The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-24 00:00:00

battle, like that of the subsequent day, was fought
in a place called the " Wilderness." Both sides
claim the victory, General Lee on behalf of the
Confederates, and Mr. Stanton on behalf of the
Federals, for General Grant himself either sent no
despatch or it has been suppressed. As hitherto
General Leo has never been known either to exag-
gerate a victory or to claim one if he had not
achieved it, and as the same cannot be said of Mr.
Stanton, the probability is that the advantage rested
with the Confederates. The fighting was renewed
on Friday at daybreak. The battle raged for 14
hours with scarcely an interval of rest, still in the
thickly wooded, stubbly, and thorny region stretch-
ing from Caancellorsville to Mine Run. The car-
nage is described to have been more awful than in
any previous battle of the war, and to have been
attended with a loss of 12,000 men to the Federals
and as many to the Confederates. General Lee, in
an address to his army which found its way to the
possession of General Butler, and was by him fora
warded to Mr. Stanton, claims the victory on this,
the second, encounter, and thanks a merciful God
that every advance on Grant's part had been gal-
lantly and successfully repulsed. If Mr. Stan-
publish all authentic in-
ton, who has promised to
telligence immediately it reaches the hands of the
Administration, had, iusteadof garbling and quoting
from General Let's proclamation, sent the whole
document to the press, he would have enabled the
public to judge far better than it can now of the
fighting. true results of Friday'sghting. It appears from
General Lee's admission that General Longstreet—
who is almost as much beloved and confided in by
the Southern army as General Stonewall Jackson
v
used to be—was severely vounded, and Gen. Jen-
kins killed. On the Federal side Gen. Wadsworth,
formerly the military commandant at Washington,
and competitor with Mr. Horatio Seymour, in the
autumn of 1862, for the Governorship of the State
of New York, was shot in the forehead while lead-
ing his division, and instantaneously slain, and Gen.
Webb, son of the United States Minister in Brazil,
was seriously wounded. Mr. Stanton, who alone
makes any official statement of these and the previ-
ous battles, General Grant being either too busy to
tcts the
considered
write despatches or too cautious to become the his-
torian of his unfinished work, reports to Major-
General Dix, for the information of the people of
generalred a s a result
su c c e
success
sf
ttoh
oure
arms,"
battle o
NF.eriwdaYyomrka,y"
beha on
and adds that "the fighting was the most desperate
known in modern times." The Tribune correspon-
dent and other eyeawitnefs:,s do not claim as much
success as Mr. Stanton, but state that the contest
was indecisive. On Saturday morning there was
slight skirmishing, but no general engagement;
both sides, doubtless, discovered that such a tangled
wild wood as that in which they had been murder-
ing each other from behind the shelter of trees and
bushes for the previous two days was not adapted
to victory, or to anything else but unavailing
slaughter. At noon on that day it was discovered
that the Confederates had retired, and Mr. Stanton
publishes, on the authority of a bearer of despatches
from Meade's army, that the retrograde movement
commenced on the midnight of Friday. It was no
sooner known to the Federals than a pursuit was
ordered. Lee fell back towards the strong lines of
the North Anna, and was followed—it does not
ap-
pear tow closely—by the division under General
Hancock, no doubt glad to halloo when out of
such a wood as " the Wilderness." What has
since happened is unknown or undieulged ; but, as
Lee retired in good order, unmolested, and at his
leisure, towards his own earth works and his chosen
position on the North Anna, it is more than pre-
sumptions in the Federal Government to cry " Vic-
tory," to think that its work is done, that the Con-
federate General is really defeated, or that he is
even reduced to the extremity of taking refuge in
Richmond without fighting one, or, it may be, a
dozen battles on the intervening ground. Mr. Lin-
coln, carried away by the excitement of Washing-
ton, and thankful, perhaps, that Washington has
not been taken as an equivalent for Richmond—a
turn of the wheel of fortune—which was certainly
possible, and not many days ago looked highly
probable, has issued a proclamation to the " friends
of Union and of Liberty, in view of the
great victory" thin ha nilnot allege to have
been secured. He states that enough h: known of
what has been done to claim the special gratitude
of the people to Almighty Gad, and enough
remairs undone to demand their most serious
prayers to and reliance upon Him, without whom
all human E ffort is vain ; and therefore recommends
all patriots at their homes, their places of public
worship, and wherever they may be, to unite in
common thanksgiving and prayer. Yesterday,
Monday morning, a despatch from General Grant
—the first received—was partially communicet-:d to
the public by Mr. Stanton, before he had time to
decipher the whole of it. Whether there was more
in it than Mr. Stanton chose to divulge is not
known ; but all that he has as yet permitted to
appear is that the General is " On to Richmond,"
and that he has taken 2,000 prisoners. A later
report, brought by a messenger from Acquia Creek,
states that a battle occurred on Monday at Spot-
sylvania Court-house with the rear of Lee's army'
in which there was great slaughter on both sides.
He also reports that the streets of Fredericksburg
were encumbered with the Federal wounded to
the estimated number of 15,000, and that they
lay on the public way for want of other accommo-
dation. Here, for the present, all intelligence,
authentic or unauthentic, ceases of the fate or plans
of the main army ; while an intimation—more or
less official-- from Washington warns the too im-
patient people that it may be a week before they
receive any further information. Why euch an
announcement should be made, unless there is bad
news, of which it is desired to break the ill-effect by
dexterous manipulation ',a Mr. Stanton's office, sur-
unfa-
passes comprehension. , At all events, an
vourable interpretation has been put upon it—that
if the announcement he unofficial, it will be disa-
vowed. If the members of the Government have
good news they will :tot conceal the glory of it
under tt bObel, but will faro its light in the face of
the public as vigorously as they can and at as early
a moment as the electric telegraph and the printing
press will permiti
Qhheial nutier has gained his first laurels ai
a warrior by the occupation of a strong position ten
miles in the rear of nichmond and b 7 his destructicn
of a portion of the railroad communications between
that city and Petersburg. He was however, nearly
captured by a sudden dash madeupon him by a di-
vision sent out from Petersburg on Saturday last by
General teauregard for that espeCial purpose, and
may Congratulate himself on an escape which, in his
case, was not from captivity alone, but from the
mode of death which by his orders was inflicted upon
the unhappy man Mumford at New Orleans.
Buts
ler acts under the orders of General W.F. (or Bel
sider-
tly)
Smith, and seems to be in a
ds and admirers in
pen os of con
able danger, although his fri
this city do not cease to assert that for him is re-
served the honour of capturing Richmond, and of
afterwards governing it with a rod of iron or of
scorpions, such as he loves to wield over the heads
and backs of the defenceless. General Beauregard
however, has his eye upon him ; and may hereafter
be able to give an account of him that may be much
more acceptable for the Southern President to re-
ceive than for the Northern to be informed of. In
a despatch to the Secretary of War, which reminds
people more of Generals Pope and Hooker than of
Grant and M'Clellan, he states that he is safely in-
trenched at Bermuda, lauding on the James River,
and that with proper supplies ho can hold out
against the whole of Lee's army. He adds that
Lieut.-General Grant will not be troubled with any
further reinforcements from Gen. Beauregard to
Gen. Lee. In this, however, he protests too much,
and sets an example of boasting as well as of pro-
phesy which a good soldier ought to avoid.
General Sherman's movements in the West are
unintelligible as reported by the telegraphic opera-
tors. It is clear, however, that his army is on the
move, and that events in that region will be as im-
portant before many days elapse as those in Vir-.

ginia.
The excitement produced by the war news has
almost wholly put an end to business. Nobody
either buys or sells gold or any other merchandise,
and gold, perhaps for that reason, and not certainly
from any faith entertained in -Wall.street or Wil-
liam-street that Grant has gained a victory, teas
fallen since last night from 681 to 67!-, per cent.

Royal Agric

;ultural Society of England,

The general meeting of the members of the Royal
Agricultural Society of England, was held yester-
day, at the Club-house, 12, Hanovee-square; Lord
Feversham, president, in the chair. There were
also present Lord Portman, Lord Walsingham,
Earl Cathcart, Lord Chesham, Sir Henry Vavasour,
Messrs. T. Sutton Western, M.P., S. Dent, M.P.,
Dr. Voelcker, W. H. Pole Carew, Professor Wilson,
Fisher Hobbs, Corbett, Sec.
Mr. H. DARE read the following :—" The council
have the gratification of announcing that since the
last general meeting in December his Royal High-
ness the Prince of Wales has allowed his name to be
enrolled in the list of your governors. Daring the
past five months the names of five governors and
136 members have been removed from the list by
death and retirement, while one governor and 232
members have been elected, so that the society now
consists of 78 life governors, 45 annual governors,
1,343 life members, 4,013 annual members, and 17
honorary members, making a total of 5,496, being
an increase of 53 names. The council have elected
Major-General the Hon. Alexander Nelson Hood
as a vice-president, in the room of Lord Ashburton,
deceased. The half-yearly statement of accounts to
the 31st of December, 1863, has been examined and
approved by the auditors and accountants of the so-
ciety, and together with the balance-sheet for the
whole year, 1863, and a statement of the country
meeting account for Worcester, has been published
in the last number of the journal. The funded ca-
pital stands at £16,480175. 10d. in the New Three
per Cents., £3,000 has been placed on deposit at
interest with the society's bankers, and the current
cash balance in their hands on the:lst inst. was
£2,836 6s. 6d. Papers have been read at the
weekly meetings by Mr. Lewes, on ' Salt used as a
Manure ;' by Mr. Hughes, on 'The Cultivation
and Management of Clay Farms;' by Mr.
Holland, M.P., on Agricultural Education;'
and by Professor Voelcker, on 'Nutrition
of Plants by the Atmosphere.' A committee
has been appointed to consider the measures which
ought to be taken for the improvement of the
education of those who depend upon the cultivation
of the soil for their support, this being declared by
the charter as the seventh national object to be pro-
secuted by the society. The Lords Commissioners
of Her Majesty's Treasury having applied to the
society for assistance in carrying out their design
of presenting some sheep to the Viceroy of Egypt,
who is anxious to improve his native breeds by
crossing, a selection was made under the direction
of the President; and a communication has been
received of the safe arrival of the sheep at Cair .
A special committee having been appointed to co .
Bider the question of the dates of calving, the coun-
cil have approved their recommendation that any
alteration in the date of calving would be incon-
venient and thus unadvisable. The arrangements
for the Newcastle meeting, to be held during the
week commencing Monday, the 18th of July, are
proceeding satisfactorily. The showyard will be
open as under :—Monday, 10s. ; Tuesday, 2s. 6d. ;
Wednesday, 2s. 6d. ; Thursday, ls. ; Friday, ls.
The council have determined that the annual coun-
try meeting in 1865 shall be held at Plymouth. The
district for the country meeting of 1866 will include
the counties of Cambridgshire,Esseea Hertfordshire,
Huntingdonshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
The report having been adopted,
Lord PORTMAN, in proposing Sir Edward Kerri-
son, M.P., as the President of the society for the
ensuing year, observed that members of the Upper
House of the Legislature had generally filled that
office, but looking at the admirable mintier in which
the present Speaker of the House of Commons had
presided over them, it was a good omen that an-
other gentleman from that House, and one so well
known, should be called upon to fill the office.
Mr FISHER HOBBS seconded the nomination,
which was carried uanimously.
Tne trustees, vice-presidents, and council having
been duly elected.
The noble CHAIRMAN said the council would be
very glad to hear any suggestions from the members.
Mr DENT, M.P., took leave to point out that an
increase in the number of judges would be advisable
at the forthcoming show, especially in the classes of
Lincoln and 13coteh sheep.
Mr FISHER HOBBS observed that the council had
only a very limited number of names before them,
and it certainly would be very advantageous that
the number of edges should be increased. Perhaps
gentlemen would be kind enough to tend in the
names of those who were qualified, and who would
serve, the first of June being the time at evLich the
Hats would have have to be made up.
Mr BEAL 13:10VNE thanked the council for the
regulations which they had introduced as to sheep
being shorn before being shown, so that now the
judges could really see the quality of the sheep, and
the best would obtain the prize.
A vote of thanks having been proposed to Lord
Feversham for his able presidency during the year,
the noble lord, in acknowledging the compliment,
remarked that the council had not been unmind-
ful of the observations that fell from some of the
members at the half-yearly meeting in December
last. The strictures that had been passed upon the
conduct of the journal of the society and the ob-
jections made had not been supported by any one
except the gentleman (Mr. Sidney) who cavilled
at it; and with reference to his opinion that the
society should spend their funded capital in erect-
ing a larger building than their present house, and
form a library of reference, a laboratory, a museum,
and other works, the council had not thought it
advisable to entertain the question, which would
involve not only the expenditure of all their capi-
tal, but in all probability a much larger sum with-
out the prospect of any corresponding benefit. The
remark made by Mr. Duckett, that the society had
failed to carry into effect the seventh article of the
charter, which bound them " to take measures for
the improvement of the education of those who
depend upon the cultivation of the soil for their
support," had been seriously considered by the
council, and a committee had been appointed upon
the subject, but their report had not yat been pre-
pared. His lordship hoped that the society would
catinue to progress in tensed practical enlighten-
ment of the agricultural interest of the country,
the principle of its organisation, and the practice
of science.
The meeting then terminated.

SPrEtIT UV THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

Es.—Our recent anticipations of an important
campaign in Virginia have been confirmed by a bue-
cession of the most obstinate and sanguinary battles
which have signalised even this age of war. From
the 6•h to the 10th of the present month two great
armies were incessantly' ingaged in conflicts so
fierce as to snrpss in carnage all former encoun-
ters on the same ground, And yet so indeoisive as
to render it difficult to say at the
cresent. moment
to which side the balance of success incii;:es• In

the night of Tuesday, the 3d of May, General
Grant, the Commander-in.. Chief of the Federal
armies commenced his long-excected march upon
Richmond by the passage of the river Rapidan.
This operation he was allowed to accomplish with-
out interruption. General Lee, at the head of the
chief army of the Confederates, retired slowly before
him, and took up a position a little further south.
On the sth occurred some fighting, which in any
other campaign would be described as a desperate
combat, but which here shrinks into insignificance
by the side of the conflicts which followed. It was
not until the morning of Friday, the 6th, that Lee
accepted the battle to which Grant was pressing
him. Then the Federal Commander advanced and
fell upon the entire front of the Confederate line
' with an onslaught as straight, as impetuous as that
of Tilly on the Swedes at Leipsic. Like Tilly,
however, he was repulsed with dreadful loss, nor
could he by repeated assaults succeed in changing
the fortunes of the day. So manifest, indeed, had
been his failure that in the afternoon Lee discerned
the opportunity of assuming the aggressive himself,
and advanced in his turn upon the Federals, but
without any material success till night was closing
in, whea he turned the right of Grant's army and
drove it back upon the centre With a loss of nearly
7,000 men. That the advantage at this time
rested rather with the Confederates than the
Federals is not denied, but, nevertheless, on the
night of the 6th Lee retired once more, and took
up a new position at Spottsylvania Court-house.
To this point Grant lost not all hour in following
him, and, after some sharp skirmishing on Satur.'
day, he agein assailed the Confederates with unmi-
tigated fury on Sunday morning. All through that
Sabbath-day, all through Monday. and apparently

all through Tuesday, the battle raged with little in-
termission but what the darkness of night and phy-
sical exhaustion imposed upon the combatants.
Still, however, there was uo decisive results. When
the last despatches left the field Lee retained his
position, and was said to have been reinforced,
while the aggregate losses of the Federals up to the
evening of Tuesday were reckoned, in killed,
wounded, and missing, 40,000 men. At this cri-
tical point we are left to wait in suspense for fresh
intelligence. Never did American mails bring in-
formation more important than may been looked for
by the next arrival. Will Grant still advance, and
drive Lee within the lines of Richmond, or will he
fall back exhausted with his efforts, and admit the
enterprise to be as impracticable to himself as it has
proved to others before him ? It is hard to discern
any inclination of the balance, so evenly on the
scales appear to be weighed. On the side of the
North it must be owned that the expectations enter-
tained of Grant's prowess have received more confir-
mation than has usually attended the sanguine cal-
culations of the Federals. If he has not achieved ab-
solute success, he has bid for it more desperately
and approached it more nearly than any of his pre-
decessors in command. He has fully justified his
reputation for dogged and unconquerable tena-
city. After once breaking up from his camp he has
marched straight on incessantly closing with his
adversary, always offering battle, never declining it,
undismayed by losses, undeterred by the most im-
minent danger. For the first time in the history of
this war, a great battle has been followed by an im-
mediate pursuit, bringing on another battle equally
obstinate and bloody. Grant, though slightly
worsted in the actions of the 6th, refused to quit his
hold upon the enemy, or to plead any of the obvious
excuses for suspending the operations of the cam-
paign. It was this stubborness of purpose which
gained him his success at Vicksburg and his favour
with the Northern people. They never thought him
a military genius, but they believed him to be a
most determined man—a man who would bring
everything to the immediate issue of hard fighting,
and who might either beat or be beaten, but who
would never be hesitating or inactive. This estimate
of his character he has fully justified. He has
fought unceasingly, and has clung like a bulldog to
his work. Nor can it be added that he has fought
altogether in vain, for he has advanced as he pro-
posed to advance, and is actually a few miles further
on the road to Richmond. On the other hand, it
now appears beyond all doubt that the successive
retirements of the Confederate commander were but
so many judicious and preconcerted operations of
the campaign. He fell back from the Rapidan with-
out troubling himself to strike a blow. He fell back
again from his second position at Wilderness,
though he is admitted to have had the best of the
encounter ; and the impregnability of his third
position, at Spottsylvania, has hilly justified his
decision. In none of these movements was there the
slightest confusion or other evidence of inferiority.
The game could be better played at one point than
another, and the advantage was not allowed to
escape, The whole road to Richmond, be it re-
membered, is a series of positions which have long
been studied and strengthened by the Confederates,
terminating in a capital fortified by all the defences
which modern art could devise through a period of
three years. Lee, if he falls back, is only falling
back from one strong post to another, till he finds
himself in the strongest post of all. Grant, if he
falls back ever so little, gives up the game, while it
he persists in advancing he discovers harder work
than ever before him at the end of each day's march,
and separates himself from his supplies in the same
proportion. Already, we are told, he has found his
communications intercepted by the Confederate
cavalry, and been compelled to change the base of
his supplies ; and it is intimaiasd, indeed, that the
action of the 10th was not sought IV him, and that
he had intended to postpone it for a few hours until
his supplies had come up. We have purposely de-
clined to complicate our survey of these important
operations by the reports of any subsidiary pro-
ceedings, but the reader will probably remember
that this famous expedition against Richmond was
to consist of advances from several directions all
combined in one plan. Such combinations usually
require for their success the co-operation of veteran
troops and skilful Generals under the direction of a
master mind, and these conditions can hardly be
thought to exist in the case before us. Part of the
scheme, indeed, was frustrated by the recent vic-
tories of the Confederates in North Carolina, and it
seems now as if the only important diversion would
be attempted by the advance of General Butler upon
Richmond along the line of the James River. But-
ler, who has always threatened that he—the out-
lawed of the Confederacy—would be the first to
enter their capital, is, if he has advanced to City
Point, nearer Richmond than Grant; but there is
many a bad mile between him and the city ; he is
closely observed by General Beauregard, and the
latest advices state that apprehensions were enters
tained for his safety. As to more remote points,
the Confederates were retaining and improving
their advantages in Mississippi, were holding their
own in Tennessee, and had been successful in some
naval encounters both in the James River and
Albemarle Sound. Finally, in concluding our sur-
vey, we must remerk that the intelligence on which
we have based our speculations reaches us mainly
through Federal sources, and is, perhaps, coloured
somewhat favourably for the North. That com-
pletes the case for the judgment or divination of
the public. It seems to perplex the minds of people
in America. The proclamations of President Lin-
coln and the bulletins of Secretary Stanton speak of
Federal successes, but in terms so moderate and
language so qualified as to express anything rether
than confidence ; while the premium on gold, which
was 73 when Grant began his march, and which
fell to 69 at one period, had risen to 77 at the latest
news, and was 75 at the departure of the mail.
Unciaubtedly Grant is in a more difficult situation
than Lee, for if he falls back, which, if he cannot
dislodge his adversary, he must do, it will be under
disadvantage, and if ne advances either by force or
upon the retirement of the Confederates, it will be
under disadvantage still. Bat ho is invincibly
obstinate, he has uncontrolled command, he has
exacted the unreserved support of the Government,
and he has seen the Southern General retire before
him. He will, perhaps, renewh;s attack upon Lee,
but if he ever reaches Richmond with an effective
army he will have achieved a miracle of military
success.
HERALD.—There is nothing like a practical an-
swer. Lord Palmerston formally condemned general
theories on Friday night in the debate on our rela-
tions with China. He had ready one of those matter-
of-fact rejoinders which dumbfound ordinary people.
"We must defend our treaty rights. We must pro-
tect our commerce." Of course we must. But Mr
Baxter, a merchant trading with China, and, it is
understood, the general body in the same interest,
are of opinion that Government is going the very
worst way to secure the prosperity of our Chinese
trade. And as to the treaty rights, the despatches
of Sir Frederick Bruce, our own Minister at the
Court of Pekin, are sufficient to dispose of that
question. This competent authority has emphati-
cally
eeedemeatl the policy Lord Palmerston is pur-
suing in regard to China. The witnesses we have
cited cannot be considered unfriendly to the Cabinet.
If rumour speaks correctly the hon. member for
Montrose was offered a snbordina:e, but not unim-.
he retirement
portant, position in the Ministry on
or.to the
of Mr Stansfeld. And as to our ambassat.
Celestial Emperor, official duty and diplomates' skill
both prompt to acquiescence and approval when'
the conduct of the Government is not flagrantly
inconsistent and unpatriotic. The question arises,
why should we interfere at all ? This may be a
general objection, but it is one capable of local
application. The Imperial power of China is not
only barbarous; it is notoriously cruel. The dynasty
is at the last stage of decline. No foreign aid can
sustain it much longer. Even the most despotic
rule, to last, must have the heart of the people, and
it is well known that the Government of Prince ung
is most unpopular. In fact the Taeping rebellion is
the general uprising of the people—not well con-
ducted indeed, and in this akin to most revolutions,
but al:
!he same time founded on a universal detes-
tation of the :eigning authority, and, moreover, con-
firmed by n very :emarkable career of success. The
v neutrality. We have
set policy of this coati. • •
I, ;Len-intervention in an
the belligerent
e German war.
maintained the doctrine
astounding manner in regard LI
states of America and in the Dane
We adhered to it in the Polish outbreak,and it
was our boast during the revolutionary changed in
Italy. It is true much of this impartial dealing was
only a hollow pretence. We were never strictly
neutral, and, perhaps, it may be difficult for any
Government, in the face of the leanings of the
people, to be stoically indifferent to great public
questions. But our Cabinet, or rather our foreign
Minister, in opposition to the popular will and in-
clination in England, has sided with the Federal
Americans against the Confederates, and has, by his
weak confidence and wavering policy, effectually
aided the cause of Prussia and Austria against Den-
mark, However, it suits Lord Palmerston now to
declare that occasions may arise when neutrality
would be folly or cowardice, or both. We inter-
fered with Portugal, with Spain, with Turkey,
Syria, and Egypt ; and another great occasion hav-
ing arisen for the interposition of the Deus ex
machina, we have interfered in China also. Of
course, the gravest reasons for this exceptional
intervention must have occurred. The Premier
sums up his lofty argument under two seductive
heads—our treaty rights and our commerce. We
are bound to defend the one and protect the other.
But the British aegis must be used with moderation
in both. A radius of thirty miles has been drawn
outside the treaty ports ; beyond this line of
demarcation the civic strife may rage with the most

is the letter -rbarity
unmitigated taa. _
of diplomatic
. Our quiet .English policy
is not to interfere. au.,_
Buy
instruction and agreement. 13ut what has been the
actual practice ? For the last eighteen months or
two years We have steadily co-operas.''d with
the cruel and corrupt Mantchou .:artars.
We violated the principle of neutrality in: the
attack on Niagpo. The whole series of oOr
operations of late in China exhibits an utter dish
regard of the doctrine of noneintervention. Ile
may be eaid we are at open and constant war with.
the Taepinge. The expedition of Capt. Osborn was
a clear admission of this, although Sir F. Bruce:
expressly objected to the employment of British.
' officers in the Imperialist service. This despatc'e,
which was written in June, 1863, about a twelve-
month ago, Mr. Baxter states, was suppressed by
the Foreign Office, in order not to convict Ministers
by the mouths of their own officers. We all know
the fate of Capt. Sherard Osborn's enterprise. That
proferred aid was ignominiously rejected—and re--•
jetted, too, on just and reasonable grounds. One:
wonld imagine there was some commercial charm
in Chinese affairs, which attracted our Government
to lend its countenance and active support to a
dynasty tottering to its fall. England will go great
lengths to advance her trade, and this is the supreme
argument urged in defence of our present Chinese.
policy. Now, in order to consider the bearing of
this view of the qusstion, let us take the condition
of Soochow, the silk district. While the Taepings,
held possession the exports ranged from 60,000,
bales to 83,000 bales per annum, but since we have,
taken possession these exports have fallen to within
40,000 bales. And this is not a solitary instance,
but generally exemplifies the influence and results of
our intermeddling in the internal affairs of the coun-
try against the advice of Sir F. Bruce and of other
European Ministers in China, and against the ex-
press wish of those most interested in the prosperity'
of our commerce, viz., the merchants engaged in
that special branch of trade. When the progress of
our mercantile enterprise in those distant regions
is spoken of it is as well to entertain definite
ideas on the subject. Now, the great prod
ducing districts of China had been in the hands
of the Taepings, and to them we were mainly
indebted, and not to the policy of her Majesty's
Goveanment, for any commercial successes open
to the energy and bold speculation of our great
capitalists and merchants. We have done our
utmost to destroy the Taepings, and to restore the
sway of the Mantchou dynasty throughout the
whole empire. For this not only our treasure
but our blood has been poured out freely, and this
at a time when the doctrine of neutrality is upheld
where common humanity and British honour would
stem to demand intervention. But we are toad that
the power of the rebels is waning and their rcgr.
drawing to a close. Nothing can be farther from
the truth. The successes of the Taepings have been
very great of late, and the opinion of persons on the
spot is that Gordon himself is in danger of being cut
off from the men force. The policy, then, of our
Government is not only calculated to impair our
commerce but to endanger the very treaty rights
for which it has been adopted. Oar !policy is op-
posed to the express counsel of our own ambassador,
to the opinions of our naval and military comman-
ders, and to the interests and the judgment of our
merchants who trade with China. Can any con-
demnation, we ask, be stronger than this ? But
there is something more than what may be called a.
material censure. There is a moral stain attached
to our alliance with the Court of Pekin. The cruel-
ties and butcheries perpetrated by perfidious bare
barians may well be laid at the door of civilised me-
tious in connection with them. It may be, too, that,
we are doing our utmost to tread out some nascent
sparks of Christianity appearing in that dreary
region. The Taepings profess a wild incoherent
creed, but in many points it must be superior to the
atheism and immoral Buddhism prevalent among
the millions in China. If Sir James Graham was
rsght in waraing the House of Commons against
beginning a war with one-third of the human race,
that must be a shallow policy which would attempt
to grapple with the religious opinions most likely
to sway throughout the vast empire. For so sure
as the Taepings succeed their strange theology will
mould itself into a form and become the general re-
ligion of China. These are questions which it may
be very well to speculate upon ; but to meddle with
them actively, or to take either side in the inter-
necine struggle now going on between the Imps'
rialists and Taepings, can reflect no honour on the
wisdom or the humanity of any civilised nation.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

COLCHESTER—MAY 21.
We had a small show of wheat on offer at this market
to-day, but sufficient for the demand. An inactive busi-
ness, and last week's prices declined is per qr. Beans ar4
peas scarce, and fully dearer.
Wheat, white ..42s 46s Beans, Mazagan..2Bs 32*
red 38s 42;: middle & small.32s 36*
Barley
Oats

NORTHAMPTON—MAY 21,
There was a fair supply of wheat on offer for the tuna
of the year. A quiet demand. 'The weather splendid:
—White wheat, new, 38s to Vs ; new red, 35s to 376
old, 38s to 42s per qr. Barley, new malting, 34s to 365----
grinding, 25s to 30$ per qr. Oats, 19s to 27s per 24 store.
Beans, 32s to 37:!. reas,,;32s to 36s!per qr.;

GLOUCESTER—MAT 21.
There was a fair supply of English wheat to-day from
the farmers, which sold slowly at prices slightly in favour
Of buyers. Foreign wheat in extremely moderate demanAl
at a decline of is per qr. No change m oats, beans) 51:'
peas.

EtD—MAY 20.
.day there was a fair show a
iade last week's rates were la
n a limited sale.
White 3os 346
Boiling ... 38s 0
Dun 31s 353
Ditto new —s
Beans, Tick, old 34s 3°
--0
new —6
Harrow Ticks 34s 361!
7313 W —S
Mazagan so.raos2Bs 0.-