The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-19 00:00:00

THE SUEZ CANAL.

The correspondent at Suez of the Daily News sends
home an account of the stir made by the forced postpone-.
ment of the inspection of the Suez Canal. M. de Lesseps
had invited many guests to meet him at Ismailia, and to
go over the canal. The proceedings were to have corn- ,
menced, and did commence—with a dinner. "At M. de
Lesseps' dinner that evening," says the Daily News corres-
pondent, " are Prussian naval officers in uniform, English
military and scientific men, and engineers and others
connected with the Canal, a majority of the strangers
having come hither with the view of passing over
the Suez section next day; and appointments are
made for the early morning, and the size and capabilities
of the steamer in which the trip is to be made are chatted
over freely. It is not until late in the evening, and half
an hour before the party separates for the night, that word
goes round that no boats can go to Suez on the morrow.!
We cannot believe it. We have had M. de Lesseps's
own assurance, and are confident there is some miitake.
But, alas ! an obstruction has been discovered. A rock,
hitherto overlooked, has been found, and blasting
with gunpowder must bo vigorously carried on
before any further traffic can be allowed. It is not to be
denied that a heavy sense of disappointment fell upon the
company ; and that questions which no one liked to put
to our kind host were on the tip of every tongue. How is
it this particular block of rock, the size of which must be
considerable if it will take throe or four days to move it,
has escaped notice, in spite of the constant soundings
which have been taken; and what guarantee is there
that similar blocks -yet undiscovered will not bring
discredit on the enterprise ? It wants but ten daye
to the formal opening, men whispered to each other
ominously, and the preliminary inspection—the semi-
private, semi-public dress-rehearsal, which was to assure
everybody in Egypt of the drama's success--must be put
off. How about the opening day? Suppose the obstruc-
tion should be more formidable than they seem to think ?
Such were the running comments of the uninformed. M.
de Lesseps and bis staff wero buoyant as ever, and treated
the matter as unimportant. Still, they were clear that it
would be inexpedient to send boats down for a few days, and
so plans the execution of which had brought most of
us to :Ismailia had tc be given up, those who had not
seen the-Canal at all going by the Egyptian mailboat to
Port Said, those who had come from the latter place or
visited it already, including the Prussian officers, spending
the day in inspecting the curiosities of Ismailia, and going
on to Suez by train in the evening. The news was soon
wafted to Cairo, and Burleigh-like shakei of the head, and
" I told you so," went the round of the hotels. The most
dismal anticipations as to the next day were put forth
boldly, and incredulity had decidedly the upper hand.
Practical men, however, hold to the opinion I have ex-
pressed in preceding letters, namely that the problem is
solved, and the Canal a success."

A man named Cotter has been arrested in Cork,
on suspicion of being concerned in the late murder. A
private inquiry was held on Wednesday, and he was re-
manded. The authorities are in communication with
London, and more arrests are expected.
AN INTERESTING FACT.—Our lady readers will
feel an interest in learning a fact which the daily papers
have emitted in recording the marriages of the daughters
of the Duke of Abercorn in Westminster Abbey—namely,
that the beautiful lace which was so profusely spread over
the dress of the Duchess of Marlborough was the very same
hce which formed part of the spoil taken by John, the
--reat Duke of Marlborough, in his wars in Flanders, a cen-
tury and a half ago. The Blenheim lace, as it is called, is
said to be simply priceless. The Duchess of Abercorn has
...even daughters in all; six of these are married, and not
one below the rank of a Countess, while one is already a
Marchioness, and the other two are Duchesses in prospect,
being married to the heirs of the houses of Marlborough
and Buccleuch.

SIMULTANEOUS OUGAN-PLAYING.--We learn from
the Athenantm that something rather awkward for
organists is in agitation. They have of late increased in
numbers with the greater demand for church music, but
there is now danger of their being suppressed by machi
nery, and their organs being played without their presence
or assistance. In consequence of the progress of the
electrical system, it is suggested that, with one key-
board and one organist in St. Paul's, wires laid on to
the church organs of London would suffice for
their performance. This appears to be the most decided
step yet takon towards that centralization which is the
dread of vestrymen and guardians. But it is obvious that
we cannot have simultaneous church music without simul-
taneous church services. Supposing a church or chapel
is afflicted with a slow reader, the organ at St.
Paul's might strike up an anthem in the middle of the
first lesson. If we are to adopt the new plan, let it be
complete in all its arrangements, and we must confess that
it might be extended with advantage. Instead of
incurring-considerable expense by educating our daughters
in music, why not let one daughter receive a thorough
musical education, and play on a pianoforte in some
central position connected by electric wires with all other
pianofortes in and around the metropolis? This would
at once release several women from an occupation in which
few of them excel, and enable them to devote their atten-
tion to public affairs, in which they are so anxious to take
a part.
RUSSTANIZATION.—The building formerly known
as the High School at -Warsaw was converted into a
a few weeks ago, and it has now been
cßaursesfivalnlyuslitriivpeprty
stripped of all the characteristics of a Polish
institution. Over the gateway a gigantic Russian
eagle has been erected with the words " Imperial
University " inscribed in Russian characters on each side
of it. In the interior of the building all the Polish
inscriptions have been obliterated and replaced by
Russian ones. In the great hall opposite the entrance
is a portrait, in life-size, of the Emperor Alexander
11., the founder of the university. All the announcements
on the notice-board are also in the Russian language, and
the beadles and other servants have received strict instruc-
tions not to answer anyone who addresses them in Polish.
The chair of Polish language and literature has been
abolished, and that of canon law has been replaced by one
1
of Byzantine law. Finally, as U to imitate the appearance
of a Russian university in its smallest details, a regulation
has just been published by the inspector forbidding the
students, under severe penalties to jaKkitilei_2l.9ll3-

GLOBE THEATRE-ROYAL.
Proprietor, Mr. Sefton Parry.
THIS EVENING, at 7, A HOUSEHOLD FAIRY.
At 7..5, NOT SUCH A FOOL AS HE LOOKS: Sir Simon
Simple, by Hr. H. J. Byron. Messrs. J. Clarke, Parselle, dm
Mesdames Hughes, Berend, and Mrs. Stephens.
To conclude with A BREACH OF PROMISE
L 14,pazGe open Avila 19 till 5..