The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-27 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE,

THIS DAY.—Morning, 3h. 30m.—Afternoon, 3h. 55m.
To-Dlottßow.-Morning, 4h. 14m.—Afternoon, 4h. 46m.

t-
: SUM

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1865.

The news of the capture of President DAVIS will
probably be heard with deep regret by all parties
in this country. Those who have watched the
Southern fortunes with interest, who have sympa-
thised in their struggle for independence, and have
admired the courage and patriotism of their leaders,
will naturally be deeply grieved that the high-
minded and statesmanlike President, who, in spite
of all risks and aggravations, governed his people
in strict accordance with constitutional law, should
have fallen into the hands of his implacable enemies.
The friends of the North, on the other hand, who
are rejoicing in the triumph of the Federals, and
anticipating the speedy reconstruction of the Union,
can hardly fail to regret that so awkward an oppor-
tunity should have been given to JOHNSON and his
advisers for the fulfilment of their threats. No
Englishman, whatever his political opinions are,
can wish to see the the Government of the United
States stained by the judicial murder of its most
distinguished adversary. Americans, carried away
by the vehement passions of the hour, and by that
political excitement to which they are always too
prone, may, indeed, become reckless enough to talk
of the gallows and the scaffold as the fit termination
for the career of a man who has reigned over
a wider territory and a largerpopulation
than
many European Kings ; and that, too,
at a time of unprecedented danger and
trial. If it be an arduous task to govern a
great nation in time of war, when the whole
machinery of Government is in good working
order, the undertaking is certainly more formid-
able in its nature when the political system has
to be established, and the difficulties and dangers
attending the internal administration of a neW
kingdom are joined to the outward changes and
perils of an old one. All these embarrassments
were met and conqueied by the resolute PRESI-
DENT of the Confederacy. As one of the most
eminent of our own statesmen has said, " JEFFER-
SON DAVIS made the South a nation." It was no
petty rebellion Of a disaffected party it Wag 110

The case of Colonel DAWKINS is one of those
unsatisfactory matters which no one seems able to
set right, and which confer no credit upon any
concerned. A great deal of discussion took place
last night, and, doubtless, it would have been better
if more pains had been taken the other night to
render that explanation which the House had a right
to require, but after the best had been made of the
affair it was but an unsatsfactory reason which was
rendered. The public are always more satisfied
when a public trial is substituted for a private in-
quiry, and if Colonel DAWKINS'S conduct justified
the extreme measure resorted to, no doubt the
decision of a court-martial would have amounted to
the same in the end, and all this confusion would have
been avoided. It is evident that the Government
committed a great mistake in their treatment of
this matter, for after pooh-poohing Mr. GRIFFITH'S
attempt to represent the case the other evening,
Lord PALMERSTON last night requested those mem-
bers who had precedence of the hon. member for
Devizes to postpone their notices till after his.
This showed that the effort to suppress the matter
would not do, and that a general feeling of dis-
satisfaction prevailed at the mystery which en-
veloped the matter, and which the ignorance and
inattention of the officials in the House of Commons
only tended to increase. Colonel DICKSON truly
stated that these " disputes were most injurious to
the service, and might result in one of those great
military slanders which were so much to be
deplored." The particulars which came out con-
cerning the disputes of Colonel DAWKINS with his
brother officers did not improve his case ; but still
that does not alter the fact that there has been mis-
managerheift. It is always a pity when any affairs
of this kind become the topic of public discussion ;
an unfavourable impression is sure to be produced,
however really just the decision of the authorities
may be. The House of Commons last night nega-
tived Mr. GRIFFITH'S motion ; but the opinion of

the public will be that more openness throughout the
affair would have answered the ends of justice, and
been productive of less irritated feelings, besides
obviating misconception and false impressions. If
the regulations of the service render it expedient to
dismiss officers by courts of private inquiry, the
sooner these rules are changed the better for the
credit of the army and the satisfaction of the com-
munity.

The feeling of the House of Commons with re-
gard to the Dockyard Extensions seems to be
entirely in favour of the works being carried out as
rapidly and as efficiently as possible. The necessity
of extending our dockyard accommodation has be-
come so evident as to impress even the Admiralty
authorities, and Mr. CORRY remarked last evening
during the discussion on the Estimates that three
years ago Lord C. PAGET ridiculed his. proposition
that a million and a half should be expended on our
dockyards, whereas the _lowest estimate for the
works now proposed by the noble lord himself was
between four and five millions. The hon. member,
however, was by no means inclined to find fault
with the extent of the works; in fact, he
only regretted that they shoUld not be more
actively pushed on, so as to put the naval arrange-
ments of the country on the most satisfactory foot-
ing in the shortest possible time. The sum to be
laid out in these works is, it seems, to be spread over
15 years, which, as Mr. CORRY justly observed, is
much too long a time. The Admiralty propose, it
is true, to push on some works faster than others,
but there is no reason why the whole of the neces-
sary changes should not be made with as much
vigour and rapidity as possible, so as to put our
dockyards without delay into a proper state. The
immense size of the modern vessels of course
demands increased accommodation, and it
is- a shortsighted and foolish economy that
would begrudge the necessary outlay. Fifteen
years is a long while, and there can be
no valid reason for so dilatory and unsatis-
factory a mode of conducting a matter of national
importance. Mr. CORRY proposes, and many com-
petent authorities share his opinion, that the money
required, instead of being taken by an annual vote,
should be borrowed on terminable annuities, as is
done to meet the expenses of the fortifications.
This plan would meet all difficulties, and would
insure the works being carried out rapidly and
efficiently. We have always too much delay and
dawdling in our public works, and it is a matter of
regret that in works so much wanted at present
there should be the same drawback. Why, for in-
stance, should the works at Cork, which are to cost
only £15,000, be spread out over six years? We
hope that the Goyernment will_ see the force of the

From the Hull Advertiser of Wednesday we with
pleasure extract the following :
Beautifully genial and replete with old reminiscences—
the touching affectionateness of which must have made a
deep impression upon the hearts of his hearers—was the
speech made by Mr. Charles Dickens at the annual dinner
of the Newspaper Press Fund, which took place at the
Freemasons' Tavern, in London, on Saturday last. In
setting forth the claims of a charity of recent origin, but
well worthy of the liberal support of pnblic men of all
parties and of all professions, Mr. Dickens very good-
naturedly said that he was not advocating the case of an
ordinary client—ho was holding a brief for his brothers.
And in the hearty fraternity of feeling which pervaded
what followed, consisted the great and peculiar charm of
the great novelist's speech. Mr. Dickens sketched—as
only himself could sketch it—his early career as a Parlia-
mentary reporter on the staff of the or Chronicle—
his nightly sufferings as one of the occupants of "the
old gallery in the old House of Commons"—his
express journeys from distant provincial towns
-whither he had been sent to report the hustings
speeches of one or other of the great Whig luminaries of
that day, in the course of which ho had been upset "in
almost every description of vehicle known in this country."
The art which Mr. Dickens practised so successfully then
has still charms for him, for he believes he could resume it
"to-morrow" were there any necessity for it. And then
there was a word or two of most kindly reminiscence of as
large a hearted man as ever breathed in the atmosphere of
a newspaper office—Mr. John Black, for many years the
editor of the Morning Chronicle. It was never our good fortune
to be able to write i sentence in shorthand or to take a note
verbatim of any speech, no matter where delivered ; but
still we have been present at many an interesting debate
in the " Old House of Commons," and have also had many
a midnight interview with John Black and his big dog in a
room full of books, piles of papers, and pamphlets, all covered
with dust, and lighted by two candles in tin candlesticks co-
vered above with green shades—thus showing that we have
some claim to commend with authority these references of
Mr. Dickens to a bygone period in the history of the news-
paper press. Mr. Black was a Scotchman, a large, un-
gainly man, utterly careless as to hi% appearance—who
might then have been found any Saturday, that being his
leisure day, rummaging one or other of the old book shops
in remote parts of London in search of old Whig pamph-
lets, and especially of De Foe's writings, of which he had
a great collection. He was the personal friend of all the
then contributors to the .4dinburgh Review, was well read
in the literature of Germany, and was one of the most in-
structive talkers and one of the most kindhearted men that
we ever met with. He was as simple, as natural, and as
communicative as the finest specimen of a schoolboy. We
also well remember in those days the interest excited by
the appearance of the first " Sketches by Boz" in
the columns of the Horning Chronicle, and some-
what later the amusing references made to
the supposed clever caricature of the now forgotten
threatened duel between the then Sir Henry Hardinge and
the late Joseph Hume, in the first number of Pickwick.
But in mentioning Mr. Black's name in connection with
newspaper express reporting in those days, we should be
most ungrateful if we omitted an affectionate mention of
the name of one who did much more than the Editor of
the Morning Chronicle to convey to every part of the
kingdom the latest intelligence.. The pioneer in that
branch of newspaper business was Murdo Young, the then
proprietor of The Sun newspaper—a gentleman of the
greatest energy and indomitable courage, but who never
succeeded in extricating himself from the difficulties in
which early newspaper embarassments involved him.
Mr. Young spared no expense in expressing early edi-
tions of The Sun to all parts of the kingdom, and in
the publication of late editions of the paper it was
not unusual with him to cause a member of Parlia-
ment to have handed to him the first part of the speech in
print which he was then in the very act of delivering. It
is little to the credit of the great Liberal party that one
who served them so long, so faithfully, and in many re-
spects so efficiently as Murdo Young should be left unpru-
Tided for in his old age. We knew him long and well ;
and we ever found him to be a man of generous and kindly
impulses—ever delighted to encourage youthful aspirants
to literary fame, and to foster budding genius in whatever
direction it exhibited itself.
Very nearly one whole year since, namely, on the
13th of June, 1864, we ourselves went out of our
way to direct especial attention to the very claim
thus earnestly commented upon (a twelvemonth
afterwards) by our Hull contemporary. Our re-
marks upon the occasion and date referred to,
namely, in that day's impression of The Sun of the
13th June, 1864, were apropos to the then recent
distribution for the current year of the Civil List
Pensions. Having expatiated upon which in our
first leading article of that date, we thus concluded
our observations :
Excellent though the present year's addition to the
Civil List is, it is still so far unsatisfactory that the sum
annually placed at the disposal of the Prime Minister
seems to us, as we have often before protested, wholly in-
adequate for the requirements pressing upon that high
official in the yearly distribution of these pensions. Who
could not add to the list the name of some well-known in-
tellectual labourer, whose honourable career, whose signal
good services in the interests of his fellow-men, are alike
passed by, year after year, suksilentto. Quo there ill to our

Last evening the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress enter-
tained at a splendid banquet, in the Egyptian Hall, her
Majesty's judges and several members of the bar, most of
whom were accompanied by their ladies. Covers were laid
for 280 guests, and among those who accepted invitations
were the Right Hon. Lord Wensleydale, the Right Hon. the
Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the Right Hon.
Vice-Chancellor Kindersley, the Hon. Vice-Chancellor
Stuart, the Hon. Vice-Chancellor Page Wood, the Hon. Mr.
Baron Bramwell, the Hon. Mr. Baron Channel], the Hon.
Mr. Justice Keating, the Hon. Mr. Justice Mellor, the Hon.
Mr. Justice Shee, Gen. Sir George Pollock, G.C.8., K. 5.1.,
Admiral Robinson, the Comptroller-General of the Navy,
Admiral Sir Edward Belcher, C. 8., the Right Hon. Spencer
Walpole, Q.C., M.P., the Right Hon. the Lord Advocate,
M.P., the Queen's Advocate-General, Sir Christopher Raw-
linson (late Chief Judge Madras), the Solicitor-General,
M.P., Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Q.C., M.P., General Lawrence,
Colonel French, M.P., Colonel Mark Wood (Coldstream
Guards), Rev. Canon Blake sley, Master of the Mercers' Com-
pany, the Prime Warden of the Fishmongers' Company,
the Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company, the
Master of the Skinners' Company, the Master of the
Ironmongers' Company, the Master of the Clothworkers'
Company, Mr. Malins, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Bliss, Q.C.,Mr.
Samuel Warren, Mr. Bovill, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Sergeant
Parry, Mr. Lush, Q.C., Mr. J. Locke, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Rod-
well, Q.C., the Hon. George Denman, Q.C., M.P., Mr.
Dugmore, Q.C., Mr. Weber, Q.C., Mr. Giffard, Q.C.,
Mr. Sergeant Gaselee, Mr. Sergeant Burke, Mr. Sergeant
Pulling, Mr. Sergeant Robinson, Mr. Manockjee Cursetjee,
Mr. Pownall, chairman Middlesex magistrates ; Mr. A. J.
Beresford Hope, Alderman Sir James Duke, M.P., Alderman
Sidney, M.P., Sir F. G. Moon, Mr. Alderman Salomons,
M.P., Mr. Alderman Finnis, Sir R. W. Carden, Aldermen
Carter, Lawrence, Phillips, Gabriel, Mechi, Lawrence
(M.P.), Gibbons, and Waterlow ; Alderman and Sheriff
Dakin ; Alderman and Sheriff Besley ; Mr. T. Chambers,
Q.C. (Common Sergeant), the Comptroller, the Remem-
brancer, the City Solicitor, the Secondary, Mr. Avory. The
following stipendiary magistrates, viz.: Messrs. Arnold,
Selfe, D'Eyncourt, Cooke, Ellison, Hon. G. Norton, Bur-
cham, Partridge, and Paget. The following members of
the bar: Messrs. Hannen, Brewer, Sleigh, Metcalfe, Wood-
roffe, Sharpe, Besley, Jos. Payne, Phillipps, Poland, Row-
den, and Burke. The following solicitors: Messrs. J.
Tatham, Wontner, C. K. Freshfield, H. Freshfield, Hard-
wick, Wainewright, Stun:ay, Futvoye, Humphreys, Val-
lance, Mackenzie, Carroll, Deputy Jones, Dean, Deputy
Farrar, Parker, Layden, Digby, Hoppe, Deputy Lloyd,
Burkett, Eagleton, R. Ellis, Deputy Gammon, and Blake.
Colonel Cooke, J. Filcher, Travers, Wire, Dr. Ramskill,
Dr. Radcliffe, Captain Porter, Denny, R. J. Chaplin, G.
Sims, Turnley, Tanner (of Exeter), Cawston, Whiteside,
M'George, Johnson, Frinneby, J. Waterlow, Nind, Fig-
gins, J. Cotterell, T. Burrowes, J. B. Humphreys, Thorn-
ton, late Mayor of Sydney, &c.
The loving cup having been sent round in accordance
with time-honoured custom, the usual loyal and patriotic

toasts were gracefully introduced by the Lord Mayor, Gen.
Sir G. Pollock responding for " The Army," Admiral Sir
E. Belcher for "The Navy," and the Hon. G. Denman,
M.P.; for " The Volunteers."
The LORD MAYOR proposed the toast of "The House of
Lords," eulogising that branch of the constitution for the
part which it had taken in managing the affairs of the
country, and connecting it with the name of Lord Wensley-
dale, who had so signally distinguished himself when one
of the judges of the land in the administration of justice.
Lord WENSLEYDALE responded. He had never willingly
been absent from those civic festivals. It was more than
half a century since ho first served the City as one of its
legal advisers. It was forty years since he had attended
as one of the judges at the Old Bailey, and his attachment
to the City had never ceased. At the end of a long period
of active service it was a great satisfaction to him to return

thanks, as a peer of the realm, for the toast so kindly given,
but he could assure those whom he addressed that in the
many positions he had occupied he endeavoured to uphold
the law, and as long as life was spared him he should con-
tinue to do so. (Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR next proposed " The Ileidth of her
Majesty's Judges." For centuries the Lord Mayor had in-
vited the judges to this hall, and on the present occasion
he was honoured by the attendance of the Chief Justice of
the Common Pleas. The law in this country was admi-
nistered for the benefit of those who had to appeal to it,
and it gave him the greatest pleasure to find so many of
her Majesty's judges around him on this occasion, espe-
cially Lord Chief Erle and Vice-Chancellor Sir Page
Wood, who in early life were identified with the City. In
connexion with the toast, he begged to associate the name
of Lord Chief Justice Erle. (Applause.)
Lord Chief Justice ERLE, in responding, said that whilst
they appieciated the honour done the public judges, they
must guard against the danger of public approval ; but he
felt it a gratification to be present once more to receive the
friendly welcome of the Lord Mayor, a repetition of that
acknowledgment of the administration of the law which
had characterised the City for centuries past. (Cheers.)
Mr. SPENCERWALPOLE, responded for the House of
Commons, expressing a belief that the present house had
fairly represented the views of the country.
The " Health of the Lord Mayor" was proposed in eulo-
gistic terms by Lord Chief Justioe Erle. The Solicitor-
General spoke to the toast of the " Bar of England," Sir
Thos. Henry responded for " The Stipendiary Magistrates,"
Mr. Alderman Sidney for "The City Magistrates," and Sir
W. Page Wood gave the health of the "Lady Mayoress,"
to which the Lord Mayor replied.
The dinner was admirably served by Messrs. Ring and
Brymer, and there was a choice selection of glees and duets,
under the direction of• Mr. Hatton, by the Misses Wells and
Mr. Chaplin Henry.

LYCEUM THEATRE.—The season at this theatre
will close this evening, when Mr. Fechter will take his
benefit. He will appear in two of his favourite characters.
DEATH OF SAM COLLINS.—The death of this
popular comic singer took place on Thursday, after
some days' suffering from rheumatiC fever. The music-
hall attached to his house at Islington-green was opened
as usual—a benefit being announced, and many having
taken their seats; but such was the critical state of the
proprietor that it was deemed prudent to inquire whether
the entertainments should be proceeded with. The reply
given by the unfortunate man was "Go on," but ten
minutes afterwards his death was announced, when the
-place was, of course, cleared and the doors closed. The
deceased was in his 39th year.

War Department, Washington, May 14, 1865.
Major-Gen. John A. Dix,—The following details
of the capture of Jefferson Davis, while attempting
to make his escape in his wife's clothes, have been
received from Major-Gen. Wilson.

EDWIN M. STANTON.
Macon, Ga., May 12, 1865, 11 A.M.
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War,—The
following despatch, announcing the capture of Jeff.
Davis, has just been handed me by Col. Minty,
commanding Second Division :

headquarters Fourth Michigan Cavalry,
Cumberlandville, Ga., May 11.
To Cape. T. W. Scott, A. G., Second Division.—
Sir,—l have the honour to report that at daylight
yesterday, at Irwinsville, I surprised and captured
Jeff. Davis and family, together with his wife,
sisters and brother, his Postmaster-General, Reagan;
his private Secretary, Col. Harrison ; Col. Johnston,
Aid-de-Camp on Davis' staff ; Col. Morris Lubbick
and Lieut. Hathaway ; also, several important
names, and a train of five waggons and three ambu-
lances, making a most perfect success.
Had not a most painful mistake occurred, by
which the Fourth Michigan and First Wisconsin
came in conflict, we should have done better.
This mistake cost us two killed and Lieutenant
Boutle wounded through the arm, in the Fourth
Michigan, and four men wounded in the First
Wisconsin. This occurred just at daylight, after
we had captured the camp. By the advance of the
First Wisconsin they were mistaken for the enemy.
I returned to this point last night, and shall move
right on to Macon, without waiting orders from you,
as directed, feeling that the whole object of the ex-
pedition is accomplished.
It will take us at least three days to reach Macon,
as we are at least 75 miles out, and our stock much
exhausted. I hope to reach Hawkinsville to-night.
—I have the honour, &c.,

B. D. PRITCHARD,
Lieut.-Col. Fourth Michigan Cavalry.

The First Wisconsin belongs to Lagrange's bri-
gade of M'Cook's division, and had been sent due
east by Gen. Craxton, via Dublin.
Col. Minty had distributed his command all along
the south bank of the Ocmulgee and Altamaha.
This accounts for the collision between parts of
the first and second divisions, and shows the zeal of
the command in the pursuit.
I have directed increased vigilance on the part of
the command, in the hope of capturing the other
assassins.

Our dispositions of men are good, and so far none
of the rebel chiefs have been able to get through.
Breckenridge's, son was captured the night before
last, 11 miles south of here.
We will send further details as soon as possible.
J. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General.

MACON, Ga., 9.30 a.m., May 13.
Hon. E. Stanton, Secretary of War.
Lieut.-Col Harden, commanding the First Wis-
consin, has just arrived from Irwinsville. He struck
the trail of Davis at Dublin, Laurens County, on
the evening of the 7th, and followed him closely
night and day through the pine wilderness of Alli-
gator Creek and Green Swamps, via Cumberlands-
vine to Irwinsville.

At Cumberlandsville Col. Harden met Col. Prit-
chard, with 150 picked men and horses of the
Fourth Michigan.
Harden followed the trail directly south, while
Pritchard, having fresher horses, pushed down the
Ocmulgee toward Hopewell, and thence by House
Creek to Irwinsville, arriving there at midnight of
the 9th. Jeff. Davis had not arrived.
From a citizen Pritchard learned that his party
were encamped two miles out of the town. He
made dispositions of his men and surrounded the
camp before day.
Harden had camped at 9 p.m., within two miles,
as he afterwards learned, from Davis.
The trail being too indistinct to follow, hepushed
on at 3 a.m., and had gone but little more than one
mile, when his advance was fired upon by men of
the Fourth Michigan.
A fight ensued, both parties exhibiting the
greatest determination. Fifteen minutes elapsed
before the mistake was discovered.

The firing in this skirmish was the first warning
that Davis received. •

The captors report that he hastily put on one of