The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-16 00:00:00

pulation of the country was obtained
Then, every thing was earnestness and de
termination. No person halting between two
opinions would have been tolerated, and the request
to await discussion would have been treated with
the ridicule which it deserved.

The noble lord has stated that he has no distrust
of Lord .........VALMESBURY." If his position is difficult,
it is rendered more so by the difficulties of the
Ministry than by his own want either of inclination
or ability." This is a just and honourable tribute
to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
But we would ask Lord JOHN, who was the man
who occasioned the Ministerial difficulty at so
critical a period ? Was it not he himself who
enkindled the torch and created the conflagration ?
He might truly have said, " adsum qui fed," and
he ought to repent in sackcloth and ashes the mis-
chief he has occasioned, which may destroy the
peace and tranquillity of Europe.

The Government deserves all credit for the
Report on the Navy Estimates presented to us last
week. It is an honest document. We have ex-
amined it carefully, and so far as it can be judged
by those who have not the vouchers before them,
we should say a more trustworthy and carefully
drawn paper has rarely been furnished to the public.
Nothing appears to be intentionally omitted—no-
thing introduced for a purpose merely. The great
increase in our naval estimates suggested the
appointment of a committee to trace the causes of
it, also to ascertain whether the character and
power of the British navy (dockyards and stores
included) correspond to the greatly increased
expenditure ; and lastly, to compare the progress
of the French with that of the English navy.
These are inquiries, indeed, of national interest.
That we should be paying threepence in the pound
out of our income tax for additional naval charges
since 1852, is enough to make us unfortunate con-
tributors under schedule D bethink ourselves.
Yet such is the -fact. For, in round
numbers, the naval estimates of 1852 were
five million eight hundred thousand pounds,
and for last year somewhat above three
millions more ! And, comparing the expenditure
on the French navy with that on our own, during
the same seven years, it turns out that we have
expended sixty-one millions and a half, and they
but forty-two millions and a half. That is, we have
expended between eighteen and nineteen millions
more than our neighbours, with the result that, in
the most important arm of our naval force, we and
they are nearly on an equality. No one can over-
look the gravity of such facts. Perhaps few also
will fail to notice that the inquiry commences at
the time when our " distinguished ally" constituted
himself the sole Ruler of France, so that, whatever
cost we are put to guard against the extremities to
which French absolutism may be driven, seems to
be due to the events which have made so memo-
rable the 2d of December.

As to the first part of the inquiry, the greater
portion of the increased expenditure is due to a few
heads. The Coast-guard and Naval Coast Volun-
teers, which are now included in the naval esti-
mates, and figure for £178,592, together with these
six heads,' make nearly the three millions to be
accounted for. Two of these votes, sea wages in
excess of 1852 and victuals, which, of course, de-
pend on the number of men and their price for the
year, amount to £1,341,424; artificers, stores, and
new works, to £1,127,961, and the transport of
troops, not exactly a naval service, to £282,900.
The increased amount of seamen's wages is caused
partly by an increase of pay in all ranks, and
partly by an increase in the number of men. Alto-
gether we have 14,739 men more than we had in
1852. The increase, also, under the head of new
works and stores appears to be pretty fairly ac-
counted for by the changes requisite in consequence
of the introduction of steam and increasing the
size of the ships. An illustration of the difference
of charge in wages between a first-rate steam and
sailing ♦essel is given, and it is upwards of
£8,500 ; between, two frigates the difference was
£4,700.

The introduction of steam has increased, indeed,
in every way the cost of a navy. Not only is
there the first cost of the engines, and of the
greater tonnage requisite to find room for them
and for the requisite fuel, so far as to enable the
ship to retain the same force, much greater, but the
charge of wages, as we have seen, is increased con-
siderably; and also that of the "annual maintain-
ing rate." A first-rate, like that of the Duke of
Wellington, costs £171,735, of which £106,291 is
for labour and materials for her hull, the rest for

masts, rigging, engines, stores, &c., exclusive, we
presume, as they are not mentioned, of guns. But
we have not done with our costly wooden walls
yet., Such a vessel costs £14,325 per annum
merely to keep all things in floating and working
order; at the end of fifteen years she will need a
complete and expensive repair of her hull, and at
thirty years of age she will be transferred to Lord
PAGET'S " better world," for she will have done
her work in thil!

Our actual increase in naval steam power since
1852 is considerable. We had then but four first.
rates and twelve second rates ; altogether 135
vessels of 166,357 tonnage, carrying 3,072 guns,
and of 39,764 horse power. Last year there were
29 first-rates completed, and, including those build-
ing and converting into steam ships of the line, 50.
And a total of 402 steam ships, of all classes, with
a tonnage of 420,159, carrying 8,202 guns, and
with 95,428 horse power.
But how do we stand in comparison with our
neighbour, who may any day become our antago-
nist? The-important point of comparison now is
our relative steam force; it is on this that the power
of invasion depends, and on this, too, that we must
rely for our defence. It is singular that last year
our number of steam ships of the line' and that of
Fran2e were the same—twenty-nine. But when
both of us have completed what we are now build-
ing and converting, we shall have 50, and they 40.
But to set against this they will have 12 more
frigates than we, and four iron-plated ships—
which they hold to be invincibles, and to be such
" a success," that they have stayed building other
first-rates till they have completed these. The
Comparison of English and French line-of-battle
ships and frigates afloat, building, &c., gives Eng-
land 84 ships, 5,974 guns, tonnago 47,740. France
86 ships, 5,294 guns, tonnage 46,890. In sailing
vessels we have 296 against 136 French ; and so far
do we surpass France in the smaller class of steam
vessels, gunboats, corvettes, sloops, &c., that, every-
thing included, we have 464 steam ships against
264 of theirs.

Our superiority at present must be held to con-
sist in sailing vessels and the smaller class of steam
v"sels, to which must be added the immense re-
sources of our commercial marine—more than four
times
greater
also than that of France, our vessels being
between two and three the size of hers. Also
our immense mechanical resources for the produc-
tion of ships and
other ca naval stores. France, on the
hand, n, by her conscription, arbitrarily
man her fleet at almost a day's notice, and can thus
for the moment be j
is for the public toapparently stronger than we. It judge of the cost they desire to
incur to be prepared to meet any day the ally who

is building an immense navy wholly unnecessary
except against us ; and wholly unnecessary, con-
sidering our peaceful conduct towards France ever
since .she ceased to aim at the control of Europe.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent,
attended by Lady Susan Melville and Sir George Couper,
left Clarence Rouse, St. James's, yesterday, for her resi-
dence, Frogmore.

Their Royal Highnesses the Reigning Duke and
Duchess of Saxe •Coburg are expected to arrive on a visit
to her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort,
next week, at Windsor Castle. The duke and duchess are
expected to remain about a fortnight in this country.

Lord and Lady Lyndhurst received a select party
at dinner, last evening, at the family residence in George-
street, Hanover-square.

Lady Dover, who has lately been indisposed at her
residence in `Whitehall, has much improved in health
within the last few days.

Lord Howard, the son of the Earl of Effingham,
Mr. Douglas Pennant, son of Colonel Douglas Pennant,
M.P., and a party, leave at the end of the present month for
New York, with the intention of making a tour through the
United States and Canada.

Lord and Lady Greenock and family have arrived
at Maurigy's Hotel, from Thirsk, Yorkshire.
Mr. D. ,R. Scratton and Mrs. Scratton have
arrived at Fenton's Hotel, from Essex.

The marriage of Mary Elizabeth, daughter, of
the Rev. W. Atkinson, M.A.., rector of Gateshead Fell,
with Mr. George Dundas, of Dundas Castle, LinlithgoW-
shire, took place yesterday, at St. James's Church, Picca-
dilly. After the ceremony an elegant breakfast was given
at Everett's Hotel, in Albemarle-street, to a numerous
circle of relatives and friends of both families. Later in

the day the happy couple left town for the seat Of the Hon.
Mr. Coventry, at Melton Mowbray.

ADELPHI THEATRE.—The revival of the capital
petite drama, the, " Pretty Girls of Stilberg," has proved
quite a hit, and the career that it bids fair to run on this
occasion will far exceed that when it was first produced at
the Haymarket, some years ago. It is in this piece that
Mr. Webster gives his celebrated imitation of Napoleon 1.,
which has been pronounced to be one of the most extraor-
dinary performances ever witnessed. All the peculiarities
of le petit corporal are so vividly portrayed that the audi-
ence seem completely lost in surprise for a few minutes ;
after which they give vent to their admiration by unbounded
applause. The new theatre during the week has been very
fully and fashionably attended. •

THE NEAPOLITAN EXILES.—IAst evening a
public meetingwas held at St. Martin's-hall, Long-acre, for
the purpose of giving an expression of welcome to the Nea-
politan exiles now in Enifland, and to consider what is now
called' the " Italian question." The meeting was presided
over by Mr. P. A. Taylor, supported by Mr. Sergeant
Parry, Dr. Epps, Mr. Shaen, M.A., &e. The following
wore the exiles, who were present :—Signori Pellegrini,
Maffei, Merganti, Gerais Antaglietra, Petrudilli, Ventri,
Agresti, Frdncitano, Morelli, and Lamenza. Addresses
were delivered by the chairman, Mr. Sheen, Mr. Sergeant
Parry, Mr. Slack, and Mr. Mantel, expressiVe of the sym-
pathy of the British people for the sufferings of the exiles,
to which signor Agresti replied in Italian. An address
embodying the sentiments of the speaker was adopted.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN A SUGAR REFINERY.—
John Jones, a -workman in Macfle'a sugar refinery, Bache-
lor-street, Liverpool, was killed by being caught in some
machinery in motion. His legs were amputated below the
knees, and his shoulder bones and some of his ribs crushed.
The poor fellow, who has left a wife and family in a sadly
destitute condition, died immediately afterwards.
SUICIDE IN BLENHEIM PARK, OXON.—On
Thursday, the 14th instant, a gentleman, said to be the
Spanish Consul for Australia, committed suicide, by
shooting himself near the Home Farm, in Blenheim Park.
It appears that his name is Don Antonio Arom de Ayala.
On his person were found three letters, one addressed by
him to the landlady of the Bear Hotel, Woodstock, where
he has been staying since Tuesday last, and another
addressed to the Duke of Marlborough. The other letter
is evidently, addressed to himself. The address on this
letter is, " Don Antonio Arom de Ayala, Spanish Consul
for Australia, Tavistock Hotel, Covent-garden." In his
letter to the Duke of Marlborough, he begs that
his Grace will pardon him for selecting his park for a
place in which to end his life ; and he observes that he has
a feeling, which may be a childish one, that objeets that he
should die in cultivated fields where cottages are, and rail-
roads cross, and signs of life exist; therefore, 'he has
selected Blenheim Park for this purpose, and he prays that
the duke will cause a-cross to be put up to note the place
according to the Spanish custom. He states further, in
his letter, that he went yesterday (Wednesday) to see
Blenheim Palace, hoping that a sight of the noble
paintings would do him good, but that the sight
was of no avail. To the landlady of the Bear Hotel he
gives directiOns as to things of his in her custody, ordering
some to be sent to his wife in Spain, and he thanks the
landlady for her kind accommodation. He went out from
the Bear Hotel in the morning, after giving directions for
his dinner at six o'clock in the evening, and he posted a
letter in the Woodstock post-office at 1 o'clock at noon,
which, as stated, is addressed to Mr. Albert 13ottman, 26,
Duncan-terrace, Islington, London. It appears that a
pistol was purchased by him in London on the 11th of this
month, and it is stated that he came by a do am train on
the Great Western line to the Woodstock -road Station, et
half-past 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the 12th inst. The body is
now lying at the Woodstock Lodge, in Blenheim Park,
awaiting the coroner's inquest.
DEATH OF MACKAY, THE CELEBRATED PIPER.—
Mr. Angus Mackay, formerly piper to her Majesty, has
been accidentally drowned in the river Nith; Dumfriesshire.
Mackay was of a race of hereditary pipers, who obtained
their instruction at the once celebrated college of the Mac-
Cruimins, in the Isle of Skye, which has been swept away in
the changes produced by the altered state of Gaelic society.
He 'was not simply a performer, able to read and note down
music, which many of his profession tan scarcely do, but
he was a composer of singular ability, and his style of exe-
cufion so superior that even the ears of her Majesty were
pleased with an instrument which in less able hands would
have been discordant. He published a collection of upwards
of 60 of those ancient and peculiar pieces of music called
" Piobreaela," with historical and biographical letter-press,
which is a standard work among the military and private
professors of the national instrument. He subsequently
published a volume of " Reels and Strathspeys," with their
respective names both in Gaelic and English, and had a
cot siderable collection of his own compositicrns. He was
besides no contemptible versifier of poems from his native
tongue. The Gaelie orthography of his name is MacAodh.
—Edinburgh Courant.
THE FIRST DRINKING FOUNTAIN IN THE ME-
TRoPOLis.—On Thursday the workmen in the employ of
the New River Company completed the laying on of the
water supply from their reservoir at Claremont-square to
the newly constructed drinking fountain at the south-east
corner of St. Sepulchre's Churchyard, in Skinner-street,
Old Bailey. The fountain is neatly executed, and the de-
sign is .both simple and serviceable, and a touch of orna-
ment about it most gratifying to the eye. In a recess hewn
out of the churchyard wall two small pillars are fixed, from
the top .of which springs a semi-circular arch, neatly
moulded : the sides of the recess with the arch itself are of
polished Aberdeen ,e-ranite. In the centre is a tastefully
wrought marble shell, through an orifice in which the water
will flow into a bowl of white marble, also highly polished.
The setting is finished with cement coating ornamentally
executed in relief, materially heightening the effect of the
diminutive work it encloses. Deeply cut in the cement of
the major arch is the inscription,—" The First Drinking
Fountain," and in the granite curve underneath—" The
Gift of Samuel Gurney, M.P." These letters are trebly
gilt. -Upon the plinth immediately below the basin is en-
graved, " Replace the cup," and upon the base line the
words, " Filtered water from the New River Company."
The cost of the water supply will be made a charge upon the
consolidated rate, and will of necessity be so small as not to
be felt by even the most needy of the ratepayers. It is ex-
pected that the fountain will be opened in a few days.
INDIAN FINANCE.—The total estimated receipts
of the Home Treasury of the Government of India, from
the lit of May, 1858, to the 30th of April, 1859, amount to
£14,419,720, and the total disbursements to L 14,389,651.
The receipts include sundry balances of cash. The esti-
mated balance of cash deficient on the 30th inst. is fixed at
£259,086. The charges in the revenue of India include
£631,486 for dividends to the holders of India Stock,
£46,074 for interest and temporary loans £159,179 for in-
terest on the Home Bond debt, £205,522 for interest on the
Home Debenture loan, £2,015,127 for military and other
stores expended and to be expended, and £2,567,036 for
pay-office demands on account of troops serving in India
and for stores. In the estimates for the ensuing year,
1859-60, the balance of cash deficient on the 30th of April,
1860, figures for the enormous amount of £5,715866. The
present amount of the guaranteed fund of the East India
Company is £4,917,035 stock, cost £4,496,863; the estimated
amount next year is £5,079,678 stock, cost £4,645,584, and
from this amount it will g•radually rise until March, 1889
(30 years hence), when it is estimated that it will be
£13,052,529 stock, cost £11,935,865. The interest payable
in England on debt incurred since the Ist of May, 1857, is
£457,664 ; the amount payable in India on debt incurred
there since the Ist of May, 1857, £527,257, and the balance
in the Home Treasury on the Ist of March, 1859, £1,101,361.
The-cash balances in the Indian Treasuries on the Ist of
May, 1858, were £14,404,964 (the latest account received).
THE FEVER IN TRINIDAD.—Some official corre-
spondence on this subject has been published by order of the
House of Commons on the motion of Sir De Lacy Evans,
M.P. The yellow fever was first reported in the island last
September, and three officers, with 25 men, women, and
children, were reported as dead on the Ist of November.
On the Ist of December the monthly return reported that
"at Trinidad"—(this grammatical blunder is certainly re-
peated in the official papers. in defiance of the simple rule of
Lindley Murray)—" yellow fever had disappeared ;" but on '
tho Ist of January, 1859, its re-appearance in the 41st Regi-
ment was reported. At the end of the month, however, an
improvement in the health of the troops was reported. The
disease is ascribed to the unhealthiness of the barracks.
The Army Medical Department wrote to the principal
medical officer at Barbadoes on the 25th of November
trusting that every sanitary measure would be taken to im-
prove the state of the barracks and hospitals. The depart-
ment afterwards (18th of February) approved a recommen-
dation of Surgeon-Major_ Stone, that the troops should
again be encamped on the -Savana: —ofi7yeinease of yellow
fever appears to have occurred since the 25th of January ;
there were a few mild cases of remittent fever, and the en-
campment was very healthy.
IMPROVED PRINTING SURFACE.—Mr. Henry
Bradbury, of the well-known printing firm of Bradbury
and Evans—a gentleman whose beautiful system of
" nature printing" has charmed us all—has introduced a
new method of producing printing surfaces from .engraved
plates. He describes it thus :—A composition is spread,
over an engraved plate in order to get a cast, and from such
cast an electrotype plate is obtoined. The composition
consists of gotta percha and animal grease, or cil, or
vegetable oil (by preference hard or olive oil is used).
The gutta percha is combined with the grease or oil
by means of heat. The composition is kneaded and
washed in warm water, and then the water is com-
pletely pressed out. The composition is laid on a plate, and
heat is applied to the under or back surface of the engraved
plate, so that by melting the composition the whole of the
engraved parts may be filled. The coating of composition
thus applied is, when dry or set, to be removed, and from it
an electrotype plate is to be produced, as is well understood,
but in place of resorting to theordinary means of preparing
the surface of the cast taken from the engraved plate, it is
prefered to wash the surface of the composition cast
over with the solution of the nitrate of silver, and then to
eubject the same to the vapours or fumes produced froin
phosphorous and caustic potash. Mechanics Magazine.

LATEST NEWS.

PROSPECTS OF PEACE.

The Paris correspondent of the Times (second
edition) says :

" We were yesterday, I believe, within a few
hours of a declaration of war on the patt of
Austria, and I regret to say that it' is attributable
to the prevarications of the Imperial Government
of France. When the question of a disarmament
was at first proposed the popular opinion was
against Austria, because she, a great Power, with
vast armies, required, as the condition to her enter-
ing the Congress, that Piedmont should first dis-
arm. This was a fault, but Austria retrieved it by
the more reasonable demand of a general disarma-
ment. •

" The French Government, whose only object was
to gain time, started a new objection :—France had ,
not armed, and she could not be asked to disarm.
Austria demanded that the general disarmament
should take place previous to the meeting of the
Congress, and England urged the same. The French
Government, whose equivocal policy M. Cavour's
Piedmontese friends declare so much reassured them,
wanted that the question of the disarmament should
be submitted to the Congress and be decided by it.
The object, of course, was to have sufficient time to
complete its preparations, and, Asdien completed, to
break off, on one pretext or another, all further ne-
gotiations, and take the field with its ally, Piedmont.
The English Government were aware of this credit.:
able conduct ; so, of course, was Austria. Austria,
to whom every day, nay, every hour, is of immense
consequence, made up her, mind for the worst ;
England asked for a categorical answer to the de-
mand for immediate and geliei•al disarmament, and
the French Government was `called on' to exercise
its influence with Sardinia to enforce compliance.
It had the effrontery to plead that it could not
compel Sardinia to do anything of -the kind. Of
course we then saw 'Plat our friends were dis-
posed to play us false, and Austria intimated
that if a categorical answer was not given
within a certain time, as to the disarmament, she
would consider it as equivalent to a declaration of
war ; would act instantly ; and would probably be
at Turin in 10 days. Austria may be accused of
precipitating matters, but her situation is one of the
most critical ; the expenses of her army are strain.
ing her resources to the utmost, and her only
chance of safety was to renounce all hope of peace,
and act at once. It was the necessity of her
condition. When people blame her, they ought
to remember that, in point of fact, she has
been menaced since the Ist of January last.
From that date she has, beyond all doubt, seen
through the plan contrived against her by M.
Cavour and his great friend, and set hersif to pre-
pare accordingly. She knew that she was to be
duped, and, as she had no faith in the fair promises
and pious aspirations of the Moniteur, she resolvcd
to be ready against all emergencies. It is difficult
, 'a • •
to see how she could act otherwise than she has
done, and it has proved her best means of salvation.
"As I have told you, matters reached yesterday
the extreme point. The French Government were
informed that the responsibility of so terrible a
calamity as a general war would fall upon them
alone. In spite of the civilities, courtesies, and
coquetting going on for some time past between 'St.
Petersburg and Paris, it was shoWn that when the
critical moment came the French Government
would not have the support or sympathy of-any
one Government in 'Europe, exieept, I suppose,
Piedmont ; and Russia, notwithstanding her re.

sentment against Austria, showed symptoms (as I
am assured), of a wish to stand well with old
dynasties and old friends,-and .little real inclination

towards a war which sooner or later must become

revolutiotary.

" But the scene, it appears, has alanged; and hope

smiles once more. The French Government are

said to have seen the dangerous course they were
hastening on. But, whatever be the cause—
whether the prospect of the unanimous condemna-
tion of all Europe, the certainty of the condemna-
tion of France, the soundness of the ' reasons and
arguments of her allies, or all these things to-
gether, I am given to understand that we have at
last got into smooth water. I presume that the
French Government have -agreed to a general

disarmament, including, of course, that of Pied-
mont, previous to the Congress; as I am told,
that the Congress will meet *it the time already
mentioned, and that the Moniteur will soon announce
the fact. No one will rejoice more heartily at this
than the French people themselves; and M. Wa-
lewski and one or two of his colleagues will exult

as much as any one.
" I hope it is not the invention of some rash opti-
mist, but I also hear that M. Walewski this morn-
ing made inquiries about a house at Baden-Baden,
with a view to the Congress. Prince Gortschakoff
has already done so."

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAY.

Count de Persigny has left Paris for London, it
is believed on a confidential mission relating to the
present negotiations.
The Journal de Cherbourg announces that the
maritime Prefect at that port has received orders
to arm as quickly as possible the following nine
gunboats :—Aigrette, Fulmin ante, Arquebu se,
Lance, Poudre, Redoute, Sainte-Barbe, Salve, and
Tempete. After being armed they are to be de-
spatched to Toulon with a reduced complement of
seamen. They are to form a flotilla under the name
of First Division of Gunboats.

It is stated that the construction of 10 new gun
boats has been commenced in the ports of the
Mediterranean. The plan was made by M. Dupuy
de I'Orne, naval architect and director of material
at the Ministry of Marine, and approved by the
Emperor.

It is announced that M. Fleury, brother of Gene-
ral Fleury, who is Freneh consul 'at Liverpool, has
been appointed Consul at Palern-io.
M. de Chasseloup-Laubat, Minister of Algeria,
will seize the opportunity of his journey to Algiers
to visit several other places on the coast of Bar-
bary, and particularly Tunis.-
The Moniteur publishes 'the returns of the in-
direct revenues for the first quarter of the present
year. The whole amount is 259,604,000 fr., being
a diminution of 1,502,000 fr. as compared with the
corresponding period of 1858, and an augmentation
as compared with 18f 7. The principal items of
increase have been potable liquors, 4,556,000 fr. ;
tobacco, 1;557,000fr.; miscellaneous customs dues,
515,000 fr.; corn, 537,000 fr.; export duties, 336,000 fr.;
foreign sugar, 328,000 fr.; salt, 318,000 fr.; and Post-
office, 212,000 fr.; the principal ones of diminution
registration dues, 5,970,000 fr. ; beetroot sugar,
4,004,000 fr. ; stamps, 730,000 fr. ; gunpowder,
269,000 fr. ; and French oolonial" sugar, 269,000 fr.
The official journal also publishes a short statement of
the receipts of the direct taxes for the past quarter.
The whole sum received has amounted to
106,0!...,)0,000f., being 27,822,000 f. more than was
due for that period. In 1858, the sum so paid in
advance was only 24,999,000 f;
BOURSE, April 15, Two o'clock.—The market
has been•-dull, with little doing. There is a great
uneasiness about the' political situation, and
the adjournment• of explanations in the English
Parliament till Monday did not alleviate the appre-
hensions. Threes welt done. at 67f. 35c., then
declined to 67f. 20c., and rallied again to 67f. 35c.
Mobilier varied from 660 f. to 680 f. ; Austrian, 516 f.
25c. to 520 f. ; Orleans, 1,255 f. to 1,260 f.; Lyons,,