The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-31 00:00:00

THE GREEK MASSACRE.

The London correspondent of the New York World
sends over the startling rumour, which is circulating in
England, that the late seizure and execution of English
travellers by brigands in Greece was a shrewd political
movement on the part of the opposition to the Greek
ministry. It was thought that the responsibility for any
injury to the tourists would fall upon the Government,
and that public opinion in Greece and the demands of
Great Britain would force the ministry to retire. Indeed,
the War Minister has already resigned. If this rumour
should prove to be well founded, the Greeks will certainly
deserve the credit of devising the most profound piece of
political strategy of which there is any record. The mea-
sures are a little harsh, it is true ; but as in love and in
war, so in politics—all things are fair. Tammany must
abdicate in favour of the Greek opposition.—Boston
Advertiser.

STEAMSHIP COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
AUSTRALIA AND CALIFORNIA.
The public mind of the world is kept on the stretch of ex-
citement and anticipation by one great project after another
to bring all nations into rapid communication with one an-
other. Atlantic telegraph ca! lea, the Suez Canal, the great
continental Pacific Railroad, new steamship lines to different
and the most remote parts of the globe, the proposed shii,
canal across the Isthmus of Central America, the Pacific
telegraph cable project to connect China and the East gene-
rally with the American Continent, and .many other grand
works, show the wonderful progress of the age. One of the
latest of these great projects is the establishment of steam-
' ship communication between Australia and California. The
steamer Idaho, which arrived at San Francisco fr m Hono-
lulu, Sandwich Islands, on the sth of .this month, brought
the mails and passengers that came from Australia by the
steamer Wongawonga. There were one hundred and forty
, passengers, nearly all of whom were en route to England.
This is a new line, and is intended either to connect with
the line betw en the Sandwich Islands and San Francisco,
or tot ly directly from Sydney and Auckland to California.
The Wongawonga was full of passengers, and the mails
from New South Wales and New Zealand were very large.
The time from Sydney -to San Francis o alas thirty-nine
days, and from Auckland thirty-one days. Much better
time than this will soon be made. We believe the passage
has been made from Australia to England in forty days
by this route and b, the Pacific Railroad and Atlantic steam-
ships. This as great progress in the commerce of the Pacific
and in traversing so large a portion of the globe. The
Wongawonga, was to be followed by the City of Adelaide
and the City of Melbourne, two other steamers of the new
line. A few years ago, just before the gold discovery in
California, the Pacific Oceati,exceptalongthe Ameri an coasts,
was little traversed by ships of commerce. There were
only a few traders to the Sandwich Islands and the islands
of the South Pacific and the whale ships that navigated that
vast ocean. Now there are steam lines to China and Japan,
to the Sandwich Islands, and to the different countries of
Australia. What a revolution within so short a time! But
we are only on the eve of- still greater pro-
gress. By the aid of telegraphs and steam power
the English speaking people on each side of the vast
Pacific will soon cievelopo an extensive commerce between
themselves and among the islands and countries in and bor-
dering that ocean. The dense populations of Asia will soon
feel this too. But our own country is destined to obtain the
greatest share by far of this commerce. San Fran-
cisco will become, probably, second only to New
York in commercial importance We shall draw the
surplus population of China and other countries of Asia to
do our labour cheaply, and we shall increase largely our ex-
portations and importations. Indeed, we can hardly imagine
what the next twenty years will develop in the way of trade
and intercourse and in the march of civilization in Asia.
Wv have no doubt that a largo portion of the 'ravel
between England and Australia will come this way.
If it be a little farther than by the Indian Ocean,
Suez and the Mediterranean, it is more direct, with
fewer changes, and probably less expensive. The
Pacific is a delightful ocean to navigate, and with steamship
and railroad co:,nections all complete we think the passage
this way can be made in as short or in shorter time than by
the other route. The one hundred and forty passengers in one
steamer en route for Europe by San Francisco and the Pacific
Railroad gives an idea of \Abet may follow. In view of these
developments and prospects we recommend Congress and
our enterprising merchants to turn their attention to the
trade of the Pacific Ocean. A great future is before us in
that part of the world if we will seize the opportunities that
are within our reach.--New Fork Herald.

A LILLIPUTIAN SHIP ON THE ATLANTIC.
A vessel is about to start from Liverpool for New York
where it is expected to arrive within the next forty clays,
which measures only twenty feet from bow to stern, and
will be manned by two men—theowner, Captain Pimorez,
and Captain J. C. Bulkley—whose skill is expected to
guide the frail craft safely across the Atlantic. The only
other living thing on board is a Newfoundland dog. The
tiny vessel is called the City of Ragusa, and is rigged as a
yawl, capable of spreading about seventy yards of can-
vass. There is also a two-bladed propeller, which can be
worked by hand in case of necessity, but which may be
hoisted ont of the water so as not to be a drag when the
wind is favourable. The vessel is covered throughout its
whole length and lined inside to the flooring, and has a
cockpit amidships. The limited space below is fitted up
with as much comfort as circumstances will allow. There
is a patent book-stove on board, and provisions for three
months. A snug sleeping-place is furnished for the
skipper, when not on the watch. The tanks of the
vessel are capable of holding one hundred gallons of
water, which can be allowed to escape in case of necessity,
and the working of the propeller acts as a pump to keep
the hold dry. The owner of 'the Ragusa and Captain
Bulkley have carefully studied their course and feel
confident of reaching New York in safety.

The Suez Canal, it is now contended, will finan-
cially fail, because the receipts are small and the expenses
heavy, the single item of dredging out the desert sands
drifted in by the winds eating fearfully into the tolls.
But it will not fail ; for if necessary all the European
States on the Mediterranean, having had a taste of its
good fruits, will combine to secure the crop.—New York
Herald.

IMMIGRATION—STILL THEY COME.—Last week
nine thousand Europeans were landed in this city from
emigrant ships, in search of new homes. From Ireland
and Germany came five thousand, in about equal propor-
tions, while England and Sweden had the bulk of the
remainder. So ,we draw from the from the best physical
and intellectual sources of the old world—and we improve
all we get—New York Herald.