The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-12 00:00:00

FRANCE AND SPAIN.

The French Government will naturally be much
perplexed by O'Donnell's declaration of his inten-
tion to support Prim in the convention, which the
Emperor has disapproved. France will now have
only the alternative of setting forth on her own hook
in Mexico, which is perhaps what she from the
first desired. The Debats of this day publishes an
excellent letter from its correspondent at Vera Cruz.
It says :

"It is only now that the situation is beginning
to assume a definite form, and that it can be un-
derstood. But, to understand clearly that which
is going on, it is necessary to be acquainted with
the ground on which the operations are taking
place. To say the truth, there is no Liberal
party in the country, eny more than there is a
clerical and reactionary one. There are audacious
thieves without scruple of any kind, and victims
accustomed to the yoke, and almost resigned to their
sad lot. Nothing is less understood in France than
the real situation of Mexico ; even the amount is
not known of its population, which is six millions,
and not eight, as is generally believed. It is com
posed of 5,400,000 Indians, either pure, or very
slightly mixed with white blood, and 600,000 whites.
more or less pure. The Indians—that is to say, the
greater mass of the population—are in complete
ignorance and indifference in political matters, to
such a point that it is not rare to meet with some
in certain regions who still believe themselves to be
subjects of Spain. The true people only aspire to
one thing, to labour and live in peace in the coun-
try, which would become great in a few years under
a real Government, and in which misery is rare,
and would be even unknown if there were a little
security for person and property. Even among the
white portion of the Mexican population, it may be
said that the smallest number alone take any volun-
tary share in the struggles which have dishonoured
too long the country. I repeat, that although the
two parties are divided pretty equally, of the
600,000 Mexicans, properly so called, the greater
part make a show of political passions very differ-
ent from their real and secret instincts. That may
be understood; as, besides the fact that to belong
to the vanquished party is a decree of spoliation
from which escape is rare, or even of death, one runs
the same risk in one's own party if suspected of mo-
deratism. Observe, that the Government of Juarez
does not seek to deceive any one. The choice
of his functionaries does not allow of any il!usion.
Thus, among others, the Prefect of Police of
Mexico Porfirio Leon, a notorious assassin by pro-
fession. who has passed sewn years at the hulks,
and three years in prison at Mexico itself. Finally,
the only thing organised here, which works with
any order and regularity, is highway robbery.
From Vera Cruz to Mexico a sum is levied from
station to station, destined for the brigands. It is
a sort of regular tax—a supplement to the price of
the journey. With a well-disposed Government
that would be the first thing amended."

UNIVERSITY RACQUET MATCHES.—Yesterday, at
the Prince's Club, was played the annual double match be-
tween Oxford and Cambridge, the players being the same
as last year, Mr. R. D. Walker, of Brasenose, and Mr. C.
Kennard, of University, representing Oxford, and Mr. A.
Ainslie, of Pembroke, and Mr. R. Sainsbury, of Trinity,
representing Cambridge. The first game was won by Ox-
ford, the next four by Cambridge, and the latter having
thus won four out of seven games were, as last year, victo-
rious. The single match will be played on Monday between
Messrs. Walker and Ainslie.

SUPPOSED Loss OF FIVE LIVES,—We regret to
have to record the occurrence of a very melancholy and
fatal accident at Loch Torridon, on Friday last. It ap-
pears that on the previous day four men and a boy left the
north side of the loch in a boat, for the purpose of crossing
to the village of Shieldaig, on the opposite shore. No
fear for the safety of the unfortunate crew was felt for
some time, but after four-and-twenty hours had elapsed,
and no appearance of their return, the alarm was raised
and a party was despatched to Shieldaig, to ascertain if the
boat still remained there. On reaching this place, it was
discovered that the boat had set out on its return to Torri-
don; and on search being made, a cask of whisky, which
was known to be on board, and which they were taking to
the T,rridon Inn, was found drifted ashore ; and one or
two caps, which were identified as belonging to some of the
crow, were also found. This was the state of matters when
our informant left, and we fear there is too good grounds
for dreading the worst. We have not as yet ascertained
the names of the four men, but the boy was a son of Mrs.
Stewart, of the Torridon lan, a fine youth of 14 years of
age.—,Ros4-81tirf independent.

,52,1 TR OP ?RADE.
MANCHESTER. APRIL 11.—We nave to repot I
a stronger nitirke to-day bAli in cotton yarns and
cloths. There has been a large business for all
quarters, and especiLily for India, in yarns, and
prices have advanced fully id. per lb. upon th(
rates of Tuesday. Many large speculative lets have
been cleared out of the market, and spinners have
been pretty free sellers at the advance. The hone
trade have been buying to a fair extent in yarns
at an advance of Id. per lb. upon Tuesday's rates.
The activity in the yarn market is partly attribu-
table to telegraphic advices from India, prices
having improved at Calcutta on the 26th of March,
the date of the latest telegrams. In the Manchester
cloth market we have had more inquiry to-day, and
a considerable quantity of goods have been moved
off at a small advance upon Tuesday's prices.
Sellers report, however, that this business has not
arisen from any legitimate demand having sprung
up, but from a speculative feeling, arising almost
entirely out of the excited state of the cotton mar
ket at Liverpool, though to some extent possibly
the feeling may have had strength given to it by
the news from India. This news, which is by tele-
gram from Bombay to the 27th and from Calcutta

,o the 26th of March, states that at Bombay at that
date the market was generally better, and that an
advance of two annas per piece had taken place in
the price of shirtings. The Cotton Supply Associa-
ciation are doing wonders in their attempts to show
what can be done with Indian staples of cotton, as
compared with American. They are now collecting
samples of manufactures from this description of
cotton, which are intended to be sent to the Inter-
national Exhibition in London, and which the trade
are to have an opportunity of inspecting on Tues-
day and Wednesday next at the offices of the asso-
hos, in Newell's buildings, Manchester. The yarns
and cloths have been spun and manufactured at the
mills of Mr. John Cheetham, President of the As-
sociation, arid one of the late members for South
Lancashire. These cloths are not made of the
choicest samples of cotton Fidia produces, but
simply from the staple called Broach, at about 9*d
per lb., and have been sent to be finished at the
works of the most eminent bleachers, dyers, and
printers in the country. There is no American
mixed up with the yarns of which the goods are
made at all. Among the samples are some 72-reed,
22-pick printing cloth, in the gray state, as taken
from the loom, and samples of the same cloth when
bleached and finished as shirtings and for other
purposes. Then come specimens of dyed cloths,
in self colours, including drabs, pinks, ambers,
greens, buffs, lavenders, and blues. Some
of these goods are exceedingly delicate and
perfect in colour. One of them, a Prussian
blue, is very rich in appearance, giving to the
surface of the material at first sight something like
the pile on velvet. A sample of Turkey red is also
remarkable for its brilliancy. The printed goods
from the same cotton are in great variety from the
most simple patterns to the most elaborate, or from
a two-coloured plate up to one of 20 colours, as used
for furniture prints, and embracing block work and
machine, steam, and madder work. There are
nearly 100 patterns, in almost every variety of style
and colour. Many of the patterns are entirely new,
and have been prepared, so far as those on ladies'
dresses are concerned, for the spring trade of the
present year. In the International Exhibition they
are sure to command attention from the exquisite
taste and fancy bestowed upon the designs, which
in some cases are such as would be looked for upon
goods of a richer and more expensive material, and
not upon ordinary cottons. The sight of these beau-
tiful and highly-finished goods may well call forth
the remark that it is matter of surprise there should
have been a doubt, no longer than six months ago,
that our manufacturers could do anything satisfac-

tory with East India cotton. This excellent and
unique collection of cotton goods is to be despatched
to London on Wednesday next, and, in order that
the public may be prepared to look for them in the
Exhibition, it may be as well to mention that they
will be labelled:—" Cotton Supply Association,
Manchester. Manufactured exclusively from East
Indian cotton, by Mr. John Cheetham, President of
the Association. Printed by —.."