The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-26 00:00:00

P_ROSPBCTS OF WAR.

The following extracts from a business letter from
Canada embody some of the latest views current in
that country regarding the prospects of war :
"The great question that agitates Canada, and I expect
agitates all England by this time, is War, or no war ?' At
the moment I write this we are ignorant of the effect likely
to be produced in England by the Trent outrage and the
capture of Slidell and Mason. Here we look for war, for
we feel sure, from the temper of the American people, that
the Government would not give them up, and that, even if
they were so inclined, 'the people' would not permit it.
The American press, which to a great extent makes the
public opinion which coerces the Government, would be
unanimous in resisting the demand if made ; and, more-
over, the Congress, which has commenced its sittings within
the past fortnight, has actually passed a vote of thanks to
Captain Wilkes for his conduct on the occasion, Depend
upon it that a war with England and an invasion of
Canada would be the most popular cry that could be raised
in the States. But you will say, ' How can the North at-
tempt a war with England with the Southern rebellion on
hand? She would be between two fires—the South on the one
hand, and Canada on the other.' That is very true ; and in
the event of a war the South would have the game in her
own hands. If war were declared, the policy of the North
would be to recognize at once the Southern Confederacy,
make peace with the 'rebels,' and, thus being relieved of the
incubus, turn all her troops into the British possessions in
North America and in the West Indies. We are therefore,
of course, in intense anxiety, and are unable to see what is
before us. We know full well, however, that should war
come, this will be the battle-ground. We have a Militia
here, but little has as yet been done in the way of drilling
or equipping it. Of course, if war is seriously apprehended,
active drill will commence ; but it will take some time to
bring the raw recruits into discipline. Fortunately, :amide
is well provided with half-pay officers who have seen ser-
vice in the Peninsula, India, the Crimea, Sec. There are
numbers of discharged non-commissioned officers and old
pensioners who are likewise available as drill-sergeants and
a nucleus for the Militia. As to able-bodied men, we have
100,000 able and ready—perhaps 200,000 could be enrolled
for service, if the necessary arms, clothing, and munitions
of war were provided. Don't believe any reports as to
'sympathy with the Yankees.' They are all false. Not
one man in 50, or I might say in 100, would be willing to
see British rule supplanted by American Republicanism.
I believe Canada is sound and loyal ; we are well off, con-
tented, and happy under British rule, and, with the evils of
Republicanism before us, we know when we are thriving,
and prefer the mild and genial sway of Victoria to the ram-
pant democracy of mob law. It is a curious fact, but one
which will be admitted by all settlers, that the man who is
a Radical or Chartist at home is a good Conservative
here I I know in this town two or three men who took a
prominent part in the Chartist troubles of '47—'4B, who
now utterly repudiate all Chartist doctrines and stand
firm to constitutional government. The reason is,
we are alongside the great model Republic, and we watch and
observe its weaknesses and defects. We see that mob law,
that ultra-Democratic institutions, that elective presidents,
elective judges, sheriffs, and all the other offices which are
in the gift of the Crown at home, but in the hands of the
people in America, bring in their train corruption, fraud,
violence, and the repression of freedom of opinion and
liberty. We see the necessity of a monarch and a strong
Conservative party, to stand between liberty and Democracy,
to shelter the Constitution from the storms of popular vio-
lence and ignorance, which will sweep every country if not
withstood. These are some of the reasons why Canada is
loyal, not only to the Queen and the Home Government,
but to constitutional rule and usage.

" The ease with which this country could be defended by
any armed force who first got possession of it is very re-
markable. All our roads have woods on either side, at some
places a quarter of a mile from the road, at others half a mile,
but very often within gunshot. An opposing force could be
harassed at every step by riflemen and sharpshooters, con-
cealed batteries, &c., along the line of march. The country
being but partially cleare 1, no great army could operate in
the open plain as at Waterloo, Magenta, or Solferino. The
reason why the Federals have been unable to do much
against the rebels on the Potomac is because every approach
into the enemy's ground is lined with concealed batteries
and riflemen. Look at the late Federal disaster at Leesburg
for a notable instance of the kind of warfare we might ex-
pect in Canada if war broke out. If England goes to war,
she must send large bodies of troops here simultaneously
with the declaration. Much would depend upon the season
of the year. To the end of February or middle of March
no troops could lie out under canvas for the cold. When
winter breaks up the thaws swamp the roads and render
them almost impassable. The creeks and rivers are un-
fordable, and oftentimes the bridges are carried away by
the floods. It will be quite the end of April before the
roads get into a state to admit of military operations, and
by that date the St. Lawrence navigation will be opened
and vessels with troops could push up to Quebec. By the
time you get this Canada will be sealed up with ice. Canada
is just now well prepared to sustain a large army in feed.
Beef, pork, and mutton are mere drugs here ; the pleat is
now selling all over the upper part of the province at 2d.
sterling (twopence) per lb. ; wheat, oats, hay, &c., are in
equal abundance. The 41b. loaf is but 4d. sterling. Every
farm is stored with grain and produce of all descriptions.
Of horses there is a great abundance—hardy Canadian
horses, just fit for cavalry or artillery service. 200,000
horses can be had if wanted. At no period would Canada
be better prepared to endure a war than at the present.
Railways intersect the country east and west, north and
south, ani troops can be moved from one extremity of the
province to the other in 48 hours. On the opening of the
navigation the gunboats of both countries would of course
scour the lakes, and the great cities would be liable to at-
tack, capture, and destruction. It would be a terrible war
certainly. If England undertakes it, she must throw her
whole strength into the contest, and strike a series of ter-
rific blows."

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH A
NIGHT ROBBER.

At Elysee, in the Island of Jersey, the residence
of Colonel de Visme, on Sunday morning, occurred
an encounter with a robber such as it is not often
our lot to chronicle. John Kennedy, gardener to
Colonel de Visme, is the adventurous tiero of the
story.

About three o'clock in the morning of Sunday,
Kennedy rose from his bed, for the purpose of pro-
curing a draught of water. Having duly refreshed
himself at the pump, Kennedy thought he perceived
a man lurking about the large doors of the farmyard.
He accordingly returned quietly to his room, made
some necessary additions to his toilet, and taking a
gun—which he believed to be loaded—sallied out in
order to verify or dispel the suspicions which he en-
tertained. On reaching the yard, he soon found
that his apprehensions were well founded.
A man was stealthily decamping with a large bag,
which afterwards proved to contain a quantity of
poultry, pillaged from the roost. A challenge to
stop for the purpose of being overhauled was little
heeded, except that it had the effect of making the
fellow run the faster. Foiled in the exercise of his
" right of search," and seeing the contraband and
the intruder disappearing together, Kennedy resor-
ted to his weapon, but found it was without a
charge. He accordingly pursued his flying enemy,
and, having overtaken him, the booty was dropped,
for the more important essential of defence ; and
then commenced a struggle which, considering its
duration and the weapons employed, might have
easily resulted in the death of one of the
combatants. Kennedy was armed with the gun
which he still carried; while his antagonist,
a more powerful man than himself, carried a
heavy crow-bar, which he appeared fully disposed
to use without scruple. Without heeding the
fellow's threats, Kennedy effectually parried with
the gun a blow aimed at his head; but the force of
the crow-bar broke the gun in two, and left our
friend to defend himself with the pieces. Nothing
daunted, he dealt his antagonist a heavy blow
with the butt end of the weal on. The fellow was
floored by the blow; but, recovering his legs rushed
at Kennedy and attempted to close with him. Ken-
nedy, however, again floored the fellow ; and, tak-
ing advantage of the superiority of his position,
belaboured him with the broken ends of the gun
until he roared for mercy. Releasing him at length
on the assurance that he would quietly accompany
him to the house, Kennedy permitted him to rise.
But the intruder was no sooner on his legs than he
made another rush at his assailant, though with no
better success than before, and in the course of a few
minutes he again found himself on the ground.
Seizing a piece of the broken gun, he struck at
Kennedy as well as he was able ; but th 3 latter
maintained his advantage, and managing to get hold
of the crowbar, threatened to take his life with it if
he did not cease his resistance.

In this way Kennedy held his man for the space
of three-quarters of an hour, during which he fre-
quently called for assistance. At length, failing to
obtain any aid, he was compelled by the exhaustion
of the struggle to relax his hold ; and the fellow,
gladly availing himself of the opportunity, took
himself off, pleased to get away without broken
bones, and leaving the plunder behind him. Ex-
hausted, if not personally injured, Kennedy got back
to the house, and aroused the inmates to narrate an
adventure which, though it had prevented a robbery,
had promised well nigh to result in a murder.
The police have been fully informed of the facts,
and are actively engaged in tracking out the pre-
datory ruffian.

RIBBONISM IN SLIGO.—The county magistrates
sat on Thursday last until sundown hearing cases arising
out of Ribbon disputes—although that secret cause is reli-
giously kept out of sight. Things are gradually preparing
for a climax, and a bitter harvest will soon be reaped if the
Government do not listen to our cry for more force to be
stationed here to overcome the turbulent. Sligo is proud
of her resident Deputy- Lieutenant Griffith. Sure he will
now represent the true state of m
They would cUttlinly
to h. outatipus.—Slige
'+:ers to the authorities.
4 Atett l5 ropre
lildenoma. •