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

arisen.

MADRID, JAN. 26.

The Cortes have terminated the discussion on
the ensemble of the electoral bases. The Go-
vernment has demanded authorisation to present
an organic law relative to civil employes. The
Gazette publishes a decree opening the Tribunal
of the Rota, which was closed last year. The
disturbances at Valencia have been put down.
The Gazette contradicts the statement of arrests
having taken place at Cuba.

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
mines, and B,ooolb. of powder wore 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, not 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 ponderous rubbish would of
itself be an Herculean labour. The quantity of
powder used would suggest the idea of a prodigi-
ous explosion, fragments flying high into the air,
and strewing the land around ; but it must he re-
membered that the force of these mines is- di-
rected laterally, and its first apparent effect dis-
appoints expectation. It is only when the smoke
clears away, and one beholds the huge masses of
granite that have been riven from their beds, that
one forms a just idea of the power applied. At the
moment of the explosion, however, some blocks of
very respectable size were seen flying through the
air, in a direction, fortunately, where their fall was
innocuous. Amid and within the grey smoke a
dust-cloud appeared. There was a tremulous mo-
tion of the ground, and some stones fell off the dock-
yard wall. The 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 are to
take place. A few French officers were present,
some of them with a photographic apparatus,. to
catch the effect of the explosion. The Russian
batteries were silent. Shortly after the explosion,
a few shots were fired ; 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. A. ;
noon, in the hollow of the Woronzoff-road and in
the Karabelnaia the sun was, without exaggeration,
hotter than would be considered altogether pleasant
in any season but winter. The breeze was soft, the
afternoon balmy and beautiful. Sunday was
ushered in ley heavy rain, a regular Crimean tor-
rent, plashing down upon our but roofs,
antdu
satsoraatki.nngg
our tents, penetrating our stables,
our shivering horses. Some time after nightfall
the rain was exchanged for snow, and then it froze,
the wind having veered round to the north. This
morning the thermometer stood at 11° Fahrenheit
—2l° below freezing 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 Mehemmed Djemil Bey, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Ottoman
Porte, who presented to his Imperial Majesty a
letter 1/0113 th 3 ezprowios the In the