The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-22 00:00:00

THE TAKING OF THE MALAKHOFF.

A French letter from Constantinople of the 11th
states that the news of the taking of the Malakhoff,
which reached at 2 o'clock p.m., produced in that
capital an immense sensation. It was, however,
considered too good to be true, and many hesitated
to believe it. The Greeks openly manifested
their incredulity. Despatches from head-quarters
received the same day per the Amsterdam con-
firmed all that had been announced by the electric
telegraph. The letter goes on to say—
" The Malakhoff Tower, attacked with unexampled
impetuosity to the cry of Vire l'Empereur,' was carried
after a murderous struggle on both sides. The formidable
position was occupied without. delay, and batteries
were established on it with remarkable celerity. The
Little Redan of Careening Bay was also taken, but as
the Russian batteries poured down a tremendous fire on
those who were the first to occupy it, our men were
obliged to'abandon it to return to it afterwards. The
few details I have picked up I send you in haste, as the
Indus weighs anchor in two hours. On the night of
the 7th all the necessary arrangements were taken
by General Pelissier with admirable precision. On the
Btb, at mid-day our assaulting columns issued from their
posts, and marched on against the enemy to the cry of
Vive l'Empercur,' with an impetuosity beyond all
description, and in spite of a terrible fire in front, and
a flanking fire from the Little Redan, the ditch
was soon passed, and after an hour of a murderous
struggle the French flag floated on the tower, and
was hailed with one electric shout of triumph by the
whole army. Batteries were instantly placed in posi-
tion, and we are established in the Malakhoff in as solid
a manner as if we had held the place for a long time
past. Our battery poured down on the Russian
fleet a perfect storm of shells ; three ships were
set on fire in spite of the precautions of the Rus-
sians, and the following morning those that bad not
been destroyed by our shot were sunk by the Russians.
The south part of the city was on fire, and the Russians
passed into the north forts.
"Our losses are severe. Several Generals have been
killed ; four are wounded. I have only been able to as-
certain one name among the latter—that of General
Bosquet. We have, moreover, 4,000 men hors de com-
bat. I cannot vouch for the exactness of this last num-
br,
on the Redanandthefirstestitbnyattehies
EtonogThenwtelsrrmonaedoeuws.ithTtihiee
attack
utmost vigour. They were repulsed three times, but
each time those gallant troops returned to the charge,
and remained masters of the position. The Little Redan
of CarOsning Bay was also occupied, but the Russian
fire, which inflicted enormous injury on the first occu-
pants, did not allow us to maintain it. A telegraphic
despatch, received yesterday at the French embassy,
announces that the city is occupied by the allied troops.
I am in hourly expectation of letters from the Crimea,
which, I trust, will give me more complete details than
those I now send you.

A postscript to the foregoing says :
" A. letter written on board the Indus, at 7 p.m., con-
tains the following General Rivet is killed, as also
Colonel Chassaigne, General Pelissier's Chief of the
Staff. The English have suffered severely. When the
Russians saw that we were masters of the Malakhoff
Tower they blew up the Redan. All was mined, but
they had no time to blow up the Malakhoff. I learn
from an eye-witness that the Russians blew up the
Centre Bastion ; as they were retiring the Quarantine
was also on fire. We now occupy the entire of the
south part of the city. The Russians set fire to the
small vessels and sank the large ones. It appears that
for those who were on board the fleet the sight they be-
held was impossible to give an idea of. The French
dashed into the city undismayed and undeterred by the
flames."

Another letter from the Crimea gives an idea of
the state of discouragement of the Russians be-
fore the attack of Sebastopol
"A very short while ago a corps of 1,000 men was
required for a sortie against the French, who were oc-
cupied in certain works particularly obnoxious to the
Russians. These last had been boasting that they could
furnish not only 1,000, but 10,000 volunteers at any
moment. Only 150, neither more nor less, presented
themselves ; the sortie was abandoned, and the French
went on with their work quietly.

PROPOSED INCREASE OF THE Dom RATES AT LIVER..
PooL.—At the meeting of the Liverpool Dock Com-
mittee on Thursday, after the reporters had left the
room,dt ur
0 thefo rh
chairmanteyar produced an estimate of the expen-
diture the 30th of June next, includ-
ing 200,0001. for new works and the repair of existing
works, and stated that, taking the income of the present
year at the same amount as last year, there would pro-
bably be a deficiency of upwards of 18,0001. in the re-
ceipts as compared with the expenditure. In order to
meet this deficiency it was presumed that it would be
necessary to increase the dock rates on ships and goods
to the extent of 10 per cent. Mr. Evans thought the
committee should have taken their financial position into
consideration before they made the purchases of land
from the Earl of Derby and Mr. J. S. Leigh. The dis-
cussion upon the subject will be taken next Thursday.