The Americans still discuss and repudiate schemes of compromise, but
the most interesting news of the week is contained in the letters of the London correspondent of the Times. He is safely out of Southern hands, and he describes a state of affairs as existing in the South which confirms the worst account§ travellers have ever reported. The contempt for life is universal. Murder, almost motiveless, is of constant occurrence, and passes unpunished. The mob, composed of the lowest ruffians, is socially supreme, and the only plan of the leaders to reform society is to de- prive the people of their suffrage. Debts owing to the North are universally repudiated, and to express dislike of slavery is to commit suicide. On the slaves Mr. Russell is very reserved, but he was impressed with the universal appearance of sadness and melancholy in the dark race. He never heard a laugh ; and ob- viously does not believe in happy negroes. His letter of Wednesday is enough of itself to crush any feeling of sympathy for the South which may linger in English minds.
