The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-16 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1863.

LONDON, MONDAY, FEB. 16, 18E3.

The news brought by the Arabia is full of im-
portance and interest, and must rejoice the hearts
of all who desire to see peace restored and trade
flourishing once more ; for it indicates, we may
hope, the approaching termination of the struggle
that has so long desolated the vast States of
Northern America, and carried want aad sorrow
to many an English home.
The Federals, often in spite of their boasting,
repulsed by land, have hitherto regarded their
naval superiority as unquestionable ; yet an engage-
ment has just taken place off Charleston in which
the advantage was so decidedly on the part of the
Confederates that the blockading fleet was fairly
driven out of sight. We learn from the Richmond
papers that at one o'clock on the morning of the
31st ult. two Confederate iron-clad gunboats, ac-
companied by three steamers, went out from
Charleston and attacked the blockading squadron.
When we remember that this small force was to
attack 13 vessels with two first-class frigates, we
shall see in the exploit another instance of that
Southern spirit and daring which has so often been
crowned with success, in spite of superior numbers
and other advantages on the Northern side. Two
of the Federal gunboats were sunk, one of them
carrying 11 guns, and the steamer Quaker City
disabled ; four of the remaining vessels being fired
by the Confederates. It is not surprising that in
face of such daring and formidable antagonists the
much-vaunted Federal fleet thought discretion the
better part of valour, and took its departure with
more haste than dignity. We can readily imagine
the enthusiasm with which the conquering gun-
boats were received as they re-entered Charleston,
and the Confederates hastened to make the most of
their victory. A proclamation was immediately
issued, declaring the blockade to be raised, and
notifications to the same effect sent to the foreign
Consuls. It is said that the British Consul availed
himself of the offer of the General to see for himself,
and after going five miles beyond the usualanehorage
of the blockaders could see nothing of them with
glasses. The Richmond papers add that the Con-
suls have held a meeting at Charleston, and were
unanimously of opinion that the blockade had been
legally raised. Of the dispersion of the blockading
squadron there can be no doubt, although the un-
welcome visitors re appeared in greater numbers
the next day. taking the precaution to bring with
them some iron-clad vesssls, which now lie inside
the wooden ships. The object of the hurried noti-
filiktion to the Consuls was, of course, to secure the
60 days notification which the laws of maritime
warfare require to be given to neutral Powers. The
Richmond Dispatch
says, with truth, that
most probably Lord RUSSELL will not insist on any
such notification. We trust, however, that the
Government will not act hastily in the matter, but
give the case fair consideration. If, with due re-
gard to the laws and eusioras of naval warfare
such a truce could be legally recognised, its benefits
would be incalculable. As we have said, we an-
ticipate that the decision of our Cabinet will be
in accordance with Northern wishes; it remains
to be seen, however, what view the Imperial
Government will take of the question. It is not
surprising that the Northern papers consider the
Charleston affair to have been greatly exagge-
rated, but they manifest considerable uneasiness
nevertheless. The New York World thinks that
the fact of vessels not being visible on a foggy
day is no proof that the blockade was raised for
a single instant. Another New York paper "has
no apprehension that the Confederates can esta-
blish legal grounds for what they claim." The New
York Tribune goes further, however, and says,
44 that if it be true that the blockading feet was

driven off, or its operations disturbed for a single
day -the Federal Government should at once
notify to the world the resumption o the block-
ade." It is most -probable that the Governments
of Europe will not regard the temporary triumph
of the Confederates as an official raising of the
blockade, but the gain to the Southern cause is,
nevertheless, very great. Prominent among the
terrible disadvantages with which they be-
gan hostilities ;was the want of a naval
force, and that they should have found
themselves capable of constructing gunboats and
war steamers capable of contending triumphantly
with the boasted navy of New York, is a proof of
the resource and determination which command
success. The spirit which animated the clews of
the Sumter and the Alabama is not wanting in
their seamen, and, whatever the immediate conse-
quence of their recent triumph, on the principle of
" what man has done man may do," it is certain
that the Federal fleet are no longer invincible in
Southern waters. Within a few days we shall most
likely learn the result of the Federal attack upon
Charleston, which was momentarily expected on the
3d inst., and which will probably materially in-
fluence the duration of the war. Animated by
their recent success, the inhabitants of Charleston
are likely to prove formidable opponents, and judg-
ing from the exploit of the 31st, the inequality of
the naval forces by no means ensures success to the
Federals. The Fates seem unpropitious to their
vessels, for the gunboat P. SMITS has fallen into
the hands of the Confederates at Stone River, ac-
cording to the captors by an unconditional surrender,
according to the Federals from getting ashore. The
iron-clad steamer Montauk is said by the Southerns
to have been badly injured by the guns of Fort
M'Allister,but the Federal Navy Department asserts
that she sustained the fire of the enemy for four
hours without receiving any injury. It is difficult,
of course, to arrive at the exact truth among these
conlicting reports, neither side being over parti-
cular as to the fidelity of their assertions. But it
is clear that the difficulties of the North, financial,
political, and military, are increasing, while the
South is every day gaining fresh confidence. We
shall await with impatience the tidings to be brought
by the next mail, firmly believing that if they tell
us the blockade is raised in good earnest, the news
will be no less advantageous to the best interests
of America than to the trade of Lancashire.

The other evening, in the House of Lords, Lord
RAVENSWORTH, in an able speech, called attention
to the subject of Harbours of Refuge. He stated
that his reasons for bringing the matter under their
lordships' notice were threefold. Firstly, that he had
heard something about a surplus of revenue in her
MAJESTY'S Exchequer, and if such were the case he
wished to point out a satisfactory way of applying
it. Secondly, that the construction of harbours was
the most profitable mode of employing convict '
labour ; and Thirdly, that many of the unemployed
in Lancashire might be benefited by it. His lord-
ship entered into considerable details of the disasters
which have occurred during the late gales, and
endeavoured to show that it was not always owing
to the unseaworthiness of ships that they
were lost on our coasts, and cited as an
example the loss of the Lifeguard, a fine
iron steamship plying between Newcastle and Lon-
don, which went down with all hands during the
late gales ; and he further remarked, that a harbour
of refuge on the eastern coast might have proved a
haven of refuge to her. That the coast between
the Downs and Newcastle is destitute of the protec-
tion requisite to the vast trade carried on, is not to
be denied. With the exception of Ramsgate and
Lowestoft, there are no available harbours, but there
are extensive roadsteads, sheltered by long sand-
banks both at Yarmouth and Lowestoft, which give '
shelter to thousands of vessels, and where, if their
ground tackle be sound, there is little danger to
them from a gale, however fierce. If report speaks
truly, the Lifeguard was overladen, ill-trimmed,
and down by the head when she left Newcastle.
Here are three all-important reasons why she should
come to grief in heavy sea. So long as she held
her own and was watertight, the master would most
likely persevere, and probably felt little fear. But
a ship down by the head in a heavy sea has a ten-
dency to go under and not over the waves she
meets. This practice, however commendable in
ducks, is death to a ship, and probably the
unfortunate Lifeguard, on meeting a heavy sea,
took too deep a "header," and never rose again, or,
if she did, it was but to take a parting glance at the
upper world. We have only called attention to the
Lifeguard because Lord RAYENSWORTH mentioned
her as being a fine iron steamer, and charged her
loss to the want of Harbours of Refuge. Now,
we maintain that the best ship that was eve built,
if overloaded, may go down, and without particu-
larising this unfortunate vessel whose shortcomings
were not noticed until after her loss, we maintain
that our coasters are dangerously overladen. It
the 'weather hold fine all goes well, but if a gale of
more than ordinary severity overtake them, the
chances are that unless they are able to reach some
place of safety they go down. This may be held as
an argument in favour of harbours all along the coast.
To a certain extent we grant this, but our object at
present is not to consider harbours of refuge so much
as to show the principal causes of the loss of some
eight hundred lives annually, together with up-
wards of a million and a half of property. This
is owing, firstly, to the want of proper ground
tackle and sails; secondly, to the vessels them-
selves being rotten; and, thirdly, being over-
loaded and undermanned. Of what avail
could a harbour of refuge be to a ship with
her sails blown out of the bolt ropes, and her
anchors dragging, or, more probably lost, without
the intervention of a steam-tug to bring her into
port. At an early period we will take into consi-
deration the most elegible situations for future
harbours; but it must be some time be-
fore any great benefit can be derived from
from their construction, while we see that, with the
exception of Portland, in spite of the recommenda-
tion of the Commissioners, the Government have
determined on commencing operations at the least
required points of the coast, and as in the case of the
works in Jersey and Alderney, where they are not re-
quired. But in waiting for this should not something
be done to compel owners to send their ships to sea
in a serviceable condition, and should not an enact-
ment be passed to fine heavily any captain or owner
who ships a greater load than his vessel can carry
with safety. If this ba a subject that the Board of
Trade cannot take up, surely the insurance com-
panies have the power to correct the evil.

" 0 that mine enemy had written a Book," is said
to have been the exclamation of Jos, and then what
" Jobe.tion" the enemy would get. Poor Mr.
LINCOLN, instead of writing a Book, has done a
greater thing—he has issued a Proclamation, written
by own right hand, of which the left knew nothing,
and cared less. But not so his exultant admirers,
the Abolitionists at home, and his willing dupes in
lands beyond the seas. As England was the foster-
mother of slavery in the olden time, when no other
account was taken of human labour but the profit,
all went well. But there was
a touch of
conscience working here and there until the
national mind became disturbed that there

was something w roug in ali the wealth coming in
without much cost going out, and so an inquiry
was set on foot which ended in the conviction that
gold might be bought too dear by the sacrifice of
so much kindred blood, for the outward colour did
not affect the stream that quickened the pulse of
humanity. Hence the natural revolt of conscience
that slavery was a curse, and must be ab )lished by
Christian people. And so it was, after a fashion
as much at variance with political economy as any
act of Parliament in favour of slavery and monopoly.
The present Earl of DERBY, then Mr. STANLEY,
had the honour of compounding felony for the na-
tional conscience by offering to lend the sleek slave-
holders some fifteen millions of money if they
would abolish the infernal curse, and so relieve the
national conscience from shuddering over so foul a
crime. But the masters of slavery were not to be
taken in in that way. Not they, indeed. They
too, were Christians, and had a very tender con-
seience likewise—but it was in their pockets! So
poverty was pleaded as a reason for their inability
to comply with such an offer; because, though poor,
they hoped they were honest, and most anxious as
they all were to meet the generous wishes of the
abolitionists, they were naturally very anxious to
pay their debts, and the poor slaves were the only
property their poorer masters possessed. The seem-
ing honesty of the wily hypocrites rather stag-
gered the worthy emancipators in their
goodly purpose, and a week was spent in de-
liberation. Meantime every device was put in
motion by those most deeply interested in the slave
traffic, from merchant princes in Liverpool,
Bristol, and even in "holy circles" in London and
elsewhere—men of high standing for morals and
devout observance of all that was exemplary in
Church and State— men who had only been con-
cerned in the abomination by lending money by
way of mortgage to the dealers in slaves, men who
passed in the world, and especially in the n oney
market, as " good men." Thus matters stood. I►
was considered as too bad that the honest men who
were so anxious to pay their just debts, and worse
still, the innocent lenders, who would be ruined
by not getting their loans, should bath be in a man-
ner sacrificed on the shrine of abolition. So, pro-
fessional cant carried the day—and, instead of lend-
ing the slaveholders fifteen millions—Mr. STANLEY'
with a generosity without a parallel in history.
freely gave the dealers in human flesh twenty
millions sterling as the price of emancipation I The
sudden change almost staggered belief, and well
it might. The slaveholders and their friends were
in ecstacies. But the sum, however large, was a
noble homage to humanity by a Christian people.
There was no limit to the principle—the act was
spontaneous—and bequeathed as an heirloom of
freedom to posterity.
And what has Mr. LINCOLN done P He has pro-
claimed freedom to those beyond his power to eman-
cipate. He cannot conquer their masters, yet be
professes to set the slaves free. Nor is this all—
the slaves actually in his power he retains in bond-
age for the benefit of his friends, while he hopes to
punish his enemies by declaring their slaves free—
and for what P—not as a boon to the slave, but as a
military measure to ruin his master. And yet he
calls this emancipation—and stranger still he finds
people in this country simple enough to believe
him. Can the force of folly go further ? Yes, they
not only believe in their honest ignorance, but write
to thank him for his "glorious" deed.
Mr. LINCOLN may well chuckle over his " dodge"
taking so wonderfully in a land which has paid so
dearly, yet so cheerfully, for the ransom of humanity
from bondage. What England has done from a
conscientious feeling he affects to perpetrate from
hypocrisy. But he will have his reward before
long. The day of retribution is coming with a
vengeance. The slave will yet be free; not by his
means, but in spite of his "strategic" manceuvres
to keep him in bondage. The Southern Republic
will find it wiser and better to confer emancipation
unconditionally, but gradually, and so emancipate
not only their own slaves, but those of the North
also—for it will be impossible for freedom and
slavery to co-exist among the same people with ad-
vantage to either.
The North is now becoming so heartily sick of the
struggle, that if the expeditions on the Mississippi,
and the attempts on Wilmington. Charleston,
Newbern, and other places along the Atlan-
tic border, fail in achieving their purpose—
as probably they will—the war may ter-
minate in a month or two at furthest. The
fourth of March may yet seal the doom of Mr.
LINCOLN'S dream of empire—and let the contend-
ing Republics shake hands on the altar of peace
and mutual independence.
Since writing the above, the arrival of the
Arabia puts us in possession of intelligence which
foreshadows the result of the attempt upon
Charleston. The complete success of the Confede-
rate attack upon the blockading squadron, shows
but too certainly the days of Northern supremacy
on the ocean are numbered. A few more such dash-
ing exploits and the Confederates will be masters
of the Mississippi and the other great rivers. In
which case, deprived of their all necessary auxi-
liaries the gunboats, it will be all up with the
Northern armies, and our prediction for the 4th of
March may yet be fulfilled.

This evening Mr. Cowper will bring before the
House of Commons his scheme for constructing the new
street in the City in connexion with the Thames Embank-
ment. The proposed street will run from Blackfriars to the
Mansion House.

PAUPER NURSES.—It has been said that after
a grievance has been talked of and written about
for ten years, there is some hope of redress and amendment.
Let us trust that this time has nearly expired for the matter
of " Workhouse nurses," for surely this is a grievance and
an evil that ought to be attended to without delay. On the
day after Christmas day I went to visit a poor woman in
the sick ward of a London workhouse. She had been in bed
there for two years, and her one grievance and complaint
was of the misery occasioned by the nurses, directly, from
their own conduct and language, and indirectly, from their
sanctioning and suffering the same from their patients, The
scenes she was compelled to witness from bodily suffering
and misery were bad enough, but ten times worse were the
sounds of wickedness that prevailed, unchecked, if not
encouraged, by those who, as if in mockery, were placed in
authority in the ward. She told me that on this day the nurse
was gone out for her holiday, and it was easy to imagine what
state she would return at night; meanwhile they were left
in charge of a " helper." Whilst I was talking to her, in
walked suchahelper, staggering up to the bed-side, laughing
and talking in drunkenness ; a patient took her off to the
other end of the ward, and helped her to lie down.
This poor woman herself said, " What a blessing it would
be to have even ono Christian woman as nurse over these
wards.' Such a scene requires no comment, bu , I think 1
can venture to say that a similar one would not be witnessed
in any institution in any other country than this. Private
institutions are feared and discouraged because of their
privacy, their want of inspection, thir escape from public
opinion I Here areinst tutions, supported by public funds' go-
verned by a body of men popularly chosen and elected, yet
where shall we find so sad a state of things, so grievous tin
i
abuse of what s supposed to be kindness toour sick poor? 1
' went by chance on this day to this workhouse. Have we not
reason to suppose that the same scenes were being repeated
at this holy season in most of the workhouses in the land ?
The majority of those who are inmates may have brought
themselves to the workhouse by their own sins and follies,
we cannot choose but admit them, and we may not be able
to reform them, but we can avoid the disgrace of setting
such persons in positions of trust, giving them an authoritywhich they so grievously abuse, and thereby entailing an
increase of sin and misery upon all those who are not only
under their care but under ours.—Journal of the Work-
house Visiting Society.
IN A RELIGIOUS NOVEL, says one of the Satur•
day reviewers, it thunders whenever a Jew eats pork. The
heaviest retribution visits the slightest infringement of the
moral code. Don't Care is devoured by lions for putting
out his tongue at his little sister,

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

INDIA.

CALCUTTA, SAN. 30.

Grey shirtings and mule twist active. Copper
unchanged. Exchange on London, 2s. Old. Go-
vernment Securities, 5 per Cents., 1051. Freights
to London, 102 s. 6d.

CHINA.

CANTON, JAN. 15.

Grey shirtinga dull and unchanged. Total ex-
port of tea to date, 85,125,0001 b. Exchange on
London, 44.79 d.
SHANGHAI, lAN. 10.

Silk 10 taels higher; settlements during the past
fortnight, 2,000 bales; export to date, 60,000 bales.
Exchange on London, 6s. 11d.

THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
with the above mails arrived at Suez on the 14th
February.

CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN
MAILS.
(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 16.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ripon, with the heavy portion of the above mails,
has arrived here. She brings 41 passengers,
£15,295 in specie, and 1,600 packages of cargo.

The Confederate steamer Sumter escaped from
Gibraltar during the south-east gale on the night
of the 6th inst. The steamer Pactolus, which
arrived at Gibraltar, reports having passed her
off Cape Spartel, under a press of sail and steam.

GIBRALTAR, Feb. 11.—Exchange on London. 90
days, was quoted 50 7 16 to 50-1; oa Paris, 528 ;
Genoa, 5.30; Madrid, 8 days' sight, Q premium.
Freights unaltered.

THE INSITRRECTION IN POLAND.
LEMBERG, FEB. 14.

The Pope has sent instructions to the Bishops of
Galicia to exert their influence over the people of
that province, with a view to causing the authority
of Austria, as a Catholic Power, to he respected.
The pickets of the insurgents and of the Russian
troops were last night in close proximity near,
Oicova (? Michow).

. .
A battle is expected to take place hourly.

FEB. 15.
The Russian forces have withdrawn from Przes
anek.

The battle near Oycow, which had been expected,
has therefore not taken place.

The insurgents have captured Jarnogrod.
Thirty-nine out out of 200 Cossacks garrisoning
this place were killed. The remainder withdrew
to Zimosc.

The insurgents have also captured Hrubeszow,
which had been evacuated by the Russians.

THORN, FEB. 14.

General Annenkoff, governor of the provinces of
Podolia and Vothymnia, has been empowered by
the Emperor to order a state of siege in those
provinces if circumstances require.

FRANCE.

PARIS, Feb. 16.

The Moniteur of yesterday publishes the text of
the reply given by the Emperor to the deputation
which presented the address of the Corps Legislatif.
His Majesty said:—" I coLgratulate myself on this
agreement of the Corps Legislatif, which is moor
indispensable than ever at a time when the truth
is obscured by hostile passions in all parts of the
globe. France must be calm and strong in the in-
terior, that she may always exercise a legitimate
influence in favour of justiee and progress, whose
triumph is so often compromised by the exaggera-
tion of extreme parties.

Oa Saturday, at two o'clock, the Emperor,
assisted by his Ministers and the officers of State.
received the deputation of the Corps Legislatit,
who presented the address voted by the Senate.
The Due de Morcy headed the deputation and read
the address. The Emperor replied in courteous
terms, and the deputation retired with shouts of
" Vive l'Empereur."
L'Opinzon .Nationale asserts that the Polish in-
surrection is gaining strength, and is becoming a
greater nightmare than ever to the Czar Alexander
and King William I. It is indignant with the Ga-
zette dulVord for threatening Western Europe with
a Holy Alliance, in the event of the Cabinets of
Paris and London making any opposition to the
intervention of Prussia in Russian Poland. This
declaration, says the Opinione Nationale, has re-
echoed throughout the French nation, for a menace
is always an injury.
Is Pays thinks it is imperative that a strong
government should be immediately established in
Greece, if it is not to be allowed to sintt into
anarchy and disorganisation.
The same journal, in commenting on the liberty
of the English press, expre-sea a wish that the
Parisian journals would take example by the
fidelity of its parliamentary reports, which are
given with the complotest impartiality. In the
French reports criticisms are mixed up with the
report, and it is the separation of the compte rendu
and the criticism that is especially insisted on by
the Government.

It is rumoured at Bordeaux that the 88th Regi-
ment of the line is shortly to leave for Mexico.
A lamentable accident has just occurred at Lyons,
in the Quartier de la Cite Napoleon, from the fall of
a house which was in process of construction. It
resulted in the death of one man and the serious in-
jury of several others.
Le Siecle, in an interesting article on the recent
debates, remarks that the silence of the people is
the lesson of Kings and of Assemblies, and that it
must not be thought from this sileuce, that the
public emotion is not great. It considers that the
CEambers, by voting the address unconditionally,
lost the ground gained in the previous discussion.
Have the Chambers shown themselves equal to the
occasion ? asks the Siecle. and it answers in the
negative, in spite of the speeches on Poland,
Mexico, and Italy. One orator alone, M. Jules
Fevre, has in its view sustained the old reputation
of French eloquence. With regard to the
debate on Liberty, Le Siecle considers that
the Ultramontane orators, if they could get it,
would keep it to themselves. The recollection of
their guidance of the State under M. de Fellows is
sufficient to neutralise the enthusiasm excited by
their language. In the words of the amendment of
M. Favre, the right of election implies the right of
discussion, of jedgmeat, and, in consequence, of
liberty. What do you want ? What would you
nave? Have you not this and that? Such are the
arguments of the Ministry, by which it render,.
homage to that liberty it restricts by its laws fee
the press, its presentations of candidates,
end its other measures. It weighs and
barters little by little, and cries continually
" have you not enough." Nt;M. le President,
we have not enough. We may have more, ape
yet shall not have enough." Liberty is as neces
sary as the air and sun, and the only acceptable
libel-1y is free liberty. At present se much is gained.
eve: yone is praising liberty. Even with the rejection
of M. Favre'e amendment she was on the winning
side in the two first sittings of the Corps Legislatit,
And she forced her adversaries to incline before her.
The further consideration of the debate is deferred
to another impression.
BOURSE. Feb. 14.—The tone of the market has
been rather better, and the decline of yesterday
`las, in spite of the strongest efforts on the part of
the Bears, been recovered. Threes, for the Account
are now firm at 70f. 70c. The Railway Share
Market has been also firm, and with an UPPI"e"

men? in the mejo Ily or
been in demand, and are
lot closed as follows :-
11 per Cents. 99 25
Do, end
3 per Cents
Do. end month 7O 75
New 3 per Cants
Do. end month —
Credit Mobilier 1255
Do. end month 1258 75

the lines. Alk,biticr have
quoted higher. The mar-

Bank Shares
Credit Fancier 1520
Piedmontese Fives -
Italian Loan 7O 75
Russian
Austrian
§_pani.h Threes 52 50
Home Debt • • •••• 491

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans lll5 .. 1116 25
Northern
New ditto • • • •
Lyons and Mediterranean 1187 50 .. 1156 25
Genoa
Southern Bl2 60 .. 815
Western .. 665 .. 566 25
Eastern ....
Sardinian
Austrian
i.on, hard
North of Spain
Saragossa ..
Ditto to Barcelona

.5

‘l\ I fr=
iAR -
0
CD