The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

THE EAST.

From the Constantinople journals of the oth, the
affair of the bank does not appear to be going on so
favourably as was at first expected. The Porte has,
it is said, sent a telegraphic despatch to M.
Musurus, the Turkish Ambassador in London, order-
ing him to request a categorical answer from the
company, as to their acceptance or non-acceptance
of the concession. A delay of one week was granted
for them to come to a decision, and if a positive
answer was not given at the expiration of that
period, the affair would he considered at an end.

The question of the Principaiities was still upper-
most in the public mind in the Turkish cauital, and
the partisans of the union were increasing in number.
ltedschid Pacha is said to have declared himself
decidedly iu favour of that measure.
The. Teheran Gazette of the 25th Feb. contained
a higLly coloured report of the battle of Khooshab.

AMERICA.
fP The usual mails from New York, with dates
to the 9th, bring some intelligence of interest respect-
ing the line of conduct the American Government
propose to pursue in the Chinese war.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Courier and Enquirer states :

It is understood that the Government has settled upon
a line of policy to be pursued in regard to China affairs,
and that in very recent conferences between the Secretary
of State and the British Minister the latter has expressed
his entire satisfaction with the course which is to be pur-
sued. The American merchants, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Ap-
pleton, and others interested in the (liana trade, have also,
after receiving explanations from the Government, become
convinced that it is neither politic nor necessary that we

THE PRESS.

should cooperate with the Western powers in their pro.
posed crusade against China and their joint efforts to
extinguish or limit Russian as:entlancy in that quarter ;
but tha. the Government will secure every important or
desirable end by taking measures for the protection of the
persons and property of our citizens, and fur the enforce.
rnent of the privileges which are sec•zred to us by the
existing treaty, acting independently of any alliance with
powers engaged in hostilities against Chins. The Govern•
meat will augment the naval force in the China Seas, and
send as an envoy to China some man of high political
standing and character, who will be instructed to revert to
the aid of the naval force, in case of hostile proceedings
against our citizens. The envoy will also be instructed
to procure some modifications of the treaty and an improve-
ment of our commercial relations with China. It will be
observed that the United States is at peace with the
Chinese empire, and that we have no motive for waging
war against it, either single-handed or in alliance with
England and France.

The position of Walker, notwithstanding his re-
ported recent victory, is really believed to be most
critical.

THE ATLANTIC SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH•
As the time approaches to carry out the attempt to
unite the Old and New Worlds by an electric chain,
great interest is felt on both sides of the Atlantic.
A recent writer on the subject in the Times, after ex-
plaining details, condemns the principle of con-
struction, and almost prophesies failure :

The Atlantic cable, of the construction and ultimate
destination of which we have thus given an outline, is
beyond all doubt a beautiful specimen of manufacturing
skill. It possesses several essential requisites. Its cost,
we believe, is only 1001. per mile ; its weight only oce ton
per mile. It is contracted for to bear a strain of three tons
two cwt.,but it is stated to stand four tons with safety. Its
specific gravity is between three and four, its diameter is
small, and it is as flexible as an ordinary rope. These are
great advantages, but the sets off on the other side are
numerous and most important. In the first place, there is
no wire for the return current, and the conducting wire
itself is ridiculously small (1.16 th of an inch in diameter),
when it is considered that it is intended to carry a current
for nearly 3,000 miles. The latter is a most serious fault ;
so also is covering the outside with so fine a description of
wires that three months' rust will entirely destroy them.
But the greatest fault of all is that, in oar judgment, the
whole cable is constructed on a wrong principle. In
previous article on the subject of submarine telegraphic
communication we pointed out the errors which have
already led to the destruction of so many cables, and the
simple manner in which they are remedied by Mr. Allen's
patents. This Atlantic cable, though with regard to light.
ness and cheapness a step in the right direction, is still
not in the right path. Whenever a cable is constructed
with spiral wires round a soft core any severe strain in
paying it out must, by stretching the outside wires, either
attenuate or break the copper conductor or injure its ittau•
lation. This is a simple fact which those least conversant
with mechanic, can easily understand. At the lowest
computation the Atlantic cable will stretch two feet per
mile. At the deepest parts where it must be laid six
miles will be suspended at one time. What becomes of
the conducting wire during this elongation of twelve feet?
It must either break or become attenuated. The latter
accident, we believe, will he as bad as the former, for at
present it will be most difficult to ;et the current through
3,000 miles of I.lBth ..f an inch wire, and quite impossible
if either strain or pressure reduce it in any part to 1-24th
or 1.32nd of an inch diameter, as in electricity the weakest
part becomes the standard of the whole. Why is not the
new patent adopted, which, by the use of a large conductor,
makes the core of the cable its strength, and does away
altogether with the necessity for outside spiral wires ? By
this patent cheapness, lightness, increased conductibility,
and therefore certainty ofelectric action, are insured. In
conclusion, we may mention that it is intended to work the
cable with Smee's batteries—a most costly and trouble•
some plan. Morse's recording telegraph. once a very
valuable instrument, though now behind many recent
inventions, is to be used.