The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-12 00:00:00

DISCONTINUANCE OF THE TELEGRAPH STATIONS,—
The Admiralty have at last admitted the uselessness of
thispo y e mode o
od
ne
soufcshigerlearivicisinegs' by directing that those em-
are to be paid to the end of
March, from which time their services will be dispensed
with. We believe the electric wire is to supersede the
arm telegraph, an improvement which has long since
been under the consideration of their lordships.
METROPOLITAN leirßovomENTsa—Yesterday the City
Commissioners commenced the destruction of the houses
at the corner of the Minories and Whitechapel, to widen
and improve that thoroughfare. Tae commissioners
issued orders yesterday for the demolition of the houses
on the south side of Aldgate, eastward from Jewry-
street, to widen that thoroughfare.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—Yesterday morning informa-
tion was given to the F division of an extensive robbery
from the Lamb public-house, New Turnstile, Holborn,
consisting of a gold watch, chain, and seals, diamond
rings, a gold neck chain, snake pattern, with a slide
representing a sailor climbing the ropes, and other
property to a large amount.
FIRE AT WALVi,ORTII,—Last night between five and
six o'clock a fire broke out in
.the premises of Mr. Perry,
James-street, Walwortb, a tapauner. In the boiling
house were several coppers filled with varnish and coal-
position, when all of a sudden the contents of one of the
coppers boiled over, ran into the furnace, and instantly
became ignited, when the flames communicated to other
coppers are filled with the same material. The men
employed in the factory made an attempt to extinguish
the fire, but they were unable to do so. The engines
were sent for, but the fire was not extinguished until
upwards of sixty gallons of varnish were destroyed and
the building much injured. The property was not insured.
A SHIP ON FIRE,—On Wednesday evening a fire
broke out on board the Alice Wilson, a fine ship of about
1,500 tons burthen, lying in the Birkenhead Great Float.
The conflagration originated in the galley, adjoining the
foremast, and the flames spread with such rapidity that
it was at first feared the vessel would be totally destroyed.
Information having been conveyed to the police-office,
the fire brigade were quickly en the spot, and there
being a plentiful supply of water the fire was confined to
the galley and the foremast. The galley was entirely
osasumed, as well as the rigging of the foremast. At
half-past nine o'clock the conflagration was extinguished.
The damage must have been considerable. The Alice
Wilson arrived is the Mersey about three weeks ago
from Callao with a cargo of guano, and was undergoing
repairs in the Great Float.
COAST DBFENCES.—It is stated that a party of Royal
Engineers have recently visited Sunderland for the pur-
pose of surveying the mouth of the river Wear with a
view to the erection of batteries at the mouth of the
river, and that they have decided upon recommending
to Government to place a battery with four guns on a
line with the Blue House, a battery of four guns on the
large bank to the south of Poker-terrace, a battery of
eight guns en the north side of the south outlet of the
new dock, and a battery of four guns on the south side
of the Oete outlet. The guns to be of 10-inch bore and
fire heavy shot.
According to the Australian advices just received,
the steps taken by the Government Emigration Com-
missioners of this country in compelling all emigrant
ships they charter to be provided with Clifford's new
method of instantly lowering a boat in case of accident
have been followed by the Government of Victoria, and
a notice has been gazetted, that "all colonial steamers
on and after July 1, 1353, are to be provided with
Clifford's patent, or onein their opinion equally efficient."
The loss of life caused by the collision of the Champion
and the Lady Bird appears to have been the immediate
cause of this resolution.
THE KENSINGTON GORE ESTATE.—The gross total
amount expended on this estate, as made up to the 31-t
of Jan., 1453, is returned at 312,0361 (against 206,000/.
granted by Parliament)—vie , 298,624/. expended by the
Royal Commissioners, and 13,4111. by the Department of
Science and Art. The sum of 259,136/, has been paid for
the purchase of the estate, 15,6921. for laying out grounds,
draining, and road-making, and 15,0001, for building ti
Museum. 3,835/. is set down as the cost of form-
ing a collection of animal products, &c., recently pre-
sented to her Majesty's Government. Other sums will
have to be paid
(in addition to these) to complete the
purchase of the estate out of moneys in the hands of the
Royal Ex!- teition Commissioners, including 54,7161. (less
the deposit of 6,0001. Consols) to be paid to the Earl of
Harrington upon completion of the purchase of the. Ha-
rrington estate. Under the expenditure of the Science
and Art Department, 13,4111. is set down as the expense
of removal from Marlborough-house to South Sensing-
ton and construction of the Sheepshanks Gallery, &a.,
up to the 31st of January last. The Sheepshanks
Gallery itself cost the sum of 3,2701. for its erection.
Thus gross total expenditure amounts, as already
stated,
the
to
512,0361, against the sum of 206,000 t, voted
by Parliament.
THEATRICALS IN Via rSOVINCES. —CHELTENHAM.
On Weatiesdity evening last Mr. R. Maisey's annual
benefit took place at the Royal Wells Theatre, on which
occasion "The Hypocrite" and "An Alarming Sacri-
fice" were given. In the former the character of Char-
lotte was admirably sustained by Miss L. Forester, a
young lady of considerable talent. Many parts of the
performance were extremely clever, evincing sound
judgment and discrimination, approaching very nearly
to perfection, and richly merited the applause which the
audience, a very numerous and fashionable one, so
ltherally bestowed. We look forward, at no distal 15
period, to see Miss h Forester on the boards of one of
our London theatres, to which she would certainly be an
acquisition. The Mawworm of Mr. Shenton was clever
nod effective, and deserves to be mentioned in teims of
praise, as does also the Darnley of Mr. E. Bolton, a
very promising young author. The whole west off in a
manner highly satisfactory.
PASSENGERS FROM INDIA.—The Ripon steameihip,
Captain Powell, with the heavy portion of the B )mbay
mail, left Alexandria on the 27th ult., at 9 a.m., and
may be looked for Southampton on Saturday next. She
has the following passengers from Bombay :—Mrs.
Campbell and four children, Mre, Mowatt, Mr. Knox,
three children, and servant ; Mrs._ Spring, three chil-
e.

! dear to the human heart—home, friends,
family, and fortune should be permitted
to give expression to their opinions and feelings,
to murmur a complaint, or even seem discontented
with a system that has occasioned so much misery
and suffering. If the right of asylum is more
than ever sacred in France, why is it that pass-
port regulations are framed which prevent any
person from treading its soil without what may be
termed " a ticket of leave" from his own Govern-
ment ? Surely that cannot easily be obtained by
a political refugee.
But the assertion that " assassination is ele-
vated into a system," is even glorified in this
country, is repeated. We hear of " atrocious
libels, in which the murder of the Sovereigns of
Europe is regarded as a right, a duty—in
which thrones, altars, armies, laws, the magis-
tracy, society, and GOD himself, are dragged
through blood and mire." Let these statements
be verified, and the guilty parties pointed out,
and they shall be punished ; but we beg to tell
M. DE LA GUENOIIIERE that, in this free coun-
try, assertion is not accepted as proof. A case
must be clearly established before the liberty,
either of the British subject, or of "the stranger
within our gates," can be vexatiously interfered
with. We repeat our statement that the exist-
ing laws are amply sufficient to punish crime, and
that the substitution of penal servitude for a
protracted imprisonment, would not be sufficient
to deter any man from entering into a conspiracy
where, in case of success, he would be an accessory
before the fact of murder, and liable to suffer the
extreme penalty of the law ! The demand pre-
ferred can render no additional security to the
EMPEROR, but if granted it may greatly humiliate
Great Britain, and that seems to be its sole intent
and object.
It is not in a similar way that minor powers
are approached. We have already commented on
the attempt made to compel Sardinia to surrender
a British subject to " become the whipping boy
to sustain the buffets that it is not yet deemed
quite safe to administer to England." A. similar
effort has been directed against Switzerland, the
nation where the right of asylum was " so boldly
maintained in his favour," and for which he
professes to feel sincerely grateful.
The despatch to the French Minister, at Berne,
is open to far greater exception than that of
Count WILEWSKI to this country so reasonably
complained of. It speaks of dilatory and evasive
replies, and requires that the demand should be
repeated in a more peremptory manner. And the
Envoy is " to insist upon it with the President of
the Confederation that measures be taken without
delay, in order that refugees notorioulsy known as
disposed to take part in criminal enterprises, espe-
cially those organised into societies in the canton
of Genoa, should be deposited far from the French
frontier." And it is added that in the even t
of the Helvetic Government not consulting upon
the means of satisfying their just (!) requirements
it will incur a grave responsibility, and will only
have to take to itself the consequences tehk,h its de-
tennin4ction may entail." There is, there can be,
no mistake about this, and a similar demand may
be addressed to ourselves should the gentle sug-
gestions of M. DE LA GIIENOUIERE not be
promptly responded to.
It is, then, right that we should be prepared
for any alternative that may arise-8i vis pacem
pars bet/ton is a sound principle. Like the Scot
tish knight, Great Britain must be " ready, aye
ready for the field." She must be prepared to
givo a snitable roroption to either friend or foe.
Lord DERBY and Mr. DISRAELI have proved that,
notwithstanding the Indian and Chinese difficulties,
our land and sea forces are in a highly satisfactory
condition, that we have seldom or ever been better
provided with the means of offence and defence.
This is truly satisfactory, but still we should
emphatically urge the propriety of looking to our
" wooden walls" and coast defences. The chan-
nel fleet should be put in a thoroughly satisfac-
tory condition. We should not require even
twenty-four hours' notice to be enabled to repel
any invasion, or rather attempted invasion. It
is to the Admiralty that we must chiefly look
at present. We have frequently explained how
many cumbrous and practically useless men-of-
war might be cut down and converted into screw
steamers, which could be made available at any
moment. Let Sir ;MEIN PAKINGTON look to it.
His administrative powers will now be tested, and
he may rest assured that no reasonable expense
will be grudged by the Parliament or people of
Great Britain in placing the navy in the most
efficient condition. We may also add, "'twere
well it were done quickly."

procrastinations. The Reform Bill, to which the
defunct Ministry had solemnly pledged themselves
in the Speech from the Throne, has been massacred
prematurely not even as among the Innocents,
but even be it said in ventre sa mere—and this
not so much by any fault on the part of the new
Cabinet as by a defalcation on the part of their
predecessors. Parliamentary Reform, indeed, it
should be borne in mind, is not set aside for another
year by an act of commission on the part of Lord
DERBY'S Government, The dissipation of the
popular hopes in this particular is rather, it
should be said in truth, the result of an act
of omission on the part of Lord PsaustEstaTo3's
Administration. Lord PALMERSTON was pledged
to it—and his pledge, as already observed, dis-
tinctly, and formally, and emphatically reiterated.
Lord Denny, on the contrary, it is needless to
add, was not in any way whatever pledged to it
eves indirectly or inferentially. So that, as the
new Leader of the House of Commons fairly enough
observed the other day in the Court House at
Aylesbury—Reform has again "fallen through"
for another session in consequence of the late
collective Ministerial resignation. It is to be re-
gretted ; but it was unavoidable. We must make
our minds up to it as an unwelcome necessity,
thrust upon us by an unexpected conjuncture of
circumstances. But, in reason, in justice, in fair-
ness, we ought not to tax the new Cabinet
with being the cause of our disappointment.
The most we could, as rational men, ex-
pect from them in the matter is precisely
the very assurance that they themselves
have just now frankly volunteered. That—
with India still to be tranquillized, with its
Gsvernment to be re-organized, with the French
alliance to be secured and strengthened, with the
national dignity at the same time to be main-
tained haughtily intact, with our monetary
system to be dealt with vigorously, sagaciously,
and comprehensively, with the Income-tax, and
other desirable fiscal modifications (let us hope)
to be equitably adjusted, with all these things
upon their hands to be taken into account, and
weighed in the balance and summarily decided—
afterwards the great question of Reform will be
accepted by Ministers at the earliest opportunity,
and will be then conscientiously taken by them
into their serious consideration. More than this,
we say, c not reasonably have been expected
from the DEB,Dr-DISRA.ELI Government. Let
them be true to that conditional engagement, and
the fast-speeding session of '5B will not have been
altogether a hiatus in the annals of Parliament.
Not altogether !—with an Indian revolt sup-
pressed, the double-government abolished, the
currency re-considered, and law reforms effected
like those now distinctly foreshadowed by the
First Law Officer of the Crown, reforms relating
to the transfer of lands and to bankruptcy. Eeer-
getic efforts applied to such matters of vital im-
portance by the uew Cabinet will the most
effectually console the Reformers of our system of
representation for the otherwise vexatious disap-
pointment of hopes so long and so vainly cherished.
Another slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, while it
has again, of course, painfully tantalised, has also
again whetted the relish of the community for that
draught of parliamentary reform which must,
sooner or later, be quaffed unstintingly.
When this Reform comes, as come it will,
it can no longer be partial —it muet
be complete and comprehensive.

The Ministerial Elections being now completed
we may expect that her MAJESTY'S Advisers will

at once set earnestly to work with the business of
the session hitherto so long and unexpectedly in-
terrupted. The pressing character of the measures
to be introduced by the New Cabinet will of course
be only "indicated" before the short Easter vaca-
tion. Afterwards, but not till than, we may look
for the energetic furtherance by Ministers of the
delayed and disturbed labours of the Legislature.
A. lath pausing time was obviously from
the first a necessity altogether unavoidable.
An Administration called into existence so
very suddenly, by the force of circumstances wholly
beyond even the most sagacious observer's antici*
pations, requires, beyond all doubt, " breathing
time" sufficient to form its plans, and then " hear-
ing time " sufficient to submit those rapidly mc.
ditated plans to the calm and dispassionate consi-
deration of Parliament. Balled though the late'
Government was so very abruptly by the un-
dreamt-of decision of the House of Commons, it
must be recorded of the out-going ministers that
they had the magnanimity to acknowledge at once
what they would hardly have had the obtuseness
not to recognise—the peculiarity of the position of
their immediate successors, a peculiarity of posi-
tion deprecating instantly of itself anything
at all resembling hasty or factious opposition.
However curtly this acknowledgment was made, it
was made nevertheless. The ex-President of the
Council intimating, on the part of himself and his
late colleagues in office, the intention of her MA.-
JESTY'S Opposition to wait for overt acts before
pronouncing any opinion whatever upon her
MAJESTY'S Government.

Allowance being made for the interval thus un-
avoidably lost to the country by these abrupt
changes, consequent upon the transference of
power from one set of administrators to another

—it will be evident enough, at a glance, that all
the industry in the world, on the part both of
the Cabinet and the Legislature, will fail to make
up, IQ.ya the close of the present Sessi3n, for a very
Februz:l3l" aucl a wholly inevitable deficiency,
yso far as legislative achievements
concerned—has already 1),„„ lost l are
March is fast slipping
April will have entered far into its &rat frao:tniani,elr:t
away from
us
in,
vai:togetuer.
before the short Easter recess can have reached its
to r riblei ncaiotni 0:
cvlt . And then the very best Will hive
to
• h the residue of the session, ~ „
best
may be,,, before the grouse can be seasonably
decimated.
Already We may calculate
1858 by reason o
upon one certain 19ss t•
the session of
f these inopportune

TR rSUN, LONDON FRIDAY EVENING MARC FT 12, 16N8.

Li.Esrr NEWS.