The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-16 00:00:00

TEES SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 16, 185t1

no matterhow remote, and Hey ! Presto !—you were
there, as the saying is (though we can't undertake
to explain the precise meaning of either phrase,
etymologically), in a jiffy, or in the twinkling of
a bedpost ! Instead of the wishing-carpet of the
oriental tale, however, we are promised a mira-
culous little bit of cardboard in the shape of a
railway-ticket—the wizard who gives the promise
being one ROWLAND MACDONALD STEPHENSON.
The promise, moreover, has recently been volun-
teered to the world at large by Mr. STEPHENSON
in sober seriousness. He—Mr. R. M. STEPHEN-
soN—being no idle daydreamer, we should observe
at once, but a practical man of business, at the
present moment the Managing Director of the
East India Railway Company—a man accustomed
to deal not with tropes and metaphors, but with
facts and figures, with pounds, shillings, and
pence, with the solid, simple, substantial results
of arithmetical calculation and cubic measure-
ment.

It is actually projected by Mr. STEPHENSON—
(a, name we take it of tolerably good omen in
such matters)—that one continuous iron road,
one colossal railway, shall connect Europe and Asia
from their uttermost extremities! That a High-
way should be opened (" The,World's Highway"
it has been called) from London to Calcutta !
This scheme too—it should be remembered—is not
a vision in nubibus. It is an enterprise not
mused over "in the clouds," but mapped out
upon terra firma. The Managing Director of the
East India Railway Company has sketched the
undertaking out in all its details, weighing each
detail in turn "in the balance " with the utmost
degree of deliberation—and only presenting to
view the astounding sum total after a minute and
cautious scrutiny of each individual unit !
Recollect the route traversed in the
construction of this titantic road, termed for want
of a better name " The World's Highway," and
so designated by no means extravagantly, crosses
various kingdoms of the earth, inhabited by races
of different manners, and religions, and languages,
and degrees of civilisation ! Remember that it
spands in one extended sweep no less than 90°
of longitude Yet it is intended to have
but two breaks from one terminus to
the other, the first break at the Straits, and
the second at the Dardanelles. Starting from
London it will have to pass either through Bel-
gium, Prussia, and Germany, or through France,
Baden, and Wurtemburg—to Bavaria, and on-
wards from the confines of Bavaria by way of
Nuremburg, through Austria, Turkey in Europe,
Turkey in Asia, Persia, and Beloochistan, pro-
ceeding onwards from Kurrachee to each of
the three Presidencies. Nevertheless, although
so many physical and political difficulties
have to be encountered and overcome before the
project can be actually accomplished, the scheme
still appears to be feasible to other competent
(and perhaps more impartial) judges besides
the projector himself, Mr. R. MACDONALD STE•
PIIENSON. He has, let us again observe, carefully
gone through the whole of the preliminary calcu-
lations. He estimates the sum total of the cost
to each country—say by the Belgian Route—at
38,100,000/. in round numbers, involving an
annual interest upon the aggregated whole of just
1,905,0001. The total requiring an expenditure
in Belgium of 1,500,0001., in Prussia of
800,000/. ; in Germany of 400,0001. ; in Bavaria
to Nuremburg of 1,200,0001., and beyond Nu-
remburg of another 1,200,0001. ; in Austria of
4,000,0001.; in European Turkey of 5,000,0001. ;
in Asiatic Turkey of 13,000,0001. ; in Persia of
5,500,0001., and in Beloochistan of another
s,soo,oool.—completing the aggregate already
specifiedof 38,100,0001. ! The distance traversed
from Belgium to Beloochistan inclusively being
3,810 miles—of which 405 are already
opened, or in course of construction—
leaving 3,405 still required to complete the
connection. Nothing daunted by the obstacles
rising before him, like " Alps on Alps," as he
proceeds upon his calculations as to the practica-
bility of his cherished design, the projector of
, " The World's Highway" finds them, on more
careful examination, melting away beyond even his
most sanguine anticipations. Insomuch do the in-
terposing difficulties lessen in numerical amount and
in individual magnitude that it proves in the end
to bc altogether indisputable that all now required
to complete the line of direct communication pro-
posed to he established between India and Eng-
land-4s the task, here, of laying down a line of
500 miles from Belgrade to Constantinople ; and,
here again, of another of 1,300 from Karna to
Constantinople. An extension of existing railroads
by the length of 1,800 miles altogether—the first
500 miles passing through a country already civi-
lised, and having even now a large and increasing
trade, and a passenger traffic, we are told by a
eompetent authority, the Calcutta Review, "limited
only by the existing means of conveyance "—the re-
maining 1,300 miles extending through rich
tracks of land, some 600 miles of it trailing
through the valley-path of a gigantic river, with
the ocean at either extremity, and midway an easy
access to the waters of the Mediterranean ! "Is
this impossible ?" asks the contemporary review
just quoted, in the course of a succinct but mas-
terly resume of the whole of this vast project of
"the World's Highway." Answering the inquiry
immediately with these three pithy sen-
tences :—" The line from Calcutta to Boni-
boy, via Agra, is longer. The line of the
Great Pacific will pass through a more difficult
and less inhabited country. The lines of Western
America are almost as far from the supply of
labour, and the lines of Germany are far less ac-
cessible from the ocean." Remembering which—
who shall venture to assert that this particular
enterprise is impracticable ? People said it was
impracticable to steam across the Atlaritic, to fly
on the wings of the wind at the tail of a loco-
motive, to communicate across distances of many
hundreds of miles, from man to man, in the twink-
ling of an eye, as by flashes of lightning ! Yet
all these things aro matters now of everyday
occurrence. Who shall say after this that it is
impossible to lay down one or two thousand miles,
more or or less, of iron rail for the completion of
" The World's Highway ?" Certainly we shall
not assert as much. For without being
day-dreamers we do seriously believe in
*he perfect feasibility, sooner or later, of the
magnificent scheme sketched out by ROWLAND
MACDONALD STEPHENSON—the gigantic railway
extending, with only two breaks, across Europe
and Asia, from the European terminus at Lon:
don, to the Asiatic terminus at Calcutta.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA (LToEux).—The Queen and
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, with their Royal
Highnesses the Prince-and Princess of Prussia and the
Princess Louise, honoured the Royal Italian Opera
(Lyceum) with their presence last evening. In attend.;
ance were the Countess of Desart, the Countess von
Backe, Countess Oriolla, Madame von Sternberg, Hon.
Flora Macdonald, Lord de Tabley, Count Boos, Major
General Hon. C. Grey, and. Colonel F. H. Seymour.
The house was crowded with fashionable company.
Their Royal Highnesses the Dake and Duchess de
Nemours visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Bent, yesterday, at Clarence House, St. James's.
We are authorised to state that Viscount Hard:nge
is progressing favourably. His lordship passed a good
night on Monday, and was as well as could be expected
yesterday morning. The Queen, his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, and all the members of the royal family,
:tnd a long list of friends, have made daily inquiries, in
great Stanhope-street, afterhis lordship's health.

LOSS OF THE STEAM TRANSPORT

SPARTAN.

The following telegraphic message has been
received at the Admiralty this day from her 11Ia-
jestfp Consul at Marseilles :
" Wednesday.—The steamer Spartan, with 736
English soldiers, proceeding from Balaklava to
England, was wrecked on the sth inst. on the
Island of Canes, near Tunis. All the persons on
board have been saved by the French steamer
Sphinx, and have been conveyed to Tunis. The
ship is lost."

DREADFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

CARDIFF, Tuesday. This morning intelligence
reached Cardiff of a shocking catastrophe having oc-
curred at the Cummer Coal pit. The pit is situated
about three miles from Pontypridd, and belongs to the
Messrs. Insoll.

We learn that an explosion of fire•damp was the
cause of the melancholy accident, and that at least
twenty-four lives have been lost.
At the usual hour of commencing work this morning
about 200 men descended the pit, and at 7 o'clock a
terrific explosion was heard. Fortunately a great num-
ber of the workmen were enabled to reach the surface of
the pit, and, without a moment's delay, immediate
steps were taken by those who had es.caped to rescue
their fellow-workmen.

Happily a great number were rescued alive, but up to.
two o'clock 24 dead bodies had been brought to the pit's
mouth. The most energetic measures were being taken,
to save if possible those remaining in the pit.
At the hour at which this melancholy intelligence left
it was supposed that there were between 70 and 80 men
still in the pit. _ _

The excitement caused by the accident is dreadful.
As the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers were brought
up, the screams of those collected round the pit's mouth
were heartrending. Men, women, and children were to
be seen in the deepest grief lamenting either the loss of
eons, husbands, or fathers.

THE OVERLAND MAIL.—MARSEILLES, Tuesday.--
The Vectis arrived here at 7 o'clock this morning with
the Indian mails and an extra mail from China. The
despatches left for London at 9 o'clock, a.m.
H.M.S. Caradoc arrived at Malta on the 7th, hearing
the flag of Lord Lyons, the naval commander-in-chief
of the Mediterranean feet, and proceeded the same day
to Sebastopol.
The direction of the French post-office at Constanti-
nople issued a notice on the 3d, acquainting the public
that the postal arrangements to the Crimea by the Mes-
sageries Imperiales have been suppressed.
NINTROPOLITAN BOARD 0111 WORMS.—The board sat
yadayday, sad after sitting six hours to discuss the mai❑
uraina.se .eneme, adjourned without coming to a de-
cision.

One of the joint-stock banks is about to compete with
the Post-office for the transmission of small sums of
m ney from the provinces to the metropolis. Its terms
are 3d. for sums under Si. The Post-office charges 6d.
for sums between 2/. and Si.
It is a curious coincidence that the same engine that
brought Mr. W. S. O'Brien from Tharles to Dublin, on
the night of his arrest at that station, took him. to Lime-
rick junction, on his way home, with the four o'clock
train on Thursday.
CRICKET.—GENTLEMEN OF KENT AND SUSSEX T. ALL
ENGLAND.—This match was finished yesterday, at Lord's,
England winning by 8 wickets. The following is the
score—England : first innings, 195 ; second innings, 65.
Kent and Sussex : first innings, 91 ; second innings,
148.

The Grand Duke of Tuscany has just issued a decree
imposing a ditty on dogs, for the benefit of the various
communes of his states. At Florence, Leghorn, and
six other principal towns, the duty is 15fr. each, per
annum; for the secondary towns, 10fr.- for the villages,
sfr. ; and for farmers' and shepherds' dogs, 2fr.
We are sorry to learn that Mr. C. Mathews, the first
comedian of the day, and a man of the most versatile
genius, has arrived at Lancaster Castle, in custody of a
sheriff's officer. We understand he was apprehended on
Monday, after his appearance at the Preston Theatre,
and lodged in gaol the same evening.—Lancaster Guar-
dian.
THE ASSAULT ON MR. GRAHAM.—The Mayor and
those members of the corporation composing the watch
committtee of the borough of New Windsor held a meet-
ing at the Council-chamber on Monday last, when the
gross case of assault on Mr. Graham by the policeman,
Angove, was brought before the board, and the man,
who Lad been previously suspended, was dismissed from
the police force.
At the half-yearly meeting of the St. Katharine Docks
Company, held yesterday, the report stated the gross
earnings for the past half-year at 158,0501., and the ex-
penditure, including interest, at 99,1161., leaving as net
earnings 55,934/. The available balance is stated at
142,744/., out of which a dividend at the rate of 2} per
cent, for the half-year ending the 30th of Jtine last was
declared.
THE CANADIAN STEAMER.—The Canadian steam-
ship Indian will leave Liverpool to-day for Montreal and
Quebec, having on board Mejor Routledge, Colonel
Strutton, .Lieutenant-General' Sir William Eyre, Mrs,
Eyre and child, Lieutenant-Colonel F. Thackweil,
Bart., Military Secretary, with wife and two children ;
Lieutenant St. Clair, Aide-de-Camp ; Mrs. Major Ro-
bertson, &c.
Less OF A LIVERPOOL STEAMER.—The following de-
'epstan has been nceived by the Liverpool underwriters :
—'• Marseilles, July 14.—(Per Telegraph).—The Spar-
ten steam-ship, Milburn, from Balaklava for Deptford,
wills troops, struck on the Cane Rocks on the sth inst.
at 10 p.m., and it is feared will be a total wreck.
Three steamers were sent from Malta to her aid. No
lives lost."
A HINT WO THE POLES.—A 'Vienna paper learns from
the Russian frontiers that Prince Gortschakoff has,in a
confidential way, informed the first Polish families that
the Russian Government hopes to see them strongly
represented at Moscow during the coronation.
The Boy Jones who has just turned up again at Ply-
mouth, was sent on board a man-of-war, in the Mediter
raneau, after his continual intrusions into Buckingham
Palace. He was often in disgrace on board,but while his
ship was off Athens he had behaved well, and had leave
in consequence to go on shore. He was not long on
shore, however, before, he was apprehended in Xing
Otho's Palace.
THE CAPE FRONTIER.—We are gratified to say that,
although einister rumours from Caffreland were current
in Cape Town on the arrival of the post, the most un-
qualified contradictions have just been given to them, by
the Governor's desire, in the House of Assembly, by the
Uoloniel Secretary, who read the last despatches from
the authorities in Csffreland up to the lst of May, in-
clusive, from which it appeared that nothing whatever
bad happened to cause alaree—Sou/ICAfrican Commer-
cial Advertiser, May 6.
THE NATIONAL DISCOUNT COM*I4IY.—At an extraor-
dinary meeting of this company, held yesterday, a reso-
lution was unanimously passed to increase the capital by
1,000,000/., makirg a total of 2,000,0001., by an issue of
40,000 shares of 251. each. These shares are to be issued
pro rata to the shareholders at par. A sum of 11. is to
be paid on allotment, and 41. on the let January next.
The directors have abandoned the idea of applying any
portion of the current market premium in aid of the
company's funds.
CORONER'S INVEST.— Yesterday afternoon Mr. Ba-
ker held an inquest at the London Hospital, White-
chapel road, on the body of Ellen Albon, aged 35, the
unfortunate woman that was burnt to death at the fire
that took place on Sunday last at the premises No. 22,
Rupert-street, Whitechapel. The particulars of this
distressing event appeared in this journal. The jury
returned a verdict that the deceased was burnt to death
in the fire, but how the said fire occurred there was not
sufficient evidence to prove." The proceedings then ter-
minated.
THE CITY CONSERVANCY Or THE THAMES.—Yes terday,
at a Court of Aldermen, the Lord Mayor stated that the
time had arrived for the septennial visit of the corpora-
tion to the Thames and Medway, and it was necessary
to make arrangements for supporting the rights and
privileges of the city of London as regarded the con-
servancy of the river. He considered they ought not to
omit any fores which had been adhered to on previous
occasions with regard to those rights and privileges,
particularly in the then condition of the city of London el
subjected as it bad teen to invasion. He thought it
would be advisable, howepit, to make the official visit
quietly and economically, limiting the time to one day
instead of three. If the Court approved of his suggestion
he would give directions that a steamer should be got
ready for the accommodation of the members of the cor-
poration, in such a manner as he had no doubt would be
approved, Alderman Finnis (the next in rotation for
the mayoralty) selorided the proposition of the Lord
Mayor, and the Court unanimously acquiesced.
SINGULAR AND FATAL OCCURRENCE.—An inquest was
held before Mr. E. Cowcher, coroner, a few days ago, at
St. Peter's College, Radley, near Abingdon, on' the body
of a young man, named Walter Fairey, aged about 17
years, who met with his death in the following singu-
lar and.melancholy manner. It appeared that deceased
was one of the servitors in the college, and, about four
o'clock on the 3d inst., he went up to his sleeping room
with two others of the servants to dress, having finished
certain duties of the afternoon, and, being tired, all three
threw themselves on tteir beds, the deceased taking a
sponge in his hand to sponge himself as he lay down ;
he afterwards threw the sponge towards the wash--
hand stand, whence it bounded through the open win-
dow on to a skylight. The deceased, against the advice
of' his fellow-servants, immediately got out of the
window to recover it, and in doing so his legs slipped
through the skylight, and in getting them back the glass
cut him in the thigh, and he threw himself into the room,
anti so profuse was the fiow of blood from the wound,
that he died from exhaustion in a few minutes, Mr. Mar-
tin, of Abingdon, the surgeon of the establishment, was
immediately sent for, and in his absence Mr. Baker
hast,ned•to the spot, but the unfortunate young man
had (teased to live, even before the messenger had got
beyond the College bounds. From Mr. Baker's evi-
dence it appeared that the deceased sustained a cut abou
an inch long, and rather more in depth, which had sepa•
rated the-femoral artery, an injury which the most
prompt surgical aid could hardly bave.prevented causing
.death. •• There being not the slightest doubt that the
occurrence was-of an accidental nature, the jury returned
a _verdict accordiuglyQxford Awn


11. r-

LATEST NE WS.

INSURRECTION AT MADRID.

We have to announce the outbreak of a for-
midable insurrection in Madrid.

The populace were on Monday night in arms,
and there was sharp fighting in the streets between
the insurgents and the troops.
At ten o'clock yesterday morning the fighting
continued ; but, up to that time, the Queen's
troops, under Marshal O'Donnell, retained posy
session of the city, and continued to make head
against the rebels.
The insurgents proclaim a Republic.
It is not known where Espartero is.

VIENNA, JULY 15.

Intelligence from Constantinople, by way of
Bucharest, and bearing date the 9th inst., states
that Marshal Pelissier had disembarked at the
Golden Horn, on his return from the Crimea.
The German Legion, after the complete disem-
barkation of the French and English troops, were
to establish their camp at Maslak.
The Bourse at Constantinople, at the date of
these accounts, was depressed.

The Vienna correspondent of the Times (second
edition), in his letter dated July 12, says :
" It is considered certain that a great Russian
expedition will be undertaken in the Caucasus
in the spring, as the officers of engineers are
busily employed in surveying the different passes.
That part of the plan of operation which relates
to the construction of fortifications and stronghold
is to be entrusted to General Todtleben."

Letters from Turin, of the 13th inst., state
that the Royal decree, allotting 1,000,000 f. for
the erection of new works of defence round Ales-
sandria, had produced a deep sensation. The
measure, however, has been universally approved.