The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-13 00:00:00

sprung their first torpedo under water. These tor-
pedces, the most modern and most destructive en.
gine of river warfare, were ranged in a line of six
across the month of the creek. Some were made
of tin cases, other were differently contrived on
a new principle, on which it is unnecessary to be
more explicit, and all were lit by the voltaic
battery, carrying the spark through insulated wires
into the centre of the charge. Though these tor-
pedoes had been down a week in 30 feet of water,
and contained charges varying from 1001 b to 1601 h
of powder, yet not one failed to explode. The first,
though a small charge, threw a great mass of
water 60 feet into the air, and at this alarm
all the boats drew hurriedly away, as column
after column of water and smoke rising to a tower-
ing height, and falling in a shower of foaming
showed the imminence of
the danger they had escaped. The last of the
spray all over the creek,
tor-
pedoes fired was one containing 1601 b. of powder,
and the effect of this was apparently tremendous
enough in force to have broken the back of a three
decker. In the meantime the besiegers were by
no means idle; on the contrary, the fire of both
guns and rifles was redoubled, if possible, from
every point, and it was evident that the crisis of
the general assault was at hand. The besiegers
had altogether 11 heavy guns, eight mortars, and
these were going at once,
fearwhen
soddenly howitzers,
h ander e all
was a lull, and on the left and
centre the assaulting columns were seen hurrying
across the open with scaling ladders. In a few
t
minutes afterwards these were planted by the left
column at the re-entering angle of the redan,
and the men swarmed up like bees on to the para-
pet. Bat though the parapet was easily gained, the
work of this column was only begun, for beyond
lay one of the permanent dry ditches of the Chat-
ham lines—a brick fosse some 30 feet deep find
nearly 50 feet wide. There was no escalading or
jumping this, and the besieged were keeping up a
fierce fire on the column from the interior line of
works beyond the fosse. The advance of the left
column was thus completely checked, but not for
long. Covered by the fire of their comrades, a group
of sappers crept round the edge of the ditch with
guy ropes, and then, once across, those left on the
other side affixed the ropes to a single legged
" turtle," which was hauled into the centre of the
fosse, and then steadied by the guy ropes, and with
this for their centre pin, the sappers, with marvel.
lons rapidity, proceeded to construct a Birogah
bridge—a piece of military engineering which we
have copied from the Austrians, as we have copied
so very many other good ideas of theirs of the
same kind. Actually in almost less time than
we have taken to describe it this bridge
across the fosse war built, and built so strongly
that the instant it was finished hundreds of men
dashed across it, and even cannon was afterwards
brought over it. Directly this work was done there
was an end of the defence of the parapet by the be.
sieged, who retired behind a strong timber palisade
which enclosed the rear of the work; and between
the interstices of this they kept up a fire on the
attacking column, which was then again checked.
There was no scaling this fence nor forcing it with-
out cannon ; so cannon were sent for, and as no
horses could move in such a place, the men had to
do the work themselves, and splendidly they did it.
They got a field piece up a bank which they them-
selves had previously to scale with ladders, got it
over the Birogah turtle, and lowered it bodily down,
ammunition waggon and all, into the courtyard in
front of the palisade, and with its first discharge
made the defence of the latter hopeless. The be.
sieged saw that all was over at this part of the
defences, and retired in more haste than order—
that ir, to use an Americanism—they "ran like
blacks." Their now pursuers were instantly
through the stockade and close upon them, while
the work of the single gun which was firing through
the stockade into the retreating mass of the be-
siegers was supposed to prevent their re-forming.
The attacking column, therefore, cleared the de-
fenders from the casemate barracks with little oppo-
sition, and, still following the besieged, forced their
way through the postern and over the right face of
the work into Prince Edward's Bastion, where the
besieged enrrendered, and the struggle was at end
at this point.
Oa the centre the attack was shorter and equally
successful. The coin= stormed almost at once,
first with a rush, carrying the close line of rifle pits
which covered the front of the besieged works. The

poor besieged at this point were very hard pressed
indeed, for, having now no fear of booms or tor-
pedoes before their eyes, boats filled with troops
were seen hurrying fast up the creek, and, in spite
fire, succeeded
waseded i getting past the bat•
toefriaesh.eAav
tasent
to oppose their land-
ing and defend the stockade, while another sought
to dislodge the assailants from the rifle pits in front
heavy
firec
of the batteries. Both attempts failed. The sailors
and troops landed after a hot fight, and all being
now ready, the besiegers sprung their great mine
full in the centre of the enemies' batteries. This
mine was beautifully laid, and was the most im-
portant mine of the day. It consisted of several
2001 b. charges, placed at a great depth, so that when
at the proper moment it was fired the mass of
earthworks rose with a heavy,
sullen heave, and
were spread over the earth, leaving an aperture
through which waggons might be driven. Before
the smoke had cleared away the column was at a
run to storm this breach, which was still despe!ately
defended by the besieged, till another loud explo-_

sion far behind told that the landing party had
blown up the stockade and taken all of what now
remained of the whole line of defences completely
in the rear. Thence it Was a running and hopeless
fight on the part of the besieged. They retired to
their inner line, which may be considered as a re-

,rencbment, near the Cumberland Bastion, but had

now to meet the attacks both of the centre

column and that which had landed up the creek.
Betwcen the two this last line was soon forced

in two places, amid a tremendous din of cannon
and musketry. The final fight of the besieged
brought the proceedings to a close, after a short,

though one of the most varied and brilliant reviews

which the public have ever seen. At the close of
the review the troops marched past in front of
the Engineers' Memorial Arch, near the barracks,
and this over, the Royal party returned at once to
Victoria Station in a special train, which only
stopped to set down Prince Arthur and Major
Elphinstone at Beckenham, on their way to Black.
heath. Lieut,-Colonel Lovell, C.B , R.E., was the
engineer officer
directing the attack, and Lieut.-
Colonel Browne, C. 8., R.E., defended the works,
while the boat party was under
Captain Studdart,
R.N. Attached to the several columns of attack
were the following engineer officers:—
Left Attack.—To attend the column, Lieutenant
Burke; trench cavalier, Lieutenant Wynne.
Centre Attack.—To attend the column, Lieute-
nant Brooke; lodgment, Lieutenant Bell.
Right Attack.—To clear the breaches, Lieute-
nants
Clayton, L. K. Scott, asd Watkins; in charge
of 3-pounders, Lieutenant Larminie.
Boat Attack.—To destroy the boom, Lieutenant
Frere ; to destroy the stockade, Lieutenant Richard-
SOD ; to lead the troops, boats, &c., Lieutenant
Ramsey; gunboats, Lieutenant Heneage.
Reserve•—Left column,
Lieutenant Taylor; right
column, Lieutenant BougheY•

GOLD AND SILVER.—There was no gold sent
into.the Bank on Tharsday, £31,000, on the other hand,
was withdrawn for export. .A. little more demand pre-
vailed for silver, at a slight advance, for transmission to
India.

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The lonians and the English Troops,
- A.

The following compliments have been inter-
changed between the Municipal Council of Corfu
and the commander of the garrison

To THE ENGLISH GARRISON.

Valiant Sons of England,—By a generous decision of
your august Queen the wishes of this Grecian land have
been granted, and you are about to leave this island, on
which you have resided with us for half a century; and
nobly have you behaved towards us.

The Municipal Council of this island, under the influence
of the unspeakable joy which it experiences in this memo-
rable change in its destiny at the moment of its entering a
new career of national existence, cannot without emotion
witness your departure and leave unexpressed the senti-
ments of sympathy that it entertains for the great nation to
which you belong.

As free citizens of a free nation you will not be indignant
at the exuberant joy of a people passing from foreign pro-
tection to national liberty, nor will you consider it in any way
connected with your departure, which affects us exceedingly
and causes us to express from out hearts the warmest wishes
for your welfare, and for that of your illustrious country to
which we feel bound by ties of gratitude and hope.
Farewell, brave sons of England, Forget, as we do,
whatever may tend to mar our mutual love. Love us as we
love you, 'And desire that we may imitate your national
virtues,

D. COURCOITMELY, Regent.
S. A. MusToxini.
G. TOMBRO.
A. TRIFONA.
M. PADOVAN.

A. DELVINIOTTI.
D. A. COURCOU3IELY,
Secretary to the Municipal Council.
Corfu, June 1, 1864.

The following is the answer sent to the munici-
pality by Major-Seneral Sir Robert Garrett,
K.C.B. :

On the eve of departure with the British troops under
my command, whose duty of garrisoning the lonian Islands
will this day cease, I hasten to thank you for the spirit in
which the address which you transmitted to me yesterday
for the English garrison has been framed, and for the ex-
pression of your warmest wishes for ourselves individually
and for that of our country. On behalf of the garrison I
beg most cordially to reciprocate our earnest wishes for the
welfare of yourselves and for that of your country.
To the President and members of the Municipal Council
a very large portion of the inhabitants of this island, no
doubt, look for countenance and support, and so long as
they receive encouragement from yourselves to cherish feel-
ings of loyalty to your King, to practice obedience to the
constituted authorities, to exert energy and industry in
following agriculture and commerce, and, at the same time,
living in friendship and harmony with each other, they can
hardly fail to attain, under Providence, that welfare which
our country has mainly attained by adopting and observing
these principles.

In the name of the private soldiers whom I have the
honour to command I request you will be pleased to make
known to the inhabitants of the country round Corfu, and
to those of the town itself, how fully they have appreciated
the kindly feelings which they have unremittingly evinced
towards them.

Again repeating the assurances of our very best wishes
for the welfare of you all, I now, in the name of the British
garrison, bid you most heartily farewell.
R. GARRETT, Major-General,
Commanding the British in the lonian Islands,

Extraordinary Charges of Cruelty by Parents
to their Children,

limnnoun, Saturday Evening.
This day, at the sitting of the county magistrates at the
Town-ball, Hertford, Mr Besley, barrister, made applica-
tion for summonses against John Joseph Slowe, a bailiff and
head gardener to Mr Baker, chairman of the bench of ma-
gistrates of the county, and Caroline his wife, for inhuman
and gross cruelty to Annie Slowe, his daughter, 17 years of
age, by beating, dragging her about by her hair, and other
acts of an atrocious description. There are a number of
other charges of a similar nature against other members of
the family, but action was only taken at present as regards
the one above stated. The magistrates on the bench were
W. R. Baker Esq. (chairman), W. Parker, Esq., J. True-
man, Esq., H. Gosling, Esq., Wynn Ellis, Esq., and C. J.
Dimsdale, Esq.
Mr Besley, barrister, instructed by Messrs Sbaen and
Roscoe, on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Women
and Children, appeared for the complainant, and having
stated the matter to the bench,
Mr Longmore, the Town Clerk, suggested that they
should take sufficient evidence to warrant the granting of a
summons.
The magistrates said that the complainants had better he
sworn, which was done.
Mr Longmoro then read the following statement:—
Annie Slowe—l am servant to Mr Bussey, of 14. Eton-
villas, Haverstock-hill, London. lam a single woman. I
was 17 in December last. I lived with my father and
mother, John Joseph Slowe and Caroline Slowe, at Bay-
fordbury, till September last. My father is gardener and
bailiff to Wm. Baker, Esq., and we lived on bis estate. I was
away from home once for about twelve months at Sheffield
with my brother. With that exception I have always lived
at home till I left last September. My father and mother
have both constantly beaten and otherwise ill-used me as
long as I can recollect anything. For the most trifling
offences I have been most severely beaten with whips, ropes,
and sticks. When I was very young I was constantly
severely beaten by my mother because I could not say the
word temptation in ray prayers. On one occasion, about
four or five years ago, I was tied quite naked in an arm
chair, and my father threw several bowls of cold water over
me, after which I was taken from the chair and severely '
beaten. On another occasicn my mother threw a saucepan
at me because it was not cleaned properly, and then she told
my father to punish me for it. My father then seized me by
the hair of the head and threw me down with my face upon
some rough matting, and knocked my face upon the mat-
ting till it bled from every part, I received the last beating
from my father in August last, because I had not cleaned
the house to my mother's Kith faction. 'She complained of
me to my father, and he said, " Now, my lady, I give you
ht. If and hour. Clean the furniture in this room, clean the
grate, and set the room in order," I could not get the
work done in the time, although I tried to do so; and my
father then took a strong stick, held me by one hand,
and got a table between us, so that I could net close with
him to avoid the blows, and gave me a most severe beating.
Sooh after this in consequence of the threats of my father
and mother I ran away from home to avoid further ill-
treatment. I believe it was on the 2d September when I
left home. I have lived in London ever since. Up to the
time that I left home my sister Isabella, who is about two
years younger than myself, was treated with greater severity
than I was, both by my father and mother. My sits' er Caro-
line, who is several years older than I am, and has very
bad health, was also subjected to the same ill-usage when-
ever she was at home. My mother generally instigated
my father to beat us.
Annie Slowe said the statement read was quite true.
Mr. Besley wished to state the reasons why this matter
had remained over since August. About this time an aunt
named Hills was staying with Slowe and his wife for a few
days, and her presence caused partly a cessation of the
punishment, but Annie was promised a double quantity
when she left, and those threats so operated on her feelings
that on the 2d of September, before her father and mother
had come down stairs, she determined on running away,
and as she had no money of her own she took 8s from her
aunt's pocket, She walked to Cole-green station at an early
hour in the morning, and made her way to London. She
wanted to go to Mr. Bussey's, at Haverstock-bill, where
her sister v as, hut she could not find it, and she then made
her way to the Servants' Home, where her father found her
and took away all her clothes except what she was wearing.
She remained at the Servants' Home for three weeks, and
was protected by her sister's mistress until a situation was
found for her with a Mrs. S. Ford, of Long-acre. She re-
mained with her for three months, but taking the small-pox
she became the inmate of an hospital for two months.
When she came out she went for a time to her sister's, and
after wards to Mrs. Bussey's, as nursemaid, where she was
at present. That would account why the matter had not
been brought forward before.
Mr. Lungmoro asked the girl why she had not complained
before, and she said she was afraid to do so.
The Chairman said there had been a private investigation,
and as nothing had subsequently occurred how was it that
the subject had been brought up again?
Mr Besley said the reason was, that a scrap of paper,
evidently posted surreptitiously, was received by Mrs.
Winston from her sister Caroline, in which she alluded
to her sister Isabella,
who was still at home, and about
whom she was most anxious. In this paper she
said that Isabella was undergoing the most severe
treatment, and that unless soon rescued would sink
under it, and she went on to say that a fortnight after-
wards the same sister was seen with a severe cut on the face,
known to be result of her father's brutality. She went on to
allude to two other younger sisters, Mary Ann and Florence,
aged 9 and 11 years, and she said she believed they had
been well treated up to the present, and had not received
corporal punishment, but these children from their infancy
had suffered great mental agony in consequence of being
compelled to be witnesses of the sufferings of their sisters,
The object of this application was mainly for the protec-
tion of the younger children, and it was with this view that
the society felt it to be its duty to make the present appli-
cation to the bench for a summons against the parents of
these children.

The magistrates having conferred for a few minutes toge-
ther, Mr. Dimsdale said that the summons would be granted
The hearing of the case will therefore stand for a future day.

AN AFFECTING SCENE!—When tile name of the
French Winner of the Grand Prix was announced, says the
Spectator, the Due de Morny, President of the Legislative
Body, wept upon the bosom of the ovmer, ill, ihlamarre,
as an evidence of his patriotism.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

THE SPECTATOR.—Is the Ministry trying to
trick the country i) We feel it had to believe that
a Cabinet of which Earl Russell is a member is
lending itself to any attempt of the kind, but facts
begin to look very like it. Certainly ii they were
trying to obtain a position in which they could be-
tray Denmari without risk of a sudden explosion
of wrath from the constituencies and Parliament
they;would do very mach what they are doing now.
Ten days ago they had apparently reached the very
last limits of concession, surrendered the honour of
Denmark, and seriously risked that of England in
a last endeavour to conciliate men who are under
a monomania. They, the authors of the treaty of
1852, who had pledged themselves that if Den-
mark were assailed she " should not stand alone,"
who had admitted in writing the duty of main-
taining the " integrity and independence" of their
little ally, had proposed her dismemberment, had
proposed to give the assailant a limb if only he
would consent to spare the rest of the bleeding
trunk. Denmark, after a natural emotion of dis-
gust, remembered that she was weak, and that jus-
tice had ceased for the moment to be a principle in
politics, and accepted the neutral offer as her own
ultimatum, Her representatives had, to show their
sincerity, declined to extend the armistice beyond
a fortnight, preferring rather to perish in a new
campaign than to suffer the enemy to live at ease
in Danish provinces, and lose all chance of inflict.
ing retribution by sea. The Germans not only
declined the neutral offer, but actually demanded
instead of the line of the Schlei a line drawn
through Apenrade, a territory equal to
more then three-fifths of Schleswig, full of
purely Danish villages, and far to tho
North of the only frontier which Denmark in any
future coneession could hope to defend. The object of
course was simply to make such arrangements as
should make the annexation of Jutland a year or
two hence an easy and comparatively bloodless pro-
ceeding. The old game of partition was to be played
over again, with England and France for duped
spectators. To this decision the invading Courts,
though sorely annoyed by the refusal of the Prince
of Augustenburg to promise that he will enslave
his subjects as they have done, still adhere, the
organ of Herr von Bismark declaring in words
which must be his own, that they have such a ring
of his voice, that the allies have only to remain in
the Duchies they have conquered, and "see who
will drive them out." Instead, however, of accept-
ing this reply, declaring the Conference at an end,
and proposing to Parliament a definite line of ac-
tion, Earl Russell assents to an extension of the
Conference for a fortnight, fixes the next meeting
at an interval of seven days, gives Parliament no
information, and to all human seeming intends,
when the war recommences, to allow Denmark to
be swallowed while standing idly by. After actually
proposing the dismemberment of the Power he pro-
fessed to defend, after consenting to reward the
Germans for an act of aggression without a pre-
text—compliance with their demands having been
guaranteed by England, Russia, and France—he
has not the nerve to enforce his own proposition,
and allows himself to be beaten from point to point
till, as was lately observed, " He won't give up
Schleswig to Germany, but she may have the two
halves." This will never do. Whatever the diver-
sity of feeling in Parliament on the subject of war
for the Danes, we do trust there will be sufficient
spirit left in the House of Commons, if the Confer-
ences rises re iiVecta, and the Premier declines to
propose action, to punish the Ministry which has
covered England with such disgrace. The internal
difflcultias of the Cabinet are no excuse for the
conduct of its chiefs. Earl Russell has already
stated that whatever the Queen's opinions,
Her Majesty has always accepted constitutional
advice, and it was no part of his duty so to frame
that advice that it would be certain to be accept-
able. If he believed the circumstances demanded
the despatch of the fleet to the Baltic, he should
have sent the fleet to the Baltic or resigned. Nur
is Mr. Gladstone's opposition to be considered a
reason for quiescence when the dignity of Great
Britain demanded energetic action. The Ministry
may lose with him a strong section of its supporters ;
but the whole nation is al ways in the majority, and
it is to the nation that the Premier should have
appealed. There is not a class in the country which
would not have eagerly responded, which is not
weary of German arrogance, sick to rage of Ger-
man interference in our affairs. So strong is the
feeling, that were it not even now befooled by the
false hopes held out by diplomacy the middle class
might take the bit in its teeth, as it did in the days
of the Crimean war, and read the Parliamentary
chiefs a lesson which would send a dozen old men
out of power, and bring the Times round one sud-
den gyration as the mouthpiece of war feeling.
Unfortunate as the position of parties is, with the
Court hampered by personal ties, the Cabinet in two
by financial fears, the Tory leaders either German
in :one or afraid of responsibility, and all parties,
so to a,”eak, deprived of their natural chiefs, there
is still; we trust, energy enough iu the Commons to
to brand failureso conspicuous. The
recognize and
Tories, so far as' public decle rations go, are in this
matter no more prepared to uphold the honour of the
nation than the old Whigs, brat at least they have not
so mismanaged diplomacy as to make England the
executioner of a victim on whose behalf her Premier
had threatened war; they can stand aside, and let
the burial proceed in a silence which, if it has in it
little dignity, has at least less humiliation. Eng-
land has had many squeezable Ministries, but a Cabi-
net which could retreat five separate times from its
own ultimatum rather than risk the anger of
Heir von Bismark, which, after a voluntary pro.
mise of aid, could surrender first Holstein, then
Schleswig in occupation, then Lsuenberg, then
Schleswig south of the Schlei in perpetuity, and
now, perhaps, Scnleswig south of Flensberg, and
all this without a defeat, is a phenomenon in our
annals. We trust Germany will not ask for Kent
as inheritor of the Angles, for, for all that appeals,
these men would make that a " basis of a negotia-
tion," There is but one hope that we can perceive,
either for the Ministry or for English honour.
Lord Palmerston, unwil'ivg to close a grand career
as the laughingstock of Europe, may at the eleventh
hour insist on having his own way, declare that con-
cession has reached its limits, and at any risk, either
of income-tax, or what he deems much more, upris-
ing of the nationalities, propose publicly that if the
line of the Schlei is passed, Great Britain will ap-
peal from the justice of Germany to that of the God
who for ten centuries has blessed all English action.
It he does, the position of parties in the house does
not matter much, for the constituencies will be

masters of the position, and we would not guarantee
even Mr Gladstone a seat; if he does not, he may
leave the task of safe inglorious government to Lord
Clarendon, but his retirement will be passed among
a people finally disenchanted of a long enduring
faith in his honour and his pluck.
THE LONDON REVIEW.—The policy of her Ma-
jesty's Ministers with reference to the Danish
question formed the subject of a short but interest-
ing and animated debate in the House of Commons
on Monday night. Mr. Disraeli became for once
the organ of a feeling thoroughly general, both in
Parliament and in the country, when he complained,
in ind gnant language, of the manner in which the
Government are concealing from the nation their
course of action or inaction. It was, he argued,
rather too much 'that the representatives of the
English people should be the only persons kept, or
supposed to be kept, in ignorance of the proceedings
of the Conference. They did not desire to be ad-
mitted to a knowledge of the right of negotiation,
but they had a right to know on what basis this
was being conducted. Lord Palmerston had ob-
tained their confidence by stating that he and his
colleagues were about to uphold the Treaty of
1852. They had been willing to abstain from
embarrassing discussions, and to restrain their
natural curiosity, lest they shoula endanger the
success of policy of which they approved. But
it was rather too much that the Government,
having thus obtained complete freedom of action,
should use it for the promotion of a measure—the
dismemberment of Denmark—to which the house
of Commons had never assented, and from which a
large portion of them were entirely averse. As the
right hon. gentleman observed,
force, "no Minister is entitled to ask for
of
parliamen-
tary reticence and reserve progressdurinfnitfihrle
with unanswerable
fulfilled the great
negotiations, if he has not
treserve—thatr y
and
generally
p Iplace,
ee his
condition of such parliamenfiteareernytb
policy shall be known to the
If _
he follows a policy approved by Parliament.
be right, it may be possible-
totally contrary, it
to justify it; but wmhaeya that change takes
especially at a moment like the
present, when the
continuation of an armistice is in question, he is
bound to come forward and frankly tell us, Our
policy is changed. We are perfectly prepared to
vindicate our course. All we ask is that you should
continue your confidence to us, or at least that you
should call our conduct in question, and let it
receive either the sanction or reprobation of the
House of Commons.' " This is language con-
sistent both with the principles of the constitution
and the dictates of common sense. Confidence in
a Minister must have its limits. It is monstrous
that he should assume an authority to eommit the
country irrevocably to one course, under pretence
of pursuing another. And it is idle to justify his
reserve towards the House of Commons—if, indeed,
we should not characterise his conduct by a harsher
word—on the plea that frankness would imperil
the success of negotiations which it may well be
that they are prepared to condemn. Lord Pal-
merston could make no reply—attempted to make
no reply —to arguments to obvious and so
sound. He took refage
.in a palpable misre.
presentation of Mr. DierAell'o oreecbs and is the ,