The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-03 00:00:00

THE Jt,l9 LONDO, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 3 18550

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Marlborough, 131. v.via taken into the steam basin
at Portsmouth yestericy, ready for docking. It is not
apparent that she has sustained any irjury. The Killing-
worth, ecreve steam transport, No. 181, arrived at Spit-
head from Constantinople, Malta, and Gibraltaayesterda.y,
in ballast. She left Malta J myl3, and Gibraltar July 24.
The Timandra sailing transport, No. 51, went into Ports-
mouth harbour yesterday, from Spithead, to land her in-
valids, women, and children, whom she brought home from
Corfu. The uropa, steam-transport, sailed from Ports-
mouth yesterday morning for Liverpool, requiring to be
clocked before agaia proceeding to the East. Thu Marley
Hill and.Killingworth, screw steam-transports, left Ports-
mouth yesterday .afternoon for the eastward. The Doe,
naval steam-transport, hauled into the steam bas3u at
Portsmouth yesterday to land boilers for the Marlborough.
The paddlewheel steam-vessel PlutoP 4, arrived at Ply-
mouth yesterday from the Coast of Africa. Her dates
fro:a irerra Leone, June 1, and Gorse, Juno 26, are anti-
cipated by the mail-packet Retriever.
The Britotnart, 8, Commander Albert Heseltine, on a
cruise, %as appointed to call at Sierra Leone on the 16th
of July, when she would probably receive orders to return
home.
The screw steam gun-vessel Teazer, 3, is gone to Ascen-
sion to be repaired.
The paddle-wheel steam-vessel Myrmidon, 3, Lieutenant
Commander E award Meunsell, arrived at Madeira on the
20th of July, bound for Sierra Leone.
The detachment of the 31st Regiment left in Plymouth
Citadel, 73' rank and file, and three officers, under com-
mand of Lieutenant Pearson, is appointed to leave on
Monday for Liverpool, where it will embark for the
Crimea.
The General Screw Company's steam-ship Jason, trans-
port No. 84, having embarked the whole of her troops and
horses, hauled out of the Southampton docks into the
river yesterday afternoon. It was not expected that she
would sail for the Crimea until to-day.
The amount of steam-shipping at Southampton continues
very great. During the past month the graving docks
have been busily engaged in providing accommodation for
steam vessels of the heaviest burden. As a proof of this
the following ships have been docked at that port
during July :—Atrato, paddle, 3,463 tons burden ;
Derwent,,paddle, 794 ; Madrid, paddle, 479 ; Tamar, pad-
dle, 1,964; Magdalena, paddle, 2,911; Himalaya, screw,
3,438 ; Victoria, screw, 1,878 ; Jason, screw, 2,668 ; Al-
hambra, screw, 720 ; Australian, screw, 1,392. The Atrato
was undocked and the Himalaya docked in one tide ; the
latter vessel, which had just arrived from Spithead as the
Atrato was floating out, steaming direct into the large
graving clock. In three hours from her entering_ she was
perfectly dry. This is the largest amount of tonnage in
and out of a graving dock in one tido which is known-
-6,901 tons. After the Himalaya had completed her re-
pairs, three ships wore docked in 24 hours, the united
burden of which amounted to 5,426 tons. The graving
docks are still occupied, and there are seven large vessels
waiting for their turn. Among them is the fine East In-
dian sailing ship Herefordshire, of 1,800 tons burden,
which is lying at Southampton for the purpose of being
newly copperecl and caulked.
The Glattoe, 14 guns, screw 'steam floating battery,
Captain Arthur Cumming, and the Meteor, 14 guns, screw
steam floating battery, Captain F. B. B. Seymour, left
Sheerness yesterday for the Black Sea, and are to call at
Portsmouth for Admiralty orders. The Rhadarnanthus will
follow them with their guns. Both floating batteries are
ordered to anchor in the Downs for a tide or two in a part
of the roadstead where they will get the cross tide and run
of the sea, to prove their sea-going 'qualities previously to
their departure. The entrance to the Gull Stream is named
for an anchorage. Both these ships are fully manned.
The Trafalgar, 120 guns, has been put out of the fitting
basin at Sheerness, and the Phaeton, 50 guns, arrived yes-
terday from the Saltpan Reach, was taken into the fitting
basin to be brought forward as a screw steam-frigate for
immediate commesion.
The Horatio, S guns, screw steam-frigate, Captain the
Hon. A. A. Cochrane, C. 8., left Sheerness at 7.45 p.m. on
Wednesday, anchored at the Nore, and at 5.30 a.m. yes-
terday left for Heligoland. She takes with her Sappers
and Miners for duty there. She proceeds from Heligoland
to Portsmouth, there to receive Admiralty orders on par-
ticular service. _ _

The Caradoc, 2, iron paddle-wheel steam-vessel of 350-
horse power, Commander S. H. Derrirnan, borne on the
books of the Royal Albert, made her number on demand,
passing up Sea Reach yesterday at 8.45 p.m., from the
Mediterranean, with despatches for the Admiralty from
the Crimea.

Commander Charles G. Phillips has taken up his com-
mission and joined the Urgent, screw steam-transport,
which vessel is to be at Sheerness on the 10th instant, for
particular service.
The Alban, 4 guns, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Lieut.-
Commander W. E. Fisher, left Sheerness yesterday for
Heligoland.
Capt. Wicklund and his chief mate, late of the Russian
barque Odessa. taken at Hull, have been released from the
Devonshire, at Sheerness. An order has arrived there that
any Russian merchant seamen, now prisoners on board the
Devonshire, can receive their liberty if they volunteer and
aro accepted to serve on board of any vessels except Rus-
sian property.
No. 63 screw transport Sovereign arrived off Woolwicb
Arsenal yesterday, and is embarking about 200 tons of
shot and shell for the Black Sea. She is to complete her
cargo with light stores.
The Union, sailing transport, has taken in 1,800 barrels
of powder at Woolwich, and a quantity of shot and shells,
and is only waiting Admiralty orders to sail for the same
destination. The Medina, sailing transport, is also nearly
ready for sea with a similar freight.
Captain Riddell's field battery, and a working party of
about 80 men, with 150 horses, went down to Greenhithe
yesterday morning from Woolwich, under the superintend-
, enee of Colonel Anderson.
The following appointments were made yesterday at the
Admiralty :
Capt. T. Harvey, to the Havannah; Commander Julian
F. Slight, to the Sanspareil ; Commander IL J. Otwa,y, to
the Siren; Commander IL Phillips, to the Alecto; J. B.
Jackson, paymaster, to the Waterloo; J. W. Colverd, as-
sistant paymaster, to the Saturn ; J. H. F. Alston, assist-
ant clerk, to the Conway.

THE EART 11 QUAKE IN S I 7 ERL AND.

( From the Journal de Geneve)
SION, VALAIS, .JULY 27.

I send you some fresh details which I have just col-
lected with respect to the catastrophe of St. Nicolas
and Viege.
The 26th has been a yet more terrible day than the
25th—not that the shocks of earthquake have been
strongei, but that all the houses, being cracked and
ready to fall, were unable to resist any new shocks.
At 10 o'clock I was at Grachen, sitting on a rock, and
talking with two peasants, when, all at once, our scat
was violently agitated ; ,we were thrown to the earth,
and at the same moment 13 barns fell in, the spire of
thkk church was completely demolished, and an enor-
mous rock —known in the district by the name
of " lialcheuzug”—bounding from the top of the moun-
tain, precipitated itself with a horrible crash into Vibge,
surrounded by a cloud of pebbly dust, which rolled
onwards with the impetuosity of an avalanche.
From Grachen I went to St. Nicolas by the wobden
bridge. Notwithstanding the reiterated warnings of the
inhabitants, I determined to penetrate into the village,
in order that I might be able myself to judge of the
extent of the disaster.
All the houses had fallen one upon the other, and at
the very moment that I-quitted the village (.% quarter
past one p.m.) a fresh shock occurred, which completely
levelled the little inn called " La Croix Fdddrale.
The only houses which now stand at St. Nicolas are
the priest's house and the'house of the notary, M.Binner.
All the rest is one heap of ruins, and the wretched in-
habitants of this village, collected together in a large
field near the river, are encamped in the open air. It is
heartbreaking to witness the despairing sadness of the
peen, who have just seen the destruction of the houses
which sheltered them yesterday, and of the wonien, sur-
rounded by their children, who can do nothing but weep
over this overwhelming calamity.
Between a quarter past 1 o'clock and 5 I have felt six
shocks of earthquake at St. Nicolas—viz., at a quarter
past 1, at 10 minutes past 2, at 14 minutes past 2,
at half-past 2, at 40 minutes past 3, and at 40 minutes
past 4. At 5 o'clock I resumed the road to Vibge by
the right bank of the river, in order to avoid the storm
of stones which never stopped falling. On the. road the
shocks continued, but I must admit that I did not care
to note them very accurately, being in a hUrry to arrive
at Stalden.

On the read I met the curd of St. Nicolas, without
a hat, and in great pain. A stone had struck him on
the head and another on the knees. He was creeping
along with difficulty, but we were obliged to pursue our
journey separately, for it was impo-sible to stop. Tile
road was entirely covered with crevices, crumbled walk,
enormous blocks of stone, and at every instant the noise
of something cracking was renewed.
I have at last arrived at Stalden. Nobody i 3 in the
village ; everybody has fled. Almost all the stone
houses have been shaken down. The wooden structures
have resisted better.

At half-past six I set out for Viege, but at 200 yards
from Stalden the road was impassable. I was obliged
to go, as best I could, by the side of the bill.
With respect to Viege you know what has taken
place. Yesterday, at 10 o'clock in the evening, there
was a fresh shock as strong as those which preceeed it.
As at Stalden and St. Nicolas, there are no inhabitants
in this little town. They are encamped in the open air.
At three o'clock in the morning I had fortunately re-
turned to Sion from my perilous excursion.
At Zermatt, Tesch, and Randa there has been no mis-
chief. At Tiirbel the roof of the church is driven in, as
in the two churches of Viege ; the same thing has hap-
pened at Ilurbticken. No news from any other quarter.
The wounded guide* has been brought back to Viege.
It is believed that his leg is not broken. I saw at St.
Nicolas a woman who was suffering agonies—a beam in
falling bad broken her arm, and they were on the point
of amputating it, but without any hope of saving her.
Such was the situation yesterday. You see bow dis-
astrous it is, and what a depth of compassion must be
felt forso piny honest people, struck down by a cabs-
mityhit
herto unheard of in these districts.

* This evidently refers to something mentioned in a
previous letter.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

ROYAL ASSENT TO RAILWAY BILLS.
The following railway bills received the Royal assent
a few days ago,--narnely, the Dearness Valley ; East
Bent (Extension to Dover) ; Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton (Improvements and Branches) ; Severn
Valley; and Somerset Central—making the total num-
ber of railway acts passed this session 71, including 20
for the incorporation of new railway companies.

ROSCREA AND NENAGH. •
It appears that the baronies through which this line
is proposed to be constructed have aweed to guarantee
a certain rate of interest on its cost. The line is to form
a junction with the Great Southern and Western Rail-
way, and to be worked by that company when com-
pleted. The rate on the baronies for the purpose of the
guarantee is not to exceed 2d, in the pound.

_
I I ;nENIAL 3 TLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTER:DAY.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wool-
sa"k Lt five o'clock.

The Earl of HARRINGTON- presented a great many
petitions in favour of a better observance of the Lord's
Day.
On the motion of Lord REDESDALE, Lord Cler-
mont's Estate Bill was read a third time and-passed.
CHINESE PASSENGER SHIP BILL.

This bill•was reported with amendments.
HUDDERSFIELD BURIAL GROUND BILL.
This bill, on the motion of Lord REDESDALE, was
read a third time and passed.
DISSENTERS MARRIAGES BILL.

This bill was reported with amendments.
LUNATIC ASYLUMS REGULATION BILL.

01, the motion of the Earl of HA.RROWBY, this bill
was also reported with amendments. '
THE SUNDAY BEER BILL.

This bill, on the motion of Lord REDESDALE, was
read a first tine.
PUBLIC OFFICES EXTENSION BILL.

Earl GRANVILLE moved the second reading of this
bill.

Lord REDESDALE regretted that the Government
had not secured the ground in the neighbourhood of the
site for the new Government offices, now occupied by a
lot of buildings of the poorest description, by giving the
usual notices. He felt confident that at some future
time the ground would be required, and he there-
fore trusted the Government would think it de-
sirable to secure the ground before it greatly
increased in value, as it would when the new offices
were erected. The noble lord then drew their lordships'
attention to an offer that had been made some time ago
to erect the public offices. The offer he referred to was
that the parties should take the ground, clear it, and
erect the offices, and that they should re, eive a yearly
sum to be agreed upon by Parliament. He thOught the
subject not undeserving the attention of her Majesty's
Government.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the house was
greatly indebted to the noble lord fur the trouble he had
taken on this subjent. He E aped the members of the House
of Commons would. during the recess, take into their
consideration the effects of an ill judged expenditure.
After a few words from Earl GRANVILLE and the Earl
of HARDWICK;
The bill was read a second time.

EXCISE DUTIES BILL.
This bill was read, a second time.

COURT OF JUDICATURE BILL.
This bill was reported with amendments.
TURNPIKE ACTS CONTINUANCE (IRELAND)

BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
OFFICE OF SPEAKER BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
BILLS OF LADING (No. 2) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
TURNPIKE TRUSTS ARRANGEMENT BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
SALE OF SPIRITS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was also read a third time and passed.
The Earl of HARRINGTON withdrew his question
relative to the salaries of the county court judges.
MILITIA. BALLOT SUSPENSION BILL.
This bill was read a first time.
TURKISH LOAN BILL. "
This bill was read a first time.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OE COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)

The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.

The Lords' Amendments to the Dundalk Harbour
and Port Bill, and the Glasgow, Dumbarton, and
Helensburgh Railway Bill, were considered aad agreed

SUPPLY.

On the order of the'day for the house going into com-
mittee of supply,
Major• REED gave notice that he should bring for-
ward the motion waiich stood in his mine, 'relative to
calling Parliament together previous to ratifying any
terms of peace, at the evening sitting.
THE WOUNDED IN THE CRIMEA.

Mr. STAFFORD called attention to a letter which
had appeared in the Times newspaper denying the state-
ments made by him as to the wretched condition of the
wounded after the effacr of the 18th of June before Se-
bastopol, He did not ask for any answer onibe part of
the Government, but be trusted their attention would
he bestowed on the subject of the sufferings of our
wounded, which he described as very paintul.
GOOD SERVICE PENSION TO LORD GEORGE

both with respect to the provisioning of the army and its
cattle, and he could notbut raise his voice as an English-
man against the course that had been adopted. All that
he had seen only convinced him of the unfortunate man-
ner in which the GoVernment had prr.ce.eded in the war,
and he felt bound to confess that it gave little credit to
their foresight. (Hear.) He could not see why tie
estimate should not have 'been brought forward in Fe-
bruary, and he blamed the Government for not alopt-
ing that course. •
Mr. W. WILLIAMS was anxious to provide for the
comfort of the army, but he was afraid that the adoption
of this vote would rant carry so laudable an object into
effect. He thought that some explanation ought to be
given of the fact that the pay of the soldier bad been
raised 50 per cent. •
After some observations from Sir F. BARING and. COI.
No RTH,

Mr. F. PEEL affirmed that no green coffee was now
issued to the troops.
Mr. WILSON said that whilst the destination of the
army was unknown 'the coffee -was sent out in a green
state, but immediately it was understood its destination
was the Critnea, it was exported in a roasted state.
• Colonel DUNNE said that the house ought to be
assured that the army was in an of condition to
endure another winter campaign. He thought the laud
transport corps was not adequate to the wants of such
a number of troops. As to the provisioning of the army
it had been remarked that this was rather a late period
of the year to form depots for provisions. He contended
that such was not the case. He also observed that the
Governmerit were making the Turkish Contingent and
the Foreign Legions as perfect as was
.possible ; al-
though, atthe same time, they overlooked the defects
which existed in connection with the cavalry and other
regiments of the line. He wished to know whether the
injuries occasioned by the recent flood in the CriMea to
the Balaklava Railway had been repaired or not ?

After some further conversation,
Mr. STAFFORD said there were many questions in
connection with the commissariat department of which
the house ought to have some explanation, not the least
of which-was the question ae to who was the real "lead
of that department. He would not, however, detain the
committee at that late period of the day.
The vote was then agreed to, and, it being 10 minutes
to four o'clock, the committee was adjourned.
MILITIA BALLOTS SUSPENSION BILL.
This bill was read a third time and pasted.
SALE OF BEER BILL. -

This bill was also read a third time, and, after a pro-
test from Mr. Hadfield, to the effect that the evidence
taken before the committee was ex parte, was passed.

The house then adjourned until els o'clock.

The house resumed at six o'clock.
ADULTERATION OF FOOD.
Mr. PELLATT asked the member for Birmingham
whether an opportunity would be given before the pro-
rogation of Parliament. for scienti tic witnesses to be
heard by the Adulteration of Food; &c. Committee, so
that both sides of the question might be before the
public prior to the close of the session.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD said that if the committee was
appointed next session, and he was at the head of it,
every opportunity would be given to elicit the trutb, as
had been given by the present commitee.
On the motion of Mr. HORSFALL, the following re-
turns ware ordered :—Contract mail service (west coast of
Africa), returns for each month in the year 1854—0 f the
dates (in accordance with the published "Post-office
Packet List ") on which the monthly mails should be made
up in London. Of the dates upon which such mails were
made up in London. Of the dates on which such mails should
have been despatched from Plymouth. Of the dates upon
which such mails were despatched from Plymouth. Of the
date upon which the arrival of each mail from the west
coast of Africa was considered to be due at Plymouth. Of
the date when each mail arrived at Plymouth. And the
names, tonnage, and power of engines of each vessel in
each month employed in this service for the same period.
• ORDNANCE EXPERIMENTS.

Mr. ROEBUCK begged to ask the Clerk of the Ordnance
if it was true that some experiments were tried at Shoe-
buryness last week, under the superintendence of the colo-
nel in command of the Royal Artillery, with the following
important results :—That with only about half charges of
powder, and from a common gun, with atrifling alteration,
the experimental shells acquired, at similar o'evations, up-
wards of 1,000 yards more effective range than the solid
shot of the service with a full charge, and that the average
deflection of the experiniental shell fired was only four-
teen yardsin this increased. distance, while that of the ser-
vice shot, at the smaller range, was fortrseven yards.
Ferthereis it true that this invention has been nine months
before the Government; that at first it was reported to be
of no importance ; that, ou its being pressM owthe notice
of the Duke of Newcastle, it was referred to the select
committee at Woolwich in January laSt, and experireen-
tally proved successful in March ; and that no 'assistance)
has been afforded to the inventor of maturing his inven-
tion beyond merely authorising a few experiments to be
made at his expense. Further, is-there any obstacle to
the adoption and, use of this great improvement in the
effectiveness of our artillery ?.
Mr. FRENCH begged also to • ask whether any report
had yet been received from the commission appointed by
the late Lord Raglan to inquire as to Captain Disney's
projectile?
Mr. MONSELL could inform the hon. and loathed
member for Sheffield, that the experimehtS made last
week at Shoeburyness were in all respects conformable to
the statement contained in his question, except with re-
gard tie the shells having—beets bred from a,,corenion gun,
slightly altered. The fact was, that they were. fireATteitii
a rifled gun., and the service ammunition from a smooth-
bored gun. It was true that this invention had been nine
months before the Government, having been submitted in
the first instance to General Slater, who, from the constant
failure of shells made of Mixed metal, did 'not think it
worth while at that time to place it before the select com-
mittee. In January last it had been brought before the
committee by order of the Duke of Newcastle, and experi-
ments were made irl March, in which there . was, an infe-
riority of Mr. Britten's projectile to the servide ammuni-
tion. Further experiments were made in May, with a
similar result. He believed the pattern now submitted by
Mr. Britten was in some degree different from the former,
and was considered to have been improved: . He was
happy to say that the attention of the Pirector-,Q.eperal
of Artillery was now turned to this important"' iriVention,
and if, on further consideration, it should be deemed satis-
factory, he would recommend it for adoption to the gene-
ral-Commandingin-chief. With regard to the question
put to him by the hon. member for Roscommon, no report
had yet been received in this' country from the camp before
Sebastopol relative to Captain Disney's projectile, but on
the li;th July experiments were suede with it.

- -
COMMANDERS IN THE NAVY-LAUNCII OF THE
MARLBOROUGH.

Admiral WALCOTT asked the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty whether any, and if any what, decision had been
come to in reference to the contents of a memorial pre-
sented to the Board of Admiralty in or about the month of
May last by the commanders of the royal navy, praying
that advantages in regard to retirement, with •increased
rank and pay, might be granted to them ? He hoped, also,
that the right hon. baronet would be able to give the as-
surance that the magnificent first-rate ship the Marl-
borough had not been in any way strained or injured by
the accident that had happened to it at the launch.
Sir C. "WOOD had to say, in reference to the gallant
admiral's first question, that no decision had yet been
come to upon the memorial presented from the commanders
of the royal navy. Th,t memorial must be considered in
connection with others that had been presented from officers
of different grades, and it was impossible to give them due
consideration during the session of Parlisenent, the sub-
ject being of a•very complex nature. With regard to the
second question, he was happy to say, that, at high water,
on the night before last, at two a.m., the Marlborough
floated withc.ut having received the slightest injury what-
ever.

ENLISTMENT OF THE FOREIGN LEGION.
Mr. M. GIBSON put a question to the Government re-
specting the mode of raising the foreign legion. It was
stated that vessels of war were placed in the Elbe and the
Weser to receive recruits, which gave great offence to the
Haase Towns. He thought it was important that iu rais-
ing recruits we should not violate the municipal laws of
foreign states.
Lord PALMERSTON denied that the Government vio-
lated any law of foreign states in their mode of foreign
enlistment. A depot was established at Heligoland, where
foreigners were free to enlist. A similar course was pur-
sued w•ithregard to the United States, where a depot was
opened at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, for the purpose of re-
ceiving persons who wished to mina ; but as that appeared
likely to give offence to the authorities iu the United
States, it was given up.
Mr. M. GIBSON said the noble lord had taken no notice
of the men•of-war in the Elbe and the Weser.
Lord PALMERSTON said that was no violation of
the law of foreign states. The ships lay there, and
, were ready to give a passage to any one who wished
to proceed, for whatever purpose, to Heligoland.
SUPPLY—MILITARY ADMINISTRATION.