The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-21 00:00:00

tiE SUN, LONEON, TUESDAY IVENING JULY 2l, 1857.

vessels or men at command, having hastily dis-
charged them on their return to port.
It was much the same during the lite Russian
War. Gunboats were very specially wanted at
the commencement, and after two years' delay
they were got ready only to be put out of Com-
mission. Reilly it looks like as if our Govern-
ment were not in earnest in doing their duty, or
were only throwing dust in the eyes of the coun-
try by way of a make believe.
Sir BALDWIN WALKER, the Surveyor of the
Navy, deserves great and just credit for the
manifest innovations, by way of experiment and
improvement, in the construction of new ships ;
but we think he might have converted many of
the old ones, now lying, ultimately to rot, in our
harbours, into good serviceable vessels, by the aid
of auxiliary screws. These ships have good
capacity—several of them could be rendered
serviceable, to last for years, either as
transports or for defence. In cases of any
sudden emergency, such as the present, and we
are likely to have many of them, these ships
would be invaluable. But no !—this would be
creating a precedent, and be utterly distasteful,
if not destructive, to Red-tapists. On this prin-
ciple, or want of principle, men are never to,
or must not get wiser, either for their own
good or the benefit of their country. How
long the people, who pay so dearly for
this system of jobation, will continue to
look on and suffer remains to be seen. But to
our thinking there has been far too much of it to
be pleasant.
It was stated in the course of debate that the
average time taken by 98 sailing. vessels was 130
days to India, while seven auxiliary steam-ships
went in 93 days, making a difference of thirty-
seven days—a precious difference at this eventful
juncture Why, a saving of thirty-seven
days might be the salvation of thousands
of valuable lives if not the preservation of India.
Even Sir CHARLES WOOD at last confessed that
the first portion—the greater portion—of the
troops were being sent out in sailing vessels, but
that the tenders for the last 6,000 men were
all for steamers. Now, this is really " too bad
after all our bitter experience of the past, to
be again, and so soon, left in the lurch by official
neglect or indifference. And to make up for this
continued mismanagement, he actually boasted
that the country was never so well prepared for
war. This reminds us of the reply of the Dutch
Captain, when asked the time of day—" Why,"
said he, I have not got my watch now, but I

know where it is." Where ? "At the bottom
of the sea." And so the ships and men
of the First Lord of the Admiralty are laid up
and dispersed I—he must wait a long time before
he can bring them to bear. Now, this boast only
aggravates the burning sense of our disappoint-
ment. There must surely be something wrong
somewhere to account for all this misdoing, and
the sooner it is righted the better. After

having trained up a body of the finest and bravest

seamen in the world, we coldly cast them adrift,
and, like the boy who opened the cage, wondered
and wept that the bird had flown, never to return.
We are left to repent. But we must refer our
readers to the debate. We are heartily ashamed
of our Rulers.

The question respecting the sufficiency of the
naval and military defences of the country, is
assuredly one of the most important that can be
ventilated in either House of Parliament. We
cannot conceive in what manner an inquiry into
the interesting subject can be considered as tanta-
mount to one of want of confidence in the Go-
vernment. We place great reliance on the vigour
and energy of Lord PALMERSTON. So far as the
foreign policy of the country is concerned, we be-
lieve him to be " the right man in the right
place," and that opinion is shared by a large pro-
portion of the chosen representatives of the people,
and a still more overwhelming majority of the
community. But it is also known that he is not
altogether his own master, and that he is beset by
sinister influences, against which his hands should
be strengthened, as they would be, by a decisive
demonstration in the popular branch of the Legis,-
lature. Besides, highly as we respect the Pre-
mier, we would not, even in his case, omit a
single precaution in a matter wherein the safety,
honour, and welfare of our Sovereign Lady
the QUEEN and her dominions "in all parts of the
globe" are concerned. It would constitute an evil
precedent which might become dangerous under
differer.t circumstances. For the sake of the
Government itself, but still more for that of the
nation, we wish that the most ample and satisfac-
tory information should be obtained, and that
suitable measures should be forthwith adopted for
the Purpose of ensuring the efficiency of the na-
tional defences both by land and by water.
There is certainly a priml facie case for a strin-
gent and searching investigation. The troops
voted in the commencement of the session were
then considered amply sufficient for the military re-
quirements of the nation ; but circumstances have
srisen that have required the services of at least
20,000—perhaps we should be nearer the mark
in saying 25,000—0 f those troops. It is thus
obvious that either the establishment must have
been far too great, or that it is now, or will
shortly be, very deficient. It is a dilemma from
the horns whereof there is no possible escape.
The Minister who sanctioned the number must
be tossed on one horn or the other. The troops
actually en route for China have been stopped in
transitu, in order to meet the greater exigency in
Bengal. Surely, then, the deficiency for China
should be amply supplied, while every possible
exertion should be made to prevent the nation
from being denuded of disciplined troops.
There may not be any threatening cloud in the
political atmosphere at this moment, and even if a
difficulty should occur, we have no doubt that the
zeal and unflinching resolution of the people
would fill up the breach. But si ris pacem, pars
bellum, and the truth and accuracy of the adage has
been established beyond the possibility of dispute.
It would be unwise and unsafe to trust too im-
plicitly to the goodwill of other nations, if we
neglected the means which are within our own
power. We believe that Euglaud could on an
emergency more than double her troops, and that
without resorting to a conscription or compulsory
powers of enlistment, such as are in operation
amongst all continental nations. But would it
be right? Would it be judicious or proper to
wait for the crisis, which might be occa-
sioned by the very want of preparation
on our part? We think not ; and therefore we
should like to see prompt and effactual means
' adopted to supply the void while there is yet time,
and before the security of the empire could be
affected by the deficiency.
Lord PALMERSTON has himself 'virtually con-
fessed that lie is by no means satisfied- with
the
state of affairs. He has more
than
that " the amount was not quite I
ne
so large as they (the Government) would I
have desired, had there been more ample means
at their disposal." This reveals the entire nly3_
tery. It is Sir G. C. LEWIS who protests against
the additional empense. We must " cut our coat
stoordiog to our olotlu" kagi bower: kilts d
A

of his surplus funds, and in the plenitude of
financial pride, has insisted on paying off the
indemnity for the Danish Sound dues, with
out availing himself of the privilege of liqui-
dating it by instalments spread over 20 or 30
years. We protested at the time against the
plan, as tending to oppress the existing taxpayers
already exhausted by the burdens of a serious war.
Already we discern the ill effects of the course !
The nation is to be denuded of its defences be-
cause the Exchequer has been denuded of its
balances, to gratify the hobby of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer. The safety and honour of the
empire must be imperilled, in order that he may
play the part of " ready money Jack," and
astonish the weak minds of the continental
financiers. This may be called " a valuable
financial demonstration," as a similar act of cul-
pable folly was styled at the commencement of
the Russian war. We, however, regard it in a
very different and less flattering point of view.

Under any circumstances, the bands of the
Government should be strengthened. A. short
ace, authorising them to call out a portion of the
militia en permanence, or until the end of the next
session of Parliament, would provide for the
domestic defences of the country in a satisfactory
manner, and that salutary precaution should not
be delayed for a single hour.

Is England always to be fettered in trammels
of red tape ? Must routine maintain its baleful

preeminence whenever matters of vital import-
ance to the welfare and stability of the Anglo-

Indian Empire are ventilated ? It would seem
that) ouch was the case, from the neglect and
apathy exhibited in reference to one of the most
important projects that has been brought under
public consideration for many years. Every man
o; ordinary capacity and ordinary information
must feel the vast results that would arise from
the construction of the Euphrates Valley Railway.
The mere fact that it would shorten the distance
to India by at least 1,000 miles, and the time
to about 14 days, or about half of that now occu-
pied, should ensure its immediate construction at
almost any expense. But there are other cir-
cumstances of scarcely less weight and magnitude
in its favour. It would be " the means of con-
solidating the power of the SULTAN in his Asiatic
dominions," prevent " the dangerous isolation of
Persia," and reduce the chances of a Muscovite
invasion of India to a minimum. What expendi-
ture of men and money has England recently in-
curred for these objects, and how gladly would it
again contribute largely for similar purposes !
Millions of pounds sterling would be nothing in
the scale, provided they were only required in
the regular way, and in strict accordance with
the dictates of red-tapism.
But, unfortunately, such is not the case, and
therefore the most trivial Government aid is with-
held from an undertaking which it would be well
worth its while to complete, even without the
prospect of a pecuniary return. Such under-
takings, say the red tapist sages, should be left to
private enterprise. There should be no Govern-
ment interference except in the shape of creating
impediments. The removal of difficulties is by
no means in its line, and is totally opposed
to the most approved and best established
precedents. " TAPER'S" hair would stand on end
at the mere suggestion, while " TADPOLE" would
sacrifice bis " Brutus," and literally " fling his
wig in the fire" at the notion. The thing would
be perfectly inadmissible ; and could not be en-
tertained for a single moment.
Now, it is well to understand the real state of
the case that has excited such intense horror
among petty officials. The undertaking offers a
very handsome return on the amount required,
but unfortunately capitalists are a timid
They will not invest their money,
save on something approximating to a
certainty. The assurance of Sir JOHN APNEILL,
that in his opinion, the first portion of
the work, that connecting the Mediterranean with
the Euphrate-, and which is estimated to cost
1,400,0001. would return 8 per Cent, on the out-
lay is not sufficient. They require something
even more decisive, a positive guarantee of a cer

race,

tain per centage.
Even this has not been withheld, The SULTAN,
recognising the extraordinary advantages that
would arise from the completion of the line, has
offered a guarantee of 6 per cent., and also to com-
mence, simultaneously with the railway, the con-
struction of a harbour at the mouth of the Orontes,
at the proposed terminus of the railway. But
this, too, is inadequate, for are not Turkish un-
guaranteed 6 per Cent, Bonds quoted at 95 ? and
there must be something to supply the defi-
ciency, in order to induce private speculators to
come firward. In a different state of the Money
Market the matter would be very diffe-
rent. But the extravagant price of money
occasioned by our monetary legislation has
arrested this as well as other useful schemes.
It is then required to prevent the project from
falling to the ground that the Government should
give an additional or counter guarantee of 5 per
cent. for 25 years, or 41 per cent. for 50 years,
on the capital of 1,400,000/. for the first section,
and this could only come into operation in the
event of two contingencies, viz., " the railway
not paying a moderate dividend, and the Turkish
Government failing to fulfil its part of the con-
tract." The risk would thus be almost infinitesimal,
while the advantages would be great and certain,
and far more than equivalent to what could be
demanded if we had to pay the fall amount of
our responsibility. Even that responsibility would
doubtless be shared in by the East India Company,
so that a trifling portion of what is occasionally
sacrificed on jobs of the worst description would
more than secure the inestimable benefits arising
from the establishment of the line.

It could scarcely constitute a dangerous prece-
dent, for we cannot conceive any case in which
the results would be so decisive. we trust, then,
that the Government may for once disregard the
red-tapiits, and do that which the interests of the
nation so imperatively require. We are quite
certain that they will receive the cordial sanction
and co-operation of Parliament for the pro-
ceeding.

It is reported at Brussels that her Majesty Queen Vic-
toria, after visiting the Emperor and Empress of the
French early in September, will proceed to Brussels,
where her Majesty will remain for a few days on a visit
to King Leopold.
TLe Palmyra has arrived from Shanhae, with
688.30001b5. of tea and 168 bales of silk on freight.
PREPARATIONS FOR MARRIAGE.—An old maid re-
cently died who left. property to the value of nearly
eight thousand pounds. She was all her lifetime getting
ready to be married, and had stored up 182 sheets, 63
coverlets, 50 blankets, 27 beds, with 1,1201 b. of
feathers, 54 piilows, 53 handkerchiefs, and numerous
other articles.

A shock of earthquake was felt at Venice on the
11th. The motion was undulatory, in a direction from
east to west. The sky was cloudy at the time, and there
was no wind. The shock was also felt at Treviso and
Rovigo.
REPRESENTATION OF GALWAY.—Mr. P. Blake, Q.C.,
has waived his pretensions to the borough of alway,
and has, it is said, resigned in favour of Sir Thomas
Redington.
REPRESENTATION OF MAYO.—The Nation announces
that Mr. Tristram Kennedy, the rejected of Louth at
the last election, goes down to Mayo under the direct
auspices of the archiepiscopal returning officer for the
county, and that, his Protestantism notwitlisteudiDgp
" 74111 A supported b 7 tb! privets im a Dod7.
_ _

TILE QUEEN OF THU NErIIERLANDS.

Yesterday forenoon the Queen of the Netherlands,
attended by the chief members of her suite, visited
Westminster Abbey, and, after going over the chapels
and other interesting portions of the sacred building,
left for St. George's H,)spital, of which charitable insti-
tution her Majesty made a thorough inspection, attended
by the principal medical officers of the establishment.
On leaving the hospital, the Queen and the members
of the Royal suite visited Stafford House, in order to go
over the picture gallery of the ducal mansion. Her
Majesty was received, in the absence of the Duke and
Duchess of Sutherland, by the Marchioness of Stafford.
The Queen then returned to Claridge's Hotel to
luncheon.

Ib the course of the afternoon her Majesty paid a
visit to the Duke and Duchess of Wellington at Apsley
Howe, and availed herself of the opportunity to visit
the Waterloo Gallery and chief apartments of the man•
sion.

From Apsley House the Queen and party were driven
to the House of Lords, where her Majesty remained
until nearly six o'clock.

Shortly before eight o'clock her Majesty proceeded to
St. James's Palice to dine with her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Cambridge, and subsequently honoured Vis-
countess Palmerston by her presence at a " dance" at
Cambridge House.
A number of the aristocracy called t) pay their re
spects to the Queen yesterday at Claridge's Hotel.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge called
in the course of the afternoon.

His Royal Highness the Prince Consort will visit
Salisbury on Wednesday next, on the occasion of the
Royal Agricultural Show.
We are informed that the officers of the 97th have
arranged that their regiment shall visit the Crystal
Palace to-day. The regiment is on its way to India,
and will, in fact, take its farewell of England at
Sydenham.
MARRIAGE IN HIGE LIFE.—The marriage of Lady
tAary Catherine Yorke, second daughter of the Earl and
Life Guards), nephew of the Earl Craven, was solem-
nised yesterday at St. Paul's, Knightsbridge.
The Sun, Daily 'News, and Express were seized yes-
terday at the Paris Post-office.
It is stated that the principal part of the 186,0001.
brought from New York by the Persia and Ericcson on
Saturday is on French account.
Telegraphic adeices from Spain yesterday announce
an extraordinary decline from the recent high prices of
wheat. _ . _ _ _

Liverpool letters state the suspension of Messrs, H.
Schwabe and Co., with liabilities for about 60,0001. A
composition is said to be offered of 6s. Bd. in the pound
The Palmyra has arrived from Shanghai, with 688,300
pounds of tea and 168 bales of silk. The Pera is stated
to have 1,159 bales of silk.
In the general business of the port of London during
the past week there has been but little change. The num-
ber of vessels reported inward was 171, being 11 less
than in the previous week. These included 56 with car-
goes of corn, 11 with cargoes of sugar, and one cargo of
tea and silk. The number of ships cleared outward was
137, including 14 in ballast, showing a decrease of 16.
THE LATE CASE OF STABBING IN THE QUEEN'S
PRISON.—Mr. Gower, implicated with Salvi, has been
admitted to bail. The amount fixed by the magistrate
was two sureties in 5,0001. each, and Mr. Gower in
10,000/.
At the Guildhall Police-court, yesterday, Walter
Jones was fully committed for trial on a charge of
robbing the office of Mr. Wood of bills of exchange to
the amount of 3,0001.
Loss OF THE CANADIAN SCREW STEAMER.—It is re-
ported that the owners intend to abandon the Canadian
screw steamer ; but it is affirmed that her after-com-
partment can be pumped out, when the cost of raisin
her would be comparatively little.
A DEMI MAJOR'S PRINCELY PIIPIL.—Drum Major
William L,omes, 2d battalion Coldstream Guards, who
has for some time past attended at Buckingham Palace
for the purpose of teaching the young Prince Arthur the.
art of military drum beating, received from her Majesty
on Wednesday last a special mark of her approbation for
his attention to the Royal prince. The Queen herself
presented him with a handsome gold watch, engraved
with an inscription ; also a portrait of his young pupil,
who is never so happy as when he is performing some
military movement.—lgnited Service Gazette.
SUICIDE BY POISON.—The inquest upon Mr. James
Sebastian Yeates, stockbroker, who died at his residence
in the Crescent, Albany-road, on Thursday morning,
was resumed yesterday by Mr. W. Carter, the coroner,
and the evidence of his daughter, Miss Phoebe Yeates,
his son, Mr. Richard Yeates, and a female servant, was
taken, leaving no doubt that he had died from the effects
of prussic acid administered by himself, The jury found
a verdict of suicide under temporary insanity.
We are informed that the breaks occurring on the
Lombardo-Venetian Railway Company's line between
Milan and Venice have been completed, and that the
traffic between those two cities will be uninterrupted,
dating from the let of August.
Thursday next has been appointed special settling
day for the shares of the Mediterranean Extension
Telegraph Company, which are to be quoted in the
official lists.

PROTRACTED LITIGATION.—After 17 years' litigation
the important case of certain English bondholders, re-
presented by Messrs. Palmer, Mackillop, and Co.,
against the North American Trust and Banking Com-
pany, has been decided in the New York Court of Ap-
peals in favour of the English claimants. The BUM
involved is more than 300,000/.

THE RoYAL YACHT.—The Queen of these realms has,
as she should have, the fastest and finest steam yacht in
the world. The Victoria and Albert was built at Pem-
broke Dockyard, from designs furnished by the Surveyor
of the Navy. Her length between perpendiculars is 300
•feet, and from taffrail to figure head 337 feet ; her ex-
treme breadth is 40 feet 3 inches ; her burden in tons
2,343. She has engines of 600 nominal horse-power, and
is propelled by paddle-wheels. When tried at the mea
sured mile in Stokes' Bay, with a draught of water of
14 feet aft and 13 feet 10 inches forward, her engines
worked up to an indicated horse-power of 2,980, making
15.4 revolutions per minute ; and the yacht attained the
auparalleled speed of 191 miles per hour. Her character
for unequalled speed was well sustained on a recent trip
from the Isle of Wight to Cherbourg, when she accotai:
pliehed the journey of 84 miles in 41 hours, having
started from the spit buoy at 17 minutes past 3 a.m., and
entered the harbour of Cherbourg before 8 a.m., thus
making nearly 18 miles per hour. She is built upon the
diagonal principle, and is, therefore, both lighter and
stronger than either an ordinary wooden or iron-built
.hip.—Mcchanies' Magazine.
GLASGOW FAIR.--Glasgow, July 18.—To-clay no
fewer than 44 steamers started from the Broomielaee
bridge for the coast, each containing on an average 500
persons, exclusive of the pleasure seekers who left by
other steamers to Ireland, Camphelton, &c. ; and about
28.000 persons left the city by the various railways.
Pig-iron—The pig-iron market continues dull and ina-
nimate, prices having rather a downward tendency. A
few lots have changed hands during the week at 735. to
735. 31. per ton each. To-day the market is nominal,
the quotations for mixed numbers warrants being 733.
per ton cash, while shipping iron, mixed numbers, was
offered at 71s. 6d. per ton cash. To-morrow being a
holiday there will be no meeting of metal brokers on
'Change.
THE LAND TRANSPORT CORPS —The reports of the
Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Land
Transport Corps has been handed in and published. The
ceramittee declare that the discharge of the corps imme-
diately on its return frem the Crimea was not in viola-
' tion of the terms of its enlistment ; but they think, on
the other hand, the mode of discharging the men was,
with few exceptions, not in accordance with the usual
rules and regulations of the service. The committee
regret that the service regulations were not more 4rictly
observed. The committee revert to the impolicy, to
say nothing worse, of alienating the goodwill of our ar-
tisans, whose services may be again needed for the sup-
port and furtherance of the most important intere-ts of
the country, by any act of injustice or any display of an
ungenerous spirit towards them ; and they recommend
that the unsettled claims of the Land Transport Corps
should be carefully and justly examined by the depart-
ment which employed them, and that all those justly
made should in all cases be frankly acknowledged and
generously discharged. The committee call attention to
the want of unity and combination which characterised
the relation of the Secretary for War with the Com-
mander-in-Chief with reference to the formation of the
Land Transport Corps.
AN ELECTIONEERING INCIDENT OF 1571.—1 t appears
from the journals of the 10th May, says the " Parlia-
mentary History," that one Thomas Long, gent., was
returned for the borough of Westbury in the county of
Wilts, who, being found to be a very simple man and
not fit to serve in that place, was questioned how he
came to be elected. The poor wan immediately con-
fessed to the house that he gave to Anthony Garland,
mayor of the said town of Westbury, and one Watts
of the same, 4/. for his place in parliament. Upon
which an order was made that the said Garland and
Watts should repay unto the said Thomas Loog the 41.
they had of him. Also that a fine of 201. be assessed for
the Queen's use on the said corporation and inhabitants
of Westbury, for their scandalous attempt.—Quarterly
Renew, new number.
LOST IN THE WOODS.—An 01l gentleman in his 61st
year, from tie eastward, started from Nellisville to go
to his son-in-law's, about three miles distant. The old
gentleman got into the woods, became bewildered, and
for nine days wandered about with nothing but cran-
berries to eat, and water, of which he drank often. After
he had been gone two or three days, and it was known
that he was lost, the population turned out and
searched for him in every direction, but could not
find the least trace of his track, and it was expected
that some hunter would one day find his bones.
It had rained for several days. He had got into the
windfalls, where it was difficult for any man to get out.
The second Sunday from the time he left the man made
his appearance on the East Fork of the Black River,
about 16 miles from where he started. He first entered
a deserted logger's camp, where had been left some flour
and meat, but such was the old man's honesty he would
not touch it. He finally :came to the house of Mr.
James Yates, by whom he was kindly cared for, He
appeared quite vigorous even then, except that his feet
and legs were badly swollen. He is expected to recover.
The above singular occurrence is mentioned in tho
Black Afar (Wisconsin) Rcinscr..ll7co Ark ovn.,

LATEST NEWs..

Accounts from the Naples of the 16th announce
that the insurgents who were made prisoners in
the late affair, will not be tried by the Military
Court, but by the Royal Court of Salerno. This
more lenient measure has, it is said, been decided
on, because a part of the prisoners of PODZa were
led into the movement by threat?, and were com-
pelled to fight. Several who refused to march
were shot by order of Pisacane. The second leader
in the revolt, Baron Nicotera, an ex-functionary,
who took pact in the insurrection of 1848, and was
then banished, is among the wounded prisoners.
Manifestoes, hostile to the Neapolitan government,
continued to be circulated."

FRANCE.
PARIS, MONDAY.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs has sent a cir-
cular to all French consuls giving them instructions
as to the manner in which they are to act with re-
spect to the new Russian tariff.
A Paris corres pond en t of th e Independance of Brus-
sels writes :—" The sending out of some French and
English vessels of war to Tunis is spoken of. France
has severaltimesmade similar nia,uffestations against
the regency, and for a less serious cause than the pre-
sent oue ; under Louis Philippe, two such mani-
festations were made. The concessions of Si-Mo-
hammed to the fanaticism of his subjects are all the
more inconceivable that his envoy extraordinary,
General Ker-Eddin, was in Paris some months ago,
and was the bearer of presents to the Imperial
family. The Akbar of Algiers demands in the in-
terest of public security that the Hatti-huin.aioun
of Constantinople shall be applied to Tunis. But
this guarantee is not equal in dance
opinion to a
frank execution of the treaty of
in 1830 by Admiral de Rosamel, the stipulations of
which provide for all the points connected with
good. n6rg-rah—„,..hrte-vi Aria religious toleration "
BOURSE, July 20.—The following were the last
quotations :

Cash. fr. c. End of Month.
44 per Cents
3 per Cents 67 60 67 70
Bank Shares 2,900 Credit Foncier —
Credit Mobilier 1,000 Roman
Do. Account 1,000 Austrian
Belgian 44
Fiedmoutese (5) 9ll— Home Debt