The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-26 00:00:00

.4utt.

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1865.

The good old town of Portsmouth is just now in
a state of unwonted excitement. The arrival of
the Admiralty yacht from Brest yesterday Corning
betokened the near approach of the English fleet, to
be followed by the French vessels, for whose recep-
tion such busy and costly preparations are being
made. No trouble, ingenuity, or expense has been
spared to render the visit of the French fleet to
the English seaport as brilliant as possible, and
judging from the gaiety of the decorations and the
animation of the town, it will appear to the visi-
tors to belong to that gay and light-hearted
country rather than to their grave and uni-
maginative neighbours. It is only to be hoped
that the weather may be a little more propitious
than it has hitherto proved, and that the cruel rain
which has so unseasonably interfered with the fes-
tivities at Cherbourg and Brest may have done its
worst before the arrival of the French fleet over
here. At Brest all went off, however, better than
at Cherbourg, though the courtesy and hos-
pitality of the hosts were all that could
be desired at both places. Our French
friends were moved to cordial admiration
of our English seamanship, of which there were some
most brilliant displays. The men, indeed, are more
to be noticed than the ships, since any country can
-now possess ironclads, which would have been a
marvel to the last generation, but there are few

coerce.

nations that can show such gallant and well-trained
crews to man them. We hope that no unkindly
clouds and storms may mar the pleasures of the
occasion, but that the pleasant interchange of
national courtesies may conclude without any dis-
appointment or contretemps.

It seems that the fears experienced by the Im-
perial party in the Chinese capital have been only
too well founded, for, according to the intelligence
brought by the last telegrams, Pekin is in the hands
of the rebels. NIGENFEI, as we heard by the last
mail, was encamped at a distance of only one hun-
dred miles from the city, with nothing in the inter-
vening space to offer him any opposition. The
artillery and the European troops which were
under the control of Li, the ex-Tartar, who was the
cause of so much mischief, were ordered up to Pekin
to protect the capital, but Li, choosing for some
purposes of his own to misunderstand or disregard
the order, despatched them to Nankin, and conse-
quently the Imperialists lost their most valuable
means of defence. It is not indeed positively cer-
tain that Pekin has changed hands, but the rumour
was currently believed at Shanghae, where there
are good sources of information, and it appears to
be certain that NIGENFEI is encamped in the vicinity
of the city. The singular thing is, that rumour
with the same breath tells us that Pekin is in the
hands of the rebels, and that the Taeping rebellion
is extinguished. A careless reader, who has always
associated the name of rebels with the Taepings,
may well feel somewhat amazed at this contradic-
tory intelligence, but the fact is that the rebels
who are threatening, if not actually capturing,
Pekin, belong to a new and powerful rebellion.

The Taepings have lost ground ever since Major
GORDON'S -vigorous and well-directed attack upon
them ; and the Imperialists have reaped a profit
they very little deserved from his exertions.
Possibly, with the characteristic conceit of orientals,
they thought the result] was, due to their
own wisdom and valour rather than the
skill and valour of the Englishman and
his troops, and as is well known they -wilfully
lost the service of the steamflotilla built in England,
and of its experienced and able commander. If the
easy capture of Hangchow and other cities under
Major GORDON'S directions emboldened the Impe-
rialists.to believe that they were strong enough to
be independent of foreign assistance, the present
catastrophe must have taught them their mistake.
No sooner is one rebellion put down or exhausted
than a new one, still more formidable, springs up in
its place. There is certainly something very rotten
in the State when such events are of continual
recurrence. The whole system of government
is by turns effete and tyrannical, the Mandarins
are petty despots, while the central authority is
powerlesi to control the great unwieldy empire.
There is always room for a reckless, discontented
spirit to stir up a rebellion,
and to carry fire and
sword through the country, an opportunity which
every adventurer is glad to avail himself of
Unfortunately, there is little reason to hope that a
better state of things can be brought about by our
intervention. We do not as yet know What the
effect of the NIGENFEI rebellion will be upon the
dynasty. Possibly the young king and his immediate
advisers and attendants may have escaped the as-
sailants, but if so, the place of their refuge is
unknown. Fresh troubles threaten the country
from America unless BURGEVINE is released, since
the American Minister, on again demanding his
liberation, has intimated that a renewed refusal will
be taken as a casus belli. Possibly this intimation
will have the effect of procuring his release, and the
Chinese Government must by this time regret their
ungrateful conduct towards their European and
American allies. With their regrets or alarms, how-
ever, we have nothing to do. We must indeed
lament the unsettled and miserable condition of so
many millions of people, and the more so since the
anarchy and confusion of the provinces offer
serious obstacles to the progress of civi-
lisation, and the development of trade and coin-

But to attempt to reinstate the dynasty, or
re-organise the Government, is more than any
rational person could dream of. We must content
ourselves with protecting the Treaty Ports and
their radius, and the tumult and disorganisation of
the central provinces proves in the most convincing
manner the prudence of Lord PALMERSTON and his
colleagues in securing that protection for trade and
commerce.

The Cattle Plague still continues to engross
attention to no ordinary degree, and last night's
Gazette contained a supplement which set forth an
important Order in Council respecting the cala-
mity. It states that as a" contagious and infec-
tious disorder has recently appeared and continues
to prevail among the cattle within that part of the
United Kingdom called Great Britain, and it is
expedient to adopt such measures as may prevent the
disorder from spreading to Ireland, in conse-
quence it is decreed that it shall not be lawful for
any person to remove any cattle from any port or
place in Great Britain to any port or place in
Ireland." This is a very wise and timely
precaution, and it is highly satisfactory that the
Lords of her MAJESTY'S Privy Council should have
come to this conclusion, for it is highly important
that the disease should be kept away from all places
as yet uninfected, and that it is the only right mode
to adopt. It appears that this idea has already
been entertained in Ireland and thought favourably
of. A public meeting was held in Belfast Town-
hall, composed of persons who were interested in
the preservation of live stock, for the purpose of
considering the best measures to be taken to pre-
vent the cattle disease from spreading to that dis-
trict. At this meeting it was resolved that the
Lord-Lieutenant and her MAJESTY'S Ministers be
informed of the necessity of prohibiting the impor-
tation of cattle into Ireland, and a deputation was
appointed to wait upon his Excellency and state
these opinions. Mr. RUSSELL, M.P., who had gone
to London to urge the necessity of prompt measures
being adopted at once, wrote to the committee to
the effect that Lord PALMERStON was very anxious
to meet the difficulties of the case. Considering
the zeal and activity which have been displayed in
so many quarters, it is reasonable to indulge in a
hope that Ireland may be preserved from the
plague which is now decimating the cattle in this
country. It is satisfactory and encouraging to
notice the unanimity and good understanding which
seem to prevail on the subject, as they afford a fair
promise of success in the arduous undertaking.
Several suggestions have been made respecting
this calamity, and an order has been issued by
the manager of the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway, which gives the most positive instructions
concerning the traffic in cattle. Orders are given
to sweep and wash cattle trucks upon their arrival
at a station, and after the cattle are taken froth
them. This is an excellent rule, and it is to be
hoped that all concerned in the matter will see that
it is strictly adhered to, as much depends on its
observation. No doubt the objectionable habits
that prevailed in many quarters respecting the
conveyance of cattle have had a great
deal to do with the spread and con-
tinuance of all kinds of disease, and there-
fore it is the more to be rejoiced at that a new
order of things should be adopted. Additional orders
are given to the effect that chloride of lime be used
in the process of cleaning. An important rule is
added, that if any of the cattle tendered for convey-
ance appear to be infected with the plague they
must not be received. This plan, if carried out,
must necessarily prove a great preventive to the
spread of the contagion, as nothing is more calcu-
lated to do immense injury than herding animals
together in close quarters. If it should, however,
unfortunately happen that any diseased cattle are
received at a station, the trucks that contain them
are not to be used until they have been disinfected ;
and all persons who have come into contact with
any of the diseased cattle are not to be allowed to
assist in loading cattle on the company's premises
until their clothes have been thoroughly disinfected,
and the shovels, brooms, &c.,
employed
the trucks are not to be used again wit without oiunt cleaning
ning
per_
mission of the cattle inspector. If these rules and
regulations are kept with anything like precision
the advantages of such precautions must most cer-

tainly be felt, and their beneficial influences will
extend far and wide. In fact, too much care can-
not possibly be taken by those persons whose
duties bring them into constant contact with cattle,
and much that in ordinary times would be looked
upon as unnecessary will now become of vital con-
sequence. • It behoves all who are in authority to
watch with the strictest scrutiny the doings of those
beneath them, for ignorance and prejudice are pro-
lific causes of the propagation of evil and the spread
of contagious diseases.
Mr. MACLAGAN, of the Royal Infirmary of
Dundee, has made some very sensible observations
on this subject, and they deserve to be attentively
studied by all concerned in_the mat.a. He states

that all agree on one point, that this cattle disease
is " highly contagious," and that, therefore, the
malady attains it height in those places where cattle
are crowded together. In some respects the cause
of this disease in cattle is similar to that which
occasions typhus-fever among human beings, and
hence it is very desirable to note the particulars,
with a view to avoid the recurrence of such evils if
possible. Overcrowding is a very prolific source of
the disease ; it produces the evil, and then spreads
it rapidly in all directions. Anything which lowers
the system is bad—as deficient nourishment and
privation. The cattle are exposed to the following
dangers. They are huddled together in the steamers
and cattle-trucks, they are not allowed rest during
the period of their conveyance, are furnished with
neither food nor drink ; they are so exhausted
when they are sold that the disease is
germinating in them, and, after some
days, when it becomes perfectly developed,
people exclaim that they have brought the infection
from abroad. Mr. MACLAGAN truly declares that
the truth of this is by no means proved, for that
the cattle during their transit are reduced so low,
and exposed to such hardships, that they get into a
condition similar to human beings who suffer from
typhus fever. It is well to consider this flew of
the matter, for, as it is well observed by the writer
of the above-mentioned circumstances, typhus fever
has been effectually banished from our ships and
prisons by the adoption of proper measures, and
; the same sanitary laws will apply to the cattle who
Appear to suffer from similar causes of infection.

A Visit to Yr. Woodin's Bachelor's Box.

If there is 9ne part of Mr. Woodin's ability that
shines brighter elan the rest it is the rapidity with
which he assumes fre'sll disguises, reappearing almost
before you have time to draw your breath, or before
the laugh produced by his r 1".
presentations has died
away, and it is in his " Bachelo7'l3 Box" that he has
reached the acme of his transfoinatory powers.
All mimics comparatively pale before ;'Pooh, he
alone being the actor, whilst other artistes 1.711:1 in
pairs, or threes, and thus render it an easy matter
to effect a metamorphoses. Woodin may be said to
have passed through three ordeals, and come out
scatheless : years since, the public were startled by
the appearance of his monster carpet bag, and cha-
racters drawn from its capacious jaws created quite
a furore from their close resemblance to actors of
the day ; then we had his " Olio of Oddities," which
seemed destined for an interminable run ; and now
we are invited to a peep at his " Bachelor's Box,"
which bids fair to surpass the others in the length
of its term of representation, even as it is conspicu-
ous above the rest from the superiority of and life-
likeness of the characters illustrated. We will not
forestall our readers by a depiction of them, only
intimate that Woodin, the inimitable, incomparable,
nightly attracts and delights hundreds at the
Pavilion, sings numerous songs, foots it lightly in
many pleasing dances, and his audience never tire.
How he undergoes the fatigue, re-appearing at the
end " as clean and bright as a new pin," is a matter
for marvel in ourselves and many others, and it will
be a source of regret when the time arrives for him
to announce his farewell performances, for we shall
" nt,ver look upon his like again."—Brighton Gazette.

Laying and Recovering the Cable.

(Feont the Mechanics' Magazine.)
When the Great Eastern commenced laying the
Atlantic cable the probabilities in the mind of the general
public were three to one that England and America would
be united in less than a month by an electric line. The
public were far too sanguine, as the return of tho Groat
Eastern has shown. The difficulties to be contended with
in laying so fine a thread between the Old and New World
were and still are immense, but not greater than can
be overcome by practical men possessing a sound
knowledge of natural philosophy, and who are, there-
fore, men of common sense. It was stated that all
the faults in the manufacture and the laying
of the old cable had been carefully avoided. This was not
so, for the principal and most important fault was evidently
not seen, for if it had been seen it is hard to understand
how it should have been so heedlessly repeated. The
great mistake was in having the outside wires spirally
wound round the straight copper core, thus making a cable
as it were of fine straight wires and spiral springs, the
spiral springs to take all strains and the centre wires
none. This :is a thing impospible, for how could the
spiral extend, as it naturally would, in proportion to
the strain upon it, without extending the central and
weak core ? We can easily imagine the extension of
the spiral spring being so great as to break and com-
pletely separate the copper ore before it had one-fourth of
its own breaking strain on; and not only that, but it
would also open the insulated covering sufficiently to
admit the water, and thus indicate " dead earth," when
electrical tests were applied. The strengthening outside
wires being arranged as spiral springs were evidently the
cause of failure. Theory shows clearly that such an
arranged cable would fail with a much less strain than
would be required to break the sustaining wires. We have
no data to prove that the failure arose from any other
As to fishing up the cable from a depth of
cwo miles and a half, or two miles of water, the chances
are very vague. If in a distance of 948 miles only
1,081 miles of cable were payed out, there is not much
slack left for the successful picking up. Presuming that
_ _

cause.

. _
the cable was laid hold of at a depth of 2,000 fathoms,
and presuming the fishing tackle to be amply strong
for any strain put upon it—what would be the con-
sequence to the cable ? Why, it would break
long before it was brought to the surface. When
it is considered that it is laid in nearly a straight
line, there being so little slack, the strain on itself from
its own weight would be very great when lifted only one
mile from its present resting place. Assuming that in a
length of about four miles of cable the length of slack is
half a mile, the centre of the length of four miles and a
half being lifted up one mile, the strain on the cable at
the highest point would be equal to three miles of its
own weight on either side of the fishing tackle ;
beyond this strain, there is the strain due to the fric-
tion of pulling it through the water. If it is strong
enough to withstand the above strains, how much higher
could it be lifted? In lifting it higher the cable must
either stretch, or be dragged along the bottom of the ocean
beyond the distance of two miles on either side. Even
supposing the curve of the catenary to be flatter than we
have assumed, the consequence would be a propor-
tionately increased strain on itself at its highest point,

due to an increased length suspended at a more acute
angle with the horizon. It thus appears impossible to lift
the cable safely out of this great depth of water—especially
when we consider that experiments have been made which
gave a result showing that, in great depths of water, the
strain with equal velocity is increased to four times when
the length is doubled; and, in addition to this, it must be
remembered that the friction is increased as the square of
the velocity.

LAND-LUBBERS AFLOAT !—Prussia has got her
post at last, and the eagle of Brandenburg has taken
to the water. Perhaps the bird intends to become a sea-
eagle. There is no port, a British fleet should have so
little pleasure in entering with guns run out and hammocks
triced up, unless it were to make atonement for Copenhagen,
as this harbour of Kiel. It is to be fortified by Prussia,
but Austria is to have a right to use it for her fleet till the
Diet formally decide what flag the port is to hoist. In
order to make these powers more formidable, a canal
is to bo run through the plundered territories of
the Crown of Denmark in Holstein, so as to join
the Baltic with the German Ocean. May the 'Schles-
wig-Holsteiners now reap the reward of their
factious patriotism and disloyalty ! Rendsburg is
to become a Federal garrison. Lauenburg becomes
Prussian ; and her share of the cost of the war is liberally
divided between Schleswig and Holstein, and in place of
civil administrators the provinces are to be ruled by Gen.
Gablenz for 4.ustria, and Gen. von Manteuffel for Prussia.
Since the partition of Poland there never was such auda-
cious state theft as this, and our parade of naval strength
and of French and English power on the water at this
period, gives pungency to the quiet insolence of the Salz-
burg decemvirs. The troubles about the Duchies are not
over yet ; and to parody a question of Captain Shandy
on a similar occasion, wo may ask, " And what says the
Duke of Augustenburg to all this ?" Do, Mr. Carlyle,
write us, in the best Carlylese, an account of this trans-
action, for it is the most open daylight robbery we have
ever seen since the days of Silesia seizure and free-lance-
dom. Already Franco is asking
what is to prevent her
taking any piece of land near the Rhine which suits her
convenience. And we may make very sure it will not be
English intervention she will have to fear en-cas-echeant.
—Army and Nary Gazette.

THE NEW PARLIAMENT contains a larger number
of persons brought up at our public schools than any one
since the passing of the Reform Bill. According to Mr.
Walford's "Shilling House of Commons," there are :
Etonians, 138 ; Harrovians, 61; Old Wykehamists, 16 ;
Rugbasans, 28 ; Old Westminsters, 23 ; Carthusians, 10 ;
Merchant Taylors', 1; Shrewsbury, 5 ; St. Paul's, 1—
making a total of 283, or rather more than two-fifths of the
whole.—The Reader.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.
MINISTERIAL CIRCULAR.

FLORENCE, ALIO. 22.

The Minister of the Interior has addressed the
following circular to the Prefects, a telegraphic
summary of which has already appeared :--
" FLORENCE, Aug. 20.

" Confidential instructions solely addressed to
the Commanders of Corps by the Minister of War,
directing them according to circumstances to main-
tain among their subordinates that reasonable moral
solidarity, which like discipline is so essential to
military spirit, having been disclosed by one of
those facts which the undersigned abstains from
qualifying, fell into the hands of that portion of the
press for whom any argument is available to attack
and oppose the action of the Government, in what-
ever form it may be manifested. These instructions,
therefore, being subjeeted to sinister interpretation
and passionate commentary, have without doubt
excited a certain commotion which it is sought to
feed and increase, with so much the greater danger
for the public welfare, since the nation is at pre-
sent assembling to renew its legal representation.
" You, Signor Prefect, assuredly deploring this
imprudent, if not artificial agitation, will easily have
been able to observe that the only object of the
circular in question was to counsel all the officers of
the army, without distinction, to the effect that if
one of them happened to be the object of public or
private accusation he should not sink in the esteem
and confidence of his colleagues, nor be abandoned
by them until legal or moral proof of the charges
brought forward removed all doubt of his culpa-
bility. In that circular, in its spirit and scope,
there appeared nothing but a principle of rigorous
justice and expediency ; neither was there a shadow
of a design to menace the exercise of the political
franchise. No intentions of this kind can really
be honestly attributed to the illustrious general,
Minister for War, nor to the Councillors of the
Crown, his colleagues, who, from their long-tried
faith in liberal institutions, vouched by their past
life and recent political acts, should not, it appears
to me, have been offensively suspected of purposely
of inconsiderately infringing the rights of the citi-
zens co 2
secrated by the constitution, and of offering
an insult to
e army, as if regardless or oblivious
of the glorious prelqti
ge of its military virtue no less
than its devotion to the free ordinances of the
nation.
" It is very necessary that this coffiction on your
part, Signor Prefect, should, by your influential
care, prevail among those under your administra-
tion ; and this counsel is so much the more oppor-
tune since some honourable members of the Cham-
bers, not recollecting that out of Parliament their
authority is only personal, meet to make manifesta-
tions hostile to the King's Government, thus
increasing the misunderstanding, and thereby the
danger of leading the public to form an unsound
and prejudiced judgment.
" You will, therefore, consider it your strict duty
to watch that none of the functionaries under your
direction in any way connive at, or take part in,
any such manifestations, which more or less openly
accuse the Government of departing from a ccnsti-
tutional course. The Government will be able in
due time to repel the unjust accusation on legal
ground, but meanwhile cannot tolerate, from respect
for its own dignity and for justice, that those per-
sons, bound by their office to co-operate in the
action of the constitutional Government, should act
in open contradiction to their duty by protesting
against or opposing it.
" The undersigned expects, together with ac-
knowledgment of receipt of the present, to be ex-
actly informed of what you may have done in com-
pliance with these instructions, and the result
obtained.

"The Minister, G. LANZA."

RELEASE OF MR. MOENS.
SALERNO, AUG. 26.
Mr. Moens, the Englishman, was released by the
brigands last night, and has arrived at Giffone.

FRANCE.
PARIS, AEG. 26.

The Moniteur of this morning says :

"The Emperor Napoleon arrived at the Palace
of Fontainebleau yesterday evening in perfect
health.

"At geufchatel, Berne, and Lucerne the Em-
peror received the most cordial and sympathetic

welcome.

" The condition of the Princess Anna, the Coun-
,ess de Montobello, and Mdlle. Bouvet causes no

apprehensions."
BOURSE, Aug. 25.—Two o'clock.—The market
continues its upward movement. Threes, for the
Account, have advanced laic., and are quoted
68fr. 43c. Italian Fives are at 65fr. 85c., showing
a rise of 25c. Credit Mobilier have again been
quoted above 800 fr.—viz., 802 fr. 50c. and 805 fr.
Spanish Mobiliers have attained 500 fr. Lombard
Shares are quoted 481 fr. 25c., with a fall-of 7fr. 50c.
Three o'clock.—The market became weak towards
the close. The following are the last quotations :-
41 per Cents 9B Ditto Threes —
Do. end month _ Mexican Loan 4B
3 per Cents. 6B 40 Do. Bonds —
Do. end month 6B 40 Russian —
Credit Mobilier ... 792 50 Austrian
Do. end month ... 795 Spanish Threes
Bank Shares 3600 Home Debt —
Credit Foncier 1272 50 Deferred
Italian Loan 65 85 Roman —
Do. end month 65 70

RAIL`,

-AYS.
Cash.

Acct.
26
... 1090

Orleans
Northern

~. 875 -
-
- ... 568 75
- - ~, 550 -
- 530 -
-.- ... 265 -
- - ... 410 -
- - ... 480 -
- ... 223 75
- - 820

"• -
... 223 75