The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-31 00:00:00

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LONDON, TIIISDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1854.

Prince MENSCHIKOFF again gives information
to the enemies of Russia ! The veracious General
certainly deserves credit from his Imperial Master,
for his imaginative powers and the zeal and energy
displayed in his various attempts to keep up the
spirits of faint-hearted Muscovites. The author,
or embellisher, who could discover a Russian ♦ic-
tory in the battle of Alma, and give such glowing
details thereof, as to lead to a Te Deum in the
chief towns of Russia, as an acknowledgment for
the miraculous successes that attended the armies
of the AUTOCRAT, must possess a rich vein of
fancy, peculiarly valuable under existing circum-
stances. It is, indeed, of vital importance to the
defeated General that it should be so. He can-
not venture to deceive norioras. For that the
punishment would be sharp and decisive. It might
not merely be Siberia. In " Holy Russia " the
knout is no respecter of persons, and the most
exalted rank beneath the Throne affords no ade-
quate guarantee that the owner will not be com-
pelled " to eat stick," as a flagellation is
denominated in Eastern parlance. If MEN-
SCIIIKOFF were, therefore, simple enough to
narrate "the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth," it would not be
degradation, only, or the mere removal from
a position which ho would gladly abandon,
but banishment to those dreary regions, so uni-
♦ersally dreaded throughout the wide-spread terri-
tories of the CZAR ; or possibly compulsory
service, not as a General, or even as a commis-
sioned officer, but as a common soldier, living on
the coarse fare, and exposed to all the hardships
incidental to the situation.

But NICHOLAS is well aware of the importance
—we may say the imperative necessity—of
representing everything coleus de rose at
St. Petersburg, and. throughout the interior of
Russia. There is even in that land of slavery
a public opinion that cannot at times be suppressed
or controlled. It is true that it is restrained and
checked, but it is not, on that account, the less
formidable. The necessity for Concealment renders
the feeling more intense. It is treasured in the
heart of hearts, and woe to the rulers if it should
receive audible expression, and its. voice be heard
breaking the long-continued silence. The pun-
ishment of MmiscHniorr would reveal the true
state of the case, and bring the odium, not on
the unlucky General who had lost or materially
endangered the Russian stronghold in the Euxine,
and even the Crimea itself, but on the author of
all these disasters, the man whose indomitable
pride and griping cupidity brought all these evils
on the nation over which he exercises despotic
sway. NICHOLAS,
therefore,
tolerates MENSCHIBOFF
so long as he can beguile
the people, and the
latter knows that his safety depends on the ferti-
lity of his genius for composition. Never had ,
author stronger incentives, and,
few have better
succeeded in raising stately superstructures of men_ 4
dacity on the narrowest foundation of truth,
giving
many " bushels of chaff to each grain of
Certainly, MENSCHIKOFF will not share the fate of
" the brave man who lived before AGAALENE":S.„
He, at least, will never require the aid of a poet
to sing his exploits.
The last MarrscruKoFF despatch professes to
carry on the accounts to the 23d inst. It is to the
effect that the siege had been carried on uninter-
ruptedly, but that the fortifications had suffered
but little " that the attack on the sea side had
not been renewed ;" and that the Russians had
'"
made a successful ,:trtie, and that a French bat-
tor7 of eleven guns and eight mortars had been

destroyed." This is the purport of the despatch,
with the addition that Lord DuNKrunr, captain
in the Coldstream Guards, eldest son of the
marquis of CLANILICARD; who so ably and
fearlessly expressed his opinions of the short-
comings of the English Government on many
occasions during the past Session, , and
Grandson of GZORGE CANNING, had fallen into
the hands of the Russians. We fear that there
may be but too much foundation for the latter
part of the story. Even MmiSCIIKOFF would
hardly venture to give expression to a lie so very
easy of detection. We trust, however, that it
will be but a temporary inconvenience to this
high-minded and excellent young Nobleman, who
surrendered his post as one of the aides-de-camp
to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, to share the
dangers of his brave companions in arms at the
scene of warfare.
We learn from the Russians that the bombard-
ment by land continued uninterruptedly on the
23d, a sufficient proof that no serious disaster
had occurred to the Allied Forces up to
the 23d ; but as to the statement that the
fortifications had suffered but little, we have
already learned from trustworthy witnesses how
totally devoid of truth were the similar statements
previously forwarded by MZITSCHIYOFF. We have
also learned the cause of the cessation of the at-
tack on the sea-side—namely, that the batteries
to which the English and French ships were op-
posed had been either destroyed or silenced ; that,
in fact, the only works which the dastardly sinking
of the Russian Fleet left possible for attack had
been completely and efficiently performed. The
sortie is possible, but we more than doubt the spiking
of the guns and mortars. That an attack was made
on the French battery we can easily credit, but
not with the success claimed against our brave
and efficient allies. On the whole, there is no-
thing to occasion alarm in these despatches, or
even regret, save for the temporary capture of the
gallant DIINKELLIN

Pending the fall of Sebastopol, the country
seems to be awaiting with hardly secondary
anxiety the fall of bread. Farmers, millers, corn
factors, and bakers are watched with almost as
much keenness and half-uttered hostility as the
Russians and Cossacks. The dealers in wheat,
flour, and bread have an advantage, however,
which our military opponents want. They can
mystify us, and possibly are mystified themselves.
We do not understand why we have to pay so
much for wheat, and the lucky farmers rub their
hands over the market table, and wonder they
have got so much. When the millers and bakers,
in the face of the late prodigious fall, kept up
prices till the country could bear the im-
pudence no longer, we all knew where the
fault lay. The trade was aware that it could
only resist the proper consequence of a fall in
wheat, till it had done so long enough to tempt
additional persons to invest their capital in what

was clearly a most lucrative concern. As soon as
any serious danger arose of the respectable jour-
neyman borrowing a little capital on his own
character, and setting up master for himself, they
began to give way. The public, however, saw
clearly in that case where the delinquency lay,
and could direct its fire with precision. The trade
was fairly beaten. The quartern loaf went down.
So long, however, had the bread manufacturers
held out, that they had hardly come down to a
fair price—indeed, in some instances it still re-
mained much too high—than the fall of wheat
was checked, prices began to rise, and instantly
those who were so slow to drop were quick
enough to rise. When wheat was falling
slow indeed was the quartern loaf to give
signs of that fall ; but no sooner does

it begin to rise than the loaf rose even by antici-
pation. A change of ss. 6d. per quarter in the
price of wheat is (giving the turn to the baker

too) equivalent to one halfpenny in the quarters

loaf ; but many of our readers know only too well
that wheat had not advanced to that extent ere

,he halfpenny began to be added.

This time, however, the public does not clearly
see where to point its artillery. The baker only
follows the seller of grain (albeit, so much more
rapidly than he did two months ago), but why the
seller demands, and gets more, the public, and
even the wise ones, seems not to know. Besides
the sellers are so many, and the sons of the soil
have never been held amenable for high prices,
as, in truth, they seldom have much to
do with it. Just now, however, we rather think
they are in great part the cause. They have been
availing themselves of the fair weather since they
got rain enough to work the land, to get their
wheat into the ground. As prices had gone down
so much they had no temptation on that score to
thresh, and as last year filled their pockets better
than usual they were not compelled to send their
corn to market to meet the Michaelmas demands
of their landlords. Hence our lame market has
been but slowly supplied. At the same time im-
portation received several checks. The appre-
hension from drought in America, now known to
be in great part unfounded, the difficulty from
purely mechanical causes, of providing flour
from an excellent harvest in France, for
its coast population to which we were
practically nearer than its own interior, but, above
all, the sudden drop of price in this country con-
curred to deter merchants from importing ; and
hence the unusually small supplies of foreign corn.
The smallness of stocks in hand is also frequently
alleged. This, however, is of less importance this
season than it generally is, since the new wheat
was harvested in such excellent condition as to be
nearly ready for the mill at once. One fact is
very striking, and due entirely to the rapid trans-
mission of intelligence between merchants all over
Europe ; the simultaneous rise of prices in this
and the Continental markets. Few now can anti-
cipate their equally well-informed neighbours by
large purchases from those ignorant of the state
of the buyer's market. Whatever lies the tele-
graph tells about the war, our merchants find it
veracious enough for their purposes. We do not
remember that Mark-lane, or Dantzic, ever
had to complain of any hoax like that which was
played off upon us all a few weeks ago.
The causes of high prices for corn to which we
have adverted all appear likely to be in great
part but temporary. Ample harvests on the Con-
tinent must soon tell upon the foreign markets ;
they will want none from us, but probably be
prepared to spare us some. Canada will more
than make up for any deficiency in the States.
France has prohibited grain to be wasted in dis-
tillation. The Danube is, or ought to be, free ;
and the agricultural wealth of those provinces
where the serfs of NICHOLAS have not destroyed
it, may be expected to reach us in dde time,
while our own abundant harvest must come
in at last. We have seen, indeed, an occa-
sional statement impugning the general opin-
ion as regards the Eastern Counties ; and, in-
deed, so far as our personal observation goes,
we incline to think that, though good, yet
it having been a dry summer, the crops in this
district have not been so unusually good as in the
South, West, and North. We cannot but hope,
therefore, that prices will moderate before long.
The dealers aucl farmers together hay, us pretty

much in their hands, it is true, till importations
can arrive ; but so surely as we have a very large
crop of first-rate quality, and the Continent has
more than it needs, so surely must Ivo have rea-
sonable prices long before next harvest. On Mon-
thy the oscillation the right way began again.
Whether it be the commencement of a more con-
siderable fall, or only a fluctuation at a high
level, remains to be seen. Of our neighbours the
bakers we only demand that the halfpenny a loaf
follow as instantly every fall of five shillings per
quarter, as it has hitherto done every rise to' that
amount.

The more we reflect upon the " fate of the
FRANKLIN Expedition," the less we are inclined
to believe that this noble band of adventurers re-
sorted to cannibalism. No—they never resorted
to such horrors. We must have stronger proof,
clearer evidence of such a state of things, before
we can bring our minds to this belief.
That the FRANKLIN expedition is dead, almost
to a man, we have little doubt. Survivors, how-
ever, there may be still ; and, some day or other,
some relics, such as have been found upon the
Esquimaux by Dr. RAE, may bear upon them
some mark, some token of a prolonged existence.
To our minds the " relics" bear evidence, the
most indisputable, that the' " FRANKLIN Exfedi-
tion"—at least the remnant at the mouth of the
Great Fish River—has died a death of violence ;
and it is deeply to be reeTetted that Dr. RAE, upon
such slender evidence, should have so summarily
decided their fate, and turned from Pelly Bay,
when the distance between him and all that was
mortal "of our gallant immortal countrymen was
little more than one hundred miles.
Cannibalism !—the gallant Sir JoEN FRANKLIN
a cannibal—such men as CROZIER, FITZJAMES,
STANLEY, GOODSIR, cannibals ! Man eating man
—civilised man daring to meet his Maker in a
country in which cannibalism has no place—in a
condition in which the " savages," so called, of
the Great American Continent, thank GoD, never
dare to meet their Maker—in a part of the
world where the severest punishment is
sure to be his doom, an ignominious death and
no grave. Such is the law of the Red man.
In this state of feeling we turned to the nar-
ratives of the Expedition in search of Sir Jourr
Ross down the.; Great Fish River. We began
with Dr. KING'S narrative, which we pronounced
at the time of its publication to be "full of bold
adventure and stirring incident." We quote
to-day what he has said of his dealings, or
rather the dealings of his chief, Sir GEORGE
BACK, with the Esquimaux—with those in-
teresting, but, as it has been often found,
treacherous, members of the great human
family. And we say, with the devoted brother
of one of the crew of the Terror, in his letter, pub-
lished in our impression of yesterday, from the
Times of the same day, that " Dr. RAE has been
deeply reprehensible, either in not verifying the
reports which he received from the Esquimaux,
or if that was absolutely out of the question, in
publishing the details of that report, resting as
they do on grounds most weak and unsatisfactory.
He had far better have kep tsilence altogether than
have given us a story which, while it pains the
feelings of many, must be very insufficient for all."
July 28, 1834:—" We descried a party of Esquimaux,
tented on the eastern boundary of a fall, who, as soon
as they perceived us, commenced running to and fro
in the greatest confusion. Perceiving it was our in-
tention to land, they approached the boat, nine in num-
her, and having formed themselves into a semicircle,
commenced an address in a loud tone of voice, ele-
vating and depressing both their arms at the same time,
a sign of peace. They motioned us to put off from
the shore, and at the same time uttered some unintej-
ligible words, with a wildness of gesticulation that
clearly showed they were under the highest slate of
excitement. At the sound of tinta, peace ; kabloons,
white people—they ceased yelling, and one and all laid
down their spears, and commenced alternately patting
their breasts and pointing to heaven. After this mani-
festation of their peaceful intentions, we landed and
shook them heartily by the hand." A. graphic account
ef this race follows, but our present purpose compels us
to pass on to more important notices of this " race of
fishermen."
August 22, 1834.-4' We reached the 'Fall' where
the Esquimaux were first discovered. To our great
astonishment, they had disappeared. This was the more
singular, as we parted with them on the most friendly
terms."i•
August 26, 1834. —"Reached our cache of two bags
of pemican. It had evidently been opened, and the
contents examined, though carefully covered up again,
which was attributed to the Eiquimaux ; and as several
of their encampments were found close by, this was very
likely to have been the ease,":

August 22.—" Just on opening the ♦iew of
Lake Franklin, the Esquiinaux were perceived
flying with the utmost consternation to the fir-
distant hills, where they could be just made out
with our telescopes as living objects. Their
tents were deserted and their canoes secreted ; a
conduct so widely different from what had been expected
scoria our first interview that we were convinced some-
thing extraordinary must have taken place. Nor could
this be in any way accounted for until our arrival in
England, when it was ascertained the three men des-
patched to Mount Barrow, whose evasive manner at the
time gave indications that something unusual had oc-
curred, fell in during their march w ith a party ofEsquirnaux
and for an instant retreated. The natives, in following
them, fired a few arrows, upon which the men turned
and discharged their guns, killed three of the party, and
probably wounded others, it being the practice
with the voyagers to load their fowling-pieces
with two balls, so as to give them a double chance of
securing their game. The natives, thoroughly dismayed
at seeing their countrymen fall around them, fled in the
greatest disorder, and the men, equally alarmed, betook
themselves to flight also.

" It is a lamentable fact, that this ill-fated people have
hitherto met with nothing but merciless warfare from
those whites who have visited their lands. It is to
be hoped this sad example will operate as a
warning to future travellers never to send a party of
men for any distance in a newly-discovered country,
without one or other of the officers composing the party
accompanying them. A. practice exists amongst some of
the tribes to fire blunt arrows in token of their peaceful
intentions ; which, in ail probability, was the case with
these Esquimaux, though the men were labouring under
too much fear to ascertain the fact. If it was so, and the
friendly conduct of the natives, in the first instance,
justifies the correctness of the assumption, that unfortu-
nate affair is to be the more deeply deplored.
"A depression of spirits (remarks Capt. Back) in the
men who visited Mount Barrow was observed for some days
previously to our leaving the coast ; and it increased as
they approached the site of the Esquimaux encampment
to so great an extent that a gloom spread itself, as if by,
infection, over the rest of the party, nor could it be dis-
pelled without a glass of rum.%
" I confess that these symptoms of fear escaped my
notice, and although the circumstance was not mentioned
to me by Captain Back at the time it happened, it doubt-
less occurred ; which I am the more inclined to
believe from my knowledge of the conflict with the
natives.

"The Esquimau; had they been inclined, might have
reurdered us in our beds with the greatest ease ; for we
were so little apprehensive of danger that the eight-watch
had for some time been discontinued. That some of the
party were in a far less happy state of mind was evinced
by the gloom Captain Back perceived amongst them ;
and in all probability it caused them many an anxious
night. Ignorant of this circumstance, and considering
no good could arise from any further interview, we nei-
ther crossed over to that side of the river where the na-
tives were encamped, nor made the least signs to attract
their notice, which must have ♦ery much increased their
suspicions of our amicable intentions. On leaving the
rapids a number of iron hoops were placed on a pile of
stones, together with ribands ofvarious colours, awls, fish-
hooks, brass rings, and beads, which, of course, would
be construed into treachery on our part, for the purpose
of alluring them across the river that they might fall an
easier prey. During the whole of the 23d Au-
gust some of the Esquimaux were distinctly seen, by
the aid of our telescopes, watching our motions from
behind the rocks, while others were busily engaged in
hiding their Eieyacks (canoes). About noon, the wind
having moderated, we hauled up a rapid, and sailed
along the waters of Lake Franklin.

August 29.—" At Lake Macdougall several fresh
marks, tipped with newly-gathered moss, were percep-
tible ; and several tracks of men and dogs imprinted on
the sand. We had not proceeded far on our course before
we •spied three Esquirnaux slowly rising from behind
some rocks, where they must have lain concealed at the
time of our pacing the shore. A little further on we came
in sight of ten tents, strrounded by men, women, and
children, altogether amounting to about seventy or
eighty. The women and little ones instantly fled to the
rocks for protection, but the men awaited us along the
shore, uttering some unintelligible words, and making
the same friendly motions as the former party. In 6
few moments, however, we were beyond their sight,
for Captain Back declined the interview, as he con-
sidered, in the absence of an interpreter, little or no
information could be gathered from them—tactics, now
that we are aware of the unfortunate attack upoa the
first party, the very worst that could have been adopted.
This was the last time these people were seen, and
it is much to be feared we left them with a very un-
favourable impression."T

* Narrative of a journey down the Great Fish River in
search of Sir John Rose, in 18334-5. By Dr. King.
Vol. ii., p. 68.
't. lan], p. 4-6
.4; Idem, ➢. 67.
Idem, p. 73.
II Hero, pp. 66-7,
Back's Joliney to tilt Foist fies,'