The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-24 00:00:00

AMERICA AND ENGLAND.

The correspondent of the Times at Philadelphia writes
home on December 9th to say that if the Alabama contro-
versy is to be reopened with a view to a settlement by
the British Government dealing directly with the claim-
ants, it is evident that some of these claimants are prepar-
ing to make large demands. A. correspondent writes
to the Boston Traveller that in case of such a set-
tlement England ought to pay, first, the crews
of the vessels destroyed, their unrecovered wages, and
the full value of every rag of clothing and all nautical
instruments lost ; secondly, the full value of every
uninsured vessel and cargo captured ; thirdly, all the
extra insurance premiums paid to those who paid them ;
and fourthly, the underwriters, where they can shew their
losses to have been greater than their profits. The Tra-
veller is of opinion that this is the honest way to settle
the Alabama claims. Canada is still excited about the
paragraphs of the President's Message referring to
United States' disputes with the Dominion, especially
those relative to the fishery question. The Montreal
Gazette argues to shew the inconsistency of the
President's complaints against the Convention of 1818,
and says that, while Canada is always ready to negotiate
for the settlement of all matters in dispute, it cannot
submit to any " stand-and-deliver " arguments. The
Montreal Herald, taking a more moderate view of the
subject, trusts there will be sufficient right feeling among
the people of both countries to peacefully get over the
existing difficulties. The Toronto Globe thinks that for
President Grant thus to come down upon Canada with
his threats and bluster is the antipodes of courage.
It asks how he is going by his acts to recognise as
an equal and independent Power the Dominion of
Canada, of which, as his language implies, he has no
official knowledge. It is for the United States and Great
Britain to settle the construction of the Treaty of 1848,
and in the maintenance of the Treaty for the rights and
preservation of the fisheries England with Canada has a
common interest. It hopes, if Grant cannot see the false
position in which he is placed, that Congress will discover
it for him.. He may exclude Canadian vessels from his
ports, and try by other petty means to harass the
Canadians. That was tried when the Reciprocity
Treaty was repealed, and Canada has grown ever since
beyond all anticipations. The President's will is not
omnipotent, and should weigh but lightly against the clear
and obvious interests of the American nation. These
interests, thr Globe continues, point at once to the removal
of all grounds of irritation, all pretexts for tirades by un-
scrupulous party leaders, and all risk of collision between
Powers that ought to show the world an example of
amity and peace. In thus paying homage to a higher
principle, the pecuniary gain to both Canada and
the United States would be beyond all calculation. From
Ottawa two telegrams have been received. One states
that the Dominion Government has no idea of abandoning
its present line of policy, although thoroughly desirous of
behaving in the most friendly manner to the United
States. It feels, however, that the people of
Canada have endorsed and will sustain the Go-
vernment policy, and also that the Imperial autho-
rities have approved the action of the Canadian
Government. The second telegram from Ottawa, which
is sent to the New York Tribune, says that the paragraphs
of the Message have caused considerable excitement in
Government circles, that the Message is almost unani-
mously looked upon as hostile and insulting to the
Dominion, and that reference is made to the fact that no
condemation appears in the Message of the late Fenian
raid. In the American Congress no allusion has been
made to the matter beyond a call for papers about a vessel
seizure.

THE EMPRESS EUGENIE.—The Empress of the
French is at present actively employed in raising a fund
for the relief of the wives and families of the French sol-
diers prisoners in the hands of the Prussians. As a means
of increasing the fund, it has been decided that a dramatic
performance be given in London, under the patronage of
her Imperial Majesty. It is stated that negotiations hhve
been entered upon to secure the occupation of Drury-lane
Theatre at an early date.

THE EASTERN FISHERIES.—The herring fishery
may now be said to have terminated off the eastern coast.
The total number of herrings landed at Great Yarmouth is
calculated to have been about two hundred and forty
millions. Many of the boats engaged in the fishery have
earned from £l,OOO to £1,500 each. During the current
week wages have been distributed at Great Yarmouth
among the crews engaged to the amount of about forty
thousand pounds.
THF. MURDER NEAR WARRINGTON.— The War-
rington Guardian states that James Halloran and Patrick
M'Grath were charged on Thursday, before the borough
magistrates, with being implicated in the murder of Mr.
John Forrest, at Sankey, last month. A witness swore
that M'Grath was asleep at his stepfather's house when
the murder was committed, and a clear alibi was esta-
blished for Halloran. At the conclusion of the case,
however, in consequence of other evidence against the
prisoners, they were comntted for trial.
DEATH OF GEORGE FISHER.—OId students of
King's College and the Royal Academy will regret to learn
of the death of George Fisher, many years the attendant
on the Professor of Anatomy at the above-named institu-
tions. For some days past he has been missing from the
scene of duties which he had long and efficiently per-
formed ; severe illness, arising from a puncture in the
thumb, received in some way while assisting in the dis-
secting-room. at King's College, had kept him a prisoner
in his house, which proved fatal on Tuesday last. The
loss off one so popular has caused a feeling of sorrow
throughout the college, any many an old pupil of Kin:._;-'s
will grieve over the untimely end of poor Fisher.
A. MYSTERY OF THE SEA .—A Frelich schooner
haS been brought into Scarborough harbour by two
fishing smacks belonging to Mr. James Sellers. The
smacks were on the fishing ground of the Dogger
Bank, when they espied a vessel drifting wfth the
sea. They bore down to her, and found she had been
abandoned by her crew. She bore no name, and
there was not to be found on board any book or
paper or other indication whatever of the port to
which she belongs. It is possible that in the strong
weather that has prevailed in the North Sea the crew
may have been unduly alarmed and taken refuge on board
another vessel,. or they may have been taken prisoners by
a Prussian cruizer. From her build, she is a French
vessel. She is timber laden.
THE BANKERS AND THEIR CLE RK S.—l t was
reported last week that the directors of a well-known
London banking establishment had issued an order pro-
hibiting all the clerks in their employ whose salary is under
£l5O a year from marrying, on pain of instant dismissal.
The unfavourable notice wh,ich the Press has taken of this
decree has been far other than serviceable to those whom it
most nearly affects. In reply to a petition from the
clerks to have the hours of business lessened in "some slight
degree, the rep y of the Board has been that chronometers
are to be set up in all its offices, and that any clerk
whose arrival is even one minute after nine o'clock in the
morning will be fined half a ,crown, and that six repeti-
tions of the offence will subject the offender to suspension
or dismissal.

There has been some discussion lately as to the
practical advantages of encouraging the use of the Welsh
language. The probability is that it is now socially, ia
bar the material interests and national progress of the
Welsh themselves ; but,. in a religious point of view, the
follopiw, anecdote may indicate that it is the means. f con-
veying Co them advantages which English clergymen have
seldom the inclination or courage to impart to their congrega-
tion. An English resident in Wales recently, walking from
church with his rector, compliinented him upon the ex-
cellence and importance of the sermon he had preached;
and added that it reminded him of Bishop Horsley's re-
markable sermon on ".Our Lord's Descent into Hell."
" Did you recognise any similarity of language ?" he in-
quired. " No," was the reply, " but a close resemblance
in the treatment of the subject." " Well, now," said the
rector, " I'll tell you a secret. The original sermon is by
Bishop Horsley. My general practice is this. There are
not half a dozen in my congregation, either. Welsh
or English, who have the remotest chance of ever know-
ing anything of the teaching of our best divines, unless. I
impart it to them. So I translate the sermons (with cur-
tailment) of our standard authors for my Welsh congrega-
tion, and re-translate them for my English congregation ;
by which process—unless, like yourself, an individual
happens to be well acquainted with the original—there is
not the slightest chance of my useful piracy being
suspected,"