The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-30 00:00:00

The Confederate Mission to Washington,

The correspondence between President Davis and
the lion. A, H. Stephens, relating to the Confede-
rate mission to Washington, has bt::en published.
It is evident frozn these letters that the of-j-,,ct was
rot a political cne, but relerred exclusively to the
exchange of prisoners. The following is the letter
of President Davis :

" Richmond, July 2.
" Hon. A. H. Stephens, Richmond, Va.
" Sir,—Having accepted your patriotic offer to
proceed as a military commissioner under a flag of
truca to Washington, you will receive herewith
your letter of authotity to the commander-in-chief
f the army and navy of the United Ststes.
"This letter is signed by me as commander-in-
chief of the Confederate land and naval forces.
" You will perceive, from the terms of the letter,
that it is so worded as to avoid any political diffi-
culties in its reception. Intended exclusively as one
of those communications between belligerents which
public law recognises as necessary and proper be-
• ween hostile forces, care has been taken to give no
pretext for refusing to receive it on the ground that
it would involve a tacit recognition of the indepen-
dence of the Confederacy.

" Your mission is simply one•of humanity, and
aas no political aspect. It objection is made to re-
ctiving your letter on the ground that it is not ad-
,ll essud to Abraham Lincoln as Pcesident, instead
AcommAnder-in-chicf, &c., then you will present
the duplicate letter, whicn is addressed to him as
President, and signed by me as Presid« nt. To this
;otter objection may be made on toe ground that I
,m not recognised to be President of the ContederPcy.
In this event you will decline any further attempt
o confer on the suhj-ct of your mission, as such
conference is admiesib:e only on the tooting of per-
'ect

My recent interviews with you have put you so
u ly in posse,sion of my views that it is scarcely
neetssery to give you any detailed instructions,
even were I at this moment well enough to at-
tempt it.

"My whole process is, it one word, to place this
war )n the footing of such as are waged by civilised
people in modern times, and to divest it of the
savage character which has been impressed on it by
our enemies, in spite of all our efforts and protests.
War is full enough of unavoidable horrors, under
all its aspects, to justify and even to demand, of
any Christian ruler who may be unhappily engaged
in carrying it on, to seek torestrict itscalatnities, and
to divest it of ail unnecessary severities. You will
endeavour to establish the cartel for the exchange
of prisoners on such a basis as to avoid the constant
difficulties and complaints which arise, and to pre-
vent for the future whet we deem the unfair con-
duct of our enemies in evading the delivery of the
prisoners who fall into their hands; in retarding it
by sending them on ei.cuitous routes, and by de-
•aining them, sometimes for months, in camps and
prisons, and in persisting in taking captive non-
combatants.

" Your attention is also called to the unheard-of
conduct of Federal officers in driving from their
homes entire communities of women and children,
as well as of men, whom they find in districts occu-
pied by their troops, for no other reason than be-
cause these unfortunates are faithful to the alle-
giance due to their States, and refuse to take an
oath of fidelity to their enemies. The putting to
death of unarmed prisoners has been a ground of just
complaint in more than one instance, and the recent
execution of our officers in Kentucky, for the sole
cause that they were engaged in recruiting service
In a state which is claimed as still one
of the United States, but is also claimed by
us as one of the Confederate States, must be re-
ore,sed by retaliation if not unconditionally aban-
toned, because it would justify the like execution
in every Stare of the Confederacy, and the practice
is bat birous, lessly crud, air can only lead to
the slaughter of prisoners on both sides, a result too
eorrible to contemplate without making every effort
to avoid it. OA these and all kit dred subjects you
Nil! consider your authority full and ample to make
•uch arrangements us will temper the present cruel
cuaracter of the contest, Find full confiaence is pieced
to your judgment, patriotism, and discretion, that,
while ettrr3itig out the objets of your mission, you
will take care that the equal rights of the Confede-
racy be always preserved.—Very respectfully,
(S gneri) "JEFFERSON DAVIS.'
Mr. Stephens concludes his report by stating:
—" Toe effort, for the very many and cogent
reasons set forth in your letter of instructions
to me, to see if these differences could not be
removed, and if a clearer understanding
between the parties as to the general conduct of
he war could not be arrived at before this extreme
measure should be resorted o by either party, was
no less in accordance with the dictates of humanity
rhan in strict conformity with the usuages of belli-
gerents in modern times. Deeply impressed as I
was with these views and feelings, in undertaking
[On mission and asking the conference, I can but
express my profound regret at the result of the effort
made to obtain it, and I can but entertain the be-
,iel that it the conference sought had been granted,
mutual good could have been effected by it ; and if
this war, so unnatural, so unjust, so unchristian,
and so inconsistent with every fundamental prin-
ciple of American constitutional liberty, r must
needs' continue to be waged against us, that at
east some of its severer horrors, which now so
minently threaten, might have been avoided."

Postage on Letters, &c., for India and China,
by French Packet,

The following arrangements have been made with the
French Poet-office by which, after the Ist August next,
letters and printed papers may be forwarded to India and
China by the French line of mail packets, at the same
rates of postage as are chargeable on letters and printed
papers cent via Marseilles for conveyance by British
packet :

Letters addressed to Aden, Ceylon. Madras, Calcutta, and
Pond,cherry—Not exceeding loz , 10d ; above oz. and
not exceeding 1 oz., to 81; above loz and not exceeding
2 ozs., 3s 4d ; aoove 2 ozs. and nut exceeding 3 ozs., os ;
-ach additional ounce, is Bd. Letters addressed, to Cochin
China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore—Not ex-
ceeding # oz., is 4d; above oz. and not exceeding 1 oz.,
2s 81; above 1 oz and not exceeding 2 ozs., 5s 4d; above
2 ozs. and not exceeding 3 uzs 8s; each additional ounce,
4. Bd.

Newspapers 3d each, not exceeding 4 oz. Other printed
papers not exceeding 4 oz., 61. above 4 oxi. and not ex.
ceeding 31b, Is ; above ;lb and not exceeding lib, 2s ; every
additional alb, is. Leiters, &,.,intended to be forwarded
by these packets must be specially addressed—" Franca
Mail Packet for Marseilles."

Upon letters for Ceylon the postage must be prepaid, but
upon those for the British posees.ions in Inui and Hong
Kong, the postage may either be paid in advance, Or left to
oe paid on delivery, at the option of the sender.

In all cases, however, where the postage id not prepaid,
al additional rate will be charged on delivery.

The prbpa) went of postage on letters for Pondicherry,
Saigon (L:ochin China), and Shanghai (at whi, h places
France has Post-office agents) is optional, Without any fine
for those sent unpaid.

The postage on newspapers, books, and other printed
papult ann•t in all cases be prepaid according to the regula-
lieu in force with respect to similar articles sent by the
Br it ish packets.

The French packets leave Marseilles on the 19th of each
month fur Alexandria, in correspondence with a line from
Sutz proceeding to Aden, Point-de-Galle, Madras, Cal-
cutta, Siugapere, Cochin Caine, Hong Kong, and Shang-
hai. Letters, &c., intended to be forwarded by them must
be posted in, or reach London, at the latest in time for the
day mail to Fi fume of the 18th.

PROPOSED MATNFItUNK UNDhRGROUND
RAIL-
WAY.—A cumpail
ip schemedoeiirtganio
rouanti
111dwI ar
liney. of highlyl gentleman
is is now in course of formation, for
dylis,etporuraposeerfecctasryrystiening
o:llllumttitt.khtreud
coo:un railwayu n ca n
is t
commenceo T proposedhep
at sTraaiLn.
ford, in the county of Essex, to be carried down the Bow,
Mile end, and Whi echapel roads, through the City, down
Holborn, Oxford-street, and Bayswater-road, and terminate
at Shepberes-bush in the county of Maillesex. In con-
nection with the construction of this line of railway, it is
also suggested that tour lines of rails at the least should be
made, and chambers should also be constructed for deposit-
ing gas and water pipes, telegraph wires, &c., and for
any other purposes that way be considered advisable.
The result of such a system of communication being carried
into effect would be not only to relieve the overcrowded
street traffic of the metropolis, but to confer immense ad-
vantage on the community at large, and the only regret is
that the realisation of the grand idea jf Mr. Baylis has been
so long delayed. As a commercial speculation there cannot
be a doubt of its proving remunerative, and Mr. Baylis has
our best wishes for success in his great enterprise.