The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-03 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS AMERICAN NEWS.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has a leading article on
Mr. Thomas Rawlings's now famous letter to the
Anglo-American Times, and pays'a well-merited
tribute to Mr. Rawlings's patriotism and modera-
tion. The Inquirer says :—" Thomas Rawlings,
Esq., F.R.G.S., an English merchant and author,
well known among a large circle of the mutual
friends of England and America, has just published
a long and able letter on the Alabama claims, in the
Anglo-American Times, of London. It is a docu-
ment worthy of a wide circulation, especially at the
present time. The Governments of the two coun-
tries could not employ the Atlantic Telegraph better
than by scattering this message of peace broadcast
among them. The writer has resided several years
in this country, engaged in commercial affairs, and
making himself well acquainted with our history
and institutions. His love for our Union was proved
by his giving up one of his sons for the National
army, who won distinction in the field of battle,
and died in our defence. He now comes forward
to plead with both England and America to avail
themselves of the present auspicious moment to
settle differences.

We find from the Philadelphia _lnquirer that
Madame Buonaparte met with a painful accident on
the evening of -the 6th August, when descending'the
stairs of her residence in Baltimore. Missing her
step she fell forward, breaking one of the small
bones in her right wrist, and bruising her forehead.
Dr. Reilley and Professor Smith were called in, when
the injury was found to be more painful than
serious, though three or four weeks may be required
to restore her to health. Though advanced in years
her mind is as strong and clear as ever, and she en-
joys remarkably good health. This lady is widow
of the late Jerome Buonaparte, sister-in-law of
Napoleon 1., and aunt of the present Emperor of the
French.

No man has a right to a gift, yet there are no
rights so boldly claimed, and which form such hot
subjects for disputes, and give rise to such heart-
burnings, especially if the gifts come from the Go-
vernment. The Soldiers' Bounty Bill extends a
boon to theland forces which the sea force can see
no reason should not also include them. Indeed

Congress may as well be prepared to extend the
boon, and stop the clamour raised by the late law in
relation to bounties. It has stirred up all the old
soldiers in the country, and disappointed the sailors.
The latter seem to suppose that they ought to have
some part in the distribution, and they are bothering
the officers of the Department fearfully by bluff in-
quiries as to when they are to get their pay. Now
this law does not apply to men in the naval service.
It only refers to soldiers, and to no, others than
those who enlisted and served for two or three years,
and did not receive more than $lOO bounty. It has
no application to a vast number of soldiers, who
should understand as much, and relieve themselves
from trouble and disappointment. Furthermore, it
is just to every oue who may think that he has a
claim, to say, that he must be patient. There are
preliminaries to be settled, and forms to be agreed
upon, which require consultation and adjustment.
In good time the Treasury will be ready to pay the
extra bounty, and when it is every one will know.
The Philadelphia Inquirer expresses a different
opinion from that generally entertained in Europe
of the intentions of the Empress of Mexico, and of
the purpose attributed to the Emperor of abandon-
ing his empire if his wife's mission fails, and joining
her in Europe. " The Empress of Mexico," says
this journal, "having gene to Europe to endeavour
to act as a female diplomatist among the busy
sovereigns, we have the usual rumours that she will
never come back, and that her husband is preparing
to follow her, and will leave the country by the Ist
of November. There is not the least foundation
for the latter assertion in anything that has been
proclaimed officially. Even Senor Romero, who is
prolific in happy despatches from Chihuahua, and
other places, and who, as soon as he receives any
intelligence from Mexico runs with it to Mr. Seward,
who gravely files it, and thanks him for the infor-
mation, does not pretend to have received anything
as satisfactory. Maximilian is, no doubt, in a bad
way, but he has given no signs of succumbing to the
difficulties which meet him at every step. His de-
cree for a draft to fill up the army shows that he I
will make desperate efforts to retrieve the weaken-
ing effects of the withdrawal of French troops.' He
may fail in that object, but he will not give up until
the opposition aroused against him is so great that
he is no longer secure of his personal safety."
The movements of Queen Emma furnish lengthy
details for the New York papers—her Majesty's visit
to Greenwood Cemetery, the Brooklyn Navy-yard,
the tour round the bay, the address of Major
Hoffman, her Majesty's lunch, and her Majesty's
supper. Her Majesty was struck with the contrast
between the swift, ingenious ferry boats plying be-
tween Brooklyn and New York, and the clumsy,
dirty, and ill-shaped steamers encumbering the over-
crowded Thames. Did her Majesty ever travel in
a Thames penny-boat, and how was the startling
apparition of royalty received on board ? had her
Majesty any American drinks in her American
progresses ? There is a more striking contrast,
and one of which we doubt not she would be a
better judge between English and American drinks
than between the ferry-boats. If the Round Table
is to be believed, American ladies are no mean
judges of cock-tails and juleps ; and her Majesty is
said to have been born in New York. The world owes
more than it has ever acknowledged to the inven-
tion of these " delicious novelties," as " our Mr.
D. D. Wilson," of Great Eastern Hotel notoriety
in Calcutta, describes them. We know what we
think of American drinks, and the sooner the art
of concocting these refreshing beverages is more
generally spread the better. An American bar
has been opened in Leicester-square, and we have
no doubt that a greater tide of population will
drift in that direction. Queen Emma is the
daughter of a Scotchman named Rooke, engaged
in trade ia Honolulu. She is said to be a native
of New York, reared in Hawaii, where her attractive
appearance excited a tender sentiment in the repre-
sentative of the old cannibal dynasty, who raised
her to a place on his throne. Her husband,
Kamehaha Lililiho IV., died two or three years
ago. She is therefore a dowager, and her royalty
represents but a reminiscence of the past.
Governor Denison has written a long letter inreply
to one from Oliva A. Morse, George B. Ripley, and
others, in explanation of the reasons why he retired
from the Cabinet. He contrasts his own rearing,
being taught from his earliest infancy to regard
slavery as a great moral, social, political wrong,
with that of the President, born in the South, him-
self once a slave holder, and a member of the
Democratic party which maintained the right of
slavery, and the duty of Government to support it.
In spite of differences, he assumed that the Presi-
dent would accept the reconstruction action of
Congress, and he neither looked forward to a breach.
between the Cabinet 'and President, nor between the
President and Congress. He believed in all being
equally sincere in their loyalty to the Union Re-
publican party, to whom they were alike indebted
for their official positions. Mr. Denison goes on
to detail the manner in which the President gradually
became influenced, and the means brought to bear
on him. He details the measures in which he
differed, and finally comes to the main point, the
reconstruction question. "It cannot be over-
looked," he says, " that in the controversy between
the President and Congress on the subject of recon-
struction, Congress has displayed a more concilia-
tory spirit. Indeed, the concessions have been
wholly on its part, the President not having
yielded anything." Again he states, " Never in the
conduct of any Government towards its rebellious
people have such generous forbearance and mag-
nanimity been shown as has marked the action of
Congress towards those who sought the overthrow
of our Government, and whose ingratitude displayed
in their persistent assaults upon Congress, and in
their savage treatment of the Freedmen and Union
citizens of the South, is little less a crime than their
open treason against the Government."
Nothing was wanted in opening the great Phi-
ladelphia Convention to add to the impressiveness
of the scene. Union was the object professed by
the delegates, the greater part of whom are among
the most celebrated soldiers and politicians of both
Northern and Southern States. To symbolise a