The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-29 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(BY BRITISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)
GALWAY, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The Jason, Captain Nicholson, arrived to-night,
at ten o'clock, with mails and passengers.
She sailed from New York on the 15th inst.,
and from St. John's on the 21st.
lic.r news has been anticipated.

THE AMNESTY MOVEMENT IN

IRELAND.

A meeting was held on Tuesday in Waterford'
" for the purpose of adopting such constitutional
measures as may seem best calculated to procure an
amnesty for our townsman, Thomas. F. Meagher,
and others, now excluded from their country for
political causes." The chair was taken by the
Mayor. The only speaker of any standing was Mr.
John Blake, M.P., who proposed the following re-
solution :—" Resolved—that her Majesty's Govern-
ment, having congratulated the Emperor of the
French on the full and unconditional amnesty lately
granted by him to all political offenders, be and are
hereby requested to imitate the example which they
so much commended."

Mr. BLAKE, in supporting this resolution, said—,
" In giving prominence to Mr. Meagher's name he
did not mean to moderate in the slightest
the merits of his companions in exile. They
deserved to be mentioned with all honour, for no
country ever gave, or cause ever enlisted before, men
more disinterested, more ready to make sacrifices,
and who had made more sacrifices, for what they be-
lieved to be the cause of their country, than the men
of whom he spoke. (Hear, hear.) It was not un-
natural that in the city of Meagher's birth, in the
place where he passed his youth, and oft delighted
them with his soul-stirring appeals that the con-
sideration of him should particularly urge them in
this movement, the more so as they hoped it would
result in restoring the son to a worthy father, who
might be proud of such a son. He had no doubt
that when the application was pressed properly upon
Government, as he expected it would be, Govern-
ment could not refuse to concede what was so rea-
sonable to ask. The only reason that was urged
against granting a full pardon, and he did not want
to blink the question, especially as it could be most
satisfactorily explained, was that they broke their
parole. In Mr. M'Manus's case it was clear that no
such thing had occurred, and he was fully satisfied—
indeed, after Mr. Smith's statement, if he wanted
that evidence at all—thoroughly convinced that Mr.
Meagher and the others did not break their parole.
Now that the facts were known, all men, even the
most fastidious in points of honour, would admit
that they were justified in what they did for effect-
ing their escape. (Cheers.) In support of this
movement an appeal was to be made, in the first
instance, to their countrymen of all classes and
denominations, and he very much misunderstood
Irishmen if the response from all creeds and classes
was not unanimously in favour of the object to he
accomplished. He said this because none of the
'4B men were influenced by mere party or sectarian
considerations. He expected the hearty co-opera-
tion of all, whether they approved or disapproved
of the proceedings of '4B, and as that was not a
political meeting, but was restricted, and wisely.,
to the purpose stated in the requisition, he
abstained from expressing any opinion one way
or the other upon those proceedings. This, how-
ever, he would say, that the motives of the '4B
men were as pure as could animate the human
breast. He confidently hoped, therefore, that as
their objects were neither party nor sectarian, and as
the men of '4B incluAed all denominations, so men of
all creeds and political opinions would give their
aid in obtaining the amnesty. (Cheers.)
Mr. SMITH spoke sanguinely on the prospects of the
movement for their amnesty :—Happening to be in
London during the Parliamentary session, he (Mr.
Smith) called upon Mr. Maguire, who entered with
the greatest warmth and zeal into the matter. He
spoke also about it with his friend Captain Es-
monde—(hear, hear)—with Mr. Sullivan, M.P., and
Captain Greene, M.P., all of whom promised to
co-operate heartily with Mr. Maguire. In the
course of one evening in the House of Commons Mr.
Maguire obtained the signature of at least 40 mem-
bers of Parliament of all parties to an agreement to
wait upon the Chief Secretary, and out of the whole
body of Irish representatives there were but two
refusals. These men did not now represent
any constituency. (Cheers.) At that time, in con-
sequence of an intimation conveyed to some of the
gentlemen-who put down their names from the
head of the Government that they were not quite
prepared at the time to receive the application-, the
matter dropped. It was now revived—revived in
the city of Thomas Francis Meagher, under the
auspices of the chief magistrate of that ancient city
—(cheers)—with the name of Morris, a name iden-
fied with one of the most illustrious families of
the city of Waterford, under the auspices of their
patriotic member, Mr. Blake, and of many of
the most respected of the mercantile community.
(Hear, hear.) He had an assured confidence
that the movement would succeed. (Hear, hear.)
Two years ago the heads of the Conservative
party in this country, the Whitesides and Napiers,
were strongly in favour of the amnesty now sought,
and there was n 9 reason to suppose that they had
altered their opinion. He had reason to know
that the heads of the Liberal party in this county
were in favour of the amnesty —(cheers)—and that
amongst the most active in promoting it would be
the present Solicitor-General, Mr. Deasy. (Cheers.)
Under those circumstances, there was no reason to
doubt of success. The task which they had under-
taken was not so difficult as the task which he
undertook some four or five years ago in wrench-
ing men from the hands of their jailors. (Cheers.)
Mr. SMITH, another speaker, gave the following
account of the escape of the " exiles" from Van
Diemen's Land :—The first of the prisoners who
made his • escape from Van Diemen's Land was
Terence Bellew M'Manus, who was now in Cali-
fornia, and had, he (Mr. Smith) believed, no de-
' sire to return to this country. But would it be
believed that that man who had been branded
with dishonour by a Prime Minister, and de-
barred from return to his native land by reason of the
alleged breach of parole, was not at the time of his
escape under parole at all. He stated a fact which
admitted of no contradiction, and would leave the
public to draw their own conclusions, ex uno dime
omnes.. The next to effect his escape from the
island was their illustious townsman and his dear
friend, F. T. Meagher. (Cheers.) He (Mr. Smith)
was not in the colony at the time, but having gone
there subsequently he made it his business to inquire
fully into all the particulars of the transaction. He
conversed with colonists of every class ; he con-
versed with offic:als of the Colonial Government, And
he would solemnly declare that in Van Diemen'
s
Land, where all the facts were truly, clearly, 9aad
publicly been
known, a question had never een raise
as to the perfectly fair and honourable nature of
that transaction. (Hear, hear.) He might men-
tion another circumstance also which would tend to
raise T. F. Meagher's charactea higher than it ever
Mood before even in that his native city.
Shealy after his arrival in New York, a doubt
having been expressed by some parties respecting
the complete validity of his escape, he resolved at
once, without a moment's hesitation, to return to
his place of punishment and surrender himself into
the hands of his jailors. The ticket for his passage
he (Mr. Smith) had actually taken with his own,
for he was determined to accompany him back to
Australia. For such a sacrifice as that they
might search- history through and find but one
parallel, and that was in the case of Regulus of
old. It might be. asked why lie did not exe-
cute his purpose. He would tell them.• Some
of Mr. Meagher's friends in New York pre-
vailed upon him to allow his case to be submitted
to a committee of American gentlemen of the
highest social position in New York, some of them
being officers in the service of the United States
Government at the time, and that he would agree
to be guided by their decision. That committee
unanimously decided that Mr. Meagher had fully
discharged himself of every parole obligation, and
then and there only he consented to abide in
America. (Hear, hear.) , Of John Mitchell's escape
he (Mr. Smith) could speak from personal know-
ledge, for lie was a party to it. The whole facts
were put forward in a volume which he held in his
hand, a production which, viewed merely in a
literary point of view, was one of the most remark-
able of the age, and would well repay perusal. No one
who read it would hesitate for an instant to acknow-
ledge that the escape was effected honourbly and
even daringly.

MADAME LIND GOLDSCHMIDT'S
CONCERTS.

(From the Freeman's Journal of Sept. 27.)

As might have been expected, an overflowing
audience, crowding to the utmost every compart-
ment assigned to the public of the large hall of the
Ancient Concerts, assembled last evening to wel-
come once more to Dublin the widely-celebrated
and well-remembered " Jenny Lind"—for by that
still-honoured name Madame Goldschmidt is still
known and spoken of by thousands who cannot
forget those glorious nights of her first engage-
ment on the Dublin stage, where she evinced her
wondrous power and matchless brilliancy of voice,
combined with exquisite musical taste, and dis-
played a versatility of genius, equally at home in
every department of her glorious art, and equally
successful in every phase of the lyric drama,
whether she drew unbidden tears from eyes,
" albeit unused to the melting mood," by her
plaintive melody and painfully truthful persona-
nation of "The Bride of Lammermoor," or intoxi-
cated her audience by the double spell of sparkling
music and graceful comedy in her celebrated charac-
ter of La Figlio del Reggimento. It was as " Jenny
Lind" that this great vocalist and accomplished
musician has achieved her most brilliant triumphs,
and that name must for many reasons be still dear
to her—no matter how honoured and respected may
be the name she now bears amongst the matronage
of England. The audience, as we have said, was
an overflowing one, and comprised in the reserved
seats and body of the hall a vast crowd of fashion-
able and distinguished persons. His Excellency
the Lord Lieutenant arrived shortly before eight
o'clock, accompanied by a party of friends and
attended by some members of his suite. The
concert opened with an instrumental piece
(the Andante from a Sonata of Beethoven,
with variations for the pianoforte and violin)
The performers were Herr Otto Goldschmidt
and Herr Joachim, who on appearing were most
cordially received. It is, of course, unnecessary for
us now to speak of Herr Joachim's style of violin
playing. The performances of this justly celebrated
artist have been heard and appreciated before now
by the musical public. The pianism of Herr Gold-
schmidt is characterised by a certain plainness and
vigour of style, arguing a love in the performer of
the " simply beautiful," despising ornate frippery,
but yet displaying a delicacy, yet firmness of touch
inexpressibly pleasing to educated ears, especially
in the rendering of classic music. We need
scarcely add, that this bit of Beethoven's composi-
tion was given in masterly style. At its conclu-
sion all eyes were directed towards the door open-
ing to the platform, for the next piece marked in
the programme was the grand aria from "Il Puritani,"
so justly admired, " Qui la voce," with its delicious
concluding caballetta, to be sung by Mme. L. Gold-
schmidt. The appearance of Madame created quite a
scene. All the vast assemblage seemed to rise and
bend forward, whilst peal after peal of welcome
greeted the fair donna, for fair she is, and (as we
rejoice to see) retains all the winning characteristics
of feature and grace of manner which seemed to
harmonise so well with her sweet voice when we
heard it last on the Dublin stage, eleven long'years
ago. She looks the Jenny Lind of the portraits
still. She wore a quiet yet singularly tasteful
dress of light blue colour, and in all its details her
costume was marked by tasteful simplicity. This
said aria " Qui la voce" is rather a trying piece to
begin with, and, we could not but remark a slight
huskiness, or rather a want of clearness in her
lower notes at the opening, but as she progressed
in the song it was then her glorious voice began to
develop its extraordinary beauty. As we heard
her, years were forgotten, every note seemed
to evoke some sweet memory, and the remem-
brance of past delight flashed upon our mind
with every delicious cadence. Many were there
who now heard Madame Lind Goldschmidt's voice
for the first time, and they all seemed to feel im-
pressed with a new and strange feeling of pleasure
such as they had never before experienced in the
vocalism of any artiste, however celebrated, whilst
others, who treasured the recollection of her glo-
rious voice in the prime of its power and splendour,
appeared to recognise with delight the repetition
of sounds of thrilling melody which they had not
dreamed of ever hearing again. The fair donna's
version of the cabaletta " Vien in cielo" was truly
splendid, and rapturous applause followed, and
an encore asked for, but owing to the length and
variety of the programme, it was not practic-
able. Madame's next performance was a rondo,
"Il re Pastore," from Mozart, with its singularly
beautiful accompaniment, rendered on the vio-
lin by Herr Joachim, and by Herr Gold-
schmidt on the pianoforte. This divine compostion,
both as regarded vocalism and instrumentalism,
may be said to have been all but perfect. In the
duetto " I Montanari," comprising a series of
Styrian melodies, which concluded the first part of
the con cert,Madame Goldschmidt and Signor;Belletti
were heard in brilliant perfection as regarded exe-
cution. This piece seemed to partake more of the
characteristics calculated to astonish rather than to
please. The vocalism of the donna in the course of
it was displayed in all its vigour and brilliancy, and
she seemed to overcome difficulties which she over-
came with wondrous taste and power. In the
second part of the concert the song which, per-
haps, excited the greatest expectation was Moore's
pretty and fanciful poetic jeu d'esprit, entitled
" Nets and Cages." The music is the composi-
tion of Herr Goldsehmidt. It is light, grace-
ful, and well suited to the spirit of the
words. It was sung con amore by Madame—
who enunciates the English with great correctness,
and fluency. The concluding efforts of the fair can-
tatrice were Mendelssohn's sweet song, entitled
" The first violet," and the Echo Song, a Norwe-
gian melody. Both were given with charming
grace and simplicity of style and brilliancy of har-
monic effect. To speak of the plaudits which fol-
lowed this and the other pieces which Madame sang
during the evening would be only to record a suc-
cession of storms of approbation, and perhaps
throughout the entire musical career of the great
soprano has she ever won higher or more distin-
guished praise than that which was awarded to her
last night by an audience in every way competent to
appreciate the gifts of genius. The selection from
"Il Barbiere" given by Sig. Belletti reminded us
of the many obligations we are under to this
gifted artiste for the intense gratification
we have more than once derived from his
splendid vocalism. His rich baritone voice
is now as true, powerful, and resonant as
when we first had occasion to speak of its merits,
and never was an encore sought with more enthu-
siasm, or a compliment more deservedly paid than
that which was accorded to the Signor on his re-,
peated performance of the " Largo al factotum.,
~
His " Non piu audrai," from " Nozze de Figaro,
of Mozart, was given by him in masterly style.
More than twelve months since, we spoke at some
length of the splendid character of Herr Joachim s
violin performance, and assigned to him his due
position as a perfect master of this most difficult of
all instruments. We can now but say that his
performance last evening was in every way worthy
of his high reputation. This concert, in all, was a
decided success, and furnishes a sufficient earnest
of the rich treat in store for the lovers of music in
the concert which is announced to take place on
to-morrow afternoon.

THE LOSS OF THE SHIP PREMIER,
OF BRISTOL.

The following report of the loss of this vessel ap-
pears in the Sla.
pping Gazette :—"Sailed from Li-
verpool on the 12th of May with a cargo of machi-
nery, iron, &c., for Bombay. Nothing particular
occurred until about the Ist of July, when we ex-
perienced a heavy gale, which veered from N.W. to
S.S.W., with a tremendous cross sea, which caused
the ship to labour and strain exceedingly, being then
in lat. 31 S., long. 23 N. Experienced variable
weather from the 3d to the 9th, with a prodigious
swell from the southward, the ship being very un-
easy, and suffering dreadfully under the coun•
ters. On the 10th had a brisk gale, with a
high confused sea. At 4 p.m. discovered that the
ship had sprung a leak. The gale continued with
great violence, and the leak increased very consi-
derably, and we had great difficulty in keeping her
free. Sighted the Island of Tristan da Acunha on
the 11th, rounded the ship to under the lee of the
island, and endeavoured to discover and stop the
leak, but could not succeed. A most terrific gale
now came on from W.N.W., with sudden and io-
lent squalls, accompanied with whirlwinds ; close-
reefed the maintopsail and laid the ship on the port
tack, expecting a sudden shift from the southward;
the pumps were worked with extraordinary vigour
and great exertion, the water still gaining on us.
On the following day were driven by the violence
of the gale and a north-easterly current 45 miles to
leeward, pumps constantly going. On the 15th,
finding that the water gained on us rapidly, and
that the crew were worn out with fatigue, saw that
the boats were all clear, and at 5 p.m. saw a sail,
which proved to be the Hanoverian brig Amitia,
Arends, from Leer for Melbourne. Showed signals
of distress; the brig then bore down and lay by the
Premier till night. The crew were now quite ex-
hausted from pumping. At abont 11 a.m. Captain
Arends received all hands on board the Amisia, and
bore away for Simon's Bay, distant 1,000 miles, this
being the nearest port. A short time after the
crew got on board the brig the Premier was seen to
founder. Arrived at Simon's Bay on the 31st of
July. Captain Stroud, on behalf of himself mtd
crew, returns his sincere thanks to the captain and
officers of the Amisia for their kindness and atten-
tion while on board."

RAILWAY INTEL.

GE.

GREAT WESTERN OF CANADA.
The report of the directors of this company states
that under six Acts of the Provincial Parliament,
the company had been authorised to raise in share
capital £5,301,369 sterling. During the last half-
•
year £168,867 had been received on capital ac
count, making the total recei_pts to the 31st of July,
11,984,714, of which £3,0877326 had been raised on
shares, and £1,807,387 by bonds and Government
loan. The expenditure on capital account during
the six months had been £35,537, in addition to
which further advances had been made on account
of the loan to the Detroit and Milwaukie Railway
Company, amounting to £65,976, making a total
The sum of
capital expenditure of £4,874,718.
and Galt branch during the half-year, and the.
£8,355 only had been expended on the main line
capital account in respect of the 279 miles of rail
way of which that part of the companys
consisted might be considered as practically closed.
There had been an expenditure of £27,122 on the
Sarnia Extension line of 51 miles, chiefly for bal-
lasting and finishing the line and works, and fort
the cost of a grain elevator and machinery at Pori
Sarnia. The further outlay would not exceed
£lO,OOO. The working expenses, exclusive of re,-
property
newals of permanent-way, amounted to £103,931:
being a reduction of £12,696 as compared vvitA
the corresponding half of 1858, although 51 ad
-
the
miles of railwny had been worked during
the half-year. The mileage run by
the
trains amounted to £529,551 miles, being
a decrease of 4,339 miles as compared with,
the corresponding half of 1858. The cost of train
ing was reduced from 4s. 51d. to 4s. Old. per tram
mile. The total receipts for traffic and rents
ing the the half-year amounted to £181,476, end the
working expenses and renewals to £120,326, leav:
ing a balance of £61,150. To this sum was added
£3,350, the surplus from the preceding half-year 4
making £63,500. From this the sum of £48112'
was deducted for interest on the Government loan
and on the bonds of the company ; £4,466 paid dur•
ing the half-year on account of Desjardin
accident compensation ; and £3,739 paid for repor-
ing the embankments at Flamborough, Copetowny
&c., and other expenses caused by the extraor-
ary floods of the 19th of March, 1859 ; leavinq
etct
surplus of £8,167, which the directors recominerla
to be carried forward to the credit of the next ac-
count. The directors expressed their extreine con-
's
-bridge
cern and disappointment at the altered
which the above statement exhibited of the Wit
pany's affairs. The traffic of the line, both throne
and local, had undergone a diminution during tile
last three years of which there was no parallel ill
the history of railways in this country ; weal
though the exertions of the executive in Cana
aa
have effected most important reductions in then
working expenses, those reductions had not bee
A to
adequate to sustain the company's position and f
P°
earn a dividend. Still the Great Western
.9.
Canada had really suffered less than the other Tail-
Canada
ways in its vicinity, and there was no reason toi
suppose that its proper and legitimate revenue had
extent. There could be no doubt,
been abstracted by rival companies to any seriens
the evil during the last half-year bad been raa.te:
rially aggravated by the severe competition carried
on for the through traffic on the part of the Arae-
rican lines ; but, with this exception, tat directo.irs
had reason to believe, from every informion 001.1_
able to them, that this company's position in
at-
respect to the falling off of its traffic was to be
at-
tributed to a succession of bad harvests, aggravate,
however, that
in the colony by the financial convulsion in the en"
of 1857. All the accounts from the United States
and from Canada concurred in stating that that
harvest just gathered in had been a most athebundail
one. From this source, from the revival of
0,
lumber trade, and from the improving conditioni, 1
the province as well as the Western State gene open
it was to-be hoped the company would soon rec° to
the Detroit and Milwaukie Company remained
its former prosperity. The interest on the 1011 t_
obnie
standing. The directors had thought it ad,isis ito
to exercise forbearance in enforcing this clailn'tho
causes already referred to, and feeling
traffic having also been injuriously affected by
ea
ecnivlirl.?c,,,
that the credit of the Detroit and Milwaukie (i°."'
pany was essential to the welfare of both conlPani,eet
The two new steamers built expressly to run .u_
tween Grand Haven and Milwaukie, in coneeetio!u
with the railway, were placed on the route la
the beginning of September, and thus the
Detroit and Milwaukie Company was now Prep the
to properly accommodate the growing traffic el 10
North-West, the effects of which would he se,el/.,-
soon as the crops commenced to be moved. Tuel;
proaching opening of the Grand Trunk 'tailors): .
Sarnia and Detroit would bring into operat,,,lre
another line from Toronto to those places. "J'a
great injury which had resulted both in Enean .
and America from the competition of rival railwal_
had led the boards of both companies todiscuss thy
position of the two lines, and there was every reason
to hope that those negotiations would terraiaate
i satisfactorily.
-..r-

GREAT BRITAIN AND TILE
STA TES.

The following letter has been addressed to a
contemporary :
Sir,—The " San Juan difficulty" is a forcible
illustration of the necessity of our being indePen-
s,
dent in every possible manner of the United State
not only for the purposes of war, but essentialli
for purposes of peace, as I will presently show.. _
How few know, or how few care to consid.era
ell
that for six months of the year during which pet,
the Gulf of St. Lawrence navigation is closed
''
have no means of communication whatever NO,
Canada except through the United States, and and t
we could neither send an army to nor withdraW
from Canada during those six months of the year;
even if our very existence as a nation depend
upon it.
The citizens of the United States are a
fully live,
to this important fact, and judging from personal
experience and discussion of the question withmatl
of the leading men of that country, I have no heal"
tation in stating that they believe that we hold
Canada only by sufferance. Yet strange to say the
military expenses for the preservation of British
North America borne by the imperial treasury
amount to the enormous sum of D 120,000 per annual,
in addition to £20,000 paid by the government of
Canada.
The conveyance of the Canadian mails through
the United States is regulated by a treaty which
they can terminate on six weeks' notice, and when
ner
they wished to gain a commercial advantage ov
us they gave notice to terminate that treaty, and
by that means carried their point, because we could
not dispense with the conveyance of our malls
through their territory.
During the Crimean war we had extensive mili-
tary stores in the citadel of Quebec ; we wished to
send them to the seat of war, it was in the
winter
season, but we could not send them through of
United States ; we had experienced too much
their sensibility in the enlistment question to at-
tempt it. We had troops also in Canada which w:
wished to send out to the Crimea, but we could now
get them to the seaboard.
We have heard a great deal of the message gent
the Atlantice Telegraph countermanding t,"
embarkation of troops from Canada to India, °Y
which a large sum of money was saved to the irate,:
rial government, but what is that compared
the importance of railroad communication with
would give us access to and from Canada at a
seasons through British territory ?
The Atlantic telegraph would be entirely useless
in a militory point of view for the six months of the
year unless we had this access.
The only and effectual remedy for this state of
things is the completion of the line of railroad from
Halifax to Quebec. When the whole length of thl,
lino to be made was 600 miles, the imp
government government pledged themselves to recommend to
Parliament to give an imperial guarantee to the un-
dertaking, but this pledge has never been fulfilled.
The provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia have,les
i
however, from their own resources made 170 m
of the line, and New Brunswick has made a great
But
portion of the branch line to the United States.
there is a limit to colonial resources, and they have
asked the Imperial Government to aid them 111 itS
completion, but as yet without success.
By making Halifax the terminus of Atlantic mail
service instead of New York and Boston, the mile-
age rate saved would amount to £50,000 per annull!:
in addition to the present cost of the Canadian luau
through the United States, estimated at £25,000
more.
The military force maintained in Canada is oil
the assumption that at one season no assistance
could be sent to them from the mother country for
six months. It would be no saving to send troops
there in the autumn, and again Ni ithdraw them 111
o
the spring, therefore for all practical purposes
r‘conomy, in a military point of view, Canada
. i,
twice the distance from the mother country tnat
Australia is, but the completion of this railroa:
would reduce the distance to ten days at all se

sons.
It would effect a saving in the military expensor
e 9
of the country of at least £200,000 per annum, f
it would dispense with the necessity of a single
soldier in Calinkna.
It would da
together the three fine prov.inces
of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, and
give Canada access to the ocean, the British
territory, at all seasons through the port of Halifax/
the finest port in the world, and nearer to England
and to Europe by 400 miles than any other open
port in America.---I am, &-c.,
Harrow, Sept. 28. JOSEPH NELSON.