The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING-1
,DECEMBER 15, 1853.

the milk was skim milk ; it was all spoilt the next
morning.
Mr. Parry—There was a piece of beet-root ; what
became of that ?
Witness—Why, that being biled, got smashed. (Much
laughter.)
Mr. Legh recalled—l keep cows, and make my own
butter. The skim milk and such pieces as these ought
to go into the tub for the pigs' keep. The prisoner, my
cook, said they were some of those pieces, and some of
the skim milk for the pig tub which she had given her
sisters. She said so at the station.
The Recorder—The pigs should have been the prose-
cutors. _

Mr. Parry, addressing the jury, said that however
much he might deprecate any pilfering upon the part of
servants, still he did not envy the feelings of any man
who could press on so paltry a prosecution against a
servant who had been in his service for some time, and
who had borne a good character. She had acted im-
properly there was no doubt, and the prosecutor had
been instigated to do this from representations made to
him, but when he found how matters were he should
not have followed it up.
The Recorder said there was no case against Miller
and Angelina Hart.
They were all acquitted.

Hospital was handed to the magistrate, stating that she
was now out of danger.
The prisoner said that he was very sorry for what
had happened, but he was greatly exasperated at the
time, and he understood that it was not the wish of the
complainant to prefer any charge against him.
Mr. D'Eyncourt ordered the prisoner to be commit.
ted and kept to hard labour for six months.

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

At the last meeting of this society, the Earl of Elles-
mere, president in the chair, Viscount Ranelagh, Mr.
Montague Gore, and Mr. William Stretfield were elected
fellows.

The paper read was the second portion of the "Passes
of the Balkie, or Mount Hmmus ; with a descriptien of
the defiles through the celebrated mountain range, and
a comparison of the routes pursued by Darius Hystaspes,
Alexander the Great, and Marshal Diebith," by Lieut.-
General Jochmus ; communicated by Sir Roderick I.
Murchison :4

The insurrection of the Bulgarians of the Balkan was
one of the most important events of the Russian war.
They may, however, become most useful allies in the
formidable mountain barrier which seperates the plains
of Bulgaria from those of Rumuli, and which is occupied
in about equal numbers of Bulgarians and Turks, both
brave and warlike, though the latter are more accus-
tomed to the use of arms. Amongst these the records
of their history under their ancient independent Krals or
Kings are not extinct. They are proud of their valorous
resistance to the Turks, whose haughty Sultan,
Murad 1., married the daughter of Sisman, King of Bul-
garia; they remember, also, their conquests and wars
against the decaying Greco-Byzantines, whom they drove
back to within the Anaatasian Wall, which extends from
the Euxine to the Sea of Marmora. To military ob-
servers it will appear a curious fact that the peaceful
Bulgarian peasantry is still encamped in a kind of mili-
tary order of battle from the Anastasian Wall to the
Balkan. Parallel to this ancient line of fortifications
runs an uncultivated neutral territory ; next comes
another parallel of small hamlets, evidently chosen as
outlying posts of observation and piquets. Midia,
Serai, and Tzorlu, a line of stations of advanced
guards, are already villages and little towns of
some importance, whilst the main body occupies
the largo towns and the plains to the foot of the
Balkan, where a second line and reserves are stationed
in the mountains. The Byzantine Greeks not being able
during the long decay of the empire, to drive back the
Bulgarians, these warlike tribes began to cultivate per-
manently the land round their military stations up to the
time when they were conquered in their turn by the
Turkish sultans, and disarmed by their orders, continu-
ing henceforward only their agricultural pursuits. The
more intelligent persons amongst the Bulgarians and
Illyrians sneer at the idea of a Greek empire at Constan-
tinople, of which some people have dreamt at Athens,
and even in Europe. The sturdy Siavonian races call
the Greco-Byzantines " Taushans," or hares, and hold
them fit, not to fight, but to be grammaticos (clerks),
bakals (grocers), tailors, and coasting traders. It cer-
tainly is a curious fact, corroborating these popular no-
tions, that the fighting men who accomplished the Greek
independence, from 1821 to 1829, were not the Moreotes
and the other Greco-Byzantines, but the hardier Alba-
nian and northern races. I have sometimes heard Grivas
and other chieftains style the Moreotes " our Rayahs."
That 6,000,000 of Sclavonic race, living in compact bo-
dies south of the Danube, should submit to 900,000
Greco-Byzantines, whom they esteem their inferiors,
scattered in all directions over European Turkey, is a
manifest absurdity, which originates in the error of super-
ficial observers, who style and consider the Slavonic
races as " Greeks" because the great majority of them
are of the "Greek" religion. The Christian Rayahs
would remain subject to the Porte much rather than sub-
mit themselves to any privileged caste of their own.
OCT. 12.—From Selimn6 to Stareka, 6,1- hours —Soon
after leaving the town the Neikokoi road strikes off to
the right, and a mule track, leading from Selimn6 to Be-
broya, is seen winding in the mountains on the left.
There exists besides a cart-road from Selim ne to Bebrova
by the pass or Bogas of Ketenlith (one hour west of Se-
lirrind) our road to Stareka is a mule track, occasionally
used by carts fetching fire-wood and timber. The whole
ascent is very steep. Right and left near the road steep
naked rocks command the upper defile. On the left of
the road an immense amphitheatre of ranges of the
Balkan tower above each other in westerly directions.
The Demirkapee, or Iron-gate-pass itself (hours from
Selimn6), scarcely deserve its name, being a small stony
projection, whence a rapid descent, through thick forests
leads in half an hour to the small village of Stareka,
where we rated for the night.
OCT. 13.—From Stareka to the Monastery of St.
Nicola, are eight hours. There are two good cartroads
from Stareka to Bebrova, the northern one leading by
Bulgakoi to Upper Bebrova, the southern by Ereseli to
Lower Bebrova, also called Parikler, either distance
being three and a half hours. Our southern line of
march takes us in one hour .by Zurtkoi and Ereseli
through well cultivated grounds to Lower Bebrova.
The distant Balkans are covered with forest, showing at
intervals open patches of turf. The farthest mountain
range appears clad in snow since yesterday, and detaches
itself in great magnificence on the deep blue sky, whilst
the nearer valleys and glens retain their dark green, set
off by the variegated autumnal hues of the groves and
fruit trees that surround the prosperous farms. For
two hours more the scenery and appearance of the
country continue the same as far as Illenia, a large and
industrious Bulgarian town of six hundred houses. Its
staple manufacture is linen, and the coarse cloth called
aba. Beyond this place the detached farms cease,
whilst an hour and a half more brings us to the small
village of Jakowzy, charmingly situated at the en-
trance of the deep Bogas of Monastir. This strong defile
is full an hour long. OR its eastern and western en-
trance are two guardhouses, in each a couple of Turkish
derwendshides, supposed to look out for the
safety of the traveller and merchant. A causeway,
originally Roman, but often repaired in different ages,
runs all along the derwend. Through the whole narrow
and richly-wooded pass, in its course towards the lantra,
precipitous rocks command continual windings of the
road. The height of the mountains forming this splen-
did gorge may be computed at between 700 and 800 feet
from the bed of the river. At the outlet of the Monastir
Bogas the convent of St, Nicola offers a comfortable
halting-place for those en route to Tirnova. This town
is too distant to be reached in one day from Stareka,
either by Lower Bebrova and the Monastir Bogas, or
by the nearly parallel northern road of Upper Bebrova
by Karagatch and by the Minda Bogas, which pierces
the mountains two hours north from Nicola.
OCT. 14.—From St. Nicola to Tirnova, 3 hours.—
Tirnova has at present 1,500 Christian and 2,500 Turk-
ich houses, and about 20,000 inhabitants, 8 churches, 2
schools, together with 20 Turkish mosques, mektebs,
and baths. Situated in a deep valley along the rapid
and winding course of the lantra, its various quarters,
as well as the old Roman and Bulgarian castle, are com-
manded on all sides by sheep mountains and crags. Aba
cloth, raw silk and wool, besides all the necessaries of
life are abundant ; the bazaar is supplied with great
quantities of inferior German wares and manufactures
coming down the Danube. The English are beginning
to enter into competition by establishing large and well
sorted depots at Varna, with a view to supply the inte-
rior markets. At present the governor of a province is
paid, it is true, by the Imperial Treasury, whilst in
former days he paid the Government, and then tried to
repay himself by the collection of the revenue of his
district. The new system, no doubt, is an immense
improvement in theory, but in reality the governor now
helps himself as well as formerly, by all sorts of un-
derhand monopolies. Hussein Paella, of Widdin, for in-
stance, is nearly as exclusive a tradesman in Bulgaria as
was Mehemet Ali in Egypt. He has secured for this
year the district of Tirnova, although it lies forty-eight
hours from Widdin, and only eiglreen hours from Rust-
schuk, also the seat of a pacha of three tails. Selimn6,
upon the same principle, has alternately belonged to the
administration of Silistria, on the Danube, or of Adrian-
ople, on the Hebrus. Even the minor districts are not
exempt from these distinctive transmutations. Achlyid
has been exploited in succession by the Pachas of Varna
and of Kirk-Kelesia. The fact is, that at Constantinople
they do not know where many districts are situated ;
influence and bribery decide the question.
OCT. 15.—A road due north leads from Tirnova, by a
rocky defile and Roman causeway, to Armout Koi, just
above the town, or rather its suburb. Thence the
various meandering footpaths and reads to Ravditza were
crowded' with groups of Turks and Bulgarians, men,
women, and children, all moving to the weekly fair (Fri-
days and Saturdays), at that extensive borough (400
tiled houses). As far as the eye could reach the roads
were covered with oxen, buffaloes, horses, and carts.
Sedate Bulgarian women and light-hearted gipsy girls
were riding on donkeys and mules. I calculated that
more than 10,000 people, and upwards of 2,500 carts
were assembled at Ravditza. A great many gipsies, or
Zinganis, being collected at Rarditza, I tried there, as I
had already been doing ever since my travels in the Bal-
kan, to obtain some information about the soi disant
metropolis of the gipsies in this part of Turkey, which
Mr. Barrow mentions as having been taken by the
Russians in 1829, after a desperate resistance, but all
the answers were, uniformly, that such a place never
existed.

OCT. 16.—From Ajo Nicola to Hassan Faki 12 hours.
As far as Slatar, which lies on the banks of an affluent of
the lantra, the road lies over cultivated open ground.
Beyond Slater there is a gradual ascent to Jenikoi, through
a fine richly wooded and watered, carefully cultivated
undulating plain, abounding in produce of every kind
maize, corn, wine, fruits, and tobacco. Between Jenikoi
and Djulun we cross a narrow projection of the Balkan,
and follow then the northern coast of another affluent of
the 'antra, through a wooded defile, along the western
bank of the rivulet, which is said to abound in fish.
Numerous herds of horses, cows, buffaloes, sheep, and
goats enliven the scenery. Between Mindr and Slatar
are straggling farms, like those described between Stareka
and Beb:ova. The security of those districts, inhabited
nearly exclusively by Bulgarians, is evidently much
greater than that existing in the Cases of mixed popula-
tion, especially where Greeks are interspersed. We
meet, en route, several groups of Zinganis, singing and
happy. The younger women and girls appeared to be
in particularly good humour. The Balkan is their
favourite resort, though they are little molested any-
where else in Turkey, particularly when compared to
their persecution in Spain and other Christian countries.
The tolerance of religious sects in the Ottoman empire is
generally remarkable, but it is founded on the assumed
superiority of the Musulman creed over all other reli-
gions. The Djulun, an affluent of the lantra, is usually
fordable during all seasons, yet a ferry boat is kept in
readiness during the winter and early spring at the sta-
tion of Djulun. It can, however, only cross one horse
at the time.

OCT. 17.—The road from Hassan Faki to Osman
Bazar runs through cultivated undulations of the Indge
Bair. We pass Ituffat, the heap of a beautiful valley,
the waters of which still flow into the la.ntra, river.
Oeman Bazar, a considerable and thriving borough,
with several mosques and baths, and a Turkish fountain
of ancient materials, lies in a sheltered position, and
is surrounded by fine vineyards and fruit gardens.
It is a post station on the main road from Rut-
shuk to Kazgan, Selimne, and Adrianople. Parts of an
old Roman causeway are still visible. From Osman.
Bazer the ground ascends for two hours to the first Der•

vend guard-house at Jeshilol. We met two Tschor
bashis, or primates, from Kasan, on their way to Osman
Bazar. They were accompanied by a common police
soldier of Omer Pacha's. Between Czatak and Kasan
there are again two Dervend guard-houses. Between
these Dervend houses is a first-rate military position, on
detached rather steep barren heights, extending in a
crescent of one mile and a quarter, facing north. The
main road winds from E.N.E. to W,S.W. along the foot
of the position, then right through it, over open ground.
A brisk descent for half an hour brings you to Kann.
No wood right or left. The immediate neighbourhood
of Kasan is also bare, with the exception of Kiz tepd
(already described) and the western mountain range.
The valley of Kasan is rich in pasture, but too cold for
vines.

OCT. 18.—After having heard the direct road from
Kasan to Czali Kayak, by Karatler, described as very
difficult, and not to be chosen on account of the unsettled
state of the weather, we resumed our former road from
Kasan by Papas Kol, through the valley of the Delhi
Kamslick, as far as Sadowah. From Malanitch down-
wards towards Kamshik Mahalessi, the bed of the river
runs through a very narrow, steep defile, mostly between
abrupt rocks and crags, It is everywhere fordable. The
road to Rubsha leads over the high mountain range,
which here hems in the river. Turning off nearly due
north, towards Czali Kayak, the village of Rubsha ap-
pears on the left, forming, with Muradddr6, part of a
strong military position of 1,000 to 1,200 yards extent,
facing east towards the Dobral main road, and eventually
of strategical importance, as it forms the junction of vari-
ous roads. One hour and a half's march from the above-
mentioned point of intersection takes us through a great
wooded defile, and half an hour more, over an undulating
plains brings us, after dark, to Czali Kayak. This great
mountain defile is generally from 40 to 100 yards broad, the
military road being nowhere encased more narrowly
than ten yards, and made practicable for heavy baggage
trains. The mountain slopes, between 300 and 400 feet
high, are not very steep, but of difficult ascent, on ac-
count of the large trees and the thick underwood. Czali
Kayak is a poor hamlet of SO houses, but before the war
which terminated in 1774 it contained 700 families,
many of whom emigrated subsequently into Russia.
From Czali Kayak, a direct mountain path to Kasan
(nine hours) is very rough and precipitous. From Czali
Kayak to Shunila by the main road, viz., Smiadova, is
eight hours.
OCT. 19.—Immediately north of Chenga is a fine mili-
tary position of about 900 yards extent, and facing north.
It covers the road to Czali Kayak and to Sudshiler, but
it can be turned by its left, through the gorge, by which
passes a direct road from Jenikoi to Mrege. Cara Ah-
med also offers a fine military position, in a semicircle
of 1,200 to 1,500 yards, facing N.N.E., and covering
the Kamshik and the position of Chenga. Near this
important strategical spot the forest is crossed by several
roads from Chenga across the Buyuk Kamshik river.
OCT. 20.—From Koprikoy to Cadikoy. At Koprikoy
a narrow wooden bridge crosses the river, and near it is
a ford two or three feet. The village itself is newly built.
It was burnt in 1829, as the Aga here told me, by order
of Ali Pasha, before the arrival of General Riidiger with
the first Russian column that forced the passage of the
Balkan. The various military lines crossing that cele-
brated mountain ridge, hitherto considered as an
efficient protective barrier to Constantidople, having
been duly reconnoitred by Russian staff-officers
in 1829, it is probable that the Russian armies, should
any war occur again, will operate on a plan very dif-
ferent from that of the campaign of 1828-29, when the
Balkan was nearly unexplored. The positions of Shumla,
and Varna alone, as hitherto occupied by the Turks in
their defensive operations against a northern enemy, are
very far from covering the Balkan passages, as now
known and examined. The position taken up by Ali
Pasha in 1829, near Koprikoy, was weak, and the first
serious onset of General Rudiger obliged the Turks to
abandon it. From Parawadi a good cart-road leads
across our morning's line of march to Kumavova, and
thence by Jenikoi directly to Mrege, by a ford of the
Akylly Kamshik. From Markovsha, to Kulevdja we
rode over high undulating land partly covered with brush
and underwood. A moderate descent from the heights
above Kulevdja leads into the plains of Shumla. At 20
minutes from Kulevdja the road to Shurnla leads over
the Baskbunar by a Roman arch, and immediately af-
terwards we reach an ancient fountain. About three
dozen Tepee, or tumuli, are scattered over the plains
between Kulevdja and Shumla.
OCT. 21, AT SnuatnA.—The Governor of Shumla gives
the number of Turkish houses to be 5,000, and those of
the Christians are computed at 1,000 ; the number of in-
habitants ought therefore to be from 25,000 to 30,000.
Formerly the Turks alone amounted to 35,000, besides
6,000 Christians. There are in Shumla 30 mosques and
baths, Greek and 1 Armenian church, and 3 Bulgarian
schools, with masters from the normal establishment of
Kasan. There are also 2 barracks for the garrison, 1
for the infantry, and 1 for the cavalry, besides a new
hospital, all built of stone. The forts in the plain and
one on the heights are modern constructions.

OCT. 22.—The main road from Shumla to Madara
leads near the latter village over a Roman arch thrown
across the Parawadi river, Close to Madara, a little to the
south, appears the village of Kulevdja. An hour beyond
Madara lies Kasb4hen, and we pass some minor villages
of mixed population. From Kashb6hen to Weishera
a long defile stretches for four hours between calcareous
hills, about 200 feet high, from the bed of the Parawadi
river, which runs in a narrow valley, on an average a
couple of 'hundred yards wide. At Welshera, eight
hours from Shumla, the main road divides, one branch
striking off to Varna nearly due east, and the other to
Parawadi, S.S.E., along the river of that name. Ma-
dam, Kulevdja. and Parawadi were destroyed during
the war of 1828-29.

OCT. 23.—From Parawadi, the highway to Varna lies
by the northern shores of the lake of Dewni ; but the
cart-road, by the southern shore of that sheet of water,
being of considerable military importance, I recon-
noitered it by the route leading through the plain, and
nearly parallel to the course of the Parawadi river to
Testeshi, and thence, in one hour more, to Shukur Ko-
pri, or the Bridge of Thanks, across the same Jiver, so
called because travellers, having passed the woods be-
tween Varna and Shukur Kopri, are supposed to return
thanks to Allah for not having been plundered or mur-
dered.

OCT. 24.—Close to Varna, the direct highway to Si-
listria strikes off through the mountains, which run pa-
rallel to the lakes of Devno ; and another road to Silis-
tria, through these same mountains, branches off from
the Upper Parawadi road, between and just above the
village of Cadi KO.]: and Jenidshe Koi. From Buyuk
Aladin (north of the Devno lake), a road leads, in one
hour, to Jeni Bekschi Koi, on the southern banks of the
lake. There are, en route, two mills on the principal
branch of the Parawadi river, which connects the western
and eastern lakes of Devno, and inundates between them
a marshy ground, more or less extended, according to the
dry or wet season. The main run of the river and a late-
ral branch which falls into the eastern Devno lake just be-
low the village of Buyuk Aladin form an island, which is
mentioned in the action between Alexander the Great
and the Triballians, in his march towards the Danube.
The Parawadi river has its head waters in the moun-
tains north of Shumla. It falls into the minor, or west-
ern, lake of Devno, near the village of Jeni Bekschi (on
its southern shore), traverses the south-eastern angle of
the lake, and runs into the larger or eastern of these
lakes, whence the river discharges itself by a broad
stream into the Black Sea, along the foot of the south-
ern walls of the fortress of Varna. The distance from
the eastern shore of the lake to the Black Sea is about
half an English mile, and the breadth of land between
the two lakes, according to the heights of the floods, in
the dry or wet season, from one mile to a mile and a
half. The Parawadi river runs nearly parallel to the
Haemus and to the Danube, and considering that from
Varna as well as from Parawadi the distance to Silistria
is computed at twenty-four hours, or three days' march,
there can be no doubt but that the Parawadi river is
the Lygines, described by Arrain as "distat id ab Istro,
si quis Aemum versus proficiscatur, itinere tridui."
From the sense and the words of the historian, it is evi-
dent that he speaks of a river running in the same di-
rection with the Danube, at a distance of three days,
and not falling into the Ister, or Danube, as the Lygi-
nos is represented by some authorities, as well as on the
great Austrian map, where this ancient river is made to
fall into the Danube at Dshibra Palanka, between Niko.
poli and Widdin, opposite to some small islands.

00T. 25.- -The modern fortifications of Varna, recon-
structed since 1828-29, have not, in my opinion, strength-
ened the place. On the contrary, the bastioned enceinte
has been considerably extended, and although the lines
may thus hold a larger garrison, the defences of the
northern side have been brought by several hundred
yards nearer to the heigkts, from whence they can be
most efficiently battered. The weakest point of the new
fortress is now its north-eastern angle ; the more exposed
to a successful attack, as ships of war can approach and
enfilade within about seven hundred yards. The main
attacks of the Russians in 1828 against the old fortress
-was from the north. They had also a strong corps,
established south of Varna. Their cornmunication was
kept *up by the fords of the Parawadi or Lyginos river
between the two lakes -of Devno (three hours from
Varna). On the point they had also a pontoon bridge ;
and besides, an easy communication of two and a half to
three miles by water, for messengers in boats, across the
lake, in any part, beyond the immediate reach of the
guns of the fortress. Formerly a stone bridge had been
thrown over the Lyginos near the above fords, and close
to the mills between Buyuk Aladin and Jeni Bekschi
Kei, but the inhabitants of the latter place have de-
stroyed the bridge, in order that troops, Government
messengers, and travellers might not be induced to go
by their village to Parawadi, a road near by about a
quarter of an hour than the present highway by the
northern shore of the upper lake of Devno. It is super-
fluous to add that on the arrival of the Austrian steamer
from Galatz we embarked in the afternoon of the 25th
of October for Constantinople, and a pleasant run in a
smooth sea brought us to the Bosphorus and Golden
Horn in good time next day.
At the conclusion of the paper, the CHAIRMAN ex-
pressed the thanks of the society to General Jochmus,
and inquired whether any military gentleman present
could account for the manner in which Darius and other
great military leaders mabaged to carry large armies
over the Balkan without the extensive commissariats
which were considered indispensable in modern warfare ?
Colonel EVEREST observed that the invading armies
if Darius and Alexander the Great availed themselves
of the stores of provisions hoarded by the inhabitants of
the villages and towns which were scattered through the
mountain, and that their progress was facilitated by the
divisions among the tribes by which the districts were
peopled. In fact, Darius and Alexander had never in-
vaded a country where there was combined action among
the inhabitants.

Dr. COLQIIIIOIIN said he had known General.Joehmus,
and no military .r 044 was hatter
.qualified to describe the
Balkan.

Lord RADSTOOK was anxious to be informed whether
it would be impossible to make a connection between
the elbow of the Danube and the Black Sea near Sills.

tria, as it was generally supposed the Romans had con-
templated, and which would obviate the inconvenience
arising from the closing of the mouth of the river by the
Russians. . -

- •
Dr. COLQIIHOUN stated that, Jin consequence of the
height at which the land ranged, he believed such a pro-
ject wholly impracticable:
Among the noblemen* and gentlemen pesent were
Admiral Lord Radstock, the Earl of Sheffield, Lord de
Manley, Sir David Dundas, Sir Robert Peel, Colonel
Everest, Professor Herman Avich, of St. Petersburg,
&c., &c.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, Du. 14.

The Medea, 6, paddle-wheel •steam-sloop, Comman-
der Phillimore, took in her powder and shell at Spit-
head to-day.
A party of shipwrights commenced breaking up the
Growler paddle-sloop to-day.
A Dutch frigate arrived in Cowes Roads in the night,
and this morning hoisted the British ensign at her fore,
and saluted, with 21 guns, the Royal Standard at
Osborne.

The Russian corvette Navarin will be another week in
dock (she arrived here on the 15th of October !) before
she is seaworthy again. The shipwrights report her
bottom to be in a very bad state.
The crew of the Rifleman, 8, Lieutenant-Commander
Christian, were paid wages at Spithead to-day.
The Prospero, paddle-wheel steam-tender, put in here
for coals this morning, on her passage to Deptford.
The Gorgon, 6, paddle, went down on Tuesday morn-
ing to the Needles, to try the effect of shell practice.
The chief object was to ascertain whether any deterio-
ration had taken place by length of time—either by
three, six, nine, or even twelve months lying by. The
experiments must have been of the most gratifying
nature to the inventor (Moorsom) of these terrific mis-
siles, add which are at the present moment wholly. in
the secret of the British Government. The Gorgon lay
about 900 yards range from the Needles Rocks, and
whether we regard the accuracy of the fire, or the fear-
ful grandeur of the effect, it was calculated to make a
lasting impression upon all who witnessed the practice.
We believe but one shell only missed, or went over the
rock—and every 10-inch shell, as it struck, burst with
fearful power, bringing down tons of hard-adamant. The
trials were, to the .highest degree, satisfactory, and, in
proportion to the sudden destruction of any given ob-
ject, must in any future engagement with a foreign
power speedily put a stop to any lengthened period
of warfare. It is calculated that no ship of the line could
have kept afloat 10 minutes under so terrific an explosion..

WOOLWICH, DEC. 14.
APPOINTMENTS.

Paymasters.—James W. P. Foord (1849), George
Pickthorn (1845), Julian ‘A. Messum (1850), Edwin
T. Forster (1851), Harry T. Nettleton (1853), Richard
Curgenven (1852), and lenry N. Scaife (1852), to be
Paymasters of the Royal Naval Volunteers. The whole
of the above-named officers are at present on the unem-
ployed list of paymasters. Paymaster Charles Lyne
(1849), to the Juno, 26, at Chatham.
Second Master.—Horace St. H. Cook (1847), from
the Waterloo, 120, flag-ship, at Sheerness, to the Ban-
shee steam-vessel at Woolwich.

One corporal and seven privates of the Woolwich
Division of Royal Marines embarked yesterday in the
Banshee, Lieutenant-Commander Louis R. Reynolds,
for servibe on the Mediterranean station.

One corporal and 16 privates of the Woolwich Divi-
sion of Royal Marines, all mechanics and volunteers,
embarked yesterday in the Tyne store-ship, Master-
Commander J. B. Tucker, for a passage to the island of
Ascension, where they are to be stationed.
The Onyx, Dover mail steam•packet, arrived here on
Sunday last to have some defects made good.

THE ARMY.

CHATHAM, DEC. 14

A detachment of the Royal Sappers and Miners left
this morning en route for Southampton, to be employed
in surveying the coast of this district.
Orders were received this morning that the field bat-
tery under the command of Captain Campbell, R.A., is
to be removed on the 10th January to Sheerness, and is
to be replaced here by a field battery from Woolwich.
Private Burn, 38th, was tried on Tuesday by a district
court-martial (Colonel Jervois, provisional battalion,
president), far desertion and making away with his re-
gimental necessaries. The prisoner was serving with a
detachment of the 38th at the Tower of London, when
he deserted on the 26th July last ; the prisoner after-
wards enlisted in the East India Company's service, and
on the 9th of December he surrendered him-self as a de..
serter from the 38th. The prisoner's service is twelve
months, and his character in the regiment stands good.
John Cooper, a Royal Marine, was next tried, "for
disgraceful conduct in having, at the Royal Marine
Barracks at Chatham, stolen a pair of boots, on the 9th
December, the property of his comrade." The prisoner's'
character is bad, He has been nearly seven years in
the service, 'and he. has been tried twice before by courts-
martial for similar offences. The above prisoners were
found guilty.

Major-General M'Donald, C. 8., continues to improve
in health and strength ; the accounts from his residence,
in the county Kilkenny, are highly favourable.
The 62d Regiment, which has been quartered in Kil-
kenny since July last, has received the route for Fermoy,
preparatory to embarkation for foreign service. The
head-quarters will march on the 21st inst.
The 62d are to be replaced by the 46th, from Dublin,
and head-quarters will arrive in Kilkenny on the
27th inst.

The 9th Regiment, at Clonmel, have also received
orders to march for Fermoy, and are to be replaced by
the depot of the 13th Regiment from the latter place.
Lieut.-Colonel Hawkshaw, R.E., has arrived at Kil-
kenny, to take charge of the Royal Engineer duties of
that district.