The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-09 00:00:00

27t. by h 3avy cannonading was heard at Orange
Corti 't f louse (where, in consequence of this same
heavy r cennonading, a battle is supposed to have
been then and there taking place)—on the afternoon
of ti te very next day, the 28th, it was stated at
New York that there was no further news from
Virginia ! Yet—by reason of what was vaguely
and • aiysterionsly spoken of as certain " unfavour-
able military rumours," gold rose on that same
28th .at one leap from 431 to 471 premium ! Yet—
all the while that gold was making this very
sin inter leap—" no further news from Virginia !"
ais rise of gold, this denial of news—have at any
':ate, together, a vary suspicious significance.

The weekly meeting of the Manchester Central
Committee presented some interesting features.
The noble Chairman communicated to the members
the answer which he had received from the Homo
Secretary in reference to matters connected with
the Public 'Works Act. In this reply, Sir GEORGE
GREY promises that every effort shall be made, on
behalf of the Government and the Loan Commis-
sioners, to reduce the preliminary expenses of the
loans in question to the smallest possible minimum.
It is to be hoped that this promise will be strictly
adhered to, and that no unnecessary formalities will
be suffered to consume the time and money which
at this season of the year are so especially precious.
The report of the Secretary gives evidence of that
uncertainty in the prospects of the cotton trade
which those who are well qualified to judge have
already foretold as too probable. The numbers in
full work have decreased nearly 18,C00 in the past
month, while the lists of those on short time and
out of work show a corresponding increase. There
is no especial ground for uneasiness in this state-
ment, as such fluctuations have been foresees and
calculated upon. During the winter months it is
too probable that variations in the numbers em-
ployed will be very frequent ; and it is even said to
be probable that the present month will show a
considerable diminution in the quantity of work,
owing to the state of the money market, although
that, as we have before observed, is partly due to
the cotton trade itself. Of course, the decrease of
work has produced a corresponding increase of pau-
perism, so that 1,300 additional persons are now in
receipt of relief from the guardians, and nearly
2,000 are entirely dependent on the relief funds. It
is satisfactory to know that the estimate of the com-
mittee allowed for all such contingencies, and that
the favourable aspect of affairs last month was not
accepted as an index of the winter. Nevertheless,
the news is on the whole satisfactory, especially
as regards the results of the Public Works Act. It
appears that the works already undertaken in con-
formity with its provisions have provided occupa-
tion for 1,461 cotton operatives, in addition to 301
unskilled and 420 skilled labourers. The doubts
which some persons expressed of the ability of the
mill workers to turn their hands to a totally dif-
ferent trade prove to have been altogether un-
founded, as 955 of the unskilled are allowed to earn
ordinary wages at piece work, and they have be.
come so proficient in their new trade as to be able
on an average to earn not less than 10s. to 10s. 6d.
per head weekly. This is satisfactory news, and
exemplifies the truth that a readiness to adapt one-
self to a new profession depends less on the cha-
racter of the previous occupation than on the de-
gree of mental intelligence. The rapidity with
welch the Volunteers, most of them men of
sedentary habits, acquired the drill and became
proficient in the use of their unaccustomed
weapons, was universally commented on,
and it was explained by the superior
standard of education and general intelligence
throughout the various corps, as well as the willing
and hearty spirit with which they went about their
work. The agricultural class, from whom our re-
cruits are principally drawn, are certainly more
accustomed to out-door exercise and the use of their
muscles than the volunteer fresh from his desk and
counter, yet the mental aptitude and pliability so
far exceeded any physical advantages as to supply
a large body of well•trained and efficient riflemen
within a period which would certainly have left
the same number of ploughmen little better than
raw recruits. The same reasoning no doubt ap-
plies to the change is the habits of the Lancashire
mill hands. They are known to belong to a well-
educated and intelligent class. If their frames
have been dwarfed by early toil, and exhausted by
long hours of close and incessant labour, their facul-
ties have been sharpened and their wits kept bright
by the interchange of ideas, and the general mental
standard of the community. The question of suc-
cess in any new undertaking depends less on pre-
vious training than on individual capacity, and the
men of Lancashire are not likely to fail in this. As
yet, too, we hear no complaints of the effects of out-
door employment upon their health, though the
weather they have experienced has been none of the
mildest. The wise forethought of the Committee
has probably provided in a great measure against
this by a sufficient supply of warm clothing,
and it is to be hoped the liberality of the pub-
lic will enable them to continue such provision.
Some discussion ensued at the meeting respecting
the receipt of relief by some of the men engaged on
public works. The committee, it seems, are willing
to grant some subsidiary aid to unskilled operatives
during a month or six weeks' training, as well as
making them grants of warm clothing, bu

here its labours very properly terminate. The

object of the act was to render a large

proportion of the unemployed mill hands

altogether independent of charitable aid, and that

object is, of course, defeated by the men employed
under the act continuing as recipients of relief.
Such an arrangement is no gain to the men or their
families, as they are paid less wages in considera-

tion of the amount received from the relief com-
mittees. The functions of Public Works Boards
and of relief committees are, as Sir J. K. SHUTTLE•
Wolt,
—4ll very justly observed, entirely distinct, and
arty
attemptw however well intentioned, to combine
them ..._.u,,
whiehsiir provea K. unsatisfactory. The resolutions
SIIUTTLEWORTH proposed, and
which were
sub
sequently agreed to by the com-
mittee, ereboti.
led the • •
re-
ceipt of relief should principle that men in re-
linzi, be employed on public
„,......
eomneewexaccept.tioNn,oadnodubitt
works undertaken
individual cases m
where harshness will
may affve:hs
is to be presumed that tie un
of funnies are
sbuespsehnodwend ifnroimnsteamncpelsoyment
heads
vise. 0 doubt. sound,
pectalYofin..establish-
bad weather or
other causes; but the principle :n
Teo
cotton
and the committee have done
ing it. Meanwhile the pros
to admit that
' capacities
trade arc decidedly encouraging.
of India are now pretty well established, and thc
most sceptical are beginning
they©
.
is no reason to doubt that, with a.little more

time, labour, and cultivation, the Indian cotton:
fields will become our principal source of supply.
It has been proved, too, beyond 3 doubt that the
quality of Indian cotton is not necessarily in-

ferior, but that samples raLcd from American
seed have surpassed expectation. The stimulus
given everywhere to cotton cultivation by the
suspension of the Anierican supply has produced i m-
portent results in Qa,.,enslAnd, in Jam iica, in South

America, and other quarters. A very important
auxiliary is promised in Egypt. That country,
as is well known, is well 44k tod for the