The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-24 00:00:00

IDAY EVENI.Z‘%a A UGUS 24, 1855.

SIR CHARLEs NiPIER THil BOM-
BARDMENT OF SWEABOBG.

ralty ? Till they do, the people's money will be thrown
away.
The Admiralty do not seem to have contemplated the
effect of a bombardment, though I'told them, upwards of
a year ago, what would happen ; and if they had read
history they would have known that Martinique was
taken by mortars—there svele not casements tor all the
garrison, nor were there at Sweahrirg.
Admiral Dundas saysit formed no part of his plan to
attempt a general attack by the shits on the defences, and
his operations were confined to such destruction of the
fortress and arsenal as could be accomplished by mortars.
Had Admiral Dundas been furnished with suffici nt
means he'would have cOntenapi tied an attack on the de-
fences, and assembled the whole of his fleet, ready to take
advantage of the terror and confusion occasioned by the
gun and mortar-boats; the heat of the conflagration alone
would have kept the garrison front the guns, and the fleet
would have been in Sweaborg, and the whole of the forti-
fications, islands and all, blown to the devil ; instead of
that, the wooden buildings and magazines are destroyed,
and OA work wid have to be begun again next year.
Admiral Dundas confirms my repo, t last year nbout the
intricacy of the navigation. He says, " the intricate na-
ture of the ground, from rocks awash and reefs under
water, rendered it difficult to select positions for the
mortar-vessels at proper range ;" yet Admiral Dundss was
one of the board who censured me for not. attacking Swea-
borg (though I had not one gun-boat or mortar-vess,d) last
winter, amongst rocks awash and reefs under Water, when
it now appears he could hardly place a gun-boat; and this
after having a whole summer for examining it.
He has found it is not easy to introduce large ships into
the intricacies of Sweaborg. But I clo :lot blame him for
the manner I was treated—Sir James Graham is alone re-
sponsible, for he had the impudence to tell the Sebastopol
Committee that if his colleagues did not do as they were
desired they should no longer be members of his board ;
and he told them further, that he had the light of turning
officers' private letters into public' ones, and they had no
right to use his. Sir James Graham will find that I, for
one, will not obey his dictum. Sir James ought' to be
Cautious how he tampers, with let,ters. . ,
Sit James Graham was one the Ministers who sent is
British army to Sebastopol in the•itiiiidle of last Septem-
ber, without means of moving, without food, proper tents,
or clothing, and without hospitals, to pass a dreary winter
and perish ; and he was the Minister who wanted me to
take a British fleet, in the end of October, to perish
amongst the rocks of Sweaborg, and; to their shame, got
two naval officers to put their names to the insulting letter
he wrote me •, and these men still remain in the Admiralty,
and that.is the way the navy of this country is managed.
The two summers in the Baltic will be a, lesson.to them.
They are in possessiOn of my plans of attackiegCronstadt,
and I.daie say stein possession of Admiral Dundas's, and
Sir James Graham and his two coadjutors had better go
next summer and carry them into execution. •
In a subsequent communication I shall prove my charge
against the Admiralty of having perverted my letters; and
I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
CHAS. NAPIER.

CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FOUNDATION
STONE OF A CHURCH AT NEW SEA HA M.

The Marchioness of Londonderry having determined
upon erecting and endowing at her sole expense a church
at New S-aliam, for supplying the spiritual wants of the
pit population now rising around her ladyship's colliery
and the others situated there, the foundation stone of
the edifice was laid by her Ladyship, with proper so-
lemnity on Monday last. While the main object of the
undertaking was of this benevolent character, it was
also formally recorded as being a tribute of affection by
her Ladyship to the memory of the late noble Marquis.
The proceedings incident to the occasion were most in-
teresting and gratifying, being marked throughout by
the most reverential spirit, as befitting the solemn ob-
ject in view, while they also afforied a characteristic
instance of the dignified hospitality and urbanity of dis-
position which have won fur every member of the noble
family Winded to the respect and esteem of the entire
population of all ranks within 'and 'adjacent-0 the an-
cestral domains.

The situation of the structure thus auspiciously com-
menced is pleasant in itself and highly convenient with
reference to the intended purpose. The site selected for
it is part of a piece of fine dry pasture land on the north
side of the roadway connecting New and Old Seabam,
and directly opposite to the colliery there. It will thus
be within view and almost in the midst of the dwellings
of those for whose benefit it is more especially intended,
while it will also be equally accessible for.others of the
populaii,n of the neighbourhood ; for no restriction is
intended, and, in strict consonance with the primary
dasig the sittings are to be entirely free. It will be
an edifice in the decorited style, with nave, chancel,
and side aisles, and adapted to accommodate between
400 and 500. The archittqlt is P. C. Hardwicke, R4q.,
London ; and the builder Mr. Robert Robson, of Dur-
ham.

The arrangements for the ceremony were very judiciously
conceived asd executed under the directions of Robert
Anderson, El. A quadrangular space had been marked
off in the field anl neatly railed, the excavation in which
the stone wa_s laid being in the centre thereof,Aviiil4 one
side of the area fronting this spot was occupied by a
covered 'platform. This erection was carpeted, and
commodiously furnished with chairs for the ladies, of
whom there was a considerable attentlance•from amongst
the most resrectable families of the neighbourhood. A
seat was placed in the centre for the Marchioness, with
carpeted steps leading down to the hollow in which the
stone was placed. Twelve o'clock was the hour ap-
pointed for the commencement of the ceremony, and as
it approached, the platform and enclosure became filled
by a brilliant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, in-
cluding many of the clergy, and others of position and
influence in the neighbouring district. The weather
happily proved as auspicious for the occasion as could
possibly have been desired, with a partially clouded sky
and gently stirring wind, and the lace of the surround-
ing country looked beautiful, with its thriving establish-
ment., and fields ofripening corn nodding to the breeze
—the hall of the Londonderry family, with the fine old
church a: joining, rising from amidst embosoming trees,
and breakieg the line of the glorious expanse of ocean
lying beyond. A. fairer scene, or one more suggestive
of the most elevated and pleasing feelings, as identified
with so much that is beautiful in external nature, bene-
ficent in enterprise; arid teeming with the evidences of
a kindly and fostering disposition inn the part of the
chief territ,ir4d proprietor, could not perhaps be wit-
nessed within the limits of England. The Marchioness's
band was stationed within the enclosure which has been
referred to, its tasteful uniform agreeably helping to
vary the pi.cturesqiie elements of the scene, though its
performances were not called for until the close of the
ceremony. Shorty after the appointed hour the Mar-
chicle ess drove up in an open carriage, with outriders, her
ladyship being accompanied by the Earl and Countess
Vane, W. S. Lindsay, E-q., M.P , and other gentlemen.
When everybody had taken their places, the ladies being
properly seated, the clergy, in their gowns, stationed
behind them, and the general company dispersed within
and around the enclosure, the scene was of a very ani-
mated description. Among't the company present, in
asklition to those already named, we observed the Hon.
and Rev: W. L. Denman ; Rev. J. A. Park, vicar of
Elwica ; Rev. A. Bethune, &ahem HarbOur • Rev.
Peters, Rector of Sunderland ; Rev. R. H. Baxter,
Vicar of Seaham ; Rev. J. H. Brown, Dalton-le-Dale ;
Rev. Mr. Meultrie, Houghton-le Spring •, Rev. Richard
Skipsey. &c. ; —Nicholas Wood, EA ; Henry Morton,
Esq. ; R. L. Pemberton, Esq. ; Robt. Wight, Esq. ;
Percival Foster, Esq. ; Dr. Burn ; Wm. Green, Esq. ;
Robt. Anderson, Esq. ; J. J. Wright, Esq. ; with seve-
ral of the officers of the Durham Militia. &c.
The foundation stone presented a cavity, in which a
large glass bottle, hermetically sealed, 'was deposited,
containing specimens of all.the current gold, silver, and
copper coinage of the-realm, together with a scroll tkus
inscribed :
" The foundation stone of this church was laid on the
13th August, 1855, and dedicated to the honour and
glory of God, and in affectionate remembrance of
Charles William Vane, 3d Marquis if Londonderry, by
his mourning widow, Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness
of Londonderry."
At a given signal, the upper division of the stone,
suspended by means of pullies, was gently lowered, when
the Marchtonese and Earl Vane descended into the ex-
cavation, along with Robert Anderson, Esq., and Mr.
Robson, the builder. Her La :1)7411p struck the stone
three times, in due form, with a unit mallet, prepared
for the occasion, after which the plumb•and-level was
laid upon it, and her Ladyship then applied to it a sil-
ver trowel, which was presented to her by Mr. Robson.
A. brass plate was enclosed in the cavity, bearing the
following inscription :—"This church is dedicated to the
leinonr aid glory of God and in affectionate remembranceof Charles William Vane, 3d Marquis of Londonderry,
&c., &c., by his mourning widow, Frances Anne
Marchioness of Londonderry, 13th August, 1855." Vane,
The Rev. Mr. PARK, at her ladyship's request, then
said prayers.
NICHOLAS WooD, Eve., then stood forward and said
—My Lady Londonderry, as a proprietor of the adjoin-
ing colliery of Seaton, the workmen of which will parti-
cipate in the benefits to be derived from your ladyship's
munificent provision of spiritual instruction to them by
the proceedinge of this day—on behalf of my partners
and myee'f, and I trust I may also be permitted to add,
on behalf of the werkinen themselves, we beg your lady-
ship to accept our most hesrtfelt thanes. It is highly
creditable to your ladyship that immedia ely a poptula-
tion is gathered together to perform their worldly and
I trust be permitted
commercial operations, than your ladyship comes forward,
and in the most handsome and munificent manner, to
provide for their moral and religious wants, by providing
them with a church, composed,. as I understand, entirely
of free sittings. it redounds, I may
to add, the more to your ladyship's honour and good-
ness and care of the spiritual comfort of your ladyship's
working population, and that of the neighbourhood that
such examples have been, I ought to add, of rare occur.
rence in the thickly populated colliery districts of the
county of Durham. It bas been my fate to have been
professiotially employed in this county for upwards of
forty years. Since then all the collieries south of this
place have been brought into existence. I recollect a
little more than 30 years ago there was not a colliery,
except a small one, belonging to your ladyship's family
south of the road from Sunderland to Durham ; the vast
number of collieries of the Tees and Hartlepool, and the
Auckland di.itricts, and their associated vast population,
has been planted on the soil of Durham ; but I ought to
ay that, correspondingly, spiritual and religious
setoru
mmat
oi odna
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oa
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.not t i
beens,tb
eprreofov
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withespeciallygreat
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that lin church ac-

congratulate'your ladyship on the example which your
ladyship has this day presented, an example *hich I sin-
cerely hope Mai ,be followed by all those who, like your
ladyship; has raised up coloniesnf the working populas
tioo, and who have not yet made such provision as that
which is about to be raised up by your ladyship, and I
trust I may be allowed to add that the destitution in
some of-the districts with "which lam acquainted will,
not bs overlooked by those to_ whom the spiritual wel-
fare of an industrious population is snore particularly
intrusted, and that the .noble example of your _ladyship
will have its d`.l weight in this district.• [ azain beg to
thank your ladyship on behalf of the interests which I
represent, and hope that you may long live in this world
to reap the fruits of the inuniacent provision which you
have to-day conferred on the pop4laiion of this locility
towards their temporal arid spiritual Welfaie;and that
the blessing of the Almighty will rest upon you in the
world.to corns.

. , • ..
• Earl-VA let% said—Me. Wood, and gentlemen con-
nected with the neighbouring cellierierf—l. hope you will
accept my mother's thanks for the kind expressions you
have used towards her ; and I wish; on her part,-to re-
turn her sincere thanks to those who have on time occa-
sion evinced so lively an interest in this her undertaking,
and the more espec ally to zny reverend friend, Mr.
Park,-for the Obligation he ha-. conferred upon ;is in
asking the blessing of Almighty God upon that under-
taking. 'My inotherlus been anxious that in this loca.lty,
stid in its infancy, but where a pit poplatimiis
rising, no time shou'd be lost and no exertion spared on
her part to contribute to the spiritual and moral tniprove-
went of not only the inhabitants of the neighbourhood,
but those immediately c -inflected with her colleries and
other property. And I, though her son, may ray, ehe
has with great energy come for ward on this occasion to
begin an undertaking which I trust will be succesi•fully
completed, and that we may all be spared for another 3 ear
to see fitdshed and opened fir holy worship. lam
you all kuow my assuring you of the
fact, that her best affeetio“e are centred in this town and
neighbourhood, and I hardly think list any jealousy
need exist between the Old Town of Seaharu.and the
New Town; for it is my mother's anxious hope that as
time goes on, With the prcNrese of morals and educatien,
and the advance of specu'ation and trade, the Old Town
of Seahsm and the New Town may be amalgamated or
united, p.nd that in the cour'e of a few years we may see
a third church built for tire accommodotion of the in-
creasing population. The present church at &ahem,
which I believe was completed 13 years ago, is now,
owing to the exertions and truly pastoral mood my friend
the Rev. Mr. Bethune, well filled every Suuday, exclu4ive
of free sittings and accommodation for 500 children in that
church. It is my mother's intention that this church, the
foundation-stone of which we have seen laid to-day, shall
be composed entirely of free sittings, and I tru-t that
he who has .the pastoral care of this church will so
exert himself as to lead those who are in error to the
truth, "and that they may retura unto the army of
righteousness." lam glad to say that it is also her in-
tention hereafter to found an additional school in the
place. I have only to say a few words more in conclu-
sion—that as this church is to be raised as a monument
to God's honour and glory, so it will be raised also as a'
tribute of love aid affection for the memory of the
founder of Seaham Harbour, by his moureing widow.
'who lives in the anxious trust and expectation that God
may prosper this her handiwork.
A hymn was then sung by a body of school-children,
stationed with their teachers, on the ground. The band
next performed the National Anthem in excellent style,
and the proceedings connected with the ceremony ter-
minated.

LUNCHEON AT THE HALL.
On the conclusion of the ceremony, a numerous party
of the clergy and laity who had attended it were invited
by her ladyship to partake-of-herhospitality at the hall.
The Marchioness took tier proper place at table, with
Lady Vane by ber side, and supported on either • hind
by W. S. Lindsay, Esq , M P., H. Morten, EF•tq., N,
Wood, Esq., and otheis, while E.tri Vane obcupied a
position at the opposite end of the table.
Ample justice haviog been done to the abondande of
good chi-er placed before the cntn patty,
Earl V'ANIS rose and said, alatough it was not cu.-
torn try to propose toasts on such occ4sions, yet he should

not be expressing his mother's feelings if he did not ask
them to drink one toast, namely, the health and many

thanks t,) the gentlemeft who had hon,ured them with

their presence that day, coupling therewith the names f
the several reverend gewlemen who had also kindly at-
tended the day's proceeding.. It was no douht true the,

church would be succe,,shilly built, as he trusted ; but
when erected, much, if not all, would depend upon the

. •
person oa whom the cure of souls was devolved. The
ultimate ,success of the undertaking must depend very
materially upon his zeal and exertions in rendering the
structure available for its destined purposes. Tne sittings
would be free, and it was his mother's wish that who-
ever took charge of the church should find the. peWs
filled. He felt sure, that it was also the with of his
mother that they might all meet again in a succeeding
year, when the key of the arch was placed, and he him-
self would have much pleasure to meeting on that*ocoa-
sion with those whom they had now the plevoire of
seeing around them. He begged to propose the, health
of the gentlemen who had honoured them by attending,
and also of the clergy, coupling with the toast the name
of the Rev. Mr. Perk, and many thanks to him for the
kindness on this occasion. (The toast was very cordially
honoured.)
The Rev. Mr. PARK hezge 1 to thank his lordship for the
very kind manner in which he had 'cieea pleased to speak
him, and to drink his beak'', together with that of his
rev. hi ethren. It must always he most pleasing and gra-
tifying to every Ctiristian,and especially to every Co ristian
inirister, to witness such a scene as her ladyship'S munifi-
cence had prepare 1 for them in the ceremony of that
day. Indeed, scarcely any spectacle could be more de-.1
lightful to minds accessible to the influences of religion
and benevolent feeling than to see a church rising simul-
taneously with the cottages of those who were to worship
in it. It must al w 'ye be a pleasing reflection to her
ladyship that she had originated such a work ; and (said
the rev. gentleman, turning te war Is the marchioness)
I trust that on its'full completion you may have the hap-
piness of eerily the people around filling it, and may this
good deed be ble-sed to you and your family. (Thee
sentiments were received by the company with a mur-
mur of applause.)
The Rev, Mr. PARK again rose, and begged to pro-
pose "The Health of Lady Londonderry." The toast
was very warmly honoured.
Earl VANE returned thanks on his mother's behalf,
expressing the pleasure felt by her ladyship iu seeing so
maly old friends of the fai'►ily around her on that occa-
'simi. His lordship proposed "The Health of the Gentle-
men connected with the Seaton and Hetton Collieries,
coupled with the name of Mr. Wood."

N. 'WooD, Esq., returned thanks. As connected
with a neighbouring colliery, be had already very inade-
quately expressed his feelings with reference to the ad-
ditional church for the neighbourhood, of which her

ladyship bad that day laid the foundation stone. He
felt deeply sensible of the benefits which the new church
could not fail to bestow upon the neighbouring pit po-
pulation. He happened to be a resident in early life in
a locality where, with a population of 6,000, only three
seats in the church were free. The result was, that
nearly the whole, of the working people were Dissenters.
He was sure the example ..hus set by her ladyship would
be of Oa greatest value to the community.
Mr. W. S. LINDSAY, M.P., then rose, and sad,

from a conversation he had had with, her ladyship that
morning, he was deeply convinced that she felt the
warmest interest in ;that loc,lity. and all connected
with. it. He could not refrain fr.►in expre,ising his

eratitude for the pleasure he had personally derived
froin,hie' present visit to that neighbourhood. •13,,ing an
early man he had get up at six o'clock to see what was to
be seen, and be strolled about, no one knowing him.
He wandered amongst the cottages, to the Docks, and
the other works in the neighbiurhond, and he was happy
to say he had found everything in the most perfect crier.
He found amongst the working classes a feeling of great
content•nent prevailipg, and no wonder, seeing that her
Ladyship, with every 3s. 6d. she paid to her labourers,
gave them 3,-1. for keeping their cAtages neat and clean,
while she had that day been seen laying the f einiation
stone of a tabernacle in which they could worship their
God. They might ail be assured that the outlay upon
such an undertaking would prove a wise and good in-
vestment ; for nothing tended more to the increase of
wealth than keeping the labouring population happy and
comfortable. Mr. Lindsay proceeded to illustrate this view
byreference to the case of a Virginian proprietor with whom
he was acquainted, and who, having purchased 450 slaves,
immediately gave the whole of them their freedom. He
kept an account of what could have been got out of
them while in bondage, the cost of their maintenance
in old age, and medical attendance, and compared it with
the fruits of their tree labour ; and on the last visit he
paid him (Mr. Lindsay) he, said, that under the latter
system he had not only got back the price they had cost
him, but he had actually been a gaieer by giving them
their freedom. (Hear.) He only mentioned this as an
instance, occurring under very different circumstances
from the present, of the good effects of such an, enlight-
ened course of policy as her ladyship hail adopted with
reference to the working population ; and in strict con-
sistency with these benevolent principles, had also taken
a deep interest in educating the rising generation, of
which she was about to afford a further proof by the
erection of a school, in addition to the church now to be
erected. The hon. member, in conclusion, begged the
'COmpany to join hini in drinking' "The Health of Earl
Vane." (The toast was drunk with every manifestation
of the moat cordial good feeling.) . .
. Earl VANE, in, returning thanks, said he certainly did
feel a deep interest in the neighbourhood, and following
the precept and example of her ladyship, he Was happy
to share in some degree in the good. wishes and kindly
feeling expressed tow: Ms her. - • :
R. L. PEMBERTON, E-q., then begged to propose the
health of one who, though not a ;Wive of the county of
Durham. bad, from the time she first became connected.
with it, gained universal esteem. and respect--the
Countess. Vane. (Applause.) He would propose " Long
lile and prosperity to Lord and Lady Vane." (The toast
was very cordially drunk.) .
thTeirhenocrlec""cludet.de these
as.
PAnYs on
entertainers afterwards
;a and
teresting proceedings, which will certainly •
d in than
sociated in the minds of all who participate
thuTse, and teokbleeasrincif.