The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-29 00:00:00

I cross the river, in order, if possible to get into the
rear of the retiring Northerners. Failing in that
effort, to effect an opportune passage of the
river, General LGNGSTREET was compelled,
it seems, to hold his hands, as it were, in the
very midst of his success. Though at the same
time, as the last curt sentence of that portion of the
usual jumble of telegrams, we have the significant
intimation—" Moro fighting is expected." Fol-
lowed, under a later date (the 18th) by the yet
more striking intimation, " The Fighting with
General LGNGSTREET is still progressing." Mean-
time the tables have at the very least, we know for
certain, been turned. They have been turned so
unmi.takeabiy, that not only is LONGSTREET known
to have changed his position as the pursued into that
of the pursuer, but the Federal forces are ascertained
to have deserted Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge, and, with those "'coigns of 'vantage," the
whole country side between the latter and Ring-
gold.
The result here, is, for all the world, as much of
an anti-climax in its way, after the late evidences
of Federal exultation at so many Northern successes
achieved, and at so many consequent Southern
defeats, if not even most calamitous disasters
—the result here, we say, is of its kind quite
as much of an anti-climax as the abrupt
withdrawal of the Federal main army, under
MEADE, back again across the Rapidan at the
very moment when people had been taught
to believe that LEE and his Confederates had been
trapped by the said 3lEADE—either to a surrender
like that of MACK at Ulm, or, to a crushing and
overwhelming defeat in pitched battle like that
suffered by the Austrians and Russians together
under their two emperors immediately after Ulm,
upon the foughten field of Austerlitz! Pre-
cisely at the very moment when the more

' credulous were preparing to witness a
single meal made, off-hand, of LEE and his army,
LEE'S formidable antagonist and his army withdrew

ogether, very quietly indeed, back again across the
Rapidan ! And so, now, also, quite as absurdly, in
opposition to the immediately preceding accounts
given to us by the Federal authorities, the defeated
turns out to be the defeater—Missionary Ridge and
Lookout Mountain, being withdrawn from by the
Northern troops almost as hastily as Pear station
itself—that pear, in NAPOLEONIC phrase, turning
out to be very ripe indeed, ripe even to dropping.
While such is the latest phase of the war as recog-
nisable in the actual military movements, the fury
of the mutual antagonism engendered by the war
between the Federals and the Confederates appears
just now to be intensifying rather than in any way
whatever assuaged. Judging from the tone in
which Mr. LINCOLN'S amnesty proclamation has been
denounced by one and all of the Southern journals
that have yet commented upon it, but more parti-

cularly by the press of Richmond, that documen

appears to be regarded unanimously among the Con-
federates as more infamous and more exasperating
even than its notorious predecessor! That proclama-

tion by which the President of the once United
States of America gave the signal for a Servile
War by the announcement of what can alone
be aptly designated as a Penal Abolition. Inso-
much does there seem to be a sort of evil fatality
about the official acts and words of Mr. LINCOLN
as the last of the United States Presidents, that
this latest proceeding of his, so far from in any way
preparing the road for anything like a settlement,
seems to have been only too signally Effectual already
in rousing the Southern people en nu to fresh
evidences of their combined zeal and dogged deter-
mination.

In the Times of last Friday there was a letter
which especially deserves attention at this season.
It refers to the "Refuges for Homeless and Desti-

ute Children, at Bloomsbury." The appeal made
by the Secretary on behalf of this Institution is one
that earnestly demands notice, and it is to be
hoped that it will not prove unavailing. A better
means of bestowing help can hardly be chosen, for
the claims of these little wanderers are manifold,
and must speak with irresistible force to all who are
impressed with the imminent necessity of providing
a refuge for these young unfortunates. It needs
no stretch of imagination, and requires no scope of
fancy to depict the horrors of their situa-
tion, and foretell the danger of their future
course, if left unaided and neglected in the wilder-
ness of the world. From the class here provided
for spring up the dark family of crime, for it is a
notorious fact that more than half the evil charac-
ters who infest society are first led astray by the
temptations of idleness. It is a sad thing to reflect
upon, and makes the painful case more distressing
to feel assured that had timely help been afforded,
and a place of shelter at hand, many of those being
now regarded as outcasts from society, and herded
with miscreants and ruffians, might have become
respectable members of society, doing their duty in
the station to which PROVIDENCE had called them.
Mr. WILLIAMS mentions in his letter that they
have already been of great service to the objects
of their labour, and that during this year they
sent out from their Institution no fewer than eighty
boys to various British Colonies, and he adds that
had these remained behind they would most probably
have " preyed on the public" for their suppOrt. In
this instance we may well say that these boys thus
timely succoured have been taken from the evil to
come, and so far as human foresight can divine the
future, have been enabled to provide for themselves
in a manner honest in the sight of all men. It is
very much to be regretted that 20 more boys might
have been similarly sent abroad lately, but that the
funds of the "Refuge" would not permit the out-
lay. The state of the finances are so deplorably
I°w that unless timely aid is imparted, many poor
l''ltaants will be refused admission; It can hardly
be tv,
of et this appeal will be neglected at this season
who
arttable feelings and kindly sentiments. Those
invest in this world's goods can do no better
than
vile
ortion of their abundance in the
furtherance of Ibis good work. It is sure to flourish
when some or tv.r
aonf:4ll7ol::ltiatt:t
have
ee f:iaineids,heaz
,':ll:ilt.te,mpting means of expense
all their showy surroundings
fashion of this world is
reflectabont toonliatshsiseweffaeyrifni4,,tthem, they will be able
theach
achievements
eau:
sd
them. It
and delight,
cthhoeualpltdl ems s
onwreevi tehrspfleeeanlffidnoi
afford
note bound
promoting to command success, but fornd
to do their best to deserve it, are
and it is
promoting the spread of evil to leave tie.
young
population loose in the streets to learn e.?„,5, kind
of mischief, and grow up ripe and promising
bars of sin. The cause of humanity and the voice of

reason are potent to the side of charity in this Par-
ticular instance, and it will be a deplorable calamity
and a disgraceful reflection if such a society as this

should fail, or even become shorn of its
power to
impart aid and assistance, and t© those so greatly

.n need of help. It is impossible to over estimate

or exaggerate the importance of shielding the

young from all hurtful influences, and the vast advan-

tages that result from their being properly provided
with suitable employments. If private contribu-
tions do not appear sufficient the G)vernment should
do something in aid of such an institution, and the
money they bestow will be a saving in the end, for
`many of those who aro now succ)Lred would, if