The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-07 00:00:00

ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

tion what ought next to be done with a view to
the capture or destruction of Sebastopol.

There is one grand advantage the allies have in
attacking Sebastopol, over what they could possibly
possess in attacking Cronstadt, the terrible out-
post:of the Russian capital, the stronghold barring
any near approach to St. Petersburg. Cronstadt
consists of merely insular fortifications. Sebas-
topol is an accumulation of batteries upon one
point in a very considerable Peninsula. Cron-
stadt, therefore) can only be attacked by sea—
certainly, of course, with the aid of gun-boats,
and with the remote assistance of troops landed
on the adjacent shores of the Gulf of Finland ;
but, strictly speaking, it is in itself solely open to
/ a maritime attack, an attack by gun-boats and
vessels of war, by bombs, and rockets, and broad-
sides. Whereas Sebastopol can be assailed not
only by sea but by land ; and terribly, too, by
land, if only a due force be directed against it at
the right points, at the points where it would
be most vulnerable, at the heights from
which the town with its harbours, its arsenal,
its docks, and its batteries would be en-
tirely commanded. Wherefore, of course,
there is somewhat more of a temptation
for a first attack being made upon Sebasto-
pol, instead of upon Cronstadt. Especially, seeing
that the Baltic fleets are not yet supplied with
the necessary gun-boats, and, what is more, that
they have not even the prospect .of being so
supplied. While, in lieu of there being auy
obstacle in any way equivalent to this in refer-
ence to a descent upon the Crimea, and a conse-
quent attack upon Sebastopol, there is actually
every reasonable facility towards it at this
moment at the disposal of the allied Commanders-
in-Chief, both military and maritime. Enormous
bodies of troops, well appointed, and in splendid
condition, and wonderfully well disciplined—
where ? Disposed between Schumla and Varna—
ready at any time for immediate concentration—
and capable of_ being conveyed across the Black
Sea in a few hours by means of steam transports, at
any timethatmay be deemed advisable, to any point
(on, or in the vicinity of, the Crimea) that might be
judiciously preconcerted. Together with which, we
all know what fleets there are in the Euxine ready
at the period fixed upon to co-operate with the
60,000, or 80,000, or 100,000 troops, French
and English, Turks and Egyptians, under the
command of the Marshal-Generalissimo.

As preliminary steps towards which general
attack upon the Crimea, there are two measures
already specified as advisable, if not absolutely
essential (mark ! as preliminaries)--the landing of
troops at Anapa and at Perecop. Well—Amapa
would seem to have been looked to alrei.dy, if we
may judge from the expedition recently intrusted
to Generals BROWN and CANROBERT. But there
remains then—the Isthmus of Perecop. Let that
now be looked to also betimes ! Aral then ha ring
effectually closed the portal of the Crimea, and com-
pletely circumvented its Russian defenders—then
with a battle cry of " GOD defend the Right"—
then, at last Onward ! with the union-jack, and
the tri-colour, and the banner of the Moslem,
Onward ! with the Turkish crescent, and the Eng-
lish spear-head, and the French Eagles, for the
one grand and crowning attack upon Sebastopol.

"This place fills up an hiatus which the Crystal Palace leaves
wanting. Vocal and instrimental music of the first order, and
display of fireworks which exceeds all imagination, are a fitting
close to a day at the Crystal Palace."

DANSOYS COLOSSAL PANORAMA of CHUSAN.
Splendid and Extensive Menagerie and Marine Aguarium—Unr:-
"called Military Band.

VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT,
in which Miss Poole. Miss Ransford, and Mr. Manvers sink
several National and Patriotic Songs—Ml the Amusing Noveltie,
of the Gardens in succession, concluding with the " Feast of Lau-
terms," and a mast mignificent display of Fireworks by Southb..
Admission Ooe Shilling. A splendid Pavilion for Dancing has teen
erected. Full Quadrille Rand, ice.

sTLErs ROYAL AMPRITHEA,
Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke.

The popular piece., the Cossacks, whose career has been most &tie -
cessful, will shortly be withdrawn, to admit the production of a
Grand Military Spectacle, embracing many of the principal event.
of the present War between Russia and Turkey !
Enthusiastic reception of the new Equestrian Ballet d'Action, the
poetry ofmotion
MONDAY. August 7th, and all the week,
THE COSSACKS; or, Yive la France.

After which, LES PREUVES DU GENIE, or S -.!E nes In the Circle,
invented and arranged by Mr. William Cooke, who, in the course of
the evening, will exhibit (upon his hand) a horse whose height is
only 15 inches.
HERR CHRISTOFF, the first Rope Dancer in the universe.

To conclude with the new Equestrian Ballet d'Action, by Mrs S.
G. Healey, called THE KNIGH r AND THE WATER LILY.; or,
Love among the Mermaids.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
T 914 DAN —Morning 1.3 min.after 12 Evening 43 min.s.n. 12
ToAtonnow—Morning 14 rain.after 1 Evening 41 znin.aft. 1

THE WEATHER.—Sum 07710 N, Ace. 6.
THERMOMETBB, IN TUB SHADB.
60 highest since noon on Saturday.
55—lowest this morning and during the night.
66 —this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 30'15.
WIND. N. by W. to N.N.E.—Fresh, with partial sun-
shine and cloudy weather. It rained for an hour in the
afternoon some miles to east of London.
AUGUST 7.
67 —highest since noon yesterday.
57—lowest this morning and during the night.
66—this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30'17.
WIND, very variable—morning N., forenoon, S. E.,
noon, S.W., now N.W.. Doubtful weather, but dry.

11114fri
AV81.1.31.

What shall we do with our convicts ? This
interrogatory has been frequently repeated in our
columns, but on each occasion the solution
of the important problem appears more diffi-
cult, if not altogether impossible. We are assured
that very great exertions have been used to
render the great experiment, now in progress,
successful, and we have no reason to doubt the
zeal and ability of Colonel Jim; under whose
control and management the operations have
been conducted. We fear, however, that the
entire system of "penal servitude" in the United
Kingdom, coupled with occasional relaxation, in
the shape of tickets of leave, is totally and radi-
cally defective, and that no exertions, however
energetic or efficient, can materially improve that •
which is altogether opposed to the fundamental
conditions of English society. We do not blame
Government for falling into an error on the sub-
ject. It was one that justified any attempt that
might probably, or even possibly, lead to an auspi-
cious result. But now that the total and un-
qualified failure of the experiment has been esta-
blished beyond the possibility of doubt, Ministers
would be exceedingly culpable if they recklessly
and obstinately pursued a course which has been.
so clearly proved to be in the wrong direction.
We do not of course suppose that any legislation

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 7, 1854,

LATEST NEWS.

THE WAR.

RETREAT OF THE RUSSIANS BEYOND
THE PRUTH.

VIENNA, Sunday Aug. 6.—Advices from Jassy,
of the 2d, state that several Russian regiments
are retiring behind the Pruth. Philo-Russia
journals at Jassy confirm this fact.

DEPARTURE OF THE RUSSIANS FROM
BUCHAREST.

The following has been received from Vienna :
" On the Ist of August the Russians retreated
from Bucharest, after having broken up the road
between that city and Kalugereny.
" Omer Pasha has sent a message to Bucharest,
requiring lodging and provisions for 12,000 men
inside the city, and rations for 20,000 outside the
walls.

" Before leaving Bucharest Prince Gortschakoff
assembled the Boyards and thanked them for the
manner in which they had treated the Russian
troops during their stay in Bucharest. The
General added, that strategic reasons induced him
to quit the city, but that it was not improbable
he might return at an earl d " palm .

ATTACK UPON ALAND.-OCCUPATION OF

THE ISLAND BY THE FRENCH.

COPENHAGEN, Saturday.—The Berling Gazette
contains a telegraphic despatch from Swenska,
announcing that on the 2d of August twelve
vessels of war proceeded to the Isles of Aland, and
that on the 3d, after a cannonade of seven hours,
the French occupied Aland.

A telegraphic despatch from Stockholm of the
3d says that on the previous day twelve war ships
were seen off the lighthouse, steering towards
Degerby.

A six hours' cannonade, commencing in the
morning, was heard on the 2d, in the direction of
Aland.

EXPEDITION TO THE CRIMEA.

CON STANTINOPLE, JULY 26.—A division of the
combined fleets has left Baltshik, directing its
course to the Crimea.

Seven French line-of-battle ships and four Eng-
lish remain at Varna.
It is reported that the divisions of Generals
Brown and Canrobert have embarked for the
Crimea.

Thirty gun-boats ars to join the fleet from Con.
stantinople.

The blockade of Sebastopol is to be closely kept
up, and further operations are expected.
Greek pirates have committed acts of pillage in
Cos and Calymvos. They have stripped several
warehouses. The inhabitants call for martial law-

The Correspondence Autrichienne of the 6th pub-
lishes a telegraphic despatch, dated Odessa, July
31. It says that on the 30th the allied fleets were
in sight of Sebastopol, accompanied by many
transports.

The Russian retreat was announced officially.
The bead-quarters of Prince Gortschakoff were
on the Ist at Doumunska, and on the 3d at
Arsitseheny.