The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENT NG, MAY 19, 1862.

LiTE.RA7'UR_P.

The Divine Footsteps in _Human _History. Black-
_ _

wood and Sons.
Upon no subject, perhaps, is the mind so likely
to wander into a maze of error as that of theology ;
and on no theologic point is it more difficult to
come to satisfactory conclusions than on that of the
direct interposition of God in human affairs. Grant-
ing that the Bible is true--that it is a revelation
trom.the Creator through hi; prophets, intended
originally for the special guidance of the Jews, and
that the New Testament is the record of the pre-
sence, acts, and sufferings of incarnate God on
earth, intended for the guidance of the world at
large, we are at a loss to understand how the direct
interference of the Creator at certain later epochs
is to be satisfactorily demonstrated. The ordinary
doctrine of the interposition of Providence is simple
enough. A man meets with misfortunes, his chil-
dren die, his house is burnt, his wealth is lost on
'Change—ergo, that man was a miserable sinner,
and Providence has thought fit by these means to
" feelingly persuade" him of the fact. Or, through
neglect of sanitary laws, cholera breaks out and
decimates:a town—ergo, that town had run up a
long account of sin, which Providence thus squares
in the lump. In fact, it unfortunately happens
that all (even, according to Shakspeare, devil in-
cluded) can quote Scripture for a purpose. The
slaveholder uses it to defend his "institution." The
Inquisitor broiled heretics by its sanction. Papist
denorinces Protestant through its channel, and we
need not say how often the Protestant polemic has
styled the church of his antagonist the scarlet
woman, or the improper female of Babylon. Bear-
ing all this in mind, we must be excused if we
receive with caution any assertions an author may
make as to his discovery of a clue to the interpre-
tation of certain obscure Hebrew
_prophecies. That
the eloquent rhapsodies of the Hebrew poets and
prophets had a special relation to the existing state
of their country there can be no doubt. Still, about
prophecy there is always a degree of vagueness, in-
evitable in a measure from the use made in it of
figurative language. Consider for a moment how
the meanings of Shakspeare have been distorted since
his death. Look again at Dante, into what oceans
of conjecture has he not by a few simple words often
plunged his commentators. How, then, is it to be
expected that the works of the Oriental inspired
writers, so full of tropes and types, should
escape distortion. But, indeed, what would theo-
logic writers and preachers do if they had no lati-
tude in Biblical interpretation. How often, if
forced to feed their readers and congregations with
wheat instead of chaff, would they not be gravelled
for lack of matter. Vagueness to them, like the
loosened Sackerson to Slender, is " meat and
drink." Upon merely moral matters they are
amenable to common sense, but who shall convict
them of absurdity in the application of a metaphor
or of error in adapting the measurements
of a city seen in a trance to periods of
time. We may approve or reject, have faith
or incredulity, but who is to logically demonstrate
truth or falsity in such a case. Many an eminent
man believes in the spiritual cause of knocks and
raps, and is firmly convinced that the soul of his
grandmother is at the beck and call of a medium
who clears a guinea a head by the transaction,
whilst others equally eminent regard " Spiritual-
ism" as one of the most contemptible and disgusting
forms in which quackery has ever appeared. But,
"who shall decide when doctors disagree." If we
then, individually, are unable to accept the conclu-
sions at which the author of this work arrives,
we would by no means deter others from reading
and judging for themselves. That it has been
carefully elaborated is evident. It is written in a
most serious spirit, the views propounded have been
• well weighed ere expressed, and to the right inter-
pretation of one Prophet, at least, the writer con-
' siders he has discovered the key. The portion upon
which he lays special stress is the 40th Chapter of
Ezekiel. He says—
"lt contains the first of those passages to which allusion
has been Made as corroborative of the opinion, that in some
way the progress of the Divine purpose in human history
is associated with a process of measurement. These are
the words which convey this idea :—' In the visions of God,
brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a
very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city
on the South. And he brought me thither, and, behold, a
man whose appearance was like the appearance of brass,
with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed.' "
With this reed the "man" proceeds to measure the
" building." Ezekiel says—" And he brought me
to the porch of the house, and measured each port
of the porch, five cubits on this side and five cubits
on that side; and the breadth of the gate three
cubits on this side and three cubits on that side.
The length of the porch twenty cubits and the
breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the
steps whereby they went up to it; and pillars by
the parts, one on this side and another on that side.
These measurements the author thus expounds :
"The angle or corner of 'the porch' is the year 1848, in
which political revolution prevailed among continental na-
tions, occasioning, among other things, a change of dynasty
in France, the temporary overturn of the Pope's civic
dominion, and his flight from Rome. The port five cubits'
or five years, on this side,' is the ecclesiastical disruption
in Scotland in the year 1843. The port ' five cubits' or five
years, ' on that side,' is the year 1853, the commencement
of the Turkish crisis, which gave rise to the union of
France and Britain, and to their exhibiting a united prac-
tical demonstration of the power and spirit of Christian
truth in their military and political defence and protection
of the weak and injured dominion of Turkey from the ef-
fects of its invasion by the strong and aggressive Empire of
Russia. The breadth of the gate' is connected with the
return of the Pope to Rome, the metropolis of his civic do-
minion, in the year 1850. ' The three cubits on this side'
point to the year 1847, in which a free and united Church,
voluntary in principle, was revealed in Scotland, being three
years prior. ' And the three cubits on that side' point to
the year 1853, as in the last instance." And so on.
As we have intimated before, all this may be true,
but it is open to question. But to the notice of
those interested in such matters we commend the
volume; it will afford them abundant food for specu-
lation.

Agnes of Sorrento. By Mrs. Harriet Beecher
Stowe. Smith, Elder, and Co.
Although this talc, now republished from the
Cornhill Magazine, is by no means equal to Mrs.
Stowe's American fictions, it nevertheless contains
passages of great beauty, and is marked by that libe-
ral view of Christianity which marks all her produc-
tions. Laid in the fifteenth century, the plot depicts
the religious ferment which took place in Italy at
that period in consequence of the preaching of
Savonarola, and the tale ends with the death of
that reformer through the intrigues of the infamous
Alexander the Sixth. A very fair general view of
the characteristics of that time, as gleaned from
cotemporary chronicles, is given, but the characters
are hazy. They have more of the distinctness of
form or individuality of marking which is seen in
figures drawn from life. They are shadowy and
unsubstantial, and we should hope that this would
be Mrs. Stowe's last experiment in this kind of
fiction. The landscape studies, however, are admi-
rable. Whenever the authoress paints from Nature
she never fails to please. The descriptions of
Italian scenery will alone make the 'book worth
reading, and on this feature in it we can bestow our
hearty commendation.

Pilgrims of Fashion. A Novel. By K. C,

Trnbner and Co.

We are unable to discover any connection be-
tween the title of this tale and the subject. Plot
there is none, but we are given instead the history
of three generations, extending over a period of
some eighty years. As there is no plot, so there is,
properly speaking, no hero or heroine ; events and
actors succeed each other without necessary connec-
tion or purpose; they excite in us but little interest,
and we find no indications of artistic construction.
The following extract will give a sufficient idea of
the style :
Jane, the still lovely Jane, had become a mother for the
first time, and Albert was blessed with a son and heir.
This was an event which gladdened the father, and led
him to think more of home, and his domestic affairs, than
of either The Undiscovered _lsle or The Generation upon
which and about whose concerns he had previously been
so profoundly engaged. There was something tangible
about the existence of a baby which there was net in either
that of his poem or the prose fiction, and which demanded
priority of consideration. The creations of his brain were,
therefore, cast into the shade for the hour by this partner.
ship creation in matrimony, and he turned from the black-
letter child of his fancy, to contemplate the small pink one,
which his wife had just presented to himself and the world.
Albert walked into the presence of the young mother with
all the composure; of a stoic, and all the humanity and af-
fection of a father, for the first time, after the great event of
the day, a short time subsequent to the occurrence.
lie caaght a front view of the infant, in the arms of its
nurse, as he entered the apartment, and involuntarily uttered
within himself a soliloquy upon the frailty and helplessness
of man.

" Dear me ! how very small it is 1" were his first words,
critical, of its appearance.
It's a very fine child, sir," said the nurse.
"Ahl" he continued " and what exceedingly fine hair
it has," alluding to the delicate silky fibre that thinly
cl auspices
covered a very small head, the general pinkiness of which
it was insufficient to conceal. This child was baptised
under the name of Edwin and its little body, under the
a agreerefun tree. of its raotLer, grew up and flourished like

Hunted to Death
; or, Life in Twolremispheres.
By W. Stephens Hayward. Shilling Volume
Library. Ward and Leek.
The hero of this halo is a sort of oducatod ROWdY,

or Navvy, in high life. Hard. drinking, fighting
with blacklegs, and flirting with every pretty girl
he meets, are the accomplishments which are sup •
posed to entitle him to ou? favour. A ruffianly
Don Juan the punishment awarded him at the end
is far too lenient. He should have been hanged
instead of married. We first meet him on board an
Atlantic steamer, when he makes love to two young
ladies—Madeline and Coraiic—becomes engaged
to the former, but marries the latter. She is killed,
however, by a card sharper, lamed Leroux, in mis-
take for her husband, who yaws revenge in this
" tall language
":
"Dead—murdered—l cannot recall your life, Coralie,
but—" and he raised his right hand, while with his left he
still held hers—" you shall be fearfully avenged. Hear
me, Heaven, while I swear in the awful presence of the
dead never to rest until I have slain the slayer. Let the
winds roar, and the seas roll between us—let the tall
mountains rear their crests between the murderer and me,
the avenger of blood in vain. Let wild beasts prowl,
venomous reptiles bite and sting, still, spite of ele-
mental rage, the roar of battle, the breath of
pestilence, the gaunt hand of famine, end the wild
beasts' fury, he shall live to meet his death at my hands.
My knee shall be on his chest ; try hand at his throat when
his last hour arrives. No wasting sickness, or wearying
wound, shall prepare his black scut for eternity. Nor, like
his victim, shall he die without knowing his slayer ; my
eye shall be on his, her name shall ring in his ears as he
feels the cold barrel of my pistol on his brow; then my
finger shall pull the trigger, his brains shall be scattered
abroad, and the dogs shall have his body and hell his
soul."

Accordingly the hunt begins. Leroux (the mur-
derer) is killed in Australia, and Captain George,
as the Rowdy is termed, returns to England, mar-
ries Madeline, and reveals himself to be heir to a
baronetcy.

Manual of Botanic Terms. By M. C. Cooke.
Hardwicke, Piccadilly.
This is a very useful little-manual, neatly got up,
profusely illustrated, and explaining clearly and
concisely all those terms which are such stumbling-
blocks in the path of the young student of botany.

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.

The Royal mail steam ship Persia, Captain E. G.
Lott, which sailed from New York on the 7th inst.,
arrived in the Mersey shortly before noon to-day.
The Persia called at Queenstown yesterday after-
noon to land mails and passengers, and a summary
of her news was telegraphed from thence.
The evacuation of Yorktown by the Confederates
and the subsequent events in that locality are best
shown by the following despatches extracted from
the New York journals :
" Washington, May 4th, 12.20 p.m.
" The following report has just been received
from Fortress Monroe

" Yorktown was evacuated last night. Oar troops
now occupy the enemy's works. The enemy left a
large amount of camp equipage and guns, which
they could not destroy for fear of being seen.
"E. S. SANDFORD, Military Supervisor."
' Head-quartere, Army of Potomac, May 4, 9 a.m.
" TO THE HON. E. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR.

"We have the ramparts. We have guns, ammu-
nition, camp equipage, &c. We hold the entire line
of his works, which the engineers report as being
very strong. I have thrown all my cavalry and
horse artillery in pursuit, supported by infantry. I
move Franklin's division, and as much more as I
can transport by water up to West Point to-day.
No time shall be lost. The gun boats have gone
up York River. I omitted to state that Gloucester
is also in our possession. I shall push the enemy
to the wall.
" G. B. M'CLELLAN, Major General."
IRON. G. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR.

~ Head-quarters, Army of the Potomac,
May 4, 11 30, a,m.

"An inspection just made shows that the rebels
abandoned in their words at Yorktown two 3-inch
rifle cannons, two 41-inch rifle cannons, 16 32-
pounders, six 42-pounders, 19 8-inch Columbiads,
four 9-inch Dahlgrens, one 10-inch Columbiad, with
carriages and implements complete, each piece sup-
plied with 76 rounds of ammunition. On the ram-
parts there are also four magazines, which have not
y' been examined. Thies does not include the guns
left at Gloucester Point, and their other works to
our left.

" G. B. M'CLELLAN, Major General."
" Head-quarters, Potomac, May 4, 7 p.m.

" Our cavalry and horse artillery came up with
the enemy's rearguard in their entrenchment about
two miles this side Williamsburg. A brisk fight
ensued. Just as my aid left Smith's division of
infantry arrived on the ground, and I presume car-
ried the works, though I have not yet heard. The
enemy's rear is strong, but I have force enough up
there to answer all purposes. We have thus far
taken 71 heavy guns ; large amount of tents and
ammunition, &c, All along the lines their works
prove to have been most formidable, and I am now
fully satisfied with the course I have pursued. The
success is brilliant, and you may rest assured that
the success will be of the greatest importance.
There shall be no delay in following up the rebels.
The rebels have been guilty of the most murderous
and barbarous conduct in placing topedoes within
the abandoned works near wells and springs, and
near flagstaffs, magazines, telegraph offices, in car-
pet bags, barrels of flour, &c.
" We have not lost very many men in this bar-
barous manner—some four or perhaps five killed,
and perhaps a dozen or so wounded. I shall make
the prisoners remove them at their own peril.
" G. B. M'CLELLAN, Major General."
THE PRESS DESPATCHES.

" Head-quarters, Army of the Potomac,
May 4, 10 a.m.

"This morning, at five o'clock, your correspon-
dent entered the enemy's works, which the rear of
their army deserted four hours before. Everything
was found to be in utter confusion, as though they
left in great haste. Between 40 and 50 pieces of
heavy artillery have been left in their works after
being spiked, together with a large amount of am-
munition, medical stores, camp equipages, tents, and
private property of their officers.
" A negro who was left in the town states that
the rebels threw a large amount of ordnance stores
into the river to prevent its falling into our hands.

" Several deserters have succeeded in running
into our lines. One of them, a very intelligent
man, originally from New York, who has been con-
nected with the rebel ordnance department ever
since the works at Yorktown have been constructed,
states that the rebels evacuated owing to the near
approach of our parallels covering the immense
siege works of our men ; that they feared the
success of the Union gun boats in the York and
their James
whichwo ld be cut off.
" The order was given to evacuate by General
Johnston on Thursday, to commence the following
morning, which was accordingly done. General
Magruder is said to have most strenuously opposed
the measure, stating that if they could not whip
the Federals here there was no other place in Vir-
ginia where they could ; ihat he swore in the pre-
sence of his men, who vociferously cheered him,
having lost complete control of himself.
" General Robert E. Lee, rebel commander in
chief, arrived at Yorktown on Wednesday, and
minutely examined the works of General M'Clellan,
when he is supposed to have recommended the
abandonment of the rebel works, deeming them
unten able.

The deserters all agree in stating that their
troops were very much demoralisedand disheartened
when the order to evacuate was made public, as
they all anticipated having an engagement at that
point. They also agree that the rebels had 100,000
men on the peninsula, together with 400 pieces of
field artillery.

"From the best information received they have
liamsburg, where it is expected they will make a
fallen back to Chickahominy
stand. Creek, beyond Wil-

" Immediately on the facts of the evacuation be-
coming known the troops were ordered under arms,
and are now in motion from the right and left
wings of the army.
and of General Stone' "A A large force under comm

man, consisting of cavalry, artillery, and infantry,
are in the advance, and will probably come up with
the rear of the enemy before night, if they remain
near Williamsburg.
"The gunboats have passed above Yorktown,and
are now shelling the shore on the way up. Follow-
ing them is a large steamer and vessels loaded with
troops, who will effect a landing—probably Gen.
Franklin's division. Magruder swore 'he was not
afraid of M'Clellan if Lee was,' and that if he could
not successfully fight him here he could nowhere.

" Only one man was left in Yorktown, and he
was a negro.

"Gen. Jackson and Col. Samuel Black were the
first to enter the enemy's main works. The only
casualty that occurred was the killing of two men
and wounding of three by the explosion of a shell
within the enemy's works.
"The works are very extensive, and show that
they were designed by scientific engineers. An
official report just made to the head-quarters shows
that the enemy left 71 guns on the works.. At
Gloucester Point the guns and ordnance stores were
also left.

" Another deserter has just come in, and reports
that Jeff. Davis came with Lee on Wednesday last,
and after a consultation with the most prominent
officers, all agreed to the evacuation except Magru-
der.

" Head-quarters, Army of the Potomac, May 4.
" It is certain that the rebels received reinforce-
ments by steamers from Richmond on Thursday
last, but did not disembark them. The soldiers are
badly demoralised, and there aro evident symptoms
of mutiny on account of the retreat.
" Inside of the fortifications and along the Will-

liamsburg road, on which they are retreating, they
have buried torpedoes and percussion shells, which
are occasionally exploding and injuring persons.
" Gen. Joseph Johnston's baggage has just been
captured.
"D. B. Lathrop, telegraph operator, has been
mortally wounded by the explosion of a torpedo.
" Another torpedo, attached to a 13-inch shell,
has just been discovered in the telegraph office.
" Head•quarters, near Williamsburg,
May 4, Evening.

" The advance of the forces under command of
Gen. Stoneman, with the view of ascertaining the
position of the enemy, reachod this place, 21. miles
from Williamsburg, about two o'clock this after-
noon, on the road from Yorktown.

" The country in most instances was laid desolate,
and but few of the houses are occupied.
" On emerging from a cover of woods we came in
view of Williamsburg and the rebel outworks. At
the time no guns were visible on the enemy's works,
but a regiment of cavalry could be seen about a
mile off approaching.
" Capt. Gibbon's reserve battery was then ordered
to the front to open on the enemy's approaching
cavalry, while a part of the 6th Cavalry were em-
ployed as skirmishers to the right and left. The
fire from the battery was very effective on the
enemy's cavalry, but did not change their course.
" About 200 yards to the right of Gibbon's bat-

tery was an earthwork, which had all the appear-
ance of being deserted, when all of a sudden our
troops were opened upon by a deadly fire
from artillery posted behind the works. At the
same time the rebel cavalry continued ad-
vancing, till they were checked by a charge made
by a portion of the Ist and 6th Cavalry, which was
done well. In more instances than one it was a
hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy; but,
strange to say, none of our men were made priso-
ners, while we captured 25 of the enemy, among
whom is Captain Frank Lee, of the 3d Florida
Infantry.
" The rebel cavalry was forced by our men to
abandon their position, but the want of infantry
prevented our men from advancing on the enemy's
works. It being evident that was useless to
attempt further operations the troops fell back about
200 yards to await the arrival of infantry.
" General Hancock's brigade soon after arrived,
but it was deemed advisable to defer further opera-
tions till to-morrow. We have information that
enemy are still on the retreat beyond Williams-
burg. The rear-guard of the enemy is very strong,
as was shown to-day.

" Head-quarters of the Army, near
Williamsburg, May 5, a.m.

"It commenced raining about two o'clock this
morning, and has continued heavily up to this time.
There is no news from Williamsburg, as it is yet too
early in the morning to hear. We will occupy
Williamsburg early this morning. From there
our course will depend upon that taken by the
enemy.

" Washington, May 6:

" Official despatches received here indicate that
the enemy are in large force, and strongly en-
trenched near Williamsburg, and that they intend to
dispute the further passage of our army. There had
been brisk fighting, in which General Hancock has
taken two redoubts, and repulsed Early's rebel
brigade by a brilliant bayonet charge.
" In this engagement Gen. Hancock's forces are
said to have killed two rebel colonels, two lieutenant
colonels, and captured one colonel and 150 prisoners.
General M'Clellan highly compliments General
Hancock's conduct.

" At the time of the sending of the dispatches our
loss was not known, but it was supposed to be con-
siderable in proportion to the extent of the engage-
ment, as the fighting was very severe.
" Advance near Williamsburg, Monday Evening,
May 5.
" To the Associated Press.

" When my dispatch was sent last evening the
indications were that our troops would occupy
Williamsburg without much opposition. The first
indication of the enemy's rearguard being rein-
forced was the fact of their pressing on our lines
about eight o'clock in the morning, showing a de-
termination to resist our advance. Sufficient rein-
forcements had arrived during the night to enable
our generals to act either on the defensive or
offensive.

" About 8 o'clock the enemy opened on our troops
posted on the left, composed of General Hooker's
division, and other troops of General Hentzelmann's
division. The action in this vicinity was very heavy
at times. The loss in killed and wounded is not
known, but supposed to be considerable on both
sides. The enemy was repulsed at all points. Gen.
Peet's brigade, stationed to the right of General
Hooker's, soon after became engaged, H ere the
firing was very heavy for about two hours, uring
which they handsomely repulsed the enemy ind naak-
ing a charge.
" Our loss here was about 30 killed and 75
wounded. A brilliant victory was achieved about
five o'clock in the afternoon by General Hancock's
brigade, assisted by Kennedy's and Wheeler's
batteries. They had been odto th right
ordered
e
if possible, to
to feel the enemy, and,
their left wing. Here they were met by General
Early's brigade, with a squadron of cavalry, who
advanced in line of battle. Our troops, who were
quickly prepared to receive them, opened a heavy
fire on them, and the enemy advanced steadily to
within 200 yards, when Gen. Hancock ordered a
charge with the bayonet, which was executed with
the greatest courage. The enemy's line broke, they
became panic stricken and fled, leaving their dead
and wounded behind.
The rebels left upwards of 80 dead and 40
wounded. We also took nearly 200 of them pri-
soners. Among the killed and wounded were the
colonel and lieut.-colonel of the sth North Carolina
Regiment, Our loss was 17 killed and about 40
wounded. Among the enemy's dead were the
bodies of lieut.-colonel and major of the 24th Vir-
ginia regiment, together with several other officers.
Their dead were buried by our troops and their
wounded cared for.

4, The conduct of Gen. Hancock and his brigade
has excited universal admiration. A standard of