The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-31 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SPAIN.

MADRID, MAY 31.

The Diario Espanol of to-day says that, should
the Government dissolve the Congress, the party of
the Liberal Union will abstain from taking part
in the elections.

GREECE.

ATHENS, MAY 30.

The elections terminated last evening throughout
Greece. Order prevailed everywhere, with the ex-
ception of a few unimportant outbreaks. The Go-
vernment remained impartial during the elections.

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 31.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ripon, with the heavy portion of the above mails,
has arrived here.

She brings 200 passengers, £3,251 in specie, pre-
cious stones valued at 2,000 rupees, and a general
cargo, including 434 bales raw silk, value £90,000.
On the 26th inst. she spoke the steamer Redschia,
and on the 29th the steamers Delhi and Keplar.
H.M.S. Victoria, Meanee, Cossack, Pelican,
Firefly, Phoebe, Resistance, Royal Oak, Magi-
cienne, Enterprise, Enchantress, and Caradoc, were
at Malta.

GIBRALTAR, MAY 26.

The steamers Morocco and Italian, from Liver-
pool, and the Syria, from Southampton, arrived
here yesterday. Her Majesty's ships Surprise,
Procris, and Redpole were in the harbour.
Exchange and freights unaltered.

ITALY.

NAPLES, MAY 25.

has been the result of Sir Henry's apparently " idle"
winter in Egypt.
The Porte, it is said, has not heard his views and
the grounds of them without anxiety, all the more
that they entirely tally with the reports of Osman
Pasha, the special commissioner of the Divan on the
spot. The French Government, having learned that
the Turkish and Egyptian members of the commis-
sion named to report on the issues raised by the Em-
peror's late award are likely to be d'accord against
the nominee of the company, now wishes to add a
delegate of its own, so as to equalise the arbitrative
influence, or, in plainer words, by gaining over
either of the two Mussulman commissioners, to
have the whole matter decided " legitimately" in
the French sense. But to this both our own Go-
vernment and the Porte are naturally enough
opposed; and as M. Drouyn de Lhuys, on his
part insists, on carrying the point, the slight cloud
of a " difficulty" on the subject is visibly gathering
on the horizon. It is not unlikely therefore that
the Suez Canal " questson" will again be cropping
up in a somewhat more definite form than what it
has recently occupied before the public.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

EAST SURREY.

The Avvenire says :—" The Englishman captured
by the brigands at Battipaglia has not been libe-
rated, as was stated, neither, as far as we know,
has the troop in pursuit of the band yet succeeded
in discovering their retreat. The English Consul,
it is said, leaves nothing undone to obtain the libe-
ration of the prisoner, whose sad condition, as well
as the novelty and gravity of the affair, greatly
disturbs the English residents. They are making
the most active search, and the departure of General
_Armen for Salerno will, it is hoped, be the means
of efficaciously terminating this unhappy affair."

Mr. H. W. Peek, of Wimbledon-house, and Mr.
W. Brodrick, of Peper Harow, who are candidates
for the representation of the eastern division of the
county of Surrey, have issued their addresses to the
electors. Mr. Peek, in his circular to the 9,913
voters on the register, says :
" My political preferences are in favour of such a mode-
rately Conservative policy as would aim to consolidate our
institution; and from time to time adapt them to the vary-
ing circumstances of the age, rather than to introduce sud-
den or -violent changes—at the present time, as I think, not
only undesirable to the interest of any class of my country-
men, but fraught with danger to the welfare or liberties of
all. Late experience as to the practical working of Ame-
rican institutions, on the one hand, and the repressive
policy of many European States on the other, will not have
been without a due influence upon Englishmen, jealous of
and valuing their position and character. It is not within
the compass of an address to go far into the many subjects of
the day. On the more prominent I may be permitted to say
that the ballot does not commend itself to my judgment; that
in the absenco of •any well-considered scheme—such, for
instance, as the better administration of the ecclesiastical
property of the country—l could not support the uncondi-
tional abolition of church rates, nor could be a party by
lowering the franchise to swamp the middle class of elec-
tors, which embraces so• large a proportion of the intelligent
industry of the country, and which has ever shown itself
thoroughly worthy of its political privileges. The unpro-
ductive expenditure of the country is very heavy ; and
though cordially agreeing in the opinion that the mainte-
nance of an ample military and naval force in the highest
state of efficiency is, considering the extent and circum-
stances of her Majesty's dominions, true economy, I shall
at all times welcome and support judicious retrenchment."

Mr. Brodrick, in offering himself to the electors
in conjunction with Mr. Peek, remarks :
" I solicit your suffrages as a firm supporter of that con-
stitution under which England has enjoyed so large a share
of freedom, prosperity, and happiness. At the same time, I
am not insensible to the fact that, like all other human in-
stitutions, it is susceptible of improvements, provided the
changes made in it are judiciously planned and not of a
sweeping character, so that the original flame of the fabric
should be, as far as possible, preserved. On this ground I
shall offer an uncompromising opposition to any attempts
which may be made to substitute a system of secret for open
voting—the old and constitutional method of eliciting the
sense of the constituencies. If returned as your represen-
tative, I am willing to support such alterations in our re-
presentative system as would extend without lowering the
franchise. A member of the Church of England by convic-
tion, and feeling strongly that she is emphatically the
Church of the poor, I can be a party to no scheme for the
settlement of the church rate question which does not pro-
vide fat the due celebration of public worship, and for
the preservation of the venerable fabrics which have
been bequeathed to us by the munificent piety of our
forefathers. I should, however, give my hearty support
to any well-considered measure for the adjustment of a con-
troversy the prolongation of which I regard as an evil. I
am in favour of the exercise of as rigid an economy, with
respect to the national finances, as is consistent with due
provision being made for the maintenance of the national
defences and for the support of the honour of our country.
I am, therefore, opposed to all demonstrations which tend
to embroil us with foreign Powers when British interests
are not at stake and British honour has not to be vindicated.
Whenever the circumstances of the Empire admit of a re-
duction being made in the present rate of indirect taxation,
I think that a careful revision of the malt-tax should be,
upon the principles of free trade, among the first of those
points to which the attention of the Legislature should be
directed. Looking to the exceptional burdens which are
imposed upon many ;parishes forming a part or in the
neighbourhood of the metropolis, by the operation of the
present poor-law system, I should be prepared to support
such modifications in it as would spread exceptional taxa-
tion over a wider area than at present. As there are many
fields of action common to individuals differing in religious
creeds and in political opinions I shall always be ready,
while holding my own views firmly and conscientiously, to
co-operate with those who may differ from me on minor
points in every movement for the social and religious ame-
lioration of the condition of the people."

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 31, 1865.

Spanish Foreign Debt.

MADRID, May 26.

EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT.

PARK.
(From the South-Eastern Gazette.)

Company (Limited)

In yesterday's sitting of the Spanish Senate, the
Minister of Finance, in the course of his reply to
a speech of Senor Pastor, upon the financial con-
dition of the country, said :—Senor Pastor be-
lieves that, should the loan be effected, it will
be on such unfavourable terms that the country will
regret it. On this point I must inform Senor Pastor
that the present Government have proved that
they know how to defend the public interests,
and that they will continue to do so to the utmost
extent of their power. Senor Pastor has submitted
to us, as one of the most important points, the ques-
tion of the settlement with, or opening of, the foreign
money markets. Now, I must observe that I am one
of those who believe that the time has arrived when
Spain is under the necessity of resolving this ques-
tion ; but I do not think that a single Spaniard will
yield when a question is put to him at the point of
of the sword. It is necessary to extricate ourselves
from this situation, but demands should be made in
a fitting manner, as otherwise there is no reasonable
means of granting them, and I must add that, in
this country, such questions are never resolved with-
out the concurrence of Parliament ; nor, indeed, can
they be discussed without such concurrence, as they
are so important, both from their gravity and even
their history; that no Government having proper
self-respect would enter upon them, unless by con-
sent of the co-legislative bodies.
Senor Pastor, in reply, said—The Minister of Fi-
nance considers that the most important part of my
speech is what I have said relative to the question of
the debt. It is my conscientious belief that there is
a necessity for our opening the foreign money mar-
kets. But how could I desire the matter to be ar-
ranged by royal order without the intervention and
knowledge of the co-legislative bodies ? In saying
that by negotiating our securities, the holders of
this demand payment at the sword'spoint, the Mini-
ster is right. The case is as if we sent an artisan to
whom we might be indebted to do more work in-
stead of paying him. Let Senor Castro study the
history of our debt, and he will see whether right is
upon the side of your creditors or not.

The Minister of Finance rose at the conclusion of
Senor Pastor's remarks, and said—Senor Pastor
thinks that what has been said of payment being de-
manded at the sword's point is incorrect, and draws
a comparison between the holders of the coupons
and legitimate creditors whose claim the debtor
denies. All I shall say to Senor Pastor is that, until
it declared whether a debt exists or not, no such
comparison can be made.

BURSTING OF A WATERSPOUT OVER BRASTED

About five o'clock yesterday (Monday) morning
week a very heavy storm burst over the neighbour-
hood of Brasted, and, although it was not of long
continuance, its effects have been most serious to
the residence of W. Tipping, Esq., one of the county
magistrates.
The mansion is situate within a short distance of
the main road between Sevenoaks and Westerham,
and behind it, on the south side, the land rises for
nearly three miles, the most elevated part being
known as " The Chart." The house is surrounded
by pleasure-grounds, most tastefully laid out, and
the meadows at the south front are separated from
these grounds by a ha-ha, the wall being about five
feet high and of considerable length. The basement
of the house is composed of the servants' apart-
ments, &c., and there is a considerable slope from
the ground above to the windows, for the purpose
of freely admitting light and air. On this base-
ment there are three levels, and the butler's pantry
and plate closet ; two of the female servants' sleep-
ing-rooms being on the second level. After the
storm had raged for about half an hour, Mr. Price,
the butler, left his pantry to go to the servants' hall,
which was on the lowest level, to see if the rain had
penetrated it, as had been the case about a fortnight
previously. On his return to the pantry, as he was sit-
ting on the side of his bed, an immense volume of
water poured into the room, striking him at the side
of the head, it having effected an entrance into the
house by pouring down the slope to the window
adjoining the pantry, which it broke, and forced the
door opening into the pantry, which it began rapidly
to fill, and Mr. Price was knee deep in water in a
few seconds. Fearing for the safety of one of his
fellow-servants, who was in a room on the same
level, he hastened thither, but before he could arouse
her the water had found another entrance, it hav-
ing extended to the south-west side of the house,
where it fell like a cataract into a small yard, and
with sufficient power to break glass in the back door
nearly half an inch in thickness, and at length the
door itself was forced open and broken. By this
time the basement was rapidly filling with water,
and the servants had to wade through it destitute of
all but their night clothing to effect their escape.
The family was in London, but Mr. Tipping was
immediately apprised of the sad affair, and on his
reaching Brasted the scene which presented itself
was of a very desolate character. The beautiful
grounds, on which so much labour and expense had
been lavished, were covered with a thick deposit of
mud ; flowers and shrubs were uprooted, and the
lower part of the mansion inundated. On the first
level there was about three feet of water, and here
the copper in the scullery had been lifted by the
water from the brickwork which surrounded it, and
laid on the floor, and a flour-bin containing about
two and a half sacks of flour was floating about. On
the second level a quantity of plate, the chest con-
taining which had been broken by the fall of a large
cupboard, was found in the deposit of mud, which
was at least one foot thick throughout the basement.
On the level the water rose to about four feet and
a half. On the lowest level were the servants' hall,
footmen's sleeping-room, store-room, &c., and in all
of these rooms the water rose to over seven feet, and
here the destruction of property was the greatest in
consequence of the abundance of perishable stores.
Fortunately there was no one in this part of the
house at the time, as escape would have been impos-
sible from the great rush of the water.
To remove the water the fire-engine from Wester-
ham was obtained, and after some hours' pumping
it was sufficiently lowered for the workman to get
at the drains, which, after being opened, were able
to carry off the remainder of the water. It was
evident that the immense body of water which found
its way to the house could not be the result of rain,
and it is most probable that a waterspout burst in
the high ground, as for a distance of more than two
miles the course of the water is distinctly visible,
its width being from 40 to 50 feet, and the crops
along the route are considerably injured or de-
stroyed. The water having rapidly filled the ha-ha
at the south side must then have swept across the
lawn, and burst the windows, through which it ob-
tained ingress. It would also appear as if the
original body of water had been separated shortly
after leaving the source, one part taking the route
to Mr. Tipping's, and the other going towards
Hever wood, the lodge-gate of which was carried
away, and thence down into Brasted-street. The
road from that place to Sandridge was all under
water, some of which found its way into the cot-
tages, and the traffic was interrupted for some time.
We understand the damage sustained by Mr. Tip-
ping exceeds £5OO.
We understand that W. Tipping, Esq., of Bras-
ted Park, is a candidate for the representation of
Stockport, Lancashire, as a Liberal Conservative.

The London and Provincial Turkish Bath

The usual half-yearly meeting of this company was held
at their establishment, 76, Jermyn-street, on Monday, the
29th inst., at two p.m., J. E. Rolland, Esq., chairman of the
company, presiding.
The report, which recommended a dividend at the rate
of six per cent. per annum, free of income-tax, was laid on
the table by the chairman, and its adoption was proposed
by Mr. Crawshay, seconded by Mr. Ranting, and carried
unanimously. _ _ _

Besides the dividend, amounting to £643 10s. 3d., the
sum of £357 17s. 3d. was appropriated to the indemnifica-
tion of shareholders who had paid up their calls previously
to the company commencing business, and the sum of
£357 4s. 6d. was written off for depreciation.

The report also shows the company to be entirely free of
debt, with a considerable balance at their bankers.