The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-08 00:00:00

on an incomparably wider scale, seems likely to take place,
in regard to the negro population, as bat veen the two rival
Presidents. It appears that shortly before the beginning of
the war the whole black community in the United States,
slave and free, amounted to about 3,656,000. It is not easy'
to compute the present number of slaves in the Confederate,
territory with precision, but it may be assum ed that they
form about two-thirds of that number. The ar ea of all the
slave States combined is 844,000 square miles, so that the
25,000,000 of acres which the half-million of slaves are
offered, if they take the field, will be readily set apart front
the landholdings of the whites. Meanwhile it is believed
that there will be no great difficulty 07 delay experienced in
finding arms for this vast host of men. The "runners"
under the nominal blockades of the Northern fleets have
probably supplied an immense store to the Southern ports.
The great experiment on which the Confederate Government
has now resolved is doubtless not one free In m difficulty.
But, if the slaves had been generally unfriendly to their
masters, they would probably have found man,v opportu-
nities for revolt while the strength and flower of the Euro-
pean race were drawn away into distant fields of battle.
This resolve of the Richmond Government may pcssibly
prove conclusive of the issue of the war, both by real 9n of
the immense reinforcements which it may place at the dis.-
posal of Leo and Beauregard, and through the advantageous
moral impression which it will, on so many grounds, oler •
cise on the views and policy or Europe.

MURDEROUS ASSAULT BY BRIGANDS.

The Indt:pendente of Naples relates the following atroci-
ous crime committed by a party of brigands in the district
of Bisaecia :—" On the 24th ult. seven armed men knocked
at a farm house about midnight, asked for provisions, and
then went away, taking by force the servant, a fine strong
girl, 23 years of age, with them into the forest. There she
found herself in the midst of the whole band, consisting of
30 men, and was compelled to yield to their desires. At
daybreak they consulted with each other as to what was
to be done with her ; upon which she earnestly begged with
tears to be allowed to go home ; but they replied that would
not do, since she might reveal their hiding-place. At
length a brigand, named Sacchitiello, stepped forward,
and in a tone of protection engaged to accompany her
to the end of the forest by a peculiar path. They had
not gone far, however, before he suddenly stabbed her in
the neck, and twice in the abdomen. The poor girl fell,,
but seeing she was not dead, he fired his musket at her,
but only wounded her slightly in the hip. He reloaded his
musket, put the muzzle to her breast, and fired ; but by a
convulsive movement his victim pushed the weapon away
with her arm, and the ball penetrated into her body in a
slanting direction without killing her. A third time the
assassin loaded his gun, and fired at her three steps off--
the ball penetrated under the right arm-pit, went along the
ribs, and came out at the abdomen. The miscreant thinking
he had despatched her for certain, then went away, but,
strange to say, the poor creature had only swooned, and on
recovering managed to draw her mangled body to a neigh-
bouring hut, which however proved to be deserted, and a
she was sinking with thirst, and could find no water, she
lay down to die. Meanwhile a company of grenadiers had
been approaching the forest, and taking measures for ascer-
taining the whereabouts of the brigands. Two of their
scouts had been creeping along the bushes for some time,
when they perceived two brigands who were looking for the
body oI the girl, but becoming suddenly aware of the pre-
sence of the grenadiers, they took to flight. The soldiers
immediately after found the girl weltering in her blood,
and carried her to their camp. The officer in command en-
deavoured to induce some peasants to convey her to the
nearest hospital, offering them payment, but they refused
under various pretexts, which showed that they were rather
favourable to the brigands than otherwise. At length three
grenadiers undertook the duty, and sha was taken to Aqui'
lonio, where, strange to say, the surgeon expressed a hope
of her recovery."—Galignani.