The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-09 00:00:00

SUEZ CANAL.

The following letter has been addressed to the
editor of the Times, but it has not yet made its ap-
pearance in that journal :
SlR,—Your estimation of the probable commer-
cial return of a canal across the Isthmus of Suez
is such as I have always entertained and expressed
in public. But in your reference to the animad-
versions of the French press against us on this sub-
ject, you appear to overlook that it is the declara-
tion of Lord Palmerston in Parliament that has
given grounds for the impression on the part of
the French that we oppose this project on selfish
and exclusive grounds, because Lord Palmerston,
admitting that a Government had nothing to do
with the commercial part of the question, has
always founded his opposition to it upon the
alleged " standing policy of England in the East
for fifteen years past," and ,has declared that it
would give France an impolitic advantage over, this
country in a prior start on the road to India.
It is this avowed doctrine which I have often
ventured to oppose, and against which I had the
honour of dividing in company with Lord J. Russell,
Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Sidney Herbert, and Mr. Mih ,
ner Gibson, members of the present Government;
which has afforded the French' public the opportu-
nity of imputing to us a selfish policy ; and I beg
leave to suggest that the true remedy would be the
disavowal by Lord Palmerston of his continuing
to entertain those opinions.

I don't know whether you will be disposed to
publish a letter impugning the political views on
this subject of a statesman with whom, it would
appear, you sympathise more than you sometimes
agree; but I am certain that, if you do not, you
will afford your readers a very one-sided view of
the real cause of the occasional ebullition of feeling
of the French public and press towards us on this
subject.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
C. DARBY GRIFFITH.
Devizes, Dec. 5, 1859.

LETTERS FOR NORWAY.—lnformation having
been received that the packet communication between
Denmark and Norway has ceased for the winter, the mails
for Norway will be forwarded through Sweden until further
notice. During the petiod of the conveyance of these mails
via Sweden, the rate of postage upon letters addressed to
Norway will be ls. sd. the half ounce, and so on, according
to the scale for charging inland letters. This rate comprises
both the British and foreign postage on letters addressed to
Norway, and constitutes the whole charge to the place of
their destination, and it may be either paid in advance or
the letters may be forwarded unpaid at the option of the
sender ; except, however, in the case of registered letters,
the postage upon which, as well as the registration fee,
must be paid in advance. By command of the Postmaster-
General, ROWLA.ND HILL, Secretary. General Post-office,
Dec. 9.

RUSSIA AND CHINA.--The following is an extract
of a letter dated St. Petersburg, Nov. 19 (Ist December),
and received yesterday :—" A courier arrived to-day, in 42
days from the Amoor, with great news. The Emperor of
China has given the Russians notice to quit, as he had
never authorised the cession of territory, and had only just
heard of the settlement. Meanwhile the Russian Embassy
at Pekin is 'sealed up' in its palace."