The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-21 00:00:00

Commence at 7.

ItOYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. 11. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, DEAF AS A POST. Mr. Thorne.
Followed by THE MAID Or HONOUR. Miss Ada
wariborough.
Alter which, MAZOURKA. Messrs. Honey, James,
Fenton, Turner, Sic. ; Misses Marie Wilton, Simpson, &c.
To concidde with TIMOTHY TO THE RESCUE. Mr.
r. Thornr,

Commence at 7.

THE ASCOT.— RACE GLASSES Ow best),
at CALLAGIIAN's, 23A, New Bond-street, IV.,
corner of Conduit-street. NB.—pole agent to Voigtlander,
Vienna.

EAI 0S E S AN D S 0 N
• respectfully call attention to their large and well-
assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING. The newest
faorics are combined with the latest and most fashionable
designs, and the best workmanship. E. 3105E5 and SON
give particular attention to this important branch of their
business, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices
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a great conv,nience for ladies and children,

MOSES AND SON
• respectfully invi'e public attention to their large and
well-assorted
SPICING STOCK.

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• "SANDRINGHAM" WRAPPER
utroduced by them) is the newest and most fashionible
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• READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLOTHING.' for
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CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT,
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70 MOSES AND SON'S
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for all classes and all ages.

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for al: classes, all age 3, and all climates.

EMOSES AND
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154, 155, 156, 157, Minories ; 83, 84, M, Es6:B7
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V. MOS E S AND so
A. A• COUNTRY ESTABLISHMENT, N's
Bridge-street, Bradford, Yorks hire.

"El MOSES AND
SON ,
12.4. Establishments are closed every Friday evening at
sunset until baturday evening at sunset, when business is re..
Burned un it ti o'clock.
A 1 articles are marked the lowest prices in
plain figures.
Any article nut appr,ved of will be exchanged, or the money
re'urned.
List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion
Card, and our new pamphlet, " The Tercentenary ; or, The
Three Hundredth Birthday of William Shakspeare," gratis
and post free.

COALS.—The LILLESHALL CONIPANY'S
COAL?,
r own Collieries.
Direct from the:
Marquis' 23s. per ton. I Double 20s. per ton.
Top q2i „ Deep .2ls. „
Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De-
pots, Westhourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf,
Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N.
Best Coke
Terms cash.
JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent.

The Weather—Sun Office, June 21, 1861.

THERMOILETER.
This day at Two o'clock

Barometer-30.E.
WIND —W. ; fresh breeze, and fine.

HIGH. WATER, AT LONDON BRIDGE.
rais DAX.—Morning,2h. 47m.—Afiernoon, 3h. 10:n.
311. 32m.—ift,Irrioon, 3h. 5',3m.

411,1 T
,

21, 1864.
LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE
•-

The wonderfully ingenious series of contrivances
by which the Government have so cleverly managed
to tido over the chief part of the session, have left,
oven now, in this third week of June, at any rate,
one very distinct alternative still at the command
of the House of Commons. The House has, in the
matter of Denmark, up to this present time, been
treated quite systematically by the Government
moat npercilously—wa had nearly said most
contumeliously. It has been " put cff " by
a • succesion of evasions of which we be-
lieve that the records of " Hansard" furnish
no parallel. It was denied the papers first of all.
It is now virtually prohibited from having a glance

at least in one thing, namely, in declining to fur-
nish one syllable of frank or manly explanation.
No matter whence the inquiries came to them,
whether the interrogator rose on the side
of the Opposition or on the Government
side, either from a back bench or below
the gangway, he was safe to obtain one
invariable kind of reply, which, of course,
amounted to no reply at all : namely, a repetition
literally usque ad nauseam of that evasive phrase
glibly articulated all through the session with such
" damnable iteration "—to wit, that it would be
indiscreet, as yet, to utter a syllable more about it !
And so the longest day has come, and Parlia-
ment-, even now, has not had vouchsafed to it
one word of rational explanation. To-morrow
in all humen probability, the Conference will meet
for positively the last time. Oa Sunday next, the
period of the supplementary fortnight's armistice
will come to an end. Monday next, in all likeli-
hood, will be signalled by the recommencement of
hostilities. The Government laughing in their
sleeves the while at having thus adroitly rendered
the session so far nugatory in the matter so long
that the dog 'days are felt to be close at
hand, and the time of the grouse-shooting almost
one might say beginning even now to be sighted.
Late though it is in the session, late though it is,

in other words, in the season—one alternative hap-
pily still remains, as we have just now intimated, in
the safe keeping of the House of Commons, in the
grasp, at the command of her Majesty's Opposition.
And the observation we would speak of is simply
this—Bather• to force on at last a fall and complete
discussion of what Las hitherto been shirked so
completely by the Government—Or, supposing that
discussion still to be evaded by Ministers on the
plea of indiscretion, to petition her MAJESTY not to
prorogue Parliament until the Foreign Policy
of the Government, more particularly in this matter
of Denmark, shall have been brought under the
consideration of her faithful Commons. For one
thing or the other, the country will hold the House
of Commons responsible, Either, these momentous
subjects for discussion must be discussed at once,
route qui route, Or measures must be taken for pro-
longing the session beyond the usual period of the
grouse shooting, until the Legislature shall have
had an opportunity of discussing the foreign
policy of the Government.

When Captain SEMMES' spirited vindication of
his course as captain of the Alabama appeared so
recently it was not anticipated by many that the
career of that gallant little vessel was so near its
close, and that but one more signal event was to be
added to its chronicles. The intelligence that has

just arrived will be a source of great regret to
many who have watched the progress of this
famous veeeel, and admired the daring and intrepi-

dity which have signalised her men. It is seldom

that so much interest has been fixed and 80 much

attention centred in one vessel, and in the annals o:

naval history it is certain that the Alabama has
some peculiar and distinguishing features which
will for ever set it ap,at in the memory of all who
have taken cognisance of her striking incidents. It
was not to be expected that such a course could go
on long with impunity, and perhaps the real

wander is that before this we have not received the
intelligence of her defeat or capture. It is entirely
owing to consummate da,-ing and the most consider-

able skill in management that up till now this little
vessel has walked the waters like a thing of life,
spreading destruction on her track, striking terror
among all who encountered her, and while triumph-

aptly sweeping the seas filling the minds of those
on shore with amazement and admiration. Those
who perused Captain SEMMES' communication will

have seen the straits to which he end his crew
were reduced, and the difficulties that they had to
contend with, in consequence of the very unfair and
unusual course adopted by Earl RUSSELL with re-
gard to the dealings of this country in the matter
of the vessels of the belligerents sending prizes into
our ports. If counted by the span of time the
Alabama has had but a short life, but the chronicles
of fame take no note of weeks or months, and,

according to this calendar, her existence has
not been small nor insignificant. She has been
hard at work from the outset, through all the
storms and conflicts of her fitful course,
until she has sunk gallantly fighting to the
last, the ruling spirit strong in death. It was no
tame and easy victory, ne playing at fighting, that
ensued when this pride of the Confederate navy
went down into the great waters, on which she had
played so conspicuous a part, and where her hard-
earned laurels had been won. When the minor
events of this long and arduous conflict between
the States of North America are put into the shade
of oblivion, there will stead out conspicuous the
feats of the Alabama,, and the memory of this
vessel will survive, as an example of what may be
achieved by caring and dexterity. Conclusive as
the deta',ls afforded by the various accounts un-
doeetedly are, it may be said that they are not wholly
unsatisfactory to the friends and admirers of the
distinguished vessel. They may read events which
would not disgrace a ship of far more power and
magnitude. There was no wavering nor hesitation,
but the greatest energy and spirit were evinced
throughout the conflict, which was sharp, short, and
severe, In some respects this was a fitting end for
a vessel that has throughout its whole career been,
a 6 it were, a thing per se and totally distinct from
others. It was as well that a startling finale
should succeed to a course that was alone in its
strange outset, and unmatched in its meridian blaze
of day and triumphant tide of success. While the
Federals will
rejoice without stint at this fulfil-
ment
etese of their
their hopes their opponents will reserve to
h
right of satisfaction at the gallantry
which marked the closing tslv le
act of this strange affair.
Death and defeat towered around the Alabama as
deck covered with dead
she sunk underbu twater,disho nhoeurr
was
and dying, not there; and it
may, therefore, be said that,in some respects, this
is a fitting termination to a venture which was
desperate but dashingly carried out, which was
fraught with hazard, and where the chances could
not always be on the side of gain. It seems that
there was considerable difference in the advantages
of the two vessels, the Kearsage beingchain-plated
under her outside planking. Those on board the
Alabama were not aware of this circumstance. It
appears at first sight that Captain SEmmEs was
•
rash in thus engaging the Kearsage , but there is
no doubt that he had some reasons for so doing, from
the fact of his sending his valuables on shore pre-
viously to entering on the momentous struggle,
such conduct seems to prove that it was not fool-
hardiness at all events that urged him on, but the
conviction that the exigencies of the case demanded
the venture of whose issue he was doubtful. It will
be. a source of satisfaction to nearly all who peruse
the details, that the gallant captain has been saved,
not only that his life has been preserved, but that
he has been preserved from his enemies. Judging
from past experience, the Federals were not likely
to show much consider alien to a foe who had done
them so much mischief and always seemed so im-
possible to catch. Certainly the laurels of the
contest are all on the side of the Contederates, and
which ever way we look at things courage and
constancy seem to belong to them exclusively. The
ear of the Alabama has been a romance from

appertain to her history read more like one of those
tales which used to delight an earlier generation
than the records of doings which belong to this
laggard age. So far then there is not so much to
regret in the sudden end of this celebrated vessel—
she seems to have fulfilled the intention of he:: crew,
and not to have left a wreck behind for her foes to
triumph over. Doubtless there will be most ex-
treme rejoicing in New York when the news of
Sunday's conflict reaches there, but they must
remember that instead of now boasting at the
victory they might consider the length of time that
it has taken to catch this terror of their navy. The
end must come to all triumphs, and the end cf
the Alabama has not been a mean or unworthy
close to a career of daring and adventure. She has
gone down to an ocean grave fighting valiantly,
with courage undaunted, and zeal that knew no
abatement. if we lament that her victories are
o'er, that the skilful little craft can no more plough
the waves, there remains other points of satisfac-
tion to mitigate the regret, and the crew who so
gallantly defended her will rejoice that she is safe
under the great waters from the grasp of a cruel
foe, and may not serve their triumphs when they
return to tell their friends of the fight and victory.

Alderman SALOMON'S Bill for purchasing South-'
mark and Waterloo Bridges appears to have given I
rise to some dissatisfaction on the part of the rate-
payers of the metropolis. The bill which the
Alderman has introduced into Parliament is de-
signed to facilitate the passage of traffic across the
Thames within the metropolis, and it is proposed
that power should be given to the Metropolitan
Board of Works to purchase any one or more of the
seven proprietary bridges within the area of their
jurisdiction, and to levy a rate not exceeding a
penny in the pound for the purpose of defraying
the expense of such purchase, the power to levy the
rate being granted until January Ist, 1884. This
does not appear to be by any means an unjust or
extravagant scheme. It is evident from the very
fact of there being seven proprietary bridges within
the are of the metropolis that there is great need
of some reform. These bridges give rise to very
great inconvenience on the part of the poorer classes,
a fact sufficiently proved by the thinness of the
population in their vicinity. The toll, too, has the
injurious effect of encouraging the overcrowding
of the busy thoroughfares on the Middlesex side,
since labouring men and others, who are forced to
live near their work, object to adding !he amount of

the weekly toll to their rent. If a working man
has to pass to and fro even twice a day, the
amount will be sixpence a week, and sixpence
a week makes a good deal of diffirence in four or
fire shillings rent. Where the men go home to
dinner, &0., the amount is. of course, doubled, and
so they crowd their families away on the north side
of the river, while the south in many parts remains
comparatively bare. Ratepayers have a good right
and good cause to watch jealously any addition to
their burdens, but in the present instance their
opposition is scarcely well-founded, seeing that
they themselves will participate in the relief. It

is most probable that by far the greater number of
ratepayers have occasion to cross some of the toll
bridges several times in the course of the year, and
if they do so in vehicles they are now paying an
amount which is nearly Equal to a moderate rate,
for, es it is only proposed to purchase one bridge
at a time, the full amount of one penny per pound
need certainly not be levied. All the arguments
against turnpikes apply with double force to toll-

gates on bridges, and it is a most inconvenient and
unsatisfactory way of levying money. It adds very
much to the confuiou at London,bridge and other
of our great thoroughfares, since heavy waggons,
&c., are naturally sent by the free bridges, and so
they are overcrowded to a dangerous extent. All
the metropolitan highways and byeways should be
free, and the traffic over old Father Thames should
be free also. If we object .to impositions on our
trade, and obstructions to our commerce, we should
certainly remove these impediments which come
under both heads, and aro entirely opposed to the
whole spirit of our legislation.

It has always been felt that the claims of those
who devote their lives to the public service deserve
paramount consideration at the hands of the nation.
Soldiers and sailors more especially are entitled to
relief and assistance in times of sickness and dis-
tress, since they are called upon to sacrifice and to
risk so much on behalf of their countrymen. Eng-
land, never slow to acknowledge a claim upon her
gratitude or her kindness, has readily responded to
the wants and requirements of her disabled or
superannuated naval and military servants ; and if
Chelsea and Greenwich do not fully accomplish the
works for which they were designed, it is not the
fault of their original founders, nor is it owing to
a want of sympathy and approbation for their
objects on the part of the public. But until lately
there was a great lack of care for the families of
these brave men, and the various institutions and
associations designed to benefit and assist the
soldier, and left the important work of caring for
those dear to him undone. The soldier's daughter
has an especial claim upon our care, since she is
deprived of the counsel and protection of a father,
perhaps during the most important part of her life,
if he is stationed abroad. She is liable at any
moment to be orphaned by the casualties of man or
the evil influences of an unhealthy climate. An
expedition like the Ashantee affair makes many
orphans, and it is not too much to expest that the
nation shall care for those helpless ones whom the
soldier has left behind him. The Soldiei's
D ►ughter's Home, at Hampstead, was provided
eight years ago, for the purpoae of educating and
providing for soldiers' daughters. It was opened
under the auspices of the late Prince Consort, and
has been patronised by many distinguished per-
sons; still it is unsatisfactory to find that at
the annual meeting held on the anniver-
sary of its opening on Saturday last,
the report stated the number of annual subserip-

tions to be diminished. The financial condition of
the house is at present good, but its progress rests
on an insecure foundation, unless the annual sub-
scribers hold their ground. The practical working
of the Institution is very satisfactory. The girls
who have left it are doing well in the world; one
of them has gained a scholarship, and is in training
for a schoolmistress ; others me in service and
attended to and receive prizes for good conduct,
while the average number in the house is 162. A
1 proof of the great need that exists for such an

establishment is given by the fact that more than a
hundred applications have been refused for want of
funds. It is gratifying to find that soldiers them-
selves appreciate its value, since we are told that
contributions from regiments are on the increase,
and the committee have wisely resolved on grant-
ing to regiments contributing a requisite sum the
privilege of nominating regimental scholars. The
Duke of WELLINGTON, and other gentlemen who
attended the meeting, desirous of putting the

regular income of the institution on a better foot.
ing, increased the amount of their annual subscrip.
tions, thereby giving practical evidence of their
interest in its success. We hope that a good many
others will follow their example, since the import-
ance of protection and regular training for soldiers'