The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-19 00:00:00

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/17

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 19, 1865.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMM—The fuller particulars of the voyage of
the Great Eastern confirm the conclusion forced
upon us by the telegraphic summary from Crook-
' haven. her attempt to lay the Atlantic Cable be-
tween Valentia and Newfoundland was indeed beset
with perils, but all of them would have been, as far
as man can judge, successfully overcome had the
machinery provided for hauling in the cable upon
the discovery of a fault been of sufficient strength.
From first to last, however, this machinery proved
defective. When the first failure of insulation was
detected, at a distance of 50 miles from Valentia,
and steps were taken to recover the cable which had
been paid out, it became apparent that the hauling
in apparatus was insufficient. The boiler of the
steam-engine which supplied the hauling-in power
could not keep up steam enough for the purpose,
and the hauling-in itself was feeble and intermittent.
On that occasion, however, and again when the se-
cond fault occurred, the cable vas fortunately got
back up to the points where the faults lay,
but on the third loss of insulation the machinery
broke down entirely, and the cable was broken. It
was in consequence of the absolute stoppage of the
steam-engine, and the consequent necessity that the
Great Eastern should almost held on at the cable
itself, tbat the chafing took platy at the bow which
occasioned the fracture. The subsequent efforts to
recover the lost end were admirable as examples of
perseverance and of skill in seamanship, but these
also failed from imperfect machinery. The hauling-
in engine was not strong enough for its work, and
the wire rope to which the grapnel WWI fastened was
not strong enough for the pressure upon it. It broke
again and again as it rose through the water, and
the weight upon it increased, until at last the fact
that the store of rope itelf was expended sent the
Great Eastern back to our shores. The story of
the attempt of the Great Eastern to lay the second
cable is the story of a failure, but of a failure which
proves the possibility of success. When the first
fault was detected, on the 24th of July, after
84 miles of the cable had been laid, and the in-
sufficiency. of the hauling-in apparatus became evi-
dent, a feeling of profound gloom was not unnatu-
rally experienced on board the ship. It was found
that the cable could not on an average be drawn in
at a greater rate than a mile an hour, and sometimes
the operation had to be entirely suspended. The
electricians on board were, moreover, wholly un-
able to agree upon .an approximation to the distance
at which the fault lay from the ship. Under such
circumstances an immediate return might have been
excused ; but fortunately it was resolved to perse-
vere in the enterprise, for the after experience must
prove invaluable when the next attempt is made to
lay the cable. A bit of iron about the size of a
straw and two inches long was soon found sticking
on the cable, and the expedition proceeded in better
heart than ever. A second fault, due to a like cause,
and detected in the same way, was more discourag-
ing, for it presented the appearance of a malicious
injury rather than of an accident, but this, too, was
cured, and precautions were taken to prevent any
third flaw of the same kind from being paid out un-
observed. Men were stationed to watch the cable
as it left the tank, and on the 2d of August they
heard a suspicious rasping noise, and signalled to the
men on deck. Unfortunutely the signalling was
imperfect, and the fault was paid out before the
machinery was stopped. The electrical tests showed
a slight loss of insulation, but it was so slight that
it was debated whether the paying out should be con-
tinued, and after:some hesitation it was resolved to
take the prudent course of hauling in the cable. The
tedious operation which had twice been successfully
performed was commenced once more. The end of
the cable was carefully shifted from the stern to the
bow, and the great ship swung around so as to ride,
so to; speak, to the cable. The drawing in of the
cable was begun, but the steam-engine completely
broke down. For some time the picking up ceased
altogether, and, to add to the misfortune, the ship
began to drift athwart the line of the cable, and to .
forge against the portion hanging over the bow. Then
the cable got entangled in a hawse-pipe, and it was
necessary to free it by lowering a wire rope,
which was fastened to it in a bight below the
pipe. By this time the machinery was once
more in motion, and it was possible to pick up
the cable again, but the delay had done its
worst. The ship had drifted out of the line of the
cable, the hauling-in was done askew, and it had
scarcely begun before the cable parted just inboard
of the bow and slipped in a moment overboard to
the bottom of the Atlantic. The Great Eastern was
then in 1,950 fathom soundings, and 1,180 miles of
cable had been paid out. The efforts to grapple and
bring up the cable which followed were efforts to
accomplish what men might well deem an impossi-
bility, and yet they were almost successful. Two
miles and a half of wire rope, with grapnels at the
end, and with swivels at every fifty fathoms of its
length to prevent its getting twisted, were lowered,
and the Great Eastern drifted slowly over the line
of the cable. • After one or two false alarms the
strain on the dynamometer, on the morning of the
3d, showed that the cable had been caught, and the
process of hauling up recommenced. One half of
the rope had been recovered when a swivel broke.
The rope had been made to bear a strain of ten tons,
and the dynamometer never showed a greater ten-
sion than four tons, but as one of the swivels rose
to the bow the bolt of it was fairly pulled through
the collar, and the half which was not drawn up sank
down to the cable. It had been shown, however, that
the cable could be grappled and it was determined
to repeat the attempt to get at it and haul it up.
But now a thick fog set in, and all that could be
done was to mark the place with a buoy. The
Sphinx had already been some time lost sight of,
and, as she never reappeared, she is supposed to
have quietly gone on with the sounding apparatus
to Newfoundland. The Terrible and the Great
Eastern parted company,
and for two days the
latter drifted to the east.
When the Terrible came
p thinkingt i n of wthh iacth
thh
up to the buoy again she found it guarded by a
little schooner, the First Fruits, of Bridport,
ade
buhooyvemtuso
must have
the
wind,ca
to do with the. cable. But the patriotism of the
asvpeite of
somethinga.
skipper and all that skill and seamanship could do
on board the Great Eastern proved in vain. The
cable was grappled, indeed, unmistakably a second
and a third time, but on each occasion a swivel on
the wire rope gave way, as it had before, and grap-
nels and miles of rope were lost. The attempt to
fish up the cable was not finally abandoned until
the wire rope was wholly exhausted, and even an
ordinary hawser had been fruitlessly passed into the
service. Even if perfect machinery were at hand,
it would now, we fear, be too late to lay the Atlan-
tic Telegraph this year, though sanguine spirits may
remind us that after the equinoctial gales are past
the month of October is often calm, and further
delay must cause the total loss of the portion of the
cable which hah been paid out. But it is evident
that before a lost end can be recovered, the hauling-
in machinery of the Great Eastern must be reno-
vated, and wire ropes must be manufactured stronger
than those carried on the last voyage, if not of a
strength hitherto unknown. The experience of the
voyage shows, however,
not only that a cable can
be laid, but that if broken it can be grappled for
and caught, and therefore can be recovered. So far
it is full of encouragement for the future. There is
no casualty which cannot be guarded against, and
no accident which cannot be repaired. The only dis-
couraging circumstance connected with the enter-
prise is the apparent inability of electricians to dis-
cover a serious fault in a cable before it is paid over
the side of the ship. The delay for another year
will not be thrown away if it enable them to devise
better tests of the excellence of the electric cable
before it is submerged, though whether they do so
or not we must believe the possibility of an Atlantic
Telegraph established, and look forward to the day
as certain, even if distant, when England and
America will throb with one pulse of life. •
POST.—Considered with reference to circum-
stances, the present policy of Austria is intelligible
only in so far as it appears to be based on a misap-
prehension of their meaning. The Emperor, it would
seem, does not despair of conciliating the Italians
who are still subject to his sway. It is proposed to
pad the Venetian yoke with some municipal freedom.
There is nothing original in the expedient ; it has
been tried before, and has failed. That, however,
which was just possible 18 years ago is now wholly
out of the question. Austria was at that period in•
a position to adopt measures which might have been
accepted, and she was earnestly advised, in words
which have been remarkably confirmed by events,
that " in ordinary times slow reforms may answer
well enough, but in grave circumstances, when the
very life of the community is in danger, such homoeo-
pathic doses are of no avail." The Venetians have
long since ceased to respect the Austrian Govern-
ment, and they can hardly be said to fear it. Nor
is it that they have been merely oppressed and held
in bondage—they have been trampled upon and
wantonly insulted. One instance of Austrian im-
policy will suffice as a specimen of the whole, and it
will be freshly remembered in the presence of the
cholera. In 1836, when this terrible disease was rag-.
ing at Vienna, the Venetian's entreated the Govern-

(From the Illustrated London News.)

ment to take steps to protect them from its contagion,
and were told that the expense of a sanitary cordon
" would exceed that which the mortality would
entail on the Imperial Treasury." It is not in
the nature of things that such wrongs should be
forgotten or forgiven ; and though the Emperor
may be acting in good faith, he cannot hope that
his sincerity will be appreciated. The people who
have seen their country rise up out of its grave
will not compromise the aspirations which they
legitimately entertain. Venice has heard the pro-
clamation of her emancipation, and she believes
that, in the fullness of time, " Italy will be free from
the Alps to the Adriatic." Her course, therefore,
is clearly indicated, and for Austria there is really
but one way of escape from an entanglenent which
paralyses the whole empire. It is idle to attempt
to govern the Venetians as the Hungarians may be
governed. The conditions are not the same. Hun-
gary is loyal at heart ; Venetia is on principle irre-
concilable. The Government of Vienna has shown
that it recognises its obligations, but also that it is
not competent to fulfil them. This is a position
which is rightly regarded as untenable, and the Em-
peror has resolved to fortify it. It may be assumed
that his Majesty has reluctantly postponed the set-
tlement of his dispute with Prussia, for, after all, it
will be found, we apprehend, that any arrangement
which is made will be provisional only. Austria
would renew the discussion when she can take part
in it more conveniently ; and although Herr von
Bismarck is about to " utilise" Kiel without further
ceremony, it is not impossible that he will be com-
pelled to a forbearance foreign to his nature, Not-
withstanding what has been said it is perfectly well
understood 'by the German Powers-that their pro-
ceedings are vigilantly watched. So that it may not
be too late for Austria to repair more than one mis-
take. By whatever non-natural interpretation of
international relations Prussia and Austria have
come to the conclusion that they are entitled to revise
the map of Germany between themselveS, it is cer-
tain that their assumed authority does not extend
beyond the frontiers of the Germanic Confederation.
The Venetian question, at all events, concerns other
Powers, and it was evident enough before Austria
underlined the fact, that the satisfactory adjustment
of the German difficulty depended on the settlement
of the Italian claim. Indirectly, but coercively,
Prussia makes Venetia the pivot of her operations.
Hence it is incumbent on Austria to look the inevi-
table alternative in the face. The case may be put
categorically as it now stands. If Austria is able
to maintain her position in Germany without war,
then it is supererogatory for her to seek to do that
which is impracticable in Venetia. On the other
hand, if it is probable that eventually the ambition
of Prussia will have to be controlled by force, Aus-
tria has to consider whether she could hold Venetia
against the Italian army and Frankfort against the
Prussian army at the same time. This is the cal-
culation on which Herr von Bismarck proceeds, and
virtually it is accepted by the Government of Vienna.
The Italian Prime Minister is reported to have said
that he was persuaded he could convince the Em-
peror Francis Joseph that it would be for his in-
terest to surrender Venetia to Italy ; but at present,
if the Prussian Premier has failed to prove the ne-
cessity of the measure, it may be doubted if General
La Mamora could realise his sanguine expectation.''
The Austrian apology for submitting to the dicta-
tion of Prussia is substantially this—that her trea-
sury was empty, and that she could not count on
the neutrality of Italy. It is obvious, therefore,
that if her German rights are compromised, and if
they are worth preserving, the means necessary to
their vindication might be obtained, and further,
that the abatement of the Italian obstacle would
amount to a pacific settlement of the German
quarrel. Prussia would not push the difference to
war if Austria were ready to fight, and Italy can
well afford to come to terms for the completion of
her unity. No doubt Austria may think that it is
better to keep Venetia and trust to the chapter of
accidents in Germany. That is for her to decide ;
but, in coming to a decision, it should be recollected
that while her German position is morally impreg-
nable, Venetia can only be held, as it were, in suf-
ferance. War between Austria and Prussia on the
German question could not he tolerated. The mat-
ters in dispute would in that event have to be sub-
mitted to another arbitration, and in the award
Austria could not well lose, if she did not gain.
Moreover, if the German question presses for a
solution, as it undoubtedly does, Venetia would al-
most certainly be included in any ratification of
frontiers thatinight result fromhostilities, or threat-
, ened hostilities. In short, Austria would not save
her Italian dependency by abandoning her German
position, and whether other Powers are or are not
prepared to intervene for the purpose of maintain-
ing peace, it is competent to Austria to demand
their intervention on that ground, and, in all pro-
bability, she would have done so before now if
Venetia had not stood in the way.

RECENT WILLS AND BEQUESTS.

Probate of the will of the Right Hon. George Augustus
Frederick Henry Bridgman, Earl of Bradford, of Castle
Bromwich, Warwickshire, Weston Hall, Staffordshire, and
43, Belgrave-square, has been granted by her Majesty's
Court to his eldest son, heretofore Viscount Newport, P.C.,
M.P., now the Right Hon. Orlando George Charles Earl of
Bradford, one of the surviving executors ; the other sur-
viving executor, Wm. Lacon Childe, Esq. (formerly M.P.
for Wenlock), having renounced. The personalty was
sworn under £140,000. Lord Bradford succeeded to the
title
.in 1825, on the death of his father, the first earl ; was
twice married, and died on the 22d March last, at the age
of 76. His lordship executed his will in 1849, and added
thereto nine codicils, the last dated April, 1860. Thee
documents extended to 348 folios. His lordship bequeaths
to his relict, the Dowager Countess of Bradford, who was
the daughter of fEneas Mackay, Esq., and widow of Sir
E. Moncreiffe, Bart., beyond her provision on marriage, an
immediate legacy of £l,OOO, and all the plate, books, linen,
china, and other effects that belonged to her ladyship be-
fore his marriage ; he also leaves her ladyship his droitaka,
with one carriage and the selection of a pair of horses,
and that her ladyship may enjoy, as her residence, the
mansion of Castle Bromwich. The diamond necklace,
having 44 brilliants, and the diamond ear-rings usually
worn by the lady possessing the title of Countess of Brad-
ford, he leaves in trust, to be held by the person who
shall be the first tenant entail of his Warwickshire and
Lancashire estates. He devises to his eldest son the
estate of Windermere, together with all other his real
estates, and appoints his, lordship the present earl
residuary legatee of the personalty ; having made
a provision for his younger children, which his lordship
had increased at various periods by the codicils. By the
will there is an annuity of £2OO to the late governess of his
daughters ; also legacies and annuities to his domestics.

Tho will of the Right Hon. Sir Charles Edward Grey,
G.C.H., formerly of Southwick-crescent, Hyde Park, but
late of Tunbridge Wells, was proved in the London Court,
on the 9th inst., by Edward Grey, Esq., one of the sons,
power being reserved to his other sons, Jervoise, Henry,
and George, who were also appointed executors, to prove
hereafter. Sir Charles died, on the Ist of Juno last, at
the age of eighty, a widower, having married, in 1821,
Elizabeth, daughter of Sir C. Jervoise, Bart. (she died in
1850). Sir Charles was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn
in 1811, and had been Chief Justice at Bengal, and a Com-
missioner for Canadian affairs, and also Governor of Bar-
badoes, Trinidad, Jamaica, &c. ; and was M.P. for Tyne-
mouth, 183841. The will bears date Nov., 1864. Sir
Charles, having a power of appointment over £lO,OOO,
under settlement and by assignment of the estate of the
late Thomas E. Jervoise, he apportions the same amongst
his sons and daughters, leaving to his sons Jervoise, John
Grey, and Edward Grey, each £15,000; to Henry Row-
land Ellison Grey, £1,200; George Grey, £2,200; his
daughter, Jane Lucy Grey, £5OO ; in addition to any other
appointments made to them, and divides the remainder
equally amongst them. Bequeaths his books to his four
sons, and his furniture, ornaments, and household effects
to his four daughters. To his eldest son, Jervoise, he
leaves his landed estate at the Blue Mountain, Jamaica,
consisting of about 300 acres. The residue of his property
he leaves equally amongst all his eight children.
The will of Pautia Ralli, Esq., of Connaught-place,
West, Hyde Park, was proved in London, on the Ist inst.,
by Peter Pautia Ralli, Esq., the son and sole executor,
who is also residuary legatee. The personalty was sworn
.under £400,000. The testator, who died on the 9th ult.,
executed his will on the Ist of the same mouth. He has
made a liberal provision for his daughter, Mrs. Monk, and
her children, and has left a legacy of £5,000 to his son-in-
law, C. J. Monk. There are also some legacies and remem-
brances to other of his relatives. To his servants in London
and at his chateau at Marseilles he has left legacies, and
to some annuities ; and to the poor of Bonneveino
£lOO. Ho has made the following further charitable
bequests :—To the college of the island of Scio, £l,OOO, the
interest to be distributed annually in prizes ; £2OO to the
church of St. Victor, Scio, and .£lOO to be distributed
amongst thelospitals of Scio (his native country); £l,OOO
to the University of Athens, and £5OO to the Phileopedeutic
Society there ; and directs the sum of £5OO to be divided
amongst such of .the charitable institutions in London as
his executor may think proper. All legacies to be paid free
of duty.

The will of John Remington Mills, Esq., of Brookbank,
Broadway, Worcester, was proved in the London Court on
the 25th ult., by Theophilus Bartlett Cie&lard, Esq., of

Cheltenham, the sole executor. The will is dated June
30, 1863, and the testator died on the 6th of May last. He
leaves the whole of his property, real and personal, to his
executor, in trust for the sole use and benefit of his relict.

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