The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-29 00:00:00

ST. JAMLS'S TIZEATRE.

-
The first performance of Le Domino Noir last night
by the Thare Lyrique Company was somewhat disap-
pointing to the subscribers, who naturally expected
neat
Madame Marie Cabel would have undertaken the part
of Angela. Mdlle. Petit Briere, who personated the
character,
singer, has an agreeable and
flexible
lit and animation. She
sang the music carefully, and showed a thorough know-
ledgevo
is abut
wants esp
of the business of the scene ; but the performance
in general was cold and listless, and did not excite any
enthusiasm. The other parts were well supported. M.
Carre, despite of his want of voice, sang the music of
Horace very efficiently, and M. Gringon gave a bold
reading of the English nobleman, Lord Elfort.
Girard was excellent in the small part of Brigette ; and
Madame Yade was sufficiently pretty and coquettish as
Jacintha, the gouvernante of Juliano. As usual, the
ensemble of the singing was entitled to emphatic praise.
Madame Marie Cabel took her benefit on Wednesday,
and appeared in La Pille du Regiment. The insufferable
heat of the weather militated against the success of the
benefit. The house was only tolerably filled, but the
attendance was fashionable Madame Cabel introduced
the sceno from Adolphe
Adams's Torreador, for soprano,
tenor, and bass, with immense effect, and at the end of
the opera was called for, and greeted with the heartiest
acclamations.

The TheAtre Lyrique company will positively bring their
performances to a termination on Wednesday next, with
La Pille du Regiment, when Madame Cabel will again
introduce the scene from Torreador, and sing a verse of
the National Anthem, the entertainments being for the
benefit of the director. To render the amusements of
the evening more attractive, the corps de ballet, from the
Royal Italian Opera, will, by permission of Mr. Gye,
exhibit a popular divertissement. Although the specu-
lation has not turned out as favourable to the director
as might have been expected, the introduction of so de-
lightful an artiste as Mme. Marie Cabel entitled to the
thanks of the musical public, who, it is to be hoped, will
tender their support liberally on Wednesday evening.

RATES OF
EXCHANGE.—The quotations of the rates
of exchange received yesterday from the various conti-
nental cities were again very firm, especially those from
Hamburg. Some small amounts of gold continue to be
purchased here for transmission, but the operation can
scarcely leave a profit.
THE F UNDS. —ALLEGED SPECULATION. —A functionary
nearly connected with a Cabinet Minister, it is said, has
largely and unfortunately speculated in the funds. The
removal of the party in question from his position would
be but a matter of course. We trust that his superior
in office will be able to give the most positive contradic-
tion to the report which is so generally current.--Morn-
ing Herald.
SEP.IOUS ACCIDENT IN FARRINGDON-STREET. —Yes-
terday, as an elderly man, named Henry Robinson, re-
siding in Devonshire-street, New North-road, was eras-
ing FarringdortiAtTeet, he was run over by a waggon be-
longing to the Great Northern Railway, and taken up
apparently dead. He now lies in St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, in a hopelss condition, his thighs and skull
having been fractured, and having sustained ; other
serious injuries.
An order has just been given to distribute a quartcr
of a litre of wine per day to the marines and sailors of
the French imperial navy at Toulon. The excessive
heat which has prevailed there for some diyz has ren-
dered Bch a atop necessary.

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE,JULY 28.

The Queen and Prince, accompanied by the Princess
Royal and Princess Alice and the Earl of Aberdeen.,
drove to Newport yesterday afternoon.
The Countess of Desart and Lord Alfred Paget were
in attendance.

The Duchess of Sutherland arrived yesterday on a
visit. The Earl of Aberdeen left Osborne this morning
on his return to London.

Mr. Samuel Gurney, jun., Mr. T. S. Prideaux, manag-
ing director, and Mr. William Bevan, solicitor, on be-
half of the Smoke Prevention Comp.my, had an inter-
view with Viscount Palmerston yesterday to explain to
his lordship the principle of the self-closing valve for con-
suming smoke.
Mr. Archibald had an interview with the Earl of
Clarendon on Thursday at the Foreign-office.
The Earl of Aberdeen arrived in town yesterday after-
noon from a visit to her Majesty at Osborne, Isle of
Wight.

Despatches for the Governor of Canada were sent last
evening from the Colonial-office.

OGERKENWELL PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

The 154th anniversary of these schools was held at
Highbury-barn on Thursday evening last. Alderman
Challis, M.P., presided. Nearly 100 gentlemen sat down
to a very excellent dinner. Among them there were—
Messrs. R. H. Jones (treasurer). W. H. Judd, R. Phil-
lips, Stephen J. Aldrich, F. Lightfoot, G. H. Johnson,
G. Boulton, J. Nunn, E. Jones, E. Paget, W. Blogg,
Wil:is, P. Shedden, Boulter, Rev. Mr. Ford, &c. &c.
These schools were founded in the year 1700, when
they consisted of only 25 boys and 20 girls ; and, after
the year 1720, of 60 boys and 40 girls. In the year
1830 the present spacious schoolrooms were completed ;
and, enlarged accommodation being thus provided, about
600 children have from that time been in daily attendance,
receiving the inestimable blessing of a sound scriptural
education. In 1830 the number of clothed children was
105 boys and 70 girls ; in 1850, 110 boys and 80 girls ;
and at the present time, 110 boys and 90 girls, being
a total of two hundred children clothed by this charity.
From a statement circulated in the room we quote
the following extract :
" By a reference to the statement of accounts it will be
seen that the expenditure exceeds the receipts by nearly
30/. The committee, therefore, solicit the liberal aid of all
who are dessirous of perpetuating the great benefits which
this ancient and valuable institution confers on the chil-
dren of the humble classes in the extensive parish of
Clerken well."

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " Prosperity and Per-
petuity to these Schools," made a forcible appeal to the
company on their behalf.
The children were then addressed, in appropriate
terms, by the Rev. J. Ford. The health of the chair-
man, the clergy of the parish (the absence of all of whom
save the Rev. Mr. Ford, one of the curates, was severely
animadverted upon by one or two of the speakers) the
patron, the churchwardens, &c., &c., followed, and a
respectable collection was commenced. Messrs. George
F. Smith, Kenny, and Ransford enlivened the evening
with several appropriate songs.

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

( From the Mining Journal of this day.)

The mining market has been rather quiet this week,
and although many quotations of prices are named, we
hear comparatively of few actual transactions. Alfred
Consols have been done at 221. 10s. to 221. 15s. ;
West Alfred Consols, 251. to 261. ; West Basset,
291. to 31/. ; North Basset, 151. to 171. ; South
Frances, 2501. to 2601. ; Condurrow, 1201. to
1301. ; S uth Tamar, 10/. ; Great Baddern, 2/. ;
Bell and Lanarth, 21. ; Sortridge Consols, 11. 17s. 6d.
to 21. 2s. 6d. ; Bedford, 81. 15s. to 91. Se. ; South Cara-
don, 2801. to 2901. ; Gonemena, 101 10s. ; North Ro-
bert, 91. 10i. to 10/. 103. ; Cwm Darren, ss. ; Devon
Great Consols, 4001.

During the week, shares have changed hands in the
following mines :—Alfred Consols, Altgoed Consols,
Bedford United, Condurrow, Devon Great Consuls,
Great Polgooth, Hingston Down, North Wheal Basset,
South Tamar, South Wheal Frances, Treweatha, Wtst
Providence, Wheal Lovel, General Mining Company
for Ireland, Lackamore, Mining Company of Ireland,
Wicklow.

In Foreign Mines, the market has somewhat im-
proved. National Brazilian have maintained the ad-
vance—shares changing hands at 2/. Cobre shares also
rose 21., in consequence of the very satisfactory report
at the meeting the closing price was 46 to 48. Copiapo
11.1 to 121 ; St. John del Rey, 27 ' • Imperial Brazilian,
31 to 4 ; Fortuna, to g prem. ; Linares, 101 ; Pont-
gibaud, 171 to Hi ; Royal Santiago, 4 to 5 ; United
Mexican, 31 to 4.
The Gold Mining Share Market remains quite neg-
lected, and is characterised by complete inaction. There
seems at present no prospects of a favourable change,
although we receive accounts that American companies
are obtaining favourable returns from quartz mining.

WINDSOR, FRIDAY.—Her Majesty and his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, with the Royal Family, not-
withstanding what has been said to the contrary, will
visit Balmoral about the 15th of September next, and
remain there about three weeks, when the Court will
return to Windsor for the winter. Her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Kent, since her arrival at Frogmore
on Thursday week, has taken her usual drives in the
vicinity of Windsor. On Wednesday her Royal High-
ness was visited by her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Cambridge and Princess Mary, to whom she gave a
grand entertainment. The band of the Royal Horse
Guards were in attendance. The royal duchess will
take her departure from Frogmore on Thursday next,
for her new residence at the Isle of Wight, where she
intends to remain about two months.

The prorogation of Parliament will, we have reason to
believe, take place in the third week in August—most
probably o❑ the 15th of that month, the annual Mini-
sterial whitebait dinner which precedes the termination
of the sesiori being given on Saturday, the 12th proximo,
at Greenwich.

THE MINISTERIAL WHITEBAIT DINNER.—The minis-
terial whitebait dinner is announced to take place on the
12th of August. As this is the ceremony preparatory
to the close of the session, we may in a very few days
afterward. 4 expect to find Parliament prorogued.
PARIS BOURSE.—The final accounts from the Paris
Bourse last evening, show no material variation,
although the tendency was rather towards a decline. At
Vienna the state of the money-market is comparatively
stesaid.y,pbEuTtElaes.us
usßoGtEth.a_n
Fbyrnmthestp.repveitoeus
rs.brueprg hortt.
e letters
are to the 21st inst., but they contain nothing new.
The Odessa accounts are to the 17th, at which date busi-
ness had nearly ceased. Some parcels of wool, however
had been purchased to be sent by land to Germany, and
from the Sea of Azoff shipments of produce were still
taking place.
AUSTRALIAN REMITTANCES.—Among the remittances
from Australia considerable parcels of sovereigns conti-
nue to be included. According to the advices received
yesterday, the Washington Irving had sailed from Syd-
ney with 3,7001., and the Rodney with 6,5001. These
vessels respectively had also 13,734 and 7,950 ounces of
and
gold on board, which, with 3,2001. (sovereinads)Ros e-
-71,359 ounces of gold by the Indian. Queen
bwearyy, from,of An
thanelb o u3rBnse
COPPER COMPANY.—The
ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIAN
com
" The
following memorandum is from this pany:—
• han Copper Company have received
English and Australian
advicess from omoctes an additionaltoatal on its
theicf
copperlst of
made June
duringla st.
and May was 221 tons, and there
the months of April
d upwards of 5,000 tons of ore on hand. The
remained
it in respect of ore delivered to the end of July. .64 of the
lately arrived at Adelaide had made their first trip
mules
Burra Burra Mine bad been paid all the copper due to
Smelting Works.—The
from the port to the Burrs. Mine, and the muleteers had
efforts to
chance s ship )
f off
obtaining large stocks
cartage
N b INSURANCE
w performed their duty in a very satisfactory manner. The
Malacca had been despatched for another cargo of mules,
t power
er roy
was
l haos ls bde,
v n
t andOF
the
o
ournCartage was scarcely procurable, and labour was as
scarce as ever. The managers say, under this head, 'We
co
require, first, cartage power ; secondly, furnacernen ;
thirdly, labourers and mechanics. We are unceasing in
our
only
importation of mules.' "
ABATEMENT
Oci\l INCOMEocOdFayaoct received
TAR
of o
vtn Eisile the act of the last session of Parliament for
extending, for a limited time, the provision for the abate-
ment of the income tax in respect of insurance on lives. I
The act is continued until the sth of July next year,
and is applicable with respect to the rate of is. 2d. in
the pound,

CLOSING THE ROOMS AT LLOYD'S.—Notice has been
given to the members of Lloyd's of a ballot to be taken
on Wednesday next upon the question of closing the
rooms on Saturday at two o'clock. Considerable differ-
ence of opinion is said to exist among the underwriters
on the subject, many being of opinion that the whole of
the business can be transacted by that hour, Ovhile
others allege that, as several of the letters are not deli-
vered until two o'clock, and even later, it will be im-
possible to effect insurances in those cases until Monday
morning, a delay of 44 hours, and that, as merchants
are not likely to incur the risk of such a delay, some
diversion of the insurance business from London must
take place. - It is understood that the several marine in-
surance companies act with Lloyd's in this matter, and
will also close their establishments on Saturdays at two,
if that hour be adopted by Lloyd's.
SECOND COURT-MARTIAL ON LIEUTENANT PERRY.--
WINDSOR, Friday.—..A second court-martial has been
ordered by the Commander-in-Chief to be held on Lieu-
tenant Perry, and at 11 o'clock this morning the court
assembled at the Sheet-street Barracks to take the neces-
sary preliminary measures. After the court had deli-
berated about three-quarters of an hour with closed doors,
Adjutant M'Alister announced that it was opened, when
the warrant of the Commander-in-Chief was read for
summoning the court to try Lieutenant Perry under the
Mutiny Act. The names of the members composing the
court were then read ove' by the Deputy Judge-Advo-
cate, when it anpeared that Lieut.-Colonel Edw. Perry
was appointed president, and Major James W. Dalgetty,
unattached, Deputy Judge-Advocate. Mr. Darvill,
town clerk of Windsor, as solicitor to Lieutenant Perry,
applied to be furnished with the particulars of the charges
intended to be brought against his client, but that gentle-
man was told he would be furnished with them at a
future period, and in sufficient time to prepare the de-
fence of Lieutenant Perry, but that at the present stage
of the, proceedings no iniormation whatever could be
rendered. Thus up to this time Lieutenant Perry is
totally in the dark as to the charges that may be brought
against him. The court was adjourned to 11 o'clock
thin day (Saturday.)

LA.TEST FOREIGN NEWS.

THE WAR.

THE DANUBE.

RUSTCHUK, July 19.—0 n the 12th Omer Pasha
reached Rustchuk.

Thirty English sailors, under Lieutenant Glynn
and Prince Leiningen, have taken direction of the
Turkish flotilla at Giurgevo.
Thirty English pioneers, under Captain Page, of
the Royal Engineers, are assisting in completing
the fortifications of Giurgevo.
A letter from Orsova, in the Press of Vienna,
says :—" On the 21st the Turkish troops left their
positions near Giurgevo, and it is said that this for-
ward movement has taken place for the purpose of
taking possession of Bucharest. Up to that time the
Anglo-French troops had not arrived at Rustchuk,
but some English sappers and miners were expected
every hour, in order to throw a bridge of boats
over the Danube near that place. Prince Gortscha-
koff, in anticipation of the approaching arrival of the
Anglo-Grench troops on the Wallachian territory,
is advancing towards the Danube at the head of
two corps d'armee and 160 guns.
A letter from Bucharest, of the 16th, says :
" The son of Prince Menschikoff arrived here the
day before yesterday from St. Petersburg, with, it
is said important orders for Prince Gortschakoff.
Immediately after his arrival he proceeded to the
Russian head-quarters. It is positively said that the
Russians will shortly resumethe offensive and will
attack the Turks in their positions at Pampajni.
The hospitals will be again removed to Bucharest.
The reoccupation of Slatina by a considerable body
of troops leads it to be presumed that the Russians
are preparing to strike a decisive blow in Lesser
Wallachia."

REPORTED RUSSIAN VICTORY IN ASIA.

There was a rumour in Vienna yesterday of a
great victory obtained by General Andronikoff
over Kurschid Pacha (General Guyon), near Arda-
gan, but details were wanting.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE TURKS FROM
THE PRINCIPALITIES.
Telegraphic despatches from Vienna announce in
a positive manner that the Turkish troops are on
the point of withdrawing from the left bank of the
Danube, obedient to an order issued on the demand
of the Austrian Government.

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND
PRUSSIA.

The Lithograph Correspondence of Vienna, of the
24th, says :—" We have said that the negociations
between Austria and Prussia, caused by the recent
Russian reply, have been brought to a close. We
are now assured that iu the course of them no dis-
sension occurred between the powers, both stand-
ing by the convention of the 20th April. As soon
as the Western powers shall have made known
their opinion on the Russian reply, which has
been communicated to them, Austria and Prussia
will immediately proceed in concert with those
powers, and on the basis of the Austro-Prussian
treaty to the ulterior measures necessitated by
the re-establishment of the equilibrium of the
powers, the integrity of Turkey, and universal
peace. With respect to the Russian proposi-
tions, what is certain is, that they have completely
disappointed those who hoped that they would lead
to dissensions between Austria and Prussia. Both
Powers admit that Russia manifests intentions in
favour of peace, but they are convinced that the
occupation of the principalities by Russia menaces
the integrity of the Porte."
The Press of Vienna gives an entirely different
account of the result of the negociations. It
says M. de Manteuffel has set out for Berlin. He
does not appear satisfied with the result of his mis-
sion. It is known that the principal object of it
was to induce Austria to support the last overtures
of Russia to the Western Powers. It has been
erroneously stated that the reply of Russia had
been communicated to the Cabinets of Paris and
London in the form of a collective note. The com-
munication was made simply in the form of an
Austrian note."

The Berlin papers, of the 26th, state that Lieut.-
Colonel Manteuffel had, on the 25th, an interview
with the King of Prussia in presence of Count de
Waldersee, the Minister of War, Generals Pemker
and Scheeler, and the Austrian General Mayshofer.
He also dined with the King, and afterwards was
engaged in deliberation for several hours with His
Majesty, the President of the Council, and the
Minister of War.

Count Bille-Brahe, the Danish Minister at Vi-
enna, left that capital, on the 24th, for Copenhagen.
It was supposed at Vienna that ho was gone to
prepare negotiations for the accession of Denmark
to the Austro-Prussian treaty.
Any lingering hopes, says the Paris correspon-
dent of the Morning Chronicle in his letter dated
yesterday, which may have been entertained that
Prussia would in the end give in to the general
opinion, not only of Europe, but of her own sub-
jects, are daily vanishing, and it is now pretty cer-
tain that a treaty will be entered into between
Austria and the other Powers, to which Prussia
will be no party. It is stated in high quarters
here that the terms of the treaty are so far settled
already, that in the course of a week or two it will
be signed and promulgated. In the meantime, the
Austrian troops continue to be concentrated on the
frontier, but there is no truth in the report that
they have entered the principalities.
The Pays says that the occupation of the princi-
palities by Austria is so completely decided on, that
the order has already been given for the occupation
being effected on the 25th. Prince Gortschakoff,
it says, has completely failed in his negotiations,
and all chance of peace between the two empires is
at an end.

of te
the correspondent of the
battle near Giurgevo, is from p
gaccont
BATTLE
, eFd RGuisUtchßuGk,EJVul°y.,
The foTliollwEin
Twines
le—
Ift Shun-da,forll6utsb ; tchutkbeonditshtaensntah
is an6dsarmriivleea.d
on the evening of the
2,000 infantry are
naeevnaelarmypineda avtilißagaesgnreaadr,, thewher let foragealf-w
station, and 3,000
is more easily procurable. For the last 40 miles the
road follows the windings of a stream, which readers it
a more eligible route for the march of an army than any
of those to the eastward, where water is very scarce.
The crops towards the Danube are more advanced than
those about Shumla, and reaping has commenced. The
peasants brought sheaves of corn and laid them in the
middle of the road before we came up, as specimens of
the first fruits. They expect, of course, a small bak-
sheesh in honour of the occasion. I found at Rustchuk
that the Russians still remained on the left bank of the
Danube. Their force was estimated at 6,000 infantry
and two battalions of cavalry, quartered in the vil-
lages of Giurgevo and Slobodshi, a portion of them
living in tents. They had batteries for eight or ten
guns, whioh bore on the town, and Minie riflemen
constantly lined the bank, to fire when a cluster of
soldiers or other opportunity occurred for a long shot.
The town of Rustchuk extends for a mile along the bank
of the Danube, at an elevation of 90 feet ; the banks are
so steep as to render any fortifications unnecessary be-
yond bastions with earthen parapets to cover the guns,
of which there are a tolerable number. On the land side
it is surrounded by a rampart and ditch, with masonry
revetments. The ground here rises to a small eminence,
crowned with redoubts. A small bay near the centre
of the river front forms the harbour, where a steamer
and plenty of boats were lying. The opposite side of
the river is flat for half a mile inland, when it gets
slightly but abruptly elevated towards the village of
Slobodsbi. The town of Giurgevo is a mile and a-half
below Rustchuk, on the left bank, and still further down
is the island of Mokan, which the Turks gained posses-
sion of on the sth, killing 20 of the Russians. Opposite
to the harbour and boats was the principal Russian bat-
tery • 100 yards in the rear of it a creek runs nearly
parallel to the river. It is generally fordable, and loses
itself at both extremities without joining the Danube..
cAofintenrwthnece Sg,i 1 i
Os tmri
ea
rwpaass rhaai sperdo,paons
edd theo
cross
iunsgs i at
hn
es
Danube at Rustchuk and Silistria, and sent 25,000 men
to each of these towns. He expected to be at Rust-
chuk,sdi ergeetiroifn
where the first attempt would be made, about
the 9th, and ordered everything to be prepared, but no
further steps to be taken till he arrived. During the
night of the 6th, however, the Russians withdrew all
and so few men were to be seen on the left
Hussein Paella, the commander of the forces
their
bank gtubnast,
in Rustchuk, determined at once to effect a lodgment.
At half-past 9 a.m. four companies of infantry, under
the command of Bekir kasha, accompanied by Behram
Pasha (General 11.1annon), and Captain Bent, Royal En-
gineers, landed a little below the Russian battery,
without opposition beyond a musketry fire. General
Cannon advanced with some skirmishers along with Cap-
tain Bent, who was the first Englishman to land ; and
they drove the enemy across the creek with considerable
loss ; but the Russians, who in reality were 800 strong,
here made a stand, and the Turks had to retire on the
riverbank. They established their left in the battery; their
right was in less danger, for the creek gets deeper in that
direction. The Russians came forward very bravely, but the
Turks defended the battery with determination, and,
after a few minutes' firing at very close quarters, the
former retired among the reeds and brushwood, whence
they continued their musketry fire with considerable
effect. General Cannon now returned to consult Hus-
sein Pasha, who overlooked the whole field of action
from the Rustchuk bastions, and be sent two battalions
over, and ordered the gun-boats to keep up a vigorous
fire. A quarter of an hour after the party under Bekir
Pasha started, another body of 500 men, commanded
by Colonel Balfour Ogilvie, aide-de-camp to General
Cannon, accompanied by Colonel C. Hinde, aide-de-
camp, Captain Arnold, 3d Madras Native Infantry, and
Lieutenant Meynell, her Majesty's 75th Regiment, pro-
ceeded in the steamer for a mile and a half up the river,
and landed on the left bank. Seeing during the pas-
sage that Bekir Pasha was likely to be hard pressed,
Colonel Ogilvie determined to effect a junction with
him. Ho throw out 0 okirraisliera in front, under Capt.
_ _

Arnold, Colonel Hinde commanding the advanced and
Lieutenant Meynell the rear guard. The enemy opened
a severe fire of grape from two guns they brought up
and their infantry annoyed his left flank by an incessant
musketry fire. After descending the river for a mile,
the Turks took a Russian battery close to the bank, and
Colonel Ogilvie, finding that Captain Arnold had got so
much over to the left front that he could not see him, as
the ground was covered with high reeds, ordered them
to wait till Captain Arnold should fall back, for he had
given him directions to rejoin the main body at this
point. After half-an-hour, however, Colonel Ogilvie,
who could not see anything that was going on down the
river, and being anxious to join Bekir Pasha, pushed
on down the river, leaving Lieutenant Meynell with
50 men to keep the position till Captain Arnold returned.
By this time the steamer had made another trip, and
200 more men came down the bank and joined Lieute-
nant Meynell. After a march of a mile and a half, over
ground occupied by the enemy, and commanded by their
guns, at grape and canister range, the gallant party
under Col. Ogilvie effected a junction with Bekir Pasha,
and this timely reinforcement raised the spirits of
the Turks. Captain Arnold's detention was afterwards
explained by the accounts of those who were in the Rust-
chuk bastions, and could see the whole
.eugagement.
He had actually advanced with his fifty men on a
Russian battery more than three hundred yards in-
land, in which there were two guns, driven them out of
it (the enemy retiring their pieces), and held possession
till overwhelming numbers forced him back on Lieut.
Meynell. Here they retained their ground for about
two hours, without any reinforcement being sent from
the town, until three fresh Russian battalions came down
the heights, one of which joined in the attack. At this
point the Turks, now far outnumbered, were driven out
of the battery to the river bank. Captain Arnold and
Lieutenant Meynell were both killed ; their bodies were
found in the battery, which renders it evident that the
gallant fellows had fought where they stood till the last.
The remainder commenced retiring down the river,
under shelter of the bank, which is here about 7 feet
high, but the enemy, keeping above them, continued
loading and firing, while our men, from their position,
could offer no resistance. It seemed as if the whole
party must have been destroyed, when 300 men, under
Lieut. Burke, Royal Engineers, who had been landed
from the steamer, commenced marching down the river,
and the enemy drew up to attack them. Here a re-
petition of what I have just described took place ;
the Turks found a tempting, but fallacious shelter,
behind the bank, and the Russians, from above,
stabbed them with the bayonet, or discharged their
muskets, the muzzles almost touching the heads of our
men. Most fortunately, the bank soon ended, and the
ground became level with the river's edge. The Turks
could now form line, and face their opponents on equal
terms. They slowly retired for 100 yards, and then,
though much outnumbered, showed such a resolute front
that the Russians durst not charge.

The attention of the Generals on both sides was now
directed to this action, for while Hussein Pasha de-
spatched the steamer to bring off our men, 500 Russian
cavalry and two guns descended from the village of
Slobodshi, and gallopped in the same direction. The
Russians had the start, and the result was watched
with intense anxiety, when, to the surprise of the
Turkish General, the Russian cavalry halted a quarter
of a mile in the rear. It was now expected that the
steamer, which bad two guns on board, would bring off
our men without difficulty, but she became enveloped in
smoke and steam ; one of the enemy's shot had reedered
her totally useless, and she drifted back across the river.
The position of the Turks was now to all appearance
hopeless ; one charge, and they would all be driven
int i the river by superior numbers, when the
enemy's infantry slowly retired behind the cavalry,
and the whole of them proceeded to Slobodshi. Towards
sundown the party were brought back without molesta-
tion. They lost about 70 men, among whom was Lieut.
Burke, who commanded the expedition. All this time
the firing was kept up at the battery where the first
landing was made; a quarter of a mile below it the Rus-
sians had brought up two battalions and two guns, and
made desperate but unsuccessful efforts to reach our
boats and take the battery we were defending in the rear.
By 5 p.m., the Turks had retrenched themselves, which
would have been effected long before had proper arrange-
ments been made, and a sufficient supply of tools been
sent over. I had returned to the right bank at about 3
p.tn:, and, as Hussein Pacha, accompanied by General
Cannon and his staff, was going over to the other side at
about 8 p.m., I took the opportunity of recrossing. The
Turks were busy completing and extending their re-
trenchments, all firing had ceased, and we passed the night
there without any further attack. In the morning the Rus-
Sian infantry had disappeared ; their cavalry, drawn up
on the rising ground, drew off slowly an hour after
daybreak, and the Turks commenced the melancholy
task of burying the dead of both sides which were strewn
over the battle-field. I have had no opportunity of
mentioning that about 12 o'clock on the 7th Hussein
Pasha ordered another crossing to be made from the
island down the river, ,which was effected with hardly
any opposition, and a strong retrenchment formed.
So many exaggerated reports are in circulation regard-
ing the killed and wounded on both sides, that I prefer
au
nc
dh
Iw
ai with
thatgivieg my ownof other
, whichlhavteallies
consulted very
m,
sure is nearly correct. I reckon that there were 200
Turks killed of those who landed highest up the river;
that in the battery opposite the town there were 30
killed ; and on the extreme right 70. The wounded, I
am informed, amount to about 600 ; total, 900. Of the
Russians, about 30 were killed up the river, 70 near the
battery opposite the town, 50 on the extreme right, and 40
in the battery taken by poor Arnold and by shell from the
Rustchuk bastions ; total killed 190 ' • taking the wounded
in the proportion of 4 to 1 this gives 760—total 950. The
difference of the proportion between the killed and
wounded on the two sides is thus explained:— The Turks
who were killed when under the river bank were nearly
all shot dead ; the wounded had no means of retiring,
and the Russians returned to massacre those who were
still living. It is but justice to add, that this shameful
inhumanity might be partly owing to the exasperation
occasioned by the Turks having not yet entirely discarded
the disgraceful practice of decapitating the dead. In this
hard-fought action, which lasted for nine hours, the
soldiers on both sides displayed great courage. The
Turks, who made good their lodgement and slept on
the field, may with justice claim the victory ; but it was
an action for which no necessity existed. The Russians
were evidently retiring from their position, and it can-
not be considered good generalship to force the pas-
sage of a river 700 yards wide and gain two acres of
ground at the expense of nearly 1,000 men, when as
many square miles might have been occupied the follow-
ing day without firing a shot. Had the Russians been
retiring in disorder, it might have been worth while
to hazard something for the purpose of harassing
their retreat ; but, in reality, the Turks had no im-
mediate intention of following them, and on the morning
of the second day after the action not a thousand more
men had crossed than were there on the evening of the
day it was fought. The passage was, moreover, effected
without any preconcerted arrangement, and boat load
after boat load crossed without engineer officers to mark
out an entrenchment, or tools to form a parapet. The
best excuse that can be made is, that from false informa-
tion Hussein Pasha imagined the Russians had com-
pletely abandoned their position, that he had only to
send over a few troops, and that the few men we could
see scattered over the left bank would retire. What
Omer Pasha will say of it I do not know, but I have the
best authority for stating that he had issued positive in-
• structions that no attempt of the sort should be made
until he himself had arrived, We are all expecting him
with anxiety, as until he comes nothing further will be
done. What will then take place no one knows. The
Russians are encamped about eight miles distant, but I
do not think they will await the approach of a large
force, and it is not impossible that in a short time I may
address you further from Bucharest."