The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-27 00:00:00

INDIAN ROUTES.

- - - - - - -
According to geographers the distance from
Southampton to Alexandria is exactly equal to the-
distance from Alexandria to Southampton, and the
distance from Suez to Calcutta exactly equal to the
distance from Calcutta to Suez. But were we to rely
upon the rates charged by the Peninsular and Oriental
Company upon their passengers, we might hesitate
before assenting to this apparently self-evident propo-
sition. A passenger from Southampton to Alexan-
dria is charged 40/. ; a passenger from Southampton
to Calcutta, 115/. But a passenger from Calcutta to
Suez is.charged 1021., and a passenger from Calcutta -
to Southampton 1151., leaving only 131. instead of
401. for the passage through the Mediterranean and -
across the Bay of Biscay.
On a farmer occasion we ventured to attribute this

anomaly to a desire on the part of the company to
compel all its Indian passengers to " book through"'
to England; instead of leaving it in their option to
proceed from Alexandria either by the Mediterranean
and the Bay of Biscay, or overland by Trieste. And
a " Lover of Fair- play" expressed surprise that we
could for a moment be so absurd as to imagine that"
the company would leave them any option on the
matter. '

Now, we will not take upon us to say that the com-
pany can be expected to be so disinterested as to carry
passengers to Suez, and leave it optional to them to
proceed onward from Alexandria either in the com-
pany's vessels, or in the vessels of any other parties -
as may suit their convenience or caprice. But we do
say that if the company refuse to do this, it is desira-
ble that some other means of transit than their vessels
should be kept available for Indian travellers who do
not wish to bind themselves to use the company's
steamers on this side of Alexandria.

And this is the reason wby we attribute so much

importance to the keeping of the Bombay and Suez
line out of the hands of the Peninsular and Oriental
Company. At present travellers from India, who wish
to remain a short time in Egypt, and then proceed
onwards by any steamer that offers, or who wish

to proceed from Alexandria by the Trieste route,
may reach Suez without paying almost the whole of
the passage to Southampton, by embarking at Bom-
bay. But if the Peninsular and Oriental Company
are to get possession of the Suez and Bombay line,
as well as of the Suez and Calcutta line, this will no
longer be possible.
The alternative, therefore, does not lie, as some
writers on the subject would have us believe, between
keeping the Suez and Bombay line in the hands of
the East Indian Government and transferring it to
the Peninsular and Oriental Company. Even
though the East Indian Government should be brought
to acknowledge that the line could be better managed
by private individuals than themselves, it would still be
for the interest of the public that the Peninsular and
Oriental Company should not be the parties to whom
the management is entrusted.

It will not do to say that no private individuals
can be got to undertake the service except the
Peninsular and Oriental Company. Government
has never tried to learn whether or not other
parties might be induced to undertake it. The cir-
cumstances under which Government have attempted
to transfer the Bombay and Suet line to the Peninsu-
lar and Oriental Company are as follows :
In the beginning of the year the Admiralty in-
vited tenders for carrying the mails monthly to
Sydney. Not a word was said in the adver-
tisement •about carrying the mails between Suez
and Bombay, and between Calcutta, Singapore,
and Hong-Kong. Of course only such parties sent
in tenders as were disposed to attempt the Austra-
lian service. But the Peninsular and Oriental
Company, uninvited, tendered at the same time
for the Australian, the Bombay and Suez,
and the Calcutta and Hong-Kong services. Their
tender was sent in on the 22d of January last, and,
on the 21st of February the Chancellor of the Ex-
' chequer wrote to the chairman and deputy-chairman •
of the East India Company, urging that the
tender should be accepted. Had the chairman
of the East India Company and his colleagues closed
with the proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
all overland passengers from India to England would
have been compelled to " book through ' from India
to England, or at least to pay within a trifle of as
much for being carried to Suez as for being carried
to England.

'Phis is what we sEek to press upon the attention of
the English and Indian publics, the necessity of not
allowing both of the bi• monthly mail lines to fall into
the same hands. It may be, that Government officers
are not competent to work a passenger and mail
line in a satisfactory manner, and that therefore
the East Indian Government ought to transfer
the Bombay and Suez line to private enterprise.
But if this is to be done let it be done publicly :
let the public, have the benefit of competition for the
service. There are already several Mediterranean
steam companies to whom it would be an object to
undertake ,the conveyance of the Indian mail which
is dispatched in the beginning of the month,
though it would be none to undertake the conveyance
of the mail from Singapore to Sydney, or to Aus-
tralia by any other route. Even should the East
India Company relinquish the mail dispatched in the
beginning of each month, it is for the public interest
that an opportunity should be afforded of having it
"conveyed' upon more advantageous terms than are
offered by the Peninsular and Oriental ; it is for the
public interest that one of the bimonthly mails
should be. in the hands of parties willing to convey
passengers from India to Suez, and then leave them
free to. proceed onwards from Alexandria by any
route or conveyance they may choose.—Daily News.

THE AUTHOR OF ROCKINGHAM'S NEW NOVEL.
Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 voig.,
L OVE and AMBITION.
By
THE AUTHOR OF " ROCKINGHAM."
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
THE GRAND NATIONAL CONCERTS.
THIS EVENING.
THE BERLIN CHOIR FOR FOUR EXTRA NIGHTS.
First Appearance of the Messrs. Distin.
The Solos in God Save the Queen," in the (great Quadrille of All
Nations, will be sung by Madlle. Angri and Mr. Sims Reeves. The
Military Bands, the Corps of Side Drums, the English Choristers, and
the Berlin Choir.
Spohr's New Grand Descriptive Symphony. Overture ala Chasse
de Jeune Henri (Mehul). New Valse and New Galop, by Labitzky.
Angri, Sims Reeves, Molique, Piatti, Baumann. Barret, the Messrs.
Distin, Richardson, Remu.sat, Briccialdi, Arban, Franc, and Miss
Goddard.

Musical Director, Composer, and Conductor—H. Rolfe.
Conductor of La Musique de Danse—Herr Labitzky.
Conductor of the Choristers of the Berlin Chapel Royal—Herr
Neidhardt.

Promenade (admitting to the Half-Circles, Gallery] 1 6
..and Pit Stalls) .. .. .. ..

The Doors open at Half-past Seven, and the Concerts will com-
mence at Eight, and terminate about Eleven.
Boxes and Stalls to be bad at the Box-office, where Programmes
of the performance may be obtained.
Mr. Thomas Masters of the Polytechnic Institution, the Coloseum,
and Royal Botanic and Zoological Gardens, will supply the Refresh-
ments and Wines, &c., &c.

H AN OVER-SQUARE ROOMS
THE BERLIN CHOIR.

The Directors of the Grand National Concerts have the honour to
announce that, in consequence of numerous applications from fami-
lies residing at a distance from town, and others who have been un-
able to attend the performances of the above celebrated Choir, they
have arrangel to give TWO GRAND MORNING CONCERTS at
the above Rooms, on THURSDAY and SATURDAY next, the 28th
and 30th November, previous to their departure for Berlin.
The first part of the Concert will consist exclusively of classical
works, the second part will be varied and comprise several of their
most popular arrangements of English. Irish, and Scotch melodies.
Emile Papendyk, the p incipal treble chorister, 11 years of age, will
perform on the grand pianoforte "Lieder ohne Worte," and a fantasia
by Kullack.
Programmes and tickets to be obtained at the box-office of her
Majesty's Theatre, on Thursday next (to-morrow).—Reserved seats,
bs. ; back seats, 3s. 6d.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton.

MR. MACREADT.- -
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed HAMLET. Hamlet, Mr. Macready.
To be followed by AN ALARMING SACRIFICE.
To conclude with MRS. WHITE. Peter White, Mr. H. Redford.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELYIII.
Ender the direction of Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING,

Will be performed a new and original Drama, entitled JESSIE
GRAY. Characters by Messrs. Hugbes, Boyce, 0. Smith, P. Bed-
ford, Madame Celeste, and Miss K. Fitzwilliam.

After which a new Farce called THE SCHOOL FOR TIGERS ;
or, The Shilling flop. Captain Kiteflyer, Mr. Boyce; Major Stiff,
Mr. Worrell; lir. Panels, Mr. Wright; Alexander Panels, Miss
Chaplin.

To conclude with a Terpsichorian Burlesque called ESMERALDA.
Characters by Messsrs. 0. Smith, Wright, P. Bedford ; Madame
`eleste, Misi 3,Voolgar, and Miss K. litzwilliam.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C. Keay' and Mr. Keeley.
THIS EVENING,

Will be performed an entirely new Play called THE TEMPLAR.
Characters by Messrs. Ryder, Fisher, Belton, Addison, Vining, Cath-
cart, Everett, C. Kean ; and Mrs. C. Kean.
After which BETSY BAKER; or, "Too Attentive by Half."
Characters by Messrs. J. Vining, Keeley, Mrs. Keeley, and Miss
Murray.
To conclude with TWICE KILLED.

Private Boxes, &c., to be had of all the Booksel'ers, and of Mr.
Massingham ; of whom also places may be taken at the Box-office,
Oxford-street. from Eleven till Four o'clock.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
THIS EVENING.
Will be performed SPEED THE PLOUGH.
To be followed by ALLOW ME TO APOLOGISE.
To conclude with A BACHELOR'S VOW.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestris.
Sole Lessee, Mr. Charles Mathews.
THIS EVENING,

Will be performed AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.
To be followed by MY HEART'S IDOL ; or, A Desperate Remedy,
in which Messrs. C. Mathews, G. Vining, Bellinghatn ; Madams Yea.
tris, 'Miss Kenworthy, and Miss I. Dickenson will appear.
To conclude with the Extravaganza of OLYMPIC DEVILS ; or,
Orpheus and Eurydice, in ,hich Miss Rosina Wright and Mr. 11,
Horucastle will appear.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE
trader the Patronage of her Majesty and his Royal Highness
Prince Albert.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty.
THIS EVENING,
Brilliant reception of the nes Tale of Enchantment.

The Entertainments will commence with a new and original
Spectacle, entitled THE ENCHANTED PALFREY; or, The War..
rior of the Crescent.

ro be succeeded by an Inimitable Display of Batty's Feats of
Formation in the Cirque Olympique, by the male and female Eques-
trians of the Establishment
To conclude with a favourite Farce.

Box-eflice open from Eleven till Four.
Stage Manager, Mr. T. Thompson.

HIGH WATER Al LONDON BRIDGE

MIS DAY —Morning 32 rain. after 7 ' Evening 11 win. after
To-Monsow— Morning 53 min. atter 8 I Evening 29 min. atter

THE WEATHER.—SUI4 OFFICE, NOVEMBER 27.
THERMOMETER, LN THE SHADE.
44—highest since noon yesterday.
37—lowest this morning and during the night.
41—this day, at noon.

BARONETER, 29.72.
WrND N.N.E.— light breeze, with rain inclining to sleet.

DAILY WEATHER TABLE.

The State of the Wind and Weather at each of the following
places at Nine o'clock yesterday morning.—The stations
are arranged in order of latitude.

KINGSTOWN (DUBLIN)-Wind N.W., gentle breeze-
partially cloudy.
PLYMOUTH-Wind S.E., calm-foggy.
HASTINGS-Calm-rain.
l'ountAmpToN-Wind S., calm-rain.
TUNBRIDGE-Wind S.W., gentle breeze-rain.
BASINGSTOKE - Wind S.W., calm-overcast.
BRISTOL...-. Wind S.W., gentle breeze-rain.
READING-Wind S.W., calm-overcast.
GREENWICH-Wind S., gentle breeze-overcast.
SWINDON-Wind S., gentle breeze-overcast.
OXFORD-Wind calin-partially cloudy.
LEIGHTON-Wind S.W., strong breeze-overcast.
RUGBY-Wind W., gentle breeze-partially cloudy.
PETERBOROUGH-Wind S.W., gentle breeze-partially
cloudy.
YARMOUTH-Wind S.W., gentle breeze-cloudless.
LYNN-Wind S.W., gentle breeze - cloudless.
CREWE-Wind W., light breeze-cloudy.
CONWAY-Wind N., gentle breeze-rain.
HOLYHEAD-Wind N.W., gentle breeze-partially cloudy.
MANCHESTER-Wind S., gentle breeze-overcast.
LANCASTER-Wind W., calm-principally clear.
WRrriar-Wind N.W., gentle breeze-overcast.
SUNDERLAND-Wind W., gentle breeze- rain.
BATFOCK-Wind W., gentle breeze - overcast.
EDINBURGH - Wind E., gentle breeze - rain.
The returns from the following places indicate the state of
the wind and weather on Monday morning at nine
o'clock :-
CORR -Wind S.W., strong breeze-rain.
CAsLow-Wind N. %V., bard wind-partially cloudy.
MuLLINGAR- o ind W., gentle breeze-light rain.
DUNDALK -Wind S.W., strong breeze-cloudy.
POOLE -Wind W., strong breeze-partially cloudy.
PORTSMOUTH-Wind S.W., strong breeze- overcant.
LEIGHTON - Wind S.W., strong breeze-rain.
CREWE -Wind W., fresh breeze- partially cloudy.
DUNDEE-Wind N.W., gentle breeze-partially cloudy.

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean daily
reading of the barometer was highest on Sunday, when ft
was 29.96 inches. On Tuesday and Wednesday it was less
than 29 inches; and the mean of the week was not more than
2.►•330 in. The temperature was low towards the end of the
previous week and at the beginning of last ; but the mean
rose to 49° on Friday and Saturday, about t` above the
average. The mean of the week was 46.9'. The wind was
for the most part in the south-west.

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