The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-02 00:00:00

THE MEDITERRAIVE.AN TELEGRAfir.

A telegraphic communication, dated. Cagliari on
Fridayevening, from Mr. Newall, the manufawnre
of the cable, says :—" The cable has reached Sp ir-
tivento, in Sardinia. The operation was a, corn-
plished with entire succe:ls. The communication
with Africa is perfect."

We may congratulate the promoters of this im-
portant enterprise that, after more than one failure
in the attempt to lay down their line, they have
obtained the reward of their perseve-iance. By this
means the French Government have a direct t 141..
graphic communication with theyr African post es..
sions in Algiers. The cable on leaving SpezziP, is
carried under the sea to the morthernmost part of
the island of Corsica, which i4land is crossed i v.er-
land. From the south of Corsica, a
.submarirle
cable crosses the straits of Bonded°, and. is
landed on the north of the island of Sar-
dinia. The telegraph crosses the island, and
is submerged at Cagliari. or Cape Spartivento, .he
most southern part of Sardinia, and then passes
under the sea to Bona, on the Algerine territery.
The difficulties in laying the line across this latter
portion have been very great, owing to the ine-
qualities of the bed and great depth of the wr.t irs
of the Mediterranean. At one part the dep'h to
which the cable is lowered is not more than 93
fathoms, and the water deepens immediately to over
2,00. 0 fathoms, or nearly two miles and a nalf.
This company has a paid-up capital of 300,0001.
Of this 5 per cent is guaranteed by the French Go-
vernment for 50 years, on a sum of 180,00u1.,
France receiving by the lines certain privileges c,:a-
nected with the transmiss;ion of Government de-
epatches to the island of Corsica and its colony of
Algiers. The Government of Sardinia gives a
guarantee of 5 per cent., on the remaining 120,00,)
of their capital, having the use and control of the
line over the island of Sardinia, as well as the coin.
munieation with Turin.

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. R. R. BIGIVEL,L.

On Friday evening last we had the gratification of
witnessing one of those pleating ceremonies in cennoe.
tion with employer and employed it is at all times 4e.
lightful to contemplate, as evincing that complete ides.
tity of interest and kindness of disposition one towards
another that should always exist between them. Un.
fortunately for society these examples are rare exc lo-
tions to the general rule, which the money-makiag
pressure of this iron age has inaugurated, but cyli3a
instances of this kind are met with they are as re.reAh..
ing to the philanthrophist as the genial shower is to he
parched earth. Wherever such instances of identity of
feeling are found, they cannot fail to enhance the Pr,is.
parity and happiness of all concerned, for where an ell.
ployer sympathises with those dependant on him for
support, and seeks to benefit them in promoting his o vrn
interest, he draws around him willing hands, wh,se
energies are cheerfully and readily put forth in behalf
of him whom they venerate and re-peat for his kingly
and benevolent disposition ; and they meet their
ward in the crowning success of their exertions. For
many years past this unity of feeling has existed bet w..ten
Mr. Bignell and those in his employ, and in the hour of
difficulty the latter have nobly stepped forward to syn.
pathise with, cheer, and encourage h►m to renewed exer•
tions to defeat the unscrupulous machinations of indis
viduals whose unjust persecutions savour more of
private revenge than zeal for the public good. Mr.
Bignell, for a period of seven years, has been the
spirited and enterprising proprietor of the Argyll
Rooms, giving employment to upwards of a hu dr•.d
persons of known respectability and character.--most of
them as musicians who rank high in their profession for
their acknowledged abilities—and throughout that lo ig
period his management has been characterised with that
regard to propriety and order that we believe we are
correct in stating that though upwards of a million and
a half of visitors have attended his entertainments, bor,
single case of riot, disturbance, or even intoxication. has
been witnessed within the walls of his establi,htnent
nor has a single charge of a criminal nature, not eve. a
case of a common aisault occurred. In fact, no charge
of any description has ever been made against it.
Notwithstanding these facts, undue pressure has been
brought to bear on Mr. Bignell, and the faults of oth4rs
have been visited on him. Our readers are no doubt
aware that this country, with its boasted legislation,
retains on the statute-book a number of barbarous Acts
of Parliament, which are used as occasion requires as
instruments of torture, and woe betide the unfortunate
individual who gets stretched upon their wheels as they
trundle from court to court in the hopes of crushing
their victims. One of these is the well-known Act
passed in 1747, "For the better Preventing Thefts and
Robberies, and for Regulating Plasea of Public Enter.
tainment, and of Punishing Persons Keeping Dirorderly
Houses," at a time when we had no police to restrain
disorder, and society generally was in a different state
than now. By this Act, every public plane of amuse.
ment and recreation, where music and dancing takes
place, requires the sanction of a licence, t• be grant•
ed by the Justices of Peace in Quarter Sessions,
but they unfortunately delegate their powers to
the police, by giving credence to statements which,
if thoroughly examined and tested, would in
many instances be found to fail. It of is one of these
ex parte statements, and founded on data known only to
exist in the fertile imagination of the constituted aut:no.
rities that Mr. Bignell complains of having been unjustly
treated, by the withdrawal of his license, and i:-
statement above given be true relative to the number
of persons who have visited the Argyll Rooms, and lee
other fact that no complaint or disturbance requiring
magisterial interference has occurred within the wake,
we think, and we feel the public will also think with us,
that that gentleman has been most unjustly treated by the
withdrawal of hislicence, for we question very much if any
of the other recognised places of amusement the Middle.
sex magistrates patronised produced better certificates
of character, on which to ask for the permission of the
police, and the sanction of the justices to allow "free
born" Englishmen and Englishwomen to participate
in the refined enjoyment, and healthful recreatioo of
high class music intersperced with dancing, than the
Argyll Rooms. Sympathising with Mr. Bignell for the
unjust persecution he has been subjected to, and know.
ing also the great loss he must sustain by the
closing of the rooms, this worthy band of employ6eo
has rallied round him with a zeal and devotion truly
gratifying to witness, and whilst presenting him with a
substantial testimonial for the past, assure him of their
readiness to make a sacrifice, if necessary, to assist him

in obtaining next year the renewal of the licence. AA
soon as it was known that the licence was withdrawn,
the entp/oyees commenced a subseription amongst the a.
selves, and raised a sufficient sum of money with whilh
to purchase a handsome vase or cup to present Kr.
Bignell as a token of their regard and esteem, and Fri-
day last was appointed for the presentation.
The ceremony took place i❑ the Adelaide Ga!lPry,
after tae termination of the evening's amusement. nisi
place has been taken by Mr. Bignell for the acconinio.
dation of his friends. It has been re-decorated and fitted
up in an elegant style truly surprising, coro,iderinz the
short period in which it has been accomplished, and we
hope Mi. Bignell's enterprise will be re warded by
patrons with that liberality he so justly deserves.
Mr. HALL, of the orchestra, on behalfof M. Lamont, the
leader, who is unable to speak English, presented the vase,
accompanied with an address elegantly emblazoned on vel•
lum,to Mr Bignell, and in doing so briefly but feelingly
alluded to what had occurred in reference to the licen
remarking that the objections raised to its renewal, it of
any force, applied more to certain theatres and pia vs
of amusement in the metropolis now open than to the
Argyll-rooms. After some observations relative to the
kindly feeling that had existed between them for so
many years, which it was hoped would continue, and
the readiness of the orchestra and the other employccs to
render Mr. Bignell all the assistance possible f, r the
attainment of his rights, he presented the testimoni,il to
that gentleman amid the applause of all present.
Mr. BIGNELL, in acknowledging this spontaneous and
unexpected ebulition of feeling towards him of those in
his employ, assured them that his object had been to
study their interests in connection with his own, aid he
was gratified to find that his conduct, after a conneotion
of so many years, had gained for him their eeteeae and
regard. He had watched their actions narrowly during
the time they had been in his employ, and he was happy
to be able to inform them that .t had been such as

give him general satisfaction. As a body of men he 'fee
proud to beleonnected with them, and as artists he u 024
challenge them against any band in England of the slate
strength. As a sporting man, and a keeper of racehorses,
he had striven hard to win a cup, but he had always beat
mr-uccessful, his horse invariably running second. On
this occasion, however, he found himself unexpectedly the
winner of a cup, which he should value far beyond what
his ambition, in a different course of life, led bum to
hope. He sincerely thanked them for their kindnega.
and expressed a hope that next year he should be ,•:ao•
cessful in obtaining the renewal of the licence, and that
they would all again meet at the Argyll-rooms after ei
brief soimrn at the Adelaide Gallery.
htihtetamkseeri,Asir. in warm termsGoldshede, of
andothaperprgoebnattleiomneol
expAriere Whittaker,
themselves
Mr. Bignell's conduct as an employer, the first gentle.
man expressing a hope that Mr. Bignell would shortly
be able to tread under foot his enemies, persecutors,
slanderers. He also felt gratified in being able publicly
to bear testimony to Mr. Bignell's honourable lu 61.
7BeIGNELL having expreste,wdi\hiiicrnh. gwuraaastl
responded
ey
siainlnogdn term/,d,e,tt,
to
ment of all his engagements, for he had never known Ina
instance when the treasurer had been at fault at the pro.
the of
establishment, M Lam
gentlemenhp iesrMhtriigh opinion
in
by those present, the interesting proceedings tenni.
nated.

Tii
E ART TREASURES EXHIBITION.— There renta;nis
now visible but a mere fragment of our late glorious Ils•
hibition. Nearly all the historical portraits have dis:rp•
pealed ; a great proportion of the sculpture has bsen
packed ; not more than a score of works by modern
artists remain hung in the three saloons ; and of the
ancient masters, perhaps some 150 only are now upon
the walls. The great bulk of the contributions of her
Majesty the Queen has been dispatched to Windsor or
watourrkds:uotriet:
to the metropolis; and, this forenoon, a special engine
starts with most carefully-loaded trucks, bearing all that
remains. Her Majesty's contributions fill no les. than
139 cases, some of them of the largest size ; and it must
hesillainnad
Dotahye,rs
be remembered that this statement has no refer( ace
whatever to the man_y_.pci:sr
payment, 1,582 •
buted by the Prince Consort, which are Very nearly ready
to be returned. —Malichater Guardian.
, ditto by Lava
31C......RTASdTmALissPioAnLsACoEn.
tickets, 598; total visitors, 2,150,