The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-30 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN,

Sir,—ln reply to " Our Connected with Shipping," I beg
to say the directors of this company have not abandoned
their plan of placing a light and store-ship connected with
the shore, by means of a submarine cable, to the south-
west of Scilly ; in fact, a provisional contract for the neces-
sary ships for that station has just been entered into. We
are, however, still requiring some additional assistance
before the station can be established. Had the ships been
there during the last six weeks much property and many
valuable lives would no doubt have been saved by our
tender and lifeboats, and large profits realised to our share-
holders.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
M. BEALE, Secretary.
21, Gresham-street, Old Jewry, Jan 28.

THE KNIGHTS OF THE GARTER.—On Saturday
Sir C. G. Young, Garter Principal King of Arms,
with his assistants, was occupied in placing the arms and
banner of the Marquis of Lansdowne in the choir of the
Chapel Royal of St. George, Windsor Castle. The position
occupied by the arms of the newly created knight of the
most noble Order of the Garter is next the carved stone-
work of the royal closet. The trophy consists of a helmet,
surmounted by a guilt beehive, a blue silk scarf embroi
dered with silver thread, and sword, above the whole of
which is the banner richly emblazoned. The number of
knights is restricted to 25, exclusive of the Sovereign, the
princes of the blood royal, and foreign princes. The Duke
of Newcastle's arms and banner have not yet been re-
moved. Earl Spencer's arms will shortly be placed in the
chapel.
MR. SALA ON THE NEGRO.--I believe that for
thousands of years unavailing efforts have been
made to civilise the black natives of Africa, and those
efforts--missionary enterprise and the republic of Liberia
notwithstanding—will continue to be unavailing. * * I
believe that he is naturally inferior to the white man in
mental organisation ; that his defects and his vices are not
to be eradicated by education ; that he will always (in the
aggregate, of course there are individual exceptions) be
lazy, indolent, and slovenly, good-natured and kind-
hearted, but subject to inexplicable fits of caprice, sulki-
ness, obstinacy, and perversity ; willing and obedient only
when he fears the eye or the hand of his master. * * I
believe that he must always have a "boss" or a master or a
guide of some sort over him, with power to punish him
when he misbehaves himself ; and I believe that in default
of this master, guide, or " boss," he will go to the Devil, as
he has gone in Hayti, as he will go in Liberia, as ho would
go in Jamaica were not the magistrates too strong for
him, and as ho has been going in his own country, Africa,
for I don't know how many thousand years.—Sola's
American Diary. _ _

ANGLO-FRENCH PoLrrEnss.—M. Eugene Rim-
mel, authoi and perfumer, in the midst of a shower
of compliments, sweet as his sweetest essence, tells us, in
a highly-scented note, that his book was written wholly
and truly by himself, Latin quotations included. " You
are not probably aware," says the scented note, " that I
was
born and brought up in France, where the poorest
tradesman's son receives a classical education." We accept
the inference; and in return for M. Rimmel's politeness,
beg to offer him, as an original author on the matters per-
taining to his elegant business, the assurance of our dis-
tinguished consideration.
A ROYAL COMIC ARTIST.—Dom Fernando of
Portugal, the father of the reigning King, has just
sent to the Society of Aquafortistes, of Paris, a proof etch-
ing exhibiting great ability. It represents a funeral ora-
tion pronounced by a cat over a deceased brother ; around
the bier is a crowd of other cats expressing their grief in
various ways; some wipe their eyes, some look upwards
with resignation, while others seem transfixed by despair,
1 but all stifle their sobs and listen to the orator, who is
I seated with intense gravity on a tub. The subject is a
strange one to select for the purpose, but the execution of
the work proves Dom Fernando to be a true artist, possess-
ing much comic verve.

THE POET LAUREATE is a candidate for election
into the Royal Society. Ms name was among those read
in at the meeting of the Society on Thursday last.
THE YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR REPEALING
THE MALT-TAX.—The annual meeting of this associ-
ation was held on Thursday ; the President, Mr. E. Cayley,
of Wydale-hall, in the chair. The report and accounts
were satisfactory, and there is a good balance in hand. The
President was unanimously re-elected, and also the other
officers. A deputation was appointed to attend the antici-
pated large meeting of the Central Repeal Association, at
the London Tavern, on the Bth of February. Mr. Fielding,
of Todmorden, offered £2O if 19 others would subscribe a
like amount each towards a fund for holding meetings in
the manufacturing districts ; and Mr. Lett, of Scampston,
offered £5 if 500 tenant-farmers would do the same, to
secure the efficient working of the, association. Several
members subscribed to both funds. Speeches urging a speedy
and total repeal of the Malt-tax were made.
REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF GAS.—The Com-
mercial Gas Company, Stepney, have issued a notice to
their customers that from and after the 31st March next
the price of gas will be reduced from 4s. sd. to 4e. per
1,000 cubic feet.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE ASIA.

The Royal Mail steamship Asia, from Boston on
the 18th and Halifax on the 20th inst., arrived at
Queenstown at 2.30 a.m. to-day (Jan. 30). She
brings 88 passengers, and $113,510 in specie. She
landed 83 sacks of mails and four passengers, and
proceeded at 3 a.m., all well.

NEW YORK, JAN. 17 (Evening).
( Via Roche's Point.)
The House of Representatives has concurred in
the resolution of the Senate, to give notice for the
termination of the Reciprocity Treaty.
The United States frigate San Jacinto has been

wrecked.
Mr. Edward Everett is dead.
It is officially announced that Fort Fisher, below
Wilmington, was carried by assault, on the 15th
inst., by Ames' division, with a brigade of the 4th
Army Corps, aided by a battalion of marines and
seamen, all under the command of General Terry.
The assault was preceded by a heavy bombardment
by the fleet, and was made at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, the whole fort being captured by 10
p.m. The Federals oceupy all the works south
of Fort Fisher. The garrison, estimated at
2,500, including General Wheling and Colonel
Lamb, was captured on the extreme end of the
Peninsula. Seventy-two guns were also captured.
The Federal loss was 500 men.
Mr. Blair has returned to Washington from
Richmond.
The Richmond Examiner asserts that President
Davis, at an interview with Mr. Blair, delivered to
him a letter for President Lincoln, declaring his

willingness to receive peace commissioners, or to
send peace commissioners to Washington.
The New York 7inze,s states that Mr. Blair has
had an interview with President Lincoln touching
Davis's propositions regarding peace commissioners.
Northern and Southern journals place no confi-
fidence in the result of the Blair movement. The
New York Times says the Govermnent seeks peace
through war only. A Richmond despatch says the
South would spurn Blair's proposal. The South
' will never return to the Union.
The Committee of Ways and Means have re-
ported on the bill authorising the Secretary of the
Treasury to continue the seven-thirty loan for the
balance of about p00,000,c00 of the p 00,000,000
authorised by the Act of June, 1864.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Money easy. Gold, 215. Exchange on London,
2391 ; on Paris, 281 2134. Stocks tending down-
waras. New York Centrals, 116 ; Illinois, 124 ;
Erie, 79k 5 20 ; bonds, 1094.
The Governor of Missouri has proclaimed Mis-

souri a free state.
The Canadian Government has refused to issue
British passports to naturalized Canadians.

NEW YORK, JAN. 19, 6 p.m.
Rumours are current that Mr. Blair will return
to Richmond with a Government representative.
Gold, after declining to 208, closed to-day at
2091. _ _ .

NEW YORK, JAN. 19 (Evening).

The Federals captured Fort Fisher on the 15th
inst. The gunboats afterwards proceeded up the
Cape Fear River. On the 16th the Confederates
blew up Fort Smith on the south side of New
Inlet.

Sherman has moved towards Branchville.
Mr. Blair has returned to Washington fro]
Richmond.

The Richmond papers assert that President Davis
has consented to receive or send peace commis-

sioners.

Mr. Stanton announces that General Sherman has
transferred two corps under Howard to Beaufort.
They moved upon the line of the Charleston and
Savannah Railroad to Pocataligo, and occupied a
position across the railroad covering the approaches
eastward of the latter place.
The Confederates have abandoned the works in
the vicinity of Pocataglio.
The Federal loss in assaulting Fort Fisher is now
estimated at 900 men, including many officers.
Hoke's division, 5,000 strong, is at Wilmington.
Lees army is said to be short of supplies.
It is rumoured thdt the railroad between Danville
and Greensboro has been destroyed by heavy rains.
President Lincoln has approved of the resolution
of Congress to terminate the reciprocity treaty.
Retaliation resolutions has been introduced into
the Senate for the treatment of prisoners in the

South.

The Senate have ratified the notice to be given to
England for the termination of the treaty limiting
the naval force on the lakes.
Sherman has informed a private citizen that
Georgia must be governed by military laws. To
talk of reconstruction is useless. Georgia is still in
the Union. When the people shall quit the rebel-
lion and send members to Congress Georgia will
resume her Union functions and advantages.
It is stated that Sherman will move on Branch-
ville next week.

Extreme activity prevails on General Grant's left,
and early movements aro expected.
Mobile papers announce that 4,000 Federals oc-
cupy an unassailable position at Franklin Mills on
the Dog River.
General Butler has arrived at Washington to
testify before the Congressional Committee concern-
ing the failure of the first Wilmington expedition.
The Richmond Enquirer asserts that Lee urges a
conscription of the negroes, afterwards emancipat-
ing them and their families.
The Richmond Sentinel says that he has objected
to an enlargement of his command, on the ground
that he finds it impossible to command all the
Confederate armies as well as the army before
Richmond.

Davis, however, seeks Lee's advice on all impor.

taut movements.
Resolutions have been introduced into the Vir-
ginia Legislature to make peace through State
action, but they were defeated by an almost unani-
mous vote.

A resolution has been introduced into the Fede-
ral House of Representatives, recommending Lin-
coln to send or receive peace commissioners, or
secure the cessation of hostilities and the union of
the States. The resolution was defeated by 34
to 51.

Southern official reports state that Senator Foote
when arrested avowed he was proceeding to Wash-

ington to negociate peace.
The Richmond Examiner urges the burning of all
cotton and tobacco not needed by the Government.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Money easy. Gold, 2101. Exchange on Lon-
don, 234 ; do. on Paris, 210 215. Stocks depressed :
New York Centrals, 111 g. ; Illinois, 1194 ; Erie,
731; Five-Twenty Bonds, 109*. The military in-
telligence depresses gold and stocks. Cotton de-
pressed : Middling Upland, 100. Flour and
wheat declining ; corn depressed. Provisions de-
clining : coffee steady; sugar good inquiry ;

molasses quiet. Petroleum, no sales ; crude, 51;
refined, 70.

(PER THE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS ASSOCIATION.)
(Per Asia via Roche's Point.)
NEW YORK, JAN. 17.
The Federals occupy all the works south of Fort
Fisher. The latter fort was only conquered after
desperate fighting with severe loss. The garrison
falling back to the extreme point of the peninsula
was followed and captured. Many of the guns in
the fort were injured by the terrible fire of the navy.
The accounts respecting guns captured vary from
40 to 72. Salutes are firing everywhere in honour
of the triumph. It is not supposed Wilmington
can 'be immediately captured, but the port for
blockade running is sealed, though not wholly.
Butler was testifying at Washington on his failure
when news of the capture was received.
It is rumoured that Grant's army is moving, hav-
ing been largely reinforced by Thomas.
General Sherman has destroyed railway connec-
tion with Hood.

Troops arc concentrating at New Allans for a
heavy assault on Mobile.
Four thousand Federals are at Franklin Mills, on

Dog River.
Hood is. at Corinth, with the same line of defence
that Sydney Johnstone had in 1862.
Mr. Blair's visit and return calls forth much
speculation, but it is generally conceded that, poli-
tically, it was fruitless. The Virginia House of
Delegates rejected peace resolutions by a vote of
101 against 2. The Federal House has also rejected
peace propositions. It is rumoured that the Con-
federate. Congress has peace proposals before it in

secret session.
The Federal House concurred in the Senate's
amendment to the Reciprocity joint resolution.
The Senate adopted a resolution of inquiry into
the repeal of the 10th article of the Ashburton
treaty, which, the Times says, is the first step
towards its abrogation. It says President Lin-
coln favours the step.
The House committee on elections decided to
admit only the New Orleans members.
The Tribune asserts that the Government does
not insist on the unconditional surrender of the
South as a preliminary to peace.
The Examiner urges the destruction of all cotton
and tobacco not needed for Government purposes.
The Sentinel says Gen. Lee has declined to extend
his command beyond the month of Cape Fear River.
The General not only favoured arming the Blacks,
but their freedom and the freedom of their families.
Several Confederate bombproofs along the James
River were destroyed by the late freshet.
General Hunter is reported appointed to the com-
mand of Butler's army. Butler is reported largely
behind in his financial accounts with the Govern-
ment.

General Canby has issued stringent rules against
contraband trade.
The Confederates destroyed the.gunboats Rattler

and Veranso.

The frigate San Jacinto was wrecked on the

Bahamas.

President Davis has sent a communication to the
House respecting Mr. Foote's arrest. The arrest
was not officially authorised.
The extradition of the St. Alban's raiders is now
regarded as probable.
The Federals are about to evacuate Fort Gibson.
The Confederate ram on the Roanoke River is
nearly finished.
Drafting has been ordered in Louisiana, Missis-
sippi, and Arkansas.