The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 17, 1861

nothing enormous but the flight of prudent and
frightened men. In the old country, however,
brave soldiers do not care to have thanks for a
defeat. The mad courage of the Light
Cavalry at Balaklava, and the unsurpassed steady
bravery of the men repulsed at the Taku forts,
never, we believe, received the formal thanks of the
House of Commons. Americans, however, knew
Americans best. Thanking is cheap enough—only
what will they award to courage and success ?
In regard to its more regular work, Congress
seemed nearly to have brought it to a close. They
have been busy enough levying taxes in all the
States, which only half of them will pay. Direct
taxes, which will be evaded; Custom and
Excise duties, which will cost an enormous
percentage to collect ; indeed, fifteen per cent.
is already offered for that purpose. to such of the
States as will undertake the collection of their own
taxes. The loans are yet all a mystery ; whether
Americans will subscribe to them or not, it must be
I pretty certain that no Englishman, Dutchman, or
Frenchman will hazard his money with a repudiat-
ing country; where the taxpayers are uncontrolled
masters, and care more for their pockets than for
their honour. Their customs will certainly, for
another reason, be no security. The Northern
States, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts
especially, are such ignorantly selfish protectionists
that they not only passed the MORRILL Tariff—but
instead of mending it, in this extraordinary Con-
gress, have actually made it worse! Already their
imports have diminished by half since its passage,
and if they go on as they seem well inclined to do,
their Customs Revenue will be almost annihilated ;
and all to force on themselves dear inferior articles
of their own manufacture. They are making it,
daily, of less and less interest to this country to
retain their friendship ; while destroying their own
revenue and subjecting themselves to the heaviest
taxes on all their protected manufactures.

Spain is not the only country where persecution
is the avowed means of maintaining the Apostolic
faith. Even in enlightened France, it seems, a com-
mune cannot turn from the Roman Catholic to the
Protestant faith without being made in some way
to smart for it. Prefets and sous-profets are too
frequently but the tools of the Romish bishops and
clergy, and can generally manage to afflict those
who turn from the more favoured faith.

A letter in a contemporary, evidently authen-
tic, gives the details of a persecution continued
through fifteen years, under all the changes,
by the local authorities, against several
Communes in the Haute Vienne, because they
successively broke away from the Catholic Church,
built themselves places of worship, and obtained
a pasteur in legal form from the Protestant Con-
sistory at Paris. These chapels the Romish
clergy got closed in the early days of the President-
ship, when all their support was needed by Louis
NAPOLEON. When he became stronger they were all
re-opened to gratify some foreign diplomatists. But
an ingenious revenge taken by the clergy, through
their tools, the former still enjoy. The converts had
taught all their children to read and write, a thing
unknown in the district before—the Romanists.
got all the schools closed, as " contrary to public
morals"—that is, to the supremacy of the p riest-
hood and ignorance ! Nor have the parents yet suc-
ceeded, not even under PERSIGNY, in getting
these valuable schools reopened.

The result was half ludicrous. They obtained a
teacher who was to go from house to house and
teach each family. No other child might be pre-
sent, or it would be a school " contrary to public
morals." The priests then prosecuted this laborious
teacher, and actually got him convicted before the
local tribunals, which are in their hands much as
the courts of justice are in the hands of the slay( ry
party in America. Nothing remained but to take
the sentence up to the highest court of all, the
Court of Cassation. There, of course, it was re-
versed, and through its agency the worthy teacher
was released from the fine imposed on him by the
local council.

Such is religious liberty, locally, in France ; such
the ignorance and superstition, or it may be only
the subserviency, of French officials. In " en-
lightened France," at this time of day, priests,
mayors, and local tribunals abound, enlightened
enough to think it legitimate to defend and spread
the Roman Catholic faith, by persecuting those
who forsake it, shutting up their chapels and
schools, and even by punishing a teacher giving
private instruction to families.

Her Majesty Queen Christina of Spain, accom-
panied by the Duke de Rianzins, honoured the establish-
ment of Mr. C. F. Hancock, jeweller, of Bruton-street,
with a visit yesterday, and was graciously pleased to make
several selections.

The Rug and Countess of Dalkeith have left
Belgrave• square, for Bowhill, Selkirkshire.

The Earl and Countess of Stradbroke have arrived
at their residence in Belgrave•square, from a tour of visits.
The Moniteur de la Flotte says :—" By advices
from Zanzibar we learn that the English corvette Wasp,
while lately at anchor on the coast of Africa, a few leagues
only to the north of the equator, vas attacked iu the night
by a band of pirates which came off from the shore. The
commander of the vessel punished these ruffians the follow-
ing day by sending a body of men with a field piece, and
bombarding them in their village at some miles from the
coast. Several sailors are said to have been wounded in
this affair.

THE HOP PLANTATIONS.--ROCHESTER, Aug. 16.
—The brilliant weather which has at length set in has been
exceedingly favourable for the hops, and, sheuld it continuo
for some weeks longer, much of the past mischief will be
remedied. On the best grounds the plants are looking
healthy and strong, and comparatively clear of vermin.
The plantations which promise the most abundant crops are
those which have been most highly farmed, and in many of
these the Goldings are expected to realise as much as 25
cwt. to the acre. With regard to the average yield, how-
ever, no proper estimate can yet be formed, the poor lands
only promising about 3 cwt. per acre, while other planta-
tions are confidently expected to grow 1 ton. Taking the
entire acreage under cultivation, it is anticipated that the
yield will be about 6 cwt. per acre, or about 60 per cent.
below that of good years. The following is an approximate,
estimate of the duty in each district :—Rochester, £55,000;
Canterbury, £20,000 ; Worcester, £15,000 ; Sussex,
£12,000; Farnham, £7,000; the kingdom, £1,000; tot tl,
£llO,OOO.

A POTHECARIES'- HALL.—The following are the
names of gentlemen who passed their examination in the
Science and Practice of Medicine, and received certificates
to practise, on Thursday, the 15th of Aug., 1861 :—Luke
Fisher, Chorley, Lancashire ; Linton Bennett Brunton,
Waterloo. place, Limehouse ; Edward Barton Gardner. On
ther, Bth inst.—Robert Seymour Adams, Lymington, Hants.
The following gentlemen also on the same day passed their
first examination :—Ralph Eddowes, Swinton-street ; Wm.
James Le Tall, Woodhouse, Sheffield ; Thomas Joyce,
Newbury,; Berks ; Charles D. Shepherd, Frederick-street,
n ray s.inn-road ; Johu L. Newton, London Hospital.
DARING ROBBERY AT AN HOTEL DURING
READING RACES.—At the Reading Borough Police-court
on Thursday, a rather swellishly-attired ma, who gave the
name of Gustave Dumont, and stated that he belonged to
Belgium, was charged before Mr. Bourne (mayor) and seve-
ral justices with stealing £2B 103., belonging to Mr. Donne,
1 of Fenchurch-street, London. The prosecutor gave evi-
-1 donee, and it appeared that he retired to rest on Wednesday
night at the George Hotel, and, as he believed, bolted the
door, He placed his trousers, which contained the above
sum in notes and gold, in the room. Nothing disturbed
him until about 6 o'clock in the morning, when the prisoner
by some meansentered his roam, and having deliberately
taken the purse from the trousers rushed down stairs. Mr.
Benne immediately followed, having at the time his shirt
on Daly, and at the top of the yard he informed a man of
the robbery, who at once pursued the prisoner, and soon
captured him with the money in his possession. The pri-
soner pleaded guilty, stating that he came to this country
with an Englishman, who stole his portmanteau and its
contents, and he went into the George Hotel thinking he
might meet with him. He was sentenced to six months'
imprisonment. The prisoner had not slept at the hotel, but
was observed to enter the yard soon after the gates were
open,

!LATEST NEWS.

PESTH, AUG. 16.

The dissolution of the Hungarian Diet is con-
sidered certain within a few days. A similar
measure is expected for the County Committees.
An Imperial rescript is expected shortly.

TURIN, AUG. 16, EVENING.
Sgnori Cantelli and Blasio have tendered their
• resignation.
The Nationalites of to-day states that it is
rumoured that General Cialdini has also resigned,
and that a modification of the Ministry is immi
nent.

Nothing has yet transpired to confirm the state-
ment of the Rationalities.

ROME, AUG. 16.
Yesterday, on the occasion of the national French
fete, the Pope gave his benediction.
A brilliant fete took place at the French Em-
bassy. The Military Club and the national es tab
lishments were illuminated.
General Goyon gave a grand dinner.
Tranquillity and perfect order prevailed at Rome,

VIENNA, AUG. 17.

A semi-official statement published to-day con•
tradicts the reports of an eventual change in the
system of policy pursued by the Government, and
of any personal change in the Cabinet.

It says :—" On the contrary, a perfect harmony
of views upon the Hungarian question exists be-
tween the Chief of the Ministry and the Hungarian
Chancellery."

Telegraphic despatches received here from Agram
state that the Croatian Diet had decided upon
making representations to the Emperor, requesting
the re-admittance into the Diet of the deputies
from the military frontiers and the enlargement of
the litoral territory to the Croatian free ports.
The collection of taxes by military execution has
been stopped antil the middle of September next.

NAPLES, ATM. 16.

A magnificent and spontaneous illumination
took place at Naples yesterday evening in honour
of the Napoleon fete.

The Italian soldiers have taken the village of
Ponte Landolfo, in the province of Sannio, and
that of Casulduni, in the province of Molise, from
the insurgents.
It is reported that the railway contract with
Talabot has been broken, and that the works will
be commenced on account of the State.

Part of the English squadron has arrived from
Malta.

RAGUSA, AUG. 16.

About 2,000 Bosnian and Montenegrin insur-
gents are preparing to attack Trebigne, and have
already advanced beyond Niksich.

the belief that everybody who opposes him is either
misled or of bad character."

It is stated that Omer Pacha, having received
orders to attack the Montenegrins, the Prince of
Montenegro and his people are making active pre-
parations for war, and declare that any promises
which the Sublime Porte may make will not induce
them to lay down their arms, experience having
proved that Turkish promises are never kept. It
is added that the chiefs of the Montenegrins declare
openly that henceforth the same land cannot bear
Christians and Turks.

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, AUG. 17.

The Royal Mail screw steamer Arabia, from
Boston on the 7th and Halifax on the 9th inst.,
arrived here at 2 a.m. today. She brings 104 pas-
sengers.

The Arabia landed 76 mail bags and eight pas-
sengers, and proceeded at 2.30 a.m. All well.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred is on board.
NEW YORK, AUG. 6, EVENING.
The result of the legislative election in Kentucky
shows a Union majority.
The new Governor of Missouri has issued a pro-
clamation, promising protection to all who will lay
down arms against the Federal Government.
Congress has passed an Act giving freedom to
negroes found in the Confederate naval or military
service.

It is reported that the Confederates have organised
a plan to attack St. Louis.

Vessels arriving at New York continue to report
having been chased by privateers.
Prince Napoleon has left Washington in a Federal
steamer, accompanied by Mr. Seward, in °Het to
visit Mount Vernon.

The Federal Congress has adjourned.
(LATEST BY TELEGRAPH TO HALIFAX.)

NEW YORK, Au. 8.

A body of Confederates, under the command of
Gen. McCullagh, has been defeated at Dugnsprings
(Missouri), by General Lyon.
During the fight a force of 270 United States
cavalry cut their way through 4,u00 Confederated
infantry.
The privateer Petrel has been sunk by the United
States frigate St. Lawrence, and her crew taken‘
prisoners.

A Confederate force is reported to have been seen
within two miles of the Potomac.

The latter river is effectually guarded from Alex-
andria to Harper's Ferry, and there is no danger of
its being crossed.
The coast of North Carolina is swarming with
privateers. Several vessels have been captured.

1,000 Secessionists have attacked the Union
camp at Athens (Missouri), and were defeated with
loss.