The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-09 00:00:00

we have quoted as being employed in the yard by
the Government, there are also a number of others
employed by private contractors in the construc-
tion of No. 11 dock (to :be capable of receiving
ships of the Warrior class) and other works. The
only part of the yard, however, which is really in-,
active in the midst of all bustle is the coaling
jetty erected by a contractor at the south end of
the yard. This work projects some 60 feet from
the dockyard into the harbour for a length of
600 feet and upwards, and its cost for the jetty
alone (saying nothing of the expensive hydraulic
machinery, not yet erected) was £15,000. Its pro-
fessed purpose was to fulfil the duties of a grand
embarkation and disembarkation stage for troops
from large transports, and to coal two such ships as
the Warrior and the Black Prince at one and the
same time. Its fulfilled duties have been that a mer-
chant transport discharging troops on one occasion
grounded at low water and proved it to be at present
totally unsuited for the purposes for which it was
constructed. It may be rendered serviceable, and
perhaps for the duties for which it was originally in-
tended, but at the present time it is useless. The
work consequent on the outfit of the ships and gun-
boats at Portsmouth is not confined to the dockyard
alone, the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard at Gos-
port and the ordnance and military store department
having also their share of the work to carry out.
The steam transport St. Andrew, Capt. Dutton,
now embarking materials of war for America at the
Royal Arsenal pier, Woolwich, has shipped 300 tons
of heavy Armstrong guns, shot and shell, 900 tons
of light stores, consisting of cases of small arms,
bales of warm clothing, accoutrements, hospital corn-
forts, and other miscellaneous articles, and 85 tons
of powder. Notwithstanding her superior cabin ac-
commodation no positive orders had been received up
to last night for the embarkation of passengers.
The hired steamship Brunette yesterday moored
off Woolwich Arsenal, and will take up the berth
of the St. Andrew to ship 500 tons of shot, shell,
and other stores for Bermuda.

The steam transport Parthenon yesterday com-
menced receiving about 500 tons of heavy cargo—
namely, shot and shell, for Jamaica.

The screw steam sloop Icarus, 11, Commander
Nowell Salmon, in Plymouth Sound, received her
powder yesterday, and waits orders.
The paddlewheel steamer Terrible, 21, 1,850 tons,
800 horse power, Capt. F. H. H. Glasse, C. 8.,
which arrived at the Nore a few days since from
the Mediterranean, is having some defects in her
machinery made good previously totowing the sail-
ing frigate Brilliant, 26, to Dundee.
Since the order from the Admiralty for the com-
pletion of the fine serew frigate Arethnsa, 51,
3,100 tons,:soo-horse power, in the steam basin at
Sheerness, the factory hands are employed until a
late hour each evening fitting her engines on board,
in order that she may be ready for commission by
an early date. Her engines are from the factory of
Messrs. Penn and Sons, Greenwich.
The Russian Government transport Giljach, Com-
mander Engvist, from Cuxhaven, December 30,
passed down Channel outside Plymouth Sound on
Monday last. She is bound to the Russian settle-
ment on the River Amoor, for the navigation of
which there are on board the materials of two steam
vessels and two lighters. The Giljach conveys also
a large quantity of wire, for the establishment of
telegraphic communication, across Siberia, between
the colony and the Imperial Government. A com-
petent staff of engineers take passage in the
transport.

The block of buildings now in course of erection
by the Government, at Sheerness, for the married
non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal
Artillery at that garrison are so far com-
pleted that they will be ready to be occupied
during the course of the ensuing summer. The
buildings have been erected in a very healthy place
and are constructed of the very best materials.
Arrangements have been made for allowing each
married soldier a separate apartment, thoroughly
ventilated and replete with every convenience for
domestic comfort.
A formidable bank of mud has accumulated in the
estuary of the Medway, near the entrance to the
great basin at Sheerness, which has been found so
seriously to interfere with the in eress and egress
of vessels or war using the basin that the 'urge
steam dredging machine used in Chatham harbour
has been ordered to proceed to Sheerness for the
purpose of removing the obstruction.

The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty
Assistant Engineers—F. C. Ford (first class), additional,
to the Indus for tho Partridge ; E. D. Dooley (first class),
to the Asia for the Pheasant; 11. It. Wills (first class), to
the Asia for the Foam.

Naval Cadet—Cecil F. Doraville (nominated).

THE AMERICAN QUESTION.

MR. TRAIN DISCOUNTING THE FUTURE—
DEFENCE OF MR. SEWARD.
We arc pleased to notice the great revulsion of
feeling in this country in favour of peace. The press
is less warlike, and the speakers in the discussion
halls, where public opinion is manufactured, more
conciliatory. Although appearances have been
against it, we are convinced that the great mass of
the English people are friendly to America, and as
anxious to shake hands with the Americans as the
Americans are to shake hands with the English and
be friendly. We warmly reciprocate the kind for-
get and forgive leader in Monday's Times.
We were pleased to see at the discussion on the
American question, in the Islington Debating Hall
on Saturday evening, that the large audience re-
peatedly applauded the speakers who favoured the
Federal Government. Mr. Train, by his recent re-
cantation, as the journals call it, on the Trent affair
seems to have entirely regained his former popu-
larity. Many of the country papers have reproduced
from the London American his speech, with highly
complimentary comments, believing, as they say,
that it foreshadows the action of the American Go-
vernment. His predictions as to the certain down-
fall of the Copper Head Conspiracy, and of the
triumphant success of the Federal Government in
preserving the Union, the Constitution, and the
laws, are likely to be soon verified by incoming ar-
rivals. He mapped out a chart in the debate alluded
' to for the rising generation of the West worthy
of consideration. The audience seemed determined
to have him take part in the debate, although he
told them he came to listen not to speak. We give
a short extract of that portion of his speech bearing
on the future :
Mr. TRAIN—Can the South subjugate the North ?
That is the way to put the American question in an
understandable way to Englishmen. (Hear.) Can
three millions of disorganised traitors overpower
twenty-five millions of united patriots ? or, in other
words, is it possible for four hundred thousand slave
owners who have succeeded in enslaving four mil-
lions of blacks, to bring again into bondage twenty
free States, and make slaves of the free citizens of
the North as they have of the white men of the
South ? Procrastination may be a thief---(laughter)
—but this time you will find him an honest man.
General Time is the best officer we have in our army
—next in rank is General Patience ! Wait a few
mails longer and England shall be satisfied that the
Americans have not disgraced their Anglo-Saxon
fathers. (Applause.) The flag already floats over
thirty-two States, and even while I speak I think I
hear booming over the ocean the sweet music of the
Union cannon playing the artillery 'requiem of
Death to Treason ! (Loud applause.) Omnipotence
is with us, there is no such word as fail. Providence
is always on the side of the strongest battalion. The
voice of the Union cannon is the voice of God. Our
camp covers three million square miles. Our army
is the army of freedom throughout the world. (Ap-
plause.) Europe wants more air, and America is
fighting for millions in this hemisphere as well as
for millions in that
" In vain, our kindred shores to part,
Are waves between us thrown,
The tide that warms a British heart
Is that which fills our own."—(Applause.)
We fight for millions of Union men in the South,
who call upon the nation's banner for support.
We fight for millions of Europeans who await peace
before emigrating. We fight for honour, education,
1 and religion—home—wife and father land—and as
an American you must pardon me if I smile at the
summary way, the last speaker proposed blotting