The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY ','EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1863.

be done gradually, yet_that at once the rights of
husbands and wives, the equal protection of the
negro in law courts, and the prohibition of " slave
breeding" must be secured. And finally they tell
him that one people, as we really are by descent,
the one thing which would do most to cement good-
will between us, would be, the removal of " that
foul blot on their civilization and Christianity—
chattel slavery." Whether we agree on all points,
or not, with the operatives of Manchester we
shall all agree in the noble and happy contrast
which this monster meeting presents to those of
times gone by—gone by, we trust, for ever.

A meeting was held a few days since by the mem-
bers of the National Lifeboat Instution, on which
the accounts of the damage done to our shipping by
the late gales is the best comment. From the
islands of the "storm - tossed Hebrides" to the
southern coast, from Wick to Holyhead, the de-
stroyer has been playing havoc with the life and
property entrusted to the waters. In the far north the
storm has raged with destructive violence. We read
of the boats of poor fishermen on the Scottish coast
being dashed to pieces, and vessels of a larger size
being carried ashore and driven into parks and
highroads. Walls that have stood the blasts
of thirty years have been overthrown
and

the whole coast is one wide
spread scene of devastation and ruin. The poor
inhabitants of some of the northern islands, who
get their living chiefly from the sea, have been
heavy losers. In the small Island of Stromoc, on
the coast of Caithness, near which are dangerous
currents, two fishing herring boats, two pilot boats,
and four lobster fishing boats have been com-
pletely destroyed. The loss in this small island
approaches £2oo—a mine of wealth to the frugal
and humble inhabitants. Some of them had to
ave their houses owing the advancing tide, which
in many cases washed the cabbages out of the soil.
Throughout all this neighbourhood the damage was
great ; the tides in the Pentland Firth,
in which the Island of Stroraa is situated,
rising to an 'almost unprecedented height, and
sweeping away the fishing-boats from their places
of security for the winter, to return them to their
owners in fragments along the shores. Yet, melan-
choly as it is to read of the devastation of pro-
perty on which so many industrious families depend
for their livelihood, the loss of human life is yet
more startling. A large vessel came to anchor
on the coast of the Rabbit Islands, Kyle of Tongue,
during the late storm, but the strength of the gale
swept her away and drove her on the bar across the
mouth of the Kyle, where she went to pieces, and

the whole of her crew perished. Still more ter-
rible is a recent disaster in the Hebrides, where
seven boats containing fortytwo men are missing,
leaving the little fishing village they belong to
half depopulated, and the relatives of their unfor-
tunate crews in the most painful state of suspense.
One of the boats was driven on the opposite main-
land, with the crew so much reduced by fatigue
and want that one of them died. This news has
doubtless prolonged " the hope that keeps alive
despair" among the sorrowing relatives.
Among such a catalogue of disasters it is some
satisfaction to turn to the report of the meeting
of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, to
which we have referred, whose members have as-
sisted so largely in the rescue of human life, and
sometimes in saving the vessels also. During the year
which has just terminated the lifeboats of this insti-
tution have rescued 358 persons on our coasts, and as
a proof that they combine skill and efficiency with
daring, it may be mentioned that though the
boats have during that period been manned on oc-
casions of service and exercise by nearly 6,000 men,
only one has lost his life. An interesting incident

was mentioned in the subscription list. A con

tribution of 2s. 6d. was received from the wife
of an old Scotch sailor, said to be a good
sailor herself. She thought that every one should
give something to the Institution to which

her craft owed so much,' and therefore sent
her humble donation. We should like to see
her ex ample more largely followed, for there
are few associations which have more claim
on the inhabitants of a maritime nation
whose obligations to our sailors of every
grade none are anxious to deny. The value of the
lifeboat stations on our storm-beaten coasts must be
apparent to the most superficial observer, and
although few can afford to follow the generous ex-
ample of Miss BURDETT COUTTS and Mr. JAFFRAY
in presenting the Society with the boats re-
quired, most of us can contribute some aid
by influence and exertion. It is proposed to place
forthwith a new lifeboat at Bude Haven, in Corn-
wall, and to renovate the station there. We trust
the society will be enabled to continue and extend
its labours, and to increase the number of its life-
boat stations on all the more exposed parts of the
coasts of the United Kingdom.

His Highness the Prince Sehakoffskoi and the
Count Krakinsoff have left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-
street, for Paris.

His Excellency the Saxon Minister has returned
to town from Dresden to resume his diplomatic duties.
The. Duchess of Hamilton has left Paris for Nice.
His grace, who arrived in town a few days since from his
seat in Suffolk, will leave early next week to join the
duchess and family,

The Earl Deiawarr is much better, but stil
remains at his lordship's house in Upper Grosvenor-street
Lord West is staying at Buckhurst Park.

The Countess Cowper, the Earl Cowper, and the
Ladies Cowper have arrived at Broadlands, on a visit to
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, from Panshanger,

Herts.

The Countess of Sefton and Lady Cecilia
Molyneux have arrived at their residence in Grosvenor-
place for a few days.
The Countess Gifford has left town for Lord
Dufferin's seat, Clandeboye House, Belfast.

Count Charles Kniphausen, nephew to the Hano-
verian Minister, has left town for The Grove, Watford, on
a visit to the Earl and Countess of Clarendon.

The Hon. Cnarles Barrington has left town to
join the circle assembled at Broadlands, Hants.

Mr. Adolf Schmettan is appointed Secretary to
the Hanoverian Legation, in the place of the late lamented
Mr. Carl Klingeman, who was secretary for upwards of 30
years.

Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have left Fenton's Hotel
for Liverpool,

A notice has been issued that an International
Agricultural Exhibition will take place at Hamburg next
June.

THE NASHVILLE.--The Liverpool Journal of
Commerce states that the Nashville, which has
been for some time caged in the Cgeechee River, has been
sold for 120,000 dollars to a private company of merchants.
She has been cut down and armed with one 100-pounder
gun forward, and a smaller one aft, and she is intended to
fight her way, laden with cotton, through the blockading
fleet.

ACCIDENT TO THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRIN-
CESS OF PRUSSIA.—A letter from Berlin notices,
that on Monday afternoon, about four o'clock, the Crown
Prince and Princess met with an accident while riding
along Teropelhofer Strasse. The carriage, which was
drawn by two horses, was proceeding at a very moderate
pace, in order to avoid coming in contact with some fire
engines which were passing by at the time. A careless
driver, ffora the country, however, managed his horses so
clunr,t.ily that the centre pole of the waggon to which they
were attached was carried right through the window of
one of the doors of the Royal carriage, shattering it to
pieces. The Crown Princess, in the terror of the moment,
put out her hand to seize the door, and was cut by the
broken glass. The injury is not considerable, and the
accident m'ght have been greater but for the exertions
of the Crown Piince. It is to be hoped adds the writer,
that this occurrence will call the attention of the autho-
rities to the abominable carelessness of drivers in Berlin,
who seem to delight to drive the more recklessly the
more crowded the crossings are with Yehielcs and foot
passengers.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

AMERICA.

;Per Arabia, via Roche's Point, Jan. 3, 11.30 a.m,)
NEW YORK, DEC. 24.

The Ministerial crisis is at an end.
Messrs. Scward and Chase, at the request of the
President, have resumed their portfolios.
There is no longer any talk of the resignation or
dismissal of Gen. Halleek or Mr. Stanton.

The President, in a letter, returns his thanks to
the Army of the Potomac, and compliments the
troops upon their courage, and asserts that the
attempt to dislodge the Confederates was not an
error nor a failure other than an accident.

The committee appointed by the Senate to inquire
into the disaster at Fredericksburg have presented
their report. They examined Generals Burnside,
Sumner, Hooker, Franklin, Halleck, and others,
and have presented the evidence without comment.
Gen. Burnside assumed the whole responsibility.
He stated incidentally that he had not been pro-
perly supported by General Halleck and Meigs.
He did not consider his troops demoralised by the re-
sult. Gen. Sumner expressed a contrary opinion.
No movement of importance has taken place on
either side of the Rappahannock.
The Confederates are strengthening their front.
General Foster, according to his despatches to
General Halleck, continues to gain victories over
the Confederates in North Carolina, and says he has
fought four engagements at South-west Creek,
Kingston, Whitehall, and Goldsborougb, and
whipped the enemy handsomely each time.
It is denied that the expedition down the Missis-
sippi has been postponed.
General Sherm in is reported to have replaced
General M'Clernand in command, and to be at the
head of 25,000 men. He will be aided by a flotilla
of gunboats.

Other news from the south-west indicates that
General Grant's army is in a critical position, and
in danger of having its communication with its base
of operations cut off.
It is believed the President will persist in his pro-
clamation of emancipation.
Mr. Lane, of Kansas, has given notice of a bill
to authorise the President to raise 200 negro regi-
ments.

Secretary Chase has sent to the Committee of
Ways and Means his Financial Project, and recom-
mends a loan of 900,000,000 dols., at rates of interest
not exceeding those autb orised by law. He does
not suggest any augmentation of Treasury notes.

The Committee have not yet considered the

subject.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT•

NEW YORK, DEC, 22 (Evening).

A Cabinet crisis has occurred in Washington.
The Republican members of the Senate, in a caucus,
declared want of confidence in the Government,
their action being principally directed against Mr.
Seward.

Mr. Seward immediately tendered his resigna-
tion, which was followed by a similar step on the
part of Mr. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury.
President Lincoln accepted neither resignation. and
requested both to resume their offices. Mr. Seward
and Mr. Chase have accordingly resumed their
functions in the State and Treasury departments.
General Burnside assumes personally the whole
responsibility of the movement on Fredericksburg.

President Lincoln has informed the Border State
Committee that he issued the emancipation pro.
clamation from a belief that it would effect good
results; but if convinced of the contrary he would
modify his position upon that subject, as he de-
sired to do the best under the circumstances.

The Secretrary of the Treasury has completed a
Finance Bill, recommending a loan of 900,000,000
dots., at not over 7.30 per annum, and the repeal of
the 5.20 Conversion Act. He adheres to the opinion
that money can be raised by loan.

NEW YORK, DEC. 23 (Evening).
General Burnside has tendered his resignation,
but President Lincoln refused to accept it.

It is supposed in some quarters that a reconstruc
tion of the Federal Cabinet will yet take place.

The hostile public feeling against General Halleck
and Mr. Stanton daily increases.
General Burnside admits that he attacked
Fredericksburg from Falmouth instead of from
Warrentown, contrary to the advice of President
Lincoln, General Halleck, and Mr. Stanton, and at
an earlier moment than they directed. He esti-
mates his loss at 1,100 killed, and 9,000 wounded.

A large Federal expedition has left Memphis to
attack Vicksburg, or Granada, Mississippi.

Federal General Foster announces that he has
captured Kingston, North Carolina, with 11 pieces
of artillery, and 400 prisoners.
It is reported that the Confederates have ad-
vanced in force through Pound Gap, from Western
Virginia into Kentucky, with the view of attacking
Lexington.

Despatches from Mobile state that eight Federal
transports from Lake City have been captured at
Carson's Landing, Mississippi.
In Congress Mr. Vallandigham has introduced a
resolution urging the adoption of measures for the
restoration of peace. Congress has passed a reso-
lution directing the Government to inquire if the
American Minister in Mexico used his influence to
favour the French.

The steamer Herald, arrived at a Southern port
on the 17th. Two barques, apparently privateers,
have been seen off the west edge of the bank of
New fon ndland .

The New York journals assert that the officers of
several British war steamers were present with
their steamers' bands, at a ball given by the Con-
federate Consul at Havana.

General Duke arrived at Havana on the Bth, and
General Serrano embarked for Spain on the
12th inst.

CHINA AND AUSTRALIA.
POINT DE GALLE, DEC. 17.
The Japanese Ambassadors have arrived here, on
their way to Japan.

CANTON, Nov. 30.
There has been a violent gale off Manilla, during
which 10 Spanish ships were lost.
MELBOURNE, Nov. 25.
There has been a run on the Colonial Bank, but
it subsided the day after it commenced.

The English bank notes lately forged have been
discovered in circulation in Australia.

New South Wales has won the Intercolonial Rifle
Match.

The Australian Company's ship City of Sydney
has been totally lost at Cape Green.

The shipments of gold since the departure of the
last mail amount t 0•121,250 oz.
Trade has decidedly improved.

CANTON, NOV 30.
Tea firtr. Total export to date, 72,500,0001b5.
Exchange on London, 4.71.

SHANGHAI, Nov. 23.
Tea and silk firm. Settlements of silk during

the past fortnight, 3,000 bales. Total export to
date, 51,250 balee. Exchange on London, 8.1.
CALCUTTA, DEC. 15.

Imports rising. Freights firm.
BOMBAY, DEC. 16.
Cotton piece goods and mule twist lower.
Five-and-a-Half per Cent. Government Securi-
Les, 112 k.

JUBAL, JAN. 1, 7 45 P.M.

The Penininsular and Oriental Company's
steamer, with the above mails, has passed here
en route for Suez.

THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.
MARSEILLES, JAN. 2.
The Euxine, with the above mails, arrived this

day, at 9 p.m.
The mails leave for London by the 10.30 p.m.

;rain.

CHINA.

SHANGHAI, Nov, 23, via JUBAL.

Alarming reports are current of the rebels being
in the neighbourhood of the city, and an engage-
ment has taken place at Paokong between the
Burrge7ine (?) and the rebels, in which the latter
lost 2,000 killed. The Russians have offered their
assistance for the capture of Nankin.