The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-10 00:00:00

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.)

It is the opinion of experienced officers at Devon-
port who are intimately acquainted with the peculiar
construction of the Captain, as well as with the
nature of the coast off which she is stated to have
be

.en lost, that she was run down by some large
steamer, and not driven on shore. She was stationed
about thirty miles off land, and her steam power
was so great that she could hardly have been driven
on shore against it. Even if her rudder was disabled
she could steer with her screws. The coast, more-,
over, abounds in safe harbours, into which she could
have run. The above opinion is shared in by the
Port-Admiral, Sir Henry Cdorington.
The Captain had a complement of 377 officers and
nlen, 40 boys,- and 75 marines, and although some of
her crew are in hospital at Devonport, their abseripe
was compensated for by the supernumeraries she had
on board. She left Plymouth in July last. In
Plymouth and Devonport the news of the disaster
has caused great consternation and regret, a cala-
mity of the kind, equal in extent, not having, it is
said, occurred in the British navy for. twenty years.

Tire following communication was received from
re Admiralty last evening:

64 Admiralty, Sept. 9, 1870.

'The following distressing telegram has been
received, by way of Vigo, at the Admiralty with the
deepest regret :
"'From Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Her Majesty's

ship Lord Warden, off Cape Finisterre, Sept. 7,
1870, 8 p.m.:
" ' I very much regret to have to send painful
intelligence. Her Majesty's ship Captain must have
foundered in the night. She was close to this ship at
this morning. Sudden south-west gale, very heavy
squalls. At daybreak the Captain was missing.
This afternoon her boat, or boats, and spars were
found.

" ' All have unfortunately perished.
" The Inconstant sails to you with report.'
" Further intelligence will be com►nunicated whe:
receiged."

The following is the list of captain and officers of
the ship, taken from the Navy List of July :
Captain, Hugh T. Burgoyne ' • Commander, Richard
Sheepshanks ; Lieutenants, Charles Giffard, Francis B
Renshaw, Richard P. Purdon, Robert F. Castle, and Ed
ward W. F. Boxer ; Chaplain and Faval Instructor, Rev
John S. Powles ; Staff-Commander, Robert J. C. G rant
Paymaster, Julian A. Messum • Assistant Paymasters
Richard Cornish and Arnold West ; Chief Engineer, G
Rock • Staff-Surgeon, Matthew Burton, M.D. ; Surgeon
Robert Purvis ; Acting Assistant-Surgeon, John Ryan
Engineers, Henry H. Mothersole, William C. Moreton
Peter Baldwin, George H. Barnes, John H. Willis ; Sub
Lieutenants, Edward P. Hume, Lord Lewis Gordon
Herbert F. Murray, Douglas E. D. Currey, Alexander K
B. Granville, Arthur 0. R. B. Ternan, Charles E. Gold
smith • Naval Sub-Lieutenant, Arthur G. Tregaskis
Midshipmen, Gerald W. Trevor, Leonard G. E. Chil-
ders, William S. Taylor, Allan, C. T. Mann, Hon.
Arthur 'T. N. Baring, Henry W. Gordon, Robert L.
Mayne, Alfred A. Ashington, and Hon. William R. Her-
bert; Assiatant Engineers, first class, George P. Gardi-
nererederick J. Baon, andi Thomas W. Curtis ; Assistant
Engineer, second class, Alfred Parkis ; Second Captain,
R.M.A., Richard A. Gorges ; Naval Cadets, Edmund D.
Ryder and E6yard F. Goodfellow ; Gunner, second class
James May; Roatswain, second class, Robert Davie ;
Carpenter, second class, Charles Dyer. Assistant Clerks
William V. R. Heugh and Alfred W. Glanville.
Among the lot on board the Captain are the

Hon. Arthur Napier T. Baring, son of Lord North-
brook ; and the H. William Reginald Herbert,
son of Lady Herbert 'of Lea, and br3ther of the Earl
of Pembroke.

RUMOURS OF PEACE.
The following letter of Thursday's date is from the
Paris correspondent of theiTimes :
" I have reason to believe that Prussia shows a greater
readiness than was expected to enter upon negotiations.
It can hardly be said that anything has been actually

done, so far as was known here up to this after-
noon, but there are favourable indications. It is thought
that the proclamation of the Republic—even though

this be subject to the ultimate decision of a Constituent
Assembly, has not been without its effect upon Prussian
statesmen, and that they may be found willing to treat
without actually occupying Paris—an occupation which
could not be effected without a great deal more blood-
shed and perhaps immense damage to this capital. Were
a siege to be undertaken and persisted in, the proba-
bilities are that before the place fell—and in time it must
fall, if only from want of provisions—there would be
scenes of strife and slaughter between the different par-
ties within its walls—the men of order and moderation on
the one hand and the Reds upon the other. Already this
latter party has given cause for alarm. Late on
Tuesday they gathered in considerable numbers, and at
one time a collision was feared. Their newspaper organs,

lately suspended but now reviN ea, preach their subversive
doctrines and violently assail the Government. Rochefort,
who, Jules Favre said, had been taken into the Govern-
ment not only as one of the Deputies for Paris,
but also because they thought it better to have
him in than out, undertakes to keep the Reds in
order, and I hear he has already, within the last three or
four days, successfully exerted the influence he un-
doubtedly possesses over the bands of Belleville and La
Vilette. But this influence may not endure, and is likely
to become impaired by his present associations with more
I moderate men. It would indeed be deplorable

if things came to such a pass within the city
that the bulk of . the inhabitants should almost
welcome the Prussians as their deliverers from
anarchy. For the Prussians the task of restoring order
under such circumstances might prove difficult and
embarrassing. An interesting conversation with Count
Bismarck, published by one of your contemporaries,
has attracted great attention here, and confirms
reports that have reached us from other quar-
ters, respecting that statesman's disposition to make
peace upon terms France might be able to accept. His
rare sagacity has discerned that Alsace and Lorraine,
whether incorporated in Germany or made into a neutral
State, would still be Frenchat heart, and might become.a
danger instead of a gain to their present conquerors. In this
respect it is feared the King is less reasonable ; but faith is
placed in Bismarck's influence with him. On one point
they are said to be agreed, and that is in demanding the
cession of the Baltic fleet as a condition of peace. This would
hardly be conceded. But at the present moment we need
not look so far forward. The great object now is to
get mediation entertained, and, if possible, to ob-
tain an armistice. Of this there to-day are hopes which
to-morrow may dissipate or confirm. In the latter case it
will be matter of regret that our Government should
have hung back, as it unquestionably has done. The whole
of the neutral European Powers, both great and small, au-
thorised England to act in their name so soon as the slightest
opening offered for an attempt at conciliation ; and Eng-
land is now severely blamed for her remissness. There
seems but one voice among the Diplomatic Body
here to condemn the Foreign Office, while recog-
nising and applauding the decided course the
British Abassador in Paris would have taken had
he been allowed. ' Why does not Lord Lyons,'
I have heard Frenchmen say, 'go to the King of
Prusssia and see what can be done with him ?'
This is easily answered; without credentials from
his Government, an Ambassador is incapacitated from
an attempt of the kind, and could not be received
in an official capacity. Never have I heard Lord
Clarendon's death so much regretted as during the last
three ,days in Paris. If he had lived, it is said, we
should probably not have had the war at all ; but,
assuming that he had been unable to prevent it, were he
now alive we should by this time be on the high road to

peace."
A correspondent of the Telegraph, writing from Paris
late on Thursday night, says :—" Happily the air rings