The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-19 00:00:00

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19, 1865.
LONDON, THURSDAY, JAN.

The news from Americacontinues to favour the
Southern cause, and all
we
that
trespecting the
attack on Wilmington rendersl h
contest more
and more remarkable. So far from the costly and
long talked of assault inflicting any "
serious injury
disastrous on the Confederates, it proved far more • -
to
the offensive than to the defensive party. Southern
despatches tells us that the Federals had five vessels
sunk and fifteen disabled, and lost all their horses
in the gale, which did good service to the South.
Wilmington papers say that the bombardment was
6Dmething terrific, and, in this instance, American
exaggeration has not influenced the description,
since nearly ten thousand shells were thrown against
Fort Fisher in five hours. So conclusive a failure
following upon such an elaborately planned
and desperate attack may well be morti-
fying to the pride of the Yankees. Jt is
probably in order to relieve the general irritation

and disappointment that rumours have been set
afloat of another intended attack on Wilmington,
but the truth is probably to be found in the Confe-
derate statement, which reports that Admiral
PORTER'S fleet had taken its departure, leaving only
1,000 men at Moorehead, and that it was not sup-
posed that Fort Fisher would be troubled again at
present. It is no wonder that General BRAGG
should declare that, being reinforced, he can
hold Wilmington against any odds, when 2,000
shells an hour fail to make any impression on its
outlying protector. SHERMAN'S movement still
attracts much attention. His main body still re-
mains in Savannah, but part of his force has landed
on the Carolina side of the river, and has driven
in the Confederate pickets at Hardeeville, 20 miles
off. His next point of attack is said to •be
Branchville, a position of considerable importance,
where the Charleston and Savannah Railroad meets
the Augusta-road. Gaining this, he would of course
be able to cut Augusta off from communication with
Charleston, and would probably make that city his
next object. Forewarned is forearmed, and the
Confederates are not likely to leave him an easy
victory. They are quite strong enough to offer a
vigorous opposition, while their engineering skill is
indisputable. BEAUREGARD and HARDEE'S forces
are close at hand, and there is indeed no reason why
HOOD should not abandon his hitherto profitless
campaign in Tennessee, to help to cut off SHERMAN.
The great invading army of Georgia is just
now the primary object. Could the Confe-
derates succeed in discomfiting and routing
SHERMAN, so as to arrest his further
progress, it would undoubtedly be the best thing for
their cause. To effect this, a concentration of effort
and of force is necessary ; and, however inviting it
may be to extend the campaign and to, endeavour to
reclaim the allegiance of those parts of the States
which are now disputed ground, it may be questioned
whether it would not be more prudent, as well as
more immediately profitable, to centre all the
strength of the available Confederate forces on the
opposition to SHERMAN'S army rather than by
widening the scene of operations to render them
more dilatory and inconclusive. There is no reason
to apprehend, however, that the Confederates are
likely to be negligent of the security of Branchville,
or that they are inclined to allow the Federals an easy
capture of another city. Deserters from their ranks
proclaim that immediately after the fall of Savan-
nah engineers left Richmond for Branchville with a
view to its fortification, and that extensive prepara-
tions were being made to hold it against attack.
This being the case, we may reasonably suppose
that the advancing army will at least meet with more
severe and protracted opposition than any which
they have yet encountered. The Tennessee news
gives a singular example of the conflicting and un-
trustworthy nature of American military intelli-
gence. Federal accounts declare that STEDMAN'S
cavalry overtook and captured Hoop's pontoon train,
south of the Tennessee. Southern versions state
that HOOD during his retreat from Nashville
captured a Federal brigade. It is certain
that HooD must have sustained some
reverse during his retreat, since Richmond
papers publish a despatch to that effect ; but it is
equally certain that the Federals in their turn were
the sufferers, although nothing to that effect is
transmitted from the Northern side of the question.
Such petty devices are quite unworthy of a great
nation, and would by this time, one would think,
be as futile as unprincipled. These words will not
subjugate the South, and however gracefully they
may disguise facts for a time, Federal versions will
no longer deceive Europeans, nor will they; we
should imagine, satisfy the eager anxiety of New
York. FORREST has been more successful than
HooD, admitting the story of the brigade, for he has
captured a brigade in his turn, a number of cavalry,
and 600 waggons. These waggons represent an
amount of miscellaneous property very valuable to the
South, and FORREST has thus earned the promotion
to a Lieutenant-General, which has been awarded
to him. The most important war news is the re-
pulse of the Federal gunboats on the Roanoke River
at Fort Branch, North Carolina. Several of the
gunboats were, it seems, blown up by torpedoes.
Among them the Otago, 14 guns, which was
manned by a crew of 300 men, besides carrying a
corresponding number of infantry. Only 60 were
saved out of all this number, and altogether the
Federals are said to have lost a thousand men, be-
sides six gunboats, in this expedition. So far the
Northern efforts have been lately most unfortunate,
and the energies of the Federals might well be
damped by such disasters, were it not that they
have long since thrown prudence to the winds, and
humanity never stands in their way. Therefore,
the lavish expenditure of men and money need cost
them no more than a passing regret, since the sacri-
fice of both has become a matter of course in the
pursuance of their object. Such a system must be
as desolating to all the best feelings of human na-
ture as it is devastating to the fair and fertile States
now trodden by hungry armies. The dreary
struggle shows no sign of exhaustion, save that we
receive unmistakeable evidence of the bitter animo-
sity felt by the South against the North—a feeling
whose strength and intensity will form an insuper-
able barrier between the two peoples so long as the
memory of the terrible struggle which followed the
disruption of the Union shall live in the recollection
of their children.

On Tuesday a deputation waited upon Mr.
MILNER GIBSON relative to an important subject
that just now has engaged public attention to a con-
siderable extent, namely, the Protection to Inven-
tom in Industrial Exhibitions. Mr. MORRELL, the
Secretary to the West London Exhibition, carefully
explained the objects in view, and remarked on the
difficulties that they had to contend with. In all
cases it was the same—those who could not afford to
purchase patents asked very naturally for that pro-
tection which alone could ensure them a certainty
of not losing the fruits of their labours. Justice as
well as expediency, as Mr. MORRELL observed, in-
duced them to bestir themselves in this matter, for
it was now pretty certain that without some protec-
tion the best and most valuable inventions of work-
ing men would be withheld. No one can be surprised
to hear this, for of course it is not likely that any
one would be willing to run the risk of losing their
possessions, the source of so much
dearly-prized
anxiety, toil, and research. All tends to show the
necessity that exists for some remedy for this
grievance, for it wotddbea vast
projectstpit which if
wanhych heckwas put to the furtherance
de-
velop so many of the resources
reosofurbec
nesefitofanthd the working-
classes, and are so prolific-
ment to their cause as these In dustrial Exhibitions
have proved themselves to be. In consequence of
the great difficulties that
environed
deputation requested Mr.
th
MILNERGIBSsubject,ON
the
deputation e
intro-
duce a Bill into Parliament, this Session, for the
purpose of remedying the evils complained of. This
is
certainly a very wise suggestion, and one that
reflects great credit on those who originated it. Very'
truly did Mr.
such a measureM WitßEoul
exhibitions in all directions. At the Great Exhibition
LciLbebringforward many new
stateto that the consequence of
. held in London, protection was
affordtedin,danofd
thing,surely
the poor, when they attempt this
should receive more and pot less
km:dance from

those qualified to tender it, but who are responsible
to the State for the manner in which they confer
their favours and distribute their gifts. Mr. GIB-
SON did not interpog any objection to the course
suggested to him, but stated that some technical
difficulties must be got over ; at all events he pro-
mised that his " best consideration" should be given
to the subject, and should the Government agree
the project will be carried out. It is to be earnestly .
hoped that this will not prove a civil put off, and
that some definite plan will be adopted which will
be calculated to meet the required ends, and to
obviate the difficulties that now militate against the
pursuance of a benefical scheme, and the success of
a noble undertaking. Too often does it happen that
by some unlucky mischance the full development of
these popular plans is narrowed considerably, if not
altogether frustrated, and it is therefore doubly in-
cumbent upon those in authority not to let this
chance be wasted, and the fair prospect which these
exhibitions open to the working classes of our com-
munity be clouded in its dawn, and overshadowed
before its promise reaches fruition. Much will
depend, for good or evil, upon the manner in which
the propesal of the deputation is met by the Govern-
ment, and sad will it be if, through a mistaken
notion and a prejudiced opinion, the chance is lost
and the opportunity allowed to escape, of confer-
ring a lasting benefit to society, through the pro-
motion of these most praiseworthy Industrial Ex-
hibitions, which, like other undertakings, can only
flourish under genial circumstances, and with
favourable auspices.

While the Poor Law Board is constituted as it is
at present, and keeps to its formula of absurd doc-
trines and exclusive rules, it seems hopeless to ex-
pect any great reform or salutary change to take
place in the workings of the system throughout the
kingdom. Day by day we are constantly hearing
of the most vexatious hindrances and the most
troublesome restrictions, that seem enforced for no
earthly reason but to prove that the Board has the
power to interpose obstacles to such a course, and
to stay this or that proceeding by its prohibitory
mandate and repellent influence. A more unseemly
objection than that recently made concerning the
amounts paid by the directors of the poor of St.
Pancras to the children apprenticed from the work-
house can hardly be imagined, and, indeed, it is the
sort of thing that, more than any other, is calcu-
lated to lower the tone of any public institution,
and mar the effect of any of its undertakings on a
large scale. It is no wonder that the vexatious ob-
jection caused great annoyance to those to whom it
was addressed, and that it was in no gentle frame
of mind that the matter was discussed. It appears
that great umbrage had been taken by the Poor Law
Board to sums of half-a-crown which were paid to
the children apprenticed from the workhouse, and
the directors of the poor of St. Pancras, in referring
to the surcharge of the auditor, stated that there
was nothing in the rules to prohibit reasonable relief
to young persons who were leaving the workhouse,
whether they were apprenticed or not ; but this
reasonable argument did not suit the pleasure or
meet the views of the Poor Law Board, and conse-
quently another communication was forwarded
to the faulty directors, in which it was stated
that the Board's decision remained the same,
and that the said donations were not " legitimate
relief," and that unless new facts could be adduced
the directors had better appeal to the Court of
Queen's Bench, in order to obtain a right under-
standing concerning the " proper interpretation of
the law." This extremely vexatious mode of deal-
ing with the subject very naturally provoked the
indignation of those to whom it was addressed, and
one of the directors moved that a resolution be
passed informing the Board that they considered
the surcharges tyrannical and vexatious, and that
they would subscribe the sums among themselves
rather than " involve the parish in a lawsuit." Sub-
sequently the word " frivolous" was substituted for
that of " tyrannical," and so far the matter ended
by a subscription being entered into to settle these
questioned expenses ; but can anything be more
paltry and unreasonable than this irritating and
oppressive conduct of the Poor-law Board? It is
calculated to bring discredit upon their office, and
to lower the influence which they should un-
doubtedly possess. Who can respect an Institution
that prides itself upon its adherence to factious
opposition and pertinacious scruples, regardless
what interests are thus sacrificed, or who falls a
victim to the ire of the offended Moloch? So long
as proceedings like those just referred to take place,
it is quite impossible that any real advantage can
accrue to those whom it should be the first object of
all to benefit and relieve. Such parsimony will
engender a similar sordid spirit among many guar-
dians and directors, and through the land it will
furnish a precedent for meanness to refer to, and
an example which avarice will not fail to follow.
There is so much that needs reform in the whole
mechanism of the Poor-law system, that few can
gainsay the objections raised against it, and those
few can be referred to this affair, as a case in point
that unquestionably proves the need of a change
for the better.