The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-06 00:00:00

prudent to defer its commencement for another win,
ter. Then the hospital at Suez will have been com-
pleted, and the general arrangements might have
been le=s mile. and hasty. In the meantime the
fine troopships, the lavish expenditure on which
only renders the deficiencies in Egypt more glaring,
could have been very conveniently employed fir the
Abyssinian expedition, and have prevented some of
the large outlay which has been required to charter
private v,,ssels.
To what special cause or to what particular de-
partment the shortcomings in the land transport
system are to be attributed no one here pretends to
un lerstand. Three different departments glare upon
our dazzled eyes. The English Admiralty owns the
troopship, and has complete control of the troops
at sea. Colonel Ross, the Quartermaster-General
in Egypt, with his assistant, Major Clarke, repre-
sents the English military authorities, and, it
would seem, ought to control the transport of the
troops on land. So far affairs would run smoothly
enough. It is acknowledged by all that if these
zealous, intelligent, and indefatigable officers had
untrammelled control on shore, hitches would not
occur in the administration. Unfortunately this
cannot be so. The Indian Government, to which it
would hardly be apparent that the troops can in
any way belong until their arrival in India, must be
represented. Paradoxically,a naval officer has been
elected to control the land transport of soldiers.
With this divided authority the officers who repre-
sent the home military authorities are compara-
tively powerless. For such matters, however, as the
absence of the Crocodile from Alexandria till long
after the Euphrates arrived at Suez we must look
to London. It is not at Alexandria or Suez, but
in the region of Whitehall that arrangements for
the despatch of troops from England are made.
Unless the latter are punctually carried out no
ability or energy in Egypt can prevent detention,
delay, and disappointment.
The administration of the railway by the Egyp-
tian Government goes from bad to worse. The per-
manent way, which is the best part of all, is in some
places between Cairo and Suez in a very ricketty
condition. The number of platelayers which were
to be employed to keep the line in repair has been,
for economy, considerably reduced, and those who
are retained, like all public officials in this country,
are in considerable arrears of wages. Since the Eng-
lish engine-drivers left, on account of not being
able to obtain their pay, a great many Albanians
have been employed as drivers. These, parrot-like,
have learnt to pull the handle and make the engine
work, but understand nothing about its mechanism.
No rolling-stock is repaired. When an engine or
truck gets at all damaged it is shunted into a
siding, or sent to the depot at Cairo, where
it is left
to decay. For the last two years the Government
has been getting out engines from Europe at the
rate of two a month, while there are plenty lying
idle at Cairo which a very little repair would enable
to run quite well. Rahib Pasha, the Prime Mini-
ster, has held councils to consider the railway admi-
nistration, but care has been taken to prevent any
max of sufficient independence to tell him the real
faults from being summoned to his presence. It is
quite usual for trains to be five or six hours late in
a journey of 100 miles. .

HINTS TO AMAIEURS.

In order to render effective service to dramatic
amateurs, we must not limit ourselves to records of
their successes and statements of their necessities.
We must not be ever adverting to the bright side in
language pleasing and agreeable, but turn occa-
sionally into the shade of their .procodings, and
point out with an unflinching yet friendly hand
their obvious neglect of duties and (Meets. Amongst
these, the most injurious to themselves as also the
most trying to their friends and admirers before the
curtain, is their want of pallet:101V in clmmencing
the performance, and the lengthened delays which
are allowed to occur between the several parts of
the evening's entertainment—and even between the
acts of the same piece. Now all of these arise from
neglect and want of proper management. There
are, we know, many laughable incidents connected
with them, many anecdotes and sources of future
mirth. Not so very long ago, and in a country
town of considerable importance, no boots were to
be found in the several bundles of costumes for
Charles 11. (which formed the middle and principal
piece on the programme); these needful articles
having been abstracted by the wag of the society
previous to leaving Loudon. What was to be
done ? All sorts of useless suggestions were
of course made, and so much time consumed

that the ennui of the audience was becoming insup
portable and vacant seats were rapidly increasing in
number. Wbat was to be done? Claim the indul-
gence of spectators or apologise on conclusion? The
latter alternative was adopted, and the curtain
rose on performers in the apparel of the middle of the
seventeenth century with the exception of the upper
leathers. The audience was taken by surprise.
Roars of laughter greeted the entry of each actor on
the stage, wearing, without a single exception, the
hotlines of the present day, with elastic sides. The
novelty produced infinite amusement, beyond a
doubt, for the apology was wisely never made, so
the censorious few (and these are ever present) de-
clared the success—such as it was—depended on the
boots, though, in truth, artistic talent of no common
order was apparent amongst the actors. Any-
thing similar to the foregoing cause of de-
delay is, of course, exceedingly rare, but amateurs
will frequently set their hearts on some peculiar
alteration of dress, or on some whimsical addi-
tion to it, which is commonly never detected
till the last moment—nay, when they ought,
in fact, to be on the stage, and without it they will
not consent to appear."fhen, again, hindrance
frequently proceeds from sudden bashfulness in one
of the gentlemen. He had learn this part thoroughly,
had rehearsed it creditably ; but now when he has
to appear his memory fails him and his courage
wholly evaporates. Neither force nor entreaty can
get him before the lights, so the stage manager has
to step forward with " Ladies and gentlemen,—We
I have to throw ourselves on your generous considera-
tion, &c, &c., and to inform you of the sudden,
serious, and unaccountable indisposition of Mr.
Clytus Muff, which will prevent that gentleman
(much to his deep regret) from contributing
to the evening's entertainment. We, therefore,
solicit your kind indulgence for Mr. Bounce, who
has consented to read his part at the last moment,
&c., &c." Although the causes of the delays just
enumerated should not be allowed to occur in any
well-regulated club, they tend, nevertheless, in
some slight degree towards their mitigation ; but
we have known a company of Thalians, fully
equipped for performance, unpardonably indulge
in some light, joyous frolic or merry dance, utterly
forgetful, in their exuberant spirits, of the pain-
ful weariness which had settled on the audience
beyond the curtain.
We have written in no churlish spirit, in no love
of the cynical, but in all sincerity to carry ont the
object we have stated at the commencement of t',::
artic';,‘ —that of rendering service to amateur so- I
cietics. We have written in the desire to wake
each member taking a share behind the curtain
bear in mind what he has himself frequently endured
before it, and thus be never forgetful of the utter
dreariness of long delays to his audience. His pride
should not be merely to equal the celerity of pro-
i ti,nasundm—e per
fessionals, but, if possible, to snrpass
forming, as he most frequently does,
gal-
lery or concert room, on,ya tennflpoardajrnystsmtaft—fittitliesd,
with pimple scenery ea,
under proper management, supported by a befit-
ting spirit, may readily be effected. To the consi-
deration of this management, therefore, we now
draw his attention.
The utmost care should be given t,.) the selection
of a stage manager, for it is of the highest import-
ance to obtain a gentleman thoroughly-efficient and

Respeeting the accident to her Majesty's ship
Research, the Cork Examiner gives in explanation
of the circumstances tinder which she was pursuing
the supposed Fenian privateer, when she struck on
Daunt's Rock. The following are the details
About half-past three o'clock in the afternoon
of Wednesday, the Research sighted, south-west of
the Old Head of Kinsale, a very rakish-looking
barque steering in the direction of Cork harbour.
She signalled the vessel, which was sailing rather
close to the land, to haul to, but the latter took no
notice of the request, and continued her course. The
Research then gave chase, but the bark all through
kept ahead of her. The latter, which was in charge
of a pilot, made her course inside Daunt's Rock, in
order to get into the harbour by the shortest route,
and the Research was steered in somewhat the same
direction, but a little more to the westward, in
order that, if the supposed privateer attempted to
make her way out of the harbour again, the former
could intercept her. The pilot in charge of the
barge knew the inner passage very well, and was,
therefore, quite confident ; but it was said that, if
the officer under whom the Research was being
sailed, knew the locality of Daunt's Rock, he would
have shaped his course more to the westward, and
avoid the consequences that ensued. However, the
barque passed safely through the channel between
the rock and the land, the Research following her,
but, as stated, she kept too much to the eastward,
and ran right over the rock, striking the wreck of the
City of New of York, which was lost there a few years
ago. • A slight shock was felt on board the Re-
search, and soon after it was found that she was
making water in rather large quantities. After
this she did not even give up the chase, but kept on,
the steam pumps in the meantime being put to
work. The barque was not, however, overtaken
till she arrived in the harbour, between ten and
eleven o'clock p.m., when an officer from the Re-
search, who was dispatched on board, received a
satisfactory explanation from the captain why he did
not bring his vessel to when signalled. The war ship
was then moored in the road:. The leakage became
very great, and the continued working of four
powerful steam pumps was only barely sufficient to
keep the water under. She remained in this condi-
tion till yesterday morning, about ten o'clock, when'
she steamed slowly up to the moorings opposite
Hatilbowline, the pumps being kept still at work.
Subsequently a diver was sent down to examine the
ship's bottom, but the result of his inspection has
not been made known. As is the case with all
iton--clad vessels, such as the Research, the portion
of the hull below the water-rme is wood, and it is
therefore believed that the damage consists of a few
of her planks being strained. It is not yet known
what will be done with regard to repairing the ship,
but whatever is required, the local dock proprietors
have intimated their readiness to tender for. The
general belief, however, is that she will be taken to
one of the Government docks to have the necessary
repairs made. The vessel which the Research was
chasing is called the Alaska, 700 tons, Captain
Lester. She is an exceedingly rakish-looking
American built barque, and said to resemble
very much the description given of the Fenian
privateer alleged to have been seen on the collet.
She is bound from San Francisco to this port for
orders, and Captain Lester States that, previous
to being hailed by the Research on Wednesday
afternoon, he had been overhauled three times by
other of her Majesty's ships between Cape Clear
and the Old Head of Kinsale. On Monday morn-
ing, when off the latter point, the Alaska was sail-
ing at a very quick rate when she was signalled by
one of her Majesty's frigates, the name of which the
captain did not ascertain, but having shown her
colours, and Capt. Lester having answered questions
as to where he was from, and what his business to
Cork was, she was permitted to proceed. On
the same day, when the Alaska arrived off
Baltimore harbour, the Government despatch
vessel Helicon, intercepted her, and • interrogated
Captain Lester in somewhat the same terms as
he had been earlier in the day by the frigate.
The Helicon then retired, and, as Captain Lester
thought, satisfied with the result of their inquiries.
However, on the following morning, the Helicon
again turned up with the Alaska off Galley Head.
The very unusual cut of the latter, and her great
speed, appeared to excite the suspicions of the naval
people greatly. On this occasion the Helicon ap-
peared to be acting under orders of the Research,
which was seen in the distance. The former
launched a boat, and in a few minutes an • officer
with an armed crew came alongside the Alaska.
After making the usual inquiries the officer re-
quested to see the ship's papers. Captaia Lester
put them immediately at his disposal, and the
officer said everything was right, and apologised
for putting the captain to so much trouble. He
then left, and the Alaska went on her course,
Captain Lester thinking that now, at least, he was
free from any further interference. The following
day, however, at three o'clock, when some miles
south-west of the Old Head of Kinsale, he again
saw the Research. She signalled to the Alaska to
heave to, but the latter did not do so,
and the rani
put on full speed to overtake her. At this time the
barque, as before stated, was very close to the laud.
It was blowing teither freshly from the eastward at
the time, and Captain Lester and his pilot, Horgan,
explain why they did not heave the barque to in this
way—being close to the land, and from the way the
wind was blowing, they did not think it prudent to
stop the way of the ship, because had they done so
she would certainly have drifted on shore. This
accounts rather satisfactorily for the manner in
which Captain Lester acted. The Alaska, the
business of which was done in Messrs. J. Dawson
and Co.'s office, received her crders yesterday for
Liverpool."

IMP R OYU' ENTS AT ETON. —G reat alterations and
improvements are being effected at the Cuckoo Weir
bathing place of the Etonians, near Long-bridge anO,
Upper Hope. The ground near the shore is being lowered
to a level with that on the other side of the stream, and
with the earth thus obtained an embankment is being
thrown up, which will screen the bathers from the gaze
of the passers-by on the footpath ; and in the neighbour-
ing lane piles and planking will be placed along the
water's edge to prevent the action of the current on the
laud in good time. The College watermen have been em-
ployed in executing this work.