The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-02 00:00:00

"
14-vt
) 47 0 .111 ii,
SUlt

LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 2, 1865.

It has been often said that the hour before dawn
is the darkest, and such may prove to be the case
with the present crisis in the fortunes of the Con-
federacy. There are never wanting men who at the
first rumour of disaster are ready to abandon their
cause, nor yet others who in misfortune and disap-
pointment must find somebody to blame ; and,
therefore, the aspect of affairs in the South need not
surprise us—the less so as it is evident that the
North is exerting every possible means to bring the
Confederates to terms. The 4th of March is
growing nearer and nearer, and as President LIN-
COLN feels it to be more and more than possible that
England and France will recognise him on his re-
election as President of the Northern States only,
he is anxious to bring the internal war to an end,
that he may have his revenge, and divert the mor-
tification of his people by exploits against Canada
on the North and Mexico on the South. The Cana-
dians are evidently sensible of some such impending
danger, and the Governor's Message, at the opening
of the Canadian Parliament on the 19th of last
month, deals boldly with the question. After
stating that a Bill to give the Executive further
powers to deal with political refugees who abuse the
shelter afforded them will be presented to the repre-
sentatives, he goes on to say that the circum-
stances now offer the opportunity not only
for the settlement of the question of pro-
vincial republics, but for the simultaneous
creation of a new nationality. It is for the pro-
vinces, he says, to decide whether they will remain
isolated, and consequently powerless for mutual aid,
or whether by their union in the proposed Confede-
ration they will present a resolute and united front
to the invader. The scheme of the Confederation
has been approved by the Imperial Government,
and will shortly be submitted to the provincial par-
liaments. It is of course the great question of the
' day in British North America, and we cannot but
hope, from the energy and good sense with which
the affair has hitherto been conducted, that no time
will be lost in bringing so important a matter to a
conclusion. The sense of danger and insecurity
which pervades the Canadian provinces will have
one good effect at this crisis. It will tend to make
men sink their personal feelings and local jealousies
in the crisis of the moment, and will enable the Bill
to pass into law with less delay . and difficulty than
might have been experienced in a calmer political
atmosphere. Let us hope that England, too, will
be upon her guard. We have received the six
months' notice for the abolition of the existing
regulations as to the relative forces on the lakes, and
have therefore no excuse for supineness or excessive
delicacy towards the States. The Federal Govern-
ment will have plenty of vessels ready to send at
the earliest opportunity into Canadian waters, and
on the first frivolous pretext to proceed to hostili-
ties. We have been told in jest that many
Americans declared that the failure of the first
, assault on Fort Fisher was the fault of the
Britishers, because the damage done by the ex-
plosion at Erith and on the Mersey entirely put
out their calculations, by inducing them to employ
the powder-ship, which proved to be Vox et prsterea
nihil. Of course this was a joke, but it has a serious
foundation in the jealousy and suspicion with which
the Yankees regard everything said, done,
or thought by Englishmen, and therefore
LINCOLN well knows that no more popular
movement could be made than aggression upon
English territory. The growing importance of the
British American provinces, too, have excited the
I
anger and envy of the Federal States. They see
in the wealth of their natural resources a tempting
prize, while the vast extent of their dominions
would amply compensate for the loss even of the
fair Southern States. Inhabited by a thriving and
hardy people, under a free and equitable adminis-
tration, protected by the power of the first country
in the old world, Americans see the British
provinces treading fast on that road to
national grandeur and prosperity which they
themselves once trod, and whose blessings they have
since so madly flung away. American self-conceit
is not likely to tolerate a rival so near the throne
with placidity, and therefore Englishmen and Cana-
dians should be forwarned and forearmed. A proper
fleet of our gunboats should be at St. John's, wait-
ing for the expiration of the legal term, that its
immediate appearance on the lakes may convince
Americans that English power is a substance
and not a shadow. We may be very sure
that no hesitation or sign of timidity
on our part will avert the chance of
war, the only hope being that the conviction of our
strength, and our resolution to fight with vigour, if
called upon to do so, may influence the wiser and
more thoughtful of American statesmen and politi-
cians. But, unhappily, such men seldom get their
due share of influence and power in Transatlantic
life. They are disgusted with the truckling to
popular passions, with the intrigues, the cabals,
and the unscrupulous proceedings necessary
to dominate either in Congress or in the
press, and they shrink back from such
a pathway to power. They have been unable to
arrest the war with the South, whatever their regret
for the waste, and the bloodshed, and the suffering,
and we fear they will be powerless to stay a quarrel
with England. Meanwhile, though New York still
sends us the darkest pictures of the Southern pros-
pects, we are not quite sure that their sombre pic-
tures are to be depended on. Southerners have
shown themselves to be made of sterner and more
fiery stuff than to let themselves be " snuffed
out " by the reverses of a single campaign.
'While BLAIR is going to and fro between
is rejoicing
Richmond and Washington, New York
over the capture of Fort Fisher, BEAUREGARD,
HARDEE, HOOD, and BRAGG are said to be com-
bining to attack SHERMAN. This is what they ought
to -have done long since when he first began his
march across Georgia ; and, if properly done now,
the whole fortunes of the campaign may be turned
in favour of the South. The Confederates com-
mitted the mistake of underrating their enemy and
of scattering
.their forces, but they have still the
opportunity in their hands, and possibly we may
hear that SHERMAN'S triumphant
_departure from
Savannah, instead of leading him to Charleston or
Branchville, has led him to a complete and well-
merited repulse by the combined forces of the
Confederates.

---
The inauguration of the South London Industrial
Exhibition, which took place yesterday, was a very
of ose
interesting affair, and forms another
trophies of the labouring classes:which have of late so
deservedly awakened the interest of the community.
So far as yet appears this last exhibition bids fair to
excel its predecess
h or in excellence and variety ;
ence, it will be evident to the crit c. that these
attempts are no mere flashes in the pan, mere
evanescent efforts to make a display, hut the exhi-
bition of industry, and a deternain4 resolve to

" Worth makes the man, the want of it the fellow,
And all the rest is leather and prunella."
It is, as the Bishop observed, a great source of
thanksgiving that the different classes of society
now no longer look askance at each other,
but possess a positive bond of union, and
are cemented by so many mutual interests,
and influenced by many common feelings and
sentiments. In this; indeed, lies one of the chief
advantages that accrue to these Industrial under-
takings, and that remain a solid proof of sterling
excellence when other benefits, very evident at first,
may become fading and vanishing. The poor ope-
rative need not now feel that he is struck out from
all those pursuits that refine human nature and en-
noble existence ; while the upper ranks have it no
more in their power to say that, after a certain
point, the lower classes cannot attain any degree of
superiority, and have not the power of raising them-
selves from their own level. These may appro-
priately learn from the Bishop of WINCHESTER'S
speech, when he earnestly and eloquently addresses
his hearers thus :—" The working classes had
studied history, science, and art, which allowed them
to enter into their labours, and by dint of industry,
energy, and talent had brought about the results
which they saw before them." This is a correct de-
finition of the actual state of the case, and a fair
illustration of the efforts so strenuously made by the
contributors to these Industrial Exhibitions. The
PRINCE CONSORT said in his speech, at Birmingham,
that " Science and art are the conscious regulators
of all industrial occupations," and the Bishop did
well to quote these words, and allude to the late
lamented individual who uttered them, for
in no one thing more than another did
Prince ALBERT earn a right to popular good
will, or possess a claim upon the gratitude of
Englishmen, than in his earnest and constant efforts
to improve the working classes of England. This
remains his best trophy ; and now that he rests from
his labours, his works remain to benefit the genera-
tion in which he lived, -while we have a confident
hope that the good seed thus sown will flourish and
survive to many succeeding generations. The
Bishop also adverted to the assistance which the
employers had given in many instances to those
who had striven to appear at these affairs ; and he
very truly observed that the men must have re-
turned to their ordinary occupations with more zest
and goodwill afterwards. This is no doubt
strictly correct, for nothing is more injurious
to the excellence of the task in hand as
for the operator to feel an interest in it, and also an
interest beyond it. Those employers who set their
faces against these undertakings are doing a great
wrong to society, and inflicting a grievance on
those connected with them, while they also do them-
selves an incalculable amount of injury in the feel-
ing that they inspire among their employees. There
was an interesting passage in the Bishop's speech,
in which he referred to the work that all had to do.
" There were no drones," he said, " around him,
and he himself had plenty to do." He instanced as
a proof of how pleasantly and profitably a man may
employ his leisure, the beautiful translation which
Lord DERBY had just published. He was a great
statesman, and yet he delighted in pursuing
such matters. The Right Honourable WILLIAM
COWPER addressed the meeting, and made a few
impressive remarks. He said that it was a case of
national importance that the working men should
have every opportunity afforded to them of im-
proving their tastes ; and he observed with great
truth that there might be more, of such affairs had
they better places in which to hold their meetings.
He added that the public money could not be better
spent than in the erection of such places. This is a
very good suggestion of the right hon. gentleman,
and it is to be hoped that it will be acted upon by
those with whom he is connected ; for a better or
more gracious proof cannot be given of the interest
taken by the authorities in these affairs of public in-
terest and importance. On the whole, this South
London Exhibition has been very happily inaugu-
rated, and we only wish that it may be the fore-
runner of many others equally promising and
prosperous.

L'Avenir National is announced to be the only
ono among the principal daily newspapers of Paris that is
published at the same price, both in the capital and in the
departments.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.--We mentioned
the other day that the late Captain Mitchell, of
Baldovie, had left about £50,000 to the Roman Catholic
Church in Scotland, but we now understand that the sum
will be nearer £90,000. He has left his estates in fee simple,
and as the rental is some £3,000 a year, that at 30 years'
purchase gives £90,000. The bequest is left in the first
instance for the foundation and endowment of a retreat for
aged priests, and whatever sum may be over is to be equally
divided between the three Roman Catholic bishops in
Scotland—Aberbeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, to be used
for the support and extension of their missions. Captain
Mitchell was originally a Protestant, and became a convert
to Roman Catholicism in his matttrer years.—Dundee Ad-
vert Iser.

A NAVAL HEROINE.—Ann Perrian, a naval
heroine, died at Exmouth last week at a very advanced
age. She was with her husband on board the man-of-war
Crescent and Orion from 1794 to 1798, and was present in
the following engagements :—L'Orient, Admiral Lord Brid-
port, June 23, 1795 ; off Cape St. Vincent, Admiral Sir John
Jervis, Feb.l4, 1797; the Nile, Admiral Lord Nelson, Aug.
1, 1793. She also shared in the honour of several minor
exploits. In action she was stationed in the magazine
with the gunners, preparing flannel cartridge cases. She
had been in the receipt of a pension of £lO a year from
Government up to the time of her death.

THE HIGHFIELD ESTATE, MALTON.—Mr. W.
I'Anson, the trainer, who recently sold Blair Athol,
Breadalbane, and Broomielaw, for such high prices, has
just purchased from Messrs. J. C. and J. H. Wise, of Mal-
ton, the well-known Highfield Estate. Highfield was the
place where the late Mr. Wm. Scott had his training esta-
blishment, and where latterly Mr. Cunningham, the trainer,
has resided. On this estate is the tan gallop upon which
the famous horse Sir Tatton Sykes was trained, and as the
estate adjoins Langton Wold, Mr. I'Anson is secure for
training quarters should any further enclosure of the far-
famed weld take place, which is not improbable, in a few
years.

make the most of what opportunities may be LATEST INTELLIGEbTOE.
afforded. It is, indeed, a convincing proof of the
improvement that has taken place among the work-
(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
i.ng classes, that these Industrial Exhibitions should
'be se, successful and satisfactory in their design and
execution. The philosophical politician will rejoice
at; the cheering prospect thus afforded, and recog-
nise the important sign of the times thus presented.
it is a great thing for a State when the intellectual
element predominates in its existence, and more
especially so when those who are thus refined and
elevated belong to those who might fairly be pre-
sumed at first sight to be overwhelmed with the en-
grossing nature of their ordinary pursuits, and so
monopolised by the " carking cares" of a labouring
life, as to have little leisure for thought and none
for personal cases not connected with their every-
day struggle for existence. Amid many disheart-
ening events it is a great satisfaction thus to meet
with the evident desire for improvement so strongly
fixed in the minds of the lower orders, and the
continuance of its effort after the first
excitement was over, which all know to be so fasci-
nating in its character, so potent in its influence,
and, alas ! so very fleeting in its endurance in too
many instances. The Bishop of WINCHESTER, who
presided at the opening ceremony, made an excel-
lent address, which gave great satisfaction to all
present, and entered fully into the particulars of the
case. His lordship declared that he felt it a privi-
lege to take part in such proceedings, and no one
could have reached his age without noticing the
great changes that had taken place in these matters.
In support of his arguments he quoted the well
known lines—

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE EDINBURGH.

QUEENSTOWN, FEB. 2.

The Inman steamer Edinburgh, from New York
on the 21st ult., arrived here at 9.50 a.m. to-day.
She brings the mails, 211 passengers, and
$407,259 in specie.
She landed 12 passengers, and proceeded at 10

a.m.

Her news has been fully anticipated by the Nova
Scotian, which brought dispatches to the 21st after-

iOOll.

TEE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.
BUCHAREST, FEB. 1.

The Chamber has passed, by 105 against 11
votes, the bill granting to Prince Couza, alone the
power of nominating the Metropolitans and
Bishops.

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, JAN. 31.

In the Chamber of Deputies to-day, Deputy
von Poune put the following question to the
Government—" Whether, and when, the decree
of June 20, 1864, respecting the approval of prize
regulations, and the arrangements to be made in
connection with prizes, will be laid for ratifica-
tion before the Chamber ?" The question is based
upon Art 62 of the Constitution, by which the
Government can only issue legislative enactments
with the co-operation of the representatives, and
was supported by 38 members of the Progress
party.

The Minister of Justice replied that, in the
opinion of the Government, no infringement of
the rights of the representatives had taken place
by the issue of the decree. It did not affect legis-
lation, and was only a war measure, which the
Crown was privileged by the Constitution to take.
The regulation introduced no legal principles, but
only contained the rules of military international
law ; it was therefore no new law. The Minister
read a lengthy declaration in order, as he said, to
convey his meaning more clearly. The prize regu-
lations had neither changed nor suspended any
existing right. For such disadvantages as Were
inflicted upon inhabitants of the interior, redress
might be sought by the injured parties through the
courts of law. Similar prize regulations had been
enforced in Denmark and Austria. The prize-court
process was no legal measure, but dependent upon
the military tribunals.
A Catholic pastor and 414 of his parishioners
sent in a written document to the House, protesting
against: President Grabain's opening speech. The
President laid the protest upon the table, for the
inspection of the members.

LITERATURE,

Can You Forgive Her ? By Anthony Trollope.
No. XIV. Chapman and Hall.

Can we ? Well, yes—after all, there is a pros-
pect of our being able to do so. Less, however, by
reason of her evidencing any kind of improvement,
than because of the frightful character of the
punishment she has to endure. George Vavasor,
in truth, turns out to be a yet blacker villain than
we had anticipated. A more brutal, mean, des-
picable scoundrel could hardly have been depicted
by any imaginative writer. In heart he is
a murderer admiring Rush aspiring to
emulate Palmer longing to strangle his
grandfather, the mere thought of whom fills him
with loathing and detestation. The present num-
bers of this serial tale by Anthony Trollope, recounts
George's atrocious conduct, first of all towards his
bethrothed, Alice—and afterwards towards his
sister, Kate. Between the two scenes, the old
Squire breathes his last--dis-inheriting George, and
leaving the whole property to Alice's father,
John Vavasor. Immediately before the close
of _ the number, the bad hero of the story,
George, in an interview with his sister Kate,
upon the Fells, hurls her to the ground in his
fury, breaking her right arm. He has before
that, in plain words, openly threatened to be her
murderer. Mr. Grey, the good hero of the story,
has evidently reason, if he were only aware of it,
to be vigilantly upon the alert against his foe. The
subsequent chapters of the tale promise to be fraught
with excitement.

Corn-Ears and Corn-Flowers—being the Cheva-
lier de Chatelain's "Epis et Bluets " translated
into English verse by D enis Florence Al' C arthy.— ur
notice of the Chevalier de Chatelain's last volume,
a notice that appeared in these columns but a very
few days since, may yet be in the remembrance
of some of our readers. Already, the initial poem of
that collection of graceful and varied effusions, has
happily met with a rapid and most accomplished
interpretator. An English Version of Epis et
Bluets has, in other words, but just now come into
our hands, in manuscript—a version that has the
double charm of presenting to us the thoughts and
fancies of the Chevalier de Chatelain, in the lan-
guage of Mr. D. F. M'Carthy. It is a gratification
to us to be the medium of submitting to public view
the subjoined facile, yet faithful, translation of
" Epis et Bluets " :
At close of life when shadows press
Round man—the wreck time scarcely spares—
And when the sunshine of success
Deserted leaves his thin white hairs,
He thinks upon his early morn—
The harvest of his later years—
And thus amid life's mellow corn,
He picks the Poppies and the Ears.
He thinks on days when life was new—
The golden dawn of Spring's sweet prime—
When hope's resplendent plumes outflow
Tho never-resting wings of Time ;
When he with fancy's fond untruth,
The glorious gift of girls and boys,
Out-ran the slow approach of youth,
And snatched the yet untastod joys.

At twenty years, when youth is green,
Complacently he eyes his face,
And thinks that every crinoline
Enfolds a Houri or a Grace ;
But when his heart's tumultuous strife
Hath meshed him in their nets and snares,
He sighs that from the crop. of life
He plucked but Poppies and wild Tares.
• And then to fill the void life sends
When passion fails the heart to rouse,
He trusteth in perfidious friends,
Believing all their perjured vows.
Aud so to plunge in deeper glooms--
Himself the only Mentor near—
He seeks the orgies' maddening fumes,
A premature ennui to cheer.
How he regrets at life's decline
Those wasted days that flew so fast,
That fascination so malign
Whose real worth he sees at last ;
Poor flaunting Poppy—foolish flower—
So prized ere plucked—so worthless then—
Ah! were this known in earlier hour
What errors had been saved him then.

At length rings out the thirtieth year—
Illusion hence! THE TRUE invites—
Now must he make a grand career,
And scale Ambition's loftiest heights—.
Now 'gainst the rushing robes of FACT
He rubs, ho wins ! for Will is Power—
He girds his loins, he makes a pact
With hell—to say "1 have"—one hour !
But thus, in reaching the brief bliss
Of power, the sun goes down the west—
Thus oft in sinking thro' the abyss—
Night comes! and then 'tis time to rest.
Too seldom is the harvest full—
He hopes to reap the golden Ears,
And finds at last that he can cull
But Thorns and Thistles gemmed with tears!
But once, perhaps, may Fortune show
Her care of man's poor efforts here—
He sees his friends increase and grow—
ls honest—strange though it appear—
And when his fortieth year is passed,
He finds his best of life is o'er—
The competence has been amassed,
And now begins the toil for more!

Thus, like an oyster in its shell,
He dwells within a realm confined—
To him no book its tale doth tell,
His slate is dull as is his mind.
He never knew what nature meant—
His feast-days were when bills fell due ;
Sweet scents to him are cent. per cent.—
Oh ! what a life for mo and you!

But e'en this man will change, a spoil
Unsought will glad his mournful mood ;
A time will come he'll break from toil,
As in warm April bursts the bud.
He feels, his frozen breast below,
A trembling heart begins to beat,
A woman's smile has pierced the snow,
And he is at the dear one's feet !
Then nature's charms at once he sees—
He views with joy the verdurous sod—
The bright-blue sky, the green-robed trees—
Till all his soul aspires to God.
lie learns refinement, courtesy,
The way to please—that simple art—
For love's delicious poesy
Renews the freshness of his heart.

And when at length the night draws near,
He casts, unscared, a glance before,
And sees the glorious realm appear,
Wherein, when death's long sleep is o'er,
Our happy fate may be to live
Even in God's bosom : oh, may He
The frailties of our lives forgive—
The Corn but not the Poppies see.

So easy is the flow of the verse throughout the
foregoing, that few would recognise in it a mere
translation.

Le Correspondant (Charles Douniol : Paris) is
chiefly remarkable in this its first issue for the new
year, for inasmuch as it gives, in extenso, verbatim et
literatim, the whole of the Pope's famous Encyclical,
both in the Latin original and in the form of a
literal translation of it into French. Besides this im-
portant historical document, the number contains,
as usual, several able articles, particularly one by
the Count de Carn6 on " Europe and the Second
Empire."

A NEW RAM FOR THE CONFEDERATES. —The
Phare de la Loire says :—" A few days ago a large
iron ram, on the model of the Italian frigate Castelfidardo
sailing under the name of the Olinda, and bearing the Danish
flag, anchored at Houat, near Belle-Isle. She disembarked a
crew of 43 men at Quiberon, and a telegraphic despatch was
sent to the Danish Consul at Nantes to say that they were
about to arrive in that town. The Olinde received from a
steamer 30 tons of coal, the whole of which the state of the
sea would not permit her to ship. An English steam vessel
has: arrived with cannon, ammunition, and a crew, which
were immediately put on board the ram. The Olinde has
been purchased by the Confederates."
LIVERPOOL EMIGRATION RETURNS.—During the
past month there sailed from the Mersey, under the Act,
ten ships to the United States with 1,618 steerage and 152
cabin passengers, and to Victoria two ships with 317 steer-
age and nine cabin passengers—total, 12 ships and 1,935
steerage and 161 cabin passengers. Of ships not under the
Act there sailed two to the United States with 100 passen-
gers, to Victoria one with 21 passengers, to the West Indies
two with 10 passengers, and to South America six with 50
passengers—total, 11 ships and 181 passengers. InJanuary,
1864, there sailed 4,072 passengers under the Act, and 359
not under the Act. Thus there is a decrease compared
with the corresponding month of the previous year of
1,976 passengers under the Act, and of 176 not under the
Act.