The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-20 00:00:00

probable that they would be. The New York
Chamber of Commerce have just received a COM.
munication from the principal merchants of Bahia,
in which they set forth in a simple and straight.
forward manner the details of the iniquitous occur-
rence of the capture of the Florida, and the wrong
thereby inflicted on their trust and confidence. The
case could not be better put than it is in these brief
but emphatic sentences, and if anything could add
to the indignation with which every one has heard
of the affair it would be the perusal of this earnest
address. The mere recital of the event is sufficient
to explain its enormity without any excited expo.
sition or violent declamation. It is simply stated
that " they deplore the sad occurrence that has taken
place, the Federal war steamer Nirachusett breaking
the neutrality of the empire, and capturing and
towing out of the harbour the Confederate steamer
Florida, regardless of all international laws and the
common laws of people." This passage in itself
contains the strongest possible evidence against the
commander of the Wachusett, and all who aided
and abetted him in his efforts. Further on it is
shown that by this conduct the captors of the
Florida exhibited a contempt for the wishes, and
defied the instructions of those whom they ought to
have respected. The authorities of the place very
properly intimated to them that the American
Consul had given his assurance that no conflict
should take place in their waters, but no heed was
paid to the remonstrance. Perhaps they had
reasons for so going out of the line' of official re-
strictions, for the said Consul has taken his depar-
ture, which at such a period, and considering the
extraordinary circumstance that had ensued, is
most peculiar and significant. It is a strange way
of interpreting the duties that he owes to the
Government who appointed him, or to the country
which he represents. Surely a time like this is
not the one for abruptly terminating a communi-
cation between the United States and the country
which had been so grossly insulted and injured
by one of their subjects. The merchants very
wisely recommend the Charter of Commerce at New
York to appoint a committee to inquire into the
subject, and to investigate into the injury thus
wrought to the commerce of New York. The
authenticity of the signatures is attested by the
English Consul of the place, and this
circumstance has given rise to very imperti.
nent suggestions in some quarters. However, the
decision of the Chamber has been a wise one, to re-
fer the letter to a committee. Such a course will be
the most sure and certain one in the end to attain
the desired result, and to expose the real nature of
the attempt which so scandalised and outraged all
our feelings of propriety. The New York Times
contains some very judicious remarks on the sub.
ject,which are appropriate in themselves, and which
it is to be hoped will have the effect of putting a
stop to the indiscreet language and violent wishes
of some thoughtless and excitable individuals. The
proposal to return the communication of the mer.
chants, because the British consul at Bahia had
taken a part in it, was perfectly preposterous, and
it was not probable that an important body like the
Chamber of Commerce should so compromise its
dignity as to carry out such a proposal. It is to be
trusted that due attention will be paid to this affair,
and the leading members have the honour of their
country at stake in the matter, which should induce
them to use speed in their deliberations. The Con-
federate Congress has passed a resolution to the
effect of denouncing the seiz are of the Florida, and
declaring that Brazil is bound to enforce the resto.
ration of the vessel. For this purpose commis'
sinners have been appointed to confer with Brazil.
There can be no doubt of the validity of this claim,
and the justness of the demand. All the laws of
nations and the recognised principles that actuate
the carrying on of warlike undertakings have
been set aside, and the principle adopted
has been that he should take who has the
pawer and he should keep who can. The astound-
ing seizure on board the Trent was the first notable
act of the Federal agents, and after some time has
elapsed, they not inappropriately confirm its ten-
dency in the capture of the Florida.

The Liberals of Essex are making active de-
monstrations of their political principles, and have
given good earnest in their recent Maldon banquet
of their determination to contest the representa-
tion of the county at the next election. In accord-
ance with the old saying, that the Weigs are
always best in opposition, the addresses of the
gentlemen who took part in Thursday's proceedings
were, for the most part, commendable for the
liberality and enlightenment of their views. The
principal speech of the evening, that of Mr.
CHICHESTER FCRTESCUE, M.P., Under Secretary
for the Colonies, was decidedly the best ; and when
the speaker claimed to represent the progressive
rather than the reactionary temper of the Ad-
ministration, he certainly expressed the general
views of a large body of his countrymen. His
opinions on colonial questions are, of course, worth
hearing, and their general tenor was just and senaie
ble, readily admitting the claims which our depen-
dencies have upon our justice, sympathy, and
kindness, while making allowance for the el-
travagancies and indiscretions not easily avoided
by young self-governing nations. With regard to
the war in New Zealand, which Mr. FORTESCUE
regretted to confess was not so near its termination
as had been hoped, he expressed his conviction thal
every possible indulgence had been shown to the
natives. Fears, he said, had been entertained in
this country, that the colonists were inclined to en-
croach upon native rights, and wished to continue
the war from various interested motives. He denied
both these accusations. The Imperial Government
had taken care that the rights of the natives should
be studiously respected in the terms of peace ; while
it was only just that those Maories who persisted
in continuing hostilities, provoked by themselves,
should be taught a lasting lesson. As for the
rumoured anxiety on the part of the settlers to cone
tinue the war, he dismissed it as altogether un-
founded. "His knowledge of the great sacrifices
they had made and were making, of the shedding
of colonial blood, of the spending of colonial money,
of the paralysis of colonial trade, convinced him
that neither the Colonial Government nor people
would be inclined to continue the war a day longer
than could be avoided." Mr FORTESCUE, in his
general defence, went back so far as our original
appropriation of those islands, but that is:rather
superfluous at the present time. No ono proposes
that we should surrender them to the Maories, i e.,
to the first European Power that felt inclined to
take possession of them. The question is not how
did we get them, but how are we to govern them
now we have them. Mr FORTESCUE, like most
others who have studied the subject, and do not
base their opinions upon theories rather than on
practical knowledge, is induced to think that our
errors heretofore have been those of omission rather
than of commission, doe to a lack of firmness and
wisdom rather than to any spirit of oppression or
tyranny. Still on the whole he asserts, and we
believe with truth, that, our dealings with the natives
of New Zealand will bear favourable comparison to
the relations of any other civilised sta e with a bar-
barous race. The summer campaign, now already
in full action, will, it is to be hop. d, bring this
disastrous and unprofitable War to a close, and put

the relations between the colonists and the natives
altogether on a better footing. Coming to the
Australian colonies, Mr FORTESCIIE could not re-
frain from regretting the injudicious want of tem-
per shown by some of the colonists in send-
ing back some expirees, as those convicts
are termed whose sentence has expired, but he
thought, on the whole, the Imperial Government
had judged wisely in resolving to discontinue the
system. The newly proposed Confederation of the
British American provinces he spoke of with un-
qualified approbation. If any confirmation were
needed of the prudence and foresight of the colo-
nists in organising such movement, it is given by
one or two significant paragraphs in the American
news of to-day. Mr FORTESCUE, from his official
position, did not allude to the great incentive to
that Union—the reckless, aggressive spirit of the
American Government, end the probability that
before long they will be left with a large army idle
on their hands. He dwelt rather on the magnificent
prospect opening before the young Anglo-Saxon
nation, and the satisfaction which the mother
country would feel in seeing its growth and pro-
gress. Our duty to our colonies was, he said, clear
enough. Having acquired them from motives of
policy we are now bound to retain and to protect
them, but, in fact, the interest is still as clear as the
duty. Great Britain deprived of our colonies would
be Great no longer,and in spite of the theories of Pro-
fessor GOLDWIN SMITH, the wilful abandonment of
her magnificent dependencies would at once sink her
from the level of an Empire to that of an inferior
Stete. It is impossible, as the Under-Secretary for
the Colonies justly observed the other evening,
"to suppose for a moment that the country which
had been able to acquire those magnificent regions
in America, in Australia, and in South Africa—
those customers for her goods, those faithful allies
at distant parts of the globe, those homes
for her superabundant population for many
generations to come, could be sacrificing her own
interests in doing her duty towards those de-
pendencies."

Coming to home questions, Dir. FORTESCUE
disposed very briefly of the topic of Reform, but as
he calls himself an advanced Liberal, we must hope
that his silence does not proceed from any desire to
evade the subject. On religions questions he was
more explicit, and, from hie intimate connection
with those fellow-subjects who held for the most
part a different faith from himself, he was well
qualified to refer to the claims of the Irish Catholics
upon the consideration of the great Liberal party.
A good understanding between these important
bodies was, he remarked, a strong and valuable tie
between these islands. Having considered the
various departments of home and colonial politics,
Mr. FORTESCUE naturally touched upon foreign
effsirs, and we are glad to find that he puts
some restriction on that doctrine of non-interven-
tion which some politicians appear to consider to
be the sumurn bonurn of modern statecraft. But
Mr. FORTESQUE'S theories about the duty of Eng-
land toward the smaller Powers are rather late in
the day after the dismemberment of Denmark. As
for the part which England has played in the
American war, that may redound less to Lord
RUSSELL'S honour than his colleague believes; but
the coming session will probably afford the noble
earl some indication of the growing feeling of the
public. Mr. FORTESCUE'S speech is a very fair ex-
ponent of the general policy of the Ministry, and
upon colonial matters more especially it is straight-
forward and satisfactory; but, coming as the re-
presentative of a professed Liberal Government to
a pre-arranged Liberal demonstration, a little
more open and cordial advocacy of Reform would
not have been inappropriate.

Mr. Cobden, whose exertions at Rochdale re-
sulted in great prostration, is now nearly restored tc
health.

ACCIDENT TO MR. JAMES MURRAY, OF THE
FOREIGN OFFICE.—We are informed that Mr.
Murray, Assistant Under-Secretary at the Foreign•ofiice,
met with a serious accident on Saturday last, at Aldermar-
ston-court, near Reading, while out shooting wish Mr D.
Higford Burr and a party of friends. One of the shooting
party, in firing, accidentally discharged his gun, and one of
the shots lodged in the left eye of Mr Murray. It is feared
he has quite lost the sight of his eye.
PROFESSOR ANDERSON'S CHRISTMAS ENTER•
TAINMENT.—Amongst the public entertainers now
making preparation for the celebration of the Christmas
holidays, none are more active than Professor Anderson.
The entertainment he will produce will, we believe, be one
of the most pleasing and extraordinary ever presented to the
holiday folk during the approaching festival. He has for
some time been carefully superintending the growth of a
Christmas tree, which has now attained prodigious dimen-
sions, and promises a crop of the most splendid description.
The Saturday morning performances have been an extra-
ordinary success, mainly because the presents, distributed
with such a liberal hand by the Professor, are peculiarly
appropriate and beautiful. The great hall was filled to
overflowing last Saturday with an assembly of juveni lea
By the kind invitation of Professor Anderson, the fehow-
ing schools were present (admitted free), to share .ne treat
so generously afforded :—All Saints, Islington, 108; Asylum
fcr Fatherless Children, 108; Bloomsbury Chapel Day
School, 56 ; Scottish Central School, 80 ; Training Refuge
for Destitute Girls, 33; St Bartholomew's Girls School,
46; St Thomas's Charterhouse School, 410, making a total
of 841. The Wizard announces his last week but two,
owing to the unfortunate circumstance of the hall having
been previously engaged for other entertainments. How-
ever, the Wizard has determined to make the best of the
time that is left him, and to close his brilliant season with
the utmost eclat.

LATEST FROM THE BLOCKADE,—Bermuda de.
epatches to the 26th of November furnish informa-
tion of the blockade runners as follows :—The Armstrong
and Talisman had arrived, the former with 700 and the
latter with 400 bales of cotton. The Chickamuga had ar-
rived safely at Wilmington, after a slight brush with the
Federal fleet ; and the Tallahassee was safely in port, load-
ing with cotton for Bermuda. The following were at Nassau
on the 12th :—Will-o'-the- Wisp (chased back) ; Colonel
Lamb (do.), Caroline (do.), Stormy Petrel (put back leaky),
Wild Rover (chased back, and afterwards sailed), Owl
(loading), Ella (do.), Gem (put back in consequence of
heavy weather), Star (in the dry dock), Kate Gray, Druid,
Coquette, and General Clinch (from Charleston), Little
Hattie and Beatrice (from Wilmington), Mars (laid up),
Marmon, Syren, and Laura (toading),Falcon (broken down),
Ptarmigan (machinery damaged), sailed for Havana.
THE - DEAN AND THE RAILWAY WHISTLE.--
DJan Close of Carlisle has published an appeal
touching the fearful yell of the locomotives, especially of
luggage trains, as they enter the city of Carlisle. He says
the screams of our railway trains are increasing to a fearful
extent, and nothing but unavoidable duty would prevent
him from flying out of the reach of the screeches. He asks
" Have the citizens of Carlisle no ears ? Or are they con-
tent to be finally deafened at the caprice of an impatient
engine driver? Are railways alone to be allowed to disturb
the rest and probably shake the nerves of hundreds, and is
nothing to rule them ? I have known oases where a man
has left his engine to get up her steam, and to play upon
her scream-pipe for 20 minutes, while he was regaling him-
self in a neighbouring house. is this justifiable? A run-
away engine will, perhaps, discover some of their practices.
As I write three, now four, engines are screaming. Our
railways are increasing; and if it be a proof of increased
traffic and the enlarged prosperity of our city, I rejoice in
it; but as our station promises to rival that of Crewe in
magnitude, in engine-house, goods shunting, &c., surely
the citizens should do something to protect themselves from
the indescribable disturbance of the railway whistle—far,
far worse than all Mr Bass's organ grinders and Italian
monkey boys put together."
POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH THE CAPE.—Some
misapprehension exists as to the value of the new
mail packet arrangements between this country and the Cape
of Good Hope. According to these at rangements a letter for
the Cape of Good Hope via Plymouth can now be posted in
London on the 9th of the month, and will reach its destina-
tion in 38 days ;•and a letter for the Cape via Southampton
can be posted on the 20,h of the month, and will reach its
destination by way of Mauritius in 51 days, or via Mar-
seilles, on the 26th, in 45 days, The outward Cape mails
by the eastern route leave Mauritius about the 24th of the
month, Natal the 4th, Port Elizabeth the Bth, and reach
the Cape about the 12th. The homeward Cape mails by
the eastern route leave the Cape about the 18th, Port
Elizabeth the 23d, Natal the 27th, and reach Mauritius, on
their way to Suez, about the 6th. A letter for the Cape,
therefore, posted on the 20th or 26th of the month, will
reach its destination by the Mauritius or eastern route
about a week before it will reach if posted on the 9th of
the following month by the Plymouth or western route,