The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 7, 1863.

mit to some inconvenience to rid themselves of such
despicable associates, No shipowner of respecta-
bility can object to this measure—it is only those
who, careass of the crews of their vessels, send them
forth at a minimum cost, and trust for a return for
the venture to a lucky escape or a fortunate ship-
wreck. The framer of this bill deserves all credit
for bringing the matter forward, and we should be
sorry to hamper it with an amendment.
" Well is our country's work begun,
But more, far more, must yet be done."
It is when a vessel drives on a lee-shore or sand-
bank that her anchors and cables are called into
play. Stress of weather or some unavoidable acci-
dent may bring this about, but we are sorry to say
that in the majority, nay, in almost all cases on
our coasts these disasters occur from the unservice-
able state of the sails and gear. Let anyone who
has had the misfortune to be on board a coaster
in a heavy gale when it was necessary to beat to
windward, say how much canvas she dared
show. We do not wish to interfere with
the measure by suggesting any addenda, but
if it is carried, as we confidently trust it may
be, we shall look forward next session to a sup-
lementary bill to place some restrictions on the
owners of vessels and compel them to provide
serviceable and secure rigging and sails to their
ships before they get their clearance. Moreover,
no ship whatsoever should leave a home port
unprovided with lifeboat accommodation for the
hutaan beings who are on board of her. We
have continual proof of the unseaworthiness of
many of our colliers and small traders. In a late
gale, four colliers went down at sea—the crews
being saved in their boats. What must have
been the condition of these vessels when their
boats could live in a sea in which they foun-
dered ! Should men be permitted to go sea in
coffins ?

An interesting account is given of the visit of
the Prince of WALES to Wimbledon. His Royal
Highness could not have done a better thing than
thus to encourage by his presence the noble insti-
tution that has of late years sprung into life and
assumed a position of such vast importance. Con-
trary to what has generally occurred when the
Prince bas appeared at day exhibitions the weather
was fine—indeed too fine to be altogether favour-
able, the great glare of the sun militating against
the effective performance of the rifle shooters. The
Prince made several essays, which were nearly all
successful, and his Highland experience proved of
great service to him in his firing at the "running
deer." His Royal Highness intimated that he
hoped to be present with the Princess on the 13th
inst. to witness the match between the Lords and
Commons, and the contest for the Alexandra Prize
given by the Association. The preparations are
being made on an extensive scale for the great dis-
plays, and a programme is given of the several
arrangements. The Prince could not better wind
up his career of gaities during his first season than
by thus enrolling himself as it were among the
Volunteers. Additional interest will be imparted
to the proceedings by the fact that he came the
first day to watch the conduct of affairs, and to try
his hand and test his skill, thus manifesting a
desire to take part in some measure with the per-
formers, and to invest the affair with a personal
interest. No better institution has been made of
late years than this of the Volunteers, and it is
therefore most satisfactory to find them encouraged
in high places. There can be no doubt that there
will be great expectations afloat concerning the
13th, and it is to be hoped that the weather will
prove more propitious than it has hitherto done for
the Princess, so that no untoward event will pre-
vent her full view of the proceedings, or deprive
the spectators of the sunshine of her presence. Un-
fortunately there seem to have been of 'ate many
disputes and discussions concerning various arrange-
ments made for the ordering of the Volunteers, but
on this auspicious occasion all feuds and angry
feelings are likely to be forgotten, or at all events
laid aside for the time. This is the special advan-
tage of one removed from the sphere of " angry
bickering and debate" taking part in such exhibi-
tions ; and the Wimbledon Prize Meeting of this
year promises to boast of so many and such unri-
valled attractions, that it bids fair to eclipse its
predecessors, and afterwards to rank high in the
estimation of all who take part in it, and to be
remembered among the brightest and most success-
ful of their endeavours.

The star of Mr. GLADSTONE is not in the ascen-
dant this session. He meets with one contt etemps
after another. In his famous budget he was obliged
to withdraw several schemes of his pet fancy for
"mulcting charities," and he afterwards had to re-
linquish the notion of taxing the clubs. Last week
his suggestion of purchasing the Exhibition Build-
ing was ignominiously rejected. Some years ego
it would have seemed incredible, and indeed im-
possible, that such a Chancellor of the Exchequer
should be denied anything he desired. Yesterday
a case was decided in the Court of Exchequer, in
which Mr. GLADSTONE was condemned. An at-
tempt was made to compel Lord SEFTON to pay
an enormous sum for a piece of waste land, on the
supposition that it might be built upon, and then
would assume a considerable value. The Board of
Inland Revenue charged the Earl with succession
duty for this ground, among the possessions he
came into at his father's death. By a majority the
Court of Exchequer rejected the claim of the Go-
vernment. This is a very desirable consummation,
for a more manifest piece of injustice could hardly
have been perpetrated, and a more unfair means of
extracting large sums could scarcely have been
claimed even by the subtle and sagacious Chancellor
who rules over the Exchequer, and seeks to fill its
coffers with an unsparing haad,regardless of the corn. '
fort and convenience of many. Happily he has met
with his match. Oppression is never put down till it
attempts to tyrannise over one wealthy enough to de-
fend himself. It is quite true that some stop should
be put to these wholesale extortions, and the result
of yesterday's deliberations in the Court of Ex-
chequer is a most satisfactory one. The Govern-
ment do not come off with flying colours from their
legal contests this session, any more than they can
exhibit
many trophies in their parliamentary
skirmishes. They were defeated in their case of
the Alexandra, and though they profess to be will-
ing to appeal against that decision, it does not at
all follow that a second venture will be more suc-
cessful. It must be a great relief to them that the
period of discussion is nearly over. It can hardly
be said that their holidays are drawing near because
they have had no work to do, and there is very
little exertion to rest from ; but still it will be satis-
factory, no doubt, not to have to encounter oppo-
nents of all kinds without the requisite skill to meet
their attacks and to overcome them. This affair of
Lord SEFTON will, of course, be established as a
precedent, and it is to be trusted that it will have
the effect of deterring many similar attempts at
extortion on the part of any future officials, who
are inclined to take people's money nblens volans,
and who appear to think that the chief duty of those
coming into estates is to give away as much as
possible for the benefit of the Exchequer. It is not
to be tolerated that such a system should prevail'
d the decision of yesterday is most satisfactory

in every way, not only as regards that particular
claim, but as relates to a general rule and practice
for all similar cases under dispute.

LATEST DITELLIGENCE.

(REUTE,R.S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

(Per the City of New York.)
NEW YORK, JUNE 26.

The Confederates under General Lee, with
cavalry and artillery, have, after a severe skirmish,
driven the Federals under Milroy out of Maccon-
nellsburg, and occupied that place.
The Federals have evacuated Carlisle, and fallen
back to Harrisburg.
The Confederate advance in Pennsylvania is said
to be 10,000 strong.
The Baltimore correspondent of the New York
Herald furnishes the following particulars concern-
ing the development of General Lee's plans :
O❑ crossing tho Rappahannock to move north-
ward General Lee took with him a very large pon-
toon train said to come from Richmond. These
pontoons could not be necessary to cross the Upper
Potomac, as that is easily fordable ; neither to cross
the Susquehannah, as there are no indications of
large Confederate forces being in that direction.

O❑ leaving Warrenton and Thoroughfare Gap,
General Lee detached one whole corps, at least
30,000 strong, who are now on their way to Bain-
fries, vui Brentsville. It is stated that this column
is accompanied by 40 pieces of artillery and a pon-
toon train. If this is the pontoon train mentioned
above, there can be but one explanation of the
movement.

General Lee designs this corps to cross the Poto-
mack at Budd's Ferry, which is only 15 miles be-
low Washington, and to advance on the capital by
way of Bladensburg.

It is possible, also, that General Lee expects the
Federal forces now in the peninsula to be sent up
the Potomac to Washington, and he will seek to
re-establish the old batteries on the Potomac, in
order to sink the transports conveying troops from
the peninsula.

The Confederate infantry which defeated General
Milroy at Winchester, M.Reynolds at Berrysville,
and Tyler at Martinsburg, did not cross the Poto-
mac at all. After occupying Martinsburg, they
proceeded along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
as far west as Cumberland and as far east as Point
of Rocks. The railroad between these two points,
a distance of 90 miles, is in the complete possession
of the Confederates, and, in a military point of
view, they have rendered this road entirely useless
to the Federal Government. The railroad comma •
nication between Washington and the West, so far
as that road is concerned, has been completely cut
off.

General Lee, instead of moving on Centreville, is
reported to be advancing with his main body to-
wards Gum Spring, Drainsville, and Coons Ford.
If this be true, there can be no longer any doubt as
to the direction General Lee's plans will take.
From Coons Ford to Rockville and thence to the
Baltimore Railroad will be but a short march.
This railroad once cut, whether by this column or
by the one advancing from Budd's Ferry, or by both
co operating, Washington will be as completely iso-
lated from the North and East as it is now from
the W(st. The capture of Washington will then be
reduced to a question of strength between the armies
of Lee and Hooker.

If the forces under Gens. Dix, Peck, and Foster
could be hurried no to Washington, they would
swell Gen. Hooker's numbers to a very high figure ;
but this will only be done by the Government when
it is too late.

As far as Gen. Lee is concerned, having sent
30,000 men towards Budd's Ferry, and having
10,000 to 15,000 men near Harper's Ferry, he iP
probably only waiting for certain reinforcements
which were on the way some time ago to join him.
During the last two weeks 40,000 Confederate
troops have passed through Lynchburg, bound for
Richmond and the North. They were Gen. Lee's
old troops he had sent to Chattanooga some weeks
ago, and 20,000 others from Gen. Bragg's army.
This, with 10,000 troops sent him by Beauregard at
Charleston, will make his force amount to 150,000
men.

CQueral Hooker can no longer choose hie ground,
or, as he boasted, give battle or abstain. He will
be compelled to fight at the moment General Lee

thinks proper to attack him, and he cannot post-
pone a fight when that day comes. The reason of

this is that Huoker possesses none of the strategic
resources which would have enabled him to choose
his time and place of fighting, and have prevented
Lee from crossing the Rappahannock at all.
The statement made by the Rzchmond Despatch
that Richmond is now uncovered, is a blind to con-
ceal the fact that Richmond is well defended, and
to allure the Federal forces on to the peninsula, to
what would be a disastrous defeat.

So imminent is the peril that is supposed to me-
nace Baltimore that the most urgent appeals are
made to the people by the Government, the mayor
of the city, the councils of the military authorities,
and the newspapers, to turn out to work on the en-
trenchments, which are being hastily erected for
the defence of the city, and to enlist in the various
military organisations.
Late reconnoissances develop the fact that the
Confederate army of the Potomac does not occupy
any portion of territory extending from Culpepper

to Warrenton, New Baltimore, White Plains, and
Salem on the west, to Fredericksburg on the east,
and to a distance several miles south of the
Rappahannock.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Herald writes as follows :

General Lee, for a week previous to moving from
Culpepper in the last mysterious movement, gave
orders which were stringently enforced, that no
person, soldier, or citizen, should be allowed to have
his lines. It is said that his army commenced to
move on Saturday, end continued to pass through
Culpepper during all the intervening period, up to
Thursday of the succeeding week. His force is
said to have consisted of Ewell's corps of 35,000
men, who marched out first, Longstreet's corps of
42,000 men, and Hill's corps of 28,000 men, who
brought up the rear. General Stuart's cavalry,
18,000 strong, protected the flank and rear, while
Jenkins, with 3,000 men, accompanied Ewell into
Maryland, the desiination of the main portion of
the army. The artillery is said to be in superb
condition, and very numerous.

" Richmond is defended by the corps of D. H.
Hill, 21,000 strong, on the south side, by I‘l9.l°r"
General French on the north, or near the city, with
about 17,00() men, while the heavy brigade under
General Wise is on the York River Railroad.

General Corse, with two brigades, occupies Han-
over Junction, assisted by 3,500 mounted Texans,
taken prisoners at Arkansas port and exchanged.
This force is to be drawn close around and concen-
trated near the capital in case our army should
advance.

General Jackson commands the department of
East Tennessee, and has under him Gen. Pegram,
with 8,000 to 10,000 men, which, together with the
force in the Cumberland Gap region, is expected to

move into Kentucky.
General ?Stuart's command is belie, to consist of six

divisions of two brigades each, three regiments to a
brigade, and 500 men, the average maximum num.
ber to a regiment. The 4th Virginia, the largest of
all, on a recent review, numbered 714, but every
man that could be obtained was present on this
occasion.

The New York herald says that Gen. Lee, by
bold and rapid movements, has transferred the war
from Virginia north eastward from the Rappahan-
nock to the Potomac, and even to the Susquehannah
and has successfully achieved the most difficult and
dangerous operations in the war—viz., a flank
movement in presence of the enemy.
General Lee, without any considerable loss, has
succeeded in making a circuit around the right
flank of the Union army and getting in the rear of
Washington, while Hooker is still in front of that

city.
Admiral Dahlgren will succeed Admiral Dupont
in the command of the South Atlantic squadron.
The legality of the prorogation of the Illinois
Legislature by the Governor is to be tried in the
Supreme Court. The Governor refuses to acknow-
ledge the legal existence of the present Legislature.

NEW YORK, June 26 (Evening.
(Per the City of New York.)
It is reported General Lee and his Staff crossed
the Potomac into Maryland on Wednesday.
The Governor of Pennsylvania has called for
50,000 militia, for defence for three months. The
Governor of Illinois has offered 10,000 men to resist
the invasion.

The New York. World says that Generals Hooker
and Halleck appear to have adopted the hypothesis
that Gen. Lee will not throw a large force into the
Northern States whilst Hooker remains on the
south side of the Potomac, or if he does that Hooker
can get into his rear.

The World thinks, however, that if, notwith-
standing Lee's formidable menace in crossing the
Potomac, Hooker persists in remaining on the south
side of that river, it will be in Lee's power to seize
the railroads and isolate Washington. "If this be
accomplished," says the same journal, " Hooker can
no Linger avoid a battle in a positio❑ of Lee's choos-
ing, for the Government cannot afford to have a
Confederate army encamped between Washington
and the Northern States.

If Washington is assaulted on the Northern side,
the TT'orld think?, a great mistake will have been
made in not transferring hooker's army into Mary-
land to meet Lee at the threshold. The universal
indifference of the people of Pennsylvania regarding
the invasion is the subject of much comment.
Tne New York Herald says that the inhabitants
seems to have lost all spirit, and either retreat
rapidly at the approach of the Confederates or ex-
hibit a strange apathy. Even the troops from
Rew York and New Jersey are not received with
cordiality or enthusiasm, but the inhabitants
endeavour only to profit pecuniarily by their pre-

sence.
A side-wheel steamer of 700 tons burden is
reported to have been seen burning off Nantucket.
Heavy firing was heard off Cape Cod ; it was
supposed to proceed from a Federal gunboat.
The steamers Baltic, Atlantic, and many others
are leaving to capture privateers.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, JUNE 26, Evening.

Money easy. Gold 441 per cent. premium.
Exchange on London, Bankers' Bills, 158. Stocks,
large speculative sates. New York Centrals 1201;
Illinois, 102; Erie, 9574 Six per Cent. United States
Bonds, 104. Cotton very firm. Middling Up-
land 65c.

Flour dull. Wheat and corn declining. Pro-
visions, good enquiry. Coffeelquiet ; sugar, good
enquiry. Molasses steady. Petroleum very firm.
The City of New York takes out 60,119d015. in
specie, 200 passengers, and 16 sacks of mails.

NEW YORK, JUNE 27, Morning.
(Per City of New York.)

There are indications that General Lee purposes
operating with his whole army on the North side
of the Potomac.

O❑ Thursday night Hill's and Longstreet's corps
are both said to have crossed the river.

General Ewell entered Chambersburg on Wed-
nesday, and issued an order forbidding the inhabi-
tants to sell liquor to the soldiers, also
admonishing persons not in military service
to abstain from acts of hostility, stating
that acquiescence in the demands of the
military authorities would less the rigours of war.

General Ewell's main force is believed to have
halted in the rear of Chambersburg, holding all the
roads and passes in the vicinity, and awaiting rein-
forcements.

General Early's division of Longstreet's corps,
consisting of ten regiments of infantry with cavalry
and artillery, occupied Gettysburg yesterday. It is
supposed that General Early will strike the
Northern Central Railroad at Hanover Junction or
York, thirty miles distant.
The Confederates hold all the passes of South
Mountain. They are also in close proximity to
Carlisle, but have not yet occupied the place.

The Federal General Smith commands the de-
fences of the Susquehannah. Colonel Pierce super-
sedes General Milroy at Bloody Run. General
Dana commands the defences of Philadelphia.
The New York Herald says that two days ago
half of General Lee's army was in Maryland and
Pennsylvania; the other half, immediately under
the eye of Lee, was 30 miles south of the Potomac
in the Shenandoah Valley. General Lee's whole
army may be described, in a military sense, as
being in the same valley, extending 30 miles from
Winchester to the Potomac, and thence 50 miles
northward from Chambersburg.
The New Fork Herald does not anticipate a
collision between Generals Lee and Hooker for
several days, and says it is probable that the first
serious hostilities will take place at Harper's Ferry,
for that point, with Lee's advance beyond the Po-
tomac, is essential to Lee's communication
with the Shenandoah Valley, and Richmond.
Lee's siege trains will therefore probably be first
used against the Maryland Heights, in conjunction
with an assault by the reserved column of General
Lou gstreet.
The Baltimore correspondent of the New York,'
Herald says Thursday, 25th inst. Lee , was
in strong force at Frederick City, and from there
will either march on -Washington or Baltimore, or
move to the railroad between Washington and Bal-

timore.
Gen. Hooker is reported to have been. moving
on the 25th instant, the right wing of his army is
stated to be in the vicinily of Hagerstown.
Intelligence from Vicksburg, to the 23d inst., an-
nounces that preparations aro making for another
assault upon that place.
Gen. Johnstone telegraphed to President Jeffer-
son Davis, upon the 22d inst., that Kirby Smith
has got possession of Milliken's Bend, above Vicks-
burg.
A body of 1,000 Texans have been repulsed at
Lake Providence by negro troops.
General Banks assaulted Port Hudson at day-
light on. the 14th, and at 11 o'clock on the same
morning retreated to his entrenchments, having

been disastrously repulsed at all points, with the
loss cf 700 to 1,000 men,
It was supposed that another assault would be
made on the 19th inst., Col. Dudley having volun-
teered to lead a storming column of 4,000 picked
men.

The Confederates were reported to be concentrat-
ing in General Banks' rear to prevent his retreat to
Baton Bouge.

General Burnside officially reports that Col.
Saunders' cavalry expedition into East Tennessee
struck the railroad at Lenoir, destroyed the line up
to Knoxville, and made a demonstration against
that place. Re burnt bridges, destroyed stores, and
captured three pieces of artillery, 500 prisoners, and
1,000 stand of arms. The Confederates were found
in greater strength than was expected, and followed
in Colonel Saunders' rear.

General Fosters troops have been sent from
Newbern to reinforce General Dix at Fort Monroe.
General Franklin has been orderad to New