The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 18, 1865.

hand is the indispensable agent. Lord OSBORNE in
his lecture illustrated his meaning with frequent

references to the trades with which the south-east of
London are most familiar, and showed his hearers
how in the construction of one of our famous iron
ships every step was worked by the hand, from its
first design by the draughtsman to the final touches
on the completed vessel, from the engineer himself
to the humblest artisan who contributed his share.
The lecturer did not, of course, overlook the oppor-
tunity of pointing a moral as to the right employ-
ment of the reason which should direct this wonder-
ful machine. " Whether they liked to be called the
hands of their fellow-countrymen or not," he told
them, " they were all, in one sense the hands of the
Great INTRAter of the World's Workshop," and were
answerable alike for the works of their hands and
for the use of the reason that guided them. They
who knew so well the uses and varieties of the
complicated machinery which they made should
look around them and bring their common sense
and experience to bear on the events and
companions of everyday life. For instance,
when they saw a fellow - workman treading
the drunkard's steps and abusing the great
faculties with which he was endowed, they need
not wait for priest or teacher to show that
man his error or to prove to him the contrast be-
tween the industry, respectability, and comfort of
the sober man and his family, and his own wretched
and degraded career. The capacities of the work-
ing men of this country are, as he told them, very
great, and even as the most lofty thoughts of the phi-
losopher and poet, the most beautiful conceptions
of the painter and the sculptor, and the practical
achievements of the man of science and of business
are all crippled and powerless without the agency of
the hand to preserve them and to give them to their
fellows, so the thinking minds and cultivated intel-
ligence of a State rest upon the sturdy working
classes as the substratum of national greatness and
wellbeing. The moral and social welfare of so im-
portant a class is not second to their physical sup-
port or to their political freedom ; and while orators
are never lacking to tell them of their rights to the
one, they are very often suffered to remain in igno-
rance or indifference about the other—only when
the teachers are forthcoming they must do their
part ; they must use the knowledge and the power
they acquire wisely and well. They want neither
sense nor prudence, nor right feeling as a class, and
the better disposed and better educated members
should strive to pull the ignorant and dissipated
up to their level, instead of suffering their evil
example to drag them down. The right use of the
hands is as important as that of the head to the
nation, as well as to the individual, and thanks are
due to those earnest and practical teachers who
thus bring forcibly home to every man's under-
standing some of those great truths which are so
often overlooked or forgotten.

The Septennial Act and the Present

Parliament.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE SAXONIA.
(Via Southampton.)

_
The Saxonia left New York on the 7th inst. She
brings 71 passengers for this port, Havre, and
Hamburg ; 44 bags of mails; $4,000 in specie for
France, and $l,BOO for Hamburg.
She spoke the English steamer Amalia, from
Liverpool, in long. 7.17, lat. 9.35, with her rudder
damaged.

The Saxonia experienced strong westerly gales
and heavy seas during her passage.
NEW YORK, JAN 7 (Morning).

General Hood reports from Corinth on the 26th
ult. that his army had recrossed the Tennessee
without material loss since the battle before Nash-
ville.

Federal accounts state that Stedman's cavalry
overtook and captured Hood's pontoon train at
Rasselville, south of the Tennessee. According to
Southern accounts, Hood, during his retreat from
Nashville, captured a Federal brigade. Forrest
captured a brigade of cavalry and 600 wagons. A
Federal gunboat was destroyed in attempting to
cross Mussel Shoals.

A despatch from General Hardee, dated Charles-
ton, 2d inst., states that the enemy was landing in
force on the South Carolina side of the Savannah
river, driving the Confederate pickets towards
Hardeville.

Richmond papers assert that Sherman's objective
point is Branchville.
• Southern despatches contain a report that the
Federals had five vessels sunk and fifteen disabled,
and lost all their horses in the gale off Wil-
mington.

Southern accounts state that the Federals lost
six gunboats and 1,000 men in ascending the
Roanoke river to attack Fort Branch and Halifax.
The remainder of the expedition retired to James-
vine.

General Beauregard reports on the 2d that the
Federal raiders had returned from the Mobile and
Ohio railroad. The damage done to the railroad
would be repaired in a few days. The Confede-
rates have occupied Owensboro, Kentucky.
Richmond papers announce the death of General
Price.

The Secretary of War has left for Fort Monroe,
Hilton Head, and Savannah, to consult with
Generals Grant, Foster, and Sherman.
The New York Tribune asserts that Blair's
peace mission to Richmond was not interfered
with or obstructed by President Lincoln, General
Grant, or any member of the Government.

The privateer Ocustee has escaped from Wil-
mington.

The steamer Julia had been captured.
The Tribune asserts that General Fremont will
be appointed United States Minister to France.
Rumours are current that another combined
attack on Wilmington will shortly be made.

General Sherman is moving in the direction of
Branchville.

The Constitutional amendment for the Abolition
of Slavery came up yesterday in the House of
Representatives on Mr. Ashley's amendment, to re-
consider the vote by which it was rejected last
session. Mr. Ashley made an able and elaborate
argument in favour of the measure, which attracted
much attention. He was followed by Messrs.
Orth, of Indiana, and Scofield, of Pennsylvania,
in carefully prepared speeches. Quite an excitement
' was created by some charges made by Mr. Scofield
in regard to the elements by which New York City
was governed. Mr. Brooks and other New York
members replied to these charges, but no argument
was made against the measure. From present in-
dications there will not be any attempt on the part
of the opposition to argue the question. It is under-
stood that the vote will be taken next Tuesday. The
result is still doubtful, though the friends of the bill
express confidence in its passage.
Money easy. Gold, 2261. Exchange on Lon-
don, 2481 ; on Paris, 2.8.1 2.1371. Stocks depressed.
New York Central, 118* ; Illinois, 127 ; Erie, 83i ;
Five-Twenty Bonds, 1081. Cotton quiet—Mid-
dling Upland, 120. Flour steady. Wheat quiet.
Corn dull. Provisions slightly firmer. Coffee
and sugar good enquiry. Molasses quiet and un-
changed. Petroleum crude, 52 ; refined, 74.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
NEW YORK, JAN. 7.

In consequence of the inclement weather military
operations before Richmond and Petersburg are
suspended. The roads are in very bad condition,
and it is not probable that any important movement
will take place in either army for some time. It
is believed that the Dutch Gap Canal will prove to
be a failure. The recent attempt to blow out the
bulkheads resulted only in solevelling the ground as
to enable the Confederate batteries to sweep the
entire length of the canal, -which cannot again be
entered by working parties until the batteries are
silenced. Guerillas are becoming numerous and
troublesome on the Potomac. It is reported that
Mosby is rapidly recovering from his wounds, and
will soon again be in the saddle. No important
military operations in the valley of the Shenandoah
are reported ; but the movements of the Confed-
rates in that region are said to be " mysterious."
Federal cavalry is scouting the London valley.
Richmond papers publish a despatch from Gen.
Hood, dated Corinth, Dec. 26, in which he states
that his army crossed the Tennessee river without
material loss since the battle in front of Nashville.
It is believed that he will re-organise his army at
Tuscaloosa or Meriden. It was rumoured in Nash-
ville that Steedman's cavalry had captured Hood's
pontoon train and 100 waggons. Forrest's com-
mand is said to be near Russellville.

Richmond papers publish a despatch dated Selma,
Alabama, Dec. 30th, admitting that Hood, while
withdrawing from before Nashville, was attacked
and defeated, but it is claimed that in the subse-
quent fighting Hood gained the advantage, whip-
ping Thomas badly on the 20th, and capturing an
entire brigade, while Forrest is claimed to have
captured a brigade of cavalry and 600 waggons.
Forrest has been made a Lieut.-General. Roddy
was about to attack Huntsville, which was occupied
by ten Federal regiments.
Savannah advices report the main body of Sher-
man's army to be in the city. Good order was
maintained by the Provost Guard. Confederate
accounts state that the Federals had landed a force
on the Carolina side of the Savannah river, and
that their advance had driven in the Confederate
pickets at Harderville, 20 miles from Savannah.
It is stated that Sherman's objective point is
Branchville, at which point the Charleston and
Savannah Railroad and the Augusta-road meet.
Deserters report that the Confederates are making
extensive preparations to hold Branchville, and that
engineers left Richmond immediately after the
capture of Savannah to fortify the position.
Confederate accounts from Wilmington state that
Porter's fleet had gone to Hampton Roads, and that
only 1,000 men were left at Moorehead. It is not
supposed that the attack on Fort Fisher will be
repeated for the present. The Wilmington papers

describe the bombardment of Fort Fisher as terrific,
nearly 10,000 shells being thrown against the fort
in five hours. General Bragg claims that, having
received sufficient reinforcements, he can hold
Wilmington against any force.
Kentucky advices state that the Confederates
under Major Walker have occupied Owensboro'.
The Federal garrison having retreated towards
Maysfield.
Confederate accounts state that the Federal forces
operating against the Mobile and Ohio Railroad,
after destroying a portion of the road, moved west-
ward.

The Richmond Sentinel of the 2d publishes de-
tails of the recent repulse of the Federal gunboats
in the Roanoke River, at Fort Branch, North
Carolina. It is stated that several of the gunboats
were blown up by torpedoes, and that among the
vessels so destroyed was the Otsego, carrying 14
11-inch guns, and manned by a crew of 300 men,
besides carrying an equal number of infantrymen
on board. Only 60 are said to have been saved
from the wreck, and the entire Federal force is
stated at 1,000 men.

The privateer Olustee made her escape from Wil-
mington the night of the 25th December, while
the fleet was engaged in the attack on Fort Fisher.
On the following day she was chased by the U.S.
gunboat Lillian, but finally turned upon her pur-
suer, and the Lillian having only two guns against
five carried by the privateer, was forced to seek
safety in flight. The Olustee pursued for some
distance, but the Lillian escaped.

In the Federal Senate Mr. Wilson, of -Massa-
chussates, presented a petition from officers of the
army and navy asking for increased compensation.
Mr. Sumner presented a petition from coloured
citizens of New York, asking for the abolition of
slavery in the United States. The Senate passed a
vote of thanks to General Sherman and his army.
In the House of Representatives the joint resolution
to abolish slavery by constitutional amendment was
debated witho.ut result.
It has been rumoured that Secretaries Seward and
Fessenden would resign, and that the former would
be succeeded by Edward Everett, and the latter by
ex-Governor Morgan, of New York.

Richmond papers continue to urge the Confede-
rate Congress to appoint General Lee commander-
in-chief of all the Confederate forces.

The Sentinel publishes a long article discussing

the military situation, and declaring that in the
event of the failure of the South to secure her inde-
pendence she will submit to a European protectorate,
or even to become again a colony.of Great Britain.

FINANCIAL.

NEW YORK, JAN. 6, p.m.

The Money Market is stringent. Government
Securities are steady. Coupon Sixes of 1881,108;
Coupon Five-twenties, 1081 ; One Year Certifi-
cates, 97. Gold opened at 227 k. The Share
Market is quiet ; Erie, 828 ; Hudson River, 113 ;
New York Central, 119 ; Reading, 116 ; Michigan
Central, 1141 ; Michigan Southern, 728 ; Chicago
and Rock Island, 1021 ; Pittsburg, Fort Wayne,
and Chicago, 100.