The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-14 00:00:00

GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

At a meeting of the fellows of this society at Bur-
lington House last evening, Sir R. Murchison in the
chair, Dr. Shaw read a paper by Mr. Hall, on the
" Frobisher Straits and the relics recovered from
that expedition." Amongst those present were Mr.
Crawford, Sir G. Everest, Sir A. Waugh, Sir G.
Back, Sir T. Fremantle, Sir A. Shiel, Admiral Col-
linson, General Fox, Colonel Lefroy, Capt. Sherard
Osborn, Sir E. Belcher, Dr. Rae, Mr. Osborn Smith,
&c. The paper gave an account of the difficulties
Mr. Hall had to encounter when undertaking a
voyage the object of which was to discover some
traces of the Franklin expedition. By the great
assistacce rendered him by Mr. Henry Grinnell, of
America, he was enabled to proceed, that gentleman
having expended on similar expeditions an amount
exceeding £20,000. It then referred to small inci.
dents with the Esquimaux, and mentioned that
several of that race of people had informed him that
what had up to the present time been termed Fro-
bisher's Straits, wan, in fact, a bay, and that, upon
examination by him, this turned out to be the case,
The relics produced were iron, and a rather lengthy
account was given of some coal discovered there,
which was said to have been left there by Sir Mar-
tin Frobisher in 1576. The time occupied in the
expedition was two years and three months, during
which time 1,000 miles of coast had been explored.
Captain Sherard Osborn spoke warmly of the as-
sistance which Mr. Henry Grinnell had rendered to
the Arctic explorations: and with • respect to the
alleged error of Sir Martin Frobisher, he said errors
were often attributed where there were none, and
that that fine old navigator could scarcely be ac-
cused of error when he had only marked down the
points and headlands: He would give Mr. Hall
due credit for his discovery, provided he gave them b
the latitude and longitude of:;it, and concluded known
stating that where the coal-was found,
A' vote
to be a great coal region. S ./3. of thanks to the
proceeding closed the proceid was kno

Editor of the
CURIOUSDISCOVERY.-- A 0
h °
Melbourne Argus.—Sir,-1
Chaasvteerowtine, thte. bodies
i lately discovered,of
in a stony creek 15 miles from
three aboriginals, quite whole, and l
no wan ing n the
details, but which are petrified into solid marble,
sWinhael Ines;
last saw them I thought they were actually alive,
until on going closer I noticed the eyes, They are in a sit-
ting posture, and the veins, muscles, &c., can be distinctly
traced through what is now a group of stony blocks; they
are in a splendid state of preservation, even the finger nails,
teeth, cve,, are as perfect as they were 500 years ago. One
of them has a stone axe by his side without any haft. The
group altogether is the strangest concern I ever witnessed.
Now, Sir, I beg to ask you it I have power to take the lot
with
a view to its exhibition ; or will I be liable to lose
them altogether ? Do they belong to the finder, or to Go-
vernment, or to whom ? Respectfully soliciting your
opinion, I am, Sir, yours truly, INVESTIGATOR.—Mia Mia
Creek, Jan, 4.

The correspondents of the New York papers give accounts
of attacks made on Confederate works in the Yazoo. On
the 11th ult. one writes, dating 10 miles above Greenwood :
—" To-day two rec nnaisances were started out. One was
made down the river by the gunboat Chillicothe, Lieute-
nant-Commander Foster commanding. She ran down to
within about a quarter of a mile of the rebel battery, ex•
changing several shots with it. The Chillicothe was
struck four times in this affair, once in her square hull and
twice in her massive turret, in each c Ise the ball making a
deep indentation in her 3i-inch iron, plainly marking the
unmistakeable s-amp of s eel 'pointed 64 pounder shot pr o-
pelled from rifled pieces, 'I he Chillicothe returned from
the reconnaisance without having sustained the slightest
injury. In the afternoon the Chillicothe wal gin
ordered down to engage the rebel battery. She moved
down promptly, and soon her heavy 11-inch guns were
heard, to which the enemy made a brisk response. The
Coillicothe fired but seven rounds, during which she
dropped three shells directly into the enemy's works with
good effect. At this juncture she met with a most unfor-
tunate and disastrous accident. Her men were just loading
her port gun, the charger being engaged at the moment in
cutting the fuse of the shell, which had already been placed
in the muzzle of the gun, when a 64-pound shell from the
rebels struck directly in her half open port, throwing apart
and unshipping the heavy iron port shutters, one of which
was thrown overboard, and, lighting directly upon the
muzzle of the gun, exploded simultaneously with the shell
that was being put in the piece. The casualties by this
double explosion were 14 in all—four killed and 10
wounded ; but the latter will probably survive. The
Chillicothe was brought out of action without further
damage. On the 13th another attack was made on the
fortification. The Chillicothe and De Kalb had both been
covered with cotton bales, to make sure that they should
not be hurt. The Chillicothe was under fire an hour and
a half. She was not withdrawn until long after the
enemy had ceased firing, and then only because her store
of ammunition was about expended, requiring a replenish.
ment of her magazine. The rebels singled her out as their
principal target, and they peppered her well. She was
struck to-day 34 times. Her storm-roof and wheelhouses
were riddled and badly cut up. Her launch was all stove
to pieces. Her engine was four times shot through, and her
pennant was shot away. Her massive iron plating was in-
dented all over her front where balls had struck her. Yet
she withstood the terrible ordeal, and is to-night as good
for a fight as she was this morning. But two men were
injured on her. The De Kalb was the unlucky vessel to-
day, and, considering the length of time she was engaged,
she got off very lightly. After the Chillicothe withdrew the
De Kalb was ordered to remain and continue firing until
dark. She did so, firing once every 20 minutes, but getting
no response after the main engagement closed. She re-
ceived about a dozen shots during the action, at least three
of which were very severe blows. One passed obliquely
through her starboard casement, just forward of the first
porthole, and roked through the maindeck, finally lodging
in the wardroom of the extreme after part of the vessel. The
shot penetrated through a section of her casemates whichwas
not covered with iron. In its course it struck a gun against
which one of the ship's quartermasters was leaning, and,
glancing, mortally wounded him. A shell exploded directly
in her wheelhouse, which damaged one or two buckets and
splintered the bulkhead a little, but did no further mischief.
Still another lodged in the forward casemate, under the
heavy iron plating. Shells striking on the outside of the
vessel frequently set on fire the cotton with which she was
covered, but no danger resulted therefrom. Two men were
killed and four wounded. The Chillicothe is a light-draught
ironclad, having one stationary turret, in which are two
11-inch Dahlgren shellgun.s ; the Baron de Kalb is an iron-
clad casemated steamer, carrying 13 guns of a heavy calibre.
We shall give the rebels another trail to-morrow, when I
hope to be able to report more satisfactory results. I have
already said the position is a formidable one. It is more
than that, it is an unapproachable one. We can't get at
them. If we could we should have been able half-a-dozen
times to-day to drive them out by storm; but infantry can
do nothing in the water, and this fortification is completely
surrounded by water." Another correspondent writes on
the 27th :—" Since my last communication we have made
but a single effort at the enemy, and that, like its predeces-
sors, resulted in nothing. On Monday last, at noon, the
bombardment was resumed. The gunboats Chillicothe and
De Kalb, with one mortar boat, were brought into action,
assisted by Battery Wilson, which at that time had been
enlarged and extended so as to carry three guns—two 301 b.
Parrots and an 8-inch Dahlgren. The Chillicothe. as on
former occasions, was the main target of the enemy. She
took her old position, about 800 yards from the rebel works,
at the point where the fort first comes into view. Her com-
mander begged hard to go down the river, but was refused.
The action lasted but about 20 minutes, dining which time
only H shots were fired at the Chillicothe, eight of whi.h,
however, hit her full in the face. The effect of this severe
pounding was to cause the speedy termination of the engage-
ment. Both her bow portholes were closed up. These port-
holes are covered with ponderous iron shutters, that are
drawn together when the gun is drawn in for loading. The
enemy's heavy missiles, falling upon these when closed,
had so indented and jammed the shutters that they could
not be slid open. The vessel was therefore temporarily
disabled and had to be abandoned. At this stage in the
operations we began to receive tangible evidence that the
enemy could reinforce more rapidly than we. His battery
had been reinforced by the addition of guns of greater
calibre, reaching to 10 inch columbiads. His magazines
had been bountifully replenished, and his garrison was
receiving accessions daily. Immediately preparations for
the withdrawal were set on foot. Battery Wilson was dis-
mantled, and its guns returned to the boats to which they
belonged. Orders were issued for the direction of the
fleet on its return voyage. Everything was in readiness
for the withdrawal, which was to have been consummated
on Thursday morning, when, late on Wednesday night,
the programme was suddenly changed. Why withdraw?
We must take Fort Greenwood sooner or later. The force
is at hand now that is able to take it. The 'only trou-
ble is this land force cannot move, owing to the over-
flow of the land between them and the rebel works.
Now, it is very plain that if we can't get at the enemy,
neither can the enemy get at us. They may make the at-
tempt by boats—the only practical way ; but we have every
advantage of them there; having confidence that our fine
fleet of gunboats is more than a match for any temporary
war vessel they may fit up. We are safe from attack at
Shell Mound-place—the locality of our camp—and it is bet-
ter to remain there." According to a telegram they after-
wards commenced a retreat, but met reinforcements coming
down to them.

THE ALE-KINGS AT WORCESTER, April 11.—
There have been great festivities in this neighbour-
hood during the past few days, consequent on the eldest
son of Mr. Allsopp, of Hindlip-hall, near this city, having
attained his majority on Wednesday last. On the morn-
ing of that day there was a meet of the Worcestershire
foxhounds at Hindlip, where a field of about 300 gentle-
men partook of breakfast at the hall, and after a capital
run killed a fox near Alcester. In the evening a ball
took place, at which a large number of the elite of
the county were present, including Lord Lyttelton (Lord-
Lieutenant of Worcestershire), the Earl of Dudley, Lord
and Lady Raglan, Mr. and Lady Diana Pakington, Mr.
and Lady Georgina Vernon, Mr. and Lady Catherine
Berkeley, Hon. Mrs. Coventry, &c. The ball took place
in a magnificent pavilion erected on the garden front of
this mansion, with which it communicated by a covered
corridor leading from the reception saloon. This pavilion
was two hundred feet long by forty feet w_rid7iffullintry.
throughout with crimson and white drapery, an 3 b I, of
Coote and Tinney's orchestra, Mr. Allsopp, J . tea it and
lighted.
with the Lerd-Lie
eSettebts'Yeplechases at Crowle,
off with Lady Raglan, who, in the house. At
after which the fee-
other distinguished guests,
tivities were renewed and .kt eep
__pany mounter,.. of B er k :coy:.
staying at the hall
msqiudanrieg7hwtaashpanardtaskomene
osufpbpe: rvaihseuetarguvutp
daybreak. On Thursdayre 1;1 cul"
Allsopp having Invited n
holds :all
the principal fete day, Mr.
in which his so commission, to dine at
Trent,
aanwnbedoearnumtt taathromarched
mileht city.h
e ediV fromw°i Yesterdayrt.ch eHindlip,aitA'l
trotthhee
h rifleaa tl
hall.
after a review in the park. A special
Hindlip train con-
veyedthe regiment from Burton, a distance of 50miles,•
in
two hours, and landed them at Fearnhall-heath station,
mustered 300 strong, under the command of Major Bass,
with Captains Packwood, Bass, Ratcliff, Gretton, and
Allsopp, jun., who met his company at the railway station
the Queen's Own Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, under
the command of Capt. Pakington, came out in honour of the
day, and met the rifle volunteers at Hindlip, where they
joined in the evolutions which took place during the after-
noon. At 4 o'clock the whole party, numbering nearly 500,
sat down to a banquet furnished by Gunter in the ball pavi-
lion. Mr. Allsopp presided, and was supported respectively
by Major Bass and Capt. Pakington. The usual loyal toasts
having been proposed, that of the army was acknowledged
by Major Tenn+int, Capt. Pakington responding for the
yeomanry, and Major Bass for the volunteers. The health
of Mr. Allsopp, jun., having been proposed by Mr. Friend,
of Abbey-wood, was enthusiastically received by the com-
pany, and duly acknowledged. The party brake up at 7
o'clock, in order to enable the volunteers to return to Bur •
ton, where they arrived at 10 o'clock. To-day the employes
of Mr. Allsopp's firm, numbering nearly 1,200 men, have
been liberally regaled at Burton. it is understood that Mrs.
Samuel C. Allsopp, in whose honour the above festivi _
took place, will hereafter join the house of business with
which his family name is associated.

A letter from Rome, dated April 7, says :—We
have got through our Easter solemnities with great
eclat. The crowds of spectators at St. Peter's on
Sunday morning were unprecedented; and it will
suffice to give you some idea of the numbers of ap-
plicants for his Holiness's benediction if I state that
some of my friends, who ordered their carriages at
half-past ten a.m., with the idea of getting down to
the Piazza di San Pietro comfortably at least half
an hour before the blessing, never got there at all,
although the blessing took place a quarter after 12
instead of punctuidly at noon. No one would have
imagined that Rome contained so many carriages
and horses as turned out on the occasion: and, as to
foot passengers, those who abandoned the Via dell'
Orso for the Coronari and other Bide streets, in hope
of a quieter progress, found thf m quite as crowded
princes, and foreign ambassadors
as the main thoroughfares. The equipages of the
foremost place was tiEsigned by the Marsh 11 Duke
cwlerrdeirimalso'stßogmorageous, and, amongst the latter the
Roman
of SAldathe, ho had the honour of placing his
carriages at the disposal of her Royal Highness the
nfanta of Portugi 1. The liveries of the Ambassa-
dor, being of the most decided Italian tricolour,
white, red, and green, excited a great deal of atten-
tion on the part of the crowded spectators. As has
become the fashion now on every public appear-
ance of the Supreme Pontiff, a very decided
political demonstration was made so soon as his
Holiness presented himself at the balcony above.
the portico of St. Peter's. Cheers,
waving of white
handkerchiefs, and vivas for the Pope-King obliged
Pio Nono to wait some f le before he imparted his
comprehensive blessing, urbi et orbi, and threw
do wit 14 signed and sealed indulgences to the
scrambling and -struggling crowd below.
Sunday evening being as magnificent weather as
the preceding part of the day, the illumination of
the cupola of St. Peter's attracted many thousands
of spectators. A strong detachment of Anglo-Saxon
sight-seers got into the meadows beyond the Castle
of St. Angelo; passing the Tiber by the ferry-boat
from the port of Ripetta, and had an admirable
view of the illumination and its subsequent change
from white to red lights. But their revocare gra-
duna was disastrous, for when they retraced their
steps to the banks of the Tiber in expectation of
regaining the central part of the city as they had
left it, by the ferry-boat, no boat was to be had,
it being contrary to the police regulations for that
mode of aquatic transit to be continued after dark.
In vain our disconsolate countrymen: shouted "
boat, a boat unto the ferry !" and they were ulti-
mately obliged to trudge round by the Porta An-
gelica, and perform a promenade of three miles
before reaching their hotels or lodgings.
rae eof
King performed
of
Naples,
very successfully
the
Counts
of
the presence
The same splendid weather continuing yesterday
the girandola, or discharge of fireworks from the
Pille
in
nHill,c was
the
Trapani, Caserta, and Girgenti, and Donna Maria
Isabella, Infanta of Portugal, who were received by
the Senator of Rome, Marquis Antici Mattei, in the
royal boxes erected for the purpose. An immense
but perfectly orderly crowd filled the Piazza del
Popolo, and enjoyed the pyrotechnic display, which
was designed by the Government architect, Count
Vespienani, and represented the temples of Peace
and Abundance. _ .

We are now in the hurry-scurry of departures.
Everybody seems seized with a fever of locomotion,
and post-horses, steamers, and diligences are en-
gaged for some time to come. Only those travel-
lers destined for Naples can get off without let or
hindrance, thanks
.to the accommodating capacities
of railway trains. Excursions by day to Frescati
or Tivoli, and moonlight promenades to the Colos-
seum, appease the impatience of such travellers as
are obliged to stay in Rome for a few days longer.
A telegraphic despatch received from Viterbo
this morning announces that yesterday afternoon
three Papal gendarmes, patrolling in the neigh-
bourhood of Mugnano, were attacked by nine indi-
viduals, who had come across from the Italian
frontier. In the combat which ensued one of the
gendarmes was killed, and the other two wounded.
Of the assailants one was left on the ground, whilst
the others recrossed the Tiber, which there divides
the Patrimony of St. Peter from the dominions of
Victor Emmanuel.