The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-17 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1865.

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The expected battle between GRANT and LEE had
not occurred when the Nova Scotian sailed, and the
military news which she brings us is conflicting and
uncertain. From its general tone, however, we
gather that the course of war has been favourable
to the South, and we must remember that the mili-
tary intelligence now reaches us almost exclusively
from Northern sources, the Richmond papers being
still prohibited from publishing any information re-
specting the movements of the forces in the Caro-
linas. The latest Confederate accounts report that
SHERMAN was moving towards Cheraw, and that
SCHOFIELD was advancing from Wilmington to meet
him, but he had been checked by BRAGG ten miles
from the city. The correspondent of a New York
journal mentions rumours of an encounter between
SHERMAN and JOHNSTON, with indecisive results ;
but this is uncertain. JOHNSTON'S forces are said to
be larger than those of his enemy, and it is there-
fore supposed that he will make an opportunity to
attack him. The Richmond papers anticipate that
GRANT will speedily make a movement, which is not
improbable, though he may be waiting in hopes
that SHERMAN will succeed in effecting a junction
with him. The next mail will probably let us know
how far the rumoured defeats of SHERMAN and
SCHOFIELD are authentic, but it is quite clear that
the Federals have, at least, gained no advantage in
the Carolinas.

The Message of the PRESIDENT is, of course, one
of the most interesting points of the Nova Scotian's
news. It is extremely brief, being in this respect, at
least, in striking contrast to most other addresses
of the kind, and it is remarkable for the
absence of all rejoicing over the recent triumphs of
the Federal, arms and of all confident anticipa-
tions of immediate success. We hear no more of
the "90 days"—we have no declamations as to the
splendid results of Northern courage, Northern
patriotism, and Northern gold. In short, we miss
all to which we have been hitherto accustomed in
the addresses of Federal leaders. ABRAHAM LIN-
COLN, on the day of his re-appearance as President
—an honour so rarely conferred on American states-
men, that it has only been attached to the most
eminent names in the brief but eventful history of
that country—with the ports of the enemy which
had so long defied his arms in his possession, with
the Federal flag floating over Charleston, with
Wilmington captured, and the evacuation of Rich-
mond not improbable, addresses the people of the
North in a tone solemn, melancholy, and even
humble. The preparations for the grand public
rejoicings in New York were being actively made,
but the exultation of the multitude finds no echo in
the PRESIDENT'S speech. The very rejoicings are
themselves postponed from the day of inauguration
on the plea of unfavourable weather, which may
possibly have been a genuine reason ; but Mr.
LINCOLN, at least, finds no subject for congratula-
tion in the aspect of public affairs. His speech
deals largely in religious phrases and Scripture
quotations designed possibly to conciliate the
extreme New England Party. Reverting
to the origin of the War, mr. LIN co LN
does not pretend to deny that the maintenance of
the Union was the primary came of dissension. He
does not, indeed, deny that to the North the war is
mainly due. At his first election, he says, both
parties dreaded war, and one endeavoured to pre-
serve the Union peaceably, and the other to dis-
solve it by negotiation. " Both parties deprecated
war, but one of them would make war rather than
let it perish, and war came." The slave question,
he says, lent a peculiar interest, and the object of
the insurgents in rending the Union was "to
strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest."