The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-04 00:00:00

placed such a man of straw in a position to com-
mand credit, The Commissioners have drawn ten
or twelve thousand pounds from this bankrupt
French baker; the Honourable Mr. CADOGAN,
their friend, has drawn two or three thousand
pounds more, and all this money has come out of
° transaction
ist discreditablehepocketsof erefrodniatfiorrsst.
tQTlhat,
eewahnod admits of nol
explanation." Ex uno disce omnes, as in one
instance so in any other, It was the want of
the guiding mind—the one dominant spirit
under
fwlhBos62e
ms
iagghatc, i
eves
vu
es n
in
nu psepri
tspite
visionofadthveersexchiri-
cumstances, have been so conducted as to leave
-
obfehminandyitd(ilsitkreestshfuatl
and
dlBvsexl)atoinoluys argecroelelaebetleionins,stead

• all. Still, the result must be that dearness, not
exclusion, is the result of the blockade. The
sea, and 1,500 miles of river boundary can never
be effectually blockaded,
It is not a little curious to turn from the state of
things in the Southern capital to what a corres-
pondent of another journal describes as that of the
great conithercial capital of the North. Re says:—
" The country, meanwhile, is apparently in the
highest degree prosperous, 1 see no trace of
distress or suffering anywhere. Wages are unpre-
cedentedly high, farm-labourers having been paid
this summer in New England as much as t wo dollars
and a half a day. The two Jeading jewellers in
New York have sold, I am informed, more goods
during the past year than they ever remember to
have done; the haberdashers tell the same story.
The theatres are filled every night—the trains on
all the roads crowded." The exports from New
York are extraordinarily large. The following,
from the N ezo York limes of Monday, is in fact a
very good resume of the situation :—" The foreign
trade of the past week was unusually active, with
considerable excitement in prices on the Corn Ex-
change among the factors and export buyers. The
value of the clearances of the week is 4,444,382
dols., as against 2,807,827 dols. the week before, and
2,277,997 dole. the same week last season. The
import entries of foreign merchandise, including the
dry goods return in our last paper, amount to
4,096,749 dols., against 2,197,129 dols. same week
last year." Thus the two capitals may compare
notes in the midst of this furious war with some-
what of cheerfulness. Is it the old story of NERO
fiddling while Rome was burning ?
Another contemporary has been at pains to
hunt out from the Southern papers evidence that
all is not so triumphant and smooth in slavedom
as its friends here would have us believe. They
confess the thorough and disastrous defeat of
PRICE and VAN DORN at Corinth, and if they are
to be believed, the Federal generals practised on
them with murderous success, one of these clever
tricks by which the South has so often outgene-
raled the North ; drawing the Confederates into
an ambuscade from which they escaped only with
tremendous loss.

When we have it stated, on the best authority,
that SEVEN MILLIONS sterling per annum repre-
sents in round numbers the loss in wages sustained
by the operatives in Lancashire, we gain some fair
conception of what the distress must be among all
classes. The Central Relief Committee, which met
yesterday, report, amongst other painful facts, all
of course pointing in the same direction, that the
weekly loss of wages amounts to £136,094, the
relief they are able to distribute to £6,250 per
week, or less than five per cent. of what the men
were accustomed to earn. Or to put it in another
form, the committee can distribute about £300,000
per annum to meet a loss of £7,000,000 per annum.
Another fact mentioned in the committee's report is,
that the number of perions in twenty-four Unions
receiving parochial relief had risen to 208,723, an
excess over the corresponding week of last year of
163,065, and besides these, 143,870 persons were
aided by local committees. The number of opera-
tives in full work is reduced to 58,638. Those on
short time are increased to 119,712, and 182,401 are
thrown entirely out of employment.
The mind strains in vain to comprehend the
distress represented by these enormous totals, much
as it does 'when attempting to realise to itself the
distances represented by astronomical calculations.
As Mr. COBDEN, who spoke at the meeting of the
committee with mournful and sober eloquence, ob.
served—" There has been nothing like it in the
history of the world for its suddenness, for the
impossibility of dealing with it, or managing it in
the way of effective remedy." The loss of wages
represents but a part of the loss sus-
tained. Mr. COBDEN, who is no exaggerator,
says the loss may be taken at £10,000,000 before
next spring. The capitalists will be incurring a
loss which many persons estimate at the same
amount, and which cannot be much less on their
mills and machinery. Then the vast increase on
the rates, will, Mr. FARNALL estimates, throw one
third of the saleable property, as it were, out of
existence, leaving the rates to be levied on the re-
maining two-thirds. The shop-keeping class,
amongst whom so large a proportion of the wages
of the operatives were spent, must, in great num-
bers, follow the operatives. A poor woman was
mentioned who kept a shop, and was threatened
with distraint for a poor-rate ; she sold the Sunday
clothes of her son to pay the rate, and received a
relief ticket when she went to leave the rate, And
after all when rates and relief have done their best,
it hardly amounts to two shillings a week for each
individual. On such a scanty subsistence it seems
inevitable that, as the winter presses, sickness and
disease should not follow. Ordinarily, the poor are
very kind in relieving each others' wants, but now
all aro reduced to one dead level of want and dis-
tress.

Our readers may remember how, in his last
message to Congress, JEFFERSON DAVIS adverted
in rather angry terms to the disunion among
themselves, which boded mischief to their cause.
It appears the misunderstanding referred to was in
reference to the conscription. The doctrine of State
rights is now brought into play against the Confede-
rate Government itself. A supreme court in Georgia
has decided that the " conscript act is unconstitutional
and therefore the act itself, and all regulations and
order based upon it, are likewise void." The Judge
argues thus : " In the preamble of our Confederate
Constitution care is taken to assert and maintain
that the States are sovereign and independent.
In what sense can this be said of Georgia, if every
man of her militia can be taken from under the
control of her constitutional Commander-in-Chief
without his consent? Must he abdicate his
most important duties by permitting himself to
be disarmed of his forces, and all this, too, in
violation of his oath of office, in case he should think
them necessary for the protection of the State ?"
and concludes by demonstrating the absolute sove-
reignty of the state in regard to military levies.
Not only Georgia but Virginia herself is kicking at
the military assumptions of the Confederate Govern-
ment. Indeed the " States Rights" which they
have so often asserted, as their legal justifica-
tion for secession, seem to be now invoked by the
separate States of the New Confederacy in
thoroughly rebel style. On this point, too, there
can be no misrepresentation. The proofs are judg-
ments and written documents which cannot

Mr. COBDEN, in his speech, which, as might be
expected, was of a markedly practical character,
strongly insists on the necessity of some far wider
and more organised effort than has yet been made.
The condition of Lancashire is, he observed,
" wholly exceptional ; the state of things has no
parallel in all history. It is impossible you could
point out' to me another case in which in a limited
sphere such as we have in Lancashire, and in the
course of a few months there has been a cessation of
employment at the rate of £7,000,000 per annum
in wages." If the case is to be met by voluntary
aid there must be an appeal to the whole country,
the " General Committee" must be made a National
Committee, and information must be sent by
it to every part of the kingdom the
lords lieutenants should be invited to be-
come vice - presidents—every mayor of the
kingdom, including the Lord Mayor, should
be invited to become a member of this committee
—a committee should be organised in every
borough—representatives might be sent to the
more important places, from the national commit-
tee—and, above all, persons should come from
such places, see for themselves, and carry back their
own report; they would find how much was doing
133 the calumniated millowners themselves. Until
Parliament meets, an effort should be made to make
the national subscription not less than a million.
Short of that would be utterly insufficient for the
case; and Mr. COBDEN believed that, by an orga-
nised effort, the amount might be raised.
It may be hoped that Mr. COBDEN'S appeal will
be listened to. Nothing can be more interesting
than the way in which all classes, and even distant
colonies, are answering to the irregularly presented
appeal which has already been made—from Canada,
from India, from South America, from every place
which the tidings have reached, there has been an
outburst of the kindliest sympathy. All that now
seems ne‘eded is, that arrangements should be made
which will place at short intervals before every knot
of people, and every mass of population throughout
the Empire, what is the actual condition of the
sufferers—what is done to alleviate—what is still
wanting ? If this were done with anything like the
business tact and energy shown by the executive
of the League which repealed the Corn-laws, the
abundance of food and clothing which is certainly
in the kingdom would be distributed amongst those
who, without it, must soon become the victims of
want and disease. Not the least consideration is
that we shall preserve the population for the better
days, and revival of trade which we must yet hope
will soon return.

deceive.
Both the rival PRESIDENTS appear to have the
trouble of division in their camps. The Democrats,
who though tavourable to the war, for restoring the
Union as it was, are yet Mr. LINCOLN'S warm po-
litical opponents, will almost certainly be much
stronger in the next session of Congress than they
were in the late one, and will seriously interfere in
that case with the action of the PRESIDENT.
Though we have not yet the returns of the most im-
portant elections, no one doubts that they have
gained largely on the Republican party. if this
should be so, it seems hardly likely that they will
back the PRESIDENT as heartily as his own party.
M'CLELLAN is, however, their General, and they
will cordially sustain him. Re, though ho lets no-
thingbe
personallyinterfere with
hostile to
ithhis duty as a soldier, is known
tocarrying
on the war as
one for emancipation. Like all his party, slavery,
as it was, is his decided preference.
wherever eman-
cipation tbbienegbis very a
eeoprasettiistoreaflaicytr
New Orleans and
Portinall spßreoyaelctthse well.ne groeßsohth at
have worked steadily and
cheerfully for wages—and all the predictions of
w theiril
revenge,
murderingreng their masters, and indulging in
d haveprovedtobe, what every reason-

able man knew they were, mere outrageous libels

on the known kindiness and docility of the maligned

negro. They were fictions invented zn terrorem,
who commands
The Hon. NEAL Dow's testimony,

at Port Philip, we have twice given in The Sun,

and now Mr. J. M. M'KIM, who is conducting the
Port Royal experiment, writes thus—

" The experiment has been made under the 'host unfa-
vourable circumstances. The result of a military necessity,
it was undertaken with inadequate means, suddenly extem-
porised, and has been conducted thus far in the midst of a
raging and all-pervading civil war.

" The Port Royal blacks are of the worst grade of their
class. They are plantation slaves, the progeny of planta-

tion slaves of unmixed African descent. Gnarled and
twisted in body, uncouth in form and feature, they show

in their persons the effects of a century's degradation.

And yet these life-long chattel slaves, dehumanized
in law, and degraded, in fact, to the extent of human 'Amer,
when suddenly transformed into free labourers, go to work,

and continue to work peacefully, happily, and industriously.
"The transition is as easy as it is sudden. There is no
jar. The problem is solved. The difficulties vanish. The
expediency of emancipation is proved. It is proved under
our own eyes, on our own soil, and in that portion of it

where it seemed most improbable. This nation can, when-

A el

nat em p o
seriesr a
or yf
letters
published
from a this
Southern
morning the
first O;
corre-
spondent, who is henceforth to furnish authentic
intelligence from that land of mystery. He dates
this time from Richmond, and all of novelty that
his letter contains, is furnished by
his account of
the civil and social state of things there. We knew
before all ho has told us of military
matters—the
battle of Antietam included ; and a Southern paper
had informed us of the stratagem by which a dread-
ful slaughter was inflicted on the small force which
first, after the battle, ventured to cross the Poto
mac. We knew, also, how thoroughgoing was the
hatred and contempt of the South for the North.
Indeed, all accounts show that the North is much
more tolerant and forbearing in its feeling towards
the South, than the South towards the North.
What we hardly did expect to hear was, that Rich-
mond could be in such a co:nparatively merry state.
Crowded hotels, abundance of luxuries, everything,
in fact, we are told, but ice, in plenty. Rather
dear, to be sure, they must be. Board and lodging
at the hotels costs five dollars a day, although, if
the dollars be, what we may presume they are,
Paper dollars, this may not bt) so extravagant, after

ever it chooses, change its system of slave labour for that of
free labour without any shock to the social or political

fabric."

On such facts as these we have but one observa-
tion to make. If the slaveholders of the South are

determined to maintain their accursed aristocracy

of skin, at the cost of enslaving 4,000,000 of their

fellow-men—if they are so determined to do it, as

to be ruined in the attempt—and that, when eman-
cipation is so easy and safe—if they thus prefer
slaveholding to life and to property—then let not

England, let not Christendom pity such fiend-
like tyranny if it should prove its own grave.
They could, themselves, emancipate ; on their own
heads be the consequence of leaving the work to
others.

Circumspection"
Planche

THE SUN, LONDON, TtTESDAY EVENING, NOVEAII3ER 4, 1862.

ROYA L ENGLISH OP PEA.

MR. WALLACE'S NEW OPERA.

he description by the Princess of her rescue from

the wolf by Adolph in the finale, has great vigour
and reality. The opening air of the second act was
also a great success ; the playful ballad, " I'm a
Model Page," which was excellently sung by
Mde. Laura Baxter, and in the medium it afforded
for her superb tones and arch expression,

serving to demonstrate the value of her accession
to the company. This was also a loud encore.
A bacchanalian trio followed, which obtained a
a like distinction ; and then ensued the gem of the
opera, the scena of the Princess, " No, 'tis not vision
merely," which, alike in the plaintive beauty of its
opening movement, and the genuine spirit of its
allegro, made a deep and deserved impression, and
won its share in the honours of the night. Miss
Pyne was never heard to more advantage than in
this effort, every phase of which she interpreted
with the most consummate taste and feeling. The
ensemble of the ensuing duet is also very pleasing ;
_ _

and the finale of this act—which introduces-a
choral part-song that is very agreeably writ-
ten, but is entirely out of place was
distinguished by no little dramatic spirit
in the consternation of the Burgomaster on en-

countering the Princess. In the ia act Adolph is

E'urnished—with another effective ballad, " These

withered flowers," which was sung so well by Mr.

Perren as to procure him again the honour of a re-
demand, and is followed by a sestett, which is ex-
cellent in every sense, being as full of dramatic
spirit as of gracefulness and skill. A third ballad
by Adolph ensues, which has a very charming me•
lody—" Night, love, is creeping"—and which, done
every justice to by Mr. Perren, won him the honour

of a third encore. The finale of the opera was not
particularly distinguished, save by the rondo at its
close, which afforded Miss Pyne—a medium for one
of her most brilliant and perfect instances of voca-
lisation.

The execution of this opera as we have partly
indicated was admirable in the extreme. Though
it afforded but little scope for the dramatic capacity
of Miss Pyne—in the faint distinctions it presented

of the princess and her rival—the room afforded

hbr she filled with all her usual skill and feeling,
and in the music assigned her especially she amply
maintained her acknowledged eminence as the first

of English sopranos. Madame Laura Baxtor,
though new to the stage, and somewhat

hampered therefore by a character which

required no slight vivacity, gave every promise of

soon ripening into the needed ease and emphasis.
Mr. Harrison, who plays a roue Marquess at the

Court, is furnished with even less opportunity
for effort, whether in his music or his

positions—his one song—" Patience, Prudence,

—excellently written by Mr.
in description of Court policy,
receiving by no means au adequate support by Mr.
Wallace. All that it was possible, however, to do
with his materials, Mr. Harrison accomplished with
his usual ease and pleaantry. Mr. Weiss, who
was allotted music that seemed intended for

a baritone, sung with great taste and feeling.
Mr. G. Perren, however, unadequate to the dra-
matic needs of the lover—in the music, as we have
already shown, was one of the features of the
night, whilst the various and clever Mr Corn,
in his capital pitture of the Burgomaster, sung

Mr. Wallace achieved last evening another un-
questionable success in his new opera called Love's
Triumph,- Oiltia met with the warmest reception
ik-;;•sible, and was honoured ,rith numerous en-
cores. As far as a first night can be ea/led A cri-
terion nothing certainly could be more decisive.
Nevertheless; while we readily admit that its recep-
tion was for the most part justified by the able and
graceful character of its writing, and its consider-
able Melodiousness, we are bound to state that its
merits are not of an order to place it on a level
with such a work as Maritana," or even ue " Lttr-
line." We think this is chiefly owing to the sub-
ject. Mr. Wallace in the present inetance has
been tempted to abandon his old arena of romance
and enter the less ideal but more spirited field
of comedy. He has quitted the illustration of ad-
venturous and legendary life; as exhibited in Spanish
streets or in the sides of German hills and rivers,
for the calmer excitement and graceful perplexities
of the Court of the Regent Orleans. Mr. Planche,
who has furnished his libretto, has adapted it from
a little comedy produced some twenty years ago at
the Theatre Francaise, in Paris, and we have not
the least doubt with considerable improvement on
the original. Now, we think this was a mistake.
The genius of Mr. Wallace is not adapted to comic
opera. He is not merely deficient in humour—the
great distinction of Mr. Balfe—but even in its as-
sociate, that positive exuberant gaiety which can be
made so largely to supply its place. He wants, in
fact, the comic sympathy which is equally essential
to interpret character and to sustain or heighten
situation. His distinction is his sensibility, which
extends at times even to passion, and his airy and
graceful imagination, which can frame his
emotion in so much beauty the whole
resting on a basis of thorough musical
accomplishment, which provides him with
the utmost resource for the exhibition of either
quality. Romantic and pathetic subjects are his true
source of inspiration, and not the dilemmas and
perplexities which belong to comic opera. But a
further difficulty has been imposed on him by the
story of the piece itself. This turns entirely upon
an extraordinary resemblance between a young
Dutch girl and a Princess, which attracts the lover
of the former into the service of the latter, in which
capacity being enabled to save the life of the Royal
Lady—his bravery as well as devotion—awaken the
latter's regard in return, till the presence of her
rival, who comes to Court to be united to a dissolute
noble, reveals the true feeling of her preserver, and
her own hallucination.
Now such a subject is not to be called in the
truest sense dramatic, because it presents to the
sympathies two persons instead of one—whose
claims are so nearly balanced that they neutralize
each other. Nor is the difficulty at all got
over by Mr. Planches expedient, of assigning
their representation to one and the same per-
son—a melodramatic resource which, as he states,
had never before been employed in opera.
This expedient if it explains the mistake, and
thereby supports the illusion, tends in no way to
sustain the interest, since it is made to divert the
attention in the latter scenes from the essential
distinctions of the two women to their mere per-
sonal identity—Theresa and the Princess alter-
nately passing in and out in the same apartment,
and bewildering their beholders with their extra-
ordinary resemblance. Now as it it is not the
likeness of the rivals but the claims 'of either to be
made happy, that constitutes the true excitement of
the audience and therefore of the composer—all
these transitions and bewilderments amount to a
mere trick, which engages the senses of an audience
but certainly not their sympathies.
All these drawbacks must be considered, if we
would do justice to Mr. Wallace, and see what was
the amount of inspiration he could get out of his
materials. Wanting the only power which could
really deal with them—positive humour or buoyant
gaiety, his own peculiar and admirable qualities

could find no excitement in such a subject for their
adequate expansion. He could only bestow on it
his grace and taste, his thorough musical knowledge,
and his genuine feeling wherever permitted; and
this he has done to an extent which not only ex-
plains the opera's success, but is certain to render
it attractive for several nights to come.

With this general estimate of its merits, we must
content ourselves at present, briefly referring to
some of the more striking features of the work, and

reserving for a future period its more exact exami-
nation. It opens very happily with an overture
brilliantly written, and (with the exception of one
movement, a reminiscence of " Les Diamans de la
Couronne") which has great originality. This was
admirably played by the band, and very deservedly
encored. The first impression of the first act was the
air of Adolph, " Though all too poor the painter's art,"
which is written with great feeling, was very well
sung by Mr. G. Perren, and was very properly rede-
tnanded. In the trio that succeeds, and also the
quartette and chorus, both of which were charac-
teristic, the ensembles were very charming; and