The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-10 00:00:00

Amoor River. The movement was not perceived
on board the English steamers in consequence of
the thickness of the weather, occasioned by the
snow and fogs. The inhabitants all moved to the
village of Avatscha, where the wife of the com-
mandant also remained, not being able to proceed
with the troops in consequence of the delicate state
of her health at that time. Before leaving the
allies destroyed all the fortifications, and erected a
fence around the graves of Admiral Price and the
English and French who fell on that occasion,
having been drawn into an ambuscade while
marching upon one of the batteries by which the
harbour was protected. It is difficult to divine
what were the reasons of the Russians in abandoning
the place. It was well fortified both by nature and
art, and the result of the first attack shOwed that
the place could be successfully defended even
against a larger force than the allies could muster
in the Pacific.
The Obligado, ,Captain De Rosencourt, left at
Petropaulovski the British vessel of war Trinco-
malee, on board of which two Russian prisoners had
been placed for the purpose of exchanging them for
a French sailor who had both his arms cut off in
the attack made on the place by the allies last fall,
and was afterwards captured by the Russians. It
is stated that he received the kindest treatment.
The British frigates Pique and Amphitrite, after
the destruction .of the works at Petropaulovski,
sailed for the Ochotsk Sea, and the remainder of
the fleet for Sitka. The Euglish vessels will pro-
ceed to Vancouver's Island, and the French to this
port. A portion of the fleet will remain at the
north for the present, and will cruise around the
Aleutian Islands. The French steamer Prony may
be expected here in a few days. The population of
Petropaulovski, previous to the arrival of the allied
fleet, is estimated by. Capt. Rosencourt, of the
Obligaclo, to whom we are indebted for the above
information, to have been about 1,200.
Capt. ROsencourt brought back with him as tro•
phies'a sledge used by the inhabitants in travelling
over the snow with dogs, an anchor found in Pe-
tropaulovski, a deer, and a Russian dog. The
Obligado mounts 12 guns, 32 pounders, and two
mountain howitzers, such as are used against the
Indians in this country, and generally carried on
the backs of mules. These were intended to be
used on land, and all the vessels of the fleet were
provided with them.
The principal object of the visit of the allied fleet
to Petropaulowski was to dismantle that place, and
deprive the Russian men-of war and merchantmen
of a shelter in case the allies should get in pursuit
of them. Heretofore, there have been about sixty
Russian merchantmen which met yearly at Petro-
paulovski, after having traded along the coasts of
Northern Asia and America, on which latter coast
the Russians have a number of trading 'Amts.
Theso.vessels collect very valuable furs and walrus
teeth, whalebone, some precious stones, and other
less important articles of traffic—the total value
of the merchandise collected annually being about
2,000,000 , dollars. This trade was the life of
the Russian American Company, and this year
it has been entirely destroyed. The vessels
have disappeared—taking shelter probably in small
inlets of the sea in remote points. The allied fleets
searched diligently among the Aleutian Islands,
where the vessels are usually the most numerous,
but not one was to be found. It is supposed that
the allied squadron for the Chinese Seas, which
went to visit the Amoor will likewise visit Ivan,
a port upon 'the Sea of Ochotsk, which next to
Petrodaulovski was the most important Russian
trading station on the Pacific.
The following description of the town of Petro-
paulovski, from a •work entitled the " Directory of
the Pacific Ocean," by A. G. Findlay, may not
prove uninteresting :—" The town of Petropaulov-
ski, which is now at the head of the harbour,
stands in an amphitheatre on the slope of two hillq,
which form the valley, and is simply composed of
a gfoup of small .wooden houses covered with reeds
or dry grass, and surrounded by courts and gar-
dens with palisades. At the lower part of the
town, in the bottom of the valley, is the church.
It is remarkable for its fantastic construction,
and for its roof, which, painted green, seems to
add considerably to the effect of the picture,
surrounded as it is with lofty mountains. Arrived
at the bottom of the port, you land on a plank
which holds the place of a mole, and pass
directly before a guard-house, near which is a small
battery. Turning to the left, down a good street,
broad and macadamised, after passing the Govern-
ment workshops,in the centre of Petropaulowski,
and turning to the right after passing them, and
()tossing a wooden bridge, you pass the church on
the right hand, and then you reach the Govern-
ment offices. These two streets are all that merit
the name. The greater part of the houses outside
of them are placed without any arrangement and
without any attempt at convenience or comfort.
The general appearance of Petropaulovski greatly
resembles the French establis,hment at Newfound-
land.- The appearance of the fish dryers' houses,
and the strong smell of fish, give a greater degree
to the similitude. The houses are generally alike
and are called Isbas (log houses), the windows are
sometimes of glass, but more generally of talc, from
Ochotsk. When La Perouse visited it the inhabi-
tants generally lived on balagnans ; now there
is not a single one so used. There is not a
monument in Petropaulovski except one,
a :simple column surmounted by a globe,
surrounded by a railing, which bears an inscrip-
tion To Capt. Vitus Behring,' in Russian. No
edifiee demands particular attention. In the church
the rites of the Greek Church are conducted with
great richness and solemnity. There is, besides,
an hospital and a school."

THE CHANNEL ISLANDS AND THEIR
NAVIGATION.

The Channel Islands are surrounded with numerous
rocks of every imaginable shape, size, and height, above
and below the surface of the water. They look like the
jagged teeth of marine monsters, formed purposely for
tearing ships to pieces.. Between and around these rocks
the tide forms currents, which flow in every direction,
rendering the navigation as difficult and dangerous as
that of any part of the world. This might be supposed
from the numerous vessels lost annually on those rocks,
although often commanded by pilots and natives of the
islands. So dangerous is the navigation near Guernsey
and Jersey, that the mail steamers to and from Eng-
land never reach the Channel Islands by night, and
always leave them by day. In the daytime, how-
ever, mists, fogs, and snow storms, will often ,deter
the commanders of mails from attempting to thread
their way between the granite chevaux de frieze that
surround and guard the islands. Although when there
is any wind the sea is fearfully rough in the neighbour- '
hood of Jersey and Guernsey, the crews of the packets
dislike a calm because of the mists which often then
obscure the rocks ; and daring fogs and storms all per-
sons on board feel grateful when the Caskets, Sark, the
Corbiere, or any other light, islet, or headland near Jer-
sey or Guernsey is made out. If the weather is thick,
the captains of the mail packets are often obliged to
come to an anchor until it clears off. It is curious that
in the paissage between the Needles and the islands,
the routes taken by the packets vary from time to
tithe as widely apart as twenty miles. This arises
from the necessity of taking advantage of the currents,
during different winds, and states of tide, for the sake
of speed, and to avoid dangers. The most dangerous
route is through the Racs of Alderney, a narrow pas.
sage close to that island. Much time is saved by pro-
ceeding through the race, -hut it is not often that it can
be attempted. Although 600 or 700 passengers pass to
and from the Channel Islands and England weekly by
the mail packets; not a serious accident has happened to
the packets for year?. This is in a great measure
owing to the long expiTience which Captains Babot and
Goodridge, the commanders of the mail steamers, have
had. They know the shape, position, and name, of
every rock and rocklet, whether submerged or above
water, that they have to pass ; and they know, also,
the strength And direction of the innumerable currents
they have to encounter at every particular part of their
voyage. Some time ' since Captain Goodridge was
overtaken by a storm near the islands, and the weather
became at length so thick that. he was obliged to
come to an anchor. Night was coming on, and he made
up his mind for a long stay. By looking intently around
him he fortunately made out the dim outline of the form
of the peak of one of the rocks which studded the sea
around him, and by this he knew precisely whereabouts
he was.' In the course of the night the storm and dark-
ness increased, and he heard cries of distress. Re sent a
boat's crew towards the snot whence the cries came, to
r.nder assistaneer and with mnoh difficulty, for the boat
was ready swamped, brought off the captain and crew of
a Fr. neh vessel that was entangled among the racks, and
was bumping violently agaiest them. Time French com-
mander, when he. got on board Capt. Goodridge's ship,
firmly believed his vessel had by that time gone down;
but Captain Goodridge having ascertained that she was
laden With brandy, and other floatable, but valuable,
cargo, was convinced that she would not sink, and that
when the tide ebbed; she would be found at a particular
Cane in a certain direction, and resolved to go in search
of her ; this intention, however, he kept to himself
Accordingly when that time was approaching he ordered
steam to be got up, and although'it was pitch dark, be
,threaded his way cautiously for some considera& dis-
tanee, 'when his look-out man rung out in alariara, A
rock ahead, sir." Captain Goodridgo, however, did
not heed !dui, and in a moment they were right along.
side the French brandy vessel, which the look-out man
bad mistaken for a rock. The surprise of the French
captain may be imagined. When it was light, Captain
Goodridge towed the abandoned vessel into Guernsey,
and the Royal Court of that island awarded him 7501.
salyage money.

. •
A STRATED htisbani thus announces the
departure feom hiii bed and board 'of his dearly beloved:
—` ryly wife, Anne Maria, has strayed or been stolen.
Whoever returns I;r will get hia ..head -broke. As to
trusting her, anybody can do as he thinks fit ; for as I
never pay my own debts, it's not likely I'll pay here.
New York paper.

SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JUUiLVALS.

(From the Times of Otis clay.)
In the address of Lord Stanley to the Manchester and
Liverpool Agricultural Society it is easy to recognise
the honest and painstaking young nobleman who went
to the West Indies for the purpose of seeing with his
own eyes the condition of the emancipated blacks and
unprotected planters. He goes into the matter before
him in proper businesslike style, stating what had been
done, what is now in progress, and what, in his opinion,
agriculturists have to look forward to. All this he does
with a rigorous exactness and a degree of simplicity and
candour very much contrasted with the more eloquent
and seductive addresses that used to be heard at these
meetings. There is evidently not the least desire to
put the best leg foremost, to avoid disagreeable topics
and unpleasant allusions. This has been done so often
that even the soft and credulous nature of the British
farmer must be proof against it. But if there ever was
a time when the truth ought to be spoken to the sen-
sitive agriculturist it is the present, when the war,
which is every dray streiter.ing most other classes more
and more, sustains the price of food .at a height far above
all ordinary calculations of profit. If there is anybody
in these days who ought to be laying by for had times, it is
the British farmer ; and as he lays by his money, so also
ought he, to store up good advice. So Lord Stanley's
address is a word in season. He ad vises the farmers of Lan-
cashire to omit no opportunity of improvement, not to
grudge the trifling expense of a guinea subscription to
the society, to look about for the very best implements,
to enter into any arrangements that may be made for
showing the use of them where the smallness of the
holding will not allow of the purchase, to prepare for
two or three farms being thrown into one fur the sake
of better husbandry, to cultivate every acre that is not
wholly irreclaimable, to look fur the guano nearer home
if it can be precured, and, in a word, to follow the ex-
ample of other arts and sciences, all of them ever on the
move. It is a specimen of Lord Stanley's other advice,
and of a plea with his own honesty, that ho advises the
farmer to answer any questions that may be put to him
with a view to the collection ef agricultural statistics.
It has been intimated to him that our farmers woti'd not
like to lit their landlords know exactly how much they
expect to get from their lands, while others think it a
piece of impertinence in the State to ask any questions
about a man's private affairs. The extreme seclusion in
which many farmers live, the importance they enjoy in
their own little domain, and their general ignorance of
politics may excuse this objection. But they ought to
be informed that all other classes submit in more than
one way to the prying eyes of the St ito The manu-
facturers is inspected at every turn. Besides that the
nation knows to a pound the quantity of cotton wool
imported every year ; it also knows to a yard, and a
pennywoith, the quantity of manufactured cotton goods
that lea• e the island. The reaeufacturer is bound to
make returns of the ages of his younger operativee, to
ernplo ; them only in such and such hours, to provi le for
the youngest schools open to inspectors, and, to pass
over other minute inquiries to which he is subject, he
may be called on to lay all his books open to the Com-
missioners of Income tax. S.) the farmers are under a
conehlera,ble rnsteke is they think that they are the cnly
peel le whose affsirs tee State pry into. But, after all,
it is the farmer who is especially int(reet in the col'cc-
tion of trustworthy agricultural statistics, as nobody
suffers so much by the present want of them. He sells
his crop in the dark, and is generally taken in. Such is
the tone of the advice Lord Stanley gives to the farmer,
and it deserves to be well received.
Undoubtedly same of these suggestions are very dis-
agreeable, send Lard S anley does not take much pains
to sweeten them. For example, the hint about the
small scale of the Lanca,hire holdings will be set down
by mane peoele as not only unkind, but very unpoeti-
cal. We believe that many very excellent persons
tnink that ih smal er the farm the greater the content,
the virtue, and ermi the prosperity of the occupier,
till perhaps they would pat their ideal of a per-
fect farm at four acres or thereabouts. Of course
it cannot he denied that small farms are more
tolerable is a dairy district, such as that round the large
towns of Lancashire ; 'out, under all circumstances, they
are chiefly remit kable for slovenliness, irregularity, help-
lessness, and all that is usually comprised in the idea of
had condition. The small farmer has not enough time,
or money, or skill for any one pursuit. Everything,
therefore, goes wrong about hint. He cannot afford to
pay labourers regularly or well ; he cannot afford good
sewants : he cani.ot afford that cheerful, abundant, yet
e:onomiral home which is the best school of rural vir-
tues. The small farmer is generally a very poor trea-
t ere, a very ignorant creature, and often a very dissolute
cr ature, from the circumstance of his not having either
the hani teaching of extreme poverty, the chains of ser-
vice, or the responsibility and self-respect of a better con-
dition. There is no class of life in which domestic rela-
tiens of an equivocal charact,rso widely prevail as in that
of cm Ilfaemers. There is none in which education is so
little valued. There is none so inaccessible to the higher
influences of a civili,ed country. Some may be sorry to
see it aflogether destroyed, but it prodices little more
than picturesque farm-, tumble:-dawn walls, dilapidated
outheuses, gates that have reared to swing, fences that
have ceated to interfere with the movements of cattle,
bridges that are no longer safe, and ditches that
no longer favour the flow of water. If you
want hedges that assume the luxuriance of
thickets and harbour every variety of British
bird—if you want fields favourable for botanising, cot-
tages that would adorn any album, and cattle that a
Morland would naturally str p to sketch, and, finally,
boors that a Teniers (Sr a. Wilkie would make a memo-
rundurn of. you will fad them in the sm farms of the
dairy d;stricts, which send out penniless adventurers, hit
whose occupiers are still more wretched than those who
are sent out. We are quite sure that no landlord need
ever In t himself for the supposed wrongs of those who
have been to look out for themselves by the union of
small farms in larger on's: The process is the greatest
benefit to the country, to the labourer, and, eVe are
satisfied, to the small farmers thems-Ives. Lord Stanley
deserves our thanks for recommendine the process as a
public benefit in defience ef the prejudices of those who
take a picturesque view of the question.
On the other hand—and it is a very fair set-off against
this suggestion—Lord Stanley contends for the liberty
of selling land on the part of the lendowoer. Settlements
and the technicalities of'conveyance make it morally iin-
psseible in this country for a landowner to do what ha
likes with his own. There are many situations out of
the category of common farming in which a landowner
might sell very ordinary land at 1001. an Acre, if he
could do it at all or at the expense of 51. an acre
fir the conveyance. No reason can be given why
this should not be permitted. We have heard
of a case where a town which had been intoler-
ably dissolute and ill-conditioned in all respects dated a
very startling improvement from the time when a new
landowner, who had nearly all the property around it,
opened a market, so to speak, for the sale of his land.
But there are many other occasions in which a landowner
wants to sell his land, and cannot do it, even when there
is no contrary interest in question. As Lord Stanley
says, be does not want an Encumbered Estates Act, but
if property is to become more and more involved every
year, we shall be driven to some such resource before
many years. Already a great deal of land and other
property of a high estimated value is quite as worthless
to its owners as if it were in another planet or had been
swallowed up in the sea. Without falling into any ex-
treme and fantastic theory about the soil, we must say
that it is the duty of the State to promote, by all lawful
means, its conversion to the largest profit and the
greatest variety of uses. The whole population bas an
interest in it, not only that it may be made to produce
the greatest quantity of food, and contribute most to the
national wealth, but also that it may be made the means
of the utmost enjoyment to all. There are very few
men who can ever attain to the occupation of land, still
fewer who can hope for the pride of possession ; but the
soil may be made the means of increased wealth, happi-
ness, and even security to all, and he is indeed a great
benefactor to his'country who shows how this may be
done, and himself leads the way.

A VERY MYSTERIOUS CASE.-At the bench of magis-
trates, on Monday (present—the Mayor, A. Bigge, and
Montagu Scott, Ecirs.), a female who gave her name
Sophia Baker, asked the advice of the Bench under the
following very extraordinary circumstances :—The appli-
cant stated that she went with a female friend into the
shop of Mr. Walley, East-street, called "Ye House of
Lud," for the purpose of purchasing a silk dress. An
assistant met them at the door, and politely bowed them
in. After looking at certain articles, which did not suit
her, she was about to leave, when the assistant, being de-
termined that she should be a customer, politely handed
her to another part of the shop, and showed her other
goods, and ultimately prevailed upon her to have a piece
of silk cut off for a dress, the price being 22.. She took
out her purse, expecting to find in it two half-sane-
reigne, knowing that she had carefully placed them
there before she went into the shop ; but, to her
utter astonishment, she found the purse, which she
had fastened with a clasp, open, one of the half-
sovereigns gone, and the other loose in her pocket.
Having expressed her great surprise at the circumstance,
she said that she could not pay for the dress ; but the
assistant sail it was cut off, and she must have it. The
friend of the applicant threatened to Fend for a police 7;
man ; and a considerable sensation was produced in the
shop searching for the missing half-sovereign. At
length Mr. Walley offered to take what money she had
for the dress ; and if on her return she found the half-
Sovereign, she was to return it to him, but if not, she
might keep the dress. Applicant took the dress ;an I
then came to the Bench. The chief officer of police ob-
served that this was not the first time persons had com-
plained of having their pockets picked in that shop.
Mr. Walley was sent for ; and, on making his appear-
aece, the circurnistences were repeated, and Mr
Walley said, rather than have any disturbance he a'-
lowed the applicant to take the dress away for the half
sovereign. Mrs. Reed, applicant's friend, said it was
not till after that she had threatened to call in a police-
man, that applicant was allowed to take the dre.ei
away for half a sovereign. Mr. Bigge said it did
not appear to be a case in which the magistrates
could grant a warrant ; but it was a very suspicious
affair. Mr. Scott said the worst part of the case
was that Mr. Walley should have reduced the price of
the dress 60 per cent. when a policeman was talked of.
This appeared to him to compromise the matter, and
create great suspicion. Not only did it seem to ccm
promise the case, but it also compromised the character
of the establishment. If Mr. Walley liked, he might
bring forward his men to clear his shop from that sTpi-
eion which the statements of applies,nt. and her friend
were calculael to excite. Mr. Walley declined to do
so,. preferring to let the matter rest where was,—
Brzykon Gazette.