The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPITNIBER li., 1863.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

BOW-STREET.

Two men named Thomas Moore and Michael Flannagan
were placed at the bar on remand, charged with having a
quantity of stolen property in their possession.
It will be recollected that these two men were found some
days ago fighting ghting in Broad-street, St. Giles's, and on being
taken into custody Moore threw away a watch, which had
evidently been stolen, and on the road to the station he
attempted to swallow a gold locket and chain and two sove-
reigns and a half. They were remanded on a former occa-
sion in order to allow the police to make inquiries relative
to the prisoners.
Ackrill, of the F division, said he had no doubt about
Flannagan having been sentenced to 12 months' imprison-
ment.
Police-constable Sheen, of the B division, said he knew
Flannagan to be the constant associate of thieves, he had
been sentenced to a short term of imprisonment, but had he
known be should have been called en he could have proved
a conviction of four years penal servitude.
Mr. Lewis (who appeared for the prisoners) said, as
nothing of the slightest in;portance had been found on
Flannagan he might be discharged.
Mr. Henry—Why, he had £1 6s. in his pocket when he
was taken into custody, and I feel no doubt but that both
prisoners were quarrelling about the plunder they had
secured from the parties who went to the late pugilistic
1211 4 iContest.

125 k

67a f 7
113 k

1131 12] 2
10I]
101/

Flannagan—The money was my own.
Mr. Henry—lt is very easy to say so.
Moore—How can a man swallow a locket with a gold
chain to it and two soya. f Why, the thing is impossible.
I didn't steal any of the property. It was all my owu.
Mr. Henry—The watch had all the appearance of having
been stolen, as the ring or bow of it was missing.
Flannagan—That might have come off when I dropped
the watch.

1001 1
57 }

Mr. Henry—That is just possible, but search was made
for the missing part and it could not be found.
Mr, Lewis— I hope, sir, you will allow Flannagan to be
admitted to bail,

Mr. Henry— I don't know about that. He had a large
sum of money for a man of his appearance in his pocket,
and according to my present impression it is part of the
plunder that had been stolen on the morning in question.
Flannagan—Why, your worship, I ofteu have £2O in my
pocket.

Mr. Henry—Your-own money ? If so, tell me when you
had it last.

The prison6r was silent.

Moore—The police have determined to do all they can
for me. I say the property is my own, and not the proceeds
of a robbery.
Police-constable—The conviction against Moore that I
alluded to was for a burglary. His companion on that
occasion got ten years. I can bring forward an officer who
will prove it.
Mr. Henry—Wo must have that circuinstann up, and
therefore I shall remand both prisoners, for a week. As
there is some difference in the case against Flannagan, com-
pared with that of Moore, I will admit him to bail, if he
can find two responsible securities for £lO.
The bail not being in attendance, both prisoners were
locked up.

Easiness don,

110
1081

1091

1071 81

1071

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,

GREAT. WESTERN RAILWAY.
The directors of this company recommend to the pro-
prietors a dividend of £1 per cent. for the seven months
ending July 31st, being at the rate of £1 14s. 3d. per cent.
per annum, leaving a balance of about £4,000 to be carried
over to the next account.

Arming the Negroes by the South.

(From the Index.)

Without placing absolute credence in the startling
intelligence brought by the Hibernian, it is safe to
speculate upon it, if not an actual fact, at least as an
event which has recently entered into the range of
immediate probabilities. We have, in the various
rumours that preceded this last direct announce-
ment, so many indications that the question of
arming the slave population has been under
careful and serious consideration in the Confe-
derate counsels. It is also certain that the
same subject has been frequently discussed by
the Confederates and their friends in Eu-
rope within the last few months. The South-
ern mind, therefore, on both sides of the ocean
has been ripening for this step, and, if not
already taken, is prepared to take it. Intelligent
observers of the struggle have long been aware that
as a last resort the South possessed an clement of
latent strength which, whenever called forth, would
at once shift the numerical superiority to the side
which has heretofore been the weaker, and thus end
the conflict. Those who kne w the temper of the
Southern people knew that# if the alternative were
fairly presented between independence and the
maintenance of negro slavery, it would nut hesitate
an instant to sacrifice the latter to the former. The
choice made, it is not in the Southern character to
resort to half-way measures. If the measure be-
came expedient it would be carried out thoroughly
and without delay. If negroes were to be
armed, the arming Would be en masse. The
chief obstacle lay not in any fear of the use
the negroes might make of their arms ; on that
subject, except in the few localities where the
negro has been corrupted by long contact with the
Yankees, no Southern man ever entertained a doubt.
The cl,fficulty was in the repugnance which a proud
nation, regarding the bearing of arms as a privilege
and an honour, must necessarily feel in extending
that privilege and that honour to a servile race. But
at thecall of patriotism the Southerners would sacri-
fice this repugnance, as they have sacrificed property
and life, without hesitation and without vain regrets.
Our only reason for doubt, then, is that we do not
believe the stress of military necessity so great as
to warrant the use of this last, though infallible,
reserve. At the same time it must be remembered
that the South is led by men who will not wait
until driven by necessity to resort to a measure
which they foresee that the public safety may re-

quire.
The force which the South can thus suddenly
throw into the scale, ensuring prompt success, is
easily available. Five hundred thousand would,
indeed, comprise nearly the whole number of able-
bodied negroes within the jurisdiction of the Con-
federacy, but these could be spared with less detri-
ment to agricultural pursuits than any equal pro-
portion of any other labouring population. The
South has abandoned all its usual staples. Nothing
is now asked from the soil but food. For the pro-
duction of this, black female labour will suffice ;
and in health, hardiness, and strength, the females
of the African race far exceed the peasant women
of continental Europe. The rich lands of the cot-
ton region are easily tilled, and the young and
aged who cannot fight can grow corn and tend
cattle. Nor is there any serious difficulty
in organising this force. In the South, unlike the
North, the relations between the white man and the
black are well defined, and are accepted by both
without question ; they rest upon a reciprocal con-
fidence and a perfect understanding of each other's
character. The white man, therefore, will not feel
degraded or in an anomalous position in command-
ing negro troops. If the discipline of the planta-
tion is less rigorous than that of the camp, it is
nevertheless an admirable preparation for the lat-
ter, and has moreover the merit of furnishing,
ready to hand a class of efficient non-commissioned
officers, accustomed to the exercise of delegated
authority over those of their own colour,
and to the responsibility for their good
behaviour. Even the scarcity of arms is
no insuperable obstacle. There are, probably,
enough of fire-arms for a select corps of negroes,
already familiar with their use; and as for the
others, it may be doubted whether they would not
be more effective in the field with the more primi-
tive weapons which the blacksmith's shop on every
plantation could readily forge out of the imple-
ments of husbandry. A hundred thousand negro
pikemen or scythemen would probably be a more
fLrnaidable body for immediate service than the same
❑umber of raw recruits entrusted with unwonted
weapons. There is no doubt, also, that the most of
the negro levies would be quickly thrown across the
Northern border, where at worst they would have to
meet foes no better armed or drilled than them-
selves. As for the negro's courage, when supported
and led by his master, not against him, we have
never entertained a doubt. The Confederate negro
troops will be as much superior in steadiness and
effectiveness to the black levies of the North, as the
Sepoys under European officers were to the muti-
nous hordes of Nana Sahib. Besides, what the
negro lacks in that intelligence which characterises
the white American volunteer, he more than supplies

by implicit obedience and insensibility to danger,
and he thus possesses the very qualities which
protcssional officers are prone to consider the
highest of the soldier. If the military importance
of such an enormous accession to the numerical
strength of the Confederacy is almost beyond
adequate comprehension, the political and social
aspects of the measure assume even more gigantic
proportions. It is the most complete scheme of
emancipation that visionary ever dreamed of, and,
though we cannot disguise the terrible danger of
thus subverting at one blow the whole social fabric
of a great country, it is undeniable that the experi-
ment, if it has to be tried, is tried in this form with
immensely superior practical prospects, and under
fewer disadvantages.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN,—His grace is
sinking slowly. In addition to the ulcer in his leg his grace
has been attacked by other maladies calculated to weaken
his constitution, which had once been very robust.
THE LATE LORD PLUNKET.—An interesting
anecdote of the late Lord Plunket, recalled to the
narrator by the recent erection of a statue to his memory
in the hall of the Four Courts, Dublin, is published. "E. I
T. M'Donagh," who has furnished Saunders's News-
Letter with the particulars of that episode, says :—" When
the late Lord Plunket was Attorney-General for Ireland
my deceased father had a suit-at-law dragging on its
slow length between the Roils Court and the Ccurt of
Chancery. It was at long-run set down for final hearing,
and the Right Hon. the Attorney-General was engaged as
leader with a fee of £lO 103., and a brief sent to his house.
The opposing leader was the Right Hon, Mr. Laurin; also,
Messrs. Crampton and Green (afterwards judges). The
cause was two days at hearing. I happened to be at the
time in Dublin, and about mid-day walked into the Court
of Chancery on the third and last day of hearing. I was
then very young and buoyed up with wild enthusiasm of
effervescent spirits. I listened for a short time to one of the
opposing counsel (Mr. Crampton), w ho happened to be ad-
dressing the court on behalf of the defendants (my father
being plaintiff), and without a moment's reflection or pre-
paration I took from my pocket a small cross, which I
grasped in my right hand, and tl e words, in hoc Signe
Vincis' on my lips, I stood up and solicited the honour of
being heard for a few moments. The court, the bar, and
all were taken as if by electricity ; the honour I sought for
was at once acceded to me, in a sweet, mill voice from the
bench, from the lips of a thin, delicate man (Lord Man-
ners). I was stating the unvarnished tale in so telling a
manner, that one of the defendant's urged on counsel to
compel me to sit down. You shall not,' replied Mr. Plan•
ket, you would do a disgraceful act—the lady must be
heard out,' and sure enough I was heard out. At the con-
clusion of my address my head reeled, my eyes swam'
and
the scene before me was chaos—that chaos I shall never
forget. On my leaving the gallery from whence I left the
court I was met by counsel, who told me a decree was
pronounced in my father's favour, and that the Attorney-
General wished to see me at his house the
next
morning before court hour. Oa awakening the next morn-
ing, the events of the previous day appeared as a dream to
me, but on becoming conscious, I was soon on my way to
Stephen's-green, where the late Lord Plunket then resided.
I was speedily in presence of the great and good man, who
jocosely complimented me on my debut at the bar, handed
me back his fee of £lO 105., and told me, should I ever
require a friend in court to call on him,' My reply was__
God bless you, sir, I hope I shall soon see you Lord Chan-
cellor.' He sailed that day for England, and when next he
was m court it was as Lord Chancellor of Ireland."
A singular disturbance took place a
few days
back at Taragona, ifs Spain, on the occasion of a bull-fight.
arena. A storm
In place of one of the bulls inscribed on the programme, a
w:esdiaintetiryodaurcoesde.intloltene
ohfariumdl7;snabtaiollnociti
public pelted both
into the- ring aad
bullock and toreadors, and finally broke
killed the animal with enormous stones,

The Duke of Newcastle on the Volunteer

Movement.

On Wednesday, the Duke of. Newcastle reviewed
the Second Administrative Battalion of Notts
Volunteers In addressing them at the c!ose of the
review, the noble Duke observed that although the
battalion had displayed great efficiency in the
movements through which it had been put, he must
remind the members of what he had said at South-
well last year—viz. that they did not pay suffi-
cient attention to company drill, which was essen-
tial to their efficiency. Alluding to the volunteer
movement generally, his Grace remarked hope
that not only the members of this battalion, but the
spectators by whom I am surrounded, and those
with whom they are associated, will not falter
in their endeavours to keep up this most admi-
rable, and I may say thoroughly independent, volun-
teer force. You all know how the movement
originated, and I am sure you feel with me that
an institution like the volunteer force was not ori-
ginated in a panic, and that it ought also not to be
continued in a panic. (Hear.) It was originated
for the security of the country, and from our expe-
rience of it we shall all be prepared to say that it
ought to be maintained. It is true that, as com-
pared with the position of the corps when firs:
established, the volunteers are now in a better state,
for Government now renders certain aid to batta-

lions, but there are certain continuous expenses to
be met, and which expenses are rather on the in-
crease. It is most desirable that those who, from
a variety of circumstances, cannot join the force,
should show their countenance of it by subscribing
to or enlarging their contributions. Government
contributes much more largely now than it did a

little time ago, but, notwithstanding this, volun-
teers have to meet expenses in the providing of
new uniforms and renovating the old ones,
which can only be met by increased aid from the
friends of the movement. In some instances lam
afraid the annual subscriptions to the expenses of
volunteers are less than they ought to be. The
volunteers throughout the kingdom have shown a
disposition for military duty far beyond what could
possibly have been expected; and I am of opinion
that at present time they are just of as much value
to the country and as greatly required as when
they were organised, five years ago. The object
was to provide a force the efficiency of which would
be such that, should the necessity arise, the standing
army might safely be employed in any service and
in any place, whilst the defence of the country would
be adequately and most safely left to the volunteers.
Some wise people have said that they do not see
any good in the volunteer movement. They say
they never thought we should be invaded, and they
say that such was their opinion when the move-
ment commenced. These people, who, I may say,
speaking vulgarly, are called " funkers," were very
silent when the formation of volunteer corps was
mentioned, but they are now exceedingly bold when

they do not apprehend danger. lam of opinion
that the volunteer force has proved an incalculable
benefit to the people of this kingdom. I was not
one of those who expected when it was organised
that an invasion was about to take place; but con-
sidering the peat and the extensive possessions we
had in all parts of the world, and the vast interests
at stake not only as regarded our own but future
generations, I regarded it as most imperative that
the force should be established. I trust the volun-

teers, and also their friends, will be impressed with
the necessity of maintaining the volunteer corps in
an efficient state, and that no feeling of dissatisfac-
tion will be allowed to check their admiration of it

Fight between an Ichnemnon and a Cobra.

In a letter to the Madras Times, dated Trichinopoly, July
15, and signed by three officers of the Indian service, we
find the following interesting account of a fight between st
mongoose or ichneumon and a cobra :—" We think the long -
vexed question whether the mongoose, on being bitten by
the cobra, retires into the jungle and finds some herb as an
antidote for the poison, or whether the venom of the serper It
produces no effect on the animal, has been at last settled.
On Saturday morning last, whilst seated in the messhous e
with several oNcers of the regiment, a servant came and
stated that a snake had been seen. by one of the guard to
enter a hole in the ground close to where the guard was.
We immediately sent for a mongoose (a tame one, and the
property of an officer), and put him to the hole. He soon
began to Fcratch away the earth, and in half an hour a fine
cobra, about a yard long, came forward, with head erect, and
hood distended, to attack the mongoose, who seemed to care
' nothing for the reptile, but merely jumped out of the way to
avoid the blows which the snake struck at him. The mon-
goose unfortunately had just been fed, consequently did nut
show sufficient inclination to go in at him and kill him ; so
we secured the snake and carried him over to one of the offi-
efaesrt. n' eAoquartssfet
e erh d
raes
uctl
oouhhpaal have
evee of
hours thhae
ars contestlittle cartimeried l out there,
othveecobra
rh ias after the
ana
k
le.
room, with closed doors
the
(we
having
,wienp
movements secure station
e f th e
room
intheac meantime taken
up
n ht
c the 1 mongooseye culd observe
was let
in
all t
in and the figbt commenced. combatants)The mongoosef approached the
cobra with caution but devoid of
any The cobra, with head erect and vibrating,bodyoppearance of fear.
watched his
opponent with evident signs of being aware of how deadly
an enemy he had to contend with. The mongoose sra
within easy striking distance of the snake, whosudsdnlY
s°°ll
throwing back his head, struck at the mongoose with suddenly
-
mendous force. The mongoose, quick as thought, sprung
back out of reach, uttering at the same time savage growls,
s
Again the hooded reptile rose on the defensive, and the mon:
goose, nothing daunted by the distended jaws and glaring
eyes of his antagonist, approached so near to the snake that
he was forced, not relishing such close proximity, to draw
his head back considerably. This lessened considerably his
distance from the ground , the mongoose at once seeing the
advantageous opportunity, sprang at the cobra's head, and
appeared to inflict as well as to receive a wound. Again the
combatants put themselves in a position to renew the en-
counter, again the snake struck at his wily opponent, and
again the latter's agility saved him. It would be tedious to
recount the particulars of about a dozen successive rounds,
at the end of which time neither combatant seemed to suffer
more than the other ; we will limit ourselves to describe
the final and most interesting encounter. The fight had
lasted some three• quarters of an hour, and both combatants
seemed to nerve themselves to a final encounter. The cobra
changing his position of defence for that of attack, seemed
determined now to do or die.' Slowly on his watchful
enemy the cobra advanced; with equal courage the mon-
goose awaited the advance of his still unvanquished foe.
The cobra had now approached so close that the mongoose
(owing to want of space behind, was unable to spring out of
reach by jumping backwards, as he had done in the previous
encounters) nimbly bounded straight up in the air. The
cobra missed his object, and struck the ground under him.
Immediately on the mongoose alighting, the cobra, quick
as thought, struck again, and to all appearances fixed its
fangs in the head of the mongoose. The mongoose, as the
cobra was withdrawing his head after having inflicted the
bite, instantly retaliated by fixing his teeth in the head of
the cobra. This seemed to convince the cobra that he was
no match for his fierce and watchful antagonist ; and now
no longer exhibiting a head erect and defiant eye, unfolded
his coil, and ignominiously slunk away. Instantly the
mongoose was on his retreating foe, and burying his teeth
in hie brain, at once ended the contest. The mongoose now
set to work to devour his victim ; and in a few minutes had
eaten the head and 2 or 3 inches of the body, including the
venom so dreaded. 'We should have mentioned before, that,
previous to this encounter,the snake had struck a fowl,which
died within half an hour of the infliction of the bite, show-
ing, beyond doubt, its capability of inflicting a deadly
wound. Atter the mongoose had satisfied his appetite,wo pro-
ceeded to examine, with a pocket lens, the wounds which
he had received from the cobra; and, in washing away the
blood from one of those places, the lens disclosed the broken
fang of the cobra imbedded in the head of the mongoose. To
discover whether there was any truth in the assertion that
the mongoose owes its impunity from the bite of the most
venomous of serpents to its knowledge of a herb which is
an antidote to the poison, or whether, on the other hand, a
prophylactic exists in the blood of this extraordinary ani-
mal, rendering it innocuous to the bite of a reptile fatal to
all other animals, we have had the mongoose confined ever
since (now four days ago), and it is now as healthy and
lively as ever ; but should it in the course of a fortnight
show the slightest indisposition, we, in the cause of truth,
will not fail to inform you. We consider, therefore, there
no longer exists a doubt that in the blood of the mongoose
here is a prophylactic, and that the idea that is derives its
impunity from a herb is one of many popular errors,"