The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-09 00:00:00

iiloll WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY.—Morning, 6h, 40m.—Afternoon, 7h. 10m.
ro-go-aa071.-Morning, 711. 38m.—Aftestoon, Bh. 12m.

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LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPT. 9, 1864.

Lieutenant Weaoreon.N might in his time have
been regarded as a very fair specimen of the Mr
G. 0. A. HEAD of " Coningsby." But Lieute-
nant WAGHORN—although merely a few years
have elapsed since he was laid in* his honoured
grave as the enterprising originator of the Over-
land Route, the COLUMBUS of the Short Cut to
India—Lieutenant IVAGEoeuer has already become
one essentially of " the past." His project has
already become virtually obsolete. In his
instance again, as
tin so many others—Eclipse
has been Eclipsed. As a facilitator of journey-
iogs to and fro between England and her Asiatic
possessions, he stands in regard to the present,
certainly in regard to the future, very much, in-
deed, in the same relative position as that JOHN
MACADAM occupies when compared with GEORGE
J.STEPHENSON. It was between the years 1831 and
1834, that Lieutenant WAGEORN personally super-
intended the carrying out of his scheme of the
Overland Route via Trieste the working out of the
traffic along that route, to and fro between Calcutta
and Southampton. It had occurred to him that
going and coming by that particular route,
fully thirteen days, or as nearly as pos-
sible one entire fortnight might be saved.
Uader his direction steam communication
was established—on the one hand between Calcutta
and Suez, across the Indian Ocean, np the Red Sea,
and on the other hand between Southampton and
Alexandria, along the length of the Mediterranean.
For the yet more practically bringing his ingenious
scheme into operation, this good servant of the Crown
brought about the building of suitable hotels along
the Route, and the rai.iing even of appropriate halt-
ing-placers in the desert. Nevertheless, though
but a dozen
years have now sped by since
Tuomes WAGHORN, Lieutenant, RN., breathed
his last—after an energetic and usefulilife of exactly
tilEt, century'sttduration (he having been born in
now in n:4_
rVlng died in 1850)—lass labours have even
are
still
fugrtherl.lleasure been surpassed —and they
ani absolutely surpassed a very
fair way of being wholly
then,
in the hereafter. Not, of
course, that, ever,
of
Our
lasting
they will be otherwise than
deserving
0 and grateful remembrance.
But they will
welled to this remem-
brance very much
a_" the author of the
old
mail
coachsystemls entitled to the
same kind of grateful remembr
bene-
factor of the nation, intemedi
t iY between the
:
nce as a
o'd packhorse times and these cheap and
whirling
times of a penny postage system carried out by mile

way !
BriLiy, then—there is goodly promise
already
that the Overland Route will be quite effeetually
put into the background by the realisation of a
vet grander idea, namely, that of opening
LID a permanent line of communication between
this country and her Asiatic Empire, i.e., by
the construction of (what is certain to be con-
structed sooner or later—et us hope sooner, for
certainly in this instance the sooner the better)—by
the construction, we sty, of a trunk railway through
the Valley of the Euphrates.
The advantages ofthe Euphrates Valley Route,
upon the opening up o. this
F same railroad, are, to
our thinking, as immense and inestimable in their
value and in their importance, as they are, also
to our thinking, very readily capel,'e of realisation.
Toe Euphrates Valley Route, to begin with, is,
beyond all doubt, at once the shortest and the easiest
that could by possibility be anywhere marked out
IHt.ween England and Hindostan.
Beyond this, it would save just about half the
time now cecupied in going to and fro between
Calcutta and Southampton.
It would shorten the time of the journey thus
one-half, by diminishing the actual distance now
requiring to be traversed, to the extent of fully
one thousand miles.
Once opened, and in active operation—in the
event of any emergency occurring, no matter how
suddenly, in Hindostan, additional troops from
the mother country could be conveyed in two

weeks from Southampton to Kurrachee, and in one
week further forwarded on to Lahore.

Let England but mature her plans in this direc-
tion, and what would, then, be the result ? The
Indus and the Euphrates would thus in a manner
be brought into direct communication. The always
ominous, the often formidable insulation of Persie.,
would be brought effectually and permanently to an
end. The possibility of any successful Muscovite
descent upon England's possessions in India, would
be swept aside altogether, as a matter no longer
worthy of any serious consideration. In a very
masterly letter addressed by him to the Chairman
of the Euphrates Valley Railway—Captain SELBT,
late of Her MAJESTY'S Indian Navy, and Sur-
veyor in Mesopotamia, has recently descanted* upon
the importance and upon the necessity also, of cur
opening up this very route between England and
India via the Valley of the Euphrates. To the
arguments put forth by so competent a witness,
we would now very earnestly commend the at-
tention of all those among our fellow countrymen
who are patriotically interested in the yet further
extension of the principles of Free Trade, in the
material strengthening of our hold upon our ♦ast
and noble possessions in India, in a word, to all
those who like are especially solicitous to secure
the binding together yet mora firmly than ever
the fasces of our Colonial Empire ! An endeavour,
this last, the diametrical opposite to that which
appears so strangely to have captivated the ima-
gination of Professor GOLDWIN SMITH, namely, the
loosening of the bond of the fasces—in other
the general and rapid disintegration of the Empire.

Lecter to IV, P. Andrew. Esq., &o. By Captain W.
B. Selby. Svo., pp. M. W. TT CO.

The visit of the Prince and Princess of DENMARK
is just now the topic of conversation in many circles,
and it deserves to be made the subject of reflection,
for it concerns graver matters than the mere frivo-
lous details that belong to ordinary affairs of the
sort. Last year all seemed like a fairy tale in the
career of the young bride—the sea king's daughter
from over the sea was apparently surrounded with
all that could make life precious, and care and sor-
row put far away from her. In a very short space,
however, the scone changed, and they who chro-
nicled the brightness of the story had to mark its
gloom and depression. All thinking minds and
feeling hearts must have felt grieved at the sight of
that fair young bride, so early saddened in her
course and clouded in her prospects, What a con-
trast did one short seer make in the land of her
birth! The happy, prosperous people who took
leave of her with prayers for her welfare, were
transformed into sad and suffering multitudes, who
might at any time expect their doom to be pro-
nounced. The inevitoble ills of life are not so hard
to bear as those wrongs which are wrought by in-
justice, and those losses which supervene from
treachery. Thus it must have been the sharpest
trial to reflect upon, twat the misery and mutilation
of Denmark was entirely owing to the lack of
courage and constancy on the part of England.
The conduct which this country has pursued, under
the direction of the Government, has lowered it in
the eyes of the wend. There has been a total
want of right feeling exhibited, and a striking
absence of candour that have materially injured
the just influence which we ought to possess.
All this must have Leen duly appreciated by the
Daughter of Denmark, and in her new home over
here, with all the delights of her happy circle
and the glory of her proud position, she must
have sighed at the recollection of old times and
mourned over the startling change. This visit to
Denmark is a graceful tribute to the King and
country that does honour to the Prince and exhibits
the Princess in a favourable light. We look with
interest on their journey, and sad as some of its
associations will undoubtedly be, still it will be
a source of consolation to all concerned, and it is
a satisfaction to know that the Royal Family of
Denmark have the gratification afforded to them
of seeing their daughter after all their cruel suffer-
ings. They also behold the heir to the English
throne, and are sensible that their child has already
won such golden opinions from all ranks of the
community, that her adopted country may vie with
the land of her birth in its expressions of earnest
and heartfelt sympathy, in her welfare. There
have not been many instances on record of anyone
so suddenly attaining such popularity as has fallen
to the lot of the Princess ALEXANDRA. The multi-
tudes who rejoiced in her joys as a fair bride and a
happy young mother have sorrowed in her grief at
the comparative ruin of her father and family and
the spoliation of their kingdom. It too often occurs
that the highest prospects are overcast and clouded,
but a more signal instance of the insecurity of human
happiness has seldom occurred. The royal visitors
will learn more of the ways of Denmark, and be
more ashamed of the conduct of England, during
their stay ever there than they could ever have
done here. Seeing is believing, and it will be im-
possible for them not to glean some insight into the
state of matters, and to realise some sad and bitter

truths. At all events, they are free from blame,
and disappointments, be they what they may, are
robbed of half their sting if sorrow is not mingled
with shame, and if disgrace does not appertain t'a
defeat. Tho Princess may feel a just pride in
bringing her husband to visit her family, who have
proved themselves great in trials, that might have
shaken the strongest ; and in receiving the welcome
of a people who have shone forth with a spirit worthy
of the days of old, and recalled the fame of these
who are immortal in the history of every land for
daring and devotion. All is not sad, therefore, in
the meeting between these illustrious individuals,
and it is besides an important step that has been
taken, for it associates the Prince of WALES with
the royal family,.and even the unparalleled effron-
tery of Prussia may not desire wholly to defy
the future King of England. The insults and in-
juries now heaped upon Denmark will make a
Powerful impression upon the mind of his Royal
Highness, and such sentiments are not easily
styeePalieaeasan independent
effaced. The lapse of years and the throng of eir-
-1 canastances cannot alter fixed opinions, and the
Canabdlnfleattteiriaßerlin is playing a dangerous game.
At presentteh.aell things seem propitious to its cause,
and
assures them that theymay do as
tsf hatale
little reflection would show them how
thetti
foundations on which they build their
projects, d how liable
in
npuEblici opinion, and that
of to chance and change. No
g formulas been sent
opinion is against
Had the political and diplomatic
and often more
England and in France.
at the point of
adrift, and recourse had to the old
a genuine apr,_
honest method of settling
populations of the
dispute
the sword, there would have been
pithy for Danmark among the
two chief countries in the world. It cannot be said
then that the Court and Cabinet of Berlin have
gained so much ; at all events, they have lost more
valuable possessions than kingdoms and treasures
—the respect and interest of independent people.
The Princess ALEXANDRA has much to tell,
and as much to learn ; she can inform her
father, friends, and family, that the English people
have not been unmindful of the sad transitions
through which they have passed. More touching
to the daughter of Denmark must have been the
enthusiastic receptions she met with in public in
the second year of her stay is Eng4tad than tae

first, for they were an unmistakeable tribute to the
merits and misfortunes of her people, and sympathy
was felt for her peculiar situation. This visit to
Denmark is in all respects a desirable one ; and it
is to be trusted that the Princess may yet welcome
to England her parents and family, and then the
reception that they will meet with from the people
of this country will be the best proof to the Prus-
sians, and other despoilers of Denmark, in what
estimation their conduct is regarded, and what
opinion we have formed of the nature of their
policy.

The City of London is looked upon, by the un-
initiated, as a mine of fabulous wealth, and the civic
authorities are regarded as the representatives of
untold gold. Even those most familiar with its
ways and means, when they reflect upon the im-
mense amounts that daily change owners eastward
of Temple Bar, and the extent of the property con•
tained in its crowded highways and byeways, will
scarcely connect the idea of the Corporation of Lon-
don with those unpleasant words, familiar enough
in the more fashionable west—Debt and Difficulty.
More especially do such words seem inappropriate
to the Corporation, which body is popularly sup-
posed to eat off nothing less than gold, and never
condescend below real turtle. But according to
the relations of a certain blue book lately issued
under the auspices of the Chamberlain of London,
it appears that the good folks of the City, if not yet
in difficulties, are certainly in debt, and have
" anticipated their income," to use a polite evasion,
to a considerable extent. The great changes and
elaborate improvements of the last few years have
not been carried out without cost, and the Corpora-
tion of London has borne its full share of such bur.
dens. The Common Councillors of the present day
cannot certainly be charged with indifference to
improvement, or lack of public spirit. They
have come promptly forward on every occete
sion of importance or interest, and have freely
lavished their funds in the general cause. In the
list of their liabilities we find no less a sum than
£445,000 for city improvements in New Cannons
street and Threadneedle-street, £43,500 for Pauper
Lunatic Asylum, and for the Metropolitan Meat
and Poultry Market £128,000. It is not surprising,
considerisg the many heavy demands upon them,
that the bond debts of the Corporation have in-
creased more than a quarter of a million in less than
three years, while there is no immediate prospect of
their expenses being lessened. The Chamberlain
has thought it right to direct the attention of the
Common Council to the fact that the cash of the
City will probably be overdrawn in next October
by about £40,000, while sums amounting to more
than £120,000 have been recently voted by them
for exceptional reasons. Prominent among these
unusual expenses are a supplementary vote for the
Pauper Lunatic Asylum of £20,000 ; £13,000 for
a police station and infirmary, and £37,000 for
dwellings for the labouring class, so that the objects
are chiefly public ones, and directed to the general
good. These sums have to be provided for out of
the current revenue, and consequently affect the
regular income of the Corporation to a considerable
extent. The Chamberlain thought it desirable to
bring these facts under the notice of the Council,
since so great was their ardour and confidence
in their resources that they were importuning the
First Commissioner of Works to entrust them
with the making of the proposed new street from
Blackfriars to the Mansion House, connected with
the scheme of the Thames Embankment. The
estimated cost of this street was about £70,000,
so the Common Councilmen are not as yet much
disheartened by their liabilities. Nor is the list
of their expenses ended here, for the Corporation
are about to lay out £420,000 fur the bite Ot the
proposed market in Smithfield and the new street
in connection with it. This outlay, how-
ever, is undertaken on the credit of the
market toils, and the additional £200,000 which
will be expended in the erection of the super-
structure will be repaid by the rents of shop
in the market. These prospects are not founded
on the vague hopes of sanguine visionaries, but on
the reasonable calculations of business men, who are
not likely to be deceived or misled in their estimates.
The two greatest works undertaken by the Corpo-
ration are not included in this list of liabilities, since
they do not come upon the current revenue, but are
chargeable on specific funds held by the Corporation
under Acts of Parliament. Even the energy of the
Common Council might else have been daunted at
the prospect of such stupendous undertakings. The
cost of Holborn Valley is estimated at £600,000,
and that of erecting the new bridge at Black.
friars at £250,000. Both these will of course
be works of time. At Christmas, 1867, the leases
of the Finsbury estate will fall in, thereby depriving
the Corporation of some £40,000 a year, but that
will be far more than made up for in a temporary
advantage by the profit likely to be derived from
the high price of land in the City owing to the
new Railway schemes. A saie of 20,000 shares in
the Metropolitan Railway, last year, brought in a
profit of £50,000, and it is more than probable that
some of the manifold changes that are transforming
the face of the City, until the citizens themselves
can scarcely recognise its familiar features, may
conduce to the advantage of the Corporation in
some way or another. The diversion of the coal
duties from the exclusive use of the City has
made a considerable difference in the civic revenue
during the last few years, although at present it
is applied to objects within the City. From 1872
to 1882 it is to be applied to defraying the cost
of Holborn-hill improvements—a matter which,
though under the control of the Corporation,

certainly greatly concerns all parts of London. It
is gratifying to find, that notwithstanding the
large outlay and the diminished sourcee of revenue,
the finances of the Corporation are, in the opinion
of the Committee whose special office it is to
watch over them, in a general satisfactory condi-
tion. It has invariably been found that great
public improvements repay themselves directly or
indirectly, and such, we trust, will be the case
with the various civic reforms.

ELECTION OF A PROFESSOR TO THE CHAIR OF
SURGERY AT EDINBAJRGH.—A meeting of the
curates of the University of Edinburgh was held on Wed-
nesday--the Lord Provost presiding—for the purpose of
electing a profeAsor to the chair of surgery, rendered vacant
by the death of Professor Miller. There were two candi-
dates for BA office—Mr James Spence, senior burgeon to
the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and Mr Joseph Lister,
ProfeF,sor of Surgery in the University of Glasgow. The
Lord, Provost moved that MrSpencer be elected to the vacant
chair, and this motion was supported by Mr Mure, Mr
Black, and Bailie Johnston. For the election of Mr Lister,
Sir William Gibson-Craig voted, and the claims of this
candidate were also supported by the proxies of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer and Sir David Brewster, Mr Spence
was accordingly declared elected by a majority of 4 to 3.
TIIE ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE LAW OF HYPO-
TIIEC.—We have received information to the effect
that the Royal ComAission to inquire into the Law of
Itypothec in Scotland has at last been appointed, and that
it consists of the following members : —Mr Young, solicitor-
galFeonref
re h(ire chair;m Siranw) ;n2t.h
Gii
bi os
oun.
-Cchraari
gl e,s
BC
aarr nt gmi e,r
Hope for
of
Frieantoilnto
ens. deliveries Barns, Mr J. Campbell Swinton, and Mr Nisbet
timated
Hamilton,—Dundee
The mof tea in London during
the week which ended on September sth were 1,024,9581 b.,
which is a decrease of 4,5411 b. when compared with the
previous statement.

From a document just issued, it appears that the
poor law expenditure in the year ending tho 25th March
last amounted to £6,527,030, being an iricreaao ou the pre-
vious year of .£449,531,