The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-10-09
Foreign News Items.

A dispatch from Bombay, India, was received in
New York over the French cable in eight minutes
after it was sent from the Bombay Office.
A conspiracy to burn the bridges and fuel of the
Central Pacific Railroad, along the whole line east
OF the Sierra Nevadas, by disaffected workmen,
has been discovered and frustrated.
Private letters from the City of Mexico say that
the Mexican Government is making preparations
on q grand scale for the reception of Hon. W. H.
Seward. upon his arrival in that country. Juarez
and his Cabinet will meet him at Acapulco and
escort him to the City of Mexico, where a series of
feteS will be given in his honor.
GEORGE PEABODY FAILING IN HEAITH-A Wash
lngton dispatch says that the health of George
Peabody. who is now at the White Sulphur Springs.
Is no better. He is more feeble than when he
arrived at the Springs, and now can scarcely write
his name. Those who are most intimate with him,
state that he is failing very fast.
The water famine in Philadelphia is increasing,
and the alarm of the citizens increases in. at lesst.
equal ratio. Yesterday the city council voted an
appropriation of S25 900 for the relief of poor
families. and empowered the chief engineer to
employ any measures he might think proper for
raising the water in the Fairmount reservoirs.
Private advices state that the Emperor of Japan
is making extensive preparations for the reception
of the Duke of Edinburgh, now en- route to Yoko-
hama. The Tycoon's old palace has been repaired
for his residence While at Yeddo, and horses and
carriages ordered from China for his transportation
and convenience.
George L. Lorrillard. of New York, left that
city recently with his yacht Meteor. starting on q
trip around the world. He intends TO be present
ut the opening of the Suez canal on the 18th Of
November next, and afterwards to sail through it
on his tour of decentralization. The Meteor Is
claimed by its owners to be one of the best yachts
on the water. and he is anxious to match it for
$50, 900, for an ocean race. She is 130 feet long,
ga wide, and IL i'm depth. This will be one of
the smallest vessels, if not the smallest, that ever
made the trip around the earth.
A Chinese giant has reached New York, who,
according to description, is eight feet eight inches
in baipbt uoad lnaEipu iptallioapt aneaES ENGLISH
%fluently, and is 25 years of age. His pet extrava-
gance is dress. He devotes all his energy and the
most of bis business time to the careful investiture
of his cumhrous body in store clothes. Massive
chains make arcs all about his body. What would
crush a pigmY to the earth hang like silken threads
about his chest and girdle. His feet are eXagge-
rated beetle-crushers. and the rest of his body is
of proportionate immensely. Chang has a wife
and two children. and is said to be great in his
affection towards them. Changes father is even
taller than his son, and there is a sister who ex-
eeeds him in height a few inches.
There is much eloquence wasted out West over
the proposition to remove the national capital. 1t
has been estimated that it would cost upward of
$50, 600. 900 to take down. transport, and re-erect
the magnificent building on Capitol Hill. These
figures alone are enough to settle the locality of
the seat of Government for many years to come.
Meanwhile all agitation of the question is idle.
Nathan Sargent, commissioner OF customs, has
prepared an argument to show that the national
capital cannot be changed without an amendment
to the constitution, since it was fixed by that instru-
ment in that district ten miles square which should
be coded by particular States and accepted by
Congress the District of Columbia was so selected,
and therefore is the only constitutional capital.
The Times has an article on the subject of
Sickles' note to the Spanish Government. 1t says
il is hardly creditable to America to contemplate
the recognition of Cuba, while Spain has little to
lose except the island, which, he admits, she must
consent to abandon. The Telegraph has an article
on the same subject, and says American action
with this respect is the same as that which Eng
land was so much blamed for. though the case is
not precisely parallel. The Cubans are absolutely
without strength, without civil or military recogni-
ton. without established government if the
Americans cannot vindicate their action by the
plea that they [cannot p remain Indifferent to the
struggles of friendly people for freedom and indie
pendence, then England, in 1861, acted In the
manner Americans now sanction.
CANADA.-The London Times remarks that - Can
ada is, in all respects. independent, and she is
fitted to become so,' and that g it is a fair subject
of enquiry whether she might not assume her APP
propriate position.' Doubtless, the visit of Prince
Arthur has something to do with this question. If
a separate kingdom can be established. with the
crown upon the head of one of Victoria's sons, such
a change would at once be accepted. But failing
in that, will England agree to let the Dominion
choose its future? The Times seems prepared for
such n movement.