The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-05 00:00:00

Death of Isaac Taylor.

On Wednesday last, after many weeks of great
suffering, borne with Christian resignation, the author
of the " Natural History of Enthusiasm" closed a
long career of usefulness at the advanced age of 77.
Originally trained as an artist, Isaac Taylor, at an
early age, abandoned his profession for that literary
career in which so many members of his family had
attained distinction. His father, the Rev. I. Taylor,
of Ungar ; his uncle, Charles Taylor, the learned
editor of " Calmet ;" his sisters, Ann and Jane Tay-
lor, the joint authors of " Original Poems" and
" Hymns for Infant Minds;" his mother, Ann
Taylor, and his brother, Jeffreys Taylor, have all
written works which have attained a wide popularity.
In 1818 Mr. Isaac Taylor first became a contribu-
tor to the " Eclectic Review," in conjunction with
Robert Hall, John Foster, and Josiah Conder. His
first independent literary venture was a small volume
entitled " Elements of Thought," published in 1822.
This was succeeded by a translation of the " Cha-
racters of Theophrastus," with clever original illus-
trations, etched by the author ; by the " History of
the Transmission of Ancient Books to Modern
Timbs," the "Process of Historical Proof," the
"Memoirs and Correspondence of Jane Taylor,"
and by a new translation of " Herodotus." None of
these early literary ventures had achieved any very
eminent success. Mr Taylor at last discovered the true
vein in which his genius lay. In 1829 the " Natural
History of Enthusiasm" was published anonymously.
Coining out at a time of great political and religious
ferment, and o6ring a philosophy of the problems
of the day, the book was received with extraordinary
favour by the public, and rapidly ran through eight
or nine editions. With the object of giving con-
tinuity to the philosophical and religious theories
which he has advanced in the " History of Enthu-
siasm," Mr. Taylor in the course of the next seven
years published that series of works on which his
fame must rest, " Fanaticism," " Spiritual Despot-
ism," " Satur lay Evening," and the " Physical
Theory of Another Life," works which have all had
and continue to command an extensive sale.

The publication of the last of these works led to
the surrender of the author's incognito. The un-
known writer received an urgent request from the
late Dr. Chalmers to stand for the chair of Logic in
the University of Edinburgh in opposition to the
late Sir Wm. Hamilton, who was elected by a small
majority. _ _

In 1838 Mr. Taylor gave to the world the thoughts
which had suggested themselves while a large family
was growing up around him in his country seclusion
at Stanford Rivers. This work, "Home Education,"
has had an extensive popularity, • and has induced
many parents to endeavour to promote the enjoy-
ments of children—to educate rather than to instruct.

In the following year Mr. Taylor was induced to
take part with the Rev. R. Train in bringing out a
new translation of " Josephus." This costly and
magnificent work was accompanied with numerous
illustration engraved by some most ingenious and
elaborate machinery, the invention of which had
been the amusement of Mr. Taylor's leisure hours.
The inopportune death of Dr. Train at the eve of
the publication of this work brought upon Mr. Tay-
lor ruinous pecuniary responsibilities, from which
for many years he was unable to extricate himself.
The engraving machine was patented in England,
Scotland, and America, and, though productive of
small benefit to the inventor, has realised large re-
turns in the hands of others.
About this period the " Tracts for the Times"
were creating an unexampled excitement in the re-
ligious world. Mr. Taylor had long made himself
familiar with the whole range of patristic literature ;
he felt that the writers of the "Tracts" were giving
an essentially perverted view of the tendencies, doc-
trinal and ritual, of the early Church. As a layman,
standing clear of any secular embarrassments of an
ecclesiastical kind, Mr. Taylor felt himself impelled
to come forward and state the results to which his
independent and unbiassed study of the Fathers had
led him. This he did in a vibrk entitled " Ancient
Christianity," a work which virulently attacked, and
as warmly defended, by the respective partisans in
the great controversy which was then shaking the
English Church. Some of the leaders of the seces-
sion which ensued have acknowledged that the facts
and reasonings of this work did thore than anything
else to drive them over to Rome.

After an interval of seven years, Mr. Taylor pub-
lished essays, partly philosophical, partly historical,
on the lives of Loyola and Wesley. Shortly after-
wards a volume onthe Christian argument was pub-
lished anonymously at Cambridge, entitled the " Re-
storation of Belief." Two volumes of essays—" Logic
and Theology," and " Ultimate Civilisation"--a
series of lectures, originally delivered in Edinburgh,
on " The Spirit of the Hebrew Poetry," and a series
of autobiographical papers published last year in
Good Words were the last occupations of his declin-
ing years. To the end his mind retained all i 4
power. He leaves, we believe, a large family.

Secretary Seward, in the following letter, an-
nounces the withdrawal of belligerent rights_from
the Confederates by France :

" Department of State, Iliashington, June 17.
" Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that it
has been made known to this department by the
Minister of the United States residing in France that
the Imperial Government of that country has re-
moved all restrictions heretofore imposed by it upon
the naval intercourse with the United States. I
have also the pleasure to inform you that I have
learned, in the same authentic manner, that the Im-
perial Government of France has withdrawn from
the insurgents of the United States the character of
belligerents, which heretofore that Government had
conceded to them, and these proceedings by the
Government of France have been prompted by the
express desire of reviving the old sympathies between
the two nations, whose interests and traditions con-
stantly invite them to cultivate the most cordial re-
lations. I beg leave to suggest the importance of
communicating these facts to the proper officers of
the navy.

" I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,
"WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
" Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy."
The withdrawal by England he announces thus—
" Department-of State,- Washington, June 19.

" Sir,—.l have the honour to transmit for your
information a correspondence between Sir Frederick
W. Bruce and this department upon the subject of
the withdrawal of the pretended concession of bel-
ligerent rights to the insurgents. In view of this
correspondence, I suggest, therefore, that you com-
municate to the naval officers of the United States
the results following therefrom, viz.—First,—Great
Britain withdraws her concession heretofore made
of a belligerent character from the insurgents.
Second, the withdrawal of the 24-hour rule has not
been made absolute by Great Britain, and that there-
fore the customary courtesies are not to be paid by
our vessels to those of the British navy. Third,—
The right of search of British vessels is terminated.
Of course this has no bearing upon the operation of
the existing slave trade treaty. Fourth—Any insur-
gent or piratical vessels found on the high seas may
be lawfully captured by vessels of the United States.
I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
" WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

" Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy."
_ _

The President has appointed AndrewJ. Hamilton,
of Texas, to be Provisional Governor of that State,
and also James Johnson, of Georgia, to be Provi-
sional Governor of Georgia. The form of the pro-
clamation is precisely similar to those heretofore ap-
pointing Provisional Governors for North Carolina
and Mississippi, and the duties prescribed the same.
They are to exercise all the powers necessary and
proper to enable the loyal people to restore the said
States to their constitutional relations to the Federal
Government, and to present such a republican form
of State government as will entitle the States to the
guarantee of the United States therefor, and its
people to protection by the United States against
insurrection, invasion, and violence.

James Johnson, who has been appointed Provi-
sional Governor of Georgia by the President, is a
resident of Columbus in that State, and was formerly
Democratic member of Congress. From 1851 to
1853, at the time that President Johnson was in the
house, Governor Johnson is stated to have been a
consistent upholder of the Union.

Provisional Governors for Florida, Alabama, and
South Carolina will shortly be appointed.
The Chicago Republican thinks that Congress will
appropriate at least one year's salary of the Presi-
dency to Mrs. Lincoln. It says—
" There is a precedent in this case, however, which
will unquestionably be followed. On the 4th of
March, 1811, General llarrison was inaugurated,
and on the Bth of April, after exactly one month's
service as President, he died. Congress at its first
session passed a bill appropriating $25,000, or the
whole salary for one year, to be paid to the widow
of the deceased President. Mr. Lincoln commenced
his second term on the 4th of March and died on
the 14th of April. Congress, following the prece-
dent in the case of President Harrison, will vote to
Mrs. Lincoln the whole salary of the year which was
thus commenced."
The New York Times says :
" We are authorised to say that there is no truth
in the report that John Mitchell has been indicted
by a grand jury at Norfolk. The facts are that 57 1
leading rebels of Virginia were indicted by the grand
jury in the United States' Circuit Court, sitting
recently at Norfolk, Judge Underwood presiding.
Among the names intended to be presented before
the jury was that of John Mitchell, but by some
means or other Mitchell's case was not investigated,
and the jury reported bills severally against General
Lee and other noted men among the rebels lately
residing in Virginia. Shortly after these indict-
ments were reported instructions were given to the
District Attorney to present the case of Mitchell,
but before be had time to do so the jury had finally
adjourned. Mitchell's arrest is understood to have
been made in anticipation of this proceeding, and
for the purpose of securing his presence within the
jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of Virginia. It is
not believed that all those indicted as above-named
will be tried for treason. Some of the leading loyal
Virginians are here to urge that Lee and others who
were paroled by General Grant shall be relieved of
their paroles, and informed that they are at liberty
to leave then, and, if they do not depart, they
must stand the trial for treason. Others urge that
Lee be pardoned upon his petition now pending
before the President. The following is the official
statement of the names of the thirty-seven per-
sons indicted for treason in the United States'
District ,Court sitting at Norfolk, Virginia :
Montgomery D. Corse, late Major - General in
the rebel army ; Richard Snowden Andrews,
Henry B. Taylor, Charles James Faulkner, late
United States' Minister to France ; William N.
M'Veigh, of Alexandria; Richard S. Ewell and
Jubal A. Early, late lieutenant-general in the rebel
arm ; Wm. S. Winder, son of the late Gen. Winder;
Robert Ould, Commissioner of Exchange of Pri-
soners ; George Booker, Cornelius Boyle, a Wash-
ington Secessionist ; W. H. Payne and Thomas P.
Turner, James A. Seddon, late rebel Secretary of
War ; Wm. Burton Richards, jun., Wade Hamp-
ton, late lieutenant-general, rebel cavalry forces ;
Richard H. Dulany, of Alexandria; W. E. Taylor,
John De Bree, James Longstreet, late lieutenant-
general, rebel army ; Robert E. Lee, late general-
in-chief, rebel army ; Oscar F. Baxter, Wm. Mahone,
late major-general, rebel army ; Wm. Smith, late
rebel Governor of Virginia ; Eppa Hunton, late
member of the rebel Congress from Virginia ; R.
A. Pryor, late high private in the rebel army ; D.
R. Bridgeford, K. K. Mallory, George W. C. Lee,
son of General Lee; Samuel Cooper, late adjutant
and inspector-general of therebel army and formerly
lieutenant-colonel, United States army ; Wm. H.
Fitzhugh Lee, son of General Lee ; Henry A. Wise,
ex-Governor of Virginia and late brigadier-general,
rebel army ; Benjamin Hagar, Geo. W. Alexander,
Richard H. Booker, Fitzhugh Lee, nephew of Gen.
Lee and late major-general in the rebel army; T.
S. Bocock, late Speaker of the rebel House of Re-
presentatives and formerly member of the United
States Congress."
A Washington letter says :
" The President, Attorney-General, and Secre-
tary of State are likely to be kept constantly occu-
pied for the next two or three months in the dispo-
sition of applications for pardon and amnesty. At
the White House, in the of6Lie of the Attorney-
General, and in the State Department, we now find
hourly in Italian quite a crowd of anxious petition-

ES ,
:- -I,;\
nu ji._
ers for Executive clemency, and among tfi I.; e/W:Vin
of the men who have filled the most -:iir n 1 LIZ
pages in the history of the defunct' ,Southeriil*47a.:
federacy. The demeanour and eiptession y1"1.49-.724
tenance of the applicants present 'a
curie o—*
interesting study. Whole histories and littlezworkts
walk bydozens before us in contemplation profound.
The fortune-bereft millionare and lordly landholder
and manowner, the down-fallen leader in politics
and the mighty lawgiver and the discomfited mili-
tary chieftain, all walk here in agitation and in
anxious waiting to hear the fiat of the Executive,
and seem most painfully to realise the adage that
' matters of war are, of all others, most subject to
continual mutations.' The petition is made directly
to the President, who calls to his aid the Attorney-
General, through whose hands all applications pass,
and thence to the Secretary of State, where, in case
a pardon is granted, a warrant is issued, substanti-
ally as follows, and generally in the words of this
form :—Whereas —, by taking part in the rebel-
lion against the Government of the United States,
has made himself liable to heavy pains and penal-
ties, and whereas the circumstances of his case ren-
der him a proper object of Executive clemency.
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew John-
son, President, do hereby grant to the said a
full pardon and amnesty for all offences by him
committed, arising from participation, direct or
implied, in the said rebellion, conditioned as follows
—viv., this pardon to begin and take effect from the
day on which the said shall take the oath
prescribed in the Proclamation of the President,
dated May 29, 1865, and to be void and of no effect
if the said shall hereafter at any time acquire
any property whatever in slaves, or make use of
slave labour."
Among those who have made application for par..
don is Mr. Stephens, late Vice-President of the Con-
federacy. A summary of his petition is thus given
by an unfriendly hand :_...

"Alexander H. Stephens, in his lengthy argument
on the reasons and causes which induced him to
join the rebel Confederacy, says that he always be-
lieved in the right of secession, but never in the
policy. He was educated to believe in the right
of secession, whence sprang his convictions, and he
was strengthened in those convictions by the last
annual message of President Buchanan and the
opinion of Attorney-General Black. He was also
confirmed in his views by the able and honest efforts
of the New York Tribune.' He claims that he
exerted all his faculties to their utmost to prevent
secession, and that he accepted the Vice-Presidency
of the Confederacy only because it was tendered
unanimously, and for the purpose of preserving, as
far as lay in his power, those great principles of
freedom which lie at the foundation of American
constitutional liberty. He desired to make the Con-
stitution of the Confederacy as near as possible like
that of the United States, and in this he claims he
succeeded. All the points in regard to freedom and
the safeguards of liberty were his work. We may
add that the stories about Mr. Stephens's harsh
treatment and failing health at Fort Warren are
untrue. He is kept like any other distinguished
prisoner, and his health is as good as usual."
Messrs. Jerome Buck and Sterne Chittenden, of
New York, have been retained to assist Charles
O'Connor in the defence of Jefferson Davis.
The assassination trials had not concluded. The
arguments of counsel for most of the prisoners were
directed against the jurisdiction of the Court.
At a collation at Lowell, General Butler made a
speech, in which he urged that the confiscated lands
forfeited by treason should be given to the soldiers
who had put the rebellion down, preserving in that
and every other respect equality to the negro.
President Johnson's family have taken up their
residence at the White House. The family consists
of Mrs. Johnson, who is in ill health, Andrew
Johnson, jun., the President's youngest son, a lad
about 14 years of age ; Mrs. Judge Patterson, the
President's daughter, and wife of Senator Patterson,
of Tennessee, and Mrs. Patterson's two children.
Mrs. Patterson will be presiding lady at the White
House, owing to the ill health of Mrs. Johnson.

Up to the 18th 188,000 troops had left Washing-
ton in troop trains, of which number 85,000 went
west to Beuwood and Parkersburgh, West Virginia.
This number does not include those going on the
passenger trains, which since the Ist inst. averaged
over 500 per day, making the entire number about
160,000—an averageof-About-9,000,per day. There
remain yet about 30,000 to leave, which includes
the remainder of the army of the Potomac—about
9,ooo—and those who man the heavy artillery in
the fortifications.

Colonel Grayley, of New Orleans, who is said to
have offered a reward of $1,000,000 for the murder
of Mr. Lincoln, has been arrested and sent to
Washington.
The Raleigh Standard states that the line of travel
is now open from Weldon to Petersburgh. Tra-
vellers can go from Raleigh to Petersburgh in 24
hours, and from Raleigh to Baltimore in 48 hours,
by the way of Petersburgh and Fortress Monroe.
The Richmond Daily Times of June says—
" The Virginia Cent.-al Railroad bridges over
Benna Moor's-creek and Mechanics' River are pro-
gressing, and hopes are entertained that the whole
road will be in operation in four weeks. The
Orange and Alexander Railroad is also being re-
paired from Charlottesville to Lynchburg. Cars aro
now running from the latter place to Sye River, 30
miles."

The Richmond Republic of the 17th says :
"At the time of the greatest conflagration on the
3d of April last three of the warehouses in this city
were filled with tobacco belonging to the French
Government. One of the warehouses, we believe,
was destroyed by fire, but the other two, contain.
ing about 1,100 hogsheads, escaped uninjured. M.
Paul, the French Consul at this city, has for some
time past been busily engaged in having this tobacco
shipped for France. During the present week three
steamers and one schooner laden with the tobacco
have sailed from this port."
A letter from Newbern, North Carolina, of the
16th says :

" Intelligence from North Georgia, and on the
line of Sherman's late march through South
Carolina, states that many people are dying for
want of food, and it is feared that starvation will
prevail, owing to the general destruction of
houses, furniture, food, cattle, •horses, fences, and
farming implements, which leaves the inhabitants
helpless to provide for themselves. General C. J.
Paine, with a division of coloured troops arrived
here recently to relieve General Palmer, whose
troops are to be mustered out of service."
Two of the great hotels at Saratoga have been
destroyed by fire. A despatch from that place,
dated the 18th, says :

About 4 30 o'clock this afternoon a fire was
discovered in the north wing of the United States'
Hotel. A short time after a second fire broke out
lin another and distant part of the building. The
flames spread with a fearful violence, and in a few
moments the north wing was a sheet of fire ; and
soon after the whole edifice was a mass of flames. So
rapid was the progress of the fire that it was with
difficulty that the guests succeeded in escaping with-
out their effects. Before 6 o'clock the building fell
in with a frightful crash. A portion of the furniture
only was saved. The flames communicated to the
Marvin-house, which was also speedily destroyed.
The bank adjoining is seriously threatened. The
fire is still burning at this hour (8 o'clock p.m.).
The fire is generally believed to b.e the work of an
incendiary. All the other hotels are safe, and the
prospects for a good season were never more flat-
tering. Two lives have been lost. The fire is now
under control, and will be stayed at the Davidson.
residence, next door to the north of Marvin-house.
Officer Case was killed by the falling of a chimney.
The cottages belonging to the United States' Hotel
are all destroyed, and the fire will extend no further."
Two hundred paroled Confederate prisoners have
been drowned in the Red River. The transport
Kentucky, having 1,200 paroled Confederate troops
on board, struck a snag about 12 miles below
Shreveport, and sank in three minutes; 1,000
persons were saved, and 200 drowned.

A MONSTER CAKE.—On Midsummer-day last,
Mr. Passmore Edwards (of London), gave his half-yearly
treat to 200 old people in his native village in Cornwall.
One of the good things provided for the occasion 7-as P,
monster cake, which weighed 14011 n.