and we do not now believe, that it is in the power of any part of America thus to control the condition of England.  We would not have it so, if we could, as we are sure that the power would be abused.  If America really possessed the ability to rule England that her cotton-manufacturers assert she possesses, all Englishmen should rejoice that events have occurred here that promise to work out their country’s deliverance from so degrading a vassalage.  But it is not so, and England will survive the event of our conflict, no matter what that event may be.  The nation that triumphed over the Continental System of Napoleon, and which was not injured by our Embargo Acts of fifty years ago, should be ashamed to lay so much stress upon the value of our cotton-crop, when it has its choice of the lands of the tropics from which to draw the raw material it requires.  As to France, it would be most impolitic in her to seek our destruction, unless she wishes to see the restoration of England’s maritime supremacy.  The French navy, great and powerful as it now is, can be regarded only as the result of a skilful and most costly forcing process, carried on by Bourbons, Orleanists, Republicans, and Imperialists, during forty-six years of maritime peace.  It could not be maintained against the attacks of England, which is a naval country by position and interest.  We never could be the rival of France, but we could always be relied upon to throw our weight on her side in a maritime war; and while our policy would never allow of our having a very large navy in time of peace, we have in abundance all the elements of naval power.  Nor should England be indifferent to the aid which we could afford her, were she to be assailed by the principal nations of Continental Europe.  Strike the American Union out of the list of the nations, or cause it to be sensibly weakened, or treat it so as to revive in force the old American hatred of England, and it is possible that the predictions of those who see in Napoleon III. only the Avenger of Napoleon I. may be justified by the event.

* * * * *

WASHINGTON AS A CAMP.

OUR BARRACKS AT THE CAPITOL.

We marched up the hill, and when the dust opened there was our Big Tent ready pitched.

It was an enormous tent,—­the Sibley pattern modified.  A simple soul in our ranks looked up and said,—­“Tent! canvas!  I don’t see it:  that’s marble!” Whereupon a simpler soul informed us,—­“Boys, that’s the Capitol.”

And so it was the Capitol,—­as glad to see the New York Seventh Regiment as they to see it.  The Capitol was to be our quarters, and I was pleased to notice that the top of the dome had been left off for ventilation.