The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-24 00:00:00

aw.

He committed only the small mistake of over-
looking the most vital fact of all—the one on which
M. THOLTVENEL, doubtless instructed by the able
jurists of France, lays his finger. He overlooked
the fact that the neutral vessel was sailing neither
to nor from a hostile port ; that she was bound
from one neutral port to another neutral port, and
that under those circuaistances nothing on board of
her could by any possibility be contraband. We
do not say that an intelligent sea captain, like all
public persons, should not study international law,
but we do say, that a sensible captain would con
fine himself to obedience to orders, or he can never
tell the trouble into which he may bring his coun-
try. He may rely upon it that on a question which
sends him to legal studies he must be as likely to
be wrong as right. The most intelligent public
writers in England did not venture to
commit themselves to an opinion before the gentle-
men " learned in the law" had delivered theirs.
This was surely an indication of soundness of
judgment, and Captain WILKES'S conduct was
equally a presumption that he was sadly wanting
in that quality. When he found that the ship was
(me which he could not venture on public grounds
to seize and detain, it might scarcely occur to him
that that very fact was against him. It might have
taught him that there really was something special
in the character of a vessel by detaining which,
numerous peaceful passengers, and numerous
writers and expectants of letters would have been
put to serious inconvenience. Condemn the
Trent as a prize! We could wish he bad.
We much doubt whether even American lawyers
would not have quailed at the thought, and then a
handsome sum would the gallant captain have had
to pay for attempting to act the part of marine
policeman and judge at the same time. But even

had such judges proved faithless to international
law, we may be quite sure that Lord PALMERSTON
would instantly have ordered such reprisals as
would have brought judges and captains, too, to

their senses.
The " learned and gallant" Captain doubtless
well knew the sort of people he bad to do with on
his own side the water. He could calculate on being
a lion or a hero, in proportion to his defiance of
England. The Bostonians exulted in the fact that
he fired a shot across the bows surmounted by the
British Lion ; if it was not much to fight a ship
without guns, it was something to insult the ship
of a country which had sa many guns at command,
but which would never dare to use them against
America or —. We may hope, however, that
Captain WILKES has, by his mingled learning
and gallantry, brought this style of thought and
talk to an end. America will understand, we
hope, henceforth that after having bullied us out of
everything in Maine, in Oregcn, and in Cen-
tral America—after having sent our Ambas-
sador home with impunity, and done
fifty other things almost as bad that—after all
this we have seen our last of being bullied into
concession. If fighting they must have, they will
have it in future to their heart's content. Tne
knowledge of this seems essential to inducing them
to keep the peace, but they do know it now, and we
hope therefore that it will prove that the WILKEs
exploit has put an end to Yankee bullying of Eng-
land, and English concern for peace and quiet.

THE LATE PRINCE CONSORT.-011 Saturday, the
21st of December, Major Graham, the Registrar-General,
attended at Windsor Castle for the purpose of superintend-
ing the civil registration of the death of his Royal Highness
the Prince Consor4, previous to the funeral. The death
was recorded in the. register-book of the Windsor district by
Mr. Towers, the R egistrar of Births and Deaths, his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales signing the entry as in-
formant " present at death." The fatal disease was re-
corded, " Typhoid fever; duration, 21 days," as certified
in writing by the physicians who had been in attendance
on the deceased.

The private letters from New York state that
the financial report of Mr. Chase, the Secretary of the
Treasury, had produced a very unfavourable impression
among the principal] bankers and merchants, and that on
the evening previous to the departure of the present mail a
meeting of Now York Banks had been held to discuss the
crtestion of a suspenCon of specie payments. No decision
had been arrived at, "but the result appeared to be inevit-
able at an early date. Meanwhile, it was understood that
the Banks would intir sate to the Government their inability
to enter into any furtiaer loan commitments.

LATEST NE WS.

TURIN, DEC. 23.

An extraordinary sitting of the Senate was held
this evening for the discussion of the Budget. In
reply to the questions addressed to him by some of
the senators, Signor Bastogi gave an explanatory
statement of the Budget analogous to that which
he has already made to the Chamber of Deputies.
Signor Arnulfo disputed the conclusions drawn
by the Minister, and stated that he believed the
deficit for 1862 would be greater than had been
estimated—that the yield of the new taxes was
uncertain, and that no definite financial plan for
the future had been presented to the Chamber,

Signor Bastogi replied that the deficit for 1862
would be less than that for 1861, and said :

"We are living in extraordinary times. If the
produce of the tax be not sufficient it will be neces-
sary to have recourse momentarily to the issue of
Treasury Bonds, as I have announced to the Cham-
ber of Deputies."
Some of the Senators declared that the vote of the
Senate on the Budget would neither express confi-
dence nor distrust in the Ministry, but that in view
of the urgency of the case the propositions of the
Government would be adopted.

ROME, DEC. 23.

In a Consistory, held this morning, the Pope
expressed to the Cardinals his desire to proceed to
the canonisation of 23 martyrs, who fell in Japan.

The Pope also announced that another Consistory
would be held for the nomination of three Arch-
bishops and ten Bishops, most of whom are
Spaniards.

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, DEC. 24.

The Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia
Company's steamer City of Manchester, from New
York on the Bth inst., has arrived. She brings she
United States mails and 262 passengers ; both mails
and passengers have been landed.
The City of Manchester experienced easterly
gales and high seas during her voyage home. Her
news has been anticipated.