The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-22 00:00:00

STAMPED ....sd.

diamandopulo, the popular choice ; after them Cal-
ligas, one of the most prominent lawyers and inde-
pendent men; then Mariyannis. It is supposed
that the votes are so much divided, especially among
those last on the lists, that new elections will have
to take place to decide about some of the candidates.
The law requires, that every candidate should have
an absolute majority in the total number of votes
given, and this will be probably only the case with
the Coryphmi at Athens.
As there was a complaint an ong those who are
temporarily
theirurn
t va
e
tw
aAthens,communes,
pu t
übutpi h
in the
e Templethey inscribed
co u
could
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nirt
ohhteevsl
vote,
of,
a special
for the Etero-Demotes, where they could give their
votes for the representation of Attica, about the
validity of which the Assembly is to decide.
The students of the University likewise claimed
the right to send a member for their body. The
claim was based on the fact that, while the number
of all the other representatives of districts -was
doubled, the University was left wi h only one re-
presentative. But the agitation for this object
seems to have been given up, as well as that for
allowing the soldiers to vote. Only those were ad-
mitted who belong to the Demos of Athens.

The news from the provinces is equally satisfac-
tory with the proceedings in the capital. There
is not a single instance of disorder. Even at
Patras, where the apprehension was greatest, all
passed off quietly ; the opposing faction of Calamog-
dati, seeing that it had no fair chance, preferred to
withdraw rather than cause trouble by its entering
into the contest.

There is another feature which begins to show
itself, and which augurs well. It is, that even in
the places where Government influence might have
been supposed most powerful, it was checked by
the people. Thus at Hydra, the President's native
place, he alone of the whole combination was
returned by an overwhelming majority of 1,028
votes out of 1,330, while the five other members
elected were those of his adversary.
But it is not about representatives in the National
Assembly, or, indeed, about the National Assembly
itself, that Athena and Greece are just now troubling
themselves. It is about Prince Alfred, and nothing
else but Prince Alfred. Bad was the news which
the steamers brought this week from Europe, and
every one is downcast. Already, from the begin-
ning of the week, sinister rumours were flying
about. The French and Russian Legations had re-
ceived telegrams in cipher, and of course it was
known instantly, as it always is, together with the
contents, which were that the three powers had
made a new protocol, on the basis of that of
1832, excluding the scions of their reigning families.
It was too bad news to be believed, even when, after
the arrival of the French mail, the French men-of-
war in the PirEeus got up steam to go all along the
coast of Greece to publish the news, and thus
prevent the voting for Prince Alfred. The last
news received by the Government itself does not in-
deed mention the new protocol, but does not sound
any the more hopeful for that. The declarations of
both Lord Palmerston and Earl Russell amount to
a refusal, confirming thus the unfavourable tele-
gram which a fortnight ago led to the universal
suffrage.
Only those who have witnessed the wonderful
rapidity with which the idea of Prince Alfred was
taken up by the whole country can really judge of
the effect of this news. The Greeks had, as it were,
staked their future fate on this single ohance, and
this has become a poor one now. It may have been
folly, ignorance, anything you like, but it was as
genuiue and as involuntary as ever a popular idea
was. Once started, it was impossible to stop it.
Everything else sank into the background ; no one
listened to anything else. Downcast the Greeks are,
but don't imagine t.heyhave given in. They are more
decided than ever, as you may see from what fol-
lows. The first effect of the news was, not to stop
the signatures for Prince Alfred or a Republic, and
you may depend upon it those votes re-echo the
general feeling. With those who think as well as
feel, it has taken another more practical shape. The
votes are given and about 120,000 signatures will be
brought before the Assembly, which, elected under
the colours and name of Alfred, will confirm and
proclaim King Alfred I. of Greece ; it will appoint
a Lieutenancy to carry on the business until the
existing obstacle to his acceptance can be removed,
while a deputation will go toEurope to plead for the
removal of these obstacles.

RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR MAW-

6HESIS.R.

MANCHESTER, DEC. 21.

The express train from London to Manchester
last night was nearly annihilated when within about
four and a half miles of its destination. It left the
Euston station as usual at 5 o'clock p.m., and was
due at Manchester at 10.10 p.m. It was nearly 20
minutes behind time on passing Heaton Norris
(Stockport), and had only proceeded a short dis-
tance beyond that station when the engines and
carriages left the metals. From what cause the
train went off the rails is not known, but it went
off on the out or westerly side. It is believed that
the points were at fault at the junction of the line
to Guide Bridge. 0 wing to the line being ballasted
at this part with sand, the train was brought to a
stand without much damage either to the carriages
or passengers, and the guard, whose van was next
to the engine,ran towards the rear of the train with
his red (danger) lamp. Almost before he couldget
there, however, an engine came up behind and ran
into the train with great force, almost smashing the
entire of it to atoms. The train consisted of two
first-class and a second •class carriage, besides the
van, and one of the first class was broken through
the middle, the wheels were knocked off, and the
body knocked almost into splinters. The second-
class carriege was also a complete wreck, the only
portion of it left above the bed of the carriage being
one single partition (the central one). All the car-
riages were thrown into or across a deep trench by
the side of the line, intended to drain it. fhe en-
gine which completed this catastrophe was a pilot
engine, following the express,and it is said that the
driver states that,seeing the tail light of the express
train had suddenly disappeared in front of him, he
I concluded that the express was further in advance
than he had supposed,and had gone round the curve
at Levenshulme, a mile ahead. He then put on
steam, and consequently the collison was the more
severe. It was a dark and stormy night,and it is sup-
posed that when the express got off the line,either its
lights were extinguished by the jumping of the train
or were hidden from the driver of the following en-
gine by the abutments of a bridge. Both en-
gines were damaged, but that of the express not so
badly as the other one. The passengers (of whom
there were fortunately but few) escaped better than
might have been expected. So far as we ca nlearn
none were killed, but several were badly injured.
The railway officials lost no time in obtaining as-
sistance for the passengers injured, or in getting
conveyances to send them forward. A gentleman
who escaped with his forehead slightly cut said he
got out through the roof of the carriage, which had
been ripped off, and through this he also dragged a
lady who was little injured. The whole of the night
and the greater part of to-day have been taken up in
repairing the line and removing the debris of the
train.

MORE GUNS.—We are glad to learn that the
Admiralty have mado a requisition upon the War Depart-
ment for eight 13-inch guns for the ensuing year. The
Americans have already set us an example, and shown that
guns of 15-inch bore, of similar weight, viz., 22 tons, can
be worked and be fired on board ship ; and whether heavy
ordnance can be used to greater advantage in the cupola
invented by Captain Coles, or at the broadside as proposed
by Commander Scott, it is obvious that we ought not to be
behind mix transatlantic cousins in powerful naval arma-
ments.—.4Ertny and Navy Gazette.