The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-26 00:00:00

LETTER FROM MAZZINI,

The following letter from Mazzini has been trans-
mitted to us for publication. It does not say to
whom it is addressed, but we presume it is to the
Italian Ministry

Gentlemen,—Joseph Garibaldi is seriously
wounded and prisoner.

We are not now about to discuss the causes which
have led to this result. We say that there are in
the life of nations acts and men which cannot be
submitted to common laws without dishonour and
crime. Such is Garibaldi—such the act for which
he lies a wounded prisoner. Garibaldi has fought
all the battles of Italian unity. Garibaldi has given
that unity ten millions of citizens. Garibaldi is the
living symbol of the desire of the whole nation. He
wad struck down whilst he was moving, not against
you, but to where Italian right has been proclaimed
by you, and has been denied by the foreigner; not
to change the orders of the State or combat your
programme, but to the fulfilment of both ono and
the other.

Gentlemen, you may judge that act, though in-
voked by all Italy, premature, but not guilty ; you
can hinder, not punish, him who attempted it. All
Italy is wounded and imprisoned with him.
We demand, gentlemen, the liberty of Garibaldi,
in the name of tha desire of Italy : in the name of
the gratitude that you, with us, owe him. We
demand that, tended and surrounded by his own,
he may be freed from an imprisonment which
recals to Europe the imprisonment of Columbus.
Sept. 20, 1862. JOSEPH MAZZINI.

---
THE VICISSITUDES OF GOLD DIGGING.

A correspondent of San Francisco, reporting
gold mining news from British Columbia, says:—
"A remarkable instance is given of the vicissi-
tudes of the miner's life in a letter from a man
from Victoria. The part owner of a claim writes
that all felt in poor spirits,' alluding to his part-
ners, some of whom I am acquainted with, be-
cause the "company had worked 44 days, and had
only taken out 30 dole.' This was written on the
Bth of July. Two days afterwards, on the 10th,
he opens his letter to give his friend in Victoria
the gratifying news that we struck the gold lead
(pay dirt) at noon to-day, and this afternoon have
taken out 151 oz. of dust.' The statement is cor-
roborated by a gentleman who saw the dust'
weighed on the spot, and he says he saw the ' nug-
gets plainly visible in the dirt taken from the same
shaft,' that produced the 15toz. The happy con-
clusion is drawn that the company, lucky at last,
after their long and hard labour, which only pro-
duced 30 dols., have made their piles.' I sincerely
hope so, for one of them is an old Californian
pioneer who made a large fortune and lost it, and
woo has struggled with the fates ever since 1858 in
the two colonies on sea and-land, with a perseve-
rance which deserves success, Ile is an old Scotch•
man, Major Downie,' whose travels in British
Columbia I described in one of my letters some three
years ago. The company at work close t• the
major's claim have been equally well rewarded for
their perseverance. They also struck the same
gold leaf on that day, and claims that were sold
the day before for 1,000 dole. sold the next for 15,000
dole.' These are all hill diggings' worked in tun-
nels, which I have spoken of as being so much more
valuable than placers or surface diggings.
"New discoveries ware being made frequently,
and claims hitherto worked without producing
much were proving suddenly successful in the early
part of July, after the 'paydirt' had been penetrated,
and a case is mentioned of a man who was sued in
the morning for a debt of 130 dole., and had to bor-
row flour for his dinner yesterday. In the evening
25,000 was offered for an interest in the claim !
Such is life in Cariboo,' exclaims the narrator."

HE LOAN COLLECTION AT SOUTH

KENSINGTON MUSEUM.

The more we examine the various objects of art
which constitute the Loan Collection at South Ken-
sington, the deeper is our regret that it is so soon
to be again dispersed. That the contents of the
International Exhibition 6 houla ha scattered causes
us no concern. We do not feel the same interest in
the works exposed there. They are contributed
mainly with an eye to business ; ugliness and beauty,
utility and vanity, economy and extravagance—all
are mingled together, and chiefly as investments. No
such motives could have actuated the noble owners of
the "Loan" objects. The very fact of possessing
them proves a love of art, of its associations and
history; the fact of lending them for exhibition—
gratuitous exhibition on four days in the week—
testifies to the desire of their owners that the
public should share the pleasure which their con-
templation affords. The efforts of the owners
have been ably seconded by the superintendent
of the art collections. The catalogues issued are
prefaced by admirable introductions to the study
of each subject, by Mr. Robinson, Mr. Franks,
and others. When necessary, smaller notes on
single or classed objects are inserted in the
catalogue, so as to give the public an opportunity
of prizing, at its full worth, the boon which has
been thus liberally granted to it. With the counter
attractions of its gigantic neighbour, and the few
holidays at their disposal, a large number of the
middle and working classes have, neverthless,
been unable to avail themselves of the privilege of
visiting the collection. We should be sorry go
presume upon the kindness of liberal men, but, as
one generous deed betokens the willingness to do
another, we do throw out a hope that the authori-
ties at South Kensington will use their influence
with the proprietors that they may leave their
works yet a while longer on view—enlarging thus
the public circle of thanks, and at the same time
extending the influence which a collection so ex-
clusively good and valuable, and formed with such
praiseworthy motives, is capable of exercising on
all classes.—Building News.

THE NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR UO7TON.

The following relates to the proposed now sub-
stitute for cotton :

"Oxford Villa, Haverstock•hill, Sept. 24.
" Sir—Several inquiries have been made of me as to the
best place whence to get fresh supplies of the Zostera
marina.

" It may save endless trouble and the public some de-
lay if I state that it abounds along the sea-coast, but that
in the river Orwell, at the entrance of the harbour, it is
growing largely; and I have received a letter from Poole,
in Dorset, from which the following is an extract :

" Will you allow me to draw your attention to the fact
that Poole harbour, extending to 9,975 acres, though con-
taining deep channels, is for the most part very shallow,
and the tide when it falls leaves upwards of 8,000 acres of
mud covered with Zosto a marina.'

" I still have no doubt as to the immediately available
quantity of the raw material, but as the question is one of
national importance, and accurate information as to the
quantity obtainable from the United Kingdom and Chan-
nel Islands would be extremely valuable, may I ask gen-
tlemensupply me as speedily as
growing, possible with the approximate
,number of
and others resident by or
and I
nweaalr
imthmeesdeiaa-tec
loya sea-coast
that experiments are being made upon
li
s resultnd e acres
tei
, hI the
understand now
the plant as supplied from upholsterers. If obtained from
these sources I need scarcely say that the results to be de-
sired will not be so satisfactory as if the green plant be
used; but if the object of using the dried plant be merely
to demonstrate the practicability and the inexpensiveness
of extracting the fibre, then it may answer the purpose
although I think the green plant is preferable.
" For the information of those who have not yet exa-
mined the plant, and to facilitate investigation, I may men-
tion that the outer casing forms a sort of sheath to the fibre
within, and resembles the scabbard of a sword, which may
be pulled off or put on again at pleasure.

" I am, sir, your obedient servant,
" HENRY HARBEN."

A NEW LIFEBOAT FOR DUBLIN BAY.—General
Sir George Bowles, K.C.8., has just presented to the Na-
final Lifeboat Institution £265, to enable it to station a
new lifeboat and transporting carriage at Ilowth, near
Dublin. The boat, which is 30 feet long, had her harbour
trial yesterday, in the Regent's Canal dock, Limehousa,
self-righting and
fhelifeboats were fully
fication of a number
self-ejectingwh th e usual
o f
watercshown,
t etrtohi sittsihccesl
class of
(t)ti,
oafndpsearstiosnfasctwohrio had assembled to wituess the trial. Thely
lifeboat and her carriage leave for their station on Saturday,
on board of one of the steamers belonging to Meesrs. Mal-
coimson, who, in conjunction With Mr. J. Robinson, o
Mark-lane, are ever ready to carry the boats, ac., free of
Charge,