The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-13 00:00:00

CAPE COAST CASTLE.

A serious misunderstanding has arisen between
Quacoonda, King of Ashantee, and the British Go-
vernment, and the merchants of the place are appre-
hensive that the Ashantees may ravage that portion
of the country under British protection.
At Grand Bussam fever was raging fearfully, 22
out of 25 white people had died.

SIERRA LEONE.
This part of the coast is quiet, and trade steady,
On the 19th March his Excellency Governor Black-
all, accompanied by his son, left in her M.jesty'ri
steamer Rattlesnake, to visit the President of

Liberia.
Her Majesty's steamer Lee was at Fernando Po
on the 28th February ; her Alajesty's steamer Ad '
'venture at Lagos on the 10th 31arch; her Majestys
steamer Ranger at Accra on the
12th; and her
Majesty's ship Pekin at Madeira on
air the 2d
tpril.
The mail steamer Macgregor Ld lefASierra
Le one on the 15th March, and the mail
steamer
Armenian was spoken off Teneriffe, at noon,
On the
Ist April.

Importing colour on the leaf pre-
en
epassing off inferior leaves as in thkt usual
kinds. , always
Hornimnn's Tea is uncoloured, therefore /• Ys
good alike, Sold in packets by 2.280 agents.
v T tP:or Ct ihnignes Taa

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f.,<F,Dn.
t ‘ g \ poi: -b-, CM", ii.„,,,
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LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1863.

The Europa's batch of intelligence from the Ame-
rican seat of war shows that no progress whatever
of any import has been made on either side. If
anything, the advantages gained of late—negative
advantages at the best—have been won by the
dogged resolution of opposition rather than
by anything like their former enterprise in attack
manifested among the Confederates. Almost
all the news from the Mississippi is of a character
unfavourable to the interests of the Northerners.
Commodore orAdmiralFannaGuT,es he is called now,
his non-success having apparently led to his pro-
motion, though he seems to have really made good,
according to the first accounts brought to us to that
effnt, his advance past Port Hudson, in defiance
of the batteries there--is, if we may judge from
one rather significant account contained in those
last advice?, in evil case, nevertheless. A Philadel-
phia newspaper of April, putting forth the intima-
tion here referred to—asserting, that is to say, that
General BANKS has made another movement against
Port Hudson, the object of which was to send the
land force past Port Hudson to assist Commodore
FARRAGUT ! The Admiral or Commodore having
slipped by the Port Hudson batteries, it is true,
with his flag ship, the Hartford ; but—having done
so—finding himself afterwards in somewhat of a
quandary, or as the Yankees might call it a
fix, by reason of his very isolation. Vicks-
burg, so far from being placed in jeopardy again,
as yet, would seem, moreover, to tell a tale decidedly
adverse to the Federals—the reported sinking of
one of the Northern steamships and disabling of
another of them, being, according to these latest
fragments of intelligence, fully confirmed. Another
unsatisfactory screp of information, by telegram,
relates, it may have been observed, that a
Federal brigade having been started on four trans-
ports to Port Hudson for the relief of Admiral
FARRACMT, the Confederates had cut the levee at
the bend of the Mississippi, the transports ground-
leg, and being with difficulty floated off again.
While other troops, with the like destination, having
been landed seven miles below Port Hudson,the Con-
federates again cut the levee, compelling the troops to
re-embark, the attempt being thereupon also, in that
direction abandoned. The accounts, in fact, are
simply monotonous—relating little else than petty
defeats for the Federals and petty successes for
the Confederates. The evil to both one and
the other all the while becoming every day more
deplorable, as they slowly or rapidly, by fits and
starts, increase in magnitude and intensity.

The full particulars of the melancholy catastrophe
which has lately deprived our navy of so many able
officers and brave seamen, have just reached this
country. They are—as is usually the case with nar.
natives of such disasters—full of painful interest.
Yet, while the prominent feeling is one of deep re- 1
gret for the many valuable lives thus lost to their
homes and country, there is a degree of mournful
consolaetion to be derived from the heroic bearing
of the men in the hour of trial. The sea is certainly
the Englishman's element, and the national character
never shows to greater advantage than when afloat.
The daring of the soldier, urged onby the attendant
excitements of the battlefield and the reckless con-
fidence which frequent lucky escapes may have
c
given him, can scarcely compare to the coolness
and obedience to orders which are so often shown
by men suddenly removed from the routine of a
peaceful profession to situations of imminent peril.
where there ie no "doctrine of chances" in their
favour, but every life is in simu,taneous peri!. It
ill true that the same qualities may often exist in
the soldier, as was proved in the instance of
the Birkenhead, a lose that reflected greater
honour on the sufferers than the most bril
liant, mihta y achievement. a shipwreck is

the hour of trial which tests every man's
mettle, and we may derive some mournful satisfac-

tim from the reflection that in the present instance
the test was so nobly stood. The Commodore was
heard to say, while he and the other officers were
awaiting on the mizenmast the possible return of
the boats, that whatever happened he would
be the last to leave the ship. The men,
animated by the BE4IIIO sense of duty re-
mained at their posts until ordered by their com-
mander to mount the rigging. Many of them,
according to the testimony of Lieut. HILL, were
washed overboard in obeying orders. The same
officer tells us that " from the commencement and
during the whole proceedings nothingcould exceed
the coolness and decision of Commodore BURNETT,
C. 8., the commander and officers, all in their sta-
tions, sentries on the spirit-room and store-rooms
whilst the good feeling and steadiness of the men
were beyond all praise." Such testimony as this
must at least lighten in some degree the grief of the
survivors, by showing that those they mourn met
death while nobly fulfilling their duty—a privilege
which all may envy.
It appears that the unfortunate vessel was steer-
ing her course in exact accordance with the bear-
' lags laid kown in Captain DRURY'S chart and sail-
ing directions, " since the publication of which,"
says Captain JENKINS in his report to Lord
CLARENCE PAGET, "the middle banks and small
shoal on which the ship first touched have shifted
bodily and considerably to the north."
Surely there has been some terrible neglect some-
where if this fact has long been known in the
vicinity ! The directions of the Admiralty chart
were known to be not only incorrect, but ab-
solutely dangerous, it was not only an ineffi-
cient guide, but a positive traitor, and yet
our ships, if strangers in those seas, were suf-
fered to go to their ruin! Surely it should be some
one's business to verify these charts from time to
time. in latitudes where changes are frequent. The
public have long grumbled at the enormous outlay
1 at the Admiralty, but their complaints will be
raised louder still, if, Iwith all its lavish expendi-
ture, it can furnish no better charts to our seamen
than mere guides to destruction. It were better to
send them on their voyage with no chart but
their compass and lead, than to direct them
right upon shoals. The Southern Cross, a New
Zealand paper, in referring to the recent
disaster says :—" It has been for a long time known
to nautical men that the Channel laid down in
DRURY'S chart has shifted considerably, and:that
to steer strictly in accordance with the directions
would ensure the destruction of any large vessel.
Commodore BURNETT and Master STRONG (than
whom a more efficient mariner did not hold a
commission under her MAJESTY) were strangers
to the Manukan harbour, and as the change in
the Channel had never been officially notified, the
ship's course was kept in accordance with the
Admiralty chart. The fearful calamity which
has cast such a gloom over this community, and
inflicted such a heavy loss upon the nation, was
the result."

The Orpheus, a fine new corvette, of 21 guns,
1,706 tons and 400 horse-power left Sydney on
.Tan. 31, and after a fine passage to the coast of New
Zealand, sighted land on the morning of Feb. 7,
being then about eight miles from the bar of the
Manukau. The ship proceeded on her course, steer-
ing east, till one o'clock, and then N.N.E., being
the courses laid down, as the master told Lieutenant
HILL, in
,Captain DRuRY's sailing directions.
" As we approached the bar," says Lieutenant HILL,
"there was nothing more to see, in the shape of
rollers or sea or., than I had been led to expect.
The signal from the pilot station had been flying
since 11.30 a.m., ' Take.the bar;' the. Commodore
and Master were very attentive with the chart
on the bridge, and very particular in the steerage
of the ship, and in the orders to the engine
room to keep the steam at Command." At half-
past one the first warning of the coming catastrophe
was felt, the ship touching slightly on the bar.
Ten minutes later she was fast on the bar, the engines
and screw never moving, and the rollers sweeping 1
away her bulwarks and two of her boats. Every pos-
sible effort seems to have been made by the commo-
dore to preserve his ship and men. As soon as the
full extent of the disaster was evident, he despatched
one of the midshipmen in the starboard cut-
ter with the ships' books and other papers, and
Lieutenant HILL was ordered to take the pinnace
and endeavour to obtain assistance. The Wonga
Wonge, who rescued many of the crew was, at the
time of the Orpheus striking, steaming out of the
south channel, yet, strange to say, four hours
elapsed before she reached the wreck, and in the
words of Captain JENKINS, " critical and invaluable
time was unaccountably lost." It is difficult for
those safely on shore to picture the feelings of Lieu-
tenant HILL and his comrades, when after two
hours pull against the heavy rolling see, they
spoke Mr. WING in the pilot boat, and learned
from him that he had no boat to sand to the
Harrier to report their distress; that there was a
lifeboat hauled up on shore, but no hands or
means to get her afloat, and that it would take
12 men to do so. At length they reached the
steamer and returned with her to the wreck where
their comrades had passed some terrible hours since
they left. The ship parted at about half-past six,
and at eight was completely broken up. The
men saved were rescued only with very
great risk to themselves and to those who
assisted them—the sea on the flood-tide having be-
come high and dangerous. Every exertion was
made by Lieutenant HILL and the survivors of
the crew to rescue their unfortunate shipmates, as-
sisted by the two vessels the Wanga-Wanga and
Harrier. It was a clear night, and occasionally
fragments of the wreck, would drift past with men
clinging to them. One of the young midshipmen
saved by this means is the hero of a touching
incident. He is the son of Sir HENRY BARKLY,
Governor of Victoria, and was supposed to be
among the lost. Captain JENKINS had just writ-
ten the news to his father, when the little fellow
walked into the cabin to the surprise and de-
light of all. He is a fine boy of twelve,
and his simple recital of his sufferings
moved all who heard him. The Maories behaved
with the greatest kindness, showing the utmost
readiness in saving lives and tending the ex-
hausted survivors. The same Southern jour-
nal already quoted complains that if there
had been a proper pilot establishment at Popin-
ga help might have been earlier available.
This is another point that should be inquired into
by the authorities, since the precious hours that
elapsed before aid reached the Orpheus might have
sufficed to save all hands. It is a heavy price to
pay for experience, bnt at least let the loss we now
have to deplore be the means of preserving us
from other?, and let us not have again to lament a
catastrophe which has sacrificed so many gallant
lives if mortal skill or prudence can avail against it.

The news about Poland seems at last to promise
something satisfactory. It was useless to expect
any advantage to accrue by force of arms in the
long run, however protracted might be the struggle
or gallant the resistance. When the Russians
grant a full and entire amnesty, it is evident that

they do not expect to put down the insurrection so

easily as they at first said they could. The terms

of the manifesto would be satisfactory if they were
not arranged in such a manner that they can easily be
perverted from their pretended object of clemency.
In the first place it is said that " the only excep-
tions are with regard to ordinary crimes, and to
such offences as have been committed by the army.
Then farther on, coupled with the promise to main -
tain the institutions of Poland, it is remarked that
" they shall be developed according to the necessi-
ties of the age and the country." Of course all this
is open to various significations and the whole thing
is so vague and uncertain that it is extremely
doubtful if the Poles will agree to the terms offered
to them. It is certainly most inconsistent to men-
tion in the terms of the amnesty that exception will
be taken against those who have committed ordi-
nary crimes and offenders in the army. The Rus-
sian soldiers may claim the monopoly of these to
themselves; their conduct has been described as
almost fiendish. " They are provided, as in the
Crimean war, with fiery and poisonous spirits, with
which they are taught to drink the health of the
Emperor, the officers have no power over them."
It requires all the unblushing effrontery of
Russian assurance to dictate terms to other
lands based on the good conduct of its
troops, when at home all the evils referred
to are increased tenfold. Another passage of the
manifesto that is suggestive of most doubtful
results is this one—" The obligation rests with
us to preserve the country from the return of
disorder, and to open a new epoch of political life,
based upon the rational organisation of adminis-
trative local autonomy ; we have already laid the
foundations of this autonomy in the institutions
which have been granted, bat whose efficacy has not
yet been pat to the test." In the first place, how
can anyone rest assured that the measures
which it may be deemed essential to check the re-
currence of these " disorders" as they are called,
may not be of a class synonymous with that hate-
ful decree which was the origin of this widespread-
ing revolt, and the iniquity of whose character has
fired with indignation the states of the civilised
world, and stamped with infamy the rulers who
attempted to carry it out. The system by which
the Czar ALEXANDER the Second, the mighty Au-
tocrat, the Emperor of all the Russias, sought to
increase his army by seizing Polish youths
at night, and dragging them from their homes,
was only worthy of a slave-catcher who kidnaps
his prey by every possible device, and utterly in-
compatible with the dignity and decorum due from
one who occupies so exalted a place, and in the
presence of the nations of Europe, represents the
majesty of the monarch of its largest dominions.
In this whirl of discordant events, it is satisfactory
to notice that England, France, and Austria have
addressed an intervention to the CZAR. Such a
representation can hardly fail to produce some
beneficial result.

Compared to these Powers, Prussia:shows to great
disadvantage, and, indeed, displays motives that are
highly questionable, and a zeal and assiduity in
forwarding the views and furthering the interests
of the despot that go far to assimilate its rulers with
the harsh and unjustifiable governors whom they
seem resolved to adopt as prototypes. The man-
ner in which the Conventions have been renewed
speaks volumes for the animus that exists in the minds
of KING and Ministers at Berlin. It can hardly be
hoped that the Chamber of Deputies will do nine',
to arrest this enormity, bat at all events, for the
honour of their country let them protest against
such a violation of her honour and such a desecra-
tion of the rights of of her states. If the terms of
the instruction given by the Minister of War to
the Commander-in-Chief are carried out to their
full extent, it is to be questioned if the voice of
united Europe will not give a greater share of
blame to those who practise such treachery at Berlin
than those who concoct cruelties at St. Peters-
burg and carry them out at Warsaw.
The latter are following their ancien regime, but
the former are wilfully stultifying themselves, and
forfeiting the good opinion of their neighbours, and
disappointing the expectations of their people, to
gratify inordinate desires of gain, and follow a sub
servient policy to obtain unworthy ends. Another
great wrong that is effected by such conduct is,
that it increases the evil and the wrong it concedes
to. For an independent nation like Prussia to follow
in the wake of a crushing and exterminating policy
like that of Russia is to make bad worse, and to hold
out inducements to that bigoted and benighted
Power to run riot in its uncontrolled course. The
powers vested in the Prussian authorities by the
stipulations of these last treaties that have been
revived are simply preposterous. Persons of all
classes who pass the frontiers are to be arrested
and subjected to examination. Can anything be
more absurd as well as more unfair than this
adhesion to the cause of tyranny by the
rulers of an enlightened nation ? One thing
is certain—that whatever results ensue from this
protracted strife for Poland, so far as regards
the reputation of Prussia, this will have been
a most disastrous episode in her career. Long years
of quietude, and even some great achievements in
the march of progress, will not efface the recollec-
tion of this base truckling to a despotic influence,
and this striking dereliction from the course that
the principles of justice and the dictates of honour
alike would have commanded her to pursue.

ROYAL I rALIAN OPERA;