The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-14 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, D Lie Ai 13 " S-
„

LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 14, 16G3.

As :kn.. COBDEN took occasion to remark the
other day, in his most intemperate letter to our
principal contemporary, but a very few weeks
Toro and Parliament will have reassembled.
It"tiona there are in abundance for its early
t'uisernb, •
anT• ! Foremost oolong th.2se, the
ert.)::Z:nliinatry pass to which our Foreign
solve been brought by her MAJESTY'S
A Trine ,:cretary of State for that Department.
many dirteti on 8') remarkable, in its way, in
unnatura , that (not by any means ,
lls) ?lilt tirs (not altogether unfounded)
got about receatly
mhocing
Mat Rai RUSSELL, the Clubs, to the effect
to resign, or had again either been constrained
perversely resigned him-
self, of his own free will,
after having once more done
_
as much mischief as he possibly could to the Admi-
nistration of which he had ag,iitl with his customary
ability contrived to become theMarplot. Wh
atev
else might be thought of the present Cabinet ber
those who aro not among the number of its avowed
partisan supporters, there can hardly be two opinions
as to the course now for some time past peraiated
in by the noble Earl the Foreiv Secretary, That
Course has been marked out for himself by

one who is notoriously as self willed as he is un-
questionably and most irritatingly self-opinionated.
It has been, at one and the same time, the develop-
ment and the exaggeration of a policy as feeble in
acts as it has been loud and ostentatious in lan-
guage. How Not To Do It is the key to the
whole mystery of it, as it is in effect,
according to our Great Humourist, the clue
through the whole labyrinth of Circumlocu-
tion. Precisely, as in the matter of Reform, Eirl
RUSSELL now superciliously advises the nation to
Rest and be Thankful—so does ha now cynically
affect to assume a very grand bearing, indeed,
as the representative abroad of English Public
Opinion,',a very grand bearing, indeed, in the man-
ner of his diplomatic correspondence ! His negotia-
tions, first with one foreign power and then with
another, always ending meanwhile either in a fiasco
or in a collapse. Everybody remembers how grossly
he blundered in the matter of Schleswig-Holstein
months ago. We all have a painful recollection of
the anti-climax closing the noble earl's exchange of
despatches with Prince GORTCIIAKOFF in regard to
the affairs of Poland. While, as for his
American policy we can but still look painfully
askance at that truckling towards the Federals evi-
denced by the precipitate embargo laid upon certain
steam rams in a shipbuilder's yard at Liverpool
To Lord RUSSELL we are indebted for an excess of
irritability that has, at one extremity of the earth,
led to a rupture of friendly relations with the
Brazilian Government, and to an excess of
passion that has resulted, at the opposite extremity
of the earth, that is in Japan, to the lamentable and,
for England, most discreditable destruction, in cold
blood, of the unfortunate city of Kagocima. Finally,
as the last achievement of Earl RUSSELL in
his capacity as chief at the English Fo-
reign Office, was the result of the recent
correspondence between the Governments of Eng-
land and France, in regard to the EMPEROR S
proposition of a Congress. A correspondence so
closed that England may be said, thereby, quite
plainly and accurately to have assumed a wholly ex-
ceptional position in regard to France—the position,
that is, of a sneering cynic who goes out of his
way to be guilty of a gross rudeness where nothing
certainly has been in any way called for but the
extreme of courtesy. England may be quite
right—probably rs quite right—in declining to take
part in a Congress—but, at any rate, she could
have intimated that, as her decision, without doing
so in a manner almost insolent, beyond any doubt
of it to the very last degree most irritating and super-
cilous. Remembering all which pleasant illustra-
tions of the agreeable consequences of our having
Lord RUSSELL in authority at the Foreign-office,
we cannot but feel an inexpressible satisfaction in
reflecting that Parliament will now, in a very little
while longer, have come together in February.

It is an old saying and a wise one, that extremes
meet, and we may see some illustration of the

ruism every day. In no case is its accuracy more
vividly shown than in the similarity existing
between despotisms and democracies in many im.
portant particulars. The tyranny of the few or of
the many tends to much the same result; while
constitutional law and civil liberty suffer nearly as
much from the ono as from the other. The avowed
enemies of freedom are scarcely more dangerous
than her professed friends—the emphatic protesta-
tions of the Red Republican do not prevent him
from following in the steps of the irresponsible
dictator. The experience of all history tends to
confirm this doctrine, for independent and outspoken
citizens incurred as much risk in the days of Liberty,
Equality, and Fraternity, as under the rule of the
veriest despot that ever wielded a sceptre. By
common consent the dominion of the friends of the
people has been styled the Reign of Terror ; and,
indeed, it would seem as if the elected sovereigns
often feared opposition the most—possibly from the
feeling that, being supposed to represent the
sentiments of the populace, any suggestion that
they were not adequately fulfilling the wishes of
the majority must be especially dangerous. The
inconsistency of a Republican Government issuing
arbitrary laws and confiscating the civil rights of a
people, has been latterly strikingly evidenced in the
proceedings of the Federal Government. The sus-
pension of the Habeas Corpus Act,
the imprison-
ment of peaceable citizens who had dared to lift
their voices against the war, the expulsion of Mr.
VALLANDIGHAM—a man of sufficient note to have
been elected Governor of a State—have all afforded
matter for surprise and regret on this side of the
Atlantic. By the latest intelligence it would seem
that despotism has proceeded a step further, and
that the last onslaught has been made upon the
freedom of the press. This step, which is
always the herald of oppression, is doubly
remarkable in a country like America, in
in which the liberty of the Press has long
been allowed to degenerate into license. The tone
of the American journals, however little in accord-
ance with the manners and customs of this country,
has always been singularly free and outspoken, and
the American people are accustomed to comment
on men and measures which we should consider
libeilour. The muffling of the press is, therefore,
an extreme measure, and it is, too, strange that it
should be deemed necessary when the great body
of the journals has been devoted to the cause of the
Government. So universal was the feeling for war
with the South, that any journalist who ran counter
to it had no chance of obtaining a livelihood ; oven if
his printing-office were left standing, he would
have no sale for his papers, and American mobs are
by no moans patient of opposition. It has been
charged against the press and the pulpits of America
that they have inflamed the passions of the people,
that they have, for the sake of winning popularity
and position, stimulated the popular frenzy instead
of Striving to counsel moderation and peace. Yet
the
arbitrary doings of the Federal authorities
appear to have outstripped the subservience of the
press,
sad an enforced conscription, probably the
precut%
many more, has given occasion to the
edict alluded
to. At Columbus, Kentucky, there has
been great azi,
ent owing to the enforcement of
a conscriptiort :11
der issued by General HURLBUT.
The same oosetaander,
. who is apparently deter-
mined
orderto
artl
ena
01.8
atul; with
the
strong hand, promulgated
the close of last month, pro-
newspapers in
his department from discus-
singmeasures or
the policy of the Government—
thehibiting
be held personally editors to responsible for
the violation of the order. Whether this arbitrary
decree was called forth by any strictures on that
enforced conecrip
tion is not suttee but such Was
dark (la
probably the case. It is a 37 for America
when such decrees aro issued. The Northern States
in fact, are under martial law though governed by
their own leaders, and the authorities, civil and
•
military, hesitate at nothing. Such incidents aieerd
a curious commentary on American liberty
which some of our professing Liberals would
tdo well to study. The persistency with
'which the leaders of the Manchester school endea-
vour still to advocate the superiority of the Tran-
2atlantic ways and manners is really singular in
the face of such facts. Mr. COBDEN, who is never
at a loss for a word against the press of his own
•country, would probably approve of the clause by
which editors are to be held responsible for any
:infraction of the order. Such a stipulation is cer-
..tainly more just and reasonable than the decree

which visits the political offences of the manager on
the printer; but the Americans had better take care
that their military despots do not go a step or two
further, and imitate the example of Prussia a little
more closely. In fact, Herr von BISMARK would not
be altogether out of place in the LINCOLN Cabinet.
The same obstinacy, the same dogged determination
to reduce his opponents to his will, the same over-
looking of popular rights, the Same political short-
sightedness and suicidal policy are characteristic of
the administrators alike at Berlin and Washington,
although the " go-a-head" Yankees and the delibe-
rate Germans have otherwise little enough in
common. It is to be regretted that men in our own
country, whose position and antecedents entitle
them to respect, should persist in advocating the
excellence of American institutions, apparently
entirely oblivious of the fact, that men must draw
their own conclusions from such acts as these, and
that those conclusions aro not likely to be favour-
able to the training which produces, not only such
readers, but the men who suffer them. In a brief
note, addressed to the Marquis of HARTINGTON,
referring to his recent speech at Haslingden, Mr.
COBDEN takes the opportunity of disputing the
accuracy of the observations made by the noble
lord as to the principles of American education, and
the defects in the national character which have
been exhibited in the great struggle. The substance
of these remarks expressed the views of a good
many sound Liberals in this country, and few
such will, we trust, be found to applaud the
barbarous and tyrannical spirit in which the
Northern States have carried on the war. America
is no doubt passing through a time of grievous trial.
A struggle of Titans is going on, whether for right
ends or for wrong, and the acts of both sides must
not be harshly judged. Still, with every disposition
to leniency, Englishmen have stood aghast at the
tales which have reached them of the doings of
their own kindred race. It is as if the war were
being waged in a spirit which dispensed alike with
the chivalry of ancient times and the humanity of
modern days, and the triumph of success or the
mortification of failure are alike darkened by harsh
disregard for the amenities of civilisation. If the
Union founded by WASHINGTON and supported by
a host of great and liberal statesmen is to be sup
ported by means like this, then, whatever the suc-
cesses of the Federal arms, its glory has indeed
passed away. If the groat Republic, the boasted
land where royal, ecclesiastical, and titled tyranny
were things unknown, is to owe its supremacy to
the gagging of the press and the invasion of the
rights of citizens, then let the patriots of America
cease to hope for the future of their country, for
the great strongholds of constitutional law, free
thought and free speech, will have been sacrificed
to a vain ambition.

Whatever our posterity may think of the pre-
sent age for the good it is doing, they must admit
that it is one of enterprise, and that, too, of a
gigantic character. We are running a race of
rivalry in the art of construction, and destruction to
match. We are building or inventing machines of
wonderful capacity for good, while our restless
genius is busy in forging engines to test their merits
with a heartiness of daring and ingenuity worthy
of a better purpose. The universal idea seems to be
that nothing old can any longer be worth caring
for, because in the pride of our might we can pro-
duce new models altogether beyond comparison. It
is so with our ships as with our guns. Our " hearts
of oak," that for ages have stood the battle and the
breeze and triumphed on the deep, must now give
place to another substance—long familiarly sup-
posed not likely to swim, far less to bear our thun-
ders over the stormy wave or battle with the foe.
But now all these things are undergoing a change,
and that a rapid one. How far it may prove for the

better, time alone can show, for it is idle to predi

cate, however confident may bo our belief. Then,
again, we are not even agreed upon the best mode
of carrying out our new ideas, for the manner is as

novel as the matter, so much have circumstances
changed the nature of enterprises. Some are for
capacity, others for strength, and all for speed, in
the construction of our ships. But the how and
the wherefore seem to puzzle even the expertest in

the multitude of our discordant genius. Invention
Spurs on one party, while consideration moderates
the other. Everyone's idea is naturally the most

likely to answer, especially in his own opinion, but
the right :course probably lies in the medium.
The difficulty is in the decision, so eech rides on his
own bobby for better or worse. Perhaps one cause
of their diversity of opinion lies in the fact that they
are all more or less bewildered in the dilemma of
applying or endeavouring to work out the new
improvements by running in the groove of their old
ideas, from which they find it rather difficult to
disentangle themselves. Still it would be idle to
advise, for the very reason that any suggestion not
in unison with the " dear novelty" would be scouted
as unworthy of notice, for a genius is as stub-
born as be is inventive, and glories in carrying
out his own conception to the very letter. It is the
glary of his heart and idol of his ambition—he must
be all or nothing. If he fail he will persist, and if
he succaed all is right, but even then be will do
something better yet, and so he may, for progress
is the very nature of invention, and hence the won-
derful achievements of science now, in comparison
with former times. But there is another question
that enters into the progress of improvement, and
that is cost. We may buy gold too dear. Eco-
nomy is necessary, in large as in small undertak-
ings. It is an axiom founded in the very works of
nature, and the art of man can have no better au-
thority to guide hia course. Whether the immensity
of our present undertakings be in strict accordance
with our necessities remains to be seen ; but if we
can obtain our actual requirements at a lessor cost,
it behoves us to be more careful in our expenditure,
for the loss or waste of the present may b 3 no con-
solation for the future, however it may prove a
warning. Now in shipbuilding, whatever can be
saved is gain, provided the saving do not impair the
efficiency. The public have been scandalised for
some time back at the expense of our royal dock-
yards, as compared with the character of our great
private establishments. But even in the latter,
reforms may bo made, not only for their own ad-
vantage, but also for that of the public. Now, it is
clear that if any private firm can accomplish any
saving in the management of their concerns, self-
interest will induce their ready acceptance of any
reasonable plan that may promise such benefit.
No doubt prejudice may operate partially to influ-
ence this judgment, but that, too, will yield to rea-
son and time, and the public will eventually pa-
tronise the cheapest because it is the best, and the
best is always the cheapest in the lcng run, as ex-
perience has ever provel We will not pretend to
decide on one mode of building in preference to
another, but we like to give fair play to all comers
in the
way of publicity, and that as much for the
Public good as for the undoubted and worthy ad-
yenta
ge of the inventor. Among the many '
schemes proposed of late, one has been sent to
us, deserving
of special consideration, as
much for its
professed ecomony, as for
its impartiality "a. ,reed
em from prejudice.* It is

with Pacilituylidolfrig'
ShiPl77-7--Cotubiuing Strength
Construction." By A.
New Mode of
and Economy
vlllisaecreg;lrsrSektwinnwelCaaaputcalindeß.o3.NejimEt
oval
edition.
Re.

written in a clear, forcible, and frank spirit, by a
gentleman apparently well-qualified to give an
opinion upon the matter, being himself a captain
in the Royal Navy. He illustrates his mode by
a diagram, or midship section of a vessel, with
the proportions requisite for all vessels up to 45
of beam. But we will not enter into the details,
contenting ourselves rather with the merits of his
particular scheme. His object, he says, is to try
and establish "iron-framing for all sorts of vessels,
combined with wood ceiling and planking, so as
to give increase of strength, greater facility of
construction, and cheapness beyond all of the pre-
sent modes of shipbuilding." He goes on to assert
that those acquainted with the working of a heavy-
laden vessel, or man-of-war in a gale of wind,
must believe that any method of construction
which will give to the frames or ribs of the vessel
a fixed and permanent stability which no rolling
motion shall affect; no loosening of bolts, nor rat-
tng f must be an improvement
uponi building. He believes
rat-
thug of t
he timber
present
mode
de weaken,
that metal framing alone can secure this effect;
and further, he says, that by his plan a water-
tight vessel is formed independent of the outer and
main planking. Thus he combines iron with wood,
each independent of the other, but yet coalescing
into one harmonious whole. This is a great
but it does
psearfetycent. cheaper.
mpooirnet_aicthiiesvefdrofmor
2tohetsohipso's
thiron-framing, which
does with crooked the
edtimber, the most expen•
Strength
away is gained
sive article in the building of a ship. Besides
these, iron-frames could be prepared and kept in
store all ready to meet any sudden emergency,
such as our unfortunate predicament in the Russian
war far the want of gunboats, which were only
completed when the war was over, and all the
money thrown away, or its precious value suf-
fered to rot in our splendid dockyards. Cap-
tain SKINNER thinks that the appearance of
many
commercial shippingingis about as un-
sightly their construction
o f
aosu r cunos
ike
deficient in every good quality. Indeed, so much
so that from the wreck returns we lose about 1,100

vessels on an average every year, causing an annual
drein upon our resources of one million and a half,
to say nothing of the loss of our gallant seamen.
Surely such fearful waste ought to startle the
powers that be to make provision to arrest so fear-
ful a loss of life, as well as to preserve the pro-
perty of the notion committed to their care. The
essential requisites to make a serviceable vessel for
the home-trade Capt. SKINNER conceives to be—
" Great capacity for cargo; stability under canvas;
fair sailing qualities; light draught of water; form
and strength to allow of taking the ground 'with-
out injury." Nor is his plan confined to the inte-
rests of the trading community ; but the Captain
frankly admits that the Admiralty (as usual) took
objection that his proposed mode of building would
not admit of sufficient strength for vessels of war !
and yet this precious Admiralty are now having a
dozen modes of building for ships of war, and each
mode dissimilar to the other. Why, no invention
ever gets a trial at the great Board based upon a
" system" that baffles all comprehension, and
stoutly forbids all inquiry into its mysterious
doings. But the objection is absurd, for the iron
frames can be made of any strength required, and
of any thickness necessary. But, as the Captain
justly observes, " mere thickness of side for resist-
ing heavy shot is no longer necessary, as the new
rifled guns will send their bolts through anything
that floats." In fact, the less resistance the larger
shot meet with the better, as there will be fewer
splinters. The only motions to be provided against
in shipbuilding are the rolling and pitching motions,
and these are bad enough singly, but when in a man-
ner combined, they strain and weaken the vessel in
opposite directions. Captain SKINNER'S plan
will obviate this by preventing the longitudinal
motion or pitching from all connection with the
rolling, and so save the vessel from straining by
disconnecting the ties, making each independent of
the other, and yet mutually binding. A vessel thus
constructed might roll heavily for months without
straining, for neither what is vertical, nor what is
longitudinal in shipbuilding should bo fastened
together so as to injure each other either in rolling or
pitching. The vibration caused by the action of
the screw would also bo done away with or greatly
modified, and hogging be entirely prevented. Now
if all these desirable requisites, or even a fair portion
of them, be attained we cannot but think that Cap-
tain SKINNER has done good service to his country,
and merits the esteem and gratitude of all seafaring
men.

THE SHAKSPERE COMMITTEE.—The Lord Chief
Baron of the Exchequer has accepted office as a
Vice President of the National Shakspere Committee.
Among the additions to the general body of the committee
are—Erneste de Bunsen, Esq. (Councillor of Legation) and
Antonio Panizzi, Esq. (Chief Librarian of the British Mu-
seum), who have accepted office as Foreign Secretaries to
the committee, The other new members include Sir Robert
Phillimore, the Queen's Advocate, J. 'Winter Jones, Esq.,
Edmund Yates, Esq., George C. Leighton, Esq., and Hugh
W. Diamond, M.D.--4thenceunl.
UP THE NILE ! is in fact taking the place of the
old cry "Up the Rhine !" The Duke of Rutland,
the Earl and Countess Scarborough, and Lady Herbert of
Lea have already set out to pass the winter in that health-
restoring climate, and Lord and Lady Gifford are about to
follow the example—to give us, let uc hope, a second taste of
the Hon. Impulsia Gushington's experiences.
COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS. _At a meetin of theg
council of this corporation, on the 12th inst., the diploma
of licentiate wag granted to Mr E. E. Pinches, 8.A., and
to Mr F. J. Weightman, A.c.p. The following ladies and
gentlemen were elected members of the college :—Mr T. W.
Bowman, Grainford Academy, near Darlington; Miss
Frances Copley, Margaret-street, Wilmington-square; M.
A. Havet, Newton-terrace, Glasgow; Mrs T. G. Kelly,
Milton.terrace, Vauxhall-bridge. road; Mr Phillip Norris,
Plas Nant-y-Glyn Sehool, Mold ; Mr R. E. Pugh, Trede •
gar ; Mr W. Read, St. Mary, Newington ; Mr M. A. Rees,
High Wycombe.

The accident which Lady Mine Cowper, second
daughter of the Countess Cowper, met with a few days
since at Florence, by being thrown from her horse, has
not resulted in the serious injuries reported. Wo have
reason to believe that, beyond some painful contusions,
nothing serious has occurred. The countess and daughter,
together with the Earl Cowper; were on the eve of leaving
Florence for Rome when the accident took place.

IMPORTANT LIFEBOAT SERVICES.— LYTHAM,
NEAR PRESTON, Dec. 11.—About nine o'clock last
night, while it was blowing a fresh gale from the west, the
master and crew of the schooner Caledonia, of this port,
landed here in their own boat, and requested the assistance
ofZthe lifeboat of the National Lifeboat Institution to save
their vessel, if possible, which had grounded and struck
heavily while entering Lytham, and which they had aban-
doned. The lifeboat was at once manned and launched.
The vessel was perceived driving along with the flood tide,
but the lifeboat succeeded in putting the crew again on board.
She was making much water, but is now aground in com-
parative safety. The next tido a number of men went on
board, and were ultimately successful in getting her off
the bank, and in taking her into Preston. As the life-
boat was returning another vessel was discovered through
the darkness to be "Lahore on the Bay Bank. '1 he boat was
at once pulled to her, when she proved to be the brigan-
tiine Fame, of Maryport, bound from Dublin to that port,
in ballast. It appeared the compasses had led them astray
from their course, for the captain was totally ignorant of
his position, supposing himself to be within a short dis-
tance of his destination. When apprised of his error by
the lifebnatmen he gladly accepted their services, and with
their assistance his vessel was safely brought into port the
next day.
LORD WESTMORELAND'S attack of illness was so
serious, that the Parisian doctors who were called in
ordered 46 leeches to be applied, andadministered two drops
of croton oil to the invalid.
THE ADDRESS OF THANKS TO TIIE EMPEROR
from musical composers, on the abolition of the exclusive
theatrical privileges in Paris, has been signed by Auber,
Meyerbeer, David, Gounod,
Rossini, and some 80 more.
DR. CHARLES MACKAY, the
7 itnes New York
correspondent, before returning to his post, will commit to
the press a new volume of his poems, entitled " Studies
from the Antique; and Sketches from Nat4ro,),

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER.'S TELEGRAMS.)
AUSTRALIA.

DOVER, DEC. 13.

Messrs. Money Wigram's ship Norfolk, Captain
Tonkin, from Melbourne on the 27th September,
arrived off here at 9 a.m. to-day. She brings
150 passengers, 60,000 ounces of gold, 630 bales
of wool, 146 bales of leather, and a quantity of

antimony, silver ore, copper, &e.
The Norfolk rounded Cape Horn on the 22d
October, and crossed the line on the 17th Novem-
ber. She experienced fair wind and weather from
Melbourne to Cape Horn, where she was detained
by an easterly wind for some days. Saw very
little ice. Had light baffling winds from the
Cape to the Equator, A good N.E. trade took
her to 27 deg. N. Since then had a good deal
of N.E. winds. Two deaths and one birth oc-
curred on the voyage.