The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-09 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1863.

-.-

The American news bodes little good to the
Federals. They have commenced active hostili-
ties against Vicksburg with very questionable suc-
cess. Due preparations for the assault were made
Ind a brisk fire opened, which being immediately
and effectively responded to by three of the Confe-
rate batteries the mortar boats had to change their
position. They then renewed the bombardment,
but apparently had not succeeded in producing
much effect when the Asia left. We hear no more
of the assault on Charleston or Savannah. Pro-
bably the Northern Government are urged on by
the disaffection of the North-West States to make
an Effort for the navigation of the Mississippi. Ac-
cording to the latest accounts discontent is spread-
ing throughout those districts, and the opposition
to the policy at Washington is on the increase.
The general tone of feeling in thee, provinces
must be watched with anxiety by the PRESIDENT
and hii Cabinet, but there is no question that
unless the capture of Vicksburg is speedily accom-
plished their secession from the Federal side
may be hourly expected. Nearer home the PRESI-
DENT is not more fortunate. The debate on the
Conscription Bill, whose stringency was fully de-
scribed by the last mail, is said to have been most
acrimonious. The bill has had to encounter the
opposition of the Democratic party, some of whose
members declared that ar& attempt to enforce the
obnoxious conscription. 'would produce a Northern
rebellion. We suspect that in the present state of
affairs the Government will find it difficult to carry
out the measure to its full extent. Meanwhile all
we hear of the Confederates shows their increasing
confidence in their own prospects. The capture
of the great Federal ram, the Queen of
the West,
whose building was an affair of such time and con-
sideration, has fallen into Confederate hands. She
was captured while attacking the fortifications on
Red River, thus making an important addition to
the Confederate forces, and still further diminishing
the naval prestige of the North. The Southern
journals, sensible of the changes in their favour,
assert that the issue of the rebellion must be decided
by Southern arms, not by conferences or treaties.
The South no longer watch anxiously fur peace—
they feel that the issue is certain, and only wait
till the North, exhausted by internal dissensions,
fruitless exertions, and financial complications, are
driven to make the first advance. The face of affairs
has entirely changed in the last six months, and the
recent Southern successes at sea must have con-

siderably shaken the confidence of the most com-
placent Northerners. By the next mail we shall
probably hear of mischief done by the Queen of
the West ander her new owners, who never fail
to make the most of an opportunity.

Last Saturday will long live in the recollection
of all who were fortunate enough to witness it.
Nothing could have been more satisfactory than
the whole affair. None of those unlucky events
and unseemly contretemps that often mar the effect
and detract from the splendour of such shows inter-
vened on this happy occasion. Such a display of
genuine enthusiasm is seldom witnessed, and there
can be no doubt that long after the superficial
adjuncts of the pageant have passed away, the
memory of this heartfelt welcome will long live
in the recollection of the chief actors. The
young Prince and Princess must have felt there
was more than pomp and splendour in the gay
adornment of the streets through which they passed,
more than compliments in the plaudits that greeted
them. They knew that the hearts of the people
were touched by their presence, even the commonest
and roughest members of the community seemed
awed into respect, and moved by sympathy as the
royal pair went by. Their youth and grace
enchanted a►l hearts, their gracious demeanour
charmed all beholders, and their progress indeed
was a triumphal march. The Roman Generals re-
turning from the " march that led their eagles
round the world," dragged their captives at their
chariot wheels in chains. How much grander was
the procession of our Prince, whose reception
realised the prophecy of some verses that were
written about him same years ago—
" And o'er his subjects shall Victoria's heir,
Reign in their hearts and find his empire there."

Another thing worthy of note was the conduct of
the crowd. It is on an occasion of this kind that the
character of the English people is displayed to full
advantage. No other country in the world could
have presented such an appearance. It would have
been well for our brethren across the Atlantic if
they could have come and taken a lesson of the
working of constitutional government from the
evidence of Saturday. There is great benefit to all
classes in being taken for a time away from the
hackneyed common places of every day working
existence, to turn their attention to other themes.
The vision of a different existence to their own
comes like a beam of sunshine or a dream of romance
to the thoughts of those immersed in business and
steeped in cares. Not one of those who watched the
course of the Royal pair but seemed to wish that
their course through life might be as bright, and
to look on their happiness and honour with no
feelings but those of heartfelt satisfaction.
It is always a relief when such a day is over. With
so many conflicting circumstances and diverse in-
terests, one is always afraid of something occur-
ring to detract from the tout ensemble of the affair,
and so let us rejoice that the inauguration
has been happily accomplished, and trust
that the final ceremony may be as prosperous
to-morrow. Of one thing we are certain, it will be
hallowed by a nation's prayers, better offerings to
lay on the altar, where the bride and bridegroom
kneel, than any of those costly gifts that far " out-
shine the wealth of Ormus or of Ind." Vox populus
vox Dei has been often quoted, and the Prince and
Princess may take that for their consideration in
reviewing the events of Saturday. It was a
triumph of various kinds, and the general feeling
of rejoicing was doubly welcome, after the gloom
of the last two years. Let us trust it was the
forerunner of peace and prosperity for the nation
that came out to meet them, as well as for those
who were the objects of general attention and
regard.

When the House of Commons agreed to close the
animated and spirited discussion on the affairs of
Poland, and to leave the question in the hands of
the Government, it was with the understanding
that the English Cabinet were to give expression to
the prevailing sentiment in terms which, however
courteous, were firm in tone and unmistakeable in
object. It was understood by the House and by
the country that Lord PALMERSTON pledged
himself and his coadjutors to address a
strong and immediate remonstrance to the
Russian Government. Important as was the
expression of English feeling, as shown in Parlia-
ment, the press, and the platform, the Cabinet of
St. Petersburg could very easily shut its eyes
and ears to all popular demonstrations. It
was necessary for the Administration of the
country to address itself direct to the
Imperial Government of the CZAR, which could
hardly refuse to listen to the voice of an English
Ambassador. There would have been no risk in
this course of action, for France was even more
eager than ourselves in the cause, while Aus-
tria, under the influence of England, would
most probably have joined them. Why, then this
delay ? It is reported in Paris that England was
unwilling to join in any decided measure, and had
even communicated to Austria her fears lest France
should avail herself of the opportunity to extend her
frontier to the Rhine, thereby terrifying that uneasy
Power into withdrawing her adhesion to the proposed
note. Left to himself, the Emperor of the FRENCH
has carried out his views by sending a despatch to
ALEXANDER 11., lacking, however, the weight
which a joint note from the three first-rate Powers
would have carried with it. The answer is daily
expected in Paris—not in London. The mild
phrases and courteous diplomacy which accord with
home instructions were not very formidable to the
Autocrat of the RUSSIA& We question very
much whether this line of conduct will give
much pleasure to the English public, who
will be scarcely satisfied unless their country
takes a very prominent part in behalf of the Poles.
It will not be enough for English statesmen
to stand aside indulging in an exchange of diplo-
matic courtesies until the Poles have, by the aid of
of untrained swords and scythes accomplished their
deliverance,and then come forward to expressoursym-
pathy. The feeling of Englishmen for the struggle of
oppressed nationalities for independence lies deeper
than this, and we should be glad to be assured that
Lord PALMERSTON and Earl RUSSELL do not find
it easier to respond to it within the walls of the
British Parliament than to represent it at the
Cabinet of the CZAR.

(REIITERIS TELEGRAM.)

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.
SOU FHAMPTON, MARCH 9.
The Hamburg and American Company's ship
Bavaria, from New York on the 23d ult., has arrived
off Cowes en route for Hamburg.
She has 48 passengers, and specie on freight of
the value of 144,040 dole., of which amount 86,400
are for England, 55,200 for France, and 2,640 for

Hamburg.
On the 2d instant she spoke the Bremen bark
Columbia, bound east, and on the 7th the British
bark Joan Taylor, bound west.
The New I ork Herald of the 22d ult. says
" From the South we have an interesting commen-
tary upon the diplomatic correspondence of M.
Drouyn de Lhuys and Mr. Seward in the Richmond
papers. The plans of the French Minister for me-
diation and peace are pretty roughly handled ; in
fact they are rather uncivilly declined. The Em-
peror himself is somewhat snubbed, and Mr.
Seward's letter to the French Minister is described
as the sublimity of insolence. The Southern Con-
federacy, we are told, needs no commissioners to
settle the difficulty either of French or any other
suggestion. The Commisioners already exist in the
persons of Generals Lee, Beauregard, Longstead,
Jackson, and Joe Johnston.
The _Richmond Inquirer says that the Union
forces of General Jefferson Davis were encountered
and dispersed by the rebel General Forrest at
Franklin, on the 17th inst.
Captain Hutchinson, of the schooner Olive Hay-
ward, arrived yesterday from Corms, reports that
on the 10th inst., in let. 26, long. 64.41, he saw the
rebel privateer Richmond, which chased his vessel
for three hours, but being to windward of the Re-
tribution, he escaped by outsailing her.
A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce
was held yesterday. There was a large attend-
ance. The depredations of the Alabama were the
principal subject of discussion. Memorials were
adopted calling on Congress to pass the bill em-
powering the President to issue letters of marque
and reprisal, on the issuance of which authority
the Chamber has before it the propriety of fitting
out volunteer vessels to capture the Alabama ano
other rebel cruisers. Resolutions were also adopted
calling on the Government to occupy, by an armed
force, the Texan borders contiguous to Mexico,
through which latter country an important contra-
band trade is carried on for the relief of the rebels.
Also resolutions in favour of the constructions by
the Government of an oceanic and coast line of
telegraph from Galveston to Fortress Monroe and
Washington.
62 more of the rebel prisoners taken at Murfrees-
boro, Tennessee, took the oath of allegiance to the
United States, and renounced the Southern Con-
federacy at St. Louis on the 13th inst., and were
thereupon released from the Gratiot-street prison.
General Blunt, who is in command of the Depart-
ment of Kansas, in a speech at a Republican meet-
ing in Leavenworth, on the 13th inst., said it was
supposed by many that the opposition in the war
comes from the Democratic party. This he said
is not true. Many who have been associated with
them are the leaders, bat he believed the great mass
of that party to be true and loyal.
In the Senate on the 21st Feb., a memorial from
the citizens of New York, asking for the establish-
ment of a submarine telegraph from Fortress
Monroe to Galveston was presented. Bills amen-
datory of the Act to equalise the grade of line
officers of the navy, dividing Michigan into two
judicial districts, and granting lands to Kansas for
railroads and telegraphs, were passed. Bills to
incorporate the National Academy of Sciences, and
granting a right of way through the military re-
serves of Kansas, were introduced. Mr. Powell
offered a resolution that a committee of three be
appointed to investigate the facts in reference to
the arrest, imprisonment, and release of D. A.
Mahony, J. A. Mullen, and Andrew J. Duff.
Laid over. Mr. Powell also gavenotice that he
should at an early day offer a resolution for a
committee to investigate the conduct of General
Gilbert in recently dispersing a convention in Ken-
tucky. A resolution to print 10,000 copies of the
Currency Bill was referred. The bill for the dis-
charge of state prisoners, and authorising the sus-
pension of the habeas corpus was taken up, and an
angry discussion ensued between Messrs. Wilson,
of Massachusetts, and Powell, of Kentucky. An
executive session was held, and the Senate ad-

journed.
In the House of Representatives a committee of
conference was asked of the Senate on the disagree-
ing amendments to the Finance Bill. The Post-
offiee Reform Bill was next considered. An
amendment that all soldiers in camp or
hospital should receive and transmit letters
free of postage was adopted, and the
bill passed by a vote of 72 against 56. The
Ways and Means Committee reported amend-
ments in the Internal Tax Bill, and Tuesday next
was assigned for the consideration of the subject.
The Senate amendments to the Posts Route Bill
were agreed to. The Senate Bill to Prevent Cor-
respondence with Rebels was passed, also the
Senate Bill to Punish Bribery. The Senate Bill
authorising the issue of letters of marqu was then
taken up and discussed till the adjournment.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.
BERLIN, MARCH 7.

The National Zeitung of to-day publishes a letter
from Warsaw, stating that an engagement had
taken place near Kalusyn, the result of which was
not yet known.
The official Dztennick of Warsaw has discontinued
publishing bulletins relative to the engagements
between the insurgents and the Russians.
The two fractions of the national party called
the White and the Red parties, have come to an

understanding.
The Neue Preuseische (Kreuz) Zeitung of to-day
says :—" Reports are current at Warsaw that the
Grand Duke Constantine is about to take his de-
parture. His Imperial Highness would temporarily
be replaced by Count de Berg. His definitive succes-
sor would, however, be Prince Alexander von
1 Hessen."

Proclamations issued by the revolutionary com-
mittee have been printed in Prussian Poland and
Galicia, entreating the people not to allow them-
selves to be induced to rise in insurrection, as the
only mortal enemy of Poland was Russia.
WARSAW, MARCH 7.

The insurgent bands at Piaskowa, Skala, Wid-
nara, Mrzyglod, and Karezew have been dispersed,

The forests of Kampinos have been cleared of in-
surgents. Boglanowicz and Jasinsky, two of their
chieftains, have met their deaths by being shot in

engagements.

LEMBERG, MARCH 7.

The Russians have withdrawn to Miechow.

The headquarters of Lan giewicz were the day
before yesterday at Goszcz, where he was joined by
fresh reinforcements.

The eastern frontier of Galicia is strongly guarded
on the Russian side.
Considerable numbers of Russian troops are being
despatched from Bessarabia into Poland.