The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-09 00:00:00

The Weather.--Sun Office, March 8, 1863.

THERMOMETER.
llighest since Noon yesterday
Lowest durin', the night
This day at Noon .
Wind—Westerly ; fresh and squally, with occasional
showers,

MARCH 9.
THERMOMETER.

Highest since Noon yesterday .. 53
Lowest during the night
This day at Noon
Wind—S.W. Weather fine and bright.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
T 111.9 DAY.—Morning, 4h. 23m.—Afternoon, 4h. 45m,
To •moßßow.-Morning, 4h. 59m.—Afternoon, 5h.:20m.

THE WEDDING SUN.

TO-MORROW (TUESDAY), LOTH MARCH,
Will be published

AN EXTRAORDINARY EDITION OF

Elie Attn.
SUPERBLY PRINTED IN COLOURS,

'With Illustrations by the First Artists.

THE SUN OF THAT DAY,

Altogether unprecedented in; Newspaper
Printing,

Will contain

MEMOIRS of the PRINCE and PRINCESS,
IN DANISH AS WELL AS IN ENGLISH.

WITH

A Full Account of the Marriage Ceremony.

(Terms for Advertisements, One Shilling per Line.)

Price of the Wedding Sun, 6d.; Stamped, 7cl.
Orders received by all Newsagents, and at THE SUN
Office, 112, Strand, W.C.

-404g0.'
)

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1863.

The American news bodes little good to the
Federals. They have commenced active hostili-
ties against Vicksburg with very questionable suc-
cess. Due preparations for the assault were made
and a brisk fire opened, which being immediately
and effectively responded to by three of the Confe-
rate batteries the mortar boats had to change their ,
poaition. They then renewed the bombardment,
but apparently had not succeeded in producing
much effect when the Asia left. We hear no more
of the assault on Charleston or Savannah. Pro-
bably the Northern Government are urged on by
the disaffection of the North-West States to make
en effort for the navigation of the Mississippi. Ac-
cording to the latest accounts discontent is spread-
ing throughout those districts, and the opposition
to the policy at Washington is on the increase.
The general tone of feeling in these provinces
must be watched with anxiety by the Pri;',SIDENT
and his Cabinet, but there is no question that
unless the capture of Vicksburg is speedily accom-
plished their secession from the Federal side
may be hourly expected. Nearer home the PRESI-
DENT is not more fortunate. The debate on the
Conscription Bill, whose stringency was fully de-
scribed by the last mail, is said to have been most
acrimonious. The bill has had to encounter the
opposition of the Democratic party, some of whose
members declared that an attempt to enforce the
obnoxious conscription would produce a Northern
rebellion. We suspect that in the present state of
affairs the Government will find it difficult to carry
out the measure to its full extent. Meanwhile all
we hear of the Confederates shows their increasing
confidence in their own prospects. The capture
of the great Federal ram, the Queen of the West,
whose building was an affair of such time and con-
isidera.tion, has fallen into Contedterate hands. She
ayes captured while attacking the fortifications on
Red River, thus making au important addition to
the Confederate forces, and still further diminishing
the naval prestige of the North. The Southern
journals, sensible of the changes in their' favour,
assert that the issue of the rebellion must be Oecided
by Southern arms, not by conferences or treeties.
'The South no longer watch anxiously for peace—
they feel that the issue is certain, and only wait
fill the North, exhausted by internal dissensions,
iruitless exertions, and financial complications, are
driven to make the first advance. The face of affairs
has entirely changed in the last six months, and the
recent Southern successes at sea must have con- ,

siderably shaken the confidence of the most com-
placent Northerners. By the next mail we shall
probably hear of mischief done by the Queen of
the West under her new owners, whi never fail
to make the most of an opportunity.

Last Saturday will long live in the recollection
of all who wero fortunate enough to witness it.
Nothing could have been more satisfactory than
the whole affair. None of those unlucky events
and unseemly contretemps that often mar the effect
and detract from the splendour of such shows inter-
vened on this happy occasion. Such a display of
genuine enthusiasm is seldom witnessed, and there
can be no doubt that long after the superficial
adjuncts of the pageant have passed away, the
memory of this heartfelt welcome will long live
in the recollection of the chief actors. The
young Prince and Princess must have felt there
was more than pomp and splendour in the gay
adornment of the streets through which they passed,
more than compliments in the plaudits that greeted
them. They knew that the hearts of the people
were touched by their presence, even the commonest
and roughest members of the community seemed
awed into respect, and moved by sympathy as the
royal pair went by. Their youth and grace
enchanted all hearts, their gracious demeanour
charmed all beholders, and their progress indeed
Was a triumphal march. The Roman Generals re-
turning from the " march that led their eagles
round the world," dragged their captives at their
chariot wheels in chains. How much grander was
the procession of our Prince, whose reception
realised the prophecy of some verses that were
written about him some years ago—

" And o'er his subjects shall Victoria's heir,
Reign in their hearts and find his empire there."

Another thing worthy of note was the conduct of
the crowd. It is on an occasion of this kind that the
character of the English people is displayed to full
advantage. No other country in the world could
have presented such an appearance. It would have
been well for our brethren across the Atlantic if
they could have come and taken a lesson of the
working of constitutional government from the
evidence of Saturday. There is great benefit to all
classes in being taken for a time away from the
hackneyed common places of every day working
existence, to turn their attention to other themes.
The vision of a different existence to their own
comes like a beam of sunshine or a dream of romance
to the thoughts of those immersed in business and
steeped in cares. Not one of those who watched the
course of the Royal pair but seemed to wish that
their course through life might be as bright, and
to look on their happiness and honour with no
feelings but those of heartfelt satisfaction.
It is always a relief when such a day is over. With
so many conflicting circumstances and diverse in-
terests, one is always afraid of something occur-
ring to detract from the tout ensemble of the affair,
and so let us rejoice that the inauguration
has been happily accomplished, and trust
that the final ceremony may be as prosperous
to-morrow. Of one thing we are certain, it will be
hallowed by a nation's prayers, better offerings to
lay on the altar, where the bride and bridegroom
kneel, than any of those costly gifts that far " out-
shine the wealth of Ormus or of Ind." Vox populus
vox Dei has been often quoted, and the Prince and
Princess may take that for their consideration in
reviewing the events of Saturday. It was a
triumph of various kinds, and the general feeling
of rejoicing was doubly welcome, after the gloom
of the last two years. Let us trust it was the
forerunner of peace and prosperity for the nation
that came out to meet them, as well as for those
who were the objects of general attention and
regard.

When the House of Commons agreed to close the
animated and spirited discussion on the affairs of
Poland, and to leave the question in the hands of
the Government, it was with the understanding
that the English Cabinet were to give expression to
the prevailing sentiment in terms which, however
courteous, were firm in tone and unmistakeable in
object. It was understood by the House and by
the country that Lord PALMERSTON pledged
himself and his coadjutors to address a
strong and immediate remonstrance to the
Russian Government. Important as was the
expression of English feeling, as shown in Parlia-
ment, the press, and the platform, the Cabinet of
St. Petersburg could very easily shut its eyes
and ears to all popular demonstrations. It
was necessary for the Administration of the
country to address itself direct to the I
Imperial Government of the Czan, which could
hardly refuse to listen to the voice of an English
Ambassador. There would have been no risk in
this course of action, for France was even more
eager than ourselves in the cause, while Aus-
tria, under the influence of England, would
most probably have joined them. Why, then this
delay ? It is reported in Paris that England was
unwilling to join in any decided measure, and had
even communicated to Austria her fears lest France
should avail herself of the opportunity to extend her
frontier to the Rhine, thereby terrifying that uneasy
Power into withdrawing her adhesion to the proposed
note. Left to himself, the Emperor of the FRENCH
has carried out his views by sending a despatch to
ALEXANDER 11., lacking, however, the weight
which a joint note from the three first-rate Powers
would have carried with it. The answer is daily
expected in Paris—not in London. The mild
phrases and courteous diplomacy which accord with
home instructions were not very formidable to the
Autocrat of the ItussiAs. We question very
much
willu mucho h
bwe
ph
leesteahsa eur r h
scarcely
ee this is
to
tl ia
satisfiedhee of conduct
English
unless
ess t w
ph public,
their
give
ounwthryo
takes a very prominent part in behalf of the Poles.
It will not be enough for English statesmen
to stand aside indulging in an exchange of diplo-
matic courtesies until the Poles have, by the aid of
of untrained swords and scythes accomplished their
deliveran ce,and then come forward to express our sym.
pathy. The feeling of Englishmen for the struggle of
oppressed nationalities for independence lies deeper
than this, and we should be glad to be assured that
Lord PALM ERSTON and Earl RUSSELL do not find
it easier to respond to it within the walls of the
British Parliament than to represent it at the
Cabinet of the CZAR.