The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-29 00:00:00

The Attack on Mobile.

We take the following account of the Federal
attack upon Mobile from the New York papers :
New Orleans papers of the 6th inst. have been received.
at New York. The New Orleans Times contains corres-
pondence from the Federal forces in front of Spanish Fort,
Alabama, to the 30th ult., and from Lakeport to the 4th
inst. Siege guns and mortars are mounted near Spanish
Fort, so as to almost, if not quite, cut off all rebel commu-
nication by land or water. A rebel transport and hospital
beat have been destroyed. The Union tin-clad No. 48
was sunk by a torpedo and one man killed.
The True Delta has a report of the loss of the United
States tin-Clad Rodolph, by the explosion of atorpedo, while
participating in the attack upon Spanish Fort. The corre-
spondent states that two others (names not given) were
blown up in a similar manner. Four persons were killed
upon the Rodolph and 15 wounded. The grand attack on
the rebel works was to have commenced on the 3d inst.
Another correspondent, from the same lOcality, under
date of the first inst., writes :

" The military situation is very encouraging, although it
has assumed the proportions of a regular siege. By private
advices, not yet confirmed, the rebel loes inside Spanish Fort
is 550 killed and wounded out of 4,000. Our total loss (an
estimate of two corps) is probably the same. Proportion of
killed small. Brigadier-General Mythe (a new man) is in
commandat the fort.. Therebel communication with Mobile
is entirely suspended. Steele (7th corps) is investing Fort
Blakeley, six miles above Spanish Fort. Thomas, with the
4th corps and 35,000 cavalry, is expected in the rear of
Mobile. Nothing definite has been received from him for
several days."

New Orleans, April 8, via Cairo, April 13.
A despatch to the New Orleans Times from Spanish Fort,
dated April 5, says :
" A furious fire was opened on the rebel forts last night
from our entire line. During the bombardment a small ma-
gazine in Spanish Fortexploded. The damage is unknown.
Quiet prevailed on the sth. Deserters report from 18,000 to
20,000 troops in and about Mobile, including all the State
reserves, and about 2000 in Spanish Fort. The loss outside
Spanish Fort up to the 4th inst. amounted to about 500
killed and wounded. Adjutant-General Thomas arrived at
New Orleans on the morning of the 7th. Mobile papers of
the 4th inst. announce the capture of Selma, Alabama, with
23 pieces of artillery and a large amount of Government
property."

MUSIC AT ASTLEY'S.—We understand that the
prospective engagements made by Mr. E. T. Smith include
Mr. W. Harrison, who will appear at Astley's in the drama
of " Rob Roy."—The Orchestra.

MR. JOHN CAULFIELD died on Monday last,
aged 56. He was for some years ago well known at the
Theatre Royal, Haymarket, and was afterwards Chairman
at Weston's Music Hall. For some time he fulfilled the
same duties at the Oxford. He was buried on Thursday
at Brompton Cemetery, when many professionals, espe-
cially from the Oxford, were present, and his father, now
aged 93, was one of the mourners,—Era.

HER MAJESTY.

,00'"
The Duke of Devonshire and Lady -T1
Cavendish have arrived at Devonshire House for the D,,s°
from Lismore Castle, Ireland.
dyed
Duke and Duchess of Grafton have
in Paris from Nice on their way
ione home.
.1.,v
The Marchioness of Norman'i hag
arrived at Paris from Florence.
The Earl and Countess Delawarr come t° town
the week after next from Buckhurst Park, Sussex. .ed
The Earl and Countess of Durham have 001
at Paris from Nice, on their way home to England 001-
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left v
11
bridge House on Thursday afternoon for Brockett i,`"
Herts.
The marriage of Viscount Chelsea and Lid
Beatrice Craven, deferred on account of the death of Lur(
Uffington, will take place privately at Coombe Abbey ea
the 16th of May.
Viscount Canterbury has arrived in town fr°lll
Paris.

Civil Service Athletic Sports,

bers
Yesterday the second annual meeting of mein tbe
of her Majesty's civil service who incif ijld
at
practice of athletic sports and pastimes asathteeqedg
Beaufort House, Walham-green, and was
by a great number of ladies and gentlemen h°1(1111h,
high positions in the various departments of
civil service, and by others who were attracted by
the reputation gained for themselves last year by
competitors in the various contests. The stews'''.
were Mr. E. L. Bateman, of the Ecclesiastical Go'll-.
mission ; Mr. R. E. Lambert, of the Post-office:
Mr. C. Cuy Pym, Mr. W. G. Herbert, of the 13r
office ; and Mr. F. Gossett. The prizes--a cOV tll
assemblage of silver and silver-plated cups 30,
goblets and other articles—were exhibited in
orderly-room of the South Middlesex Rifle Ir°l3a,
teers, on whose ground the contests took Plao,
Eight events, conprising flat races, high juraPs7 pu
t,
ting the shot, throwing the hammer, and a wal'
t'",s
match, were decided ; and the competitors, 01'313 be
by the cheers of their male friends, and it may
ere
by the presence of many ladies to whom they Is'.
not unknown, struggled manfully to gain the priztte
for which they contended. The events and
winners were as follow :-
100 Yards Flat Race, in Heats (39 CoraPetitor.a-t
Brewtey, Master of the Horse's Department, ;D.
War-office, 2; W. Hignett, Court of Probate, Liverpool,
Time, 10 seconds.
High Jump, Running—First prize, a silver cuP ; s-ccrer
a pewter pot—H. Murray, Treasury (sft. Bin.), 1;
well, Post-office (sft.), 2. If.
High Jump, Standing—Prize, a silver-plated Or
Creswell, Post-office (4ft. Bin.), 1; R. Norton, 2. jiver
Quarter Mile Race, Trial Heats—First prize, 11' 6 vet
goblet ; second, a silver-plated salver ; third, a pewteriro-
-C. G. Pym, War-office, 1; W. Hignett, Court of
bate, Liverpool, 2.
eniito,
Putting the Shot (211b.)—Prize, a silver-plated
Macnamara, Inland Revenue (29ft. lliin.). Mr. 13• but
ran, of the Custom-house, tied with Mr. Mao:111010A'
in throwing off lost.
istea
Throwing the Hammer (211b.)—Prize, a silver
j.
goblet—Mr. R. Norton, War-office (Gift. 2in.), 1; `s-r.
Macnamara (55ft.), 2.
to pot
A 250 Yards' Race (Trial Heats)—First prize, pot
goblet ; second, a silver-plated salver ; third, a Bin
—Five heats were run, the following gentlemen conTottp
first in the final trial :—Mr. C. G. Pym, 1; Mr. 14. F.°
2 ; Mr. J. Brewtey, 3. Time, 29 seconds. r
Three Miles' Walking Race—First prize, a save' cup
second, a silver-plated tankard ; third, a pewter P°t'o bf
n
This was a very exciting contest, and it was %I all
Mr. A. Neighbour, of the Customs, who kept the 'eo-f tbe
through, and beat his only opponent, Mr. Chapman' Cur
War-office, by five yards. Mr. W. Bruton, of t'''3,l
toms, was third, and Mr. J. Weddell, of the Inland
venue, fourth. Time, 28 minutes 40 seconds. post'
The starter for all sports was Mr. E. Page, of the f ale
office. Mr. C. Westlake was umpire. The band 0;001
South Middlesex Volunteers played during the aftert-
in the centre of the ground. A second series of °lke
will be decided to-day.

FOR
jv
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS r
ENSUING WEEK. Monday. Royal Institution
meeting), at 2 ; Entomological, at 7 ; Architects (
tiw;e,
general meeting), at 8 ; Asiatic, at 8, Malagasy La" ot ;
by Dr. Van der Tunk. Tuesday.—Royal Institution! oerst
'Organic Chemistry,' by Professor Frankland ; Engl°ooli;
at 8, Uniform Stress in Girder-work,' by Mr. C. -'
Anthropological, at 8, MissionaryMissionarySuccesses, (sL°.7' /1
si
0)11.
Owen, and The Gallinas, a Tribe of Sierra Leon°,' by
51
Harris ; Photographic, at 8. Wednesckty.—SocietY °1 04,
at 8 ; Literature, at Bi. Thursday.—Royal Institution' J, at
t $s t
Organic Chemistry,' by Professor Frankland ; 13°Ys3
81; Artists and Amateurs (conversazione) ;
at 8-; Chemical, at 8 ; 'Phosphide of Magnesium, blst 4;
Blunt ; Antiquaries, at Bi. Friday.—Archa3ologic.7o.
ri
ti.A.
;
Philological, at 8, Portuguese Language,' by h
J. D'Orsay ; Royal Institution, at 8, ' Wealth attod
ducers,' by Professor Fawcett. Saturday.---13°Yalvirol' fess°t
tion, at 4, Physical Accompaniments of Mind,' by
Bain.—Athenteuna. . it
THE FRENCH NAVY.—From recent r--111.LIS
0,,
appears that France possesses at the present Ill°
~sea
491 ships afloat and 18 in course of construction, 01'3's 2
as follows :—lroncased steamers—Ships of the
frigates, 11, and 3 building ; corvettes, 1, building
c,, a ; be
ing batteries, 13, and 5 building ; batteries 10101 of ill°
taken to pieces, 11. Screw vessels, not plated : shiPs sod 3
line, 36; frigates, 23, and 1 building ; corvettes, 11,,
' Bov--
building ; despatch-boats, 43; smaller vessels, ;
boats, 58, and 1 building; transports, 46, and 3 hula,„ fti-
special constructions, 4; paddle-steamers, not P18;!°. jl-•
gates, 26, despatch boats, 34, gun despatch boats, z'ettso 9,
ing vessels; ships of the line 1, frigates 19, °°rvijaiog'
brigs 12, smaller ships 65, transports 29, and 1 8g f'
general total, 509, of which 39 are ships of the 14°°.:.‘ bootSt
gates, 24 corvettes, 28 floating batteries, 77 desP:;portOr
104 smaller vessels, 12 brigs, 59 gunboats, 79 t guool
or
and 4 special constructions. They carry in all tie'
and the united force of their engines is 103,292 Polo-
power. Independently of the ships of war abov° e
of 00
rated, the French navy also possesses 245 old sbLPsosportS'
line, frigates, corvettes, brigs, bomb vessels,
schooners, &c., converted into barracks, guard shlPf_rity (4_
store ships, towing vessels, and others. Tho tur,;oo
them, which have been set aside since the const_ra cciPtioser,
the new fleet, might, however, in a moment 01
render useful service.

OSBORNE, April 28.
The Queen walked and drove in the morning
with Princess Louise, and drove out in the afternoon,
attended by Lady Caroline Barrington.
Princess Helena and Princess Louise rode on
horseback.

The Prince and Princess of
Wales.
SANDRINGHAM, April 28.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales will terminate their visit to their Norfolk
seat on Monday next, when they will return to tool
by special train.

The present visit to Norfolk appears to have been
undertaken almost entirely for the quiet and seclu-
sion which Sandringham affords, and the evil-MI/5
of their royal highnesses to the surrounding neig
bourhood have been but few. wales
On Wednesday the Prince and Princess of
and Prince Alfred, with the gentlemen of their smite'
e
paid a visit to the celebrated ruins of the Castlr
and Priory at Castleacre, a distance of some 12 or
15 miles from the royal residence—the Earl °f
Leicester, who was on a visit to Sandringham',
acting as guide. This was one of the earliest
British stations, and was afterwards incorperat
by the Romans with their own entrenchments. 3
the time of the Norman Conquest it belonged t 0
wealthy Saxon thane. The Conqueror granted it
to William Earl of Warrene, who founded here an
immense castle and a beautiful priory, the ruins °f
which have great archaeological interest. It is nova
the property of the Earl of Leicester, whose Pr'•
decessor, it is said, entertained the idea of huildil:g
here the mansion which was afterwards built
0
Holkham. Their royal highnesses inspected 7A- it
30
various ruins with great interest. There being sr°lo
capital trout in the Priory river, the Prince of 3
al
engaged in fishing for an hour or two. Their rf,Y
highnesses returned to Sandringham in the 31`er..
noon.
The principal diversion which their royal the
nesses have met with has been hawking With to
Duke of St. Albans' hawks, which are still
Sandringham.
the
Several distiriguished visitors are staying at
hall.
The Hon. Mrs. Edward Coke has succeeded the
Countess de Grey in attendance upon the Princ-
of Wales.