The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-18 00:00:00

THE MEDITERRANEAN

MALTA, Milner' 11.
The aspect of Malta is anything but pacific just
now ; munitions of war and troops are forwarded
with unabated activity to the East. 4,500 Weil
were sent from here last • week ; and from persons
who appear capable of judging I bear the eel
highest accounts of their training and high state of
discipline. Very great praise is due to Sir Jolla
Pennefather and his staff for their attention, no
only to the drill of these men, but to their coin'
fort ; for they looked not only smart soldiers, but
contented, happy men, proud of themselves, and
delighted at leaving for the Crimea. The depar-
ture of the various steamers was a most exhilarating
sight—such playing of bands, cheering, hurrahing,
more like starting to a wedding than to a fight.
Beside the 4,500 men which have been sent to the
Crimea other 3,000 are ready to embark.
Various changes have been made among the
depots, so as to make room for the Italian Legion,
which are to disembark at Fort Manoel. Peace
appears to he very unpopular both among officers
and soldiers ; they look upon it as a personal
jury. They all appear to be in fighting humour,
and will be sadly disappointed if they do not We
another campaign.
Mr. Muir (a Freemason) has proposed •to erect a
solid lalock of marble to the "Memory of the bre'
thren who have lost their lives in the Eastern eV
pedition in 1854 and following years," to be raised by
Freemasons of Malta and the united services. The
proposition has been at once responded to with
that liberality which always distinguishes the
brethren, more especially those of Malta. The
cenotaph is to be placed in the Crimea, and will
consist of one solid block of marble 7 feet long by
3 high and 3A- wide, weighing over 4- tons. Mr.
Muir is appointed treasurer, as he formerly was to
procure the handsome present made by the brigade
of Guards to the Union, No. 588, on their passing
through Malta in 1854.
Orders have been received from Englabd to collect
in the Crimea all the bodies that can be found of
the officers of the Guards, and have them interred
at Cathcart's Hill.
The Hon. Sir Montague Stopford, Port Admiral,
has been very ill with the gout, and confined to
his room ; but the duties have been most efficiently
carried out by the ever-active and energetic Sir
Houston Stewart, who proved himself so eminently
calculated for the post in 1854. He now, in the
absence of Sir E. Lyons, commands the fleet, and
never was a fleet happier or in a more efficient state.
The Great Britain brought about 1,100 of the
Italian Legion, and they are now displaying their
persons and uniforms in our streets. She brought
also some 30 bullocks, the contractors having ob-
tained from the admiral several steamers to procure
cattle on their paying the cost of the vessel. They
have been successful in procuring cattle from Italy.
The King of Naples has again permitted, for
limited time, the exportation of biscuit and mac-
caroni, on the payment of a trifle export duty.
The rebellion in Tripoli being arranged, we shall
have greater facilities for procuring cattle from
that country. Mr. Hamilton, who it wars said had
been sent to Constantinople in chains, is still in
that country.
Capt. Goldsmith, C. 8., came a passenger in the
Firebrand, to proceed to England to take charge of
Chatham Dockyard. Capt. Pym, of the Firebrand,
took charge of the Sidon, vice Goldsmith.
Capt. Giffard, of the Leopard, has been invalided,
and proceeded to England. Her first lieutenant
takes her to the Black Sea, so there are two vacan-
cies for captains, one in the Leopard and one in the
Firebrand.

The Beagle, Lieut. Hewitt, had to put back,
from slight damage to her machinery.
Mr. Gager, boatswain of the St. Jean d'Acre,
was tried for drunkenness, and reduced one grade ;
but no court-martial could have been more flatter-
ing, for both his captain and commander spoke in
the highest terms of him, and he is stated to be the
best boatswain in the service. The St. Jean d'Acre
has gone to the Black Sea, calling en route at
Athens.

The Hightlyer has also gone, taking with her the
Hon. Mrs. Grey, wife of the admiral at Constanti-
nople.

1 The French fleet, en route to the eastward, passed
our island a few days since.
We have also numbers of small screw steamers
calling here en route to the Crimea, with all sort of
ventures. Some I fear will be failures, from the
market being overstocked. However, should they
fail at Constantinople, there is plenty of work for
screw steamers in the Mediterranean, and if only
common prudence is adopted they must realise
large profits.

March 12.—The steamer Grecian, from Liver-
pool, and the Thalia arrived this morning.

TURIN, March 16.—The news of the birth of a
Prince, the son of the Emperor Napoleon 111.,
which reached here this morning, was received with
great satisfaction by the Piedmontese people. King
Victor Emmanuel immediately sent M. Polenzo,
his Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the French re-
presentative to offer him his congratulations."

Le Nord affirms that the question of the Asiatic
frontier is resolved, as far as concerns the restitu-
tion of the districts occupied by the Russians. The
latter will restore Kars, the Turks will evacuate
Mingrelia, and so the status quo ante will be re-
stored. " Only the presence of M. Manteuffel i
waited for, in order to the signature of the first
protocol of peace."