The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-15 00:00:00

THB WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, JrNE 15, 1861.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
76—highest since noon yesterday.:
59—lowest this morning and during the night.
76—this day at noon.
EAuomr-rnn-30.07 ; falling.
WIND—S.-Easterly—fresh ; with fine summer weather.

e ro
•
e 3-7
—r; •

THE SUN.
LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1881.

When the Atlantic telegraph failed and it
became evident that intelligence from America
could not reach England in five minutes, the next
best thing was that it should reach us in five days.
To halve the time of telegraphic communication was
unquestionably possible. The wires of the trans-
atlantic continent reach St. John's, Newfoundland,
and from the West of Ireland St. John's may be
reached by the best arrangements in five days, and
almost with absolute certainty in five days and a
half. As the telegraphic work on both sides may
be called instantaneous, it is clear that London and

Liverpool might hear from Washington and New

York in the course of five days. This is the grand
desideratum to be obtained by a Galway or any
other West of Ireland packet service to America.
The saving of time to the mails would be much less
considerable, as they could not, the great bulk of
them at least, be left at St. John's, but must be
taken on to Halifax, Boston, or New York. Irish
emigrants and some Scotchmen might to some
extent use the ships of the company, but the greater
part of the passengers from Great Britain would
probably always prefer the convenience of having
no change to make from the time they first stepped
on shipboard. We are not prepared, however, to
deny that the somewhat shortened voyage for the
mails, and the much-shortened time for telegraphic
communications, may be well worth the subsidy
offered the Galway Company, provided the work
cannot be done without it.

This, however, is not the present question.
Other considerations, chiefly arising from what
may be considered fair to an Irish company, are
what have now to be weighed. We say an Irish
company, because, looking impartially at the facts,
we do not believe that any English company would
have brought similar treatment under the notice of
Parliament. The directors and shareholders might
have thought that they hardly got indulgente
enough or throw the blame on the broad shoulders
of that universal delinquent, Bad Luck, and the
almost equally broad shoulders of that equally
common delinquent, the Government; still we
imagine that any English company, against which
so many failures could be alleged, as are confessed
to by the Galway company, would have
thought it more discreet not to force
them on the attention of the whole political and
commercial world. We are also rather too proud
for so many appeals ad misericordiam ; while our
Hibernian friends seem to make them as a matter
of course, indeed to esteem it no discredit to make
the appettl, but only to fail of succeeding in it.
In two respects the ground for the committee
which is to investigate this business will have the
ground cleared for them. The politics of the affair
are to bc• ignored, and the policy of communication
between the West of Ireland and America is ad-
mitted ; we might add a third that the contract
has been unquestionably broken, and that the
Government had a clear legal right to put an end
to it. It will not, however, be easy to choose a
committee uninfluenced by party or by Irish con-
siderations. The party objects will be to prove
Goverarvent a SIIYLOCK on the oae hand,

or a faithful trustee of public interests on
the other. The Irishmen, without exception,
y, Irish company would
vote for a subsidy to any unlucky or ill-
manage]. be the facts what they
might. The committee will, indeed, be a committee,
tot of investigation, for the whole case is now fully
known ; n will be a committee for justifying or
blaming, by tho action it recommends, the course
'which the Government has taken ; or, if the under-
standing he that all things are to be made pleasant,
'we may imticipate a commendation of the Govern-
ment for its watchfulness over public contracts,
With, at the same time, a recommendation to give
the poor company another chance. In a word both
Will be let off easy. That the Government feels
its posil,ion weak, with all the Irish members
banded against it, is certain ; Lord PALMERSTON
Acknowl edged that had the Government opposed
the committee, it would have been in a minority,
but he a ffirmed that the Government considered a
select committee quite a reasonable proposal. We
cannot doubt that the majority his Lordship
spoke
of was what wade it appear so. It might have

NI .%

been very well, before action was taken by the '
Government, for some friendly member to have
proposed a committee, and the Government to have
given their assent ; for the Government to assent
to it now is to throw on the committee the work of
the executive. It has been hinted, indeed, that
this committee was the understood price of the
majority of fifteen, and that some more successful
and acute diplomatist than Father DALY was at
work. We can have no knowledge of .what, if a
fact, most certainly was never expressed in words,
much less in writing. All we can say is that it is
not incompatible with known facts ; while at the
same time the prospect of a hostile majority is
quite a sufficient explanation of the Government's
conduct last night.

We need not repeat the story of the Company's
delinquencies ; those who wish to see them again
will find it in Mr. BAXTER'S speech ; neither need
we enter on the story of the Company's vindication,
which occupied Mr. GREGORY so long in an able
and temperate speech. Mr. GREGORY contends
that special encouragement is due to Irish enter-
prise, but that is surely very ticklish ground. It
will be, otherwise,with mail packet companies, much
as it was in the old days of protection with
whalers; as the latter were sent not to catch
whales, but the bounty, so companies will be
started, not to catch traffic, but subsidies. Mr.
DISRAELI says that they did not put
the service up to competition, because it might have
fallen into the hands of some great company uncoil-
conected with Ireland; we cannot admit, however,
such considerations into the Imperial mail service.
Besides the right hon. gentleman forgot that
Canada and Liverpool merchants had received
promises that the service should be open to public
tender. Mr. DISRAELI had better reason for com-
mending the Government of 1858 when he observed
that it was Lord DERBY'S Government who first,
and in this case, introduced into Government con-
tracts the clause " out of moneys to be provided by
Parliament," though Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE'S
account of the origin of this clause certainly took off
some of its gilding.
We may presume, however, that the contract is
to be renewed• Much pity is naturally felt for the
small Irish shareholders, who supposed themselves
subscribing to a scheme in which patriotism and
dividends went splendidly together. Compassion
for them, desire tacitly to censure the Government,
and equal desire on the part of the Government
to avoid making this a no-confidence ques-
tion, which Mr. DISRAELI truly said it
was, will combine to give the company another
chance. May they use it well ! We cannot pay
£3,000 a voyage, except for a handsome saving of
time. If the Company's narrow escape teach it
thorough punctuality we must put up with a heavy
charge on the Exchequer, hoping that when the
CUNARD Contract is out we shall have seen the last
of such contracts. But the Galway Company must
bear in mind that the British public now has its eyes
open—and the inexorable demand will be—" In five
days to St. John's."

We now know something more of the character
of the new Italian Ministry. Its policy was from
the first moment obvious ; nay, for that matter it
may be said it was inevitable. There was really and
truly no choice before CAvotrß's Successor. That
great Statesman had already so far accomplished
his work before his death that the "slope" of Italy,
to employ a famous phrase of M. DE LAMIRTINE'S,
the slope of Italy was to Unification. The constitu-
tional movement of the newly-created nationality,
moreover, had long before the illness and death of
Count CAVOUR acquired such a momentum that
even the repellant shock caused by that calamitous
event could not, literally could not, in any appre-
ciable manner, retard the advance of Italy towards
Unification. It scarcely required, indeed, that any
programme should be issued by the Cabinet ap-
pointed to succeed the ruptured Ministry of Italy's
greatest Statesman and Administrator. The views
of that Cabinet were recognised before they were
announced. But—if the policy of the new Govern-
ment was thus from the earliest moment safely to
be predicated—it can be regarded as not the less
interesting on that account to bear in mind the an-
tecedents of the men to whom, at so exquisitely
critical a juncture in the destinies of their country,
the supreme responsibility of guiding those des-
tinies has been entrusted by King VICTOR Em-
MANUEL.

RICASOLI, the Chief of the Administration, was
already "known to fame"—his conduct in Tuscany
having but very recently signalised his capability
at once as Diplomatist and as Administrator, His
combination there of tact and decision appeared to
point him out distinctly as about the fittest man
that could well have been selected at such an emer-
gency, whether to direct the councils of the KING
as Prime Minister, or to influence the diplomacy of
the new-born State as conservator of the Foreign
Portfolio. Four of his colleagues in the new Cabi-
net, moreover, were already popularly known as
having been conspicuous among the leading mem-
bers of the late Government. These four Ministers
being, of course, MINGHETTI, BASTOGGI, PERUZZI,
and DE SANCTIS. MINGHETTI, a barrister, of great
distinction among the foremost ranks of the Italian
advocates, had, it is true, resigned his ministerial
post, but it was within the national recollection
that he had resigned it upon a question of a merely
local character. As one of the representatives of
Turin, and as, at the same time, one of the
prominent members and one of the most
distinguished ornaments of the legal
profession, MINGHETTI resigned his place in
Count CAVOITR'S Government (very comprehensibly
it was felt at the time) so soon as the Court of Ces-
sation was transferred from Turin to Milan, from
the capital of Piedmont to the capital of Lombardy.
Turning to other Ministers (but yet particularized)
in RICASOLI'S newly avganisad. Administration, we
have occasion to remark, that General DEI:I4A
ROVERE, besides being already favourably known
throughout Italy as a senator in the national Par-
liament, and as an aide-de-camp of King VICTOR
EMMANUEL, is remembered to have acquitted
himself to admiration in the Crimea as head of the
Commissariat Department of the Sardinian Con-
tingent. That responsible position, moreover, he
had held with great credit to himself during the
campaign in Lombardy—having yet more recently
presided over the destinies of the Sicilian popula-
tion as the Lieutenant-General of his MAJESTY the
Re Galantuoino. As to the General's colleague,
SCIALOJA —he, too, has occupied very lately a post
of kindred responsibility—having been one of the
members of the Neapolitan Lieutenancy. As
an Administrator, SCIALOJA is an old and
practised hand, having several times held office
as Secretary of State at Naples—his importance as
a politician in that southern kingdom having been
signalised in 1848 by his exile in common with the
many other leading men then obnoxious in the
esyceisojf BOMBA'S Reactionary Government.
ato
4—beyond this—it is worthy of remem-
bering at this moment—may be pointed out to
English observers as a man eminent among Italians
in his capacity as a skilled political economist, and
as (for want of a better designation) a decided
Liberal Conservative. It is remembered again, in
reference to General MEN&Bara, that the newly.

appointed Minister achieved distinction for
himself at Ancona and at Gaeta while in command
of the Sardinian Engineers. RATAIII at one
time thought of as Premier in lieu of RlCASOLl—
although not of the Ministry is with it, he having
announced his intention to accord it all the assist-
ance in his power. Such is the general character
of RicAsoLfs Cabinet—such are the indications of
its policy—such are some among the antecedents of
its leading members, of those men to whose patrio-
tism has been committed the responsibility of
completing the work commenced by CAMILLO
BENSO DI CAVOLTIt, the Champion (the triumphant
Champion up to the hour of his death) of the cause
of Italian Unification.

As a circumstance throwing an additional light
upon the fate of Italy, it is now understood that the
design of the French Government is to acknow-
ledge the new kingdom "with reserves," it is
added by the Paris correspondent of Lord PAL-
MERSTON'S organ, with certain reservations, that is,
" touching the annexed States of the Church."
There it is that the shoe, or rather it should be said,
the Italian Boot, pinches ! Just at the instep—just
where, remembering three of those witty cartoons
of Punch, GARIBALDI would fain long ago h ave
insinuated a little more "powder" to ease the slip-
ping on of that grand Italian Boot by King VICTOR
EMMANUEL. " The Emperor NAPOLEON," says the
Post, " has ever desired that the Papacy should
invite the Italians to be its Protector."
True but it is also upon record that
the Emperor NAPOLEON declared that
Italy should be free from the Alps to the Adriatic!
And yet that, having declared that, the imperial
Victor of Magenta and Solferino stopped short sud-
denly before that little green baize table at Villa-
franca. It is also upon record that the Emperor
NAPOLEON projected an Italian Confederation.
And yet that the dream of that Confederation
melted away like the vision of Italy free from the
Alps to the Adriatic—GARIBALDI and his thousand
Garibaldians have spoilt his Imperial Majesty's
"little game" in the very nick of time most inop-
portunely. All this is even now, as the phrase is,
matter of history. So that we can hardly account
with anything like certainty even upon the Delphic
decrees of the French Autocrat. L'homme propose
Dieu dispose. It is a truth old as the hills, but a
truth worth being here repeated—now that the
Fate of Italy is yet trembling in the balance, while
a mightier hand than that of CAMILLUS may be
thrown any day into either scale.

We understand that a meeting of Conservative
members will take place at the house of the Earl of Derby
on Monday next,—Times.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and Princess Mary honoured the Duke and Duchess
of Buecleuch with their company at dinner last evening, at
the noble duke's residence in Beigrave-square. A distin-
guished circle met the Royal guests. Lady Geraldine
Somerset and Captain Cust were in attendance on their
royal highnesses.
The Countess d'Apponyi has issued cards for a
"dance" on the 4th proximo.
His Excellency Count de Lavradio has left town
on a mission to Hanover, accompanied by the Chevalier de
Oliveira. The Chevalier dos Santos acts as Portuguese
Charge d'Affaires duzing the absence of Count de Lav-
radio.

His Excellency the Italian Minister arrived at
the residence of the Legation, in Park-lane, a few days since
from Turin.
Lord and Lady Colchester entertained at dinner
last evening, at their residence in Berkeley-square, the
Earl of Brownlow, Lord Redesdale and the Hon. Miss
Mitford, Lord and Lady Rokeby, the Earl of Carnarvon,
Lord and Lady Bateman, Lady Charles Wellesley, Sir John
and Lady Jane Walsh, Mrs. and Miss Ramsden, Miss Law,
Mr. Stanhope, Mr. Stopford, &c.
DEATH OF THE REV. CANON OTTLEY.—We
have to announce the death of the Rev. Lawrence Ottley,
M.A., canon residentiary of Ripon, and rector of Richmond,
Yorkshire, brother-in. law of the Right Rev. the Lord
Bishop of Ripon.
THE NAVY CLUB.—The gallant members of the
Naval Club give their annual entertainment to the First
Lord of the Admiralty on the 3d proximo, at the Thatched
House Tavern, St. James's-street.
THE ALLEGED NEWSPAPER CONSPIRACY CASE.
—The grand jury threw out the bills found against Captain
Knox, of the _lrish Times newspaper, and several of his
staff, for alleged conspiracy to injure the Daily Express
newspaper by intercepting its sale. The charge arose out
of the competition introduced into Dublin by the penny
system.

A company is about to be introduced for the ap-
plication of the patents of Mr. Nathan Thompson, an
American engineer, for boatbuilding by steam machinery.
This machinery is suitable for the construction of boats of
every size and mould, and durability and safety are attained
from the uniformity and perfection of the various fittings,
while the saving in time and labour is extraordinary. The
inventor has published testimonials from a large number of
the principal persons in the United Kingdom connected
with navigation and the working of elaborate constructive
establishments, and these are all of the most unequivocal
character as regards the value of the system both in a na-
tional and commercial sense. " A cutter 30 feet in length
can," it is said, " be constructed and delivered perfect in
every respect within a few hours after the order is received
for it," and the master shipwright of Woolwich Dockyard,
who was appointed by the Admiralty to examine and re-
port on the method, has fully corroborated the opinions
expressed by other authorities. The revolution which it is
likely to create will, it is believed, be analogous to that
effected in other departments of labour by the sewing ma -
chine, and the contrivances which have of late years multi-
plied the production of clocks and watches. In our colonies
and distant territories, where so much of the progress of
each settlement depends upon the facilities for river and
coast navigation, its advantages are likely also to be of
especial importance.

THE IMPORTANT MARRIAGE CASE—COREY V.
CREMORNE—JUDGMENT.—The Chancellor of Ireland de-
livered judgment yesterday, holding that the trustees of
Lord Cremorne purchased uncle'''. the Court, and are conse-
quently protected by the third of Bth and 9th Victoria. He
therefore dismissed the petition with costs.
DEATH OF A GIRL IN A BALLROOM.—WhiIe a
party of young persons were engaged in dancing on Satur-
day evening last in the club-room of the Railway Inn, Sta-
tion-street, Birmingham, a young woman of 19, named
Eliza Bird, who was present with her sweetheart, William
Nash, was taken suddenly ill after the first dance, and fell
head foremost to the ground, and, though assistance was
immediately rendered by those in the room, the poor girl
never spoke afterwards. A post-mortem examination was
made, and the medical evidence at the inquest showed that
death was caused by apoplexy, arising in a great measure
from tight lacing. A verdict was returned in accordance
with the facts.

A HOAX.—Au unfeeling hoax was practised on
a Taunton tradesman on Tuesday. The victim, however,
is himself a wag of the first water, whose puns, bon mots,
and repartee are the life and soul of any convivial party, and
under his presidency a band of choice spirits nighty., as -
semble to do homage to the presiding genius. On Tueiday,
then, there was an excursion to Burnham's distant sea, and
the son of our wit joined in the gay and festive throng
which left Taunton's favoured vale on that happy occasion.
Paterfamilias—fond of his children almost to a fault, after
warning the youth of the dangers of the sea, pronounced
his benediction, and by Bristol's rail rolled on the
excursion train with its living freight. Time, as
as
.Anliti
itihs itspfei wont,eraetwe
whichfsaptei dlit
yon h
ofe
imaginedal andiu human
the fond
hisson
ehn p
sw. father indulged
as
Thenejoliygihngt..
light-
ning fiashed through the electric wire, and paterfamilias
stood'
aghast while the telegram announced to him the dan-
gerous illness of that son, who a few hours before had left
his home, full of health
If and spirits, the pride of his father,
once
enejotya oßfahrnishmaointhp The neat er. ,
train were the terrible words brought by
conveyed the agonised
parent to the dying son, and on
you wish
bwish to see your son alive,'
woman. the m,
was
message,
Ige,
received' c o come
with
proceeding to
there
hhaetero
ehr
yoaunosyef
inw
he
the interrogatory indicated by the telegraphic message,
one
ee
ill here,
binyya matronl
woman,'y o
as o g
the anxious father.good
`There is, sir, I am
so
replied the matron. That's my son,' sorry to say,'
said
paterfamilias. No it isn't,replied the female, It's
my daughter, and she's got the measles, poor thinc,
A sudden light broke in upon the mind of the father, and in
company with two policemen, quick as a short pair of legs
could carry him, he was at the telegraph office, inquiring
for the name and description of the person who had sent the
message. His inquiries were futile, and he left, declaring
that if there ever was a clear case for prosecution this was
one. Shortly afterwards—inexpressible joy—he found his
son as well, as happy, and as full of mirth, as any fellow or
sister excursionist. The fact is, a wag, and one of his de-
votees, had played a practical joio upon him, which he
declares he shall never forget, and has determined to " cut
the clique," for ever, aye, and a day. This, we think,
carrying the joke too far, and we hope the author will meet
pith deserved ptgligi4luent,-150norset amity Ilera(4,