The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-20 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, SATU RP.ELY EV EN INC, [TB OITA RY 20, I "

new." Those who first started the inimical idea,

and gave rise to the strenuous opposition, have much
to answer for. Inasmuch, as concerns the colony
itself, a great boon would have been conferred on it
by the acquisition of convict labour. Many of the
places which have so strongly disclaimed the notion
of allowing the ingress of convicts, have themselves
greatly benefitted by the very source which they
would now shut out from others. It seems a great
pity that these unfortunate outcasts should be con-
signed to certain destruction, by being sent back to
all their old associations, while in a new world, as
it were, fairer scenes and brighter prospects are
awaiting them. If, however, it is determined to
give up for the present all thoughts of this plan, it
is i.nportant that a right vices should be taken of
the manner in which they are to be treated at home.
Lord NAAS spoke in terms of approbation of the
Irish system, but it is proposed by Sir G. GREY to
leave things in statu quo is this respect. It is
neither one thing nor the other to carry on a
system which irritates the men without
conferring any substantial benefit upon

eoeety ; and, above all other alterationrs,

some very strict measures should be passed concern-
ing those who are convicted. It is not enough for
them to complete their sentence; they should have
the full term before imposed, doubled or treb ed,
according as their offence has been comparatively
great or small. It is greatly to be hoped that
during the discussion on this topic some very great
changes will be made relative to the manner in
which the discipline is carried on within the walls
of the prison. The days are happily gone by when
dark doings and cruel tortures disgraced the annals
of our prisons and made our gaolers a species of
barbarians. We have, however, fallen into the op-
posite extreme, and the details that have been most
unwittingly afforded relating to the management
of criminals as to diet, labour, and recreation
have been scandalous. It is downright in-
tolerable to reflect that vice should be pampered,
while honest poverty struggles on unheeded,and the
deserving sufferer often dies a cruel death without
the commonest necessaries of life. Such a course
of conduct is totally subversive of order and justice
in a State, and the dictates of sense and reason are
alike arrayed against it. By all means care and at-
tention should be bestowed upon these criminals,
but they should be given no indulgences that they
would not have had if they had kept in their own
position and done their duty faithfully to their
Creator and fellow-creatures. As has been oh-
served, this is a beginning that has been made ;
and.the hopes and wishes of all who have the wet-
fare of the community at heart will be interested
in the furtherance of the undertaking now so auspi-
ciously commenced. It is high time that the atten-
tion of the Legislature be called to the consideration
of a system into which serious errors have crept,
and wherein so many abuses have taken root.

LATEST INTELI7("T"r""

LRETITER'S TELEGRAMS.]

-~- '

AUSTRIA AND TEE LONDON TREATY,

VIENNA, FEB. 20.

The Austrian Goverment addressed a circular
despatch on the 13th inst. to all the members of the
German Confederation. The following is a gum.

=try of the document :
"It is admitted that the Loudon treaty is not
binding upon the Federal Diet.
" A vote on that treaty, taken by the Diet, in
conformity with the propositions of the committee,
would not bo decisive with regard to that question,
but might possibly induce the non-German Powers
to make counter declarations in favour of the
treaty, thereby ngi;ravating th 3 critical state of
affairs. Austria, therefore, rccinests the German
Governments not to assent to the different proposi-
tions of the Committee, bui to instruct that body to
make a fresh report, which should treat solely of
the succession question."

Movements of the Eels Juel,

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 20.

The Danish frigate Neils Juel is reported to have
been seen yesterday evening off the Deadman near
Falmouth. When observed she was under close
reefed topsails, and lying close to the land awaiting
arrivals.

THE INVASION OF JUTLAND.
COPENHAGEN, ISLI3. 19, 2.16 p.m.
It is cfficially announced that all was quiet at
Duppel at 11 a.m. to-day.
In consequence of the circuitous movement of the
enemy the Danes were compelled to evacuate Kol
ding iu Jutland.
A cavalry engagement subsequenly took place at
Gudsoe, without result.

HAMBURG, FEB. 20, 10.31 a.m.
Advices from Flensburg state that several
giron-
clads, among which were the Esberne-Snaro and
Aubrsgalromio,rdap, paenadredexoenhatued shots with the allied
the 18th inst, on the Flens-
bartillery.
It is stated that a Prussian garrison has pre-
vented a landing of the Danes to the north of
Friederichsort, which bad been attempted in the
boats of the Esborne-Snare and Thor.

.. ~................

AUSTRIA.
DEPARTURE OF AN AUSTRIAN FLEET
FOR THE PROTECTION OF GERMAN
VESSELS:

VIENNA, FEB. 20, Mornirg.

A squadron of 12 Austrian men-of-war has re-
ceived orders to put to Bea for the protection of
German merchantmen against German cruisers
Part of the fleet has already sailed.

A II ERIC A.

.-- -2 --.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

QUEENSTO WN, FRIDAY.
The Royal Mail steamship AustraJasian, from
New York on the 10th inst., arrived here to-day,
at eight -p.m., with 41 passengers and 307,182 dols.
in speeio.

She landed two passengers and 85 sacks of mails,
and proceeded at 8.80 p.m. All well.
NEW YORK, FEB. 8 (Evening).
General Meade's army rattle a reconnaissance in
force on Saturday last to the south side of the
Rapidan. Lee was found in full force in the Fede-
ral front. After heavy skirmishing, in which the
Fedora's are reported to have lost from 200 to 300
men, they returned to their old quarters.

Four thousand Couftderates m.de detnonstra-

tion against Cumberland. Gap on the 29th ult., but,
after heavy skirmishing, were driven back and
have since made no further movement.

General Johnstone's main army is stated to be at
Rome, Georgia, where the general is supposed to
have retired, either for convenience in obtaining
supplies cr to prevent desertions, which were
very numerous.
Southern advices to the sth report that 8,000
Federals had crossed the Tennessee River near Ger-
mansville, their supposed object being the destruc-
tion of the iron works in the Cherokee country.
The New York World asserts that Sherman's ex-
pediticn has moved from Vicksburg due east in the
direction of Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. In
conjunction with Sherman's movement a large
Federal cavalry force, under Grierson, is advancing
southwards from Holly Springs, the object of the
combined movement being, it is thought, to conquer
li Mississippi and Alabama. la order to strengthen
Sherman the Federals have withdrawn their forces
from Middle and Western Tennessee, and abandoned
Corinth and the line of the Memphis and Charles-
ton Ittilro d as far east as Bridgeport.
Alabile dispatches of the 4th inst. assert that the
Confederates had occupied Jackson, Mississippi.
Southern accounts assert that General E irly had
captured 800 Federals at Petersburg, Western
Virginia.
Advices from Charleston to the sth state that
the firing on the city and Fort Sumter continued.
A committee of the New York Union Lincoln
Association has called the people throughout the
state to meet on the 22d February to give public
expression to their sentiments favouring Mr. Lin-
coln's re-election to the Presidency. _

A new political organisation has been started in
New. York favouring a more radical abolition

policy than that pursued by the Lincoln Adminis-
tration, and organising a movement for the nomi-
nation of candidates to carry out this policy.
Horace Greely spoke in favour of the movement.
The steamer Presto ran ashore off Charlatan on
the 2d inst. The Confederates would save most of
the cargo.
The blockade runner Wild Dayrell has been de-
stroyed near Topsail Inlet.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9.

Mobile despatches report that eight Federal
regiments, with two batteries of artillery, crossed
Big Black River on the sth inst. Considerable
excitement prevailed in Mobile.
The force which was expected to attack the city
was estimated at 30,000 strong.
There is a doubtful report from Chattanooga of a
wide spread mutiny in the Confederate army.
General Butler sent an expedition, consisting of
three brigades of infantry, four regiments of
cavalry, with 12 guns, across the York River to-
wards Richmond, for the purpose of surprising the
Confederates and releasing the prisoners in Rich-
mond. The expedition reached within 12 miles
of Richmond, but was discovered through infor-
mation furnished by Federal deserters, and com-
pelled to return without attaining its object.
Advices from Charleston to the 7,.h inst. state
that the firing on the city had ceased.
NEW YORK, FEB. 10, Morning.
The _Richmond Examiner states that a German
has been arrested in Richmond as the ringleader of
a plot for the release of the prisoners in that city,
and the assassination of President Davis.
The same paper states that the Federals lost
1,500 men during the Confederate attack on the
Federal outposts at Newbern.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, FEB. 9 (Morning).

Money easy. Goid, 592-, firm. Exchange on
London, 1741; on Paris, 3211. Stocks firm and
advancing. New York Centrals, 1334 ; Illinois,
1301; Erie, 1131; 6 per Cent. United States Bonds,

107:.
Cotton dull. Middling Upland, 830. Flour very
firm. Wheat in good demand for export. Corn
heavy. Provisions good inquiry. Coffee firm end
advancing. Sugar steady. Molasses inactive.
Petroleum—Crude, 30 to 31; refined, 45 to 47.

MEXICO.

NEW YORK, FEB. 8 (Evening)

Advices received here from Vera Cruz to the Ist
ult. confirm the news of the French occupation of
Zacatecs, Guadalajara, and Agnas Calientes.
Several Mexican generals, the Suarez Finance
Minister, and numerous officials, have given their
allegiance to the French.
The Havanah correspondent of the Herald asserts
that at a council of Spanish generals hold at Ha-
vanah, it
.wos determined to petition the Spanish
Government to abandon San Domingo.