The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-25 00:00:00

TRH SUN 10"41)(rit„ FRIG PWEN.ENG, JULY 25, 1862.

ment will meet the parallel currents of the traffic
flowing to and fro across Westminster-bridge,
between Suirey and Middlesex. And this at a
part of the route that, among all parts of it, would
be about the most frequented probably by loungers,
sight-seers from the country, and observant
foreigners—gathering there in clusters perpetually
to obtain that picturesque view down the river
towards Somerset House, St. Paul's Cathedral, the
Towers of JULITIS, and all the motley church
towers and church spires beautifying the great
city. Or that still more picturesque view up the
river, towards Old Lambeth Palace on the
opposite bank—or, immediately before the
chance observer, the grandest architec-
tural achievement of our generation, the
magnificent Palace of the Legislature, backed by
the venerable pile of the noble old Abbey. On
every account, but more particularly on account of
the manifest advantages it would secure to the
public by relieving the traffic along the Embank-
ment at that part of its route, at that turn of the
river, we cannot but hope that the suggestion which
has thus been thrown out will be looked to in all
its bearings before the idea of its adoption be finally
discarded. Not that we conceive the possibility of
its being discarded when it comes to be examined.
It is too good an idea not to result in something in
"he way of a practical improvement.

There are three blocks of houses in London that
if razed to the ground and swept away as so much
rubbish would, by the mere fact of their removal
make the reputation of any First Commissioner.
They are three monstrous eyesores and obstructions.
They each of them stand midway in one of our prin-
cipal thoroughfares. One of them in this way raises
its unsightly barrier in the centre of the Strand.
Another occupies the middle of Parliament-street,

and that too at its south-western extremity. The
third is a hideous structure, we might say a hideous

stricture, familiar (and long since by this familiarity
contemptible) to the majority of Londoners half way
along Holborn. If the French EMPEROR could but
give us a taste of his quality as an improver of
capitals, we should not have much longer to wait
for the carting away of these three horrible stacks

of rubbish—Middle Row, Holborn—the block
of houses at the west end of Parliament-
street—and that inconvenient portion of the
north side of the Strand, having its back
to Holloweli-street and its extremities adorned
by St. Mary-le-Strand and St. Clement Danes.
Again and again there has been a talk of removing
Middle-row, Holborn. The time of its downfall
has been fixed repeatedly, only, as repeatedly at its
mere approach, to be postponed. In spite of which
reiterated postponement, we still rest satisfied that,
sooner or later, come the actual date of its removal
will. As to the two other mid-street obstructions,
the probable periods of their eventual removal
may, we presume, be readily enough conjectured.
We cannot believe that two such opportunities for

with the principle of the rate in aid, the better we
like that also of a parish meeting its difficulties
through its own credit. The pride of independence
is as honourable in parishes as in individuals.
Besides, there is a peculiarity in this calamity.
Mr. COBDEN justly observed that it was not caused
by anything like a blight, such as destroyed the
wines at Madeira, or a servile war threatening to
nut an end to the cultivation of cotton ; for
such a
n a
h t
found.ofthings a natural remedy would soon
have
Other countries would have
known
was no danger of a sudden no beenstt ae
tthere
re-
opening of the American supply rendering their
labours useless ; and India and other cotton produc-
ing districts would soon have made good the de-
ficiency. As the case stood the war might be
brought to an end, and the American supply of
I 3,000,000 or 4,000,000 bales flow in, reversing at
once the position of Lancashire and of Indian cotton
growers. To such a thoroughly exceptional state
of things es this—a calamity which we all hope
will be temporary—the principle of mortgaging
future prosperity seems to be fairly applicable. As
the bill has been, however, hardly 48 hours before
us, we wait to see the matured opinions of those
who will be directly affected by it. At present
Lancashire seems rather to lean to loans on the se-
curity of the rates.

LAT Esr NEWS.

PARIS, JULY 25.

The Illoniteur of this morning publishes a decree,
levying supplementary dues on certain chemicals
of Belgian and English origin. These dues are to
be paid independently of the Customs duties stipu-
lated by the treaties of commerce.

The articles and the dues to be levied upon them
are as follows :—caustic soda, 14f. ; bicarbonate and
silicate of soda, 7f. ; hidrate of soda, 3f. 5 )c.; albu-
minate of soda, 7f. ; hypo sulphate of soda, 3f. ;
crystallised acetate of soda, 3f.

Another decree orders that, until the Ist of
January, 1863, the above-mentioned articles of
French origin, will, on exportation, have the benefit
of drawbacks fixed at the same sum as the duties
imposed on similar Belgian and English products.

LISBON, JULY 24.
The Portuguese loan of 125 millions has been
fully covered.

PARIS, JULY 25.
The Paris papers of to-day publish the following

telegram :

" RAGUSA, JULY 24.
" The Turks lost about 3,000 men in the battles
of Friday and Saturday last.
" Omar Pasha is fortifying the line of Bjelo-
paulovitch as a base for his operations.
" On the 21st inst. the Turks attacked Sijaratz,
where the Montenegrins made a vigorous resist-

ance."

PARIS, JULY 24,

The Esprit Public of this evening says :
" General Forey takes with hits; special instruc-
tions as to the past or future positions of those
Mexican Generals who may have joined our army.
Measures are, above all, to be adopted with regard
to General Almonte, who has not maintained the
reserve which his exceptional situation prescribed.
Independently of disavowing the injurious proceed-
ings of Almonte, General Forey is authorised entirely
to withdraw our intervention in his favour. No
engagement has been made with Almonte. The
character of the expedition needs to be plainly
brought before the Mexican population. In case of
the formation of a provisional Government in
Mexico, the question would arise of the expediency
of removing from the capital all those members
of the army who represent isolated parties, and
whose presence might recall political or military dis-
sensions, which the French flag can neither support
nor defend."

The Paris evening papers announce that Admiral
Jurien de la Graviere embarked for Mexico on the
23d inst., on board the frigate Normandie.

TURIN, JULY 24.

To-day, in the Chamber of Deputies, the
Minister of Justice presented, amid great ap-
plause, a Bill against the excesses and abuse of
power on the part of the clergy•

BRUSSELS, JULY 24.