The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY ENING, DECEMBER 25, 1862.

THE SUN.

LONDON, THURSDAY, DEC. 25, 1862.

It will be some consolation to those who are this
day enjoying the blessings of a Happy Christmas
—if they reflect (as millions of our fellow-country-
men well may) that much has indeed been dons,
that more is actually doing, or is in active prepara-
tion, for the relief of the dread scourge of famine
now desolating the whole countryside in the
North-west of England, but more particularly in
Lancashire. The knowledge that it is so will spare
from any sense of remorse by contrast those who,
thinking of the distress prevailing in that a/Rioted
portion of the United Kingdom, might almost have
felt ashamed otherwise of their own happier lot in
the midst of this annual season of festivity. If—
as may alas ! be very safely averred—never before
has a populous region of the earth been so com-
pletely overwhelmed by distress as Lancashire is
overwhelmed at this present writing, we may,
thank Heaven, as confidently aver that—never has
human sympathy for human suffering been more
signally or more spontaneously manifested.

Sixteen or seventeen years ago, when the
potato blight had reduced the chief part of
the inhabitants of Ireland to the lowest depth
of destitution all classes of the community
there were not involved so completely as the
Lancashire people are at this moment in one

common ruin. Sixteen or seventeen years ago
when the country suddenly awoke, as recently, to a
sense that it had to deal with an immense calamity
—the Government had not then, as it has quite
clearly in the present instance, the opportunity of
standing aloof while the people themselves, of their
own free will, dealt with the appalling desolation
around them. So eagerly and magnanimously have
the contributions for the distress in Lancashire been
poured in now for months and months past from all
directions, from the very rich and from the very
poor, from the high and from the low, from the
idle and from the industrious, that the Administra-
tion and the Legislature have had nothing what-
ever to do in the way of direct co-operation or en-
couragement. At the close of the last session of
Parliament, who is there that does not recollect the
prevailing sense abroad among politicians of all
ranks and classes, that—probably--there would be
found a necessity a little later on in 1862, for
au extraordinary winter session of the Legis-
lature ? It was for some time considered, in
truth, that a brief wirier session, sooner or later,
would be found it thing inevitable. Yet 1862 is
now within a very few short days (amongst the
'shortest, in the twelve months) within view of its
close, and there has been no necessity whatever yet
of anything at all of the kind. The benevolence of
the community at large has proved as yet to be
fully equal to this immense and dire emergency.
Over the saddened homes of the factory operatives
and others all through Lancashire and the conti-
guous counties, might be inscribed as truthfully as
over our Great London Hospitals—over that class of
institutions sublimely designed in France Hotels
.Dieu—that noble and beautiful inscription which
we well remember M. GIIIZOT some years back to
have spoken of as one that always went straight to
his heart whenever his eyes lit upon it while tra-
versing the streets of our metropolis—" Supported
by Voluntary Contributions!" As truthfully, we
repeat, might those touching and heartening
'words be inscribed over thousands of the homes
of the afflicted operatives of Lancashire as they
ate actually inscribed over so many of our own
eleeraesynary institutions. And the words might
be placed there over the lintels of those doors in
the
northwest of England, without derogating in
any wdl from the honest sense of dignity always
vital in the hearts and minds of that intelligent
population. The relief now distributed there
either in kind or le money, among the hundreds of
thousands of factory Operatives still altogether out
of work, is no mere vulgar charitable bounty. It
Is, in point of fact, nothing 'whatever of the kind.
These are not doles; these are not any ordinary
alms ; this is not in the least aconunonplace pittance
children of
of charity—dropped coin by coin •p
lace
those ema-
ciated palms of the men and women and
those
The relief now systematically
• )eto the inhabitants of the manufacturing
bythe nation
when viewed in its true light, to be
districts ought,
regarded as a Tribute horn the rest of the nation to
the Industry,
the Thrift, the Probity, the Intelli-
gence, and the noble-hearted resignation and
high-minded end u run eo manifested by that
distinguished section of our English popu-
lation. As such it is offc.red—With respect, with
we
affection. As such it tiny b y rcce,:wed—it is,
do believe, being received—without one qualm of
wounded feeling, rather (it might even be said
'without extravagance) with an honest sense of
pride in the recognition of these resplendent evi-

dences of appreciation by the rest of the community.
The oneness of feeling of a whole people was
never more affectingly signalised.
The patriotic ardour of our race has been
as clearly manifested by these results of the
Cotton Famine in Lancashire as the loving
loyalty of Her MAJESTY'S subjects, their de-
votion to Her MAJESTY'S Crown and per-
son were made apparent to the whole world by the
nation's sympathy throughout the year just now
upon the eve of expiring—the nation's tender and
profound sympathy over the early death of the be-
loved CONSORT of the SOVEREIGN.

Gratefully conscious of the fervour of this
patriotic and loyal unanimity of feeling
throughout all ranks and classes of the
community, we may all, in a recollection of
these simple truths, find an additional sweet-
ness added to the home enjoyments of this
present Christmas—even though those enjoyments
(as is but inevitable under the circumstances) are
sobered under the reflection that there is still a
sore remembrance of a heavy grief in the heart of
our gracious QUEEN, and many bitter privations
still to be endured, and if possible assuaged,
among a very notable division of her people.

" Shall we have war ?"—was the interrogative
salutation with which almost every Christmas
party met last year. The news of the first outrage
had arrived, the British demand, of which our
rulers did not tell us the precise terms, had gone
forth; we knew that the Federals had received the
hero WILXES, the captor of an unarmed vessel, with
shouts of exultation, and that Americans of all
classes, the silent PRESIDENT excepted, loudly
triumphed in the exploit; but we knew no more.
" They will never be so mad as to get two great
wars on their hands at once," said one ; " they are
so intoxicated with getting the two arch traitors
into their hands that they are prepared for any-
thing," said another; " but of what use can these
two men be to them," said a third; "use—why
they are half the brains of the Southern business,"
said a fourth; " our Government thinks there is
danger, for it is sending troops to Canada," said a
fifth ; " and that very fact, showing brother JONA-
THAN that we do not mean to be trifled with, will
make Mr. SEWARD himself sober," said a sixth-0
and so the chit-chat ran in the circle which having
just met, sat awaiting, as good temperedly as they
could, the intimation that dinner was ready.
More genial chat, and "chaffing," and compli-
ments, and adult questions, to bring out the chil-
dren's laughing answers, followed :—yet, again,
later in the day, when the seniors fell together in
knots—those to whom price lists, and consols and
shares, and the course of exchange, and the rate of
discount, are matters of unfailing interest—again
with them, the question would " crop out." The
few data would be balanced afresh ; but the longer
they were balanced the more equal they appeared.
It seemed like an even toss for conjecture, which
should get the day—reason with British deter-
mination to back her, or un-reason with Yankee
vanity and impulsiveness for bottle-holders. It was,
indeed, a serious Christmas riddle. No man was
entitled to say he had guessed it; yet every man
might be implicated in the consequences of the an-
swer. No one could think of fear, for a moment;
yet no one wished, so soon again, for doubled in-
come-tax, and all the anxieties of the Crimean war.
And thus Christmas passed over us, and we passed
through it ; sufficiently incredulous of war on such
absurd grounds to miss nothing of its merriness
—yet sufficiently uncertain of American sanity, not
to be quite confident of peace.

By the end of the next month all had
blown over. The commissioners themselves,
and, of course, a grandis et verbosa epistola
from Mr. SEWARD had arrived. The worth-
less men had cost us £BOO,OOO, but they had
developed in an unexpected manner, in every part
of the Island, the spontaneous zeal of our brave
tars for the honour of the flag of their QUEEN; a
measure had also been furnished of the value of
American threats. Mr. SEWARD, like the zebra►
whom Mr. RAREY had tamed, after showing him-
self that international law was against him, went
out of the business with a parting shriek and kick
at us, and at law too—declaring that he would not,
in a like case, surrender men unlawfully taken, if
it were contrary to the interest of the United States.
Lord RUSSELL, very properly, quietly accepted the
men, and left to Mr. SEWARD, and the United States
all the honour of supposing it possible that it could
be for their interest to act unlawfully.
This Christmas is disturbed by no such fears.
Europe has become quieter. The Emperor
of the FRENCH, indeed, still persists in
retaining stolen goods, even after having
confessed to their being stolen ; but the rumours of
war are nowhere, unless perhaps it be of a eoup
d'etut war by the King of PRUSSIA on his own
people. England must now be, indeed, in high
favour among the peoples of Europe. All monarchi-
cal and aristocratic as we are, the Greeks are look-
ing to us to insure to them our institutions. While
Americans of the North boast that they are fighting
to preserve for the Rations of the earth a model re-
public, the nations themselves seem to spurn the
model, and to look to our example rather. Italy
will not hear of American Federalism and Repub-
licanism. It asks an English and constitutional
unity, and is labouring with all the moral aid we
can furnish to secure that unity against the heart-
less military violence and political machinations of
the despot of Paris. Greece, too, scouts the Ame-
rican model ; it sees life, hope, safety only in the
English model. Europe will not quarrel with us.
As to America herself, we must put up with the
SEWARD remonstrances and the fury of Mr. CAS-
SIUS CLAY, and regard the olive branch of the Sub-
scription for Lancashire as the true indication of
the sentiments of the better part of America. So
far as England is concerned, she may happily cele-
brate her Christmas beneath the motto " PEACE ON
EARTH—GOODWILL TOWARDS MEN."

Whatever the English friends of the South, reck-
less of the hateful crime which it seeks independence
to perpetrate, may say, the North sees its way to
reasonable means of humbling the Divine-Right-
of-Slavery men. We do not lay so much stress on
what is doing on the Rappahannock. Richmond
may be reached from thence, or it may not —victory
may alternate, as before, between the Federals and
Confederates. What we look at is the sure, though
gradual, working of negro emanicipation along the
coast, up the Mississippi, and in the Border States,
which must soon give way. Our readers may have
noticed the remarks of Mr. STANTON, the American
Secretary of War, which appeared in The Sun yes-
t
\.erday. They appear to us unusually reasonable,
for an American Secretary, and the facts he refers
we know already to be facts. He seems fairly,
we think, to .
sentencemofaihnistam the position he takes in the
last
enemy
Was ever report to the PRESIDENT :
~ S;, far from th
se Southern States being invincible, no
eIIIP-eYed against
be blindly rejected, still
means at command of the
complish the suppression of the rebellion
1
of those peaceful relations whion vrere
tizinerable, if the means at hand are
t:evoluntary return to loyalty
urovr 'Ter application of the
en t cannot fail to ac-
complish a restoration
pensated emancipation. and If your proposition for cora-
tlestne4 to be eats-

blished for ever on this continent by the Union of the
States,"

In the matter of the Commissariat only, he shows
what an immense saving, both of expenditure and
trouble, it will be to grow, by means of negro
labour, the food of the soldier, and the forage for
his horse, near to where they are wanted. The
whole nearly of the district in which the Sea Island
cotton was cultivated and the coast of Florida is in
the hands of the Federals. Agricultural supplies
for the army grown there by the black free labourer
would save great expense for transport and labour
in providing for the southern armies of the North.
It is the same on the shores of the Mississippi.
Happily he can say with truth, for its truth is cor-
roborated by Southern silence as well as by
Northern reports, that not the slightest symptom
of any tendency to a " servile wur" has appeared
among the negroes; on the other hand, wherever
the generals have encouraged them, they have
shown a hearts loyalty to the North. They wanted
nothing but the assurance of not being surrendered
or abandoned to the vengeance of their old tyrants.
They are unwilling, it is universally found, to quit
the localities in which they have lived, although it
was a life of slavery—a circumstance which Mr.
STANTON uses to silence the Democratic clap-trap in
the North, which has endeavoured to frighten the
Irish voters especially at the idea of emancipation,
by threatening them with negro competition in hod-
carrying. So far is this from being the case, that
the emancipated negro, like all other men, prefers,
if he can have his liberty there, to live in the land
of his birth.

When, therefore, the coasts and borders of Rebel-
dom feel the protecting power of Federal armies,
fed by the labour of slaves, the grand military ad-
vantage enjoyed by the South will be transferred to
the North. These negroes now labour under the
lash, that their masters may be at liberty to fight
to keep them in bondage! They will henceforth
labour that Federal armies may live by their labour'
pay them wages for it, and protect them in their
free and loyal toil. Such is already the case to a
great extent, and it will be so more extensively.
The South will be encircled by a cordon of emanci-
pated negroes, as well as by one of Federal armies.

Mr. STANTON, not unreasonably, looks forward
even to a gradually increasing Northern trade with
these new loyal labourers. He says :

"As soon as the coast is thoroughly occupied, and the people
otganiied, trade will revive. Cotton, rice, sugar, and other
products will be exchanged by the producer for what he
needs. Their wants will be supplied direst from the northern
factories, and the cultivation of the great staples will enable
them to pay for what they use. A perfectly free trade may
thus again grow up between the North and the South, and
with greater or less rapidity it will spread over the whole
country as our forces succeed in meeting and dispersing
the rebel armies. The greater part of the whole country
which formerly produced the Sea Island cotton is now
thoroughly restored to the Union. The labourers are there
—the soil and climate. It needs only assurance of protec-
tion to revive the cultivation of the staple, as well as to pro-
duce vast quantities of corn and forage for our troops."

On the whole, we hope the PRESIDENT will firmly
avail himself of his two years of office in this spirit.
We may be pretty sure that such born tyrants as
slaveholders will never listen to the emancipation
proposal which accompanied his September procla-
mation, and has just been fully developed to Con-
gress. They will starve and die rather than give
up their power to make cattle of their fellow-men.
Full scope will be afforded to Mr. LINCOLN to
achieve the noblest revolution in modern history,
and to signalise his presidency by the glorious fact,
that he found four millions of his fellow-creatures
forced by the most ruthless of despotisms into the
condition of oxen and swine, and that he left them
—MEN. Let this war but sound the knell of the
infernal institution of Slavery, and the name of
LINCOLN will yet live among those of the noblest
benefactors of their bpecies.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFlCES.—Yesterday
some 200 men were engaged in completing the extensive
foundations for the future Foreign, Colonial, and other Go-
vernment offices, the superstructure stone of which will be
laid at the beginning of the year. The magnitude of the
work may be estimated from the fact that the above body of
men have been employed daily during the last six months
in digging and laying the foundations, under the contractors,
Messrs. Kelk and Lucas, the area extending from the Park
and the Privy Council Office, in Whitehall, on the one side,
up King-street to Charles-street, the recruiting depot, up to
the site formerly occupied by the State Paper and Stationery
Office, extending over a surface of several thousand square
feet. The foundations throughout are laid in 14 feet deep
of solid concrete, being equal to that on which the Houses
of Parliament are built, and in one place where the ground
was treacherous the foundation had to be carried down to a
depth of 30 feet, Preparations are being made by Mr. Scott,
the architect, for constructing the building after the designs
selected by Lord Palmerston and the Committee of the
House of Commons in the Palladian style.

COLLISION IN THE CHANNEL.—The steam-tug
Resolute, belonging to the new Steam-tug Company, Liver-
pool, Capt. Harvey, from Liverpool, bound to Dover, put
into the Sound at 3 o'clock on Tuesday morning, having
been in collision about half-past 7 o'clock on Monday even-
ing, 31 miles S.W. of the Start Point, with a barque, name
and flag unknown. The Resolute was steering E. by S.,
wind north moderate, weather very dark, and her regula-
tion lights burning, when she saw two lights on her port
bow ; shortly after lost sight of one, and then saw a green
light burning about E.N.E. Capt. Harvey ordered the
helm to be put hard aport, and went into the wheelhouse to
see it was done. As the strange vessel was nearing very
rapidly, hailed her to port her helm, but some one on the
stranger's deck forwar3 ordered the helm to be starboarded,
and in a few minutes she ran into the Resolute, striking
her on the port paddle-box with such force as to knock It
completely away, jammed the wheel against the side, started
the bridge deck, did considerable damage to the starboard
wheel, and other parts of the vessel, and stopped the
engines. The barque then cleared, and stood away to the
eastward, where she was lest sight of. After a great deal
of trouble the Resolute's engines were disconnected, the
port wheel being disabled, and She bore away for this port,
under the starboard engine only. She now lies at the
Pontoon, Millbay, awaiting instructions to repair.—
Western Morning News.
SUICIDE OF A SOLICITOR IN THE ADELPHL—On
Tuesday evening Mr. Bedford, the coroner, held an inquest
at St. Martin's Vestry-room, on the body of Fleming
Stuart Nicholson, a solicitor, aged 30 years, who committed
self-destruction by shooting himself with a pistol, at his re-
sidence, 12, York-buildings, Adelphi, on Friday morning
last. Charles Joseph Nicholson, brother of deceased, said
he resided at 12, York-buildings, Adelphi. On Friday
morning last, about a quarter before one, he was aroused by
the housekeeper, who said his brother was not in his bed-
room as usual, but that his office door was locked, and she
could get no answer. A police-constable was procured, and
the door was forced open. Witness then saw his brother
lying on the hearth-rug, and a pistol was lying near his
right hand. There was a wound near the heart, and blood
had flowed on to the hearth-rug. Deceased was quite dead.
He was married, but his wife was not at home at the time.
For some time past deceased had been the subject of curious
religious feelings. He thought that God required a sacri-
fice, and said that God demanded his life, as he had not at-
tended to God in his youth as he ought to have done. He
never said anything about committing self-destruction. He
was constantly reading the Bible and praying. Witness had
no doubt he discharged the pistol himself. After other evi-
dence, the Jury returned a verdict, " That deceased de-
stroyed his own life whilst of unsound mind."

THE DUBLIN PAUPERS.—Another attempt way
made on Monday morning to set fire to the South Dublin
Union Workhouse, and at the Dublin Police-court the same
day six of the inmates were charged with being concerned in
the committal of tho offence. The prisoners, as in the former
case, were under the delusion that they would be placed in
penal servitude. They had frequently said that transpor-
tation or something like that was what they wanted, and
had made some remarks relative to emigration the previous
night. Tho prisoners was comtuttted for trial.

AN HONEST FIRM.—In connexion with the
eventful failure of the Borough Bank of Liverpool in 1857,
the house of Messrs. Fernie Brothers and Co., was freely
referred to as being largely indebted to that institution, and
likely to participate in its fall. That result, however, did
not arise ; for the firm, having confidence in their resources,
and being determined to discharge their obligations in full,
paid off as they fell due all their liabilities other than those
to the bank, and, after the bank's stoppage, carried out the
arrangements under which the advanceswere made. Messrs.
Fernie have now discharged all the liabilities they were
under to the bank at the time of its stoppage, together with
15 per tout, iatervot, tuanatizig iz aU t 9 4420,517.

LATEsr NEWS.

the rebel journals it is learned that Gen. Whiting
has been placed in command of a rebel force in
Wilmington, which point is believed to be one of
those aimed at by the expeditions fitting out by the
National Government. Union and free labour meet-
ings were being held in Newbern and Beaufort.
The following are the latest telegrams published
in the Boston papers on the 13th inst.:—
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac,
Dec. 12, 10 a.m.
After occupying the river front of the city, last
night, we lost about 100 men in killed and wounded,
while driving the enemy through the city. They
fired on our men as they advanced through the
streets, while secreted in and behind houses. Not
much mercy was shown to those who were caught.
This morning a dense fog hid every thing from
view, but now it is partially passing away. The
troops commenced moving at an early hour, Gen.
Sumner's grand division leading the way over in
front of the city, to be followed by Major-Gen.
Hooker's grand division. Gen. Franklin's grand
division, which crosses nearly three miles below
the city, is almost over. At a quarter past nine the
first gun was fired, the engagement lasting about
half an hour, the rebels making a very spirited re-
ply. Information received during the night and
this morning from deserters and prisoners shows
that the rebels have two strong lines of batteries in
the rear of the city, the first one being one mile
back, and the second a mile from the first. The
whole army is in rapid motion, and well concen-
trated. The troops are in excellent spirits, and
anxious to be led upon the works.
Head-quarters, Army of Potomac,
Dec. 12, Evening.

At 10 o'clock this morning the fog began to clear
away, but 11 the air was again thick, which con-
tinued until 2, when the fog entirely disappeared.
At a quarter pass, z 4hq rahnlQ openpa with all
their guns posted on the first ridge of hills. Their
main fire was directed upon the city, which was
filled with our troops.

Those guns which were posted on the left of the
ridge were opened on the larger body of troops,
which crossed on the two lower bridges, and had
formed in line of battle, and were moving obliquely
down the river fronting the Massaponax. Although
several of their shells exploded, none of our men
were injured. _

General Bayard's cavalry, which crossed on the
lower bridge, had five men killed while endeavour-
ing to ascertain the enemy's position.

The troops which crossed below are sleeping on
their arms to-night, the advance being within three-
quarters of a mile of Massaponax Creek, their left
resting on the Rappahannock.
The enemy occupy the opposite side of the creek
in force.

The guns posted on the bank this side of the
river silenced the enemy's artillery after a duel of
half an hour. This ended the firing for the day.
The only damage done by the rebel shells thrown
into the city, was to add so much to its destruction.
Twenty-five of our men were killed last right in
the streets, while driving the enemy out.

Nearly every house in the city has been damaged
more or less by the firing of the past two days.
Several splendid residences have been completely
riddled, as also all the churches. The fire appeared
to be directed to the most prominent edifices.
Several cases of wanton destruction of property by
our troops occurred when they entered, property
which could be of no use to the enemy. In many
houses the furniture all remained, showing that
their occupants left in haste.
Some of our troops mistook the British flag for a
Secesh flag, and tore it from the residence of the
British consul. This morning the owner came over
to recover it, and it was returned to him.
The main body of the army is now over the river,

the remainder being in position to cross at any time.
There are no indications of the enemy evacuating.
If he remain a battle must immediately ensue.

News from Washington of the 12th instant states
that the Navy Department has received a letter
from Lieut.-Commander English, dated off the coast
of Florida, stating that the boats belonging to his
vessel had captured in Marian River the English
sehooners Agnes and Ellen, and sent them to Key
West for adjudication.
In the M'Dowall case nothing of importance had
further been elicited. In the case of General Por-
ter, General M'Dowell was examined, testifying as
to orders of the 29th, directing Porter to advance,
which order was similar in effect to one he, as senior
officer, had already given to General Porter.
The steamer Kensington has captured the British
schooner Maria from Belize, and schooner Cams
from Havana, while trying to run the blockade at
Sabine Pass.
Further diplomatic correspondence has been pub-
lished. In May last the French Ccnsul at New
Orleans wrote to M. Mercier, the French Minister
at -Washington, that General Butler used "towards
the most respectable people against whom he
thought he had cause of complaint, the most extra-
ordinary language. His, first words were almost
always, will hang you,' or I will send you to
Fort Jackson.