The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-06 00:00:00

,ors.

:111E 'SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING; AUGUST 6, 1861.

supposed that General SCOTT did not intend to
operate in front till PATTERSON and M'CLELLAN,
from Western Virginia, were ready to act on
BEAUREGARD'S flank. On the contrary, BEAURE-
GARD was able to call in his troops from the West
in time, according to these concurrent statements,
to supply with them the place of his own wearied
men. We have a strong impression, indeed we have
several times hinted at the danger, that General
SCOTT was compelled to fight against his own better
judgment. His forces in action would appear to
have been, numerically, hardly equal to those of the
enemy ; he, too, was in Eastern Virginia, in an
enemy'sexcessive
es s country.ive
caution.
au t
ion. His
divisions are policy is plainly that
of
yet far away, and there seems to have been nothing
strategic to require him to precipitate his troops
on strong and skilfully constructed works, when ill-
trained troops would, as he well knew, fight his
own equally ill-trained ones with very great ad-
vantage.

Of one thing, however, there can be no question
—the completeness of the rout. We have this
fact from a witness whose testimony is unimpeach-
able, and our readers will find it at length in our
columns. Mr. RUSSELL, who had seen enough of
all phases of war, had never seen such a perfect
panic as that which hurried on the retreating army,
first to Centreville, and then through Fairfax
Court-house to Alexandria and Washington ; it was
running for life, when no one was to be seen or
heard pursuing. If he remonstrated, or merely
suggested a little less hurry, a soldier, who chanced
to have kept his gun, would have shot him on the
spot, but for his gun missing fire. Every kind
of military equipage, guns, knapsacks, stores
conveyed in waggons, were all tossed away as if
the CZAR'S Cossacks had been at their heels. A
more disgraceful flight was hardly ever heard of ;
and these men were the choice spirits who were,
bat a few days before, to pour forth their blood
like water for the dear UNlON—and SLAVERY.

To this cry, indeed, we trace to some extent the
great disaster. We have said that BEAUREGARD'S
strategy was an able one of ambuscade. Of what
availwould the ambuscade have been if every negro
employed in constructing his works had been a spy?
But for the fatal slavery policy of the North, such
might have been the case. Had the Northerns
hoisted the banner of emancipation—had they pro-
claimed that every negro on territory where the
Federal Government had been resisted was hence.
forth free; that as fast as the Federal army advanced
freedom should become a fact ; that every fugitive
should be welcomed ; that if he brought information
of the enemy's doings which proved useful and
true, he should be rewarded—why, then, General
BEAUREGARD would have carried on his operations
in a glass house. Every battery would have been
known of. The Black guides could have pointed
M'DowELL to every covert which concealed its
gun or its riflemen. They would have neutralised
the most dangerous part of his enemy's de-
vices. Instead of this, what do we find but
on the very eve of the advance, a proclamation
repelling all future fugitives, warning them that
the rear of the army was to be no covert for them,
and even refusing to receive them, as lately, as
" contraband of war !" Resolutions were even ac-
cepted in Congress declaring it no part of the
business of the war to put an end to slavery,
though a singular resolution also passed declaring
all rebel property, including slaves, confiscated.
Perhaps, however, it was intended to sell this kind
of property also for the benefit of the Washington
treasury.
We must confess that on this account, as well
as others, this shameful defeat appears to us to
carry with it certain possible advantages. The
North may find that by pursuing a pro-slavery
policy, it not only deserves to fail, but will fail.
Its cause at present is hardly less ignoble than that
of the south ; England and Christian Europe can
feel but little interest in immense armaments not to
root out of Christendom the disgrace of American
slavery, but to reunite it to the free States of the
North. We may well hope that PROVIDENCE will
show it to be impossible to conquer back the
South bat by doing justice to the Negro.
And, we must say, that till the North
comes to this, we do not know why, on the grounds
of philanthropy and religion, we should feel much
interest in her triumph. We care but little how
great or how little the once United States are ; in
their days of bigness their behaviour has not been
such as to make other nations care much that they
should take the same position again ; and if they
will not do away with slavery, we are by no means
sure that it might not be quite as well for the
Slave States to be separated from the Free. We
hate the cause of the South, but we cannot love the
cause of the North.

THE PROROGATION OF
PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(This DAT.)

The ceremony of proroguing Parliament took place this
afternoon with the usual formalities, but without any of
the interest with which that event is invested when her
Majesty attends in person.
The Royal Commissioners entered the house at two
o'clock, at which time very few peers were present, and
commanded the Usher of the Black Rod to summon the
Commons to the bar of their lordships' house to hear the
Royal Assent given to several bills, and also her Majesty's
most gracious speech proroguing Parliament.

NEW PEER.
Lord FITZHARDINGE (late Sir M. F. Berkeley) took
he oaths and his seat as a Peer of the United Kingdom.

THE GALWAY CONTRACT.

The Marquis of CLANRICASDE wished to know what
were the intentions of the Government with respect to the
Galway contract. Their lordships, on a former occasion,
bad been told that the report of the committee considering
thei subject: must first be received before any statement of
the Government could be made. That report had been re-
ceived, and the only step taken in the matter was in direct
violation of the recommendation of the committee.
After a few words from Lord MONTEIGLE,
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said the result of the
investigation of the committee was that the Government
were justified in putting an end to the contract, as
the company were totally unable to continue it in a satisfac-
tory manner. The chairman cf the committee further
stated that that company, owing to certain unfortunate
accidents, were entitled to have their case fully considered
at the end of the year, in order that they "night be enabled
to show that they were in a cond.tion to carry out that con-
tract more efficiently for the future. The chairman had also
stated that he did not see that thp. contract could be resumed
before February, 1862, and as Parliament would be then
sitting, he thought that the subject might be left till that
occasion. He could assure the noble lord that everything
the company could offer in favcur of again performing the
service would receive the best consideration of the Govern-
ment.

On the arrival of the Commons,
The LORD CHANCELLOR announced to them that
her Majesty, not thinking fit to be present on the occasion,
had " directed her Commissioners to give her assent to
several public and private bills ;" and the following bills
were passed in the usual form :
Consolidated Fund Appropriation
Appropriation of Seats (Sudbury and St. Albans)
Trustees (Scotland)
Conjugal Rights (Scotland)
Municipal Corporations Act Amendment
Removal of Irish Poor
Public Works (treland)
Windsor Suspended Canonries
Accessories and Abettors
Criminal Statutes Repeal
Larceny, &c.
Malicious Injuries to Property

Forgeries
Coinage Offences
Offences against the Person
Wills of Personalty (British Subjects)
Government of the Navy
Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Metropolitan Gas Act Amendment
Lace Factories
Gunpowder Act Amendment
Episcopal and Capitular Estates
Public Works and Harbours
Lord Clerk Register Salary Abolition
Durham University
Metropolitan Building Act Amendment
Drainage of Land
Public Offices Site
Pensions (British Forces)
Edinburgh University
Inland Revenue
Stamp Duties on Probates
Revenue Departments Accounts
Elat India Loan
Militia Pay
Militia Ballot Suspension
Corrupt Practices Prevention Act Continued
Landed Estates (Ireland)
Metropolitan Police District Receiver
Wills and Domiciles of British Subjects Abroad
Ind 3mnity
Enlistment in India
Portpatrick Harbour (Scotland)
Leases by Incumbents Restriction
Local Government Supplemental
Volunteer Tolls Exemption
Treasury Chest Fund,
Naval Reserve
Parochial Offices
Board of Health
Statute Law Revision.

The great business of the day, the prorogation of Parlia-
ment, followed immediately upon the Royal assent being
given to the above bills. It consisted simply in the
Lord Chancellor reading the Royal Speech, which was as
follows :

"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

" We are commanded by her Majesty to release you from
further attendance in Parliament, and at the same time to
convey to you her Majesty's acknowledgments for the zeal
and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to
the performance of your duties during the session of Parlia-
ment now brought to a close.

" Her Majesty commands us to inform you that her rela-
tions with foreign Powers are friendly and satisfactory, and
her Majesty trusts that there is no danger of any disturb-
ance of the peace of Europe.

" The progress of events in Italy has led to the union of
the greater part of that peninsula in one monarehy under
King Victor Emmanuel. Her Majesty has throughout
abstained from any active interference in the transactions
which have led to this result, and her earnest wish as to
these affairs is, that they may be settled, in the manner best
suited to the welfare and happiness of the Italian people.
" The dissensions which arose, some months ago, in the
United States of North America have, unfortunately, as-
sumed the character of open war. Her Majesty, deeply
lamenting this calamitous result, has determined, in com-
mon with the other Powers of Europe, to preserve a strict
neutrality between the contending parties.
" Her Majesty commands us to inform you that the mea-
sures adopted for the restoration of order and tranquillity
in Syria, in virtue of Conventions between her Majesty,
the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the French, the
King of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia, and the Sultan,
having accomplished their purpose, the European troops
which, in pursuance of those Conventions, were for a time
stationed in Syria to co-operate with the troops and authori-
ties of the Sultan have been withdrawn; and her Majesty
trusts that the arrangements which have been made for the
administration of the districts which had been disturbed
will henceforward secure their internal tranquillity.
" Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction the rapid im•
provement in the internal condition of her East Indian
territories, and the progress which has been made towards
equalising the revenue and expenditure of that part of her
Empire.

" GENTLEMEN OF TUB HOUSE OF COMMONS,

" Her Majesty commands us to convey to you her warm
acknowledgvents for the liberal supplies which you have
granted for the service of the present year; and her
Majesty h.o seen with satisfaction that after amply pro-
viding- for the wants of the public service, you have been
able to make a sensible diminution in the taxes levied upon

her people.
"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"Her Majesty commands us to express to you the deep
gratification with which she has witnessed the spirit of
devoted patriotism which continues to animate her volun-
teer forces ; und the admiration with which she, has
observed their rapid progress in discipline and military
efficiency.

" Her Majesty has given her cordial assent to the act for
completing the number of the members of the House of
Commons by allotting the forfeited seats of Sudbury and
St. Albans.

"Her Majesty trusts that the act for improving the laws
relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency will be productive
of important advantage to the trade and commerce of her
subjects.

Her Majesty has given her ready assent to Acts
for consolidating and assimilating the criminal law of Eng-
land and Ireland, and for promoting the revision of the

sures of public usefulness, the result of your labours during
the Session now brought to its close.
"Her Majesty has observed with heartfelt satisfaction
the spirit of loyalty, of order, and of obedience to the law,
which prevails throughout all her dominions, and she trusts
that by wise legislation and a just administration of the
law, the continuance of this happy state of things will be
secured.

"On returning to your respective counties you will still
have important public duties to perform ; and her Majesty
fervently prays that the blessing of Almighty God may
attend your exertions, and may guide them to the attain.•
meat of the object of her Majesty's constant solicitude—the
welfare and happiness of her people."
The Royal Commission commanding their lordships to
prorogue Parliament having been read,

The LORD CHANCELLOR said—By virtue of the Com-
mission which has just been read, I declare in the name of
her Majesty the Qsieen, that this Parliament is prorogued
until the 22d day of October next. This house is now
adjourned.
This terminated the ceremony.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--(THIS DAY).
The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
THE GALWAY CONTRACT.

In answer to Mr. BRADY,

Lord P ALMER ST ON entered upon a lengthened state-
ment with regard to the circumstances connected with the
Galway contract, and stated that he wes disposed to give a
favourable eosideration to the claims of the company when-
ever they could show that they were in a position to carry
out their contract. At present he did not think the com-
pany were in such a position, and he did not think that the
Governmsnt could enter into any contract without the
approbation of Parliament, which he hoped would not
meet again till the beginning of next year. If at that time
the company should be found to be in a position to make
any proposition, the Government would bff willing to con-
sider it with a view to submit it to Parliament. He could
but at present say what would be the best point for depar-
ture, Galway, Cork, or Foyne. That would be a matter
for future consideration.