The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-29 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

29th of November.
The export of saltpetre is prohibited from India,
except to English ports.
The markets in India are depressed, and money
scarce. •

Freights to England have advanced.
Exchange at Bombay, 2s. lid. ; at Calcutta, 2a.
The Mission has returned from Ava. No treaty
was signed.

Many pirates have been destroyed on the coast
of China.
At Canton tranquillity prevails, but 300 persons
are decapitated weekly.

Trade in China was dull, without an early
prospect of change.
Exchange at Canton, 4s. 10d. ; at Shanghai,
6s. lid.
The Pasha of Egypt has rescinded the prohibi-
tion of the exportation of wheat and Indian corn.

HAMBURG, FRIDAY.
Advices have been received here from St. Peters-
burg, announcing that a despatch had been re-
ceived at that capital from Prince Gortschakoff,
and dated Dec. 20, stating that two sotnias of
Tschernornorish Cossacks attacked and defeated a
strong squadron of Gen. Vivian's Anglo-Turkish
cavalry on the 16th inst., near Kertch, capturing
the commanding officer and 47 men.

THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.
( From the Times correspondent.)
CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, DEC. 15.
The week has passed away without any change
in the position, but it has brought with it many
rumours. The fall of Kars isnow beyond any doubt,
and it has caused a painful feeling in spite of the
prophecy that it will tend to peaceful solutions
of the great " difficulty," inasmuch as it will soothe
the pride of Russia, and enable her to offer one
success as a counterpoise to the fall of Sebastopol
and the victories on which that fall depended. On
the other hand we hear that notwithstanding the
renewed talk about peace, there is more likelihood
than ever of a long war, and that the Generals and
Admirals have been summoned to Paris or else-
where to attend a great council, by which the ope-
rations of next year will be regulated, unless they
should be thwarted by a breeze of wind or a fall of
rain. It is certain that Marshal Pelissier will leave
the Crimea immediately for Paris, and that Sir
Edmund Lyons will sail from amiesh in the
Royal Albert on Monday next. Report says that
General Codrington will also quit his post for a
short time ; but there is not the least certainty in
anything one hears out bore respecting intended
movements, unless when the telegraph is broken,
—and it is now again out of order between Con-
stantinople and thy) Crimea. In all prob.ftbility any
such movement will be known in England before
this letter can reach you, and I shall therefore say
no more upon the subject.
There is a general indisposition to a campaign in
Asia, of which there is now some talk.
With reference to the ensuing year the question
of transport absorbs our principal consideration
just now, and no doubt General Windham, whose
views on this ali-important subject are understood
to be large and novel, will,in conjunction with Col.
Wetherall organise such a system as will render us
" moveable,' when the next campaign opens.
Next year we are told that the Transport Corps
will consist of 19,000 men and of 19,000 animals,
for it has been found absolutely necessary to have
one man for each mule or horse.
The French have only the same clothing as they
had last year. We are prodigies of excess in water-
proofs, furs, boots, seal-skin coats and caps.
The winter has set in, but cold and frost have
lost their terrors for the army now.
On Tuesday forenoon the thermometer was 55
deg. • on Wednesday it was 50 deg. ; on Thursday
it fell to 28 deg.; on Friday it was 22 deg. ; this
horning it marked 20 deg. Fahrenheit.
Colonel Wetherall, the Director-General, has
already gained the confidence and .respect of the
officers of the Land Transport Corps and Of the
Commissariat, and ho of course possesses in a high
degree the confidence of the chiefs of military de-
partments. So far he is secure of support and of
that attentive consideration of his suggestions and
opinions which is invaluable to an officer in his
position. But it must not be forgotten that the
organiser of the corps, Colonel McMurdo, laboured
long and earnestly and well to breathe life into it,
and that, until he was stricken down by illness, his
labours were successful.
TUESDAY, Dec. 11.—According to intelligence
received from Kinbourn, the Russians exhibit their
usual energy in casting up defensive works along
the banks of the Boug, and there is reason to be-
lieve that they are equally active in throwing lines
across the Spit before Cherson, and in making re-
doubts to oppose the march of any force from Kin-
bourn upon the last-named city. The Dnieper is
supposed to bo quite impracticable, and the Boug
will speedily offer enormous, obstacles to the ad-
vance of even the most heavily-armed and
lightest built gun-boats and mortar-vessels. The
enemy are also placing Oczakoff in a condition of
defence, and confine themselves to making works
on the upper cliffs, which can scarcely be touched
by the fire of our ships.
The Cossacks have shown themselves from time
to time in the neighbourhood of Kinbourn, but the
state of the Spit prevents them establishing a camp
or even a grand guard near the fort.
Dec. 13.—The Raesians kept up a pertinacious
fire on the town at the rate of about two a minute.
FRIDAY, Dec. 11.
The frost continues and the thermometer marks
20 dog. this morning. There is no news to-day,
but ere are many rumours. It is affirmed
that there is to be a great council of Generals
and Admirals in Paris, and that Marshal Pelissier
will leave the Crimea in a few days to assist at it.
Further, it is stated that Admiral Lyons will sail
in the Royal Albert from Kazatch as far as Malta,
whence he will proceed to the scene of those deli-
berations. General Codrington is also mentioned
as being likely to be summoned, in which case
General Barnard would assume the temporary
command of the army. What truth there may be
in these reports I cannot say, but 4% certain that
the Royal Albert is under orders to sail on Mon-
day next.

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING.
The last accounts received here from St. Peters-
burg announce a strong warlike reaction, produced
by the capture of Kars. Pacific demonstrations
are postponed. A report that a truce of three
months was agreed upon had caused a sudden rally
on the Bourse.
The rumours of Ministerial changes have entirely
subsided with the return of M. de Persigny to
London. That visit, the departure of M. Seebach
for St.. Petersburg, and the publication of the
pamphlet on the Congress for the Pacification of
Europe, have furnished ample material to the
curious' and, it must be said, to those who 'would
willingly see the harmony that exists between the
two countries disappear.
, Nothing relating to M. de Persigny's mission, at
least of a positive kind, has transpired, further
than that he had a long audience of the Emperor,
with the object of communicating in person certain
matters which could not be explained so well by
writing. M. de Persigny's business was almost
exclusively with the Emperor himself.
We are not so satisfied with Prussia as we were
some days since. It is not certain, after all, that
the instructions to their Minister at St. Peters-
burg were to support the identical propositions
adopted by the three 6i- overammt63 which Trua.

INDIA AND CHINA.
TRIESTE, SATURDAY, DEC. 29.
The steamer Bombay arrived here this morning
at 3.30 a.m., in 131 hours from Alexandria,
which port she left on the 23d inst.
The Indian mail left Alexandria on the 23d,
with advices from Calcutta of the 30th November;
lltnabay, 3d December ; Shanghai, fith Novem-
ber ; Canton, 13th November ; and Hong Kona
15th November.
On the 7th November there was a collision be-
tween the Hindoos and Mahomedans; at Oude, in
which 500 persons were slain. The Hindoos were
victorious. The Mahomedan leader was killed.
Herat has been taken by the Persians.
Lord Dalhousie returned to Calcutta on the