The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-15 00:00:00

details which the Government will be very nu P 7

ling to communicate on the eve, as it were, of the
election. But all their efforts and exaggerations
cannot remove the distrust from the public mind,
and we learn that in the absence of official

intelligence from GRANT, Washington was filled

with rumours of disaster. For this there is at pre-
sent no foundation, though sooner or later the tug
of war must come. Even according to the New
York accounts GRANT has made no progress, for
they admit that attempts made by both divisions of
the army to carry the second line of the Confede-
rate works had been " bloodily repulsed," and that
the Confederate line of defences could not easily be
carried. The reported proximity of the Federal
gunboats to Mobile has been contradicted by Ad-
miral FARRAGIIT himself, while from SHERMAN
and his force nothing whatever had been heard. It
is no wonder therefore that the minds of men in the
North were filled with anxiety and misgiving; and
civil affairs are not likely to give them courage.
The amount of the public debt announced on the
30th of September was 1,960,000,000 dols., and
the Secretary of the Treasury was then advertising
for a further loan of forty million dollars. A panic
prevailed at Chiclgo, and large bank failures were
taking place. What can be the result of such a
state of things ? It must inevitably end in national
bankruptcy if LINCOLN'S Presidency is renewed.
For that the so-called Republicans are straining
every nerve, and had gone so far as to suppress
a leading Democratic journal. And so the war be-
tween the great contending portions in the State, as
well as between the armies in tha field, goes on re•
morselessly with a recklessness and a ferocity that
nothing seems to check. When and how can the
❑ation retrace the steps which are now leading her
to ruin ?

Very recently the wise and good of all denomina,

,ens have seen an Irish city convulsed by a series

of riots which disgraced the enlightenment'of the
age. Within the last few days, however, another

city in the same impulsive country has witnessed a
demonstration of a very different character—one in
which all ranks and all classes, English and Irish;
Protestant and Catholic, could heartily combine,
setting aside for the time all local jealousies, sus-
pending all causes of dissension in the one common
sentiment of gratitude and veneration. It would
be strange, indeed, if the cow_trymen who owed
him so much should fail to do honour to the memory
of Father MATHEW, and, more especially, is such
a tribute due by the citizens of Cork, among whose
lanes and by ways he laboured for the greater part
of his lifetime. It has long been their intention to
erect a monument of this great bemeNetor of the
poor, bat circumstances have delayed its execution.
Now, however, the task is happily accomplished,
and the calm benevolent features of the Apostle of
Temperance, chiselled by the gifted hand of Mr
FOLEY, now looks down upon tle finest site in the
city. The enthusiasm manifested by the people on
the occasion of the unveiling of the statue was
something unusual even for Ireland. Streets and
squares, quays and bridges, were thronged with
eager spectators, while the procession included an
array of trades and societies worthy of the metro-
polis itself. Flags and ban'ners floated on the air
amid the gaily dressed procession, whose length
was so great that it occupied nearly two hours in
passing over a mile and a half. Perhaps the most
gratifying feature in the affair was that, although
the numbers of persons in the streets were calcu-
lated at 50,000, and although the residents of Cork
declare the demonstration to have been unparalleled
in its magnitude, not the slightest disturbance took
place during the day. No policemen, it is said, were
visible in the town, save at the platform, and even
there their presence, though desirable, was not
necessary.
\Ycmen of all ages were especially
numerous in the crowd, present perhaps in grateful
recollection of husbands or sons reclaimed by Father
MATHEWS efforts, of wretched homes and neg-
lected families restored to peace and comfort by his
unwearied exertions. The good work he did has
not died away ; its effects yet linger among the
people. Being dead, he yet speaketh to them
of goodness.
of temperance, of piety, of charity,
Rarely has it been granted to any single man to
see so great results from his labours, rarely—more
especially in that most difficult if most desirable
work—the reclamation of the offender. But Father
MATHEW'S earnestness carried all before him. His
voice broke the spell of degradation and despair,
his hand snapped the chains of long-continued
habit. How far teetotalism is to be accepted as a
principle of universal application, and how far all
the conversions effected stood the test of time and
trial, are both questions open to discussion, but
there can be no doubt that a great work was actually
effected, that the tide of intemperance was stemmed,
and that the fruits of the harvest then sown will be
reaped in many a coming generation. That Father
MATHEW'S public success was chequered by con-
siderable private embarrassment and anxiety is a
fact well known and universally deplored, but it is
given to none to escape altogether from disappoint-
ment and trial. Father MATHEW'S bounty during
the terrible year of 1847 contributed greatly to
the iuvoivement of his affairs, and produced those
harassing difficulties which so greatly embittered
the last years of his useful life, Oa all accounts,
then, he has a claim to the grateful remembrance of

his country, and the city which for nearly forty

years witnessed his toils at the "Little Friary " is
a fitting spot for its especial illustration. No more

worthy speaker could have Leon found to deliver

the address upon this interesting occasion than the
talented Mayor of Cork, not only in right of his
individual ability and his cfficial position, but as
the friend and biographer of the apoi3tle of tempes
ranee• It is no wonder, in reviewing the life spent
in labour for the good of his fellows, in recalling the
continuous exertion, the disinterestedness, the devo-
tion of this remarkable man, that the speaker
should be filled with enthusiasm, that the cinickly
stirred feelings of the crowd should find vehement
demonstration. But such enthusiasm is not a mere
passing fervour; it is significant o.f that reverence
and affection for the really great and good which is

so ennobling a part of human nature, and the ob-
ject of it was worthy of the sentiments evoked. In

the words of Mr. MAGUIRE 'S eloquent address,
•' The fight he fought was a great and noble one,
and he died in harness. He died as a soldier of the

Cross, with his armour on. Ha died amid the tears
and the benedictions of all men, and upon his
sainted grave no hand has flung aught but a flower,
and no tongue has coupled his holy name with
aught but a blessing or a prayer."

Naval and Military Intelligence.

Four 5} inch guns, manufactured for the Portuguese
Government by the Blakely Ordnance Company, were yes-
terday proved at the Woolwich butt. They were fired with
charges of 121 b of powder and 561 b shot, and the proof
was satisfactory throughout.
Major Scratchley, R,E., has been appointed to and has
taken up the duties of Inspector of Works in Woolwich
Arsenal, in the absence of Capt. Inglis, R.E , on sick leave.
Major Bedingfeld, 4th division depot brigade, R.A., at
Woolwich, has been ordered to Plymouth to do duty with
the 6th brigade Garrison Artillery.
The Admiralty yacht Black Eagle, Staff Commander
Whillier, was yesterday docked at Woolwich for repairs.
The War Department steamer Lord Panmure, Mr T. 11.
Moore, master, in charge, having completed repairs to hull
and machinery, yesterday shipped from Woolwich Arsenal
a Large number of guns and shot for Portsmouth and Ply-
mouth, consisting of four 300 pounder rifled guns for the
Scorpion, 12 7 inch Armstrongs, 12 40 pounders, &0., for
other ships fitting out in those yards.
The freight ships North Star and Garrawatt, in the St.
Katharine and East India Docks, yesterday shipped respec-
tively 150 tons of shot for Malta and Shanghai.
The Swedish screw steam frigateVanadis, Capt Melandan,
from Carlscrona, bound to Gibraltar, arrived at Plymouth
on Wednesday. The corvette Gefle left the Sound the
same day for the westward.
The screw stmm tender Dapper, at Devonport, shipped
moorings on Wednesday for use in Dartmouth harbour, and
on Thursday went alongside the dockyard to receive stores
for the Britannia.
By the arrival at Southampton of the mail steamer Seine
from the 'West Indies advices have been received from that
station which completely contradict the rumoured loss of
her Majesty's paddle sloop Bulldog, 6, Captain 'Wake,
between Bermuda and Halifax. The letter from the Sec-
retary to the Admiralty, published in The Sun of Wednes-
day, stated that the Bulldog sailed from Bermuda on
Jamaica on the 14th of September, and advices by the Seine
report that the Bulldog arrived at Jamaica on the 21st of
September, and remained there when the mail left for
England on the 24th. The Aboukir, 80, Commander Cra-
croft, C.B. ; the Barracouta, 6, Commander D'Arcy ; the
Rosario, 11, Commander Harvey; and the Shannon, 39,
Capt. Jones, were also at Port Royal, in company with the
Bulldog, at that date. The Styx, 6, Capt. the Hon. W. J.
Ward ; the Pylades, Capt. A. A. Hood ; and the Grey-
hound, 17, Capt. Wratislaw, respectively arrived at Jamaica
on the 15th ult., five days from Barbadoes, with detach-
ments of the Ist West India Regiment. The lift wing of
this regiment is to be stationed in Jamaica, and the right
wing still remains at Nassau. The Styx left again on the
22d for Beliz, Honduras, with 95 men of the 2d West
India Regiment. The Pyl ides left on the 23d, on her return
to Barbadoes. The Greyhound left for Bermuda on the
22. rho Phaeton, 39, Capt. Bowyer, arrived at Jamaica
on the 13th from San Domingo, and sailed for Vera Cruz
on the 24th. The Cygnet, 5, Commander Do Kanzou, loft
Jamaica for Bermuda on the 10th; end the Nimble, 5,
Lieut. Hallowes, sailed on a cruiso on the 11th. The screw
corvette Cordelia, 11, Commander J. B. Scott, arrived at
St Thomas on the 16th ult. from Halifax The Devasta-
tion, having on board Admiral the lion. J. Denman, ar-
rived at Eoquimalt. Vancouver's Island, on the 10th of
August, from San Francisco, and Mr English, paymaster
of the ship, died at the Royal Naval Hospital at E,cpaitna

on the 21st of that month. The Tribune, with Admiral
Kingcoma on board, sailed from .E.,quirnalt on the 19th of
August for Panama, and was not to touch at San Francisco,
The Vulcan, screw troopship, Capt. A. C. Strode, was
officially inspected yesterday alongside Portsmouth dock-
yard by Capt. Scott, C. 8., A,D.C• to the Queen, and com-
manding the Victory flagship, After the inspection her
crew commenced the work of dismantling and returning
stores, preparatory to paying off,
The Royal Sovereign, turret ship, Capt. Sherard o.born,
C.B , was paid out of active commission at Portsmouth yes-
terday, and is now attached to the gunnery ship Excellent,
Capt. Astley C. Key, C. 8., for experimental purposes,
Sixty-seven of the Royal Sovereign's seamen will join the
Victoria three-decker.

The Imperial Russian screw corvette Gardamack, Capt.
Pestchouroff, arrivLd at Spithead yesterday afternoon from
Pernambuco, bound to the Baltic,

The following appointments have been made at the Ad-
miralty :—Lieut. Henry K, Leet, to the Excellent—George
Christie, master, additional, to the Asia for the Sparrow-
hawk—Alexander Marshall, engineer, to the Indus for the
Espoli —William 0 wen, engineer, to the Indus—and Samuel
Lloyd, second class assist.-enaineer, to the Hawke.