The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-05 00:00:00

`THE ST3N, LONDON, fIitTIISDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5, 1865.

thoroughly, and those three would open to them

the doors of all other knowledge, should time,

talent, or industry give them the opportunity to
acquire it. Lord PAL4ERSION'S idea of an ac-

quaintance with the three magic R's is very diffe-
rent from that of peOple generally in these hasty
superficial days, when school children can puzzle

;heir seniors by their replies to wonderful catechisms,

but if called upon to put those- replies in writing,
are glad to shelter their very original orthography
behind their very illegible caligraphy. To learn
reading is, in the Premier's sense, to acquire the

power of reading so easily as to find pleasure in it
in leisure moments ; to learn writing is to be able
to write so as to be easily read—a compliment
which cannot be certainly universally paid
among the educated classes ; to learn arith-

metic is to learn how to make a ready
and easy mental calculation about a. practical
matter which comes before him unexpectedly. This
is just the sort of knowledge which is most useful
and most desirable in our rustic schools, but we very
much question whether it often attains this degree
of perfection. As soon as the boy shows any apti-
tude he is hurried on to different complex studies,
which will be laid aside and forgotten as soon as he
leaves the school, while all his life reading may be
little more than a task, writing a penance to himself
and to those who have to read it, and calculation a
matter of time and difficulty. It is the fashion
among us nowadays to be over ambitious in our
learning, and although the working classes are
not likely to suffer from over-wrought brain and
nerves to the same degree as those above them, be-
cause their school time is so short and hurried, yet
they suffer in another way by losing the advantages
they might have gained. Lord PALMERSTON ob-
served to the Romsey labourers that their children
would necessarily have to engage early in industrial
pursuits, and, therefore, since their time of instruc-
tion must be short, it was the more important that
it was well employed. He admitted no refinements
of style, he disapproved of the artistic fashion of
thin strokes up and thick ones down, so carefully
inculcated in children's copybooks, but he said,
very sensibly, " Children should be taught to write
a large hand, to form each letter well, and never

to mind whether it looks beautiful or not.
If it answers the purpose of being easily read, that
is the thing that ought to be aimed at." If the
noble lord's suggestions were accepted by some
more ambitious teachers it would be a public benefit,
for a good proportion of business letters, to say
nothing of the ladies' pointed hands, are more per-
plexing than profitable studies. The signature espe-
cially, which each one tries to make peculiarly cha-
racteristic, is often hopelessly perplexing to a
stranger, and all for want of being taught that
writing is meant to be read, and not to be looked
at. As for mental calculation, that is a most
valuable acquisition, and Lord PALMERSTON
gave a good illustration of the way he
should like to see it generally taught in
our industrial and commercial schools. He
was once at a school in Ireland where the boys
were asked how much Bd. a-day would be in four
years. Three boys gave the same answer—a youth
replied differently. The master said the fourth boy
was wrong, but he said that in four years there was
a leap year, and he had allowed Bd. for that. This,
as the noble lord pointed out, was really practical
instruction, because the boys would have to answer
just such questions for themselves when they grew
up. We are very glad that Lord PALMERSTON has
spoken with so mucb good sense on this important
question, for if the rudiments of knowledge are
once thoroughly learned everything else is possible to
a boy of talent, but if the foundation be insecure no
superstructure will be worth much.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

AMERICA.
LIVERPOOL, Jan. 4.
The Montreal Ocean Company's steamship Hi-
bernian, from Portland on the 24th ult., arrived
here this afternoon.
The following are some further particulars of the
news brought by this steamer :
Nothing later had been received from Sherman
up to the afternoon of the 24th ult.
The New York Herald says Savannah is repre-
sented to be poorly supplied with provisions, and
burdened with feeding a large surplus population,
as all sources of supply are cut off. The population,
together with refugees, number 20,000, not counting
the garrison. The probability of the surrender of
the city at an early day is thought good.
There was a report that Bragg, with 10,000 men,
was moving down from Augusta to attack Sher-
man's rear ; but (says the New York Herald), if fool-
hardy enorigh for this, it will only add to the list of
the damages already effected upon the rebellion by
Sherman.
The Richmond Examiner says the Government has
received official despatches, of the 19th December,
from Savannah. All was quiet at that date.
The Charleston Courier states that it was ru-
moured there that Savannah was to capitulate on
the 17th.
The New York Times publishes a special despatch,
dated Franklin, Tennessee, 22d, which says :
" The rebel retreat from Franklin to the Duck
River beggars all description. Hood told his corps
commanders to get off the best way they could with
their commands.
" The rebel army is now beyond Columbia. The
railroad is but little injured, and trains run to Spring
Hill. Telegraphic communication is all right in all
directions. Johnsonville was not destroyed. The
rebel loss during the campaign was 17,000 men, 51
cannon, and 18 general officers. The total Union
loss did not exceed 7,000, with two generals slightly
wounded. Hood has placed pontoons above the
shoals on the Tennessee river, where our gunboats
cannot reach them. Hood marched on Franklin
with 40,000 men and 65 pieces of artillery. He
will have lost nearly half his men."
A Nashville telegram of the 22d says :—" Latest
accounts from the front state that Thomas's head-
quarters were at Ratherford Hill, eight miles
below Columbia, yesterday morning. Since that
time our forces have crossed Duck River, and moved
to a point south of Columbia. Our cavalry crossed
at Hunter's Ford, below Columbia, and dashed into
the town, the enemy meanwhile retreating without
firing a shot. The rebels are closely followed by
our cavalry. At least one-third of Hood's army
are without arms and equipments, everything im-
peding their flight having been thrown away.
Forrest effected a junction with Hood-at Columbia
on Tuesday evening."
Confederate papers confess that Hood's cam-
paign in Tennessee is very disastrous, and lament
that Johnston was displaced for Hood. •
All was quiet with the army of the Potomac.
A despatch of the 21st from head-quarters says
" Nothing of interest is transpiring ; the enemy
maintain their fire on Dutch Gap Canal. Very few
casualties occur, owin to the precaution taken to
avoid shells. The weither is such as to prevent any
movement. The navigation of the Potomac is com-
pletely closed by ice."
The Richmond papers contain an official despatch
from Bragg to President Davis, dated Fort Fisher
New Inlet, the 21st, which says The entire fleet
of the enemy is now in sight, but cannot operate.
The weather continues bad. We are able to hold
Wilmington."
A private telegram received from New York says
that the Federal fleet reached Wilmington much
crippled by stormy weather. It was considered
doubtful if any attack would take place-at present.
In reference to the Union raid into South Wes-
tern Virginia, the Washington Republican of the 23d,
evening, says that the Government has received
despatches announcing that Breckenridge was flee-
; ing before Generals Stoneman and Burbridge, who
were pressing his rear on both flanks. In contra-
diction of this the Richmond Examiner publishes a
report that Breckenridge has defeated Burbridge or
Stoneman, and compelled the retreat of the Fede-
rals to East Tennessee. It says that the salt-works
at Saltville are still safe, though it is believed that
the lead-works at Marion are destroyed..
Advices received at New York state that the ex-
change of prisoners at Charleston being ended, the
bombardment of the city will immediately recom-
mence. Both branches of the Federal Congress
have adjourned to January the sth.
The news from the Army of the Potomac is not
important. Picket firing continues along the lines,
but no immediate hostilities of a more serious cha-
racter are indicated. A rumour, based upon the
statement of a deserter, has been in circulation to
the effect that Generel Lee has been wounded, and
will be unable to direct affairs for some time. 130
deserters from Grant's army are reported to have
arrived at Richmond. Mosby has been made a
Brigadier-General, and is said to be organising his
command for a movement down the Shenandoah to
operate against the Baltimore and Ohio Railway.
Rosser's command of Confederate cavalry is still in
the Shenandoah Valley. •
Two Federal gunboats on the 15th inst. captured
in the Coon river 31 boats, which had been col-
lected by the Confederates for a raid into Chesa-
peake. In the Federal House of Representatives
the consideration of, the proposed bill to terminate
the Reciprocity Treaty has been postponed until
the 6th of January.
The Hon. John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, is
prominently spoken of as a successor to Mr. Day-
ton, late U. S. Minister to Paris.
The appointment of Farragut to be Vice-Admi-
ral of the United States Navy has been confirmed.
Under the President he now has entire command
of all .the United States naval forces.
It is said that the Committee of Ways and
Means, in the House of Representatives, will adopt
Mr. Fessenden's suggestion to authorise the issue of
only currency interest bearing bonds in future.
In the Confederate Congress, the Hon. Henry S.
Foote, delivered a speech which has been exten-
sively copied from the Richmond papers by the
Northern Press, and is regarded by some journals
as indicating a speedy downfall of the Southern
Confederacy.
Mr. Foote said—l see much ground for appre-
hension and despondency in every quarter. If the
Financial Bill is defeated in both Houses, so
admirably adjusted, so imposingly avouched,
and sustained as it is, I shall despair of our'
cause. I shall regard the war as virtually
at an end, and all the generous hopes of our
patriotic countrymen as cruelly and criminally
blasted. The honourable gentleman here sup-
pose it is safe to• inalge, at this perilous
moment of our history, in vain and visionary
experiments upon the currency. What is
our situation ? Let us look danger in the face
and provide for it while it is possible to do so. Sir,
we are upon the verge of ruin. Our financial affairs
are seriously deranged. Abroad, owing to the most
criminal mismanagement of every kind, no respect-
ful consideration has yet been accorded to us, or
seems likely to be accorded hereafter. At home a
series of legislative acts have been sanctioned, which
must be inevitably fatal to State rights and popular
freedom if not speedily modified. Congress is
rapidly abnegating all important powers, and build-
ng up an irresponsible military despotism, the like
of which has never before been seen. Other acts
are in progress here which, should they pass, must
produce popular convulsions which will put our
' whole < governmental system in serious jeopardy,
The policy of the House seems to be to crush out
dissatisfaction by armed violence alone. Ten days
hence freedom of deliberation will have been effec-
tually extinguished in this body, by means which Ir
may not specify. The freedom of the Press will
probably come to an end about the same time, by
the operation of causes which I have heretofore dis-
cussed in this hall. In the midst of these alarming
occurrences, and while corruption is known to be
diffusing itself along all the channels of official in-
tercourse, what is the condition of our armies? Mr.

Foote then reviews the military situation, admits the
recent disasters to Hood, predicts the fall of Savannah
and Charleston, and attributes the past and prospec-
tive disasters to the " unjust, unwise, and criminal
displacement of the gallant Johnston," and to " Pre-
sidential interference." The speech concludes :
" is under such circumstances that it is
deemed wise to throw unseemly obstructions in the
way of passing an official financial bill. Is this a
proper time to talk about repudiation ? Is this a
proper time to refuse to entertain a proposition
looking to an honourable peace ? So think many
of this House, who perhaps constitute a majority,
but so do not I think. Sir, I have spoken my
views frankly and explicitly, and now I wish to
say to this House that the course of events
here and elsewhere has recently been such that I
deem it a duty which I owe to my character and to
my principles to withdraw from this body alto-
gether. lam a freeman, and the representative of
freemen, and I know not how to legislate in chains.
I will no longer be responsible for measures adopted
in secret sessions of this body, which my whole soul
abhors and my whole understanding condemns.
This is, perhaps, the last time that I will address this
body. I shall withdraw to some sequestered spot
where I can enjoy a little repose ; and if disturbed
in my retreat by the hand of oppression, I will seek
in foreign climes that freedom and happiness which
I I consider is denied me here."

CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN

MAILS.
ALEXANDRIA, JAN. 4.
The Ceylon left at noon yesterday, and the Ripon
at 11 a.m. to-day.

The former may be expected at Marseilles on the
9th. (letters in London on the 11th), and the latter
at Southampton about the 17th inst.