The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-23 00:00:00

Commence at 7.

ROYAL. LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter.
BEL DENIONIO (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated
Every Evening until further notice.
THIS EVENING, the Comedietta, by W. Gilbert, entitled
UNCLE BABY.: Mess B. Widdicombe, .I.G. Shore, Charles ;
bliss P. Le -lerei, and CArlotta LeClerzq.

After which, at Eijit o'clock, BEL DEMONIO, a Love
Story, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's `'ltalian
Chronicle ," by Mr. John Brouvam. Principal charac-
ter by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles,
lirou;•hsm, Emery, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford,
Collett, Andrews, Sims ; Miss Kate ferry, E. Lavenue, Alm
Lee, and .11lss Elsworthy.
Doors open at half-pist 6—commence at 7.

LEAH.-EVERY NIGHT,

cular purpose, or bent upon reaching what point it
particular, as their destination. The present mail' 3,
however, as we have intimated, explain all tl ,at
needed explanation in the last. The tidings oey
bring to us, account for that notable movem' vat of
LEE'S, by the results they relate. Gen. Bur ZISIDE
has been defeated—his antagonist, General BRAGG,
having been enabled to accomplish that achi
.evement
of his defeat, by means of certain timely
reinforce-
ments. Remembering how far apart th' a confront-
ing Northerns and Southerns under BU. INSIDE and
BRAGG are from the confronting main Armies of the
Federals under MEADE and the Confe d crates under
LEE, it will be appreciated all the -more readily,
even by the unprofessional observers c,f these events,
how masterly again have been the manceavres
organised by the Confederate Commander-in-
Chief. The plans of LEE in regard to
in regard to BURNSIDE, are
MEADE, and
still to the last perfectly harmonious. By
reason of those plans being adventured upon
and successfully carried out, bis main army (di-
minished as we know, and thus diminished, more-
over, for very good reasons indeed)—LEE'Smai
army falls back before the collective advance of the
Federals under MEADE : an advance to which the
latter have been tempted by the above-mentioned
diminution of the Confederate forces, their diminu-
tion, that is, by the sum of those very troops de-
spatched from them in hot haste away into Ten-
nessee. The Confederates, in fact, as the result of
this astute manoeuvring of LEE'S, have fallen back
south of the Rappahannock, south of the Rapidan
They have simply !
withdrawn thus to their old
position south of the Rapidan—the Federals in
following them up so far, gaining, in effect, nothing
whatever from their antagonist, beyond capturing
about half of a small body of men who had made a
foolhardy resistance to three carp of MEADE'S
army on the north side of the Rappahannock.
While these things were occurring as to the
relative positions occupied by the main armies
of the Federals and Confederates, the latter
were signally worsting the Federals under
General 13URNSIDE in Tennessee There, at that
point, the key to the mystery is discernable. We
now learn, upon sufficiently reliable authority,
seeing that it is General GRANT who reports the
fact to the Federal Government at Washington,
that two of General BURNSIDE'S advanced positions
had been attacked by the Confederates, and that the
forces occupying them had been captured. Rumours
of the ugliest character were reported to be flying
about when those tidings left the American shores,
the darkest, the gloomiest rumours as to General
BURNSIDE having been subjected to a really disas •
trous discomfiture. Rumours they appear to be,
moreover, sufficiently well founded, if only for inas-
much as they seem to be borne out by the an-
nouncement of General BURNSIDE'S compulsory
resignation. Elsewhere, among our telegrams of
this afternoon, will be found a remarkably suc-
cinct and detailed narrative, from the hand
of General LEE himself, recounting, in the
form of an official report to the War
Department atßictimond, the circumstances leading
to, and attending upon, the late strategic movements
that have taken place between the Rapidan and the
Rappahannock. To this remarkable despatch we
would here direct very particular attention. It
directs a keen and vivid beam of light through a
dense and hitherto, in parts, all but impenetrable
haze of confusion.

The condition of the labouring classes during

the winter season is generally a matter of some
anxiety and importance, especially when, as at
present, we have indications of somewhat severe
weather. We have not begun the winter very
satisfactorily in the metropolis, for we hear every
day of the large numb .rs who apply at the unions

for relief, as well as for nightly admissio❑ to the
casual wards. To such a height has this evil in-
creased that a regular discussion has been opened
on the subject, and the questions of district asylums,
temporary relief and shelter, and the obstacles
which exist in the way of any better administra-
tion of the Poor Laws, or any improvement in
their construction, have become matters of daily

talk and argument. We have received, too, several
painful and startling warnings of late to remind
us that our social arrangements are by no means
infallible, since men, women, and children can die

n our midst of absolute want and starvation. While

the question of how to dispose of these nightly
wayfarers is remaining under consideration there is
another point which presses on public attention, and
that is the vast numbers failure of whose employ-
ment drives them to join the band of paupers. We
shall probably be none of us much surprised to

learn that several hundreds of needlewomen are
already reckoned among them. The wearying
nature of their employment, the long stretch of in-
cessant labour which it requires to earn the barest
living, and the miserable sums earned in proportion
to the labour, have all been matters of cona
mon note since HOOD sang his stirring
" Song of the Shirt." Since then needlewomen's
societies and institutions have been founded, their
cause has been advocated by philanthropists, and
helped forward by much kindly charitable labear.
One of the most considerable of these establish-
ments is located in Hinde-street, Manchester-square,
where everything is conducted in the most business-
like manner, and where the managers undertake to
supply good work on fair terms. This institution
has been in existence for several years, and was at
one time very well supported. Unfortunately, such
is no longer the case, and a letter addressed by the
manageress, Miss BARLEE, to our principal morning
contemporary, reveals a state of distress among the
female workers of London which is startling at this
early period of the cold season. Miss BARLEE
states that for several years the society with which
she is connected has kept several hundred women
constantly employed, but that this season, owing to
lhe failure of the supply of work, at least 400 have
heea deprived of employment. This is bad enough,
since most of these women are entirely dependent
Q 4
their for
us at,h
needle support, and affirm that they
mistmiss
tgekittot ?t:3 Union if that fails to keep them. But
revelations go still further. She tells
forth work grinstale applied to the large City warehouses
lhswers which she received showed
the distress
to
many
hand
twice as Partial but general. We have
we can find employment
for." " Thousands o3t as
Machinery
will work for a few
womaner has superseded hand-
pweorircko.,a, doay."no poor
some holland coats to make,egot, as a great boon,
each of which took six
lepers' close work, and for
eaeh the payment was
question of
)1 d The introduction of the se Win
. g machine has
hurried on the consideration
of the
ment for women. TL,
he needle has
failing them altogether. Hun-
suitable employ
always been e laborious, and
poor, uncertain
re-
source, source but it is now
dreds who helped out a scanty income by its
means
are now deprived of the acceptable addition to their
wants ; thousands whose sole means of support it
was are now hovering between pauperism and vice.
What is to be done with them and for them ? Can-
not our active social reformers devise some relief
for need so pressing, extremity so undeserved ?
The great origin of the evil undoubtedly is that
mistaken custom or habit of thinking which, until
the last few years, forbade a woman to earn her
living other than by teaching, clom:stic service, or

needlework. One consesuence is the crowds of ill-
paid and half-educated governesses, who struggle
for situations, each trying to outdo her fellows in
the extent of her professions and the mode-
ration of her charges. Another result is to
be Peen in the letter before us. Had some
of these hundreds of women been trained in
early life to bookkeeping, watchmaking, or other
trades where delicacy of finger, care, and skill are
the chief requisites, how much misery might have
been saved ! But all these occupations require to
be learned carefully; not caught up in a hurry
when the pupil must work or starve. One branch
of employment, indeed, there is which would em-
ploy large numbers of respectable women in work
well adapted to their strength and tastes, and open
to admit those whose youth missed the training
needed for so many occupations. We allude to shop-
serving, which, in our " nation of shopkeepers," con-
' stitutes no unimportant item of the national indus-
try. Why custom, whim, or prejudice should be
allowed to stand between women starving for want
of work, and an employment for which they are
especially fitted, is a question hard to answer in
these days of practical sense and earnest endeavour.
It would appear to an impartial observer, that in a
large proportion of the shops of this busy metro-
polis women are much better suited to the task of
serving customers than men, and yet in how few
do we see them ? If our large linendrapers were
to inaugurate the change, how great a blessing
would they confer on hundreds of desponding
females. Let those who by act, word, or influence
can promote the cause, not hesitate in doing so, since
the wages inadequate for an active and intelligent
man would support a woman in decency and com-
fort. Meanwhile other plans must be tried, and
other schemes set on foot, that we may hear no
longer of " thousands" of either men or women being
in our midst, willing to work, but unable to obtain
even such wretched employment as will bring them
in a farthing and a half an hour.

The new Chamber of Deputies has inaugurated
its career in a worthy manner, Indeed, there has
been evinced a spirit and decision that must eventu-
ally exercise a beneficial influence on public affairs,
and in the peculiarly trying position of politics at
present it must be a great relief to those anxious
about the future to note this significant starting
that has been effected. The Ministers have adopted
a wise course, whether merely to carry out their
game and gain a particular point, or whether be-
cause they are really impressed with the importance
of events, and seek to propitiate those of whom
they are afraid —at all events, the latest intelligence
from Prussia affords, in its way, more satisfactory
information than has been sent for some time lately.
The Ministry have published a Royal decree, which
is in conformity with the article 63 of the Consti-
tution. " This decree withdrawsithe order of the
Ist of June, referring to the prohibition of news-
papers and periodicals." This is certainly a step
in the right direction, and too much credit cannot
be given to those earnest and energetic members
who have fought the good fight, and so soon
gained their end. The decision of the Ministers,
as expressed in this decree, has soon followed on the
intelligence conveyed of the discussion on the sub-
ject in the Chamber. Whatever may.be the duration
of this Chamber, or whatever success may attend
their efforts, and good results crown their deli-
berations, it is a most satisfactory solution of
one great difficulty, and a notable conclu-
sion to a disturbing discussion, to notice this ad-
justment of the ordinance question. The rescind.
ing of such an order is the best thing that could
possibly befall the nation. We may now indulge
in some hopes that may not prove groundless, and
entertain some idea of an improvement taking place
in the prospects of Prussia; at all events the ardent
patriot, the earnest wellwisher, and the philosophic
observer of events in the country may rest satisfied
that there will be some outlet for public grievances,
some expression for wounded feelings, and some
record of national wrongs. Thu notion of suppress-
ing all free mention of important events, all unre-
stricted comment on the mutation of measures, and
all indignant or disappointed remarks on great na-
tional changes, is in reality sapping the foundation
of the power and prosperity of the country. A more
short-sighted proposal never emanated from an infa-
tuated Cabinet, or was sanctioned by a mistaken
Monarch. It is well that at the eleventh hour a
patriotic Parliament has come to the rescue, and
in defiance of difficulties, and regardless of opposi-
tion, declared their honest conviction, and professed
their honest purpose. It is to be trusted that this
arrangement may be a final one, and that the day
may never come when the country of Prussia suffers
such decadence and degradation, and her sons allow
themselves to be so stultified. In a great measure
a nation that has once gained any sort of pre-emi-
uence has its fate in its own hand, for if it use its
opportunities and guard its privileges, it will be
next to impossible for any King, however tyranni-
cal, or any Ministry, however unworthy, to circum-
scribe to a great degree the limits of public privileges,
or to invade the stronghold of popular rights, It
was once remarked by Mr. DISRAELI, in alluding to
social advantages, that when nations fall, it is be-
cause a degenerate race intervened between the
class that created and the class that is doomed."
This is very true, and therefore the anxiety
of all lovers of freedom and discerners of
events.. The issue that waits on the actions of
the Prussian representatives is a mighty one, and
far off generations may have to bless or curse the
day which sent them forth to the trial ground to
fight the battles of their country's rights, and vindi-
cate her claims before the nations of the world.
In the Upper House it is something to notice that a
protest was made against the proposal of the para-
graph " which expressed gratitude to the Govern.
ment for the measures adopted against the spread
of the insurrection in Poland." Unfortunately, the
earnest appeals of Count BRINSKI did not produce
any decided alteration in the terms of the address,
but at all events they must have produced some
beneficial effect upon the Assembly, and the dis-
cussion called forth the virtuous indignation of
Herr VON BISMARK, who expressed himself in no
measured terms concerning the suggestions of the
Count. It would be ludicrous if the subject were
not so serious, and if the consequences were not so
lamentable, to mark the want of sequence in the
arguments of the Minister, and the absurdity of
some of his opinions. When he goes on to state,
however, that "Goverament has a political, social,
and moral interest in the movement of Russian
Poland not bsiug victorious," it is sad to reflect
that these cruel words, and heartless sentiments,
ate uttered by one in so important and influential a
position, and charged with such solemn responsi-
bilities, As is usual, the case with these one-sided
arguers, and these wiseacres of politics, who speak
with what has been aptly described as "splenetic
authoritativeness, and factious sophistication," we
find. plenty of abuse of opponents and the ordinary
s"re of unfounded statements and inexcusable
inuendoes.
Thus Herr BISMARK actually announces
to us the fact, that a movement must not be
allowed to be successful
"which soils itself with
unheard-of crimes , and which delights in the
apotheosis of
assassination." It would be
difficult to discover
whether this sentence
;s most remarkable for its insolence, die-

tinguished for its injustice, or characterised by its
falsity." Well might the poet have exclaimed in
his matchless delineation of the horrors of the Polish

Invasion,—

" Oh I sacs ed Truth, thy triumphs ceased awhile,
And Hope, thy sister, ceased with thee to smile,
lVhen leagued Oppression poured to northern wars,
Her whiskered pandoors, and her fierce hussars."
There is nothing which more strongly marks the
style of these apologists or defenders of tyrannical
measures than the extraordinary departure from
veracity which marks their statements, Their
cause is so bad that they are obliged to start by
denying its attributes, and falsifying its work-
ings. So we learn from the Emperor of all the
RussiAs himself that his policy is a merciful one,
and all his actions inspired by the rn,,st benig-
nant motives, and also Herr 13ismARK kindly in-
forms us that the Poles arc to blame fur their
reckless unconscionable conduct. What must they
do to horrify men who throw infants in their cradles
out of window, and subject females to the most
cruel sufferings. All these vituperations are idle
in the extreme, because those who judge both sides
will not be biassed by them. The CZAR and his
myrmidons may exhaust themselves in eloquence
through the length and breadth of his dominions,
which exceed in extent the limits owned by any
other power, but they will never bring Christian or
heathen lands to believe that the men who are
trampling the soil of Poland beneath the iron heel
of conquest, and denying the slightest quarter to her
aged, her sick, and her infirm, are walking in the
ways of pleasantness, nor can the people crushed by
such cruelty and tortured by such inflictions be said
to tread the paths of peace. Nothing is more sig-
nificant than the vehement defence of the Russian
policy, which has been constantly made by Herr
BIsMARR, and therefore it especially behoves the
Chamber of Deputies to take heed to their efforts,
that the storm may not find them unprepared for
its assaults, or taken by surprise at its sudden
advent. Steady courage, firm endurance, and a
resolute spirit can alone avail to nerve them for
the day of trial, and to give them a happy issue
and a successful conclusion out of the fitful
struggle.