The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-31 00:00:00

THE ALLIED FLEETS.

It may be of some importance to remark, that when
the allied Fleets left their anchorage in the Bosphorus,
on the 4th of January, the admirals sailed, in pursuance
of orders they bad received, to prevent any fresh aggres-
sion by the Russian fleet on the Turkish coasts. But
at that time the orders subsequently despatched, which
direct the allied forces to require all Russian cruisers
found in the Black Sea to return to Sebastopol, had not
reached Constantinople. They did not arrive there until
the 12th of January, and they were immediately des-
patched to the fleets by the French steamer Caton,
which would probably find the admirals on the 15th in
the roads of Sinope. The result of these ulterior in-
structions would be, that the fleets are authorised to act
with greater vigour against such Russian cruisers as
they may fall in with, and in all cases to send them
back to Sebastopol. If it be true that a considerable
squadron of Russian vessels is still at sea, it is not im-
probable that a collision of some importance may have
taken place.—Times.

IMPORTANT DESPATCHES TO CONSTANTINOPLE.—The
Government, last night, sent off to our ambassador at
Constantinople, and to the commander in chief of the
fleet, the official answer to the formal question of the
Emperor of Russia, as to the reason why the British
naval forces have entered the Black Sea. Mr. Tucker,
the bearer of the despatches, proceeds at once to Mar-
seilles, and thence by the Caradoc, despatch steam-vessel,
to the Bosphorus.
On Wednesday last a Court of Directors was held at
the East India House, when John Peter Grant, Esq.,
was appointed a provisional member of the Council of
India.

FIRE AND Loss OF LIFE IN SOUTHWARK, THIS DAY.
—This morning, between ten and eleven o'clock, Amelia
Coppier, aged two years, expired in the accident ward of
St. Thomas's Hospital from burns. Deceased lived in
Leman-street, Gravel-lane, Southwark, and was left
alone in the room, where screams were heard by the
neighbours, who found on going to the spot that several
articles of furniture in the room were burnt, and the de-
ceased was enveloped in flames. The child was taken to
the Hospital, when it was found that she was most
frightfully burnt, and died soon after her admission.
ARRIVAL OF 209 COLLIERS IN THE RlVER.—During
yesterday and this morning the extraordinary large num-
ber of 209 coal laden vessels, from the northern ports,
were entered inwards at the Custom-house. This im-
mense fleet has brought, in the aggregate, 42,900 tons
of coals, which is exclusive of a large quantity of Welch
coal that has also arrived in the Thames. The entrance
of such a large fleet of coal•laden ships within 24 hours
is quite unprecedented in the trade, and information has
been received that 134 colliers are at present on their
passage from South Shields, Sunderland, and Hartle-
pool. It is anticipated that the arrival of this fleet will
have the effect of reducing the price of coals from 425.
per ton to 355. per ton for the best, and inferior qualities
to 28s per ton.
ROYAL HOSPITALS OF BRIDEWELL AND BETHLEHEM.
—A special general court of governors was held yester-
day for the purpose of electing a receiver of the hos-
pitals' rents in the room of Edward Richard Adams,
Esq., resigned. Sir Peter Laurie, the president, was in
the chair, and a very great number of the governors
attended. The candidates were Captain Adams, the
present governor of Bridewell Gaol, and Mr. Alfred
Jeffreson. After a poll, which lasted an hour and a
half, the numbers announced were—Jeffreson, 91;
Adams, 89. Whereupon Mr. Jeffreson was called in,
and congratulated upon his election.
EXTENSIVE FORGERY ON A LONDON HOUSE.—LIVER-
POOL, Monday----At the police-office this morning John
Timson was charged with forging a check for 1,5001.,
purporting to be signed by Glyn, Mills, & Co., London.
The prisoner presented the check at the Liherpool Bank
on Saturday, but information having been received from
':the London hbuse, stating that a clerk answering the
prisoners description had absconded from their service,
he was detained 'and given into custody. He then
acknowledged that the check was a forged one. He was
committed for trial at the assizes.
CHARGE OF ARSON AGAINST A TRADESMAN.—A long
inquiry took place at Gravesend on Monday last, before
Mr. E. A. Hilder, the coroner, respecting a fire which
occurred on the 18th inst., on the premises of Mr. Ed-
win Litchfield, a draper, in the New-road, Gravesend.
His premises, stock, and furniture had been insured in
the Phoenix Fire-office in December last. The evidence
given at the inquiry was of such a nature that the ver-
dict of the jury implicated Mr. Litchfield as the origi-
nator of the fire. On Wednesday and Thursday an in-
quiry took place upon the subject before the mayor and
magistrates of the borough, the result of which was
that Mr. Litchfield was committed for trial at the next
assizes at Maidstone. Bail was subsequently taken, the
prisoner himself in 2001., and two sureties in 1001. each.
DISPENSARY FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES OF
THE CHEST.—Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of the
governors of this charity was to have been held in the
board-room of the institution, Margaret-street, Regent-
street, but the number of governors present not being
sufficient to make a quorum it was postponed. The re-
port stated that during the past year there had been an
increased number of patients, all of whom were com-
monly subjects of' Chronic disease, requiring the aid of
the charity fur a very long, period. The following is an
abstract of the patients entered on the books from Jan-
uary 24 to December 31 :—Number of patients regis-
tered, 311 ; visits nade to the dispensary, 2,184 ; out-
patients, 19 ; visits made to them, 157 ; cured 81 ;
death, 11 ; relieved, 285 ; remaining in dispensary,
329. The total number of visits made to the dispensary
since its foundation was 32,530, and the number cured
during the same period was 1,169. The total receipts
(including a balance in hand of 71/. Os. 5d.) for the past
year was 3001, Bs. 11d. ; and, after all the necessary ex-
penses had been defrayed, there was left a balance in
hand of 191. 4s. 4d.
RUMOURED ESCAPE OF SMITH O'BRIEN.—SOnIe doubt
has been thrown on the statement which appeared some
weeks ago in our columns on the above subject. It is
*alleged that a letter written on the 18th Sept. has been
received from Smith O'Brien ; and that at that date he
had not escaped. The letter we have seen announcing
his escape, and which was written by a gentleman of un-
impeachable integrity and truth, was dated the 28th of
September—ten days later than the letter received from
Smith O'Brien —Mmerick .Reporeor.