The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-27 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON:BRIDGE.

THIS DAY.—Morning, 3h. :om.—Afternoon, 3h. 26m.
To-Moßßow.-Morning, 3h. 47m.—Afternoon, 4h. 10m.

Scotland and the north-west of England—Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire alone offering an extensive and
profitable market.
The carriage of limestone, which is so much re-
quired for the reclamation of the waste lands, is
another important task which the railways could
profitably and easily perform. It has been remarked
that " the waste lands are reclaimable through the
agency of those very materials in which Ireland
most abounds—human labour and limestone." The
reclamation of these lands would be a very valuable
achievement, and another task in connection with
the railways in this case would be the extension of
the system of drainage. "The isle of showers," as
MOORE Ptyles it, suffers, says Mr. WHITE, not so
much from too much rain as from too little drainage,
and he quotes the opinion of the Irish Secretary on
this subject. Sir R. PEEL spoke very strongly on
) the advantages to be derived from arterial drainage,
and said he should like to see three-quarters of a
million spent on drainage works in Ireland.

The development of the mineral wealth of the
country is another neglected source of profit. " The
country possesses inexhaustible mines of iron, coal,
copper, lead, zinc, marble, and building stone,
but they are, in many instances, situated in locali-
ties where facilities do not exist for transit." Here
again the railways would come to the rescue, since,
as Mr. LocKE has justly observed, the material
hindrance to the development of the mineral re-
sources of Ireland is want of cheap carriage to the
sea ports.' From Dublin and Belfast 1,200 tons of
shipping sail daily in ballast. Could mineral ores
be substituted, how great would be the advantage !
All branches of trade and manufactures would,
of course, gain immeasureably by the
means of rapid and cheap conveyance.
The Belfast merchants, in reporting on
the want of railways in the West, declare that they
cannot establish branches of their trade in Con-
naught because the expense of carriage would equal
that of shipping the material to the East Indies."
Such a state of things in a country so long under
English rule, and so closely in the vicinity of Eng-
lish enterprise and energy, appears almost incredi-
ble. Equally absurd and inconsistent is the fact
that Ireland, whose climate is so favourable to the
growth of flax that it even excels that of Belgium,
imports large quantities of the raw material for her
linen manufacture. The further development of
this manufacture and of the linen cultivation, as
well as the establishment of industrial schools
to convert that raw material of unskilled labour
with which Ireland abounds into skilful workmen,
are among the objects which Mr. WHITE sets before
Ireland's well-wishers.

No doubt all these schemes would more or less
find obstacles in the way, and the first and greatest
difficulty would be, perhaps, the inevitable outlay.
Still the development of natural wealth is the best
security for expenditure, and the difficulties in the
way of the repayment of advances made for national
ends might be easily overcome, if there were
a hearty will in the matter. The reclamation
of the waste lands, for instance, must profit
some one, and a slight charge upon the
reclaimed estates might be soon made to repay the
necessary advance. Then, as to the railways, fish-
ing harbours, and other public works of a repro-
ductive character, the example of the Indian Go-
vernment might be profitably followed by our
Ministers in giving guarantees out of the revenues
of the country. A most important source of moral
Aalth and national strength would be added to
the country if these undertakings were carried out
in an enlarged and enlightened spirit. The popu-
lation, finding plenty of profitable employment open
to them at home, would stay their eagerness in
emigration, they would aid in developing the re-
sources of their land instead of filling the graves of
foreign mercenaries, and the country which has so
long been the grief and the difficulty of English
statesmen might, by a judicious application of the
remedies actually in existence, be converted into an
additional source of Imperial contentment, wealth,
and prosperity.

The news from Vienna does not throw much
light upon the old question, but it tends to confirm
in many particulars the opinions already entertained
on the subject, and makes assurance doubly sure
regarding the determination of Prussia not to rest
till she has grasped all within in her power. It is
said that the Prussian note rejects the Austrian
proposal to transfer to the Duke of AUGUSTENBERG
the government of the Duchies, until the disputed
matter is settled. It is not likely, certainly, that
this plan would be agreed to, and it would not be
very politic if it were, because nothing is more diffi-
cult than to dispossess those who have once fixed
themselves in a place ; it is always far less
'onerous to keep out than to turn out.
Besides, if the Duke of AUGUSTENBERG were
to be put in authority, it might turn out that Austria
would support him in any after resistance which he
might make to Prussia, on the ground that the point
I of succession was not clearly proved. The fact is
that it was very convenient for Herr BISMARK to
take up the cause of the Duke. To begin, it made
a good excuse at home ; it appeared disinterested
abroad ; and it served the purpose of manifesting to
the Schleswig-Holsteiners that the intentions of the
Berlin Cabinet were strictly fair and impartial.
But, like many other ill-used persons in the game
of life, who are sacrificed to the tactics and the
craft of courts, the Duke may now retire, since
he has played the puppet long enough. Putting
aside the question of whether he has or has
not established his rights to the Duchies, it must be
confessed that his Highness has been very ill-used
by his quondam friends, the Prussians. They have
turned out most false and faithless to their pledges,
and entirely destitute of honour and honesty in re-
Ispect to the professions they made when things did
not go so smoothly with them as they do now, and
when they were not so sure of the inaction of France
and the covert support of England. We hear of
the " old dodge" being employed in the Prussian
State, that is to say, the excuse made that Prussia
must make the ultimate form of government in the
Duchies conditional upon certain agreements, and
also must receive " sufficient compensation.
We wonder when we shall hear the last
It i 8 really as
of theseas
ictoism
ridiculous pienncosnatsiinstnesn. t for a nation first to
persist
to war, and then to declare that
come w inh at going
may
it must receive compensation for
the voluntary act. At all events, however, we may
presume that this ruse will s e rve itasntdurnit adsowesellnoast
any other that can be employed,
mgiavtetenrorvaenryomb
objection
inis iwnhtiamt manner
they are addressed comprehend the feeling of those
who make them. It is mentioned, among other
imatters, that the Government has declared that it
can give no opinion upon the person of the future
Sovereign until the Crown lawyers have sent in
their opinion. This is an extraordinary mode of
proceeding,
and cannot be allowed as a very
correct Way of finding out the truth,
because
such evidence is at best but partial and
certainly one-sided.
of Austria are consultSedu d p aP °n
s e
ttahkee
an
nrootwhner lviawewyeorsf
the matter, who is to
decide which is right ? Per-
haps it is an ingenious method of lessening the
attractions of these coveted,
P°s6iliollii that induces

the Prussian Cabinet to make so much ado about
the forms and conditions that must be observed by
the new Sovereign. Certainly the limits already
circulated as to their extent and stringency, are
sufficient to deter an aspiring adventurer from taking
possession. of such fettered power and assuming such
a restricted dignity. It must by this time be very
apparent that great injury has been done to the
balance of power, by the non-acceptance
of the French EMPEROR'S proposal of a
Congress. Had this been acceded to, had
this been !:done, there is no doubt that Prussia
would not have been able, in conjunction with
Austria, to have violated the conditions of the
Treaty of Vienna in the flagrant manner which she
has done. As things have turned out she has acted
in a defiant style, and cast all scruples to the winds ;
the treaty of Vienna was no more observed than
that of 1852. The day may shortly come, however,
when she will find that the treaties have righted
themselves without her assistance, and that she in
her turn is ousted from the assemblies of nations,
even as she now turns out those who do not con-
form to her views. If ever a nation's policy deserved
a NEMESIS to rise up in an unexpected form, it is
that which guided the cause of British statesmen to
the detriment of all connected with them, and the
general scandal of Europe and all civilised commu-
nities throughout the world.

Marshal NARVAEZ is earning for himself a repu-
tation of a more flattering character than often
appertains to Spanish statesmen. He has shown
the determination to persevere in an awkward task,
and in making and keeping his resolves has displayed
a firmness and foresight that cannot but eventually
prove of the highest service to the country he has
been called upon to serve at a period of great
exigency and excitement. He declared in the
Congress of Saturday that both the country and
the finances were in an unsatisfactory condition
when the present Ministry took office. His inti-
mation that it was desirable that they should unite
their efforts for the service of the country- was a
very wise one, and it is to be hoped that his
exhortations will be attended to, for there
is no chance of a land situated as Spain
is, unless unanimity prevail to a great extent. The
course of policy pursued by the Marshal may not be
agreeable to some, but it is a decidedly prudent act,
and were statesmen in general to adopt a more
reticent plan in doubtful cases there would not be
so many disastrous wars decimating populations and
ruining treasuries. The Queen of SPAIN has come
out in this point in a truly regal spirit of liberality,
and it is to be trusted that her efforts will be appre-
ciated and her example followed in a lesser degree
by those who can do so. From the lists of the
royal property announced for sale, it appears that a
great deal has been given up of the immense pro-
perties appertaining to the Crown of Spain, and as
three-fourths of the proceeds of the sale will be
delivered to the public treasury, there will be
some prospect of the finance of that country
assuming a better aspect. On the whole, there ap-
pears from recent events good ground for auguring
that Spain will emerge from the dark cloud that has
so long overshadowed her prospects at home and
abroad. We may recognise in the spirit of her
policy a tone of firmness and a character that have
long been absent from Madrid councils, and which,
if consistently carried out, cannot fail to bring pro-
sperity in their train. Marshal NARVAEZ is entitled
to the thanks of his countrymen for his courage in
proposing and prosecuting a policy that was un-
popular at the outset, and promised to be hedged in
by difficulties and vexatious opposition. The re-
linquishment of Saint Domingo was one of the
brightest ideas that have ilhunined the Cabinet of
Spain for many years. We have heard and seen a
vast deal of skirmishes, wars, and altercations, but it is
something quite out of the common to find something
like a wise and reasonable policy in obtaining such a
Ministry in power, who look to the end and not
the means, rightly disregarding the eclat of the
moment in order to fix upon a plan that will ulti-
mately work for the good of the people and conduce
to the prosperity of the State. The QUEEN, too,
appears to be acting on wiser principles than those
which have often actuated her, and unfortunately
brought upon her public disfavour. It is a welcome
sight thus to witness the prevalence of wise notions,
and the practice of beneficial principles in a country
which has been so often distracted by internal dis-
sensions, and involved in external broils to a great
extent.

THE FOLLOWING BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL AN-
NOUNCEMENT of the Decease of his Eminence the
late Cardinal Wiseman was sent to the clergy of his
diocese :

PIETATI • ET • CLEMENTIE • DIVINE
COMMENDA
BANCTISQUE • SACRIFICIIS • ADJUVA
ANIMAM.

CHARISSIMI • IN • CHRISTO • PATRIS • NOSTRI
EMINENTISSIMI • ET • ItEVERENDISSIMI • DOMINI
NICOLAI
TIT • S. • PUDENTIAN.E • S • It • E • MESE. • CARD
ARCHIEPISCOPI • WESTMONASTERIENSIS.
(1171 • PLACIDISSIME • OBDORMIVIT • IN • DOMINO

JAMDIU • SLTSPIRATO

DIE • XV. • FEIIRUARII • MDCCCLXV.

VALE • MAGNE • FRAESUL

IN • VITA ' NOBILIS

NOBILISSIME • IN • MORTE

APUD • DEEM • MEMENTO • NOSTRI

ET • ECCLESIIS • VIDUAVE • sroNsx • TU/E
(TRANSLATION.)
COMMEND

TO THE DIVINE GOODNESS AND MERCY
AND HELP WITH YOUR PRAYERS,

THE SOUL

OF OUR DEARLY BELOVED FATHER IN CHRIST,
NICHOLAS CARDINAL WISEMAN,
WHO, IN SWEET PEACE, YIELDED UP lIIS LIFE
TO
HIS DEAR LORD,
FEBRUARY XV., MDCCCLXV.,
AGED LXIII YEARS.
FAREWELL GREAT PRELATE,
NOBLE IN LIFE,
MOST NOBLE IN DEATH,
IN YOUR HOME WITH GOD,
PRAY FOR US
AND THE CHURCH,
NOW SORROWING,
FAREWELL
MR. CHARLES LEVER as facile princeps of the
Genteel Irish Novelists.--Maxwell and Lover had
already given us the Irishman of low life, with sketches
intermixed of Irish landlords and squireens in "the good
Ovleallteidm
anticipate c "but their books were to Mr. Lever's what broad
farce is to light comedy. -His stories are mainly of
Irishmentra-
his tales.o
fthenmis yiddeluencglashse.relstpeisnedass
hyis youthenotigh in
his own country—that is essential ; and, generally speak-
, anding, is
a tendency remarkable
tn forfal
l in
boyishathletic
I 0 power,ve wthintellectualnnm e youngdeficiency,
lady
rather older than himself, and who would be far above him
in station only for the good old rule that "one Irish family
is always as good as another—if not better." Of course
the young gentleman is torn away; he enters the English,
French, Austrian, or Garibaldian army ; he becomes aide-
de-camp to an emperor, a field marshal, or a filibuster ; he
serves with distinction, gets several wounds, and has brain
fever. This is essential. We do not remember any of
Mr. Lever's novels where the hero did not get brain fever;
it is as inevitable as James's "last rays of the setting sun,"
or Wouverman's " white horse ;" or perhaps it is a kind of
trade mark to preclude piracy. A Sister of Charity is then
introduced, and scraps of French light up the story. Then
first
thlaovvee mfnorteheadshveapentuorfe
a; sfioimrteattieemnpowirtahryaninAfiudsetlriitsyntporithne.
cess, or a Spanish signora, or an Italian dama ; the presence
of the hero at a great battle—Leipsic, Waterloo, Solferino,
or the capture of Naples ; intimate conversations with
Napoleon, Blucher, Wellington, Cavour, Talleyrand, or
Garibaldi ;and
w e
p attachment, whot restoration,tea
r finally, to the object of his early
&c.,hatsof
jo
followed
joy
him, &c., thrilled at, &c.
and
genuine.—Saturday
the only Lever novel; witthoohuetarthhiemseprmaiaslsd."noTnehiasries