The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-22 00:00:00

HOW ABOUT CHARLESTON

Great surprise is felt here that the forts in
Charleston do not fall. I can pretty well understand
how it is. That precious humbug Beauregard (!),
who has not a dime in the world, or a dollar at stake,
does not care how soon the city is burned. The
people of Charleston do care, and they have sent to
Gilmore, begging him not to destroy the city, and
saying they will surrender it. This makes him
pause. I have no doubt but that is the true solu-
tion of why Charleston is not shelled out, and you
will soon hear that the city has surrendered with-
out reference to the forts in the harbour. Such will
be the result, unless Beauregard is master of the
people of Charleston.

ALL BUT CERTAINTY OF OLD ABE'S RE-ELECTION AS

PRESIDENT I

I see no chance for their success. I long ago
pointed out to you the programme of the Republican
party. I told you that it would endeavour to carry
the election in 1864, by letting the electoral votes
of Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vir-
ginia, &c., be cast by the soldiers at certain points
in those states. I also added, that as Abraham
Lincoln was the only man who had the power to
order such elections, and to pronounce them valid,
he would be the next President again. It is
almost wonderful how my words are begin-
ning to be verified. You will not notice that the
Cabinet, all the leading Republican statesmen, and
all the Republican press, are in the field again for
Abraham Lincoln to be re nominated and re-elected.
It is now a matter of certainty that he will be the
Republican candidate. He is their only hope. He
is the only man that can keep that party in power
and their men in office. It is curious how it has all
come about. lam amazed at the game as it now
stands. Unless Lincoln and his advisers are all
fools they have the game in their own hands.
They cannot lose. I say this with deep regret, for
I counted with certainty upon eating cherries at
the Hague as American Charge d'Affaires in 1865,
when the present Veracious Pike, of the Tribune,
would be obliged to leave and come here to do his
reporting. But to return to the Presidency. Lin-
coln must be re-elected unless he throws away his
game. There are several Republican states North
which will vote for him. He can overawe New
York, and frighten Seymour out of his stockings as
has lately been seen. He is sure of the 46 New
England votes in the Electoral College, and he is
sure of Mississippi, Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware,
and Virginia. He can order the elections in the
Soath—North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama,
Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas.
Of course, the loyal men will all vote for him. His
Congress will declare those votes legal, and whether
so or not he can declare them, proclaim himself
elected, and, as he has 80,000 soldiers, can keep in
for four years after 1865 ; and I must say he is a
great fool if he don't do this. So far the public is
relieved, and the shrewd ones are pretty well satis-
fied " who will be the next President."

THE KNOWING OLD PICTURE CARD I

I am beginning to doubt whether Lincoln, who is
the ugliest as well as the tallest specimen of the
human race in America, is not also the cleverest.
Ile acts like an old player in politics. Two years
ago he exhibited traits of a most remarkable cha-
racter, that made me halt and wonder whether we
had not got by mistake a great man or a great
manager in power. lam now startled in the same
manner. Lincoln is of some account, or he has
wonderful luck. I do not know what to think.
The religious people have a theory that he is
favoured by Divine Providence, who is using him
as a tool to extirpate slavery. If so, I suppose
slavery will go down. It is well known that Mr.
Lincoln consults the spirit world before he makes
any great move. He has several mediums. All I
have to say is, that if he has been acting under sueh
advice in order to be reelected, such medium is
smart, and ➢Zr. Lincoln had better reward him with
a high office.