The Sun. — London, England, 1863-09-05 00:00:00

OYAL PRINCESS'S 'THEATRE Lessee, Mr. George Vining - . Open under the Management of Mr. Walter Montgomery. THIS EVENING, Shalcespere's Tragedy of HAMLET, Hamlet, Mr. Walter Montgomery. To be followed by A ROUGH DIA3IOND. Commence at 7. NEW TELEATRE-R0 AL, AD EL-pHI.— Solo P r oprietor and Manavr, Mr. B. Webster. 'I7HIS EVENING (2d week), at 7, a ne comic dram M a, THE EN AND CHICKENS' • or, A Sign o w f Affection. essrs. ltillinfzlon, R. Phillips, St'ephenson ; Mrs. Stirling and Miss It. :Idioms. After which, at a quarter-paskS, the new drama of THE lIMINTED MAN; OR, T itE GHOST'S BARGAIN, in which will be exhibited Professor Pepper's ada.pfatlon of he Great Spectral lilnsion. Messrs. .L L. Toole, R. Phillips, efton, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Alfred Mellon and Miss H. Simms. Followed by anew Burlesque, entitled ILL-TREATED TROVATORE. Messrs. Toole. P. Bedford, It. Phillips, }lbnrne, C. J. Smith, Romer ; the Sisters Nelson, Carry a Sara, and Miss K. Kelly. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. TITIS EVENING, 1113 FIRST CHAMPAGNE. Mr. Leigh Murray. Followed by (42d time) THE MOTTO, "I'M ALL THERE." Messrs. Honey, Turner, E. Danvers, Collier, Clifton ; Mesdames Ada Swanboron,gh, F. Josephs, Maria Simpson, Wallace, and Jenny White. To conclude with TUR.N HIM OUT. Mr. Turner, Miss Thorne. Commence at 7. Tr" THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN ," Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, Can be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE. NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park: HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAY.—Morniag, , , 6h. 54m.—Afternoon, 7h. 19m. To-xonßow.-Morning, 7h. 50m.—Afternoon, Bh. 26m. The Weather—Sun Office, Sept. 5, 1863. THERMOMETER. This morninz This day at Two o'clock Barometer-29.68. 'Wind—South-Westerly ; moderate, and cloudy, with rain Fes' (911-,4.4 tut (big 21,e1t , ) , LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPT. 5, 1863. Again the American news illustrates simply the growing ferocity of the combatants. We see this only too clearly, even through the brief fragmentary telegrams flashed from Queenstown upon the arrival of the China. Those telegrams inform us, with frightful brevity, that Fort Sumter is in ruins— that Charleston has been shelled—that Chattanooga has been fiercely bombarded—that Lawrence has been utterly destroyed. Again, moreover, the fury of the conflict comes from the side of the Federals —showing how nearly they had been beaten before the commencement of their recent successes ! Begin ning anew thus, this accession of fury, it excites the Confederates themselves, as a matter of course, to a phrenzy of retaliation. How unquestionably it is thus, namely, that the hot blood flows first of all southwards, and then by reason of that back again as fiercely northwards, we may recognise now by the course pursued but very recently, in reference to Charleston, by the Federal and Confederate Commanders respectively. The former, that is, General GILMORE, on the 26th ult. demands the surrender of Morris Island and Fort Sumter, under the ferocious threat that, unless both Island and Fort are thus surrendered, within four hours from the time of the requisition, the city of Charleston will be at once bombarded. To which—what is the reply of General BEAUREGARD ? It is a response precisely affording a case in point. General BEAU REGARD replies by charging General GILMORE with inhumanity and a flagrant violation of the laws of war, adding that, if the threat of the Federal Commander should be really made good—well, adding what ? Why that he, General BEAIIRE GARD, would " employ stringent measures of retaliation !" It is in this sanguinary and relent less mood that leash after leash of the Dogs of War is let slip, that again, and that yet again, in wilder accents, the fratricidal combatants cry havoc, now in one part, now in another, of what was once, but what we may rest as aurcd will never bo again, under any conceivable combination of circumstances, the American " Union." Upon the very next morning after these ominous communications have been exchanged be tween GILMORE and BEAUREGARD, the former gives notice (that is on the 23d) that he will in fallibly on the following day open fire upon the fated city of Charleston. So that, the non-com batants have fresh warning to clear out of the way, before the actual commencement of the bombarding. Scarcely crediting this announce ment, the non-combatants remain even then in the city. And, not until the firing has begun in terrible earnest at midnight, do the peaceful citizens, women and children included, begin to stream out of the place in hurried and mournful processions ! With 15 8-inch Parrot shells dropping in amongst the roofs of Charleston, as they hasten from the scene of destruction ! Notwithstanding the determined onslaught made thus upon Charles. ton by General GILMORE, the confidence of the South in regard to the holding out of that city against its assailants, appears to remain un shaken. "If the Federals captured the whole of Morris Islands," says theßichn2ondExaminer,"they might close Charleston as a port of entry ; but it would not enable them to take the city, as General BEAUREGARD can maintain himself against any force sent, or likely to be sent, aga inst him:' This, after 600 shells, on the single date of the 22d, had been thrown into Fort Sumter alone, upwards of 40 0 out of the 600 taking effect upon that fortress, and scattering it (no wonder!) into ruins. While Su ch is the fury of the combat at Charleston, Ge neral, LEE appears to have gathered together under his standard in the immediate vicinity of Culpepper Conrc House, as many as 60,000 men — there, with those sixty thousand Southerners " straining upon the slip," meditating another and a y et more daring invasion than the last upon Maryland. At Chattanoo g a, mean while, Roezefteaca, more pitiless than GIL MORE, appears, . upon the 21st ult. to have shelled that place, with out vouchsafing any previous inti mation of his intention so to bombard it. It is to the relative situation, however, of the main armies under LEE and MEADE, that the chief atten tion of Enropean observers is, as a matter of course, still directed. The Fedsral Commander-in -Chief, yet acting, almost timorously, up on the defensive, while his opponent appears every au J to be more resolutely bent upon active 'operations of a most warlike character —the Confederate head- quarters being still kept by him at Culpepper, LoN omEET holding Fredeeichsburg, and STUART guarding th e fords of the Rappahannock. "While the friends of Lancashire are beginning to warn us, not without reason, to prepare our help for the coming winter, the news from other quar ters is by no means discouraging as to our future cotton supply. It would, of course, be idle to ex pect a sudden return to the full tide of prosperity which Lancashire was rejoicing in three years ago ; but we have every reason to hope, under Provi dence, for a gradual but certain improvement in the prospects of the trade. Cotton does not grow in a day, and in districts where its cultivation has hitherto been entirely neglected, we must not be disappointed if the first crop is far inferior to the American cotton. When cotton was first cultivated in Alabama and Louisiana, We very much question whether the products of the first two or three years equalled the bales since despatched to Liverpool ; more espe c i a lly, and in the case of Indian cotton, TEE SUN, LONDON. SATURDAY EVENING; SEPTEMBER 5, ism many adventitious circumstances have assisted in depreciating the value of new experiments. The difficulties attending its transit through the in terior, the rough modes of conveyance, and the cha racteristic Eastern dishonesty which packed dirt and rubbish in the bales, all conspired to disgust English manufacturers of cotton of Indian growth. Matters are now mending. Roads, railways, and canals are opening the means of intercourse between the ports and the interior, and affording cheap, easy, and careful methods of conveyance, while due precautions are taken to avoid the tricks practised by the packers. In consequence of these changes, and of the increasing confidence felt in the prospects of this branch of the trade, the cultivation of cotton in India is assuming new features. The new crop is considerably greater than that of pre vious seasons ; and, although that which has hitherto been brought to the markets is only of average quality, large quantities of superior quality are said to be now en route. A gentleman residing at Lucknow has sent some beautiful specimens grown from New Orleans seed, and expresses his desire of sowing 200 acres with it in the Oude dis trict. At the Calcutta Agricultural Exhibition, to be held next year, it is proposed various implements required in cotton te exhibit cultivationthe free of charge, and we may hop e that this will con duce to the employment of the b es t m echanical ap pliances in future. The West Indies and Southern a Cotton da, America also furnish enco-araging us. r I was formerly grown t o a great extent eee G e Grenada., • West Indies, and in some of the small islands of the group it is st ill cultivated. It may therefore be expected to resume its old impor tance in this locality, and as a proof that the West Indian cotton must not be despised, we may men tion that cotton grown in Trinidad has been valued in Liverpool at 4s. per lb. Buenos Ayres and the neighbourhood of the River Plate also promise well. From the latter district great things may be ex pected. The conditions of soil and climate are all in favour of the crop, and the native quality is ex pected to rival the cotton of New Orleans and Mo bile growth. The inhabitants have not been slow to perceive the favourable opening for the exten sion of their trade and commerce. They have manifested a warm interest in the question which is rroved by the great number of persons embark ing in cotton plantations. It has been proposed to form a Cotton Plantation Company, with the Go vernment of the State at its head. As the planting takes place between August and October, and the crop is gathered at the opening of the year. we may hope before the terrible winter is over to receive a considerable supply from this quar ter. Another source of supply is also opening which may entail important consequences. The Executive Committee of the Cotton Supply Asso ciation have received a letter from a gentleman residing at Havannah, who stated that, after tra velling through the United States, he resolved on his return to Cuba to commence the cultivation of cotton, and to demonstrate that free labour might be introduced with great advantage to the country. Could such a fact be established in the very stronghold of the slave trade, it would be, indeed, a triumph, and there is no natural reason to the contrary. There is nothing in the situation or climate of Cuba which excludes it from com petition with the American products. Tobacco is common to both countries, why should not cotton be the same. If Havannah and Virginia are both dear to smokers, why should not Cuba rival the Southern States in the value of her cotton plan tations. The experiment as yet promises well. The enterprising projector of the scheme has planted 100 acres, selecting different varieties of soil. The plants are bearing luxurionsly, having an average of 50 pods on each stalk, and pro mising to produce three times that number. Cotton has been planted in Cuba before, and pre vious Planters say that the first year does not pay, but that as the plant is perennial, the second year repays the planters. Th© first season or two is seldom a fair test of the ultimate success of the experiment, and it is this that has dis heartened so many persons with regard to cur Lan cashire prospects. Because all our efforts have failed to supply the full amount required of equal value to the American cotton they lament over the ruin of one of our staple manufactures and the hopeless impoverishment of our mill hands. A little patience will show a different state of things. Even now the state of things is different from what it was at this time last year, and another winter, under Providence, will have seen us through the worst. At the opening of the next year we may hope for increasing supplies, which will gradually go on growing in number and value until the American war, if it last so long, will only affect as as a ques tion of humanity. It is our own fault if the mis takes of a long series of years cannot be remedied in a day. We have suffered fertile lands to lie idle, glowing suns and softening dews to shine and fall unheeded, while all our fortunes were resting on one stay which might fail us at any moment. Even if the bloodiest civil war of modern times had been averted, there was no security that the pride and insolence of American statesmen might not any day have dr awn no into a wa r w hi c h would at least have suspended our cotton supply. The attempt to t t introduce free labour into Cuba points another moral to our Manchester philanthropist s . W e hear a great deal about the duty our Government owes to Abolitionists, and the horror with which we ought to regard the rebelliou s S outh • We are told that the sympathies of English men and women should be exclusively on the Northern side, and that every Federal success should be looked on as a triumph of right over wrong. How comes it that the conscience of Manchester has grown so suddenly sensitive p How comes it that the gentlemen who did not scruple to employ slave-grown cotton, nay, wou ld use nothing else, when they might have encouraged free labour in the colonies, are now so indignant at any countenance being afforded to the South. COWPER'S fable of the boy and the stolen apples is as apposite to slave-grown cotton as it was to slave grown sugar— "He blamed and protested, but shared in the plan, He joined in the plunder, but pitied the man." If the Manchester school are so ready in their de nunciations they should at least be consistent. Meantime let our manufacturers remedy as far as possible the errors of the past by affording every encouragement and ragem e e n n t t e t r o prie th s e . new fields now opening to in- The letter on "Small Birds," addressed to the good d y c zs au N s v e e , ll- if de i s t er i Ti may serve a Times of yester t p i e v r e u ly sa d l, w a e n l d t upon by those who have hither sv t i o nagtg c te a o r nf ried on their predatory attacks against the feathered tribe. It refers to the display in the French department of the International Exhibition of small birds. To this collection was appended a paper with a written description of the contents found in the stomachs of birds, the time of the year in which the bird was taken, and other particulars. This was the - work of M. FLORENT PREVOST, the celebrated French naturalist. This gentleman has - been engaged during the last thirty years in the praiseworthy endeavour to persuade his countrymen of the mis chief they are doing and the injuries they are in flicting. in the persistent slaughter of these little sni maIs.IMr.EDIVARDWILSON has put himself in com munication with the French philosopher, and with his assistance has made a computation of the quan tity of food eaten by these birds during each month of the year. This has been done more especially for the instruction of the young people in Australia, that they. may learn the harm they do by their in discriminate slaughter of the little creatures that aro being introduced among them with so much trouble. Mr. WILSON truly says that the list is worth studying at home, and its necessity is certainly made manifest by the facts laid before Parliament of the wholesale de struction of small birds by poison and other e w a h n e s e r h a e e t p s u e b f l c f e h r e a s v t e la a l n s d o a b r e e e nn l a d for me waste, t d that and whole countries reduced to famine by the thought less removal of the only effective check upon the ravages of the insect tribe." MICHELET has for cibly pat the question in its true bearings in these words :—" The bird can live without the man, but I the man cannot live without the bird." These several experiences and various testimonies serve to esta blish the validity of the assertion here made that the little bird is our only safeguard against a pest that would become overwhelming in its effects but for the agency of the diminutive tribes of the air. " Were we all to resolve ourselves into one great sparrow club we should all in a few years pezish from famine." It seems almost incredible at first sight that for wanton mischief in most cases the indiscriminate slaughter is so largely carried on that provinces are wasted, and serious and irrepa rable losses are inflicted on many. Some act from mistaken notions of preserving their property and that of others from harm, but their ill-advised caution and mischievous zeal in reality creates to a fuller extent the imaginary ills that they dreaded. Taking advantage of this delusive opinion of the harm occasioned by the feathered tribe, a great number signalise themselves by their destructive feats, and the exterminating warfare is thus so per tinaciously pursued by augmenting auxiliaries that no time must be lost in checking its ravages, or pains spared to show its wrong and its evil. Mr, WILSON has rendered good service in his long list of the objects destroyed each month. It must be truly amazing to all but those who are intimately acquainted with the subject to note the extent and variety contained in this summary. The wonders of natural history may well engage the atten tion of all ranks and ages. There are lessons to be learned, and marvels to be exhibited in its researches, that may confound the wisdom of the wise and show scholars their ignorance. Those who cannot comprehend these things should at least be humble and not self-sufficient. It is not consistent with the scheme of creation that so many creatures should be formed, and by stultifying their careers and eutting short their brief tenure of exist ence, we virtually ignore the solemn fact that the " Hand that made them is divine." It was to fulfil a mission that they were sent upon this earth, not only that its groves should hear sweet songs, and its woods resound with melody, but that special services should be rendered, and some good works effected. Like all finite works of Providence, they seek to perform their appointed tasks, and are then ruthlessly cut off and cruelly destroyed. Bat the laws of Nature cannot be perverted, nor the laws of Nature's GOD violated without serious results en suing, and grievous disasters bearing witness to the wrong. Wasted lands, blighted fields, and ruined harvests, have attested the crime and its consequences. Still, there are some who will not learn, bat, like the deaf adder, shut their ears to the language of entreaty and the warnings of re monstrance. Sentiment touches them not, so it is useless to appeal to their sense of beauty or sus ceptibility to harmony. Let them, then, learn the sober truth in practical terms, from the terse infor mation Mr. WILSON has afforded. In presenting the public with this very valuable ;information, he has rendered an important service to society, and enabled the advocates for. the protection of small birds to refer to the examples of scientific in quiry to plead their cause, and summon as their auxiliaries the wise and learned of the profession, that is intimately acquainted with the subject under discussion. These words are from one who speaks what he does know, and cannot there fore he set aside as idle vagaries of enthusiasm or delusive notions of philanthropy. The real suf ferers in this cruel warfare are the men who do it. When the little victims of their wanton propensities are freed from suffering, mankind will be mourning in cities and provinces the famine that has fallen on fairy lands. 'Where once bloomed pastures green and sunny vines, will be spots arid as the desert and waste as the sandy shore. All this to satisfy the prejudices o their and e itnh influence at suit l cl e t w h a e hned h interposea have e destructive the as should et o hn f lo d o r i t et h xy e e r tr s o: It eisso time i those h t a e y s e t h e i r s u e mischievous r n c e o t u i s e e , p a n n r d s i p t s u . t a rr p ru er ly iod ha to s Mr. Wilson called it " suicidal folly," and no pains should be spared to prevent his words being ratified to the fullest extent. The cause of science and the claims of self-interest alike call for the adoption of his suggestions, and the sooner his precepts are put into practice the better for the utility and beauty of the world. These feathered tribes that fill the air with song, do good service to the vital interests of the community, and their extermination is a serious evil. MARGATE AND RAMSGATE—contrasted by a cor respondent of The Queen ; or, Lady's Newspaper:— Ramsgate, in her heart, looks down upon Margate, and Margate thinks that she is better looking than her sister ; but as in all such cases there aro distinct attractions in each. Margate, I suppose, will be considered a little fast as compared with her sister .Ramsgate, and doubtless she is so, which a little surprises me. I mean that I am rather surprised that she is faster than Ramsgate. Margate has a theatre—Ramsgate hasn't. Margate has an assembly room —there is no such thing in Ramsgate, which again I am surprised at. Then Margate considers that her jetty is far superior to the pier at Ramsgate—which opinion I cer tainly share. It is scarcely necessary for me, perhaps, to admit that I am doing a little flirtation with these two at tractive sisters. I can hardly exclaim with Machcath— How happy could I be with either Were Vother dear charmer away ; because undoubtedly a visit to the one snakes me enjoy a sojourn with the other, and so I run backwards and for wards to each, and enjoy the charms of both. I have spent nearly the whole of the past week in Margate, and she has, I can assure you, been holding up her head quito loftily, for she has had some distinguished visitors with her. She has had a prince in her visitors' list—ono of your romantic princes, too—a prince whom young ladies associate with palaces on the Lake of Como, such as that which Claude Iklelnotte, when he leads Pauline up and down the stage, so vividly of the depicts in words, and then looking lovingly into the eyes young lady who plays th e p ar t, says— Dost like the picture ? at which Pauline repl My own sweet lovel which shows that she Was not born within the sound of Bow bells, because in all probability a young lady from the neighbourhood of Holton, in answer to a oirailar question, would exclaim, " Oh, don't I just !"—('The Italian prince here referred to, as a recent visitor to Margate, being the Prince Doria Pamphilii.) STUCK IN THE MUD !—a la Charivari.—The Charivari publishes a woodcut which possesses a certain interest for the present state of affairs relative to the Germanic Confederation. In the centre of a broad, strong stream, the Emperor of Austria is represented with a gay and jaunty air rowing a boat with great ease and rapidity, apparently engaged in quite a party of pleasure; at some distance, another boat is perceived, entangled in the shal -1 get cries into deep out water, the o t i h f e you other : d , o g shal lows, and the King of Prussia is making desperate, but in effectualA. efforts to extricate it. The Austrian boatman good-naturedly current, • interestdeeper the pteceedu in the mud!" Re Germany oft h ß o n ootnot you y o s a ol t r u i a d y wonlyo a ,low the get deeper and distance regVd wall LA. `IST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) RUSSIA. ST. PETERSBURG, SEPT. 5. An Imperial Decree, dated Aug. 12, orders that from the 13th inst. the peasants of the Ukraine shall income proprietors of their land, and shall pay a certain amount as purchase money to the State. PARIS, SEPT. 5. The Courrier du Dimanche says :—" Baron do Budberg will not return to Paris before Sunday or Monday." The same journal explains in what respect Art. 8 of the Federal Reform Project, regulating the de claration of war, has modified the former situation, and that it will bring about negotiations between Prussia and France. No positive indication of the Russian Reforms spoken of by the journals has yet transpired, SAXONY. DRESDEN, SEPT. 4. The King of Saxony has returned to this capital, accompanied by King Ferdinand of Portugal. The latter is about to visit the Duke of Coburg, at the Castle of Rosenau, where Queen Victoria is at pre sent residing. P RUSSIA. BERLIN, SEPT. 4, An aide• de-camp of the Emperor of Austria has arrived here with the protocol of the deliberations of the Congress, signed by the Princes, and an invitation to the King of Prussia to favour it with his approval. CHINA. SIIANGIIAE, JULY 22 . Political a ff airs i n Chi n a are generally quiet. Cholera is ragi ng at Shan ghae. A civil war h as commence d in Japan. The relations with foreigners are stated to be ANERIGA. (REU T ER' S EXP RES S.) QUEENSTOWN, SEPT. 4. The Royal Mail steamer China, from New York on the 26th ult., arrived here at 7 p.m. She brings 60 passengers and 219,241 in spccie. She landed the mails, consisting of 102 sacks, and proccded at 7.20 p.m.; all well. (Per the China.) NEW YORK, AUG. 24 (Evening). The advance guard of General Raecrans's army appeared before Chattanooga on the 21st inst., and opened fire upon the city, where General Joseph Johnstone is commanding, having superseded Gene ral Bragg, who had gone to Atlanta. The Confe derates opened fire from 19 guns, which did little damage, and were disabled by the Federal fire. The Federals disabled two steamers moored at the wharf, but were unsuccessful in their attempt to destroy the pontoon bridge opposite the city. The Confederate works upon the river are very strong, the parapets being 15ft. wide. There are several water batteries on a level with the river. Two Confederate divisions are at Chattanooga, and there is a large Confederate force in the neighbour hood. General Wilder crossed the Tennessee river on the 22d inst_ and destroyed a small railway bridge which, it is said, severs the communication between the right and the left of the Confederate army. Immense numbers of deserters are reported to be in the mountain, awaiting the Federal advance. The military force now concentrated in New York is estimated to number 30,000 men, infantry and cavalry. The artillery occupy Madison, Tompkins, and other public squares. The draughting continues in this city. There id more excitement, but there is no disturbance. During the bombardment of Charleston, a shot from Fort Wagner broke a piece of the interior lining of the iron-clad Catskill, and struck the heads of Commander Rogers and Paymaster Wood bury, killing them instantly. Charleston harbour and Stone_river are full of torpedoes. Qqantrell has entirely destroyed Lawrence. Ka nsas. The attack was made at midnight. Fifty prominent citizens, including the Mayor, were killed, it is said, in their houses, surrounded by their families. Over 100 citizens were wounded, and 25 negro recruits shot. See ator Lane has escaped. Lawrence is principally inhabited by New Eng land emigrants, between whom and their Missouri neighbours there were strong antagonistic feelings. It is supposed that the Lawrence massacre will lead to sanguinary border warfare. It is asserted that Lee, largely reinforced, is pre paring to invade Maryland. The conscription of all men between 16 and 60 was rigidly enforced in Richmond. Beauregard officially states that all negroes cap tured are held in military custody, subject to orders of the Governor of South Carolina, to be dealt with according to the State law. The Richmond TVhig thinks there are but two means of preventing a long continuance of the war ; these are either foreign intervention, or successful resistance by the Northern Conservatives to the Abolition inaction (faction ?) in Washington. The TVldg says ;—" We want French aid. We are able to pay for it. Let us do it. We shall then have peace, or power to wreak vengeance on our foe." The desertions of substitutes for draughted men having become so frequent in the Federal army, it is officially announced that in all such cases the extreme penalty of martial law will be administered. The report that General Grant had opened the Mississippi trade to all loyal citizens was untrue. The New York herald says there are now 30,000 troops in New York, and that as the rebellion is nearly crushed these troops should be sent to take possession of Vera Cruz. The Florida has captured and bonded the ship Francis B. Cutting. AUG. 25, EVENINGS The bombardment of Forts Sumter, Wagner, and Gregg by the land and naval batteries commenced on the 17th inst., and was kept up continuously till the 23d. The Southern journals of the latter date say : " Fort Sumter is now a ruin ; the north-west wall, with its arches, has fallen in. The guns are all dismounted. The east wall is cracked and breached, and the enemy's shot sweep through the fort. Colonel What, commanding at Fort Sum ter, is ordered to hold his outposts even as a for lorn hope until he is released or Fort Sumter cap tured." Lien. Gilmore demanded the surrender of Morris Island and Fort Sumter on the 22d, threatening to shell Charleston in four hours if they were not sur rendered. Oen. Beauregard replied, charging Gen. Gilmore with inhumanity and violation of the laws of war, and affirming that if the offence were repeated he would employ stringent measures of retaliation. Upon the morning of the 23d Gen. Gilmore gave notice that he would open fire upon Charleston on the following day, and that in the meantime non , combatants could leave the city. Twenty-three Federal vessels, including the iron sides and Monitors, are inside the bar of Charles ton, and there are 13 more outside. The Southern journals assert that Gen. Rosecrans shelled Chattanooga on the 21st without giving notice of his intention to do so. AUG. 20, MORNING. Fort Sumter is in ruins. The city of Charleston was shelled on the 24th inst. General Rosecrans has shelled Chattanooga. The Southern press calls for French aid. Southern (Charleston) despatches of th© 25th inst. say : si At 12 o'clock last night the enemy opened fire upon the city, firing 15 8-inch Parrot shells. Non combatants are leaving the city in continuous streams. 600 shots were fired at Fort Sumter on the 22d, 419 taking effect." The Richmond Examiner says the Federals captured the whole of Morris Island they might close Charleston as a port of en►ry. But it would not enable them to take the city, as General Beauregard can maintain himself against any force sent, or likely to be sent, against hire." A Federal expedition has proceeded to Granada, Mississippi, forcing the Confederates to destroy a large amount of railroad stock, General Lee's army, estimated at 60,000 men, is around Culpepper Courthouse. General Long street holds Fredericksburg, and General Stuart is guarding the fords of the Rappahannock. The North Carolina troops have passed resolu tions denouncing the peace party in that State. Quantrell's guerillas have been disbanded. The Federals are still pursuing them. Major Opdyke, of New York, has vetoed the mu nicipal appropriation for draughted men. The Common Council of New York has resolved to pass an appropriation over the Mayor's veto. The firemen and the city militia have cent com mittee to the mayor requesting an appropriation for their exemption. The blockading squadron has destroyed the British steamer Hebe cif New Inlet. Vessels arriving here report a violent hurricane along the American coast line from the 18th to the 22d inst. The Federal brig Bainbridge has foundered; one man only was saved. Noon. The centre of General Bragg's army in Tennessee is at Chattanooga, and the left wing at Bolton, General Buckner has 10,000 men at Cleveland. Bragg's army numbers 30,000 men. An explosion has occurred on board a steamer at Vicksburg, killing 130 men. Gold, 23 per cent. prem. (By Telegraph to Cape Race.) NEW YORK, AUG. 28 (Morning). News from Charleston to Aug. 24 (evening) states that Fort Sumter had been entirely destroyed, but had not surrendered. The Federal fleet was prepar• ing to move up the harbour. Great dissatisfaction prevails at the slowness of the operations of the fleet. Forts Moulton, Gregg, and Johnston, as well as the batteries on Sullivan and James Islands, have kept up a steady fire upon the Federals on Morris Island, doing, however, little damage. During the night of the 21st inst. Gen. Gilmore threw 5 shells charged with txreek fire into Charles ton. Gen. Beauregard protested against the short time allowed for the removal of women and chil dren. The British, French, and Spanish Consuls demanded more time for the removal of their sub jects. General Gilmore replied by again demanding the surrender of the forts and public property. General Beauregard then demanded a trues or 40 hours, which was refused by General Gilmore, who recom menced shelling the city upon the night of the 22d. The Richmond Examiner says : " The shelling of the city and the destruction of empty houses are of minor importance if the forti fications and the harbour can be held," Two blockade runners entered Charleston on the 23d. The negotiations for an exchange of prisoners are progressing. The refusal of the Confederates to regard negroes as prisoners of war causes some difficulty. It is reported that the Confederates will now re gard Colonel Strengths as a prisoner of war. The Federals will place Morgan on the same footing. The Confederates have handed General Neale Dow over to the civil authorities. The Federals, in conse quence, will place a Confederate brigadier -general in close confinement. An excited meeting of draughted Germans has been held in New York, at which the conscription was denounced as a cruel and inhuman measure, and organizations were urged against its conse quences. A committee has been appointed to con fer with Governor Seymour and test the legality of the Act. The Confederate steamer Ever;lav© has been sunk near Tybee Island. A privateer crew in uni form were on board. Several of them were cap tured. Twelve steamers entered Wilmington in five days. One of them was of 1,500 tons, and pierced for six guns. (VERY LATEST.) NEW YORK, Aug. 28, Noon. A Federal gunboat arrived at Fortress Monroe, from•off Wilmington, reports that the steamer Florida had arrived at the latter place with intelli gence that the Federa:s occupied Forts Sumter and Wagner on the 24th, CANADA. NEW YORK, Aug. 26. The omto Leader of to-day announces that a treasonable plot has been discovered to betray Canada into the hands of President Lincoln's Ad ministration. The British Consul at New York is stated to have communicated the fact to his Govern ment. 1 p.m. It is ascertained from authentic sources that Bri tish official circles here have no knowledge of the report contained in the Toronto Leader. it is doubtless a canard. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW Yorx, Aug. 25, Evening. Money easy. Gold, 221 premium. Exchange on London, 136. Stocks tending down wards. New York Central, 1351 ; Illinois, 134,1 ; Erie, 1193. Cotton heavy; middling upland 653 c. Flour heavy, and 10c. lower. Wheat dull, and 2c. lower. Corn very firm. Provisions dull. Coffee steady. Sugar very firm. Molasses in good in quiry. pacific. 1..... •,..a..••• AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, JULY 25. The new tariff bill has passed the Assembly. The natives of Waitara have declared war, and 5,000 of them have taken the field. General Cameron has withdrawn his troops for the defence of Auckland. FRANCE. PARIS, SEPT. 5. BOURSE, Sept. 4.—The market showed a further improvement at the opening, but afterwards re ceded from sales for realisation. Threes, for the Account, which had touched 69f 20c, are now again at 69f sc. The Railway Share Market quiet, but firm. The market closed as follows : 4t per Cent 5...,,,, 97 90 Do. end month.... 3 per Cents . 68 60 Do. end month..., 68 90 Credit Mobilier....l2oo Do. end month.... Bank Shares ...... 3385 Credit Fancier ....1390 -- RAIL Italian Loan 74 Do. end month — New ditto Do. end month — Russian Austrian Spanish Threes .53 Rome Debt 'AYs. Cash. Account. Orleans .... 1045 .. 1040 Northern ************ 998 75 .. 1_997 50 New ditto Lyons and bleditor-lanean 1046 25 .. 1045 Geneva ***** Southern ***** ** 747 50 .. 7 45 Western Eastern . *** Sardinian Austrian Low bard North of Spain Saragossa ** 685 .. 682 50 Ditto to Barcelona .... 362 50 .. —,„..--. SPAIN. Information has reached Madrid by telegraph that the garrison of Melilla, having gone out for its usual military exercises and to carry on the different earthworks near the town, was attacked by an un disciplined mob of the natives. A regular fight took place, and the Moors were defeated. The ground was covered with their dead, and 94 of them were taken prisoners. The Spaniards had three soldiers killed, and one officer and 42 privates wounded. The Government is waiting fora de tailed report to adopt the necessary measures, DISSOLUTIO OF THE PRUSSIAN CHAMBERS. BERLIN, SEPT. 4. The following Royal decree has been published to-day : "By virtue of Art 51 o f t he Constitution, and on thefoproposition of the Ministry of State, we d ecree as ___ ~ Art. 1. The Chamber of Deputies is hereby dissolved. Art. 2.—The Ministry is entrusted with the exe cution of the present decree. " WILLIAM I." The Ministerial report to the King, which pre cedes the decree, says : if There is no prospect that further negotiations with the present Chamber of Deputies would lead to any understanding. His Majesty the Xing, before his departure, was pleased to express his concurrence with these views of the Ministry, but a definitive resolution was reserved until His Majesty's return. The state of things in Prussia since that time has not offeror' any ground for a change in the propositions of the Ministry, which His Majesty had approved. On the other hand,* tendencies have manifeSted themselves within the limits of the German federal Constitution, the evi dent aim of which is to reduce Prussia from that position as a great Power in Germany and Europe which is her well•earned inheritance from our fore fathers, and which the Prussian people has at all times been determined not to relinquish. Under these circumstances, it will be incumbent on the Prussian people to give expression upon the ccca sion of the approaching new elections to the fact that no difference of political opinion is so deeply rooted in Prussia as to endanger the unity of the people, and the immoveable fidelity with which they are attached to the Royal House, when placed in face of efforts tending to diminish the indepen dence and dignity of Prussia. " The events of the last few days have only served to confirm us in oar proposals, and as the new elec tions require a period of two months, the mea sures approved by your Majesty in the sitting of tho Council of Ministers held on the 16th of July, must be executed without delay, in order to render it possible for the new Diet to be convoked to dis cuss the Budget with the current year." THE CASE OF ATROCIOUS CRUELTY ON TIIE HIGH SEAS.—In yesterday's Mercury we gave some ac count of the death by drowning, near Seaham harbour, of a fisherman named Matthew Williamson, the alleged cause of death being cruel usage by the crew of a French schooner, which had swamped the fishing coble in which Williamson and three other Hartlepool fishermen were watching their nets. On Wednesday night, at Sunderland, the captain, mate, two men, and two boys, belonging to the schooner, were apprehended, charged with the murder of the deceased. They were yesterday brought before the Sunderland magis trates, charged with being concerned in the wilful murder of Matthew Williamson, and with most cruel treatment to Robert Robson and Andrew Boagey. The evidence given against the prisoners was similar in detail to the particulars already published. The prisoners denied using any violence whatever, and said, after they picked the two men up they did all they could for them to find their boat. The counte nances of the prisoners were not at all in their favour, and during the whole trial they hardly ever lifted up their heads. The presiding magistrate told them the case had every appearance of one of wilful murder, but before any thing further could be done, the French authorities would have to be communicated with, and consequently they were remanded until an answer was received. The name of the schooner is Jantalina, which has for some time been, trading ou the north-east coast,—Zee(fs Mercury, Bulwer's Genial Estimate of This Age. " Now, our world at this epoch, though I do not desire to flatter, is certainly not one which would justify Thales in bidding farewell to it, If we consult history in an un prejudiced, unsuperstitious spirit, I do not think we shall find that the world, regarded as a whole, has ever been much better then it is now, and in many important respects it has been much worse. I speak more especially of the world in ray own country, which at this moment is certainly a more humane, peaceable, orderly, moral, decorous, and yet good-natured world than it ever seems to have been, from the date of the last George up to that of the first Wil liam, If I look back to the chronicles of the eighteenth century —nay, if I look back only as far as the year in which I left college—l am startled at the visible improve ment. Ido not say that these rare individuals who stand forth as the landmarks of time were net possibly much greater, and considering the temptations that begirt them, much better than individuals nowadays. I honour the re verence to noble tombs too implicitly to believe that any living great man can equal a dead great man. A dead great man is a shrined ideal of excellence; a living great man is a struggling fellow-mortal. The one is Hercules assoiled from mortal stain when separated from mortal labour, who has ascended from the fire-pile to the Nectar'Hall of Olym pus; but the other is the Hercules who, if at one time he is valiantly slaying Hydras, and calmly braving the very Powers of Orcus, is seen at another tine the effeminate slave of Ompimle, or the frenzied murderer of Iphitus. But the progress of society has very fallacious milestones in the monuments we erect to apotheosised individuals. Whatever my admiration for Alexander—and, in spite of Mr. Grote, it is intense—Alexander's march through Asia affords me no gleam of intelligence as to the advance of his Macedonian people in the theories of political government or ethical doctrine, " What I see in England—comparing this century with the last—or comparing even the date in which I now write with the date in which I wrote first—is the advancement of numbers, the more general culture of intellect, the milder constructions of law, the greater tenderness to suffering and erring humanity, the more decent respect to domestic sanc tities, the more intellectual—not unreasoning —acquiescence in truth. And, therefore, looking at the world as reflected in the microcosm of my own country—through all gradations of society, from the palace to the cottage—and through all sections of opinion, from that of a pulpit to that of a club — it seems to me that a writer of our day and land, aspiring to fame for knowledge of the world, would view that world not with the abhorrence of Juvenal,' not with the despair of venerable Bede, but with as indulgent a charity as that which makes Shakespeare and Goethe so lov4a.bly mild and so genially wise. Still the world is the world, and it is not Utopia. Even in our own England, no doubt, there is much that is very bad, and wo varnish it over by what in vernacular vulgarism is called cant,' while out of England there are many things which revolt our English precon• ceived opinions."—Mackwood for September. ANOTHER CRINOLINE VICTIINI,—DEATH FROM FlRE.—Yesterday Mr. Humphrey, the Middlese.e coroner, received information respecting the death of Eliza beth Cox, aged 35 years, r.-siding at 16, William-street North, Mile-end Old-town, who died in the London Hos pital under the following circumstances :—lt appears that the deceased was the wife of Police-constable 187 K, an d on Thursday, while in the kitchen washing out the sink, by the side of the fire-place, a piece of lighted wood fell from the stove on to the floor, whereby her dress, which was extended by a crin oline p etticoat, became i g nited . H e r screams brought the h usband to her assistance, when the flames were extinguished, but not before her body and limbs were most shockingly blackened and charred by the action of :the flames. A medical gentleman was called, who ad vised her removal to the above-named institution, where she expired from the mortal effects of the burns, Au input will be held QI the body to day, .~~'.,. ---, Thrr_77 , o,nr , ~rll~ l ® , HER MAJESTY. The royal yacht Victoria and Albert, Captain H.S.H. Prince Lsiningen, left Portsmouth yester day afternoon for Cowes. To•day she will proceed to Antwerp, which port, according to present arrangements, her Majesty will leave on the morn ing of the 9th inst., and the yacht will anchor the same night at the Nore. On the morning of the 10th the Queen will embark on board the royal yacht Fairy, Staff-Conamander Welch, and proceed to - Woolwich Arsenal, where her Majesty will land and proceed to Windsor. The Fairy will leave Portsmouth this morning and proceed to Woolwich, to await her Majesty's return from Antwerp. Admiralty instuctions were yesterday received at Woolwich by Commodore-• Superintendent Sir F. W. E. Nicolson, directing the Admiralty steam vessels Black Eagle, Staff-Commander wrhillier, and the Vivid, Staff• Com mender Allen, to leave the harbour early on Sunday morning for Antwerp, to form part of the royal squadron which will convey her Majesty and the Royal Family to England. It is expected that her Majesty will disembark et the Royal Arsenal Pier, where the recent arrange' meats made still remain ; but any order issued on the subject will, it is understood, emanate direct from the War Department. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OP WALES,---011 Monday the Prince went to the Glen of Girnock deer-stalking, and was very fortunate in securing three, fine stags, with this wonderful coincidence, that respectively the three carried eight, ten, and twelve points. At five in the afternoon the Prince returned home, cheerfully chatting with Mr. Grant. Although from half-past 12 it had mined in perfect streams, his royal highness declined the use of his horse, preferring to walk along with his men, and one of the tropics of his day's sport. In the evening the three antlered kings of the forest were exhibited to the Pri:ncess and suite by torch-light, and Peter Robertson hexing "tuned his pipes, and gar'd them skirl," the torch bearers tripped it lightly on the green in real llielan' style, to the great delight of the whole royal party. The Hon. Mrs. Cook left the castle in the forenoon, Mrs. Bruce (who is to supply her place) reaching in the evening. On Tuesday morning, the Prince and party went to the moors for a fevr hours, and in the afternoon, along with Mr. Phipps ar i d the other members and attendants, went deer-stalking. Tues day was the Princess's birthday, but the occasion passed off very quietly.—Dundee Advertiser. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to arrive at Marlborough House shortly, from Scotland, en route to Sandringham, his royal highness's seat in Norfolk. We understand that Prince Frederick of Den mark is entered at Chtist Church, and will become mg' dent in Oxford at the commencement of the ensuing terra. The Rev. Mr. Kitchen, of Christ Church, junior proctor , has been appointed tutor to the young Prince ; and the residence of Mr, Alderman Randall, at Grandpont, bag been engaged for the accommodation of himself and suite. The Duke and Duchess of Somerset leave the Admiralty early in the ensuing week for Maiden Bradley, the family seat In Wiltshire. The Duchess of Argyll left Stafford House, St' James's, where the duchess has been staying with the Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland, last evening, to join the duke and family at Inverary Castle, Argyleshire. The Earl and Countess of Scarborough will entertain a select party at Sandbeck Park, Yorkshire, during the forthcoming races at Doncaster, Viscount Palmerston arrived in town last evening from visiting his property in Wales. Lord Edward St. Maur has recently returned to town from Paris. Lord and Lady Dufferin leave Dufferin Lodge, Highgate, on Monday next, for their seat in Ireland. During the last week there has occurred the deaths of four ladies of the highest rank, and whose families belong to the oldest of the great aristocracy La Marquise de Mortemarte nee Anne do Montmorency; 2. La Comtesse do B6thuno nee Flaminie Dori° ; L 5 Comtesse de Moray ; and, 4. L a M arqu i se d e Grant: ll ° - nt (non Gramont), daughter of the Duc de Crillon, the last of the French descendants of the noble friend of Henri I\ It must be borne in mind that the Grammonts aro altogether a different family from the Gramonts to which the Dec do Quiche and the Dec de Caderousse belong, although they arc often indi - icriminately written, pronounced, and gene' rally confounded. It is generally believed that the Ment morencies descended from the fiLi.t Christian baron are es. - tinct ; but there are two ladies who still represent the e lder branch—La Comtesse de la Chartre and La Marquise do Biencourt. The branch of Montmorency Luxembourg exists in the person of the duchess who bear s the latter title. still FASHIONABLE FLOWERS.—One of the most sin' gular phenomena in the horticultural world is the fashion fcr certain fl )veers which suddenly comes in, an d gradually works itself up into a perfect " rage," or mania' The passion of the ancient Romans for roses, and that of the Dutch for tulips, is matter of general history, and there is no saying whether our own times may not supply similar instances of enthusiasm. During the last 100 years, how ever, the feeling has not taken an extreme form. We have paid £2OO far orchids, but what is that in comparison to the thousands once willingly given for a single tulip ? The modern fashion for any kind of flower is very fickle. At the utmost it lasts a few years, and then turns out a new favourite. About 60 years ago auriculas, pico tees, carna tions, and pinks were generally grown, Balsams were also greatly in vogue. About 1819 pansies were coming into fashion. The first of the red geraniums was raised about 1822, by Mr. Davey, in Chelsea, and the other geraniums became fashionable about 16 or 18 years ago. The red va riety of the Indian azalea was brought into notice about 1825. The fuchsia is said to have been introduced by a Captain Firth, in 1788, but there is a sentimental story connected with it which enabled Messrs. Lee, of Hammer smith, to bring the plant prominently before the public. Dahlias began to attract attention in 1821, but the fine double varieties did not come up till 1830. The scarlet ver benas were becoming general about 1836. Cape heaths, proteas, and bulbs, Australian plants, and American cae tuses had all their day. At present we seem to have fixed our attention principally upon fine "leaf plants." ThiS phyllomania can be traced directly to Japan, where plants distinguished for their elegant or remarkable foliage have for ages been great favourites. The Dutch acquired it from the Japanese, and gradually imparted it to the conti nental nations, and ultimately to ourselves. The ferns, of which about 1,000 species are cultivated in our gardens , owe part of their popularity to their elegant foliage. The rage for orchids seems to be on the wane ; the great growers begin to act upon the pernicious principle of "se' lection, not collection," and its application is always a sign that real enthusiasm is cooling down.--Agnenceunz. A STRANGE STORY INDEED !—The Morning Post publishes the following extravagantly romantic story on the authority of a Warsaw correspondent of the Sonntags Zeitung:—" All the attempts of the Russian Go vernment to discover the leaders of the Polish revolt having hitherto been in vain, the Russian agents abroad were directed to leave no means untried to discover the names of those persons to whom diplomatic reports from abroad are addressed in Poland. Some time since a Russian spy suc ceeded in getting possession of a document which Prince Czartoryski had forwarded from London to Warsaw ; and on learning the name of the addressee, who Was a Catholio priest in a village near Warsaw, this priest, Dodicki by name, was arrested and brought for examination into the castle at Warsaw. A search made through his house pro duced nothing compromising, and the priest strenuously denied having taken any direct or indirect part in the in" surrection. The Russian Committee of Public Safety kneS' not how to dispose of their captive, for his personalty did diplomatic agent, and yet the details precise that the man must surely to n of o ttchlseeeaeorpmhy adaptedsreel himself ot r eo f: m r a caat andl be more than he seemed to be. Dodicki was able, however , suspicion, and was on the point ei obtaining his release, when the agent reported that great consternation reig ne d among the London committee on ac count of the seizure of the priest, as he was the confidan t of the secrets of the National Government, and possessed important documents. It was now endeavoured, as threats availed naught, to extract a confession by means of enticing' Promises. A prebendal stall, with a rich benefice, was held out as a reward. This modified the stern resolution of tilt ) hitherto inflexible man. He swore most solemnly on the crucifix to make revelations, yet he stipulated that a call" fessor should be sent to him previously, who should g rant him absolution and release him from the oath he had swore to the National Government. A priest was soon found' Dodicki remained alone with the holy father in his cell, and the committee anxiously awaited the moment when the con' fessor would leave the captive. As, nevertheless, the in" terview lasted too long, an entry was made into the cell! and a horrifying spectacle presented itself to view. Dodick i lay a corpse upon the ground, and the priest who was to have granted him absolution lay near him in the agonies o! death. All restoratives were in vain , a s the confessor h'd taken a large dose of prussic acid. This priest, whose na ive , was Czerwinski, always passe d for a f a it hful dependant ot,, the Russians, and had at a n earlier period given proof 4 his attachment to the Czar. Tim corpses were interred ln .. the castle itself. Dodicki is said to have played an taut part. He looked ver y sim p le, and no ono would I v: s credited him with tho s e talent s which fitted hi m to act chid comenieeieLer of the Notional Government a he ar bt irt he b 3