The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-11 00:00:00

THE NEUTRALITY OF OCEAN CAI3I ES.

The neutrality of ocean cables is a question which has
Dean lately under discussion. A circular was sent to the
American representatives at the end of Novemler, stating
that the President thought the present moment a
favourable one for the negotiation of a joint convention of
the maritime powera for the protection of submarine
cables. The United States has particular interest in their
protection, and its commercial position entitles it to
initiate the movement. The President suggests that
provision be made for protecting cables in peace
or war from wilful injury, such as that inflicted during
the present year on the cable connecting Cuba with the
United States. Such acts are to be declared piracy, and
punished as such. Provisions are to be made to
encourage the future construction of these lines,
no exclusive concession of a cable being made
hereafter without the joint action of the two
Governments whose shores are connected. Thirdly, pro-
vision is to be made against the scrutiny of
messages by Government officials. Instructions
have been sent to the American representatives
at twenty-two courts, and each representative is
to propose to the Court at which he is that
its Minister at Washington be empowered to enter
into the negotiation. Some favourable answers have been
received, but the question is how far the great Powers will
be willing to resign their control of the cables in time ct
War.

IMAM ATIC LITERATURE.
The wailers over the decay of the drama cannot
complain of any falling off in the numbers of
new works brought upon the stage. According to the
Daily I 62t8 no less than 154 new pieces were pro-
duced in London last year, distributed among thirty-
four theatres end other places of entertainment. To
these, if we add eighty-three pieces produced in pro-
vincial theatres, we have a total of 237, or not very
much less that five a week. The classification of
these productions is not an easy one, and is, besides,
open to question. One hundred and fifty-four of the
London pieces, however, may be set down as
"drama," 21 were burlesques or extravaganzas, 16
were comedies, 7 comediettas, 15 farces, 4 operettas,
2 comic operas, and 17 pantomimes. The provinces
get very few plays which are afterwards
presented in London. Among, however, those
first played "in the country," and after-
wards brought out "in town," were Mr. Robert-
son's "My Lady Clara," afterwards called "Dreams;"
Messrs. Toni Taylor and Dubourg's "New Men and
Oli Acres ;" Mr. Spedding's burlesque of "Ino," and
Mr. Wybert Reeve's " Won at Last."

KIDNAPPING AND ENSLAVING YOUNG AFRICANS,
Official correspondence has been published
relating to the alleged kidnapping and enslaving
of young Africans by the people of the Trans-
vaal Republic. Despite the convention made in
1832 between the South African Republic and
her Majesty's Executive against slavery, there exists
a law of the former Government by which children
and youths called orphans can be registered as ap-
prentices for a term of twenty-one years, and can dur-
ing that time be sold from hand to hand as a marketable
commodity. The information reached our Govern-
ment chiefly through the missionaries of South
Africa, and, according to their statements, it is a
extuttuntiatalayalumblicaalagalitigati.2l

young eanres, wno nave oeen renaerea orpnanr
through the murder of their parents by German and
other foreign slavers. It is computed that there are up-
wards of 4000 of these children now in bondage, which,
unless the reveal of the law can be obtained will only
end with their lives. If these harrowing details be
true, and the despatches published leave little room
for doubt, the deepest interest must be felt in the
endeavours of the British Government to prevent the
continuance of such atrocities.