The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-28 00:00:00

The Defences of Richmond,

A correspondent of the Neu; York Tribune, Who
states that he has derived his information from an
es-Confederate officer, gives the following account
of the defences of Richmond There are hun-
dreds and even thousands of people who suppose
that General Grant intends to carry the defences
around Richmond by a grand assault, and that in a
few days the city will be captured. But these
parties will be disappointed. The day for carrying
the defences and reaching the city by storm is past.
In the latter part of June, and the fore part of
July, 1862, when M'Clellan Was frightened to
his gunboats for protection, the defences of the
city were in the nature of common field fortifications,
which any skilful or even fighting general with his
army could have carried with little difficulty and
loss. The Union army then outnumbered the rebel
host by one third, and I believe one half. Since
then, however, the rebels have placed under arms
every citizen capable of military duty, so that to-
day Lee's army is numerically nearly equal to
Grant's. The rebel authorities have not only placed
every man capable of bearing arms in the Eeld, but
they have done everything that military skill and
engineering could do to render their city impreg-
nable. Richmond is to-day as well fortified, per-
haps, es any city on the globe. It is as complete la
fortress (so the rebels boast) as the city of Posen
in Prussia, which is said by military writers
and engineers to be the most skilfully fortified
inland city in Europe, not excepting even
Paris. The public must, therefore, await
the operations of our Lieutenant-General with
patience. The defences of Richmond consist of a
large number of forts of various dimensions, so
situated that mutual protection exists between
them, while an interior circumscribing system of
defence has been adopted as an additional security,
should a single outwork fall. To name and describe
all the fort 3 would be quite a tedious task, and I
shall therefore only refer to a few of the most im-
portant ones. Looking to the south-east, we find
Fort Jackson, near Fair Oaks, about 3k miles
from the city, between the New Bridge-road
and York River Railroad. Then comes Fort
Johnson, just below the Chickahominy, in the
neighbourhood of a mile from the Mechanicsville
Pike. This fort commands the Mechanicsville-bridge,
and, in fact, all the bridges and fords between it
and New Bridge. Two miles and a half from the
city, and about midway between the Virginia Cen-
tral Railroad and Mechanicsville Pike, is the " Ma.
lakoff," bearing on the Mechanicsville Bridge and
Wilkinson's or Railroad Bridge, and will, in fact,
sweep that part of the Chickahominy between the
points named. About two and three quarter miles
from the city, nearly midway of the Meadow Bridge
Road and Brook Run Pike. situate on a high hill, is
Fort Beauregard, commanding the Brook Pike and
Meadow Bridge Road. A mile and a half in advance
of it is a great redoubt, bearing on the Meadow
Bridge and the bridge over Brook Run and all inter-
mediate points on the stream. Three and a half
miles from the city, between the Brook Run Pike
and the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad, on
an eminence stands Fort Lee, commanding both
those thoroughfares for a long distance, and coma
mending as well Brook Run Bridge and two fords
on the Deep Run. Within and without and be-
tween these forts are others on a smaller scale; and
in addition to this, the intervals are enclosed by
heavy curtains and ramparts from 80 to 9U feet in
thickness. In front of the forts and ramparts are
ditches 28 feet in width and 22 feet deep, in which
are concructed Carnot walls of the most ingenious
character.

A NEW ALABAMA.—The Paris correspondent of
the Daily News saye:—" It is not true, as reported
by the Temps, that Captain Semmes is in Paris, but it is
said that he has sent for most of his officers to give them
instructions for the armament of a now Alabama, of
which he proposes shortly to take the command. The
France, which seems to have received special information
about this new ship, says that she is a small beautifully-
formed corvette, iron-plated inside, and provided with
powerful artillery. Captain Semmes has ordered three
pivot guns capable of throwing hollow projectiles of 170,
and solid projectiles of 220 English pounds. Her crew,
which in the old Alabama consisted of 142 men, is to be
augmented to 172.. The France says that these details
are positive.' It does not know in what port the new ship
will be armed, but it believes that no surveillance can
prevent it from putting to sea."

---
TIIE LATE MR. GEORGE LANCE.--This celebrated
flower and fruit painter, whose death is just an-
nounced as having occurred at New Brighton, Cheshire,
was born at Little Easton, Essex, in 1802. In 1828 he first
began to exhibit his productions at the Royal Academy,
but it is only since 1835 that he has regularly been a con-
tributor. Every one who is in the habit of visiting the Royal
Academy must be familiar with Mr Lance's beautiful
imitations of fruit and flowers. He has three pictures
in the Vernon Gallery, the moat celebrated of which per-
haps ie " Redcap." Mr Lance, however, has gained some
reputation in other departments of art. " Melancthon"
gained the prize at Liverpool. Much controversy has
taken place about Mr Lance's share in restoring Velasques.
" Boar Hunt,' in the National Gallery, some 20 years ago,
Mr Lance insisting that whole groups of figures are in
reality his work. Mr. Lance never was a Royal Academi-
cian, great as was his popularity in his own line ; but those
who are familiar with the " laws of thought" which govern
the august 40 will be at no loss to understand the reason.

EFATAL BARGE ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER
Yesterday morning, off Chelsea, a young man named
Christopher Price, a bargeman, fell from the gunwale of
his barge, and was drowned before assistance could reach
kiinu

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

LONDON; Tune 23.—Wind this day at noon—North-
West; moderato breeze and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.

COWES, June 27.—Wind W.N.W.—Arrived—Cassia,
From Callao—Annie, from Bahia.

FALMOUTH, Juno 27.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Linder.
fame, from Bahia for Bremen.
isizwr 011 T, June 26.—Wind W.—Arrived—Florence,
frota Waterford for Ascension. Sailed—Tre Brodreg, for
Buenos Ayres.

CLYDE, Juno 27.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—Canada,
from Quebec.

DUNDEB, Juno 27.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—Summer
Cloud, from Calcutta.

Orr MA.GNETIO TELSGILAPX,)
GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morning:

Arrived, June 27—Crrwinde Karen Wedel Jasborg, from
Dram—Morning Star, from Jamaica—Olaf Karre, from
Havannah—Malabar, from Calcutta.
Arrived, Juno 28—llebe from Holmstadt—Ferciens
Kiold, from Havannah—Rifleman and Waltar Hood, fm
ro
Sydney.—Minniger, from Quebec—Anna, from Holber—
Counttss from Dantsic.

DEAL, Tuesday Morning,
Arrived and Passed, June 27—Rifleman, irona Sydney,
for London.
Passed, in tow—Virginia Dare, from Calcutta, for
London—Sarah Scott, from Sunderland, for Alexandria—
Jessie, from London, for Demerara—Victoria, from Sunder-
land, for Alexandria—biaggle Lauder, from Sunderland,
for Calcutta—Jane Harman, from the north, for the Best
—Dione, from Londos, for Algoa Bay.

THE ALLEGED CRUELTY TO SEAMEN ON BOARD
THE AMERICAN SHIP ALEATROSS.—A paragraph
appeared in the Times of the 14th inst. in reference to pro-
ceedings before the Newport magistrates against the two
mates of the American ship Albatross for several acts of
alleged cruelty to the seamen on board. The charges
against the mates were then dismissed, the alleged offences
having been committed on the Atlantic, and, consequently
the cases did not come within the jurisdiction of the magis-
trates. The latter, however, expressed a hope that the
American Consul would inquire into the matter. In com-
pliance with this request, an investigation has since been
held beforo Mr Knapp, the Consul. After hearing the
witnesses on both sides, the Consul reports that the charges
were entirely unfounded, and that the crew were induced
by designing parsons to make complaints of cruelty in
Order, if possible, to extort money.

_
Tar
eirtn
urt

HER MAJESTY,

WINDSOR CASTLE, June 27.
The Queen, accompanied by her Royal High-
nem the Princess Louis of Hesse, walked and drove
in the grounds this morning.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Prin•
cess of Waits, Princess Helena, and Princess Louis
of Hesse, rode on horseback, attended by the Hon.
Horatia Stop ford.
Their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise, Prince
Leopold, and Princess Victoria of Hesse, have taken
their usual carriage airing this morning.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales and the Prince Albert Victor, attended by
the Marchioness of Carmarthen and Lieut.-Colonel
Rappel, left the Castle this afternoon for Marlborogh
House.