The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-13 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON, FRIDAY: EVENING, SEPTEMBER 13, 1861

THE SUN.

LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPT. 13, 1861.

We are at last distinctly informed by a corre-
spondent from America,
on whose categorical state-
ments we are accustomed to rely, that the mysteri-
ous naval armament which left Fort Monroe a
short time ago is destined to perfect the blockade
and to put down privateering on the North
Carolina coast. If our readers, who may not have
noticed the fact before, will glance at any map of
the United States of sufficient size—Mr. WYLD'S
,g Military Map of the United States," published to
illustrate the present state of things, is a good one
—they will see that along the greater part of the
eastern coast, and also along the shores of the Gulf
of Mexico, there are curious lines of sandbanks,
with lagunes between them and the shore, contain-
ing frequently water deep enough for coast navi-
gation, and with numerous outlets to the ocean.
These sandbanks are generally sufficiently high to
form long narrow islands, and they now are an
admirable shelter for the privateers of the Southern
States, and for vessels which are watching to run
the blockade of the principal ports.
One
line of iliaftnhasechief of these is the long narrow
: below
sandbanks which extend from
about 50
milealong the coast of
the bay of Chesapeake all
North Carolina. In one part
they inclose almost
a
inland sea, called
Pamlico Sound, within which811
are numerous rivers

and creeks, adapted well for inland traffic, and
in one part connected with a railway, which
branches out through all the principal seceding
States to New Orleans itself, and also " down South"
;to Georgia. A considerable number of vessels
have run the blockade accordingly through the
great facilities afforded by several entrances, and the
privateers have safely lain in wait there to pounce
on their prey, and as easily returned to dispose of
their prizes. The naval expedition is intended, Mr.
RUSSELL tells us, to put an end to all this. Pamblico
Sound is a suitable watching place for the trade of
New York itself, to say nothing of Pennsylvania ;
but the expedition is to stop up the entrances large
enough for ships to enter, by sinking in them
vessels loaded with stones. It is also to destroy the
forts erected along the coasts by the rebels in de-
fence of the privateering, and when the work is
completed at Pamlico Sound it is to perform similar
operations on the coast of the same character fur-
ther south.

It is intended thus, not only to check privateer-
ing, but to distress the rebels by cutting them off
from the sea. Nor is the sea only to be closed to
them, but it would seem that General SCOTT'S ori-
ginal plan is to be completed by taking possession
of the Mississippi down to New Orleans. General
FREMONT has charge of this task. He is now, as
our readers may remember, on that river, having
the defence of St. Louis and of Cairo under
his care, and also a rapidly increasing army.
It is highly probable that all the
great North-Western States will join cordially
in strengthening his army, as the Mississippi is
their chief high road to the ocean ; and they :have
shown themselves most strongly opposed to secession,
because they would never consent that the South
should command their route to the sea. They would
then be in nearly the same position as England
would, if France could at once command our over-
land and our Cape of Good Hope routes to India.
It is said that he is to have a powerful flotilla of
steam gunboats on the river, with an army to march
by land; that the naval and land force is to be
sufficient to sweep the shores of forts or earthworks,
and that another force is at the same time to ascend
the Mississippi. If the Government can find sol-
diers and ships of war during this autumn, suffi-
cient for such a comprehensive scheme as this, they
will doubtless much distress the Southern States.
They will be able neither to buy nor sell abroad,
and their strength will be almost cut asunder by
the Mississippi expedition.
All the accounts speak of great vigour at Wash-
ington and in the departments generally. The
President seems to be quietly looking to every-
thing, and encouraging all. M'CL ELLAN has
quite changed the face of things at Washington,
and even the volunteers, when they have been
accustomed to the necessary discipline for awhile,
feel and acknowledge its advantage. The army
is being weeded of the discontented among the
privates who enlisted when they thought that to
go a soldiering was little more than to " have a
spree at the public expense ;" and the incompetent
civilian officers are also got rid of as rapidly as
possible. The numbers on both sides are still re-
ported to be large; the North know that they
will probably have little if at all under 400,000
men, while th'y themselves estimate their anta-
gonists at 300,000. There may be exag-
geration or not, but though the North knows
next to nothing of what is going on twenty
miles or even ten miles south of the Potomac, the
probability is that they c6re not far wrong in their
guesses. At the last moment it is not in the power
of the North to divine whether North or South
will be the first to attack on the great scale. There
still seems to be some 'apprehension that the South
meditates an attempt, on Washington, and is con-
centrating a large force with that view on the west
side of the city; of course as yet on the south side
of the Potomac.

In civil matters the Government is acting with
great energy. That at least is the name given in
America to acting without law; to seizing and
extinguishing hostile newspapers, and arresting
without legal formalities all suspected persons.
The PRESIDENT and the republic seem to be imi-
tating, as closely as they can, the vigour of Louis
I NAPOLEON immediately after the coup d'etat. The
mob, of course, does not choose to see itself outdone
by the regular authorities, and therefore takes into
its own hands the suppression of some of the ob-
noxious papers. Any law, it seems, may be
trampled on, but the laws which trample on the
first rights of the negro.

It is a generally acknowledged fact that we live
in an age of reform, that old prejudices are ignored,
and common sense and justice take the place of
antiquated foibles. Many important alterations
have of late years taken place both in the civil and
criminal statutes. The new Divorce Court settles
matrimonal matters, t.ni enables the poor, as well
as the rich, to dissolve an uncongenial union. The
County Courts enable a tradesman to recover money
from unwilling debtors without the delay and the
expense of a suit at Westminster Hall. Our
metropolitan stipendiary magistrates and those
in our principal provincial towns perform their
duties so ably that on more than one occa-
sion the grand jury have declared their office a
sinecure, and requested to be discharged. Why
then, when the system of paid magistrates is
found to be so a dvantagetus in cities, should not
the same practice be carried out in the country ?
Why should not the same justice be meted to the
agriculturist which is vouchsafed to the mechanic ?
Why should thy; one be under the dominion of
an ignorant conceited landlord, who from his
very position entertains a biassed opinion, and
whose only ideas of law are derived from his
clerk, who will distort to the utmost any legal
enactments, to snit the views of his superior, and
the other be dealt with according to law and justice
by a barrister of known talent and probity.
Cases of ignorance and illegality so often occur
among our county magistrates that it is almost
needless to cite any particular instances, but two
have lately come under our notice which will de-
monstrate the necessity of a complete reform in this
too long tolerated absurdity. We quote from the
South Eastern Gazette

" A poor shabbily-dressed widow, named Julia Garra-
way, who had her child, about six years of age, with her,
was charged before the county magistrates at Rochester (the
Rev. J. J. Marsham and Mr. Day) with having stolen
four small turnips, worth less than one penny, from a field
belonging to Mr. R. Tassel!, Snarridge Farm. The poor
woman admitted that she took up the turnips, which were
lying on the ground, with the intention of eating them ;
two of them were so filled with insects that she threw them
away. Just as she was about to eat the other two she was
pounced upon by one of the farm men, who, by direction of
the prosecutor, had her removed to the station-house, where
she and her child were kept in custody the whole day and
all night. The two turnips found on her were produced,
and were very small. The prisoner pleaded hard to bo for-
given, as she took them to satisfy her hunger, having just
come from London. The magistrate, however, ordered her
to pay a penalty, including costs, of 7s. 2d., and in default
committed her for seven days' hard labour. As the priso-
ner had no money, the magistrates desired her to pay the
fine and costs on her return from hop-picking, which she
vehemently promised to do."
In this case the woman only did what hundreds
of others would have done, although not actuated
by hunger. We have a precedent in Scripture to
justify eating corn in passing through
? rougli a fi
e
turnips more sacred than eaTherewl d' Are
turnips s evi-
re

deutly an animus in the prosecution, and any sen-
sible magistrate would have inflicted a nominal
fine, and thrown the costs on the prosecutor,
but the Rochester Justices have their own way of
doing business ; the woroan is condemned to pay
a penalty, including costs, of 7s. 2d., and as the
costs would fall on the prosecutor if she went to
prison she is told to pay the fine when she can.
Is not such conduct enough to make EDWARD
THE FIRST (the English Justinian) arise from his
grave and impeach the Ministry. This case is
bad enough, but let our readers reserve their
indignation for the following extemporary juris-
diction of the magistrates of the St. Augustine
petty sessions at Whitstable :
" James Parker, 13 years of age, employed as herd boy,
in the service of Mr. John Saddletoa, of Whitstable, was
charged at the St. Augustine's' petty sessions, on Saturday
last, with having stolen 20 apples, value 6d., the property
of his master, who stated that the defendant and other boys
were continually stealing the fruit out of his orchard on the
Sunday. Defendant said he was guilty of stealing the apples,
and he was very sorry for what he had done. The bench or-
dered him to pay a fine of 6d., the value of the apples, and Bs.
costa, or to be imprisoned for three days. The clerk po nted out
that the three days' imprisonment would expire on Monday
morning at seven o'clock, and therefore it would be very
little punishment. The chairman thought it would be
quite equal to the offence. He, for one, was of opinion that
boys of the defendant's age got more harm than good in
prison. The defendant was then asked if he would autho-
rise his master to pay the money, to which he replied in the
negative, saying he would prefer going to prison for three
days. It then transpired that in the event of the defendant
going to gaol the master would have to pay the costs of the
hearing, whereupon the bench inquired if they had power
to alter their decision. The clerk said he apprehended they
could, prbvided they did so before the court rose. The
magistrates then altered the term of imprisonment from
three to seven days. This term had its effect on the boy,
who at once elected to pay the fine and costs, and empow••
ered his master to advance it out of the wages then due."

No comment is required on this case; unless
the prisoner misconduct himself in court the
bench has no power to extend the term of im-
prisonment or to augment the fine after sentence
has once been passed. In a criminal court, if the
accused be not represented by counsel, the Judge
either requests some member of the Bar to watch
the case on his behalf, or himself cross-
examines the witnesses in favour of the prisoner.
Our Cumberland worthies, however, have their
own views of legislation. The magistrates after
consulting their clerk, who has about as much
knowledge of law as his prejudiced superior,
violate one of the most important prerogatives of
the people. It is in the power of the Crown to
pardon, but not to convict. A magistrate can
mitigate a sentence, but not augment it unless
there be an aggravation of the offence, and cer-
tainly not to save the prosecutor from liability.
We express indignation at the way in which the
continental police execute the requirements of
despotic sovereigns, but overlook entirely
the injustice daily perpetrated in our
own land of Constitutional Government. We
do not wish to destroy our county magistracy
at one fell swoop; there are many clever and use-
ful men to be found amongst their number. But if
it be necessary for a letter carrier to pass an exami-
nation, before the Post-office authorities will trust
him with the delivery of letters, should not the
individual who has the liberties of the inhabitants
of an extensive district, to a certain extent, under
his control be obliged to pass an examination as to
his knowledge of law and his general education, so
that the examiners might determine whether Mr.
VAST ACRES was a competent man to see justice done
to all coroers,or was, as is too often the case, a preju-
diced game preserving uneducated nobody, who, as
in the cases referred to above, has to consult the
clerk as to what is legal and what is not.
What is required to remove this injustice is
the appointment of local stipendiary magistrates,
not requiring that they should of necessity be bar-
risters, but, if not, that they should pass an exami-
nation; and the only bar to an individual writing
J.P. after his name should be that he was in holy
orders, for no clergyman should ev6r sit on the
magisterial bench. For not only are clergymen
unfitted, both from education and habits, from
understanding the true bearing of legal com-
plexities, but, if sharp enough to enter upon them,
they must neglect the duties which at their ordi-
nation they have sworn to fulfil.

The American Slavery question has come under
warm discussion in a place where we should hardly
have thought it would be more than a matter of
casual conversation—in tho old city of CALVIN—
Geneva. It seems that Sir CULLING EARDLEY'S
Society, the Evangelical Alliance, has been holding
a meeting in the town—and that many English-
men and some American clergymen and Doctors of
Divinity were there too. The latter have taken it
somewhat in dudgeon that the English people
should be so " wanting in sympathy," as the
phrase is, with the North in its great diffi-
culty, and they try hard to show that they
have claims on our sympathy. Let us hear
them. The correspondent of a contemporary
gives the representations of one American D.D.
thus :—" Dr. BAIRD eulogised the past forbearance
and present activity of the Washington Cabinet,
and in vindication of its policy in not declaring
against slavery, said that, in addition to its being
contrary to the Constitution, such a step would
cut of all hope of regaining the eleven 'Southern
States that had seceded; would risk the loss of
the four frontier States, whose influence on the
South might be brought to bear hereafter; and
would, moreover, lead to the danger of a servile
war on the pin of the slaves. It was for
these reasons that the Government refrained
from declaring the abolition of slavery.
They did, however, take one step in that direc-
tion, by receiving fugitive slaves within the lines
of the United States army, and emancipating
those belonging to disloyal citizens. It would be
hard war, and if they could not regain the Southern
States they must make peace and do the best
they could with them. But they wanted English
sympathy and English prayers, and to be left free
from interference by European Governments. In
concluding Dr. BAIRD complained that the articles
in the Times had done infinite mischief in Ame-
rica, and he also complained of observations made
at the Cheever meeting in London, from which
it would be inferred that the North was not sincere
in its hostility to slavery.

We acknowledge the difficulty in which the
North is placed ; but the words we have italicised
justify our want of sympathy. In what possible
way can it appeal to that deep feeling on the sub-
ject of slavery which is cherished by every Eng-
lishman, that the North should prefer to regain the
eleven States as Slave States. We think such a
desire the disgrace of the North. Sympathy with
it is impossible.
Lest we should not do full justice to these
claimants on our sympathy, we add the re-
marks of another clergyman :—" An address
was read by the Rev. Mr. PRIEST, from New
Jersey, who, after complaining of the cold-
ness manifested by the mother country
towards her daughter at the hour of trouble, pro-
ceeded to argue that the question of slavery was at
the root of the American war. The Federal Go-
vernment, however, had no political right to de-
clare the entire abolition of slavery in the diffe-
rent States, which were to a great extent
independent of each other; and if it was contended
that it ought to fall back upon the moral right, the

argument would apply to England as much as to
the American Government itself; and Great Britain
would be bound by force of arms to suppress slavery
in the Southern States. He desired no sympathy
from Great Britain in regard to the politicalaspect
of the question, but he confidently asked for her
sympathy and her prayers in respect to its moral
aspect as involving the great question of human
freedom."

What moral law requires us to go to war with
any Government on account of its bad institutions
Mr. PRIEST has not even suggested. We submit
that, when, if he be right, an immoral institution
has generated a civil war, those who are respon-
sible for the peace of the country both have a poli-
tical right, and lie under a moral obligation to up-
root the evil. The moral obligation is that of doing
equal justice to all men under the government, and
the political position gives them a political right
to enforce observance of the moral duty. We re-
peat what we have said before, that England cannot
sympathise with a people who defy her commerce
by a hostile tariff, and her conscience by an incur-
able proclivity to slaveholders. •
The Americans were told somewhat sensibly by
Sir Cu LLIN G EARDLEY that if it could only be shown
that the question of slavery was identified with the
North, in spite of the Times or any other portions
of the periodical press, the sympathies of England
would be at its back. But there must be
good grounds for the belief. If any act could
be done by the Northern Government to
commit it against slavery, as far as it could
constitutionally got it would greatly strengthen
the hands of their friends in England. He should
be glad to hear that every slave coming within
the boundaries cf the Northern States was de-
clared ipso facto a free man. This, however,
would be far too great a step for our
freedom-loving American friends, and a gentle-
man in the meeting stated that such was not
the declared intention of the American Go-
vernment ; and that the " compensation" pro-
mised to loyal owners of fugitive slaves referred
only to the time for which the latter might be de-
tained."

This is correct. Mr. LINCOLN has been scrupu-
lously careful to avoid the possibility of its being
thought that the liberation of his coloured fellow-
Americans from bondage was any part of his
patriotic projects.

FESTIVAL OF THE THREE CHOIRS.

HEREFORD, THURSDAY.

The second miscellaneous concert last night showed a
growing accession of numbers in the audience, but no im-
provement in their punctuality. The number of tickets
shown at the doors of the concert-room was 411, among
whom were members of most of the fashionable and county
families, to say nothing of the unknown visitors. As there
are no second price seats at these concerts (except on the
occasion of the first concert on Tuesday evening) the return
must have been satisfactory. The programme included
numerous old favourites, which, although well worn, are
always revived with a welcome from a mixed audience.

The weather was again delightful to-day, and carriages
began to roll in at an early hour. The morning service at
the cathedral was well attended ; the service was Croft in A,
and the anthem, " We will rejoice," from the same pen.
Mr. Done, of Worcester, took the organ this morning, as
he has at each of the early morning services ; Mr. Amott,
of Gloucester, taking the instrument for the oratorio. The
programme for this morning was a varied one—a portion of
Haydn's " Seasons" (spring), with Mozart's " Requiem,"
and Mendelssohn's " Hymn of Praise." Mdlle. Titiens
sang this morning in the " Requiem," and this no doubt
tended to draw an accession of visitors, for the cathedral
was completely filled. We believe the lady (who is only
engaged professionally for the evening concerts) gave her
services gratuitously this morning. The cathedral was
crowded.

The returns show that the number present reached 1,240,
against 661 yesterday, and the amount collected for the
charity was £221 10s. 5d., being also a considerable increase
on yesterday's receipts.

To-night nearly every seat is taken foi the concert. Bene-
dict's cantata of " Undine" is the principal musical attrac-
tion. The " Messiah," as usual, follows to-morrow morn-
ing, and that also will, without doubt, fill the cathedral, so
that the success of the meeting is certain.

CHESS MAP& BY ELECTRIC

TELEGRAPH.

The consultation game by Lord Lyttelton, Capt. H. A.
Kennedy, and Mr. J. Lowenthal, at the Bristol Athenaeum,
on the one part, and Mr. A. Mongredien and two leading
members of the London Chess Club, on the other, which
was appointed to take place last evening at Ries's Divan,
in the Strand, came off, as announced, but with a modifi-
cation of the arrangements, caused by the illness of Lord
Lyttelton, whose place at Bristol was supplied by Sir John
Blunden. The wires of the Telegraph Company were placed
in requisition for this and for six other games, which were
carried on simultaneously. The Bristol players in the
single-handed matches were Messrs. Medley, Fedder,
Kling, Horwitz, Pullen, and Waight. On the part of
London the Rev. G. A. Macdonnell, Capt. J. Cunningham,
Mr. Burdon, Mr. Heeley, Mr. G. H. Mackenzie, and Mr.
Warmald, entered the lists. The umpire at Ries's Divan
was Mr. SeHe, the police-magistrate ; while the correspond-
ing post at Bristol was filed by Mr. S. S. Boden. In the
consultation game the time was limited, each side being
allowed two hours for 24 moves. In the single-handed
matches no limit of time was laid down, but every player
was requested to make all his moves as promptly as pos-
sible. Of course all the fixed rules of the game were ob
served, as if the contents had been carried on over the
board in the ordinary manner. The play was to have
opened generally at seven o'clock ; but the telegraph did not
get fairly into action until half-past, when the first move in
the consultation game was flash©d from London to Bristol.
It soon became apparent that the game between Messrs
Burdon and Kling would be exceedingly interesting. The
rapid development of each game, too, was most gratifying,
two moves a minute being the average rate at which the
telegraph worked. The characteristics of each game can
only be briefly indicated here. At the opening Mr. Burden
offered the gambit, which his opponent declined ; Mr.
Warmald opened against Mr. Waight, with a" Ruy Lopez
Knight's game." In the match between Messrs. Cunning-
ham and Fedder, Bristol began in the usual way, and was
met by the Sicilian defence. The game between Messrs.
Heeley andillorwitz opened irregularly, and that between
Messrs. Macdonnell and Medley was a Scotch gambit.
Messrs. Mackenzie and Pullen's game opened with the
centre gambit ; and the consultation match was distin-
guished by the Petroff defence, in reply to London's open-
ing with the King's Knight's attack. Up to a very late
hour but one result was attained, Mr. Mackenzie having
checkmated Mr. Pullen. The consultation match seemed
farthest of all from a conclusion. The majority of the games
were going str• ,ngly in favour of London. Mr. Cunning-
ham also won on behalf of London. The other single •
banded games were drawn. The consultation game was
drawn, on a proposition from London.

A GIIOST STORY.—Among the friends of my
family was a young Swiss lady, who, with an only brother,
had been left an orphan in her childhood. She was brought
up, as well as her brother, by an aunt; and the children,
thus thrown very much upon each other, became very
strongly attached. At the age of 22 the youth got some
appointment in Tndia, and the terrible day drew near whm
they must part. I need not describe the agony of per-
sons so circumstanced. But the mode in which these two
sought to mitigate the anguish of separation was singular.
They agreed that if either should die before the
young man's return, the dead should appear to the living.
The youth departed. The young lady by-and-by mar-
ried a Scotch gentleman, and quitted her home to be the
light and ornament of his. She was a devoted wife,
but she never forgot her brother. She corres-
ponded with him regularly, and her brightest days
in all the year were those which brought letters
from India. One cold winter's day, two or three years after
her marriage, she was seated at work near a large bright
fire, in her own bedroom upstairs. It was about mid-day,
and the room was full of light. She was very busy, when
some strange impulse caused her to raise her
head and look around. The door was slightly
open, and near the large antique bed stood a
figure, which she, at a glance, recognised as that of her
brother. 'With a cry of delight she started up, and ran
forward to meet him, exclaiming, " Oh, Henry ! How
could you surprise me so You never told me you were
coming !" But he waved his hand sadly, in a way that
forbade approach, and she remained rooted to the spot. He
advanced a step - towards her, and said, in a low
soft voice, "Do you remember our agreement! I
have come to fulfil it ;" and approaching nearer he laid his
hand on her wrist. It was icy cold, and the touch made her
shiver. Her brother smiled, a faint sad smile, and, again wav-
ing his hand, turned and left the room. When the lady reco-
vered from a long swoon there was a mark on her wrist,
which never left it to her dying day. The next mail from
India brought a letter, informing her that her brother had
died on the very day, and at the very hour, when he pre-
sented himself to her in her room,—Dickens's " the
Year Bound,"

L !t•-•
A A I-, 1 • f 4.4
. •

PARIS, SEPT. 13.

The Moniteur of to-day publishes the usual
monthly return of the Bank of France, which
shows the following resulis, as compared with the
August return :

DECREASE.

Cash in hand .. . .
Bills discounted, not yet due
Bank-notes ..

Treasury balance
Current accounts
Advances ..

.. 9 millions.
.. 41 1.6 millions.
million.
. 16 1-6 millions,
.. 36 1-3 millions.
.. 4-5 million.

The Moniteur, also, in its bulletin of to-day, in
contradiction to the assertions of the Vienna jour-
nals, affirms that no extraordinary credit has been
opened for naval armaments and the bnilding of
ships, which it says are this year continued on the
usual scale, and within the limits of the normal
budget.

PESTH, SEPT. 13.

It is asserted that the visit of the Cardinal
Primate of Hungary to Vienna will result in the
early convocation of the Hungarian Diet on the
same electoral basis as hitherto.

The Government, it is said, will take the diploma
of October last as the basis of future negotiations

with Hungary.

TURIN, SEPT. 12.

The Italian troops are now endeavouring to pre-
vent the retreat of Chiavone's band into Roman

territory.

NAPLES, SEPT. 11.

Chiavone having received reinforcements from
Rome, yesterday attacked Castelluccio, near Sara,
with 200 men. He was, however, repulsed with
great loss, and retreated into Roman territory.
Christen, whose arrest has already been announced,
was provided with a false English passport.

WARSAW, SEPT. 18.

An official statement declares that the distur-
bances which occurred at Kalisch on the anniversary
of the Emperor's coronation have been exaggerated,