The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-12 00:00:00

TIM SUN, LONDON, TB URSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 12, 1868.

FOREIGN NOTES,
THB ALABAMA MAIMS.

Mr. Reverdy Johnson has published "a correct report*
of his important speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet. The
alterations do not, however, affect the substantial part of
the speech—the announcement that the two Governments
have agreed upon a mode of disposing of the disputes at
issue between England and America. The Standard's
version of the terms of the settlement differs from
that given by the Timm. The former paper
says that the American Government has not with-
drawn the question of the right of England to acknow-
ledge the Southern Confederacy as a belligerent. " What
Mr. Reverdy Johnson has withdrawn is a specific refe-
rence to arbitration of our right of recognition. What he
has agreed to is a general reference of all questions at
issue arising out of the war. In fact, the whole corre-
spondence between the two Governments will be laid before
the arbitrator, and on that and that alone he will decide."
The Telegraph agrees with the Times that the King of Prussia
is the chosen arbitrator ; but the Standard maintains that no
selection has yet been made, and that the choice is not
limited to a European sovereign. The Emperor of Brazil,
for instance, might be proposed. Possibly ; but it is hardly
likely that such a choice would be thoroughly satisfactory
to the English people. The affection exhibited by the
Standard towards Brazil and everything in it is not con-
tagious. The same journal adds that the San Juan affair
is to be referred to the President of the Swiss Republic.
San Juan is a small island on the west of North America,
and the question at issue here is, whether it should be
included within the boundary of the United States or of
British North America.

hereby appointed for the meeting, of the said Peers
to proceed to such election.
Witness Ourselves at Windsor, this eleventh day
of November, one thous tnd eight hundred and
sixty-eight, and in the thirty-second year of
our reign.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

At the Court at IVindsor, the 11th day of No-
vember, 1868—present, the Queen's Most Excellent
Majesty in Council—this day,Sir Augustus William
Frederick Spencer Loftus, G.C.B. (commonly
called Lord Augustus Loftus), the Right Honour-
able Sir Joseph Napier, Bart., and Sir James
Fergusson, Bart., were, by her Majesty's command,
sworn of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Council, and took their places at the Board
accordingly.

seized the polls, but the whites drove them away, and
several were killed and wounded. In Louisiana the
fighting had been done and the negroes thoroughly
cowed before the dayof the election. South Carolina
escaped, because the Legislature there elects the
electors, and North Carolina is beyond the pale of
the extreme violence of feeling which has tended so
much to outrage. The most interesting electiOn is
that of the Empire State, where SEYMOUR was vic-
torious by 8,000 of a majority. The State census
for 1865 gives the number of voters as 823,873,
which had perhaps increased last Tuesday to nearly
a million, which shows how equAlly divided the
parties are. What we expected occurred ; the city
cast a Democratic majority of over 50,000, which
was worked. down to 8,000 by the State outside
New York. That GRANT runs ahead of State tickets
is seen in the election of JOHN J. HOFF3IAN, the
Democratic candidate for Governor, who carried
the State by a majority of 18,000 ; that is, 10,000
in excess of the vote cast for SEYMOUR. In the
struggle between HOFFMAN and FENTON for the
Governorship in 1866 the Republicans polled
366,315 and the Democrats 352,526, FENTON
being elected by a majority of 13,789. We may
presume that besides HOFFMAN, ALLEN C. BEACH,
of Jefferson, is elected Lieutenant-Governor ;
OLIVER BASCOM, of Washington, Canal Commis-
sioner ; DAVID B. M‘NEIL, Inspector of State Pri-
sons ; and EDWIN 0. PERRIN, Clerk of Court of
Appeals. HENRY W. SLOCUM and DELOS DE WOLF
Presidential electors at large. Out of the 31 Con-
gressional districts the Republicans have carried 17
and the Democrats 14, which is a Democratic gain
of three on the present number. The term of the
New York United States Republican Senator,
EDWIN D. MORGAN, expires next March. The only
personal items by the cable relate to the re-election
of MORRISSEY, who has defeated GEORGE FRANCIS
TRAIN, as well as HORACE GREELEY, in the Fifth
New York Congressional District. BUTLER, too,
has been successful, as the latest accounts by
mail assured us would be the case, the De-
mocrats showing an intention of furthering
his election. In Massachusetts, Michigan, and
lowa all the Republican candidates have been
elected. Illinois gives them 10 out of 14 ; Wiscon-
sin, 5 out cf 6 ; and Missouri, 5 out of 9. On the,
whole, however, the Democrats have gained 27
members by the autumn elections in the Congres-
sional House of Representatives, by which the
Republicans have lost the two-thirds majority
they formerly possessed there, while the Senate has
become almost solidly Republican.

- _
Our correspondent thus writes from Frankfort on
he election of the President :—The city of Frankfort-on-
the-Main was very much excited on the news of the elec-
tion of General Grant for President. Everybody who
held American bonds consider the doctrine of repudiation
as set forth in the Democratic platform as dead and buried.
Seven,' houses of American citizens were illuminated, and
as well also as the offices of the Consul-General of the
of the United States, American flags are flying in various
parts of the city, and there is gre.tt rejoicing over the
result.

COLLISION.—As the steamer Continental, which
leaves her berth in New Haven for New York at eleven
o'clock in the evening, was coining out of the harbour at
an early hour, she collided with and sunk the propeller
Northampton, Captain Stannard, of the opposition line.
Captain Bowns, of the Continental, and Mr. James L.
Amsden, of Westfield, Mass., a passenger and an eye-
witness, gives the account :—Tho bows of the Continental
passed completely through the starboard side of the pro-
peller cutting her nearly in two, and reaching the state
rooms on the opposite side. In the collision the steam
p pe of the Northampton was severed, and the steam rush-
ing out filled the hold and state rooms. The fireman of
the propeller was so severely scalded that his life is
despaired of ; the engineer, Mr. Beach, and one Jame-
son, a coloured waiter, wore also slightly scalded. Im-
mediately after the collision the passengers and crew
of the Continental, finding that their vessel was not
seriously damaged, jumped aboard of the Northampton
and gallantly laboured to rescue the wounded of the latter
vessel. All who could be found after a diligent search
were taken off. On a hasty investigation being made it
was found that the Northampton was in a sinking condi-
tion, being only held above the surface of the water by
hanging a dead weight on the bowof the Continental, which
was still closely wedged into her hull and upper works.
The stateroom struck by the Continental was occupied by
Miss Carrie E. Brown, of New York, and was almost
demolished, so that she was driven with the debris into
one corner, whence she was with difficulty rescued,
having suffered a few slight bruises. A steam tug,
with a barge in tow, arrived from New Haven, while the
passengers of the Nortiampton were being reseued,
and, on the request of Captain Bowns, of the Continental,
remained near and took off some of the passengers. The
coloured waiters on board the Northampton are reported
to have been very much frightened, and to have made a
rush at once for the life-preservers, all of which they
secured. After great difficulty, the bows of the Continental
were extricated, and the vessel backed off to some distance.
immediately the Northampton sank to her main deck, and.
as the steamer put about for the return to New Haven,
was rapidly sinking in four and a half fathoms. The
wounded were landed at New Haven, where they received
medical care, and the Continental then started, at 3 o'clock
in the morning for the trip to New York, where she
arrived three hours late.

The Mexican Resurrection Plant is now being
exhibited and sold in Broadway, New York. The plant
is to all appearance dead; but unfolds leaves of an emerald
colour when watered. It flourishes in Southern Mexico
during the rainy season, but in dry weather curls up and
appears to die, but when placed in water revives to its ori-
ginal brightness and freshness.
Mrs. Lincoln, widow of the late illustrious .Mr.
Lincoln, President of the United States, will spend the
winter at Frankfort-on-the-Maine. Her son Fred will
attend Professor Holiagen's famous school for boys. Few
cities present such inducement for the education of boys
and young ladies as Frankfort.

The Welsh colony in Patagonia is suffering great
anxiety from the anticipated loss of part of its resources.
A small vessel lately purchased by the colonists, sailed
from Patagonia in February last, and up to the end of
July had not been heard of. She had en board sixty sacks
of flour, a large fishing net, parcels of clothes, some cattle
and six persons.

At a meeting of the French RepublicAn citizens
held at the Club Rooms. No. 636, Broq,dway, Oct. 23, ad-
dresses were delivered by Mr. Victor Faider, M. Constant,
and Mr. Tuffer. Great enthusiasm prevailed for Grant,
Union, and victory.

Among the passengers by the Germania, which
arrived at Southampton last Saturday, were the Rev. E. S.
Thomas of Minnesota, and 0. Goettel of Philadelphia.
__ .

General Banks, Hon. John Quincy Adams, Post-
master-General Rindall, Hon. G. A. Grow, of Penn-
sylvania and ex-Confederate General Longstreet, have
lately arrived in New York.

Mr. Washburn, the American Minister in Para-
guay, had arrived at Buenos Ay)les.
George F. Edmunds, who has been elected
United States Senator for Vermont, to serve from March
4th, 1869, to March 4th, 1875, was born at Richmond,
Vermont, -February Ist, 1828. He received his education
in the public schools, and also was assisted by the instruc-
tions of a private tutor. He then studied law and entered
on the practice of his profession. He served in the House
of Representatives of Vermont from 1854 to 1859, having
for three years been Speaker. He was next elected to the
State Senate, of which body he was President pro tem , in
1861 and 1862. On the death of Senator Solomon Fo )t,
Mr. Edmunds was appointed by the Governor, and subse-
quently by the Legislature, to fill the vacancy, and took
his seat on April 5, 1866.
Judge Williams has accepted the position of
Justice of the Supremo Court of Pennsylvania, to succeed
Justice Strong.

Upon the-recommendation of the Chief of Ord-
nance the fcllowing changes in the stations of officers of
the United States Ordnance Department have been made
—Brevet-Major J. M. Whittemore from the Watervliet
Arsenal at West Troy, N.Y., to the Watertown (Mass.)
Arsenal; Brevet-Major Buffington from Watertown to
Watervliet, and Capt. Phypps from Watertown to the
Washington Arsenal. First Lieut. M'Giunis is detached
from duty in the Ordnance Bureau at Washington. and
ordered to the Springfield Armory, and Second Lieut.
Isaac W. Maclay is detaehedfrom the Springfield Armory,
and ordered to report to the head-quarters of the depart-
ment of the Platte.

Mrs. Ex-President Tyler has published a card
thanking her generous and distinguished counsel,
William M. Evarts and Judge Edwards Pierrepont, for
their untiring devotion cf time and patienc3 in the prose-
cution of her defence" in the "Gardiner-Tyler will case,"
which has just been decided in her favour
It is rumoured that Garibaldi is about to quit.
Caprera for Am erica, as he is disgustel with the present
state of Italan affairs.
R. S. Stevens, of Attica, New York, has bar-
gained for the territory back of East Boston, known as
Breed's Island, for $200,009, but there is some trouble
about the title, to which several people in England hold
an inherited claim, and the Supreme Court has notified all
of them to " prove property" before the sth of next Ja-
nuary, or relinquish their claims.
Ex-President Pierce has so far recovered his
health that he is able to ride out.
Benjamin Cutler, Surveyor-General of New
Mexico, died on Sunday, September 18, at Santa F 6. Mr.
John M. Butler, senior partner of the firm of Butler and
Carpenter, engravers, of Philadelphia, and a director of
Girard College, died on the 20th of October. Ex-Chief
Justice Staples, of Rhode Island, died in Providence, Oct.
19. The Rev. Father O'Keefe, Catholic clergyman, of
Clinton, Massachusetts, died ou Sunday, Sept. 18.

PROBABLE REFORMS IN THE BRITISH-
ARMY.

(From the Anglo American 2 imes.)

The incoming House of Commons is likely to
make some radical changes in the British Army,
and an able reformer has taken up this subject in
the person of Sir Charles E. Trevelyan. As the 1
British Army will soon occupy national attention,
it may not be out of place for us briefly to touch on I
the military system of England, and to throw some
light on the points about to be discussed. There
are three distinct military organizations for the de-
fence of the Empire—the Regular Army, the Militia,
and the Volunteers. The two latter need but a
small outlay, and will occupy but little of the atten-
tion of Parliament, though we believe the tendency
is towards resting the defence of Great Britain on
these organizations, instead of on the Regular
Army. The peculiarity of the English structure
was the complete and perfectly formed bricks of
which the edifice was composed, without mortar.
No better constituted community could be devised
than the ordinary marching British regiment before
innovations were introduced, which injured it, with-
out remedying the defect, by knitting all into one
machine. During the time of the Iron Duke, when
a gradual change was everywhere in progress but in
England, a British regiment, through the nature
of its foreign service, became an isolated unit, per-
fect in everything pertaining to itself, but wholly
unconnected with anything else. This made the
model and the mess of the British Army ; the grand
material in peace, and the hocus-pocus in war ; the
power of effecting actions of extraordinary brilliancy,
yet making a muddle of a campaign or of a siege.
Towards the close of his life the Duke saw the
necessity of modifying the system, and so far carried
out the purpose as to strike the first blow, which
was at the little peculiarities which distinguish the
different regiments, and to which the British sol-
dier attaches a ridiculous importance. The pri-
vileges of crack regiments were abolished, and the
King's Own Light Infantry, or the Royal Rifles, as
the regiments delighted to designate themselves,
became the 51st Foot or the GOth Foot. The 7th, the
43d, the 52d were material losers ; as hitherto they
had been exempt from West India or East India
service, their range being confined to the North
American provinces and the Mediterranean. The
Second Lieutenants of the Fusilier and Rifle Regi-
ments were turned into Ensigns, and the Royal
Fusiliers, which had no such low grade, were put
on a par with their neighbours. It was thus that
the concentrated wisdom for which the Horse
Guards has become renowned, expcted to fuse and
amalgamate these perfect little communities into an
army. This policy was pursued of er the Duke's
dean though still in a measure based on the notion
that the object could be affected by destroying the
distinctions which gave the esprit de corps and by
making all alike, so that the difference could only
be known by the number on the cap instead of lay
bringing into good working order the departments
which move and subsist an army in the field. Thus
depot battalions were formed to train recruits, both
officers and men, work, formerly done, when a regi-
ment was abroad, by the companies it left at home
forming a depot for the purpose. Gradually troops
were accumulated in England, where a s Adier had
scarcely ever before been seen. A great camp was
established at Aldershot, and lesser ones elsewhere,
such as at Shorticliffe. The object was to train for
working in masses, and to drill generals in the art
of handling large bodies of men, of which, out of
India, till then they were so profoundly ignorant
that the Duke asserted if a division were massed iu
llyde Park, few General,: in the British army could
get it out. The changed policy of the country re-
garding colonial defence facilitated this, enabling
the Horse Guards to withdraw many regiments for
home service. But these complete units constituted
as they were for active operations on the coast of
Africa, in Kaffirlaud, or New Zealand, are much
too complete and costly for Europe, where the ope-
rations of war are wholesale, instead of in the retail
quantities supplied by the British system. The
difference is like the general store of a backwood
village, which though there the correct, thing, is very
unsuitable in a capital of Europe. The number of
combatant officers is in excess in the regiments, and
the non-combatant officers ought not to belong to
regiments, but to departments. Now it is in break-
ing up the general store system, and in classifying
the different articles in their proper establishments,
that the difficulty exists. There are other questions
of vital importance relating to the interior economy,
such as the abolition of purchase, a more general
promotion from the non-commissioned into the com-
missioned grades, and greater inducements to en-
list to the better classes by modifying the present
stringent regulations which s' hamper the liberty
of men, by adding to their amusements, pay, and
furloughs, as well as by brightening the prospects
in their calling. Those who think at all on the
subject beyond matters relating to their conveni-
ence, are aware that regimental officers are two to
one in excess of the requirements of a battalion on
home service, and in that proportion the Geveru-
ment, without injury to army efficiency, could re-
duce the various regiments. In doing so, however,
the country would be compelled to raise the pay of
those who remained. Men accept the actual posi-
tion, but change the conditions when work will be
increased and leave of absence curtailed and compen-
sation will be required. It is, however, a mistake to
suppose that if the 40 combatant officers of a battalion
were reduced to 20, with double the pay, that the ex-
pense would be equalized. The pay of an officer is
only the chief item of his remuneration. Independent
of his barrack accommodation, his perquisites in
coals, candies, mess allowance, &c., every year of
his service gives him an additional claim on the Go-
vernment, which eventually accumulates into a con-
siderable sum for an allowance on retirement. The
country is compelle l to recognize the right of those
to be supported by it who devote themselves to its
service, but if the service is superfluous while the
right remains, the nation is a loser, though it gave
nothing at present towards the support of the
claimant. The advisability of materially reducing
the number of officers in the British regiments will
probably be one of the questions debated in the
labformed Parliament. Another, the Purchase
System, now seriously discussed, is closely connected
with it. In 1858, the Report to Parliament on the
Sale and Purchase of Commissions estimated the
gross value at over seven millions, and as upwards
of three more would be required to compensate for
sums paid over regulation, it follows that if the
nation paid some five or six millions sterling they
might get rid of half their officers and their system
of purchase at the same time. If Parliament de-
cided to abolish purchase and to reduce the number
of officers employed, those who disapproved of the
new system, or considered themselves aggrieved or
disliked the harder work, could sell out; the nation
becoming the purchaser and cancelling the coin-
mission. Many would go voluntarily, and more
still if they knew that the choice lay between that
and interminable half-pay ; and although there
would be an addition to the national debt, the sav-
ing in the Army expenditure would compensate,
even if increased pay were given to the remainder.
The efforts to reduce all British regiments to a
uniform standard could not obliterate the pecu-
liarities acquired in centuries, and the composition
still remains curiously diverse. The 109 regiments
.lumbered) of the British Army contain Rifles,
FUsiliers, Light Infantry, and Highlanders. Of
'the latter, the first is the 42d, officially designated

the Royal Highland, and generally known as the
" Black Watch." The number (42) was first be-
stowed upon a regiment raised by Colonel James
Oglethorpe in 1734, for service in Georgia and
South Carolina, which was disbanded in 1749, and
as the " Black Watch" was placed on the esta-
blishment in 1739 it dropped into the nnmber
formerly held by Oglethorpe's corps. The next,
the 71st Highland Light Infantry, does not
wear the kilt, and its dress is peculiar to itself. Nor
does the 72d wear the kilt, though we believe the
others do, consisting of the 74th, 78th, 79th, 91st,
92d, and 93d. Two Rifle Regiments only are in
the regular line, of which one, being unnumbered,
is designated the Rifle Brigade, and both (the
other being the 60th, the Royal Rifles) are com-
posed of four battalions. Up to and including the
25th each regiment has two battalions—au objec-
tionable manner of augmenting an army scattered
over the world, as the promotion of officers runs
through the entire regiment, and changesinecessitate
transfers, sometimes from Canada to India. The
Ist, or the Royals, is perhaps the oldest regiment in
the world, claiming to be formed from the Scottish
Archers. The 2d, the Queen's, originally from
Tangiers, became celebrated in Monmouth's re-
bellion, where, as " Kirke's lambs," they paved the
way for Jeffreys. The 3d, the Buffs, were formerly
the train bands of Loudon, and retain the right of
marching through the City with colours flying and
drums beating. Many, besides those first on the
list, have histories. For instance, the 103 d, the
Royal Bornb ty Fusiliers, is one of the oldest regi-
ments in the army, being transferred to England
with the Portuguese settlement of Bombay. Rank-
ing next to the 49th is the Royal Marines, one of
the finest bodies of men in the service, though not
in the regular Line. But finer still are the Guards,
consisting of three regiments, termed the Grenadier
Guards, with three battalions ; the Coldstream,
with two battalions ; and the Scots Fusilier Guards
also of two. The Household Cavalry consht of the
Ist and 2d Life Guards and the Royal Horse
Guards. The cavalry of the Line is composed of
twenty-eight regiments, of which seven are
Dragoon Gulrds, five Lancers, three Dragoons,
tnd the rest Hussars. Independent of the regular
Line there are several Colonial corps, among which
are four West India Regiments. ne, the Royal
Canadian Rifles, was expressly raised for service

on the border, where men of the ordinary English
regiments often deserted in squads. During the
Crimea it was fou,Ad necessary to organize better
transport, aid the Military Train was the result.
With the exception of the Artillery and the Engi-
neers, we have given an outline of the British Army;
but there is another more numerous by far, main-
tained in the East Indies, at which we will here-
after glance, as the connection between the two is
very imperfectly known, even by large classes in
England. We shall touch as well on the Militia
and Volunteer system, and at the same time strive
to correct some erroneous impressions held in Ame-
rica regarding the Purchase System of the British
Army.