The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-25 00:00:00

Slavery and Emancipation in America,

In the year 1860 the slave population of the
United States numbered about 4,000,000. There
were also 500,000 free people of colour. During
the military movements of the conflict waged for
the purpose perpetrating slavery by the one and for
preventing secession by the other, 2,000,000 of the
slaves had become free prior to Mr. Lincoln's re-
election as President. But immense numbers have
passed into freedom since the fall of Savannah,
Charleston, Wilmington, Petersburg, and Rich-
mond. The transition has been sudden and charac-
terised by the exigencies of war. Myriads have fled
from the home of slavery without clothing, provi-
sion, or the implements of industry, or even of
household economy ; and are dependent on bene-
volence for sustenance and means of improving their
condition. The able:bodied have either been ab-
sorbed in the Northern armies or retained by their
Southern masters. The women, the children, the
aged, and the infirm, constitute a large dependent
population, among whom are to be found much pri-
vation and wretchedness. Benevolent efforts to
provide 'assistance, in money and clothing, have been
made by Freed Men's Aid Commissions iu Boston,
Washington, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, and
New York. Many philanthropic persons have gone
down into the South as teachers and helpers, and
have formed asylums, hospitals, schools, colonies,
camps, and industrial communities. Auxiliary
associations have been organised in Great Britain,
the principal of which have been composed of
members of the Society of Friends. Sir Thomas
Fowell Buxton, Bart., is president, and Sainuel
Gurney, Esq., M.P., treasurer of the London
Freed Men's Aid Society, whose chief aim is
to collect and transmit funds to the American
organisations. During the past week a move-
ment for co-operation has been commenced in
Paris, and private social meetings have been held
by the invitation of M. Daboulaye, in his
chambers, Rue Taitbout ; Pasteur G. Monod, at
his own house, and the Rev. T. Baron Hart, in the
English congregational chapel, Rue Royale. A
deputation from America and London has attended;
Levi Coffin, a " Friend" from Cincinnati, Messrs.
Haynes from New York, and the Rev. Dr. Massie,
acting secretary of the London committee, have by
their presence and statements contributed informa-
tion and interest. In the chambers of M. Lahoulaye,
the Prince de Broglie, Count de Montalembert, M.
Cushman, M. H. Martin, Dr. de Pressense, G.
Monod, and others, representing the sympathies and
desires of many absent philanthropists 7 and a com-
mittee was formed to prepare an address and take
measures for soliciting co-operation. Measures will
also be matured by the friends who assembled at M.
Monod's and in the Rue Royale. The American
residents in Paris, desiring to uphold the reputation
of their country, will doubtless prove that though
the cause of the emancipated is cosmopolitan and
philanthropic, they have an especial duty which
they will promptly discharge among themselves.
The editors of journals of every political hue will
serve the cause by transferring to their columns
whatever information they may deem valuable.—
Galignani.

MARKETS—This Day.

HAY MARKETS.

SitEITHFIELD.-3feadow hay, £4 lOs to £5 lOs Od ; clover,
£5103 to £6 108 Od ; and straw, £1 88 to £1 14s per load.
Trade slow.

CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £4 lOs to £5 10s ; clover,
£5 lOs to £6 10s ; and straw, £l.Bs to £1 14s per load.
A slow sale.

WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £4 10s to £5 10s ; clover,
£5 10s to £6 10s ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 14s per load.
Trade steady.

COLONIAL.

TEL—There has been a moderate inquiry for most de-
scriptions, and prices generally are well sustained. Good
shipping congou is quoted 11d. per lb.
SUGAR.—The market has not been very active, although
good qualities of West India fully support previous rates.
In other descriptions there is also not much change.
Business in the refined market continues rather dull, at
about previous quotations.
COFFEE.—The demand for colonial has been steady, and
notwithstanding the large increase of stocks in hand, com-
pared with those of the same period last year, prices in
most instances are well supported.
RICE.—A fair amount of business has been done, and
full rates have been obtained for superior descriptions of
East India.

TALLOW.—The market has shown rather more anima-
tion, consequent upon the late American advices, and
prices for both present and forward delivery show an
upward tendency. P.Y.C., on the spot, is quoted 41s. ;
and last three months' delivery, 425. 6d. per cwt.

COAL MARKET.
Price per ton at the close of the market.
s. d. s. d.
Buddle'sWestHartley 16 9 Hetton l9 0
Holywell Main l6 6 Cowpen Hartley
Carway and Duffryn Heugh Hall l7 9
Malting 22 0 Walls End Harton ... 16 3
Braddyell's Hetton l7 3 South Kelloe
Walls End Haswell... 19 0 Hastings Hartley l6 9
Tunstall
Ships at market, 54 ; sold, 41.

LEEDS BAN KING COMPANY.—The payment of the
first dividend of Bs. in the pound, under the winding
up of the affairs of this company, was commenced yesterday
at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, from which hour to the time
of closing in the afternoon the bank premises were crowded
with creditors. Excellent arrangements had been made
by Mr. Turquand, the official liquidator, to prevent over-
crowding or confusion, each creditor haying had a circular
sent to him informing him the time, between certain hours,
yesterday or to day he might receive the dividend. Those
persons who may not attend at the specified time will be
paid at the usual hours— i. e., from 10 to 3 daily, on and
after to-morrow.