The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-09 00:00:00

MISSIONARIES.

Messrs. Duncan, Lowry,Collins, and B. O'Brien gave
lengthened and interesting details of their several mis-
sions through Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire,
Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Susses, Hampshire,
Isle of Wight, Surrey and Kent. Their letters gave ac-
counts of the great success which attended the mission,
notwithstanding the cppoiition of the Tories and the
Whigs, particularly in Portsmouth, Gosport, Plymouth,
and their localities, where Mr. O'Brien said he heard
from good military authority, that there were seven Re-
giments of Dragoons ready to defend the Queen 'and
Charter. This statement was received with loud cheers.

After bearing these gentlemen, the Meeting dis.
solved.

THE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY.

TO THE LDITOR OF THE SUN.

have been much struck with the conclusion
of an article headed " Russian Actual Policy," con-
tained in the recently published number of the Foreign
Quarterly Review. It exactly tallies with the observa-
tions embodied in my letter of the 25tb ult., which you
did me the honour to insert in your columns. It is
satisfactory to find that the all-important subject of
encouragement, or rather non-encouragement, afforded
to men of scienc by the Board of Admiralty, is at
length, tc duce, otxcitir; the attention of the public
press, who sill, I trust, kee!' the nations' eyes
fixed upon it, ti 4). it meets witlr that justice from
the Naval and Military Commission, which the magni-
tude of its importance so imperatively demands. I
carefully abstain from all critical comments on the po-
litico-literary article to which I have alluded ; but I
crave permission to quote a paragraph that proves the
necessity of a radical change in the scientific depart..
ment (if any such there be) of the Admiralty.
The example of other nations, especially of
one ambitious to a proverb, urges the vigorous
adoption of similar measures at home ; but they have
not, and cannot be adopted, simply because there is no
one to give them the requisite attention.
We arc well aware that as the waters of the Black
Sea are every where deep close in-shore, so that line-of-
battle ships can ride up to the edge almost. Russia has
carefully• fortified her stations there, not with cannon
alone, but with every new invention obtainable since
the last war. 11'hile some of these have been rejected
from Foreigners by our:wives, on the principle
that we could wish no alteration in the system
of Naval warfare, and should, therefore, be the
last to adopt it, she has embraced all offers,
made liberal proposals, tried every experiment, fished
out every secret, disappointed the various projec-
tors, if they are to be believed, of their reward, and cm-
ploycd the most effective of the projects secretly, and
for her own security. Sebastopol, for instance, is utterly
unassailable in " the old way."—pp. 211 212.
If, Sir, Sebastopol, in consequence of recent improve-
ments in the art of fortification adopted by the Russians
(the main feature of which is the mounting .cannon of
naval construction) be unassailable in the old way, Old
England must, I suppose, content herself by looking and
longing, with a pout, till it pleases their inert
mightinesses of the Admiralty to give her sons the chance
of competing, in the new system, with her prudent, and
more enterprising neighbours. But the writer, in con-
tinuation, boldly hits the right nail on the head, and
lays open the real obstacles to the improvement of our
naval force.
The objection to the new system rest chiefly with
the prejudices of those who succeeded by the old one ;
and the consequent support given to these by their
friends, the influential supporters of the actual Adini•
rally and its Lords."—p. 212.
The remedy for this lamentable state of prejudice,
corrupt supineness, irresponsibility, and folly, I pointed
out in my former letters. My plan, no doubt, admits of
improvement ; and I shall deem it an ample reward, if
it meets with due consideration in the proper quarter.
To your patriotic zeal, Sir, I appeal, that this most
important subject be not permitted to pass into oblivion.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
London, April 8. S. A. W.

TIIE BANISIIED.—IS_ new work of fiction,
under this title, is announced as immediately forthcoming,
edited by James Monier, Esq., the distinguished author
of " Hajji Baba," " Zohrab, the Hostage," &c. Mrs.
Morier's Eastern stories are unrivalled in modernliterature.
Whether for excitement of narrative, truth of imagery, or
just conception of character, he distances all competitors
M the field of oriental fiction. " The Banished," we be-
lieve, will introduce us to scenes and characters entirely
new to the great body of Euglish readers, it being a tale
of Suabia, founded on historical facts of peculiar interest.
TIIE LIFE OF WELLINGTON.—Mr. Colburn
has at length published the first part of the " Life of the
Duke of \Wellington," the production of a writer dis-
tinguished in the literary world, who has devoted nearly
two entire years to the accomplishment of a task the most
difficult to the biographer and historian ; involving, as it
naturally does, the personal history of the hero of a hun-
dred battles, interwoven with that of the present century.
It will, perhaps, be recollected that this work, in the earlier
announcement, was stated to have been placed under the
military editorship of Captain C. R. Scott; circumstances,
however, prevented this arrangement from being corn-
pleted, and this important duty has devolved on Sir James
Alexander. From whatever cause it is certainly sur-
prising that no man of literary repute has hitherto at-
' tempted to write the life of the hero of \Waterloo, and
the public may, therefore, be congratulated that so great
a desideratum in biographical history is at length supplied.
The work will be published in twelve monthly parts, em-
bellished with portraits, battle scenes, &c., by Landseer,
Warren, Landells, and other eminent Artists, at the mo-
derate price of 2s. 6d., each part—a price that will place it
within the reach of all classes ; and there are few, we
thiek, who would not wish to possess such a life of the
greatest ornament of this, or any other age or countrv.
The First Part, which is now ready, includes the Duke's
first entrance into military life—his campaign in Holland,
under the Duke of York—and his first exploits in India.
Anion. other Liberals of station in 13ucks,
named as likely to be put in the Commission of the Peace
by the new Lord Lieutenant, we perceive one name that
might collect honour on the list, that of Sir W. Herschel'.
Government have purchased the barracks at
Trowbridge for 3,5001., and will take possession on the Ist
of May next. Shortly after the peace they were sold for
1,5001., by the then Government. By this transfer up-
: wards of forty families will have to move to other places of
abode.— Wilts Gazette.