The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-23 00:00:00

TUE SUN, LONDON, WEVNTSTIA.Y •ETTINIIN'fI; Arl'ar'ST (21, 1f454;

as -it liarrxidt; 'l3:asap-Oat"- --Now the pecuniary
assistance we are at 'present affording to our ally
will be almost, if not fully, as useful as if we had
applied an equal sum in his support. There will,
however, be this material difference : for the money
advanced by way of loan we shall receive very re-
munerative returns abundantly guaranteed. It
will, in fact, prove a very profitable transaction
to those concerned, while, on the other hand, the
swat raised by way of taxes will be irretrievably
-lost to the payers. It is- true that, ,the nation
may obtain an indemnity,' but the "thirsty soul"
.will_not get back thq extra -halfpenny paid for
each.pint of beer, or-the -Tiard-worked clerk the
10d. or 14d. in the pound on the amount of his
scanty salary. The four millions now about to be
advanced to the ST/LtArt will save more than an
equal amount levied by the hands of the tax-
gatherer, for which there will be no possibility of
return.

Little more than a week has elapsed since a
circular was issued from the Railway Department
of the Board of Trade, calling the attention of the
directors of the different companies to a system
adopted on the South-Pastern line, which " ex-
perience seemed to have proved to be so well cal-
culated to diminish the risk of danger." The
South-Eastern Board thus received the approba-
tion to which it appeared to be justly entitled, and
was held up as a model for imitation to other
managing 'bodies. Regardless of expense, they
.had adopted a judicious precaution against the
risk of collision, " a class of accidents hitherto
very numerous as compared with others." A
" leading journal," not usually very favourable to
railway bodies, spoke in high terms of the im-
provement, and hoped " soon to see the general
adoption of a scheme promising such material ad-
vantages to companies and. travellers together I"
But a few days elapsed" before ft became our
painful duty to record a .fea-xful accident on this
model railway, of the very class which it was
hoped had been effectually prevented. An acci-
dent by which three persons received fatal inju-
ries, and many more were seriously hurt. The
calamitous event occurred on Monday to an ex-
cursion train, the first for the season which had
left Dover for the metropolis. Twenty-four car-
riages were attached, and passengers were taken
up at various stations along the line, so that an
unusually numerous body of persons were involved
in the melancholy transaction, and it was ex-,
traordinary that even greater damage was not
inflicted. The approach of this train was
duly telegraphed, and the distance signal
which, according to the rules of the Company,
should have indicated any obstruction en the line,
marked all clear—a matter, however, in which
the "-station signal" differed, for it gave warning
of danger. The signal-man also held up both his
hands as a further caution. The steam was ilia-
mediately shut off, and the break put on. But
every precaution was vain. A ballast engine
had, it appears, been driven from a siding where
the trucks were placed, for the purpose of taking
in water. The driver, on hearing the whistle of
the approaching train, set his engine in motion,
but it was speedily overtaken, and a fearful
concussion took place ; the luggage en-
gine was of course greatly injured, but it
fortunately kept the line of rails, notwithstand-
ing its crippled condition. The excursion train
did not, however, fare so well. The engine was
flung against a ballast train standing on the down
line of rails, and one first class and four second
class carriages were literally smashed to pieces, so
that the only miracle was that one of the passen-
gers escaped with life. As it was, three
persons, the Rev. Mr. WILLES, a clergyman
of the Established Church, Jonas- CARMAN, a gar-
dener to a gentleman living at East Peckham,
and a woman, named CAROLINE HARRIS, met
their deaths, while many others were, as we have
stated, very seriously injured.
Now the great question to be decided is, on
whom does the responsibility of this dreadful catas-
trophe rest ? Through whoeenegligence has it occur-
red, or was it one 'of those events which no reason-
able degree of care and foresight could have pre-
vented Y ,D These are points which must be elosiely
investigated, so that every possible information
may be obtained in order to prevent the repeti-
tion of similar events. We shall not venture to
anticipate the result of this inquiry. It certainly
seems that but little, if any, blame can attach
itself to the Directors ; they had previously done
everything which human ingenuity could devise
to
,prevent the possibility of such occurrences.
They did not trust to a sufficient time having
elapsed since the passage of a preceding train.
Notice was required to be given of its having.
actually passed another point on the line before the
succeeding one was allowed to proceed, and the
railway department of the Board of Trade, and
even the Times itself, bore witness to the efficacy
of the arrangement. What more could be expected
at their hands? They adopted every precaution
which experience suggested, obtained the services
of men of excellent character and well-tried effi-
ciency ; and if it was impossible to procure men
exempted from the ordinary failings of humanity,
the Directors could not fairly be censured for the
failure.

The men engaged on both trains have been
taken into custody. We confess that as at present
advised, we cannot see how the driver or stoker
of the excursion train can be blamed. The
distance signal showed that "all was right," and
the moment the " station signal" indicated danger
the steam was shut off and the breaks applied.
What more could these men have done ? We do
not at present understand on what grounds they
have been taken into custody, or why they should
be further imprisoned until Friday next.
There are more plausible grounds for requiring
explanations from those who brought the luggage-
engine on the line and placed it directly in the way
of the approaching train. It must be ascertained
what inquiries they made or authority they received
for so doing. It must also be seen how it was
that the distance signal gave no warning of the
obstruction, and why there was no notice thereof
at the preceding station ? These are matters to
be ascertained, so that the responsibility, if any
there be, may be placed on the right parties, and
that the managing body may not undeservedly be
exposed to the censures which ignorant persons
are so ready to pronounce in the event of any un-
foreseen casualty.

POOR-LAW RELlEF.—According to a return issued on
Saturday, there were, on the Ist July last, in England
and Wales, 789,021 paupers in the receipt of relief,
whilst in the same period last year the number was
749,370 ; increase was 39,651.
DEFALCATION OF PUBLIC NIoNEV.—On Saturday a
return was issued, from which it appears that Mr. Swa-
bey's defalcations, as late Registrar of the Admiralty,
in Exchequer bills in the Crown funds, with respect to
slave vessels captured, was 26,700/.
THE WILL OF THE DUCHESs OF MANCHESTER. —The
case of the Duchess of Manchester v. 13-milett, which
excited so much interest, and in which the validity of
the will of the Duchess of Manchester was questioned,
was to have been tried a second time at the late Guild-
ford Assizes, in pursuance of an order to that effect,
made by the Vice-Chancellor ; an arrangement, however,
has been come to between the parties, by which all fur-
ther discussion will be avoided. It is reported that the
arrangement is to this effect : That the validity of the
will is to be admitted, but that the Duke is to execute
certain deeds, with the view to carrying out the original
intentions of the Duchess to secure the future interest
of her sons and her daughter.
CHARGE OF INTIMIDATION AGAINST AN ENGINE-DRIVER.
—On Saturday before the Rugby magistrates, J. Webb,
one of the engine-drivers on strike against the London
drivernreamdnien
galltaon
and North-Western
thatee North-Western Railway Company, was charged
blowana
callingou
tthheimbraain,s,
knobstick,"
basnit
kh
er
&c. The complainant deposed that he went to a public-
house where the prisoner and other turn-outs were,and
as soon as Webb saw him, he sworeand called
him a knobstick, and threatened ' at him,
to blow his brains out,
either then, or at some
nied the eh' other time. Prisoner, who de-
arge, wished to call
od'
witnesses, but was told
the law did not admit
that
witnesses being called,
when one person swore
it at he considered his life in
danger from another.
e was accordingly held to bail
to answer the charge at W
himself in 401., and
Warwick Quarter Sessions,
two sureties each
amount. in a similar

IGIVING HIM HIS DESERT.-Mr. Bonder, the author of
several popular pieces, gave Drury-lane Theatre the title
lof a Wilderness. This reached the ears of Sheridan, and
he did not forget it, for, when a short time afterwards
he was requested to accept a tragedy by Mr. Boader—
" No, no," said he, " the wise and discreet author calls
our house a Wildernesm ; now I don't mind allowing the
oracle to have his opinion, but it is ready too much for
him to expect that I will starer him to prove his word."
—4lfttuical Tronicript.

BBOINT COURT-MARTIAL AT WINDSOR.

TO TEE EDITOR OF THE sr-s.

"You might as well go back to the battle of Waterloo."
If Major-General Wetherell meant by this re-
mark to convey to the Court that ungentleman-
like conduct was not common at the present day
amongst the officers of the 46th Infantry he is
very slow indeed of comprehension ; for I can
answer for it`, that amongst the officers of the army
in general ti'iere is scarcely one who has had an
opportunity of reading the proceedings of the three
courts-martial, who does not blush for very shame
at the exposures on such incontestible proof -of the
low-lifed habits of those-Who belong to the same
profession as themselves. Not only do the officers
of the army believe every word of Lieutenant
Perry's statements, on his own word of honour,
but they are convinced of the truth of them, by
the barefaced hard swearing, to say the least of
it, and the low, and mean, and slanderous attacks
made by the officers of the 46th against their bro-
ther officer, then a prisoner. One naturally asks,
Where were these men educated ? Where bred ?
Does not one of them belong to any family of spirit ?
A great deal has been said against Colonel Garrett,
but the general opinion is led away by his being
the prosecutor, in the first instance, when public
indignation was naturally aroused at Lieutenant
Perry being brought to trial for acting with the
spirit which became a British officer, by felling to
the ground one of those low-lifed associates amongst
whom he was thrown, and who, at the time, was
attacking him with foul language, and by a per-
sonal assault upon him in iris own room. Colo-
nel Garrett may be an indolent commanding
officer, but it must be borne in mind
that he was, as it were, on his trial during the last
court-martial, and his evidence was what might be
expected from one in such an anomalous position.
He has, however, much to answer for. But what
can one think of the other witnesses for the prose-
tion—of the majors, the captains, the lieutenants,
the ensigns? What, I ask, do the soldiers of the
regiment think of their commanders?
We are at war, and it is nota time to trifle with
the morale of the officers. of The army. Enough
has come to light ,respecting the 46th Regiment ;
and there cannot be a doubt-but that the General
Commanding-in-Chief will advise her Majesty to
exercise her prerogative, and do what is right, by
clearing that regiment of those officers whose cha-
racters as such are rendered worthless before the
army. Out of their own mouths do the witnesses
for the prosecution stand condemned.
Lieut. Perry little thought when, from an over-
anxiety that the whole truth should come out, he
signed the letter drawn by his legal friends, and
those friends when they advised him to do so could
have little thought that such a concoction of itort
mi ricordo evidence could be sworn to by British
-officers. Men who can give such evidence are not
-men of spirit—are not men of courage ; they are
not men fit to lead our brave soldiers to battle.
But one officer comes out of this last court-martial
without a stain on his honour, and that one is the
prisoner ; and I giie this as the almost unanimous
feeling of the officers of the army. Is there
a man of honour, is there a man of common
sense, who does not believe the statements of
Lieutenant Perry, which have been corroborated.
by the facts given in the evidence of Mr. Corcoran
and Captain Chambers, together with the letter of
Lieutenant Waldey—is there, I ask, throughout the
land one unbiassed Englishman who, notwithstand-
ing the partial and specious address of General
Wetherell in reply, does not give credit to Lieu-
tenant's Perry's statements, instead of to the mass
of witnesses, whose evidence it was proved was con-
cocted for the occasion in the mess-room. I say
again there is no need for further inquiry. Let
Lord Hardinge act as becomes his high position,
without partiality, favour, or affection. Let there
be no sereehing. The 46th- Regiment must be
cleansed, fur the honour of the British army, whose
well-wisher I am. Let the injured not suffer; let
the guilty not escape ; let the Horse Guards be re-
spected by the army and the country.
AN OLD OFFICER.

LATEST NEWS."

THE WAR.

AUSTRIAN OCCUPATION OF WALLACHIA.

The hfcrniteur of this (Wednesday) morning
contains a-despatch from Vienna, announcing the
entry of the Austrians into Wallachil on the 20th
inst. (Sunday). The'whole of the corps of obser-
vation will have passed the frontier by the 23d
(this day), and the advanced guard is expected to
reach Bucharest by the sth September. Three
brigades were preparing to move into Moldavia.

allegations, concerning a pretended refusal on the
part of the Ottoman Government to accept the in-
tervention of France and England in the guarantee
and surveillance of the loan ;" and also " because
the article contains attacks against the Turkish ad-
ministration, which the French Government can-
not tolerate." It is said that the Turkish ambas-
sador complained bitterly of the article in question,
and that he did not hesitate to affirm that the
motive which had induced the Pays, or Le Jour-
nal de l'Empire, as it is more magniloquently
called, to write down the new loan, was the disap-
pointment of M. Mires, the proprietor of that
print, at finding his offer to undertake the loan in
Paris peremptorily refused. What seems to give
some colour to this allegation is, that in the Jour-
nal des Chemins de Fer, of Saturday last, of which
M. Mires is also the proprietor, there appeared a
very unjust and one-sided article on the same sub-
ject.
Garibaldi has issued a declaration from the baths
of Acqui, declaring that, being tired of hearing his
name constantly coupled with wild attempts at re-
volt, he frees himself from all personal responsibi-
lity respecting them.
Prince Albert of Prussia and his family have
arrived at the Hotel de Rivoli, with the intention
of passing a few days in Paris.
The Three per Cents. closed yesterday at 73f.
26c. for the end of the month ' • the Four-and-a-Half
per Cents. at 99f. 90c. ; and the New Loan, at
73f. Orleans Railway Shares, 1,220 f.; Rouen,
972 f. 50c. ; Havre, 567 f. 50c. ; Great Northern,
846 f. 25c. ; Strasburg, 793 - 75c. ; New Shares,
628 f.. 75c. ; Paris and Lyons, 963 f. ; Lyons and
the Mediterranean, 867'. 50c.; Western of France,
647 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 627 f. 50c. •, Great
Central of France, 517 f. 50c. ; Lyons and Geneva,
515 f. 25c.; Bank of Credit M 720 f.

THE HARVEST PROSPECTS.

The public will be happy to learn that the prospects
of the harvest returns are most promising. Though we
are immersed in war and Plaque, with all their coneo-
initant attendants of evil, still we ought to be th inkful
that a merciful Providence has vouchsafed to mitigate
our calamities by the over-abundance of a most bounti-
ful harvest. The accounts from all parts of the c nintry
are cheerful in the extreme, and we have good reason
to know that in the county of Kent the produce has
realised as much as seven and_eight quarters an acre of
wheat ; and, still better, the quantity sown has been
double that of last year.
Essex.— The operations of the harvest proceeded ac-
tively in this district throughout the past week, and a
considerable ports. n of wheat and barley has been car-
ried and secured in good order, though the carting wa•
oec,tsionally interrupted by flying storms. Should the
present week continue fine, the principal part of the
crop will be placed beyond danger from the weather
In some districts beans have been cut, but the crop is
very scanty.—Essex Herald.
___ _

THE WHEAT HARVEST IN WILTSHIRE.—II2 several
parts of the county the wheat harvest bas commenced,
and in the neighbourhood of Warminster considerable
quantities of corn have been cut, and some harvested in
good condition. Though laid in opine parts, and thin
in others, the crop will, on the whole, it is expected,
should anything like favourable weather continue, turn
out a fell average The potato crop has during the pa.:l
week in some localities proved to be muoh more dis-
eased than was hoped would have been the easel and
the onions, for which the district round Warniinster
especially is famous, , have suffered to a great extent,
fro-n the ravages of maggots, which destroy the bulbs.
HAMPSHIRE.—Wheat cutting has become pretty ge-
neral this week ; still there are many fields which are
yet far from ripe, and unless very fine warm weather
sets in at once, it will be late bef ire all the wheat cal.
be secured. The quality is very good, and saving a
little blight here and there the ear is fine and full, though
perhaps the crop on the ground is not so thick as in
some years. Both barley and oats are comparatively
more forward than wheat ; many fields are ready for
the scythe, and promise a most abundant crop; both
in grain and straw, the latter no unwelcome addition to
the farmer's stock now bay is eo scarce. The potato
blight has shown itself again in all directions, and we
fear many will be lost.
EDINBURGH —The weather continues favourable for
the fast approaching harvest, although the temperature
is by no means so great as it usually is in the doff-days,
seldom ranging higher in the shade than 66 degrees.
Bands of shearers are making their appearance, but no!
in such droves as was wont to come upon us at this,
season. They mostly proceed to Dalkeith, where it is
expectel that reaping will begin next week.—North
British Mail.