The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-05 00:00:00

might have been expected. He deplored that so
many had spoken in disparaging terms of one who
had rendered such signal services to the cause of
civil and religions liberty. This is a most lame and
impotent conclusion, and does not apply to the
subject in at all the manner in which Mr LAYARD
meant. On the contrary, the more the noble lord
has done in a good cause the more he is to blame
for falling so short of the requirements of his
position at present, and neglecting the duties en-
tailed upon him by the exigencies of the momentous
occasions referred to. The hon. member is not cer-
tainly one of those who fail in consequence of under-
estimating their abilities, for he considers that his
speech on the Danish debate " disposed pretty
completely of all the accusations against
Earl RUSSELL." This may be news to some
and matter of cavil for others to consider. In
perusing a speech of this kind we are led to regret
that one of such varied acquirements should expend
his powers in the unwelcome task of defending a
line of action contrary to the spirit of the age, the
opinion of the country, and the recognised senti-
ments which animate the policy of great nations.
In defending the course pursued in China, the hon.
member was more successful, and he plainly showed
that the decided measures adopted had produced
satisfactory results. How different is the whole
tone of this passage to those which refer to the un-
fortunate Dano-German passage-at.arms ; and may
we not suppose that in this moving recital we meet
with the honest feelings of the man, bursting
through the trammels of official life, and leaving
far behind the influence and incitements that too
often prevail in such oases and mar the fruition of
many previous years of toil devoted to the service
of the country ? As many other speakers have
said before him, Mr. LAYARD called America the
" black spot" in the political horizon. The hon.
member spite in a becoming manner as to the
horror that existed in this country with regard to
the war, and expressed his indignation at those
who affirmed that there was a section of the com-
munity that wished it to be carried on to extermi-
nation. Certainly, Mr. CoBDEN did expatiate upon
his " sublime spectacle," but he did not carry the
sympathies of his audience with him; or, if some
infatuated individuals were led away by the spe-
cious sophistry, they will soon find out their error.
It is astonishing how people can deceive them-
selves when they get an idea into their heads, and
this is the only way to account for a man of Mr.
COBDEN'S perspicuity uttering such discrepancies
in this harangue. Allowing for the sake of argu-
ment that carrying on the war would put down
slavery, that would not sanction the horrors and
brutalities of the Federal proceedings. A higher
and holier authority than that of man has forbidden
evil to be done that good may come of it, and it
would be well if some of the wise and learned
would leave these maxims alone for awhile and seek
knowledge from that source of truth in the light of
which infants and sages are equal. All who desire
the well-being of the great country referred to, and
the honour and interests of humanity, will cordially
concur in the sentiments expressed by Mr LAYARD
that " Englishmen wished to see an end of this
war, than which history did not record anything
more terrible." Mr. LAYARD dwelt at some length
on the state of our commercial affairs, and affirmed
that much was due to COBDEN and BRIGHT for their
services in the cause of free trade. This is, doubt-
less, true, but they would have deserved much more
of their country if they exhibited more of the com-
prehensive spirit befitting a great nation. In their
way the heroes of the Manchester school are quite
as exclusive as any of the aristocrats whom they
sneer at and scorn, and in their position such an
error is tenfold more pernicious in its consequences
and blameable in its practice than in the other, be-
cause they make professions which they do not
carry oat, and utter sentiments that are not sub
stantiated by their conduct. Very true was the
observation made by Mr LAYARD as to the dan-
ger of trusting too much to the prospects of peace
foreshadowed by our flourishing commerce, for such
hopes might prove delusive and unstable in their
foundations. "If the time had come fur the lamb
to lie down with the lion, then, indeed, England
might do without fleets and armies, and without
incurring the expense of maintaining those armies;
but that time had, however, not arrived." All must
regret, however, that the balance of power as at
present constituted does not fulfil the character
given to it by the hon. member for Southwark ;
it is a theory and not a practice, if its object is
to prevent a strong State from despoiling a weak.
There can be no doubt that it was one of the wisest
measures ever devised by Statesmen to inaugurate
such a consummation, but how far has the per-
formance fallen short of the promise. In his zeal
to defend the Government from the charges
brought against them both on foreign and domestic
grounds, Mr LAYARD rather forgot consistency,
' for he first exulted in the triumphant majority in
the debate on Denmark, which proved that ' Con.
servative reaction only existed in the imaginations
of some of the Conservatives, and then fell foul
of the very assembly whose praises he had been
sounding by declaring that " this was a reactionary
Parliament beyond all previous Parliaments.,
When we remember the universal support which
it has accorded to the Government in their un-
worthy attacks on the Conservative Reform Bill,
their unwillingness and inaptitude to introduce
another and a better for themselves, their shameful
abandonment of a weak ally to please an unworthy
and ruthless Power, and their lowering the influ-
ence of England before the nations of Europe,
we are tempted to take Mr LAYARD'S consolation
to heart, and to rejoice that this House of Commons
has only another year to live. It is a matter of
irremediable regret, however, to consider that its
faults will survive in their fatal effects and injuri-
ous influences to this country and others for many
a long day to come.

At length the mystery is disclosed, and the route
taken by General SHERMAN is stated both by North
and South. It seems that his ultimate destination
is Augusta, the capital of South Carolina, which lies
just between the borders of that State and Georgia.
On his way to Augusta, however, he is aiming at
Macon, and Richmond papers of the 22d ult. re-
port him to be within eighteen miles of that city. It
is garrisoned by militia, and not strongly fortified,
according to some accounts, while other statements
declare it to be strongly entrenched. All Southern
versions agree in asserting that it will be defended
to the last, and Break hopefully of its safety.
Reckoning, apparently, upon almost uninterrupted
conquest, SHERMAN is said to have arranged to
march direct to Macon, bad then to divide his army,
sending one half to Augusta and the rest to Savan-
nah. Augusta once captured will be fortified, and
as he will receive supplies up the Savannah he will
nt
he i sable
tpne nn dos v,ehmeiwteo7eCrh,arleston or Columbia, All
on the issue of the first
pitched battle,
and when we read the self-com-
placent programme afirrsnt e we shall do well to remember
step as yet to be taken, and that
tlhiaatcoezn
for
all we know to the contrary, may be
the hands of the Cottfederates SHERMAN.S
army is said to consist of about 5.0,000 men, of
whom 8,000 are cavalry, and be has thirty days'
rations—but other versions state that he has
ordered hie troope to raise their pro ; 6,0115 from the

country they are passing through, and that his
flirks extend many miles in their foraging. The
same barbarous system of devastation and destruc-
tion which has disgraced the Northern arms in
other quarters—especially the Shenandoah—is, it
seems, to be followed. All property in Macon
and Milledgeville is to be destroyed, in-
cluding the State capital in which the Geor-
gian Legislature is now sitting. Some mem-
bers of this assembly have already fallen into
SHERMAN'S hands. The Georgian State Road
from Atlanta to Carrington, a distance of 40 miles,
has been destroyed ; and among the establishments
( specially marked for demolition are the Confede-
rate arsenal and the largest powder mills soul).
The Confederates have therefore something to
fight for, and as usual they appear to be on the alert.
It is re ported that the Georgian Mi*.itia has already
inflicted temporary discomfiture on the invader,
and forced him to fall-back a few miles. These,
however, can of course oppose no lasting barrier to
his progress; but Be,auregard's army is said to be
hurrying by forced marches to intercept SHERMAN.
In that case the Northern General will find an ad-
versary who will not be very easily disposed of.
General LEE too will, no doubt, press troops from
all quarters to anticipate his arrival, and instead of
taking the easy possession which he seems to count
upon, General SHERMAN may find very serious ob•
stacles in his way. The railways on which he is
depending may possibly be broken up; and expe-
rience has proved that cities fortified by General
BEAUREGARD'S engineering skill offsr no very facile
conquests. The people are watching with great
excitement for the result. Meanwhile in Tennessee
the Confederates have achieved a decided success,
having captured an entire train of Federal stores
near Morristown. The latest eccounts report HOOD
to be marching on Pulasky in the same State, pre=
paratory to commencing operations in Tennessee
and Kentucky. SHERIDAN is said to be retreating
and reinforcing GRANT, who is expected to make
another attack upon Richmond. LEes forces have
also been recruited from Virginia and North Caro-
lina, so that neither army as yet shows signs of that
exhaustion which Mr. SEWARD tells us is to be the
end of the war. It is denied that President LIN,.
COLN will make any conciliatory advances towards
the South, but he does not seem very anxious to let
the world know what his real plans are, for we are
told he will announce his policy in his Message to
Congress—no very great favour, seeing that such is
the usual custom, and that some months' delay is
thus secured to him. Perhaps he is unwilling to
commit himself to any decided course until he shall
learn the result of SHERMAN'S movement, but he
can hardly doubt the tendency of the public mind-
Expectation will be on the qui vivo in Europe as in
America till SHERMAN'S exploit shall have ended
either in a decided gain for the Federal cause, or a
complete discomfiture of his army.

In the course of the past week several Volunteer
meetings have been held, most of them in connec-
tion with the agreeable duty of distributing the
'prizes to the successful competitors of' the recent
rifle matches. The usual features of such assemblies
were repeated. There were the exchanges of com-
pliments, the fashionable spectators, the tasteful
decorations, and the handsome array of prizes.
The latter were in most instances very well worth
a survey, and proved from their number and value
as warm and constant an interest taken in the
movement. The prizes distributed by Lady POL-
LOCK to the East Surrey Rifles exceeded in value
£4OO. The Challenge Cup of the North Middlesex
was also a prize worth well winning, white singu.
larly enough the most attractive of the rewards
won by the members of the Fourth Tower Hamlets
Corps was a handsome mirror, won by a non-com-
missioned officer, who regarded the reflection of his
soldierly visage with great complacency. The
principal interest associated with these meetings
was, however, the presence of Colonel M‘Mußpo,
who will so soon retire from the post he has filled
with so much skill and judgment. As the gallant
Colonel explained to the North Middlesex Corps,
he is simply retiring in conformity with the routine
of militia regulations. As Inspector-General of
Volunteers he has discharged somewhat difficult
and delicate duties to general satisfaction, and has
shown himself throughout a firm and consistem
friend to the Volunteer movement, Colonel
Nl'Mußpo, in addressing one of the meetings,
observed, that the high position now attained by
the Volunteer force was mainly due to the support,
moral and material, which it had received from the
public. This is undoubtedly true, but for it to
obtain and to secure that support it was necessary
for the public not only to approve of the principle
upon which it was founded, but to be satisfied with
the practical manner in which that principle was
applied. Had the Volunteers themselves proved
indifferent or incompetent, had they proved turbu-
lent or disorderly or neglectful of their self.imposed
dutiee, public sympathy would have cooled down.
But while great credit is due to the body of the
Volunteers, some share of it must be apportioned
to those who from their power could influence very
largely the fortunes of the movement. The Volun-
teers have for the most part been very happy i❑
these relations, and in none more so than in the
appointment of Colonel M'MIRDo as their Inspec-
tor-General. The unanimous e pression of regret
for his approaching retirement from the members
of the different corps must have been very gratify.
ing to the gallant Colonel, as affording indisputable
testimony of the kind and courteous manner in
which he has filled an office, whose duties no one
denies that he has scrupulously and vigorously
performed.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER-HALL.-
Handel's Judas Macoabeus' is announced for Friday nest,
the 9th inst. Madame Sherrington, Miss Banks, Madame
Sainton-Dolby, Mr Sims Reeves, Mr M. Smith, and Mr
Weiss, principal singers, The 331 Christmas performances
of "Messiah" on Fridays the 19th and 23d inst.

IRON IN ELBA.—The island is as full of it as the
" Parya Mountains" in Anglesea was of copper. A
good deal of it occurs in the form of sand like that on the
beach of Taranaki, the richness of which helped to make
the unhappy New Plymouth people so eager to keep their
allotments. Now, how is the iron worked Why, very
inefficiently. Most of the mines are mere surface scratch-
ings. In many places nothing else is needed. At Rio
Marina, for instance, where you land from the Tuscan
Piorabino, the very mud is black and metallic, and the
sea is for a great distance coloured dark red by the waters
of the little stream which comes down from the "iron
hills." The mode of bringing down the ore is primitive
enough. You see a long string of donkeys carrying it in
their panniers. Gangs of porters aro then employed to
haul it (still in baskets) on shipboard. The wheelbarrow is
an unknown institution. Possibly the Elbans have the
saute prejudice against it which the Scotchman at Oporto
found the Portugu,,se bad. When ho bad imported a bar-
row at considerable cost hid gardener at once gave warning,
indignantly asking " Would you set a man to do the work
of a beast ?" Mechanical sc!ence is at a low ebb in Elba.
There is not a crane in the whole island, nor a slide up which
loaded waggons might, as they come down, pull up th.se
which had been emptied at the bottom. When something of
this kind, with tramway to match, was proposed to Grand
Duke Leopold, " It's very clever, but what is to be done with
all my donkeys ?" he replied. Still, iu spite of the Grand
Duke, the quantity of iron exported has greatly increased—
from some 15,000 tons a year to an average of 56,000 tons,
between 1851 and 1861. The year ending last June gave a
total of 100,000 tons, At present no more can bo exported
with roads and means of shipment so imperfect as they are,
and an open roadstead instead of a safe harbour. But the
demand must go on increasing rapidly, and the supply is
limited. M. Simonin compares it to the guano in the Chin •
eha Isles, which in the same way is concentrated in a small
space; but in the guano isles the wealth is oaly on the sur-
face—in Elba the deposits of ore are so thick that they can
supply a million tone a year tor 2,000 years without being
exhausted,— Dickens's All the Year Round.