The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-01 00:00:00

THE SUNS LONDON, THURSDAY EvENlNtis NOVEMBER 1 1855

I political capital for himself and the party to which
Ihe belongs by pandering to and inflaming the
worst passions of the most ignorant portion of the
multitude, by offering a very gratuitous, wanton,
and wholly unjustifiable insult to the Govern-
ment of a nation with which his Government
was at peace. There might possibly have been a
more sordid and despicable reason, for the agents
of Russia are active on the other side of the
Atlantic, and its gold is profusely lavished for any
object that may create a diversion in its favour.
In whatever aspect we view the transaction, it is
equally repugnant to honourable, straightforward,
and manly feeling--(we shall not say gentlemanly,
for of that Mr. CALEB CUSHING is clearly incapable
of judging and proves that Mr. CALEB CUSHING
is totally disqualified for the situation into which
he has been foisted, and if his conduct be not re-
pudiated by the Government, that others are also
amenable to censure that may not conduce to
their advantage in the forthcoming elections. We
would gladly leave these matters to the force of
public opinion in the United States, which will, we
believe, be correctly formed and honestly expressed.
We do not doubt the result of that judgment.
But as there has been a gross insult to the British
Government, and the Consuls of the United
Kingdom in America—as the false, malicious,
and scandalous libel has been most unwarrantably
and improperly circulated, without any pretext of
privilege to excuse its publication—we think it
incumbent on our Government to request ex-
planations, and to require the dismissal of
Mr. CALEB CITSHING from the post for
which he is so clearly disqualified, and
for the retention whereof he has made so
reckless a bidding. What might be the conse-
quence if such a man could be elevated to a high
judicial station, to which he might possibly aspire
if his gross misconduct should remain unnoticed
and uncensured ?

The resolution arrived at by the United States,
and duly notified to the Danish Government, by
that Power, will, it is sincerely to be desired, be
the means of putting a stop to the levying of an
exorbitant and injurious impost, and that without
any hostile collision.

Such of cur readers as are acquainted with the
nature and history of these dues will not require
to be told that they are levied by the Crown of
Denmark on the ships and cargoes passing the
straits of the Sound, and the Great and Little
Belts, and have long been regarded and designated
by all writers on the laws of nations as a gross
and unwarranted imposition. To give the reader
a notion of their extent, we find from the statisti-
cal tables furnished by the Danish Government,
that the annual average receipts of Sound Dues
on merchandise amount to 2,103,500 rix dollars,
and on ships to 284,089 rix dollars, the dues on
ships, including the charge for lighthouses, &c.
In consequence of the strong remonstrances ad-
dressed to the Danish Government on the subject,
a revision of the dues was negotiated between
Denmark, England, and Sweden at the commence-
ment of the reign of CHRISTIAN VIII., the prede-
cessor of the present King ; and that not proving
satisfactory, a further revision, which has not
been carried into effect, was subsequenVy pro-
mised.

The American Government concluded a friendly
convention of commerce and navigation with Den-
mark on the 26th April, 1826, which it is asserted
contains a formal recognition of the right of Dan-
mark to levy these dues. Experience and consi-
deration, however, soon led the American Govern-
ment, with that sense of justice which it has
always displayed towards its commerce, to protest
against what, instead of a right, it discovered
to be an unwarrantable exaction ; and the term
of the above Treaty coming to an end on the 14th
April, 1856, it has in effect given notice of
its intention to pay no more Sound dues after
that period. In this emergency, knowing, as
the Danish Government does, that the American
Government is not to be trifled with, but when
in an affair of this sort it says it will adopt a cer-
tain course of action under given circumstances,
it is pretty certain to do so, takes the matter into
consideration—the result of its deliberations being
that no other eligible course is left to it but to
offer to discontinue the exaction of any further dues
from any nation on compensation being paid for
the contemplated cession ; while to facilitate
matters, a scheme of compensation has been drawn
up and presented to the various courts by the
Danish Government, in connection with its pro-
posal on the subject. Calculating the average
receipts as above, viz., on merchandise at
2,103,500 rix dollars, it proposes to capitalise
that amount at 5 per cent. (!), or twenty years' pur-
chase, which would produce 42,070,000 rix dol-
lars, or about 6,000,0001. Of this sum Russia
is expected to pay 29 per cent., 'or 12,363,000
rix dollars ; Great Britain the same amount, or
1,770,000/. ; Prussia, 12 per cent., or 5,163,000
rix dollars ; France, 3 per cent., or 1,513,000
rix dollars ; Norway, 505,000 rix dollars ; Ham-
burg and Bremen, 403,000 rix dollars ; Belgium,
383,000 rix dollars ; Holland, 1,500,000 rix
.lollars ; Mecklenburg, 302,000 rix dollars, &c.
In like manner the average receipts of the
Sound Dues on ships amount to 284,089 rix
dollars, which, capitalised in the same ratio, would
produce the sum of 5,681,780 rix dollais, or
312,000/. To this Great Britain would have to
contribute 1,409,860 rix dollars, or 200,0001. ;
Prussia, 867,780 rix dollars; Norway, 745,640
rix dollars ; Holland, 576,000 rix dollars ;
Sweden, 483,820 rix dollars ; Russia, 321,000
rix dollars ; Mecklenburg, 309,680 rix dollars ;
France, 101,160 rix dollars ; the United States,
34,530 rix dollars, Sta.

To this preposterous proposal it is by no means
likely that the American Government
will accede,
tud common sense indicates that it would be
nad if it
.did. How the proposal may be re-
ceived elsewhere of course we are unable to say,
knowing what we do of the fatuity of European
Governments in commercial matters. But this
we must say : Lord PALaIPRSTON will fail in his
duty to the commercial interests of the country ii
he does not take advantage of the opportunity now
offered to liberate our commercial marine
from so galling a yoke. The attitude of
the American Government in this case
eannot be found fault with, being warranted
by justice, and it is to be desired that a commu-
nity of interests may lead to a good feeling be-
tween the two Governments, and a community of
resolute but peaceful action. We oxe nothing to
Denmark, and are too much committed to Free
rrado to take up her unrighteous cause. The
lut
y,in short, lying b fore us is to see that such
treaty is negotiated as will
'::
put a stop to the
exaction of all dues on merchandise, and to so
much of the dues on ships passino. the Sound as is
riotrequired
the maintenance of lighthouses
and other facilitiesor ifor trafde on the shores of the
f
Baltic.

Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Albert sent ppeeial
messengers yesterday morning to make inquiries with
regard t') the health of the Bishop of London. The
following bulletin was issued :—" The bishop hal bad a
izood night, and is going on more eatillautorily. Fulluval
Palace, Oct, 31, 1855.9-

G~: ._ .......

STANFORD'S NEW WAR MAP.

Another war map, but just issued from the
press, illustrates anew the prompt enteprise of
Mr. Stanford, of Charing Cross—one of the most
exact and rapid of our publishing geographers. It
is engraved upon the ample scale of seven miles to
an inch, and pourtrays the various roads, drc., be-
tween Odessa, Nikolaieff, Perekop, Simferopol, and
Sebastopol. Like so many of its predecessors from
the same establishment, it has been compiled from
Russian maps in the possession of the Royal Geo-
graphical Society, aided by Admiralty charts and
other authentic documents. So that the infor-
mation conveyed through its medium may
be relied upon with considerable, if not
implicit confidence. Within the space, which
would otherwise have been a mere eyesore, left only
a vacuity representing the waters of the Euxine,
have been inserted two smaller engraving, one be-
ing a plan of Odessa, and the other one of Niko-
laieff. Odessa girdled—inland by its boulevards,
—seawards iv the quays, extending from the
northern to the southern ports, otherwise known
as the Imperial and Quarantine. Nikolaieff is
almost insulated by the circumambient waters of
the Boug and the Ingul. A glance at this map
traverses the 190 miles from Odessa to Sebastopol,
or the 230 from the latter place to Nikolaieff—dis-
tances embracing the limits of the chief among our
present warlike operations.

be obtained, all who know the Greek character, or
want of character, cannot for a moment doubt.
While intelligence is hourly looked for from
Odessa, Kiubourn, and the waters nearer Nico-
laieff, while the daily artillery practice across the
harbour of Sebastopol " drags its slow length
along" while Eupatoria has been so reinforced
that Gortschakoff trembles, as his despatches
prove, for his flank and rear ; there is little fcr
any of us here to criticise but paragraphs in
" General Orders," about huts, and warm cloth-
ing, and stables, and sick leave, and to wonder
whether on the Tchernaya Sir Colin Campbell
can by hook or by crook manage to catch the Rus-
sians napping, ere the British cavalry be withdrawn
—as they soon will be—to Scutari for the winter.
I believe [ have not yet mentioned that on Satur-
day, the 13th of October inst., an order was given
to the Highland Division at Kamara to be ready
at a moment's notice to embark for Eupatoria, but
during the present week that order has been coun-
termanded. Even yet, however, the Highlanders
may be started off for that place, which would not
please them altogether, as they have just been
engaged in getting up huts, clearing the ground,
and making all snug for the approaching cold
weather. All the Highland Hospital in front of
Sebastopol has been broken up, and Dr. Linton
gone to take charge at the General Hospital at
Scutari, and it is rumoured he may succeed Dr.
Cuining as Inspector-General.
This night week a groat blaze was observed from
the heights of Balaklava, as of a town on fire,
illuminating the sky towards Bakshi-Serai and
Simpheropol, and constant flashings were seen as
of explosions ; it is thought one of those places
may have been accidentally fired. Some sanguine
persons calculate the Muscovites are really about
to retreat beyond Perekop.
At the time of posting this, we can hear no firing
from Sebastopol on the north side. No one, either
French or English, can now enter the place with-
out a written order from head quarter', and there
is yet considerable danger in passing along the
streets of the " august city."

KAZITCH HARBOUR, Oct. 20, Afternoon.
P.S.—I send you a mere lino or two to state
the news circulated here, and only just before the
mail leaves, by some officers of French men of
war, arrived an hour ago in port from Eupatoria
and " elsewhere." The combined fleet have sent
part of their force—drawing little water—into
the Boug or Nicolaieff river, and blown up oue
fort, the astonished Russians destroying another
themselves, and losing about 1,600 prisoners.
These officers add that about 700 of the allies
are hors de combat, and that Admiral Lyons has
put up his helm for another exploit. Early
yesterday morning (Friday) cavalry, infantry, and
artillery—says a letter this instant received—again
moved upon the Tchernaya, where the Russians
have certainly received orders to attack imme-
diately. Another officer tells me, troops are to-day
moving rapidly from all points of the allied camp
upon the Tchernaya, and I have myself received a
note, urging me to " mount in hot haste " and to
rendezvous at Kamara,. I a:n therefore off, re-
turning to Kazatch Bay to join, or not to join, a
man-of-war steamer, according to promised intel-
ligence, which must put me on the right scent
either for a military or naval action.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.—It would be well for ship-
owners to direct their masters on visiting Kamiesch
to make their numbers by Marryat a mile outside
before they enter this crowded port. Once iu, it
is difficult to see signals.
THE CAPTURE OF KINBURN.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATTACK.
(From, the Times Correspondent.)

MONDAY, Oct. 15.

Last night the Valorous, Captain Buckle, with Rear-
Admiral Sr 11. Stewart on board, and several French
and EngHsi', Ereed the passage between Oczakoff and
Kinburn Spit, and got into Cherson or Dnieper Bay.
I could only sea five gun-boats, three French and two
English, this morning, but I was assured the Valorous
wa3 in also.

The troops were landed without the smallest opposi-
tion, or even the appearance of an enemy, about four
miles below the fort, the 17th Regiment being the first
to land, and the French being for a wonder behind us.
The mortar and gun-boats bombarded the forts for three
hours, but did not produce any apparent impression.
The weather was fine, and the troops set to work en-
trenching themselves on the sandy spit ; only a few Cos-
sacks were visible towards Chevson. The wind rose and
sent a surf on the beach towards evening and suspended
operations.

TUESDAY Oct. 16.
This morning a few French troopers, who were out
patroliing in front of our lines on the plain towards Cher-
son, came upon a Cossack picket, hid in some brush-
wood charged them at once with great gallantry and
killed two and took two prisoners out of the party, which
oonsisisted of 8 men, and since the occurrence the Cos-
sacks are not visible in front. The breeze is still strong
on the land. It was too windy to open fire from
bombs or gun-boats, and we had scarcely a shot
fired on either side till Into in the afternoon, when
a steamer, with an Admiral's flag at the mizen,
and supposed to be the Valorous, with Sir Edmund
Lyons or Sir Houston Stewart on board, seemed to leave
the fleet, and to force the passage, amid a good deal of
firing, hut we are so far to the southward, and the day
was so hazy, that it was impossible to make out what
took place. Tice steamer now apparently lies very
near the fort, and there is a French steamer
of great size close to her. These steamers, aided by
two or three of the gun-boat., began a fire at 3 p.m.,
which continued till 3.35 p.m., at the rate of a couple
of guns in the minute, and which was returned by the
Russians, but no apparent effect was produced by either
side, and the Russian shells, as usual, burst high in the
air long ore their flight was completed,

green lights in the same direction, as guides for the fleet
on passkg through during the night. The vessel at A.
(Va!oro.,s) to show lights vertical over the side, screened
from N.W. round by E. to S., and seen to the W,
only. The four gunboats, Clinker, Cracker, Grinder,
and Far cy, accompanied by four French gunboats of
shallow draught of water, will proceed, after the former
vessele have anchored to the rendezvous, at 8 p.m.,
near the Valorous anchored at A. The four English
gun-boats to he provided with buoys (whit,). The ves-
sel at No. 2 A to provide two hoats that are to be
despatched and anchored upon tie S W. extremity of
Oczakoff Bank, in four fathoms, to be a guide by show-
ing lights for the French gun-boats, to or mmence buoy-
ing the edge of that bank with black buoys. Toe two
bolts on their return to Val ,rows to place a white buoy
on end of Kinburn Spit, in five fathoms water.
The Spitfire, assisted by tie boats of the Dauntless,
at B, will mark the edge of the bank—ere landing—
west of Kiuburn, with small white flags placsd in five
fathoms.

N B All white huays are to lie on the south side of
the channel, and black buoys mark the north edge of it,
and are consequently to be left on the port hand in pass-
ing to eastward."

OPENING OF THE FIRE.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17, 5 P.M.
Kiaburn has fallen after a shoit but most desperate
defence on the part of its Governor, and Saranoviteh
will no doubt be esteemed by true Muscovites as
a worthy successor and rival of Rostopchin. The
resitance of the fort was hopeless. I have just
seen the garrison march out with some of the honours
of war, their church plate, pictures, and religious
relics, the officers with their swords, the men with
their belts and provisions ; but it is forbidden to
enter the precincts of the shattered fortress, which is
still covered with a canopy of black smoke, as the Go-
vern,r land a few desperate men are grimly watching
till the troops come into fire the mine and involve all in
a common ruin. He has not surrendered, but he has
been abandoned by his garrison, who did not desire
the honours of such martyrdom as a few hours' further
resistance would have certainly insured.

Early this morning the Russians perceived that
the French had crept up during the night to the
ruined village, and were busily engaged in making
their first parallel, under corer of the houses,
at about 700 or 650 yards from the place, where-
upon they opened a brisk fire upon them from the
guns en barbette on the eastern curtain ; and were
answered by two Frenoh field-pieces from the screen
of a broken wall: It was a dull gray dawn, with a
wind off the shore, and the sea was quite calm. The
fleet was perfectly still, but the mortar vessels, float-
ing batteries, and gun-boats were gett:ng, up steam,
and ere nine o'clock they were seen leaving the rest of
the a rmada and taking up their position on the south
side of the fort ; the three floating batteries being
close in with the casemates, and the mortar vessels
and gun-boats being further away and more to the east-
ward, so as to attack the angle of the fort, and fight the
guns which were on the curtains en barbette. The float-
ing-batteries opened with a magnificent crash, at 9.30
a in., and one in particular distinguished itself through-
out for the regularity, precision, and weight of its fire
throughout the day. The enemy replied with alacrity,
and the batteries must have been put t i a severe test, for
the water was splashed in pillars by shot all over them.
At 10.10 the bombs opened fire. At 11 10 a fire broke
out in the long barrack, and speedily spread from end to
end of the fort, driving the artillerymen from their guns
while small explosions of supply aatinuniti.in took place
inside.

At 11.15 the Russian Jauk was shot away, and
was nut replaced ; the firing became tremendous.
Admiral Stewart, in the Valorous, and the French
Admiral (second in command), in the A.-onodee, fol-
lowed by eleven steamers, came round the Salt Battery
into Cherson Bay, delivering broad-ide and engaging
the batteries as they pas.,ed, and they were preceded
by the Hannibal, which ripped up Kinhurn with her
hue:deities. The fire raged more furiously, fed by con-
stant bombs and rockets, and at 12.35 a fresh fire burst
out in the fort. At the same time the Va'urous, Asrno-
dee, and steam frigates opened broadsides on the fort,
and the nine line-of battle ships come in magnificent
style, aid take -ep their position at the seaward face of
the f already seriously damaged by the tremendous
fire of the floating batteries, gun-beats, and mortar-
vessels. The stern of shot from thi, great ordnance
is appalling. The very earth seems fly ing into dust,
and the fiery embers of the fort are thrown into columns
of sparks by the shot. Still the Russians stand to the
only guns they have left. The broadsides increase in
vigour, and atOast a white flag is waved by a single man
from the rampart. Boats with flags of truce push off, and
they learn that the garrison is willing to surrender. At
2 p.m, the firing ceases, and 1,100 men march into our
lines, several of them quite drunk, carrying off food and
drink, and the officers hearing their side arms. The
garrison consisted of the 29th Regiment, and of TOO
Artillerymen. 200 are said to be killed, and 400 or 500
wounded ; but admittance to the town is denied by the
French, as it is said the Governor is in the powder ma-
gazine inflamed to madness, and watching the chance of
the victors entering to fire the mine, which is well stored
with powder. We shall know more to-morrow. Oczakoff
is deserted, but the fort is not destroyed. The gun-boats
are well advanced towards the mouth of the Boug, and
are now engaged sounding under firs from the shore.
There was a reconnaissance this morning, but we saw
nothing of the enemy.

RUSSIA.
A supplement of the .I‘alide Busse, of the 21st
of October, publisLes a continuation of the series
of telegraphic despatches forwarded from Nicolaieff
to St. Petersburg, by order of the Emperor :
" Nicolaieff, Oct. 21, 5.5 p.m.
"Up to noon to-day the main body of the
enemy's forces continued in the same position.
The detachment moored at the mouth of the Boug
is not so strong as it was yesterday, consisting of 5
steamers, 3 g,un-boats, and 4 mortar-boats. In
Oczakow Roads there are 9 steamers, 5 steam-tugs,
and 8 transports at anchor.

" We had no losses yesterday during the can-
nonade of yesterday at Volosch-liaia Point.
"At half-past one, a steamer, a gun-boat, and
three mortar-boats moored at the mouth of the
Boug, weighed anchor, and came up the river. On
their arrival at the same point as yesterday, at
half-past two, they again opened fire on our bat-
tery. After a short cannonade, on both sides, they
returned down the river. _ _ _

" The vessels that entered the mouths of the
Dnieper yesterday returned to the mouth of the
Bono-, after taking a few soundings ; but two gun-
boats again entered the former river to-day.
" Oat. 21, 5.15 p.m.

" In order to know the fate of the garrison of
Kinbourn a flag of truce was sent from Ockzakow on
the 18th. We have received in reply a report from
General Kokhanovitch, the commandant of the
place, now a prisoner of war, from which it ap-
pears that after two days' bombardment, all the
guns in the fortress being dismounted, the ram-
parts destroyed, and the buildings in flames, there
was no possibility of continuing the defence, nor of
offering a resistance to an assault on the ruined
fortifications.

" The enemy having approached to within a dis-
tance of 400 sagenes sagene is seven feet) with
all his fleet, sent a flag of truce to demand the ca-
pitulation of the fortress. The commandant having
no means of replying to the enemy's fire, felt him-
self compelled, with the object of saving his men,
to accept the proffered conditions; according to
which the garrison surrendered as prisoners with
all the honours of war, the officers retaining their
swords.

" Our loss in men during the bombardment of
Kinbourn was not considerable. The exact number
of killed is not known, but there are 61 wounded
among the prisoners. Yesterday the troops landed
by the enemy left their camp, and entered the
town of Kinbourn."

A telegraphic despatch sent from Nicholaieff to
St. Petersburg, at noon on the 22d of October, by
order of the Emperor, states that up to 4 p.m. of
the 22d there had been no change in the position
of the allied squadron.