The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-05 00:00:00

Vt,16,1, •
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LoNDoN, THURSDAY, JAN. 5, 1865,

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lerr VIN BIS3IIIIK has presented to the world
another of those voluminous despatches, in the com-
position of which he is so great a proficient, and
with which he contrives to make a show of states-
manship and diplomacy, if nothing else. The pur-
port of the present one is to notify to the Middle
States that they cannot be allowed to have their
own way. , The despatch is addressed to the Am-
bassador at Munich, and doubtless is deemed to be
a very conclusive one by those who sent it, as well
as by those who have received it. Certainly, then,
Vox BIS3IARK has done his utmost, through these
transactions; to carry out his purpose, and now, at
the eleventh hour, he is determined not to fall
short of the realisation of his plans; btit on the
contrary, he has exerted himself to adlielre

Our veteran Premier has just reappeared in a
new form, and, with that singular versatility of
mind and power of adaptation to his company
which makes him so universally acceptable, he has
shown himself -to peculiar advantage in what, to
most.men, would have appeared a dull rustic enter-
tainment. Lord • PALMERSTON—whose thoughts
must be busy enough just now with the threaten-
ing aspect of America towards our Canadian pos-
sessions, with Continental Europe, to say the least
of it, in a disturbed and critical position, and with
the state of parties at home not quite what he would
wish it to be on the eve of a new session and a
general election--contrived to address the Romsey
labourers very much, in the capacity of a plain
English country gentleman, who seldom or never
troubled himself about foreign affairs, and whose
views of the much talked-of advancement of the
masses was far more practical than theoretical. In
this respect Lord PALMERSTON did good service to
the cause, which, like other causes, is very apt to
suffer from the mistaken enthusiasm of its sup-
porters. Most politicians, when called upon to
make a speech at the annual distribution of prizes of
an Agricultural Association, would have got through
their task by indulging in a few generalities on the
improvement now perceptible in the mental
that
condi-
tion of the working classes, the great things
Art,
had been done for them by the opening
Mecha-
nics' Institutes, the establishment of
Schools
of
of
the facilities given for acquiring scientific knowledge,
another platitUdes. But Lord PALMERSTON brought
the criticism of sound English sense to these fine
theories, He knew it was not really probable that
agricultural labourers should acquire much distinc-
tion as scientific scholars, or that such knowledge,
if gained, would be of much service to them in their
daily occupation: He knew, too the danger of sub-
stituting a little hurried su
pe
thorough practical knowled
- rficial learning for really
leaving he strongly recommended
and, therefore, while
theologies alone,ge,
them-to let their children learn what they did learn,
well. They must not, he said, expert too much—
they must not expect
them to compete with those
in other ranks in the- extent- and variety of their
fitudies ; but three things they coul4 lona

thoroughly, and those three would open to them
the doors of all other knowledge, should time,
talent, or industry give them the opportunity to
acquire it. Lord PALMERSTON'S idea of an ac-
quaintance with the three magic R's is very diffe-
rent from that of people generally in these hasty
superficial days, when school children can puzzle
their seniors by their replies to wonderful catechisms,
but if -called upon to put those replies in writing,
are glad to shelter their very original orthography
behind their very illegible caligraphy. To learn
reading is, in the Premier's sense, to acquire the
power of reading so easily as to find pleasure in it
in leisure moments ; to learn writing is to be able
to write so as to be easily read-4 compliment
which cannot be certainly universally paid
among the educated classes ; to learn arith-
metic is to learn how to make a ready
and easy mental calculation about a practical
matter which comes before him unexpectedly. This
is just the sort of knowledge which is most useful
and most desirable in our rustic schools, but we very
much question whether it often attains this degree
of perfection. As soon as the boy shows any apti-
tude he is hurried on to different complex studies,
which will be laid aside and forgotten as soon as he
leaves the school, while all his life reading may be
little more than a task, writing a penance to himself
and to those who have to read it, and calculation a
Matter of time and difficulty. It is the fashion
among us nowadays to be over ambitious in our
learning,- and although the working classes are
not likely to suffer from over-wrought brain and
nerves to the same degree as those above them, be-
cause their school time is so short and hurried, yet
they suffer in another way by losing the advantages
they might have gained. Lord PALMERSTON ob-
served to the Romsey labourers that their children
would necessarily have to engage early in industrial
pursuits, and, therefore, since their time of instruc-
tion must be short, it was the more important that
it was well employed. He admitted no refinements
of style, he disapproved of the artistic fashion of
thin strokes up and thick ones down, so carefully
inculcated in children's copybooks, but he said,
very sensibly, " Children should be taught to write
a large hand, to form each letter well, and never
to mind whether it looks beautiful or not.
If it answers the purpose of being easily read, that
is the thing that ought to be aimed at." If the
noble lord's suggestions were accepted by some
more ambitious teachers it would be a public benefit,
for a good proportion of business letters, to say
nothing of the ladies' pointed hands, are more per-
plexing than profitable studies. The signature espe-
cially, which each one tries to make peculiarly cha-
racteristic, is often. hopelessly perplexing to a
stranger, and all for want of being taught that
writing is meant to be read, and not to be looked
at. As for mental calculation, that is a most
valuable acquisition, and Lord PALMERSTON
gave a good illustration of the way he
should like to see it generally taught in
our industrial and commercial schools. He
was once at a school in Ireland where the boys
were asked how much Bd. a-day would be in four
years. Three boys gave the same answer—a youth
replied differently. The master said the fourth boy
was wrong, but he said that in four years there was
a leap year, and he had allowed Bd. for that. This,
as the noble lord pointed out, was really practical
instruction, because the boys would have to answer
just such questions for themselves when they grew
up. We are very glad that Lord PALMERSTON has
spoken with so much good sense on this important
question, for if the rudiments of knowledge are
once thoroughly learned everything else is possible to
a boy of talent, but if the foundation be insecure no
superstructure will be worth much.

STATE OF TRADE.

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CARDIFF, Jan.:.—The new year has commenced
upon the whole under favourable circumstances, and
there is a considerable activity evinced in every
branch of trade. The demand from the principal
foreign markets continues' good, and there is an
average quantity taken by home buyers. In another
six weeks or two months it is expected that the in-
quiry for steam will still further increase ; and if
the present quotations can be maintained with an
increased sale, both masters and men will do well.
House qualities are in demand, and there is a brisk
local inquiry. In the iron trade the makers evince
unmistakable confidence in the future, and although
orders are rather scarce at present, it is believed
that this will not long be the case. It having been
determined that the list prices should be maintained
buyers will, without doubt, give out their orders
more freely, and hence more activity will follow at
the works. The shipbuilding yards are in full em-
ploy, and there is no lack of employment at the
other local works.

DUNDEE, 3.—Since last report business has been
almost at a stand, and to-day transactions reported
are neither numerous nor extensive. A few sales of
flax and tow have been made at late rates, and
the market is firm. Fine jute is scarce and held
for a small advance ; medium is saleable at former
prices, but common is very dull. Some small lots of
yarns of the varies qualities usually spun have
changed hands at full prices, and the tendency is
rather against buyers. Little has been done in
linens, but with the termination of the holidays
more activity is looked for, and manufacturers are
firm in demanding extreme prices for all fabries.
LEICESTER, 4th.—There has not been much
doing in hosiery goods generally during the past
few days, it being yet too early in the season for
the demand for any except woollen hosiery. Busi-
ness is fiat Loughborough and Hinckley. Yarns
are firm, but not in request. Wools maintain high
rates, with a firm market.

NOTTINGHAM, 4th.—There is little or no im-
provement in the lace trade. Business during the
past few days has been dull, and no real action is
expected until the end of one month. There is
very little doing in stiff goods, and, indeed, all
heavy fabrics are not in request. The silk trade
continues flat. A better demand is expected very
soon for black laces and edgings. There is a little
doing in raechlins ; very few buyers have, however,
been in the market, and purchases are limited.
There is not much change in the hosiery trade ;
about an average amount of business is doing in
' most classes of hosiery. Yarns are without aleTa-
tion in price.

MAIZENA MANUFACTORY.—Our still too meagre
list of colonial industries has recently received an
addition, by the establishment at Yarraberg, near to —tEe
Hawthorn-bridge, of a manufactory for the produce of
starch and refined maizena. Of late years maizena has
taken the lead among the farinaceous ingredients from
which housewives prepare their table delicacies, and in the
mother country fortunes have rewarded the producers of
the article. The consumption of maizena is very large in
the colonies, and, as the raw material—lndian corn—grows
abundantly therein, and as the imported preparations are
liable to become stale, damp, and musty on the voyage,
there would appear to be facilities and encouragement for
their manufacture here.—Australian paper.

SUSPECTED MURDER.—On Sunday morning an
unmarried woman, named Letitia Robb, about 29 years of
age, was found dead, lying attt schoolhouse near Reddance,
about a mile from Dairy, near Kilmarnock. She had left
her home at Warrenhill, on Saturday afternoon, and had a
quarrel with her brother, William Robb, who had assaulted
her. On her way from Warrenhill towards Reddance she
fell in with a man named John Quin, and was seen in his
company at the schoolhouse, at 1 o'clock on New Year's-
day morning, both of them being then apparently the worse
of drink. They were seen struggling together. Nothing
further was seen of her till about four o'clock in the morn-
ing, when Quin went to Warrenhill and told the sister of
the deceased that Letitia was lying in an unconscious state
at the schoolhouse. It was quite correct; the womaiVas
dead. Information was given to the police, and Quin and
the brother of the deceased were apprehended and lodged
in' Kilmarnock Prison. On Monday they were examined,
and committed for further emuiThution.---NOl4 British
Daily Mail.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, Jan. 4.

The Montreal Ocean Company's steamship Hi-
bernian, from Portland on the 24th ult., arrived
here this afternoon.

The following are some further particulars of the
news brought by this steamer :
Nothing later had been received from Sherman
up to the afternoon of the 24th ult.

The New York Herald says Savannah is repre:-
sented to be poorly supplied with provisions, and
burdened with feeding a large surplus population,
as all sources of supply are cut off. The population,
together with refugees, number 20,000, not counting
the garrison. The probability of the surrender of
the city at an early day is thought good.
There was a report that Bragg, with 10,000 men,
was moving down from Augusta to attack Sher-
man's rear ; but (says the New York Herald), if fool-
hardy enough for this, it will only add to the list of
the damages already effected upon the rebellion by
Sherman.

The Richmond Examiner says the Government has
received official despatches, of the 19th December,
from Savannah. All was quiet at that date.

The . Charleston Courier states that it was ru•
mound there that Savannah was to capitulate or
the 17th.

The New York Times publishes a special despatch,
dated Franklin, Tennessee, 22d, which says :--

"The rebel retreat from Franklin to .the Duck
River beggars all description. Hood told his corps
commanders to get off the best way they could with
their commands.

" Tlw rebel army is now beyond Columbia. The
railroAls but little injured, and trains run to Spring
Hill. Telegraphic communication is all right in all
directions. Johnsonville was not destroyed. The
rebel loss during the campaign was 17,000 men, 51
cannon, and 18 general officers. The total Union
loss did not'exceed 7,000, with two generals slightly
wounded. Hood has placed pontoons above the
shoals on the Tennessee river, where our gunboats
cannot reach them. Hood marched on Franklin
with 40,000 men and 65 pieces of artillery. He
will have lost nearly half his men."
A Nashville telegram of the 22d says :—" Latest
accounts from the front state that Thomas's head-
quarters were at Ratherford. Hill, eight miles
below Columbia, yesterday morning. Since that
time our forces have crossed Duck River, and moved
to a point-south of Columbia. Our cavalry crossed
at Hunter's Ford, below Columbia, and dashed into
the town, the enemy meanwhile retreating without
firing a shot. The rebels are closely followed by
our cavalry. At least one-third of Hood's army
are without arms and equipments, everything im-
peding their flight having been thrown away.
Forrest effected a junction with Hood at Columbia
on Tuesday evening."
Confederate papers confess that Hood's cam-
paign in. Tennessee is very disastrous, and lament
that Johnston was displaced for Hood.
All was quiet with the army of the Potomac.
A despatch of the 21st from head-quarters says :
" Nothing of interest is transpiring ; the enemy
maintain their fire on Dutch Gap Canal. Very few
casualties occur, owing to the -precaution taken to
avoid shells. The weather is such as to prevent any.
movement. • The navigation of the Potomae is com-
pletely closed by ice."
The, Richmond papers_ contain an official despatch
from Bragg to President Davis, dated Fort Fisher
New Inlet, the 21st, which says :—" The entire fleet
of the enemy is now in sight, but cannot operate.
The weather continues bad. We are able to hold
Wilmington."

A private telegram received from New York says
that the Federal fleet reached Wilmington much
crippled by stormy weather. It was considered
doubtful if any attack would take place at present.

In reference to the Union raid into South Wes-
tern Virginia, the Washington Republican of the 23d,
evening, says that the Government has receivol
despatches announcing , that Breckenridge was flee-
ing before Generals Stoneman and Burbridge, who
were pressing his rear on both flanks. In contra-
diction of this the Richmond Examiner publishes a
report that Breckenridge has defeated Burbridge or
Stoneman, and compelled the retreat of the Fede-
rals to East Tennessee. It says that the salt-works
at Saltville are still safe, though it is believed that
the lead-works at Marion are destroyed.
Advices received -at New York state that the ex-
change of prisoners at Charleston being ended, the
bombardment of the city will immediately recom-
mence. Both branches of the Federal Congress
have adjourned to January the sth.
The news from the Army of the Potomac is not
important. Picket firing continues along the lines,
but no immediate hostilities of a more serious cha-
racter are indicated. A rumour, based upon the
statement of a deserter, has been in circulation to
the effect that Generel Lee has been wounded, and
will be unable to direct affairs for some time. 130
deserters from Grant's army are reported to have
arrived at Richmond. Mosby has been made a
Brigadier-General, and is said to be organising his
command for a movement doWn the Shenandoah to
operate against the Baltimore and Ohio Railway.
Rosser's command of Confederate cavalry is still in
the Shenandoah Valley.

Two Federal gunboats on the 15th inst. captured
in the Coon river 31 boats, which had been col-
lected by the Confederates for a raid into Chesa-
peake. In the Federal House of Representatives
the consideration of the proposed bill to terminate
the Reciprocity Treaty has been postponed until
the 6th of January.

The Hon. John F. Hale, of New Hampshire, is
prominently spoken of as a successor to Mr. Day-
ton, late U. S. Minister to Paris.

Vice-Admi-
ral of the United States Navy has been: confirmed.
The appointment of Farragut to be
Under the President he now has entire command
of all the United States naval forces.
It is said that the Committee of Ways and
Means, in the House of Rep
Fessenden's suggestion to authorise
Mr. the issue of
only currency interest bearing bondsresentativines will adoptuture.
In the Confederate Congress, the Hon. Henry S.
Foote, delivered a speech which has been exten-
sively copied from the Richmond papers by the
Northern Press, and is regarded by some journals
as indicating a speedy -downfall of the Southern
Confederacy.
Mr. Foote said—l see much ground for appre-
hension and despondency in every quarter. If the
Financial Bill is defeated in both Houses, so
admirably adjusted, so imposingly avouched,
and sustained as it is, I shall despair of our
cause. I shall regard the war as virtually
at an end, and all the generous hopes of our
patriotic countrymen as cruelly and criminally
blasted. The honourable gentleman here sup-
pose it is safe to indulge, at this perilous
moment of our history, in vain and visionary
experiments upon the currency. What is
our situation ? Let us look danger in the face
and provide for it while it is possible to do" so. Sir,
we are upon the verge of ruin. Our financial affairs
are seriously deranged.' Abroad, owing to the most
criminal mismanagement of every kind, no respect-
ful consideration has yet been accorded to us, or
seems likely to be accorded hereafter. At home a
series of legislative acts have been sanctioned, which
must be inevitably fatal to State rights and popular
freedom if not speedily modified. Congress is
rapidly abnegating all important powers, and build-
ng up an irresponsible military despotism, the like
of which has never before been seen. Other acts
are in progress here which, should they pass, must
produce popular convulsions which will put our
whole governmental system in serious jeopardy,
The policy of the House seems to be to crush. out
dissatisfaction by armed violence alone. Ten days
hence freedom of deliberation will have been effec-
tually extinguished in this body, by means which I
may not specify. The freedom of the Press will
probably come to an end about the same time, by
the operation of causes 'which I have heretofore dis-
cussed in this hall. In the midst of these alarming
occurrences, and while corruption is known to be
diffusing itself along all the channels of official in-
terceurge, whAt ig the cenditieu v our armies ? Mr,