The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 3, 1863.

believe blockades of the Southern pots are-daity LATEST INTELLIGENCE•
broken by fast steamers.
" in English bosoms,
And chance of profit still calls fo.th
Her people's enterprise."
The For germ.deep commercial lies,
What are the Americans about al; this time ?
Where is the fiery spirit of that go-a-head nation
who in the time of peace boasted i:s ability to
" whip creation ?" What has become of the fleet, and
where are the thousand privateers will which they
threatened to sweep the commerce of England from
the seas in the event of a war ? They still boast of
the rapidity with which they can cons•ruct vessels,
and they have certainly turned out .ome curious '
ones in a very short space of time. Why cannot
they build some half-dozen fast vessels, and hunt
down and capture this so-called pirate, end so protect
their commerce in a straightforward and independent
way, rather than admit their weakness by railing
against England, and accusing us of partiality to the
Southern States. Partiality has been shown during
this war; but it has not been shown to the South. The
North has had tenfold the advantages from us that
the South have ever had. They have had every faci-
lity to transport warlike stores from British ports to
New York, while the Southern Confederacy have
been obliged to trust to the skill of their
pilots, and the enterprise of foreigners for what
supplies they wanted, and these had to run the
gauntlet of a blockading fleet—bow efficient its ill
success can testify. That a blockade, to be binding
upon foreign States, must be effective, is an estab-

lished law of nations. Yet while that of the
Northern States was preposterously ineffective, the
Government of Great Britain forbore to take ad-
vantage of it on a punctilio of honour; thus leaving
her manufactories without supply, and driving to
starvation hundreds of thousands of operatives,
besides acting a more ungenerous part to States
struggling for independence. Yet, after all this,

the ill will to this country of a discontented people
who are striving for an impossibility, the hope of
which every day becomes more remote, is truly ridi-
culous. They declare that intervention on our part
to endeavour to stop this unnatural and unholy
war would probably bring about a reconcilia-

THE WAR IN AMERICA.

(Per the City of Baltimore, via Roche's Point,
Feb. 3, 8.25 a.m.)
NEW YORK, JAN. 24.
The orders given on Saturday to the Army of the
Potomac to cross the Rappahannock were counter-
manded till Sunday. On that day they were again
postponed to Monday, and on Monday (for the third
time) until Tuesday, the 20th, when the following
address was issued to the troops by Gen. Burnside:
"Headquarters of the Potomac Camp, near
Falmouth, Jan. 20, 1863.
" The Commanding General announces to the
Army of the Potomac that they are about to meet
the enemy once more.
" The late brilliant actions in North Carolina,
Tennessee, and Arkansas divided and weakened
the enemy on the Rappahannock ; and the auspi-
cious moment seems to have arrived to strike a
great and mortal blow at the rebellion, and to gain
that decisive victory which is due to the country.
" Let the gallant soldiers of so many brilliant
battle•fields accomplish this achievement, and a
fame the most glorious awaits them.
" The Commanding-General calls for a firm and
united action of officers and men, and, under the
Providence of God, the Army of the Potomac will
have taken the great step towards restoring peace
to the country and the Government to its rightful
authority.—By command of Major-Gen. Burnside,
(Signed) " LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant-
Adjutant-General.

tion between the two contending parties to form a
coalition for the conquest of Canada and the humi-
liation of England! Tne Yankees can " talk big,”
but this is a little too much. What ! when with all

" (Official.)
" EDWARD M. NEILL, Captain, and Acting
Assistant Adj utan t-General."
There ate no accounts from the army later than
the 20th, but it was asserted in Washington yester-
day that General Hooker's division had crossed the
river, 12 miles above Falmouth.
Much solicitude continues to prevail in New
York, aggravated by the absence of all authentic
❑ews for three days.
The state of the army, which is reported to
amount to 135 000 men, inclusive of the reserves
under General Sigel, is not considered hopeful.
The men are dissatisfied at not receiving their pay,
and openly express their want of confidence in
General Burnside.
Confederate accounts state that the Federal gun-
boats made an unsuccessful attack upon Fort Fas-
well, one of the defences of the water approach to
Wilmington, North Carolina, on the 13th.
On the 13th General Whiting had addressed the
citizens of Wilmington, stating his belief that the
city would be attacked in a few days both by land
and water, and urged the necessity of removing the
women and children to a place of greater safety.
The Federals, estimated at 60,000 strong, were
reported to have appeared near Kingston on the
14th. The Confederate pickets were driven in, and
a great battle was considered imminent.
The steamer Columbia, which was captured by the
Federals while attempting to run the blockade at
Charleston about a year ago, and subsequently
turned into a vessel of war, grounded off the North
Carolina coast on the evening of the 14th. On the
16th she was captured by the Confederates ; her
commander, twelve officers, and twenty-eight men

their naval power the utmost they can do is to send
a bullying captain to kidnap four passengers on
board of an English mail packet, far which great
deed they first feted the hero, and then, in fear of the
consequences, ate humble pie to prevent a war with
the country which they boasted to despise ; or to
despatch a fleet of gunboats to do the only real
service that they were capable of, viz., to protect
their grand armies, who when defeated and pursued
by the enemy found refuge under cover of their guns.
While all this has been going on, English merchant-
men have been stopped almost in British waters,
and the renowned WILKES has insulted our flag at
Bermuda and elsewhere, while the corvette Tusca-
rora, and one or two others, have spent the last two
years in vainly searching after two commercial
steamers which the Confederate Government with
difficulty equipped and armed. These vessels inter-
cepted many American traders which they captured
anddestroyed—they were here,there,and everywhere.
At least the Sumter was, for the Nashville having
more speed than strength was occupied in supplying
the South with stores. We had a sample of the
cool impudence of the Americans in the conduct
of the officers of the Tuscarora in Southampton
water, when in the dead of night a boat's crew was
despatched to watch the proceedings of this ship lying
in the duck, and who only desisted when threatened
with forcible ejectment by the dock officials; and
but for the presence of an English frigate specially
charged to keep order and see that the inviolability
of a British port was respected woald have attacked
her in the river.
Denied a market for their prizes in every neutral
port, what was left to these cruisers of a belligerent
State, whose duty it was to prevent as far as possible
the commerce of an enemy, but to destroy the vessels
they captured ? At first this seemed a ruthless
waste of property, but on consideration all
must see that it was their only course.
The Northerners carried their prizes into
their own ports. The Southerners, their ports being
blockaded, had but one resource, viz,, to burn or
scuttle them. Yet this is denounced as piracy by
the countrymen of General BUTLER. It were well
that some of the Northern Generals would learn
moderation from Captain Semmes of the Alabama,
and contrast his conduct to the troops and marines
on board the Ariel, and the crews of other captured
vessels, with that of General M'NEIL and murderers
of his class, who not only committed crime them-
selves but drove their opponents to a like course in
self-defence. We acquit neither party of the guilt,
for it does not follow that because one side does
wrong that the other side should fellow suit, but
the temptation is nevertheless great. Yet, notwith-
standing the vindictive declaration of the Govern-
ment at Washington, that he should be hanged as
a pirate when caught, Captain SEMMES has main-
tained the even tenor of his way, taking all that
he can, but not acting with unnecessary harsh-
ness. In fact, what Stonewall JACKSON is on
land, SEMMES is upon the sea—equally daring and
equally considerate to prisoners. But what of all
this. The navy of the North cannot catch him, or
perhaps do not care to do so, for every capture
that the Alabama makes, properly managed,
augments the hatred of the Northern rabble
against England. It is better that the Tuscarora
should be lying off Gibraltar watching the Sumter,
now the property of some private English firm, for
the sake of giving annoyance to the authorities of
that place, than run the risk of meeting the
Alabama, and thus ruin the chance the Ameri-
cans have of making peace with those whom they
cannot conquer under pretext of a war with Eng-
land. Such a war might perhaps be of service.
Six months would probably see New York in our
hands and Portland a permanent British port, and
the State of Maine, which was obtained from Eng-
land by fraud, restored to British rule, Thus the
arrogance of the Yankees would receive a check,
and communication with Canada would be open to
our shipping
all the year round. But this will not
once
show nobodyearnest, him.
be. JONATHAN, with all his bounce, has common
sense to back him. He will talk big and bluster
so n
elong a s
that
she
answers
is
in
" No offence meant uatndlettheey
Englandr
ois,
; I beg your pardon." The
Trent affair is evidence enough of this fact. If
America hates England, she likewise respects her,
and will take very good care not to come to blows.

were taken prisoners.
Accounts from the south-west report skirmishing
in the vicinity of Port Hudson.
Part of the Federal fleet is anchored three miles
below the town. One of the Federal gunboats had
been disabled by a Confederate battery.
The Howe of Representatives has rejected all
that portion of Mr. Chase's financial project which
relates to the taxation of the banks and a uniform
currency.

The trial of Gen. Fitz John Porter has, con-
trary to the general expectation, resulted in the
conviction of that officer of shameful disobedi-
ence of the orders of Gen. Pope. The Court has
sentenced Gen. Porter to be dismissed the service,
and the President has approved the finding.
General Hitchcock has publicly accused General
M'Clellan of disobedience of the President's orders,
and it is supposed to be the intention to try General
M'Clellan by court-martial.
Governor Seydour has declined to act upon the
suggestion of the Senate to call out the militia in
the difficulties existing at Albany on the question
of the Speakership, asserting that it would be im-
proper for him to interfere with the proceedings of
any co-ordinate branch of the Government unless
requested so to do by its members.
No Speaker has yet been elected.
Gold, 148, Middling uplands cotton, 16k.
SATURDAY MORNING.
P.S.--A telegram from the Rappahannock, dated
last night, states that alt the previous rumours of
the passage of the river were untrue. The army
had broken up its encampment and prepared to
cross, but, is consequence of heavy storms and the
impassable state of the roads, the movement of the
heavy artillery and ammunition waggons has
become impossible. The army had, therefore,
returned to its previous quarters. It is not known
whether the advance will be resumed.

(per the Jura, via Londonderry.)
NEW YORK, JAN. 24 (Evening).

At a meeting of the Gresham Committee on Fri-
day Lieut.-Colonel Palmer proposed that the area of
the Royal Exchange should be placed at the disposal of the
merchants, bankers, and traders of the City of London for
one day during the ensuing spring or summer, for the pur-
pose of an entertainment to his Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales and his bride, the Princess Alexandra, with a
dejeuner ala fourchette. In a similar manner her Majesty
the Queen and his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort
wereentertaEinxehdibbiytiothne. Gresham Committee upon the occa•
BIM of the opening of that building ; and such an enter-
tainment was proposed to have been offered to his Majesty
the
he Emperorlmrn ter ooffßtthEe patients FHreonch last summer, had he been able
to come to this country for the purpose of visiting the In-
ternational
relievedP I TA HOSPITAL, ,
at this
ending Jan. 31, was 3,363,
ROYAL F
week
Y'S
hospitall i 5-
duringßOAi) ‘tl;
ii, eases,

Gold 50 per cent. premium.
The Federals have captured St, Charles, Duval's
Bluff, and Derarc, on the White River, Arkansas.
Their light draught gunboats are 300 miles above
the mouth of the White River.

The most intense excitement continues at Al-
bany. No Speaker has yet been elected.
General Wool, appointed by the Washington
Government to command the troops in New York
and New England States, has to-day notified to the
commanders of the several regiments of the New
York Militia that they must report to him. Some
did—others boldly refused. General Hall, Com-
mander of the Militia, has entered a vigorous pro-
test against General Wool's proceedings. Much
excitement prevails on the subject. Governor Sey-
mour has been notified of Gen. Wool's interference.
No action has yet taken place.
Heavy rains,
making the roads impassable, have
rendered the advance of General Burnside's army
beyond the Rappahannock for the present im-
possible. The condition of the roads delayed the
transportation of the pontoons and heavy artillery,
and prevented the surprise of the enemy at the
points designated for crossing the river. No troops,
therefore, crossed, and the whole army returned to

its former position.
Western journals anticipate an immediate attack
on Rosccranz by Longstreet.
4,800
at Cairo,
prisoners from Arkansas Post have arrived

A.resolution has been offered in Congress inquir-
ing if General Burnside had formed any plans for
movements since the battle of Fredericksburg, and
there had been any interference, by what authority.
whether subordinate officers had written to Wash-
ington to interfere with such movement, and, if
Congress has rejected the Secretary of the Trea-
sury's banking scheme,
as presented by the Com.
mittee of Ways and Means.
The NeW York Assembly has reached its 19th