The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-12 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1864.

Apart from the more apparent horrors of war,
there is always much to deplore in the minor
details and attendant circumstances. It is particu-
larly distress'ng to mark the manner in which the
Prussians are carrying on the war in Jutland. It
would seem as if every possible means had been
employed to harass the population, and to render
the inevitable evils of war as manifold in extent
and degree as could be imagined. There can be
no excuse for this conduct, and it is greatly to the
discredit of all the parties concerned in the affair.
That in the present day the General in command of
an army should suffer his troops so commit such
ravages on an unoffending people, and to comport
themselves without the slightest regard to the prin-
ciples of moderation, is almost incredible. Were
not the information furnished from reliable sources,
and did not all accounts concur in bearing testi-
mony to their unrestrained demeanour, we should
be slow to believe the damaging relation. Even
those who might have been over-persuaded into the
belief that the Germanic Powers had the right on
their side, or at all events firmly considered that
they had, must be greatly disgusted and completely
dismayed when they peruse the accounts that
arrive of the manner in which the invaders are act-
ing. One report unfortunately typifies another ;
their name is legion, and one feels doubtful whether
to entertain more sorrow for those subjected to
such treatment, or indignation against the perpetra-
tors of such outrages. For instance, who could
have credited, from the tone adopted at the outset
of the contest by its originators, that the armies
that were to protect more than to wage open
war, would in so brief a space of time
have resorted to plunder and pillage. There
can be no earthly excuse for this ruthless
course, and the fact of employing a civil com-
missioner to superintend an "organised plunder"
stamps the undertaking with its true colours, and
proclaims the whole affair to be a systematised
scheme of ruin, and the account circulated at the
outset a sham and a delusion. The expedition
that set out on this ill-omened undertaking was
in truth an " organised hypocrisy." Many doubted
the authenticity of the assurances, and were
anxious as to the fulfilment of the promises so
speciously vouchsafed, but the reality has more
than. verified the darkest forebodings, and given
ground for ail sorts of suspicions and mistrust.
Not satisfied with appropriating the goods of the
shops, these merciless aggressors will next seize
the stock and cattle of the peasants. Let this be
attempted, and there will be evil in store for
those who put the proposal into practice. It is
at any rate satisfactory to know that the Muni-
cipal Council of Viborg had the sense and the
spirit to refuse compliance with the extortionate
demands that were required of them. When the
refusal takes place the public treasuries are plun-
dered. This conduct is pretty fair from troops
that set out under such flattering auspices, and
heralded with so fair a promise of success. It is \
sometimes no gain to succeed in the arduous un-
dertakings in which we are engaged. Had the
Prussians not been hitherto so victorious they
would, and must have lowered their demands, and
modified their expectations. If one act can be
more insulting than another, it is immediately
adopted. The first citizens and officials are
taken and sent as hostages for the fulfil-
ment of the demands, and detained until
compliance is made. Such a barbarous system as
this is perfectly disgraceful, and an outrage on the
feelings and sentiments of all civilised nations. The
reply of the Municipal Council of Viborg is emi-
nently characteristic of the spirit which has dis-
tinguished the Danes throughout the whole of the
unequal struggle in which they have been engaged.
It is couched in language at once firm and mode-
rate, and expresses the determination of the inhabi-
tants in a manner that cannot be mistaken. The
Prussians were unscrupulous enough to demand the
sum of 50,000 dollars as a compensation. The
Council declare that were they willing to meet
these requirements, " the payment of 'doe sum de-
manded would be completely impossible." So simple
and straightforward a reply would impress any
authorities but those predetermined on their course,
and resolved coute gut coute to effect their purpose,
and seize the spoil. Earl RUSSELL may learn a
useful lesson from the arrogant tone assumed by
the Vienna Press. Surely they must speak to him
of the effect of all his hesitation and backslidings
in diplomacy. The insolence of the writers in these
journals is simply ridiculous, and in endeavouring
to sneer at us, they have quite overreached them-
selves. 'When a paper of note talks of the "insuf-
ferable arrogance, disgusting egotism, and almost
inconceivable ignorance of the English in foreign
affairs," it is satisfactory to find these spiteful critics
make a blunder. They allude to the two Austrian
frigates which passed through the British Channel,
and thereupon assert that England grew pale with
fright at the apparition. Now considering that
one of these terrible frigates was destroyed in the
naval fight with the Danes, and the other had to
make a precipitate flight, it may be suggested that
there were other parties besides the English who
were " pale with fright." It is nearly incom.
prehensible how such trash can be written,
much less given heed to, but we know that
it often occurs that great credence is attached to
these emphatic utterances by those to wheel they
are addressed. In the days of PITT and Fox sucb
strictures were not applied to this country, because
no one would have listened to them. It has fallen
to our lot to be cast in the evil days when national
honour is overcast, and national influence at a dis-
count, and the reward we reap for the sacrifices
made for one or two States is that they turn round
at every opportunity and make game of us. Cer-
tainly none can tell better than they how much we
have retrograded from our former position, and been
shorn of our ancient prestige. At the same time,
nothing can excuse or exculpate such ingratitude
and inconsideration on their part.

Emigration has of late years beecme so mem'
that the first inquiry made on hearing of a fertile
and thinly populated district is, how far it is
adapted for colonisation. Our people have shown
an aptitude for colonising Possessed by no other
nation, and have proved their capability of adapting
themselves to the requirements of different localities
by successfully establishing settlements in
every
habitable zone, and in both hemispheres. It re-
quires a combination of qualities to found a sub-
stantial colony, for it is not enough to possess the
energy and spirit of adventure which makes men
dare the perils of an unknown life ; neither is it
sufficient to have the prudence And wisdom to

regulate the affairs of an infant community, with-
out a brave, cheerful, enterprising nature. There
are difficulties to be overcome both from within and
without, and the home-sickness of the emigrants
too often makes the burdens and deficiencies of a
rough colonial life seem doubly oppressive. That
perseverance And steadiness which are so eminently
characteristic of Englishmen have, no doubt, been
conspicuous among the elements of their colonial
success, and the quiet good sense which generally
distinguishes the practical class who emigrate, has
perhaps equally contributed to the rapid develop-
ment of their settlements, We find a remarkable
example of the reluctance to abandon an under-
taking in the early history of the North American
colonies, which were again and again repeopled
from the mother country, after disease or
famine had depopulated the infant States.
In these days, however, the intendiug emi-
grant has no such perils to contend with
as in the time :of " good Queen BESS, " and
accordingly the suggestion of a new colony carries
with it less of an alarming or exciting nature. Such
a suggestion was made the other evening at a meet-
ing oftthe Royal Geographical Society, held under
the presidency of Sir RODERICK MURCHISON, for
the purpose of hearing a most interesting narrative
of the fortunes of an adventurer in search of an easy
passage across the Chilian Andes. The gentleman
who undertook this somewhat formidable expedie
tion is a Senor Cox, the son of an English physician
at Valparaiso, who probably regards himself as a
Spaniard, from the title he assumes. His object
was to discover an easy passage across the South
American continent, from the new Chilian settle-
ments on the Pacific side on the one hand, to the
River Negro, long since proved to be navigable
from the Atlantic to the eastern side of the Andes.
Could this be effected, a direct communication would
be opened, not only between the various settlements
but between the two oceans: Unfortunately the
object of Senor Cox's arduous undertaking was
frustrated for the time by the hostility of the Indian
tribes, but the information which he acquired is
valuable, and he will probably be enabled to accom-
plish his journey another time. The account given
of his adventures was most interesting and curious.
Starting from Port Moutt, a thriving German
settlement near the island of Chiloe, he proceeded
with an expedition, equipped at his own cost, to
the inland sea of Nagelhuapi, whose name bears the
cheering interpretation of "Lake of Tigers." To
reach this he had to pass two lakes, which he crossed
by means of gutta percha boats he carried with
him, and he succeeded in finding a pass over the
Cordillera at an altitude of less than 3,000 feet.
Nagelhuapi lies on the eastern side of the Andes
chain, so that the party of explorers were de-
lighted to find a stream issuing from it in the direc-
tion of the rivers which flow into the Atlantic.
Could they prove this junction, the object of their
journey would be attained, but it was not to be.
When within five miles of the point up to which
the river Negro had been navigated, the boat,
which had already run great risks from the nume-
rous rapids, overturned, and after a narrow escape
by water the adventurers encountered equal perils
on land, for they were seized by a party of savage
Indians, whose chief declared he would put them
to death for their presumption in visiting his terri-
tory without permission. The old story about the
charms of music was verified to some purpose in
this instance, since Senor Cox succeeded in pa-
cifying the irate Cacique by playing a tune on
his flageolet, which strangely, but fortunately, was
among the articles saved from the wreck. After a
time the Cecilue relented so far as to promise his
assistance in reaching the Negro, but with a
shrewdness worthy of a civilised speculator, he in.
sisted upon the presents being fetched from Val-
divia first. Accordingly, Senor Cox has returaed
to tell his story, which, so far as the geographical
portion of it goes, is highly satisfactory. IVe hope
that the Ce oique will prove true to his promise, but
if he will do no more than abstain from active in-
terference there seems little doubt at present that
the object will be finally attained. There will of
course be some obstacles in the way, chief among
them the hostility of the Indian tribes, and the
rapids which proved so dangerous to the
exploring party in the newly discovered river,
which they call the Limey, but a great step has
been gained in establishing the possibility of such
direct communication between the two sides of the
continent. Admiral FITZROY, in commenting upon
this interesting narrative, observed that the region
referred to was, both in regard to soil and climate,
specially suited to Englishmen. The south-west
parts of South America, he said, were among the
finest regions in the world, and, indeed, we have a
proof of the kindly nature of the clime in the rapid
progress of the new German colony of Port Moutt,
which a short time back was founded in a district
only inhabited by a few scattered tribes of savages,
but in ten years' time has become a town, with a
population of 15,000. Admiral FITZROY, who
surveyed the coast some years ago, gave some valu-
able information as to the capabilities of the country,
and remarked that the western side was all well
timbered, while the range of the Andes is
rich in minerals. At the time of his visit there
were only a few fragments of coal lying about,
which no one took the trouble to pick up; but now
the natural advantages of the place have been
turned to more account, since we hear of 20 or 30
ships loading coal there at one time.. Extensive
forests of good apple-trees are to be found, says
Admiral FITZROY, in the Chilian forests, while the
country is fortunate enough to possess no less than
three distinct kinds of potatoes, better than any we
have in this country. The Admiral expressed some
surprise that no adventurous Englishman had re-
plenished our deteriorated stock from this source.
From all accounts, this hitherto little-known and
neglected region opens a wide field for enterprise
and exertion, and bids fair to become an excellent
channel for relieving the struggling populations of
the overcrowded Eastern hemisphere.

BEER AND ALE.—The demand for British beer
and ale appears to eat,ind steadily. Thus, the
7alue of the exports under this head in the first quarter of
the current year was £174,565, against £155,857 in the cor-
responding period of 1363, and £101,836 in the correspond-
ing period of 1862. British India and Australia continue
our best customers for malt liquors. Thus, the former con-
sumed our beer and ale during the first three months oz
1861 to the value of £133,550, against £116,231 in the cor-
responding period of 1863, and £164,5C6 in the correspond-
ing period of 1862: while the latter figures for £117,0(17 in
the first 3 months of this year, against £188,463 in 1863,
and L 119,731 in 1862.

BRUTAL MURDER.—The village of Rudgway,
near Thornbury, has been the scene of a brutal
murder. The victim is a poor blind woman named Mary
Carthey, but better known as Mary Curtis, whose husband
has been dead for some time, and who, since her widow-
hood, has supported herself by basket-making. It was
known to have been her custom every night to walk down
the garden path leading from her cottage to shut the wicket
and her murderer must have availed himself of this oppor-
tunity to effect his purpose. On Tuesday morning the
poor woman was found lying dead outside her house, there
being marks of blood about her head, and her throat being
cut. A stone hammer, a "razor. case, and a stick were found
near the spot, and have been identified as the property of a
labourer named Gough, who has absconded, and who had
previously threatened the deceased.

LIQUOR DEALERS IN AMERICA.--The number of
retailers who sell liquor in the United States is more than
one-half of all the retail traders in the country, for the 10
djllar retail dealers' license produces 1,227,912 dollars,
while the 20 dollar liquor retail license is creditor for
1,4771 751 dollars,—American Apnanac for 1861,