The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-26 00:00:00

Reduced Postage to America.

A writer in a contemporary says :
Sir,--The feeling is, I think I may say,
univer-
sally entertained that the postage between this
country and the United States has too long re-
mained at its present high rate.
Letters are carried to India, 15,000 miles, for six-
pence, and to Canada for the same sum. Is it for
want of the expression of public opinion that we
have still to pay so dearly for carriage of cur letters
to the United States ? The cost of carriage of
ton of merchandise from Liverpool to New York
is, I believe, about £6 sterling—the cost of carrying
a ton of letters is now £3,584 !
I propose, by the aid of many Englishmen and
Americans in this country and abroad, to accumu-
late facts, and then in an impressive manner to urge
upon our Government the desirability of a reduction
to one half at once before the Paris Exhibition opens. •
Will all your readers help me with information for
the purpose?

SCANDAL.

If there is one offence for which we should like

to see the pillory re-established—with accessory ear-
slitting and scourging with thongs--it is the publi-
cation of scandals on the private lives of public
men. There is a class of creatures who delight in
inventing most infamous calumnies. Because a
man attains high station, he is made the mark of
the most vindictive and persistent assaults. DI
some cases the motive is a desire to gratify a
prurient fancy. In others, to compel the payment
of money by way of black mail. Our poor human
nature rather tends to believe much of what is bad
of man, and a base whisper often becomes an ac-
cepted and widely-circulated lie.
The latest and most brutal exhibition of this is 3
scandal we' have seen drifting through the news-
papers in reference to Mr. Senator Sprague of
Rhode Island. The nature of it we shall not repro •
duce. It is printed at a time when Mr.. Sprague
is absent from America with his family. It was
originally sent from Washington to a Democratic
paper in the West, and has been printed by leading
Democratic papers in the East. Mr. Sprague
seems to be a favourite object of detraction. fie
was the first Governor of a Northern State .with
Conservative sympathies to approve the war'
He entered the service, raised regiments, served
with much gallantry and success, and was chosen
to the Senate from Rhode Island as the re"
ward of his services. He has been as true to the
country since peace as he was during war, and, while
not a conspicuous or noisy Senator, votes always
right. There are few of our public men who have
invited calumny less than Senator Sprague, who
have borne honours with more modesty and worth.
As we have said, few have been more peculiarly and
offensively assailed. This we say for Senator
Sprague, who is not here to speak for himself. It
would be well if he made such an example of those
who have libelled him and his family that the busi-
ness of libelling would be abandoned. If one or
two of the prurient creatures were sent to gaol for a
term of years, it would have a wholesome effect.:--
11rew York Weekly Tribune.

AN EXCITING SCENE—A most remarkable es'
cape from drowning occurred on the river on Monday
evening. It appears that the steamer Waterlily, which
left New-Brighten for Egremont and Liverpool at a quarter
to 5, arrived about 5 o'clock at Egremont, and having enl"
barked her passenger; cast off and proceeded towards
Liverpool, having in tow one of the river police-boats and
oue of the customs-boats, the latter under the charge °f
Mr. Henry Lloyd, tide surveyor of her Majesty's Customs.
When the steamer had reached abreast of Seacombe point
(it was then quite dark) an alarm was raised by the river
police that a man had been swept past their boat by the
back-water from the steamer's paddle-wheel ; but as n°
alarm was raised on board the steamer it was considered
doubtful whether, supposing the object was a man, be
could be alive, as, if he had fallen from the steamer, some
one must have seen him fall. Notwithstanding, however,
the order to let go was given by those in charge of the
two boats, the tow rope of the customs boat being cast off
from the boat, andler head turned where the unfortunate
man was supposed to be. It was, as we have said, quite
dark at the time, and a very strong ebb tido was running
which soon carried the boat a considerable distance down
the river. Fortunately, however, after pulling about for
some time, they at last discovered the top of a man's head,
which was instantly seized, and the man was got into the
boat, apparently quite exhausted. He was brought over
to Liverpool and taken to the receiving house, where, after
applying the usual restoratives, he so far recovered as t°
be pronounced out of danger. It transpired that he had, in
company with his brother, left New Brighton in t"
Watorlily, and being under the influence of drink had left
his brother sitting on deck, and by some means had fallen
overboard unobserved, the brother being unaware of the
accident until informed that he had fallen overboard end
was then in the receiving-house. His name is Wils°o
Gasgeth, residing in Birkenhead. This is but one of WAVY
instances in which Mr. Lloyd and his gallant crew have
been instrumental in saving life on the river ; and it is t°
be hoped that their gallantry will not go unnoticed by
those who are empowered to reward .such prompt and
valuable services.—Liverpool Mercury.

Foreign Mail .racket List.

MAILS DUE.
Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton Dec. 20•
Ditto, via Marseilles Jan. 11
Brazil and expo Verde, by British paoket Jan. 4.
Ditto, by 14!rench packet
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Dea.
China, eenang, and Sing•ipore, via Southampton Dec 20•
Ditto, via Marseilles Dec. 28
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar, via Southampton Dec. 14•
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Dec. 20.
Ditto, via Marseilles
India (Bombay), via Southampton. Dec. 20
Ditto, via ilarsebles
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Dec. 27•
Ditto, via Marseilles . Dec. 23•
Mauritius, via Southampton
Ditto, via Marseille,. Jan. '9•
:gewfouudland

Portugal.
Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon..
United States and British North America, by Bri-
tish packet. .. Dec. 24
Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp-

:Jan 4

;on
• • OOOO •••••• •
•

Ditto, via Cork . • • •
Ditto, by Canadian packet., via Londonderry , Dec• 1•
Test Coar:t of Africa, Madeira, and Tencriffe Jan. 3
Meat Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and
Honduras) Dcc. 29
8aham....4 via New York. Jan 1
_ _

Luba aid Mexico
_ _

Bermuda. via Halifax....