The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-17 00:00:00

CHINA.

A private letter from China, dated " Off the
Peiho, April 16," says :—The Scout arrived here
to-day at 4 p.m., with Admiral Hope, K.C.8., and
Mr. Consul Parkes, C. 8., on board. Admiral Hope
and Mr. Parkes leave for Pekin tomorrow, the
latter to relieve Mr. Wade. The Scout left
Shanghae on the Bth, and Woosangon the 10th,
called at Chefoo on the 13th, where were the Odin
and gunboat Woodcock. She stayed there for the
admiral to inspect Chefoo to ascertain the best site
for a naval depot. She left on the 15th, and arrived
here to-day. The Odin was ordered to Hope
Sound, about 60 miles from Chefoo. At the latter
place there was a demand for cheap foreign goods,
and every prospect of a brisk trade springing up.
The great bane to healthy commerce, however,
makes its influence felt here, as in almost every
other district in China. " The rebels" has become
the watchword of capitalists. The Ruan rebels
have formed a coalition with and sworn allegiance
to the Taeping insurgents, and have advanced as
far as Tse-nang-peo, a large and rich town, lying
at a right angle between Pekin and Chefoo, and
about equidistant from these places. Their
probable worst intention is to work their way
northward to Tien-tsin, and from thence to Pekin.
Failing in that, they may file off to the westward,
on Chefoo. The recent expedition up the Yang-
tse-Kiang has brought the subject of the rebellion
very prominently before the commercial and
religious public. The river all the way up to Yok-
chou, through a distance from Shanghae by the
water's course of 700 miles, is described as most
magnificent ; the scenery in many places grand
beyond description ; the soil surpassingly rich ;
cities, and towns, and villages thick on every side ;
but wherever the rebels have come all are in a
ruinous condition. When the visitors arrived at
Hankow, they to their great delight found there a
scene of activity and mercantile prosperity which
eqoally:surprised and delighted them ; but ere they
were ready to return, and in the space of only
three days, the city became a solitude—houses
closed, streets deserted, people running with their
valuables hastily collected to the boats. A panic
had seized them. " The rebels were coming,"
having taken Hunchow, a walled city on the right
hand of the river, about 45 miles distant. Scores
of places are mentioned where the interests of com-
merce might be very satisfactorily served but for
this scourge of the country. The Snake, gunboat,
was left at Hunehnw. thc, T-Tavoo at Elinkicaug, the
Centaur at Nankin, and the Banterer at Chinkiang.
The Coromandel, Cowper, Atalante, and Bouncer
returned to Shanghae:

METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT
BILLS.

_ After encumbering encumbering the votes about thirty times,
these bills to amend the existing act and to appor-
tion some old debts are once more postponed until
" next week" for second reading. This is mere
child's play, for these bills consist of upwards of 100
clauses, some of them in a very imperfect state, and
about which representations from time to time have
been made for their amendment. The board, how-
ever, seem " resolved" not to amend. It would,
L therefore, evidently be better to withdraw the bills
for this year ; have them revised at leisure, and put
it into a more practical shape ; and then get the
Government to take them up next year as public
bills, which they are in fact. There is no doubt
that legislation on the subject is urgently wanted,
but not in an inchoate shape. If it is to be got
and
should be as nearly perfect as it can be made,rothan
suited to the wants of the public, and no
that
is wanted. But the board should not pretend, as
they do in the report adopted on 31st
bin they arc
" having regard to the advance
sion, and the present position f t
o steps in regard to
not prepared to recommend_ahnoy
committee of the
proposed amendments." 1 4 period
h e..0,f the ses-
sion,
who have charge
board and members of
Parliament
with Sir Geo. Lewis
of these bills had an
inetuepon him to take the matter
that the Government will
urge
the discussion in committee ;
on Friday last, to
up and give a day
hopettentions at present, or give up a
divulgeb utt h e yoceai cannot ni on
to
perfect bills. The utmost be expected would be
valuable Government time for the passing of im
t forward the bill No. 2, as to the debts of the late
to
Commission, and remove that difficulty out
of the way of the parishes towards the just settle-
ment of these matters, which were disarranged by
the passing of the Metropolis Local Management
Act.--Observer.

AEWS R
. 'l.
4 `-c-e• 1' • ce.
LIVERPOOL, SuNDAv
The Royal mail steamship Persia, Captain Jed-
, ika
kins, which left New York on the sth inst„ arrived
in the Mersey at 7 20 this morning.
The New York Herald of the sth inst. thus de-
situation of affairs :
" The contemplated advance of the Federal troona
over the Potomac towards Fairfax did not take
place yesterday in consequence of information re-
ceived by General Scott that a large body of rebels,
reported to number several thousand, were at Cen-
treville, about ten miles from Alexandria, and all
the troops were therefore retained at their posts in
anticipation of an attack. They bivouacked on
the field on Monday night, sleeping on their arms,
ready for action in case of a surprise. Nothing im-
portant occurred, however, except a few straggling
shots on the outposts.
" We learn from Fortress Monroe that intelli-
gence reached General Butler yesterday that a scout-
ing party of Colonel Allen's Troy Regiment had
been taken prisoners by a body of 500 rebels at Fox
Hill, near Hampton, on the previous day, but Gen.
Butler doubted the report, from the fact that the
country in that direction had been thoroughly re-
connoitred, and the presence of no such force of
rebels could be discovered. However, the General
immediately ordered Colonel Duryee's Zouaves to
if such disaster had occurred.
Slaves
pursue the rebels, and recapture the party of Col.
continued to arrive in considerable num-
bers lßutler's camp, and are put to work in
Allen's na is
G men,en .
the trenches. They are said to comprehend the
position of affairs very clearly, and report that their
masters are very much alarmed, and are flying from
their homes every day.
" Information reaches us from Harper's Ferry
that the rebels contemplate an evacuation of that
post, and it is certain that the residents there
are abandoning it in large numbers and retir-
ing to Winchester. From the reliable intelligence
we have from Harrisburg yesterday of the ad-
vance of United States' troops in the direction of
Harper's Ferry, and the immense force surrounding
that point, and completely hemming in the garri-
son, as well as from the fact that smallpox and
diarrhcea are raging among the trooops, it is not at
all improbable that the rumours of evacuation may
prove true.
" Upwards of 5,000 Federal troops arrived at
Chambersburg yesterday, and in less than 24 hours
there will be fully 30,000 men at that point
menacing the ferry. It is said that the condition
of the planters in Virginia is most deplorable.
They are beginning to discover that they have been
duped by their Secession friends from the South,
and they are sending their slaves off to prevent ta
general stampede.
" Parties of Virginians are flying to Williams-
port, Maryland, to avoid being impressed into the
rebel army, leaving their families and property
behind them. The greatest excitement and indig-
nation against the Virginian Secessionists exists in
that quarter, and the people are preparing for a
border fight.
" From Cairo we learn that intelligence was re-
ceived there of the presence of a force of 5,000
rebels at Union City, Tennessee, where General
Beauregard was expected to arrive on Sunday last.
10,000 rebels were reported to be located at diffe-
rent points between Memphis and Cairo, no doubt
with the intention of advancing towards the latter
point and attacking the Federal troops there.
" The steam frigate Susquehanna, the first of the
recalled Mediterranean squadron, arrived off Sandy
Hook last evening from Cadiz. She has been
ordered to proceed at once to Boston. There is
little doubt that her destination is the Charlestown
Navy-yard, where she will be refitted for the
Southern blockade.

" The Herald of the 4th inst. states that move-
ments of a decisive character are on foot which
point to the immediate advance of Federal troops
into the interior of Virginia within the present
week. The occupation of Fairfax will be the first
measure. Several regiments in Washington and
its vicinity received marching orders on the 3d to
cross the Potomac, and take the place of those ad-
vancing upon Fairfax.
" Information has reached General M‘Dowell
that the rebel troops at Fairfax are under orders to
offer no resistance to the Federal army, but to fall
back on Manassas Junction, which it is evident the
rebels are making strenuous efforts to defend. The
place is of great importance to both parties.
" The arrival of the Ist (Maine) Regiment and
the 79th (New York) Highland Regiment at Wash-
ington, on the 3d, makes the number of troops at
the capital and its vicinity amount to 50,000 men.
" Intelligence has been received from Cincinnati
of an engagement between the Federal troops sta-
tioned at Grafton, Virginia, and the rebels.
" Two columns of General M'Clelland's command,
consisting of the Ist Virginia Volunteers, under
Colonel Kelly, and the Indiana Volunteers, under
Colonel Crittenden, marched, on the night of the
3d inst., 20 miles forward as far the town of Phi-
lippa, and surprised a corps of 2,000 rebels. A
fight ensued, in which the rebels were routed, and
15 of their number killed and several captured.
Many of the Federal troops were slightly wounded.
No official account of the affair has yet been
received.

" The fight at Acquia Creek during the 31st ult.
and Ist inst. proves to have been quite a brisk
affair. It appears that the fight, which was tem-
porarily abandoned for want of ammunition on
board the United States' vessels on the 3d, was re-
sumed at 11.30 a.m. on the Ist of June, and
continued until half-past 4 that afternoon with-
out intermission. Captain Ward, of the Freeborn,
reports that upwards of 1,000 shots were fired by
the rebel batteries, and that at least 100 struck on
or close around. his ship, some of them damaging
her hull so that she leaked considerably, and some
hitting her wheel-house and shaft. The Pawnee,
too, was frequently struck, damaging both hull and
rigging. No one was killed on board the vessels,
but the firing from the batteries showed that the
guns were ably handled.
" A brisk little affair occurred at Williamsport
on the Ist inst. The rebels attempted to seize a
ferry boat lying opposite that point. The Federal
troops opened fire upon them. The skirmish lasted
for an hour, and the rebels were compelled to desist,
after having three or four of their party wounded."
The New Orleans Picayune of the 31st of May
states that the Brooklyn has captured the barque H.
J. Spearing, from Rio Janeiro for New Orleans,
with 120,000 dols. worth of coffee. It was sent to
Key West.

The Montgomery Post, of the 31st, says that a
portion of the Confederate troops have been
ordered away from Pensacola, and that little appre-
hension of fighting exists there at present..
The Northern Light had arrived at New York
with 373,201 dols. in treasure.
A despatch from Washington, dated the 3d inst.,
announces that the Kentucky Brigade, encamped
near Cincinnati, has received marching orders for
' Louisville, and adds :—" This is highly important,
as the advance of Federal troops upon Kentucky
soil will bring the loyalty of that State to a test."
Advices from Havannah were to the 22d of
May. Business was very dull. United States
vessels were at a discount in the freight market.
the Spanish troops were beginning to return from
San Domingo. Exchange on London, 41 to 5 preen.
S_ Douglas expired at Chicago at f) o'clock
on on the morning of the 3d inst. In token of respect
r
all the flags in the city were at half-mast, and
prominent buildings were draped in mourning.

---,--,
[ADVERTISEMENT.—The following "a
without medicine
some out of
many thousand extraordinarys cures Restoring Reva-
effected by Du Barry's deliciousoli:
41,617.—Winchester,
.nstipation
lenta Arabica Food :—Ctuveri,_
I am happy to be able to
December 3, 184
at benefit from its use ; die-
7*—Genti°nmfor whom your Revalenta was
inform you that tho peerryso
PngBYrre'emove , andana
dyspeysia, ptrreosesuinregd
shyanispdtoerimsvedof-vcibro
Ave ee
James Shorland, late focil.llg of re"
52,4221. —ol\yl,r .!a
osittfoerglqeodinngheitai.an_thdciinngdouhNeet
Surrey es R timber
merchant,
spitting of liver d
dis-
eased lungs,
ati , bloed, , . pran-ement, deafness,
B,evalenta Arabica.
Briurdgehouse,pFatrolunl
aeb
singing- in the e , , nay, shortness of breath
and cough, have been removed by your
an expenSe may be avoided
Avoid Fills and Medicines : they invariabl tioTavate and
unoyance, disappointment,
perpetuate diseases ; their a -
other remedies, removing effectually,
Pence per day, by using Du Barry's Food
which, at a few
saves 50 t' es its cost in
constipation, indigestion
liver complaints and (dyspepsia) nervous, bilious. antc,l3
No. 36,418. We f 1.1.11 their consequences. Certificate
without purging,
Ind
.) r Harvey,D Dr. Shorland, Dr.
MD., p.R.s Dit the safest remedy. Andrew Ure,
Campo,. T , r. Wurzer,
rious and injurio/ imitations
avoidoffered under a variety of
'4e‘ invalids the fearful dangers of spu-
false pretences. are prohibited by the
Alfred 11-__oo Nsevill'imitations
Barry'
high Court of Chancery under a penalty of 5.5,000 against
Hooper Nevill and his agents; and the pretences
that Nevill has a patent for Arabica Food and that Du
Barry's are connected with such patent are utterly fake.
No canister is genuine without the name Barry Du Barry
and Co., 77, Regent-street, in full, ontheseal and wrapper.
Shopkeepers who attempt imposition in one article must
, expect to be distrusted in all others. Packed in tine lib.
' 2s. 9d.; 21b. 48. 6d. ; 51b. 115. ; 121 b. 225. ; 241 b. 405. The
121 b. and 241 b. canisters are sent carriage free on receipt
of Post-office order by Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, Re..
gent-street, London; Fortnum Mason, and Co.; Abbic,
60, Gracechure'h-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 62 and 150, Ox-
bard-street; •?,30 and 451, Strand; 49 and 60, Bishopsgate••
street ; Batty 16, Finsbury Pavement ; Phillips and CO
tea-dealers,- Petty, Wood, and Co., Sing William-street
City; at 14 High 1101bgru; sud all savor's

EW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.-
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
Reproduction of "The Colleen Bawn. " The Adelphi
"Census " every Evening.
THIS EVENING, the successful new Farce, entitled A
TURKISH BATH. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. P. Bedford.

After which (208th time), THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr.
D. lioucicault, D. risher, Billington, Falconer, Stephenson,
'C. J. Smith, Romer, Howard, Ward ; Mrs. Boncicault, Miss
Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley.

To be followed by a new apropos Sketch, THE CENSUS.
Messrs. J. L. Toole, Ebttrne, Romer, C. J. Smith ; Kiss
Kate Kelly, Miss E. Chorne, and Mrs. Chatterley.

Doors open at halt put B—Commence at 7.

Positively the Last Week of the present Company.
ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
T HIS EVENING, the most successful Spectacle ever
MAZEPPA, with splendid scenery and stately
produced.
effects. To be followed by the Rocky Mountain Wonders
and SCENES in the CIRCLE. Concluding with the Panto-
mime Ballet entitled JOCKO, the Brazilian Ape. Reduced
prices. Doors open at half-past 6.

CANTERBURY -HALL CONCERTS
AND FLNE ARTS GALLERY.
EVERY EVENING, _ . ..

Two Grand Selections from celebrated Operas. including
Verdi's new Opera. THE BAL MASQUE (first produced
in England at this Establishment), with a Chorus of Forty
Voices, and upon a scale unequalled at any other Concerts.
Miss Russell, Miss Ernst,
ular Mr. Greville, Mr. H
erbert, S
ignor
Tivoli, Mr. Bernard ; pop Solos on the Coet-a-pston,
by Mr. Levy (the first performer of the
day); the Brothers
Conrad (in an entirely original entertainment on the double
rope, not to be seen elsewhere); continued success of Mr.
'Wood and his talented little Son.
The Comic Department oomprises the following favourites •
—Mr. Marshall, Mr. Hollingsworth ; the NERVES by.
Messrs. Harvey and French ; and Mrs. Lawrence. -
Musical Director, Mr. JONGHMANS.

CANTERBURY HALL AND FINE ARTS
GALLERY.
TIIE NERVES, a Comic Duet, by Meagre. Harvey and
French, EVERY EVENING.

TH E OXFORD,
6, OXFORD-STREET.
Mr. LEVY, undoubtedly the best performer of the day on
the Comet-a-Piston—Grand Selections (on the
and t complete
scale) from Dinorah, Martha, Stradella, to..and r v
and instrumental music, by Miss Russell, the Misses
Kimber-
Stuart,
and Miss Ernst, Messrs. Charles G reville, Fornarl,
ley, Bernard, Beaumont, Bervon, Huish, Signor Tivoli, and
Kr. Henry Herbert, with full band and powerful and selected
chorus, conducted by Mr. F. Jonghmans.—The following
Combo talent, Messrs. W. Randall, J. Blanchard, W. IL me_
land, Hollingsworth, E. Marshall, Harvey, and French, and
the Brothers Conrad in their latest and best entertainment,
every evenim-r. Admission, Hall, sixpenCe Balcony and
Stalls, one shili±ng. Private Boxes, 108. 6d.

MOH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tyne DA.Y.—Morning, Bh. 14m.—Afternoon,f; Bh. 50m.
To-itoußovt.-Morning, 9h. 24m.—Afternoon, 9h. 56m.

TSB WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, JUNE 16, 1861.
THERMOMETER, IN THE EIHAD2,
77—highest since noon yesterday.:
56—lowest this morning and during the night.
70—this day at noon.
Be.Roarrrnu--30.09.
WIND—N.-Easterly—fresh ; with fine sunshiny weather,
but much cooler than yesterday.
JUNE 17.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
75—highoot since noon yesterday.:
53—lowest this morning and during the night.
69—this day at noon.
BAROMETER-30.12.
WIND—Easterly; light, with fine weather.

France is to [recognise, at last, the kingdom of
Italy. Diplomatic relations, interrupted by the pious
horror with which the devout French nation and
its EMPEROR regarded the entrance of Piedmont
on certain domains of the Pope, will Low be

renewed. The real perpetrator of this blessing to
thousands of Italians has been removed from the
scene ; and the de facto result of CAVOUR and GARI-
BALDI'S policy and courage being a kingdom of
Italy, this must now be acknowledged just as was
the de facto result of the coup d'etat itself which
placed the Emperor of FRANCE on his throne. It
is gratifying to see, thus far, a return to common
sense on the part of the EMPEROR, for anything
more tortuous and whimsical as it has appeared,
than his conduct in regard to Italy, since the humi-
liating peace of Villafranca, cannot easily be con-
ceived. Whether we shall now have anything
like straightforwardness remains to be seen, but
to restore diplomatic relations is certainly a step
towards it.

The Emrimon, for of course the statement in the
Patric repeated in the Moniteur must be regarded
as his, is very much concerned to relieve himself of
all responsibility for both the past and the future.
He says expressly that sending an Ambassador to
Turin is not to be considered as a judgment on the
past; and, that he has no thought of interfering in
the internal or external affairs of the Italian king-
dom. He explains his position by an illustration
which Northern Americans will, we imagine, deeply
resent; instead of adverting to the many cases in
which the /acknowledgment of de facto Govern-
ments has been exemplified by his own restless
country giving so much work of that kind to other
GoverTirlont3, he resorts to a prophetical illustra-
tion. He foretells that the Southern Republic
in America will one day constitute a
Government on
international relatiaongbeans tseoirs which will allow
be entertained entertained with
it, of advantage to
interests !" What
Rill the Washington Governmenta think of this
to the
"comfort and encouragement"
hannihilate ?
"re-
bels," whom they intend so sogZent
The foretold republic will, however,
consti-
tuted itself "under favour of the inteiPalypeo
intervention recognised by Europe," and the king_
dom of Italy, the EMPEROR say, hay
tr,
same. Not exactly. Intervention gave it the start
in 1859, and Italy does unquestionably owe thus
much to the EMPEROR; but intervention has never
been entirely absent. It still exists at Rome, and
the unaccountable intervention at Gaeta cannot
easily be forgotten. Indeed, it has appeared as if,
sullen at the disappointment of his !scheme of a
weak Italian confederation, with a NAPOLEON for
one of its princes, the EMPEROR has done all he
dared to nullify his claims on the gratitude of Italy. i

Unfortunately we do not yet know the conditions
of this return to diplomatic good humour; and it is
not easy, in the case of a man so capricious, and so
unscrupulous, as the EMPEROR, to avoid suspicion.
In regard to Austria we may suppose the effect can
hardly be of the wrong kind. If she had not any
positive advantage to hope for from the technical
and frequently real, coolness between the Govern-
ments of Turin and France, she would yet prefer
that Sardinia should be as isolated as possible. The
closer the relations between the French and Italian
Government, the less could she hope to be quit
safe on her Italian frontier, and the more cer-
tain would be the reappearance in Italy of a French
army, if she ventured on any hostile movement.
All besides, however,
is as dark as ever. The
status quo, we are told, is to be
preserved, but this
condition of things is itself a French intervention
against Italian unity and Italian peoce. As the
recognition of the new kingdom is conceded with
the worst possible grace, without any indication of
pleasure in a great people regaining their natural
position in Europe, and regaining it with a large '
amount of popular freedom, so, we hearinothing of

he cessation of that scandalous intervention against

Italian unity and peace—the Occupation of Rome.
Italians have shown in every way that they
consider Rome to be their capital. The
shouts of the populace, the votes of the Chambers,
the announcements of statesmen, the proclamations
of GARIBALDI, all point to Rome, as the capital
of the kingdom. The Romans themselves are eager
to take the position, at the same time as they exe-
crate a temporal Pope and his execrable Minister ;
and all the other Italians are willing to give it to
them. And who and what stands in the way ?
No one and nothing but the Emperor Louls
NAPOLEorr:and his army.

We are told on all hands that the end
is at hand, that the " Roman Question "
must be settled, and so forth. We have
been told so so often, and been willing to hope it,
that nothing but the sight of the :settlement
will gain our faith. The EMPEROR has held off,
doubtless, for two reasons. One, it flatters his pride
and that of the French nation, to be the Pope of
the POPE himself. Another, that he desires, if he
dares, to make another territorial bargain. Genoa
and Sardinia have been repeatedly talked of; the
former as the "natural" adjunct of Nice, the latter
as the proper accompaniment of Corsica. Sardinia,
too, would have the advantage of being worth forty
Maltas, and of enabling the EMPEROR to neutralise
complately our power there. Perhaps, indeed we
would fain hope so, our Government have informed
him that a war with England would be the imme•
diate consequence of an attempt on his part to take
possession of Sardinia ; if so, We may well believe
that he will, to the last, stick to Rome, in order to
mortify us and Italy; and when the last" will arrive
no mortal can tell. Spleen and pride we fear will
keep the French at Rome as long as they can stay
there. Rome will be cursed with an Ecclesias-
tical Prince, detested by all his subjects;
brigands, the pests of Southern Italy will find a
safe asylum; a people will be held in slavery; and
the capital of a kingdom occupied by its professed
friends; and all to gratify the unworthiest motives
of a man who commands the " half million of sol-
diets." However, we supposed there is nothing for
it but the tedious process of awaiting what shame
can effect even with so heartless a man.

The Appropriation of Seats Bill, standing as it
does first upon the list on the business paper of the
House of Commons for this evening, demands some
few passing words of comment from the journalist
hardly less imperatively than it requires the instant
attention of the Legislature. Whatever may be
affected to the contrary by Ministers, there can be
little doubt but that the vote of last Monday has
struck out, at a single blow, one of the most vital
portions of the measure now before Parliament—
namely, the perverse refusal of the House of Com-
mons to enfranchise the numerous and wealthy
population of Chelsea and Kensington. Than this
petulant rejection of the clause according one of the
four vacant seats to the west end of the metropolis,
, nothing, indeed, could well have been more perverse
in itself, or more obviously unreasonable. So un-
reasonable and so perverse is it as a hasty deci-
sion of the Commons, in a moment of irritation,
almost we had said of hallucination, that it is already
recognised to be simply a question of time, when
that division shall be revised by the popular branch
of the Legislature—a consideration suggestive
consequently of the possible advisability of delay, so
as to afford the House of Commons in this manner the
opportunity of reconsidering the unfair conclusion
arrived at a week since so very precipitately. Here
is avast, wealthy, industrious, and for the most part,
we may safely say, an enlightened town com-
munity, numbering altogether no less than 134,000,
as the aggregate amount of its population—here
is a newly projected metropolitan borough, within
which a larger amount of Income Tax is paid
annually than is contributed to the Ex-
chequer by any one of the two hundred and forty
cities and boroughs now enjoying the privilege of
the elective franchise, and, in right of that, respec-
tively returning members to the Imperial Legisla-
ture! Yet it is this communitywhich is now summarily
denied the power proposed to be accorded to it that,
namely, of sending henceforth one representative
to the Commons House of Parliament ! Instead of
conceding the electoral franchise to Chelsea and
Kensington, the House, it is suggested, should ac-
cord that boon to the London University ! The Home
Secretary's proposal was thus cavalierly set aside
by the division of last Monday evening, and in place
of that—in order to fill up the hiatus thereby left in
the Government measure—Sir J. GRAHAM'S coun-
ter proposition is to be taken into consideration, that
namely by the acceptance of which, the House of
Commons would yield up in answer to the demand
made for it by the University of London, the One
Seat begrudged to Chelsea and Kensington, with
their 134,000 inhabitants ! That the London Uni-
versity has good and valid claims to the privilege
of enfranchisement there are surely but very few
who would venture for one moment to deny. But
that Chelsea and Kensington have in many re-
spects prior and superior claims for the same privi-
lege of enfranchisement must be allowed to
be equally beyond the reach of deliberate
contradiction. It is because of the recognition of
the false position in which the House of Commons
itself is placed, and in which the Ministers them-
selves also are placed by reason of the petulant
and perverse vote of Monday last, that the notion
has been bruited about in the interval that
both the House and the Government may be re-
lieved from their simultaneous embarrassment in
this matter by a summary postponement of the
Bill until next session. That notion has un-
doubtedly in one point of view its advantages—
would, for example, revive the very reasonable
hopes so
unexpectedly extinguished by the adverse
dmeeenistio:fotonday in regard to the enfranchise-
rab reasonsl
e ,Chelsea and. Kensington. Bat there are
urail4sZnannnathe other side clearly recognis-
able,
reasons, rendering it
matter of some solieitude
ntit:yenvoetubyeetintdhige
indignantly
Bill of Sir GEORGE Lewis
set aside by Ministers almost, as One may say,
upon the very morrow of its introduction!

Skirmishing, not serious fighting, is all we yet I
hear of from America_ Both sides are, in fact, little
prepared yet for any great movement. Their troops
are all ill-drilled, and after they have acquired regi_
mental training, they will still need some experience
to enable them to mance:lvre on any large scale.
Hitherto all has been the work of comparatively
small detachments; a considerable numberof men are
indeed concentrated near Washington, and as large a
number are drawing round Harper's Ferry. But
when it becomes requisite to move forward the
whole line on hostile territory, we shall see what
capacity the Northern General has for operating
on the large scale. At present the armies of both
parties have a perfectly friendly rear. The North
will soon have to keep up its communication
through unfriendly towns and villages, that is,
assuming that the majority of Virginians are really
unfriendly to the Union. With an ill-ordered
Commissariat, the soldiers will be tempted, it must
be feared, to provide for themselves on the spot at
the expense, perhaps, of innocent citizens.
We are told that the contemplated advance
across the Potomac did not take place owing to a

report of Secession troops being concentrated in
great numbers for an attack on Alexandria, though
no such attack took place. The concentration of
large numbers on Harper's Ferry is said to become
so imposing that the Secessionist garrison is con-
templating flight without resistance. Besides the
petty skirmishes there is nothing, however, of
fighting, still the rumour continues of an early and
grand advance into Virginia, as far as Fairfax first
—ultimately to Richmond, before which the Seces-
sionists are to withdraw as they are to do at Har-
per's Ferry. We can only chronicle these reported
Paulo post futurunt accounts, we would not vouch
for even their probable accuracy.
It seems to be better established that the slaves
are showing in increased numbers their preference
for General BUTLER'S entrenchments to their old
masters plantations ; the former being, doubtless,
as far as mere labour is concerned, much harder
work. This is, to Englishmen, by far the most
gratifying feature in the war at present. The North
seems astonished that Anti-Slavery England can
show so much favour to the South; indeed, that
we do not come forward to aid the North. Our
favour to the South is such, that we only
wish for it that the war may eman-
cipate the slaves for them. If we show any
indifference to the North, it is on account of their
only attempting to amalgamate Slave States and
Slavery again by one "glorious Constitution."
But if they chose to advance as an army of libera-
tion—if they will but proclaim that every degree
and minute of latitude reached by the Federal
Army must henceforth be a limit to Slavery and
an extension of free-soil, then, indeed, they will
arouse in England and its Parliament an enthu-
siasm like that with which we watched the pro-
gress Of GARIBALDI and CIALDINI.

It is only now that we are begnning to realise in
earnest the magnitude of that terrible and momen-
tous experiment upon which we adventured more
than a dozen years ago in the treatment of our
criminal population. That it was essentially an
experiment, and that it was an experiment more-
over of a very perilous character, was not simply
suspected, was distinctly and vividly recognised at
the outset by the more sagacious observers at the
period when the Legislature, we yet cannot but
think, most rashly and precipitately adventured
upon it. The dreadful reality, that it was at best
no more than an experiment, has been gradually
forcing itself upon the recognition of even the least
observant members of the community during all
these years in which the new system has been in
actual operation amongst us. It is now, we say,
that it is being realised, however, in its full magni-
tude by all classes of observers alike, the most
vigilant and the least vigilant indiscriminately.
The substitution of penal servitude at home for
penal servitude beyond the seas in our remotest
colonies, for the most part actually at our antipodes
—was in a manner, it will be remembered, thrust
by the sheer force of events, thrust it might be
almost said irresistibly, thrust at any rate most
imperatively upon the Imperial Legislature. Gra-
dually in the progress of years our various penal
settlements, even the largest amongst them,became
overstocked with a felon population. The criminals
of the United Kingdom, from having numbered
some 27,000 in 1822, had increased and multiplied
by 1848 to a frightful aggregate of very nearly
74,000. Out of the 27,000 criminals in 1822, from
1,200 to 1,500 required to be dealt with by trans-
portation ; whereas, out of the 74,000 criminals in
1848, from 3,000 to 4,000 were set apart by the
law for the same punishment. The colonies, alarmed
not unnaturally for their own future, besought Par-
liament to interpose between them and the other-
wise unavoidable horror of this imp ending ruin, the
ruin consequent upon any such appalling and demo-
ralising surplusage amongst them of the criminal over
the non-criminal population. Thenceforth, after
1848, the Legislature decided, upon the spur of the
moment, and influenced in its decision by the panic
then but very recently produced by the commercial
crisis that had supervened upon the political con-
vulsion of the principal States of Christendom—
the Legislature hurriedly resolved that after 1848
all the convicts were to be sent to what was then, it
seemed very aptly designated, Van Dieman's Land.
So that the rest of the colonies were relieved, it is
true, by this apparently simple but really in itself
most clumsy arrangement, but only relieved, it
should be remembered, at the expense of that one
ill-starred colony in particular. The result was
only what might have been expected, but it was
so far more rapidly than could by any have been
expected. Van Dieman's Land threatened speedily
to become little better than a Land of Demons
The hell upon earth before visible in that lovely
but polluted antarctic paradise, known not to fame
but to infamy as Norfolk Island, was being fast
emulated. As such, as a very sink of abomination, it
gave to view visible and appreciable tokens that—
unless the Legislature should again, and that
moreover very promptly interpose for the pre-
vention of some terrible catastrophe—Norfolk
Island, we say, gave to view visible and
appreciable tokens (the tokens of a contrast
absolutely favourable to itself in comparison)
of being eclipsed in all its lurid horrors by the
superior atrocity of Van Dieman's Land. Every-
body remembers the little episode in that
transition - epoch in the history of this dread-
ful Convict Difficulty—everybody remembers
the casual incident of the shipload of felons sent
off by the bewildered Government to the Cape of
Good Hope, and of the determined attitude by
which the armed and enraged Cape colonists
repelled the landing of the human freight they
abhorred ! Baffled in these attempts at the national
extrication from the Conviot Tlifflonity, the startled
Legislature, guided in their blundering designs by
what we have already termed only too accurately a
bewildered Government, hurried at once into the
opposite extreme, determined to do summarily
what they actually did soon afterwards--namely,
to abolish altogether the system of transportation.
That is the experiment, the perilous and momen-
tous experiment that we have been trying now
systematically in the very midst of us during the
chief part of this last decade, during years of pro
found responsibility, and at times, we doubt not,
of exquisite anxiety to those entrusted with the
management of the Convict Department. Espe-
cially, and above all
to the distinguished all, we cannot but feel persuaded,
Administrator who has, for
now more than twelve
the scope of the changes
Remembering the diversity and
mberSears past, presided over
that Department. R
which during these last
twelve years have marked our varying and fluctua-
ting
systeniof
extraordinarilyConvictpiseipline—remembering
theperilous character of what we
cannot but still regard as the wonderfully rash
experiment already referred to in these remarks
—we do not hesitate to assert that it is, to
our
mind
great measure attributable to the
resolute
ion and to the conscientious
in
a deter very
nduat
devotion to his duties Of that energetic servant of
the Crown, that the rash experiment to which we
are here alluding has not before this led to results
of the most disastrous character. As Chairman of
the Board of Directors at the head of the Convict
Department, Major-General Sir JOSHUA JEBB has,
ever since 1848, presided over that Department

i 04 ,
ItOco,7_
..,,-., F. r,i-ls,-.4-Ale
4. i.,-.44 l+ , 20,
ti
r• -7-7-.4,1,-- ~.., 1.,.._
... 7 • ,' i V ' ' rte`
,r

THE SUN.
LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1881.