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Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 16, 22 November 1843, Page 2

Among the stores of Foreign intelligence which we glean from the produce of the last mails, will be found notice of a project which appears to occupy a good portion of public attention. The junction, namely, ot the Red Sea and the Mediterranean by means of a Caual cut through the Isthmus of Suez. There can be but one opinion of the utility of such an undertaking opening as it would such vast facilities to European Commerce with the I ndian Seas. Its practicability is another question, and owing to the nature nature of the ground, we should pronounce it a most difficult one. But what will not European energy and capital and science accomplish. We perceive too that the Chambre de Commerce of Trieste have lake!) steps towards the establishment of factories lor the reception of Indian goods, at Alexandria, and have dispatched an agerrt on a voyage of inspection, with a view to lire promotion of commercial intercourse by the above line of communication, Vienna, Venice, and Milan, bear a part in those, arrangements. Thus is all Europe tending towards the accomplishment of/he great object which never ought to be lost sight of in the views we take of the intercourse of mankind in the present age —the rendering all the nations of the world one vast family. In our last number, the same consideraiion was forced upon us, while speaking of the New Post Office Treaty, and line we read of English or Foreign commercial enter prise, brings the same remark more forcibly home to our minds. It is not so with the victories announced to have been gained by Sir Chas. Napier, in Scinde. Much as we rejoice at news which gives additional laurels to British Arms, it comes not to us with some conviction that there will accrue therefrom an equal proportion ot benefit to the human race, “ and indeed,” to use the words of a Scotch paper speaking on this subject, “ we could wish that the motives for war in this case were more clear and intelligible.”

A report has reached us, the authority for which we fear is too good to allow of much doubt, that Horton, the principal witness against Ellis, who is- in gaol for piracy and murder in the schooner Han* nah, has been allowed to abscond,

trust this is not the case —hut should the prove well founded, and it turn out that so important a witness has been permitted to absent himself, very serious blame will be attached t,o the authorities, and a charge of culpable neglect will be at the door of the Police. —Some time back a case of petty theft fell to the ground for the want of the principal evidence. named Smith, who got away in the Srigand. .At the time we omitted to draw attention to it, the charge being a petty one, and our police being generally vigilant, but it must not be imagined on that account that itwas unnoticed. The present absence of Horton, demands most strict investigation. ' It is understood that Jermyn I. Symmonds, Esq., at preset attached to the department of the Protector of Aborigines, has received a commission in the 40th Regiment, now in India. We shall re'* gret losing this gentleman for many reasons, for his own sake; but as the brother of the late Capt. Symonds, one of the most valuable and beloved settlers, who left England to do the wotk of a pioneer to a new Colony,- and to whose exertions our being now settled at Auckland is mainly owing, Mr. Symonds has an additional claim to our good wishes. - ■ * *' The Union , Stiles,arrived yesterday ffom the Bay 'of Islands, bringing a few letters and papers. There was no fresh arrivals, since our last advice 1 . The s tJnion has brought some sheep and a few bags of Soar,

The Merchant Navy.—The papers, memoranda, &c., which have been collected and prepared by Capt. Fiizroy, who has received the Governorship of New Zealand, with relation to the bill which he introduced to Parliament for tbe examination of Masters and Mates of the Merchant Navy, have been handed over to Capt, Gladstone, R. N-, M. P. By this judicious transfer of his charge of the Bill to a Naval Officer who is not unacquainted with tbe customs of the Merchant Service, and has energy enough to advance in its behalf by tbe oottrse already laid down, Capt Fitz= soy has taken the most friendly step towards the Navy that, under the circumstances which deprive the mariner of his support in the House of Commons, it was possible for him to adopt. Awful Calculation.—An ingenious individual calculates that the nomber of inha’ bitants who have lived on the earth, amounts to 36,627,843,275,075.146. This sum when divided . jby 3,096,000, the number of square leagues on the surface of the globe, leaves 11,830,693,732 persons io eaclisquare league. There are 27.364,000 square xniles of land, which being divided as above, gives about 1,314,500,076 persons to each square mile. MLet the miles be reduced to s-quare rods, and the .number, he says, will be 2,858,273,600,000, which .being divided as above, gives 1,253 inhabitants to each square rod, which- rod being rednced to feet and divided as above, it will give back five persons flo each square foot of terra firma ou the globe. Railway Travelling.— A gentleman of Dover, availing himself of the facilities o railway communication, breakfasted in Doverf joed in London, and supped in Dover. The largest man in the British service is Lieutenant Sutherland, of the 56th Regiment, at Cork. He weighs 25 stone, and his height is 6 feet 4 inches. He is only 23 years old, and possessed of a property of some thousands a year. The religious differences between the Papal {government and that of Russia, are as far as ever from adjustment.