The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-01 00:00:00

TIM SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1, 1863.

regions of the past. Nothing can excuse slavery ;
it is a disgrace and a degradation to humanity ; but
nothing great was well achieved in this world by
precipitancy. Demagogues may declaim, and agi-
tators may stir up revolts, bat the solid and lasting
change must take time for its working out. There
is no greater mistake than to introduce a startling
change with undue rapidity—in fact, it often
does more harm than leaving things alone for a
time. Mr. SPENCE very truly said that there could
be no " emancipation that would benefit the negro
without the co-operation and by the act of the
Southerners themselves." This is strictly founded
on fact ; all else would create confusion worse con-
founded, and give rise to far greater and more
fearful evils than those at present existing. The
gradual infusion of influe►:ce, the spread of the
refining impressions of civilisation, will do more
real and lasting work towards the great achieve-
ment of emancipation than all the violence of
public speakers, and all the vaunted efficacy
of spurious proclamations. Mr. SPENCE put
the question well, when he asked the assembly if
they thought we should ever have agreed to eman-
cipation if the people of France had invaded us to
make us to do so. There is consistency in every-
thing, and the very notion cf anything approach-
ing to intimidation naturally rouses the just in-
dignation, and provokes the wrath of a nation.
Mr. SPENCE concluded his address by an earnest
expression of hope that this country would do
something in this great point at issue. Truly did
he say that it was not by doing nothing that we
became what we are, and " that it was our duty
upon an American question not to follow but to
lead." This a subject well deserving reflection, for
it concerns our reputation, as one of the foremost
powers of the world, not to be always left behind
in the regulation of great questions, and the dis-
cussion of important interests. It was not always
so in the history of this land. " Not thus we
gained an empire where never sets the sun." The
annals of our race record many a stirring scene in
which England was the arbiter of the destinies of
other nations ; but now all we dare to do is to
fold our hands, and leave things to take
their course. It is a deplorable calamity to
witness such strife and slaughter among the descen-
dants of the Anglo-Saxon race. We are intimately
connected with them, and old associations should
have their way, even among the arid ways, and
through the unsympathetic labyrinths of politics.
As Mr. SPENCE observed, " the blessing of peace
can only endure on one basis, and that is the Inde.
pence of the South." At least, if we must not aid
in any way this desirable solution of this difficulty,
let us not add to the suffering which now presses
so heavily on thousands, by attempting to deny
that this is the sober reality and the undisputable
fact.

A very interesting ceremony took place on Satur-
day last in the old historic Hall at Westminster. It
was in honour of that Volunteer movement which
has been so remarkable a feature of our times, and
the selection of the spot was by no means inappro-
priate as an illustration of the readiness with which
Englishmen muster to the defence of their old
strongholds of law and liberty. The occasion was
the presentation of prizes to those successful mem-
bers of the London Scottish Rifles who had distin-
guished themselves at the various rifle meetings of
the year, and the distribution was rendered espe-
cially interesting from the fact of the prizes being
given away by Lady ELCHO, the wife of the noble
Colonel of the Corps. Her ladyship, in a brief
address to the members, Congratulated them on
having made considerable progress, as shown by
the shooting returns. In comparing the numbers
with those of last year, it seems that there were this
season 249 men who fired in their classes against
.154 last year; 151 who fired the three periods
against 71; and 50 marksmen against half that
number in 1862. Further, two of the members
appeared in the lists for the Queen's Prize, and one
was fortunate enough to secure that given in honour
of the Royal Bride. Her ladyship, however, told
them they must not rest satisfied until they had
gained the highest point of honour—the Queen's
Prize. The number of efficients in the Corps has
nearly doubled, having been last year only 180, and
now 322. Such statistics afford satisfactory evidence
that there is no flagging of the Volunteer spirit
among us, and that the work so eagerly begun is
not likely to droop for want of perseverance and
energy.

Foreign Musical and Theatrical Intelligence,

A new oratorio, " The Eternal Country," by Herr Kuster,
has been performed at Berlin, without much success.
Madame Grisi has been appearing in her favourite part
of Norma at La Pergo!tt Theatre, Florence. A new tenor,
Signor Limberti, is said to be successful at Rome. Madame
Borghi-Mamo has reappeared at the Italian Opera at Paris,
where Madame Merle Lablache has made her debut : also
Signor Sterbini, a new baritone, and Signor Baragli.
" Rigoletto' is to be given in French at the Theatre
Lyrique.

Signor Piatti is to play at the next of M. Pasdeloup's
Popular Concerts in Paris.

M. Janin writes in -favourable phrases on " Les Indif-
f4rens," a four-act comedy by M. Belot, which has been
produced at the Theatrefde l'Odeon, Paris. After a long
absence from the stage, Madame Doche is playing with M.
Melingue, in " Benvenuto Cellini," at the Porte St. Martin
Theatre. The Countess Batthyany-Apraxin has made
what may be called a probationary appearance, as Phedre,
at the Theatre des Jeunes Artistes. This is said to have
fulfilled expectation, which 'was raised very high. She will
possibly, it is added, appear in a new "Attila," translated
from the Hungarian of M. Dobsa by Mdlle. Jeanne Wobl.
—Athenceum.

CAPTAIN SHAW.—Her Majesty the Queen visited
yesterday afternoon the Dowager Duchess of
Sutherland, at Stafford House, and kindly inquired after
Captain Shaw, the chief of the Fire Brigade, who is but
slowly recovering from the effects of the accident he re-
cently met with at a fire. Mr. Hewitt, who is attending on
the dowager duchess, was instructed to make known to
Captain Shaw (on whom he is also attending profession-
ally) her Majesty's kind inquiry.
COLOURS OF THE STARS.—If the stars be observed
on a clear night, it will be seen that they shine with
different colours, The most noticeable hues are red, white,
and yellow; no stars exhibit a distinct blue or green colour,
though some have a bluish or greenish tinge. In our
Northern latitudes, where the air is scarcely ever free from
haze and vapour, this diversity of colouring is not, perhaps,
very striking ; but in Southern climes, and especially in
inland regions, where the air is less humid, the effect is far
greater : the whole vault of heaven seems set with sparkling
gems. The difference of tint we have mentioned, is per-
ceptible to the naked eye, in our clime, only among stars of
the first and second magnitudes. Even among these
observers differ slightly The ancients noted
some of these brighter stars, and we thus learn the remark
•
able fact that their colours are not unchangeable. Sirius
was celebrated in the writings of the ancients as a bright
red star ;it is now decidedly white. Other changes have
been noted, and some of these havo occurred within a com-
paratively short tine Among the stars either
altogether un,een, or but faintly visible, to the naked eye,
the telescope reveals the same diversity of colouring. Many
of these stars, indeed, are found to be coloured in a more
marked manner than these wo have hitherto mentioned.
Stars are found shining with a scarlet, blood-red, brilliant
orange, or deep yellow colour. Still, however, no stars of a
deep blue or green tint occur singly. Thus far, then, the
telescope has merely extended the range of our view, with-
rt disclosing appearances differing in any important respect
of rom those already observed. When, however, a telescope
sulEcient power is directed successively to double or mul.
tiple stars, we soon notice new and singular phenomena.
aNnodt oanelayanddoarwe find every shade and tint of the primary
but
we colours, and such hues as grey, fawn, and
ash-colour,
nOtice that in many cases the stars
forming a binary
ssystem aro of complementary colours.
Struve has observed that this is the case in upwards of one
hundred of the double systems. In triple and multiple
systems, similar arrangements of colour are noticed.—The
past week 61 wrecks
o / for
E/
cKs .December.
Dr ig
the
have been reported, making a total for the present year
of 2,207.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, DEC. 1.

The Obergespans, chiefs of the public admini-
stration of Croatia, Who have met here, have resolved
that Croatia shall send deputies to the Council of
the Empire, provided that the February constitu-
tion be modified in a manner guaranteeing to the
Croats the maintenance of their autonomy, the in-
tegrity of their territory, and the disposal of the
direct taxes and revenue of Croatia.

THE HOLSTEIN QUESTION.

BERLIN, DEC. 1.

A despatch of Earl Russell o❑ the Schleswig-
Holstein question, dated Nov. 23, to Sir Andrew
Buchanan, English Ambassador at Berlin, has been
published.

This despatch perfectly coincides with Earl
Russell's despatch to Sir Alexander Mallet.

FRANCE.

PARIS, DEc. I.

The Moniteur of this morning says :—" The
Government is entirely unconnected with the
pamphlet,
" Napoleon 111., et Le Con-.
s,„ h
to whichentitsled
several papers have alluded."
fires,"

A decree ,has been published suspending the
Progies, a Lyons paper, for two months, on account
of the summary it has given of the proceedings in
the Corps Legislatif.

BOURSE, Nov. 30.—The market continues heavy
and the bus:ness done Elio ws a decline. Threes, for
the present Account, are now at 66f. 75c. Rail-
way shares rather cifered. The market closed as
talows

4t per Centi .. 94 40
Do. end month....
3 per Cents
Do. end month 66 65
Credit Mobilier 1035
Do. end month 1037 50
Bank Shares 3360
Credit k oncier l'''3o
Roman —

Italian Loan .71 45
Do. end month....
New ditto
Do. end month —
Russian
Austrian
Spanieh Threes 53
DHomerred Debt
efe

SAIL

rAYS.
Cash. Account.
961 25 .. 965
955 -- .. 960

Orleans
Northern ....
New ditto —
..
Lyons and Mediterranean 942 50
.. 920
New ditto ...... • . 870
Geneva 498 75 : .
672
_
.. 50
Smitharrt ........ 670
Western
Eastern ....
Sardinian 3BO
s. 385
___
Austrian
Lotrbard
.. 515
North of Spain
.. 505
_.Saragossa .. 610
.. 612 50
Ditto to Barcelona .... 305 .. 302 50

Brazilian Government, therefore, has Lot rejected
the mediation which has been offered. It has
simply submitted to the consideration of the Portu-
guese Government the ieasons which would pre-
vent its immediate acceptance.