The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-13 00:00:00

rim SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1871.

The number of telegraph stations,
exclusive of those on railways, is now 2,012, whilst
it was formerly but 1,007. The yearly total
of messages before the transfer was about six mil-
lions; the year of government by the Post-office
chews a total of 10,083,900. The number of per-
sons employed in telegraphing has increased from
3,982 to 8,029, the instruments used from
1,009 to 4,153. Much attention is now being
given to the merits of the work done
by the different instruments employ ed. The
old Morse instrument, the llughes printing in-
strument, and the Wheatstone automatic are now
worked in the same room in Telegraph-street, and
their respective performances carefully noted. The
'Wheatstone sent the QUEEN'S Speech from London to ,
York at the rate of 130 words a minute, a pace actually
faster than that at which it was read by the LORD
CHANCELLOR. It is to be hoped that arrangements
will be made for extending the use of this instrument.
Its general application would more than duplicate the
telegraphing power of the country.
A. visit to the instrument rooms at Telegraph-
street affiards a remarkable spectacle of concentrated
energy. The place, which is far too small or the
work to be done, is crowded in every parft, and
during the middle of the day the utmost activity is
shewn by all hands in getting through the
work. Considerable advantage has resulted from
the employment in the saute rooms of the
male and female instrumentalists. he
oo T
dtwol of classe
con-
s
were formerly separated, but a gd ea
venience and increased activity is found to arise
from their working together. Advantage, too,
has followed from the repeal of a regulation
which disqualified women who married from
continuing their employment as telegraphists.
Many gladly avail themselves of the privi-
lege now granted them. Some work short
hours, coming in from 11 until 4, so as to give their
services just at the busy time of the day. The
cheerfulness, order, and regularity observable
throughout the establishment are most gratify-
-0o
gratify-
ing. The number of women
nowemployed
, the time of the transfer it was 479. Under the new
regulationser
e itr ise wtiol
be f
be hoped that
augmented,hat the proportion
a
o theref
female
can be no doubt that the employment is well adapted
to their capacities. In a pecuniary sense the re-
ceipts under the new arrangements prove
fully equal to the estimates formed respecting them.
It is probable that with a judicious outlay of capital
in the erection of new lines where they are required
the telegraphic revenue may be made still more satis-
factory and remunerative.

obtained.

THE first consideration of the French elector, on
casting his vote into the urn at the present terrible
crisis, would be the question of peace or war. He
might feel considerable interest in the defeat of the
Itepubliems or the frustration of Orleanist projects,
but his chief anxiety would be to dispose of the
Germans, and he would therefore vote according
as he felt desirous of peace, or hopeful that further
fighting would reverse the issue of the war. There
can be little doubt as to the answer which the ma-

jority have given in France to this fundamenta,
question. The elections, so far as the results are
known, are remarkable for the rejection of the ex-
treme politicians, Imperialists and Reds, the
success of the Moderate Republicans who have
pronounced for peace, and of the Orleanists who,
though they have pronounced for neither side, are
yet supposed to favour an accommodation
with the enemy. The national verdict is in this
respect remarkably clear. Whether the Republi-
cans, or the Orleanists, or the Imperialists will ulti-
mately win is a matter of great doubt ; what is cer-
tain is that the nation, with every freedom of choice,
has expressed its wish that a peace may be
signed. It does not follow that a peace will be
signed. The recommendation of the people is only
a general one, and it may be modified by special cir-
cumstances. If the German terms are too hard, the
National Assembly may as one man prefer the
struggle of despair. They will never dare to saddle
their country with a burden like any of those which
have been developed in the fervid brains of Berlin cor-
respondents. If there be a considerable minority, too,
against accepting the particular arrangement Count
BISMARCK may submit, the hope of peace may
speedily grow dim. In such a case, even a majority
would hesitate to assume the responsibility of con-
cluding a disastrous peace against which a considerable
number of their colleagues protested. A. few
speeches from GARIBALDI, GAMBETTA, and others
may not improbably rouse the passions of the
Assembly to a degree that will render the influence
of reason quite a subordinate matter. In short,
many causes may operate against the fulfilment
of the desire which the electors are so clearly
expressing. But the wish has gone forth, and so the
chances are on the side of peace.

TOPICS OF THE DAY,

BoURBAKI'S CAMPAIGN.

The Prussian reports of the campaign lately I
undertaken in the East by General Bourbaki
show clearly enough that his expedition was
in - itself by no means the hopeless affair
some critics, atter the result, have re-
presented it to be. The German General had not
above one-third of the force at Bourbaki's command
The Germans were, to be sure, well placed, bat by no
means in a position to resist three times their number of
even indifferent troops, if well directed. Werder
once beaten, the German plan of campaign would lay
open to the most serious dangers. It ac-
tually turned out, however, that this short
campaign of Bourbaki was the very worst conducted
of all the operations of the war—worse even than
the march on Sel an. The troops were sacrificed by
the most inconceivable ignorance of those who had
to lead them and to provide for their wants.
They were so badly fed and clothed that
the Swiss authorities are said to have
expressed their horror that the Germans
should kill such beings. As to Bourbaki's strategy,
it was not second or third rate, it was not strategy
at all. He placed his men in such a position that
two-thirds of them were useless. When his attempt
failed, his retreat was conducted on principl es com-
pared with which the operations of a Kle k appear
splendid manceuvring.
REPUBLICANISM IN ENGLAND.

The . Spectator thinks it would be a mistake to
underrate the importance of the agitation against
the dowry of the Princess Louise. The agitation is
the first movement commenced by the new
electorate on its own behalf, and it threatens to
be formidable. Not a tenth part of the meetings
held on the matter are mentioned in the papers
and in no case has all that has been said been foully
reported. In Lancashire, a county returning a
majority of Tory memberS, meetings are held daily
denouncing the Royal Family, an d all Roya
Families, as leading idle and luxurious lives, such as
all good citizens protest against. Clergymen moving
among the people believe that the next: election
will be materially influenced by a cry of "Down
with the, Civil List," and in the great centres of
industry, there is an absolute determination that
Royal allowances shall not be increased. A. deputa-
tion of workmen waited on the members for Bir-
mingham last week, and declared that Royalty was
a costly superfluity, which could be just as
well dispensed with, and the money saved.
It is remarked that almost every constitutional

crisis in England has arisen on a money question,
but the Spectator reminds workmen that the whole
expenditure of the United Kingdom upon Royalty
is less than a sixth of the money known to be stolen
ery year by the American Whisky Ring through
the connivance of politicians. Monarchy has many
evils, but in this country and Germany costliness is
not one of them.

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.
A correspondent in Ireland writes that the Govern-
ment have apparently acted without due caution in
declaring, in the Speech from the Throne, that no
Irish affairs of any magnitude will be discussed in
Parliament during the session. The state-
ment has been seized by the Home Rule
party as a platform argument for the imme-
diate establishment of a House of Legislators
in the Irish capital. The Belfast journals, hitherto
standing aloof from controversy on the subject of a
Hone Government, are now foremost in asserting
that the scanty allusion to Irish matters in
the Queen's speech will certainly promote dis-
satisfaction in the minds of those who have had
reason to believe in the promises held forth for the
immediat.s institution of all just measures likely to
bring welfare to Ireland, and they contend that the
dissent from home rule expressed in the Government
scheme of Irish policy, without any reference to
equivalent management in England, will turn against
the Ministry, and lead many to espouse the cause
I they hitherto left unnoticed.