The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-26 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INDIAN
TELEGRAPH,

An official intimation is stated to have been received
by Mr. Andrew, the chairman of the European and
Indian Junction Telegraph Company, from the Trea-
sury, to the effect that the Government will be prepared
to execute a contract, stipulating to pay, conjointly
with the East India Company, from the date of the com-
pletion of the telegraph, 12,000/. per annum for 25
years, or so much of it as shall be necessary to snake up,
with the other receipts of the company, a dividend of 6
per cent. When the profits of the company shall exceed
12 per cent, the Government and the India House are
to have the power of making a reduction in the tariff
for conveying messages, but not to an extent that, cal-
culating the traffic of the precoiing years, will reduce
the dividend below that amount. The Government
require 20 per cent, of the capital to be paid up previ-
ously to the execution of the contract as security for the
bona ,fides of the undertaking ; and it is also provided
that, "to insure to the Government that supervision
and control to which their stake in the enterprise justly
entitles them, the Treasury shall have the power of ap-
pointing one official director" to represent their interests.
Application bas been made to the East India Company
to allow Sir William O'Sbaug,hnessy to act as consulting
engineer. Six per cent. will accrue to the shareholders
from the date of the payment of the first call.

THE ARMY, NAVY, AND ORDNANCE. —ln the
year ended .March, 1355, the forces cost the country
28,321,707/. ; and in the year ended March last, as
much as 47,461,5441.
ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.—The number of illegitimate
children (their mothers in the workhouse) is 9,507.
A FITTING INVITATION.—It wasn't such a bad notion
on the part of the glover who hung up in his glove shop
the following placard : —" Ten thousand hands wanted
immediately !" And underneath it was written in very
small characters—" To buy my gloves—the very best
quality."
ENLARGEMENT OF PEMBROKE DOCKYARD.—The Ad-
miralty have recently had under consideration plans and
of
estimates for the permanent enlargement and improve-
mentt,
ethe dockyard at Pembroke. At their last visit
Lords of the Admiralty closely inspected the shore
from thee;
of ascertainingeastern how far this space of ground
Martello-tower to Hobbs-point, with
ae
could he made available for the dockyard enlargement.
A portion of t
the additional work will be included in the
navy estimates for the present year. The dry dock is
Iwthiieshtoiehtaevbee
to be extended more o nsiderably than at first intended.
ane additional length of nearly 200 feet,
building slips are
erried out both inland and seaward. The
towards the nea,
and
decneiving an extra length of 80 feet
enlargement of the roofs" ones are being erected. The
dockyard
is tsalso taking place. The present
area of the y aboutadded, 90 acres, yet as new build-
ings this large acreage will soon
mnsueffiawci-ennlitilsf,oretothree
are being rapidly
dockyard requirements. New
storehouses, and oakum store
have recently been added, o;
sbtee ai
the past year the works of enlargement in progress. During
extent of 100,0001., embracing gxetreent have been to the
new boat-basin, the new battery extension of the sea-wall,
to the others before recorded.
gasworks, in addition
SLAVE HIRING IN VIRGINIA.—It may
not be amiss,
says the RiehmondEnquirer, at this particular season to
call attention to the present paramount occupation
the South. We mean the interesting and delightful of
employment of negro hiring. Our streets are thronged
now with negroes in search of homes and masters.e
Good, bad, or indifferent Cuffee, at each return of the
first of January, finds his proper level in the amount of
money his owner secures for his services during the en-
suing twelve months. It is amusing, sometimes, to wit-
ness the profound commiseration felt and expressed by
a negro of 150 dollars, for his less favoured companion,
who can only secure 60 doll. or 80 dots. We have had
but short experience in the matter, but being among the
unfortunates who do not happen to own any of the " pe-
cnliar institution," we are inclined to think that the
hiring rates are unconscionably high—entirelyilooo h'gh
if
for extensive enjoyment of the luxury, , indeed, it
be considered a Inxur y, to have to manage and care for,
and pr:vide food and raiment for one or more of the
race. We are inclined to echo the sentiments of our
contemporary of the sViiliamsburgh Gazette, It really
does seem to us "that the hire of servants has for
the last two years been quite as high as can be for the
advantage of either party" (a Hibernian would add),
especially for the hirer,