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

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1855.

BIRMINVIIAM AND MIDLAND COUNTIES
CATTLE AND POULTRY SHOW.
BIRMINGHAM, Tuesday Evening.—This annual
exhibition of cattle and poultry was opened to-day
to the subscribers. The circumstance of the Smith-
field Show occurring this year in the same week
induced some anxiety for the success of this, its
provincial rival—fears being entertained that the
stock exhibited here might suffer both as to quan-
tity and quality. As respects the last, in particu-
lar, these anxieties were groundless : the show has
been established eight years, and according to the
estimate formed of it by competent judges there
has never been a finer display of cattle entered for
competition. In all the classes the animals, with-
out exception,•are well fed without being over fed,
their general symmetry and utility of form being
especially remarkable, the opinions of the judges
being that there was not what may be considered
a bad animal in the yard. In point of merit the
Herefords bad the undoubted pre-eminence. The
two gold medals were awarded to an Hereford ox
and an Hereford heifer, the former being obtained
by Mr. Heath, of Ludham Hall, Norfolk, who also
carried off the medal last year. Agriculturists
generally pronounced the prize animal to he a very
remarkable specimen ; but the other entries were
also remarkably good, as were those also in the
classes for heifers, steers, and cows. In all the
classes there was much competition, more, perhaps,
than on any former occasion here ; for although the
number of entries was in the aggregate. not so great
as in former years, the diminution of animals in
the. Hall was not so great in proportion. Last year
disease caused a considerable number of absentees ;
but fortunately there was no such drawback on this
occasion, ani, with very few exceptions, all the neat
stock entered was to be found in the Hall. The
classes for short-horns, Welsh, Scots, and Devons,
made a very considerable appearance, especially
the two latter breeds, in respect of which
' some of the animals were accounted very first-
' rate specimens, any deficiency of number being
fully compensated for by the first-rate character of
the stock shown. In the classes for Devons his
Royal Highness Prince Albert obtained no less
than four prizes, and, without entering into a
more minute analysis of the cattle prize list, we
may state the general opinion that in that respect
this show is a decided advance on any of its pre-
decessors, and that it is much calculated to heighten
the character of this exhibition.
The show of sheep and pigs was very good. With
respect to the former the classes of Southdowns
and Shropshires possessed extraordinary excel-
lence ; of this there was but one opinion amongst
practical men ; the classes, too, were better filled
than in some preceding years.
There was the usual immense display of poultry,
which is a great characteristic, and certainly one
of the most attractive features of this exhibition.
The 1,800 pens entered included every variety of
breed. There were poultry fanciers present from
all parts of the kingdom, and a great quantity of
birds were sold.
A novel feature in this year's show, which pro-
mises to be more attractive hereafter, was the ex-
hibition of a magnificent display of roots, which,
for the first time here, formed a classification in
the prize list. Some of the marigold wurtzels and
Swedes were very finely grown. Various other
alterations in the arrangements this ye sr will, we
believe, be found hereafter to advance the exhibi-
tion in usefulness, and to place it on a more per-
manent basis. This show has always been noted
for the excellence of its management, and certainly
Mr. Wright, Mr. Lowe, and the other gentlemen
who are most actively engaged• in it, never de-
served more warm com I:endations than this year,
for so far the show is a complete success.
To-day the hall has been crowded from the open-
ing of the doors. We are uninformed of the num-
ber of persons who have been present, but it
amounted to a great many thousands, and in-
cluded a large number of the nobility and gentry,
not only of the district, but from all parts of the
country.
The following is the list of prizes
HEREFORDS.
HEREFORD OXEN OR STEERS.
Class I—First prize, 101., with gold medal, and silver
medal to breeder ; exhibitor, Mr. William Heath, Lud-
ham-hall, Norwich; breeder, Mr. Thomasßoberts, lying-
ton Bury, Leominster, Herefordshire. Second ditto,
51. ; exhibitor and bre?der, the Right Hon. Lord Ha-
therton, Tedesley, Staffordshire.
HEREFORD STEERS.
Class 2.—First prize, 101., and silver medal to breeder;
exhibitor, Mr. John Naylor, Leighton-ball, Welshpool,
Montgomeryshire ; breeder, Mr. Walter Zdaybery,
Brecknockshire. Second ditto, Si. ; exhibitor, Mr. Ed-
ward Longinore, Adforton, near Ludlow ; breeder, Mr.
Thomas Longmore' Buckton.
HEREFORD COWS.
Class 3.—First prize, 10/., and silver medal as breeder;
exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Samuel Walker Urwiok,
Leinthall Starks, near Ludlow. Second ditto, 5/., exhi-
bitor and breeder, Mr. Joseph Smith, Sheisley Walsh,
Worcestershire.

HEREFORD HEIFERS.
Class 4.—First prize, 101., with gold medal, and
silver medal as breeder ; exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Ed-
ward Price, Court-house, Peinbridge, Herefordshire.
Second ditto, 51., exhibitor and breeder, Mr'. George
Pitt, Chadnor-court, Dilwyn, near Leominster.

SHOgT-HORNS.
SHORTHORN OXEN OR STEERS.
Class s.—First prize, 101., and silver medal as
breeder ; exhibitor and breeder, C.A. the Hon. E. G. D.
Pennant, Penrhyn-castle, Carnarvonsbire. Second ditto,
51., exhibitor and breeder, his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, Windsor Castle.

SHORTHORN STEERS.
Claes 6.—First prize, M., and silver medal to
breeder ; exhibitor, Mr. John Thomas Robinson, Leek-
by Palace, Thirsk ; breeder, Mr. Quinton Clark, Biltoo,
Wetherby. Second ditto, 5/4 exhibitor, the Right
lion. Lord Leigh, Stoneleigli•al)bey, Warwickshire ;
breeder, Mr. Francis Burton, Berkswell, Warwickshire.

SHORT-HORN Cows.
Class 7.—First prize, 101., and silver medal to
breeder ; exhibitor, the Right Hon. Viscount Hill,
Hawkstone, Shropshire; breeder, the late Hon. Capt.
Pelham, Appuldurconabe, Isle of W;ght. Second ditto,
51. ; exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Edmund Herbert,
Po wick, Worcestershire.
►SHORT-HORN HEIFERS.
Class B.—First prize, 10/., and silver medal to breeder;
exhibitor, the Right Hon. Earl Howe, Gopsal.hall,
Atherstone ; breeder, Mr. Richard Roberts Jee, Harts-
hill, Atherstone. Second do., 51. ; exhibitor and
breeder, the Right Hon. Viscount Hil!, Hawkstone,
Shropshire.

DEYONS.
DEYON OXEN OR STEERS.
Class 2.—First prize, 101., and silver modal to
breeder ; exhibitor, his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
Windsor Castle ; breeder, Mr. Richard Corner, Tor-
weston, Williton, Taunton, Somersetshire. Second do.,
51. ; exhibitor, Mr. \Villain Heatch, Ludham-hall, Nor-
wich ; breeder, Mr. Nicholas Snow, Oare, Somerset-
shire.

DEVON STEERS.
Class 10.—First prize, 101., and silver medal as
breeder ; exhibitor and breeder, Mr. John C. Liaise,
Molland, South Molton, Devonshire. Second do., 51. ;
exhibitor, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, NVindsor
Castle ; breeder, Mr. William Lyddon, Withiel Florey,
King's Brompton, Soniersetshire.

DEVON Cows.
Class 11.--First prize, 101., and silver medal as
breeder ; exhibitor and breeder, Mr. Abraham Umbers,
Weston•liall, Warwickshire. (Has had one calf born
alive.) Second do., 51. ; exhibitor, his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, Windsor Castle ; breeder, Mr. Walter
Farthing, Stowey-court, Bridgewater, Sumersetshire.

_ ..
DEVON HEIFERS.
Class 12.—First prize, 101., and silver medal to
breeder ; exhibitor, his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
Windsor Castle ; breeder, Mr. Thomas Miller, Castle-
farm, Sherborne, _ _

LONG-HORNS.
LONG-HORN COWS OR HEIFERS.
Class 13.—First prize, 10/ , and silver medal as
breeder; exhibitor and breeder,•Mr. Samuel Burbery,
Wroxhall, Warwickshire. (Has had three calves born
alive.) Second ditto, 51. ; exhibitor and breeder, Mr.
Phineas Fowke Hussey, Wyrley-grove, Walsall, Staf-
fordshire.

Heath, Ludham-hall, Norwich. (Galloway.) Ste end
ditto, 51.; exhibitor and' breeder, Mr. Alexander Camp-
bell, Monzie-casile,-Perthsbire, NA', West Highlands.
The whole class commended.
EXTRA CLA,SSES,. - -
(For Animals not qualified to compete in any of the
pre-
ceding daasea.)
OXEN OR STEERS.
Class silver medal ; exhibitor, Mr. John
Chater, Great Boden, and Market Harborough. (Short-
horn.)

OMB PAST! A'S ARMY.

(Prom, the Times Correspondent.)
TURKISH CAMP, STJG DID', Nov. 11.
The day after a battle is generally one ef repose,
and the Turkish troops were scarcely in a condition
to follow the retreating Russian army the day after
the passage of the Ingour. I saw, however, in the
course of my explorations in the woods to the rear
of the battery so many carcases of horses and so
many human bodies stripped of their clothes that
there can be no doubt that, had it been possible,
a pursuit would have been attended with the most
disastrous consequences to the Muscovite troops.
From the aspect of the men lying upon the field if
was clear that the greater portion of the soldiers
who had defended the battery were Russians, and
not Mingrelians, and this opinion was confirmed
when I afterwards saw the prisoners brought up for
the inspection of the Pasha : there was not a single
Mingrelian among them. It is therefore possible ,
1 may have overstated the number of Militia en- 1
gaged iu the affair. Omer Pasha has caused the
utmost attention to be paid to the prisoners, and,
the wounded share the attentions of his surgeons
with those of his own troops. The difficulties
which the Turkish soldier had to contend against
in storming the fort are only now beginning to
be thoroughly appreciated. The ford at which
they crossed the river, a little above the fort, is so
deep, and the current is so swift, that a major
and some of the men were drowned in it, and seve-
ral bodies have since been Picked oat of the river.
Upon the opposite bank these troops found them-
selves first opposed to the enemy in a thick wood,
and out of the small band of 500 men who actually
assaulted the place GO fell in a few minutes. A '
characteristic anecdote is told of one of the soldiers
who was the first to set foot inside the battery : I
Perceiving a Russian Colonel lying dead upon the
ground, he plucked off his glove and appropriated
a valuable diamond ring whielt was upon his linger.
Knowing, however, that it would be impossible ,
very long to keep secret the possession of so valu-
able a prize, he showed his Usbashi, or Captain,
his treasure, and requested permission to keep it.
The Ushbashi told the man that he was quite
right to bring the prize to him, and that hence-
forward it should be transferred to the finger of
the said Ushhashi. The soldier, not satisfied with
this arrangement, referred the matter to the Bim-
bashi, or Major, who said that both he and the
Usbashi were highly culpable in daring to retain the
ring from their superior officer, and that lie would
therefore relieve them of the subject of dispute.
From the Binabashi the soldier went to the Ka.lnia
Kama, or Lieutenant-Colonel, who at once fol-
lowed the example of his inferiors, and took pos-
session of the ring. The soldier still persevered, I
however, and went to the Meer Ali (Colonel), who
determined that he was the rightful possessor of
the ring by virtue of his rank, and dismissed the
rival claimants from his presence in the most sum-
mary
manner. Next day a French officer attached 1
to the `tiff of Omer Paella observed a private sol-
dier prowling near the tent of the Commander-in- ,
Chief. The story of the ring was at once retailed
by its orieinal possessor to this gentleman, who
laid the matter before his highness, and the man
had not only the satisfiction of regaining posses-
sion of his property, but of knowing that those
who had attempted successively to deprive him of
it had been severely reprimanded for their conduct.
On the Bth I accompanied a reconnaissance in
force, which was pushed as far as this place, a dis- '
tance of 12 miles. We left our camp upon the
Ingour with two battalions of Chasseurs and two
regiments of cavalry. The country in the imme-
diate neighbourhood of the river is thickly wooded,
but the winding paths by which it is threaded soon
join the main road from the coast to Sugdidi,
which is as broad and smooth as a bowling-green,
and which traverses extensive plains of clover, wild
carrots, thyme, and fern.
,We left the Chasseurs
in a wood at the edge of one of these, and pro-
ceeded along this road with the cavalry only. A
shot soon after warned us that we were in an
enemy's country, and we found, upon galloping up
to the advanced guard, that they had come upon
four Mingrelian Militia, of whom one was lying
dead at our feet. As we approached the town, we
were repeatedly fired upon frOfir the Woods, but
without effect, and as we rode into it we saw a
small party of 15 or 20 mounted Cossacks, who
immediately took to their heels. We found the
town completely deserted, but five or six Mingre-
lian soldiers were made prisoners in the neighbour-
hood. They informed us that the nearest Russian
force was at a village about three hours' distance,
where there was also a large depot of provisions.
Upon the following morning the whole army moved
to Sugdidi. The greatest terror seems to prevail
among the inhabitants of the Turks, and the coun-
try is entirely depopulated. The consequence is,
that in spite of Omer Paella's earliest endeavours to
reassure the people and to prevent pillage, a desul-
tory plundering goes on. It is only fair, however,
to the Turkish soldiers to say that the irregular
Abasian cavalry, of whom about 200 are attached
to the army, aro the principal aggressors. They
seem, as far as my observation of them hitherto
goes, to have all the vices without any of the vir-
tues of Bashi-Bazouks. Sugdidi is, after Kutais,
the principal town of Mingrelia. It is situated upon
a gentle eminence, which overlooks a rich country,
and to the right of which extends a vast level plain,
where the army is now encamped. The town itself
is composed of two streets of wooden houses,
shaded by avenues of beech-trees. A week ago it
probably contained about 2,000 inhabitants ; at
present there is not a living creature to be seen
in it, except a few stray curs, who must before our
arrival have been excessifiely astonished at finding
themselves the only inhabitants of a once bustling
town. The streets run into a square, upon one
side of which is situated the magnificent residence
of the Princess Dadian, only one wing of which
is completed, while the other two are composed of
the Greek church and its,adjacent buildings and
the picturesque wooden residence of Prince Gre-
goire. We entered the palace of the Princess, and
found the most magnificent collection of furni-
ture in the drawing-room. It was evident from
the number of articles of value which had been
left behind that her Highness had calculated
upon a more protracted resistance on the part
of the Russians than had been made. A very
handsome picture of the Emperor Nicholas was
still in its case, and had evidently been packed, but
considered not worth carry ing away under the cir-
cumstances. Chairs and .couches covered with
crimson velvet, beautiful inlaid tables, magnificent
chandeliers, and articles of vertu, which looked
like late importations from. Paris, were all go care-
fully arranged that he would have been a ruthless
conqueror who could have destroyed them. After
satisfying his curiosity, Omer Pasha accordingly
placed guards at all the entrances to the palace,
and to the gardens, which are extremely beautiful,
and laid out with groat taste. There aro the
choicest flowers in great profusion, and extensive
fruit gardens and orangeries, while the deer and
peafowl wander about completely their own masters.
Having once penetrated into the mysteries of this
fairyland it is somewhat annoying to find that,
though my tent is pitched at the gate, I am debarred
like my neighbours from re-entering it by an in-
flexible sentry, otherwise I should assuredly indite
this from the summer-house in the flower-gar-
den, which I am looking at with longing eyes.
The Princess Dadian, who is said to have been
very beautiful, was married to Prince Dadian,
who had by her one son. Since the death
of her husband she has been acting as Regent for
this boy, who is about eight years old. Her
husband had two brothers, Constantine and Gre-
goire, both of whom have fled with their sister-in-
law to her residence in the mountains, about a
day's journey distant from here. The sister of the
Princess is married to Prince Michael, of Abasia.
Since the arrival of Omer Pasha a few peasants
who had been taken prisoners have been sent home,
and told that their property and countrymen would
be respected everywhere by the Turkish army.
Sentries are posted at the church and in the
streets, to prevent any one even from entering
them, and so strict are the orders against plunder of
any sort that no shooting is allowed near the camp,
which, considering the quantities of wood-cocks
and pheasants in the woods and the great scarcity
of animal diet, is rather a privation. It is beyond
the powers of human resistance to refrain from
pocketing a chicken now and then, and the Chas-
seurs or Rifles, who are Omer Pasha's favourite
corps, and the flower of the army, are expert
hands at this sort of thing. On the day of a
reconnaissance at least 100 fowls, besides a
quantity of honey, were taken from the de
sorted cottages by the skirmishers in the woods,
and an occasional cackle might be heard
issuing from sundry coat-pockets as the man
marched past. The country people, are gradually
regaining confidence, and four puests have re-
turned to the town and are prepared to recom-
mence their ecclesiastical functions as soon as they
can collect a congregation. I have just been over
the church with them to see whether they were
properly grateful for the respect which has been
shown to the sacred property.
There is also a very good wooden house here, be-