The Press.
London, England, 1858-07-31 00:00:00

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up his Poulton with the utmost detiVeiratton and greeteit
precision. conduct called forth a most glowing eulogy
from the admiral. When he did open the it was with
tremendous effect ; bestowing one shot upon the southern
forts in return for the attention they had honoured him
with, be concentrated his fire on the northern torts. Shot,
shell, and grape rained in upon them, and before his
French supporta had got into position he had very
nearly succeeded in silencing their fire. Meantime
the -Nimrod, whose movements had been somewhat
thrown out by the French gunboats not coming up
to time, received the concentrated fire of the southern
forts, which Captain Dew returned with interest. For-
tunately, although the Chinamen stuck to their guns with
considerable pertinauity, they were so badly aimed as to
do very little damage. Notwithstanding that the Nimrod,
Avalaactle, and Druyonne were pretty hotly engaged for an
hour, the former only loot one killed and three wounded—
four shot struck her hull. I have not heard the loss of
any of the French force engaged, beyond the fact that
four officer* were killed. A little before eleven o'clock
the admirals passed, followed by the fleet of gun
boats. In the fire to which they were exposed, Mr.
Pnekett, second master of the Opossum, was severely
wounded by a round shot, which had passed over the Nim•
rod. The landing on the north side took place about
eleven ; in a few minutes more the allied flags were float-
ing over the forts, and our marines and blur jackets were
in full cry upon a large camp of infantry and cavalry about
a mile distant. This is the first time in our experience
of Chinese warfare that our blur jackets have had an op-
portonity or dispersing large bodies of cavalry. It is
species of excitement they particularly appreciate. At a
quarter past eleven the landing party on the south side
burst upon the astonished gaze of the Chinamen, who pre-
cipitately evacuated the batteries and fled across the arid
plain in rear of the forts, all of which were rapidly occu-
pied by our men, while large parties of skirmishers fol
lowed up and harassed the retreating masses. As the
river at this point forms a peninsula, upon which the forts
are situate, the Opossum, Bustard, and S'larnich were sent
round to meet the enemy on the other side. They ex-
perienced a temporary check, however, from a battery of
heavy guns placed at the angle of the river on the north
side, which gave them a warm reception as they ap-
proached, killing two and wounding three men on board
the Bustard. 'l'bis bowery was speedily silenced, and the
men of the Pique and the Furious, who had been clearing
out the (lamp nut far distant, came up just in time to take
possession of it. Other gunboats coming up in support,
they all pressed on till they reached the opposite end of
the base line of the peninsula. It was found, however,
that the Chinamen had made good their escape, and the
inhabitants of the large village which is situated here
gazed wonderingly at the "fire-ships," confident, appa-
rently, that the barbarians would not mistake them for
soldiers. A line of deserted junks moored right across
the river at this point formed a very good defence for our
advanced position, and the whole peninsula being now in
our possession, the day's work was considered complete.
We may trust th it this blow will have been sufficiently
serious to bring the Chinese Government to its senses. It
bed evidently been occupied during the last five weeks in
concentrating here warlike resources. Large bodies of
troops bad been sent down from Pekin, and the batteries
had been improved and strengthened by guns collected
from neighbouring towns. So exaggerated was the esti-
mate formed of their own powers of resistance that the
Chinese did not hesitate to open the first fire upon us, and
it took ns upwards of an hour thoroughly to undeceive
them upon this point. The fact that the batteries were so
easily taken after so many weeks' preparation only shows
how simple it would have been in the first instance to seize
them. If the impression produced, however, is more
effectual in consequence, the delay is not to he regretted.
We have to deplore a melancholy accident which touk place
in the centre tort after it was in our possession. Some
French engaged in the work of demolition had impru-
dently set fire to some gabions in the immediate vicinity,
a spark was blown into a magazine, which had nut been
observed, and a crowd of bystanders were blown up. Some
were killed on the spot, and others frightfully wounded.
The accurate returns have not yet come in, but thirty•six
is the estimate I have generally heard given. Our entire
loss has been comparatively trifling. We have captured
about 150 brass guns, most of them of enormous calibre,
exquisite workmanship, and net shove ter; years old, and
we have had five men kille I and fifteen wounded. Of these
five, one was shot by accident and one blown up. The
Chinese loss has not been so great as might have been ex-
pected, and is not supposed to have exceeded 100.

It is generally believed that this success will be followed
by an immediate move towards Tientsin, in which
direction the plenipotentiaries will proceed until they meet
with an Imperial Commissioner properly qualified to treat
with them.

The Belle Isle storeship has just come in with provisions
for the fleet.

The Hong Kong correspondent of the same jour-
nal adds :
In a despatch from Admiral Sir Michael Seymour to his
Excellency Sir John Howring, he informs him that the
gunboats of the force attacked the forts and captured then
with small loss. The position was a strong one, the
various forts mounting 138 guns, and bein7 backed by the
presence of a large body of troops. We learn the number
of casualties among the force amounted to about eighty-
eight killed and wounded, the greater number, however,
among the French, arising from explosions. The forces
were to advance up the river to Tien-tsin on the 'find nit.
to enable the ambassadors to endeavour to reopen negotia-
tions nearer the capital.
The success that attended the attack on the forts and the
determination evinced to proceed towards the capital may
be the means of changing the obstinate attitude of the
' Court of Pekin ; but, should the contrary prove the case,

the existing difficulties may thus not
definite period.
It is doubtful if any material advance
the small force at present available
per icularlv when the obstacles to t
river have to be considered, and the
healthy season, July and August.
The Russian and American MI,
courteously by the Chinese authorities.
neutrals, and accompany the allied forces
Later their intervention may be of service.
hitherto to the Chinese has been of no

A letter from the President of the
ceived by 'ran, the High Corn missioner,wn,
and he promised that it should be forwarded
an answer returned to it.
There appears to be a questioi
missioner Tan to treat. The Russian
Ministers were apparently satisfied on'
British and French Ministers declined
tiations until credentials on either
changed. This, the Commissioner
custom, and when the poweN presented
former occasion were shown him he
forgery.
We anxiously look for the next ad,
Since receipt of the advices from
seized the traders iu Canton, and business
suspended.
An expedition against au encamp,,..,
near the White Cloud Mountains, a short Matsu., ~
Canton, took place a few days hack. Nothing resshed
front it, for when the place of the encampment was mend
the " Braves" had left. We regret to say that Dr. Turn.
ball, It N., who accompanied the expedition, was captured,
and his head and hands were cut ofi.
From Shanghai we have advice* to the 31st ult. Not.
withwending the remonstrance from her Majesty's Conan],
the Chinese authorities persist in collecting an extra titur
on imports levied on the natives. There was a report
received in Shanghai that Nmngpo was taken by a set of
insurgents. Her Majesty's steamer Surprise was at that
port.
The Russian steamer Askola, 28 guns, arrived here on
the 28th ult., and we hear that two or three steamers of
the same class are expected to arrive in these waters shortly.

Despatches, dated respectively the Bth of May and
the 21st, have been received at the Foreign-office
from Sir Colin Campbell and Admiral Seymour,
confirming the Indian and Chinese intelligeoco
which has appeared in our columns.

YAW nub Volta.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.
As inquiry was held on Friday and Saturday last
week in the magistrates' room in the Castle, at York,
fur the purpose of inquiring into the alleged lunacy
of Mary Jane Turner, the wife of Mr. Charles Turner,
one of the official assignees of the Court of Bank-
ruptcy at Liverpool, a resident in a lunatic asylum at
Acomb, near York.
Mr. ASPINALL opened the case. He stated that in
1845 the parties were married. Immediately after,
disagreements arose. Mrs. Turner was somewhat
interior to her husband before marriage. They
resided at Bebington, in the postal district of Rock
Ferry. One day, soon after his marriage, Mr.
Turner was from home, and a letter, which was to
have been called for at the Rock Ferry post-office by
another Mr. Turner, was delivered to Mrs. Tamer.
That letter was front a lady, appointing a meeting at
Behington ; and immediately Mrs. Turner conceived
suspicions against her husband, taking a journey
into Wales (whence the letter had comes, and having
an interview with its writer. She obtained informs•
tion which ought to have convinced her that her
suspicions were unjust, but she persisted in them,
and on her husband's return home she met him at
the station and behaved to him with great violence.
So extreme was her violence that he drove Willi her
to the house of Mr. Stephenson, an eminent medical
man, who conceived suspicions its to the real suite of
the case. From this moment Mrs. Turner coneettei
extraordinary suspicions against her husbatal, and
accused him wherever they happened to be—in hotels
and lodging-houses, where he took her for the sake
of her health—of impropriety with every woman in
the house. No woman could even look on him without
exciting her suspicions. On one occasion,
in
the midst of her paroxysms, she jumped out of
window and broke her leg ; and Mr. Turner attended
to her night and day, until ha became so exhausted
that the medical man ordered him to retire to bed
for twenty-four hours. He did so; but no sooner
had he lelt than Mrs. Turner, reverting to her old
topic, said he had gone to bed with one of the
servants, and desired to be taken out that site might
see. Soon after this occurrence she fractured his
skull with a poker ; and so great was the dang-r to
his life that she was confined in the gaol at Bo ken'
!toad. On Mr. Turner's recovery lie obtained her
release, and refused to take proceedings against bet,
though a deed of separation was drawn up. Under
the deed Mr. Turner allowed her 2001. a year. She
went to reside at Scarborough and York, but wher-
ever she resided she suspected the persons with whom

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robe lived of designs upon her life. Ultimately her
!conduct led to her confinement. In December last
'hir. Turner received from her a letter, dated York,
December 20. In it she intimated that she called
Upon him to hasten to her and clear himself from
the suspicion she entertained that he was connected
with a design to accomplish her murder. In conse•
•quence of this letter Mr. Turner put the subject into
the hands of Dr. Redhead, a clergyman, and ulti-
matei hit's. Turner was lodged in a lunatic asylum.
y
31r. Turner, however, had not done it, the seclusion
having taken place !without his knowledge. He, in
fact, had always treated her with affection. Mr
Aspinall called witnesses, among whom was
Mr. JOHN WILLIAM him:Ames, surgeon, of Acomb-
house : He said that on the 21th of December last
be received Mrs. Turner, with the usual certificate.
She had not been long with him before she said she
was glad that she bad come to Acorub•house as a
place of protection. She required protection, as
poison was put into her food. On the 24th of Fe-
bruary Mrs. Turner escaped from his house, but she
was bronght back in March. In the beginning of
April she escaped again, by letting herself down
with sheets from her bedroom, which was six yards
from the ground. He found her at York. She told
him he had no business to take her, and must leave
her. He found her in a house, the room in which
•she was being locked. He reasoned with her, but
'was ultimately compelled to break open the door.
She had only a night-dress on at the time. She
refused to go with him, and on his taking hold of her
slre struggled with him, struck and scratched him,
and used abusive language. He sent for his groom,
and she still continued resistance. Ultimately, how.
ever, finding resistance useless, sire dressed and ac•
cumpaeied him. That. however, was not till he had
taken her by the shoulder and ordered his groom to
Wt (Hr by the feet. He considered Mrs. Turner of
unsound mind and unfit to be at large.
Cross-examined : He received 31. 3s. per week
with Mrs. Turner, and was paid fur extras—wine,
bottled beer, and washing. The charge was about
.the average.
Witness's ebidence had been given from a book of
entries, which he handed to Mr. James.
Mr. JAMES : Here is an entry,—" I find Mrs.
Sterner to be specious, mendacious, ignorant, and
beastly." By what rule are you called upon to make

stuck an entry ?
Witness said that in forming conclusions all cir-
cumstances were to be taken into account. Witness
believed he bad once used coarse language to Mrs.
Turner. He would not say that be did not say, '
" Come, you have stripped before many men, you
shall do it before me." He remembered seizing her
by the back of the neck, throwing her on the floor,
end saying, "I'm up to the tricks of such as you."
He would not swear that he did not afterwards say,
Getup, and walk into that bedroom and undress."
lie used words to the Effect that he could name half-
•a-dozen men who had had to do with her. He was
then cross-examined with regard to his conduct when
he found her at York. He gave no authority for
'breaking open her bedroom•door except that he was
,entitled to recover possession of her person. He
.admitted struggling with her in her undress and
,dragging her oti the bed. She told him that he was
itreading on her toes, and cried out she had been
tpushed against the bedpost.
Did she cry out in agony ?—" She cried with rage.
His wife, who was present, put the pillow between
her and the bedstead." To other questions, he said
she was not naked at the time, but in her night-
dress. He called up his groom to carry her away
.as she was.

When she found you were using violence, did she
'dress herself ?—She did.

Mrs. TURNER (the alleged lunatic) was next exa-
mined by the learned Commissioner. She is a lady
rather above the middle stature, of good carriage and
pleasant iestures. She behaved with the greatest
propriety throughout the inquiry. Her replies to the
Commissioner were ready, and her story was con-
nected and unvarying. She said that though she
lad written to her husband that she had been poi-
boned, she had said so to no one else, and ail that
the witnesses had that day said was wrung. The
Reediest men were wrong when they called her insane.
Evidence tending to prove Mrs. Turner's sanity
was then given, and after the jury had been ad-
dressed by both counsel in the case and the Com-
missioner, they retired to consider their verdict, and
returned within half an hour. The result of the in-
vestigation was that thirteen to seven of the jury
were of opinion " that Mary Jane Turner was of
sound mind, and capable of taking care of herself."
Appended to the verdict was the following :—" The
Jury cannot separate without reflecting on the dis•
graceful conduct of Mr. Metcalfe, the keeper of
Acomb-house, and beg to draw the attention of the
Commissioners in Lunacy thereto."

EXTRAORDINAIti CASE.
'SWINFEN V. SWINFEII.—This case commenced at
'stafford on the 23rd and finished on the 20th inst.