The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-27 00:00:00

LORD DUNDONALD'S PLANS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—Sweaborg has been bombarded, and a formid-
able attack recently made on the besieging force at Se-
bastopol has been gallantly repulsed : these feats, how-
ever, do not compensate for the sacrifice of life during
two campaigns, nor for our outlay of sixty millions of
money, nor for the augmentation of public debt, nor
for the derangement of peaceful enterprises—nor for the
absence of military hr naval tr:umphs.
Are we await a third season, and the expenditure of
thirty millions more, in the hope of a satisfactory result
by means of additional Hating batteries, mortar vessels,
and steam gun-boats, furnished with larger mortars and
cannons—devices which may be opposed by the like, or
other expedients ? Or is it intended patiently to await
the effect of blockades on Russian finances ?

Wno are she true friends of Government? Those who
acquiesce in the adoption of languid inadequate mea•
sures, or those who warn Ministers of the consequences
of supinessness and error, even at the risk of their dis-
pleasure ?

How happened it that as the prayer of my petition to
Parliament was for inquiry into a subject for the benefit
of the public service, that no investigation was moved
for, and that the house was content with the very meagre
official communication, that my "plans were se simple
that they did not require explanation ?"
Did the omission of declaring whether they were effi-
cient or not fail to excite suspicion as to the fact ; or had
the minds of members been prejudiced by interested mis-
representation, in order to avert the exposure of previous
neglect in not having adopted my plans for the capture
of Sebastopol.
I have no right to drag private friends, far less scien-
tific or professional authorities, before the public, to tea-
tify to "schemes" of mine. One letter, however, sent
to me by an eminent, liberal-minded, skilful practical
engineer, with permission to use it if I thought proper,
I annex, in the hope that some of the competent judges,
is ware of facts, may be pleased to intimate assent to, or
dissent from, the opinion therein unqualifiedly expressed,
—I remain, Sirsdours, ke.
DIINDONALD. -

London, Aug. 25, 1855.

• "Spring-gardens, Aug. 15, 1855.
"My Lord,—Having received from your lordship a full
explanation of your proposed plan of warfare, and having
given the subject the most serious consideration, I am of
opinion that, if your suggestions are vigorously carried
out, under the protection of a naval or military force, a
few hours would suffice to reduce a fortification which,
under the usual system, would occupy a very much
longer period, and that this result would be attained with
a comparatively small loss of life to the attacking party.
" I have the honour to be,
"Your Lordship's obedient humble servant,
(Signed) " CHARLES FOX.
"To Admiral the Earl of Dundonald, &c."

LOSS OF A. YACHT AT SEA.—lhtelligence has reached
Southampton that the yacht Thought was lost off the
coast of Boulogne during the storm on Thursday Light
last. The master and crew perished in her. The owner,
George Coops, EN., was fortunately not on board at
the time. The Thought won the prizes at the Royal
Southern Yacht Club regatta about a fortnight since.
THE LATE MYSTERIOUS MURDER AT BRISTOL.—The
police have as yet been unable to trace out the perpe-
trators of this terrible tragedy. A gentleman on pas-
sing down and examining the path discovered on one of
the bushes two strings, one of linen and the other of tape,
which appeared to have been torn by violence from some
dress, but whether or not from that of the murdered girl
has not yet been ascertained. The strings were found
some fifteen or twenty yards from where the body was
found. A piece of riband stained with blood has like-
wise been picked up on the Down, near the top of the
path. The police have received reliable information of
a lady who passed up the path at about half-past 7
o'clock in the evening of the murder, and who states
that she saw a man, who wore light fustian trousers, in
the bushes. The police have been unable to trace her
out, although they entertain no doubt of her having
made to third parties a statement to that effect._ It is
to be hoped, for, the sake of justice, that she will Bond
them her addreso.

.L: .:'.-.."i.. ._ .._...1.

DOVER.—D4ring Friday and Saturday last the bo-
rough coroner, Mr. G. Thompson, was occupied at the
'Tovtn-hall, inquiring into the circumstances of the colli-
geri between the Vivid mail (Dover and Calaie).eleamer,-
and the Henry, of ltarmouth, which resulted in the
foundering of the latter vessel, and the loss of Captain
High, the master, and two of . his crew: The proceed-
ings excited more than ordinary interest, from the cii-
cumstance of its being alleged that the -unfortunate
event. arose from neglect and an indifferent look out on
the part of the steamer.
.0n the other hand it is averred
that the catastrophe resulted from 'the non-observance
of the Admiralty regulations, which require all vessels
at anchor to exhibit a bright light, a precaution more
necessary when moored in the roadstead, where mail
packets are so often crossing the Channel. It may be
-remembered that on the evening of the 11th inst. the
Henry brought up off the mouth of this harbour, some
three-quarters of a mile off, when she was run into by
the Vivid, Captain Watson, which was on her way
from Dover to Calais, with the mail, and about eighty
.passengers. At the moment the greatest alarm pre-
vailed amongst those on board, as, frora the fearful cha-
racter of the shock it was apprehended that the steamer
was sinking. . Mr. Churchward, with Mr. Stillwell, ap-
peared ior the Royal Mail Continental Steam-Packet
Company ; Mr. Payne (the mayor) said he attended to
watch the proceedings on the part of the owners of the
Henry ; and Mr. Irons represented the Marine Depart-
ment of the Board of Trade.

Robert Hastings and William -Rudrum, two of the
Henry's crew, deposed that about 11 o'clock on the night
in question there waq a lantern with a light in it banging
on the.starboard 'side of the span of the foreboom. A
large fire was burning as well in the galley. About half-
past eleven a steam-boat approached from Dover, and
when about 50 fathoms off she was bailed, but directly
afterwards .slie ran into the Henry, striking.the starboard
bow with her larboard padillebox. The master, who
had just come on deck, tried to get the boat out, but the
Henry sank before it was launched.
Mr. Daniel Nazer, hatter, of Dover, a passenger on
board the Vivid, deposed there were two men on the
how of the vessel on the look out it being a dark night,
and that Captain Watson was on the bridge when the
steamer quitted the harbour. He had not seen the Henry
before the collision, nor any lights on board of her.
Alfred Lancy Baker, marine mail-officer in the service
of the Postmaster-General, was on board the Vivid at
the lime of the collision. He saw no light on board the
H-nry.

Ptain Watson, who was an attentive officer, was on
the bridge at the time of the accident. There was a good
Look-out kept on board the steamer.

Mr. W. S. Greenland gave similar testimony.
Robert Reynolds, boom-house (harbour) officer, said,
on the 11th inst. I went on duty on the South Pierhead
at 9 o'clock. Saw six or eight lights in the roads.
Shortly after I came on duty observed another one put
up bj a vessel lying opposite the harbour, rather to the
southward. It was a bright light. Last saw it at half-
past 11, as the Vivid was leaving the harbour, when it
disappeared. The other lights were to the eastward.
She was lying in the usual place, but in the fairway of
the harbour.

By the Coroner.—Observed what seemed to be a fire
light on board the vessel ; at times it flared. I lost sight
of it with the other light. The sunken wreck off the
harbour lies in the direction I saw the light.
Mr. Churchward informed the coroner that Captain
Watson and others of the crew of the Vivid who were on
deck were in attendance, and ready to give evidence.
He would add, that Captain Watson bore a high charac-
ter in his profession, and was considered a very able and
vigilant officer. He would also inform the coroner that
several gentlemen, of high respectability, who were pas-
sengers on board, had made a statement in writing as to
the circumstances of the collision, but at present the
company were unable to call them, as they were away
on the continent.

The Coroner here proposed to adjourn the inquiry, in
order to procure the attendance of witnesses whom, he
was informed, could speak to some material facts.
Mr. Churchward said the company were anxious to
afford the fullest information. The Board of Marine De-
partment of the Trade had directed an inquiry, and per-
haps it would be advisable to examine Mr. Irons as to
some facts which had been elicited at that investigation.
The proceedings were accordingly adjourned.