The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-07 00:00:00

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gain that a late engagement i 4 11l tci :_I ‘ea& eteiseet6fa
that pert of the world ie the Itie of thalmodsonie an
flattering reception which I *Ai, let.-, with:llls 'day.
But, coupled with that, there areiather feeling which
press on my mind—among others, tha-recellectidgof the
sad and disastrous loss that occurred on that fatal day,
and the number of bravo officers and soldiers whose lives
were then unfortunately sacrificed. (Hear, hear.) I
have further to remember that it is very difficult to soy
anything connected with the war which is now waging
in the Crimea without touching inadvertently upon some
of those subjects which now so much engross the publics
attention, and which are also under the full considera-
tion of both Houses of Parliament ; and I think, there-
fore, that you must clearly see that it would byno means
be fitting or proper for me, in the situation which I hold
—that of a high staff position in the army—to enter into
that question on this occasion. (Hear.) My Lord Marrs
my services in the Crimea having been alluded to by you,
perhaps I may lee allowed to inform you how I have been
employed since I was sent out to the east. (Hear, heave)
It was my good fortune, when in Turkey, in the 6r't
in a ince, to be sent forward by the Commander of
the Forces towards the enemy's outposts with the light
cava'ry. It was not well known where the. Russians
were at the time the siege of Silistria was proceeding.
I was, therefore, erdered to ascertain the position of
their army and its outposts. I had to patrol the whole
of the country by means of detachments of the troops
under my command. Shortly after this, very early in
the morning one day, I received from head-quarters a
very peremptcry order, which was by no means misses
tisfactory to me, that I should immediately proceed
with a strong body of cavalry to discover what had be-
come of the Russian army ; for the siege of Silistria had
then been raised, and the 4ritish Commander-in-Chief
was totally ignorant whether the Bussians were about
to proceed towards Varna to attack our position, or in-
tended to retreat towards their own country. You eau
easilyimagine that this was rather art anxious undertake
ing, and one that required the exercise of considerable
caution on my part. We might have come at any momeull
upon the Russian army—upon the Russian outposts. Ws
travelled over the country, which I may call a perfectly
wild desert, for a distance of nearly 300 miles. My ordab
were to proceed 130 miles as far as Trojan's Wall, on the
confines of the Dobrudscha. We did so, and marched 120
miles without ever seeing a human being. There was not
a single house in a state of repair or that was inhabited
along all this route, nor was there an animal to be seen
except those that exist in the wildest regions. Having
ascertained that the Russian army had returned
by Babadagh, and given information to the Com-
mander-in-Chief upon that subject, I then proceeded on
a very interesting march, patrolling along the banks of
the Danube to Rustchuk and Silistria, and returned
thence by that great fortress Schumla, which has been
often attacked, but never taken— it being, in fast, as I
believe, perfectly impregnable. (Hear.) After our return
from these quarters to Varna, then came the order to
proceed to the Crimea ; and here I must say that that
expedition was a noble undertaking, and had in view an
object worthy of the ambition of two great nations.
(Cheers.) On our first landing in the Crimea, I was em-
ployed within two hours afterwards, with a strong body
of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, in endeavouring to cut
off some Russian cavalry, which were supposed to be
marching towards Simpheropole lam sorry to say that
I did not succeed in this task, for I never could find the
Russians. (Laughter.) A few days afterwards came that
glorious affair, the battle of the Alma ; and here I must
say, that, according to my humble judgment, nothing
could ho so perfect as the preparations which were made
by a great army for that attack. The columns of our in-
fantry, which had marched in perfect order for the attache
instantly deployed into three lines, and advanced straight
down tho hill, crossingand fording the river, then ascended
the hill on the opposite bank, and marching straight into
forts and batteries which appeared to be impregnable, they
drove out at the point of the bayonet a Russian army of
45,000 men in the short space of two hours and a half.
The arm of the force in which I served had not the honour
of being engaged in ane tbing important on that occa-
sion. We cat upon our horses under a heavy fire for a
long "period, and in that position we witnessed the
glorious exploits cf our brother coldiers. Shortly after
this was fought the Battle of Balaklava, and unfortu-
nately our allies, the Turks, abandoned their position in
' a very short time, without maintaining any contact with
the enemy. It was late in the afternoon when I received
an order to attack the Russian forces posted in the
valley, which consisted of a long lino of guns drawn up
in the form of batteries. I received that order, my.
Lord Mayor, and I obeyed it. (Loud cheers.) I de-
livered that order myself to the brigade under my com-
mand. I ordered them to march. I ordered them to
advance. I ordered them to attack the Russians in the
valley ; but, my Lord, I must say this, that on that
occasion, it being my duty to give the order to my
men, I did give it, though I deeply regretted it at the
time, and I am sure I should have much more deeply
regretted it afterwards if anything had prevented my per-
forming the rent of my duty, which was to share the
dangers that those brave men so boldly ficed. (Cheers.)
My lord, whatever danger those men incurred, I shared
it with them. (Renewed cheering.) We advanced down
a gradual descent of more than three-quarters of a mile
with the batteries vomiting forth upon us shells and shot,
mead and grape, with one battery on our right flank and
another on the left ; and all the intermediate ground
covered frith the Russian riflemen ; so that when we
came to within a distance of 50 yards from the mouths
of the artillery which had been hurling destruction upon
us, we were, in fact, surounded and encircled by a blase
of fire, in addition to the fire of the riflemen upon our
flanks. As we ascended the hill the oblique fir e of the
artillery poured upon our rear ; so that we had time
a strong fire upon our front, our flank, and our rear.
We entered the battery—we went through the bat-
tery—the two leading r4nients ' cutting down a greet
number of the Russian gunners in their onset. (Cheers.)
In the two regiments which I had the honour to lead
every officer, with one exception, was either killed or
wounded, or had his horse shot under him, or injured,
Those regiments proceeded, followed by the second line,
consisting of two more region 11:B of cavalry, which con-
tinued to perf.xin the duty of cutting down the Russian
tgouon un
rerb regiment,s
brigade.
hie:. 1 Then
elcnadmcae believev the
uert
endeavoured
tti
ortdh complete
this r,,
another'
brie,
:s formed:l :tiheevdedu toyf
success, and the result was that this body, composed of
withas s assigned
only about 670 men, succeeded in passion- throug the mass
of Russian cavalry of (as we have since' learned) 5,200 '
strong; and having broken through that mass, then went
according to our technical military expression " threes
about," and retired in the same manner, doing as snuck
execution in their course as they possibly could upon
the enemy's cavalry. Upon our returning up the hill
which we lad descended in the attack, we bad to
run the same gauntlet and to incur the same risk from
the flank fire of the Tiralleure as we had encountered
before. Numbers of our men were shot down—men
and horses were killed, and many of the soldiers who had
lost their horses were also shot down while endeavour-
ing to escape. But what my lord, was the feeling and
what the bearing of those brave men who returned to
the position. (Here the noble and gallant officer's voice
faifered, and he spoke with very evident emotion.) Of
each of these regiments (he continued) there returned
but a small detachment, two-thirds of the men engaged
having been destroyed ; and those who survived having
arrived at the summit of the hill, whence they had coin-
inenaed the attack but a short time before, could net
refrain from giving three ringing cheers of triumph and
rejoicing at the exploit which they themselves bad per-
formed —(cheers) —for they had ridden ever a formid-
able Russian battery and attacked a countless body of
Russian cavalry in the rear. My lord, I understand
it has been stated that the British cavalry are of a very
inferior description, and require a thorough reform ; that
they are badly officered, being commanded by gentlemen
of too high a rank in the country, and that they ought to
be better officered. I can only say that Ido not think
you will find any body of officers more careful of their
men than those officers who now exist, and perform
their duties better in the cava'ry regiments, or that
you will find any regiments in the world where there is
such a mutual attachment between officers and men, as
is the case in the British cavalry. The officers are
at all times perfectly ready to assist and to attend to
the comforts of their men. The men, likewise, are so
attached to their officers that, wherever those officers
lead them in the cause of honour and glory, there those
men are always sure to follow them. (Cheers.) In con-
clusion, my lord, I will only say that, in the minds
of those who escaped the dangers of that terrible attack
to which I have referred, there exist reflections of
which they cannot divest themselves. I think that every
man who was engaged in that disastrous affair at Bala-
klava, and who was fortunate enough to come out of it
alive, must feel that it was only by a merciful decree of
Almighty Providence that he escaped front the greatest
apparent certainty of death which could possibly be cone
ceived.(Lend cheers.) The noble earl (who was also
veryindistinctly heard) sat down by repeating his
acknowledgments for the honour that had been done
, him.

The health of the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress,
and the other customary civic toasts, then followed, after
which the company separated.

The Peruvian Government steam screw frigate Aptiri•
mae, 50 guns, which has been fitted out by Mr. Green,
in the East India Docks, and also the Tombez, steam
screw gun-boat, built for the same Government, were
hauled into the river yesterday morning, with an admi-
ral's pennant flying at the main, and will take their
departure for the Brazils in the course of to-day or to-
morrow.

TRADE OF THE PORT OF LONDON.—The several dock
companies of London lately resolved upon applying to
Parliament for a repeal of certain clauses in their acts of
incorporation, whereby they are prevented from making
charges for dock dues on lighters and other craft enter-
ing their docks. Inconsequence of this movement, the
Lancers, merchants, tiaders, and others interested in the
trade and port of London, have combined to oppose the
bills now before Parliament for repeahin, those exemptory
clauses, and a petition to the House of Commons is now
Mc:; ut-se of signature io the City praying their rojecti,T.
PRICE or Goal.—Tile quotation of gold at Faris Is
about at pvr (accurding, t ) the last tariff), %chid', at the
English' Mint price of 31. 17s. 101(1. per ounce fur stand•
and gold, gives an exchange of 25.17 ; and, the exchange
w Id is about 0•48 per ce.it. dearer in Pars than in Lon-
don.at Paris on London at short being 25.0 a,. it follows that
per mark, wLiell, at the EngliA 111111,t price of 31. 17e. .
By adNic..is from Hamburg the price of gold is 423
100. per ounce for standard gold, gives ait exchange of
13.4 ; and, the exchange at Hamburg on London at
short being 13.31, it follows that gold is 0.06 per cent.
dearer in Hamburg than in London. The:course of ex-
change at New York on London for bills at 60 days'
sight is 1081 per cent., and, the par of exchange between
England and America being 109 23-40 per cent., it fol-
lows that the exchange is nominally 0.83 per cent.
against England ;
bet, after making allowance for
charges of transport and difference of interest, the
present rate leaves no profit on the transmission of gold
either way between , wo countries.