The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-27 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

The following letter from fit. Petersburg con-
tains some curious speculations as to Russian pro-
gress in Asia, and will probably be read with in-
terest in England at the present moment:—
" I have often spoken to you of the prodigious
activity displayed by the Russian Government in
Asia. You are aware of the important acquisitions
it made last year on the river Amoor, of the deve-
lopment of its navy in the Pacific Ocean, the in-
crease of its commercial and political intercourse
with the Empire of the Centre, &c., but you have,
perhaps, less knowledge of the progress the Rus-
sians are making iu Central Asia. This point
now becomes more than ever interesting,
for, after the complete subjection of all the tribes
of the Eastern Caucasus, the Government will re-
, double its efforts to explore those countries,
to construct the railway that is to connect the
Caspian Sea with the Sea of Aral,- to esta-
blish its factories in the principal towns of the
ancient Transoxiana (which the Persians and
Arabs call the Garden of the Earth), to get pos-
session of the routes of communication in the
Khanats of Khiva, Bokhara, and Kokhan, and to
extend its commercial intercourse even to Upper
India. The Russians have already transported
their merchandise on the Volga and the Caspian as
far as Balfa, and thence by the continental route,'
by Sari and Boustum, they sent it either north-east
to Khiva Bokhara, and Balkh, or east by Herat,
Caudalbar, and Cabal ; they have already pene-
trated even into Upper India. But from the period
of the definitive installation of the English in the
peninsula the bold and enterprising spirit of the
British merchants entered into competition with
the activity of the Russian traders. In consequence
of the creation of the network of railways which
reach the Indus, and of the introduction of steam
navigation on that river, Russian trade was driven
to the north. The railways now allow English
merchandise to penetrate beyond the frontiers of
Affghanistan without considerable augmentation
of its cost, and offer a dangerous competition to
Russian produce in the markets of Bokhara and
Khiva, neighbours of Russia. The Russian Go-
vernment proposes to put an end to this state of
things. It is a difficult enterprise to struggle
with English interests, but there is no doubt that
it may be accomplished. Russia has already begun
to make the railroad from Moscow to Saratof, and
she is working actively for steam navigation on
the Caspian Sea; the conclusion of the war in the
Caucasus will now allow her to transfer the whole
of her activity to Central Asia, the mote
so as the inhabi'cants of the Kirghese steppes and
the Turcomans dwelling towards the south of the
Caspian Sea have lonet' sought her protection against
Khivan oppression. She 4 ill find capital to con-
struct the railroad from the Caspian to the Aral,
will improve the navigation of the rivers Amoor
and Syr-Daria, which water those vast countries,
and, by the construction of fortresses on the 264
verses which separate the Caspian from the Aral,
will acquire a sovereign influence over the little
States of Central Asia. Then the English trade
with the Indies will be infallibly undermined. Eu-
rope, and England herself, will find a great advan-
tage in trafficking with Central Asia by the route
of Moscow and Saratof, rather than by the long sea
route round the Cape of Good Hope. The execu-
tion of this gigantic project had been already com-
menced, but the successful issue of the Caucasian
war will powerfully contribute to its prompt reali-
sation. The political, territorial, and commercial
extension of Russia towards the English Indies is
henceforward irresistible."

THE BUILDERS' STRIKE.

The Operatives' Conference held a meeting yes-
terday, which lasted for a considerable time. Re-
porters were not allowed to be present, as on for-
mer occasions, these meetings being held for purely
business purposes. Among the resolutions agreed
to, according to the information officially supplied
to us, was one disapproving of the conduct of the
masons, in empo xering one man (the general secre-
tary of that body) to act as a mediator, or agent,
in the dispute, apart from the Conference of the
whole of the building trades. Another and more
important resolution, embodying certain terms to
be submitted to the Executive Committee of the
Employers' Association at their meeting to-day,
was also unanimously agreed to ; but the nature of
these terms was—under all the circumstances fairly
considered—withheld until they have been placed
before the employers.
From what has been stated in other quarters, it is
hoped that the propositions contained in the resolu-
tion are of such acharacter as to promote an amicable
settlement of this unhappy contest hetween capital
and labour. We shall probably be enabled to give
the result to •morrow. On the other hand, the inter-
ference of the Conference, by means of picquets and
orders to men at work, both in town and country,
to leave their employment, is beginning to produce
a feeling on the part of the employers which may
not improbably lead to penal prosecutions, and thus
still further embitter a struggle which has hitherto
upon the whole, been conducted in a fair and
independent manner on both sides. As one
specimen of the vigilance with which the picquets
of the Conference watch every attempt on
the part of workmen from the country to ob-
tain employment, and the counter methods resorted
to for the purpnse of defeating that vigilance, the
following correspondence, in which the names are
for obvious reasons suppressed, may be giuen
" Sept. 14, 1859.
" Sir,—l am a young man just come up from the
country, and wish to get employment. I never be-
longed to any society, but as I see the shops are so
watched I am almost afraid to go and ask for a job.
I can work at the bench, and will try and do my
be>t. lam stopping with my brother-in-law, Mr.
-- street, if you answer this.—l am, Sir,
yours, Bze.,
The following is the reply to the above :-
1 " Sept. 24, 1859.
"The builder gave this man a job, but he was
afraid to bring the tools himself, and employed a
deaf man to take them, so that he could not answer
any questions to those on the look out."
The Rev. E. A. Verity, 8.A., a Lancashire cler-
gyman, and advocate of the East Lancashire Amal-
gamated Weavers, has volunteered a lecture on the
short time movement, in aid of the funds of the
operatives, which will be given in St. Martin's
Hall, or some other equally suitable building.
The dividend yesterday paid by the Operatives'
Conference was at the rate of 12s. to the skilled ope-
ratives late in Trollope's employment, and Bs. to •
labourers. The dividend to the men locked out was
again at the high point of 4s. per man, in conse-
quence of the liberal contributions which babe been
forwarded from all parts of the country, and from
every description of operatives during the past

week.
From the subjoined statement of the distribution
of the funds it will be seen that the total number of
men paid is 501 fewer than last week, and 522 be-
low the number paid from the funds the week pre-
vious—in all, a diminution of 1,023, who have either
obtained employment without agreeing to the de-
claration, or have left town in search of work else-
where.
Subjoined is an official return of the sums paid
by the Conference:—

s. d.
420 84 0 0
740 148 0 0
1,950 300 0 0
650 130 0 0
120 24 0 0
67 13 8 0
270 41 8 0
336 67 4 0
214 42 16 0
151 30 4 0
275 55 0 0
88 17 12 0
488 97 12 .0
7 .. 153 30 12 0
9, 8 .. 29 516 0
331 66 4 0
~ 10 „ 6145 29 0 0
~ 11 (paid with Woolwich men))
12 .. 18 312 0
71 8 0
20 & 0
50 4 0

Masons
Bricklayers
Carpenters
Plasterers .. • •
Painters ..
Stone sawyers • •
Woolwich men • •
Labourers —Lodge 1
2
fl
If 3
••

Stone polishers"
Trollope's men

6,45 4 £1328 4 0
This dividend is in addition to the weekb allow-
ance which the men on strike receive frol a. their
various trade societies, and which varies from t, ss. to
12s.

P OYAL ENGLISH 'OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Under the management of Miss LOUISA PYNE and Mr,
W. HARRISON, will Open for the Season on MON DAY
Oct. 3d, with, for the first time on the English Stage, Meyer-
beer's highly popular Opera of
DINORAH.
The Libretto of the English version of DINORAH by
Henry Chorley, Esq.
The Operatic Company will comprise the following artistes:
—Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Pilling (pupil of Mrs. Wood, her
first appearance), Miss Fanny Cruise (her first appearance in
London), Miss Thirlwall, and Miss Parepa (her first appear-
ance at the Royal English Opera); Mr. Santley (his first ap-
pearance), Mr. Henry Haigh, Mr. H. Corri, Mr. G. Honey,
Mr. St. Albyn, Mr. Mengis, Mr. Lyall, Mr. Wallworth, Mr.
Bartleman, Mr. Terrott, Mr. Maurice de Solla, and Mr. W.
Harrison. Conductor, Mr. Alfred Mellon. Ballet :—Mdlle.
Rosalia Lequine (her first appearance in England), Mdlle.
Pierron, Mdlle. Pasquale, Miss. C. Morgan); Mr. W, H. Payne
Mr. H. Payne, Mr. F. Payne, and Mona. Vandris. A nume-
rous Corps de Ballet. The Band and Chorus will be on the
same scale of completeness as the preceding seasons of the
Royal English Opera. The scenery by Messrs. Grieve, Tel-
bin, and W. It. Beverley. Stag-e Manager, Mr. Edward Stir-
ling. Acting Manager, Mr. Edward Murray. Ballet Master,
Mona. Petit. Chorus Master, Mr. Smythson.
The Box-office will be opened on Monday, Sept. 26, under
the direction of Mr. Parsons.
Prices of Admission.—Stalls, 7s. • Private Boxes, £4 45.,
W. 3 35., £2 12s. 6d., £1 55., £1 ls. • ' fkress Boxes, ss. ; Amphi-
theatre Stalls, 3s. ; Pit, 2s. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, is.
Doors open at half-past 7, commencing at is o'clock.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING the performances will commencP with
AS YOU LIKE IT: Jaques, Mr. Howe ; Orlando, Mr. W.
Farren ; Touchstone, Mr. Compton ; Rosalind, Miss Amy
Sedgwick ; Celia, Miss M. Tertian.
After which, a new Farce, entitled THE RIFLE, AND
HOW TO USE IT. Messrs. Buckstone, Compton, Rogers,
Mrs. B. White, Mri. Wilkins, and Mrs. E. Fitzwilliara.
And HALLOWE'EN.