The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 19 1855

are more those of outlay than those of engineer-
ing, and with this fact in view the sooner, it must
be confessed, the work is set about the better.
The longer it is delayed, the worse matters
will be. The river is getting filthier, and
must do so faster still as the population
increases. To think of a noble stream like the
Thames being so poisoned with filth that fishes
die in it, sunbeams cannot penetrate it, and pes-
tilent odours are wafted in the shrinking nostrils
of three millions of people from it, is it not re-
volting ? A reproach like this who would not
aid in wiping away ?

Allies, had destroyed property belonging the
Christians inhabiting the miserable villages of I
Tchildir. The Tur::s, who are 13,001 men in all,
have sent off for reinforcements in all (lirc!ctions ; !
two couriers have arrived at the Porte with des-
patches froui -Massif Pacha end General Williams. '
Kars has been placed in a good state of defence, and
is provisioned for three months. An officer, writing
under date of the 22d, says :—" The soldiers are
eager to fight the Russians, and there is no doubt
will display as much daring and heroism as at Si-
listria." The troops at Batoum are also menaced
in their positions the Russians having advanced as
far as Leven, which aggressive move has necessi-
tated the retreat of the Turks to Scnsickalaasy, five
hours' distant from their former head-quarters.
Our latest advices do not mention the return of the
commander-in-chief Mustapha Pacha, from his ex-
cursion to the Kouban, although messengers had
been sent to inform him of the state of things..
The famous corps called General Beatson's Irre-
gular Cavalry is not likely to succeed after all.
Letters received this morning from the Dardanelles
state that about 200 Bashi-Bazouks had disbanded,
and fled into the mountains, where they will join
the brigands who infest the neighbourhood of
Smyrna.
It is said that 4,000 Bashi-Bazouks are to form
the effective force of this irregular cavalry corps.
Yesterday the intelligence reached from the
Crimea of the death of General Ansaldi, command;
ing the second Division of the Sardinian contin-
gent.
Lieut.-Colonel Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar,
Ist battalion Grenadier Guards, who has been
named aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief,
arrived on Saturday, 7th inst., by the Imperador,
from the seat of war.

iViazar Pacha (Sir S. Lakeinan) arrived by the
same steamer, having obtained a leave of absen3e
for three months.

The Duke of Newcastle is hourly expected here ;
also General Frolti, who takes the command of the
second division of the Sardinian contingent.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —ln fairness to Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzmayer, I
trust you will insert the following explanation which he
has sent me regarding the two 18-pounder guns at the
Battle of Inkerman. This explanation will, I have no
doubt, place the whole matter in its true light as regards
that gallant officer, and, in justice to him, I do not hesi-
tate to communicate it to you, although I have not his
permission to do so.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
A. H. LA.YARD.
9, Little Ryder-street, July 17.

•

Extract from a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Fitz
mayer, commanding Royal Artillery, Second Division,
dated Camp before Sebastopol, July 2, 1855 :
"As officer commanding the Artillery of the Second
Division, I had for a few days the charge of two 18-pounder
guns, lent by the siege-train. They were placed in posi-
tion owing to the Russians having got up a gun and shown
a disposition to erect a battery ou the ruins of Inkerman.
They opened fire soon after daylight oh• morning, and, the
Rassiansbaving evacuated their work, they were withdrawn,
and the battery masked at nightfall. They remained in my
charge a few days subsequently, and were then, with all the
remaining ammunition and stores, returned to the siege-
train. I had no longer anything whatever to do with them.
My command consisted of two field batteries and nothing
more. On the morning of Inkerman, when these two
batteries were hotly engaged, and every man and horse
fully occupied over whom I had any control, I was (in
ignorance, I presume, of the facts that I had no longer
charge of the two guns in question, that I had no men to
man them, no means of bringing them up, that I had no
idea where their ammunition and stores were to be found,
and that they formed no part of my command) asked if I
could get them up. I made the answer you have quoted
—that it was impossible. Application was, I suppose,
subsequently made to the only person who could effect
what was required—namely, to Colonel Gambier, who
commanded the siege-train, and who had the guns
and their ammunition, &c., in his charge, and men to
man them under his command. This officer proceeded
at once to bring them up. He was wounded shortly
afterwards, and the actual placing of the guns in
position devolved on Colonel Dickson, who was the next
senior officer. There is no one more willing than lam to
bear testimony to the gallant and skilful manner with
which these guns were served, for I was an bye-witness to it.
There were difficuities also in getting them np. But, as far
as I was concerned, if I had answered otherwise than in the
way I did I should have been deserving of severe censure,
for I should not only have been unable to do what I pro-
fessed to accomplish, but in all probability I should have
prevented an application to the proper parties, and the 18-
pounders, which (lid such good service, would never have
come up at all. I hope you will take some means to set
this matter in its right point of view. The answer that was
made at Inkerman is known to many officers in this army,
and the reasons that influenced and justified it are not
generally known."

TI e Alliance, the new fast steamer which has com-
menced running between Southampton and Havre, took
over 100 passengers to France on Monday. The Wash-
ingtoo, which left Suutbampton yesterday for New York,
took out 210 passengers.

It is confidently stated, in several well-informed quar-
tets that the London and North Western Railway
Company will be unable to maintain a 5 per cent, divi-
dend at the forthcoming half-yearly distribution.
The prospectus of the Eastern Telegraph Company,
for the construction of a submarine line from the Dar-
danelles to Alexandria, was issued yesterday. The pro-
posed capital is 120,0001., to be increased to 850,000/.
pou the extension of the communication from Alexan-
dria to India, and the list of directors includes members
of some of the most influential establishments connected
with the commerce of the East;

According to the Weekly Medical Gazette the cholera
is not on the increase, though the number of deaths, in
proportion to the attacks, is exceedingly high. Two
cases have occurred at Baden, the famous bathing-place,
16 miles from Vienra.
The Bank of London have received their charter of
incorporation, and have taken premises at Charing-cross
(late the New Equitable Life Office), which, with their
city establishment, is to be ready for occupation in a
few weeks.

CRYSTAL PALACE.— Return of admissions for six days
ending July 14.—Number admitted, including season
ticket holders, 48,387 ; amount received for admissions,
2,842/. 3s.
Boi KILLED BY LIGHTNING.—On Saturday, during
a thunderstorm, a boy, named Samuel Stopherd, aged
12 years, residing at Abbey Hey, Gorton, Lancashire,
was killed by lightning whilst closing a bedroom win-
dow. His body was afterwards found in the room much
scorched.
GOVERNOR AND MEDICAL OFFICERS OF NEWGATE.'—
Yesterday the Court of Aldermen proceeded to the
election of the medical officers for Newgate and Hollo-
way gaol; the salaries being fixed at 1501., with an al-
lowance respectively of 40/. and 50/. per annum, for
providing medicines. Mr. John Rowland Gibson was
elected surgeon for Newgate, and Mr. T. Graham for
Holloway.
The Government of the Sicilies has concluded a mo-
dification in its commercial treaty with that of Belgium,
similar to what was enteral into with Sardinia► a short
time back—that is to say, that the privileges of Customs
and navigation accorded to the direct arrivals from the
ports of either country are now extended to the indirect
arrivals, provided that theeorigin of the cargo has been
duly certified by the competent authorities.
PICTURES IN NEEDLEWORK.—Yesterday we were
favoured with a private inspection of two pictures in
needlework and some valuable works of art, at No. 32,
Howland-street, Fitzroy-square. The principal feature of
the exhibition is a splendidly-framed picture in needle-
work, and represents, in a life scale, a hale, stalwart, old
woodsman, duly accoutred and accompanied by his dog,
setting out on a wintee's morning on his daily round.
The features are beautifully wrought and full of natural
expression, and the figure stands out well from the
bleak background, the whole being very picturesque.
The dog, perhaps, is least: haepily rendered. The other
picture is a hovel scene, with children before the fire,
though pleasing, is inferior in effect as it also is in size.
Besides the above, there are a few articles of vertu, in-
c7uding a curious and costly cabinet, the property, like
the preceding, of Mr. C. A. Law, naturalist.

CLOSING THE GATES OP BARTHOLOMEW HOSPITAL.—
Yestertiay, at a Court of Aldermen a report was brought
up on the memorial of the inhabitants of Aldersgate
Ward, relative to the closing, by the authorities, of the
gates of Bartholomew Hospital, which the .memorial
stated was a departure from the established practice, and
productive of great' inconvenience. Sir Peter Laurie
moved that the City Solicitor be directed to take proper
steps to prevent the right of way from being infringed.
Alderman Wilson moved, as an amendment, that no
order be made on the subject. In the discussion that
ensued several members of the court expressed an opin-
ion in favour of waving the claim to the right of way,
which latter only benefited the inhabitants of one ward.
The City Solicitor said that the authorities of the hos-
pital had intimated their determination to contest the
claim foot by foot. The court adopted the amendment.
SOUTHWARK LITERARY INSTITUTION. Yesterday
evening a public dinner took place at the Bridge-house
Hotel, London-bridge, in aid of the funds of the South-
wark Literary Institution. Sir W. Molesworth, M.P.,
was in the chair, supported by about 70 gentlemen, who
appeared to be deeply interested in the success of the
institution, which had been 23 years in existence. The
chairman made a very handsome donation to the funds
of the institution, in addition to a very able and elo-
quent appeal in its behalf. The interests of the society
were also powerfully advocated by Mr. George Pilcher
(the treat iurer), and several other gentlemen, and the list
of subscriptions announced was such as to afford reason
to believ e that the object of the day's festival--viz., the
clearing off a debt contracted in the early part of the
society's existence—was in a great measure attained.
THUM )ERSTORM IN SUFFOLK.—The town of Laven-
ham was visited on Monday afternoon by one of the most
severe th understorms ever remembered. At the instant
of one mi ghty crash the electric fluid struck a dwelling-
house, for meily known as the Guildhall, in the market-
place, and after shattering one side of the chimney, it
descended to the roof, where it divided, and stripping off
a quantity of tiles on both sides of the house, one cur-
rent continued on the outside, shattering the frames of
two wind ows, and then went into the ground. The
other, apparently a much stronger current, appears to
have descended in a more directmauner, having wrenched
the casings of a doorway from their position ; the door-
post, a piece of solid oak, was divided from top to bot-
tom, and the piece thrown int,, the passage, through
which the wife of the occupier, J. Hanson, was passing,
when she was violently whirled about, and thrown down
by the concussion, but we are happy to say not much
injured. The rain and hail, of enormous size, poured
down in torrents, tearing up the roai.s in some places a
foot deep.

Barn-sir EXPEDITIO _V TO ILIALLAGHEA.

-
(From the New Era of May 215, a Siep?a, Leone paper.)

•
The usual quiet of our town was converted into a
scone of consternajon and awe, on Thursday mornin,z,
by the arrii,-al of her Majesty's steamer Teaz-ir from the
expedition to Mallaghea, sent by the Acting Governor
un Monday evening last fur the enforcement of payment
by Samba Mimah Lahi, tae chief of that country, of
certain indemnities to our merchants in that river, for
losses sustained by them through that chief in the latter
part of last year.

- The Teazer had scarcely anchored when the appalling
and melancholy intelligence spread like wild-fire through
every part of the town that iu the attempt of our
troop: to complete the destruction of the town of
Mallaghea on Wednesday (which had been partially
effected on the previous day) they were surprised by
thousands of the natives, overpowered, and driven from
the shore, with the loss of 73 men of the Ist and 3d
West India Regiments (of 150 rank and file sent on the
expedition) in killed, missing, and wounded, with 11
others also wounded, who had succeeded in getting off
to the ship ; one naval officer killed (Acting Paymaster
Andrews), of the Teazer ; Lieut. Wylie, killed ; two
seamen missing, one naval officer and three men wounded;
Commander Nicholas, also severely wounded in both
legs ; Lieut. Vincent, 2d West India Regiinent, se-
verely wounded ; Lieut. Dillet, of the Sierra Leone
Militia, wounded in the back of the head and leg (but
fortunately not seriously); and Mr. Firth, Deputy-As-
sistant Commissary-General, taken prisoner.
The circumstances attending this distressing occur-
rence are from first to last, as far as we have been able
to ascertain (and we believe the statement of our inform-
ant may be relied on), as follows

Some days after the departure of Governor Kennedy
from this Government, the Acting Governor received a
letter from the chief of the Morea country, and from
King Stephen, of Wonkafong, complaining that two of
their canoes (loaded with slaves) had been seized in the
Sherbro country by the British Consul, and some
of their people killed there, and demanding the sur-
render of a number of people (also slaves), which
they stated had been carried away by us from the
Island of Mattacong. No satisfaction could be given for
the capture of the slaves, inasmuch as the Sherbro treaty
with this government empowers us to seize all canoes
found with slaves on board. The surrender of Mamodoo
Yelle, a Foulah, who had fled to this country, was also
demanded by these chiefs ; who stated that if he was not
given up, the King of Foulah would immediately close
the roads. This demand was also refused, as we have
no treaty to deliver up Foulahs to the Soosoc I even for
offences committed in the latter country. The chiefs,
dissatisfied with the refusal of this Government to accede
to their demands, peremptorily ordered the British and
French traders to leave the rivers within ten days, after
which period they (the chiefs) would not be responsible
for the safety of their goods. Notice o`f this having been
given by our traders to this government, they were in-
structed to adopt such measures for the removal of their
property as their own minds would suggest, in the
event of pacific measures failing ; and her Majesty's
steamer Prometheus arriving at th same time, it was
deemed advisable to send an armed expedition to enforce
our treaties for the protection of our commerce in the
rivers ; and her Majesty's vessels Dover and Britomart
haying also arrived, with the Gambia contingent in the
Cape Coast war, a formidable force being in the colony,
a requisition was made to the Government to send these
vessels to the Mallaghea, in compliance with which up-
wards of 450 rank and file of the 3d West India Regi-
ment, under the command of Captain Rookes, of the 2d
West India Regiment, embarked on board the above
vessels—the squadron being under the command of
Captain Heseltine. This expedition left this on the 28th
November of last year ; and having arrived and landed
at Maliaghea, Baenba Mimah Eaha, the chief of that
place, proposed that an amicable arrangement should be
entered into with this Government ; and an indemnifica-
tion for the losses of the traders, sustained by the re-
moval of their goods, was the sole infliction imposed.
The indemnification amounted to 1,030 dole., arid was to
be paid by the Middle of March last. The time having
elapsed, and the promised payment rkot being forthcoming,
the Acting Governor deemed it advisable to make
some inquiries respecting it. Mr. Dillet, his Excel-
lency's private secretary, was thereupon directed to pro-
ceed to the river for that purpose, and in case of failure
of payment to intimate to the chief that the next visit
would be a hostile one.

. Mr. Dillet left on the morning of the 19th inst., in her
Majesty's steamer Teazer, whiCh had a few days before
arrived from England, and returned on the 21st, failing
to carry out his mission ; the chief offering to coral ro-
mise the matter for 300 dollars. On the issue of Mr.
Dillet's mission being made known to his Excellency the
Acting Governor, the Tenzer was directed to return to
Mallaghea the same evening, with 150 rank and file of
the Ist and 3d West India Regiments ; and Captain
Nicholas, of the Teazer, Captain Fletcher, commanding
the troops, and Mr. Dillet, as commissioners, on behalf
of the Government, to demand, and, if necessary, enforce
_payment.' On their arrival at Mallaghea a rocket and
shell were thrown over the town, when it was observed
from the mast-head that a white flag was hoisted on
the chiefs flag-staff, it being understood at the
previous visit that this signal would show their willine'a
ness to continue friendship ; but, as it afterwards turned
but, it was an intimation to the people to quit the town.
The commissioners, on observing the signal, landed un-
der an escort of the troops, and having met several per-
sons on the wharf, they desired them to acquaint the
chief that they were prepared to treat with him on their
mission. Some time having elapsed, other messengers
were despatched upon the same errand. In the mean-
time the chief's prime minister, Momodoo Touray, came
down to the wharf. He was informed that if the chief
did not make his appearance in half an hour fire would
be opened upon the town. At the expiration of that
period, the chief not appearing, the flag of truce which
had been hoisted on board the Teazer was hauled down,
and Momodoo Touray seized as a prisoner of war. The
ship immediately opened fire upon the town ; the Mosque
was in flames, and the fire appeared to extend over the
greatest part of the town ; the troops were safely em-
barked, having had five men wounded.
It was then resolved to proceed to the mouth of the
river and return the following morning. On returning
the next day a portion of the town still appeared stand-
iug, when it was determined to land the troops and fire
the remainder. A man was sent to the masthead to look
out, who reported no sign of the natives in the town, but
a considerable number at a distance. An advanced guard
having been selected, consisting of 40 persons, under the
command of Lieut. Vincent—Commander Nicholas and
Mr. Dillett volunteering to accompany it—they pro-
ceeded into the town. They had not gone far into the
ruins, when a murderous fire opened upon them, by a
numerous and formidable enemy there concealed, Mr.
Dillett was wounded, at the first discharge in the head
and leg. The main body soon came up to the support
of the leading party, when a smart retiring fire was kept
up with the enemy till our troops had reached the wharf,
where under cover of the ship's guns, they had partly
succeeded in embarking ; but the pinnace, with a number
of men ; on pushing off from the wharf, is said to
have been struck by a bullet' and filling with water,
the men, from alarm, capsized her. A flag of truce was
immediately hoisted from the ship ; but the men were
barbarously shot at in the water by the enemy on the
shore. Lieut. Wylie was among this party, but is sup-
posed to have been drowned. Several of those who had
been capsized fortunately escaped the deadly fire of the
natives on the shore, and swam safely to the ship. To
the above melancholy disaster the severe loss of our
troops is said to he principally attributed.
Of the advanced party but five returned to the ship.
Commander Nicholas, Lieut. Vincent, and Mr. Dillet,
all wounded ; and two soldiers, severely wounded in the
head; Acting Paymaster Andrews, who had also volun-
teered, having been killed among the others of the party.
Sergeant Scanland, an Irishman, and formerly of one
of the Irish regiments, who was also shot, while leading
his company, is said to have behaved nobly, and died
beckoning his men on co their duty. The men also be-
haved well, and were with some difficulty induced to
obey the sound for the retreat.

The officers present in the skirmish were Capt. Flet-
cher commanding ; Lieuts. Icier and Beazley, 3d W. I.
Regt. • Lieuts. Strachan and Wylie, Ist W.l.Regt.; and
Lieut Vincent, 2d W. I. Regt.; and Staff Surgeons Mar-
chant and R.adshaw. •

Momodoo Touray was set at liberty, on his promise to
obtain the release of our prisoners, and their being sent
to Bintey ; where the Assistant Surgeon of the Teazer
was left to treat the wounded on their arrival.

The Teazer left Mallaghea on Wednesday evening,
and arrived here on the following morning ; and on the
same evening wasdespatched again to Mallaghea, it is
supposed, for exchange of prisoners.
We have been told that a native of the Gambia, who
is here, direct from Mallaghea, reports that subsequent
to the departure of H.M.S. Teazer, the natives searched
for the corpses of our soldiers, and that only 15 were
fUund. They had seven prisoners, with Mr. Firth, and
he had not been injured. This statement, if correct, may
lead to the supposition that a large number of missing
soldiers must have met a watery grave, or been swept in-
to the river by the tide, after having been killed. This
party also reports that the number of natives killed is
awful, and exceeds 400. He attributes this severe loss
to. a shell, which fell among a number of head warriors
and elders, assembled in a council of war in the town, by
which they were all killed ; and a great number also
killed in a small hamlet, where ammunition was kept,
behind Mallaghea, from an explosion of gunpowder,
caused by a person trying his gun, the flash from the
pan of which caught his powder flask, and was commu-
nicated to a number of barrels of powder, by which the
whole of the town, with the people in it, was destroyed.

The alarm is said to be very great among the natives
of Mallaghea ; Dambah Miniah Lahi had sent an express
t,) King Stephen, of the Soombras, that. "the white
man done kill all his people ;" and craving his assist-
ance. This message is said to hate been delivered in
the presence of a resident here, who came overland, and
arrived here last evening.

FURTHER PARTICULARS FROM MAL-
LAGHEA.
(Front the New Era of June 9.)
The Teazer returned to this on Thursday evening,
from the rivers, whither she conveyed, as stated in our
last number, J. Mallard, Esq., and a native of the in-
terior, for the purpose of effecting an adjustment of the
unfortunate difference with this colony ; which we are
happy to say has to some extent been successful, Mr.
Mallard having, we have been informed, obtained from
the chief, the requirements laid down by the Executive.
The rivets, we are told, have been declared open to the
free intercourse of English and French traders—the pay-
ment of the money has been promised in instalments ;
and two prisoners, with nine guns, and a soldier's coat,
delivered up. There is now E c•trcely a doubt that
Mr. Firth was murdered, and subseque fitly decapi-
tated and scalped, his, hair being distributed among the
head people for'grisgrs. With respect to the other white