The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

MAY 16, 1857. THE LATE MR. DAVID TREVENA COULTON. THE remains of this lamented gentleman were brought, on Thursday, by railway from Brighton to Croydon, and were followed therm) to the family vault in the Norwood cemetery. The funeral was strictly private. Amongst the mourners were Mr. Gruneisen, Mr. Robert Bell, Mr. S. C. Hall, Mr. Owen Maddyn, Mr. Smith ( his private solicitor), Mr. Siddel, with some other personal friends, and the ztaff of Tile PRESS office. Within the brief limits of a news paper obituary we cannot render an adequate tribute to the character and abilities of our lamented friend We more readily abstain from any;attempts at present to delineate them, as a copious memoir of him by a competent pen rill before long be submitted to the public. We shall subjoin a brief notice of some of the particulars of his life. Mr. Coulton was born at Devizes, in Wiltshire, on the 3rd of October, 1810. When about twelve years of age he lost his father, and from that time his mother, his sister (a most accomplished lady, who survives the brother whom she idolised), and Mr. Coulton, were never separated. Like other eminent men, Mr. Coulton seems to have inherited his talents from his mother, who was the daughter of a wealthy Ln-iculturist in Middlesex. She had married in early life the late Mr. James Coulton, who was the son of the Rev. J. Coulton, Dean of Bristol. Of Mrs. Coulton, it was remarked by a leading statesman that "it she had devoted her talents to literature she would have gained high fame." When a boy, Mr. Coulton's health was so delicate that he was not sent to a regular school, and a tutor was engaged for him. Even in his early years he manifested a strong dis position for a literary life, and in early manhood he was a contributor to several periodicals and maga zines. In 1839 he founded the Britannia, and from that date ( with a brief interval) his ardent mind wAs concentrated on the politics of the time. The line of politics mainly adopted by him in the Britannia was to extend and popularise the principles of Conservatism, and to uphold national Protestantism as embodied in the institutions of the realm. He had nearly all the merits which mark the English school of political writers. His understanding was singularly plastic, and he could contract or expand an argument with rare dexterity of logic. While en d° ved with no ordinary imaginative power, his rea soning faculties were of the highest order, but their chief felicity was in the application of ascertained principles to the sudden emergencies produced by social changes. Always popular in his mode of com position, he could be profound in his treatment of complex questions. His writings during the early years of the late Sir R. Peel's Administration are especially remarkable. We recollect being struck by them at the time, and a well-known public writer told us recently that when, three )ears ago, he hal occasion to refer to the Britannia for historical purposes, he " was sur• prised at the uncommon sagacity with which Mr. Coulton had treated the masked policy of the Minister." Mr. Coulton gave the Peel Ministry an independent support in its early stages, but he re peatedly called the attention of the great mass of the Conservatives to the peculiarity of their position ; and when the Conservative newspaper interest suf fered severely from the schism of 1847, Mr. Coulton t l nought proper for a time to withdraw from active journalism, and sold his property in the Britannia in 1850. Mr. Cottlton then married the amiable lady who laments his loss, and went to reside at Goudhurst, in Kent, where he occupied himself with agricultural pursuits, and used his pen chiefly for recrea tion. His successful novel of " Fortune " was written in early life, but was not published until 1853. About the same time he contributed some articles to the Quarterly Review, and the late Mr. Lockhart entertained the highest opinion of his masculine mind and versatile powers. In lg3l he was invited to act as political editor of this journal. It is not for us to speak of his incessant energy end the varied range of his powers, nor is Vies the time when we could hope to do justice to talents which commanded the respect of formidable but generous adversaries. On the publication of his posthumous works, we shall have a better opportu nity for a tribute to his eminent abilities. But it was not alone the talents of Mr. Coulton, nor his greatattainments, which secured him the respect of so many friends. It was the union of strong abilities with strong virtues, of a clear and commanding intellect with a pure and upright heart, that won for him the attachment of so many honourable minds. Upright, candid, and strictly moral, his abilities were enhanced by his virtues. His religion wits animated with the masculine piety of a mind prone to reflection upon the deep truths of Revelation, and the daily practice of his life was in accordance with oue THE PRESS. who ruled his actions by the highest standard. These noble qualities were well summed up in the emphatic eulogy which came from one of the most distinguished literary men of the day—" I never knew a man who was personally so great a credit to English journalism as 1). T. Coulton "—a remark which came from a political opponent. One of the works which he has left in manuscript, it is expected, will display some of the best qualities of his genius. It is entitled "The Threshold of Life ; or, Letters from a Father to his Son on his entrance to the World." It is stated that some time before the author's decease, the copyright of this work was secured by Mr. Murray. A complete volume on the history of Junius (entirely distinct from his well known essay in the Quarterly Review) is amongst his pap'rs. We believe, also, that some anonymous works on science issued from his pen. In Physics Mr. Coulton had considerable attainments. He was a mechanician of great ingenuity, and he invented a new kind of atmospheric railway, which has attracted the favourable notice of many men of science. He expended much time and money in the elaboration of this latter invention. Not long before his de cease he had matured a comprehensive plan for a most important literal> , enterprise, which may yet be submitted to the public. TLI PERSIAN EXPEDITION. THE intelligence of the conclusion of peace having reached Sir James Outram immediately after the cipture of Mohammerah, orders were at once given for a suspension of hostilities. The troops not having permanently advanced beyond the town of Moham merah, they will, unfortunately, be eantoned during the heats of summer in that pestilential town. The same telegraph which brought this acknowledg ment announced the sad news of the suicide of both General Stalker and of Commodore Etheridge, R.N., under a fit of mental aberration, induced by over excitement and the 'eat of the climate. The verdict on General Stalker's body was, that he came by his death from a pistol-shot inflicted by his own hand in a fit of temporary insanity ; but there was no paper left to indicate this, and he was merely heard to complain that the 3rd Cavalry was not given him, and he was also uneasy about the re sponsibility of sheltering the European troops during the approaching hot weather. The verdict on Commodore Etheridge was, that he destroyed himselt with his own hand while suffer ing under mental aberration, brought about by long continued anxiety connected with the duties of his command. 0 The details of the expedition against Moham merah appear creditable to all engaged. The force, including about 3,300 men, of all arms, lest only ten killed and wounded ; but there was little shore fighting. The Moharnmerah batteries were silenced by the fire of the steamers and gunboats, assisted by a mortar-raft, carrying five mortars. The following description is taken from a camp-letter, dated Mobammerah, March 2901: On the morning of the *2 lth all the steamers, with their tows, got under way and steamed up the stream. A magnificent sight it was on this noble river. The Arabs on the Persian side came down th the banks and greeted us as we passel with shouts of welcome. The four-gun battery which the Persians had constructed at Buerieh had been removed, so that our vessels passed on without opposition, and came to anchor before the Arab village of Hurteh, about four miles below Mohammerah. At eight p.m. a boat was despatched to reconnoitre a small low island, in the centre of the river, to the west of the northern fort, with a view of planting a mortar battery there ; but they found the spot so swampy that the project was aban doned. Next day, however, a strong raft was made, and during the night was towed by the Count and planted in position, with three bi-inch and two 8 inch mortars, under the command of Captain Worgan. All this was effected without attracting the attention of the enemy, and the greatest praise is due to the officers and crew of the little Comet, whose services in this instance, as well as through out the expedition, hay.: been most useful. At daybreak of the !Itith the mortars opened fire, and great must have been the consteication of the enemy, who could see nothing before them to give notice of ouch a ' good morning " but a boatload of pressed hay, moored so as to protect the raft. Within an hour the war steamers moved up one by one, two of them taking the Clire and Falkland in tow, and as they came within range the batteries opened a raking fire upon them. This was nut returned till the vessels had got into the best position for commanding their works ; then they blazed away in earnest, and at the distance of two miles the scene looked like a grand display of fireworks. The enemy fought bravely and well, hat in about two hours their fire slackened, and the signal was hoisted on Commodore Young's ship for the advance of the trans ports. One of our shells now fell upon a magazine near the northern fort, which exploded amid the cheers of our crews and soldiers. As the troopships and steamers moved onward they were fired upon by two field•pieces which the enemy had planted in the date groves below the southern fort and also by hands of matchlockinen. A ball from the latter came in close contact with Sir James Outram's foot, but a lucky hookah saved it. One native, however, was killed by a round-shot on board the Seindian, where Sir James and his staff were. The troopships and steamers now passed the lona, and anchored close to the 475 ' banks to the south of Jaber's fort, and disembarkation of the men, artillery, and horses was effected with great despatch and without any opposition. A party of Scinde Horse, only fortptive in number, under Captain M. Green, then proceeded to reconnoitre, while our small force, con• sisting of not more than 4,00 U men of all arms, advanced ' to meet the enemy. We passed two standing camps full of public and private property, but the enemy was nowhere to be seen. The Scinde Horse had .xime upon their rear- guard in rapid retreat, and found the ground literally covered with castaway property of all kinds. Not having cavalry to pursue the flying Persians, our troops bivouacked for the night on the banks of the Karam, and, learning from a second reconnoitre that the Persian army was still retiring, we returned to the enemy's encampment, which we are still occupying. The loss of the Persians in killed and wounded is esti- mated at 200, among whom was Agha Jan Khan, a Serteep or brigadier, whose death from the explosion of a shell in the northern fort seems to have spread a panic among the Persian soldiers. The Shazsdah, on hearing of it, is said to have immediately prepared fur a retreat. Agha Jan was a brave soldier, and the enemy's artillery was fought well ; they stood no chance, however, against the heavy fire of our ships. In addition to the above loss, the enemy have left eighteen guns and one mortar in our possession ; one of the former bears an inscription to the effect that it was presented to Shah Abbas by the Emperor in ISIB. They only succeeded in taking away five pieces with them. Seven or eight large magazines of ammunition were blown up by the enemy over and above those which were fired by our shells. Large sores of wheat, barley, and flour have also fallen to us, besides two standing camps, which in their precipitate retreat the Persians could not remove. Through the exertions of Captain Kemhall and the Rev. Mr. Badger. Sir James's Arabic interpreter, the Arab tribes had been induced to remain neutral in the fight, and they are now sending in their submission one after another, apparently delighted at their change of masters. It will require some tact, however, to heal their fends among themselves. One fellow has just come in who offers 1,000 horsemen to aid us against the Persians, but Sir James seems loth to engage their services. On the whole, the loss of 3lohammerah will be a severe blow to the Persians, much more sn bee iuse the sove• reignty of the place was in dispute between them and the Turks, and they may fear that we shall make it over to the latter. Besides this the loss of such accumulated stores must be seriously felt. to say nothing of the fact that our occupation of Mobammerah will most probably bring the whole of the coast from this to Bushire under our supremacy. Then, again, if Brigadier Jacob gets an opportunity of beating the enemy before Bushire (a chance he is not likely to lose if it comes in his way ), we may hope that the Shah will come to terms, and that this war will speedily come to an end. As far as I know, it is proposed, as soon as baggages cattle can be procured, and other necessary arrangements made, to move this force to Akwaz, a healthy locality bets een this and Shuster, and there to settle them for the hot season. Every facility is available there fur housing the men in mud huts, and our advance in that direction will give additional confidence to the Arab tribes, and produce a corresponding effect upon the Persian Govern- ment. Three small river steamers, with 300 riflemen, have left this day for Akwaz, and should the report be favourable the march in that direction will speedily take glace. Should the Persian forces have taken up a position there, we may yet have a chance of defeating them, and such a result will, it is to be hoped, soon put an end to the present expedition. The advancel guard, we learn by the latest despatches. had returned to Mohammerah, and the intelligence of the conclusion of peace at once put a stop to all further hostilities. THE WAR WITH CHINA. THE usual overland despatch brings no news of im portance from Hong Kong or the China seas- Admiral Seymour still remained upon the defensive. Two steamers had reached Hong Kong with troops from Madras. Yell was drawing large contributions from his province to support the expenses of the war. On Saturday further official despatches relative to the proceedings at Canton were issued, in the form of a return to Parliament. As many as twenty despatches (exclusive of inclosures) from Sir John Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon are given. Particulars are sent to the Home Government of the kidnapping Mr. Cowper, and also copies of cor respondence with the Spanish Consul-General, on the subject of the supposed murder of the Spanish Vice-Consul of Macao, in the attack upon the Thistle. On the 9th of December, Sir John Bowring sends to the Viceroy of Fuh-keen, &c., a statement of his complaints against Commissioner Yeh, and requesting that the Court of Pekin be advised of the same. In the course of reply, the Viceroy declines upon an ex parte statement to form an opinion upon the merits of the question, or to be " so precipitate as to address the Throne on the matter." He concludes : Our two nations having been on friendly terms for many sears, T am still in hopes that, by due observance on either side of the treaty of peace that was to last for ever, it will be their good fortune to strengthen the amicable relations heretofore existing between them. Similar replies from the Viceroy of the Two Keang and the Governor of Kean,g-soo are given. The first adds :