The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-29 00:00:00

ItSDAY EVENING, MARCH 29, 1855.

97th Regiment of Foot.
Private Francis (larty,islightly
Private James Hargreaves, slightly
MA.lica 15.
38th Regiment of Foot.
Private Joseph Peveroit, slightly
_ _

55th Regiment of Foot.
Private Michael Farrell, severely, since dead

62d Regiment of Foot.
Private Hugh Reilly, !slightly

77th Regiment of Foot.
Private William Grange, dangerously
J. B. BIICKNALL ESTCOURT,
Adjutant-General. -

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES FROM

ADMIRAL. LYONS.

(From, a supplement to 'itesday's Gazette.)
• ADMIRALTY, MARCH 28.
-Despatches, of which the following are copies, have
bt en received -from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
B. G.C.8., Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships
and vessels in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
.I):ZSTRUCTION OF THE TOWER OF DJIMITEIA. BY HER
MAJESTY'S STEAM-VESSEL VIPER.
Royal Albert; off Sebastopol, March 17, 1855.
Sir,—l have the honour to enclose, for the information
of VA() Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a
letter that I have received from Captain GifYard, of her
Modesty's ship Leopard, enclosing one from Lieutenant
A canytage, reporting his having destroyed in her Majesty's
statu-vessel Viper, under his command, the martello
t ewer and barracks of Djimiteia, which had been recently,
erected for the defence of the direct communication be-
tween Anapa and Kertch.
This very useful service has been performed by Lieut.
Armytage in the manner that might have been expected
from an officer of his acknowledged merit.—l am, &a.,
(Signed) Ll)ApgiNo LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.

Enclosure.

Her Majesty's ship Leopard, off Kertch, lifirch 8.
Sir,-:—The wind being off shore this morning, I, sent her
Majesty's ship Viper to examine the Boghaz of tlio Kuban
Lake, and also the coast as far as the Tower of Djimiteia,
and have the honour to enclose a letter from Li,htemant
Armytage, reporting his having; in the latter place, de-
stroyed the new tower, with two guns, also.the-barracks
and other buildings. -
Lieutenant Armytage deserves.great credit for the able
manner in which he has perforated this service with his
small vessel.--11 have; . _ fie.,

• (Signed) GEO.• GIFFARD, Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir, Edruand Lyon,4, Bart., G.C.8.,
Commander-in-Chief.

Sub-En closura.

Her Majesty's steam-vessel Viper, off Kertchk
March 8, 1855.
Sir,—l have the honour to report that, in obedience to
your instructions, I left this anchorage at 5.30 this morn-
ing, for the purpose of examining the mouth of the Kuban
Lake. I arrived off there at nine, and observing a small
force of Cossacks on the north spit, opened fire snit dis-
persed them, then examined the lake in the whale-boat of
this ship, bnt observing nothing of consequence proceeded
along the coast to the south-eastward.
_ _

I had just previous:y taken possession of a small vessel
laden with charcoal and other goods, which I have brought
in with me, with three prisoners on board. I enclose
you her papers, &c., as they may be useful to his Excel-
lency, the Commander-in-Chief, and request your direc-
tions in reference to the prisoners.
At 1.50 p.m. I arrived off the Martello Tower, at Djimi-
teia, anchoring bow and stern at a distance of 500 yards
from the beach, and at 2 p.m. opened fire upon the fort,
dispersing the few Cossacks that remained.
It is now my pleasing duty to inform you that I have
effectually destroyed the fort, barracks, and granaries
(having set fire to the latter), spiked and lisabled the two
guns, destroying the ammunition • and all, I am happy to
say, without any casualty on board the Viper.
I beg to bring under your notice the conduct of Mr.
James Riche, Second Master, who commanded the land-
ing parties ; and Mr. John R. Moss, Master's Assistant,
who aided him in destroying the guns ; both having per-
formed their duty much to my satisfaction.—l have, &e.,
(Signed) ARMYTAGE,
Lieutenant and Commander.
Captain George Giffard, H.M.S. Leopard,
Senior Officer.

Royal Albert, off Sebastopol, March 17.
Sir,—l have the honour to enclose, for the information
of the Lords Commissioners cf the Admiralty, a letter
which has been addressed to rue by Captain Giffard, stat-
ing that, while making a reconnaissance nearSoujak-Kale,
with her Majesty's ship Leopard under his command, and
accompanied by her Majesty's ships Highflyer,
Swallow, and Viper, and also by H.LM. steam
ship-of-war Fulton, he was informed.. by the Cir•
cassians in the neighbourhood that the enemy
had so reduced the strength of that fortress by the removal
of men and guns to Anapa, that they were ready to attack
it by land if he would do so by sea ; and that he, wishing
to encourage the natives and to embarrass the Russians,
had assented to the proposal, and moved the ships to within
1,000 yards of the south face of the fort, where he performed
his part, but that on finding the Circassians did not perform
theirs he withdrew, after having driven all the garrison
out of the place, with the exception of a few gunners in
the earthern batteries, and having also dismounted several
guns, and done condderable damage t' the arsenal and
public works, leaving the garrison about a mile fvem the
place, surrounded by Circassians, who wore collecting rein-
forcements.

The ships appear to have been well placed, and to have
fired with great effect; and Captain Giffard expresses his
thanks to Captain Le Brig, his able coadjutor on former
occasions, as well as to Captain Moore, Commander Gran-
furd, and Lieutenant Armytage, and their respective
officers and ships' companies, for their support.
Of Captain Giffard himself, I may be permitted to ob-
serve that this-is noethe first time that his zeal and gal-
lantry have been conspicuous since he has been under my
command.—l am, &c.,
(Signed) ED. LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty, London.

REPORTING AN ATTACK UPON SOUJAK.
Her Majesty's'ship Leopard, Soujak Bay,
March
Sir,—l have thehonour toacqualin3i y0u,1855t.
hat from the in-
formation I had received from the Cireassians, at Ghelenjik
and also from the observations of Monsieur Le Brig of his
Imperial Majesty's .steam-vessel Fulton, as well as my
own, on the 6th instant, in Soujak Bay, I was led to be-
lieve the Russians kid sent many guns, stores, &c., away
from that fort, and would probably leave if a force ap-
peared off it. •
Wishing to have more certain information fcr you,
on my return to your flag, I, on the evening of the
11th instant, when the Highflyer joined me. proceeded
with the vessels named in the mr6in (Leopard: Ifighilyer,
Swallow, Viper, and Fulton, French steamer), to' Soujak
Bay, where wo anchored on the morning of the 12th ;
but a fresh gale, with heavy swell, prevented our closing
the batteries. I therefore threw some shells into the place;
and the Cireassians, who soon appeared in .numbers, at the
same time attacked the small fort at the head of, the
bay, opposite the town, drove out the garrisc,n, and burnt
it, at S a.m. This morning the Circassians informed
me they had a sufficient force, and would attack
Soujak Kale by land if I would do so by sea, and wishing
to encourage them and embarrass the et emy,-I immediately
moved the squadron to within 1,000 yards of the south
face and opened fire on it. From this point the enemy
only had 10 guns to bear on the ships ; but the light wind
and damp weather made the smoke hang over and conceal
them from our fire, while our masts above were conspi-
cuous to them.

We soon drove all the inhabitants and troops out of the
place, except those in the earthen batteries, but I was
much disappointed to find that the Circassians did not ad-
vance to attack them when out of the town, as they bad
promised. I, therefore, moved out again, as, with our
small force of men, it would have been too great a risk to
land, the main botly of the garrison being close at hand.
The arsenal and public buildings are much injured, and
several of the guns were silenced and dismounted. Our
small; and some injury
hlo
say,the masts
asthasas bnceten hulls of the ships.
pleasedttllo with the able way in which all the
aslss ,
beenw I
ss am
much happydonet
o
ships took up their assigned positions, and have to thank
Monsieur le Brie, of the Fulton, Captain Moore, Comman-
der Craufurd, and Lieutenant Armytage, commanding the
Viper, for their able support, as well as all the officers and
men.
The Russian force, apparently 1,500 or 2,000 men, and
the other inhabitants are now encamped about a mile north
of the town, having left a few men in the batteries ; they
will have great difficulty in communicating with Anapa,
being surrounded by the Cireassians (who were collecting
reinforcements), and should they return to: the town, a
small naval force can at any time drive them out again..
• I enclose list of casualties among the ships.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) GEORGE GIFFARD, Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., G.C.B.

Sub-Enclosure No. 1.

CASUALTIES ON BOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP
LEOPARD, RECEIVED DURING THE "ATTACK
AT SOUJAK, ON THE 13TH MARCH, 1855.
KILLED. •

David Marchment, gunner, Royal Marine Artillery,
shot wound, carrying away the soft parts of the neck ante-
rior to the spine.
WOUNDED.
George Davis, A. 8., splinter wound of thigh severe.
William Brewerton, Private Royal Marine, contused
wound of back, slight.
(Signed) J. ACHESON,
Surgeon.

Sub-Enclosuro No. 2.

RETURN OF KILLED AND WOUNDED ON BOARD
HER MAJESTY'S SHIP HIGHFLYER, AT SOU-
JAK-KALE, MARCH 13, 101 ,
Killed . • • None.
WOUNDED.
•
•
James Rickara, A. 8., slightly.
Jeremiah O'Brien, Ordinary, slightly.
(Signed) W. D. KERL, M.D.
Surgeon.

THE BALLARAT BANK ROBBERY.-With reference to
a statement which is going the round of the newspapers
respecting the Ballarat Bank robbery, we understand
that the amount of defalcation is not more than 10,000/.
or 12,000/., and not 30,000/., as it has been erroneously
reported. The accountant's name was Drake, not Clarke.
The Rev. John Talbot JohnPton was on Monday in-
et,tut.ed to the Rect...ry of Becclee, in Suffolk, on the pre-
sentation of the Rev. Edmund Holland, of Benhall
Lodge, Suffolk,

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

VISIT OF THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH.
(From, the Times of ;his day.)

The arrangements for the visit of the Emperor of the
French and the Empress Eugdnie to this country are
now said to be complete, and on the ltith of April' the
Imperial Court of France is expected to arrive on a visit
to her Majesty the Queen, either at Windsor Castle or
in London.. Engaged as the two nations of France and
England now are in an intimate alliance, and in the
joint prosecution of an arduous campaign, no surprise
can be felt that the same courtesy and confidence which
have long been happily established between the. Mini-
sters, the Generals, and the troops of these two great
Powers should also mark the personal intercourse of their
'Sovereigns. Such an exchange of civilities is consistent
with propriety, with the usage of modern times, and
with good policy, for the public will view with satisfac-
tion every incident which strengthens the ties on whic:i
our success in war and, our security in peace PO ma-
terially depend. Bat this visit to England is not the
less an extraordinary occurrence in the life of an
extraordinary man. Just seven years will have elapsed
since he who now wields with great vigour and ability
the sceptre and the sword of France took his place
among the special constables of St. James's, and mounted
guard with the population of London to protect the pro-
perty and order of this metropolis. Soon afterwards he
quitted this country with a Belgian passport, an uncer-
tan destihy, and a precarious subsistence. He returns
to it under the most opposite circumstances—the Sove-
reign of a powerful nation allied on equal terms to the
Queen of these rea,lm2.—exereising a power at home and
abroad which has not only subdued all its rivals but an-
nihilated all resistance—accompanied by his Consort, a
lady whose beauty and whose talents shed lustre on her
plicate, ;ask, but whom his will alone has placed on the
throne of the Empress Josephine—and received by the
people of England as a scan who has not only suc-
cessfully mastered one of the paroxyisms of the French
Revolution, but who has established the closest unton
between the two great empires of the West, and has
drawn the sword, in conjunction with ourselves to de-
fend the permanent iaterests of Europe. In' the evei;tful
history of these times it has not fallen to oer lot to re-
cord a more.. striking contrast, or an'evelit suggesting
mere singular reflections. • •

In takin,g this retrospective glance at the career of the
Emperor Napoleon we have not forgotten, and it would
ill become us to forget, the means by which he raised
himself to absolute power, the overthrow of the liberties
f the French people which fellowed the revolution of
1843, and the energy with which we felt called upon to
raise our voice against acts so fatal to the cause of free
government. Tho opinions we expressed at that time
were, and still are, the opinions of men ardently at-
tached to the institutions of that free commonwealth in
which we live, and hardly able t> cenceive the perma-
nence of a government founded on a totally opposite
principle in such a country as France. But, whatever
may be the value of those opinions, which time alone
can definitively prove, the condition and demeanour of
the French nation for the last three years have entirely
deprived them of their direct application to that country.
The Government established by the coup d'etat of
1851 has retained the support of that national
majority to which it victoriously appealed to ratify its
power; and from that time to the present no serious
attempt has been made to alter the existing settlement
of the empire. Under these circumstances it would be
impertinent in foreign observers to discuss the character
of a Government which is accepted by those whom it
more particularly concerns. It would, moreover, be
disingenuous not to admit that the use made by the Em-
peror Napoleon of the absolute power now vested in his
hands does him far greater honour than the means be,
which he obtained it. He assumed the reins of govern-
ment after a catastrophe which had for a season pros-
trated the social energy and almost exhausted the re-
sources of France. Yet, with marvellous rapidity, the
credit, the prosperity, and the productive power of the
empire revived, and the experience of upwards of three
years has shown that this astonishing development of
wealth and activity is not due to fictitious or ephemeral
causes, but to the real progress of the nation. Public
works of surprising m agnificence have been not only begun
but completed in all parts of France, and more especially
in the capital. Reforms, salutary to trade, have been ac-
complished in the commercial system of the country. The
French navy has been raised to an unprecedented
degree of power. Loans of great magnitude have beea
subscribed with popular enthusiasm, and -the financial
• operations of the great French companies have extended
to the most remote parts of Europe. To these facts
must be added the considerations more immediately
affecting ourselves and the political interests of foreign
nations, in as far as we and they are affected by the
foreign policy of the Emperor of the French.
When the Emperor Napoleon ascended the throne,
and found himself in possession of an uncontrolled
authority over the political and military resources of
France, he bad before him two courses of action. He
might, had he been so iaclined, have revived the foreign
policy of the first Empire ; he might have repudiated
the treaties of 1815, attempted to extend the territories
of France to the Alps and the Rhine, sought to avenge
the Battle of Waterloo on this country, broken up the
existing state of Europe, and obtained, without much
difficulty, the alliance of the late Emperor of Russia
in the accoinplishment of these nefarious designs ; for
in the early part of 1853 there can be little doubt
that Russia would have consented to purchase the
alliance of France at any price, and the new empire
might have been inaugurated by another Tilsit. On the
other hand lay the alternative of an intimate alliance
with Great Britain. Louis Napoleon well knew the
conditions on which alone such an alliance could be
formed and maintained. He was well aware that in
connecting his policy with that of this country he gave a
pledge for the observance of existing treaties, for the in-
dependence of Belgium, Switzerland, and Sardinia, for
our own security, for the maintenance of the existing
balance of power, and for his adherence to a disinte-
rested and pacific system of government. He knew also
that the only sure ground of this alliance would be an
absolute good faith and strict veracity in all the relations
it might call into existence. Such being the option
which lay before him, we say that it does honour to his
judgment and to his character, and that it especially
entitles him to the respect and gratitu2.e of the people
of thin country, when it appears that he unhesitatingly
and irrevocably chose the last of these two alterna-
tives. It was not the course which appealed most
directly to the old associations of Imperial France,
to the ambition of the people, or the enthusiasm of the
army ; but it was a course dictated by prudence, by wis-
dom; by good policy, and by tito desire of peace ; and
that decision undoubtedly saved this country, as well as
France and the rest of Europe, from perils and evils in
comparison with which the events of the present war
subside into insignificance. On the grounds of practical
experience and of national interest we shall, in common
with the whole people of this country, welcome the
visit of the Emperor of the French to the Court of Eng-
land. It is a conspicuous mark of the strength and
energy of that alliance in which the honour of our arms
and the success of our common cause are so deeply en-
gaged. It is a fresh proof of the confidence and regard
with which the Emperor Napoleon looks upon a country
which he has known well under different circumstances
and at other times. It sheltered him a fugitive from
the fortress of Ham—it will receive him a guest from
the splendour of the Tuileries. But in either capacity
he knows that he is no stranger among us, and that no
man ever sought and held fast to the friendship of this
country in vain.

MORE HUMBUG.
(From the Morning Post.)

We believe we are correct in stating that the third of
the Four Points having come under the consideration
of the Congress of Vienna, and the Plenipotentiaries
having exchanged their ideas upon this important con-
dition, it has been found by them necessary to communi-
cate with their various Governments, and especially
with St. Petersburg, in consequence of the inability •f
the Plenipotentiaries to reconcile their respective in-
structions.

The Third Point, it will be remembered, stipulates for
the entrance of Turkey into the European family,
and for the limitation of the preponderance of Rus-
sia in the Black Sea. This point, it is true was, with
the others, accepted by that Power ; but now,
when its object and scope come to be determined,
it is not surprising that Russia should endeavour to in-
terpret them in a manlier as little injurious to herself as
useless to us—whilst we are determined to see them car-
ried out in material guarantees, such as the limitation
of the naval forces of Russia in the Black Sea to a squad-
ron of a strength merely necessary for the purposes of
police, and quite inadequate for aggression.
In matters of such importance as these it was not to
be expected that plenipotentiaries would be authorised
to give a final answer. But, as the case now stands,
M. Titoff and Prince Gortschakoff will have put their
Imperial Master in possession of the requirements of
the Allies on this point, and will, no doubt, in the
course of some days receive his instructions.
Whilst waiting for these, the Congress will, pro-
bably, continue to meet, and, we may suppose,
will pursue the study of the First and Second Points,
which have not been accepted, as it has been erroneously
stated, but merely acknotvledged as to their general
bearing. They have yet to be canvassed in all their diffi-
cult details, and this, if ever it be come to, will be a
work of many weeks.
We must caution the public, then, against the stories
of the many erroneous telegraphs and letters which have
obtained currency, and against the premature state-
ments which may be made, either peaceful or warlike,
during the short interval which must elapse ere an
answer is received from St. Petersburg.
We with we could entertain the hope that the Govern-
ment of the young Czar will submit to the terms on which
alone an honourable and safe peace can be obtaineda ;
but we fear that, great as our efforts have been, it my
need yet greater before we can be satisfied of the future
tranquillity of Europe.

(From the Morning Chronicle of this clay.)
The British people are growing uneasy on the subject
of the attitude assumed by this country towards Russia,
more especially in the Vienna negotiations. Rumours,
which Aro unforttuatey toe well confirmed by prQbas