The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-29 00:00:00

THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.

CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, JAN. ,14.
The demolition of the docks proceeds. On Satur-
day 'the side of one was blown in. There were 11
mitres; and 8,000113. of'powder were employed. At
about half-past 1 o'clock the fuse was lighted, and
the engineer officers ascended the high ground in
rear of the docks to await the explosion. Owing to
the mistake of a subordinate officer in charge of
the wires, three of the mines were let off prema-
turely: Five minutes elapsed, and then the others
exploded, ant all of them quite simultaneously,
but in very rapid succession. .The effect was most
satisfactory. To reconstruct what was overthrown
would give more trouble than to build a new dock,
for the removal of the p`euderouS rubbish would of
itself be an Herculean labour. The quantity of
powder used would suggest the idea of a prodigi-
ous explosion, fragments flying big r into- the air,
and strewing the hind around ; but it' must be re-
membered that the force of these mines is di-
rected laterally, and its first apparent effect dis-
appoints'ekpectation. It is only when the smoke
clears away, and one beholds the huge masses of
granite that hav6 been riven from their beds, that
one forms a just idea of the power applied. At the
inometrt of the explosion, however, some blocks of
very respectable size were seen flying through the
air, in a directiotk, fortunately, where their fall was
innoctions. Amid and within the grey smoke a
dust-4ird appeared. There was a tremulous mo-
tion of the ground, and some stones fell off the dock-
yard wall. T4e engineer officers were highly satis-
fied with the effect produced. Few spectators were
there, for it is never known beforehand, with, any
degree of certainty, When_ these explosions aro to
take place. A few- French officers were present,
some of them with a photographic apparatus, to
catch the effect of the explosion. Tire Russian
batteries were silent. Shortly after the explosion,
a few shots were tired ; but they were chiefly di-
rected at the French part of the town. For the
last few days the 'Russian fire has been very slack.
They have probably found out that they merely
'wasted their powder and shot. The destruction of
the docks will not be completed before the end of
the month.

Within less than 48 hours we have gone the round
of the seasons. Saturday was a summer day. AA
noon, in the hollow of the Woronzoff-road and in
the Karabclnaia the sun was, without exaggeration,
hotter than would be considered altogether p!easant
in any season but winter The breeze wai soft, the
afternoon balmy and beautiful. Sunday was
usbered in by beavfrain, a reguhr Crimean tor-
rent, plashing down upon our hut roofs, soaking
our tents, penetrating our stables, and saturating
our shivering horses. Some time after nightfall
.the rain was extthaaigecl for snow, and then it froze,
the wind having veered round to the north. This
morning the thermo Meter stood at 11° Fahrenheit
—2l° below freeling point, and a variation of 43°
within about 24 hours. It is now afternoon, and
bitterly cold. •

JAN. 15.
The cold continues, but the wind has abated.

FRANCE:
PARIS, MONDAY EVENING.
The Emperor yesterday received in private,
audience Mehernmed. Djeinil Bey, Ambassador
Extraordintiryind Plenipotentiary of the Ottoman
Porte, who presented to his Imperial Majesty a
letter from the Sultan, expressing thanks for the

i Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. Mehemmed
1 Djemil Boy afterwards presented to the Emperor
Brigadier General Sefer Paella, Commander of the
Tarkish Cavalry at Eupatoria.
The Emperor and Empress also received yestr
day several foreigners, who were presented to their
Imperial Majesties by the Ministers of Prussia,
Austria, Brazil, Sardinia, the Netherlands, and
Wurteuiberg. His Excellency Lord Cowley, the
British Ambassador, presented the following per-
sons :—Captain Lucas, Major and Mrs. Cockburn,
Mr. Osborne Dalyell, Mrs. and Misses Cockerell,
Mr. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Campbell, Mr.
and Mrs. Harvey, Miss Byrne, Mrs. James and the
Misses Farrell, Mrs. Thomas Farrell, Mr. Lsveson.
The subjoined were presented by the Minister of
the United States :--Mr. and Mrs. Bronson, Mr.
and Mrs. Butterfield, Miss Julia Ann May, Mr.
and Mrs. W. E. Murphy, and Miss Murphy, Mrs.
Owen Murphy, Mr. Robert Murphy, Mr., Mrs.,
and Miss Jones,, Mr. W. S. Valentine, r. and
Mrs. Stevens, Mr. L. G. Howard.
The Monitesr publishes a formal declaration of
the Court of Accounts, to the effect that after exa-
mining all accounts, books, and vouchers, it finds
that the general accounts of the public expenditure
in 1854, presented by the Administration of l'i-
name, are correct.

BOURSE Jail. 28, Two o'clock.--A rise of t;', in
the English Funds has not prevented the Frcuch
Threes from remaining heavy, owing to the high
rate of interest for the continuation to the end of
next mouth, the report being at 80c. and 85c. The
Threes have varied from 691. 250. to 691. 35c.• The
Railroad and other shares are stationary.
Half-past Three.—The market was more buoyant
at the end of the day, and Borne large purchases
were made. The following are the last quotations
Cash. . fr. e. End of Waal.
per Cents c4 i O —f. —c.
3 per Cents 69 25 69 65
New Loan 7O 10

Bank Shares 3260 Roman
Credit Mobilier l 455 A.ustrian
Belgian Five 5........ 93:) Spanish Threes
Piedmontesi (5) ..... , 87 -- flame Debt

AALW A Yii—roß Gant

,T.
Urbana •..... C.
1200 Western c
798 75
Northam .. . 9'•o Strasburg
Lyons
Mediterranean 1332 50 Grand Central 597 50
Lyons Geneva - Teste
Cette 707 30 Austrian C0m....... 823

RUSSIA.

A letter from -St. Petersburg of the 19th
instant, iu the Debate, says :—" Since the
departure of the allied squadrons, all the
gun-boats which were ,built during last year at
Biorneborg have been able to cross over to Abo,
and nearly 200 of them are now there. After the
loss of Bomarsund, it has been found necasary to
give more attention to Abo, which is thought to be
in a state to replace that fortress. Since the pre-
sent war such new experiments have been made in
the art of fortifications, and the prompt fall of Bo-
inarsand has raised such serious doubts as to the
resistance which an isolated fortress can offer to
the present means of attack, that the old plan of
establishing an advanced post on the islands of
Alaud has, it is said, been given up, and a fortress
will be built in its stead ou the coast of Finland.
Abo would doubtless be the best point for that ob-
ject, particularly if there be comprised iu the for-
tified line the small islands close to the shore, and
which prevent the approach to it at the same time
as they bar the passage into the Gulf of -Bothnia.
It would be a great error to suppose that Russia
has renounced the idea of making herself one- of
the great maritime Powers. The Construction of
vessels is going on with great activity at Arch-
angel and at Nicolaieff, and if the present war
should completely
,close the Black Sea-to Russia,
the greatest efforts _would be made to create a for-
midable navy in the north."
Another letter from St. Petersburg of the same
date, in the Constitution:net, says I have al-
ready given you a correct version of what took
place on the 16th at the winter-palace. Others may
perhaps ernhellish the recital and tell you that the
Emperor Alexander 11. summoned to him on that
day his privy councillors Prince Menschikoff, Or-
loff; Count de Nesselrode, and the Grand Dukes,
but any 'statement 'of that kind you anay collaider
as apocryphal ; the Emperor sent for no one, ex-
cept the Count de. Nesselrode, M. de Semawine,
and M. de Fonton, and he only sent for them to
make known his irrevocable deeieione and to order
them to transmit it to Vienna and to Count Valen-
tine Eaterhazy. In such circumstances, it may be
well understood that there was no advice to be
given and still less any discussion to enter into.
The Sovereign gavna formal order ; the great•dt-
nitartes of his empire. bowed the head and obeyed,
and that was all they had •to do. As to the
members of the Imperial family, they knew
nothing of the affair before the personages I have
just mentioned. But lam Wrong to say so, as one
alone, the Empress Maeia, knew beforehand of the
decision of her august consort, and that was very
natural, since it was owing in a great measure to
her influence that ,the decision was come to. In
addition to the recommendations of her Majesty,
Prince Gortschakoff was constantly sending de-
spatches of the "nest alarming character, and which
invariably terminated with such phrases as this :
I foresee the most serious complications for us if
we continue the war ; I entreat your Majesty to
adhere to the conditions proposed ; the whole of
Europe declares against Russia.' What could the
Czar do in the face of such manifestations ? Russia
has, doubtless, too long entertained a belief that
Germany, without being ostensibly with her, would
remain in a state. of neutrality propitious to her
designs. The speech of the Emperor of the French,
however, soon dissipeted that illusion, and' placed
the real state of affairs in its proper point of view.
Germany had nothing to gain by the coneiuuauce of
,be war, but on the contrary had much to lose, for
the war disturbed the balance of power in Europe,
checked commerce, and might from the very for_e of
circumstances suddenly change its scene of action,
and, becoming general, advance towards the centre
of Europe. Hanover, Saxony, Bavaria, and Austr a,
either together or separatly, apps fled to the gene-
rous sentiments of the Emperor of Russia, and the
latter was able to coMpreeend that his refusal
Would' put an end to all the sympathy of those
nations for him, would isolate Russia, and compel
her to return within her natural limits. The pre-
sent Czar is an intelligent man, and he compre-
hended this immense daner. Besides—and I
cannot too often repeat this fact—he has, in addi-
tion to the polidsal tact which is one of the d s-
-Unctions of his character, a most excellent heart.
All reasonable menare unanimous in the conviction
that his humane feelings strongly influenced his late
decision: You- will find the traces of this kindness
in all the acts of the Emperor, whether public or
private. The Czar has; always been badly informed
on affairs touching the internal interests of his em-
pire.; and as to his ignerance of external mattere,
lean give you the following as a proof of it,- vouch-
ing for the iLtithenticitysof what I .write :—Baron de
Seebach, as I have already told y' oi, is On the best
terms with all t;ie member" of the Imperial family.
Ha was Much liked by the late Emperor, and was, I
believe, a Schooltellovrof the present possessor of
the throne ; at all events the latter has alweys
shown him the- mbat marked attention. As soon,
therefore, as M. de Ssehach arrived here in Decem-
ber last, the Emperor received him, and cxpreS,ed
to hint his gratitnde for the
.friendly attention
whicti he had
paid to Russian interests at Paris.
After au interchange of the most affectionate senti-
ments, the Czar naturally brought on the tapis the
question of the •conflict between Russia and the
Westein Powers, and mid in the most serious man-
ner, The war •,s popular in Rus,is ; the nobility,
the clergy; and the people desire it, and I therefore
cannot atiseontiime it, however strongly I may feel
iii favour of peace. • Besides, I know that Flance
and England have been compelled to make so many
sacrifices .to, support the war that their resource:
areexaateeted, amid neither one nor the other if
those. Powers can, :next spring, flirnish an army and
a fleet l'-ufficialitly strong to force rue to submit to
peace on' the conditions which are now proposed
to me.' Ido not guarantee the exact words made
use of by the Emperor,' but such certainly was Isis
deep-rooted conviction, and so strongly was he im-
pressed with the idea that it required • all the elo-
quence of M. de Seebach, and two. or three ling
conferences in which the most indisputable facts
were brought l'orward by him, to make the Cs tr
comprehend thattsia this particular he was corn.
pletely in error -that France and Rigl,n h, far
from being exhausted, were at this mou.ent pre-
paring the most formidable armaments, that heir
sacrifices had barely commenced, and that if th y
wanted money the peoPle. of those two countries
were ready to offer their wealth and all their able-
bodied men, so strong is the feeling of patriotism
in both countaies: It may be thus seen how truly'
the Itastowzoffe, the Orlola, and their satellites
have repreiented matters to their Sovereign." 'Re
same letter adds:--" The cholera, which has never

. .
entirely left us, has again, I regret to say, increased
in violence, and a number of fatal cases have lately
occurred here."

PRUSSIA.

A letter from Berlin, of the 251, in the Consti-
tutionnel, says :—" Accounts from Vienna state
that the Emperor Alexander his addressed a nio t
friendly l& ter to the Emperor of Austria on Cie
existing negotiations, and expressing a decided
wish for the early re-e3tahlishmeut of peace. - It
is said that the Emperor Alexander has expressed,
the desire that the contents of his letter should'
be connnunicated to the Emperor apoleon.
This cOMinunicatieif having taken place, the Em;
peror of the French is said to have addremed