The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-09 00:00:00

TEE FAUILY PISTOL&

About the year seventeen hundred and sixty, it
was usual for every respectable family to have among
its heirlooms the hereditary pistols—the preserva-
tives and vindicators of the family honour. These
were tenderly regarded and kept scrupulously clean
and oiled ; for no man knew the moment when they
would be required. The handles were mysteriously
notched, and it was with a pardonable pride that
the head of the house, when called on by the ad-
miring stranger, would proceed to tell off (guided
by those rude chroniclers) the history of each notch ;
for by each hung a tale, and—it must be added—a
catastrophe. Sir Jonah Barrington swells with en-
thusiasm over a pair which had been in his family
—in constant work, too—since the days of Eliza-
beth. Of course, adds the baronet, the cocks and
barrels had been renewed. One of these ancestral
" tools" was known by a phrase of endearment, as
" sweet lips ;" the other as " the darling," and the
accumulated trophies, contributed by a long series
of the Barrington family, must have been something
very considerable. There was usually also a com-
panion weapon kept carefully in the armoury, in
case of an adversary drawing a " choice of wea-
pons ;" and the baronet had a powerful instrument
of this description known as " skiver the pullet"—
a happy expression, in which there lurks what
Mr. .Carlyle would call a " deep no-meaning,"
and on which gloss or comment would throw
much interesting light. Every domestic
hearth had its " skiver the pullet ;" had its own
talley of little legends. This holy Irish chivalry
chastened even the family circle. On Easterday a
lady from the west tells the writer how in her youth
she recals one early morning, barely forty years
ago, when the son of 1 he family was sent forth with
blessings to prosecute the last night's quarrel; and
how, when he returned scathless himself, and with-
out having scathed others, he was met with lower-
ing brows and ill-concealed displeasure. The family
honour had not been properly vindicated. The
gloom even reacted upon the children and domestics.
The matron and mother would barely speak to her
degenerate offspring—a picture of the unhealthy
state of manners of the period. Indeed, in the edu-
cation of a young man about this time, there was
considered to be en indefinable something wanting,
analogous to the absence of a degree at college,
when he had not qualified with the pistol. As soon
as he became conspicuous enough to be the subject
i
be
of any conversation, two questions were sure to
put, considerd to be excellent tests in their way :
" What family is he of ? Has he ever
as
nupgualifications o
looked withfthepreten-
much nicety into these q
dant as the father did into his Piary abilities
tial matters, "Bi brother" blazed ? In
ecfusnome duelling
of
his little boy-
and settlements. A gentlemen
these : Come, now,
to quint
as
eminence was heard trying
b
with some such endearments
don't cry, and you shall
be a good boy! Don't, -
,pfs,to, l, and we'll shoot
•
notion, began to dry its eyes,
have a case of nico little
them off all in the inorniug. the lip sly offspring,
pleasant pastime.—Lickens's All
delighted with the
and revelled in the
the Year Bound.

A WORD OF ADVICE ABOUT DINNERS.—If the
size and shape
of your roomadmits it, I prefer a round
table.
Yet this I do not insist on, but I do insist that
your number at dinner should never (including
selves) exceed eight. I do not think even Belgravian
or GrOsVellorian Banquets should exceed twelve, as,
without considering the sociable; but merely the sensual
part of the question, I hold it to be a rule, that the merits
of a dinner retrograde in proportion as you increase
the number of your guests, and for the most obvious of rea-
sons, every dish (excepting, of course, cold ones) being in a
state of declension from the time it leaves the cook's
hands. The vary rich, with their retinue of servants, may
obviate this by duplicate dishes, which I think even a din-
ner for a dozen demands at their hands. But my remarks
do not point in that direction, but to humbler, though not
100 ntigiktory vitiazipgs,—Onc licek.

LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.
The Canadian sere w steamer Norwegian, Capt.
APMaster, which sailed from Portland (Maine) on
the 26th ult., via Londonderry, yesterday, arrived
in the Mersey about six o'clock this morning.
The following general summary is from the .New
fork Herald:—
" The weather near Yorktown is again quite plea-
sant and favourable for the operations of our troops.
The siege works are going on vigorously, and the
men are in splendid condition, full of hope, and con-
fident of victory. Skirmishes with the rebel pickets
continue to be frequent. giving our men some active
work to perform, although the results are not more
important than those always incident to the pro-
gress of a siege.
" Further intelligence concerning the late affair
of a portion of General Burnside's army, near Eliza-
bath city, confirms our previous reports that the
disaster to our arms was untrue. Colonel Sum-
mers and Lieutenant Carnes arrived at Balti-
more in the boat from Fortress Monroe, having
reached there about an hour before the boat left,
in the steamer Cossack, from Newbern. They
report that a fight occurred last Tuesday near the,
Canal Docks of Elizabeth city, North Carolina, be-
tween Col. Hawkin's regiment and a force of rebels,
The rebels were repulsed with considerable. loss.
Our loss is estimated at 00 killed and wounded.
"We publish to-day some highly-interesting
news from the Southern papers, among others the
statement from the Atalanta (Ga.) Confederacy that
Northern Alabama and Western Georgia are com-
pletely at the mercy of Gen. Mitchell, whose pre-
sent position is declared to be such at Gunter's Land-
ing that he can at once proceed to Rome, take that
city, burn down the foundries, and capture all the
arms, take possession of the engines on the railroad,
and not only cut off reinforcements and means of
retreat from the rebel General Kirby Smith, who
was alleged to be marching towards Huntsville, but
leave, at the same time, the rebel forces at Knox-
ville, Greenville, and Cumberland Gap, together
with all Western Virginia, completely exposed.
" The Richmond _Examiner of the 22d, speaking
of affairs at Yorktown, said that our troops had cut
a canal between the York and Warwick Rivers,
which gives us a water front across the wholestretch
of country, which must contribute materially to the
strength of our position. It further states that on
Saturday night last our men were engaged in throw-
ing up entrenchments, and that at daylight on Sun-
day they were completed, and guns mounted within
1,000 yards of the rebel position.
" A change in the navy department has, it ap-
pears, been resolved upon by the President. The
removal of Secretary Welles is said to be only a
question of time, dependent upon the judicious
selection of a successor in this critical moment of
our naval history. It is reported that the names of
three gentlemen are strongly urged upon Mr. Lin-
coln for Secretary of the Navy—namely, General
Banks, Governor Sprague, and Judge Davis, of
Illinois.

" The steamer Jamestown and steam tug Beau-
fort went np the James River on Monday, and the
Yorktown on Sunday, to obtain coal at Richmond.
They took in tow a number of schooners loaded
with iron, to be rolled into plates at the Tredegar
Works at Richmond. Four new gunboats have been
launched in the navy yard, and four more are in
course of construction at Norfolk, and part of these
with iron plates.
" Our news from Fredericksburg is important.
The steamer Yankee went up the Rappahannock
River to the city on Tuesday, carefully avoiding
the obstructions in the river which the rebels had
laid some seven miles below the city. Our flotilla
captured recen tip seven rebel schooners, one of which
had a valuable cargo of dry goods, medicines, and
saltpetre, and also two small steamers. The rebel
pickets are occasionally seen on the south side of
the river. Our troops are still in possession of Fre-
dericksburg, the residents of which are not inter-
fered with in their usual business pursuits.
" The report circulated by the rebels as to the
defeat of General Burnside's troops near Elizabeth
City, turns out to be based upon a little skirmish on
the beach above the city on Saturday, in which
only 500 of our troops were engaged. The rebels
fled upon being attacked, leaving 15 killed and 35
wounded behind them.

" The latest news from the Mississippi, up to yes-
terday, comes to us by the arrival of a steamer at
Cairo, which reports that for three days previous
no firing had occurred either from our fleet or the
rebels, both being apparently waiting for an effec-
tive moment to arrive. The last accounts from Fort
'Wright state the rebels have 14 gunboats and the
ram Manassas lying off the forts, and that Captains
Hollins and Mltae were also there.

" The French minister, M. Henri Mercier, re-
turned to-day in the frigate Gassendi from Rich-
mond. Soon after his arrival he visited the State
Department, and had a long and doubtless interest-
ing interview with Secretary Seward.
" M. Mercier's visit to Richmond was not of po-
litical importance, but was purely of a business
character in reference to the safety of a large
amount of property belonging to the French Go-
vernment, which was in danger of being burned
or destroyed by the vandals of the rebel confe-
deracy when they shall be compelled to evacuate
Richmond.

" A telegram, dated San Francisco, April 22, says
the ship Devonshire has been chartered to carry a
load of spars from Puget Sound to Spain.
"The Indians are again showing symptoms of
hostility on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada.
A party of whites were killed by them on the 13th
near Owen's River, in the Almeda district of Salt
Lake. It is reported they have destroyed several
mail stations, stolen much property, and killed the
employes of the Overland Mail Company. The
mails are temporarily stopped. The telegraph line
is liable to be stopped at any moment."
The following telegram from Fortress Monroe
had reached the War Department :
" The Norfolk Day-Book has a telegram from
New Orleans, dated 23d inst., from Which
the fol-
lowing information is obtained. There was a heavy
and continuous bombardment of Fort Jackson all
night, which is still progressing, The rebels in the
fort represent themselves still cheerful, with an
abiding faith in ultimate success. They state they
are making repairs as best they can. Their bar-
bette guns were still in working order, though the
most of them have been disabled; and they assert
that vve had fired 25,000 13-inch shells, of which
1,000 fell into the fort. They think our ammuni-
tion must soon be exhausted, but assert that they
can stand it as long as we can. The rebel Congress
had adjourned."
The following are the latest telegrams via Port-
land :

" BEFORE YORKTOWN, April 25.

"The principal event yesterday was the shelling
of Yorktown by one of our gun boats. She moved
up to the mouth of the Wormloy Creek during the
morning, and opened a well-directed firo on the
works, which was promptly responded to by the
rebels. The boat then fell back three miles from
Yorktown and again opened fire, the shells ex-
ploding each time within the enemy's works,
but obtained no response. A few shots
were filed during the day along the whole lino to
keep the rebels from strengthening their works. No
one was injured. It is raining again this morning,
but the indications are that it will soon clear up.
A flag of truce was sent to the enemy's
lines on
Tuesday by order of General M'Clellan. It was
for the purpose of effecting the exchange of four
rebel prisoners for a similar nutnbcr of our wounded,
in order that they might be bater cared for. The
answer showed that they were disposed to Comply
with the request, but the wounded had been. sent to
Richmond."
" FORIIIMS Noxaor, April 25.—A schooner was

tion was adopted instructing the military com-
mittee to inquire whether any general in the
army before Yorktown had exhibited himself
drunk in the face of the enemy, and if any measures
had been taken for the trial and punishment of such
officer. The consideration of the Confiscation Bill
was then resumed, but the Senate adjourned with-
out taking action upon the subject.
"In the House of Representatives a bill was re-
ported providing for a board of commissioners to
examine into the coast and harbour defences, the
military committee having made an important re-
port on the subject. The consideration of the Con-
fiscation Bills was then resumed, and the bill pend-
ing on Tuesday was laid on the table by a note of
58 against 52. The next bill taken up was to facili-
tate the suppression of the rebellion, and to prevent
the recurrence of the same. It authorises the Pre•
sent to direct the Federal generals to declare the
slaves of the rebels free, and pledges the faith of
United States to make full and fair compensation to
loyal men who have actively supported the Union
for any losses they may sustain by virtue of this
bill. Mr. Olin, republican, of New York, moved
that as the judiciary committee had recommended
that none of the confiscation bills ought to pass: a
select committee of seven be appointed to take the
subject into consideration. After a long debate
without action the house adjourned.
" On April 24 the Senate, by a unanimous vote,
ratified the Seward-Lyons treaty for the suppres-
sion of the African slave trade. A large number of
petitions asking a reduction of the proposed tax on
beer and malt liquors were presented and referred.
" The bill providing for the recognition of Hayti
and Liberia, and establishing diplomatic intercourse
with those countries was taken up, and Mr. Davis,
of Kentucky, offered a substitute, authorising the
President to appoint a consul at Liberia, and a con-
sul general at Hayti to negotiate treaties. The sub-
stitute was rejected, and the bill passed by a vote
of 32 to 7. The consideration of the Confiscation
Bill was then resumed, and Mr. Collamer, republi-
can, made a speech against it. Mr. Sherman's
amendment to the original bill limiting confiscation
to persons who held certain offices under the rebel
government, was agreed to by 27 against 11 votes.
The further consideration of the bill was then
postponed, and the Senate went into executive
session.
" In the House of Representatives a resolution
calling for the correspondence between the French
and United States Government relative to the war,
was referred to the committee on foreign affairs.
The Confiscation Bills were then taken up, and
after some debate the house, by a vote of 90 to 31,
referred the subject to a special committee.
" In committee of the whole house, Messrs. Rol-
lins of Maine, and Allen of Ohio, made speeches on
the subject of the national troubles; and Mr. Ed-
wards spoke in favour of a bill giving bounties to
widows and heirs of volunteers. Mr.Vallandighaas
of Ohio voted from a letter of Senator t'irade's, in
which the latter cliarged the former with disloyalty
to the Union, and emphatically pronounced the
senator a liar, a scoundrel, and a coward,' and ex-
pressed his readiness to meet him anywhere. Mr.
Blake took up the quarrel for Senator Wade, and
Mr. Hutchins offered a revolution declaring Mr.
Vallandigham's language a violation of the rules of
the house and a breach of decorum, and that he is
deserving of, and is hereby censured by the house.
" Pending the question on the resolution the
house adjourned."

The following account of the loss of the Kar-
nak in the harbour of Nassau has been pub-
lished
6, The Cunard steamer Karnak, while entering
the Harbour of Nassau, on her passage from Ha-
vannah, grounded at 12 o'clock of the 14th, and
bilged at four p.m. Part of her cargo of sugar
and cotton was saved in a damaged state. The
passengers and mails were saved."
The Confederate steamer Nashville had returned
to Nassau, N.P., after having made an unsuccess-
ful attempt to run the blockade at Charleston.
She has one of her paddle-boxes badly injured,
which is supposed to be by a ball from the Gemsbok
while she was running the blockade. She has on
board a full cargo of ammunition and guns brought
by the Gladiator to Nassau. The Confederate
steamer Ella Warley had arrived at Nassau, from
Havannab, with a cargo of saltpetre and potash,
and would attempt to run the blockade. The Con-
federate steamer Cecil had run the Charleston
blockade and arrived at Nassau.
The chartered steam-ship Adriatic left Halifax
on the 23d for St. John's, New Brunswick, to em-
bark troops for England.
The navigation of the St. Lawrence was fairly
opened. Two steamboats—the first of the season—
reached Montreal on the 23d ultimo.

THE V/CIOBIA PARK DRINEIN

FOUNTAIN.

From some cause or another, the Burdett Coutts
drinking
fountain, in course of erection in the
Victoria Park, does not advance towards comple-
tion with such speed as might be desired. Fully
eighteen months have elapsed since the munificent
sum of £5,000 was given by the lady whose name
we have associated with the fountain,for the purpose
of effecting its erection. As yet, however, it has not
been opened for public service. Messrs. Smith & Co.,
the celebrated contractors of Pimlico, undertook the
execution of the work; but somehow their arrange-
ments respecting' its construction seem to " hang
fire." This is the more to be regretted since there is no
locality in London where such an adjunct is so much
needed. The Victoria Park is frequented by thousands
of the hard working inhabitants of the east end, of
both sexes, and a copious supply of pure water
throughout the hot months of summer would be a
boon thoroughly appreciated by them. Of the
design of the fountain we may speak in the laig"s`,
.
terms. It is in every way adapted for its purpose,
and will form a handsome addition to the existing
beauties of the eastern public plea-tire ground.
The structure is of an oetaganial and temple-like.
which is covered.
by eight columns of
form, of lofty elevation. The roof,
ne aretese,h o rptl
ha placed groups
uapi
with sheet copper, is supported
~ Within four alternate
polished Peterhead granhe•
streams'
niches,of
urns, the " crystal
of appropriate u
bflaecti,ut
ugt
u thea
rye,ittri
nd
farlri
are intended to fIoNN% This quadruple
i foun-
tain,be termed, is placed
as it may n the centre
it
park, and
of the will be surrounded by
ornamental water, except at four raised pathways,
which will conduct thirsty wayfarers to the places
where their thirst may be slaked. From the purface
of the moat to the summit of the edifice,
is nearly
50 feet, and the whole
will certainly firm, as we
have said, an ornamental and useful appendage to
Victoria-park, whileit •
will be, at the same time, a
lasting memorial of the enlightened beneficence of
its founder.
Its tardy completion is all that is to
be regretted ; but perhaps the Messrs. Smith will
now put their shoulders to the wheel, and so remove
the cause of regret. The east end of London should
not be neglected, while so much is being done for
the advantage of more fashionable dwellers 111 the
west end of the great city.—lifechani N(1176.;1716,