The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-23 00:00:00

'Loi4DON,___THURSDAY EVANING, AUGUST 28 1855

but, if it could not, be adopted, then an independent de-
partment, -with autboriLy in all mai-texts affecting the
Physical condition of the troops would perhaps he the
next best. I would prefer the first, to avoid confl.cting
jurisdictions.
" Another element of evil should not he overlooked :
our great mortality from epidemics' arises among the
young unacclimatised troops. The men have to change
rapidly their country, climate, habits, and food, as well '
as their occupations, and a large per centage must in-
evitably perish.
"War at best is, in one word,'misery.' We cannot
gild it ; it is an abrogation of civilisation fos,a time, and
those engaged in it have to return to primitive habits,
and to unlearn the lesson of ages—l mean physically.
hence to have an army furnishing the smallest per cent-
age of deaths, we must begin military training early. If
England will go to war, she must c,inst-nt to study and
prepare for it, or to be ready for it. Had we recognised
this necessity more we should not have had to pour out
so many unavailing regrets and unjust recriminations.
"Thank you, very much, for your inquiries about my-
self. Commissioners are peculiarly unfortunate ;of the
two sent by France, one is a prisoner and the other is
dead of cholera. The Times hospital commissioner is
dead of dysentery. The Commissariat Commissioner,
Sir John M'Neil and Colonel Tulloeb, were both ill be-
fore they left. Of our commission, poor Gavin, as you
are aware, was shut accidentally by his own brother,
who is since dead of cholera. Mr. Rawlinson has re-
turned home disabled by a slight wound inflicted by a
40 lb. cannon shot. lam the only commissioner, I be-
lieve, in the Crimea. I have had fever, diarrhoea, and
threatenings of dysentery ; but still Providence has pro-
tected me, and I manage to get on very well. I may,
however, be obliged to return at any time. I find the
active horse exercise I undergo very good for me, and I
have no doubt it saves me from illness.

" I had almost forgotten about the peat charcoal you
refer to.

"We use three deodorising substances—charcoal,
lime, and sand or gravel ; we have tried them all. Peat
charcoal acts extremely well, and in small quantity. It
is, therefore, the best for certain purposes, as, for in-
stance, for deodorising in the trenches and in the camp,
where carriage is an object. Damp or wet immediately
destroys its qualities. Lime acts very well, and I think
bast when wet.

" Sand or gravel, for certain purposes, is as good as
either. Dr. Paris first suggested it to me. A large
quantity is required, and therefore its use is limited by
carri'ge.

" We used it alone for the worst nuisances—namely,
the horrible marsh at the head of the harbour. Six inches
of sand spread over it entirely deodorised the soil.
"Any of these substances would, I believe, act as dis-
infectants, if a proper quantity were used, or, at least, I
presume so, but I suspect that bulk has more to do with
disinfection than chemical composition. Peat charcoal
in any ordinary quantity is certainly not a disinfectant.
It stops smells, and that is all.
"I may give you the following conclusive experi-
ment :—The steam-ship Chester arrived here several
weeks ago laden with charcoal, she lay some weeks in
the harbour, close to the wharf, and not far from:arse
accumulations of foul matter, which had beencovered up.
She began to discharge her cargo in sacks which were
piled up close to her stern, so as to firm a lofty wail, on
the quay. The surface of the quay was covered with
charcoal dust, the same dust pervaded the ship and
covered the men ; so perfect was the deodorising effect,
that there was no smell either in the ship or near it,
although usually the air was very foul there. In two
days six cases of cholera appeared o❑ board, of which 5
died. We sent the ship outside at once. There were 5
subsequent eases of diarilscea, hut, all recovered ; a ship
lying next to the Chester had no disease.
"The fact is certain and curious, and is confirmed,
though not in so striking a manner by all our experknce
here. It would, I think, be safe to disusethe word dis-
iikfectant,' hr cause it leads to undue expectations, ;Led
might lead to neglect of other measures.

"And now inrt.gsrd to your question as to what you
can do in the way of assisting me.
" If you ran devise any means for insuring that our
recommendations will always be attended to as they are
now, I should be tolerably satisfied.
" I do not require personal help, for I have always
found that I can do several Crites the work without it.
Personal help would be most useful if we could under-
, take the work of the military authorities, in which case
a staff of camp inspectors would be very desirable, hut
to do this the military system would have to be changed.
A military, not a civil, camp inspection, independent of
the adjutants and quartermasters, and communicating
with the Commander-in-Chief, might do good, but 'even
in this case, such an appointment would infer want of
c( nfidence.

" I believe the course taken by the War-office to have
been the best practicable, namely, to send out persons
conversant with the subject, to examine independently,
to report and urge the adoption of measures, and to
see that they are carried out. Past that you cannot
go with civilians, and I have a very strong opinion
that, having done this, we should retire and leave
the army to manage its own affairs. The great
good we may effect is future. We have all learned
much, perhaps more than we have advised. I feel
that a meeting with the authorities in London about the
winter is urgent, and that is one reason why I desire to
return. I can come out again if necessary. They would
be glad to see me here if I came back, and the very
leaving of them formally would infer confidence in their
executing the required measures.
" I have sent you a long, rambling letter, just as it
has occurred to me. My mind is full of the subject, and
I may as well stop now as write twice as much. So,
with every good wish, I am, &c.,

"J'. SUTHERLAND.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE..

HOME CIRCIIIT.—CROYDON, August 22.
Mr. Justice Wightman has disposed of the following
special jury cases :--

MANN V. THE GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.
The plaintiff in this action is a carrier in Newgate-
street, and the action was brought to recover damages
for what waa allpged to he unnecessary delay on the
part of the del-ndants in forwarding a parcel consigned
to them by the plaintiff to its destination.
Mr. E. James, Q.C., and Mr. Hawkins were for the
plaintiff; Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., and Mr. Lush for
the defendants.

The qm-stion involved in this ;;apse was that which
has been often befure the subject of litigation, namely,
the liability of companies to carry what are termed
packed parcels" to their de4ination. It was
alleged by the plaintiff that since the recent deci
Rion,: in the courts of law compelling companies to
carry a large parcel containinv several smaller
ones at the game rate as single parcel., the com-
panies had intFntionally delayed the delivery of such
parcels to the c ‘riignees for the purp.ise,of suppres-ing
tl e practice. The cletendants had paid 10/. into Court,
alleging that, tt is account would cover all the loss that
bad been susta;ned.

Variou points of law were raised, and eventually a
vei diet was er tered for the plaintff f..r 151 beyond the
-um paid into C tirt, some points of law being re-erved
f r further con-ideration, and the defendants having
liberty to move the Court upon them.
• MANN V. THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.
Mr. E. James, Q C., and Mr. Hawkins were f.r the
plaintiff ; and Mr. Bramwell, Q C., and Mr. Bovill,
Q.O , for the defendants.
This was an action by the same 'plaintiff, against the
railway company, and the circumstances were pretty
much of tb same nature, as in the last case, ,vith the
'mention that it aimeari4l, since the decisions above re•
ferretl to, the company charged 50 per cent. upon all
packed parcels, and required a declaration to be signed
by the sender, describing the contents of e-sch parcel.
On the part of the plaintiff it was contended that this
exaction was illegal ; and, after a good deal of evidence
and discussion, it was arranged that a spacial case
should be stated for the opinion of the superior court.
Mr. Bramwell has to-day lent his valuable assistance
in disposing of the cause list by trying some common
jury causes in the lower court. The business during the
last two or three days has been carried on in a state of
almost indescribable confusion. Notice is given that
only special jury cases will be taken on a particular day,
and when the panel of special jurymen are in attendance,
it is found that common jury cases are to be tried, and
the special jurors are detained the whole day fruitlessly.
The common' jurors are then again kept in attendance
while special jury causes are disposed of, and the parties
and witnesses are in utter ignorance of the time when
their causes are really to come on. Mr. Justice Wight-
man labours bard to get through the list of causes, but
it is the general opinion that such a list ought not to have
been left to the exertions of a single judge.
NORTHE

iRN CIRCUIT.—LIVERPOOL, Aua. 21,
CIVIL COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Crowder.)
FAY V. THOMPSON.
Mr. Brett appeared. fOr the'plamtiff, and Mr. Ser-
geant Wilkins for the defendant.
The learned counsel, in opening the plaintiff's case,
raid the plaintiff was a car proprietor and driver, and
the defendant was a contractor for the East Lancashire
Railway Company. and was recently engaged in build-
ing a rail,Yay bridge across Great Howard-street Liv,
pool. On the 12th of January last, about 6 o'clock in
the morning, the plaintiff was engaged in driviee a net.
son from one part of the town to anothfr. 'Mae' he
came to the new bridge in Great Howard-str.-et his car
struck against a log of wood, and the effect was that the
vehicle was overturned, and the plaintiff was thrown
oat noon the ground. He was much injure .1 by the tall
and Was incapacitated for work for about five Yk eeks in
consequence. The damage done to the ci.r amounted
to between 4/ and 51. About 30 yards from the place
where the accident occurred there was a small fire,
hut there was no light at the place where the timber was
lying,
Upon cross-ezarnination by Mr. Sergeant
Wilkins, the
plaintiff said he did not see any bull's-eye lamps un 'er
the bridge ; but he would not, swear there were none.
went on the wrong side of the real, because his right
side was blocked up. He was "knocked up" after the
accident ; and he didn't recollect a ha'p'orth of what
took place. On the 2013 he took a letter to the defer dart.
He asked 1/. 16s. 6d, for the repairs of the shaft,. The
car was not of Irish oak —(langhter)-;--but it was as
good at the time of the accident as when he bought it.
He could sometimes read, but not always,
A letter, purporting to be from the plaintiff to the
def.ndant, was here handed to hint.
Witoess (looking intently at the letter for shout five
minutes)—Faith, and I can't read it now. (Laughter.)
Mr. Sergeant Wilkins—Oh. this is not one of your
rt:tiinct days. Don't puzzle yourself any further.
Iv Grace, a police-constable, proved that he saw two
lialks of timber lying in the Channel under the bridge.
A'vace of about 14 feet was left for traffic under the
bridge.

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