The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-21 00:00:00

SUBSTITUTES FOB COTTON.

One of the effects of the sudden stoppage of the
cotton supply on the breaking out of the war in
America has been to call attention to the substitutes
which might be found for that precious substance.
The question is an old one. In the beginning of this
century the Emperor Napoleon decreed a reward
of one million of francs for the discovery of a me-
thod by which flax might be spun as fine as cotton;
and Philippe de Girard (of Vaucluse) solved the
problem, and would have received the promised ie-
' ward but for the sudden fall of the Imperial Govern-
ment. The Restoration offered Girard the pitiful
sum of B,ooof. by way of a loan on
his
ntn
but he preferred leaving Francocarrying ,inven-
tionihis'etio n
with him to Austria, whence he proceeded to
Poland, and there established a spinning mill, around
which ti, small village soon sprung up, now called
Girardow. A few years ago the present Emperor
granted the family of Girard an indemnity of
200,000 f. by way of reparation. Meanwhile other
inventors had come forward—Tissot and Montague
in 1819, Laforest in 182,7, TL .te in 1829, and M.
Edmond Bertin in the present year. The method
of the latter does away with the steeping of flax,
end this, as well as all the other fibrous plants,
, may be stripped by his machine in a superior way,
by which the length of the fibre is preserved, and
an extraordinary degree of smoothness and supple-
ness is insured. Another invention of the same
1 kind has sprung up in Amei ica, and the inventor,
Chevalier Claussen, has imported it into France.
He strips the fibrous plants by a chemical process
and repeated maceration, by, which he rids
the fibre of the gluten and other adhesive
substances it contains. The produce of these opera-
tions he calls_" fibrilia," and it is described to be a
substance as closely resembling cotton as can well
he imagined. Spun with wool it produces stuffs of
a very superior quality ; and alone, it appears to be
stronger than cotton. 'Whether this substance.
which in fact is nothing more than the fibre reduced
to its simplest exprutsion, will acquire a puma-
ll out position in the market, time alone eau show.

...a

t2J

-‘'.l

THE SUN.
LONDON, SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 1861.

The expiring year of grace 1861 will close with
Mourning. The approaching year, 1862, will in all
human probability open with War. Of this there
have been sufficient indications. The silence of the
PRESIDENT in his more than usually dull and long-
winded Message to Congress—LlNcoLN's total and
absolute silence in regard to the affair of the Trent
and the San Jacinto, was iu itself significant. Then
the exultant vote of thanks immediately afterwards
passed by the Federal legislators at Washington—
their deliberate and emphatic Vote of Thanks to
Capt. WILKES for his lawless seizure of the Southern
Commissioners, told pretty plainly the feelings with
which the Federal administrators regard that out-
rage to the flag of England. Meanwhile from this
aide of the Atlantic—simply as a precautionary
measure (in case!)—there is the plain and simple
fact that the Household Troops have ac-
tually taken their departure from our
shores, and are now hastening across seas to
a possible seat of war upon the borders of Canada.
All this tells a tale. We don't see, for one thing,
how—having gone so far—the Government at
-Washington can retreat. We don't see how they
Can now tender anything like an apology for
what has been done by the officers of the San
Jacinto. Above all, we don't see in any way how
they can now, under any circumstances, dream of
acceding to our demand for the release of Messrs.
SLIDELL and MASON and their respective secretaries.
The North has gone too far now to draw back
from their defiant, not to say insolent, attitude.
Passions have been aroused there among a
nation who are already in arms, and who are
already, as it were, heated by fighting. Who
among President LINCOLN'S Ministers would ven-
ture now to assume the responsibility of recom-
mending concession—of recommending apology—
of recommending the release of the Commissioners?
Mr. SEWARD, for example ? It is barely within
the limits of possibility that the most meek-minded
among the administrators constituting the Federal
Governs ent, could entertain for a single instant
of time the mere notion of temporising. There is
an "institution," by the way, upon the other
side of the Atlantic popularly known among that
excitable multitude as Lynch Law. There are
such means for inflicting punishment as Tar
Barrels and Goose Feathers. We cannot imagine
to ourselves any one among the go-ahead Yankee
statesmen who would or could have the slightest
possible inclination to go so directly counter to the
inclinations of Brother JONATHAN as to throw out
a hint even that Lord LYONS' demands should
(though it were but partially) be complied with.
What are the " sentiments"—to employ a delicate
word about what in itself might be defined as of
so peculiarly coarse grained and rhinoceros-like an
epidermis—what are the kind of "sentiments" with
which the citizens of the Northern States, the
loyal adherents of the Federal Government at Wash-
ington have long since come to regard the position
of things, we have learnt by this time beyond
the chance of any misapprehension. We have seen
those sentiments expressed in black and white, in
language that admits of no doubt whatever as to
its real meaning. We have heard those " senti-
ments" articulated, even here, in our own land,

among an audience of Britishers, to an effect so '
unmistakeable in its arrogance, almost, we had
said, insolence that two opinions could hardly be
entertained as to the views with which the Ame-
ricans of the North regard the present situation of
affairs between themselves and ourselves. Was
there not one American gentleman the other day at
a provincial assemblage consisting almost entirely
of true-born, patriot Englishmen, who yet, in de-
fiance of the natural feelings of his hearers, had
the exquisitely good taste to aver that were he him-
self in authority at Washington, he would hang SLI-
DELL and MASON, and then—if England must needs
have them delivered up—send their dead bodies
across the Atlantic as a substantial compliance with
the demands of the English Government. Remem-
bering that this was said—not to an American
audience, but, as we have remarked to an audience
composed almost entirely of Englishmen, and that
the place in which these extraordinary remarks
were uttered was not, as the phrase is, within a
hundred miles of New York, or of Washington, but
within the limits of one of the loyal counties of
England—we may draw our own conclusions ! The
animus of the Federal citizens may from this and
from various other kindred incidents be conjectured
with pretty tolerable accuracy.
As to ourselves, as to the feelings with which the
situation is regarded by the English people and the
English Government—those could hardly have been
in any way more clearly indicated than they were
only the other day thro-,-igh that noble cartoon in
Punch—our own serio-oomic Pasquin or Charivari.
Without one particle of passion or irritation, calmly,
resolutely—England is now Waiting for a Reply.
While she is thus waiting in Dumb Expectancy,
little halcyon rumours of better tidings flit every
now and then across her field of vision. How
wholly illusory these are, however, let the following
intimations from Lord PALMERSON'S organ serve
to demonstrate. The Morning Post of to-day thus
remarking :
" In the present state of the public mind the craving for
news from America is naturally so great that every word
that comes with any authority from the other side of the,
Atlantic is invested with an undue importance. Thus it
happens that because Mr. ADAMS has received a despatch
from Mr. SEWARD which is of a friendly character to this
country, and discusses in fair and pleasant terms the mat-
ters with which it deals, exaggeration is swift to lay hold of
the circumstance, and puff it up to the largest dimensions.
People whispered yesterday, and then said openly, that the
American Government had written to disavow the act of
CaptainWlLuEs, that Mr. LINCOLN was ready to apologise,
and that the whole difficulty was settled. We are sorry to
have to dissipate these too easily-raised illusions. They are
quite ungrounded, for, if we are not misinformed, the de-
spatch in question does not in any way whatever refer to
the outrage on our mail steamer. It deals only with some
of the current business between the two Governments.

" It is quite vain to attempt to speculate with any cer-
tainty upon the momentous issue pending at Washington.
All that we can fairly say we know is, that if the banking
and commercial classei have sufficient interest with the
Government, peace is tolerably secure; but if the mob is
in this instance to have its sway, the worst may be ap-
prehended.
" Of one thing the country may be perfectly confident.
The instructions of Lord LYONS are such as become an
English Government. With all that is due to our dignity,
they combine such a judiciousness and temperance of pro-
cedure that the American most tender of his pride will be
unable to complain of our course as menacing or haughty.
Confident in the justice of our claim, and resolved to vindi-
cate it, it becomes us to insist without rudeness and to act
without passion."

Relying then upon the justice of our course, and
calm in our resolution to uphold it coute qui coute,
England awaits now eagerly but tranquilly the
answer that may be vouchsafed to her from Wash-
ington. She does so—Hoping for Peace, but pre-
pared for War.

If we may assume, and we know no reason why
yr saall/1411.4 CLIC LL ULLL CIL Luc telegnlEUrrom
it is certainly a curious process for informing the
English public of what so deeply concerns it.
Nothing, probably, could afford a stronger proba-
bility, we might say certainty, that America will
yield in the case of the Trent than that France
should strongly declare for the English view of the
question. That the two greatest Powers of the
world, and those maritime Powers, should be of one
mind respecting what should be deemed an outrage
to a neutral flag, would make it such simple folly for
America to resist, that she could even, without
dishonour give way to simple considerations of
force, and her inability to withstand it. Nor can it
be said that France is an intermeddler ; the case con-
cerns all nations which have a flag and its honour
to sustain, and probably the feeling amongst the
French marine is very similar to that which per-
vades our own. It is such that an English sailor
would be ashamed to meet a Frenciiiailor if his
flag would not be protected, as the Frenchman
might safely boast his own would be.

The circular, of which we receive the contents
from Berne, must surely have reached also the
Count DE FLAIIAULT, and we should have been
much obliged to him if he had given us its contents
sooner. It is not easy to conceive anything much
more important on this side the water, next to our
own action, than that the French Government
should declare " that the arrest of Messrs. MASON
and SLIDELL was contrary to the principles which
are regarded as essential to the security of neutral
flags." The:opinion alone would be of high signifi-
cance at Washington ; but when it is added, " The
circular states that the French Government have
deemed it necessary to submit this opinion to the
Cabinet at Washington, in order to determine it
to make concessions which the former consider in-
dispensable," we can hardly doubt that the Effect
on the Washington Government will be decided.
We, indeed, should not ask of France, and France
would not offer, to share with us offensive mea-
sures if requisite to obtain satisfaction ; but the
moral effect of the old friend of the
revolted colonies in their war of indepen-
dence now telling them that he cannot tolerate
such abuse of independence, would paralyse their
courage. It would have the same effect as the
sympathies of England had in the Italian struggle.
It would be the stimulus, to the advocates of right,
of a great, highly civilised, and not prejudiced
nation encouraging their efforts; while the dis-
couragement to the defenders of the outrage would
be proportionately strong. It can hardly be doubted,
we think, now, notwithstanding the former denials
of the Moniteur, that the hasty return of General
SCOTT was due to his having been, and very pro-
perly, made acquainted with the views of the Euro-
peanpovernmen ts. e fear, however, he can hardly
arrive in Washington b‘fore the seven days allowed
for the reply to Lord LYONS' communication will
have elapsed. It seems probable that at best he
may be able to send a telegraphic message to Wash-
ington as 800 n as he lands.

We see that our contemporary the Daily News
is still in favour of permitting the Americans to
refer the case to arbitration. It would do so
on the ground that international law is founded so
diversely on both precedent and the dictates of
common sense, that the case must share the per-
plexities and uncertainties of the grounds of such
law. Yet it cannot be. denied that the necessity of
a regular adjudication by a prize court, is the
grand distinction between piracy and legitimate
seizure. The American law insisted as strongly on
this point as any country. Indeed, the language

of their own President, MADISON, must be conclu-
sive with them.

Our contemporary turns aside therefore to the
altered circumstances of the day—to the fact that
mail steamers are a modern institution, and their
proper treatment has not been a question yet in
any war. But so far from this rendering it a
ground for arbitration, it appears to us to take it
completely out of that class of cases. It will never
do to allow such a blundering hot-head as Captain
WILKES evidently is, to make new mail-steamer
laws for all civilisation. If he felt the difficulty, as
it appears he did, he, and all in a similar position,
ought to be taught that they cannot be allowed
to violate law in the first instance with.
out severe rebuke. At least America
ought to have given notice to the world that she
intended to treat mail steamers in a new fashion,
and not to have begun the objectionable practice
of her own self-will. We own that the conse-
quences of seizing mail steamers would be fright-
ful ; civilisation would never endure it, they being
used not only by the countries from which they
sail, but by all countries; but as little will civilised
countries endure that such steamers shall be visited
by the sailors of some country at war with another,
and that a Lieutenant shall be entitled to take from
them what he (not what an educated Judge) pro-
nounces contraband of war. There is, then, we
conceive, no case for arbitration,

We often hear of contrasts between the salaries
paid to the Governesses who are to be the first
trainers of the minds of a gentleman's children, and
to the cook who is to send up his dinners. The
young lady is to know everything—music, dancing,
drawing, two or three languages, at least, besides
her own ; and sometimes with the addition of ceri
tain religious, generally sectarian, qualifications—
at how much the " religion is valued," as Mrs.
STOWE'S ST. CLARE would ask, is, perhaps, never
stated. For all these things, however, the charge
is, that the gentleman, or his wife,"does not offer the
same remuneration es he does for his "professed
cook"—the cook's religion, too, being subject to no
inquisition. The moral of the advertisements,
however, seems to be, that if pay and easy hours
of labour be the chief thing, a young lady had
better study the art of sending up good dishes than
spend her time on accomplishments.

But what is the moral of a notice we saw the
other day in the Gazette, duly issued by the autho-
rities at the Admiralty ? The notice is such a
study in its way that we think it worth while to
give it unmutilated, so here it is—

" Admiralty, Whitehall, S.W., Dec. 9, 1861.

" Notice is hereby given, that a vacancy exists for an
assistant schoolmaster at Devonport Dockyard. Candi-
dates who may wish to undergo a competitive examination
for such an appointment are invited to make personal ap-
plication at the office of the Civil Service Commissioners,
No. 4, Gateway, Dean's-yard, Westminster, between the
hours of ten and five o'clock, on or before the Ist of
January next, taking with them certificates of age and
health, together with testimonials as to character, also as to
their general or special qualifications; and they will then
be informed of the day fixed for the examination. Candi-
dates must be between the ages of 20 and 35, and will be
examined in the following subjects, in all of which it will be
necessary for each candidate to pass :-1. Exercises to test
handwriting and orthography. 2. Arithmetic, 3. Gram-
mar and analysis of sentences. 4. English Composition.
5. Physical and political geography of the world,
especially of England and Europe. 6. English history.
7. Euclid (first four books). 8. Algebra (to the end of
Quadratic Equations). They will also be competitively ex-
amined in the following subjects; but, although it will not
be necessary for such candidate to have a knowledge of these
latter subjects, a high value will be set upon them :-9.
Trigonometry (plane and spherical). 10. Differential and
Integral Calculus, and the easier Differential Equations.
11. Mechanics. 12. Hydrostatics. The salary of assistant
schoolmaster at Devonport Dockyard commences at £lOO
per annum, increasing by £lO each year to £140; and the
certificate of the Civil Service Commissioners will entitle
to
^nr aidate, after his appointment, to the
benefits of the Superannuation Aut. Assistant dockyard
schoolmasters are eligible for in
to be dockyard
schoolmasters, with salaries varying from £l5O to £250 per

The reader sees the qualifications required to ob-
tain from the Government a schoolmaster's salary of
£lOO. To be sure, after some years of service, and
when practice must have raised the qualification,
and tested the character of the teacher, he may ob-
tain £l4O, and may even rise to the schoolmaster's
peerage, and add £lOO or so to the salary pro-
posed for either the first eight subjects or the re-
maining four on which a high value will be set ;
the value, of course, going towards the chances of
appointment, and not obtaining an acknowledgment
in pounds sterling, for " value received." Certain
other appointments, however, occurred at once to
our recollection for most of which the salaries are, we
believe, much larger; and on thinking of the quali-
fications required to fill them, it struck us that re-
spectable persons who wanted a snug and easy
berth, of from £lOO to £3OO a-year, had better de-
vote their time to the study of a butler's duties.
Far better to be a nobleman's or gentleman's
butler for such a purpose than give one's nights and
days to mathematics and the sciences.

If we are not misinformed the ex-butler of one
peer, Lord ELLENBOROUGH, is head doorkeeper at
the Admiralty ; the ex-butler of another peer, Lord
CRANWORTH, chief usher in Vice - Chancellor
STUART'S Court ; and the chief usher of Bow-street
has, we are told, also qualified for his office by the
priesthoodofßAccnus. Tare may be many more ex-
butlers, for aught we know, beating the poor school-
masters hollow in point of salary ; and in regard to
wear and tear of body, mind, and spirits threatening
to outlive them by almost as many years as
the patriarchs did their short-lived succes-
sors. These are only a few instances which
occurred to us at the moment and without
inquiring. They could but suggest the reflection-
-better far be a nobleman's or gentleman's chaplain
for the worship of the merry GOD, if you wish,
at the hands of the Government for living made
easy, than a hard-working student to fight your
way into an assistant-schoolmastership at Devon-
port Dockyard. Well, so we suppose it must
ever be. From the respectable era of thePHAROA HS
the " chief butler" has always been an important
personage, and the more enlightened JOSEPHS
must take their chance. As, however, competi
tion is now the rule, why should there not be
competition for doorkeepers' and ushers' places P
And, as butlership is the appropriate discipline,
why not throw open the competition to all the
butlers in the kingdom ? The first-rate wine
merchant would soon draw Hp the examination
papers, and the competitors would doubtless not
object to give their opinions, by trial, of the
merits of all the wines which could be placed
be fore them.