The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-02 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF TEE PUBLIC JOURNALS

TlatEs.—The last surprise of the American war
has been the appearance of a new Confederate
cruiser, theTallahaveee, which has achieved unpre-
cedented success. 'lhe Alabama has been destroyed,
the Georgia sold, the Florida is in some other seas,
and the merehant vessels engaged in the Atlantic
trade were thought once again secure. But all at
once a long swift steamer is discovered haunting
the coast, and preying upon Federal commerce
with even more than the activity of its predeces-
sors. It is commanded by a captain intent upon
his business of capturing merchantmen, but, if re-
port is to be trusted, very little troubled with that
restless heroism which takes men into unnecessary
danger, for he says that he shall run rather than
fight, his ship being especially constructed
for the former purpose. Within a few days
upwards of fifty vessels, great and small, have
been destroyed by this daring but prudent adven-
turer. The rate of insurance on American bottoms
has risen, and not without good cause, for nothing
has been found yet to resist or even to catch the
Tallahassee. The naval department has been
confused by these sudden and multiplied disasters.
It has despatched a whole stinedron of steamers in
search of the hostile vessel. Yet there is an opinion
that the Tallahassee will net be taken. Like some
phantom ship, she appears every now and then to
vessels on their way, but those who seek her seek
her in vain. Merchant captains come into New
York and Boston and report her capturing, burn.
ing, and sinkiug vessels, or exacting bonds for the
payment of money as the price of her safety. She
cuts away the spars of the Federal ships and
scuttles them, carrying off their men to the nearest
land, and then putting them pitilessly on shore.
All this it has been as yet impossible to prevent.
The Federals have some swift vessels, but the Tal-
lahassee is swifter. For the second time a
single " pirate" paralyses the trade of the whole
union. The success of the Tallahassee must pro-
duce more than one imitator, and it is consequently
the first wish of the Federal navy to put a stop to
her depredations, and to show that a reputation
such as Captain Wood has earned is in its nature
shortlived. But as yet the Tallahassee has not been
touched, and it is quite possible that she may have
as long a career as the Alabama—all the more as
her captain will probably not fall into the error of
Captain Semmes, and feel himself bound in honour
to accept the challenge of a more powerful vessel.
Such exploits cannot be contemplated without some
surprise: The English notion with respect to marine
warfare is that it is much more certain and scientific
than that on land, and with quick vessels and
powerful guns, and convenient coaling stations a
nation must soon drive off the seas a rival which is
less well provided. Powerful land armies may be
opposed by the valour and patriotism of a weaker
enemy, but numerous efficient and well-managed
vessels have seemed almost irresistible. The achieve-
ments of these Confederate cruisers, however, seem
to show that there is a chance for the weaker even
at sea. It is only necessary, when the lion's skin
fails, to piece it out with the fox's. By speed, in-
cessant watchfulness, and early information, such a
vessel as the Tallahassee can multiplyeitself fivefold.
The command if no doubt given by the Confederate
Government to officers of the utmost skill and re•
source, and these are forced by the very nature of
their employment to use all the faculties they pos.
sess. They stand out before the world; there are
seldom more than two or three of them at sea at the
same time. Their duties, though strictly within the
rights of belligerents, are of so invidious a kind, and
bring down on them such hatred from the enemy,
that they know that if taken prisoners they would
be treated with unusual harshness, if even no worse
fate befell them. They strain every nerve to inflict
the utmost amount of damage on the enemy,and to
escape being taken themselves. Hence, though the
Federals have a most powerful navy at their dispo-
sal,though they can send out some six or eight vessels
on purpose to search after the Tallahassee. though
they have their coaling ports close at hand, while the
Tallahassee has to take the chance of being ordered
off as often as she asks for a ton of coals at a neigh-
bouring English port, yet, unless some chance ren-
contra brings a superior Federal force against her,
the Confederate vessel may continue her career at
devastation for months to come. The half patriot,
half buccaneer, who used to play so great a part in
old wars is represented in the present day by such
persons as Captain Semmes and Wood. The man
who imbibes the spirit of this irregular warfare is
generally more than a match for the regular sea-
man, accustomed to the routine of a fleet, and re-
ceiving into his mind that element of slowness
which is almost inseparable from men who obey a
strictly constituted power according to rules tradi-
tionally handed down. Did not Paul Jones defy
the whole British fleet, sail up the Frith of Forth,
and fight a British frigate with impunity ? Even
toe French, in the worst days of their naval !ilia.
fortune, generally had two or three well-known
officers who were the terror of the British mercan-
tile marine, and raised the rates of insurance as
Captain Wood is raising them in New York to-day.
But though we must acknowledge the energy and
skill of these Confederate commanders, we can have
no sympathy with the particular kind of warfare
which they carry on. Looking upon it as a retali-
ation for the many excesses and cruelties of the
Federals on land, we may excuse it; but the whole
system is barbarous, and it would be well if the war
could be waged without such hateful doings. These
prizes of the Tallahassee are, many of them, almost
too petty for the dignity of a ship of war. The
little schooners of the American coasting trade and
the fishing vessels which are cent out of the New
England ports appear to have chiefly made up the
list of the Tallahassee's captures. Nothing is more
likely to weaken the Peace party at the North
sympathymtr
while
ahtaekinl
eet thehete
nh
Northernee storymwienemies
with
asr 00l fAfa ttrhati es
L peoplel e captures,
there
ev
er
y w
hwerhesciht is
told,ust ar rnid-
nr gc
oe l
can
an
nu
andmb be e
his
st whotlittle
party.
hohpa ev e t
hna
Butot
ieitherts chosen.tr sideu
e
light
w Neveri ltl
h apdnaiudis
in the
w tia
har e
at
php
per
ee
saceronutmr socero
more clearly
thceals
ett ir
yhh
when
nns
all amenities have been cast aside, and each
belligerent has used every means at his dis-
posal to harrass or overthrow his adversary.
PosT.—The Cotton Supply Association have just
offered to the public certain facts of much interest
and curiosity, in addition to the dry statistical
details which commonly form the staple of their
proceedings and reports. The recent changes in the
tendency of the cotton growth are very remarkable.
It seems likely, for instance, that the supply of
cotton from Egypt, a quarter from which so much
was originally expected, will soon come altogether
to an end. The Egyptian climate has been found
quite unsuited to the cultivation of the plant, and
already it has been almost entirely abandoned.
This is a result which cannot fail to be a serious
disappointment to those who have interested them-
selves in the Alexandrian trade. In Turkey and in
India the case is just the reverse. Both countries
have shown themselves adapted in a very high de-
gree for the culture of the cotton plant ; and it is
not improbable that there may be a sharp competi-
tion between them for the supply of the English
market with the raw material. If Turkey can pro-
duce it at the same cost as India, she will of course
have the advantage, for the distance of the Turkish
ports from Liverpool is less than one-third of the
distance of the Indian ports ; and the difference of
time, shipping cost, and interest of money, will be
in favour of the former. We will, however, com-
mence with India. Bokhara appears to be one of the
most favoured regions,but as is well known it is not
a part of British India, and the export of cotton
from thence is an overland one through Russia. Five
years ago the exports of cotton from Bokhara
amounted to no more than 1,500,0001 b,, whereas
they are estimated for the present year at
20,000,0001 b. These figures are safe as ground-
works for calculation ; but the association are apt
to lead the public astray when they argue from
the difference of relative value, They say that
in 1859 the trade was worth only £25,000,
whereas now it is worth £1,650,000; but it will
be seen at a glance that this ratio is out of all pro-
portion with the ratio avoirdupois—the fact being
that cotton is worth four or five times as much in
the Liverpool market now as it was in 1859. The
increase, however, in weight and quantity is suffi-
cient to show that Bukhara has succeeded in esta-
blishing a thiiving trade, and in cultivating the
cotton plant with very different results to what we
now find in Egypt. In Scinde the cultivation is at
present experimental, but there is a disposition to
promote it, and a fair prospect of a successful issue.
On the coasts of the Mediterranean cotton has been
cultivated with a variety of success much more than
in proportion to any possible varieties of climate.
We must, therefore, conclude that the soil has been
as influential as the atmosphere. We have already
said that in Egypt the cotton cultivation is about to
be abandoned. In Tripoli, again, the attempt has
proved itself hopeless ; but more on accoant of the
want of capital, labour, and water, than through
any tested inaptitude on the part of the soil itself.
But in Algeria, in the same latitude, and on the
same Southern shore of the Mediterranean as
Egypt, great expectations of success appear to be
entertained. Last year nearly 1,000,00u1b. of
cotton were exported from that couutey ; and
during 1864 it is expected that between three and
four times that quantity will be shipped. The
French Government, however, still cling to the old
usage of making their colonies as useful to the