The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-24 00:00:00

battle, like that of the subsequent day, was fought
in a place called the " Wilderness." Both sides
claim the victory, General Lee on behalf of the
Confederates, and Mr. Stanton on behalf of the
Federate, for General Grant himself either sent no
despatch or it has been suppressed. As hitherto
General Lee has never been known either to exag-
gerate a victory or to claim one if he had not
achieved it, and as the sane cannot be said of Mr.
Stanton, the probability is that the advantage rested
with the Confederates. The fighting was renewed
on Friday at daybreak. The battle raged for 14
hours with scarcely an interval of rest, still in the
thickly wooded, stubbly, and thorny region stretch-
ing from Chancellorsville to Mine Run. The car-
nage is described to have been more tt*ful than in
any previous battle of the war, and to have been
attended with a loss of 12,000 men to the Federals
and as many to the Confederates. General Lee, in
an address to his army which found it at ay to the
possession of General Batter,
and was by him for-
warded to Mr. Stanton, claims the victory on this,
the second, encounter, and thanks a merciful God
that every advance on Grant's part had been gal-
lantly and successfully repulsed. If Mr. Stan-
ton, who has promised to publish all authentic in-
telligence immediately it reaches the hands of the
Administration, had,iustead of garbling and quoting
from General .Lee's proclamation, sent the whole
document to the press, he would have enabled the
public to judge far better than it can now of the
true results of Friday's fighting. It appears from
General Lee's admission that General Longstreet—
who is almost as much beloved and confided in by
the Southern army as General Stonewall Jackson
used to be—was severely wounded, and Gen. Jen-
kins killed. On the Federal side Gen. Wadsworth,
formerly the military commandant at Washington,
and competitor with Mr. Horatio Seymour, in the
autumn of 1862, for the Governorship of the State
of New York, was shot in the forehead while lead-
ing his division, and instantaneously slain, and Gen.
Webb, son of the United States Minister in Brazil,
was seriously wounded. Mr. Stanton, who alone
makes any official statement of these and the previ-
ous battles, General Grant being either too busy to
write despatches or too cautious to become the his-
torian of his unfinished work, reports to Major-
General Dix, for the information of the people of
New York," that the general result of the battle of
Friday may be considered as a success to our arms,"
and adds that "the fighting was the most desperate
known in modern times." The Tribune correspon-
dent and other eye-witnesses do not claim as much
success as Mr. Stanton, but state that the contest
was indecisive. On Saturday morning there was
slight skirmishing, bat no general engagement;
both sides, doubtless, discovered that such a tangled
wild wood as that in which they had been murder-
ing each other from behind the shelter of trees and
bushes for the previous two days was not adapted
to victory, or to anything else but unavailing
slaughter. At noon on that day it was discovered
that the Confederates had retired, and Mr. Stanton
publishes, on the authority of a bearer of despatches
from Meade's army, that the retrograde movement
commenced on the midnight of Friday. It was no
sooner known to the Federate than a pursuit was
ordered. Lee fell back towards the strong lines of
the North Anna, and was followed—it does not ap-
pear how closely—by the division urn er General
Hancock, no doubt glad to halloo when out of
such a wood as " the Wilderness." What has
since happened is unknown or undirulged ; but, as
Lee retired in good order, unmolested, and at his
leisure, towards his own earthworks and his chosen
position on the North Anna, it is more than pre-
sumptious in the Federal Government to cry " Vic-
tory," to think that its work is done, that the Con-
federate General is really defeated, or that he is
even reduced to the extremity of taking refuge in
Richmond without fighting one, or, it may be, a
dozen battles on the intervening ground. Mr. Lin-
coln, carried away by the excitement of Washing-
ton, and thankful, perhaps, that Washington has
not been taken as an equivalent for Richmond—a
turn of the wheel of fortune—which was certainly
possible, and not many days ago looked highly
probable, has issued a proclamation to the " friends
of Union and of Liberty, in view of the
great victory" which he cannot allege to hare
been secured, H 3 states that enough ie known of
what has been done to claim the special gratitude
of the people to Almighty God, and enough
remelts/3 undone to demand their most serious
prayers to and reliance upon Him, without whom
all human effort is vain ; and therefore recommends
all patriots at their homes, their places of public
worship, and wherever they may be, to unite in
common thanksgiving and prayer. Yesterday,
Monday morning, a despatch from General Grant
—the first received—was partially communicat ol to
the public by Mr. Stanton, before he had time to
decipher the whole of it. Whether there was more
in it than Mr. Stanton chose to divulge is not
known ; but all that he has as yet permitted to
appear is that the General is " On to Richmond,"
report, brought by a messenger from Acquia Creek,
states that a battle occurred on Monday at Spot-
and that he has taken 2,000 prisoners. A later
sylvania Court-house with the rear of Lee's army;
in which there was great slaughter on both sides.
He also reports that the streets of Fredericksburg
were encumbered with the Federal wounded to
the estimated number of 15,000, and that they
lay on the public way for want of other accommo-
dation. Here, for the present, all intelligence,
authentic or unauthentic, ceases of the fate or plans
of the main army ; while an intimation—more or
less official---from Washington warns. the too im-
patient people that it may be a week before they
receive any further information. Why such an
announcement should be made, unless there is bad
news, of which it is desired to break the ill-effect by
dexterous manipulation in Mr. Stanton's office' sur-
passes comprehension. At all events, an unfa-
vourable interpretation has been put upon it—that
if the announcement be unofficial, it will be disa-
vowed. If the members of the Government have
good news they will not conceal the glory of it
under a bushel, but will flare its light in the face of
the public as vigorously as they can and at as early
a moment as the electric telegraph and the printing
press will permit.
General Butler has gained his first laurels es
a warrior by the occupation of a strong position ten
miles in the rear of Richmond and by his destructicn
however, nearly
of a portion of the railroad communications between
that city and Petersburg. He was,
captured by a sudden dash made Upon him by a di-
vision sent out from Petersburg on Saturday last by
General Beauregard for that
especial purpose, and
may cengratulate himself on
alone, but from the
an escape which, in his
case, was not from captivity
mode of death which by
his orders was inflicted upon
the unhappy man Mumford at New Orleans,. But-
ler acts under the orders of General W.F. (or Beldy)
a position of consider-
Smith, and seems to be in
that for him is re-
able danger, although his friends and admirers in
this city do not cease to assert
served the honour of capturing Richmond, and of
a rod of iron or of
afterwards governing it with
wield over the heads
scorpions, such as he loves to
and backs of the defenceless. General Beauregard
him that maybe
more acceptable for she Sou
however, has his eye upon him ; and may hereafter
be able to give an account of
thhern President to re-
ceive than for the Northern to be informed of. In
Pope a despatch to the Secretary of War, which remindsand Hooker than of
people more of Generals
Grant and M'Clellan, he states that he is safely
pplien-
trenched at Bermuda, landing on the James River,
aandga thatagainst
th
ewith
o proper
army. He adds that
Lieut.-General Grant will not be troubled with any
further reinforcements from Gen. Beauregard to
whole of L eos'u es ho can hold out
s
Gen. Lee. In this, however, he protests too much,
and sets an example of boasting as well as of pro-
phesy which a good soldier ought to avoid.
General Sherman's movements in the West are
unintelligible as reported by-the telegraphic opera-
tors. It is clear, however, that his army is on the
move, and that events in that region will be as ins-
portant before many days elapse as those in Vire
ginia.
The excitement produced by the war news has
almost wholly put an end to business. Nobody
either buys or sells gold or any other merchandise,
and gold, perhaps for that reason, and not certainly
from any faith entertained in Wall street or Wil-
liam-street that Grant has gained a victory, has
fallen since last night from 681 to 67` per cent.

Royal Agricultural Society of England,

The general meeting of the members of the Royal
Agricultural Society of England, was held yester-
day, at the Ulub-hotse, 12, Hanover-Square; Lord
Fevershant, primident, in the chair. There were

also present Lord Portman, Lord Walsingham,
Earl Cathcart, Lord Chesham, Sir Henry Vavasonr,
Messrs. T. Sutton Western, 111. P., S. Dent, M.P.,
Dr. Voelcker, IV. H. Pole Catew, Professor
Fisher Hobbs, Corbett, &c.

Mr. H. DAR E read the following :—" The council
have the gratification of announcing that since the
last general meeting in necember his jAoyal High-
ness the Prince of Wales has allowed his name to be
enrolled in the list of your governors. During the

past five months the names of five governors and
136 members have been retnoved fi.oin the list by

death anti retirement, while one governor and 232
members have been elected, so that the society now

consists of 78 life governors, 45 annual governors,
1,34:3 life members, 4,013 annual rnemberß, and 17

honorary raembets, baking a total of 6,406, being
an increase of 53 names. The council have elected
Major-General I%f; Hon. Alexander Nelson Hood

as a vice-prebident, in the room of Lord Ashburton,
deceased. The half-yearly statement of accounts to
the 31st of December, 1863, has been examined and
approved by the auditors and accountants of the sc-
ciery, and together with the balance-sheet for the
whole year, 1863, and a statement of tha country
meeting account for Worcester, has been published
in the last number of the journal. The funded ca-
pital stands at L 16,480 17s. 10d. in the New Three
per Cents., £3,000 has been placed on deposit at

. .
interest with the society's bankers, and the current
cash balance in their hands on the:lst inst. was
£2,836 6s. 6d. Papers have been read at the

weekly meetings by Mr. Lawns, on Salt used as a
Manure;' by Mr. Hughes, on 'The Cultivation
and Management of Clay Farms;' by Mr.
Holland, M.P., on Agricultural Education ;'

. .
and by Professor Voelcker, on ' Nutrition

of Plants by the Atmosphere.' A committee
has been appointed to consider the measures which

ought to bE, taken for the improvement of the
education of those who depend upon the cultivation
of the soil for their support, this being declared by
the charter as the seventh national object to be pro-

secuted by the society. The Lords Commissioners
of Her Majesty's Treasury having applied to the
society for assiFtance in carrying out their design
of presenting some sheep to the Viceroy of Egypt,
who is anxious to improve his native breeds by

crossing, a selection was made under the direction
of the President; and a communication has been
received of the safe arrival of the sheep at Cair .
A special committee having been appointed to co .
Sider the question of the dates of calving, the coun-
cil have arpreved their recommendation that any
alteration in the date of calving would be incon-
venient and thus unadvisable. The arrangements
far the Newcastle meeting, to be held during the
week commencing Monday, the 18th of July, are
proceeding satisfactorily. The showyard will be
open as under :—Monday, 10s.; Tuesday, 2s. 6d.;
Wednesday, 2s. 6d. ; Thursday, ls. ; Friday, ls.
'The council have determined that the annual coun-
try meeting in 1865 shall be held at Plymouth. The
district for the country meeting of 1866 will include
the counties of Cambridgshire,Essers, Hertfordshire,
Huntingdonshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
The report having been adopted,
Lord PORTMAN, in proposing Sir Edward Kerri-
son, M.P., as the President of the society for the
ensuing year, observed that members of the Upper
House of the Legislature had generally filled that
office, but looking at the admirable manner in w hich
the present Speaker of the House of Commons had
presided over them, it was a good omen that an-
other gentleman from that House, and one so well
known, should be called upon to fill the office.
Mr FISHER HOBBS seconded the nomination,
which was carried uenimously.
The trustees, vice-presidents, and council having
been duly elected.
The noble CIIAIRMAN said the council would be
very glad to hear any suggestions from the members.
Mr DENT, M.P., took leave to point out that an
increase in the number of judges would be advisable
at the forthcoming show, (especially in the classes of
Lincoln and Scotch sheep.
Mr FISHER HOBBS observed that the council had
only a very limited number of names before them,
and it certainly would be very advantageous that
the number of, udges should be increased. Perhaps
gentlemen would be kind enough to tend in the
names of those who were qualified, and who would
serve, the first of June being the time at which the
lists would have have to be made up.
Mr BEAL BROWNE thanked the council for the
regulations which they had introduced as to sheep
being shorn before being shown, so that now the
judges could really see the quality of the sheep, and
the best would obtain the prize.
A vote of thanks having been proposed to Lord
Feversham for his able presidency during the year,
the noble lord, in acknowledging the compliment,
remarked that the council had not been unmind-
ful of the observations that fell from some of the
members at the half-yearly meeting in December
last. The strictures that had been passed upon the
conduct of the journal of the society and the ob.
jections made had net been supported by any one
except the gentleman (Mr. Sidney) who cavilled
at it; and with reference to his opinion that the
society should spend their funded capital in erect-
ing a larger building than their present house, and
form a library of reference, a laboratory, a museum,
and other works, the council had not thought it
advisable to entertain the question, which would
involve not only the expenditure of all their capi•
el, but in all probability a much larger sum with-
out the prospect of any corresponding benefit. The
remark made by Mr. Duckett, that the society had
failed to carry into effect the seventh article of the
charter, which bound them " to take measures fcr
the improvement of the education of those who
depend upon the cultivation of the soil for their
support," had been seriously considered by the
council, and a committee had been appointed upon
the subject, but their report had not Sat been pre-
pared. His lordship hoped that the society would
continuo to progress in sound practical enlighten-
ment of the agricultural interest of the country,
the principle of its organisation, and the practice
of science.
The meeting then terminated.