The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 5, 1856,

LINK'S 7.;')I.WED kT PIKED RANTAII3.

listloYaWo.

Leasla
Compans,

Cionfm rzilep
this d 53.

!!1.4141158
yester tay

Bedford and
B; et ch ley
fin elrinarush.
Clydesdalo•Te.
Col. Stour Vy.
Sud. and Hal.
E. Lin.,pc
E. Un. li, Sh.
Glas. Barr. &
Neils. Direct
Do. New,..—.
Glstr.& Dn. Pr
11 tipl. Dk. &
Railway

Condon &
N. We.
L. &N. W.
E. Un.
E. C

95 - 97
94 - 98

E. Count.
Osldonian.

11 - 13
132 - 134
4.f ... 4i

Ut. Wesp,
Yk. New.
& Berw.
Y. & N M
Do
Do

La 2 166

lull & Solby
1)o. Share-J.
Do. d Shares.
Lon.&Greenw
Do.Preforence
Lon., TH., & S.
Lowestoft gr.
4 per cent.
Do. t; per et.
Bxtn
and Matlock
Middlosbro' &
Rodeur

all
all
10.0
100

Easter,

13i
110 115

'eto & Co.

Norfolk ,
Do

, •• .'" •• •

& Midi&
Stekton &
Darlingt.
6fidland..

4 .- 2!

Midld.l3radfd
Newmarket
Bury E. G.spc
N.& Eet.s p. c.
Do. 6 per et.
Do. Fi xeds p c
Prest.
Do. t edam. A
Hoye tn.& Hit.
Sher. Rotl I an
Goole g. 5 p.c.
Shrews. &Her
S. Staffordsla
Wear Valleygr
6 per cent
Do

93 - 94

En. Coun.
E. Count.

i $n
56 --- 58

L. &N.W.

45 - 47

at Northt,
Lancash&
Yorksh.
T. Brassey
M. MClean
Stockt. &
Darlinat
D 0......
ltWestn.

132 - 124

- 8
3- 2i(l

3i -32 i

"omrst

113 j

erased.

THE MILITARY BO ;IRD OF INQUIRY.
(This Day.)

The Board re-assembled at the usual hour.
The proceedings of the Court c mimenced this morn-
ing with the examination of Mr. Filder, the Commis-
sary-General, at tha request of Mr. Cruickshank,
relative to his being placed under arrest.
Mr. Filder said that he perfectly well remembered
Mr. Cruickshank being placed under arrest, and he
forwarded to Lord Raglan a request from Mr. Cruick-
shank that an inquiry might be instituted into his con-
duct. Lord Raglan refused an inquiry, on the ground
that it was inexpedient to do so, but never expressed to
him (Mr. Filder) any disapprobation of Mr. Cruick-
shank's conduct. If his Lordship had expressed his
disapprobatio❑ of Mr. Cruickshank's conduct he (Mr.
Filder) must have known it.
Lord Lucan said he wrote a letter to the Adjutant-

General stating he ha I placed Mr. Cruickshank under

arrest, to which he received an answer with his own

letter containing Lord Raglan's remarks on Mr. Cruick-
shank's conduct. That letter, with the other, was
again returned to the Adjutant-General's Dapartment in
the Crimea, and he hoped the Court would ask for its
production.

Mr. Cruickshank said he had already applied for the
production of the letter Lucan surmised was in
existence.

The subject dropped.

Sir B. Airey then resumed his case, and asked for the
production of Col. Mackenzie's evidence taken in the
Crimea by the Commissioners.

Col. Tulloch said it had already been produced, and
then proceeded to defend his statements made on a
former occasion as to the mode adopted by the Commis-
sioners in the Crimea in taking the evidence of the va-
rious witnesses. He almitted striking out of Colonel
Wetherali's evidence some marginal notes that officer
had placed on it, because they did not bear on the ques-

tions the Commissioners had put to him. After striking

them out he again sent the evidence to Col. Wetherall.
The minutes produced were in the same state as when
they were sent the last time to Col. Wetherall for ap-
proval, and returned by him.
Sir R, Airey read the-whole of the evidence given by
C Tulloch relative to the manner the Commissioners

took the evidence of the military witnesses in the Crimea,

and submitted the minute to them far correction and
signature, to insure accuracy, which he said was at vari-
ance with the facto, since the minutes produced showed
erasures had been made in them.
Col. Tulloch could not assent to the term "erasure."
The portions of evidence complained of were not obli-
terated, but merely crossed over. The witnesses, or any
other person, could easily read what was marked out. '
Sir R. Aircy asked OA. Tulloch why he took upon
himself to alter the evidence of Col. Wetherell ?

Col. Tulloch said he was not certain that he made the
alterations alluded to. The reason for its being► done
was that it was at variance with the actual issue of win-
ter coats, as shown by the official returns.
Sir R. Airey—Then I collect from that you did it to

" square the account" with evidence taken elsewhere.
Colonel Tulloch--I don't say that.
Colonel Wetherell was then re-examined by Sir R.
Airey—The blue-book did not contain the whole of the
evidence he gave before the Commissioners in the Crimea,
and portions had been omitted without his authority.
The MS. in Col. Tulloch's handwriting, with certain
portions crossed out, was the evidence he gave in the
Crimea, and he considered the omissions important parts
of his evidence. The printed evidenoe was not a faith-
full report of his evidence. He thought the commis-
sioners were not justified in animadverting in the strong
terms they had on the Quartermaster-General's depart.
ment, and had they analysed the returns he felt confident
they would not have done so. The report stated that
but 460 watch-coats had been issued and drawn up
to a certain period, when in point of fact there
had been 1,061 issued and drawn as stated in the
omitted portions of his evidence. The books were pro-
duced on his examination for hi4ovvn reference, but be did
not remember whether Colonel fulloch examined them.
After h© had left the Crime.' he'was!attachedjto the Turk-
ish Contingent, and was stationed 12 miles from Cons' an-
tinople When the Commissioners returned to that place.
It they had wished to have examined him further they
could have done so easily. Col. Wetherall proceeded
to point out the other defective portions of the Com-

miesioners' report relative to the actual supply of
rugs, blankets, &c. The rep rt stated that in Decern-
btr a vessel arrived with sufficient blankets to provide
every man with a third blanket, but they were not issued.

It was true the vessel arrived at the time named with
sufficient blankets, but from the smallness of the bar.
boor of Balaklava, and the difficulties to contend with,
she was unable to commence unloading till the Bth Jan.
By that time a number of buffalo robes and sheep skin
coats had arrived, and as a matter of choice which
should be distributed amongst the men, buffa-
lo robes were decided on and issued. It would
have been absurd to have issued blankets in
addition, because there were no means of transport for
stores that had been previously issued. Col. Wetherall
then entered into the details of the delays that occurred
in the issue of stores, and the men not getting them from
the want of means of transport, to show that. the
Quartermaster-General's department was not to blame.
In many instances the issue was in advance of the wants
of the army.

Sir R. Airey said that the Quartermaster• General had
no power as to the actual issue of stores, but merely the
power of appointment.
In reply to a question from Colonel Tulluch,
Colonel Wetherall said he should have thought that
an officer of Colonel Tulloeh's standing would have
known the Quartermaster-General had nothing to do
with issuing, but that ho had only to make the orders
for issuing.

Coluner Tulloch asked why the Quartermaster-General
used the word issue in his return ?

__—
Colonel Wethera I said he explained it in his evidence,
and it was in that purtion which the Commissioners had

By Col. Tulloch—Although his' evidence was taken
jointly with Col. Gordon's, ho considered it was compe-
tent for him to give the explanation which the Commis-
sioners had struck out of his evidence. Col. Tulloch
did not inform him that he had sent his evidence to Col.

Gorden. At that time he had left the Crimea. Col.
Gordon made no communication to him on the subject.
The whole of the suppressed evidence related to rugs
and blankets on which the Commissioners had comma.
nicated.

Col. Tulloch—How do you account for Col. Gordon
not communicating with you about yoUr evidence ?
Colonel Wetherall—You had better ask him that.

The witness then retired.

Sir R. Airey, in answer to a question from the board,
said there was no actual want of stores.
The Court adjourned for the usnat—time ; and, on
their re-assembling,

The Judge-Ad v ocate-General, addressing Dr. Balfour,
medical officer of the asylum, who has been in attendance
each day with Col. Tullocb, asked him if it was true
Col. Tulloch had been obliged to leave the Court from

ill health ?
Dr. Balfour said he bad. Re bad been very ill for
soma days, and he visited him so late as 10 o'clock last
night. It was much against his wish that Col. Tulloch
attended to-day. He found himself so ill that he waQ
unahle during the morning's proceedings to properly
attend to the evidence.
In answer to questions from the Judge-Advocate
General, Col. Wetherall stated that he gave a notifica-
tion of the arrival of extra stores to the commanding
officers, and that they were to draw their respective
portions as soon as they received information from the
Commissariat department that they were ready for
delivery. Numerous delays occurred in sending for
them from the defective state of the regiments and the
ordinary siege duties they had to perform.
[The manner in which Col. Wetherall answered the
few questions put to him by Col. Tulloch was the most
flippant and abrupt possible, and did not fail to make an
unfavourable impression on the auditory. A slight hiss
or two escaped from some persohs in the body of the
hall, and bad it not been out of respect to the Board
they would have expressed in an unmistalable manner
their indignation at the conduct of the witness.]
Sir R. Airey then called Mr. Commissary-General
Filder and examined him with reference to the great
difficulty there was experienced at Balaklava in obtain-
ing artificers' and also of timber and tools in sheltering
the troops. It arose from the demand being so much
greater than the supply from Constantinople.
After some further evidence from Colonel Mackenzie
in support of the Quarterrnaster•General's department,
The Court adjourned at four o'clock.

The Bourse Gazette of Bsrlin says :—" The Russian
Government has appoint3d M. Wasyli to be member of
the commission charged with the re-organisation of the
Danubian Principli; les, That diplomatist, who ha.
already filled diplomatic functions in the principalities
and in the East, is of Greek origin, and perfectly con-
versant with the questions with which the commission is
to occupy itself."
COMMITTAL FOR CHILD MURDER.—A woman named
Eliza Davis, aged 27, bas just been committed to the
Hereford county prison for trial at the next assizas,
the charge of the wilful murder of her child, aged four
months, by throwing it into a well at the village of
Kingsland, in that county.
THE MAILS—SOUTHAMPTON, May 4.—The Peninsular
and Oriental Company's sere w•steancier Ava, Capt. Field,
sailed this morning for Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria,
with the India, China, and Mediterranean mails, 45 par-
sengers, 2,395 boxes of specie for India, Straits, and
China, value 644,7091; 155., and for Malta and Alexan-
dria 1,4611.—t0tal 646,1711. 10s.—and a full general
cargo. This is the largest amount of specie ever shipped
on board either of this company's steam ships. Among
the passengers are Lieut.-Gen. Sir Patrick Grant, Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Madras army ; Col. Haines, Hon.
G. Edwards, Capt. B. Ford, Major Jackson, and Lieut.
Pearse. The Tagus, Capt. Weeks, with the next out-
ward Peninsular mails, leaves on the 7th inst. The
United States' mail steamship Fulton, Capt. Wotton,
will sail from Havre and Southampton on Wednesday
next for New York with the French and English mails,
pas iengers, and cargos

LITERATURE.

John _Halifax, Gentleman.. By the Author of
the " Head of the Family," "Olive," &c. 3
vols. Hurst and Blackett.
In taking a retrospective glance at the many
and various novels that have appeared from time
to time, how few there are which the reader can
desire to reperuse. However amused or edified
at the commencement, further acquaintance is not
wished for. This peculiarity is reserved for those
standard novels, " few and far between," which
at once charm the taste and arrest the attention.
Of such a class is pre-eminently the work before
us. It is not addressed to the volatile who would
wile away an idle hour, to the lover of pleasure
who desires the records of an ephemeral existence,
bright and transitory, brilliantly sketched, and
fancifully illustrated. The world described here is
that of real life, neither confined to humble limits,
nor bounded by high circles, but real, earnest,
actual existence. The hero of the story is, as
is described in the title-page, of good birth, and as
is further declared in the motto—
" And thus he bore, without abuse,
The grand old name of gentleman."

Nevertheless, John Halifax had a hard life, although
he early met with material assistance in the honest
though rough Abel Fletcher. There is something
strange, yet pleasing, in the quaint simplicity of
the early part of the narrative. The sequestered
town, the quiet life that the unfortunate Phineas
led in the midst of noise, was peculiar, and seemed
of itself to set him apart from the great human
family of workers so active and employed beside of
him. The friendship formed between the two
youths so different to observers, yet so alike to
themselves in sympathy and affection, rivalled any
of the ancient bonds of brotherly union and attach-
ment. It was of the greatest benefit to John, in
his arduous career, to have ever ready an attentive
and kind companion. &tut out from the active
pursuits of his station, Phineas had to enact the
passive in the journey of life. In his long and
faithful course, it was often allowed to hint to be
of the utmost service to those around him. "They
also serve who only stand and wait," might be said
of him, for he was always intont on some one of
the circle of his friends to do them service, or, at

least, afford them some solace. John Halifax was
of that bright and shining race who ,cannot be held
back from taking a high place in the world ; if they
do not always gain riches or rank, they are sure to
reach au eminence in their own sphere. When their
life is over, none feels as if they had not lived, in one
way or another ! they must " affect the mind of
their generation." The early accidents of his exist-
, ence are not those likely to attract or captivate,
and he feels that himself. Although truly grateful
to the kind helper in his difficulty, his feelings
revolted at the trade in which he was employed.
His was not a spirit to repine uselessly,
when he saw his duty, and he soon raised himself
above his work. Real talent can never 'be alto-
gether wasted; though from circumstance or mis-
management it is not applied to the highest pur-
poses, or allowed to perform all it might. So with
John Halifax. In a short time the poor starving
boy lie found in the street was the soul of Abel
Fletcher's establishment ; his intelligence and fore-
sight preserved his property when the experienced
and trusted hands failed. The scene of the riots
is very effectively described ; nothing but determi-
nation could have saved the property and even the
life of the master, who, although just, was stern
and inflexible. In such an emergency a daring
and energetic character like John's was sure to be
of service. The starving wretches saw they could
not frighten him, but they felt also that he pitied
them. It was true that he did not trust to the

might of armed associates, or the cunning of stra-
tegems, when in the midnight hour he stood before
the assailants outside the house. It was carrying
out a higher precept than any worldly wisdom
ever fashioned when he gave food to those who
au hour before were ready to take his life. It may
seem incongruous to follow
.so practical a hero
through the more ideal or shadowy paths of exist-
ence ; but romance does not consist in the position
so much as in the person. Still, it was not in the
actual place of his business that anything pleasing
could be met with. In consequence of the illness
of Phineas, the sou of his employer, John Halifax,
accompanied him into the country. Rose Cottage,
as their new home was called, was a beautiful place,
and situated in a spot well oalculated to please one
coming out from cities. At the time that the
friends arrived the cottage contained other tenants,
Mr. March and his daughter, both of whom had
hoer) connected with the story before, but who were
as strangers to the new corners. At first a few

formal salutations were exchanged, and the inter-
course might never have progressed but for the
sudden illness of Mr. March. John Halifax ren-
dered great service to the daughter in distress, and
they thus became acquainted in those dark days of
life, that more than years of sunshine can unfold
the character and display the disposition. " Our
dead," as John Halifax termed it, was consigned to
the dust, and the little cottage, so lately gay and
happy, was turned into the house of mourning.
The succeeding scenes aro powerfully and touch-

ingly described. The agoni, endured by the proud
nature is vividly brought before us. Ursula March

is a fine characCer, not so attractive at first sight as
she gains afterwards by her genuine and straight-
forward manner. In the strength that was not all

of earth, the troubled. but steadfast aspirant had
put down his rebellious thoughts and banished the
tempter from his side. Yet although the con-
queror in the hardest of battles, that with self, he
was not at rest. He could not command the flesh

;0 obey as he ruled his spirit. The excitement and

annoyance occasioned an illness that threatened

his life. In the time when the strong are laid low
the weak are often known to act with foresight, and
energy, unknown to their brave friends in the days
of health. What John Halifax would have shrunk
from, Phineas Fletcher hesitated not to perform.
After many and tedious difficulties and delays, the
opinions and prejudices of the world were put
aside, and Ursula became the wife of John Halifax.
The real interest of the story then begins. Theirs
was not the union of the fairy tale, where they
lived happily ever afterwards, nor the usual cere-
monial that at the conclusion of romances removes

the hero and heroine out of the pale of the reader's

concern from that time forth. The principles that
animated and informed their thoughts and actions,
were those that increase in importance as th©y

approach the meridian, and brighten in glory as they
are near to the sunset of life. Hence the diary of
John Halifax, in youth, would have been a sketch

one
and an outline. He is that we do not wish to

lose sight of. Perhaps the most pleasing part of the
story is that of the early years of their married
life, the ten years that were the life of Muriel.
The first grief was their first-born child being born
blind. Yet after a time this affliction was not so
heavy, for the little Muriel was like an angel of
peace in the house. She was especially her father's
favourite, and he ever regarded her with a trem-
bling tenderness, as if he felt she was lent—not
given. Death had no terrors for the child, her
happiest hours were spent in " talking with angels,"
as she called playing on a harp, that was never
touched but by her, that stood in some deserted
room. They were desirous that she, who could
never witness the horrors of mortality, should only
regard death "as a calm sleep, and a joyful waking
in another country, the glories of which eye had
not seen, nor ear heard." The best idea of heaven
to her was where all should behold as well as know,
and this was expressed on her tomb. "Muriel
Joy Halifax,"—" Whereas I was blind, now I see."
John Halifax never was the same after her loss ; for
some years after he seemed to stand still, as it were,
iu his course. The stirring plans, the lofty pur-
poses that had hitherto made him so animated were
not actually dead, but sleeping fora time. " Sleep-
ing, beyond the power of any human voice to
waken them, under the daisies of a child's grave."
The links of the story are dropped for some years,
when they are resumed—the children are children
no longer, and the parents are beyond middle age
—only one is the same, the, memory of the living
Muriel in all her human childhood. " Her image
seemed perpetually among us, it crept through the
house at dusk ; in winter firelight it sat smiling in
dim corners ; in spring mornings it moved about
the garden-borders with tiny soft footsteps,
neither seen nor heard. The others grew
up—would be men and women shortly—hut the
one child that was not' remained to us always a
child." A fresh source of interest is unfolded in the
rising generation, and the new troubles that befall

the Halifax family are shown to us with the graphic
force, and truth-like style, of the preceding passages.
The same sympathy cannot be felt for the children
as for the parents ; but that would not be desirable,•
as they are only attendant on their fortunes. The
impetuous Guy is not exactly like his father or
mother, but a blended representation of them both.
Edwin is more calm and composed than any of his
family, but he seems cast into the shade by the
side of the more striking qualities of his brother.
The heroine of the second story is very different
to Ursula in her youth, and does not contrast fa-
vourably by her remembrance.: It was a hard trial
for that devoted mother to see her house divided
against itself by one whom she did not really care
for, and who was uncongenial to her. The trust
in which Jelin Halifax reposed did not forsake
him, and he and his house were still preserved,
although it never could be again what it had been '
—a spot where brethren dwelt together in unity.
Death had come into the house and taken away
the dearest treasure it contained ; but it had come
in mercy, and left peace behind it ;now division
and discord reigned paramount. " Alas 1 darker
and darker had the bitter truth forced itself upon
us that neither joy nor affliction would ever find