The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-20 00:00:00

people of Mississippi, and in supporting the authority
of their civil governor. Governor STARKEY tele-
ar3phed to him for instructions on General SLOCU3I'S
interference with his order, and the President, in his
answer, approved of the formation of the militia com-
panies, considering the movement a proper one, and
declaring that the people must be trusted with their
own Government. General SLOCUM, at the instance
of the President, countermanded his prohibitory
order, and the cause of order and reconstruction has
gained more by this conclusion of the affair than it
would have done by the most vigorous display of
military force. Very little is said about the negroes,
excepting that at a meeting of a Democratic Conven-
tion at Albany, among the resolutions adopted was
one insisting upon the non-interference of Federal
Government with the question of negro suffrage.
Among the other resolutions passed by the Conven-
tion was one declaring the equality of States, and
urging the subordination of military to civil rule,
and another declaring that the entire resources of
the country were pledged to the payment of the
national debt. The financial difficulty will be the
next problem for American statesmen to solve
when they have succeeded in restoring something
like tranquillity to the country. This will be a
work of much anxiety and difficulty, and much will
depend upon the spirit in which it is dealt with.
The Mexican perplexity is suffered to remain in
statu quo till the meeting of Congress. President
JOHNSON annotinces his intention of reserving the
declaration of his policy until the delivery of his
Message. The New York Democratic State Con-
vention at the meeting we have referred to upheld
the MONR OE doctrine, though whether they mean
to uphold it by force of arms is not stated. Mr.
SEWARD is said to have declared his opinion that it
was neither advisable to assist JUAREZ openly nor
dignified to aid him secretly,, but no public profes-
sion of policy has been made. With reference to
the charges and counter-charges made by both
sides in reference to breaches of the courtesies and
humanities of civilised warfare, a letter has just been
addressed to a contemporary, Colonel VON BORCEE,
late Adjutant-General of the Cavalry of the Vir-
ginian Army, in which he states that he was in the
room with Gen. FITz LEE when the papers found
on Col. DAHLGREN'S body were delivered to him by
the officer who had taken them. These papers were
read, he avers, with the greatest indignation by
himself and by Gen. FITZ LEE, and half an hour
afterwards they were taken by the General himself
to President DAVIS. These papers Col. BORCKE
declares to be identical with those published by the
Confederate authorities, having been removed from
Col. DAHLGREN'S body by the officer who carried
them himself to General FITZ LEE, and by him con-
veyed direct to the PRESIDENT. The charge of
forging or altering the papers is therefore entirely
disproved, though there was never any reason to
put faith in it. The Confederate Generals have
shown themselves as incapable of a mean and dis-
honourable crime as the Federal commanders have
unhappily proved to be able and willing to exercise
any cruelty towards a conquered city.

It is always sad when the young are cast off at
the outset of their careers, and imagination conjures
up the many honours and distinctions which the
gifted might have gained, and the services which
they would have rendered to society had they been
spared till the natural completion of their course.

One of the most deplorable instances of a premature
loss of this kind took place last Sunday at Cam-
bridge in the death of Mr. PURICISS, who was
drowned while bathing in the Cam. This distin-
guished student had attained to a great point of
excellence, and had already received nearly
' all the classical honours to which he could
aspire. In all human probability he would,
as time matured his powers, and experi-

ence concentrated his efforts, have acquired a
most considerable renown, and been ranked among
the foremost scholars of his day. He was the
senior Wrangler of last year, and it is well known
that this is no easy feat to accomplish ; in this
respect it is not possible for anything but stern
application and considerable abilities to achieve a
successful result. Mr. PURKISS did not confine his
efforts to one sphere, however, but was remarkable
wherever he went for his zeal and assiduity in the
cultivation of the brilliant talents with which he was
endowed. The City of London School was the
place where he first distinguished himself,

He also

and he there gained great renown.
achieved great distinction at the University o
London, and, indeed, carried on his labours there
simultaneously with those at Cambridge. lie was
fortunate enough to win all the mathematical hon-
ours, as well as the gold medal, at the London Uni-
versity, and Lord GRANVILLE, the Chancellor,
showed his discernment by appointing him to the
Principalship of the Royal College of Naval Archi-
tecture. In this capacity he had already entered
on a career full of usefulness, and which would
eventually have been productive of great benefit to
During the short time he has been in this
position he has written some useful treatises and in-
vestigations, for which, of course, his well-trained
mind and indomitable perseverance peculiarly
qualified him.
It is indeed most deplorable to dwell upon the

society.

fact that all the • bright promise of such a career
has been for ever lost, and that, too, by a most
trivial accident in itself, although so momentous in
its consequences. Mr. P URKISS was drowned in
shallow water near the shore. He had declined to
join some companions who went out to swim, but
must have changed his mind, for on their return
they found him missing, and after a long search
discovered his body in close vicinity to land. He
had become entangled in the weeds that had ac-
cumulated.on the spot, and, the length of time
Which he had been under water rendered
his restoration impossible. It is difficult to say
when a more lamentable incident has occurred, and
when a more promising career has been so suddenly
cut off. In the case of Mr. PURKISS there was no
sudden efflorescence of genius that might be as
transient as it was transcendent, and soon exhaust
itself. On the contrary, we may believe in confi-
dence that he would have gone on and increased in
excellence,
d that time would have only added to
hishonours.
His friends have the consolation of
reflecting that he has done all, and more than all,
that might have been expected from him, and that
during his short day of trial here he has been no
unfaithful steward of his many talents, and has.
done great honour to himself and reflected the
highest credit upon the Universities where he was
trained, before hz., was so suddenly summotied to
the night in which no man can work.

Miss BURDETT COUTTS has written an account of
the terrible ravages which the cattle disease has
wrought among her herd of mulch cows, and she
has also made some suggestions which are very wise,
and might with advantage be adopted. it seems,
indeed, surprising that so little should have been
done to remedy the deficiencies and provide for the
emergencies of this affair--as :Miss GOUTS oh-
servek With great
,accuracy, there is so much need
of proper information being imparted in respect to
the nature and - treatment of the disease, its
premonitory 6i,g11/3, and tlae da.ilL,ers that- atterd
its various stages. she proposes that the Go-