line has been erected at the terminus near to the
Grand Junction station.—Birmingham Herald, Thursday.
DIVISION AMONG THE JEWS.—The declaration of ex-
communication issued by the Chief Rabbi and Bethdin of the
German and Portuguese synagogues of London, against the
members of the West London Synagogue of British Jews
( Burton-street, Burton-crescent), was recently in due course,
forwarded by Sir Moses Montifiore, (as president of the board
of deputies) to the four wardens of the Western Synagogue
(St. Alban 's-place), for proclamation. Three of the four
refusing to allow of of its publication in their synagogue, the
question was referred to the " managing committee" thereof,
by whom it was rejected on, a division ; the numbers being
seven against three; and a sub-committee was accordingly
reappointed to prepare a letter of reply to Sir Moses Monti-
fiore, setting forth the reasons of the decision. The recep-
tion given to the Chief Rabbi's bull of excommunication at
Portsmouth has been similar, the president of that synagogue
having at once communicated it to the flames. What recep-
tion it will meet with at other places remains to be seen.

TILE IRISH COURT.—On Thursday evening the Lord-
Lieutenant and the Countess De Grey gave their first state
ball at Dublin Castle, in honour of the christening of his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Upwards of SOO of
the nobility, and the elite of the resident gentry, and those
now visiting the metropolis with their families—attracted by
the brilliancy of the court, and drawn hither by the splendour
of the society now assembled—were present on the occasion.
The fete was on the most magnificent scale, and was never
equalled by anything before seen in this country. Persons
competent to decide, by a comparison with entertainments
of a similar nature given at Buckingham Palace, affirm that
that of Thursday evening was not surpassed by those within
the halls of royalty itself. And yet amid all this gorgeous
display—amidst viands rich and vintages rare—surrounded
by massive plate, and the tables decorated with the most
costly and beautifully-executed designs—all gave way before
the condescending and graceful ease and polite hospitalities
of the noble host and hostess, and the unceasing attentions
of every member of the viceregal household.—Dublin Even-
ing Mail.
We learn from the Agra Ilkaar, that Captain Skinner, of
the Indus commissariat, was in Caboul at the time of the in-
surrection, when he escaped the fate of tke other officers in
the place, through the kindness of his gomashter, who con-
cealed him in his house. After five days' concealment he
was, however, discovered, and seized by the insurgents, who
saved his life for the following purpose :—The English letters
which they became possessed of were taken to Captain Skin-
ner to be translated, and to test the accuracy of his transla-
tion they hit upon the plan of employing another prisoner, a
person who had been taught English in the American mis-
sionary school at Loodeeanah, and whose life was preserved
for the purpose of translating likewise, and then compare the
two versions. It can assist the insurgents but little to know
what is written, inasmuch as an answer to those letters which
have escaped them, in the shape of some thousand bayonets,
is on its way, and Captain Skinner, therefore, we presume,
translates what is given to him. If so, his safety hangs on a
very slender thread—the knowledge English which a scholar
of the Loodeeanah school possesses. Captain Skinner is the
son of the late Lieut.-General Skinner, and brother to Major
Skinner-, of her majesty's 31st regiment, now serving in India.

THAMES TUNNEL—The contract for the erection of the
circular staircase for foot passengers, and also the carriage
ways, has been taken by Messrs. Grissell and Peto, and will
be commenced forthwith. The labours of Sir I. Brunel, as
regards the tunnel itself, are completed—the key brick of the
last inch on the MiddleAlraide :wet iriserted by the King of
Prussia, on his Majesty's visit last week, and the workmen
have for the last month passed under the Thames from
Rotherhithe to Wapping, and vice versa, as well as many
visitors, by special orders from the directors and secretary,
without the least inconvenience ; but it is shortly intended
to close the tunnel for a few weeks, to prevent any interrup-
tion to the operations of the workmen while forming the
circular staircases, and about the second or third week in
April the Thames Tunnel will be finally opened to the pub-
lic, who will be enabled to pass from one side of the river to
to the other on payment of a small toll, which has not yet
been fixed. The shield has been removed in compartments,
and is now lying on the wharf adjoining the shaft on the Mid-
dlesex side. About 3,000 passengers cross the ferry daily,
between Wapping and Rotherhithe, in the small boats, and
the number of persons who will avail themselves of the new
line of communication under water when the tunnel is
opened will probably be trebled. The arches appear to be
remarkably dry, and now both ends of the tunnel are opened,
and the workmen are enabled to enter both shafts, the ven-
tilation has been greatly improved, and the comforts of the
visitors, who were formerly inconvenienced by the confined
atmosphere of the place, much increased.
AWFUL Loss OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.—Letters have
just been received by Mr, West, the secretary of the Ship-
wrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Benevolent Society, giv-
ing information upon a most melancholy loss of life at
Chifden, in Galway, and of a great destruction of property of
a large body of fishermen at Dingle, in Kerry, both occa-
sioned by the tremendous storm of the 26th ult. The fol-
lowing extracts have been handed to us by the gentleman to
whom the communications were addressed :—" The enclosed
account of five persons lost on the 26th ult. reached me this
day ; the widows are all poor ; one of them is really desti-
tute. About twenty-two individuals were lost (all fishermen)
on the morning referred to, much the greater part of whom
have left families. All the accounts that reach me I shall
forward without delay. On Tuesday week we were visited
by the most awful storm that was ever remembered in this
country, and almost all the fishing-boats were driven from
their moorings and damaged, and seven were entirely lost ;
in every boat there:were eight men, who have a shale in the
fishing, and so many families are consequently left quite des-
titute by the loss of their boats, as they would not be able to
replace them. One poor man was lying ill in measles, and
one child just dead, when the roof was blown off his wretched
cabin, and his boat lost; they are now without food, fire, or
means of procoring it, and in a roofless house. Another
poor man lost two boats before in the last three years, and
had (by joining seven others) procured one this winter, when
that also was wrecked, and he is now, with his companions
and their wives and children, in the most deplorable state.
From the remote situation of this place, and there being
6,000 inhabitants in the little town of Dingle (mostly fisher-
men's families) their poverty and distress is beyond descrip-
tion."—London Times.

Robert, sailed from Malta 3rd Jan. and Calypso, Bth Jan. both
for Liverpool
Superior, hence to Rio Janeiro, was spoken Ist instant, in lat.
9, long. 25 W
Quern Mab, hence to China, was spoken 3rd Dec. in lat. 6,
long. 27 _ . - _

enterprise, hence to Mauritius, was spoken gth Dec. in lat. 28,
long. 41
Charles Eyes, Moss. hence at Colombo
Donna Maria, Millard, and Zuleika, Holmes, hence at Constan-
tinople
Ellen Clare, Roberts, hence at Leghorn
Egide, Halwyk, and Industrie, Zellein, hence at Ostend
Enterprise, Ritchie, hence at Lisbon
Mary, Wynes, sailed from Lisbon for Liverpool 24th January
Havana Packet. Dawson, and Peruvian, -, hence at Bonny
Satisfaction, Simons, hence at Old Calabar
Crescent. Rider; Fenella, Smardon, and Francis, Halliday,
hence at Gibraltar
Constauza and Onore, Serra, from Trieste at ditto, and sailed
22nd Jan. for this port
Princess Royal, Baxfield, hence at Marseilles
Oxonian. Wilkinson, hence at Valencia
Frithiof, Calmeyer, and Argo, Mendimozen, sailed from Mar-
seilles for this port 28th Jan.
Europe, hence for Valparaiso, was spoken gth Dec. in lat. 23 S,
long. 41 W

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9.—Wind S.S.E. moderate

ARRIVICD.—Crown, —, from St. John. N.B.—Stephen Whit-
ney, Thompson, from New York—Leader, Phillips, from Patras—
and Briton's Queen, Nellie, from St. Michael's.
SAI LED .—Maria, Brabander, for Antwerp—Trenton, Snow, for
New Orleans—New York, Cropper, for New York—Clyde, Shanks,
for Tampico—Selina, Benson, for Havre and Rouen—Tory, John-
stone, for Rio and Bombay—San Guiseppe, Tropeans, for Ancona
—Madonna del Laura, Stinca, for Naples—Louisa, Chalker, for
Leghorn—and Indian, Scott. for Trinidad and Santa Martha.

Earl of Harewood, --, hence at Batavia
Mertoun, Kenn ; Princess Charlotte, King; Clansman, Spencer ;
Alexander Grant, Thompson, and Caledonia, Lawson, hence at
Bombay
Royal Saxon, —, from Bussorah, at ditto
Eleanor Lancaster, Cowley, from Calcutta, at ditto
England, Thompson, from New South Wales, at ditto
Higginson, Hogg, and Cheshire, Henrickson, sailed from Bom-
bay 10th Dec. and Helen, Hunter, 15th—all for this port
Gratitude, Harvey, from the Mauritius, at Calcutta
Sir John Beresford, Threadgold, from ditto, at ditto
Inglewood, Kerr, from ditto, at ditto

Elizabeth, Moffat, from New South Wales, at c;itt
Bangalore, Smith, sailed from Saugor 30th Nov. for Suez, and
Heart of Oak, M'Donald, 11th Dec. for the Mauritius
Cordelia, Cawkitt, hence at Macao
Wild Irish Girl, Graham, from Calcutta, at Madras

Henry Hoyle, Griffiths. from Van I)iernan's Land, at ditto
Margaret, Tomkins, from Sydney and Manilla, at Sineapore

Josephine, -, hence at ditto, and sailed 22nd Nov. for London
Nile, --, sailed from Manilla for this port, prevlous 6th Nov.
Penang, -, sailed from China for this port, previous to 2t;th
October
John Campbell, White, hence at Port Philip 23rd August
Gilbert Henderson. Tweedie. from London. at Sydney
Vesper, -, from Manilla, at ditto

Eliza. Woolley, from Valparaiso, at ditto
Coronet, Bute, hence at Charleston
Victory, Brooks, from Havana, at New Orleans
South America, Cole, hence at New York

Italy, Snow, hence at ditto ; on the passage lost fore top mast,
main yard, a-.id sprung bowsprit
Minerva, --, hence at Savannah
Coronation,
Catherine, Swanton, from Alexandria, and Plymouth, Davies,
from Odessa, tit Algesiras Roads, and both sailed for this port
Esk, Massey, hence at Trieste
Rowland Hill, Stewart, hence at Venice

Secret, . sailed from Lisbon for Lima 30th January
ADIsN. Jan. 10.—The Grenada, Miller, arrived here asst Dec.
from Newcastle. and was totally wrecked the same night in a gale.
Crew saved.—The Psyche, for England, was discharging at Onrust
(Java) to repair, previous to 30th October