The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-02 00:00:00

AMERICA.

The Royal Mail steamship Africa, from Halifax
and Boston, arrived at Queenstown at 9.30 a.m.
to-day with 175 passengers and $18,640 in specie.
She landed all the mails, consisting of 120 sacks
16 passengers, and proceeded at 9.45 a.m. All
well.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
The Philadelphia Inquirer calls attention to the
" Mileage abuse" in Congress. Though the law
intends that a member should receive his travel-
ling expenses, the practice has arisen of paying
members for the trip they might take,—but do not.
The members who remain in Washington from the
adjournment till the next session receive an allowance
for mileage not earned. Not only are these expenses
not incurred, but the rates charged are inordinate,
being farbeyond the actual cost of travelling. Thus
a member from Oregon, who comes to Washington
at an expense of from $5OO to $6OO, receives the
sum of $12,000, leaving him upwards of $lO,OOO
profit, even supposing that he makes the
return journey. Henry Winter Davis, whose
trips to Baltimore and back could not have cost
more than from $6 to $B, received $67, and the other
members in proportion. The English system,
wherever the English Treasury deigned to pay any-
thing, is to make a man send in his bill, with rail-
way charge, cab hire, &c., detailed. Naturally the
members of Congress dislike the unequal division
of the plunder. Mr. Davis gets only $67, while
Mr. Macdougall, of California, receives nearly
$ll,OOO. It is clear, however, that a reform which
equalised the sum to be paid to each would not be
equitable so long as the distances to be travelled re-
main so unequal.
General Sweeny's proclamation to the people of
Canada is not a bad document in its way. "To
take up the sword 1" exclaims the Irish sympathiser

—" to strike down the oppressor's rod—to deliver
Ireland from the tyrant, the despoiler, and the
robber, we have registered our oaths on the altar
of our country, in the full view of heaven, and sent
up our vows to the throne of Him who inspired
them." And forthwith bands of drunken robbers
and plunderers are despatched into Canada to de-
stroy property, and to murder the unoffending in-
habitants. We sympathise with all the wrongs
of Ireland, which our American friends will learn,
on inquiry in this country, are not exactly what the
Irish in America represent them ; but we are at a
loss to see how rapine and bloodshed in Canada
will have a beneficial effect in redressing these
wrongs. That the Canadians do not see it is proved
by their action ; and we dare say they consider it
very hard lines that the Fenians in England should
fight for the redemption of Ireland, and they—
bear the blows. "We are here !" exclaims Sweeny
—" As the Irish army of liberation, the friends of
liberty against despotism—of democracy against
aristocracy—of the ballot against the privileges of
class—of progress and development against right
and wrong." " Granting all this," reply the Cana-
dians, "you are in the wrong place—go to Ireland,
or, better still, go to England and carry out this
honourable warfare in a manner worthy of the high
object you aim at, and the sublime sentiments that
actuate you, but—don't murder us." When—" your
work for Ireland is accomplished, we are glad that
you will allow us to determine our natural political
standing and character, and if we require your aid
to free us from the government of a foreign throne,
we will ask that aid."
There is something supremely ridiculous in this
address from the Major-General Commanding the
Armies of Ireland to the people of Canada, were it
not for its disastrous consequences—the action, of
which this address is a part, would rank among the
most amusing blunders ever committed—even by
Irishmen.

General Grant seems to be an assiduous smoker
The Boston Commercial—who observed him nar-
rowly while waiting the departure of his train al
the Washington Depot—says he had smoked three
cigars, and had begun a fourth, in the brief period
that he remained. No credit is therefore to be given
to the recent story that he is learning to leave off
smoking, and that he has so far succeeded as to get
along with ten or fifteen a day. The General in
repose has a countenance which conveys no idea of
greatness to the beholder. His blue eye has a be-
nevolent expression when he is conversing with his
soldiers. He stoops much as he walks, but in other
respects seems hale and vigorous. There was
neither airiness, pretence, nor affectation about him.
As he passed he was often saluted by veterans, with
whom he talked pleasantly, or listened attentively
to incidents of the early South-Western battles, of
the campaign of Vicksburg, or of the bloody pro-
gress through the wilderness.
The approaching renewal of the attempt to lay
the Atlantic Telegraph cable has produced some
movement in the shares of that undertaking. The
old £l,OOO shares, of which there are 600, after
having been for a long time neglected, are inquired
for at from £250 to £3OO. The 8 per cent. prefer-
ence shares of £5, which also represent £600,000,
have been dealt in to some extent at £3 15s. The
company, however, which is now most immediately
concerned in the success of the enterprise is the
Anglo-American Telegraph, which has taken over
the contract to lay the cable. Practically the claims
of the shareholders in the old company are deferred
to those in the Anglo-American Company,
who will
have for their capital (likewise of £600,000) the
first charge upon the profits up to 25 per cent. per
annum, and one-half of all beyond, and whose £lO
paid-up shares at present stand at a small discount.
The importance of the undertaking has received a new
and strong illustration from the service that would
have been rendered if the line had been in operation
during the recent panic, and the European war will
now create an additional interest in its completion.
Electric communication with New York will estab-
lish also an unbroken intercourse with California
and Vancouver's Ireland, a line to those points being
already in existence. A cable is also about to be
laid in the short distance between Florida and Cuba,
which will place New York in direct communication
with the West Indies.
RECONSTRUCTION iS the great question at present
occupying all minds on the other side of the Atlan-
tic. The able Report of the Committee of Congress
has been accepted, and the amended Bill has passed
both Houses by the two-third majority. This Bill
was a corapromise, although a triumph to the
Republican party. Every person born in the Union
or naturalised is now equal in the eye of the law,
though equal political privileges have not been ex-
tended to the coloured population. The States that
refuse to enrol the negro among the electors will
have their representatives diminished
in proportion
to the votes disallowed. No man who ever held
office and swore allegiance to the United States,
and afterwards aided and supported the Rebellion
in any way, can hereafter hold office, vote for Pre-
sident, or be a Senator. This, the third, clause, will
have a sweeping effect. The Bill is one of vast
importance, and great as is the interest it excites,
we are surprised that it has given rise to so little
stormy discussion.
Some years ago the Irish boasted a member in
the House of Commons who was supposed to be
the greatest talker that had ever stood on the floor
of that or any other house. The day when Mr.
Chisholm Anstey left—it was hoped for ever—was
one on which all the members drew a long sigh of
relief, yet Mr. Anstey was an able lawyer, a clever
man, with a memory stored with the experiences of a
life of unforgotten incidences. It appears, however,
that a longer speaker has arisen on the floor of
Congress. If he does not (lie on the floor of the
house, some of the members will have to expire on
their scats, and perhaps a few strangers in the gal-
lery. The Philadelphia Inquirer speaks of this gen-
tleman as Davis the garrulist, and records it as a
wonderful fact that he only talked that day on the
Constitutional Amendment for four mortal hours.
At one time, when Mr. Garrett Davis had the floor,
there were but three Senators in the house, and
nine persons in the gallery. Of course no vote was
had. This journal adds, in seeming sorrow, that it
is certain no final vote can be taken the next day,