The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-30 00:00:00

Serpueboff. The inn itself was a mean looking building,
two storeys high, with narrow dirty windows. The town,
as far as it was visiblo, in spite of its minarets, cupolas, and
spires, seemed the very castle and• capital of indolence.
Silent groups of serfs propped up the walls of the houses
a l'lrlandaise, waiting till the chapels were open, or till
they were tired of resting themselves, all clad alike in
sheepskin coats and long boots, the women being only dis-
tinguishable from the men by their caps, the absence of
beards, and greater bulk—l had almost said stature. The
townspeople spattered along the narrow and irregular pave
in those wonderful long-skirted frock coats, the notion
of which they seem to have borrowed from the Jewish
gaberdine, and in those flat and ugly caps with huge peaks,
their fondness for which is characteristic of the Russian
race. Standing by the kerb-stones, over the ancles in mud,
were several of the most miserable " objects" of charity
one could find in all the ragged realm of mendicancy, who
kept up a low monotonous whining for alms, thoroughly
professional, and so irritating as to drive the hardest-
hearted of men to throw his last copeck away to escape its
infliction. Beggars of beggars they were indeed ; old men
and women, in rags of undistinguishable fabric, their heads
covered with the folds of the coarse sackcloth which des-
cended over their shoulders as a substitute for a coat, and
their feet, as we could see whenever they moved, thrust into
rude sandals made of birch bark plaited together. Two pri-
soners in chains were, with their escort, crossing the mud
of the square, almost as miserable in aspect—God knows
how far they differed—as the unclean animals whom they
displaced on their weary way. Their guards differed
in no respect that we could see from the common soldiers
of the line. As they passed the door one of the poor beg-
gars who was standing by the way fumbled amid her old
rags, and, drawing forth some small copper coin, gave it to
the younger of the men, who seemed to take it without
either surprise or gratitude. Indeed one of the peculiar
sights of Russia is the number of prisoners who may be
seen marching through the streets of the large towns early
in the morning. It is so common in Moscow that at first
one might suppose the population was in a very depraved
and criminal condition, but on inquiry he will find that
the city is the centre of concentration for the offenders of
all European Russia, and that they are collected hence from
all parts and sent into Siberia. It is almost a novel, and,
under any circumstances, it is no pleasing spectacle in any
capital to look at parties of men laden with heavy chains,
and guarded by soldiers with fixed bayonets parading
through the thoroughfares, but when you recollect that
these whom you see here are indeed exiles of Siberia;
that they are doomed to travel on foot for many, many
months over desert steppes, over mountain and river,
through flood and storm, through wastes of snow and
parched plains; that they will be exposed to every vicissi-
tude of climate ; that after they have performed this ter-
rible journey they have passed such a tremendous ordeal,
they begin that punishment which never ceases till the
Great Comforter comes to their release, a flood of pity
overwhelms all the suggestions that reason could offer to
dam the charity of the heart, and these miserable crimi-
nals for the moment are almost ennobled in your imagina-
tion by the sufferings they will have to undergo, and are
considered for the moment as martyrs rather than the ob-
jects of just and condign punishment. These prisoners
are of all classes of the lower people—soldiers, militia-
men, and sheepskin-clad peasants form the bulk
of those sad caravans I saw these last two mornings.
One I was peculiarly struck with—a very old man,
vita a white beard, chained to a younger man,
dragged his limbs along with pain and difficulty,
his ragged clothes were covered with dust, and his broken
boots bore the marks of travel. His cap was slouched over
his face as if to conceal his features, and he turned as far as
possible his head from his companion. The younger man,
sullen and downcast, strode along with all the vigour of
youth, and at times dragged the old man by the wrist as he
quickened his steps to keep up with the quick march of the
guard. Behind the soldiers there came a woman holding
by the hand a boy of nine or ten years of age ; the eyes of

both were swollen and red with tears. On which of the
prisoners their affections were fixed it was impossible to
say—whether it was the wife's or the mother's heart that
was wrung by such bitter sorrow I knew not, but that
fidelity and affection and love animated that poor woman,
foot-sore and haggard, and that boy, whose shoeless feet
ware trailed heavily after him in their pilgrimage, was cer-
tain, and the crime, and law, and justice were forgotten in
the spectacle of so much suffering.
Entering the hotel with an undecipherable name, we
clambered up a greasy stone staircase which led to the long
corridor of many doors usual in such establishments, all
white as limewash could make it, but pervaded by that
dreadful and sickening odour so common in Russian inte-
riors and with which we became only too familiar as our

journey was extended, without, however, becoming accus-
tomed or reconciled to it. The cause of this smell, which
strikes one's nostril as if palpably, and which gives the

idea of some horrible atmosphere of cloggy, flabby, fat
soup, is beyond my knowledge or powers of investigation.
It is a national curse. Without exaggeration it may be
said to be a national evil, and how the population survive
it is more than a man with an ordinary sense of smell can
imagine. We found it at the Katcha, at the Belbek, in
some of the houses of Balaklava, in the casemates of the
Redan and Malakhoff, at Kertch, at Yenikale, at
Kinbourn, but I never encountered it in a Greek
hut or a Tartar cabin. Our guide was the tchelevek,
our waiter of the house—a white haired, white-eyed,
white but not clean faced, round-headed Russian in

I jackboots, loose Oriental trousers overflowing the tops
thereof in festoons of threadbare grey cloth, and a tight
tunic which had once been white also, and which resembled
a collarless cotton shirt fastened round the waist by a
pccket handkerchief. To be on good terms with your
tcholevek in Russia is as important to your comfort as it is
for you to be a favourite of the steward or butler in your
club in London. " Tchelevek," or waiter, indeed, you
may call him when desiring his services, but when he
comes you must, if you expect much attention, address
him affectionately as " brat" (brother), or " little brother,"
otherwise he will keep the literal meaning of his " si'
ciasse" to the very letter. These two words, which you

will hear everywhere in Russia, mean "This hoar,''

like the French tout a l'heure, and colloquially signify
" immediately," but, practically, in the mouths of post-
masters, butlers, and waiters, they may be under-
stood to be what they are, unless you employ
copecks and roubles to give them a different mean-
ing. Our " little brother" showed us into a small
room with one card-table therein, a picture of the mp e

ror, another of a battle representing one Cossack capering
over the bodies of many Turks, said " si' chasse," shut the
door, and left us alone to our meditations for more than
half an hour before he returned with the tea urn, and so
we looked out of the dirty windows. A small body of
cavalry happened to be passing whilst we were waiting,
and it was curious to contrast the appearance of these men
with that of the brilliant cavaliers we had seen at Moscow.
Their thin, bony steeds, with draggled tails and rusty bits,
seemed scarcely able to bear their riders, who were laden
with bags of brown bread, and sat heavily on their coarse

saddles. They were dressed in the grey military greatcoat
and wore high and ugly shakoes, covered with oilskin.
Their trousers were tucked into their muddy boots, and

the metal portions of their arms and dress were foul
and discoloured. Like all the Russian cavalry, however,
they had their long carabines, which were slung behind
their backs carefully covered with leather cases; their
scabbards are of leather, so as to keep the edge of the blade
keen and fit for use. Their appearance caused just as much
attention in the town as that of a party of cavalry would
have done in a country town in the united kingdom. After
a long delay the tea urn made its appearance, and in came
with it a dish full of boiled eggs and some fresh white
bread ; the tea was excellent, and so we had a capital
breakfast off a very dirty table-cloth, with very jagged
knives and quaint forks, served up on a service of
coarse Russian blue and white delf, of which the pattern
was the most hideously grotesque kind of design in that
way that could be fancied. It was nearly 9 o'clock ere
we got off again. In fine weather Serpuchoff may look neat
and even pretty. Now, with the streets full of mud and a
drizzling rain falling, it was dismal and dirty to behold. It
is said to have a good trade with MOS3OW and some manu-
factures, and the waiter told us that there had been many
English employed there before the war, and that a few
of them were still in the place. However, we did not
meet or see any of our countrypeople. At the distance of
three miles outside the town, which is built in the wide
straight streets, cutting each other at right angles, so
much affected by the Russians, flows the river Oka—a fine
stream, which is about as broad as the Thames at Rich-
mond, with high and steep banks. The rivulet on which
Serpuchoff is situated flows into the Oka. There is no
bridge, but a swinging line of boats or pontoons does duty
for one, and the tarantasso crossed over by means of it
without any difficulty. The river was full of very long and
very narrow boats, all filled with coarse hay. The rain be-
gan to fall heavily towards noon, and almost hid the coun-
try from view. The road was crowded for the whole of this
journey with disbanded soldiers, dismissed from their ser-
vice in compliance with the recent ukase ordering the re-
duction of the late levies which were made in anticipation
of a continuance of the struggle. Poor fellows ! theirs
seemed to be a hard fate indeed—to travel thousands
of versts, footsore and miserable, through the chill
autumn and the approaching winter to their cheerless vil-
lages, and there to resume the occupations and toils of the
muj;k, after their gallant and devoted services. They were
clad in grey old greatcoats, and had been permitted to wear
their military caps, trousers, and boots. Many of them
were quite footsore, and crept along the muddy roads hea-
vily, leaning on their staves and walking-sticks. Thy
generally kept in little parties of a dozen or twenty, for
the sake of society and mutual aid most probably, and of
such parties we passed, probably, ten or twelve every hour.
After a most tedious, uninteresting, and weary day ofjolt-
ing, rain, and mud, we arrived at the Russian Birming
ham, the town of Tnla, at 11.30 p.m.

SPURIOUS CROWN PIECES.—There are at present in
circulation a considerable number of counterfeit crown
picces, in imitation of those of George IV., dated 1822.
They are very cleverly executed, and will escape deter•
tion unless minutely examined, being electrotyped ; but
they are much lighter than the genuine coln,—Dublin,
Paper.

PROGRESS OF THE SLAVE INSURRECTION IN

THE UNITE]) STATP.S.

A Nashville correspondent of the Briclijeport (Con-
necticut) Advertiser says that the intended agave insur-
rection near that city " was discovered by an accident.
The negroes had appointed Christmas as the day on
which to do their bloody work ; under one of the
ehurc'ees were found several kegs of powder intended to
blow up the congregation while in church, and then
massacre the rest. Powder and knives were taken on
being lauded, concealed in coffins ; but the thing is about
ever here. Similar doings have been found out in Ken-
tucky and Mississippi. There seems to be a general
understanding clear through that, in case Fremont was
not elected, they would rise and make themselves mas-
ters at all hazards, Several of the negroes have been
shot, several hung, and numbers of the poor creatures
are now in irons awaiting their trial. The sheriffs and
officers are out on the track of a few of those pious
preachers' who of late have been circulating among them;
woe betide them if ever caught !"
The Clarksville (Tennessee) Jeffersonian, of Dec. 3,
explains the manner in which the plot was discovered.
It appears that a slave belonging to Mr. Solomon Rein-
sey wee sent to work, in coatings, in the vicinity of the
Louisa Ironworks, before light iu the morning. He
started off in good humour, but soon turned and ap
proached the house of Mr. Pluckett, one of his master's
neighbours,. It was still too dark to distinguish persons
and Mr. Piuckett, who was alone in the house with his
daughter, warned him not to enter the gate, but he per-
sisted in doing so, and, notwithstanding a second and
third command to halt, advanced until he reached the
porch in front of the door, cursing as he advanced, and
defying Mr. Pluckett to fire. When he put his foot
upon the porch Mr. Pluckett discharged his gun, which
was heavily loaded with buckshot, into his breast. The
negro fell and died almost immediately.
It seems that, on hearing of this occurrence, the slaves
of that vicinity supposed their conspiracy had been dis.
covered, and that an indiscriminate slaughter of the
blacks had commenced. A number of them fled, but
were soon recaptured. A publication setting forth these
facts, and signed by a number of the citizens, has been
issued, in which Mr. Pluckett is warmly thanked for
"the good which that deed has accomplished," and con-
eluding with these words :—"Let everybody know,
then, that J. N. Pluckett, Esq., has done nothing wrong
in this matter; but that the act was just and highly
honourable, and is by us unanimously considered a
blessing."
The Jeffersonian comments as follows :
"It has been developed that a hellish and deep-laid
p'• embracing the massacre of the entire white popu-
lation of this section of country as one of its objects,
has been conceived, and would, in all human probability,
have been carried into execution.
" The crimes contemplated should be atoned for pre-
cisely as though those crimes had been attempted and
consummated. Fearful and terrible examples should be
made, and, if need be, the fagot and the flame should be
brought into requisition, to show these deluded maniacs
the fierceness and the vigour, the swiftness and com-
pleteness, of the white man's vengeance. Let a terrible
example be made in every neighbourhood where the
crime can be established, and, if necessary, let every tree
in the country bend with negro meat. Temporising in
such cases as this is utter madness. We must strike
terror, and make a lasting impression, for only in such
a course can we find the guarantees of future security."
The same paper adds :
"Our city yesterday was rife with rumours in relation
to the insurrection at different points along the river.
We understand that six negroes who had been found
guilty at the ironworks, and who threatened a second
outbreak, were killed a few days since, and that two
white men, known accessories in the matter, had been ar-
rested and nearly whipped to death. It is also reported
that four negroes will be hung in Dover to-day, and a
number of others have been arrested as implicated in the
affair."

(From the Evansville Journal, Dec. 6.)
Through what is called the iron district, on the Cum-
berland and Tennessee rivers, there are lions 8,000 to
10,000 slaves employed at the ironworks ; they are there
congregated in large numbers, working in the various
labours of making charcoal, digging ore and tending
furnaces, in gangs, mostly by themselves, with a few
whites for general overseers. There are many of these
works situated within a few miles of each other, and in
sections that have few white inhabitants.

* * A gentleman who arrived here last evening in-
forms us that at Dover, on the Cumberland, they bad
obtained such evidence as left no doubt of a widespread
conspiraoy existing in that neighbourhood, that a num-
ber of the ringleaders had been discovered and arrested,
that 11 of them had been hung by the excited inhabitants,
and that among those arrested was a person who had
been in the neighbourhood many months, who had always
passed as a negro, but on his arrest was found to be a
white man, painted and disguised as a negro.
Our informant says, the people being satisfied that he
had been the prime mover and instigator of the rebellious
designs of the blacks, took him to the woods, and by una-
nimous condemnation of those present he was sentenced
to receive 900 lashes, and that be expired before the
penalty had been fully inflicted ! These occurrences had
produced general consternation and terror, and women
and children were fleeing and being sent off for safety.
The men were arming and organising for defence, and
th• negroes were being confined, or kept under very
strict watch.

The same paper of the sth says that the conspiracy is
supposed to extend through a great extent of country.
It adds that "the number of fugitives is also unusually
large, and the escapes across the Ohio reported by the
papers are more numerous than we ever noticed before.
The very general diFoassion of the question of slavery in
slave states in the late canvass has imparted some vague
ideas to the blacks of a change to be effected by a poli-
tical revolution, which has rendered them restless and
insubordinate."
The Louisville Courier of the 31 inst. contains a letter
from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, which says :--
"This morning several messengers arrived from La-
fayette, a small town 18 miles south of Hopkinsville,
calling on the citizens of this place to come to the;r as-
sistauce. They were momentarily expecting an attack
from about 600 negroes. About 150 persons left imme-
diately for the seat of war.' They were in command cf
Captain James Jackson and Sheriff Gowan. Hopkins-
ville is E tro ngly guarded. It is rumoured we shall be
attacked to night."
The following communication was received at Hop-
kinsville, and threw the community into intense excite-
ment :

" Vigilance Committee-rooms, Lafayette,
Kentucky, Dec. 2.
"Gentlemen of Hopkinsville,—Frcon reliable infor-
mation, we expect an attack from the negroes of the
ironworks in cur town tomorrow morning—pr:rhaps to-
night. Please come to our assistance. We are in great
danger. —Yours,
"JOHN H. RUSSELL, Sec.
J. P. FLINT.
C. R. HALL.
H. S. SYPORT.

" J. W. FRAZER.
J. J. ROGERS.
J. B. SMITH."

(From the Courrier des Etats pis, Dec. II)

, •
One of our editors, at this moment in the country de-
signated as the centre of a black conspiracy, sends us on
this sutject some positive information, which has all the
authority of direct and ocular evidence. We cannot do
better than place the lettere literally before the eyes of
our readers :

Dover (Tennessee), Dec. 2.
theite c
hief Bluff,
townwh
in i
Stewartbronght
county,uSr- t o
whenceasstha Nashville,
elf
ThtehhdeisaWtletter. The whole village is in
touched 'et)
anxiety ; the white population is armed, and I see chiol
dren who can scarcely carry a gun and cartouche box
-
aiding to swell the number. The cause of all this isl
negro conspiracy, and you will know of it long before
you receive my letter.
" Inasmuch as there will be exaggeration on one side
or the other, according td the source whence the news is
received, I send you as exact an account as possible
That which I have not seen myself I give ou the evi-
dence of eye witnesses.
"Before the only hotel in Dover are assembled ex-
cited groups of people, and from among them horsemen,
with revolver in hand, and rifle slung across the back,
start off frequently in all directions. Here also meet,
from distant places, numerous horsemen, whose
covered with foam, bear witness to the rapidity with
which they have travelled. In the hotel, and in two or
three neighbouring houses, the greater portion of the wo-
men and children may be found. Here and there the
black servants obey with submission and promptitude
the various orders given to them.
" A. house, guarded by men with bayonet fastened on
the gun, encloses nine black pi isoners, who are threat-
ened with execution in a few hours. Nothing will be
done with at least five of them, but as to the. four others
--the chiefs of the conspiracy—they will
in all proba-
bility become acquainted with the. cord.
" We receive on board the judge of Dover and his
family, whom he conducts for the moment to another re.
sidence.
" At 4 o'clock we arrived some miles higher up on the
left bank of the Cumberland, at a place called the Cora-
berland Ironworks. The machine-shop, a doenhouses
besides, and a few negro huts are all the habitations in
the place.
"In a large building near the river some 60
.blacks are
imprisoned for being connected with the conspiracy. The
remainder, on the other hand, are doing submissively
their ordinary work. The same thing may be said of all
the neighbouring localities.
"Thus for the general aspect. And now as to the
causes that have given rise to all this excitement. Its
origin is traced to the Presidential campaign.
" Much weakened by distance, the echo of the noise
made in the North about the name of Fremont has ex-
tended to the banks of the Cumberland. It came in the
tack of the steamers which traversed the second tributary
of the Ohio, and then found itself in the centre of Ten-
nessee. To penetrate the most distant villages it had only
to pass along the gorges which separate these little iso-
lated mountains. Whether emissaries (as they affirm here)
came or not from the North, it is nevertheless true that
there have been certain indications of an approaching re-
volt. According to some, it was to be general, and would
extend to all the Slave States. According to others, it
would simply be confined to Kentucky and Tennessee.
This latter version appears to me true, and it is already
more than necessary to exercise an active surveillance.
" Nevertheless, nothing of a positive nature had been
discovered till about 10 days since, when a negro escaped
from the Cumberland Ironworks. He was promptly cap-
tured, and it was learnt from him that he fled from the
persecution of his brethren in servitude, who had threat-
ened to kill him if he refused to take part in the conspiracy.
The numerous questions to which he was subjected caused
the subsequent arrest of nearly 80 negroes, almost all of
whom avowed their complicity in a plot, and even gave
the most precise details as to the execution of their pro-
Jed, Nothing less was contemplased than a general