The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-15 00:00:00

Malta and Alexandria Telegraph Line.

A telegram has been received from Malta, dated
Jan. 12, 5.25 p.m., announcing the restoration of
the Malta and Alexandria line, which is conse-
quently reopened for the transmission of messages
to Egypt, India, Australia, and other places in pos-
tal communication with Suez.

What the American Navy Did during the

War.

The Secretary of the United States' Navy has produced
what ono of our New York contemporaries describes as " a
good, strong American State Paper." In otlicr words, it
is a triumphant review of the success achieved by. the
naval forces of the Union during the war, highly seasoned
with allusions to the system of piracy carried on by
neutrals, and especially to the perfidious conduct of Great
Britain. Secretary 'Welles is very severe on that neutra-:
lity which gave " countenance and encouragement to
rebels engaged in a causeless • insurrection," and speaks
with a lofty disdain of the policy which "no longer denies
to our national vessels those supplies and courtesies which
were refused in the days of our misfortune." Ile exults
particularly over the amount of Biitish property captured
in steamers attempting to run the blockade. Two hundred
and ten of these, it appears, "chiefly English," fell into
the hands of the blockading squadron during the course
of the war. The total number of prizes made iu the same

time is stated at 1,151, and the whole value of their car-
goes is estimated at thirty-one millions of dollars. These
facts certainly leave no doubt, if any remained, as to the
effectiveness of tho blockade, and the'strictness with
which their belligerent rights were enforced by the United
States. The validity of those rights have never been dis-
puted by this country ; indeed it was our prompt recog-
nition of them that involved some of the very consequences
of which Mr. Welles complains. Not that we have any
wish to revive with him this very unprofitable topic of dis-
cussion, or any disposition to lament ever the losses of
British subjects in the blockade running. There is no
legal or even moral duty violated by such enterprises,
but those who embark in them do so with a full know-
ledge of the risks, and in the hope of realising high pro-
fits. If some of our countrymen have been ruined, others
have made their fortunes by trade with the South, and if
we do not greatly pity the former, we do not greatly blame
the latter. Probably Mr. Welles, on due inquiry, would
find that New York as well as Liverpool had dealings with
Charleston and Wilmington, but the difference is that the
New York merchants were aiding the enemies of their
country, whereas the Liverpool merchants were only car-
rying on a somewhat hazardous branch of legitimate com-
merce.

The most interesting part of this report, however, is
that which relates to the marvellous reduction which has
already been effected in the naval armaments of the Union.
This reduction dates from the fall of Fort Fisher, which,
together with the occupation of Cape Fear River, " closed
all access to Wilmington, the port of rebel supplies, put
an end to illicit traffic with the States in insurrection,
and extinguished the last remnants of that broken Com-
merce which foreign adventurers had, notwithstanding
constant and severe losses, persisted in carrying on by
breach of blockade." It was soon followed by the full of
Richmond, and Mr. Welles attributes the surrender of the
rebel armies, in a great degree, to the stoppage of supplies
from abroad. A large number of vessels were immediately
withdrawn from active service, and " sold to meet the
demands of reviving commerce ;" others have been laid
up in ordinary ; others have been reserved for duty on the
coast ; while the most serviceable have been or are orga-
nised into five squadrons, to be called respectively the
European, the Brazil, the East India, the Pacific, and the
West India squadron. The Secretary states, however,
that " the number of vessels and crews on foreign service
will not be greatly increased over those of former years,•'
although the substitution of steamers for sailing vessels and
the improvement of naval ordnance will increase the war-

like power of the various squadrons. Altogether 320.
ships lately in commission have already been converted
into merchantmen, for which purpose many of those em-
ployed in the blockade were better adapted than for
active war:are. No less than 471 vessels, carrying 2,455
guns, were engaged in the service last January, whereas
" there are now but 20 vessels remaining on the coast,
carrying 210 guns, exclusive of howitzers." Acorrespond-
ing financial retrenchment is confidently promised in the
repot t. The revenue of the department for the last fiscal
year amounted to 140 millions of dollars, and the actual
expenses to 117 millions, but the estimate of expenses for
the ensuing year does not exceed 24 millions, a sum, how-
ever, which is amply sufficient "to meet the exigencies
of any possible crisis in which the service of the United
States' Navy may be invoked to maintain the rights or vin-
dicate the honour of the country."

It is impossible not to admire the elasticity of national
character which so rapidly absorbs into peacelul industry
the immense resources so rapidly called into existence by
the demands of war. Secretary. Welles has some right
to boast that, although at the beginning of the war
the whole American Navy mustered but 7,600 men, it
numbered above 50,000 before its close, besides artisans
and workmen in dockyards. The defection of officers
was at first most embarrassing. Three hundred and
twenty-two, in the language of the report, "traitorously
abandoned the service to which theY had dedicated their
had and to the Government which- confided in their
honour and relied on their fidelity to sustain it in conflict
and peril." Their places were chiefly supplied by volun-
teers from the merchant marine, whOm the Secretary does

not scruple to call " better men, educated, and vastly more
efficient." Seven thousand five hundred of these in all
submitted to examination and received appointments,
being first instructed in gunnery and nautical routine by
means of schools established for the purpose. Most have
since returned to the merchant service, and the experiment
of temporary commissions thus tried by the United Stateis

in the hour of need is not without interest for ourselves

as a maritime power. Nor is this the only subject on
which our Admiralty might derive valuable information
from the American Navy Department. The war has been
fruitful in experence of all kindef, except of engagements
at sea on a large scale. It is to be regretted that we only
know the operations of Admirals Porter, Dahlgren, and
Farragut from published reports, and that no scientific
officer of the British Navy was specially deputed to watch
any of them on the spot. There must, however, be means
of ascertaining such facts as may save us many costly
failures in naval construction, and the adaptation of arma-
ments to ships. It may well be doubted whether tho
whole significance of the revolution introduced by steam

into naval tactics has yet been appreciated by our older

Admirals and naval authorities. It has been said, with
much truth, that between the ancient triremes and modern
war steamers there is a closer analogy than between the
latter and such men-of-war as composed Nelson's fleet.
The Russian war added little to our acquaintance with
this new power of offence and defence, and, having since
enjoyed the blessings of peace, we must be content to
borrow lessons from our less fortunate neighbours.
Times.

M. GIJIZOT'S LAST POLITICAL WITTICISM.--M.
Guizot is said to have sketched the policy of France to a
friend in the Ministry in these words: "Stop at Rome, get
away from Mexico as quickly as you can, and don't go
near Belgium."

PROFESSOR WHEATSTONE'S LAST MIRACLE OF
SCIENCE.—EIectro-telegraphy owes much to Pro-
fessor Wheatstone, but his latest achievement excels all we
have yet heard of. With his improved automatic instru-
ment, properly manipulated, he can transmit 600 distinctly
egible signs or letters in a minute.

THE POPE'S ARCHEOLOGICAL MUNIFICENCE.—At
the last meeting of the Archeological Academy at
Rome the secretary Visconti announced that the Pope had
granted the means for further excavations on Mount Pa-
latine.

The President of the Astronomical Society re-
quests us to say that the ladies of fellows and visitors will
be gladly welcomed at the evening reception on Wednes-
day next.
The contract for rum for the navy was on
Saturday taken by Messrs. Lemon, Hart, and Son, for
35,428 gallons ; and Messrs. Ruck, Fenwick, and Ruck, for
15,340 gallons—total, 50,768 gallons.
THE GREAT FULL-SCORE EDITION OF BEETHOVEN'S
" OPERA OMNIA," issued by the house of Breitkopf and
Hartel, is now complete, with the exception of supple-
mentary volume, which is presently to appear, containing
some as yet unpublished pieces. The price of the whole
work is £3O (750 francs.)
A WEALTHY BEGGAR.—An old man residing at
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, who has been living there on
charity for more than 20 years, died a few days since, and
was buried at the public expense. On removing tho few
articles of furniture in his wretched lodging, several rolls
of gold coins were found in a old cupboard. A minut
search was then made, and in the stuffing of chairs and
other hiding-places were discovered bank-notes and se-
curities amounting, with the gold, to £1,660.
A BUTCHER FINED £loo.—At the Mansfield Ses-
sions, on Thursday, John Raynor, a butcher of that
town, was charged on nine separate informations with
removing nine cows and heifers from
contended Nottingham
thatto
Mansfield, on the 2d instant. The cattle wore conveyed
in a truck attached to a passenger train, on the Midland
Railway, after nine o'clock at night. Mr. Mellor, of the
Midland circuit, who defended Raynor,
the magistrates could only convict on one information, as
the cattle were all removed together. The magistrates,
however, convicted defendant upon all the charges, and,
as ho was convicted of two similar offences only a fort-
night before, they ordered him to pay the full penalty of
£2O in the first case and £lO in each of the others, in all
£lOO. On the application of Mr. Mellor, the magistrates
granted a case so that the point of law he had raised may
be argued in a superior court. The Midland Railway Com-
panyEtha
ye nn 0
rcasechargedfrom
with
the cattle
Nottinghammen-
to Mansfield.
They were also charged with a similar offence on Dec. 12.
tione dwe
in re
They were convicted in both cases, and fined £lO,