The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-08 00:00:00

v4*-a
g/lit

"LONG', TUESDAY, MARCII 8, 186!.

It almost invariably so happens, when a great
Parliamentary battle is coming off) that there quietly
appears some day a perfectly unobtrusive little
paragraph among the notices of motion, upon the
result of which the fate of an Administration is de-
pendent_ An outsider almost always claims the
paternity of this same little paragraph. An out-
sider, as a matter of course nearly, one might say,
as a matter of necessity—upon the side of the Oppo-
sition. Not the occupant of the front bench. Not
one of the es-Ministers of the Crown, aspiring again
to hold his own against all corners in Downing_
street. Not one of the leading debaters. Gene.
rally, however, some man of a thoroughly in-
dependent way of thinking, one rather given
to be crotchetty than otherwise, at any rate
unaccustomed to run in the rigid grooves
of the old track kept to by the vast majority of his
own Party—a man who can not only think and
speak for himself, but act for himself even upon
occasion. At this somewhat critical juncture in
Party History, when the contest for power so long
impending has become at length very imminent,
one is apt to turn with jealous regard to our
examination from day to day and from week to
week of the various little notices of motion, out of
the discussion of which a certain momentous Divi-
sion might arise, one of those Divisions upon the
announcement the issue of which the going out and
the coming in of a Government would depend. Last
evening, in the House of Commons, precisely one of
these indications of 4 corning tempest was recog,.
Disable, as it appears to
us, just dimly emerging
above the political horizma.....a
portent, as the

phrase is, no bigger than a man's hand—but one
that, like so many a storm-cloud, may possibly,
before we have become well aware of the change,
completely overshadow us. Yesterday, then,
almost immediately after the meeting of the
House, as the first among the notices of motion
appeared the following :

"DENNt.k.RX.

"Lord ROTIgRT to give notice that
on Friday next I intend to call attention to some of the
papers recently laid on the table of the house with reference
to the Danish question, and to move for certain papers and
parts of despatches omitted therefrom.

Apparently a trivial motion—that is to a superfi-
cial observer. A mere intimation of an intention
to move for certain papers and parts of despatches
omitted from the Danish correspondence already
laid upon the table of the House. A small matter,
surely, some one think ; yet one upon which the
whole question, as to the Foreign policy of the
Government as at present constituted, is really
dependent. Unless something or other in the
chapter of accidents should arise to lead to en
additional postponement of a discussion that must,
sooner or later, be commenced in genuine
earnest—out of that notice of motion by the
noble lord, the member for Stamford, the whole
matter of debate ought to come. A new turn in
the diplomatic negotiations still dawdling and
maundering on—an unlooked-for despatch from the
seat of war in the north of Europe—the mere
proximity just now of the Easter holidays threaten-
ing either to shorten inconveniently any discussion
now adventured upon, or to interrupt the debate
by the unseemly hiatus of the recess—any one out of
a variety of such circumstances or of latch considera-
tions may, it is quite true, pluck the sting out of that
notice of motion yesterday brought under the ob-
servation of the House by Lord ROBERT CECIL,
second son of the second Marquis of SALISBURY,
M.P. for the borough of Stamford, and possibly—
it might perhaps be said, but that he has his
crotchets, and don't in the least like leading
strings, probably —member without a seat in the
Cabinet of the next Conservative Administration.
For such as it is, there is the motion. And out of that
motion there might readily enough come the Debate
and the Division. Whether these will come from
it, is another question altogether. There, at any
rate, is the opportunity. if Ministers, for example,
upon the plea of the urgent necessity yet awhile
for some reticence upon diplomatic matters, in re-
gard to a subject of European import still actually,
if not actively, in negotiation—if Ministers, we
say, upon this plea, a plea that unquestionably
does admit, to a very considerable extent, of
justification, were distinctly to oppose the
motion, while the Opposition, perhaps, as distinctly
determined to support it—out would come the whole
long pent-up tornado, the whole furious hurricane
of debate from opposite directions ! Then, indeed,
would come the Tug of -War and, in the end—after
the discussion had fairly exhausted itself—then
would come the supreme turning point upon whose
extreme edge would rest, in momentary oscil-
lation, the balance of the Division. Would ?
Will !—if Ministers, that is to say, do not con-
trive to evade the difficulty by again blinking it
through the dodging device of a yet further and
further postponement. Lord ROBERT CECIL'S
motion is down for Friday evening. Unless it is
shirked by Ministers or set aside by some unexpected
Casualty, something ought to come of it. It ought at
least to open up for the House of Commons the
long delayed opportunity by which an end might
at length be put to this obscuring and
muddling up of the whole policy, both home
and foreign, but more particularly of the foreign
policy, by the pseudo-Liberal Government. A Go-
vernment that—it should now boremembered—came
in upo❑ one dodge, and may yet (consistent with
itself to the last) endeavour to evade destruction by
another. A Government that rose to power
upon Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Resolutions, and that
threatens now to sink from it because Earl RUSSELL
has no resolution whatever.

There are few questions more irritating than the
manner in which the prize-money is distributed to
the army and navy, Lord CHELMSFORD very pro•
perly called attention to the Kertch and Yenikale
prize-money, which certainly bids fair to be long
cited as a specimen of unfair proceeding even
amidst so much that is faulty and unsatisfactory.
There seems a fate about this Kertch distribution.
For some reason ur another the Government have
sat their faces from the beginning against this
wall-merited claim, and inch by inch they have
fought every step of the way in the struggles that
have been made to recover for the captors their
well-earned, hard fought-foe possession. For some
time objections were raised against the recognit;.,n
of the claim ; and as Lord CHELMSFORD exp',ajned
last night, great wrong was done in not reernaitting
the injured parties to vindicate their cause in the
Admiralty Court. Some absurd I.egal technicality
was put forward, and thus then only chance of re-
dress was shut out from t:dem. However, in this
instance, as in many sieeiaaa ones, the voice of pub-
lic opinion, and the, debates in both Houses of the
Legislature, obte:med that justice which a recusant
GOvernmont refused to grant the soldiers of the
country. The sum granted was thus voted, " for
the officers and men employed in the expedition to
Kerich and Yenikale." Hera another anomaly
tefolt place, and the Admiralty hastened to undo as
much as possible what good had been effected. They
had permission to, decide upon any doubtful ques-
tion as to the distribution, whereupon they founded
the right and arrogated to themselves the power to
settle the whole of the distribution. As might be
expected in consequence of this, morn injustice was
perpetrated, and many deserving individuals de-
prived of their just remuneration. Lard CHELMS•
FORD was at great pains to explain the exact nature
of the injuries inflicted, and the losses sustained, in
consequence of the interference of the Admiralty.
Lord LYONS, instead of receiving two-thirds, only
got half, and thus lost £437, while the remaining
moiety was divided away, Sir H. STEWART, who
should have received one-third, and three other
admirals—who were never in the expedition at all
—for Admiral BOXER was at Balaclava, Admiral
STOFF ORD at Malta, and Sir FREDERIC GREY at
Constantinople. Was ever anything more prepos-
terous or inimical to the beat interests of the ser-
vice This was a parliamentary grant accorded
to the men who took part in a special expedition,
and the Board of Admiralty took upon themselves
the task of distribution as if it had been an ordinary
affair of prize money. Such gross injustice and
extreme inconsistency ought not to pass over with-
out notice, and the country is indebted to Lord
CHELMSFORD for thus taking up the case, and
making it clear to the comprehension by stating the
chief circumstances in plain terms devoid of legal
ambiguities and official mystification. He proposed
that the question should be decided by an ;In-
partial tribunal.
The Duke of SOMERSET of
course declared that all had been done in a
right and fitting manner, but subsequently he
agreed to consult the law officers of the Crown.
This is, at all events, something gained, and it is
hoped that the result of the investigations and
;equiries now about to be set on foot Rill be that
the just claims of the captors will be taken into
consideration, and the proper remuneration awarded
.fe. them, Nothing eau be more detrimental to tie ,

public service than the mode of procedure adopted
in these cases of prize money. There is always
some mismanagement prevailing with regard to
them, and eternally the voice of complaint issues
from the ranks of those who have fought hard, and
deserve better treatment from their country, than
to have their requital, due to the spoils of many a
bloody day, begrudged by the unwilling and cap.
tious officials who mismanage affairs at home. If
the Government keep the claimants so long out of
their prize money, they ought to give interest for
it according to all the rules and regulations of
monetary transactions. The secret is that the di;.
tribution is purposely delayed until th© latest
possible period, in hopes that some may die off, and
the relations be too timid or ignorant to assert their
rights. If this dilatory course is persisted in much
longer, the rffict will be that parties engaged in
these expeditions will cease to preserve property
at all ; soldiers and sailors will be tempted to
plunder, and thus possess themselves by private
means of the booty which honour, truth, and justice
cannot obtain for them in a public form. Amid all
the abuses and corruptions of the service this evil
arrangement of prize-money stands forth most
prominent. It is a disastrous state of affairs, which
militates against the spirit of confidence that should
prevail among all employed in the service of the
country, and more especially those who are engaged
in the active branches of it. It is high time that
Parliament took up this question in all its details,
and settled definitively the rules and regulations
to be observed in apportioning the various sums of
prize-money, and also should fix a period within
which they must be handed over to their recipients.
In the event of the non-fulfilment of this under-
taking, the claimants should have the power of ap-
pealing against the authorities, without having to
wait for their sanction to do so. Until some such
stringent measures be adopted, it is idle to expect
that any satisfactory solution will be arrived at, or
justice rendere6 to those who so specially require it.
The due recognition of the claims of those who
fight for their country by sea and land has at all
times engaged the attention of those who rightly
appreciate the necessity of the case. It is not to he
tolerated that in these days a country like England
should be unmindful of the services or indifferent to
the claims of those who sacrifice themselves for the
interests of the community.

HOLSTEIN,
ALTONA, MARCH (Evening.).
Two officers and 20 Danish soldiers landed yes-
terday at the village of liciligenhafen in Holstein,
it is supposed for the purpose of reconnoitring.

GAMMA AND ITALY,

VIENNA, MA ca 6.

Advices from Galicia report the prevalence of
agitation in that province. Notwithstanding the
proclamation of the seige, the placards of the
National Polish Government; have been affixed in
the streets of Lemberg. Prime Sapieba has fled to
Galatz.

The Government forrl.ally denies the reports
attributing to it aggressive intentions against
Large numbers of troops are being concentrated in
the Tyrol and the provinces of Austria adjacent to
Italy, it is declared, for defensive purposes. Arc!-.
duke Leopold will inspect the fortifications of the
Tyrol, and the Quadrilateral at an early date.
Orders have been sent to Trieste to fit out the
frigate Novara, which will be placed at the dis-
position of the Archduke Maximilian.

THE SUEZ CANAL COMPANY.

PARIS, MARCH 8.

The Emperor has consented to arbitrate in cer-
tain questions pending with the Suez Canal Com•
pany, referred to him for settlement by the Viceroy
of Egypt.

His Majesty has appointed a committee of five

members to examine the questions at issue.

FRANCE.

The Constitutionnel of to-day, in an article sigr,ed
by Limayrac, considers the assertion:, of the
English journals respecting the re's9:Lablishment of
the Holy Alliance to be at leas. exaggerated.
The writer dwells upor
. the diversity of interests
between Austria,
tinues:—" We do
and Russia, and con
do not say that this alliance does
but we refuse to believe in
not or will, not exist;
its exAtence on the terms and conditions denounced
by the English press." Before' judging of the
triple aAiance, M. Limayrac wishes to know if it
really exists, and upon what conditions.

As might have been anticipated, the report of the
joint committee was accepted without a dissentient
voice last evening in the House of Lords. Lord
GRANVILLE, in his brief address on the subject,
very clearly and succinctly summed up the prin-
cipal features of the report, and the grounds upon
which the committee based their opinions. Of the
twenty-seven bills which threatened to invade the
metropolis no less than one-third are set aside,
leaving, however, eighteen still upon the list. But
though even the lesser number appears somewhat
formidable, supposing them all to obtain the sanc-
tion of the Lower House, there is no longer cause
for anxiety and alarm on the subject. The schemes
still suffered to go forward are of a comparatively
harmless nature, many of them being merely exten-
sionsof lines already in active existence, and others
having the principal part of their operations in
those suburban districts, where there is more roam
aad thinner population, and consequently esitesa.
tions and demolitions create less disturbance and do
less mischief. On the other halid the rejected
schemes were all for traversing the busy centres of
London life. They were to r.aake the vast highway
from Oxford-street to tlie City, and from Pimlico
eastwards, the subjee:cs of an extensive experiment,
to concentrate tv_,eir forces amid the bustle and
business of 'o2Aring-cross, and to bring Father
Thames 'klimself into subjection by flinging over
him no less than four bridges. The committee,
according to Lord GRANVILLE, divided the railways
into three classes, the first being the schemes which
are only improvements of existing undertakings ;
the second those which contribute to the formation
of the Inner Circuit, recommended last year; and
the third, including those plans which should not
be pursued at all, at least this year. With regard
to the rejection of those schemes which would have
formed part of the Outer Circuit, Lord GRANVILLE
observed that the committee were still of opinion
that such a circuit was desirable; but, from the
evidence brought before th,em during their investi-
gation, they are incl;oied to think that such an
object can be obtai
:tied more easily and less objec•
tionably than 'ay their moans. By connecting the
existing ro'ilways on the eastern side of the metro.
pHs yv-ith one another the circle will be virtually
complete, without additional lines, and this end
would be easily attained by using the long unem-
ployed Thames Tunnel as a means of communication
between the Great Eastern and Blackwell lines on
the Middlesex side, and the South-Eastern on the
Surrey side of the Thames. We should hope that
these Companies might come to some satisfac-
tory arrangement among themselves, by
which such a plan could be carried into
effect without delay, thus obviating the necessity
of adding to the number of metropolitan railways—
addition no more advantageous to them than to the
public. To the two lines suffered to proceed in their
endeavours to cut through the metropolis, there will
be little opposition. They are both northward; and
while the one deals with an open and quiet neigh-
bourhood, the other promises to atone for disturb-
ing a busy part of London by providing a new street
in a locality where a good and direct thoroughfare
is very much needed. It will be some compensation
for the inevitable:interference with the Hampstead
and Tottenham-Court Roads if, by it, we gain a
clean, respectable highroad through St. Giles's. A
new road from Oxford-street to Charing-Cross
in the direction of St. Martin's-lane will
be a boon which may make the residents north-
east of Oxford-circus forgive a good deal of annoy-
ance, and the company have done well in combining
the two proposals. This scheme was one among
many for uniting the Northern lines with Charing
cross station, so that by its means a good deal will
he :done for uniting the traffic north and south.
What more requires to be done for this purpose can
be easily done another year. At all events it
is better and wiser to leave the matter
in abeyance until the practical working of
the new schemes has been fully and fairly
tried, and experience comes in to assist the judg-
ment. In projects of this nature so many conflict-
ing interests have to be weighed, and so many rival
claims considered, that caution and prudence are
the moat necessary constituents of any extensive
alteration. On the whole, the repot of the com-
mittee is highly satisfactory, and though subsequent
inquiry and criticism may see cause to modify some
of the details, one great object of its appointment is
attained—the public oneaeinees has been allayed, at
the same time that a due regard has been had to
the interests of railway communication.

BOURSE, March 'Z.—The market has been heavy
owing in some measure to the arrival of the Eng-
lish funds with lower quotations, and Threes, for
the Account, are now at 66fr. 15c. Mobilier, which
had declined at the opening to 1,025fr.,.are now at
1,031 fr. 253. Railway market quiet, bat Saturday's
prices generally well maintained up to the present
time. The market again rallied towards the close,
and left off as follows :

4i per Cents. ..... 93 25
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 66 25
Credit Mobilier 1030
Do. end month 1031 25
Bank Shares....., 3315 —1
Crodit Foncier ....1230
Roman

'AY%
Cash. Account.
Orleans..
North e„ 946 25 .. 947 50
IC-ty ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 920 .. 925
New ditto
Southern — .. 650 --
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa 577 50 .. 582
Ditto to Barcelona

Italian Loan ,
Do. end month.... 67 2.5
New ditto
Do, end month —
Russian
Austrian .. —
Spanish Threas 5l
Home Debt .. 49 50
Deferred ..

ItAIL

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
(Per the Chinn,)

NEW Yon x, Feb. 24.
No important events ere reported from the army
of the Potomac. General Meade had left for the
front. He has had long consultations with the
President and military authorities at Washington.
He will proceed at once, it is said, to reorganise his
army. Rebel geurillas are becoming more daring
and numerous, and keep the outposts on the alert.
It is rumoured that General Lee is preparing to
advance against General Meade, with a view of
driving him back to the defences of Washington,
or forcing a battle upon the old Bull Run ground.
It is said that the Richmond authorities demand
this movement to be made, in order to relieve the
despondency existing at the rebel capital.
Rebel deserters state that so great is the scarcity
of forage within General Lee's lines that Fitzhugh
Lee's cavalry has been disbanded until grass time,
in the middle of March.

A Knoxville despatch of Feb. 21 states that
Longstreet has broken tip winter quarters, and that
his army has appeared in force upon Strawberry
Plains. They have completed a pontoon bridge,
over which two brigades had already crossed. It
is said that Longstreet has been heavily reinforced
with artillery by General Bucknor.

A despatch from Chattanooga,. Feb. 21, states
river against steamers for Chattanooga. General
that the rebels EAre now blockading the Tennessee
John Morgan's force is reported to have crossed the
Tennessee. The situation of Johnston's army was
unknown.

Official information from General Dodge states
that the rebels, supposed
to be Roddy's force, had
artempted to cross the Tennessee river at three
different points, bu were driven back.
The Nashville correspondent of the New York
World states positively
that the rebels had cut off
communication between Knoxville and Cumberland Gap.

It is now definitely arranged that the Easter
Monday 'Volunteer Review 'will take place en
Farley-heath. Colonel 11I'Murdo went down to Guildford
yesterday morning, accompanied by Lord Truro and Colonel
Buxton, and examined the ground for several hours; and
we believe expressed himself highly satisfied with the capa-
bilities of the heath itself for a review, and with the pro-
posed arrangements of the two railway companies. There
is every reason to expect that abundant provision will bo
made for 04 refrcblainent of the veluutters and of the spec-
t4ters,

Southern papers furnish information concerning
the progress of General Sherman's expedition, An
official despatch to the Confederate War Depart-
ment states that General Sherman's forces arrived
on the 18th inst. at Quitman, on the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad, one hundred and forty miles from
from Vicksburg, without opposition. The Richmond
Examiner says that Mobile will not be taken with-
out a desperate battle. Sherman's force is estimated
at from 25,000 to 35,000 men, and his advance is
pronounced to be the boldest of the war. He
destroys the railroad and bridges in his rear, and
evidently meditates no stop backwards.
A Cairo despatch states that when General Sher-
man passed through Jackson, Mississippi, the
rebels fled so precipitately that a number of pon-
toons and two pieces of artillery
the rate of fourteen miles per day for
captured by
the Federals. General Sherman's progress was at
for ten days ; his
troops moving
entirely upon the country they passed through for
supplies, in light marching order, and relying

It was believed that he
would appear before the
defences of Mobile by the 25th of February, and, as
he had no siege guns with him,
it is thought that
he would attack the city sinaultaneously with a
naval attack by Farragut.
Mobile Papers state that the Mayor had issued
a proclamation, exhorting nou-combatants to leave
the city, as nu attack from the Federals was daily
expected. Admiral Farragut's fleet was lying in
the Sound on the 19th, riding out heavy weather.
Richmond papers contain the following :
MOBILE, Feb. 15th,

Meridian was evacuated yesterday. The Go.
vernment property was saved. Sherman's forces,
about 35,000 strong, are advancing
in close order,
with General S. 1). Lee's
General Forrest's staff, has cavalry harassing their
flanks and picking up stragglers. Cap
General Forrest was at Captain Adair, of
arrived, and reports that.
Oxford on the 9th. Tic
was confronting a column of Federal infantry of
6,000 advancing from Memphis vla Ifunando, and
twelve regiments of cavalry advancing via Collins. I,
ville.

The reported battle near Brandon, and Sher-
tnan's uaptute of 12,000 prisoners, proves to be a

canard.

Advives from North Carolina state that the

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. Fedorals were making successful raids in the
neighbourhood of Newburn, capturing guerillas,
LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] horses, cattle, &c., and destroying rebel property.
Canfederate accounts from Charleston to the 13th
state that the Federals had withdrawn from John-
son's Island, and were engaged on Morris Island in
repairing the damage done by the Confederate fire
to their batteries. There had been no further
shelling of the city.
It is believed that Gen. Beauregard has detached
a largo portion of his command to oppose the
advance of the Federals in Florida. A battle i❑
the neighbourhood of Tellahasen, Florida, is ex-
pected—the opposing armies being about equal in
strength.
Thus far 57 out of the 109 Union officers who
escaped from Richmond have reached the Federal
lines in safety ; 25 are reported to have been recap-
tured by the rebels, leaving 27 yet to be heard
from.

The new Italian iron clad frigate Re
d'ltalia returned yesterday from a very successful
trial trip. She made 13 knots per hour, and be
haved very well in a heavy sea. Silo is pronounced
seaworthy in every respect.
The proceedings in Congress for the past three
days have been unimportant. The rumour of a
meditated naval demonstration by the rebels against
San Francisco, as announecd by Senator Conness,
of California, is belie led to be without founda-
tion.

The Eichmond Examiner of the 20th February
says—The following despatch was received at the
War Department last night :

"MOBILE, Feb. 19, 2 p.m.
" Farragut has not renewed his attack on
Grant's Pass. T.."-ais fleet lies off the pass in the
Sound. Ttie weather is too bad for action. Sher-
man's burps is not advancing down the Mobile and
cnio road. No landing has yet been reported in
the direction of Pascagould.
"D. H. MAWRY, Major-General.
"General S. Cooper, &c."
An official despatch was also received in the course
of the day, which reduces the enemy's demonstra-
tion at Quitman to a very important affair. Former
daspatches overrated the enemy's force. General
Mawry reported yesterday that he had made a
close reconnaisance of the enemy's force at that
point (which is about 100 miles from Mobile), and
that it did not number more than a thousand men.
The whole was probably some raid on some trestle-
work of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.