The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-11 00:00:00

TELE ATTACK ON PETROPAULOVSKI.

The following interesting letter has been received by
a gentleman in Plymouth, from an officer of one of her
Majesty's ships in the Pacific :
" H.M.S. —, at sea, lat. 49 N., 177 W.
Sept. 19, 1854.
•
-
" My dear Parents,—Since my last letter to you from
Callao we have been continually on the move ; I have
not set my foot on shore since. We went from Callao to
the Marquesas Islands, and not finding the squadron
there we sailed immediately for Honolulu (Sandwich
Islands), and arrived on the 22d of July, having made
our 13,000 miles since leallng Plyinotth. Here we 1
found the English and French squadrons, consisting of
President (flag), Amphitrite, and Virago (English) ;
Torte (French flag-ship, 60 guns), two smaller frigates
and a brig; commenced watering the ship and getting
ready to sail, all hands in good spirits, hearing we are
to go to Petropaulovski (Kamsichatka) , a Russian place,
in search of the Russian frigates, a distance of 4,000
Miles. After a few days at sea the Amphitrite, and a
small French frigate, left U 3 to protect the merchant
vessels on the coast of Ainerica. We have had a very
miserable paesage, nothing but thick fogs since, to the
northward of 30 N., a very harassing time, keeping com-
pany with the squadron in fogs ; we were three days off
the island, in sight of it, but could not get in. Our
admiral went in to reconnoitre the day before the squa-
dron, so on the 29th of August we all sailed in with a
f air wind ; no sooner did we near the town than three
batteries opened fire on us. Being rather late to com-
mence action, we hauled out of gun-shot, and anchored
for the night, the Virago keeping them in play with her
long Tom. Everythieg was all arranged for us to go in
next morning. The Virago came alongside of us with the
French frigate on the other side, and the President
astern. The anchor was just out of the ground when the
sight as made from the President to the squadron to
sac! immediately. What the matter was no one
fr
mil answer : here comes the fatal blow. Our admi-
ral had gone into his qaarter gallery and shot himself
with a pistol, for what, no one can tell ; so all opera-
tions were put a step to for the day. He lived a few
hours, and suite sensible to the last ; all he said was,
' What have I done this for, my brave men l' You
*an easily imagine what a state of confusion it threw us
all in. Now, ale French admiral takes tie command,
and all was arranged to go in the next morning, eo the
'Virago same alongside, as before, and in we proceeded.
Directly we were within gun shot, the three batteries
opened fire on us, and we all commenced in right good
earnest ; the shot, whistling through our rigging like
peas, cut a good deal of oar gear away. We soon
silenced a little fort that was annoying is very much,
raking us, aid pitching the shot just in our cut-
water. We landed the marines and spiked the guns.
We commenced action at nine a.m., and kept up
firing till three p.m., before we silenced the other
two batteries ; we had not time to go in further, for a
strong breeze sprang up, and we saw inside the har-
bour, snugly moored, the Aurora frigate, and a corvette,
ready to give it as as goo' as we opened them out, so
we hauled out for the night without any one hurt, with
eight shot in our hall, and the French and President the
same. The next morning we found the blackguards
had built up all the forts again, se tie old French Ad-
miral held on till the 4th September before we went at
it again, the ships taking up another position to-day with
700 men ready to land immediately the batteries were
silenced ; at 8.30 the men lands i a great many never
to return. ,They had scarcely seen on shore five minutes
before they were shot down like birds by the Russians,
from field pieces on the top of the mountain. They were
on shore one hour, and during that time out of our
three ships 107 were killed and wounded. Oh, what
an awful sight it was to see poor fellows who only an
hour before were all alive, now lying dead, some with
legs and arms off, others with heads off, nearly all shot
about the head and shoulders. Our master-at-arms was
the first shot dead (with five shots in him), two senior
sergeants killed, aid sixteen men ; and twenty-two men
wounded, five of whom have since died. Our two marine
officers woundedonne very severely, shot about the head
and face. Our senior lieutenant and a mate slightly
wounded. The President lost about the same number;
her captain of marines was shot dead and left ashore, and
- about three of her lieutenants wounded. The French
lost about the same ; but oat of the crew of the brig 65
landed, 37 were killed arel wounded. The French frigate's
masts were cut up a good deal. Thank God, we have
come out clear, but not without a slight crack, a 32•
pounder shot came through our quarter, and the splinter
hit me on the leg, and the purser on the arm. We picked
the abet cut of the wood; it was not six inches from me,
quite close enough to be pleasant. We found the place
too much for us ; it is full of guns, and in such a snug
place that you can't get in, so the old Ral gave it up
i
till we could get a stroager force. We are now on
our way to Vancouver's Island to water, being now
on short allowance. We are all tick of this station,
nothing but sea ; the shortest cruise you can take is
3,000 or 4,000 miles, then you get !to some savage
place: The China station is a king to it. We have
not had a thing washed since we left Rio, se a rough
dried shirt is a great luxury ; on exit provisions, and
likely to be so for the next two months. I hope if we
go at it next year we will have.a strong force with us,
but we mast never attempt to land sailors ; they don't
understand it. Our fellows behaved like bricks, they
fired remarkably well and very cool, took their time,
like firing at a target, and made all their shots tell.
I send you a plan of the place, so you can fraagine
r what a nest of guns it is ; we have fired better than
half of our powder and ihot away, and have no place to
get more, there being no stores of any kind on the station.
If they have Cronstadt fortified like this place, and fire
As well, they will give ua a job to take it. I hope the
Admiralty will send out some young Admiral; the nice
old men are very well iu peace, but to lead you into a
snare, and thee go and shoot themselves, is not exactly
. the style. It's very bad having Frenchmen with you ;
you can't understand them, and their ideas of warfare
are different from ours ; they leave as shortly and go to
San Francisco ; we join them after watering, and then I
believe go to the Sandwich Islands. We have not heard
from England since May, so we are quite out of the
world. It will be a long time, I am afraid, before I
. shall hear from you, trusting I may come out of the
next affair like this. We took two Russiau vessels out-
side the harbour, the schooner we burnt, and the ship
with stores is on her way with us ; she is a vessel of
800 tons, worth about 10,0001. ; it will be rather a sell
for the Russians at Petropaulovski our taking their ves-
sel with their winter stock of provisions on board. I
pity any poor Russians we: come across, for our fellows
will show them no mercy. We find that all their men-
of-war have stowed themselves away in snug harbours,
and fortified the entrances, se they will be froze* in all
the winter. We are now 50 men and marines short of our
complement. I don't know where we - to
i get
o more.r
abe
I hope we will be complete before we eh
year's expedition. We have taken several 4 officuerrii
next
pri-
soners, one of them a colonel, and another a captain of
engineers, just out from St. Petersburg ; they a- pp
rather disgusted to be nabbed just arriving at their
'
place. We have been rather unlucky with our killed,
fur they were the flower of our ship's company."

THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

The following sums represent the amount to which
subscriptions to the Patriotic Fund have attained in the
towns with which they are connected :-
Abergwilly, 481. ; Aberaman, 3001. ; Accrington,
455/. ; Aston-le-Walls, 121. ; Aylsbeare, 13/. ; Banbury,
3001. ; Burton-on-Trent, 1,3001. ; Buckingham, 2701. ;
Bottasharn, 431. ; Beeeles, 1351. ; Badger, 321. ; Bake-
well, 1801. ; Barking. 1101. ; Barnsley, 7001. ; Bilaton,
378/. ; Blaadford, 3651. ; Blythe (Notts), 71. ; Brad-
ford (Orangemen), 11/. ; Bidwell (Notts), 751. ; Burn-
ham, 401. ; Beeford, 421. ; Biddulph, 801. ;
mingbam (Professor Anderson's Entertainment), 731. ;
Bodmin, 2001. ; Brighton, 3,0001. ; Dladnich, 6.61. •
Compstall Bridge (Messrs. Andrew's workPe" 1e;
741. ; Chapel-en le Frith (751. by working men);
1881. ; Cranfield, 401. ; Comberton, 15/.
Chip-
ping Norton, 1001. ; Chippenham, 20/ oester:
; , cIL
field, 8001.; Catterick, 311.; Chichester, 5001.; Chester,
2,2801. ; Croydon, 4001. ; Cleebury, 401. ; Cuckfiel,4,
1001.; Christiania (Norway), 1001.; Colsterworth, 481.;
Cromford, 151.; Canterbury, 1,3001.; Charlton
Debtalliils,
2451.; Charlton Somerset, 181.; Chelmsford, z
ling, 141.; Dundee, 4,0001.; Doncaster, 1,400/.; Devon.
port, 1,05 V.; Enning, 71.; Eastham, 531.; East Ret-
ford, 5431.; Egham, 1541.; Edinburgh, 13,0001.; Esher,
1061.; Fenton, 2601.; Fordham, 2514 Pareham, 4001.;
Goole, 1201. ; Greenwich Pollee (R Division), 301. ;
Hartlebury, 1931. ; Eaxey, 801. ; Hawarden, 2501. ;
Hanley, 1,5001.; Hull, 3,2001.; Harston, 151.; Halstow,
61. ; Knare•borough, 3001. ; Kibworth, 771. ;
Killa-
marsh, 431.; King's Sutton, 461.; Kingsbridge, 901.;
Ludlow, 2001. ; Langton, 5001. ; Llandilo, 237/. ;
Llandovery, 90/.; Llanegwad, 331.; Liktlehampton, 87.1;
Lancing, 441. ; Lyons Regis, 1271. ; Litton, 411. ; Long
tttron, 951. ; Landbeach, 161. ; Market Lavington, 591.;
o
sten Say, 521. • Mansfield, 4161. ; Melbourne, 371. ;
limsdatliclueratate,s3o,o4l.; Marypo.rt,27o/.; Moreton in Iliarsh,, 431.; 1
Id 00/.• Maidstone, 1,0101. ; Madoloy (Iron-
liwoerwk.%)._3o!f_Newmarket (trainers and jockeys), 641. ;
ney,'6l3`l. .f„;!.°wl
n;
_Northampton, 1,5281 ; Norton Cuck.
bourne), 251.; Orton, 5001.
; Newington (near Sitting.Okshampton, 1301.; Ospringe,
651.; Porthleven,
Royal ThamesTacttioluPbregtegn' 501.
; Runcorn,
3701.
;
port, 2,5881. ; &wart. , 5.01. ; S wane wcliffe,l4l.; Stock-
-941.
Scarborough. 7001.. ; South Newton, 18/.
se igei,y, 260 i. ; Seaford, 231.
Styrrnp, 50/. ;
Suttowin-Ashfield, 501..
Sudbulry 071.
1,062/. ; St. Bride's, -London 3501. ; Southport,
Tunstall, 5261. ; Tiverton, 5261. , C1e4:1),/. ; Thirsk, 751. ;
ciety's concert, 1001. ; Todmorden,°2tngs Choral So-
Upton S. t. Leonards, 8211.. ; Tunbridge
Vr ells, 1,1941. ;
2501. ; Walton, 321. ; Winchester, 5001. Uttozeter,
341. ; Wigan, 1,5671. ; Warwickshire 1,,,e0m00d Itton,
Warksworth, 81. ; West Felton, 671. ; Woodsat'Z' 2.51
Woodstone, 221. ; Workington, 4301. ; . , '41.;
Ictsm.erstlivo,
3,600/.
Meetings have also been held, and subscriptions
cum.
lected at the same as follows :-Farnham, 1921. ; Gio;_
sop, 10/. ; Harworth, 701. ; Penrith, 2171. ; Petwortb,
2501. ; Rhayader, 261. ; Ross, 601. ; Rotherham, 2201.;
Silkstve, 361. ; Selby, 300/. ; Tamworth, 901. ; Witney,
531. ; Worksop, 9t31.
DIIIIPORD.-The sum of 751. has been contributed
by the officers, clerks, inferior officer', and labourers of
Debtford Dockyard to the Patriotic Fund, and paid over
by the storekeeper to the Accountant-General of the
Navy for the general fund.
Brim- The staff officers, non-commissioned officers,
and privates, of the provisional depot battalion at
have subscribed the sum of 291. 10s, 9d. to the King's
County Patriotic Fund.

PROGRESS OF THE GRAND TRUNK
RAILWAY.

(From the State of Maine Times.)
The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, as established
by the several Acts of the Provincial Parliament, conso-
lidating va,riwas lines previously chartered, extends from
the city of Portland, Maine, to Port Sarnia, C. W., at
the foot of Lake Huron, on the West—with a branch
line to Quebec, which line is to be extended Eastward
as far as Trois Pistoles. The lines finished under con-
tract are as follow :

Portland to Montreal
Quebec to Richmond
Quebec to Trois Pistoles
Montreal to Toronto
Toronto to Sarnia
Belleville to Peterboro'

292 miles.
100 "
153 "
345 is
172 "
50 "

Total..

. 1112

Of these sections, that from Portland to Montreal is
opened for business. The Quebec and Richmond section
19 about to be opened. The line from Montreal to
Brockville, 125 miles, will be opened for traffic in Sep-
tember 1855, and from Toronto to Stratford, 90 miles,
October 1, 1855 ; from Toronto to Whitly, 3S miles,
and from Quebec to St. Thomas. 40 miles, in the course
of the same month ; making 290 miles to be opened i❑
the autumn of 1855, or 632 miles in all, including the
Montreal and Portland, and Quebec and Richmond sec-
tions. In 1856, 197 additional miles will be opened,
making an aggregate of 879 miles to be opened for
traffic within two years from the present time. As to
the remaining 233 miles the time for their completion
is not determined. .
These facts, and all other information contained in
this article, are furnished us by Sir Cusack Roney,
managing director of the Grand Trunk Railway, as
stated in the testimony recently given by him to the
railway committee of the Parliament of Canada.
The capital of the Grand Trunk Company is 9,300,0001.
sterling, or 46,075,000 dole. The total amount sub-
scribed to the Grand Trunk Railway in London in
April, 1E53, was 8,08'41,600Z. The remaining portion of
the 9,500,0001. consists of capital raised prior to the
amalgamation, by the following companies :
St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad Shares 4E248,100
Bonds of the Province 400,000
Other Bonds

Total
Qttebec and Richmond Shares ..... £305,000
Bonds

405,000
1:2,300

Toronto and Guelph Shares

Total.

Subscriptions in 1853

Total 9,500, 000

The capital subscribed consisted of stock, 4,181,4001. ;
company's bonds, 2,090,7001. ; province debentures,
4,811,5001.
Of this capital there ha■ been paid upon stock,
883,1561. ; company's Loud!, 553,2271. ; 'provincial de-
bentures, 735,4171., or a total of 2,171,9001., or
10,533,715 dols.
It may be proper in this connection to say, that since
the foregoing statements were prepared, a further assess.
ment of 2/. 10s. per share, payable Oct. 9, 1854, has
been called in, which was very promptly paid, adding
largely to the amount of the company's receipts, as above
stated. _ _ _

The contracts for the Grand Trunk Railway include
also the building of the Victoria-bridge. ''Taking these
contracts by sections, the prices are as follow :
The Victoria•bridge
Montreal to Toronto, 345 miles 3,000,000
Belleville to Peterboro', 50 miles
Toronto to Sarnia, 172 miles
Quebec to Richmond, 100 miles 650,000
Quebec to Troy Pistoles, 153 miles

Total
The contract for the Victoria Bridge provides that as
additional 100,0001. may be paid to the contractors, in
case the enginesr•in•chief of the company shall on the
completion of the work be satisfied that that additional
sum should be paid to Messrs. Poto and Co. therefor.
The section for Toronto to Sarnia is under contract to
Canadian contractors, Growski, Galt, Holton, and
111`Pherson ; all other portions of the line, including the
Victoria Bridge, to the English contractors, Messrs.
Peto, Brassey, Betts, and Jackson.
There has been already expended, on the
Victoria Bridge, about

Toronto and Montreal section
Quebec and Trois Pintolee section 165,350
Quebec and Richmond section, about
S. Lawrence and Atlantis section, about 315,500
Toronto and Sarnia section
The amount of money actually expended by the Grand
Trunk Company, including the capital paid in on the
Quebec and Richmond and the St. Lawrence and At-
lantic lints, which are now consolidated into it, is
3,721,9001., or 18,051,215 dollars. To this should he
added this cost of the line from Portland to Island Pond,
amounting to about 6,000,000 dollars more, including
the large expenditure in Portland for stations, wharf ac-
commodations, &c., at the India-street stations.

The contracts for the ♦arious limes require them to be
equal to any first-class English railway, and superier to
any now known or in use on this continent. The bridges
are to be of mansonry or brick-work, with iron tubes
across the spans. All these tubes are on the plan •f the
well-knows Britanna Bridge across the Menai Straits
in Wales. The stations and all other buildings, such as
repair shops, to., are t• be of brick or stone, covered
with slates or metal. The contracts include a supply of
engines, cars, both passenger and freight, as well as
gravel cars, snow plough, repair shops, water-houses,
wood-sheds ; in Rh( rt, every article required for the effi-
cient working of the railway. The only exception to
the above is on the Quebec and Richmond section, where
wooden buildings are allowed.
Extensive as are the preparations for the transaction

of business at Portland, they appear quite insignificant
in comparison with those in progress at Montreal. The
rcompany hare purchased for their depot grounds at Poiut
St. Charles, over 100 acres in one extended flat or plain,
upon which they are now erecting engineer and car
works, on a most extended scale, and upon which station-
houses for passengers aacill freight are already in
progress.
But the most imposing as well as the most attractive
of all the works of the company, and, in fact, the most
observable object in Montreal, is the work already
done on the Victoria Bridge ; 200,0001. will be ex-
pended on it in the present year, and it is intended to
expend from 200,0001. to 250,0001. each year during its
construction. All the preliminary arrangements for carry-
ing out the work have been organised, and Pier No. I,next
to the northern abutment, is finished. It is 90 feet long,
15 feet wide, and 36 feet above the summer level of the

river. No. 2 is progressing ♦ery satisfactorily. The
northern abutment, which is 242 feet long by 410 feet
wide, is already brought nearly as high as the winter
level of the St. Lawrence, and is to be carried 31 feet
above the bed of the river. From this abutment to the
north shore of the St. iAawrence there is a solid stone
embankment, faced in rough masonry, toward the cur-
rent 1,200 feet in length, and is so far finished as to be
occupied by a rail track over which the stone for the
piers is now transported. The Titanic proportions of
the works already executed involuntarily excite the
strongest emotions of wonder and admiration.
The bridge will consist of 25 spans or spaces for navi•
gation between the 24 piers (exclusive of the two abut-
ments for the support of the tubes). The centre span
will be 330 feet wide, and each of the other spans will be
242 feet wide. The clear distance between the ordinary
summer level of the St. Lawrence and the under surface
of the centre tube is to be 60 feet, and the height dimi-
nishes towards either side, with a grade at the rate of 1
in 130 or 140 feet in the mile, so that,at the outer or river
edge of each abutment the height is 3G feet above the
summer level.

The bridge is so located as to be in full view from all
parts of the city of Montreal, where it will always remain
the greatest object of attraction to the pleasure tourist
and the lover of art, throwing far into the shade the most
renowned of all the works of ancient or modern times--
not excepting even the Pyramids of Egypt, the Parthe-
non of Athens, or the Roman Colosseum.

[ADVIPTISIMPNT.]-11.1loway's Pills an astonishing
remedy for giddiness in the head.—Mr. Newton, drug-
gist, Hull, states, in a letter to Professor Holloway,
that Mr. John Ware, residing in Stubbs-buildings,
\Vest-street, Hull, had been afflicted with giddiness in
the head off and on for the last 20 years, and though be
tried many things durity, that long period, yet he found
little or no relief from them. At last he was indneed to
try Holloway's pills, from heating so many encomiums
passed on their virtues, and, wonderful as it may appear,
be is perfectly cured, and now enjoys better health than
ever he did before, thanks to Holloway's Pills.—Sold by
all vendors of medicine ; and at Professor Holloway's
Establishments, 244, Strand, London, and SO, Maiden.
lane, New York.
PrAll IP TIP 1411.—POWIIIIPULPITINT
ItICOSSOITS.IIII CLAMPS.— SIGH? IND IIIARTIO —Monism M. and
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Being of the same colour as the skin, is not perceptible ; it
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lixhibitien, 1851.
J, uat
tnhe:ysliyz-ei no; eant
walnut,, very
by email,
whic
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a person can be seenPandek
country scenerz, shi miles distant ; they answer
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