The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-18 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

net a single man in the United Kingdom more
strenuously opposed to everything approximating
to real reform than he is. And that he will,
should a favourable opportunity arise, strain every
nerve to reject or postpone, ad Grcecas Kalendas,
any large and comprehensive measure. But in
this instance, he may find that he is reckoning
without his host, and that his organ is altDgether
mistaken in supposing that " the public in Eng-

land care little or nothing about the extension or

equalisation of the frandhise." The most cunning

schemers frequently outwit themselves in endea-
vouring to take in their dupes, and Lord PAL-
MERSTON may possibly find to his cost that such
is the case in the present instance. We may
venture to remind our contemporary that
the introduction of an adequate measure of
reform would not act as a protection or amnesty
to the miscreant NANA. SAHIB, and that his cap-

ture, and execution by the hands of the common
hangman, will follow as a matter of course,
albeit the franchise be extended, and its due
exercise ensured by the ballot, and freedom of
choice conferred on the enlarged constituencies by
the abolition of the property qualification. The
fatal rope will not do its work less efficiently be-
cause the English people are henceforward to be
fairly represented in the House of Commons.
Indeed, the certainty of such a course might pre-
vent Lord CANNING, or his umbra, Mr. J. P.
GRANT, from any further manifestations of
ili-
timed clemency. We may then insist on reform
without checking the operations for the suppres-
sion of the rebellion, or the condign punishment
of the sanguinary miscreants who have so rashly
engaged therein.
The views of the Morniny _Post receive very
significant corroboration from another quarter.

TEETS DAY—Morn., 38 min. aft. 2—Evan., 53 min. aft. 2
TO..ffoßsow—Morn., 8 min. aft. 3—Evan., 25 mM aft. 3

THE WEATHER-Sum OFFICE, NOTEAIBEE 13.

TEERIIOIIETER, IY Taa SLUM!.
52—highest since noon yesterday.
47—lowest this morning and during the night.
53 —this day at noon.

ing, abominable "slip of the pen" between the
wily Viennese and the purblind and scatter-

brained British Government.

Wherefore, it is, we repeat, that the memorable
words used by Mr. PITT, ill 1783, may now in
1857 be placed not inaptly in the mouth of every

right-minded Englishman.

"And if this inags-

picious union be not already consummated, in the
name of my country [he might even say, in the
name of Europe, of the World, of the whole
Human Race] I forbid the banns 1" For, after all
it is positively, we are bold to assert, one of the
most egregious errors that the dullest Administra-

BAROMETER, 30.23.
S.S.E.; light, with fine sunshiny weather.

,or perhaps ever yet committed !
What, let us ask, now in explicit and distinct
illustration of this, What (as our Gallic friends

have it) is at this moment the precise bearing and

The Times follows suit, or rather leads from its
own hand simultaneously. The Jupiter tonans of
Printing House Square is also favourable to pro-
crastination, or rather a postponement sins die.

character of—'

." the situation ?" It is simply this:

—A Telegraphic communication must ai speedily
as possible be secured in one way or another
between England and her Eastern possessions.
That Necessity we have long recognised. It is a
Necessity which the late bloody revolt in India
has but very recently enforced—rather, should it
be said, very emphatically and conclusively de-
monstrated. All this, of course, Granted. But
—next, How may it be best accomplished, by
what means, in what direction ? It is a problem,
the solution of which has long resolved itself into
an alternative. Either—the Red Sea route, or

the Euphrates Valley route ! Either—the
shortest way, following the course taken by the
Euphrates through the soil of Asia Minor south-
wards to its entrance into the Persian Gulf, or
the longest way (one barred, however, only by
natural impediments) trailing the submarine wire
along the bed of the Red Sea, skirting the extended
coast line of Arabia, even round by the acute
angle formed by that coast-line at the Straits of
Babel Mandeb. To that alternative the difficulty
has been long reduced, and this notoriously.
Finally, between the branches of that same inevit-
able alternative, the British Government has at
length made its deliberate selection. It has decided
at last in favour of the Red Sea project, and its
preliminary labours for the carrying out of that
project are now, we believe, in course of active
preparation. This Red Sea route being preferred
apparently, notwithstanding its greater length, be-
cause of its being at any rate secure from interruption
by everything save accidents by nature, Government
fearing, it would seem, the.meddling fingers of the
lawless tribes of Kurds and Arabs scattered along
the banks of the Euphrates, and doubting whether
those meddling fingers could even be securely kept
from tampering with the precious "fibre" of the
Telegraph by " blackmail," however regularly
paid and abundantly squandered. Nevertheless,
whatever the reasons for the selection of the Red
Sea routs, that route has ats last been preferred to
the Euphrates Valley routs by the slowly daiibe-
rative judgment of the British Government. For
ourselves, we are so heartily rejoiced at any deci-
sion of any kind being at length positively resolved
upon—in spite of all the tangling coils of red-
tape and the complicated labyrinth of circumlo-
cution that we are not unwilling, "at a
pinch," to waive our own preference for
the more direct, and, consequently, much
shorter, and obviously far less expensive route,
along the Euphrates Valley. This, we repeat,
simply from our exultation at some positive deci-
sion of some kind being ultimately arrived at by
our hesitating and procrastinating Government.
Bat, lo ! no sooner have we made our minds up
to something like a magnanimous concession, when
forth creeps this ridicules mus of a conditional
agreement with Austria! The nature of the
agreement we have explained. Its miserable con-
sequences need no explanation. They are, un•
happily, only too apparent. They reduce the
whole scheme of the Electric Telegraph between
England and Hindostan, between London and Cal-
cutta, to something like a nullity. They place the
entire project permanently within the grasp of the
Austrian Government. That is to say, if this
preposterous compact be really persisted in ! A
supposition we are loath to entertain for a single
instant. The notion is altogether too ludicrous
and inconceivable. Than this, surely " The force
of folly could no further go !" The blunder stum-
bled into by the Treasury in this matter, is al-
together of itself so glaringly conspicuous, that
it has undoubtedly only to be pointe 1 out to be
at once and instantaneously recognised. Whatever
the pledge given upon this subject to the Cabinet
et Vienna by those incomparable wiseacres, our
Ministerial authorities at the Treasury, the
blot must be blotted out, the error must
be erased for England will never consent
(because of one absurd mistake on the part
of her rulers) to render nugatory henceforth,
in regard to her oriental dominions, the whole
glorious advantages otherwise readily derivable
from the Electric Telegraph.

.6F. 4 , .
- -
- AL -

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 1857.

Parliament is to assemble for the dispatch of
business on the 3d December. This judicious
proceeding was shirked by the Government t) the
last possible moment, until the ignominious
failure of the Bank Charter Act, and the violation
of the existing law of the land, rendered the step
indispensable. The session wiil therefore prac-
tically commence within little more than a fort-
night ; and although the business before Christ-
mas may be exclusively devoted to monetary and
Indian questions, yet the Royal Speech must be
delivered, shadowing forth the Ministerial inten-
tions for the entire session of 1858, as well as
for the short preliminary one of 1857. it is,
therefore, incumbent on every person interested
in the welfare and prosperity of the country to
keep the Government up to its work, and to pre-
vent, by every possible means, the evasion of
positive promises, to the intense disappointment
of the great body of the people.

Already feelers have been thrown out, in order
to ascertain the state of the public mind, and tl
discover whether the bold experimsat of with-
holding the anticipated Reform Bill may be safely
attempted. The Morning Post, iu a semi-official
article, declares that it does " not expect to hear
anything about a Reform Bill—first, because such
a calamity as that which has occurred in India, no
more than the late Russian war, presents a fa-
vourable opportunity for the calm discu'4sion of a
question which lies at the very root of our politi-
cal system ; and, secondly, because the public in
England care very little, or nothing, about the ex-
tension or equalisation of the franchise!" Adding,
"They would sooner hear of the capture and execu-
tion of that execrable miscreant NANA. SAHIB than
of the enactment of the most sweeping measure of
Reform, proceeding even from the Paterfamilias
of Whig-Liberalism, Llrd. JouN RUSSELL, whose
familiar spirit, or political Mrs. HARRIS, is an
ever-threatened Reform Bin."

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the efficia
residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing
street. The Ministers present were—Viscount Palmer-
ton, Earl Granville, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the
Earl of Harrowby, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Claren-
don, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lord Panmurv, the
Chaccellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the
Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley,
tho Duke of Argyll, and the Right lion. M. T. Baines.
Tne Countess of Sefton and Lady Cecilia Molyeees,
and the Earl of Sefton, have returned to Cruxteth, near
Liverpool, where they intend shortly to receive company.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and !Princess
do Joinville returned yestrday to Claremont, from
their recent tour in Turkey and the Crimea. Their
Royal Highnesses are observing the strictest privacy,
consequent on the distressing family bereavement they
have lately sabred.

Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere, accompanied
by the viscnuutess, has returned to Combermere Abbey,
from Leamington. The noble viscount has entirely
recovered from bi 3 recent attack of influenza.
Viscountess Jocelyn and her youthful family have
arrived at Cambridge House, from Windmor.
Lady Milford has left town on a visit to her father,
the Earl of Wicklow, at Si'wood House, Brighton.

A passenger by the Emeu steamer, from Melbourne
for London, via Marseilles, states that not only the
Marseilles portion of the rnail was taken by tho Ad-
miralty agent in the boat, when the Emsu got en shore,
but also those marked Southampton. This refers onl7
to the letters ; the newspapers were kept on board the
Emeu. . .

The Australasian, with the passengers, gold, and
newspapers, may be expected at Southampton on the
20th, and probably the missing lettors will arrive by
the next Indian nail, clue about the 30th instant, and
which will be telegraphed perhaps on the 27th.

The WoiverhainP6n and Staffordshire Banking Com-
pany, which closed its doors yesterday, was a bank of
issue, with an authorised circulation of 35,3781., and its
general liabilities are supposed to range between
400,000/. and 500,00 f/. It had a nominal capital of
500,0001., of which 100,0001. is paid up, and accordirg
to its last return 7,0001. had been appropriated to a
reserve fund. The number of shareholders is about 200,
and the principal losses will fall, it is presumed, on
persons connected with the iron trade.
COEPOP.ATION BILL.—We can state, on the
best authority, that Government have resolved on rein-
troducing the Corporation Reform Bill, in the short
session which is to commence in December, in order to
ensure its passing into a law before the close of the
session of 1858. The bill will be substantially the same
as that of last se,sion. The City is to be divided into
16 wards, giving six members to each ward ; but we
have reason to believe that Sir George Grey, it presser,
will so far yield to the wishes of the Corporation as te
allow seven members to each ward, making 112 Cem-
mon Councilmen and 16 Aldermen.
PItICE OF GOLD —The quotation of gold at Paris is
about 9 per mill() premium, and the short exchange on
London is 25.35 per 11 steiling. On comparing tilt se
rates with the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. It3qd.pe t
ounce for standard gold it appears that gold is abou
2-10Als per cent. dearer in Paris than in Loinsdon_- By
advices from Hamburg the price of gold • _
_4.2_4.
pPe_
rnerl, and the short exchange on Londonl:s_
i3ntD.' r
price
1!. sterling. Standard gold at the Englis M.
n ieusly quoted
y
on London for bills at 60 days' eight is var
itab.:lin thereforeamnbeuarrgi Thes-l° ts
courseper ofc exchangeent
at from par up to
I at pre-
tirst-clase paper only. There consequenh..
Y'country
owLoyndo(lkn
sent no advantage
ae compared with drawing bills from America.
linoBsepnedrinc:ngt.o,idthireomlatttef:sbeii,g for,

The Mornin
sius-chsupposed to d
g Ponost
erive
its inspirations subjects directly
from head-quarters. We may, therefore, fairly
conjecture that the above are
Lord PALMERSTON himself, and the
at he of
at be has
at last made up his mind to cast •
aside the ill- it
fitting mantle of pretended reform, and to appear, 1
without further disguise or concealment, in the
more congenial colours of rank Toryism. It must,
therefore, be evident that he never intended to
bring in a Reform Bill—that the specious pledges
which he put forward on the eve of the
" Appeal to the Country " were but so
many tubs flung to the electoral whalers.
An attempt, in fact, to take the wind out of Lord
Joint RUSSELL'S sails, and to secure for himself
the support that might otherwise have been given
to his political rival. Indeed, the Premier is an
experienced adept in this sort of manoeuvring. It
is, unfortunately, but too notorious that there is

ST. T

T.RE.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EV ENING, NOVEM)3ER IS, 185:7

Last evening an opera buffa (quite new, we believe, to
this country) entitled " Crispino e la Comare," was pro-
duced at the above theatre with complete success.
Crispino, the cobler (Signor Carrione), and his spirited
little wife, Annetta (Signora Fumagalli), a struggling
Venetian couple, are on the paint of committing suicide
through stress of rent, and perhaps other quarterly diffi-
culties. But their last passionate prayers for money are
attended with mere than the average success. A fairy,
La Comare (Signora Beilosio), who has an ancient grudge
to feed against the medical profession, selects our cobbler
as her engine, sets him up as a successful quack, works
miraculous cures for him, fills his money-bags and pro-
cures him, strangest of all, the public gratitude. But
there is another side to the picture, and the stilted
cobbler must be taught the good old lesson of " the
beggar on horseback." In his hour of pride he forgets
his benefactress, like many another hero of a fairy tale,
and is snatched in a moment from his high estate to
what the libretto politely designates a subterranean
abode. There, having been sufficiently tortured by the
revelations of a magic mirror, he is restored, on giving
security for future good behaviour, to his better half,
his children, and his wealth.
The new tenor, Signor Giorgetti, pleased us very
much. This young gentleman possesses a pure and
beautiful voice, which he uses already with such taste
and skill as to induce us to augur for him a brilliant
future. He bad little to do on this occasion, but the
impression he made was so favourable that the manage-
ment will doubtless soon bring him forward in some
more important part.
The opera was received throughout with great ap•
plause. Three pieces were enthusiastically re-demanded,
and the principal performers called for at the terming'
tion of each act.

insignificant localities, without commerce, or where the
navigation is dangerous, or where the persons frequent-
ing them might be subjected to attacks from the neigh
bouring mountaineers, The Russian Government, in
opening the three ports on the eastern coast which are
the best situated, has bad only in view the interests of
commercial men. Besides, it must be taken into con-
, -ideration that the coast of Abasia forms the edging, as
it were, of a country in open revolt against its sovereign.
Certain foreign vessels, if not subjected to surveillance,
would find it more profitable to carry on a contraband
of war than a honest commerce. The affair of the
Vixen, which made so much noise about 20 yeaas ago,
.and which was about to cause such grave complications,
has not been forgotten. It cannot be disputed that,
fir its own security, the Russian Government cannot
tolerate transactions for supplying ammunition and
arms to the insurgents. Another consideration, perhaps
the most imperative of those which have influenced the
determination of the Imperial Government, justifies the
measure which a Vienna journal blames with so little
reason ; we refer to sanitary precautions. The popula-
r tions of the East are constantly menaced with the inva-
sion of the plague, because they are in contact with
Mussulman races, which, as much from natural apathy
as religious prejudice, take no precautions against that
visitation. In those countries the sanitary regulations
dictated by prudence must be rigorously observed ; the
quarantine establishments are a benefit for Europe,
which is thus preserved from the epidemics which almost
always infest the East. Far, then, from being encroached
on, Art. 12 of the treaty of Paris is, by the application
of regulations relating to police and sanitary matters,
fully completed."

The last mail from India has brought accounts
from Pondicherry to the 9th ult., Fhich confirm the
intelligence brought of the perfect tranquillity of
the country. The Moniteur Officiel of the colony
says :—`• The drought which has prevailed for the
last nine months has at length ceased. On Sept.
20 the sky became clouded, but it was not until
the 27th that the rain commenced, when it came
down heavily—an event most important both for
the health of the inhabitants and for the crops.
At MontrOpaleom, some little hail fell, but it was
lof very short duration, and soon ch-mged to rain."

The Univers says :—" The German Journal of I
Frankfort appears to have really believed the news
that the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem had been
deposed by the Greeks ;it announces that the
Austrian clergy, armed with the Concordat to
extend its influence to the East, is very desirous
that a member of its own body should be the new
bishop of Jerusalem, and that its choice has fallen
upon Mgr. Mislin, who is now in Paris about the
business, the nomination to this bishopric belong-
ing to France.' There is no truth whatever in
these allegations of the Frankfort Journal: the
patriarchal seat at Jerusalem is not vacant, the
right of presentation or nomination belongs to the
Holy See alone, and Mgr. Mislin's only motive for
coming to Paris is to publish a new edition of his
work on Palestine."