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

THE MIN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 8, 1864.

Commons has shown e. strong diainclination to stifftr

this country to become involved in any more Eist-

ern wars, and although they carried their censure
of the proceedings of the Government to an unwar-
rantable length, the open expression of their opi-

!lions on the matter would doubtless have weight.

The policy of non-intervention, which is bringing
upon us so much disgrace and discredit by the

manner in which it is being applied to European
affairs, is certainly more applicable in China. In
Europe it is undoubtedly sowing a plentiful crop
of future wars, while in China we may
reasonably hope that it will keep us out
of them altogether. The cendect of the Impe-
rialists, too, was not such as to warrant any further
extension of our favours to them. The affair of
Captain OSBORN and Mr. LEY with the steam
flotilla proved that they did not properly recognise
the obligations which they were under to this coun.
try for even partial assistance. There is no doubt
that had they consented to accept the aid of Captain
OSBORN'S vessels on his own terms, they would
have been largely the gainers, while the great ad-
vantages which the Imperialists hale now gained
over their antagonists are mainly due to the services
of Colonel GORDON. It cannot, indeed, be said that
the Chinese are insensible to the value of that
officer's assistance—since they have bestowed upon
him many marks of honour and tokens of their high
appreciation of his skill and courage. Indeed it is
their own fault that Colonel GORDON did not carry
his triumphs still further, and that Nankin is not
now in possession of the Imperial forces. The
delay caused by the Ftatai's treachery at Soochow,
upon the surrender of that city, caused the loss of
much valuable time, and stopped the English
leader midway in his career. At the time
the news reached this country, we expressed
our conviction that it was duo to Col. GORDON'S
own reputation, no less than to the honour of his
country, that he should lay down his arms, and
decline any further to serve a leader who had so
greatly insulted him. Such, it appears, was his
own wish and intention, and it was only at the
desire of Sir F. BRUCE that ho retained his com-
mission. The Envoy feared that GORDON'S band
would go over to the Taepings and increase the
confusion. Sir F. BRUCE says in his dispatch, "It
is indispensable that officers of character should
remain at the head of these semi-disciplined Chinese
corps until tranquillity is sufficiently restored, so as
to allow of their being direolved without danger.
Otherwise, not only would: the results already
achieved be sacrificed, but the prospect of the
restoration of tranquillity would be indefinitely
postponed. The " magistrates, elders, and popula-
tion" of the pacified districts also joined in en-
treating Colonel GORDON to retain his command,
so as to protect them from a repetition of the hor-
rors inflicted by the Taepings upon their victims.
No blame can, therefore, be attached to that officer
for continuing in his position under these circum-
stances, and it is well that direct instructions from
the Home Government should have solved the diffi-
unity for him, and taught the Chinese authorities
that Englishmen cannot overlook a deliberate act
of treachery and breach of faith, Colonel GORDON,
however, has done his work. When he entered the
Chinese service the great cities of Hongchow and
Soochow were in the hands of the Taepings, and
were fast falling into ruin ; the silk districts were
desolated by them, and one important branch of
trade was thus paralysed. The cruelty of the
rebels knew no distinction of age or sex, of resist-
ance or helplessness. Little children with their
throats cut lay in the path of the advancing corps.
Some may question the wisdom or Justice of the
Imperial cause, but it is quite plain that unless some
chick were put on atrocities like these the material
wealth of China would be ser:ously impaired, while
its population—vast as it is—would be decimated
by the wholesale slaughter. Colonel GORDON
leaven the great cities in the hands of the Impe-
rialists; he has left the rebels no possession of im-
portance save the city of Nankin. The terror of
his name has effected what his arms left undone,
Often it was enough for the Taepings to hear that
GORDON was advancing to lay down their arms at
once, and his personal courage has bees no less con-
spicuous than his military skill. He has availed
himself of none of the opportunities of personal
advantage which the chances of war threw in his
way, but in the fulfilment of a difficult, arduous,
and dangerous duty he has shown himself to be
possessed of those qualities which Englishmen
value even above military talents. Colonel GORDON
has already achieved distinction in his Chinese
campaign, but we cannot question that, should the
opportunity be granted him in the service of his
own country, he will add another name to the list
of those officers of whom England is justly proud.

BRITISH .ARCILEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.—The
21st annual meeting of this association will com•
mence at Ipswich to-day (Monday), under the presidency
of Mr G. Tomline, M.P. The proceedings will be inaugu-
rated with a meeting at the town-hall, where the association
will be welcomed by the Mayor and corporation of Ipswich,
and the president will deliver an address. In the course of
the day some of the salient antiquities of the town will be
examined, and to-morrow an excursion will bo made with
the same object to Bury St. Edmund's. On Wednesday a
second excursion will be made in the direction of Colchester',
and on the following day there will be an excursion to Par-
ham, Framlington, wlr_n in the evening the President
will entertain the association at his seat, Orwell-park. On
Friday an excursion will be made to Wood-bridge, Eutley
Abbey, Orford Castle, &c., and on Saturday there wilt be
a final excursion to Long Melford, Levenham, Hadleigh,
&c. Altogether, a very agreeable week is promised.
Among the gentlemen who act as local Vice- Presidents are
the Marquis of Bristol, Earl Jermyn, M.P., the lien. Lord
Arthur Hervey, Lord Henniker, M.P., Lord Randelsham,
Sir G. Broke Middleton, Mr C. Austin, Mr J. C. Cobbold,
M.P., Mr H. E. Adair, M.P., Mr G. C. E. Bacon, &c•
`THE ALLEGED DESTRUCTION OF THE GREAT
MONTGOLFIER BALLOON. Exaggerated reports
having appeared of the damage suffered by M. Godard's
balloon, " The Eagle," pains have been taken to ascertain
the facts, which are these :—M. Godard took up with him
in his late ascent one passenger besides his own three as-
sistants and the interpreter. He has experienced some
difficulty at other times es well as on this occasion in
securing the balloon, owing to the country people being
alarmed at its unusually large size, and therefore fearing
to catch the trailing ropes, as they willingly do with a bal-
loon of more moderate aixrr. On this occasion the eagle
descended at first as favourably as could be desired near
Waltharastow ; but just at the moment of its descent a
ground breeze suddenly arose, and being coincident with the
usual rebound of the balloon, carried it against the branch
of a tree, which tore the cotton covering, though not very
seriously. M. Godard, shortly afterwards, when trying to
lift the car, was so unfortunate as to step on a stone which
turned under his foot, and he has thus sprained his ankle,
With this exception none of the party were hurt, all having
alighted in perfect safety, and having succeeded in securing
the balloon, which will be repaired in a day or two. The
accident to M. Godard is, however, unfortunate, as,ho is
unable for a day or two to superintend matters personally,
and being obliged to go to Paris at once, no further ascent
of the Eagle can take place here till his return, Ho pur-
poses, however, being in Eng and again by the latter end
of the month, when he intends to make some ascents at
Cremorne, and will also most probaCly visit the provinces
for the same purpose.
THE COURTESIES OF WAR.—In front of General
Butler's lines I am told that only one shot has been
fired during three weeks, That came from a rebel soldier
of mischievous proclivities, who was punished for violating
the tacit truce. His commanding officer exposed him for
three hours outside their breastworks, within 53 yards of
our lines, compelling him to march to and fro all that time
with a heavy stick of wood on hts shoulder as a penance for
his indiscretion. Our men magnanimously spared the poor
wretch's life.—Letter from Petersburg, in the New York
Times.

AMERICAN BLOCKADE.—NEW YORK, July 24.
The brig Queen Yictoria, Bing, arrived here from Inagua,
saw a steamer, supposed to be a blockade runner, chased
and captured on the 10th of July, lat. 28 N, long. 74 40 W.
The Jesse Blue (United States transport) arrived at New
York, heard heavy firing at sea on the 23+1 of July about lo
piles gif Cape Ilenlopm