The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SA TURDAY EVENING, APRIL 18, 1863.

the number of women marrying under twenty-one
are more than a fourth of the whole number of
brides. In London, early marriages are very rare,
owing, it is thought, to the expense of house-rent.
Another potent influence among the middle classes
is the rage for gentility and love of ostentation
which makes young people look with scorn on the
simple manner in which their fathers and mothers
began life. The bride and bridegroom must start
on the same scale that their parents reached after
twenty or thirty years of prudence and moderation ;
and as it is easier in this busy and overcrowded
metropolis to spend money than to gain it, it is no
great wonder that the difference in the number of
early marriages in town and country is so great.
The educational test supplied by the register is
tolerably satisfactory. The number who signed
with marks in 1861 showed, it is true, no consider-
able diminution from 1841, but, if we allow for the
rapid increase of population, we shall find that this
apparent standing still is in reality progress.
Tested by proportion, the amount of signatures by
mark fall in the twenty years in question 11 per
cent. It is not surprising that London holds the
foremost place in the educational comparison—the
numbers of those who can write being respectively
89 and 82 per 100. The rules which regulate the
degrees of provincinal education are not, however,
easy to define. It is found that, generally speak-
ing, the men in the Northern counties have received
more education than those in the Southern, which,
perhaps, is owing to the higher degree of intelli-
gence cultivated by mechanical employment; but
this does not apply to the women, for the females in
Lancashire are not more advanced in knowledge
than those in North Wales. Ocher statistics,
fruitful in suggestions to the social philosopher
and reformer, may be found in this report, which
has been compiled with a degree of care and assi-
duity that reflects credit on the Registrar. It affords
us also a subject for national gratification and
thankfulness when we see such a practical testimony
to the health and prosperity of our nation, and the
gradual but sure advance of knowledge and culti-
vation.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG.

FAILURE OF THE YAZOO AND TNLLA-
HATCHIE EXPEDITION.

CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE GUN-
BOAT VICKSBURG.

NEW YORK, APRIL 5, EVENING.

A severe gale and snow storm prevailed on the
Rappahanock yesterday. There is nothing new
transpiring there, Generals Hampton and Fitzhugh
Lee, are said to be at Culpepper with a Confederate
force of 2,500 men.

The news from Vicksburg is rot encouraging.
The movement on Haine's Bluff proved a failure,
and the Federal fleet and transports had returned
to Young's point.

General Grant had succeeded in placing a bat-
tery of 84-pounder Parrott's beyond the levee, in
a position to easily reach Vicksburg, and was
about to open the bombardment on the 27th when
it was postponed in consequence of a storm.
The attack on Fort Pemberton recommenced on
the 27th by the gunboats Baron Dekalib and Chil-
licothe. The result is not known.
It dications point to the abandonment of the
Yazoo Pass expedition. A fleet of 12 transports,
just out of the Pass, were ordered to return empty.

There are 300 boats now at Young's Point.

A despatch from Cairo, of the 4tb, says the water
still continues to pour the " Cut" at Lake Provi-
dence, nearly all the town is submerged.
The troops have been compiled to move their
encampments further up the river. The health
of the troops is good, but the " buffalo gnats" are
said to be killing large numbers of the Government
horses.

It is now believed that all the expeditions, in-
cluding the one down the Yazoo Pass, have returned
to Young's Point.
The bulletin says that the Federal battery oppo-
site Vicksburg has silenced a rebel battery on the
opposite shore.

A St. Louis despatch says that the rebels have
withdrawn a large nart of their force from the front
to the rear of Vicksburg, anticipating that the Fe •
derals will attack them via Yazoo Pass, or Haines
Bluff. Yazoo City and Greenwood have been
strengthened by the rebels, who have moved their
guns from the river front to the rear of Vicksburg.
During the high wind the rebel gunboat Vicks-
burg broke from her moorings, floated down the
stream, and was captured by Farragut's vessel.
Despatches from General Curtis, St. Louis, state
that a band of rebel guerillas captured the boats
Murdock and Sam Gutty, and that Colonel King
pursued the enemy, and, after two engagements,
completely ro►uted them.

The Federal forces succeeded in breaking up a
rebel camp, with 600 men, near
IVoodburg, on the
Ist inst. The rebels were dispersed and fled over
the hills. A number were killed and wounded, 30
were captured, together with 50 horses, a numberof
mules, 4 waggons, and the rebel camp.

The enemy are gathering in large force on the
Tennessee River above Florence, and are building
floats to cross the river, with a view probably to
reinforce the enemy at Vicksburg.
It is understood that no further efforts will be
made to raise negro regiments in the free States.

A mass convention of the Union Leagues of New
Jersey will be held in Trenton on the 16th iost.
No business of importance was transacted in either
branch of the Legislature yesterday. Both houses
adjourned early in the day.
Gold was not very active yesterday, but was
firmer, selling up to 155 a, and closing at 155 bid.
Stocks were generally better, with some irregularity
in the movement. Exchange
was about 170 at the
close. Money was extremely easy-5 to 6 per cent.
for call loans.

SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 18.

The Hamburg and American Company's steam-
ship Saxonia, Captain Ehere, has arrived off Cowes
on her way to Hamburg. She left New York at 6
a.m. on the morning of the 6th inst. She brings
12 passengers for Southampton, 28 for Havre, and
103 for Hamburg. On freight she has specie-
-114,000 dole. for England, 13,000 dole. for France,
and 4,655 dole. for Havre. She encountered severe
weather the first three days of her passage, and in
lat. 43.39 N., long. 48.18 W,, saw several large
icebergs,

SPAIN.
THE MINISTERIAL PROGRAMME.
MADRID, APRIL 17 (Evening).

In to-lay's sitting of the Congress the debate
upon the Ministerial programme was resumed.
General Concha stated that the Ministry de•
clined to submit to tutelage from any quarter,
but will accept the suppoit of all parties.
The Ministry has resolved to submit the Budget
to the discussion of the Chambers.

THE RUSSIAN AMNESTY.
WARSAW, APRIL 16.

The text of the Imperial decree, granting an
amnesty, has been officially published here. It is
not in conformity with the text given by the St.
Petersburg journals.
The amnesty is to be extended to those only who
have been drawn into the movement, so that the
leaders are excluded.

DEPARTURE OF THE SULTAN FROM
ALEXANDRIA.
ALEXANDRIA, APRIL 17, Evening.
The Sultan left here to day at 3 p.m. o❑ his re-
turn to Constantinople.
Ismail Pacha remained on board the Imperial
yacht till the last morning, and the parting was
most cordial.

relation to Pohi,nd Imd been submitted to the repre-
sen!alive of the Czir, Prince Gortschakoff, by his
Excellency the Duke de Montebello, in the name of
Napoleon III; And it is added that the like was
being done by their respective Ambassadors on
behalf of the British and Austrian sovereigns.
BOURSE, April 17.—The market continues heavy,
and the business done to-day has been at a decline
on the closing rates of yesterday. Threes, for the
Account, are now at 69f. 75c. Railway Share
Market inanimate. Th ,-.3market closed as follows :

it per Cents .. 97
Do. end month....
3 per Cents
Do. eud mouth 69 80
Credit Mobilier 1452 50
Do, end month 1453 75
Bank Shares 3:90
Credit Fonder 1500 -
EA IL,

Italian Loan 72 10
Do. end month 72 15
New ditto
Do, end month, 73 25
Ituscian
Austrian
Spanish Threes 52 50
Home Debt .. 5O 75
rAYS.
Cash. Account.
..... . 108 75 .. 1026
Northern .......0...... 1045 1047 50
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 1186 25 .. 1185
Geneva 445
Southern 775 778 75
Western ......
Eastern ... ..... 537 50 .. 537 50
Sardinian 465 .. 466
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragocsa 755 760 -
Ditto to Barcelona 380 .. 375