The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-22 00:00:00

" In that Jerusalem shall Harry die."

The Economist remarks that the characteristic energy of
English capitalists has been newly shown in the extension
of ocean telegraphy. We are expending on ocean tele-
graphs in a year about as much as the Suez canal cost all
the independent shareholders in ten. Competition is
already the rule. Geographically, there is manifestly no
difficulty. There is not a coast which may not be ap-
proached in half-a-dozen different directions, even where
it may happen that a single terminus, as in the case of
the French cable, is conceded exclusively to one company.
Whether a cable starts from Havre or Valentia, makes no
difference in the competition for messages between Europe
and America. It is the same on the other side. And the
peculiarity of the matter is that iu telegraphy round-
aboue routes are as available as direct routes for purposes
of competition. Distance does not count at all in the
time of forwarding a message ; messages can be exchanged
between London and New York practically as quick as
between Charing Cross and the Bank. The longest line,
therefore, may and will compete with the shortest if there
is an opening at all. Of course, the shortest, if it is also
the cheapest, should be able to work for a less profit, but
that,: ill not prevent competition if the longer line by
engaging in it can add anything to its receipts.
And while there is no geographical difficulty, there is a
condition of the trade singularly favourable to new
schemes. The very fact that telegraphic construction
has become a separate business, while it has simplified the
work-mg of submarine companies by giving them powerful
and competent contractors to make the lines, is a new
danger when the present work is over. The construction
interest will be enlisted in the promotion and manufac-
ture of too many cables. Unless a great change takes
place, by which cheap cables can be laid so as to make an
enormous increase of business possible--a change which
would be dotrimental to the present companies in another
way—a sufficient quantity of legitimate work for the con-
struction companies which the present spurt employs, is
hardly to be looked for. We should deprecate, therefore,
a longer continuauco of . the present run upon cable com-
panies, and any meddling with them at all by quiet
people. With the competition already probable, it is
likely enough that many expectations of profit will be
disappointed ; but if there is only a little more competi-
tion, good profits will be impossible. This would not be
a deniable issue for the public any more than for the
speculators, who are really doing a great service to busi
'less. When there is a monopoly, it is better for the com-
munity to have a rich sompany to deal with, which can
satisfy demands for good treatment, :Ind net a set of
nceay competitors, who mu;it unite to fleece the public to
cpt even a small return.

Tho 3rarseillaiee says that M. Ledru-Rollin will
act as coainel for the Noir family at the Bonaparte trial

It is said by tho Engineer that a new description
of lava is being thrown from the crater of Vesuvius since
the last eruption, consisting of crystallised salt. This
beautiful phenomenon has hitherto been unknown in vol-
canic natural history.

THE EXPLOSION IN A CELLAR IN LONDON.—The
inquiry into the deaths of the two persons who lost their
lives by an eN.plosion in the City terminated on Friday.
A verdict of accidental death was returned, but it was
recommended that a•safcty lamp should be used in places
containing material of an inflammable nature. •

aIIVASMOIIITERT
Ifotioe has been publicly given of a robbery from an
iron safo in the strong room of Messrs. Peek Brothers and
Co., the well-known wholesale tea merchants in East-
cheap, on the night of Tuesday last, the 18th inst. The
thieves succeeded in getting away with a cash box contain-
ing £196 in gold, £2l in silver, vouchers for £257 10s.,
cheques for £24 Bs. 3d., drafts for £527a receipt on account
for £5O, and promissory notes, acceptances, &c., for nearly
£1,400. All the securities have been stopped, and bankers
and others cautioned against negotiating any of them.
No reward has been offered by Messrs. Peek,but "infor-
mation tending either to the discovery of the thief or the
restitution of the property will be thankfully acknow-
ledged.' The property stolen represents nearly £2,500.
The case is understood to have been placed in the hands
of the City police.

TIIE INQUEST ON THE FIiNSBURY
MURDER.

The Finsbury murder inquest was concluded on Friday.
The evidence firmly established the identity of the deceased
as Cecilia .Aldridge. She had been in custody not long
since and had given her name. She was undoubtedly
"an unfortunate." Spinas, the night porter, in custody,
on charge of murder seems to have been a very loose
character. At night he was in the habit of bringing
women from the streets into the hotel kitchen
to sit up with him. One woman came for-
ward and stated that she had been with him frequently.
She was, however, on the day of the murder given up
by Spinas for "Sissy." He took her with him to the
hotel. The body, according to the doctor's evidence was
much injured. The nasal bone was broken, and several
other bones of the head. A candlestick would have caused
them. It was a candlestick which was found near the
deceased, covered with blood. Ne motive for the crime
was elicited. The jury having heard the evidence,
after a few minutes consultation, returned a
verdict of "Wilful Murder" against Jocale Spinas for
feloniously and maliciously killing and slaying Cecilia
Aldridge.
The Coroner issued his warrant for the trial of the
accused.