The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 4, 1863.

enforcement, in its way, of the famous sarcasm
of OXENSTEIRN—about the little wisdom required
for the governing of men ? For, really and truly—
barring our laughter, barring our appreciation of
the robust constitution of this splendid old states-
man—where is the advantage of it all for the coun-
try he governs P Where is there one single scrap
of Reform for which we have reason to feel indebted
to him and his colleagues vouchsafed to us by
them during all the four years, very nearly,
daring which they have now been in power ? They
came in—as everybody knows fall well—expressly
to give us Reforms of some kind, of a good real kit, d,
Reforms full, comprehensive, well considered. They
have given us nothing whatever of the sort. On the
contrary, during Lord PALMERSTON'S regime be-
tween June, 1859, and May, 1863, Reform has been,
by him and his colleagues, effectually shelved,
cushioned, quashed, squelched—we have not a word
strong enough for it, by which to express the utter
efficacy and completeness--so long as these Re-
formers (save the mark !) remain in power—the
utter efficacy and completeness with which Reform
has met its death and burial at the hands of Lord
PALMERSTON. All earnest Patriots enamoured
at heart of Reform as a panacea for the many
grievances under which the country yet groans,
might say with most serious truth—having an eye
askance, while they utter the words, to Lord
PaiatEßsToN's jocular, laughter-provoking speeches
—" What's fun to you is death to us, or at any rate
to our hopes !" Looking at the pitiable do-nothing
charaeter of the policy of this so-called Reforming
Coalition, one is fain to ejaculate once more in the
hackneyed words of TULLY, Quousque tandem
abutere patientiam nostram? Only—we have this
one consolation left (hardly a sufficient one under
the circumstances, it is true, but, such as it is, there
it is)—Sir ROBERT PEEL'S well-known summary of
the National estimate of Lord PALMERSTON—" We
are all proud of him !"

The rapid development of our railway system
outstrips the most sanguine anticipations. New
plans and new projects are constantly being ori-
ginated, and no sooner are they carried to com-
pletion :than fresh wants are felt and a host of
enterprising engineers and capitalists spring up to
supply them. We have scarcely ceased to comment
on the marvellous mole-like achievement that con-
nects the eastern and western extremities of this
great city, fidgetty old gentlemen and nervous
maiden ladies have scarcely ceased to anticipate
the speedy descent of themselves, and their chim-
ney pots into the regions of the Underground
Railway, when there appears upon the scene a
candidate for honours who not only aspires to link
together Paddington and the City, but actually
proposes to unite in one unbroken chain of commu-
nication the brown moors of Scotland and the gay
scenes of continental cities. This is, in truth, a
wonderful achievement, and one which will supply
a need much felt by the numerous travellers who
hurry to and fro at the call of business or plea-
sure. Let us see how the proposal is to be carried
into effect. The London, Chatham, and Dover
Railway has commenced building a bridge at
Blackfrairs, which is to form a connecting link
with the Underground Railway, and thus maintain
unbroken the stream of communication not only
between the northern and southern suburbs of our
busy human hive but between the northern counties
of England, Scotland, and the Continent. When
brought to a successful termination this gigantic
undertaking will certainly be a worthy tes-
timony of the resources of English enter-
terprise, scince, and capital. One remark-
able feature in the affair is that the company
are so confident of the financial success of the
scheme that the shareholders have voluntarily sub-
scribed sufficient funds for the work—no light task
when we look at the programme. The bridge in
question is already in progress, the first stone
having been laid on Saturday, under the auspices
of Lord SONDES, Chairman of the Company. It
has five spans, the centre one being 188 ft., the
second end fourth are 177 ft. Bin., and the first and
fifth are of 163 ft. span. The abutments will be
of brick work, cased with Portland stone, and the
foundations are taken down to the London clay,
at a depth of 27 feet below Trinity high water. The
first stone is laid at the level of low watermark, or
18 feet below high water. The abutments are built
in coffer-dams of the ordinary construction, which
are the largest ever executed in this country. In
the construction of the piers a new method has
been tried for the first time. They ace four in
number, and their foundations will be laid a depth
of 55 feet below Trinity high water; and in order
to avoid the expense and inconvenience of coffer-
dams in reaching this depth, large wrought-iron
caissons, 18 feet in diameter, are sunk into the bed
of the river till the required level is reached, when
the brickwork is commenced inside them, and car-
ried up two feet below low-water line. At this
point the masonry of the piers commences, and this
is laid within a temporary caisson to five feet above
Trinity high water. The temporary caissons will
then be removed. Above this point the piers
will consist of clusters of cast-iron columns,
one cluster under each girder, and as there
are three throughout the length of the
bridge, there will be three such clusters of
columns on every pier. The headway for
navigation will be 30ft. 3in. above Trinity high
water. The bridge is expected to be opened for
traffic this time next year, and already the work is
in motion. Meanwhile a large temporary station
is to be erected close to the southern side of the
bridge, which is to be opened in September next
and is to be the City terminus of the railway unti
the promised opening of the bridge. The Com

pany seem to be confident that this new railway
bridge will bear comparison with our recent addi-
tions, and add to the beauty as well as to the
number of the noble structures that span old
Father Thames.

The ambition and enterprise of the Dover and
Chatham line are not, however, satisfied even with

the construction of a new bridge and station, or
with the extension of their system of communica-
tion between North and South. They propose
also to extend their traffic to Brighton, by means
of a line starting from the junction of the Chatham
and Dover with the South-Eastern, near Becken-
ham, passing onward in a straight line to Lewes,
and then taking an eastern curve to its proposed
terminus at Kemp Town. It is many years since
we suggested such a scheme, but the chairman of
the South-Eastern Company would not at that
time entertain it. Its advantages have now, how-
ever, become too evident to be longer overlooked,
and the busy districts of Kent and Soil-
sex, through which it will pass, will
thus be suddenly introduced to the faci-
lities of railway travelling from which tley
have hitherto been entirely cut off. By this new
scheme a sojourner at Brighton may be transported
to any of the chief points of the metropolis. The
fascinations of that pleasant watering place will be
increased tenfold to the man of business if he can
from the top c West-street, the Charing-cross, or
Waterloo-road, thereb
pendent to a railwa y avoiding that wearisome
y journey—a conclusion in omni-
bus or cab—which is o ftteat the. most The annoyingceremony and
f
tedious part of the expelio
with great eclat
laying the first stone went off

amidst the mutual compliments and congratulations
of the parties concerned. The assembled company
loudly expressed their gratification at the assurance
that the completion of their bridge would open a
high road extending from the North of Scotland to
all parts of the Continent. It is reported that a
French king once said in allusion to a political
manoeuvre that there were no longer any Pyrenees.
Had he lived in these days he might have enlarged his
aphorism for time and space,andgeographicaldivision
have contracted their powers under the mighty in-
fluence of the steam driven car. Lord SANDER in
addressing the company on Saturday created some
amusement by expressing his confidence in the
stability of the new bridge, and his hope that if

MACAULAY'S famous New Zealander should make
his exploring way amid the ruins of the modern
Babylon, the Blackfriars-bridge might assist him
in traversing the ancient river. Whether or no
such should be the case there is no doubt that the
enlarged schemes and daring enterprise of our com-
mercial community will leave their traces behind
them throughout the habitable globe, and the new
work now so bravely and resolutely undertaken
reflects credit on its bold and clearsighted projec-
tors.

According to present arrangements, the future
prospects of Poland are not very promising. It is in-
tended to divide the kingdom into 200 districts, when
the period of the amnesty has transpired. Further-
more, it is mentioned that the military will super-
sede the civil in the presidentship of district courts.
All Poles will be replaced by Russians, and no
Poles will be allowed to leave their domiciles with-
out special permission. The military chief will
execute summary martial law on rebels. If this is
to be the result of European intervention it appears
almost insulting to the great Powers, and eve❑ our
past experience of the hard nature and brutality of
Russian rule does not serve to explain such extra-
ordinary conduct. After the 13th of May the Rus-
sian Government will, it is threatened, become much
more severe, and put the country into a state of
siege. The police are already anticipating matters
by their numerous arrests, and altogether it would
be difficult to imagine a more deplorable state than
that in which these unfortunate patriots will be
placed when their persecutors deem themselves at
liberty to throw off the mask that they have par-
tially worn out of supposed deference to the voice of
public opinion, which protested so loudly against
their outrages. The reply of Russia to the French
note was received on Saturday by M. DROUYN DE
L'Huys. The French papers comment on its contents
as if they were satisfied with the tone of it, but
critically considered there does not seem so much in
in it to give rise to pleasurable feelings. It is
thus spoken of. The Pays says in reference to this
note :—" Russia declares her good intentions to-
wards Poland, and expresses a desire to satisfy the
Powers within the limits prescribed by her own
safety and dignity. The reply, on the whole, is of
a pacific character." The French papers doubtless
for motives of policy seem to put faith in this asser-
tion, but to English minds it will surely seem
that it is almost insulting common sense to talk of
Russia's good intentions towards Poland ; all that
can be said on this point is that she has not put
them in practice, but is content with the theory.
Even in this courteous reply there is a loophole by
which to escape from the possible danger of having
to fulfil the kind intentions. Russia hopes to satisfy
the Powers within the limits of her own dignity
and safety. First that is to be thought of, next the
task of pleasing other nations .too strong to offend,
and lastly what ought to be the first consideration

the rights and interests of a brave and suffering
people are to be thrown into the scale in which is
now weighing the destinies of Poland. One act of

clemency;one measure of reform would, be a better
security and safeguard, and a surer promise of the
welfare of the country than a thousand such fine
sounding but meaningless documents as that
now sent from the Cabinet of St. Petersburg to that

of the Tuileries. Of course, Prussia must interfere ;
and therefore we learn that the Russian troops who

were compelled to retreat into Prussian territory

were not disarmed, and also provided with canton

meats at Jouvvwetan. This is most disgracefu

policy, but of course not to be wondered at, after
the arrangements that have been effected, and the

eagerness with which the convention has been
revived by M. BISMARK and his friends. The

intelligence regarding the insurgents does not tend

to demonstrate any falling off on their part in
either spirit or numbers. Various bodies of insur-

gents are posted near Konin, in all amounting to

nearly 3,000 men. It is reported that they will
combine to attack the place. It would be really
difficult to imagine the exercise of more oppression

on one side, or the evidence of more determination

on the other, than is evidenced by the events of the

Polish insurrection. If all that banded Europe can
do is to send notes of remonstrance that call forth

evasive replies that end in nothing, this episode now

enacting will furnish hereafter a dark passage in

,he annals of nations—one that the historian w:

blush to record, and the patriots of all kingdoms

will regard with horror and regret.

INAUDIBLE RECITATIONS,

LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

POLAND.
CRACOW, MAY

Rumours of reforms are again current in War-
saw, but granted under present circumstances, and
without any guarantee for their maintenance, re-
forms would only awaken distrust.

It is now asserted that the Marquis Wielopolsk
will remain at Warsaw.

The priests who were arrested for taking part
in the procession of St. Mark have been set at
liberty, and the Government of Warsaw, namely,
the chief of the police and General Berg, are cen-
sured for making those arrests notwithstanding the
orderly behaviour of the procession. St. Peters-
burg, it seems, will not have any violence done to
the customs of the Roman Catholic Church.

The public are now permitted to go out with
lanterns until 11 instead of 10 p.m., as hitherto.
Count Keller and the Marquis Wielopolski are
reconciled in compliance with orders from St.
Petersburg. The son of the Marquis remains in
the service of the State. Gen. Berg will neither
leave Warsaw nor receive more troops. All this
seems to indicate an approaching change in the
policy of the Russian Government towards Poland.

The representations made to Russia by Austria,
respecting the free exercise of the Roman Catholic
religion, certainly do not appear to have been with-
out effect. Archbishop Felinski, who, regardless
of the police prohibition, celebrated mass in person
in the Cathedral, and allowed the procession of St.
Mark to take place, has not only remained unmo-
lested; but the proceedings of the police on the
occasion of the procession have met with an unplea-
sant disavowal, from the fact of the priests dis-
obeying the prohibition of the police, also remaining
unpunished.

Reliable intelligence has been received of several
conflicts that have taken place between the Russians

and the insurgents.

Czachowski, after his successful engagement on
29th ult., near Bzin, fought on the 22d near
Nieklau, to the left of the Kielee-Radomer cause-

way.

On the same day an engagement took place
near Gielinow, in which a Russian detachment
from Szydlowice was put to flight. Czachowski
has been appointed Commander-in-Chief in the
district of Sandomir.

Sinister, but at present entirely unconfirmed, re-
ports of increasing inhumanity on the part of the
Russians have been received from Warsaw and the
Polish frontiers.
The position of the Russians in the south of the
kingdom becomes every day more serious and
more difficult. Scarcely have they concentrated on
one point a larger force of troops to destroy a
stronger detachment of insurgents, than there ap-
pears at the place which they have just quitted, a
band daring enough to attack them in the rear.

The following telegrams has been received at
Mr. Reuter's office from the Peninsular and Orienta
Steam Navigation Company May 4 :

THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS,

The Vectis reached Marseilles at 5 8.111. this day.
The mails leave for London by the 11.30 a.m. train.
The letters will be delivered on Tuesday evening.
The Delta, with the heavy portion of the above
mails, left Malta at noon on the Ist inst.; she may be
expected at Southampton on the 10th.
OUTWARD CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUS
TRALIAN MAILS of 20th and 26th APRIL.
The Poonah arrived at Malta on the 30th April,
and continued her voyage to Alexandria the same
day. All well.

The Massilia left Malta for Alexandria at noon
cn the 2d irst.

OUTWARD BOMBAY MAIL of 27th APRIL.
The new steamship Carnatic arrived at Gibraltar
at 4 p.m. on the Ist inst., 97 hours from Southamp-
ton. She continued her voyage at 8 p.m.

„.0.1 a q.

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, May 2.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louis o:
Hesse, drove out yesterday.
Prince Louis of Hesse, attended by Lieut.-Col.
Du Plat, left Osborne for London.

MAT 2.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Helena and
Prince Arthur, drove out yesterday. Lord C. Fitz-
Roy attended on horseback.

Her Majesty, his Royal Highness Prince Alfred,
Princess Louis of Hess, Princess Helena, Princess
Louise, Prince Arthur, and Prince Leopold, attended
divine service at Osborne this morning. The Rev.
G. Prothero officiated.