The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-26 00:00:00

THE DEPARTURE OF GARIBALDI,

At a general meeting of the Working Men's Garibaldi
Committee, held last night at No. 10, Bolt-court, Fleet-
street, Mr. Weston, in the chair, the following letter was
read from Mr. Joseph Cowen, jun., of Newcastle, in reply
to a request made to him by the secretary to furnish the
committee with an exact report of what transpired at the
private interview between that gentleman and Gen. Gari-
baldi, on the 19th April, relative to the departure of the
latter from England :
"Stella House, Blaydon-on-Tyne, May 18, 1861.

"Dear Sir,—l have your letter asking me to report to
?he Working Men's Committee the conversation I had with
Gen. Garibaldi on Tuesday evening, April 19,h, about the
cause of his sudden departure from this country. I fear it
would be difficult to do this fully, as the interview on the
occasion referred to extended over some time. But upon the
only point on which there is any substantial difference ba-
tween the two versions that have been given of the inter-
view I will report, as nearly as it is possible for me to do,
the words that I understand passed between Mr. Gladstone
and Garibaldi. Mr. Gladstone said—' If the same kind of
demonstrations are repeated in the provinces that have
taken place in London, they may damage the effect of your
visit and lead to unpleasant complications.' Garibaldi said,
' Then I understand that you wish me to leave.' Mr. Glad-
stone said Yes.' The General said Then I give you my
word and I will go.' I said there was a general impression
that the request for him to leave came from the Government,
and that it was the popular belief that the complications
referred to were political. He said he knew that such was
the belief that was generally entertained. He thought it
was correct that the Government did wish him to leave,
and that as they (the Government) had received and
treated him with so much kindness he could not remain to
be a source of inconvenience. If I have not reported the
exact words that were used, I am quite certain I have re-
ported the sense. He smiled incredulously when I referred
to his health as the cause of his unexpected departure, and
said that, although fatigued with the fashionable life he had
lately been leading, otherwise he was in excellent health—
had indeed never been better in his life. Knowing Mr
Gladstone to be a leading member of the Government he
evidently thought the story about his health had been ori-
ginated to cover the other, and, in his estimation, stronger
reasons for his being requested to leave. He regarded the
explanations made in Parliament as diplomatic, and more
than once said if he could be relieved from his pledge to go
he would stop. I think the committee ought to receive Mr
Gladstone's own version of the interview. He says distinctly
that he did not speak in the name of the Government when
he advised Garibaldi to leave. This declaration ought to be
sufficient for all of us. I, at least, accept his word implicitly
and without hesitation ; although, at the same time, I am
quite sure that Garibaldi derived the impression either from
the words or the spirit of the conversation that the request
made to him to leave was made for political and not personal
reasons.—l am, dear sir, yours very truly,
" J.ts. COWEN, jun.
"Mr Robert Hartwell, Hon. Sea. to the Working
Men's Garibaldi Committee, London."

Considerable discussion followed the reading of the letter,
the general opinion being that it conclusively established the
fact that the state of Garibaldi's health was not the cause o
his departure. Ultimately the following resolution was
adopted
Proposed by Mr CREMER, seconded by Mr HARRIS—

"That this committee, having heard the letter read from
Mr Cowen, consider there is some discrepancy between its
statements and the explanation of Mr Gladstone, and that
in the meantime the secretary be instructed to acknowledge
its receipt,"

An appeal was then ordered to be issued, calling upon the
working classes to contribute to the free testimonial now
raising for General Garibaldi by the City and Working
Men's Committee; and after the transaction of some routine
business the committee adjourned.

MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.

(From the Richmond Whiy, May 4.)

The Message of President Davis, as was to be
supposed, considering the short time which has
elapsed since the adjournment of the last Congress,
is not a very large document.

The President, speaking cx cathedra, tells us that he sees
no prospect of an early change in the course heretofore pur-
sued by those (the European) Governments. In his words,
which are hue enough and forcible enough to commend
theta to every citizen of the Confederacy, " It is enough for
us to know that every avenue of negotiation is closed agairst
us; that our enemy is making renewed and strenuous c fforts
for our destruction, and that the sole resource for us, as a
people secure in the justice of our cause, and holding our
liberties to be more precious than all other earthly posses •
sions, is to combine and apply every available clement of
power for their defence and preservation." On the subject
of the currency, the President refers to the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury. We infer that that officer will
ask Congress to relieve him of the power which he supposes
to be conferred by the existing law, of issuing currency to
the full amount of all received into the Treasury, either by
funding or exchange. It is very justly said that the cur-
rency in circulation, say 230,000,000 dots, on the Ist of July,
is ample for the business requirements of the country, and
that the addition of 200,000, 000 dole, would be attended by
disastrous effects, and would "produce a speedy recurrence
of the evils from which the funding law has rescued the coun-
try." We are glad to know that the Secretary takes this view
of the subject, and we hope Congress will do something to re-
lieve the unfortunate gentleman of the weight of power which
so sorely oppresses him. We are likewise glad to learn that
the efficiency of our armies in the field is all that can be de-
sired—and " that the discipline and instruction of the troops
have kept pace with their improvement in material and
equipment.'' Various recommendations, contained in the
report of the Secretary of War, are recapitulated by the
President, Among the subjects referred to are an amend-
ment of the law depriving officers in the field of the privi-
lege of purchasing rations ; an increase in the allowance of
officers travelling under orders ; provision for invalid officers
resigned in consequence of wounds or sickness ; the tenure
of office of general officers of the provisional army ; the
organisation of the general staff of the army, /to. The
recapitulation of the recent successes of our army is suffi-
ciently encouraging, and we cannot, perhaps, do better than
quote the paragraph in which it is contained :—" The
recent events of the war are highly creditable to our troops,
exhibiting energy and vigilance combined with the habitual
gallantry which they have taught us to expect on all occa-
sions. We have been cheered by important and valuable
successes in Florida, Northern Mississippi, Western Ten-
nessee, and Kentucky, Western Louisiana, and Eastern
North Carolina, reflecting the highest honour on the skill
and conduct of our commanders, and on the incomparable
soldiers whom it is their privilege to lead. A naval attack
1 on Mobile was so successfully repulsed at the outer works
that the attempt was abandoned, and the nine months siege
of Charleston has been practically suspended, leaving the
noble city and its fortresses imperishable monuments to the
skill and fortitude of its defenders. The armies in Northern
Georgia and Northern Virginia still oppose with unshaken
front a formidable barrier to the progress of the invader ;
and our generals, armies, and people are animated by cheerful
confidence. There is a passage in the message deserving
more than casual notice. He calls attention to the fact that
the Congress, under the Provisional Government, held four
sessions, and the first Congress of the permanent Govern-
ment also held four sessions, and now the second Congress
under the permanent Government is assembled at the time
and place appointed by law :—" All these events have
passed into history, notwithstanding the threat of our
prompt subjugation made three years ago, by a people that
presume to assert a title to govern States whose separate
and independent sovereignty was recognised by treaty with
France and Great Britain in the last century, and remained
unquestioned for nearly three generations. Yet these very
Governments, in disregard of duty and treaty obligations
which bind them to recognise, as independent, Virginia and
other Confederate States, persist in countenancing by moral
influence, if not in aiding by unfair and partial action, the
claim set up by the executive of a foreign Government to
exercise despotic sway over the States thus recognised, and
treat the invasion of them by their former limited and
special agent as though it were the attempt of a sovereign
to suppress a rebellion against lawful anthority,"

THE STEAM RAMS.—It is understood that the
Birkenhead steam rams intended for the Confede-
rates have been sold to the British Government. This
transaction will extinguish the hopes of those who hoped
that the approaching trial at bar before the full Court of
Exchequer would have the effect of furnishing the ship •
owners of this country with an authorative exposition of
the Foreign Enlistment Act which might serve as
a guide
for the future, But, on the other hand, the law officers of
the Crown may congratulate themselves that they have got
rid of the difficulty and anxiety which seemed to attend
their efforts to overcome the subtle devices of Messrs. Laird
and other agents of the Confederates
220
to elude the law.
con-
tinue tin
purchase-money, we are informed, is £,OOO.
'TIE
to iESOUTIi
remain
in a veryIVALE unsettledSCOLLlEß State, In
en
show
every determination to enforce their demand for another
rise of wages. In two or three of the Abordaie collieries
the hauliers have left in a body, and in others the men have
determined to strike unless their demand is complied with.
The Masters' Association have resolved not to allow the de-
mand, and have taken measures to prevent the men who
have left their work getting employment in any of the asso-
ciation collieries. Steps have also been taken to support any
master whose men may strike. Altogether at the present
time there is a greater probability of a strike than has yet
been the case,