The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-03 00:00:00

THE OCEAN TELhaRAPH.

The last act of Secretary Dobbin, before retiring
from office, was to transqiit orders to the Navy
Yard at Brooklyn to 'fit out- at once the United
States steamers Niagara and Mississippi to proceed
to England to assist in laying down the submarine
telegraph cable between Newfoundland and Ireland.
These are the two finest ships in our navy for the
purpose. The Niagara is the largest steam-vessel
of war in the world. She is a sc:ew-propeller,
while the Mississippi is the most powerful paddle-
wheel steamer in our navy. The English Govern-
ment will furnish also two ships of the same cha-
racter—the two propellers being designed to receive
the cable, and the paddle-ships to attend them, and
in case of accident to take then in tow and con-
tinue the voyage. As soon as the cable is received
on board, the four ships will proceed together to
the middle of the Atlantic, when the two English
ships will start for Ireland, and the American
for Newfoundland. There will doubtless be a
generous rivalry between the officers of the two na-
vies to see which pottion of the cable shall be laid
in the most perfect manner. It is very much to the
honour of the two Governments that they are ready
to join so cordially in the attempt to connect the two
hemispheres. It is a national courtesy worthy to
follow the return of the Resolute. Secretary Dobbin .
has taken the deepest interest the success of this
fur the
out fully the inten-
tions of his preece,•sor. The two factories at which
great enterprise, xs he has shown in ordering these
. d
secretaryt w o n
nwiliill doubtless
eentshTs fr purpose. The new
car
the cable is being located are Liverpool and Lon-
don. The Niagara will sail for one of these ports as
Soon as she can be made ready, say by the end of the present month—an English' steamer loading
simultaneously at the other factory. Meanwhile
the Niagara. will be fitted up with apparatus
to pay out the wire, corresponding with that
which was used by the James Adger in laying
the Newfoundland cable, but of a less ponder-
ous kind, as the cable soon to be laid is much
more pliant and manageable than the former.
The new eab!eis making at the rate of 15 miles per
day at each factory, and is expected to be com-
pleted and laid down before the end of June. It
will not be necessary that the Mississippi should
leave the United States until a short time previous
to the laying of the cable. —.New York paper.

PROPOSED MEMORIAL TO THE LATE JOHN BRITTON:—
The subscription at the Institute of Architects is making
gradual progress towards the amount contemplated,
1001., and the committee have determined that their
u,
tribute shag take the shape of an incised brass plate in
Salisbury Cathedral, the dean and chapter having readily
Mr. A:ina n
already
c bitt men.
mrconsented to allow it to be set up there. Some of Mr.
Britton's friends are. auxions, as we
ld e have
tioned, to give the memorial a more important charac-
ter, and Mr. Tite, F.Rao
m
Charles Hill, F.S.A,, Mr. Alderman Proctor, of Bristol,
and others, have signified their desire to subscribe for
such a purpose, for which about 300/. it is said would be
required. The institution committee have expressed by
a resolution their willingness to allow their incised brass
to be combined with this restoration, if it can be effect.
ed, and to contrit,ute towards it whatever might remain
from their subscription after paying for the plate. Asa
centre is needed, so that the good desires of the friends
of Mr. Britton may be realised, we venture to state that
communications on the subject may be addressed to
Nathaniel Gould, Esq., No. 4, Tavistock•squaree-zrite
Buitacre .