one of these days that the Alabama is neither a pirate nor a corsair, but a regular vessel of war, commanded by officers furnished with official commissions and strictly following the law of nations and the ordinary laws of war. -New York Evening Post. THE FREEDMEN IN VIRGINIA. FROM a very interesting letter of Miss Rhoda W. Smith, published in the West Chester American of a recent date, we make the following extracts. Miss Smith is in charge of the freedmen on the Government farms, near Norfolk, and her observations are, therefore, of interest and value. The letter is dated Gayle Farm, near Norfolk, Sept. 14, 1863. The writer says:— "I came to this farm the beginning of last February, having been requested by Dr. Brown, surgeon in the U. S. Army and superintendent of contrabands in and around Norfolk, to act as teacher to the freedmen on this and the adjoining farm, and also to supply, as far as it was in my power, their necessities, religious, moral, and physical. The population on the two farms consisted then of about ninety negroes-men, women, and children. Shortly after the two farms were occupied it was thought that the number of laborers on them was too great to be advantageously employed, and thirty were removed to another Government farm, so that their number is now only sixty. discovered powers, thus depriving their oppressors of their gains. "The course which I have pursued ever since I came here, has been that of teaching three hours in the morning, and from an hour and a half to two hours at night. The length of the night session varies in proportion to the degree of fatigue they have undergone during the day, and it is attended principally by adults. The attendance is very irregular, owing to the frequent necessity there is for all that are old enough to work on the farms. I do not think it has at any three of my pupils could read at all, and time exceeded thirty. When I first came but that very imperfectly. Now, I suppose there are as many as twelve who can read. I have prayer, and the reading of a chapter in the Old Testament, and one in the New, every evening before I begin school, and the morning school is opened by the repetition, in unison, of the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer, the reciting of a few short answers in a simple catechism, and a short prayer. On the sabbath we have meeting at one of the farms in the morning, and at the other in the afternoon. At these meetings I read the Bible with a very brief explanation, and then read one of a series of very short sermons written expressly for Southern negroes, and I generally give out one hymn. The rest of the services, I leave them to conduct themselves. We have always some persons from the neighborhood to unite with us, and the number of these is increasing. "Several of the men in addition to what they were required to do on the farms, have built themselves snug little cabins, and each of them is allowed a small lot of ground which he is permitted to cultivate at odd times for himself, and they all do it. Besides this some of them work in the evenings and on rainy days at netting seines and making buckets and mats. At these they would do much more if they could get sale for their manufacture, but the market here is overstocked with such articles. Could any way be devised that would make it worth while to send them North? "I came here with a higher opinion of the capacity of the negro than the majority of people whom I knew possessed, but, if I may judge from the specimens with whom I have been closely associated for the last seven months, I did not put a sufficiently high estimate upon their ability to provide for themselves and their susceptibility of elevation. This transition state through which they are now passing is attended with very many greatly discouraging and demoralizing influences; still I do not think there could be found many little communities of whites who, having had to the time of their establishI would like to say to all who feel an inment no more opportunity of exercising their terest in the freedman, that I would most innate abilities, or of acquiring knowledge of thankfully receive any donations that they any kind, would by what they are accom- feel they can, without too much sacrifice, plishing do themselves so much credit, and make to that portion of them among whom I yet, poor creatures, they often remind me of am placed. They will very soon, almost as Casper Hauser; having reached the age and soon as it could be procured and forwarded, stature of men, their moral and mental pow- need warm and strong clothing. Durability ers are dwarfed from having been denied all and warmth are the things most to be consid exercise where it would risk their becoming ered now. All articles and all sizes of clothconvinced that they were anything more than ing are needed. Shoes for the women seem chattels in the possession of their masters, to be especially in demand. They also need and asserting their right to use their newly head-handkerchiefs. Almost all the women up 66 DEATH OF WILLIAM STURGIS. can knit, so that, if the yarn could be fur- many enterprises having for their objects "I wish I could, in concluding, persuade DEATH OF WILLIAM STURGIS. WE are pained to learn that Mr. William Sturgis, one of our most distinguished, esteemed, and influential citizens, died last evening, at his residence in this city, aged 81. He had kept his chamber for two or three days, thought himself improving, and expected to be abroad in a day or two. He died somewhat suddenly while sitting in his chair. clear mind and strong sense, which made his advice highly valued. He was, if we mistake not, one of the earliest stockholders in the Boston and Worcester Raiiroad Corporation and always maintained a lively interest in its concerns. He afterwards took part in the Eastern and other rail-roads. personal friend of a number of gentlemen of Those who have a desire to assist in ameliorating the condition of these people, under Miss Smith's charge, can have their donations forwarded by sending them directed to Mrs. P. Frazer Smith, West Chester, Penn-damental articles of their association that no sylvania. record of its proceedings should be kept save in memory, and there are accordingly no written minutes of its history. The number and their circle was maintained almost unof members, we believe, was about twelve, broken for the remarkably long series of years which we have already named. The meetings were perhaps beginning to become a little less frequent than formerly, with no formal act of dissolution of the club, when Death entered the circle a few years ago and has carried away at short intervals among the members Wren Ward, Nathan Appleton, William ApLemuel Shaw, Francis Calley Gray, Thomas pleton; last February Nathan Hale; a few days ago, George Hayward; and now William Sturgis. We trust it may be long, ere the few survivors of this social circle of friends, whose kindly intimacy was to all of them a source of mutual pleasure, may be called to join their associates who have thus preceded them to another and better world.—Boston Daily Advertiser, 22 Oct. Mr. Sturgis was one of the first to engage in commercial adventure with the north-west coast of America, when that part of the world was little known. Besides the mercantile experience of this part of his life, he obtained in this way a fund of valuable information which he made of use in the subsequent discussions upon the north-west boundary dispute between the United States and Great Britain. He was engaged in ship. It is calculated that an iron ship of 1,000 tons, leaves a dead-weight cargo of 1,473 tons, being internal measurement, will carry a dead-weight within two per cent of the cargo of the iron cargo of 1,500 tons, which, added to the weight of the ship, 775 tons, gives a displacement of 2,275 tons. A wooden ship of the same internal measurement has a greater displacement in the ratio of 1,319 to 1,221, and therefore has a displacement of 2,473 tons. This displacement, reduced by the weight of the ship 1,000 tons, antir l'Influence Anglaise en Asie" is the latest "COMMENT la Russie et la Perse peuvent anépamphlet on the favorite subject of "England in the East." THE EARTHQUAKE. A SHUDDER through this English land Only the houses somewhat rock, Near upon half-past three o'clock. ; Stools, chairs, and tables stir and jump, From mantelshelves some objects fall Some beds beneath their speakers bump; Some plaster crumbles from the wall: The frames of the awakened quiver, Around them whilst their dwellings shiver, And noises strange their minds appall. Clocks stop, and bells in places ring, Whilst to and fro foundations heave; Gates, jangling, on their hinges swing; Doors slam, panes rattle; folks believe That thieves are breaking in; and under There rumbles subterranean thunder, As though of rocks in act to cleave. Dogs howl, or slink away in fright; Brute cattle low; a sense of dread, Dim consciousness that all's not right, Confounds the hornèd creature's head Not less than man, upon his pillow Tossed by an earth-wave, like the billow That rolls along on ocean's bed. "Tis well the human herd has felt In Mother Earth how frail their trust, Divided from the molten belt Of Vulcan by how thin a crust; O'er what a gulf they tread the dust. Which they inhabit, pondering, know In what yet thinner tubes of veins And arteries hath man's blood to flow Throughout the finest nervous tissue : And giving but a mere drop issue, Life's pipes were burst: all over so! Such minds, that think above the hog, The bleating flock, the bellowing kine, Need no admonitory jog Beneath them from the lava mine. So, Jones, thou art serenely able Earth and thy frame, alike unstable; To trust alike in hands not thine. -Punch. THE Earthquake was felt, too, in many parts of London. Old Beery, the Churchwarden, declares that when he came out of the Marquis of Granby the Pavement hit him on the Nose, and that his Street Door wouldn't let him get his Latch-key in. -Punch GERMAN DECLARATION OF WAR. GERMANY is about to declare war with Denmark. Mr. Punch has been favored with an early copy of the Declaration of War. It states the whole case with the energy and precision characteristic of the German mind, and he has much satisfaction in preserving it for posterity: : TO THE (SO-CALLED) DANES. (With reservation of right to an alternative of nomenclature. Subjectively, as well as objectively, the annihilation, or even the debilitating distribution of inherent or accumulative rights approximates unto an analytical propinquity to an infinitesimal re-integration of political relations. Schleswig and Holstein, Holstein and Schleswig, both with co-ordinate compatibilities for an unrestricted development, claim territorially as well as aesthetically an invigorative restoration of entities, based on analysis, verified by synthesis, and hallowed by sentiment. Self-consciousness and conscientiousness are alike violated for the few and for the many when a sceptical centralization disturbs, either by traditional force or complicated legalities, the mesmeric adhesion of individuality to the progress of idealism. [Here follow about seven columns of argument, proving in the most reesistless manner that if one person is weaker than another, the latter is stronger than the former. Disquisition upon the inherent right of mankind to associated opposition to undesirable agencies may be regarded as precluded by precedent, but it may be logical to interpolate a series of evidences which if examined with due elaboration will serve as basis for a superstructure of irrefragable and adamantine tenacity. [Here follows a careful and voluminous digest of the history of all the wars that have been undertaken since the fall of Troy. Schleswig-Holstein, Holstein-Schleswig, naturalized into the great European family, claims all the rights of her brethren and sisters, and who shall thrust her hungering away from the great table spread by nature for the sustenance of her tender offspring? Finally, but not exhaustively, and with reserved right of expatiation, we appeal to intellectual Europe with two watchwords that beam like the stars in the blue empyrean of liberty. These are Beer, and Tobacco ! And we therefore decree Federal Execution, and the German Fleet will immediately be built and ordered to sail into Schleswig Holstein. Done at Frankfort. (Signed) VON MOONEY. VON SWIPES. -Punch. BRITANNIA HOISTS HER STORM-DRUM. Up with the drum that storm forebodes, In which to point the cone- But if upwards or downwards who shall say, That not the most sky-piercing sense Will the storm come from the nor'-'nor'-west: Where red stains freeze along the snow, With face to heaven, and breast to foe, Where skeleton-like the charred beams peep Out of those sheets of winter's sleep, That look so pure and shroud such sin; Or a little hand shows here and there, Or a silky curl of infant's hair, Still clasped the mother's hand within, Who died so hard, yet could not save The little one that shares her grave? The clouds they draw to the nor'-nor'-west, But farther to South and more to West Who living loved the loud wild roar Of elements upon the deep, Or charged as fiercely on the shore, And Swede and Norseman to Dansker calls, And bids be of good cheer, And forge-fire glows, and hammer falls, Or shaping sword and spear, And the white-hot metal splashing runs Or comes the storm from the Banks of 8pree, The bauble sceptre that bars the path Comes the storm from the smouldering fires The breath of the Diet that never tires To hunt the Polish patriot down, Comes the storm from the bed that heaves With the groans of "the sick man" lying, With his heirs all cursing him in their sleeves, Because he's so long adying? Comes the storm from Venice or Rome? Or comes the storm from across the foam? Where, as North and South, the tempest rages, And threatens c'en their ancient Home, Once place of Pilgrimages, But now their scoff and scorn and hate, Because we have watched their storms rage on, And only prayed they might abate, Nor catch up Englishman, Frank, or Don, THE BRITISH IRON-CLADS. [Correspondence of the N. Y. Evening Post.] DUBLIN, October 10, 1863. THE far-famed Channel flect has sailed from high opinion of the sea-worthiness or fighting powers of their great ships. The Warrior and Prince have four-and-ahalf-inch armor on their midship broadsides, the bow and stern for more than one hundred Dublin Bay for Plymouth, its visit here a few feet at each end being unprotected and as vuldays ago being the end of its triumphal home nerable as the ends of one of our woode cruise, of which your readers have no doubt occasionally heard through the English news-with a real iron-clad these ends will be shot frigates. If they ever go into close actio.. papers. The fleet is just now the pride and boast of the British, and comprises the present ironclad strength of the British navy. Their tremendous powers had been so often described to me by Englishmen that I determined to examine the ships thoroughly, and judge for myself whether they really were the formidable engines of war reported. With this view I visited Dublin, and have passed many hours on the different ships of the fleet. It may interest your readers to know what impression they made upon an American who is not unfamiliar with naval affairs. The iron-clads in the squadron are the Warrior and Black Prince, of six thousand tons and forty guns; the Resistance and Defence, of three thousand six hundred tons and twenty-two guns; and the Royal Oak, four thousand tons and twenty-six guns. The favorite ships with the crowds of visitors as with the nation at large-are the Warrior and Black Prince. Their vast size, bold, dashing bows, apparent strength, and above all their spacious and well-ordered decks and magnificent engines, impress all visitors, and call forth enthusiastic expressions of approval from the crowds of loyal and delighted country squires and shopkeepers who flocked to see them in this as in the English away and the ship become an unmanageable wreck. I asked an officer how long these unprotected ends would stand if the Warrior and Prince were pitted against each other? He frankly admitted that they must go as soon as the ships came to close action. To me the principle on which these vessels are built, or rather armored, is something like links on one-third its length-the test of making a two-inch chain cable with half-inch strength is in the weakest part. Had we built these ships the London Times would never have done sneering at our folly. The Warrior is no doubt the fastest frigate afloat, and with plenty of sea-room would find this speed serviceable in overhauling a wooden ship or running away from an iron-clad. To attain her highest speed she consumes eight tons of coal an hour, and would at that rate exhaust her bunkers in four days. Under canvas both ships are tubs. They need half a gale of wind to give them steerage way, and a whole gale to drive them five knots an hour. They will neither wear nor stay without steam, and plenty of it. They steer wildly, and, as British Channel to go about in. With their one of the quartermasters said, need the whole coals in they draw twenty-eight fect, a serious to New York; but by lightening and taking obstacle—if no others existed-to their going a spring-tide they might cross the bar. And WEAK POINTS OF THE "WARRIOR." if they ever make the attempt I hope they To hint, in such a crowd, that the Warrior will be permitted to cross the bar and come and Prince are gigantic failures, utterly un-up to the Hook; let the attack commence worthy of the name of iron-clad ships, would of course be rank heresy. And it was only to the officers and men belonging to the fleet that I dared to express the opinion that as war-ships they are worthless. These officers and crews are the picked men of the British navy; many of them are intelligent, and all were courteous. The men do not hesitate to speak of the ships as failures in all sea-going qualities. The officers are more reticent as to the bad qualities of their craft, yet one can easily see that many of them have no ports. when they turn the point of the Hook and get into the Horse Shoe, then at them with two or three small, hot, quick monitors; it will be more exciting than elephant-hunting. The monsters will be forced to keep in midchannel at half-speed; there they can neither turn nor run, and a light-draft monitor can play round them, planting shot and shell in their vulnerable parts. If no more serious consequences were involved I would like to see this same Channel fleet sent to New York. We could give John Bull the greatest start |