The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-02 00:00:00

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such a disavowal, What the Federal Government
might wish to do were it left to its own judgment
and its own conscience is, unhappily, hardly a mat-
ter of importance. 'We fully believe that the majo.
rity of the American Cabinet would see with the
utmost regret any difference with England. The
splenetic mind of Mr. Seward has, indeed, been
continually infusing into his colleagues a feeling of
nearly in this
enmity to this country, but the good sense of those
about him has hitherto prevailed to prevent any
act.oiff.ioentiscivpesrtyis Yet
sure
mthatetserrrythtehseod-acayl.le,d,
OPuar-
tcountry, right or wrong," is the maxim of thousands
of American politicians, and we can hardly doubt
that it will be acted on in this case. Already thfre
are indications that the act of Capt. Wilkes has been
accepted by the Northern public. We are told that
the New York journals " urge that promotion and
testimonials should be conferred on him for his
spirited conduct." It may be that the next mail
will bring us accounts of his increasing popularity,
and that by the time Lord Russell's despatch
reaches Washington ho will have become the lien
of the day, It is this habit of unscrupulous parti-
sanship, ingrained in the very nature of the Ame-
ricans, which will be the chief obstacle to a friendly
settlement. That a naval officer has had the spirit
to board a British vessel and to carry off rebels, in
spite of the raving of the British captain, is enough
to insure a storm of popularity. The man who has
given his countrymen such a sensation is far more
likely to be courted than disowned by a weak Go-
vernment, already trembling for the consequences
of its ill success, and anxious to provide the public
with other excitement than is caused by indignation
at the slow progress of the war. We must, there-
fore, while hoping that the lapse of three or four
weeks will allow the act of the San Jacinto to be
considered in a calmer temper, and the demands of
the British Government to be met with fairness and
courtesy, still be prepared to see them contemptu-
ously rejected. The multitude may have already
dictated to the Government the treatment which
Capt. 'Wilkes and Lieut. Fairfax are to receive. We
must hope for the best, but still it becomes us to be
prepared for an unfortunate issue.
For any further discussion of the matter the time
has not yet come. But our Government would in-
deed be acting with ridiculous weakness if it did
not take measures to prevent a Power so arrogant
and so much under the influence of passion as the
United States from obtaining materials of war
which may hereafter be turned against us. 'Within
the last few days an order has been issued forbid-
ding the export of an immense quantity of saltpetre
which had been bought up on account of the Fede-
ral Government, and we publish to-day a procla-
mation extending the prohibition to all the mate-
rials of gunpowder. As regards the saltpetre, it
seems to have been the design of the Washington
Government to provide itself at once for a long war.
Almost the whole stock to bo found in England
would in a week or two have been shipped for the
Northern States. As almost all the saltpetre used
throughout the world comes from Oude, we have
practically a monopoly of the article, and it was a
good thought of the Federal authorities to provide
themselves at once with all they are likely to want,
even should the war be prolonged for years. Cn
our part it was but a necessary precaution to defeat
such a scheme, and we cannot doubt that, while
keeping strictly within the bounds of international
law, our Government will in other matters take care
that the interests of the empire do not suffer.

GUNPOWDER AND