The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-04 00:00:00

THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA

MAILS.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY MORNING.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Indus, Captain Weeks, from Alexandria, passed
Hurst at 9.45 a.m.

THE TURKISH LOAN.

The following was received yesterday by
the contractors for the Turkish loan regarding the
formal constitution of the commission for the strict
application of its proceeds to the restoration of the
currency;"Constantinople, Nov. 24.
•" Gentlemen,—lt is with great satisfaction that we have
to inform you that, in conformity with the terms of your
contract for the last loan'of £5,000,000 sterling to the Otto-
man Government, the syndicat' or commission for receiv-
ing as trustees the necessary amounts for the payment of the
dividends and reimbursement of the said loan out of the
revenue of the Custom-house and octrois of Constantinople,
specially assigned for those objects, has been finally insti-
tuted by an Imperial firman, and is called upon to begin at
once its operations. Annexed is a copy of the despatch ad-
dressed to us by his Excellency Fuad Pasha, Minister for
Foreign Affairs communicating officially our appointments
and that of the other two members in the nomination of
the Turkish Government.

"Yesterday we were summoned to the Department of
Finance to meet his Excellency the Minister, who is to be the
President of our Commission, and our two colleagues, whose
names are Rhemzi Effendi, Under Secretary of State at the
Department of Commerce, and Rachid Effendi, Receiver-
General of the Customs of this place ; and, according to
custom, we proceeded together to present ourselves to his
Highness the Grand Vizier, and to his Excellency the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, who confirmed in person the
nomination communicated to us. The syndicat, therefore,
is officially instituted.
"The ordinary meetings are to take place once a week,
and Tuesday is the day appointed for such meetings.:
"It is also with very great satisfaction that we have -to
inform you that the Government, with a desire to contra-
dict openly the false runiours'spread as to the employment
of the proceeds of the loan, which are faithfully converted
into kaimes, have notified to us that they had decided that
the syndicat should proceed at once to the examination of
the paper currency already redeemed, which, in the presence
of the members of the commission, shall be annulled. The
report to the Sultan for his authority to this operation has
been forwarded by the Grand Vizier, and it is expected
that by Monday the orders for the execution of the opera-
tion mentioned above will be received.
" The Government seems disposed to do everything in
their power to satisfy the subscribers to the loan of their
perfect good faith in carrying out all the obligations assumed
towards them, and we entertain no doubt as to their being
strictly and punctually complied with.
" We have the honour to be, gentlemen, 1
" Your faithful servants,
" P. DE P. FALCONNET.
Rondo. HANSON.
"Messrs. Dent, Palmer, and`Co. Co. Ln."
1
" ' Sublime Porte, Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres.
(No. 1826.) " Le 23 Novembre.
" ' Messieurs,—La maison banque Dent, Palmer, et
Cie., de Londres, contractants du dernier emprunt Otto-
man, avant inform& le Ministere Imperial qu'ils vous
avaient designee comma ruembres de leur part du syndicat
qui doit etre forme a Constantinople, sous la presidence de
son Excellence le Ministre des Finances, pour le recouvre-
ment des interets et de l'amortissement du dit emprunt, je
m'empresse aujourd'hui a vous annoncer que, par ordre de
Sa Majeste le Sultan, Rhemzi Effendi, Sous-Secretaire
d'Etat au Miniatere du Commerce' et Rachid Effendi,
Receveur-General des Douanes de la capitale, viennent
d'etre nommes me-mbres pour le Gouvernement Imperial
du sus-dit syndicat, qui, se trouvant ainsi definitivement
installe, aura a s'occupier intmediatment du mandat qui lui
est devolu.

" 'En portant a votre connaissance que le Ministere Im-
perial des Finances a .deja recu communication de I'ordre
souverain qui precede, joyous prie de recevoir a cette °cos.?
sion Ia nouvelle expression de mes sentiments de considers=
tion distinguee.. " FITAD.
" Messieurs Falconnet et Hanson, a Galata.' "

MAJOR SIBTRORP.—We rejoice to hear, sayethe
local Chronicle, that Major Sibthorp,. one of the members
for Lincoln, is now rapidly recovering from his recent
severe indisposition.

ANOTHER PATAt PUGILISTIC ENCOUNTER.—
Yesterday morning Mr. Payne, the coroner, received in-
formation of the death of William Newton, aged 38 years,
a mate, who resided in Butler's-buildings, East Smithfield,
under the following circumstances :—lt appeared that the
deceased and a ship carpenter, named Wells, had a quarrel
on board of a brig from Greenock, lying off the Custom
House, when blows were exchanged, and a terrific encounter
ensued. The deceased being the worse for liquor was evi-
dently the weakest man, when Wells either knocked him
or threw him over in the river. He was takeii out in a
state of insensibility, and conveyed to the receiving house
at Billingsgate, where medical assistance was sent for. A
surgeon, who promptly attended, advised his- immediate
removal to Guy's Hospital, where Mr. Rand, the house
surgeon, assisted by the medical staff of that valuable insti-
tution, rendered every assistance, but death shortly termi-
nated his sufferings. The deceased, on being stripped, pre-
sented a most frightful appearance, being beaten completely
black and blue. No day is yet fixed for the inquest.
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.—We observe that
in several towns steps are being taken to induce the trades-
men to extend the approaching Christmas holidays a day
longer than usual, in order to afford a more convenient op-
portunity to persons engaged in trade, whether principals
or assistants, to visit their friends and enjoy a seasonable
relaxation. For this purpose it is proposed to extend the
holiday, which will commence on Saturday, the 25th inst.
(Christmas-day), until Tuesday the 28th (the Innocents'-
clay), thus suspending business for three days—namely,
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. As Christmas-tide is pre
eminently the season of festive enjoyment, and by long
custom regarded as the most legitimate and pleasurable of
all periodic holiday makings, it is hoped that the move-
ment will be sanctioned by tradesmen generally throughout
the country towns, and that, folloWing the example of their
craft in Derby, Lincoln, and other places, they will give to
themselves, and their assistants a three days' holiday to
enjoy the pleasures of Christmas. There is a precedent for
this laudable step, as in 1854, when Christmas-day fell on
a Monday, the Saturday (or ecclesiastical Christmas-eve)
was also, in many places, made a holiday, so as to give to
the employed a respite from toil for three full days. In
1853, again, when what St. Chrysostom calls the greatest
and primest of festivals fell on the Sunday, the following
day (Monday) was generally observed as a close holiday,
except by the drivers and conductors of public vehicles, the
traffic having been enormous.

ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC EAILJVAY.

To connect the Atlantic with the Pacific has long
been a favourite scheme with the projectors of all
nations. It was chiefly with the view of promot-
ing this great work that the famous Darien expo,
dition was undertaken a hundred and fifty years
ago, and it is the probability of its execution in
our own time that has attracted, and will continue
to attract, so large a share of public attention to
the affairs of Central America. All commercial
States are now alive to the importance of the sub-
ject, and that portion of the Isthmus of Panama
which is best adapted for the formation of an in-
teroceanic canal has already been the scene both of
diplomatic and of military contests. We trust that
the great naval Powers will be able, with their
past experience, to prevent any renewal of the buc-
canneering attempts of Walker and his companions;
but we must be prepared in any case, we fear, for
protracted discussions before the various questions
arising out of the Central American difficulty are
finally set at rest.
In the meantime it may be well to consider whe-
ther there are no other means of connecting. the
two oceans than by cutting a canal through some
portion of Central America. This is a problem which
the people of the United States, with their charac-
teristic energy and enterprise, are now attempting
to solve for themselves. An overland route for
passengers has already been established between
the east and the west, through regions which but
yesterday were uninhabited, except by the Red
Indian and the wild beasts of the prairie. The road
from St. Louis to San Francisco is no doubt rough
and long, and the accommodation by the way none
of the best; but more than one railway has been
psojeeted, and we presume in due time that one line
at least will be made. When we see our neigh-
bours thus active and enterprising in opening up
new fields for the exercise of their energies, we
are naturally disposed to ask whether we cannot
follow their example. The British territory in
North America reaches from sea to sea, as well as
that of the United States. Our territory, moreover,
has the immense advantage. of its great fresh water
lakes, stretching for.hunereds of miles into the inte-
rior of the country, and now navigable for vessels of
_nearly all dimensions. Would it not be possible to
construct a railway from the extreme of these lakes—
that is, from the western extremity of Lake Superior
to:the Pacific ? By drawing a line nearly straight
westward from the point in question, we traverse the
new territory of British Columbia with its untold
mineral treasures, and we arrive at Vancouver's
Island. The distance we believe to be not more than
thirteen hundred miles ; a formidable undertaking,
no doubt, but when we recollect the speed with
which long lines of railway have been constructed in
that part of the world, as well in American as in
British territory, we need not allow this circum-
stance
to alarm us. The real question to be con-
sidered
is whether the work would be likely to pay
the expenses of its construction ? There are other
questions, both political and social, mixed up with
the subject, but, however important these may be,
we may assume that unless it can be shown that
the line is likely to pay it will never be made.
Now, the pecuniary results of the undertaking
would depend chiefly, if not altogether, upon the
nature of the territory which would be opened up
by the formation of the rail Way. If that territory
is a barren waste, or if it is • co'rered with impene-
trable forests which cannot be cleared without
great labour and expense, we may rest assured that
it will not attract the settler. If, on the other
hand, the land is well adapted for coloniSation, we
may be equally certain that the formation of a
railway will attract thousands of adventurous
Canadians, as well as emigrants from this country,
and backwoodsmen from the western states. What,
then, is the nature of the territory which lies be-
tween Lake Superior and the Pacific ? Is it a barren
waste, as the Hudson's Bay Company would fain
have us believe, or is it a rich open prairie, capable
of producing in abundance everything necessaryfor
the sustenance of men? It is absolutely necessary
to determine this question before we can form any
opinion as to the feasibility of constructing a rail-
way through British territory to the Pacific.
Most of our readers are ppbably aware thSt
much important evidence was adduced upon these
points before the committee which lately sat upon
the Hudson's Bay Company ; but the evidence so
adduced was, generally speaking, strongly tinged
with prejudice etther for or against that corpora-
tion. We prefer the testimony of a disinterested
witness upon this point, and we have one in Mr.
Asa Whitney, the first projector of a Pacific rail-
way in the United States. In a communication
lately addressed to a contemporary that gentleman
says that, after fully investigating the subject, he
is satisfied that British North America affords more
facilities and advantages for the purpose in ques-
tion that any part of the United States. He says
that at first he considered the territory between
Lake Superior and the Pacific was too far north to
admit of any large scheme of colonisation, which he
deemed essential to the success of a railway;
" but," he adds. " I have since examined the sub-
ject more thoroughly, and find. there is a large
extent of country on the British side well adapted
for location and culture. At the Selkirk settle-
ment, farther north even that necessary for this
line of road, wheat, rye, barley, oats, potatoes,
and even Indian corn, are cultivated to perfec-
tion ; the yield large and grain fine ; and almost
the entire line, even through the Rocky Moun-
tains is a good grass country, while on the Paci-
fic side the same parallels are some 10 degs. more
mild than on the Atlantic side. As to route,
the British side is far the most favourable, with
much lower grades. From Lake Superior to the
Rocky Mountains range, is almost a level country,
the ascent so gradual as to be barely perceptible.
North of the 45th parallel, the Rocky Mountains
slope to the Arctic Ocean, and nowhere north of
50 deg. do they elevate their peaks above 5,500 feet.
with many depressions practicable for a railway.
Is not this, then, the route for the commerce of
Europe with Asia ? Look at Halifax on the At-
lantic, and Puget Sound directly opposite on the
Pacific. Has not nature formed these for the ter-
mini of this great highway ?" &c.
We believe it has. We believe, moreover, that
we should act wisely, while diplomatists dispute
about Central America, to turn forthwith to ac-
count the immense advantages which we already
possess in the western hemisphere.—Morning Post.

THE SLAVE TRADE.—The 'African slave trade
seems at this moment to be in a decidedly bad way. We
have accounts of one slaver captured by an American
cruiser and sent into Charleston, South Carolina ; of an-
other, with 600 slaves on board, •taken by a Spanish ship
of war, and sent into the Havannah ; and of four more cap-
tured at sea by the English and sent into St. Helena. It
is plain that, with this activity in its suppression, the ac-
cursed traffic .cannot last long. Still further, it is stated
and we are inclined to believe truly, that the French Em-
peror is about to recede from the opqration of buying up
slaves on the coast of Africa and carrying them to the
French colonies to be turned into free labourers. The
scandals and abuses attendant upon this operation, so fully
brought to light in the cases of the Regina Cceli, and the
Charles et Georges, and the shameful position into which
the Emperor has been forced in those two cases, of play-
ing, in the eyes of Europe, the part of bully toward the
weak States of Liberia and Portugual, are quite enough to
make even him heartily ashamed of the whole business.
There is, besides, as anothermotive, the vast damage which
the Emperorhas suffered in consequence of his countenance
to this scene in the minds ot the people of England; whose
goodwill, or at least whose forbearance, is even more essential
to the stability of the Bonaparte dynasty than the favour
even of the people of France. Their illwill, so long as the
army keeps faithful to him- end Fn and is friendly, the
Emperor might defy, but their disposition and their ability
to shake off his yoke would be vastly augmented by any
coldness towards him, or alienation from him on the part of
the English people, whose feelings 'and wishes do, in fact,
shape, in spite of the cooler and more interested views of
statesmen, the coulee of actionof the English Government.
Under the pressure now brought to bear upon it we do not
believe that the Emperor will dare to resume or extend the
existing contract with the house of Regis and Co. ; and
with the final suppression of the old-fashioned slave trade,
and of this new modification of it, the African continent
will be left free for the development of trade, civilisation
and productive industry, especially for that cultivation of
cotton for export for which it seems so well adapted. It
would be a little curious if General Cass, after all his efforts
to embarrass and interrupt the suppression of the African
slave trade, should not only live to see it, completed, but
should himself be brought to contribute essentially to that
result. Indeed the present Administration and the
Democratic party, so called, have more obvious inte-
rest in the speedy and complete accomplishment of this
object. The revival of the African slave trade is beginning
to loom up as a leading political topic of the South. It is
placed there on purely popular and Democratic grounds—
the ground of equality, and .the necessity of placing it
within the reach of all white men to become slaveholders,
instead of having the ownership of negroes what it now is—
a close monopoly, in which only the rich can share. It is
evident that this agitation is of most serious consequence,
and threatens a division of sentiment at the Seuth such as
has never before been witnessed. Such a division could not
fail to be in the highest degree fatal to the so-called Demo-
cracy, the main battle of which consists of the solid Sou-
thern column. It is evident that the total suppression of
the existing African slave trade—so that, if we revive it,
we should be obliged, as it were, again to recreate 'A
--
would be an additional and strong argument against the
slave trade agitators, and would throw a good quantity of
cold water on this incendiary project. e don't believe
much in the hearts or humanity of either General Cass or
Mr. Buchanan ; but they are keen party, men, and ever
ready to act under the stimulus of party advantage. As to
this matter we share the feelings of the Apostle Paul. So
the gospel he preached, so the good work
bedoi,wecare
not from what motive, nor by whom.—.2VewYork Tribune.
THE SPECIAL SUNDAY EVENING SERVICES IN
LINCOLN CATHEDRAL.—SpeciaI Sunday evening services
during Advent commenced at the cathedral on Sunday
evening last, when' there was a large congregation. For
the arrangements made for couducting the service, which
were most satisfactory, the dean and chapter deserve
thanks ; but if these services are to beAontinued, some
arrangement for lighting the nave should be made; the
only part at present lighted being the choir, the immense
concourse of persons having to grope their way out
amid considerable confusion and darknew—LincolnMire
Chronicle.