The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-31 00:00:00

THE INSURRECTION IN CUBA.

Despite the proclamation of General Caballero de Rodas,
the Cuban insurgents still give the Government great
trouble. A telegram from Philadelphia says that they are
very active in the Central Department, and have de-
stroyed much property. A large insurgent force recently
attacked Puerto Principe. It was repulsed, with heavy
loss, according to the Spanish accounts ; but the fact that
it was a large force is quite at variance with previous
statements that the insurrection was now confined to
guerilla parties.
It appears that the determination of the American
Government to put the neutrality laws in force against
the insurgents was in great measure owing to the capture
by the Spaniards of a batch of letters from the Cuban
Junta. This insurgent correspondence shewed that two
expeditions had succeeded in landing in Cuba, and that
others had sailed or were fitting out. The Spanish
Ambassador at Washington laid the letters before General
Grant's Cabinet, and prompt action was at once taken.
It seems that neutrality accidents do sometimes occur even
in America.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)

We learn by telegram from New York, on
Thursday, that the Radicals of Mississippi are or-
ganising an opposition to Mr. Dent, who is reported
to be :receiving :support from the Democrats. It
is amusing to watch the complications arising be-
tween the parties. Judge Dent is Grant's brother-
in-law, and Grant cares nothing for party, but
cares much for friends, connections, and relatives.
Secretary Boutwell, about the most influential
member of the Cabinet, is wedded to his party, and
upholds it at any sacrifice. Ile has thrown Dent over-
board because he is not a Republican, and the Demo-
crats have picked him up. These Southern Conserva-
tives are wiser in their generation than the North-
ern Conservatives, and they know how to play
upon Presidents. Dr. Sharpe, another brother-in-
law of General Grant will be run in Virginia for
U. S. Senatorship, to the evident satisfaction of
the President. Southerners seem inclined to make
their conqueror their leader, but as their prin-
ciples do not tally with those of some of the Ca-
binet Ministers, a split in the Administration may
be the result. We hope, however, that nothing

may occur to disturb Mr. Boutwell, who has done
so much to win the confidence of the national con-
fidence.

From Philadelphia, on
,Thursday, it was an-
nounced that
"Cuban telegrams say the insurgents are active in the
Central Department, and have destroyed much property
about Trinidad. Recently a largo insurgent force at-
tacked Puerto Principe, but were repulsed with a heavy
loss. The conscription will soon be enforce 1 throughout
Cuba. The newspapers there insist on Ono hundred
and forty of Colonel Ryan's men have been diseliarg,d
under parole not to violate the neutrality laws."

The only other item by Cable is, that President
Grant and Mr. Fish have gone to Washington from
Long Branch to attend a special Cabinet Council.
We may add that the news by Cable this week has
been unusually meagre.
The celebration of the Fourth of July is attract-
ing some attention, as it annually leads to numer-

ous deaths, and a great destruction of property.
Respectable people have to fly from the great cities
where the patriotic fire guns, let off crackers, and
blaze away powder, utterly regardless of the limbs
and property of their neighbours. if the hecatomb of
dead continues annually thus to increase, as well as
the already heavy bill for losses by fire, the day will
come to be set down as one of America's grievances
against England. " Bad scran to yer," as the Irish
woman said, who was stung by a nettle while tres-
passing on the grave of a former acquaintance,
" living or dead, ye have always a sting in ye."
Annually there is a massacre ; annually there is a
saturnalia ; when the peaceably-disposed flee, and
the rowdy riot ; eyes are put out, fingers shot off,
legs and arms blown away, and numbers of chil-
dren disappear, who are heard of no more. Even
in Boston, where every effort is made to protect
from accident, and to employ the children, 50 inqui-
ries for different missing boys and girls were made at
a single police-station last anniversary. The way
it is celebrated is becoming an intolerable bore, as
well as a day of disaster, and people ask if they
could not devise some better means of demonstrat-
ing their thankfulness for what the anniversary
represents than by offering to Moloch a yearly sac-
rifice of children and burnt property.
The aerial steam-carriage Artier is described as a
balloon, shaped like a cigar, 37ft. long, 11 high, and
8 wide at the centre, from which it tapers to the ends.
Lengthwise, below the centre, is a cane frame-
work, braced with wire, to which are affixed two
wings, one on either side, which are 5 feet wide,
narrowing to a point, made of white cloth fas-
tened to a light frame-work. A rudder is fixed to
the hinder part of the frame around the balloon, by
which the head of the carriage whon in motion ia clu
vated or depressed, as well as turned to one side or the
other, as is a boat. There is an indentation at the bot-
tom of the ballon in the centre for the engine and ma-
chinery, the boiler and furnace being only a foot
long, 4 inches wide, and 6 high. The cylinder is
2 inches in diameter, and has a 3-inch stroke. The
crank connects by means of cog-wheels, with tumb-
ling rods which lead to the propellers, one on either
side of the carriage. The propellers are each two-
bladed, 4 feet in diameter, and are placed in the
frame-work of the wings. The boiler is made to
carry eight pounds of steam, which is generated by
spirit lamps. When not inflated, the carriage weighs
eighty-four pounds; and this model balloon has a
capacity of 1,360 feet of gas. The trials proved
that the air offered less resistance than had been
calculated, and that the power of the propellers is
greater than was estimated ; also that the rudder
is a perfect means of steering, the balloon sensi-
tively obeying it. Although looking awkward in the
building, the model is said to present a beautiful
appearance i❑ the air, but while many are sanguine
in San Francisco, as is the inventor, Mr. Marriott,
the success of their flying machine is much doubted
in the Eastern States.

It is doubtful whether England, although more
than half a century has elapsed, knows all the
truth about the battle of Waterloo ; indeed, the
generally received opinions of the battle in England,
France, and in Prussia all differ materially, and are
each alike arable, yet Waterloo was the crowning bat-
tle of Napoleon's campaigns, and has, therefore, all
the greater historical interest. Gettysburgh was the
crowning battle of the great American Civil War,
although fought in the middle of the struggle.
More men may have fallen in action after Gettys-
burgh than before, yet the Ist, 2d, and 3d days of
July, 1863, mark the turning point of the war.
Before Gettysburgh, the South fought on equal
terms ; in fact, those who did not know the compa-
rative resources of the warring sections believed
the South to be superior—Gettysburgh settled this;

for it was in the attempt io change the theatre of
action into the Northern States that that battle was
fought, and thenceforth the Southern States were
aware that with them it must be a war of defence,
that at best they could only hope to beat off their
enemy—the North being sealed for ever against in-
vasion. The Generals who fought on the Union
side have been invited to visit the field and mark
out and fix the relative positions of their commands
during the conflict, and it has been suggested that
the Confederate Generals should also be invited, so
that doubts and disputed points might be cleared
up, and the history of the great battle of the war
accurately written. Unfortunately, the latter pro-
posal has met with a general opposition, but whe-
ther carried out now or hereafter, we hope it may
be adopted before it is too late, for men die and
memory even fades while they live.
Among the curious presents received by General
Grant not the least remarkable are some which have
lately reached him from Mexico. The President
is only the most conspicuous, as the articles which
have been transmitted to Washington were for dis-
tribution between General Sherman, Mrs. Lincoln,
and Mr. Seward as well. Sabos Iturbide forwarded
them on behalf of a Mexican who refused to give his
name, but desired to mark his appreciation of their
work in the abolition of slavery. The President
receives—
" A silver coffee-set of 36 pieces, and some dressed
leather skins ; General Sherman an egg-boiler and holder;
for ox-Secretary Seward there is an inkstand and pen-
holder, most ingeniously contrived, beside a call-bell ; and
Mrs. Lincoln's portion of the lot is a heavy card-basket.
All of the articles are of solid silver without any dearth
of metal, and of the most beautiful finish and workman-
ship. President Grant and General Sherman's portion
have been delivered, and some idea may be formed of their
value from the fact that the duty on President Grant's lot
was $748, and on General Sherman's $161."
It is not a little surprising to find, almost simul-
taneously, an agent in Washington endeavouring to
sell San Domingo, body and bones, to the United
States, and an announcement iu London, from a
well-known London and Edinburgh firm, offering
a six per cent. loan of £757,700 for the Republic of
San Domingo at the price of £7O, redeemable at par
in 25 years by an accumulative sinking fund. What
sum Mr. O'Sullivan, who lately arrived in Wash-
ington to negotiate the sale of the Republic to the
United States, asks for the island is not mentioned,
but there is something contradictory in these nego-
tiations. Our old friend Alto Vela again turns up,
and we would like to know what Judge Black and
Mr. Seward have to say about the new claimant.
Alto Vela seems to have no lack of owners, if that
is any encouragement to investors ; but before ac-
cepting the following announcement, it might be ad-
visable to examine a title which is claimed in Spain,
in the United States, in San Domingo, as well as in
England, at least so far as the right of working
it is concerned. "The loan is specially secured
by hypothecation of the Customs' dues, and by
the royalties on the guano deposits of the island of
Alto Vela, for the working of which, together
with the mines and minerals of the Bay of Samana,
an exclusive contract has been granted to Messrs.
Lawson." May we ask--Who by? The Wash-
ington correspondent of the Tribune wrote, on the
16th July :--
"The annexation of the Island of San Domingo to the
United States is admitted to be merely a question of time.
Responsible pers(ns representing the Government of the
island have recently been in Washington for the purpose
cf securing the aid of the Administration in their efforts
to negotiate its absorption. They say that their object
can be accomplished without expenditure, and argue th4tt
the value of the coffee and similar products of Cuba. They
will return when Congress meets to urge their project
before that body."
Notwithstanding that Ohio has received more
than her share of foreign appointments, Secretary
Fish has been induced to alter his intention of giv-
ing that State no more, for Col. C. N. Goulding,
of Ohio, Chief Quartermaster of the 23d Army
Corps during the war, has been appointed Consul
to Hong Kong, China, vice J. J. Allen, of Ohio,
removed ; James R. Weaver, of West Virigina,
has been appointed United States Consul at Brin-
disi ; and L. T. Adams, of New York, has been
appointed Consul at Malta ; we wonder whether
the news of Mr. IVinthrop's death was known when
this appointment was made.
Mr. Grenville-Murray's case has reached the
stage which might have been anticipated when a
man has everybody against him, even the ingenious
savage wielding the Tomahawk: who does not ob-
ject to do some scalping on his own account. Mr.
Murray prided himself ou being diplomatic, and our
opinion is that he was a great deal too diplomatic,
at least as diplomacy was regarded in the olden
time s. Perhaps Mr. Murray holds that words were
given to conceal thoughts and misrepresent acts ;
but this, if ineffectual in keeping him out of a scrape,
has proved even more ineffectual in getting him out
of one. On Thursday Dukes and Lords hurried to
secure a place beside the Marlborough - street
" beak," anxious to see the man who had dared to
vilify their order on the rack. But Mr. Murray
had no fancy to make another exhibition of him-
self to gratify the spleen of his foes, so he
judged it best to proceed to Paris to look after
the son he had spoken of in court in such endear-
ing terms. Pleading an attack of dysentery, certi-
fied to by two medical gentlemen, he remained
in the French metropolis, and his counsel asked that
the case might proceed without him, which Mr.
Knox peremptorily refused, forfeiting his bail, and
issuing a warrant for his arrest. it is in this un-
satisfactory position that the affair has been left,
for we know as little of the conspiracy by which his
opponents triumphed over him as we do of his con-
nection with the Queen's Messenger, and who wrote
what the T imes calls the scurrilous articles. The
I imes, by the way, is highly gratified at this result,
and writes cheerfully to show what a change has
occurred within a generation in public opinion re-
garding offensive personalities in journalism, so
popular not very long ago. There is a newspaper
in the United states which advocates a monarch,
privileged orders, and all the other paraphernalia of
Empire for the Republic. Now, we would suggest
that Mr. Grenville Murray, always presuming that
he has a controlling influence over the Queen's Mes-
senger, should run it in. New York against the Im-
perialist, whereby he would supply the antidote to
the anti-Republican poison of that organ. Mr.
Murray is an able writer, and he has, doubtless,

collected scraps of truth from the histories of " our
hereditary legislators," the gossamer web of which

he knows so well how to spin through a leading

article, the citizens of the United States.might be
furnished with telling illustrations of what a high
order a privileged class becomes, even under the

most favourable circumstances.

The grain crops of the United States ara every-
where good, and all reports agree in predicting the
yield to be one of the most abundant ever known.
California calculates on 30 bushels of uncommonly
fine heavy wheat to the acre ; Georgia's crop is the
best since 1860 ; Texas expects a good wheat as
well as the largest cotton crop ever taken in the
State. The Valley of the Upper Mississippi, lowa,
and Indiana have been retarded by excessive rain,
but the crops are now said to look uncommonly
well. Indiana calculates on 20 bushels of wheat to
the acre. In Arkansas the yields of all kinds will
be excellent ; in New England the crops have

greatly improved, and the hay is unusually heavy,
as it is in Ohio. in parts of New York some fields
of wheat will, it is believed, yield 40 bushels to the
acre, and 50 of barley. Whatever may be the im-

migration there will be food enough for all, and

plenty to spare, the farmers' only fear being as re-

girds the prices in Europe.

The elections in the three unreconstructed States
at present engages most attention. Even now the
point remains unsettled whether the election in
Virginia was a Conservative triumph or not, the
balance of opinion being that it was a Conservative
triumph, because the strongly pronounced Radicals

seem greatly to dislike it. Secretary Boutwell does
not conceal his opposition, predicting danger to the

party with which he is allied, and which he consi-
ders it to be his duty by all honest means to sup-
port. This he plainly told Judge Dent, the Presi-

dent's brother-in-law, when he called to ask the aid
of the Treasury Department in his canvass for the

Governorship of Mississippi. Mr. Walker, the
Governor-Elect of Virginia, is to be sent for the long
term to the United States Senate, and will be suc-
ceeded by Lieut.-Governor Lewis, from whom the
railway corporations anticipate aid, itii4 is announced

to be the scheme at present, but Mr. Walker is taking
his holiday at Binghampton, New York, which he
reached on the 15th inst. The President has issued
two proclamations; the one ordering the election in
Mississippi to be held Nov. 30, the other ordering
the votes in Texas to be taken on the same dal;
the disfranchising clauses were not adopted in the
constitution of the Convention which met at Austin
on the 15th June, and therefore no separate vote i 5
required in Texas. According to the official returns
given by General Canby for the cities of Richmond
and Norfolk and 41 counties of Virginia the votes
were :—For Walker, 58,662 ; for Wells, 54,406;
Walker's majority so far, 4,256. The vote for the
Constitution was 106,922, and against it 3,487. The
majority against the test oath, about 11,000 ; an'
against the disfranchisement clause, about 12,175'
The full official account shows Walker's majoriti
to be but 17,500, and not over 20,000 as said.
General Terry, commanding in Georgia, has for'
warded an official report on the murder of &man°
Adkins in May last. A considerable number Were
concerned in the assassination, five shots were
fired, one by the man who did the act, another hi
Mr. Adkins when the murderer was running away'
and three by confederates. Every effort had been
made to provoke Mr. Adkins into drawing his Pis'
tol, his wife and himself being insulted at the rail-
way station, and insolent remarks uttered within
his hearing. The Senator, when dying, gave the
name of the murderer, but no effort wns made hi
the civil authorities for his arrest, and it is believed,
when he found the military on his track, that he
fled the country. Numerous other outrages are
reported by the officer commanding at IVarrentent
for which no one has been punished. The question
t
how far the military canact constitutionally againe,
civil criminals has been fully argued before Chi'
Justice Chase. He has reserved his decision, an
in the meantime the trial of Yerger proceeds, the
President having informed the Chief Justicei
through the Attorney-General, that no sentence of
a military tribunal will be carried into effect while
the question is pending, and proceedings have bee:
initiated for bringing the whole subject before the
Supreme Court next October.
The Cuban question has again come before the
Washington Administration ; this time the suggest
tion urged on its attention being based on tut,
article which appeared in the London Times, poi°
ing out the axle of the island by the Spaniards ,
be their only prudent means of retreat from a Peel;
tion barely tenable now, but certain soon to becureA
wholly untenable. Commen ting on this, we suggests
D that the Cubans should purchase the island for
themselves, the United States Government merely o
acting as agents for the security of Cuba and
satisfy the honour of Spain. This is about what is
e
urged in Washington, the bonds for the purchnet
money to be endorsed by the United States ; tba
hostilities should cease, and a general election ,0
called to give the people an opportunity of
pressing their view on separation and indePe
dente. It is hoped that the Cabinet will take t/'
the idea, and suggest this course to the Goirerry
meat at Madrid, through General Sickles.
Messrs. Smith, Sundius, and Co. announce that,
the Hamburgh-American steamships to New Pi.,
leans will re-commence their trips in Septeinee
Considering how active trade is again becoming o
the Crescent City, we are surprised that these f/1305
ships did not re-open the line earlier. Vig°r°,o
efforts are being made to establish aline from Eurei„t
direct to Norfolk, Virginia, and it is probable th;
Mobile, or a port near, may soon have a direct cen'nl„„
nication with Europe, of its own. The Eco d'l7o
lia, published in the United States, though half 01
the Italian language, recommends the promotion ,0
emigration from Italy, and a direct steam line
aid it between the Mediterranean and the Souther
fet
States, and indicates as especially suitable a
Italians the States of Virginia, Maryland, Geurg.j n;
and Tennessee. It estimates the number of
in the Republic at 200,000, mainly congregated;
Crystal Springs, on the Mississippi, and at t
California, and speaks of them as owning the 7vg,
kitchen gardens at San Francisco, and of Woo
the fish trade at New Orleans in their hands.
ni,
evident desire of the South is for direct col:1101
cation, but with Southern as well as with Northers
Europe.
Ex-President Roberts, of Liberia, has been drab,
ing large audiences to the Tabernacle in Jersey Citf
to hear lectures on Liberia. Ile gave the hietolliles
the Republic, which he states now controls 600 Into
of coast, extending indefinitely inwards. Net sberiA
arrangement that, as by such means, if 1-11,, of
prospers, it can by degrees claim the whc"
Africa. Already the Republic contains a e, P
lati)n of 600,000, of whom 24,000 are natives,
hit°
swarm in from all quarters to learn what the ht,
men know, with the luxury of having it tang' icor
blacks. The secretary of the Emigration S°c
said that—
" Since its organisation, in 1822, emigrants to the..o,
ber of 20,000 less 50 had been transported by it to Lit
Of this total, 2,234 had been carried during the itiSti or-
years. The society, he said, had one ship, capable °A boa
rying 600 people, by which these transportations be" rkei
effertsd. As to the finances of the society, he real ma
that its average receipts during tho last 20 Yenrl got
reached $72,000 per annum, and that of this total
he
$7,500 were expended upon the orgauisation--le7aiet
would undertake to say, proportionally, than any
society ever expended upon itself." ao to
The object of the address was to procure fane
found a college which could not fail to be ,sr
is
vice in promoting Christianity and civilisation
Africa.
Tivited
There was a time when the prisons of the gi,ieb
States furnished a model to other countries on Nevi
to build and conduct such institutions, but in oaf
York, at least, there has been a sad falling :that
from the original, and some of the gaols °L
We read
State are mostly suggestive of a warning. h pee'
of prisoners having been soused to death With
kets of water, being shot, and subjected to e3Le'aloecl
violence ; at the same time we find the cenavtison
walking out as if their residence in the State .0o
.00
was at their own convenience. Now and t,meus
have a band of culprits and a band of Pei tia
gaged in a free fight, and a policeman s"°or the
prisoner who had surrendered, apparently that
fun of the thing. At Sing Sing we are telic!o
scenes have been enacted which reflected serio
*here
on the management. We should rather thl.l3Loia
had been ; but new scenes are alluded to, an t 7 .00
having been discounted count for nothing. With; cd
mile and a half of the prison there is a villagessent
Sparta, and about a month ago a convict off.
there to purchase liquor ; naturally, he NValvil'itbottO
Other convicts followed, passing to and fro and
molestatiOn, and they appear to make 513ar'forget
its saloon a sort of lounge. A notorious arts,
'0
serving his third term has his wife residing $OOl
whom he constantly visits. On the sth Jul/ eele;
of the convicts chose Sparta as the Place ~,at at,
brats Independence Day, and a drinking I'
li A olr
Kanter's house ended in a general row. tired
streperous negro convict knocked Kanter d:wito;red
walked off in triumph, while a guard enclefulii
to coax him back to prison,an invitation he scorn by 10
declined, saying, that he had a pass signed lovl
Childs chief clerk of Sing Sing to stay es°3l,lo not
as he pleased. The inhabitants of Sparta "
cts, and
°
see the thing in the same light as the cent's"' sticl;
object to have the village made the resor
fnotise
ruffianism. Hence these complaints 0, if true'
which the authorities must investigate, ann,
rectify.

of
BIRTHS. r, skine'
ERSKINE -On the 28th inst., at Cambo, Lady —r
twin daughters. e tV)(11
.
GILFORD—On the 30th lust , at 33, Chester4quar '
Gifford, of a daughter.

MARRIAGES. , gite
PRERE—WixsLow—On the 29th inst. at ..11...11Saloillia(110
Etret-street, John Tudor Frere, 13. A., of the ',7,orbe°
Temple, to Constance, youngest daughter of '
Winslow, M.D., D.0.L., of Cavendish-square- Lao%
Lancaster-gato, Robert Freke Gould, Esq., bag.
GOULD—Gourm - On the 29th inst., at Christ C.4l...fit'
law, to Louisa Mari' daughter of the late GO'
Esq., of Bath.

DEATHS. 9u
re
DAHNE - On the 27th inst., at Richmond, Surrey,
Leopold
On Dahne,
tho 23th Esq., ginstal 6"7 at 64, Lowndes-
. silage'
Du CANE
Sarah Du Cane, aged 78.

vBstO,
Lioonnf dNtoLane.:llP.,ri:ted and Published by WILLIA3I iio
ANDS' a
r;eicitnreatnodf,
the Savoy,Printer, TinHstiaSouNcoOLetye
ofN WILLIANo
Satirday, July 31, 1868