The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 1867.

with respect to hoth luircilylesrs than that of rail-
ways over stage-coaches. But the moment we come
to the lease of life which each ship enjoys we
encounter evidence of retrogression. We have
simply stated results, without inquiring into ex-
planations. Mr. JEULA attaches great importance
to the fact that a progressive diminution in the
number of hands employed in both sailing vessels
and steamers has been going on for a series
of years. In part this may be accounted for by
the use of labour-saving machinery. The subject,
however, deserves a sifting inquiry. The interests
of the public and of seamen, as well as those of
underwriters, require that ships should be well
manned. It might perhaps be possible to graduate
rates of insurance so as to encourage this. The art
of shipbuilding is not declining ; the appliances
of navigation are improving daily ; science and
mechanical skill are continually suggesting the
means of lessening the perils of those who go down
to the sea in ships ; above all, the captains and
mates of the present day are almost the only per-
sons who, as a elms, receive a thorough technical
education. Under these circumstances neither life
nor the means of living should be sacrificed to
NEPTUNE at the present rate ; and we must not rest
satisfied until we have discovered, and, if possible,
removed the can:4e of the increased number of
disasters

ANOTHER experiment in reducing tne cost of tele-
graphic communication has been made within the
last few days, and with the same success which has
attended all the movements in that direction. At
the commencement of the present month the rate
of charge by the Atlantic Cable was reduced one-
half, and it is satisfactory to find that already the
receipts are quite as large under the reduced rate,
and will no doubt soon be larger.
The uniform success which has followed the re-
duction of telegraphic rates will inspire the public
with confidence in the step about to be taken by
the Government in proposing to purchase the pre-
sent telegraphic lines, and work them at moderate
charges. The managers of the old telegraphic
companies have thrown away a splendid oppor-
tunity of enriching themselves and conferring sub-
stantial benefits upon the public, Until very
recently they would not consent to a less rate than
4s. per message for distances over 250 miles.
When the United Kingdom Telegraph Company
was established on the principle of shilling tele-
grams, a reduction was made. The effect of this
reduction on the old telegraph companies was at
once greatly to improve their dividends and the
value of their shares. Previous to the reduction
the shares of the Electric and International Tele-
graph Company were at par ; on the introduction
of the shilling rate the shares immediately im-
proved in value, and they are now at 50
per cent. premium. It is to be hoped
that the directors of the company feel a
suitable degree of gratitude for the success which
has been forced upon them, and which would have
been more complete if they had accepted the shil-
ling rate universally, instead of entering into a
compact with the United Kingdom Company to
increase the rates in some instances from Is. to
ls. 6d. and 2s.

No system can be more disadvantageous to the
public interest than the arrangements under which
the telegraphs in Great Britain are now worked.
The cost of maintaining three separate and inde-
pendent comp anies,with separate offices and officers
for each, is continued ; and the advantage which
should be derived from competition is lost by the
fact that the three companies are united under
" working arrangements," by which it is agreed
that in no instance shall one company afford greater
facilities for telegraphing than the others consent
to give. We have thus all the evils of a monopoly
without its corresponding advantages. The public
pay for these establishments, and are left as help-
less and unconsidered as if there was but one.
We shall have to pay the present companies
something very handsome for getting out of the
way before we can have a reasonable system of
telegraphic communication such as other nations
have long since enjoyed. If, however, there is no
alternative, we had better do this, and the sooner
we do it the better. We know the worst of losing
so much money, but we do not know the cost of
the inconvenience to which we are now subjected
by excessive charges and the absence of all reason-
able motives to give the public suitable accommo-
io4.? ._.

CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY. —The ordinary
general meeting of the proprietors in this company was
held to-day at the London Tavern, at which Mr. Thomas
Hughes presided. The chairman entered into a detailed
explanation of the various items mentioned in the direc-
tors' report, which has already appeared in The Sun, and
expres=ed his belief that next year would prove ono of
success and profit, as the tropical department would bo
restored, and many other matters hal been arranged of an
attractive nature for the now season. The report was
adopted, and the usual discussion then followed upon the
Sunday question.

TILE FENIANS.—Mr. Hardy, Secretary of State
for the Home Department, has authorised the Receiver to
the Metropolitan Police, on the recommendation of Sir R.
Mayne, to pay to Mr. Thomson, the inspector of the de-
tective force, Scotland-yard, the sum of ten guineas, as a
mark of approval of his courage in apprehending, at the
risk of his life, the Fenian leader known as Col. Richard
Burke; and a further reward of £2 has been awarded to
constable Fordham, 33 E, for the firmness ho displayed in
effecting this capture, though ignorant of the desperate
character of Burke.

now TO PUSH TRADE.—In the course of a trial
at Westminster the other day a witness was asked whether
he had not assisted at a funeral where there was no body
to bury. On cross-examination he admitted that he had
helped a friend in the funeral trade who, being anxious to
impress his neightourhood— a suburban one—with the
ability with which ho could conduct funerals, and also to
convoy the idea that ho had received a good order, had a
hearse and mourning coaches with 20 men, leave his shop,
and after an absence of some hours return as if from the
cemetery.—South London Press.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Active steps have
been taken in the endeavour to reimburse Mr. Mapleson
for the heavy loses ho has incurred, and to enable him to
continue the direction of an establishment in which re-
presentations of Italian opera may be given during the
coming season, and to refurnish Her Majesty's Theatre
when rebuilt. With this view the friends and patrons of
the lessee shave initiated a subscription, and Lieutenant-
Colonel G. L. Hamilton, of the Army and Navy Club, has
consented to act as hon. secretary.

THE LATE COLONEL LOWTHER, M.P.—The re-
mains of the late Colonel Lowther. M.P. for Westmore-
land, were interred in the family mausoleum at Lowther
on Friday. The funeral was strictly private, only the
nearest relatives of the deceased being present as mourners.
In the park and church, however, a large number of people
had congregated to witness the ceremonial. The latest
rumour upon the subject of the representation of West-
moreland is that Mr. Salkeld, of Holm-hill, chairman o
the Caledonian Railway and colonel of the Westmoreland
Militia, will be the candidate in the Lowther interest.
There is no prospect of a Liberal candidate being brought
forward.

THE NATIONAL STANDARD THEATRE. This
theatre, which nearly a year since fell a prey to the
" devouring element, " has, owing to the indomitable
energy of Mr. John Douglas, been rebuilt upon its old site,
and again opened to the public. The building may now,
without misrepresentation, be classed amongst the finest
theatres in Europe, and is one of the largest in London.
The admirable arrangement of the interior, the appro-
priate and elegant style of decoration, the commodious dis-
position of every part of the house, from the first tier of
the boxes to the gallery, testify how carefully the tastes
and convenience of the public have been studied. The
whole of the effective lighting and magnificent crystal
adornments of the interior, and the resplendent devices of
the exterior, have been executed by the eminent firm of
Messrs. J. Defries and Suns, of iioundalitch, and it would
be almost superfluous to add ono word more, their repu-
tation for glittering brightness, beauty, taste, and refine-
ment, combined with utility, being so thoroughly and so
universally established. The grand central chandelier-
sunlight, containing above 3,000 jets of light, designed
and manufactured expressly for this theatre, is a wonder-
ful piece of workmanship in art-illumination, combining
the sunlight with the chandelier. Mr. John Douglas has
certainly shown no little wisdom in confiding this branch
of the work to such able hands, and from the impression
formed on the opening night we feel assured he has been
equally judicious in his other selections.

The Duke and Duchess of Cleveland and lion.
Miss Primrose passed through town yesterday on their
way to Battle Abbey, near Hastings, Sussex, from Ruby
Castle, Durham.

LATEST INTELL MEN CE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ABYSSINIA.
DESTRUCTION OF DEBRA TABOR BY
FIRE.

SENATE, Dec. 7.

The advanced brigade has arrived and encamped.
The weather is fine. The troops are well. The
march into Abyssinia will be easy. The people are
friendly.

According to accounts from the interior King
Theodore has destroyed Debra Tabor by fire. Ile
is encamped in the neighbourhood, and intends
marching to Magdala. The insurgents will resist
his advance. The natives kill his stragglers.
The Scinde Brigade has arrived at Annesley Bay.
The men are in good health.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS,

()ROM SUR OWN CORItRgPONDFNT.)

PARIS, TUESDAY, DeZ. 17.

It was reported yesterday that a diplomatic conference
Would be held last night, at which the Pope's Nuncio and
the Austrian, English, Prussian, and Russian plenipoten-
tiaries would meet with the Marquis de Moustier to talk
over the Roman question. As nothing is heard of the
diplomatic conference to-day, the report must be set
down as having been unfounded.

It bas frequently been announced, on the strength of
mere rumour, that M. Nigra, the Minister of the King of
Italy, has been recalled ; and it has almost as often
been announced that the rash and irreconcileable
statements of M. Rouher and the Marquis de
Moustier respecting the negotiations with Italy will
necessitate the retirement of the former from his post
as Minister of State. In all rumours of this kind the
wish is father to the thought. It is not likely that the
Italian Chamber will recall M. Nigro, until that states-
man's version of his conversation with M. de Moustier is
proved to be untrue. Nor, en the other hand, is it pro-
bable that Napoleon will reduce the rank of such a stout,
not to say unscrupulous partisan as M. Rouher.
A meeting of Mexican bondholders has taken place here
in the Champs Elysdes. The chairman, Senator do la
Guerronnibre,reminded the audience that their subscriptions
amounted to 29l millions of francs, and exclaimed that
Government must do something to save from destitution
bondholders who had been deprived of all by events beyond
their control. A committee for the defence of the interests
of the bondholders was appointed, and the meeting, which
was attended by about 5,000, broke up with shouts of
" Viva l'Erupereur 1"

Thursday is fixed for the discussion of the military law,
or, in other words, the new basis for increasing the mili-
tary strength of France. The proposals of the
Government on this question, according to the
bill on the subject, are as follows :-1. An effective
army of 800,000 men, divided thus-400,000 under
arms, and 400,000 in reserve. 2. The National Guard,
the effective of which is 448,000 men. Thus the actual
defence force of the country amounts to 1,248,000 men.
This is an enormous army for a nation at peace, and the
expense of its maintenance will no doubt increase the dis-
satisfaction which at present prevails in Paris.
The terms of the interpellations which M. Picard has
tabled in his own name and in that of several of his
colleagues of the Left, are as follows :-1. On the dis-
crepancies of the Yellow-book of France and the Green-
book of Italy; or, in other words, on the despatches that
are supposed to have been sent to the Italian Parliament,
but which were not communicated to the Chamber. 2.
On the interdiction by means of which Italian and Ger-
man journals were arrested on the French frontiers. 3.
Upon the items of the account of 530 millions which the
Prefect of the Seine in his last bill states is due, from the
city of Paris, out of the city funds.

In the frown of Niort the manager of the theatre had
promised-a representation of the opera of " Ernani." The
piece was advertised, and the public congratulated them-
selves. But the pleasant anticipations were of short
duration. The advertisement was covered up by another
Lill, on which the disappointed Niortais read : " Delayed
until it obtains the authorisation of the Ministry." Is
" Ernani," which is innocent at Paris, ,guilty at
Niort ? It appears that the prefects of departments
some time ago received a list of inter‘licted
pieces. Since that tune, however, the exceptions had
been modified at Paris, but the prefects of departments
were not made acquainted with the-modifications ; so that
"Ernani," though admitted into good society in the
capital, was tabooed in the country. Tire opera was
played at Lille on the same day for which it was adver-
tised at Niort. So that the prefect who repressed the
performance made himself unnecessarily oonspicuous as a
specimen of zeal without knowledge.
Two artists have died at Paris within the last day or
two. Madame Rude, the widow of the famous sculptor,
and herself a distinguished artist, died here at the age
of 70. She had lessons from David, and was a regular
contributor to the Paris exhibitions for the last forty
years. Frederic Auguste Bouterweck died here a few
days ago, at the age of 61. He was born at Tarnowitz,
in Prussia, but came to France at an early age, and
studied under Paul Delaroche and Horace 'Vernet.

The old clamour for an advance on Afghanistan ash
lately been revived in India. A sort of mania appears to
have affected the Bombay Presidency, in particular, that
the conquest of Afghanistan has become necessary to pro-
tect the dependency front Russia. The Tintcs observes
that it may be necessary that the hands of Sir John Law-
rence should be strengthened by a strong expression of
English opinion against such a costly and useless enter-
prise. Our forces in India are now behind a strong line of
defence. The country and people of Afghanistan as they
exist at present, are the best possible barrier against
Russia.

Reports not yet confirmed have been in circulation of
negotiations between the United States and Spain for the
purchase of Cuba and other Spanish islands in the West
Indies. The price named is 150,000,000 dollars. Spain
might be willing to take the money, but it is doubtful
whether Congress would assent to the purchase at present.
President Johnson's Government will have to pay
£2,000,000 presently on account of Russian America,
and £1,500,000 for the Island of St. Thomas, besides dis-
bursing £4,000,000 at the beginning of the year for current
dividends and in repayment of the loan of 1847.
The war on the Paraguay has made some progress since
the arrival of the last Royal mail. After a series of san-
guinary engagements on the river, the Allies were enabled
to invest Humaita. The fortune of war seems to be
deserting the Paraguayans, and in face of the evident
determination of the Allies, they will, it may be hoped,
speedily make some efforts to come to terms. A terrific
hurricane recently passed over the country to the south
of Buenos Ayres, which nearly destroyed the growing
corn and green crops.

M. Pr6vost-Paradol's admiration for English institu-
tions has led him to write in a melancholy strain about
the Fenian outrages. Must we, he asks, definitively veil
the statue of Liberty in England ? The Etenclard tells the
academician that his article is a tribute, an involuntary
homage to the institutions of his own country. What sur-
prises a French reader, says M. Pr4vost-Paradol, is that
such an event should have been possible—the more so
when we are told that the agent was a barrel of
gunpowder, conveyed to the place on a truck,
exploded by a match, lighted, as it is said, on
the spot from a cigar. We sometimes reproach the
French police for an excess of zeal ; but here there was
without doubt an excess of simplicity, naivete, of which
they are incapable. The Etendard has, of course, no
difficulty in proving that the powers of the French police
would be useful hero—in exceptional circumstances.

The Journal de Paris compares the Clerkenwell outrage
to the attempt of the Committee of Action to blow up thu
Zonave barracks at Rome, and asks if England was indig-
nant at that outrage. The Journal labours under the
mistake of supposing that it was approved in England ;
the fact being that nearly all Englishmen who knew any-
thing about the attempt spoke of it iu terms of detesta
tion.

THREE MEN SUFFOCATED IN A W.r.u. • A..t.
occurrence of this nature took place in Birmingham on
Monday night. A man named Dainty was sent down a
well to make some repairs. Not returning in due time, a
second was sent after him with a rope round his waist.
By some means the rope got twisted round the pump, and
all the efforts made to pull him up failed. A third man
was sent down with similarly unfortunate and fatal results.
Dainty was not extricated until Tuesday morning at nine
o'clock. He must have died very soon after he entered
the well, which is 90ft. deep.
A SCENE AT THE OLD BAILEY.—In the third
Court of the Old Bailey an application was made to Mr.
Commissioner Kerr to postpone the trial of a prisoner,
which was opposed by Mr. Ribton. A very warm alter-
cation took place between the counsel and the Court, and
in the course of it Mr. Kerr said that the conduct of
the learned counsel was " Hibernian." Mr. Ribton, upon
this, observed that the proceeding of the learned judge
ought to be represented to the Home Secretary. Mr.
Commissoner Kerr said that if he repeated the observation
he would fine him, and Mr. Ribton twice repeated it ;
upon which Mr. Kerr ordered him to pay a fine of £5O.
Subsequently, however, there was a mutual withdrawal,
and the fine was remitted.

THE LATE EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN.—EXTRIOR
DINARY SToitY.--The New York correspondent of the
Waterforcd Mail, under date of December 3, writes :
"Admiral Tegethoff, of the Austrian navy, is now en route
for home, with what he believes to be the body of the
unfortunate Maximilian. My connection with the Mexican
agents in this country forbids my entering into minutiee,
but I can assert that the remains which will be honoured
by Austria are not those of the ill-fated scion of the House
of Hapsburg, but of Hamero, a noted bandit and guerilla,
who in life was not unlike poor Maximilian. The latter is
pining in an obscure dungeon in Queretaro, fed with
felon's food, and awaiting the welcome arrival of death.
The night before his supposed execution, Juarez, uncertain
of his own success in seeking the presidency, and perhaps
unwilling to imbrue his hands in Royal blood, had the
noble captive conveyed by stealth to a secret den, and sub-
stituted in his stead the ruffian Hamero, hoping, had he
not succeeded in his political aspirations, to have made a
fortune by delivering him safely to Austria."_

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

EXTRAORDINARY ACTION AGAINST THE " TIMES."
THE LAW IN IZEPORTING.-WASON V. WALTER.

This case, which has been long pending, came
on for trial this morning. It was an action brought
by Mr. Rigby Wason, a barrister, against Mr. Walter,
one of the proprietors of the Times. It appears that
Mr. Wason had a grievance of many years' stand-
ing against the present Lord Chief Baron (Sir F.
Kelley). As soon as the latter was elevated to the
Bench plaintiff induced Earl Ituscll to present a
petition to the house of Lords, complaining of
some alleged malpractices at elections many
years ago on the part of Sir Fitzroy. A debate took
place at the time, which was fully reported in the
columns of the Times. This report, it is alleged by
the plaintiff, is a libel, inasmuch as he contends
that such debates are privileged, and that the re-
porting them is a violation of that privilege. This
is the issue to be tried, and several learned gentle-
men are engaged on each side.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COUR7.-7his Day.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Lush.)

Ernest Roder, baker, 24, was indicted for the
wilful murder of Mary Gosling at Woolwich. The
facts of the case have already been published at
length in The Sun. The jury returned a verdict of
not guilty.