The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-24 00:00:00

not possibly withstand the effects of continual out-
breaks, whether large or small, and it is not giving
themselves a chance for the Irish to go on in this

fashion.

The accounts which reach us from the Cape of
Good Hope are for the most part favourable. Na-
ture is at all events propitious to the settlers, and
crops of all kinds have this season proved most
abundant. The season has, indeed, been so good
in some parts of the country that even the farmers
(who are the same at the antipodes as they are at
home, we presume, in the matter of grumbling) are
satisfied. They have reason to be so, for they are
beginning to get out of the difficulties in which a
series of causes have of late engaged them. They
hope, indeed, if they get a few more such harvests
for a revival of former prosperity, though busi-
ness was not likely to be very brisk or re-
munerative until after the New-year, when
the crops were disposed of.
A very important subject has been under discus-
sion in the Cape Parliament, and one which is
likely to produce a sensible effect on the commercial
prospects of the colony. The Government and
Parliament have been discussing the report of the
select committee on retrenchment in public affairs,
and have laid aside every other question for its con-
sideration. The committee recommend very great
and striking changes, which have of course provoked
some opposition, as must inevitably be the case with
every scheme which cuts down salaries and gets
rid of superfluous officials. The report re-
commends the reduction of nearly £89,000 off
the estimated expenditure by reducing the sala-
ries of a number of high officials, including the
Governor himself ; by consolidating some other
offices, and by employing a different system of ad-
ministration in several State departments, more par-
ticularly the Post-office and the convict establish-
ment. The proposed reduction would bring down
the actual deficit for the coming year to £30,000,
providing also for part of that sum, but at the out-
set a good deal would have to be spent in pensions
and compensations. After much discussion, the
Cape Parliament presented a series of resolutions to
the Governors, asking that the estimates for 1867
might be submitted with as little delay as possible, so
that the House might deal conclusively with tte report.
The Governor replied to the effect that in his opinion
many reductions might be made to the Public ad-
vantage, but he must ask for the best assistance of
Parliament, as the Home authorities would have to
be consulted on some of them ; he furtaer added
that as on him would be imposed the painful task
of reducing and extinguishing offices in existence
before ho came to the colony he desired to know
the specific requirements of the House. The dis-
cussion on the Governor's message was to b 3 opened
the day the mail left, and much practical good was
expected from it. If the finances of the country
are once placed on a satisfactory footing the Drogress
of the people in all industrial and commercial pur-
suits will no doubt be rapid and enduring.

The Atlantic Telegraph has brought us a piece of
news dated Dec. 22d, which may prove to be of
some importance in its ultimate effects upon Ame-
rican politics. Minister CAMPBELL, so we learn
from New York, has returned to New Orleans, and
his mission is believed to be a failure. Whether
JUAREZ proved impracticable, or whether circum-
stances were too strong for the contracting parties,
we are not allowed to know. The magic wire,
acting upon the principle that brevity is the soul of
wit, gives us the most slender information possible ;
nevertheless the fact is suggestive. JUAREZ is the
most powerful head of the Republican patty, and