The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, T E SDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30, 1864.

finceck was to move on Rill's Bluff, on the 15th
(Monday), and that the movement, if successful,
would necessitate the evacuation of Petuisb-trg or
-Richmond, as Grant would then be in a position to
throw his whole force upon either. The despatch
states that two mori ars had been capture,d from the
Confederates.

An official despatch from Admiral Farrngut has
been published :

" Flog-ship Hartford, Mobile-bay, Aug. 15.
Sir,—l have the honour to report to the depart-
tnnt that this morning I entered Mobile bay, pas-
sing between Forts Morgan and Gaines, and en-
countering the rebel ram Tennessee and gunboats
of the enemy, viz. :—Selma, Morgan, and Gaines.
" The attacking fleet was under way by 5 45 p.m.
in the following order :—The Brooklyn, with the
Octarara on her port side ; liirtford with the Me-
tac:,,met ; Richmond with the Port Royal ; Llcka-
wanna with the Seminole; Monongahela, with the
Tecumseh ; Ossipea, with the Itasco; and the
Oneida, with the Galena:

" On the starboard of the fleet was the proper
position of the Monitors or ironclads. The wind
was light from the south west, and the sky cloudy
with very little sun. Fort Morgan opened on us at
10 minutes past 7 o'clock, and soon after this the
action became lively. As we steamed up the main
ship channel there was some difficulty ahead, and
the Hartford passed on ahead of the Brooklyn.
" At 7 40 the Monitor Tecumseh was struck by a
torpedo and sunk, going down very rapidly, and
carrying down with her all the officers and crew
with the exception of the pilot and eight or ten
mon, who were saved by a boat that I sent from the
Metacomet, which was alongside of me.
" The Hartford had passed the forts before eight
o'clock, and finding myself raked by the rebel gun•
boats, I ordered the Metacomet to be cast off and go
in pursuit of them, one of which, the Selma, she
succeeded in capturing. All the vessels had passed
the forts by half-past eight o'clock, but the rebel
ram Tennessee was still apparently uninjured in our
rear. A signal was at once made to all the fleet to
turn again and attack the ram, not only with guns,
but with orders to run her down at full speed. The
Monongahela was the first that struck her, and
though she may have injured her badly, yet she did
not succeed in disabling her. The Lackawanna also
struck her, but ineffectually. The flagship gave her
a severe shock with her bow, and as she passed
poured into her a whole port broadside of solid 9-in.
shot and 131 b. of powder, at a distance of not more
than 12ft. The ironclads were closing upon her, and
the Hartford and the rest of the fleet were beating
down on her, when at 10 a.m. she surrendered. The
rest of the rebel fleet—viz., the Morgan and the
Gaines, succeeded in getting back under the protec•
tion of Fort Morgan.

"This terminated the action of the day. Admiral
Buchanan sent mo his sword, being himself badly
wounded with a compound fracture of the leg, which
it is supposed will have to be amputated. Having
had many of my own men wounded, and the surgeon
of the Tennessee being very desirous to have Admiral
Buchanan removed to the hospital, I sent a flag of
truce to the commanding officer of Fort Morgan,
Brigadier-Gen. Richard L. Page, to say that if he
would allow the wounded of the fleet, as well as their
own, to be taken to Pensacola, where they could be
better cared for than here, I would send out one of
our vessels, provided she would be permitted to re-
turn, bringing back nothing she did not take out.
General Page consented, and the Metacomet was
despatched.

The list of casualties on our part, as far as yet
ascertained, is as follows :
Flag-ship Hartford —l9 killed, and 23 wounded,
Brooklyn-9 killed, 22 wounded. Lackawanna-4 killed,
2 wounded. Oneida-7 killed, 23 wounded. Monongahela
—6 wounded. Bletacomet-1 killed, 2 wounded. Ossinee
—1
killed, 7 wounded. Galena-1 wounded. Richmond-
-2 wounded. In all 41 killed and 83 wounded. On the rebel
ram Tennessee were captured 20 officers and about 170 men,
The following is a list of the sfficers :—Admiral F.Buchanan
—Commander Joseph D. Johnson—Lieuts. William L.
Bradford, A. D, Wharton, E. J. M'Dennert—Masters J.
It. De Molly, H. W. Perrin—Fleet Surgeon D. B. Conrad
—Assist.-Surgeon R. C. Bowles—Engineers G. D. Lenen,
J. O'Connell, John Hays, E. Benson, W. B. Patterson—
Paymaster's Clerk J. 11. Cohen—Master's Mates Forest,
Beebe, and Carter. On the Selma were taken 90 officers
and men. Of the officers I have only heard the names of two,
viz., Commander Peter H. Murphy and Lieut. and Execu-
tivo Officer J. 11. Comstock. The latter was killed.

I will send a detailed despatch by the first opportunity.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
D. G. FAJRAGUT,
Rear-Admiral commanding W. G. B, Squadron,
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy,

The correspondent of the .New I ork
writing from New Orleans, gives the following
details of the action :
It seems unnecessary to state that the Admiral had be
fore going into the fight exhausted the means at his com-
mand for the greatest possible protection of his vessels.
With the experience gained in his Mississippi battle, and
with the aid of that of his offieers, to say nothing of his own
natural foresight and ability, he had prepared his ships
against the attacks of the enemy as perfectly as was in the
power of man. Some were partially mailed with chains,
and, in addition, to secure the greatest practicable safety,
the Admiral adopted the expedient of lashing his vessels
together by twos. The object of this was to prevent the
entire plan of battle becoming disarranged by the crippling
of one ship—for even if one were disabled, her consort could
still tow her along either into action or elsewhere. The
merits of the expedient were made apparent in this fight in
the case of the Oneida, which, though disabled, was towed
by the vessel to her out of harm's way, and clear from the
remainder of the fleet. On Wednesday morning the fleet
was signalled to action. The day was as beautiful as could
have been desired, and seemed iu itself an omen of success,
At precisely 8 o'clock the attack was opened. The four
monitors, the Chickasaw, Tecumseh,Winnebago, and Man-
hattan, were in the advance, and were followed by the
wooden vessels in pairs, as stated above. The leading
wooden ship was the Brooklyn, and she was followed by the
Hartford. No sooner was the fleet fairly in motion than
the enemy opened upon us a tremendous fire from Forts
Gaines and Morgan. The rebel ram Tennessee and her
consorts also went to work at the same time. But little
attention was paid to this cannonade until within close gun
shot set the rebel forts, when our fleet opened with broad-
sides. IT,: guns of Fort Morgan and of the water battery
were speedily alenced, and our vessels passed into the bay.
Almost simultaneously with the entrance of Farragurs
fleet into the open water beyond Fort Morgan, the monitor
Tecumseh ran upon a torpedo and was instantly blown up.
It seemed as though she was raised clear from the water.
She sunk immediately, and with her nearly all her crew.
only 10 persons escaped, they being picked up by our boats
under fire; 100 men, it is estimated, went down with the
Tecumseh. This unfortunate occurrence, however, did
not deter the remainder of the fleet from completing the
job in hand. The next thing in order was to destroy the
rebel fleet, and to this end all our vessels directed their
efforts. The Selma was captured atter a short struggle, and
while attempting to escape, by the Metacomet. At the same
time the remainder of our fleet, the wooden ships having
cast off from each other, turned their attention to the Ten-
nessee, which boldly directed its movements towards run-
ning down our vessels. After a hammer-and-tongs fight at
short range, Admiral Farragut, desiring to bring the en-
gagement to a close, ran the llartford into close quarters,
and directly for the monster. The Monongahela also bore
down upon her, and struck her amidships, causing her to
reel like a drunken man. The Ilartford rushed down upon
her at full speed, and grappled with her, at the same time
pouring in a broadside. The Tennessee almost immediately
surrendered. On being boarded it was discovered that a
large portion of her crow had been killed or wounded.
'Among the latter was the Hag officer of the rebel fleet, Ad-
miral Buchanan, who was shot through the leg, a little be-
low the knee. Amputation will be necessary, and, indeed,
it is doubtful whether the operation, if not already per-
formed, will be of any avail, as he is said to be in a critical
condition. Ho is now at Pensacola. With the capture of the
Tennessee the hard work of the opening movements against
Mobile was finished. The rebel ironclads Morgan and Gaines
ran under the guns of Fort Morgan ; it is said the latter is
aground. The killed and wounded are about 2do. As for
the injuries to our fleet they are trifling in comparison
whh what it was feared they might be. The Oneida re-
ceived a terrible blow from the ram of the Tennessee,
and was run into shoal water to keep her from sink-
ing. The Hartford, I regret to state, was also severely
injured, though the worst wounds the gallant old vessel
received were not from the enemy. In the confusion caused
by the smoke of battle, and while she was at close quarters
with the Tennessee, she sustained a tremendous blow from
the Metacomet, intended for the rebel ram. The Hart-
ford had swung around directly in the path of the Meta-
cornet, whose commander did not see the flagship until he
struck her. It is said that the Hartford will be sent north
for repairs. Let her have a grand ovation when she does
coma. During the whole fight Admiral Farragut maintained
a position which betrays, not only the consummate daring
of the man, but his thorough appreciation of all the strate-
gic characteristics of his profession. Before going into ac-
tion he caused himself to be lashed to the rigging of the
Hartford, whence by a speaking trumpet, running to the
deck, he communicated his orders to those below and thence
to the rest of the fleet. From this elevated position he was
enabled to discover every movement of the rebel fleet, and
to direct the course of his vessels accoreingly, us well as in

regard to the batteries on shore. He did not descend until
the last gun was fired and victory was established. The
station of the fleet pilot was similar to that of the admiral,
He was lashed to the rigging, and thence was enabled to
communicate to his associates the necessary directions. The
despatch beat Philippe was burnt, not in the ac ion, but out,
side the harbour, and within sight of our fleet. What
caused the catastrophe is unknown, end mystery also in-
volves the fate of her crew. It is believed, however, that
they escaped in open boats to our vessels in the Mississippi

The Richmond Enquire• of the 12th says :
" Fort Gaines has gone the way of Hatteras, Illanoke
Island, Pulaski, and Hilton Head. Its isolated position was
exposed to the concentrated assault of the Yankee navy and
flanking operations of troops detailed upon command;ng
points, Perhaps the officer in command of the fort may
have proved himself a traitor, In that case eternal infamy
awaits him. It these forts were not built to be taken, they
have not thus far rendered any other we. It is not worth
while to discuss the policy, since Fort Gaines is about the
last of our sand-bar defences this side of Galveston. The
lower fort captured and our ironclad flotilla demolished,
Mobile would seam in danger of being taken. Mobile, while
sharing the fate of Norfolk and New Orleans, will have our
sympathies."
The _Richmond Examiner remarks :

" The naval disaster at Mobile is unquestionably an un-
pleasant affair, and we fear will tend to fix ineradicably in
the public mind the idea already entertained, that our iron-
clad navy is foredoomed, each ship, when built, either to
be captured, blown up by our own people, or stranded. The
subsequent surrender of a fortress in the same quarter as
strong as modern science, with the experience of the de-
fences of Charleston, ample time and unstinted resources,
could make it, fills all hearts with a deep and lacerating
grief and a rankling spirit of indignation. Fort Gaines has
been surrendered by its commander—a Colonel Anderson—
with its heavy armament, its adequate stores of munitions
and subsistence, its large garrison of 600 battle-tested Con-
federate soldiers, its unimpaired defensive means and ap-
pliances, in direct, defiant disobedience of orders, and in the
face of the prolonged defence of Battery Wagner—in the
face, too, of the memorable example of Fort t-Sumter, after
395 days of an unparalleled bombardment. We had hoped,
indeed, that after the defence of Charleston and the attacks
on Fort M'Alister we should be spared the repetition of
such humiliating disasters as the capture of the works de-
fending Port Royal harbour and Hilton Head, the surrender
of Fort llatteras, and the reduction of Fort Jackson, at
the mouth of Mississippi, and of Fort Pulaski. But all
these become insignificant in comparison with the
crowning shame—as history must record it in adaman-
tine letters—of the capitulation to Farragut of Fort Gaines,
after so trifling a defence against so slight an attack. The
works at Mobile are of a superior order, and extensive
enough at all threatened or assailable points. Those works
are provided with guns of the heaviest calibre, such as have
been found in every insiance a'. Charleston potent enough to
drive out of action the Monitors of the enemy in a very few
minutes. Forts Gaines, Powell, and Morgan are some 30
miles distant from Mobile. They were valuable adjuncts,
unquestionably, to the defence of the city, and their loss is
deplorable, but in no way vital to that defence, Between
them and Mobile have been built, and thoroughly armed, a
line of works commanding the inner harbour. This line the
Yankee navy must reduce ; land batteries cannot be brought
to bear upon them ; obstructions and torpedoes bar the way
to be passed ; and the capture of Mobile should be a far more
difficult problem than was that of Charleston in the begin-
ning of July, 1863. Farragut has qualities which make him
a more dangerous adversary, we confess, than Dahlgren ;
but Canby, from what we learn, is by no means as well fitted
for the conduct of siege operations as Gilmore. General
Canby is a mere routine soldier, entirely without knowledge
of artillery, fearful of consequences, and at bottom a man of
slow, shallow intellect."

I Ctncinnatti advices of the 15th are as follows :
" An Atlanta correspondent gives an account of an action
on the Gth, in which the 23 corps lost over 500 men in a
partially unsuccessful assault on the enemy's lines. At the
last accounts (August 5) our line advanced to three miles
northwest of Atlanta, and within a mile and a half of the
Macon-road. Atlanta advices to the 10th state that since
General Schofield's movement on the sth to reach the Ma-
con-road nothing important had beon done. These move-
ments have been partially successful, and the right of the
line assumed a position three miles north of East Point,
about a mile from the railroad. The line thence extends
north around the city to the Chattannooge-road. General
Sherman is making gradual approaches, and is very near the
enemy's works, with works nearly as strong as theirs. It
is thought that Hood has received reinforcements."

A despatch in the IN etc York Times says :
" General Sheridan has pushed his advance from Win-
chester to Strasburg, Early retiring from that point west-
ward. It is believed to be General Sheridan's intention to
head off Early and envelope him between forces, but as it
is now ascertained that Lee has sent at least 20,000 men to
reinforce the rebel column in the Shonand( ah Valley, there
will probab y be a stout contest for the possession of that
region."

The Baltimore correspondent of the New
York Herald writes :
"The interdiction of the use of the telegraph in the trans-
mission of information relative to operations in the Valley
has cut us off from the main source of speedy and reliable
newo, No reason is given for this action. Were it not for
the continued arrival of favourable reports we might sup-
pose that some misfortunes bad occurred which the autho-
rities at Washington were desirous of concealing. There
have been occasions since the first appeal mace of the enemy
north of Winchester and the Potomac River when these
restrictions would have been much more reasonable, but
they were then omitted—now they are introduced, when
the people are even more anxious than ever to know the
the fate of Early and his audacious band. The falling
back of the rebel forces in the Valley is considered by many
as not an absolute necessary movement, but as part if. a
deep-laid programme on the part of the enemy to entice our
forces forward until the reinforcements, which are now
very positively known to have left Richmond a short time
ago, have been able to join Early. The enemy, with his
whole strong h, is then expected to fall suddenly upon
Sheridan and crush him, unless he be cautious not to ad-
vance too rapidly and allow his columns to become too
much scattered."

With reference to the proposed negotiations, the
Eichntonc: Sentinel declares itself " willing and
anxious to make peace," and says :
Those wao find fault with this paper tread in the precise
footsteps and follow precisely the example of Lincoln. They
would htv;e, peace (at least, they say so), but only on condi-
tion that before entering into the negotiations they be
allowed to prescribe all the terms. They and Lincoln each
know that there never can be peace on such conditions. They
know that freedom of discussion is essential to peace negotia-
tions to bringing about peace. But their whole sole object
appears to bo to trammel the Administration—so to trammel
it that it will be utterly impossible in any contingency, or on
any terms whatever, to open or assent to peace negotiations.
It is impossible to conceive that they are actuated but by a
single motive, and that they wish to embarrass the Adminis-
tration and to bring it into disrepute, wholly reckless of the
consequences resulting to the country. It matters not how
long the war shall continue, provided they can glut their
hatreds and see their predictions of evil fulfilled,
The _Examiner recommends an armistice on the
following conditions :
Let there be not only an armistice, but a formal renuncia-
tion of all right and pretence to coerce these States, and of
course an entire withdrawal of all land and sea forces which
occupy any portion of our soil or blockade r.ny of our ports,
and then the Northern States will for the first time be in a
Position to propose to us reconstruction of the Union or a
Convention of states for the purpose of negotiating that. It
Wray safely be premised that such proposals would then be
at least considered. At present one cannot say what would
be the result of that consideration ; but, in short, lot our
Northern brethren try us. With such a change in the
existing relations no doubt there may come also a great
Change over man's minds.
The New York Herald is urging upon the Ad-
ministration the advantages which would follow to
the national cause from the experiment of a peace
commission to Richmond, with authority to enter
into arrangements with the rebel leaders for an
armistice of six months, and a Convention of Repre-
sentatives from all the States in the interval, to con-
sult together upon the ways and means of peace.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
lVerld gives currency to a rumour that President
Lincoln has under consideration the propriety of
proposing an armistice with the enemy as a politi.
cal man oeuvre.

FATAL ACCIDENTS ON THE THAMES.-00 Sunday
afternoon an itinerant barber named John Crane, went on
board a collier brig lying off Shadwell to exercise his voca-
tion. In the evening, as he was about to embark in a small
boat to return to shore, ho fell into the water, and although
the men endeavoured to save him at once, a few minutes
elapsed before he was taken out, and life was then extinct.
On Saturday right some sailors on board a coal ship at
Ilotherhithe were skylarking on deck,when ono of them, in
getting out of his shipmate's way, fell into the river and
was drowned. Yesterday morning the body of a lad named
James Stovin, belonging to the schooner Lord Elgin, of
Perth. was found in the river near the Herruitage,Wapping
There have been no less than 10 fatal accidents on the river
during the last week.

[AnvracrisEmENT.] Holloway's Ointment.—S)res,
wounds, ulcerations, and other diseases affecting the skin/
are amendable by this cooling and healing unguent. It has
called forth the loudest praises from persons who had suf-
fered for years from bad legs, abscesses, and chronic ulcers,
after every hope of care had long passed away. None but
thoz.3 who have experienced the soothing effect of this oint-
ment, can form an idea of the comfort it bestows by re-
straining inflammation and allaying pain. Whenever this
ointment has been once used it has established its own
worth, and has again been eagerly sought for as the easiest
and safest remedy for all ulcerous complaints. In neuralgia,
rheumatism, and gout, the same application, properly used,
gives wonderful relief.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

--0--

Tteres.—When M. de Persigny was explaining
to hie audience last week that there was as much
liberty in France as in England, only that it was
French liberty in one case and British liberty in the
other, he found himself a little embarrassed by the
question of the Press. It was impossible to main-
tain that the French Press was free, even according
to the French idea of freedom ; and so M. do Per-
signy frankly made an exception of the case, and
justified the exception. He said that the "founders
of English liberty" had experienced precisely the
same necessity, and adopted precisely the same
course ; and, as he designated the period of the legis-
lation referred to, we have no difficulty in following
his argument. His intention was to compare France
under Napoleon 111. with England under Queen
Anne or George 1., and to defend the restrictions
:low imposed on the French Press by examples
drawn from our history in the last century. The
parallel thus suggested opens a very curious view.
It is not to be denied that the dynastic histories of
England and France coincide, through certain chap-
ters, in a most remarkable manner. We began with
our great Revolution, among the results of which
wore the dethronement and execution of the reign-
ing Sovereign and the substitution of a Common-
wealth for a Monarchy. After an interval of a few
years this Revolution was followed by a Restoration
of the legitimate dynasty; and again, after another
interval, the Restoration was succeeded by a fresh
Revolution, which expelled the legitimate King,
and established a Constitutional Monarchy in a new
braoch of the Royal House. In the history of France
each of these revolutions is exactly reproduced.
The French first had their great Revolutiot,
which had brought about the execution of Louis
XVI, and the establishment of a Republic. Then
came the Restoration in the person of Louis
XVIII., and then again the expulsion of the legie
timate dynasty, and the substitution of a Consti-
tutional monarchy in the House of Orleans. Now,
it very naturally happened that at each of these
political conjunctures the French bethought them-
selves of the English precedents. In 1789 a complete
Anglomania prevailed in Paris. Royal dukes walked
about in top-boots, and English customs were every-
where in fashion. In 1830 it was the boast of Louis
Philippe and his Ministers that the new revolution
was the exact counterpart of that which finally
secured England its freedom and its tranquillity,
and that with this event the series would terminate
in their case as it had done in ours. But at this point
the parallels ceased. M. Guizot's anticipations weie
not fulfilled. There was yet another revolution
to come. Louis Philippe, instead of steering the
new monarchy through the shoals and breakers
ahead of it, suffered shipwreck, and a second re-
public, succeeded by a second empire, supervened
upon the crash. When it is urged, therefore, on
behalf of the successive Governments of France
that they ought to be compared, not with our Go-
vernments in the present reign, but with those in
the reign of the first two Georges, there is an appa-
rent foundation for the claim. M. Guizot's position
was that of a Sir Robert Walpole, not of a Sir
Robert Peel. It could only be required of him,
therefore, that he should be as liberal as Walpole
was in his political acts, and not more unscrupulous
in his management of Parliament. He was sur-
rounded by the partisans of an exiled dynasty, ace
tively intriguing for a Restoration, and still sanguine
of ultimate success. He was even beset by dangers
which Walpole escaped, for in France the advocates
of Republicanism as well as Legitimacy still .sur-
vived to threaten the Government established, and
there was a powerful party of Imperialists besides.
It was apparently unreasonable to exact of a
Minister conducting an Administration under these
conditions that he should accord absolute free-
dom of action to parties who might be expected to
use it for the destruction, not only of the Govern-
ment, but of the dynasty too. Nor is the argument
at first sight much less applicable now than it was
twenty years ago. We are apt to forget how slowly
things right themselves after a political convulsion.
Between the first and what happily proved to be the
last of our Revolutions about fifty years intervened,
but it would be a great mistake to imagine that the
institutions of 1688 were rapidly established. For-
tunately for us, they were never actually subverted,
and as the tree could not be overthrown it gradually
took root, but many were the political storms to be
encountered, and many the dangers to be escaped.
It is of course hard to give any arbitrary date as
marking the end of all dynastic rivalries and the con-
summation of the political work, but the resumption
of prayers for the Royal family in Roman Catholic
chapels is regarded with some reason as indicating
the adhesion of the last outstanding malcontents.
That happened in the year 1767, so that our Act
of Settlement, passed in 1701, took nearly 70 years
in settling. We need only contrast with these
periods those of the various French Revolutions
to see that some allowance may still be claimed by
the Governments of France. Even if the dynasty
of Louis Philippe,-the Constitutional Monarchy,
had never been overthrown, and had weathered
every storm up to the present day, it would still at
this moment have reached only that stage of growth
which was attained by our own Monarchy in the
year 1722. But in France the Constitutional tree
enjoyed no such opportunities. It was uprooted
before it had stood twenty years, and in its place
there now stands another plant, which has not yet
had even that time to take root and grow. Mea-
suring, in fact, the course of French history with
our own, stage by stage, and reckoning from
the latest Revolution, we should be carried
well into the next century before we found our-
selves at a date which would correspond with the
epoch of final settlement in England. But the fact
is that all this parallel, though historically curious,
falls very short of a true comparison. M. de Per-
signy and the statesmen of his school leave out of
the aecount the immeasurabledifference between the
two ages contrasted. George I. and his Ministers
did not succeed to the government of a country in
which the freedom of the press had been long enjoyed
—in fact, such freedom, as we understand it now had
never existed at all. The press, as it was regulated
by Walpole, was no such exception to the institutions
around it as the French press is now. It was pretty
nearly on a level with other things, and had, at any
rate, never been in a much better position. It grew
as other institutions grew, and was adopted in its
progress to the wants of successive generations. In
the eighteenth century, moreover, there were no
invidious comparisons to be drawn between one coune
try and another, Englishmen could not look across
the Channel and contemplate the operation of a free
press in France. They knew nothing either from
recollection or observation of a better state of things,
and therefore the facts created little offence. But
the country in which the press is now reduced, ac-
cording to M. de Persigny's own estimate, to the
condition of the English press in the days of Wel-
pale, is a country in which journalism was recently
carried to a high point of political excellence. Tbe
age in which these obsolete restrictions are revived
is an age eminently characterised by free thought
and diffusion of knowledge. It is an age which re-
cognises infinite advantage in free discussion. We
have come to the conclusion that within limits very
liberally fixed, nothing but good can come of inquiry
and argument. Between this age t herefore and an age
longgone by no true parallel can be drawn, and M. de
Persigny himself involuntarily marks the difference
when ho expends so much rhetoric and ingenuity in
justifying the policy maintained, Walpole would
never have taken that trouble, nor would it ever
have been expected of him. We are not blind to
the exigencies of what M. de Persigny calls " a
country newly constituted." It is the old appeal—
Bea dune et regni novitas. But as long as the press
is kept under such thraldom as is maintained in
France, so long will the best instrument of political
progress be lost.
POST.—Ot all places in the world the last in which
one would have expected to bear of an insurrection
is a Swiss Canton, and we were proportionately
astonished when we were told a few days since that
in Geneva the people had come in collision with
the authorities, barricades had been raised, and
blood spilt. A day later we learned that the dis-
turbances had been suppressed, and order once
more restored, and that what was at first spaken
of no an insurrection was nothing more than that
sudden ebullition of popular feeling to which our
French neighbours—no mean authorities on such
matters—give the name of an emeute. In Great
Britain the disturbances would have been set down
as simple election riots, and indeed the circumstance
alone of the borough being in the present instance
the State invested them with the importance which
they possessed. The Swiss Confederation is very
differently constituted from that league which,
until a few years since, was known to the world as
the American Union, nor do the States composing it
claim that unfettered independence on the enjoyment
of which the American States so much pride them-
selves. Into the distinguishing characteristics of the
two republics it will however be unnecessary to enter,
nor will it, fortunately,be incumbent on us to explain
the relationship existing between the local Govern-
ment of the Canton of Geneva and the supreme
Federal jurisdiction which is exercised by the dele-
gates of ail the Cantons. The appeal made on the
recent occasion by the State Council to that of the
Federation far assistance in restoring order, though
responded to, was in truth unnecessary, and the
Genevese are entitled to the credit of having allayed
the storm which they had themselves excited. The
issue raised by the populace was of the simplest
and apparently moat unimportant, kind. No prin-
ciple of government was at stake, nor did any of the
disaffected citizens contemplate even the slightest
change in a political system which secures to them
the fullest enjoyment of civil liberty. The simple
question was whether the election of a candidate to
the office of Lumber of the State Council could be