The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-18 00:00:00

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THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 1858.

THE ECONOMIC
SOCIETY, 6,.New..82

LIFE ASSURANCE
fridge-street, London.
lied 1823.
:•MOR S.
PH, Esq., Chairman.
Esq., Deputy Chairman.
Rear-Admiral Robert Gor-
don.
Charles Morris, Esq.
George Kettilby Rickards,
Es.
Auguqstus Keppel Stephen-
son, Esq.

ilstablis'
DIRE(
ROBERT BIDDUL

WILLIAM ROUTH,
Alfred Kingsford Barber, Esq.
Henry Barnett, Esq.
_
The Right Hon. E. Pleydell
Bouverie, M.P.
Edward Charrington, Esq.
Thomas Edgar, Esq.
Sir Alexander Dull Gordon,
Bart.

TOItEI.
John Howell, Esq. John Gilliam Stilwell, Esq.
Henry Roberts, Esq.. , Richard Taylor, Esq.
PHYSICIAN—WiIIiam Emanuel Page, 31. D., Oxon, 11, Queen-
street, May-fair. - _ _

AUD:

SURGEON—Benjamin Travers, Esq., F.R.C.S., No. 49, Dover-
street, Piccadilly.
- -

SOLICITOR—Henry Young, Esq., 12, Essex-street, Strand.
AcTuAßy—James John Downes, Esq., F.R.A.S.
ADVANTAGES.

Mutual Assurance.
The lowest rates of Premium on the Mutual System.
The whole of the profits divided every Fifth Year.
An accumulated Capital of £1,095,000
During its existence the Society has paid in
Claims
Reversionary Bonuses have been added to Po-
licies to the extent of '
The last Bonus, declared in 1854, averaged £O7
per Cent, on the Premiums paid, and amounted

890,000

Policies in force
The Annual Income exceeds

397,000
7,621
240,000

In pursuance or the invariable practice of this Society, in
the event of the Death of the Life Assured within the 15 days
of grace, the Renewal Premium remaining unpaid, the Claitn
will be admitted, subject to the payment of such Premium.
The next Division of Profits will be made in 1859.

Assurances effected prior to 31st December, 1859, will par-
ticipate in the Division of 1861.
Prospectuses and full particulars may be obtained on appli-
cation to ALEXANDER MACDONALD, Secretary.

FIRST AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAPH
CABLE.

Our antipodean connexions have Rot lost much
time in availing themselves (3.* the advantages and
conveniences which the devebpment of science in
Europe has lately secured to mankind. Lines of
railway communication are daily being extended
from point to point in Australia, developing the
vast mineral and agricultural - resources of the
country, and the necessity for rapid communica-
tion by means of submarine cables (which even
in this enlightened hemisphere are little better
than successful experiments) is acknowledged
and provided for by the colonial governments.
The screw steamer Omel, 1,200 tons burden,
and commanded. by Captain M‘Meak en,
sailed from the Thames for Tasmania on Tues-
day with the first of the Australian subma-
rine cables on board. The rope has been recently
manufactured at Mr. Henley's Telegraph Cable
Works, at East Greenwich, for the Tasmanian Go-
vernment, and is intended to open a communication
between the island of Van Dienten's Land and Mel-
bourne, across Bass's Straits, a distance of some-
thing under 200 miles. The difficulties attending
the submersion are not so great as to render the
ultimate success of the operation at all problemati-
cal, as the depth of the water in no place exceeds
65 fathoms; though the distance is great, and a
considerable current runs in the Straits. The total
length of the cable is 240 statute miles, which was
coiled away on board ship in two coils, one in the
main hold containing 140 miles, and the other in
tho after hold containing 100 miles, each of which
was of course firmly stowed and fastened, so as to
avoid the possibility of their shifting from their
positions should the ship get under heavy weather
in rounding the Cape. In construction the cable
diffws little from th9se, ordinarily in use for short
sea: distances in this country. It consists of a single
copper conductor surrounded by thick coatings
of gutta percha, wound round with hemp yarn.
The extra covering consists of ten No. 8 iron wires
twisted spirally round the core, which increases the
diameter of the whole cable to about three-quarters
of an inch, and its weight to about two tons per
statute mile. It is considered by all the electrical
engineers who have examined and experimented
upon it,to be one of the most perfectly constructed
and carefully insulated cables ever made. That it
possesses .the latter valuable quality to such a degree
is due to the incessant severe testing it was subjected
to during the process of manufacture. As each
mile was made it was coiled away in a large tank
of water, and then hourlytested until finally placed
on boar& the Omel. To show the advantage of
this method of trying the insulation of a cable
(which it must ever be regretted was not resorted
to with the Atlantic wire), it may be mentioned
that a very serious fault in the insulation which
existed in the gutta percha covering evidently be-
fore the manufacture of the rope, did not manifest
itself until after it had been four days under water.
Thus, had it been tested only on shore, the electri-
cal indications would have been pronounced as
showing a perfect state of insulation, but, after
submersion, the fault would gradually, and, per-
haps, fatally, have manifested itself, as in the case
of the present Atlantic wire. The celerity with
which all the operations connected with this cable
have been performed is one of the most remarkable
circumstances connected with it. As an instance,
it may be mentioned that the whole length of 240
miles, weighing about 500 tons, was safely and
evenly coiled away on board the Omel, by a new
machine of Mr. Henley's, in six days. The whole
of the magnetic instruments for sending and receiv-
ing messages through the line have also been ma-
nufactured by Messrs. Henley. The present wire
is as it were but the pioneer of greater and more
enterprising telegraph schemes in the new world.
Should it succeed, it is, we believe, the intention of
the Government of New Zealand to submerge a tele-
graphic line from New Munster, in that colony,to Tas-
mania. But this scheme would involve serious
difficulties, second, indeed, only to those which op-
pose the success of an Atlantic line, as the cable
would have to be submerged across an arm of the
South Pacific 'about 900 miles broad, and of great
depth. Should it be completed, the whole of the
Australian colonies would be placed in instanta-
neous communication with each other—a first step
towards the realisation of the long-cherished scheme
of placing them in electrical communication with
India, and, via the Red Sea line, with Europe and
England.—Daili News.

war, that caused this " flourishing" condition of the
country. -Gold from Australia and California had
enabled the Bank to keep an abundant supply of
paper money, and this abundance of money—which,
under Peel's absurd regulations, became superabun-
dunt—stimulated enterprise anil created a tempo-
rary prosperity. By and by bullion was drained
out of the country, the circulation contracted "as
the act directs," and panic, ruin, and prolonged de-
pression of trade, as usual, resulted.
What, has been will be. We do not pretend *to
predict to our agricultural friends how long the
present depression of prices will continue. Every-
thing favours an improved state of things. New
worlds are opening to our commerce. The disco-
veries of science are being daily made applicable to
the amelioration of the physical condition of man-
kind. Australia and New Columbia are sending us
supplies of gold. The, world is pouring its wealth
into England. But more than this. By night and
by day millions of the most energetic, persevering,
and industrious population on the face of the earth
arc toiling with head, hand, and heart to promote
the welfare of those dear to them, and with that
the prosperity of their common country.
All these agencies are at work to make England
a great, a happy, and a prosperous Ration.
On the other side is one great monster evil—a
bad money- law. And as certainly as night succeeds
to day, will this malignant influence exercise its
power. You have in ignorance and blindness set up
a huge, barbaric, contemptible idol, to which you
bow down with the superstitious reverence of the
half-naked savage. Every few years a grand sacri-
fice of the industry, happinesS, and social and moral
improvement of the people is offered up ox the
altar of gold. Rest, people of England, for a time.
One day of vengeance is past, and another is not
yet at hand.