The Press. — London, England, 1858-08-07 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 7, 1858. from our various Consulates, and the effects to be feared from America* designs on Cuba. The Noble Lord, however, is so much preoccupied by the question of a testimonial to King liomsA, that it is feared the whole scheme will end in smoke. THE QUEEN AT CHERBOURG Blow soft, ye summer breezes! and thou sea Tame down thy many-crested waves, nor vex The stately keel, that, fraught with Britain's hope, Watch'd by ten thousand eyes, from Britain's shore Moves self•propell'd, instinct with vaporous life— The Island Queen, at home upon the deep, Midst pray'rs and blessings goes serenely forth. See, round the Royal ship attendant barks Throng lovingly, of various shape and trim ; Some floating halls of Commerce—some the toys Wherewith our Island-nobles flout the sea, Dallying with danger. High and low are there, Bound for one port, and by one im pulse swayed. What seeks the hope of Britain on the main, And whither steer so many glitt'ring barks That seem not bonne for battle ? Look afar Across the misty blue ; there Cherbourg stands— A harbour and a fortress. Wealth and skill, Wielded by pow'r, have wrought strange marvels there. Behind yon massive, far-extended mole Whole navies might ride safely. Ocean chafes In vain, loud thund'ring at the massy bar. Within yon arsenals, unmeasured stores Of all war's engin'ry lie piled or ranged Against the day of conflict. Not a spot To which yon lengthen'd batt'ries cannot point Their fire, and concentrate the iron hail. Gigantic—awful—menacing it stands ! By tyrannous ambition first devised Ere the Great Monarch knew Britannia's strength ; Then by the first Napoleon's eager hate (Peace to his mighty shade ! he rued his dream Of conquest) with vast labour onward push'd— An outwork against England. Now at length It stands complete—a new Napoleon hails The shrine of War, inaugurate in peace ! And thither is our own Victoria bound, And thither tend the thousand sails, that gleam Like floating lilies stirr'd by gales of June. Ay ! let oppressors tremble—let Deceit Nourish distrust—let Faction sow debate And toil to sever what Good Faith has join'd— A better spirit is at work to-day ! The sun is up—ill fare the envious mist ! The Island Queen goes forth to be a guest With Him of France, who named his Empire, Peace ! Hark ! there be thunders from those pond'rous guns Wakening the deep-voiced Echo—but they tell Of welcome ; there be shoutings, but of joy And gen'rous admiration. Not in vain Oh ! best beloved Victoria! dost thou strow The olive o'er yon bleak and threat'ning mounds Of barren stone. A thousand tales of wrong— A thousand bitter mem'ries of the past — Grudges, of yesterday—nay, more than these, Suspicions yet unborn—dissensions yet Slumb'ring in embryo, shall pass away And be forgotten; but this day's event, The deep remembrance of this noble pledge Of Faith and Amity, shall live, a bond 'Twixt France and Britain—knitting hearts together By subtler magnetism than that which thrills From world to world along the electric line Beneath Atlantic billows. Peace ! sweet Peace ! Be this thy final triumph ! and the curse Of utter scorn, of conscious impotence On Gaul or Briton, who shall seek to mar This sweet accord, and join with Cherbourg's name Omens of blood, or promptings to revenge ! Blow softly, then, ye breezes! and thou sea Smooth down thy billows for \victoria's path ; Smile where she smiles, and when regretful France Sighs an adieu, waft back our Bird of peace With plumes unruffled to her Island nest ! though still on board the Niagara, had arrived to within a few miles of its destination at St. John's, Newfoundland. The cable itself lay in a trail of 2,022 measured miles along the broad ocean - bed; and, notwithstanding th e tremendous pressure of the fluid—exceeding in the deeper water five tons to the square inch of surface—the electric messenger flashed through as rapidly and regularly as when it lay coiled in the ship's hold. Preparations are simultaneously making on both sides of the Atlantic to land the two ends of the cable. Some final adjustments have also to be effected and a few shore instruments fitted up. All real difficulties are, however, v anquished; and in a few days more London will, in a most practical sense, be on " speaking terms" with New York and Washington. This success has come upon us with the suddenness of a pleasant surprise. It is less than three weeks since the squadron sailed from Cork for their second attempt, the first having failed under circumstances which excited very serious apprehensions of another disappointment. The 1,0001. shares then stood at 300/.; a significant proof how small were the chances of success in public estimation. Since then not a word had been heard of the flotilla until the Agamemnon herself brought the tidings of triumph. The two cable-bearing vessels, it seems, reached their appointed rendezvous in mid-ocean on the 28th of July ; the splice was made on the following morning ; the consorts then separated, steaming respectively east and west u ntil they brought their two ends home on the sth. The actual process of l a ying down the cable, consummating so many hopes and reward ing the labour of years, was thus accomplished in something under seven days. The political and commercial benefits that must result from this triumph of skill need no comment. As a scientific operation the completion of the Atlantic Telegraph belongs to those suc ccmes which point the way to further achievements. Greater things will be done yet. Broader ocean spaces have to be spanned, and instan taneous communication established with remoter regions. Now that the thing is shown to be possible, England can never be content until she has placed herself in hourly "rapport " with every colony or important centre of commerce on the face of the globe. Expense is no object. In point of fact, the required outlay is by no means formidable. The Atlantic Telegraph Company have spent little more than 400,0001., of which a large proportion was absorbed in preliminary experiments and unsuccessful attempts in laying down. They have lost also several hundred miles of cable in their failure, and, nevertheless, have still 500 to spare. When the means and mode of operation are thoroughly known, the cost of establishing a submarine telegraph anywhere, and to anywhere, will be ex ceedingly moderated ; and, when accomplished, how glorious will be the results ! Place the Foreign-office in communication with every capital, the Colonial-office with every dependence, the London and Liverpool Ex changes with every mart, and we may safely dispense with many a regi ment and ship of war, while rejoicing in a flow of peaceful and prosperous commerce, such as the world has never seen before. Few can have Ihiled to read with amusement the accounts of the old theatrical days, when, at the close of the London season, the leading per formers used to retire from the boards of Covent Garden or Drury Lane and " star it" in the provinces. How awkwardly they mixed pride with condescension, and played down to their audiences ! The leading per formers on the Parliamentary boards have during recent years adopted a some what similar practice, and have been wont to deliver lectures to admiring audiences in country towns—lectures truly admirable for making the most of the lecturer's very scanty knowledge, or for conveying recom mendatory hints in reference to his peculiar political views. We under stand (from authority almost as unquestionable as that of the " Times cor respondent " at Naples) that the leading Members of her Majesty's Opposition, being not quite satisfied with the results of the past session in general, or of their own patriotic efforts in particular. have resolved on an extensive provincial campaign during the recess, and on astonishing or conciliating the natives in a great variety of ways. Our announcement may be something premature, as the arrangements are not wholly com pleted, but we believe that some leading points in the programme may be regarded as settled. Lord P—N is said to have originally contemplated a lecture at Bir mingham " On the Fall and its Consequences," but to have been deterred by the suggesti o n th a t th e su bj ec t wou ld p rove sugges ti ve o f un pl easan t political allusions. It is probable, therefore, that a paper "On Permu tations and Combinations" will be read at Cambridge by the accom plished Viscount. - Mr. has promised a paper "On the Signs of the Times." He has privately assured Dr. CUMMING that his view of the sub ject will not interfere with the Learned Doctor's peculiar branch of inter pretation. In fact, we understand that Mr. L—'s idea of the " pro phets" involves a different class of considerations. Sir C--- W— purposes a lecture on British timber as connected with the English navy and the Admiralty Board. He will compare the respective densities of various kinds of Wood, and exhibit striking illustra tions of what may be deemed the maximum density. Lord J. RUSSELL is still quite undecided, on account of the great variety of subjects on which the public ignorance appears to him lament able, or, as the Noble Lord expresses it, " unconstitutional." Ile at first inclined to a series of readings from " De Lolme," but has since had his attention much engaged by the history of Judtea, and the important question of its auriferous capabilities. lie will, probably, lecture on the latter subject in the reading-room of the Royal Exchange. Sir R —D, M.P., is expected to take the chair. Mr. CARDWELL having had his attention drawn to Fogrm's celebrated EstiaY " On decision of Character," has determined to read a similar essay of nis own on "Resolution." The. learned lecturer's English is so often utterly incomprehensible that there are grave apprehensions of a failure. Lord C---N is engaged on a lecture to be poetical, entitled " The Cabinet of Peace," in which he is to take a bird's-eye view of foreign politics, touching on the question ofTurkey, the state of Persia, the latest " returns "