The Sun. — 1863-02-19 (London, England)

ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that there was no occasion for the bill, and the offence alluded to was on the decrease. Mr. BENTINCK supported the bill, and said a heavier punishment was most imperative. 'rhe amendment was subsequently carried by a large majority. The House then adjourned.  Contrary to expectation, the New York news of February 6th brings us no intelligence of the attack upon Charleston. Possibly the Federals are in no hurry to encounter at close quarters those formidable vessels that scattered their blockading fleet, in spite of desperate resistance. They probably feel that to fail i❑ the attempt upon this city would be a serious blow to th© tottering in esti g e of the North, and, in spite of their boasting, success must appear to themselves to be anything but certain. Meanwhile, the good luck of the Confederates at sea has not deserted them, for, according to Savannah despatches, one Federal iron-clad turret, four gunboats, and one mortar had attacked Fort Maeallister on the Ist inst. After the firing had continued for a considerable period, the Federal s retired defeated. The bombardment, it is said, was more furious than the preceding one. The particulars of the capture of the Federal gunboat P. Smith, brought by this mail, confirm the Confederate account. She is now fitting out, and will soon be ready for sea, and consequently the Federals  will again have the mortification of seeing their own vessel turned against them, and a rapid addition is thus made to the Southern navy_ The loyalty of the North is certainly not increasing with their necessities. Colonel STEWART, Chief of the Cavalry on General M'CLERNAND'S staff at Vicksburg, as out on a reconnaisance with 200 men, when he was  shot and deserted by them. Whether this murder was due to the unpopularity of the officer, or of the service, is not stated, but, whatever the cause, the result was favourable to the enemy, for Colonel STEWART'S memorandum book, containing full estimates of the numbers and calibre of the forces and guns of Generals SHERMAN and M'CLERNAND, and a good deal of useful information respecting the canals which have been commenced, which fell into the hands of the Confederates. As the Federals seem to attach so much importance to their canal-making, this will probably cause them considerable mortification. The present attempt at the Vicksburg canal is entirely new, the last having proved a failure. By the last accounts water was beginning to rush into the canal, but it will be a considerable time before the mighty Father of Waters condescends to roll out of his ancient course to assist the perplexed Federals. They say that drowning men catch at a straw, but in this instance the case, though equally the result of desperation, is rather like a child snatching at a thunderbolt. The rest of the news is unimportant enough ; but we have ceased to expect the grand Federal triumphs, even on paper, which at one time were regular as the mails, either in prospect or retrospect. The sooner the curtain falls over the melancholy performance the better, for, unhappily, we cannot smile at its passing absurdities, through grief at the tragic element wichh so largely predominates.  The recent verdict given by the Court of Common Pleas in the case of the British Columbia Overland Transit Company, will probably be received with general satisfaction. It is felt, and justly felt, that the public need every protection which the stringency of the law can afford them