The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-18 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.--The House or. Commons could not fail to
take further notice of the unpleasant question which
has been raised by the refisctione of the Procureur-
Imperial upon a member of the House of Commons
and of the Government. The explanations given
had been so unsatisfactory, the course which had
been pursued so unworthy of the occasion the con-
duct of the person principally concerned bad eahi-
hired so much forgetfulness of what was due to the
Government, to the House of Commons, to the coun-
try, and to himself, arid the tone adopted by the
Caller Secretary for Foreign Affairs hal been
ao uncourteous to the Emperor of the French and
so contrary to the most obvious c,aims of nterna-
tional usage, that a general feeling of discomfort and
restlessness on the subject had taken possession of
the public mind. It was not that any one doubted
for a moment that perfect explanations were forth-
coming, Whatever might be the truth about the
letter found among Greco's papers, apparently in
M-,zzini's handwriting; directing the conspirators
to apply for money to Mr. Flower, 35, Thurloe
square, Brompton, it never entered any English-
man's head to believe anything about it, except that
it was either intolerable folly or intolerable imper-
tinence in Mazzini to have at any time given the
address of an English gentleman to such miscreants;
and that a gentleman who could be so unwise—to
say nothing.else—as to put it into the power of
Mazzini to drag his name and address through the
mire of Continental revolutionists was very natu-
rally punished by getting them bespattered. Bat
it was just for this very reason, because explanations
were to easy, because the matter might have been
so readily disposed of, that explanations ought to
have been given, and a disagreeable affair got rid
of at once. Above all, it was felt that a course had
been adopted with respect to the Emperor of the
French which was inconsistent not only with the
respect due to a great Sovereign and a great nation,
but even with the courtesy commonly observed
between private persons. Mr. Stansfeld, therefore,
is entirely beside the mark in maintaining a tone of
indignation at what he calls " an odious imputation."
No odious imputation whatever has been made upon
nim in this country, and it is not credible that the
Yrocureur-Imperial can have intended by the words
he used, to convey any such imputation as Mr.
Stansfeld repels. No doubt the ready sycophants
of Imperial power have caught at an opening for
adulatory declamation, and have used language
which we might resent if it were worth resenting.
But it is impossible that a personage of the high
position, character, and responsibility of the late
Procureur-Imperial can have intended to insinuate
such imputations against a member of the Et eglish
House of Commons and of the Government of
her Msjesty. Such imputations could not hsve
been made without the evidence of facts which
would not only have justified the French Govern-
ment in demanding. but would have compelled them
to demand, an immediate investigation. Ail such
imputations, therefore, are out, of the question; and
we repeat that it is Mr. Stansfeld, and Mr. Stans-
feld alone, who has introduced them into the diss
eussion. But what the Procureur-Imperia. did
r.fi..ct upon was the fact of a gentlemen in Mr.
Stanstelo'd position allowing himseit to neconnected
.with persons woo were cAp,ible of being involved in
~themes of such a nature ; and we do not see how it
can be denied that he hsd sufficient evidence to
justify such a rufi,.cion. Let it be temetnbsred that
the mein facts upon which his observation was
founded have been admitted now by both Mr. Staase
feed and M. MizzJit. It is not disputed that letters
have been AdEt_•svd to M. M,zzini at Mr. Stays-
feld's house under feigned names, and the particular
address contained in the conspirator's letter appears
to have been (see of them. Moreover, though the
particuter observation about Mr. Stansfeld's connec-
tian with a supposed Tibaldi Fund was not true, it
has been made sufficiently evident by the bank-note
which was forwarded to us the other day that he
has at former times allowed himself to assist in the
pecuniary arrangements
.of Italian revolutions
Now, to put out of question M. Mazzini's own opi-
nions, which are not so material to the point at
issue as they have been represented to be, can it be
considered by any reasonable man that M. Mazzini's
correspondents in the revolutionary party abroad
are so entirely free from the object and disposition
of political assassination that it need be matter of
surprise if some of the communications which
reached him should be from very suspicious charac-
ters and of a very questionable nature? Here, for
example, we find beyond all question that ne has been
in communication with Greco, the infamous principal
in the recent plot. Could Mr. Stansfeld, in short,
have any right to be surprised if he were to find that
his house had been made the channel for the most
compromising communications ? And when he had
laid himself open to this danger of nis own accord,
is it at all reasonable for him to rise to a height of

moral indigaition at the occurrence of the natural
consequences of his own rashness ? Does he not.
on th'e contrary, owe every apology to those wnom
he has, from want of proper consideration, brought
into a most upteasaut position; as well as to the
great Sovereign in an attack upon whose life the
same carelessness has allowed his address to be made
use of ? We are really unable to understand the obli-
quity of natural feeling which still restrains him
from expressing his deepest regret to the House of
Commons, the Government, and the country for
having given occasion to their being placed in such
an unpleasant position in the eyes of the French
people; and to the Emperor of the French for
having made it possible that anything connected
with aim could be turned to such an infamous pur-
pose. If he had done this, and had, before any
pressure was put. upon him, taken the step which he
has now taken to prevent the recurrence of such an
of if iir, the inexperience of younger days would have
been all awed to excuse his rashness. Bat he has
made it impossible for the matter to be so passed
over, and the least that can be said is that he has
displayed such an amount of folly as almost con-
stitutes culpability. We regret very much teat the
Government, in their determination to defend a
colleague, have not taken a more generous view of
!heir relation to the Emperor of the French in the
matter. A simply explanation of the facts of the

c,se would have removed every excuse for the un-
worthy language which has been used in France on
,11.3 subject, and we are un,bie to uncl,rsiand the
,quearbia.l-tntss of dignity which hNs prevented their
(nuking allowance tor and explait,ing away a very
mit,xonception. The insinuations of en
,nettly for a malicious purpose may be rightly
"punned, but r4l,ctions proceeding from a friend,
and made '` in sanne-s," deservc consideration, and
honOtir and sseltepect would havit'atiticipated
the suggestion. At the same time it doer
not make matters better to use a question of this
sort for a party trelking-horse. The Opposition by
taking it up as a party question urged the Minis.
teriat side of the house into a mere attitude of

counter assertion. It would have been more fitting
it' both sides of the house, putting aside any party
views, had combined to express a proper and
spontaneous regret at the misconception and errors
of conduct which have been displayed in the matter.
This unpleasant affair does not end as we could have
wished it to end for our character as a considerate
and generous nation. The Emperor of the French,
however, and the French nation may be satisfied
that the people of this country, whose judgment is
undisturbed by the conflict of Parliamentary par-
ties, view the matter very differently, and they feel
that the reserve and confidence with which he has
treated this unfortunate occurrence deserved a more
generous return.
POST.—By the latest intelligence from America
it appears that at the beginning of the present
month an opinion was in process of rapid formation
among the Federals that disastrous failure, equally
speedy and complete, had overtaken the spring cam-
paign both in Virginia and in the west. The plan
of these ill-starred enterprises seems to have been
in substance as follows. The Federal Gen. Sherman,
and others holding commands in the army of the
west, of which Gen. Grant is the Commander .in-
Chief, were to manoeuvre in such a way as to induce
Confederate Geri. Johnston to divide his forces by
the necessity of covering the points threatened by
the Northern troops. Admiral Farragut was to co-
operate with his fleet, and make a demonstration at
Mobile to further distract the attention of the Con-
federates on the side of the coast. In concert with
these movements Federal Gen. Thomas was to move
upon Dalton and Atlanta with a body of 35,000 men.
It was anticipated Gen. Johnston would divide his
army to meet these several movements, and that the
reserves of the Federal forces would attack his dis-
persed army, and, in co-operation with the troops
previously thrown forward, capture, or destroy it.
Such is an outline of the projected campaign in the
south-west, so far as it can be gathered from the
meagre details before us as we write. This Plan
Gen. Johnston, as it appears, has been able entirely
to frustrate and defeat. The movements of Sherman
end Grierson, as well as Farragut's demonstration,
ere stated to have been little., else than feints, and
the land forces employed (la not seem to hive been in
much more danger than the fleet. The first-tnen-
iioned (Sherman) is reported to have marcvd back
fast us tie could to Vicksburg, wheeco he eetne
Fed!,.ral Gen. Thomas, however, was not so fortu
nate. He seems to have come into sharp collisiot.
with Johnston's army on the 23,1, 24,! it, and 25th o:
last month, ►ho immediate result being the loss of 6
hOlDand m n in killed and wounded, and the ultie
quite consequence a somewhat hasty strategic move
nient to the reer. It 47179.8 not to oe reasonably ex
peered that so wary, experienced, and vigilant e
comm.r.drr as Gen. Joseph Johnston was likely tt
ne caught i❑ such a clumsy trap. No sooner was i.
set for him and brought within reach than he recoN
"Ned It at twice, and broke it to piece, with tht
l;reltUt facility and despatch. Ad►niriil FArtagut'b

"demonstration" at Mobile has therefore demor
strated nothing but tne complete inutility of tij3
enterprise. It this is a foretaste of Gen. Gras'"
quell y as a strategist and Commander-in-Ce)et e-
the armies of the west, it tends to coefiral t"
theory that his former victories were due to ge°7
graphical circumstances, and that, when be is no
longer close to a river with a fleet of gunboats aTht
his back, the spell of his success is broken. e
Southern generals probably understood what they
were about, and sivv that it would be better to
wait for hirn in their present posieien than seeett°
their strength in contesting the possession of Vicks-
burg, where the flotillas of the Mississippi would
piece them at so great a disadvantage. Animus
derived his strength from the earth, but the
Northern giant, in his struggle with the compara-
tively diminutive South, derives all his strength
from the water. Once at a distance from the rivers
and the sea, he finds that his little foe is more than
a match for him. The Confederacy, it must be'
confessed, appears more vulnerable in the west
than in the north, where Richmond seems in as
little danger from capture by Gen. Meade as if
it were a town in France or Germany, instead of
being the capital of the Confederate States of North
America; but still it is not improbable that the
superior generalship of the Southern leaders milt
hold the Federal armies in that cuarter so effect nail'
in check as the grand army of the Potomac has been
held by Lee. The campaign in Virginia has ended,
almost as soon as begun, in signal and ignominious
failure. Icseerns that Gen. Kilpatrick had been
despatched with a large body of troops on an extra-
ordinary errand to Richmond. going through by-
ways in order to get behind it unawares. This must
have been a promising enterprise. We are told he
"found it impossible to reach Richmond," so be
wended his way back as fast as he could, and sought
shelter and repose within Gen. Butler's lines. As
for' the army of the Potomac," that is described as
being "at its old position at Brandy Station,"
where it is likely to remain, safely and quietly, if
somewhat ingloriously, until Gen. Lee shall find it
convenient. to beat up the quarters of Gen. Meade,
or whatever other general may happen to command
it a month or two hence. Gen. Meade himself was
not with his army when\the last advices left, having
been summoned to Washington to hold a consulta-
tion with the President and the chief of the War
Department. So stood matters at the despatch of
the telegrams from New York on the sth of this
month. The Ides of March do not appear to be
favourable to the Car of the White House. The
sudden and utter collapse of the campaign in Vir-
ginia and the west would seem to indicate far
greater weakness on the part of the North, or strength
on the part of the South, than appeared to be pro-
bable before proved by experiment. We never
thought that the progress ot the Federal armies in
the west was likely to be very consi ierable. The
farther the Northern armies are able to move
onward into the South, the father they will
he from their base, from whatever quarter
they may advance ; the greater will be the
danger of their communications being cut off,
and the more will the Southern forces be concen-
treted, while their own will be proportionately
thinned and weakened. Still we had a right to
ex nett from the Federal army of the west something
different from what the last news tells us it has
been doing, or rather suffering. Heretofore, though
the Federals have been beaten severely on the
Potomac, and have mane hardly any appreciable
progress even in the west when away from their
gunboats. still they have fought great pitched
battles. Butt hey now seem to have adopted a hope-
less strategy of feints and retreats. They make
sham attecks, and only escape being cut to pieces
by keeping out of danger, and making rapid stra-
tegic movements to he rear. However, there is at
least the consolation teat there is not likely to be
much bloodshed in t his pacific method of conducting
campaigns, by which war will happily be shorn of
its terrors. But as the Federals are not likely to
restore the Union by this novel system of tactics,.
would it not be the best way " to leave the South.
alone" at once, and let their " erring sisters" go in
peace ? More "raids in the direction of Richmond,"
torpidity, dormancy, paralysis on the Potomac,
feints in the west, impotent operations at Charleston,
still more impotent "demonstrations" at Mobile,
and a new organisation of slavery at New Orleans,
will never conquer the South and restore the
Union.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

MANCHESTER—THunspAr.

A thin attendance to-day at market, and English wheat
met with a limited demand at the currency of this day
week. Foreign wheat was neglected, and unchanged in
price. Indian coin firm at former rates. Flour met with
with an exceedingly dull sale, at lateprices. Oats and oat-
meal were very dull, and unchanged in value. English
beans the turn in favour of buyers, but Egyptian Sorts ad-
vanced Cd per qr,

B I MING HAM—THURSDAY.
This morning there was a snort soppy of English wheatt
and the prices of this day sennight were ~bout realised.
—English wheat was sold at 40s to 46s for white, and 363
to 40s per 36 stone for red. Barley, new malting, 30s to
38s per qr ; grinding. 24s to 283 Oats, old, 22s to 303
per 30 stone; Irish, 18s to 245. Beans, 318 to 40s per qr.
Peas, 32s to 42s per 36 Acme.

MONMOUTH—WEDNESDAY.
The local markets have been fairly attended during the
week, and quotations are as follows . •
Wneat, white 4s 9d to 5s 6d 1 Barley. 3s 2d to 3s 91
Ditto red .0s Od to Os Od 1 Oats .........2s 2d to 2s 6d.

EDINBURGH GRAIN—MARCH 16.
To-day there was a large supply of wheat, which met &
slow sale, at barely last week's prices. Barley met a good
sale, at Is advance on former races. Beans a ready sale.
Oats sold slowly, and 6d dearer.
Wheat on the top 4s 6d down average is 61 down•
Barley on the top 10s Od up average Os 61 up.
Oats on the top Os 6d down.........,average Os 2d up.
Beans, on the top 3s Od down average Os 9a up.

Ave' age Prices.
Wheat. , 36s Od Oats. 2O 8d
I
Barley 29s 8d Beans 32a tid

Total Supply and Sales.
Wheat ...1287 qrs Sold 2383 qrs
8ar1ey........ 8.51 qrs Sold 736 qrs
Oats
Beans • 295 qrs Sold 216 qrg

Flour sells as follows :—Whites, 39s Od ; extras, 37s Od ;
superfine, 35s Od ; fine, 33s Od.

CLOCK MAKING.—" B3nsoa'a great piece of clock wort
is certainly a marvellous achievement in cl. ek
b •th as regards the workman., hip, and its c-p icity under
difficult circumstances for time measuring."—Mechanics
Magazine, Sept. 15, 1862. Clocks by the first artists of iha
d”y tor the drawing room, dining room, bed room. library*
-halle staircase, bracket, carriage, church, turret, rails% aya,
warehouse, counting house, musical, and astronomical.
Church and turret clucks specially estimated for. Berisontit
illustrated pamphlet on clocks (free by post for two stamps)
with descriptions and prices, enables those who live in anY
part of the world to select a clock. Also a short pamphlet
on cathedral and public clocks, free for one stamp. Priza
medal and honourable mention in classes 33 and 15. J. Vir.,
Benson, 33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, London. Established
1749 Watch and clock maker by special warrant of or
pointment to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]-0311KIMpti011, all nervous, biliotlot
liver, and stomach complaints, ii every stage, are only ag"
gravater and accelerated by drugs of every description, but
perfectly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalents
Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which nsd
been considered hopeless. We quote a few.—Cure No. 62,914-
Miss Lange, 18 years of age, cured after the medical men had
abandoned all hopes of her recovery from the last stage of
Pulmonary consumption, with f -arful cough, expectoration,
exhaustion, spitting of blood, perspirations, hollow cheeks•
emaciated to a skeleton. She is now, thank God, a perfectly
healthy, blooming, fleshy girl,—N. Lange, Commissaire de
Police. Cure, No. 46,270, Mr. James Roberts, of FriraleY
Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver
derangement. and partial deafness.--Cure, No. 47,121. hital
Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion,
gatherings, low spirits", and nervous fancies.—Cure, Na
54,816. the Rev. James T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk,
of indigestion and torpidity of the liver, which had resisted
all medical reatinent. In tins, 11b, 2s 9d; 21b, 4s 6d; 5111,
lis; 121 b, 225; 241 b, 40s. Barry du Barry and C.a. No.
77,
Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason; and all
grocers and chemists in every tows; of the United liingdoui.