The Sun. — London, England, 1861-09-02 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.—S I OFFICE, SEPTEMBER I, 1861. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 70—highest since noon yesterday. 51—lowest this morning and during the night. 71—this day at noon. BenomzTEn-30.13; falling. Wram—South-Westerly—light; with very fine harves weather. SEPT. 2. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 73—highest since noon yesterday. 56—lowest this morning and during the flight. 68—this day at noon. BAROMETER-30.0. WlND—Westerly — light and fine. (" 4 1 : * . 4 f 4 t , VI. M • c• Wt • • 4 "rj - , ELY,. . •l rs t • 1 • V 0 t - 1 ~()(J te a , THE SUN. LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1861 Rumours, and little else than rumours, have been brought to Europe by the Europa from the seat of war in America. Still even something can be learnt by watching the drift of those straws thrown up to indicate the quarter from which the wind blows. All serves still, there, to evidence how entirely the tables have been turned at this early period of the contest between North and South, between the Federates and Confederates. Instead of being violently aggressive—as they were, almost as we may say, blatantly, at the very commence ment—the Northerns are acting now almost exclu sively upon the defensive. Whereas the Southerns, gaining heart from the struggle even so far as it has yet gone, are ambitious at length to carry the strife into the camp of their assailants—nay beyond the camp, to the capture if possible of the Legisla tive Capital of the old Union, that Westminster of the New World—W ashin g ton . First of all, however, as to the preparations still making steadily and energetically by the Northern Government. A proclamation—very much indeed to the purpose as an evidence of the necessity there is for instant action—has been pub lished, it appears, since our last advices arrived from the Northern States of Ame rica : a proclamation ordering up all the new Volunteer regiments and even parts of regiments that have been already collected together, without their having to wait either for uniforms or for arms. And in answer to this summons the Volun teers are hastening in and leaving, to go to the front, as rapidly as may be. Not only had this proclamation been issued in fact prior to the departure of the Europa on the 22d ult., but .president LINCOLN had put forth yet another indication, this time, of further and fur ther estrangement between the Federalists and the Confederalists. A proclamation restricting, more stringently than ever, the fast diminishing op portunities for intercommunication between the !States. It notified, in fact, that all peroons either quitting or approaching a suspected State must be provided with passports from one of the American Ministers abroad, or from the Secretary of State at home. Even this does not appear to be the last that these advices have to tell us about Mr. LINCOLN and his proclamation. Whether or not the caecoeties scribendi has seized him, certain it is that his pen has of late been unusually industrious, and pro mises to be still more so as time advances, ind the war goes on. "It is reported," says the last telegram, " that Presi dent LINCOLN is about to issue a proclama tion [another and another still succeeds] declar it all the Southern ports to be no longer ports o; f entry." Words, words—still no more than ords, all these fire-and-fury proclamations. Still tl tere is the practical advantage gained through ne of them, at least, in the fact of this extra- o rdinary acceleration of the Volunteer muster. And with reason ! For the most prevalent rumours afloat, when our accounts left, were that the Southern armies were meditating a reso lute attack upon Washington itself. An at too, like our own attack upon Sebastopol -- by a flank movement. The design—judging from the glimpses that are caught of it—i 3 cer tainly audacious enough even for the Southerns. building up of heavy batteries both at Mathias I ?flint and Acquia Creek, so as to effectually corn 'nand the circumbendil'-us of the Potomac—these, iit will be observed, are m ere items in it, the merest precautionary preliminar.:43 to its developement afterwards in right do \vn earnest. The object afterwards was expected to be to cross over in larger numbers than have ever moved there Pet —over the Potomac—in to Maryland! Thence tr.dvancing — cutting off all railway communication between Baltimore and Thiladeiyhia, capturing Annopolis, and so preparing for au ultimate de :aeent en masse from the north and the north-east upon Washington. This attack to be mule simul taneously with the advantle from the Virginian side, from the south and from the southwest. A A LFRED MELT,ON'S PROMENADE CONCERTS. THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. Band of nearly 100 Performers. Wine. PAREPA Every Evening. Commence at Eight. Promenade. One Shilling. Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON. T HEATER• ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. 13. Buckstone. • THIS EVENING the Ballet, BACCHUS AND ARLADNE. Miss Fanny Wright, the Leclercce, Mr. Webster, &c. Atter which, a new Comedy, entitled THE SOFT SEX. Mr. C. Mathews, Mr. Bnckstone, Mr. Compton, Mr. E.Villiers, Airs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Wilkins, &c. Followed by PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. To conclude with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Commence a 7 NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI , Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE HOP PICKERS. Supported by Messrs. D. Fisher, J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, Billington, Miss Woo.gar, Miss Kate Kelly, &c. Followed by THE MIDNIGHT SPECTRE. Messrs. J. L. Toole and Paul Bedford. To conclude with DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Mr. Toole and Miss K. Kelly. Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager. —M r. Edmund Falconer. EVERY EVENING, at Eight o'clock, the new and suc cessful comedy, WOMAN; or, Love against the World. Characters by Messrs. Walter Lacy, Addison, Herman Vezin, J. Robins, Mrs. Charles Young, Mrs. Weston, Miss Murray„ and Miss Lydia Thomson. Preceded by, each evening, the new and original farce entitl e d TEE FETCHES; or, The Onconvanience of Single Life. Tim O'Reilly, Mr. Edmund Falconer ; INlaryO'BradY, mi ss Lydia Thompson. prices as usual. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7 Box-office open daily from 11 till 5. C NTERBURY H ALL CONCERTS, AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. Selectioas from the following Operas :—NORMA, TKO VATORE, TRAVIATA, MARTHA, UN BALLO IN MASCHERA. The Comic department comprises the Prince of Comic Vocalists, Mr. SAM COWELL, who will appear at Nine and a quarter to Eleven o'clock—Mr. Marshall — Messrs. Harvey and French, "The Nerves "—Mr. Wood and his talented Son - and Miss Harriet Coveney. Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans. Admission—Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, Is. THE 0 X FOR D, 6, OXFORD-STREET. Open Every Evening. Selections from "La Traviata," "lln Ballo in Maschera," &c., by Miss Russell, Meagre. C. Greville, Morley, T 117.011, and H. Herbert, with full band and chorus. Other vocal and instrumental music of the highest order, and varied attractive entertainments. The Comic portion by Messrs. M. P. Foster (in his " Life Sketches"), Sam Collins, Harvey, and French (the Nerves), E. Marshall, and W. Randall. Hall, sixpence ; Balcony and Stalls, one shilling. Private Boxes, les. 6d. A grand selection from Verdi's new opera, " Simon Boccanegra," produced on the most complete scale, with additional principals, and aug mented band and chorus, will be presented (for the first time in England) on MONDAY next, arranged and conducted by Mr. Jonghmans. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVEl•iiticir, SEPTEMBER 2, 1861 HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY. Morning, h. m.—Afternoon, 12h. Gm, To-monitow.-Morning, 12h. 34m.—Afternoon, 12h. 58m, magnificent project certainly—if only it eould be carried out. To prevent if possible the mere at tempt at it President LINCOLN was directing the energies of his Government at length coute qui coute no matter at what sacrifice, with a proper supply of arms and uniforms, or without, to the gathering together, with all convenient speed, of as oveni helm ing a mass as could be concentrated at so very abrupt a summons within the lines of defence around Wash ington. It may still be doubted, of course, whether the South can be seriously prepared for adventuring upon any enterprise so astoundingly rash, and that — unless at the very first rush triumphantly success ful—would be almost certain to prove to the assail ants so entirely and irretrievably ruinous. Still, without a doubt, the very first necessity to be urged upon the attention of the Government at Washington is the defence, and that at every cost, of Washington. Hence, in effect—from - his instant appreciation of this—President LINCOLN'S one vigorous act of late, his urgent summons to the Volunteers: If only we could believe that an intimation con tained in the Washington .National Republican might be regarded as one of those significant signs of the times, indicating the dawn of wisdom upon the councils of the Government!! According to the advices now brought to England by the Europa, the journal just mentioned, the National Republican issued at Washington threatens— What is it that it threatens ? What but that very Beware ! that might long ago have been held up in terrorenz over all the eleven slave States of the insur gent South. It thereatens the slaveholders of Lower Maryland with forcible emancipation if they do not remain loyal to the Union. Why that, in simplest truth, is yet the strength of the North, if they would but use it. :That, and certainly nothing less than that, that we can see, would at once give the army of the North something to fight for that would be really worth fighting for. Until some such determined course be seriously adven tured upon, we cannot for the life of us see what high motive there is to nerve the arm of a single soldier fighting under the Federal Banner, To talk of the battle now raging between the Federates and the Con federates, being a battle on the one side for on the other hand against the Constitution is the wildest folly well imaginable. Why the Constitution, for as much as it was worth, is by this time as certainly a thing of the past for America and her citizens as for ourselves are the Heptarchy and the* Witten agemote. European diplomatists might just as well nowadays with an eye let us say upon Italy babble about the Treaty of Vienna. The Constitution of the American Republic is by this time not so much breaking up as it is already broken up. Humpty-dumpty has had a fall, there, more irreparable than that endured by the Portland Vase when it was dashed off its pedestal in the British Museum by a stone hurled by the hand of either a maniac or a scoundrel. Not all the President's horses, nor all the President's men can set that Humpty-dumpty over on the other side of the Atlantic up again just as it was first set up even now less than a century ago) by the aid of General WASHINGTON and others. Whenever it may be patched together again it will at any rate have to be placed upon an entirely now basis. The old foundation is clean gone. There is not a possi bility of its being ever restored. It is the veriest folly to dream of it. Instead of dreaming about it, instead of talking about it, to no purpose whatever, let the North bethink itself betimes of the magical effect that would start at once to view, that would alter the whole prospects of the War in the twinkling of an eye—if but one particular battle cry were raised upon their side, if but one terse announcement were inscribed upon their standard ! Is it not instantly conceivable what that battle cry and inscription would be, viewing the situation of things now in America through that little casual hint thrown out by the National Republican at Washington? Might not the threat there spoken of, as held out against the slaveholders of Lower Maryland be capable of being actually carried out in an actual policy, and of being epitomised into a simple and very deliberate announcement. Then, at last, wouldfthe Northerns have really something not only worth fighting for, but something in the cause of which they could draw their swords with a will before ad. vancing at the pas de charge upon the Southern enemy. President LINCOLN might thus, as it were almost by the utterance of a single word, " Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war," both before and behind the Confederate army now seriously threatening to imperil the safety of the capital. The last pamphlet has spoken ; so, at least, we may surely hope. No one, indeed, would venture to predict what the Emperor of the FRENCH will do ; but we may with certainty believe that he does not wish to make himself ridiculous, and if he now delay for any long period the settlement of the Roman difficulty he must appear so. Probably he may not disavow the pamphlet at all; but even if he did, he would still have the credit of its authorship, and the repudiation would be held to be merely diplomatic. He wished the pamphlet to appear at least. That, in some way best known to himself, he inspired the whole is not doubted; that he shaped many sentences, perhaps paragraphs, may be reasonably believed. After this is there to be another long period of paltering with the claims of the Romans and of Italy ? We do not like to be lieve it. The urgency of the present state of things is indeed great ; and, as at Gaeta, a procrastinating policy would be answerable for a world of atrocities and civil disorders. It is remarkable that the publication of the pamphlet should follow so quickly the sending of the circular by RICASOLI to the European Courts. The Baron described at length the real character of the Neapolitan brigands. He showed that they were really of that character so far as the indivi duals were concerned ; that, though composed for the most part of the hundred thousand disbanded Neapolitan soldiers who were too lazy to settle down to work, they had no political zeal of any kind. From habit, they sometimes hoist the BOUR BON colours ; but they never form an army, never attack even third-rate towns, but confine themselves to plundering villages and very small towns, and doing all the public mischief they can. But the gravamen of the Baron's complaint is the villany of Rome. He asserts officially that the Papal Govern ment connives at and aids all this mischief. That it tolerates the presence of the dethroned King of NAPLES, and he is aided and encouraged by the Papal Government. These cruel disturbers have depots within the Papal territory, and the brigands are invited publicly to enrol their names at Rome as a work of religious merit. The Baron rightly appeals against any condemnation of the King of ITALY'S Government for the disorders which now exist, not only to the notorious facts just adverted to, but to the disturbances which have always followed all great changes of government. England, France, and Spain have all furnished examples of the difficulty of suppressing speedily the uprisings of the vanquished party. None, however, of the other cases can be compared with that of Rome and Italy in regard to the spirit which prompts, and the atrocities which mark, the outrages. What the Baron lays down constitutes the strong point in the Imperial pamphlet. It is asserted that the reaction wishes to make another Vendee or Coblentz of Rome—that the Pontifical authorities even glory in it, and that all is done under the sha dow of the French flag. That the Pontifical Govern ment even went so far as to arm Neapolitan troops with 30,000 stand of arms, which were taken from the fugitive Neapolitans by the French and confided to its care. Moreover, it makes common cause with the Monarch whose expulsion France and England have accepted as a recognised fact. All this is, of course, entirely due to the presence of French troops in Rome. But for them the Roman Government and the dethroned King would vanish from Italian soil, and the Neapolitan disturbances would cease at once. Our pamphlet denies that France can longer continue her support, when it makes her responsible for such consequences. The pamphlet clearly discusses the general aspects of the question. It assumes the principle of na• tionality as a settled one. No person will now contest it. It is one of the corner stones of the new public law of Europe. The Confederation was never put forward as a principle, but an expedient merely, and the plebiscites have legally done away with it. The fear of a strong Italy is the tradi tion of bygone times, to France now it would be a subject of lawful pride. Rome is now the first thing wanted to complete Italian nationality. Venetia is to come afterwards, it is almost hinted as Belgium is to come to France—of course natural boundaries must be completed. Italy has a right to her capital. There is no nationality with • out unity, no unity without a capital. Such are some of the relative aspects of the case ; but the Roman Government itself is attacked, and not only that but the very principle of the temporal Government of the POPE is roughly and mercilessly handled. It is declared to be a scandal that a Power—especially one professing to be a half sacred Power, and to speak in the name of GOD — should say " this people is mine—it is my pro perty." The lease from GOD of this power is demanded. It is represented as opposed to the great principles of civilization, and to the " word of CHRIST" himself. As to the necessity of temporal dominion to independence, very short work is made of that. "To the objection that the Pope cannot be independent without a kingdom the reply is, that thus the bishops and priests could not be so without church property, which is in contradiction to the principles of 1789. If it were admitted that Rome and the Pontifical States were necessary for the independence of the PoPE, it would be necessary to restore to him all that has been taken away. Who will do it? France and England have recognised Italy—it is a fait accompli. Bat, if they are already so much diminished, why could not they be more so ? If the extent of the POPE'S power is to be measured by his possessions it would be necessary to extend them to the extremities of the earth. His temporal power may have an end as it had a ' beginning. It is not of Divine origin. JESUS said to the Apostles Go and teach,' and not Go and conquer." In fine, the POPE is expected to " make hay while the sun shines." He is charged with standing out for unrelson able pretensions, while it is asserted that the Italians have been, on their side, ready to do all they can in the shape of giving guarantees for the POPE'S independence. If, therefore, he be longer obstinate, the day of reckoning is at hand. The will of the people will be ascertained under the superintendence of the French troops, and if the people ask the Italians to take their place, the French troops will march out, and the Italian troops will march in, and thus will pass away for ever the temporal power of the Popes. VICTOR EMMANUEL Will reign in Rome, and Pius IX. will be left to reign spiritually over Roman Catholics in all parts of the world, The worst great European Question will then have received its solution, to the no small advantage doubtless_ of the Papacy as a spiritual institution. It will probably be a prece dent for the settlement of many other questions. Venetia, Hungary, Poland, are all, like Rome, questions of the rights of nationalities. Well—Mr. HUBBARD'S Committee of Inquiry into the present mode of assessing and collecting the Income Tax has duly sat, has duly examined its witnesses, has duly deliberated upon the whole pro blem submitted to its conscientious and impartial consideration. The report of this committee has at length been issued. Although dated now more than a whole calendar month ago, namely, on the Ist ultimo, this long-looked for and (by some few at least it may have been) eagerly looked for, Report only made its appearance on Saturday morning. It occupies less than half a column of newspaper print. It runs only to the length of four brief paragraphs. Anybody, who cares to do so. can read it in five minutes. And yet it is really—after all—hardly worth the reading. For, in point of fact, Mr. HUBBARD'S Committee (no fault this, observe, of Mr. HUBBARD !) has laboured more ineffectual even than the old parturient mountain that we all wot of ! It has brought forth even less than the ridiculous mouse : for it has actually (not, however, without making a great fuss about it at the time) brought forth—nothing ! Sweeping aside the first of the three paragraphs as just simply so much superfluous rigmarole by way of a preamble, and coming at once directly to the point, we read in the course of the fourth and concluding paragraph of this truly inestimable report (for the intrinsic value of it is absolutely beyond the reach of our computa tion) we read, we say, in the fourth para graph the following amazing and portentous words :—" Your committee, however, after full eonsideration [as FREDERICK FAIRLIE, Esquire, would here interject, " Most wonderful !"] after full consideration, have arrived at the conclusion that the plan proposed by their chairman does not afford a basis for a practicable and equitable readjustment of the income-tax, and they feel so strongly the dangers and ill consequences to be appre hended from an attempt to unsettle the present basis of the tax, without a clear perception of the mode in which it is to be reconstructed, that they are not prepared to offer to your honourable house any suggestions for its amendments." And it is for this, that " your Com mittee" has been meeting, and questioning, and deliberating at we don't know how many sittings ! It is for this that they report themselves so very explicitly to" your honourable House !" Really— they might have saved themselves the trouble. So far as having not even the fag end of a story to tell they are about as hard up as the lute Mr. CANNING'S knife-grinder. Remembering now what has been done and said —no, we ought rather to write it, what has not been done, what has not been said by "Your Committee," that is, by poor Mr. HUBBARD'S well-intentioned, but utterly futile Committee upon the Income-Tax, we have positively nothing for it but to call in aid once more of another of Mr. FAIRLIE'S ejaculations. Exclaiming as we dismiss this Committee at the close of its Report—" So kind." Lord Clyde will b© accompanied on his military mission to Prussia by Major-General Eyre, commanding at Chatham; and Lord Dangan, Coldstream Guards, and Mr. liozier, Scots Greys, will be attached to his staff. PRINCE ALBERT (5. PRINCE ALFRED A 7 CARIVA_RVON. His Royal Highness Prince Albert and Prince Alfred, accompanied by Earl Granville and the Hon. Colonel Phipps, arrived unexpectedly at Carnarvon from Holyhead by a special train about 1 o'clock on Friday last. The royal party paid a short visit to the venerable Castle, in which the first Prince of Wales was born, and then passed on to the Bedd gelert, returning at 5 15. Owing to the hurried nature of the visit, the authorities were not made aoquainted with the first arrival of the party, but upon their return from Beddgelert they were re ceived at the station by the mayor of the borough, Mr. Llewelyn Turner, who was introduced to the Prince by Colonel Phipps. The mayor expressed regret that he had not been aware of the royal visit in time to receive their Royal Highnesses and to show them the castle, explaining that he was out yachting with Colonel Sir John Jones, and arrived ashore too late. Prince Albert said the mayor was free from all blame, as the visit was so hurried that it was hardly to be expected that any preparation should have been made. The mayor, who is also the commodore of the Royal Welsh Yacht Club, then described to his Royal Highness the principal features of the race for the cup presented by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, which was won by-the Cecilia yacht on the pievious day. THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND. ABERDEEN, SEPT. 1. Her Majesty arrived at Aberdeen at 11.13 on Saturday forenoon, the only stay of any length after leaving Holyhead being at Perth, where the Royal Party breakfasted. In waiting at Aberdeen.were the Lord Provost of the city and the Conienor of the county, with the latter of whom it may be remembered the Prince Consort resided at Ban chory-honse when he visited Aberdeen as President of the British, Asscciation. After a brief stoppage, her Majesty started by the Dee side Railway for Aboyne, which should have been reached in little ovei an hour; but, from an awkward failure of steam qewor in the engines, an annoying delay of forty minutes occurred on this short but usually well-managed line. From Aboyne, where the Queen was received by the Marquis of Huntly, Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, the remainder of the Highland journey was posted, and Balmoral Castle reached at a quarter past 3 in the after noon. Her Majesty seemed in excellent health and spirits, fre quently acknowledging the warm reception of the spectators along the route. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1862.—Her Ma jesty's Commissioners have received a communication from M. Meyerbeer, stating that, in compliance with their re request, he will compose a march for the opening cere mony. Lord Palmerston has returned to Walmer Castle. Earl Russell has arrived at Abergeldie. Mr. M. Gibson is staying in Scotland, where also Sir C. Wood is expected to arrive. The other members of the Cabinet are also out of town, but Lord Granville is expected to arrive in the me tropolis from Ireland. SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO LADY MILDMAY.—We regret to say that a sad accident has been sustainedby Lady Mildmay, who, with Sir Renry, has been temporarily re siding at Heckfield, Hants, the mansion at Dogmersfield being in course of rebuildiag. Her ladyship, it seems, en tered the stables on Tuesday last, thinking Sir Henry had gone thither, and it is supposed that a portion of her dress touched one of the horses, which kicked violently, and, most unfortunately, broke her ladyship's jaw, and also inflicted other serious injuries. Assistance was instantly rendered by Sir H. Mildmay, and also by the groom, but they were likewise knocked down by the animal. They, however, escaped with cemparatively trifling injuries. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.--It appears that English opera is not be confined alone to Covent garden this year. A season is, we hear, to commence shortly at Drury-lane. Some of our leading artistes, with a large band and chorus, under the direction of Dr. James Pech, have already been engaged. ANOTHER TRAMWAY ACCIDENT. Yesterday afternoon, between 4 and 5 o'clock, as one of the large tramway carriages, heavily laden with passengers, was on its way from Westminster-bridge to Kennington-park, and nearly opposite the Female Orphan Asylum, a lad about 13 neared the side of the carriage and unfortunately fell down on the rail. In an instant the hind wheel passed over one of his legs. No person knew the unfortunate lad, but he was conveyed immediately in a cab to the hospital. There appeared to be no blame attributable to those in charge of the tram carriage, and it is probable that, unless the police interfere, curiosity will cause many other accidents of a like nature. THE LATE BOAT ACCIDENT.—None of the bodies of the unfortunate gentlemen who were drowned between Flamborough and Scarborough, on the 10th ingt., "lava yet been found, although frequent efforts have been made. Rewards are offered ; and it is said that in ono case con siderable inducements have been held out for a vigilant search for the body of a young gentleman whose identifica tion is necessary for the legal settlement of his affairs.— Yorkehire Gazette. Her Majesty's Government has determined to make an important increase in the strength of our military force in North America, and three regiments of infantry are about to be placed under immediate orders for Canada. They will probably embark in the Great Eastern before the midile of next month. Owing to the absence of his Royal Highness the General Commanding-in• Chief, no selection of the regiments for this duty can be made for a few days. It is very likely, however, that three old and thoroughly efficient battalions, the Ist Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, the Ist Battalions of the 15th and the 96th Regiments, all at present at the Curragh, will be chosen. Probably one of the new regiments, now scarcely inferior to any in the service, will be told off for Canada, as the 4th Battalion of the 60th Rifles was when the first addition to our exceed ingly small force in the colony was made some two months since. Whatever may be the effect in some quarters of the announcement we now make, we have little doubt that the public generally will recognise this step as an act of wise precaution on the part of those responsible for the dignity and integrity of the empire.—Xrmy and .havy Gazette. DEATH OF AN ENGLISH TRAVELLER IN RUSSIA— We have heard with regret of the death of the enterprising traveller in the Russian territories in Asia, Thomas Witlam Atkinson, who has a claim to notice in these pages, as for merly an architect, and oue whose influence shold be cre dited with the first initiative of the architectural taste for which the town of Manchester has since become remark able. The story of Atkinson's life will probably never be precisely told ; the little that has appeared in print is incom plete or inaccurate; but could the biography be written, it would be found one of the most curious and thought-sug gesting. Our first traces of Atkinson point to a ve r y h um bl e origin. He appears to have been either an ordinary mason, or a carver, employed on the churches of the north, such as those which William Goodwin designed. Though not pre viously remarkable for the constitutional and mental gifts which are demanded of a traveller, Atkinson displayed in the course of his wanderings great power of endurance, and much address ; so that his works have added important particulars to the knowledge of Russia in Asia, including the river Amoor and the confines of Chinese Tartary. The distances which he occasionally traversed in a single day, across the steppe where delay was death, or by the Asiatic method of leading the relays of horses, and changing from one to another, were extraordinary ; and during the whole of his travels he seems to have never lost a chance of record ing what he saw with pencil, colours, and note-book. He must have left, somewhere, an amount of materials even much beyond what would be supposed from the illustrated volumes which have seen published. No Englishman was better acquainted than he was with the fact of the progress made by the Russians in the direction of India or more competent to give an opinion on questions which have been much discussed connected with that subject. He died on the 13th of August at Lower Walmer, in Kent, aged 62. Builder. THE BEST WESTERLY STEAM NAVIGATION STA TION.—We have endeavoured to show that if a direct communication with America be wanted in Ireland Cork is the safe and proper station, but for general purposes m w n h u a s v e f o o r n w t e c r o l a y s t s t o e f a in G r e n u a t v i ß g a r i t t i a o i n n i t n h e 3r v i l ry fo r fi d finest v t e e n r : which combines all advantages. No harbour in Europe or in the world can be eompared with it in all the varied requirements of the great depot of a vast system of steam navigation. It has a capacity equal to the perfectly se cure anchorage of the whole fleets of England. It is easy of approach at all seasons of the year, and all conditions of weather, by a great highway of far-extending and well-de fined soundings. It lies at the pit's mouth of the very best and cheapest steaming coal in the world, and is contiguous to great sources of iron supply and vast melting establish ments. It is on the unexposed side of the kingdom, mili tarily considered, and otherwise singularly easy of formid able defence. It contains quarries of noble stone for the formation of wet and dry docks, already extensively hol lowed out by nature. It is within 150 miles of the extreme western limits of this kingdom, and is placed by railwithin easy distance of the centre of the empire. In short, it wants no single convenience for this purpose of a great steam depot that nature could furnish. The time cannot be dis tant when its great advantages will be recognised. For our own part we see many weighty reasons for the hope that it may become the chief port of naval construction in the kingdom, and that all tae ports on the south shores should gradually and not very slowly be converted into arsenals of refitment and issue of stores for immediate service. When a first-rate naval and ccmmercial Power can save only the fraction of a farthing per ton in its enormous consumption of fuel for navigation purposes; the reduction of expense would, of course, be very large ; but when the saving amounts to the fraction of a pound sterling (as it would do in the case of fuel shipped at Milford), the economy would be immence indeed. —Examiner. 1•t. 't L4lrf E T The Patrie of this evening publishes a despatch dated Rome, 30th August, announcing that tran quillity continued to prevail there, and that the relations of the French with the Papal authorities were satisfactory. The Pays says:—" The deputies sent from Fin land to Stockholm, to demand its separation from Russia, have been arrested by the Russian autho rities on a charge of treason." TURIN, SEPT. 2. It is rumoured that Signor C. Bianchi has been appointed Secretary-General of the Interior in the place of Signor Borromeo. General Cugia has resigned. TURIN, SEPT. 1. The nomination of General Della Rovere to the office of Minister of War appears to have been de finitively determined on. The Opinione of to-day says Baron Ricasoli is entrusted with the portfolio of the Interior, retain ing ad interim that for Foreign Affairs. Signor Borromeo, Secretary General to the Ministry of the Interior, has resigned. News has been received here from Naples an nouncing that the brigands had been beaten and dispersed at several points, and that their nuni bers were sensibly diminishing. There was every reason to hope that brigandage would be shortly repressed. Signor Minghetti has tendered his resignation, which has not yet been accepted. M, Benedetti, the new French Minister Pleni potentiary, has been formally received in audience by the King. BERNE, AUG. 31. The Fedei al Council has received a note from the French Government, stating that it considers the scandalous affair which took place on the frontier of the canton of Geneva, on the 25th instant, as a violation of French territory. The note of the French Government demands satisfaction on this account, and an indemnity to be paid to those wounded and arrested on the occasion. MADRID, SEPT. 1. General Marchesi has been sent to Biarritz to compliment the Emperor in the name of Queen Isabella. President Geffrard, of Hayti, has paid the in. dembity demanded by Spain. MONDAY MORNING, SEPT. 2. The Pera, from Southampton, on the 20th, reached Malta at noon on the 29th nit., and left at 10 p.m. for Alexandria. The Massilia, from Marseilles on the 28th, arrived at Malta at midnight on the 30th, and left at 6 the the next morning for Alexandria. FRANCE. The Steele publishes the following :—" It is cur rently reported that the question of the dissolution of the Legislative Body has been again discussed in the recent Cabinet Councils. It is even said that the Minister of the Interior has addressed a private circular to the Prefects, calling upon them to send in a report on the opinion of the populations rela tive to the proposed measure, and on the probable result i❑ case it were carried into execution. The answers of the Prefects will vary according to the more or less intimate nature of their relations with the clerical and Legitimist party ; but the senti ments cif the populations admit of no doubt—they are most impatient for an opportunity of breaking with the partisans of the temporal power. We are little inclined to set up for prophets as to the results of the future elections, but we are certain that the members of Antonelli's congregation who may re sume their seats on the benches of the Legislative Body will not be very numerous, and that the new deputies will be more in harmony with the spirit of the decree of the 24th November than those we have at present." BOURSE, Aug. 31.—There has been some little buoyancy apparent in the market, and priees have obtained a slight advance on the closing rates of yesterday. Threes, for the Account, are now at 68f 90c. Railways quiet, but firm. The following are the last quotations 4t per per Cents ... 98 50 Credit Foncier 1250 Do end month.... 98 50 Belgian 4± — 3 per Cents Do. end month 69 05 Roman — Bank Shares 2900 —; Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 766 24; Spanish Threes 49k Do. Account 768 75 Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans l4lB 75 .. 1420 Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 1025 .. 1026 25 Geneva 350 .. 350 Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard 536 25 .. 537 50 The ship Liberator, 695 tons, Captain Martin, belonging to John Duthie, Esq., of Aberdeen, and chartered for Messrs. Mackay and Co.'s Black Ball line of packets, was off Plymouth on Saturday evening, from Sydney May 19, bound for London. She landed a small mail and one passenger at Plymouth. She brings 95 passengers, 1,773 bales wool, 7 bales skins, 328 casks tallow, 37 casks oil, 23 bundles whalebone, 4,570 hides, 507 coils of lead pipe, 40 bags copper ore, 40 ingots copper, 1 cask old metal, 101 cases wine, and several cases of sundries. A correspondent, writing to the ilkhbar of Algiers on the subject of the present year's harvest, says I am in possession of information relative to the pricy of wheat and flour in the Paris market since 1820, and in taking the average of those prices for each year, I come to the fol lowing conclusions :-1. All the good, middling, or bad harvests come by groups of three to six years. 2. A single good crop is never isolated between two bad ones. 3. A bad crop is never isolated between two good. 4. The second year of an ascending group is always higher than the first year of that group. 5. From 1857 to 1860 was a series of good years succeeding to one of bad (1853 to 1866). G. The present year (1861) has commenced a group of bad harvests. THE SILK MARKET.—According to a circular of Messrs. Arles Dufour and Co., of Lyons, it appears that the support afforded to the silk market by the hope of a poli tical and commercial reaction in the United States, which alone caused manufacturers to keep their looms employed during the early part of the year, has been entirely disap pointed by the succession of advices lately received, and that conseqently the tendency to inactivity and depression has assumed a more serious character. Holders show much anxiety to sell, and prices are receding rapidly. The fall since the highest period of the year may now be estimated at from 10 to 20 per cent., according to qualities, leaving still, however, a margin of about 10 per cent. upon the lowest rates of 1857. FINANCIAL POSITION OF RUSSIA.—The latest advices regarding the financial position of Russia continue bad. Silver is with difficulty to be obtained, and the pre sent issue is in a depreciated currency of 72 parts fine to the 81 of the old currency. General business is very dull, and the chief subject of conversation is the probable effect of the emancipation of the serfs. The most gloomy result is pre dicted by some, while those favourable to the scheme, and who look for much eventual good, speak of great interme diate difficulties. The harvest in Central Russia is poor. The Nishni fair commenced on the 12th of August, but the attendance was not good, and it was anticipated that it would pass badly. After Jan. 1, 1862, there is to be an altera tion of the duties on tea. The present duties for overland tea are 75 and 40 kopecks per Russian lb., according to quality. These are to be reduced to 25 and 16 kopecks, while the duties for tea introduced by sea to St. Petersburgh are to be 60 and 30 kopecks per Russian lb. Notwithstanding this difference of duty, it is anticipated that tea from Eng land via St. Petersburgh will come cheaper than the over land tea, and this fear was influencing the sale of tea at the Nishmi fair. About 12,000,0001 b. of tea are said to be sent via Kiachta annually, partly by caravan and partly by boat, and aro usually six months on the road. The rail way from Moscow to Vladimir, about half the distance, is now open. The remaining 220 versts, or about 130 miles, are in course of construction, and if funds were available might be completed for the fair next year. There is goad steam communication on the Volga, as also on the Caspian j Sea, AMERICA, ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPA. LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY. The royal mail steamship Europa, Captain Ander son, which left Boston on the 21st, and Halifax on the night of the 22d ultimo, arrived in the Mersey at 11 20 this morning. The Europa was boarded off Cape Race on the 24th ultimo, and reports the following steamships as having passed that point :—The City of Wash ington on the 23d and the Teutonia on the 24th ultimo, both bound west. No further news had been received at Cape Race from the States. A general order of the Secretary of War, dated the 19th ultimo, calling for all volunteers enrolled for the service, whether equipped, armed, or uni formed, or not, to proceed at once to Washington, had caused great alarm in the northern states. The New York Herald says :—" It would appear from the movement of the rebel forces around Fair fax Court House and Fall Church, that they are making cautious advances upon the Ur.ion lines in the direction of the Potomac, not only towards Washington, but still farther west, in the direction of General Bank's command. They have thrown up intrenchments at Springfield Station, a few miles out of Alexandria. The opinion prevails at Washington that an attack by the rebels is medi tated, and that such a measure will become a necessity." The New fork Herald of the 20th says :—" The crisis of the hour demands fresh troops for the protection of the national capital, and the coun try responds with alacrity to the call of the War Department. By thousands men are pre paring to push forward in defence of the govern ment, the flag, and the constitution which for three quarters of a century have been the represen tatives of freedom the first and brightest all the world over. For the second time since the open ing of the war danger threatens the safety of Washington, and now, as on the first occasion in April hot, the people of the north are olive to the necessity of preserving the seat of govern ment, its archives, and its memories. Rumours are afloat that the rebels have a scheme on foot to attack Washington by a flank move ment, the design being to use a large force—which, it appears, has been concentrating for a long time in Maryland—to cut off the connection by railroad, and land between Baltimore and Philadelphia, while Generals Beauregard and Johnstone ad vanced on Washington from the Virginia side. In view of the danger arising from this plan, the order of the Secretary of War calling for troops must be regarded as an imperative necessity. A force of nearly 10,000 men will leave New York state during the present week, and no doubt the other states called upon will furnish proportionate quotas at once. The movement of the rebels on the Maryland shore is intended to be accomplished by the trans port of troops on launches and flats, a large number of which has, it appears, been concentrated in the vicinity of Acquia Creek, despite the boasted watchfulness of the Potomac flotilla. It has also been discovered that several formidable batteries have been constructed by the rebels not only on the shores of Acquia and Potomac Creeks, but on the Maryland side of the river at Mineral Point. The following announcement had been published by the Department of State at Washington " Until further notice no person will be allowed to go abroad from a port of the United States without a passport either from this department or countersigned by the Secretary of State. Nor will any person be allowed to land in the United States without a passport from the Minister or Consul of the United States ; or if a foreigner, from his own government, countersigned by some Minister or consul." This regulation, however, is not to take effect in regard to persons coming from abroad until a rea sonable time shall have elapsed for it to become known in the country from which they may pro ceed. The Federal Government had arrested, at Phila delphia, Mr. Pierce Butler (said to be the gentle. man who married Miss Fanny Kemble) on a charge of treason, the Government having seized a parcel of letters on their way across the Potomac, ad dressed by Mr_ lintlAr Bcaurcsard null Johnson, President Jefferson Davis, and other pro minent men among the Secessionists. He was sent to Fort Lafayette as a State prisoner. General Wood assumed the command at Fortress Monroe on the 19th ult. The case of the United States against T. S. Serrill, was called on in the United States Commis sioner's Court, at New York, on the 10th. The United States Marshal informed the Commissioner that, by order of the Secretary of State, the prisoner had been transferred to Fort Lafayette, to await further orders, The Commissioner then'endorsed the warrant of arrest, to the effect that the prisoner was discharged from further examination and any other process under that warrant. Advices from St. Thomas state that the privateer Sumter had been captured at Curacoa by a United States frigate. Numerous captures were being made by privateers in the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies. A Washington telegram says :—" The question of an exchange of prisoners is yet undecided. The President is firmly opposed to any recognition of the rebels as a belligerent power. The Secessionists in the lower part of Maryland will soon be under the strict watch of United States troops." The National Republican intimates that a negro insurrection is probable in Lower Maryland, and threatens forcible emancipation if the slaveholders do not remain loyal. . It was reported from Independence, Missouri, that Fort Fillmore had been abandoned by the Federal troops, and that the troops, to the number of 500 men, had subsequently surrendered, without firing a gun, to a Texan force of 3,000 men. Great excitement prevailed in Wester Missouri. A telegram of the 20th ult. from Jefferson city says —" A train arrived this morning from Syracuse, having on board 25 passengers and 250 United States Soldiers. When the train was near Look out Station, about 30 shots were fired into it from wood piles and bushes skirting the road, killing one soldier and wounding six others, one fatally. One Secessionist was killed. The train was stopped half a mile beyond a point where the attack was made, and 200 soldiers put off and sent in pursuit of the miscreants. Gaerilla parties are scouring the coun ties west of born, eeiAing property and arresting prominent citizens. Information has been re ceived that Warsaw, Bolivar, and Ocola, points in the south west, have been occupied by portions of Price's army. Squads and companies of men are constantly leaving the northern counties and pushing southward to join the state forces. The Secessionists, under Colonel Staples, have col lected in considerable force in Pettis and Johnson counties, and taken military possession of Warrens burg in Johnson, and Georgetown and Sidlia in Pettis counties. Much excitement exists west of here, and many are leaving their homes. It is stated that Colonel Staples can concentrate a force of over 3,000, and will co-operate in a movement upon this city, should one be determined upon. We have about 3,500 troops here now, and the number will doubtless be considerably augmented in a few days." A telegram, dated St. Louis the 20th, say : "The town of Commerce, forty miles above Cairo, which was taken by a battery planted by the Seces sionists, was retaken last night by 500 troops, sent down from Camp Guardian by order of General Fremont. The Secessionists made no stand, but retreated with their battery on the approach of our troops. Their number was about 150 infantry and 150 cavalry." Advices overland from California are to the 10th of August from San Francisco. The markets were quiet and steady. The steamer Sonora left San Francisco for Panama on the 10th with 850,000 dollar s in specie. A destructive are had taken place in Sonora. Prince Napoleon haE gone to Lake Superior. The Convention at Wheeling, Western Virgini a , had passed an ordinance creating a new State of that portion of Virginia by a vote of 50 to 28, A provision was incorporated permitting certaii, adjoining counties to come in if they desired, by the expression of a majority of their people, The ordinance also provides for the election of delegates to a convention to form a constitution. At the same time, the question " For a new State, or against a new,State," is to be submitted to the people within the proposed boundary. The election is appointed to be hold on the 24th October. The name of the new State is to be Kanawha. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK (via Halifax), August 22, Evening. The money market is easy. Sterling exchange— bankers' bills, 1074 ; commercial, 1061. Bread stuffs, steady—Winter red wheat, 128 dole.; Chicago Spring, 108 dols. ; extra State flour, 460 dole. ; Indian corn—mixed Western, 48c. Coffee, quiet but firm. Lard and Tallow steady. Freights to Liverpool—flou r , 2s, 6d. ; wheat, 10d. LATEST INTELLIGENCE, NEW YORK, 22, Evening. The news is unimportant. The Potomac is swollen by heavy rains. The rumour that the Confederates had crossed is false. THE REMOVAL 01 THE WATER BARO METER TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—On the removal of the Royal Society from Somerset-house to Burlington-house, the council, at my request, placed the water barometer at my dis posal, which had been erected in the hall at the foot of the staircase by the late J. F. Daniel, Esq., D.C.L., in the year 1832. The directors of the Crystal Palace Company hav ing previously agreed to receive it, and to assign some convenient place in the palace for its erection where its indications could be seen by everybody, its removal from London to Sydenham was speedily decided upon, but the practical difficulties attend ing its removal, the re-boiling the water in the tubes, and the refilling it, have been so great, that longer time-has elapsed in its remounting and com pletion than I had intended. The first operation, viz., the removal of the barometer from 'Somerset house, was, after much difficulty, effected by them some months since, all arriving in safety at the palace, with the exception of the breakage of about 12 foot from the lower end of the barometer tube. Originally the tube was filled by means of a copper steam boiler set in brickwork, over a fire-place im mediately under the barometer itself, so that the tube could be dropped into the boiler, which h as since formed its cistern. Upon frequent consultations with Messrs. Ne gretti and Zambra this plan did not seem to be the best possible or indeed available at the palace. In the first place there was doubt as to the boiler being sufficiently strong to bear the necessary pressure, so that the water might be boiled almost throughout the tube, and kept in a state of ebullition for some time; and secondly, no fire could be allowed in the palace. Under these circumstances it was at last suggested by Mr. Negretti to use an auxiliary boiler outside the building. The object in view was first to boil the water in the cistern, suffering the steam to escape by a cock for some time, and then by closing the cock to drive steam through the tube till it escaped. in a strong jet from its upper extremity, and then to boil the water in the tube till it issued from the top. By this means all air would be removed from the sides of the tube and expelled from the tube itself. When this operation had continued long enough to temporarily seal the top while the water was still flowing out, and ultimately by means of a judicious use of the blow-pipe to hermetically seal the top of the tube. During Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Aug. 27, 28, and 29, Mr. Negretti was engaged at the palace preparing everything, and with great dex terity joined a piece of glass on the broken end of the tube of the same diameter as itself,. and also joined another piece of glass on to the other extre mity terminating in a small aperture. On Thursday, August 30, everything was ready for the experiment, an auxiliary boiler was planted outside the building for generating steam, a pipe from which led to the boiler under the barometer itself, into which distilled water of sufficient quan tity had been placed, precautions having been taken to connect the pipe from the outer boiler with that in the inner boiler with a portion of flexible tub ing, which would first yield if anything went wrong. After the connection was made, in about half an hour a current of steam issued from the cock. When this had continued for some time the cock was closed, and the steam ascended into the tube, being at first condensed by.the upper part of the tube, and ultimately rushing out at the top with considerable velocity. Water then ascended into the tube, and it was an anxious moment to watch the boiling water reach and pass where the tube had been joined—which, however, had been so ad mirably performed th a t a ll anx i ety on this head soon ceased; after a time the upper extremity, while steam was rushing out was closed, when the water ascended the tube and soon reached a point 32 feet from the surface of water in the boiler below; after this it was driven up, by steam, to very nearly the top of the continuation of the tube, but it did not reach quite up to the sealing point. A consultation now took place ; it was almost re solved to let well alone, but it was ultimately deter mined to go through the same process again, as some practical points had been suggested which promised to make the experiment yet more success ful. The top of the tube was therefore opened, the water fell, and the operation was repeated. It would be tedious to detail all the steps taken in the reboiling ; the operation was eminently successful, and the tube was finally closed by the blow-pipe, and the column of water reached nearly 33 ,feet without the slightest speck of air bubble being per ceptible. On Friday afternoon Mr. Negretti and I found the column of water 32 feet 9 inches in length, as measured from the surface in the cistern ; this is equivalent to a column of 28.84 inches of mercury, considering the gravity of mercury as 13.624. The reading of a mercurial barometer at the same time was 29.86 inches ; the difference between these two readings is 0.98 inch, and this difference should indicate the elastic force of aqueous vapour at the temperature at the time, viz., 78 degs. if both instru ments be correct. The elastic force of aqueous vapour at the temperature of 78 degs. is 0.96 inch, differing by two-hundredths of an inch only from that indicated by the water barometer, ati<l cum pl.toly ..tinned me as to the accuracy of the opera tion, thus proving that the space above the water was free from air. I cannot close without expressing my sense of the ready resource of Mr. Negretti in overcoming every difficulty as it arose, and of the facility with which he performed and conducted every process connected with the operation. My thanks are also due to Mr. Grove and Mr. Rose, of the Crystal Palace, for affording every facility. The instrument is fixed in an angle in the tropical department, and near the great tree. The top of the column of water can be seen from the first gallery, and as that which causes a variation of an inch of mercury will cause a variation of more than a foot in the column of water, so the changes in the latter will be more than twelve times as great as in the former. Many oscillations therefore may be seen by the water which cannot be seen by the mercurial barometer, and in gales of wind or heavy storms it will be highly interesting to watch its action.—l am, &c., JA➢TES GLAISHER. Blackheath, August 31. THE SHIP ALBERT GALLATIN.—This vessel, on one of her outward voyages to New York early in the pre sent year, e x p er i enced very severe weather. and when in Ist. 49 30 N . long, 42 W., the captain, (Delano) threw a bottle overboard containing a memorandum to the effect that the vessel was suffering from a violent gale, and re questing any person who picked up the bottle to report the circumstance. The memorandum was dated Feb. 9, and on the 7th March the Albert Gallatin arrived in a leaky and distressed state at New York. On the 19th ult, the bottle was picked up off the island of lona, north of Scotland. DEATH FROM GRIEF.—The Gloucester Chronicle announces the death of the Rev. It. C. Greer, curate in' charge of St. Mary de Crypt, from • grief. He had recently returned from Teignmouth, where he had lost a child, and his wife dying on Thursday, the 15th inst., he was so over whelmed with the double calamity, that he expired on the following Wednesday, leaving five little children, the younger of whom, a babo of six months, is not expected to 4