The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-19 00:00:00

THE ►tj 4 J.soNDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 19, lB5 de

and fertile districts. Every element of material pros-
perity, in shot, abounds in Mosquito ; and this fact has
repeatedly, in times p ,st, been pressed up-,n the attention
of C-e British Government, with tp43. vi,v, of inducin.; it
to occupy and colonise the coun:rr. 'But these sugges-
tions, as we all khow, have never beeu adopted, and the
nature of the Mosquito protectorate has remained un-
changed since it was first established. British influence
has for nearly two centures protected the natives of that
country against foreign violence. Mr. Marcy and Mr.
Buchanan contend that, under the Treaty of 1850, this in-
fluence and right of protection was renounced in all time
coining. But it needs no argument-to prove that the aban-
donment of the people of Mosquito to the tender mercies
of the filibusters who have invaded the adjoining State of
Nicaragua would be an act utterly unworthy of Great
Britain, and it is one to which we are glad to learn, from
the despatches of Lord Clarendon, that he will never con-
sent. Justice and humanity alike forbid us to adopt so
pusillanimous a course.

- Are we, then, to go to war for the King of Mosquito ?
We sincerely hope not. But we cannot, in justice both to
him and to ourselves, turn our back upon him in the hour
of need. We know how certain Indian tribes have been
treated, and are now being t, eated, in the Western States
of America. We never could allow such scenes to be
enacted with impunity among a people who have an un-
doubted right to look to us for protection. We trust,
therefore, that there is no truth in the report of the medi-
t.,ted attack upon the Mosquito country by Walker or his
followers. Such an outrage could not fail to complicate
the already tangled web of Central American politics, and
lessen the chances of a pacific settlement. It is quite clear
that we cannot shake off this Mosquito protectorate so
easily as some of our contemporaries seem to imagine.

STEAM POSTAL C 4 UNICATION
WITH AITSrRALIA.

(From the Morning Chronicle City Artiee.)
Although there may be persons who will be inclined to
complain of the dilatory movements of the Government on
a subject of such paramount importance, it is but a mere
act of justice to state that there have been many difficulties
to contend with—and that a lengthened correspondence
with the local Government has been going on for months,
with the view to remove them, and reconcile conflicting
interests. As the subject is of considerable interest and
importance, we shall now give a concise but comprehensive
resume of the proceedings and arrangements that have
been decided to regulate the postal service between Eng-
land and her Australian colonies. It appears that several
of the colonial legisletnres expressed a desire for the esta-
blishment of a regular mail line, and proffered certain
grants to defray the expenses; but naturally enough they
each made it a sine qua non that the grant would be sub--
ject to certain conditions. In the Treasury minute of
November last it is observed that "the Executive Council
of New South Wales has passed a resolution to invite the
Legislative Council to appropriate a sum of 15,000/. to-
wards the service; but no advice has yet been received
that this hue been adopted. Sir William Denison has
stipulated for no conditions which could embarrass the
arrangement; but looking to the great preference hitherto
shown and embodied in the acts of the Legislature for the
route by Torres Straits, by which the first arrival and the
last departure would bo from Sydney, it is possible the
Legislature may attach such a condition to any grant it
may make. In Victoria, the Legislature has authorised a
very liberal expenditure for the purpose, but Sir Charles
Hotham has attached conditions which are inconsistent
with the conditions contended for by South Australia,
and, in part, such as it may he impossible to obtain. In
South Australia, the only act that has really been passed
oilers a payment of 5001. to every steamer which shall
deliver a direct mail via Suez, and without first having
called at any port eastward of Adelaide; that is, without
having first touched at Melbourne. Awl the Governor
now holds out, hopes that the Legislative Council would
vote 12 0001. a year in aid of a plan by which the
mail packets on their outward and homeward voyages shall
call at Port Adelaide. The acquiescence, therefore, of the
colonies of Victoria and South Australia in the proposal of
Sir William Denison is thus based on contradictory condi-
tions." The coutributions on the part of Victoria is sub-
ject to the following conditions :-1. That no contract
should be made that does not provide for the delivery of
the mail at Melbourne in a period not exceeding fifty-five
days front the date of leaving London, the choice of route
to rest with her Majesty's Government. 2. That if the
oveeland route is adopted, th© packet must proceed from
Point de Gelle, via Cape Lesei win and King George's
Seunil, to Melbourne; she must touch at Kangaroo
Island ; but, to avoi 1 a loss of two or three days, she must
wit enter Port Adelaide, and that she shall proceed from
Melbourne to Sydney. 3. That in case the overland route
is adopted the packet would proceed to Sydney immedi-
ately after the delivery of the Melbourne mails ; but that
on her homeward voyage she must remain at least f rty-
eight hours in the port of Melbourne, exclusive of Sundays.
4. That preference must be given to the passengers from
the colonies on the homeward route over any passengers
for a shorter distauce. With regard to the colony of South
Australia, Mr. Fined,' who administered the government
of the colony prior to Sir R. G. Macdonnell's arrival, had
sufficiently ascertained the state of public feeling in the
colony to be able to say, with some degree of confidence,
that the Legislature (which was not then in session) would
give its support to any plan arranged by the Home Go-
vernment with any steam company by which an ocean
steamer shell monthly call off Purt Adelaide outward and
homeward, delivering the mails within the same time as
under the late contract with the Peninsular and Oriental
Company, re•neining in the port only a sufficient time to
deliver the mails on the outward voyage, but rem dning
twenty-four hours on the homeward voyage ; that to secure
this advantage the Government would propose to the La.
gislative Council a bill, to pay en behalf of the colony a con-
tribution not exceeding 12,00,1. a year. In respect to the
cost of the whole service, the Acting Governor of South
Australia suggests that the colonies should p 'es one-half
and the Imperial Government the other. Sir R. G. Mac-
dolmen states that Mr. Finnis represents the views of
members of the Legislature, and of the general commu-
nky, being in favour of steamers from Point de Gallo,
calling off Port Adelaide. From the remaining three co-
lonies, viz , Van Diemen's Lend, Western Australia, and
New Zealand, no intimation of any reply to Sir William
Denison's despatch had reached the board -when the mi-
nute wes issued. However, notwithstanding all the diffi-
culties and conflicting views, as exhibited in the various
correspondence uuder consideration, it is observed that
" my lords are of opinion that the interests involved, both
imperial and colonial, in a speedy restoration of a monthly
posed cetninueic aeon between the United Kingdom and
the Australia, celonies are so great, that the time has now
arrived when the Horne Governmeut should take the ini-
tiative, and propose for the adoption or the colonies some
great and comprehen•ive scheme, which shall upon mature
consideration appear to be the best adapted for the inte-
rests of the whole, and pending a communication with the
c &rules, in order to save time, to take such preliminary
steps as shall secure its coming into operation as soon as
p rssi tile. And my lords are the more induced to arrive at
this decision fir the following reasons :-1. My lords can-
not, after ell the discussions which hive tekeu place upon
this subject, be Corp, ised that the different colonies should
view with favour, and even insist upon, plans which, from j
he geographical pesiti in of the colonies, promise to con-
fer peculiar a vantages upon them, amid that in this re-
spect, the requirements of some may be at yea iance with
the interests of others, or of the whole And my lords
Sear that a great delay wound take place if they were to
wait until these .differences should be reljuited among the
colonies themselves 2. My lords are convinced, frost the
whole tenour of the correspondence now befwe them,
that all the colonies are now so inn h iu earnest, le their
issire to toe a perinaiient postal stea a communicatiou
steiblished, that they will b • reedy to sink any minor dif.
fere ices of epiiii and to subent to slight des elvantages,
in order to secure ;he far greater benefits which will result
fare a well-considered general echeine. 3. My lords are
further induced confi leutly to believe that each colony will
accept a geueral plan, prepared by the Home Government
after full consideration, in the fall conviction that, as it is
proposed without any hies or leaning in favour of any one
colony, it may be assumed as that which is best calculated
t, meet the public wants. Upou a very careful examina-
tion of the whiter subject, and consideration of the corres-
pondence which has taken , ruy lords are of opinion
that these objects can be best attained by restricting the
points at which the steamers of the main hue amidst call
to three, viz., Kin,' George's Sound, Melbourne, awl Syd-
ney, and that all the other colonies should be provided with
branch services fitting into the arrangements of the wain
service. My lords have carefully and especially considered
the difference of views upon this subject entertained by the
c.ilonies of Victoria and South Australia. The authorities
ef the letter colerry vary naturally desire that the steamer
shell call at Port Adelaide; bet when it is considered that
vessels of the size which must be employed in the service
are unable to cross the bar of the port, and are obliged to
bring up at a distance trom the port of fifteen miles, and
from this lend of five unties, and often in very had weather,
,nii that uuder any circumstances a small branch steamer
must be employed ; and when it is further cousidered that
ealliug at Port Adelaide would cause considerable deten-
tion to the wore important wails of Melbourne and Syd-
ney, if the eastern route should be adopted, as well as
a loss of time also on the return voyage, and that
usireeire the entire voyage out and home would be
lengthened —a disadvantage which would affect South
Australia as well as the other colonies, my lords feel
convinced that the inhabitants of that colony will be
setistied, upon due consideration, that so far an the ar-
rangement above proposed may be a concession on their
pert, it is one which the general interests of all concerned
cells upon them to make, and that they will see that the
saving of time in the outward and homeward service to-
;ether so obtained will be an advantage to them as well
ear to others. My lords are, however, of opinion that, in
the comprehensive scheme which they are now proposing,
irrangernents should be made at the common cost fur the
<ranch services required to convey the mails to and from
Port Adelaide, Van Diemen's Land, and New Z-Aland
making Melbourne the common point of arrival and depar-
ure of those branch services. They therefore propose that
arrangements shall be made on the spot for those services,
and that the cost of the same shall be added to the cost of
the mein services, and divided in the same proportions as
dready inlicated. The plan, therefore, finally now re-
solved upon may be thus shortly summed up :-1. That
hey shall instruct the Admiralty to obtain tenders, by
open competition, for monthly postal service between
this country and Australia, the vessels outward
and homeward, touching at King George's Sound, Mel-
bourne, and Sydney, carrying the mails for the six colonies
pf New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western
lustralia, Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand. 3
['bat all letters and newspapers shall be prepaid, and that
each post-office shall retain its own receipts. 4. Teat the
eetirecost of the ser vice described shall be divided equally
est ween the Horne 0-oveinrneet and the colonies collec-
tively. 5 That each of the colordes shall contribute to
he moiety to be paid by them collectively, in proportion
, the unineer of letters despatched by each, to be ascer-
shed every two years. The entire cost of this servics
will blt et
those
swadivide,!lcocontributene
iqe usa
cl yol lbe
toea iev•
tee
hleyen, t
nahneodi
eHttyoh ma
tteo
eGabcOei eproanfi n
thd
e
on
theand m
collectively in proportion to the number or
letters despatched by each, to be ascertained every two
year,. This is now the present position of the subject. II
she recent :oleic s received from the colonies some practi-
cal remarks have been obtained from a gentleman who has
had very exteLsivozornzeciions with stea:n navigation
all the Indian owes on
,ielly invite the attention some years
thers past,
wte, wtht)oushtlesaPme-
companies who tender, and the I.,riblicmteonthe following
memoranda of the computed length of a steam voyage frour
Melbourne to Point do Gallo and back, and from Melbourne

to Singapore and back, calling for coal at King George's
Sound, and to his remarks whic4 accoinp Lny the same :
Gooir,phical
'r s.
Hobson's Bay to offing at Cape Otway and

vice versa...
Offing at Cape Otway to offing at Cape Loon-
win, and vice versa, N. 7,4 deg. 5;
Offing at Cape Leeuwin to Point de Galle and
vice versa, N. 38 deg. 53 m. VP

1,405

4 625
Time occupied in performing the distance to Days. Hours.
King George's Sound, at 10 knots per hour
(1,346) .................................. . 5 15
Time occupied in performing the distance
from King George's Sound to Point de Galle
(3,280) l3 14
Time occupied in coaling and detour to King
George's Sound
Time occupied in coaling and laying in pro-
visions and water at Point de Galle
Return voyage, inclusive of detention for
coals, &c., at King George's Sound 2l 19

Total number of days occupied on voyage..
Between Melbourne and Singapore.,,.,

47 12

Geographical
miles.

Distance to Ring George's Sound from Mel-
bourne . ..................... 1,31 G
Ditto from King George's Sound to Singa-
pore, through Straits of Sunda, including
detour for avoidance of danger in Straits
and Jays, Sea ....................... 2,00
Total distance in geographical mi1e5.........,., _ 3,793

Time occupied in King George's Sound, in Days. Hours.
-
cluding detour and detention as before ... 8 3
Time occupied from King George's Sound to
Singapore... l.O 0
Detention thereat for fael, &c. ............... 4 0
Return voyage, including the detention for
fuel

--
Number of clays on voyage ........................ 40 16
The route from Melbourne to King George's Sound would
be shorter than that ro Point de Gallo, and would conse-
quently tend to maintain a somewhat higher rate of speed,
as it would not be necessary to load the steamer with so
large a quantity of coals as required by the Gallo line. The
general advantages of the different routes appear to be as
follows—Via Point de Gallo direct, a quicker communica-
tion would be established with India Proper, and with
Europe and transatlantic countries, and passengers for
Australia by -the Peninsulas and Oriental Company's
steamers would be insured passages on all occasions, the
drawback to these advantages being, besides a want of
clock accommodation, an increase in the expenses atten-
dant on the longer distance performed, and a less direct
and more extensive communication between these cido-
nies anti Singapore, Malacca, Penang, Rangoon, the Ten-
nasserin provinces, Batavia, Siam, Hong K.mg, Shanghai,
Chusan, and Manilla; while, on the other han (,Australian
passengers would, on arriving at Ceylon, frequently find the
Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers so crowded
with that company's more especial passengers frem Eu-
rope, America, Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta (bound to
Singapore, Bstavia, and China), that they would decline
on other occasions to take advantage of the overland route
however much many circumstances night make that route
desirable. Singapore possesses (at present) a patent slip
of great power and other appliances for repairing and re-
placing damages of steamers, which Point de Galle is de-
ficient in. The physical difficulties to be encountered on
either route are but trifling, as the weather is generally
nearly as fine as that on the Pacific. The steamers bound
to the westward would occasionally meet with some strong
opposing winds till they rounded Cape Leeuwin when they
would be fair till they carried her into the S.E. trades,
which would compensate for the previous delay. From 6
degrees or 8 degrees south latitude the weather is con-
stantly fine, care being taken, if bound to Ceylon between
October and April, to keep to the eastward of eO degrees
longitude till to the northward of the line, to avoid the
Luce icanes prevalent during the intervening months near
the M turitius. Should Point de G dle obtain the prefer-
ence over Singapore as a terminal port, the steamer on re-
turning would gain more assistance from the S.E. trades
by keeping to the eastward of the Cocos, by which
means she could use all foro and aft sail to help her
through the trades. In respect of the comparative dis-
tance of the two ports, much can be said in favour of Sin-
gapore, it being but 2,450 geographical miles from
King George's Sound, e bile Point do Galle is dis-
tant 3,230 miles, being s3O geographical miles in favour of
the former, and thus rendering the voyage from laud to
laud four days shorter, and lessening the risk of any acci-
dent to ships or engines, and a consequent irregularity or
detention of the mails The mail would be as much longer
in reaching Australia via Singapore, as the difference be-
tween the time saved on the two routes, and that
oecupie.i iu the voyage between Gabe and Singapore, which
would be about seven days, thus making a difference of
three days. Vessels occupied on such a voyage should be
screw steamers of not less than 600 tons burden, rigged as
barques or three-mested schooners, and fitted with engines
of 150 horse nominal power, with the newest tested im-
provement in that description of engine ; and the steamers
should be fitted with Lamb and Suinner's patent tubular
boilers, with perp3ndicular composition tubas, which,
though originally more expensive, are far more durable
and admit of easy cleaning, a point of vast importance in
vessels plying on sea holding larger quantities of saline
matter i, solution than the waters of more temperate
climes. This has been a formidable obs,ruction hitherto iu
the practical working of the long-voyaged steamers, and
demands wore attention than is at first apparent to unprac-
tised eeresns. As vessels required for the mail service would
not be called on to carry heavy cargo, which by deepening
would lessen their speed, and 'occasion indirect
loss, their lines should, of course, be as fine as
possible, consistent with stability, so as to insure
a high rate of speed, and, as engineering skill now
exists, it is conceived no difficulty whatever would
occur in attaining an average rate of ten knots. Vessels
of the class alluded to would, with boilers of the most ap-
proved principle, consume about Blbs. of good Sunderland
coal per horse-power per hour, and about 10lbs. or 111bs.
of coloui d coal. The consumption of Eirglish coal would
then be about 811 es. ;,4 1..0 horse-power 1,2001b5. k 24
hour 28,8001b5., or 12 16.20 tons par diem, and at an
average rate of 31. 10s. per ton for the coil consumed dur-
ing the voyage, would cost per diem, 441. 165., and for the
whole voyage out and home about 1,7451., a quantity
equal to about 490 tons being consumed each voyage.
Steamers of the description herein alluded to can be sub-
stantially and faithfully constructe i by any of the most
eminent engineers at the rate of 401. per register ton, fully
equipped for sea, with the exception of plate, drapery,
gleesware, stores, and provisions, being for a vessel of 6UO
tons, 21,000/ ; and for less than the other 6,05 C/. they
could be delivered for service in Australia, thus only
making an original outlay of 90,0001 , to be borne by three
or four flourishing and rapidly improving colonies. Of
course, if South Australia shares in the undertaking, she
would be entitled to have eecall made by the mail steamer,
for and with her mails.

(Front the Times of this day.)
The Circumlocution-office may be well proud of the
power it exercises. It has, as we all know, strong capa-
cities for obstruction, and uses them to the astonishment
of England and England's antipodes. It is not given to
all men to defeat the improvements of modern science,
and to check communication between the extremities
)mthtethbeginning
of the late wars
intercourse between
oufutitlhaet teltineppirrees.entFmrtoalen
the Austra ian colonies and the mother country has been
all but paralysed. We need not expatiate upon the fright-
ful inconvenience which has resulted from this state of
things. Commercial transactions of the greatest magni-
tude have been brought to a standstill; or, if operations
have been continual, certain loss and bankruptcy have
been the rewards of ill-timed enterprise. At first there
was no disri,sitiou on any side to murmur at that
which seemed to be an irrevitable consequerce of an un-
avoidable war. We knew well enough when we entered
upon hostilities that many Englishmen would be killed and
many rained, and that, at any rate for a time, there must
be a dislocation tf our usual marine postal arrangements.
All this was bad enough, but men who had cast L. their
lot with England were content to take the rough with the
smooth. Fora long time past, however, any such neces-
city has ceased to exist. The passage from London or
Southampton to Aden, at the southern extremity of the
Refit Sea, has beau as clear as the passage from Folkestone
to Boulogne. There has not, an far as we are aware, ex-
isted any greater difficulty in finding steam ships for the
tranmission of letter-bags between the points named than
exists at this Moment between the Channel ports. All
that was required was a temporary arraneement between
Aden and Kiug George's Sound, by way of the Mauritius
—if Diego G.rcia were not at once available—or, indeed,
by any other route which might present the fewest practi_
cal difficulties fur immediate solution. Any oruinary
commercial house.enaaged in foreign •trade would within
48 hours have made' some contrivance for tiding over
the obstacle. Things are managed in a more discreet man-
mr in the Cicutnrocution-office. The last advices from
Australia are neatly IUO days old. It is in vain that all
merchants engaged in the Australi in trade have held
meeting after meeting. It is in vain that they have me-
morialised the Government. that they have complained of
the unnecessary inconvenience to which they have been
subjected, and have pointed out the faci'ity with which a
-euiedy might have been found. Nor have the complaints
been confined to this country alone. From the Australian
colonies remonstrances of the most vigorous kind have
been despatched home. Nor have these remonstrances
been mere expressions of puling discontent. The peti-
tioners have said, " Give us the accommodation we re-
quire, and we are willing to contribute large sums—so
much, and so much—as our proportion of the cost." The
vary liability and straightforwardness of their own offers
have been turned against them. The Circumlocution gen-
tlemen have been of opinion that the least degree of re-
spect that could be shown to the colonists, in order to
mark our sense of their liberality, was to consult them
upon the specific manner in which their money should be
expended. Hence a delightful series of references between
England an l the antipodes ; hence queries and counter-
querries, notes and additional notes, representations, mis-
representations and counter-representations, memorials
and marginal comments upon memorials, which seemed to I
" My Lords" to reqaire further explanation and elucida- I
tion

It must have been a great day for "My Lords"
when this business of the Australian postal ar-
rangements fell into their hands. The thing was
so simple, and they have contrived to render it so wonder-
fully obscure. To them, 'indeed, personally the whole
merit of this great achievement cannot be attributed.
Without a thoroughly well-founded system of procrastina-
tion, carefully considered an .l efficiently canied out by the
most ingenious agents for a century or so, this result could
not have been attained. No given set of men living at the
awe time could arrive at such a high point of eicellence.
This is a question of tradition and successive generations.
The science of procrastination must have been pushed to a
very high point indeed ere the world could enter into the
full fruition of Downing-street and its dependencies. Any
ordinary man would feol uneasy if it xe e his du' y to ex-
pedite business, and he devoted his days and nights to
arresting its progress. He must be initiated into the mys-
teries of " the office ;" the blue foolscap and red tape must
have entered into his very soul before he could go home
complacently to his dinner after having caused unbounded
inconvenience to his fellow-creatures in return for so many
thousands or hundreds a year which they are .foblish
enough to bestow upon him in return for the vexation and
loss he inflicts upon them. It is to this wonderful influ-
enee,' which pervades every department of State and every
,ffice in which clerks are confined and cribbed for the non-
" despatch" of public business, that this unfortun delay,
Aout the Australian pt.stal arrangements must be attri-
buted. Mr. Wilson, forinstance, used to be a man of nimble
intellect and quick action enough before he was instalked in
this official Bmotia. He is now cunning in the NA we of
"how not to do it," and most deaterona
at axplanationa of

why nothing should be Bono. Ais ingenuity is turned into a
wrong channel—and Si much the wol,e for Australia, and
for ad mi,rt wlo.ario,coneected with it
.brties of business.
Nothing as yet has been done except that, in reply to in-
quiries which have been addressed to him xecer tly on two
occasions in the Imager Mr. Wilson has stated that tenders
might yet be sent in.

fiere, then, we are disputing about which is the best of
all possible routes between England and the antipodes,
and meanwhile it requires something like half a-year to
get an answer to a letter despatched from either side.
We are like the blear-eye•i old chemists who spent their
lives in the midst of faLaine and rags, while they were in
search of the secret which should convert every substance
into the most precious of metals. Tue first point clearly
is to sh,irten the period actually employed in the transmis-
sion of letters between London and Sytiney by one-half ;
and this can be done by one stroke of an official pen,
which, after the achievement, should be hung up in the
Circumlocution•ofce in sempitcrnam. When this feat has
been accomplished we way enter with greater propriety
upon such niceties as the saving of an hour or two more
or less.