The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 16, 1855

attended by a large number of proprietors—a fact
creditable to them, in so far as it indicates an
interest in the management of their affairs ; but
it was characterised by an itre noise, and
confusion very far from creditable to parties in
their position. Whatever grievances there may
be—aud we are far from denying that there are
grievances, far from asserting that a less dividend
than the last is not provocative of indignation,
when the diminution is supposed to arise from
mismanagement—still a little more moderation
than was displayed on this occasion would re-
dound more to the praise of their discretion.

Tt is not our intention to touch on the disputed
points for some time mooted among the company.
We have expressed au opinion on them already ;
but we have great pleasure in calling attention to
the redeeming feature in the character of ti
meeting, viz. the cordial reception the late chair mar,
Mr. JAMES 31.1eGREGon, experienced, and the vote
of thanks so cordially offered to him by the great
majority of the proprietors present. It was a
tribute of esteem and a mark of confidence in
every respect merited. For ten long years this
public-spirited gentleman had managed the affairs
of the company with a zeal and art ability of a
rare order, and greatly to its interest, and on this
occasion was seen the reward in part of the straight-
forward line of conduct he in his integrity pur-
sued. Though dissevered from the office of chair-
man by an untoward difference of opinion, and
though the passions of the meeting were greatly
excited, his merits and services were honourably
remembered by.the majority ; and he could, with
out creating a doubt of his sincerity, give expres-
sion to the unabated interest he felt in the pro-
sperity of the company, and his ardent desire
that it might be based on enduring foundations.
In his retirement Mr. MAcanEGon may console
himself with the reflection that as time passes on
his services will be still better appreciated, and a
vote of confidence may before long be passed to
him without one dissentient.

LATEST NEWS.

MARSEILLES, MA UCH 15.
The Caire has arrived. She left Constanti-
nople on the Ist, four days before the Ganges.
The Ville de Bordeaux has left for Smyrna to-
day, with forty of the English hospita staff on
board.

The earthquake at Broussa, Lad damaged 100
mosques. The number of victims was 200, and
not 2,000 as at first stated. Several shocks were
felt at Constantinople on the 28th ult. and the Ist
inst., but no damage was done.

MARSEILLES, WEDNESDA Y.

The Caire, which left Constantinople on the
Ist, has been delayed by bad weather, and is still
expeeed. The Ganges, which left on the sth,
has already arrived.

Preparations aro being made at Constantinople
for the visit of Napoleon 11/.
The Journal de Constantinaple gives details •f
a fight which took place on the 23d Feb. before
Sebastopol. A battalion of Zouaves carried by
assault the plateau of the Malakhoff Tower, spiked
eighteen guns, and drove the enemy out of their
trenches, retiring ultimately before a body of
8,000. Russians. In this heroic struggle 380
French were put hers de combat. General Monet
was wounded in both arms.

The Presse cf Constantinople estimates the
Russian loss at 1,000, and reduces the French loss
to 250. Some journals say that General Monet
received five slight wounds while dispersing a
Russian column, which attempted to cut off his
retreat.

Count Zameisky organises at Schumla a second
regiment of Ottoman Cossacks, in whick Poles
will be incorporated.

The railway from Balaklava to Sebastopol will
be finished by March 15.

M. Lesseps, who had visited Constantinople in
order to obtain authority to open the Suez Canal,
has returned to Alexandria.

VIENNA, THURSDAY.

The first meeting of the Congress took place
this day. There were present one French, two
Ottoman, two English, and two Austrian Pleni-
potentiaries. The discussion on the general prin-
ciples of the basis of the negotiation terminated
satisfactorily.

Intelligence had arrived at Constantinople from
the Crimea up to the Bth instant. Nothing im-
portant up to that date had occurred.
General Forey had been recalled to France.

Lord Stratford de Rodeliffe was seriously in-
disposed.

The intelligence of the death of the Emperor
Nicholas 'mused great sensation at Constantinople.
A new decree respecting the Tanzimat had ap-
appeared.

THE HAGUE, 14TH.

Interpellations have been addressed to the
Government in the Second Chamber as to whe-
ther the contingent of Limbourg would leave the
territory of the kingdom before the order of
mobilisation' is given by the Diet. The Mi-
nister of War replied in the negative.

SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
(Front, a &cowl, Editbn of tlte Morning Herald.)
ENGLISH CAMP, HEIGHTS OF
SEBASTOPOL, FBB. 27.

It is supposed that the enemy have received re-
inforcements to-day. While I write there is tre-
mendous cheering going forward among the garri-
son of Sebastopol, and a Fargo brightlight is di3tinctly
visible over the heights near Mackenzie's Farm,
another in the direction of Tchourgoum. It can
hardly be that they meditate a sortie, or they would
make less noise.

MARCH 1.
The cheering in Sebastopol continued through-
out the whole of last night, and was accompanied
by the ringing of church bells in some parts of the
town ; but beyond this clatter the enemy made no
demonstration. At one time, when the shouting
extended along the lino of batteries, our men steed
to their arms and manned their guns, expecting an
immediate attack, but after a few minutes the
alarm passed off, though the shouting continued
some time.

Two long 32-pounders were brought up to the
Inkernian batteries by the French this morning,
and last night an order was issued to the cavalry
that their horses were to be employed in
carrying up shot and shell. The prudence of
this order is more than doubtful, as our
cavalry horses are now only just "getting round"
the effects of the winter, and heavy traffic will
soon throw them all back again. Besides
a very large proportion of what are called the
" effective" survivors of the winter have got the
mange, and in other respects are far from being in
a condition to carry up heavy burthens to the
front. Yesterday, when the order came, there way,
an official inspection to ascertain the number of
horses which the two brigades of cavalry could turn
out for this work, and according to the inspection
the four regiments composing the light brigade
have under 70 serviceable animals. To this small
number the 13th Light Dragoons only contribute
three. The heavy cavalry have but twice as many
horses as the light, in consequence of their never
having remained in camp on the heights, where all
the light cavalry horses starved. But neither light
or heavy are fit for carrying up shot to the trenches.
Captain Brandling's troop of horse artillery has also
been ordered to furnish horses fur this duty. Now
Brandling's troop has perhaps suffered le:is in horses
than any other one out here, but it now only mus
tors 58 horses instead of 210. If these 58 venerable
relics are used in the shot and shell line, what be
comes of the battery ?

IVlAlicif 2.
Every one still seems confident as to the results
which will attend our re-opened fire. It is intended
to concentrate the fire of certain batteries upon one
or two weak points in the enemy's defences until
the guns in them have beet dismounted, and the
abbattis round them destroyed. To effect this
each long gun will fire 100 rounds of shot and shell
per day, and each mortar 50 rounds of shell every
12 hours. The mortars will fire all through the
night to prevent the enemy repairing the damages
which have been caused during the clay's bombard-
ment—the long guns will only fire during the day-
light. Fie]dpieces, small howitzers, and cohorns
will be used in our most advanced works for the
destruction of the stockades and abbattis. Storm-
ing parties will be told off to attack each battery
as soon as silenced. With the new batteries lately
thrown up the English will open fire with about
100 guns
and the French with nearly 200. The
10th or guns,
of March are spoken of as the dates
on which it is most probable we shall re-commence
our attack.

THE CRIMEA.

A letter, dated Constantinople, March 1, says

"The delay which took place in the distribution of the
letters by the last mail Irons the Crimea did not allow
me to send you an account of a feat of arms which took
place on the night between the 23d and 24th of Feb-
ruary. For some time it was known that the Russians
were erecting important works of counter-attack near
the Malakhoff Tower, towards which the French lines
were gradually approachin,, nearer and nearer. As
these works were likely to embarrass the French miners
and disturb the plans of the Allies, it was resolved to de-
stroy them. To this effect a portion of the 3d Division,
under the order of General Monet, advanced during the
night of the 23d, and attacked the Russians in their en-
trenchments. The Russians, much superior in numbers,
made a valiant defence ; but, notwithstanding their
resistance, and the fire of the batteries and vessels in the
port which bore upon the battle ground, they were driven
out of their positions and the works destroyed. This it
appears was the sole object of this nocturnal expedition,
" -tJaa° -.1? 4691 r4tio,u tiat
. _ _

could be swept easily by the guns of the port. The
French returned after accomplishing their object, but not
without considerable loss, estimated at 100 killed aPd
300 wounded. Among the former there were seven or
eight officers, and some 20 officers wounded. General
Monet himself had the thumb of his right hand shot
off, and received a shot in his arm. The loss of the
Russians, which must have been considerable could not
be ascertained," ,