The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-02 00:00:00

at t

LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 2, 1865.

It has been often said that the hour before.dawn
is the darkest, and such may prove to be the case
with the present crisis in the fortunes of the Con-
federacy. There are never wanting men who at the
first rumour of disaster are ready to abandon their
cause, nor yet others who in misfortune and disap-
pointment must find somebody to blame ; and,
therefore, the aspect of affairs in the South need not
surprise us—the less so as it is evident that the
North is exerting every possible means to bring the
Confederates to terms. The 4th of March is
growing nearer and nearer, and as President LIN-
COLN feels it to be more and more than possible that
England and France will recognise him on his re-
election as President of the Northern States only,
he is anxious to bring the internal war to an end,
that he may have his revenge, and divert the mor-
tification of his people by exploits against Canada
on the North and Mexico on the South. The Cana-
dians are evidently sensible of some such impending
danger, and the Governor's Message, at the opening
of the Canadian Parliament on the 19th of last
month, deals boldly with the question. After
stating that a Bill to give the Executive further
powers to deal with political refugees who abuse the
shelter afforded them will be presented to the repre-
sentatives, he goes on to say that the circum-
stances now offer the opportunity not only
for the settlement of the question of pro-
vincial republics, but for the simultaneous
creation of a new nationality. It is for the pro-
vinces, he says, to decide whether they will remain
isolated, and consequently powerless for mutual aid,
or whether by their union in the proposed Confede-
ration they will present a resolute and united front
to the invader. The scheme of the Confederation
has been approved by the Imperial Government,
and will shortly be submitted to the provincial par-
liaments. It is of course the great question of the
day in British North America, and we cannot but
hope, from the energy and good sense with which
the affair has hitherto been conducted, that no time
will be lost in bringing so important a matter to a
conclusion. The sense of danger and insecurity
which pervades the Canadian provinces will have
one good effect at this crisis. It will tend to make
men sink their personal feelings and local jealousies
in the crisis of the moment, and will enable the Bill
to pass into law with less delay and difficulty than
might have been experienced in a calmer political
atmosphere. Let us hope that England, too, will
be upon her guard. We have received the six
months' notice for the abolition of the existing
regulations as to the relative forces on the lakes, and
have therefore no excuse for supineness or excessive
delicacy towards the States. The Federal Govern-
ment will have plenty of vessels ready to send at
the earliest opportunity into Canadian waters, and
on the first frivolous pretext to proceed to hostili-
ties. We have been told in jest that many
Americans declared that the failure of the first
assault on Fort Fisher was the fault of the
Britishers, because the damage done by the ex-
plosion at Erith and on the Mersey entirely put
out their calculations, by inducing them to employ
the powder-ship, which proved to be Vox et prwterea
nihil. Of course this was a joke, but it has a serious
foundation in the jealousy and suspicion with which
the Yankees regard everything said, done,
or thought by Englishmen, and therefore
LINCOLN well knows that no more popular
movement could be made than aggression upon
English territory. The growing importance of the
British American provinces, too, have excited the
anger and envy of the Federal States. They see
in the wealth of their natural resources a tempting
prize, while the vast extent of their dominions
would amply compensate for the loss even of the
fair Southern States. Inhabited by a thriving and
hardy people, under a free and equitable adminis-
tration, protected by the power of the first country
in the old world, Americans see the British
provinces treading fast on that road to
national grandeur and prosperity which they
themselves once trod, and whose blessings they have
since so madly flung away. American self-conceit
is not likely to tolerate a rival so near the throne
with placidity, and therefore Englishmen and Cana-
dians should be forwarned and forearmed. A proper
fleet of our gunboats should be at St. John's, wait-
ing for the expiration of the legal term, that its
immediate appearance on the lakes may convince
Americans that English power is a substance
.and not a shadow. We may be very sure
that no hesitation or sign of timidity
on our part will avert the chance of
war, the only hope being that the conviction of our
strength, and our resolution to fight with vigour, if
called upon to do so, may influence the wiser and
more thoughtful of American statesmen and politi-
cians. But, unhappily, such men seldom get their
due share of influence and power in Transatlantic
life. They are disgusted with the truckling to
popular passions, with the intrigues, the cabals,
and the unscrupulous proceedings necessary
to dominate either in Congress or in the
press, and they shrink back from such
a pathway to power. They have been unable to
arrest the war with the South, whatever their regret
for the waste, and the bloodshed, and the suffering,
and we fear they will be powerless to stay a quarrel
with England. Meanwhile, though New York still
sends us the darkest pictures of the Southern pros-
pects, we are not quite sure that their sombre pic-
tures are to be depended on. Southerners have
shown themselves to be made of sterner and more I
fiery stuff than to let themselves be " snuffed
out " by the reverses of a single campaign.
While BLAIR is going to and fro between
Richmond and Washington, New York is rejoicing
b
over the capture of Fort Fisher, BEALTREGARD,
HARDEE, HooD, and BRAGG are said to be com-
bining to attack SHERMAN. This is what they ought
to have done long since when he first began his
march across Georgia ; and, if properly done now,
the whole fortunes of the campaign may be turned
in favour of the South. The Confederates com-
mitted the mistake of underrating their enemy and
of scattering their forces, but they have still the
opportunity in their hands, and possibly we may
hear that SHERMAN'S triumphant
_departure from
Savannah, instead of leading him to Charleston or
Branchville, has led him to a complete and well-
merited repulse by the combined forces of the
Confederates.

was a very
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The inauguration
of the South London Industrial
Exhibition, which took place yesterday,
interesting affair,- and forms another of
trophies 01 the labouring classeswhich have of late so
deservedly awakened the interest of the community.
So far as yet appears excel its this last exhibition bids fair to
predecessor
evident to the critl_; that these
in excellence and variety ;
hence, it will be
attempts are no mere flashes in th.,, pan, mere
evanescent efforts to make a display, lut the exhi-
bitim of industry a, deterrain.xl resolve to

make' the most of what opportunities may be
afforded.. It is, indeed, a convincing proof of the
improver tent that has taken place among the work-.
ing class, 3s, that these Industrial Exhibitions should
be so successful and satisfactory in their design and
execution. The philosophical politician will rejoice
at the •theering prospect thus afforded, and recog-
nise thtl important sign of the times thus presented.
It is a great thing for a State when the intellectual
element predominates in its existence, and more
especially so when those who are thus refined and
elevated belong to those who might fairly be pre-
sumed at first sight to be overwhelmed with the en-
grossing nature of their ordinary pursuits, and so
monopolised by the " carking cares" of a labouring
life, as to have little leisure for thought and none
for personal cases not connected with their every-
day struggle for existence. Amid many disheart-
ening events it is a great satisfaction thus to meet
with the evident desire for improvement so strongly
fixed in the minds of the lower orders, and the
continuance of its effort after the first
excitement was over, which all know to be so fasci-
nating in its character, so potent in its influence,
and, alas ! so very fleeting in its endurance in too
many instances. The Bishop of WINCHESTER, who
presided at the opening ceremony, made an excel-
lent address, which gave great satisfaction to all
present, and entered fully into the particulars of the
case. His lordship declared that he felt it a privi-
lege to take part in such proceedings, and no one
could have reached his age without noticing. the
great changes that had taken place in these matters.
In support of his arguments he quoted the well
known lines—

" Worth makes the man, the want of it the fellow,
And all the rest is leather and prunella."
It is, as the Bishop observed, a great source of
thanksgiving that the different classes of society
now no longer look askance at each other,
but possess a positive bond of union, and
are cemented by so many mutual interests,
and influenced by many common feelings and
sentiments. In this, indeed, lies one of the chief
advantages that accrue to these Industrial under-
takings, and that remain a solid proof of sterling
excellence when other benefits, very evident at first,
may become fading and vanishing. The poor ope-
rative need not now feel that he is struck out from
all those pursuits that refine human nature and en-
noble existence ; while the upper ranks have it no
more in their power to say that, after a certain
point, the lower classes cannot attain any degree of
superiority, and have not the power of raising them-
selves from their own level. These may appro-
priately learn from the Bishop of WINCHESTER'S
speech, when he earnestly and eloquently addresses
his hearers thus :—" The working classes had
studied history, science, and art, which allowed them
to enter into their labours, and by dint of industry,
energy, and talent had brought about the results
which they saw before them." This is a correct de-
finition of the actual state of the case, and a fair
illustration of the efforts so strenuously made by the
contributors to these Industrial Exhibitions. The
PRINCE CONSORT said in his speech, at Birmingham,
that " Science and art are the conscious regulators
of all industrial occupations," and the Bishop did
well to quote these words, and allude to the late
lamented individual who uttered them, for
in no one thing more than another did
Prince ALBERT earn a right to popular good
will, or possess a claim upon the gratitude of
Englishmen, than in his earnest and constant efforts
to improve the working classes of England. This
remains his best trophy ; and now that he rests from
his labours, his works remain to benefit the genera-
tion in which he lived, while we have a confident
hope that the good seed thus sown will flourish and
survive to many succeeding generations. The
Bishop also adverted to the assistance which the '
employers had given in many instances to those
who had striven to appear at these affairs ; and he
very truly observed that the men must have re-
turned to their ordinary occupations with more zest
and goodwill afterwards. This is no doubt
strictly correct, for nothing is more injurious
to the excellence of the task in „hand as
for the operator to feel an interest in it, and also an
interest beyond it. Those employers who set their
faces against these undertakings are doing a great
wrong to society, and inflicting a grievance on
those connected with them, while they also do them-
selves an incalculable amount of injury in the feel-
ing that they inspire among their employees. There
was an interesting passage in the Bishop's speech,
in which he referred to the work that all had to do.
" There were no drones," he said, " around him,
and he himself had plenty to do." He instanced as
a proof of how pleasantly and profitably a man may
employ his leisure, the beautiful translation which
Lord DERBY had just published. He was a great
statesman, and yet he delighted in pursuing
such matters. The Right Honourable WILLIAM
COWPER addressed the meeting, and made a few
impressive remarks. He said that it was a case of
national importance that the working men should
have every opportunity afforded to them of fin-
proving their tastes ; and he observed with great
truth that there might be more of such affairs had
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and it is to be hoped that it will be acted., upon by
those with whom he is connected ; for a better or
more gracious proof cannot be given of the interest
taken by the authorities in these affairs of public in-
terest and importance. On the whole, this South
London Exhibition has been very happily inaugu-
rated, and we only wish that it may be the fore-
runner of many others equally promising and
prosperous.

L'Arenir National is announced to be the only
one among the principal daily newspapers of Paris that is
published at the same price, bath in the capital awl in the
departments.
TIIE Ro MAN CATHOLIC CHURCII.--We mentioned
the other day that the late Captain Mitchell, of
Baldovie, had left about £50,000 to the Roman Catholic
'Church in Scotland, but we now understand that the sum
will be nearer £90,000. lie has left his estates in fee simple,
and as the rental is some £3,000 a year, that at 30 years'
Purchase gives X 90,000. The bequest is left in the first
instance for the foundation and endowment of a retreat for
aged priests, anctwhatever sum may be over is to be equally
divided between the three Roman Catholic bishops in
Scotland—Aberbeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, to be used
for the support and extension of their missions. Captain
Mitchell was originally a Protestant, and became a convert
to Roman Catholicism in his maturer years.—Dundee Ad-
vertiser.

A NAVAL HELOINE.—Ann Perrian, a naval
heroine, died at Exmouth last week at a very advanced
age. She was with her husband on board the man-of-war
Crescent and Orion from 1794 to 1798, and was present in
the following engagements :—L'Orient, Admiral Lord Brid-
purt, June 23, 1795 ; off Cape St. Vincent, Admiral Sir John
Jervis, Feb. 14, 1797; the Nile, Admiral Lord Nelson, Aug.
1, 1798. She also shared in the honour of several minor
exploits. In action she was stationed in the magazine
with the gunners, preparing flannel cartridge cases. She
had 'been in the receipt of a pension of £lO a year from
Government up to the time of her death.

THE HIGHFIELD ESTATE, MALTON.—Mr. W.
I'Anson, the trainer, who recently sold Blair Athol,
Breadalbane, and Broomielaw, for such high prices, has
just purchased from Messrs. J. C. and J. H. Wise, of Mal-
ton, the well-known Highfield Estate. Highfield was the
place where the late Mr. Wm.. Scott had his training esta-
blishment, and where latterly Mr. Cunningham, the trainer,
has resided. On this estate is the tan gallop upon which
the famous horse Sir Tatton Sykes was trained, and as the
estate adjoins Langton Weld, Mr. I'Anson is secure for
training quarters should any further enclosure of the far-
famed weld take place, which is not improbable, in a few
years.