The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-05 00:00:00

into the plate the in:L-11 was but insignificantly
affected by it; in fact, this shell only proved to "loe
what shells in general have often proved before—
harmless against armour plating. In addition to the
shots fired from the two
wins at the selected plates,
according to the programme of the day's trial, a
steel shot from each gun was fired at a 6 inch
plate manufactured at the Millwall Ironwork for
the Bellerophon iron frigate, the charge of
powder being in each instance of the same amount
as had been used in th e previous ng. The spheri-
cal shot from the smooth bore gun made a hole in
the plate 101 in. in diameter and drove the broken
parts of the plate in Sin, from the plate's outer sur- '
face, the shot striking full in a central position on
the plate and in front of a knee, and failing to get
through into the ship, as much from the resistance
offered by the knee as its own weakness, broke up
and fell overboard. The elongated shot from the
shunt gun also struck fully on the plate, and enter-
ing by a hole Sin. in diameter buried itself among
the debris of the broken plate in the ship's side,
with its base, 4,l;in. in from the plate's outer sur-
face. Inboard, the ship's side was bulged in at the
back of the plate.
The broad results of the day's trial between
the two guns may be taken to be, that,
although at short range no great difference
may exist, the balance of destructive power,
if any, must be awarded in favour of the
smooth bore. Beyond 500 yards, however, the
shunt gun would take the lead, while the smooth
bore would become comparatively ineffective against
iron clads. With regard to steel shot, it will at once
be seen that they did not succeed in making their
way into the ship through her armour-plating, as
they have done on former occasions, both at Ports.
mouth and Shoeburyness, and this want of success
on the part of the shot can be only attributed to the
quality or temper—perhaps both combined—of the
steel of the shot, and not to the guns. The majority
of the elongated shot, and certainly all the spherical
ones, exhibited the radical weakness of destroying
themselves in the process of destroying the plates.
The spherical shot had been hardened in oil, but
they could have no cohesive power imparted to them
by the operation. With our present information on
the subject, it is almost, if not altogether, impossible
to say what are the best conditions of temper under
which steel shot can be supplied by the makers to
the Government authorities. This knowledge can
only be arrived at by experiments on a comprehen-
sive scale with shot produced under different condi-
tions of manufacture. At present the cutting powers
and cohesive strength of steel shot is very uncertain,
and they are also very expensive; but they are the
only projectiles that will penetrate ironclad ships or
forts.

TRIAL OF GUNS,

The two guns which have become known to naval
m..n and artillerists by the distinctive names of the
" Somerset" and the " Frederick" have undergone at
Portsmouth a very interesting competitive trial of
their armour plate piercing powers, in the presence
of several members of the Board of Admiralty and a
number of naval officers, includin g Vice-Admiral Sir
F. W. Grey, K.C.8., Rear-Admiral Charles Fre-
derick, and Rear-Admiral K. S. Robinson, Con-
troller of the Navy, from the Admiralty ; Captain
J. C. Caffin, C. 8., Director of Ordnance, Vice-
Admiral Sir M. Seymour, G.C.8., and Rear-
Admiral Superintendent G. Elliot. The firing was
conducted, as usual, under the superintendence of
Captain Astley C. Key, C. 8., commanding the
gunneryship Excellent.
The two guns are simply Armstrong guns, and
the fact of their being generally known by the
names of toe First and Third Lords of the Admi-
ralty is owing to the great interest which has been
taken by the Duke of Somerset and Rear-Admiral
Frederick in the development of the powers of these
two weapons, which are undoubtedly the most per-
fect of their kind the country possesses for general
service on board abip. The " Somerset" gun is a
coil-built, smoothsbore, has a diameter of bore of
9.22 in., and w
eighs tons. The "Frederick"
gun is also coil.built, but is rifled on Sir William
Armstrong's shunt principle, has a diameter of bore
of 7 inches, and weighs 6 tons 13cwt. 3 qrs. The
smooth-bore presents no external difference from
others of Sir W. Armstrong's muzzle-loading guns,
but the shunt gun, from the greater weight and
disposition of metal at its breech, assimilates some-
what in form at that part to the American Dahl.

gren gun.
Both guns were mounted on board the Stork
gunboat, tender to the Excellent, and the plates to
be fired at were bolted on the port side of the
America target-ship, the gunboat and target-
ship being moored in positions at 200 yards distance
in the upper part of Portsmouth harbour. The
plates, or rather pieces of plates, that were fired
at had been specially selected for this trial, on ac-
count of their known superior qualities, and from
their methods of manufacture—one being the sound
end of a plate that had been previously tested in
the ordinary way, and which, now that it was cut
off from the main body far the present trial, mea-
sured 9ft. llin. in length by 311. Bin. in width, and
was 51in. in thickness. It was of rolled manufac-
ture, from the firm of John Brown and Co., of the
Atlas Works, Sheffield. The second plate was also
the sound end cut off from a plate previously tested.
It measured Bft. 10in. in length by 3tt. sin. in
width, and was also 51in. in thickness. It was of
hammered manufacture, from the works of the
Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company.
Tne practice commenced soon after noon, with a
steel spherical shot from the 9.22 in gun, fired with
a 30-pounder charge of powder at Messrs. Brown's
plate, the weight of the shot being 1151 b. The
shot struck the plate full on its right centre, and
partially turned rcund in the plate and broke up,
its broken outer surface being flush with the plate's
outer surface. The shut had thus failed to do its
work—i. e,, it had destroyed itself in cutting its
way into the plate, end it hid out made its slay
into the ship. Inside the ship the only visible da-
mage was a piece of the inner planking at the back
of the plate, about 9 feet in length, started from
the ship, and standing out at an angle of 20 de-
grees. The shunt gun was next charged with an
elongated steel shot weighing 98 pounds, and 251 b.
of powder, and laid at the same plate. Unfortue
nately, this shot took effect on a part of the plate
which allowed of no correct comparative results
being arrived at between the two shots, this one
striking not quite with its whole diameter on the
plate's left edge and about 15 inches below the
left upper corner. It was a weak spot,
and, although the shot destroyed itself, com-
mensurate effects were produced. The shot was
broken up about seven inches in the ship's side from
the plate's outer surface, while the diameter of the
hole by which the shot entered the plate was nine
iaches. In board two of the strakes of inner plank-
ing at the back of the plate eight feet in length
and two feet in width were started and bulged in-
ward some inches. Oa the deck, 20 feet distant
from the ship's side at the back of the plate, where
they had been fixed and formed part of the ship's
structure, lay a massive iron and a wooden knee
which had had their nuts broken from off the ends
of their bolt fastenings, and then then hurled to the
distance warned by the force of the blow. The iron
knee was broken in two pieces, and the deck was
covered with splinters of iron and wood within a
zadius of 20 feet sufficient to have killed or seriously
wounded every man who might have stood within
that area in time of action. This shot having,
however, been so nnfor:anataly planted, it
was determined to send another from the
same gun and against the same plate, in
order to arrive at definite results ; for, as there
are no unsupported edges cf armour plates on an
iruaclad's sides, except on the outer lines, the re-
sults of the last shot could not be looked upon as
definite in any valuable sense. The second shot, by
a singular coincidence, struck in the immediate
vicinity of the last, their edges overlapping, and
consequently the result, so far as related to the
object of the trial, was nil. The backing of the
plate at this end had been destroyed by the previous
shot, and the present one striking in the same plate
passed simp'y through the shattered side into the
ship, and out again through the opposite side. The
next shot was a spherical steel, and fired from the
smooth-bore with a 301 b. charge, and was direetea
against the Thames Company's plate. Unfortunate
circumstances also attended this shot, it striking
close upon the lower edge of the plate and within two
inches of a bolt. It drove the broken pieces of plate
14in. into the ship's side from the plate's outer sur-
face, extending the fracture through the bolt hole and
lower edge of the plate, and destroyed itself in the
broken debris of the plate. Inboard the inner plank-
ing at the back of the plate was started sft in length
by 3ft 6in in width, and bulging inwards at its
greatest part 15in. An elongated steel shot was next
sent against the same plate from the shunt gun with
a 95th charge, and the same unsatisfactory kind of
result followed, for the shot again struck on the
this time on the upper edge. It
plate's edge,
only
broke the plate into the sh:p's side 18in. beyond the
plate's outer surface, and afterwards passed through
into the ship, where it was picked up lying on the
deck, and but I:ttle altered in form, its diameter at
the end where it struck the plate having been in-
creased bat one inch and eight-tenths, the openirss
in the metal radiaing from the centre of the point
of impact being at the same time Lot very slight.
had done its
This was certainly a shot that
work properly, in having expended
its force
in cutting
its
way into the ship and in
not destroying itself. This plate had as yet re-
ceived but two shots, and both of them were edge
blows, and as it was requisite to plant a shot fully
on it and clear of the edge's weakness
of parts,
another steel boat was sent at it with a 251 b charge
from the shunt gun. On examining the plate after
the shot had been fired the base of the latter was
found to be standing outwards sin. from the plate 'a
outer surface, it being thus embedded half its own
length in the plate. It was not easy to explain how
this bolt came to be sticking only half way in the
plate when all others had gone through—that is \
through the plate's thickness of metal, if they had
not gone through all and into the ship. The mss- I
tery was, however, solved on inspecting the inside
of the ship, for here it was found the shot had
struck immediately upon a knee the fastenings of
which had stood firm under the shock of the blow,
and hence the non penetration of the shot. This
shows the value of a goad backing. The firing at
the two selected plates concluded with a 981 b. steel
elongated shell ,a new pattern Armstrong,containing
a bursting charge of lib. 11oz., fired at Brown's
plate, from the shunt gun. It struck the plate close
to the upper edge, and, bursting by the force of its
own blow on the plate, sent up an immense column
I of smoke in the air, while its broken parts came
,T flying back towards the gunboat. As had been
anticipated, however, with all this noise ani smoke
.
'int very little damage was done. The indent on
the plate at the deepest part was only 4in., and
although the shell must have exploded at the mo-
ment of reaching the deepest part of its indentation

standing the corporation had a Remembrancer and
a Solicitor whose business it was to keep a watch
over 7egislation affecting its interests, he had alto
been taken by surprise by the manner in which
the bill in question had passed through a select
committee. If he had known that it was in con-
templation to abolish the supervision of the Court
of Aldermen in this matter. he, as the senior mem-
ber of the Court, should have tendered himself as a
witness before the committee, and given evidence,
founded on records of the corporation, showing now
beneficial that supervision had been all along to the
public. If the City Solicitor had searched the re-
cords of that Court he would have found ample
proof of that, and been armed to repel that attack
upon its jurisdiction. He thought, tco, that the
Remembrancer and the City Solicitor ought to have
informed every member of the Court who held a seat
in the House of Commons that such a thing was in
contemplation, and of every stage of the bill. (Hear,
hear.) lie did not know why three of the alder-
men only, and those three adverse to the existing
supervision of the Court, should have been sum-
moned to give evidence. It was a sort of partiality
which to him was wholly incomprehensible that
they, the only tribunal to which the brokers were
amenable, should have been altogether ignored.
(Hear, hear.) If the bill went before a committee
of the House of Lords, he should divest himself of
the character of an alderman of London for the time,
and offer to give evidence as a merchant, a manufac-
turer, and a tradesman, and he believed that they
would listen to him. At all events, whatever the
result might be in this case, he trusted that in
future whenever the interests of the corporation
were imperilled the Remembrancer would call the
attention of every alderman of London who had a
seat in the House of Commons to the matter, in
order that they might aid and assist him in the
maintenance of those interests, and that they should
not be surprised as they had been in this instance.
(Hear, hear.)
Alderman BESLEY said if this bill passed into a
law there would be no such personage as a broker
in the city of London, pure and simple. Brokers
would cease to exist as such, and would be con-
verted into dealers. There could be no doubt
that they had been all along a very useful body of
men; they went between the merchant and the con-
sumer, and therefore the public had a manifest in.
terest in the preservation of the class, with their
present limited and well defined functions, and their
responsibility to an independent tribunal. For the
present, it was desirable that the Court should be
in possession of the evidence given by the three
selected members of their body, and he therefore
moved that a copy of the bill, with the evidence
adduced before the select committee, be furnished
to each n-ember.
Alderman GABRIEL thought the more serious
question for them to consider was bow the mischief
had been done—how a bill sacrificing revenue of
the corporation to the amount of £5,000 a year,
and, what was of greater importance, effecting the
prerogatives of that court, should have been allowed
to pass through its principal stages, with evidence
of three picked members of their body admitted on
the one side, aad none on the other. He confessed
he hilould not have thought such a thing possible,
1 actl it was certainly one telling for explanation.

The Court of Aldermen and the Stock
Exchange.
4._
On Tuesday, at a meeting of the Aldermen of
London, held at Guildhall, and presided over by the
Lord Mayor, an important question was brought
under consideration, affecting as well the jurisdiction
exercised by them, as magistrates, ever the whole
body of brokers in the city, as the interests of the
brokers themselves, and still mare, it is said, the ,
interests of the public. From time immemorial
the Court of Aldermen has exercised a eery i
stringent control both as to the admission of per-
sons to exercise the calling of a broker, and, to use
an expression in its own regulations on the subject,
with regard to their " honest and good behaviour"
afterwards. The power to admit or exclude, in
fact, rests solely with the Court of Aldermen, and
every person applying for admission must show
to their satisfacl ion his respectability and fitness
to act as a broker, by a certificate signed by re-
spectable merchants and others, not fewer than
six in number. No certificate or recommendation is
allowed to be signed by an alderman of the city,
and particularly no parson is to be permitted to
buy or sell on his own ace cunt any article in the
sale of which he acts as a broker. E.c:h broker on
admission enters into a bond, himself in the penalty
£l,OOO, and two sureties in .f.:2 ;s0 each, for the due
and just execution by him of his office and employ-
ment, and he takes a solemn oath before the whole
Court that he will truly and faithfully perform the
cffica " between party and party, and in ail thing,:
appertaining to it, without fraud or collusion, to
the best of his skill and knowledge." A bill is now
before Parliament, promoted in the interests of the
brokers, who are a very numerous and influential
body in the city of London, the object of which is
entirely to abolish the jurisdiction now exercised
over them by the Court of Aldermen, and with it
certain annual fees exacted of them, and which, in
the aggregate, form a source of revenue to the
corporation.
Yesterday, on the Court being constituted,
Alderman RosE, M.P., called their attention to
tha subject, remarking, first of all, upon the absence
from the meeting of the Remembrancer and the City
Solicitor, whose departments it more particularly
concerned, and also of the Recorder and Common
Sergeant. He expressed his great surprise that
when the bill in question, which concerned an
ancient privilege of the Coart, conferred with a
view to the public interest, was before a committee
of the House of Commons a few days ago, only
three of their brethren, the aldermen, and those
three being men who took a strong partisan in-
terest in the subject, and held views upon it diame-
trically opposed to the great majority of the Court,
should have been summoned to give evidence before
the committee. (Hear, hear.) On hearing that
circumstance he immediately proceeded to the
House of Commons with .aci view ,of tendering
himself as a witness. He there learnt that the
time at which it was compatent for him to give
evidence on the subject had passed, and he was
therefore precluded from doing so. He now pro-
tested against the one-sided statements upon which
the committee had decided in favour of the pre.
amble of the bill. The control which the Court of
Aldermen had for generations exercised over the
brokers of the city of London was one in which he
contended the public was very largely interested.
The Court was mostly composed of men variously
engaged in trading undertakings on a Large scale,
and therefore peculiarly fitted to exercise that cons
trol, and to constitute an independent and intelli.
gent tribunal for adjudicating upon questions re-
lating to trade and commerce, and particularly
with reference to transactions between buyer and
seller which it was the legitimate business of a
broker to conduct under certain prescribed condi-
tions. ett all events, it was a far more reliable
are] independent body, as regarded the protec-
tection of the public than the Committee of the
Stock-Exchange, who might be supposed, with a
tendency common to men in general, to regard such
matters too much from their own point of view. He
might mention a case in point. The Committee of
the Stock Exchange had recently to adjudicate upon
questions relating to a large shipping company,and
it was broadly asserted that sonic of the Committee
were themselves largely interested in the questions
they were called together to consider. it was true
that those particular members did not vote, yet they
sat in judgment with those who did upon the mat-
ters in issue. (Hear.) It was of the utmost imports
mace to the public that where a man employed a
broker he should be satisfied that he had employed
an agent who, while entitled to remuneration, wasw
bound under some strict
rt sofa ,
yhimthseelf
be a dealer Aasldweramllenas, e
athbartokheer
should
Cou
exerciseudotb
at the same time. (Hear, hear.) TheA scasoeijeoiftoar
solicitor and client was one in point. •
was admitted to practise his profession on proof
of skill and knowledge ;
he had to take
and he
annual certificate and pay an anneal fee,
out an
was answerable to &superior authority for tne ears
nor in which he conducted himself in the exercise
of his profession. Trustees and various other per-
sons acting in the capacity of agents for others were
eqaally amenable to law. For reasons founded in
the public interest the Court had invariably held
that a broker who received a commission, and who
acted between buyer and seller, should be prohi-
bited from acting in any other capacity than that
of an agent, and he thought that arrangement
should not be disturbed.
Alderman COPELAND, M.P., felt much indebted
to his hon. friend (Alderman Rose) for calling at-
tention to this subject, the importance of which, in
his opinion, could scarcely be uverratcd. Notwith.

(Hear.)
Alderman WILSON reminded the conrt that every
broker in the city of London, under the existing,
supervision, was pledged by oath, while acting in
that capacity, never to buy or sell on his own ac-
count. Once that wholesome restraint was removed,
a broker, he said, would cease to stand in the posi-
tion of mutual protector as between buyer and
seller, and might be palming off his own merchan-
dise for reasons of his own upon the client who
employed him in the belief that he was acting as en
agent in his interest in the ordinary way. The
alderman also complained of the manner in which a
bill vitally affecting the interests of the merchants
of the city of London had been so far smuggled
through the House of Commons.
Alderman Sir ROBERT CARDEN sail he receivcd a
Speaker's warrant the day before he gave evidence,
and he went most unwillingly before the committee.
He was boun:!, however, to obey, but he told the
chairman that he'attended reluctantly. The committe,e
wished him to volunteer evidence, which ho declined
to do, but stated at the same time that he would an-
swer any questions that might be asked him, and he
gave his evidence in that why. With regard to the
bi okers of the city of L-,ndon, akin f; them as a body,
heb.Aieved them to be as honourable a class of men as
xas to be found in any other profession or business.
(Hear.) If a broker acted fraudulently, the person
wronged cmild appeal to the law of the land, which
was preferable to coming to the Court of Aldermen
for redress, or, if he chose to act in the double capa-
city of broker and merchant, his clients would soon
find him out, and his business would suffer in conse-
quence. With regard to the statement that the
corporation had been surprised in this matter, it
was right to say that both the Recorder and the
Common Sergeant were retained to defend their
interests.
Alderman LUSK said he had also been summoned
to give evidence,and could not help himself. He had,
however, tried to bring about a compromise between
the promoters and the opponents of the bill, but in
vain. It was uzeless to talk of the public advantage
of the supervision exercised by that Court over
brokers, seeing, that half t he men who acted as brokers
in the city were not licensed at all. Nor could
the Court have been so ignorant with respect to
the bill and its stages as some of them professed,
inasmuch as one of its own committees, presided
over by Sir Francis Moon, was charged with the
duty of reporting upon it.
The REMEMBEANCEIt Corrie), who had en-
tered the court during the discussion, voluntetrzd
to make a statement on the subject, but before he
did so, asked that strangers should withdraw.
Alderman ROSE indignantly protected against
the exclusion of strangers after the discussion had
gone ao far, and in that he was supported by the

Court.
Eventually, on the suggestion of Alderman Sir
S. MULGROVE, it was arranged that the Remem-
brancer should state what he had to say before the
committee of the Court eharged with reporting
upon the matter; the motion of Alderman Begley
was unanimously adopted, and the subject dropped.

RAILWA! INTELLIGENCE,

manager, wes examined at great length on the Blackburn
extensions of the Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Earl Strs.dbrolte (chairman), the Earl of Yarborough,
Viscount II trdinge, and Lords Digby and Dar trey assem-
bled to consider the bill of the East and West Junction for
a railway of 32 miles from a junction with the cuthorised
line of the Northampton aid Banbury at Towceoter, passing
near Byfield, to near the Stratford-on-Avon passenger sta-
tion of the Great "Western, and a branch to the Evesham
and Itedditch Railway. 'The capital required is £350,000,
and £316,000 loan. The case was opened, and witnesses
were examined by Mr Staveley Hill for the promoters, and
the committee adjourned.

ORTII DEVON.
A special general meeting of this company was held yes-
terday, at the office, Gresham House, Old Broad-street—
Mr W. Tile, M.P., in the chair.
Mr Harris, the secretary, having read the notice conven-
ing the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN' said they had had several discuesions
with members of the South-Western board, and everything
connected with the amalgamation was now settled.
The Solicitor read the heads of the agreement entered into
between the directors of the London and South-Western
Railway Company and the directors of the North Devon iwr
the amalgamation of the latter with the former company.
The amalgamation was to take place on the Ist of January,
1865. The debenture debt of the North Devon was to be
assumed by the South-Western Company, who would issue
debenture stock in place of it. The £38,000 6 per cent.
preference shares of the company had been purchased and
commuted by the South Western Company. The last £5,000
of it had been exchanged for a 5 per cent stock. The A
stock of the North Devon was to be exchanged at the rate
of £lOO stock for £l9 12s of South Western ordinary stock.
The original agreement was £2O for every £lOO of North
Devon A stock, and £5O South Western ordinary stock for
every £lOO of North Devon. original stock. It was now £49
of South Western original stock for every £lOO of North
Devon original stock, and £9B of South Western original
stock for every £lOO of B stock.
The CHAIRMAN said the alteration in the terms was, in
fact, a discount paid for getting the amalgamation sooner
than was originally proposed.
The SOLICITOR said the liabilities beyond a certain
amount were to be declared by two of the directors and the
secretary, and in case of dispute it was to be settled by arbi-
tration. The clauses of the bill authorising the amalgama-
tion made the heads of agreement binding on the two com-
panies. The South Western Company would issue ordi-
nary stock, in the proportions above specified, to the holders
of the North Devon ordinary, and A and B stocks.
On the motion of the Chairman, a formal resolution,
approving a bill for the amalgamation of divers railway
companies with the London and South Western, so far as
it affected the interests of the North Devon, was carried
unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. Hartridge, the best thanks of the
meeting were awarded to the directors.

........

BIDEFORD.
A special general meeting of this company was held yes-
terday at the office, Gresham-house, to consider a bill now
before Parliament—Mr. G. Braiginton in the chair,
The Solicitor read the heads of an agreement between
this company and the London and South Western Railway
Company for the amalgamation of the Bideford under-
taking with that of the South Western Company. The
amalgamation was to commence on the Ist of January,
1565, the debenture debt of 10,000 was to be assumed by
the South• Western Company, and in lieu of the £55,000
ordinary stock of the Bideford Company the South-Western
would issue 155,000 4 per cent. preference stock, with the
proviso that only 3i per cent. per annum should be paid to
the holders until the year 1569, after which the full 4 per
cent, would be paid, unless in the meantime they were re-
deemed at per.
The CHAIR...V.I.N, in moving a formal resolution approv-
ing a Bill for the amalgamation of divers railway companies
vvitli the London and South-Western Railway Company,
so for as it afeeted the interests of the Bideford Company,
said that no alteration had been made in the terms originally
agreed upon between the two companies.
Mr. TITS, M,P„ seconded the resolution, and it was
unanimously adopted.
On the motion of Mr. MonTimEn, the best thanks of the
meeting were voted to the directors for the satisfactory
arr,,ngement concluded between the two companies.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

CHESTER. RACEC la
e— .:EDNESDAY,
THE CUP DAY.
The Cup day at Chester, like the Derby at Epsom, is the
carnival of the densely populated districts of Lancashire,
Cheshire, and Shropshire. It is needless, therefore, to refer
to the features of the occasion, or the tens of thousands who
congregate annually on the picturesque Iloodee. With the
racing public the meeting has long enjoyed great popularity,
and the decision of the Cup, from the great amount of bet-
ting and the import ent interests involved, attracts to the
1 spot turfmen from all parts of the country. Betting upon
the event has presented such ac nstaatly fluctuating aspect
that public curiosity has been much stimulated thereby, and
Iperhaps led to one of the most monster demonstrations in
the annals of Chester. And yesterday will long be railcar-
bered as a red letter day, inasmuch as it a as stated that his
Royal Highneee the Prince of Wales, who had arrived over
night at Lord Grosvenorae seat, near Crewe, intended to
honour the course with his presence, an announcement re-
ceived with deep satisfaction by all grades of sportsmen,
who were greatly disappointed at the Prince's non-arrival
on the course. During the early part of the morning rain
fell heavily, and continuing up to noon, the course became
heavy, which was all in favour of the older horses, a cir-
cumstancea
s wil b: seen,
c hpreduced its Effect upon the betting, and,
Accident became a better favourite as the
time approached for the race. From the earliest hour im-
mense crowds swarmed into the city, blocking up the quaint
people walked in " umbrellaed" g
gabled "rows," and rendering locomotion in the streets a
task of great difficulty. Special trains arrived in
regimentsctoeasestiornds, tahnedctohuer se, Watergate• street being the main artery
through which the masses streamed. The scene on the
Roodee cannot well be described in these columns—the
ancient walls, the Stands, and enclosures being densely
packed. Indeed, the excitement centred in the Cup was
never exceeded en any previous anniversary. 'We may
mention here that Mr. Topham's handicap gave universal
at is fac t i n
patrons,
aa d received testimonials of praise from the
leadingof the meeting. Although the rain held off
s o
shortly after midday, the remainder of the afternoon was
dark and cloudy, and the atmosphere close, and in the ring
quite oppressive. It may be mentioned that the transactions
at the rooms in the morning presented no noteworthy fea-
ture, the only remarkable movement being the incr eased in-
vestments on Accident, who was wonderfully firm at 4 to 1.
Th., sport commenced at 2 o'clock with the Biennial Stakes,
for which six came to the post, Mr Merry'sfilly,Effie, being
made favourite at 6 to 4 ; but atter making the running to
the turn she was joined by Fisherman's Daughter, Wel-
beck, and Cutaway, who came to the front in the straight,
and a most magnificent race resulted in favour of Cutaway
Ly a short 'need, Wetback being only defeated a neck for
second place. The Welter Cup, which followed, furnished
three runners, and 6 to 4 was betted on The Clown, and
another splendid struggle ensued, the favourite just getting
d'ece by a head, entirely owing to Fordham'e fine horseman-
ship on Despair. The Cup was appointed for 3.40, and as
the hour for the decision of the race approached the excite-
ment became intense, and every available spot on the walls
and stands were crammed, presenting a most extraordinary
spectacle. The preliminary c enters were watched with vast
interest, a half-suppressed roar swelling forth as tech of the
prominent favourites was recognised. The telegraph board
displays l 2.0 runners, and all were in readiness somo time
before the hour appointed on the card, and when the horses
i were well together some faiiar.i were gapsed owing to the
eagerness of certain light weights to get away, aura ;;;. one
of the false starts Flash-in the-Pan broke away, and ran a
rade round the course at a great pace before young Morris
could stop him, which considering his after success was most
remarkable. A. zemewhat tedious delay occurred, and in the
meantime rain fell heavily,
ag a *press of umbrellas sprung
up among the spectators like gigantic ae-ashromas. The
Wait betting just prior to the start will be found below ~
and in refaaeace to the race we may say that the issue was
one of the most yeaearkable surprises in the history of the
Chester Cup. Al the favearites were beaten by old Plash-
I in-the-Pan, who had, aseeoe4a t 9 the statement of his
jockey, the race in hand at any moareent, aeaa came away
about half a mile from home, and, making a tenable eale;••
bition of all his opponents, won, pulling double, by ten
lengths, the race being literally a ease of " hare and hound,"
be seen, coati Gle2 hia
as ail the field were in hopeless pursuit. Little Stag, it will
high trial by beating all the 3-yr-
olds, and two of John DaY7a-eeTilVer and Lord Zetland—
finished third and fourth. Tremendous cheering •,;,7Qitod the
winner on his return, as the bookmakers landed large stakee.
Flash-in-ihe-Pan is the property of Mr. T. Hughes, of
EP34lOy who is noted for a stablile of "
cast-offs, which hall
eall
been derisively :.?..;=ed " yearngs, from their being
aged. Mr. Hughes ot ctrl wigif,;;.Q,o99, Subjeined are de-
tails of the running
The Biennial Stakes of 10 sous each, h ft, with 100 added,
for 3-yr-olds ; colts, Sat 101 b ; fillies, Set 71b ; penalties
and r;tiowaaaeee. Grosvenor course, about a mile and a
quarter. 16 subs. ,
Mr. Barber's Cutaway, Bsf 41b . Ki. Snowden) 1
Mr Merry's Effie Sat 71b ' (A.ldeareedea 2
Mr Hargreaves';Welbeck, Sat 10lb (S. Rogers) 3
Mr ,;lteyets's Fisherman's Daughter, Sat 4lb (Fordharn) 4
Duke of Si. labene Marnhead, Bst 71b (F. Adams) 5
Mr R. C. Nayle'r's Littia .e. on, Sat 71b (R Smethurst) 0
Betting-6 to 4 agst Effie, sto a asst Welbeck, 4to 1
1 agst Fisherman's Daughter, 7 to 1 agst Cutaway.
Effie made play at art excellent pace, followed by Mam•
head,
1., islieerne. a's Daughter, and Cutaway, Welbeek bring-
ing up the rear to eaa railway arches, where he passed
Little Saxon. Proceeding alon,a lie pee side, Mainland
dropped away beaten, and Cutaway, Welbeek, aad Fisher-
man's Daughter joined Effie, the four running abreast head
and head to the distance, where Fisherman's Daughter *as
in distress ; a fine race, however, with the other trio ensued,
Cutaway winning a capital finish by a short head; a neck
separated the second and third, and the others were beaten
off.
The Welter Cup of 5 00T3 each, with 50 added, for 3-yr•olds

RAILWAY BILLF'.
Yesterday, in Lord Stanley's committee on the proposee'l
metropolitan and suburban railways, the bill of the London,
Chatham, and Dover, for diversions of existing railways at
or near Battersea, called the Battersea works, and for cer-
tain railways and alterations of authorised railways of an
aggregate length of three miles at Herne-hilt, was passed.
The bill for the Battersea extensions of the London and
South• Western was rejected. The southern works section of
the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, for a widening
for a length of one raPe from the Wandsworth• roa 1 to Shep-
herd's-lane, Brixton, was subsequently opened by Mr. Davi-
son and Mr, Round. Mr. Adair has been appointed chair-
man of the second committee on metropolitan railways. His
committee will meet on Monday, and take up tho metropc.
titan Railway (Notting-hill and Brompton Extension), and
Metropolitan and St. John's-wood Railways. Mt. 11. Scott
and Mr. Phinn occupied the attention of Mr. Scholefiald's
committee with the consideration of the London and South-
Western Railway Company's proposed extensions in North
Devon. These extensions are three in number—the first, of
a length of seven miles, from a junction with the North
Devon Railway, which is leased to the South Western, at
Chittlehampton, near Umberleigh station, to South Mel-
ton; the second, of three miles, from South to North Mel-
ton; and a second junction spur between the first line and
the North Devon. This will require an additional sum of
£120,000 as new capital, and £40,000 loan. The traffic
case was considered. The case for the Great Northern
Company's proposed extensions between Lincoln and Bourn
is concluded, and the committee heard Mr. Burke for the
competing linos of the Great Eastern (Northern Junctions)
Railway, which proposes to raise a capital of £1,500,000, of
which £750,000 may be subscribed by the Great Eastern,
and£soo,ooo be raised by mortgage or debenture stock. The
new lines proposed are, first, a main communication, 108
miles long, from a junction with the authorised line of the
West Riding and Grimsby Railway at 0 wston, passing by
the west of Gainsborough and of Lincoln, then to the east
of Sleaford and Bourn, west of Peterborough, by Ramsey
and east of Somersham, to a junction with the St. lye's and
Cambridge line of the Great Eastern at Long Sutton, with
14 branch railways of 21 miles, to unite with ♦arious inter-
communicating lines in Lincolnshire. The main line will
cross the rivers Don, Idle, Trent, Welland, and Nene, by
viaducts and bridges. The preamble of the bill for the Clyde
Navigation was passed, with the exception of that portion
of it relating to the landing stages, Mr, Smithells, traffic

and upwards; penalties and allowances. One mile and a
half. 10 subs.
Lord Bateman's Despair, 5 yrs, list 101 h (Foedhara) 1
Mr Barber's The Clown, 3 yrs, 97t 10113 .. (J. Suowdeu) 2
Mr Sauniiere'e Belle of the Bali, 4 yes, 10st Gib
(S. Rogers) 3
Betting— 7 to 4 on The Clown, 2 to 1 agst Despair.
The two favourites took up the running from Belle of
the Bail, after going a few hundred yards, and the pair,
keeping close company throughout, finished a capital race,
which was wcn by Despair by a short head ; a bad third,
The Tradesmen's Plate of 200 tows, added to a Bandicap
Sweepstakes of 25 sovs each, 15 ft, and 5 if declared, for
three yr-olds and upwards ; winners extra. Cup Course,
about two miles and a quarter. 151 subs, 77 of whom
declared.
Mr Hughes's Flash-in-the-Pan, aged, fist Cr (Morris) 1
Mr J. Osborne's Little Stag, 3 yrs, Est (Carroll) 2
Marquis of Hastings's Tippler, 4 yrs, Tet
oib
(H. Grimshaw) 3
Duke of Beaufort's Lord Zetland, 3 yrs, fist 12Ib (in 51
Clarkb)
(F. ) 4
The following also ran :—Oldminster, Knutsford, Change,
Canary, Earl of Surrey, My Mary, Accident, Lancashire,
Muezzin, Bacchus, Gordian Knot, Tooi Tool, Rose, Hersey
filly, Greenland, and Vacuna colt.
Betting-4 to 1 agst :Accident, 100 to 15 agst Hersey
filly, 100 to 12 agst Little Stag, 9 to 1 agst Change, 10 to 1
agst Gordian Knot, 12 to 1 agst Canary, 15 to 1 agst Lord
Zetland, 20 to 1 each agst Bacchus, Muezzin, and Oldinin-
ster, 30 to 1 each agst Tippler and Flash-in-the-Pan, 100 to
3 agst Tooi Tooi, 40 to 1 agst Earl of Surrey, 50 to 1 each
agst My Mary and Vacuna colt, 1000 to 15 agst Knutsford
and East Lancashire.
Before the time for starting had arrived the front rank
broke away ; Flash-in-the-Pan, Greenland, Gordian Knot,
and the Vacuna colt ran to the half-mile post, Accident and
Muezzin being pulled up at the workhouse turn, whilst
Tippler and several others ran to the enclosure. At five
minutes to four o'clock they were capitally started, and upon
passing the stand Bacchus, Accident, and My Mary were iu
front ; at the head of the second division were Gordian `not,
Hersey filly, Change, Little Stag, and Rose, next to whom
were Muezzin and Earl of Surrey, the last lot being Flash-
in-the-Pan, Canary, Oldminster, and East Lancashire,
After rounding the top turn Gordian Knot pulled his way
to the front and took a slight lead of Bacchus, Little Stag
going on third, Hersey filly fourth, with Accident at her
side. These were followed by Rose, Change, and Earl of
Surrey, Tippler being at the head of tha next division, and
My Mary, who had dropped from the front, formed one of
the rear lot. Passing the stand the second time, Gordian
Knot held a slight lead, Bacchus going on second, Little
Stag third ; Hersey filly, Earl of Surrey, Change, Accident,
Rose, the Vacuna colt, and Tippler following in a body.
After rounding the far turn towards the Dee side, the
Hersey filly dropped away beaten, and Bacchus took a slight
lead of Gordian Knot, Little Stag being third, and Flash-in-
the-Pan (who had gradually overhauled his horses) occupied
fourth place at the half-mile post, where Tippler and Lord
Zetland were well up. At the Grosvenor turn Flash-in-the
Pan rushed to the front, came completely away from his
opponents in the succeeding couple of hundred yards, and
won one ef the hollowest races ever witnessed by ten lengths;
four lengths between second and third, and a neck between
third and fourth; East Lancashire was fifth, Accident
sixth, Bacchus seventh, and Gordian Knot eighth. The
last lot were Oldrainster, Change, Muezzin, and My Mary.
Knutsford broke down, and walked in.
A Handicap Plate of 40 says, for all ages ; winners extra
Half a mile. 11 subs.
Mr Crook's Airedale, 4 yrs, Gst 101 b (Loates) 1
Lord Uxbridge's Erythia, 4 yrs, 7st G1b.... cr. F 3
rench) 2
Lord Bateman's Gipsy Girl, 4 yrs, Bst 2tb.... (Fordham)
The following, also ran —Dualla, David, Menotti, Lady
Knight, and Rejection.
Betting-5 to 2 each agst Erythia and Airedale, 4to 1
agst Gipsy Girl, g to 1 agst Dualla.
Won by a neck; a length between second and third.
The Members' Plate of GO sovs, added to a Sweepstakes of
5 sews each—weight for age—winners extra—allowances.
Three quarters of a mile. 5 subs.
Captain_ Chrietie's Lady Ciiideu, 6 yrs (Fordhane) 1
Mr Clark's Garotter, 3 yrs (T. French) 2
Mr Archer's Viudicta, 4 yrs (Danielle) 3
Betting-5 to lon Lady Cinder)._
Won by four lengths—the same between the second and
hird.

BETTING AT MIDNIGHT.
THE DERBY.
sto 1 agst General Peel (taken)
7to 1 agat Scottish Chief (taken)
10 to 1 agat Cambuscan (taken)
100 to 7 agst Paris (taken)
l 5 to 1 agst Coastguard (taken)
16 to 1 agst Prince Arthur (taken)
20 to 1 agst Blair Athol (taken)
20 to 1 agst Baragah (taken)
40 to 1 agst Copenhagen (taken)
1000 to 1.5 agst The Major (taken)

SCRA:ITILINGS.—Ob the 4th inst., at 5 p.m., La Toucques
out of the Stewards' Cup, and Hynaettus out of the Dee
Stakes, at the Chester Meeting.

SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

TIMES.—The members of the Conference upon the
effairs of Denmark assembled at the official residence
of the First Lord of the Treasury yesterday, but
very little progress was made towards the solution
of the question upon which they had met to delibe-
rate. Not even the preliminary difficulty of an
armistice wes adjusted. The representatives of the
belligerent Powers accepted the proposals of the neu-
tral Powers only that they might be transmitted to
their respective Governments, and the Conference
then adjourned till Monday next, by which time it is
hoped that the Courts o'f Vienna and Berlin will have
provided their representatives with sufficient in-
structions. In the meantime it must be remembered
that a practical suspension of hostilities obtains,
though no formal armistice has been concluded.
It is hard to wait for the completion of formali-
ties which should have been foreseen from the first,
but time, if it does not bring us nearer to the goal
of our wishes, give us better opportunities of esti-
mating the motives of those who are engaged, with
more or less bad faith,in playing out the melancholy
interlude of the fall of Denmark. Never was such
information more needed. Never did the cenduct
of kings and emperors appear more incomprehen-
sible to the eye of ordinary intelligence. Never
was there so much need of some explanation of the
hidden springs by which they are put in motion.
There is not a single power that appears at first
sight to be acting according to its real interest
or traditionary principles. Take Austria, for ex-
ample. Austria had eotablished a considerable re-
putation in Europe for fideoty to her engage.
meats. Tenacious of what she possessed, but as
respects other nations unenterprising and un-
aggressive, she was regarded as the balance-
wheel of the European State machine, as a rower
that cculd always be counted on by those who
limited their ambition to the maintenance of
the European status quo. Her differences with the
discordant nationalities composing her Empire have
descended to her through centuries of turmoil and
coeilet ; and her finances are in a state of confusion
and embarrassment which might damp the hopes
end paralyse the energies of the most enterprising
and aggressive Government in the world. It is
under these circumstances that Austria embarks in
a war from which it is impossible she should reap
any direst 'advantage whatever, She joins in the
attack on a Power trona whose eumfiest she coold
singly gain no honour ; but whose conquest when
shirel with another great military mouarchy, be-
comes something little short cf ignominious. And
what are her objects ? A wish to conciliate
the smaller German States, in which, so
far as we can see, she has not in the
least suc;ceefic4 i a jealousy of Prussian in-
fluence, and a deterininatioa net h allow her
rival to monopolize the laurels which are to be
gained by the overthrow of an enemy scanty in
numbers, poorly armed, ill sheltered, overtasked,
and possessing only an old-fashioned artillery as
little e.1,-let2 contend against the modern improve-
ments which tisa p,;iderty of 4_,ennitteac. fe;Ler;ie her
to adopt as the catapults and balistas of the ancients.
Even now we learn, from a source in which we place
considerable reliance, that Austria does not view
the glories, such as they are, of the storm of Dyb-
leel with absolute equanimity, and that she is an-
xious befete e.n erreietip ip concluded, to revive
the memory of her exploits of Februaiy by some
new feats of arms at the expense of a puny adver-
sary, which seems made for the purpose of giving
great Powers the opportunity of winning little
victories at small risk. We hope that the
Lance will be wise encugh not to afford Aus-
tria the opporit'inity 6-ratiffoi; this de-
plorable ambition. She has shed blood enough,
and has now more glory to win by fairly encoun-
tering her creditors than her enemies. The case of
Prussia is much simpler, though not more credit-
al,le. The monarchy, undtr the guidance of a Mini-
ster ebsolateV reeelEoil eonie,l-4ee„eev had ad-
vanced to the very verge if destruction. The Go
yen:talent had deliberately violated the Constitution
in its most important point—the power of the As-
sembly over the public pose. Successive dissolu-
tions mil/ chovea,eech more clearly than the other,
the resolution of the'Pkifflanot to submit tamely to
this usurpation. Things htd come to the lest ex•
teemity when fortune flung in the way of a despair-
ing Government a means of safety which they
littls lcoed for. The extraordinary agitation of
theGerdina mind no the aubjeet of the To, aellioa, the
desire to deprive Denmark of her continental pos-
sessions and to vest them in some German Prince,
the opportune death of the li."ing of Denmark, and
the opportunity which )ter obstinacy gave of
concealing the projects of Prussian ambition under
the mask of zeal 'for :e•ecieral rights, earne just in
time to save Prussia from internal revolution by
what we should have called,were it not of ever-recur-
ring use and invariable success, the stale and Num-
out device of a foreign war. The people of Prussia
rolled headlong into the mare, They forgot their

liberties. They forgave their wrongs. They sub- very banks of that Mississippi which is thus again
I mitted themselves with the docility of children to practically commanded by the Confederates. A
the guidance of a Minister wtorn a little while ago chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and the
they were almost ready to tear in pieces. They suf- Mississippi is lost to the Federals through the loss
fered themselves to be amused by the poor device of of a siugle paint on its shores. it is, berwever, right
setting up a Pretender, to be dropped when he had to point out that the capture of Fort PLllow merely
answered his purpose for the mightier Pretender wrests an important and well-chosen position for a
whose macceuvres he had served for a while to con- fortress from the North. The Mississippi has never
coal. There is now little doubt about it, and the really been open to navigation for commerce since
truth may as well be spoken out at once. Prussia the war commenced. The capture of Vicksburg re-
seizsd the Duchies on behalf and
in the name of moved the great impediment to the transit of gun-
the German Confederation. But it is not on behalf boats, but left the river just as dangerous to corn-
ed' the German Confederation that she intends to merce as before. Nothing was easier than for fly-
hold them. She condescended for awhile to amuse iog artillery to destroy any merchant vessels that
herself and Europe with the Duke of Augustenburg. might venture up or down its waters. In Tennes-
But it is not for the sake of the Duke of Augusten- see, too, the Confederates are eecovering territory
burg that she has expended her troops or burdened from the invaders. And all this is in the West and
her finances. She is fighting for her own hand. South, where it was given out that the Federals
She is anxious to offer Schleswig-Holstein and per- were undisputed masters of the situation ; yet it Is
haps Jutland to her own Assembly in exchange for in this quarter that they have Bettered some of the
the trampled down and effaced liberties of the most serious of their reverses. And this is the third
country. There is no doubt that the offer will be year of the war, with gold ranging from 69 to 71
received in a spirit of becoming humility and premium,with a debt which, if exactly ascertained,
thankfulness, and that Prussia will have nothing to is perhaps three or four hundred millions sterling,
deny to a Minister who can by any means give and with a gross expenditure of something
lustre to her arms or extension to her territories. like a hundred and fifty millio us sterling a year.
Cherishing these intentions, we must not be sur- But, as if all this were not enough, we are told
prised to find Prussia unwilling to enter into that the Federals will not be satisfied until they
any engagement which might snatch from her have brought a war with Fra ace on their hands.
the prey she believes to be already within her "No substantial gains have b sen made since the
grasp, and force her to take account of those pro- occupation of New Orleans, and there is no prospect
fessions with which she entered on the war, and of any gains. There is no further hope of plunder
which she has successively discarded as occasion within the Federal lines, or within the waste border
offered. She is firmly persuaded that for the mo- lands between the opposing armies, for the country
ment she has nothing to fear, and in this faith she has been plundered, sacked, and devastated until
pushes on her successes with merciless rigour, levies nothing remains but the land,and that is fast relaps-
ruinous war contributions on the poor and inoffen- ing into the savagery and solitude of primeval
sive population of Jutland, bombards towns with- nature." An example this, by the way, of the sort
out notice, and exercises, in the plenitude of her of Paradise to be sought for in those parts of the
insolence, to the most extravagant limit, every pri- South where the "Union is restored." So "colonels,
vilege which modern civilization has left to belle- lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains, and lieutee
gerents. In the meanwhile France makes no sign. nants," down to the rank and file, appear to be
So far from going to war for an idea, she will not yearning " for new fields of conquest and plunder."
unsheathe her sword for a reality. That same To this end they are "enrolling in the organisation
France which in 1859 went to war to protect Italy known as the defenders of the Monroe doctrine," of
from a servitude to foreign nations under which which Colonel De Borden, of the Mexican (Juarez)
she had groaned for three hundred and fifty years army, is president, and General A. J. Hamilton, the
has neither sword nor sympathy to spare for an old Federal military Governor of Texas, is the vice-
and faithful ally, destroyed, dismembered, and ob- president. Every officer in Banks's command is
literated from among the nations unwept and with- said to be a member of this society, and the general
out a crime. The case is the stronger since in himself is its grand patron. It is a secret organise-
behalf of Denmark there was no occasion for France tion, with a ritual, grips, signs, and pass-words. It
to do more than notify her will. In the present makes no concealment of its aim—the expulsion of
state of European affairs, and with the known die- the French from Illexico." Mr. Hahn, the "free
'positions of England and Russia,France had nothing State Governor of Louisiana," openly advocates
to do but to express a wish, and it would be obeyed ; this project in his journal, the Delta, declaring that
a single word would rescue an ancient and honour- it is a "necessity of self-preservation." This, how-
able nation from destruction, and that word will not ever, was prior to Banks's late crushing disaster.
be spoken. We hear much of the pacific dispositions Generals Taylor, Magruder, and Kirby Smith will
of the French Legislative Assembly, of the desire of probably give quite enough occupation to the
the nation for peace, of the unwillingness of the Federals without another war, in which they would
Emperor to nip the rising prosperity of France. in be brought face to face with the veterans of Solferino
the blossom,—excellent arguments, if it were an- and Magenta, and have their monitors smashed by
possible to save Denmark without war, or if per- the Gloire.
mitting Prussia with the assistance of Austria to
possess herself of the Cimbric Peninsula held oat
any hope of maintaining peace. No one knows ,
better than the Emperor of the French that this is
not so. The opinion of Europe, which now finds
expression in words, will one day make itself felt
in deeds, and Prussia will dearly rue the outrage on
public opinion which she now, with so much arro-
gance, commits. She is sowing, but another will
reap. It may devolve on the very Sovereign who
now looks on with so much complacency at this
great public crime to constitute himself the execu-
tioner of the indignation of Europe, and redress by
' a ruinous war a spoliation which, but for his unac-
countable forbearance, could not possibly have been
accomplished.
POST.—Not the least of the eircamslances which
tend to redress the balance of inequality in the Ame-
rican war, and compensate the South for their great
inferiority of numbers, is the superiority they enjoy,
over the North in a knowledge of the enemy's move-
ments. This circumstance comes out prominently
in the letter from New Orleans which we printed
on Tuesday. Into the cause of this superiority it is
not relevant to inquire, further than to remark that
the defenders of a fortress who have shut them-
selves up in it are better able to see the movements
of the besiegers than these are to penetrate the plans
of the garrison. Of course, if in addition to this
the Confederates have faithful friends within the
Northern lines who keep them, as the phrase is,
well "posted up" in the schemes and operations of
the Federals—who are destitute of any similar ad-
vantage—it is only another exemplification of how
little Union sentiment" there is in the South, and
how much "disloyalty" there is in the North. Our
correspondent's letter is dated about the time of the
Federal defeat at Pleasant Hill, which doee not
appear, from what he says, to have been known at
New Orleans. What was Known there, however,
except, perhaps, to the Federals, was that
the Confederates were eagerly waiting in the full
confidence end with ample preparations made, of
which General Banks must have been in total
ignorance, for inflicting upon the North that over-
whelming defeat which they are now known to
have sustained. We remarked before that, al-
though the battle was evidently won by a masterly
generalship, still the Confederates might have had
a much stronger force in the neighbourhood than
what they actually employed to crush and anni-
hilate the head of the Federal advance, tut kept
their real numbers concealed for obvious pruden•
tial reasons. It now appears tlat this was actually
so. The Confederates, we are tuld, were in a
position to concentrate sixty thousand men upon
any point they chose, and place them in line to
oppose the Federals in their attempt to penetrate
the country. The Confederates looked upon the
defeat of Banks as a certainty. If he would only
advance and give them battle upon the field they
had previously determined, says our correspondent,
the Confederates had no doubt of being able to in-
flict a disastrous defeat upon him. To that end
they were determined to force him to a pitched
battle. Now this, which it was foretold in the
South would happen, is just what we are told from
Northern sources actually did happen. The Fede-
rals advanced to Pleasant Hill (which they will not
henceforth call by that name), the Confederates
falling back before them, skirmishing as they did
so, for about half a dozen miles. Suddenly they
turned upon their pursuers, who, without notice or
expectation, all at once found themselves attacked
by superior forces, before which, after a desperate
struggle, they were driven back with an admitted
loss of two thousand men, and their artillery and
their train, and were only saved from being all cut
to pieces or taken prisoners by the timely arrival of
a strong army corps. to their aid. Now it Lust be
remembered that Louisiana is the only State in
which the Federals claimed to have restored the
Union. They have treated this State as having
been reclaimed from secession and reconvered to
the North. Yet it appears that peit of New Orleans,
which is really Lela by the Federal navy, there is
not an acre of ground they can properly call their
own. In this reconquered State, where the reor-
ganisation of society, of slavery, of the Union leas
been going on for two years under siTh ta.lepts as
Butler and Banks, there iv = ee,;, sixty thousand
Confedeeate tseonir eioee to Banks's headquarters, a
force of which the Federals knew nothing; a force
which, however, can be concentrated on a single
point at a short notice, and which has just fur-
nished evidence of its presence and efficiency, as
well as of the enterprise and ability of its leaders,
by inflicting a terrible defeat upon the North by
generalship alone. Another instance of the übiquity
of the Confederate forces in this :;tats and the
facility ef their receiereenta is the following :
Banks having advanced 30 miles from Alexandria,
leaving a garrison there, and the river having fallen
to such an extent that the gunboats had to drop
down 20 miles below that town, it immediately be-
gan to be threatened by Confederate Dien, Taylor,
wl;o hc.4 got into in'arel,e'a rear. The streets were
hArricaded, but the garrison feared capture, not
being able to fall back upon the gunboats." Such
is the condition of things in the very heart of Gen.
Banks's command. Of coarse it may be pleaded on
behalf of Banks that he had no means of knowing
the strength or poedti,on of the ILouthern armies;
that he is in an enemy's country where nobody
will give him a word of information about the move-
ments or plans of his foe, while everybody is ready
to tell all they know about him to the Confederates.
But this is precisely the reason why ha ought to have
exercised more caution and toemer.t In his advance.
It is tt wet and oeereeeie each difficulties as these,
and provide against surprises, that a general is
placed at the head of an army. But for this the
troops might just as well be left to themselves, to
advance or retreat, to fight or not, as might seem
good to them. Still Banks ie a gf-;w...41 yalte up to
tie ay,s,eage [nom-lard of tee best Northern comman-
ders. All of them have been Napoleons, Alexanders,
and Hannibals, until their first battle, and then
the one talent, wherewith they all showed
themselves pre-eminently endowed, wen Vette of
making ranid and 27,4 n a4aiegie movements
to the rear'. Banks h'as shown himself no worse
a general than Sherman, or M'Clellan and his
half-dozen rivals, who emulated him at first in pre-
mature fame, and ultimately in the celerity with
which they moved strategioatly to the eear directly
after aeniieie out noon tile march which was only to
terminate at Richmond. Banks arid Sherman have
been beaten in the South and West, just as the
Popes and Hookers, the INl'Dowells and Burnsides
have been beaten in Virginia. Marylaed, Penn-
sylvania, Washeuten itself have been threatened,
and are threatened even now, with occupation by
General Lee's army. It is not in Virginia that the
Federals believed themselves strongest. Yet, in the
West, which they did think was their:strongeat posi-
tion, from the advantage they possess in their gun-
hoots, thoy hue suffered a serious reverse on the