The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 186 b.

COMPLRTIoN OF THE ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPH 'BETWEEN LOYDON ANO
BiILIKLAVA.

l (Prom the Morning Herald's Special Correspondent,)
BALAKLAVA, April 13.—Amidst all our warlike
preparations I must not omit to mention the corn
pletion of a design which is now likely to rank as
high as a valuable auxiliary in war as it formerly
did as a triumph of peaceful and scientific industry
—I mean the submarine electric telegraph, which
was this day completed between the shore at
St. George's Monastery and Cape Kaliacra,
near Varna. To Captain Spratt, of the Spit-
fire, belongs all the honour of the completion
of this most arduous undertaking. The wire, to the
length of 377 miles, was stowed away on board the
Argus ; the Terrible attended to give assistance ;
and Capt. Spratt, in the Spitfire, commanded the
whole affair. The vessels left Cape Kaliacra on the
afternoon of the 10th, and, keeping over the bank
which crosses the Black Sea, dropped the wire in 70
fathoms. They passed Sebastopol yesterday night,
and brought the electric cable safely to land at St.
George's Monastery early this morning, having
payed out out on the passage 301 miles of the te-
le:zraph without the slightest accident. This sub-
marine telegraph is longer by upwards of 200 miles
than any other in existence. The wire from Ka-
liacra to Varna, a distance of 20 miles, is not yet
laid. It will also be submarine, and completed in
the course of another week. Even now messages
from the allied head-quarters will reach Paris or
London in four hours, and, when the wire is all
laid, in something less than a second.
The telegraph will to-morrow be carried into head-
quarters, where one to the trenches is already laid
down, so that the field-officer in command d.uri—ng
the night will at the same moment announce a sortie
to Lord Raglan and to the Prime Minister in Down-
ing-Areet. After this I think a correspondent's
occupation's gone. The first message was sant from
Kaliacra, and contained the important intelligence
that " Corporal Somebody was not well, and
had just taken a dose of castor-oil." The reply
from the Monastery was—" Hope it may do him
good. Our bombardment is going on most suc-
cessfully," Before I conclude this subject I may
just mention a singular phenomenon, which wi:l
puzzle electricians to account for. When the
Argus left Kaliacra she had the coil of 370 miles
of wire stowed away in her hold. As she moved
to sea, messages were repeatedly sent down from
the old castle ou the heights of Kaliacra,
where the end of the wire was secured ; but
though the wire was in perfect connection and
in good order, as was proved by the messages a:1
reaching the Argus, it was impossible to transmit
an answer back to the shore. As the ship increased
her distance from land, the wire gradually gave
faint intimation of its returning powers ; and at
last, when 100 miles of it had been laid down, the
messages were easily sent backwards and forwards.
The scientific gentlemen sent out in charge of the
telegraph were utterly unable to account for this
phenomenon.

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-

311TTEE.-(THIS DAY.)

The Committed reassembled this morning at the
usual hour.
The first witness called was Mr. Richard Potter, of
the firm of Price tnd Potter, of Gloucester, He stated
that on the 2d November he made an application to kir
Charles Trevelyan, with a view to ascertain the proper de-
partment of the Government to apply to in reference to a
proposal he had to make for a supply of wooden huts, for
the use of the troops in the Crimea, similar in construc-
tion to those they had made and shipped for Australia.
He was referred to Mr. Roberts, the secretary to the
Duke of Newcastle, with whom he had some com-
munications on the subject. He had several interviews
with the authorities at the Horse Guards and the Go-
vernment, relative to the plans he submitted. and after
making some alterations in them, in accordance with
the suggestions thrown out by them, he was on the 17th
of November commissioned to construct 500 of these
huts to be delivered within 10 days. On the next day,
however, an inspector was sent down who disapproved
of the form of the roof and the materials, and
the works were suspended accordingly. The work
was, however, afterwards resumed, but on the following
Monday he received an order to stop altogether. Sir F.
Smith telegraphed on the 2let, telling him to proceed
with the construction of 300 of the huts. On the next
day he left for Paris with letters of introduction, with a
view of submitting the plans for the huts to the Em-
peror. At that time he understood that the orders of
the Government were to make 300 huts on the Glouces-
ter plan, and 200 on the Portsmouth plan of roof; but
in the latter case no definite determination was arrived
at for some time afterwards. On the 29th of Novem-
ber the first order was given to load a ntrulier of
the huts fur transmission to S.m! hanipt-n. The con-
tract was completed about the 10th or 11th of Decem-
ber. The whole of the dway which occurred arose from
the indecision of the Government authorities. The E.n-
peror entered into a eoetraet with him immediately f
500 hute, which were completed and sent in in 5 weeks.
By Mr. Drummond—A. box of nails was sent out with
each house constructed for the Engli-h Government.
The st,ry about the want of nails so far as his know-
ledge went was untrue.
Mr. Layard—He had an interview with the gentleman
sent out in charge of the huts, and gave him full in,truc-
tions as to how the huts were to he erected. From the
reports he had received relative to the utility of these
houses—he was convinced that the Gloucester form of
roof was far more adapted to the purpose than the
Portsmouth. _ .

General Peel—You had no previous dealings with the
Ord'iance and the Government authorities to enable you
to know the proper quarter to apply to ?

~Vitnes~—No, nave betore.

The Chairman—And I dare say you h :ye no desire tc
have any communication with them again ? (Laughter.)
By Mr. Drummond—He experienced some difficulty
in obtaining payment after the completion of his cun-
tract. It was paid in three instalments, but he did not
get Vie last, about which t':ere was some misunderetend-
ing, until the end of February, when it was obtained for
him by Mr. Hayter.
By -Lord Seymour—His estimate was 25/. per house ;
each house weighing about 48 cwt.
Mr. Layard—Were you ever told by the Ordnance
authorities that your communicatione were not regular ?
Witness—The Ordnance never replied to any of my
communications at all. My correspoudence was princi-
pally with Sir F. Smith.
Mr. Layard—Supposing Mr. Hayter had not suc-
ceeded in obtaining the last instalment of your money
for you what should you have done ?
Witness—l should have sued the Government for
" goods sold and delivered." (Laughter.)
Mr. Layard—Should you have done so ?
Witness—l should have tried at all events. (Laughter.)
Deputy Commissary-General Smith was next called,
and was cross-examined by Lord Seymour.
He stated that on his arrival at Constantinople in
March last year he received instructions for the recep-
tion of a military fore. He bad never been
there before, and wee totally unacquainted with
the language. He was furnished by Lord Strat-
ford de Redcliffe with credentials, on whom he waited
the first day of his arrival. He promised him every
assistance and cooperation. After spending some few
days in making particular inquiries amongst persons to
whom the Ambassador recommended him, he made a re-
port to the Commissary-General as to the resources of
the country. (The witness here put in that report at
the request of Mr. Layard.) It was part of his duty to
examine into the means of land transport, but not to pro-
vide barracks. He received no instructions as to
where the troops would be quartered ; and when, in
April, he heard of their arrival he prevailed on Lord
Stratford to smile the barracks at Scutari. He visited
thew, and found them in a better condition than might
have been expected. He saw nothing about them which
led him to think that they were unfit for quarters for
English troops, or that they were not a tapted for hospital
purposes. A supply of tents was sent down by the Turkish
Government, as wellas some soldiers to assist the troops in
making the preliminary arrangerneets. He ha l an inter-
preter granted to him by the Turkish G tverionent.
He visited Gallipoli, and there en. erect into a
series of contracts for army supplies with persons
who were recommended to him fur that purpose
—and he saw no raison at the time why they should
not work properly. This was the first time he
had ever tried the contract system in Tu, key.
He contracted also for the transport service.
He admitted that there were some difficulties connected
with this department, but they were unavoidable He
contracted for a sappy of fresh meat--in the proportion
.of beef five days a week, will mitten 2 days a week. It
was of inferior quality, but it was the very best the
country could afford. The other supplies were corn e-
what inferior, but that could not be helped. He also
contracted for a supply of forage. It was true at one time
there was only a very inadequate quantity in the depot,
but that arose from circumstances which were not fore-
sees, and the difficulty was immediately remedied.
Stores were established at Constantinople, arid two
granaries were also there ; and he thought these
must have escaped the notice of those Englishmen
who had visited the locality. One of the granaries wee
three miles out of the town. The stores contained
forage, rum, salt meat, and other supplies. He never
experienced any inconvenience from the forms which
had to he signed, and which were found in the book of
iristiucidone. He could not suggest any forms of a sim-
pler chat acter. Alter the arrival of the troops at Scutari
coffee was not at first supplied to them. It was not
supplied until July, when it was served out as a ration.
In the meanwhile it bad been sent out in a raw state
for sale at cost price to the men. He had a
large store of coffee, which was given out as
an additional ration, and not as a substtute for
anything else. WhOs the army was at Varna he
was engaged to supply the means of land transport—at
least he purchased the baggage animals under the direc-
tion of Lord Thiglan. In August he was informed that
the army was about to move—though he did not know
to what destination—and he acted under the orders of
the Commissary-General in making the necessary provi-
sion of all kinds. The hurricane of the 15th November
very materially damaged the resources of the commis-
sariat.

[LEFT SITTING.]

LAW INTELL.I7I-fi: ArilE.-( THIS DAY.)

COURT OF CHANCERY.
The Lord Chancellor did not sit to-day.
(Before the Lord-Justices of Appeal.)
NICKELLS V. HANCOCK.

The Solicitor-General resumed and concluded his argu-
ments to-day in the case which came before their lord-
ships upon appeal from the Vice-Chancellor Wood, dis-
cussing a bill praying the specific performance of an
award made by a gentleman of the name of Carpmell,
in pursuance of a deed of submission to arbitration.
The ground on which the Vice-Chancellor Wood dis-
missed the bill was that the arbitrator had exceeded
his powers. The question in the case related to certain
patents relative to gutty percha.
Mr. Wilcox followed the Solicitor-General, and occu-
pied the Court the whole morning.

(Before Vice• Chancellor Stuart.)
WINTOSH V. THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

Sir Fitzr,,y Icily resumed and concluded his argu-
ments to-day in this importaq and extremely heavy case
on behalf of the plaintiff. The bill is filed by the plain-
tiff for the purpose of establishing a claim for no less a
sum than a quarter of a million of money against th;
defendants the Great toestern Railway Company.
The claim of the plaintiff arises under contracts entered
into between the plaintiff and the defendants for the
exeeution by the former of certain parts of the main line
of the Great Western Railway. The plaintiff according
to the statement of Sir F. Kay, and the r,.citals in the
bill, completed the several portions of the line he had
contracted to execute, but the Great Western Company
by their answer and evidence assert, that as these con-
tracts were not completed within, the time specified the
plaintiff had incurred penalties which they were entitled
to set off against his claim.
In answer to this defence the plaintiff asserted that.
the delays arose entirely from the faults of the defen-
dants, who, by throwing impediments in the way of the
plaintiff, had occasioned him great loss, for which he
was entitled to compensation. The pleadings on the
case are enormously bulky, and the fees to counsel almost
vie with those given in the well-known case of " Small
v. Attwood." It is more than probable that the argu-
ments will last six or seven days.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
THE QUEEN V. COOKSET.
In this case, which it will be recollected was of a
somewhat extraordinary nature a charge against a
medical man, Mr. J. A. Cooksey, of Chipping, Camp-
den, of having circulated a false and scandalous report
against a lady whom he attended professionally—Sir
Frederick Thesiger this morning said :—ln this case,
which was a rule for a criminal information, affidavits
have been filed on the part of the defendant, and my
friend and myself have looked anxiously at the affidavits,
and we aro satisfied, according to the practice of the
court, that under the circumstances this court would
certainly not make the rule absolute, but would dis-
charge it ; we are therefore compelled to submit to the
rule being discharged, and as we find that the practice
has been, under such circumstances, to discharge the
rule with costs, we must submit to that order.
Lord Campbell—The rule will be discharged with
costs.

The Lady Louisa Bustle, whose death at Bath is an-
nounced, was a danghter of the late Lord Listowel, and
married in 1817 John Bushe, Esq., eldest son of the late
Chid Justice Bubo.