The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-15 00:00:00

lIAMIIERSMITFI BRIDGE.

The Engineer, a high authority on such a subject
considers that the apprehensions of a break down of
Hammersmith Bridge during the University I3oal
Race are not unfounded. It appears that the struc-
ture is nearly 45 per cent. weaker than the regula-
tions of the Board of Trade allow.

FOREIGN NOTES.
CONTINENTAL DIFFICULTIES.
Gentlemen who have speculated for a rise on the Paris
Bourse are not likely to make large profits at present.
Rumour, as efficacious on the Bourse as fact, is still busy.
Some facts, too, of a rather significant character have just
come to light. For instance, the Etendard, which for the
last few days has been confident of a speedy
and peaceful solution of the Belgian difficulty, persists in
this assertion, but unconsciously admits that the dispute
has been serious enough to warrant the interference of
another Power. It says "We are happy to be able tc
announce that the influence of England has been exerted
in this question for the purpose of bringing about a peace-
ful settlement, thus sheaving how thorough is the spirit of
conciliation which animates the British Cabinet." The
controversy is now, says the semi-official paper, confined
to the question of fares. When that essential point is
settled, all the objections of the Belgian Government will
have been satisfied, and no obstacle to the fusion of
the two companies will remain, The Tenzpt
and other journals state that M. de la Garonnitze,
after having been imaginatively sent to Brussels two or
three times, set out in the flesh for that capital on Friday
evening, " his instructions being ready." The Constitu-
tionel publishes a hazy article, highly condescending to
Belgium, but also of a conciliatory tone. It is satisfactory
to find that this affair promises to end quietly ; it was
difficult indeed to imagine that such a wretched "ques-
tion" could bring about a war ; but the declaration of the
Etendard, though reassuring in one sense, is disquieting in
another. The interference of England proves thatßelgium
must at least have been bullied by France.
The nature of the negotiations now going on is much
disputed. The Constitutionnel seems to be informed that
the settlement is less forward than the Etendard represents
it. A mixed commission has been proposed to regulate
the tariff question, but this the Constitutionnel says is as
—et but a project.
This Belgian question, together with other signs
which have been unfavourably interpreted, has rather
strengthened than diminished the uneasiness prevalent on
the Continent. The Memorial Diplonzatique attempts to
give a serious turn to the Belgian difficulty, by stating
that a short time ago Prussia offered the annexation of
Belgium to France as the price of the Emperor Napo-
leon's assistance against Austria. The offer was rejected
then, but the inference is that annexation may be
thought of now. Then there is a general move-
ment, almost a panic, amongst the Ambassadors.
The Prussian representative has been recalled from
Florence, the Italian Minister at Paris has gone back to
Italy, and the French Minister at Vienna is expected in
Paris. Finally, the despatches of the Russian Govern-
ment relating to the Turco-Greek affair shew clearly
enough that so far as regards the greater questions
at issue between the two States Russia is directly
antagonistic to England and France. But, as the Indi-
pendance Beige remarks, apprehensions founded on these
data spring rather from instinct than reason.

SPAIN.
Admiral Topete completely "let the cat out of the bag"
at the recent debate in the Cortes. He not only declared
for Montpensier, but imprudently admitted that the Duko
offered to take part in the insurrection last September,

pointments in the various departments, many of
which are to be consolidated as the General of the
Army may deem best. As finally passed in the
Senate, Mr. Wilson's amendment being adopted, the
number of infantry regiments arc to be reduced to
35 ;:the number of brigadier-generals to 8 ; the term
of enlistment being fixed at five years: it mustersout
of the services about 14 infantry regiments, and
provides that the President shall consolidate the
regiments as rapidly as the requirements of the
public service will permit. Considering that army
expenses will be less in proportion to the cost of
living than in the clays of Buchanan, this wholesale
reduction of both army and navy is a singular com-
mentary on the remark of the Times, that the ex-
penditure of the United States Government is
rapidly growing in all directions. It is these
ignorant or untruthful statements which so mis-
lead the English, and give them such erroneous
ideas on the United States.

Where population grows denser many of the cus-
toms though condemned in Europe by the United
States are adopted by the latter as their necessity be-
comes developed. 'The rivers, and what in England
would be designated lakes, though called in America
polds, have been almost emptied of fish by a lazy,
vagrant class, who use any means which answer the
pug p )se of the moment. It is to replenish the de-
struction they have caused that Seth Green and the
Commissioners appointed by different States have
been at work to re-stock, but unless the result of their
labours be protected they will be fruitless, because
these people will consume the fish as fast as the waters
are replenished. Massachusetts has set the example in
fish culture, and that State feels most strongly the
necessity of protecting the work, and establishing
the principle that the fish cultivated by the owner
of a farm on his own property are as much his as are
his sheep and cattle ; but this is a new idea to the in-
habitants, and an infringement of a good old cus-
tom, savouring of feudal Europe, t hough it is bwom-
ing clear that it must be enforced or the lakes and
rivers will become lifeless. A game law has been sub-
mitted to the New York Sportsmen's Club, amend-
ing on various points that, now in force. Trout
fishing will not be allowed during September ;
woodcock shooting is no longer controlled by the
ebb and flow of the tide, a very curious provision of
the present law in the United States, but commences
on the 4th of July all over the States ; partridges
cannot be shot before the Ist of September, and
the sale of quail, partridges, venison, and prairie
chickens is absolutely prohibited after the Ist of
March, regardless of the time or place of their being

The important matter of taking the census of-the
United States is being arranged at Washington, to
be carried into practice next year. O❑ the 19th
and 20th February the Census Committee, of
which Representative Garfield is the Chairman,
after discussion, decided to recommend the establish-
ment of a different Census Bureau, and to adopt the
planof Dr. Huff, who superintended the taking of the
census in 1865 iu the State of New -York. Under the
old system some districts were enabled by fraud to re-
turn many inhabitants in excess of what they con-
tained, and it is now intended to appoint special offi-
cers togather the returns, instead of working through
the United States Marshals as heretofore. The Com-
mittee favour an increase of the members of Congress
to 300. The present apportionment is one Repre-
sentative to an aggregate of 125,000 inhabitants,
and if, as is probable, the House will reject this pro-
posal, the next election will raise that aggregate
to 150,000 inhabitants to every member. The effect
must be, under any circumstances, to increase the
representation of the Western States. The New
England States will lose some of the members they
now return if the numbers be not increased, and so
will Pennsylvania, and even New York. Indeed,
five is the estimated loss of the last State, two
for Massachusetts, and one for each of the other
New England States.

The House of Representatives on the 23d Feb.
struck out the Appropriation for the salary and ex-
penses of the Special Revenue Commissioner, the
Hon. David A. Wells. Mr. Cake, a Republican of
Pennsylvania, wished to know if the Commissioner
could not get on without any salary since his trip to
England ! General Butler defended Mr. Wells, and
so did Mr. Allison, of lowa ; but the amendment
was adopted, though it will probably give rise to a
fight hereafter, for it certainly has a very curious
appearance that a singularly able and honest pub-
lic servant should be suddenly deprived of his means
of existence because he truly stated the result of his
lengthened investigation into a very difficult sub-
ject, and his opinions and figures militated against
a powerful and well-combined interest. It has al-
ways been the curse of Protectionists that they never
know where to stop; and in the end lose what they had
gained by pushing to an extreme, and disgusting the
nation by the violence and injustice of their attacks
against all who oppose their doctrines. This action
can scarcely fail to damage their cause with the
public, and to drive the man generally conceded
to be best acquainted with this subject fairly into
the arms of their opponents. Power is passing from
the Atlantic to the Prairie States ; even the census
of next year will make this change distinctly felt,
and we cannot but doubt the wisdom of the Pro-
tectionists in making the question a war to the knife,
as the Free-traders can scarcely fail to interpret an
act that-deprives a Government officer of his salary
because he faithfully reported the information he
was specially appointed to collect. We are glad to
notice that next day, on Mr. Allison's motion, the
proviso was amended, the words, " after June
30, 1870, being inserted."