The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-17 00:00:00

THERMO3f ETEIL.

This morning'.
This day at Two o'clock 79

Barometer-29.83.
Wind—S.-W.; fresh, and fine weather.

•
,g)Or mX-17 `ts
...00""*N$

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1863,

The Emperor of AUSTRIA heading the national
movement for the unification of the Germanic
Empire ! The Archduke MAXIMILIAN preparing to
receive the Imperial purple, crown, and sceptre
won for him in Mexico by the army of NAPO-
LEON 111. ! The stripling King of the GREEKS,
late one of the boy-princes of Denmark, setting out
on his " grand tour" preparatory to his ascending
that uneasy throne at Athens from which the ex-
King OTIIO was so unceremoniously thrust some
few months back by an abrupt revolution ! The
Russian Autocrat still wielding the scourge fiercely
over the insurgent population of his Polish pro-
vinces I The ill-advised King of PRUSSIA becoming
every day more and more estranged from the whole
of the great Confederation be formerly aspired
to lead as Chieftain instead of thus forsaking as
Renegade ! While such are among the more con-
spicuous contemporary incidents now transpiring in
Europe, the intelligence brought to us from the
opposite shores of the Atlantic, from the seat of war
in the North American Republic, is of the same
weary, hopeless, inconcludent character as here-
tofore.

Another great battle is—of course—said to be
imminent. Believe that who will! Again the
boasted successes of the North turn out to be, in
point of fact, so very little of successes at all that the
Federal Victor at the head of his triumphant army,
if not wholly at a standstill, proves at the very least
to be utterly powerless, so far as relates to his inter-
ference with the movements of his antagonist.
General LEE, since the battle of Gettysburg, has
gone whithersover he listed. He has carried away
with him all his booty. He has borne off with him
not only his own wounded, but the heavy guns cap-
tured from the Northern army during the recent
raid of his own troops into Maryland and Pennsylva-
nia. He has, after deliberately and leisurely
passing the whole of his forces back into
Virginia across the Potomac, retired calmly
and without molestation of any kind from the
Shenandoah Valley, passing through the most con-
venient gap he could find in the range of the Blue
Ridge Mountains, and is so continuing his march on
Culpepper, midway between the North Fork and
the Rapidan, two of the tributarite of the Rappa-
hannock. Only then, at length, as one might sup-
pose for very shame's sake, after all the recent
boasting as to the victorious character of the
Federal achievements at Gettysburg, only then, at
length, when LEE'S army had passed southwards
between the line of the North Fork and that of the
ItePid
does General MEADE that redoubtable
orate • appear to have so far aroused himself
as to ,
Eta ' acorps of his pursuing (?) and victorious(?)
arra
Y acTeas the former of those two parallel branches
of the Rappahannock, that is, across the line of the
North Fork,
With a view to prevent General LEE,
if that Were possible, from still carrying on his
movements so Completely to his cwn satisfaction !
The result of this
resolution on the lard display of anything like
the Federal Commander-
in-Chief, being, part of
new learn from our advices
by the Africa, the beet-
"ll3 back of the Federal corps
with severe loss by the irthotr
'Y and artillery of the
Confederates.
Elsewhere the tide seems againNorthoth have turned
the
nittateonnearabl Besap:sh,
unmistakeably against the
it was confidently stated by
of the let instant, had immediataiY before that date
been seriously defeated in Louisiana with
logo of
no less than six thousand of his men as
The Confederate General JOJINSTONE moreover
ap-
pears to be no more pursued by General GRANT
as the
sequel to the capture of Vicksburg—than, as We
have seen, and in fact demonstrated by our foregoing
remarks, that other and greater Confederate General
LEE has been pursued all this while by his reputed
victor, as the sequel to the fierce conflict fought
on the ensanguined heights of Gettysburg. Besides
which—Fort Wagner, so far from being taken, is
actually turning the tables upon its assailants, by
bombarding them in their now almost
purely defensive position on Morris Liam].
Reverting, however, to the chief subject of

interest in regard to this miserable war, the relative

situation of the main armies of the belligerents

respectively under the banners of the Federal snd
Confederate Commanders-in- Chief, it now appears

proba'ole from this latest irformation brought nerus9
the ocean by the Africa, that Geueral LEE is

dexterously withdrawing his army by a flank

movement from the neighbourhoi. I of Culpepper, so
as to r esume his former position ref ztively, that is, to
Richmond. Whether this will r eally turn out to
be the case or not, we shal I hear now very
speedily—by our next inetalmE ate of intelligence.
The probabilities being far more likely that
such will prove to be the case, than that the
great battle said, as usual, to be imniiner.t, should
turn out to have been fought in the angle between
the North Fork and the Rappahanncick. As for the
infuriating Proclamation just issu e.d by President
LINCOLN, threatening the South with implacable
retaliation for every black solcrier taken prisoner
and afterwards shot by VJe Confederates—it
is of a-piece with the whole, of his policy. Such
retaliation is the least President LINCOLN could
do, pt:rhaps, in attempted defence of the unfortu-
nate megroes forcibly enrolled by his Government.
But their enrollment at all, under the circumstances
was the cruellest mistake of all the numerous and
flagran'c mistakes into which Mr. LINCOLN has
hlund ared since this dreadful war commenced. it
is the 'mistake by which the fury of war has been
already and will be henceforth increasingly in-
tensified.

A mid the many causes of disquietude and
in
ndanxiety
which thrust themselves upon our attention
tsares is.
con-
templating the aspect of European
sourceaffair of ti
s he
one very homely, but very practical
fchaess and rejoicing.
facf;ion, which is truly a subrjercotmfoarlul atpiaorntasl tohfanthke.
country the accounts of the harvest
andpro thespects
excised the most sanguine anticipations,
glowing summer weather which we have been
lately enjoying has brought a blessing in its train
which the poor will not be slow to appreciate. "A
beta harvest" is a word of terror to the masses. It
is a. common saying that when bread is dear every-
thing is dear, and so it often unhappily proves.
We cannot be too thankful that the favourable
season has contributed so seasonable a relief to the
distress still unhappily prevalent in the North, a
relief far more valuable than the munificence of
capitalists, or the suggestions of philanthropy.
The accounts are almost universally good; in some
parts of Norfolk the crops are said to excel those
of the last 20 years. The absence of the potato
disease is another blessing, which, added to the
good harvest, will, we hope, render food for the
million cheap and plentiful. We have obtained
these advantages, too, without suffering from the
heat, as many of our continental neighbours have
done. In Paris the thermometer has reached an
extraordinary height, marking 81 deg. in the shade
before 11 o'clock in the morning. Happily the
vintage has not suffered, as the vine is enabled to
endure long continued heat better than most trees; so
that while the trees in the parks and gardens near
Paris are scorched by the fiery atmosphere, the vine-
growers are looking forward hopefully to the fifth
good vintage out of six. We have seen something
here of the effects of the sun in drying up
streams end ditches, and have received a sad
lesson of caution for the future. The recent ter-
rible accident near Lynn was, as is generally
known, chiefly owing to the excessive and con-
tinuous heat of the weather, which had converted
the ditch that served to exclude straying cattle
from the rails into an easy pathway for intruders.
Norfolk has had tragic proof, as well as pleasant
evidence, of the unusual season, and we trust that in
no other county may the general satisfaction be so
painfully marred. The effect of our sunbeams
have, however, been but trifling compared with the
sunshine of France. The waters of the Loire, we
learn from a provincial paper, have never previously
been so low as now. One of the principal rivers of
the country, giving its name to several departments,
has often desolated the neighbouring lands by
the extent of its inundations. The inhabitants
of the vicinity of Nievre have been in the habit, it
seems, of carrying the produce of the harvest across
the river in boats. But this year a marvellous
change has taken place. At the beginning of har-
vest it was found that the usual mode of transit
was impossible, owing to the river having fallen
too low. Accordingly, the goods had to be con-
veyed a circuitous route by the nearest bridge;
but before very long it appeared that the corn could
be carted across the bed of the Loire with the
greatest ease. This is not altogether a pleasant
symptom, if the dry season is to last much longer;
but in Hungary matters have reached a more
startling extremity. The drought has produced a
dearth which is said to be very serious. A story
is told of Lower Hungary which, if true,
indicates wide-spread distress. A peasant
who owned four horses was unable to feed them
and unwilling to see them starve; he therefore took
them on to the high road and tied them to a tree in
the hope that some one would steal and feed them,
knowing that horse-stealing was common. Tae
next day, on returning to the spot, he not only
found his horses still there, but with four others
brought there for the same reason. When the heat
exceeds the bounds within which it fertilises the
soil and developes its produce, it becomes a destroy-
ing agent instead of a benefactor. Further South,
however, its influence is less injurious, for the news
from Egypt tell us that the harvest is generally
satisfactory and superior to that of last year.
Another interesting feature in the intelligence from
Alexandria is the mention made of the cotton pros-
pects. It is said that " the considerable develop-
ment given to the cultivation of cotton in Egypt
leads to the hope that the nest picking, commencing
in September, will be abundant." This is good
news for Lancashire, and may serve possibly to
encourage the faint hopes of those mournful prog

nosticators who regard the American war as inter.

minable, and refuse to believe that cotton worth
working can be grown anywhere but in the Southern
States. " C2ESAR or nothing" seems tobe the motto

of such objectors, y)t if their memories will carry

them back some twenty years they will find that
their machinery was then of a far rougher kind
than at present, yet the cotton trade thrived as it
would again, provided a sufficient supply of any
tolerable quality were forthcoming. A staple

constantly in demand for all classes of the corn

munity cannot suddenly disappear from the

market unless its place is filled by an

efficient substitute. There is no reason why cotton

from Egypt, India, Jamaica, Queensland, Italy, and
Africa should not, with a few years' cultivation,
equal any kind of American produce. If the soil

hi
cultivation of the cotton plant, wch has been
and the climate of these places are adapted to the
abundantly proved, and the same means and care
are employed on it which have produced such suc-
cessful results in America, why should so much
anxiety be felt as to the future ? The present,
doubtless, is glooiny enough, but the supplies of the
future are, humanly
The great drawback and
difei_nity is the uncertainty
speaking, in our own hands.
felt as to the prospects of the trade, It is feared
that if the American war b
conclusion the old stor a brought to a speedy
y will be repeated, and every
other source of supply neglected for the American
markets. Men naturally shrink from engaging in
a costly speculation if they have no security that
h
have a fair field for competition. It even
a they
will
pita
ts had had eufficient oresight to
anticiFlij danger,
and tca as
suffLient spirit to guard

0.-6,iriat it by stimiliatiog the i;rowth UL cotton else.
where, the reulta would haye been try cliffrent,

and we might now be rejoicing over a cotton bar
vest as rich and liberal as our store of wheat. But
while deploring the perversity that has produced
such dire distress, we must be thankful that its
effects are likely to be in some degree alleviated by
that merciful Providence who tempers evil with
good, and that the general plenty and prosperity
enjoyed throughout the nation at large will enable
us the more readily to assist our suffering coun-
trymen.

Sir JOIIN TRELAWNY has certainly not lost
smhui
pc la,
atimes
ti nT
h renderu
r s day i"hgeaandadcrccosusendt
ho
ifshciosnssttei
twuaerndts-
at Tavistock. The hon. baronet had not a very easy
task before him, because nothing is so tiresome as
discussing a session that has been barren of events.
Ho contented himself by referring to the questions
of the day in general terms rather than in a par-
ticular manner as regarded the past. He first
alluded to the subject of reform, and observed that
he considered it very unwise to exclude so many of
our artisans from the franchise, since it was enough
to drive them away to places where they could
obtain that privilege, and thus serious inconvenience
would be sustained by the country. As regarded
the ballot, he did not see any chance for it at pre-
' sent, but he would remind the electors that they
would have the question in their own hands at the
next election. Sir JOBN then passed on to the
question of finance. ll° said that it was encouraging
' in many points of view. The revenue of India had
balanced itself, and the expenditure would be
diminished in the lonian Islands by taking
away the troops. He blamed, however, Govern-
ments on both sides for allowing small grants
without due inquiry. There was great trath
in this objection of the hon. baronet, for there is no
doubt that much is wasted through incautious and
hasty passing of votes, without taking trouble to
note the circumstances of the case. He explained
why he bad voted against the purchase of the
Exhibition building; he was convinced that it would
have led to far greater expenditure than had been
stated at first. Next Sir JOIIN adverted to
Mr. SOAMES' bill for closing the public houses on
Sunday. He truly said that "no ore more fully
appreciated, both on sanitary as well as moral
grounds, the vast importance of adhering to tem-
perance, but it was possible to ride the hobby too
far." He hoped they would have some alteration
in the county rates shortly, and he thought that
those who paid them ought to have some control
over their expenditure. He trusted that the Con-
servatives would assist him in some of these cndea-
yours to equalise payments. As for Church-rates
Sir JOHN observed that he would in future leave the
conduct of that question to younger and more ener-
getic men, but he would be happy to render any
assistance. Both the opponents and supporters of
that bill will agree that it could not have had a
more able exponent or untiring advocate than Sir
JOHN has ever proved himself to be, and if success
has not crowned his efforts it has not been because
either will or ability were wanting in his exertion.
On the whole this first exposition of the services of
a member to his constituents, since the prorogation
of Parliament, has been a creditable one for himself,
and a satisfactory one for them, according to the
manner in which it was received.

Her MAJESTY'S visit to Germany, although nomi-
nally of a private character, is yet not without its
significance. In the first place, it is notable to witness
a constitutional Sovereign leaving her own people
in security, and travelling to foreign parts, while
so many other monarchs are just now involved in
such serious struggles and overcome with heavy
burdens of State. If tiiese ambitious men care to
learn a lesson they may do so in this event, and
observe that if our countrymen do not make such a
parade about their liberties, they are yet in the en-
joyment of independence at once solid and secure.
Also they may perceive that it is not those Sove-
reigns who are the most absolute in their sway,
and exert the most despotic power, who really enjoy
the most freedom, or can exercise the greatest privi-
leges. There are some potentates now in Europe
who would be puzzled to go away from their own
dominions with as much trust and security as our
QUEEN has done, and who are indeed so constantly
plunged in excitements of one kind or another as
to render such ad achievement all but impossible.
The QUEEN'S visit has also, mingled with its mourn-
ful and melancholy associations, something of a poli-
tical interest attached to it this year. Though n.)-
thing might have been further from the thoughts
of those who planned the excursion when the sub-
ject was first mooted, the ever changing current of
events has brought things to pass that no one fore-
saw. It is certain that the QUEEN cannot receive
the Crown Prince and Princess of PRUSSIA without
touching on questions of vast moment, and whose
issue may concern the existence of the monarchy
itself. In consequence of the very peculiar conduct
of King WILLIAM, it is not likely that the recapi-
tulation of events will be very pleasant ; but it is
not to be supposed that any of the party assembled
at Rotandsecke would wish that the meeting had not
taken place. It must be a source of satisfaction to
the QUEEN to be able to impart her advice person-
ally, and it is not likely that at this junc-
ture the Prince and Princess could have come
over to this country. Much may be done when
affairs are discussed viva voce, which can never be
attained when other forms of communication are
resorted to. After this second visit to the scenes
that are so associated with the memory of the de-
parted PRINCE CONSORT it is to be trusted that our
QUEEN will return to her subjects more consoled,
She has many distractions to divert her mind from
overwhelming trouble and inconsolable grie

There is another daughter to welcome her abroad
with new ties of affection to attract and awaken
sympathy and regard. When she returns to her
own country again her subjects will be greatly re-
joiced to welcome her back, and if she can suffi-

ciently rouse herself to appear among them as of
old, the whole nation will consider that their prayers
have been answered. It is only the blessing from
above that can enable the mourners to recover their
strength, and the afflicted to come back to the weary
march of life. That their SOVEREIGN may enjoy this
privilege has been the constant hope of her devoted
people, and now that the second year of her mourn-
ing is far advanced, they may venture to look for-

ward to some lightening of the gloom that has hung
over the palace homes of England, and imparted
some of its sombre shade to many other dwellings
through the length and breadth of the land. Ail

these will re joice with heartfelt thanksgiving when
the night of sorrow has passed away and given
place to the day, not perhaps of gladness, but of
cheerful calmness and refreshed energy.

The last part of the Boulevard Sebastopol has
just been finished. The Mcdicis Fountain, which has been
reconstructed, and gilt with great magnificence, was to
be opened on Saturday last.
PLANETARY ATMOSPEIERES.—M. Seechi, the di-
rector of the Observatory at Rome, according td the
London Review, has been making special analyses of the
light of the various planets for the purpose of determining'
the existence or absence as well as the nature of any atmos-
pheres around them. The deductions from these experi-
r tm:era,ffss,acit eristl
barely
asavtrdettelhiches7inioonsoninc: )
civhei
sensible,
notle tnd ri.
the
ter
(IT,
planets
apnenhonee
torsteth, ore
mer
very
ya3osi
certainly
diltdyitffel
retaehavnat
have
atmospheresfrolA our owns