The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 9,1855 k

office for persons not included in the families,
whether a reasonable chance of winning distinc-
tion shall be afforded to those who justly deserve
it, although placed beyond the limits of the family
circle ! The mere catalogue of the Cabinet, as
at present constituted, supplies an irresistible
argument in favour of Administrative Reform,
and a complete change in the obnoxious system.
We do not by any means assert that because a
man holds a hereditary title he should, ex necessi-
tate, be considered incompetent to fill an onerous
and important situation. But it is, indeed, a
very singular circumstance that thirteen out of
the fourteen Members of the Cabinet should have
what our maritime brethren are accustomed to
designate as "handles to their names," and that the
fourteenth should be the husband of the niece of a
Marquis, who possesses great influence among the
family ; that he should, in right of his wife, be
the representative of an extinct earldom, and
that his son should have married the daughter of
another earl. That all these—the chief prizes in
the political lottery—should have been distributed
within such narrow limits, leads to a suspicion of
not very fair play towards their competitors.
We see that genius, experience, and industry
cannot insure promotion, while others are pitch-
forked into places for which they are wholly in-
competent, and when, on closer examination, we find
that the former are merely " men of the people,"
without any recommendation beyond their own
acknowledged merits, and that the latter belong
to the favoured caste, that the administ, ative
" ichor" circulates in their veins, or those of their
wives, we must believe that the latter cause
has alone led to their selection.

Look, for instance, to Sir CHARLES WOOD. He
has already presided over three of the most im-
portant departments of the State. As Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer he had the control and
management of the national finances. We need
not now refer to his universally admitted incapa-
city in that position. At a time of profound
peace and universal tranquillity he produced a
monetary convulsion that brought the Exchequer
to the eve of bankruptcy, and eventually he
brought about the overthrow of the RUSSELL Ad-
ministration. But he was one of " the QUEEIeS
bad bargains," who, from his family connexion,
could not be shelved, and therefore, when far
better men were excluded from office, we find
him, on the formation of the Joint-Stock Cabinet,
placed at the head cf the India Board, the salary
and position whereof were, by an ingenious piece
of legerdemain, materially enhanced to meet, not
his deserts, but the wishes of his brother-in-law.
In like manner he was translated to the Board of
Admiralty at the time when efficiency was most
required in "the First Lord." In each and every
position he has afforded the strongest illustration
of the defects of the vicious system that could
tolerate such a man in such a place.
Sir G. CORNEWALL LEWIS may be regarded as
another striking instance of the rule of nepotism.
We have seen in his Budget conclusive proofs of
his incapacity, and yet he is allowed to waste hun-
dreds of thousands—aye, millions—while better
men are scrupulously held aloof.
We might adduce other cases, but why multiply
examples 7 The nation must indeed be apathetic
that can submit to such cases. With our con-
temporary the Herald, who has rendered import-
ant services to the good cause, by directing atten-
tion to this untoward, this scandalous state of
affairs, we declare that "our first duty must be to
get rid of this family alliance ;" that to do so is
" the cause alike of the Throne, the nobility, and
the people." " The insolent pretensions of a
family coterie" must be completely disposed of,
and all must join in the just demand—" The
right men for the right places."

TilE DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG GOT IA.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe C 'burg arrived
at Buckingham Palace, from the continent, at twenty
minutes past ten o'clock last night. The Duke was m.A
at the London•bridge terminus of the South-Eastern
Railway by Captlin Du Plat, Equerry to Pnnee Albert,
who attended his Royal Highness to the Palace, where
the Queea and Prince Albert received their illustrious
relative.

M U iN Ai A E T

.AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.

The Cotton Market at Liverpool yesterday
closed with much excitement, and prices of Ameri-
can are ;Id. to id., and Surat id. per lb. dearer.
The sales were estimated at 20,000 bales (2,50 t
of which were taken for export, and 13,000 on
speculation), comprising 600 Pernam and Maran-
ham at sid. to Old., 300 Egyptian at 6d. to Bid.,
2,000 Surat at 3d. to 6id., and 70 Sea Islands at
9d. to Is. 10d. per lb. The Railway Share Market
was extremely inactive, at about the prices of Mon-
day last.

The pubic sales of indigo commenced yesterday
afternoon, and the quantity is stated by Messrs.
Layton, Hulbert, and Co., to be 10,859 chests that
has to be offered. There is a moderate attendance
as Messrs. Jewesbury and Co. inform us of both
home and foreign buyers.

The early lots of the catalogues comprised broken
parcels of old Bengal, and a few small marks of
Madras and Kurpah, which were chiefly bought in
and withdrawn for want of competition. Later in
the day more important marks of Bengal, Benare-
and Oudes, of the old and new crop, engaged the
attention of the room, and sold with fair spirit.
Bengal, Oude, &c., at Is. 3d. to 7s. ; Madras,
Is. I.d. to 4s. sd. ; Kurpah, at 2s. 3d. to ss. 6d. 5
and Bimlipatam, at 3s. sd. to 35. 10d. per lb.
There were 483 chests sold yesterday, 455 bought
in, and 280 withdrawn.
The statistics of the tea trade show the total
stocks in the United Kingdom to be much larger
than at this time last year, viz., 76,000,0001b5.
In referring to the condition of the dried fruit
trade, Messrs. Witherby and Hanson state that
the consumption of currants in this country hay
this year been 50 per cent. above that of 1854.
Present stocks are expected to be exhausted before
the new crop comes to hand.
The bill for legalising and preserving the restored
standards of weights and measures has been brought
into Parliament, and is intended to carry out the
recommendations of the scientific commission which
investigated this subject. The portion of the Act
of George the Fourth, providing that the standard
yard should be restored by reference to the length
of a pendulum, and the troy pound by the weight
of a cubic inch of water, is to be repealed, at
there are doubts if those methods give suffi-
cient accuracy ; and the troy pound
no longer to be the standard, but the
pound avoirdupois, all other weights being derived
and computed therefrom. A grain is to be
1-7,000 th part of such pound, and 5,760 such
grains are to be deemed a pound troy. No inter-
ference is intended with 'the existing laws, which
render valid the pound troy as a weight, although
it will no longer be the standard. All copies of the
old standards will continue to be legal where they
have been compared and verified.

The accounts from New York represent the stocl
market as being buoyant and active, owing to the
news received from Europe, and which was con-
sidered more favourable. The banks were curtail-
ing their operations, however, and the fast weekly
return showed a diminution in every department.
Money was expected to be easy.

The price of bar silver has risen to os. lid. per
ounce. The amount of bills drawn during the last
fortnight by the Hon. East India Company is
21,203/.
The Stock Market has been in rather a listless
condition, but with a little more firmness in the
quotations. The testimony borne by General
Canrobert to the restoration of the British army
in the East to a state of efficiency equal to that
existing before the severe losses at Inkerman and
by the trials of the winter campaign, is calculated
to excite increased confidence in our ultimate
success before Sebastopol, should no inglorious
peace arrest the siege. The price of Consols
was 881 1, and is now 88a I. Bank Stock has been
quoted 2101, and India Stock 230, being about the
previous rates. Exchequer Bills are ss. to Bs.
premium.

Foreign Securities are a shade higher, although
there is not much doing. Turkish Bonds have
risen to 7 3 and '74. Sardinian are 85/. Russian
5 per Cents. have been quoted 981, and Dutch 4
per Cents. 91.1 to 92,1. The Spanish Certificates
have been dealt in at 31 to 4, and Portuguese 4
per Cents. at 421.
The following are the nominal prices of foreign
.itocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6 to 6k; Mexi-
An, 204 to 21 ; Peruvian, 67 to 69; ditto Three
per Cents., 47 to 49 ; Portuguese Four per Cents.,
ti to 43 ; Russian Five per Cents., 98 to 100 ;
ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 87 to 89 ;
Spanish New Deferred, 18k to 18i ; ditto Three
per Cents., 361 to 36/ ; ditto Certificates, 3 to 4,1;
ditto Passive, 51 to 4.

Very few transactions have been recorded in the
English Railway Shares, and the quotations are
supported in most cases, and in some instances are
slightly higher. The Canadian Shares have been
about 10s. higher. The Scinde have advanced
and the East Indian Extension are better. The
French lines look firmer.

The Foreign Mines are heavy, the Banks in re-
quest, and Crystal Palace dull.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CL;
( From the Official List. J_

Ripiness done
sank Stock ... ..... .• 2lOl
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities B7a ).,
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
N.• iow 3 per Cent. Annuities
' onc Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 180

India. Stock ........ . ..... . 23.0
c,olsols :or Account, 10th May BBA
Exchequer Bills, 24d.
5ma11........................................ . 5 8
Exchequer Bonds 1858, 3 per Cent. 99i
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLO:111.
Brazilian Bonds. 5 per Cent 983
Ditto New, 1843 lOl
Grenada Bonds, 13 per Cent.
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1811
Ditto 4 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. St 984
iardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 3i 4 p o
tarkish Bonds, 6 per cent
Ditto for the Account.

EMYldends on the above payable In Londo•
-
Linteh Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Guil 63A
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates

HALP•PAST TWO.
Consols BB3
Ditto, May Account

LLOYD'S SHIPPINT-(THIS DAY.)

LONDON, May 9.—Wind and weather this day at noon,
S. to W. ; pleasant breeze, and fine clear weather.
SHEERNESS, May B.—The Wave, from Shields to Bala-
klava, put in here yesterday, leaky, and must partly dis-
charge to repair.

COWES, May B.—Wind, W.N.W. Arrived—Coral Isle,
from Bahia; Adam Ross, Havannah.
OFF THE WIGHT.--Thos. Blyth, from the Mauritius.
PORTSMOUTH, May B.—Wind, N.W. Arrived—Corn-
wall (s.s. transport 25). from Scutari. Sailed—Cornelius
Gunnel, for New York; Tynemouth (s.s. transport 102),
for Deptford.

FALkourH, May B.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Commo-
dore, from Rio Janeiro ; Pearl, Rio Grande ; Anna Cecilia,
Pernambuco; Adeline, Havannah ; Norden Now Orleans,
for Gothenburg. Sailed—Amalia, for Quebec. Off Port
—Louisa and Leonide, from Mazatlan, and sailed for
Hamburg.

OFF DOVER, May B.—Condor, from Rio Grande.
SOUTHAMPTON, May B.—Wind, N.W. Arrived—F.
Yates, Buenos Ayres. Sailed—Lloyds, for Adelaide, S.A.
PENZANCE, May B.—The Adeline, from Cette to Dun-
kirk, went to pieces near the Land's End last night ; crew
landed here.

MILF3RD, May B.—A Portuguese brig came on shore at
Freshwater last night, and will be a total wreck ; crew
saved.

SWANSEA, May B.—Wind, N. Arrived—Wm. Marsh-
land, from Coquimbo.

(pm ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
Wind, W. LIVERPOOL, Wednesday Morning.
Arrived— Celerity, from Leghorn ; Ark, Tarragona;
Julien, Bremen ; Speculan, Trienstadt ; Joshua Wadding.
ton, Iquique.
Sailed—Loebmaben Castle, for Quebec.
QIIRENRTOWN, May 7.
Wind, W.
Arrived—Bussorah Merchant, from Manilla; Felicita,
Alexandria.

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY MORNING.

The Moniteur of this morning publishes des-
natches from General Canrobert of the 28th ult.

in writing to the Emperor he says :

" I announce with happiness to your Majesty
that the English army, al ways so reliable (si
solide), has now become as fine, as numerous, and
as healthy as when it arrived in the East ; and
that it is daily receiving reinforcements of in-
fantry, cavalry, and the means of transport. I
continue to live on the most cordial terms with
Lord Raglan ; and the two armies are closely
united."

BERLIN, MESDAY, MAY 8.
A despatch from St. Petersburg, dated the
7th inst., has been received here. It says :
"On the night between the Ist and 2d the

.nemy, having concentrated 10,000 men, took
possession of the lodgments in front of Bastion
No. 5, and captured nine small cohorn mortars.
"On the 2d the enemy opened a heavy can-
nonade on Bastions Nos. 4 and 5, and on the
tdjoining lines. The damage which they did was
repaired during the night.
" We fired with success five mines against the
suemy's approaches."

VIENNA, MAY 8.
The departure of Generals Hess, Craufurd, and

Letang is still uncertain.
From Constantinople of the 3d inst. we learn
~hat Lord Stratford de Redcliffe's absence had
Facilitated the overthrow of Reschid Pacha's
ministry. The cholera at Maslak is increasing.

THE BALTIC.
BERLIN, TUESDAY, MAY 8.

Our Minister at Copenhagen has given notice
to the Danish Government that from the 28th of
April the entrance to the Gulf of Finland is block-
aded from Hango Udde to Dagerort.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
(From the Special Correspondent of the Morning Herald.)
ENGLISH CAMP, HEIGHTS OF SEBASTOPOL,
April 25.
Last night the French had a very smart affair
on the left, in an attack on an extensive rifle
trench. This work enfiladed one of the Russian
advanced batteries, on the extreme left, near the
Mud Fort, and annoyed our allies considerably.
But the serious nature of its mischief was not
fully appreciated until the French began, like our-
selves, to push forward approaches for a still
more advanced battery. The working parties en-
gaged in this were incessantly harassed, and at
length, as they approached the trench, lost so
considerably, that its capture at all risks became
absolutely necessary to the continuation of the
parallel. A strong party of Chasseurs and
volunteers were last night told off for this
purpose. They proceeded to the spot ; but, instead
of charging the trench and closing instantly, beg m
their operations by trying to dislodgo the riflemen
with a skirmishing fire. This continued for nearly
half an hour, and in such a contest I need hardly
say all the advantage was on the side of the enemy,
who were almost completely screened, while the
assailants were totally exposed. The French suf-
fered rather severely, but at last succeeded in getting
on the flanks of the trench, where they maintained
such a fire that the Russians were compelled to
abandon its useless shelter, and, as they retired to
their batteries, nearly all were either killed or
wounded on the open ground.
The French took possession of the trench, and, in
spite of a heavy cannonade which the enemy
directed on the spot, kept their ground, and pre-
pared to fill it in. They had half succeeded in
their object, when a strong force of Russians made
their appearance, fo- the purpose of retaking the
post. After a short but severe contest, in which
the enemy twice charged with the bayonet, they
were totally repulsed, and driven back to the town
in complete disorder. The French then continued
their work of filling up the pit, in which they were
no further molt: steel by the batteries, proba,bly be-
cause the Russians were aware that many of their
wounded remained upon the spot. The trench was
completely filled in, and its parapet levelled in the
course of an hour, when both French and Russian
wounded were removed without hindrance.

Our allies in this affair lost upwards of 100 men
and officers killed and wounded. One officer and
47 men, it is said, are among the former. The Rus-
sian loss we can only conjecture, but it can be little
short of double that of the French. They left about
30 dead and 10 or 15 wounded upon the ground.
The rest they succeeded in carrying off.
It is rumoured that another trench, which has
not yet been used by the enemy, still exists near
the same spot, and in a much more difficult position
to attack—so that, in the course of a few days, as
the French parallel approaches it, theyfmay look
out for another contest like that of last night.
Last night the Montebello, 120, French screw
liner, was near falling a prey to the enemy in a most
inglorious manner. During the dark nights, as I
have already informed your readers, some one or
other of our vessels were ordered to steam in
towards Sebastopol, and fire a couple of broadsides
at the sea forts, and, perhaps (as it sometimes would
occur), into the town. Last night the weather
being rather thick, the Montebello was told off for
this duty. She was to go in as near as possible, fire
two or three broadsides and then steam out with
all speed—a rather inglorious method of fighting
for the allied fleets, but one which, in harassing
the enemy, answers its purpose uncommonly well.
The Montebello accordingly went in to within half
a mile of the sea forts, and, in the course of a
minute, gave one tremendous broadside of her 60
heavy guns; but, unfortunately, as she did so her
boiler burst, at least blew out the steam-pipes,
and left her helpless in the water. The wind was
dead on shore, and the instant the propeller ceased
to act,she began drifting steadily broadside in to-
wards the sea forts. Sail was set and every effort
used to back her off, but, as the weather was thick
and she was already in shoal water, there is little
doubt how the affair would have terminated had
not one of our steam-frigates and a gun-boat, which
were cruising near, observed her imminent peril
and hastened to her assistance. By these her head
was towed round, and in a few minutes she was
pulled oat of all danger, having had on the whole
as narrow an escape of being captured as any ves-
sel which has been out here.

Had the Russian forts been fully manned, there
is little doubt but that she would have been almost
cut to pieces, perhaps even sunk outright.

APRIL 26.

Early this morning Lord Stratford de Redcliffe,
accompanied by Lady Stratford and her three
daughters, the Hon. Misses Canning, Lady George
Paget, Miss Macdonald, General Vivian, and seve-
ral other distinguished passengers, arrived at Ba
laklava in the Caradoc.

One hundred and fifty tons of shot and shell,and
one hundred and twenty tons of powder, were for-
warded to camp to-day, with 12 more guns, taken
from the Leander.
I mentioned in my journal of yesterday that the
French had taken one rifle pit, but that another,
still stronger, was more than suspected to exist a
little further on. The existence of this one is now
placed beyond a doubt, the Russians having occu-
pied it this morning, and commenced a smart fire.
But this is not all.
The enemy have repaired all the chief portions of
the works which were damaged by our late cannon-
ade. Their works facing those of the French, near
Inkerman, are incomparably stronger than any of
our allies have to oppose to them. Throughout the
whole of our last attack these batteries maintained
a decided superiority over the French, but this was
a matter of less moment, as the allies only wish to
engage, not to destroy the Russian works as this
portion of their defences. The Mamelon has been
almost entirely renewed, and mounts as many guns
as ever. The same may be said of the batteries
round the Malakoff Tower, which still look as solid
and well proportioned as ever. Tho Redan ap-
parently is entirely restored. The Flagstaff
seems the only outwork which has really suffered
irreparably.

Sebastopol at the large breach. On reflection,
however, it was calculated that the troops would
have been too much exposed to a cress fire, whilst
1 the breach itself was not sufficiently complete-•--
that is, not sufficiently on a level with the earth to
justify the attack. The idea, therefore, was given
up ; and the breach, adds the report, has since
been repaired by the enemy.
There are no further ministerial changes talked
of for the present. • It does not seem to be true
that Marshal Vaillant tendered his resignation, as
was reported ; but. there is some greund for believ-
ing that Admiral Hamelin, the Minister of Marine,
showed some signs of discontent, which are now
looked on as quite appeased, so ends this Ministe-
rial crisis.
We read in the Moniteur :—" The Patrie, the
Constitutionnel, and the Pays, on the 6th and 7th,
announced news from the Crimea, said to have
been received by telegriph. The Government has
not had any such accounts. The last despatches
that reached the Minister of War are dated mid-
night of the 6th, and only contain details of military
service. All news received by the Government,
and which can be published without detriment to
the operations of the war, are immediately inserted
in the IVloniteur. The other journals only publish
on their own private responsibility."
Marshal Magnan, Commander-in-Chief of the
army of the east of France, yesterday reviewed the
first brigade of the first division, commanded by
General de Geraudon, near the Polygone of Vin-
cennes. After passing along the line, the marshal
caused the troops to go through a number of move-
ments, which were executed with admirable pre-
cision.

Tne Nonvelliste of Marseilles contains a letter
from before Sebastopol of the 24th ult., which
says :—" As the French troops are occupied in
mounting a battery of 30 guns at about 40 yards
from the Flagstaff Bastion, they only fire in order to
prevent the Russians from re-establishing their
embrasures, but as soon as this new battery is
ready I expect that the fire will re-open with
more vigour than ever. We skall then occupy the
Central and Flagstaff Bastions, and if we do not
enter the town by assault, batteries will be erected,
which will demolish the whole of the southern
part. The sanitary state of the army is very satis-
factory, there being very few sick."
1 letter from Kamiesh Bay, of the 24th tilt.,
says :—" Tho Jean Bart, screw-ship of the line,
and the Megere, screw advice boat, left yes-
terday for Eupatoria with troops for Omet
Pacha. The vessels of the line Trident and
Turenne, towed by the steam corvettes Phle-
geton and Laplace, arrived here this morning,
all bringing troops and ammunition. A new
detachment of marine artillery has been demanded
by the General-in-Chief, and is shortly expected—
the services of the portion of that force now before
Sebastopol having been found very valuable. Our
situation may be thus summed up :—ln the Crimea
there are two armies in presence ; one, which ad-
vances constantly, and the other, which, though
defending itself well, has not ceased for a single
day to lose ground, foot by foot and inch by inch.
It is easy to see with which eventually the advan-
tage must remain.."
Letters brought from Constantinople by the
Indus, just arrived at Marseilles, state that a
rumour was prevalent of the formation of a camp
of 200,006 men at Varna. There is some talk of an
attack on the Russians in the open country north
of the town. Advices from Athens state that
Prince Galatzin is busily intriguing there in favour
of Russia, and distributing considerable sums of
money among the Russian partisans.

BOURSE, MAY B.—CLOSING PRICES.
Cash. fr. c. End of Month.
4i per Cents 93 50 93f. 50c.
3 per Cents 6B 40 68 40

6-edit Mobilier 7BO Roman
Credit Foncier 530 Austrian

Belgian Fives
Spanish Threes —

Pieamontese B5 75 Home Debt
RAILW A Y —FOR CASH,

n c. fn ,
Orleans
Western. .. 646 25 Rouen
Cette
Mediterranean lO2O -- Havre 550 --
Northern