The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-06 00:00:00

CAPTAIN WILKES.

The English friends of this officer have doubtless
felt more pain than surprise at his having once
more got into hot water before his long naval career
is ended. He must be one of the oldest officers in
the United States' service—and that service never
had one more loyal—but his sagacity, judgment,
and knowledge, are not equal to his moral qualities.
The readers of his Narrative of the Exploring Ex-
pedition, of which he was commander, must be well
aware of this ; and, few and short as are his refer-
ences in that work to his troubles in that command,
they leave a painful impression of either incapacity
on his part, or something worse in others. His
courageous readiness to assume responsibility is no
atonement for mistakes which cannot be repaired.
The exploring expedition was projected in 1836, and
the command of it offered to Captain Wilkes. He
agreed to repair to London, in order to obtain infor-
mation, and to procure the best nautical instruments
and other scientific aids; but he suspended his
acceptance of the command till he should be satis-
fied that he would have adequate powers and sup-
port. In London he was welcomed with a kind-
ness which made a deep impression on him, as ap-
pears in his Narrative, and as his English friends do
not forget. He was by marriage a relative of Lord
Jeffrey. He was cordially aided and advised at the
Admiralty, and a good deal of attention was natu-
rally fixed on his adventure, when the expedition
finally started in 1838. Our readers may remember
the collisions which were reported from time to
time—the disputes about Antarctic discoveries—
not only about the rival claims of British and
American commanders, but about the actual
facts of the reported American discoveries.
Then there were rumours of difficulties and
dissensions on board the ships of the squadron,
and of great severity on the commander's part in
suppressing mutiny. He spoke on that occasion as
he speaks now. He publicly said that he meant to
do his duty, that he believed he had done it, and
that if he was wrong he was ready to bear the
consequences. The whole transaction exhibited the
character of the man—loyal to duty, and to his Go-
vernment conscientious and courageous. His coin-
plaints of enemies on every hand, and of their ma-
chinations, seem to show a radical incapacity for
propitiating other men's judgment and feelings. It
could be nothing worse than was thus indicated, for
he is a man of generous spirit and amiable temper.
Conscientious and amiable as he is, he was brought
before successive courts-martial on his return from
the expedition, and for three weeks a court of 13
members was engaged in investigating 11 charges,
expanded into 36 specifications, against Commodore
Wilkes' acts at various periods of the long voyage.
This is his own published statement ; and he adds
that on only one point was he judged to have trans-
gressed the lawS of the navy—that point being
merely the amount of punishment he had awarded
to certain of his crew under urgent circumstances.
Yet he himself evidently retained an irritating
sense of ill-usage throughout the whole transaction,
while icaders and observers were generally im-
pressed with his being unfortunate in a certain
weakness or perverseness of judgment, aggravated
►,y lank of sufficient knowledge for a position like
his. Those who are best acquainted with his mind
and character will probably agree as to what he
will feel and do on the present occasion. He will be
surprised that he never heard of Madison's depreca-
tion of the honour of any flag being at the mercy
of any petty commander. He will be astonished to
find that it was a mistake to seize the men and
leave their despatches behind. He will declare that
he desired every courtesy to be shown to the British
officers. He will insist that it was the great object
of the hour to get hold of the commissioners, and
that he could have no doubt of its being his duty to

" There was a fearful conflagration at the Napoleon
Docks last night, causing a large loss of life and pro-
perty. The fire commenced at about half-past five
o'clock at the large Belgian Sugar ittifinery, and in
about half ,:an hour the whole buildings were one
mass of flames, causing the greatest consternation,
and so great a heat that two vessels lying i❑ the
docks in front of the buildings commenced burning.
The fire extended with great rapidity to the Entre-
pot St. Felix, which became also one mass of flames
at about 8 o'clock in the evening. After great exer-
tions on the part of the fire brigade the fire was ar-
rested, but it is still burning, and the adjoining
warehouses are not yet out of danger. We regret
to say that about 20 firemen, one architect, and the
superintendent of the Entrepot St. Felix have been
lost, and several more persons are missing. The
total estimated loss of property is about 10,000,0001.;
there were about 50,000 qrs. of wheat, rye, barley,
and seed at St. Felix, besides large quantities of
wool, sugar, and other articles. The loss to the in-
surance companies will be principally in this coun-
try and Holland, and also in a London office."

The Belgian papers publish Aetails -re k!ii,4,97,1
catastrophe.
The Precurseur of Antwerp says :—" A terrible
conflagration, surpassing in intensity any one that
has occurred in Antwerp since the destruction of the
Entrepot in 1830, threw the whole city of Antwerp
into consternation last night. The fire broke out at
half-past 5 in the Belgian Sugar Refinery. The
fire brigade and the troops of the garrison were on
the spot almost immediately, and every step was
taken likely to stop the flames. The Belgian Re-
finery is contiguous on one side to the Entrepot St.
Felix, and on the other to wooden buildings belong-
ing to the firm of Bea and Verbert. The chief
facade fronts the great basin, and the ether the rail-
way station. The amount of combustible materials
collected here was sufficient, if it took fire, to de-
stroy a great portion of our commercial establish.
meats, not to speak of the shipping in the basins.
It was found impossible to save the refinery; in less

than half an hour it was one fiery furnace, throwing
high columns of flames into the air, which lit up the
whole city. From the ramparts the whole country
as far as Dam was as light as day; the flames were
perfectly visible three leagues off; the passengers in

the Gand train saw them from Neukerke. All the
efforts of the pompiers (fire brigade) and the garri-
son were directed to save the adjoining buildings,
especially the Entrepot St. Felix and the woodyard.
The 11 fire engines on the spot, especially that of
M. Wood, of Deurne, did good service in stopping
the spreading of the flames. The storehouses of the
refinery were partially cleared of their contents.
The soldiers of the Military Train and Artillery and
of the forts dragged away the carts as fast as they
were filled. The woodyard of MM. Bex and Verbert
has been saved. This fortunate circumstance is due
to the solidity of the wall on the left of the refinery.
The Entrepot St. Felix was still intact. A number
of workmen had entered the building, including M.
Stoop, inspector of works, and M. Hirsch, sub-direc-
tor of the entrepot. There were at least 50 men in-
side the building. Tongues of livid filme were seen
shortly to issue from the WindOlN s of the first story
about 35 minute., past 7. A cry of horror and fear
arose from the crowd respecting the fate of the men
who were in the upper (seventh) story of the build-
ing. At ten minutes to 8 the building fell in with

a fearful crash, burying the unfortunate men in the

ruins. Among the killed are MM. Stoop and Hirsch,
the corporal of the Fire Brigade, Willemsen, Bri-

gadier Naulerts, a sergeant, and four soldiers. The
number of killed has not, however, as yet been ac-
curately ascertained. In one quarter of au hour this
building, supposed to be fire-proof, fell a prey to
the flames. The owners of the ships in the basin
were in the greatest state of alarm. Flakes of fire
were falling all around the vessels, and the crews
were actively employed in getting the craft away.
The sails of one ship took fire, and the paint
of many of them was scorched and crackled.
The inhabitants of the houses in the vicinity of
the conflagration were busily employed removing
their goods and chattels. A lady who had been
only confined the day before was carried out of her
house. The scene of desolation will be remembered

by all who witnessed it to their dying day. At
half-past 8 the conflagration was concentrated in
the two buildings of the entrepot and refinery, and
hopes were entertained of saving the stores of guano
close to the Entrepot St. Michael. The Malines
Fire Brigade arrived about 10 o'clock with their
engines by special train. The fire was so intense
that the water poured into the flames seemed to
feed instead of extinguishing them. The conduct
of all present was most admirable."
The Arear gives additional details, It calculates
the merchandise stored at the Entrepot St. Felix as
follows :-100,000 hectolitres of grain, 1,500 to
1,700 bales of wool, 940 bales of tobacco, 400 bar-
rels of raisins, 1,000 blocks of mahogany, 200 bar-
rels of potash, 300,000 kilogrammes of bar iron,
1,000 parcels of merchandise of various description,
500 bales of flax and tow, 1,500 casks of sugar, 5,000
bales of rice, 4,000 dried hides, 500 bales of coffee.
The cellars of the same establishment contained
200,000 kilogrammes of grainc de coton, 100 bales
of tobacco, a store of mahogany, 100 barrels of
pumice stone, 500 hides, 150 bales of flax, 150,000
kilogrammes of bois de teinture, 500 barrels of oil
and turpentine, 250 bales of resin, 2,500 sacks of
purified guano, 200,000 kilogrammes of copper ore.
Tho Belgian Refinery was insured for about
1,700,000 f., chiefly in Belgian and French Com-
panics. The value of the merchandise in the Entre-
pot St. Felix is calculated at ten millions of francs.
All the insurance offices will be considerable suf-
ferers.
The Precurseur says :—" We have received a few
additional details of the conflagration. The fire
appears to have broken out in the offices of the
refinery on the side near the basin. All the
buildings of the entrepot and of the refinery
are destroyed except the building alluded
to above and the house of the director. The walls
of the entrepot have fallen in ; the back facade
threatens to fall ; it would fall into the railway sta-
tion. The walls of the refinery, which were more
solidly constructed, as also the chimney, remain
standing. It is to the thickness of these walls that
MM. Box and Verbert are indebted for the preser-
vation of their premises. Nevertheless the timber
in their yards was on fire more than once, and in
many places is carbonised. The timber yard was
smoking this morning, but no fears are entertained
of fire. The cellars of the entrepot containing the
flax, turpentine, and resin have not been touched.
The energies of the Fire Brigade and troops are di•
rected to this quarter. The Antwerp Refinery was
insured to the amount of nearly 2,000,000 (X 80,000),
in various French. Belgian, and German companies.
The entrepot was insured for 7,000,000 f, to 8,000,000 f.
(X 320,000), chiefly in Dutch companies, which writ
suffer considerably."

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lIRIBAL AMERICA'S TRADE - PLANTA-
-A- TIONS, WITH ENGLAND'S WILL - TRUSTEES,
BY RETRO-LONGITUDE 132 xns.l4-5 ACT, TIC. C. 39, §l, so
5. to *INN-Jet-81=i ',lgen rota' our-Flot-nmi c:1, N.
Wall ' murem 24 March--29 Sept. Brrantira,l,finangial
Treasury-date of rwe-x-ed Fishery-park Law-sets.
CA.RIBEsGuE-Sachims and Merchants.—For commercial
quiet it becomes my duty, in opposition to the opinion of the
placet' Churchmen lawyers of British kirk, to state that the
officers of the anti-slavery coast-guard ship San Jacinto,
have acted in conformity with the Municipal Acts of the
21st year of Penn's Regulus parliament, Art. xx., by force
of which no planter, or any of the preprietory, can leave the
landboard without a notice of three week's market-place
guarantee of his debts under a justice certificate, the ship
and captain aiding such evil intentioned person to be *
amenable to the right of search' law. (Signed) .• •
R. ANGELO, J. SOUTHWORTII, Cl. of Synod,
J. GROWDON, Speaker, Oct. 28, 1701,—Re-modelled, 1838.
Sachims-f--The last Illustrated London News, No. 1,119,
page 538, gives us, Clarendon's carefinea, in Philadeph's
Pensylvan-armorial Jword =(-:. scale, as H. 6, Keeper of the
touch, on resolution' of its two councils' on Middletone's
tons ' fodin -regales,' as of Jag. L's 72-0 New River
shares, in London's-1-plug -key company of Philadelphia,
under England's Indian allies, as attested by De' can° Henry
Wotton and Montague—so CAR. 11. Hyde's grant of 1662's
dependence on Penn's 1681-1701, in Quaker's affirm act,
1719, on 1777 Indian responsibility in trust, the whole of
which guarantees of the allies were turned over by commit-
tee of House of Commons (12th Feb., 1836, Gladstone and
Buxton, chairmen, No. 4421, for the Far West peculiar
institution), with the undersigned § Lay-Oe'cone9s as their
patrons and advocates.
See Aborigines' Report, 1837, to 2d March, 1841, London
(and Philadelphia 4422), Convention by Bulo Palmerston
and Labouchere, through Daniel Webster and Perley, 3d
Sept., '4l, election of indian Peter, B. 11, as successor to
the 99 years' leases (12 to run), under the 14th George 111.,
1774, for Seem° Jos. Brant, on the suggestion of old
John Adams—whose grandson is now in London—and
approved at Philadelphia's Longbro Crt., Gloster, '75 by
Atkyns Montague § Chamberlayne for (Hugh Chamberlen
& Co's, Goktimith's N. River proprietary) Steggles 'plug.'
Thus, Sachins, you learn the political cause for removing
the Florida-semioles end Georgil Cherokee Indians of the
coast, and of Ohio, one thousand miles west of the Mis-
sissippia, lodge-poised-North and South of Mount Plea-
sant, in the rear of the white faced slave-planters, to pre-
vent their black cattle mixing with the virgin races
Hence the Shire-court foundation, on French and British
3tys, Jan. & Nov., 1840, as prefac'd to Washington Extra-
dition Act for Indian (Sept. 3, 1841) election of P. 'Basket,'
the living representative of the Ashburton boundary com-
mission, to personify Wotton & Penn-Ackerley's sworn in
successor as sponsor of Ind. lady 1820—for Act of 1843's
Empery (extra Ditio-nis) court, of the ' Texas-hundred'
partners, for basis to the legislative law of England and all
America, for outing the Filibuster-rrench-placet [1562 of
Borromeo's Churchmen to pay taxes, 10ths, and forage
subsidies' of the Trent council, for swamping by votes thro'
the ' Jesuit-Lopez Louisiana.'] 'in C aana'rs
In re Trent—The arrest of Messrs. Slidell, Mason, and
others, as contra-band illegal persons,' you perceive, is
just for mercantile quiet, on this case the below codiciled
recognition is requisite, tho' hitherto made the scapegoats
for motives of the Luther Calvin Swiss fraters de Sac'cis
of the ' 3/4 bronze'd-i-PENN-statue Society of Friends.
Sac'homo's and Sachims. Ken I by Acts of 1818 ('24-32
still pending), § 4.9, subjects or subject for equal rewards
to all parties on polar-expedition. Ye will now think deep of
the danger of joining either party of the white faces or half-
caste Indian persuaders, and are hereby forbid from notic-
ing Placed-proclamation's as headed in the Times and
.Post of 16th Nov., "A Convention between ENGLAND,
France, and Spain," and signed 31st Oct., 1861, whereby
you will perceive [that on such setting forth], the com-
mon law is not embraced in the said deed for the Indian's
rights, as well as the alien's of contracting parties to keep
peace on their soil. By " this" and reasons as follows :
" Command oid words, that long have slept—to wake,
Words that wise •
Bacon, and brave Raleigh spake "
- - - . -

1. My Admiralty RED flag, is the War Gap-line one of
the Water limits (the Flag Union Jac of the crosses on 3
James I. is a Christian Zollverein trading flag + X and
not a belligerent by the Ordnance) issue of Jan. 31 1842,
from the Tower—the Civile Service Merchant Flag, on
board the Portable-post-Office Trent, had not the white
border marginal to it.
2. That the mythic words British and Britain, whether
St. George's or St. Patrick's Channel, for excluding the
word England from the 1782 court Christian tea charts,
adopted without the sanction of Europe, contrary to the
Justinian Roman law base of the X-span' Faros union
courts of E-gal law of 1521, and under 1764 trust, which
has been decided in the Ang'llot-span'sh Texas Crts. inad-
missible, by the assumed Britishers and Frenchmen of in-
corporated St. Denis, under the words "except France" in
March 3, 1815, U. S. 3ty, prior to Blucher and Wellington's
signature [for restoration of the Jesuits of the 2d order of
Melchisidek on a ' moving earth error' with it] the 17th
of June, 1815, the eve, of their battle of Waterloo's Brazil'd
Belgium treaties of 1828-30 of sectarian illegality.
3, The Papal assumption of Sir W. Gore Ouseley in
collecting the signatures of the 800 Sachims for rebellion
in my name, (seen by his Wabash'd Walker succession
in Central America, for the Bamberg Sigismund life-
tenure 1047 assumption of PERT Savoy), for the seizing of
Mexico from England's allies, caused his papist envoy, Capt.
Aldham, to be shot by the Indians, as sacrificing their
nationalities to priests I wolves men as manifest by
late ' Morocco, bullion theft' convention, for dynastic retro-
spective arrangements. in 'violation of Ackerley's pivot-
trust appointment of 29th Aug., 1825, for the benefit of all
parties, without distinction of creed or colour, including the
MoNaoE doctrine, Las of Bohun'd Phil. 11. Manilla channel
of official letter], which elected the Indian Peter as the
law's font, and recognised as such by Peel and Derby, and
the King of Prussia at Windsor Castle, 1842, as the ' sole'
elect of Nor-West Russia-Pdland's aurman of the cent-
sears Dutch Loan Act of 1832, unconnected with religion.

Fourthly. The Lie-ratification of the London Gazette,
and not within the fifteen days, is illegal by act of Parlia-
ment on Extradition Texas-hundred trust, it being in a
sup-plement— whity-coloured persons being interdicted
from voice in this peculiar Az'fmithson'an institution' of
March and April, 1836, on (Gladstone's) comtee. of H. C.
The foregoing Chain proves to ye', Sachims I Indians,
aliens, and others, that the Cabinets named in this con-
vention are engaged in carryinc, out the dictum of Mr.
CANNING in a converse sense, (being in total opposition to
the legislative unity of the standard of weight and measure
of 1824 and 1835, for raising the revenue —under annual
election of paid laymen—as well as guiding the commerce of
the whole world) without consulting the undersigned.
Therefore the gist of this letter, for my rights, yours, and
all parties, is [for the monetary recognition of all
dues from
America upon the principal of primary well-intention of
the whites and the evident decay of human nature, by the
theft of the 1730 Indian nationalities on my life], by a brother
and sisterly love for the future, under the law of England,
as now disconnected with (t. Pope, t•Churches, or t-water
sects hitherto under minister's money), the /tread state.
PETER BRANT BASQUE; America's Medal'd-sack9m6,
Nephew 11 (of Sac'mo J. Brant, 1775—Saemo Peter Toma
Brant, 1825,-ClO, of New Brunswick), Canada's Gaspe.
L. 5.11 .7's— §C.H. A c KERLEY, P.C,,—sworn in,
—C. J., Empyrate commission of Review, 1825-37,
L.S. Hen. B's Executors ¢WOTTON' LYON Bowl's, P.C.
Dec. 3—London. See The sun, Nov. 16, 1861.
RO YAL

ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT GARDEN.
Unier the management of Miss Louisa Pyno and Mr. Wm.
Harrison, Sole Lessees.

THIS EVENING, THE PURITAN'S DAUGHTER.
Miss Louisa Pyne. Miss Susan Tyne; Messrs. SAutley, A. St.
Aibyn, Corti, G. Honey, Patey, Lysll, Wallworth, T. Distin,
E. Dussek, and W. Harrison.
Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON.
To conclude with THE TOY MAKER. Mr. 11. Haigh,
G. Fyne; Mesdames Susan Pyne and Thirlwall,

Commence at Seven o'clock.
The Box-ofllce open from Ten to Five daily. No charge for
boLking, or tees to Box-keepers.
:a2-il-3tanazer, Mr. Leigh Murray. Acting-Manager, Mr.
.Trt Murray.

1:11. ItOYA L, HAYMARKET,
lessee, Mr. J. B. Backstour,

THIS EVENING, FAMILY JARS. Mr. Compton and
Mrs. E. Fitzwilliam.
To be followed by OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Lord
Dunireary, Mr. S Ahern. Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Farron, Mrs.
C. Young, &c.

After which, MY AUNT'S ADVICE. Mr. Howe, Mr.
Sotheran, Miss Oliver, &c.
To con ludo with A. KISS IN THE DARK. •

Commence a' 7

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
3fanager- -Mr. Edmund Falconer.
TM'S EVENING, the nertormsnoes will commence with
THE DAY AFTER THE WEDDING Mr. Walter Lacy
and Mrs. St. Henry.
After which, at a quarter to EiLdit (24th time) the new
and original Drama, entitled PEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen
Deelish. Nlessrs. Walter Lacy, Hermann Vezin, Charles
5,•113y, Edmua i Falconer; Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara
Weston.

To conclude with AN UNPROTECTED FEMALE, in
which Miss Lydia Thompson will Dance the Volunteer
Step.

Acting Manager—lir. F. B. Chltterton.
Prices as usual. Doors open at half-past 8, to commence at
Box-office open daily from tt till 5.

)0Y AA, PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Harris.
'VMS PVENINCT, JEANETTE'S WEDDING. Miss it
arri. and Mr.D. Widdicomb.
After which, at -Elzht o'clock, Shakespe ire's tragedy of
0 MP:Lim, with new scenery,
Othello, Mr, Pechter and appointments.

EW THRATR E
-R0 YAL , ADE-UHL-
'We Pronriator .nd Ntana,er, Mr. R. Webster.
THIS EVENING, THE PRETTY
HORSEBREAK ER.
3!r. J. L. Toole, Mr. P. Redford, and Miss Woolgar.
After which, the new drama, entitled THE OCTOROON;
or, LIFE IN LOUISIANA
;writtenainielg, therom the author of "The Colleen Bawn." Mr. George j
Winter-
garden, New York ; Miss Latimer, from the
tres • and Miss Denvil, from the Lyceum provincial ther,-
cipaf characters in rhe drama will be Performed othert prin-
E7nery, Stephenson Billington, Paul Redford, Romer,
Messrs.
Rillinn•ton. Mrs. Marston. &a., kc. Entirely new sme • Mrs.
scenery by
!ewe. Dalby and Thompson.
To conclude with DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Mr. Toole,
Bliss K. Kelly. &c.
Doors onen at half-past s—Commence at 7.
Box-office open from 10 till 5. No charge for booking.

C \NTERBURY HALL CONCERTS,
AND FINE ARTS GALLERY.
MR. SAII COWELL at Eleven o'clock in several favou-
rite Sonzs, including " THE HOUSE THAT JACK
BUILT."

Grand Selections from
STRADELLA and LA 'l' ii.A VTATA.
By Miss Russell. NlimgErnst, Mr. Herbert, and Signor Tivoli,

with a po:yerful Chorus.
The Comic department :—Mr. Sam Cowell ; Ifr. Marshall,
in his new song, "John Bull, you don't bamboozle me ;"
Messrs. Ila ryey and Prench (the Nerves); Mr. Wood and
his ta'ented son, the best negro de'ineators of the day;
and lliss Harriet Covcney
Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans.
Admission—Hail, 6d.; Stalls and Balcony, Is.

H E O X F OR D,
6, OXFORD-STREET.
EVERY EVENING.

elections from " LA CIRCASSIENNE," "Simon Bonen-
li;,Ta," and " Ernani," by Miss Russell and Miss Ernst ;
Albert (his first appearance), Morley Greville, &c.
Itmte,:nnd and Chorus.—Conductor, Mr. F. .Tom.rhmans.—
„yin ,_
„fly. ballads by Miss Russell and Madame E dere-
ant,,,telizmnd expressly for them). And Varied Comic
dal'tiarvpnis by Thee Harriet Coveney, Messrs. W. Ran-
SAil CO VaLtar4a'rlle,"fteicleh ; (The Nerves), E. Mvrshall, and Boxes, los. 6d. Bakony and Stalls, le ; Private

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.]
Tins DAY.—Morning, 4h. 38m.—Afternoon, sh. sm.
To-idoitilow.-Morning, sh. 27m.—Afternoon, sh. 50m.

THE WEATHER.—Svrt OFFICE, DECEMBER 6, 1861.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
41—kighest'sinee noon yesterday.
32—lowest this morning and during the night.
42 —this day at noon.
BArtomETER-29.58.
WIND - South-Easterly ; light, with dirty, rainy
weather.

LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 6, 1861.

We do not wish our manufacturers to lose the
chance of a good sale for their productions, or our
merchants a like chance for their imports, but they
will, in common with the rest of their fellow-
countrymen, feel that the orders just issued by her
MAJESTY are right. We cannot be quite sure of
the object of the Federal Government in purchasing
almost every cwt. of saltpetre to be found in Eng-
land, but it was at least so unusual a course that
we were bound to notice it. It is quite certain
that they could not need at once three thousand
tons of the material which constitutes the explosive
strength of gunpowder. It is also certain that
they could have purchased all they wanted in South
America without sweeping the English warehouses
of the article; why, therefore, do so ? Had India
been the only source of supply it would have been
somewhat less remarkable that they should endea-
vour to make sure of the all-important article of
war in time—but what, just now, was the urgency ?
Were they afraid of Southern purchasers ? It
is possible that as the South is so nearly destitute
of shipping, it could not easily manage to get salt-
petre from Chili and Peru, or from India, The
probability is indeed that the orders of the South
would come for manufactured gunpowder, their
means of making it themselves being, we believe,
almost none. The result would, however, be the
same, as Southern orders for gunpowder could not
be executed if the saltpetre were not in this
country. It is, therefore, just possible that
they might desire to destroy the purchase-
market for the South. Against tile must
be set the fact that we are not the only European
country in which the South could purchase salt-
petre or gunpowder.

Was it, then, a project to strip us of this essen-
tial of war. It cannot be denied that some things
look too much like it. A parallel effort has been
made to purchase all the small arms possible, with
the ammunition and so forth appropriate to them ;
this might be better explained from the evident
difficulty of equipping the vast number of men
which the North appears to think the chief thing
in an army; and as their principal manufactory at
Harpez's Ferry was early offered as a sacrifice to the
manes of JOHN BROWN, of Ossowatomie, we may sup-
pose the difficulty of providing small arms must be
very great. Still the number ordered of these, by
the agent who came out by the Persia—and who
luckily was not taken out of her by the Nashville
or the Sumpter—is so great, that the first aspect of
the orders is not quite pleasant. We can hardly
connect these orders with the insult to the Trent, as
they must have been given before that occurred.
Yet in one aspect this looks even less pleasant,
since if it was thought requisite to denude us of
war material before that outrage, it affords a rather
dark indication of the feeling at work in the North,
previously to that act. In any case it will be
agreed that the Government has done but an
obvious duty in issuing the two proclamations.
We do not necessarily obstruct the Federal agents
in any honest purpose. Saltpetre they can obtain
from the country whence we obtained a large part
of ours ; small arms are made for sale to all buyers
in Belgium, and France can supply them if she has
no objection ; but possibly after the manner in
which this same San Jacinto has treated the Jules
et Marie, our susceptible neighbours may be as
little disposed as we are to furnish the means of
offence to such troublesome and uncertain neigh-
bours. It seems, however, only as neutrals, the
fairest course to prohibit the export of arms in any
case in which the Custom-house authorities cannot
be fully satisfied that they are in no way to reach
either of the belligerents.

Our readers will remember that Lord STANLEY
and the Right Hon. BEN. DISRAELI took about
opposite views of the old, but it seems ever new
cry that " the Church is in danger." To the best
of our recollection it was in danger when we were
of the age to hear fathers and uncles read the
newspapers by the fireside, and when we were
much more troubled by the silence imposed in con-
sequence. Even since that time danger ! has been
every now and then the cry—of course, it was in
danger in the days of Sir FRANCIS BURDETT and
PETERLOO the Reform Bill endangered the
Church and everything else which frightened
old Tories ; Catholic Emancipation was an
awful shock yet the Church survived it,
so it did the repeal of the Corporation and
Test Acts, and numberless other dangers which
in their time made ecclesiastics and their hangers-
on call out most lustily. We really do not wonder
that Lord STANLEY should be disposed to be as
humorous as his temperament permits him to be,
over the present cry of " Church in Danger." To
be sure, Mr. DISRAELI and others tell us that the
danger was only apparent before, but that it is
real now; but so the danger present for the time
was alwas a real one, though past terrors had proved
quite groundless.

But the other day another writer came forward
in our contemporary the Daily News, and confirmed
Mr. DISRAELI'S -view, and disputed that of Llrd
STANLEY. He is a man, too, entitled to be heard
—Professor GOLDWIN SMITH, of Oxford. The
Professor holds that the Church is in a different
kind of danger from any which ever assailed her
before. The greatest, perhaps, is her hopeless in-
ternal divisions.

st Lord STANLEY admits," he says, " by implica-
Lion that the continued security of the establishment ,
depends upon the possibility of restoring peace, or
at least some semblance of peace, between the two
hostile parties—he might have said, with a nearer
approach to truth, the ten hostile parties—within its
divided pale. But, let me ask him, on what does
his exyectation of restoring peace between these
parties rest? He evidently regards the opinions of
both with statesmanlike indifference, as the vagaries
of ' angry insects' over which be would like, in the

interest of political tranquillity, ' to sprinkle a
little dust.' But does he think it likely that they
will be induced to regard their own opinions with
indifference, and to sacrifice them, as things of
secondary value, on the altar of political conve-
nience ? What object can be held out to the mass
of men constituting these several parties, fer the
sake of which they could consent to renounce what
they believe to be religious truth ? Statesmen, in
spite of their knowledge of the world, or perhaps,
I should rather say, because of their knowledge of
the world, are apt to overlook or underrate the
force of the simple motives which actuate common
men. Yet these motives, and not any subtler con-
siderations, ultimately determine the coarse of the
world."

Professor SMITH gives the following graphic
picture of the division of his church :—" There is
now, besides the High Church party and the
Evangelicals, with their various subdivisions,
the third party of liberals or broad churchmen,
who are, at bottom, against all authoritative creeds,
and, by necessary consequence, against all esta-
blishments. This party is at present trying the
expedient, which the Romanizing party tried not
long ago, of straining the formularies by non-natural
interpretations. But before long, I apprehend,
they, like the ablest and most honest members of
the Romanizing party, will find out to what con-
clusion their opinions really lead; and instead of
labouring by curious interpretations and question-
able theories of compliance to make loopholes for
the less scrupulous, they will join in the nobler
effort to throw wide the portals of truth for all "
Of their temper towards each other he thus
writes :—" The cause of their mutual fury is to be
found in their unnatural union. They are like two
dogs coupled together against their will, wrenching
and tugging each other because they want to go
different ways. Cast off the coupling ; set them free
to go each which way he will, and they will go on
their different ways in peace. Nay, they will then
probably soon meet again in amity, if not in agree-
ment, which now, while they are yoked together
in a state of daily strife, becomes more hopeless
every day."
The Professor does not, however, think the in-
ternal danger the only one. He thinks that the
nation having embraced the doctrine of protection
in regard to commerce, is prepared to embrace it in
regard to religion also, and to prefer the principles of
free trade in one as well as in the other. " For I
am convinced," he says, " that the English nation
is now being urged by necessity, and is at the same
time mustering courage to advance towards that
perfect religious freedom which it has been so
industriously taught to dread as the extinction
of religion." And again—" It is true that
on this, as on some other:subjects, Englishmen
have been sedulously and too successfully trained
to believe that if they fairly embrace rea-
son, and discard what is irrational, they will fall
into some terrible and immeasurable abyss. But
in the case of free trade they have fathomed this
abyss; and perhaps they will now shrink less from
fathoming it in the case of free thought.
Another great danger, Mr. SMITH says, " is the
desertion of the Church by the higher order of
intellects. "But let Lord STANLET and other
ecclesiastical quietists mark this. Bishop after
bishop, clerical journal after clerical journal, com-
plaints with perfect truth, that men of intellect are
ceasing to present themselves as candidates for
orders. The reason is pretty obvious. It is not
that the spiritual profession has ceased to have
attractions for highly gifted and highly cultivated
minds, but that such minds, when combined with
sensitive consciences, refuse to bind themselves to a
mass of heterogenons Tudor dogmas, which, after
the discussions we have had on the subject, no
human being can believe to be even self-consistent,
much less to be absolute and final truth. The con-
sequence is a gradual deterioration in the intellect
of the clergy, the established guides and instructors
of the people, which cannot fail to produce a
corresponding effect on those under their influence,
and to render their agency in the long run
injurious rather than beneficial to civilization.
I :need
,hardly say to what sources of power a
clergy, which has lost its claims to intellectual
allegiance, is usually driven to resort."
But surely a pretty pass indeed things must be
come to when, of the Right Rev. Fathers, an Oxford
professor can write thus:—" Who are your state
bishops ? Are they, or is it possible that
they should be, the honest, fearless leaders
of religious thought, the real spiritual flowers
of the nation? Are not such men more
likely to be prosccuted for heresy than to be
made !bishops ? Is not the first qualification
of a state bishop caution, the twin sister of cunning?
And what effect upon the religious character do you
expect from a system which makes caution and
cunning cardinal virtues, and fearless honesty a
disqualification, not to say a crime ?"

Lord STANLEY himself, though he thinks the
English Church, if it will but keep the peace with
itself, will last his time, suggests that the Irish and
Scotch establishments cannot last long. Of course
the professor thinks so too, but he adds, "When they
are gone, does Lord STANLEY thank that the people
of England will consent to remain alone deprived
of religious freedom, in a perpetual state of intel-
lectual non-age, and hopeless wards of a beneficent
' state ?' What will our distinguished ally say to
the following—" Lord STANLEY points to the
revival of the French establishment after
its destruction at the Revolution as
a proof of the vitality of established
churches. The reply is simple. The revival of the
French establishment by 'BONAPARTE was not the
expression of a religious feeling such as religious
institutions must ultimately rest on in a country
like ours. It was the most perfect expression of
the political atheism of which the two BONA-
PARTES have been the worthy chiefs." The professsor
seems to think that all State establishments are
likely to receive a fatal shock from the fall of Papacy.
" This is not merely an English question. The
English establishment is a relic of that great Euro-
pean establishment of the Middle Ages of which
the Papacy was the centre and the life. The
Papacy now rests only on French bayonets, and we
know METTERNICH'S saying about bayonets as a
permanent support. If the fall of the Papacy
does not shake the whole system of establish-
ments in Europe, the sympathetic connection
between the derivative institutions and that from
which they are derived must have been more
completely cut off than is commonly the case.
Depend upon it, too, that as the end of the Pa-
pacy comes in view, the hope and the desire of
reunion are beginning to show themselves at widely
distant points of divided Christendom, If that
hope and that desire grow, they must sweep State
ejectin,
establishmentso out of their path. For State esta
of
blishments forbidding, as they do, under pain
any departure from the established dogma,
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had the opinions of three eminent public men, and
their sum is this :—" The Church in danger, there-
fore unite," says Mr. DISRAELI. "The English
Church is in no danger, but then she must not
quarrel, ,or she may be," says Lord STANLEY.
" The Ckairch of England will quarrel implacably,

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THE SUN.