The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-03

1bN EffECT IN ENGLAND OF Tx WAR
LIKE News FROM THE UNITED SrA-Es.-We
are not yet In possession Of Eoglish flies Of a
Gate Interior to the receipt of the news Of
the bombardment Of Fort Sumter, and can con-
sequeniy only speculate upon the effect which
the arrival Of that intelligence must have pro-
duced upon the whole British people. But by
the unessinees, alarm and ircredulity shown
when they were made aware Of the state Of
things which prevailed in this country two
days previous to the commencement Of hostili-
ties in Charleston harbor, we may form Q
pretty correct idea Of how they received the
news that civil war had actually begun, and
that Fort Moultrie and the lesser batteries we're
burliDg their missiles Of destruction against the
walls Of Sumter, and that Sumter was busy in
reply.
The immediate sensation following the L.
dicgs that we were on the brink of civil war
appears to have been one Of utter surprise,
coupled with no slight CONSERVATION. The
London Times commenced leader BY saying
ait reeds nc comment Of ours to impress the
public with the great importance Of the news
from America We are anxious to speak with
caution On this subject, and not cause alarm,
which may possibly prove to have been unnc-
oeesary. The two countries are 80 intimately
related in commercial matters that when con-
vUlsion seems to threaten one Of them the other
may be suddenly agitsted." The same journal
wen. on to say that there was q wide interval
between Boosting and achievement, between
preparation and action, and even 9 campaign
that has begun might be brought to
close without actual fighting. The
news by the next mail from this country
must have confirmed their spprehensions.
The apparent inactivity Of the administration
for more than month after the Inauguration
had not prepared the people Of England for
the energetic measures which were after
wards adopted. 1t was thought that with oil
our threats the two sections would never
come to blows, and that our differences would
be settled amicably by compromise rather
than the sword. The English have seen
by this time that they were wrong in their
conclusions. They now see us plunged into
warfare, and they deplore it. They can
not, however, but admire and respect us fer
the energy, promptitude and unity which
have made the whole North as one man in
rising to crush this giant rebellion, and main
tain our national honor and assert our national
strength. We must present to the foreign eye
q spectacle Of power and patriotism not only
unrivalled in magni6cence, but unexampled in
history. Where weakness was expected
strength has been found and instead of re-
publican institutions having proved failure,
the very reverse has been demonstrated.
In no other country in the world, we may
safely cay, could such military or pecuniary
resources have been so quickly accumulated
for the protection Of the national flag as we
have accumulated within the last few weeks
And there is no limit either to the number of
the men who are willing to take up arms in
the national cause, or to the amount of the
money which could be>colIected for prose-
cutting the wa, in defence of the rights guaran-
teed to us by that constitution for which our
fathers fought.