The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-05 00:00:00

THE suN, LONDoN, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 5 1855

LAUNCH OF THE BRUNSWICK AT
PEMBROKE.

PRESENTATION OF BURMESE MEDALS.

Yesterday morning the military medals granted by
the Hon. East India Company, commemorative of the
recent achievements of the British army in Burma!), and
which have already been presented to several regiments
which took part in the campaign, were distributed to
the 51st (King's Own) Light Infantry, now under orders
for the Crimea, by General Sir Harry Smith, at Man-
chester, in the presence of a considerable number of
spectators.
The number of medals given was upwards of 400, the
recipients including Colonel Errington, Major Ander-
son, Captains Irby, Marston, Dickson, Madden, Agg,
Sheaffe, Cleeve, Mitforde (who was honoured by having
his medal pinned on by Lady Smith), Lieutenant C.
Acton ; Sergeant-Major Thomas La,wren ce, Quartermas-
ter. Sergeant J. B. Hyde, Orderly Clerk Sergeant G.
Thomkins, and 30 sergeants, 24 corporals, 350 privates,
and 10 buglers.
Sir HARRY SMITH, at the conclusion of the presenta-
tion, after addressing each soldier separately, addressed
the regiment collectively, as follows :—Colonel Erring-
ton, and comrades of the 51st Light Infantry. It is,
I do assure you, highly gratifying to me to have had
this opportunity of giving to each individual officer
and soldiers these medals, granted by the Honourable
East India Company, and given to you by our most
gracious Sovereign. It is doubly gratifying to me, also,
because it is but following the great example of the
most wounderful lady in the world, our own gracious
Queen, who the other day herself—with her own noble
hand—distributed to those valiant soldiers who have
fought in the Crimea the medals which their blood and
gallantry had earned for them ; and lean assure you, 51st
Light Infantry, that if it had been in her Majesty's power,
she would, with equal pleasure and honour to herself,
have given you with her own hand those medals which I
have this day distributed. You must be aware, my men,
that a soldier can die only once ; and if he dies in the
service of his country, whether by the hand of the enemy
or of disease, which is prevalent in camps, it is equally
honourable to him and to that country which upholds
its head above all the nations in the world. (Hear,
hear.) You are about, my men, to proceed on another
arduous service. I say arduous, because many of
you know what it is to be a soldier. The life of
a soldier is not that of a feather bed. We don't ex-
pect a comfortable bed, but enough to eat and drink—
(hear, hear) and fighting is all we look forward
to, and an endeavour to keep out of hospital. And now,
you old soldiers, try to teach the young ones what they
have to do in camp, and not to expose themselves unne-
cessarily to the sun, or to drink when they had better
be asleep ; teach them that our duty is to preserve our-
selves for the purpose of destroying our enemy. Then,
my men, we may obtain that glorious result of war--
peace. There is nothing so distressing to nations as
war ; therefore it becomes you all to struggle with
the greater energy to acquire for your country that
blessing of life--peace. And now, 51st Light Infantry,
go where you may, well do I know that you will up-
hold that character of the regiment which it has earned,
and which is written on its colours. Do your duty,
my men; fear no one, and look forward to promotion.
There is no reason why many of you now in the
ranks should not attain to elevated stations in her
Majesty's army ; and it is the desire of the Queen
and country to promote those who have shown
examples of gallantry, by the side of those who have
stood in the ranks like yourselves, and are now wear-
ing medals, and are officers in her Majesty's service.
Bear this iu mind that by good conduct you can attain
to such a rank, and by bad conduct you become a dis-
grace to your country, which I know you do not
desire to be. Let us therefore hope that, by your
assistance, this war will soon be terminated, and
that when you come to your native land once more,
you will strut about the streets like gentlemen with
the medals which have been this day distributed to you.
and with others that your gallantry will ears. Colonel
Erring ton, and comrades of the 51st Regiment, I wish
you all health and good fortune, and a continuance of
that honour and glory which you have previously at-
tained. (Cheers.)
On Wednesday next another interesting ceremony
will take place in the barracks—the presentation of new
colours to this regiment, in lieu of the old ones which
have been much damaged in the Burmese war.

On Saturday a fine addition was made to our navy by
the launch of the Brunswick, 80-gun ship. The Bruns-
wick was originally constructed as a sailing vessel, the
steam auxiliary screw not having then been introduced
into the navy, but by slightly alterinr, a part of her
after-body, it has been effectively applied, and she is
now a most efficient war steamer. The weather being
fine, a great concourse of people was present. The
vessel was named by the wife of Captain Smart, super-
intendent, and glided beautifully into the water. Her
dimensions are :

Ft. In.
Length between perpendiculars l9O 0
Ditto keel and tonnage
Extreme breadth . 55 9
Breadth for tonnage 55 0
Breadth moulded 54 3
Depth in hold 23 3
Tonnage, old measurement 2,484
Ditto, new .

A report which has appeared in the public papers that
her Royal Highness the Princess Alice had suffered
from an attack of scarlatina is without any fo.inchtion.
All the Royal children are in perfect health.
It is reported upon good authority that the Empress
Eug€nie is enceinte.
The legislative session of the Belgian Chambers was
closed on Saturday.
The Corriere Mercantile of Genoa states that the King
of Portugal is shortly expected at Turin from Paris.
PIEDMONT.—The Convents Bill has received the Royal
asFent, and has thus become the law of the land. The
provisions of the act will be immediately put in force to
a number of convent?.

Turris.—A telegraphic despatch from Cag:iari an-
nounces the death of the Bey of Tunis, on the night of
the Ist of June. His successor and cousin, Sidi Mo-
hamed Bey, ascended the throne without obstacle.
The Ticinese Gazette- states that in its last sitting, the
Federal Council of Switzerland rejected a motion made
by the department of the Interior, for the establishment
of an emigration society at Bale.
4 letter from Rome, in the Venice Gazette, announces
that Cardinal Antonelli has addressed a new note to the
Piedmontese Government on the new law for the sup-
pression of monastic institutions.
The Marshal in command of the army of the East of
France has appointed General Hugues, now in command
of a brigade of the said army, to be president of the
council of revision of the Ist military division, in place
of Brigade-General Ripert, promoted to the rank of
general of division.
The Opinione, of Turin, states that the 34 monastic
orders which are to be suppressed in Piedmont in conse-
quence of the new law, possessed 331 houses, inhabited
by 4,543 persons. The number of religious houses which
will remain for a time is 274, comprising 4,057 inmates
of either sex.

Letters from the Caucasus complain of the high
prices of articles of consumption, which have risen
enormously since the conveyance of them by sea has
been terminated. A small wheaten loaf that used to
cost no more than 3 copecks, cannot be had under 10
copecks.

Letters for the Cape of Good Hope (by the Fiery
Crosq, steamer), will be in time if posted in London on
the evening of the 6th inst.

In the general business of the port of London there is
still considerable activity, although the arrivals during
the past week were not so n•imerous as in the previous
one. The total of ships reported inward was 259, being
a decrease of 134. The number of ships cleared out-
ward was 190, showing an increase of 25.
The arrivals of gold yesterday amounted to 246,0001.,
and have comprised 197,0001. from New York. 9,0001.
from the Peninsula, and 40,0001. by the John Bell from
Port Philip.
The reports by the Asia from America confirm the
accounts brought by the previous steamer of the sa,l;is-
factory prospects of the grain crops throughout the
western States.

Zephaniah Williams, the Newport Chartist, who was
transported with Frost and Jones to Australia, has
made an accidental discovery in Tasmania, of a bed of
yellow coal of very superior quality, which bids fair to
place him amongst the magnates.of the land.
THE CRCESUS.—We regret to learn that the burninp;
of the Crce3us was much' more fatal than at first be-
lieved. The muster roll having been lost with the ship,
the extent of the loss of life amongst the troops was not
known until some time afterwards. It appears that in-
stead of eight, as was at first stated, 68 individuals
perished, of whom all were soldiers, with the exception
of one, who was a sailor on board the unfortunat vessel.
—Malta Times.

The Isis frigate sailed from Brest on the let inst., for
the Baltic. The steam, floating battery the Congreve
was launched on the same day at Rochfort.
FIRE INSURANCE.—OOI. Sibthorp has moved for sun-
dry accounts relating to fire insurance. The first gives
a detailed account of all sums paid into the Stamp-office
in Great Britain and Ireland on insurance from fire for
the four quarters of 1854. The amount of duty so paid
by the London offices during the last quarter of 1854 was I
222,468/. in round numbers, and the amount paid by the
country offices 93,6871. In Scotland the total amount of
duty collected in 1854 was 77,2671., and the sums in- 1
cured on farming stock 5,209,394/. The grand total
amount of the sums insured by the fire-offices of England
(including London) on farming stock exempt from duty
was, in the whole of 1854, 53,902,2571. As a specimen
of the method with which these and others returns are
compiled, it may be mentioned that, in the first return
relating to England, no abstract of the grand tota's has
been given, while, as regards Ireland, both the returns
of stamp duty and insurance on farming stock are left
thus imperfect.
THE METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEwmns.—A re-
turn moved for by Mr. Williams, M.P., shows that the
gross total amount of rates levied be the Metropolitan
Uommiseioners of Sewers in the several parishes of the
borereedi of Lambeth, from 1848 to 1854, both inclusive,
was 91,3681., making, together with loans, contributions,
and other receipts, a gross total receipt. of 152,814/. in
tie seven years. Of the rates levied, 50,2381. were col-
lected in St. Mary, Lambeth ; 20,3731. in Sr. Glee',
Camberwell ; and 20 ,7 551. in St. Mary's, Newington.
The grand total expenditure in the seven years amounted
to 129,3721., of which 43,3661. was appropriated to the
cest of new works executed ; 4,2301., to repa,:rs ; 20,9071.,
to cleansing ; 4,4001., to surveys ; 20.2531., to manaee-
includiree' local supervisem ; and 31,3511., to the
repayment of loans arid interest. In the seven years
already mentioned, 72,283/.swas expended in St. Mary's,
Lanlbeth ; 27,5951., in St. Giles':, Camberwell ; and
29,4931, in St. Mary's, Newington. In 1854, the total
receipts in St. Mary's, Lambeth, were 35,6921., and the
expenditure 26,7541. ; in St. Giies'e, Camberwell, the
receipts amounted to 12,854/., and the expenditure to
8,827/. ; and in St. Mary's, Newington, the receipts
amounted to 13,0651., and the expenditure to 11,0001.
Tine rates varied from 3d. to Bd. in the pound.
VISITATION OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREEN-
WICH.—The annual visitation of this establishment
took place on Saturday last. Among the company pre-
sEnt, we noticed—Lord Wrottesley, President .4 the
Royal Society ; Sir David Brewster ; Dr. Whewell,
Master of Trinity College, Cambridge ; the Rev. J.
Challis, Plurnian Professor, Cambridge ; the Dean of
Ely ; the Rev. R. Shee,pelianke, Admiral W. H.Smyth ;
Messrs. Johnsen, Radcliffe Observer, Oxford ; Adams,
Hind, De la Rne, J. E. Gray, British Museum ; Capt.
Washington, R N., hydrogrepher to the Admiralty, &c.
From a report read to the board of visitors by the As-
tronomer Royal, detailing the labours of the astronomi-
cal staff during the year, we learn that, in addition to
the ordinary labours of the establishment, which con-
s st in the regular observation of the sun, moon, planets,
&c., with the transit circle of the moon, &c., with the
altizimuth, and the transmission of Greenwich time'
along the principal railways of England, very important
extraneous operations have been undertaken, tending, to
add considerably to the scientific reputation of the Royal
Observatory under its present able director. Besides de-
termining with precision the longitude of Paris by means
of the electric telegraph—a work which required some
weeks to complete—and also the preparation of a full-
size model of the transit circle, which has occupied the
time of the Executive for a long period, an expedition
was formed for the determination of the difference of
gravity at the top and bottom cf a deep mine, by obser-
vations of the oscillations of a pendulum. It is not ne-
cessary to give all the details, but it is sufficient to state
that the spot selected for these experiments was Harton
Colliery, near South Shields—a locality which" was suit-
able for various causes. A band of observers from the
principal observatories in England was organised, who
made the necessary observations under the immediate
superintendence of Mr. Dunkin, of the Royal Observa-
tory. The result is as successful as could be desired,
and shows that gravity is increased at a depth of 1,260
feet by its 1-19,000 th part. After the board had offici-
ally
ally inspected the various departments of the establish-
ment, the company present dined at the Crown and
Sceptre, Lord Wrottesley in the chair.
lIOCUSSING AND ROBBERY.—At the Middlesex ses-
sions yesterday before Mr. Sergeant Adam, John Jones,
23, was indicted for having stolen a gold watch and
chain, and 151. in Bank-notes, the property of Robert
Chisholm Hutchinson. It appeared that on the 7th ult.
the prosecutor, a master mariner, was in Gracechurchs
street, when a mar asked him the way to the Eastern
Counties Railway. The prosecutor said he would show
him to the Minories, and on their way thither they went
into a public-house, and had some ale. There they were
joined by the prisoner and another, and in the course of
conversation theprisonersaid he had just been left 11,0001.
and some houses, and it was his intention to purchase a ship
and visit the colonies, if he could get some competent
person to navigate the vessel, upon which the prose-
cutor said that he was a master mariner, and being out
of an engagement would acceept the offer if they came
to terms. They then proceeded to the Hutchinson'a
Arms, in Devonport-street, Commercial-road, where
four glasses of gin and water were called for. The pro-
seCutor left the room for a short time, and was followed
by the prisoner, who begged of him to take a cigar in-
stead of a pipe. On returning he drank his glass of gin
and water, after which he became insensible, and he re-
collected nothing until he found himself in the street,

ODESSA, May 24.—For these last two months our
population has lived in daily dread of the approach of
au allied squadron. Since the last bombardment, the
Government has neglected no precautions for strengthen-
ing the place, and enabling it to resist an attack as well
as an open town can ho expected to do. Including sonic
mortar batteries of great range and calibre, we have not
fewer than 140 pieces of artiiley mounted for our de-
fence.

AN ELECTIONEERING SQUIB, AND NO CRACKER !
During the late contest at Bath some wag had a glazing
poster placa.rcled on the walls of the old city, containing
the brief but somewhat dubious ejaculation—" Blow
me, Tito l"
following distinguished Americans are at present
in Paris :—The Hon. Mr. Dodge, Minister to Spain ;-
the Hon. Mr. O'Sullivan, Minister to Portugal ; the
Hon. Mr. Cass, Minister to Rome ; the I-lon. Mr. Bel-
moot, Minister to the Hague ; and the Hon. Mr. Fay,
Minister to Switzerland. M. Van Buren, ex-President,
is.,'on the point of leaving Paris for the United States.
TRINITY MONDAY.—Yesterday, being Trinity Mn-
day, a special General Court was held at the rinity-
house on Tower-hill, at which his Royal Highness Prince
Albeit was unanimously re-elected Master. end Captain
John Shepherd, Deputy-Master of that ancient corpora
tion for the ensuing year. The Court then proceeded to
the parish church of St. Olave, in Hart-street, where
divine service was performed, and an excellent and ap-
propriate sermon preached by the Rev. Henry George
Liddell, M.A.
ARRIVAL OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS FROM THE CRIMEA.
—Forty-seven wounded and disabled soldiers arrived at
the North-wall, Dublin, from Portsmouth, at ten o'clock
ye,terday. They were conveyed by the police to Mrs.
O'Brien's hotel. They will he conveyed this day in car-
riages, provided for their accommodation, to Beggar's
Bush Barr achil, for the purpose of being inspected. His
Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant will visit them, after
which they will proceed to their respective homes.
SURVEY OF SCOTLAND.—The Lords of the Treasury
have (says the Scotsman) ordered the survey of Sootland
to be carried on a. 74 follows:—For cultivated, populous,
and mineral districts, on a scale of 25.344 inches to a
mile ; for uncultivated, Highland, and moorland die-
tricte, on a scale of 6 inches to a mile ; the towns con-
taining more than 4,000 inhabitants, to be mapped on
a scale of 1-500 or 12'172 inches to a mile ; that plans
on Vie 25.344 and 6 inch scales shall be mapped, and
copies made when required, by the Anastatic process ;
that the general 1-inch map of Scotland be proceeded
with as rapidly as possible.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—An extra performance was
given at the -Royal Italian Opera last night, when Grisi,
for her first time this season, played the guilty Borgia,
one of her finest characters—one of those," in fact, in
which she will leave no successor when she is really
lost to the lyrical stage. Her performance was
quite worthy of the reputation which has hitherto
been associated with her name in connection with a
part of deeply tragic importance. Mario, in the
part of Gennaro, is almost as celebrated 33 the
incomparable Grisi. He sang exceedingly well, and
confirmed the impression his previous performances this
season have suggested—that his voice is in better health
and condition than it has been for the last year or two.
Mario, in a word, was admirable. Tamburini resumed
his old part of the Duke, and we consequently had a
judicious impersonation of the crafty and unrelenting
husband of the Borgia. The famous "Brindisi" was
sung by Madame Nantier Didiele with sufficient spirit
and gaiety to win an encore. Grisi and Mario were
recalled after each act ; and at the end of the opera
more than once.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gen-
tlemen, having undergone the necessary examinations
for the diploma, were admitted members of the college
at the meeting of the Court of Examiners on the lst
inst.:—Messrs. William Corbin Finch, Salisbury; Thomas
Fitzherbert Snow, Southampton ; Samuel Thomas Jeph-
cott, Birmingham ; Thomas Gwynn° Howell, Beath,
Brecooshire ; Arthur Kelsey, Horley, Surrey ; Jonathan
Dickinson, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Martin Shelton Coucher,
Woodmanton. Worcestershire ; Charles Edward Cot-
Frederick Dufty, Nottingham terell, Ryde, Isle of Wight ; George William Lawrence,
CaTrnH,EcosuEriLtryero_f
____iCCroaltv.aaprln.TaTxEtor:n
Sudbury, Suffolk; John Charles Thorowgood, Totteridge
H ; Henry Dewes Best, Bilston, Staffordshire ';
Wo oravreu. ham • and Joseph Clarke,
OF ARTILLERY
recentlynill,ll7on:re
moved
OFFICERS AT
of the correspondence relative fora
copy
to the reconstruction of
the select committee of Artillery officers and others at
Woolwich. From this Parlianaenta
published yesterday, it results thatrYthrplukwehoifciNwe"
New-
castle in January last, when still at the head of the War
Department, wrote a letter to Sir Hew D. Ross,
expres-
sive
of his opinion that the select committee abovem
tioned was defective in obvious respects, and that under
the existing circumstances of the country, the magnitude
and importance of the scientific and mechanical problems
constantly pressing for solution, called for such an en-
largement of its constitution as should enable the Go-
vernment to feel all the confidence in its decisions which
an union of the highest scientific attainments with the
most enlarged military experience could command. The
duke therefore arrived at the conclusion that the select
committee ought to be enlarged by the admission of sun-
dry members of the scientific department. The new
committee was to be named "The Ordnance Select Com-
mittee," being no longer exclusively an Artillery com-
mittee. Sir Hew Ross, in complying with his Grace's
instructions, expresses his regret that the result of the
labours of the actin.- committee should be considered so
unsatisfactory, and hereupon sundry explanations ensue,
the Duke of Newcastle observing that, in urging the re-
constitution of the committee, he was far from intending
to " imply " (impute ?) any blame to the distinguished
officers forming that committee, or to represent their
labours as unsatisfactory, but that some modification
of the constitution of the committee itself might be
better suited to the multifarious and important
labours entailed upon it by the frequent references
now made to it upon all the important scientific disco-
veries of the day. The details of the new arrangements
to be made occupy the remainder of the paper. The
Duke's attention seems to have been directed to the ne-
cessity of reorganising the committee by the frequent
appeals from the decisions of the old committee, and
complaints against its mode of dealing with the subjects
brought before it.

when he saw two of the men running away,
one of them having his watch and chain in his
hand. He gave chase, bat they got clear off. On
examining his pocket, he found that three halves of 51.
notes which he had in his port-monnaie, and the
three corresponding halves which he had sealedin another
pocket, had been stolen from him, and a bag containing
two flash notes and two medals in imitation of sovereigns
placed in his pocket instead. About a fortnight after-
wards, he was passing by Moses's shop, in the Minories,
when he saw the prisoner talking to another man. He
at once recognised him, and collared him, and notwith-
standing a desperate effort which he made to get away
gave hinainto custody. On the prisoner bc-ingsearched two
purses, a gold watch, and chain were found in one of his
pockets, and in another four flash notes and five medals,
like those left in the prosecutor's pocket. These flash
notes were of the " Bank of Engraving," and were
issued by a printer in the New-cut. The jury returned
a verdict of guilty. The Assistant-Judge made some
observations upon the impropriety of issuing these imi-
tation bank-notes. The prisoner was then sentenced to
be kept in penal servitude for 4 years.