The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 17, 1865.

" It is truly marvellous."—Times.
I"pIIAROAH'S
SERPENTS."
Post free 13 stamps.
STEREOSCOPIC COMPANY,
54, Cheapside, and 110, Regent-street.

GREAT ST. JAMES'S-HALL.—WORLD of
MAGIC, Second Sight, and " liegone,'Dull Care,"
every evening at 8. A Day Perform'ance, Saturday, at 3.
" The most varied entertainment in the metropolis."—Vide
the Press. Admission, is.

PROFESSOR and the Misses ANDERSON.—
Farewell season. —World of Magic. Second Sight, and
the original Indian Basket Trick, in conjunction with Fre-
deric (the great) Maccabe, the unrivalled ventriloquist, mimic,
and character actor.

FREDERIC MACCABE, Ventriloquist, Mimic,
he., in his original entertainment, " Begone, Dull Care,"
"Miss Mary May," " Early in the Morning." Balcony, 2s ;
reserved seats, 3s. ; stalls, ss. ; at Mr. Austin's office, St.
James's-hall, 25, Piccadilly.
A. NIMMO, Acting Manager.

T 0 D A R E.-
S THEATRE OF MYSTERY.-EGYPTIAN HALL.
THIS NVENING (MONDAYI, October 6th, Colonel
STODARE will, at his 200th Representation, introdu .e, for
the first time, a new and original illusion, entitled THI6
SPHINX, a Mystery: the most marvellous discovery ever
presented in the Magic Art. Also, at each Representation,
Ventriloquism ; the Instantaneous Growth of Flower 'frees,
and the real Indian Basket Feat, as only performed by Col.
STODARE.

Every evening at Eight, Wednesday and Saturday After-
noons at Three. Stalls, at Mitchell's, Old Bond-street, and
Box-office, Egyptian Hall. Admission, Is., 2s. Stalls, 3s.
"Almost miraculous."—Vide Times, April 18,1865.

CHRISTY' MINSTRELS, St. James's Hall,
Piccadilly.—The only original and veritable legitimate
CHRISTY MINSTRELS Every Night at 8, Saturdays at 3
and 8, retaining all the specialties and old favourites who
originally created the reputation of the Company. rant. nits,
Ss.; stalls, 3s ; unreserved seats, 2s. ; gallery. is. Tickets at
Austin's, 28, Piccadilly.—Manager, Mr. Frederick Burgess.

T HE OXFORD
6, OXFORD STREET. W.
The Oxford and Canterbury Hall Company (limited).

SIXTY-SIX, by J. Offenbach, performed by
Misses Russell, Barrie, Waimealey, Tyrell, Ellen Reid, Ma-
dame Maria, and Miss Fitz Henry ; Messrs. A. St. Albyn,
Husk, Evans, W. Williams, and Senors Tivoli and Spagnoli,
with full Band and Chorus.

CANTERBURY HALL.
KO KO RI KO.
This wonderful entertainment, having proved the greatest
hit ever made, will be repeated EVERY EVENING, in ad-
dition to the Operatic Seleations, supported by the whole
talent of the estabashment.

Comedy, Burlesque, and Ballet by Mrs. and Mr. Randall
Messrs. Duriah and Davies, the D'Aubans, Mons. Alex
andre, mimic, and the Sisters Dashwood, their first appear.
awe.

Director, Mr. F. Jongmans.
All visitors to London at this season should see the above
entertainment

MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION.-
Established 30 years, at the Bazaar, Baker-street.

NEW ADDITIONS.—In accordance with the season, the
Exhibition has been entirely re-embellished. The whole of
the ancient Court Dresses of the most costly description,
faithfully copied from the most minute pictures, have been
renewed. Modern Court Dresses of the most splendid de-
scription, selected from the first houses in Paris and London,
and probably never equalled or surpassed, are now on view.
Life-size Models of DOCTOR E. W. PRITCHARD and
CONSTANCE KENT are now added.

Open from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m.
Admittance, One Shilling; Extra Rooms, Sixpence.

ARGYLL ROOMS, Great Windmill-street,
Piccadilly.—GßAND CASINO and MUSICAL PRO.
MENADE is NOW OPEN for the Season.

Musical Director, M. LUIGI CURTL
Manager, MODS. GRENET.

The Band plays nightly Sele3tions from the most eminent
Composers.
Doors open at half-past 8 o'clock; close five minutes to 12
o'clock.

Admission to Promenade, One Shill.ng.

THE WELLINGTON, ST. JAMES'S-STREET.
Set DINNERS served, at five minutes' notice, from Four to
ine p.m., at 2s. 6d., 3s 6d., 4s. 6,1, and 7s. each.

'ELEGANT SALOON DINING ROOMS,
for Lndies and Families.
Prices on the "Carte" moderate.
Private Rooms for Large or Sm4l Partier.
Reading, Smoking, and Billiard Rooms.

BREAKFASTS and LUNC[IEONS.
D. CAMERON.
Entrances-160, Piccadilly, and 49, St. James's-street.

OSBORNE'S

ANALYSED
PROVISIONS.
30, LUDGATE-BILL.

DR. CULVERWELL'S GRAND TURKISH
BATHS,
3, Great Marlborough-street, 3 doors from Poland-street,
Ladies every Monday.
Gentlemen all other days, 2s. each ; 15. One Guinea.
Also opposite the Post-office, 19, St. Martin's-le-Grand

A Visit to Portland.

(From a Correspondent of the Morning Post.)
The island of Portland is, perhaps, one of the most curi-
ous natural formations to be met with around our coasts.
It is about four and a half miles long, two in breadth, and
nine in circumference. Towards the south it slopes grad-
ually towards the sea, where it forms a blunt point, which,
seen more especially from West Bay, assumes tho appear-
ance of the bill of a huge bird—hence its name Portland
Bill, so well known to all sailors who frequent the English
Channel. With the exception of the southern extremity
all the other portions of this remarkable island aro raised a
great height above the level of the sea, the cliffs in many
cases being precipitous, while in others yawning chasms,
huge rocks scattered about in confusion ages ago by some
great convulsion of nature, and the debris of quarries, all
attest the fact that it is for the most part one solid mass of
stone against which the waves have beaten for centuries
without making any serious impression upon it, though in
all probability they scooped out a passage for themselves
between West Bay and Portland Roads, and which is now
blocked up by that marvellous ridge of shingle called Che-
sil Beach, where the fishermen hand in their seines during
the mackerel season, when as many as 50,000 fish aro some-
times captured at a single draught. The Romans, who had
extensive settlements at Dorchester, Ham Hill (Somerset),
Ilchester, and numerous other places in the west, un-
doubtedly occupied Portland. The inhabitants are rather
a peculiar race, retaining many primitive customs, and
some persons even go so far as to say that their forefathers
came from the Basque Provinces. The soil is for the most
part thin, very much subdivided, except in a few in-
stances where property has been consolidated by family
arrangement irnd- threoltivation on the whole is any-
thing but satisfactory. The Portland sheep is a small-
horned animal, with a long tail, such as may be seen
on the Welsh mountains or on the wilds of Donegal,
well known to the epicure; but wo are obliged to dissi-
pate that pleasing myth so generally believed about its
eating the little shell snail which pervades the grass in
millions, and to which is ascribed the delicious flavour of
Portland mutton. Every shepherd whom I questioned told
me that there was no truth whatever in the popular notion
prevalent on this subject. The wheatear, or British orto-
lan, abounds on the island, and builds its nest among the
rocks. It is rather larger than the skylark, and is much
esteemed as an article of food. Lobsters and crabs are very
plentiful all along the rocky shores, greatly to the advan-
tage of the fishermen. Portland Roads form one of the
finest harbours of refuge in the world. Land-locked on all
sides except towards the east, or sea-ward, they only re-
, •
qmred the present breakwater, which as such may now be
said to bo almost completed, in order to render them a place
of safety for war or for merchant ships to enter during
stress of weather when passing up or down Channel ; and
it must be borne in mind that there is no other haven of
the kind all along this rugged coast from Torbay to Ports-
mouth. After the Duke of Wellington called public atten-
tion to the defenceless state of the kingdom, at least so far
as the fortifications of our shores and dockyards were con-
cerned, it seems to have occurred to military men that the
occupation of Portland by an eneniy would, if it over oc-
curred, cause us great trouble and anxiety. If once esta-
blished there, even in comparatively small numbers, fur-
nished with modern artillery and having the command of
the ocean for a short time, he could have been furnished
with ammunition and provisions, and, from the towering
heights which dominate the sea as well as Chesil Beach,
he might have been enabled to resist all attempts to expel
him. Now this stronghold, or at least those portions of it
which command the approaches to the island, have been
bought by the Government, and fortified in every possible
way which military science and engineering skill can
suggest. The Verne forts which aro erected on the highest
point of the island, could, with their guns, maintain a
terrific plunging fire against the vessels of an enemy
entering the " Roads," with a view either to cut out
merchant ships, or to land troops ; while the Nothe fort
(the works on which are being actively prosecuted by the
Royal Engineers) would, from its prominent position close
to Weymouth harbour, be competent not only to protect
the town and the shipping, but also to use its guns in de-
fending the roadstead. At the extremity of the breakwater
there is a circular fort now in course of construction, which
is already several yards above the sea level, and which,
when finished, will bo armed with guns of the heaviest
calibre. The bottom is composed of stiff blue clay ; and
some idea may be formed of the quantity of stone necessary
to lay its foundations when we say that the depth at low
water is 63 feet, while at high tide it is 69 or 70 feet. Last
winter, owing it is supposed to the foundations of this
structure not having been broad enough, and to the tides
having washed away portiOniof the loose stones that had

been thrown in on which to erect the superstructure, a
crack occurred in the work, extending right across it.
Additional materials were added to widen the base—the
fissure was closed up by heavier blocks of stone than those
that had been used before, and the fort is every day pro-
gressing towards completion. The materials for construct-
ing this great artificial ridge (as it may be termed) of rocks,
the result of convict labour on the island, were conveyed
to their destination on trucks drawn by locomotives along
a tramway erected on piles, and afterwards discharged by
the withdrawal of a spring, which caused the bottom of
the carriage to give way, when the contents, consisting of
irregularly shaped pieces of rock of various size; the re-
fuse of the quarries, dropped into their places, causing a
noise and splash which were a never failing source of in-
terest to the numerous visitors who came to inspect this
great national undertaking. There is an opening in the
breakwater sufficient to admit of two large vessels passing
ono another, which is likewise commanded by two forts,
one of which is completed. The tido rushes through it
with considerable velocity, scours the bottom of the road-
stead, and will enable vessels to proceed to sea without
going round the breakwater. The staging and rails are
still standing, as they aro necessary to the completion of
the fort to which wo have already alluded, and doubts
have been expressed as to the propriety of removing them.
Storms, it is asserted, may be expected to wash away
or to displace certain portions of the outer foundations
of the structure, which must be replaced. Were the
staging and rails taken away, some people fear that there
would be no means of conveying materials to the spots
whore damage might be done, except by lighters, which
would prove a very tedious and expensive process as com-
pared with the present plan of locomotives and trucks. It
has been proposed to close the opening in this great work;
but what effect such a step would have on the depth of
water in the roadstead is a problem which actual trial alone
could determine. The tides here aro peculiar. There are
four hours of flood, four of ebb tide, and four of low water.
During the continuance of the latter the " guldur,'' or
half-tide, sets in for about an hour; and after it has re-
tired, the regular flow commences at the usual time. The
cause of the " guldur" is, we believe, involved in consider-
able obscurity, though by some it is supposed to originate
in the influence exercised in some way or other on the
currents of the English Channel by the peculiar form and
position of Portland. Under any circumstances, it is to be
hoped that Government will complete the outer break-
water by erecting a see-wall similar to that already built
on the inner. Were the rails and scaffolding removed, a
drawbridge might be constructed of sufficient strength
to span the opening, and a tramway extending from one
end to the other of the entire structure would enable the
authorities to convey ammunition and provisions to the
troops stationed in the forts, and in other respects tend to
render this scheme of national defences, noted for utility
and strength, and of which the breakwater forms a very
material element, one of the most efficient in the United
Kingdom. The distance from the Verne to the fort now
being built at the extremity of the breakwater is, speak-
ing roughly, about one mile and a half ; that from the latter
to the Nothe two miles and a half ; and from the Nothe to the
Verne about throe and a half or four miles, as the crow flies.
These forts, forming a sort of triangle, command the
roadstead, which has a depth of water, even at low tide, to
float the largest vessel that has ever yet been built, as the
Great. Eastern remained at anchor here for several days
during her unfortunate trial trip down the Channel, after
she was launched, and when an explosion took place which
killed several persons, wounding others, and might have
blown up the big ship. The bed of the bay and roads is
a stiff blue clay, forming excellent holding ground ; but it
is said that if a vessel once begins to drift, the fluke of the
anchor becomes so clogged with this stiff adhesive sub-
stance that unless it cants or turns over there is little

chance of her being brought up again. However, casual-
ties of this kind must always bo extremely rare, as the
roadstead is both safe and capacious. The approaches to

the Verne from the shore are all scarped, while a deep and

wido ditch, cut out of the solid rock by convict labour,
isolates the fort on the land side, and an overwhelming

fire could be poured across the island in tho direction of
the Bill, on which, if an enemy had the temerity to land
and afterwards attempted to advance northwards, he would

speedily be annihilated, as all rocks and other obstacles
capable of giving shelter to invaders have been removed,
and the space south of the fortifications rendered com-
paratively level. Chesil Beach is commanded by guns
placed at a great elevation above the village of Fortune's
Well, and it is believed that in the event of a hostile force
attempting a landing from West Bay on this mountain of
pebbles, the shot and shell from Verne, in addition to the
havoc which they would commit among a body of men
more or less confused by the very act of landing, would
also be greatly aided by tho showers of stones which on
striking them would be raised ; and every one of them, at
short range, would be almost as destructive as a bullet.
Tho lower portions of the island intervening between
the Verne fort and the shore have been made available for
the erection of batteries. Earthworks have been con-

strutted on the most commanding positions, and nature and
art have here combined their resources with a view to

make this one of the strongest places in England. It has
been suggested that, in order to render this system of
fortifications complete, forts should be constructed on the
opposite side of Weymouth Bay, as the distance across
either from the Nothe or from the breakwater fort is, it is
feared, too great for even the heaviest guns to keep up an
accurate fire on an enemy attempting to land at or about
the Preventive Station. Guns placed on the heights either
of Osmington or White Nose, or on both, would, it is sup-
posed, acid greatly to the completeness of the great scheme
of these defences, of which Portland may be considered
the key. The public, we believe, are convinced of the im-
mense utility and prodigious strength of these works. The
harbour of refuge will be useful not only for our war ships,
but also to our merchant vessels under various circum-
stances, and of late years it has been much resorted to by
the latter.

The Eviction of Colliers at Cramlington.
—4.

Some further disturbances occurred at Cramlington, near
Newcastle-on-Tyne, on Friday, in connection with the
eviction of the colliers who are on strike from their cot-
tages. The Newcastle Chronicle says :—" About half-past
nine o'clock a special train was seen approaching with the
candy mon, or bailiffs, and a protecting body of police.
Behind and within a very short distance of this train was
an engine and van, conveying another lot of constables.
Upon the arrival of theso trains opposite to the landing
place, the mob, which consisted of about ono thousand
men, crowded round to see the parties alight, and
showed their disapproval of their coming by reviling,
hissing, and hooting. The candy men walked in single
file between two rows of police officers, and were pre-
ceded and followed by stronger bodies. As they were
passing in at the gateway leading to the farmstead, the
rush was so groat that the order of procession grow irre-
gular and was well-nigh broken, so that the objects of
attack—the bailiffs—were likely to receive merciless treat-
ment. The police, who were pushed to and fro, at last
forced back the colliers. Stones were thrown at the bailiffs
and constables on the turnpike by men in ambuscade, and
the colliers who were on the same track got into the carts,
determined not to be left behind. The drivers good-
naturedly bore with the intrusion, and the long and thick
black line so formed moved sluggishly to the row of about
fifty dwellings which was to furnish them with work.
The inhabitants were on the look-out. Some might
be seen peering out of a small attic window, and
others, more courageous, were ready upon an approach
to turn in and shore up the door. This precaution had
been taken in many instances, so that entrance was any-
thing but easy of accomplishment. First one door and
then another was tried without avail, and upon each suc-
ceeding disappointment there was an outburst of cheering,
of laughter, and derision. Mr. Potter and Mr. Telford
came up, and orders were given to batter the doors down.
About 14 of the candy men were in this respect assisted by
some of the officials of the colliery, amongst whom was the
blacksmith. The dwelling of Mark Robinson was the first
house assailed. Tho free application of the heavy ham-
mer of the blacksmith made the place resound. Its re-
peated blows were followed by the groans, deeper and
deeper still, of the irate men. The wife and three children
came out, and the place was left to be dealt with by the
bailiffs, who proceeded to bring out the effects. The
horsemen formed a semicircle in front of these premises
to keep a clear space for the carrying on of the business.
The pit men pressed forward, and as they did so the horses
wore backed by their riders, and many men and boys were
jammed against the walls or received other slight injuries
from being thrown down in efforts made to escape. Spades
and pick axes were to be seen here and there, and the pos-
sessors of those implements of industry converted them
into weapons of warfare, with the former striking the horses
on their flanks, and with the latter threatening their riders.
The windows of nearly every house were broken, the spout-
ing was pulled down, and the doors and other woodwork
smashed to pieces. A large butt, which owing to the late
rain, was full of water, was overturned, and wet slush
was thrown in the faces of some who bore a badge of
distinction such as rubbish of that sort striking a man
on the face might be supposed to confer. A few women
also endeavoured to frighten the steeds by rattling upon
blazers, and making other discordant and alarming sounds.
One man was badly squeezed against a wall, and an older
one had his hat knocked off, and was toppled to one side.
A third, who was backed upon by a constable in the same
way, uplifted a pick axe and with angry expressions
avowed that he would deal a blow at the neck of the horse
if not at the rider. The house inhabited by John Richard-
son, a widower, and his daughter, which adjoined, was de-
serted, the removal having been to the Fox and Hounds, in
Cramlington village, not far from the Traveller's Rest, to
which Robinson had gone. The task which ilm-oandy men
had before them in breaking open the house of William
Mycroft was a hard one. Strong props had been placed
behind the door, so that it had to be battered for some
minutes before it showed any sign of giving way. The
iron catch bent but would not break, and the panels had to
be knocked into pieces before an opening could be made
and admission gained. Mycroft, his wife, and three chil-
dren, and their furniture, were taken out. Attention was
next directed to the house of James Lee, who had a wife
and two daughters, as well as three daughters of a relative
who had gone to Australia. The furniture hero was re-
moved in the midst of a row similar to that which wo have
narrated in conjunction with a preceding case. James Simp-
son was then dealt with, and after him George Armstrong,
who had an elderly and motherly woman living with him
and one child as well as three workers. The greatest batthi
of the day, however, was fought in front of the house of
John Carr, who had a wife and four children. The door
was well shored up inside, and seemed to defy the blows
of the blacksmith. The people, too, became infuriated
by the pushing about which they were subjected to by
the police, and stones, earth, brickbats, and pieces of
wooden railing were showered upon those who guarded the
candy men and the housebreakers. This cottage was full of
men—it literally swarmed with men. Three or four faces
could be seen close together, watching anxiously the ope-
rations of those below, and at length tho window was
opened, and some broken ware and small articles were
thrown out. The constables outside had great difficulty in
keeping their ground, their horses being either pricked or
punched. Meanwhile lots of men got over the rails into
some gardens in the front, and commenced pelting
stones. They wore helped by the great throng of pit-
men on the main road, and the order was given to
charge. The constables drew their staves, and a gene-
ral nzelde followed. Tho men, however, found some
stones, and used them as fast as they did so from
their hands, or little stones which they had in their
pockets. Had the police charged further on the road in
the direction which the men were tempting them, a huge
heap of paving stones was to have boon the place of for-
midable resistance, and the consequences would have been
fearful. Several persons were injured. One was struck
on the left temple and the other on the crown of the head
by the policemen with their staves, and Dr. Davidson had
to be sent for. Their wounds bled profusely, and caused
faintness and illness. When the police entered the house
about a dozen men jumped rapidly in succession from the
window, others escaped through the roof of the pantry into
the field adjoining, and many got out at the top of the house
where the tiles had been swept off for the purpose in case
of emergency. Only one small shattered piece of hanging
wood remained of the door; the window frame was broken to
shivers, the walls damaged, and the building given up as
a total wreck, as an enemy would leave a fortress useless
for the conquerors. A table had been broken up, and the
legs of it were in the hand of the invaded party for protac-
lion. The police captured a few mon, but in several in-
stances they broke away, or it was not thought advisable
to retain them. In addition to this exploit, there were
other circumstances as untoward. Five or six of the loads
of furniture had been stopped, and a score of men untied
and put into the same or other houses the goods only a
short time before taken out with so much trouble. It was
decided to give up for the day, and the candy men were
conducted by a posse of police to the train which was wait-
ing to carry them to Newcastle. They left, as they arrived,
amid derision and danger, after about three hours' work,
which had only ended in one real removal from the place.
The Terrace Row is a wreck, and bears testimony to the
destruction is this the third act of a painful drama."

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton.. Oct. 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 12.
Brazil and Cape Verde. by British pauet ...... Nov. 5.
Ditto, by French packet
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St Helena Oct. 21
China. Penang, and Sint:l4l)ore, via Sow hampton Oct. 19
Ditto, via Marseilles Oct. 27.
Falkland Islands

Gibraltar, via Southampton
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Oct. 19
Ditto, via Marseilles
India (Bombay), via Southampton. Oct. 27.
Ditto, via Marseilles .. Oct.:2l
Mauritius, via Southampton Nov 11
Ditto, via Marseil e s Nov. 5.
Newfoundland _ „ , Oct. 21
Portugal Nov 5.
Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon..
United States and British Nortil America, by Bri-
tish packet Nov. 2.
Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp-
ton

Ditto, via Cork _ _ _

Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry—Oct. 20.
West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Teneriffe ..Nov. 10.
West Indies and Pacific (exceptßahaneas, Cuba,

and Mexico

Oct. 30

Bahamas, via New York. Oct. 19

Bermuda, ditto Oct. 25

Cuba and Mexico Oct. 30.