The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-12 00:00:00

The Pass of Mont Cenis.

A letter dated Turin, Dec. 4, says, from the oppressive
stove-heated atm ,sphere of the Senate-house, and from the
endless and bootless discussion of a settled question, it is a
relief to fly for a moment to the crests of Mont Cenis
end watch the heavy sledges and their sorely jotted inmates
struggling through the fresh-fallen snow. " Twenty-six
hours from Paris to Turin," one read, not more than six
weeks ago, posted on the wall of both capitals. The an-
nouncement, never very strictly true, has since been
suspended; we are on the winter establishment, and the
time employed is more like six and thirty, with the passage
of the mountain made chiefly in the night, and arrived to an
early breakfast in Turin. And wait a little, till this month
wears on, or at farthest in January, when the wind-storms
come in the mountains, and we shall have the old story
repeated, and our letters and papers from Paris delivered
twee only in 4S or even 6) hours. Where arc those moles,
burrowing below our feet? Listen for the tap of the
machine cf many hammers, knocking at the doors of Alpine
gnomes and driving them to their innermost recesses and
most secret caves, there to plot mischief and prepare perils
for the daring miners, bent upon the penetration of mye-
!cries sacred since the world commenced. Well as the ma-
chinery is said to answer, and with the help of many hands
and all the appliances that have been brought to bear, the
passage opens but slowly. The annual sum allowed far the
prosecution of the monster tunnel has been doubled, and
£200,000 is each year devoted to this mighty labour. But
gold and iron, the toil of men, the power of ingenious en-
gines, the blast of powder, are all in vain to hurry a work
which from its nature must of necessity be slow. Five
years have now elapsed since its commencement; at first
'here were delays, interruptions, difficulties of various
kinds, and it is only much more recently that the enter-
prise can be said to have got into full swing. A handsome
result will be shown by the report of 1861, but it is eh •
tained, as above stated, at an annual charge heavy-for Item
Tian finances in their present state, and—even continuing
at the same pace and excluding the unfavourable hypothesis
of new difficulties being encountered, such as deep chasms
or large bodies of water--it is estimated that not less than
ten years must elapse before the bold miners, advancing
simultaneously from the French and the Italian flanks of
the Alps, shall exchange a first triumphant greeting in the
bowels of the mountain. Ten years are a lone" time for a
public spoilt by the conveniences of railway travelling, by
carriages as large as rooms, and by spacious well-cushioned
arm-chairs. It is the more urgent to shorten the period as
much as possible because the chief flow of travellers from
Western Europe to and from Italy occurs at seasons of the
year when the mountain is apt to be in the worst state for
passage. The promised railway along the Cornice road,
when completed, will assuredly much diminish the traffic
over Mount Cenis. As it is, this latter route sees but
a tithe of the travellers that each year visit Italy.
Diligences are cramped and incommodious vehicles,
and seems the more so when one steps into them
from a railway, and many prefer Marseilles and
the sea route. Turin, about to lose its character as a capi-
tal and therewith the greater part of its importance, ought
to be doubly anxious to make this the favourite road into
Italy, and, were the tunnel finished, there is no doubt that
it would be preferred by all but those summer tourists who
might be attracted by the grand scenery of the other Alpine
passes. Meanwhile there is a project on foot which, if car-
ried out—as there are good hopes that it shortly will be—
' must render this the most desirable road and much the
most rapid, and must increase the traffic, instead of its being
diverted into other channels by the new railway communi-
cations. You were told on a former occasion of a plan for a
railway over Mont Cenis. The locomotives to be employed
were tried last winter in the Derbyshire hills, on ascents
and descents fully equal to the most rapid slopes of Cenis,
and the success of the invention was established to the per-
feet satisfaction of the scientific men present, including a
commissioner appointed by the Italian Government. The
French Government is desirous to see the experiment made
on its own territory, and on the same ground upon which
it is proposed to make a practical application of the system
to the public service; and it has accordingly authorised
the immediate construction of a few kilometres of rail be-
tween Lanslebourg and the summit of the Cenis, in the
steepest and most difficult part of the whole line. The strip
of rail is already begun, and is expected to be completed
next month, or at latest in February, when trains will be
run by way of trial. That time of year is usually the worst
for the passage of the mountain, so that success then will
be success for ever. A French commission has been ap-
eointed to be present at the trials. The English capitalists.
and engineers who have undertaken this mountain railway
are perfectly easy as to the result. The only opposition to
the project has proceeded has proceeded, as might be ex-
pected, from the French Messageries, which at present en-
joy the monopoly of conveyance between St. Michel and
Suss. They have a large stock of horses and vehicles—
diligences and sledges, the mere recollection of which makes
one's bones ache— and we hear that they have put the screw
on the French Government and compelled it, by the threat
of stopping the communication before the rail shall be com-
pleted, to agree to grant them a considerable indemnity
when the locomotive shall run them off the road. For 1 urin's
sake it is to be hoped that all will go well, and that the
Cenis will be the route ultimately taken by the ambitious
rail, for which mountains in future will be no impediment.
The Swiss would be well pleased to see the Simplon pre-
ferred, asd even offer advantages for such preference, and
that pass presents no greater difficulties than this one; but,
if it were adopted, the consequence would be most serious
for Turin until such time as the tunnel shall be completed.
Milan would be the gainer ; the traffic would all take that
road, the shortest and most direct to Central and Southern
Daly, and Turin would be isolated, shut up in a corner and
visited by none; in short, completely out of the world.
Travellers would go round .Piedmont, by the Cornice or
across Western Lombardy, bat very few indeed would go
through it.
According to the programme of the contractors, two
locomotives will convey a train of 100 to 150 passengers,
with their baggage and the Post-office bags, in four to four
and a half hours from Susa to St Michel. They undertake
to do this at all times of the year. They are to have allotted
to them a portion of the present coach road, on which to
lay their rails, and they are to build tunnels or covered gale
hales in places where danger of avalanches renders it ne-
cessary, The c ifference made to travellers by the establish-
ment of this railway will be immense. You now leave
Paris at 8 p.m., and arrive here some time between 3 and
8 a.m. on the second morning ; 5 o'clock seems th© most
usual hour at present, but it may be expected to get much
worse as the winter advances. With a rail across the Cenis
you would get here to dinner at 4 or 5 in the tuftercoon.
From Turin the mail train would start at 9 a.m. Both
ways the mountain would be crossed in broad daylight, in-
stead of in the dark, as is now the case, and travellers
would be able to enjoy the scenery at present completely
lost to them. Ever) thing looks promising for the realisa-
tion of this useful and desirable scheme, to which the Ita-
lian Government, for the sake of poor Turin, will surely
give all the support and aid in its power. The rail once
run over the Cenis, it is to be expected that the example
will be extensively followed for the passage both of Alps
and Appenines, the more so as the cost cf these mountain
lines is said very little to exceed that of railways in the
plain.
In the last sitting of the Turin Common Council it was
decided to appoint a committee to study and report upon the
best and most speedy means of establishing a railway
across Mont Ccnis, with authority to put itself in communi-
cation with the company that is already occupying itself
with that project. The great importance of facilitating cam•
euunications between this city and other parts of the Con-
tinent was dwelt upon and fully recognised, and it was re •
solved to give the moral co-operation of the municipality to
the representatives of the society in question,

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton Deo l 9 . ..._ . .

, .
via Marseilles' .. Dec. 13,
Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. Jan. 5.
(Jape of Good Rope, Ascension, and St. nelena..Dec. 29.
china, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. Dec. 19.

• _.
- . via Marseille.; ...Dec. 13
Falkland Mande

Gibraltar, via Southampton Dec 12
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Dec. 19.
via Marseilles Dec, 13
India (Bombay), via Southampton .. Dec. 12.
via Marseilles Dec 21,
Portugal.... Doc. 12.
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Dec. 12.
via Marseilles Dec. 13
Newfoundland
Oporto and Vigo
U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Dec 15.
by U.S. racket....
by Canadian packet. Dec. IG
W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe Dec. 11.
West Indies and Pacific .. . Dec. 14.
Bahamas (via New York) Dec. 15.
Bermuda (ditto) Dec. 21.
Cuba and Mexico ..liec. 29.

CHRISTMAS ROM DAYS.—A "Newsagent's Clerk,"
writing to the Daily i 1 clus, mays—" You havo kindly in-
serted a leiter signed A Clerk,' and will t'oubtless
insert this from a more humble individual. I, sir, wish
to advocate a holiday for those who work 365 days every
year, namely, the news trade, and think, sir, as yourself and
contemporaries are so anxious for every other class, 3 ou will
not forget those who are so closely connected to you. we
have to save early morning posts and catch early trains be
your correspondent thinks to open his eyes, and to serve
late Suns and Globes after he has retired to the bosom of his
family; yet no one thinks that we are deserving of a
holiday. The 'Observer and Lloyd s Acws keeps us from
morning service on the S ibbath day. Oa the 26th inst
cannot something be done for ? I itElr you, in the name
of the trade, to procure for us at least one h )liday in the
year, and think that we have at least a hater case than
your correspondent, or the correspondents to two of your
contemporaries, A Banker's Clerk,' and An Attorney's
Clerk.' These gentlemen may have holidays that we can •
aut. I hope that one of them may indite a memorial to
the Privy Council for us, praying that we may be granted
one day in the year for ourselves, that the ministers for that
day at least will keep their eyes from the Daily Zvey:s; the
67(-4,e, or ,S4tt,",

TAT TERSALL'S. —This Evening.

TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
4to 1 on the field (uffered)
THE DERBY.
sto 1 agst Liddington (offered)
11 to 1 agst Breadalbane (take 12 to 1)
22 to reagst Christmas Carol (taken)
33 to 1 age Broomielaw (taken)
33 to 1 agst Loegdown (taken)
40 to 1 asst Brick (taken and uffered)
40 to 1 agst Brahma (taken and offered)
40 to 1 agst Ariel (taken and offered)
66 to 1 agst Friday (taken)
63 to 1 agst Congress (taken)

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1865.

JANVA.RY.

Manchester
FEBRUARY.
Lincoln spring
MARCH.

Derby Spring 2
Liverpool Spring
Shrewsbury Spring

Ar.
Northampton 4
Croaton Park
Durham l7
Newmarket Craven 17
N.
Newmarket Ist Spring 1
Chester
York Spring

Epsom Summer (con.).. 1
Manchester .. 7
Ascot
Alexandra Park 2O
JL
Newmarket July
Carlisle
Pontefract

AtiG
Huntingdon
Reading
Egham
Ostord l7
York August 22

SEPTE.
Weymouth (continued),. 1
Leicester
Doncaster
Brecon

Doncaster Spring l4
Warwick Spring
Chelmsford Spring

Catterick Bridge
Thirek 2l
Epsom Spring

Salisbury
Bath
Epsom tS.uuuer
'NE.

Hampton .• 21
Newton
Newcastle
Worcester Summer
LY.

Nottingham Summer .. 18
Chesterfield
Good wood
rST.

I Plymouth •• 24
Lichfie'd 28
I Devon and Exeter 29
Derby Summer .. 39
Weymouth • 31
Richmond
Monmouth 2l
Manchester Autumn
Newmarket Ist October 26
BER

0 CTO
Northallerton
Newmarket Second Oct 95 I
NOTE

Worcester Autumn

I Newmarket Houghton.. 23
Worcester Autumn .... 31
:MBER.

(continued) 1

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.
The latest Tennessee despatches report that skirs
mishes take place daily between the forces of Gene:
rals Thomas and Hood.

The Confederate cavalry attacked the Union
garrison at Shelbyville on .Monday last, but were
repulsed.

The railway from Nashville to Chattanooga is
still unbroken, although bands of the Confederate
cavalry are prowling near it.
Advices from City Point state that heavy artillery
and musketry firing commenced at an early hour on
Tuesday last, and continued up to 11 o'clock. The
gun•bosts were thought to be taking part i❑ the
engagement, but particulars have not yet been re•
ceivcd.

Further details have come in respecting General
Payne's raid upon New Creek on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. The Federal garrison wore surprised
and most of them captured. The Confederates blew
up the earthworks, and destroyed the depot and a
large quantity of Government supplies.
The arrival of Gen. Slocum's left wing of Sher-
man's army, numbering 16,000 strong, at Madison,
and the burning of the town, is hnnouneed.
The excitement at Augusta was very great, and
the place is in urgent need of troops. It is proposed
to impress the negroes.
According to the I?ichniond Inquirer of Friday
last, 13,000 Union prisoners, confined at Salisbury,
North Carolina, attempted to escape. They suc-
ceeded in overpowering the interior guard of their
entrenchment, and were engaged in fighting the
outside guard, when the artillery was opened upon
them, and about 40 prisoners were killed and a largo
numb, r wounded.

A Newbern despatch of the 27th nit. reports that
all the available Confederate troops in North Caro.
line have been sent to the assistance of Georgia.
General Bragg is in command of the Confederate
depot in North Carolina.
Confederate prisoners state that the Federal ex.
pedition against Wilmington has been abandoned.

Governor Vance expected to be elected to the
Richmond Senate.
Government securities are dull. The stock mar•
kot inactive. Gold heavy ; closed 2261.

Vacancies, Promotions, and Appointments

in the Civil Service.

(From the Civil Service Gazette.)

Treasury—Mr Francis Charles Stephenson has been ap-
pointed a supplementaey clerk.

Home Office—The office of lord-lieutenant of the East
Riding of Yorkshire has become vacant by the death of the
Earl of Carlisle. The governorship of Pentonville Prison
is vacant. Salary, £lOO. Mr Robert Charles Chester Wil-
mot Eardly has been appointed secretary to the directors
of convict prisons.

War Office—Mr Charles B. Tait has been appointed a
commissariat clerk, Cape of Good Hope.

India Office-111r W. IL Benthall bag been appointed
private secretary to Lord Du Erin, Under-Secretary of
State.

Education Office—Mr Harry De La Hooke has been ar-
pointed an assistant clerk, London,
Science and Art Department—Mr Theodore Hickson has
been appointed a second class clerk, London.

Board of Trade.— Mr Arthur C. Nichol:on has been ap-
pointed a temporary clerk.
The Post%ffice—Mr Francis John O'Neill has been ap-
pointed a temporary clerk, Dublin. Mr William Couch
has been appointed a temporary clerk, Dublin. Mr James
Jerome O'Dwyer has been appointed a temporary clerk,
Dublin.

Customs—Mr Henry Brown has been promoted from
the fourth class of out-door officers to the sixth class of
examining officers, London. Mr James W. Jamsett has
been promoted from the fourth class of out-door officers
to the sixth class of examining officers, London. Mr
Hodsall Manwaring has been promoted from the fourth class
of out-door officers to the sixth class of examining officers,
London. Mr \Valter Furlong has been promoted from the
fourth class of out-door officers to the sixth class of exa-
mining officers, London. Mr Francis Healy has been pro-
moted from the fourth class of out-door officers to the sixth
class of examining officers, London.

DRIVING A PONY ONE HUNDRED MILES UNDER
TWELVE Hourts.—During the week a match for £llO, to
drive a pony 100 miles in less than 12 hour, was determined
in Essex, the finish of the distance being made at Rumford.
This task was a cruel imposition on a light-hearted pony,
who was compelled to draw a trap with a driver, the whole
distance in 11 hours and 20 minutes. This event does not
come fairly within the category of trotting, but is a mere
speculation for money on the physical ability and powers of
.e
endurance on a free and unfortunate animal ; and although
the performance is an extraordinary feat, yet it rilicts no
merit on the parties engaged in it, and is utterly at variance
with the feelings of the lovers of fast trotters and admires
g
'irhaesnub,s summonses against certain j:oteis, however, likely to come
under
rojuhdoicrsiaelfliensvh. e 8
gtio
parties have been applied for.

MR, SALA will resume his" Echoes f the Week
in the Illicsirated Lo idon News, now that he has returned
from America. It is also said that readers of " Temple Ear'
may shortly expect from his pen a series of papers called
" Travels in the County of Middlesex."

Seligmann, the popular violoncellist, is now at
Nice on a professional trip.
TIIE SWISS FLAG AT SEA.—The following de-
cree has heen issued by the Swiss Federal Assetn.
,—" Considering the petitions of a large number of
Swiss citizens:domiciled at Trieste, Smyrna, and St Peters-
burgh, and the message ci the Federal Council of the 25th
November, 1864, the Fedorel Assembly of the Swiss Con-
federation decrees-1. The Federal Council is authorised to
permit, the use at sea of the Swis. f1,,,e; for Swiss vessels; 2.
Until an ulterior decision tho. Federal Assembly, the
Federal Council :hereby receives full powers to adopt the
necessary measures for the execution of the present decree."
During a tire at a basket warehouse at Marseilles
two days back., a woman on the fourth floor, in endeavour-
ing to pass by the gutter from one window to another, Was
precipitated to the ground ; nce was removed in a most
dangerous state to the hospital. A young gill escaped by
letting herself down to the ground by means of several
pails of sheets joined together.