The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-11 00:00:00

TIM SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 11, 1868.

Ho use, bo.tlwe should hope the right hon. gentleman
does zetA intend to make political capital out
of a t subject of such vital importance and interest
As tb.is, or to serve party purposes at the expense
o the country and the conduct of public business.
L !eland, of all questions that are before us, impe-
rL ttively demands the dispassionate judgment of
al►' our legislators. They should unite on
neutral ground for this purpose, and to attain the
desired result those of different politics and diverse
creeds should meet to further and encourage the
peace and prosperity of that kingdom, which has
laboured under so many misfortunes of one
kind and another. This cannot be done
if the trumpet-blast of faction is to be
blown, and if hon. members are to be led hither and
thither at the dictation of aspirants for office and
not zealous advocates for the cause of national
regeneration. We would appeal to all the true
friends of Ireland to show more honesty and exhibit
more patriotism than to let there real end in view
be lost sight of in the tumult of a fight for supre-
macy.

In the midst of the pressing political excitements
of the day a private banquet took place last even-
ing which may claim especial notice. Seldom has
a more interesting occasion summoned together a
band of men associated in a difficult and tedious
enterprise to rejoice over the triumphant result of
their laborious and unwearied endeavours. The
actual achievement has indeed become a thing of
the past, but recent events have conspicuously
illustrated its importance and advantage. Mr.
CYRUS FIELD, so prominently known in connec-
tion with the laying of the Atlantic Cable, gave
a dinner last evening at Buckingham-gate to
some 70 gentlemen interested in the work, and in
the science of .which it is so eminent an illustration.
By a happy thought, Mr. FIELD had arranged with
the Telegraph companies to have the wires brought
into the dining room in which his guests were as-
sembled, and messages were transmitted to and fro
during the banquet between the company and the
PRESIDENT of the United States, Mr. SEWARD, New
York, Havannah, and Newfoundland. A strik-
ing example• was thus afforded to the party
of the wonderful perfection to which the science
of telegraphy is now brought, and of the
admirable working order the cables and their at-
tendant wires are in. Mr. JOHNSON telegraphed
his congratulations to the assembly, and wished
them all possible success—that their wires might
be multiplied through many seas and their stakes
be extended through many lands. Mr. SEWARD
was equally complimentary in his message, and
dwelt especially upon the encouragement afforded
by their labours to friendship and goodwill between
the nations. Mr. GLADSTONE, who was prevented
from being present by the Irish debate in the House
of Commons, sent a cordial letter, and the meet-
ing altogether was one of those rare occasions
on which everything is couleur de rose, and all the
addresses are full of compliments and congratula-
tion. No one, however, can begrudge both hosts
and guests their hour of triumph and rejoicing.
They have waited long and patiently to see success
crown their labours. They have hoped against
hope, and borne up against repeated failures as only
a strong conviction could have enabled them to do.
Neither have their sacrifices been those of sentiment
alone. It was incidentally mentioned last night
that for fourteen years, since the first agreement
was signed by a few of the promoters of the
Atlantic Telegraph, of whom Mr. CYRUS FIELD
was, of course, one, money had been going
out, and that, until within the last six months,
there had been no return. Matters have altogether
changed since then, and the indefatigable promoters
of the undertaking are reaping something more
substantial than fame from their labours, but the
fact is no less evidence of their indomitable perse-
verance. To Mr. CYRUS FIELD individually a very
large share of the praise is due. His resolution
never faltered, his conviction of ultimate success
never wavered throughout all difficulties and dis-
couragements, and he has had the satisfaction not
always accorded to the originators and pro-
moters of such world-famous undertakings.
It must have been with deep gratification that
Mr. FIELD on Friday evening gave the order for
transmitting the whole of the interesting and im-
portant debate to which he had been listening in
the House of Commons verbatim to the American
Press. Such an achievement was of itself a marvel,
and the fact that a debate spoken in Westminster
one night should be read on the other side of the
Atlantic next day, makes us realise how much time
and space have been annihilated by the triumphs
of art and science. That debate itself was not
without evidence of the more kindly and cordial
feelings which the telegraph has assisted in deve-
loping between the two great nations, feelings
which we may reasonably hope will increase rather
than diminish with the coming years.

The paper which was yesterday read at the meet-
ing of the Royal Geographical Society by Mr.
WADDINGTON opened up a subject of great prac-
tical importance in regard to our Transatlantic
possessions. The subject of the paper was, " The
Geography and Mountain Passes of British Colum-
bia, with reference to the Overland Route ;" and
Mr. WADDINGTON, who is well acquainted with the
country, was able to furnish some remarkable in-
formation. For many years he has been exploring
the different valleys and passes in the Rocky Moun-
tains with the view of ascertaining the most
practicable for a waggon road and rail.
road from the Pacific across the Rocky Moun-
tains. The Americans, as we know, are
busy effecting a communication between the
two oceans, and there is no reason why British en-
terprise and ingenuity should be behind hand in
the race of science and improvement. The statis-
tics which Mr. WADDINGTON laid before the meet-
ing, and the map which he had constructed, and on
which he was complimented by Sir RODERICK
MURCHISON, helped to convince the majority of the
feasibility of this important scheme, which, whether
we regard it politically or commercially, must be
of the greatest value to our British American
colonies.

The ribbon of the order of St. Patrick which was
in possession of the Prince Consort, and which has not
been conferred since his death, will be bestowed on his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales during his approach-
ing visit to Ireland. The installation will be distinguished
by unusual pomp, and the ceremonial will include a public
procession through the streets of Dublin.
THE LATE SIR DAVID BREWSTER.—On Monday
afternoon a meeting was held in the Royal Society's
Rooms, Edinburgh, for the purpose of considering the pro-
priety of erecting a monument to the late Sir David Brews-
ter, in commemoration of his services in the cause of
science. Sir David Baxter, of Kilmaron, was called to the
chair ; and among others present were Lord Neaves, Sir
David Dundas, Sir J. Y. Simpson, Sir G. Harvey, Profes-
sor Pluyfair, Professor Balfour, Professor Tait, Dr. Alex-
ander Wood, Dr. Andrew Wood, Dr. Keith Johnston, Mf.
Maim Horne, of Wedderburn, Mr. Bryce, architect, Mi
Francis Brown Douglas, Scc. It was unanimously resolved
on the motion of Lord Neaves, seconded by Dr. Andrew
Wood, that a monument, taking the form of a statue, to
Sir D. Brewster, should be erected in some public and
conspicuous part of Edinburgh. A committee was ap-
pointed to carry out the resolution.

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