The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-14
REYERDY,S FAREKELL.

Greenvie, where he is engaged in brooding
over the uncertainties of fame, and in explain
ing the intricacies of my policy" to the be-
nightcd inhabitants of Tennessee; and Reverdy,
the great American dnner-eater, has said his
adieux to the Queen of England, and will shortly
cross the broad Atlantic under the uncomfort-
able impression that his mission has been worse
than failure, and that his post-prandial diplo-
macy has only served to make the last state of the
Alabama question worse than the first. Since the
rejection of his famous turtle soup and plum
pudding treaty by the Senate and the publication
of Senator Summers summing up of the Ameri-
can grievances against Great Britain, we have
heard nothing whatever of any knife and fork
exploits performed by Minister Johnson and the
Lards and Roebucks have given him the cold
shoulder. The British Lion has got his back up
at Mr.. Summers speech, and our late msrepre-
sentative at the Court of St. James will leave the
shores of Albion, his filled with the noise of
hearty British curses, and his sea sickness aggra-
waited by the mortifying consciousness that they
are thei natural result of too indiscrimiDatc
use of soft sawder on his part.
Although there are no more big dinners for
Reverdy in England, his admirers on this side
of the Atlantic are determined that he shall not
retire to private life on an empty stomach. 1t
is accordingly reported that arrangements are
being made to give him big feed at Washing
ton on his return, which will combine all the
solid delicaces of genuine English dinner, and
serve to remind him of what he has lost by the
miscarriage of his efforts to bring about an un-
derstanding between the United States and Eng
land. This would be a fitting termination for
the diplomatic career of the last of our public
Johnsons; and there is such a suggestion of
delicate satire in the idea that twill be matter
for regret if it is not carried out
In the meantime the Britons will rage and
swear by the beard of William the Conqueror
that they will never pay our bill; and Mr.. Mot
ley who has studied the philosophy of history
to some purpose, will wait until the animal has
| exhausted himself, and then, by a persistent
| advocacy of our claims, will perhaps succeed in
! getting q new idea or two into the dullest
! British brain, will convince the stupidist Tory
that the American people are in earnest, and
that the question is not pay or fight, but pay or
| let the matter remain open, with all the risks
of British commerce being swept out of eX-
| istence in case of war with the Emperor of
| China or some equally potential monarch who
may have grievance to settle The outburst
| of rage which followed the reception of
| Mr. Summers speech in England has ludicrous
| wall of terror beneath the cursngs loud and
deep. which indicates that the British Govern
ment, protesting that it will never pay, will pay
at last. We can certainly afford to allow the
| Alabama claims to remain open for an indefinite
| length of time if our cousins across the water
can, and Minister Motley need do nothing more
| in the diplomatic way than put his hands in his
pocket and whistle yankee Doodle" until some
| British statesman awakes to the fact that
further postponement of the day of settlement
is neXpedient and dangerous to British interests.
| THE BRITISH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
| A MONTREAL despatch says that the British
| Privy Council is considering a project for the
REIMBURSEMENT of all the British colonies except
| India. This news has been forwarded over
| circuitous route, but it may nevertheless have
substantial basis in fact; and as the Canadians
are deeply interested in the future colonial
policy of Great Britain, they may have received
eintelligence in advance ofis transmission from
London to the United States 1t is evident that
| pride rather than interest prompts the continu-
ance of imperial authority over large portion
of the British dominions, and if English mer-
chants, manufacturers, and shipowners could be
assured of the continuance of their industrial
and commercial supremacy over their American,
West Indian, African, and Australasan posses
sions, they would care little for the continuance
of absolute governmental dominion. The dis
tant and sparsely-populated colonies are a
source of continual expense, vexation,
and danger, and British taxpayers are gradu-
ally growing weary of the costly policy
which burdens the Oppressor even more than
the oppressed. The British Empire contains an
area, in round numbers, of 6, 100000 square
miles, but so much of this is a dreary and inhos-
pitable waste, that 100000 square miles in
North America and Australasia contain popula-
ton OF only $500 900, or less than one person to
alsquare mile, and all the British territory, ex-
elusive OF the British Islands and the possessions
in Asia, contains population of but six millions
spread over an area of more than 4,500, 600
square miles. marked contrastto this sparse
ness OF population is presented by the territory
which, according to the Montreal despatch. the
Privy Council propose to retain. The British
Islands, with an area of 120, $50, contain a popu
laton of 27,0O0,O00, or more t, an two hundred
persons to the square mile, and the British pos
sessions in India contain population of
1872, 100000 on an area of 100000 scuore
miles, or more than one hundred and
twenty persons TO square mile. The
proposed policy is based on the ides tbot
it is profitable to govern people, but an expen
siye luxury to exercise dominion over n wide
eXpanse of unproductiye territory Thiclllv-
populated districts can be made to pay heavy
taxes to furnish useful markets for British pro-
duets, and to sustain large hordes of British
officials while rude regions rapidly absorb
revenue and create an unceasing drain upon
English resources. 1t is a grand thing to say
that the line of British forts stretches around
tAe AabisaD.e globe, that every co4..aeas Ise.-