The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-11 00:00:00

formation of the spirit, not only of the border
people in Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee, but
of the cotton States, is current in Canada, which, if
it percolated through the New York, Philadelphia,
Washington, and Boston press, might cause the
Northern people to be less sanguine than they are,
at this moment of apparent victory, of the ultimate
success of their cause, and more dubious of the final
triumph, which neither men who deserve, or men
who do not deserve it, are certain of obtaining.
The success of General Sherman at Atlanta, fol.
lowed so rapidly by that of General Sheridan in the
valley of the Shenandoah, has again inclined the
thoughts of the Americans towards peace. A month
ago, when the Chicago Convention was in session,
the peace party was in the ascendant. The people
were depressed and discouraged. They dreaded
that the war would be interminable. Tbey
were alarmed at the rapid depreciation of Mr
Chase's paper currency. They had placed all their
hopes in Gen. Grant, and Gen. Grant was as egret,
gious a failure as any other drill-sergeant or at-
torney ts ho had ever been called upon to command
the brave but unfortunate Army of the Potomac.
He was squandering human lives as if they were of
no value, and moved to his work with the remorse•
lessness of a machine or the calculating murderous•
ness of a Cincinnati pig butcher. They saw no end
to his sacrifices of life, but they saw a too speedy
end to the supply of his human material. They
were weary of Mr Lincoln, of Mr Seward, of Mr
Stanton, and of Mr Gideon Welles ; and the New
York and other journals, catching the temper of a
multitude whom they sometimes represent, but never
lead, were all as ardent for an armistice as if they
had been members of the Peace Society, or the
" League of Universal Brotherhood." But General
Sherman tack Atlanta, and with the celerity of
harlequin in a Christmas pantomime, who with one
stroke of his wand oan convert a Quaker into a
grenadier, he filled the American heart with a hope-
fulness as great as its previous despondency, opened
before the delighted eyes of Mr Lincoln a bright
prospect of re-election, and reinvigorated that love
for conquest and the Union which had slumbered
but had not died in the previous month of Federal
ill-fortune. The consequence has been a belief in
the minds of the easily excited crowd of American
politicians that the end of the war approaches ;
but in their estimation peace comes from a dif-
ferent direction than that in which it seemed
to be coming, when General Grant was vainly
hammering at the gates of Petersburg, and ap-
pealing to General Lee, who would not answer,
to come out and be defeated before Richmond. The
cry is now that the South is exhausted—that
it cannot maintain itself until next spring;
that it is only necessary for Grant or Sherman to
strike another blow to make an end of the Confede-
ration; and that the Southern leaders, aware of their
doom, are anxious to propose terms to their proxi-
mate conquerors, and to save life and honour, if not
property, on the inevitable day of reckoning on the
best terms they can extort. It is asserted from
Washington that General Sherman has made the
first step towards peace by inviting a conference with
any plenipotentiary who Mr. Jtfferson Davis may
appoint, and that the Hon. Clement C. Clay and
the Hon. Jacob Thompson, the Confederate Com-
missioners in Canada—the one residing at St. Ca-
therine's, and the other at Toronto—have, on their
part, received instructions from Richmond to pro-
pose peace to the Washington Government, on the
basis of the restoratian of the Union, the re-affirm-
ation of the doctrine of State rights general
amnesty—and the guarantee of slavery in all the
States where it legaly and constitutionally existed
before the rebellion. lam not in a position either
to confirm or deny the statements made with re-
gard to General Sherman, though I have reason to
believe that his function as a peacemaker is limited
to such peace as he can make with the sword—but
I am able to state, on the highest authority, that
Messrs. Clay and Thcmpsou have no such mission,
and have made and will make no such offer as that
imputed to them. Tteir " platform" is Southern in-
dependence, and that alone. All other questions
are subsidiary to this, the corner-stone of their edi-
fice. Short of independence the South will listen
to and propose no terms whatever. Come weal,
some woe, it will fight to the last man on this basis,
if it take fifty years. Recent reverses have grieved
but not discouraged it. The Southern exiles in
Canada—men who have sacrificed home and pro-
perty for the cause—assert that the spirit, not alone
of the South, but of the Border States was never so
high and determined es at this time of defeat. They
theits ecalomsee,tiims
eonthlyetatthiftys beginning. They
salami) se e seta. _meet sisual ru pp vs' from
will yet showthe
world attt
ey
world that what Washington and his slaveholding
compeers did against all the might and majesty of
England less then 90 years ago will be done against
all the might, without the majesty, of the North by
the slave.'holding gentlemen and slave-approving
middle.classes of the South.
There is, however, a class among the Southern
exiles in Canada, the highest in the confidence of
the Confederate Government, who admit that the
day may come—though they hope it never will—
when the South, despairing of European intervene
tion, and weary of barren sympathy, may be driven
into a corner, unable to find help abroad or rein-
forcements at home, In such an emergency they
inoidt that the Southern leaders might be induced
to propose terms to Mr. Lincoln, if he be re-elected,
or to General Welellan if he should take Mr. Lin-
coln's place, to which either of those gentlemen and
the Northern people would be likely to accede.
They would represent to the Federal Government

that they would never lay down their arms until
they had secured their political independence and
separate nationality ; that the North would not dare
to attempt their extermination, and would not suc-
ceed in the attempt if it were wicked enough to set
the opinion of the world and the doctrines of
Christianity at &fiance in pursuance of any such
project ; and that, such being the case, it would be
for the interest of the North as well as of the
South to see if a compromise could not be effected.
The South, upon consideration of Federal recap.

ninon of its independence,
would be prepared to
enter into a commercial treaty with the North
upon the basis of free trade, and to place an ex-
port duty of 10e. per pound upon cotton, BO CS
to give the manufacturers cf Now England and
other Federal States an advantage to that extent
over the manufacturers of Great Britain and France
and every other part of the world. Moreover, they
would agree to an alliance offensive and defensive
with the North in support of the Monroe doctrine
leaving it to the North to decide whether the doc-
trine should first be vindicated in the expulsion of

the Emperor Maximilian and the French from
Mexico, or in the attempted annexation of Canada
to the Federal dominions. These ideas may seem
wild in Europe, but, wild or not, they are seriously
entertained by many Southern men of high in-
&epee and position. They are not only disap,
pointed with
the action of Great Britain ani

France, but they are indignant at what they call the
stupidity or the heartlessness of those nations—

stupidity that did not see tho interest of Europe to

aid in the disintegration of the American Republic,
which when united threatened to overshadow the

world with its greatness, and oppress it with its
power; or heartlessness that would allow a gallant

people, fighting
for their independence, to be over-
whelmed by the mercenary Irish and Germans whom
the North has bribed to fight the battles which it
has not cared to fight with its own arms. These sen.
timents may be deprecated in Europe, but they
exist, and are not to be reasoned away ; and should
any great ill-fortune befal the South will probably
take larger dimensions than they have yet assumed,

and feral the basis of a peace
South which will augur anything but peace for the
rest, of the world. between North and

The Southern exiles and
sympathisers with the
North in Canada take but little interest in th© Pre-
sidential contest. If they have a choice between
Lincoln and M'Clellan it inclines to the side of Mr.
Lincoln. They know that Le has mismanaged the
war; that he is not a man
of principle; that he
shifts with the wind of popular opinion; that he
would maintain slavery if he could thereby preserve
the Union ; that he would abolish it if be had
the power, for the very same reason ; that he is a
cunning rather
than skilful politician; that he has

a thousand weak points and not two strong ones;
that as long as he shall remain President the cause
of Republican liberty in the North will be discredited
throughout the world ; that under his rule the publie
debt must increase from month to month till its
burden becomes intolerable ; and that, all things
considered, "the man whose blundering administra-
tion has done so much to make the South a nation
is the best man to continue the work to its litigi-
mate completion." Gen, M'Clellan, on the other
hand, if elected, would give the Federal cause a
certain amount of eclat in Europe—dispose Euro-
pean statesmen to watch and wait to see what would
came of the new administrators, and in a variety of
other ways tend to prolong the war. These things
considered, they incline more to Mr Lincoln than to
his competitor. They have no love or respect for
either candidate ; but if they dislike one more than
the other it is Gen. M'Clellan, because, nominated
on a peace platform, he accepted the nomination as
a supporter of the war and had not sufficient sta-
bility of purpose or character to refuse to be carried
away by popular clamour created by the transient
and resultless victory of Atlanta. In short, the
Southerners despise Mr Lincoln and hate General
M'Clellan. They consider the one a fool and the
other a knave, and think themselves quite able to
cope with either. I have already stated that they are
not discouraged by the recent unfavourable news
from the valley of the Shenandoah, and have only
to add that they believe that whichever of the two
candidates be elected, there will be a popular out-
break in the North-west, which will severely test
the power of the Federal Government, and operate
as a valuable diversion in favour of their muse.
Circumstances, small in themselves, but all con.
verging to one focus, show that this belief is not
ill-founded, and foreshadow a troublesome time in
that region prior to and subsequent to the day of
election.

Royal East Berks Agricultural Association.

This association, which is one of the most important of
the kind in the county. held its annual ploughing match on
Tuesday lest. The ploughing match took place on land at
Hithe Farm, Cockham, in the occupation of Mr J. T. Mills,
Between 30 and 40 teams attended. The attendance on the
field on Tuesday was not so large as it has sometimes been
in former years.
In the evening there was a public dinner in the Town-
Hall, Maidenhead. The attendance was not so large as on
some former occasions. The chair was taken by Mr John
Harcy, the vice-president being Mr Walter, M.P.
After the usual•loyel and constitutional toasts had been
drunk,

Mr HIBBERT proposed " Success to the Royal East Berke
Agricultural Association." (Cheers.) Their institution was
fortunate in obtaining not only the nominal, but the sub-
stantial patronage of the Crown. They had heard that the
Prince of Wales had promised them a noble annual sub-
scription. Ho thought, however, with all this that they
ought to have reform. Ho was not going to talk politics,
but ho thought with regard to the association that they
ought to make it of more practical advantage. They had
one of the most popular gentlemen in the neighbourhood
in the chair, one who was known to them as a good land-
lord and a kind friend, and in every way fitted for the post
he filled, and yet when they looked round the room they
could not but notice their diminished ranks, and that in
point of numbers they were not what they ought to be.
(Hear,) They ought not at present to be decrepit. They
had only been established 25 years, and they ought to be
flourishing. He would suggest that there must be some-
thing unsound in the formation of the society, else it would
hold a better position. He trusted that they would make
an effort to put the society on its legs again, (Hear.) He had
given a small prize for cottage husbandry, but he found that
there were only 10 competitors for six prizes. (Laughter.)
It was no honour to win a prize under such circumstances.
It was like coming in second in a race when only two started.
(Laughter,) He thought the society had done a great deal
of good, and that it was capable of doing still more good.
(Cheers.) He begged to propose " The Health of the Chair-
man." (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Health of the High
Sheriff," who, with the exception of the Lord-Lieutenant,
held the highest office in the county, The way in which
ho had discharged the duties of his office had given the
greatest satisfaction to the Judges.
The HIGH SHERIFF (Mr Hall Say), in responding, said
he considered it as a compliment paid not so much to the
individual as to the office which he had the honour to fill.
Referring to the operations of the association, Mr Say said
he considered them to be beneficial ; he believed that the
labourer who received a prize went away a prouder and a
happier man, and that he was regarded as an example to
his parish. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said that the next toast would be sure to
be received with great pleasure; it was the health of their
county members. (Cheers.) They were pleased to see one
of them preseet. Mr Benyon had written to apologise for
his absence, but he had accepted the chairmanship of a
dinnet at Lamborne, and, as that engagement clashed with
the dinner at Maidenhead, he could not be present at the
httena, aThe VAS not very w&l.e ANTLITiig.,YM NI/tigiketg,
of their members in the House of Commons, they were
always present when anything of consequence was brought
before it. With regard to Mr Walter, he could say that he
had never absented himself when the interest of the county
or of the country required his presence. (Hear, hear.) In-
deed, ho thought that all of their members had acted their
parts very well, although they went into different lobbies.
They did the best they could for the interest of the county.
He begged to propose "The health of the County Mem-
bers." (Cheers )
Mr WALTER, who was received with cheers, said that
on behalf of himself and his hon. friends and colleagues,
who were unfortunately prevented from being present, he
begged to thank them for the kind manner in which they
had received the toast. It was one of those honours which
members of Parliament were accustomed to look forward
to at that time of the year, when labourers received
rewards for their services--(great laughter)—and members
of Parliament belonged to that useful class. And such was
the generosity of their employers that, as in the case men-
tioned by Mr Hibbert with regard to other branches of in-
dustry, there were more prizes than candidates—(laughter)
—for le (Mr Walter) was the sole recipient of the honour
paid to the county members, or rather he was the only mem-
ber present to acknowledge the compliment. He was quite
aware that it was not to their political services that they
were indebted for the compliments pasred them on these
occasions, but rather from the circumstance that from the
position they occupied, they were able to discuss those ques-
tions in which they were all concerned, but with which
politics had but little to do. He need not tell them that of
late years, partly from internal and partly from external
causes, Parliament might almost be said to have abdicated
its political functions. As soon as the Budget had been dis-
posed of, and when they knew how much they had to pay,
and how they would be likely to stand for the coming year,
Parliament occupied itself with measures relating to the
education of young sinners and the reformation of old ones,
with questions of prison discipline, questions of local
taxation, the highway question, the turnpike question, and
many others, the objects of which were to make England a
country not only more wealthy, but more comfortable and
happy than it is at present. The Parliament sun sets in
August, but
" Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale"
(laughter)—the moon being represented by various societies
for the advancement of social science and other objects, and
these questions were being taken up by such a number of
Parliaments that it was difficult to say who was in Parlia-
ment and who was not. (Laughter.) These societies were
becoming ono of the greatest features of the age. He would
not go so far as to say, as did Mr Disraeli, that these social
congresses would enable them to get out of the sulky silence
which characterised their forefathers (laughter), and make
them fit to live in merry England, but he thought that the
more they met and discussed these questions, the more likely
they were to promote those reforms which would render the
people better and happier, (Cheers.) But these meetings
were of but little value if the talk was always on ono side,
and if persons were not at liberty to point out in what way
these societies were capable of being improved. MrHibbert,
as an old friend of the institution, had made some remarks
in which he entirely concurred, but he (Mr Walter) had for
years contended that there was something not sound in
these societies. He should not now enter into the subject;
he should have another opportunity next year, when he
understood he was to have the honour of being their presi-
dent, to show some material points in which these societies
might be improved. The sum and substance of the objections
he had were that the societies did too much or too little. If
they attempted so much they ought to do it more.thoroughly
and to have a number of prizes of such a value that it would be
worth while to compete for them ; or if they could not do
this they ought not to give prizes for such a variety of
things. Ho knew that there were many who agreed with
him in his opinions upon this subject, though they might
not say so openly. The hon, gentleman again thanked them
for drinkicg his health, and resumed his seat amid cheers.
Mr BULSTRODE, the secretary, then read the list of prizes.
The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Health of Mr Mills,"
thanking him for the use of his land.
Mr MILLS responded, and said that they bad helped him
forwerd with his work, and he said that he ought of the
two to be obliged to them rather than they to him. He was
happy to let them have the use of the land, though some
persons objected to their land being ploughed by a society
because the work was so badly done. (Laughter.)
Mr F. Pocock proposed " The Health of the Judges."
Mr THUMPER, in responding, said they would all lament
with Mr Hibbert the decline of the society, but he hoped
that there would be a great revival. He thought the socie •
ties were of great benefit ; they certainly improved the
ploughing, and they also promoted good fellowship (Cheers.)
Ile hoped, it through any feeling of jealousy any persons