The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-10 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, ITIARCH 10, 1865.

to build turret ships. But his explanation is not
quite so plausible as usual. The Admiralty, we are
told, consulted as to the best way of producing a
turret ship in the greatest pose Royalsibleha Sovereign,
they they had a very fine vessel, the
they decided on converting her into a turret ship.
But there the history, as Lord C. PAGET calls it, of
the Royal Sovereign stops, and he ingeniously
diverges into a discussion of the difficulties attend-
ing the construction of turret ships generally.
Why, if there were such haste or anxiety to test the
turret principle, was not the Royal Sovereign sent
to sea`? Why is she "soon again to be sent into
Channel to go on with her trial" instead of the
trial having been completed long ago ? Why
were the men allowed to volunteer into
the Victoria, and why are we not told the exact
number of men now on board ? and why, if the
Admiralty " are delighted at the success of the
turret principle," are not other ships being built on
the same plan ? If we can see our navy, says Lord
C. PAGET, as if " the vastness of the machinery,
the enormous armour-plating, and the labour ne-
cessary to perform these things," which he speaks
of as hopeless obstacles were not indispens-
able parts of every iron ship. All these things are
necessary for building Mr. REED'S ships, and as that
gentleman has now been allowed to make several
costly experiments, the Admiralty resources
might as well be employed in a direction
which the Admiralty officials admit to be
so important.' If the safety of the country
depended on the production of turret ships we
should find them built a little more quickly,
but so long as there is no immediate call for action
every improvement is postponed. Why, Messrs.
LAIRD of Birkenhead, or the Thames Ship-building
Company, would soon show the Government how
quickly and efficiently such ships could be built if
they were allowed to make the trial. In a country
with such enormous resources of money, of skill,
of material, it is quite preposterous for a Govern-
ment official to rise in his place in Parliament
and say such a ship would be most useful to
the country if he could see his way to getting it
built ! The turret principle may be good or may be
bad, but no one can tell its real value until it has
had a fair sea trial, and that is just what the Ad-
miralty, on one pretence or another, refuse to give
it. We all know what an official " very shortly"
means ; but we trust that hon. members will keep
the Government up to the mark, and not allow so
vital a question as the efficiency of our fleet to be
further trifled with. Admiral WALcorr, in a
brief but sensible speech, spoko a word of
warning. lie recollected, he said, that before the
Crimean war there was a little cloud gathering in
the East, but we disregarded it until the tempest
broke over our heads. The consequence was that
we lost a large number of men, and a hundred mil-
lions of money. At the present moment another
storm is gathering in the West, let us then be pre-
pared for it. If it should happily pass over our
prudence will have done us no harm ; if it should
break over our heads it will be too late to build
ships, to train men, and to order guns. No wonder
the Whigs shrink from the possibility of a war, and
proclaim loudly to the world that nothing will in-
duce England to fight, since none can know better
than themselves what inefficient guardians they have
proved of the defences of the country.

The Lord Chancellor last night laid upon the
table of the House of Lords a bill which, as he
truly observed, was one of great importance. It
has for object to abolish imprisonment for debt,
so far as it remains in operation. In many respects
it is satisfactory that this bill should have been
read a first time. _His lordship was enabled to ex-
press a most favourable opinion of the manner in
which the Act fcir the Amendment of the Law of
Bankruptcy had worked. The result of this mea-
sure has been that the Queen's Bench Prison is
closed, and in the workings of this Act it has not
been found that the bona fide creditors have suffered
as some expected they would have done. All these
things being taken into consideration, it must
appear that there is every justification for the intro-
duction of the further change which this measure
will effect ; and, indeed, it may be considered
that it is the finishing stroke put to the work before
commenced, and the completion of a much-needed
legal reform. It is absurd to continue a system
which has no object to attain, and which the general
verdict of enlightened persons condemns both in
theory and practice. The Lord Chancellor ob-
served that it was " the general opinion throughout
Europe that the old practice of imprisoning a debtor
merely on account of a debt not being paid was
neither quite just nor expedient." In explanation
of his purpose in thus bringing forward a partial
measure as it were, his lordship explained that it
would be probably some time before it would be
practicable to introduce a Bill founded upon the
Report of the Committee now sitting to inquire
into the whole of the bankrupt law. It will there-
fore be seen that the changes therefrom ensuing will
necessarily be delayed some time ; and it may be
' considered that great credit is due to the Lord
Chancellor for endeavouring to meet the require-
ments of the case, and suit the convenience of those
who will come under the operation of the Act before
the general measure can become law. It seems
singular indeed that long before this some remedial
enactment of this kind should not have been intro-
duced, but it is a melancholy reflection that those
engaged in legal pursuits think more of retaining
abuses than of rectifying them, and are always up
in arms directly any impartial observer ventures to
express an opinion contrary to their customs, while
ncisoedoesfirtehemi-rhoawtenve
jrudtgnao imenptroorvethemraetstwerst
tbhye
ythsehoexwer
of their own investigations. Lord W ESTBURY has
displayed some boldness in coming forward to de-
nounce the errors of the system of the Bankruptcy
Laws, and the evils that they work in many

The resumption of the debate on the Navy Esti
mates did not prove much more satisfactory to the
Government than the opening discussion. Lord C.
PAGET'S defence, as it may be styled, was doubtless
very convincing to the noble lord himself, and to
the rest of the Admiralty officials ; other members,
however, were not very well satisfied with the best
that could be said for our navy, and in spite of the
tone of injured innocence in which, as Sir J.
PAKINGTON justly remarked, the Secretary to the
Admiralty addressed the House, the public do not
feel very well satisfied with the result of their out-
lay of fifty-seven millions. A new antagonist ap-
peared upon the field It the person of Sir MORTON
PETO, who spoke in a courteous and moderate man-
ner,_ and who fully endorsed all that Sir JOHN
PAKINGTON had said on the previous occasion, and
said that, so far from overcolouring his picture, the
right hon. baronet might have said much more.
Sir MORTON PETO himself spoke strongly on seve-
ral points which Sir JOHN PAKINGTON had brought
up. He said very truly that the condition of our
navy had never been of more importance, and he
announced his intention of moving for a return
showing the exact state of her MAJESTY'S fleet at
the present time, and how long it would take to
send to sea the ships that were now in ordinary
when they were required to act. He had been told,
he said, though he could not vouch for the accu-
racy of the information, that it would take four
years to put engines into the vessels now lying in
Portsmouth harbour. The fact is that, after all
this immense outlay, the English navy will not bear
the criticism of our own Parliament ; how, then,
will it stand the searching test of practical service?
The members who were most severe in their stric-
tures on the Admiralty proceedings were those who
were best qualified to judge—Sir J. PAKINGTON,
Sir JOHN HAY, Admiral WALcorr and no one
can suppose that all these gentlemen would be in-
spired by prejudice or actuated by political feeling.
They belong, as it happens, to different parts of the
house, and Sir M. PETO, himself a Liberal, bore wit-
ness to the total absence of party feeling which distin-
guished Sir JOHN PAKINGTON'S speech. But when
arguments are unanswerable it is easy to take re-
fuge in virtuous indignation. Lord C. PAGET. is
ready with his assurances that the Government
have no desire to conceal anything ; they are anxious
to give the fullest possible information on every
point—.only, unfortunately, it is just the report that
is asked for that is always most inexpedient to pro-
duce. This, of course, is a misfortune, not a fault,
and it is of course a misfortune that the Royal
Sovereign after having proved, on the admission of
Lord C. PAGET himself," a great success," has dis-
appeared from active life, and that since it is
difficult to combine the advantages of great speed
and great tonnage, the ships we send to catch
slavers go on the average eight knots an hour, and
our armour-plated vessels are advised to get into
the nearest port in a storm.
ks for the cupola ships, we have some important
lations. In the first place, as we have said,
Lord C. PAGET admits the Royal Sovereign to be
a great success," though if_any one takes the
trouble to refer to former opinions of the noble lord
hn will find it more than implied that the success
was a very partial one. In answer to the universal
demand of the best judges of naval matters, Lord
C. PAGET declares that the Admiraltyis most anxious

rcv(

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING-, MARCH 10, 1865.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE ETNA.
(Via Crookhaven.)

The Inman Company's steamship Etna, from
New York, on the 25th ult., arrived in Queens-
town at 10.15 a.m. to-clay (10th inst.), with
$13,075 in specie, the mails, and 105 passengers.
She landed 17 passengers, and proceeded for
Liverpool at 10.25 a.m.
The following are the heads of the news brought
by the Etna :

NEW YORK, FEB. 25 (Noon).

Wilmington has been captured by the Federals.
General Hake is retreating northward, pursued by
General Terry.
Sherman was near Winsboro', 30 miles north of
Columbia, on the 19th inst. Beauregard is retreat-
ing before him.

Nothing is known of Sherman's subsequent move-
ments, the Southern papers being prohibited from
publishing military intelligence.

Mr. Fessenden has anticipated the payment of the
March coupons of the 10.40 bonds. Gold 1981.
NEW YORK, FEB. 25 (Morning).
The capture of Wilmington, on the morning of
the 22d inst. (Washington's birthday) was officially
announced yesterday. A large number of prisoners
were taken.

A despatch from Admiral Porter, dated the 19th
inst., gives the following particulars of the evacua-
tion of Fort Anderson.

Schofield, with 8,000 men, advanced on the 17th
from Smithville, four vessels of the fleet simulta-
neously attacking and enfilading the works. The
wind and tide prevented more vessels from partici-
pating in the engagement. Fort Anderson was
briskly quieted down.
Next morning Porter advanced the Colser and
Nantauk leading, and 15 vessels following. Heavy
fire was maintained in silencing the enemies bat-
teries by three p.m. Porter, however, continued
the fire until dark, and also through the night, an d
in the meantime Schofield was working in the rear,
but the Confederates left before he had surrounded
them, taking away five or six light guns, and every-
' thing else that was valuable. At daybreak our
troops hoisted the flag upon the ramparts, and the
Monitors ceased firing. Ten heavy guns, and a
quantity of ammunition, were found in the fort.
Our loss is three killed and five wounded.
Schofield reports on the 19th his success against
Fort Anderson, and the adjacent works on both
sides of the river, while the fleet maintained a heavy
fire upon the fort. Schofield says—" I pressed the
enemy on b-Ali sides of the river, and sent Cox 16
miles round the river to the enemy's right. Cox
proceeded along the narrow defile between the two
swamps, and completely burned the enemy's posi-
tion. The enemy discovering the movement aban-
doned the works, and retreated to Wilmington.
The guns captured are uninjured. Fifty prisoners
were taken. The loss was small on either side.
The Federal troops are pursuing, and the fleet is
ascending the river."
Fort Anderson, and the collateral works, are very
strong, and almost inaccessible, on account of the
swamps. A small force could have held the works
till the supplies were exhausted. The Confederate
shot made no impression on the Monitors, although
but a third of a mile from the Fort. The Federal
fire was well directed, preventing the Confederates
from aiming properly. The Southern face of the
fort was badly disfigured. A sham Monitor, con-
structed of canvas, was sent up the river with the
tide to explode torpedoes. It floated past the fort,
and is supposed to have hastened its evacuation,
the Confederates believing the water communica-
tion gone.

Immediately upon the evacuation of Fort Ander-
son General Hoke retreated before Terry, who,
advancing, found the works deserted, and pressed
on Wilmington. Cox lost 26 in killed and wounded.
A despatch from Gen. Cornstock says :—" Our
troops entered Wilmington on the morning of the
22d inst. After the evacuation of Fort Anderson,
Schofield directed Cox to follow the garrison
towards Wilmington, Terry following Hoke on the
east side of the river. The latter took up a new
line four
by TerryourmilesfromwalsVilumnainbgletotno send troops to the, but being closely
west side. The rebels made a stand behind Town
Creek, but on the 20th Cox crossed the troops below
them on flat boats, attacked their rear and routed
them, taking two guns and 300 prisoners. On the
21st inst. Cox pushed on to Brunswick River, oppo-
site Wilmington, where the bridges were on fire on
his arrival.

" The rebels began burning cotton and resin in
the city, and left it that night. We captured in
Fort Anderson 700 prisoners and 30 guns. Citi-
zens state that the rebels burned 1,000 bales of
cotton and 15,000 barrels of resin. The Union
feeling showed itself strongly in the city. Terry
followed Hoke northwards."
The New York papers contain no additional
details.

The Neu: York Herald thinks the fall of Wilming-
ton will ensure the safety of Sherman's advance,
and facilitate operations against Richmond. Should
Hardee and Bragg, concentrating in North Caro-
lina, be reinforced by Lee, and attempt a blow at
Sherman, Wilmington will afford an easy opportu-
nity to reinforce the latter.
_ _

The same paper further thinks it was a mistake
to suppose Wilmington was without advantage to
Lee after the loss of Fort Fisher, it being the source
of supplies, besides drawing off a strong force from
Grant. Hoke can now reinforce Lee, but Schofield
can join Grant or Sherman with his whole command.
The gunboats will be able to hold the places: With
Grant, Sherman, Schofield, and Sheridan, with
200,000 effective and enthusiastic men on one side,
and a miserably beaten and demoralised mass of
men, perhaps 60,000, on the other side, no one can
question the result.
The New York Times says the capture of Wil-
mington is now of incalculably greater importance
than ever on account of the relations with Sher-
man's advance.

The Tribune thinks daily events demonstrate
sufficiently that the rebels are not only in desperate
straits, but are aware of it ; the Confederacy is
crumbling from circumference to centre. Its rulers
gather all their force at the central point. The fact
of their gathering strength for one great blow shows
they have no hope left should they fail.
The Tribune learns from trustworthy authority
that Foote, on his way from Richmond, repeatedly
stated that the Confederate Senate, in secret sessions,
considered the cause as virtually lost three months
ago, and acknowledged that only desperate measures
were left for desperate men.

Lincoln has sent a letter to Porter, enclosing the
resolutions of the Congress thanking him and his
officers and the army for their gallantry and good
conduct in the capture of Fort Fisher.
On Sunday morning Sherman was advancing to-
wards and near Winsboro' on the railroad leading
to Charlotte, 30 miles north of Columbia. Beaure-
gard was retreating before him towards Charlotte.
Richmond papers thinks it necessary for Sher-
man's safety that he should continue to move with
his army well massed, This prevented the Confe-

derates, numerically inferior, from attacking him,
but they fell back in good order, keeping up a con-
stant and severe skirmish with Sherman's vanguard.
The Richmond TVhig of Monday says, that
Wheeler repulsed two charges at Aitken on the
10th, but was compelled to fall back, the enemy
consisting of 10,000 cavalry and 4,000 mounted in-
fantry, entering Aitken at noon.
Richmond papers say that Sherman enforces
strict discipline, and punishes all outrages on citi-
zens. He has issued a retaliation order for the mal-
treatment of Union men. It is reported that 10
more regiments have been recruited from contra-
bands who joined Sherman's army in Georgia.
The Petersburg Express says that Grant shows no
disposition to assume the offensive, and has rather
shortened than extended his line, and has withdrawn
to the works on this side of llatcher's Run.

Heavy cannonading was heard at Dutch Gap on
Monday, and an unusual activity was reported in
Lee's army. According to deserters' reports a Con-
federate attack was threatened. Hill's corps was
under marching orders. A considerable movement
took place along the Confederate lines near Peters-
burg. Grant shelled the town heavily on Monday.

The Herald states that the Confederates had
removed their artillery from the front at Peters-
burg, and surmises that Lee had concluded to
evacuate that town and Richmond, and fall back on
Lynchburg.
Cincinatti despatches say that if Lee evacuates
Richmond he will fall back on Lychburg, and march
through the mountains to East Tennessee or Ken-
tucky.

It is rumoured that the Knoxville division of Lee's
army had already appeared in East Tennessee last
week.

There was considerable excitement in Knoxville
yesterday, from a report that Longstreet was ad-
vancing on the city. A movement of the Federals
was made on Knoxville, in order, it was said, to
defeat Longstreet's plans. Other Federal move-
ments are progressing to prevent Lee's supposed
design against Tennessee. *Desertions from his
army are reported increasing.
Lincoln's son has left for the front.

NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 25th, Noon.

Gold, 1981. Exchange on London, 214 ; on
Paris, 2.53. Stocks steady—New York Centrals,
115 ; Illinois, 1191 ; Erie, 74k ; Five-twenty Bonds,
111 k. Cotton quiet—Middling Upland 83c. Flour
dull. Wheat quiet. Corn steady. Provisions and
Coffee dull. Sugar declining. Molasses quiet.
Petroleum dull—Crude, 43 ; Refined, 67.

The Southern journals announce that 500 Fede-
rals, from Newbern, passed through Greenville on
the 18th, advancing on Tarhoro. Another force
was advancing up the south side of the Neuse. It
was believed that Foster's force had moved from
Newbern to operate upon the Wilmington and
Weldon railroad.
The Federals were moving from Knoxville. It
was expected they would penetrate North Carolina,
and strike the railroad between Salisbury and Char-
lotte. The force consists of several thousand
cavalry, under Averill.

ture have reported on the bill to ratify the consti-
tutional amendment, with an amendment to submit
it to the people's vote at the next general election.
The Common Council of Jersey City have passed
a resolution declaring the constitutional amendment
as an untimely measure likely to delay the restora-
tion of peace and the union. The Wisconsin Legis-
lature have passed the constitutional amendment.
The Judiciary Committee of the Senate have
reported against the taxation of exports. Sumner's
Freed Men's Bureau Bill was defeated in the Senate,
and another Conference has been appointed on the
bill.

The House has passed a bill providing for the
prevention of military interference at elections,
also a bill declaring the wives and children of
coloured men entering the Federal service for ever
free, and declaring married such men and women
as have lived together in that character.
The Senate committee have reported an amend-
ment of the tax bill, proposing to reduce the duty
on crude petroleum from 6 to 2 cents per gallon.
The Richmond lVhig of Tuesday, in announcing
the occupation of Charleston, says there was no
cotton in the city at the time of the evacuation.
This event should, therefore, inspire cheerfulness
rather than gloom. Sherman can only be checked
by concentrating in his front all the Confederate
troops in North and South Carolina. If not de-
feated, Sherman will march up the railroad to
Charlotte, thence to Salisbury, Greensboro', Dan-
ville, and so on.

The same paper estimates Sherman's force at
30,000, with a strong cavalry force. lle did not
detach any troops at Branchville to move on Charles-
ton.

The Richmond papers infer that Sherman is con-
summating a plan to sever Lee's communications,
finally combining his forces with Grant, and compel
the evacuation of Richmond, or capture it by over-
whelming numbers. This course is pregnant with
peril, and would expose Sherman's army to absolute
destruction in case of failure, while Sherman will be
be met and checked in such a position that the
check will be defeat and destruction.

The Examiner thinks that the comprehensive
plans of the Federals for the capture of Richmond
will fail. The capital, it considers, is safe if all do
their duty, and Congress gives Lee the negroes
asked for. Richmond is in no greater danger now
than it was the last or previous spring.
The steamer Will-o'-the-Wisp has run ashore
and been destroyed at Galveston. The Confede-
derates saved a large portion of the cargo.
The steamer Wren has unsuccessfully attempted
to run out of Galveston.

The schooners Annie Sophia and Pet have been
cut out of Galveston by the Federals.
The New York Tribune looks to Lincoln's inau-
gural for indirect overtures going far to dissolve
what remains of the rebellion. It urges that assur-
ances should be expressed of magnanimity and kind
treatment for the Southern people. The nation
needs peace, not vengeance, and a return to heart-
felt loyalty, not to slaughter.

The New York Herald concludes from the tone of
the French press, and the proceedings in the British
Parliament, that neither England nor France pur-

The Governor of North Carolina has issued a
proclamation, in which he says there will be little
difference of opinion in North Carolina as to the
propriety of continued resistance. No fatal danger
threatens except depression of the spirit of the
people, and the still more dreadful risk of internal
dissension. He urges the people to lay aside party
bitterness, and be reconciled for the sake of the
country. If the South is determined to be free,
subjugation is as distant as ever.
The Newbern correspondent of the New York
Herald asserts that Mr. Raines delivered a speech
on the 20th January last, in the North Carolina
House of Commons, in which he fearlessly favoured
the restoration of the Union, and declared Secession
to be a failure.

pose intervening in American officers.
Washington despatches prove conclusively that
the cession of Sonora to France is untrue, and indi-
cate that the relations between France and the
United States will remained undisturbed. Captain
Beales was hung to-day.
It is reported that the appointment of Secretary
to the Treasury has been tendered to Mr. M'Cul-
loch, and his name will be sent to Congress in a few
days.

Preparations are completed at New Orleans for
Granger's expedition to Mobile.
General Hurlburt is expected shortly to establish
the head-quarters of the Gulf Department at Mobile.
Thirty vessels, mostly ironclads, are ready to leave
for Mobile. The evacuation of that city is reported
to have commenced in January. Most of the
cotton has been removed further north, and the
harbour fortifications abandoned. The only impe-
diments to the occupation are the torpedoes, which
are being rapidly removed.
The Guerillas in the Arkansas River are very
active, and are reported to have burned the steamer
Dane and captured an Indiana regiment.
The Confederates are rumoured to be entering
Kentucky from the direction of Mount Stirling.
The Richmond papers announce that Rhoddy has
successfully encountered the Federals in Northern
Alabama, and driven them inside their fortifications.
Lee reports that 38 of Moseby's men attacked
the Federals 120 strong killing and wounding 25.
It is reported that Hooker will shortly receive a
new command.

The Richmond Examiner confirms the removal
of Thomas's army to Virginia. The force left
under Thomas consists of mounted infantry and
cavalry. His object is to open the Alabama river
from its mouth to its source ; to capture Mobile,
Selina, Montgomery, and Columbus ; to destroy
the railroad through Central Alabama, and the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad from Corinth southward.

The proposition to arm 200,000 negroes passed
the Confederate House of Representatives on Mon-
day, but was indefinitely postponed by the Senate
on the following day by a majority of one. The
Richmond Dispatch thinks the bill will be recon-
sidered and passed.
A bill has been introduced in the Confederate
House of Representatives for the impressment of
cotton and tobacco at specie appraisement, payable
in 6 per cent. bonds.
The committee of the House has reported upon
the resolutions, expressing an unalterable deter-
mination to prosecute the war. The committee
invites a mass meeting of the people to renew the
vows of devotion to independence.
The New York Herald states that General Sin-
gleton and Judge Hughes have left for Richmond
with passes from Lincoln. The leading peace de-
mocrats think it may be another effort at peace
negociations. The Daily News asserts that their
mission is a private one.

The late victories have caused Washington's
birthday to be celebrated with unusual enthusiasm
throughout the North.

`Wendell Phillips delivered an address, speaking
in glowing terms of the Northern success, and
arguing that the negro should have all the rights
of the white man.
At a meeting of the prominent citizens of New
York a committee was appointed to arrange for a
public expression of gratitude to the naval and
military heroes, and a public celebration of the
recent victories ; and also asking Lincoln to send a
vessel to Charleston to convey General Anderson
that he may replace the Federal flag on Sumter.
A private letter from Sherman says :—" I would
not subjugate the South in the sense so offensively
assumed. All should obey the common law and
submit to the same as we do ; no better, no worse ;
our equals, not our superiors."

_ .
The Kentucky legislature has rejected the consti.
tutional amendment for the abolition of slavery.
The Judiciary Committee of the Jersey Legisla.

The subscriptions to the 7-30 loan amount to
nine millions and a half since the last report.
The payment of the interest of the 10-44 bonds
due in March will put over $3,000,000 in gold on
the market.
An order has been issued for the extradition of
the Prussian Ferdinand Voightman.