The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-05 00:00:00

LIFEBoAT SERVICES.—During the storms
of the past year 1861 the boats of the National Lifeboat
Institution have saved 432 persons from different wrecks on
T
our coasts. h Institution also expended .C 19531 14s. sd.
in the same peri eod on lifeboat efitablishments, in, addition to
granting £1,569 as rewards for saving 69S shipwrecked per-
sons by its lifeboats, and other means.
The Committee of the Institution earnestly A ?PEAL to
the public fur ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the
continued heavy demands on the Institution's 150 lifeboat
establishments.
Contributions are received by Messrs. Willis and Co.,
11erries and Co., Coutts and Co., and by all the London and
country bankers ; and by the Secretary. Richard Lewis, Esq.,
at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.-
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING, THROUGH }IKE AND WATER.
Messrs J L. Toole, R. Phillips, Billing ton, Ashley; Mrs. A.
Melon (Miss Woolgar), and INtiss IL Simms.
After which, at 9, SOLON SHINGLE. Solon, Mr. John
E. Oisens ; supported by Messrs. It. Vhiltips, Billington,
Stephtnson, Ashley, Eburne ; Mrs. 11. Lewis, &c.
To conclude with A PAS DE FASCINATION. Miss
Furtado, her 12th appearance ; and Mr. J. L. T 001.,.

Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.
THIS EVENING, a new Farce, by Mr. David Fisher,
entitled HEART-STRINGS AND FIDDLE-STRINGS.
After which, ARAIAII NA roGUE Messrs. Dion Bouci-
c.ault, J. Itroug-ham, H. Vandenhoff, 1). Fisher, L. Murray ;
Mrs. Boucicault and Miss M. Oliver.
To conclude with AN AMPLE APOLOGY.

Commence at 7.

HIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tins DAY.—Morning, 12h. 22m.—Afternoon, 12h. 50m.
To-Moußow.-Morning, lh. 15m.—Afternoon, lh. 38m,

ft
431#4100m4 •
dr

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1865.

The American President has now done what he
ought to have done long ago : he has ordered the
release of all the remaining military prisoners of the
Confederacy, upon condition of their subscribing
the oath of allegiance and giving paroles. There
was no reason why this should not have been done
some months ago, but it is at all events well that
these brave soldiers, who have committed no offence
excenting for their own States, should be once more
set at liberty. This is one step towards a settle-
ment of the imbroglio of difficulties in which the
Federal Government have contrived to involve
themselves, and it is evident that the war, being
considered fairly at an end, the Cabinet is anxious
to restore things, in the North at all events, to
something of their pristine condition. The enormous
expenditure of the war will be very gladly lessened,
and the serious state of the finances must render it

a great satisfaction to the Secretary of the Treasury
that the Navy Department has ordered the Atlantic
squadron to ten vessels without loss of time. The
reduction of the army will be the next step, but
there are difficulties in the way, since all arrears
wiil have to be paid up ; and, until the political
atmosphere is calmer, there would be some risk in
I turning so many unemployed men adrift. There is
not sufficient employment for those who arc already
idle, and the prospect of letting loose men trained
to arms and accustomed to pillage is not reasoning.
The soldiers do not appear to be very popular among
the civilians, since we hear that in several Northern
cities, Philadelphia, Chicago, and others, there have
been disturbances between them, attended with loss
of life.

The real difficulty for American statesmen, how-
ever, is the negro question. The authorities are
now endeavouring to remove all restrictions which
apply exclusively to the negro ; but it is a hopeless
task to reconcile the conflicting elements. America
will have to pay a heavy price for having so long
tolerated and encouraged the crime of slavery.
Any effort at suddenly placing the negro on a level
with the white man will be certain to fail, from his
own lack of training, from the natural antipathy of
the races, strengthened and deepened on the part
of the Northerners, at least,by years of prejudice and
dislike. The evil of slow growth cannot be cut
down in a day, and any attempt to enforce a theore-
tical equality without providing for the pressing
physical wants of the emancipated negro will infal-
libly end in disappointment and suffering. It is well
that Northern statesmen should no longer tolerate
the cruel laws which deprived the black man of all
the rights of citizenship, but the greatest mode-
ration and prudence must be observed in the
present transition state, if fresh elements of discord
and domestic wretchedness are to be avoided.
The Connecticut Legislature appears disposed to
pick fresh quarrels, but it is to be hoped the Wash-
ington Government will have too much sense to
pay much heed to their suggestions, knowing a
little more of the sufferings of war than Connecti-
cut does. This State very wisely adopted a resolu-
tion declaring that the Government of the United
States ought never to recognise any Government
imposed on the American Continent by a European
' Power ; also that the Government ought not to pro-

fess friendship towards nations which have sympa-
thised with the South. Having thus provided ele-
ments for a quarrel with France and with England,
the wise Legislature of Connecticut adjourned,
leaving other parties to carry out its suggestions
and set the world in a blaze. We hear no more of
the confiscation by this mail, but we shall probably
have further particulars shortly.

On Thursday evening the Birkenhead Workmen's
Hall and Club-house was opened, and several in-
teresting speeches were made on the occasion. Lord
STANLEY was the first to address the meeting, and
the noble lord's address gave great satisfaction to
all assembled. The noble lord is always particu-
larly successful in dealing with the subjects that re-
late to these institutions, and the efforts of the work-
ing classes to render themselves more cultivated are
always met by him with the greatest encouragement.
In this he shows his discernment and good sense, for
nothing is more calculated to induce habits of order
and regularity among the lower orders than their
following the example of those above them in sta-
tion,
not in apeing their extravagances or copying
their follies, tut in adopting some of those habits
and customs which tend to humanize and render
them more sociable. This undertaking at Birken-
head may be regarded as a striking proof of the
advancement of the age, and of the progress which
has been made in that locality. Few things are
more interesting in their way than to notice the
great advances made in progress of allkinds in those
places, which the last generation regarded as nonen-
tities. Lord STANLEY, with that frankness and
candour which always distinguishes him, declared
that he had no right to come forward prominently,
since he had taken no share in the battle, and
therefore should not celebrate the victory. In refer-
ence to the immediate object of the affair, the noble
lord stated that a place like Birkenhead especially
required some such undertaking, for social wants
arc naturally put aside when a necessity grows
tip rapidly. It was only in strict conformity
witli truth when Lord STANLEY declared that there
was nothing more surprising than the manner in
which Birkenhead had sprung up. From the year
18-)1 to 1841 the population multiplied itself four
fold, from two to eight thousand, and since that period
from eight thousand to forty thousand. Well might
the noble lord observe, in reference to these striking
facts, that he was reminded no so much of anything
which we see in Europe, " as of those new cities
which grow up on the edge of the Western
Prairie, where, with the traffic, with the crowded
streets, and along with every luxury and con-
venience of life, you see here and there, in
corners and byeways, the stumps still sticking out of