The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Has the " Volunteer Reserve of Seamen for the
Navy" been a failure or not ? This is a question of much
more importance than at first sight appears, because on its
success depends the most vital question of our being able
to man the navy, in case of a sudden war, without having
recourse to the iniquitous system of pressing.
The experiment of having a volunteer reserve of t;eanien
has now been in operation for nearly five months; it may,
therefore, be safely inferred that it has had a fair trial, with
a result, I am sorry to say, anything but satisfactory, the
actual number of men entered being still only verging
on a thousand. Now there must be some cause opera-
ting in a sinister manner on the minds of the sea-
men which prevents them from enrolling themselves in
this reserve, because the inducements held out by the
Government are, to say the least of them very liberal,—but
still there is evidently a strong disinclination on the part of
the seamen to enter.

Now I think that the aspect of the political horizon is
such as to make it imperative on Great Britain to hold her-
self in readiness for any eventuality ; and no thinking
person for one moment doubts that a war with France is
"on the cards," if not an inevitable consequence on the
present Imperial policy. Such being the simple facts, it is
absolutely necessary for us to inquire and ascertain the
cause of this unwillingness on the part of our seamen to
come forward in defence of their country.
I have made a close investigation into the feelings of the
seamen, and regret much to observe not only a great repug-
nance on their part, but even a decided hostility to employment
in the Royal Navy—much patience and ingenuity was ne-
cessary to probe this mysterious circumstance. I have,
however, I think, ascertained that several causes are in ope •
ration, all tending to deter the seamen from entering the
Naval Reserve. The first and most serious obstacle is the
complete want of confidence on the part of the men in the
promises of the Admiralty; they say, and I fear but too
justly, that the Admiralty will always be able to find some
excuse for evading the fulfilment of their agreement with
the seamen should they wish to do so—the experience sea-
men have hitherto had of the good faith of the Admiralty
being such as to justify this suspicion. Now no one at all
conversant with nautical matters doubts for one moment
that the Admiralty is the worst conducted public
department we have. Indeed, the present state of the
navy generally, and the ill feelings of the men, exhibited
in frequent acts of mutiny, too' clearly shows that some-
thing is radically wrong at tie head of this department;
and it is much to be feared, in case of a war, that the com-
plicated system will break down entirely. It would be
well, therefore, if steps were taken at once to sweep away
the whole establishment, with its ambiguous forms, and
begin, de stove, with a system of management more suited
to the age, and with a permanent head, so as to secure uni-
formity of action. From some cause or another a spirit of
discontent and consequent disorganisation pervades the
whole navy, permeating both officers and men, which it is
much to be dreaded will have a deleterious effect in case
of their services bring required in actual war.
Another cause of the ill success of the Naval Reserve is
the total and absolute want of patriotism on the part of a
great majority of the seamen. We find none of that
national pride and confidence in the power of Englishmen
which was formerly the characteristic of the British sea-
men. They openly declare their want of confidence in aad
indifference to their country, expressing a determination not
to fight for a country which has entirely ignored them, and
brought the whole 'world into competition with them for
employment ; even at their own thresholds the foreigner
steps in and takes their bread from them. In my commu-
nications with men resriecting entering into the Naval Re-
serve this has been the perpetual reply, " We do not care
who governs, we would not be worse under the French
Emperor than we are now under Manchester." This
feeling, we firmly believe, has more effect in de-
terring men from joining the reserve than even their dis-
trust in the Admiralty, and if something is not speedily
done to elevate the character of the British seaman, and to
reknit his now weakened tie to his country, consequences
the most serious must ensue.

The remaining objections raised by the seamen to the
Volunteer Reserve are merely to matters of detail, which
the exercise of a little common sense on the part of the Ad-
miralty would easily obviate ; such as making:more simple
the regulations under which the men enter, and ceasing to
issue blue-books of complicated conditions, which not even
the party who drew them up can. interpret. Add to this
an assurance, on the part of the Government, that
the men, when once entered on the Naval Reserve,
shall not be dismissed from it, excepting for misconduct, or
at their own request, but be allowed to remain until they
have earned their claim to pension, this being the chief
attraction to the steady married man, and also this feeling
assured of a support in old age, at once establishes an in-
teiest in the welfare of their country, and creates a per.
manent and enduring tie to their native land.

From the opportunities I have of seeing and conversing
with seamen, and being thoroughly convinced of the exist-
ence most extensively of those feelings of indifference to-
wards their country which I have described, I consider it
only to be my duty to bring the matter fully before the
public, that some thing may be devised to remedy so se-
rious an evil—lest, when England in her hour of need may
require their services, she may find alienated hearts and
unwilling hands. NAUTICUS.

There are still rumours that the French Govern-
ment contemplate raising a loan before long. The guise
assumed by the operation will perhaps be that of a loan for
agricultural purposes.—Money Market Review.
THE UNION BANK FRAUD.—The prisoner, Wil-
liam George Pullinger, the late cashier to the Union Bank,
whose enormous defalcations have created so much public
interest, and who it will be remembered was sentenced at
the last session of the Central Criminal Court to 20 years'
penal servitude, was on Saturday removed from the gaol of
Newgate to Millbank Penitentiary, to undergo his sentence.
The prisoner, since his conviction, has appeared perfectly
Heresigned. has conversed freely with the officials of the
gaol upon several occasions with reference to his crime, and
the manner in which the enormous sum of money of which
ho defrauded the bank was disposed of. The impression that
appears to have been created in their minds is that he is
speaking the truth when he states that the whole amount
has been dissipated in speculation, and that there is no reason
for supposing that any portion has been retained for the pur-
pose of making up a purse for the benefit of himself or those
connected with him. It may be stated that upon the arrival
of the order from the Secretary of State for the removal of
the prisoners to their different places of destination Pul-
linger was treated in exaqly the same manner as the other
convicts, and he appeared to be deeply affected at his de-
graded position. Among the other prisoners who were
removed with Pullinger to Millbank was the Portuguese
seaman Charles Annois, •.,vlto was convicted of murder
at the last October sessions, and who was ordered to be kept
in penal servitude for life, the capital sentence being com-
muted on account of there being reason to believe that he
was not in a sound state of mind at the time the act was
committed.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.—On Wednesday a pre-
liininary trial trip of the magnificent steamship Connaught,
one of the fleet of the Atlantic Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company, took place under circumstances which proved
that in % more favourable state of the weather the expecta-
tions of her builders will be fully realised in the attainment
of a speed of 20 miles an hour. The directors of the
Atlantic Company may well be proud of the ship in which
they propose to inaugurate their great undertaking of
effecting a permanent communication between Europe
and America by Galway. The Connaught is 380
feet in length by 40 beam, of a registered tonnage of
3,000, but an actual tonnage of 4,500. Her engines,
by John Palmer, of the firm of Palmer, Brothers, and
Co., of Newcastle, are of 800 nominal horse power,
working up to 3,500, oscillating, three cylinders abreast,
seven feet stroke, 80 inches in diameter. Two of Galloway
and Berdemore's superheating apparatus are attached. The
paddleS—Morgan's Patent—are 33 feet in diameter. The
interior of the ship is fitted up with the utmost attention to
the comfort of passengers, and it was observed during the
trip, notwithstanding the heavy sea running, that the tremu-
lous motion so disagreeable to landsmen was scarcely per-
ceptible. In spite of a high wind the Connaught, without
any difficulty or strain upon her engines, made 174 miles
per hour in a run of 46, and there is every reason to believe
that on the "official trip," which will take place imme-
diately, she will attain a higher speed than has yet been
reached by any ocean going steamer in the world. The
Connaught will proceed to Kingstown previous to her
being sent round to Galway, where she will be placed upon
her station for regular packet duty.
SANITARY STATE OF THE CITY.—The last report
of Dr. Letheby, the Medical Officer of Health, to the City
Commissioners of Sewers, states that the mortality returns
are below the average for the season and show a satisfactory
state of the public health. There'have been but 76 deaths
in the city in the course of the last fortnight, the average
for the corresponding period of the last five years being 81.
Only 25 of the deaths were among children less than 5 years
of age, and 20 were among persons 60 and upwards. The
chief causes of death were diseases of a chronic character.
There were 20 deaths from affections of the pulmonary or-
gans, viz., 5 from phthisis, 5 from pneumonia, 10 from
bronchitis. Of the zymotic class of diseases there were only
12 deaths, viz., 3 from fever, 3 from small-pox, 2 from
hoopieg cough, and '1
from each of the following—erysipe-
las, measles, scarlet fever, and dysentery. 97 births were
registered during the fortnight, viz., 54 boys and 43 girls.
Dr. Letheby also reported on the state of 311 houses that
had been inspected since the last meeting of the commis.
sioners, and he submitted a list of 110 places that required
sanitary improvement. He likewise presented a list of 34 of
the courts and alleys of the city, which he stated would 1.-e.
quire periodical flushing and cleansing during the hot wea-
ther of the approaching summer.

- - -
THE COAL TRADE. -Durin g the month of May
the total quantity of coal and coke exported from the vari-
ous coal ports of Great Britain vas of coal 714,096 tons,
and of coke 21,020 tons. Of this quantity, which shows a
large increase upon the exportsof April, Newcastle exported
214,888 tons of coal and 10,617 tons of coke; Sunderland,
117,822 tons of coal and 1,873 tons of coke ; Hartlepool and
West Hartlepool, 68,171 tons of coal and 2946 tons of coke,
Middlesborough, 9,047 tons of coal and 2,680 tons of coke;
Hull, 10,365 tons of coal ; Liverpool, 64,278 tons of coal and
952 tons of coke ; Cardiff, 90,179 tons of coal and 837 tons
of coke ; Swansea, 30,108 tons of coal ; Newport, 20,702
tons of coal ; Llanelly, 9,297 tons of coal and 1,080 tom of
coke; and Charlestown, 11,059 tons of ooal. The qUactity
of coal and coke shipped to London and other Darts in the
United Kingdom during the month was 796,844 tons of
coal and 4,007 tom: of coke ; of which Newcastle shipped
131,474 tons of coal and 1,980 tons of coke; Sunderland,
142,775 tons of coal , Seaham, 66,819 tons of coal ;
Hartlepool and West Hartlepool, 104,846 tons of coal
oafncdoar s2ndto4n4so tooinscoofkceo Swansea, 19,299 tons of coal
; ;ke Middlesborough, 20,100 tons
Cardiff, 74,449 tons of coal and 1,333 tons of coke ; Llanelly,; 29,440 tons of coal ; Newport, 52,602 -tons of coal and 80
tons of coke ; and MarYPort, 34,193 tons of coal and 72 tons
of coke, The number of vessels engaged in the trade ws,;,
7,548, of which 4,701 were ongagod In the home and 9 ./8
-.1 7
in the oversea coal ti ado,

LATEST NEWS.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Iteuter's office :

tURIN, JUNE 10.
The Senate has approved the treaty of cession of
Savoy and Nice by 92 against 10 votes.

PARIS, JUNE 11.
The Moniteur of to-day publishes a telegram
dated :

" NAPLES, JUNE 10.
" The evacuation of Palermo by the Royal troops
will terminate to-morrow.

" The troops who have already commenced to
arrive at Naples have been despatched towards
Castellamare and Gaeta.

" The Neapolitan troops in Sicily will be concen-
trated at Syracuse, Messina, and Agosta."

PARIS, JUNE 10.

The .3[oniteur of this morning contains a dis-
patch, dated Cagliari, 9th inst., according to which
a convention has been signed at Palermo, between
the Royal troops and the insurgents, on the Gth
instant.

Eighteen thousand Neapolitan troops quitted
their positions on the morning of the 9th, and had
encamped near the mole to be ready to embark im-
mediately.
The citadel would be evacuated after the embar-
kation of the troops and the exchange of prisoners.

TURIN, JUNE 9.
Gen. Garibaldi has constituted the Government
of Sicily as follows :
Baron Pisano Foreign Affairs.
Signor Crispi
Signor Orsini (a Sicilian) . . War.
Abbe Coligni
It is positive that Garibaldi found 24,000,000 f. in
the Treasury.

MARSEILLES, JUNE 10.

Letters from Palermo to the 3d inst. gives details
of the devastation at Palermo. Numerous houses
had been shattered by the bombs, but scarcely
any persons killed.

The insurgent bands were furious, and had
sought to massacre 100 spies and several judges.
Garibaldi had issued a decree, calling all Sici-
lians to arms between the ages of 17 and 50 years.
Fifty vessels of war were in the Roads of
Palermo.

PARIS, JUNE 10.

According to the latest telegrams received from
Naples from an authentic source the Neapolitan
Government had decided upon concentrating all its
military forces at Syracuse and Messina, because, by
preserving these strategic positions, the Neapolitan
Goverment still hopes to appear in the eyes of
Europe as master of Sicily. It seems to fear that
the revolution would be recognised as an accom-
plished fact should the Neapolitan army abandon
Sicily.

PARIS, JUNE 9.

The Patrie of to-day says:—" The principles of
non-intervention will be provisionally applied only
to Sicily."
The same journal states that Garibaldi has issued
a decree to the effect that the revenues derived from
imposts and customs will be paid over to the insur-
rectional authorities.

It is rumoured that the second division of the
squadron of evolution is about to leave Toulon.

VIENNA, TUNE 9.

A few days ago Signor Carafe, the Neapolitan
Minister, assembled the ambassadors of the Great
Powers, and demanded that, in the event of Gari-
baldi proclaiming the King of Sardinia in Sicily,
they should not recognise the anexation, but that
the possession of Sicily should be guaranteed to
Naples,
The representatives of the Powers refused to enter
into any engagements.
The King of Naples has recently demanded an
Anglo-French intervention, which was likewise
refused.

'VIENNA, JUNE 10.

Prince Petrulla, the Neapolitan Minister here,
has received by courier an autograph letter from
his Sovereign. In this letter his Majesty engages
himself solemnly :
First—To call to his councils men enjoying pub-
lic confidenee.

Second—To reconstitute a Government for gua-
ranteeing the faithful and conscientious execution
of the laws, as well as the suppression of abuses.

Third—To proclaim a general amnesty.
His Majesty hopes that, in consideration of these
guarantees, Europeat diplomacy will no longer re-
fuse to interfere in his favour against the revolu-
tion.

GENOA, JUNE 10.
Advices from Palermo to the Bth inst. state that
the troops and artillery formerly occupying the
castle had embarked.

The report that the castle had. been entrusted to
the English admiral until the embarkation was
accomplished is unfounded.

The Corriere Mercantile, of Genoa, says that the
evacuation of Italy by the French troops is com-
pleted.

Marshal Vaillant is expected on Tuesday next at
Turin.

PARIS, JUNE 10.
Prince and Princess Metternich have been stay-
ing, since yesterday evening, at the Chateau
d'F't°ile, where they will remain till the day after
to-morrow, as guests of the Count and Countess
Walewski.
The Austrian Ambassador and Princess Metter-
nich have been invited to pass one week (from
Sunday next) with their Imperial Majesties at
Fontainebleau.

BERLIN, JUNE 9.

According to reliable information the Prince
Regent has accepted the proposal of the Emperor
Napoleon for a meeting during the Prince's stay at
Baden-Baden. Other German princes are also ex-
pected to be there.

VIENNA, JUNE 9.

The Weiner Zeitung of to-day contains a decree
ordering that the Stadtholdership of Hungary shall
come into effect on the Ist of July next, at which
period the five existing departments of the Central
Government, which were entrusted with the admi-
nistration of Hungary, will he abolished.
Another decree suspends the district authorities
of Moravia, and the Provincial Government of
Trappau. Silesia is to be subordinate to the Stadt-
holdership of Moravia, but thf• provincial states of
Silesia, with a separate provincial representation,
•
will be maintained.

VIENNA, JUNE 10.

The Council of the Empire has, in its first sitting,
claimed the privilege of examining the projected

budget for 1861, in accordance with the principles
of the representative system.

The motion having been agreed to by 47 against
13 votes, the Emperor has consented that in the
second sitting a committee of 21 members shall be
appointed for examining the budget.

In this committee all the provinces of the empire
will be represented.

ST. PETERSBURG, JUNE 10.

The Duchess of Montebello has commenced her
preparations for departure, her grace being about
to proceed to France on account of ill health.
It is very doubtful whether the French Ambas-
sador will be able to accompany the duchess to Paris,
as under the present circumstances his absence from
St. Petersburg even for a short period might not
be approved of.

MARSEILLES, JUNE 9.

Letters from Rome to the sth instant state that
fresh bands were menacing the frontiers, to which
General Lamoriciere had sent more troops.
An offieial decree had extended the delay for the
subscription to the new loan until the 15th July
next.

The Cardinals had held an extraordinary meet-
ing, and had subscribed 30,000 crowns, but the
public revenues were diminishing daily. The
Peter's pence had only produced 500,000 crowns.
Numerous families were arriving from Naples.

On the 4th inst. the French division celebrated
the anniversary of the battle of Magenta. Crowds
were present in the Piazza Colonna shouting to the
troops.

ROME, FRIDAY EVENING.

The Commander Martino, Neapolitan Ambassa•
dor at Rome, has returned from Gaeta and set out

for Paris.

FRANCE.

PARIS, SUNDAY.

The Belgian sugar manufacturers, who some time
since addressed a petition to the King, calling his
attention to the protection afforded by the Emperor
Napoleon to the beetroot sugar manufacturers in
France,have addressed the following communication
to the Belgian Chamber of Deputies, protesting
against the interpretation given to their petition by
the Belgium press. It is dated Brussels, June s:
" We have seen with great pain the interpretation
given at a preceding sitting to the petition which
we addressed to the King in favour of our menaced
manufacture. The charges of want of patriotism,
of being animated with bad passions, of exhibiting
them by means of keeping up culpable hopes, are
so offensive to our honour, so opposed to our opi-
nions, that we cannot suffer them to pass without
protesting against them. As simply manufacturers
—strangers to politics—even though the expression
of our opinions had been defective in form—was that
a reason for making the most serious charge against
us—that of betraying our country ? Children of
the country, we are bound to it by blood, by the
soil, by our establishments, by all our interests.
During our whole existence we have never ceased
to' give proofs of devotedness and patriotism
to the country : this devotednes shall never
be wanting. Let a national production be sacrificed
without pity by grantinga bounty to the foreigner,
but let not an unmerited stigma be inflicted on us
one hundred times worse than the ruin of our es-
tablishments. We protest, therefore, in the name
of our honour and of our patriotism, against the
erroneous interpretation given to our words. We
love our country and her institutions too well not
to be anxious to remove, abroad as well as at home,
the idea that there might be in our free Belgium
men capable of maintaining criminal hopes, and it
is still more through love of our country than to
protest against the accusations of which we are the
object that we wish to uroclaim loudly our attach-
ment to our institutions, our devotion to the King,
to his dynasty, and to national independence
The negotiations for a treaty of commerce betwe en
France and Belgium are said to be advanced. It
appears that among other conditions, the import
duty on cast metal is to be reduced to 2f. the 100
kilogrammes. The duty on glass is to be abolished.
No change is to be made in the duty on coal.
The Municipal Council of Brest voted last month
the erection 'of an equestrian statue of the Emperor
Napoleon 111. in the public square of that town.
In reply to an announcement of that intention, the
Minister of the Interior received the following letter
from the Emperor, to be transmitted to the Mayor
of Brest :

" Monsieur le Ministre,—The Mayor of Brest has
requested an authorisation to erect to me an equcs-
trian statue. lam very grateful for such a pro-
ceeding, which is a fresh proof of attachment to my
person ; but I wish in such a case to maintain the
usual tradition as to the principle which prevails.
In general, equestrian statues are only erected to
sovereigns, and after their death. It is, in fact,
proper that this popular homage should not have
the appearance of a transitory flattery, but be a
permanent impression of gratitude.l I therefore
request, while thanking the Municipal Council for
their intention, that you will make known my
desire that they should not carry it into execution.
If the erection of an equestrian statue at Bordeaux
two years ago was permitted, it was because I was
ignorant of the design, and it was done without my
authorisation. Whereupon I pray God to have you
in His holy keeping. NAPOLEON."

BOURSE, June 9.—The market has been heavy,
with a downward tendency, and but little business
doing. Threes opened at 68f 15c, and gradually
declined to 67f 75c, and are now at 67f 80c. Mobi-
lier varied from 660 f to 652 f 50c; Austrian, 512 f
50c to 507 f 50c ; Lombard, 497 f 50c to 495 f;
Lyons, 870 f to 865 f; Orleans, 1,330 f to 1,323 f.
The following are the last quotations :-
4t per Cents. ... 96 40 I Credit Foneier
Do. end month Belgian 4i
3 per Cents... 67 901Piedmonteso (5)
Do. end month.... 67 80 Roman Bl 75
Bank Shares 2830 Austrian
Credit Mebilier .. 655 Spanish Threes
Do. Account 653 75 Home Debt 461