The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-17 00:00:00

commercial interests if American ships are Halt
to be stripped of their necessary hands on sue",
pretexts. We have had one war for "sailors' rights,:
and our people will never acquiesce in the slighte.9
encroachment by any foreign power whatever.
Prussia must be made to give up the man, and to
apologise for the gross insult to our flag.

Indications of a Closer Intercourse between
England and America.

It is interesting to watch the growth of the con-
nection between America and the mother-country.
First, we have the revival of trade—commodities
beginning toflow again into their old channels, With
all the intimate relations grounded on so enormous
a barter. Gradually, the number of steamers Or
ing between the great ports increases. Line is added
to line ; yet the increase of passengers outstrips the
increase of accommolation. Americans re-aPrsr,
in numbers in English society—great hotels are lai"
out expressly to secure their custom, and the fashion-
able shops begin to feel the weight of their patron-
age. The Great Eastern starts on her enterprise,
and ends, triumphantly, in-establishing telegraphic
communication between London and New York
not one, but two cables. By degrees we begin t°
feel the influence of the change. American inven-
tions, American notions, American drinks, are
again coming prominently forward. Five-twenties
rise into a favourite investment, and capitalists seek
for iaformation about American railways. We
noticed last week the foundation of one of those
houses which have succeeded so admirably in Paris
—a great American agency, placed in a central
spot where Americans most congregate, and over'
shadow ed by the Langham Hotel, is likely soon to
become the rendezvous of all the most prominent
Americans whom business, or even pleasure, mu/
bring to London. A business already so Well-
known, and whose ramifications are so extensive 165
that of Gilead A. Smith, will have little difficult/
in forming the wide connection indispensable to the
success of such an undertaking. We will not just
now allude further to this establishment, so novel
in this country ; and we mention it only as a strik-
ing instance of the growth of the intimacy between
England and America. As swallows portend
summer, so are these signs significant of 0°
friendly bonds which arc uniting these nations.
The best proof a keen man of business can give in
his strong belief that the tendency is towards pence'
good-will, and close alliance, is to invest in under'
takings which must depend mainly for success,
on this result. The civilised world has had
its period of repose between periods of exhaust'
ing warfare. From Waterloo to the Alma the
great nations of the earth had been in compara-
tive peace. From the Crimea to the present del
each of the • great nations has in its turn been
convulsed with war. We may now fairly hope that
a period of profound peace is again dawning. The
United States had determined on the extinction o.`,
slavery, and slavery could only be extinguished 11
war. The fight has been fought, slavery has
extinguished, and however bitter may be the poll'
tical questions which have arisen from so astound'
ing a change in society, it is to the last degree
probable that a people which professes to have more
brains than that of any other on earth will enter nu;
a second period of self-annihilation for an object
which does not require war for its elucidation.
England has ceased to meddle, and is not likely t°
be again a player in the wicked and unprofitable
game. The resources of America are only begin'
ning to be developed. It is the grand field f°r
capital, for enterprise, for the untrammelled energy
of bone and sinew. The emigrant resources of Ire"
land are dwindling to insignificance, while those °i;
England are increasing, and much good may result
from the introduction into America of a BUperi°r
class of English mechanics and labourers. Alpe-
rican travellers in England, and English emi-
grants in America will have a AN"
effect in moulding the opinions of these na-
tions, speaking the same language, in assimilating
institutions, and in correcting the erroneous idess
which mostly proceed from ignorance of each other:
If the countries knew each other intimately hostile
criticisms would be heard no more, or be heard 1019
from quarters where they would meet with nothing
but contempt. The unbounded love and fraternitY
professed between despotic Russia and Republica'll
America is a mere farce. These nations have liLl'le
or nothing in common, while the mother country
and her great offspring are bound by every tie e,.
kindred, language, laws, and institutions—not to
mention enormous material interests. That Ame-
rica should pass by England to rush into the ems,
braces of Russia is as absurd, not to say unnaturt
as an Englishman rushing past a Yankee into tuiu
arms of a Chinaman. We hope soon to see the e'
hold
of these theatrical follies, and that we may
towards each other the position clearly indicated P.'„
Providence.—Angle-American Times.