The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-19 00:00:00

EORATION OVER THE TOMB OF HOOD.

The bust of Thomas Hood. was uncovered yesterday
at Kensal-green Cemetery. The ceremony was inau-
gurated by an oration from Mr. Monckton Milnes. The
custom of pronouncing eulogiums over the graves of dead
celebrities has not yet become English, and we are not
sorry for it. It would be very sad to have to listen to
eulogistic tirades from professional orators on the death
of every pretended or real great man. A true emotion
cannot be got up at the dictation of every spokesman.
We cannot be expected to have strong symp ithies with
every form of literary and political excellence. Our
neighbours—the French—by making funeral orations
over dead men the rule, and not the exception, detract
fearfully from the value and the interest of such dis-
courses. But there are occasions when a departure
from the ordinary silence which we maintain over the
tomb of a great man may be advantageously permitted.
And such an occasion presented itself yesterday.
Hood was not a merely ephemeral writer. He did
not address himself to the feelings which mere passing
events generated in the minds of his readers. He smote
deep down into the hearts of his admirers. Had he been
nothing more than a literary man, the ceremony of yes-
terday would have been an impertinence. The nation
cannot afford. to have its time taken up by eulogiums
on every citizen who does his work well in his own par-
ticular line. Nevertheless, when a man not only does
his own work well, but acts powerfully on the national
mind, then his fame is a national possession, and may
be with all propriety made the subject of public
commemoration. A great author is distinguished
from the merely professional scribe by the fact of
adding something to the stock of national ideas.
Who can tell how much of the national character is
due to the operation of the works of Sbakespere
The flood of ideas with which the great dramatist
inundated the national mind has enriched it and fer-
tilised it. We are most of us wiser and better by
the fact of Shakspere having lived and written. It
would not be difficult to find in most modern works
traces of the influence which Shakspere has exercised
over the writers. A great author, such as Saakeper!,
is then a great public educator. The national mind is
enlarged and enriched by the treasures which he pours
into it. There is therefore a great propriety in making
such a writer the subject of public eulogium.
Hood was one of those who not only enriched tie na'
tional literature, but instructed the national mind. His
conceptions, it is true, were not vast. His la'oours were
not like those of Shakspere, colossal. But he has go-
duce(' as permanent an effect on the nation as many of
its legislators. If he had not done this, the ceremonyof
yesterday would have been an inane display. Englisi-
men are the wiser and the better because Hood has lived,
and therefore Englishmen can listen reverentially to a pub-
lic eulogium on his memory. Mr. Milnes performed the task
allotted to hirn modestly, if not overebrilliantly. His oration
would appear tame to those accustomed to hear similar
discourses on all occasions on the other side of the
Channel. But there was sound sense and feeling in all
that he said ; and this was enough. He spoke with
great delicacy and kindness of Hood's personal charac-
teristics, and with much taste upon the artistic value o f
the dead humorist's works. He touched with great fe-
licity and subtlety upon the value of humour. He de-
fined its province, and showed how closely it was con-
nected with the highest forms in which genius
manifests itself. Mr. Milnes spoke, however, more
as a friend than as a critic, and his genial utter-
ances excited emotions in the hearts of his hearers
which told how deep was their sympathy both
with the orator and the subject of his eulogium.
There were not many dry eyes amongst his hear-
ers when he quoted one or two exquisite por-
tions of Hood's poems. It was evident that the
greater part of the audience were well acquainted with
the works of the poet, and were delighted to hear the
quotations from poems which had afforded them exqui-
site gratification in the perusal.

Die ceremony of yesterday is very significant at;
showing the disposition that exists amongst English-
men to recognise the value of their great authors. It
tells us that the nation has arrived at the conclusion
that there are other influences than legislation and war
which operate upon our happiness or shape our destiny'.
The oration pronounced over Hood is a fact which
proves an advance in the public estimation of what
true greatness is. The rarity of such exhibitions adds
to their value ; and although we should be sorry to Bea
funeral orations become common, it is creditable to the
nation that we should have recognised the justice of
pronouncing a discourse over Thomas Hood.—Daily
News.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—The directors of this company
have just issued their report, to be submitted to the
slvireholders at the half-yearly general meeting, on
Thursday next. The amount expended on capital ac-
count up to the 10th of June, 1854, the day of opening.
is 910,329/. The further amount expended, up to the
present time, has been 91,0001. ; and the remaining lia-
bilities, so far as they can be possibly ascertained, amount
to about 209,0001. additional, for completing works now
in progress. In addition to the aboue, a sum of 90,0001.
will be required to erect the water towers, and to carry
out the whole scheme of the palace and park, compris-
ing the fountains, gardens, terraces, and interior fittings
and decorations, to final completion. The total cost of
the undertaking will thus be 1,300,0001., of which it is
right to observe that about 100,000/. arises from objects
such as the refreshment department, stabling approaches,
purchase of additional land, and improvements of the
Dulwich-wood property, which are either productive of
a large separate return in themselves or are available as
assets to be realised at some future period, with eve*"
probability of a profit. The receipts on revenue e'
count from all sources down to the Bth of July, cozy
prising four weeks from the opening, have been as fol-
lows :—Season tickets, 35,3881. ; admission, 13,0321. ;
rental for space (on account of first half-year's rent),
12,2891. ; refreshments, 11,5001. ; miscellaneous (includ4
iag stabling, cloak. rooms, &c.), 794 i, Total, 72,9134

THE WAR.
CONSTANTINOPLE.
A letter from Constantinople of July 6 says :
" What the next move will be of the combined
armies of France and England is now the general
question. That they will not follow the Russians
across the Danube into the provinces of Wallachia
and Moldavia seems pretty well established ; but
will they remain inactive, occupying the position
between Varna and Schumla ? Sebastopol and
tl Crimea are now much talked of. A friend who
hba just returned from a visit to the French fleet
2.t Baltschik says that Admiral Hamelin has just
issued a new ordre du jeur, which has been
posted on the mainmast of every ship, in which the
French navy are reminded of their duties, and
thanked for their exemplary behaviour ; and which
concludes by announcing that they will shortly pro•
teed a hundred leagues farther, where their services
will be wanted for the good of their country. In
the meanwhile, everything at Constantinople is in
the perfection of peaceful languor and tranquillity.
Reschid Pa cha whose health is improved, has re-
turned to the ilinistry of Foreign Affairs. British
soldiers have again become rare : whilst a sprink-
ling of the French, who have remained behind
from the division of Prince Napoleon, alone
-emiud you of the passage of the combined
xmies. The Bosphorus, quiet and beautiful as
isual, is full of British transports and steamers.
'he officers and crew of the Tiger are about to be
xchanged for some Russian prisoners, who were
rought here not long, since by one of her Ma-
lty's ships. The following are the names of the
ussian officers, mostly of Greek origin, and natives
the Crimea :—Lieutenant-Colonel D'Olinski ;
fajor Michel Vosilioff ; Captains Cost. Zakny and
ambros Risos ; Lieutenants Constantine Koraskis,
Aro Manolacchi, and George Mavroplios ; and
align Paolo Malandrochi, together with 196
ldiers. Her Majesty's frigate Arethusa has left
r the Archipelago, it is said, to cruise there for
e prevention of piracy. Small and fast steamers
ould be much more useful for such a purpose than
ding vessels.

THE FRENCH AT ADRIANOPLE.
Since the 26th of last month, says a letter from
.drianople, July 3, the French troops have begun
ieir march to Bourgas, on the Black Sea, 2,000
r 3,000 infantry and cavalry leaving at a time.
'he artillery, also, will soon leave. To-morrow
Lie last detachment starts, and only 400 or 500
len will remain in camp here. A great amount
f provisions, ammunition, and stores remains.

THE DANUBE.
Letters from Bucharest stnte that Prince Gorts-
e hakoff had fixed the stations of the Wallachian
r nilitia, intending to employ them against the
f orces of their lawful Sovereign and his allies.
Che Ist and 2d battalions were to remain at Bu-
c 'barest, the 3d to occupy Busea, and the artillery
e ompany to join the Russian brigade at Ursteeni.
The Lloyd of Vienna states that, during the
narch of a corps of Russian troops between Bu-
charest and Kimpina, the heat was so excessive that
the soldiers fell on the road from fatigue, and a
number of men were attacked with cerebral con-
gestion. Out of 6,000 men who left Bucharest,
only about one-half had reached their destination.

ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF
THE CREW OF THE TIGER.
On the 10th, says a telegraphic despatch, dated.
Vienna, Tuesday evening, an English steamer ar-
rived at Odessa with 13 Russian officers and 200
privates, to qe exchanged against the crew of the
Tiger. As the Russian Government had only
given permission to exchange eight officers, it was
not known whether the Governor of Odessa would
on his own responsibility liberate the other five.

RUSSIAN REGULATION FOR EXCHANGE

OF PRISONERS.
The following regulation has been published at
St. Petersburg :
"It has pleased his Majesty the Emperor to ordain
that the following rules shall be observed in all exchanges
of prisoners of war. First, in case the Turkish general
should propose an exchange of prisoners of war, only
Turks by birth shall be exchanged against Russians.
Second, should the proposition emanate from the com-
mander of the French troops, the exchange can only be
made with respect to prisoners French by birth ; and
in like manner, should the English commander make
such a proposition, only Englishmen by birth can be ex-
changed for Russians."

This order is, of course, aimed at the few foreign.
ers who, from Omer Pacha downwards, have rank
in the Ottoman army, and comes with admirable
Propriety from a man whose best generals are Ger-
mans, and whose best troops are kidnapped Poles,
Circassians, Georgians, and Tartars.

APPREHENSION OF AN OUTBREAK AT
ST. PETERSBURG.
The Vienna Presse states, on the authority of
travellers arrived from St. Petersburg, that more
than three hundred young men, nobles, students,
and merchants, have been arrested. They have'
been told that there is no charge against them, but`
that their opinions were known, and that the Go-
vernment was resolved to omit no salutary pre-
caution. The Government is apprehensive of some
e xplosion of popular discontent.

DEPARTURE OF TROOPS FOR THE EAST

THE BALTIC.

FROM PLYMOUTH.
PLYMOUTH, Tuesday Afternoon.—The Colombo,
Nvlth the 20th Regiment for Varna, sailed at two
p.m.

The .3loniseur de la Flotte publishes accounts
from the combined squadrons in the Baltic, dated
the 9th instant, when, the were lying at Baro
Sound, near Helsingfors, on their return from
Cronstadt :

"During their absence the Russians had removed the
buoys laid down to indicate the narrow and dangerous en-
trance into the bay of Baro Sound. Notwithstanding that
stratagem, which increased for the squadrons the perils
of the navigation, no accident occurred. Two vessels
which had got on shore were immediately set afloat
again. The Russian Government had changed several
commanders of the strong places in that part of the
empire. Some of them were in disgrace. Amongst
them was the governor of Riga, who was accused of
weakness in the performance of his duties. He was
repiaced by Rear-Admiral Tsebrikoff 11., commander
of the reserve companies of the Russian fleet in the
Baltic."

The second detachment of the 4th Dragoons em-
barked to-day, on board the Simla, for the East.
She will go out of harbour to-morrow at eleven
a.m.

The American corvette Prebel, Captain Craven,
20 days from Baltimore, arrived this afternoon.
The usual salutes were exchanged. The officers
landed and visited the dockyard, and then pro-
ceeded to Portsmouth.

The following letter is from Berlin, under date
;he 15th inst.:—

" I have this morning seen a letter from an English
officer from Baro Sound, dated the 10th instant. It
appears from this letter that the papers have much
exaggerated the number of the cases of cholera which
occurred on board the ships in the Baltic. In the
first, it is not true that all the ships were attacked, nor
did 70 cases break out on board the Austerlitz. In
all this there is much exaggeration. I was one of
the first to tell you that the fleet advanced before Cron-
' stadt only to make a reconnaissance. You see that I have
been well informed. The answer of Russia is here the
principal topic. The policy of Prussia is clothed every
day more and more in mystery. Numerous diplomatic
notes are exchanged between the Cabinets of Vienna aiid
Berlin. One of the facts, which. would prove that the
reply of Russia has not been as satisfactory to Austria
as to Prussia is, that the Austrian Government has
caused the text of the treaty of the 20th April to be
published in its official journal. Up to the present that
treaty, though known, had not received any official
publication. That publication at such a moment is
generally considered as the first symptom of a more
energetic conduct which Prussia seems desirous of
avoiding.

" The words addressed by the Emperor of the French
to the troops destined for the Baltic have produced here
the most lively and the best impression. What is
wanted here, as in France, is energy. It is felt that the
situation cannot continue longer as it is, and every one is
opposed to a system of procrastination and hesitation,
the issue of which is unknown, as it is replete with
danger. Prussia is ready, and when her Government
will judge that the moment is come to give the signal,
she will rise with enthusiasm for the cause of public
law aad civilization."

THE BLACK SEA.
We make the following extracts from a letter
dated Redout-Kaleh, Georgia, June 24
Here we are, at the scene of our old operations. We
left the fleet on the Bth, and it is thought we shall he
here a good while to co-operate with the Sampson. We
steamed to Varna to receive orders, the two Admirals
then being there. We only remained a couple of hours,
and did not go ashore. We had intended calling at
Sinepe on our passage to complete with coal, but such a
Splendid westerly 10-knot breeze eame on that the idea
was given up. When this left us we had again recourse
to steam, and on the 12th the Caucasus peaks showed
themselves sharp against the grey of the morning. On
our arrival we found that seven officers of the Sampson
Were laid up with ague, and they continue so, not
expecting to get rid of it until they leave this place.
When the Sanspareil was here she had some cases
of it, and also suffered from scurvy. In truth, Redout-
lialeh has rather a feverish, agneish look, situate, as
it is, upon the low marshy land between the Caucases
range and the mountains near Batoum. The Sanspa-
reil has now returned to the fleet ; her coming here
was rather opportune, as a day or two previous the
Russians in the neighbourhood sent a polite message
to the Turks, to, the effect that they (the Russians)
had .6,000 good disposable men, and that if the corn-
attendant of Redoubt felt inclined to draw off his small
diitachment of Turks, he would be allowed full liberty
to do so, and the embarkation would not be inter-
rupted ; and it was owing to this news from the Sans-
prireil that we were dispatched so quickly. The Turks
returned for answer that their views and those of
tb.e Russians did not coincide ; but, on the contrary,
differed very widely. So the Russians commenced
ait advance against Redoubt from the wood, at the
upper end of the burnt town, and commenced a
fleet intrenchment, flanked on the one side by the
river, and on the other by a deep marsh. So
far had they proceeded when the Sanspareil ap-
/soared on the stage, which had the effect of immedi-
ately causing the retreat of the Moskows. We have to-
day pulled up the river, foraging among the burnt ruins
for timber. We walked back by the left bank pluck-
bag roses from the deserted gardens, and on our way
Came right upon the commenced Russian entrenchment
1 Lave named. They had begun to work manfully, and
had left behind them numbers of hastily made spades to
Shovel the earth up with. The pomegranate trees are in
beautiful blossom, and there is abundant promise of figs
and nuts, but nor yet ready. During the stay of the
Sanspareil some Georgians came dropping down into
the fort for protection, though most probably they
Were spies. They were all sent to Churuksu. A
young Georgian prince also came down for protection
against the Russians, who seemed to be providing their
commissariat department at a very small cost at the ex-
pent.e of their alliee. This prince was 13 years old, and
Was delighted at a salute given him by the two-decker,
and a guard of honour from the Marines. He also was
sent to Churuksu. Both the Sampson and Sanspareil
coaled from a supply of Russian coal left at Souchum-
Xaleh, which has now a Turkish ga-rison. During
the stay of these ships at Souchum, the officers were
astonished to see London beer and porter suddenly
become plentiful among the Circassians and others.
Almost every fellow one met pulled out a bottle
marked in big, unmistakeable English letters,
and soon the murder came out--20 casks had been dis-
covered. The finders first of all asked 4s. a bottle, and
ntt being laughed at, Caine down in their price to a
piastre-2d. This bargaining came to the ears of the
Pasha, who said that no one had the right of sale, and
Messengers were sent about to capture or destroy, all
bottles found on the persons of the inhabitants ; in con-
sequence of which London beer and porter flowed very
copiously upon the ground. The Pasha then wished to
make a present of the whole of it to Captein Jones and
hie officers ; but the captain would not hear of this, and
insisted on paying Bd. for a large, and 4d. for a small
bottle. On strict inquiry it subsequently appeared that
a French Teasel thus laden had arrived at Xerta, when

r
_LATEST FOREIGN NEWS (owing to the declaration of war) she was immediately
smt away. The captain's next attempt to get rid of his
cargo was at Souchum ; this place had just been evacuated
by the Russians, and the Georgian Chief made seeming
arrangements to buy the whole, and managed to cajole
all the F. enchmen toga on shore together, when they were
made prisoners and the vessel sacked. Afterwards they
sent the crew again on board, with a loaf of bread each
and so made them go to sea, and I believe they have
not since been heard of. On all this coming to light
Captain Jones was highly indignant at such an act of
piracy, and demanded from the Pasha the name of the
offending chief (the Turks had but garrisoned this place
very recently), so that he might be hanged or otherwise
disposed of ; but the Pasha and the Circassians say that
this Georgian tribe are now with them there as friends,
but if the chief be dealt with in any manner except the
demand of a money compensation (which the chief offers
in full), they will all become enemies, and demur there-
fore to give him up. The fortifications of Redout-Kaleh
are now most respectable, but more guns are wanted
for them. The Sanspareil has been busy upon them,
under Captain Dacres and Lieutenant Jolliffe,
The ditch is full of water, and is well cut. To-morrow
I take the superintendence of the works, and, as the
marsh in the wood becomes passable in the dry wea-
ther, it will be necessary to make inundations, out-
works, &c. The Turks have increased their garrison
here to 2,400 men ; of these, however, 1,000 are
Bashi-Bazouks, alias irregulars, and mighty irregular
they are. Captain Jones is anxious to make an expedi-
tion up the river here, in quest of 13 Russian gun-boats,
which are said to be ensconced somewhere in the neigh-
bourhood. Of course, the Turks would cover it on either
bank. On the return of the Sampson we shall most
likely accomplish it between us, which will be something
to do. A Turkish steamer stopped here recently for a
short time, and we hear that a few days ago the Turks
received, a few miles south of us, what some call " a
check," and others " a good liking. The stories vary,
however, and the matter appears to hinge upon an am-
buscade having astonished a Turkish advanced guard—
as far as we can make out. The heavy night dews here
are sometimes tremendous.