The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-27 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Slit,—The attention of every Englishman being at this
moment peculiarly called to the claims made on behalf
of the widows and orphans of the united services by the
executive committee of the Royal Commission fur the
collection of funds for the Patriotic Fund, I beg to call
your attention to the magnificent objects contemplated
and carried out by the► Patriotic Fund of 1803, 1809, and
1812, which were—

" For the encouragement and relief of those engaged
in defence of this country, during the war which com-
menced in 1803, and terminated in 1815 "

This fund, which is not yet exhausted, is at present
limited to affording relief to such soldiers, sailors, and
marines, in her Majesty's service, who may be disabled
from wounds received in action, and to the widows and
children and dependent relatives of those killed whose
circumstances require assistance.
Its benefits were at first extended to the officers of the
army, as wed as the soldiers—from the general officer to
the private soldier.
In 1815 another effort was made in the same direction,
but confined to the sufferers at the battle of Waterloo ;
it was called the "Waterloo Subscription." The scale
of its donations was magnificent—
To the widow of a general officer
To the widow of a private soldier
To a general officer wounded, equal to the lose of
eye or limb 250
To a private soldier, ditto
This fund assisted, in addition to the widows and
orphans, the dependent relatives of the killed—a very
numerous class indeed.

_ .
The present Patriotic Fund only contemplates the
relief of th• widows and orphans of soldiers, sailors, and
marines, and the assistance of any of the Royal or other
charitable institutions already founded for similar pur-
poses within the United Kingdom.
I have the honour to be, Sir, yours, &c.,
IL L. POWYS, Major 60th itifiet.
9, Wateiloo•plaCe, Pall-mall, Oct, 20, 1854,

LATEST NEWS.

BOMBARDMENT
OF SEBA.STOPOL.

PARIS, FRIDAY MORNING.

A telegraph from Prince Menschikoff has been
received at St. Petersburg, and transmitted thence

through Vienna.

It is dated from Sebastopol the 21st of October.
He says the Russian fire has successfully
answered the fire of the Allies.

The damage done to the fortifications was but

trifling.
The fire from the fleets had not ccntinued.

A part of the reserve had arrived.
The rest was expected immediately.

Wo have received the following, via Vienna,
from our correspondent at Constantinople :
CONSTANTINOPLE, OCT. 19.

"No news has as yet been received that the
bombardment began on the 17th, as was proposed.
" Lord Raglan was requested to spare one part
of the town where the women and children would
be sent. He replied that could not be, but that
they might leave the town unhurt.

" The British now occupy part of the northern
shore of the bay, and their guns command the
harbour."

THE WAR IN ASIA.
DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS.

PARIS, FRIDAY MORNING.

The Moniteur contains a letter from Mosul, of
the 25th of September, according to which the
Mushir of Van had attacked the Russian corps
which covered Gumri, and completely dispersed
it, with the loss of its tents, baggage, and ammu-
nition, and 30 guns.

A Russian General was killed.

The Turks then began to besiege the citadel,
when the Russian corps, which had formerly
beaten the Turks at Bayazid, advanced to the
rescue from Erivan. It was, however, completely
repulsed and shut up in a defile, where it suffered
considerable loss.