The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-19 00:00:00

above the porch of the Royal Exchange—" The
Earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof." The
incident is worthy of commemoration, and is full of
the happiest auguries.
Another circumstance in connection with this
wonderful achievement is the rapid multiplication of
the facilities for intercommunication along the five
thousand miles of wire. According to the latest
attained rate of speed, 100 words may now be trans-
mitted within an hour. Previously the speed of
working was that of 99 words in 67 minutes, as it
had been at the outset 62 words in 70 minutes.
Now, as we have said, the rate is that of 100 words
in every 60 minutes—a rate very far short, indeed,
of what will be ultimately attained even with the
aid of existing arrangements—yet one that is still
in every respect most encouraging as regards the
future, and most satisfactory as regards the present.
Ultimately, we cannot but believe that instead of
each letter requiring several distinct thrills of
electricity for its transmission, every individual
letter of the alphabet may be indicated by a
single throb of the wondrous current. Even-
tually even, it is to be hoped that many a word in
frequent use may be jotted down in the telegram by
means of some ingenious scheme of electric steno-
graphy. In this age of marvels these are no idle or
frivolous anticipations. Let us, however, take the
good the gods have given us, and be thankful. As
they are—how full of matter for astonishment ! A
hundred words within an hour's time flashed under
the broad Atlantic between Ireland and our North
American possessions.
Altogether we believe that the wisest decision
arrived at since the completion of the late
successful laying down of the cable is that
by which the promoters of the enterprise pro-
pose, at as early a date as possible, to lay
down another. When two or three have been
actually submerged with success we may feel safe
in respect to the future of this marvellous
undertaking. At present everything trembles as it
were, Upon a hair. The rope may be rubbing
hithei and thither upon the edge of some
craggy submarine mountain-top approaching nearer
and yet nearer the moment of ultimate rupture
with each triturating oscillation. It may be
suspended in a loop from ridge to ridge
over some unfathomable abyss, the strain of its weight
increasing with the prolongation of its suspension, in
obedience to the simple law of gravitation. It is need-
less, however, to be enumerating possible perils that
must be sufficiently obvious to every one's appre-
hension. We refer to them generally as affording
more than simply adequate reasons for the laying
down, as quickly as may be, more cables, thus link-
ing together with'this exquisitely sensitive chord of
sympathy the eastern and the western hemispheres.

THE QUEEN IN GERMANY.

FROM THE COURT NEWSMAN.

AIIGTST 15.

Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince Consort,
with the Prince and Princess of Prussia and Prince
and Princess Frederick William, drove yesterday
through Gleniche, the beautiful seat of their Royal
Highnesses Prince and Princess Charles of Prussia.
In the evening the Prince and Princess of Prussia
entertained a large party at dinner. The Count of
Flanders arrived from Berlin, and joined the royal
party. His royal highness returned to Berlin at
night.

The Princess Frederick William is in the enjoy-
ment of excellent health, and accompanies her royal
parents in all their walks and drives.

This morning her Majesty and the Prince Consort,
with the Prince and Princess of Prussia, the Prince
and Princess Frederick William, and the Prince and
Princess Charles of Prussia, attended Divine service
at the Garrison Chapel.
The weather has been oppressively hot ; but this
afternoon there have been frequent storms of
thunder and rain, which have considerably cooled
the air.

BIRTHDAY OF THE DUCHESS OF KENT.

The anniverse*y of the birthday of her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Kent, who has attained her 72d year, was
celebrated at Windsor on Tuesday with a general holiday.
The bells of the Chapel Royal of St. George and St. John's
Church sent forth merry peals throughout the day. Royal
salutes were fired in the Long Walk, by her Majesty's bom-
bardier, also at Fort Belvidere, and from the Royal Adelaide
frigate on Virginia Water. For many years the birthday
1
, of the royal duchess was celebrated by a revel in the 1
Bachelor's Acre, but on this occasion, in its stead, a grand i
fete was given in the beautiful grounds of St. Leonards, the
seat of Mr. Roberts. Convenient vehicles were engaged at
moderate prices for the conveyance of the holiday folk. At
the time the sports commenced 3.000 persons had assembled.
The amusements consisted of cricket, dancing, archery,
1400311, quoits, trap and base ball, swinging, throwing
sticks for prim, &c. The full band of the Coldstream
Guards, Griffith's Quadrille Band, and the Albanian
Minstrels were alse engaged. A triumphal arch, with flags
and the motto of" Welcome," was erected at the entrance of
the grounds. Tents were arranged in various parts of the
park, where refreshments were provided.
Her Majesty forwarded to the committee £lO las. towards
the expenses, the Prince Consort £5 55., H.R.H. the
Duchess of Kent £5 55.; Mr. Grenfell, M.P., £5 55.; Mr.
W. V ansittart, M.P., £5 ss. Mr. Vansittart came expressly
from Scotland to be present at this interesting gathering.
In the evening the town was brilliantly illuminated.

WYLD'S MAP OF THE NEW GOLD

REGIOATS.

Mr. Wyld, with his usual promptitude and accu-
racy of research, has produced an excellent map of
the latest region demanding the attention of the
British public. The new colony, created last ses-
sion, which comprises Vancouver's Island and the
south-western portion of our mainland possessions,
lying north of the boundary line as settled by the
treaty of 1846 between the United States and Great
Britain, has suddenly sprung into prominent notice
from the discovery of gold-fields which, according to
Mr. Wyld's map, are profusely distributed through-
out its extent, especially along the course of Frazer's
River, between the 49th and 52d degrees of north
latitude. The Washington territory, belonging to
the United States, divided from Oregon by the
Columbia River, is also contained in the map;
which altogether supplies a very valuable amount
of topographical information on districts which
must speedily excite an extraordinary amount of
interest in the mother country.

Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Meek-
lenburg-Strelitz: intends, we are informed, to stand
sponsor for the infant son of the Duke and Duchess of
Marlborough.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,
attended by Col. Clifton, returned to his residence in St.
James's Palace, last evening, from the camp at Aldershot.
His Excellency the Ambassador of France has
returned to Albert-gate House, from visiting the Countess
de Persigny, at Tunbridge Wells. _

- - - -
His Excellency Baron Bentinck has left town for
Buxton.

The Duke and Duchess of Richmond are sur-
rounded by a large family circle at Gordon Castle, Fochabers,
N.B. The duchess arrived at the close of the past week,
accompanied by the Countess of Bessborough, Lady Cecilia
and Lord George Gordon Lennox. The duke had pre-
viously arrived, also the Earl and Countess of March, their
Serene Ilighneat.es Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-
Weimar, and Lords Henry and Alex. Gordon Lennox. The
Earl of Bessborough will join the family patty in the course
of the present week.
The Duke of Rutland, who came to town on
Monday from yachting at Cowes, has gone to his shooting-
box, Longshawe Lodge, Derbyshire. '

The Duchess of Grafton and the Earl and
Countess of Euston are entertaining a select circle at
Euston Hall, Norfolk.

The Duchess Dowager of Hamilton will leave
.own to-morrow for Easton Palk, Suffolk.

The Duchess of Cleveland and Lady Augusta
Poulett have left St. James's-square for Brighton to pass a
few weeks before going to Raby Castle, Durham, for the
winter.

Frances Countess Waldegrave and Mr. Har
court, M.P., will leave Nun-eham Park on DokeSaturday,oHnoTanshveie,siTtcwtoiocuktnehtueehsastn and Duchess d'Anmale, at Orlzans
of Jersey and Lady Clementina
Villiers are among the English personages of rank recently
arrived Homburg.
The
Earl at
Countess of Fife have arrived at
and Mar Lodge, Aberdeenshire, where the intend entertaining
a large party during the shooting season.
The Countess (Dow.) of Harewoed is, we are
happy to learn, recovering from her recent severe indisposi-
tion, and when sufficiently improved will go to the Duke
of Buceleuch's villa, at Richmond.
Viscountess Palmerston comes to town to-day
from visiting Viscountess Jocelyn at St. Leonard's-oa-Sea.
The noble viscount is expected in town to-morrow from