The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-14 00:00:00

ROYAL PATRIOTIC FUND.

A "Patriotic Fund" has been established under the
patronage of the Queen. The document which gives the
Royal sanction to the fund in question is one of the last
which could have been signed by ber Majesty before
leaving Balmoral. The date of the signature, the 7th
of October, shows the readiness of her Majesty to patro-
nise any movement having for its object the pro-
tection and support of the relatives of those who
have fallen in defence of their country. Prince
Albert figures at the head of the _ commissioners

as might have beee expected. The Prince Consort
could scarcely have been absent from a commission

the object of ;which is to administer relief to a large num-
ber of her Majesty's subjects. An admixture of men of
all parties shows that the wish has been in forming the
commission to include all Englishmen who, however
widely they may differ in politics, are united in ono ob-
ject—that of maintaining the honour of their country.
and alleviating the miseries of those who have experi.
'mood losses in consequence of their direct or indirect
participation in the war. All parties come forward to
aid in the great work of softening the horrors of the
contest.

The preamble of the document states that many of her
Majesty's subjects, being anxious to testify their loyalty
and love by a just and generous benevolence towards
the widows and orphans of those who have fallen in
battle, it is expedient to take measures for the safe cus-
tody and application of the funds that may be subscribed
for this purpose. To this end commissioners are ap-
pointed. In the list there are some strange juxtaposi-
tions. The misery—not of themselves, but of others—
has made the commissioners acquainted with " strange
bedfellows." The Duke of Newcastle and the Earl of
Derby pair off most amicably. Viscount Palmerston,
the Baron St. Leonards, and Sir J. Pakington appear in
conjunction. Not only, however, are all parties made to
join in the great object of administering charity, but all
classes are brought together for the same purpose. The
ancient aristocrats, who fancied that to them alone was
to be entrusted the official alleviation of the sorrows of
their fellow-countrymen, would stare to find their noble
brethren associated with Joseph Hume and Samuel
Morton Peto in a grand patriotic endeavour. All these
and various others of all ranks and all opinions are ap-
pointed by her Majesty " to make full and diligent in-
quiry into the best mode of aiding the loyalty and bene-
volence of her Majesty's loving subjects, and of ascer-
taining the best means by which their gifts and contri-
butions may be best applied, according to the generous
intentions of the donors thereof."
The Patriotic Fund will afford a means to all classes
of testifying their sympathy towards those who are suf-
ferers in a national contest. The battle is not between
England and Russia. It is between Englishman and
the Czar. We are all anxious to make sacrifices. We
are all eager to testify our devotion. If we are far from
participation in the actual deeds of arms, we are still
intensely desirous of mitigating the sufferings of the con-
nexions of our fellow-countrytneu who have perished in
battle.

It is not only the Sovereign who is interested in the
result of the tremendous struggle in which we are en-
gaged. We feel that the fight is a personal one. Each
man is an enemy of the Czar. Each Englishman feels
himself a relative of those who have fallen. The widows
and orphans of those who have died on the heights of
the Alma are connected with the inhabitants of the
country by ties scarcely less sacred than those which
originate in relationship by blood. " The Patriotic;
Fund" thus commends itself to the notice of the whole
country, and its success is certain.
The manner in which the objects of the commission
are intended to be carried out is simple enough, and
appears calculated to be successful. A large, number of
commissioners, including, as has been observed, men of
all parties, have been appointed. The commission will
doubtless soon resolve itself into a select working body.
The commissioners aro empowered to call before them
all such persons connected with the civil, military, and
naval services as they may judge necessary in order to
become better informed of " all matters and things most
desirable to be done and performed." Secretaries are
appointed, and the lorti lieutenant, sheriffs, and custodes
rotulorum, with other persons mentioned in the com-
mission, are named "Commissioners in Aid" to encourage
and assist the establishment of local committees. The
nomination of regular constituted officers and committees
to be the channel of the efforts of private benevolence.ievo is
a great step in the right direction. A most mischievous
the
check has been lately given to individual
fcharity by
ounbleye juegc t ifoao:r
similar to those to which the oWcials Patriotic
alleged misappropriation of funds suhsteireibFedueotrf pieurtpeosbeee
applied. The nomination of responsible
managers of thbe
whichimpedednational measure.
the carrying out of a truly •
, ing this fund to the notice of Englishmen. A terrible
There is no need to expend many words in commend-
enfenfincdenwtipllerresoinnos frotmhe
list of killed and ap-
pearance.wounded must shortly make its
Many a hearth will soon be desolate. There are
Death is reaping a fearful harvest in the
•
fCer„i.mor e's who will not have to participate, more or leas
actively, in lamentations for the dead. The mad am-
bition of the Czar has been this occasion for past
weeks
of the slaughter of some of the best and bravest of the
defenders of the country. In our cries for vengeance on
the inurderer, let us not forget the claims of.tbe widows
and orphans of the murdered. At this moment death is
in all probability thinning
the ranks of those who are
mointaining the honour of their country before Sebas-
topol. The victims will be buried far off from that land
which they have died to serve. They die in the hope
that their countrymen will cherish those whom they have
left desolate. Englishmen will know how to respond to
this hope. The widows and orphans of the brave will
not be left to suffer the pangs of want in addition to the
miseries of bereavement.—Daily News.

One of the passengers by the Queen of the South
brought home the largest nugget, considering its purity.
that has yet been found in Australia. It weighs 62
ounces, and consists of almost pure gold ; scarcely a spot
can be seen on it ; it is one mass of pure gold. It was
dug out just as it appears, 150 feet beneath the surface,
at Ballarat. In shpe it resembles a large clinker. It
covers the palm ofa the hand, and averages nearly half
an inch in thickness.
APOTHECLRIES' HALL.—Names of gentlemen. who
passed their examination in the science and practice of
medicine, and received certificates to practise, on Than-
day, Oct. 12 :—John Segar, Dinsdale, near Southport,
Lancashire ; Frederick Abner Gauge, Dover., Kent
Robert Joseph BAnning, Fairfield, near ,L,iverpoel ;
Robert Davis, Llanfair Talhairn Abergele ; I eter Au.
gustus La Farquo, Warwickshire ; Edmund Taylor,
Urmiston, near Manchester.
EPWORTH FAIR.—At this the principal fair iu the Ws
of Axholme, North Lincolnshire,
the the numbr of sheep
' I penned was unusually large, bu.t quality of the am.
• male was not of the most superior kind, they being prin.
• cipally stock ewes, which sold at how 303. to 495. ca.oh.
Fs7hga.otw,dlen7;aps
in
ros
(s)dtwoefnorceaiAssf seise",
enr,ee
1411). i and
nTg rheearrealised from
esmr
ea
demand, and
7s 6d. to
g ootdh.
eh small
number n the fair were disposed of at high prices.

YAV.,..a..111:0 MILITARY INTELLIGEATE.

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having
agreed with the Prussian government to exchange the
Thetis, 36, at Devonport, for two gun-boats, the Thetis
will bs equipped in readiness to be banded over.
The storclesper-general arrived at Devonport on Thurs-
day morning, 0 19,s been busily employed with the offi-
cers of the yard in examining the state of the store of dif-
ferent articles—more particularly the timber.
Lieutenant Edward M. Hogge (1841), serving in the For-
midable, 84, has been appointed to the Wellesley, 72, at
Chatham.

Mr. G. Penny, draughtsman to the master shipwright
at Sheerness, has been appointed assistant draughtsman at
Somerset House.

Miranda, 17, screw, Captain Farquahar, hauled out of
the fitting basin, Portsmouth, yesterday afternoon, to
alongside the shears jetty.
Atholl, store-ship hauled out of Portsmouth dock yester-
day afternoon, into the fitting basin, alongside the inner
shears to step her masts.
Nos. 13 and 22 transports were towed into Portsmouth
Harbour yesterday morning, to receive stores for service
in the Crimea.

Palmyra, transport, will be clear of government stores
at Devouport this week.

RETURN' OF THE FLEET FROM THE BALTIC
AND WHITE SEAS.
The ships of the Baltic are now daily arriving in the
Downs.
The Ajax, 60, screw, Captain Warden, arrived yesterday
and proceeded to Portsmouth.
Captain Ommanney, in the Eurydice, 26, and Brisk, 15,
screw, Commander F. P. B. Seymour, also arrived in the
Downs yesterday from the White Sea, and proceeded to
Portsmouth at nine a.m.
The French brig of war Beaumanoir, from the Baltic,
left the Downs at 2,33 p.m. yesterday for Cherbourg.

REINFORCEMENTS, &c., FOR THE BLACK SEA.
The Salamander, 6, paddle, Commander Priest, arrived at
Gibraltar, on the night of the Ist inst., from Spithead, with
shot and shell for the use of the Black Sea fleet, went
alongside the New Mole, took in coal, and proceeded to her
destination immediately after the quantity required was
put on board.

Sphynx, 6 paddle, Captain Wilmot, which put in there
on the same day from Plymouth, to coal, left the Bay, at
six a.m. for the Black Sea.
Stromboli, 6, Commander Hall, passed Gibraltar on the
3d, from the westward, bound to the Black Sea.

Commander Derriman, whose promotion for services in
the Crimea we announced yesterday, entered the navy in
1829, passed his examination in 1835, and was made a
lieutenant in 1842. He commanded the Caradoc, as a
despatch steamer in the Mediterranean, since April, 1850,
and has performed some heavy work under great disad-
vantages. Ha has been appointed to the commander-in-
chief's flag-ship, the Britannia, 120, in the Black Sea.

SALT BEEF FOR THE NAVY FOR 1855.
The Admiralty have accepted tenders for a quantity
equal to 22,500 tierces of pork and 20,500 tierces of beef, of
which 6,500 pork and 7,000 beef is of Hamburgh cure, and
the remainder of Irish cure, at an average price for pork
of 101. ss. per tierce, and for beef 8/. 10s. per tierce.
The quantity accepted is less than was advertised for by
26,500 tierces of pork and 10,500 tierces of beef. This may
be attributed to the circumstance of many contractors not
tendering, they being fearful of not being able to comply
with one of the conditions—viz., the delivery of one-third
of the quantity before the 31st December next.

The contract is the largest since 1813, when Sir Charles
Flower contracted for 60,000 tierces of pork at an average
of 11/. 13s. 2d. per tierce, and for 40,000 tierces of beef,
at about 101. 10s. per tierce.

THE REINFORCEMENT TO THE WEST INDIA

SQUADRON.

We have announced the departure of the Termagant, 24,
screw, from Spithead for the West Indies, and yesterday
we stated that the Colossus, 80, screw, Captain R. S.
Robinson, was ordered to proceed to that station to re-
inforce the squadron. It was believed that the Colossus
would receive part of the crew of the Ajax, on her return
from the Baltic, but an Admiralty order turned over
yesterday afternoon about 120 blue jackets of the Daunt-
less. They were addressed by their esteemed captain,
Ryder, on the quarter-deck of the Victorious hulk, who in
the most feeling manner pointed out to them the exigen-
cies of the service, and said, however much he regretted
parting with them, yet they must all obey orders. The
petty officers and men are much attached to their officers;
and on leaving the 'Victorious hulk in the Echo steam-tug
they cheered again and again, and went down to Spithead
to shake down in a ship where their services will be equally
appreciated and their comforts cared for.
The Colossus is expected to sail on Tuesday next.
The Termagant put into Plymouth on Thursday after-
noon, and anchored in the Sound.

THE SCREW DESPATCH-CRUISERS AND THE

WAR.

Three of the formidable screw despatch-cruisers are by
this time in the Black Sea. The Arrow, 4, Lieut. Com-
mander Jolliffe, it has bees already reported, has tried the
range of her great Lancasters on Sebastopol, but with
what effect has not transpired. The Beagle, 4, Lieut.
Commander lore, is also off Sebastopol. The Lynx, 4,
Lieut. Commander Reed, by last advices, had left Malta
for Constantinople en route, and the Vesper, 4, Lieut.
Commander Loddar, left Lisbon on the 4th, for the Black
Sea. One of these half-dozen screw despatch-boats, the
Wrangler, 4, Lieut. Commander Risk, is in the Baltic ;
the other, Snake, 4, Lieut. Commander Maillop, is now
ready for sea. It is, we believe, scarcely seven months
since the designs of these vessels were given out (470 tons
and 160-horse power) ; not a timber was then converted,
nor was an atom of the machinery put in hand, and now,
thanks to the firms of Messrs. Mare and Co., and Messrs.
Green, of Blackwall, who built the vessels; and Messrs.
Penn and. Co., Maudslay and Field, and Humphrey and
Co., we have five of the six actually at sea, and engaged
with the enemy, and a sixth ready to start. We believe
every other kind of work was set aside to turn these
ships out of hand ; but the despatch with which they were
designed by the Surveyor of the Navy, and built by the
persons above-named, is unparalleled in the history of
steam-ship building.

We bear that the contractors of those vessels—engineers
as well as shipbuilders—have lost money by the work, and
this is not to be wondered at, when the high rate of wages
is considered; and to have accomplished their task they
must have worked " double tides."