The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-08 00:00:00

OiTtitina

--
LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1851.

Our worst fears with regard to the relations be-
tween the United States and Cuba are being rapidly
realized. The Ministers of the United States, with the
words of good intention on their lips, are either un-

able or unwilling to carry those good intentions into

effect, and by refusing to permit others who are able
and willing to do that which they themselves profess a
desire to do, whilst facts prove that they are unable to
accomplish it, they throw a grave doubt on the sin-
cerity of their professions. By the Royal mail steamer
Africa, which arrived at Liverpool on Saturday,we have
received intelligence from New York to the 27th, and
from New Orleans to the 23rd ult. The organ
of the American Executive, the Washington National
intelligencer, after announcing that the fifty prisoners
forming part of the LOPFZ expedition had been shot
at the Havannah, after a trial by court-martial, and
not without trial, as had been stated, declares that the

Government will cause inquiry to be made into the
circumstances attending this execution, and then pro-
ceeds as follows :

" A full invehtigaticn will also be had into the cir-
cumstance of firing at the United States mail steamer
Falcon by a Spanish cruiser.
" At the same time that these steps are being taken,
renewed and rigid instructions will b* issued to the civil,
military, and naval officers of the Government to take
all legal steps, and employ all the means at their com-
:sand to cheek and break up any armed and illegal ex-
peditions from the United States against the territories
of friendly powers, arid to seizi any vessels and arrest
all persons who may be concerned therein ; it being the
fixed determination of the Government to maintain its

treaty obligations, and to enforce the laws of the land,
the recent violation of which, in the case of the
expedition of the Pumper°, has 1.. d to ouch lamentable
results."

Provided these professions were practically car-
ried out, nothing could be more satisfactory, but the
accounts from New Orleans, brought by this same
packet, furnish us with a practical commentary on
the professions of the United States Executive, which
proves how little reliance can be placed upon
them. The accounts from New Orleans of
the 23d state that hundreds of men were pouring
into the city to take part in the invasion of Cuba ;
that a large body of " Cuban Liberators" had broken

into the office of the Spanish newspaper La Patria,
and completely destroyed it, scattering the types
about the streets ; that the dwelling of the Spanish
Consul had been attacked and wrecked, and that be
himself had been compelled, iu order to save his life,
to take refuge in the gaol, which was surrounded by

the Cuban Liberators, who threatened to demolish it
unless the Spanish Consul was given up to them to
be Lynched, and to crown the whole, we find, under
the date Aug. 21, the following announcement :

" Two more steamers, filled with men, sailed
to-day to Join Lopez. The interference of the
United States Marz,hal was of no avail. The fitting
oat and embarkation were accomplished in defiance of
the authorities. The most intense excitement pre-
vails, and everything is done openly. Every boat from
above is bringing down soldiers fur the Estriot cause
in Cuba."

After reading the above announcement it is clear
that no reliance whatever can be placed upon the
professions of the Executive of the United States.
If these marauding expeditions can be fitted out thus
openly, in defiance of the authorities, it is clear that,
however excellent may be the intentions of the autho-
rities, they are themselves impotent for the execu-
tion of the law, and, therefore, as regards foreign na-
tions, they might as well not exist at all. It is the
duty, therefore, of the maritime nations of the world
to combine together to put down this system of piracy
as they would any other system of piracy, for piracy
it is pure and simple, without even the excuse of a
rising in Cuba to give the pirates a colourable excuse
for pursuing their organized system of brigandage.
The movement at Principe was put down weeks
before the arrival of LOPEZ and his brigands. The
persons engaged in it never exceeded sixty men,
the movement was put down by the country
People, and the whole of those engaged in it taken.
The leader, ARbiENTARO, and eight others were con-
demned to death, four to banishment, and the rest
pardoned. It does not appear that a single native
has joined LOPEZ since he landed. Under these
circumstances, the attempts of these United States
pirates to invade Cuba is as contrary to the law of
nations and as wicked as it would be if the European
societies for the abolition of slavery were to land an
army of di-ciplined negroes, well officered and well
supplied with ammunition, in one of the slave states of
tSe South, and proclaim freedom to the slaves. This
is by no means so extravagant a supposition as may
at first sight appear, and the precedent which the
Americans are themselves setting with r. gard to this
case of Cuba is exactly a case in point, to support the
views of the more fanatical. of the Abolitionists.
It is said that the United States Government have
ordered a naval force to Cuba to intercept any fur-
ther expeditions which may be dispatched from
America. We hope that such is the case, and that that
naval force will intercept all such; should it, how-
ever, fail from any cause in satisfactorily executing
enter rto
duty,in we trust that our own Government will
an understanding with the Governments of
France and Spain, and that their combined forces

LONDON,

will perform that which the United States Govern-
ment is unable or unwillina, to accomplish.

Since the appearance of the second report of the
Select Committee on Steam Communications with
India, &c., we have anxiously anticipated some move-
ment on the part of Ministers to indicate the
decision at which they would ultimately arrive
with respect to that interesting and important sub-

ject. We should not have supposed that there could
be much doubt or difficulty in the matter. A pro-
tracted inquiry had taken place ; the questions at
issue had been thoroughly investigated in all
their details, by men of considerable ability
and experience. The CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER and twe subordinate members of
the Government participated in the labours, and
approved of the report of that Committee, which,
indeed, commanded general assent. The responsibility
of carrying out its valuable recommendations with
honesty and fairness devolved upon the Government,
to whom the duty was intrusted, with the significant
hint that it could " only Le effected by ample notice,
and full particulars of the terms and conditions re-
quired being given, so as to enable all parties to enter
the field who may be desirous of tendering for the
service." When a Cabinet Minister had affixed his
name to that report, we should have supposed his
mind was fully made up, and that his colleagues were
quite prepared to act in accordance with the views
therein put forward. Week after week has, however,
slipped away without anything tangible having been
effected, and on this Bth day of September we are no
further in advance than we were on the 29th day of
July, when the report was published—not a single
particle of progress having been achieved during the
interval.

To understand the mischievous consequences of
this delay it is necessary that the real state of the
case, and the procrastination that has already
taken place, should be explained. The evils of
the existing monopoly, or as the Committee
have termed it, the exclusive traffic on the Indian
lines" in the hands of one company, have long been ap-
parent to all persons having commercial relations
with British India, and also to those who resorted to
the overland passage. A vigorous and energetic
attempt was made to provide a suitable remedy pre-
vious to the last renewal of the contract, which only
failed at the last moment, through causes into which
it is not now necessary to enter, further than to say
that it has generally been believed in the City
that the failure was in a great degree, if not
altogether ascribable to the undue pressure of offi-
cials, who, having wasted many valuable days through
their own culpable apathy, were unwilling to allow
even hours for reasonable consideration to the parties
willing to enter into active competition with those in
possession of the line. The consequence was, that a
new contract was signed with the Peninsular and
Oriental Steam Packet Company, for the conveyance
of mails by monthly packets from Southampton to
Alexandria, and from Suez to Calcutta, and Ceylon to
Hong-Kong, at an annual cost of 183,0001., of which the
East India Company contributed 70,000/., receiving

back 50,0001. for the conveyance of mails between
Suez and Bombay. The entire charge to the Ex-
chequer, therefore, amounts to 163,0001. per annum,
exclusive of " the cost of communication between
Alexandria and the Post office in London, the
amount of which the Committee had not the means of
estimating." We do not allude to these antecedents
for the purpose of in any degree censuring the Go-
vernment with respect thereto, but merely to
show that their attentien having been E 0 forci-
bly directed to the subject, they should have
exercised increased vigilance and avoided any degree
of laches on the present occasion.
On the 27th of March, a resolution of the House
of Commons was carried to the effect—
`" That a Select Committee be appointed to irquire
into the existing Steam Communications with India and
China, and into the practicability of effecting any im-
provement therein; and also into the best mode of
establishing steam communications between Engiand,
India, China, Australia, New 2-aland, or any of them,
as well as any points upon the several routes between
them."

The Committee at once entered upon its duties.
Many witnesses were examined, and two reports pre-
pared and'approved of ; the first, relating to the postal
relations with Australia, was published in June, the
second, of a more pressing character, concerning the
improvements of which the steam communication
with India is susceptible, in July. The delay occa-
sioned by this inquiry, although unavoidable, so long

as the matter remained sub judice, was yet exceed-
ingly injurious to the commercial interests
of the country. It acted as a practical
prohibition to any positive arrangements being
entered into, and, but for the decision and foresight
of a body of influential gentlemen, who in anticipa-
tion of the report formed a company, would have
thrown the game altogether into the hands of those
already in occupation, who could have enforced such
terms as they thought proper in the absence of all
competition.

But although the capital was subscribed, and every
arrangement entered into for providing the necessary
materiel, no further step can be takes while the Govern-
ment remain inactive. Although we are told that
the deed of settlement of the Eastern Steam Naviga-
tion Company has been signed by subscribers repre-
senting no less than 49,167 shares out of 49,280
allotted in England, so that nothing on
their part is wanting, the directors are un-
able to take any further steps in the
absence of some clear announcement of Ministerial
intentions—without knowing whether the vessels
must be of wood, or if iron-boats are eligible—with-
out being informed as to the rate of speed that may be
required, whether 10, 11, 12, 13, or even 14 knots
an hour may be stipulated. Being utterly uninstructed
as to the tonnage of the vessels or powers of the en-
gines, it is impossible for the new company to com-
plete its arrangements with the ship-builders or
the makers of the engines. All these essential steps
must necessarily be postponed until the Government
has shaken off its apathy, and spoken out plainly and
intelligibly. It was given in evidence before the
Committee that 18 or 20 months would be required to
prepare and place the vessels on the line, ready for
service. Sixteen months only remain before the
contracts with the Peninsular and Oriental Company
will expire, and yet the same unaccountable silence
is maintained, and the entire subject is still enveloped
in mystery.

We cannot suppose that any Minister would en-
courage the opposition merely for the purpose of ob-
taining better terms from the parties in possession.
Although no friends to the policy of Sir CHARLES
Woon, we do not suppose that he could be guilty
of such duplicity. We are disposed to give
him credit for a fair and bond fide intention to pro-
mote that wholesome and salutary competition so
strongly advocated in the report of the Committee,
and to procure for the public the unquestionable
advantage of a bi-montbly communication. But the
insouciance exhibited is open to a worse construc-
tion ; and a continued negligence may give rise to
louder and more serious complaints than
any that have yet been put forward.
The Right Honourable Gentleman has no super-
abundant popularity to spare, and he should
avoid incurring any additional odium. We are
willing to believe that hitherto the fault has been
merely one of omission. If continued it may assume
a very different aspect.

DIPLOM/TIC CIIAINGPS.—Mr. James Hudson, now
her Majesty's Minister at Rio Janeiro, is appointed ber Ma..
jesty's Minister at Florence. Mr. Henry Southern, now
Minister at Buenos Ayres, is to succeed Mr. Hudson at Rio
de Janeiro. Captain the Hon. Robert Gore, R. N., now
Chargé d'Affaires at Monte Video, is appointed in the same
capacity at Buenos Ayres. 'rue Hon. Frederick Bruce, now
Chargé d'Affaires in the Republic of Bolivia, is to succeed
Captain Gore at Monte Video.— Sunday Paper.

- -
LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY EThNINO. ThP Royal
Mail steam ship Europa, Captain Lott, sailed from the Mer-
sey at 4 o'clock this afternoon, for Halifax and Boston, with
the usual mails, a large freight, and 150 passengers. The
United States' Mail steam-ship Baltic, Captain Comstock,
with advices from New York to the 30th ult., may be ex-
pected to arrive at Liverpool on Tuesday next.
SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY, SLPT. 7. The United
States' Mail attain-ship Washington, Captain G. W. Floyd,
arrived here at an early hour this morning from Bremen, en
route to New York, for which port she is to depart hence on
Wednesday next with the usual semi-weekly mails. The
Washington made the run from the Wesler in 36 hours.
The water piping laid down in the borough of
Manchester extends 96th miles in length, or about half the
distance between the metropolis and that town. The pro-
mised supply, when the works are completed, is 30,000,000
of gallons per day, to be distributed to 41 0,000 inhabitants
(including those in Salford), or 75 gallons each person. 01
course millownera will have the opportunity of takings large
quantity from this deluging supply.