The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-27 00:00:00

THERMOMETER.

This morning
.. 70
This day at Two o'clock 76
Barometer-29.89.
Wind—W ; fresh, with cloudy weather,

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Nis DAY.—Morning, 10h. 32m.—Afternoon, Ilh. 14m.
To-moßßow.-Morning, 11h. 50m.—Afternoon, h. m.

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LONDON, MONDAY, JULY 27, 1863.

STEPHEN BLACKPOOL'S frequent ejaculation in
Hard Times is the only suitable comment upon these
latest tidings from the seat of war in America—
" It's a' a muddle ! " Never, within our remem-
brance, has there been any more flagrant example

of " confusion worse confounded." It is as if broad-
cast over some half dozen of the belligerent States
were scattered an equal number of Balaklavas.
The fall of Vicksburg, it now appears, has been
confirmed. And, consequently upon that downfall
—as inevitably as in the instance of one card-
house leaning upon another Fort Hudson,
in its turn, has fallen ! Even this, however,
is not all; the safety of Charleston itself, it
seems now, is very seriously endangered. The
chief solace to the Confederates, any where discern-
ible at this juncture, is, indeed, that of a negative
character. Tnat coming, namely, from the head-
quarters of General LEE. Those headquarters are
now upon the other side of the Potomac!! The only
circumstance about change of positions, in any
manner gratifying to the South, being this,
that the transportation of the whole Confede-
rate army, horse and foot, artillery and ammuni-
tion, bag and baggage, had been effected as
composedly and deliberately as the previous re-
moval, across the same river, by the same Great
Master of the Art of War, of the entire mass of
wounded men, of supplies, and of booty ! The
last three or four days' sanguinary and almost
uninterrupted fighting between the opposing
armies at Gettysburg and thereabouts, it
now turns out, even by the admission of the
noisiest of the Northern declaimers about _MEADE's
wonderful Series of Victories, was nothing more—
in spite of all the bloodshed—than a drawn battle. '
The mere fact of the withdrawal thus quietly by
General LEE of the whole of his forces across the
Potomac, Shows quite unmistakeably that General
MEADE could not venture in pursuit—could
not possibly assume an aggressive,
could not, in
other words venture to abandon a strictly defen-
sive, attitude. Putting it still more plainly, the re-
ported victor had evidently received as good as he
gave, in all these recent encounters. Otherwise he
would assuredly have acted differently than he has
done since the last days' fighting.
General LEE, in point
of fact, so far as
events can be recognised with any distinct-
ness through the lurid haze reeking up from
those fields of slaughter, has realised to as
full an extent as could reasonably have been
Pp
anticipated, under the circumstances, all he a
rently proposed to himself to accomplish through
the seemingly hazardous medium of his late daring
raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Wanting
fresh supplies, he went into the enemy's territory
and took them. Having gathered these supplies,
very abundantly and quite deliberately, together, he
transports them, one and all, in the rear of his
army, across the Potomac, fighting fiercely ail the

while, day after day ; and then, when all that ha

been accomplished to his own entire satisfaction, he
withdraws his army, having sent the whole of his
wounded previously out of further harm's way be-
yond the river—not til' then, indeed, making one
step towards the recrossing, of the Potomac by his
veteran troops. The Proclamation of the Confederate
Commander-in Cnief—an Address to his army, just
received in our latest telegrams, dated, :his address
is, from the General's headquarters on the 11th
inst,—breathes throughout it that spirit of heroic
endurance and of unfaltering determination which
has characterised every one of those soul-stirring
documents signed by " R. L. LEE," since the first
dread outbreak of the war. Instead of indicating
any disposition to succumb, as might have been
anticipated by the more credulous, from the
tone of the speeches delivered by the official brag-
gaits recently serenaded at Washington, it
tells rather of a confirmed resolve never with life

to yield. " Once more," says the Confederate
Commander-in-Chief, using only the very simplest
words of a manly and unaffected eloquence, " Once
more you are cared upon to meet the enemy from
whom you have torn in so many fields a name that
will never die. Once inore," he exclaims," the eyes of
your countrymen are turned upon you, and again
do wives and sisters, fathers and mothers, and help
less children lean for defence on your strong arms
and brave hearts. Let every soldier," this is his
adjuration, "remember that on his courage and
fidelity depends all that makes life worth havieg
—the freedom of his country, the honour of his
people, and the security of his home. Let each
heart grow strong in the remembrance of our
glorioue past, and in the thought of the inestimable
blessings for which we contend." The Confederate
Commander then adding—"lnvoking the assistance
of that heavenly Power which has so signally
blessed our former efforts, let us go forth in confi-
dence to secure the peace and safety of our coun-
try." Two brief sentences, thereupon, close the
Southern Hero's appeal to his followers
thus :—" Soldiers, your old enemy is before
you. Win from him honour worthy of your
right cause, worthy of your comrades dead on
so many illustrious fields." At which concluding
reference, one name beyond all other names, rises
of course, upon the instant to the heart of every
Southern warrior, a remembrance dimming his
eyes, but nerving his hand to a firmer grasp than
ever of sword hilt or rifle barrel—the name of
STONEWALL JACKSON ! Meanwhile, for the temper-
ing somewhat of the vulgar exultation of the Nor-
therners, New York itself is in fierce and formid-
able revolt—the reputed cham2ions of Negro Eman-
cipation murdering the blacks there by wholesale.

The Fisheries Bill has at length passed through
all the tedious stages of its progress, and after
encountering more opposition and occasioning
more discussion than affairs of European impor-
tance usually do, is about to become an enact-
ment. It is a subject on which there is much diffi-
culty in legislating, as many persons are deprived of
their vested interests by the proposed changes, and
naturally complain of the loss and annoyance oc-
casioned to them by no fault of their own. But it
is obvious that their arguments, however plausible,
cannot be suffered to stand in the way of a very ne-
cessary and useful measure. Individual interests
al ways suffer from reforms or improvements. The
world cannot however, stand still on that account.
Many were heavy losers by the introduction of the
railway system; the roadside inns, the stage coaches.
and all their train of busy attendants, have
passed away from the scene. Only a few
isolated localities can furnish any traces of the
old glories of the road, and there they are but
shadows of the ancient times. The rapid pro- 1
gress of machinery, too, has thrown numerous
hands out of employment, and in our own dby
many a poor needlewoman deplores the change
wrought by the invention of the sewing machine.
In all such cases the hardship is really very great,
because men and women are deprived of their old
means of livelihood, frequently suffering great
privations from the want of demand for labour. In
the present instance, however, affairs are
very different. The trade is not stopped perms.
nently, and the steps which give rise to the com-
plaints are absolutely indispensable to the preser-
vation of the fisheries. The complainants will
eventually be as much benefited by the measure as
any other portion of the public. They have, there
fore, little room for complaint. The question of
the due regulation of our fisheries has been left too
long unsettled. Our reckless and improper man-
agement has interfered with the beneficence of
nature, and would, if persisted in, produce very
serious effects upon our supply of fish. Until
lately the advantages of a good supply were not
sufficiently estimated. The rich could afford to pay
a high price, while the poor looked on it with in-
difference, if not disdain. A fish dinner was to o
often regarded by the working-classes as next to no
dinner at all, and the general ignorance of cooking
helped to depreciate it still further. This prejudice
is now being gradually overcome, and a little more
experience will, we hope, serve to convince the
population of our vast labouring cities how cheap,
wholesome, and pleasant a meal old Neptune and
his tributaries are ready to supply them with. The
great facilities now offered for the rapid trans-
mission of any perishable article by rail should
serve to place a good supply of fish within
reach of the poorest. If our cities are sup
plied with milk from country dairies, there cer-
tainly exists no reason why fish should not journey
from the deep waters to the crowded streets within
a few brief hours. Such considerations are worthy
the attention of the political economist, to whom the
question of a cheap and liberal supply of food can
never be a matter of indifference. We suspect that
a good many who are perfectly regardless of the
attractions of that science would be very ready
to lament a scarcity of salmon, yet the bill
which proposes to protect that favourite fish
from the evils of the existing system has re-
cently encountered serious opposition. If on these
and other questions of a similar nature, both
parties would endeavour to come to an
agreement, and show a little more moderation and
forbearance, the real interests of Ireland would
have more chance. The fishing trade offers very
great and striking advantages to the Irish popula
tion both for home consumption and for
export. It would besides be an excellent pro-
vision for a people who are not too wealthy
on the average, nature all being, moreover, in their
favour. With regard to sea fishing, their coast
line is extensive enough to employ fishermen in
plenty, while the supply of fish is large and various.
It might be well if our legislators would next ses-
sion extend their care to the fisheries on the coast,
as well as in the rivers and estuaries. At all events
a great deal is gained by the passing of this mea-
sure, and we are surprised that its opponents do
not perceive the advantages it will confer on all
parties. It has been proved by repeated trials that
in streams which have left free egress and ingress
to the fish, the number caught has been three times
as great as in those parts where the old, mistaken
system is followed. The vexed question is now at
last decided, and the Bill, which has been playing
the part of a fish out of water, sent from Commons
to Lords, and tossed back from Lords to Commons,
will have the glory of being the closing question,
and in some respects the most conspicuous measure,
of the uneventful Session of 1863.

The Earl of SHAFTEsBuit
attention to the employ 7:Friday callt d
employment children. The noblu
lord made a very instructive i
ande.
I
He commenced by pointing
the moral of his remarks
In stating that he did not wish to standhatween the
House and the debate on Poland ; but, said he, " the
facts which I am about to state are "Very tench akin
to those which we witness in Poland. In one in-
stance we see the evils which result from the lust
of money, and, in another, those which arise trout
the lust of power; and not even General MoußA_
TIEFF, in the plenitude of his power at Bkff, could
have inflicted more misery upon 1-Vand, and the
children of that unhappy place, tian the commercial
spirit has caused to tens of th,Ji*.wL of children in
England." Doubtless many might cansider

exaggerated, but the noble lord made good his case,
and before he concluded his remarks fully proved
the force of the statement. Perhaps one of the most
cruel cases is that of the poor victims of the chim-
ney sweeps. In London it seems that very few of
these are to be found ; but in the country the num-
ber is on the increase, and the tortures that they
have to endure are dreadful to contemplate. In
order to harden the flesh their elbows and knees are
Theirrubbed with
employers
v brineer
them
besiders w it
ha a hotcan fie rteo.
force them to endure the pain, which is again re
newed until the flesh becomes inured to the process.
Lord SHAFTESBURY exclaimed in virtuous indigna-
tion—" Is this a state of things, my Lords, which
is permitted to go on. Are we to call ourselves a
free and Christian country, knowing that 2,000 of
our fellow creatures, just as good as ourselves, are
doomed to the most excruciating and intolerable
agony, because some gentlemen say they will have
sweeping boys, and will not use machines, and be-
cause magistrates refuse to act upon the clearest and
most indisputable breaches of the law being proved
before them." Well may the noble lord animadvert
upon such conduct; it is a scandal to
the generation that we live in, and those
who sanction its continuance, or even tacitly
allow it, are almost as culpable as the chief
actors themselves. As there exists a mode of
sweeping chimneys quite as efficacious as this
heartless method, there is not even the excuse of
business to urge as a plea for the continuance of
the barbarity. Lord SHAFTESBURY quoted the
opinions of Lord CAMPBELL and Lord COCKBURN,
both strongly condemnatory of this detestable
practice. The latter observed that if the trade
were once put down it would be looked upon with
so much horror that it would be very difficult to
persuade the next generation that it had ever
existed. A master sweep has declared that he
has hired boys for a pound a year, and has bought
lads, giving their parents so much a year.
Farther, the lucifer match making is proved
to be most hurtful. It has been declared to be
one of the most dangerous and unwnolesoms
of all industrial pursuits. It gives rise to a
peculiar disease of the jaw which occasions the
most dreadful sufferings. So many as 1,800 child
ren and young persons between 6 and 18 years of
age are employed in this trade, and the hours of
labour often occupy a great portion of the night.
Only 14 out of 48 of these places that have been
visited are at all safe; the others are decidedly the
reverse. Lord SHAFTESBURY adduced examples of
the fearful results that such incessant toil at so
unhealthy a vocation occasioned. The disease is
said to be one of the most terrible that can effliet
humanity, and the agony arising from it is into-
lerable until the jaw be quite dead. Percussion-
cap manufactures are also very deleterious in their
effects. Young girls are chiefly employed in them
Paper-staining is not so bad in itself, but is ren-
dered hurtful by being prolonged late into the night.
Tne same complaint is made against fustian cut-
ting, in which 1,563 under 18 years of age are
employed, these working 14 hours per diem, an"
" to bring up arrears" being kept at it 18 or 20 hours'
One thousand children are employed in lace-making•
in regard to these the state of ventilation being
dreadful. Pillow lace-making engages very young
children, even those under five years of age. They
suffer considerably in health from closeness of con-
finement and bad air, as well as in their eyesight,
from the mode of working. Lord SHAFTESBURY
concluded his statement by saying that he wished
we would follow in the wake of foreign countries
in this matter. We set the example by our Factory
Bill, but they have gone further on the good road,
no less than twelve of them having made regula-
tions that curtail the hours of labour and "suppress
the cruelty practised towards these little and help-
less children." The noble lord said he trusted next
session he might be spared to remove this great
abomination, and that the Government, whose duty
it was, would undertake it. This first report in-
cludes six trades, and extends to 27,000 children,
but other reports, it may be remarked, will bring
up the number to 100,000. This is an awful
picture that Lord SHAFTESBURY has laid before
their lordships, and through them before the
country. As he truly said, the welfare of many
future citizens is concerned in its right appreciation.
How shortsighted on the part of the Legislature,
moreover, is it not, to permit such traffic with chil-
dren of tender years ! It is degrading to human
nature to think that parents can barter the health,
happiness, and lives of their children for money,
Few crimes can be more despicable in the eyes of
men, few more detestable in the sight of God.
Nese little pilgrims on life's rough highway are,
in truth, sorely to be pitied; they are, indeed,
nameless martyrs; too (Men realising the descrip-
tion of those who—

" By the wayside fell and perished,
Weary of the march of life,"

The E 4rl and Countess of Aylesford have arrived
from Vichy at the Hotel Mirabeau en route for London, as
also Sir Juhn and Lady Harrington from Schlar, gen-bad,
also on their way to London.

A letter from Rhodes states that three strong
shocks of earthquake were felt in that island a fortnight
since, and the inhabitants are apprehensive of others. The
shocks were also felt in the isle of Stanchio.

AN ABORIGINAL FIGHT.—The spirit of the age,
in these days of war and rumours of war, has mani-
fested itself in the case of the blacks of the neighbourhood
of Brisbane on the one part, and of Bribie Island on the
other. Some breach of international law provoked dispute
in consequence of the lubra.catching propensities of an ad-
venturous youth, and hostilities were provoked. On Wed-
nesday, according to the appointment of the leaders of the
respective armies, the Bribie Island blacks encountered
their Brisbane enemies at Breakfast Creek, and a fierce
fray ensued. As usual in such fights, many wore wounded,
but few slain; for, alter a hand to hand encounter of con-
siderable daring, in whtch upwards of three hundred war-
riors were engaged, three only bit the dust in mortal
agony, The death of one of the three occurred in this
wise. Two men agreed to engage in single combat, to
exhibit in the presence of their assembled friends their
individual prowess. Selecting a log, they agreed
to fight over it, each party being permitted to rest
his right foot upon it. The combat waged
fiercely for a considerrble time, and the braves
assembled in tumultuous order to witness the result.
Great courage and dexterity were displayed on either side,
, and the result was doubtful. Blows fell thick and loud
upon the shield from the murderous waddy—thrust followed
thrust, and blood on one side was avenged by blood on the
other . The fight thickened as the blows fell faster, and the
anxiety of the spectators was deepened in proportion. A
catastrophe occurred, however, which gave victory to the
one and death to the other. A lubra, from some cause or
other unknown, had taken a special interest in the contest,
and before it was near its conclusion, seized a tomahawk,
and rushing from the midst of the spectators behind one of
the combatants, she struck the weapon deep into hi, thick
skull and killed him on the spot. What became of. the
three dead bodies we have been unable to learn, though we
have no doubt they have been disposed of according to
national custom in the usual way by roasting and eating,
—.Moreton Bay courier.

STRIKE AT TROWBRIDGE.—A large number of
the power-loom weavers at Trowbridge are on
strike. They were in the employ of Messrs. Brown and
Palacer, a firm in a very large way of business, and the
dispute has arisen as to the relative price to be paid for
plain and fancy weaving. The operatives complained of
being paid the same sum for work which required four
shuttles as work which only required two. The firm readily
consented to an advance of is. the piece, if a corresponding
reduction was agreed to on the plain work. This proposal,
though advantageous to themselves, the fancy weavers de-
clined to accede to, on the ground that it was unfair to the
Plain weavers. The firm insisting on their terms, boobbranches struck work, and have been out some days. Funds
are
been made
being collected for their assistance, and a distribution
has
grea. unanimity
Hitherto there has been no disturbance,
but
exists among the operatives, who help
each other very cordially.