The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-12 00:00:00

THE SUEZ CANAL•

A correspondent of the Times, who has recently
visited the S uez Canal, gives a satisfactory account of its
success. In fact, so clearly have the advantages of
the route been demonstrated by experience, that the
only question is how long the present canal will be
able to supply the demand. Since its opening it
has been considerably deepened at the shallowest
parts, so that the minimum depth is now 22 feet, but
its width is insufficient. It is imperative that it
should be widened, so as to allow steamers to pass
each other with ease, and as trade increases the critic
believes the necessity of widening the canal,
and converting it into "a wide and perma-
nently quayed river " will force itself on
the mercantile world. At present, though
the whole of the richer trade between Europe and
the East uses the Canal, the amount is not sufficient
to satisfy the shareholders, for what with the interest
on the original capital and the cost of improvements
and maintenance, a million sterling will be required
yearly. To yield this 6,850 tons a day
muit pass through the canal, and this
amount has not been reached. At pre-
sent the war exerts a disastrous influence on
trade, and this is the worst season even in time of
peace. It must also be remembered that it is only
ten months since the canal was inaugurated. Its
faults, according to the account we have referred to,
are the absence of sidings between Suez and
Ismailia, and the frequency of curves. The
incapability of the pilots to speak English
is another drawback, and has.a good deal to do with
most of the accidents. These, however, have not
been either numerous or serious. On land the open-
ing of the canal has worked great changes. Suez,
which was formerly the resort of the engineers and
others has fallen off in importance and population,
while Ismailia has developed boulevards and gardens
and public buildings, and looks like a bit of Paris
transported to the Desert. •

11
tiMigar.

HER MAJEkSTY.

BALMORAL, OCT. 9.

The Queen, Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, and
Prince Arthur were present at Divine service at the parish
church of Crathie.

The Lord Chancellor, Lieut.-Colonel Elphinstone, and
the Rev. Dr. Taylor had the honour of dining with the
Queen and the Royal Family.

Mr. Peudlebury, senior wrangler 1870, has been
appointed mathematical lecturer at St. John's College,
Cambridge, in place of Mr. Home.

PROTEST OF THE POPE.—The Unita Cattolica
publishes a protestation from the Pope, in the form of a
letter to the members of the Sacred College. He says it
is his wish to make known how much he detests the
present state of things. He feels that he is deprived of
that freedom which is necessary to him to rule the Church
of God, and to maintain its rights. Being deprived of his
former command of the post offices, and having no con-
fidence in the Government which has taken this duty on
itself, he is entirely cut off from indispensable communi-
cation with those who regard him as their spiritual head
and supreme adviser. He gives an illustration of the
altered state of things by mentioning that those
persons who come to see him at the Vatican are
subjected to an examination for fear they should conceal
anything. The Pope declares that great danger will in
future attend public instruction in Rome, forfalse doctrines
will be taught at the University. He puts no faith lathe
professions which have been made with respect to the
preservation of the present laws, and thinks that the de-
crees which have been published with respect to the pro-
perty of the Church reveal the designs of the usurpers.
He protests against these unjust acts, and reserves to
himself the right of making further protests at a future
time.

A BREACH OF ETIQUETTE.—Count BOMEStOrff
appears to hold peculiar views not only about inter-
national law but also about diplomatic courtesy. His
last remonstrance to Lord Granville on the subject of
British neutrality was made public by him before
it could have reached the Foreign Secretary.
The despatch is dated September 8, and on
September 9 translations of it in lithograph were
delivered at all the principal London newspaper offices.
It is therefore certain that a copy of the document must
have been in the hands of the lithographers at a period
when the original was not in the hands of Lord Granville.
It is difficult to believe that a veteran diplomatist like
Count Bernstorff could have offered an unintentional
slight to her Majesty's Ministers. It is true that " Dr.
Cumming of Scotland" and the Pope went so far as to
adopt the press as a means of communication with
respect to the late (Ecumenical Council. The
example of " Dr. Cumming of Scotland," however, can
hardly be supposed to constitute a precedent for the imi-
tation of Count Bernstorff. The course he has thought fit
to adopt, indeed, seems to be wholly without parallel. It
stands forth in the history of diplomacy as a bold and un-
necessary
departure from established usage, unsurpassed
even by what Mr. Disraeli has aptly designated the King
of Prussia's or Count Benedetti's unfortunate " breach of
etiquette at a watering place."— Pall Mall Gazette.

.EXECUTION OF

MARGARET WATERS;

THE BABY FARMER.

The last penalty of the law was carried into execution
upon Margaret Waters, yesterday morning, within the
walls of the Surrey County Prison, in Union-road,
Southwark.

Although the execution was carried out in private, in
accordance with the present state of the law, some scores
of people assembled in front of the gaol, and watched
anxiously for the appearance of the black flag, the hoist-
ing of which signifies to the outer world that the law has
been satisfied. The scaffold was erected in the
south-east corner of the Prison yard, the most
retired part of the enclosure. Here, at a. quarter
to nine o'clock, Calcraft the executioner made his appear
ante, decently clad in black, and attended by two warders.
After inspecting the scaffold, and seeing that everything
was in order, he went to the matron's house, whither the
convict had been brought from her cell a short time before.
Here-the process of pinioning took place, and the melan-
choly procession to the scaffold was formed. The unhappy
woman was supported on her right by the chaplain of the
gaol (the Rev. Mr. Jessop), and on her left by Calcraft ; but
though pale and weak she scarcely needed their assistance
to guide her footsteps. Indeed, throughout she manifested
the greatest firmness. Arrived at the scaffold, she mounted
the steps unaided, and at once took her place upon the
drop. She was dressed in a green tartan gown, and black
silk jacket, while her hair was carefully and smoothly
combed. On taking up her position, she made
the responses to the Litany in a clear and
distinct voice ; and then, casting her eyes up-
wards and clasping her hands, she engaged ear-
nestly and fervently in prayer, asking forgiveness as she
freely forgave all who had done her any injury. The
prayer, like her address to the judge who sentenced her,
was that of a well-educated and intelligent woman. On
its conclusion, addressing the chaplain, she said, " Mr.
Jessop, do you think I am saved ?" In reply to which
that gentleman assured her of the saving power of Chris-
tian faith. Immediately after this the white cap was
pulled down over her face. Putting forth her hand, she
took those of the chaplain and executioner, and said,
" Good bye, Mr. 3 essop, good bye." She then once more
commended her soul .to God; and while in the act of
doing so the bolt was drawn, at five minutes after nine
o'clock. She did not appear to suffer. After hanging for
an hour the body was cut down, and an inquest was held
upon it, according to law. It was then buried within
the precincts of the gaol, as directed by the sentence.
On Monday the unfortunate woman was visited by her
two brothers, who remained with her for about an
hour and a half. One of them said he had
been to see Chief Baron Kelly on Saturday, to lay
before him some corroboration of the convict's statement
that she had employed a wet-nurse for Cowen earlier than
had been stated ; and the Chief Baron said if that had
been produced at the trial it might have had great effect
upon the verdict. Great exertions were made to save her
life by Mr. Charles Gilpin, Mr. Samuel Morley, and Mr.
Edward Baines, A memorial was forwarded to the
Home Office praying for further time, in order to investi-
gate the prisoner's assertions as to her good treatment of
the infants, sending for medical attendance when they
were unwell, &c. On Monday an answer was returned to
the effect that no reason was apparent why further time
should be granted. From the period of her condemnation
the unhappy woman persevered in her statement that she
never intended to murder the children, and that so far as
intention was concerned, she was no murderess.
On Saturday she and a brother received the
Holy Communion in her cell together. It
is said by the gaol officials that during her
confinement in the prison her conduct has been most
exemplary in every respect. She expressed great
affection for most of her family ; and those of them
who visited the gaol spoke of her in terms of
strong endearment. They gave her a good character for
affection and unselfishness, and expressed their conviction
of her innocence of any intention to injure the children.
Since her condemnation she has not had strength to attend
public service in the chapel of the gaol ; but has received
with gratitude the ministrations of the chaplain. At the
request of her brother, a Baptist minister had an inter-
view with her about a week ago, but, while thankful for
the visit, she requested that it might not be repeated, as
she did not wish her mind to be distracted by more than
one ministration. She appeared to have no physical fear
of death, but was very anxious about her future state. On
Monday night she told the chaplain that if he would come
to her at eight o'clock in the morning she would be pre-
pared. She scarcely slept at all during the night, and at
an early hour she sent for Mr. Jessop, who re-
mained with her to the last. Since her sentence she
has scarcely taken anything but beef-tea and stimulants,
and was consequently in a very debilitated conditioi.
On Monday night she handed to Mr, Jessop a lengthy
and well-written statement, in which she reite-
rated her assertions of innocent intentions. In
many points it was almost identical with that
made to Dr. Edmunds, and published last week.
In addition, she said she must plead guilty to obtaining
money under false pretences, by deceit and falsehood.
She was also guilty of laying down the bodies of five or
six children in places where they were afterwards found,
These, since about the 26th of March, died from diarrhoea.
thrush, and convulsions. If she had not given the
children proper food, that was an error of judgment; but
she never gave them sour food, as had been charged
against her. She also denied administering laudanum to
them. Yet she was convinced the jury could not have
come to any other conclusion than they did, with the
evidence before them ; nor could the judge have passed
any other sentence. The case was got up to expose a
system wrong in itself—of parents getting rid of their ille-
gitimate children. The parents were really the sinners.
Were there none such, so unfortunate a one
as herself would not be found. She asked
forgiveness of all she had injured in any way, and con-
cluded by thanking Mr. Jessop for his kindness and
attention.

In compliance with the law, the only persons present at
the execution were the chaplain, the governor of the gaol
(Mr. John Keene), the under-sheriff of the county (C. J.
Abbott, Esq.,) the officials, and the representatives of the
press.