The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-28 00:00:00

General Lytle on Terms of Peace.

A correspondent of the Macon (George) Telegraph
writes from Northern Alabama an account of several inter-
views which he had with Gen. Lytle previous to the battle
of Chicamauga, in which he fell. He says As Gen.
Lytle was a quasi acquaintance, and a most accomplished
gentleman and soldier, and, withal, having this headquar-
ters on my farm, I availed myself of his invitation to visit
him daily, and had much free and unembarassed conver-
sation with him touching the war and its prospects. He,
in common with the whole army, seemed to entertain a
strange unvavering faith, amounting to fanaticism, that
they would march unobstructed to the centre of
Georgia, and crush the rebellion before winter, 'and
thus all their anxiety was about the escape of Bragg, with-
out relieving the tedium of the wearisome march by the
excitement of battle. Disgusted with this constant explosion
of bombast, I said--' Gentlemen, restrain your boasting till
you get beyond the shadow of yonder mountain, and I pro-
mise you some of the hardest fighting of this war, or of any
war upon this continent.' Lytle asked why I said so.
You declare, mating no secret, that you go to subjugate
and rob of all their property. and subject to the Africans, a
race of proud white men, noted for their pride of character,'
I replied ; 'and can you expect they will not fight you,
men, women, and children ? Make the case your own, and
woul you not say, if we skulk or fly, if these hold their
peace, the very stones will cry out, and call from their
sepulchres the old fathers in their grave-clothes to drive
back the invader ? Hereafter you have fought on the fron-
tiers under the guns of your forts and gunboats, where.
half the population were your friends—now you invade a
united people, burning with intense hatred towards you,
made so by the savage brutality of this war. I can have
no hand in it, but depend upon it fight awaits you, and
final defeat.' Lytle replied, ' All this can and will be
overcome by numbers. We shall be backed by 15,000
men yet, beyond the Ohio, and we can and will put down
this rebellion, no matter what it costs. We have been
fighting too long, as you say, on the frontier ; we shalt
hereafter strike at the centre, the heart of the rebellion,
and that is Georgia. We will make Chattanooga our
base to operate upon the cotton States, and so make short
work of it.' Well, grant for the sake of argument, you
subjugate the South and free the. negroes, and restore the
Union—what sort of a Union will you have ?' said I. 'Did
you ever know a grown-up white man whipped into a union
and love with his enemy ? Would not such a union only
breed rebellion ?' Colonel Harrison, of Ohio, promptly
said, ' If they are still rebellious we will kill them." And
may you not expect that their sons will avenge their
death ?' I asked. 'We will kill them too, and replace
them with loyal Africans,' was the reply. ' General
Lytle,' said I, • this abolition war cannot be congenial
to your nature; you are descended from an ancient Caro-
lina family. You cannot wish to see the Southern people
exterminated." Nor do I,' he replied, if they will
cease to trample on the flag and return to the
Union." Both sides have vindicated their honour and
courage,' I added; you are the strongest, therefore propo-
sitions of settlement should come from your side. Let your
Congress annul Lincoln's Abolition Proclamation, and
guarantee to the South security of person and property, and
propose to them to return under the compromise proposed
by the Southern Commissioners at Washington in 1860,
and rejected by the Northern Congress, and stop this sui-
cidal war.' Your leaders repudiated that compromise
then, and would not receive it now; they are for total and
eternal separation, and we are just as determined that this
war shall be eternal, if necessary to prevent it,' he replied.
I am, and ever have been, a Democratic, and
nineteen-twentieths of every brigade are Demo-
crats, but no follower of that miserable demageofmutee,
Vallandigham. We are not Abolitionists.
believe the
those traitors as bad as you can.
negro was created for slavery, and for nothing else, elals' trial,
man of intelligence who doubts this after s,oooieyae
fool
and the
seems to me a fanatic or fool. Old Abtehem_
and yet
about many things--negro equaiity among
wast e right.rmasters
fight Your
ao us r;
I hold as a war measure, his proclamationi
Thie foolish, and
slaves feed the rebel armies, while tltirce,
any means to prevent this is legitima •
and dispersed a
halliathsiestrtehbaetl
uwehteanndour shallarmbey put
dwoi cwkne d
a,
ta nwd
huant jet: sett! flea
ebal et rea be edl itohne
arermacyh,edl
athme
fheeratrhteoLfTatiheenraeebeiltlawona,s
13 se but
Southtthheereis ta
be
ee a invited
peace
nbearc beak
aotnl
etyhi ea
gt er
with s yaorura pe
ar or
rebels."
e 8.

A PATENT FOR THE USE OF ARSENIOUS ACID
as a mordant for the now familiar coal-tar dyes, has
been taken out by Mr. Perkin. The printed or dyed goods
such
e colours.
i
are fixed by steaming, and washed in the
Usual manner to
separate the excess. It is remarkable that the compound
important ends, both in the
production
0 f arsenic sanh showed ed s
fixationom e
ofthese

[. I DIE BIRKENHEAD RAMS.. lir
vli e are informed on
undoubted authority that
the Messrs. Laird have
received several bona fide off
themselves and all the ere for their celebrated iron•
clad rams from friendly
have
ould rest of the world. Messrs. Laird
Powers who ail, at peace with
the
ed
construction positivelyit would declared that the vessels ate not for sale;
thus
seem that they have no desire to shirk
the responsibility a proving that they took the order for
of the ships in the first instance from pat-
ties whose connection wit:either one or the other of the
American belligerents it will be difficult, if not impossible,
to
show, The last offer for the purchase of the "rams ~
was refused only in the early- part of this week.—Army
and 2 -avy Gazette.
GENERAL 111EAGHER.—According to the follow
ing extract from the BostoraPilet, the reported cap-
ture of General Meagher by the Confederates was without
foundation :—" We are pleased to learn that the statement
published on the 7th instant, that General Thomas Francis
Meagher was captured by the rebels, during the recent
movement of the Army of the Potomac, is entirely false.
He was on a visit to the remnant of his old Irish Brigade
the advance upon the enemy was d dor ere , and, as
might be expected from his previous carter, which has
been remarkable for undaunted courage and l
p uck, he
went with them into the front of
danger—but
he was not taken prisoner. He returned with them
across the Rapidan, and is now the
guest
Corcoran, at Fairfax Court-house. Isis reception
of General
Gby his
l
old comrades and brother generals, throughout the entire
army, is said to have been most cordial and enthusiastic.

Editors of Newspapers,

The statistics of the last Decennial Census show that in
861 there were 1,673 persons engaged in literature in the
capacities of authors, editors, and writers. Of these 1,52.8
were men, and 145 women. Bearing in mind the great
spread of education in Great Britain during the past ten:
years, it.is remarkable, says the Atheneum, that the above
numbers should differ but slightly from similar returns la
1851, At that period the numbers professing to be engaged
in literature were 1,501 males and 109 females. As may b&
expected, of the 1,673 persons recorded in 1861 as living by
the profession of literature, more than one-half (795) reside
in the Metropolitan district.
There is nothing to prevent Mr. Cobden, remarks the
Saturday Review, from imitating, if he pleases, the example
of those choice spirits who supply London news to the
American papers. He is at liberty to publish the names of
the persons whom he knows or guesses to be the editors,
the contributors, and the correspondents of the Times. He
may glean or invent facts illustrating their private life, an• .
may describe, if they have ever had the pleasure of dining
in the same company with him, the kind of wine they pre-
fer, and the dishes to which they are partial. It is by reve•
lations of this sort that the inquiring American strives to
allay the curiosity of his countrymen, and to strip off the
irritating veil of anonymous journalism. Mr. Cobden might
do all this, and yet the wisest way would be, we think, to
take no notice of him. There are certain minor annoyances
to which every man may be subject who adheres to a course
a butt it large.ie very It
annoying
isn 0
y hi
ng of conduct proved to be, on the whole, beneficial to the
country
highly desirable
a esirliatiatllee
mtoahnave
who
is no more
duels,
pub-
licly horsewhipped by a big man should have no quicker
and more animated mode of getting redress than bringing
his triumphant enemy before a police court. In the seine
way it may be hard for a sensitive man to be told that he is a
coward and a libellous scoundrel, and that his name in full
and all his wickedness shall be revealed in the Morning
Star. But an editor must learn to bear this, because it is
for the public good that anonymous journalism sh, uld go
on. And, practically it is proved that society, when it has
found out that a thing is desirable, can generally manage to
carry it out. The disuse of duelling might have led to in-
tolerable arrogance on the part of bullies no longer in fear
of fitting punishment, or to nervous men shrinking pain-
fully from the imputation of screening their fear under a
politic dislike of duelling. This has not happened, because
society, seeing that if either of these risks became
common, duelling could not fall into disuse, deter-
mined that neither the bully should bully with impunity,
nor the nervous have_ cause to feel ashamed. The bully
was simply cut in society, and the nervous men encouraged,
and there was an end of the whole difficulty. In the same
andthey would
way, anonymous journalism exposes the criticised to be
the critic to
languageted
aursee d
manifestly about
not dare to say openly. Society in a great
be wrongly
wrongly a attacked aek ed
suspectedfrome
f sayingpersonal
secretly.
what
Measure reme-
dies both these evils. If public men aretrtehaetmedtiheunoss
iftghtehajedournal to obscurity. It sinks out of
small clique, or are determined by :cejuuserrftillay-
private considerations,
governing classes, and de-
rives circulation aulle
lti newspaper,
ttetaiewhoboneslnepdi°. anePl itenhlnri ;1 educatedon
t h e
rives a precarious support from anodther hand, the anonY"..ll!
those to whom such language
J
'ournalist or editor is the
columns of the Morning c
honest and abiliety
-tar, • is taken of
no great notice
denounced, even in Lou
it, and the world of nevvspaper readers is content to take its
own measure of the
studies. The next time the editor -71 is threatened
with an exposure of
his
reealeditor of tdh
address by an in-
furiated popular orator, nhineeanthat he will resolutely
abide the coming of this 7e"stroke of fate, and we will
venture to prophesy he
mighty .
it.
nofesthe articles it
he will survive it.
There was
a time, says the London Review, when the
English aristocracy affected a disdain for newspaper writers
and editors, But sounder and more generous views prevail.
Men of letters now receive a gracious welcome into the best
society ; and the journals to whose responsible managers
every good house is open, offer the brightest examples of
the self-respect, good faith, and courtesy which belong to
good society.
The revolution in modern journalism has effected an im-
mense change in the relative positions of public speakers
and public writers. In the days of Pitt and Fox states-
men
gave the tone to journalists, In the present day the
newspaper instracts the statesman. It drags to light abuses,
collects opinions from practical men, winnows the chaff
from the wheat, points the way to reform, and hands the
question over to the statesman when it is ripe for legisla-
tion. The public orator, when backed by the press, may be
said to be irresistible ; but unless he is aided by the news-

;per writer, he has little power over public opinion. 11r.
Cobden is himself an illustration of this " modern instance."

toH ids
ecma roel
iesrha
tehaencaogrint tl
ao h
wr
s;a s had
lie began
twoptha sobees .
listened He la bu
too ed
by
the public as the press took up the cause of free trade ; and
he knew the battle was won when the limes cane out
and declared the League to be a " great fact." Mr. Cob-
den's opinions against the Russian war were quite as strong
as against the Corn-laws. Yet he incurred so much unpop-a-
-1 Irity, and his sentiments were held to be so unpatrioticy
that he was obliged to retire from the West Hiding, and his
lieutenants were beaten in the headquarters of free
etreaudte.. He is an energetic and persistent advocate
of Parlia-
mentary Reform, the extension of the rtrra
ting down of the estimates, the impolicy of constructing
fortifications, the advantage of giving small freeholds to
labouring men, and the policy of conceding every de-
mand, however unreasonable and humiliating, that may
be made by the Federal Government. Upon all
these topics he feels strongly, He urges them in
season and out of season. The speeches with scrupulous but Times reports his
minuteness. But the ill-requited fidelity and
powerful voice that enforced, echoed,
and reverberated his Free-trade speeches to the furthest
confines of civilisation, has in these latter days been silent
or menacing. The orator wields no longer the bolts of Jove,
but is himself struck by the thunder of Olympus. He has
measured himself against the despised newspaper writer,
and has received a fall. .Hine aka laeltrymee l He can
make no way with the press, and public opinion is therefore
dead against him.
There never was a time in the history of mankind when
the newspaper editor and newspaper writers had more occa-
sion to magnify their office. The life of modern intellect is
becoming more and more determined to the daily news•
papers.

THE CHRISTMAS AMITSEMENTS.

DRURY-LANE.

The pantomime at Drury-lane may be truly
characterised as a wonderful success. Never on any
former ozcasion has a more joyous and happy
audience assembled in the magnificent national
theatre than on " Boxing Night," and most
certainly never was good humour higher in the
ascendant. Tne stalls and dress circles were occu•
pied with a brilliant and fashionable company, the
pit and upper boxes were filled to overflowing, and
the galleries were one seething mass of her Majesty's
lieges, each of whom had determined to "go in"
for a nix It of thorough enjoyment. Of
course there was the usual r‘cognition be-
tween. the galleries and pitites, the harm-
less but unpleasant pelting with orange peel,
but then no one gave vent to his ill-humour, and
these who did not exactly see the joke of the
thing,calmly allowed themselves to be shot at with
the good-tempered remark, " It's Christmas-time,
let all enjoy themselves." The entertainments com-
menced with the good old-fashioned but jovial
piece, " A Roland for an Oliver," but, as usual, it
was gone through in dumb show, notwithstanding
the characters were supported by Mr. Addison,
Mr. Walter Lacy, and Miss Heath. The panto-
mime was the attraction of the evening, and the
descent of the green curtain on the introductory
piece was hailed with delight. The new grand
pantomime of " Sinbad the Sailor, or the Great Roc
of the Diamond Valley and the Seven Wonders of
the World," is from the pen of Mr. E. L. Blanchard,
who has now for more than a dozen years been the
author of the grand Christmas annuals presented at
this theatre, which has become both renowned
and remarkable for its productions of that
peculiar kind of entertainment. The success that
invariably attended Mr. Blanchard's former pro-
ductions has, if possible, been exceeded this year.
The dialogue is witty, pointed, and telling, the
situations capital, and the plot the very essence of
pantomimic drollery, The prompter's ring for the
overture was received with a hearty cheer; and
then the band, of course, gave the usual introduc-
tory movement of hurried music, and then follow.
ed a favourite melody. This year it was "Pretty
Polly Perkins ;" and no sooner did the gods catch
the first notes of their favourite than they all burst
into the chorus—
proud as a
Oh I she was as beautiful as a butterfly and

Queen,
Was pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington-green,
in the most enthusiastic and delighted manner.
At the termination of the overture it was a question
with the audience whether they should not have
their jolly song again,
but the splendour of the
opening Beene settled the question, and certainly
we have never seen anything more strikingly
picturesque than "The Pyramids at Sunset ;"
on the one side a gigantic Memnon—on the other a
coiossal Sphinx. The scene introduced an interview
between the shade of Cheops and first the Spirit of
the Nile, and next intrusive and audacious Young
:England, who, arrayed as a Volunteer and exhibit-
ing the slender proportions of Miss Rose Lecletcq,
had come to read the true riddle of the Sphinx by
discovering the source of the Nile. We grieve to
Bay that author, artist, and actress alike showed a
sad irreverence towards the tutelary protectors of
Egyptian mysteries. Who does not know the pe.
culiarity of " Memnon's broken image sounding,
'mid desolation tuneful stili"—of the legendary
Memnon which gives forth musical strains when
the sun's rays fall on it. The huge Memnon of
Drury-lane bellowed in hoarse sepulchral notes,
seeming to issue from the deepest caverns of the
earth, a song to the familiar air of" Old Bob Rid-
ley," in which the audience also joined in chorus.
The Sphinx, in its turn, asks Young England a
conundrum—" When is a horse not a horse ?" but
the downy young Volunteer is too much for anti-
quity, and solves it by saying, " When it's turned
into a field." Having thus done the Pyramids,
Memnon and the Sphinx, Young England pro-
ceeds on his discovery of the source of the
Nile. This was an exquisite scene. Deep rich
foliage, sparkling waters gleaming in the moos
—a moon across whose disc fleecy clouds floated
frequently es in the real and open sky—stars tran-
quilly shining down, and numberless Dive or Peris
Cling the foreground, made up a picture which,
with all its fantasy, was positively realistic in the
perfection of its composition. Mr. Beverley was en-
thusiastically called for, and had to come for-
ward and bow his acknowledgments. Then fol-
lowed the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor,
which disclosed many comical situations and
startling scenes. Sinbad was; personated by Miss
Lizzie Wilimore, who made her first appear-
ance in London, Miss Wilimore was entirely
successful. With a pretty bright face, a graceful
figure, shapely limbs, and an easy unconstrained,
but vivacious and effective style, she well merited
the frequent applause which she received. Excel-
lent, too, was the acting of Master Percy Resell, who
played the Old Man of the Sea with irreaistible
quabetness and drollery. The scenery to illustrate
tie vicissitudes of Sindbad the Sailor—is magni-
tnt—never has the renowned Beverley produced
"eh wonderful effects. The Valley of Die.-
in°uds, with the descent and ascent of Sinbad, is a
most extraordinary " sensation" scene, and the
beauty of transformation is positively beyond de.
ecriptioa,,
What with showers of diamonds, the
geld 101141 of the trees, the radiance of
descending sFens and the Bright Fairies of the
CM:mous biluaond an effect is produced which
(1
positively ,4%
description. The audience were
in ecstasies, 1,,0t.
n Mr. Beverley and Mr. R.
Roxby had to appsB4 and acknowledge the plaudits
of tho vast assemblage, After the transformation
scene we were intro!,:,"4
to a double set of Clowns
(Messrs. Boleno and Lahti
of eanatl Equine)o
fPantaloons (Messrs.
Barnes an d Morris),
(Messrs. Cormack
and Saville), and no less tpan
three Columbines
(Madameßsftno and the
es Gunnies). The
Misses Guneiss, it should be Raul
+ed many brilliant
dances in the early p irt of at, pantomime. The
humours of the second part were of the usual kind
and kept the audience in perpetual mirth.
All left
the theatre aratiaed and delighted Isish the exer-
tions of Messrs. Falconer and Chattettose