The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-29 00:00:00

ttg.

LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 29, 1863.

The defeated by the Feder 1 a s, again turns out to
be the conquering Confederate. General LONG-
STREET, knowing full well,
how most adroitly and
energetically reculer Pou,
mieux
sadist, instead of
now being found (as reported by the last mail) to
have been in every waY Worsted, proves to have
retreated, only in order the more effectually to
tti
lee veryid
still
aet
ad-
vance. Gathering up his strength io h
of his partial withdrawal, and stratig
more by the aid of certain timely
reincc'tternents,
ho is now seen to have turned at the
ri ht
moment upon the pursuing force of the
near Pear Station on the Cumberland u„.11
and Moreston Railway, and to have driven those
same Federals back Lally the distance of half a
mile ! Evidently—by the very incident of his
turning thus upon them, as though brought to
bay—evidently "taking them aback" as well as
driving them back that full half-mile in conse-
quence! Brief and fragmentary though the intel-
ligence brought to us this while by the Columbia,
it is impossible not to recognise from it, how exagge
rated were the exultant accounts transmitted east-
wards across the Atlantic by the last Yankee Tele-
grams. According to those accounts the second
great captain of the Southern Army—for LONG-
STREET stands next in repute to the Csnfederate
c ummander-in-Chief hims
elf—had been not only
defeatedhadell
by the opposing forces of the North, but
into
veryue brought, by them, after his actual defeat,
ties.
The rious, if not into most perilous
situation,difficul-
nevertheless, by the very next
mail turns t
to be, as we have seen, essen-
tially and entir,,lydiff eirout. General LONGSTREET,
in his withdrawal b u the superior forces op-
posed to him, retiring
all
the while, as he himself
was Perfectly wall aware,
upon the reinforcements
despatched to his assistanen
by his Commander !
And no sooner do which
creversal. The
reinforcements join hen:than his movements are at
slow retreat is turned into a rapid
ildi
pursuit of LONGSTREET by the peaeraiav:..rsi abruptly
ce. The
changed, at Pear Station, on the Cumberland
Gap
and Moreston Bill war into a pursuit of the r
ede-
rals by LONGSTREET. For nearly a mile it
is
con.,
tinued, the Confederate Cuief endeavourin,
6.the
same time, though, US is proves, ineffectually, to

In the Times of last Friday there was a letter
which especially deserves attention at this season.
It refers to the " Refuges for Homeless and Desti-
tute Children, at Bloomsbury." The appeal made
by the Secretary on behalf of this Institution is one
that earnestly demands notice, and it is to be
hoped that it will not prove unavailing. A better
meats of bestowing help can hardly be chosen, for
the claims of these little wanderers are manifold,
and must speak with irresistible force to all who are
impressed with the imminent necessity of providing
a refuge for these young unfortunates. It needs
no stretch of imagination, and requires no scope of
fancy to depict the horrors of their situa-
tion, and foretell the danger of their future
course, if left unaided and neglected in the wilder-
ness of the world. From the class here provided
for spring up the dark family of crime, for it is a
notorious fact that more than half the evil charac-
ters who infest society are first led astray by the
temptations of idleness. It is a sad thing to reflect
upon, and makes the painful case more distressing
to feel assured that had timely help been afforded,
and a place of shelter at hand, many of those being
now regarded as outcasts from society, and herded
with miscreants and ruffians, might have become
respectable members of society, doing their duty in
the station to which PROVIDENCE had called them.
Mr. WILLIAMS mentions in his letter that they
have already been of great service to the objects
of their labour, and that during this year they
sent out from their Institution no fewer than eighty
boys to various British Colonies, and he adds that
had these remained behind they would most probably
have " preyed on the public" for their support. In
this instance we may well say that these boys thus
timely succoured have been taken from the evil to
come, and so far as human foresight can divine the
future, have been enabled to provide for themselves
in a manner honest in the sight of all men. It is
very much to be regretted that 20 more boys might
have been similarly sent abroad lately, but that the
funds of the "Refuge" would not permit the out-
lay. The state of the finances are so deplorably
low that unless timely aid is imparted, many poor
Claimants will be refused admission; It can hardly
de that this appeal will be neglected at this season
°:yiellearitable feelings and kindly sentiments. Those
are rich in this world's goods can do no better
-
than invest
some portion of their abundance in the
furthest,nCe
of this good work. It is sure to flourish
when semi,
their tempting means of expense
have failed, au
when all their showy surroundings
It
have vanished
the fashion of this world is
about ass44(l from them, they will be able
e
l're of love to the poor and
helpless with efle c t to
on pass
tliis
feelingsoffering
et satisfaction and delight,
that more splendid
and brilliant achievements
could never
afford
ti'"l- It is not for
mortals to command success, but they are bound
to do their best to desere,
it, and it is
spread of evil to
promoting the leave the young
every population loose in the streets to learnnery kind
of mischief, and grow up ripe and promising scho-
lars of sin. The cause of humanity and the voice
of
reason are potent to the side of charity in this par-
ticular instance, and it will be a deplorable calamity
and a disgraceful reflection if such a society as 3 this
should fail, or even become shorn of its power to
impart aid and assistance, and to those so greatly
in need of help. It is impossible to over estimate
or exaggerate the importance of shielding the
young from all hurtful influences, and the vast advan-
tages thatresult from their being properly provided
with suitable employments. If private contribu-
tions do not appear sufficient the G evernment should
do something in aid of such an institution, and the
money they bestow will be a saving in the end, for
many of those who are now succeured would, if

left to themselves, become adepts in crime, and
thus be burdens on the State by swelling the
ranks of the criminals whose cost entails such a
serious expense upon us. Every social ad-
vantage and every Christian feeling are
on the side of this Institiution; and now
that the want has been made known, let not
the call be unheeded. A fearful responsibility will
rest upon those whose lives are lapped in luxury,
and who leave their fellow-creatures to perish of
cold and want in the streets, still worse to grow up
prolific in crime and fruitful in works of evil. It
may be difficult to settle which is the best means of
providing a remedy for the sad state of the adults
of our population, who are hardened in iniquity ;
but let us remember that had a helping hand bee❑
stretched forth to them in their early years they
might now be walking their earthly course in rec-
titude, and bringing up their children in a spirit
worthy of those who hope to make their offspring
honest and faithful children in this world, and
heirs of a better inheritance hereafter. With the
young now around us no such excuse can be made ;
they are open to good impressions, and eager for a
change from their present discomforts. If the task
of providing them with help is taken up with
earnestness and good will, it cannot prove wholly
unprofitable; but must conduce to the good of all,
blessing him that gives and him that takes, and
turthering the best interests of these little pilgrims
on the world's highway here and hereafter, and
bringing the best assurance to the thinking mind
and the treating heart that they have been given
the surest means of so passing through things tem-
poral that they finally lose not the things eternal.

The monthly report of the Central Executive
Committee of the Lancashire Relief Fund to the
General Committee will be looked at with some in-
terest. The months of winter are now sufficiently
!advanced to enable us to appreciate in some degree
the effects of the inclement season upon the employ-
ment as well as the health of the people, and as yet
such statistics are tolerably satisfactory and reas-
suring. We learn from the report now before us
that during the last month there has been an in-
crease of 723 in the nuruber of the recipients of
relief from the Board of Guardians, and of 1,957 in
those solely dependent upon the Local Committees.
At first sight these figures are somewhat startling,
but when we come to compare them with those re-
presenting the state of affairs last year at this time
we shall see no grounds for discouragement. The
total number in receipt of relief in the last week of
November, 1862, whether from Guardians, Local
Committees, or both conjointly, was 448,955.
Dining the last week of the November just past it
was 170,850, thus showing a decrease of 278,105.
Various reasons are assigned for this diminution,
such as the increase in the goods manufactured, as
well as the number of hands needed to prepare the
inferior quality of cotton; and also the natural mor-
tality among the cotton hands, which has not
been supplied by the usual relays of new
workers. No less than fourteen thousand are,
it is estimated,engaged in other employments in the
cotton districts, and we must of course add to these
the numbers who have emigrated from the country,
although this item is not alluded to in the Report.
From whatever cause it may arise, however, the
fact of the numbers in receipt of relief being re-
duced more than a quarter of a million in the
twelvemonth is one full of hope and consolation,
more especially at the season of the year which en-
tails increased wants in the way of food and
clothing, so that the condition of our metropolitan
poor has been such as to create some anxiety among
philanthropists. The committee, with the foresight
and good sense which have throughout distinguished
their proceedings, are not inclined to make too sure
of the continuation of the present condition of
affairs, even although they have to record a consi-
derable increase. Looking forward and beyond the
immediate sphere of action, they see reason to an-
ticipate some considerable fluctuations in the
amount of employment. The price of cotton has
hitherto risen so much as to increase largely the
amount of capital employed both in the import and
the manufacture. Various circumstances con-
nected with the importation of cotton have
increased the absorption of the precious metals,
thus producing, as we have seen, a rise in
the value of money. The natural result of the
temporary check which this rise offers to the specu-
lator is diminished employment, and at the same
time the committee look forward with some anxiety
to a fall in the price of cotton, owing to increased
imports and lessened factory work, which, however
great its ultimate advantages, might cause consie
derable temporary embarrassment. With a view to
the increased demand on their resources, which
such an event would certainly cause, the committee
have been careful to keep a considerable sum in
hand, having now altogether a balance of
.£355,526—thus having a provision which enables
them to face the prospect of a darker day without
uneasiness. They add a hope, moreover, such as we
have often expressed, that before the sums at their
disposal shall be exhausted, and the relief given by
the public works is at an end, " a steady and per-
manent augmentation in the supply of cotton may
be expected." Such an anticipation coming from
such a quarter, and put forward on the responsi-
bility of those who have every means of obtaining
correct information, and would certainly not speak
without good authority, will, we hope, tend greatly
to re-assure those persons who persist, in
spite of all that has been done and is doing,
in taking a gloomy and altogether desponding view
of the prospects of cur cotton trade. We are told
that in anticipation of the coming revival a number
of new mills are now in course of construction—a
fact of itself of no slight importance, as promis-
ing favourable auguries. The workpeople them-
selves appear to entertain the same opinion ; most
of those who have emigrated into neighbouring
counties, or accepted other employments, having
made their arrangements of a temporary nature, so
as to be able to resume their old labour when the
better days come again. The Public Works Act
has not, it seems, as yet done all that was expected
of it, being cumbered with unnecessary formalities,
although the report informs us that the Govern-
ment have shown every desire to simplify matters.
More in this respect remains to be done and should
be done promptly, if the cotton hands are to derive
from it the relief it was intended to give. Shou'd
the necessary alterations be made, so that a large
number of loans may be arranged without loss of
time, we may hope that the greater number of
workmen absorbed by these works may neutralise,
in some degree, any increased distress caused by the
fluctuation of the cotton trade. Altogether the pro-
spects of Lancashire are as !Night as we could hope,
and thanks are emiueutly due to the gentlemen
whose patriotic labours have contributed so much
t 5. the relief of the distress, as well as to the alievia-
-1011
of unnecessary alarm or exaggerated fears on
the Pa-,
of the public.

CHAB,Lxs RE ,
the whimsicalnoAtii) E 8 << Hard Cash" (according to
on of a reviewer in the Athencvum),
contains gold that
rings
table, silver of irupureoitt clear music as it falls on the
coinage,upon private
and dirty copper. It is a
love story' an attack l madhouses, and a satire
on the medical profession, The
the base silver must be looked folrov. ue story is the pure gold,
asy-
lums, the satire ou the raedicea
faculty
the. chapters on asy-
Is capper,