The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-13 00:00:00

word? There is one thing which is satisfactory.
President DAVIS is to be tried by the District
Supreme Court, under Judge CARTER, not by a
Military Convention, as was at first proposed.
Whether or DO he may expect or obtain justice
from either, we must leave future events to
determine.

Great Defeat of the Russians in Kho'r an

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
TIFLIS, May 17.

The progress of the Russian arms in Central Asia
has just received a serious check. Hitherto every-
thing had favoured the progress of General Endoki-
moff, whose successes were as much due to the exer-
tions of Prince Gortschakoff as to the military
talents of the generals of the Czar. Having made
friends of the important population belonging to the
Khanat of Khokan, called Kaissaks, General Erfdo-
kimoff carried his army of 40,000 or 50,000 infan-
try, with a proportionate force of cavalry and
artillery, into these districts of Central Asia,
knowing well how far he could count upon this
people. By this means, on the side of the Lake
Aral, the Russians, without striking a blow, ob-
tained possession of the fortress of Akmedjid, a
place of great strategic importance near the mouth
of the Sir-Darid. They claimed the fortress as
having been sold to them by the late Khan of Koa-
daiar Khan. On the side of Turkistan the Rus-
sians, after a 15 days' march, advanced to Kodja-
Ahmed, the I esak of the Russians, and from thence,
after another march of six days, they reached the
fortress of Tchimkett, otherwise known as Toumkat,
a place about four days' march from Tachkend.
This progress of the Russians, made without firing
a shot, was altogether due to the assistance and
countenance of the Kaissaks, who, partly on account
of their Russianised habits, and partly owing to
their wealth in cattle, which causes them to desire
the protection of the Russians, thus lent all the aid
in their power to their projects of domination.
The great object of the late march of the Russians
has been to obtain possession of the town of Tach-
kend, as occupying a point strategically the most
favourable to their views, being on one side the key
to the Khanat of Khokhan, and on the other seri-
ously threatening the Khanat of Bokhara, if the
latter ventured to offer any assistance to the former.
General Endokimoff, after his march of 21
days, was able to arrive almost at the gates
of Tchimkett, and he attempted to obtain possession
of the place, with the future view of the occupation
of Tachkend. He imagined, it would seem, that
the Khokanese commander would at once open the
gates, and little anticipated that in place of an easy
conquest he would find the Regent at Khokan and
the Emir Mera-Ali-Khanli at the head of a nume-
rous force, ready to oppose him.
The Russian general, seeing the state in a perfect
state of defence with a battery of fifty cannon, gave
up all idea of attacking it, and gave battle instead
to the Emir. The conflict was a bloody one, and
ended in the defeat of the Russians, who were com-
pelled to fall back upon Hodja Ahmed with a pre-
cipitancy which amounted to a flight. The Kho-
kanese had about 1,000 killed and wounded, and the
Russians, it is said, about four times that number.
No doubt General Endskimoff will endeavour at the
earliest opportunity to retrieve this disaster, but it
will be difficult for him to take Tchimkett,-not only
on account of the strength of the place, but of the
spirit of the inhabitants, which is no Fr thoroughly
roused. The Regent is thoroughly aware of the
importance of the post, and has mustered an army

of 150,000 highly efficient troops for its defence.
It is now certain that the Khan of Bokhara has not

only sent a sum of money to the assistance of
lihokan, but is at the head of a large army of ob-
servation on the frontiers, in the neighbourhood of

Sarnariand.

Fatal Accident at the Grosvenor Hotel.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—An accident, unfortunately attended with
serious consequences, occurred at the Hotel yester
day evening. The beam which suspended the
machinery of the lift gave way, and the ascending
room with the persons in it was precipitated to the
bottom. One of our porters was killed by the
counterweight falling on him, and a gentleman's
servant had his leg fractured. The other occupants
of the lift escaped with slight injuries.-1 am, Sir,
yours obediently, s GEO. GIBE, Sec.