The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-06 00:00:00

RAIL WA Y INTELLIGENCE.

The tunnel through Mont Cenis continues to
progress much more rapidly now that the quartz
rock has been passed through and a softer material
encountered. The whole distance as yet penetrated
is, on the south 4,119 metres, and• on the north
2,528 metres ; total, 6,647 metres, which, as the
entire length is 12,220 metres, leaves yet to be exe-
cuted 5,573 metres.

RAILWAY TRAVEL IN EUROPE.-The followinc,
statement of prices on the railroads of Europe, per
one hundred miles, in first, second, and third class
carriages, and on express trains, may be inte-
resting to Americans who visit Europe, or to
those who would contrast the expense of travel-
ling :-Russia-First class, 14s. sd. ; second class,
10s. 10d. ; third class, 3s. Prussia-First class,
12s. 6d. ; second class, 10s. ; third class, 3s. 2d.
Express train-First class, 14s. ; second class, 12s.
Me Rhine-First class, Ils. 10d. •, second class,Bs. ;
third class, 3s. 10d. Norway-First class, 13s. ;
second class, 95.; third class, 4s. 6d. Sweden-First
class, lls. ; second class, 7s. 6d.; third class, 4s. 9d.
Express trains-First class, 135.; second class, 10s.
Bavaria-First class, 10s. ; second class, 7s. ; third
class, 48. 10d. Belgium-First class, 10s. 3d. ;
second class, 7s. 6d. ; third class, 50. Wnrtem-
burg-First class, 10s. 3d. ; second class, 6s Bd. ;
third class, ss. ld. Denmark-First class, 12s. ;
second class, 9s. ; third class, 6s. Spain-First
class, 14s. 7d. ; second class, 10s. sd. ; third class,
63. 3d. Austria -First class, 13s. ; second class,
103. 3d. ; third class, Gs. 6d. Saxony-First class,
11s. ; second class, Bs. 3d. ; third class, 6s. Bd.
Switzerland-First class, 12s. ; second class, 9s. ;
third, 6s. Bd. Italy-First class, Ms. ; second
class, 10s. 6d. ; third class, 7s. Express trains-
First class, 16s. ; second class, 12s. Portugal-
First class, 13s. 3d. ; second class, 10s. ; third
class, 7s. Holland-First class, 14s. ; second
class, 103. ; third class, 7s. France-First class,
14s. ; second class, 11s. ; third class, 7s. 6d.
Great Britain awl Ireland-First class, 18s. 6d ;
second class, 13s. 4d. ; third class, Bs. Express
trains-First class, 21s. ; second class, 168. Bd.
From this table it will be seen that on the express
trains on European roads there are no third-class
carriages. It will also be seen that Russia and
Prussia accommodate the working classes at the
cheapest rate, while the tariff of Great Britain and
Ireland is the highest of all for first, second, and
third-class carriages and express trains. It must,
however, be borne in mind that in those foreign
countries where the railways do not belong to the
State, the shareholders receive considerable Govern-
ment assistance in consideration of their being
obliged to adopt a low tariff. The rates per mile
on these roads, reduced to onr currency, will not
bring travel to as low a standard as in this country,
upleee we take their third-dabs carriagee. On their

first-class and express trains the average is from
four cents per mile to six and a half cents per mile;
on the second and third from two and a quarter to
three and three-quarters per mile.—lcon Age.
The British Consul at Panama states in his last
report, that the fare by the Panama Railroad from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, the line being about 47
miles in length, is $25 ; children under 12 years of
age half price, and under six years, quarter price.
In 1865, 34,193 passengers travelled along the line.
Passengers' baggage is charged sc. per lb. after the
first 100 ft., allowed free. Cattle, at owners' risks,
$25 each by steamer trains. Horses, by steamer
trains, $4O each, at owners' risks. Coal, $5 per
ton of 2,2401 b. Gold one quarter per cent. on the
value, silver three-eighths to one-half per cent. In
1865 more than $32,000,000 of gold, and nearly
$15,000,000 of silver, were carried. Express freight
by steamer trains $1 80c. per cubic foot. No pack-
age, however small, is transported for less than a
dollar. Treasure amounting to more than
£5,000,000 intended for England was conveyed
along this line from Panama to Colon in 1865, and
the Consul states that it has been found cheaper to
send it from Colon to New York by American
steamer, and thence to England by British steamer,
than to send direct from Colon to England by
British packet.

BURKE AND MASSEY.

--

The Fenian informers, MASSEY and CORYDON,
have earned an unenviable notoriety. They are
contemptible to all the world, but loathsome to the
party they have betrayed. Although the object is
accomplished by a fearful sacrifice to these indivi-
duals, neither MASSEY nor CORYDON, by a long life
devoted to the most unselfish objects, could possibly
have worked more good than they have achieved in
the base criminality of their conduct. MASSEY is
simply a contemptible coward ; but CORYDON, on
the other hand, is a character worth a little study.
This man held, that the organisation " was not
worth shedding one drop of blood for." If it sup-
plied him with a living, it was of as much use as
could be expected ; and, as he saw that it was not
likely to last long, he thought it advisable to make
hay while the sun shone. While, then, getting all
the good he could from the organisation, he got all
he could from the Government, for betraying its
secrets. He argued thus, we presume :—" These
Fenians are useful to me, and it is advisable that
they should be kept going. They are my frater-
nity, and I should be sorry they came to harm. I
owe a duty to the QUEEN, and by performing
this duty I will be acting in the kindest man-
ner towards my brethren the Fenians, by pre-
venting them from going too far, and getting
into an inextricable mess. I will thus perform my
duty, benefit my friends, and obtain the largest
possible gain for myself." It is a pity that the force
of this excellent reasoning is not appreciated in Ire-
' land. It is more than probable that unless safely
guarded by police, he would be left little time to
enjoy the fruits of his treachery. Although in-
formers are hated with an intense and universal
hatred in Ireland, that country has always produced
as large a crop of informers as of conspirators.
There is something picturesque in the strong con-
trast of character presented by the leaders of the
movement. On the one side stand these miserable
and debased betrayers ; on the other, in the dock
under sentence of death, is BURKE, speaking in im-
pressive language, and in a clear, firm, powerful
voice. He denounces with withering scorn and
contempt the apostate MASSEY—a traitor and per-.
jurer ; and then turns, as a p ttriot, to speak of his
own doom in the elevated language of an orator
placed in the most impressive position. He met the
verdict, and would meet his fate with satisfaction ;
the tree of liberty would grow all the more strongly
in Ireland from having been nourished with the
blood of martyrs, and freedom would yet dawn on
his native land. He asked not the death of a
martyr ; but if it be GOD'S will that his devotion to
his cause should be tested on the scaffold, he would
go forth defiantly, aye, proudly, to die. By birth
an Irishman—an Atherican by adoption—a lover of
freedom, an enemy to that power that holds in
thraldom his native isle, he had given his life to the
redemption of Ireland, to the adornment of American
principles, to the defence of liberty. He felt consoled
in remembering that his aged mother had sent him
forth like the Spartans of old to return with, or
upon his shield. While submitting to his fate
his last prayer would be for forgiveness to his
enemies, and that GOD would revive the fallen
fortunes of his country. He spoke to a hushed
audience, and tears were seen trickling down the
cheeks of many, who loved not his cause.. There,
in that Irish Court, stood those four leaders of the
Fenian Rebellion ; two of them representing a de-
gradation that is permitted to few to reach ; two of
them rising to an elevation which will leave their
memories endeared to their countrymen, if the Go-
vernment vouchsafes to them the honour of martyr-
dom. While MASSEY cowered in that hall, he
must have listened to the words of BURKE with a
thrill of admiration, and perhaps not one present
saw so plainly the wide gulf that now separated
him from his former comrade. Yet it is a strange
fact that BURKE'S gallant and noble bearing will
work harm, while the infamy of the other, can but
accomplish good. Neither the fate of BURKE nor
of MASSEY can in itself be of the slightest import-
ance to the Government. Example and prevention
are all that is wanted. BURKE would be turned
to more use as a commissioned officer of her
MAJESTY'S army than in being hanged, and
MASSEY would do for a crossing, if that useful
fraternity would admit so much infamy in its
ranks. But her MAJESTY is compelled to act
with a view to eventualities ; and though we cannot
but admire the conduct of the Fenian leader as he
now stands, we fear that the balance of public good
will be found in the scale that consigns him to the gal-
lows. The crime is one of the most frightful of
which a man can be guilty, and can only be
justified by the action of an illegal, cruel, and op-
pressive Government. It has been persisted iu in
a manner that compels the Government to a severe
course. Pardons have been only given to enable the
pardoned to conspire afresh with an enlarged ex-
perience. Canada and Ireland for months have
been kept in a state of alarm and suspense ; blood
has been shed, treasure lost ; and again the Go-
vernment holds in its hand the fate of the rebels.
There are strong reasons for mitigating BURKE'S
sentence; but there are, perhaps, stronger reasons
against that course. Of one thing, however, the
world may be assured, that the prisoners will be
dealt with, with absolute fairness and justice. They
are defended by the best counsel, the country de-
fraying the cost for those too poor to secure such
aid for themselves ; and even the condemned will
be compelled to acknowledge the strict impartiality
and clemency with which the law has been admi-
nistered.---Anglo-American Times.

The following letter from the superintendent of
the coal pits gives some further particulars of the recent
fearful coal-mine explosion in Virginia :—" Clover Hill
Pits, April 4, 9 a.m. D. S. Worthatn—Dear Sir—When
the pit bottom was reached yesterday it was ascertained
that the lumber-house in the pits which contained some
powder was on .fire. I endeavoured to get the men to put
it out, which no doubt could have been done, but they
feared the danger of another explosion and were unwilling
to work. The pit has again been examined this morn-
ing, and the fire is so small that it could be
managed if the workmen were willing to risk the dan-
ger. Under all circumstances, I have determined to save
the pit by closing the shafts. We are now engaged in
this work. All the men, about seventy in number, and
all the mules that were down in the pit, are of course lost.
The bodies cannot bo recovered until the fire is ex-
tinguished and the pits repaired. Yours, &c., NED H.
Cox. P.S.—About twenty of the men were white and
the rest coloured. Everybody in the pit at the time of the
accident is supposed killed. The explosion was the
result of neglect, and it is supposed drunkenness."
NEW PARK AT LIVERPOOL.—The Liverpool Cor-
poration have purchased from the Earl of Sefton 360 acres
of laud to form a new park. They invited landscapegar-
deners and others to send in designs, and the first premium
of 300 guineas, fort he designs for the park, was awarded
to Messrs. Andre and Horublower, of Paris and Liverpool;
and the second, of 150 guineas, to Mr. Miller, of Sydonbam.
lADVERTISESIENT.I—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.—
Never Neglect a Cold.—lt is painful to hear of the many
fatal cases which commenced with the ordinary symptoms
of a common cold. Holloway's ointment rubbed Upon the
back and cheat prevents all disastrous consequences ; it
soothes the inflamed lining of both throat and chest. After
rubbing iu the ointment for a few days the pectoral irri-
tation and the tightness of breathing diminish, the cough
becomes loose and less frequent, and the phlegm is expec-
torated with less difficulty, till the lungs become free and
respiration natural. All subject to take cold from slight
exposure to varying temperatures will find Holloway's
soothing ointment and purifying pills an effective safe-
guard against pleurisy, bronchitis, asthma, and con-
sumption.

..~

PARIS EXHIBITION.

VISITS OF TEACHERS.
The following minute has been recently passed
by the Lords of the Committee of Council on
Education :

"I. In accordance with the practice of the Science
and Art Department of the International Exhibi-
tions at Paris in 1865 and in London in 1862, mY
Lords consider it desirable to offer encouragement
to the masters teaching in Schools of Science and
Art to visit the present International Exhibition at
Paris, with the view of studying those objects whi?li
may be likely to benefit the instruction given in
such schools.
" 11. Their Lordships therefore announce to the
certificated masters now engaged in giving instruc-
tion in schools of science and art connected with the
department that they will pay to each such master
or mistress visiting the Paris Exhibition the sum of
£5 in aid of their expenses, and to each an additional
sum of £2 for any rep:rt or any useful suggestions
which any such teacher may make (in respect to his
or her duties or teaching) derived from the study
of the Exhibition, such report having first been
published in any journal or otherwise, and after:.
wards approved by their Lordships.
" And, further, to each of the three best of such
reports referring to instruction in science and to each
of the three best reports referring to art my Lords
will give respectively the following prizes in addi-
tion to the sum above named—namely, for science,
for the best report, £2O ; for the second best report,
£l5 ; and for the third best report, £lO ; and the
same sums respectively to the three best reports for
art."

ARTISANS' VISITS TO THE PARIS EXHIBITION.--
With the view of assisting artisans visiting Paris to
study French factories and the like, offices will be
established both at the Exhibition and at 71,
Champs Elyses ; and the Lord President of the
Council has appointed Lieut.-Colonel Ewart, IRE•+
to take charge of the subject, who will be assisted
by M. Houssoullier, who acted as interpreter in the
treaty of commerce between France and England.