The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH. 16, 1863.

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1863.

The news from America is nothing remarkable,
but it is worthy of notice how the tide of affairs is
progressing. The Confederates are still maintaining
their supremacy. Their successes at sea are some-
thing amazing, and all fresh news but bears evi-
dance to their indomitable energy and perseverance.
The Federals are continuing their operations
against Vicksburg, but it is evident that all their
boasted advantages will turn out to be of no avail
when they are put to the proof.
The affair at Charleston is significant. We heard
enough a little while ago of what• they were to do
in that locality, but day after day goes by, and
nothing is done. It is always the way with those
who feel that they have no real security in actions
to talk the more of what they can and will do.
Experience, however, teaches very differently. The
Confederates always shine in making the most of
alverse circumstances, and also improving
every advantage. Thus we learn that they have
already turned to good account the capture of the
Queen of the West, having captured with it the
Ft deral steamer Indianola. The active spirit that
is manifested is such enterprises speaks well for
future endeavours, and is the best surety of a pros-
perous fina!e to the long struggle. The real source
o strength is in the belief of capability, and in this
the Confederates have always enjoyed the advan-
tage. As we anticipated, the PRESIDENT has not
allowed the Congress to separate so soon as was
supposed.

It is hopeless to try and serve some people, hence
Mr. SUMNER has moved a series of resolutions,
rejecting the proposal of a mediation, as suggested
by the French Goverment. He goes so far as
to regret "that foreign Powers have not I
frankly informed the Southern States that
the work in which they are engaged is hopeless."
When we are told in so many words that is
" an unfriendly act" to mediate, it is evident that
this apparent indignation is only a proof of weak.
if we look at it in the right light. How,
sense, can it be unfriendly
in the name of common
to try and stop bloodshed and suffering of
no or; inary kind ? It is only the effort
to keep up
appearances, which, like all other efforts
of the sort, will not avail when the fatal truth is
known. With Lord LYONS' communications
before us, however, stating that " the pay of the
army is six months in arrear," we draw a
very different conclusion to what Mr. SEWARD
would have us arrive at. It is a sad thing when
people will shut their eyes to the truth. The
aw'ikPning is only more hitter afterwards, and so
it, will be with the Federals. Hod they openly
agreed to the separation which must sooner
or later take place, how different would
every thing have been. Now they have
ti:awn the eyes of all Europe upon them,
only to show their inefficiency in war, and
th,‘ir faulty arrangements in domestic matters.
Nothing can surprise us nowadays, but it is
et probable that before long we shall

nes3

bear tidings that Mr. LINCOLN has beepeed
to give up his vaunted independence of tone to-
wards those who only seek to do him a service, and
through him to further the interests of the mighty)
nation whose destinies he for the moment sways
and of his dealings with which he cannot render
us at all a satisfactory account.

If ever nation has had inducements to transform
itself from a monarchy into a republic, it is the
Greek nation nowadays. Several months have now
elapsed since, in sheer disgust and exhaustion, it
threw off the yoke of its faineant King OTHO and
its intriguing Queen AMELIA; and, to this moment,
it has failed entirely in all its multifarious attempts
to induce any one of the European Princes to
accept the questionable boon of the proffered Sove-
reignty. England, Belgium, even France, to say no-
thing of divers among the scarcely recognised Prince-
lings of Germany, have in turn but looked askance at
the vacant throne and the bauble symbols beside
it. If ever that dolefully vibrated scrap of latinity
might be justifiably quoted anew, it would be now
—the dreadful " Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes."
The dona now being the empty Crown and the
long impugned and neglected sceptre ! The
PRINCE ALFRED, Second sou of England and Heir
Presumptive of the Ducal diadem of Saxe Coburg
and Gotha, disdains to give the proffered allegianee
one serious thought of acceptance. His uncle, the
reigning Duke of the last-mentioned principality—
the Serene Highness whom his Royal Highness is
to succeed—does give the offered crown of Greece
a thought, it is true—but his deliberation only leads
to his rejection of it. The Prince of LEININ-
GEN son of the half brother of our gracious
QUEEN--thinks no otherwise. When placed
within his reach the opportunity has no
temptations. The Prince of LEININGEN prefers
to wear his epaulettes as a Captain in the English
Royal Navy, to don the ermine and the purple, or
at any rate to be lifted up on the shield of the
Greek Sovereignty. The Second Son of Belgium
arrives no less naturally or less promptly at the
same conclusion. The Prince NAPOLEON still pre-
fers to cast a sidelong look to the chance of a diadem
that may just possibly, he conceives, be
picked up somewhere, somehow, sometime, in
the midst of the Italian, or it might be
even in the thick of the Polish confusion. And
now what is the imminent possibility at Athens—
the imminent possibility resulting from these re-
peated and certainly irritating refusals? Why—
not that the Greeks, not that even Athenians turn
from the thought of a King to that of a Republic !
Saith one of the last rumours coming to us from the
Piraeus, "It is currently ,believed that CALERGI,
one of the three new Dictators, will pass into King
under the aegis of the Emperor of the FRENCH."
From King Log, 'yolepped OTHO, to King Stork,
surnamed CALERGI, it may really turn out that
there is no wider a step there than is proverbially
even between the sublime and the ridiculous.

Every day the Polish insurrection gathers fresh

strength and importance. It is no longer the un-
calculating and undisciplined outbreak of a few
unarmed peasants—it is the organised uprising of
an outraged people, resolved once for all to wrest
their liberties from the grasp of their oppressors.
The aspect of affairs has rapidly changed in the
last few weeks, and whatever the eventual result
may be, it is clear that there is no fear of an
immediate Russian triumph, since the insurgents
are taking steps which prove their confidence in
their resources and their prospects. General LAN-
QIEWICZ is appointed Dictator of the kingdom, an
office for which he would seem to be fitted, not
only by his military talents and successful gene-
ralship, bat by his political sagacity and prudence.
His old companion in arms—no less a celebrity
than GARIBALDI—having offered him the aid of

his dauntless sword, Gen. LANGIEWICI has though

it more prudent to decline the offer for the time.
While thanking, with due cordiality and gratitude,
the generous chief, who had himself organised a
successful revolution, and exercised the authority of
a dictatorship, the Polish General pointed out to him
the urgent need there was of pressing every class of
Pole into the cause, and the risk of alarming some
cautious or timid spirits by the sound of that ter-
rible name which is looked upon as the watchword
of revolution. The prudence of this reply, if true,
was not, we may hope, assisted by any personal
jealousy. The dignified and patient attitude of the
Poles has long excited the admiration of Europe,
and it is doubtless wise to preserve the national
individuality of the revolt, instead of allow-
ing it to be regarded by the lovers of
order as merely a fresh development of
democratic restlessness and insubordination. Such
can scarcely be the case now. The efficiency and
authority of the Polish Governments may bear
comparison with the stern discipline of the CZAR
himself. A civil Government has been appointed
with regular official functions. An orderly sys-
tem of recruitment has been organised throughout
the entire kingdom. Disobedience to the conscrip-

tion is to be punished with death, but there will be
little need to fulfil this threat when 100,000 recruits
are impatiently awaiting their admission to the
ranks, and are only kept in forced inaction by the
lack of arms. This difficulty, however, is not likely
to be of long duration. Arms are constantly being
smuggled across the Austrian and Russian frontiers,
and very recently a large quantity of arms which
were being seoretly conveyed into Servia fell into
the hands of the insurgents. All over the country
a postal service has been established, which

transmits intelligence with surprising accuracy
and promptitude. Every landed proprietor is
compelled to keep two horses ready saddled
day and night for this service. Meanwhile the
constantly increasing number of the resignations
show that the wavering classes are beginning to
join the revolutionary standard. The insults offered
by the Russians to the national churches have en-
listed the Catholic clergy on the side of the insur-
gents. The resignation of the Archbishop of
WARSAW, if the rumour prove correct, will,
doubtless, be the forerunner of many another
secession. It is reported, wo know not
with what truth, that the EMPEROR would
be glad to come to a compromise, and to restore the
charter of Poland, for the inefficiency of his troops,
in face of the insurgents, is becoming daily more
manifest. Wholesale embezzlement is said to be
going on in the Russian commissariat department,
while the falsehoods published in the official reports
afford a very convenient shelter to the defaulters.
Meanwhile the European feelings on the sub-
ject have not changed. France and England are
still warmly sympathetic, whatever their leaders
may be. To-morrow is, strangely enough, appointed
for a public demonstration in both countries. In
the city of London a meeting is to be held under
the presidency
of the LORD MAYOR, expressive of
sympathy with Poland, and recommending the
Government to withdraw its countenance from Rus-
sia under existing circumstances. We shall reserve
any consideration of the resolutions to be proposed at
this meeting until they have been duly advocated
by the
time respectiven
of speakers,the meeting merely observing that
the
the
h jeet
priate for the expression of the views of a free'
people. _ . _

In France, by a singular coincidence, the report

of the committee on the patition in favour of
Poland will be discussed in the Senate to•
morrow, when the warm feelings of our
excitable neighbours will find vent. The con-
clusions at which the committee have arrived are
that the Government of the EMPEROR may be trusted
to do all that is just, possible, and politic in favour
of Poland. We trust it may be so, and that the
joint remonstrance of France and England, who
will possibly find it easier to advocate the rights
of the winning side, joined to the ominous
successes of an insurrectionary movement which
has already accredited official agents to all
foreign Governments, may bring the CZAR and his
advisers to reason. The mutual distrust so widely
spread throughout the Russian troops, from the
highest officer to the humblest Cossack,
shows that they are becoming sensible
of the weakness of their cause. The
general aspect of affairs, then, encourages the friends
of Poland to hope that whatever be the termina-
tion of the struggle it can scarcely leave that once
great and flourishing country in the darkness and
desolation in which it has lain since 1832.

FRENCH GALLERY, PALL-MALL,

ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHS.

A highly-interesting collection of photographs of
the English, Danish, and Belgian Royal families
has just been opened at the above rooms by Mr.
Ghemar, the well-known photographic artist of the
King of the Belgians. These portraits contain
many of the first " Cartes de Visits" of the Pi incess
Alexandra which were exhibited in England, and
others of the Danish Royal f•:mily that are
now shown here for the first time. They
are all characterised by great force as
well as delicacy. The most striking feature,
however, of the collection is Mr. Gheinar's new in-
vented process by which he can expand cartes de
visite to life size, and thus supply to portrait
painters a veritable foundation for works of art.
The specimens he gives of this process are all very
interesting—especially those of the King of the
Belgians and the Princess Alexandra, the portrait
of the latter being reproduced by himself in chalk,
and presenting one of the most charming ideas of
the Princess which the public has yet enjoyed. On
account of this portrait alone we warmly recom-
mend a visit to this collection.

A subscription having been raised among the
children of Windsor for the purchase of a present
to the Princess of Wales, a very handsome Bible and
Prayer-book were purchased and forwarded to Mrs. Bruce
on Tuesday morning for presentation to the Princess. They
were bound in ivory, with gilt and turquoise ornaments.
In reply to the Vicar Mrs. Bruce says that she is desired
by the Princess of Wales to ask him to convey to the chil-
dren her Royal Highness's thanks for the present, which
her Royal Highness will always keep in remembrance o
them, and of the brightest days of her life.
The list of candidates for election into the Royal
Society for the present session is closed. The number of
names " up" is 45.
FATHER MATHEW.—Mr. J. F. Maguire, M.P.,
is now engaged in writing a life of Father Mathew, which
will appear in the autumn.

A SERVANT'S CHARACTER.—At the Salford Court

of Record, on Saturday, before Mr. J. Kay, judge,
an action was tried in which Ann Butler, formerly a ser-
vant in the service of Mr. John Fairweather, residing at
Merrion Place, Higher Broughton, sought to recover
damages from that gentleman for giving her an unsatisfac-
tory character. Mr. J, Holker, who appeared for the
plaintiff, stated that she was in the service of the
defendant as cook, and he dismissed her on the
ground of general misconduct and dishonesty. She
was given into custody, but the charge against
her could not be substantiated. The plaintiff
then commenced an action against the defendant for false
imprisonment, and the eause came on for hearing in that
court on the 15th April, 1862. Before the plaintiff's case
had been completed, a verdict was taken by consent for
£6 is. so :as to carry costs, and the defendant's counsel
agreed, on the part of the defendant, that the plaintiff
should have such a character given her as would enable her
to obtain another situation. It was understood between
the counsel that if the case had gone on the plaintiff
would, in all probability, have recovered a larger sum.
Shortly after this action—on the 7th of May—the defen-
dant gave the plaintiff the following character a—" To
all whom it may concern. This is to certify that Ann Butler
served with me as cook from November, 1861, to January,
1862. I believe her to be honest, and a moderate good
cook." With this character, the plaintiff endeavoured to
obtain several situations, but could not succeed. Her solici-
tors applied to the defendant for one of a more satisfactory
nature. Another character was given, not written by the
defendant, but by some other member of the family, and,
as it did not state that the plaintiff was " honest," it was
not satisfactory. Plaintiff's solicitor then gave notice to
the defendant that, unless a satisfactory character was given
within a week, this action would be brought; and the appli-
cation not being replied to, proceedings were commenced on
Dec. 22.—Several witnesses were called, who proved this
statement. —For the defence, it was contended by Mr. J.
Edwards, that the agreement to give the plaintiff a charac-
ter, on the occasion of the first action, was after the jury
had given their verdict, and not before, and that the pro-
mise was fully carried out by the character given on the 7th
May.—The Jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff, damages
£5, and the Judge certified for costs en the higher scale.
THE REAL CAUSE OF THE OVERCROWDING ON
THE DAY OF THE ROYAL RECEPTION.—Had the
whole of the civic cavalcade been allowed to proceed as an
escort from the Bricklayers' Arms to Paddington, it is fair
to presume there would have been no extra crowding and
painful delay at any point in the whole route. The confu-
sion evidently arose in consequence of the changing, de-
taching, and shunting. The narrowest and most crowded
parts of the metropolis were those selected by a wise
Government for taking on and detaching the civic escort;
and :so there were, in places where to assemble a crowd
is to put human life in jeopardy, additional attrac-
tions and causes of popular excitement. The Corporation,
honourably jealous of their rights, as well as conscious of
their power, had wellnigh withdrawn from the procession
altogether, and the nation owes it a debt of gratitude for
compelling the Ministry to submit, by the threat of a re-
fusal to take any part in the proceedings unless it could
lead the way. If the Ministry had carried out their ori-
ginal plan, the probability is that there would have been a
riot. But it succeeded so far in limiting the action of the
Corporation as to place the Prince and Princess in danger,
by compelling the civic escort to join with the Royal car-
riages on London-bridge and quit them at Temple-bar, the
two most dangerous points in the whole line of the Royal
progress. Next time the Corporation offer to conduct
Royal personages through the City we trust it will be the
fixed determination of the civic representatives to have the
whole charge of the affair within metropolitan limits, or to
leave the Ministry to work out the problem at their own
cost, as they please. This can be reasonably insisted on,
because the Corporation is the only public body in al Lon-
don possessing the materials of pageantry.—City Press.

SUPPOSED MURDER.—Last Thursday morning
the body of a woman was found in the furnace-room
of a malt kiln at Whittlesey, in the Isle of Ely, burnt
almost to a cinder. She was found to have her arm and
two or three ribs broken. The body was identified as that
of Elizabeth Brown, aged 37, the daughter of a labourer,
by her keys and a ring she wore made of buffalo horn. It
appeared from the evidence that the deceased, who was of
dissipated habits, had been drinking all the night before at
the George and Star publiehouse with John Green, a
young married man, who left the house with her at half-
past 1 o'clock in the morning, and proceeded with her to-
wards the kiln. At a quarter before 6 in the morning Green
was seen going to his own house. Suspicion at present falls
on him. The inquiry was adjourned till Thursday next.
TAKEN ABACK.—The learned teacher of a sun-
' day-school in the North, was one day, lately, en-
deavouring to prove to the pupils the existence of a Divine
Being, as illustrated by the peculiar adaptation of the
structure of every animal to the country and climate it was
destined to inhabit. After lecturing for some time upon
this subject, he exclaimed, with much eloquence, " But
why go to the icy poles or to the burning plains of Africa
for examples to prove this important subject? Is not man
himself an excellent example of the power and wisdom of
the Divine hand ? Had he been born with a fleece upon
his bask, it is true be might have been comforted by its
warmth in the icy regions of the north, but what would have
become of him in tropical countries, or under the equator ?"
One of the pupils thinking the last question more especi-
ally directed to himself, answered, with evident simplicity,
" They could clip him."—John o'Groat Journal.
" GOLDEN BALL."—The obituary records the
death at St. Germains, of Mr, Edward Hughes Ball
Hughes, who has long resided in that suburban retreat. In
the days of George IV. Ball Hughes, or Golden Ball, as he
was called, was one of the leading dandies of a period which
immediately followed that of Beau Brummell. Ball Hughes
figured in the best society of London, among whom his
fortune and favourable personal appearance made him a
welcome guest. One evening at the Italian Opera the
audience were disappointed at the non-appearance of the
celebrated dancer of the day, Mademoiselle Mercandotti,
who had unexpectedly become the wife of Ball Hughes.
They departed for the continent, and from that time the
Golden Ball was heard no more of in the circles of fashion
in London.—.3lornin, .Pose.

-Vorl-Ar
zurt :Tr- Cirmlar
4`

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, March 14.

The Queen, accompanied by H.R.H. the Prin-
cess Louise, and attended by Lady Augusta Bruce,
walked in the grounds this morning.

The Earl of Carlisle arrived at the Castle and had
an audience of her Majesty.

SUNDAY.

The Queen, Princess Helena, Princess Louise,
Prince Louis of Hesse, and Prince Leopold attended
Divine service this morning in the Private Chapel.
The Bishop of London preached the sermon.
The Bishop of London and the Right Hon. Sir G.
C. Lewis arrived at the Castle yesterday.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Christian and
Prince Frederick of Hesse Cassel, and his Serene
Highness the Duke of Holstein Glucksburg, at-
tended by Lieutenant-Colonel du Plat, Baron
Oertzen, Captain Lund, and Captain Castenschjold,
went on Saturday morning to Aldershott, where
they were received by his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, Commanding-in •Chief.
The Princes were present at a manoeuvre of the
troops in camp, and afterwards lunched with the
officers of the 12th Lancers.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Christian of
Denmark, accompanied by the Princesses Dagmar,
Thyra, and Prince William of Denmark, attended
by Countess Reventlow, went to Kew, and was
conducted through the Royal Gardens.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess
Christian and Prince Frederick of Denmark (at-
tended by General and Madame d'Osholm, Coun-
tess Reventlow, and Colonel Francis Seymour,
C. 8.), his Royal Highness Prince Frederick of
Hesse Cassel, and his Serene Highness the Duke of
Holstein-Glucksburg, honoured Viscount and Vis-
countess Palmerston with their company at dinner
on Saturday evening at their residence in Picca-
dilly,