The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-02 00:00:00

THE ROYAL SAPPERS AND MINERS.

Among the various improvements in military orga-
nisation which recent experience has suggested, one of
the most considerable seems likely to consist in the in-
troduction of non-military or semi-military 4evies into
the system of the army. A remarkable example of what
can be accomplished by such agencies has been shown in
the rapid construction of the Balaklava Railway by
skilled workmen despatched for the purpose, andit has
reasonably presumed that if the fighting men of an army
could be relieved from extraordinary labour in the way
of digging trenches, or construction of field works gene-
rally, not only would they be maintained in far greater
efficiency for the shock of battle, or any other special
duties of soldiers, but the works in question would
themselves be more rapidly and dexterously executed by
the skilled labour thus applied to them. Without enter-
ing, however, at present upon the general question, we
may observe that there exists at this moment a depart-
ment of the regular army constituted especially for the
execution of all skilled mechanical works which the course
of military operations may demand. Perhaps it is not
commonly understood that the men of a certain corps,
although soldiers in designation, discipline, and cos-
tume, are nevertheless essentially workmen, and skilled
workmen too ;. they were originally raised as workmen,
and for some time past actually styled so, and that they
still represent a department of which the special func-
tion is skilled labour. This corps is now known as the
Royal Sappers and Miners, and a history ofu
airtt ehrEin ajsut es r'
been published by Mr. Conolly, one of its q
sergeants, which throws considerable light on a very in-
teresting subject.
It was shortly before a siege as memorable in its Way
as that of Sebastopol promises to be that the corps in T
question received its original formation.
he repairs and
improvements in the fortifications of Gibraltar bad, up
to the period of which we speak,
ab.een executed by me-
chanics hired from England or v
parts of the con-
tinent, who were under no regularroTpsermanent engage-
ment, and on whom accordingly no reliance (mulct be
placed for that species of fidelity and steadiness whiiih
such a service demanded, Under these circumstances

_
Yesterday morning, between the hours of twelve and
one o'clock, considerable consternation was caused in the
neighbourhood of Greenwich and Deptford, owing to the
outbreak of a most extensive fire in the well-kn Own pre-
mises belonging to Messrs. J. Penn and Sons, Govern..
meat engineers, &c., situate at .Deptford-pier, near
Greenwich. The building in which the fire was first
perceived was of considerable extent, and was used as
the painters' shops, in which property of great value was
deposited. From the last-named compartment the
flames seized hold of the spacious floors containing models
valued at some thousand pounds, termed the pattern
stores. Owing to the magnitude of the premises and
the vast extent of goods deposited therein, the flames
speedily assumed a most fearful aspect, and rose so high
as to illuminate the east and south end of the metropo-
lis. Owing to the bend in the river many of the fire-
men imagined that the conflagration was raging on the
Surrey side of the water, whilst others came to the
conclusion that i a seat was at Rockwall, consequently
not fewer than eleven of the Brigade engines, includ-
ing the steam-float and the lower float, as well as that
of the West of England Fire.engine, started towards
the spot from London, Mr. Superintendent Braidwood
having the command of the first-named force, and Mr.
Connorton the charge of the West of• England body of
firemen. Upon gaining the scene of the disaster, which
was ultimately learned from a mounted police express,
the firemen found that two private engines had previously
arrived, as well as two from her Majesty's dockyard at
Deptford, and lengths of hose having been attached to
the supply-cocks of the reservoirs, some thousand tons
weight of water were thrown upon the conflagration ;
but in spite thereof and the exertions of all present, in-
cluding upwards of 40 firemen, the flames could not be
entirely extinguished until nearly five o'clock in the
morning, and not until the painters' shops and all they
contained were destroyed, the pattern stores of the first
floor burned out, and about half of the roof burned off.
The lower floors and the valuable stock in trade are also
severely damaged by water, and so are the carpenters'
workshops by fire, &c. The loss, which is very heavy,
will fall upon the Sun, Phoenix, and Kent Fire-offices.
A very searching inquiry was made during the day by
the principals of the firm to ascertain if possible how the
misfortune occurred, but nothing satisfactory could be
obtained ; but the prevailing opinion is that it arose from
the spontaneous ignition of some oily wipings. The
business which the firm has on hand for the Government,
it should be stated, will not be in the least degree inter-
rupted, as that was carried on in the other factory at
Greenwich, the premises in which the fire broke out
being used only as the boiler-makers, coppersmiths,
painters, and carpenters' shops. The police and inhabi-
tants rendered essential service to the firemen in extin-
guishing the conflagration, and had it not been for their
exertions a far more serious amount of property must
have been destroyed.

THE REPRESENTATION OF MALDON.

Mr. Mechi has issued the following address to the
electors of the borough of Malden :
"Gentlemen,—l aspire to the honour of representing
you in Parhament whenever a vacancy occurs: I do
not ask this as a favour, because I consider the obliga-
tion in such cases mutual. Living, as I do, amongst
you, you are well acquainted with my general conduct,
character, and opinions. In politics I have always been
a consistent Liberal, having invariably, as a citizen of
London, voted for liberal candidates. My natural in-
clination is for improvement, whether general or poli-
tical, and we know that all things require looking after
to repair the damage caused by time, corruption, or
decay. Our glorious constitutionlforms no exception
to this general rule. In religion lam a steady Church-
man, with a large measure of toleration for those
who conscientiously differ from our formularies. I can
never forget that much of dissent was caused by the
once lax and venal condition of our state church. Hap-
pily those days of pluralities and neglect have passed
away. lam decidedly in favour of educating the mil-
lion. As a mere matter of business, knowledge is power
as ignorance is weakness. You know my practice in
this matter. lam an advocate for cheap, quick, and
honest law, and will support any measure that will con-
dense and simplify our statutes. I have a great horror
of the Court of Chancery. In a lsusinest.-country like
ours it never can be necessary to occupy a number
of years in the investigation of facts that would be
ascertainable in a few days, weeks, or months, by
an ordinary tribunal of diligent and intelligent men-.
I am a man of peace and conciliation, but
when
our honour, dignity, or welfare is a,ttacked• directly
h e do in business,
or through our allies, let us castigate our enemies men.
fully and effectively. I like no
ahsalwf measures—they
wthare rig we
place., I have
- fißnrdi t itshh
the
right L e t uresadno
forin
atrrye uton
taken a deep interest in the improvement
of our Na.
eeding our industrious millions, and and employing
alt
holder, I have practised what I hough but a small land-
tions with my tenants. Wh. preached in my transac-
wish you clearly to tlst soliciting your votes I
understand th • '
unshackled by , at Ido so Individually,
any personal
elusion, I willlmake no rial ( r political alliance. In con-
shall exercise my judgment pledges, but if you elect me, I
man, according togment as an honest and independ-
entmy
country.,, circumstance,, for the benefit. of
I have the honour to be, gentlemen, faiths
fully yours,
" J. J. rilicomi.
"3.iptree-hall, li.elvedon, Essex,
May 26, 1855."

A CASE OF POISONING AT CIIATHABL—On Wednes-
day morning intelligence reached the barracks that
PriYate W. Walsh, 45th Regiment, was in a dying state
at a small inn called the George. A party from the
appear,taken back on a stretcher had been with him
garrison was immediately despatched ; on reaching the
inn the deceased was sitting between two young Women
odfutrhinegttohwen,niwghhot., it would ouwasld
to the garrison hospital, where he expired in the course
of the day. The only word that he was understood to
utter was a poison, poison. A coroner's inquest is
to be held, when_further light may be thrown upon the
subject. A draft of the 45th left on Wednesslay morn.
lug, in which Webb was to have been included.