The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-01 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 1, 1856.

1:10 BUILDERS and OTHERS.—From £lOO
to £5OO can always be had upon Freehold, Leasehold, Per-
sonal and other Approved Securities, by applying to Messrs. BAX-
TER, 58, Lincoln's-inn-fields, or by sending full particulars. No
agents treated with.

THE EUROPEAN and INDIAN.
JUNCTION TELEGRAPH COMPANY
(Limited).—(Prom SELEUCIA to the PERSIAN GULF).—
(Uniting the Lines of the English and Continental Telegraph
Companies with the electric cable of the Honourable East
India Company, from Kurrachee to the head of the Persian
Gult)
OFFlCES.—Gresham House, Old Broad-street.
To be Incorporated by Act of Parliament.
Capital 200,000/., in 20,000 Shares of 101. each.
With Power to increase.
- - -

One-half of the shares to be allotted to the Scripholders in
the Euphrates Valley Railway Company, in the proportion
of One Share in the Telegraph Company for every Five Shares
in the Railway Company.
The Directors feel assured of obtaining a concession from
the Ottoman Government, with the necessary powers and
privileges. From the arrangements now in progress, a set-
tled income may be expected on the capital of the company.
Deposit, 10s. per Share.
CHAIRMAN.

W. P. ANDREW, Esq. (Chairman of the Euphrates Valley
and Scinde Railway Companies )
DIRECTORS.

William Ainsworth, Esq., F.G.S. and F.R.G.S. (late Geolo-
gist and Mineralogist to the Euphrates Expedition).
Philip Anstrutber, Esq. (late Secretary \to Government, Cey-
lon, and Deputy Chairman Ceylon Railway Company).
Harry Borradaile, Esq. (late Bombay Civil Service, and Di-
rector of the Euphrates Valley Railway Company).
Sir James Carmichael, Bart. (Chairman of the Submarine, and
Member of Council of the Mediterranean Telegraph Com-
panies).
George B. Carr, Esq., 5, Lawrence Pountney-place.
Col. A. Cotton (late Chief Engineer, Madras).
Capt. H. B. Lynch, C. 8., I.N. (late Commanding on Euphrates
and Tigris).
Sir John Macneill, LL.D. , F.r...5. (Engineer in Chief of the
Euphrates Valley Railway). •4
Sir T. Herbert Maddock, M.P.-(late Deputy Governor of Ben-
gal and Directorof the Seiade Railway Company). - - -
Major J. A. Moore, F.R.S. (ex7Director of the Hon. East

India Company, and Director of the 'Provincial Bank of
England).
Francis Horsley Robinson, Esq. (late Chairman, Board of
Revenue, Upper India, and Director of the Scinde and
Euphrates Valley Railway Companies).
Thomas Williams, EN. (Director of the Scinde, Euphrates
Valley, and other Railway Companies).
AUDITORS.
Lieut.-Col. H.,8. Henderson (late Officiating Auditor General,
Bengal.)
J. Edmund'Anderdon, Esq (Director of the Bank of London.)
BANKERS.—Messrs. Glyn, Mills, and Co.
SOLICITOR.—J. A. M. Piunigcr, Esq.
SECRETARY.—L. W. Raeburn, Esq.

,
The Honourable East India Company has determined to lay
a telegraphic cable from Kurrachee to the head of the Per-
sian Gulf.

The Austrian Government has established a company with
the requisite capital, paid up and guaranteed by the State,
for constructing and laying dbwn a Submarine Electric Tele-
graph, in connection with its land lines, from Castara or
Ragusa, on the coast of the Adriatic, touching at Corfu,
Zante, and Candia to Alexandria, and thence by Jaffa and
Beyrout to Seleucia ; and have just concluded a contract for
the immediate execution of the work.

The Austrian Company gives to the English Government
and the East India Company a priority over the public in
transmitting their messages.

The European and Indian Juction Telegraph Company
(Limited) is established with the view to continue the elec-
tric communication from Soleucia, along tilt. lineline of the pro-
posed railway, by Aleppo, Ja'ber Castle, and the Valley of
the Euphrates, to the head of the Persian Gulf, thus complet-
ing the only remaining link between India and England.
The English Government will soon be able to communicate
with Malta and Corfu by a line to those islands from Cag-
liari, in the Island of Sardinia, to which point the Mediter-
ranean Electric Telegraph is advanced.
From Cagliari, the French and Sardinian Governments
will have direct telegraphic communication with Alexandria
and the East.

All parts of India are or are about to be brought in tele-
graphic communication with Kurrachee, and the cable from
thence of the East India Company to the head of the Persian
Gulf, with the wires to be laid down by this Company will
bring India by nearly 2000 miles nearer England and the
Continent.

When the Submarine and Indian systems meet at Seleucia
the connection between the East and the West will be com-
plete, and England, the Continent, and India will be in
hourly communication.
From the arrangements contemplated it is certain that
the best and safest telegraphic routes will be. secured to
this country.

The Austrian Government has most strikingly evinced its
interest in this great undertaking, and its desire to main-
tain the position as the medium of communication between
other nations, by undertaking the completion of so large a
portion of the line.
The British Government and the Hon. East India Com-
pany duly appreciate the power of supervision and control
put into their hands by the telegraph, binding together in
one the isolated and distant dependencies of the empire,
and are prepared to extend their countenance and support
in a fair and liberal spirit.
The merchant and the shipowner are well acquainted with
the inestimable value to them of the power of imparting and
receiving prompt information. It is well known that heavy
loss has been suffered by the Indian mercantile community
through the non•receipt of immediate news of the adoption
of the Austrian propositions for peace. The heavy contracts
made in Calcutta and Bombay in January last, for oil seeds,
jute, and saltpetre, would have been prevented by a singlo
message.

But the grand source of revenue will be derived from the
constant desire to communicate which is felt by members of
families when at a distance from each other; and when it is
considered how many thousands of families in Englani have
some near relative in India, the revenue, it is believed, from
this source alone, will be very large.

From the most reliable data that can be collected, the
'Directors feel confident that, besides the pecuniary assistance
that may be expected from Government and the Honourable
East India Company, a highly remunerative return may be
expected on the capital embarked.
The Directors have the satisfaction of stating that they
have secured the valuable co-operation and assistance of Mr.
John Watkins Brett, the inventor and projector of the Sub-
marine Telegraph.
Mr. O'Shaughnessy, Superintendent of Telegraphs in India,
having already laid down in that country 4,000 miles of elec-
tric wire with extraordinary economy and success, and as
the cable in connection with the Indian system is about being
carried from Kurrachee to Kurnah, at the head of the Persian
Gulf, under his supervision, an application has been addressed
to the Court of Directors of the Honourable East India Com-
pany with the view to secure the advice of this eminent and
successful ( fficer to this Company, so as to insure uniformity
of design and management throughout, from Calcutta and
Peshawur, Rombay, and Madras, to Seleucia. The Honour-
able Court have already intimated that they " would have no
objection to the experience which he (Mr. O'Shaughnessy) has
acquired in India being made available for the line through
Asiatic Turl ey."
" The electric telegraph is the most beautiful and surprising
invention of the age, and nothing is more interesting than to
learn its rapid progress and wonderful results. The tele-
graphs of America are surpassed in length, solidity of con-
struction, and cheapness of working by those which within
tire last few years, while we at home have been debating and
fighting on the Eastern question, have been carried over the
length and breadth of India. From Calcutta to the Indus,
to Bombay, to Madras, the messages of Government and indi-
viduals are speeded in a few hours, at a cost comparatively
trifling. Ceylon is to be united to the mainland, and the
time is already looked upon as near when the Telegraph will
cross the Mediterranean, run along the Red Sea and the coasts
of the Indian Ocean (or rather by the Euphrates and the Per-
sian Gulf), and unite London and Calcutta in hourly commu-
nication. We cannot doubt that this work will be soon
achieved, and that no very long period will elapse before the
wires extend to Canton and Shanghai, and perhaps, running
from island to island, will stretch on to Sydney and Mel-
bourne, and the great settlements of the antipodes."—Times,
June 16,1856.

One-half of the shares in this company are offered to the
scripholders in the Euphrates Valley Railway Company, who
may apply on or before the 2d of August, in the proportion
of one share in the Telegraph Company for every five shares
in the Railway Company.
The letter of application must be accompanied by the scrip
of the Euphrates Valley Railway Company, which latter will
be forthwith returned, after being certified.
The shares not so apportioned will be allotted to the public
who may have applied on or before the above date.
No call will be made until the concession has been secured
by the firman of the Sultan, and the other arrangements con-
templated by the Directors are completed.
FORM OF APPLICATION FOR SHARES.
To the Directors of the " European and Indian Junction Te-
legraph Company (Limited)."
I request you will allot to me shares in the capital of
the above named Company, and I hereby engage to accept the
same on the terms of the Prospectus, and to pay the deposit
and future calls thereon, and sign the deed of incorporation as
and when required by the Directors, and subject to their rules
and regulations.

Name (in full)
Occupation
Address aid date
Nu,mbilewrayofcoSmhapraensy (LinEimupitheid-a)tes Valley
I t

MR. JAMES SADLEIR.—Copies of informations and
warrants against Mr. Sadleir, M.P., and of the bills of
indictment found against him, have been printed by
order of the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr.
Roebuck. There is a copy of a Bench warrant issued
by the Lords Justices of Assize at Clonmel on the 18th
of July for the apprehension of Mr. Sadleir for conspir-
acy to defraud the English shareholders and depositors
of the Tipperary Joint-Stock Bank of large sums of their
moneys. A true bill of indictment has been found
against Sadleir by the Grand Jury of Clonmel, and there
is also a warrant out against him signed by Mr. H. W.
Thompson, Justice of the Peace in the South Riding of
Tipperary. A copy of the information of Wm. Kelly,
sworn to on the 4th of July, is appended, as also that
of Mr. Austin Ferrall.
TRUNDRIUSTORM IN FRANCE. —The thunderstorm which
broke over Paris onThureday week appears to have been
felt in many other parts of France. The Memorial des
Pyrenees states that the lightning on that day fell on the
convent of the Carmelites at Pau. It entered by a win-
dow, went round the kitchen, where several of the reit:-
gieuses were assembled, and left by the same point at
which it bad entered. Two of the females were knocked
material injury. At Lem-
zwe in
the sheaves of corn in
butt
the
e did
same receive
neighbourhood,
the fields were scattered about in all directions, and seve-
ral trees torn up by the roots. In the commune of Es-
cures,
a Mme. Pau', the daughter-in-law of the mayor,
having been caught in the storm, took refuge in a barn.
She had not been there many minutes when the roof fell
down,
in, and she was buried beneath the ruins. When extri-
cated she was dead.

INDECENT CONI)UCT IN THE PARK.-
8,0001. BAIL.

Yesterday, Mr. Thomas George Gosling, a gentleman
of fortune, residing at Portland-place, was charged at the
Marylebone Police-court, on a summons, which had
been placed in the hands of Baldwin, the officer, ":with
having, on the 9th ult., in the Regent's-park, wilfully
incited and procured dicers females of tender age, that
is to say, Emma Colley, Innes Jones, and two others,
to openly, lewdly, and indecently expose their persons
in the sight of him, the said Thomas George Gosling,
and of divers persdns then passing and-repassing, and
being in the said public place, 'Ea-the great scandal and
injury of the public morals, and against the peace," /tc.
The other two females were not preselit.
Complaints of indecency with regard to like praotites
in the park have been made to the Commissioners of
Woods and Forests—the offence being considered of a
very serious character. Mr. Bodkin prosecuted the
case. Mr. Sergeant Ballangne attended for the defen-
dant, Mr. Gosling ; and Mr. Lewis, of Ely-place, Hol-
born, was engaged for the females Colley and Jones.
Mr. Bodkin stated that he had. been instructed by
the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests to pro-
ceed with the charge against the defendant, as by law
Regent's-park was placed under his' control. When
the facts of the present charge were: made known to
Sir Benjamin Hall he found that he had no alterna-
tive than to put • the law in force in reference tp
charges of the description mentioned in the summons,
considering that an example ought to be made of
those who offend public decency and public morals.
He was sorry to have to support a charge against a gen-
tleman who is a mars holding a respectable position in
sneiety,,and who, he believes, has hitherto held an un-
blemished character. But the law knows no distinction,
and if the evidence he should adduce be sufficient to
upport the, charge, the case rnusUltimatellsol,..befare a
---He thought the facts would be of—that strong
character that the magistrate would feel it his duty to
send this case for the consideration of a jury, as it was
desirable to prevent a repetition of such offences. ,The
learned counsel proceeded to observe that the evidence
of two persons would be brought forward who would
prove what took place on the day stated in the summons,
and it would be shown that they saw those young per-
sons lying on their backs, and exposing themselves in the
most indecent manner. According to their evidepes it
will be shown that the defendant came up, and sluirtly
after took a seat upon a bench in front of the Paqi
where the females were lying. In a short time aft* hie
was observed to speak to the girls, and to point with a
stick he had in his band to another part of the park.
The girls got up and crossed the Broad-walk. He (Mr.
Gosling) afterwards left his seat, and went in another
direction across the Broad-walk. They were afterwards
seen by one of the witnesses he should produce near a
hollow. The girls were in it in an indecent posture.
The learned counsel then stated what was the conduct
of the defendant Gosling, with other particulars, which
were given in evidence, and observed that the girls
ran away, and that Mr. Gosling was eventually
given into custody. He was taken to the police-station,
where the sergeant on duty, after looking over, the
various Acts of Parliament in reference to such charges
as that with which he was charged, allowed him to de-
part. He (Mr. Bodkin) observed that it was a common
law offence, and that he thonght the worthy magistrate
would consider it his duty to send the case before an
other tribunal.

The following witnesses were then called--

Mr. Henry Warren, No. 58, Ernest-street, Regent's.
park, said that he was assistant to his father, a book-
seller, in London-street, Tottenham-court-road, and that
he was a married man. About eight o'clock on the
evening of the 9th of July he was in the Regent's-park,
near what is called the Cow-park. He had two of his
children with him—one, a boy about four years of age.
running about gathering butter-cups the other, 15
months old, he had in his arms. He got up to a spot
where there was a hollow. There he saw four females
lying on their backs. He next saw the defendant. Go-
sling in front of them. He went up. to where they were
lying, and took up their clothes successively one after
the other, which he raised up to their waists. Witness
can identify Colley Jones and another of the girls.
They were there a short time with their clothes raised.
By Mr. Bodkin—They were left up till Mr. Mitchell
came. Mr. Gosling was turned away from me. I was
on high ground, and they were in a hollow. While I
was looking at them my son came up and said, "Father,
what a lot of buttercups there are." He spoke so loud
that he was heard by Mr. Gosling, who got up. He was
previously kneeling. I saw Mr. Gosling give some
silver to one of the females. Mr. Mitchell then came

Mr. Ballantine —At what part of the transaction was
the money given you alleged to have been given ?
Witness—When he was kneeling down.
' In answer to further questions the witness said that
the first time he saw Mitchell was a few days ago, when
he was passing through the posts near Chester-terrace.
He had no conversation with him. The only time he
was in conversation with him was when he went to
measure the ground in the Regent's-park, where the oc-
currence took place. He was about eight yards from the
defendant when he saw him.

John Mitchell, a licensed drover, formerly a shepherd
attached to the Regent's-park, said that on the 9th of
July he was near CheAer-terrace-gate, Regent's-park,
when be saw the defendant, Gosling, go toward some
girls, who were in a very indecent position. He sat on
a bench before them, and he afterwards, with a stick,
pointed to another part of the park. The females got
up, and went in the direction towards which he pointed.
He soon after followed, but did not go in the same di-
rection they did. Witness went towards the spot at
which the defendant (Gosling) stopped, and he there
foun him standing in front of the females, who were in a
hollow in that part of the park called the Cow-park.
They had their clothes above their waist, and the defen-
dant was attentively looking at them.
Mr. Ballantyne requested that the exact wordd of the
witness might be take.), down.
The witness, in continuation said that he called Mr.
Gosling a blackguard. One of the females observed that
Mr. Gosling was a magistrate, and that he would not get
anything from him. (Laughter.) Witness afterwards
met Brooks, one of the Regent's-park constables, and
in consequence of what he stated to him, Mr. Gosling
was taken to the station•heuse.
On the witness's cross-examination by Mr. Sergeant
Ballantine, it appeared that on the Saturday night
previous to the 9ih of July he first saw the witness
Warren near Chester-terrace. He was lying on the
grass with his two children, and there were some of
the girls at some distance before him. Witness had no
conversation with him. He (witness) remained there a
short time. His object in doing so was to wait to see
if any-gentleman would (*me forward hi take up the
case against the girls, when he would have appeared as
a witness. He never caught a gentleman before. He
had no conversation with Warren on the 9th of July,
nor did he see him till he observed him with Brooks on
the Saturday the girls were exposing themselves. Wit-
ness could not say whether Warren was in a position
to see the girls.

George Brooks said that upon receiving information
of the offence alleged to have been committed by the
defendant, which had been communicated to him by
the witness Warren, he took immediate steps to appre-
hend the whole of them. The girls succeeded in making
their escape. He then gave directions to the constable
(Walsh) to take Mr. Gosling into custody. The reason
he did so was, because he was told that some-money
had been given by him to one of the girls.
Walsh stated that he went after the defendant Gos-
lint,►, and that upon being taken into custody be said,
" I wish I had my solicitor. 'Let me go, and I will
never come into the park again." He was taken to the
station•house, Albany-street. He gave his name and
address. The charge was not taken down, and he was
told he might go. He (Walsh) wished to know if be
(defendant) had given his right name and address. The
sergeant said he might do as he pleased. He went
I with the defendant to Portland-place, and found that
the address was correct, and that the defendant lived
there.

31;. Bodkin stated that this was the whole of the
evidence.

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine observed that, while he
agreed it was of extreme importance that measures
should be taken to preserve the public morals, he
thought the magistrate would be of his opinion, that
no case had been made out against his client suffi-
cient to induce him to send the case to be decided by a
jury. What were the circumstances of the case? Mr.
Gosling, when charged with the offence, gave his name
and address, and offered no hesitation to go with the
officers to the station-house, where the officer on duty
declined to take the charge, and it was found that he
had given his correct address There were but two wit-
nesses to the present charge, whose evidence, be should
be able to show, was most contradictory. He asked
Warren when he first saw the other witness, Mitchell,
when he stated that it was on an occasion as he was
passing between some posts to enter the park. He
inquired of Mitchell when was the first time that
ho had any knowledge of Warren, and he re-
plied that it was on a Saturday previous to the day
on which the present offence took place. It was
remarkable that the witnesses who had given evi-
dence in this charge should have been the same persons
who, on the Saturday in question, saw some of the
females in the position as described by the witness Mit-
chell, and who observed that he was stopping near the
girls for the purpose of seeing if any gentleman would
came up in order to prosecute them (the girls), when he
would offer himself as a witness. It would appear as if
it had been a plant against his client. Mr. Gosling did
not shrink from a full ins estigation of the present charge,
which his conduct had shown he was desirous to
He is a man of we4tb, and, if he wished, he could have
left the country. Ile has nos taken that course. The
learned sergeant further remarked that there was a great
discrepancy in the evidence of these witnesses as to what
took place when Warren stated that he first saw the de-
fendant—ho stating that he saw Mitchell :some up, while
the latter remarked that he never saw Warren till he
(Kitchell) got up to the park constable. After deliver-
ing a most eloquent address on behalf of his client, and
remarking that he was incapable of the offence imputed

t 3 him, he called on the magistrate to dismiss the sum-
mons.
Mr. Lewis also replied on behalf of his client.
Mr. Broughton observed that, without giving an opi-
nion upon the evidence, he considered it his duty to send
the case for trial. He could not imagine that any con-
spiracy existed on the part of the witnesses ; and, if he
dismissed the summons, it Would lead to the supposition
that they (the witnesses) were guilty of gross perjury. But
nothing had been shown to impute the slightest charge
against the witnesses of an attempt to extort money, in
order to prevent the present charge being brought for-
ward. Then, on the defendant bang charged with the
offence, beremarks, "I wish I had my solicitor. Let me
go, and I promise you I will never enter the pat k again.""
One would have supposed that if innocent he would have
felt most indignant at the charge, and would have at
once staid, "I will come again ; I will not leave the park
upon such an infamous charge." He (Mr. Broughton)
was clearly of opinion that it was his duty to let this case
be decided by a jury.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine asked the magistrate what
amount of bail he should require, as his client was fully
prepared to meet the charge. He stated that there were
parties present who would become responsible for any
sum that might be named.
After some discussion with regard to the amount of
bail, the defendant, Mr. Gosling, was held to bail, him-
self in 4,0001., and two sureties in 2,0001. each, to meet
the charge at the sessions.
The sureties were Mr. L. Bohn, bookseller, Regent-
street, and Mr. Archibald Boyd, cabinet-maker, &c.,
Edward-street, Portman-square.

Spirit of the Public Journals.

(From the Times!)

There is nothing which astonishes those foreign-
ers who extend their tours in England beyond 66,
precincts 9f Leicester .and Golden te u rq.ntore
than the Indffitr-enetilinetig nee gqiir'pect
ph) respecting foreign affairs. Accustomed to be-
lieve in the ambitious and Machiavellian craftiness
of England, her aspirations after external influence
and extensive dominion, they are astonished to find
that Englishmen ' generally know and care little
about other nations, and have very dim notions of
their own relations towards them. A fact to us
so well known, but so little estimated abroad, ex-
plains the little sympathy and the partial antagon-
ism excited by Mr. Layard's address to his con-
stituents at Aylesbury last week. To judge from
the present tone of the public mind, and certain
rare speeches of the parsimonious school, there has
been no conflict, no danger to the liberties of Eu-
rope, no hazard of future aggression ; everything
is going on placidly and hopefully ; no need of
alarm, vigilance, or preparation. It remains for
.the tax-collector's visits and the grocer's bills to
remind us that we have not yet done paying for,e
war which was very expensive for its length, and
which might have been expected to be much longer
than it was. But for this the war itself might have
been forgotten, as its objects certainly are by mul-
titudes even of those who expressed great anxiety
during its continuance, and great apprehensions
touching its results.
This is an evil feature in our ,social phenomena.
We have lately borne our sincere and hearty testi-
mony to the virtue and efficacy of that Fabian
policy which, instead of hurrying a crowd of etude
projects through the Legislature, allows a suffi-
ciency of time for their ventilation, analysis,
sifting, and discussion ; which brings to bear upon
each particular enactment the greatest possible
amount -of public interest, public attention, public
sympathy, and accordance; and which defers legisla-
tion rather than suppress debate. But it would seem
that on the great and momentous questions of
peace and war—of the objects for which war was
waged and the conditions on which peace was con:

cliided—ofthe observance of those Conditions, and
the probability or improbability that future inter-
vention may be necessary to secure the performance
of those stipulations for which blood and treasure
have so freely flowed,—on these questions the mind
of the people is asleep, their senses dull, their ap-
prehension dead. On many of the electors of Ayles-
bury Mr. Layard's speech must have fallen much in
the same way as a dithyrambic of Pindar or a para.
basis of Aristophanes. But there were points in
that speech to which the events of a few years
hence may give a more vivid colouring and a more
striking significance than they bear at present.
Of the anxiety displayed by the French people
and Government to conclude the peace we need
say little. The little we can say is less flattering
to ourselves than to them. They, at any rate, had
done their part of the work with unmixed vigour
and effect. They had not, like their allies, any
motive for desiring another campaign to repair their
credit, or for setting one portion of a military
clique to the task of whitewashing another. They
are not so wealthy as we are, but they employed
what money they had iu a manner which a mer-
cantile people might justly admire. They did the
most they could, and gave over spending as soon
as they could, and, having nothing further to ex-
pect in the way of ambition or indemnification,
they took the first opportunity that presented itself ,
for terminating a war which began to draw upon
their resources. This may suggest to the English
people some wholesome reflections on the commer-
cial value of a sound and strong military organisa-
tion ; and, if it does so, Mr. Layard's remarks will
not have been thrown away.
With respect to the Russian observance of the
treaty, the electors of Aylesbury and of all the
boroughs throughout the kingdom will probably
be equally indifferent to it until the lapse of years
shall have matured either the machinations of a
perfidious policy or the opportunities of a season-
able aggression ; and then they will all awake to
condemn the Government of the country for an
indifference which was equally chargeable to them-
selves. Meanwhile, it is not pleasant to find that,
profiting by the recent conclusion of the war, the
Russians have already destroyed the fortresses of
Kars, Reni, and Ismail, which they were bound to
restore intact to the Turks. We shall, perhaps,
next hear of their attempting to filch a property
in, or control over, the navigation of the Danube
beyond the limitations of the treaty. Our best
guarantee against this is founded on the rival pre-
tensions and, competing interests of Austria; other-
wise it would be difficult, as yet, to excite any in-
terest on the part of the English people in a ques-
tion which does in fact materially affect the com-
mercial development of this country.
But, indifferent as they may be to foreign
politics, the electors of the kingdom are far from
being generally indifferent to questions of go-
cial progress ; and there is one point of inter-
section between home and foreign politics which
Mr. Layard opportunely noticed. If we have
not assumed a sufficiently influential tone in
recent important negotiations, it is because we had
not realised either our own expectations or those of
foreign States during the war ; we had lost, or
wasted by mismanagement in a degree dispropor-
tionate to ourpreparations, our resources, and the
courage which our men displayed on the actual field
of battle. And why was this ? Because the high
offices of the army, like the high offices of the State,
are the inheritance of some twenty great families or
the perquisites of their adherents. They are given
by right of descent, favour, and connexion, not of
merit or service. A man is placed on the staff on
the army, invested with direct power or with great
indirect influence, not because he has studied the
military profession as a successful lawyer has stu-
died law, or as a successful physician has studied
medicine, or as a merchant has studied commerce,
but because he is the son of Lord A, or nephew of
General B, or cousin of Mr. Secretary C. The con-
sequences are as natural as they are lamentable. An
army withers beneath their ungenial command.
The power, dignity, and honour of the empire are
compromised because its soldiers are led by men
who think it low—or, at any rate, quite super-
fluous—to
study subjects with which every General
and every subaltern in foreign armies are familiar.
The same thing in civil departments.
The great
offices of State are held to be the legitimate pro-
perties of certain great families. No one pretends
that the holders of them are the most capable men
of business, the most accomplished financiers, or
the most eloquent debaters that the country can
produce. It is notorious that in some departments
the ablest minutes bearing the signature of the
chief are the work of some gifted clerk, hardly
known beyond the small official world. If Eng-
land is so served, the colonies are served worse.
Anything is good enough for them.
.Service, ex-
perience, exposure to climate and disease, isola-
tion from the comforts and amenities of home,
exile encumbered by the most repulsive burdens of
official life—such things aro no recommendation,
and gain no reward for the subordinate who has
faithfully discharged his duties in any remote de-
pendency of the CroWn ; and who must continue
still to labour on, only too thankful if he bo not
doomed to smart under the capricious injustice of
petty authority, or to humour the absurd crotchets
of ambitious ignorance.
Yet whose fault is this ? Surely the fault of the
constituencies. They aro responsible for the nomi-
nation of such men to high places. If they do not
feel the evil they need not trouble themselves
about a remedy ; but if they do feel it, they cannot
be too thankful to men who have boldly and un-