The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-14 00:00:00

William J. Smith Neil

George W. Knox

Henry B. Maule Osborne H. Goodonou,gh
Walter M. T. Campbell Henry C. Farrell
Douglas G. W. Moncrieff James H. P. Anderson
Richard B. Rimington Joseph W. R. Dadson
Morgan C. Molesworth Edward M‘Laughlin
Edward Darner Graham R. T. Stevens
Charles W. Walrond Charles F. Roberts
Henry Lo Q. Geary Arthur S. Hunter
An examination also took place on Wednesday and
Thursday last of candidates from Carshalton and other
academies fur young gentlemen, desirous of entering as
gentlemen cadets at the Royal Military Academy, and
the following having been found, qualified were ordered
to join immediately :
Edward Micklem
Granville Deedee
Henry Maxwell Robertson
Ernest St. George Cobbold
George Goodall
Rowland Henry Warburton
Charles Eversfield Bethune
William Simpson Brown
Grant Blunt
John Leslie Telco
Henry Thomas Butter
John Chas. Durban Murray
William Trelawny Scott

Bayard Clarke Cochran
Robert Carstairs Drysdale
Dallious• Holmes Burnes
Charles Douglas Sterling
William Wynne Goodrich
Edward Gilsbs Poingdestre
John Murray Traill
Robert Power Saunders
Henry Bond
Harry Pariell Cole
Arthur Blaney Coddington
Duncan Norton Taylor

Robert John Garnett

FIRST STEP TO STRENGTHEN THE
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE
ARM-Y.

If the appointments made under the following order
are made with a judicious discrimination in the choice
of the persons appointed, an important step will have
been taken towards the more complete organisation of
the military medical service. But much more mast be
done :
Victoria It.—Whereas it has been represented unto
us that great benefit will result from re-establishing the
rank of apothecary to the forces, our will and pleasure
is, that apothecaries to the forces shall form part of the
regular establishment of the army, and that they shall
rank as lieutenants, according to the dates of their com-
missions for the first 15 years of their service, and after
that time as captains, but as juniors of that rank.
The pay of an apothecary to the forces shall be : upon
first appointment,
.9s. a day ; after five years' service,
10s. 6d. a day ; after ten years' service, 12s. a day; after
fifteen years' service, 13s. 6d. a day ; after twenty years'
service, 15s. a day ; after twenty-five years' service,
16s. 6d. a day ; alter thirty years' service, 18s. a day.
He will receive an allowance for a servant, and for
lodging and fuel, if not provided with quarters, and
forage for one horse, if kept.
The rate of half-pay of an apothecary ito the forces
shall be : after 10 years' service, ss. a day ; after 15
years' service, 61. a day ; after 20 years' service, 7s. a
day ; after 25 years' Service, Bs. a day ; after 30 years'
service, 9s. a day.
But no apothecary to the forces shall be entitled to
claim retirement after any period of service under 30
years' duration, upon the ground of ill-health, contracted
in the service, unless such unfitness for service shall be
supported by medical certificates satisfactory to our Sec-
retary at War.
Every apothecary to the forces who shall have served
upon full pay for 30 years, and upwards, shall have the
right to retire upon half-pay provided that the Secre-
tary at War shall be satisfied with the manner in
which sneer apothecary shall have performed his duty..,,
Given at our court at St. James's, this 23d day of
October, 1854, in the eighteenth year of our reign.—By
her Majesty's command.

SIDNEY HELBERT.

ROBBERY or A CASH-BOX CONTAINING- 2141.—Yes-
terday afternoon information was given to the police of
the K division of another of those mysterious robberies
which have baffled the skill of the metropolitan police.
It appears that the counting-house of Messrs. Meesou,
coal-merchants, High-street, Stratford, was entered,
when the following cash and securities, amounting to
2141., were carried off, viz., a small tin cash-box
japanned, with three compartments, containing six 101.
Bank of England notes, four 51. ditto—Nos. 60,687,
60,688, 60,839, and 60,692 ; and 691. ss. Bd. in gold, a
cheque for 11/., drawn by Mr. Pearce on the London
and Westminster Bank, and dated 4th, November, 1851.
Two cheques drawn on the Accountant-General for
151. 10s. 2d., and 71. se. respectively, by virtue of a
power of attorney to Mr. John Moeson ; the subscrip-
tion-box, containing an account of money for Christ
Church, Stratford ; and a bill for 31/. Gs. Everything
connected with the affair shows that the robbers were no
novices, and that they were pretty well acquainted with
the premises. A large reward is offered for the awe-
hcnsion of the thief, who is described as being thin and
tall, and cloned in a dark coat and trcuicro,

,

[PRICE SD.

TEE BATTLE OF ALMA.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Oct. 22d, 1854.
The battle of Alma was a specimen, perfect in its kind,
of the rudest tactics, or, I should rather say, in this battle
even the rudest elements of the art of war were, save in
one instance, utterly discarded. The loss having fallen on
four regiments in an army of more than 20,000 men must
prove to the veriest tyro in the military art that our Ge-
nerals could not, or would not, make use of the mate-
rials at their disposal. There was, in fact, no " move-
ment," except by Campbell's brigade, during the entire
action ; it was merely a repetition of the Gough
battles in India. All was carried by the bull-dog
pluck of the men, with a sacrifice of life far beyond what
was called for. The Light Division, consisting of six regi-
ments, was led to the attack of heights almost precipitous,
over the most difficult ground, having to pass through a
vineyard abounding in holes, and a river, under a most
murderous fire for about half a mile. In this advance two
regiments, by some accident, or mismanagement, were
utterly thrown out of the action. When the others reached
the bottom of the heights their ranks were completely shat-
tered. The men were not allowedto form—not a moment was
given them to close their ranks ; they were hurried to the
assault breathless and in utter disorder. The result was
as might be anticipated—all was ono mass of confusion—
no one know what he was doing, whether ho stood on his
head or his heels, and they were obliged to retire a perfect
mob ; we were twenty and thirty deep, and so completely
was all order at an end that even men of different regi-
ments got mixed together. I now felt assured all was lost,
and I involuntarily cried out, " Oh Napier, Napier, would
that you lad led us !" At this dreadful momenta battalion
of Guards came to the rescue—they
steadily passed trough
the retreating columns, and with the well-timed appear-
ance of the Highland Brigade on the flank, they gained
the heights and bore off the laurels, or rather snatched
them from the unfortunate Light Division, In fact, the
result of the day was nearly being as disastrous as it was
brilliant. There seems but one opinion, that ignorance of
the veriest elements of the military art cost unnecessarily
many noble lives, independently of jeopardising the whole
affair. Numerous are the acts of individual heroism I
could relate—in truth, these were to be witnessed
on all points the courage of the soldier was patent
—but the skill of the General was nowhere. The
battle over, let me toll you how the wounded fared.
There was no ambulance to take them off the field. Six
wretched stretchers per regiment was all the provision
made to bring them to the hospital. Having reached this,
the amputations took place on the ground without the most
rudely constructed bench or seat having been provided to
alleviate their sufferings. Xot even was light, even a rush
light, provided to enable the surgeons to see their work
correctly—and there was no water for the unhappy
wounded crying in their agony for it. So much for
Alma. As I said in my former letter, pensions, and
stars, and honours will be showered on many ; but what
will be the fate of those who really won the day ?
At this moment there are more than 50,000 bayonets
before Sebastopol. The whole of the English are in posi-
tion directly in front, with the exception of one regiment
and the cavalry. We occupy three-fourths of the terrain,
and a French division the remaining fourth, leaning on
the sea to the west of the town. The remainder of
the French are in position a mile in our rear watching
any relieving force which may appear, and which
is daily expected. The Turks are four miles
further in the rear for the same purpose. The fire on the
forts, of which there are five, not including the sea bat-
teries, has as yet made no very important impression.
The town has not been fired into, and, as it is not walled
in, I fear its capture will be more difficult than was anti-
cipated. On the land side it is dependent on detached
forts of groat strength ; they are much in advance of it,
mutually supporting. If they are to be carried by assault
it will be a terrible business, and I begin to fear the season
being so much advanced will not admit of any other course. I
upend a couple of hours every day on the hill over the town,
dot more than a mile distant, gazing on the horrid scene,
reflecting that in a short time those imposing buildings,
those crowded streets, those magnificent gardens will be in
ruins, and ravaged by a licentious soldiery. I have seldom
seen a town that presents a more pleasing appearance.
However, fall it must, and I trust our release from this
savage life will follow. Now to more general matters. The
discontent of the officers is great, general, and I must addjust.
They were disembarked with three days' rations of pork and
biscuit ; these, withcloak, water canteen, rum flask, and a
second pair of shoes, all carried on their backs, rendered
them little disposed either honourably or physically to
perform their duties at the close of the day when the mere
fighting was over. The tents were put in the transports
which brought us, and sent on shore again a few days after
we had disembarked, but after we had enjoyed their shelter
for three days they wore reshipped, and did not reappear
until a fortnight since, when disease began to thin our ranks
at the rate of 100 men per day, entirely owing to exposure
to a burning sun by day, and heavy dews by night. Until the
tents came officers and mon were living like brutes of the field,
without any shelter whatever, all in common. The men
if anything were bettor off them the officers, having the
protection of blankets, while the latter had none, and tho
country did not afford the means of shelter in the shape of
homes or wood. lam convinced not one word of discon-

tent would have been uttered had these privations been
unavoidable, but that such was not the fact is proved by
the French, and even the Turks, enjoying at this very time
every comfort which a tent and camp equipage could
give. Even had the tents been brought up when the non-
combatants (paymasters) arrived, much misery and dis-
content, and, above all, ma Ives wquld have been spared;
But I really believe it was intended to leave us without
tents, and that we are indebted for them solely to cholera
showing itself. Even now we are without camp equipage
of any sort. We eat, we sleep, we drink on a bundle of
hay—our baggage being in the hold of some transport.
The majority among us can boast of only one shirt. The
officers are ragged and scarcely clean, while the men are
filthy to the last degree, and are to be seen in divisions
lousing themselves with all the frantic desperity of Lazze-
roni. The French are struck with amazement at seeing us
in tkis plight, they themselves being as neat as if fresh
from the Champs Elysees.
I must not forget to mention that the pack horses, which
we wore ordered to prepare for our baggage at serious ex-
pense and inconvenience, remain still at Varna. lam not
much disposed to grumble, but when I view the misery and
wretchedness of those who really do the work, and com-
pare it with the ease and comfort of those staff gentlemen
who will come in for all the honours and prizes, even my
spirit rebels.

There is, however, one bright spot in the picture—our
commissariat is good, the supplies excellent, and varied
as much as possible. Cholera has at length disappeared.
We have been favoured with the finest weather. There
has not been more than 12 hour 3 rain since the army
landed, and there is every prospect of a continuance. The
loss in the trenches has been marvellously small, not much
in excess of a hundred men. The Lancaster gun, as far as
I can collect, is a complete failure.

I must not omit to m'ention an anecdote illustrative of

our medical administration. The surgeon, on seeking for
the necessary medicines for diarrhoea was met with the usual
"regret that they were all exhausted, but that balsam ca-
piva; could be had at the depot in quarts, and salts and '
senna iu gallons !" diarrbma being at this moment the
prevailing scourge ! Would these things have occurred
under Napier? No, indeed. That good man, that
mighty chieftain, that idol of the soldier, would have laid
down his own life a thousand times rather than permit
that those by whose valour and blood the chief officers
wore to acquire honours and pensions should, their noble
work once done, be treated as beasts of the field—as beings
without souls.
My next will be from Scutari. V. N.

P.U.—Although retrograding, I must again observe
upon the proceedings at Devna, from whence I wrote to
you, that place of such terrible celebrity—nothing you
have read or heard can give yon a true idea of its insalu-
brity. It was selected for the thrice unhappy light divi-
sion by Sir G. Brown, with that indifference to the com-
fort and savage recklessness of the lives of those who have
to curse the hour they were placed under his command,
which have characterised his career in this campaign. Once
fixed here, the deaths resulting from the utter inefficiency
of the medical arrangements (the inspector-generals of the
department are the true criminals) are fearful to contemplate.
In our hospital, there was not for a long time previous.
to our departure for Bulgaria the ingredients necessary to
compound the simplest diarrhoea medicine—there were no
candles, no oil, not even soap. Can you conceive such
heinous and scandalous disregard on the part of the heads
of the medical staff of even the decent discharge of their
duty. While we were dying off like rotten sheep for the
want of the commonest medicines, the medical depot at
Varna, only 30 miles off, was amply supplied with stores.
Sad, indeed, was the inhumanity displayed.

Mr. Charles Kemble, the dramatic actor, died on Sun-
day, at his residence in town, having just completed hie
79th year.
THE LATH EXPLOSION OP FIREWORIS. Maria
Thompson, who received extensive injuries at the recent
explosion of fireworks in Cannon-street, St. George's-in-
the East, died yesterday in the accident ward of the
London Hospital. Deceased was in her 25th year. This
is the sixth death arising out of the above unfortunate
catastrophe. Two other sufferers remain in a very &in-
gems condition.

,
- MR. SMITH O'Bninx.—The following particulars,
which we take from a letter addresed by an officer of
the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Packet Company to
his father, a respectable citizen of Salisbury, will be read
with interest .—" At Ceylon we met the Noma, one of
our steamers from Australia ; she had on board Smith
O'Brien, and Martin the editor of the Fe/on newspaper,
who was transported also ; you are no doubt awareie thatde
they have received a pardon on condition that they
not enter England or Ireland, and they are_ra.;_fteiiii.Y
themselves of it to go and settle in France. Mr.
O'Brien, having a relative in Madras, camehc_
willtntaukso
and will go to Marseilles by the mail which
him,i ever met, quiet and
this letter, so I have taken the opapnodrtluninituy,tofsehyal•ing
some long conversations withthat
he is as gentlemanly a fellow as
lot. He often spoke of
thecen treenbteeldl
ieaup poafr einstlts,withd his
it
dupe of others, for
at the tale of the
widow's garden,cabbage
He appears to me was a good joke.
-1 rather spare, and in
for a great leader :he is tall an t
me
of
his
reia.
• dicating pluck and talents,
h e has nothing about to hhatea nibndeensaYt laughs 6
e
Salisbury seemed
spin about the
tlfacey e s very
and like
when
ehadl
yr Hea
as spoke
from
long o
muck pleased,
and house,
oausseile4ti:"in&egenre'nradl Ia
really
enjoyed Wilton
conversation,suchuwrc h
very well-informed mfann,dbouftlieslteecti,dinegdltyov\i,osicoanlarnyiusiliac,hsios
polities. He is very o
I sung songs and duets with a lady possenger on board,
which he seemed to enjoy highly, and thanked me
very much for it afterwards. 1 had a short yarn with
Martin at Galle, but he is a man of another stamp, ap-
parently clever, determined, and resolute, very stout,
and red-faced, looking as if he cared for nothing. He is
very quick in talking, and I should say was a man of
considerable mental pow€r, but I was not long enough
with him to form more than a hasty opinion. It was
rather strange meeting these notable men in India, don't
you thi4 4Q l"—.lsaligiury Journal.