The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-12 00:00:00

:MEER.

THE AMERICAN BLOCKADE.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26.—The Government
has purchased the steamships Washington, Panama,
Oregon, end California, to be razed and used as
war vesids. Savannah, April 24.—The sloop
Eagle, Ifden with cotton and tobacco, outward
bound, was beached and fired in Warsaw Sound,
on Thursday night, to prevent her capture by the
blockaders. The crew are safe. Boston, April 29.
—The bark Lysander, from Cienfuegos, arrived
here. She reports, April 10, while standing in to-
wards Colorado Reef, about 20 miles distant, saw a
vessel on fire, probably the work of some of the
privateers ; tacked and stood off. On the 12th, 11
a.m., saw a small privateer schooner coming down
for us. The wind being light we could not escape
by keeping off. He was soon alongside, hailed u
ascertained where we were from and bound, and
ordered us to heave to and send a bolt alongside.
Captain Glover refused to comply, but called all
hands and ordered the small arms to be made ready.
The enemy must have seen the men coming aft
with a rush, and passing the guns to each other, as

we were only 10 or 12 rods distant. He then tacked
ship, and came under our lee again, and took a
good look, when he apparently concluded to let us
pass, as he said nothing, but ran a short distance
ahead, tacked ship, and stood for us again, came up
and asked my longitude. He then saw a small
vessel under my lee, and kept off for him. I think
he wanted me to send a boat so as to divide my men,
and make easier work for him. His crew were a
hard-looking set ; some barefooted, with red shirts.
The one that hailed the Lysander was an Irish-
man. My longitude was 83 45, lat. 23 18. Key
West, April 21.—The following captures have been
made by Admiral Bailey's squadron :—The boat
Alligator, the brig Atlantic (since restored, there
being no proof to warrant her condemnation) ; the
schooners Surp'ise (condemned), Florence Night-
ingale, Five Brothers, Charm, Brothers, John \Vil-
Hams, Ida, Clara (Mobile pilot-boat), Gipsy, Ascen-
sion, Anna Bee, Pacific, Theresa, Agnes (No. 3), Ida
(No. 2), Maggie Fulton ; the sloops Minnie, Enter-
prise, Rela wpago, Rosalia, Ranger, Clotilde. The
value of these vessels and cargoes cannot be less
than 250,000 dols. Despatches have been received
giving an account of a boatexpedition for the purpose
of scouting the coast between the Suwannee River
and the Anclote Keys. The sloop Helen, of Crystal
River. loaded with corn, was burnt, and the boats

made a movement towards a large schooner at
anchor inside, laden with cotton, but were arrested
by the fire of a two gun battery on the shore and a
number of riflemen concealed in the wood. After a
brisk action, the Confederates were driven from
their guns, and the schooner set fire, and entirely
destroyed. The Confederate schooner Alabama,

from Havannah, was captured off Mobile, on the
17th inst., by the Federal steamer Susquehanna,
and towed here. The Tampico (British schooner)
was also captured running the blockade from Sabine
Pass. New York, April 28.—The prize schooner
Clune, of Nassau, went ashore on Lewes Beach, near
the breakwater, on the 24th inst., and went to
pieces; all hands saved. A vessel arrived at this
port from Palermo reports the capture of the ship
Morning Star, of this city by a confederate privateer.
The ship was released on giving bonds, the cargo
being, probably, on English account. A brig
arrived at this port from Ponce, P. R., reports that

the privateer Alabama arrived off that harbour on
the evening of the 7th inst., and sent a schooner
tender into port for powder and coal, was supplied
by the Spanish authorities, and sailed the same
night. The steamship St. John arrived at this port,

captured by the steamship Stettin, while endeavour-
ing to make a Confederate port. The Stettin first
sighted her off Cape Roman. After giving chase
for two hours, the St. John was run ashore at Cape
Roman. The captain and crew (with the exception
of four firemen) escaped in boats. After 12 hours of
hard and laborious work and throwing overboard a
portion of the cargo (salt), got her off. Labourers
were yesterday removing the cargo of the Peterhoft

'rom the wharf to the Government stores, where

will be examined, and will subsequently be turned

over to the Prize Commissioners.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer on the

Treatment of the Blind.

The annual meeting of the members and friends
of the Association for Promoting the General Wel-
fare of the Blind, was held at St. James's Hall
yesterday afternoon. His Grace the Archbishop of
York occupied the chair, and was supported by the
Bishop of Chichester, the Bishop of St. Asaph, the
Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord
Ebury, Professor Owen, Mr. W. Cotton, Rev. Dr.
Kaynston, &c. The meeting was numerously
attended.

The CHAIRMAN having briefly explained the
objects of the association, the report was read, and
the Bishop of Chichester having moved its adoption,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then rose
amid loud cheering, and said,—l rise with great
satisfaction and cordiality to second the motion
which has been proposed by the right reverend
prelate. This association is not founded on the idea
that the blind, because they have suffered a great
and heavy visitation are, therefore, to be the mere
passive recipients of that which the liberality of
their fellow-creatures may bestow. It does not pro-
ceed on the idea that because the blind are so, they
have, therefore, ceased to partake in other respects
of that mysterious nature of which we are all par-
takers, with its immense capabilities and powers,
with its high hopes and great dangers ; for in all
other respects the blind continue to be sharers in
everything pertaining to us as men, and if I rightly
apprehend the idea of this institution it is this,
that while we minister to the wants of the blind in
a specific manner, yet that we still consider them
as rational beings, as members of society, as capable
of various purposes, as not intended to be sent
into a corner or to be excommunicated from us,
but as intended to bear their parts as citizens,
as enlightened and civilised creatures, and as Chris
tians. Employment is a blessing for us all, but it is
much more so for the blind. Employment t ) the
blind is the condition of mental serenity, of comfort,
and resignation. Employment to the blind is also
the condition of subsistence—that is, of honourable
and independent subsistence. The equipment and
strength of faculties is sufficient with the mass of
mankind to enable them by their labour to find the
means of support; but in the case of the blind it
comes somewhat short of that. Now the association
attempts to fill up the gap, but it does not supply
the blind with the means of living without thei,
own exertions. Is there anything harsh in that P
No ; it is the course which enlightened benevolen cet
dictates. In doing that we recognise the position of
the blind as beings belonging to civilised society, and
we do not remove them one inch furtherfrom_ thanthey are removed by the dispensation of God• i d
(Ap-
plause.) There is serious danger an
inconveni
once in all plans of benevolence
on
themselves and on
throw the blind too !ouc volence which tend to
to Solicit
I find in therule
osfetchoinad association it is stated
shall
one another.
employment
to
compelled
Pertsoonsbesvihno.
that "the immediate objecats .
those blind
aantdradtoe
introduce
h
forbe t o
want afford
of
work
blind," alms, or who may likely be tempted to do so; to
cause those unacquainted with _
and so
on y baying
strueted in some industrial art,
cordially concluded,
seconded
oaomn
di de
dm
the
oh
11 applause,oti
trades hitherto unpractised by the
ctZtt He
he
The motion was carried unanimously,•
maims of the association having and the
been advocated b Lord Ebury, Professor 0 y
wen, and other gentlemen,
a cordial vote of thanks
which the Was given to the chairman,
brought meeting to a close.

TB E LATE MURDER AT ALDERSHOT.--The
murder of Mr. Henry Holton, of Bagshot, appears
to be one of those unfortunate cases in which the
ends of
justice are likely to be defeated. Reward bills offering
£lOO for the conviction of the murderer or murderers have
now been issued more than two months, but, although the
police have been unremitting in their exertions, not the
slightest clue likely to lead to the apprehension of the
guilty party or psrties has been discovered. The deed was
without doubt committed under cover of the night, and, as
the body had been some days in the water when discovered,
the chance of unravelling the mystery surrounding the
crime was considerably diminished, and it is feared that
nothing further will be elucidated.