The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

disastrous than a state of open hostility, and this,
probably, is one of them. The discreditable intrigues
which have been carried on in these countries, and
the indirect collusion of Greece and Russia

in Crete have caused more disquiet to Europe,
and greater misery to the peoples immediately
engaged, than any direct conflict would have brought
about.

If diplomatic interference result in a reasonable
approach to a firienclly settlement between the hos-
tile nations, if the schemes and combinations against
the Porte be for the future conducted less offensively

—it is vain to hope that they will be abandoned—and if
the disgraceful proceedings in Crete are finally vetoed,
the Great Powers will have used their diplomacy in
the interests of justice. But if they merely propose
to prevent an immediate collision,without any further
precautions, it is doubtful whether the two opponents
had not better be left to settle their own affairs.
Both are evidently inclined to an appeal to the
sword. Turkey has at length awakened to the fact that
her existence is seriously menaced by her numerous
and troublesome neighbours. The Porte has
much reason for concluding that the chance of
success at the present moment is not likely
to be improved by delay. Russia is not prepared to
aid Greece, whilst Austria is ready to give moral, if
not material support to Turkey. It is this prospect
of assistance from without which gives the situation
such an appearance of gravity. There can hardly be
any doubt that Austria, under the leadership of Baron
BEUST, is pursuing a policy of agitation. According
to intelligence which there is little reason to dispute,
Baron BEITST'S interference in this question has so
far been confined to encouraging Turkey and pro-
voking Greece. Austria's interest is to repress the
growth of Roumania, and this is not likely
to be secured either by weakening the
Ottoman Power or by promoting the re-establish-
ment of the Hellenic Empire. As the offensive
conduct of the Greek Government has con-
tinued for many months past, there is
every reason to conclude that Turkey has
received promises of assistance before venturing
upon such a sudden change of policy. Greece, on
the other hand, is not less anxious to appeal to the
last argument ; the war would be one of conquest,
and is, therefore, so popular that the Government
has been carried away by the general enthusiasm.
The terms of the Porte have been rejected, and
hence the recall of the ambassadors. It looks
very much as if the will of the Great Powers was for
once to be disregarded; and, viewing the matter
either from the Turkish or the Grecian point of view,
it is difficult to imagine how a quarrel of such long
accumulated virulence can be settled otherwise than
by force.

action, in which the press is concerned, and
which have special features of interest, was tried on
Monday. In the case of DAW v. 'LEY, which came
before Lord Rourmx, the plaintiff is the alleged
proprietor of a patent for the manufacture of copper
cartridges, and the validity of that patent is now
sub judice. Mr. COLLETTE, the solicitor for the
defendants against whom Mr. DAW is proceeding for
breach of patent, wrote three letters in the Volunteer
Service Gazette depreciating the value of Mr. DAw's
invention. Thereupon that gentleman made a motion
in the Rolls Court to commit Mr. COLLETTE for
contempt of court because he had written on a subject
which was then before the court ; and also to commit
Mr. ELEY, the editor of the Gazette, for having
inserted those communications. Lord ROMILLY
granted the motion so far as Mr. COLLETTE was
concerned, giving him the alternative of making an
apology. In Mr. ELEY's case, his lordship said that
he could not make any order either for committal or
for an apology. At the same time he could not
allow him his costs. He said, further, that "the
firmly-established principle of the courts of equity
was to suffer no one with impunity to publish
any statements relating to, or based upon,
their records which might induce a tribunal to
come to any other conclusion than that derived from
the evidence in a case. The courts of equity would
also stop any publication which might influence the
adininistration of justice, although such might not be
the intention of the author of that publication." This
is really an extraordinary declaration. If -Lord
ROMILLY be right it would have been improper to
say anything about the construction of iron-
clads so long as the action which Mr. FEATHER
brought against the Crown for an infringement of
patent was under consideration. It would, as
the Times has pointed out, prevent all comment
and discussion upon inventions of the utmost
national importance, should they happen to be
matters of litigation. Rival artillerists, rival ship-
builders, might press their claims upon the Govern-
ment, but if they should happen to be litigants as
well as rivals the public press must say nothing
about the merits of competing guns or ships. On
the other hand, if the invention is of small interest,
it is quite possible that the editor may be perfectly
ignorant that there has been any litigation upon it,
and may thus be liable to heavy costs, if to
no worse penalty, for inserting an advertisement
in which the merits of one of the competitor's
inventions is puffed. Manifestly, Lord ROMILLY'S
dictum is opposed to common sense and the public
benefit. It is also utterly opposed in spirit to the
decisions of that most enlightened judge, Sir ALEX-
ANDER COCKBURN, who has done so much to free
the press from unfair restrictions.

ACCIDENT TO A HOLYHEAD S7EAMER.

HOLYHEAD, Dec. 15.

The Holyhead and Dublin steamer Stanley, which
left Dublin at 7 p.m. on Monday, and was due at
Holyhead at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, had not arrived
up to noon to-day. The Hibernia steamship was
sent in search of her, and great apprehension was
felt, as the sea was running high. The Hibernia
scoured the Irish Channel, and found the Stanley
at 4 p.m. 18 miles northward of Holyhead, with
centre wheel broken, and drifting northward.
There were 50 passengers on board, who were in
great excitement. The Stanley was brought to
Holyhead at 7.30 p.m.

THE CLAIMS OF WOMEN.—Miss Faithful will
repeat her eloquent lecture on the claims of women on the
22d at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, and at Southampton,
on Jan. 5, 1869.
DRURT-LANE THEATRE.—The annual benefit of
Mr. James Stride, of the Box-office, is fixed for to-morrow
evening, on which occasion there ought to be a very
crowded house. Mr. Stride is ever at his post, and his
obliging manner has rendered him a great favourite with
the visitors to this theatre, who, on all occasions when in
any difficulty, call for his assistance. The readiness and
good humour with which Mr. Stride attends to the de-
mands of the sterner sex, to say nothing of his politeness
and consideration for the ladies, entitles him to a bumper
benefit, which we trust he will receive.

EXTENSIVE PLATE ROB BER Y.-11113 Surrey
Standard states that a daring and successful robbery was
effected at the residence of Mrs. Oliver, of Arlington-
villa, a detached house in Old Seaside-road, near Trinity
Church, during the absence of the family at church on
Sunday morning. More than a hundred pieces of plate
and jewellery, valued at between £4OO and £5OO, were
carried off.
A labourer named Delafolie, aged twenty-two,
of Souchy-Cauchy (Pas-de-Calais), has just been tried at
Arras, on not less than fourteen charges of wilfully setting
fire to crops and fern, buildings. The value of the pro-
perty thus destroyed amounted to £4,000. The jury re-
turned a verdict of guilty, without the admission of ex-
tenuating circumstances, and sentence of death was passed
on him.

The next examination of candidates for commis-
sions in the corps of Royal Artillery and Royal En-
gineers for admission to the Royal Military Aca-
demy, Woolwich, under the regulations dated horse
Guards, May 1, 1868, will commence on :4th Jan.
next ; and that of candidates for commissions in
the medical department of the army on the Bth of
February.
DILNVILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re-
commended by the medical profession in preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exports
tion. Quotations on application to Messrs. Dunville and Co.,
Belfast; or 4, 13,3aufort-buildings, Strand, London W.O —[Ad•
Tortisement.)

LATEST INTELL MENU.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

RUSSIA.

ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 15, Evening.

To-day the subscription for the shares of the
Baltic Port Company, amounting to 24,010,000
silver roubles, the interest on which is not guaran-
teed by Government, has been opened. Almost the
whole amount has already been taken up.

SICILY.

PALERMO, Dec. 16.

Yesterday afternoon Prince Humbert and the
Princess Marguerita arrived here,and were received
by General Medici and the civil authorities. The
people gave their Royal Highnesses a most cordial
and enthusiastic welcome.