The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-28 00:00:00

MEXICO.

RAPID STEAMING.

Those who stay at home at ease cannot fully ap-
preciate the interest taken by travellers on the high

seas, in rapid steaming. Americans, as a rule, are

bound to cross the Atlantic, for the Old "World has
to them an attraction greater far than the New World
has to Europeans. Therefore this interest is more
strongly felt in America than in England. There
the merits of the different lines, the qualities of the
various ships are keenly scanned, for each feels that
his own comfort--it may even be, his safety--is
concerned. In London the relative powers of the
Scotia and of the City of Paris as a dinner-table
topic, would excite little animation, for some are
ignorant, and most are incompetent to forin an
opinion. The reverse is the case in New York,
where every detail is argued, from rapid steaming
down to the changes of sheets and towels. Thus the
controversy which has arisen between the Cunard
and Inman Companies will be more eagerly read,
more generally discussed, and better understood on
the other than on this side of the ocean. Though
Englishmen know comparatively little of the sub-

jtct, yet all are aware that since ocean steaming
began the great Company has been the Cunard.
For a quarter of a century the magnificence of the
vessels, their extraordinary speed, the splendour of
their fittings, the substantial excellence, and even

luxury of the fare, have been acknowledged. The
Line has thus attained to such world-wide renown
that it will astonish many of the readers of adver-
tisements in the 7 inns to see that there is in actual
operation a fleet that not only challenges equality
with the great firm, but even alleges a superiority
on the vital point of rapid steaming. That our
readers who do not see the Times may understand
the letter from Mr. INMAN, we publish in another
part of our columns, we give a rapid sketch
of the subject in dispute. On the 22d April
the log of the Cunard vessel Australasian
appeared in the Liverpool Daily Post, with
a few remarks to the effect that the voyage thus de-
tailed from New York to Liverpool was the fastest,
with few exceptions, ever made. The exceptions
were in favour of herself, the Persia and the Scotia,
all Cunarders ; and it was added that another, the
China, in March, 1865, made the fastest run of any
screw on record. This excited the attention of Mr.
INmA.N, who, in a letter to the editor of the same
date, questioned the accuracy of these statements.
He enumerated five occasions on which the voyage
recorded was outstripped by a vessel of his Com-
pany, the City of Paris. Referring to the voyage
of the China, he remarked that on the 23d June,

The conduct of MAXI3IILIAN in Mexico will shed
a lustre on the ancient family which claims to be
the successors of the CXSARS. It is seldom that a
Prince has been subjected to so fiery a trial, and
few, when thus tried, have like him stood the test.
Scarcely three years have elapsed since MAXIMILIAN
landed at Vera Cruz. He had taken long to decide
on the wisdom of accepting the dignity offered, but
had lie been well advised he would have given a
prompt and decided refusal. Unfortunately for
him, that nation to which, above all others, he
should have turned for guidance and counsel, was
absorbed in the struggle that then threatened to
rend it to pieces. Although the United States held
his destiny in the hollow of its hand, that hand was
closed on the hilt of a sword, the point of which
was at a brother's throat. The Union glanced
a scowl of disapproval in his direction while
involved in the fearful difficulties of its own
task. When MAXIMILIAN accepted and seated
himself on the throne of Mexico he felt that
he had pledged his honour to uphold the posi-
tion, and to defend, at every hazard, those who
had given him their countenance and support.
From the moment he assumed the reins, to the
time that his dynasty closed in such disaster, he
adhered with a noble tenacity to the cause. Maxi-
milian's fate was in truth decided before Richmond,
and, with the Confederacy, fell every hope of his
success. The establishment of his Monarchy vio-
lated a principle of policy which the American
people have laid down as a guiding rule. How-
ever excellent, therefore, as a chief he might be ;
however brave, firm, judicious, and generous, he
could not be treated by the United States other-
wise than as a usurper. Although his Government
might be temporarily beneficial to the governed,
and would have relieved Mexico from chaotic
anarchy, it was held, and we believe with truth
by the Americans, that nations should work
out their own redemption without the aid
or intervention of foreign bayonets, and that the
Continent should be freed from the violent inter-
position of European States. When the Confede-
racy fell, JUAREZ was all but a fugitive. foot
was on the last strip of Mexican territory, and the
war was on the bank of the Rio Grande. So rapid
has been the change brought about by the moral
and material support of the United States to the
so-called Liberal cause that within a year the
position has been wholly reversed. MAXIMILIAN
might have retired with honour from his untenable
post some mouths ago. Ile was a member of an
Imperial family holding 'the highest rank in Europe
—be was the inheritor of a large fortune—his pre-
vious career, as well as the events of his Govern-
ment in Mexico, added lustre to the adventitious
circumstances of birth and riches, but his chi-
valric nature prevented his choosing the course
which common prudence dictated. What to
him, could have been this barren and profitless
throne ? An alien in a strange country, with no-
thing but the wrecks of civilisation around, amidst
a lawless, degenerate, 'cowardly, treacherous, and
cruel race, all chat Mexico offered him was a life of
toil, deprived of the pleasures and amenities of civi-
lisation, with every chance of a violent end, and
this to uphold (an ahnost hopeless cause in intrigue
mid ingratitude. 'ln one word this wealthy brother
of an Emperor deicended to the grade of a Mexican

1866, that voyage was surpassed by the City of
Paris, claiming for that passage the fastest run ever
made by a screw. In conclusion, he observed that
the average speed of the City of Paris has been
superior to every other British steamer, paddle or
screw, on the Atlantic, subsidised or unsubsidised,
except the Scotia. This called from Mr. M'lvEn
a reply, in which he answered the IN3tAN
statement by a carefully compiled table from
official data, giving 52 voyages of the Cunard
fleet from New York and Halifax to Queenstown,
and a corresponding number of return passages
during last year. In the same way he prepared a
table of a similar number of the voyages by the
INMAN fleet made during the same year, both from
New York to Queenstown and from Queenstown
to New York. Striking an average, he calculated

the time of the Cunard line outwards at 10 days
11 hours and 34 minutes ; that of the INMAN line
11 days 22 hours and 39 minutes, giving a
difference in favour of the Cunard of 1 day 11 hours
and 5 minutes. On the inward voyage he found
the Cunard passages to average 9 days 4 hours

and 39 minutes, and the INMAN 10 days 13 hours

and 9 minutes, being a difference in the Cunard's
favour of 1 day 8 hours and 30 minutes. The
point of Mr. IN3tAls's objection to this table, may
be thus summarised. The ships of his company

ply only to New York ; the ships of the Cunard
ply both to New York and Boston. The trade of
most importance being, of course, that of
New York, commands the best vessels, and
it is notorious that the finest of the
Cunard ships are placed on that line. Thus
this table compares all the INMAN against a
selected number of the Cunard, such as the Scotia
and the Persia, which he contends to be unfair.
This point he urges in a letter to the Daily Post,
and asks to substitute a table he had prepared of the
voyages of both. lines, from the Ist November last
to the present time, in which he endeavours to work
out a comparison of the performances of all the
vessels of each line, mile for mile. The result is
that of the average of twenty-three passages the
Cunard time is, on the passage out, 11 days 21
hours 35 minutes. The average of twenty-two
passages of the INMAN is 11 days 15 hours 18
minutes, making the time against Cunard for a
mile for mile comparison of 6 hours 17 minutes.
The Cunard's runs home froni twenty-four passages
average 10 days 6 hours 28 minutes, and the
Inman, bn twenty-five passages, 10 days, 11 hours,
42 minutes, which gives 5 hours, 12 minutes in
favour of the Cunard. By this calculation therefore
on the round voyages the INMAN time appears to be
33 minutes shorter than the Cunard. The objection to
Mr. INMAN'S table lies in the fact that it is impos-
sible accurately to calculate the time a ship loses by
calling at an intermediate port. Mr. INMAN allows
the detention at Halifax as stated in the logs ; but
this, it is contended, does not cover over the whole
period. The difficulties are thus shown of obtaining
a fair average even between two fleets plying be-
tween the same ports, for there can be no question
of the justice of both objections. In our remarks

partisan chief, with the United States for his enemy, last week we were in error in supposing that the
and therefore with the poorest chance of them all. voyage in which the City or Washington brook down
On the other hand, his place in Europe would have was included in Mr. M'lvEn's average. The
been one to be envied by most men. But au in- shortest run ever made to New York was by the
superable bar stood between him and the choice paddle steamer Scotia, in 8 days 4 hours 34 minutes,
his inclinations must have prompted. That and the same vessel made the fastest run home is 8
bar was his own fine sense of honour. He days 7 hours 10 minutes.
scorned to fly a fugitive from his kingdom There is no fact so strange shown in this con-
as long as he had a man to back him and a sword troversy, as the astonishing speed of the 1N31A5
to draw ;he scorned to leave his adherents to a fate fleet. Everybody knew that the vessels built
he himself was not prepared to share. He fully for the Cunard were largely subsidised to convey
identified himself with his administration, and per- in all weather, through storm and calm, the most
haps of all his party he was the most true and un- important mails. That the INMAN, unaided, can
selfish upholder of the cause. With his administra- have worked up to such excellence, speaks volumes
tion have vanished all hopes of order and good for the energy and skill with which the enormous
government. Already another faction has gained capital has been applied. The Peninsular and
strength, and the country as in olden times will Oriental Company seems to wither under the coca:
become the prey of successive adventurers, whorise petition of the French line, both being supporte_d
.
for a moment to power, and disappear even more by vast subsidies. No ship in their possession could
quickly. The future of Mexico is something too be brought into comparison with such vessels as
horrible to contemplate. It is now a byword and a the City of Paris, City of Boston, or the City of
disgrace, but it threatens to sink to such a depth of Baltimore, and the partners of the IN)tA.N Company
infamy, as to stigmatise the human family with pro- have good cause to be proud of sustaining, as they
ducing bipeds of a viler type than any known ani- have, the trying test of a comparison with that
mals. The voice of the civilised world will compel fleet which, from the commencement of ocean
the intervention of the United States. If American steaming, has taken the lead.--Ang/o7American
opinion will not endure the violation of the Monroe limes.
doctrine, the Americans must in the cause of civi-
lisation interpose. The task is no light one, and
will perhaps be as thankless and unprofitable an
office as could be undertaken. But it is incumbent
on a nation that aspires to lead the opinion of the
world to show that they have not interposed on
behalf of the most degraded and abominable
anarchy ever fastened on a country. If such chiefs
as JUAREZ were really fighting in the cause of
liberty, it would be well to leave the people to work
out their own redemption. But long experience
has shown what the objects are for which Mexican
factions strive. 'Whether Europe has or has not a
right to interfere, there can be no question about
the right of the United States, bordered as
it is by Mexico along its southern territory.
It is for the interests of the world that
the Government of Washington should now in-
tervene promptly and effectually between the
contending factions, and hold the country as
British India holds the territory of native rulers, so
that the mandate of the American Minister will
have a weight at Mexico that none dare dispute.
We trust that the United States will be slow to
elevate such a set as the Mexicans, to the dignity of
citizenship, for little could be gained, and much
might be lost,,by adding to their body such a leaven
of disorder, but the Republic might secure the
ascendancy of the best and most popular of the
• Mexican chiefs, and give a direction and weight to
his administration, which was denied to MA.x.t
MILIAN.—AngIo-American 7 imes.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

COLCHESTER—MAY 25.
This market was moderately supplied with wheat, and
there was a thin attendance. In some cases is per qr ad;
vancc was made. Beans and peas were very scarce, 94"
were mostly disposed of at last week's prices.
rtlai 356
Wheat, white Ms 748 Beans. Mazagan...•••. 484
red: G'B 6711 Middle and small.. 448
388
42,
Barley....
Oat. grey ........ ••••30

RD—MAY 21.
Trade rather dull, and in the
's prices were barely realised.
,ns remains firm. Grey Pea
°

Peas, Partridge ...... 4CO
White .340 ":01
BAling ........368
00
Dun....
ditto, os
Beans, Tick, 01d......40$ 43,
new.... 390 464
Harrow fickB.42s 43,
new.... 416 434
Mazagan . ..... 393