17 OCTOBER 1863, Page 3

Why do the Americans allow their lunatics to go at

large ? " Parson Brownlow,"-a so-called clergyman,-is said to have invented the motto, "Greek fire for the masses and Hell fire for the leaders," a clerical motto, which, if he be not mad, would cer- tainly seem likely to secure him a disagreeable association with the leaders of his foes. Another gentleman, the Hon. H. Winter Davis, of Baltimore, is still madder. He revels in the idea of Admiral Dupont sending his "bombshells over the dome of St. Paul's, and the ruins of London Bridge tumbling into the stream below." Evidently Mr. Davis wishes to play into the hands of Lord Macaulay's " Maori," who from his broken arch will paint the picture, while Admiral Dupont realizes it. But if the shells are to fly over the dome of St. Paul's the elevation of the mortars will be somewhat unpractical, like that of Mr. Winter Davis's oratorical artillery.