The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-13 00:00:00

those who regarded the est interests of the country
w(.uld desire peace.

INTERVIRWING NOTABILITIES.
The correspondents of the New York Herald are
famous for their habit of " interviewing" great men.
Occasionally it has been more than suspected that
their recitals were apocryphal, or, at all events,
that something was due to the embellishments of
their imagination. According to their own showing
the most reserved and cautious statesmen, generals,
diplomatists, even up to royalty itself, willingly un-
fold their most hidden counsels and convictions to

the interviewer, quite overlooking the fact that the
New fork Herald has a pretty large circulati,n, and t
that consequently their secrets arekept something after.
the fashion of King Midas's. The last two inter-
views recorded in the Herald were both with French-
men. M. Gambetta proved himself inaccessible even
to Transatlantic determination, and tho correspon-
dent had to content himself with seeing his secre-
tary, who assured him that though Paris might fall,
the Republic would still fight. In answer to ques-
tions affecting the future constitution of the Republic,
be said the Church would be severed from the State,
but the Republic would not be a federative forni of
Government, like that of the United States, but one
and indivisible. Popular education would be the
first object when peace was secured. The other
Frenchman whose opinions were elicited was N. •
Chaudordy, the Minister-Delegate for Foreign ,
Affairs. Peace, he thought, was distant, for
France could not submit to Prussian terms which
would change her into a third-rate power. Prussia
made a mistake in not concluding peace at Ferrieres.
Three months ago the French Government had a
difficulty in arousing the people ; now it could hardly
keep them back. Arms and artillery were wanted,
b-,t they were coming in from all quarters, notably
. from England. England had acted foolishly by per-
sisting in inaction. She was committing the same
mistake as France did in 18G6, and would reap the
same consequences. She would be left without an ally.

INUNDATIONS AT RomE.
Mr. Ruskin thinks the recent disastrous inunda-
tion of the Tiber should send us back to study
Horace, who spoke of his native land as divided
into two districts of violent and scanty waters.
the rivers could be stayed in their rapid progress
through the poor kingdoms they might enrich,
they would be treasure instead of ruin. At their
sources they are gold, but if they break unbridled
into the plains they aro death. The King of Italy
expressed an earliest desire to mitigate these inunda-
tions so far as science and industry could do it.
Science and industry, replies Mr. Ruskin, can do
everything with regard to inundations and Marem-
mas; it can change them into national banks instead of
debts. Half the money lost by this inundation of the
Tiber spent rightly on the hill-sides last summer,
would have changed every wave of it into so much
fruit and foliage in spring, where now there will be
only burning rock. Had the men who have been
killed in war during the last few months been set at
the same cost to do good instead of evil, they might by
this time have embanked every dangerous stream at
the roots of the Rhine, the Rhone, and the Po, and
have left to France, Germany, awl Italy an inherit-
ance of blessing for ever.

THE SUEZ CANAL.
The prospects of the Suez Canal continue to im-
prove. The receipts in December amounted to
a sum of £32,000, being £12,000 in excess of the
receipts of the preceding month, which showed
the most abundant return ot the whole year.
It is satisfactory, moreover, to learn that not a single
case of grounding has occurred in recent months,
and that the navigation of the Channel is now
per ectly understood. The deepening of the canal in
the past year has gone on without interruption, and
no unpleAant accidents to life or limb have marred
the undertaliing . Quietly, while the blaze of war has
engaged the attention of countries at peace, has this
enterprise of the Suez Canal proved itself one of
the lest great wonders of the world. In the sunny
East there has been unostentatiously established a
highway of nations, which confers upon the different
countries blessed advantages and benefits which,
though but scantily recognised, must be important
in uniting peoples, and in helping progress in many
ways, to the end of time.