The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-15 00:00:00

AN APOLOGUE.

Our position with the rebellion is somewhat like
the hunter who chased a panther into a high tree,
and then found that his gun or rifle was not loaded.
He did not know what to do next. He saw no
chance to clutch the panther. He knew that if he
ran the panther would give chase, so he lay down,
determined to govern his actions by those of the
panther.
W. H. Seward, the Secretary. of State, went
through this city yesterday like a streak of chain
lightning. Probably the thunder will follow.
President Lincoln sent for him, it is said, to draw
up in grammatical form the document that is to
tell the world our reason for going to war with
France.

It is said that as soon as Maximilian arrives he
will change the name of his new empire to Mexico,

AUSTRALIAN BARNITMS.—Those two spirited and
enterprising gentlemen who netted large fortunes
a short time since by a speculation with our English pro-
fessional cricketers, Messrs. Spiers and Spend, are now, it
is stated, in London, and open to an engagement with any
first-class Britisher who would draw in their thriving
colony. They offered Mr. Dickens a tremendous sum to
give readings over there, but he declined with thanks, for
the present at all events. The brilliant reception of the
cricketing eleven is very tempting certainly. There is little
doubt, however, that the smart Australians will capture
some celebrity or other, and carry him back with them in
triumph.
" CAN You WAG YOUR LEFT EAR " was one of
the puzzling questions of Lord Dundreary.—Dr.
G. D. Gibb has shown that voluntary closure of the glottis,
independently of the act of breathing, can be accomplished
by temporarily holding the breath and voluntarily acting
upon the muscles of the larynx and opening and shutting
the glottis at pleasure. The action can bo seen with the
laryngoscope.
A NICE PREDICAMENT.—Just at this moment a
cloud, which bad been gathering along the ridge,
turned vicious. A bright flash of lightning seemed to
singe our beards, whilst a simultaneous roar of thunder
crackled along the valley. A violent hailstorm rattled
down, blinding and bewildering us. It was impossible to
catch a glimpse of our route. We scooped some big holes
in the snow with our axes, and cowered down in them to
get some shelter. My hands were in that miserable condi-
tion when the more vehemently I rubbed them, the wetter,
and colder, and more numbed they seemed to grow. The
hail got in at the back of my neck ; the cold wind touched
up any nose; the snow got into my boots and up my trou-
sers, and filled my pockets.—Rev. Henry Leslie, in the
Neu, Number of the Alpine Journal.
THE REPRESENTATION OF TAMWORTII.—The
Hem Henry Cowper is the candidate on the Liberal
interest for the representation of this borough, in the room
of Lord Raynham, who succeeds to the Marquisate of
Townsh end .
FORCE OF THE ATTACKING FLEET AT CHARLES -
TON.—As the number and character of the vessels
engaged in the present attack on Charleston differ mate-
rially from those of Dupont's fleet, of which we printed an
analysis, we subjoin a statement of the force of the present
fleet, its officers, men, and guns
Iron-clads. Officers and men. Tons. Guns.
Ironsides •• • • .. 500 844 2
Passaic •• • • .. 100 844 2
K aatskill • • .. 100 844 2
Montauk • • .. .. 100 844 2
Nanant • • 100 844 2
Weehawken .. 100 844 2
Patapsco • • .. .. 100 831 2

Wooden vessels.
Steam corvette Canandaigua .. 253 1,395 10
Side•wheel steamer hlahaska.. 140 832
Double-ender Cimmarone • . 150 860 9

Steam gunboat Ottawa .. 120 507 5
Steam gunboat Wissahickon .. 120 507 4
Steam gunboat Dal Chang .. 100 507 5
Steam gunboat Loclona .. 200 SGO 7

Total .. • • .. 2,180 11,376 60
It will be observed that three of the Ericsson iron-clads,
the Sangamon, the Lehigh, and the Nantucket, do not
participate in the present attack. As statements have been
going the rounds of the papers about the armour of the
Mew Ironsides at the expense of the New York iron-clads,
it is only proper to say that outside the bow and stern of
that vessel sand-bags aro piled as thick as possible, just as
they were piled in Dupont's attack. And it has been
proved by experiments with the ship that a 10-pound shot
would sink her, either fore or aft, without those sand-
bags. No such thing could be said of the New York ircn-
clad s.
BURNING OF AN Imsu Fox COVER.—Ballyring
fox-cover, the property of Lord Mount garret, was discovered
on fire on the morning of the sth inst., but whether it was
caused by an incendiary or otherwise has not yet transpired.
A cowiderable quantity of fttrzo was con:itttned.