The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-12 00:00:00

sent generation. It is only necessary indeed to con-
template the beautiful piece of mechanism by which
M. FOUCAULT has, within the last few weeks, suc-
cessfully demonstrated the rotation of the earth upon
its own axis, to be assured that wonders are being
momentarily brought to light, of which our fore-
fathers never dreamt even in the wildest soarings of
their imagination. In alluding, moreover, to this
exquisite fabrication of the French philosopher, we
are by no means directing the attention of our
readers to a matter beyond the reach of their own in-
quiry, seeing that the principle by which the pendulum
is employed to show the correctness of one portion of
the system constructed by NEWTON, by GALILEO,
and by COPERNICUS, is being now daily explained with
the utmost possible lucidity, by one of the popular
and intelligent lecturers at the Polytechnic Institution.
Having ourselves, only as recently as yesterday,
listened to the prelection upon this most interesting
subject at the above-mentioned establishment, we
may be permitted to refer our readers to it with the
more emphasis as a token of the accuracy of our fore-
going observations. If anything else were required
to evidence the truth of this remark, that novelties are
being daily thrust upon public consideration, we
might particularize a variety of extraordinary and in
many instances very feasible schemes put forward by
the more practical and energetic among the promo-
ters of civilization. Every one remembers the pro-
jects of the lamented WAGHORN—projects which after
being severely tested by their indefatigable originator
himself, have proved so peculiarly advantageous to
the country at large, binding more strongly together
the European and Asiatic portions of our gigantic do-
minions. Other suggestions tending in like manner to
affect the interests of England most beneficially, though
it may be by the adoption of very different routes of
communication, have been thrown out since then by
various intelligent students in geography and en-
gineering. Among these recommendations none are
more deserving of scrutiny than those relating to the
construction of a huge trunk railway across America,
joining together the two great oceans, the Pacific and
the Atlantic.
A lecture elucidating the nature of this stupen-
dous undertaking was delivered by Mr. ASA
WHITNEY, before the members of the Royal
Geographical Society, at King's College, on
Monday evening, the remarks of the lecturer
being immediately afterwards followed by a
singularly important and animated discussion.
In the course of this discussion it was observed by
an engineer no less illustrious than Mr. ROBERT
STEPHENSON, that the only difficulty according to
his view of the matter, as regarded a long railway,
was one of a merely commercial character. After a
statement so explicitly, so emphatically, and so de-
liberately expressed by the originator of the tubular
bridge, it will be idle for any captious dissentient to
I babble about the physical impediments in the way
of carrying the scheme hinted at into operation.
According to another speaker, Captain FITZROY, the
construction of a huge railroad through a wild and
totally uninhabited coun try, such for exampleiis the
Hudson's Bay territory, would necessitate a lapse of
time greatly detrimental to the undertaking as a
commercial enterprise. But in opposition to this we
would simply revert to the few words already quoted
from the pithy comments of Mr. STEPHEN..
SON. Cordially, though briefly, we would
here express our coincidence with the opinion
expressed by the Rev. C. G. NICOLAY, to the
effect that Mr. WHITNEY is altogether
incorrect in asserting the greater facility of carrying
the proposed railway through the United States than
through the British territory. How Colonel LLOYD
can possibly have estimated the time required in
bringing the scheme to a satisfactory state of com-
pletion, and have calculated the interval to such an
exceeding nicety as to fix it at precisely 220 years,
no more and no less, it would, we opine, be somewhat
difficult to conjecture. Setting aside, however, all such
preposterous objections, it must be admitted that, vast
and bewildering from its magnitude though the
project may appear on the first consideration, it is at
the same time calculated to prove not only capable
of realisation, but certain also to confer upon the
empire inestimable advantages of a pecuniary
description. Nevertheless, enormous though these
advantages would be certain to prove, the scheme
ought not, as Major CARMICHAEL SMYTH very
judiciously remarked, to be regarded alone as a route
for commerce, but also, and peculiarly, as
affording employment and facilities for the
settlement of a large section of the population. Con-
sidered in this light, the proposed railway should be
promoted not merely by the sagacious speculator and
the intelligent promoter of commercial enterprises,
but likewise, and in a remarkable manner, by every
patriot and every philanthropist. With such fourfold
solicitude have we watched the rise and development
of all the ideas tending to this railroad junction of the
Pacific and Atlantic ; and with undiminished anxiety
we shall continue to observe their progress until the
dream of the theorist shall have been actually a
tempted to be realized by the skill of the engineer,

SPAIN.
Madrid jownals of the 6th have arrived.
It was not Pxpected that the Chamber of Deputies
would be finally Constituted before the 10th.

GERMANY.
The Aix ‘ltb Chapelle Gazette states that in conse-
quence of the demand of the Government of the pro-
vince, tbo Prussian Ministry has decided that English
travellers, having a regular passport, shall be admitted
to the Prussia territory without the visa of a diplo-
matic or consUar agent of Prussia being required.
At the sitting of the Germanic Diet at Frankfort
on the 7th, Cunt Tnrx, the President, announced
that Lord CotLEr and M. DE TALLENAY had pre•
sented their ciedentials, the former, as ambassador of
her 13ritannicMAJEsicy, and the latter, as Minister
of the French Republic, to the Confederation. The
Assembly having heard the letters read, and found
that thsy wert, perfectly en regle, decided that it
officially recotnised these gentlemen, and authorised
the Presidentto make to them the necessary commu-
nications on the subject.
A letter froz Berlin states :--
" The King of Holland has just conferred on M.
Rauch the Cross of Chevalier of the Royal order of the
Lion of the Netherlands, accompanied by an autograph
letter, in whit his Majesty congratulates that distin-
guished artist on the execution of the superb monument
of Frederic IL which has just been inaugurated at Berlin.
Two grand Pullicfiles are about to be given in this capital
in honour of AI. Rauch, one by the Royal Academy of the
Fine Arts, thi other by all the native and foreign artists
now in Berlin. At the former of these fetes there will
be executed a cantata, written for the occasion and set
to music by JZ Meyerbeer."
A letter fr)tri Vienna of the sth says :--
" The Danish question was made the subject of con-
ferences at Warsaw and at Olmutz, but no resolution
was come to. The Czar and Count de Nesselrode have
formally declsred against the adoption of Prince Chris-
tian de Gluckibourg by the King, and the entrance of all
the Danish ramarchy into the Germanic Confederation.
Russia regards the question of the succession to the
throne as a family affair, and wishes that the line of
Oldenbourg Biould have the preference; she agrees on
this point wits Austria. The question, however, of the
entrance of the Danish monarchy into the Germanic
Confederation presents a more immediate interest, and
on this Emelt and Austria are not agreed."

A letter N ORWA Y.
says :--
a.oni Christiana (Norway), 30th ult.,

The loaf Which the Storthing has authorised our
Government to contract, in order to cover a part of the
expenses of the construction which is about to com-
mence, of thenetway of railways of the Lake of Aljoesen,
amounts to 1,200,000/. (thirty millions of francs), and
will bear intetest at 4 per cent. per annum. This loan
has just bees, negotiated with the banking-houses of
Salomon Heine, of Hamburgh; and C. J. Hambro and
Sons, of London, at the rate of 97. The previous loan
contracted i❑ 1845, and which WAS at the same rate of
interest, the Government only obtained 92. This differ-
ence between the two rates proves that the credit of Nor-
way has improved abroa,l, and which can only be attri-
buted to the tranquillity which our country has enjoyed
at home, while so many of the other states of Europe
have been the theatre of such terrible convulsions."

ITA.
The Piedmontese Government has just ordered a
squadron, consisting of one 48 -gun frigate, one 30-
gun corvette, two 18 and 14-gun brigs, and a steamer,
to be fitted out for immediate service. The Count DE
PERSANO is to be entrusted with the command of this
squadron, which is to visit the ports of the Levant, in
order to practise the officers and seamen in the different
manoeuvres of navigation,

PRINCESS S I:IIEATRE.—MIL A. WIGAN'S BENE.• FIT.--On Monday evening that most versatile and artistic of
actors, Mr. Alfrei Wigan, takes his benefit at the Royal
Princess's Theatre, on which occasion he tvill appear as
Richelieu in the Duke's Wager, as Talma in the First Night,
and as the Christian Knight, alias one of the " Bounding
Bricks of Babylon," in the Alhambra. We cannot doubt
but that a crowded audience will prove practically to this
very accomplished artiste tho high estimation in which
he is held by all lovers of the drama, and that the opinions
he has won from thew are in every sense or the Word
" golden."

.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
It appears, from the following article in the Ordre,
that the Orleanists have determined to oppose the re-
vision of the Constitution :
" The constitutional revision is generally desired by
the country, and yet it is impossible. It is desired be-
cause the vices of the Constitution arc flagrant, in a Re-
publican point of view, as well as in that of those who
would prefer monarchical institutions. It is impossible,
because all situations are disturbed; because there is a
Government which, being neither monarchical nor re-
publican, having neither the advantages nor the sim-
plicity of a purely elective magistracy, announces the
clear intention of perpetuating itself; and, if the testi-
mony of M. de Tocqueville, and many others, is to be
credited, makes a large use of the facilities which the
supreme direction of all the functionaries of the state
gives it for attaining that object. Hence the hesita-
tions and resistances which are manifested. After a nega-
tive deliberation, on the result of which henceforth no
doubt can be conceived, will the movement in favour of
the revision be sufficiently general to dictate to the As-
sembly the resolution which a first time had been re-
fused? That it would, was an opinion which, fifteen
days ago, was generally entertained; but now, many of
these illusions have fallen. Amongst the members of
the majority, several, who are inclined to vote the re-
vision, are at present convinced that the President of the
Republic causes to enter into his plans of re-election
eventualities which are menacing to the party of order,
which party was denounced without distinction at Dijon
as that of the ancien regime, as always ready to adopt
repressive measures, but always refusing popular ame-
liorations—and these members will not allow themselves
to be easily influenced. On the other hand, the two
hundred Republicans or Socialists of the Left begin to
employ themselves with success to balance the petitions
for the prorogation of powers by petitions for the repeal
of the law of the 31st May. The probable result of these
efforts, in a contrary sense, will bo a pure negation. But
even if the powers of M. Louis Bonaparte were to be pro-
rogued, or transformed, what would be done thereby if
not to cause the preparation and justification of the early
triumph of M. Ledru Rollin, of Barbee, or Caussidiece?
Parties would expose themselves to grave deceptions by
rejecting, by a blind and systematic refusal, a wish which
should bo truly rational, spontaneous, and obstinately
pursued. In that case, agitation driven back and com-
batted, would cause a conflict; but whether intending it
or not, it would draw after it the legions of anarchy.
This conflict, this tumult, under whatever pretext or
form it may be caused, is precisely what should be
avoided. The Assembly, without allowing itself to be
frightened or deceived by vain demonstrations, and in
keeping intact the authority of the laws, will take into
account, if it be prudent, the movement of serious
opinion. Moderate men, on their part, will not take a
revolutionary attitude. Let them be warned—if civil war
commences, it will have no other end than the dictator-
ship of the masses, exercised one day by one chief of
faction, on another by another, until the exhausting of
all parties, or until foreign war."
The Committee on the revision of the Constitution
met on Tuesday, and nominated M. DE BROGLIE its
president, ar.d M. MoULIN, its secretary. In addition,
it appointed a sub •committee, composed of MM.
BAZE, CIIAIRAS, DE MELON, DE CORCELLES, and
Durouß, tc examine the petitions presented in favour
of the revision.
The following proposition was on Tuesday laid on
the bureau of the Assembly by M. CRETON :
"Art. 1. The Assembly expresses a wish that, at the
expiration of the Legislative Chamber, a Constituent
Assembly ;hall be convoked in order to proceed to the
total revision of the Constitution of 1848.
" Art. 2. In expressing a wish for the total revision,
the Legisistivo Chamber understands that the powers of
the Assembly of revision shall be unlimited, and that
the Assembly shall definitively establish the bases of
the government and of the administration of the
country. In consequence, the National Constitutent
Assembly shall be in the first place called on to decide
between the Republic and the Monarchy.
" Art. 3. In the event of the Republic being con-
firmed, toe Assembly shall decide whether the Legisla-
tive Power shall be delegated to two Assemblies; and
whether the chief of the Executive Power shall not be
elected ly the two Assemblies united.
" Art 4. Iu the event of the monarchy being adopted,
the Assembly shall draw up and promulgate a constitu-
tional 6arter, the observance of which shall be sworn
to by tie Chief of the State on his ascending the throne.
The Assembly shall then proceed, in the plenitude of
the powers which shall have been delegated to it by
the French people, to point out the person who shall
be invested with the monarchical power to transmit it
hereditarily,"
The Journal du Havre states that the Minister of
the Interior has extended the changes made in the
passport system at Boulogne and Calais to Havre, and
the other ports on the coast.
Algiers journals of the sth contain reports
from General ST. ARNAUD down to the 2d, at which
date ne had returned to Djijelli, after completely re-
ducirg the three great tribes of BENI-AMRAN, BENI-
FOTGHRAL, and BENI-OUARZEDDIN. Of the sixteen
smaller tribes, west of Djijelli, eight had already sub-
mitted, and the others had promised to do so imme-
diately. This decisive success has been secured with
scarcely any loss to the French troops. The health
of the soldiers was excellent, as on their return to
Djijelli there were only eighteen sent to the hospital.
The Bourse was animated, and Government Stock was
in good demand at an advance on the prices of yester-
day. The Five per Cents. opened at 91f. 40c., and
91f. 60c., at which they closed; the Three per Cents.
closed at 55f.5c.; Orleans Railroad Shares, 842 f. 50c.;
Rouen, 625 f.; Havre, 245 f.; Great Northern, 477 f. 50c.;
Avignon, 225 f; Vierzon, 455'.; Basle, 148 f. 75c.; Bor-
andeaux, 398 f. lie.; Paris and Strasburg, 367 f. 50c.; Tours
d N antes, 273 f. 75e.
BUSII'ESS NNE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDOII STOCK EXCHANGE, JUN; 11.
Boulogne and Amiens, 9'A—Central of France (Orleans
and Vierzon), 18—East Indian, 1814—Great Indian Penin-
sula, 23k—Luzembourg, 2 'll—Northern of France, 15—
Paris and Roue; 247,—Paris and Strasbourg, 10%—Rouen
Nantes, 7. ,8
and Havre, 9'—Sarabre and Meuse„3% —Tours and

guarantee ..
Do., without a
guarantee ..
Buckinghamsh.
Clydesdale June;
.E. Lin., Guar. 6
per Cent.
Gloucester and
Dean Forest

Bull and Selby
Do. 54 Shares
Do. Shares,
Leeds and Brad.
Lon. and Green.
Do., Pref. ..
Lowestoft, Gd. 4

per Cent.

De., 6 per cent
Middlesbro' and

Redcar, 6 p. ct
N. & East, 6

per Cent.

Do. Now ..
Preston and I
Wyre
_.. •

Do. % SharesA
Read., Guild.,
and Reigate ..
Roy. &
o. Shep. Ex..
She., Roth. and
Goole, 5 per ct.
South Staffords.
Wear Val. 6 per
Cent. gua.

Barks' and Hants
Ex. 5 per Cent.
Bir. and Oxford
Junc.,callsduly
paid, or with a
guarantee ..
Do., without a
guarantee ..1
NVol.
Dud „calls Silly,
paid, or with al