The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-18 00:00:00

the national love for military glory. NAPOLEON
has, therefore, shown his usual sagacity and discri-
mination in refusing to make the threatening aspect
assumed by the States towards Mexico a casus
belli. Perhaps, too, he thinks that MAXI-
MILIAN'S cause will be best served by a
temporary withdrawal of his avowed support. It
is the presence of European troops on their conti-
nent which chafes the pride and arouses the suscep-
tibility of the American people; and when this cause
for irritation is removed the Emperor of the FRENCH
may possibly believe that the Mexican throne will
be left undisturbed, or that the Cabinet of Wash-
ington and the advisers of MAXIMILIAN will be able
to settle their differences amicably. At least the
bugbear of the Monroe doctrine will not be so pro-
minently brought forward ; and as the resolutions
adopted by the Congress referred especially to the
maintenance of a Government on the American soil
by force of arms, the Cabinet of Washington, if it
chooses to adopt a conciliatory policy towards
Mexico, may easily reply to the resolutions by the
information that the obnoxious foreigners no
longer uphold the throne of Mexico in defiance of
the wishes of the Mexican people. That people,
like mother peoples, may very well be left to
settle their internal affairs for themselves, and
MAximILIAN and the Republicans may decide
their differences without friendly interference
from either Europe or America. It is said,
on the one hand, that Envoys from MAXI3II-
LIAN are at Washington seeking for recog-
nition, and, on the other, that recruiting offices for
the Mexican Republican army have been opened in
several towns of Texas. These recruits are to be
commanded by Generals WALLACE and LOGAN, and
their object would be to expel the Imperialists. It
is manifest that Mexican affairs cannot remain in
statu quo, but that some definite arrangement and
understanding must be come to in the interests of
all parties. Such indeed appears to be the convic-
tion at Washington, and now that the reply of M.
DROCYN DE LHUTS to Mr. BIGELOW has so far
simplified matters, Mr. JOHNSON'S Government has
only to direct its attention to MAXIMILIAN himself,
who, if he is wise, will endeavour as far as possible
to conciliate his dangerous neighbours.

It was not probable, scarcely, indeed, possible,

that such terrific storms as have lately visited our
coasts should not have done more than ordinary
damage ; but the list of casualties which we have
published during the last few days must have
startled the most indifferent. Yesterday morning
the fearful intelligence of the foundering of the
steamship London in the Bay of Biscay with more
than 200 souls on board, was heard with general
consternation, and before the regret and horror of
all classes had half found expression, the news
reaches us of the total loss of the Royal Albert
in Bute Bay, Cornwall, with every soul on
board ! Beside these catastrophes, the mere
loss of vessels like the Amalia or the Christiana,
which at other times would seem to be serious dis-
asters, become absolutely insignificant. Even
the numerous wrecks and perils, involving the loss
of :several lives, sink into comparative unimport-
ance. The calamities must rank in the record of
maritime disasters with the losses of the Royal
Charter, the Amazon, and the Birkenhead, not with
any ordinary shipwrecks. The Royal Albert was
just nearing home, after a long voyage, but the
London had not long left port. It was on the first
day of the new year, which was to the crew
and passengers to be such a brief one,
that the vessel steamed down the Channel
on her way to Plymouth, where she took up some
of her passengers. Judging from the melancholy
result, it may well be asked whether under such
circumstances captains would not be justified in
detaining their vessels rather than risk the safety of
their passengers in exceptionally dangerous weather.
It was only on the Bth that the London cleared
the land, and it was on the 10th, after
the gale had at one sweep carried off jibboom, fore-
topmast, gallant, and royal masts, and even blown
the main royal mast completely out of its socket,
that Captain MARTIN gave orders to put the
ship back for Plymouth. It was too late,
and after skill and seamanship, and, still
better, unfailing courage and unfaltering
devotion to duty could do had been done, the
solemn duty fell to the brave commander to tell his
passengers that no hope remained. The manner
in which he made this appalling communication,
and in which they received it, does honour to the
nglish name. With calmness, which could not be
indifference, while little children were clinging to
their parents' knees with resignation which could
not be hypocritical—while they stood on the
threshold of the presence of the ALMIGHTY JUDGE,
with courage which could not be bravado, with the
solemn words of prayer on their lips, these men and
women heard that life was to them a question of
minutes or hours—aud this was no temporary excite-
For four hours the vessel held on, and a few
men, under the guidance of the chief engineer, deter-
mined to try the last chances of a boat. These
few, after undergoing great risks, are all that
remain of the 270 souls that sailed with the London.
Captain MARTIN died, as he had lived, at the post
of duty, and with him went down this great com-
pany of human beings, leaving hundreds of friends,
no doubt, to mourn their untimely loss, yet giving
their country cause to feel proud of their children,
even while she regrets that so great a sacrifice has
been required of her.

meat.