The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-30 00:00:00

deavouring to assist the seafairing population of
foreign lands, we have no right to endanger the
lives and property of our own countrymen.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

LREUTERS TELEGRAMS.]

It is not surprising on the eve of the reopening
of the Parliamentary campaign to find some mem-
bers of the Liberal party assembling to consider the
present condition and future prospects of the cause
which they represent. The hoar of success is not
unfrequently the severest test which can be applied
either to individuals or to parties. How often do
we see a man who has conducted himself with cre-
dit in a humble station of life, who has borre
poverty cheerfully, and faced trouble R ithout flinch-
ing, suddenly transformed into a totally different
character by an unexpected change is his fortunes.
Still more frequently do we find the staunch sup-
porters of a failing cause show equal eagerness to
maintain their principles, when they might do so
without risk, peril, or inconvenience. The fact of
opposition stimulated their energies and sharpened
their posiers, while their cause in the hour of diffi-
culty and neglect has few charms for the waverer
and time-server. Even so the Liberal party in the
last generation could boast of many a noble name
and many a gifted leader, could count its fervent
partisans and its devoted adherents by the thousand
in the days when the Test Act was still in force,
Catholic Emancipation the ruin of successive
Cabinets, and the idea of a Reformed Parliament
still a vision of the future. But the scene is changed;
the great questions that agitated men's minds in
the days of our last three Kings have all
seen settled, with the happiest results on
the side of enlightened Liberalism. Others
springing up since their day have been in
tan disposed of, while the continual spread of edu-
cation, and the improved moral and mental tone of
the lower classes, have removed half those dangers
bhich the terrorists of thirty or forty years since
perceived in investing the masses with political
power. But the experience which tells us of the
perils of success, the supineness and insincerity
which accompany a mere verbal adhesion to a cause
which demands no evidence of membership, which
imposes no sacrifice to conviction, has been painfully
verified in the history of the English Liberals.
With the great body of the press and the people on
their side, with their views popularly accepted in a
self•governing country, with every opportunity in
their reach, and their own party in office for many
consecutive years, what nee have they made of the
opportunity ? What great measures of reform have
they organised and introduced, what pledges have
they redeemed, what have they done towards the
political advancement of the people ? These ques-
tions are beginning to be asked by the Liberal con-
stituencies throughout the kingdom, and we appre-
hend that their representatives will at the next
election find it somewhat difficult to answer them.
A movement has just begun in Yorkshire, a Liberal
county, which may probably extend itself to other
places. The committee of the Liberal Registration
Society convened a meeting to consider the present
position of the Liberal party with respect to the re-
form question and the approaching general election.
It was largely attended, and all were unanimous in
moving the first resolution, which denounced in
strong but just and appropriate terms the con-
duct of the so-called leaders of the party. It
was as follows :—" That this meeting, consider-
ing that the unsatisfactory character of the Reform
Bill proposed by Lord DERBY was the imsiediate
cause which led to the dissolution of the last Par-
liament, that the present Government came into,
power, and that the Liberal members of the present
Parliament were returned on the express condition
that they would carry a' substantial and honest
measure of Parliamentary reform, hereby expresses
its disappointment and indignation at the indif-
ference and bad faith which have betrayed the just
hopes of the people and frustrated the expectations
which inspired the Liberal party at the last elec-
tions." This is not quite in accordance with Earl
RUSSELL'S theory that "Rest and be thankful"
is the prevailing feeling of the country. Doubtless
he spoke his wishes ; doubtless he deprecates too
active interest either in reform at home or affairs
abroad. He would prefer that matters should be
left entirely to his efficient guidance—that our
political representation should remain just where it
is, and himself left free to listen to the suggestions
of his German friends. The fatal influence exer-
cised over Earl RUSSELL'S mind by the air of
foreign courts has been proved on two memorable
occasions. It is only to be regretted that, instead
of paying his autumnal visit to Balmoral, he did not
take a trip to Copenhagen, when a counter influence
might have been set to work. "Rest and Regret,"
would be a more fitting motto for the veteran Re-
former, who has so lamentably failed to. keep the
promise of former years. The device by which the
present Government ousted the Conservatives owed
much of its success to the prestige of JOHN Rus-
SELL'S name as a Reformer. How far such assis-
tance would avail on another occasion may be ques-
tioned. The country has long since awoke to the
trick that has been played oa it. It has asked in
vain for the promised Reform Bill; it has complained
of the corruption at elections; of the unfair and
partial representation of the people, and has not
failed to remember that Lord DERBY'S Government
did bring in a Bill, which, whatever its failings,
had in it the foundation of a substantial and com-
prehensive measure of reform. These recollections
should be reckoned among the opposing agencies by
erd PALMERS'ION'S Cabinet, for they will assuredly
id cause to discover too late that the English
people, however ready to give credence to the
positive promises of eminent and experienced
statesmen, are not in the habit of being " taken
in" at second time by the same professions.

AMERICA.

(Per the Africa, via Roche's Point.)

NE W YORK, JAN. 19 (Evening).
Southern journals announce that the Federals
are landing at Morehead City, North Carolina.
General Grant reports from Tennessee that the
Confederate General Vance had made a raid towards
Termille, capturing 23 waggons. Vance was, how-
ever, pursued, the waggons recaptured, and himself
taken prisoner. The reported raid, by Stuart, on
Loesburg, was unfounded.
Advices from Charleston to the 15th inst. state
that the shelling of the city had been continued,
causing some slight damage, but no casualties.
The Federal fleet were preparing to resist the an-
ticipated attack by the Confederate rams. The
Confederates had erected defences inside Fort
Sumter. General Gilmore had temporarily sus-
pended siege operations, and removed his head
quarters to Hilton Head, where a❑ extensive expe-
dition, including several negro regiments, was fit-
ting out for embarkation for some point not made
public. Various rumours attributed the destina-
tion of the expedition to be the Savannah River, or
to attack the railroad between Charleston and
Savannah, with the view of afterwards operating
in the rear of Charleston. The Confederates anti-
cipated an attack on Wilmington.

The Washington correspondent of the New York
Times asserts that a campaign against Richmond
will be opened in the spring by two large armies,
each equal to cope with Lee's army. One of these
armies will advance by the Rappahannock, and the
other by way of the Peninsula.
A large body of Confederates are reported to have
oncentrated at Point Pelee, Canada, to attack
Johnstone's Island, Lake Erie, where the Confe-
derate prisoners are confined.

General Grant has arrived at Louisville from
Knoxville, having made the journey by way of
Cumberland Gap and Lexington, for the purpose of
judging of the capabilities of this route for supply-
ing Knoxville. He was enthusiastically received
in Lexington, but refused to make a speech.
Numerous regiments of the Federal army con-
tinue to re-enlist.

General Butler's rule in Norfolk is represented
to be extremely extringent. The city is guarded
by negro troops.
The Ric/ nzond Enquirer urges negotiations with
General Butler for an exchange of prisoners, as this
would not relieve General Butler from the decree of
outlawry, and he would still, if captured, be hung.
A system of retaliation has commenced along the
North Carolina frontier. Several soldiers have been
hung in retaliation by the commanders of the op-
posing forces.

The _Richmond Enquirer complains of the action
of the Confederate Congress, and says there is
danger that Congress in its desire to restore the
currency and fill up the army, will bankrupt the
country and overthrow the framework of swiety
and production.
A resolution has been offered in the House of
Representatives, that whenever any insurrectionary
State shall submit to the Federal authority, hostili•
ties against such State shall cease, and the people
be guaranteed conventional. The resolution was
defeated by a vote of 79 to 56.
A proposition to raise 100,000 men for 100 days
to drive the Confederates out of Virginia, and
rescue the Federal prisoners at Richmond, was also
defeated.

A resolution has been introduced to reduce the

duty on paper.

The Confederate Congress have resolved that per-
sons who furnished substitutes will not be exempt
from military service.
It also passed a resolution, pledging the Con-
federates to perpetual resistance.
The Raleigh (North Carolina) journals continue
to urge a peaceful settlement with the North. The
Richmond Sentinel remarks that too much impor-
tance has been given to this fact, as the whole
North Carolina press, excepting the Raleigh jour-
nals, aro patriotic and loyal.
It is generally conceded that Mr. Lincoln will be
the regular Republican nominee for the presidency.
The New York Herald asserts that there is a move-
ment among the Republicans to secure Secretary
Stanton's removal from the Cabinet.

The New York Tribune asserts that Mr. Adams's
diplomatic correspondence sent to Congress will
furnish abundant proof of the responsibility of the
British Government in the matter of the Confede-
rate privateers.

The Secretary of the Navy has sent orders to the
Provost Marshal of New York that the British
blockade violators will, when captured, not be re-
leased, but detained.

A military Commission has been appointed to
try all persons confined is Forts Lafayette and

Warren.

The British ship Sylvania has been captured off
Doboy Sound, Georgia,
The Columbia has arrived at St. John's.

(By telegraph to Halifax.)

NEW YORK, JAN 21 (Morning).
The Feclerals have occupied Madisonville on
Lake Pontchartrain.

General Banks has ordered a State election in
Lousiana. He is confident that more than a tenth
of the population desire restoration to the Union.
He declares void the State laws regarding slavery,
and appoints a convention for the revision of the
constitution. Arrangements are being made to
elect members to Congress.
Two companies of Canadian rifles have been sent
to Windsor, Canada, it is said, in consequence of
the Confederate movements against Johnston Island•

The health of Bishop Gillis has gradually im-
proved during the last few days. There has been more
ground for anxiety than alarm, and now there are the most
favourable hopes of his recovery.—AScolsman.
BISHOP COLENSO'S TRlAL.—People are interested
more immediately in the legal question raised by
the proceedings at Cape Town which led to the condemna-
tion of Bishop Colenso and his solemn deposition from the
office of bishop by the sentence of his metropolitan, Bishop
Gray, on the 16th December. Are the proceedings and the
sentence valid, or are they, as was protested on the spot by
Bishop Colenso's representative, " a nullity, void of all
force and effect ?" This is an important question as regards
the constitution of the Church of England in the colonies,
and no less important as regards the constitution of the
Church of England generally. The prevailing opinion, we
believe, is, or at least was some time ago, that no power in
the Church can touch Bishop Colenso. By the terms of his
appointment to the Bishopric of Natal, it is said, he became
subject to his metropolitan to the same extent and in the
same manner as bishops at home are subject to their metro-
politans; but then, by the present law of the Church, it is
said the power of metropolitans at home over their nomi-
nally subject bishops is entirely in nubibus—ao that each
English bishop at the present moment is really independent.
--lhe Reader.

FATAL RESULTS OF FRIGEIT.—An inquest was
held in Edward-street, Hoxton, on Thursday,
touching the death of Jane Howard, 15 years of age, who
died suddenly on Friday week from the effects of fright.
On the evening of that deceased went into the backyard of
her father's house to get some water, and while doing so
perceived two men on the roof of the house. She screamed
out in terror, and her brother came to her assistance, and
was able to see the head of one of the men above the para-
pet. A body of police was speedily collected, and the roofs
of the entire block of houses searched, without the thieves
being discovered. In the meantime the effects of the fright
had rendered the girl seriously ill, and in spite of medical
assistance she gradually sank, and died on Monday morn •
ing. The jury returned the following verdict:—" That the
deceased expired from the mortal effects of apoplexy, caused
by extreme fright, and her said death arose by misadven-
ture," me proceedings then terminated,

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 30, 1864.

SANTO DOMINGO.

troops for Schleswig, through this town, is ex-
pected to take place on Sunday.

CADIZ, JAN 29.

News received here from Santo Domingo an-
nounces that the steamer Puerto Rio, had landed
on the Island 2,500 Spanish soldiers, who had oc-
cupied Barahona, Nantas, and Neiva.

THE DANO-GERMAN DIFFICULTY,
MOVEMENT OF AUSTRIAN TROOPS.
BRESLAU, JAN. 30,

It is stated upon good authority that the direc-
tors of the Silesian Railway have received notice
to make arrangements for the further transport
of 20,000 Austrian troops.