The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-04 00:00:00

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.—Sept. 3.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
VISIT OF PRINCE ALBERT TO THE
EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

A fleet of steamers has arrived in our roadstead to
accompany the Royal yacht to Boulogne. They are ex-
pected to sail about 10 p.m. to•morrow, and to arrive at
their destination at about 7 a.m. on Tuesday. They re•
main till Friday evening, and are expected back early on
Saturday morning. A number of the yachts of the
Royal Yacht Squadron are to accompany the fleet,
weather permitting.
EXCURSIONISTS.—The Ruby steamer brought down
to-day about 200 gentlemen and ladies, who had run
down from London by the South-Wester❑ excursion
train. They embarked on their return at half•past five
this evening. Many of them came down to view the
progress made in the National Freehold Land Society's
estates here.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent crossed the
Medina in her carriage on Friday, drove through West
Cowes to Garwood and returned, and again on Saturday.
Soon afterwards her Majesty and the Prince crossed,
and drove up to the National Freehold Land Society's
estate at Mill Hill.

EXTENSIVE CONFLAGRATION AT
CHATHAM.

Last night (Sunday), shortly before 11 o'clock, a fire,
entailing the most diastrous consequences,-and ultimately
resulting in the total destruction of 11 houses, broke out
upon the premises of a Mr. Knott, fruit-dealer, situated
in the Military-road, Chatham. The outbreak was first
discovered by the watchman on duty, who immediately
aroused the inmates and surrounding neighbours to a
sense of the impending danger, upon which they preci-
pitately effected their escape. The engines from the
Marine anti Chatham barracks, as also from the Kent
and Sun Fire-offices, were soon at the scene of
devastation, but unfortunately, . owing to the entire
absence of water, they could not for the time be
of any service. At length a supply of water, very in-
adequate to the demand, was procured from the brewery
of Messrs. Winch, situated a short distance off. Con-
siderable service was rendered by a body of marines and
a detachment of the provisional battalion, under the
superintendence of the, commander. A number of
seamen ;from H.M.S. Wellesley also materially aided
in their efforts to suppress the fire. By the combined
efforts of the marines, the soldiers, and civilians, a mas-
tery was obtained over the devastating element ; but it
will be several hours before the body of flame will be
completely extinguished. Such was the rapidity with
which the flames traversed, that little or nothing was
saved by the unfortunate inhabitants whose houses were
consumed. In most instances, we are happy to say that
the houses were insured.

THE RUSSIAN PRISONERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Observing in the public papel:s that the affair at
Bomarsund had placed in the British Government the
disposal of 1,000 Russian prisoners, and trusting that
with the blessing of God on a righteous cause future
operations may greatly increase the numbers, it struck
ma that instead of keeping those men in miserable cap-
tivity, at great expense, and at the risk of generating
disease, the young able-bodied and willing might be sent
to Canada with advantage. Canada wants labourers, its
clirmate and condition appear peculiarly well suited to the
Russian constitution and habits, and the mass of the
Russian soldiery is said to be dragged from agricultural
to military slavery. Should such a course be adopted,
who can say, that a spark borrowed from the brilliant
corruscations which adorn the common canopy may not
convey to Russia the message— " Throw down the arms
of the blood-bathed disturber of nations. Join us and
participate in the blessings of freedom and plenty."
Trusting that the motive which actuates the writer
will shield him from the reproof of impertinent intrusion,
he humbly subscribes himself Y. Z.

Important despatches were sent by the Earl of Cla-
rendon, by a Queen's messenger, on Saturday night,
for his Excellency Lord Stratford do Redcliffe, at Con-
stantinople.
The Duke of Newcastle was engaged at the temporary
War-office (the First Lord of the Treasury's) until close
on eight o'clock on Saturday evening. The noble duke's
official duties preclude a visit to the camp at St. Omer.
The Earl of Eglinton, commodore of the Northern
Yacht Club, accompanied by the youthful Lord Mont-
gomery, has sailed from the Firth of Clyde in the Orion
yacht, on a cruise off the coast of Scotland.
The Earl of Clarendon, who returned to town on
Friday afternoon from visiting her Majesty at Osborne,
after transacting business at the Foreign Office, in
Downing-street, left in the evening for Grove Park, near
Watford, Herts, to join the countess and family. Mr.
Greville left on Saturday, on a visit to the noble earl.
The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Bart., who re-
turned from the Isle of Wight on Tuesday, left on Wed-
nesday evening for Netherby Park, Cumberland. Lady
and the Misses Graham arrived at the Admiralty on
Wednesday from Cowes, and on the succeeding day de-
parted to join the right hon. baronet.
His Excellency Senor D, Antonio Gonzalez, the newly
accredited Minister of Spain at this court, has arrived
at Chapman's Hotel, Cavendish-square.
H. Willoughby, Esq., and Mrs. Willoughby have left
the Clarendon, for Birdsall-house, Mahon, Yorkshire.
The Duke and Duchess of Argyll are entertaining a
select party at Inverary Castle, where" their graces have
arrived from the south.
The Grand Duchess de Anholt Wurtemburg and suite
have left the Clarendon, for Dover.
His Excellency Baron Hubner, Austrian Minister at
the French Court, arrived at Havre, on Friday, from
Paris.

The Marquis de Lara and family have left the Claren-
don, for Dieppe.
The Maquis of Bath, we are glad to state, is recover-
ing from the severe accident which befel his lordship
while in the pursuit of red deer in Strathconnan Forest,
when his lordship fell over a precipice and much injured
one of his legs.
LIVERPOOL
I —A.TURDAY.—The British and North
American Royal Mail steam-ship Niagara, Captain Neil
Shannon, sailed from the Mersey for Boston and Hali-
fax, with the usual mails for the United States and
British North American possessions, 165 passengers,
and a full cargo of valuable merchandise on freight.
ARRIVALS OF SPECIE.—The arrivals of specie during
the week have been large, the total amounting to
700,0001. The shipments, including those to the East
are estimated at about 250,0001., exclusive of nearly a
like sum inferred to have been recently forwarded in
sovereigns to Constantinople on account of the loan.
KENSAL-GREEN COD:UHL—What a rendezvous of
dreary inanities it is ! There are not half a dozen of the
" monuments' that you would care to look at twice ;
you may wander for an hour and not find a bit of art to
give you pleasure or a thought ; while the great mass of
them are repulsively ugly. Some show excellent work
and a lavish expenditure, which under good direction,
should have produced "a joy for ever," but here all are
wasted. Look, for example, at the large polished red and
grey granite monument in memory of the wife of Mr.
Combe—one could scarcely fear to find a more el d3orate
piece ofugliness, and yet how excellent thework is. What
could have possessed the Society of Arts, too, when they
put up the spoilt lump of stone in memory of their faith-
ful housekeeper for 42 years, Miss A. B. Cocking, with
the frightful "A. B. C." on the edge of it ! It is em-
bodied gracelessness itensified. Amidst the dearth of
thought, the monument to General Sir Wm. Casement
attracts a second examination, for the expression of the
faces of the four Indian bearers, who carry on their
heads, in C.iryatidian fashion, the flat canopy which pro-
tects the sarcophagus and military emblems. The Royal
tombs are not withuut dignity ; but we return to the
opinion that the new memorial of Hood is the best thing
there.—Tice Builder.

LATEST NEWS.

THE WAR.
THE RUSSIAN ANSWER TO THE
AUSTRIAN NOTE.
VIENNA, SUNDAY.

We have received the following telegraphic de-
spatch relative to the Autocrat's answer to Austria:—
Yesterday Prince Gortschakoff delivered the
official answer of Russia to the invitation of
Austria to commence negotiations with the Western
Posiers.

Russia rejects absolutely the required guaran-
tees.

The Emperor Nicholas would rather sacrifice his
last soldier than accept such propositions.
On Saturday a Cabinet Council, at which the
Emperor presided, was held.
It is not expected that Austria will declare war
against Russia, but probably the army of occupa-
tion in Wallachia will be immediately raised from
30,000 to 100,000.
It is believed that the Austrian and Swedish
Ministers will leave St. Petersburg.

BERLIN, SA7t7RDAY.

Baron Manteuffel has received the official answer
of Russia to the proposal to commence negotiations
upon the basis stipulated by the Western Powers.
Russia unequivocally decline to accept the con-
ditions. She will maintain the defensive.

THE PR I NCIPALITIES.
THE PROCLAMATION OF DERVISH
PACHA.

Advices from Bucharest to the 29th ult., re-
ceived at Vienna on Friday night, state that Der-
vish Pacha had arrived in that capital, and tliat
he had issued a proclamation in the name of the
Sultan, stating that the Austrians would provi-
sionally occupy the Principalities as the allies of
the Ottoman Porte.

That all the former privileges of the Principali.
ies would be maintained.

And all the Austrian refugees to be expelled.
Seventy-one cases of cholera had occurred in
the Turkish camp.
General Count Coronini had passed through the
Rothenthurm Pass for Bucharest.

The following telegraphic despatch has been
received :

"Jassy, August 25.
" Thehead-quarters of Prince Gortschakoff are already
at Berlad, and are expected here on the 2d of September.
Orders have been given that the whole of the Moldavian
troops are to join the Russian army. The officers are
dismayed, especially the fletman Mavrocordato, and
will tender their resignation in corpore. This occur-
rence has made a great sensati2n. The hospitals and
ammunition magazines continue Co be directed towards
Russia, but the troops are not withdrawing. The can-
non taken from the Wallachian militia, the horses of the
Wallachian cavalry, and a quantity of their equipments,
have been taken to Reni, in Bessarabia."
On the 24th inst. the French inhabitants of this
city give a dinner to the small detachments of
English and French soldiers who arrived here with
Omer Pacha's army. There were 'likewise present
a number of Turks, Poles, and Hungarians—covers
being laid for eighty persons. All went merry as
a marriage bell. How the conversation was kept
up it is very hard to say, as the Englishmen and
the Turks were not able to communicate with their
hosts, or with each other.
The following incident with respect to the entry
of Omer Pacha looks a little ominous. The Austrian
consul was the only official who did not call to pay
his respects to his highness. Nor was a single
Austrian officer or soldier, though there are several
here, to be observed in the cortege which followed
him through the town.