The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FE BRUARY 21, 1861

HER MAJESTY'S LEVEE.

Her Majesty the Queen held a levee, the second
,his season, yesterday afternoon at St. James's

Palace.
The Queen and Prince Consort, attended by the
Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, arrived from
Buckingham Palace about two o'clock.
The Queen wore a train of black satin, trimmed
with black gimp and rosettes. The petticoat
of black satin trimmed in front with black lace and
gimp.
Her Majesty wore a diadem of emeralds and
diamonds as a headdress.
The foreign Ambassadors and Ministers were in-
troduced, when the following presentations to the
Queen took place in the diplomatic circle :
By the Persian Ambassador,—Mirza Hassan
Khan, First Secretary of th e Persian Embassy ;
Aly Khan, Second Secretary of the Persian Em-
bassy.
By the Brazilian Minister,—Mr. de Collaco
Sarmento, Attache to the Legation.
One hundred and four noblemen and gentlemen
had the honour of being presented to the Queen.
The following presentations to the Queen took
place, the names having been previously left at the
Lord Chamberlain's-office anid submitted for her
Majesty's approval:—
Hon. Major Anson, on promqion..and return from China,
by/his Royal Highness the Duke o f Cambridge.
Lieutenant R. Arbuthnot, on pr c motion, by Colonel C.
B. Challoner.
Lieutenant Armstrong, by Lieut.—t General Hon. Sir Ed-
ward Cust.
Sir George Armytage, by Lord W' ynford.
Captain Armytage, R.N., by the :Duke of Somerset.
Lieut.-Colonel Atkinson, on retu t m from India, by the
Adjutant-General.
Lieut. C. H. Barnes, by the Seen tary of State for India,
Ensign A. S. Beaumont, on al ?Tointment 23d Royal
Fusileer Regiment, by Lieutenant- General Spink.
Major-General W. Beckwith, on appointment to be
Colonel of the 14th Light Dragooi t s, by his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cambridge. _ _ _

Lieut. R. H. Beddome, by the Secretary of State for
India.
Captain T. S. Bigge, by Colonel :1 E ,ysons.
Lieutenant Bircham, on appointment to 3d Regiment of
Royal Surrey Militia, by Colonel C. B. Challonsr.
Lieut.-Col. H. Bird, by the Duke of Newcastle,
Lieut.-Col. E. S. Blake, C. 8., o his returnlfrom India
and receiving the decoration of Corn clpanion of the Bath, by
the Secretary of State for India.
Sir George Bowyer, M.P., on suc x seeding to the title, by
Viscount Castleßosse.
Mr. T. Unett Brocklehurst, by L o rd Stanley of Alderley.
Capt. A. Broome, by the Secretai yof State for India.
Lieutenant A. B. Brown, R.A., on foreign service, by
Colonel Bingham, R.A.
Captain M. C. Browning, on hist return from India, by
Lieutenant-General Arbuthnot.
Lord C. Bruce, on his marriage, lb y Earl Spencer.
The Hon. G, Cadogan, by his fat her, Viscount Chelsea.
Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. S. Caltherpe, on his ap-
pointment to the command of the 51 Itr Dragoon Guards, by
the Adjutant-General.
Lieutenant T. C. R. Carpendal t 3, by the Right Hon.
Lord Claude Hamilton, M.P.

Captain Lord Eustace Cecil, oR3 his marriage, by the
Marquis of Salisbury. _ _

The Earl of Chichester, on his appointment as Lord-
Lieutenant of Sussex, by Viscount; Sydney.
Captain W. Couchman, by the . Secretary of State for
India.

Lieutenant-Colonel Cox, by M 4 z jor- General the Hon.
Sir J. Yorke Scarlett.
Captain R. Curtois, by Colonel ". Francis Seymour.
Sub-Lieutenant G. A. Curzon, o r t appointment 2d Life
Guards, by Lieutenant• Colonel H a ward Vyee.
Ensign H. J. Daubuz, by Colon 1 Crutchley.

Earl de Grey and Ripon, on t ppointment as Under
Secretary of State for India, by the, Secretary of State for
India.

Major the Hon. J. C. Dormer, co promotion and return
from India and China, by General TA4 3rd Clyde.
Ensign J. T. Down, on appointmi ant to 57th Regiment,
by Major General Hon. Sir J. Y. Se arlett.
Major Edwards, on promotion, by Lord de Tabley.
Captain Earle, on his return from. Gibraltar and appoint-
ment as Adjutant to the Ist Battal ion Grenadier Guards,
by Colonel the Hon. J. Lindsay.
Colon]. George Erskine, by Lora Herbert of Lea.
Copt& Every, by the Adjutant General.
Cornet George Fairbairn, by Li eutenant-Colonel Lord
de Tabley.
Major Finney, on promotion, by the Marquis of Salis-
bury.

Lieutenant-Colonel Fisher, on
promotion, by his Royal Highness t
ing in Chief.
Dr. Fyffe, by the Adjutant • Genet
Colonel J. Graham, by Major-Ge
Major Wilberforce Greathed, Ca
vice in India and China, and nom
the Bath, by his Royal Highness tb
The Very Rev. Dr. Goode, Dean
Darnley, in the absence of the Arch
Deputy Inspector-General of Hott
all, Madras Army, by his brother in
rence.

•eturn from China and
he General Command-

Major-General Green, on promoti
ness the Duke of Cambridge.
Captain S. Grimston, by Major-1

Commander Stradling, her Majesty's Indian liavy, on
return from India, by the Secretary of State for India.
Major-General Stransham, onpromotion, by 'the Duke of
Somerset.

Col Swanson, her Majesty's Indian Forces, by the Se-
cretary of State for India.
Major F. Swinfen, on promotion, by Major-General the
Hon. Sir J. Scarjett.

Captain Tom Taylor (Civil Service Volunteers), by
Viscount Bury.
_ _

Captain H. Thurburn, by the Secretary of State for

Lieutenant Samuel Unwin, by Colonel Viscount
Chelsea..
Ensign and Lieutenant Lord Wallscourt, on appoint-
ment to Coldstream. Guards, by his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge.
Hon. George Waldegrave, on his marriage, by Viscount
Eversley.
Major-General E. Walker, on being appointed to the
command in New Brunswick, by his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge.
Lieutenant J. S. Walters, by the Secretary of State for

India.
Ensign C. J. Watson, by the Secretary of State for
India.
Cornet Wauchope, by Lieutenant-General Hon. Sir
Edward Cust.
Mr. F. C. Wemyss, on appointment to Her Majesty's
Hon. Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, by Lord Foley.
Major Wollaston White, on promotion, by Lieutenant-
General Hon. Sir E. Cust.
Lieutenant H. C. Wilkinson, on promotion and return
from India, by Lieutenant-General Hon. Sir E. Cust.
Captain J. D. Williams, by the Secretary of State for
India.
Mr. B. B. Woodward, on appointment as Librarian in
Ordinary to the Queen, by the Lord Chamberlitin.

THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.

(From the New York Times.)
For three months events of startling magnitude
have so closely followed, one upon the heels of
another, that our whole time has hardly sufficed
for their record. We have been too much en-
tranced by the phenomena to study their origin
or law. Astounding robberies and defalcations;
the most shameless abandonment of public trusts;
the treachery of civil and military officers ; the
surrender of the forts, armaments, and munitions
of war of one-half the Confederacy ; the disarm-
ing of one portion of it to arm the other ; the con-
spiracy in the Cabinet to destroy the Government,
in which the facile Buchanan has been so much
involved as to completely demoralise the man, and
destroy all ability for prompt and independent
action—events and developments so unforeseen
and incredible, have occurred with such rapidity
that we could only regard them with mute wonder.
All these things, disjointed and unconnected as
they seemed, were entirely consistent with each
other, and were harmonious parts of a well-designed
plan, of which we at the North have been the quiet
and unsuspecting dupes. It is perfectly well known
by those who have given attention to the subject
that for years there has been a settled determina-
tion in the Gulf States to break up the Union,
from which they were thoroughly estranged. The
ulterior object was the formation of a grand
slave empire, to embrace the islands in the Gulf
of Mexico and the territories facing it. This plan
has long been the absorbing idea at the Soutb.
For a time its ,success seemed probable under the
auspices of Walker, but he failed from the defective
qualities in his own character. At one time Gen.
Quitman was near heading a foray upon Cuba. The
failure of the feeble expeditions sent out both to
Cuba and Central America served only to, excite
and consolidate the sentiment on which they were
based, and to turn attention in another direction,
from which adequate means might be obtained for
expeditions fitted out on a much more imposing
scale. The first step of the conspirators, conse-
quently, was to seize upon our own Government,
and either compel it to abet their ends, or to plunder
it to an extent that would disarm 'the Northern,
and arm the Southern States, and supply all the
means not only for the defensive but aggressive
warfare. The election of the feeble and compliant
Pierce was the stepping-stone to their entrance to
power, which was fully secured to them by the
appointment of Mr. Jefferson Davis, who for a life-
time had been a determined Disunionist, as Secre-
tary of War. This gentleman was the master-
spirit of the Administration, as he is now of the
present secession movement. The composition of
Mr. Pierce's Cabinet did not suffer the conspirators
to go further than mature their plans.
The election of Mr. Buchanan followed, and we
now know that his nomination was effected upon the
express assurance of co-operation and sympathy
with the extreme Southern sentiment. Cobb became
Secretary of the Treasury, Floyd Secretary of War,
and Thompson of the Interior. Everything in
the Government was arranged to suit their de-
signs. The President was a supple tool in their
hands; so were the other Secretaries. But events
clearly indicated that the power was gradually
slipping from their grasp. Douglas became the
inevitable candidate for the Democracy, and his
election was to be defeated at all hazards. The
disruption of the Democratic party was to follow,
and with it the secession of the Southern States,
and the inauguration of the new empire. The
emergency of the crisis demanded energetic action.
The leadership was assigned by general consent to
Mr. Davis, who, by virtue of his chairmanship of
the Senate Committee of Military Affairs, possessed
great power, and a thorough acquaintance with al 1
the military men and defences of the country.
With an impudence which, from its daring, loses
much of its baseness, the head-quarters of the in-
surgents were transferred to West Point, at which
Mr. Davis spent the summer months as chairman
of a committee of examination of this post. In
pursuance of the programme laid down, Mr. Floyd
commenced the transfer of arms and munitions from
North to South, which were placed in exposed posi-
tions where they could be readily seized. The forts
were purposely left unguarded and defenceless. To
supply such means as the official relations of Mr.
Floyd did not allow him to steal, he commenced
the issue, on a vast scale, of his acceptances, nomi-
nally to contractors for transporting of Govern-
ment stores, which, being supposed to be obliga-
tions of Government, were eagerly purchased in
the Northern St ates, where capital was abundant.
In this way the Military Chest of the New Confe-
deracy was to be, and has been, to a considerable
extent, supplied.
An equally important step was a thorough mani-
pulation of the army, the officers of which were
so disposed that in all cases where it was possible,
confederates and tools of the Secessionists were
placed at the points where they could readily join
them, and at the appointed signal deliver over the
forts and magazines in their charge. Such officers
as were known to be loyal were carefully with-
drawn from the places to be seized. To others in
the secret, furloughs were given, which have been
spent in the Southern States in drilling bands of
insurgents, or in visits to Europe to purchase arms,
the first shipment of which, in rifled cannon, has
just been received at Charleston. Near the close of
the session Mr. Davis succeeded in getting a bill
through Congress, forbidding the Secretary of War
to purchase patented arms, the object being to leave
Government without a supply of the most approved
weapons. To Mr. Cobb was assigned the role of
destroying the means of supporting Government,
by breaking down its credit, and leaving it power-
less when the outbreak should occur. Mr. Thomp-
son's duties were various. Ye was to manipulate
the members of the new confederacy, and leave the
property in his department, where it could be
stolen by his old associates and friends. The whole
line of Southern forts was left in such a condition
as would allow them to fall an easy prey to the
conspirators. The President for a long time was a
coadjutor of all their measures, of which Mr. Floyd
and the South Carolina Commission have furnished
abundant proof.
The schemes of the Secessionists succeeded almost
to the extent of their aims. The election of Lin-
coln 'brought matters to a crisis. All the impor-
tant forts of the Southern States, with the excep-
tion of Fort Monroe in Virginia, Fort Sumter at
Charleston, Fort Pickens at Pensacola, Key West
and Tortugas, were seized .and are now in
their hands. All the magazines Of arms andmuni-
tions outside these forts have bseen also
These were judiciously placed by 111(r. Floyd, far
inland, at such places as Baton Rouge, :Loui eiana,
and Augusta, Georgia thus supplying ample
means for placing an army of 30,000 mean in the
field. These very arms, stolen by Mr. Floyd, are
now going into the hands of the new regiments
which are being organised in the Southern States.
Mississippi has just authorised the formation we
believe of eight ; Georgia and other states, of seve-
ral each. These arms, only a few months ago,
were in Northern armouries, where they now
belong. While we at the North, like hon est but
very stupid people, foolishly supposed everything to
be going on fairly and above-board the most stu•
pendous conspiracy the world has ever see,u has
been enacted under our own noses, while we have
been hugging to our breasts its very chiefs. ghe

sacred spot of West Point has again been the scene
of a plot, compared with which that attempted by
Benedict Arnold sinks into insignificance. The
value of arms and munitions of war stolen by Mr.
Floyd, together with money raised upon his fi audu-
lent acceptances—which, by a masterly stroke of
policy were sold North, amounts to many millions
of dollars. Adding the cost of the forts surrendered,
the whole amount of which our Government has
been despoiled by this stupendous codspiracy, must
equalls,ooo,ooodols. What is the method and plan
of all these robberies and seizures ? Defence first,
if necessary, and aggressions afterwards not
North, but against Mexico and the West Indies.
As for secession, that long ago was a foregone
conclusion. As soon as the Southern army
now forming is relieved from the fear
of coercion 'from the North, it is to be
launched against Mexico. Southern imagination
is fired at the prospect of revelling in the " Halls
of the Montezumas." The uneasy and restless
spirits that will comprise its army will brook no
delay. Of this new foray Mr. Jefferson Davis is
to take the lead. The movers of it count, and not
without reason. upon the effect of a brilliant dash
upon the restless temper of a large population that
crowd our Northern cities, who would flock in
crowds to the standard of a successful military
leader. It is well known that a number of retired
officers and military men now in New York stand
ready to join the new expedition at the first tap of
the drum. Such is the inclination among the
masses North to peace, it is felt no interference
would be experienced from that quarter, should the
expedition make a successful landing with an im-
posing force.
Such is the programme of the Gulf States, of
which the Northern are soon to be the spectators,
if not directly involved ; and such is the scheme
to which the quiet and peace-loving capitalists of
the South are to be yoked. It remains to be seen
whether they have the courage or strength to at-
tempt any resistance. If not, who is to oppose
any ? Will the Northern ? Will England ? At
the South, a movement towards the tropics is felt
to be a necessity. More room for the slave or a
black Republic bordering the Gulf, instead of a
white one, is inevitable. The law of population
will soon bring this round, without an outlet for
the redundant population of negroes, increasing in
much greater ratio than the whites. The Southern
people feel the coils of the anaconda about their
necks, hence the intense restlessness they display ;
hence secession and the formation of a new Con-
federacy, with a vast domain, where slavery can
indefinitely expand. To compress it within narrow
limits is to provide an explosion fatal to all who
may happen to be near.

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.
The Cunard screw steamship Etna, which touched
at Queenstown yesterday, has arrived.
In the Senate, on the 6th, a committee of con-
ference was appointed on the Deficiency Bill with
the house amendments. The usual number of
memorials and petitions in reference to the pending
issues were presented. Mr. Douglas made an in-
effectual attempt to reconsider the vote by which
theabill to organise the Government of the territory
of Colorado passed. The President's Message
coming up, Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee, resumed his
remarks. A committee of conference on the Loan
Bill was appointed in reply to the request of the
house. After Mr. Johnson had concluded his speech
for the Union, the Senate adjourned. On the 7th
there was a brief debate in reference to the resolu-
tions of the Legislature of New Jersey. Mr. Col-
lamer, in presenting a petition from citizens of
Vermont in favour of the Border State propositions
as amendments to the Constitution, declared that
Congress cannot pass such amendments, but must
present them to the States as the request of several
States. Mr. Wigfall responded to the speech of
Mr. Johnson, from Tennessee, and, with some noisy
interruptions, occupied the floor until the adjourn-
ment. On the Bth the Loan Bill was reported by
the committee of conference, who said that they
had agreed to an amendment to the effect that the
amount accruing from the former loan shall be
applied to the redemption of the outstanding Trea-
sury notes, and to no other purpose. Pending the
consideration of the Tariffßill the Senate adjourned.
In the House of Representatives, on the 6th, the
Senate amendments to the Loan Bill were taken
up—the one to repeal the act of June 1, 1860, au-
thorising a loan and providing for the redemption
of the Treasury notes, was rejected ; a committee
of conference was ordered. The bill in reference
to the postal revenue was debated and passed-131
against 26. It provides that whenever, in the
opinion of the Postmaster-General, the postal ser-
vice cannot be safely continued, or the Post-office
revenues collected, or the postal laws maintained,
or the contents of thb mails preserved inviolate till
delivered to the proper address, on any post-route,
by reason of any insurrection or resistance to the
laws of the United States, the Postmaster-General
is hereby authorised to discontinue the postal ser-
vice on such route, or any part thereof, and at any
post-office thereon, till the same can be safely
restored. The report of the Committee of Thirty-
three was further debated by Messrs. Humphrey
(New York), Harris (Virginia), Maynard (Ten-
nessee), and Wells (New York). On the 7th,
after a consideration of the patent laws, the debate
on the report of the Committee of Thirty-three
was resumed, Mr. Davis (Maryland) making
remarks which caused confusion in the galleries
and exciting comments on the floor. He also
stated that Maryland did not recognise the right
of secession, and that he would vote for the report
of the majority of the committee. He was fol-
lowed by Mr. Sedgwick (New York), who opposed
all compromise, because " the complaints were as
utterly groundless as the remedy was puerile."
Mr. Vallandingham (Ohio) offered propositions to
amend the Constitution by dividing up the United
States into four sections. Mr. Sickles gave notice
that he would introduce a resolution calling on the
Secretary to the Treasury for information as to
whether the duties on imports continued to be
collected in the ports of South Carolina, Georgia,
Louisiana, and Florida. On the Bth a Message
was received from the President, enclosing the cor-
respondence between himself and Colonel Hayne,
of South Carolina ;—ordered to be referred to a
select committee of five, and to be printed. The
report of the Committee of Thirty-three was re-
sumed, and speeches were made by Messrs. Hatton
(Tennessee), Kellogg (Illinois), and Smith (North
Carolina).
The President having refused to comply with
the demand of Colonel Hayne, of South Carolina,
to surrender Fort Sumter, the latter had left
Washington, after sending the President an im-
pertinent letter, which was returned.
Ex-President Tyler, Chairman of the Peace
Convention at Washington, on taking the chair,
made the following remarks :
" Gentlemen,—l fear you have committed a great
error in appointing me to the honourable position
you have assigned me. A long separation from all
deliberate bodies has rendered the rules of their
proceedings unfamiliar to me, while I should find
in my own state of health, variable and fickle as it
is, sufficient reason to decline the honour of being
your presiding officer; but, in times like these, one
has but little option left him, personal considera-
tions should weigh but lightly in the balance. The
country is in danger—it is enough—one must take
the place assigned him in the great work of recon-
ciliation and adjustment. The voice of Virginia
has invited her co-States to meet her in council.
In the initiation of this Government that same voice
was heard and complied with, and the results of
70 odd years have fully attested the wisdom of the
l
decisions then adopted. Is the urgency of her call
now less great than it was then ? Our godlike
fathers created,—we have to preserve.
up, through their wisdom and pa.
es You
builtonu
sk equally grand,
have before you, gentlemen, a ta
meats which have eternalized thetirrintaimsTmh'eg.y:
aangdreiamtmaonrd-
teaciluitayll.y sublime, quite
equtoit. esnaasttofohullfroofniglrouriyn
reserve the Govern-
glorious Confederation,,
If dinvigpo
meat,rate the Constitution.
renew
a
heightil of this great occasion, your
henc to
h ehitlhderen will rise up and call you blessed.
i you
ld and
r
I confess myself ambitious of sharing in the glory
of accomplishing this srmul and magnificent result.