The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-20 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1864.

-410.

Giiimpses are caught again through the frag-
mentary telegrams from America of yet additional
successes on the part of the Confederates. Un-

fortunately the accoants by this mail are

more than ever what we hlve just termed them

fragmentary. But even coming to ns incoherently,
as they do, they are as clearly as possible against the
Federals, and for the Confederates. The most im-
p rtant announcement of all is the one to the effect
that General BANKS, on his retreat from Grand

Ecore to Alexandria, was attacked by the Confede-
rates in force at Cane river, suffering heavily.
Thirteen transports, we are told, were blown up to

Pte-vent their capture by the rebels. Besides which
it is added, more in detail, that Gen, KIRBY SMITH,
in official report of the Red River battles,
claims to have taken from BANKS 4,000 prisonerw,
2;500 wounded, 8,000 stand of arms, :35 pieces of

artillery, 2,000 mules, and 250 waggons. Again,
do we not read in another portion of these tele-
grams, that the rebels under MARMADUKE were

reported to have attacked and captured General

STEELE'S supply train of 240 waggons, 7 pieces
of cannon, and the entire escort of 1,000 wen ?

The foremost statement of all being to the effect
that the Army of the Potomac advanced on the
3d inst., on the 4th crossing the Rapidan at Ely's,
Jacob's, Culpepper, Germania, and United
States fords. Although, as is stated, the ac-
counts of preliminary operations are very conflict-
ing,it is tolerably well proved that the sth New York
Cavatry, skirmishing off the Orange Court House-
road near Perkins, were driven in with severe loss,
and that Gen.GßlFFira's division,which was thrown
forward to feel the rebel position, encountered
the rebels under Gen. A. P. HILL. A fight i,
reported to have thereupon ensued, in which the
Faderals took .3CO prisoners, but lost two guns.
Further particulars, howe7er, may be looked for

confidently in a day or two—possibly tomorrow,
probably on Sunday, for certain not later than
Monday—when the Cunard steamship now awaited
shall hive arrived.

The first occasion on which His Royal Highness
the Prince of WALES presided at a public dinner
was on Wednesday last, when he took the chair at
the Royal Literary Fund. It is a gratifying re-
flection that so distinguished en honour should be
conferred on this society, and it seems a gracious
and graceful tribute to the claims of literature that
a society formed for its service should be selected
es the one which was thus particularised in a re-
markable degree. This society has always been
fortunate in its choice of chairman at its annivere
nary festivals, On many eccasions the most bril-
liant and conspicuous men of letters of the day
have come forward, and there is something very
pleasing to mark their efforts thus to render assist-
ance to a society which is formed to be of use to
their brethren who, treading the same path as
themselves, have not been so fortunate in their
career nor so favoured in their circumstances. The
presence of the Prince of WALES on this occasion
was a happy omen for the prosperity of the insti-
-1 tution, and it is to be trusted that many influential
personages will not be backward in following the
example thus set them frcm so high a quarter. We
know there are many who will always follow in the
wake of royalty or fashion who will not trouble
themselves to take up the cause of worth or to study
the merits of a case for themselves. It was a bril-
liant sight which met the view of his royal highness
when ho assumed his new duties, and surely it is
time to expect that the dreary fate once supposed
to appertain peculiarly to authors is past when
the heir to the throne thus comes forward
to do honour and render service to the So-
ciety which hes for aim and object the noble
endeavour to foster struggling talent, and to succour
decayed genius. His Royal Highness was able to
assure the meeting that their patron, the QUEEN,
still felt a concern in their welfare, and that all the
charitable institutions of the country were ever a
source of interest to her. This inteiligence coming
from so undoubted an authority was doubtless wel-
come tidings for his auditory, and thus in some
measure his Royal Highness may fill up the blank
that is so deeply felt through the QUEEN'S con-
tinued seclusion. It is difficult to persuade people
that those retired from public gaze, and withdrawn
from active participation in the stirring incidents
of life, are still interested in the general affairs of
existence, and keep up the at'ention that in happier
moments they were distinguished for feeling. The
Prince of WALES, in coming forward on this occa-
sion, followed the example of his father, who pre-
sided at the Literary Fund Anniversary at his
second appearance in public as a speaker. The deep
interest that he felt in all matters connected with
literature is fresh in the recollection of all, and his
son can follow in no better footsteps, if he wishes to
gain the regard of the cultivated members of the
community. The Prince, with a candour that did
him credit, declared that he could not tell them any-
thing new relating to the Society since he spoke in
the presence of those who knew much better than
he did the details and distinctive features of its
workings. Still in offering the incidental remarks
that must perforce be uttered by one in his capacity
the. illustrious chairman selected some very noticeable
peculiarities of the institution which they were
then met to consider. In the first place, he particu-
larised an admirable rule of its management,
namely, to draw no line of demarcation between
countries, thus enabling those of every land to
share the advantages and to p Irticipato in the
benefits of its cgency, This is the right feeling to
display since literature has no creed or country, but
in its extent and universality comprises every
nation and race. Also the Prince alluded to the
secrecy with which the assistance was given. This
is a very important element in its workings, and
its successful attainment of the desired end must
depend, in a great degree, upon this rule being
adhered to. Earl RUSSELL performed his part very
creditably in proposing " Prosperity to English
Literature." The noble lord alluded to several
topics in the course of his address, which are well
worthy of attentive consideration. He said that it
was a pity that English literature was not more
studied in our schools, and that a clever man, the
bead master at Eton, said that they had not a suffi-
ciently good method of teaching English in that great
school. Earl RUSSELL proposed a very wise solu-
tion to the difficulty, namely, that they should adopt
the same system with our own language that they
do with regard to the ancient tongues, and select
the works of the best authors for perusal. Of
course the noble lord was successful in his oration,
and on this theme he was well qualified to give an
opinion, since he has always been distinguished for
his love for literature. There was great truth in
his remark that fictitious personages always im-
press themselves upon our mind more vividly than
historical characters, when we meet with the former
in the works of those skilled artists who impart
such force and vitality to their illustrations. The
noble lord gave an amusing account of his time
being so muck' engrossed, by saying that he had
not made himself acquainted ei itla the " Small
House at Allington " because of the' Great House"
in Downing-street, which took up so much of his
time. The name of Mr. ANTHONY TROLLOPE was
coupled with this toast, and the great success which
has marked his literary efforts merited this honour-
able distinction. Earl STANHOPE, the President
of the Institution, made an admirable address, and
diversified its course with some quotations which
created amusement and excited interest. On the
whole this last anniversary must be regarded as a
most brilliant success, and it is to be trusted that
the prominence thus afforded to the merits of the
society will be of service in inducing those able
to assist to come forward and render their aid.

Few things are more important to the social wel-
fare and commercial prosperity of a Country than
the development of the various forms of its animal
life, and it is no wonder that the dwellers in a
fertile, but thinly populated, country like Australia
should feel anxious to increase the stores and enrich
the possessions of their adopted land. Of late years
some very important and successful efforts have been
made in this direction ; and the report of the pro-
ceedings of the Acclimatization Society of Victoria,
which has just been published, contains an interest-
ing and gratifying account of the prospects of the
association. The committee are undoubtedly fortu-
tunate in pcssesEing a climate,so favourable for their
experiments, since there can be no doubt that Aus-
tralia is, as they declare in their report, singularly
adapted to a wide range of products. Already they
have attained unexpected success in several impor-
tantm experiments,erous animals,
birds,nd h
and fishes,
ve
n
with a view to
the purposes of the agriculturist, the sportsman, the
merchant and manufacturer, and the epicure. The
vast debt we owe to the animal kingdom is seldom
fully realised; but if we were suddenly to be deprived
of all the materials used in daily life which they
supply to us in one form or another, a good deal
of business would stand still. In Australia the
wants of exploring expeditions are always borne in
mind, find accordingly an attempt is v eing made to

acclimatize the camel. A herd was brought from
India some time ago, at a cost of £l2O
per head—a sufficient proof that these expe•
riments are somewhat serious undertakings.
This valuable collection had been drawn upon
for so many expeditions that it was likely to
become altogether dispersed, or even destroyed.
Efforts have lately been made by the Society to
collect the scattered members that were saved, and
they are now stationed at the \Virimera, where
they are breeding regularly. The Committee hope
that these useful animals may not only be service-
able for exploration, but also for carrying the pro-
' duce of remote stations, situated perhaps in those
arid and sandy wastes where the want of water is
so grievously felt by other beasts of hurdsn. It is
curious to find the camel, whose associations belong
to ancient history and the distant East, becoming
thus identified with the rough and bustling life of
our great Southern Colony, but such transforma-
tions are not uncommon under the influence of this
Society. The alpaca, whose name was hardly known
a few years back, has thriven most satisfactorily in
its new home. The value of its hair in a commer-
cial point of view is continually on the increase, and
from its peculiar properties is not likely to lose
favour. A little flock of llamas and hybrids has
recently been imported into Australia from. England,
and, as their numbers have already increased from
19 to 56, there seems no reason to doubt that they
will soon form a considerable collection. Various
kinds of sheep have been experimented with, and
some of them have proved especially adapted
to a hot c'imate ; while goats, both
Angora and Cashmere, have been also added
to the society's stock with great success. So rich
and prosperous a colony as Victoria has a right to
think of pleasure as well as business, and accord-
ingly we find the committee taking into considera-
tion the wants of future generations of sportsmen.
The fallow deer, the Indian elk, and the axis deer,
have flourished so well in their new country that
they have been turned loose at four different places.
The hog deer of India and other specimens of the
deer tribe are now in the possession of the society,
with a view to their ultimate release into the wilds.
The hare, a less distinguished but equally favourite
subject for sport, has been turned out on Phillip
Island, having been sent out by the Zoological
Society of London. In the ornithological depart-
ment the committee have been especially fortunate.
Pheasants, partridges, grouse, the English wild
duck, the Egyptian goose, doves, pigeons, curassows,
and many other kinds are being domesticated with
very satisfactory results. The humbler tribes of
feathered creatures have not been forgotten, and it
may teach our farmers a useful lesson to learn that
a society so learned and wealthy, having dealings
with most parts of the civilised world, thinks it worth
while to import at considerable expense those little
songsters who are here so ruthlessly destroyed, and
this not with a view of increasing their specimens
or for the sake of their song,but solely for the bane-
-6t of the agriculturist. Hundreds of industrious
farmers, says the committee, have been ruined by
the caterpillar, and therefore the thrush, the sky-
lark, the starling, the chaffinch, and sparrows of
every kind have been carefully cultivated, while the
linnet, the robin, and several finches are being
domiciled by degrees. This is rather different from
sparrow clubs and poisoned wheat ! An important
addition to the possession of the colony hes been
made in the introduction of the Ligurian bee, which
has multiplied with a rapidity beyond all expecta-
tion. In most instances acclimatization is a slow
and difficult process, on which much time and
labour must be expended before any great results
can be hoped for. This is especially the case with
the larger animals who only breed once a year, but
the success which has attended the efforts of the
Society in many respects, gives ev( ry encourage-
ment for the future. Australia is especially adapted
by its geographical position for the experiments of
such a society ; and its connection with the mother-
country assist its efforts very considerably. We are
glad to find that the English Government has
afforded valuable aid to the committee, who grate-
fully aclsnowledge their obligations to them and to
private individuals in many parts of the world.

Contradictory Rumours of the Pope's Health,

The Alonitcur du Soir, of May 19, says :—" Letters
received here from Rome to the 14th inst. announce that a
great improvement has taken place in the health of the
Pope, who was expected soon to resume granting audi-
ences."

The Opinione of Turin, May 19, says :—" Letters from
Rome to the 16th inst. state that the illness of the Pope
has increased in an alarming degree. A secret pontifical
bull is said to have been issued, ordering a conclave, corn-
posed only of the cardinals present in Rome, for the election
of a successor to Pius IX. before the death of the latter is
known to the public."

The Xorning Post correspondent, in a letter from Rome,
dated May 11, says :—" The Pope's health continues to be
unsatisfactory, and the anxiety of his medical advisers is
increased by the impatience with which his Holiness,
generally of very active habits, submits to the regime of
repose which they consider indispensable for his recovery,

The Archduke Louis Victor was admitted to the Pope's
bedside en Saturday morning for a farewell audience.
His imperial royal highness left Rome for uivita "Vecchia
on Sunday, and was accompanied to the railway station by
the Austrian Ambassador and the ex• King and Queen of
Naples, Apropos—their Majesties are once more:affection-
ately reconciled, and are to be seen driving about Rome
together, a conjugal example which has been followed by
the Count and Countess of Trani. Pio Nono himself is
said to have acted as peace maker between the two estianged
couples."