The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-28 00:00:00

.11 I rif NI_LI ON DON. WEDNESDAY ItirrYINCI.-

down under equally stringent tests, trials, or
ordeals of general and individual efficiency.
Honour to whom honour is due—palmam. qui
Intruit ferat. While our comments must, in jus-
tice, upon Those, be sternly condemnatory—it
may, fortunately, and with equal justice, upon
These, be warmly eulogistic, laudatory without
stint, and commendatory without extravagance.
Public Opinion is happily endowed at these great
crises in the national destiny, not merely with the
consular authority, but no less with the Imperial
prerogative. It retains to itself the privilege,
that is, of distributing deserved rewards—while
at the same time meting out merited punishments.
As Justice holds in one hand the sword and in the
other the balance, so it—Public Opinion—has in
one the Civic Crown and in the other the Shell
of Ostracism.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY MECHANICS'
INSTITUTION, ASHFORD.

Yesterday evening Mr. Charles Dickens gene-
rously did good service to the funds of this excel-
lent institution, and highly delighted a crowded
audience, by reading his "Christmas Carol," in
one of the railway company's large workshops at
Ashford, fitted up for the purpose. With the
great merits of the " Christmas Carol" the public
are familiar, but the vitality given to it by Mr.
Charles Dickens' extraordinary dramatic powers
is indeed surprising. The audience thoroughly
entered into the spirit of the tale, sad more than
once gave visible evidence of its pathos; while bursts
of hearty laughter testified to its rich humour and
the comic powers of the author.
Captain Barlow, the General Manager of the
South-Eastern Railway, who was to have presided,
was unable to attend, aid was replaced by the Rev.
Mr. Pughe, the Company's Chaplain.

LIVERPOOL ELECTION.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY, 12 o'CLocK.

The nomination of candidates for the representation of
Liverpool, in place of Lord Ravenswortb, late the Hon.
H. T. Liddell, took place yesterday morning, opposite
the Town-hall.

9 o'CLocK.

Ewart ..
Bonham..

10 o'CLocK.

E wart ...
Bonham..

.. 1,398
... 721

11 o'CLocK.

Ewart
Bonham

.. 2,554
~. 1,42 G

LATEST NEWS.

THE BALTIC FLEET.
DEAL, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
The ships of the advanced squadron have
weighed and proceeded for the Baltic, consisting
of the Imperieuse, Euryalus, Arrogant, Cossack,
Tartar, Conflict, Desperate, Esk, and Archer.

VIENNA, TUESDAY EVENING.

The political horizon has again become some-
what gloomy.
It is said that yesterday's amference, which
was the first on the third point, was not satisfac-
tory.

Although the Western Powers do not insist, on
razing the fortifications of Sebastopol, they pro-
pose other conditions which are not agreeable to
Russia.

BERLIN, TUESDAY, MARCH 27.

A telegraphic despatch from St. Petersburg.,
dated the 26th inst., states that the following
despatch had been received there :

Prince Gortschakoff arrived at Sebastopol on

the 20th of March.

On the 14th the Turkish cavalry at Eupatoria
made a sortie, but were repulsed.

On the 17th three battalions of Zouaves at-
tacked the new redoubts, and were driven back
with great loss.

MADRID, MARCH 26.

MM. Weisveil]er and Salamanca have made
proposals for the new loan of 500 millions of
reals.

The discussion on the bill relating to the sale
of the Church property is to commence imrnedi-

ately.
The last news from Cuba is satisfactory.

TILE VIENNA CONFERENCE.

The foreign journals received last evening refer
to the abandonment by France and England of the
demand that Sebastopol shall be dismantled as a
matter of which there can be no question. When
Prince Gortschakoff withdrew his troops from Silis-
tria last June, after a 40 days siege, the Journal de
St. Petersbourg began to speak of " the sham siege
of Silistria." The French Government journalsbave
begun to affirm that the Western Powers are not
seeking to destroy Sebastopol. The onstitutionnel
writes :—" The destruction of Sebastopol no longer
figures in the number of the stipulations of the Allies
relative to the Black Sea, for the reason that the
siege of which this place has been the object has
never been considered otherwise than a means and not
as an end by the Western Powers. What they
pursue in common in the Black Sea with their
fleet and army is net the ruin nor the capture of a
military port—it is the reduction of the forces
which Russia has maintained in these parts—it is
the species of domination which she exercised, and
the privilege she enjoyed there, to the detriment
of all Europe, and, above all, of Turkey."
VIENNA, March 24.—it was yesterday affirmed
on 'Change that the preliminaries of peace had
been signed, but nothing of the kind has happened.
Very little transpires re.ative to what takes place
during the Conferences, but one or two of the "ini-
tiated" men, who are renowned for their uncom=
promising hostility to Russia, have, within the
last 24 hours, expressed their belief that a means
may be found of making Russia innoxious for the
future without insisting on the destruction of Se-
bastopol. At the Conference of yesterday, which
lasted four hours and a half, Baron Prokesch is said
not only to have taken the lead, but to have
kept it.
This morning a Cabinet messenger was to have
left for England with despatches.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
(From a Second Edition cf the Morning Herald.)
ENGLISH cAmp, HEIGHTS' OF SEBASTOPOL,
MARCH 11.
This evening the Medway arrived with 300 con-
valescents, all of whom, I am glad to say, were in
excellent health, and fit for any duty. This is the
largest number of convalescents we have yet re-
ceived, and, as I have said, all were in an admi-
rable state. The Trent left Balaklava, this even-
ing to purchase horses at Varna, and the Hope
with ammunition for Eupatoria. Admiral Stewart
has returned from the latter town, and resumed his
old place in the fleet. General rumour reports
that it is impossible to hold Eupatoria against any
serious attack of the enemy. Nous verrons.
MARCH 12.
Sir John M`Neille and General Simpson,
who are to superintend the working of the
staff and commissariat departments, arrived
to-day. The country may rest assured that
nothing will go right while our present Quarter-
master and Adjutant-Generals are retained. But
for the positive obstacles thrown in his way
Mr. Filder would have kept the troops on ample
rations. This is no haphazard remark, but
one which inquiry will fully bear out. Lord
Raglan and General Airey are answerable for
nine-tenths of the disasters which have fallen
on our troops, and General Estcourt is far from
being without his share of deep responsibility and
blame. Yesterday evening Omer Pacha arrived at
ICa.miesh, and, accompanied by Admirals Lyons,
Brunt, and Stewart, immediately proceeded to
Lord Raglan's head-quarters. Shortly aftewards
Generals Canrobert, Bosquet, and Sir George
Brown arrived, and a loi2g council of war was held,
It is generally believed that the Turkish Corn-
mander-in-Chief came to ask for reinforcements,
and also to represent the impossibility of defending
Eupatoria against a regular siege. The council
lasted nearly four hours, and Omer Pacha returned
to Eupatoria this morning. Neither English nor
French
troops can be spared at present for the de-
fencethat place.
During
the whole of to-day the church bells in
of
Sebastopol have been tolling heavily, it is pre-
sumed for some religious service for the departed
_Ern perer.
For the first time our tramway was used to-day
for the conveyance of shot and shell to the general
depot in course of formation about a mile and a half
from head-quarters. For some time past the line
bas been used for the conveyance of rations of all
; but hitherto no very heavy traffic: has been
att enipted. About 6,000 shot and shell were to-day
sal:it up to the heights over •Karani, and thence for-
warded in our own and the French waggons to the
trerneh es. None of the stationary engines are yet
at: work.

MARCH 13.

`This day the enemy
nart at Balaklava made a
si h
attempt to cut off the wood party of
're nc
who are employed in making gabions on
tl heights beyond. the marine and rifle camps.
,A,.bout 1,000 French march down to this place each
13 igbd, cut the wood, make their gabions, and re-
t urn about the middle of the following day. Their
usual route to camp is across the plain of Bala-
"ava, and to-day, while the whole party were
q:'llietlY trudging along, each man carrying his
ga ,bion, they ware surprised by the sudden appear-
" let) of about 500 Cossacks along the ridges of the
W 'oronzow road. A musket was fired, and at the
signal the Cossacks instantly closed up and
el urged down upon the French at a tremendous
ps •ce• Straggling in disorder over the plain, and
ec tcumbered with their gabions, our allies still
ih owed a bold front, and tried to collect in time
t oppose their assailants, who came on with loud
8l trouts ; but, as it happened, the Cossacks had
go r• near, so that, in spite of themselves, the
F rench were compelled to throw down their gabions
au A run towards the shelter of our lines. The
th ousand gabions thus suddenly cast in the path of
th enemy impeded their movements considerably ;
;still the consequences
bu might have been serious
to s h o French, but that the batteries of the Marines
and : Highlanders instantly opened upon the Cossack
line. The first shell fired fall right amongst them,
killi a g two men and wounding a third. The other
gum.; were too much elevated, but still poured such
n, sine m of shot over the heads of the Russians as
made them instantly wheel threes, about, and re-
;re, •,3 ith ail speed. At the first alarm a regiment
4, I Zomemes on the heights were under arms, and
a. ivauced to the relief of their comrades. Sup-
wteci by this force, the French gathered up all
th eir gabions,_ without molestation from the enemy,
wh remained upon the hills. Only one Cossack
ad; ced upon the French within 300 yards, and he
was lc flied by a random shot which a Zouave took
at hin3
_All • to-day the Russian guns over the northern
height s of Inkerman have been firing heavily at the

few stragglers who have ventured beyond our lines
in— search of wood.- No casualties have occurred, as
the enemy rarely fire at a nearer range than 3,000
yard 4. Theßussian riflemen, in part of their works,
annoy the French much, and have lately cansed
them some loss. Beyond this, and the usual pm-.
paratiens which we are making to open fire in the
way of getting up guns, shot, and shell, there is
nothing to report about the progress of the siege.
The last of our 13-inch mortars was brought up
to head-quarters to-day, and the electric telegraph
between head-quarters, Kamiesli, and Balaklava
completed. The appointment of Generals Simpson
and M‘Neille to exercise a supervision over the dom-
missariat and general staff has given deep offence
to the latter. Yesterday Lord Raglan, accompanied
by General Oanrobert, visited Balaklava for a short
time.

..:~,;

MARCH 14.

'Twice during last night the whole camp was dis-
turbed by a tremendous fire from the enemy's works.
All the picquets and outposts were kept continually
on the alert, and twice the Light and 2d Divisions
were turned out under arms. The firing was caused
by our allies making attempts to dislodge the rifle-
men, who, bidden in front of the enemy's lines,
have lately inflicted considerablemischief. The first
attempt was only made by a party of about 100
Masseurs, who, after skirmishing with the Russian
marksmen for same time, were, in the end, over-
powered and driven back by vastly superior numbers.
The second attempt was made by a strong body of
Masseurs, supported by 200 of the covering party
from the trenches. But, during this time, the enemy
had received large reinforcements, and the second
attack was repulsed with a loss to the French of 50
killed and wounded. The firing completely
alarmed the whole camp, and within five minutes
after the second attack had failed, two French regi-
ments, one of Zouaves and one of the line, advanced
upon the contested point. Before this force the
Russians, though still superior, or at least equal in
numbers, instantly gave ground, and commenced
a rapid retreat upon their batteries. During this
retreat they suffered heavily from the musketry, of
our allies. As if they apprehended an immediate
storm, the whole of the Russian lines opened fire.
Their batteries discharged in regular volleys, which
rent the air and shook the earth, as if some terrible
convulsion of nature was taking place. The shower
of hot and shell. literally fell like hail, and from
the state of the ground on the following mcrning,
it is calculated that. 100 tons of ammunition were
fired during the half-hohr the alarm lasted. More
chance shots, fired in the dark, almost completely
destroyed one of the English advanced works, and
the whole of the remainder of the night was occu-
pied in repairing it. During the heat of this iron
shower the French lay close in the holes and
broken ground, from which they had driven the
enemy. These they occupied till morning, when from
the position of the Russian batteries they were com-
pelled to retire. In these encounters the French lost
in killed and wounded nearly 200 men. The loss of
the enemy, who fought under cover, was probably
much less. During to-day our right attack has
fired some 10 or 12 rounds, to which the enemy
have not attempted to reply. This unusual quiet-
ness has excited much speculation, as the Russians
generally give us 20 guns for one.

- Ali _get, the celebrated Turkish gunner, has
arrived here from Sinope, to superintend the ma-
nagement of some of the heavy artillery in the
trenches. A new long 32-pounder has been added
to the battery at the head of the harbour of Balak-
lava, and still stronger additional batteries it is
said are contemplated to secure our depots at that
place.
The Emperor steam-ship starts from Balaklava
this evening for Genoa, to bring up the Piedmon-
tese troops.

MARCH 15.

A heavy fire was kept up by the enemy's batteries
during the whole of last night, so as to completely
shelter their riflemen from any fresh attack from
the French. Beyond this nothing worthy of note
occurred, except that, for the first time since the
siege has commenced, the batteries at Inkerman
fired during the night against our lines. All their
shot fell short. The weather continues fine and
hot, and fever becomes more and more prevalent
each day. During the middle of the day, when
the sun is - warm, the stench in the camp is posi-
tively sickening. Some iefforts are now beginning
to be made to cleanse the ground ; but, like all
other reforms, they come too late.
The Russians seem very busy in Sebastopol, es-
pecially in their advanced work in front of Mala-
kh off Tower, which it is supposed they are mounting
with guns.

Lord Raglan and General Canrobert mp.de a
minute inspection of the works near Balaklava to-
day. Official rumours speak of the probability of
a serious attack on that part of our defences.

MARCH 16.

Five heavy guns were brought up to the-batteries
by the French to-day. Two:were long 32's, and
three long 56-pounders. Fourl3-inch mortars were
also get into position in one of our batteries, whiCh
I need not further specify.
Lord Raglan visited our right attack (Gordon's
Battery), and remained in it during the whole of
tho early part of the morning. While his lordship
was present the battery fired repeatedly upon the
enemy, and succeeded in shelling out the Russian
riflemen who lay perdu in front. of the lines. Three
of them were killed by a shell as they 'ran in
towards their own trenches. His lordship expressed
himself highly pleased at the high state of efficiency.
in which both men and guns appear. Strange to
say the Russians scarcely returned one gun for ten
of ours. A week ago and a single shot fired from
any of the English works would have been replied
to with such a volley as would have levelled our
works; and to-day, to the intense surprise of every
one, their riflemen were driven in almost without
their batteries offering any resistance. About an
hour after our lines had ceased firing, the enemy
fired a few shots, but all fell some 500 or 800 yards
behind our batteries.

The Russian works appear in splendid condition,
and quite crowded with troops, who show them-
selves without hesitation, even in the midst of the
French fire.

General Canrobert visited Balaklava to-day, and
inspected the whole of our line of tramway. lie
also visited the deplt and sanatorium on the hills,
and afterwards rode to the out-picket post, from
whence a good view of the Russian position on the
Tchernaya can be obtained.
There seems not the least chance of our opening
fire for the next ten days or a fortnight, and the
results of our bombardment are still open to the
widest conjectures: General Jones has done much
~to reform the system on which our batteries were
placed, but in the presence of an active and deter-
mined enemy a mere change in the engineering de-
partment is not enough. Sooner or later the
country will discover where the change is wanting.