The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-18 00:00:00

TUE SUN, LONDOIN, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 18, 1866.

THE CHOLERA.

The following is the official return of deaths from
cholera and diarrhoea on Thursday, Aug. 16 :
Cholera. Diar rhoaa.

West districts ..
North districts ..
Central districts..

... 12

East districts
South districts

... 11

Total 61 40
The return for the sub-district of West London,
south, was not received in time for publication.

SPIRIT OF TAE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

ANGLO-AMERICAN TIMES. Parliaments, as
a general rule, waste their Sessions in idle talk
and endless disputes, leaving most of their
important work to be hurried through in the last
hours of their sittings. At first, time seems
to be of no importance ; at last, nothing seems
important but time. They begin by hours of
debate on trivial subjects involving no principle;
they end by hurrying through weighty measures
without any debate at all, however important may
be the principles involved. The Session of Con-
gress which has just closed forms no exception to
this rule. On the contrary, it furnishes the most.
striking instances of its truth. Both Houses sat
from noon on the 27th all through the night until
half-past four on the evening of the 28th July,
when the Session closed, and Congress broke up.
The strange spectacle was presented of bills debated
with the Representatives asleep! and passed by a
quorum roused up by the pages when the roll was
called. A measure involving a sum of £40,000,000
btcrling was thus passed, and among those of vital
consequences to the best interests of the nation was
the rectification of the Neutrality Laws, introduced
by General Banks. So valuable had time become
that the presiding officers could not permit an ad-
journment, as the members might not again be got
together to form a quorum. More than a third of
the laws were rushed through in these twenty-
eight hours. Many without one word of debate and
some involving circumstances that the nation
may have plenty of leisure hereafter to repent.
Fortunately, however, for the country, if -there be a
weary Congress worn out by a long session through
days and nights of debate, in a term heated beyond
the heat even of tropical countries, there is another
_tribunal which fastens on these measures and ven-
tilates every question involved—a tribunal which
has infinitely more weight in forming the opinion of
the country—the newspaper press of America. Such
a scene as that presented by Congress during these
28 hours has been generally condemned by it. Many
of the bills then passed have been discussed and
shown up in no measured terms, and chief among
those so condemned has been the revision of the
Neutrality Laws. The haste with which it was in-
troduced and passed in the House of Representa-
tives has been censured by the leading journals
representing all opinions, and on grounds wholly
apart from the advisability of the policy. The
Philadelphia Inquirer considers the measure to
savour more of spite than of statesmanship. The
New York Times asks, " Is it more dignified, more
proper, or more expedient to modify the Neutra-
lity Laws for the accommodation of the Fenians
than for the accommodation of foreign Govern-
ments, and considers it disgraceful to have legis-
lation in matters of the highest importance pushed
to maturity at lightning speed, without thought,
without care, and without regard to the possibi-
lities of the immediate future." The New York
Evening Post terms it a disgraceful vote. Fortu-
nately a great statesman who has the interests of his
country at heart stopped the bill in the Senate. By the
determined opposition of Mr. Sumner, the amend-
ment was passed over to a committee, where it
rested when the adjournment was proclaimed. The
loan of £10,000,000 sterling to Mexico, in aid of the
Liberals, was lost. But the members took better
care of a clause in the Soldiers' Bounty Bill, in-
creasing, their own salaries from pp() to $5,000
a year. The reconstruction of the Mississippi levees
at the Government expense was rejected, and
although we concur in considering the burden of
such works should fall on the State benefited, yet
we cannot but regret that, under the circumstances,
this aid was not extended to the impoverished inha-
bitants of countries which, unfortunately for them,
had become the theatre of war, and where such vast
interests were concerned. Thousands of square
miles of the finest country in the Union must return
to a state of nature, and change from fertile fields
of culture to unhealthy swamps, if these levees be
neglected. Permission was given for Nebraska to
be added to the States of the Union---a permission
the President is little likely to act on, considering
it will bring in votes hostile to his own policy.
Congress appears to have little dread of the results
of the coining elections, as the Republican party
knows that it carries with it the vast majority of
the people. However determined the President
may be in adhering to his own plan of Reconstruc-
tion, he must pause when brought face to face with
the nation's opinion, nor will this policy be strength-
ened by the brutal violence and uncontrolled
savagery of such cities as Memphis and New
Orleans. At noon, on the 28th July, the Presi-
dent and Cabinet sat in an ante-room of the Senate
Chamber known as the President's-room. The
Bills passed during the night were there hastily ex-
amined and received his signature. To the last
President Johnson maintained bis veto policy. A
measure formally returned by him was found to
have been introduced into a Land Surveying Bill.
Instead, however, of the Land Surveying Bill shelter-
ing this measure, the latter was fatal to its protector,
which was vetoed. Thus this celebrated Session
ended, marked, we regret to say, by a widening
breech between Congress and the Executive ; but
we earnestly hope, and fully believe, that the clear
judgment and good sense of the President will
guide him correctly in the interim, while the power
remains with him, and that much of the hostile feel-
ings engendered will tone down before Congress
meets again in December. In the Executive are
some of the greatest statesmen of the Union belong-
ing to the Republican party. It is not likely that
this time will be lost and the fracture permitted to be-
come impossible of rejunction. Indeed, it may be
reasonably expected that public opinion will speak
out, and enforce on both sides a spirit of concession
which will avert the evils that must otherwise arise
and be perpetuated in the country, if these fatal dis-
sensions gain increased force, and widen the breech
in the ascendant party.

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton Aug. 10.
Ditto, via Marseilles Aug. —•
Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet ...... Sept. 3.
Ditto, by French packet . Aug. 22.
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.... Aug. 21.
China. Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton.. Aug 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles Aug. 13.
Falkland Islands

Gibraltar, via Southampton Aug. 19.
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Aug. 19
Ditto, via Marseilles
India (Bombay), via Southampton. Aug. 27.
Ditto, via blarsei Iles .. Aug. 2 -
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Aug. 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles Aug. 13.
Mauritius, via Southampton
Ditto, via Marseilles Sept. 13
_
Newfoundland • Aug. 29.
••111
Portugal'
Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon......
United States and British North America, by Bri-
tish packet Aug. 23
Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp-
ton _ • '.

Ditto, via Cork
. ••
Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry ..Aug. 17.
West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe ....Sept. iO.
West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and

Honduras) 2B
Cuba and Mexico
Bermuda, via Halifax
Bahamas, via New York.
Aug. 20

The Money Market Review states as follows :
Commerce breathes once more. After three months
of unexampled pressure, the Bank rate has been re-
duced 2 per cent., and there is hope that securities
will once more become negotiable, and that those
who have weathered the storm hitherto may escape
the shipwreck which has so long threatened mer-
cantile England. What could have been more
out of place than the pitiable platitude with
which the Chancellor of the Exchequer re-
plied to a deputation from the leading joint-
stock banks that national bankruptcy was «a
matter for serious consideration." The cleverest
bank directors in London did not need to go to
Downing-street surely when this is all the light that
Government can bring to bear upon the most vital
part of our national concerns, for our cur-
rency is the life and breath of our commerce.
The large arrivals of \ bullion at the beginning
of the week gave ample ground for anticipat-
ing the reduction of the Bank rate, and
the movement seems to have been pretty well dis-
counted, for Consols show a rise of little more than
per cent. upon the week. In fact, there has been
so much recovery in the price lately, and the supply
of stock, as evidenced by the heavy " contango" paid
last " account," is so ample that any great and fin-
mediate rise in Government securities is scarcely to
be looked for,

Her Majesty's Ship Bellerophon.

This noble ironclad weighed her anchor at Spit-
head yesterday about 1 p.m., for a trial of her ma-
chinery and new Griffith's screw with which she has
recently been fitted, and also for a trial of the ship's
speed over the measured mile should the wind prove
sufficiently moderate, or, rather, should it be found
not exceeding the limit fixed by the Admiralty re-
gulations for the trials of all ships over the measured
mile—a force of four. The wind had exceeded this
strength all the morning, and continued so at the
time the frigate left Spithearl, giving but little hopes
of its lessening sufficiently to enable the speed trial
to come off.

The ship's draught of water was 21f t. 7in. forward,
and 26ft. siu. aft. The diameter of screw is 23ft.
Gin., and its pitch 201 t. Mr. John Penn, the maker
of the ship's engines,
with Mr. Penn, jun., Mr. J.
Matthew, a member of the firm, and Mr. Anderson,
were on board to watch the action of the machinery.
Mr. E. J. Reed, Chief Constructor of the Navy
and designer of the ship, was also on board. Capt.
W. C. C. Chamberlain, of the Asia and Steam
Reserve, conducted the trial, his staff of officers
being composed of Chief Inspectors of Machinery
Afloat J. Ward and G. Murdoch.

On leaving Spithead the frigate made half an
hour's run south of the anchorage, and on being
turned again for Spithead and Stokes' Bay, she
gave another proof of her extraordinary handiness
under steam, and quickness in answering her helm,
in reversing her course in 2 min. 10 sec. from the
time of the order being given to the quarter-master
at the wheel to " Hard-a-starboard." On passin g
through Spithead again the wind was found to have
lulled somewhat, and it was, therefore, determined
to place her on the measured mile. This resolution
might not have been ;taken considering that the
wind still very much exceeded the Admiralty
limits, but for the fact that after yesterday
the tides would be unsuitable for some time to
come for the trial of the ship. It was fortunate,
however, for both Mr. Reed and Mr. Penn, as also
for the reputation of the Bellerophon, for the re-
sults gave the ship a rate of speed even in excess of
the anticipations of her designer, while the working
of the engines and the power they developed were
such as was never yet approached on any former
trial of a vessel's machinery. Six runs were taken
with full boiler power, which gave the following
figures :
Runs. Time. Speed. Steam. Vacuum. Revo-
in. s. Knots. Lbs. Inches. lutions.
1 4 15 ... 14.118 27 ... 25 74
2 4 14 ... 14.173
113435470
222787 222555 777656
43 44 229
5 4 4 14.754 27 25 ... 76
6 4 26 13'533 28 25 ... 77
Mean speed of the ship with full boiler power,
14.201 knots.; total number of revolutions of the
engines, 1,918.
The ship's power of turning were afterwards
tested with full boiler power with eight men at the
wheel. With helm to starboard three and a half
turns of the wheel were taken in 22 sec., the angle
of the rudder being 37 deg. The half-circle was
made in 1 min. 58 sec., and the full circle in 3
min. 59 sec. With helm to port, three and a quarter
turns of the wheel were taken in 18 sec., the angle
of the rudder being 33 deg. The half-circle was
made in 2 min. 3 sec., and, the full circle in 4 min.
30 sec. The resolutions of the engines in both in-
stances were 76 before putting the rudder over and
66 afterwards.

put on her trials with half boiler
As soon as the full power circles were completed,
khe following excellentresults :
communication with the after boilers was shut off,
Speed. Steam. Vacuum. Revo-
panowdetrh,wehsTihicihpmewg.aayse
Runs. M. s. Knots. Llbs. Inches. lutions.
1 ... 4 36 13.043 ... 22 ... 26 62
2 5 28 ... 10.975 ... 25 ... 25} ... 611
3 ... 4 29 13.432 26 ... 26 ... 65i
4 5 24 ... 11.111 ... 26
Mean speed of the ship, with half-boiler power,
12,164 knots.

On the conclusion of the half-power runs the
shipput through her circles under the same
conditions. With the helm over to
port three and
was
the angle of the rudder being 36 d
c and the full circle
~
a half turns were taken with the wheeegl.inT2h7eseheasif
circle was made in 2 min. 22 se,
n. 27
afterwards. thesec.
rudder
The
wase puttinh e s
the hardm a
helmde over,over to
64revolu-
tions
and 5
2
in 4
revolutions before m
starboard three and a half turns were taken in 30
secs., the angle of the rudder being 36k deg. The
m
half circle was made in 2 min. 34 sec., and the full
circle in 5 min. 10 sec. The engines ma de 64
revolutions before putting the rudder over, and 52
afterwards. Six men were at the wheel.
The concluding portion of the day's trial was to
test the working of the engines to signal from the
bridge telegraph, and in answer, this they stopoed
dead from full speed ahead in 30 sec., started astern
in 6 sec., and changed from full speed astern to full
speed in 19 seconds. The indicated horse-power
worked out from the diagrams, was 6,400. The
nominal horse-power, it is almost unnecessary to
observe, is 1,000. The force of wind during the
trial exceeded 5. The load displacement of the fri-
gate at yesterday's draught of water was:as nearly;as
possible 7,320 tons. The engines worked perfectly
from commencement to end ; no machinery in fact
could have been made to act better. The figures of
speeds require no lengthened comment to show their
value, and these returns were fairly got, we may
mention, with the regulation length of funnel.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

LONDON, Aug. 18.—Wind this day at noon —North-
Westerly; moderate breeze and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.

PLYMOUTH, Aug. 17.---Wind S.W.—Arrived--Garibaldi,
fromplazagan.
CARDIFF, Aug. 16.--vvind N.W.—Sailed—Sea King,
for Yokohama.
BRISTOL, Aug. 16._Wind sm.—Arrived—llighflyer,
from Trinidad.
SWANSEA, Aug. I.6.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Yeta, and
Huasco, for Valparaiso.

CLYDE, Aug. 17.—Wind Nm.—Arrived—Hermonie,
from Mauritius.

HOLYHEAD, Aug. 15.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Ebba
Vale, from Pomaron for Liverpool; Eliza, from Liverpool
for St. Thomas

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

GRAVESEND, Saturday Morning.
Arrived, Aug. 17.—Spirit of the Deep, from St. John's,
N.B.

; from Guernsey ; Exem-
from Adelaide ; Char-
from Akyab ; East
Lothian, from Colombo ; Alwynton,
Arrived, Aug. 18—Waterford
, from St. Petersburg;
rlafr ;
oill
plar, from Philadelphia ; Confidence,
Boston ; Rosa, and
mlotatreyMHaarriad,y!rofrmomYßstaardbta;doLse;o. nmoarro
Mary Stuart, from Memel ;
sCvuebnabno,
Eider, steamer, from Ham-
burg ; Belgium, steamer, from Ostend
rgfx,•omfroniCoAlc:ormehbaon;geMl a;
Dragon, steamer,
from Charente; Lord John Russell, steamer, from Dun-
kirk ; Ostrich, steamer, from Antwerp.
Sailed, Aug. 18.—seine, steamer, for Boulogne; Holland,
steamer, for Ostend; Velocity, steamer, for Calais; Nep-
tune, steamer, for Havre.

of the South, barque,
DEAL, Friday Morning.
Anchored.—Georgo Canning, of Goole, and Esther, of
AGlpnesonwr,gieionhf,a,Asbualfnrqrdeudeer,
Sailor, barque, Sarah
brig—all from the
North, for the West. _
1 Sunderland, Corinna,d, Ai'und
Barrowbe Arundel,
r qI
Saul:lS:a i!

Rangoon; Venus, from
Passed.--Victor, screw steamer, from London, for Caen;
Sailed.—Nearly the whole of the outward-bound.
sPurinndceerlLaenwd,elfloyrnA, from London, for

The thirty-sixth
opened in Not-
tingham moeßne
tßWednesday
SaSsOnsCoecxliAt,aTtilooonaN.Nv.i.-liniebe
ccasion h
in-
augural address will be delivered in the Theatre Royal,
by the President, Mr. W. R. Grove. The different sec-
tions will assemble at the rooms appointed for them, for
the reading and discussion of reports and other commu-
nications, from the 23d to the 28th inst. The sections
include
chemical
science,
ethnology, eco-
nomic science, and statistics, and mechanical science. To
geology, mathematical
biology,
each section a separate president of eminence is appointed.
On the 23d, there will be a soirée at the Working Man's
Exhibition Building, which has been decorated for the
purpose. On the evening of the 24th Mr. Huggins will
deliver in the Theatre a discourse on " The Results of
Spectral Analysis applied to the Heavenly Bodies." On
the 25th there will be excursions to places of interest in
the district, and in the evening a grand complimentary,
concert. On the evening-of the 27th Dr. Hooker will de-
liver a discourse on insular flcras, and on the evening fol-
lowing there will be another soiree at tho Exhibition
building.

lE.—This Day.