The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-13 00:00:00

:n its commercial review the _Herald says :

" Since our last summary, dated 20th November,
the money market has continued tight, and great
caution is observed by parties hating capital to in-
vest. The rates of exchange are without any altera-
tion' the buying rate for bills on London at 60 days'
sight being per cent. discount, and the selling rate
1 per cent. premium. The rates of discount remain
at 7,8, and 9 per cent."

14, and desired to be reported all well. Some
uneasiness was created among the people of Cape
Coast by the rumour of the death of his Majesty
the King of Ashantee. Trade on the Gold Coast
was slowly recovering.
H.M.S. Ranger was at Fernando Po on the 2d
Jan., and was about proceeding to the rivers.
At Bonny trade was suspended in consequence of
the attempts which were being made to reduce the
bar. The river was healthy, and the exploring
steamer Sunbeam was there on the 6th Jan.

also proposes resolutions declaratory of the consti
tntionality 'of the Fugitive Slave Law, and the
necessity of enforcing it, and repealing all State
laws interfering with it, but that that law ought
to be amended, so as to make it less unjust.
Lastly in the catalogue, of which by this time I
am afraid you have had quite enough, come the
resolutions of the Virginia Legislature, transmitted
by the President to Congress yesterday in a special
message. They invite all the States, non-slavehold-
ing as well as slaveholding, to send Commissioners
to:meet in Washington on the 4th February, " to
consider and, if practicable, agree upon some
suitable adjustment." Ex-President Tyler, Mr.
Rives (former Minister at Paris), Judge Brocken-
brough, Mr. Summers, and Mr. Seddon are named
the Commissioners by Virginia. In the opinion of
Virginia, the resolutions of Mr. Crittenden, as
amended, will form a suitable basis of adjustment.
They ask the Commissioners if they agree upon any
plan of adjustment requiring amendments to the
Constitution, to submit them to Congress for the
purpose of having them properly enacted there; and
if they cannot agree, the. Virginia Commissioners
are to report that fact to the Legislature, that it
may be laid before a convention of the people. One
Commissioner is sent to the President, and one to
each of the seceding States, to request them to
abstain, pending the proceedings contemplated by
the resolutions, from any acts calculated to produce
a collision.
Several of the other ,States have already ap-
pointed Commissioners to meet the Virginia Coin-
missioners, under the belief that 140mething May
yet be done to harmonize public opinion in that
section of the country. But unless the Virginia
Commissioners are prepared to recede from the
ground of the resolutions, and take something
less than Mr. Crittenden's resolutions, there is little
prospect of their agreeing.
A private letter from Washington, dated yester-
day, says :
" The secession excitement is increasing in the Border
States. The Conservative men are really alarmed. Think
of Cassius M. Clay coming on as the ambassador of Gover-
nor Magoffin and the prominent men of both parties, who
have been persecuting him for years, and whe now beg him
to act for them here in helping to save the Union. He goes
strongly for the Adams resolution (to admit New Mexico
and Washington immediately as States), which he says will
suffice ; but the Northern men are backing from that now.
I was told that on a canvass during the past week 82 men
were found opposed to giving that. My own opinion is
that something like that will pass, and that Crittenden will
amend his resolutions in that sense. The country at large
will accept almost anything that is called Crittenden's re-
solutions, and, as I say, they will probably be so altered by
him that they will get the support of at least the Conserve •
tive wing of the Republicans."
There is great apprehension in Washington lest
the long-meditated attack should take place, not-
withstanding the precautions taken by General
Scott to avoid it. A large organization exists pledged
to that object, to oppose which General Scott has
only about 750 regulars and 1,500 militia. The
General professes to feel great confidence in his
ability to protect the Government and archives with
the force at his command, One week from to-mor-
row is the day for counting the votes for the
President in presence of both Houses of Congress,
and whatever is done will probably be done before
that time,
Mr. Callamer, of Vermont, has introduced a bill
into the Senate, authorising the President to dis-
continue any ports of entry (giving notice by pro-
clamation) whenever, in his opinion, it becomes
impracticable to collect the public revenue at such
port, and also to suspend the postal service in any
part of the country where it cannot be effectually
and securely performed. This strikes at the root
of secession. If it becomes a law, it will enable
Mr. Lincoln, when President, to cut off the mails
of the seceding States (which have been a heavy
annual burden to the Treasury), and to make all
commerce with Savannah, Charleston, Mobile, New
Orleans, and other ports in seceding States illegal.
The Union party believe that this will operate in-
juriously upon the commerce of the South, without
affecting the general trade of the country with the
rest of the world. Foreign vessels (with coffee for
instance, for New Orleans) will, they argue, avoid a
port where there is no officer to give them a legal
clearance, and seek one where trade is unquestion-
ably legal, and where there is no fear of civil war.
Thus the exports and imports of the country will
be sent out and brought in at New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The great trunk
railways, instead of competing with each other for
frieghts at ruinous rates, are to be overburdened
with remunerating traffic. If collision can be
avoided, the North, they argue, obeying the laws,
and submitting itself to the restraints of the Con-
stitution, will be compelled to do the business of
its more turbulent neighbour. On the other side,
however, the South looks to Europe to interfere, to
prevent the blockade of their harbours and the
destruction of their commerce. I enclose a short
extract from a Southern paper, showing the views
that are entertained there :
"We learn, upon authority which we deem perfectly
reliable, that a few days ago President Buchanan notified
the British Consul at Charleston that no foreign flag would
be recognised in Charleston harbour. Upon receipt of this
information the Consul communicated the fact to Lord
Lyons, the British Minister at Washington, stating that
English vessels were in port empty, and waiting to be
freighted, and asked to be instructed is the premises. He
was immediately telegraphed by Lord Lyons to ' load with
cotton and go.' The captains of the vessels did as in-
structed, and we presume are now far on the way to their
proper destination.
" In scanning the above the reader must not hastily con-
clude that the conduct of the British Minister was an
officious intermeddling with our internal affairs. It must
be remembered that there is a treaty of amity and commerce
between Great Britain and the United States which
guarantees the vessels of the former against molestation or
obstruction by the authorities or citizens of the latter while
engaged in the pursuits of lawful commerce in the harbours
of the United States. The obligation to observe this treaty
can in no wise be affected by the fact that the Federal
Government should deem it advisable to blockade one or
more of the Southern ports. But, even without a treaty,
our transatlantic brethren could never consent to the enforce-
ment of such a policy. Their shipping interest and their
immense manufacturing system Would go to pieces under the
shock, to be succeeded by a revolution which would shake
the foundations of more than one throne in Europe. There
can now no longer be any doubt that England, at least, has
an equal interest with ourselves in the preservation of her
present commercial relations with the South, and, should
an attempt be made forcibly to disturb them, we can quietly
fold our arms and enjoy the display of fireworks from
Federal and British frigates along our coast. The over-
powering strength of our position is that an injury inflicted
apon us will react with accumulated energy upon the civi-
lised world. The North may not now appreciate this truth,
but the time is not far distant when she will."
I omitted, by the by, when speaking of the Vir-
ginia resolutions, to say that when the Commissioner
to South Carolina made his appearance at Charl
rowes-
ton the Legislature of that State turned a very cold
shoulder to him. They passed the following
lutions at once ral Assembly
-
"Resolved unanimously,—That the
of South Carolina tenders to the Legislet 4rll :nie
enf the State of
dly motives
e
fr
Virginia their acknowledgment ofateo Hon. Judge Ro-
bertson, inspired the mission intrusted
bertson, her Commissioner.
t
"Resolved unanimou'sly,__iThat candour, which is duo
sympathy
to the long-continued
and respect which has sub-
sisted Pad louth Carolina, induces this
between -Virginia an
Assembly to declare with frankness that they do not deem
it advisable to initiate negotiations when they have no
desire or intention to promote the ultimate object in view,
that object being, as declared in the resolution of the Vir-
ginia Legislature, the procurement of amendments or ne
guarantees to the Constitution of the United States.
"Resolved unanimously,—That the separation of South
Carolina from the Federal Union is final, and she has no
further interests in the Constitution of the Uhited States ;
and that the only appropriate negociationsbetween her and
the Federal Government are as to their mutual relations as
foreign States.
"Resolved unanimously,—That this Assembly further
owes it to the State of Virginia to declare that they have
no confidence in the Federal Government of the United
States; that the most solemn pledges of that Government
have been disregarded ;
that under the pretence of preserv-
ing property hostile troops have been attempted to be intro-
duced into one of the fortresses of this State, concealed in

Notwithstanding the violent tone of these resolu-
tions, Fort Sumter will not be attacked if the volun-
teers can be restrained. The leaders earnestly de-
sire to preserve peace, but the soldiers may break
loose any time. Fort Pickens at Pensacola will be
reinforced, probably without resistance.
The New York and Erie Railroad was sold yes-
terday, under the decree for the foreclosure of the
sth mortgage, and subject to the liens of the Ist,
2d, 3d, and 4th mortgages for principal and interest,
and to the lien of the sth mortgage for principal.
It was bought in by Mr. Gregory and Mr. Ban-
croft Davis, trustees for the unsecured creditors
and stockholders under the contract for reorgani-
sation, who bid the amount of the whole mortgage
interest in arrear, taking a credit until the 31st of
December on the payment, and having the right to
have the net earnings applied to the reduction of
mortgage interest in the meantime.

THE LATE GALE.

An old English couplet, itself the translation of
an older Latin rhyme, informs us that,-
6‘ If Candlemas is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in one year; "
and the adage has certainly been verified by the
experience of 1861. Never was a day more bril-
liant than the 2d of this month, and within a week
after its sunshine snow again covered the fields,
and tempests swept the coasts as destructively as
at any former visitations. We thought we had got
over the winter. The, ice had thawedat last ; the
snow, except here and there, at the bottom of a
ditch or in some bleak corner-, had fairly d' .sap-
peared ; spring flowers were beginning to &how
themselves, and all the old poetry about reviving
nature suggested itself to the mind. As we write,
however, the aspect of things is changing once
more; snow has again fallen in many parts of the
country, and in recording the ravages of the recent
gale we seem to be reprinting the sad reports of
some weeks since. But it is not for the sake of
abstract reflections that we address ourselves to
the subject. We have a practical ainiin view. It
has long been declared that meteorological science
has reached a practical stage, and that, though
our learned men could not sell a wind or conjure
a tempest like the wizards of Lapland, they
could enable any sailor to forecast the weather
and secure himself against harm. We
shall be asked why, if this is really the case, the
thing is not done. We reply that it is done to a
great extent, though whether the proceeding might
not be rendered more comprehensive, and turned to
better purpose, may be a question still.
A letter which we published yesterday from
Admiral Fitzroy distinctly asserts that every fre-
quented port of our. coasts might have received in-
formation of the coming gale three days before it
burst. The event was predicted with as much cer-
tainty as an eclipse, and could have been announced
by signals as conspicuous as fiery beacons. The
information was actually telegraphed to several
places. Aberdeen, Hull, Yarmouth, Dover, Liver-
pool, Valentia, and Galway were apprised of the
impending storm in the plainest terms. Notice
was sent to those ports as follows :--‘, Caution—
Gale threatening from south-west, and then north-
ward. Show signal drum." Now, as all points of
our coasts are connected by telegraphic wires, and
as there can be no difficulty in showing signals of
this description, we think it highly.desirable that
the system should be established without delay.
The plan, though organised at the Board of
Trade, is not yet, we arc told, in full practical
operation, but as the details, according to the
delineation given, cannot involve much trouble or
cost, the sooner the scheme is introduced the
better. As it is, we should like to know whether
notice of the gale was received at the points where
it proved most disastrous—at Hartlepool, Shields,
or the Irish ports which have been so severely
visited. If the notice was given, was it observed
or was it turned to account by those for whose profit
it was intended ? We arc well aware of the
chances against an immediate recognition of a new
principle, but the destruction of life and property
on these occasions is so appalling that. we cannot
keep the subject too constantly before the public.
All the warnings of the Meteorological Depart- .
ment will be useless if they are not attended to,
and attention is just. what the authorities cannot
command. Sailors are reckless and foolhardy to a
proverb. They are somewhat inveterate in their
prejudices and bigoted in their ways. It might
he vain to tell a boat's crew that in three days'
time there would he a tornado. They would,
perhaps, disbelieve the information, or, still more
probably disregard it. Everybody conversant
with such matters knows how hard it is to instil
caution into minds habituated to risks. Miners
will tamper with safety-lamps, people of all classes
reject sanitary improvements, and seamen do but
share the common failing in neglecting the
warnings of the barometer. Nevertheless, these
warnings have now been so deeply studied,
and the information obtained has been re-
duced to a shape so absolutely practical and
so truly beneficial, that it would be deplorable if
such advantages should be thrown away. For a
long time the barometer was simply interpreted
according to its rise and fall. If the mercury rose,
the weather was on the mend ; if it fell, bad
weather was impending. But. these indications
I have been now so scientifically combined with the
signs of the sky and the actual direction of the
wind, that our insight into the future is vastly
extended, and the notice which we have quoted is
a practical proof of the advance which has been
made. If certain ports can receive timely informa-
rtion of a tempest, all ports can be similarly
apprised; and if the warning be given three days
beforehand, there must surely he ample opportunity
for preparation. If we have actually got to this
point the problem has been solved. It is like the
first voyage of a steamship across the Atlantic—
a clear proof that the Atlantic could be traversed
by steam. Meteorology now rests upon evidence
as palpable as that which confirms our theories
of astronomy. We believe those theories because
the predictions of an astronomical almanack
are infallibly verified. An eclipse occurs at
the hour and minute set down for it, occulta-
tions and transits take place with similar
punctuality, and, as all things invariably happen
according to programme, the truth of the principles
on which the science is based becoMes evident to
all, whether learned or unlearned. We are now in
exactly the same position as regards meteorology.
We cannot yet forecast the general character of the
season, but it seems that we can really foretell a gale
three days before it comes, and even ascertain the
quarter from which' the wind will blow. If we
have indeed got to this point—and there appears
no reason to doubt it—the rest ought to be easy-
It is because we are so impressed with the im-
portance of the problem, as well as the practicabi-
lity of the solution, that we strongly desire to be
informed of the circumstances attending the recent
visitation. The tempest was distinctly forresseceenr,
and accurately predicted—that muchapp9a
warning note
tain. It is also announced that the
d i s t 1.1 ei
usepb
ruofitenecw_ dtt
sh,
siotcyh:
siet
ewtfmhaace.s t
coastawßc
tauu st.
was duly sounded at certain t h •t e ei-
pohiantts
ifofthe coast,
and we are willing to presun t
genre was but partially
due to the defects of an iro
at the places where
ally
t made
wholly or in part from the
exempted
eithero
visited d others ? Was the information
it was received.
ec
wishe
oi
vf e the
d t.
vrr en I tas ht s nee
ties which visl _ _
conspicuously published ? Were the signals effec-
tive? And above all, did our seafaring people
l)eed them as they ought to have done ? These are
points which we should like to see cleared. It is
because we have so firm a conviction of the value
of meteorological science that we have lately con-
ceded so considerable a portion of our space to the
statistics on which it rests, but we should like now
to see the returns take another complexion. In-
stead of a catalogue of ships wrecked, lives lost,
and cargoes sacrificed, we should like to report that,
in consequence of warnings given and notices pub-
lished, the devastations of a tempest had been,
escaped, and that a storm had swept our seas with-
out leaving any victims of its fury. If such visita-
tions can be announced and provided against three
days beforehand, we do not think our expectations
can be regarded as presumptuous or unreasonable.
—Times.
WM'

LADVERTISEMENT.I—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.—
Woman's Friend.—Much depends for securing future
health on the judicious management of the system's irre-
gularities. For present comfort it is requisite ; for ease in
after life it is essential. For this purpose nothing equals
Holloway's remedies. The slightest departure from natu-
ral functions, or their complete suspension, are safely,
painlessly, and effectually set right by the proper use of
these admirable preparations. The ointment must be
rubbed at least twice a day on the back. Full directieadons
for guidance accompany each package, which all who r
can thoroughly comprehend. Professor Holloway.
generously placed his remedies within the
safety
that every household may with promptitude andro
e
meet and turn the first insidious approach of order ci
action.