The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-02 00:00:00

OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.

The agent of the North German Lloyd's steamers is at
present in Washington, where he is canvassing the proba-
bilities of reversing the negative action of Congress on
the proposition to transfer his vessels to the American
flag. He presents the case in such a light that the penny
wise and pound foolish Congress-men, who preferred that
the country should lose all the advantages of the transfer
rather than that they should loss their free pas-
sages on the railways homeward, will be able
to see their folly in a clear light. The Prussian
Governmeut offered us the first choice, and if we persist
in our refusal they will offer the same proposition to the
English Government, which will be quick enough to accept
it. Thus by the blunder of Congress we not only decline
a free increase of our own mercantile marine, but we make
ourselves accessory to an increase in the same propor-
tion of the mercantile marine of our nearest
rival. Secretary Fish, with an eye to the pro-
tection of our mails, has, it is reported, in-
structed Minister Washburne to request the Em-
peror Napoleon not to interfere with Prussian
steamers carrying our mails. This is an extraordinary
request to make to the Emperor when he is so palpably
bent on a decisive and unrelenting war. He may probably
feel kindly towards us for that blunder which Congress
made (and Prussia by the way, may feel correspondingly
bitter), but he is too shrewd to forego such immense prizes
merely through a kindly feeling. The only way in which
we can protect our foreign mails is to hoist the American
flag over them, and that Congress has lost the opportunity
of doing.—New York Herald.

VIOLENT STORM.
MONTREAL, CANADA, July 14, 1870.

One of the most fearful storms which has ever visited
this country swept over Montreal last evening. It com-
menced about five o'clock, and actually levelled every
thing in its way. A large number of buildings were
utterly destroyed, and hundreds were severely damaged.
No loss of life, however, has been yet reported. Two of
the large freight sheds of the Grand Trunk Railway were
prostrated, and the loss in them must be immense. All
telegraphic communication with the city was stopped,
the wires having been blown down as far west as
Lachine. The city is in ast ate of frantic excitement, and
rumours are spread of still greater damage. at other points
from the violence of the storm.

LEWISTON, Mc., July 14, 1870.

This afternoon a violent wind-storm passed north of
this city. In North Auburn the barn of Hooper Conant
was blown down ; and in Green the barn of Stinson
Parker was blown down. Mr. Parker lost his life by
being buried in the ruins. The oxen and horses in the
building were saved.

BANGOR, July 14, 1870.

A severe tornado passed over this vicinity this after-
noon, between three and four o'clock, accompanied by hail
and thunder and lightning and torrents of rain. In this
city but little damage was done, one housebeing struck by
lightning, with slight damage. Trees were twisted and
prostrated in the adjoining towns. The storm was much
more severe and the damage greater in Hampden, Orring-
ton, Bucksport, Brewer add Holden. Houses and barns
were blown down, fences broken, and in some cases all
the windows were broken by the hail, which fell so thickly
that it lay in winrows. In Orrington one house, con-
taining a family, was removed from its foundation, and
another blown down, without injury to the inmates. The
damage to growing crops must be considerable.

A WORD TO THE FARMERS OF THE
UNITED STATES.

There is a prospect of a terrible war in Europe, involv-
ing the destruction of millions of dollars' worth of sub-
sistence which in peace would be saved. At the same
time a wasting drought in France has shortened her crops
one-half and reduced the price of her live stock to almost
nothing, owing to the scarcity of forage ; and the same
drought, more or less disastrous in its effects, has been
felt, and still prevails from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
From these facts it is apparent that there will
be an extraordinary demand all over Europe
for the next twelve months for our surplus breadstuffs and
provisions of all descriptions. We have had aoplendid
wheat harvest, which includes a good harvest of rye,
barley, and oats. Our Indian corn crop, the most impor-
tant crop of the United States, is now developing itself,
and the general promise is very good. We would say,
however, to every farmer concerned, North and
South, make and save as much of this crop as
possible, for by next winter the product of an
acre in corn may be worth more in cash than an acre's
yield in cotton. At the same time, in order to guard as
far as possible against unscrupulous speculators, the
Agricultural Bureau at Washington may. render an im-
portant service to the country in ascertaining the amount
of our products this year in wheat, corn, potatoes, &c.,
from reliable sources. All parties concerned, and espe-
cially consumers, will know better what to do in the
work of harmonising demand and supply in knolVing upon
what we have to depend in the way of a surplus of
breadstuffs for exportation.—New York Herald.

THE WAR NEWS IN WASHINGTON.
(From the New York Herald of July 18. )
WASHINGTON, July 17, 1870.

Gustave Schwab, the managing member of the Ncrth
German Lloyds steamship line, arrived here to-day to
consult with the authorities as to whether some step can-
not be taken to prevent the interruption of the commerce
between this country and the North German ports. Mr.
Schwab had an interview with Secretary Boutwell among
others, and endeavoured to impress upon our Financial
Minister the necessity of urging upon the President the
propriety of calling an extra session of Congress with a view
to meeting the emergency by some appropriate legislation.
Secretary Boutwell listened attentively to the reasons
urged by Mr. Schwab without expressing any opinions
himself. Mr. Schwab represented that the interests of
this country demanded some action promptly, and en-
deavoured to shew that the cost of transporting height
here would be increased fifty per cent. by the transfer of
the North German Lloyd and Hamburg steamers to the
British flag. These two lines have a fine fleet of some
twenty-five or thirty steamships, and of course their
transfer to England giving the latter almost a
complete monopoly of the carrying trade—would
seriously affect our interests. Mr: Schwab had inter-
views with several Senators and members still remaining
about the city, and from the views expressed by one and
all of them concludes that there is no doubt if Congress
could be got together again without delay the recommen-
dations of the President would meet with a more favour-
able response from democrats as well as republicans. Mr.
Schwab also had an interview with Baron Gerolt,
the Prussian Minister, but what transpired has not
leaked out. It is understood, however, that
the Baron has succeeded in persuading Secretary
Fish to send a despatch to Minister Washburne instruct-
ing the latter to ask the French Government to permit
the German steamers carrying the United States mails to
proceed on their voyage free from attack and to stop at
any ports not under actual blockade. Secretary Fish
has, in fact, sent a strong note of this kind to Mr. Wash-
burne, but it is believed it will have little effect upon the
Emperor Napoleon. There is an opinion here that
Napoleon desires a short and most effective campaign, and
he will not willingly surrender any means of crippling
the power of Prussia.
There is a movement to have some younger and more
vigorous representative than Baron Geroft sent to this
country during the present crisis. Gerolt is regarded as
too slow and feeble for such an emergency as the p_r_?spnt,
and some of his countrymen consider that King Wilham
could strengthen his cause very materially by sending a
more wide-awake Minister to our republican Court. The
post of Prussian Minister to this country is difficult
enough without being embarassed by complaints and
grumblings of this character.
It is said that Secretary Fish has also instructed
Minister Washburne to offer protection to Prussians in
France, for the reason that many of our naturalised citi-
zens come from Prussia, and that the Prussiau Govern-
ment has no representative in Paris.
The Prussian Minister has telegraphed to various
distant points in the way of instructions to German •
vessels.

The Coal Monopolists have met with another
reverse. The eight hour strike in the Scranton coal
region was an entire failure. On the day appointed for
the turn-out the men were all found steadily at their
work, and it is thought that operations will be immediately
resumed in the Schuylkill region. Every attempt this
season to force up the price of coal by means of strikes
has been unsuccessful, and consumers may rest satisfied.
that they will be able to secure their stock of fuel at
reasonable prices.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT .PATERSON.—An inno-
cent but somewhat singular style of amusement which
Jersey has adoptod resulted in a very serious accident at
Paterson. This style of amusement consists of a series
of burlesque boat and tub races, the contestants pulling
blindfolded in some instance and whenever a chance
occurs varying the fun by upsetting any out-
sider who ventures in their neighbourhood in
a boat. These games were going on at Lake Dundee, and
in order to see one of the prominent men of Peterson
upset a crowd of two hundred persons, mostly ladies and
children, rushed to the balcony overhanging the water.
The balcony gave way, and all of them were precipitated
into the water, which was, luckily, only a foot or two
deep. They were all rescued, but many of them were in-
jured by the fall and the splinters, and one little boy will
probably die of his injuries,