The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-22 00:00:00

--ASTLEY'S EOR.OPF.'S NATIOXAL

Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke.
Tars EVENLNO, Julia 22,
Will be presented the new Grand Historical Ml itary spectacle, en-
titled THE COSSACK.'S ; or, Vive la France.
Followed by a series of Chef d'Olvres of Art„or Equitation DE
LA 11.11.TTE ECOLE deve'oped in the ^t lezies in the CIRCLE, the
-whole arranged and conducted by Mr. William Cooke.
To conclude wi la (4th time) a Comic Ballet, called THE RIVAL
AitTISANS.
Hoc-Ake open from Eleven tEI Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West.

ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
Open for the Season.
THIS EVENING, JUNE 2?,

Wlll ha repeated an entirely NEW and BRILLIANT PIECE
of FIREWORK on a gigantic scale, representing the British Lion.
and Gallic Cock Trampling on the. Russian Eagle. All the numeroaa
attractions of the gardens as usual, including the beautiful Panorama.
a Chum, by Daneon—the extensive and interesting Menagerie—
Vocal and Instrumental Concert : Miss Poole, 3liss Ransford, and.
Mr. Manvers, &c. Concluding with the attack of the British Fleet.
on Chusan—Explosion of the Batteries and Ships, and final Grand.
Display of Fireworks, by Southby. Feeding the animal., Half-past
Five. Concert, Half-past Six. Fireworks, Quarter to Ten. Ad—
mission to the whole, Is.

• HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tuns DAY —Morning 0 min.after 0 I Evening 54 min.aft. 11
ToAtioaaow—Morning 19 min.after 12 Evening 43 min.aft.

THE WEATHER.—strx OPPIC7i, JuNu 22.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
69 - highest sinco noon yesterday.
59—lowest this morning and during the night.
G 9 —this day, at noon.
BAROIIIETER, 30.18—still rising.
WIND, W. to W.N.W.—Light breeze. and cloudy',
with annshine. We have had some slight rain last
evening.

•

)li3lo

remain perversely sceptical, obstinately rejecting
the testimony of their own senses—" who have
eyes and see not, who have ears and hear not,
neither do they understand." What is daily per-
formed in Whitechapel, or Spitalfields, or Syden-
ham, may also be done in Yorkshire, or Lan-
cashire, or Derbyshire. What TItUMAN and Co.,
PALMER and Co., the Mint, the Crystal Palace,
and many other great establishments easily
achieve, cannot be regarded as impossible.
If not impossible, then, why should not the
statute be made universally applicable t It is but
a poor compliment to her MAJESTY'S liege sub-
jects in the Duchy, or the West Riding, to say
that their health and property are not worth pre-
serving. The BOUNDEItBYS may protest against
any interference ; but we do not believe that
intelligent, clear-headed men—such as we believe
the immense majority of the millowners, and of
all who would be affected by the Aet, to be—
would continue their opposition, when they found
that they could comply with the requisition of the
law not only without difficulty, but with profit to
themselves. Let Parliament, then, show that it
is really in earnest, and all opposition will cease.
Men will not believe that such is the case, so long
as the legislation is -exceptional, and only applies
to one part of the kingdom. If in London and
the surrounding districts there are 8,802 furnaces
to which the Act is applicable, there must be several
hundreds of thousands throughout the entire coun-
try; and as the Marquis of LANSDOWNE declared on
Monday evening, " it now remains for Parliament
to prove their perseverance by assenting to any
further provisions for literally carrying out the
objects of the framers of the Bill."

* A map precisely of this character has just been
issued under the subjoined title—a map clearly defined
and brilliantly coloured, and entitled, by its various
merits, to extended popularity : "Stanford's War Map of
Russia, showing the Distribution and Military Oiganisa.-
ticin of the Empire, with descriptive Letterpress." Bvo.
pp. 5. London : Edward Stanford, 6, Charing-cross,
1854.

The smoke nuisance is really to be abolished,
so far, at least, as the metropolis is concerned.

The enactments which last session received the

legislative sanction are to be strictly enforced, and
owners of furnaces who fondly imagined that the
matter would be suffered to end—as it began—in
smoke, will speedily find to their cost that they
have reckoned without their host. On this mat-
ter, at least, Lord .ABBE,DEEN spoke clearly and
explicitly. He stated the number of furnaces to
which the Act was applicable was 8,802. This
was the return made by the Police Commissioners,
who are now printing notices to be served on the
proprietors or parties responsible, specifying the
provisions of the law, and requiring that imme-
diate steps should be taken to prevent any viola-
tion thereof.
It may appear strange that so many per-
sons should have so long neglected that which
would not only be exceedingly advantageous
to the community in general, but also a
source of considerable pecuniary saving to them-
selves. It required not the decisive and unanswer-
able statement of the Earl of SHAFrEsnuRy to
the effect that " he had collected evidence from
all parts of the country with relation to the
question, and the invariable testimony that the

y was tha.
consumption of smoke might be accomplished at a
very slight expense, and with a saving of fuel to
the extent of 10, 20, and sometimes as much as 25,
per cent. The same fact has been long since
tablished by the experience of Mess's. Tx'

Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, as Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT
confessed, did no more on Monday night than ask
the House of Commons to be consistent, when he
proposed to reduce the salaries of the gaol chap-
lains belonging to the Established Church by the
sum of 1001. The Honourable House had reduced
the Government proposition by five times that
amount for the services of Roman Catholic Chap-
lains—had reduced it to nothing, in fact—and it
was but mere decency that if Catholic priests were
to attend prisoners for nothing, Anglican priests
-should attend them on as cheap terms as possible.
Not so, however% thought the house, and Mr.
SCHOLEFIELD was actually left in a minority of
about one-tenth of the house. He took the oppor-
tunity of glorying in his former success, and
doubtless considers himself as the guardian angel
of Protestantism,—nay, we should not be sur-
prised if a Lord Mayor should propose to erect
a statue in his lifetime to his honour. He
must, however, if his Protestantism has not
overpowered his better , humanity, have been
ashamed to hear Catholic members declaring
that they would not retaliate by supporting the
amendment, and depriving Protestant prisoners
of the spiritual attentions of Protestant clergy-
men. To this refusal to return evil for evil, Mr.
SPOONER owed what may be called in some sense
his second and overwhelming majority. Mr.
SCHOLEFIELD'S object was, of course, attained by a
cross debate, which expOsed the illogical and illi-
beral result of the former one. He did not pro-
bably even wish to save a paltry 1001., or to
mulct a single gaol chaplain. A word, however,
to the clergy of our own Church. We do not
wish a clergyman, more than any one else, to work
for nothing ; but we have known cases of clergymen
refusing to do duty in workhouses and gaols whore
the labour was trivial, and which ministers of
other denominations were quite ready to undertake
gratuitously. Roman Catholic priests have never
to the best of our knowledge declined any oppor-
tunities offered them in this line, and we are
strongly of opinion that, as a general rule, no
clergyman, and no bench of magistrates or House
of Commons on his behalf, should hazard the
charge of mercenary motives being brought against
a religious teacher. We exceedingly dislike the
tendency of these debates ; it is undoubtedly to
foster very undesirable views of the clerical charaz
ter. The public out of doors are not only dis-
• gusted with the illiberality which refuses State pay
• to every sect but one, but it is also very apt to
draw disadvantageous comparisons between the
clergy who patiently continue their ministrations,
although refused a single penny, and those
whose advocates claim for them the very utter-
most farthing.

The Earl of Aberdeen has given the valuable rectory
of Warrington, Lancashire, vacant by the preferment of
the Hon. and Rev. H. Powys to the see of Sodor and
Man, to the Rev. William Quekett, M.A., incumbent
of Christ Church, Watney-street, St. George's-in-the-
East, London.
The Marquis of Landsdowne will give a grand concert
of vocal and instrumental music ou Monday next, at.
Landsdowne House, in which the principal artistes of
the Royal Italian Opera will assist.
The Duke of Portland is expected to leave Harcourt
House early in the ensuing week, for Wellick Abbey.
Lord Henry Bentinck will again take the management
of the Burton Hunt next session.
We understand that private letters from Viscount
Stratford do Redcliffe, our Minister at the Court of the
Sultan, have been received by his family in this country,
announcing that his lordship and suite had removed
from Para to his villa at Therapia, where, we believe,
his lordship, who bad recovered from his recent indis-
position, intended to pass the summer. The Viscountess
and the Hon. Misses Canning are staying in Grosvenor-
square, and it is uncertain when they will join his lord-
ship.
STAR CLUB.—The usual annual whitebait dinner of the
members of this club was held on Wednesday, the 21st
inst.. at the Trafalgar., Greenwich, and amongst those
present were, his Excellency the American Minister and
Miss Lane ; Mr. M. Chambers, M.P. ; the Earl of
_ _

Kingston ; 'Mr. Rolt, M.P. ; Mr. Pilkington, M.P ;
Mr. Kershaw, M.P. ; Mr. and Mrs. Guidalla ; Mr.
Sheriff Wallis ; Mr. Mare ; Mr. Barnes, M.P. ; Mr.
Forrester, &c., &c. Mr. Oliveira, M.P., presided.
WINDSOR, Wednesday.—The anniversary of her Ma-
jesty's accession to the throne was observed here with
_ _

_......,.a. .UMA N 2 es._ the usual honotirs.—The Duke and Duchess d'Aumale
HANBURY, and BUXTON, who find that during and attendants arrived at Windsor yesterday afternoon,
many years they have, for an outlay of 3,0001., by special train on the South-Western Railway, and
wenth ovioin
Windsor,
e:Er the st:Ate and private apartments of the Castle.
succeeded in saving 2,000/. per annum, or a con-
T . anrevv.aoGa.otWbelltehsleye dehtahs afccetreduthe
sumption of 6,000 tons of coals; or, in other deanery o
on.
words, about 33 per cent., or one-third of the and Very Rev. Dr. Grenville. The The appointment had
first cost price of the fuel, and 66 2-3 d per cent. been previously offered to and refused by the Rev. Lord
on the original outlay, which was completely re-
OWE r:;t7hinedslseoyr.Rucsshealrllaesnd Atlhileeßr ev. Wm. Canning, canon
1 , Esq , principal clerk of
imbursed in the short space of eighteen months. the kitchen for many years, is appointed deputy-comp-
So
far as to the pecuniary results, which should troller of the royal household, in the room of Mr. No
satisfy the most covetous party, even if there ton. Mr. Miller is well qualified for this responsible
41 office, and is universally respected in the royal house-
were no public objects to be achieved. In "a° hold.-400 of the 46th Regiment of the _ine, from
latter point of view they are even more remark- Weedon, marched into Windsor this morning, to join
able. It is found iu that gigantic establishmen t the other part of the regiment quartered here, and doing
that the smoke is completely got rid of, and that duty at the Castle, under the command of Colonel Gar-
the weavers of the vicinity are enabled to manu- rat, K.H.
-
HAMPTON COURT AND KEW-GARDENS. The number
facture their fine fabrics without annoyance or ef persons who went to see the State apartment at Ham r,
injury. The City Surveyor, in his Report to the ton-court Palace in the year 1853 was 180,753, being
Board of Aldermen, corroborated this part of the 7,000 more than in the previous year, though only half
case, declaring, in the most unequivocal terms, its the number for the Exhibition year. The number of
week-day visitors to Kew-gardens in 1853 was 210,741,
complete efficiency. being 20,000 less than in the previous year, and 120,000
Why, then, should there be any hesitation in less than in the Exhibition year ; but Kew-gardens were
stringently enforcing the salutary provisions of the open on Sundays, last summer, and where
ivisitedl on those
law ; nay, more, in extending these provisions, so
visitorsdaysby
ll.as-to,4e6a9rp3e3rslo2l, , making
0 orrathert numbermoe wrelotheane
ven t
the
that they should be applicable, not merely to the number of they Exhibition year.
metropolitan districts, but to the entire kingdom. ROYAL CALEDONIAN ASYLUM.—A special general
It would bo a boon even to the proprietors of fur- court of this corporation was held yesterday, at the
naces themselves to do so. So long as the matter iScottish
consideration
tCrane-court,of Fleet-street, eget -esctiraele t., to
committeetak e
remains optional, they. will behold with apathy appointed to consider de ,best means of preventing
and indifference valuable combustible material any further diminution of the funded capital of the in-
wasted in polluting the atmosphere. In seeing stitution. His Grace the Duke of Buecleuch, K.G.,
that which, when properly applied, would be
waspresidentread b
theof s institution,sore ta r
that Tuhiee
funded
worth hundreds of pounds sterling to themselves , property oT the
the corporation, It
which'npar a few years ago
doing thousands of pounds worth of damage to amounted to above 22,0001., has been diminished to
the property, and an incalculable amount of injury t little more than 12,0001., and that the expenditure
to the health, and even to the lives of their nei,th-
,
that each man is b 44
ILUTIL non annually exceeded the income, which rendered sales of
hours. If the maxim of law be well founded
stock necessrry from time to time. The report sug-
gested various economical reforms, which were discussed
ound— sic uteri sue ut alie- at some length ; after which the Rev. Dr. Cumming
/cedar —.so to use his own property moved that the report be received, and ordered to lie
that ll© shall not .on the table, which was carried by a small majority.
of injure another man's, surely
the combustion A vote of thanks was passed to the noble president, and
smoke should be enforced
not in one town. enforced, the meeting separated.
11 or district onl but in
meet-
every locality throughout yv Tnc ATHENAMM INSTITUTE.—Last evening a
the length and breadth ing of literary men of the mltropolis was held at the
of the land, and that,
although the sanitary I am Freemasons"favern, to consider the -best means of ad-
cleanly movement should bevancing their social position and their general interests.
attended with con-
siderable expense. When, then it Mr. Scholefield, M.P., occupied the chair. A motion
can be done, having been agreed to affirming that it was desirable to
not only without expense, but ;it
h a very de- form the literary body into a corporate institution to
Bided saving, it is the more imperative in the protect their rights and interests, Mr. Tomlins dilated
Legislature to lose no time in passing that which at considerable length upon the disadvantages experienced
miolt, in every sense of the word, be design t d by men of letters, from the circumstance of their profes-
a e sion having no recognised position in society. He con-
a wholesome measure. eluded by moving a resolution in favour of the Athenesum
The only excuse would be the absolute impos- i Institute, but the proposal not meeting with unanimous
sibility of the achievement. What one man has I approval, the meeting, after a very prolix discussion,
accomplish ; a/
done, however, another may
.0 upon the best course to pursue in order to carry out
when we hear of the triumphant success that has the principle affirmed in the first resolution.
attended the experiments of Messrs. TRUMAN,
from
oAIIsRI7LS OF GOLD.—The Prince of Wales has arrived
HANBURY, and BUXTON, we must remain in- valuedyatn:ool. but
The
?eo
zbarlitusfroomn lyNleowo
youonrkcesyesterdaydifferent to the protests of those who choose to . has brought 125,0001.

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 22, 1854.

GUN-BOATS FOR THE /3.1

" REVENNONS A NOS MOUTONS."

The launch of the " Wrangler affords us the
opening for once more returning to this vexata
questio. Our readers may not all know that the
naming of men-of-war is a Board business at the
Admiralty, a matter of discussion, consideration,
decision, and resolution. We can well fancy what
was the tone of discussion that led to the name of
" Wrangler" for the first of the lot of vessels put
in hand in consequence of the urgent demand of
Sir Charles Napier for gun-vessels of light draught
of water. We can fancy how indignation was ex-
pressed at the insolence of those (whose name is
legion) who have, whether professional or unpro-
fessional men, dared to question the wisdom of the
resolve that adopted wholly wooden vessels of great
draught of water to partially iron ones, that have
been, and again may be built, of about one-half the
draught.
We
can picture to ourselves how the press came
in for its share of vituperation, for having both in
town and country given every facility to corre-
spondents, and itself taken no small part in can-
vassing the question—and how we, among others,
,Mboul Molloy," ,
sink,"
and destroy," but
are meant—when the authorities, who, like " An-
" are able to break,
tmake,hony
are unable to prevent the free discussion of all that
part of their doings which comes before the public.
The Wrangler's name is settled ; she is called the
jraatme,esdis PrYaete
Swallow of the Fleet. It may be called wrang-
ling, or anything their lordships like, but we
cannot help saying, being a little in the secret
—that any one who swallows the belief that these
Wranglers are the sort of vessels Sir Charles Napier
wrote for must have very large swallows indeed.
Here is a vessel, whose draught, ex-cathedra, is
pronounced to be 11ft. 4in. We have all along said
these vessels would draw nearly 12ft., and we will
venture a good bet, that before the Wrangler starts
for the Baltic 121 t. will be hqr draught.
Will these vessels, the next launched of which
might appropriately enough be named " Daddy
Long-legs," be of more use than steamers of three
times their size and armament already in the Baltic,
and which, if lightened of their coal (always leaving
enough for the work in hand), would scarcely
draw more ? Gun-vessels ought to be able to
follow gun•vessels. These things can no more
chase into shoal water than cau the Terrible, and
we may almost say the Duke of Wellington her-
self ; that is to say, these vessels draw so much
as to cause the same anxiety as to keeping in deep
water as 'either the one or the other. We
doubt not that, in form, strength, speed, arma-
ment, equipment, and rig, these vessels will be
found everything that is commendable, and credi-
table to the Surveyor of the Navy ; but they will
be of little or no service at all in the creeks or
among the rivers and harbours of the Baltic,
and utterly useless in the Danube, where, by and
bye, we expect, gun-boats will be most wanted.
It is well known that Sir Charles Napier asked for
gun-vessels of light draught of water. Plenty of
time was there between the asking and the end of
this month for finishing and equipping. The iron
vessels, with wood topsides, such as the Prussians
and the Czar have had from the builders of this
country, and we cannot help saying great enter-
prises may be jeopardised, because some people in
high places will not take counsel on matters of
scientific experience of any but their own colleagues,
equals in rank, or those who act as if knowledge, in
fact, went by rank, and there could be no appeal from
the decisions on professional pcints of men like
themselves who are at the top of the tree for
the time being. We remember about half
a century ago how an Admiralty, of which,
for aught we know, some of the members of which
are still in existence—sent men-of-war in frames
to the fresh-water lakes of Canada, and among other
things, the usual complement of water casks ! ! !
These NI ere sold, being useless. We don't antici-
pate such a fate for the Wranglers, but we shall
not be surprised to hear the returns after their
arrival will be—

" Not fit for shoal water."

MONE

M A R KE

A I.; 7)
(104111.1-EBCIAL INTELL ru-Exu

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 12,000 bales, including 1,500 American
and 800 Surat taken for export and on speculation.
The market closed with a hardening tendency.
Compared with Friday's rates, prices were ex-
treme. The sales comprised 11,000 American, 700
Egyptian at bid. to 81d., 1,500 Surat at 2id. to
41d., and 130 Sea Island at 101 d. to is. 6d. per lb.
Railway Shares were steady.
The steamer Baltic brings accounts four or five
days later from New York. The money market
at New Orleans was tight, and business in conse-
quence dull. From California the advices received
were favourable in regard to mining operations,
though some of the ravines were drying up. Seve-
ral new discoveries had been made. The markets
generally were quiet.
' The report of the Peruvian Bondholders has
just been completed and published, and will be
found to be of much general interest. It certainly
reflects great credit upon the industry of the mem-
bers, and proves not alone the great attention
paid to the interests of the bondholders, but the
good accomplished, and the injury likely to be pre-
vented. Among the correspondence we find the
following letters :
"Committee of Anglo-Peruvian Bondholders, 33,
"Nicholas Lane, Lombard-street, May, 29,1854
" SIR,— I am directed by this Committee to enquire,
whether at the time the proposition was made to the
Bondholders to convert the 6 per cents. into 42 per cent.
Bonds, and to raise a fresh loan of 600,000/., it was then
in your knowledge that a contemporaneous arrangement
had been made by the Peruvian Agents on the part of
the Government, to convert a large amount of the Do-
mestic Debt into Sterling Bonds, to be disposed of in the
markets of Europe. An early reply will oblige—Sir,
your most obedient Servant,
" (Signed) " GEO. DISMORE.
"Lewis H. Haslewood, Esq., 15, Angel Court, Thog-
morton-street."

We do not wish to be uncivil, although we con-
fess ourselves sore for the nation—therefore, we
give the authorities all the credit we think they
deserve, and possibly the large draught of these
vessels is a 'result of mature deliberation. Not-..
withstanding the admiral's wants, they may have
considered that, keeping these vessels of draught
so near that of the large steamers of one-third or a
fourth the value, their taking the ground may
make them beacons to keep the more costly vessels
clear. We don't say it was so, but it may be so.

TIIE BALTIC WAR AND ITS CAUSES.

TO THE EDITOR OT THE RUN.

Sir,—The news which arrived in London last Friday
from the Finland towns of the Gulf of Bothnia was indeed
startling—as, for instance, from Uleaborg, that Admiral
Plumridge arrived there on the Ist of June with four steam -
frigates, that a deputation from the town received the
answer, that although private property and persons would
be respected, the depot of tar, wood, and shipbuilding,
with its materials, must be destroyed. The deputies
assured the Admiral that all this was private property,
and that no soldier or defence existed, that a great deal
of timber, deals, and tar belonged to English merchants,
which could not, from want of shipping, be forwarded
last autumn, and that the tar was bought at the com-
mencement of this year for the contracts of London
merchants. The destruction commenced, however, im-
mediately, by which the extensive tar depot, contain-
ing at the time only 15,000 barrels of tar, and pitch,
all the deals and timber, seven new ships on the stocks, '
and six vessels afloat, were burnt, together with ware-
houses containing merchants' ships' stores and goods in
trade. Now, all this appears at first sight wanton and
unnecessary, and the more so when the Admiral destroys
what he knows before consists of British property; but
when we begin coolly to search for a cause, we find it
is not at all likely that a British Admiral should act thus
without strong and powerful motives.
It has no doubt already been observed by Sir Charles
Napier that the most formidable weapon in the hands
of iltussia against our fleet among the many thousand
islands and rocks surrounding the coast of Finland
would be a large fleet of row gunboats, and of which it
is known the Emperor has ordered several hundreds
to be constructed. Besides, the activity which exists
in tho dockyards of Sweaborg and Cronstadt for the
construction of these gunboats, merchants in Finland
ports who are proprietors of shipbuilding yards have
taken contracts from the Russian Government to con-
struct such gunboats, and it is also well-known that several
towns have this spring delivered many numbers of them,
which, if they have not succeeded in coasting between the
islands to Sweaborg, now lie concealed among the thou-
sand islands of the Abo Archipelago. To prevent such a
weapon being continued, built, and supplied by private
men to cur enemies is not only sufficient to warrant the
destruction of the materials in all the Finland seaports, but
becomes also an imperative duty to our fleet to execute,
leaving alone other causes, such as drawing the bear out of
its lair to defend its young ; and to prove to the many
stubborn adherents of Russia in Finland that, with all the
past boastful power of their imperial protector, his formid-
able navy of 30 line-of-battle ships and 30 frigates and
steamers, and 200 row gun-boats, cannot protect them, but
must themselves seek protection behind the formidable
granite walls of Sweaborg and Cronstadt.
London, Juno 19.

FRITHIOF.

THE GUN AND DESPATCH BOATS FOB THE
BALTIC.

The first of the six gun-boats ordered by the Admiralty
from Messrs. Green and Messrs. Mare and as put
into the water on Monday last. She is named the Co.,iVrangler,
and, like the others that will follow in a few days—Arrow,
Beagle, &c.—will be at once fitted with her machinery, and
will proceed to the 3altic. These vessels were ordered
only about nine weeks since, and the most extraordinary
exertions have been made to turn them out of hand. The
tonnage is about 470; length, 16.0 feet; and breadth 25
feet 4 inches. Messrs. Maudslay, Messrs. Penn, and Messrs.
Humphrey are Constructing the engines (160 horse-power),
and it is expected that within the next four weeks four at
least will be ready for sea. Unfortunately, with so much
haste in launching the Wrangler the pumps were obliged:to
be kept going on bckard yesterday in the dock. It would,
perhaps, have been safer and more workmanlike, and in
the long run time would have been saved, if she had been
further advanced on the stocks, and not have been sent
into the water in so unfinished a condition ; but we believe
the slip was wanted for another vessel. As it is she is in
the dot k, and she must be kept afloat and completed there.
We stated yesterday, that the Admiralty had ordered
two gunboats to be built also in the Royal Dockyard Dept-
ford. These are to be regular gun-boats, and not despatch
vessels, like the others. They are to be above 220 tons,
100 feet long, and to have high pressure screw machinery
by Penn, of 60-horse power. The larger boats all draw
about 11 feet 4 inches, but the smaller class are to draw
only 6 feet 6 inches, and then all the machinery will be
under the water-lino. There are to be six of the smaller
class built at once—four of them by contract.
It is expected that the despatch boats will average
a speed of 11 to 12 knots, and that the gun-boats will
average at least 10 knots. The former, as we have stated,
all carry six 68-pounder broadside guns, and two 95 cwt.
pivot guns. The latter will carry two of the 95 cwt. guns,
10 feet long.
It is ruilioured that the present Rear Admiral (Superin-
tendent W. F. Martin) will have command of a Channel
fleet, and that Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence will succeed
Admiral Martin as the superintendent of the Portsmouth
Dockyard .—.21/erning Herald.

ACCIDENT IN ROTTEN Row.---Yesterday morning an
accident, providentially attended with no serious results,
occurred to a young lady while riding in Rotten-row.
Her horse—when towards the Kensington end of the
row, and when near the bridge which divides the gar-
dens from Hyde-park —from some cause or other, started
off at full speed, and in spite of every effort to check it,
completely mastered all the efforts of its rider. Spread-
ing alarm among the pedestrians, the horse, a fine grey,
ran at full speed across the bridge, turning down to the
right ; passing through the open space by the powder
magazine, across the carriage drive, and nothing daunted
by the obstacle presented to its course, in the form of
the iron fence which surrounds the drive, rose at it at
full speed : the beast cleared the fence, but (fortunately
for its fair rider, who maintained her presence of mind
wonderfully, and sat her horse like a heroine) slightly
striking the top bar, the young lady was thrown on her
head ; but nevertheless, owing perhaps to the fact of the
horse's speed having been checked by its fore feet strik-
ing the fence, was able to walk at once, and to reply in
a cheerful tone, to inquiries as to whether she was hurt,
" Not in the least." The horse did not seem to have
sustained any injury.

P
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THE WAR.

SIEGE OF SILISTRIA.

It is rumoured in Vienna that the Emperor
Nicholas highly disapproves of Prince Paske wit sch's
recent operations before Silistria, but there is no
good reason for believing this. The Autocrat's
orders were to take Silistria at any sacrifice, and
the Marshal only obeyed orders when ho sent his
men to the shambles.

The Journal de Constantinople gives the follow-
ing details relative to events which took place at
Silistria up to the 2d inclusively
" Letters from Schumla, of the 4th, confirm the
details which we have before given of the combats
at Silistria on the 24th and the 29th ult., and announce
fresh attacks directed against that place by the
Russians on the 31st ult. and the 2d instant, and in
which the Ottoman troops obtained the most bril-
liant success. Unfortunately, this success has been
dearly purchased by the death of the heroic com-
mander of that place, one of the most distinguished
officers in the Ottoman army, Mussa Pacha, who was
killed on the 2d. litissa, Paella, died nobly as he had
always lived, for his country and for his Sovereign ; and
Turkey deplores in him the loss of one of her most de-
voted sons and most ardent defenders.. He died in-
trepid and calm in the midst of his triumph after having
repulsed an enemy so superior in number. He was a
noble heart who in the different posts which Imperial
confidence had called on him to fill, had always per-
formed his duty and endeared himself to all who were
placed under his orders ; he was a skilful, bold,
loyal, and pious soldier. He received his death-blow at
the very moment when he was offering up a prayer of
thanksgiving to God for the fresh victory which had,
been given to the Ottoman arms. After the attack of
the 29th which cost the Russians so many men, and
when amongst others 150 who had managed to reach
the parapet were killed to the last man, the enemy re-
retired in order to prepare for a fresh assault, and on
the 31st ult. they again advanced with considerable
force to make the assault in the same order as two
days before. The struggle was long and sanguinary,
but being repulsed on all sides they were compelled to
retire. In the evening they sent a flag of truce to demand
permission to collect their dead. This was granted,
and the Imperial troops from their ramparts were able
to count their removing 2,000. On the 2d ult. the Rus-
sians made a general assault, and attacked the forts
whilst their flotilla bombarded the town. This combat
was most sanguinary and unsuccessful for the Russians,
who were met at every point by the Ottoman troops and
driven back. About the middle of the day, when the
fight was .at its height part of a shell struck Mussa
Pacha in the left side ; he only lived a few mi-
nutes after, but, before expiring, was able to con-
vince himself that owing to his excellent arrange-
ments, and the valour of his troops, the attack
would be unsuccessful. In the evening the Rus-
sians had succeeded in establishing a mine under
the first battery of Arab-Tabia ; but the Turks, who
defended that fort, were able to discover it in time,
and by forming a countermine, they blew up from 350
to 400 Russians belonging to the column of attack, who
were ready to enter the breach if their own mine had
taken effect. Taking advantage of the disorder c.tused
by the explosion, the Ottomans made a vigorous sally,
which led to the general rout of the enemy, and the
capture of his entrenchments. In these last affairs the
. ,

loss of the Russians in killed is estimated at from 5,000
to 6,000. The loss of the Turks was comparatively
small. After the affair of the 2d, the Russians, in
alarm, removec' the greater part of their heavy baggage
to the left bank of the Danube."

REPLY OF THE CZAR TO THE SUMMONS

OF AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, June 18.—The official reply to the
last Austrian note is still wanting, but it is re-
lated that Count Modem, who arrived a few
days ago, was the bearer of confidential despatches
to the Russian Embassy, to the effect that the
St. Petersburg Cabinet was willing to make peace
if the Western Powers would consent to relinquish
the positions they now occupy. If they refuse to
do this, no change can be made in the disposition
of the Russian forces. The person from whom
the foregoing information was received is well in-
formed of the state of feeling in the high Govern-
mental circles, and he is of opinion that if the
official reply should resemble that above-n,tentioned
a rupture between the two Governments is almost
inevitable. The Austrian Cabinet even now insists
on the mouths of the Danube being perfectly free
for the future, but if once the sword is drawn,
Austria is likely to be quite as exacting as the
Western Powers. From the very first Russia
entertained the idea that financial difficulties
would render Austria completely powerless, but
in a very few days she will see that she was
grievously mistaken. Most energetic measures will
be taken to restore the value of the currency, and
even the rumour that a large forced loan is about
to be raised has sufficed to bring down the premium
on the precious metalssome 6 or 7 per cent. The plan
appears to be, that 400,000,000f1. or 500,000,000f1.
in Government stock shall be raised within four
years, and in all likelihood this will be effected•
without any great difficulty, it being a notorious
fact, that six months after each of the recent loans
had been made, all the shares were in the hands
of private individuals. The chiefs of the Finance
Department can alone positively know what the
conditions of the loan will be ; but the preva-
lent opinion among our best-informed financiers is,
that the shares will be emitted at par, and the 5
per cent. interest paid in silver. The publication
of the decree concerning this cannot be long de-
layed, as the Government has hardly the funds
necessary for defraying the current expenses of
the State. It was averred that the whole of the
last silver loan of 30,000,000 of florins had been
taken at Frankfort, but perfectly reliable infor-
mation has been given that such was not the
case. Subscribers were found for some 18,000,000
or 20,000,000 of florins.

THE PRINCIPALITIES.

Considerable bodies of Russian troops are re-
tiring from Wallachia to Moldavia.
JASSY, JUNE 16.—Prince Paskiowitsch has
arrived.

The exportation of barley and oats from Molda-
via to Austria has been prohibited.
BUCHAREST, JUNE 18.—The Russians have
evacuated Mogurelli and Simnitza., Large bodies
of troops are retiring from Wallachia to Moldavia.
Five thousand Turks have reoccupied Turtukai.

Communications between Silistria and Schumla
are secured. Though the entire raising of the
siege of Silistria is not mentioned at present, the
cessation of operations is confirmed.
Whether Austria, says the Paris correspondent
of the Times, will enter the Danubian Principali-
ties to commence hostilities immediately against
Russia in the event of the refusal to evacuate, or to
serve as a sort of mediator , between her and the
allies in the event (not considered improbable) of a
speedy evacuation, it is believed certain that it will
be the signal for the allied armies to enter on the
plan of campaign which, if I am informed rightly,
has been already adopted. The Anglo-French
forces will, it appears, leave the right bank of the
Danube and direct themselves towards the Crimea,
where it is thought a combined attack will be made
by sea and land, in conjunction with the Circas-
sians. Immense siege preparations are going on,
and guns of great power have already been sent to
the Black Sea, and, the troops in -Turkey are fre-
quently exercised in embarking and landing. We
may expect; therefore, to hear before long of seri-
ous operations in the Black Sea. It is now nearly
a year since I ventured to urge the absolute neces-
sity of an attack on the Crimea, and of wresting it
from Russia, if it were at all desired to inflict a
severe blow on her in that part of her possessions.