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

111:7, SUN, LONDON, SATURbAIr EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1868.

A DELICATE INVESTIGATION.

The judge and jury who are engaged in the Nisi Prins-
Court, at the Manchester Assize, had on Thursday a
eiicate case put before them to investigate, in the
shape of an action brought by the Rev. Dr. Garrett,
rector of Christ Church, Greenheys, Manchester, against
the Rev. Thomas Alfred Stowell, rector of Christ Church,
Salford, and Mr. Robert Whitworth. All the par-
ties had boon connected with the Central Associa-
tion for suppressing the liquor traffic on a Sunday,
but owing to a dispute the plaintiff had withdrawn from the
association. Both the plaintiffs and the defendants pub-
lished statements of the grounds of dispute, and it was com-
plained that, in a letter published in the Alliance News,
the plaintiff had been libelled by the defendant.
Tho defendant simply pleaded not guilty. Tho plain-
tiff's case having been stated, Mr. Justice Hayes
point,d out the unsuitability of the Court to go into such a
matter. A verdict was thereupon taken pro forma for the
plaintiff for £5,000, subject to an arbitration.

MISCELLANEOUS.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
The most important news by cable refers to the
meeting of Congress at noon on the 7th instant,
when there was a full attendance of members in
both Houses. The Representatives, as we else-

where state, brought in a joint resolution asking

the recall of Reverdy Johnson, and the Senate,

upon receiving the Presidential Message, refused
to hear it read, and adjourned. A collision was

reported between the steamers United States and.
America on the Ohio River on Friday night, the
_ _

4th inst.

The United States caught fire, and 80

yes were lost.

The latest news by cable is dated Washington,

Dec. 11.—The Secretary of the Treasury has issued
his usual monthly statement of Public debt of the
United States and the cash in the Treasury on the
Ist inst. The former amounted to 52,645,750,000

against $2,611,000,000 on Ist ult., being an in-
crease of $1,750,000. The cash in the Treasury
amounted to $106,750,000 (viz., $88,500,000 in
coin ,and $18,250,000 currency)againstsll4,ooo,ooo
last Month, being a decrease of $7,250,000.
The Russia arrived at Queenstown yesterday
morning at 8.30, and brings intelligence from New
York up to the 2d inst.:—General Grant, in his
annual report, transmitting the reports of the Dis-
trict• Department Commanders, endorses General
Sherman's recommendation that the management
of Indian affairs should ba transferred to the

War Department. General Grant considers a
further Teduction of the army inexpedient, in
the view of the Indian difficulties, and troops
being still needed in the Southern States.
On Thursday the interior of Fort Lafayette, in

New York harbour, was destroyed by fire.

The

Fenian Congress has elected General O'Neill as
President of the Order. No immediate hostilities

are proposed by that body. Mr. Hall's majority as
mayor of New York was 5,400, out of a total vote
of 9G,000. Advices from Cuba state a band of in,
surgents had been routed at Villa del Cobra.
Foreigners are joining the Spanish army. General
Balmesada has taken the field against the insur-
gents.
General Howard of the Freedmen's Bureau has
had a fight with his pastor, the Congregationalist
preacher, Dr. Boynton. A dispute had arisen at
Washington in that sect, and an attempt was
made to settle the difficulty, which led to the quar-

rel, and only making matters worse. After the

conference the DoctOr met the General in the street,

who exclaimed, " I pronounce what you have said
of me to be an unmitigated falsehood." Dr. Boyn-

ton asked -if he meant to call him a liar, to
which the General replied that he did, whereon
the Doctor shouted, " If you had two arms I would
thrash you for insulting me." " Never mind my
arms," answered General Howard," try and thrash
me if you can." Secretary M'Culloch has added
another to his many enemies, butting this time
against Collector Cake of Philadelphia, who,instead
of discharging the Republicans as directed, turned
out the Democrats, and will, if not saved by Con-
gress and the Tenure of Office Act be removed
himself.
General Warren of the United States Engineers
is preparing a report on the construction of the
Union Pacific Railway so unfavourable that the
President contemplates withholding the further
issue of bonds. The General was deputed to inspect
the road, a work he is believed to be well qualified
to perform. The Court of 'lnquiry on Gen. Dyer
has adjourned, in consequence of some of the offi-
cers having proceeded to Fortress Monroe to wit-
ness the Ordnance experiments. General Schenck
arrived at Washington Nov. 27. Major Thomas,
son of Adjutant-General Lorenzo Thomas of im-
peachment notoriety, was married in Washington
on the 27th November.
The news from Japan is that the Mikado had
succeeded in centreing in himself all the powers of
Government—the Tycoon having peaceably sur-
rendered. Th .! former has attained his majority, and
been crowned Emperor of Japan. The loss of her
Majesty's ship Rattler occurred, it appears, in calm
weather; on an unknown reef. The advancs. of
Japan in its international relations is shown by the
following intelligence from :Fan Francisco, dated
Nov. 24 :—The Japanese Consul to the Hawaiian
Government has arrived here by the steamer China,
to look after the interests of he subjects of Japan,
residing on the Sandwich Islands. lie is believed
to be the first native sent to a foreign country by
Japan to assume consular functions.
Another great target trial has just taken place
at Fortress Monroe. The experiments were de-
signed to test the resistance offered by fortresses
built of granite by itself, as well as faced and pro-
tected by thick iron plating. In 1866 the Rodney
guns smashed the walls into a heap of sand, although
8 feet thick and covered by 4 inches of iron. This
time the result was similar against a granite wall
18 feet thick, which was seriously damaged at a
range of 1,000 yards by a 13-inch smooth-bore gun
firing steel projectiles of 3201b5. The wall was
much shattered by the third shot, great fragments
of stones being knocked about in every direction,
flying in pieces, some weighing3oolbs.,to a distance of
10. to 15 yards. Another target, with a shield com-
posed of two iron plates rivetted together, each 12
inches thick, was attacked, and th!s immense weight
of iron facing, in no degree saved the wall, for it
was demolished by the second shot of 6001bs. from
a 12-inch rifle gun at 500 yards. In the same way
a tower strongly constructed of gneiss was de-
stroyed, and a target of iron without the backing
was greatly injured. These experiments, lasting
through three days, have proved that masonry is
useless against the American heavy projectiles, and
that iron plates, instead of being a shield, aid, if
demolition. The stone is crushed
although the projectile does 'not
bane
hy
itnhdi n
tgh,ei in
riot
ns
penetrate. The British system of driving a smaller
projectile with greater speed answers better for
penetration, and might be more effectual against
armour-plated ships, although this question haanot
been -conclusively settled, but the experiments at
Fortress Monroe show that there is nothing like
American guns for knocking down stone walls. The
Government of the United States intend to try the
barbette system invented by Captain Moncrieff for
heavy guns.
The Fenians have been a little more active lately
in America. They have been kicking up a row
against Dr. Duggan, the Roman Catholic Bishop of
Chicago, because he refused to permit a solemn
requiem service for the repose of the souls of the
three Manchester Fenians on the first anniversary
of their execution. A great indignation meeting
was held by the Irish Catholics of the city, but as
it is notorious, from the Pope downwards, that all
the Roman Catholic priesthood have opposed
Fenianism, and more especially Bishop Duggan,
such meetings can effect nothing. The Fenians
have openly professed enmity to religion as well as
to England, and announced their desire to free
priest-ridden Ireland from the sacerdotal as well as
the Sassenach thraldom. There was a Fenian mass
meeting also on the 26th November (Thanksgiving
Day), in Philadelphia. They gathered five divi-
sions in Broad-street, the. Bth, 9th, and 24th Regi-
ments of the Irish Republic coming out strong in
"blue pants and green coats," mustering 1,500 men,
all armed with muskets. General O'Neill with his
Staff rode in advance, among whom were two
Smolenskies, a name which savours of Poland. If
so, perhaps these gentlemen think that the wrongs
of the Poles can also be redressed on Cana-
dian soil. A sweet thing accompanied the pro-
cession, within a bower of evergreens, representing
the Goddess of Liberty, and on one banner was
this inscription :—" The blood of Allen, Larkin,
O'Brien, and Barrett smokes in the earth and cries
aloud for vengeance ; and that crimson stain shall
we revisit upon the Saxon name." In the evening
there was a meeting at the National Hall, when
the chairman recounted the events of the day,
which he described as a grand victory in the way
of subduing the prejudice existing in Philadelphia,
and ended with the hope that within a year they
would be celebrating a national holiday on the soil
of their native country. Mr. Hynes recognized the
Fenians' right to strike England wherever they
could, but he does not appear to see the right to
strike back in return, as shown by the noise they
have made over the " martyrs." We wonder what
Orangemen in Ireland will say when they hear that

three cheers were given for them, being described
as about to assist in driving the pirates from the
Emerald Isle, and share in the plunder these pi-
rates are to leave behind. A likely story. as there
is scarcely a race in creation which so hates
another as the Irish Orangeman does the Irish Celt.

The Fenian President O'Neill has sent his Mes-
sage to the Fenian Congress, assembled at Phila-
delphia. He alludes to the unsuccessful efforts to
unite the estranged wings, and to the self-reeking
and ambitious men who only see a convenient plat-
form in the cause. The brotherhood has now ac-
quired the character of an established representative
government, exercising an authority and receiving
an unhesitating obedience to its laws It grasps
and can hurl at pleasure the thunderbolts of war
against the only enemy the Irish rec)gnize. It has
compelled Britain to concede the entire case of Ire-
land, and confess iniquity and injustice in her
dealings, and it will yet compel the foreigner to
abandon the soil which should for ever be the free
inheritance of the Irish. The ascendancy of
rio party or section is aimed at ; the hope-
lessness of expecting benefit from the fa!se Irish
representatives in Parliament is alluded to, and
recommendation given for a commission, which
could communicate with the representatives of the
English Government, and firmly, and with dignity,
demand, in the name of the Irish people, the recog-
nition and acknowledgment of the independence of
Ireland. He touches on the sure loss and great
danger to England in refusal, and hopes for that
justice England has so often preached to other na-
tions. In failure the world will acknowledge the
Fenians left nothing untried to avert war. The
military department has never been in better con-
dition. A letter, making proposals from the Savage
branch, was read, and the O'Neill's Message was
debated.

Judge Fullerton has published a statement. Ile
asserts that those implicated in the whisky frauds,
led by District-Attorney Courtney, have indicted
him for an alleged conspiracy to defraud a revenue
officer on evidence of which he is not aware, but
which he pronounces to be wholly false. He asks
his friends to be patient as he is, and he will pre-
sently show that he has done nothing to lessen that
measure of respect hitherto enjoyed by him. The
proceedings have been instigated in self-defence by
n-En implicated in the monstrous frauds he as&r.s
to have been committed on the revenue ; their only
hope of escape being in crushing him. hence the
vile conspiracy ; but truth will prevail in the end,
and the public learn who deserves condemnation.
While Judge Fullerton has thus been entangled in
his attempts to expose the New York frauds, the
Louisiana internal revenue " ring" is being looked
up by Mr. C. E. Creecy, just appointed supervisor
of Louisiana and Arkansas. A revenue agent dis-
patched to New Orleans to rake up the frauds has
sent a deputy to Washington with a report itnpli-
eating nearly all the Government officials of Louisi-
ana. Commi&ioner Rollins is in possession of the
voluminous evidence, which is said to show ille-
gal gains by the " ring " of eleven millions
of dollars in eighteen months, on the two items
of cotton and whisky alone. The " ring" con-
sists of the Government officers, and it is alleged
thac Perry Fuller was deputed by it to visit
Washington, to control, if possible, the supervisor-
ship for the State, but the appointment of Mr.
Creecy has checkmated the " ring," and it is pro-
bable that New Orleans is now in a considerable
ferment.

The new Postal Convention between the Pos
office Department of the United States and Grea
Britain was received Nov. 24 by Postmaster-Gene
ral Randall, who approved it, and then took it to
the President for his signature. Thus signed, this
Convention will supersede that in force, and take
effect on the Ist of January next. It does not
materially differ in its general provisions from the
one existing. Great Britaio, however, has abo-
lished the double newspaper rate, and then charging
only a single rate, while the United States will re-
duce the rates on newspapers, small pamphlets,
and periodicals. All postages are to be divided be-
tween the two countries as at present.
The notice in the papers that General Badeau
has orders from General Grant to destroy all appli-
cations for office without bringing them before him,
has had the desired effect, and the Staff of the Pre-
sident Elect ceases to be supplied with the same
quantity of fuel. Yet one species of annoyance
has but given place to another, which we are sorry
to say meets with the same indiscriminate treatment
as the former. Grant's staff ought to make a selec-
tion from the " Curiosities of Literature " which
now arrive, and publish it for the benefit of the
people. The earnest solicitude shown as to his
morals, his religion, and his policy ought to gratify
him. Sonic are broad and general in their advice ;
others narrow it to the focus of a point, but they
are not the less verbose on that account, as they
can dance round their dot, giving themselves any
amount of latitude. The greatest number of letters
are, however, on the subject of his Cabinet, and
they embrace every shade of opinion and every
grade of position, many coming from well-known
men down to the anonymous. Democratic writers
predominate, and display a sure conviction that not
only is Grant of their party, but intends to sur-
round himself with leading Conservatives. One
man actually suggests General Lee, whose appoint-
ment would show the spirit of 'Christian harmony
that reigned in the White House, particularly as
another advises Horatio Seymour, which would
bring Grant in contact not only with his great mili-
tary foe, but with his great civil rival. They would.
form a charming trio. We hope that General
Badeau will not commit all these precious docu-
ments to the flames; but if he will not give the
public a selection, a leaf will be taken out of the
Tribune's book, and some imaginative man will in-
vent the contents of Grant's letter-bag. Nor is
the General the only mark set up for officer-seekers,
as his wife bas to sustain a full share of the bat-
tery. Her letter-bag consists of apllications for
employment in the White House, and the touching
stories she is told and the demands made upon her
charity, if attended to, would dry any fountain of
tears, and drain any purse.
Mr. Peabody has just announced his intention
of contributing another £lOO,OOO towards the fund
which bears his name, making a total of £350,000
presented by him for this purpose alone. It is said
to be the largest amount contributed by any private
individual towards a single object. His letter an-
nouncing the arrangement has been published in
the London dailies, and has called forth a corre-
spondence as to the benefit derived by the real poor
of London from the gift, and the best mode of ad-
ministering it. Thousands are ready with their advice
who can afford but do not choose to give money, and
numbers say that the genuine poor have received no
benefit at all. At the same time it cannot be
denied that the tendency of these princely gifts is
to be diverted from the most helpless class whom
the donor intended to benefit, and it has been re-
marked that the trustees are men who could not
give the time and careful study necessary to ad-
minister wisely so noble a charity as that of the
Peabody Gift to the Poor of London.
Tl)e Paraguayan difficulty continues to be dis-
cussed ; but one thing appears certain, which is, that
the fleet under Admiral Davis will carry General
I\l'Mahon to Asuncion to demand satisfaction. Mr.
Seward has written to the Secretary of the Navy to
announce that under his advice the President had
decided on this. He informs Mr. Welles that the
Admiral must be instructed, in the exercise of a
sound discretion, to demand and obtain prompt re-
dress for any extreme insult or violence that may
have been arbitrarily committed against the flag of
the United States or their citizens. A letter has
also appeared from Admiral Davis, dated Buenos
Ayres, Oct. 20, who seems rather to side with Lopez,
and it was on this that Secretary Seward wrote.
Mr. Webb, the American Minister at Rio, had re-
quested Admiral Davis to proceed at once to Asun-
cion, but he could not inform the Secretary of State
whether the Admiral would assume the responsi-
bility without special instructions from the Govern-
ment, and these special instructions Mr. Seward
diiccted to be at once communicated, which has
been done. The Rear-Admiral's letter states
that the commander of the French fleet on
the station had information from one of his
captains, lately returned from a visit to Lopez,
showing that the extravagant stories charging