The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DEOEVIBER 28. 1861.

has so often demonstrated only too painfully before
now, that it is not enough to aid the destitute who
ask for assistance. But that there are others who
are probably in yet more dire extremity, who have
to be hunted out, in order that society may come to
their relief before it is altogether too late—before the
only boon that can be afforded them shall have
been reduced to the posthumous gift of a work-
house shell and the slovenly tribute of a pauper's
funeral. Recollecting these bitter truths, as one
cannot very well help remembering them at this
return of the good Christmas season, we cannot but
express a hope that something further may yet be
learnt of IV. D. B.'s really beautiful and eminently
benevolent enterprise.

Though the answer to our ultimatum will be
delayed for more than a week, we fully hope to be
able to inform our readers on Monday, of the recep-
tion given by the multitude and by the Press of
America to the news carried out by the Europa.
They had previously only the information taken
by the Hansa, from which they merely
learned that we meant to act legally; and the
fact that we were not in as wild a fury, as they
well know they would have been, was taken
by them as an indication that we should receive
this last insult as meekly as we have borne so
many before. The fact of an ultimatum arriving,
and the information that all Englishmen, her Naval
Reserve included, were united as one man in de-
manding satisfaction, will come upon them almost
like a thunder-clap in a clear sky. And when it
will be also quickly learned that France and Austria
share the judgment of England on the whole case,
we may imagine what mingled dismay, and fury, and
wild resentment, and defiance will be seen and
heard in the streets of every American town and
city. Not a soul will confess itself afraid—it will
be demonstrated that England must be mad to fight
America—we are told, in anticipation, that " our
country is nourished of the PRESIDENT'S country,"
and therefore, like some of old, we must desire con-
ditiots of peace—and, that America can shift for her-
self, but what could needy England do without
American corn and cotton. The latter we should
certainly get all the more easily for a war, and as
to the corn, the North-west needs our
markets to sell in much more than we
do theirs to buy in. Such facts are, however, not
to be thought of by the mob whose orders Mr.
LINCOLN must execute. Were the whole question
left to him, or even to the cunning Mr. SEWARD, we
could hardly doubt what the practical answer would
be; they but too well know what the issue of war
must be ; they quite understand that the South
would be at once released from its blockade, and
its independence recognised ; that then our ports
must submit to blockade in return ; and that
even if they choose themselves to acknowledge
the South, and turn North to Canada, their advan-
tage there would be very doubtful; at least tempo-
rary, and that they would have to pay a heavy
penalty in Maine, if not elsewhere also for unpro-
voked villany.
We can hardly imagine, however, that even the
mob will not give in when it learns the course
taken by France. The bluster may last till the Em-
PEROR'S letter arrives, but that will assuredly extin-
guish it. A merit will be made of necessity. Old
friendship will be assigned as the mason for giving
way, and common-sense will return under the Gallic
discipline. The only possibility is, that the mob
may have frightened Mr. LINCOLN into a course
from which he cannot retreat before the French
letter arrives. It is impossible, therefore, to predict
with any certainty to what such a reckless people
may have committed themselves and their Govern-
ment. Nine months unsucessful war, and forty mil-
lions deficiency, besides boundless debt staring them
in the face, ought to make them sober if anything
would do so. Whether it will do so we shall per-
haps know in a few hours have some idea.