The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-21 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The steamship Great Eastern, which left Sheer-
ness on her important expedition of laying down
the Atlantic Cable on the 24th of June last, but
which anchored about four miles before the Nore
light till the 15th of July before finally .leaving for
Valentia, arrived at Sheerness yesterday at 1 p.m.
Thousands of spectators were assembled on the
beach to witness her entrance of the port, and the
band of Sir Charles Talbot, K.C.8., Commander-
in-Chief, greeted the majestic vessel with " Cheer,
boys, cheer," as she passed the flagship Formidable.
Her anchors were safely cast at 1 30 p.m., not the
slightest accident having happened in her passage
through the numerous vessels which lie in the har-
bour.
Her Majesty's screw ironclad vessel Research, 4
guns, Capt. Arthur Wilmshurst, arrived in Port-
land Roads from Cherbourg on Friday morning
last. The stormy weather which has prevailed in
the Channel for the past few days is now subsiding,
and, with a gradually rising barometer, finer
weather is anticipated.
The British naval force on the South-East Coast
of America in commission at the present time con-
sists of eight vessels, mounting in the aggregate 60
guns, with a complement of 1,060 officers and men,
of 1,280-horse power, and 5,565 tons. Rear-Admi-
ral the Hon. C. G. J. B. Elliot, C. 8., is the com-
mander-in-chief, and has his flag in the Narcissus.
The Satellite, 21, screw corvette, Capt. S. S. L.
Crofton, sailed from Rio de Janeiro for England,
July 24, to be paid off.

The flagship Fisgard, Commodore Hugh Dunlop,
at Woolwich, has undergone thorough repair in her
interior accommodation. She has also been masted
and rigged anew. The lower deck, appropriated for
the men's mess quarters, has been ventilated with
port and starboard scuttles, so as to introduce ana-
tural light during the day, in the place of candles,
with which the deck was formerly lighted, and many
other improvements have been substituted for the
old system, with manifest advantage. Her sides are
now being scraped down, and caulking has com-
menced. Notwithstanding her length of service
afloat, and as flagship at Woolwich, many of her
timbers arc still in excellent and durable condition.

Her Majesty's iron screw troopship Dromedary,
Master Commander Allard, at Woolwich, is ordered
to ship stores for transport to the West Coast of
Africa, to supply the naval stations there.
The steam storeship Fox, 1,131 tons, at Woolwich,
last week underwent a special survey by the ship-
wright department, and was bored and sounded for
the purposes of ascertaining her condition as to her
fitness for further service.

The paddlewheel steam tugvessel Bustler, now in
the fitting basin at Woolwich, is ordered to undergo
a complete overhaul, and defects to be made good.
Her Majesty's iron screw storeship Supply, Staff-
Commander C. Bowden, at Woolwich, is ordered to
be fitted with a steam-engine on board for the pur-
pose of shipping, unshipping, and working the cargo.
The Vivid, paddle yacht, Staff-Commander T.
W. Sullivan, and the Dee, paddle storevessel,
Master Commander G. Raymond, both sailed for
the Thames on Saturday from Portsmouth.

The Constance, 35, screw wooden frigate, Capt.
E. Barnard, is under orders to sail from Spithead
for Plymouth on Tuesday. It is understood that
she will complete stores and fittings at Plymouth
for foreign service.
The Urgent, screw troopship, Capt. S. H. Hen-
derson, which returned to Portsmouth on Friday
last from Cherbourg with naval and military offi-
cers and civilians, visitors to the Napoleon fetes, will
embark this morning alongside Portsmouth dock-
yard detachments of troops, and sail this evening or
early to-morrow for Halifax and Bermuda.
• His Belgian Majesty's paddle despatch vessel
Belgique, Commander Hoed, arrived at Portsmouth
on Saturday from Cherbourg. The Belgique has
24 officers of the Belgian army and navy on board,
sent by their Government on a visit to the French
and English ironclad squadrons recently at Cher-
bourg, and also to the chief English and French
naval establishments on either side of the Channel.
Soon after the vessel's arrival Commander Hoed
paid the usual formal visit to the Admiral and
Lieut.-Gen. commanding the port and garrison, ac-
companied by the Belgian Vice-Consul, the Cheva-
lier Van den Bergh. Commander Hoed and the
officers from the Belgique afterwards visited the
dockyard and several of the ships fitting for active
service. The Belgique sails from Portsmouth on
Tuesday for Ostend.
The screw frigate Bristol, 39, 600 horse power,
which has been fitted for the first division of the
aship on the
Chatham Steam Reserve, will succeed the Rattle-
snake, 21, 400 horse power, as the fla.
west coast of Africa.
appointed De-
Dr. Armstrong, R.N.,
Royal Hospital and
puty-Inspector-Gen. of Melvillerecently
the Chatham Division of Marines, arrived at Chat-
ham on Saturday, assumed the charge of the hospi-
tal, inspection of
the establishment
eastnadhussubbniseqehutenintlayll itsma de
departments.a
In oreer to test the quality of the steel plates
which have been sent into Chatham Dockyard, as
supplied by the Cammell Company, Sheffield, who
who have taken the contract from the Admiralty, a
certain number were selected, at hazard, front the
stock now in store, and, with the consent of the
authorities, tested at the Government rifle range at
Milton, where the troops from Chatham garrison
undergo their course of ball practice, the ranges at
which the plates were fired at varying from 50 to
300 yards. Each plate was struck by about 100
balls, and they have now been returned to the dock-
yard for the purpose of enabling an examination to
be made of the effects of the shot upon each plate.
Taking one of the 4-in. steel plates, of the same
kind as those which form the upper deck of the
ironclad frigate Bellerophon, the marks of about
80 shots are visible on its surface, a label show-
ing the range at which each was fired. In the
majority of cases so excellent is the steel that
the effects of each shot are mere " splashes,"
while in only some few cases have the minutest
indentations been made, the opposite side of
the plate being in the same state as before the

PRICE 4d.
STAMPED sd.

experiments were commenced. In the case of shots
which have struck the extreme edge, the plate in
the immediate locality is slightly bent, while a
minute examination fails to detect the least appear-
ance of lamination, showing the plate to be in all
respects perfect. The same kind of experiments
were also made with one of the half-inch ordinary
iron " skin" plates of the Bellerophon, and in this
case also the results were equally satisfactory. As
in the trials with the steel plates the ranges at which
the half-inch iron plate was tested varied from 50
yards to 300 yards, but in no case does the slightest
appearance of the plate being penetrated present
itself, the majority of the shots making indents only
about one-sixteenth of an inch. The results of the
trials establish the superiority of the iron of which
the Bellerophon's plates are made.
The Secretary of State for War has decided that
the cavalry barracks at Norwich must be given up
at the expiration of the lease in 1866, there being no
necessity for retaining them after that period.
_ _ _

The division at Aldershott under the command of
Lieut.-Gen. Sir John Pennefather, K.C.8., was
formed up for field manoeuvres on Ellmoor-hill at
ten o'clock on Wednesday morning in line of con-
tiguous columns at quarter distance, and after in-
spection and marching past was disposed in order of
battle to check the progress of an enemy advancing
from Portsmouth via Farnham, and already in pos-
session of the formidable position of Caesar's Camp.
The enemy was found to be particularly strong
in cavalry, and to meet this arm the 3d, Bth,
and 14th Hussars were brought forward. These
troops made some splendid charges, in which they
were well supported by the fire of the artillery, then
feigned a retreat, and the infantry was thrown into
square to resist the rush of the enemy's cavalry.
A rapid file-fire was then commenced from the
right and left of faces, which threw the enemy into
confusion, and the cavalry, supported by the ar-
tillery, again charged. After a few more manoeuvres
by the infantry, ".ceasing firing" was sounded, a
general advance was made, and the enemy was
driven broken and defeated over Hungry-hill, to-
wards Farnham. The force on the field consisted of
D Battery, Royal Horse artillery, F and B Batteries,
9th Brigade Royal Artillery, 3d, Bth, and 14th Hus-
sars, 2d Battalion Grenadier Guards, Ist Battalion
13th (Prince Albert's) Light Infantry, Ist Battalion
17th Regiment, Ist Battalion 21st Royal Scots Fusi-
leers, 31st, 69th, 74th, 85th, and 92d Regiments.
The movements were exceedingly interesting, and
were witnessed by a large number of spectators.
The 63d (West Suffolk) Regiment, under the com-
mand of Lieut.-Col Carter, has arrived at Aldershot
Camp, and occupies quarters in the East Infantry
Barracks. The marching-in strength was 25 officers
47 sergeants, 17 drummers, 471 rank and file, 77
women, and 116 children.

THE 'UNITED STATES.

(11 rom the Times Correspondent.)

NEW YORK, July 9.
The time is now approaching when the second
stage in the process of reorganisation in the South
will be reached. The first was the appointment of
provisional Governors by the President ; the next
is the election by the States themselves of members
of conventions, which must be held for the purpose
of revising the State Constitutions. The temper in
which this work will be carried out is an object of
great concern at the present moment, for upon it
must depend the future policy of the Government,
and the prosperity of the States whose fate is once
more in their own hands. Mississippi has already
elected its members ; Alabama and the Carolinas
will elect theirs in the course of a fortnight. Will
the feeling which recently prompted the Richmond
elections—a feeling of deep hostility to the Govern-
ment—prevail here also ? If it does, the intricate
task which the Administration has before it might
be still further complicated for a certain time; but
the South itself would be involved in final disaster
and ruin. If it were not for the fatal promptings
of spurious friends, the South would accept its pre-
sent position with greater readiness and sincerity
than it does at present. But the same evil spirit
which impelled it into the first irretrievable mistake
of precipitating a war is still pursuing it. There
are, indeed, a few of the Southern leaders who
urge the people to forget everything now but the
laws they are required to obey, and the interests
they have to preserve, and the Government is doing
its utmost to make this path easy and secure. But,
unfortunately, it is a hard thing for the South to
accept even clemency at the hand of its
victors. They have hated the North with what
seemed an undying hatred, and now to be con-
quered by them, and then pardoned, involves a hu-
miliation grievous to bear. " Give the South all
the time they need," however, is the general senti-
ment ; " forgive them if they will be forgiven ; if
not, have patience with them."
The last hope of such of the Southern people as
refu,ie to accept the issue of events is in self-expa-
triation. With great wisdom Gen. Lee has endeav-
oured to discourage this design by applying for a
pardon for himself. He has stated that he knew
there were thousands of young men who had served
under him who would never apply for pardon until
he had done so, and who had resolved to find homes
in some other part of the world. He exhorts them
to abandon this purpose, and invites them by his
example to become true citizens of the established
government. Not, without similar dignity has Gen.
Wade Hampton, of the Confederate army, ad-
dressed many hundreds of Southern men who, as lie
says in a letter recently written, applied to him to
" form a colony to emigrate." " The very fact," he
tells them, " that our State (South Carolina) is
passing through so terrible an ordeal as the present
should cause her sons to cling the more closely to
her." He entreats the; people to devote themselves
to the re-establishment of their trade, to take the
oath of allegiance, and to forsake all schemes of
future resistance. If all the best men leave the
country, who is to watch over its welfare in the Le-
gislature ? Gen. Hampton advises his countrymen
to choose true representatives, and he adds :--
"In the meantime, I shall obtain all information which
would be desirable in the establishment of a colony in case
we should ultimately be forced to leave the country. I in-
voke my follow-citizens—especially those who have shared
with me the perils and the glories of the last four years—
to stand by our State manfully and truly. The Roman
Senate voted thanks to one of their generals, because in
the darkest hour of the Republic he did not despair. Let
us emulate the example of the Romans, and thus entitle
ourselves to the gratitude of our country."

It is impossible that the tremendous upheaval of
social systems which America has seen during the
last four years can pass away without leaving deep
traces behind. It has set men looking back upon
the havoc which it has wrought, and asking, what
is to be the end ? To a very great degree lam con-
vinced that it has unsettled the minds of the most
thoughtful men in the country respecting their Go-
vernment. One revolution has happened; another
is not impossible. People ask, "Is the country as
happy as a perfect form of government, aided by
unlimited resources, ought to make it? Does it knit
all parties together, as it is supposed to do by Mr.
Bright and his party ? Are we quite free from class
jealousies or prejudices? Does the Government
even satisfy any one class entirely ? " No candid
American will answer these questions in the affirma-
tive, nor will he deny that his Government is as yet
a tentative one. I have heard, almost universally,
the haste of some English politicians deprecated in
assuming, as they do, that a pure democracy will
eventually succeed even here when it is tried under
thoroughly favourable conditions. It might astonish
the Liberal party in England to know that their
doctrine of universal suffrage is distrusted or ab-
horred by a large
portion of the American commu-
nity. Let any man ask a well-informed American
whether the standard of political life is advancing
here, he will be informed that it is not. I have
often been told, " Congress was an abler body, and
conducted its proceedings in a more dignified man-

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-iTer 30 years ago than now."
New World to devise a system
manently place the wealthy and thL. at h_
classes under a despotism of the poor and illiterate.
Here the lower classes are uppermost. Their con-
duct shows that the love of tyranny which by some
is supposed to be the peculiar attribute of aristocra-
cies flourishes marvellously in a democracy. The
lower orders are not satisfied with being acknow-
ledged the equals of .the upper ; they take every
opportunity of making them understand that as
they are numerically superior they intend to obtain
the ascendancy in. the State. That the subject
occasions serious uneasiness to the Americans them-
selves might be proved by a hundred quotations
from their political writers ; the following from the
last number of the best periodical work here, the
North American Review, is well worth attention.
The writer says :
"Nobody who has paid much attention to our political
discussions of late years, both in and out of Congress, can
have avoided being struck by the general tendency to exact
and glorify the poor, apparently for the simple reason that
they are poor, and in a corresponding degree to appreciate
'the rich; and, singularly enough, the standard of wealth
seems to be, in political phraseology, every year sinking
lower and lower. It appeared in a recent debate on the
Enrolment Bill in the Senate that to be 'rich,' for political
purposes, a man need now-a-days only possess an income
of $2,000 (.£400) a year, no matter from what source he
derives it. Once in receipt of this or any greater sum an-
nually, it seemed to be the conclusion of some of the
speakers that he lost all claim to tenderness, consideration,
or even justice, on the part of the Government, It was
gravely proposed by one senator to draught him, or, in case
be
provided a substitute, to levy a tax of .5 per cent. on
his income for the full term for which he might have been
liable to serve.

The same writer goes on to complain that the
best men in the country are excluded from the civil
service, which is filled up by persons who have re-
ceived the reward of corruption. In point of fact, it
is not a creditable thing to be in the civil service
of America. In local affairs the effect of universal
suffrage is seen in a striking form in this city. The
taxes are great, the receipts enormous, and the ex-
penditure upon the city is small. But vast sums
are expended in jobs, and no one can prevent it,
for the officers are elected by the masses, no re-
spectable men will vote, and the candidates say to
the mob, " You vote for us, and we'll provide for
you." Hence contracts are invented to compensate
political dishonesty, and the true interests of the
city are neglected. These are facts which are ac-
knowleged by every truthful man. In national
affairs the same influences are felt, and Mr. J. S.
Mill, although an admirer of American institutions,
admits that political life, though here a most valu-
able school--

"Is a school from which tho ablest teachers are ex-
cluded ; tho first minds of the country being as effectually
shut out from the national representation, and from public
functions generally, as if they were under a formal dis-
qualification The people, like the despot,
is pursued with adulation and sycophancy, and the cor-
rupting effects of power fully keep pace with its improving
and ennobling influences."

This passage exactly interprets the condition and
views of Americans who have best studied the affairs
of their country. It is a mistake to suppose that
they are so enamoured of their political institutions
as to be unwilling to hear them discussed. They
begin such discussions eagerly, if they are sure of
fair and impartial treatment, and they smile at the
assertions of men on the other side of the Atlantic,
that the " success of universal suffrage in America
renders its adoption in England imperative." " Who
tells them it is a success? " they ask ; and one re-
marked to me, " I think England used us rather
badly in the war, but I never wish to see such a fate
befall her as universal suffrage would involve you all
in. Depend upon it, it would prove your ruin, and
the next revolution we have will be owing to it."
Universal suffrage is felt to be the bane of the
country. It tends to destroy all that ought to be pre-
served, and to maintain all that ought to be destroyed.
I give you these opinions because they. are held
by the foremost citizens of the Republic, and because
the whole subject (in addition to its intrinsic interest
and importance) is involved in the settlement of the
present difficulties before the country. If the first
element of good government is wanting, namely, the
power to inspire the governed with confidence in the
' future, it is absurd to speak of it as settled and per-
fect. Now, it is not possible that the rich can have
such confidence in the future as would induce them
to invest their capital freely, even in national securi-
tics, when such a crime as "repudiation" is possible.
And year after year thousands of new men are brought
into the franchise—men who are just of age, or sett-
lers who have taken up their rights of citizenship ;
and they will not value the glory of the war so highly
as those who had a part in it. When one candidate
for Congress says to them, " Take me and you shall
be relieved of these burdensome taxes," and another
says, " I will vote for the continuance of taxation ;"
are not the probabilities in favour of the return of the
first almost overwhelming ! Would anyone like to
make a similar experiment in England? If the people
there could vote the income tax off their shoulders,
or choose whether they should pay it or not, the re-
venue from that source would probably be sensibly
diminished. It is a similar probability which helps
to keep American affairs in a state of unrest. It
would not be so if property and intelligence were
represented as well as numbers. Yet if the bulk of
the people are as careful of their honour and as soli-
citous for the future during the time of peace as they
were during the time of war, the clouds which are
now gathering on the horizon will be dispersed be-
fore they can break into an angry storm such as that
which has recently swept over the continent and left
death and misery in its train.

You will have learnt by telegraph that General
Sheridan's projects on the Rio Grande have been
suspended by a Government order requiring him to
muster out all volunteers from his forces. Sheridan
himself is on his way to New Orleans. The trial of
Capt. Wirtz is postponed, but evidence of his cruelty
towards the Union prisoners at Andersville pours in
daily. The feeling in the North against this man is
so great that unless he is well guarded by his gaolers
he may meet his death without a trial.

The bulletin of the Paris Observatory gives the
following as the atmospheric situation yesterday :
" A long series of gales has for some days been
passing over Europe, taking the direction of Scot-
land, towards Denmark, Poland, and Russia. Some
of them are descending into the centre of our Con-
tinent and threatening the Adriatic and Italy. This
morning thunder was heard at Trieste. The sky is
variable in the centre and East of France ; it is
cloudy or rainy in the West and on the Atlantic,
from Corunna to Penzance. More bad weather is
coming on."—Yesterday, in Paris, the weather was
dry but with a heavy sky during the greater part of
the day. The thermometer at three in the afternoon
marked 24 centigrade (75 1-5 Fahrenheit).
The aqueduct of from 30 to 40 leagues in length,
which, during the last two years, by order of the
Prefect of the Seine, has been in course of construc-
tion to bring the waters of the Dhuys to the heights
of Mdnilmontant, is now nearly completed. The
water arrived at a basin near the gate of M6nilmon-
tant for the first time three days back. The con-
duit for bringing the waters of the Marne from
Gravel to the same point of 1116nihnontant is not
yet entirely terminated, but no doubt is entertained
that the water will be flowing into various quarters
of Paris before the end of the present day. •
The Moniteur announces four other promotions
to the rank of Officer in the Legion of Ilonour,and
99 nominations as Knight in the same order, on the
occasion of the 15th August.
The provisions of the commercial treaty, signed
between France and Spain on June 18th, arc bythe
Imperial decree made applicable to England, Bel-
gium, the Zollverein, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden,
the Hanseatic Towns, and Mecklenburg-Schwerin
LIFEBOAT SERVICES. - LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK,
Aug. 19.—0 n Tuesday last, while it was blowing
a strong gale from S.S.W. and was thick with rain, a vessel
was observed on Corton Spit making signals of distress by
placing her colours in the rigging, the sea at the time
breaking over her. The Lowestoft lifeboat in connection
with the National Institution was immediately launched,
and fortunately took off four men from the vessel and
brought them safely on shore. Two of the crew had gone
adrift in the ship's boat, and were picked up by a Cortou
yawl. The vessel ultimately floated off and was safely
brought into Lowestoft Harbour by means of the lifeboat
and the steam tug Sailor of Yarmouth, the crew of the
lifeboat working at the pumps. She was found to be the
brigantine Light of the Harem, of Whitstable, bound from
Hartlepool to Woolwich with a cargo of coals.

HOUSES.—Messrs. TOPLIS and ROBERTS
have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN,
buOurban, a al Country RESIDENCES to Lh.T or SELL.
Paniculars forwarded for three stamps, upon stating exact
requirements and rental. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-
street, and South Kensington, facing the Museum.

SOUTH KENSINGTON, HYDE-PARK,
Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's-gate and Peters-
ham Terraces, Queen's-gate, Cornwall, and Princes Gardens,
E lv iston-place, Cromwell-road, Onslow and Tburloe Squares,
Bolt ns. &c. MeEsrs TOPLI4 an& ROBE [VTR have RE
CES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding
localities. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-street, and
South Kensington, facing the Museum.

MR. ALFRED MELLON'S CONCERTS.—
, TIE UNITED SERVIk% QUADRIL LE, by A. F.
GODFREY, every Evening. Piano, 45.; Orchestra, 3s.
Both at half price. London ; Robert Cocks and Co., New
Burlington street, W., and all Musicsellers.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Sok Lessee and .llanager, 31r. Geo. Vinin; .
111113 EVENING, a new Fare, by Mr. David Fisher,
entitled HEA La-STRINGS AND FIDDLE-STRINGS.
Alter which, AIIRAII NA I OGUE : Mes:rs. Dion Bonet-
eault. J. Brougham, 11. Vandeohoff, 1.). Fisher, U. Murray;
Mrs. Boucicault and Miss ►I. Oliver.
To conclude with AN AMPLE APOLOGY.
Commence at 7.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPIjI.
Sole Proprietor and Mmager, Mr. B. Webster.
1 his popular theatre will RE-OPEN on MONDAY, Sept.
4, next, entirely re-painted and re-embellished, and the seats
throughout re-stuffed and re-covered in costly material. in
order to increase the comfort and accommodation of the
numerous patrons of this establishment. The season will
open with the engagement of Mr. JOSEPH JEFFERSON,
wh.) will make his lint appearance in this country in a new
and original D ac a, written expressly for him by Lion
Boucicauit, Esq. Further particulars will be. published in a
few day s.

flp HE LAST EDITION OF 41 THE SUN,"
A_ Containing. the Latest SYWITINU INTELLIUENCA,
On be bad Every Evening of
G. If. GLENIE, NEWS AGEKT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrac.r, Hyde-park.

11HE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN "
supplied, as soon as published every Evening, by
W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS). Newspaper Agent, 21,
Old Cavenaisb- street, Oxford-street.

THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN "
supplied as loon as Published containing alt the
LA PEAT NEWS awl SPORTING INTE:LLIGENCE, by
1• W. HARRIS, Ne spaper Agent, 4, Blacklrlars-road.
London, S•

THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN."
J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the pubic
generally. that he supplies tho LATEST EDITIuN of
"T 111; 6UN" as soon as published —No. 16, Hampstead-
road, N.W.

TEETH AND PAINLESS DENTISTRY.-
Messrs. LEWIN and SIMEON MOSELY and SONS,
80, Berners-street, Oxford-street, and 448, Strand, opposite
Charing-cross Railway Station. Established 1830. Artificial
Teeth made with their patented advantages are fitted with-
cut the least inconvenience, however tender the mouth, sup-
porting and strengthening loose and sensitive teeth until
they become u'eful in mastication. Their resemblance to
nature is perfect and undetectabx, and they are guaranteed
for all purposes of mastication and articulation. Operations
of every kind being unnecessary, the most nervous patient
can be supplied wi bout fear of pain or inconvenience. Con-
sultation ,ree. Teeth from ss. Sets, 5,7, 10, and 15
::4uineas, warranted. I. or the cfficwiy, utility, and success
of this system, vide " Lancet.''
Daily attendance at 15, Yirhitefriargate, Hull; 10, Norfolk-
street, Sheffield ; 4, East-parat.e, Leeds ; and 14. St. Nicholas-
street, SJarbro'.

*„,* o connection with any one of the same name.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAT.—Morning, 2h. 14m.—Afternoon, -2h. 30m,
To-Monnow.-Morning, 2h. 50m.—Afternoon, 3h. sm.

e
itL44

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1865.

Few narratives of scientific effort have been more
deeply interesting than the history of the Great
Eastern and her attempt to lay the Atlantic Cable,
which has now been given us in the form of a diary
by one of the most graphic of our pen-and-ink scene
painters. From the 24th of July to the 11th of
August, Mr. RUSSELL gives us the life-like picture
of each day's exertions, failures, successes, or dis-
appointments. In that short space of time were
crowded the most varied feelings from the prosperous
opening of the campaign, the startling discovery of
the first accident, the renewed encouragement given
by the speedy setting to rights ; the second disaster,
its rectification, the continuation of the journey,
and the catastrophe of the 2d of August. Then
came the anxious fluctuations of hopes and fears,
the ceaseless effort, the partial successes, the repeated
disappointments, and, finally, the rush of the last
rope down to the depths of the Atlantic, the depar-
ture of the Terrible for Newfoundland, and the
return of the Great Eastern and her company foiled,
but not disheartened. It is a record which does
honour to the courage and perseverance of all con-
cerned, and will scarcely lose its interest even should
the great work be finally accomplished and telegraphic
communication between England and America cease
to be a marvel. The early failures of similar
'projects are still eagerly read of, though the unsuc-
cessful workers have long been numbered with the
past, and the works they tried in vain to do have
been done by other hands. The Atlantic cable will,
indeed, we trust, be left to no such vague future, but
will yet reward the efforts of the brave men who
have toiled so unflinchingly in its behalf. But while
the experience of this voyage will be invaluable to
whoever undertakes the renewal of the undertaking,
as a mere history of unsuccessful effort the diary
is deeply interesting. The discovery of the first
fault on July 24 produced, we are told, no little
uneasiness, since all felt that if the cable were thus
liable to accident after it was submerged no reliance
could be placed on its ultimate success. After some
deliberation it was decided, as we know, to cut the
cable and draw it in until the fault was discovered.
This course was slowly but successfully pursued—
not more than at the rate of a mile or a mile and a
-half the 'cable was hauled in.. It was
at first fearedAhat the injury was near shore, and
groat, a9ldiygli,...Was the rejoicing When the
fault was detected and "the. cause of all our
~trouble and anxiety, delay and expense," as the
biographer styles it, was diseovered to be " a
piece of iron about
,two I.
inehes long, rather
crooked` and sharp at the end, as if cut
off with nippers from an end of wire. No one could
imagine how this intruder got into the tank, but it
was generally believed to be the result of accident,
-and the splicing happily accomplished, the great
ship set off again cheerily. A few days peaceful
monotony succeeded, until July 29, when a fresh
disaster betrayed itself, and the work of picking up
began again. The discovery of another piece of
iron wire sticking through the gutta, percha coating
gave rise to great uneasiness, and to painful sus-
picion. "It was impossible," says Mr. RUSSELL,
" to resist the conviction that such an injury was
the work of some hired cable assassin, or some pur-
poseless malefactor." Such an impression was very
disheartening, and by no means calculated to re-
assure the anxious minds of those interested in the
success of the cable. It is but just, however, to
remember thAt a piece of wire was afterwards found
projecting from the cover of the cable, and on one
of the men trying to bend it down it broke short
off, thus showing that it was at least possible that
the previous disasters were the result of accident
But it seems very unfortunate that since such rigic

precautions were taken to prevent a repetition of
the mischief they were not more fully carried
out, since it was useless to watch the cable
uncoiling below if no notice was taken of the
signals above. We can fancy the painful excite-
ment and consternation of the party in the saloon
when Mr. CANNING suddenly appearing said briefly,
" Its all Over ; it is gone !" This disaster, as we
know, was caused by the chafing of the cable
against the hawse hole. "It is not possible," says
the historian of the expedition, " for any words to

portray the dismay with which the sight was wit-
nessed and the news heard." But with the true

English spirit which never owns itself beaten, the
first thought of every one was to make an effort at
least to pick up the lost trcasqre, And effort after