The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-26 00:00:00

Nothing could be more clear and satisfactory
than the answer given by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to the interrogatory last night exhibited
by Lord PALMERSTON. It took the house, and
more especially the noble viscount, completely by
surprise. In place of damaging, he had materially
strengthened, the position of the Ministers—had
afforded a most favourable opportunity for state
ments that will be hailed with enthusiastic appro-
bation throughout the country, and fixed them
firmly in the seats which he is so anxious to occupy
with his followers. He learned that the Govern-
ment had not been idle during the stirring prepa-
rations that had created consternation throughout
Europe—that they had, to the best of their
ability, and with the utmost vigilance, taken the
course -which they believed, in the present diffi-
cult position of affairs, was conducive to the
maintenance of a general peace. Nay, more, that
they had actually removed, what he himself con-
sidered to be the teterrima causa mali, the fountain
and origin of all the difficulties which have arisen,
—the occupation of Rome and the Legations by
foreign troops.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that
Government " had received communications which
gave it reason to believe that ere long the Roman
States would be evacuated by the French and Aus-
trian troops, and that too with the consent of the
Papal Government." The loud and prolonged
Cheering which greeted this gratifying announce-
ment proved not only the satisfaction of the House
at the result, but also at the indefatigable and
efficient exertions of those by whom it was ob-
tained. They had, indeed, displayed the
highest qualities required for the management of
foreign affairs. In every case since Lord MALMES-
BURY received the seals of the Foreign-office
he has succeeded in. removing every difficulty, and
that without sacrificing the slightest portion of the
honour and dignity of Great Britain. He smoothed
away the impediments to good relations between
France and England without asking us to pass a
conspiracy bill, or to sacrifice a single particle of
the hospitality which we have always afforded,
and so long as the British Empire continues ever
Swill afford, to political exiles of every shade and
variety of political opinion ; he also obtained, not
only the release of the English engineers, but
pecuniary compensation for their unmerited suf-
ferings ; and in. every question that has been
raised he has pursued the same firm but conci-
liatory course that has prevented war, without any
diminution of prestige.

Mr. DISRAELI also announced that " Lord
CowLBY, who enjoys the
.entire confidence of the
Government, had repaired to Vienna in a confiden-
tial capacity." This will set at rest the ridiculous
canards that had been circulated respecting the
nature of his mission. At one time it was said
he went on behalf of the French Government (!)
At another, concerning his own private affairs.
There were many vague guesses, but no authentic
information. Of course it would be impossible to

divulge the exact instructions which had been
given for the guidance of the noble lord, but Mr.
DISRAELI was enabled to say that " his mission
was one of peace and conciliation." The right
honourable gentleman • deprecated for the time
being any indiscreet or heated phrases, which must
inevitably occur in the course of a general discus-
sion on the subject. It might damage the great
object which men of all parties and all shades and
varieties of political opinion have in view. The
Government will make every effort to maintain
the general peace, and that on principles consistent
with the dignity and welfare of Europe. Judging
from what has already occurred we have strong
hopes that their efforts will be successful; and
we are convinced that the speech of the Ministerial
leader in the House of Commons will go far to
remove the apprehensions which, since the begin-
ing of the year, have paralysed industry and excited
so much uneasiness throughout the whole of
Europe.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL spoke fairly and justly.
He manifestly appreciated what had been accom-
plished by Ministers, and rendered a well-merited
tribute of admiration to what they had accom-
plished. Lord PALMERSTON, too, had, as we
anticipated yesterday, toned himself down to pro-
priety, and disappointed the expectations of the
most rabid place-hunters of his party by the tem-
perate manner in which he brought forward his
motion. At all events the result has been very
different from what had been anticipated, and the
nation may rejoice at the very different aspect of
affairs from that which had previously been
, assumed.

Seldom, if ever, were the Naval Estimates for
any year brought forward in a more clear and
lucid manner than they were last night by the
First Lord of the Admiralty. He admitted the
large increase—nearly a million sterling—in the
amount since last year, but he distinctly ex-
plained every item, and satisfied the House as to
the propriety of the increase. Indeed, as we
have repeatedly stated, there is no point on which
both the Parliament and the country are disposed
to display more generous liberality than in
supporting the maritime supremacy of Great
Britain, and ensuring the complete and thorough
efficiency of our naval establishments. It has
frequently been disgusted at the jobbery that
prevailed, at the profuse and wanton expenditure
that was lavished on perfectly useless transactions,
but never was there an objection put forward to
any demand which could be properly explained
and which would justify the outlay. The
Royal Navy is the pride and glory of England as
well as its safeguard and security, and there
could scarcely be found a man throughout the
length and breadth of the land who would com-
plain of any personal sacrifice necessary to main -
tain it in the exalted position it has so long occu-
pied.
The right hon. gentleman did not go back to
1835, a year which might have been one of serious
consequences to the nation had any diffi-
culties arisen. We believe that it is now
universally admitted that " a penny-wise and
pound-foolish policy" had then been adopted.
Besides, steam had not then been introduced into
the Royal Navy, and that alone enhances the out-
lay to no inconsiderable amount. Sir JOHN PA-
KINGTON more fairly selects the year 1852-3 for a
comparison, not merely because he had been him-
self in office in that year, or because it was after
the recommendations of the select committee on the
Naval Estimates had been carried into operation,
but because it was a year of peace, and immedi-
ately preceded the Russian war, and the great in-
crease in the naval expenditure consequent thereon.
Since that period the Naval Estimates have in-
creased—and necessarily increased—by some 51
per cent. They were then £5,835,588 ; they are
now £8,851,371. This is no doubt a serious
discrepancy, but it has been conclusively ex-
plained. Not merely have we more seamen, but
these seamen cost a higher rate per head for wages,
and their victualling is of a very superior descrip-
tion. Indeed, while the increase of the former
is at the rate of 55-1 per cent., that of the latter
is 88A-. This indicates the additional comforts
bestowed on our jolly tars, and the inducements
keld out to mariners to take service under the
union•jack. The earnest recommendations of her
MAJESTY'S Commissioners have thus been antici-
pated, and one important step in advance has
been-
taken to promote voluntary service into the Royal
Navy.
The charges for the Coastguard and Royal Naval
Volunteers were not included in the estimates
of 1852, and, therefore, the entire amount
—Xl7B,s92—should be altogether struck out
from the accounts of the present year, in
order to obtain a fair comparison. The addition
for artificers, &c., is 45 per cent., arising from the
adoption of steam factories in the dockyards, while
that of naval stores is 571 per cent.
The cost of building vessels, in consequence of
the superior and more permanent character of the
work, is also greatly enhanced ; but there are
ample equivalents for the extra demands, and, as
we have already stated, the nation will not grumble
at the amount, when convinced that it is judiciously
applied. The charges for maintaining the same
class afloat have also been considerably aug-
mented, and also the vote for new works, which
latter item has amounted to no less than 120 per
cent. We shall this year have an addition to, our
Navy of no less than 26 powerful men-of-war, of
which 15 will be steam line-of-battle ships, a num-
ber of powerful frigates, equal to nearly half the
existing number of heavy frigates, and two iron-cased
ships as powerful as they can be made. This is
well ; but other additions and conversions are to
be made that will unquestionably retain Britannia
in her old position. The community at large will,
on reading the statement, recollect the cheers which
their representatives bestowed on the First Lord,
who had so wisely acceded to the wishes of the
Parliament and people of Great Britain.

Nothing certainly could be more reasonable than
the answer given last evening to the inquiry ad-
dressed to tteorsthbye tahmeollunon. t
fleemncboeurar fogremßenodt-
m likely to be accorded in future to the Atlantic
Telegraph Company by her MAJESTY'S Govern-
ment. A guarantee may be obtained by that com-
pany, but only conditionally. Otherwise to express
it—any assistance afforded by Government to that
or any other company will alone be afforded
to it on the understanding that the line is
in
a working state. The Treasury, in fact, will
not bind itself simply to the encouragement of
scientific experiments. With all our engineers to
witness the furtherat so by the State of a magnifi-
cent enterprise like that all but accomplished
between Valentia and Newfoundland, we are con-
strained to accept as most rational the decision
announced last evening by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer.
Supposing any other decision had been arrived
at by Ministers, the only equitable course then
remaining to be pursued would have been the
organisation and establishment, at the national
expense, of a grand laboratory for the promotion
of experimental researches, under the auspices of

he Imperial Government. According to these views
we ought, two or three centuries back, not so
much to have offered £30,000 for the discovery of
perpetual motion, as to have maintained an insti-
tution in which all the crack-brained philosophers
of the—land might have obtained the means
gratuitously of testing their eccentric no-
tions as to its practicability. No—the line
of demarcation must obviously be drawn
somewhere. It must be so drawn that State
patronage may be accorded, not to promising expe-
-1 iment, but to actual and positive demonstration.
That a submarine line can be trailed acrosss the bosom
of the Atlantic Ocean, so that messages can be flashed
to and fro between the New and the Old World,
between the extreme west of Europe and the extreme
east of America—the events of the last year proved
beyond all possibility of denial. Newfoundland and
Valentia talked with each other under the abyss of
the great deep through the metallic case of a gutta
percha cable, thrilling with negative and positive
streams of electricity. All this we know—the
world remembers—it was the source in
1858 of general wonder and admiration. But
whether these extraordinary phenomena can be
permanently secured between Europe and America,
between Valentia and Newfoundland, yet remains
to be demonstrated. We believe it will. But in
matters of science Governments cannot go upon
simple belief. Their surety, we repeat, must be
nothing less than absolute demonstration. If every
auspicious and alluring theory proved invariably
capable of realisation it would be different. But
the history of the development of the physical
sciences, under the guidance of inductive philo-
sophy, assures us that this realisation, so far from
being the rule, is in reality the rare and priceless
exception. Until a theory has been tested, there-
' fore, to the uttermost, it is idle to predicate as to the
feasibility of it. Government has, therefore, in its
dealings with an association like the Atlantic
Telegraph Company, only that obvious alternative
—either to delay any aid whatever to the present
enterprise, or to accord that aid in the shape of a
' guarantee conditionally.
It has evidenced a willingness to adopt the latter
course in a rational and patriotic spirit, with refer-
ence to this magnificent scheme of the sub-Atlantic
Telegraph between Valentia and Newfoundland.
So the matter rests at this moment. The Govern-
ment is ready to afford the company assistance, but
to afford that assistance conditionally ; it is ready
to grant the desired guarantee—but to grant it
upon one reasonable contingency.

GREAT FIRE AT LISSON-GROVE.

LOSS OF SIX LIVES.

This morning, shortly after 1 o'clock, the greatest
consternation was occasioned in the neighbourhood
of Lisson-grove by loud shouts of "Fire, fire."
The police hastened to the direction from
whence the screams proceeded, and discovered
the shop of Mr. Wade, an eating-house keeper, in
Great James-street, was on fire. The utmost
exertions were used to awake the inmates to a sense
of their great danger, but unfortunately it was some
time before any person within the burning house
could be aroused. Express messengers were instantly
despatched to the nearest station of the London
Fire Brigade ; and in a short time afterwards the
engine of the Paddington station arrived at the
scene of destruction, followed by those from Baker-
street, Chandos-street, and King-street.
-Without the slightest loss of time the most
strenuous exertions were commenced to extinguish
the conflagration, but without avail. For some
considerable time the fire burned with great fury,
during which the fire-escape of the Royal Society
for the Protection of Life from Fire, under the
charge of Hall, arrived, and steps were instantly
taken to endeavour to rescue the family of Mr.
Wade.

The escape was placed in front of the house, and
after great exertions Mrs. Wade entered it,
but in an instant after doing so the
escape was in flames. This unfortunate accident
was caused by the ignition of the sun blind over
the shop window, which became liberated in con
sequence of the ropes and springs being burnt
from within. Hall made the most despe-
rate attempts to rescue the unfortunate woman
from her dreadful position, in doing which he was
much injured, but he did not effect his object
until she was so severely burnt that life appeared
to have become extinct.

After the fire was somewhat subdued, it was
learned that the master of the house, Mr. Wade,
with three of his children and the servant girl had
been burnt to death. One of the children
was rescued and instantly conveyed to St.
Mary's Hospital, but in a very short
time after its admission into that establishment
it died from the severe and extensive injuries it
had sustained.

The greatest praise is due to the brigade men—
Johnson, Towser, Baker, Wickington—and the
foreman of the King-street engine, Mr. Staples, by
whose judicious directions the surrounding pro-
perty was saved from destruction.

It was some hours before the fire could be said to
be extinguished, and it is much to be regretted that
the calamity has been attended with such a fearful
loss of life.

MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA AND

MAU.RITIUS.

A contract has been concluded by her Majesty's Go-
vernment with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Naviga-
tion Company for the conveyance of mails, once
a month, between this country and the Australian
colonies, including Tasmania and New Zealand, via Egypt.
The first mail to be despatched from Southampton, under
the new arrangements, will be made up in London on the
morning of the 12th of March next, and the first mail
to be despatched aia Marseilles will be made up in
London on the evening of the 18th March. Subsequently
to those dates, the mails will continue to be despatched
via Southampton on the morning of the 12th of each month,
and via Marseilles on the evening of the 18th of each month.
On those occasions, however, when the 12th of the month
falls on Sunday, the mails for Australia, via Southampton,
will be made up and despatched on the -previous evening,
and when the 18th of the month falls on Sunday, the mails
via Marseilles will be made up and despatched on the fol-
lowing evening. •
The packets will not, as heretofore, call at Point de
Gallo, but will call at Port Louis, Mauritius. No letters,
&c., for Ceylon will, therefore, be forwarded henceforth
with the Australian mails ; but mails for Mauritius
will be made up for transmission by each Australianpacket,
and all letters for Mauritius, not otherwise addressed, will be
sent in such mails.

The first homeward packet under the new contract was
appointed to leave Sydney on the 12th inst. The mails
brought by it and forwarded, via Marseilles, will be due in
London on the 4th April ; and those forwarded, via South-
ampton, on the 10th April. Subsequent mails will be due
about the 4th and 10th of every month.
By command of the Postmaster-General,
ROWLAND HILL, Secretary.
General Post-office, 25th Feb., 1859.

We regret to learn of the death, on Wednesday
last, at Darlington, of the Venerable Archdeacon Froude.
The deceased archdeacon was in his 89th year.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.—The public debtor—that is
to say, the tax-paying community at large—will learn with
satisfaction that no addition was made to the annual charge
of the public debt by the interest of any loan made or
annuities created either last year or in 1857.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEON s.—The following
gentlemen having undergone the necessary examinations
for the diploma, were admitted members of the college at a
meeting of the Court of Examiners on the 23d inst. :
Messrs. Henry Hall Fearson, Cockermouth, Cumberland ;
Josiah Sarjant, Limehouse ; Lima Abraham La Mert, Bed-
ford-square ; William Valentine Bird, Seacomb, near Bir-
kenhead ; James Bird Bickerdike, York ; Jonah Plummer,
Clifton, Yorkshire ; James Arthur. Hanbury, Parkhurst
Barracks, Isle of Wight ; Julius Decimus Tripe, Commer-
cial-road ; Philip Edward Collins Merryweather, Euston-
road ; Henry Morris, jun., Gosberton, Spalding, Lincoln-
shire ; Ernest George homas Llewellyn, Puddington,
Devonshire ; and Michael Stack, Listowel, county of
Kerry.

APOTHECARIES' HALL.—The following gentle-
men passed their examination in the science and practice of
medicine, and received certificates to practise, on Thursday,
Feb. 24 :—Wm. Lomas, Henry George Sadler, Wm. James
Wood, Exeter ; David Michael, Bath ; John Thomas See-
come; Joseph Lockwood, Kirkheaton, Huddersfield ; Geo.
Leslie Rogers, Helstone' Cornwall; Oliver Codrington ;
Sydney Ringer, Norwich; Charles Edward Smith, Army ;
Roger Wood, Sarratt, Herts ; Thomas Edward. Owen,
Totnes, Devon; John Dowse, Skelmanthorpe. The follow-
ing gentlemen also on the same day passed their first ex-
amination :—John James Chappell, Axmouth, Devon;
Theophilus Win, Trend, Bridgewater, Somerset,

LATEST NEWS.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :

VIENNA, FEB. 25.

The official Austrian Correspondence (Oester-
reichische Correspondenz) of this evening publishes
an imperial order addressed to the Minister of
War. The order commands the return of all fur-
loughed soldiers belonging to certain regiments
stationed in Italy, the districts for supplying con
scripts to which lie in more distant quarters. The
object of the order is to effect the gradual comple-
tion of the regiments. The Correspondenz points
out that the objects of these measures is purely
defensive, and that they are adopted in consequence
of the warlike preparations in Sardinia. They
need not cause alarm, as the hope must not be
renounced that the result of the efforts which are
being made on various sides in the cause of peace
will be attended with success.

ATHENS, FEB. 21.

The Greek Government has demanded a credit
of two millions of drachmas in case of need.
Turkish troops are assembling on the frontiers.

MODENA, FEB. 24.

The Piedmontese volunteers have been with.
drawn from the frontiers of. Modena and ordered
to confine themselves to the interior.
At present all is tranquil here.

.MILAN, FEB. 24.
At the bal masque of yesterday a demonstration
of the people was prevented.
A disturbance among the students of the publie
school (the Gymnasium of San Allessandro) has
taken place.
The fermentation is increasing.
A farmer near Pavia, who had denounced some
refugees, has been clandestinely assassinated.

TRIESTE, FEB. 25.

Four members of the Council of Management of
the projected Suez 'Canal, -Mogul Bey, the engi-
neer, Hardon, and M. de Lesseps, will depart the
day after to-morrow for Alexandria.

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAY.

The accounts from the provinces, and particu-
larly from Marseilles, speak of the armaments going
on with the same vigour. A letter from that city,
dated yesterday, says that the accumulation of mi-
litary stores and provisions for the army is greater
at present than during any period of the war in the
Crimea. The extensive warehouses at the port of
the Joliette are cramped with military stores ; and
in the bakehouses they are making biscuits night
and day. A detachment of 350 men from the gar-
rison of Arles embarked at Marseilles on Wednes-
day last, for Civita Vecchia, whence they proceed
to Rome.

A Paris correspondent of the Indeivendance of
Brussels asserts that the Emperor, at the last court
ball, spoke to the diplomatists present in terms
which announced that political matters had entered
on a more tranquil stage.
The augmentation of 700,000 fr. in the allowance
for the Princes and Princesses of the Imperial family,
is to be assigned exclusively to Prince Napoleon,
and will make the prince's income 1,000,000 fr.
a-year, which is the same as that received by Prince
Jerome.

The Princess Mathilde, accompanied by several
ladies and by her chevalier d'honneur, went yester-
day to visit the Prefecture of Police. H. I. H. was
received by the Prefect and Mme. Bortelle, and•
after stopping for a short time in their apartments,
went to the Archives to examine the registers of
the victims who were massacred by the terrorists
in 1793 in the prisons of the Abbaye and the
Madelonettes.

Mr. Mitchell superintended -last night,. at .the
Tuileries, a performance of the Christy Minstrels,
by command of the Emperor. A commodious
theatre was constructed in the Salle de Diane, and
nearly 200 visitors were present. The Emperor
and Empress, Prince Jerome, Prince Napoleon,
and the Princess Clotilde, and her sister-in-law
Princess Mathilde, &c., remained to the close of
the performance—and expressed in a marked man-
ner their approbation of the musical entertainment.
It is pleasing to see the Court still fond of music,
even of Christy's Minstrels, They know that

46 The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
_ _

Is flt," &o.

BOURSE, Feb. 25.—The market has been in an
agitated state, and Rente has lost all that it had
gained on the previous day. Reports have been in
circulation of some disturbances between Piedmon-
tese peasants and soldiers. Threes, which left off
yesterday at 68f 65c., declined to 67f. 90e., and
are now heavy at 68f. Mobilier varied from 770 f.
to 772 f. 50c. ; Austrian, 532 f. 50c. to‘s3sf ; Orleans,
1,315 f. to 1,320 f. ; Lyons, 830 f. to 827 f. 50c. The
following were the last quotations :

... , _
41 per Cents. 97 GO
Do. end month 97 50
3 per Cents ' 68 05
Do. end month 67 90
Bank Shares. 2850
Credit Mobilier 7.70
Do. Account

Credit Fonder 645
Belgian 41 99 25
Piedmonteso (5)
Roman BB 50
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt 4O 25

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern

New ditto. _ _ 795

Lyons and Mediterranean .
828 75 827 50
NCNT ditto -

Geneva 535 532 50
Midi

Southern
Western 595 .. 590
Eastern
Grand Central — ..
Sardinian 4OO .. 400
Austrian
Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 15c. ; money
25f. 10c. ; three months, paper, 25f. ; money, 24f. 95c.

ROY AL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT

GARDEN.

Mr. Balfe's highly popular opera, " Satanella ; or, the
Power of Love," continues its triumphant career at the
above theatre, having been performed last night for the
49th time to a crowded house. Her Majesty, accom-
panied by Prince Arthur, the Princess Louisa,
and Prince Leopold, honoured the representation with
their presence. This was the third time within eight days
that her most gracious Majesty came to hear Balfe's chef
d' (mere, which was most brilliantly performed, Miss Louisa
Pyne and Mr. Harrison being recalled twice during the
performance. Much amusement was created by a splendid
bouquet being thrown by a lady from one of the pit boxes,
at the conclusion of the third act, which Mr. Payne, as the
Vizier, presented to Miss Louisa Pyne on his knees.

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THE .SUN.
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 26, 1859.