The Sun. — London, England, 1863-10-21 00:00:00

..................1,.-•...P....va-.~•....•.--- ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT -GARDEN. Under the Manazement of Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EV'EN-ISG, Willace's Romantic Opera, THE DEs ,,, R T F LOWER : MISS Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Pyne • Messrs. W. 11. Weiss, H. Corri. A. Cook, and W. Harrison' Conductor, Mr. A. Mellon. —Doors open at half-past Seven. commence at Eight. E A.TR-E ROYAL DRURY- LANE. Managers, M e ssrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. T ais EVENING, GONE TO TEXAS. Mr. Walter Lacy and Miss Murray. Ai ter w hich, Lord Byron's Choral Tragedy, MANFRED. Messrs. helps, Ryder, Ranery, M-agreson, Ward, Spencer ; Miss Heath, Miss E. Atkinson, Miss Leclerc,, and Mrs. E. Falconer. Vocalists—Miss Poole, Miss t,itter, Miss Cicely Nott, Miss Heywood, and Mr. Swift. To conclude with A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER. nERRMANN.-PRINCESS'S TIT E ATRE.- Immense Succ , ss.—" The Tricks and Feats of Herr Herrmann are nearly all of the most astonishing and incmi prchensible kind. His sleight-of-hand feats are really mar vellous, and the ease, finish, and accuracy of his tricks are such as have never before been witnessed in this country."— Standard, Sept. 29. Herrmann in his MONEY TR ic EVERY EV.IININCi. "A New System of Making Plenty of Money." Commencing at Eight. THEATRE ROYAL HAY NI ARKET._ Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE RIVALS Mr. Chippendale, Mr. Buclotone, Mr. Howe, Mr. Rogers, Mr.W. Farren, M Mr. Braid; Mesdames Snowdon, L. Angel, E. Fitzwllltam, Terry, (to, After which, THE BENGAL TIGER : M r. Alfred Wigan Mrs Alfred 11 igan, and Mr Compton. And MY HUSBAND'S G d OST. Commence at 7. NEW THE ATRE-RO Y AL , ADELPHI.- Hole Propristor and Manager. Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, at 7, THE TIIA.GEDY QUEEN : Mrs. tirling. 9t s, the New Drama of LEAH : Miss Bateman, supported by Messrs. Arthur Stirlin, R. Phillips, Billington, Stua.rt, A Wood, Eburne, Miss H. Simms and Mrs. Billing,ton. To conclude with CATCIIING AN HEIRESS : Miss Woolgar and Mr. A. Wod. --------- 1 ISS BATEMAN.—LENH.—The celebrated young American Actress, Miss BATEMAN , having h e r first ost trappeararce in the New Drama o f LEAR ob aniumphant and enthusiastic success that has tamed them been wi,nessed for many years. and the profound impression created by her impersonation of the character of LEAH upon a ctowcied audience having been completely ratified by the unanimous verdict and critical approval of the entire Daily Press, the Manager of the NEW ADELPHI THEATRE has the honour to announce that Miss BATEMAN will appear In the New Drama of LEA El EVERY EVENING till further r notice. OYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. 11. Swanborough. TUIS EVENING, TURN HIM our. Mr. C. Fenton. After which, MIRIAIIN CRI3IE. Messrs. G. Honey, rarselle, Belford, Turner, Miss K.Saville, and Miss Handers. Followed by THE MOTTO, "I'M ALL THERE." Messrs. Honey, Turner, E. Danvers, Collier, Mesdames Ada Swan borough, F. Hughes, Weston, Thorne, Wallace, and Jenny White. . _ Commence at 7. TFIE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, ;,an be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, Sh. 23m.—Afternoon, 9d. 10m. ro-mottnow.-Morning, 9h. 53m.—Afternoon. 10h. 32m. The Weather—Sun Office, Oct. 21, 1863. THERMOMETER,. This day at Two o'clock Barometer-30.18. Wind—North-Easterly ; moderate, and cloudy. f, - ~... • • ,44 ' '.: of , I Wit - - N. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21, 1863. Another " little war" in Japan—and another "little war" in New Z3aland ! The two localities being as far removed from each other as they are both of them from ourselves. England is certainly, so far, getting her hands full of those minor warlike difficulties which were regarded with more repug nance by the Duke of WELLINGTON than the grander contests, such as those in which he himself had, during the earlier part of his life, been so conspicuously engaged. These little wars are certainly more insidious in their evil influences than the great want. They frequently last much longer, and era more often renewed. They eat away time and money, as perniciously as gangrene exhausts the vital energies. Or to speak with more exactitude, though still by metaphor, the little wars are like the opening of issues in various parts of the body, as compared with a bold applica tion of the lancet. The only course in reason to be pursued in regard to these little wars, we take it, is to enter upon them, if they must needs be entered upon at all, as promptly and vigorously as may be in any way practicable. Instead of grumbling over the evil necessity of another little war in Japan, and another little war, just exactly at thesame time, in New Z-aland—what we have to do now, in each instance, in obedience to the dictates of sheer com mon sense, is to " go in" at both, determinedly and with a will. It is interesting to note in reference to this compulsory revival by the English of war like proceedings against the Japanese—compulsory e t 8 3 1- advisedly, for the English had really no alt whatever 'whatever before them under the cir- cunastances—it is interesting at this moment to r ecall to mind the fact that it is now upwards of two hundred years since communications be tween England and Japan were first of all for mally negotiated and opened np by anything like an interchange of commercial privileges. It was, in point of fact, as far back as the 11th of June, 1613, that this occurred. A letter from King JAMES I. of England, VI. of Scotland, was presented at the Court of Jeddo b Clone, in the folloy Captai n S ARIS, o f t h e wing July, in the name of his Britannic MAJESIY and as a token of amity. Up wards of two centuries after that incident, another the ski pper of a small b r i g , English sea-captain, entering the bay of Jedd o in 1818, e ndeavoured , but ineffectually, to obtain a cargo. As recently as 1831 an American vessel was then and there actually fired upon, under similar cep with the Americans th at y et i t was at the Japanese first of al l entered into the formalities of a regular namely, on th e Bth of comme rcial treaty -- s And it was but a littl e more than March, 1854 • a fterwards, that th e Com. four year between the English and the mer cial treaty Japa ne se was successfully negotiated on the 26th Jeddo, by Lord Elgin—the 1858, at , ot August, treaty opening up the gowa, and Nagasaki t o sallkbjoedcatdsi,olinasnnad #of N e c-e-gata on and port 1 poßr t r s it o is f h H from Ist July, 1859 ; the the port of Hiogo on from Ist January, 1860; and Qa o British subjects and from the Ist January, 1 0 u-' being a ll owe d, f or th e p ur pose of trade under this new ' t reaty, to reside after the Ist January, IS69' at Jeddo, and after th e I s t January, 1863, at Osacc3. It is for . . es 1 ff the viol a ti on of more than the r i g ht s and prig i e 6 guar anteed by treaty, however, it is for the PerPe tratien of var i ous outrages against the cornmonest di ctates of h uman i ty upon inoffensive Br i t i s h sub ,jests, some of them invested with authority by the English G overnment that the Sword of England' has once m ore b een drawn against Japan. I ........ It is satisfactory to find that great questions which hav e engaged attention and excited interest during the Parlie anentary session nor forgotten when are not cas t as id e the turmoil of busines s i s o ver and the strife of , discussion is at an en d. P erhaps nothing of a domestic character possessed mor e im portance lasi session than the attempt so me energet;c members to institute a m a d e b y reform into ,: he di Ec iplinc and to amend the i management of our . 1. 8 an d ga, cis . It had become a sc an d al among prise , us that these' thirds were fast me rg i ng i nto a mo ckery, and t i lat 8o lax was the routine, so inefil cient the Liwt,• and so mistaaen the motives that guided and governed the establishments tut apart for criminals, Oat crime seemed enccur4ged rather than repressed, and altogether through the length and breadth of the land universal indignation was expressed, and general astonishment prevailed re garding such an anomaly of justice and perversion of discipline. Lord CARNARVON is foremost among those who essayed most strenuously to divest this complicated case of some of its difficulties, and to adjust in some measure the unevenness and irregu larity of the mode of carrying on affairs at our penal institutions. His herdship has now presented the report of the committee engaged in investigat ing the details and inquiring into the workings of prison government. So far as it goes it appears to be a very excellent proposal ; but of course in this instance, as in all similar cases, some obstacles have to be overcome, and some opposition must be ex pected. The remarks mad e relative to hard labour are very appropriate, and furnish a striking argu ment to those who have been gradually decreasing this necessary part of the prison programme, until for all intents and purposes it might as well have been discontinued altogether. Also due reference is made to the importance of giving sufficient in dustrial work, a point which is now sadly neglected. The amount of "trade instruction" is, it appears, very limited. This is a great pity ; and, consider ing the immense sums that are being constantly frittered away for expenses connected with the prison ostensibly, but of which many prisoners do not reap the benefit, it is aggravating to think that means are being neglected whose adoption would be potent to serve, and might prove puissant to save, some of the unhappy class who are thus thrown into prison without, perchance, the power or op portunity of gaining their livelihood. In a refor matory sense there is nothing more calculated, in a worldly sense, to bring about the desired end than to impart instruction in some trade. It stands to reason that the prisoner who quits confinement with some trade at his finger's end, some labour that he is capable of performing handily, must be in a better position, and have a fairer chance of finally settling down into a steady, or, at all events, a reputable member of society, than he who comes into the world again to saunter in idleness and roam listlessly about, until he proves surely and sadly in his renewed offences and reiterated sentence that idleness is the root of all evil. Too muoh attention cannot be given to this branch of the subject. Without going to far as to predict that due regard to this necessity will reform or reclaim the majority of those under restraint, it is certain that some must benefit greatly by the attempt, and that many may be improved by the incitement, and encouragement thus held out to them. The recommendations here made for arranging a progressive scale of labour seem to answer very well the twofold purpose to which all prison discipline should tend, of repression and encouragement. The hard work stringently enforced must prove of salutary effect, and the pros pect of amelioration will give that hope to stimulate and encourage without which human beings will be slow to exert themselves in any sphere. The objec• tions urged by the committee as to reduction in the hours set apart for rest seem most reasonable. The notion of allowing ten hours is almost prepostercus. It would be difficult to find many persons engaged in any avocation, or even among those who pursue a career of pleasure, who sacrifice so much time to repose, and to sanction such a proceeding in cases where rigorous and hard measures should be the ruling principle, is very objectionable. Then more strict rules are requisite as relates to the books pro vided for entertainment. That instruction be con veyed to their minds is very essential, and in some cases a little relaxation is good, but works that are commonly styled " interesting" should be sparingly doled out. The purpose of prison li e should be to render existence within its confines irksome to the best behaved of its inmates, and painful to such as prove refractory. To provide to any extent what ' is the worst enjoyable occupation of an intelligent mind is a perversion of right and justice that cannot be countenanced by those who are bringing these prison details prominently forward, and whose duty it is to apply the searching tests of truth to their practices, and to let in the floodlight of publicity where circumstances have too much impeded a general knowledge. The high rate of diet most justly calls for reduction in this department. The allowance of meat is explained by some persons to be necessary to compensate for the influences of prison life, but the Committee very pro perly suggest that the same amount of nutri ment can be imparted by less palatable means of nourishment. To increase the in consistency of this dietary arrangement it is shown that those prisoners who are convicted for trifling offences are given a diet that is very low, while the men convicted for two years and upwards are at once allowed a much better ration of food than falls to the lot of the labouring classes. It is highly requisit that the plan sug. gested for making a progressive scale of diet be adopted at once, and carried out effectually. Of course there will be many difficulties in the way of putting these plans into practice, but surely it cannot be said by the most obtuse or obstinate dissentient to the views of the Committee that the subject under discussion is not worth the time and the trouble that have been devoted to it. The commission of crimes will never cease while mankind walk the earth, but their frequency and their universality does not diminish their fearful effect on human nature, nor detract from their hideousness in the sight of GoD. The more care and caution that prevails in the institutions that are set apart for criminals the greater chance there must be that evil will be diminished, and vice, to a great extent, restrained. It is evident, at any rate, that to afford prisoners the advantages that are denied to those struggling under the p r essure of adversity, or breaking down beneath the weight of poverty is a cruel perversion:of power from its legitimate use, and cannot fail to be a at tendee e If th be much f or with X eu ne most grave and grievous consequences. ent suggestions that are embodied in this report of the Committee are not received due attention by th e au th or iti es ' th ere will the question wil r b t° answer for hereafter, when taken up b y t h e L eg i s l ature , and dealt with summarily as a na ti ona l ev il that brooks no delay, anti its important issuEs, ca nnot stand trifling with Some years ago there",: Mr. NAPIER. in the Honso o f c mission to inquire into management of the Inns of matters made by mons for a corn affecting the carried amidst a very gen e r a urt which was l approval. This motion was one for a commission t o .. • "us 'nquir, into the system pursued in the Inns of Court for Int° [noting the study of law and jurisprudencePr°. variotia -om''lotion th e revenu es applicable , and the means mos t likely to secure a systematic and sound education for students, and a satisfactory teat of fitness for admis s;on to the bar." This commission emanated in a report which, unhappily a nd unfortunately, was never carried into afoot, and we suppose was lost amidst the din of war, as it came out in the autumn of 1855, towards the close of the Crimean war, for nothing has now been heard of the report for many years. The benchers of the Inns of Court are still contented to go on calling men to he bar with several occasi ons ‘ merely eating so many dinners and att endin g so many !ectures. Th e b ar , as we pointed out on in former leading i rtizles, stands alone from all other professions and places of public emolument as regards allowing people to enter its lists without undergoing an examination. What, we should be glad to know, can there be about legal studies which distinguishes them from other forms of human knowledge and intellectual acqui sition ? If clergymen are wanted, we examine them. What would be thought of a proposition for admitting all candidates to holy orders who had partaken of twenty dinners per annum in a parti cular building especially devoted to so sacred a pur pose, and who had just attended one year's lectures, they themselves having been asleep all the while ? As a gastronomical test, the game might answer; but as any evidence of theological acquirement it would certainly break down, So in medicine. Would the public willingly dispense with the slender security afforded us by the examinations at the Apothecaries' Hall, at the College of Surgeons, and at the College of Physicians ? In the Navy officers are examined, if they wish to qualify for appointment in the Steam Marine; in the Army, candidates for com missions, even in the line, must submit to certain inquiries into their intellectual fitness for discharg ing the duties of their rank. To draw the analogy still more strictly, attorneys are examined, and very strictly examined, not only previously to their ad mission on the Rolls, but articled clerks are ex amined during their articles, by what are now termed intermediate examinations, as well as being subjected to a sound preliminary examination, pre viously to being articled, and without which no young man can now become an articled clerk. But all the education a man requires for the purpose of being entered for keeping terms for the Bar, is to be able to write his own name. There can be no foundation, in sound reason, for this exceptional privilege of the Ber, and the sooner it is abolished the better, not only in the interest of the public, but of the barrister himself. It is said to be a great hardship that a young man who has passed the whole of his life, from his fourteenth to his twenty-fourth year, in the process of examination, should again be called on to submit to an exami nation. The answer is, that no blame must be imputed to the elder profession of l aw, if candidates for admission into their mysteries m a y have chosen to spend the earlier portion of th eir lives in submitting themselves to tests of intellec tual qualifications in other pursuits. wh e n the question is as to mortgages and contingent re mainders, it is of very little avail that a man should have been examined many times at Oxford in the Scholiacists upon ARISTOPHANES, or at Cambridge in the differenti a l ca l cu l us . Th ere is simply no kind of connection betw een th e t wo cases. In the interest of the young barrister himself, of the man who has no attorney connection, nothing, in short, but his own merit and hi s own exer ti o n upon which he may rely, we can conce i ve no m ore fortu nate circumstance than that an opportunity s hould be given him for displaying his capacity a nd talent at the very outset of hi s career . A t pr esent there is nothing for it but a f r i en dl y a t torne y, " o r to wri▪ te a book.' The friendly attorney must remain a constant quantity, w hil e B ar arrang ements re mai▪ n as they are; but, surely, the notoriety o btained by gaining the fi rs t p l ace i n an examination as to general legal c a p ac i ty , w h en t h e per iod of pupildom has just expired, must be of far more value than any reputation which can be gained as the author of a legal treatise. Really good works on Law and Jurisprudence are few, very few, in n umber ; while with regard to m e r e compilations, di g ests, and reports, they are so numerous that authorship, as far as they are concerned, has ceased to possess any real value. The highest place in a well organised examination, conducted as univenity examinations are conducted with honours for students who aim at high attain ment, and more ordinary degrees for those whose purpose may be answered by a common pass, must be of vast importance to a young rn3n• The exa. mination itself would give a totally d i fferent tone to the profession, in the course of a few years, and help to produce a race of learned jurists who should regard law, not as a mere question of bread and cheese, but as an intellectual pursuit, to be entered upon and adhered to with loftier views and more worthy objects. There is one point which in former articles on this subject has not been s ufficiently in sisted upon ; it is a great mistake to suppose that a large proportion of those whose names are enrolled upon the Bar List of England ever intended to practice the law as a profession. Those persons, therefore, who object to the introduction of legal examinations, on the ground that they would not in all prob a bility p ro d uce a better crop of barris ters than the present voluntary s ystem, establish but little, even if they succeed in e stablishin g thei r point. The English Bar has for a long time been a nursery for aspirants in the various branches of the civil s erv i ce . Th e mos t usual clause in an act of Parliam en t requ i r i ng ce rtain appoi ntments to be made is that the appointments in question shall only be given to barristers of a certain standing. Be it remembered that sincethe appointment of the commis sion to enqu:re into the arrangements'of the Inns of Court and Chancery in the early part of theyearlBs4, nearly 10 years ago, access to all the civil appoi nt . ments in the country has been closed to all wh o have not produced the certificate of having passed an examination ; under the present arrangements the qualification of giving divers public appoint ments to barristers of so many years' standing is a mere mockery ; but it might be made something very different if all candidates were required to give proof of diligent study in various branches of Law Jurisprudence, before they were admitted to the honorary and honourable title of Ba rris ter-at -Law. Finally, we would say to the Bar of England, that the only way they can avoid the result which they most seem to dread, namely, that the attorneys should oust them from their honours, is by giving plain proof of superior education and attainment. eso b y If they are to be held as worthier than attorneys standard must f themselves education a t n o db own nyintelligence.raisin g their The usual monthly meeting of the General Com mittee of the Central Relief Fund gave rise on Monday last to a very interesting discussion. In the fir st place, Mr. MACLURE'S Report confirmed the gratifying intelligence which had previously reach ed us of the gradual decrease of pauperism. Up to the 26th ult. the returns show a considerable incroitse of employment in the cotton mills and manufactures of the district. The number of reci pien.;ts of relief during the nine months of the cur rent year show a gradual but decided diminution, and although the Committee think it advisable to warn the public that there is reason to anticipate couidierable fluctuations, we may accept the exist log s tate of things as a source of thankfulness for the. resent and of hope for the future. It is con - 1 1 : 1 h e e re e d el t i h tr a a t i i: o s tn om m e i cases , where the area of relief is re ' lu ced within narrow ' limits, the whole relief should be transferred to the Board of Guardians. certainly bee :nineo, the credittatbeele' sugges tion, a t the a m e while making a in ki: v g hi t c l h iis thelocal time take the opportunity of ex pressingcommittees h. Lye fulfilled their office. The task has conflictin g e aansyd otnheesanderiinfluences , oi serious a w . we nature the be ari f difficultiesi theirrld ill readily admit that the gentlemen duties,tt o h e b thousand e wo ev ebhe: who, voluntarily undertook a task of such labour and responsibility, and carried it out with such un flagging energy and disinterestedness, are entitled to a very high meed of praise. There can be no doubt that the system of sub-division of labour, which these local committees enabled to be put in practice, assisted materially in the relief of the distress. Indeed, it would have been almost im possible for any plan of centralised authority, or superintendence, to have worked satisfactorily, so as at once to guard: against all the frauds and impostures of the undeserving, and to secure the relief of every real sufferer. On the principle of the postscript to a lady's letter, the appendix to the report was perhaps the most important part, seeing that we had gathered the main facts as to the decrease of population from the statistics given at the weekly meetings. Mr. ASHWORTH, who has carefully compiled much valuable information respecting the cotton trade, furnished a paper On the Prospects of the Cotton Supply of 1864 over 1863," in which he arrived at the most satis factory conclusions. lle anticipates a total increase of 610,000 bales over the supply for '63—the sup posed addition raising the amount of labour required from three days weekly to four days and a half, ws r e e t ne, are rsfueort for 350,000, i3ns t v hds h oi t: i co c oao h rnord,e h s e apTno l od o nr oakktee the for et— u tlpahottentheewr former e h s foo t s i re thus increasing the worki ng h ours one-third. The q p ai r e c e n c Tdue downers 2 b o e o in ,o g oo B „ et information one part of this calculation is based went so far as to anticipate an increase of 250,000 bales from that part of the world ; but Mr. ASH WORTH has thought it more prudent, in considera tionf o c r a e s u only o l t i y e s t l o w o e d d ui forcnec r t e h at h i s s ee i a s q m ao l o al u ou n wt i t et , of the recent d amage d one b y locusts and y d a n b a d y b o h t v a h e named. The Egyptian otherthere e least sanguine to be fairly placed at 100,000 bales, notwithstanding the damage done in some quarters by the unusual extent of the overflow of the Nile. The stoppage of the railway traffic from the same cause will retard the transmission of the Egyptian cotton to this country, nevertheless it is there, and may be safely reckoned on. In Italy the Govern ment, as in Turkey, has taken active steps in pro moting the growth of the staple with considerable success—it being only in our own colonies that the Government thinks proper to look coldly on the movement. From Queensland and other parts of Australia we are told it is premature to expect a large supply. It would not have been quite so premature had the authorities encouraged instead of checking experiments some years since. Africa is preparing to contribute a fair supply. In addi tion to the store looked for from Egypt, Natal, and the West Coast, and the River Gambia are all making efforts to supply our needs. South America and the - West Indies also form a prominent feature in the reckoning —the Paraguay Government, as we have previously heard, going so far as to pro mote a cotton company ; while the Argentine Con federation is also using every exertion to encourage cotton planting. Coming last, but not least, to India, where from some unhappy prejudice the authorities refuse to believe in the capacities of the country for cotton growing, Mr. ASHWORTH'S estimate of 350,000 bales increase is by some regarded as too "It is i mposs ibl e ," h e admits hi mse lf, " t o estimate the eff ect w hi c h so large an a ccess ion as £20,000,000 sterl i ng i n one year may h ave i n stimu lating the production of cotton in so fertile a country as India and with so industrious a popu lation:, On the other hand there unquestionably exists, as was afterwards observed, considerable uncertainty as to the actual state of affairs in India. Mr. PLATT, of Oldham, who expressed his belief that Mr. ASHWORTH'S estimated increase was below rather than above the mark, at least so far as regarded Egypt and Turkey, observed that it was somewhat singular that while they could speak with comparative confidence of Turkey and other places, all parties were at sea with regard to India. " Somehow or other," remarked this gentleman, repeating what we have often said, " they bad never yet been able, unless within the last few weeks, to impress upon the rulers of the country that India could produce useable cotton. The con sequence had been that there had been no Govern ment efforts made in India, like those of other countries, to grow cotton. The same speaker after wards mentioned as a well-known fact that magni ficent cotton had been grown in India from New Orleans seed. The committee showed considerable hesitation in adopting the appendix as a part of the report, feeling that a good deal of weight was attached to the expression of their opinion, a n d being naturally reluctant to mislead the public with delusive hopes and expectations. One gentle man in particular, Mr. MASON', subjecte d the appendix to a most severe criticism, disp u t in g o almost every one of its conclusions. Indeed , he was nil' disposed to view the matter so much en that if Mr. AsnwoßTifs estimate be considered too sanguine Mr. MASON'S calculations may be taken as too desponding. After all his depreciatory criticism, however, he contented himself with striking offand 100,000 bales from Mr. Asawongres sum total, Asia consequently, notwithstanding Indian deficiencies, Minor, and the exaggerated expectations from greatly increased exports, Mr. MASON a ll o ws us to hope for an increase in the current year of 510 , 000 bales. At the worst, therefore, our prospects are • rapidly mending,but although it is ce rtainly wise to hear both sides, and to be moderate i n our ex pecta tions, it is only fair to remember t hat Mr. ASH WORTH'S calculations are no visionary p ossibilities, but are founded on the statements r eceived from LL to the Cotton fi gure s are therefore Supply Association. His our consuls in the several countries referred to, and communicated by Earl ItussE based on the estimates of w h a t has actually been done in those places, not wha t might by some happy possibility be accomplished. Of course such con clusions are by n o means infal lible, and bearin g i n mind their inevitable uncer taint y , Mr. ASHWORTH tells us th a t h e h as in every instance allowed for a smaller supply than the one stated. It is a notice able fact in connection with this question, that the amount of American cotton received this year shows an increase of 33 per cent . —a startlin g fact for t h e blockaders. The Cotton Su pp l y Association has done good service in distributing seed and cleaning machines in all countries supposed to be favourable a nd their efforts have met to the cotton growth, s uccess. Cotton has bee n with most encouraging received, we are told, from upwards of fifty new of the old quarters places, while the rapid i ncrease of the cro p in some has been already alluded t o . With such statistics befor e us, who can hel p re gretting that such efforts w ere not made ten years w back, instead of till the hour of need t o begin looking out for w aiting fresh sources of supply ? THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCFOBER 21, 1863, Three Golden Rules of Good Humour. As PROPOUNDED BY TIIAT MODERN DEMOCRITUS OF OURS, DEAR, DELIGIITFUL TOM HOOD. I. Never meet trouble half way, but let him have the whole walk for his pains I 11. Ono of the pleasantest roads a true-born Cockney c an go is that leading from Du//aye to Grinnage I 111, The best fence against care is a Ha I Ha 1 The ship Sebastian Cabot, which was disabled in tha Channel, has arrived safely off Waterford. The pre mium ranged from 30 to 60 guineas. On Friday several risks were taken at 25 guineas only on her total loss• On Saturday the prices dropped down to the nominal premium of 20s, LATEST INTELLIGENCE The injury is supposed to be extensive, and the I cargo is damaged. [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] MEXICO. AMERICA. (Per the Bohemia.) NEW YORK, OCT. 10. Gen. Johnston is reported to be at Santon, Mis souri, with 15,000 men, to intercept Rosencranz's reinforcements. Advices from Charleston to the 6th state that Gen. Gilmore's preparations are nearly completed. The Confederates are operating against Forts Smith and Scott, in Kansas. Gen. Blunt's staff have been captured in Kansas. Uncertain reports have been received of a defeat of the Federals above Port Hudson, with a loss of 1,500 prisoners. Gen. Franklin has advanced 50 miles beyond Brashear City without meeting resistance. Gen. Banks has ordered the conscription in Louisiana. Negroes on the plantations will be de tailed for service. PARIS, OCT. 21. The Paris papers of to-day publish a telegram from Saint Nazaire with intelligence from Vera Cruz to the 18th September, stating that according to news received from the interior of Mexico a numerous party exists favourable to the annexation, pure and simple, of Mexico to France. ST. NAZAIRE, OCT. 21. Advices received here from Vera Cruz to the 18th Sept. state that the Archbishop of Mexico had arrived, and had met with a magnificent reception. The national fête of the 16th was of a brilliant character. The blockade of all hostile Mexican ports has been effective since the Bth of the month. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, OCT. 21. The result of the preliminary elections is as fol- OCT. 10 (Evening). lowa : Ia Berlin the old Liberal majority has been in- The Confederates are advancing on Fort Scott and Kansas city. It is reported the Kansas militia will be called out. creased. In the provinces, as far as is known, the elections are said to be also in favour of the former Liberal Gen. Blunt will go to Texas, unless his forces are weakened by the Confederate movements in other quarters. _ majority. The result of the election in the lowland districts Governor Brown of Georgia, who is a secession apholdor, is reported to be re-elected. The Richmond Enquirer expresses the gratifi cation of the Confederates at having the French for their neighbours in Mexico, and says :—" The South would willingly make an alliance with France to protect French and Southern interests in America." is not yet known. NADAR'S BALLOON. BREMEN, OCT. 21. Nadar's balloon descended near Cystrup, in Hanover. Mere were nine persons in it, of whom three were seriously and two slightly injured. The Richmond Examiner denounces all peace FRANCE. PARIS, OCT. 21. propositions. The Evening Post urges the Government to de mand from England an explanation of the conduct of the Cape Town authorities respecting the Ala bama. If an explanation is not rendered, Govern ment would at once proceed to press its wrongs. The Russian Admiral has accepted an invitation to visit Boston with the squadron. Foreign Con suls and French and British officers are to be in vited to the municipal banquet to the Russians. The steamer Jose has been seized at New York upon suspicion of being a blockade runner. NEW YORK, OCT. 10 (Evening), M. Baroche has been nominated a senator. A friend of M. Nadar has received the following despatch ; " We descended near Nienburg, in Hanover, at noon on Monday. Our balloon was dragged for several hours, the anchors having been broken— St. Fella, my wife, and Jare, rather seriously hurt; the others are better. We owe our lives to the courage of Jules Godard. More detailed news to- morrow," BOURSE, Oct. 20.—The market has completely changed its tone, and Stock having been freely offered, prices have receded. Threes, for the Ac count, are now at 67f. 25c. Mobilier has declined to 1,4401. Railway Shares are also heavy, and in some cases lower. The market continued heavy to the close, and left off as follows : The Federal Government has received advices from Chattanooga, with all encouragement for the Union cause. The Confederate cavalry had been overtaken below Shelbyville and completely routed with a loss of 100 killed. The Federals were in It per Cents. 96 Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 67 20 Credit Mobilier 1135 Do. end month 1136 25 Bank Shares 3350 Credit Fonder Italian Loan 73 50 RAIL' Do. end month 73 45 New ditto Do. end month — Russian Austrian Spanish Threes — Rome Debt .. 521 Deferred Roman PAYS. pursuit. Admiral Milne has visited the Secretary of the Navy at Washington. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, OCT. 10 (Evening). Money easy. The large export of gold has caused an advance of 2 per cent. in its price, being now quoted 484 per cent. premium. Exchange on Lon don—bankers bills, 164. Stocks dull. New York Centrals, 1341 ; Illinois, 126; ; Erie, 108-1 ; 6 per Cent. United States Bonds, 107 i, Cotton steady. Middling upland, 90c. Flour and corn advancing. Wheat. large speculative sales. Provisions, very firm. Coffee quiet. Sugar and molasses advanc ing. Petroleum very dull. Crude, 33ic. Refined, 53c. Cash. Account. Orleans 978 75 .. 977 50 Northern Lyons and Mediterranean 1018 75 .. New ditto 9lB 75 .. 965 Geneva .. Southern 695 .. 691 25 Western Eastern .... 507 50 .. Sardinian .. Austrian Lombard North of Spain . ... 542 50 .. 542 50 Saragossa 635 .. 638 75 Ditto to Barcelona NEW YORK, OCT. 12 (Evening). The Confederates are moving in Virginia, and a strong Confederate force is concentrating in the vicinity of Madison Court-house. A Federal cavalry brigade encountered Stuart's cavalry, while reconnoitring the Confederate posi tion, near Robertson's River. Au engagement ensued. The Federals, being repulsed, retired to Culpepper. A Graceful Tribute to Sir Wm. Atherton, the late Attorney-General. The country has, for a time, lost the services of one of its most able public servants, in the resigna tion of Sir William Atherton, the late Attorney- General. We regret deeply that Sir William has been obliged, owing to continued and serious ill health, to take the step of giving up the labours of his important office, and the regret is increased by the fact that his illness has been accelerated, if not actually induced, by his unremitting and conscien tious discharge of his official duties. We make this statement on the very best information, and for the purpose of correcting a suggestion that has been going the round of various papers (which know nothing of the facts, by the way), to the effect that his withdrawal from office is due either to a mis understanding between himself and the Cabinet, or to an absence of confidence on the part of his col leagues. We know that so far from such being the case, nothing can exceed the regret with which all the members of the Government, from the Premier downwards, have received the resignation. Like Lord Herbert of Lea, Sir William Atherton has only laboured too incessantly and too long, and the statements that have been made suggesting other causes are all as untrue as they are unworthy. The taste for writing sensational and foolish paragraphs on subjects comparatively trifling, is bad enough ; but, when it extends to the art of perverting the judgment of the world in its estimfite of public men whose sterling merits are beyond all dispute, and whose efforts are beyond all praise, it becomes simply an atrocity, which the better and wiser portions of the press should promptly and resolutely condemn, whenever and wherever they may meet with it.— Social Science Review. General Hill's corps has passed from the left to die right of Meade's front, at Blue Ridge Moun tain, apparently to get on Meade's right and cut the railway communication, or else as a ruse to cover an attack upon his front. The communication between Nashville and Chattanooga is uninterrupted. A combined land and naval attack upon Charles ton was to take place on the 11th. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Money easy. The anxiety concerning the mili tary situation in Virginia, Tennessee, has caused an advance in gold, which is now quoted 514 per cent. per annum. Exchange on London, bankers' bills, 1641 to 165 ; stocks dull. New York Cen trals, 135 ; Illinois, 1268 ; Erie, 1091; 6 per cent. United States' Bonds, 107 4 . Cotton steady ; Mid dling Uphold, 90c. (From the Correspondent of the Times.) NEW YORK, OCT, 9, 5 p.m. A telegram to the Richmond Enquirer from General Bragg's army, announces that the Confede rates, on Missionary Ridge, shelled the position of General Rosencrauz for several hours on the 6th inst. Federal accounts, via Nashville, on the 7th and Bth, state that skirmishing was of constant occur rence, and that another general engagement was considered imminent. The Duke of Somerset and the Totnes Electors, A writer in the Western Morning News, signing himself " One who delights in freedom," says : Communication between General Rosencranz and his base at Nashville is still interrupted, and reports had been received at Nashville that Shelbyville, with all the Federal troops there, had been captured by the Confederates. _ . I send yon herewith copies of two letters and a copy of a notice to quit, being one of the cases of coercion by the Duke of Somerset which you so ably and rightly exposed a few days since : THE DUKE OF SOMERSET'S AGENT TO MR. TURPIN " Berry, Sept. 28, 1863. General Bragg is said to have been heavily rein forced from Richmond and elsewhere, and that his forces now number at least 175,000 men. It is also represented that 55,000 troops, under the command of Gen. Joe Johnson, are held as reserves. _ . " Mr. Edward Turpin,—l am told to-day that you do not intend to give up possession of the house you occupy according to the notice served on you. Now to prevent any false impression on your mind that you can hold on, I think it friendly to tell you that this will not be permitted, and that unless you do give up possession I shall proceed to compel you to do so; and as it is not my wish to put you to expense, which I must do if you hold on in de fiance of the notice, I now again tell yon that I expect you to clear out to-morrow.—Yours truly, " THOS. MICHELMORE." . . Confederate accounts from Charleston of the 6th report that on that day an attack was made upon the Federal fleet, in which the frigate Iron sides was considerably damaged, and the other vessels of the fleet greatly alarmed for their safety. It is not stated what constituted the attacking force ; but, from the fact that three of the crew of the Confederate gunboat Chicora are reported missing, it is presumed that it consisted of Confede rate iron-class. MR. TURPIN TO THE DUKE OF SOMERSET'S AGENT. " Bridgetown, Sept. 29, 1863. " Thomqs Michelmore, Esq.—Sir, In reply to your letter of yesterday I beg to state that I am very sorry that I cannot give you possession of the house I now occupy. I was not aware you would be so particular with me. You may depend, as soon as I can suit myself I will leave. When I was at your sister's funeral I asked you if it was your in tenton to carry your notice into execution, when you replied I should see you again on the subject, but this you have not permitted ; and as you have acted so unmercifully I would remind you of my supporting the duke's interest ever since the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832. I never hesi tated a moment in giving my voice for both mem bers to serve the interest of his grace, neither should I at the last election had not your clerk (John Col lard) stated publicly at the Exeter Inn, that every one could vote as they thought best for the country. Believing Mr. Dent to be far the best of the two candidates, I promised him ; and my promise, you know, I always fulfil. It is not my practice to de ceive. I told your senior clerk (Mr. Cross) so when first he called on me.—Your obedient servant, "EDWARD 11. 'CURTIN," Despatches from headquarters of the Army of the Potomac of the Bth inst. state that during the pre vious 24 hours there had been many indications of a steadily approaching collision with the enemy. An expedition of land and naval forces sent out by General Foster from Fortress Monroe, on the 4th inst., to some point in North Carolina, had not been heard from up to the 6th inst. Serious apprehensions exist in Leavenworth of a Confederate invasion of Kansas. On the Bth the Confederates were reported to be advancing on Fort Scott and Kansas city. All the Government troops in Leavenworth had been ordered for ward, and the state militia called out, to repel the invader. THE AMERICAN MAILS. ACCIDENT TO THE AFRICA. (By Telegraph to Cape Race.) ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND,OcT.I3. The outward-going Royal Mail steamship Africa struck, in a dense fog, near Cape Race, on Monday night (the 12th). She was ashore above half an hour, but got off, making much water, and bore up for St. John's, where she arrived to-day. The ship has been beached, and must discharge, THE AGE OF TILE PREMIER.—Lord Palmerston, K. G., the venerable Premier of her Majesty's Government, yesterday entered upon his 80th year. His lordship w as born on the 20th October, 1784, and consequently is 12 years younger than his late political opponent, Lord Lyndhurst. .~q~' ~~~ e ~` ~ ~~~ll`~~ s e ~~ THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND. BALMORAL, Oct. 18. Mr. Theed's statue of the Prince Consort, which has bon placed in the principal corridor at Belmont!, was uncovered yesterday morning. The Queen, the Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia, Prince and Princess Louis of Hess, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, Prin co Arthur, and Prince Leopold assembled in the cor ridor at half-past 1 o'clock. The ladies and gentlemen of the household in waiting were, by her Majesty's permission, present, as well as the servants and gillies who had been particularly attached to the Prince Consort's service. At her Majesty's command the covering was re moved from the statue by Mr. Theed, and the Queen was pleased to express her entire approval and admiration of it. The statue, which is of marble, represents the Prince Consort in the High land dress, with a rifle in the left hand—the right resting on the head of a favourite dog. Upon the pedestal is the fillowing inscription, selected by her Majesty:—" Albert, Prince Con sort, 1861 ; his life sprang from a deep inner sym pathy with God's will; and, therefore, with all that is true, and beautiful, and right." The Queen, accompanied by Princess Helena and Princess Louise, and attended by Lady Churchill, drove yesterday to Alt-na-Guithasach, and returned in the evening. BALMORAL, Oct. 19. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Helena, and attended by Lady A. Bruce and Lord C. Fitz roy, attended Divine service in the parish church of Crathie yesterday afternoon. The Rev, A. Ander son officiated. The Prince and Princess of Wales. SANDRINGHAM, Oct. 20. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, his Royal Highness Prince Christian of Denmark, with Cap tain Grey, Captain Castenehjold, Dr. Holtzman, and Colonel Cifton, haTe been oat shooting this morning. The Princess of Wales, the Princess Christian, and the Princess Dagmar walked iu the grounds this morning. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge attended by Colonel Clifton, is expected to leave Sandring ham, Norfolk, after visiting their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, on Thursday next. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam bridge and the Princess Mary, attended by Colonel Home Purees and Lady Geraldine Somerset, have arrived from Paris, in which capital they made a few days' stay on their way home from Rumpenheim, near Frankfort. Prince Gortschakoff has arrived at the Alexandra Hotel (late Wallace's), from St. Petersburg, His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and the Countess Bernstorff and family arrived at Prussia House, Carlton House-terrace, on Monday, from Brighton. The Duke of Leinster arrived at his residence on Carlton House•terrace on Monday, from visiting Sir Edward Baker at his seat near Blandford. His Excellency the Bavarian Minister and Baroness de Cetto arrived at the Bavarian Legation at Hill-street, Berkeley-square, yesterday, from Brighton. The Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland and the Marquis and Marchioness of Kildare, arrived in town last evening from Ciiefden Park, near Maidenhead. The Duchess de Sotomayer and family have left Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, for Madrid. The Earl of Chesterfield arrived in town on Mon day from Newmarket. The countoss has gone to Bretby Park, near Burton-on-Trent. Count d'Haussonville has arrived at the Claren don Hotel from Paris. Lord and Lady Begot are expected to arrive in town from the Continent in the course of the week, on their way to Blithfield Park, Staffordshire, for the winter. Baron and Baroness Von der Heydt have left Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square. Colonel the Hon. Henry Byng, second son of the Earl of Strafford, was married a few days since, at St. Katherine's Church, Savernake Forest, Marlborough, to the Countess Henrietta Danneskiold-Samsoe, eldest daughter of his Excellency Count Christian Danneskiold-Samsoe. The ceremony was performed by the Hon. and Rev. F. Byng, the brother of the bridegroom, assisted by the Rev. Plater Browne. DEATH OF MR. J, H. LANGSTON, M.P.—Mr. James Houghton Langston, one of the members for the city of Oxford, died at S irsden on Monday. Mr. Langston, in his early career, became an unflinching Li beral, and was a strenuous supporter of the ballot. The vacancy thus caused in the representation of Oxford will, it is anticipated, bring several gentlemen into the field, Mr. Fletcher, of the Reform Club, and Mr. Cartwright, of Ay nhoe, being amongst those who have been announced as cpndidates. Mr. A. Peel, the rejected of Coventry, has also been named. MR MACLISE'S GREAT PICTURES, " The Interview between Wellington and Blucher after Waterloo," and " The Death of Nelson."—lt has been the custom (on the occasions of the opening of Parliament by the Sovereign), to have a double range of seats fitted up for the accommodation of persons witnessing the cere mony. These seats are kept in store ready to be framed for use. They are so inconsiderately constructed that the backs of the sitters hide, if they do not even touch, the surface of the pictures upon the walls. It is obvious that there is great risk of damage being done to the works upon which Mr. Mediae has spent some of the best years of his life, to a result wholly admirable. These pictures, moreover, were intended to form, so to say, integral parts of the ceremonials, as the scene of which the Royal Gallery itself was especially designed. It is surely desirable that the works should bo delivered from even the chance of damage, and that they should be seen as they were intended to be seen. We are quite sure that the responsible authorities need only to be informed on the subject to induce them to take steps to the desired end. If the authority of the late Prince Consort is needed in the matter, let us say that it may be found in the shape of a sketch, made with pencil by his own hand upon the framework of mouldings surrounding tho picture first named above. This sketch shows an arrangement sug gested for the purpose of his Royal Highness. In order to preserve the sketch it has been covered with water-glass, so that it will remain safe from injury, unless Sir C. Barry's extraordinary expedient of painting the solid stwework be repeated.—Agtenceum. A CONGRESS OF VITICULTURISTS iS proposed to be held very shortly at Paris, to find a solution to the vexed question that has for so many centuries given rise to endless discussions among our neighbours on the other side of the Channel—" Which is the best wine pro duced in France 2 1 ' It is added that three illustriouo orators will speak on the occasion. The announcement i 5 now going the rounds of the French journals, but wo con fess our inability to discover whether it is seriously mea nt, or intended only as a gentle parer', of the existing rag° for holding congresses that pervades the Conthient at the present day, and of which we have lately witnessed so ma ny examples, from the culminating congres,3 of sove reigns at Frankfort down to the congress of working men held at Leipsie the other day. As many people prefer claret, Burgundy has its supporters, and there is no lack of people who lean towards champagne. It appears to us s i m ply a matter of taste, and, as such, precluded from ser ious competition with eac h ot h er in the sense pro posed f o r solution by the con gress.— Wine Trade and Review. LORD DUDLEY remarked once to that genialeot of wits, Sydney Smith—" You have been laughing at me constantly, Sydney, for the last seven ears;y and yet is all that time you never said a single thing to me that wished unsaid." VOLUNTARY EMANCIPATION.—The work of jai' mediate emancipation, by owners voluntarily setting their slaves free, is going forward quite extensively ill Platte county. Yesterday N. J. Alexander, Esq., residing near Weston, liberated eight of his negroes. His wife 110 1 all their clothing washed out and put in order ; Mr. A. fur' niched them with transportation and funds to meet incident 4 expenses, and provisions to last them until next spring. AV ° fear that the.se negroes will never find a home such as the/ had in the family of their late master and mistress. Mr' Joseph Pence informs us that he shall do the same with bi s slaves as Mr, Alexander has ; and that they are only waiting to hear from Kansas, before taking up their line of m ad.) , Large numbers of slaves, we learn, have beea liberated in this manner in different ports of the county. A genaeun st informed us that some 50 had been set free and started fo r Kansas in one day. Platte County Sentinel, Sept. 24. GALLANT RESCUE OF A LITTLE CHILD FRO ) DROWNING.—On Monday afternoun, at 20 minut es past 2 o'clock, a child about four or five yea). s of age, havirt! through some accident, fallen into the ornamenta l water o St. James's-park, must infallibly have been dre f l wne d but o r the instant promptitude of a gentleman who havpened t _ passing by. The child bad sunk when this g entlenufto years hesitation, of a age, plunged wit ou t Tv t l! t: f though a o f s moment'sixty water chd" even to take off his over-coat. Having rescued the qtr . the amateur claimant upon the attention of the Royal!.,,i, mane Society coolly swam off again for the recovery 01 hat I—Me.