The Sun. — London, England, 1863-08-13 00:00:00

RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES, M.P.- Poor John Bull —Thoughts in a Crowd—in FUN this week. One Penny NE W TI - IE A.TRE-R0 Y . AL, AD ELPHI, Sole Proortotor and 'Ai anacrer. M 7. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE lIIISII TIGER. After whicb, at Eigh )Reifk, a new drama, entitled THE HAUNTED MAN E GHOST'S iiA TWAIN, in which will be exhibited Professor Pepper's adaptation of the Great Spec tral lsi. Alfred on. Mes Mellon and Miss HH. srs. .T. L. Toole, R. PSimmhi.lipss., Eef ton. C. J ilu J. Smith; Mrs Followed by anew Burlesque, entitled ILL-TREATED IL TRO VATO RE. Messrs. Toole. P. Bedford, It. Phillips, I;bnrne, C. J. Smith, Romer.; the Sisters Nelson, Carry and Sara, and Miss K. Kell Commence at 7. . ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. TO-NIGHT WHILE THERE'S LIFE THERE'S HOPE. Messrs. W. H. Swanborough, Parselle, Vollaire, G. honey; Misses Ada Swanborough, L. Thorne, F. Hughes, _Handers, and E. Baton. Followed by (21d time) THE MOTTO, " I'M ALL THERE." Dl essrs. Honey, Turner, E. Danvers, Collier, Clifton ; Mesdames Ada Swanborough, F. Josephs, Maria iSimpson, Wallace, and .Jenny White. To conclude with KEEP YOUR TEMPER. Commence at 7. T" THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest SPORTING LNTELLIGENCE, Pan be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, lh. 30m.—Afternoon, 11. 50m T0..14011,310W.-MOTBillg, 2h. 10m.—Afternoon, 2h. 28m The Weather—Sun Office, Aug. 13, 1863. THERMOMETER. This mornlrm This day at Two o'clock 7B Barometer-30.02. ; light, and fine. ' I • t i tt o4e;) I‘,, ‘ Sa LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1863, The more closely these more recent events of the American war come to be looked into, the less apparent becomes the reason for the sudden exulta tion of the Federal multitude headed by their President. Vicksburg has fallen it is true. JOHNSTONE has retreated. LEE has withdrawn his army from Maryland back again across the Poto mac. The Confederate Commander - in - Chief has retired indeed still further southward, baying passed through one of the convenient gaps of the Blue Ridge on his road towards Culftpper, where, assuming a purely defensive position, he finds the enemy confronting him, though at a respectful dis tance enough. MEADE'S army of the Potomac having returned to the old position held by them (some time before MEADE assumed the chief command with such exemplary diffidence) on the line of the Rappahannock. Granted all this, however, the result above specified still remains behind, now that we begin to look through all the hazy vapouring of the Northerners, that, as Pro fessor LONGFELLOW has it, " things are not what they seem," or at any rate not precisely what they seemed only as it were but yesterday. General JOHNSTONE has retreated, but—he has not been routed. His forces are not victors—but at the very least they aro not dispersed, being, on the contrary, held admirably well together. Again, General GRANT'S successful troops—described so very recently as outnumbering their antagonists almost overwhelmingly—turn out, in point of numbers, to have been very considerably exaggerated. And since this revision of the Federal statements as to the relative strength of the forces respectively, at this juncture, under the banners of GRANT and of JOHNSTONE, it bas been shrewdly calculated that the predominance numerically must before much longer, in thb regular course of events, turn rather in favour of the Confederate Commander. The antici pation, here, resting principally, it should be remem bered, upon the all but certainty, as we may call it, of JOUNSTONE'S at present inadequate force being nearly doubled by the simple exchange of the Vicksburg garrison, now upon parole. A judicious correspondent of one of our contemporaries main taining the probability of this " doubling-up" (in a totally different sense from that intended so recently by the Federals), this actual doubling-up of the Confederate force under JOHNSTONE, by reason simply of the circumstance of there being, as the writer opportunely remarks, " a very large number of prisoners dae to the South on account." Hence, because of these arrears alone in the striking of the balance, this same anticipated doubling-up of the Confederates under JOHNSTONE in the country of the Mississippi. Westward of that river still remain fully thirty thousand of the Confederate forces in arms—biding their time, perpetually on the alert for their [next opportunity, waiting for the close of the last deleterious warmth of the season, waiting for the recruits certain not to be waited for in vain. Whatever yet has oc curred in these recent transactions disadvantage ously for the Confederates—Sumter has not fallen, neither has Savannah, nor yet, again, has Charleston Charleston was to have fallen for a dead certainty, and yet Charleston still obdurately holds out. Be sides which, turning from isolated positions to the situation and condition of the main army of the South under their redoubtable Chief, General LEE —we hardly know in what terms sufficiently igno minious were to be described the most fitly the situa tion into which the Confederate Commander-in- Chief had been driven, and the condition to which his main army had been reduced. Both of these gigantic advantages being due, of course,to Northern prowess, directed by the consummate generalship ol the new Federal Commander-in-Chief, General MEADE—at last, as head of the Northern army, that almost despaired-of desideratum, " the 21 itht man in the right place." The demoralisation ol Law s forces, the utter discomfiture and craven flight of th at boasted Captain of the South, were words feebly e= pressing the actual state of things subse quently t o the the subsequent of the grea t b a ttl e o f G ettys b urg, and Event hasty re-crossing of the Poto mac by th ., defeat e d and a l mos t route d Confede rates. wedibi e : ording to the North ern fl our i s h o f trumpets h so to speak, of 1 „ ° _ 111 3' too plainly upon the morrow, t th S erenade ! 1 ,..r %lama LINCOLN'S rididic u l ous however show e d eo ose horribly stubborn thin gs , on 4 u , af terwards that again the N ew York narratives h 4 4 be en grossly than ever, (imago, grossly, even more defeat at Gettysburg w as it appears " ta d. Gene ra l L EE ' S so little o f a de feat after all, that it turn s o tie imply (contrary to custom with hi m it istr ue ) to have been Fas light there was none. Rout, No Victory. of bin valiant army, were a phrase aim °arty porti on ply r i die $o fir from anything whatever of that ki nd k&L ideas, avin g occ urred, in relation to the Confederate troops under LEE, those troops, we know now for a n absolute certainty, have been withdrawn by their c oin _ wander quite deliberately, quite calmly, witho ut haste, or opposition of any kind, taking with them not only the whole of the very considerable sup plies seized by them while in Maryland, but carry ing off scot-free in their train as many as fifty pieces of the Federal artillery, captured by them while on the other aide of the Potomac . Meantime, there is one circumstance related about the Federals, in regard to their most recent pro ceedings in the conduct of this deplorable war, there is one circumstance so novel and so cruel of its kind, as to be (we cannot but call it) nothing less than a most dastardly innovation. A circumstance, it is, moreover, that has already twioe of late called for words of the sternest re- probation. These remarks having reference to the rominent position in which the negro reginnut2 ~__ wer e placed in the assaults made respectively by; the Fed eral forces, now upon Fort Wagner, now upon Por Hudson. The unfortunate blacks being obvi ous! placed in that conspicuous position, in both those assat tits, simply for the purpose, it would se em, of distr• acting the attention of the foe from the advanc ing •troops of the North, and of concentrating upon the unhappy negroes the fire of the beleagured gam isons! As the correspondent already alluded to, sigtaing himself S. in the columns of our principal con temporary, scornfully remarks, "It is something nevi', in an age like this, to drive white American conscripts at the bayonet's point to the work of inveiding and destroying their fellow-countrymen but, beyond this, it will remain an indelible brand on the future history of the Northerners that they could not fight a people of less than a fourth of of their own numbers without getting negroes to help them." Remembering what the apologists of the North affect to regard as the origin of this miserable war, the course thus pursued by the North in these two most disgraceful incidents, is one not an iota less contemptible of its kind than if the Yankee warriors were upon each occasion fighting behind the shelter of so many petticoats. evils, as we are all ready to admit, If a too active and officionsGoveirtniras "t not ha t s o its be serious tha t is d n r o a t w a b o a t v k e s questioned that there are verytion attending an Administra annoying to inspection,have t rade a a manufacture nd nough is very ass ed by ar constant m eddlesome laws; to be unable t o h restricted by pass from one town to another without wasting precious hours at the bureaus of indifferent officials; and we in England are so muck in the habit of trusting to private enterprise, and of watching with a jealous eye any nevv assumption of Government authority, that we seldom complain thP.t our con stitutional authorities are doing too little; or, if we do, we are very ready to accept the usreal stereotyped reply that it is not desirable for Government to interfere. But there are cases in which King LOG is nearly as bad as King STORK, especially if King LOG refuses to let other people do his work. India may place defective legislation in the very first rank of her national drawbacks, and the hopeless view which so many of her statesmen persist in taking of her capabilities and prospects has helped much to retard their development. It is better to be too sanguine of the fortunes of a nation than not san guine enough. In the one case every chance will be given to the national fortunes, in the other the gifts of nature are neglected and left unused. The recent AddressZdelivered by Sir ARTHUR COTTON to the Calcutta Chamber, shows very clearly how muck this been the case in our vast East Indian pos sessions. The subject of the eminent engineer's discourse was the connection of irrigation and navigation with the finances of India, and his re velations of the perverse indifference of the Govern ment to so wonderful a source of health, plenty, and capital is really marvellous, The facts he states are uncontroverted ; the arguments he draws from them aka clear and logical; the evidence which supports his views is open to any one's in spection, yet year after year the land is left waste, alternately parched with drought and submerged by floods, while fever, sickness, and famine prey upon a population who might be living in health and plenty on the produce of the land were it once properly drained and irrigated. Some years ago Sir ARTHUR COTTON was despatched to visit the provinces of Cuttack and Pooree, that were endan gered. by the changes taking place in the great rivers; and having seen in Madras how cheaply and easily districts liable to the double catastrophes of flood and drought can be raised to proportionate prosperity and comfort, he drew up a comparison between Cuttack and Tanjore, showing, he says, " the comparative results of grievous neglect and moderate care." His report was of course tossed aside, disregarded, or, as he says, with well-merited satire, " The report of a man who was writing the results of nearly forty years' practical experience, and who supported his propositions by confirmed results over a vast extent of country, was submitted for the decision of a gentleman not quite old enough to be his son, who had never seen a weir or an im proved delta." Another report on the state of the country between the Hooghly and the Ganges was tfeitted in a similar manner, and the City of Palaces has been left to suffer the ills of bad water, delayed communication, and a fever-stricken neighbourhood. The scheme which Sir ARTHUR COTTON proposes by which to regulate the flow of the mighty Indian rivers is a very simple and comparatively inexpensive one ; it is, too, one which Nature herself is the first to faci litate. He proposes to construct large tanks in the upper basins of several rivers in which he has reason to believe he can store any quantity of water at a very trifling cost ; and it is important to re member that such tanks answer a double purpose by eupplying water in time of need and in diminishing the floods in the country below. Those unfamilifir with the subject are apt, says the engineer, to suppose that works of great extent are needed to control floods. But it is generally only the last pool or two that does the mischief, and a flood seldom lasts more than a few hours at its height ; so that a comparatively small body of water detained for a time will divest it of its dangers. The materials for the works are ready to our hand, The Soane alone has water enough for a million acres in the dry season, besides supplies from other rivers. The money that is laid out in providing for the passage of heavy floods through bridges in the low country, might, says Sir A RTHUR COTTON very justly, have been more effectually and satisfac torily spent in preventing the floods by storing the water in the upper country, so that India at this mo ment might havehad largestores of water in the upper basins of every great river, while in th e d ry season a fresh and plentiful supply of one of the first ne cessaries of life would have been flowing through the plains now parched and arid, while the demon of fever would no longer find a potent agent in the stagnant pools, from which the people are compelled to drink, and all this without any additional out- ay ! The greater part of India affords remarkable 'acilities for such a scheme in the natural basins which only require small gorges to be closed to con nect them into vast water tanks. As a proof of the comparative expense of the method proposed and that now followed, we are told that water can be ,hus stored at the rate of about half a rupee for one tho usan d cu bi c yards ; while at present it is raised from wells in the drY se ason, at a cos t o f f rom two to five rupees per Wisi ng 1,000 cubic yards. The difference between the fer which has properties o f f res h water, and that alread y percolated the earth must be well known to a g ri culturist. In the pl a i ns sout h o f t h e the S oane Ganges, ery it is found th at from a dam thrown across a line canal can be led on a dead level to Allahabad, a distance the mouth o f the water and south for the supply of o f 170 water miles, o t fh uthe p r G o a v n i d o i e n s g . incredible, b u t can be to the w h ole plain west of The profit s resulting from s uc h a cha e asily beli eved are almost y those who have witnessed the disastrous ef fects of a "dry sea son." As a proof of the value of water in. I ndia, we learn that a gentle man h ad a piece of land vhi c h he let at six annas an acr e; h e dug a well thirty f ee t deep, when he let the same land at six rupees a n &cm Th-a ., natzp project i s i n t en d ed to irrig;t4 I - I - TIM SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 13, 1863 Coxwell's Description of a Balloon Sur. vey of Portsmouth, 4tc. As my recent aerial reconnaissanceat proprietorAldershot had been witnessed by Mr. Brown, the of the Portsmouth Recreation Grounds, I was ap. plied to by that gentleman to ascertain whether I would attempt any experiment of a similar charac ter at this famous seaport. Having explained the nature of my engagement at Aldershot, and that it was in compliance with Government orders, M r . Brown decided to have a public ascent. I agreed to make' one or two conditions—Firstly, that it should take place if the wind was fair for the Isle of Wight; secondly, that I would offer no objection if I could even skirt the coast or proceed somewhat inland. Mr. Douglas, the engineer of the gasworks, in tended to make very considerable preparations for the inflation of my mammoth balloon, but time would not permit him to do so by the 10th, on which day Mr. Brown had promised to have an ascent. It was doubtful even whether my balloon—the Evening Star--could be filled, so that I borrowed a small one from Mr. Gouens, and it was well filled by the appointed hour-7 o'clock—the wind at that time being fresh from the westward, which occa sioned much doubt as to whether I would make the ascent or not. Relying up on th e care ful observations I had pre viously made with c hart, c ompass, and pilot bal loons, and allowing for local variations, I left the North -end Gardens at 7.15, with full confidence as to my probable course. The scene which opened out in the space of five minutes was altogether novel. Instead of the widespread landscape, so familiar to aerial voyagers, with its variegated sur face of green and brown fields, I now had a com manding vi ew o f a b eaut iful island and of a town by water, w it h and harbou r so surroun ded the Channel beyond, that, had it not been for the re liance I had in the direction of the wind, appearances would seem to indicate that I was likely to be blown away due south, and to drift out to sea. Although I was provided with an excellent barometer, ther mometer, &c., by Negretti and Zambra, and pre sented to me by Mr. Glaisher, I had ver y li ttle op. portunity of using . them frequently, and I felt, how valuable Mr. Glaisher's presence would have been in the ca r . What most engaged my own attention was a gene ralt surv e y o f th e t o wn, fortifications, and shipping, with a view of military applications for war pur poses. I was agreeably surprised, the atmosphere being cl ea r, bow well I could perceive and count the cannonmd, by mounted on the ramparts, the ships in ordi nary, and, their white streaks and porth o l es, w i h , e h t e h b e o r l d corvettes,frigat es , or line ifor f - e b la a t t i t v z le e s e h i ip e e s: of Portsmouth a s a naval and military ;stronghold might have been canvassed in an interesting in ". ner had I had companions, instead of being alone. I very soon satisfied myself most thoroughly es to the extent of objects visible to the naked eye and to en ordinary vision assisted by a common opera-glass. At 7'3o—barometer 26.6, thermome ter 46—1 saw through a glass the visitors on Ryde- pier promenading. The distance could not have been less thvn seven or eight miles. I observed also marines or soldiers of the line in front of a guard house, and several steamers between Gosport and Soutlmea Castle. Being soon over the 'water, I had to withdraw my attention and look ahead The course of the balloo n was direct to Chichester,. ts eut a more southerly breeze began to alter my course and I hoped to reach Goodwood, where %yeso ' lately descended after a scientific voyage from the Crystal Palace. As the shades of evening came I found I was making for several extensive woods on high ground between Singleton and Arundel. As I crossed the first wood a large meteor shot towards but over the balloon from an easterly direction, another quickly following; and although I relied upon their supposed a t t i tude, and felt personal security, yet I could not bat compare my situa tion to that of a s hip which receives a shot or two across her bows, or perhaps a 241 b rocket, as a warning to haul to or alter course in obedi to the dictates of an enemy. The late hour of the night, and the high ground upon which Nore Wood is situated, compelled me to cast anchor among several high beech trees. Indeed, I had to let off gas B nd leave the balloon suspended all night before I secured and pecked it up. Several gentlemen volunteered to assist me at day light, and we proceeded et 5 o'clock to the place of descent with ropes, ladders, and hatchets, ready to lop off boughs or fell a tree, if necessary, rather than in jure the baloon. I was obliged to return to terra firma down a tree at least 60 feet from the ground. In the morn ing the balloon had quietly slid down through the boughs, and was not in any way damaged. The magnificent and complete bird's-eye view bad of the Isle of Wight would occupy too much space and time to describe. Altogether, my voyage on Monday was most exciting, and in many respects peculiar, differing, as it did, from previous trips. I _ - - beg therefore to furnish you with my own accoun of it, trusting that some few of your readers may find it interesting. CULTIVATION OF PEACHES AND NECTARINES. — Peach and nectarine trees thrive Well in the same kind of border that is made for vines, and it is requisite to lay a quantity of hard rubble or strong gravel beneath the border to prevent their roots running down. In a span roof orchard-house plant the trees on each side of the centre walk, at a sufficient distance from the walk, that the branches will not obstruct the pathway, but they rosy be allowed to extend over the pathway at seven feet high. If both sides of the house are planted in this manner with poach, nectarine, and plum trees alternately, there will be a perfect grove, which will have a most enchanting effect. Ilibberd's Gardener's Magazine. THE COMMISSION ON THE HEALTH OF OUR INDIAN TROOPS.—After getting together all the evidence they could think of or desire, the investigating comuissioners put it into the hands of Mies Nightingale, to whom the institution of the whole inquiry is in great measure due —requesting her to comment on it for their guidance. They wisely and fortunately chose to print her commentary with their report. It is to be hoped that it will also be published separately, that it may convey some very important knowledge to thousands of persons who never dream of sitting down to the study of an enormous Blue book.—Once a Week. A YANKEE BULL.—A Massachusetts judge has decided that a bubbsinci may open his wife's letters, on the ground—so often and so tersely stated by Mr. Theot,hilus Parsons, of Cambridge —that the husband And who are vac, lid tkg the husband is that me is the union of the several princes, that every State should keep its sovereignty intact, but that there should be complete unity Emorg their several rulers. If this result is a c hi eved, the Congress now about to take place will have tffected more good than generally ensues from such meetings, that too often begin and end in wordy warfare, and have nothing stable or lasting to show for the result of their vaunted intentions. FRANCIS JOSEPH has come forward in an unexpected manner at this time, and it is to be trusted that he will redeem the fledges he has given of g oo d w ill t o t h e true interests of all States, whether they be Em pires Kingdoms, or Confederations. Ile has evinced a desire to be ruled by the principles of truth and justice in contra distinction to the arbitrary laws of despotic councils, and in doing so he has conferred signal benefits on his own dominions. If he now seek to impart the same influence elsewhere, and show to those who are perplexed by distracting and diverse opinions that union is strength, and that the basis of all strong constitutions is the recognition of po pular rights, he will be doing the greatest service in his generation, and earn for himself a place in history that is only accorded to the benefactors of their kind, whether they be crowned heads or obscure individuals. When a powerful Monarch joins the march of progress and follows enlightened views, the best results are sure to ensue, and the most propitious events may b e con fid en tl y ex pected,any undue hopes being in, or the beholders foretelling a t oo fl a tt er i ng without indulged augury. According to all accounts affairs are progressing most satisfactorily regarding the Congress at Frank fort, which is fixed to take place on the 16th of this month. The Emperor of AUSTRIA has worked wonders so far, and it is to be hoped that he will go on prospering in his good work, and by uniting divers interests and joining severed links in unity, he may succeed in his grand design and realiee his noble project of rehabilitating the state of Germany . Of course there have been some contretemps to en counter, and some difficulties that would not be surmounted, but that is to be expected in the natural order of things when an important national undertaking is set on foot, and where so many rivalries and jealousies are perforce awakened. The King of PRUSSIA has evidently aspired to the honour of becoming the Marplot on this grand decision, and is determined that if any progress is made no one shall say that it is his fault, or that he bad any share in the plot or plan. The interview between the Sovereigns at Gastein, from which event so much was expected to accrue, and of which so many beneficial results were predicted, seems to have been a failure. Count BISMARK is certainly King WILLIAM'S evil genius, he haunts him like a shadow, and is ever on the spot to do away with any good impressions made by others and to insinuate his own views in contradistinction to the opinions of new and better advisers. The EMPEROR, it i 3 said, invited the KING personally to attend the Congress. This circumstance certainly renders the refusal the more ungracious, and gives a more marked charac ter to the already too significant denial. Of course in a verbal explanation so much more could be said and treated of than in a stiff and formal dispatch, and therefore it can be from no lack of comprehension regarding the object and intentions of the EMPEROR that the unwise and unexpected denial was uttered. The excuse given for the KING'S absence is most absurd, and of course M. BISMARK figures promi nently as the cause. He, it is said, desires the Mi nisters to have a conference before the Sovereigns do so. If the object of this unexpected alteration in the programme be to preclude the Prussian Minister from using any power or exercising any influence in the deliberations that take place, and the plans that are resolved upon, certainly the resolution to decline the invitation is a wise one, and likely to prove conducive to happy results. It is to be pre sumed that the enlightened statesman whom some doubtless consider as a heaven-born minister pri vileged to make or mar the fortunes of States, and the arbiter to rule the destinies of princes, is highly indignant at the want of respect and reverence which has been shown to his demands, and the ignoring of his request by other Powers. Aut Cesar atzt Nail is his motto, and since he may not bring his skill to their counsels, and exercise his eloquence to rule their actions, he will have nothing to do with the affAir, and uses his potent in fluence to bring his master to a wrong de cision, and thus an adverse course adopted. It is very shortsighted, too, on the part 3f the KING and his Minister not to seo . the grand chance they are throwing away so recklessly, and the glorious opportunity that may not occur again speedily, and perhaps never in their lifetime. If Prussia now draws back from this conference of nations she will lose a place she may never afterwards regain, and forfeit the chance of giving advice and impart ing influence on momentous occasions. It is stated by the .Nord Zeitung that they are in a position to declare totally devoid of foundation the repotit circulated that " the CROWN PRINCE had been summoned to Gastein for the purpose of proceeding on a mission to the Congress of German Princes to be held at Frankfort." It is most probable that the denial is true, for it is to be feared that the King of Pr.ussiA is not likely to choose his son as his representative after the serious differences That have taken place between them on the subject of the changes that have been made in the constitution of Prussia. In reality there could not be a better envoy than the PRINCE, who a ppears duly impressed with the importance of free institutions, and, so far as can be gathered from his remarks en various occasions, to entertain very correct notions re garding the maintenance of popular rights, However, it is not very likely, for that very reason, that the CROWN PRINCE will be selected as the representative of his country, which had better not be represented at all if the same misguided views and mischievous policy are to rule and actuate her statesmen and be firmly upheld by her King. It is said that the Emp eror of AUSTRIA i s not influenced by personal desires of ambition, but i s solely actuated by the desire to benefit Germany. It is to be hoped that this is the case; and certainly, so far, he has shown a spirit of firmness and an enlightened policy that do him infinite credit. His desire to improve the condition of Germany is the more remarkable when so much confusion reigns in the councils of the surrounding states, and in some places there are raging such strife and anarchy. In Prussia, for instance, there is an universal feeling of discontent now rife among the people, and liable at any fresh provocation to - - entail serious consequences. Poland is in a de- plorablo state; and the present condition of Rus. Sian affairs is rife with discord, engaged as is the Court of St. Petersburg in disputes with nearly all the kingdoms of Europe. It is at this critical ,uncture that the Emperor of AUSTRIA seeks to restore Germany to her pristine power. The grandson of FRANCIS the Second endeavours to renew some of the advantages and to revive the greatness that has been decaying since his grand father resigned the Imperial crown of Rome. It is Mated that th© object proposed by the Coufmnce two millions and a quarter of acres, and to bring a plentiful supply of water to Calcutta, which by the provision of the necessary water power will be raised to the highest biddings. This will add but little to the expense as a supplement to the original scheme, while its advantages to Calcutta will be incalculable. The Oude project is still larger and less expensive from the nature of the country. The engineers calculate that they can readily supply eight millions of acres in this pro vince, so that the whole area from Rohilcund to the Ganges and the North-Western districts of Bengal can be irrigated ayid their produce brought down to Calcutta for export to the foreign markets —a result equally encor,raging to British enterprise and native industry. We arc not surprised from Sir CHARLES WOOD'S general policy that while the local authorities encourage the scheme, the Govern ment have as yet dune absolutely nothing with these startling facts baf , Jre their eyes. The accouets leave the subject out altogether, though their reve lations might convince the most sceptical. Such perversity grad inaction have been the bane of India. Why should ono of the largest and most important of our Nssessions be governed according to preju dicehay: s u b N m o i t t c e e d l o t n o y s p u e c o h p pled rule, by E b n u g t 1 i s a h a m v a e n n t a w g o e u l i d s taken of native ignorance and indolence. Such con e.uct is the more extraordinary from its financial , effects. Sir ARTHUR COTTON, in his able and in teresting address, to which we shall return at an early oppportunity, gives what may be called a Budget of the irrigation expenditure and profit, whose "unanswerable logic of facts" does not reflect very creditably on the India office or the Calcutta authorities. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) HER MAJESTY'S JOURNEY, BRUSSELS, AUG. 13 (Noon Her Majesty Queen Victoria and the Roya chi/dren arrived yesterday evening at the palace of Lacken. The King of the Belgians and the Duke and Duchess of Brabant received the Royal party at the private railway station. The Queen's suite were conducted to the palace at Brussels. A grand dinner was given at Lacken in honour of her MojaAy. DENMARK. REFUSAL OF THE KING TO ATTEND THE FRANKFORT CONFERENCE. COPENHAGEN, AUG. 13. The King of Denmark has deolined to be present at the conference of the sovereign members of the German Confederacy, to which his Majesty Was invited by the Emperor of Austria. A grand military camp will be established and a review held at the end of this month near Danne kirke, in Schleswig, The King will visit the camp. GERMANY. VIENNA, Atm. 13. Very animated conferences took place yesterday at Gastein between the King of Prussia, the Crows Prince, and Herr von Bismark. It is asserted that Prussia intends to secede from he German Confederation. The Crown Prince left Gastein yesterday. SPAIN, MADRID, AUG. 12, It is reported that the Council of Ministers has approved of the new situation that has arisen in Mexico, and will despatch a special envoy to Paris. Senor Pacheco is spoken of as likely to be sent to Paris, Senor Bravo Gonzales going to London. AUSTRIA AND MEXICO ,VIENNA, AUG. 13. The Oesterreichische Zeitung, in an article on the election of the Archduke Maximilian to the throne of MeAle°, says :—" The acceptance or refusal of the throne is, up to the present time, a personal affair with the Archduke. The Austrian Govern.. ment has in no way interfered in the question, and taken no part in the negotiations relative thereto. The Emperor Napoleon, in communicating direct with the Archduke, has also perfectly maintained this point of view. Negotiations have been opened solely between the two high personages, and not between France and Austria. The conduct of the Emperor has thus been marked both by courtesy and loyalty. "The situation of Mexico might lead, at a later pericd, to differences with America. But all this is irrevelant so long as the matter has a personal cha racter, apart from politics. It is for the Archduke in his wisdom and in consulting his own tastes to see whether ho will enter into this affair, and what guarantees he can obtain. The Archduke is too experienced a man to accept the offer of the Mexi cans before their country be entirely submitted, and before it has expressed itself through the medium of freely-elected representatives. The Oesterreichische Zeitung concludes :—" The whole subject is one of a very delicate and difficult nature, and must be treated with prudence and ability." WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC MAILS. SOUI'HAAMPTON, AUG. 13. The Royal Mail steamer Seine, with the above mails, arrived off the Needles at 1,10 p.m. to-day. FRANCE. PARIS, AUG. 13. The Moniteur of this morning publishes a letter from Pekin, dated the 13th June, stating that the Insurrectionary movements in the southern pro vinces are creating serious embarassments to the Government. BOURSE, Aug. 12.—Business continues I:mited in amount, speculators keeping away as much as they can in consequence of the heat of the weather. Threes, for the Account, are unvaried at 67f. 45c. The Railway Share Market quiet, but prices were pretty well maintained. The market closed as follows :- it per Cents 96 50 Italian Loan .— Do. end month.... Do. end month — -- 3 per Cents Do. end month.... 67 40 Do. end month — Credit Mobilier.... 1082 50 Russian Do. end m0nth....1077 50 Austrian Bank Shares 3365 Spanieh Threes — Credit koncier ....1250 .-- Rome Debt RAIL WAIN. Cash. Account. Orleans lO2O .. 1017 60 Northern .... 985 985 Nevi ditto Lyons e.nd Mediterranean 1026 25 .. 1027 50 Geneva 490 .. 491 25 Southern 7OO 698 75 Western I:astern .... Sardinian Austrian Low bard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona 427 50 .. 427 50 647 50 .. 648 75 RUSSIA. Advices from St. Petersburg state that a great number of Swedish families have left that capital. Throughout the whole of the North war is consi• sidered probable. The Swedish journals state that after the interview which lately took place between the Kings of Sweden and Denmark, a committee composed of Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians was formed for the purpose of deliberating on the orga nisation of a common maritime defence for the three Scandinavian States. AMERICA. (Per the Nova Scotian, via Greencastle.) NEW YORK, Aug. 1. General Gilmore has applied to the Government for reinforcements of troops at Charleston. On the 29th be had erected batteries within 250 yards of Fort Wagner, and mo un t e d three heavy guns one mile and a quarter from Fort Sumter. General /3urnside has declared martial law in Kentucky. Gold advanced this morning to 1294, and fell in the afternoon to 128. Erehange, 142, Treasury 7-30 Notes, 1068 ; New York Central Railway, 127; Erie, 104; Illi nois Central, 114. Cotton, 1621-c. Breadatuffs irregular. Provisions more active, at Sugars, 10kc. t o 1 2c. lower prices. THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY TRAFFIC.—The working of the Metropolitan line by the Great Western Railway Company having ceased on Monday evening, th e t ra ff ic was worked on Tuesday morning by the Great Northern Company on the narrow gauge rails. Whether owing to the want of adequate rolling stock or to some imperfection in the arrangements, great inconvenience to the public was occasioned by delays in the trains. At King'e.cross station such was the state of things that the clerks declined at one period to take money from intending passengers, and refused to return money to persons who had paid their fares and found themselves unable to proceed to their destination with sufficient speed. The train leav jag Bishop's -road station at 9.30 was drawn by an old en gine which, it is alleged, was out of order, and no sooner had the train lett the station than the engine ran off the line, causing considerable alarm to the passengers, none of whom, however, were hurt. Assistance was procured, and in a short time the engine was liitr3cl on the rai!,s. A telly Mary StoppagQ, of L'e. tr4o oco-471,4a. MUSIC. rytnns, Sacred Part Songs, and other Pieces Edited by Frederick Westlake. Parts I. and 11. Lambert and Co. The combination in this beautiful series of Hymns and other Sacred Pieces, the intimate and appro priate combination in them of Good Music and Good Poetry, both of a religious character—is simple but admirable design set before himself by the compiler and editor of the Publication. So far as the working cut of such a design can be estimated upon an examination of two instalments, the initial one and its immediate successor, we can speak of it in terms not merely of unhesitating ap proval but in those of real and unaffected admira tion. Within the compass of these two intro ductory Parts alone, comprising in ono of them 13 and in the other 16 distinct compo sitions, no less that, 23 out of the 29 pieces thus given have been composed expressly for the work under notice. Of these twenty-three original pieces four are from the hand of Mr. Westlake himself —and of themselves, by their varied merit, justify his position as supervisor of the whole serial collection. Macfarren, Molique, Meyer Lutz, Sohn Barnett and Henry Leslie, Schultes, and Schacher are particularly noticeable also among the other contributors. The pieces are variously arranged for two, three, or four voices. The accompaniments are, at choice, for organ, harmonium, or pianoforte. Living composers, and these both English and Foreign, as the names already specified sufficiently indicate, are intended to be chief contributors to a work as carefully selected and as intrinsically beau tiful of its kind, as a.whole, as it is a perfect marvel of cheapneEss in the mere manner of its publication Sight Singing made Easy. pp. 32. Lambert and Although this little sixpenny manual (designed for choirs, schools, and choral societies) does not assume to itself any notable originality either in plan, principle, matter, or arrangement —as its own prospectus very candidly acknowledges —it will be none the less welcome, or the less uselul,we are certain of that, when it comes to be examined into by those for whose use it has been expressly designed. It is wonderful how much practical instruction has been comprised within so small a compass, and that what has been so compressed there, has been ren dered, in spite of the compression, so perfectly com. prehensible in every way to the least tutored learner. Intended, as its very title page intimates, to em brace the advantages of the Tonio Sol-fa System with the ordinary musical notation, it is calculated to render sight-singing easy to all comers, that is to the disciples . of both schools or systems —easy, that is, upon one simple condition that the instructions here compacted together bo practised or acted upon within a reason able interval with assiduous application. TELEGRAPH TO INDIA, TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—ln your impression of yesterday ' there was an article on the Persian Gulf Cable, in which it is stated that in point of conductivity and insulation this cable comes so nearly up to the standard of electrical perfection that (in the writer's opinion) it " will remain good for 100 years," and that the cause of failure in the Atlantic, Red Sea, Toulon, and Algiers, and the Malta and Alexandra Cables will be avoided, and, above all, the imperative necessity of having no section of submarine line more than GOO miles in length. Now, the Persian Gulf Cable possesses the same elements of destruction as the Malta and Alexandria, Toulon and Algiers, and the Red Sea cables did, viz., gutta percha containing impurities in • combination with Stockholm tar and resin ; in the outer covering the wires are protected with hemp, resin, and tar. The Persian Gulf cable has the addition of silica and bitumen, or mineral pitch. This compound is thought all that is required for sections not more than 600 miles in length. A little chemis try in relation to submarine telegraphy is all that is required to show clearly that the said compound is neither flexible or impervious to water, nor is it capable of resisting tropical heat or the attacks of marine insects. I beg to state that the principle cause of failure in long lengths of submarine lines consists in the impurities contained in the gutta percha: so long as the impurities are kept dry they act as partial non conductors, but when they become hydrous decomposition takes place slowly and surely according to the size of the conductor, the length worked through, and the battery power used. I quite agree with the writer that longer lengths of cable than 600 miles would not remain commercially useful for long, if constructed on the principles of the Persian Gulf line. I may add that a cable is in progress that will in one section connect England with America, and will, I have no doubt, remain commercially useful without the aid of gutta percha in combination with Stockholm tar and resin as the insulating medium, nor will pitch, tar, or silica be used as an outer protection for the fibrous or metallic strands, and it will not cost more than the Persian Gulf cable. I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. M.O.CINTOSS, MOHAMMED ALL—A native of Roumelia, where he had been a trader in tobacco, this great man originally entered Egypt with the force which, under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, finally expelled the French from the country ; and tohim it was principally due that the Mame luke Beys did not after that event recover their former supremacy. As Mr. Paton speaks from personal observe ti n, his estimate of this remarkable character is worthy of attention. He attributes to him consummate coolness in the greatest dangers, profound dissimulation of his own plans, coupled with a marvellous discernment of the mo tives of others, and unbounded liberality to his friends. The picture has, however, its darker shades. He was perfectly unscrupulous in the choice of means to gain his ends; ho was morbidly desirous of importance in the councils of nations, and quite in the dark as to the truths of political economy. We can feel little wonder at this in a man who only learnt to read and write when forty-three years old: A NATIVE MOOR OR ALGERINE. -- Generally handsome, and with a fair but colourless complexion, the Moor's dark eyes and regular features are mostly cha racterised by an expression mild to effeminacy. Fond of dress and of brilliant colours, he always carries his some what portly person in as costly a manner as his means per mit. Indolent by nature, he never in any grade of life engages but in some sedentary occupation. If belonging to the upper classes, he keeps a stall or bazaar in a native street, where, quite indifferent to the absence of customers, he smokes, drinks coffee, and chats with passing friends. The greatest effort which he makes is to jog placidly along to his country garden, seated on a broad well-cushioned saddle, borne by a quiet mule. Every act, look, and attitude of the Moor indicates his love of ease. The occupations of the Moor in a humble rank of life are very limited in number. Ile embroiders jackets, vests, girdles, purses, shoes, and trappings for horses. He makes silk laces, trinkets, and earthenware jars, which he embellishes with coloured streaks in a pecu liar manner. The gay trousers worn by the Moorish lady, and the rich jacket of her husband, are both fashioned by his needle. He distils essences of rose and jasmine, and weaves mats and baskets of the dwarf palm. The Moor has an innate love of beauty. The colours of his dress are well-assorted, and his embroidery designs are graceful. He is passionately fond of flowers—he has them often in a jar beside him as he works, and be frequently inserts them beneath the edge of his fez or turban ; the oppressive frag rance of the large white jasmine and the orange flower is his delight. Though loving to lie have a Bush of sunshine lighting up the scene on which he looks. Polite in speech, his gestures are always graceful, i 8 bearing dignified, thecalmsell-possesso i n ne of en his address h is ne verd disturbed and ed by the most unexpected i ld Through Algeria," recently published by Bentley. THE GREAT EASTERN.—The Great Eastern left the Mersey yesterday morning for New York, via Queens- town, and, as usual, large numbers of people crowded both sides of the river to see her off. Besides a large cargo, the Great Eastern takes out 900 passengers, and at Queenstown she will take on board about 200 more. MAILS TO THE UNITED STATES, &C.—Her Ma jesty's Government having revived the contract with the Atlantic Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company (which was terminated in May, 1861) for the conveyance of mails once a fortnight between Galway and the United States, mails will be made up in London on the evening of Monday the 17th August, and thenceforward on the evening of every alternate Monday, and forwarded to Galway, to be despatched on the following Cay to their destination. The pacLeta will prcend alternately to Boston and New York, calling at St. John's, Newfoundland. All letters, &c , for the United States, Canada, and Newfoundland, which are posted in time, will be forwarded in these mails. Let.ters, ice., for any British North American colony (except Ca- nada and Newfoundland) intended to be sent by these packets, itust be specially directed " Via the United States.'' The rates of postage upon letters, ttc., intended to be forwarded by these packets will be the same as by th e British packets from Liverpool calling at Queenstown. The first homeward packet of this lice will leave Boston on Tuesday, the Bth September, and wit! be due at Galway on the 18th September. The next will leave New York on Tuesday the 22d September, and will be due at Galway on the 2d October.—By command of the Postmaster -General, ROWLAND HILL, :s.e.faetaryt—Q*.eral Vut. o ffi ce) lath Auaut, I$G;. Cis HER MAJESTY. The Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia. Although the denial has come by telegraph that the Crown Prince of Prussia has been summoned to Gastein by the King, his father, for the purpose of "proceeding on a mission to the Congress of G;amen princes, to be held at Frar.kfort," there is no doubt that his Royal Highness is at Gastein, and that he has gone there in obedience to a wish expressed by the King. The Crown Prince left Berlin, for the place mentioned on Saturday evening, and was accom panied to the railway station by the Crown Princess, who returned to Potsdam. It is considered that the stay of the prince at Gastein will be exceedingly brief. Towards the close of the stay of their royal high nesses on the Island of Rugen, an excursion was made with the Prince and Princess Putbus to a hunting villa, possessed by the latter. Oa Mon day week the Crown Prince and Crown Princess paid a visit to Prince Adalbert, who was at anchor a short distance off in the Prussian war steamer Niobe. On Wednesday their royal highnesses left the island after a residence there of five weeks, and on their departure the Prussian national hymn was played, and the inhabitants cheered most heartily, at the same time waiving hats and hand kerchiefs, a demonstration which the Prince an Princess repeatedly acknowledged. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge le Gloucester House, Piccadilly, last evening, for G.:iman to pass a few weeks. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duche d'Aumale have left Orleans House, Twickenham, for Pen carrow, Cornwall, the seat of Lady Molesworth. Their Serene Highnesses Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar have left town on a visit to the Duke and Dushess of Richmond at Gordon Castle, near Fochabers, N.B. I'he Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and family have left Badminton, Gloucestershire, fer Troy House, Monmouthshire, and afterwards go to ill() other family seat in Wales, Llangattock Park. His Excellency Baron Gros, the French Ambas sador, will leave the Embassy to-day for Paris on a short leave of absence. The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, the Hon. F. Calthorpe, M.P., and Mr. F. F. Courtenai have left Port Eliot, the seat of the Earl of St, Germans? for Pencarrow, on a visit to Lady Molesworth. The Marquis •of Hastings has left Long's Hotel for Scotland. His Excellency senator }Lift and Don Jose d'Hu6t have left Edwards's Royal Ct.rabridge lictolt George-street, on their way to Madrid. The Earl and Countess Howe are entertaining select circle at Gopsall Hall, Leicestershire. The Earl of Hopetoun has left Long's Hotel for Scotland. Tne Countess (Dowager) of Lichfield and LadY Gwendolena Anson have left town for Switzerland. The countess and daught er w ill return for the marriage °` g Major the Hon. Augustus H. Anson, V.C., and Mi ss Claughton, niece of the Earl of Dudley. The Baron end Baroness Kcilburg and family: have left the Brunswick, Jormyn-street, for Paris, on their way to Switzerland. The Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P., left town on Tuesday last to join Lady Emily villa at Geneva. Peel at their The Right Hon. Si! Alexander Cockburn, the Lord Chief Justice of England, left town yesterday to spend a few weeks in Germany. Baron Charles de Rothschild has arrived at Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from Frinkfcrt. Count and Countess Szechenyi r.nd suite have left Long's Hotel for the Isle of Wight. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left London yesterday for Walmer Castle, Kent. Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby will enter tain a succession of guests at Drummond Castle, Perth shire, during the shooting season. Lord and Lady Vaughan have arrived at Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from Beecbgrove, Aberystwith. A marriage is about to take place between Lord Londesborough and the Lady Edith Somerset, y ou ngest daughter of the late Duke of Beaufort. PROPOSED CATHOLIC REFORMATORY SHIP FOR THE MERSEY.—A number of the leading Catholics of Liverpool and its district met on Monday evening at the Concert Hall, Lord Nelson •street, to consider the advisa bility of establishing a Catholic reformatory on the plea of the present reformatory ship Akbar, moored in the Mersey. Sir Robert Gerard presided, and the meeting was addressed by Mr. Aspinall, Q.C., Recorder of Liverpool, Mr. NV. Blundell, Mr. R. Sheil, and others. Ultimately resolutions were adopted to establish a reformatory, and also a yearly fund to meet the expenses which would be involved beyond the Government grant, The Chairman intimated that after a man-of-war had been obtained, £l,OOO would be sufficient to convert it into a reformatory. During the proceedings a letter was read from Mr. T, S. Raffles, to the effect that the establishment of a Catholic reformatory would relieve him from a difficulty which he had often felt in dealing with criminals of the Catholic faith. Before the meeting closed subscriptions to the extent of upwards of £7OO were received. SIIAKSPEARE'S COMMEMORATION.—A writer in the Z.N.cotsman says :—" It is no w eon_e time since it was determined in London that the 23d April, 1864, shee la , be seized as a fit occas i on f or a commemoration wort hy of the name of Shakspeare. Shakspeare having been born on the 23d April, 1564, this date would be the tri-centenary of his birth. The leading literary papers have viewed the pro.. ject with great favour, and the .ilihenceunt weekly contains paragraphs announcing new distinguished names as is"' bers of the committee for promoting the commemoration. This committee now presents not only the names of most of the distinguished living English writers and the Maeena se of English literatu re , b a t a l so many foreign litterateu rs o f eminence. Of course, Scotland now holds Shakspeare to be almost as much her own as she holds Scott and Burns; and no petty distinction of the nationalities of England and Scotland aro suffered for a moment to injure the love and honour with which Scotland cherishes the name of Shak speare. James VI. of Scotland became indeed James I. of England while Shakspere yet survived, and Scotland an d England became one kingdom. It seems, then, somewhat strange that Edinburgh, w hi c h not many years ago s wayed the literary sceptre of Great Britain, and yet, next to Lon don, bears the highest literary repute, should have made no sign of seizing the occasion to honour the name of him whom all the British Empire at least acknowledges to be the greatest uninspired genius that ever lived. Can we not have a committee for the commemoration, who would do honour to themselves, to Scotland, and to the occasion ?" r it p HEFLYING PIEMAN !—When I was a young ster (says Aleph, in his recent anecdotes about Old London), the steep roadway from Hatton -garden to Fleet market was highly attractive to me on account of the Fly ingw Tiernan, though he did n ot vend p ies, but a kind o f baked plum pudding, which he offered smoking hot. H e was a slim, active, middlel sized man, p robabl y ab out forty years old. He always wore a black suit, s crupulously brushed, dress coat and vest, knee breeches, stout black silk stockings, is andshirt, s h orees remarkably t hs b t l ee 1 wellg o buckles—then rathert up, had a idefashion able. surmoun ted by a spotless white cravat. H e never wore e ith e r hat or cap ; his hair, cropped very C l ose, was plenti fully powdered ; and he was decorat e d with a delicate lawn knees. In his right hand a p ro n which hardly reached to hi s he held a small circular tray or board, frill, just large enough to receive an appetite-provoking pudding about thr e e inches thick, which was divided into twelve at a penny a slice. A broad blunt slices, which he sold spatula, brilliantly bright, which he carried in his left h an d, ena bl e d him to dispense his sweets without ever touching them. His coun tenance was open and moral excellence. agreeable, Precisely expressive of intellect and as St. Andrew's clock struck : twelve at n oon, Peter Stokes tu rne d ou t o f Fetter -lane with his tempti ng pastry, an d f rom t h at moment up to four o'clock h e was incessantlytrots the lane to Fly-place occupied in a rapid transit tr o thence to Thavies-inn, an d a cross to Field -lan e , or from Hatton-garden to Fleet market, never pausinglongu• than din would enable him to deliver a slice of pud g tozoine expect ant cubto • . mer, and shouting without pause, "Buy, buy, buy," adroitly darting from side to side, never lingering till tweet], carts, waggons, and coaches, and proffering his puddirg to all passers, with the not unmusical accompani ment of " Buy, buy, buy?' If any peripatetic pilgrim felt his longing for a slice overcome him, as Peter flashed be" tween a dray and a pratleman's carriage, his penny must be ready and held up, or the man would be 100 yards off in a few seconds. His board was often cleared in a single run between the Garden and the Market. The ringing syllables, "Buy, buy, buy," were repeated unconsciously over a el, an tray, and he would dive outof sight for a fresh supply before you quite undcrsoud •G hero he was. On a fine day he could diqo,lo of 50 rounds of pitcldieg b.tween, 1 :4 and 4 o'clock-1 he I The Victoria and Albert, having on board the Queen, Prince Alfred, Princess Helena, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice, left the Thames early yesterday morning for Antwerp. The Boys' yacht was convoyed across the Channel by the Vivid, the Osborne, and other vessels.