The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, _FEBRUARY 22, 1868

Mr. Stanton. General Grant refused to obey, and
a sharp correspondence followed, which has been
published under a resolution by the House of Re-
presentatives. On Jan. 25 the General desired the
President to give him written directions, as his
verbal order was to the effect, not to obey the Secre-
tary of War. Upon this note, the President wrote
the following memorandum :

"As requested in this communication General Grant is
instructed in writing not to obey any order from the War
Department, assumed to be issued by the direction of the
President, unless such order is known by the General
commanding the armies of the United States to have been
authorized by the Executive.
(Signed) " ANDREW JOHNSON.

"Jan. 29, 1868."
The next day, Grant in reply, stated that he would
obey Mr. Stanton's orders until they were counter-
manded by the President, who answered by a long
letter reviewing the whole question in dispute, and
reasserting that the General had entered into a
positive agreement either to give Mr. Johnson ample
time to fill the office he (Grant) temporarily held, or
to send Mr. Stanton to the Courts for redress ;
adding, " My recollection is the reverse of your nar-
ration." This produced as long a rejoinder, wherein
the General not only defends himself and reiterates
what he before said denying the agreement, but also
charges the President with an attempt to involve
him in a breach of law, hoping to damage his re-
putation with the country. Captain Bury has
discovered a truth it is a pity was not known
to the General. The scientific sailor wrote :--
"I have always found iu my scientific studies
that when I could get the Bible to say any-
thing upon the subject, it afforded me a firm plat-
form to stand upon, and another round in the lad-
der by which I could safely ascend." Grant could
have found a precept in the Scdptures from the
greatest of all authority, which exactly bore on the
position he assumed, "No man can serve two
masters." The President has prepared another dose
for the General, which we hope will end this scan-
dal, compromising as it does, the two highest officials
of the United States.

The American Champions have concluded their
engagement at the Royal Amphitheatre, Holborn,
and they will leave with the greatest reputation yet
earned by gymnasts in Europe. Their performances
have excited the wonder even of a people so ac-
customed to extraordinary feats as the citizens of
London. We regret that such a troupe, never be-
fore collected, should leave at the commencement of
the London season, and at a time when their powers
were becoming known and exciting a keen interest.
We are sorry to hear that they will not make a tour
of the provinces, where they would go heralded by a
justly earned celebrity. The directors of the Crystal
Palace Company have given Mr. Charles Morton,
of the late Oxford Music Hall, the disposal of their
magnificent building for a day and night fete on
Monday, March 2, in aid of the artistes suddenly
thrown out of engagement by the fire. M. Blondin,
E. W. Mackney, and the Christy Minstrels, have
already offered their valuable services. It is now
said that Mr. Mapleson will succeed Mr. Gye in the
management of the Italian Opera, Covent-garden,
and that but one such establishment will be m
iin-
tained in London. Mr. Mapleson has abandoned
his intention of having performances at Drury-lane,
and the whole strength of the rival operas will be
centred at Covent-garden, which will place on that
stage an assemblage of unequalled talent. Mr.
Mapleson will be supported by a joint-stock com-
pany if subscribers can be procured for the required
capital.
Secretary Seward is named as well as the
Hon. Reverdy Johnson as successor to his
Excellency Charles Francis Adams, and it is
thought that either would be acceptable to the
Senate. The Standard's correspondent, who assumes
to speak as Mr. Johnson's mouthpiece, says it is
well known that the President and the Secretary of
State differ in opinion as to the proper method of
treating the questions at issue between the United
States and Great Britain. The difference is serious,
and aggressive action by the Executive towards
England would follow the resignation of Mr.
Seward. The .New York Herald considers Mr.
Seward the most likely person, as it is believed
that he is in full accord with the President
as to the proper policy to be pursued by the
United States, as well in the Alabama as in the
adopted citizen questions which are now pro-
minently before the two Governments for final
settlement. There is a marked difference of opinion
here between the Standard's correspondent and the
New York Herald; but of course the former, who is
officially informed, is the more reliable authority.
The condition of Memphis, under the rule of
Governor Brownlow, may be imagined from the
following story. On the 19th January, Michael
Connell, nephew of Thomas Malone, late Street
Commissioner, was Murdered, and three men named
Winters, McPartland, and Costello were for several
days under examination before Justice Hall. On Fri-
day,Jan. 24,while the case was proceeding, some sharp
sparring took place between Mr. Gantt, counsel for
the State, and Mr. Bullock, for the defence. The
Court was crowded with excited spectators. Mr.
Malone came forward on a remark of Mr. Bullock
to Mr. Gantt, and addressing the latter said, " I
would not take that from anybody." Bullock
rudely replied to Malone, an uproar followed, and
in the confusion the report of a pistol was heard. On
order being restored, the wounded man was carried
to Wilkinson's drug store, where the wad was
found burning in his overcoat, the pistol having
been discharged almost iu contact with his person.
Malone has since died. In calling for the trial of
the proprietor of the Memphis Avalanche for con-
tempt of Court, the Judge obtained a squad of
United States soldiers, who were stationed in
the Court-room. The attorneys protested against
this justice under bayonets, and withdrew. It
was stated in evidence before the jury of inquest
on the body of Connell, that threats had been
made against the life of Malone, and these
threats were actually carried into effect in a
Court of Justice. The lawlessness prevailing in.
Memphis may be judged by the following despatch
to New York :

" Memphis, Tennessee, February 3.—A. policeman
named Johnson was shot in the shoulder on Saturday
night while attempting to separate two men who were
fighting in a saloon on De Sota-streot. Anne Melrose
was stabbed very severely in a bagnio on Washington-
street the same night, by Joe Luxton, and her recovery is
doubtful. Jealousy is the supposed cause. Ned Black-
burn shot and killed Butler Phillips, in an alley between
Commerce and Winchester-streets, this morning. Both
are freedmen, and nothing is known in regard to the cause.
Eli Guthrie, a freedman, shot, on the Corner of Cansey
and Linden-streets, this morning, Policeman S meat, who
was attempting to arrest him for robbery."

Last January was commercially a disastrous
month in the United States. The prevailing stag-
nation in business culminated during the four weeks
ending 25th January in 373 failures, with aggre-
gate liabilities of $8,060,000. Although the amount
is comparatively small in proportion to the large
number of suspensions, yet it shows how generally
trade has been stricken. In New York City there
were 25 failures, the liabilities being $2,950,000.
The greatest failure occurred in Cincinnati, the
house of L. C. Hopkins and ,Co. having stopped
with liabilities of $1,250,000, of which it is calcu-
lated only one quarter will
.be paid. The Spring.
field Republican notices the fact that the firms
which yielded to the pressure, with few exceptions,
were not large or important, and anything ap-
proaching a panic had been avoided. The removal
of unsound concerns from the business list is not
altogether a misfortune, as it clears the atmosphere,
providing a warning as well as an encouragement
to those who remain.

Apropos of Hippophagy, we commend to the
ratigham, by way of furnishing a varietZ to the
next entertainment, the following story :—A gen•
tleman in Hartford (Connecticut) lately bought a
crow, and had it cooked as an experiment ; he in-
vited two of his friends to dine with him, and they
pronounced it the best partridge they had ever
eaten. He is elated at having discovered a new
game bird, and offers 50 cents apiece for crows.

The answer to the stories of American corres-
pondents of London newspapers regarding the la-
mentable destitution and stagnation of work
now prevailing in the United States is found
in the exodus of Canadian families southwards
across the border. In one day four passed into
Vermont at Island Pond, numbering 64 souls, The