The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-06 00:00:00

me not improbable that Sherman may get to the
coast, though not without the loss of many men ;
but what will he do when he gets there ? Can any
one pretend that if Gen. Lee had a fleet co-opera-
ting with him on Lake Ontario, and no great army
before him in the first instance, it would not be pos-
sible for him to march with 30,000 men through the
heart of the Northern States, and, without attacking
any fortified town, to establish connexion with his
fleet ? It seems to me that Sherman's present ex-
pedition will end as unprofitably for the Federals as
would such a move as I have imagined if it were
possible for General Lee.

The only disappointment which is at this moment
felt in Richmond is in connexion with Hood's long
detention on the Tennessee river. Shut off as is the
Confederate Government from any communication
with Hood, except of the most flimsy nature, it is
impossible to know the causes which have retarded
his advance into Tennessee ; but it was hoped, and
it is still hoped, that, relieved from any solicitude
about Sherman, Hood might strike a daring blow
in Tennessee, where General Thomas is believed to
have little else than raw Federal troops to oppose
to Hood's fine army. It was understood yesterday
that General Bragg was at Augusta, General Hardee
at Savannah, General Dick Taylor at Macon, and
General Beauregard rapidly approaching the latter
place from the West.
There has been daily expectation of an attack
upon General Lee's lines before Petersburg and
Richmond, and never have I seen such an attack
more ardently desired by the Confederate army
than at present. There are indications that some
such move is contemplated by Grant, and ample
preparations have been made to receive him. Never
since the commencement of the war was more
serene confidence entertained about the safety of
this city and Petersburg, be Grant's force what it
may, than at the present moment.

DECEMBER 5.
Information has just-reached me of a conversation

held last week, in which the interlocutors were
General Grant and a gentleman who returned to
Richmond on the 2d inst. from the North, bearing

a letter of introduction to be presented en route
from Mr. Seward to General Grant. It is well

known that the gentleman in question (who is a
foreigner), is in intimate relations with the Confede-

rate Government.

He paints General Grant as a

gentleman of eminent courtesy, tranquil and dig-

nified in manner, free from the proverbial bluster
of his countrymen, and studiously conciliating in
language. General Grant commenced the conversa-
tion by extravagant laudations of President Davis
and General Lee, especially of the latter, whose equal
morally and intellectually is not, according to the

Federal General's professed opinion, to be found

among eminent military men anywhere upon earth.
He proceeded next to make the startling assertion
that Richmond is a doomed city, and that Mr.
Davis and General Lee are well aware of the fact.

He pointed out with emphasis that slowly and in-
sidiously the Federal army is constantly advancing
a step, and that never since the 14th of June, when
it crossed to the south side of the James, has it made
a quarter of a step backwards. ."The end," he
continued, " must be the fall of Richmond. How

long it will be before the end comes it is impossible
for me to say. General Lee knows the position of
my army to be impregnable on both sides of the
river, and he will attack on neither. Ido not ex-
pect the city to be suddenly evacuated, but some
day little by little my guns will get within shelling
distance of the capital, and from that hour it is
merely a question of time. It is probable that if at
this stage the resistance be obstinate and prolonged,
the whole city will be burnt to the ground. Any-