The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-30 00:00:00

In the 43d of his very able series of letters on
" The Arts of Writing, Reading, and Speaking,"
the editor of the Law 7imes takes occasion in the
number of that journal for to-day, to discuss "The
Oratory of the Platform," And we cannot but re-
cognise in the following passage a shadowing forth
of a reason for the speedy panics, such as those
which have so often sent the Federal troops in
coward flight from the field of battle, or in more
familiar phrase, skedaddling. The writer, speak.
ing of a crowd or mob, observes :
" Here it is that you may witness the most striking proofs
of the power of sympathy. No observant and reflecting
man can doubt the presence and potency of this influence
of mind upon mind, operating through some unknown
medium within certain undefined limits. The proofs are
rife in the records of the past, and may be seen around us
continually. It is an influence, to which, as it
appears to me, sufficient importance has not been
given by historians, or philosophers and its pre-
sence would probably be found to solve many
problems otherwise inexplicable. That influence seems
to be exercised by mere contact, without communica-
tion through the five senses, and to be multiplied by num-
bers, so that the emotions of all are imparted to each. This
would explain the entire series of those perplexing pheno-
mena which are seen
.in popular phrenzies, delusions, and
manias, and of which a panic will offer the most intelligible
explanation. It is a fact that fear is thus communicated by
some imperceptible influence. An incident that would
not cause a nerve of one man to quiver, will make ten
men turn pale, annihilate the courage of twenty men,
cause a hundred men to run away, and deprive a thousand
men of reason, what is this but fear operating by multipli-
cation of fear ? The small fright felt by each influences,
by sympathy, all the rest, and the result is the accumulated
fear of the entire mass imparting itself to each one and
causing the terror that is not the kris real because it is un-
founded, Precisely the same operation that causes panic
is over at work in all mixed assemblies, influencing them
by other emotions, and so great is it, that even the most
powerful intellects, habitually under the sway of reason,
find it difficult to be resisted."

Naval and Military Intelligence.

_ _,4,,_

PORTSMOUTH, May 29.

The Right Hon. Earl de Grey and Ripon, Sec-
retary of State for War, has been continuing his
inspection to-day by visiting the various forts and
barracks in this garrison, as well as those in course
of construction at Portadown-hill. His lordship
also visited the gun-wharf and ordnance establish-
ments, being accompanied during the day by Col.
Gordon, C. 8., commanding Royal Engineers of
south-western district, ana Captain Hall, barrack-
mast er.

The 92d Highlanders, under the command of
Colonel Lockhart, were preliminarily inspected on
return from foreign service this morning at Gos_
port by Major-General Lord W. Paulet, C. 8., com-
manding south-western district.
The Defence, iron steam-ram, Capt. Phillimore,
went out of harbour this morning and anchored at
Spithead, exchanging salutes with the port-admi-
ral's flag-ship Victory.
The Emerald, screw steam-frigate, Captain A.
Cumming,was undocked from No. 10 this morning,
orders having unexpectedly been received that the
further trials were to be suspended. She will re-
ship her original screw-propeller, and is ordered to
take in stores and join hear-Admiral Dacres's
Channel squadron.
The Geyser, paddle-steamer,Commander Pechell,
arrived at Spithead with supernumeraries for
Plymouth. She came into the harbour to coal this
afternoon.

WOOLWICH, May 29.

The Woolwich division of enrolled pensioners
having completed their annual course of eight days'
drill, assembled on the common at eleven o'clock
this morning, under the command of Major D. H.
Mackinnon ; and after inspection went through a
complete series of battalion and other evolutions,
comprising company and file firing, &e., 16 rounds
of ammunition having been served out to each man.
The division, which contains upwards cf 400 rank
and file, is now in a very efficient state.
The Dee, steam store-vessel, having been under
extensive repairs at this yard for several months,
is now completed for recommission, and proceeded
down the Nore, this day, on a trial trip to test her
engines and machinery, under the direction of Mr.
Banister, of the engineer department, the result
being in every respect satisfactory.

The Balaklava, steam store-vessel, belonging to
the ordnance department, is ordered to leave the
Royal Arsenal to-morrow, with a cargo of war
stores, for home stations, and a complete battery of
68.poonder guns, of the old smooth-bore pattern,
for the defences near Pembroke.

The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :
Commander Arthur W. Gillett, to the Marlborough.
Lieutenants—Stratford Tuke and John A. F. Luttorell,
to the Excellent.
Midshipman E. M. S. Claremont, to the Revenge.
Naval Cadet nominated—J. G. M. Field.
1

ENSUING WEEK.—Monday.—Aroa3Alo.gti.calat I3n-
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
.FOR TICE
stitute—Exhibition of Sculpture in Ivory—
r—al Monthly' .
Lightly—Royal Institution, at 2 ene "
.Entomological, at 7—Architects
Gat 8 " Csolalolue; " Mr.
Meet-
ing. Tuesday—Ethnological, at . Caste System,
at 2, conversazione—Royal Institution, at 3, " sounci,„
India," Professor Tagore—Photographic, at B—Engineers,
at 8—" Sandstones of Cromarty," Rev. Dr,
Professor Tyndall. Wednesday, Horticulturalshens promenadejJamaica,,"
m a ic
L'ection at Moulin-Quignon and Flint Ini. pia...
giiica"mr. Prestwich—" Tertiary
Results of Interr.a-
-i-lajer:37rttBeCick Moore—" New Fossil Thecidum, Malta," Mx.
Macdonald. Society of Amrtrs.,
iaitawB, "
rASldoanYs—troltsi°t; atIC:
atito4ntalEElexchtiiobnitioofnF, le811602w,:.
Lin„nie,ane,s.a.
ertilisation of Disa non-
genus Passiflora, Mr, Salter—,
ibulro.
rgTaiultincen Chemical,? aBTt'll':, '' Synthbetics
at 8.
Adlitiethrao'd''s
Royal Friday,
Institution, at 3---" Ge 010,7 "
Antiquaries,
Professor Ansted,
ing the Vernacular Ki la.y, Philological at 8—" Cultibva't,
Chemistry, M. Marcellini Berthelot?.
G. C. Geldart. Royal etic Language, British Isles," Rev.
Ge-
neral—Horticultural—Promenade—Royal at 3—Annual Ge-
Institute, at 4. Saturday—Actuaries,
Institution at B—Archaeological
3--" Electric Telegraphy,"
Institution, at
ticeunz. Professor Thomson.—.AtTte-

PILGRIMS BY RAILWAY !—Ephesus was enlivened
for some time lately by the presence of a large number of
Armenian pilgrims to the holy tombs at Ephesus, who now
make their yearly pilgrimage by railway. This pilgrimage
is now acquiring important proportions. On this occasion
it made a very large addition to the weekly returns of the
railway,—Smyrna Mall of 19th inst., just reamed.