The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-11 00:00:00

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE

SLAVE QUESTION.

The following circular, by Mr. Seward, addressed
to all the diplomatic and consular agents of the
United States, is published in the Paris papers :

"Department of State, Washington, Sept. 22, 1862.

_ .
"Gentlemen,—You will receive by the mail which will
carry you this despatch evidence which will convince you
that the aggressive movement of the rebels against the
States remaiiing faithful to the Union is arrested, and that
the forces of the Union, strengthened and reanimated, are
again ready to undertake a campaign on a vast scale. If
you consult the newspapers you will easily perceive that
the financial resources of the insurrection decline rapidly,
and that the means of raising troops have been exhausted.
"On the other side you will see that the financial situa-
tion of the country is good, and that the call for fresh troops,
without which the material force of the nation would be se-
riously crippled, is being promptly responded to.
"I have already informed our representatives abroad of
the approach of a change in the social organisation of the
rebel States. This change continues to make itself each day
more and more apparent.

" In the opinion of the President, the moment has come
to place the great fact more clearly before the people of the
rebel States, and to make them understand that if these
States persist in imposing upon the country the choice be-
tween the dissolution of this Government, at once necessary
and beneficial, and the abolition of slavery, it is the Union
and not slavery that must be maintained and saved. With
this object the President is about to publish a proclamation,
in which he announces that slavery will no longer be re-
cognised in any of the States which shall, be in rebellion on
the Ist of January next. While all the good and wise men
of all countries will recognise this measure as a just and
proper military act, intended to deliver the country from a
terrible civil war, they will recognise at the same time the
moderation and magnanimity with which the Government
proceeds in a matter so solemn and important.—l am, gen-
tleman, your obedient servant,

" WILLIAM IL SEWARD."

LITERARY AND THEA7.RICAL GOSSIP.

" Ten Years in the Uiiited States," by an Englishman,
will be published shortly by Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co.
" Ragged Life in Egypt," by Miss M. L. Whately,
daughter of the Archbishop of Dublin, is announced.
" The Prophecy," a novel by the Lady Rachel Butler,
will be published in a few days.
Miss Margaret Goodman, the author of the well-told
"Experiences of a Sister of Mercy," has a volume in the
press on " Sisterhoods in the Church of England."
A work by the late Mrs. Geldart, of Norwich, entitled,
" The Second Mother, her Trials and Joys," will appear
shortly.

A Christmas Book for Children, by Holme Lee (Miss
Parr), will be ready next month, describing "Tuflongbo's
Journey in Search of Ogres."

Mr. John R. Wise, who two years ago produced a plea-
sant book on " Shakspeare's Birthplace," has in the press
a similar work on the " New Forest," with illustrations by
Mr. W. Crane.

Mr. William Chambers, the publisher, who has recently
returned from a tour in Italy, will publish his experience
and opinions in a small volume, in the course of the present
month, entitled " Something of Italy."
Sir George Cornewall Lewis has in the press a new edi-
tion of an "Essay on the Origin and Formation of the
Romance Languages : containing an Examination of M.
Raynouard's Theory on the Relation of the Italian, Spanish,
Provencal, and French to the Latin." It will be published
by Messrs. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
Jules Janin is publishing a volume of " Contes non
estampilles," meaning tales unstamped, called thus because
he says he has no hope that they may be admitted by the
censorship to the privilege of the stamp of the railway
library.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matthews are at present starring
in Liverpool, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews are
now concluding the run of their entertainment in London,
before visiting the provinces for a brief season.—On Friday
next Mr. Phelps once more appears at the Princess's
Theatre, in the part of Sir Pertinax Macsycophant, one of
his finest and most successful impersonations, for the bene-
fit of Mr. Barnett.

Mr. Hennalin Vezin, the American tragedian, is still de-
lighting the good folks at Southampton. On Monday he
appeared as Hamlet, when his impel sonation, says the Era,
showed that he had carefully conned the instructions of the
great master, given in this particular Play ; his words and
actions were harmonious counterparts, no unseeming rant
marred his effective delivery, for where impressive intona-
tion was required, judicious control was exercised. An
unanimous call welcomed the tragedian before the curtain.
On Tuesday, "The Merchant of Venice" was produced,
Mr. Vezin appearing at Shylock. On Wednesday
" Othello" was acted, Mr. Vezin enacting lago. On Thurs-
day, Bulwer's Play of " Richelieu."

A new drama entitled " Jessie Ashton," is shortly to be
produced at the Surrey with " registered" scenery and.
effects.

THE OXFORD.—This attractive place of resort still con-
tinues crowded nightly, the success and popularity of the
Rumsey and Newcomb Minstrels, of the daring trapezeist,
Steckel, with the exceedingly strong and well-organised
opera company for which this establishment has been so
long famous, renders no essential change in the. bill neces-
sary.

CITY or LONDON.—This theatre will ee-open for the
winter season on Saturday, Oct. 18, and we are happy to
announce, as a great treat for the East-enders, that an ar-
rangement has been entered into with Mr. G. V. Brooks,
the eminent tragedian, who will go through a round of his
principal characters.

ST. JAMES'S HALL.—The concert of Welsh national
music, with band of 20 harps, and chorus of 400 voices, will
take place at St. James's Hall on Thursday evening next.
The performers on the harp will include the names of th©
most celebrated artists in London. The chorus will consist
of the members of the Vocal Association ,and the Royal
Academy of Music, under the direction of Mr. John Thomas
(Pencerdd Gwalia)., Altogether, a great musical treat may
be expected.

The new English chandeliers at the Grand Theatre and
at the Theatre Maria, at St. Petersburg, attract so muck
attention that the actors are jealous of their superior attrac-
tions. It is said that they will make a complaint to the
management, or even to the Imperial Government itself, if
the lighting-up should continue to be more attractive than
the performance.

The Vaudeville is rehearsing, " Les Tresses," by Theo-
dore de Bauville, the poet and feuilletoniste. M. de
Bauville's account of the banquet given to Victor Hugo in
a newspaper article contained no less than fifty metaphors.
Metaphorical critics form a school headed by Theophile
Gautier and Saint Victor. They already number many
pupils, all of them fanatical admirers of Victor Hugo, of
course.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AT DURHAM.—Sir W.
Atherton, the Attorney-General, appeared before his con-
stituents in the Town-hall, Durham, on Wednesday, to -
give an account of his stewardship. There was a good at-
tendance, the chair being occupied by Mr. J. Henderson.
Sir 'William, in the course of his speech, referred to the
treaty which was agreed to at the early part of last session
between this country and the United States for suppressing
the slave trade, in connection with which he took the op-
portunity of saying a good word for the Federal Govern-
ment. Ile A.fterwardg alluded fn the Lunacy Rill, the ton.ec
of which he approved, the Trade Marks Bill, the Lancashire
Relief Bill, and the Poaching Bill, the latter of which he
strongly condemned. In reference to the defences of the
country, he considered that it was wise economy to spend
the public revenue, within reasonable and necessary limits,
in putting the country into a state of preparation for war.
He reciprocated the hope of Mr. Gladstone at Newcastle
that, whenever a reform discussion should be brought for-
ward such as might precede an accomplished Reform Bill,
the devoted and exemplary conduct of the working classes
would not be forgotten. A vote of confidence in the right
hon, member brought the business of the meeting to an
end.

CAPTAIN ACKERLEY AND THE INDIAN.—At the
Marlborough Police-court yesterday Captain Ackerley came
before Mr. Knox to ask the magistrate to advance some
money from the poor box to enable Peter Basquet, the
Canadian who aceompanied him, to return to Canada. Cap-
tain Ackerley entered into a long statement of Peter Ban-
quet's claims, and the treatment the claimant had received
from the Colonial-office and the Treasury. Capt. Ackerley
produced the official replies, from which it appeared that
in one the secretary for the department asserted there
were no claims against the Government, and in the
other made an offer to send the petitioner back to Canada.
Now, the petitioner could not go back to Canada, as he was
excommunicated, and, would certainly be shot, and, further,
he (Captain Ackerley) thought the petitioner ought not to
be sent back until the Treasury had repaid him £1,600 which
he had expended in endeavouring to obtain justice for the
petitioner. The case ought to be determined at once, other-
wise it would kill both him and the applicant. Peter
Basquet said the Government had sent him some medals,
but he wanted some more substantial provision for his
services. Mr. Knox did not think his power very exten-
sive in this case, but he would look over the letters left with
him to see if anything could be done.
SCIENTIFIC JOTTINGS.-111. Em. Monnier re-
commends the following method for dying wood of a rose
colour by chemical precipitation :—A bath A is prepare&
with 80 grammes of iodide of potassium per litre of water's
and a bath B in another vessel with 25 grammes of bi-
chloride of mercury. The wood to be dyed is first'put into
the bath A, whero it is left for several hours; it is then
1
dipped into the bath B, when it assumes a beautiful ''.one
colour. The wood thus dyed is afterwards varnishr,d ; the
laths will last a long while without any nectrAity for re-
newal. M. Payen recommends the following cure for die.
eased trees and shrubs :—As soon as it perceived that the
leaves are turning yellow the earth must be dur up all
round the rout within the space of a met: e and a half from
the stem, and the roots are then wat:lred, t,-,,lee on the first"
and once , in w--
,on the following day, .
... a solution of 525
grammes of sulphate of iron, 500 o- - • ' common salt, and 525
of alum in 40 litres of wa,,ee,
'Chia treatment will instill
fresh vigour into the
restore the healt' to tteatBe which were about to be attacked.
The amal
to attract attention. xr. C. W. Vincent has
beginn.'ing
gv:in
of
oci';uoruanar:anrooatsg,ecootrfroorderetdhueobinagd
moneetsa,lsanido
ettained an 'Amalgam of chromium by introducing that of
Isodium tito a solution of chloride of chromium, and by sub-
sectir.mt distillation in a retort filled with naphtha vapour
the chromium itself is obtained in a finely divided state.
Mr. W. B. Giles also has decomposed a saturated solution
of pure protochloride of manganese by the amalgam of
...
sodium, whereby an amalgam of manganese was obtained
The mercury of the latter being driven off by the apPlintv.
tion of heat, remains a brownish-black powder, which ar
pears to be manganese.
Only seven years had elapsed since the disastroto
rebellion of '45 ; there was a „I
PePatar pretender on the con;
tinont, and many intriguers on the alert at home. Bil
setting aside this political aspect, and regarding the affair
r
in a businesslike manner, it certainly became the duty n'
the officials to examine the contents of the traveller's teaser
since not only did Cognac, Schiedam, and tobacco arr:::
there in an illicit manner, but French gloves and brocades'
Mechlin and Lille laces, and costly trimmings and Cal-s
Point found their way into Engl.nd under very curious
disguises along our eastern coasts. We know of s°
valuable pieces of ornamental china that came from
.11
Celestial Empire by way of Holland, plunged deeply
firkins of innocent butter, which passed unexera.,holit
through a Dashshire custom. house. Therefore, Iclatio
paying the slightest attention to the French ands were
remonstrances of Mr. 'Williams, the revenue ofliceristgast
I proceeding to plunge their hangers into the hod
chest, when the Hamburg merchant clapped his
~ for
on his sword, and commanded them to desis,
i,d,
therein was laid awaiting burial, at the place which she
lent e%..
appointed, the corpse of his dear wife; but this violent
or
planation, so far from giving the officials any cent their
increased satisfaction, only deepened and darkened eost
suspicions against this eccentric traveller. They w
11,aterien°
probably held the clue to some terrible case of m3lached
murder I They immediately broke into the case, Wry
,i,e,„,,
off the lid of the coffin, and the boldest hand amen_
.."„lii.
lifted the eere-cloths from the face of the embalmed Pu "!
•-otlo a inck.