The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-11 00:00:00

Commence at '.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAIM ARK ET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
fins EVENING, THE BELLE'S STRATAGEM :
Doricourt, Mr. Howe ; Letitia Hardy, Miss Louisa Angel ;
Lady Frances Touchwood, Miss Ellen Terry.
Atter which, an apropos Dramatic Sketch, introducing a
Panorama of the Tour of the Prince of Wales in the East.
To conclude with BORROWING A HUSBAND. Pamela
Miss Maria Harris. Commence at 7.

THEATRE-ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under
the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTEE.

THIS EVENING, at 7, to commence with an Original
sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore,
Garden, H. Widdicomb, Mlss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee.
After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic
Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr)toque, entitled THE
DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham.
The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Fechter,
supported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. Widcß-
comDe, W. M'lntyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond,
id..
Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry,
Lavenue, and Elsworthy.
Stage-Manager, Mr. G. Vining. Acting-manager, ?Sr. 11.
Barnett.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE
Lessees, Mess• s. Lindua and Vining.
THIS EVENING the drama of AURORA FLOYD. Miss
Amy Sedgwick. MISS Henderson, and :lire• Simpson ; Messrs.
ii. Roxby, G. Melville, G. Belmore, C. Seyton, Wallace, and
Cathcart.
After which, KILLING TIME. Mr. Gee. Vining, Mr.
Seyton, and Miss Amy Sedgwick.
To conclude with a new whimsical Extravaganza, entitled
BEAUTIFUL HAIDE ; Helen e Sea Nymph and the Sallee
Rovers. Misses M. Oliver, Howard, Hudspeth, Hen-
dPrsun, and Murray ; Messrs. C. Seyton, G. Belmore, Fitz-
james, Moreland, and Cockerill.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHT.—
sole Proprietor and Manazer, Mr. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING (21st time) AURORA FLOYD. Miss
Avonia Jones, Miss H. Simms, Mrs. Billington ; Mr. Benj.
Webster, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. Billington,
Mr. Stuart, Mr. Sefton, Mr. Romer, Mr. C. J. Smith.
After which, THE TRIAL OF TOMPKINS. Bressrs. J.
L. Toole, Paul Redford, Sefton, Miss Kate Kelly, and Miss
A. Seaman.

Commence at 7.

TEI E THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
can be had Every Evening of

G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT,
NO. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

The Weather—Sun Office, April 11, 1863.

THERMOMETER.
Highest since Noon yesterday
Lowest during the night
This day at Noon 55
Wind—S.W ; cloudy.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tana DAY. —Morning, ih. 9m.—Afternoon, 711. 45m.
TO-Uointo-or,-Morning, Bh. 21m.—Afternoon, 9h. 3m.

.
...
I - 4
....... .
. :-,:i;;; 4( '-'• i 4i:
tilt
tilt
:Jr'''. - •A'a:p.."4"4, S

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1863.

The protracted length of the American struggle
has made all classes regret the infatuation which
induced our merchants and manufacturers to neglect
every other source of cotton supply save that which
any sudden turn of events might cut off without
notice. They are now forced by the pressure of
circumstances to turn their attention to those other
districts which, if they had been cultivated years
ago, would now be yielding a plentiful crop, and be
sparing Lancashire the evils of distress and pau-
perism. Unfortunately, this is one of those
mistakes that cannot be remedied quickly.
A supply of cotton sufficient to keep the
mills of Manchester in action cannot be
grown in a day. Nature will not hurry
her operations to atone for the imprudence or per-
versity of man, and the warnings so fruitlessly
uttered in the days of fancied security are now
heeded too late to avoid the misery of thousands,
although not too late, we may hope, to hasten some
mitigation of the distress. Had the capacities of
our colonies been earlier developed, we should never
have been left whollydependent on one source ofsup
ply, and that a foreign one, for the staple of one of our
principle manufactures and chief branches of com-
merce. Had Lord CANNING'S wise and enlightened
measure for the sale of Waste Lands in India been
carried into effect eome years ago, instead of being
obstructed by the self-willed ignorance of Sir
CHARLES Wool), vast tracks of land in our Indian
Empire might now be under cultivation and ready
to supply our pressing need. Had the resources of
Queensland, Jamaica, and other of our colonial pos-
sessions been earlier inquired into the Americans
would never have reckoned on our being driven to
take part in their internecine conflict by our own
needs. In the island of Jamaica, according to the
accounts furnished by eye-witnesses, tree cotton
grows to unexampled perfection in the hill dis-
tricts, while the specimens received from Queens-
land, notwithstanding all drawbacks, have satis-
the most sceptical. It is now many years since
some enterprising individuals undertook to
cultivate cotton on a large scale in that
colony, provided the Government of New
South Wales, which then had authority over
Queensland, would assist them by a temporary
grant of land. In accordance with the libe-
rality and foresight which has distinguished onr
rulers in every phase of this affair, the proposal was
refused, and another chance of avoiding the present
disaster thrown recklessly away. We referred the
other day to the testimony in favour of onr Indian
resources given by a thoroughly unprejudiced wit-
ness--:an American of the Southern States. He
warned his countrymen not to trust exclusively to
the cotton culture, for if the English ever really
turned their attention to the capacities of their
Indian possessions America would have no chance.
Had the resources of the Southern States never been
more developed we should scarcely have been able to
draw our immense supplies exclusively from thence.
To sit down idly and say that improvement is im-
possible, without making an effort in favour of the
contrary opinion, is not mach like English enter-
prise ; but, in truth, the false security Encouraged
by the plentiful supply of American goods was
seconded by the indifference of our Government,
which has persistently slighted any attempt to
open another source. It is only within a very few
years that English activity and capital has been
allowed any scope in India, and even now
the Indian Secretary refuses to provide the
means of water communication, so necessary for the
cheap and easy transit of heavy goods. In excuse
for his neglect of so important a means of benfiting
India, Sir C. WOOD endeavours to prove that the
result would only profit Lancashire, and takes
refuge in the sounding aphorism that he must rule
India, for the Indians. This is quite a new axiom
in political economy, it being generally thought
that large commercial transactions conduce
to the benefit of both parties ; and it
scarcely needs a professedly political eco-
nomist to perceive that a thriving trade
which would give a source of profitable employment
to the natives and identify their interests with those
of Englishmen would be productive of the best re-
sults. Now that public attention is once thoroughly
aroused, however, we may hope for a different
policy. The increased and increasing price of all
:the various goods manufactured from cotton brings
the want home to the doors of the most selfish,
there are
few Englishmen who do not feel moat
urgently the presence of that gaunt spectre in the
North which is turning one of the busiest and
most prosperous districts of England into
great the dis"
desolotion and ruin. But however

tress, there is no cause to fear for the future, pro-
vided only the requisite measures are taken with
promptitude and spirit. The results of the various
experiments already made have been most encour-
aging. The great drawback is that the cultivators
cannot feel certain of the manufacturers' support.
They fear that in case of peace the supply would
immediately be drawn from the old quarter, and
the new field find no customers. Surely, however,
our mercantile men can hardly be so infatuated
as ever again to place their whole depen-
dence on a foreign source of supply. We
trust that English enterprise will take the risk,
and secure us against such another national disaster.
Another field, recently opened, which is full of pro-
mise, is to be found in Western Africa: A com-
pany has been formed for its cultivation, and the
prospects are most encouraging. The climate, the
soil, and the population ready for employment,
offer every advantage, and we learn from a circular
recently issued to the shareholders, by a gentleman
who is himself largely interested in the success of
the company of which he has for the present
undertaken the preliminary management, some very
satisfactory particulars. He tells us that he has
long been interested in the development of the
resources of Africa, having had an establishment at
Aro, nearAbbeoknta, which the company in question
has recently purchased from him. He has, there-
fore, considerable experience in the matter, and in-
forms us that in 1851 he could only get one bale of
cotton from the Yourba country, but that in :859 he
received 3,447 bales from the same place—a more
rapid rate of increase than ever took
place in America, when it commenced
the cultivation of cotton. During this
time, he adds, his agents never paid more than
from Id. to Id. per lb. in the seed, or from 21d. to
4d. in the clean state. He refers to a recent num-
ber of the African Times to prove that cotton re-
cently consigned to him from the Niger district,
costing £4 18s. 61d., had realised a net profit of
£4O 4s. 11d., and that another consignment
from the same quarter, costing 6s. Bd., had
yielded £2 9s. sd. net profit. Such figures
as these are more convincing than argu-
ments, though it would be difficult to prove
why countries whose soil, climate, and other condi-
tions are favourable to the culture of cotton, should
not enter into successful competition with America.
There is another consideration brought forward by
Mr. CLEGG, the gentleman in question, which
affords an additional attraction to the West African
scheme. He says justly that the establishment of
large commercial companies which will give employ-
ment to the Africans at home will strike a deathblow
to slavery. When there is a profitable market for
labour, life will grow more valuable in the eyes of
the savage tribes, both among the rulers and the
ruled ; and the gradual introduction of some other
object and interest besides their eternal wars will be
in the words of Mr, CLEGG, "the most effectual aid
in civilising and christianising the vast population
of Africa."

The Russian policy at present appears to be to
take umbrage at everything that can possibly be
construed into an offence, and for its Govern-
ment to be as arbitrary and dictatorial in regard
to foreign Powers, as it is tyrannical and crush-
ing in its relations with those immediately under
its control. In pursuance of this scheme we find
that Sweden has come under the notice of that
aggressive nation, and stands arraigned under the
charge of having committed asts which were highly
offensive to Russia. " The Russian Ambassador at
Stockholm has peremptorily demanded explanations
from the Swedish Government. The Ambassador re-
quires to be satisfied regarding the attitude of
Sweden on the Polish question, and threatens, in
the case of not receiving a satisfactory reply within
the twenty-four hours, to demand his passports."
These are the latest accounts, and certainly most
unsatisfactory ones. After all this tirade, what do
the Russians gain by such a persistent course of
enmity to the Poles. The bitterness that is engen-
dered against that unfortunate land is manifested
in all their dealings, and is revealed in all their
communications with other countries. They ap-
pear to think that they have a complete
monopoly of the subject, and possess a divine right
to exclude all the rest of humanity from partici-
pating in it. It appears, from the various reports
that have been circulated, that the vessel, the
Ward Jackson, that is the original cause of all this
disturbance was fitted out by the Polish National
Government, and the reason of its arrival at Malmo
was, that Russian cruisers were in the Baltic and
Sound. Still it is said that the expedition would
have proceeded further if the conduct of Captain
WETHERBY had not : been so extraordinary.
Indeed, the arrangements of that gentleman have
given so much offence that Colonel LAPINSKI, the
commander of the expedition, and some others
have fcrwarded a protest to the English Consul
at Malmo, 'wherein they state their grievances, and
declare that Captain 'WEATHERBY broke the plain
and distinct conditions of the contract, that ever
since their arrival at Helsingford, "giving proof
of the most fiargrant unwillingness, he had reeourse
to all sorts of stratagems to impede their progress."
They go on to state that on their arrival at Copenhagen
he said he would not stop more than two hours, to
supply the ship with water; he suddenly left, with
the whole crew, except three hands, declared that he
would go na further. Therefore the expedition
was forced to disembark at the nearest port that was
indicated by the agents of the company at Copen-
hagen. Hence, their arrival at Malmo, which was
purely accidental, and does not appear to have
deserved, in any quarters, the vehement diatribes
that have been fulminated against it. It is uncer-
tain what course the Swedes will adopt in reference
to this complicated affair, but it is to be hoped that
they will stand firm, and not yield to the arbitrary
and uajust interference of Russia. In contradis-
tinction to that country in its independence, we find
Prussia making rapid strides to assimilate itself
with the tyrants of the North. The Minister of
War at Berlin has issued a rescript regarding the
Polish insurgents who may be found on the
Prussian side of the frontier. They are to be
treated in accordance with the convention that
was concluded between the Cabinets of Berlin and
St Petersburg in 1857, so that they are either to be
sent back to Poland or else imprisoned. Finally,
they are all to be handed ovar to the Russian Go-
vernment, if it is shown that they have committed
any offence, political or otherwise, against Russia.
As if this was not enough to cover any country
with ignominy, and its rulers with disgrace—we
find that still further arrangements are contem-
Iplated by the Government. They intend to quit
their so-called " passive attitude," and " while
proclaiming that the Chamber of Deputies has the
right to vote ;the budget, they are determined to
i dispense with the authority of that body, and con-
tinue to levy the taxes without the sanction of a
law of finance." Surely, this conduct is about
as impolitic and dangerous as it is harsh and
unjustifiable. Dark da3 s are in store for Prussia
if her .King and his Ministers pursue this head-
strong course, and follow this misguided policy.
They seem to be determined to carry out
their own views, and, like the deaf adder, to

hear and heed nothing that can check their
mischievous course. In this passage referred to

a double blow is struck at the cause of liberty at

home and abroad. The principles of a constitutional
government are violated at home, and as regards
other countries misrule and oppression are to run
riot because it suits the views of the authorities to
support other governments in their exterminating
purposes. A day of reckoning will surely come for
all who thus play false with the destinies of a great
people over whom they have influence, and trifle
with the momentous interests of a country that
Providence has entrusted to their care,

STEAM ACCIDENT TO THE JAPAN.

PLYMOUTH, Saturday Morning.

The steamship Alar, Capt. Back, of and from
Newhaven, for St. Malo, put in here this morning,
and landed 17 men belonging to the steamship
Japan, Capt. Jones, 600 tons, which left Greenock
on the 28th of March, for a trading voyage in the
China Seas. On arrival off the coast of France she
lay to for three days, it is supposed to take in more
cargo. On April 4, at 11 a.m., one of the condensers
of the steam engines, which are about 200 horse
power, exploded, and two firemen in the stokehole
were scalded, viz,, Alexander M'Duff, of Edinburgh,
and William Hamilton, of Downpatrick, seriously;
they were taken immediately into the captain's
cabin, transferred to the Alar on the 9th, and are
now in the Devon and Cornwall Hospital here. The
other 15 are seaman and firemen, who took advan-
tage of the proximity of the Mar, and are said to
have " backed out" of the voyage to China. They
left by train this morning for Liverpool, Ports-
mouth, &c. The Japan, which had a complement
of 80 men, has proceeded. The Alar had to lie to
in the Channel on Thursday and Friday, in conse-
quence of some trifling damages.

A TRANSATLANTIC VISION OF FUTIIRITY.—You
do you not know the Southern or the Yankee char-
acter as well as I do. They never knew or dreamed of
their immense strength before, and notwithstanding the
ocean of blood spilt and all that sort of thing, you will see
them consolidated before a year and waging war with both
France and England—in the one case, to drive the French
out of Mexico , and the war with England will be
made to vent their exasperation on some one, and to
keep the immense armies employed for a few months, and to
drive the English from off this continent. We want to
pension a million or two of soldiers with land warrants of
200 acres of land. To carry out this grand ideawe shall re-
quire the vast tracts known as the Hudson Bay Company's
possessions. In the prospect of a war with England or
Fiance we are having a gay time of it.—Manhattan,

AMERICAN ICE CROP.—The question of a supply
of ice for the coming spring and summer months is
beginning to assume a phrase of no little interest and im-
portance, as the most extraordinary winter that ever visited
America is gradually drawing to its close. If the ice-
king goes off without treating us to another sharp and de•
cisive " cold snap," the good people of New York, and all
who depend upon her for supplies of ice, will have reason
to regret the extreme gentleness with which he has demeaned
himself this season. For, by all calculations, the supply of
ice this year will fall far short of the necessities of the ordi-
nary domestic consumers, to say nothing of the tens of thou-
sands of foreign ones. One large ice-exporting house in
Boston ships to foreign ports no less than 80,000 tons a-year.
New York and Boston are the great ice emporiums for the
Western World. All the cities, towns, hamlets, and set-
tlements south of these latitudes are kept in icewater by the
1 indefatigable companies established in these two cities. No
less than 400,000 tons of ice are annually got in for this
market, and stored in houses built for the purpose at Rock.
land Lake, Hudson River, and other localities. Of this
large quantity, it is strange to say that only 200,000 tons,
or one-half of the whole supply, go over the scales, and
into consumption. The other half is wasted in the process
of dividing the blocks in the ice-stores, in cutting, shaping
the blocks, melting, and other ways. Rockland Lake, in
this State, is 200 feet above the level of Hudson River, and
abounds in fish, but is chiefly valuable for its pure, clear,
and beautiful ice. The village of Rockland Lake is
almost entirely occupied by people employed in the ice
cutting business. At the time we write, it is not im-
possible that we may yet have some days of severe cold,
and in such a case the Rockland villagers will be able
perhaps to make up for lost time. If not, then not more
than half a crop may be expected, at least from this State.
The intense cold which produces ice is, as a general thing,
a very rare occurrence so late as this, but in 1861 the Hud-
son River was closed by masses of impenetrable ice as late
as the 21st of March. In 1858 the River was thoroughly
frozen over in March. Pic-nio parties were held with a
good deal of freedom, and music and laughter frequently
resounded where now we see nought but a wild waste of
waters. A well-known preacher of Brooklyn has good
reason to bear this season in mind, for having, with a
party of friends, got out on the ice for purposes of
amusement, a mass became suddenly divided, and
the reverend gentleman, with several of bis associates, was
swept out to sea by the power of the current, and in all
probability would have gone to the bottom had it not been
for the vigorous exertions of the boatmen and other citizens
of New York.—New York Times.

DESTRUCTIVE FlRE.—Yesterday a fire broke out
in the extensive premises belonging to Mr. R.
Branam, cabinetmaker, carrying on business at No. 25,
Skinner-street, Bishopsgate-street. The flames when first
discovered were raging in the workshops at the back of the
dwelling-house, which was filled with partially finished
work, adjoining which was a timber-yard belonging to the
same person, filled with rosewood, mahogany, and other
expensive goods. The moment the discovery was made in-
formation was despatched for the Royal Society's escapes
and the engines. Meanwhile the police exerted themselves
in arousing the inmates of the adjoining houses. Fortu-
nately they were enabled to effect their escape in safety.
Three engines of the parish, under the direction of Engineer
Barton, quickly attended, closely followed by severalmanual
power engines of the London Brigade, under the charge of
Mr. Foreman Bridges. Next came two land steamers by
Shand and Mason, with powerful bodies of firemen and
Captain Shaw, the superintendent. By that period the
workshops of Mr. Branam were on fire from end to end,
and the flames were rising high into the air, lighting up the
whole district, They were attacking the building of Mr. W.
Button, in the same street, and another let out as a lodging-
house, No. 32, Skinner-street, as well as one numbered 44
in Primrose-street, belonging to Mr. J. Foster. Fears
were entertained that it would break into the premises of
Mr. D. Noble, 78, Long-alley. To avoid that, under the
judiciousdirections of Captain Shaw, the hose of the engines
were carried through Mr. Noble's premises, whence the fire-
men were enabled to attack the.conflagration, but they were
unable to get the flames extinguished until Mr. Branam's
workshops were burnt down, and the contents consumed,
The costly stock of timber in the yard was also severely
damaged by fire. The front house, occupied by Mr. But-
ton, is also severely burnt at the back, and the contents
damaged by fire and water. Similar damage has been done
to the premises of Mr. C. Champion, No. 32. The roof of
Mr. Foster's, 44, Primrose-street, and those of Mr, Noble,
78, Long-alley, are also injured by breakage, fire, and
water.

The correspondence lately published with regard
to the proposal for a railway of 50 miles across the
narrow strip of Siamese territory which separates the Indian
Ocean from the China Sea (known as the Isthmus of Kraw)
has tended to confirm the general opinion of the desirable-
ness of the work. By this line transit of mails and passen-
gers from sea to sea would occupy about twa or three hours,
while by the present route, through the Straits of Malacca
and Singapore, the time required for a sailing vessel is from
three to six weeks. A canal was at one time recommended,
but considerations of economy are greatly in favour of a
railway, and it is for a work of that kind that a concession
has been granted by the King of Siam. According to a
report from Captain Fraser and Captain Forlong to the
India Government, the line would probably cost less than
any railroad in India. In the steam service to Ceylon the
saving would be 56 hours in time and £50,000 in money,
apart from the indirect advantages that would probably
prove more important. For these and other reasons, the
report expresses an opinion that the construction of the
railway would be profitable, and that the communication
could be established for one-third of the capital the interest
of which is being expended yearly on mere fuel and the
establishment of running steamers. Finally, it is observed,
" holding in view that the line from Ceylon to Cochin China
is nearly straight, we are convinced that if Great Britain
does not take it in hand, France mast, with every chance
of a probable opposition to the Peninsular and Oriental
Company in their lino with Europe to Calcutta, vie
Madras." At the last date, however, the India Govern-
ment had signified that, although desirous of obtaining as
much further knowledge of the scheme as may transpire
from time to time, they do not feel at present justified in
incurring any expenditure upon it.
A WOMAN BURNT TO DEATH.--Yesterday even-
ing Mr. Langham held an inquest at Charing-cross
Hospital touching the death of Anne Burns, aged 27, the
wife of a labourer, residing at 18, Prince's-row, Newport-
market. It appeared that on Saturday evening last the de-
ceased was undressing one of her children, when, in turning
round, her dress, under which she wore a crinoline, came
in contact with the fire in the grate and was instantly in
husbandrushed into
happenedthe
a t street,th a screamingt moment
t loudlycome
ufpo r
and hel
flames. She with some difficulty opened her room door and
pull-
ing
o
off her clothes and wrap • ping a rug around her the fire
officer, said he saw the deceased when was extinguished. She was put into
Charing-cross Hospital. William T resident medi-
cal She was severely burnt about the back,lege, arms, and
head. She never rallied, but died on iston
five o'clock from the shock to the system occasioned by
about
lied by the
burns. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death by
fire, ae Travers,
w andas
atdpbam.ykietnilteedtor.