The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-31 00:00:00

Enclosure.

Enpatoria, Nov. 15, 1854.
Sir,—l have the honour to' inform you, that, encou-
raged by the catastrophe * mentioned in my other letter
othis day's date, and oar rockets having been blown
down, a large body of the enemy's cavalry, between seven
and eight thousand, supported by sixtelsn guns of horse
artillery,' made an attack on us at 3.45 p.m.
They planted their guns (under cover of the mills) at
about a thousand yards, in front of our upper rocket bat-
tery, where we had two rockets, one 12-pounder howitzer,
and an 18-pounder iron carronado, procured froru a mer-
chant ship.
They commenced a heavy fire of shot and shell, and with
sufficiently gool practice to fall very thick around us, and
many shot lodged, and several shell exploded, in the para-
pet of the redoubt. Their fire was returned with great
spirit on our side, by the two rocket batteries, the upper
one commanded by Lieutenant Lambert, of the Spiteful,
and Mr. Lake, midshipman of the Leander • Lieutenant
'
Hood, of the Arethusa, attended the lower battery, with
Mr. Mitchell, mate of the Leander, where were two 12-
pounier howitzers, and one 18-pounder merchant ship's
guns, and three rockets,. one 21-pounder, and two 12-
pounders.
Having no marines and but a few seamen, I reinforced
both batteries with fifty Arab troops, who, however, as the
enemy did not approach within musket shot, had no op-
, portunity of doing anything, though, from their behaviour
under fire they seemed to promise well. The fire was kept up
with animation on both sid es for nearly an hour, without any
casualties amongst us, except one man's thumb slightly
wounded, although it seemed wonderful that no one was
,struck by the shot and shell, which flew pretty thickly. The
enemy's cavalry,was drawn up in dense masses in the rear
and on each flank of their artillery, and, though an occa-
sional shot or rocket fell amongst them and disturbed their
formation, they seemed to be in excellent order. Both
our officers and men Seemed animated with the highest
spirit, and, considering the immensely superior force on the
enemy's side, their firmness merited my warmest approba-
tion. My attention was devoted to the upper battery, being
nearest the enemy, and whence I could best observe his
movements. S of our rockets were beautifully directed
by Lambil- gunners' mate of the Arethusa, and Ball,
quartermaster of the Lsander, and appeared to fall amongst
the horse artillery, and I have no doubt contributed to
hapbon their retreat, which they did at about 4.40.
I may acid that the officers and men did their duty
with alacrity, and seemed anxious to have an oppor-
tunity of meeting the enemy. I have particularly to call
your attention to the 'steady and cool conduct, of Lieu-
tenant Hood, who rode over the field this morning, after
the action, and ascertained that our shot and rockets were
well directed, and appeared to fall exactly in the right
;place; slie has recovered many of our shot at a time when
we most need them. I have likewise great satisfaction in
bringing before your notice the zeal and intelligence of
Mr. Brine, mate of the Leander, in charge of two 18-
'pounder merchant ship's guns, at the Hospital post, and
he has reported to me the good conduct- of James Mon-
gomery, leading seaman of her Majesty's ship Leander ; I
beg to recommend him to your favourable consideration.
The Tartars say the Russians lost many men, as they saw
many saddles vacant.
I have great pleasure in particularising the conduct of
Mr. Hamilton, senior lieutenant of the Leander, from
whom I have received the most efficient assistance through-
out these trying times to both officers and men, as well as
that of Messrs. Irvine, mate of the Megaara, Dupuis, mid-
' shipman of the Leander, Phillips, master's-assistant
of .the. Megxra, who has acted as my We-de-camp,
Doctor Blake' • assistant-surgeon of the Leander, and
the Reverend S. Robson, of the same ship, whose
manifold services in the field, as well• as his own
duties, have merited great praise. Assistant-Commissary-
General Gardiner I have found a most able assistant in
everything connected with his duty. I respectfully trust
'that;in the defence of this town that you have done mo
the honour to entrust me with, I have, as my limited
means will allow, carried your wishes into effect.—l
have, &c. SA.UMAREZ BROCK.
Captain, R.N., Commanding the Forces.
Vice-Admiral J. N. D. Dundas, C. 8.,
Commander-in-Chief.

* Damages none by gale of November 11.
+ Lamb promoted in vacancy caused by death of Gunner
of Banshee.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The Baltic fleet is ordered to leave Spithead on Tuesday
next for its destination. The officers' quarterly bills will
be received to-day. Tho men will be paid wages on Mon-
day down to the 3155 of January last, and on Tuesday,
after dinner (1.30 p.m.), the ships will weigh and proceed
to the Baltic. The following are at Spithead this morn-
ing :
Duke of Wellington— 131

Neptune v 120
St. George l2O
Royal George lO2
Exmouth .......
Nile
James Watt 9l
Cesar 9l
Powerful B4
Calcutta Bl
Cressy Bl
Majestic Bl
Colossus Bl
Blenheim 6O
Hogao GO
Ajaa 6O

Pylades. 2l
Alagicienne l6
Odin IG
Cruiser l4
Falcon l4
Ariel 9
Centaur 6
Bulldog..
Vulture 6
Gorgon 6
Basilisk 6
Geyser
Driver 6
Sealark 6
Ruby 4
Felber 4

Edinburgh 5B

Rear-Admiral Baynes, third in command, returned from
leave on Thursday night, and yesterday hoisted his flag on
board the Retribution paddle frigate, 28, Captain Fisher, in
the dockyard. All the admirals are now at Portsmouth,
and there are five flags flying in the port, and the Captain
of the Fleet (the Hon. F. T. Pelham) would fly a pendant,
but that there are eight captains around him his senior,
and he cannot hoist it in their presence. He, however,
wears.the uniform of a Commodore. The Neptune, St.
George, Powerful, and Calcutta Bailing ships, and the
steam-frigates and corvettes Illagicienne, Centaur, Falcon,
Cruiser, and Ariel will not leave with the bulk of the
fleet on Thursday, but will remain at Spithead until
further orders. The steam-ships in want of men will have
their complements made up as far as possible by draughts
of volunteers from the above-mentioned sailing ships. The
James Watt,, Powerful, and Pylades, from Portsmouth
harbour, Greenock, and Sheerness, joined the fleet yester-
day. All the admirals, captains, and commanders were
entertained at a parting banquet at the Admiralty-house
last night by Lady and Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Coch-
rane, K.C.8., the Commander-in-Chief of the Port.

THE SCREW FLEET—TO WHOM ARE WE
MAINLY INDEBTED ?
The departure from Spithead of an entire fleet of screw-
ships, of greater force than ever left a British port before,
is an event which inevitably suggests the question—" To
whom is England indebted for the introduction of screw
propulsion, which has thus enabled her to send forth the
most powerful steam fleet the world ever saw?"
Wo have repeatedly shown that the person to whose
exertions this result is mainly duo is Mr. Francis Pettit
Smith, and that the national service thus rendered has met
with neither public recognition nor reward.
Some of those who have had the best means of knowing
the true value and extent of his services have united
their efforts to remove this charge of national neglect,
by promoting a subscription, entitled the " Smith Tes-
timonial Fund ;" and in publishing the list of subscribers
to this fund, in which the names of a'most every ship-
building and engineering firm appears, they remark,
" that when it is known that the nation next in naval
rower to riure,olves have awr,rded to our countryman the
honour of this great mai itime improvement, his own na-
tion and government will not continue to withhold from
him an act of substantial justice."—Morning Herald.
Von yours provinfi to tin 'aortic:ma of tr.b Smith, W

Miles ' ' Receipts.
Opened, NAME OF RAILWAY.
1855. . • • 1854. 1855.
•
---- -
BEITI .i J 3
filf.
7255 Aberdeen •• •• •••• •• •• •••• •• •• • •••. .2,030 1,921
37% Belfast and Ballymena •• ..... ..... .. 818 705
17 Belfast and County Down.. .. .. - - .. „ -•• .
32 Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire 499 i 1.872
2655 Bolton,Blackhurn, suid West York .... - -
103% Bristol and Exeter • • .....• ...... • ... 5,236 5,291
1895( Ca1ed0n1an............. ~ „ „... „ „ 10,523 10,635
142 Edinburgh and Glasgow ... •••••• •• • • 5,409 4,530
94% Chester and Holyhead. .............• 4,066 4,354
6% Cork, Blackrock, and Passage •• •••• 169 144
2 t 6 224
20 Cork and Bandon .. • • .... .• •• •••• •• 885 939
56 Dublin and Belfast Junction •• .. • • ••
63 Dublin and Drogheda .• •• •••••• • •• •• 1,225 . 1,172
7% Dublin and Kingstown •••••••• • • • • •• 681 603
16% ' Dundee and Arbroath •• . •• •• ••• • •• 581 430
31 ' Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction 829 800
25 Dundalk ang Enulakillen• • .. •• - - • • 212 234
68 East Anglian.... • • •• • • • • .• • • • • • • .• .. 740 778
81% East Lancashire •• • • ................ 4,737 4,658
417 Eastern Counties and Norfolk.. •• ..1 19,304 20,599
Ea5tern1Jni0n..............
.1 '
78 Edinburgh, Perth. and DOndee...... 2,704 2,767
6 Exeter and Credit0n.....,........... , - -
22 Farness Railway ... .............. - -
183 Glasgow, and South-Western........ 5,370 5,396
283 . Great Nbrthern and E. L........... 17,152 19,697
188 Great Southern and Western (Ireland) 4,053 5,548
342 oreat Weetern ...'....... ;......... 21,669 21,977
25 1/4lrlsh South Eastern ................ -
90 - • Lancaster and Carlisle...-. 5,687 4,901
260 Lancashire and Yorkshire ...... • • .• 17,523 18,281
- Leeds Northern .. • • .. • • • • • • - •• • • •• *-- -
16, ,Liverpool; Crosby, and Southport.• • • 336 248
5534 London and North Western ......... 49,857 50,607
514 London and 81actwa11.............. 1,259. 1,281
174 London, Brighton, and South Coast.. 10,212 10,834
267 London and South Western. •• •• •• •• 11,118 11,243
GO Londonderry and Enniskillen •••• •• •• 502 433 ,
Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, &c. -
Manchester,-
171.7., Shetileld,and Lincolnshire 7,381 7,'42
~•
(7.(611
6,4.;
914 Manchester and South Junction...".
28 Mary port and Carlisle • • • • • • • • • • • • ••
24
498% Midland •••••-• • •• •• • 797 27,421
12654 Midland Great Western iir•i•s•h.)•::::::
2,724 2,023
37 Monklands • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • - •• •"• -
785( Newcastle and Carlisle.. •••• • • .•
• - -,
4,345 4,456
119 North British ••.• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• - • _
- North Staffordshire •• • • ....
914 846
4654 North-Western .• •••••••••• • • •• • • •• 2,206 2,256
B', 34 Scottish Centre.] •••••••• • • - •• • • • •
32 Scottish Midland •• •••••••••• 887 887
2954 Shrewsbury and Birmingham ...• .. 850 1,091
48 Shrewsbury and Chester ........ .... 2,067 1,980
30 Shropshire Union .. •• •• •• •• •••• •• •• 647 t 53
b 72 South Dev0n........ . •••••• •• ••.... 2,159 2,265
239 South Eastern •• • • „,„ ...... 13,407 13,007
162% South Wales .. ••.••••• • • • • • • • ..... 4,347 4,623
27 South York., Doncaster, and Goole .. 1,854 1,787
33 TAT Veil ...• ••• • • •
..._
-
77 Waterford and Limerick ..., ........
564 760 •
25 West Cornwall ...... •. „ •
... .
... 05 sti
19 Whitehaven Junction ......... 295 3"
...
682 York and Newcastle, and Berwick &
York and North Midland& Leeds..
FOREIGN.
57k Dutch Rhenish .. •- - 1,01 852
•• • ....... •• •
262 . Lyons and Mediterranean •• •••• •• ••
- -
63 Montereau andlroyes •• • • .... •- • • - -
63 Namur and Liege .. •• -••'•-• • • • - '
- -
445 . Northern of Franca •• •••••••• •• - ••
--- -
697 Orleans and Central... ..... ••" " " 1 -
240 Paris and Lyons ••••••••• • " • • • • • • - -
82 Paris and Rouen. •• •• •••••••• • • • • •• 7,335 8,875
3n Paris and Strashurgh ••••••• • • • •. • • - -
59 Rouen and HaVIC • • .... ...... ... .. 3,273 3,669
157 , Western .4' France ,•• •••• •• .. 4,627 6,05