The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-01 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS Dem.—Morning, 2h. 18m.—Afternoon, 2h. 35m.
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•
134 Ve 41-1-Iti

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 1864.

Before the eighth meeting of the Social Science
Association came to a close, it was right that it
should take into consideration a matter so closely
affecting the public as bribery at elections. The
subject is more especially pressing in its demands
lawn] public attention from our being now upon the
eve of a general election, wl.en we have every rea-
son to suppose that a very large proportion of the
successful czndidates will owe their election to the
employment of means directly opposed alike to the
letter and the spirit of our C,nstitutior. %V, may

fairly amicipate that in every town and borough of
Great 'Britain there will be scenes enacted from
which those optimis's who would have us " let well
alone" had better turn their eyes, and what with
bribery, direct and indirect, the gift of money or
the promise of benefits in some other form, the in-
fluences exereiied by landlords, employers of
labour, and large customers of tradesmen, by the
time the House is made up very little room is left
for the fair representatives of the honest opinions
of British electors. Such a state of things is pro-
ductive of very great evil in every way, and goes
far to neutralise the benefits derived from full4rd

fair discussion. Instead of ech elector feeling
elevated by the possession, of a political right and
the exercise of a natic,nal responsibility, ,he is
really lowered and degraded by a misappropriation
of it. The act of receiving a bribe is of itself de•
grading, and when it is compulsion that is em-
ployed instead of bribery, a bitter and angry feel-
ing is created in the mind of the tenant or the
tradesman who is made to feel himself a
machine in the hands of his master, and
not permitted to have a mind of his own.
These and other similar reasons have so disgusted
our electors, that half of them do not exercise
their right. In some of the large constituencies
only oneathird or one-half of the electors record
their votes, and it is fair to suppose that a good
deal of active agency has been employed to bring
even that number to the poll. A curious contrast
to this unwillingness to come forward in a Parlia-
mentary contest is shown in the case of voting for
the election of Poor-law Guardians. Ninety per
cent. of those qualified to vote voted for the
Guardians. Mr. CHADWICK attributes the differ..
ence to the convenience of the voting papers
employed in the one case, compared with the
'trouble and delay caused by going to the hustings
in the other. This may have something to do
with it, but the real cause for discontent lies deeper.
The instance of the Poor-law Guardians shows,
however, that Englishmen are not naturally averse
to the performance of their public duties, and it
is not to be supposed that a people who take so deep
an interest in the politics, not only of their own
country but of the world, should not be able to
form an opinion as to the relative merits of two
or three Parliamentary candidates. The interest
felt in this subject is by no means commensurate
with its importance, and, in fact, our public men
are most of them too deeply implicated in the pre-
sent unfair practices to be very severe upon the
culprits, It has grown to be auch a matter of
course for Government influence to be used,
for direct and indirect agencies to be em-
ployed, that even the Cabinet Ministers
could not always take the bribery oath with a clear
conscience. Political men of every grade can talk
very largely when need be about purity of elections
and the rights and duties of voters, but such high-
sounding sentiments do not always faithfully repre-
sent their real opinions. The meeting held in
York the other day by the members of the Bri-
tish Association, was very thinly attended, and
exhibited, in its scanty attendance, a striking con-
trast to the eager audiences which filled some of
the lecture rooms. Some men of note were there,
however, whose words have weight, and the meet•
ing was satisfactory, if only to prove that the im-
provement of our election system is ranked by them
among the most prominent of our much needed re-
forms. Mr. CHADWICK, who addressed the meet-
ing, remarked that he thought much might be done
by a body of gentlemen uniting in a declaration
that they would not sanction or employ, directly
or indirectly, any illegal means to secure their re-
turn. This plan has been found very useful in
regard to the practice of duelling, but we fear it
would not be equally efficacious in Parliamentary
elections. la the first place it would be impossible
to conceal the real actors in a duel, whereas in
electioneering it is easy to shift the blame from one
to another till all responsibility is lost. Mr. CHAD.
WICK also advocated, very strongly, the employ-
ment of voting papers, which he thought would be
an effectual means of checking electoral corruption.
It is a pity that he did not go a step further, for the
ballot-box possesses all the advantages of the voting
paper, and a good many others as well. The great
practical cure was not, however, left with-
out an advocate, for Alderman LEEMAN con,cluded
a brief but sensible address by observing
that " the feeling of Englishmen was against these
pains and penalties, all sensible people believing
that bribery was not to be put down by such means.
The true remedy lsy in the ballot." No other
speaker had the courage to endorse the sentiment,
although Mr. URQUHART denounced the employ-
ment of Treasury influence, Lord BROUGHAM de-
clared the corrupt voter to be guilty of perjury, and
Sir FITZROY KELLY went so far as to recommend
the treadmill and oakum picking for the briber.
The man who would bravely face the cannon's
mouth would, he said, shrink with dismay from the
cropping of his hair or the spoiling of his mous-
tache. But the very severity of such punishments
would render it in the highest degree improbable

that they would ever be applied. It is found diffi.
cult enough, as it is, to enforce the milder penalties
of disfranchisement and forfeiture of seat, for wit-
nesses sometimes forget what they know, and the
whole case is apt to melt away in a most mysterious
fashion. But Sir FITZROY KELLY, whose able ad.
dress excited warm applause, is no friend to the
Ballot, and very coolly observed that it was hope-
less to put a stop to the exercise of influence. They
might as well, he said, think of putting an end to
the operations of the laws of nature. But if not
altogether abolished, the exercise of influence may
certainly be confined within narrower limits, and

its possessors may be debarred from illegal pressure
upon others. The mischief of the case ib, that those
who see its evils will not turn to the real cure. It
is as if the Anti. Corn Law League had wearied
itself in devising other means to cheapen bread
than the importation of cotton. Perhaps the ex.
perience of the coming elections may tend to
enlighten their minds.

The English Volunteers have every reason to be
satisfied with their treatment and success. They
appear to have been everywhere well received from
the highest to the lowest, and this interchange of
good feeling augurs well for both hosts and guests.
It is always a pleasing sight to witness difs
ferent nations on terms of amity, and the in-
habitants of neighbouring or distant lands 'meet
together for friendly purposes, and vie with each
other for proficiency in the art of peace. The
Volunteers being represented abroad is in itself a
fact that imparts additional interest to the accounts
i that reach us of the ceremonies that took place at
Brussels. King LEOPOLD is deservedly popular in
England ; he has always been recognised as a peace
maker, and on more than one occasion his presence
has been welcomed as a timely and fortuitous occur-
rence from which those at home and abroad have
augured well. It is therefore gratifying to notice
the favourable reception which our Volunteers have
reee:ved in his domains, and the unanimity that
universally prevailed rendered the display and the
attendant arrangements something superior to the
ordinary routine of such affairs. The address de-
livered to the KING by the President of the Com•
mission was very appropriate, and did not launch
oat into those extravagant assertions which so often
mar the effect of royal communications. It stated
that in the name of all the riflemen present,whether
Belgian or foreign, the KING was thanked for the
support and countenance which he extended to
them. This was strictly true, for the Duke of
BRABANT and the Count of FLANDERS have
also taken great interest in the affair and
encouraged the exertions of the riflemen
to the utmost. It was no inflated compliment
that informed Prince LEOPOLD that he took
the first place in the council of kings, for it is an
acknowledged fact that he does so, and rules no less
by hie wisdom than his foresight, and doubtless it

is his skill in discernment which induced him to
recognise the importance of the rifle movement, and
to acknowledge its progress with hearty goodwill
and genial approbation. It is satisfactory to notice
the goodwill expressed by the Volunteers towards
the KING and his interest in their progress. The
regular old-fashioned English cheers which saluted
the KING evidently astonished the Belgians, and
formed an appropriate contrast to their cries of
ViTe le Roi." Altogether, it must be seen from
all accounts that the expedition is a striking suc-
cess, and that sufficient testimonies of goodwill have
been exchanged on both sides to augur well for any
future attempt of a similar nature. Doubtless their
visit to Brussels will long live in the recollection of
all the Volunteers, and their gracious reception by
the KING no less than their welcome by others will
prove a substantial proof of their discernment in
making the expedition.

The betrothal of the Princess DAGMAR to the
CZAREWITCH is just now a very welcome piece of
intelligence, and we may not unreasonably hope
that from this affair some hope may dawn for Den-
mark. The German Powers will find Russia a very
different power to deal with from that of England.
There will be none of that slow creeping movement
witnessed, none of that fatal hesitation apparent,
which have so fatally marred the effects of our
policy. It is not certain, indeed, that the
Cabinet of St. Petersburg will take up
the cause of Danmark, either directly or
indirectly in a manner that will attract notice,
but there are other causes at work, and other influ-
ences to be met with, than those which strike the
casual observer, and which he who runs may read.
It cannot be but that this Russian and Danish alli-
ance will prove eventually of some service to the
much-tried and persecuted sovere;gnty and State of
Danmark. Doubtless, it is regarded with jealous
eyes and scanned with no indifferent notice by the
cunning observers in unfriendly lands. It is a sort
of compensatory triumph that at this special juin•
ture the good KING should find his family raised in
importance, as it were, and that the adverse occur-
rences of this last year have not prevailed to shut
him out from his former privilege of mingling with
kingly houses. The rising generation of the royal
house of Denmark is indeed a most promising one,
and its members have met with striking success at
their outset in life. If all has not prospered ac-
cording to the wishes of the Danes, and their ex-
pectations have not been realised to the uttermost
in the marriage of the Princess ALEXANDRA, still,
for her it has been a splendid union. The second
son of King CHRISTIAN has also become a person
of note, and obtained for himself an exalted posi-
tion, the duties of twhich he seems to fulfil with
skill and success. Now that the Princess DAGMAR
is also to be called upon to take a high place among
the magnates of the world, it seems, indeed, as if
fate were resolved to make compensation abroad for
the misfortunes that have fallen so heavily at
home upon the royal family of Copenhagen.
The Danish people will rejoice at the bright
future thus opening before their princess,
and regard it as a favourable omen that she
should become connected by marriage with so
powerful an empire. It is to be hoped that this
event may exercise a restraining influence upon the
greedy end inconsiderate policy of the German
States. It is sure to prove a rebuff to them ; but
it is to be trusted that they will find cause even-
tually to verify their suspicions. At all events
this betrothal seems to be a sign• manual that there
will be no concurrence between Russia, Prussia,
and Austria touching the peace negotiations. It
was the union of these three Powers that produced
such fatal results in the Polish affair, and it is,
therefore, an additional source of satisfaction to
know that we now witness a totally different
aspect of affairs. It is only to be regretted that
this union did not take place last year, and then
most likely we should not have been scandalised
by such proceedings as those which have outraged
common sense, justice, and consideration. It is a
step in the right direction which cannot be too
greatly approved of, and if it warn those who are
so oppressive and unjust to pause and take heed to
their ways, it will have worked more signal service
to the right cause than such an arrangement
might at first sight have been supposed to effect.
The apparently unchecked course of success which
has attended all the Prussian and Austrian de-
marches has filled the minds of reasoning persons
with grave disquietude. It is not in the nature of
things that such a system should long prevail, but
in the meantime it works ftightfnl misery to inno•
cent and deserving persons, and occasions devasta-
tion to prosperous citizma and happy States. Any
event, small or great, any incident, trivial or im-
portant, becomes of consequence, if in its ultimate
carrying out we can trace the germs of opposition
to a grasping policy, which confounds right and
wrong in its reckless policy.

FATAL SLEEP WALKlNG.—Yesterday Mr Payne
held an inquiry respecting the death of Caroline
Iles, aged 42 years. She was the wife of a tobacco cutter,
living at 5, Elam. street, Bermondsey, who said that she
went to bed intoxicated, and at three o'clock the next morn-
ing he missed her. Ile went in search of her and found
her lying at the bottom of the stairs apparently awake. The
following
id day she said that while she was asleep she had
fallen the stairs from the top to the bottom. Her
husband
not know that she was in the habit of walking
downd
about the house at night in her sleep. She died on Tuesday
from the effects of the fall. The jury returned a verdict of
" Accidental death from injuries received while in a state of
somnambulism."

REMARKABLE PRESERVATION OF AN INFANT.— A
young woman named Sarah Gregory was on Wednesday
charged before the Melksham (Wiltshire) magistrates with
attempting to conceal the birth of her illegitimate infant.
The prisoner a short time ago was taken ill, and her mis-
tress very kindly sent for a medical man. On examination
of the woman be charged her with having been recently
delivered. She denied it, and search was made for the
child without success. On the following morning Mr
Merrett, her master, went into his slaughter house adjoin-
ing the premises, and having occasion to lift a sack which
was in a cheese tub he found beneath the sack, and wrapped
up in a coloared apron, a fine baby, which immediately
gave him a specimen of its vocal powers, The child had
been in the tub more than ten hours. A nurse was called
in, to whose care the little foundling was entrusted. The
prisoner was again charged with being the mother of the
child, but she still persisted in denying the maternity ; but,
just as the nurse was about to take it away, she said,
" Give it to me," and immediately suckled it. The want
of food 'did not seem to have distressed the hardy young
Spartan in the least. The bench did not consider that the
prisoner's intention was to destroy her baby, and discharged
her with a caution.

HORRIBLE DEATH.—On Thursday morning, be-
tween the hours of 7 and 8, one of the most dreadful acci-
dents, resulting in death, occurred in a busy metropolitan
thoroughfare. It appears that a respectable woman named
Lane, keeper of a coffee-shop in Loader-street. Chelsea, '
while waiting upon her customers, caught fire from the
shop stove. and the terrified woman instantly ran out into
the street, and across the road into an oilman's shop.
Thence, in a sheet of flame, and shrieking piteously, she
bounded back again into her own premises, where she set
fire to tho parlour. Men and women in pursuit endea-
voured to throw her down on the floor, but the affrighted
creature eluded these praiseworthy effurts, and appeared
gifted with supernatural powers, for she literally flew away
from her wood-be preservers into the garden, whore a Mrs
Lewis enveloped the sufferer in a cat pet and stifled the
flames. It was now found that the steel bands of her crino-
line were red hot, and burning into her very bones, while
the flesh dropped off her arms and legs. Dr Davis's assist
ant speedily arrived, but death terminated the unfortunate
woman's sufferings about eight o'clock. Mrs Lane was an
example of neatness in her person, but owes her untimely
end to crinoline. She leaves behind her a husband and a
family, who are fortunately grown up.

THE PRESTON MURDER.—Yesterday evening the
inquest on the body of Mary Barry was re.2umed and con-
clu&d. The jury found a verdict of " wilful murder"
against the husband of the demised, and ho was thereupon
committed to take hie trial at the next assizes for Lanca•

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SPAIN.

ARRIVAL OF QUEEN CHRISTINA IN
MADRID.

MADRID, SEPT. 30.

Queen Christina arrived here at five o'clock this
evening. Her Majesty was well received by the
crowd assembled to witness her arrival.

The Madrid journals speak of this event in
'avnurable terms.

BERLIN, OCT. 1.
The President of the Council proceeds this even•
ng to join the King at Baden Baden.

Herr von Bismarck will return to Berlin with
his Majesty.

INDIA AND CHINA.

ALEXANDRIA, SEPT. 30.

The Messageries Imperiales steamer Imperatrice,
with India and China mails, 56 passengers, and
1,390 packages of merchandise, arrived at Suez on
the 28th.

The Peluse left Alexandria to-day for Marseilles.

FRANCE.

PARIS, OCT. 1.
Advices received here from Japan by the French
mail, state that two English vessels had been fired
into by a battery I, elonging to Prince Chosien.
Cholera was prevalent at Shanghai.

BOURSE, Sept. 33.—The reponse de primes (option)
was made at 65f. 800. The market has been rather
firmer, but with only a very blight improvement in
prices. Threes, for the Account, are now at 65f.
50c., and Mobilier at 1,007 f. 50c. Railway Market
heavy, but with little variation in quotations up to
the present time. The market became heavy to-
wards the close, and left off as follows :

41 per Cents .. 92 60
Do. end month....

Italian Loan 67 40
Do. end month 67 25
Ditto Threes
New Mexican
Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes —
Rome Debt
Deferred

3 per Cents
Do. end month 65 75
Credit Mobilier 1000
Do. end month 1000
Bank Shares 340 ►
Credit Fancier 1207 50
Roman ,, 75 50

RA IL'

rAYS.
Cash. Account.
877 50 .. 880
983 75
921 25 .. 917 50
628 75 .. 630
518 75 .. 520
495 .. 496 25
315
442 50 .. 445
528 75 .. 525
393 75 .. 396 25
435 482 50

Orleang
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern ..
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa..
Ditto to Barcelona

ITALY•

The following is the passage of the speech which
Cardinal de Bonnechoee delivered on receiving the
Cardinal's hat, as quoted by the Correspondence of
Rome and announced by telegraph—" In the Pope
is personified that admirable institution founded
by the Saviour of the world, who constituted the
Pope as his representative on wilt. But we look
on his Holiness such as Jesus Christ made him by
himself, and such as he has become by the work of
ages—the instrument of his providence—the Pope
surrounded by all the temporal guarantees of his
dignity, independence, and sovereignty—the Fope,
with all his means of free action over the human
race. Such for the last 1,400 years France
has always comprehended him—such, with the
exception of some moments of giddiness, she
has always wished him to be, and maintained
him. Such we cannot doubt is also the wish of the
glorious Prince whom she has voluntarily given
herself as Sovereign. He is too well acquainted
with the French not to have proved that, among
so many generous sentiments rooted in their hearts,
there is not one deeper or mere indestructible than
that of attachment to St Peter's Chair. The his-
tory of the Church and of France attests that truth,
and reminds us that the closest union is necessary
between that people and the Holy See, in order
that, on the one hand, the people should prosper
under the benediction of Gel, and that, on the
other, the Church should enjoy the plenitude of its
beneficent influence in the world."

The Giornale di Roma of the 22d pablishes the
following ;—" During the last three days Cardinals
Trevisanato and Bonnechose have been receiving
the congratulations of the cardinals, diplo-
matic body, prelates, nobles, and other dis-
tinguished persons. The residence of the Austrian
Embassy, where Monsignore Trevisanato held his
official reception, was superbly decorated for the,
occasion, and the same magnificence was observed
at the Colonna Palace, the hotel of the French
Embassy, where Monsignore de Bonnechose held
his levee. The Marquis Antici Mattei, of the
Sacred College, senator, came to Rome yesterday to
make his customary visit to the two cardinals.
Before the Austrian and French Embassies military
bands were stationed, and for two evenings both
buildings were illuminated. The two cardinals
proceeded yesterday to the tomb of the Prince of
Apostles to pray, and afterwards visited Cardinal
Mattei. During the evening the cardinal's hat
was delivered to their Eminences by
Monsignore
Francesco Ricci, Secret Chamberlain."

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)

LIVERPOOL, OCT. 1.

The royal mail steamer &Mil, arrived here at
1.30 this morning. Among her passengers are Mr
Hiram Sibley, President of the Western Union
Telegraph of America, and P. Mc D. Collins, pro-
jeetor of the overland telegraph to America via
Behring's Straits, who are en route to Saetersburg
to carry out the enterprise,
NEW YORK, SEPT. 21.

Advices from City Point to the morning of the
19th inst. state that heavy cannonading was main-
tained during tha preceding night against the
Second Corps, and it was believed that the Conf€,
derates were about to make an effort to penetrate
General Grant's left flank. The Lieut.-General
returned to the army on the 18th inst.
On the evening of the 16th a large force of Con-
federate cavalry under General Wade Hampton
dashed suddenly through Grant's lines, and sur-
rounded the reserve cattle
pen opposite Harrison's
Landing, and captured the entire herd, numbering
some 2,500 head. They also surprised and captured
the First District of Columbia Cavalry Regiment,
which was armed with sixteen-shooting rifles. The
Confederates then fell back rapidly on the Haw.
kinsville road. A pursuing
column was immedi-
ately pushed after them under Generals Davies and
Kantz. The pursuit was, however, unsuccessful,
and Hampton, with his prisoners and cattle, entered
the Confederate lines about three miles below
Ream's Station. This raid ii regarded as the most
daring and one of the most successful of the war, as
it has secured for Lee's whole army full rations of
beef for five or six weeks. The cattle were in fine
condition.

A desperate battle took place on the 19th be.
Omen the forces of Sheridan and those of Early
near Winchester, in the Shenandoah Valley, and
resulted in a decided victory for the Federal arms.
Secretary Stanton transmits the following report
from Gen. Sheridan

Winchester, Sept. 19, 7.30 p.m.
LientaGen. U. S. Grant,—I
have the honour to
report that I attacked the fcrces of Gen. Early on
the Berryville Pike,
at the crossing of Opequan
Creek, and after a most stubborn and sanguinary
engagement, which lasted from early in the morn.
ing until five o'clock in the evening, completely
defeated biro, driving through Winchester, captur-
ing about 2,500 prisoners, 5 pieces of Artillery, 9

army flags, and most of their wounded. The rebel
Generals, Rhodes and Gordon, were killed, and
three other General officers were wounded. Most
of the enemy's wounded and all their killed fell into
our hands. Our losses are very severe. Among
them is Gen. D. A. Russell, commanding a division
in the 6th corps, who was killed by a cannon ball.
Generals Upton, M'lntosh, and Chapman were
wounded. I cannot tell our losses. The conduct
of the officers and men was most superb. They
charged and carried every position taken by the
enemy from Opequan Creek to Winchester. The
rebels were strong in number and very obstinate in
their fighting. I desire to mention to the Licut.-
General the gallant conduct of Generals Wright,
Crook, Emory, Tor bett, and the officers and men
under their command, To them the country is
indebted for this handsome victory. A more
detailed report will be forwarded.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Mjor-Gen. Commanding,

Unofficial accounts state that the Confederate
loss was over 5.000. The Fcderal loss is known to
be very severe, but is not yet ascertained. The
19th Corps suffered severely from a furious can-
nonade.of grape and canister, which it encountered
at the commencement of the engagement. The
final discomfiture of Early's forces was effected, it
is said, by a desperate charge of the Federal
cavalry under Generals Custer and Merritt. Early
is reported to have retreated under the cover of
night, and a pursuit was to be commenced on the
following morning.
The news had caused great rejoicing at Wash-
ington, where a salute of 100 guns was fired yes-
terday, by order of the authorities, in front of the
President's mansion. Various opinions are enter-
tained as to the course Early will now pursue.
Some think that he will receive reinforcements and
make a stand further up the valley, and others that
he will at once abandon the valley and reinforce
Lee.

The only news from Georgia is a Confederate re-
port that the 35,000 Federal prisoners at Anderson.
ville have been removed to Savannah and Columbus.

Mississippi advices announce a formidable con.
centration of Confederates under General Forrest
at Jackson. Some important movement was about
to be inaugurated. Forrest had 20,000 men and
an abundance of artillery, and a pontoon train. He
had prohibited all persons from passing though his
lines either way. It was rumoured that he media
fated an attack upon New Orleans.

Confederate accounts from Alobile announce all
quiet. Several Federal vessels ware lying below
the obstructions.

A report—which, however, lacks confirmation—
comes from New Orleans, to the effect that the
Mexican chief Cortinas, after repulsing a French
column advancing against Matamoras, had driven
back a force of Confederates which was moving
down on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande with
a drove of cattle for the French commander. Cor-
tinas, then, finding he could not cope with the en-
tire French force advancing against him, crossed
the Rio Grande to the Texan side with his entire
command, numbering about 2,000 men, and drove
the Confederates under Col. Ford out of Browns-
ville, when Cortinas entered the town and raised
the American flig, declaring that he would hold
the place for the United States Government, to
which Power he gave i❑ his adherence with his ens
tire command. It is represented that at latest
accounts Cortinas was at Fort Brown, and had 19
guns bearing upon Matamoros, which place the
French had nol yet entered, their forces being about
ten miles above Bagdad. Ford's forca was en•
camped a few miles north of Brownsville. It is
also reported that a number of vessels which had
sailed from New Orleans for Matamoras with car•
goes for Cortinas, had been seized at the mouth of
the Rio Grande by the French squadron.

Full returns from the State election in Maine
show a Democratic gain of over 3,000 over the
Democratic vote polled at the lest election. Go-
vernor Coney, the Republican candidate, was, how-
ever, elnted by a majority of about 15,000. De-
mocratic journals claim that the State will be
carried for M'Clellan in November.

A great mass meeting to ratify the nomination of
M'Clellan and Pendleton was held at Union-square,
in this city on the evening of the 17th inst. The
meeting is believed to have been the largest and
most enthusiastic ono ever held in this city. A
number of eminent speakers, among whom were
Governor Seymour, Governor Parker (New Jersey),
August Belmont, Han. Robt. C. Winthrop (Massa-
chusetts), Mayor Gunthre, and Judge Comstock,
addressed the people from ten different stands. The
meeting terminated with a display of fireworks and
a torchlight procession of the various M'Clellan
clubs. The speeches made were severely condemnae
tory of the present Administration. On the tame
evening ratification meetings were also held in
Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, and all the
principal cities of the North—great enthusiasm
being manifested throughout. At St. Louis, the
meeting was interfered with and partially broken
up by a mob, instigated, the Democratic journals
assert, by the Republican authorities. It was feared
at one time that the disturbance would result in
a general riot. A meeting held at Pottsville, Penn-
sylvania, was also interfered with. The Philadel-
phia Age, a Democratic paper, states that a squad
of about 20 cavalry, from a camp adjoining the
town, attacked the people with drawn sabres, and
that quite a fight ensued between the citizens and
the soldiery, during which a number of persons
sustained serious injuries. The soldiers finally
finding themselves outnumbered retreated to their
camp.