The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-24 00:00:00

THE lONIAN ISLANDS,

-- -4. -
The cession of these islands to Greece, which has
•
by the Powers concerned in the a-44" airs of the Sep-
been sanctioned both by the lonian Parliament and
tinsular Republic, remains now to be completed by.
try and the Hellenic kingdom.
the signature of a formal treaty
some objection is
To this treaty we understand •
Government. It appears that
between this coun-
gcaohfintrietcfOfthe fortifications has beon.
offered by the Greek
ts. fortifications
lovfeCroergfrue
t istdhliss-,
ttahsetedfius lmtannttillien
some of the great Powers.,
at a loss to perceive of what
buturgently
e thentl y demolitionpressed
Ifor
re
iboyy-
d we are completely
possible use such a fortress could bo to the Greek
people.
If we are not misinformed, the English Govern-
meat has several times had under its consideration.
the advisability of destroying
the fortifications on
shore, as being expensive and of little use. It was
trneperLesizt,endia toisitachedmby competent authority that if
Which
sufficient, as while thaats commands the harbour of
Corfu, were retained
rt
ehme
aoinnleyd fiona ourt b aht awn
dosn:wd
ibt
he:
the command of the sea, no enemy could effect any
townpermanent lodgmentnofnetohrf
a egirsenant
concerned
re island.ern ed the
As far as the to
demo-
lition of the Works could not fail to offer the same
advantages that such a measure has presented at
Vienna, F
The Frankfort, Turin, and many other cities.
works i
.
n their present state require about

two hundred thousand pounds to put them into
Effective repair, and would need a garrison of about

twelve thousand men to hold them. Under these
circumstances, while they could really prove but
an encumbrance to Greece, they would still, if
maintained, offer a temptation to any great power

in the event of a European war.
We are warranted, then, in believing that the
Hellenic Government will presently acquiesce is
the course we intend to pursue—the more so that
they cannot possibly regard it in the
light of any
indignity offered to themselves, seeing' that in
reality they are hardly concerned in the matter.
We propose merely to cede the islands to them.
shall dismantle it before
With regard to the fortress, that is no matter fur
of the five
any stipulation in the convention; for, in accord-
ance with the desire of our allies and. our own Emu
of what is most politic, we
we proceed to the evacuation of the seven islands.
et
a ti restonys
IPnowfaeertssainfeo::nhige of Corfu
may be practically regarded as already
hstigangaot,ugeoffort,hifie
non-
existent.
We are
to raise confinent,ther , that the Greek Govern-
ment will not be so ill-iiclvi4ed as
ter of dispute about 'what is now but << a castle in
1 the air."—Post.

A M.S. ORATOP,IO OF HAYDN'S has been i3is.
covered (according to a French journal), entitled " The
Sacrifice o Abrahatn"
TIIE ItIJS'SIAIs.7S SEEM tSSURED THAT WAR WILL
COME IN TUE SPRING. They are preparing new
works ter the defence of Cronstadt, mounting 300-pound
tinne on them, and facing earthworks with iron. The
eilannols arc filled with infernal machines, and a steam ram
is lauildin:-,; which is to cost £: ,OQO, and run at hostile
vessels under water—a great improvement on all other
rants. By Ist June, IS6I, the Marine Department expects
to have sixteen iron-clad vessels in the Baltic., all in order,
though with rather thin plates. Cast-steel guns, enormous
shells, and every variety of ammunition are being collected
in quantities, and the extra expenditure already sanctioned
amounts to fifteen millions sterling. Governments do not
spend such sums without grave reason, and that of numita
is usually well informed. It is scarcely, however, at
Cronstadt, says the Slcctator, that the French blow will
re
Amok,