The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-06 00:00:00

LONDON, 7UESDAY, JUNE 6, 1865.

The telegraphic summary of the intelligence
brought by the Europa conveys somewhat startling
news. A true bill of indictment for treason has
been found against JEFFERSON DAVIS, and he is to
be brought to trial as soon as the attendance of the
witnesses against him can be secured. The Con-
federate Secretary of War, the ex-Governor of Vir-
ginia, and Judge CAMPBELL, who was one of the
Commissioners at Fort Monroe, have likewise been
arrested, and removed from their houses in Vir-
ginia to places of strict confinement. Rumour
goes further than fact, and both in Washington
and Richmond it is currently reported that Gene-
ra LEE has also be„en indicted for treason, and
will shortly be placed under arrest. Such are the
chief heads of the intelligence, with the exception
of the contradiction of the rumoured death of
General Nanny •
SMITH, which few persons in this
country believed.

The Wash in .
inguon intelligence, if not wholly un-
expected, is certainly far from being reassuring.
The absurdity and
inconsistency of indicting, as
an individual offender, a man who has for four
years ruled over an immense extent of country,
commanded vast armies,
and conducted a stupen-
dous war—who has presided over councils of
senates, and has been regarded throughout the
civilised world, if not officially, at least sub-
stantially as the head of a great nation, is
so
manifest, that there is little hope of a wise
con_
elusion to so rash and reckless a commencement.
It would be as rational to try a general-in-chief for
murder, and in no country could the charge of
treason be more absurd than in those States which
owe their very existence as a nation to the efforts
of similar traitors. The name of GEORGE WASH-
INtTON is honoured in the North, while that of
JEFFERSON DAVIS is denounced ? Where is the
difference in act and intention? The one man may
be far inferior to the other in ability, in talent
above all in success, but the design of both was to
read the dominant authority, to establish a gseparate

Meanwhile, the storm is not fully allayed, and the
elements of a fresh struggle are being called into
existence in the West. Texas, which from
its size, its natural health, and its geographical

position, has many individual advantages
over the Eastern States, seems inclined to
carry on the war, and to make another effort for

independence. General KIRBY S3IITH, whom, the

wish being father to the thought, the Yankees have

already killed two or three times, has a considerable
force, with a powerful auxiliary body of cavalry.
Indeed, if he were minded to mount every man in
his troop, he could do so without much trouble.
The fertility of Texas, and the good supply of
stores already within its boundaries, remove all
anxiety respecting the maintenance of the army ;
while the scarcity of waters renders the country
very uninviting to an invader, since the people
preserve most of their water for summer
use, and the shallowness of the rivers

is an insuperable barrier to the redoubtable gun-
boats. SHERIDAN is not likely to have an easy

task in extorting the submission of KIRBY SMITH,

who has been joined by the remains of HOOD'S
army, and who, if he once raises the standard, will

get plenty of now scattered allies. It is by no

means impossible that a new Western Confederacy,
beginning with Texas and Arkansas, may arise ;

and, if we remember that Texas alone is three times

the size of England, we shall not be inclined to
despise it. It remains to be seen whether or no the
war be finally concluded ; but one thing is certain,
if the South have lost their national independence,
the North have lost their political liberty.

The Prince of WALES yesterday inaugurated and
formally opened the central hall of the Royal Dra-
matic College. The ceremony was a very success-
ful one, and the fineness of the weather contributed
greatly to enhance the enjoyment of the day. Mr.
WEBSTER, as the Master, presented an address to
the Prince, which was a very appropriate one. It
commenced by alluding, as so many similar com-
munications have done, to the connexion which the
late Prince Consort had with this Institution. Five
years ago the lamented Prince laid the founda-
tion-stone of the building whose inauguration was
yesterday celebrated. The words which he then
uttered have been prophetic, and have given encou-
ragement to those who had the arduous task of
completing the undertaking entrusted to them. His
Royal Highness observed that the Royal Dramatic
College " would confer a benefit upon the public
as well as upon the stage, by aiding a profession
from which the community at large derived
rational entertainment—in which popular amuse-
ment was combined with moral instruction and
intellectual. culture." Mr. WEBSTER declared that
these words had urged them on, and that they had
taken care not to depart from the design which the
Prince approved of. The objects which this Col-
lege has had in view are such as must receive the
sanction of the public, and attract the attention
and admiration of all who can appreciate their
importance and interest. Mr. WEBSTER recapi-
tulated these in his address, although by this
time they are pretty well known, and fully
approved of, as they are widely disseminated.
The three objects then which it is the endeavour of
this Institution to fulfil, are to form a retreat for
the aged and infirm members of the dramatic pro-
fession, schools for the purpose of educating the
children of actors and writers for the stage, and also
a central hall intended to embrace a library and
gallery for the collection of works of art and litera-
ture illustrative of the English drama. Fortunately,
the first of these objects is now accomplished ; for
the second, funds arc accumulating ; and for the
third, which is the crown of the edifice, the Prince
of WALES yesterday dedicated to its uses. Mr.
WEBSTER spoke not only to suit the immediate pur-
pose ju hand, but he also enunciated a truth when

section and a new system of Govermnent. They he said th at none of the numerous benevolent insti-
may not deserve equal rank as generals or as states- tutions of the land were more deserving of support
men, and will not probably attain the same place in than the R oyal Dramatic College.
history, but to achieve the independence of a The act° r whom this society seeks to benefit is
subordinate state has been the object of both, and one who coiifers great services on the community in
the treason, if treason there were, was identical. his particular way ; he raises the tone of sentiment,
Yet the very capital where JEFFERSON DAVIS is to he refines the tastes of the uncultivated, and he dis-
be dragged to his trial, and where he may possibly tracts the mind from the cares of life, and affords a
be doomed to suffer a felon's death, bears witness to period a delassenient which is at once refreshing and
the honour in which Americans hold the memory of beneficial. Mental repose is as necessary as bodily,
their first President of the Union, while their and even more so occasionally. Those who con-
language, copious as it is, will hardly supply them demn the, stage as pernicious, and actors as un-
with epithets enough to hurl at the first President worthy characters, are either ignorant or prejudiced.
of what inayyet develope into as great and powerful Much that is good may be learned from the study
a confederacy as the once United States. It is idle of the drama ; the passions of men appear in their
to pretend that slavery is the question at issue. true colours, and reveal their good or evil influence.
Slavery existed in WASHINGTON'S clays, but he and A mighty spell is cast over the mind when some
his coadjutors were none the less patriots and heroes. master-spirit appears ever and anon as a meteor
Slavery has existed North and South ever since the De- light on the horizon of histrionic art, and all bow
claration of Independence, in spite of a strong party before his sceptre and own his sway, yet varied
of abolitionists, who year by year have propagated characters may also impress their influence upon
their doctrines with great 'rigour. Neither England their day and generation. When all has been done
nor America have scrupled to deal with slaveholders, that human skill can effect, the curtain falls for the
to bargain for goods obtained through the agency last time upon the actor; he has strutted his brief
of slave labour, to admit slaveholders and planters hour upon the stage and is swept off it. In the
to the foremost ranks of society. We say nothing hurry skurry of passing events the rage and excite-
against the sincerity of the anti-slavery advocates, ment for new-comers, where is the old favourite ?
but they must surely admit that it is somewhat in- As Mr. WEBSTER truly described, " his rewards
consistent to award the severest punishment of are precarious, his fame is ephemeral, and when
felons to a crime which, for a good many years, has his faculties fail he passes from the bright foot-
been tolerated as a political institution. Is JEF- lights into oblivion." This, then, is the time when
FERSON DAVIS to be condemned as a slaveholder ? the Dramatic College comes to the rescue, and
because, if so, a good many of the most cherished appears as a haven of security and a city of
heroes of the North obtained their reputation un- refuge to the wearied and worn-out actor.
justly. Is he to be found guilty of resistance to All must acknowledge the necessity that exists for
lawful authority ?—because, if so, every man who some such retreat as this in every arduous profes-
signed the Declaration of Independence was a sion, but none need it more than the actors, and
traitor. Who is to fix the limit to rebellion if power none more deserve support and assistance from the
rests, according to the American doctrine, in the public, because to the service of the public they
hands of the people ? Where is the limit to be dedicate their time, their talents, and their strength.
drawn between a traitor and a patriot ? One might Mr. WEBSTER drew a pleasing picture of the
naturally suppose that when a party is numbered retreat which the Dramatic College offered where
by millions, and occupies a vast tract of land, larger the inmate, removed from the frets and cares of
than several European kingdoms combined, it had active life, may look out "to see the stir of the great
reached that point where the barrier was passed, Babel and not feel the crowd." The records and
where rebellion became patriotism, and treason in- relics of the profession are also to be preserved
dependence. We suspect, however, that to the within these walls, so that when the actor has
American mind, at least, there will always be one passed away the memorials of his art may survive
element wanting—the magic chance that converts to gild the memory of the past, and
failure into success. point to the promise of the future. The
Still in New York and Washington itself there tribute of acknowledgment paid to the Prince
must be many men of sound and moderate views who of WALES in the address was well done and strictly
object to treating Div Is as a criminal offender. true, for his Royal Highness has done more than
They can turn back to the commencement of the any one else in his position to encourage and foster
war, and read the sentiments of some of their own the stage of this country, and all concerned and
leaders, who have since changed their views and connected with it owe him a deep debt of gratitude.
their language. Southern independence was never Fittingly, then, was the concluding passage of the
a sufficiently desperate cause to render its support sheet worded, when it thus addressed the Prince :
criminal, but there are indications of a desire to get "We thank you for it from our hearts. May the
rid of all the prominent men of the Confederacy-- work which you have this day inaugurated prosper,
the men whose abilities, character, and position have and may your Royal Highness live long to witness
secured respect, which are sufficient to make the its happy fruits." The Prince's reply was well
real friends of America seriously uneasy. The suited to the occasion, and terminated this portion
arrest of General LEE, if really determined upon, of the ceremony very satisfactorily. His Royal
would be a most unpardonable breachof thehonour- Highness observed that he was gratified to
able etiquette of civilised war, and one which Gen. take part in the proceedings, to complete
GRANT would have a right to resent as a personal a building with which his lamented father
affront. Let us hope that the influence of the had been connected, having laid the foundation
calmer and more foreseeing minds may serve to stone, besides feeling so deep an interest in it. The
modify the vindictiveness of the extreme party now pleasure was enhanced also by finding the worthy
in power, and that the news of the feeling excited design properly executed, and calculated to carry
in Europe by the proposed trial of DAVIS may not out its ends and noblest purposes. A more inter-
be without its weight in Washington and New esting affair, in its way, than that of yesterday
York. cannot be conceived, and the occurrence reflected

honour alike on him who presided and those who
assembled to witness the inauguration. It is evi-
dent that the objects of this Dramatic College are
excellent, its aim good, and its efforts praiseworthy.

It remains then to trust that public support and
private sympathy will attend its way, foster its
efforts, and insure its success.

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 6, 1865.

Pacific.

VAYS.

of those in France—namely, Vera Cruz, on the
Mexican Gulf ; and Acapulco and Mazatlan, on the

BOURSE, June s.—There is little change to notice
in the disposition of the market to-day, transactions
having generally taken place at Saturday's ruling
rates. Threes, for the Account, are done at 67fr.
40c., Mobilier Shares at 780 fr., and Italian Five per
Cents. at 66fr. 80c. The Stock of the Mexican
Loan (New) has slightly improved, and is now
quoted 327 fr. 50c., while that of the Old remains
stationary. The market closed as follows :-
4-/ per Cents 95 90
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 67 40
Do. end month 67 42
Credit Mobilier 782 50
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3675
Credit Foncier —
Italian Loan 66 70
Do. end month 66 85
RAM,

Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Do. Bonds 327 50
Russian 9O 50
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred
Roman 76

Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern lO7O -- ... 1070 _—
Lyons and•Meditermnean
Southern 592 50 595
Western 527 50 ... 527 50
Eastern
Sardinian 312 50 ...
Austrian
Lombard 495 ... 495
North of Spain '236 25 ... 235
Saragossa 323 75 ... 320
Ditto to Barcelona l6O 50 ...