The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-25 00:00:00

THE SUNS LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 25, 1855.

French and English had made a second reconnaissance
of the enemy's position at Balaklava. I now hasten to
give you the details c f that movement, which was emi-
nently successful. The reconnaissance, or rather the
kind of attack, was made on the 30th of December. Two
days previous our out pickets had observed an unusual
bustle aad confusion in the enemy's quarters, which ap-
peared to be occupied by a much smaller body of men.
On the 28th a division of infantry, with a small body of
cavalry and artillery, is all about 10,000 strong, left the
Russian camp, and commenced their march for the sum-
mit of the chain of hills near Mackenzie's Farm, where
they remained. Information of the fact was forwarded
to the allied general., who I believe wee@ already aware
of the intention of Liprandi to abandon his position
on the Tchernaya, and valley of the Inkerman. On the
29th two more bodies of the enemy's force retired i❑ the
same direction as the former. Each corps d'arrizee
remained upon the heights, one division near the_ruins
of Inkeralan, the second about two miles apart, near the
centre of the side, and the third two miles further east,
close to Mackeezie's Farm. A reccommissance of their po-
sition with that of the strength of the force remaining upon
the Tchernaya was immediately determined on, and the
French cavalry at Xersonese, with 12 guns, and the
Rifles, Nth Highlanders, and a regiment of Zouaves, at
Balaklava, received orders to hold themselves in readi-
ness to march at daybreak on the following day. The
Rifles, Zouaves, and Nighlanders turned out at six on
the :Oth. The Zouaves advanced in the direction of the
♦illage of Damara. The Rifles and Highlanders crossed
the ravine in front of the position held by the Marines
on our extreme right, and occupied the steep headland■
beyond, which overlook the sea on one side, and the
rear and right of the Russian camp upon the other. The
post was purely a defensive one, and only intended to
counteract the enemy in case of their threatening our
right. As it was quite four miles from the enemies'
camp, neither the Rifles nor Highlanders took any part
in the actual attempt upon the Russian position. In
their posts the infantry waited until the arrival of the
French cavalry and artillery. The cold upon the heights
was extreme, and the poor Highlanders, who had re-
ceived strict order■ to turn out in kilts, suffered severely
during* the three hours which they were kept waiting
exposed upon the cliffs to the rigour of a keen December
wind.

About nine o'clock the cavalry made their appear-
ance. Part moved to the left across the plain in the
direction of the Turkish redoubts, captured on the 25th
of October, while two squadrons with the Zouaves ad-
vanced to the right upon Kamara. The artillery re-
mained with the cavalry on the left, which halted under
cover of the dismantled redoubts, aid remained until
the Zouaves in the rear and right had scoured Kamara
and the billy country beyond, so u to secure them from
any enemy in that direction.
At Kamara was stationed an advanced Cossack pic-
,euet of about 30 or 40 men, who leaving one of their
number on a dietantenainence, retired as the French ad-
vanced. The Zouaves occupied the village, which had
been almost entirely destroyed, and carried away by the
enema for building huts. The church was the only
building untouched extereally. Inside the place was
despoiled and stripped of everything. When we fiat
came to this place, I once rode out to Kamara, in coin-
' parry with Mr. Murray, of the Commissariat, and we
were both struck at the extreme magnificence and beauty
with which the church was then adorned inside. In that
condition I know the Allies left it ; and since that time
it has been in the possession of the Russians themselves,
who appear to have wantonly desecrated it in every pos-
sible manner. The place inside is now a mass of filth—
the paintings torn to shreds, and their rich frames broke*
and hacked to pieces. All this has been done since the
Russians " protected" the place.
The Zouaves searched the village, and captured three
horses, some forage, several lances and muskets, and ono
Russian infantry soldier, who was cooking in the re-
mains of a cottage. While this was going forward, the
cavalry advanced about a mile towards the Tchernaya,
where some 300 or 400 Cossacks had built stables and
huts for their winter quarters. The Cossacks exchanged
a few shots and then retired in the same manner as from
Kamara, but keeping to the south along the right bank
of the Tc.hernaya, which, swollen by the heavy rains, is
a wide, deep, and rapid river, not fordable in any part.
The French set fire to all the huts and stables of the
picquet, send continuing their career after the Cossacks,
advanced to a considerable, and what certainly might
have been a most imprudent, distance. They kept along
the right of the Tchernaya for about three miles. The
new position which the enemy took up, when Liprandi
first retired from Belaklava at the beginning of Decem-
ber, is on the left bank of the river, and nearly in a line
with the old Turkish redoubte, close to which the main
body of the French cavalry remained to watch the enemy.
The Zonavee having searched the country round Ka-
ma,ra, and convinced themselves that they had nothing
to fear from that quarter, advanced towards the Tcher-
mart, above the place held by their cavalry, so as
to check any attempt which the enemy might make to
cress the river and oat off the force which had gone off
apparently in pursuit of the Cossacks. Directly the
Russians perceived the effects of these manoeuvres, they
despatched a squadron of Hussars and Cossacks, with
three guns, along the left bank, to watch the movements
of the French force who were scouring on the right.
Before the advance of the latter, the Cossack picquet
force rapidly retreated for about three miles, when they
reached the, village of Tchourgoum, a large and hand-
some place, formerly containing about 3,000 inhabitants.
On the right of this the Cossacks halted and drew up, as
if to await the attack of the French, but the object of
the latter Yea. 1.0)W to eestroy the village not the Cos-
sacks. The enemy seemed quite aware olthis, and were
evidently determined to harass our allies if they once en-
tered Tchourgoum, and to secure themselves against
such attempts the French formed in line and charged.
They were, if anything, rather superior to the Cossacks
in numbers, but the latter, on the other hand, bad the
advantage of the ground. The contest was hardly of a
moment's duration. The enemy wavered before our
allies, charged, and after a slight show of resistance,
broke and scattered in all directions. The French were
close amongst them, and pursued hotly, putting all to
the sword who attempted to resist. Five or six were
taken prisoners, with several horses, and about
fifty or sixty wee killed and wounded. The rest
escaped across the stone bridge which spans the '
Tchernaya a little distance above Tchourgoum. To
this, the left bank of the river, the French made no
attempt to follow, but hastened to secure and destroy
the village before reinforcements coild return. Tchour-
goum was entirely deserted by its peasant inhabitants.
Only a few "Arobajees" and some 10 or 12 Russian
soldiers remained there.
The instant the Cossacks perceived the intentions of
the French, they returned, as with the view of saving
the village, but too late. The French again prepared
to attack them, and after a few shots the enemy re-
tired.

The success of this day was beyond a doubt, and great
praise is due to the French for the admirable manner in
which the whole thing was planned and executed. The
whole loss to the French, 1 am informed, was only 4
men killed and 16 wounded, with 2 officers ; and at this
slight cost they almost entirely destroyed the enemies'
cantonments, burnt Tchourgoum and its stores, and de-
stroyed all the out picquets' quarters and stables, as well
as capturing some 30 or 40 horses and 20 prisoners. The
Zouaves carried in an immense quantity of planks and
timber for hut-building. The Russians must in the
cannonade have loss between 30 and 40 men and
horses killed, and about twice as many more
wounded.
Ja'c, 4.—Everything still goes on slowly. All day
yesterday and to-day the snow and hail has fallen inces-
santly. The whole surface of the ground, so far as lam
able to judge by a 10 miles' ride, is a complete half frozen
quagmire. Our trenches and covered ways are mere
ditches, filled with ice and water to the depth of three
and four feet. Last night it rained until about four in
the morning, when a heavy snow sterrn succeeded, which
thawed in about half-an-hour, and flooded the camp.—
Menschikoff seems to have had good reason when he re-
lied upon his three generals, January, February, and
March. Our mon would laugh at the weather if they
were only hutted; but under tents and only clad in their
great coats, they suffer severely.
The 30th, which arrived in the Jason three days since,
have not yet landed.

P.S. Four o'clock.—lt is still snowing. The ground
is covered to the depth of half a foot.
News has reached here that the vessel containing
10,000 fur coats for the troops has been burnt at Con-
stantinople. Only nine bales of coats were saved. Plea-
sant news !

Yesterday evening a strong force of Cossacks returned
to their old stations outside Balaklava. Some picquets
approached within 1,200 yards of the Rifle camp, so
that our riflemen were taking " pot " shots at them all
day. Last night also the Russians made a sortie from
the Garden Battery upon the French lines. It was an
ordinary affair and repulsed, but I have not yet been
able to ascertain the particulars. One thing, however,
is evident to all, that as the severity of the weather in-
creases the enemy becomes bolder in proportion each
day. The men, lam sorry to say, just now appear to
be mush disheartened, not at the enemy, for they are
more determined in their hostility towards them, but at
the prospect of enduring such a winter with so little to
protect them against its inclemency.
JAR. 5.—A1l last night the cold was intense, the
thermometer standing at 14 below freezing point.
Two officers in the 97th (I believe) were unfortunately
■nffocated by using charcoal stoves in tents which were
tightly closed. An officer in another regiment most
narrowly escaped the same fate. Upwards of 100 horses,
I am informed, also perished, and many of the sentries
and out picquets were discovered during the night per-
fectly numbed.
Major-Geaeral Pennofather leaves here to-day in the
Harpy.
The Leonard screw steam-frigate has arrived from
England. She goes to Varna in a day or two, with
the Inflexible, for Turkish troops.

All kinds of fresh provisions still continue to sell at
the most exorbitant prices. Iron saucepans, stoves, and
general canteen utensils, are in great request, and fetch
any sums when they are to be had, which is seldom.
Warm clothing or fresh provisions of any kind sell for
about their weight in silver.
JAN. 6.—The cold is still most severe, and if wo may
judge from the northerly wind and clear bright atmos-
phere, there is every prospect of its being permanent
for some days at least. Yesterday I was at Balaklava ' •
all the ships ara covered with snow and long icicles, and
the hills which enclose the bay look like gigantic ice-
bergs. Altogether, it gives Of tolerable idea of the
Arctic regions.
I have no news of interest to add to my letter of yes-
terday. Everything remains as if frozen into a stern
tranquillity.
Nearly 1000 men have beau sent in for invaliding
during the last two or three days.
Captain Swinton, of the Royal Artillery, was one of
the officers suffocated by the fames of charcoal ; only
one officer of the 97th died from the same cause, and not
two, as I was at first led to believe,

LAW INTELLIGENCE—Jan. 24.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.
(Sittings in Banco)
MARTIN V. MESON-COCK-TIGHTING.

In this case the action was for money had and re-
ceived. The defendant pleaded that the money was de-
posited in his hands by the plaintiff, 8.9 his stake on a
wager upon a cock-fight. The plaintiff demurred to this
plea, and replied that he had demanded his stake back
again before the event contemplated had come off. To
this replication the defendant demurred.
Mr. Milward now appeared on behalf of the plaintiff,
and argued that the plea was bad, inasmuch as it- did
not show that the event had been decided, and that the
replication was a good answer to the plea, even though
that plea were bad. He was further prepared to con-
tend, should it become necessary, that cock-fighting was
not illegal.
Mr. Baron Alderson—l suppose you would say that
cock-fighting was not illegal where the cocks " volun-
teered," which probably you would say they did, seeing
that they wore only put down, and then left to do as
they please. (Laughter.)
Mr. Gray, on behalf of the defendant, contended that
no doubt could exist as to cock-fighting being illegal.
He submitted, too, that the plea in its present form was
a good plea.
Mr. Milward replied, and . . .

The court, in giving judgment, said that the plea was
mouifestly bad, inasmuch as it had not shown that
which was afterwards cleared up by tie replication—
samely, that the event contemplated had not come off.
Until the time when the event did come off it was per-
fectly clear that the wagerer had a right to recall his
stakes, and it was no answer for the stakeholder to
say that cock-fighting was an illegal act. The plaintiff
had a right to relent, and at the same time to re-
cover back his stakes. Judgment must therefore be for
the plaintiff.

the breast part of his coat with both his hands, shook
him so violently as to tear a button off. Skinner then
offered to go quietly to the station-house, but notwith-
standing they were arm-in-arm and going on before him,
he kept shoving them along with violence, and at the
station-house he gave a charge against them of being
drunk and creating a disturbance. That charge was at
once taken and they were locked up.
Amongst the witnesses called were two most respect-
able persons, who were strangers to all the parties, and
who happened to be accidentally present, and both
represented the conduct of the constable Peg,ram es
most uncalled for, violent, and highly improper.
Mr. Elliot having heard the various witnesses, as well
as Mr. Solomon, for the defence, remarked that the de-
fendant had received a twelve years' excellent character,
and it was painful to him to be obliged to punish one
who had borne a good character so long. He, however,
felt bound to do so. Tbere was no valid excuse for lock-
ing up Skinner, the postman, aid he (Mr. Elliott)
doubted very much indeed whether there was any for
locking up his wife, and the manner in which the act
had been endeavoured to be justified by that which
must appear to all who had heard it to be scandalous
perjury, wag the very worst part of the case. Looking
at the whole of the policeman's conduct, and which
was much aggravated by the manner in which it was
endeavoured to be justified, ho must convict him in a
ipmepnrailstoynmofen2t./., or in default of payment to 20 days'

Schallehn, it is among the principle attractions of the
place, especially to the season-ticket holders, any dimi-
nution of its force is likely to be accompanied by a more
than proportionate falling off in the permanent receipts.
As respects the funds yet to be raised for the entire
completion of the undertaking, it is announced that the
300,0001. mentioned at the meeting in July as the re-
quisite sum, in addition to the 1,000,0001. of share
capital, will not be exceeded. Of this 61,5501. has
already been obtained by the issue of debentures, and
60,0001.. more is expected from the same source. To
supply such of the remainder as is absolutely necessary,
a preference stock of 150,0001., at 7 per cent., in 51.
shares, is proposed to be offered pro rats among the
existing proprietors.

GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWA.T.—Traffic return for the
week ending Jan. 14, 1855 £l, ,000 11 7
Correspoltdiag week last year 17,380 11 1

LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending Jan. 21, 1855 £18,502 15 5
Corresponding week last year. 17,431 11 10
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return fol
the week ending Jan. 21, 1855 £3,813 5 8
Corresponding week last year 3,332 17 2
Increase in 1855,., •.. £4BO 8 6

GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending Jan. 20, 1855 £4,910 5 2
Corresponding week last year 4,186 12 0

I.nere,s© in 1855..

5.:723 13 2

RAILWAY DIVIDENDS.

At the approach of the general railway meetings, lite
following table of the dividends declared in 1841), 1850,
1851, 1852, 1853, and the first half of 1854, together
with the balances remaining over front the last half-year
(after payment of dividend), may be found useful for re-
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THE NETrLY-DISCOVERED ROAD TO
THE CRIMEA.

( From the New Prussian Gazette.)

In yesterday's paper it was stated that the Times is
now at length making' the discovery that there are other
ways besides the isthmus of Perekop for getting fro m
Southern Russia into the Crimea, and that, conse-
quently, no very great advantage would have accrued to
the allies by the possession of Perekop. This discovery
furnishes a proof that not only have those who made
it studied the existing maps of this part of Russia with
but little attention, but also that they must have been
utterly ignorant of former military events in the Crimea.
As perhaps some readers of the New Prussian Gazette
may he in the same state as the Times, it will not
be out of placetto give here a short account of Russian
operations against the Crimea in the course of the last
century. In the year 1736 Field Marshal Meunaich,
after encountering the severest privations, crossed the
Taurian steppe at the head of 70,000 men, and came as far
as the lines of Perekop, behind which the Khan of Tartary
awaited him. The Russians, by means of a false attack,
gained the position, forced their way into the Crimea as
far as the Taurian chain of hills, and then returned
through Perekop, fearing lest the Tartars, according to
their system of tactics, should cut off their retreat. In
1737, after General Lacy had superseded Field-Marshal
Meunnich in the command, the Khan again waited
fir the Russians near Perekop. The Russian general,
however, had a bridge thrown across the narrow strait
of Genitschi to the east of Perekop, and which sepa-
rates the Sea of Azoff from the Sivash. He then crossed
with his army over to the narrow strip of land called
Zieniska, and thus turned the position near Perekop.
On marching further along this tongue of land General
Lacy learned that a part of the Tartar force had hastened
to Arabat, in order to oppose the further progress of the
Russians at that point where the neck of land branches
off. On account of the confined nature of the ground
nearArabat, the Russian general could not expect to over-
come the difficulties he had to contend with ; he accord-
ingly caused the Sivash to be explored, and found in
this bay a piece of water so shallow, that by means of
casks and stakes he was able to make a sort of floating
bridge to the opposite Crimean coast. While the
cavalry were wading or swimming through the Sivash,
General Lacy advanced in this manner from the isthmus
of Zieniska into the Crimea, ravaged the whole coun-
try, and then returned to the main land, near the end of
Tchongar, a tongue of land on the north coast towards
the Crimea, between Perekop and Genitschi. In 1738
the Khan did not occupy merely the lines of Perekop,
but also the point opposite Tchongar, and another
point over against Genitschi. Then it was that Gene-
ral Lacy heard of a ford between Perekop aid the
tongue of Tchongar, and which was almost dry dur-
ing the prevalence of a westerly wind. As soon as it
began to blow from that quarter, the Russian army com-
menced instantly its march, and reached the Crimea
with nearly dry feet. From that moment the peninsula
was exposed to constant inroads from the Russians, until
at the peace of 1785 it remained in their possession.
From those facts it will be evident that blocking up
the Isthmus of Perekop would not prevent the entrance
of the Russians by some other route ; the less so indeed,
since the latter possess the fortified town of Arabat,
which closes the Isthmus of Zieniska, and consequently
prevents their opponents from stationing themselves op-
posite Genitschi. We also see that the occupation of
Perekop would in no wise cut of the retreat of the Rus-
sians from the Crimea, so long as Arabat remains in
their possession.

TEE LATE FATAL CALAMITY IN ST. JAMES'S PARK.—
Yeeterday afternoon ➢ir. Bedford, coroner for West-
minster, held an inquest of nearly four hours' duration
I at Westminster Hospital on the bodies of John Hutton,
aged 15, John Linton, 15, George Edwards, 15, and
James Brophey, 16, the four unfortunate persons who
were drowned by the breaking of the ice on the orna-
mental water in St. James's Park on Saturday last,
some particulars of which appeared in our impression
of Monday. From the evidence of a great number of
witnesses it appeared that four boys were sliding, when
the ice broke, and all were immersed. One, how-
ever, got out of the water, and several persons
rushed to the rescue of the others, but in the noble
attempt Brophey lost his life. All the witnesses
agreed that if there had been any of the Royal Hu-
mane Society's men or machinery on the spot at the
time the boys' lives might have been saved. It further
appeared, that only one man was on duty in St. James's
Park, by order of the society, when the occurrence took
place, and that there were no means of saving life at
hand; also that, if the boys when got on: bad been
taken to the tent, there way no fire or warm bath to
use for their recovery. No orders had been issued for
any of the Society's men to go on duty in the park that
day. The jury found a verdict that the deceased per-
sons died from "accidental drowning ;" but the foreman
added, that the jury could not separate without ex-
pressing in the strongest language an opinion that if
there bad been more men or proper machinery at hand
the lives of the youths would have been saved, and also,
that if the public could not demand proper attention
from the Royal Humane Society the jury would memo-
rialise the Woods and Forests to dose the parks.
[AnvuenerntENT.]—Hollo,,vay's Pills for the Cure of
Female Complaints.—Mr. P. E. Taylor informs Profes-
sor Holloway in a letter dated Sept. 16, 1854, that Mrs.
Sarah Carr, of Ellakes, was afflicted for a long time with
swellings in the stomach (which occurred at the turn of
life), giving strong indications of dropsy ; in fact, she
had been frequently told that dropsy was her complaint.
She was ultimately thrown on a bed of sickness, when
she commenced taking Holloway's pills. After taking
a few dozes she was completely cured, and now enjoys
most excellent health—bettor than ever she felt before.
Sold by all vendors of medicines, and at Prcfe:sor Hol-
loway's establishments, 244, Strand, London, and 80,
Maiden-lane, New York,