The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-30 00:00:00

(From the Times.)

.
A great question of modern warfare was opened with
the commencement of the present hostilities. The arts
of offence and defence had both experienced what were
considered very signal improvements. On the one hand,
ships were not only moved by steam, but were so moved,
through the employment of the screw, without exposure
of their machinery to hostile shot. In -addition to this,
the power of marine batteries had been, prodigiously
augmented, and it might be said without exaggeration
that a three-decker of the present day was, 'from the
concentration no less than the weight of her broadsides, '
full three times .as 'formidable as a vessel of the same
rate in the time of Nelson and Jervii. Oar steamers,
too, carried pivot guns- of a range and ealittre unknown
before, -so that, altogether, we seemed to dispose of a
force almost irresistible. On the other hand, a system
of fortification had been adopted by Russia, which, if
not absolutely novel, was at any rate carried to an ex-
traordinary degree of perfection. Its character involved
some return to the usages of more ancient times. Re-
liance was again placed on the height and solidity of
stone walls and bastions ; foundations of living rock
were surmounted by enormous blocks of granite, and
tier over tier of heavy artillery menaced instant de-
struction from behind the impregnable rampart of stone.
Now, which of these two systems was to prevail—the
new walls or the new shot—the defence or the attack—
the floating battery or the granite fort ? The result in-
volved the solution of two distinct questions • first,
whether fortifications of this description were destruc-
tible at all; and next, whether, if they were destructible,
a ship could withstand the fire of their guns long enough
to destroy them with her own.
Without venturing to say that these points have been
I .yet decided, we do think that evidence of a character at
' least partially conclusive has been furnished by the re-
cent capture of the Russian forts at Bomarsund. The
offensive and defensive systems were here fairly pitted
against each other. Bomarsund was a fortified place of
the first order—not, of course, as extensive or as for-
midable as Cronstadt or Sebastopol, but differing from
these strongholds in size only, and constructed in all re-
spects upon the principles we have been describing—in
fact, the works were some of the most recent erected by
the Russian Government. There was a principal fort,
and two smaller ones, mounting in the whole, we be-
lieve, nearly 200 guns. For the attack we had all the
resources of the combined fleets in the Baltic, but the
means actually employed were very limited. In the
communications of our own correspondent they are cir-
cumstantially specified as follows :-Ist, 100 Chasseurs
(artillery), with three mortars and three field pieces, and
600 Riflemen ; 2d, 100 British sailors and 60 Marine
Artillerymen, with three 32-pounders, four 121 b. howit-
zers, and aided by 200 marines, employed in skirmish-
ing; 3d, 20 British sailors, with one 10-inch gun in bat-
tery by itself. This was the sum total of the land force
engaged. Of the ships we are told that the steamers
fired none but their pivot guns (two to each), with the
exception of the Edinburgh and Ajax, which brought
four upper deck guns to bear. No broadside batteries
were brought to bear at all.
Now, what was the result of this experiment ?
What the peiformance of these comparatively few guns
against the granite wails of Bomarsund ? Why, that
the ramparts of rocks were knocked to atoms, and the
impregnable fortress, with it garrison of 2,300 men,
taken at the cost of only 22 fives to the allied forces ?
The description of the aspect presented by the forts
after the capitulation is instructive in the extreme. In
the second round tower, says our correspondent, "the
breach made by Captain Ramsay's battery (that of the
three 32-pounders), firing at 800 yards, across an
inlet, was something terrific. • The whole west side
had literally fallen away, and eight men abreast could
have entered thereby. This breach was effected in nine
, hours." Of the great fort itself we are told that, "Un-
der the walls of this huge fortification the ground was
completely bestrewn with 841 b. shot, broken shells,
grape, and canister, intermixed with enormous sheets of
iron that. had been dislodged from the roof, and the
granite walls had been broken away in thousands of
places." The Governor of the fort himself declared
that the 10-inch gun (Captain Pelham's) and the 321 b.
battery (Captain Ramsay's) had rendered his chance of
holding out longer quite hopeless. Here, therefore, is a
strong fort of the new character absolutely battered to
pieces by some score of guns or so, and the power of
shot against stone so plainly exemplified that it seems
difficult to raise any further question upon the point. If
ships themselves can but resist the fire of the shore bat-
teries they can soon demolish them, however strongly
constructed.

On this second point, however, evidence still remains
to be supplied. The fighting at Bomarsund was all on
our own side, nor had the Russians much to do except
to stand and be beaten. The steamers, with their heavy
pivot guns, anchored out of range of the fort, besides
which the fire of the French Riflemen was so deadly,
and so well sustained that the Russians could hardly
work their artillery. Such a shower of bullets, it is
said, was poured into the embrasures that 10 or 15
minutes frequently elapsed after a discharge before the
enemy could stand to their guns to load again. Our list
of casualties indeed, is sufficient in itself to show that we
could not have been exposed to any heavy cannonade, and
that the trial was more of giving than taking. We are still,
therefore, left in doubt as to the relative means of
offence possessed by heavy ships and granite batteries,
but there are two or three considerations which seemed
to tell against the latter. Assuming that a discharge
from 200 or 300 embrasures must be tremendous, yet the
smoke arising from such a fire must be almost enough
to smother the gunners in their casemates, not to men-
tion the effects of the return broadsides against the walls.
In such a smoke all aim must be lost, and, as ships are
moveable objects, the offensive power of the batteries
must be almost destroyed for the time, whereas it seems
now clear that an hour or two's firing would give all
the superiority to the assailants. If a fort like that at
Bomarsund was so knocked about by four guns in battery
and the pivot guns of a few steamers, what must be the
effect of a dozen concentrated broadsides from twenty
huge ships of the line ? It almost stands to reason that
the granite, however solid, would be shattered to pieces.
To take a fair example, let us suppose that half-a-dozen
three-deckers, including the Duke of Weliington, had
been laid alongside the great fort at Bomarsund, so that
the batteries on both sides were within range of each
other. Would the 100 guns of the fort have demolished
the ships before the 300 guns of the ships had beaten the
fort about the ears of its garrison ? We confess we can
hardly think so. We are not complaining that this course
should not have been adopted. Undoubtedly the best
system of action was that which would /leave least to
chance and involve least peril of life. If other forts can
be taken in like manner by a couple of sailors' batteries
and a battalion of riflemen, by all means let such satis-
factory practice be continued ; but in cases where sech
tactics are less feasible, and wooden walls must needs be
set against stifle walls, we think our apprehensions re-
specting the invincilie strength of granite may be con •
siderably modified by the recollections of Bomarsund.

AQUATICS. .

THAMES UNITY BOAT CLUB.

The Thames Unity Boat Club rowed a very excellent
four-oared race yesterday, for pieces of plate given by
the club to its wagering members.
Red.............................................................. 1
Messrs. Hearne. I Messrs. Mills.
Richardson. Fraser.
Fox, steerer.

Ye110w........................................................... 2
Meson. Blenckho. 1 Messrs. Mills.

Duckett. Pail.
Andrews, steerer.
Blue
Messrs. Newnham. I Messrs. Howland, 0
Rae.
Clayton.
Smith, steerer.
The distance was from Putney to Barnes. They all
got away evenly together and at a fine pace, red taking
the lead, closely followed by yellow up to Hammersmith
Bridge, where red increased their lead, ultimately win-
ning by nearly four lengths. Towards the last blue
seemed to abandon all notion of success, and eased.

CAUTION TO PUBLICANS AND TRA.DESNIEN.—A cor-
respondent writes, " that a gang of sharpers, four in
number, have lately adopted the plan of procuring
situations as barmen and waitresses for a number of
their confederates, who, as soon-as they are installed,
commence their plundering operations. The leaders of
the gang make a daily round, calling in at the houses,
where their 'confederates are placed, and ordering a
glass of ale or spirits, for which they tender a small coin
in payment, but receive change as for half-a-
-c rorh ern The system is said to be extended to grocers' and o
tradesmen's shops."
d have
The Committee of the Liverpool Exchange News-
room, acting upon a memorial of the shareholders,
given notice that on and after the 2nd proximo
Exchange News-room will be closed at 5 pm. 111:
except on
Satur-
day, the newspapers being removed at 4p.
the room will be
the occasion of a foreign arrival, when r
:rOXiMO the
kept open until 8 p.m.

OUR NAVAL OPERATIONS
WRITE SEA.
TO THE EDITOR Or THE DAILY ,2,1W0H..,
SIR, —I- beg leave to send you the '
slick. •'kv
tracts of a letter have just receiVed, fro =:r
son on board one of our ships in- the INJOite • --
Perhaps you will agree with me in thinking
of public interest.
We have been told that blockades were to be es-
tablished in the White Sea on the Ist of August.
This may have been done ; but as all neutral ves-
sels in port, and laden previously to this notifica-
tion of effective blockade, have a right to free egress
with their cargoes, it is obvious such a blockade
will be only a farce as regards Russian trade for
this year.
You will observe the number of Dutch vessels
mentioned by my correspondeut. I-never could
get in Parliament any explanation of the intima-
tion which, undeniably, was given to the merchants
of Holland, that their commerce with Archangel
should not be interfered with ; while very. imper-
fect information of the course determined upon by
the allied!, Governments was afforded to British
merchants.
Allow me to take this opportunity of calling your
attention to the concluding paragraph of the note of
the Austrian Government, of the Bth inst., which
you lately published. Austria therein "reserves
to herself free deliberation on the conditions she
may bring forward for the re-establishment of
peace, if she should happen to be forced to take
tplapaierrrtteiifu theenort: n arr.nae
h a war, The
Austria, then, as yet takes no
Tdhneeautttraitulidtye,sthoebheascomas,esumpossedibis,iy
an armed intervention. She thus holds, as far as
ca,rr,foorcre
tmhaeycrnnEllat f her to hold, the fate of the
proudshe proclaims
iup h peace, in her hands. And •
d'plomacy, The very
This is a real and
existence of the Austrian empirel
was in the hands
sflo7is Austrian"
of the Allies a few months ako We sacrifices to preserve' • and hre li "d!eleall
'84.11.00L-44Wprii4 -
either-side, that empire. Thosessismificaganailla
bow. wise ; but the-result of -OW • •
pears as yet far from satisfatomn"-iitarc lico% with the boasts and the
miser, uttered uttered in ParliaMenrdia 4.a_yg lAtutittt.
to be, sir, your obedient servant; -
Portumna, August 26. CLANEICARDE..

Off Cross Island, in the White Sea, July, 1854.
I must apologise to you for addressing you without
having first obtained your permission to do so ; but
there is such thorough truth in your late remarks on the
way in which the war is being conducted in this quarter
that I cannot resist the temptation of telling you how
exactly the state of the case tallies with your description
of it. - -

We arrived off the bar of the Archangel or Dwina
River, with the three ships on the 26th June, having
boarded au immense quantity of vessels, principally
Dutch, on our way down the White Sea. Within 36
hours of our anchoring it came on to blow very heavily
from the N. W., which is a fair wind for vessels bound
in. They come in in shoals—not less than from 300 to
350 vessels, of which the majority were Dutch, having
passed us between the 26th June and 3d July, when the
wind changed. During this period it blew so hard a gale
that our boats were occasionally prevented from board-
ing, and, as it was, they were knocked to pieces almost,
and all to no purpose—for the vessels were all, with the
exception of one Yankee, in ballast—and as we have
orders not to blockade, we could not interfere with them.
In anticipation of a blockade, many of them had obtained
numerous freights, and the astonishment of the Yankee
was great when he was told that he was at perfect liberty
to proceed. All these craft are now at Archangel, and
the first rush has evidently subsided, though whenever
we can see, which is not very often the case, others are
seen running down.
Without a blockade of Archangel our presence in this
sea is next to useless. The quantity of grain, meal,
flour, &c., which will be exported thence this year will
be positively enormous, and a stoppage of It would be
felt in the heart of the empire. You can have no idea
of the extent of this traffic. No one who has not wit-
nessed its effects. From far and near, within a circuit
of 400 miles of Archangel, the produce of the country is
sent in ; and as the craft which embaric it bring remit-
tances, either in bills or specie, to pay for it, just fancy
what a blow would be struck at Russian commerce by a
strict blockade, and what a quantity of money would be
removed from circulation. We have taken one schooner
and about half a dozen luggers since our arrival, and
another schooner (empty) parted from her anchors, and
drove over the bar in the height of the gale, after we
had put a couple of 321 b. shot through her, got a boat's
crew on board, who luckily escaped to a neutral vessel
just as she went adrift. Perhaps you are not aware of
another arrangement which has been entered into
between the Swedish and our Government. It is
that the Russian luggers trading between Archangel
and the coast of Norwegian Finmatk are Lot to be mo-
lested, because upon them the inhabitants of that dem).
la. e region depend entirely for supplies of food. Now,
this is humane, and would be proper were it not so
liable to abuse. We fell in with a fleet of three, the
other day, one and all consigned to our consul at Ham-
merfest, who, with the consular agents at Vardo, Huns,
and Vatose, seem to have the whole of that trade in
their hands ; and the schooner of 120 tons which we
' took was provided with a sort of pass from the Norwe-
gian consul at Archangel.
Yon may depend upon It that the only effect of the
war in this quarter has been prejudicial to ourselves, by
placing the entire trade in the hands of the Danes,
Dutch, and Hanoverians ; and I fervently hope that,
should the war last over the year, as seems most likely,
you and your party will force our Government to adopt
a different line of conduct. For this year the mischief
is done.

The very moment that the gale broke, which was on
the 3d July, we went to work to try and get the steamers
over the bar of the Dwina, inside which lay a 16-gun
Russian brig, two steamers, two schooners, and 19 gun-
boats, each mounting two long 36-pounders, and pulling
40 sweeps. We sounded the only two channels which
we now used, but found only from 14 to 14 feet in the
deepest. This occupied us all the 4th and sth of July,
and then as Miranda, the vessel of the lightest draught
among us, was drawing 14 feet 11 inches, we found that
for the present the job was impracticable. On the night
of the 6th the Brisk took the Eurydice and the prize
schooner iu tow, and brought them up here to an anchor-
age about 70 miles from the Dwina, admirably situated
for blockading, as all vessels bound to Archangel make
Cross Island to ascertain their position. We anchored
here on the 7th, and next morning the Eurydice sent two
of her boats ashore, on the main land to water. That
afternoon it came on to blow again from the northward ;
the boats tried to get off. One of them just pitche d
sufficiently close to the stern of the Brisk for her to vee r
a small gig with a line to her, by which she hauled her
up ; but God knows what has become of her. The last
seen of her was, the next morning, at 4 a.m., when
she was trying to beat up along shore. The schooner
and one of the boats were sent to her assistance,
but one of those cursed fogs came on, and since Sunday,
the 9th, we have only had half-an-hour during which
eneCoul
and boatdsee th
cameeship'sinl, havingength,anbdoen twenty
during whichmilea to
schooner
leeward without seeing anything of the missing pinnace.
They had two days' provisions with them —but after.
that!

If it were not for this most unhappy affair, things
would be going pretty straight with us, for we have
picked up a collier which was sent to us from England,
and aro consequently reassured about not getting out of
coals. * * At a place called Linslie, half way to
Archangel, stands the strong fort of Navjorin, mount-
ing 80 guns of heavy metal, and only one vessel could
approach at a time ; beyond that, at Solonibol, where
the dockyard is, they have thrown up strong batteries,
and again at Archangel itself. The garrison consists of
6,000 men, and they have the means of turning out as
many gun-boats as they please.

As far as we can learn' there is no vessel of any size on
the stocks at present, and no vessels of war have left, the
river this year.
We had a little firing on the 4th of July. the enemy
having brought some horse artillery guns to bear on our
boats, which were sounding. No damage was done by
them, although their practice was good, and firing re-
markably quick. They have a telegraph on the light-
house abreast our anchorage, off the bar, and would per.
sist in working it on the day we tried to get in, until the
Miranda, which was the closest in, put a 32-pound shot
through the first floor, at a distance of 2,700 yards.
Our men are pretty healthy, although they have been
entirely on salt meat since leaving the Downs. The
weather is terribly against us ; what with gales of wind,
thick fogs, and strong currents, we have enough to do to
take care of ourselves.

PROPORTION OF
FERENT COUNTRIES DErarPomANaDoDominfp
tion of deaf and .--
aßriPsolnarf NthSeipNropprr.
dumb in Ireland with that which pre.
vails in other countries of Europe, from which accurate
information can be
obtained, we learn that the prp,Poroon
being 1 in 1,593, is greater than that of the Duchies of
Luxembourg and Wurtemburg, and the kingdoms of
Tuscany, Bavaria, Belgium, and Holland, in which the
average is 1 in 2,209 ; and less than in Sardinia, Nor-
way, and parts of Switzerland, where the average is 1 in
642. In some of the Swiss cantons the ratio is as high
as 1 in 206—i. e., above seven times as great as in Ire-
land.— Medical Times and Gazette.
SHIPMENT OF MUNITIONS OF WAR TO INDIA.—The
Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury have
caused the Commissioners of Customs to be acquainted
that, in compliance with their recommendation, their
Lordships are pleased to authorise the Board to allow
the shipment of munitions of war, &c., by the East India
ny, without the necessity of an order in Council
being obtained in each case, in the same manner as with
regard to the shipment to her I\li .jesty' forces in the
East, under Treasury order of April last, and
without
bond being required from the Company.
CoNVICTION UNDER THE CLIMBING TAI"'
ACT.—At
the Manchester City Police court yesterday, a chimney-
sweeper named John Charlton, «-
sweeper charged with send.
ins a little boy up t 3 sweep iii a I ".
Mr. Slack, grocer, in Long Mitigate. John Hall, an
iimy in the.house of
inspector appointed by the Chi imney Sweepers' Protec-
tion Society, saw the boy enter the house about five
housekeeper said she s morning
last ; and Mr.
Slack's
saw the boy go up the chimney.
Thus the difficulty of proving the actual fact, which so
frequently renders a conviction in these cases iutnos'
sible, was in this hat
was fined 71. 4124243 oyeroime, and the defendant

MOOT WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tr[, I)3T —lkorniaT 45 inin.after 5 I !Waning 4 rain.aft. 6
To.Mbimow—Morning 26 Inin.after 6 1 Evening 49 rain.aft. 6

TEE WEATHER.—Strs Orrios, Ara. 30.
MERMOMSTER, IN THE SHADE
78-111711 est since noon yesterday.
60 - lowest this morning and during the night.
75—this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30.33—falling.
WIND, S.W.—Light breeze, and fine, sunshiny weather.

~~

~,~;

0. .c

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1854.

If any doubt could previously have existed in
any unprejudiced mind as to the real animus of
the German Powers with respect to Russia, it
must be dispelled by a perusal of the diplomatic
notes addressed by the Prime Ministers of Austria
and Prussia to their representatives at St. Peters-
burg, in'answer to that of Count NESSELRODE of '
the 29th June last. We have already exposed
the unworthy quibbles of that wily politician—.
quibbles which could not for a moment have de-
ceived any impartial person of ordinary under-
standing. In that despatch the Russian Chan-
cellor had the barefaced and unblushing assurance
to declare that the position held by Russia in the
Principalities, and which, through the unaided
valour of the Turkish troops it could no longer
maintain, was essential to its safety, and
required that Austria should " guarantee
that the Russians should not be molested in
their homeward march." The reasons of Russia
for evacuating the Principalities were almost
as strong as those of the Irish Gentleman for leav-
ing the room from which he had just been kicked.
They were manifestly not of the kind that could
entitle the defeated party to any indulgence for
doing that which was inevitable. But in place of
exposing the unparalleled impudence of the de-
mand—in place of declaring that Austria could
render no assistance to Russia, on the unequivocal
failure of its unconscien Hoag attempt—Count
Buor. blandly declares that the request " has its
reasonable aspects," regrets that the required secu-
rity is " beyond their control," but at the same
time promises " to utilise this communication with
the Maritime Pcwers, and the more so as in its
connexion it appears to convey an earnest desire
to attain to an adjustment."

Prussia goes even further in bandying compli-
ments with the Northern Despot--in heaping its
fulsome adulation on the specious sophistries of
NESSELRODE, and expressing its full and unshaken
confidence in the " moderation" of NICHOLAS.
It requires the Prussian Ambassador, Baron
WERTHER, to convey to "his Majesty the EM-
PEROR and the Chancellor of the Empire (M.
NESSELRODE) the impressions which the last com-
munications had produced on the august Sove-
reign"—the Angel of Peace—the benign CerronoT.
It adds, " the KING does full justice to the mode-
rate and conciliatory spirit in which these have
been framed—his MAJESTY attaches all its
value (I !!) to the sincere desire expressed by
Count NESSELRODE to give the fullest considera-
tion to the desires and obligations of the ancient
Allies of Russia, as well as to the interests which
they cannot but protect." "Guided by this encou-
raging appreciation, the KING, persisting in the
views expressed iu my despatch of July 12, will
take his stand on the Russian reply ; and will
renew his efforts at Vienna, and next in common
accord with Austria, at Pa and London, with
the object of attaining a just and practicable
bases to some chances of a re-establishment of peace
and a good understanding ! "
- Here, then, in these remarkable documents, we
have the policy of the Netitral Powers clearly and
distinctly displayed. " Gerneanie. m" is exhibited
in its true light,
.without mystery or concealment,
and the strongly-expressed distrust of those who,
like ourselves; have invariably-declared that the
object of Austria and Prussia was to protect Rus-
sia from the consequences-of its OW reckless and
unjustifiable proceedings. Count MeegrzuFFEr.
leas spoken very plainly. He has regarded rather
feelings of his SOVEREIGN for a near
the personal
relative than the honour or the interests of the
kingdom over which FREDERICK WILLIAM now
reigns. But the language of Count &roe, al_
t'eough better veiled, is no less distinct and ex-
He has still—even for the sake of Russia
—a character to maintain, and he cannot openly
fling himself into the scale with NICHOLAS.
But he thinks that this request of Russia has its
" reasonable aspect," and although he " cannot
guarantee that the troops shall not be molested
on their homeward march," the required security
" not being under his control," yet he will " utilise
the communication with the Maritime Powers,
and the more so as in its connection it
-appears to
convey an earnest desire to attain to an adjust-
ment."

Can there, then, be any doubt or difficulty as
to the object of Austria iu its tardy occupation
of the Principa'ities? Sometime since, when the
Russian troops were in the Dobrudscha, and

Siligtria was clesely environed, that occupation
might have been beneficial to the Porte, 3:
would have checkzd the onslaught of the fierec
invaders, and rendered peace at least praAicable.
But now its tardy action is solely for the
purpose of preventing the Ottomans from
followingup the advantages which they have
gained by their own valour and indomitable
energies. They protect the flying assailants, and
strive, by deceitful wiles and pretended friend-
ship, to diminish the powers and overthrow the
independence of those who withstood tests of no
ordinary magnitude, and proved themselves to be
capable of resisting everything in the shape of open
force. The SULTAN may, however, learn a salu-
tary lesson from the fate of a once-celebrated city,
the ruins of which are still visible in his own
dominions, and. not very far from his capital.
Ile may paraphrase the passage of VIRGIL,
and, in reference to the insidious advances
of Austria may, if he suffer himself to be be-
trayed thereby, when too late, exclaim—

" Talibus insidiis perjurique arte Sinonis,
Credita res : captique dolis lacrimisque coactis,
Quos neque Tydides, nec Larissceus Achilles,

Non anni domuere decem, non mille Carina."

We cannot suppose, however, that either
Turkey, or those who have unsheathed their
falch ions in her behalf, and in defence of
truth and justice, will be so blinded as
to suffer these too palpable wiles to pre-
vail, or to lead to fatal results at no distant
day: The object of the German Powers mani-
festly is to give time to Russia to enable her to
muster her resources so as to oppose a deter-
mined resistance to the Allied Forces. The first
aim is to renew negotiations, and, if that be
accomplished, everything else will follow. Rus-
sia will escape from the war with undiminished
power and unsubdued pride, ready to offer a new
cccsus belli whenever a more favourable opportu-
nity shall arise.

If the post of danger be also that of honour, a
railway engine-driver must occupy a very distin-
guished position indeed. Not only must he bear
the brunt of auy collision or casualty, encounter-
ing tenfold the peril of any passenger by the train
under his guidance, but be appears to be invariably
the scape-goat on whose devoted head the popular
indignation is to be lavished. Should he survive
the crash that proved fatal to any other person,
he is sent to abide his trial on a charge of man-
slaughter—detained for many mouths in custody,
frequently a more stringent punishment than he
would be sentenced to even if convicted ; and,
under the most favourable circumstances, subjected
not only to the loss of his situation, and the
means of 'earning an honest livelihood for his
family, but also to ruinous expenses in preparing
his defence and obtaining the professional advice
and assistance indispensable under the circum-
stances. All these matters, however little they
may be thought of by the community at large,
or by.functionaries who think it quite a matter
of course that there should be a " further
investigation," in any case " not perfectly
free from doubt," render the situation of au engine-
driver one of very serious risk, independent of the
ordinary casualties to which he must necessarily
be exposed.
We do not say that there should not be the
most stringent and searching investigation into all
the details and circumstances of every accident,
whether it be attended with fatal consequences or
not, or that if any actual culpability be proved
either against an engine-driver or any other per-
son in the employment, or in any way connected
with the Company, he or they should not be
treated with the utmost rigour of the law ; but
we must emphatically protest against the doctrine
that such an investigation can only be carried on
under the shelter of a criminal prosecution, or
that the unfortunate scape-goat must be compelled
to linger many weary months in prison, while his
family are enduring all the bitter privations of the
most pinching poverty, or perhaps compelled to
avail themselves of the tender mercies of the Union
Workhouse.

These observations naturally follow the finding
of the Coroner's Jury in the fatal railway acci-
dent at Croydon---one of "manslaughter" against
SIMPSON, the driver of the excursion train. This,
however, was by no means their unanimous ver-
dict, nor can we say that it was fairly or justly
obtained. We must say that the conduct of the
Coroner appeared to our humble judgment not
what we should have expected from a gentleman of
such great experience—one, too, who usually
gives unequivocal satisfaction in the discharge of
his important duties ; nor does the verdict appear
to be very consistent in finding the driver guilty
of manslaughter, and at the same time expressing
an opinion that " the signals at the Croydon
Station were contradictory, and likely to mislead
the drivers of engines." Now they had been ex-
pressly told that " if they thought the driver had
been misled by the distance signal, they would
find that the death was accidental." They find
that " the signals were contradictory, and likely
to mislead." The result showed that the man
was misled—for it could not be supposed that he
would wilfully and deliberately hazard his own
life, and inflict enormous injury to the lives
and properties of others without any ade-
quate object. As a prisoner on a crimi-
nal charge he would be entitled to any
reasonable doubt in his favour, and yet the same
verdict that finds him gUilty of manslaughter, a
crime that may expose him to perpetual banish-
ment from his native land—the highest secondary
punishment known to the law—also shows that
he is entitled to that doubt, and that there can be
no possibility of a conviction before a Judge and
Jury at the Assizes.
It is with deep regret that we find ourselves
compelled to differ from Mr. W. PAYNE, a gentle-
man for whom, as a public officer, we entertain
unfeigned respect and esteem. No one knew better
than the Coroner himself that it was his duty to
tell the Jury that they should not find a verdict
which should subject the accused to more than
seven months' incarceration and afterwards to a
criminal trial, unless there was-reasonable grounds
for finding him guilty on the evidence adduced
before them. No injury could follow from an
open verdict. If additional inculpatory evidence
were subsequently obtained he might again be
taken into custody, and committed for trial by
the Board of Magistrates. That committal would
be tested by a Grand Jury. If the evidence were
defective the bill might be ignored. But the
finding of a Coroner's Jury renders a trial indis-
pensable. The case must come on under
any circumstances, and thus serious damage be
inflicted on the prisoner ; while, on the other
hand, if.the proofs. be defective, he must be ac-
quitted, so that he could ,never afterwards be
brought to trial.

Now, when the Jury, after a considerable lapse
of tine, stated. that " they. Could not agree," it
seems to us that the Coroner should have again
explained the doubtful points on which difference
existed, rather than recommending them "to
brine' in a verdiCt Which should bring the m titer
before another tribunal." This appears to be a
mode of shifting responsibility by no means just
or constitutional—one which, if generally adopted,
would render the Coroner's Inquest, in place of a
very tieful institution, a regular nuisance, which
should be abated with all possible speed.

FORTHCOMING ELECTION Or LORD MATOR.--it iS
confidently st:ited in the City, this morning, that it is
intended to put forward Mr. Alderman Moon and Al-
derman Saloinnns to fill the civic chair, and as no op-
p;•.Fi ion Nil be offered on the occasion, Mr. Alderman
Aioon wiil be duly elected.

DISCOVERY OF COAL. NEAR RETIMO.—A letter from
CAnee, dated August 12, states that coal had been •l
is.
-1 about nine miles from Retimo. The Governor.18.
General had sent a specimen of it to Constantinople' and
the steamers on the station had made a trial of it. The
experiment is said to have been satisfactory.
BIRTHS IN LONDON.--Last week the births of 856
boys and
nd7B2 girls, in all 1,633 children, were registered
in London.
In the nine corresponding weeks of the
years 1845-53 the average number was 1,367.

THE UNITED ST,A TES_

__.~..

tb ELEOTIUC TI:LEGR.IPI7.
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.
This morning the United States mail steam-ship
Atlanlic, Captain West, from New York direct,
arrived in the Mersey. She sailed from New York
on Saturday, the 19th inst., and has brought,
besides the usual mails up to that date, ninety-six
passengers, and upwards of 700,000 dols. in specie
on freight.
The Atlantic passed the United States mail
steamer Baltic off Sandy Hook, from hence on the
9th inst.
The Union arrived on the 16th at New York.

We have the reported failure of Messrs. Henry
Sheldon and Co., of that city.
At the steamer's departure business was mode-
rate. All trades opened languidly. Stocks rather
depressed and slightly lower. There was a good
demand for money in the market.
The cotton market was very quiet, holders firm,
and not disposed to make any reduction.
The market for breadstuffs was active, prices
stiff. Flour had advanced / dol. per barrel, and
corn had slightly improved in price.
The provision market was brisker ; prices dull.
Freights dull, and very low.
Exchange on London, 109/ to 1091 ; ditto on
Paris, 5

MARLBOROUGH-STREET-(THIS DAY).

FRACAS AT TSB JUNIOR UNITED SERVICE CLUB.--
Lieutenant James Atkinson, of the 72d Highlanders,
was charged before Mr. Hardwick with assaulting Geo.
Thomas, a dyer, in the employ of Mr. Bowe, Rathbone-
place, under the following circumstances :
. .

_
It appeared, from the evidence of the complainant,
that a member of the above-named Club, named Capt.
Darrell, had for some considerable time past been in-
debted to his employer in the sum of about 8/. for work
done, and not having been able to obtain payment
of the same, complainant had received instruc-
tions to call at the Club, with a view of seeing
Captain Darrell, and that he had done so on a great
many occasions, but without success. This morning,
between one and two o'clock, he again went there, ac-5
companied by a friend, and inquired of the hall porter
if Captain Darrell was there. He was answered in the
negative; but, notwithstanding this, he had reason to
believe that the Captain was there, but purposely de-
nied it ; and, having waited a few minutes in the hail,
the defendant, accompanied by other gentlemen, came
down the staircase, and then inquired of them after
Captain Darrell. The defendant and his friends
answered that they knew nothing of Captain Darrell,
and told him (witness) he might be d—d and go to —,
and immediately laid hold of him with great violence,
and pushed him down the steps, and he fell on the pave-
ment. Upon his regaining his legs, the defendant
again rushed at him, took him up in his arms and flung
him into the road, which, being covered with rough
stones, severely cut and lacerated one of his hands.
which bled very much, and caused him great pain. Wit-
ness proposed to give him in charge to a policeman, who
at grst declined, but afterwards took him (defendant) to
the station-house.

James George then gave evidence confirmatory of
complainant's statement.
In answer to the charge, defendant said that about
five minutes to two this morning, just about as the Club
was to h 9 closed, the complainant was in the hall, creat-
ing a disturbance, and annoying him (defendant) and
several of his friends, by inquiries after Capt. Darrell.
He (defendant) and another gentleman told him that it
was a very improper time to call for payment of a bill,
and desired him to leave, which he refused to do, and
called them a set of swindlers, whereupon he certainly
did push complainant, endeavouring to put him out,
and in so doing the complainant fell. He posi-
tively denied having thrown him into the road,
as described. In support of his explanation, he
called Mr. Andrew Horry, a member of the same
club, who corroborated in every particular the de-
fendant's representations. This being the whole
of the evidence pro and cen, the magistrate (Mr. Hard-
wicke) said it was monstrous that a person at such an
unseasonable hour as two o'clock in the morning should
go to a club-house, which was about to be closed, and
create a disturbance, and annoy gentlemen in the man-
ner described ; that both complainant and his employer
must perfectly well know that if they had any
legitimate claim against Captain Darrell, or any-
body else, that a club-house was not a proper
place to visit for such a purpose, for it must be
patent for everybody that County Courts were now is
existence, and they had their remedy there against Cap-
tain Darrell. Under the whole cf the circumstances, if
he had received any personal injury, it was no more than
he ought to expect for having pertinaciously insisted upon
remaining in the hall of the clubhouse, after having been
several times requested to leave. He should therefore
dismiss the charge.