The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-12 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

A writer in a contemporary says :—The latest ac-
counts show that the tide of invasion begins to re-
cede. The evacuation of Grand Junction by the
Federals indicates their intention to fall back from
Corinth,—a very necessary step if it be true that a
Confederate army was marching on Nashville.
Gen. Buell is said to be moving against Chattanoga.
It was pointed out some months ago in your columns
that this would prove a position of the first impor-
tance as the war advanced, being the true pivot of
defence in the South-West. Now that Charleston
and Savannah are free from danger they can send
forces by railway to its support, to face those of
Gen. Buell, whose operations will be full of danger
from the insurrection in his rear.

The attack on Vicksburg is finally repulsed in

--:----------.•-- spite of gunboats, mortarboats, and canal digging.
Mr. E. J. Reed, in a letter to the Times, writes—As it The gallant defence of that place is the more re-
would be a great pity for the public to suppose that all per-
sous who have watched the progress of iron-cased ships in markable that it was not expected to be the scene
this country concur in the opinions expressed by Mr. Scott of action, and its defences had to be extemporized
Russell, I take the liberty of requesting you to afford me after the fall of New Orleans, when to all appear-
space for a few considerations of a somewhat contrary ten- ante the effort was hopeless and the means were
dency. I very much regret the necessity of opposing my . unattainable. The successful engagement of the
self thus publicly to Mr. Scott Russell, whom I have great Arkansas will have a powerful influence in another
cause to esteem ; but the remarks which I have from time
to time published upon the state of our navy have met with direction. By this time the iron-plated vessel
so kindly a reception that I feel myself pledged, in a certain built at Richmond will be nearly complete. She is
sense, to contribute such facts as I may have knowledge of an improvement on the Merrimac, much smaller,
concerning the questions raised in Mr. Scott Russell's letter. and drawing only 12ft., but throwing an equal
I shall not fora moment think of rebutting these personal broadside weight of shot. Her name will be the
accusations against the Duke of Somerset and his colleagues Richmond, and no Federal vessel on the James
which Mr. Scott Russell repeats so confidently, because it
is no business of mine to vindicate the characters of those River can be expected to engage her with success.
noblemen and gentlemen, and also because it is never ne- Before long we shall probably hear of her coming
cessary, in my opinion, to defend any body of English gen- down from Fort Darling, and that 10 or 12 bat-
tlemen whatever against accusations Which imply that they teries open fire at the same time along the south
are imbeciles, or traitors, or both. I-. pass at once therefore
to other matters. bank of the river, which entirely commands the
I will first, if you please, deal with the statement that at channel. It cannot be doubted that the effect of
the present moment the Admiralty are
building no iron- the
this will be the instant flight of the transports. They
cased fleet. It is not always easy to fixlost
precisely the sense no time in re treating from Vicksburg when
in which this word " fleet" is employed, but the context
Arkansas appeared, and the blockade of the James
shows that Mr. Scott Russell
means by it a number of River is an easy task in comparison with that of
"similar and equal vessels capable of co-operation," and the Potomac last winter. When this event shall
these, he says, the Admiralty are not building. In support occur it is difficult to imagine what General M'Clel-
of this assertion he cites a recent epee ch of the Duke of So- I 1 •
merset, in which his grace said, ".W
e have at the present an will do with his army.
-
moment building at least 10 or 12 diVerent kinds of iron- The question of recognition has become a p TOMI
plated ships, different sizes and different forms of vessels, in rent one since the debate in the House of Lords
order that we may arrive at one which will be a good vessel made it known that it
had been formally requested.
without being a very costly one." Prom this strictly accu- It has been announced that the policy of this coun-
rate statement Mr. Scott Russell raws the inference that
his grace is.building no fleet at all d,
and ewin puts that as-
—of rigid neutrality. This is what the advocates of
_ _
section into the mouth of the First Lord himself.
try will continue asfrom the outset,. one of neutrality
recognition
Now, it can be shown to the satisfaction of any' dispas- • • desire. For some considerable time past
sionate person that this inference is quite erroneous. The
there have been
Governments. To be perfectly neutral
individual been in America two communities, two
very opposite
of it is, in fact, true;
for, while Varying the armies, w
character of vessels in several minor res, -wets, between them we. must treat both alike; me should
both or
with the judicious object which his Grace When two
mentioned,
Admiralty the communicate with neither.
have manifestly kept in view in the most ca. re- persons are disputing, to converse with one and
ful manner the very thing which they areother would not be
neglecting, and have, notwithstandinghere charged wit h decline the acquaintanceiah.ty. ofitihhec
essenc i
neg these minor varier neutrality but part
e o neutrality
tions, arranged the sizes and speeds
is justice, and Justice, though
of their large vesseTai
expressly iu order that they may be fit to co-operate advai 1. . often painted blind,
never pictured with one eye open and the other
tageously in fleets. I can show this, 1
plete satisfaction of yourself, sir, and of the public.
believe, to the con 1.. 15
closed. At present we see Mr. Adams, but we can-
The first fleet which they are nr,..,,..,,:
Phis may be a policy of inac-
- preparing will consist of six not see Mr. Mason.
of the largest and most powerful iron-cased ships ii). , the ilon, but it cannot be termed one of perfect Iltl-
world, viz., the Warrior, Black Prince,Achilles, Norr,tium-
trolity and even de ii
--ang with the Governments they
berland, Minotaur, and Agincourt. The whole o' i these
-esent.
ships are intended to steam at a speed of 14 knots • Ai hour, repsa
speed to which, I believe, every one of them w • . ..
An objection has been raised to recognition, which
p attain)