The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECKMBER 24 1855.

Spirit of the Public Journals.

by still greater over-proportion than in the case` of
the march from the Armenian frontier fort to the
capital of Imeritia. In the mountains of Khora-
zan, among which the storied stream of the Araxes
takes its rise, are piled up more than one formid-
ble defile, across which, when the great snow storms
of Armenia have fallen, the hunter of the country
could not make his way on foot, much less a corps
of infantry. Artillery and horse would be still more
hopelessly detained to the west of those hoary sier-
ras, whose ridges, cleft and sawn—herring-bone
fashion—by the few passes in question, intercept the
sky-line to the traveller or soldier gazing eastward.
One road from Erzeroum to Olti winds eastward
round the north-western roots of this great moun-
tain chain, which is the ancient Anti-Taurus, and
the road in question is accompanied to its loft a
part of the way by the ascending banks of the
Fuphrates, which thus derives its fountain not far
from that of the Araxes—two famous rivers, which
flow in a widely divergent, and, at first, directly
opposite direction, but both of which claim the
confines of old Cappadocia for their parent regioc.
The road we have mentioned, keeping the low
country—if any part of a country can be termed
low the whole of which is a vast mountain table,
two miles and a half above the Euxine—reaches
Olti, having so threaded its course as to leave the
Sultaun Dagh heights, of which we have been
speaking, to the right hand, and a spur of the an-
cient Cragus, one of whose volcanoes was the
" Chimera"—a vassal of Mount Taurus, further to
the left. At Olti the road fails towards Kars, and
is recovered by au oblique march of some difficulty
south-east to Bardi, beyond which it is immedi-
ately necessary to climb a very steep mountain
gorge ; and after this, when the deep snows are
not on the ground, or the inundations intersecting
the advance by their torrents, there is a fair direct
road to Kars, fifty miles ahead. All this region
runs parallel to Lake Van, the ancient Arsissa Pa-
his, extending about a hundred miles south of it,
and itself stretching its waters to seventy miles of
length. Such is the best march between Erzeroum
and Kars through Armenia Major. Its extreme
difficulty at this time of year (when we remember
the supineness of the Turkish General commanding
at Erzeroum and tho disorganisation of his troops)
account for the fate of General 'Williams, and for
the surrender of Kars. As to any help from Batoum,
where no troops lay, such help simply means help
from the Crimea—help from the opposite shores of
the Black sea. Now, at the time when. a large de-
tachment, amounting to an expedition, might have
been available for the relief of Kars, it was not yet
known whether a grand attack could not be made,
at Mackeazie's Heights, upon a force stronger and
more important than General Mouravieff's. If
such an attack (this, we need scarcely say, was the
obvious consideration at the critical period)—if
such an attack could be made, it would be made,
and investigation was indispensable to know whe-
ther the feasibility in question existed or not. It
was then that thos3 great reconnaissances were
occurring in which it was necessary to make roads
among mountains and ravines before taking each
successive step. The descent upon Kinbourn, and
the other simultaneous operations, were all sub-
sidiary parts of one ()Teat comprehensive plan, to
the accomplishment ofe which it was necessary to
ascertain what Marshal Pelissier was in the very
act of ascertaining by his laborious exploring and re-
connoitring manoeuvres from the Tchernaya, Tchou-
lion, and Baida-, to the vicinity of E*kshi-Serai.
But, however this may be, the lethargic succours
from Erzeroum, on which General 'Williams had a
less questionable right to count, did not sot out till
an Armenian winter rendered their progress over
Armenian roads an idle mockery. We learn, more-
over, that General Mouravieff had seized the last
passes by which the relieving force would have had
to penetrate to Kars. Whether this force came by
the Khorazan-road, leaving Toprak Kaleh, about
twenty-five miles to the right, or by the still more
northerly route of Olti, which we have describe-1,
it is evident that as both lines converge ultimately
upon Bardi, to hold the passes in front of that vil-
lage would be to bar the further march of the
Turks. Tho accounts are, as yet, rather vague,
and we cannot say whether this was the position
actually occupied by the detachments of the Rus-
sian chief. That position could not have been more
distant than the immediate neighbourhood of Bardi,
but might not have been half the way.
In the opposite direction, to which we first ad-
verted, we find, as we have stated, that General
Mouravieff could not safely reckon upon reaching
Kutais with his main body under eight days of
march. The exact date of Omer Pacha's last ex-
ploit is not given, but it must have been about the
beginning o this month, or perhaps a clay or two
earlier. It could not well have been later than
the 2d or 3d, since the intelligence announcing it
is dated the sth from the Crimea. Omer Paella
had not learnt the fall of Kars when ho made
his last advance of forty miles, defeated the
Russians, took Khoni, and brought his army actu-
ally before Kutais. Indeed, the respective catas-
trophes in Armenia and in Imeritia may, practi-
cally speaking, be termed contemporaneous. We
shall look with anxious interest for Omer Pacha's
movements on his ascertaining the important ad-
.

:;hr.IP!

Letuaisq
Compans

C,oalag rnor•
Bator lay

II Ltl
eau
this day.

(From the Times of this clay.)
In justice to the Chairman of the Eastern Coun-
ties Railway we have waited for his reply to the
charges of the Investigating Committee. These
charges were very serious, and reflected not merely
on the discretion and vigilance, but also on the
integrity and honour, of Mr. Waddington ; and
they were supported by such a mass of evidence—
by figures, by extracts, by dividends—that, how-
ever one might regret, no one could wonder that
the meeting of the shareholders subsequently held
should have exhibited the most ludicrous rage,
should have treated their chairman with more than
distrust—with indignant contumely—and should
almost with one voice and one roar have deposed
him from his office without even granting him a
hearing. To some extent Mr. Waddington has
himself to blame for this treatment. As we have
already pointed out, whether from ignorance, from
personal dislike to the members of the committee,
or from any other cause, he was as chary as possible
of his information, and in his answers rang the
changes on every mode of negation that the En-
glish language affords. Besides which, because
he deemed that the week which elapsed between
the publication of the report and the meeting
of the shareholders was insufficient for him to
prepare a full and detailed answer, he thought
it right to abstain from any answer what-
ever beyond one of those simple negations
in which he is so great an adept. At
length he has published a full and elaborate
reply, and we are bound to confess at once that he
has not a little shaken our belief in the accuracy
and impartiality of the report which so seriously
impeached his conduct. Right or wrong, there is
no doubt that his answer is a most able document.
It is much better written than the report of the
committee, which, indeed, is defaced not only by
obscurities of expression, but by strange gram-
matical blunders ; and, if subsequent investigation
should sustain the facts urged by the chairman,
he will not have much cause to complain of the
clamour which has been raised against his manage-
ment. For the interest of railways in general,
and for that of the Eastern Counties in particular,
we sincerely hope that Mr. Waddington's statistics
are correct, and that his case is half as good as be
makes it out to be. At the same time we cannot
suppose that the matter will rest with this reply
of the chairman. Who is to be credited ? Here
the chairman gives the lie direct to the committee,
and they both quote no end of figures against each
other, as rival theologians quote texts—we, the
on-lookers, not knowing which to believe. Statistics
are not always to be relied on ; it has, indeed, al-
most passed into a proverb that there is nothing
more false—" one foot in sea, and one on shore, to
one thing constant never." Arithmetical figures
are nearly as deceptive as rhetorical, and, with
every desire to do justice to Mr. Waddington, we
cannot help reminding him that if the shareholders
are at first more confused than convinced by his argu-
ments we cannot wonder. We, in our public capacity,
have, of cuurse, no means of reconciling or correct-
ing the statements and counter-statements of either
party. Mr. Waddington seems to have held his
peace before the Committee in order that now he
might come out with an answer in greater force.
It has been his policy not to fritter his defence in
partial answers. He has concentrated all he has
hai to say into the focus of a single statement, and
we shall be anxious to hear how the Committee of
Investigation dispose of it.
Into the private squabbles in which Mr. Wad-
dington suggests that the investigation originated
it is not our purpose to enter. We should have
an Augean stable to clean if we undertook to lay
bare the secret springs of railway management—
the petty motives, the party interests, the indivi-
dual ends that influence directors—at one time
induce them to make things pleasant, and at an-
other incite a refractory member to get up a com-
mittee of shareholders. It is enough if we compare
some of the results of Mr. Waddiugton's manage-
ment as stated by himself with the results as stated
by the Committee of Investigation. And the first
item we look to is very naturally the dividend.
The Chairman has pointed out that during the
four years of his management no less than
662,0001. has been divided among the share-
holders or 160,0001. yearly, whereas in the year
and a-half before he entered upon office the whole
sum disposable for dividend was 34,2001. In the
accounts of the last half-year it will be remembered
that the balance brought forward as divisible
was 57,0001., and the committee published the
startling fact that 36,0001. of this ought be de-
ducted as improperly charged to the credit of the
company. Mr. Waddington goes over the separate
items of this 36,0001., and disputes with some force
the finding of the Committee. One of the items is
40Sundries, 11,000/."—rather a large portion of the
whole. The "sundries," says Mr. Waddington,
are principally made up of the sums claimed by
Mr. Gooch as percentages, which sums the Com-
mittee hesitates to pay, and which were "not
claimed when the half-yearly accounts were ren-
dered." For almost all the other items he has an
answer that appears to be not less satisfactory.
But what of the permanent way ? Could tho
last dividend of 65,0001. be justifiable when the
'engineer reports that a sum of 150,0001. is neces-
sary to place the permanent way in proper repair ?
In this respect, too, Mr. Waddington has stated
much in his favour. If the railway has been so
'badly kept, he blames Mr. Ashcroft, the respon-
sible engineer, whose certificates he implicitly
relied on and quotes from half-year to half-year.
He further states, in reply to the charge that in
.1855 the payment for renewal and repairs was
:only 3,2001. for 548 miles of railway, "We have
'not restricted the year's expenditure to 3,2001.
'for 548 miles of railway, as this report leads you
to believe, although we have spent only 3,2001.
upon that object this year out of revenue. The
italics indicate the way in which the Committee
have endeavoured to deceive you." The expen-
diture for the half-year was 22,0001. And of the
150,0001. recommended by the engineer, he shows
that a third part is for the erection of new and
permanent works, not contemplated when the line
was made ; and that the remaining 100,090/. is to
'be spread over ten years. The instalment for the
'first year having been provided by the balance of
last year, there was no reason why the expenditure
;required for the permanent way should interfere
with the sum disposable for dividend.
There is a strange contrariety between Chairman
land Committee throughout. " Confusion becomes
worse confounded" as we proceed. As to the stores
department, Mr. Waddington denies that the loss
has been 40,00 X., or oven 10,000/.—no, not the
half of that ; and as we go on it becomes small by
'degrees and beautifully less, till at last it becomes
,a more nothing. Like Falstaff describing the men
in buckram who attacked him—who were first two,
then four, then seven, then nine, and at last eleven
—Mr. Waddington diminishes like loss of the stores
department very rapidly from 40,0001. to next to
nothing ; and finally gets off by saying that, be it
great or small, he of all the directors is the least
responsible for it. It is impossible to go into all
the details. But let us pass on to Lowestoft
Harbour, and recall the devout wish expressed by
the Committee of Investigation that the sea would
:wash up sand enough to destroy it. Mr. Wadding-
ton makes out a very strong case in favour of the
harbour ; indicates that the objections to Lowestoft
have been urged in the interest of King's Lynn
'and the East Anglian Railway ; and puts forward
figures which, if there is net some strange juggle,
completely subvert the statements of the commit-
tee. " Lowestoft can only take the trade from
Yarmouth," said the committee. The fact is that
while the receipts between London and Lowestoft
have been quadrupled in four years, those between
London and Yarmouth, so far from suffering diminu-
tion, have been doubled, being 16,8001. in 1850, and.
33,4001. in 1854. So far from involving the com-
pany in vast expense and loss, by some strange,
alchemy Mr. Waddington seems to prove the ex-
pense of the harbour to be trifling and the loss to
be indefinite gain. And so with almost all the other
counts of his indictment. He makes quick work
with the Tilbury Railway, and shows what a bril-
liant manager he is. As.for adding 1,250,0001.
to the company's capital account, it is true, he says;
but why have not the committee given the per con-
tra? The company are now working 226 miles of
railway more than when,h, eentered upon the chair-
manship.
"The fact is, he goes on, " the com-
mittee tell you that if the increase were to continue
after the rate it has done since Mr. Waddington be-
came chairman in 1851, it would soon destroy the
dividend.' I reply that, if your capital were in-
creased in the next five years in the same propor-
tion, and with the same results, the Eastern
Counties Railway would pay 5 per cent. 1" Here
is something very strange. Either Mr. Wadding-
ton is possessed of singular confidence, or the com-
mittee of singular perversity. Who shall arbitrate
between the two ?

vantage gained by General -.lllouravie-ff, and the

altered situation to which that advantao-e may
lead. It is one consolation that, in such apecem-
beras now prevails in the Caucasus, General Mou-

ravioff can Hardly be the messenger of his own suc-
cess. The Ottoman hero will have warning of his
danger, if danger there be.
From Kars to Gumri, from Gumri to Akhalzik,
from Akhalzik to tho Pass of Suram, the Russian
General will move along a well-organised and,

doubtless, well-supplied iiwsian line. From the
Suram Gorge to Kutais, 50 miles remain. Mean-
while, suppose Prince Bebutoff have hurried all

his disposable forces through Tiflis and Gori to the
same Suram Pass, a considerable, if not large,
army might, in three or four weeks from the fall
of Kars, bo ready to advance into Imeritia. At
the moment when we write this there are probably

greater collections of Russian troops in and about
Suram than in any other spot of the Trans-Cauca-
sian provinces. But the same natural causes
which rendered it so hard for the tardy succours of

Erzeroum to advance for the rescue of Kars will
affect the movements of oven the most energetic
commander ; and, unless Kutais have already

yielded (which is'a groat deal too much to reckon
on), wo expect that the real struggle will be de-
layed and adjourned till a more serene season looks

down again upon th© horrors of a great war.

(From the Daily News.)
The public have not yet forgotten the exciting struggle
which took place in the House of Commons on the 20th
of July last. The House was invited by Ministers to
agree to the preliminary resolutions sanctioning the
Turki,h Guaranteed Loan of five millions. Thecond.tions
of this financial operation had already been determined
in a " Convention " conclubd between the Governments
of England, France, and Turkey. That the proposal
would be supported by a majority of the Lower House
was ❑ever doubted. Yet, through a skilful but ucscru-
pulous manoeuvre of the Opposition, Ministers
only escaped defeat upon this important question by
a narrow majority of three. It was an anxious night
for the Cabinet. Four or five times did Lord Palmer-
ston rise, in evident anxiety, to defend the Government
proposal. His lordship's chief argument was, that
Turkey was in immediate want of the money, and that
the most disastrous consequences would ensue to her
army if pecuniary relief were delayed. Mark his words:

But :is it worth while, for the sake of that difference of
opinion, to send the convention back to France and to
Turkey to bo remodelled—throwing back, allow me t) say,
at this time of the year, the assistance which this loan would
afford to Turkey to an indefinite period ? For lot us re-
member the time of year at which we aro discussing this
matter. No change can be made without a fresh conven-
tion. That convention must go to Constantinople, and wo
must wait till it has been ratified, and must come back to
Parliament for sanction and authority to carry it into
effect. IV e are now in the middle of July. Is the house
prepared to sit till that change has been made ? Or will
they insist upon it that no effect shall be given to the
measure until the next session of Parliament, when it
will be too late to afford to Turkey the assistance which we
think we are bound in honour to afford her?

Speaking against a proposal for altering the terms of
the convention, his lordship, with increasing earnestness
of tone, used still the same argument—that there was
" no time" for a change of arrangements :
if (he observed) we were talking in January, supposing
it to be right, there might be time to do so ; negotiations
might go on, a treaty might be signed, the ratifications
might be exchanged, and there would be time for the con-
vention to be submitted to parliament for its concurrence,
and to be carried into execution ; but in the present state
of the session, with the end of the session so nearly approah-
ing, that arrangement would practically postpone till the
next session of Parliament any assistance to the Turkish
Government, in the way of helping them to obtain a loan ;
and I have no hesitation in saying that that would be at-
tended with the most disastrous consequences in regard to
military operations. (Cheers.) I declare to the right hon.
gentleman (Mr. Walpole) and the house,
give that it is my per-
fect conviction that if
o f additionalherarna yi,ntehaen s
consequenceswh. ch she requires we refuse to
be to Turkey those
for
most the ma
intenance
of
allt was probably to this weighty argument that Minis-
ters owed their escape from defeat upon the evening in
question. Let us examine how far their acts have agreed
with their words—how Promptly
promptly they
have applied to
the pressing necessities of the Ottoman Army the funds
authorised to be raised under Parliamentary guarantee.
We will first adduce a few facts, to which we chal-
lenge contradiction. There is at the present moment
lying in the Bank of England a sum of no less than
2,530,000/.1 out of the total of 4,000,00./. already
Paid by the subscribers to the Turkish loan ; conse-
quently these loan funds have as yet been drawn upon
to the extent of only 1,500,000/. for the service of the
Ottoman Government. Of this sum of 1,500,000. /.,
600,000/. was handed over to the Messrs. Rothschild,
' of advances previously made by, that
hi liquidation
firm to the Porte, the Government. .of the Sultan
having been driven to such dire
.straits for want of
it actually could not wait for the guaranteed
money that
loan with its accompanying formalities. The original de-
posit of 500,0001. on the new loan was paid into the Bank
on the 22d of August, and, we admit, was promptly re.

(From, the Morning Post of this day.)
From Kars to Kutais there are about a hundred
and eight English miles, as the crow flies ; but,
practically, by such roadway as the country pos-
sesses, in good marching seasons, the distance covers
nostsleess's than a hundred and sixty. In short, it could
not be safely reckoned at less than eight days'march,
even if no enemy obstructed the advance—if no
enemy compelled manoeuvring, imposed circuits by
occupying defiles, nor enforced swerves, halts, and
concentrations, by menacing the flanks of the vari-
ous corps, and by imperilling the intervals between
them. From Kars, again, to Erzeroum there are
some hundred and fifteen English miles by the
cane aerial admeasurement, and the virtual light-
ing distance exceeds the length of this bird's flight

'refitted to Constantinople. But the British public will with hatchets cut away the joists and timbers co
scarcely credit the fact we now announce, that this sum netting the roof of the centre of the house with that
of 500,0001., the first proceeds of the loan, did not ac- of the wing. The fire was at this time raging with its
03.4 reach the hands of the Turkish Govdrnment until 1 greatest viiulence, the flames flying from room to room
the 28th of Nov. The Ottoman army being in a state l with fearful rapidity, and were it not for the immense
of semi-starvation, an' rendered quite ineffective for ; thickness of the walls separating the wing from the main
a Awe operations through a deficiency of clothing, food, ' building there can be little doubt that the whole man-
and means of transport, was it necessary that inure than 1 sion would have been consumed. Most fortunately the
three months should elapse before the officials of Eng- ' supply of water was very good, the beautiful fountain in
land and France would relax their grasp upon this front of the house yielding an almost never-failing sup-
limited amount ? Since this 500,0007. was sent (and I ply, as did al-o the tank on the roof of the main building,
apart from the 600,0001, repaid to Messrs. Rothschild), ' which was kept constant), filled by the force pumps.
the only further remittance made on account of lean is a Notwithstanding this supply, and all the exertions that
sum of 400,0007., despatched in foer separate amounts were being made, for a considerable time it was feared,
of 100,000/. each, in the first week of the present month. (from the intensity and fury of the flames and the vielent
Probably the latter supply has as ere now reached Con- i state of the weather, that the fire could not be got under.
stantinople ; but if its distribution be retarded by diffi- Soon after eight o'clock, however, the wind fell off, and
culties similar to those whioli prevailed in respect of the shortly afterwards the roof of the wing fell in with a
first half million, the Sulten's suffering soldiers may have loud crash. Fears were no longer entertained for the
yet to wait for some months before their wants are main portion of the house, and from nine
o'clock
watshecofitare.
relieved.
was gradually got under, and about twelve
We have no hesitation in saying that 'this delay re. pletoly subdued. Of this wing scarcely anything now
quires explanation. The objects involved are essentially stands but the four walls, the rooms being nearly all
important to the vigorous prosecution of the War. Tee gutted.
British portion of the grand allied re.my of operation Most providentially, notwithstanding the falling of
being numerically small, England is making great exer- planks, burnt timbers, stones, slates, &c., only one ~,,ni.
tione and sustaining enormous expense fur the enlist- dent, and that not of a serious nature, occurred by the
ment and equipment of men drawn by the temptation falling of a plank on the head of one of the labourers.
of a high bounty and good pay from many parts of the His Grace of Leinster had, however, it is said, some
C nitinent. Is she acting wisely in neglecting to minister miraculous escapes. On one occasion, when exerting
to the wants of the Ottoman troops, who have given ad- himself in the orgar-room, he very narrowly escaped be-
miring Europe such frequent and signal proofs of con- ing smothered by the falling of some great plank of burnt
stancy and courage ? Let an unprejudiced observer timber. Although the fire did not reach beyond the left
glance at the general military conduct of the Ottoman wing, still considerable injury has been done to very
forces from the opening campaign if the war on the valuable furniture in some of the rooms, which was much
Danube down to the gallant action on the river 'rigour injured by water. It is impossible at present to form
and the heroic defence of Kars. Can he fail to come to an estimate of the amount of injury done, which, how-
the conclusion that these men, properly equipped and ever, must amount to several thousand pounds. The
officered, will prove of the highest value in a protracted house and furniture was largely insured in six offices, so
war ? Fighting for their country and faith against that the loss will not fall heavily on any, except, per-
their hereditary foe, the motives stimulating these tried haps, one in which it had only been a year or so insured.
soldiers to deeds of endurance and gallantry must be The total amount of the insurance was stated to be
much more powerful than those operating in the minds 53,0001. The very valuable paintings belonging to his
of our German and other hired recruits. In point of grace were not collected in a gallery, but were scattered
cheapness, too, the Turkish soldier is unrivalled. He through the different rooms. 'They were all, with the
wants no bounty, and will oven fight without pay. Give exception of a few on the stairs, fortunately preserved.
him merely the coarsest clothing and food, and he will All the constabulary from the surrounding stations,
think himself comparatively well off. Yet these are the under the command of Inspector Pilkiugton, were itn-
troops whom the British Government, though possessed mediately in attendance, and were placed in the different
of ample funds destined for the purpose, neglects to ren- rooms, galleries, and lawn, in &large of the property,
der effective. In our opinion, the fall of Kars, with all which was all scattered about, where they remained all
1 its future disastrous consequences, is in a great measure night.
traceable to this cruel negligence. Had Omer Pacha's A committee of the directors' of the Midland Great
army in Imeritia, or bad the other Ottoman force which Western Railway having been sitting when the news
attempted to relieve the besieged town by an advance arrived, directed all their !pare men to be collected, and
from Erzeroum, been properly provided, especially with to proceed by special train, under the direction of Mr.
1 the means of transport, we should not have had to record Wilson, the chief engineer, at once to render whatever
the event which, at the close of the campaign, gilds the assistance they could. A train was in readiness and the
standard of Russia. men about to proceed, when the Marquis of Kildare,
It is suggested in /01330 quarters that Government who had gone to Carton by special train in the morning,
has been deterred from despatching the proceeds returned and said the fire had been subdued.
of the 1 san to Constantinople by a fear of aggravating the Nothing could exceed the steady obedience and regu-
disturbance of the money market. In corroboration of larity of all the servants and country people, to whom
this view it is pointed out that the latest remittance of is in a great degree owing the preservation of the house.
400,000/. was not rent until some 300,0007. of newly Her grace the duchess was removed shortly after the
imported gold fcund its way into the Bank. We cannot breaking out of the fire, under the direction of Dr. Fergu-
think that this motive, of itself, furnishes a sufficient ex- son, to the residence of Mr. Toner, the head steward,
planation. It would be far better that the instalments where her grace at present is. Although greatly shocked
should be despatched as they become due, than that this her grace bore the sad event with great equanimity, and
obligation should hang menacingly over the monetary is much better than could be expected under the cireum
world, to occasion a postponement of future relief, or stances.
aggravation of future pressure. Merchants would infi-
nitely prefer to know the worst, so as to be enabled to
make in advance the requisite cautious arrangements.
Nothing disturbs the money market so much as uncer-
tainty.
It is possible that a portion of the 2,500,000/. now
lying in the Bank may be destined to pay for munitions
of war for the Turkish Government. If so, why are not
these supplies bought and sent out ? Ministers must
know that the Ottoman army is in sore want of them.
Onr own belief, however, is, that the real cause
of the delay in the di-tribution of the loan funds rests
with the Commission at Constantinople, through whose
bands the money passes. These Commissioners repre-
sent respectively England, France, and Turkey, and it
is their duty to see that the money is applied to legiti-
mate objects. If what we hear be correct this commis-
sion is a very incarnation of the spirit of obstruction.
Between vexatious demands for all kinds of vouchers.
and cevils as to what disbursements appertain to the ex--
traordinary or war expenditure of the Turkish Govern-
ment, as distinguished from its ordinary service, the
members seem to have almost prevented the unfortunate
and ill-used army from deriving any benefit whatever
from the loan. Is the British Government equally strict
in its supervision of the expenditure constantly going on
nearer horse ? The commissioners' obstructive tendencies,
we are given to understand, caused the shameful delay in
the apportionment of the first 500,000/. No deubt these
gentlemen are very important in their estimation, and
have attained an exalted position in Turkish eyes, as the
dispeneers of an almost fabulous amount of we filth. litqo
they will not achieve success in their mirsion unless they
condescend to defer to the unbusinees-like habits of the
Turks. Many of the Ottoman officials may be rapacious
and corrupt, but there is no need to regard them all as
plunderers. We cannot help thinking that our ally is
ill-treated in this respect. After all, it is Turkey that
pays for the loan. England and France have merely
lent their names, and will, we hope, never be called upon
for any more substantial sacrifice in connection with the
transaction. Lord Clarendon declared in the House of
Lords, on the 3d of August, that " there would be ample
security for the repayment of the loan." By his own
showing, therefore, Turkey has a perfect right to de-
mand that the money for which she pays interest be
promptly and usefully administered. We trust Minis-
ters will direct their attention to this very important I
subject, and take measures for time speedy distribution of
the large sum which is at present deposited in the Bank,
for the exclusive benefit of that favoured corporation.
If a word of remonstrance and instruction be also for-
warded to the members of the commission at Constanti-
nople, we venture to anticipate that the deserving Otto-
man army will be materially benefitted, and the success
of next year's campaign promoted in proportion.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, SATURDAY.
DISASTROUS FIRE AT THE DUKE OF LEIN-
STEWS RESIDENCE AT CARTON.
. _

A fire of the most disastrous and destructive nature,
and which at one time thnatened utterly to destroy the
whole of his Grace the Duke of Leinster's magnificent
and greatly admired mansion at Carton, broke out at an
early hour yesterday morning, but was providentially
got under in time to save the principal portion of the
building, and without any accident of a serious charac-
ter. The fire originated in the north-east tower or
wing, which is completely destroyed. The family in the
houso at the time of the accident consisted of his grace,
who had only returned from Dublin that evenieg ; the
duchess, who has been for a considerable time sufforing
from serious illness, and who for some time past has
been confined to her bed ; his Grace's sister, Lady Kin-
naird, and her daughter, Mrs. Hope ; the duke's son-in-
law, Mr. Repton, M.P. for Warwick, and Lady Jane
Repton ; the Hon. Captain Fitzgerald ; Lord Gerald
Fitzgerald ; and Dr. Ferguson, of Maynooth, who has
been sleeping in the house in attendance on the duchess.
The family retired to bed as usual at an early hour,
about 10 or 11 o'clock—everything being then in a state
of the most apparent security. About 11 o'clock the
housekeeper went through the house, according to cus-
tom, and even into the room in which the fire is sup-
posed to have originated ; but there was not at that
time the slightest appearence of any danger. The house
consists of a main or centre building, and two wings or
towers, and the one which was destroyed was on the left
side of the mansion. It consisted of the organ-room and
ante-room on the ground floor ; over these the Marchio-
ness of Kildare's sitting-room and two bed-rooms, une of
which was occupied, at the time of the accident, by
Captain Fitzgerald ; and over these were two attics and
two nurseries. All these rooms, with the exception of
the sitting-room, were completely destroyed. Adjoining
the organ-room, at either end, were the saloon and
dining-room, two very beautiful rooms, which, although
for a considerable period, in great danger, were ulti-
mately preserved without the slightest injury. The
organ, which was a great favourite of his grace, was a
magnificent instrument, built by Messrs. Flight and
Robson, of London, and put up by hie grace soon after
attaining his majority. From the lightness and dryness
of its materials, and the quantity of woodwork in which
it was imbedded, it formed a nucleus round which the
fire raged with the greatest violence. The fire is sup-
posed to haee originated from a hot-air flue in one of
the upper rooms of this wing, and to have been smoul-
dering for some days, and was first discovered about half-
past four o'clock in the morning. It appeared that the
cook, who sleeps in that end of the house, was
awakened
about that hour by the noise of crackling wood, andhaving got up he discovered that the house
grace.house The
was on h
fire, and immediately reported to h
watchman of the premises discovered the fire at the
same moment—as did also a country carman—and at
once alarmed Mr. Grady, the house steward, who,
The
on
looking out, found the entire wing _
the alarm having
been given, thein
family were at this t
twnod the
e all npn and
ging to the house were
got out at once, a
he engines belonging
most active steps taken to stop
the progress of the is.
The alarm soon reached the town,
where the utmost fire.
Y xiet was evinced to render as-
sistance, some hundreds of the town and country people
at once hurrying up to work the engines, carrying water,
&c. In this respect too much praise cannot be given
to the surrounding gentry and t hefcountry people, but
scH
i y to the president ant professors of the College
oeFspfrAlayanootb, who, on the very first alarm, at once sent
off their engine, together with their own trained men
and labourers, who arrived at the house about six
o'clock, and who rendered very great service in ex-
tinguishing the fire. The president of the college, the
Very Rev. Dr. Whitehead, the Rev. Mr. Kernan, P.P.,
and nearly all the professors of the college, were also
themselves in attendance rendering assistance, and, by
their example, encouraging the people in their exertions.
The Protestant rector of Maynooth, the Rev. Mr.
Blacker, was also present. At the time the fire was
discovered the wind was blowing with great violence
from the S.E., driving the mass of flame and smoke
across the centre of the house, thus increasing the
danger of spreading the conflagration to a fearful extent,
and also rendering it extremely difficult to attempt any
practical measure getting the flames unCer. The
duke, however, andlthe members of his grace's family,
showed an example of courage and self-possession that
was most praiseworthy. When it was clearly ascer-
tained that the destroying element had only possession..
of the tower, the great object was to prevent it spraa
ing to the other portions of the house, and in order
effec-
tually to do this, his grace, acconspanied by his cousin,
Captain Fitzgerald, and his son, Lord Georgeand
with
Fitz-
gerald, got out on the roof about six o'clock ,
then
their own hands ripped off the elates, an