The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-29 00:00:00

gant barbarians who shiver in their palaCes on the
Neva, under the cold and cloudy skies of the north,
may well kindle, when they hear or read of the
sunny slopes, the pleasant glades, the balmy
breezes, the calm eternal blue of. the waters,
which make the sail from the Sea of Marmon. to
Therapia a succession of delights. But let us hope
that no plots against human liberty and peace will
ever again be hatched ,in scenes so blessed by na-
ture, and that the fleets and armies of tyrants will
never again issue from the Hellespont on a crusade
against the dearest interests of mankind.
We found the fleets moored in Beikos Bay, the
English squadron close to the southern shore and
the French farther out. The Turkish ships lay on
the other side. of the strait. The coup-d'ceil was
magnificent ; but the sight of such tremendous
might slumbering there, when so much wrong and
mischief was being enacted a few miles away,
was to me anything but a pleasing one. The Rus-
sians are carrying their ravages to the very mouth
of the Bosphorus, when two English first-rates
would make their flag invisible for long enough to
come, at least in those waters.
Our anticipations regarding the Black Sea proved
only too well founded. After getting out a few miles
we found the sea running very high, the sky black
enough in all conscience to keep the sea in countenance,
and our -captain's face very long indeed. So, as we
expected, we put about, and, running back into the
Strait, came to anchor under one of the forts. We
had no sooner done, so than the Fury steamer passed
us at full speed, followed by a French one, bound, as
wo have since learned, for Varna. We did not pro-
ceed on our wayjiutil. noon on the following day,
and on Monday about noon, after a deal to do,
reached Burgas, a small village, possessing a very
good harbour, and a small trade with Con-
stantinople. At the entrance to the port on
a narrow rock, some distance from the 'shore,
stands a Greek convent; A more lonely. and detiolate
abode can hardly be imagined—lonely and desolate
enough, one would imagine, to satisfy the most thorough-
going anchorite.- I have been struck by the total want
amongst the Greek monks of that eye for the picturesque,
that love for pleasant, shady, or romantic abodes, for
which the holy men. of western Europe were in old times
so remarkable. • Barren rocks, difficult of access, track-
less wastes, or lonely dens of various kinds, in which no
delights for the senses were to be found, are the places
in which the Greek recluses mostly sought to expiate
their offences. There are no Melroses or Mucrosses
amongst the abbeys . and convents .of the east. Even
Mount Athos has little to recommend it in the way of
scenery.
ehreh.TuheG reek love of nature did not follow them
into
the

Somewhere near Varna, in some bay or creek, whose
name I neither know or care to know, our valorous
captain anchored in the night after leaving Burgas, so
as not to arrive at Varna before daylight, all entrance
to the port in the dark being prohibited since the
commencement of the war. I was inclined to (=ink*
his caution 'after I had seen his engine. walked
forward one day, and in sheer listlessness occu-
pied myself for a few minutes in looking down into
the engine-room. I was amused to find that this speci-
men of the great "power" of modern times was mended
in two places with cord. lam not enough of a mecha-
nician to designate properly the parts which were thus
fortified ; but in one case the shaft appeared strongly
lashed, as if it had been spliced : whatever may have
been the nature of the repair I can vouch for the fact
itself. This discovery was, of course, not calculated to
increase our comfort ; and when to all this you add
general want of accommodation of every sort, exorbi-
tant charges, and a rate of exchange lower by 20 piastres
in the Turkish Medja than at Constantinople, you will
have a tolerably accurate notion of voyaging in the
Black Sea at present by the Austrian Lloyds steamer—
always remembering that the cold was intense, with
high northerly winds.
We have met with a most hospitable reception here,
under the roof of Col, Neple, the British Consul, whose
house happens to be the only one in the town open to
strangers, excepting the khan, a bare room, to which the
outer air has always easy access through innumerable
crannies—the domestic manners of the Turks not per-
mitting the admission of men of any nation into their
households. His kindness has, during the past autumn,
been put to a very severe test, jn consequence of the
great number of English travellers who have passed
and repassed on their way to and from Shumla, and
all of whom owed more or less of the comforts of
their journey to his assistance. His spirit of practical
benevolence was displayed in a still more remarkable,
and even more praiseworthy, manner towards the Polish
and Hungarian exiles, who sought refuge on the right
bank of the Danube in 1849. Many of them have
spokenito me of his conduct towards them in terms ex-
pressive of the warmest gratitude—deeply felt, I have
no doubt, not only towards him, but through him to-
wards the nation he represents. These little acts of
charity performed by British agents in far-off corners of
the world towards men who, God help them, have no
country and no home, will I am sure prove rich in bles-
sing to England one day when the rotten despotisms of
the world are scattered to the wind, and the outcasts of
to-day become the statesmen of a new and better era.
In connexion with the affair at Sinpe described in
my last, I may mention that the French admiral some
days ago, on learning from the Capitan Paella that a
detachment of his fleet was lying at Sinop% expressed
his surprise that it should be allowed to remain in so
exposed a situation. Two days afterwards, when the
above news arrived, the Capitan Pacha sent to Admiral
Hamelin to know whether he had had any previous
knowledge of what had occurred, thus unconsciously
paying a very high tribute to the foresight of the latter.

A Russian war-steamer came in her on the 6th ult.
with topgallant sails set, and showing no colours. As
she kept her bows towards the batteries, it was sup-
posed she was a sailing vessel, till, on arriving right
opposite the town, she wheeled completely round, and
thus showed her funnels. The British consul, who was
standing in front of his house, at once perceived her real
character, and informed the authorities, who were quite
taken by surprise. She got off, under full steam, before
there was time to give her a suitable reception, for which,
it appears, she was fully prepared, as she had her guns
loaded and matches lighted, The object of her visit
seems to have been to ascertain whether any vessels of
war, foreign or otherwise, were lying in the harbour.
Ever since this, great vigilance, has been shown by the
military Pacha of Varna, lest any similar event should
take place. Everything is in constant readiness at the
various batteries to bring the whole available force on
the seaside into instant action. Varna has often played
a prominent part in the military history of the Turks,
particularly in the war of 1828, when it was taken by
the Russians, owing to the treachery of the Pacha,
after a siege of font- months, and the fortifications
totally destroyed. They were restored completely
three years after by European officers, and are at pre-
sent four times stronger, both in extent and in the
number of guns in position. The defences are much
larger, and the guns number two hundred, nearly all of
English make, and mostly sixty-eight pounders, none
being of less calibre than forty-eight pounds. These are
distributed over eleven batteries, and do not include
those mounted on the outworks along the harbour. The
latter are four in number, besides two batteries at Cape
Galata, at the entrance of the bay, which command the
whole anchorage, and could, in conjunction with some
of the town batteries, sweep it with a tremendous cross
fire, besides which, one of them is so elevated as to be
out of the reach of ship's guns. The total number of
guns in the outworks is twenty-five. In the hands of
Turkish soldiers I need hardly say that these masses of
artillery would render a repetition of the event of 1828,
by the Russians at least, all but impossible. A distin-
guished English officer of engineers, who passed through
here a short time ago, expressed great admiration of the
whole of the defences. The town is also surrounded by
a wall and ditch, the former pierced with loopholes for
musketry. It would of course be of little use against
artillery, and perhaps not of much use anywhere except
next the sea. The beach is too small for the landing of
a large body of troops, as they would not have room to
form, and a small one would of course be destroyed by
musketry alone, as soon as they left the boats.
General Prim and his staff have left Schumia for the
winter, and many of the troops are going into winter
quarters in the large towns. Omer Pacha does not in-
tend, I believe, to attempt any fresh operations before
spring ; but it is thought by no means improbable that
the Russians may attack his position at Kalafat as soon
as the frost sets in hard. They are greatly chagrined by
their defeat, and it is even rumoured that General Dan.
nenberg, who commanded the force at Oltenitza, has
been sent into exile. But when we remember that he is
one of the best generals in the service, it is hard to attach
much credenceuunderrated.
affair
o ld
mention to the report.
that
their numbers in thedrr
Ishof the 4th at Oltenitza have been greatly un
It must have reached at least 15,000. Every
his infancy is familiar with the use of firearms,
nearly all, except where some physical deinfecTihtuarkel naro.sat
rsme,
good marksmen. This was the first time that their 10-
I fantry have been seen under fire since the European
system of training came fully into operation, and the
result has excited the admiration of all the foreign offi-
cers present. Perfect steadiness, perfect silence, and
(thorough devotion to the terrible work before them,
prevailed throughout. Of the artillery it is needless to
speak. The only arm in which they are deficient is the
cavalry ; and I have no doubt that Omer Paella's exer-
tions will at last bring this up to as high a standard as
any of the others.

BINERUPTCY.—A. petition in bankruptcy against
Win. Bernard Anderson, of Billiter-street, Leadenhall-
street, general merchant, has been opened before Mr.
Commissioner Fane. The bankrupt is the person of
that name whose case has been recently before the
Mansion-house Police-court, and his debts are said to be
about 120,0001. It is further stated that the assets are
large, notwithstanding some reports to the contrary..
ROBBERY OF BIRDS FROM ST. JAMES'S PARK.--
Three white birds and one black one have been stolen
from the ornamental water in St. James's Park, the
property of the Ornithohigical Society. The society
have issued a notice offering a reward of 51. for the cap-
ture and conviction of the party guilty of this impudent
robbery of fowl from the park waters.

COPY OF A DESPATCH FROM THE EARL OF ELGIN AND
KINCARDINE TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.
Government House, Quebec, Aug. 16, 1853.
(No. 58.) (Received Sept. 5, 1853.)
My LORD DuKE,—I have the honour to transmit
herewith the Blue Book for 1852, together with two
printed volumes, containing respectively the public ac-
counts of the province, and tables of its trade and navi-
gation for the same year.
2. In my despatchto Sir John Pakington, No. 116,
of the 22d December, 1852, which accompanied the Blue
Book for 1851, I endeavoured to submit as detailed and
accurate a representation of the then state and prospects
of the colony, and the bearing of recent legislation, both
imperial and provincial, on its material and moral in-
terests, as in a document of that character it was pos-
sible to furnish ; it is not necessary, therefore, that I
should on the present occasion go over the same ground
again. I have only to inquire how far the experience
of another year may have modified conclusions previously
arrived at.

3. The value of imports into Canada for the year end-
ing the sth January, 1863, is stated at 4,168,4571.85. sd.
against 4,404,409 Os. 3d. for the year immediately pre-
ceding. Here then is a falling off, 'though to no great
amount, into the causes of which it -may be proper to
inquire.

i. It will appear, on a close examination of the returns
which accompany this despatch, that a considerable por-
tion of the falling off in question has taken place in
goods which are classed as free goods,' the total value
of goods imported under this head in 18$1 having
been 372,058/. lis. 10d., and in 1852 256,4071.165. Bd.
Among the goods comprised in this category, of
which there has been in 1852 a diminished Im-
portation, are military stores, wheat, to the large
importation of which from the -United Statei in
11851, I called special attention, in the second
paragraph of my dispatch to Sir John Pakington, No.
116, ofthe 22nd December last, and coin and bullion,
which represent in the imports of 1851 the sum of
90,3971..25. Bd., but are altogether omitted from the re-
turns of 1852. This circumstance may in some mea-
sure account for the fact, that the diminished importa-
tion for the year has not been accompanied by a corres-
ponding diminution in the revenue for customs, the said
revenue having been—

£. s. d.
Gross 606,114 5 2
Net 577,158 15 8
Gross 607,613 18 11
Net 579,964 1 10
5. As respects dutiable articles, there appears to have
been a falling off in cotton goods, which were imported
in 1851 to the Value of 802,492/. 15s. Ild., and in 1852
to the value of 636,3211. 17s. Bd. Of woollens, linens,
and many other manufactures, there was, on the other
hand, an increase in the latter year over the former ;
but on the whole I am inclined to believe that importing
merchants looking to the great and rapid increase that
had recently taken place in the aggregate amount of the
annual imports which had risen from the value of
2,468,1301. 6s. 9d., in 1849, to the value of 4,404,409/.
Os. 2d., into 1851, conducted their operations with espe-
cial caution during 1852.

PST 1851..

For 1852:..

6. With the view, however, of ascertaining whether
or not the check which had been given in 1852 to the
rapidly progressive increase of Canadian imports was
due to causes which were likely to be permanent, I have
caused returns to be prepared, showing the comparative
amount and value of the importations during the first
six months of 1852 and 1853 respectively. It appears
from these returns that the imports into the province
during the six months enclitic: the sth of July, 1852,
amounted in value to 1,782,4641. 13s. lid., and during
the six months ending the sth of July, 1853, to
2,811,9701. 10s. id., showing an increase of about 50
per cent. in the latter period over the former. I may
observe further, that the importation of articles paying
an ad valorem-duty of twelve and a half per cent., which
includes cotton and other manufactures, has increased
from 1,199,0961. 19s. 2d. in the first six months of 1852,
to 1,910,0551. 17s. 3d. during the same period of 1853.
7. The exports for the year 1852 exceeded those of
the year preceding.
Total value of exports during 1852 :--
From sea ports
From inland ports 1,285,923 15 4

2,888,214 0 0
Against 2,663,083 14 4
or 1851. Or, with the addition in either case of 20 per
cent, to the valuation of exports from the inland ports,
in order to approximate to the actual values.
Grand total of exports in
1852 £3,145,09814 3
1851
8. In this statement of exports the value of the ships
built at Quebec in each of the years in question is in-
cluded.
It is estimated for
1851 at
1852 at
The estimate for the formeryear being thus considerably,
in excess of that for the latter. It may be proper, how-
ever, to mention that from information I have received
I have reason to know that the returns for the current
year, when completed will show a great increase in ship-
buildiner at the port of Quebec for 1853 over 1852.
9. The returns herewith transmitted give the follow-
ing statement of the commerce of Canada, with the un-
dermentioned countries for the year 1852 :
Exports. Imports.
Great Britain... £1,388,495 5 8 £2,192,698 6 7
N. A. Colonies 166,877 18 4 93,826 3 9
B. W. Indies... 2,867 15 8 1,050 19 8
United States... 1,201,340 1 8 1,743,991 15 4
Other Countries 38,731 18 2 133,890 0 9
As regards the commerce with the United States, how-
ever, it is to be remarked that it consists both ways, to
a great extent, of goods which pass through the country
in transit. The imports of the States comprising large
amounts of tea, West India sugar, and other articles not
indigenous and the exports thereto including, among
other items, vegetable food to the value of 654,711/. 9s. 6d.
10. The revenue on the provincial canals, which was—
Gross £62,640 3 8
Net 52,545 5 6
Gross 69,536 3 7
Net 57,031 17 4
and the total movement of property in tons on the
canals—

in 1851

in 1852

Welland. St. Lawrence. Chambly.
ISSI 691,6271 450,400/ 110,726:1
1852 743,060 492,575 87,514
The decrease of traffic on the Chambly Canal is pro-
bably due to the competition of railways which have
come recently into operation, and afford a direct com-
munication from Montreal to the States.
11. The per centage of increase in the total move-
ment of property on these canals in 1841, as compared
with 1848, appears to have been as follows :
Welland 141.5
St. Lawrence
Chambly 364.6
Although the traffic on the Chambly Canal, therefore,
fell off in 1852, its ratio of increase on the longer term
was larger than that of the other canals. Its rapid growth
is attributable to the great demand for Canadian sawed
lumber which has sprung up of late years in the United
States.
12. The number and tonnage of the vessels from sea
which entered inwards at the ports of Quebec and Mon-
treal were :

In 1851 1,469 ships ......... 673,397 tons.
In 1852 1,332 „ ......... 528,738
Of which totals the following were foreign vessels belong-
ing to the under-mentioned countries :—.

1851. 1852.
Countries.
~.--,-----------, -------
---- ~ tons.
.0+ um. 1 tons. '
Breßremen---------- -----•
-----
1 134
Mecklenburg. ***************** ... ~, 478 2 469
/ 640 58 21,541
Norway ... ........ .. ............
47 1,, g 7 32 10 314
Pru55ia,............. . 2- 7,Gu. 1 '599
Hamburg ......................... 6 1,019
................
Portugal ..................... . ..... 3 —989 3 979
Sweden
35 20,062 73 36,354
United
anover States• . ................. 1 212 H
...... . iii 3,068
ni,..5..., ....
Russia ......................... .............
--- ------- 117 50,716 176 71,409

Total

13. The net revenue of the province of Canada for the
year 1852 Was 623,7241. 7s. sd, ; expenditure including
interest on public debt and sinking fund, 535,1711. 6s.
7d.
14. Before concluding this report I will, with your
Grace's permission, offer a few remarks on two districts
of the province which I have visited since the close of
the parliamentary session, and which, though they are
out of the track of ordinary travel, possess features of
considerable interest.
15. Of these districts, the one which I first visited lies
to the south of the St. Lawrence, at a distance of about
GO miles from Quebec. The discovery of gold at various
points within it, and more particularly in the beds and
banks of some of the smaller streams which fall into the
River Chaudiere, has attracted attention to it of late
years. The geological formation in which these disc>
veries hale been made is held to be a prolongation of the
Green Mountains of Vermont and its strata bears a
pretty close analogy to those that run through Virginia,
the Carolinas, and other southern states in which gold
has been found at intervals in veins and alluvial deposits.
The guldworking in this district have been hitherto
conducted on a very small scale, by companies
employing is hired labour, and for obvious rea-
sons it difficult under such circumstances to
ascertain what may have been the amount of the
actual yield. The encouragement which the com-
panies have met with is at any rate such as to
induce them, altar the experience of two or three years,
to continue their operations. I was unable to visit the
most productive working, but a considerable quantity
of gold was extracted in my presence from the gravel on
the banks of a maaal.l stream called Des Plantes, which
runs into the Chaudiere. Whether the gold workings
in Lower Canada are likely to prove in any high degree
productive, and whether, if they were to become so, it
would be an advantage to the province, are questions on
which I do not ventnre to hazard an opinion, but of the
existence of that metal in very appreciablelquaTatitieg in