The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-25 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25, 1865:

idea. One goes so far as to declare that
" the BLAIRS deserve hanging ; " another
warns the Government not to fraternise
with spies, and says they should not be admitted
through the lines. The Northern press, if less in-
dignant, is scarcely more hopeful. The Times is
opposed to the mission, and declares that no pos-
sible good can result from it, since, it adds sensibly
enough, to treat with DAVIS for peace would be to
recognise the nationality of the South. But, in
truth, the North have been compelled, in countless
ways, to recognise that nationality already, how-
ever reluctant they may be to admit it in words.
Under the pretence of withholding the official re-
cognition, however, they have evaded any open
dealings with the Southern authorities. Mr. BLAIR,
it is said, is only sent to ascertain whether " a true
peace" is obtainable. President DAVIS has declared
unmistakeably enough, long ago, that Southern in-
dependence is the only possible basis of a true peace,
and all the Confederate organs have echoed the
same strain. The Federals can, therefore, scarcely
suppose that in the present relative position of the
opposing forces the South will surrender the one
great object of the long and weary struggle, an ob-
ject unshrinkingly maintained through good and
evil fortune, in spite of every disheartening and dis-
couraging influence. It must be remembered, too,
that the sincerity and fortitude of the South has
been put to a far more severe test than that of the
North, notwithstanding the financial embarrass-
ments of the latter. They have borne the whole
brunt of the war in the invasion of their States,
the desolation of their fertile fields,the wreck and ruin
of many happy homes. They have been nominally
shut out from all communication with the nations of
of Europe, their commerce has been paralysed, their
ports blockaded, their whole social position
thoroughly disorganised and 'convulsed. The
troubles and sufferings of the war have not been
confined to that poorer class who are so often made
to bear the burden of their superiors' pugnacity
and patriotism. Nor, indeed, have they been re-
stricted to any one class alone. They have fallen
heavily on the rich planters and their families, many
of whom have lost friends, and home, and property,
and all that made life dear, in the terrible havoc.
Men of wealth and station have willingly forsaken
their cosy and luxurious homes for the tren4h, the
camp, and the battlefield—worse still, for the risk of
the military hospital or the Northern prison. The
fervour and unanimity of the Southern people in
the national cause is one of the most remarkable
facts in modern history, and proves either that the
supremacy of the North must have been very gall-
ing, or that they have separate and individual in-
terests and feelings which are quite irreconcileable
with those of the North. What the Federals do
not seem to perceive, but what has long been appa-
rent to impartial eyes, is the increasing enmity of
the South against the North ; the ever-growing
barrier which separates the two peoples which the
cruelty and recklessness of the North is constantly
increasing. In any case the evils of civil war are
great and oppressive, and it would probably
be long, under the most favourable circum-
stances, before a hearty reconciliation would take
place between the peoples, but the Northerners
seem to have exerted all their ingenuity to make
their rule, or their triumph, or whatever temporary
advantage Fortune might send them, as bitter and
as hateful to the Confederates as possible; and cer-
tainly the intensity of the Southern feeling—a
feeling which tolerates the suggestion of again
becoming a British dependency rather than remain-
ing as the vassal of the North—would seem to
indicate that they have done so with very great
success. The Washington Cabinet cannot really
• credit that DAVIS would listen to any terms of
peace that were not based upon the independence of
• the South, and therefore we may reasonably look
with some suspicion on the pacific expedition of
the BLAIRS pere et fits.

Mr. DUNLOP appears to appreciate the truth of
the adage " Better late than never ;" and certainly
his constitutents have no right to complain that he
has given them a niggardly exposition of his views
or a limited account of his acts and thoughts. His
speech flows on, in his lucid and logical strain, to
a great length, and it embraces most of the topics
of importance which the past and approaching ses-
sions have seen or are likely to see. Of course, the
everlasting subject of Schleswig-Holstein engaged
the attention of the hon. member, and on this ques-
tion he discoursed at some length. The result of all
his discussions and reflections, as usual, came to the
same conclusion. He voted in favour of the Govern-
ment when the vote of censure was proposed. Cer-
tainly the Ministers were not so foolhardy as many
supposed them to be in daring to fly their fate, for
it almost seems as if a fatality attended the decision
of members on the Liberal side of the House
when any important crisis arrives. However
strongly they may have opposed such a policy, or
differed from such a plan, they are sure to be found
swelling the ranks of the majority when the momen-
tous epoch arrives. This is a great mistake to
commit, because it entirely obliterates the chance of
a suitable warning being given there to those states-
men who have offended against the good sense of
the country, and afterwards to those who are in-
clined to follow in their steps. Mr. DUNLOP, how -
ever, is quite capable of appreciating the errors and
short-comings of the Ministry, and he truly declared
that had Earl RUSSELL answered the question he
put to him some time back a better understanding
might have been arrived at between us and Den-
mark, and that hapless country would not now have
to deplore its mistakes and mischances. It can do
no good now for us to comment upon all this ; but
yet it seems a sort of satisfaction to do so, and to
consider how, if the like emergency should arise
again, we may improve the opportunity instead of
abusing it. It is some relief to find that Mr.
DUNLOP does not share the mania prevalent in so
many quarters of deprecating all wars but those
which are occasioned by our material interests.
Really it is time that some public men should come
• forward and put an end to this mischievous propen-
sity. The maintenance of constitutional freedom
in Europe is truly declared here to be of more im-
portance than many other claims which compel us
to peace. If, said Mr. DUNLOP, this principle of
non-intervention had been generally carried out,
very different results would have taken place iii
the annals of history. " Scotland would have
become a province of France, and, in all pro-
bability, England too, and the Reformation and
civil liberty would have been crushed in both
conntries." Another point upon which Mr.
DUNLOP expressed himself with frankness was that
of Reform ; he declared in the most deliberate man-
ner that he did not expect this subject to be settled
in this Parliament. It was originally elected, he
admitted, for the.purpose of extending the franchise,
but it did not carry out its purport. How true is
this definition of the then motive power of action
and ruling
,4
The i
enable the spirit of statesmen in certain quarters.
question of Reform was only used to accom-
plish such a •
their plue.,,
turnthemselvesWi/71:thin
deliver a plainer or more
than this, and t credit ,
fearlessly states his opinions
the Liberal ranks as should
out the Tories, and settle
It would be difficult to
Precise statement of facts
An due to one who so
) no mat;.r whom they

The aspect of the war in America, the prospects
of peace, and the means by which that desirable end
may be attained are prominent topics in European
circles, and we may certainly suppose, even without
direct intimation of the fact, that it is a constant
subject of consideration among the Americans
themselves. Whether we are to accept the ad-
vances made by the North as altogether sincere
may very fairly be questioned. It has been sug-
gested that the recent " semi-official" peace mission
to Richmond was in reality less the result of a
fervent anxiety for peace, than a deep-laid political
move on the part of the North. The difference be-
tween the Republican and Democratic factions in
Congress place the Government, it is said, in a
position of some difficulty with respect to the
measure now under consideration with respect to
the wholesale abolition of slavery. It is a some-
what singular time to bring forward such a pro-
posal when the South themselves are weighing a
similar project in the balance. Probably it is done
with the idea of taking the wind out of the enemy's
sails, for we have but too good reason to doubt the
sincerity of the Emancipation mania of the North,
although of course a party exists who is really in
earnest on the matter. Whatever the motive, a
project for the abolition of slavery throughout the
whole extent of the United States is now before
Congress, and the party in power have good reason
to doubt whether they will be able to carry it. It
has therefore been suggested that the mission
of Mr. BLAIR and his son to Richmond
has something to do with this political
d
dilemma, so that the declaration that the
South no longer regard slavery as a sine qua
non may stimulate their Northern neighbours to be
•
the first in emancipating the slave. It has also been
thought that the Washington Government is anxious
to get an unmistakeable expression of opinion from
Richmond as to the maintenance of Southern inde-
pendence, so as to quicken the flagging
in the party energies of
the
North who are not very zealous in
the prosecution of the war. There is something
rather singular about the whole aspect of the affair.
If the Federal emissaries really speak the sentiments
of Washington, wi,
j are they not duly qualified and
empowered to treat with the Richmond Cabinet. If
they go merely as private individuals where is the
use of suffering so Quixotic an undertalun. g to have
even the rumoured importance of a political mis-
sion ? It is noticeable that Mr. BLAIR is
accora-
panied by his son, which may suggest that the
younger member of the " mission," being a fa-
vourite of President LINCOLN'S, may have been en-
trusted with some private hints to communicate to
DAvis ; so that, if convenient, the elder BLAIR, the
recognised ambassador, may disown -what the
younger member of the embassy had thought fit to
say. Whether this elaborate scheme was pre-planned
or no, it is certain that this expedition has not
found much favour in the South. It is amusing to
notice how it is spoken of in the Southern press.
The Richmond papers are generally adverse to the

offend, or against whose crotchets they militate.
Many may take warning by the emphatic expres-
sions here used as to the necessity of doing some-
thing in time, and not waiting until all patience be-
comes exhausted, and the unrepresented ranks of the
people create an excitement that may be more dan-
gerous than the agitation which was produced by
the last Reform Bill. There is great truth in this,
and it seems strange that more heed should not be
paid to this view of the question, and more pains
taken to avert the consequences of a fatal delay, but
some persons are so infatuated that warning and
admonition are alike thrown away upon them, and
there is nothing left for it but to leave them to their
fate, or to dread the day of their awakening
to the consciousness of the evil of wasted
time, lost chances, and thrown away opportunities.
Mr. DUNLOP, like many others, went too far in his
wishes for the reduction of our naval and military
expenditure, and, in so doing, overlooked the fact
that the Ministers must be prepared for all emer-
gencies, and this is surely not the time to choose to
be lax or remiss in defence or preparation. Of
course, in many instances, there is great waste, but
to talk of making it compulsory upon the Govern-
ment to cease from anything approaching to war
estimates is most unwise at this juncture, when the
posture of affairs in certain quarters is so much the
reverse of stable or satisfactory. Mr. DUNLOP'S
speech contained allusions to some topics of home
interest, and, on the whole, was characterised by
good sense and discernment. Certainly, those mem-
bers who thus analyse events with their constituents
are more likely to go into the conflict of opinion
with their wits sharpened and their spirit undaunted.
We are on the eve of momentous changes, and it
becomes all those who hold a prominent position in
public affairs to bestir themselves to the utmost,
and not to allow themselves to be outwitted, for the
best interests of the country are at stake, and things
vital to her welfare at home and honour abroad must
ere long be decided. Experience has shown: the
fatal error of expediency, and the harm of putting
men before measures. Is it, then, too much to hope
that the brightest hours of this Parliament may be
its last ones, and that it may, in some degree, re-
deem its promise by putting the considerations of
honour and justice before all the dazzling allure-
ments of place and power, which only end in en-
tailing vanity and vexation of spirit upon all who
place implicit trust in them.

DEATH OF COLONEL CHARMS.

BASLE, Jan. 23.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

The death of this once celebrated personage,
erroneously announced some days ago, has at last
become a fact. He expired this morning of a
chronic rheumatic affection of the bowels, which
completely baffled medical.skill to remove.
Formerly a distinguished officer in Algefia, and
much liked by his comrades. in the French army,
Colonel Charras mainly owed his want of promo-
tion to the rank of a French general, during the
reign of Louis Philippe, to his openly expressed
Republican opinions. In the succeeding regime
these tendencies, of course, had a different value,
and he soon took up an important position in the
State. As Secretary to the Minister of War he
became the soul of the French military administra-
tion under the Republic, and shone in the National
Assembly as one of the most decided leaders of the
Left, until the coup d'etat of the 2d December drove
him from the country.
For some years he resided in Zurich, and shortly
after his marriage with a Swiss lady removed to
Basle. He lived here in quiet retirement, main-
taining an uninterrupted correspondence with his
many friends abroad.
-Upon the Emperor Napoleon issuing an amnesty
to all who chose to return to France, Colonel
Charras declared that he possessed sufficient
patience to await better times in voluntary exile.
He occupied his leisure in writing upon military
subjects. His critical examination of the " Cam-
paign of 1815" has been greatly extolled. The
work was prohibited in France, owing to the free-
dom with which the author spoke of Bonaparte, but
was nevertheless known to a large circle of readers,
and went through several editions and translations.
It is understood that a comprehensive treatise upon
the German War of Liberation, under the title of
" The Campaign of 1813," will appear as a posthu-
mous work.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Jan. 24.—The market has been very
heavy to-day, and quotations in general have de-
clined. Threes, for the Account, opened at 66f. 85c.,
receded for a moment to 66f. 80c., and have now
recovered the opening price. Mobilier have been
done as low as 942 f. 50c., but have since rallied to
to 947 f. 50c. Railway Shares remain tolerably firm.
The market closed as follows :

41 per Cents 95 15
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 66 75
Do. end month 66 80
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month 945
Bank Shares 3505
Credit Foncier 1265
Roman 73 75

Italian Loan 65 50
Do. end month 64 75
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican

Russian 9- --
Austrian

Spanish Threes —
Home Debt
Deferred

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern 997 50 ... 997 50
Lyons and Mediterranean 928 75 ... 930
Southern 573 75 ... 575
Western 533 75 ... 535
'
Eastern 507 50 ... 508 75
Sardinian 3OO ... 301 25
Austrian
Lombard 535 538 75
•••

North of Spain 331 25 331 25
Saragossa 4OO ... 398 75
Ditto to Barcelona lBO

RUSSIA.

A letter from St. Petersburg, dated 18th instant,

•
says :
" The sitting of the Imperial Geographical Society, on the
14th December, was very remarkable on account of very
interesting news concerning the yet unknown countries of
Central Asia. _ _

" Mr. Struve read an account of a voyage he had made,
in company with Mr. Potanine, towards the sources of the
Irtisch, to the Lake Zaissane, and to the mountains of
Tarbigataisk. According to the information collected by
the author, it appears that the Kirghises and Tartars are
inclined to form fixed settlements, and have begun to found
villages, one of which is situate at about 40 kilometres to
the south of the mountains of Tarbigataisk.

" After Mr. Struve, Rear-Admiral Boutakoff gave an
account of his exploration of the Sir Dafia. He has ascer-
tained that this river is navigable to a distance of 800 kilo-
metres from Fort Perowsky, which gives a total length of
1,500 navigable kilometres from its mouth. It is still un-
known if higher up the river has a sufficient depth to carry
boats. Rear-Admiral Boutakoff has met as far as Fort
Djoulck the traces of canals and of some towns, the
existence of which dates as far back as Tamerlane. The
desert lands begin higher up. All the territory comprised
between the Forts Perowsky and Djoulck is at present in-
habited by a numerous and active population, who occupy
themselves with husbandry and cattle breeding. The
Kirghises dig water canals, drain the bogs, construct dikes,
and live on good terms with the Cossack colony established
near the fort. Every day there arrive Kirghises and wan-
dering Korakalpacks, who abandon Shiva and put them-
selves under our protection.

" The Academical Gazette publishes the account of a
voyage of exploration of the River Soungoura, a tributary
stream of the Amoor. Our steamer (says the correspondent)
ascended the river as far as Guirine, a Mantchoura town of
a hundred thousand inhabitants, which serves as seat of
residence to the Governor of the country. The borders of
the Soungoura, which traverses Mantchoura from south to
north, are well-peopled, and the inhabitants gather in
crowds round the Russians to admire their dress, and
especially the steamer working its way against the current
by the means of its paddle-wheels. It results from this first
voyage that the Soungoura is navigable from the Amoor as
far as the confluence of the Nani-Outs, but that further on
there are shallows. It remains now to ascertain if the Nani-
Outa is not likewise navigable."

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING-, JANUARY 25, 1865.1

ng with sharp scrapers would remove the incrusta-
tions, the result of barely six months' accumula-
tion. Whether this rapid growth is due to the
Muntz metal with which the ship's bottom is
sheathed, or the result of some general galvanic ac-
tion, is hard to conjecture ; but what another grand
field for the experimentalists ! The wooden sheath-
ing over the armour plating under water has been
removed in several places for the purposes of exa-
mination, and the iron has been found to be in a
perfect state of preservation."
The waters of the Mediterranean, from their com-
position, tend to foul the bottom of all ships more
rapidly, it is said, than the waters of the Atlantic,
which may possibly account, to some extent, for the
extraordinary deposit on the bottom of the Royal
Oak. Its formation has, without doubt, been quick-
ened by the length of time the Royal Oak has lain
in Malta harbour ; but our chymists would sup-
ply us with information of the highest importance if
they could tell us the effect produced on the growth
of these incrustations on the Muntz metal by the pre-
sence of the ship's armour plating, and then discover
an effectual remedy for it.

Her Majesty's 13-gun screw corvette Niger,

1,072 tons and 400 horse power, having been
thoroughly repaired and fitted for service at Wool-
wich, was on Monday inspected by Commodore
Superintendent Hugh Dunlop, and was pronounced
complete in every department, with the exception of
her provisions and armament. She is now ordered
to be handed over to the first-class steam reserve,
in readiness for service when required.
The Landrail, recently commissioned at Woolwich
by Commander Maitland for the African coast, on
Monday hauled alongside the Aigle, coal hulk, and
now awaits her orders for sea.

The paddle-yacht Enchantress, Staff Commander
John E. Petley, has commenced painting and caulk-
ing at Woolwich, in preparation for the service of
Prince Arthur on a visit to the shores of the Medi-
terranean in March next. The Black Eagle, Staff
Commander Whiffler, was at first selected by the
Admiralty for the service. The orders have since
been definitely given for the Enchantress, as better
adapted for a long sea voyage and already fitted
with a deck cabin and other conveniences requisite
for the Prince's accommodation.

Preparations were yesterday commenced at Wool-
wich on board the old flagship Fisgard for the re-
arrangement of her accommodation. The enlarge-
ment of her !port hole was marked out, and the
necessary gear was rigged for hoisting out her dila-
pidated mizenmast, and replacing it with a new one.
On account of the intense frost it was found neces-
sary to delay raising the new iron sheer legs, intended
to be erected at the head of the inner basin, as it
was feared that the work would be attended with
danger. Instances have been known where the
chair gear and also the largest sized hempen cables
have been so affected by a similar frost as to snap
and break asunder without showing the slightest
appearance of weakness.
The screw steam corvette Cadmus, 21, Capt. A.
C. Gordon, left Plymouth Sound at 10 o'clock on
Sunday morning, under steam and canvas, for the
North America and West India station ; wind
E.N.E., light. At five o'clock in the evening,
when about 80 miles to the westward, she came
in contact with the bark Maynards, from New
York, with tea, butter, &c., for London. The
Cadmus was struck on the starboard side, abaft
the mainmast, and lost her cutter, davits, &c.,
and received other damage. The bark lost her
jibboom, bowsprit, best bower anchor, chain, &c.,
and her bows stove in. Being disabled she was
taken in tow by the Cadmus, which brought her
back on Monday to Plymouth Sound.
The appointment of Commander John D'Arcy to
the Royal paddle yacht Osborne places that vessel
upon an independent commission, in lieu of her re-
maining, as she has hitherto done, since her super-
cession for her Majesty's personal use by the Vic-
toria and Albert, a tender to the Steam Reserve
guardship in Portsmouth harbour. The substitu-
tion of a Commander also to the command of the
yacht, in the place of a Staff Commander, as for-
merly, would appear to indicate that the yacht's
future duties will be confined to the Prince and
Princess of Wales, for which she is admirably
adapted.
The American target-ship, at Portsmouth, is
again having her sides strengthened with new tim-
bers and coated wiith green-heart planking for
further armour-plate trials. She is ordered to be
completed by the 30th inst., for the trial of armour-
plates from Messrs. Beale and other makers.
The necessary preparations for the launch of the
Helicon paddlewheel despatch vessel at Portsmouth
Dockyard 6n the 31st inst. are being rapidly com-
pleted. The Helicon has Mr. Reed's improved bow,
and her trial under steam is looked forward to with
great interest. Her engines, of 250-horse power,
nominal, are from the manufactory of Messrs. Penn.
A large number of hands are employed on the
Royal Alfred frigate in Portsmouth yard, convert-
ing her from a partly plated 35-gun to a 10-gun
frigate. The outer planking in a line with her
maindeck ports, from the level of her maindeck
planking upwards, is being removed and replaced
with new, to allow of the necessary alterations
being made in the size and position of the gunports.
These will now have to be fitted for the training
and working of 300-pounder guns, in lieu of the or-
dinary 110-pounders and 68-pounders previously in-
tended for the ship's armament. The alteration
will be an expensive one.
The Geyser, paddle, Commander Thrupp, left
Portsmouth yesterday morning for Gibraltar with a

number of naval officers and supernumerary sea-
men for the ships of the Mediterranean Fleet.
The Urgent troopship, Capt. Henderson, was
undocked yesterday morning, and proceeded out of
Portsmouth harbour for a further trial of her ma-
chinery, under the superintendence of the officials
of the Steam Reserve. The result was, however,
not deemed satisfactory, and she will now await the
determination of the Admiralty as to her disposal.
The Challenger, 22, screw steam corvette, 1,462
tons, 400 horse power, Captain John J. Kennedy,
C. 8., from the West Indies, which arrived at Sheer-
ness on Friday last, was inspected on Saturday by
Vice-Admiral Sir C. Talbot, K.C.8., Commander-
in-Chief at Sheerness, after which she commenced to
dismantle and return stores to the dockyard. She
will be paid out of commission on or about Feb. 4,
when she will be placed in the first division of the
Sheerness Steam Reserve, in readiness for early re-
commission.
It being the intention of the Admiralty to covert
the Ganges, 84, sailing vessel, now lying at SUer-
ness, into a receiving hulk for sepl•ree at Devonport,
the officials at Devonport are report whether the
vessel is in a fit state to be taken to Devonport at
once, and if not fit the extent and cost of the re-
pairs necessary to render her so.
The following regulations as to reductions in the
Regiment of Royal Artillery were on Monday an-
nounced at Woolwich from the Horse Guards, to be
put in force on the Ist proximo :—Of the 4th divi-
sion Depot Brigade the 17th battery is to proceed to
Warley, and the 18th to Sheerness. The 19th and
20th batteries will be entirely reduced and their
numbers expunged from the -brigade. D battery
and No. 9 battery of the 2d division Depot Brigade
are also to be broken up. Lieut.-Col. Gibbon, C. 8.,
4th division Depot Brigade, commanding, will pro-
ceed to Sheerness. All employed men of those bat-
teries reduced will be transferred to the Coast Bri-

gade. Paymaster Piers will join the 12th Brigade
at Gosport. Quartermaster Hodge will remain at
the head-quarters of the depot at Woolwich, Quar-
termaster Hendley will enter on the supernumerary
list as in excess of the establishment. Lieut.-Col.

Rotton will join-iliestiviirigade on its arrival at
Woolwich from Plymouth. Major Godby will join
the 13th Brigade at Dover, and Cart. Izod will be
attached to the Bth Brigade at Ballmcollig.

MR. PAUL BEDFORD.—A number of gentlemen
of high rank are now associated in a committee to make the
requisite preliminary arrangements for a complimentary
benefit to Mr. Paul Bedford, which is to take place at
Drury-lane on the morning of Thursday, Feb. 2. Messrs.
Falconer and Chatterton have kindly placed the theatre at
the disposal of the committee, and the most distinguished
among the dramatic celebrities of the day will zealously co-
operate to give all possible interest and importance to the
occasion. It may confidently be anticipated that the
public will give practical proof of their approval of this
well-intentioned project in favour of an actor who has so
long and oo effectively contributed to their enjoyment.