The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-19 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 1863.

In the Commons, Mr. HADFIELD moved the se-
cond reading of the Qualification for Offices Aboli-
tion Bill. Mr. NEwDEGATE opposed the measure,
and moved, as an amendment, that the bill be read
a second time that day six months. Mr. SELWYN
seconded the amendment, and the House divided,
when the original motion was carried by 74 to 63.
Lord RAYNHANI proposed the second reading of the
Aggravated Assaults on Women and Children Bill.
Alderman SIDNEY moved, as an amendment, that
it be read that day six months. Mr. BRISCOE se-
conded the amendment.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that there was no
occasion for the bill, and the offence alluded to was
on the decrease. Mr. BENTINCK supported the bill,
and said a heavier punishment was most imperative.
'rhe amendment was subsequently carried by a
large majority. The House then adjourned.

Contrary to expectation, the New York news of
February 6th brings us no intelligence of the attack
upon Charleston. Possibly the Federals are in no
hurry to encounter at close quarters those formid-
able vessels that scattered their blockading fleet, in
spite of desperate resistance. They probably feel
that to fail i❑ the attempt upon this city would be
a serious blow to th© tottering in esti g e of the North,
and, in spite of their boasting, success must
appear to themselves to be anything but certain.
Meanwhile, the good luck of the Confederates at
sea has not deserted them, for, according to Savan-
nah despatches, one Federal iron-clad turret, four
gunboats, and one mortar had attacked Fort Mae-
allister on the Ist inst. After the firing had con-
tinued for a considerable period, the Federal s
retired defeated. The bombardment, it is said,
was more furious than the preceding one. The
particulars of the capture of the Federal gunboat
P. Smith, brought by this mail, confirm the Confede-
rate account. She is now fitting out, and will soon
be ready for sea, and consequently the Federals

will again have the mortification of seeing their
own vessel turned against them, and a rapid addition
is thus made to the Southern navy_ The loyalty of
the North is certainly not increasing with their
necessities. Colonel STEWART, Chief of the Cavalry
on General M'CLERNAND'S staff at Vicksburg, as
out on a reconnaisance with 200 men, when he was

shot and deserted by them. Whether this murder was
due to the unpopularity of the officer, or of the service,
is not stated, but, whatever the cause, the result
was favourable to the enemy, for Colonel STEWART'S
memorandum book, containing full estimates of the
numbers and calibre of the forces and guns of
Generals SHERMAN and M'CLERNAND, and a good
deal of useful information respecting the canals
which have been commenced, which fell into
the hands of the Confederates. As the Federals
seem to attach so much importance to their
canal-making, this will probably cause them con-
siderable mortification. The present attempt at
the Vicksburg canal is entirely new, the last having
proved a failure. By the last accounts water
was beginning to rush into the canal, but it will be
a considerable time before the mighty Father of
Waters condescends to roll out of his ancient
course to assist the perplexed Federals. They
say that drowning men catch at a straw, but
in this instance the case, though equally the result
of desperation, is rather like a child snatching at a
thunderbolt. The rest of the news is unimportant
enough ; but we have ceased to expect the grand
Federal triumphs, even on paper, which at
one time were regular as the mails, either in
prospect or retrospect. The sooner the curtain
falls over the melancholy performance the better,
for, unhappily, we cannot smile at its passing ab-
surdities, through grief at the tragic element wichh
so largely predominates.

The recent verdict given by the Court of Com-
mon Pleas in the case of the British Columbia
Overland Transit Company, will probably be re-
ceived with general satisfaction. It is felt, and
justly felt, that the public need every protection
which the stringency of the law can afford them