The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 19, 1859,

PROPOSED SHIP CANAL ACROSS THE

MALAYAN PENINSULA.

An impression is entertained that by a water cut
of 12 miles across a particular part of the Malayan
peninsula, a saving of 1,175 miles might be effected
in the distance between Calcutta and China. At
present the voyage from India to Canton involves
a long detour by the Straits of Malacca, the whole
of which would be avoided if a transit could be
effected at a spot called. the Isthmus of Kraw,
situated at the southern extremity of the Kingdom
of Siam. According to Siamese official statements
there is a navigable river on this side of that isth-
mus, separated only by 12 miles from another river
on the eastern side, which, without falls or rapids,
runs through a well-inhabited country abounding
in rice and cattle, into the Bay of Siam. Sir John
Bowring also has stated that the direct passage
across the isthmus is about 50 miles, and that from
information furnished to him, it would appear
that " a few miles of canalisation are alone re-
quired to unite these navigable communications as
they now exist." The subject was brought to the
notice of the late Government by Mr. Henry Wise,
and instructions were forthwith given by Lord
Clarendon, in order that the exact capabilities of the
route should be ascertained. This examination has
been delayed by the illness of Sir Robert Schoen-
berg, the British Consul at Siam ; but it is now
hoped that an early mail will bring detailed intel-
ligence. Meanwhile the Chamber of Commerce at
Bombay have expressed a strong opinion of the
importance of the question, and their desire to pro-
mote its success. The following communication
has also been received from Sir John Bowring

" Government-house, Hong Kong, Nov. 11, 1858.
" Sir, I have received with much pleasure your favour
of the 18th of September, with its inclosure, on the subject
of uniting, by a ship canal, the two bays of Bengal and
Siam.

" In the successof this project I feel the deepest interest.
Tt had for many years occupied my attention, and I rejoiced
in the opportunity afforded me while negotiating the
Siamese treaty of frequently discussing the subject with
the Kings and Ministers at 13angkok.
"These friendly conferences were not, I believe, without
effect in removing some of the objections and difficulties
which existed at the Siamese Court.

" I have had the opportunity at different times of examin-
ing the topic with our naval authorities, and hoped ere now
that her Majesty's surveying ships in the Gulf of Siam
would have been able to make a report. The serious indis-
position of the Consul, Sir Robert Schomberg, has how-
ever, delayed the prosecution of the local inquiry. It is
not necessary I should add that her Majesty's Government
have given instructions to have the matter thoroughly in-
vestigated ; on my part I shall be but too happy to lend a
cordial co-operation.—I have the honour to be, sir,
" Your most obedient humble servant,
" Henry Wise, Esq., Lloyds. " JOHN BOW RING."

DEATH, OF RuDlo.—lntelligence has, it is said,
been received from Cayenne of the death of Rudio, who, it
will be remembered, was a party in the attempt against the
life of the Emperor in January last year. He is said to have
shown in his last moments-the strongest marks of repent-
ance. This news reached Paris only a day or two after the
14th, the anniversary of the crime.
A letter from St. Petersburg states that the
maritime constructions of Austria at Pole have attracted
the serious attention of the Russian Government, and pre-
cise information on the subject is to be demanded at Vienna
COURT OF ALDERMEN.—Yesterday a court was
held for the despatch of public business. Petitions were
presented by Alderman Carter, Sir Chapman Marshall, and
Sir G. Carroll, from the inhabitants of the respective wards
of Cornhill, Bridge, and Candlewick, praying for an exten-
sion of the arrangements made with the police for facilitat-
ing the traffic across London-bridge. The court proceeded
to the adjourned consideration of the petition of Messrs. Gil-
mour, Rankin, and Strang, complaining of the conduct of
Mr. James Connell, as broker. Mr. Bagley, the barrister,
appeared for the complainants, and Mr. Prescott for the re-
spondent, now an inmate of the Debtor's Prison, White-
cross-street. The case having been fully gone into, the
court decided to refer a bond given by Mr. Connell to the
City Solicitor to put in suit.
CITY COMMISSION OF SEWERS.—Yesterday a court,
at which Mr. Deputy Christie presided, was held for the
despatch of public business. Dr. Letheby, the medical
officer of health, reported on the state of 216 houses that
had been inspected during the week, of which 60 were com-
mon lodging houses; and he submitted a list of 46 places
that required sanitary improvement. In the course of the
week there were 78 deaths and 71 births in the City, the
number of deaths being greatly above the average. Mr.
Scott, the Chamberlain, reported that since the last meeting
of the court, he had received from the Metropolitan Board
of Works a receipt requiring the payment of £4,412 ss. 10d.
as the City's share of the general expenses of that board.
On the motion of Deputy Harrison, the precept was re-
ferred to the general purposes committee to examine and
report upon. Mr. Daw, the chief clerk, gave the result of
his communications with the various gas companies sup-
plying the City on the subject of the defective state of the
public lights. After some discussion, the explanations of
the companies were considered satisfactory. The court
then adjourned.
PRICE OF GOLD. The. quotation of gold at
Paris is about at par, and the short exchange on London
is 25.15 per 41 sterling. On comparing these rates
with the English Mint price of £3 17s. 101 d. per
ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold is about 1-10th
per cent. dearer in Paris than iri London. By advises from
Hamburg the price of gold is 4241 per mark, and the short
exchange on London is 13.41 per £1 sterling. Standard
gold at the English Mint price is, therefore, about 2-10ths
per cent. dearer in Hamburg than in London. The course
of exchange at New York on London for bills at 60 days'
sight is lon per cent., which, when compared with the
Mint par between the two countries, shows that the ex-
change is slightly in favour of England ; and, after making
allowance for charges of transport and difference of interest,
the present rate leaves a very trifling profit on the importa-
tion of gold from the United States.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A SECRETARY AT A BOARD
MEETlNG.—Considerable excitement was created amongst
the members of the Whittington Life Assurance Society, who
were attending a board meeting on Monday afternoon, at the
offices in Moorgate-street. Mr. Charles Browne, the secre-
tary, was in attendanee during the meeting ; but about four
o'clock he was observed to fall from his chair suddenly, as
if in a fit. Several of the members immediately went to his
assistance, amongst whom were Dr. Pavey, of Guy's Hos-
pital, and Mr. Critchett, surgeon, who both paid every at-
tention to him. Dr. Pavey tried to bleed him, but without
effect; as life was extinct. • The deceased had previously
appeared perfectly well, and had only occasionally com-
plained of headache. Ho was very much respected.
BOYLE V. WISEMAN.—The Pope has received the
submission of Cardinal Wiseman's celebrated adversary, the
Roman Catholic clergyman, Rev. Richard Boyle, who, ac-
cording to the official Roman j munal, " penitent and grieving,
as much for the scandal he caused as for the affliction he pro-
duced in the mind of his Holiness, has turned to implore his
benign pardon, asking humbly for the necessary absolution
from the censure he has incurred, and declaring himself
ready to accept any penance which his Holiness may think
proper to impose upon him. It is easy to judge how con-
soling is this virtuous resolution, which offers to good
Catholics and to the most worthy cardinal reparation and
compensation for those impressions which so much afflicted
them, and affords also to the common Father of the Faithful
a grateful opportunity to exercise that clemency so dear to
his heart, and which so much distinguishes him." The
official paper winds up its article with ark allusion to the
Good Shepherd and the lost sheep, and warns every one
from attempting to throw of the wholesome yoke of the
Catholic Church.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT EALING.—On Monday
afternoon, about 6 o'clock, a fire broke out on the farm pre-
mises of Mr. Henry Johnson, called Hangers Farm, at
Ealing. The fire was first discovered in a hayrick, and, in
consequence of the wind being high, it soon extended itself
to another, the flames then assuming a fearful aspect. Three
parish engines were soon in attendance, and were succeeded
by one of the brigade engines from town. Before, how-
ever, this force had arrived, the fire had seized hold of two
timber warehouses—one nearly 100 feet long, and over 25
feet broad, in which was deposited property valued at several
hundred pounds. From that point the flames extended to
another building. Unfortunately, the only supply of water
that could be obtained was from a pond on the estate, but.
the distance from the burning property was so great that
considerable time was of necessity spent before the engines
could be brought into play. At an advanced period yester-
day the firemen under Mr. Staples, the chief officer of the C
district, and those in charge of the parish engine, managed
to get the flames extinguished, but not until the following
damage was done :—Two ricks of hay, one containing 16
loads, were destroyed ; another, about 30 loads, was above
one-third destroyed; two timber buildings, one 80 by 20,
and the other 36 by 24, together with the contents, were
also destroyed. The ricks and contents of the buildings
were insured in the Phconix fire-office, and the buildings
were supposed to be insured in the Sun office.
THE BURNS' CENTENARY.—There can now be no
doubt that throughout Scotland, and in many parts of Eng-
land and the United States, the 25th of January will be
celebrated with enthusiasm; and that on that day there
will be paid to a poet a tribute of admiration which will
surpass in extent, if not in depth, anything the world has
yet seen. We know that Burns was self-conscious of a
wide and enduring fame, but even the prophetic vision of
the bard could hardly have anticipated such a heartfelt and
general response to his burning words as is at present
indicated by the preparations for the celebration of the
first centenary of his birth. With reference to the
coming demonstration we venture to make one obser-
vation. Let not the mistake made at the Doon-side
festival be repeated now -all over the country. Burns
was born 100 years ago, and upwards of 60 have
elapsed since his death; in his life he was not, we admit, a
great doer he neither fought battles, governed nations,
legislated, invented machinery, nor erected public works :
what ho did was to write glorious poetry ; a battle won is
cherished as a victory, a great measure is regarded as a
charter, a beautiful building is admired, a machine is used
and valued, and the fame of the doers for their work is un-
affected, whatever may have been the personal character of
the general, the legislator, the architect, or the engineer.
Blenheim is not less a glorious victory because Marlborough
was—what we now all know ; no one thinks it necessary be-
fore admiring the Menai bridge to ascertain how excellent a
man Telford had been in private life. Even between
authors (who pay for their fame by enduring a microscopical
criticism of their character, and who has suffered more than
Burns ?) and their works time effects the same just separa-
tion • even under the present system of game laws, and with
teetotalism rampant, there is no need, in reading or prais-
ing Shakspeare, to apologise because he was a poacher and
loved new ale not wisely but too well ; and now surely we
may say, let there be no apologies for Burns; in future let
him be regarded as the author simply, without reference to
the man. His faults as a man have been probed and paraded
long enough ; there have been some poets who have lived
and written since his death, compared with whose depravity
and meanness the faults of Burns appear as virtues, and
yet it is not the fashion to mar the better part of their.
nature by reference to the worse. We trust that in the
flood of oratory and song which will be poured forth on the
coming anniversary, there will be much regarding the
singer, now powerful and now sweet; and that the veil will
be drawn at once over the virtues and the errors of the
individual,—khonfries Courier.