The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-03 00:00:00

TELEG:RAPH

(From the New York Times.)
Years ago people asked " Cui bone 1" when thou-
sands were expended on expeditions the only re-
turns of which were a handful of shells and a few
casts of the deep sea lead ;—yet it is on the accu-
racy of these returns that the project is now being
hazarded. The bottom of the sea has been care-
fully surveyed and mapped, with all its variety of
mountain and prairie land, its telegraphic plateau
and its deep hollows, where no lead has ever found
IY)ltilh. The Sill, too, from the bottom has been
brought up and analyz d, and has revealed many
curious phenomena pertaining to these sunless
depth-. The ocean bed of the North Atlantic is a
curious study ; in some parts furrowed by currents,
in others presenting batiks, the accumulations per-
haps of the debris of these ecoan rivers during'
countless age +. To the west, the Gulf S ream pours
along a bed from ono nide to a wile and a half in
depth. To the east of this, and south of the Great
Banks, is a basin, eight or ten degrees square,
where the bottom attains a greater depression than '
perhaps the highest peaks of the Andes or Hima-
laya,—six miles of line hove failed to 'Teich the
bottom ; but of this more presently. Taking a pro-
file of the Atlantic basin in our own latitude, we find
a far greater depression than any mountain eleva-
tion ou our own continent. Four or five Alleghanies
would have to be piled on each other, and ou them
added Fremont's peak, before their point would
show itself above the surface. Between the Azores
and the mouth of the Tagus this decreases to about
three miles. Further north there is au apparent
decrease of depth, with increasing regularity of
bottom, though it is problematical whether this is
not owing to the greater accuracy with which these
I- observations have been conduotedie_ This apparent,
rise has been called-the " Telegraphic Plateau," or
as articles emanating from the observatory would
have it, "Maury's Plateau" (locus a non, dtc.)
This appears to be the natural route for the Trans-
atlantic Telegraph. Other plans have been pro-
posed—one a northing circuit, between the several
points of Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, and the
Labrador coast, each span be ng some 500 miles, or
to use one or two of the island groups of the At-
lantic. In the route selected we have many advan-
tages—convenient harbours at either terminus ; a
depth of water at every point sufficient to place the
wire beyond the reach of any surface causes, such
as ice or the anchor of any ship, yet not at an im-
practicable depth, being at the shoalest several
hundred feet, and in mid-Atlantic not materially
over two miles. During a thousand miles of its
course the gradual depression of the ocean bed does
not exceed 500 fathoms. Ou either side lie Ireland
and Newfoundland, the breastwork of either conti-
nent, approaching within 1700 miles, and forming
the natural termini of its route. Trinity Bay is its
western head, and Valentia Bay, on the south-
western pofnt of Ireland, its eastern. This, then,
is the bed on which the telegraphic cable is to lie,
an unbroken prairie land, extending from continent
to continent. Let us now see the nature of this
bed.
Spec:mens of the bottom, when subjected to a
powerful glass, exhibit delicate shells and infusoria,
fragile as if carved in eggshell, yet as perfect in all
their delicate formation as any of the more durable
works of nature. The least attrition would crumble
all this to powder. The inference is, that all agi-
tation of winds and currents is confined
to the surface, and that at those sunless depths the
great mass of water remains in almost a quiescent
state, and that the telegraphic wire, if once laid in
safety, would lie for ever beyond the reach of harm,
sinking among and covered by these fleecy particles.
A 1 this may be incorrect, but we have strong rea-
sons for the supposition. if so, can it ever be laid
in safety? Some abortive efforts at deep-sea sound-
ings furnish curious data for our belief in its practi-
cability. Miles of a small is ou wire not thicker than
a child's little finger were actually laid at the bot-
tom of the ocean, and recovered unbroken at a con-
siderably greater depth than any found on the pla-
teau. The exodus operandi of laying the cable was
here performed with a wire of but a fractional part
of the strength and fitness of that proposed. The
wire laid by the British in the Black Sea was, how-
ever, not of greater size or strength than th;s. The
experiment of laying the wire is performed in deep-
sea sounding whenever a wire is substituted for the
ordinary sounding line. With the depth known,
with the character of the bottom known, with a
cable as plastic as rope, yet with a tenacity capable
of sustaining four miles of its length in air, and al-
most any ex- ent in water, with four of the finest
ships in the world for laying it, aided by the de irly-
bought experience gained in the submersion of half
a dozen other lines, we have every reason for our
belielf that the Atlantic Telegraph will be a success.
Let us now see by whom, and in what manner,
were these explorations made, and whether they are
worthy of the confidence placed in their accuracy by
the Telegraph Company.
Lieut. Maury has up to this time enjoyed a mo-
nopoly of the reputation derivable from them, and
his own name has been linked to the telegraphic
plateau, the existence of which was first rendered
probable, and afterwards certain, by the lebouis of
other persons. This rather questionable reputation
would now be left undisturbed did he not now
essay to knock away the scaffolding by which he
has risen, and to throw discredit on those very re-
searches the fruit of which he has so abundantly
reaped. Lieutenant Maury has only been the
medium by which the labours of other officers have
been made public. The only explorations made by
our own Government at all 'sealing on this field
are those of Lieutenant Berryman in the Dolphin
in 1853, and in the Arctic during the past.austssae)
when sent out by the Navy Department to examine
the telegraphic route. That the surveys of the
Dolphin were as accurate as the imperfect appa-
ratus then in use would permit is admitted by
Maury, who bestowed on them the highest
praise.
It only remains, then, to examine the returns of
Use Arctic which have been questioned by him,
boat officially in scientific lectures, and in the
public press. Before doing th;s, the public must
understand the several modes of making deep sea
soundings, on the relative merits of which the whole
question hinges.
The old system is, with a small line marked at
distances of 100 fathom, and with a weight of 30
or 50 pounds, the dep • h being told by the length
of line run out. This is, of emirs°, the most
natural apparatus that suggests itself, and hasbeen
in use from the earliest ages. Experience has
given directions for its use, avoiding some of the
grosser causes of error from drifting and other
causes. Yet its success in immense ocean depths
is problematical, and a problem decided in
the negative by very many of the first
scientific authorities at home and abroad. In
the mechanical improvements of the last half-
centui y substitutes for this simple but rather uncer •
tain method began to be devised. It was proposed
to ascertain the depth by the amount of pressure,
or by explosions under water, with other equally
impracticable plans. At last was neticed the perfect
regularity of the movements of of a spirally-shaped
wheel, on being drawn through the water. Expe-
riments proved that this reeularity, when unaffected
by other causes, Could beie relied on with perfect
accuracy, and that an arrangement of cog-wheels
would register its
,revolutions with mathematical
precision. Very soon it came in use as a ship's log.
So perfect was their precision, that they were even
introduced in scientific surveys. Base lines, where
the nicest accuracy is required, were run with them,
and we have tne highest authority of the Royal
Navy for believing that they never failed. At this
point it was proposed to apply them in a perpendi-
cular as well as in a horizontal motion through the
water, Massey's apparatus premising to solve those
problems of submarine geography left unsolved by
the old method of obtaining depth with a simple
line and sinker, and this more especially as some
causes of error, considerable on the surface, disap-
pear in the still water below.
After a more thorough trial of the old method
than, perhaps, any officer in the service, Lieut.
Berryman proposed to explore the Telegraphic Pla-
teau with the use of Massey's apparatus, in opposi-
tion to the opinion of Lieut. Maury, who, follow
ing the traditions of the service, was attached to
the old system of line and ball. Many tradi
tions are stubborn things, and the new method
has met, of course, with all that opposition un-
avoidable on the introduction of an improvement
which, though known for years abroad, is a
novelty among our own people. But, though its
use was new, its principle was no novelty to
Lieutenant Maury, who years ago was quite in love
with the beautiful simplicity, and copied it as his
own invention into a late edition of his Bailing
Directions, with the assurance that it "works beau-
fully." This would not be referred to did not
Maury's present attack on the soundings made with
Massey's apparatus now make it necessary to quote
him among the many authorities in its favour.
The manner of obtaining depth from the Arctic
was with the two methods used in conjunction,--to
sound with a simple line and ball, giving an ap-
proximation to the depth, but trusting for the nicer
shades of accuracy to the readings of ttaesey'a

The first tube of this stupendous structure was
laid on the piers on Wednesday, and will in a few
months be raised to the required height. In the
meantime a second tube will be got ready for plae-
ins, and the bridge be made complete. Its 'progress
has already altered the appearance of Saltash more
than anything that has occurred for many years.
Saltash, situate on the Cornwall side a the Tamar,
about 3 miles north of Davenport, has in lapse of
time suffered the fate of mailer a more populous
place, and had a decline and fall. Before Devon-
port. was, Saltash was a considerable town noted
for its fisheries, its market, and its members
of Parliament, but of late years the rising towns
nearer the- mou.h of the river have supplanted
its trade and its fishing, and reforms havelaken
away its privilege of affording places to M.P.'s; but
it still continued somewhat famous as the ruler
of the liberties of the Tamar and as the recipient of
tolls from all vessels coming within its bounds ;
and it was still famous, too, forete rowing amazons,
who. in contests with men, carried off prizes at
many of the rowing regattas of Britain and the
Continent. This fame, however, is fast passing
away, as the introduction of steam-vessels to con-
vey passengers from the "ancient borough" to
Davenport has rendered the plying of b)als a very
uncertain and precarious livelihood, so that not
only the women but the men have had to seek nth,- , Front the Homeward Mail front India and China.)
employments. It was remarkable, ton,for its The daisy announcements of the despatch of
cockles and shell-fish ; but that is no longer the fresh reinforcements to India, the long list of trans-
case, for these bivalves are not te be found in the ports for the conveyance of troops, the visits of
same locations as formerly, and those found arc now great personages to the points of embarkation, the
collected mostly by Irish denizens of Plymouth, and magnificence of the vessels, and the continued din
by them sold to the Saltash women, who now, in- and bustle of a great expedition, tend to convince
stead of catching, simply prepare and vend the every one that astenishing efforts aro being made
fish. But the determination to mike a rail- for the complete restoration of our power in India..
way from Plymouth to Truro, and the selec ion People in authority are ready with tabular state-.
of Saltash Passage as the point for crossing tie meat of the number and strength of the regiments
-Tamar, has caused the sun of prosperity again to proceeding to India. It is remembered that there
shine on the old town, and new houses are now are already in that country so many Queen's troops,
being built, the shops and streets improved, and a and so many in the service of the Company. The
bustle and activity given to it the like of which have loyalty of the native armies of Bombay and Madras
not been witnessed for many years. But never was is very justly reckoned upon ; and Sikhs, Ghoor-
Saltash so full of people as on Tuesday, Sept. 1, kas, and many other new levies are enumerated.
1857. The crossing the Tamar was the difficulty of In short, no one doubts that, under every possible
the Cornish railway, which it wes necessary should contingency, and even though the numbers and
commence from the terminus of the South Devon perfidy of the enemy may obtain for them some
line, and hence across the Tamar, at as slier t a dis- temporary success, our final triumph is not far dis-
tance as possible. Saltiest). Passage was considered taut. But it is the duty of those who wish to air
a very eligible spot for the undertaking, where, from rive at the real truth, and ascertain the exact post-
the height of the hills on both sides, it was believed tiou of aff tire, to discerd all unnecessary details;
a bridge could be advantageously thrown across at and restrain a too sanguine spirit, which is, no
a great elevation ; but the Government authorities I doubt, valuable in the moment of action, but must
offered a sturdy opposition to allowing the waters of be never suffered to influence our calculations. We
the Tamar to be cumbered with many piers for the wish on the present occasion to take a sober—not,
benefit of a private company,and that company also indeed, a sombre—view of affairs, and of our dis-
wane ed to do the work cheap. Here them st piped in posable military strength as regards the crisis in In-
the genius of engineering resources, Mr. Brunel, and dia, and as much as possible to put ourselves in the
it was announced that he could give a perfect solu- position of a military man whose task it might be tp
tion of the difficulty to the satisfaction of all parties. restate order out of the present chaos with the means
An entirely new kind of iron bridge was to he tried, now available. It appears, then, that there are
one that should combine in one structure the merits of her Majesty's troops in India, or proceeding
both of the tubular and suspension bridges previ- thither, 8 regiments of cavalry, 451 of infantry,
ously erected, and possess the strength of the for- and 3 troops and 10 companies of artillery.
mer with a saving of 25 per cent. in the weight of Reckoning the infantry regiments at 900, the
iron. It would require but one pier in the centre cavalry at 600 men each, and the artillery at 200
of the river, and be carried across at a clear eleva- menu troop and 150 men a company, we have'a
tion from shore to shore, ample enough to give the total of 47,850 men—a great force truly. To these
fullest satisfaction. The Royal Albert Bridge now are to be added nine Company's regiments of
Eu-
erecting at Saltash is the result of Mr. Biunel's de- ropean infantry, and 17 troops of horse and 48
sign. There is only one other bridge of the kind yet companies of foot artillery, in round uumbers
erected, viz , that one built at Chepstow, in the 20,000 men, with a few hundreds of unattached
year 1854, for the South Wales Railway line, and officers belonging to revolted regiments, and
also constructed by Mr. Brunel. In 1853 the handful of volunteers, forming a grand total of
bridge was commenced by Mr. C. J. Mar of Black- about 70,000 European soldiers. To this force
wall, as centractor. Subsequent to Mr. Mare's must be added the native armies of Madras and
bankruptcy the entire management of the erection Bo:nbay, the Sikh auxiliaries, some Ghoorkas, and
of the bridge has been uniertaken by Mr. Brunel, other levies; and a few regiments of the Bengal
who has let the several branches of the work in army which like the 31st, even yet remain staunch.
centracts. Such a statement would probably be quite suffi-
This bridge is altogether 2,200 feet in length, clout for a person without Indian exper ence and
the span of each main opening being from the cen- unacquainted with military matters, and he would
tre of one pier to the centre of the other, 455 feat; feet quite assured that if even India were in rebel-
height of centre pier from foundation in the bed of lion from Cape Comorin to Cashmere it would be
tho river, 240 feet • height of roadway, above high easy to reconquer it. A moment' reflection, how-
water mark, 100 feet ; of ditto above. low water ever will suffice to show the mater Lewin a somewhn
at
mark, 1J 8 feet. The main openings are each span- different light. In considering h the vast regio
nod by an oval tube, whose diameters are 17 feet from Benares to Delhi, including Oude, Buudle-
and 12 feet, the ends of which are connected by cured, Agra, and Rohilcund, now in rebellion, is to
chains, which together form a parabolic curve, and be recovered, we must strike out of the account all
from those chains are suspended the roadway. To the troops in the two minor presidencies—whether
prevent the sacking down of the tube, at intervals European or native—as well as those that garrison
of 40 feet occur vertical strutts above the points of the Punjab. The Bombay army will have enough to
suspension, diagonal braces connecting the strutts in preserving order within the limits of its own pre-
fer the purpose of distributing the lotvl, the height sidency, and in sending up reinforcements to Scinde
of the section over each
_opening being 1,100 tons, and the Punjab, so as to keep a good front towards
these sections when fixed in their permanent posi- Afighanistan and Persia. The columns which
tions will stand with their shore ends on brick pit. have moved on Mhow and Indore may also recover
liars surmounting granite and lime-stone piers, and and hold those places. To expect further aid from
their other ends on standards supported by four the Bombay army would be unwise. The Madras
hollow octagonal cast iron columns, ten feet in di- army has also quite enough to occupy it within its
ameter, built in the centre of the river and stand- ordinary limits, and in overawing Hyderabad and
ing 12 feet above high water mark—two of the Nagpore and the bigoted Mahomedan population in
iron colutns supporting each section. From the bot- other parts of the Madras Presidency. Tee troops
tom of the roadway to the top of the tube at the already in Bengal are not even sufficient to garrison
centre is about 75 feet and the whole is constructed the principal points on the main lines of communi-
of malleable iron plates. The section of the bridge cation and hold the great cities. Cawnpore has
has been constructed on a temporary quay by the fallen, and though General Havelock has recovered
water's edge, and docks cut under a stage erected it and probably been sufficiently reinforced to at-
for the admission of two pontoons at each tempt the relief of Lucknow, the difficulty of that
end. These pontoons draw about eight feet six undertaking cannot be disguised. The undisci-
inches of water, one foot 'of immersion beyond plined troops of the enemy in Oude, even allowing
their natural draft being equal to 250 tons, or for some reinforcements to Delhi, cannot be less
thereabouts. By means of valves the pontoons I than 20,000 men. There is, besides, a host ofd bble
admit water into their interiors, and were thus very troublesome on the lines of communiohn,
passed beneath the ends of the tuba ; and enclosing and certain to cut off stragglers or weak detach-
passed
those valves, rose with the tide, and raised their ments. Grant that General Havelock's
ponderous weight the necessary height required. strengthened perhaps to 2,000 men, can
and relieve
relieve
At the ends of the tubes, bed-plates and rollers 53 miles in the lace of such opposition,
it is hardly
allow of their free extension and contraction under the remains of the garrison at Lucknovr,
tain that great city
varying temperatures—a very necessary-provision. to be thought that he could re
The important and interesting part of the work of 300,000 inhabitants in a country wept eopulation
that was carried out on Tuesday was the raising of which altogether hostile. he.refore,
codlumn,
and floating off of the first or western section from either fall back on Allahabad and Benares till rein-
the yard where it was built, and lauding it on the forcenaents can arrive from England, or attempt
piers. During During the
were made, under the superinteudence of Mr. Bru- immensely super
net and his engineering staff,crier numbers. This appears -so
past week extensive preparations make his way to Delhi, 266 miles, in the face of
for the carrying out difficult an operation, when the want of carriage,
of this work. Five vessels, borrowed from the Go- the rainy season, and other things are consi-
vernmeut authorities, were moored in a semicircle dered, that it is possible no additional troops
.. ate of November. It will he admitted, then, that
above the bridge, on board of which were two may be able to reach Agra, Meerut, and Delhi
powerful crabs for the purpose of warping the tube before the regiments now on their way
round its position. A large portion of the gear from England arrive at Calcutta—that is, the mid-
employed and appliances used were bor
rowed from the Dockyard, but Mr. Canning, the position of our troops at the above place is mast
of Teat's-hill, supplied the rope used in controlling critical. At Agra every third man has already been
the pontoons. Capt. Claxten, R.N., who had killed or wounded, and there remain but 350 Ea-
charge of the floating of the Menai and Conway ropeans to defend the place. At Meerut our
bridges, was present to superintend everything
afloat, strength does net exceed 700. Our army before
Mr. Brunel taking entire control of the pontoons, Delhi is, we fear, greatly overrated. General Reed
and directing the operations by means of signals has 5,000 native soldiers, two regiments of Euro.

OUR STRENGTH AND OUR WORK IN
INDIA.