The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-30 00:00:00

THERMOMETER.

This morning
This day at Two o'clock .. 70
Barometer-30.15,
Wind—N.-Easterly ; light, with fine weather,

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
fun DAY.—Morning, ih. 25m.—Afternoon, lh. 52m.
To-aoanow.-Morning, 2h. llm.—Afternoon, :2h. 43m.

tjig••••; 1111. t
•

LONDON, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1863.

Whenever a Victor gives way to cruelty in the
completion of his triumph—rest assured that at one
time in the fight he was very nearly beaten. When-
ever one of two men quarrelling grows particularly
angry, be quite certain of this, that he is the one
more in the wrong—if he be not, indeed, wholly
and solely in the wrong, in the matter under dis-
pute. Each of these sayings, no matter in what
particular words expressed, has long since come to
be recognised by the generality as an axiom drawn
from experience. And each is, without doubt,
right in the main, though not, of course,
invariably. Exceptions there are, occasionally, to
both ; but these, we believe, may be set aside very
readily at once as exceptions. And certainly, it
we come at this moment to apply either of these
popularly and almost universally recognised truths
to the war in America, or to those who are discuss-
ing (apart from that war), say in our own country,
the relative merits of the belligerents, of the South
and of the North, of the Federals or of the Confede-
rates, of President DAVIS or of President LINCOLN,
we do most confidently leave it to the common sense
and to the right reason of all dispassionate ob-
servers to pronounce qaite decisively and quite
unhesitatingly Which of the two sides has shown
itself, from beginning to end, to be in the

Wrong.
The cruelty, the barbarity, the brutality, has
been all on one side : that is, on the side of the
Northerns, of the Federalists. We appeal—not to
the past, to History—not to the future, to Posterity :
we appeal to the present recollection of all, to boldly,
honesty, and truly say whether it has not been so.
The Confederate Army has given to view many a
conspicuous General—but it never presented to the
world's scorn a General BUTLER. The infamy
of doing that belongs exclusively, as we
all know, to the Federals. The Southern
President has never issued, under the authority
of his own name, signed with his own hand,
promulgated as the deliberate utterance of his own
Government, a document such as the Northern
PRESIDENT has issued, signed, and promulgated,
declaring a contingent penal abolition of slavery,
and, in the act of so doing, unfurling, as an
atrocious signal or incentive to the negroes in the
South, the black banner of a Servile War !
Richmond has never yet been the arena for
execrable riots, during which, for several
days in succession, Murder has stalked
scatheless through the streets, as it has re-
cently been doing through the streets of New York,
in the form of a lawless rabble, armed with fire and
sword, bent upon outrage and destruction, and
hunting to the death those very negroes whose
freedom the leaders of this Northern mob affect, for
their own selfish ends, to have so much at heart.
Turning from this momentary contemplation of the
really startling contrast presented to view throughout
this dreadful
conflict by the belligerents themselves
—we
would now apply
axioms the second of the two popular
quoted at
not the outset of these present
remarks of ours,
to the combatants, but simply
to their critics,
to
theso f commentators upon the
Records of the War
the commentators upon far as it has yet gone, to
those records, here, in this
country, to the speakers upon various platforms,
and to the writers upon the
ar public news-
papers. Referring to those who have
have
or, still better, to those whohave watched
watched either
both, we ask upon whichaide
has been
the anger, the ill blood, the passion, the fury, we
ask confidently which of the two, between these d.
patents, has argued the more equablyia 18-
..one and in
temper the vindicator of the North or of the South,
of the Federals ur of the Confederates I' Why, at
the nosiest and most numerously attended meeting
that has anywhere as yet been convened in this
country since first this lamentable war commenced,
at the great assembly which took place last autumn
(of all places in London, at Exeter Hall !)
the champions, that ia to say, the oratorical
champions of the North, of the Federals, of Presi-
dePt LINCOLN, and General BUTLER, and the like,
had it, in a manner, all to themselves. Yet, such was
their passionate and infuriated condition, that some
one, rashly venturing to utter a few sentences in
vindication of the Confederates, was first of all
brutally hustled out of Exeter-hall, and then still
more brutally hounded along the Strand, as
though he had been a mad dog, until
the unfortunate wight found shelter, as he
did eventually, in a shop not far from our dice.
Quite consonantly with ,the wrath evidenced more
than once by the acts of ithe Northern army,
or its leaders, out in the actual seat of war, and with
the words, whether spoken or written, which have
already emanated in this country from the lips or
from
the pens of the impassioned sympathisers with

th e) cause of Federalism, are certain metrical utter-
an iees which have but this very day reached us
fr.:.m one among that conspicuous minority—(as we
are glad to know for certain that they unquestion-
ably are) these sympathisers in England with the
cri use of the North, with the cause of Federalism
—••from one, among that conspicuous minority, him-
sto lf endowed with the Gift of Song. The name
o f this particular sympathiser, of this metrical
s ympathiser with the North we, here (in his
o•wn interests) abstain from mentioning. Suffice
to say that it is one among the Young Poets
o f to-day, one who is, in truth, not un-
worthy of assuming a recognised place among
ghat restricted band of living contributors
to our poetic literature—but one who has struch
the chords of his lyre now, for once, with a
laand so agitated by angry passions that the sound
'omitted by it is ❑othing less than so much jangling
.aissonance. Whether it really is so or not, however,
shall not here be allowed to rest simply
ctpon our individual assertion. The writer, whose
name we shall still continue, out of regard to his
reputation, to suppress, shall himself pronounce
whether it is or is not. Addressing himself, evi-
dently in great wrath, to CHARLES MACKAY under
the title of " New Voices from the Crowd," and
addressing himself thus to Dr. MACKAY, as to one
" Late Progress Poet, now Times Correspondent
from America," our pro-Federal poet here in Eng-
land, thus hesitates not, in terms that ring in mea-
sure, though some there are (those for example that
will be found below italicised) that must certainly
be pronounced unmeasured terms, thus hesitates not
to give unchristian utterance to his ungovernable
animosities :

" / praise your Jackson and your South
No, I've no taste at all that way ;
Those words are not sweet in my mouth,
Though dear they are to some, you say ;

In fact, if I the truth must tell,
I think your Jackson and Ms crew,
Accurst of God, are fit for hell,
Though they may fight and conquer, top."
Later on, as if just nearly beside himself with fury,
he ventures to howl forth his maledictions thus

unstintingly :
" Curse those who sell their blood to lust,
Their very flesh to stripes and toil;
I spit at such—the thought I trust,
Of such should make my blood to boil."

Again, still addressing himself to CHARLES
MACKAY, to true-hearted gentle-hearted CHARLES
MACKAY, thus bawls forth this foaming partizan—
" Clasp you the hands that wield the whip I
Press you the palms that rivet chains I
My curse will through my clenched teeth slip,
I'd brand your heroes all as Coins,"
Enough, however, of all this—though we are fain (in
an aside to the writer of these angry words) to say,
with 808 RAFTER in the farce, when Monsieur
FUMEZ is bowing, with a flourish, to the ladies, aux
dames! "Don't staad damning and swearing,
there!" Enough at least, if we add, that the furious
lines addressed thus to CHARLES MACKAY are ac
companied by other " New Voices from the Crowd"
—Ye Gods ! " the crowd !" say, rather, the mob!
One of these " New Voices" being a specimen of
the forcible feeble, in the shape of a travestie of
" Scots wha hae"—in the name of DAVIS ! One

stanza in it beginning—
" Who for hell, our rights and law I"
Another of these bawling " Voices" being a parody
upon " Rule Britannia," setting forth thus—

" When Davis first, at hell's commands 1" &o.
Closing our remarks—again,we would ask, however,
Which side has all along been proving itself, is
still persistently and quite consistently, proving
itself, under the test of our two axioms, to be clearly
in the Wrong? Oa which side is the Anger ? On
which side has been the Cruelty ? All England,
we believe, if polled to-morrow, would answer by
an overwhelming majority—That of the Federals !
that of the thick and thin sympathisers with
Federalism !

The QUEEN has come forward with her usual
good sense and kind feeling, and uttered a protest
against the disgraceful practice of Female Blondins.
The Mayor of Birmingham, Mr. CHARLES STURGE,
received a letter from Sir CHARLES PHIPPS, written
by command of the QUEEN, relating to the catas-
trophe. Tae QUEEN expresses the pain with which
she has read the account of the fatal accident which
has occurred during a fete at Aston Park, Birming-
ham. In the next paragraph especial mention is
made of the revolting practice. " Her MAJESTY
cannot refrain from making known through you her
personal feelings of horror that one of her subjects,
a female, should have been sacrificed to the gratifi-
cation of the demoralising taste, unfortunately pre-
valent, for exhibitions attended with the greatest
danger to the performers." Nothing could have
been said in more appropriate language than the
foregoing, and in the next sentence the reproof is
made still more pointed by allusion to the effect
produced on the spectators. " Were any proof
wanting that such exhibitions were demoralising, I
am commanded to remark that it would be at once
found in the decision arrived at to continue the fes-
tivities, the hilarity, and the sports of the occasion,
after an event so melancholy." This censure is
richly deserved, since seldom if ever has such a dis-
graceful circumstance been recorded. In fact, the
managers are more to be reprehended for the con-
tinuance of the performances after the accident than
for the accident itself; for in the first instance they
were so far sanctioned by precedent, and perhaps
hardened by the immunity that the performers had
long enjoyed in practising such dangerous feats. But
no reason on record can possibly be found for the
shameful act of ignoring the fact that a corpse had
away from before their eyes, and yet
that been
they persisted
persisted in catering for the amusement
of the public, and swelling the sum of their own
profits. A rebuke from the highest personage in
the realm may doubtless produce more effect on
their minds than many long sermons from other
quarters, and it is indeed to be trusted that not
eschew
will they feel ashamed of their conduct and
at once and for ever all such practices for the future,
but that this affair may be the means of putting a
summary stoppage to all such feats, .and also to the
callous indifference and cold-hearted actions that
etigmatised the fife at Aston Park. The closing
passage in the letter of her MAJESTY is worthy of
attentive consideration. " Her MAJESTY trusts that
you, in common with the rest of the townspeople of
Birmingham, will use your influence to prevent in
future the degradation to such exhibitions of the
Park which was gladly opened by her MAJESTY
and the beloved PRINCE CONSORT, in the hope
that it would be
exercise and rationalm ede
rseeerrveiacteiae bnl e
offo rt
the
hee
pheeoapl
lt
eh.y”
Doubtless this reproach will be felt by those con-
cerned.erceietil lry(i
mpeursutaebe p
o
suches
lAjEs T y It
te
mortifying to her
hadofthe demoralisa-
sphere pt iroenv
eo f
andhe
refinet t tastes
bo
yf thosethe innocent
h
hoped would im-
of recrea-
tion provided for them. When the
PRINCE CONSORT opened this place they QUEEN and
most likely
returned from their expedition satisfiedthat nothing
but good and happiness would accrue to those wlio
visited it.

It is time that the most earnest endeavours should
be used that the future may realise the hopes of the
past more than the present has done, and to gain
that desirable end, and reach that auspicious con-
summation, nothing could be more appropriate or

well-timed than this letter of our Gracious SOVE-
REIGN. The QUEEN has always shown a care and
consideration for the welfare of her subjects, that
has attracted their admiration, and gaived their
affections more effectually than anything else could
have done. No grandeur of a monarch's surround-
ings, no great qualities exercised in camp or council,
can influence the mind so much as the humane
feeling manifested in the sympathy for the sor-
rows, and concern for the sufferings of others.
At seasonable times just indignation expressed for
acts that all right-minded persons must condemn
and abhor manifests the interest taken in her
people by their QUEEN. She is unwilling that they
should deteriorate in taste, or be wanting in pro•
priety in the season of festive enjoyment, and
well has sh.: performed her duty as monitor of
their actions and guardian of their welfare,
her quiet, yet forcible, admonition on this dis-
tressing occasion. It now remains for them to
do their part, and improve the opp rtunity that
so melancholy an occurrence has afforded to them.
Mr. STURGE wrote a very proper reply to Sir
C. PHIPPS. He states that no one
more deeply deplores the casualty than
himself, but the depraved taste referred to
has become everywhere prevalent. Recently he
prevented an exhibition of the class taking place
within the borough, and in this case his name ap-
peared in conjunction with those of the Lord Lieute
nant and members of Parliament and magistrates
as patrons of the fete, which was for a eharitabie
purpose ; but he did not believe that any of these
gentlemen had a notion that a dangerous exhibition
would be attempted. Ho hoped that for the future
the influence of the authorities at Birmingham
would, in conjunction with their fellow-townsmen,
prevent the recurrence of such performances, so that
the gracious intentions of her MAJESTY and revered
Consort might be realised and not frustrated; and in
the meantime, he trusted that exhibitions of so dan-
gerous and demoralising a character might be inter-
dicted by parliamentary enactment. Nothing
could be more satisfactory than this letter, and the
concluding passage is a very judicious piece of
advice, which cannot be two speedily followed with
respect to individual safety and general credit. It
would be well if gentlemen in high position did not
so readily lend the sanction of their names and the
support of their influence to this class of entertain-
ments, without first instituting minute inquiries as
to the character of the proceedings. Doubtless, for
the future more care and caution will be adopted, and
it will be most advisable if such should become the
ease. Eft any rate this sad transaction was one of too
much moment to be passed by as an accident; it
concerned too deeply a grave and solemn subject.
Human life must not be wantonly trifled with in
this flippant and frivolous style. Death through in
such sports is too awful an event for it to be totally
ignored, and almost more important still to guard
against is the effect of such conduct on the minds
and morals of the people. Now that the affair has
been so properly and promptly noticed by the
QUEEN, it is not a fallacious hope that inspires
well-wishers to believe that its recurrence will
never again disgrace the exhibitions of this country
and defeat the projects of those who seek to benefit
the lower orders by the encouragement of pastimes
that rightly employed would prove a blessing, but
signalised by such proceedings as those at Aston
Park on a late occasion would result in nothing
good, but rather conduce to evil impressions and
the spread of a heartless indifference and demo-
ralised taste.

It is no doubt a responsible and difficult task to
legislate on matters affecting the national educa-
tion. There is so much to be considered, so much
that is perplexing and complicated, and so many
contradictory interest. to be considered, that it is
not surprising if the Committee of Council have
failed to give entire satisfaction. The endeavour to
reconcile the desire to afford every member of the
State facilities for acquiring at least the plain rudi-
ments of knowledge, whatever his means or posi-
tion, with the wish to retain that sturdy indepen-
dence which is so valuable in itself and so much
more conducive to the purposes of education, is no
easy matter. There is no question that the work-
ing classes, particularly those of the better sort,
think much more of the " schooling" which their
children receive if it is paid for out of their hard won
weekly earnings than if it is a matter of free gift.
The mother is not so likely to keep the child at
home to help her in her household work if she re-a
lises the fact that by so doing she is wasting the
time they pay for, and the father is not likely to
tolerate a truant. Still as there are great numbers
of parents who either can not or will not pay for
their children's learning, it will not do to trust this
feeling too far. Again, in matters of religion it is
unquestionably very difficult to combine that tolera-
tion which befits establishments of a national cha-
racter with due regard to the religious instruction
of the children. The difficulties which have been
lately more under discussion, however, are on
matters of trivial detail, and do not affect the prin-
ciples on which the grants are founded. At one of
the last meetings of the Upper House Lord
REDESDALE called the attention of their lordships
to a recent minute of the Committee of Council on
Education, which he said would have the effect of
reducing the grant made to endowend slcBh4o7o,ls.
4,61;h8e,
number of those schools was, i
and consequently the change would affect a
large area. These schools must either make
up the difference by increased subscriptions or else
suffer their efficiency to be diminished. They
might pass the examinations most satisfactorily, and
yet the amount of public aid which they received
would be reduced in proportion to the endowment.
Lord REDESDALE deprecated the alteration, which
was, he said, in fact, an attempt to apply the chari-
ties of the country to the aid oi the public revenue,
and remarked that it was strange such a prospect
should be made in a year when the endeavour to
impose a tax on charities had met with such uni-
versal opposition. Lord DERBY, in supporting the
objections of Lord REDESDALE, gave as an instance
of the hardship caused by the new minute, the case
ofen doswommeenstchoofols x4Bbauiylteabryin
lhainmds.elt we hhiacdh
rehcaedn
talyn
heard that the maximum amount which this school
would receive under the Government grant was £42,
or six pounds less than the endowment, so that in
no case could the schools benefit by Parliamentary
aid, which would act prejudicially by withdrawing
the stirr ulus now received. The Earl of Powis
observed that although the Commissioners of Cha-
rities had enabled trustees to change the manner in
they would probably
if any amount so contributed were to diminish the
beslow hevicerhtyoti'eedca
y employed such funds, and to devote
uttoioanvaalilthemsees of that permission
purposes,l
grant. In fact it is scarcely fair to call upon
private charity for a matter which, if it be
given tree at all, should be granted as a national
right. On the other hand, the Duke of SOMERSET
said that the cost of education was on the average
30s. for each scholar, and that the Committee
'imply proposed that when the school already re-
ceived that amount from endowments the State
subsidies should not be given, as it was intended to
apply them to districts where there were no such
facilities for education already existing. This
sounds fair enough ; but a little help might enable