The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1859.

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THE CO Nll I 1
Edited by W. M.
No. 1 (for JANUARY, 1860) is no'
all Railway Stations, Price 0:
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CON T;
1. Framley Parsonage—Chap.
I. Oconee ontnia bona di-
cere. Chap. 2. The Frain-
ley Set, anti the Chaldi-
cotes Set. Chap.lll. Chal-
dicotes.
2. The Chinese and the "Outer I

Barbarians."
3. lovel, the Widower—Chap.
I. The Bachelor of Beak-
street.
4. Studies in Animal Life.

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Just published, Svo, in cloth, price 55., by post free, ss. 6d.,
THE TREATMENT of STRICTURES of the
URETHRA ; showing why they so often appear In-
curable, when lu reality they might be removed by the most
simple means.
By F. B. COURTENAY, 31.R.C.5.E.,

And formerly Surgeon to tho Metnpolitan_lnfirmary for the

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to stricture."—Medical Circular, Dec. Ist, 1858.

THE ROYAL STATION HOTEL, Paragon-
street, Hull, requires only to be visited to be pronounced
one of the most splendid hotels in England. The situation is
open and healthful, a few minutes' walk from all the public
buildings and places of business, and being connected with
the Railway Station, affords railway passengers arriving or
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on the spot, and having their wants and wishes immediately
attended to. _

The public should know that under the present manage-
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same charges they are paying at the minor hotels. It has
accommodation for upwards of one hundred and fifty visitors,
is fitted up with every luxury an hotel can command, and is
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•
The hotel contains Gentlemen and Ladies' Coffee Rooms ;
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A Night Porter in attendance.
EDWIN TAYLOR,

Proprietor of the Royal Station Hotel, Hun, and Crescent

Hotel, Filey.

N.B.—TAILOR'S CRESCENT HOTEL, fronting the sea,
for Families and Gentlemen. It has accommodation for up-
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COCKS'S CELEBRATED READING SAUCE,
V.l which is so highly esteemed with Fish, Game, Steaks.
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BURROWS AND CO., Wholesale Wine Met-
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Lime-street.
54, Duke-street.

Stores
Offices

The Proprietors beg, most respectfully to call the attention
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to their extensive stock of Choice Wines, of rare vintages.
BURROWS and Co. are not disposed to comment upon the
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A sample case, containing► three full-sized wine bottles,
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it is a well-known fact that impure and adulterated wines
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All orders to be made payable to JIENUT BURROWS.

3, GREAT MARLBOROUGH-STREET, W., NEAR
THE PANTHEON.'
CULVERIVELL, Member of the Royal
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gences

Has Just published, price Is. ; by posts 13 stamps,
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OURSELVES.
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DU BARRY'S REVALENTA ARABICA
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AST AND WEST INDIA DOCK COMPANY-
.I-4 The Court of Directors of the East and West India
Dock Company Hereby Give Notice that a lialf-yearly Court
or GENERAL MEETING of the said Company will be held.
pursuant to the directions of the Act lit and 2d William IV.,
cap. 52, at the Dock House, No. 8, Billiter-square, on Fin-;
DAY, the 13th day of January, 1660, at which meeting a divi-
dend will be declared on the capital stock of the Company
for the half-year ending the 31st inst.
By order of the Court,
G EGRGE COLLIN, Secretary.
East and West India Dock House. 8, Billiter-square,
23d December, 1859.
N.B.—The Chair will be taken at Two o'clock precisely.

INCREASED IMPORTATION OF' TEA.-
Pending the settlement of the Chinese treaty, supplies
have conic down to the ports fresly, and prices are lower for
medium and tine Teas. The East India Tea Company are
already giving the full benefit to the public. The lowest
price is still 2s. 4d. per lb.—Warehouses, it, Great St. Helen's
Churchyard, City.

DECAYED TEETH AND TOOTHACHE.-
HOWARD'S ENAMEL for stopping decayed teeth,
however large the cavity. It is used iu a soft state without
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SPAIN AND MOROCCO.

(From the Special Correspondent of the Vines.)

CAMP IN FRONT OF CEUTA, DEC. 14.

The General-in-Chief yesterday rode up to the
front and visited some of the redoubts, of which
there are now five complete or in course of con-
struction. The one on the right, first made and
most frequently referred to, was only the com-
mencement of a chain of works extending from
near the sea on the side of the Straits (the hill sur-
mounted by the Casa del Renegado alone interven-
ing), to the sea on the south of Ceuta—the com-
mencement of the east coast of Morocco—and form-
ing a sort of semicircle. From the most advanced
redoubt, the second from the right, upon which a
vigorous and determined attack was made on. the
9th, ono obtains the best view of the Moorish
camp, consisting of very few tents and including a
cluster of those white ones which are supposed to
be the residence of a General or Sheik. The
greater part of the camp is concealed (whatever it.
may amount to) in roar of a rising ground masking
a pass between the mountains. The distance from
the redoubt to the tents in sight is about 4,000
metres, a little beyond the range of our rifled four-
pounders, which would disturb their tranquillity
were they 500 metres nearer. The whole of the
ground around Ceuta is so irregular in its confor-
mation that it is difficult to give you a clear idea of
it. The redoubts occupy the most prominent points
of an imaginary line, and are intended for its de-
fence when the army shall have moved away to (as
every one believes) attack Tetuan. They have
received names ; the one on the right is Isabel 11.,
that on the left Principe de las Asturias ; the other
three respectively, Espana, Francisco de Asia, and
Cisneros. On our left, along the coast, lies the way
to Tetuan, towards which look our redoubts on that
side. Beyond these redoubts the inequalities of the
ground are trifling, and soon disappear altogether,
the land then sloping gently upwards from the
beach as far as Cabo Negro, the first headland to
the south of Ceuta. From this headland a chain of
hills of no great elevation runs inland, a humble
branch of the lofty ranges that form the background
of the rugged landscape. The ground beyond that
is not visible to us, but we aro assured that it is a
level plain. It is the general impression here, on
what founded I am unable to say, that no oppo-
sition from the Moors is to be expected until the
army reaches Cabo Negro—the Black Cape. A few
days will probably show how far this notion is cor-
rect, for the whole army is now collected here, with
the exception of the cavalry and a portion of the
artillery, and as soon as they arrive we expect a
move. A sufficient force (probably a division of
about 5,000 men) will remain to hold the lines round
Ceuta, with which place our communication will
have to be kept open. Nobody, I believe, expects
that we shall get to'Tetuan without a sharp fight
upon the way, in which, of course, all persons here
predict that the Moors will get a severe thrashing. I
know very well that there are persons elsewhere
who are of a widely different opinion, the event will
show who is right. If we move off with 30,000
fighting men it will be more than I expect, for what
with recent fights, cholera, and the very consider-
able number of men who have received their dis-
charge since the army came, our strength has been
reduced. The Spanish authorities have not thought
themselves justified in stretching a point and re-
tainieg until the end of the campaign, or, at any
rate, until their places could be conveniently sup-
plied, those men whose term of service has expired.
Thus nearly 300 men wore lately discharged from
one regiment alone. Allowing, however, that we
start with something like 30,000 men, these are a
very small number compared to the force the Moors
may bring against them. The opinion of some of the
superior officers of this army is, I know, that in a
general action, on open ground, the superiority of
the Spaniards will make itself immediately and
strikingly felt. They say, and not without some ap-
pearance of reason, that in the sort of warfare they
have hitherto had they have laboured under great
disadvantages. The Moors, expert bush-fighters,
ensconced among foliage and lurking behind trees,
have picked off their men, who with difficulty
could obtain a sight of their foes. When the latter
are deprived of cover it is thought that the superi-
ority of weapons and discipline will tell powerfully
against them, and that they will experience heavy
losses. It appears to me that the weather will have
a great influence on the fate of the expected con-
test. With calm, fine weather, the Spanish steamers
might not only move along the coast, parallel with
the army, protecting it by their fire, but they might
take off the wounded in their boats, thus leaving
many men to fight who otherwise would be neces-
sarily engaged in carrying their comrades. The
army does not seem as yet very well pleased with
the conduct of the navy in this war. They say that
the latter service exhibits neither enterprise nor
willingness. Such, at least, is the opinion I have
heard expressed by not a few persons. The fact is
that the Spanish navy is extremely weak, and
nearly the whole of it is engaged in colonial service.
It is said to have a well-equipped squadron in the
West Indies, and another in the Philippines, but
here there seems to be nothing. Two or three gun-
boats cruise about the coast. and take a shot at any
group of Moors they catch sight of (I hear some of
them now ',engaged in that diversion) ; but as for
mustering even a small squadron and seriously co-
operating with the land forces, we hear no word of
such a proceeding. It might prove a most advanta-
geous diversion if, while the army moves on Tetuan
a few Spanish ships attacked Tangier ; but nobody
seems to expect that anything of the kind will be
done.

The Spanish soldiers have been working to good
purpose since their arrival in Africa. If they do as
well when they conic to a regular battle with rifle
and bayonet as they have with spade, pick, and axe
they will probably- give a good account of the
Moors. They have Wen making roads and redoubts
and felling timber. The cork trees with which the
slopes are covered are falling by hundreds under
their blows. The redoubts are formed of these, of
earth thrown up, and of bags of earth. The way up
to the Isabella redoubt, which when I first arrived
here was through trees and over most difficult
ground, has been greatly improved by their toil ;
and they have made a good piece of road over the
hills in the direction to Tetuan. Of course, it is a
different sort of road from that which was needed
in the Crimea, where the passage of carts, horses,
and baggage animals was continual. But unless we

are visited by a longer period of heavy rains than is
usual in this country, it will be ample for all that is
required, which is to facilitate the movement of the
army upon Tetuan.

Since writing the above early this morning some
changes have been made in the disposition of the
camp. Ros de Olano's Division, which had been
tented close to Ceuta since its landing, has moved
considerably to the left, establishing itself on one of
the ridges of hills which succeed each other in that
direction. We arc decidedly extending our line, as
it was natural to suppose we should do upon the
arrival of so large an addition to our force. The
Head-quarters of the army have also changed their
ground, advancing a little, and from the rear of their
tents, instead of looking down into Ceuta, they have
a fine sea view towards Cape Negro. We are
rapidly getting more expert in shifting for our-
selves, and most of the tents were pitched in very
quick time. The weather continues fine, the wind
moderate, the sea calm for the season of the year.
But the cold augments sensibly. A week ago, al-
though there was plenty of damp, there was no
! difficulty in keeping oneself warm under canvas.
A stretcher to raise one from the ground, a thick
coat, and a blanket, -were all that could reasonably
be required for -campaigners. 'Last 'night it was
very different, and the cold was severely felt, al-
though unattended by anything like frost. It is a
damp and penetrating cold, and in the morning the
tents are almOst as wet- as if it had rained. The
contrast betWeenthiS nocturnal cold and the tempe-
rature by day, when the sun shines out bright, as
at this moment, from a cloudless sky, is trying to
many constitutions, and produces illness of various
kinds. It i, rain, however, that is most to be feared,
and one would put up with a good deal to be en-
sured the continuance of dry ground and sunny
days.

The loss in the last affair of the 12th inst. was, as
I before mentioned, trifling—seven killed and about
30 wounded. In the former was included a colonel
of artillery. In the action of the 9th Colonel
O'Ryan, of the Engineers, a Spanish officer of Irish
descent, was severely but not dangerously wounded.
He will probably be known to many officers of the
English Army as one of the four Spanish officers
who were attached to Marshal Pelissier's head-
quarters up to the close of the Crimean war. He
subsequently went, as member of another military
commission, to watch the operations of the French
army in Italy. He is considered one of the most
promising officers of his arm in the Spanish ser-
vice, hut his wound is likely to keep him from his
duty for some weeks to come.

The electric cable which is to unite Tarifa and
Ceuta (a piece of old Atlantic cable) arrived here
two days ago on board the Tweedside steamer, and
will be laid down to-morrow, weather permitting.

DECK:MIER 15,

The post hero now leaves at noon, sometimes
rather sooner,—at least, that is the hour the mail-
bags go on board, although the boat sometimes
waits till evening for the General-in-Chiet's de-
spatches. There is no manifest reason why the
letters should be sent off so early, or why the boat
should not start, as a rule, at midnight instead of
noon, for the mail for Madrid does not leave Alge-
siras until 9 in the morning; but such is not the
present arrangement. So my letters, unless by an
extraordinary chance, will inform you of what has
pawed only up to 11 a.m. on the day of their date.

From all that I can learn and observe, we are
likely to remain where we are at least eight or ten
days longer. More road has to be made before we
can move, and, indeed, if, as I have been assured,
all the artillery is to land at Ceuta, it would not
surprise me if the delay were longer, for it will take
a good deal of labour to clear the way for the guns.
It was reported that for this reason they would be
landed somewhere between this and Tetuan. Two
or three squadrons of cavalry have already arrived,
and the whole may be expected within a very short
time. When we have 2,000 horses here, which I
understood to be the total number of our cavalry,
besides officers' horses, baggage mules, &c., the
amount of transport from Spain required will be
very large, and it is possible that at times, espe-
cially when we move away from here, the supply of
rations may not be so regular and abundant as
hitherto. Up to this time the commissariat and
home administration deserve credit for the manner
in which the wants of this army have been sup-
plied. I have not heard a single complaint of short
commons, and have had many opportunities of test-
ing the quality of the food served out to the
soldier, which I have always found excellent. The
bread is white and good, the wino, rice, and bacon
(the last-named article is served out with potatoes,
on some days, in lieu of fresh meat), are also of ex-
cellent quality. Coffee and sugar, meat, sometimes

fresh, sometimes salt, are the other articles of food
distributed ; for the horses, barley and chopped
strdw. The quantity appears amply sufficient—at
least for Spanish soldiers, who are easily contented
in that respect. Indeed, in moving about camp, I
see symptoms of waste which will probably disap-
pear when we have been longer here, and are further
off from our supplies—fragments of bread and
biscuit thrown about, and trains of barley from
damiged sacks.

Look at it in what way we may, and in spite of

the utmost precautions that may tilul doubtless will
be taken, the march of the Spanish army upon
Tetuan cannot be viewed otherwise than as a hazar-
dous enterprise. The distance is seven leagues ; on
our left we shall have the sea, on our right a diffi-
cult country, and a numerons and daring enemy ;
our troops aro inexperienced in war, and in great
part mere recruits. They have hitherto fought well
under unfavourable circumstances, but they cannot
be considered as proof against panics, and this is the
great danger to be apprehended. It is very pos-
sible, and is firmly believed by many of the supe-
rior officers here, that the Moors will be found much

less formidahlo in the open country, where they
cannot shield themselves behind trees, than in the
wooded hills around Ceuta. The skirmish of the 12th
has strengthened this idea. Gen. Prim went out

for a reconnaissance, and provoked a fight on ground
where there was less cover than the Moors have
generally had since the commencement of this war.
The enemy lacked support for their long espindar-
das, which require a prop for their aim to be at all
sure; there was a great deal of fire, and, as you
know, very little damage on our side. It is affirmed,
also, by an officer who took opportunities of close
observation, that the Moors showed an unwilling-
ness to come on when on open -ground. But, al-
though we have had some thousands of the enemy
about ns here (on the 9th especially they showed in
great force), that is nothing in comparison with
what we may expect to see when we take leave of
our present lines and move upon Tetuan. Neither
is it sure, although it has been reported, that we
have as yet had to do with the best of their fighting
men. It is generally believed that when the first
corps landed and moved out of Ceuta they were op-
posed only by the warriors of two neighbouring
tribes, which together muster barely 2,000 fighting

men. Reinforcements soon came up, and it was on
their arrival that the action of the 25th November
took place. In the affair of the 9th inst. it is be-
lieved that they mustered 8,000 to 10,000 men.
There is nothing that I can see to prevent them
from bringing 100,000 against us between this and
Tetuan. We are already told of a large force of
cavalry (20,000 horses are spoken of) encamped in
rear of the mountains in our front, and awaiting our
forward movement. Now, if we muster 30,000 com-
batants, exclusive of those who must be left behind,
it will be the very outside. The numerical dispropor-
tion between this small army and the hest that may
be expected to oppose us is enormous, and must be
compensated, if compensated it is to be, not only
by the superiority of discipline and weapons,
but also by the most unflinching courage and per-
fect steadiness on the part of the Spaniards. The
least confusion or giving way in a single brigade,

or even a battakun might have the most fatal con-
sequences. Among young troops it would be almost
sure to spread, and a great disaster would probably
ensue, especially if, as is probable, the Moors, upon
our march, menace our rear as well as our front.
General O'Donnell is believed by his friends and fol-
lowers to be a man of resource and an able General,
and he will need all his ekill, however great that
may be, under the circumstances in which he will
shortly find himself placed. If this were a veteran
army of tried soldiers I should have little doubt as
to the result. Upon a strong artillery and steady
infantry an irregular army like that of the Moors
could make small impression, however numerous.
We have heard talk of Moorish "regulars," but
strong, doubts bxist whether this means anything
more than the standing army, while the occasional
levies lately called out are designated as irregulars.
I was told last night that there yet are hopes that
the Spanish navy may prove useful in the approach-;
ing operations. Tangier is said to be at the present,
moment bare of troops, all those that were there
having been sent ever
,in this direction since it be-
came evident that Tetuan was our first object.
Another beautiful' day: The laying of the sub-
marine cable was to commence as. goon as it was
light, weather being favourable, and is therefore, I
presume, -at present proceeding. This is a day of
pomps and ceremonies. A band hard by my
tent 'is ,
(playing the , Royal March, on the
occasion 'pi. the .presentation of neiv : colours
sent by the 'queen to *erne of the regiments com•
posing this army. And the trumpets are sounding
the call to mass, which is to be said for the repose
of the souls of the Spaniards who fell in a fight at
Ceuta in days long gone by, but at what precise
date and in what quarrel I am unable to inform
you, having as yet met with no one who could in- ,
struct me thereanent, and books of reference being
scarce in the camp in front of Ceuta.

KHalf-past 10.—Skirmishing in the front. The
Spaniards expect a fight. No time for more.

211. E NAVY.

It is the intention of the Government to place
the large naval establishments and dockyard at
Chatham in a thorough state of defence, in accord-
ance with the report of the Royal Commissioners
on the National Defences. The present defence-
less state of Chatham dockyard has not been over-
looked by the Commissioners, and in accordance
with their recommendatiOn several important works
for the better security of that establishment are to
be undertaken. As Chatham dockyard is only
liable to an attack from the sea, the land side being
comparatively well defended by the fortifications
and other works of defence connected with the gar-
rison, several extensive batteries wilt be erected on
the eastern side which at present is much exposed
and in a decidedly unprotected state. As there is
abundance of convict labour always employed in
the dockyard and on the other public works in pro-
gress, it is proposed that the convicts should be
employed in running up a range of batteries against
the river front, to be mounted with long-range
Armstrong guns to sweep the entrance to the port
and dockyard. The value and excellence of con-
vict labour have already been proved at Chatham
by the strong sea-wall which has been erected
round St. Mary's Island, adjoining the dockyard,
which has been in progress the whole of the sum-
mer, and is now nearly completed, a large tract of
land having been recovered from the ravages of the
sea by convict labour alone. This will also be
mounted with guns of heavy calibre so as to guard
that portion of the dockyard. The famous strong-
hold of Upnor Castle, on the opposite side of the
harbour, and directly *inl'.. 'Chatham dockyerd,
which was erected by (i4enElizabeth for the de-
fence of that establishment, has been allowed to fall
into comparative decay, and is now only ised as a
powder magazine. This is to be mounted with
guns of tho heaviest metal, which will be so placed
as to sweep the river in all directions, and if pro-
perly manned would completely annihilate any
hostile fleet that might succeed in passing the guns
from the batteries at Sheerness, and also those to be
erected between the two .porta.•. When ;the whole
of the contemplated works have been Erected Chat-
ham dockyard, from being the least protected, will
:be' one of the best defended of the' naval establish-
ments orthe kingdom.
The screw frigate Ariadne, 26, Capt. E. W. Van-
sittart, having
.coMpleted her coaling, has pro-
ceeded from Saltpan Reach to the Nore, to adjust
compasses, after which she will proceed from Sheer-
ness to Portsmouth to await .her sailing orders.
.She has succeeded in obtaining the greater part of
her crew.

The following appointments were made on
Saturday at the Admiralty :—Henry Callaway,
paymaster to the -,Alacrity; and Norcott D. E.
Roberts, clerk to the Cumberland.

THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH
TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

There has just been issued a Parliamentary
paper containing the correspondence between the
various Government departments and the Subma-
rine Telegraph Company, on the subject of the con-
vention between that company and the French Go-
vernment. It commences with an application to the
Foreign-office from the Electric and International
Telegraph 'Company to prevent the rival company
from obtaining from the French Government an
extension of the exclusive concession of conveying
messages to the coast of France. This, was in
July, 1856, when Lord Cowley had repre-
sented to M. Billault the injury to British inte-
rests resulting from the Monopoly, and obtained a
promise that the concession should not be exclu-
sively extended beyond its then existing term.
Against this interference, which resulted as M. Bil-
had promised, the Submarine Company remons-
trated in January, 1857, and reminded Lord Cla-
rendon that the British Government had, a month
or two before, confirmed the exclusive privileges
granted by the Provincial Government of New-
foundland to the Atlantic Telegraph Compariy. The
Treasury on the faith of the Submarine Company's
representations that the French Government wished
to renew the concession, and had only refrained
from doing so in deference to Great Britain advised
the withdrawal of Lord Cowley's protest ; but, on
a counter statement being made by the latter, they
appear to have altered their minds, and the
matter rested until September, 1358, when
the French Government were again willing to
renew the monopoly of the Submarine Com-
pany for thirty years. The Electric and Interna-
tional Company again made representations on the
subject to the Foreign-office, and Lord Malmesbury
instructed Lord Cowley again to remonstrate with
the French Government. Count Waleswki acknow-
ledged the justice of the complaint, but could only,
in confidence, lay before the British Minister a copy
of the convention, promising to convey to the pro-
per quarter any comments he might desire to make.
Lord Cowley's representations were without effect,
however, though repeated to the Emperor in a per-
sonal interview; but, in conseauence of Ulm, it was
proposed by the French Government to modify the
convention, so as partially to meet the views of the
English Government, if the Submarine Company
would. surrender their exclusive concession, which
had still four years to run. This the company were
not willing to do, and on the Ist of Feb., 1859, the
convention appeared in the Moniteur, having been
signed a month previously, of which fact Lord
Cowley was ignorant until he saw it in the official
journal. By this convention Govern-
menttheFrenacthwilltele
has the power of
.suspendin ,
graphic communication between the two countries ;
and its despatches, and those of its agents in foreign
countries, are to have priority over private mes-
sages. So prejudicial did the late. Government con-
sider this convention to the interest of Great Bri-
tain that it was resolved to use every means of frus-
trating it, and the opinion of the law officers of the
crown was taken as to the power of the crown
over the foreshore as regards its use for the lay-
ing of electric cables. The opinion of Sir P.
Kelly and Sir H. M. Cairns was, that the crown
had power to prevent the laying of any cable below
low-water mark within British territory, and be-
tween high and low-water mark in all cases where
the foreshore has not passed from the Crown into
the hands of individuals. They thought, also,
that the Crown had power td remove cables already
laid, but would not advise its exercise in the case
of the Submarine Telegraph Company until
the charter granted to it had expired. The com-
pany were informed of this opinion, and that they
would not be allowed to lay any further cables
without the sanction of the Crown ; and in-
structions in this spirit were forwarded to the al-
' cers of the coast guard, and to the receiver of the
• Land Revenues of the Crown in the Channel Isles.
Shortly after this notification the company obtained
, a concession from Denmark, and made an offer

E 1

K;c1):

to the British Government to connect thatiAiiii
with Heligoland, without making any referii''
to the rights of the Crown. The Treas
-
Board seem to have been willing to grant a licence N, S
for the use of the foreshore, if the company would
acknowledge the. rights of the Crown in respect
thereof ; but Lord Malmesbury strongly opposed
such grant, unless on condition that the monopoly
of the French communication were abandonded.
As the Danish concession equally created a mono-
poly, it was resolved that neither that line nor any
new line from the French coast should be allowed to
he connected with the British shores, and the Ad- .
miralty officials were instructed to cut any line that
might be laid down. The new legal advisers of
the Crown, Sir R. Bethell and Sir H. S. Keating,
were of opinion, however, that the company were
empowered by their charter to land their cables,
and that they could not be interfered with until
the expiration of its term. The orders to prevent
the landing of cables were therefore rescinded, but
the company were informed that the views of .the
Government were the same as those of their prede-
cessors, and that they would be liable to have their
cables removed any lime after July Ist, 1862. This
decision was communicated by Lord J. Russell to
IM. Waleveski, who appears to have hoped that. the
revocation or orders implied a change of policy.
This correspondence was moved for by Sir S.
Northcote, who was a member of the late Packets
and Telegraphic Contracts Committee, by whom; On
its re-appointment next session, the whole matter
will be considered.--Liverpool

THE SUEZ CANAL BUBBLE.

We have once more to advert to the monster folly
of the nineteenth century. It is now understood
that our Government perceives the wisdom of leav-
ing a project *so insane to the - fate and the ridicule
which inevitably await it. It was their opinion
alone which gave it any importance, and by excit-
ing the national prejudices of France, enabled the
projectors to raise funds which they never could
have got without it.
Let us for a moment glance at the scheme which
has stirred the bile of France, and obtained the
patronage of fire European nations ; those only who
from their experience, are the best judges of such
work, and who have the deepest interest in the
shortest cut to the Indies—England and Holland
—witholding their approbation. The project is to
cut a ship canal 300 feet wide and 30 feet deep over
90 miles of flat sand. The canal is to have a
double pier running six miles into the Mediterranean
through the mud of the Nile, and a similar one of
four miles running into the Red Sea. As the Medi-
terrean and*the Red Sea are of the same level, the
canal will be near 30 feet below the level of both,
and hence it will be a stagnant, and in all likelihood
a pestilential ditch. To prevent the sandy sides of
the canal from falling in, it must be cased with
stone throughout, and to prevent the sands of the
Desert from blowing into it, a double parapet several
feet in height must he erected along its whole
length. The casing of the canal, the parapets and
the piers in the two seas, will embrace stone-work
to the length of 200 miles, and this does not include
a project dock at the middle of the canal, and a
couple of locks. But for this mighty undertaking
there is no available stone in Egypt, and the pro-
jectors themselves tell us that it must be imported
from Arabia Petra and the Isle of Cyprus.
Six millions sterling is the estimate of the pro-
jectors for the completion of the canal, and the late
Robert Stepenson—and who could be abetter judge?
—was of opinion that three times that amount
would be inadequate. Supposing it, however, com-
pleted by some miracle, to keep it clear of weeds
would sequire whole herds of buffalos, after the
fashion of the canal of the Pontine marshes, while
on the side of the Mediterranean a perpetual dredg-
ing must be carried on to prevent the silted mud of
the Nile from choking it up. To enter the narrow
canal from the Mediterranean in bad weather will
be a standing danger, but let us suppose all
obstacles overcome, and a ship in her outward
voyage to have run the gauntlet of the canal, she
gets into the Red Sea, and before she clears
it she has, if a sailing ship, to make a voyage
of 400 miles, the most dangerous known to the
underwriters of Lloyd's. We have before us the
actual rates of insurance effected on ships carrying
cargoes of coals from England to Suez, to Aden,
and to Bombay. The insurance on the Suez voy-
age is 12 guineas per cent., while that on the Bom-
bay one, more distant by near 2,000 miles, is but
five guineas. The insurance on the Aden voyage,
short of that to Bombay by 1,000 miles, is as high
as that to the latter place, because it is close to the
entrance of the dangerous Red Sea. That narrow
sea, owing to baffling winds and dangers along
both its coasts, is safe only for steam ships which
can keep mid-channel. The Canal Company,
therefore, will have to maintain a huge establish-
ment of steam-tugs, part stationed at Suez, and
part somewhere about the Straits of Babelmandeb.
, . The charge which the projectors propose to levy for
the use of the canal is 10s. a ton, which, we believe, is
equal to at least one-seventh of the present out-
ward freights to Bombay, and to a fourth of the
homeward ones, which we see by the Indian news-
papers is at present but 40s. a ton. But to this has
to be added the charge for tugs for 400 miles. The

mere interest on the projector's estimate of the
cost of the canal, or £60,000,000, will amount at six
per cent., the lowest rate at which the Pasha of
Egypt and the Sultan can borrow, to £360,000,
while Mr. Stephenson's estimate could make it ex-
ceed a million, the latter a sum which it would re-
quire the transit of above two millions of tons of
shipping to defray. If a tonnage equal to the whole
sailing tonnage of the United Kingdom and its co-
lonies, which little exceeds 5,000,000 tons, were to
pass yearly though the Suez Canal, the gross produce
would amount to no more than £2,500,009, a sum
that would assuredly not suffice to cover the cost of
making, repairing, working, and paying a profit on
this monstrous undertaking. In the meanwhile,
the railway would be a serious rival, for all gold,
silver, and a great deal of raw silk and other goods
of great value and small bulk, are conveyed by it,
•
and would continue to be so.

The Suez Canal will be begun, but never com-
pleted, or half•completed. Its wreck, as useless as
the Pyramids, but far less interesting, will, like the
pyramids, be exhibited to posterity, probably under
the name of the " French Folly." Supposing it,
however, by some un hoped-for miracle to be finished,
assuredly no work of man in the world will equal
it in magnitude and worthlessness, except the Chi-
nese wall, built 2,000 years ago by laborious but
miscalculating barbarians.—Examiner.

--...

GREAT SPANS IN .RAILITTAY BRIDGES

The widest single span of any railway bridge in
the world is^that of the Niagara Suspension Bridge,
connecting the American and Canadian Railways
at Niagara Falls. The clear span is 822 ft. A still
wider span—one of I,224ft—is being constructed fer
carrying the Lexington and Danville Railway at an
elevation of 300 ft over the Kentucky river, in the
United States. The next widest spans are those of
the Britannia-bridge, 460 ft each. Then come the
two great spans of the ,`saltash-bridge, of 455 ft each.
The next great railway span is that of the Conway-
bridge, of 400 ft. The next is the immense bridge
carrying the Royal Eastern Prussian Railway over
the Vistula at Dirschau. This is an iron lattice
bridge, having six spans of 397 ft Sin each. The
Nogat-bridge, on the same line, has two iron lattice
spans of 321 ft, and one span of 53ft Gin. The great
railway bridge recently opened at Cologne has four
lattice spans of 344 ft Gin each. The openings of the
railway bridge at Kehl will be nearly as wide. The
middle opening of the great Victoria-bridge at Mon-
treal is 330 ft wide, the other 24 openings being each
242 ft. The Chepstow-bridge has a span of 306 ft,
besides three side spans of 100 ft each. The Boyne
Viaduct has one lattice span of a clear width of 264 ft,
and two side spans of 138 ft Bin each. The Newark
Dyke-bridge,the largest example of Warren's trussed
girders, has a span of 240 ft bin. Several of the tubular
bridges erected by E. Gouin and Co., of Paris, over the
Garonne, the Lot, the Tarn, &C., have spans of 80 me-
tres, or 262 ft. The Spey Viaduct, on theinverness and
Aberdeen Junction Railway, consists of a pair of
box girders of a clear span of 230 ft. The tubulaz
bridge at Brotherton has a span of 225 ft. The
greatest timber span in a railway bridge, and now
indeed the widest timber span in existence, is one of
275 ft, that of the Cascade-bridge on the New York
and Erie Railway in the United States. The
Market-street (highway) Bridge, formetly crossing
the Schuylkill, at Philadelphia, U.S., had a timber
span of 340 ft ; whilst a timber span of 390 ft, the
widest ever attempted in that material, was con-
structed by John Grubenmann over the Limmat, in.
Germany, in 1794, and was burnt shortly after-
wards by the French troops. Railway bridges with
timber spans of 250 ft are not uncommon in the
United States .The great railway bridge across the
Mississippi river at Rock Island has five timber
spans of 250 ft each, besides three others of 150 ft.
The bridge by which the Ohio and Mississippi
Railway crosses the Great Miami River has five
timber spans of 250 ft each ; and another railway
bridge, having two timber spans of 260 ft each,
crosses the Delaware River near Port Jervis, State
of New York. The widest masonry span ever
erected for railway purposes is one of 180 ft, carry-
ing the Glasgow and South-Western Railway over
the river Ayr. The new railway bridge being car-
ried across the Thames at Pimlico will have four
cast-iron arches of 175 ft each, the widest cast-iron,
spans, we believe, yet employed for railway pur-
poses. The six spans of the celebrated High Level
Bridge at Newcastle are but 125 ft each in width.
—The Engineer.

~n