The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-26 00:00:00

HlGril WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE,

TECIB DAT.—Moraing, h. m.—Afternoon, 12h. 20m.
To-Moscow.-Morning, 12h, 40m.—Afternoon, lh. 4m.

S, A A
for4anrilit 441

LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 26, 1864,

The China brings us news up to the 14th of the
month, and we learn that Richmond papers assert
that SHERMAN'S main army had crossed the
Ogeechee river, and was on the 7th moving towards
Savannah. If this report be correct, and the con-
flicting accounts which we have from time to time
received, makes our knowledge of his movements
uncertain at the best, it would seem that the Federal
General, anxious not to close his grand expedition
without achieving some striking success, has
directed his efforts towards Savannah. Savannah
is strongly defended, and should he fail
in the attempt be will probably fall back upon Beau•
fort. Having got so far, he is tolerably sure to
reach the coast with some portion of his army ; but
he will leave many brave men behind him in the
swamps of Georgia. The Confederates are actively
engaged in repairing the roads in his rear, which
had been destroyed in accordance with the new
system of Federal tactics. FOSTER and DAHLGREN
with their forces left Beaufort early in the month
and advanced to Pocataligo Bridge on the Charles.
ton and Savannah, which, as we heard by the last
mail, they destroyed and then entrenched them.
selves at the spot, FOSTER succeeding in communi-
cating with SHERMAN by scouts. The latter, it was
estimated, would reach Savannah on the 7th, bat,
when there, his work is yet to begin. He has the
first engineer of the day opposed to him, and the
siege of Savannah will not be easy. Should a pitched
battle occur, SHERMAN'S army, jaded from their
long and harassing march, will have to confront the
Confederates on their own ground, fresh and strong
in numbers, with all the animus of patriotic indig-
nation at the desolation of their country. While
SHERMAN is thus occupied, his Commander-in-Chief
has been making a move, An expedition under
WARREN has been despatched from Petersburg,
with directions to destroy part of the Weldon rail-
road, with a view of preventing the Confederates
from receiving supplies to Stoney Creek. The ex•
pedition succeLded in destroyirg a bridge and 15
miles of railroad, but their success was not un-
chequered, for the Confederates were found in strong
force near Hickford, their ultimate destination.
WARREN'S men carried, it is said, the works on one
side of the Mehergen River, where the Confederates
were entrenched; bat another version throws doub

on this. Ail accounts agree in stating that the
raiders retired to their old position at Petersburg,
and, it is added, that part of the force was captured.
So much for GRANT'S scheme, which has resulted
in very little. The distrust with which all Northern
versions are received in this country has been amply
justified before now, but it has just had additional
confirmation in the accounts of the losses at Frank-

lin. The truth has now partially crept out, and the
Federal losses are stated officially to have been
one hundred and t:11 officers and two thousand
privates in three out of the four divisions
engaged, but the losses in the fourth division, which
Were heavier, are not mentioned. Such subterfuges
and evasions are beneath a great country and are
too transparent to eff:ct their purpose, BRECKEL!T-
RIDGE is endeavouring to join ROOD, and should
he succeed in doing so, they will probably employ
their united forces in the capture of Nashville,
which, as the capital of Tennessee., a great depot
for stores, and an important strategic position will
be a most valuable prize. 25,000 Confederates

,
under LYON have crossed the Cumberland river
into Kentucky and moved on Hopkinsville. Should
they succeed in their attempt it will probably arouse
the old State, so that the work which it has taken
the Federals tour years to accomplish, may be imp
done in as in weeks. The civil news has some
points of interest. The question of employing the
slaves is engaging the attention of the South. The
Governor of Virginia, in his message favours the
arming of negroes without delay, which is an im-

portant combination of President DAVIS'S sugge3-
tions. Both Senates have been active. The Con-
federates have appointed Commissioners to Brezil
with reference to the seizure of the Florids, while
the United States Senate has passed a bill autho-
rising the employment of six revenue cutters on
the lakes, and the House of Representatives have
adopted a resolution giving England notice of the
termination of the Reciprocity Treaty by a majo-
rity of 28. Our authorities must, therefore, be
ready on their side with a suitable fleet for the
protection of the lakes at the expiration of the

allotted period, and wo trust that our own colonies,
now that they are concentrating their forces, will
also turn their attention to this very important

point. Our Yankee friends have certainly not
shown such:good faith or good will in other mat•

ters that we should rely upon their magnanimity,
and if we allow any fear of inc using or irritating
them to prevent us hum showing a determined

point, we shall find that we have been very
grievously mistaken.

The succeeding telegrams and various ac-
caunts that arrive from Germany, and bear
reference to the nehemes on foot in divers
quarters, do not furnish la with very flak
tering intelligence concerning the successes of
the arch-conspirators, as the two German Powers
may well be called. Any check or counterpoise in
these ventures will be felt with particular force by
Prussia, which country has become so deeply in
vowed in plots and dpvic,s to F.4:care her ends and snatch a large portion from o.lierb, bum iticnrib mu a
foes, to serve her turn and glory in her prey. It
may be confidently affirmed, iloyfTer, that the

• prospects that loom in the future are not very
favourable to the views of the schemers. Herr TON
BISMARK has led, or sedulously followed, bis So-
vereign in all the attempts on liberty at home and
attacks on freedom abroad; but they may both
live to rue the day when they gave up the prin-
ciples to which they were pledged, and set them.
selves to work to undermine the Constitution of the
land, instead of fixing its foundations more deeply
and strongly in the hearts of the people by wise
relaxations and prudent reforms. Even now, while
to all intents and purposes the course of events run
smoothly in respect to the furtherance of their
plans, how little security can they feel, and how
small an amount of satisfaction must they enjoy.
To them may well be applied the tenour of the
reflections of that King of SHAKSPERE, who de-
clares that Heaven knows by what by-paths and
crooked ways he won his crown, and he himself
can tell how uneasily it sits upon his head. Doubt-
less, were all known that relates to the policy of
German councils we should be scandalised by the
dark record presented to our view, and it is also in•
contestably certain that the prosecution of their
much coveted desires does not conduce to either

monstrance, but of actual practical demonstration
of its perils. Daunt's Rock, situate near Cark har.
boar, still rears its unmarked head above the water
right in the pathway of every vessel that enters the
harbour, although the City of New York was last
April totally wrecked upon it, the City of Washing-
ton with 500 souls narrowly escaped a similar fate,
and other ships so constantly run the same risk that
it is hardly thought of as long as they escape. Just
now Mr. MAGUIRE, the indefatigable Mayor of
Cork, has another disaster to record in support of
his constant expostulations with the dilatory and
supine authorities. A trig laden with sugar, bound
from Manilla to Cork, struck on the rock, though in
tow of a steamer with a pilot on board. There was,
very possibly, some mismanagement in the case,
since the pilot should have known the locality well
enough to give the rock a wide berth, but that does
not alter the face. With the greatest difficulty the
ship was brought into harbour, much damaged, and
the cargo, valued at £lO,OOO, was destroyed.
Happily there was no life lost, but had the ship
not been in tow the result would have been very
different. Mr. MAGUIRE, in telling the story, is
justly indignant with the three Boards who, be-
tween them, cannot settle this matter—no great
effort for them, although so important to the ship-
ping. After long delay, and protracted contro-
versy, as to the extent of their respective obliga-
tions, the Board of Trade, the Trinity Board,
and the Ballast Board agreed to place a bell
beacon on Daunt's Rock ; but although Mr.
MAGUIRE had an interview with the President
of the Board of Trade in October, and he was
then informed that the necessary sanction had
been given six weeks before :Ur. MAGUIRE'S ap-
plication to the Ballast Board a month later, only
produced the answer that tenders had been called
for. So much for official despatch. The real way
to settle the case would be to destroy the rock, and
the Government should at once undertake the
duty, arranging the details of expense afterwards.
We suppose that the loss of life and property
will reckon for nothing until a ship of the line—

say the Prince Consort, for instance—goes down
on Daunt's Rock, or, on SYDNEY SMITH'S prin-
ciple, a member of one of the indifferent Boards
makes a practical examination of its dangers under
water.

Mr. MILNER GIBSON has not shown
much of the Reformer or of the Liberal in this
business, and we should recommend him to prepare
for a little cross•questioniog on the subject.
",Between two stools," says the old adage, you
come to the ground," bat between three Boards,
where red-tapism reigns supreme, you are likely to
arrive at a worse conc:usion.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE:

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

ITALY.

NAPLES, DEC. 24

Cardinal Ardrea has paid a visit to Prince Hum-
bert. His Eminence was received with the honours
due to his rank.

EGYPT.

ALEXANDRIA, DEC. 24

The English frigate Caradoc arrived here from
Constantinople on the 22d inst., having on board
Sir Henry Bulwer, who will probably pass the
winter in Egypt.