The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-24 00:00:00

Sea lino, inehiding slack cable 2,050

Br THE RINISH RorTE.

London to Inverness
Inverness, across the Sutherlandshire mountains,

to Cape Wrath .
Cape Wrath to Faroe
Faroe to Iceland
Across Iceland
Iceland to South Greenland
Across Greenland
Greenland to Labrador
Over the unexplored country of Labrador, by the
nearest route, to join the American system *at
least

Add 15 per cent. of slack to the sea portions of the
line

2,650

Miles.
658

3,478

3,773

To work this line of nearly 4,000 miles at any re
munerative speed would require relays at each
broken point,— in all not less than 14 sets of relays
to be worked in synchronous connection, each with
each. These continuous sections, owing in a great
degree to their circuitous course and their constant
change of position in reference to the magnetism of
the earth—the first links being south to north, then
east to west, and, lastly, north to south,—would
more than in any other quarter of the earth, and in
a greater ratio than any direct line, be subject to
the adverse influences of earth currents, magnetic
storms, aurora borealis, the chance of accidents, and
other disturbing causes, always more incident to
long and frequently broken circuits, and any one of
which would destroy for days the synchronous
working of the relay system, and reduce the opera-
tion at best to one of slow and tedious repetition
from station to station. The statement, therefore,
that the minimum, or even the average speed,
through a circuit of such a character would be any-
thing like 20 words a minute is, to say the least, a
very bold assertion.
But by the Atlantic cable a message would leap
at one bound from the Old World to the New, and
could be transmitted at the rate of 20 words per
minute, if necessary, through a new cable con•
structed in accordance with the advanced state of
science. It would also find at Nevi foundland direct
wires and special facilities for its transmission on-
wards with the greatest attainable rapidity.
The whole question of deep sea telegraphy has,
however, during the past eight months been under
careful investigation by a committee appointed by
the Government for that purpose. Every gentle-
man whose position and experience enabled him to
afford information has been examined. Experi-
ments have been conducted with a view to clear up
important points, and the result verbatim will be
shortly laid before Parliament, and will illustrate
the perfect practicability of deep and long sea tele-
graphs.

My only object in these remarks has been to place
the Atlantic Telegraph Company in its fair position,
as an earnest and original labourer in a great and
well-considered work, and to remove as far as pos-
sible the injurious impressions which have been
created by depreciatory, but inaccurate statements.
I hope especially that it will be understood that
these remarks do not arise out of any spirit of hos-
tility to an efficient survey of the Northern Atlantic
or any other telegraphic route. On the contrary,
the Atlantic Telegraph Company itself some con-
siderable time since applied to the Government on
the subject of further ocean surveys, and it is only
a feeling of deep interest in the ultimate and per.
manent connection of England and America by
telegraph which induces me to observe while upon
this point that if her Majesty's Government does
consent to incur the expense of making Arctic or
other surveys, great care should be taken that those
surreys are made in a perfectly independent and
complete manner, and that the results should be
accessible for the benefit of the whole world.
I would further remark that any survey of the
Greenland coast, with the view to ascertain its
capabilities as a cable station, would not be at all
conclusive or satisfactory if it does nut embrace at
the very least eight or nine months' resident exami-
nation of the coast, both on its eastern and western
sides ; as the practicability of that route for tele-
graphic purposes must depend, not merely upon the
bare possibility of laying a cable there during one
particular month in a Greenland summer, but upon
the probability of its remaining intact. during the
stormy seasons, and the facilities for rapidly repair-
ing it when broken —I am, Sir, yours ruly,
CEO. SAWARD, Secretary of the Atlantic
Telegraph Company.
22, Old Broad street, May 19.

THE GROWING CROPS. The weather since
Saturday has been fine and warm, and a heavy continuous
ground rain having fallen on the 12th and 13th, the growing
crops have greatly improved in appearance in Norfolk and
Suffolk. Wheat, which in some districts looked thin and
unhealthy, has made a start; and barley and oats have also
advanced rapidly. The improvement has pervaded the en-
tire vegetable world, and the promise of fruit is abundant.
A Worcestershire letter states that in that county it is
likely ty De " dirt cheap,"

PRICE 4D. STAMPED, SD.

2HE GUNBOAT QUESTION.

The following letters have been addressed to the
Editor of the _ _ .

Sir,—Messrs. Green, through the Times of this
morning, &my that they . had two vessels under
construction for the Brazilian Government at the
time they *ere building the gunboats.
One 'or two is immr.terial. I maintain they ne-
glected the contract entered into with the British
Government to expedite a contract entered into
with the Brazilian Government. To prevent further
quibble or doubt I shall ask a member of Parliament
to move for .copies of the correspondence and reports
that took place on this subject in January, 1856.—
Yours obliged, M. F. F. BERKELEY.
32, Lown des-square, S.W., May 22.

Sir,—The attention of hon. members of both

Houses of Parliament has been occupied for some
time in listeninc, to speeches relative to decayed
gunboats. It is to be regretted that so much valu-
able time should have been lost in making unquali•

fled aspersions and casting unjust censure upon a
body of honourable men, who came forward during
the late war and put their shoulders to the wheel
in order to assist Government in their efforts to
bring together as speedily as possible that powerful
arm of the service now under censure.
During the period above alluded to the then ex-
isting Board of Admiralty did their best ; the sur-
veyor of the navy and his department did their best ;
the contractors, by exerting themselves to the ut-
most in order to carry out the Admiralty instruc-
tions (regardless of the consequences to their trade
interests through neglecting other work in he'
did their best; and "they do say" that the gallant
Sir Charles, who so frequently and impatiently
called for the Mosquito fleet, " did his best."
Now, it would be far better if hon. members, in-
stead of uttering such unmerited censure, were to
pass a vote of thanks to those who, in the hour of
need, so promptly and ably came forward and
acted for the good of their country, especially
when it is remembered that by doing so several
were ruined. In reading the speeches of some mem-
bers upon the work performed by the contractors, it
is to be regretted that the opinions enunciatedshould
have been based upon fore...one conclusions rather
than upon a knowledge of the facts, and it is really
amusing to notice some of the observations made by
those who are evidently at sea on dry land. Those
who understand the question, and can speak un-
biassed upon it, well know that the gunboats were
admirably adapted to the purposes for which they
were built; and when an hon. member so anoma-
lously says in one breath that his ship leaked like a
sieve, and yet, at the same time, stunk so from the
retention of bilge water, the public should be
guarded in receiving such statements.
It should not be forgotten that the vessels on
leaving the contractors' hands underwent a strict
overhaul by the proper Government officers prior to
being received. If the sage and veteran Admiral
so energetically deplored the risk his gallant blue-
jackets ran when sailing in contract-built vessels,
how much more must his kind heart and good feel-
ings have been aroused when that celebrated ship
the Sidon bore them during her unsteady evolu-
tions ! It is to be hoped that some member of the
house will call for the returns of building and alter-
ing that renowned craft, when, I apprehend, he will
find that not even Admirals who talk of economy
and cleverness in naval construction can always
bring those desiderata to bear in carrying out their
own designs. Those who most loudly asperse con-
tract-built vessels should remember that during the
long revolutionary war our great battles were fought
by the brave and gallant Nelson, Duncan, St. Vin-
cent, and others, mostly with contract-built ships ;
constructed by men who then, as now, were always
ready to co-operate with the Government when
justly treated, and who built some 100 sail of the
line between 1793 and 1813.

The false system pursued at Haslar in hauling
up the gunboats to preserve them after they had
been afloat—most of them having been built in
the depth of winter, and having had fires lighted to
get up steam almost immediately after being
launched--has long caused practical man to smile at
the " experiments" of the present day. This
hauling up was done, possibly, with the best inten-
tion, and with no cesire ultimately to reflect dis-
credit on the builders ; but who ever heard of such
a scheme before, and carried out on such a marshy
spot ? And then boxing the boats up, and fre-
quently lighting fires in them to ave the machinary
from becoming defective ! Why, sir, the course
pursued must have made the place a perfect hotbed
for unseasoned timber to vegetate and for seasoned
to decay. Now, any washerwoman who through
misfortune or illness is unable to wash, and who
puts her tubs high and dry upon the shelf, Well
knows she would find them perfectly useless after
a short lapse of time. Gunboats which have been
in commission, and properly taken care of Vr hile
afloat, no doubt would require ordinary repairs
after a period of nearly seven years has expired ;
but I question whether, with all the hubbub about
expense, the entire cost of the necessary repairs
would amount to so much as half the sum expended
upon the hauling-up slip and preserving-sheds at
Haslar (for which, by the way, a floating basin
could have been constructed) ; or, at any rate, the
cost would not exceed that of repairing vessels
built in Government yards under similar limita-
tions as to time and timber.
May I ask, sir, where all the splendid ships which
constitute our mercantile marine were built, whose
arrivals and departures in carrying on the, com-
merce of this country we daily read of in your
columns, and which crowd our rivers and ports—
such noble ships as those belonging to Messrs.
Green, Wigram, Somes, Dunbar, Lindsay, Smiths,
our great shipping companies, and a multitude of
others ? Do we hear of those ships vegetating ?
Are their crews running risks in going to sea in
these contract-built vessels ? Do these ships usually
return disabled after being only a few weeks at
sea? Are they hauled up on hotbeds until wanted?
Assuredly not ; their owners know better how to
protect their property. Can the noble lords, gal-
lant admirals, and honourable members who speak
so unguardedly of fraud having been committed
imagine for one moment that the contractors
who built the much-maligned gunboats, and
who so anxiously pushed forward the work to
serve, if not to save, their country, would risk such
impeachment for the sake of a few paltry pounds ?
Thieves and rogues are no doubt to be found in the
public as well as the private yards, or why are
policemen stationed to " stroke down" suspected
men when leaving the former ? Should arty such
be detected in driving short bolts and trenails, or
should unseasoned materials be used in time of
scanty supply, are the master builders of ()Ur Go-
vernment yards held responsible and accused of
fraud ? Would the members of both house speak
of them as they have dose so unceremoniously and
unjustly of those who did their best when called
upon in the hour of their country's need ?
Let full and fair investigation be made !of the
charges brought forward in so wholesale a manner,
and I doubt not public opinion will soon crush out
the malicious stigma engendered through political
rather than patriotic motives.—l am, sir, yours
obediently, ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS.
London, May 23.

NEWSPAPER
---"'
.;;;.,,„44-411 Wrcqx, r
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f-,.-aao 1 -,,.\ ~,,---- tz,.4,
2.118 DERP r-D.l • 1;44 Wit!!-'-.7"-' '4':',
'4.
47.::.
(From, the Journal des .Deb .. - -- . ;.....-,-_:. ""'- --
- ':
.-- - .*,
Decidedly there IS -inothing to be h - 2st. --":-' - -'Z'i>/..."
Lord Palmerston ;' that eternal young i: .-4 ier cgli -S
Me-in—final impenitence. Has he not ound.lEe .
means, in a single sitting of the House of Commons
of committing • three: serious ,pieces of folly ? ' •He
proposed that.the House should adjourn to attend
the Derby, he defended-the system of living models,
and, finally, took up, the Cudgels. for the fight for
the Championship. .
The adjournment of the House on the Derby-day
is such - a recognised fact,,that Lord Palmerston
might -well call it one of the unwritten rules of
Parliament. Usually some individual member
moves_the onrstion ; this year Lord Pahnerston
himself, doubtless with a new kasil of youths took •
it upon himself. -Decidedly children are out of
date.
Behold, on the other hand, Lord Haddo, a serious
Scot; complaining that women are made to sit stark
naked before the pupils of the Royal Academy, and.
a discussion ensues on petticoats and crinoline long-
enough to make us fancy we are hearing a sermon.
in Lent. Lord Palmerston, remembering, doubt-
less, that in France a bill was passed to lengthen
theft/pas of the ballet girls, and at Naples another
that the " tights" should be green instead of flesh
colour, called upon his_ bon: colleague to bring for-
ward a motion on the subject to fiu the state of
nudity that ought to be allowed, for there is a
minimum as well as a maximum in deshabille. The
motion fell to the ground amid roars of laughter;to
the great scandal of Mr, Spooner, who hid his face
in his hands._ ~
• •

---;-
Lord Lovaine followed, complaining against a
railway company for having conveyed 2,000 spec-
tators to see a prize-fight. Lord Palmerston again
took up the gauntlet. 'With what compunction did
he not own that certainly two men who, without
any ill-feeling between them or wish to kill each
other, had a regular set-to were committing a breach
of the peace, but amateurs who chose to look on
without creating disturbance or damage were no
more culpable than if thexatre looking at a balloon
9R.e-L " They go to se, 0.•,7ht ; they sit upon the
; when it is ovenhbrgo quietly home, with-
out having given annoyance to any ono.'.' What
have you got to say against them ?
We have a crow to pluck with Lord Palmeriston;
he need not have mixed us up in the matter, and
appealed, as he did, to our testimony to justify the
mill between Tom Sayers and Heenan. We had al-
ready enough to bear of the scandal we provoked.
As an example, and as a type of the love of English-
men for all manly exercises, we ought to have se-
lected Lord ralmerston himself ; for, as a member
of the House of Commons observed on the same day,
what endears the noble lord to his countrymen so
much is, that he is a real Englishman, and loves all
English national sports ; and truly when we read
the tribute of admiration paid by Col. Dickson to
the Champion of England, we were puzzled as to
whether it was meant for Tom Sayers or,Lard Pal-
merston. Some surprise has been evinced that we
recently drew a comparison between a prize-fight
and political considerations. One of the most bigoted
journals, L'A7ni de la Religion, has published a cor-
respondence from London, of which the following
is an extract :
" What astonishes some men is the extreme faci-
lity with which England at the present moment
recedes and becomes the. England of other days,
without regard to all the trouble taken to reform
her. Despite Disraeli and his paladins of Young
England, despite Cobden and his bales of cotton,
despite Bright and his peace theories, despite Glad-
stone and his vague, evangelical, humanitary ideas,
the present generation backs, rears, will not advance
with the age, but starts back to the days of yore.
We have a striking proof of it in the recent prize-
fight which so scandalised the French public the
other day. It is nothing more than the awakening of
the beast' which it was attempted to smother with
money-bags, but which, at a given moment, rises,
stretches itself, and with a terrific roar sends the
vile coin right and left, for the sole pleasure of
being at ease and feeling that it is alive. What-
ever this disgust may cause you, I beg of you,
nevertheless, to take it for what it is—a sign ! the
sign of bow this nation is bored to death by all the
ultra-civilising notions shouted into its ears for the
last 15 years. Observe that Lord Lovane, in assum-
ing as regards the recent prize-fight the views of
every well-bred man on the Continent, ran foul of
the Englishman of the old school, represented by
Lord Palmerston. Now, the latter, whatever faults
he may have, has always shown himself a perfect
gentleman in word and deed—but he is a thorough-
bred Englishman, an Englishman to the backbone,
and by no means inclined to relinquish the popu-
larity he enjoys at the present moment on that
very account."
We are surprised that the journal which published
this correspondence did not add comments of its owu.
In what condition, in fact, can a country be when
• one of the first claims upon it of a Prime Minister
is his love of horses, as is the case with Lord Derby
and Lord Palmerston ; and what can we think of
a nation which on WTednesday left in the lurch
Garibaldi, the Rerorin Bill, the East,orn Question,
the Grand Turk, and everything else for Epsoin
Downs to sec the Derby ?

STATE OF TRADE.

BARNSLEY.—Most kinds of strong fabrics are in
good demand for the home market. The drill,
damask, diaper, and sheeting departments are all
tolerably active, and a good number of hands are
employed on some orders recently received for
window blinds. Altogether, the condition and
prospects of the trade here are satisfactory.
LEEDS, MAY 22.—The cloth-halls have been
rather thinly attended by buyers this morning.
Prices were firm, but only a small amount of busi-
ness was transacted. Small parcels to fill up stocks
and job lots comprised the chief kinds of purchases.
There is a good deal of care manifested on the part
of merchants, the aspect of public affairs being in
many respects of an uncertain character. Wools
rule steady in price, and have an upward rather than
a downward tendency.
MANCHESTER, May 22.—Our market continues
much affected in prices, and there is exceedingly
little business doing. The effect of the alterations
in the Indian tariff and of the anomalies in the
valuations of goods, of which advices were received
last week from Calcutta, has been of a very serious
and depressing character, and for the present there
is almost a panic, os far as prices are concerned. This
of course may pass away before long, as business
men gradually accommodate themselves to the new
state of things. It is probable, however, that the
change will lead to a reduction of prices of a more
permanent character, and this iesult is rapidly
taking place already. Last week prices were a good
deal supported by the contracts in hand; but these
are being considerably reduced by merchants taking
advantage of every opportunity to cancel orders
where a delay of a single day occurs in delivery,
from whatever accident or cause. Manufacturers
not engaged are more anxious sellers under these
circumstances, at a heavy reduction on the rates
current three weeks ago. The advices from Cal-
cutta to the Ist May give the reduction there at Id.
to id. per lb. on yarn and 6d. to 71d. per piece on
shirting's, and this, of course, has had a bad effect
here. -On business for other markets the effect has
been less felt ; but there is a general disposition
among buyers to withhold orders which are not of
the most pressing description, and prices are weaker
In nearly all classes of goods. The yarn•market has
been very flat, and India and China qualities are
lid. to id. lower, other kinds being more or less un-
favourably affected. Messrs. John Slagg and Co.
report :—" Since our last report the determination
on the part of buyers to keep out of the market
has become more marked. Later advices from India
and China are considered very unfavourable, and
there is, consequently, little or nothing doing in
goods for those markets. We have made a slight
reduction in our quotations, but they must be con-
sidered entirely nominal, as the few offers ma,k mg
are not sufficient to test them. There is still a
moderate business doing. for the home trade,
say:
and . "
G. Fraser, Son,
and prices are comparativelyCo steady." Mess
The
market to-day has been very dull through-
out, and prices are unsteady for
India
extra hard
andkinds l
also
(excepting
ths printers
and shirtings. Domestics remain without change,
tgwo
sdts
fora n
owing to the heavy orders beforehand in the bands
and
the hyeaLrnesvaofn ta)l,l
of manufacturers."
ROCHDALE, May 21.—The market t do- ay has
been a good deal more animated than last week.
w are even higherthan they
sere then, and
are very firmly held, so that manufacturers are
deman din g some
advance for flannels and other
woollen goods. If late prices had been acceded
to by manufacturers many orders would have been
given to-day, but manufacturers hung off, and most
(if the orders accepted were on slightly advanced
terms.

TirE PETCE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at
Paris is about p,t par, and the short exchange on London is
2.5.121 per LI sterling. On comparing these rates with the
English Mint price of £3 17s. 100. per ounce for standard
gold, it appears that gold is about 2-10ths per cent, dearer
in Paris than in London. By advices from Ilamburg
the price of gold is 4221' per mark, and the short
exchange on London is 13 31 per £1 sterling. Standard
gold at the English Mint price is therefore nearly
at about the same price in London as in Hamburg.
The course of exchange at New York on London for
bills at 60 days' sight is about 1091 per cent., which, when
compared with the Mint par between 'the two countries
ort,
shows that the exchange is slightly in favour of England;
and, after making allowance for charges of transp and
difference of interest, the present rate leaves a small profit
on the importation of gold from the United Statos.