The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-19 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—ln the correspondence between Sir Thomas
Hastings, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Cobden, published in
the Times of to-day, Mr. Bright, in his second letter
to the Gallant Admiral, in allusion to my condensed
report of his speech at the Birmingham Peace meet-
ing of the 27th of November, says—
" The extract you send me is not a correct report
of what I said, and I sm not able to give you the
exact words. I instanced your evidence as a proof of
the exceedingly vague statements on which it was
sought to influence public opinion in favour of exten-
sive armaments."

Will you, as one whose veracity is in some mea-
sure impugned, allow me a few lines in reply ?
1. The report of Mr. Bright's spefch in the Times
did not pretend to be literal, but was stated to be an
abstract.

2. The passage quoted by Sir Thomas Hastings as
reported is substantially and almost verbally " correct,"
as proved by contemporaneous reports in others of the
morning papers.

3. Th'esu.bstantial correctness of my report is fully
admitted in the correspondence of Mr. Cobden, and
the implied acquiescence of Mr. Bright in his first
letter to Sir T. Hastings.
4. My notes are more likely to be accurate than
Mr. Bright's memory, when he innocently, but some-
what inconsistently, confesses his inability to recollect
his own words.

5. The aim of Mr. Bright was evidently to ridi-
cule Sir T. Hastings; in that he succeeded, and in
his own words he was reported.
6. I could have no other object in view than
giving a fair epitome of Mr. Bright's opinions, and, if
any portions of his speech at the point rPferredto
were omitted, it was not with the view of doingin-
justice to the speaker, but to make a consistent, but at
the same time impartial, condensation of his address.
Your obedient servant,
TETE REPORTER.

Dec. 18.

Reading Gaol is so full that the visiting justices
have issued directions to the clerks of the several petty ses-
sional divisions throughout tle county that all prisoners for
trial are to be committed to Abingdon Gaol.
THE ARMY IN IBELAND.—This month the forces
in Ireland consist of 9 regiments of cavalry, 24 of infantry,
and 5 infantry depots, or 24,600 men.

GENIUS AN]) GENEROSITY.
(From the Morning Post.)
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, as the public has been
informed, is again writing a play, butunder circumstances
very different from these which attended any of his fur
mer dramatic productions.
It seems that, at the close of the very interesting en-
tertainment recently given at Knebworth, in which Mr.
Charles Dickens and his company of amateurs performed
before the guests of Sir Edward, the latter proposed that
he himself should write a play, and that Mr. Dickens
and his company should perform it as often as might
coudure to profitable and beneficial results; and that the
proceeds should go to the formation of an endowment
fund for some establishment of the nature of a refuge or
retreat fur destitute literary persons..
It is impossible to endow a property which does not
exist. Sir Edward, therefore. added that, if the propo-
sal were tecepted, he would give certain land on his es-
tate, and adjoining his reAdence, to the objects of the
intended bounty, in fee for ever. This was the property
which he suggested might be amply endowed, or at least
clothed with the ample beginning of an endowment, by
means of the dramatic work which the giver should
produce, and of the fame, popularity, and histrionic talents
of Mr. Dickens and his " free company." The publio
sympathy would accomplish the rest. The public admi-
ration would have been a truthful expression, though
not graceful in the mouth of the person who made the
remarkable proposal in question. We should add that
the manner in which it was received by the audience
entitles them to a share in the application of the remarks
which the whole scene is calculated to suggest.
There is no literature of modern times with which
that of England may not fearlessly beset in comparison.
And certainly, of all the various departments of English
literature, the most teeming and the richest is our
drama. We have one dramatist who, if all the others
were removed, might singly be opposed to the whole
body of tragedians and comedians, we do not say of any
other modern country, but of all modern countries united,
and of all antiquity besides. And yet, on the other hand,
were he, as being too great, taken out of the account, the
dramatists that remain to us might, in their turn, fur-
nish an array worthy of being opposed to any that .the
world can elsewhere point to. This splendid branch of
English literature, loaded with flower and fruit, has, for
many years back, been suffered to prove its intrinsic im-
mortality by not withering under baneful neglect and
more baneful attentions.

But, more recently still, there has been a happy reac-
tion, amounting to a partial revival. Among many
names, Sheridan Knowles, Westland Marston, and Bul-
wer Lytton may be mentioned as instances at once and

illustrations of what we mean. Nor is Mr. Dickens's
amateur company without its significance; nor is the fa-
vour with which its representations have been on so
many occasions greeted. Even the favour with which
royalty has, of late, treated dramatic productions must
accelerate the return of the national taste towards one of
the greatest and least equivocal glories of England. We
are glad of so commendable a tendency; and we are glad
that one such incident as that to which we allude should,
as it happens, be calculated to advance the cause of the
modern English drama. It is pleasant to see the finest
and noblest of the muses of Englund (the English
drama) associating itself spontaneously with a cause of
enduring beneficence, and walking hand-in-hand with
charity—charity in its truest form, in that form in which
it ministers to the pains of the bruised and afflicted
spirit, as wall as to the wants of the body.
For, in the plan of which we speak, we have, as far as

it goes, the necessities and miseries of the literary body
assuaged and relieved—by what? by some strange
hands, whose gifts are the bread of bitterness? No,
but by literature itself, and in that form in which, in
this country, it has achieved it principal successes and
brightest triumphs. Literature in full victory comes to
the rescue of defeated literary men.
It is impossible, in the limits of a newspaper article,
to give even a digest of the 'characteristics and the
history of that great department of the great calling
which is hero playing so beautiful an episode. We
must turn to the merits of the offer itself which was
made by Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, received so warmly
by his invited coadjutors, and applauded so enthusiasti-
cally by his distinguished audience. It has not often,
we must confess, fallen to our lot to notice a more really
excellent proceeding. We see a flourishing author moved
by sympathy for his be ten rivals, his distanced compe-
titors., who bear their load of adversity with bumbled
and wounded hearts. This sympathy, however limitedly
proved, would be a good thing. But we must aeknow-
ledge, in the second place, that the sympathy is most
munificently evinced. And, in the third place, its mu-
reficence is far from being its only commendable charac-
teristic. Not only with h:s lands, but with his genius, Sir
Edward is anxious to come to the relief of the unfortunate
literary man who has done what in him lay to add a ray
to the glory of his country, and to contribute to the
useful information or intellectual entertainment of the
public. Ile may have failed in his striving. He may
have seen another do the good service, produce the bril-
liant work, and carry off the palm of fame, popularity,
and opulence. Other talents may have eclipsed his.
Well, those very talents shall help him. They have,
perhaps, mortified him. They shall now work to afford
him consolation. The public has preferred them. The
preference of the public for them shall now turn to his
advantage, and to the advantage of those similar to him,
for generations to come. One successful and highly
gifted literary man shall minister to the comfort and
support of successive races of unfortunate authors. And
he shall do this by the use of his literary talents, as well
as by the gift of his hereditary lands. It is an idea worthy
of the glory which it will confer upon its generous pro-
poser. Sir Lytton Bulwer has often written for fame, not
without success. But we doubt whether his most
brilliant production will be remembered longer than this
one noble act of charity, sympathy, and beneficence.
Often has he seen large sums of money gathered from
the fruits of his labours. His present production may
truly be said to be a labour of love ; bat we trust it
will far surpass, in its realised proceeds, the most lu-
crative work that he ever before executed or conceived.
The popular band of gentlemen who so readily under-
took to perform what Sir Edward should compose might
have been expected to do so, for acting in this gratuitous
fashion is, with them, a favourite amusement and their
well-knowili delight. But they still deserve all praise for
the alacrity with which their kindly sympathies induced
them to pledge themselves to the support of a plan the
mere sketch of which drew forth a spontaneous round of
cheers from those who heard it.

Surely this is one of the prettiest and most graceful
passages in the modern history of literature, whether in
this country or in any other. We wish success to the
future play, and to the honourable objects which it is
designed to subserve.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, DEc. 18.

The Queen walked this morning in the Slopes.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out
shooting this morning, accompanied by the Duke of
Bedford, the Marquis of Exeter, and the Earl Spencer.
Lieut.-Colonel Hon. C. B. Phipps and Colonel Bou-
verie were in attendance on his Royal Highness.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
Prince Alfred took an airing in a pony phaeton this
morning in Windsor Park, attended by Mr. Birch.
The younger members of the Royal Family took
their usual walking and pony exercises.
The Marquis of Granby, the Earl and Countess
Granville, Lord and Lady Seymour, and the Hon.
Miss Seymour, and Sir William Gibson Craig, Bart.,
are expe=cted to arrive at the Castle to-day, on a visit
to the Queen and the Prince.
The Marchioness of Douro has relieved the Vis-
countess Canning in her duty as Lady in Waiting to
the Queen.
The Royal dinner party this evening will include
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Duke
and Duchess of Bedford, the Marquis and Marchioness
of Westminster and Lady Octavia Grosvenor, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter and Lady M.
Cecil, the Marquis of Granby, Lady Fanny Howard,
Baroness do Speth, the Earl and Countess Spencer
and Lady G. Spencer, the Earl and Countess Gran-
ville, Lord and Lady Seymour and the lion. Miss
Seymour, Lord George Lennox, Sir William Gibson
Craig, and Lieut.-Colonel Non. C. B. Phipps.
The band of the Royal Horse Guards will attend
during dinner. Her Majesty's private band will
afterwards attend in the Castle.
The band of the Coldstream Guards attended dur-
ing dinner in the Castle on Tuesday evening, and
performed the following selection :
Overture, "Maritana" Wallace.
Valse, " The Pearl of England" Jullien.
Selection, " Mountain Sylph" Barnett.
Coldstream Guards' " Quick March,"
composed expressly for the Coldstream
Guards
Chant National des Croates Blumenthall.
The Queen's private band afterwards attended in
the Castle, and played the following pieces :
Overture, "Le Domino Noir" .. /Luber.
Selection, " Le Songe d'un Nuit d'Ete" Thomas.
Adagio and Polonaise, " Gras au das
Vaterlaud"

Lieutenant F. R. Stack (St. Helena Regiment) had
an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colo-
nial-office.

Mr. Alderman Hoopr waited on Sir George Grey,
at the Home-office yesterday, to deliver the address
from the ward of Queenhithe, upon the Popish ag-
gression.
Lord John Russell returned to his residence, Pem-
broke Lodge, Richmond-park, yesterday, from Wind•
sor Castle.
Mr. Shepherd, Chairman of the East India Com-
pany, had an interview with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer yesterday. Mr. Wilcox, M.P., had also
an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet yesterday,
at his official residence in Downing-street.
The Rector of Liverpool and Mr. Cardwell, M.P.,
transacted business yesterday at the Board of Trade.

THE METROPOLITAN SEWERS COMMISSION.—On
Tuesday evening an adjourned and influential meeting of
delegates and representatives of the various metropolitan
parishes took place at the Marylebone Court-house, for the
purpose of taking further steps for seeming from the Go-
vernment or Parliament a measure for the abolition of the
present sewers commission, and to make it a representa-
tive body. J. A. Nicholay, Esq., of Marylebone, again
presided, and all the principal parishes were again repre-
sented by deputations. The result of the meeting was the
appointment of a committee to draw up a Bill for the depu-
tation to present to Government, embracing the views of
the meeting.

THE DUKE cr NEWCASTLE.—The health of his
Grace has considerably improved, 50 much so that his Grace
is enabled to sit up and transact business.—Derby Mercury.

THE ISTHMUS OF CENTRAL AMERICA.
The apartments of the Royal Geographical Society
were on Monday evening last again crowded witla an
audience eager to listen to the discussion on Captain
Fitzeoy's interesting Tr:leper on the Isthmus of Central
America. The American and Prussian Ministers,
the Hon. Abbott Lawrence, and the Chevalier Bunsen
were elected Fellows of the society, and his Royal
Highness Prince Carl Ludwig Eugene, of Sweden
and Norway, was elected an honorary member.
Lieutenant-Colonel LLOYD believed that Captain
Fitzroy had disposed of the Tehuantepec and Nicara-
gua lines, and he for one could say nothing in their
favour. The interests of this country were, how-
ever, strongly and naturally directed towards the
Panama line, and opposed to those of the United
States of America, whose policy was to ob-
tain the most direct communication with
California. He disagreed from the author of
the paper tin his statement respecting the want of
water in Panama, as in the last Admiralty survey
which he held in his hand, at a mile and a-half's dis-
tance from the very gates of the city he found there
were four fathoms of water, at one mile's distance
three fathoms, and two fathoms within three guar
ters of a mile. Besides this, there were secure
places of anchorage for the largest ships among the
adjacent islands ; and at Toboga, particularly, there
were eight to ten fathoms. With such a tran-
quil sea, and the advantage of a tide ebbing
and flowing 22 feet or more, where could a better
site be chosen for a great canal ? His friend (Cap-
tain Fitzroy), who was not the man to be frightened
at the imaginary dangers of Navy Bay or the Bay of
Manzanilla, during his circumnavigations of the globe,
was not wont to be so fastidious in the choice of a port
as now, when examining at a distance such anchorages
as Navy Bay or the Bay of Manzanilla. The small bay
of Chagres, too, would afford shelter to steamers draw-
ing 12 feet of water, while the river up to the Rio Tri-
nidad was all that could be wished for. The Isthmus
abounded in every material necessary for the con-
struction of a ship canal, excepting metals—lime-
stone of several varieties, claystone, flint, ironstone,
Sec. The timber was, perhaps, unequalled in its
variety and quality. Even in 1822 the population of
the Isthmus was more than 100,000 ; and in one
canton (Los Santos—a fair sample of Panama)
there. were 21,000 inhabitants, occupying 4,956
houses, and possessing 39,721 head of cattle,
9,000 horses, with an abundant supply of
fish, poultry, grain, and vegetables. When
he looked at the map of that wonderful country, and
considered the advantages offered to mankind by a
water communication, the formation of which would
be attended by perhaps fewer difficulties than the
construction of the Caledonian Canal, he did feel
astonishment that up co the present moment so little
had been effected. A nation which had so long
taken the lead in great enterprises should not be
eclipsed upon the greatest, and he urged upon the
Royal Geographical Society the propriety of taking
up this subject with earnestness and vigour.
Mr. E. Horamas concurred with the observations of
Captain Fitzroy on the Tehuantepec and Nicaragua
lines, but was convinced that many of the objections
to these might be made against the Atrato route.
The Panama Isthiama was not only the narrowest,
but also the to west land dividing the two oceans. It
was true that no good ports existed either at Chagres
or at Panama ; but, notwithstanding this objection,
suck were the facilities for quick transit, that passen-
gers, specie, and light goods passed this way in prefer-
ence to any other route. A good substantial road
from Gorgona to Panama, and the removal or deepen-
ing of the bar at the na suth, of the Chagres, would be
the first steps necessary. In dae time, and with in-
creased means, a strait could be made through the
narrow baud which divides the river Chagres from
the river Grande. A strait required no leeks, masonry,
nor ports at the mouth. Deepened by the tidal
currents of the ocean, assisted by mechanical means,
vessels would pass through with the ebb or 11 Jw of the
Pacific tides. He remembered while in the country
that canoes had been dragged from the head of the
Atrato to the river San Juan, but canoes had also been
drawn over many other passes in the Isthmus of
Darien. Mr. Hopkins finished by alluding to the
neck of land situated between the Bogana and the
Gulf of San Blas, the latter being well adapted for
shipping, the former a magnificent stream, and having
a very low pass in the intervening ridge well worthy
of consideration.
Mr. MACQUEEN'S observations were made in so low
a tone that it was exceedingly difficult to follow them.
He compared the various lines suggested, and referred
to his own summary on the Isthmus of Central
America, published in 1838, as corroborated in some
essential points by Captain Fitzroy.
Mr. EYLER inquired of the author what depth of
water there was at the mouth of the Atrato, and like-
wise further up its course ? how he would deepen the
mouth of the river ? and what depth of water was
found in the Naipi? From the replies to which
questions, Mr. Fyler inferred that the Atrato route
had been recommended upon insufficient grounds.
He then advocated the Sapoa and San Carlos,lines, in
support of which he quoted the survey by Mr.
Oersted, of Copenhagen.
*Mr. TRELAWNT SAUNDERS expressed great satis
faction at the interest taken by the society in this
great question, and trusted that a practical result
would ensue.
Captain Mooasoaz, R.E., expressed the opinion of
the illustrious Von Humboldt, with whom he
had lately discussed this important question
during nearly three hours at Sans Souci, read ex-
tracts from the reports just received from the Swedish
engineer Greiff, in favour of the facilities offered
by the Atrato and one of its mouths (the Coquito) to
navigation, and quoted the testimony of Lieutenant
Wood, R.N., a Government surveyor, lately on the
spot. _After a most careful examination, he (Captain
Moorsom) could not but agree with the opinion of
'Von Humboldt, " that this district comprised within
the 6th and 9th parallel of north latitude, or between
Capica Bay and the Gulf of San Miguel, was the
most fit for the construction of a ship canal."
Dr. CULLEN (who had traversed a large portion of
the Isthmus) indicated the part of the Isthmus about
San Miguel Gulf,—between it and Caledonia Bay,
as most advisable for railway or canal operations, and
asserted the ample harbourage of Darien and San
Miguel.
Mr. O'GORMAN referred to Moro's survey. of Te-
huantepec and its vicinity, which he advocated as one
of general rather than local interest,—speaking of the
vast and increasing trade of the Mississippi Valley
when compared to our own interests in the question.
" What is a port ?" asked Mr. O'Gorman ; " is not
a river with a sufficient depth of water a port ?"
Captain FITZROY said, previously to the attempt to
draw up a summary of opinions on the great geogra-
phical question—which he had done at the request of
the secretary, and not from any personal interest—
he had, of course, studied everything accessible in
London. Among these the survey by Moro,
executed under the patronage of Garay, had
not been everlooked ; and it was from that very
survey that he had formed his opinion adverse
to the route by 'Tehuantepec, not only on ac-
count of its length and the want of good ports, but
also because the summit level being nearly 700 feet
above the level of the sea. By a good harbour, Cap-
tain Fitzroy meant a place on which a number of
ships could remain in security, well sheltered in
all weathers, and not merely an anchorage or road-
stead. Ships could not sail into a canal di•
rect from the open sea. There must be a
place in which the necessary preparations shall
take place to land passengers, or (if' a railway) to
discharge cargo, if not, indeed, to take a regular turn
of admission. The conditions of this problem
appears to be, "Given two ports as near each other as
may be, to find the best line between them." Good
ports are indispenWde. The Atrato line was recom-
mended for a canal as offering fewer obstacles under
existing circumstances than any other, as far as pre-
sent information goes. The waggon-road from
Portobello to Panama is recommended by the British
Consul, and also by the Crown s;urveyor of Jamaica,
after personal investigation made recently. Captain
Fitzroy concluded by mentioning that a list of the
authorities upon whom he had founded his summary,
was attached to his paper.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.
(From the-Report of the Registrar-General.)
The mortality of London, which in the last week
of November declined to 861 deaths, and in the sub-
sequent week rose to 1,004, now exhibits a further
increase of considerable amount. The deaths regis-
tered in the week ending last Saturday were 1,090
. a number which is greater than that of any cor-
responding week of the ten years 1840.9, with four
exceptions—namely, in 1844, when a week of
unusually low temperature (the mean not exceed-
ing 28 deg.), was fatal to 1,201 persons; in 1846,
when the deaths were 1,163, that week being
also marked by low temperature ; in 1847, when the
deaths rose to 2,416, at that time influenza being
epidemic; and in 1843, when they were 1,130, fever
then prevaiJing to some exteet, and cholera having
appeared. Last week has carried off an unusual
number of aged persons (these of 60 years are' up-
wards) ; acid the increase over the previous return is
principally caused by bronchitis and pneumonia, or
inflammation of the lungs. In the last three
weeks the increese of bronchitis appears from
the numbers returned as follews, 64, SS, 114 ;
that of pneumonia is shown by 67, 86, 113, while
the mortality from phthisis in the same periods
has been more uniform—namely 96, 112, and 116
deaths. The greater activity of smallpox lately has
been noticed ; in the present return it numbers 24
fatal cases (nearly the same as in the preceding), of
which four occurred to persons above 20 years of age.
Lisson -grove, in Marylebone, is still distinguished by
its ravages ; five additional cases (all except one being
described as " variola, natural") were registered in the
wet k. With reference to a case in St. Clement Danes,
the registrar remarks, that " the father of the de-