The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-25 00:00:00

OUR LADLEFUL OF PUNCH.

Peering into Zadkiel's Crystal Globe, perhaps, Mr. Punch
announces the following astronomical observation—as A
TRIFLE FROM MARGATE.—The other day, he says gravely,
a housemaid, having finished her dusting in the house,
was observed, trop the sea-shoe, to be sweeping the
horizon with a glass.

The poet Tupper (Punch observes wickedly), bent upon
quitting home for a few mor.ths, has celebrated the occasion
by writing an address to his portmanteau ; and, Mr. Punch
adds—it was read by the porter at the railway station I
One arch-wag announces thus as a NOVEL DISEASE
The gentleman who caught a train is recovering.

BADLY HIT DURING THE RECENT ENGAGEMENT WITH
THE GUARDS : is the title of one of John Leech's charming
domestic scenes :

Mamma—" Yes, doctor, she will sit for hours without
speaking a word. She persists in wearing the same dress,
and won't part with the bouquet 1"
Doctor—" Hem—Well, let's see—we must first get the ball
out of her head, and then, perhaps, the nervous system may
right itself."
The Statue in Leicester-square, Punch reports to have
been very impertinent tl a policeman, and (adds the re •
porter in regard to this delinquent) he ought to be taken
down.
Asa last sip of Punch this week, we will quote something
Per-fect-ly Wi-diculous I—Conductor (setting down two
of his passengers—a young swell and a young laundress
with a basket), "Change, sir? Oh, I beg yer pardon, sir,
I took for two ! I thought this young woman was along
o' you, sir!"

WRECK OF THE NORWEGIAN.—An inquiry into
the circumstances of the wreck of the Nor weigan in the
St. Lawrence is to take place at Liverpool, by direction of
the Board of Trade. -
THE CHANNEL FLEET.—On Thursday morning
the Channel Fleet was seen off Sunderland, and
large crowds assembled on the piers at that place to witness
the arrival of the vessels. The fleet, with the flagship lead-
ing, stood in under canvass and anchored about mid-day
three miles off the harbour mouth. The low, ominous-
looking hulls of the armour-plated frigates contrasted
strangely with the noble-looking three-deckers. While the
fleet was approaching the harbour a deluge of now,
and rain came on, completely drenching the thousands who
were gazing at them.
~

THE SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG,

(From the Correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial.)
Steamer John H. Dickey, Vicinity of
Vicksburg, July 4.
Vicksburg has surrendered. The name of Gen.
Grant is now inseparably connected with our
national birthday. We entered the city at 1,0 a.m.
of that day, and at high noon the flag gracefully
waved over 20,000 prisoners and small arms innu-
merable, and the finest rifle batteries in the Confe
derate service.
At about 7 a.m., July 3, a flag of true was seen
upon the rebel breastworks. Az officer was sent to
receive it.
All ,firing ceased, and thousands of men thronged
the parapets to see the foe with whom they had
contended 42 days, each concealed from the other.
The men of both sides gazed in wonderment. No
arms were visible—only men, and the earthworks
were alive. In some salients, where we thought
there might be 20, there seemed 100. All looked
like men who labour in mills or lime-quarries.
Slouched hats, shirts, and pants were the uniform.
But little was said, though in some places the men
were not more than 10 or 15 feet apart.
The bearers of despatches to our general were
fine-looking men, of martial bearing and brave mien,
clad in gray close-fitting uniforms and French caps,
mounted on fine but thin horses.
They were conducted blindfolded to the tent of
General A. K. Smith, whose front they had entered.
They were escorted to the tent of Gen. Steven Bur-
bridge, to remain until his return from the quarters
of General Grant, five miles away. They conversed
of old times more than of the present. Their names
were General. Bowen, of Port Gibson memory, and
Colonel Montgomery, of Virginia. After taking a
glass of wine, General Bowen remarked that his
bandage was uncomfortable, and it was very warm,
General Burbridge had them unloosed.
After more than an hour's conversation, their an-
swer came, and they were again blindfolded, and
returned to their own works. Still the men sat in
silence. Not a gun was fired in that part of the
wall. All wondered what it meant. The purport
of it was this :
Gen. Grant—To prevent the further effusion of
blood and loss of life, I propose that hostilities
cease for hours, and that you appoint three
commissioners, and I three, to confer upon condi-
tions of surrender, though I can hold out indefinitely.
(Signed) PEMBERTON.
To which Gen. Grant replied :
As to your first proposition, it is for you to avail
at any time ; as to the second, I see no necessity for
that, as there can be no conditions of surrender.
We can all bear witness to your endurance and
bravery, and will treat you with all the respect
due prisoners of war.

(Signed) U. S. GRANT.
Gen. Pemberton then solicited a personal inter-
view, which was granted by Grant at three p.m.
The latter, with his Staff, appeared on the hills where
our advanced works were. Here the party halted,
until Gen. Pemberton appeared, accompanied by
Gen. Bowen and Col. Montgomery. On the crest of
the opposite hills were rifle-pits and forts, crowded
with men. In the space of a grove of fruit trees of
figs and peaches. met the contending heroes. Thou-
' sands of soldiers looked upon this strange scene.
Two men who had been lieutenants in the same
regiment in Mexico, now met as foes.
When they bad approached within a few feet
there was a halt and silence.
Col. Montgomery spoke—" Gen. Grant, Gen.
Pemberton." They shook hands politely. It was
evident Pemberton was mortified. He said, "I was
at Monterey and Buena Vista. We had terms and
conditions there."
Gen. Grant then took him aside. They sat down
on the grass and talked more than an hour. Grant
smoked all the time. Pemberton played with the
grass and pulled leaves. Grant finally agreed to
parole them, allowing the officers each his horse.
It was a polite thing. The dread of going north,
and the fear of harsh treatment, had deterred them
from capitulating sooner. He proved his magna-
nimity and saved thousands upon ihousands of dol-
lars in the way of transportations and rations.
They feared the 4th of July. Our men wou:d call
out at night, that the 4th would finish them, and
it was so arranged. By this we have saved thou-
sands of lives. Both armies are gratified with the
result. Our men treat them with kindness, giving
them coffee, which some of them have not tasted for

a year.
The city is much dilapidated. Many houses are
injured. The Vicksburg paper of July 2, of which
I send you extracts by mail, admits the eating of
mule meat and the pilfering of soldiers in private
houses. Mrs. Cisco, wife of an officer in the artil-
lery service, was killed last Monday in the city.
General Green, formerly of Missouri, was killed last
week. Colonel Griffin, of the Thirty-first Louisiana
Regiment, was also killed.
There seems to be much suffering there from sick-

ness and our missiles.
Johnston is still in our rear. The steamer from
the Yazoo River and Young's Point dropped down
to the levee, when our correspondent bade farewell

to the war,
Our boat was fired into at the foot of Island 82,
and riddled with shell and ball. Fifteen shots
passed through, most of them in the cabin. The
cabin is almost a ruin. Strange to say, no one was
hurt.