The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-04 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

(Sittings in BAnco before Lord Campbell, Mr. Justice
Wightman, Mr. Justice Erle, and Mr. Justice Cromp-
ton.)

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK DIRECTORS.

Lord Campbell in the course of the morning inti-
mated that the Court would to-morrow give judgment
on the application of the defendants in the late trial of
the Royal British Bank directors far new trials.

IN RE SWAINE.
Mr. Mannisty, Q.C., showed cause against rule ob-
tained. calling upon Messr.. Riley and Co. to show
cause why the defendant should not be discharged
from the custody of the keeper of the Queen's prison, or
the judgment in an action on certain bills of exchange
should not be set aside and the defendant allowed to
plead. The question involved was one of law, relative
to the obtaining of a deed of arrangement under the
Bankrupt Laws Consolidation Act.

The Court admitted the defendant to bail to plead to
,he action on his giving security for the debt.

TBE RIVAL INDIAN TELEGRAPHS.

The question of telegraphs to India seems destined
to be discussed in the old spirit. Whenever in this
country some paramount ()Eject is to be obtained,
the energies that should promote it, instead of being
combined, are always wasted in rivalries, which
become at last so keen that the triumph of indivi-
duals, and not the aim in view, is at last the sole
thing sought. Electric communication with the
East would now have been existence but for this
circumstance. It is upon those who are responsible
for it, therefore, that the reproach must fall of the
nation being under a deprivation which even now
may be estimated to involve a loss at the rate of
several millions sterling per annum, and the conse-
quences of which in case of a more serious condition
of continental politics it would be vain to attempt
to estimate. Two lines have been long before the
public, and the construction of each is essential.
If the strength of their advocates had been united,
the Government would have been forced into ac-
tion ; but the love of opposition, even where it could
answer no purpose, was too powerful to be resisted,
so that all the skill of one has been directed to
prove the other impracticable, and the authorities,
ever ready to welcome a plea for doing nothing,
have thus been able to look on with folded arms.
To-night in the House of Commons the
struggle is apparently again to be revived, and
doubtless with the same results. Mr. Crawford
is to advocate the merits of the Red Sea line,
and Sir H. Rawlinsun that of the Tigris and the
Persian Gulf. The course the arguments will take
has been already indicated by the partisans of
the Red Sea scheme, who, " without desiring to
anticipate them," have already put forth under
cover of neutrality whatever assertions they could
command to damage the opposite plan. Thus, it
is u'ged that, although it may be said that we
ought to have both lines, we can only have one at
present, and must consequently make a selection,
and that this selection should fall in favour of the
Red Sea, since that route would be in our own
hands, while the other would be controlled by
Turkey. Further, the public are reminded that the
Red Sea is likely to be the best, since it is re-
commended by Mr. Crawford, who represents
London, the Persian Gulf route being sup-
ported by Sir H. Rawlinson, who represents
only a thorough knowledge
.of" Asiatic interests.

There is no validity in any of these objections, iici
they can merely serve as a challenge for counter
objections from the opposite party. The Red Sea
telegrams will have to cross Turkish territory from
Suez to Alexandria, and our control in case of
European hostilities, such as would be likely to test
the question, would be just as much jeopardised in
one case as the other. In fact, there are many con-
siderations that suggest the possibility of the Tigris
route being best preserved from interference.
As to the statement that the. English Government
can select only one line at present, it is entirely
without foundation. Each is alike open to them.
The cable along the Persian Gulf from Kurrachee
to Bossorah is all they are required to deal with,
as far as the Tigris project is concerned. The
Turkish Government are to carry the connecting
wires from Constantinople to that port, and the
materials are alleged to be already ou their way.
Even if they could not complete their part of
the work in time, the existence of the cable
would present an invaluable alternative in the
event of anything happening to affect our com-
munication via Egypt, since messages could
rapidly be conveyed by horsemen from Bussorall
to the Mediterranean. Moreover, if the Turks
showed inability or unwillingness to fulfil their
promise, we should have good ground to insist
upon the privilege of perft.rming it for theta. They
have no right to oppose a barrier between us and
our chief possessions, at all events in times of
peace. The commerce of the world is not to be
interrupted by a system of exclusion which can-
not be supported by a political pi etext, and of this
they are so well aware themselves that they did.
not hesitate to grant the necessary concession to an
English company wHich had reached its final stage,
and was only stopped after the overthrow of
Redschid Pasha last Autumn, and the visit
of the Eirperor Napoleon to Osborne. Finally,
the assertion that London must be con-
sidered to have pronounced for the Red, Sea route
because one of its four members in the House of
Commons happens to have joined that project as a
director can scarcely be worthy of notice. It is
simply a further illustration of the small character
of the contest, which is yet nevertheless sufficient
to paralys what may soon be found to be the most
vital operations to which the country should direct
ifselt. The utmost risk the Government could run
from affording the required aid would be about
50,0001. per annum for the two lines, or something
equivalentto the loss that may now be supposed to be
sustained weekly from their absence. As to trust-
ing to one line, nothing could be more impolitic.
If when all our habits and arrangements had been
brought into dependence on instantaneous news a
break were suddenly to occur, we should be worse
off than if we had never thus placed our reliance.
An alternative must be had. Supposing the two com 4
companies ready to perform what is requisite, they
should be put into motion at once • but if one can-
not negotiate without being allowed to extinguish
the other, it would be desirable to set them aside
altogether, and to invite some less combative per-
sons to enter the field.—Times.