The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-27 00:00:00

Under these prospects the R.jahs were all for peace,
and held a council under the DEE( and DHURM
RAJ, the two rulers, to consider how it might best
be brought about. Some thought that the time for
conciliation was now past, but while they were de-
liberating the leaders of the war party entered the
council and declared that they would not submit to
the British. The foremost of them, TOUNGSOO
PILLO, insolently assured the DEH and DHURM
RAJ that he had power enough to dethrone them if
he liked, and snatching the signal sovereignty from
the head of the DHURM RAJ, he placed it on the
head of a dog beside him. As might be supposed,
such insolence caused great indignation in the
council, and in trying to avert foreign war a civil
war was nearly brought about. The result at pre-
sent is a complete breach between the parties, and
as a large portion of the people side with the more
pacific party, there is every prospect of an early and
satisfactory settlement. The avoidance of a war is
always a matter of congratulation, even it be of
no more formidable nature than a strife with the
Bhooteas. The British are of course still pushing
on their arrangements for the oc3upation of the
Dooars, and the force is proceeding towards Bhoo-
tan. From the North West we learn that the
threatened combination of the chiefs has induced
the Ameer of CABUL to release his captive brother,
who is, however, under strict surveillance. It is
rumoured that some of the hill tribes have resolved
on supporting the cause of AFZUL KHAN, but this is
uncertain. From China we gain intelligence of no
great importance, excepting as to the disbanding of
the Anglo and Franco• Chinese forces, which indi-
cates that little is feared from the rebels. It is said
that a large body of them remain in the field, though
their whereabouts is uncertain ; but this is thought
to mean that their scattered bands have re-united
for purposes of plunder. At any rate, the Impe-
rialists would not have willingly resigned the
assistance of the disciplined mixed force had they
any reason to suppose that hostilities were likely to
continue. It is to be hoped that the cessation of
this long protracted struggle will restore the silk
districts to something like their former prosperity,
and so revive the trade of the empire. It would be
rash to hope for a final settlement of disturbances in
China, but the more the people are convinced of
the necessity of peace for the development of their
natural resources, and the increase of their
material wealth, the more averse will they grow
to these internal wars which hinder the civilisation,
while they retard the commerce of an industrious
and prudent people.

The Royal Speech at the opening of a represen•
tative assembly is usually very much a matter of
course, and often little more than a string of well-
turned platitudes. Still it is always looked to with
some degree of interest, since if any great innova•
tion or a considerable measure is contemplated by a
constitutional Government, a reference to it can
hardly be avoided in the Speech. However much
it may be the work of Ministers and the expo.
cent of their views, it is nominally the utterance
of the Sovereign, and the pledges which it gives
are premises from the Sovereign to :he people, and
as such not to be easily put aside or forgotten. The
address of the Spanish Queen to the Cortes on
opening their Session has nothing in it specially
interesting to Englishmen ; nevertheless there are
some points in it that cannot fail to attract atten.
tion. In the first place, it is noticeable that Spain,
who has been for many a long year notoriously one
of the worst debtors in Europe—being neither able
nor willing to pay her debts—is beginning to find
out that honesty is the best policy, and that if she
hopes to retain her place among European nations
it must be by a complete change in her mode of
conducting her financial operations. "Causes of
divers characters," says the QUEEN in her Speech,
" have placed our finances in a position which re•
quires ripe and serious consideration ;" and she
further adds that the prosperity and progress of
nations demand efforts which cannot be refused by
intelligent and energetic peoples, and that by the
measures which will be introduced to the Cortes the
public credit will be placed on an indestructible
basis. The general condition of the Monarchy, the
Speech admits, is not as satisfactory as
could be wished—a confession whose frankness
might be praiseworthy if the fact were not
already so patent. The disputes with Peru and
with Mexico are to be amicably adjusted, so that
the expense of war will not be added to the de-
mands on the overburdened Treasut y ; and her MA-
JESTY congratulates her subjects en the conclusio❑
of a treaty with China. The Ministry finds it de-
sirable to turn its attention to the development of
the commercial resources of the country, and the
construction of railways is especially dwelt upon.
Nevertheless, in spite of the improved tone, the
condition of Spain is anything but hopeful either
financially or politically ; and so long as she mani-
fests such extreme reluctance to pay her debts, all
the measures that the Cortes can devise or sanction
will not raise her credit in Europe. The high
sounding phrases in which the address is couched
are common to all Royal speeches, and we naturally
look for an increase of verbal dignity when deli-
vered in the stately tongue of an old Castile. All
the eloquence possible, however, will not serve to
make a country great without a solid basis; and
despite many noble qualities, the Spaniards of our
day have not yet shown that they possess the re.
quisite capacities for raising their country out of
her fallen condition into a powerful and respected
State.

Shocking Accident at Hartlepool,

On Thursday, a melancholy accident occurred at
the new rolling mills, on the Millbank estate, at the
outskirts of Hartlepool. The rolling mills belong to
a company, and aro as yet only in course of construe•
tion, and, being on a large scale, the machinery
necessary for the works is of enormous dimensions.
In order to provide for an easy and expeditions
mode of fitting up and erecting all the machinery,
See., an immense moving crane runs on lines at the
bottom of the roof along the entire length of the
main building, at an elevation of about 20 feet from
the ground, and with a span of about 40 feet. On
the top of the crane there is a wide staging to ac-
commodate a number of workmen when employed
at the " winch," which is in the centre of the crane,
and weighs upwards of three tons. The crane was
immediately over an enormous engine, and had
been so for some time previous, as the workmen
were engaged in placing on the segments of the fly-
wheel, which is 26 feet in diameter, and above 30
tons in weight. Two of the segments had been
safely lodged in their places, and as the fly-wheel
was beiug revolved in order to place another seg-
ment on, the crane came down with a crash that
shook the whole building. There were six men on
the crane working the winch, and several others
were employed in various ways underneath. The
crane was broken in two, and the winch and other
ironwork about it was lying scattered around in
broken fragments, intermingled with the bodies of
the poor fellows who were pitched from the crane
into various positions. Of the six men who Nacre
on the crane two escaped uninjured; the others
were more or less injured. Two men below also
received scalp wounds and other bruises. A work-
man, named George Haines, who was standing near
the wheel, was caught by the falling winch and
killed on the spot, being jammed between the fly-
wheel and the wall. Another man, named John
Randall, had his leg broken in three places, and he
died in the afternoon.