The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-30 00:00:00

THE RUSSIANS IN THE CRIMEA.

Without falling into the fond error of underrat-
ing a newly-defeated adversary one may entertain
the conviction that after all that we have lately
heard of the efficiency of the Russian army in the
Crimea, and after months of downright strenuous
exertion on the part of the Czar and his
generals, that army is in no better condition to
encounter the battalions of France and England
under the ordinary conditions of warfare than
when it first encountered them on the Alma.
Possibly the pro-Russian journals of Germany may
not exaggerate when they state that Prince Gort-
schakoff disposes of 150,000 fighting menin the
Crimea, but the information which reaches us of the
state of feeling in the Russian ranks is of more im-
portance than the evidence of ten thousand human
machines, more or less under the orders of the Rus-
sian general. It appears by letters from Sebasto-
pol, which have reached Vienna, that the services
of the spies, of which Prince Gortschakoff makes so
much use, are not an unmixed advantage. The Tar-
tars, Croats, and Greeks, who contrive to pass be-
tween the camps, tell others besides the General of
the abundance of our resources, the facility of our
provisionment, the certain approach of reinforce-
ments, and the calm confidence of our soldiers.
These, thanks to Prince Gortschakoff, aro matter
of stealthy depressing conversation among the
Russian common soldiers, with whom after all the
defence of the Crimea must rest. The march of
the Allies on the Tchernaya transpires as the sub-
ject of expectation in private letters from the Rus-
sian camp, as early as the 7th inst. The return of
the first expedition from Kertch we learn, in the
same way, did not raise the spirit of the Russians
in proportion to the
.depression which it wrought
in our men, for the trip was regarded as a demon-
stration of our superabundance of force, as well as
of the ease with which the Russian territory could
be menaced. The preparations made for the
interior and ultimate defence of Sebastopol have
produced an unfavourable impression upon the
garrison. Until these last few weeks the troops
believed their officers, who assured them that
the French and English, hemmed in on all
sides, and weakened by privation and disease,
were really the besieged, and were destine 1, upon
the arrival of enormous reinforcements from Pere-
kop, to be driven into the sea. The renewed bom-
bardment, and the infantry attacks in front of the
Central and Quarantine Bastions, as well as the
near approach of the French to the Flagstaff Bas-
tion, have dissipated this delusion, and the mass
of the troops have lapsed into moody sullenness
and distrust. This temper may not disqualify them
for offering a dogged resistance when hard pressed;
the severe Russiatt discipline may domina ite t as
long as the men are kept in line, even under fire,
but rooted distrust knows no elan, and is fatal to
that moral ascendancy which, in close encounters,
asserts itself by victory.—Morning paper.

ADULTERATION OF BEER.-At the Exeter Guildhall,
on Thursday, before a bench of magistrates, a complaint
was preferred against a publican named Keetb, of the
Three Tuns, by the Board of Excise,, for adulterating
his beer with grains of paradise, camomile flowers, and
gentian. The defendant had offered to pay 2001.. to
compromise the matter, but the Board of Excise eec-
sidered that it ought to be brought publicly before the
magistrates, although they did not press for the full
penalty of 4001. and the forfeiture of all his plaut,which,
according to the act, they were entitled to do. , A miti-
gated penalty of 2001. was inflicted.

THE LATE MILITARY ",TOKINC."-
LIEUT. WEBSTER'S DEFENCE.

(From the South-Eastern Gazette.)
Another chapter in the "disgraceful proceedings" that
have rendered the Canterbury depot of the Ist Royals
and the Inniskilling Dragoons notorious ! Lieutenant
Webster has "rushed into print." In the absence of
more exciting occupation, the ex•a'ljutant takes up the
cudgels in self-defence. Why shoult: he be maligned ?
did he not concoct the duel? did he not urge Baumgarten
to "call Evans out ?" did he not with his own hands
write the challenge ? did he not enact the character of
second to the insulted cornet in the farce ? did he not
order the poor sergeant (Brodie) under arrest ? did he
not press the charge against him with the utmost per-
tinacity ? And did not Lieut. Webster do this with the
best intentions ? But let the modest unassuming gen-
tleman tell his ow❑ tale. After three weeks' considera-
tion, the gallant lieutenant has ventured an exculpatory
letter, in reply to the strictures to which he has been
subjected, more especially those contained in a leading
article in the Daily News of April 30th. This letter
appeared in that paper on Wednesday last, and, after
denying all knowledge of the ",practical jokes," or that
he made "any set at Baumgarten, on his joining the
depot, and expressing his opinion that "in assisting that
officer to obtain that satisfaction which the annoyances
he received justified, he did nothing deserving the title of
ungentlemanly conduct,'" Lieutenant Webster pro-
ceeds :

" I now come to a part of your article which is par-
ticularly painful to pie to contradict, as I cannot well do
so without appearing to cast a slur upon a man who has
gained sorre notoriety for his conduct on the morning
in question (of the duel). I will, however, in justice to
myself, give a brief outline of what occurred. On my
first meeting Sergeant Brodie I asked him quietly what
he was doing there, and received such insolent and in-
subordinate replies that I felt it my duty to order him
into arrest. This he refused to submit to, accompanying
the refusal with more insolent remarks, and started off
across the fields at a run. I procured a file of the gnarl
and followed. A person then came to me and advised
me to be cautious, as Sergeant Brodie had armed himself
with a large bill-hook, and declared he would cut down
the first man that approached him. I then cautioned
the guard of this, and on approaching Sergeant Broiie
I told them, should he resist, to use the butt-end of their
carbines. Sergeant Brodie did not give himself up a
prisoner, but stood with one hand behind him, which I
imagined to contain the hook. I then told the guard to
take him; and again ordered them, should he resist, to
knock him down with the butt-end of their carbines. I
then saw that he had previously dropped the hook, and
he was marched to the guard-room. I have refrained
from giving the language he made use of then, as I at-
tributed it to intoxication. Previously to marching off
he stated to Lieut. Hartopp, in my hearing, that he was
intoxicated the previous night."
The refutation of the above statement is ea ily effected,
and would have been given on oath before the mayor of
Canterbury on Saturday last, only that the legal
adviser
of
fromhistawkoirnsghip(Mr
such
d. Avis)
eclar stated
atians that he was
prohibited
thaad
6th
Wm. IV., cap. 62.
We moaf the parties
posavaev,eers,
wberireefiTyeasV to deposeethesubsttaon.ce of what
several

THE WRECK" OF THE GOLDEN AGE. I asked him for the bill, in order that they should not do
any mischief if there was a scufEe. The sergeant was
perfectly sober at the timn—quite sober-
This morning, about 11 o'clock, considerable excite-
ment was caused by observing a steamer coming up by James Quantril and John Lines elec. speak to Ser.
the bay, which was soon discovered to be the John L.
Stephens, which left here on Monday morning last. As geant Brodie's being perfectly sober, and denied that he
she neared her anchorage it was seen that she UPS
I threatened to harm any one with the bill, or that he had
! it for any such purpose.
crowded with passengers and the conclusion at once I Cornet Baumgarten represented to Gener d Foster,
arrived at was, that she had picked up and returned with according to his own admission since, that Brodie was
the passengers of the Golden Age. This proved to be
squite sober.
correct, the following being the particulars, as far as The corporal of the guard, when before the colonel
we have bad the means of gathering them :—The (M‘Queen) the same zooming, distinctly stated that
John L. Stephens left here on Monday morning Brodie was perfectly sober when arrested.
about two o'clock, with 900 passengers, &c., for San In addition to the above irrefragable proof of the ser-
Francisco. On Monday afternoon, at five p.m., she jeant's sobriety at the time of the sham duel, it may be
fell in with a boat belonging to the Golden .A
,e in stated that he is a pledged teetotaller, and has been so
charge of the second mate, from whom she learnt since the beginning of the month of January last.
that the Golden Age was ashore near the island of There is one important statement of Lieut. Webster
Quit), from which she was then distant about 85 miles. that requires explanation. It is when lie says " a per_
She immediately proceeded to the locality indicated, son came to him and advised him to by cautious, as Ser-
Age, her signal guns being soon answered by the Golden jeant Brodie bad armed himself with a large bill-hook.'
Age, she succeeded in reaching her about 2 a.m. on Why was he not named ? It must have been either
Tuesday (the Ist of May). Early in the morning she Lieut. Hartopp or the surgeon, Mr. T. S. Copper ; but
took all the passengers, mails, and treasure on b-oard, we cannot believe that the latter gentleman would have
and returned to this port this morning, as before stated. thus misrepresented matters. For Lieut. Hartopp we
The following letter from Captain McLean (who was a will not vouch, because in order to prevent an account
passenger in the Age,) to Mr. H. H. Munro, the corn- of tliedisreputable proceedingsappearing in our columns,
pany's agent here, and which he has kindly given to us lie did not shrink from telling the reporter that "If
for publication, will be found to give a full account of
the accident to that vessel. We would premise that there was a man under Heaven that deserved to .behung " and, turning to
the Golden Age left San Francisco on the 17th ult., at
1 p.m., with 800 passengers and about 1,300,000 Web; that man was Scrjennt Brodie,
ter, asked if it was not true, and that officer an-
dollars swered in the affirmative.
in specie :—" A little after midnight of the
The above facts require no comment; they vindicate
28th of April we passed the island of mentiroses, the the truth, and support the claims of justice. More is
sea perfectly smooth and a good moos ; thence Captain
Watkins steered direct for the passage between the however feebly accom lished, if it has that end, our
island of Quibo and Quicara, inclining to the shore of labours will not have been ind,
vain.—Daily News.
the latter, in order to keep clear of dangers (sunken
rocks) lying towards the shore of the other named island.
At about 2 a.m. of the 29th, the ship going over the
ground at the rate of 14 miles per hour, pointed for the
passage and apparently clear of the reef off Quicara, as
laid down upon the captain's charts, she struck full and
fair. The captain was on deck himself, speaking with
Mr. Aspinwall, as indeed he had been all night, and
doing all that a skilful and prudent navigator could to
guide his ship in safety. The sea was calm and smooth,
without any appearance or indication of hidden danger.
Instantly, upon striking, an immense volume of water
rushed into her forward ; the pumps were all put in im-
mediate requisition, boats cleared away, &c. In five
minutes the engineer reported the water ri.ing with
great sapidity, utterly beyond all efforts of the pumps.
At this time we bad 15 feet forward and 17 fathoms aft
and amidships. The captain's first intention of landing
his passengers was instantly frustrated by the rapidity
of the rise of the water in the hold, and her setting aft
from the depth of water amidships and aft, which cir-
cumstance rendered it imperative to drive full length
on the reef. At this instant she rolled heavily, and her
bow fell off the reef or rock. Having a good head of
steam, Watkins determined to run on a little fur-
ther or the mainreef, which he knew lay a short
distance ahead. Upon starting, she rolled heavily
from side to side, and steered wildly. coming-to too
much, and striking a second time. He backed her
off, keeping her stem clear, and again went ahead,
running along the reef, delaying his purpose of
beaching her so long as he had steam to force
her ahead until he should find a spot offering the best
chance of saving his passengers. Of course, time flew,
and thus passed another five minutes, the water up to
the furnaces of the port boiler, and above those of the
starbcard one—all the fires of the latter out. She still
had steam in the boilers—the engineers and firemen up
to their necks in water in the fire-room. A few hundred
yards ahead we could make out a small cove, beyond
the point of the island, bighted apparently with a
sandbeach. The steamer still went on, under com-
mand of ler helm, the water still gaining above the
pumps, bailing, &c. Another five minutes, and the
balance of the fires were out. We had about 100
yards yet to go to our cove, which we were now
nearly abreast of. The captain put his helm bard aport,
and headed right on the beach—the water along the
side continued deep, and the engine turned over very
slowly. On we went, sounding ten fathoms, six fathoms,
and finally she stopped, her bow within 30 feet of the
shore, but so slow was she moving that no one felt the
stop. We had 17 feet all round. The boilers had only
steam enough left to make some two or three revolutions.
After our first feeling of gratitude to Almighty God for
our deliverance from a sudden and fearful danger—from
the Arctic's fate—we paid a tribute in admiration to
Watkins for his admirable coolness, presence of mind and
great efficiency, quick thought., and prompt action. The
reef or rock on which she struck could not, in my opinian,
have had more than a foot less water on it than the
steamer drew, so that a little less draught of water, or a
full tide, would have taken her all clear. It appears to
me to be a sunken rock or reef, lying off the main reef,
which makes out from the north-west point of Quicara.
So far as can be ascertained the only injury is forward,
the scarf of stem and keel being the spot. The wood ends
here are doubtless stove in. Watkins has had large
pumps constructed, being, of course, unable to work any
of those attached to the engine by steam. He got a
sail around the bows, but as yet has been unable to get
it under her from her taking in the sand. Last night
he tried his full force of pumps, those he had con-
structed, together with that worked by the " donkey"
engine, for which there is a separate boiler. The result
showed that the rise of the water with the tide was only
one-half of the rise when no pumps were employed.
Hence by discharging double the quantity of water he is
now able to do he can free her entirely, float her, and
secure the sail under her bottom properly—all this he
proposes to do ; also the construction of a coffer dam,
which will, perhaps, enable him to plug up and copper
over the hole. Thus the chances are good for his saving
the shit,. He certainly will leave no stone unturned."—
Panama Herald of May 2.

IMPORTANT OMNIBUS QUESTION.

At the Efarnrnersmith Police-court, yesterday, Mr.
Alfred Evans, of the Ravenscourt Arias, West-end,
Hammersmith, appeared before Mr. Paynter to answer
a summons for refusing to pay a.. omnibus fare under
the following circum-tances :—William Finch, conductor
of one of the Red or Hammersmith omnibuses, deposed :
—That on the night in
omnibus near liensingtloune-ast(iir°en, t
:hue,
dd e f
uponenda nh
his
he ailen tedr
ihnigs
the vehicle with a friend witness told him that the omni-
busit was the last omnibus runnins.
did not go any further than the Broadway
upon the road,
passengers alighted, and
and he had received instructions from %the proprietor
always to finish the journey at the Broadway. On
reaching that place ad the
witness told the defendant that they were at the
Broadway. He got out and refused to ply
the fare
unless witness took him to the White Ham, opposite
Scott's Park, in Hammersmith, about three-quarters of
a mile further. Witness told him that he had previously
acquainted him with the fact that their last journey
finished at the Broadway. The defendant then went away
refusing to pay his own fare and that of his friend.—De-
fendantsaid he had hrougl t this matter forward upon pub-
lic grounds. He did not complain of this omnibus in parti-
cular, but of the others. Their starting-place was from
the White Hart, and be contended that they were bound
to finish their journey at that place; but instead of doing
so they were in the habit of finishing some of their jour-
neys at the Broad way, and refusing to go any further. If
the omnibus contained ladies who lived iu the neighbour-
hood of the White Hart, they were compelled to walk
the remainder of the distance, and very often got wet
through in consequence. • His friend had been served in
that manner several times. Mr. Paynter wished to
know if the defendant lived near the White Hart ? The
Defendant paid he lived near Scott's Park, which was
not far from the White Hart. Mr. Alfred Cloud, one
of the proprietorrnethe Hammersmith Omnibus As-
sociation, said there had been a general order of the
proprietors for several years that the journey of the
last omnibus should finish at the Broadway. His
omnibus did not reach the Broadway until a quarter
past one o'clock in the morning, and his stables were in
Fulham ; it was inconsistent to wish his men to be up
half the night, which would he the case if the omnibus
had to go to the White Hart, for it would have to
return again to the Broadway on its way to the
stables. He argued that if a passenger was told
before entering where the omnibus would stop be
could not say he was deceived, and that the con-
ductor was not bound to take him any further
hthan the place he had mentioned.—Mr. Paynter said
was satisfied that no driver or conductor could
but whether a proprietor bad the power that was an-
bra ak the journey and finish it where he pleased,
other question. What he bad to decide was whether an
omnibus proprietor, who had entered into a contract
with the public to run a certain distance, could enter
into a fresh one by finishing the journey at another
P• lace If that were so they could finish the journey at
any place upon the road ; but he could not see, if the
Excise allowed them to run as many journeys as they
thought proper, why they should be allowed to run part
of a journey. It was a very doubtful question, and he
should like to have time to consider it.—The summons
was then adjourned fcr a week.

THE LATE CHARGIf OF INHUMANITY
AGAINST A PARISH OFFICER.

Yesterday, at a general meeting o the Board of Di-
rectors and Guardians of the Poor of St. Pancras, held
in the Vestry-hall, King's-road, Camden-town, Benj. J.
E. Wright, Esq., in the chair,
Mr. Cook, the clerk to the board, read the following
communication from the Poor-law Board :

1 "Poor-law Board, Whitehall, Nay 23, 1855.
" Sir ,—I am directed by the Poor-law Board to trans-
mit to you, for the consideration of the directors of the
poor of the parish of St. Pancras, the enclosed report, ex-
tracted from the _Daily Naas of the 22nd inst., of an in-
quest held on the body of John Dewdnoy, decear.ed ; and I
am directed to request that the board may be furnished
1 with any observaliJta which the directors may be desirous
of making thereon.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
" COURTENAT, Secretary."
Mr. Stockton moved that the letter be acknowledged,
and that the Poor-law bor.rd be informed that the ques-
tion had been referred to the vestry for its consideration.
Mr. Turner could not consent to such a course as this.
There wt-ii a very serious charge made against an officer
who was entrusted with administering relief to the poor.
The question had been originally brought under the no-
tice of the board of directors, and he bad moved for a
copy of the shorthand writer's notes of the evidence ;
that evidence had been printed, and was in the hands
of every member of the board ; he therefore did hope
that some notice would be taken of the matter which
was agitating the whole parish.
Mr. Cook, the clerk, produced the minutes of evidence,
as furnished by the shorthand writer, a copy of which
had been sent to each director and vestryman.
After a few observations from Mr. Wilby, it was re-
solved, upon the motion of Mr. Howlett, that the mat-
ter be referred to the vestry.

CARDIGAN FISHERIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIIN.

Cardigan, May 28, 1855.
Sir{,--I am again under the disdgreeable necessity of
bringing to your notice, and that. of the public at large,
the jealousy and bad blood still existing amongst .the
lower orders in this neighbourhood, especially amongst
the fishermen of St. Darnell's, the most drunken and
demoralised set in this country, being worse off every
winter when they have a good fishing than when they
have a bad one. This mulch I have heard from the ma-
gistrates and guardians of the Veion-hoUse, that they
consider the fishery to the St. Degmell's men a curse
rather than a*blassing—spending their money as they do,
' after a good day's fishing, in drink, then fighting and
swearing for the rest of the day, and the winter throw•
ing their families on the Union. Anything like improve.
ment in this part can never be carried on, especially by
Scotchmen, Irishmen, or Englishmen, for all but Welsh-
men are called adventurers and abused. I have now to
bring to your knowledge another plan the cowardly con-
federates have hit upon to annoy Mr. Ewen, of Gobert,
whose property was cut away only a few weeks since—
that of Failing through his nets with smacks constantly
trading between this port and Milford with limestone.
This Wai done so late as last week, the offender, with as
fair a wind as could be, deviating widely from the usual
to
o
conrse and nearly running his vessel aground in order
effect his purpose, which he fully accomplished, having
split the net to pieces, and then sailed o
and, if necessary, a warrant to briny him
indicted for A
magistrates at Petty Sessions to get
1112th Vic., c. 42, s.
A summons will be taken out ar,gahiniff,sltotphebeofffoerendtehro,
MISDEMEA.NOI7R, under the 11thfianr
d reaches such a vil-
2, which is the only act I can
fl au ni o u
tos outrage
yourself
jesty's high seas. If there ies any
will,
through your
willo f
feheelr g
rAaTtae..
for I fear trusting for pro-
tectionworthy paper, enlighten me,
molt
is _
one authority
like trusting to a
to the present Government coormmaniyttedonuponhtohethsehrojes
as if no one bad
has handed the
l;
. authority to put down this Rebecca mob.
sufficient
broken stick—as
eosien
otter
Lord P drner.,:ton pieces it in the bands of
First, ray . tor another,ieanwa.r,
no doubt the magistrates will give us every
say he has
I suppose,
Sir eorge Grey, and then Sir George Grey writes to
protection which. the case requires • and the Admiralty,
who always in Ireland have given 'fisheries the prate:-
netiaveerrilsh:eivaered
anotd.
tion of a revenue boat, and, in some cases, a cutter, to
leisvent the loss of life, now declare (beca.use,
alentdthhuellinibubgesitir
in Wales) that St. Dagmell's is out of their juris-
If their laws are not fit to meet such outrages -for the
honour
. of
f SoulcdhEan farce and
make fresh laws, or extend the Irish fishery laws to
Wales, or life and property, I am quite for the Anglo-Scotch and Ir.sh blood, now
sure,
wickedlywillbelost,
stirred, is beginning to rise, and surelnowso long,
teach the Welsh a lesson they •
y will, ere
will never forget —Yours
truly,
DANIEL MORTON.
Mftwrin.........--

_
Joseph Quantril, farm bailiff to •'Messrs. Collard, at
Old Park Farm, deposed—On the morning the duel was
to take place I was near the grq,vel pit, looking at my
brother, James Quantril, and Job,' Lines, at work in the
pit. Sergeant Brodie came up to the bank, and said.
"Men come here." I laughed at him at first. He repeated
it, and added, "Men, come here, you don't know the
consequences." I said to the men, "He wants one of you
—he doesn't want me." Brodie then said, "Here are two
men going to kill one another; they are going to commit
murder ; if you don't stop it we shall all be pulled up and
transported." I then went to the sergeant ; he was as
sober as a judge. I looked carefully at him. No man
could be any soberer. Brown, a woodman, was present,
and when Sergeant Brodie asked us to take the officer
(Baumgarten) he took the bill out of the woodman's
hand, saying, " You had better let me have the bill or
you may injure yourselves with it if there is a scuffle."
Lieutenant Webster was not then present, he bad gone
to the barracks for a file of men. After describing the
nr
s
seizure of Baingarten, and his conveyance to the bailiff's 1
h
uu
considerablese,heeo distancentinued— fromtheßrod ie
was
then
gravel ea
pit. myHe house,ad a, \
TO TILE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
,—ls am much obliged to your correspondent, "A
" Now there is a file of men coming (we could just see . •
Peaidl.er,' tor calling attention in the Times of this morn-
them in the distance) ; I will go and give myself up if 1 p gto a
, Paragraph, quoted from my book, which, from
you will promise me that you will secure him (Bai 1 its loose constauction, seems to have been the means of
(Baum- which I in-
garten). I said r would do so, Serjeant Brodie then misleading others upon a point of history to
gave me the bill, and immediately walked in cidentally alluded in describing Kertch. In saying that
the d"
tion of the file of men. He was at that moment.. irec- " here it was that Pharnaces raised the standard of re-
-100
yards from them. When Sergeant Br volt, and Cesar came, saw, and conquered him," it was
the guard and the two officers he said, ~ Brodie r :ached not my intention to assert that Cesar ever visited the
gentlemen," and something about Good morning Crimea, though I admit that the passage is se worded
i but I could not hear exactly what. Preventing the duel, as not absolutely to exclude such an inference, but sim-
stei) told the men, if he attem ted The adjutant (Web- 'that at PAlAlCapfetllll Pharni:ces raised the standard
ply
knock him down with the
butt-end
V) resist one step, to of revolt, of whom Cnsar said that when he came he
Brodie said—" Don't hurt of their carbines. saw and conquered him. It was with reference to the
me,
duty." They then left the adjutant ; I know my indMdual, and not the place, that I quote Cfesar's cx-
i Webster and Hartop being field together, Lieutenants pression.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
P last.
I Brown, the woodman LAURENCA OLU'HANT.
•
dates that Sergeant Brodie Athenaeum Club:, May 29.

" YEN', VIDI, VIOL"