The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-22 00:00:00

SCHAMYL AND HIS SON.

Within the last few weeks Schamyl has been rejoiced
by the return of his son, who, eleven years ago, when of
tender age, hail the misfortune to be taken prisoner by
the Russians. Since then Sohamyl had not heard of
the boy, and long ago gave bins up for lost. It appears,
however, that when he was captured the Russian gene-
ral, Prince Woronzoff, sent him to St. Petersburg,
where the late Emperor took a liking to the lad and Lad
him educated in the Military Academy.
It happened last year that Schamyl, in some sudden
surprise, took several Russian ladies prisoners, amongst
whom was the Princess Tscbarwaddy. They were con-
ducted to one of Schamyl's mountain fastnesses and con-
fined there as prisoners of war, but treated with the
respect and decorum due to their rank and sex. The
Governor-General of Tiflis sent a flag of truce to Scha-
myl to demand the release of the captured ladies, offer-
ing a large sum of money and the liberty of several Cir-
cassian ladies who had been made prisoners by the
Russians. But Schamyl replied that if his son were
alive, and the Russians would restore him, he would re-
lease all the lady captives. The Emperor Nicholas sent
for young Schamyl, gave him his liberty, and fitted him
out with the needful equipment to undertake the long
journey. The exchange took place in the end of January.
Young Schamyl, who, when at St. Petersburg, was not
required to abjure the Moslem creed, has profited by
his involuntary sejoer at the Russian capital, and has
now returned to his overjoyed father an accomplished
cavalier, with a comparatively civilised education. It is
said that he entertains great gratitude to the Emperor
for his personal treatment, and it is not impossible that
his return to his native mountains may have an effect on
the future mode of Circassian warfare, and the introduc-
tion of more civilised manners and customs generally
amongst his countrymen.
The following was related by one of the Prus-
sian officers of the 6th Cuirassiers (Emperor of Russia),
who were sent in the year 1842 to St. Petersburg as a
deputation from the regiment to congratulate the Czar
on his having been five-and-twenty years colonel of that
corps. Nicholas, who received the officers with marked
distinction, took them in propia persona to inspect his
different military establishments, and amongst others to
the School for Cadets, where all the lads were drawn up
in the long hall. Tho Emperor, closely followed by the
Prussian officers, walked down the line when he sud-
denly stopped before one of the youngest cadets, patted
his cheeks with both hands, and then lifting him up
kissed bins most affectionately. Then, turning to the
Prussians, he said, "Gentlemen, you will never guess
who this lad is. Ho is the son of my most bitter enemy,
the Circassian chieftain Schamyl, who has placed ;I
under my care for his education !"

A. SLEEPY COMMONER.—After the body cf the House
was cleared on Tuesday evening, some amusement was
caused to the tellers and doorkeepers by the discovery
of a member asleep in the gallery. The Earl of Mul-
grave called from the floor of the house, "Ili ! wake up!"
but without effect, the hon. member's slumbers were too
profound to belightly disturbed; and be was only brought
to a sense of his undignified position by a gentle shake
on the shoulder from one of the doorkeepers. The hon.
gentleman, at once appreciating the situation, jumped
up, and hastily quitted the gallery. We are unable to
state how he voted, or whether he submitted himself to
that ordeal.