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

TTTE sfTN, LONDON, 'rriUllcii) kit kVENTr.4O. AUGUST 13, 1863. RMONCKTON MILNES, M.P.- ICHARD Poor John Bull—Thou g hts in. a Crowd-1n FUN this week. One Penny NPM THEA'T'RE -ROYAL, E ATRE-RO Y A.L, ADELPHL— Sole Pronriator and Manager. Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE IRISH TIGER. After wbieb, at Eight o'clock, a new drama, entitled THE HAUNTED MAN % olt, T E GHOST'S AARGMN, in which will be exhibited Professor Pepper's adantat!on of the Great Spectral Illusion. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Pips, selton C. J. Smith; Mrs. Alfred Mellon and Miss FT. Simms. Followed by anew Burlesque, entitled ILL-TREATED IL TROVATORE. Mcssrs. Toole. P. Bedford, R. Phillips, Ebnrne, C. J. Smith, Romer ; the Sisters Nelson, Carry and pars, and Miss R. Kelly. Commence at 7. nOYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. TO-NIGHT WHILE THERE' 3 LIFE THERE'S HOPE. 3%Tessrs. W. R. Swanborough. Parselle, 1 7,,llaire, G. Honey; Misses Ada Swanborough, L. Thorne, F. Hughes, Mander3, and E. Bufton. Followed by (23d time) THE MOTTO, I " 'M ALL THERE." Messrs. Honey , Turner, E. Danvrs, Collier, Clifton ; Mesdames Ada Swanborough, F. Josephs, Maria Aimpson, Wallace, and Jenny White. To conclude with KEEP YOUR TEMPER. Commence at 7. rI,HE 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. Tins DAY.—Morning, lh. 30m.—Afternoon, Ih. 50m, To-monaow.-Morning, 2h. 10m.—Afternoon, 2h. 28m, The Weather—Sun Office, Aug. 13, 1863. THERMOMETER. This mominz This day at Two o'clock Barometer-30.02. Wind—E. ; light, and fine. gtt 21111 t, 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. JOHNI3TONE 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 LEE has withdrawn his army from Maryland back again across the Poto mac.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, having passed through one of the convenient gaps of the Blue Ridge on his road towards Culpepper, where, assuming a purely defensive position, he finds the enemy confronting him, though at a respectful dis tauce enough. 2.lEape's army of the Potomac having returned to the old position held by them (sometime 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 LON GFELLOW has it, "things are not what they seem," or at any rate not precisely what they seemed only as it were bat yesterday. General jOTENSTONE has retreated, but—he has not been routed, His forces are not victors—but at the very least they are 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 has been shrewdly calculated that the predominance numerically must before much longer, in the 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 JOHNSTONE'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 due 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 JOHN STONE 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 aides 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 It °Neese, directed by the consummate generalship of the new Federal Commander-in-Chief, General MADE --at last, as head of the Northern army, that almost despaired-of exp rea desideratum " the row h the right ' jars f _ right l place." The demoralisation of of that e lets,the utter discomfiture and craven flight boasted. Captain of the South, were words uentl feebly g the act ua l s t a t e o f thi ngs subse and the sub tle qy °se of the great battle of Getty s b urg , 'N aefe n hasty re-crossing of the Poto ei mac by the ttea and almost routed Confede rates. This--accordingo nito t o u the Northern flourish of trumpets, audible 111 ' 4 111y upon the morrow, so to speak, of Presid "tafti2enT''' rididieulous serenade ! Facts, those hoe r it a -- wa Y stubborn things, however, showed soon e a v g e a n i again the ore New York narratives had bee:Rd:so:al, grossly than ever, exaggerated, defeat at Gettysburg was it appears General Lea's 80 little of de feat after all , that it turns o ut Simply to h ave (contrary to custom w ith him i t i s true) —Nov. been etory. Flight there was none. Bout, as applied to any po = ti on of his vali ant army, were a phrase simply rid iculo us , So far from any thing whatever of that ki n d h aving occurred, in relation to the Confederate troops under LEE, those troops, we know now for an absolute certainty, have been withdrawn by their Com mander quite deliberately, quite calmly, without 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 side of the Potomac r. 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 Bo 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 twice of late called for words of the sternest re probation. These remarks having reference to the "minent position in which the negro regiments were placed in .he assaults made respectively by the Federal forces, now upon Fort Wagner, now upon Port Hudson. The unfortunate blacks being obvi ously placed in that conspicuous position, in both those assaults, simply for the purpose, it would seem, of distracting 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 garrisons! As the correspondent already alluded to, signing himself S. in the columns of our principal contemporary, scornfully remarks, "It is something new, in an age like this, to drive white American conscripts at the bayonet's point to the work of invading 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 lees contemptible of its kind than if the Yankee warriors were upon each occasion fighting behind the shelter of so many petticoats. If a too active and officious Government has its evils, as we are all ready t o admi a t eci i o t n i a s nottobe questioned that there are very drawbacks not d active enough. It is very attending an Adminaisntnraotyioinng t t h o a h t a i v s e manufacture harassed by constant inspection, and restricted by meddlesome laws; to be unable to pass from one town to another without wasting precious hours at the bureaus of indifferent officials; an d we in England are so much in the habit of trusting to private enterprise, and of watching with a jealous eye any ne w assumption of Government authority, that we seldom complain that our con stitutional authorities are doing too little; or, if we do, we are very ready to accept the usual 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 Add ressadelivered by Sir ARTHUR COTTON to the Calcutta Chamber, shows very clearly how much this been the case in cur 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 ace 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 treated 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 belie ve h e can store any quant i ty o f water at a very trifling cost ; and it is important to re member that such tanks answer a double purpose by supplying water in time of need and in diminishing the floods in the country below. Those unfamiliar with the subject are apt, says the engineer, to con or t t w r 0 0 l tfikoaotd e d . oe ß s u t t he it m i s g e e h n i e e , a 1 a ly nd o n a l y ho flood d l a e s e t l suppose that w or k s o f great extent are needed to lasts more tha n a f ew 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 fora million acres in th e 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 ARTHUR 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 mentmight havehadlargestoresof waterin the upper basins of every great river, while in the dry 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 ont ,:lra de:l3iag—r lay ! The greater part of India affords remarkable facilities for such a scheme in the ratural 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 thus stored at the rate of about half a rupee for "e thousand cubic yards ; while at pres ent it . is raised from wells in the dry tilisi cost of of Tfrfhre fresh difference t a w te o r, t a o n bd fi et v thw e a etrewunphe the ec rupees h fh p e a e r s r . sea son, at a w that fro the to every evlturist percolated the e the Soane a line canal can be ust be well known earth m • In the plains south of the Ganges, it is ffondu nd a dam thrown across Allahabad, a distance le d on a dead level to of 170 m i les „ for the supply of water to the , thus Providing the mouth of the Soane and wh ole - P aln west of south The profits resulting from such a Chan th e Ganges. incredible, but can be easily believed chance are those oat who have witnessed the disastrous eff ec t s of a "dryl3Z eo n." As a proof of the value of water in Inal a , we learn that a gentleman had a piece of land whi ch he let at six annas an acre ; he dug a well thirty feet deep, when he let the same land at six rupees is intended to irrigate an acre. The oiine project 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 hiddings. 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. readil ysop T p h l e y eenigghintemeris calculate ilionsofacrotoha they can in t thispro. thence, n e e e G , a s o o g e t s h a a t n t d h ethwehNoleortahr-evva forsotmeroßodhisitlrciuontod ofto Bengal can be irrigated and their produce brought down to Calcutta for export to the foreign markets —a result equally encouraging to British enterprise and native industry. We are not surprised from Sir CHARLES WOOD'S general policy that while the local authorities encourage the scheme, the Govern ment have as yet done absolutely nothing with these startling facts before their eyes. The accounts leave the subject out altogether, though their reve coonoepvllaeterrhdgnem have ee bsdbtye most not o according p d t p h s g most , ob i) sha t t i on l c o a te l oon . f. preju dice importantrSoenuj cullndia.dh. vod a fei tcrhioevouynep our possessions sphi m ootNysu i so g l eads h ncs o t dioonl c nio:e n o o n aybfo v et p i t n hoge have submitted to such a rule, but advantage is taken of native ignorance and indolence. Such con duct 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. 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 Emperer 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 realise 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 decisiA3, and is determined that if any progress is made no one shall say that it is his fault, or that he had 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 th© 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 i nently as the cause. He, it i. 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 Ccesar aut Kihil 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 of the KING and his Minister not to see 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 report 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 PRUSSIA 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 eonf oy changes Prussia. reality cE; there could not be a better v than In the PRINCE, appears duly impressed with the importance of free institutions, and, so far as can be gathered from his remarks on 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 PRICE 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 Emperor of AUSTRIA is not influenced by personal desires of ambition, but is solely actuated by the desire to benefit Germany. It is to be hoped that this is the tened policy that do hi m o c f as fi e r ; ra a n n e ci ss ce a r n t d ain a l n y, e s n o l f ig ar, he has sh own a sp i r i t h , 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 I a places p r u s t s h i e a r , o for a r i e n s r t a a g n i c n e g , t s h u e c r h e i s s s t t r a a i t n f e • estlananindvdeanarchy.some feeling of discontent now rife among entail serious consequences. Poland is i the people, and liable at any fresh provocnatia de plorable plorable 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 r e sigil e d t: juncture that the E m p eror o f A US TRIA seeks to restore Germany renew some to her pristine power. The graaa, o2 of FRapers the Second endeavours to of th e advantages and to revive the gre atnean tut hag been een decaying since his grand father e Imperial c rown o f R ome . It i s .stated that th e obi "" i Proposed by the Conferocv is the union of the several princes, that every State should keep its sovereignty intact, but that there should be complete units &mug their several rulers. If this result is achieved, the Congress now about to take place will have Effected 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 pIE dges be his given of good will to the true interests of all States, whether they be Em pires Kingdoms, or Confederations. He 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 twists 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 nay be confidently ex pected,in, or the beholders foretelling a too flattering without any undue hopes being indulged augury. Mr. Coxwell's Description of a Balloon Sur vey of Portsmouth, &c. As my recent aerial reconnaissance at Aldershot had been witnessed by Mr. Brown, the proprietor of the Portsmouth Recreation Grounds, I was ap plied to by that gentleman to ascertain whether I would attempt any exp er iment of a simil ar charac ter at this famous seaport. Having exp lained the nature of my engagement at Aldershot, and that it was in compliance with Government orders, Mr. 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 it I could even skirt the coast or proceed somewhat Mr. Douglas, the engineer of the gasworks, in tended to make very considerable preparations for the inflation o f m y mammot h b a lloon, but time would nct 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 upon the careful observat ions I had pre viously m a d e w i th chart, com pass, and pilot bal . loons, and a ll ow i ng for loca l v ariations. I left the North-end G ar d ens at 7.15, w ith full confidence as to my probabl e course. Th e scene which opened out in the space of five minut es was altogether novel. Inst ea d o f the w id e spread landscape, so familiar to aer i a l voyagers, w ith its variegated sur face of green an d b rown com manding view o f a b eaut if u l island and of a town and harbour fields, I now had a so surrounded by water, with the Channel beyond, that, had it not been for the re liance I had in the direction of the wind, appearances C., by N egre tti and Zimb ra, and would seem to i n di cate t h a t I was likely t o be bl own away due south, an d to d r ift out to sea. Alth ough I was provid e d w i t h an exce ll e nt barometer , ther mometer, &- pre sented to me by M r . Gl a i s her, I had very little op . portunity of Using th em Ire quently, a nd I felt how -: valuc.ble Mr. Glaisher'e presence would have been in the car. of fneepi-r 0 fr -t Taiisseisdteisdtabnyce - - —. - What most engaged rey own attention was a gene ral survey of the town, fortifications, and shipping, with a view of military applications for war pur poses. I was agreeably surprised, the atmospher e being clear, how well I could perceive and count the cannon mounted on the ramparts, the ships in ordi nary,whether corvettes, frigates, or a co c u o l m d common raelnadt,ivebysizthese,ir white streaks and portholes, a naval and military stronghold The bold and 'ending features might have been canvassed in an interesting man. line-of-battle Portsmouth man ner had I had companions, instead of being alone. 7.35 —barometer 26.6, thermome ter very soon satisfied myself most thoroughly as Gosport and torn ordinary vision to the extent of objects visible to the naked eye opera-glass. At it te y r de 4.6p—pier saw through a glass the visitors on have been less ail n seven or eight miles. I observed also marines or soldiers of the line in front of a guard house, and several steamers between and Southsea Castle. Being soon over the water, I had to withdraw m y attention and look ahead. The course of the balloon was direct to Chichester, but a more southerly breeze began to alter my course, and I hoped to reach Goodwood, where we so lately descended after a s cientific voyag e from the Crystal Palace. As the shades of evening came I found I was making for several extensiv e woo d s on high ground between Singleton and Arundel. As I crossed the first wood a lar g e meteor shot towards but over the balloon from an easterly direction, another quickly following; and although I relied upon their supposed altitude, and felt personal security, yet I could not bat compare my situa tion to that of a ship which e receives a shot or two actress 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 th e hi g h groun d upon which Nore W oo d is situated, compe ll e d me t o ca high beech tr ees . I n d ee d, Ihad to let all") n g several off gas and lea ve the balloon suspended all night before I sec ured and packed it u p. S evera l ge ntlemen volunteered to assi s t me at d ay li g h t , an d we proceeded at 5 o'clock to th e pl ace o f d escent w ith ropes, ladders, and h atc h ets, rea d y to l op o ff st anchor boughs the baloon. or fell a tree, if necessary, rather than in jurel 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 I had 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 account 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 ob struct the pathway , b u t they may be allowed to extend over the pathway at seven f ee t hi g h. If both sides of th e h ouse are planted i n t hi s man ner with peach, nectarine, and plum trees alternately there will be a perfect grove, whi c h will have a mos t en chanting effect. hibberd's Gardener's Itagazine. THE COMMISSIO N ON TILE HEALTH OF OUR INDIAN TRooPS.—Af ter gett i ng together all the evidence th e y could think of or d es i re , th e i nves ti ga ti ng comiLissio nera put i t i nto the han d s o f Miss Nightingale, to whom th e i nst i tution of thywhole inquity is in great measure due —reques t i ng her to comment on it for their guidance. They wisely and fortunately chose to print her commentary with th e i r report. It i s 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 th?, study of an enormous Blue book.— Once a Weeks A YANKEE BULL.—A 'Massachusetts judge has decided that a husband may open his wife's letters, on the ground—So often and so tersely stated by Mr. Theophilus Parsons, of Cambridge—that the husband and wife Are one : 41101 that the I,w-laug is that one LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) HER MAJESTY'S JOURNEY. BRUSSELS, AUG, 13 (Noon). Her Majesty Queen Victoria and the Royal children arrived yesterday ev3ning 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 2,lajeAy. DENMARK. REFUSAL OF THE KING TO ATTEND THE FRANKFORT CONFERENCE. COPENHAGEN, AUG. 13. The King of Denmark has declined 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 Danno• kirke, in Schleswig. The King will visit the camp. GERMANY. VIENNA, AUG. 13. Very animated conferences took place yesterday at Gastein between the King of Prussia, the Crown Prince, and Herr von Bismark. It is asserted that Prussia intends to secede from the 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 Zeitunq, in an article on the election of the Archduke Maximilian to the throne of Mexico, 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 period, 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. SOU i 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 limited 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 Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 67 40 Credit obilier lOB2 50 Do. end month 1077 50 Bank Shares 3365 Credit k oncier 1250 Italian Loan -.— Do. end month — New tiitto — Do. end month — Russian Austrian Spanish Threes — Home Debt ... RAILWAYB. Cash. Account. Orleans lO2O .. 1017 50 Northern - New ditto . -- • • -- Lyons and Mediterranean 1026 25 .. 1027 50 Geneva 490491 25 Southern Western - .. 525 Eastern Sardinian — • • ...... --. Austrian Lombards47 50 .. 648 75 North of Spain e• • • "''''' '''''' • • -•--. Saragossa.. .. -- • • Ditto to Barcelona .... 352 50 .. 348 75 MUSIC. Hymns, 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 religions character—is the simple but admirable design set before himself by the compiler and editor of the Publication. So far as the working out 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 unaltcted admira tion. Within the compass of these two intro ductory Parts alone, comprising in one 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, John 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 cheapness 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 useful,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 corn. prehensible in every way to the least tutored learner. Intended, as its very title page intimates, to em brace the advantages of the Tonic Sol-fa System with the ordinary musical notation, it is calculated to render sight-singing easy to all corners, that is to the disciples of both schools or systems —easy, that is, upon one simple condition that the instructions here compacted together be practised or acted upon within a reason able interval with assiduous application. 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 he had erected batteries within 25t) yards of Fort W a gner, and mounted thr ee h eavy guns one mile and a quarter from Fort Sumter. General Burnside has declared martial law in Kentucky. Gold advanced this morning to 129 a, and fell in the afternoon to 128. Exchange, 142, Treasury 7-30 Notes, 1062 ; New York Central Railway, 127; Erie, 104; Illi nois Central, 114. Cotten, 1622 e. Breadstuffs irregular. Provisions more active, at lower prices. Sugars, 101 e. to 12c. THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY TRAFFIC.—The working of the Metropolitan line by the Great Western Railway Company having ceased on Monday evening, the traffic 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's-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 ing Bishop's-road station at 9.30 was drawn Ly an old en gine which, it is alleged, was out of order, and no sooner had the train left 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 lifted on the rails. A. kra- PQraq stoppage of the tr 0839 ccovred. TELEGRAPH TO INDIA. TO THE EDITOR OP 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 I.ne more than 600 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 aid, 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 sillica 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 tut cost more than the Persian Gulf cable. I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. MACINTOSH. I‘IOHAMINIED 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 cola try ; and to him it was principally due that the Mame luke Beys did not after that event recover their former supremacy, As Mr, Paton speaks from personal observa 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 ; he 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 Mooß 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 absentia 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. He embroiders jackets, vests, girdles, purses, shoes, and trappings for horses. He makes silk laces, trinkets, and earthenware jars, which ho 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—be 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 in shade, he likes to have a gush of sunshine lighting up the scene on which he looks. Polite in speech, his gestures are always graceful, his bearing dignified, and the calm self-posses.ion of his address is never disturbed by the most unexpected incident. —" Through Algeria," recently published by Bentley. THE GREAT EASTERN.—The Great Eastern left the Mersay 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, 1801) 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 say to their destination. The packets will proceed 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. Letters, &e., for any British North American colony (except Ca nada and Newfoundland) intended to be sent by thes e packets, must be specially directed " Via the United n t e nde States. 4 The rates of postag e u p on letters, & d to be for war ded by these packets will be the same as by the British packets from Liverp ool callin g at Queenstown. The first homeward packet of this line will leave Boston on Tuesday, the Bth September, and 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, Secretary,—General Post -dace, 13th August, 1883, tint ei Agar HER MAJESTY. 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 Royal yacht was convoyed across the Channel by the Vivid, the Osborne, and other vessels. The Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia. Although the denial has come by telegraph that the Crown Prince or Prussia has been summoned to Gastein by the King, his father, for the purpose of " proceeding on a mission to the Congress of German princes, to be held at Frankfort," there is no doubt that his Royal Highness is at Gastein, and that ho 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. On 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 Gelman 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 lett town on a visit to the Duke and Dushess of Richmond at Gordon Castle, near Fochabers, N.B. The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and family have left Badminton, Gloucestershire, fer Troy House, Monmouthshire, and afterwards go to the 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 Clanricardo, the Hon. F. Calthorpe, M.P., and Mr. F. F. Courtenay 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 Hnet and Don Tose d'Huet have left Edwards's Royal Cambridge Hotel, George-street, on their way to Madrid. The Earl and Countess Howe are entertaining a select circle at Gopsall Hall, Leicestershire. The Earl of liopetoun has left Long's Hotel for Scotland. The Countess (Dowager) of Lichfield and Lady Gwendolena Anson have left town for Switzerland. The countess and daugater will return for the marriage of Major the Hon. Augustus H. Anson, V.C., and Miss Claughton, niece of the Earl of Dudley. The Baron and Baroness Keilburg and family have left the Brunswick, Jermyn-street, fir Paris, on their way to Switzerland. The Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bert., M.P., left town on Tuesday last to join Lady Emily Peel at their villa at Geneva. The Right Hon. Sir 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 Frankfort. Count and Countess izechenyi and suite have left Long's Hotel for the Isle of Wight. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left London yesterday for Warner 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 Beechgrove, Aberystwith. A marriage is about to take place between Lord Londesborough and the Lady Edith Somerset, youngest 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 plan of the present reformatory ship Akbar, moored in the Mersey. Sir Itobert Gerard presided, and the meeting was addressed by Mr. Aspinall, Q.C., Recorder of Liverpool, Mr. W. 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 X7OO were received. SHAKSPEARE'S COMMEMORATION.—A writer in the 'Scotsman says :—" It is now son.e time since it was determined in London that the 23d April, 1864, should be seized as a fit occasion for a commemoration worthy 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 Athena urn weekly contains paragraphs announcing new distinguished names as mem 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 Macenase of English literature, bnt also many foreign litterateurB of 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 are 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 and England became one kingdom. It seems, then, somewhat strange that Edinburgh, which not many years ago swayed 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 ?" THE FLYING PIEMAN !—When I was a young ster f recent rom Ha t anecdotes ton-gard e a n b t o o u F c O e e l t d . a rio t n t a r d a h‘ c vi ti ve to me on account of th e Fly sa m London), ark e( stawas h highlyAe ie P steep ll hag Pieman, though he did not vend pies, but a kind of baked plum pudding, which he offered sm o ki ng h ot. Ile was a slim, active, middle-sized man, probably about forty years old. lL always wore a black suit, scrupulously brushed, dress coat and vest, knee br eec h es, stout black silk s t o ckings, and shoes with steel buckles —then rather fashion able. His shirt, remarkably well got up, had a wide frill, surmounted by a spotless white cravat. He never wore either hat or cap; hi4t hair, cropped very close, was plenti fully powdered ; and he was d ecorat.d with a delicate lawn apron which hardly reai:hed to his knees. In his right hand he held a small circular .tray or board, just large enough to receive an appetite-provoAing pudding about three inches ' thick, which was divided 121 to twelve slices, which he sold at a penny . a slice. A b rea d bl unt spatu l a, b r i l li ant l y bright, which he carried in h,'s left hand, enabled him to dispense his Sweets without eves' touching them. his coun tenance was open and agreeable, expressive of intellect and moral excellence. Precisely as St. Andrew's clock struck twelve at n oon , P eter Stokes turoed out of Fetter-lane with his tempting pastry, and from that moment up to four o'clock he was incessantly occupied in a rapid transit from the lane t o El y - p l ace, thence to Th av i t s'inn ) and across t o Field-lane, or from Hatton-garden to de k leet-market, never pausing longer than would enable him to del: iver a slice of pud. ding to setae expectant customer, and shoutin,tswith never without pause, side to side, "Buy, buy, b u y," adroitly darting from lingering till the road was clear , but piloting his way be tween carts, waggons, and coaches, and proffering his puddisg to all passers, with the not unmusical aceompani- If any peripatetic piigrim felt ment of " Buy, buy, buy." his longing tor a slice overcome him, as Peter flaehed be tween a dray and a gentleman's carriage, his penny must be ready and held up, or the man would be 100 yards elf in a few seconds. His board was often cleared in a single run between the Garden and ii the Market, Thei rineinf; syllables, 4, Buy, b u y , buy, WKS ropealtd 1111QOPNiowilly over a cl , an t ra y, and he would dl®O mad eight ter aiYeift supply before you quite understood where he wee. On a fine day he could dispose Of 60 nub of padiug bitlYo4 12 and 4 o'clock, I