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

this is more than enough to say to show the need of
a change being made. It is a reproach to our law
that the truth of this affair would not have been dis-
covered had not Mr. NEGRETTI undertaken it ; and
while the result of his strenuous exertions reflects
the highest credit upon his zeal and foresight, it also
exhibits a lack of research, and a want of care on
the part of those concerned in certifying the evi-
dence, which cannot be too much regretted, when
we consider the fearful consequences which they
might have entailed. Had MoGNI been examined
the result would have been different at the outset ;
and although all important bearings of his state-
ments could not have been seen, still the duty of
securing him in the witness box was the same. All
is well that ends well is, howevei, a consolation

that may be applied in this case, as in that of others,
and we must trust that in future more success will
attend the adjudication of such complicated trials.

Mr. CARDWELL'S Bill for the Maritime Defence of
the Colonies appears to be a very necessary arrange-
ment, and one that ought to have been undertaken
long ago. Indeed the dilatoriness that has so long
prevailed seems extraordinary, when we reflect upon
the vast interests thereby concerned ; but delays,
though dangerous, are very enticing, and when once
a subject is put off by legislation there is no say-
ing when they will take it up. Mr. CARDWELL very
truly remarked that no subject had of late years
engrossed a greater share of public notice than that
of the defence of our Colonies, and more especially
that of their power of self-reliance and self -preser-
vation. Hitherto the question has been mainly
considered in respect to defence by land, but there
can be no doubt that the maritime form is
that of most importance, and is the one
to which we should direct our attention,
and study to increase in efficiency and extent.
The right hon. gentleman explained the great diffi-
culties which were in the way of " raising a colonial
navy." If it were simply a colonial one, foreign
nations would not consider in time of war that it
had the rights and privileges of an international
navy, and yet, if the command were made a divided
one, serious obstacles would inevitably arise in re-
spect to conflicting commands of colonial officers
and Queen's officers. It is to be supposed that the
consideration of this difficulty was a good excuse for
doing nothing at all in the way of action, although
a correct estimate of the position was made by the
decision that, for ordinary purposes, a local defence*
was best, and that in a great war the defence of an
Imperial navy would be most desirable. Mr. CARD-
WELL'S proposals appear to meet the requirements
of the case, and provide for the exigencies of the
colonies as well as can possibly be expected
or desired. He suggested that we should
extend to the Colonies the same principle that has
proved so efficacious in this country—the establish-
ment of a Naval Reserve. By this means it will be
possible for British North America and Australia to
train a maritime population in time of peace to the
use of guns, and thus in war they will be available
for purposes of defence. Another object of the bill
is to enable the Colonies to put their ships in time
of war under the control of the Admiralty, for if
this is not done, the ships being only under Colonial
authority, will not possess the privileges of ships of
war. There seems no reason to doubt that this bill
will work well, and make that adequate provision
for the requirements of our Colonies which has been
so long desired, and which on many accounts should
not now be longer delayed if we wish to avoid un-
toward consequences.

'I he American Blockade.

- ♦--

NASSAU, Feb. 3.—Jan. 19, the steamer Syren, for
St. John's, New Brunswick ; 20th, G. T. Watson,
ditto ; 26th, Mary and Ely, ditto ; 27th, Little
llattie, ditto. Nassau is a doomed city so far as the
contraband trade which has been carried on for the
last three years is concerned. In the waters of her
admirable harbour at this moment float more than
30 of her fleet of law-defying steam vessels, idle
and without employment. There also are here
sailing craft which can be counted by the hundred.
Her warehouses are filled with goods for which
there will soon be no market. The Tallahassee, the
rebel war steamer privateer, or pirate as she is
called, according to the respective views of the per-
sons who are speaking of her, came in this port on
Thursday, the 26th ult. It is said that her arma-
ment has been taken out of her, and that she is to
be used hereafter as a blockade-runner. There are
two reasons which render this doubtful :—First, she
is a full-rigged ship, and, consequently, is too
conspicuous an object upon the water to be
used for that business ; second, the blockade-
running business is about to be used up. She
arrived laden with coal, and sailed January 31
with the same cargo. The attention of the
Governor was called to her by the United States
Consul. She sails now under the name of the Cha-
meleon. Feb. 6.—Sailed, the steamer Fox, for
Charleston. Feb. 11.—Between the 6th and 11th
inst. the steamers Secret, Dream, Florence, Caroline,
Chameleon, Virginia, Hansa, and Owl returned to
Nassau, after unsuccessful attempts to run the
blockade. Washington, Feb. 18.—Advices from
the American Consul at London, under date of
January 27, state that an agent, whom he had sent
to. Kingston, Ireland, to look after the steamer Ajax,
a supposed rebel pirate, had returned, but the
steamer had sailed before he reached that place.
He learnt, however, some facts which confirmed the
impression that she was to be used as a war vessel.
The captain of the steamtug that waited on her was
on board and all over her. He said that she was not
armed, but she had 100 hammocks ready to be put

- .
up, and there was not the least doubt but that she

was to be used as a privateer. This was the impres-
sion of all the persons who were on board or had
anything to do with her while at the port. She is
very small, and is not regarded as a formidable or
a dangerous craft ; but with two or three guns in
ports like those in the West Indies, where she can
run in and coal frequently, she will be enabled to
burn merchant ships. She cannot carry more than
15 days' coal. Her armament has gone or will go
in some sailing vessel. It was considered probable
that she would go to Nassau before arming.

THE MAILS, &C.—SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday.—
The Royal Mail Company's steamship La Plata,
Captain H. A. Bax, sailed to-day with the West India,
Pacific, and Mexican mails, and 109 passengers, including
Captain Strike, for Jamaica, and Ensign Brady for Trini-
dad. She takes out £19,800 in English gold coin, £4BO in
French silver coin, English jewelry value £1,178, French
jewellery value £11,369, and a full cargo of British and
foreign merchandise.
MORE " MANIFESTATIONS."—Within the last few
weeks " phenomena" of rather an extraordinary
character have taken place in the village of Stourton,
Higher Bebington. These "manifestations" have deve-
lopedthemselves in the cottage of John Haines, who has
been a
gamekeeper in the neighbourhood for 20 or 30 years.
It seems that soon after Christmas mysterious noises were
heard about the house at night ; the furniture was roughly
moved about from one place to another, unearthly voices
were heard, panes of glass were broken, his dogs were
turned loose, his ferrets disappeared, dead rabbits, which
had been hung up on his premises, were found scattered
about the place, and other unaccountable doings took place.
Of course the family were alarmed, especially as the "phe-
nomena" continued at intervals week after week. The
cottage has been narrowly watched, but neither Haines
nor any of the villagers have as yet been able to find out
the cause of the "manifestations." Some of the elderly
females of the village, it is said, believe the house to be
haunted, but this belief is not shared in by the male por-
tion of the villagers, who think that a dexterous human
agency has bekeenatrwoArbkotuot operate upon
euepokanatghoeHfeareaofeothne-
worthy game
epe.
premises,
dsetr
bpoulticea,satnhde aociaoenesit.aoboleulwd was
askeentnotoeawpatutcrl:
thethe
have been caused
women's belief that the manifestations
by spiritual agency has become nfilp-mpda
only
righte_
state that the "spirits" did n
tlotliis keth the ra.
sence of the constable, for whilst he was watching
for the
taee
phenomena"
ethey. usual mysterious -noises were unheard.