The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-27 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Eva Desmond ; or, 211utation. 3 vols. Smith and

Elder.

There is considerable skill displayed in this story,
and some of the characters are described in an able
and forcible style ; but it cannot be said to be
pleasing, and there are some points in it which
might, with advantage have been omitted. The
description of Clara Neville is painful ; and the
idea of Ernest sacrificing himself for gold might
have been conveyed in a more pleasing form. Eva
Desmond, the heroine, is a delightful person, and,
indeed, constitutes the chief charm and attraction
of the work. It is very sad to notice how the
bright aspirations of her youth were clouded, and
her hopes dimmed, till at last she appeared but the
wreck of her former self. Eva's mind was too well
regulated, however, for her to sink into a despon-
dent state and lead a useless life. She roused her-
self, and, if she did not enjoy the happiness she had.
expected, she was far from being altogether disap-
pointed. It may, indeed, be questioned whether
Charles Stanhope was not amore suitable companion
for her than Ernest Clifton, who must have been of
a mean and base disposition or he never would have
acted as he did. There was something inspiriting
to Eva in urging her husband forward till at last
he won the glorious meed which his superior abili-
ties so pre-eminently deserved. Charles Stanhope
himself is not a very interesting character. Ilad
he never met with Eva it is probable he might
never have been particularly 'distinguished ; but
her influence inspired and directed him, her pru-
dence planned his actions, and her hopeful, buoyant
spirit sustained his drooping spirits and failing
courage. The domestic scenes in the fathily of the
Cliftons are described in a natural manner, and
various passages met with in the course of the
work give evidence that the author might, on a
future occasion, do better things, if the drawbacks
to the present production arc avoided.

MR. HUTT, M.P., ON THE INVASION

PANIC.

At a municipal dinner at Gateshead, given on
Thursday, by the Mayor, B. J. Prockter, Esq., the
health of Mr. Hutt, the member for the borough,
was drunk.

In returning thanks, Mr. 111 TT said, I did not
go to Cherbourg, and am therefore incompetent to
enlighten the world, as more accomplished persons
have recently done, on the power and discipline of
the French navy, or on the secret designs and pur-
poses of the Emperor Napoleon. I did not twom-
pany the Royal cortege to Cherbourg chiefly from
personal reasons. It was more convenient to me,
at that moment, to go in another direction ; but I
will not conceal from you that I do not regard with
perfect complacency the object of that expedition.
The parade of France of a vast naval force, and of
immense resources of naval warfare, almost within
sight of our own shores, was not, it seemed to me,
the circumstances of the two countries considered,
a very well-chosen entertainment to set before the
Queen of England, and I think you will have shared
my regret that our admirable sovereign should have
been constrained, by the arguments of political ex-
pediency, to be an actor or spectator in such a scene.
(Cheers.) At the same time, I do not doubt the mo-
tive of the Emperor of the French, in sending the
invitation, was perfectly unexceptionable. I have
no doubt that he considered the Royal visit would
be a means of smoothing down those unreasonable
asperities which recent circumstances had excited
m France, and which the unfortunate, the unto-
ward concessions of the late Government of this
country had rather encouraged than allayed. If
the presence of Queen Victoria at Cherbourg has
had any such conciliating influence, one cannot,
perhaps, much regret that it took place. It was
certainly a fitter means of restoring the good temper
of the French people than the modification of our
laws and institutions to suit their inclinations, or
than compromising the cause of the independence
of nations, which was then committed to our care.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, the visit to Cherbourg has
called a great deal of attention in this country to
the formidable steam navy which has been created
in France, at a time of profound peace, and at a
crisis when the state of its finances seemed little to
favour such an expenditure. Such preparations and
pretensions have filled some persons amongst is
with dismay. They see in these things a design,
not merely on our security, but on our existence as
a nation; and they accordingly call for immense
and immoderate measures of defence. Such is the
feeling of one party. But there is another, which
seems seriously to believe in the song of " Rule,
Britannia"—(a laugh)—to regard any attempt
among Frenchmen to create a navy as something
ridiculous—and to consider the specimens of it ex-
hibited at Cherbourg as not fit, either in regard to
the ships or the sailors, to hold a candle to ours.
And these gentlemen are backed by the peace party,
who look upon all war as impossible, and all inva-
sion of our shores as an absurdity. There is, depend
upon it, much blindness and folly in all of these
exaggerations, Between two powerful nations,
jealous of their honour and past history, and daily
brought in contact on various points of rival and
jarring interests, there must always be the possibi-
lity of war, however remote or undesired ; and it
would be the height of folly—it would be a perfect
abdication of reason in us, to act as if we had any
patent of superiority in war, either by land or sea,
over other nations, except in those prudent prepa-
rations and in that science and discipline on which
all warlike superiority must ultimately depend.
(Cheers.) At the same time Ido not admire panic
fears, and I do not believe in the ambitious projects
so freely attributed to our ally, the Emperor of the
French. I am convinced, on the contrary, that when
he told the people of Bordeaux, "L'empire c'est la
pail," he announced the settled policy of his firm
and sagacious mind; and I don't think lie is the man
to be driven from that policy of peace, because cer-
tain parties in France hostile to his power—Social-
ists, Orleanists, and Legitimists—are always labour-
ing to involve Mm in war—and especially in war
with England. What could the French Emperor
gain by war ? If his forces suffered a reverse, it
would be the ruin of his fortunes. If they were
victorious, do you suppose it would be for his inte-
rest to divide with their successful commander the

homage and the confidence of the French people ?
From every calculation, therefore, of self-interest as
well as from every consideration of an enlightened
and generous policy, I believe that the Emperor of
the French will hold firmly to the British alliance.
(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, we must all desire it.
The alliance of France and England is the best se-
curity for universal peace, as well as for the progress
and civilisation of mankind. (The hon. member re-
sumed his scat amidst loud cheers.)

THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM.

The Electric and. International Telegraph Com-
pany had, at the close of last year, 5,637 miles of
telegraph, which were provided with 29,498 miles
of wire ; the British and Irish Magnetic Company
had 3,441 miles, with 15,688 miles of wire ; and
the South Eastern Railway Company 301 miles,
with 1,296 miles of wire, making a total of 9,379
miles of telegraph, with 46,482 miles of wire. The
number of stations open for the public were, on the
Electric and Isternationa I Telegraph Company's
line 460, on the Magnetic 230, on the South Eastern
Company's 80 ; and the number of instruments em-
ployed 2,938 in the Electric and International,
574 in the Magnetic, and 141 in the South-
Eastern, making 770 stations, and 3,653 instru-
ments. The total number of messages transmitted
during the year was 1,241,163, which were thus
distributed :—Electric and International Company,
844,668 ; British and Irish Magnetic Company,
356,186 ; South-Eastern Company, 40,309. The
number returned by the first-named company does
not include the business messages sent by the 68
railway companies with whom the company has
agreements, and by public offices, and which are
estimated at three times the number sent by the
general public. Neither are there included in the
return the number of messages which were trans-
mitted by the company to 142 provincial newspapers
and 55 reading rooms, which are daily supplied with
the heads of the public news. In the case of the
British and Irish Magnetic Company no account
is taken of about 250,000 messages which were
transmitted jointly by that company and the Sub-
marine Telegraph. Company to and from the Con-
tinent and from various railway companies, news-
papers, and news rooms. The telegraph of the
South Eastern Railway Company has
no working
arrangements with either of the telegraphic com-
panies. The total increttite in the number of mes-
Sages during the last three-years upon the lines of
the three companies above named has been from
1,017,529 in 1855, to 1,121,523 in 1856, to 1„416
in 1857, and the total mileage .has increased from
43,720 miles in 46,482 IR 1857.
_1855 to

FUNERAL CAR or .Iv4roLEON I.—Woolwich,
SEPT. 2G.—ln accordance :with orders received from the
War-office for the immediate transmission of the funeral car
of Napoleon from Woolwich Arsenal to Paris, a numbei of
workmen were employed up to a late hour last night in the
construction of an encasement of wood in which the vehicle
will be placed. This encasement is ten feet in height, and
is so made that the funeral car may be inspected by the
people of France at the various stations on its transit to
Paris. The car, with its entire drapery, feathers, &c., will
be placed in its encasement, the top of the latter having been
flitted with rods to which curtains will be attached. The cax
will be accompanied to Paris by Gen. Sir J. F. Burgoyne,
G.C.8., inspector-general of fortifications, who is commis-
sioned to deliver the vehicle as a present from her Majesty
to the French empire.