The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-11 00:00:00

THERMOMETER.

This morning
This day at Two o'clock 6l
Barometer-30.13.
wind—W.N.W ; moderate, and fine.

t
. „
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L.,__

LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPT. 11, 1863.

The quiet irony of" s" in oar leading contempo •
nary must be rapidly rendering his contributions as
distasteful to the Federals as those of their own wilful
" MANHATTAN." The initial must sound to Yankee
ears sarcastically sibilant. " MANHATTAN" often
blurts out the unpleasautest truths, home truths that
must perforce be doubly and trebly unpleasant, when
discussed at the hotel bars of Washington and New
Yark over modest quenchers in the guise of a mint-
julep or a cocktail—because coming avowedly from
the lips, or rather from the pen of a partisan. Bat
with " S." it is altogether something very different.
Liverpool is the place he hails from, it will be ob-
served. It may be taken for granted, we presume,
that he is no American, neither from the North, nor
yet from the South—but that, on the contrary, he is
a right-down, plain-spoken Englishman. Then it
is, as we began by saying, the very quietness of his
irony, that gives so much poignancy to its sting.
The perfect self-possession of his manner in jotting
down his commentaries quite deliberately, must be
something frightfully irritating to a Northern ;
must render his calm insinuation of a sneer, when-
ever they fall upon genuine Yankee ears, as agree-
able to that same genuine Yankee, as though
Lis palate had been suddenly drenched _with
gall and wormwood. Among the latest of these
penetrating, and surely intolerable gibes flowing
to all appearance from a pure love of mischief on
the part of S., is the casual remark with which
he opens cut upon his old enemies, the Federals,
to-day, in the manner following :—" The City of
Washington," he says, "reports the capture of two
Federal gunboats on the Rsppahanncck—a curious
fact, as the Confederates have nothing afloat in that
quarter, and must have taken them by attack from
the land/ And he adds, with an air of scornful
incredulity that he takes no trouble whatever to
conceal—" We are also informed of the seizure
of 100,000 bales of cotton at Natchez.
There was some moderation in not calling
this 1,000,000, which sounds much larger,
and only takes one or two more ciphers of
type." Now for all those barbed and poisoned
arrows of ridicule perpetually hurtling about them
from all imaginable quarters, the Federals have
simply and solely and wholly to thank thouvAves.
They have to thank their own flagrant and noto-
rious mendacity. Their own aptitude for "piling
it up mountainously." Their own passion for what
we are accustomed to call in this country,
a wilful
perversion of facts and an unseemly preference for
exaggeration and antipathy over telling the plain,
bold truth. When " S." flouts them for not putting
down 1,000,000 instead of 100,000 —he de-
rides them not out of any perverse spite on
his own part, but because of the systematic
mendacity notorious upon theirs. He is merely
uttering in a few plain words the obvious thought of
thousands. They might jest as lief say 1,000,000
as 100,000. " All's one for that"—to them—just as
it was of old JACK FALSTAFF when, with his lips
yet wet from the flaggon, he protestedto Prince HAL,
.
an oath, that he had not that day tasted sack
r Canary. If we were to have believed the Yankee
statements after Gettysburg, MEADE and his
men were to make short work of LEE
and hi, clefsg.....tixacaoted army. 'Whereas—ever since Gettys-
bur
ducted :hit, I:federate commander-in-chief has con-
any serious /nary whithersoever he listed without
his own he_ molestation has recruited it, has chosen
quite deliberately f
aullln'tors afresh, and has prepared
operations. The
..,e°7 a choice of his own future
v,IL
4tuotious MEADE all the while
acting, since hie
simply upon the defensive.
success over the South,
ing of Fort Sumter intove* Again, the crash-
was, we were
taught to believe by the
exultantu'ns
upon that news, directly commentators
the
Of Sumter
reached
an tidings
of the fall
Washington—the fan cached New
York and
Sumter
was to lead the assailing Federal twee or
almost b
into Chariest Y a
hop, skip, and a jump, ell• The
_
pro-
babilities there, however, appear to be fading eag out
advance of autumnal, rapidly before the a the
and
the prospect of the wintry season. All we eau do
is to wait, and watch, and listen to the accounts
brought to us from time to time from the side of
the Federals, with as much credulity in the accuracy
of their assertions as those same Federals have
left us.

At the Liverpool School of Science, the QUEEN'S
Prizes were delivered by Lord STANLEY. Ms
lordship made a most interesting speech,
and intro-
duced several instructive topics into his discourse.
Ile explained the object and purpose of the insti-
tutian, which were to promote the general know-
ledge of science. Ho said, truly enough, that it
was idle for a man to walk through a collection of
interesting objects in art and nature without being
able to understand them. It was also felt that
it was not suitable for a town like :hat, the centre
and capital of the commerce of the north, to have no
special institution to teach science. Lord STANLEY
remarked further on that in Liverpool they had not
Iliffered from the American war to any very consi-

derable extent, and, indeed, some had been gainers;
but still all had felt that they had a paramount
claim on them superior to that of education " in
the sufferings and privations of nearly half a mil-
lion of their fellow-countrymen." To this cause he
attributed the fact that the funds of the institution
were not so prosperous as might have been de-
sired. Still the attempt had not been a failure.
So many es 128 had attended the lectures, and the
students who had gone through stale examinations
had passed in the respective numbers of 41 from 43,
and 31 from 33. Therefore, the best use had been
made of the resources. He would touch another
point, and mention that institutions such as these
often get connected with some particular sect or
party, however free and unfettered may be their
opening course. But science was " neutral ground,"
and he might say that this institution had been
formed and continued without in any way passing
from its ostensible object. But, his lordship aptly
remarked, if it were otherwise, perhaps, they
might
have fared better. In most men there was some of
the fighting instinct, and it was often strange how
the love of good was stimulated by a little oppo-
sition. For them, however, things were doubtle
ss
better as they were, for, if they excited no
enthu-
siasm, at least they had no prejud.ices
wtoitehnreeoluigniteenr.,
They had nothing to do with politics,
or social controversies, than that they be-
lieved that the more scientific
etrainingwas we
cul-
tivated the less likely any onto become
ecome
the sort who injure any causetheytakeentuhpu,siahsotst:
hot-
headed, narrow-minded, mischievous
cultivated,
This is very correct asreasoning,
va
i nt
lt i
is neverted,
or from
the
the class who is the most highly
most reflective, that the violent notions proceed
which do so much damage to all who are connected
way, whether in concert or in
owpipthositthioenm. in ylafnit was asked what was the aim pro-
posed by such a school as that here referred to, he
would say that its result was two-fold. In the
first place, it decided to impart a number of the
principles which they had to apply to men occu-
pied in various pursuits, it taught them to work as
men, and not as machines. This is certainly a
great desideratum to be achieved, and one that is
sure to prove advantageous to a large and influen.
tial body of men who, working in their several
arduous vocations, are great national benefactors,
and are well worthy to enjoy that pride and pleasure
in their engagements which gives the truest zest to
labour, and makes the skilled artizan as great in
his way as any king that walks the earth in pride.
LORD STANLEY then said that the institution had
another object, to provide a more special culture for
those who fall into loose and vague habits of thought.
Into this very comprehensive subject he did not
mean to enter, but he would remark in passing,
that he had long believed that even in the education
of the upper classes those who ware supposed to be
the' brain-workers as opposed to the hand-workers
of the community, too much time is given to the
study of the works of man, or too little to those of
nature." Lord STANLEY farther illustrated his
valuable remark by instancing how an English lad
might go up to college after having carried off the
highest honours of a public school, who is skilled
in the compilation of Greek and Latin verses, and
yet cannot tell why water runs down hill instead
of up, and how the heating of water in a boiler
enables a ship to move. His lordship went on to
say that he disparaged no kind of culture, and
indeed felt kindly disposed towards pursuits that
he once followed himself, but he did not see why
one pursuit should altogether supersede another.
In the best foreign schools the case was different,
and in intellectual training we were behind them,
if we were superior to them in moral and physical
discipline. This is very true, and the sooner
these mistakes are rectified in our public
seminaries and colleges the better. These
is no reason why a more extensive style
of teaching should not prevail, and the results
are sure to be beneficial to all concerned. Lord
STANLEY justly observed that almost all great in-
ventions, and especially those in manufactures,
were made by men who had risen from the ranks.
People might say that if they succeeded so well,
why should their successors need improvement?
He answered that they did not know what might
have been done, and " Brain Power," was too rare
and valuable to be allowed to ran to waste. These
toilers and searchers after truth might be wasting
precious time for want of right information, and be
like men who lost their way in dense forests, who
did not know that within a few yards there was a
good road leading to the desired end. There was
no room here for the usual objection what was to
be done with the trained man when they got him.
Every manufacturer in Lancashire would ask what
was his use and value. The demand exceeded the
supply, in fact. Lord STANLEY concluded his inte-
resting speech by saying that they must look to in-
dustrial science as a means towards the develop-
ment of a higher civilisation. The slavery of man
to man was terrible ; but there was another kind
of slavery, that of those whose sole existence was
an unrelieved struggle to supply their wants.
" What they need is to have a portion of their work
taken off their hands. To this end we are daily
progressing." The winds of heaven, the waters of
our rivers, the force stored in our coal fields, are
multiplying a thousandfold the power of human
muscles, and giving leisure for human thought.
There was no reason in the remarks constantly made
that machinery was unpopular; the history of
science was the history of improvement ; it was
the conquest of man over nature, "of intelligence
substituted for brute force, and skill for toil ; of
life lengthened, disease rendered less severe, leisure
more abundant, knowledge more ample, and men
better fitted for those high destinies which, we
believe, it is the purpose of Providence they should
fulfil." A more fitting and appropriate conclusion
could hardly have been made to this highly in-
structive discourse, on a subject, too, which so
intimately and materially is connected with the
interests of all.

An interesting ceremony took place on Wednes-
day last in the town of Dundee. On that day the
People's Park, the noble gift of Sir DAVID BAXTER
to the town, was formally opened to the public.
A general holiday was observed in the neighbour-
hood in honour of an event which promised such
great and substantial benefits to all future genera-
tions of citizens. Such gifts are happily not so rare
'n. these days as to be matters of wonder, but they
are not
and i common enough to deprive them of interest
out renders it in every 13aPortan,
which the el and the large and liberal spirit in
present
hearty cheers of . undertaking has been carried
fellow
respectcitizens
an
s must national
havwork.have
ea
and that his
the gratifying assurance
that his munificent
satisfaction,
deservedly in honour ne
residents d en givens incarried
don to Sir DAVID BAXTER
bY name
will long be held
uDniuvreidrseae.l
Another spectator, who took n. prominent
the day's proceedings, must have been part in
much i .
terested by them. Earl RUSSELL, who is
staying
on
the occasion, and to receive at the same time the
freedom of the town from the hands of the Corp°.
ration. The eulogistic address with which the gift
was accompanied, and the allusion made to the
achievements of his earlier career, must also have
been gratifying to his lordship, Comparing the

past with the future, he must watch with interest
the vast moral, religious, and political changes
which have taken place in Scotland, as in England,
since the days of the Test Act and the Reform Bill.
There is room undoubtedly for some self-compla-
cency in the mind of any man who took part in
those great movements which have made us what
we arc ; bat, we cannot help thinking that Earl
IluesELL appropriates more than his due. "I
have been happy," he says, in acknowledging
the compliments paid to his political career,
" I have been happy to contribute humbly to the
victory of those eloquent and distinguished men
who were foremost in the cause of Catholic emanci-
pation—who won for the people the great battle of
'ore iirathmreedgiaatred
ptaortthine
mtheearsenpreesalinofwthhiechcoirnhalaawasm.
preparing—the repeal of the Corporation and Test
Acts ; in framing a plan for the reform of our =lei-
cipal corporations—l have been studious to build
upon the ancient foundations, to adapt new mea-
sures to existing laws, and to put them in harmony
with the institutions of a country justly proud of
its liberty." Such a character might have been true
of Lord JOHN RUSSELL ten or twelve years ago,
but it is not altogether recognisable in the Earl
RUSSELL of the present day. Religious toleration
is happily no longer a matter of discussion—but
what of political reform ? The adaptation of " new
measures to existing laws" is somewhat at a stand-
still. It is difficult to avoid remembering on such
an occasion that the present Liberal Administra-
tion has left this cardinal point of liberalism un-
touched ; that at first loud professions filled the
place of practice, but after a time even these died
out and left an absolute blank. Even Earl
RUSSELL does not trouble himself any longer
with talking about his love of reform, and his
desire to see the great work happily accomplished.
He has now taken up another line, and plumes
himself upon the recollections of the past. The
popularity of Lord PALMERSTON may be, as his
noble colleague asserts, just and universal, but it
was certainly not enhanced by the circumstances
under which he came into office, The change of
administration by a dexterous political move was
made under false colours. The urgent need of a
Reform Bill, wholesale, comprehensive, and con-
clusive in all its clauses was professedly the great
question of the day. The Tory measure, which
though faulty and limited in its scope, was still
capable of adaptation to the national requirements,
was dismissed with sovereign contempt. How could
such fervent Reformers give a moment's tolera-
tion to a partial and temporary measure. The
victory was won, the helm of State changed hands,
and all men watched to see the great results of the
Liberal accession to office. But, watch they might.
Session after Session has gone by, measure alter
measure has been proposed, debated, or carried, but
the New Reform Bill remains among the things of
the future. It is not to be reckoned among the
achievements of that Cabinet of which Earl Rus-
SELL is so conspicuous a member. The " strict
impartiality " which Earl RUSSELL prides himself
on having observed, during the American struggle,
is also open to criticism. Whether the end of the
chapter will prove that England has acted a
part worthy of her, may reasonably be questioned ;
but at least it is unfair to talk of rigid impartiality
in a case where non-recognition of one cf the com-
batants was virtually affording substantial assist-
ance to the other. It is fortunate that our Foreign
Secretary still plumes himself upon the re-
ffsetion that " British law and British justice"
are safeguards and securities—a fact which British
merchants and shipowners had begun to doubt.
Whether they have afforded much protection to the
owners of the Peterhoff and the cargo we may
leav t
ripp
eadn invoenar,m
ebrunte,, whiatvh a
in g
damagedhosteragdeentalnemd
offended both belligerents and left
other neutrals to
step forward and take the lead which our position
gave us, we need not boast too much about the
happy conjunction of "peace and honour." Earl
RUSSELL
when he kept out of the range of politics
Was happier in his address. His suggestion as to
the occasional employment of the new park as a
playground for the schools of the town, was accom-
panied by some just and sensible remarks on the
importance of duly interspersing study with re-
creation—a fact too often overlooked by the
instructors of t you h. The bow never unbent is an
old comparison, but the lesson
it teaches is not vet
fully learnt, and the
the inspectors that the children who were at school
halt time learned as much
as those at whole time, is
full of suggestions to the
directors
of academies and
institutions for the
children of the wealthier
classes. It sounds
well to give a list of the studies
pursued each day, to count long
hours devoted to
close application; but who knows
how much is lost
under that apparent gain ? The
importance of
such questions is becomine•
slowly recognised, but
it will be some time yet before • is fully appre-
ciated ; and " the youngest Burgess of Dundee"
did good service when be bespoke for the
youthful
students of the city the use of " the People's Park."
The Steam-Rams in the Mersey.

Some doubt has been cast upon the statement
which we made a few days ago with reference to
the steam-rams El itionastir and El Tousson, in
course of construction at Mr. Laird's yard, We
can only repeat our certainty of its accuracy. The
G..;vernment have given notice to the builder that
the ships will not be allowed to leave the Mersey,
and if it is four d that thtir construction is con-
trary to the terms of the Foreign Enlistment Act,
they will be seized as violatitg its provisions.-
3forning Post.