The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-30 00:00:00

Emperor of the FRENCH, is the only unwelcome
reminder contained in these Royal comments upon
the Chinese Expedition. The implied necessity for
a simultaneous movement on the part of the com-
bined naval and military forces of France and Eng-
land is in every particular, at this juncture, a most
unsatisfactory reminiscence. It recalls only too
vividly to our recollection the regrets with which we
have not failed all along to regard the fact, that this
new European expedition against the Chinese is not
what we would fain have had it on every account,
namely an English Expedition exclusively ; but
that it is, on the contrary, -what we would gladly
(if we could) have precluded it from being, namely,
an ENGLISH and French Expeditionary movement.
By undertaking, in concert with France, to deal
with the Chinese, we have manifestly and deplo-
rably hampered ourselves. We have thereby in
some measure clogged our diplomacy here at home
in Europe. We have incontestibly increased the
difficulties by retarding the progress of our cam-
paigning, whether by sea or land, at the actual seat
of war, along the north-east coasts of the great
Asiatic continent. As to the hampering of our
diplomacy in Christendom—that we may happily
resign with implicit confidence to the patriotic
ardour and wise discretion of the two illustrious
statesmen upon whom at this present moment
peculiarly devolve the weighty responsibilities
of upholding untarnished the honour of the Eng-
lish name, and the dignity and pre-eminence of her
Britannic MAJESTY'S Government. From first to
last, throughout the whole of this momentous
twelvemonth, the noble lord the Foreign Secretary
has written and spoken in words befitting both the
majesty of England and his own historic reputa-
tion. While, as to his noble colleague, our veteran
Premier, what Englishman is there amongst us
who will not remember with a thrill of pride and
exultation those haughty and dignified expositions
of the guiding principles of our foreign policy, with
whicb expositions the Premier closed so effectively
and appropriately his labours this year as leader of
the House of Commons, in his capacity as Chief of
the Administration ? Wherefore—recalling to
mind the despatches of her MAJESTY'S Foreign Sec-
retary and the speeches of the First Lord of the
Treasury—we have in truth ample reason for rely-
ing upon the maintenance of the dignity and in-
tegrity of our foreign policy, especially with refe-
rence to the state of our relations with France, in
spite even, be it said, of these untoward Chinese
complications.

The embarassments resulting from our having
entered upon this new Chinese war, in concert with
our French ally, are more imminent, and more
vexatious, and more difficult to evade out at the
actual scene of the hostilities, yonder at the oppo-
site extremity Of the eastern hemisphere along the
coasts of the Chinese Empire. Had we not
" encumbered" ourselves with the " assistance "
of our French ally, the campaign might have
been already, by this time, vigorously inaugurated,
if not already carried at a rush to its triumphant
termination. Upon this point, what says the
Times' Correspondent ? His evidence is positive—
it is, in point of fact, conclusive. After recounting
the various particulars demonstrative both by sea
and by land of British preparedness—" BUT," he
writes, " the expedition is a joint one, and we cannot
commence before our allies are ready." Adding,
" they are far removed from their base of operations,
and have no India under their lee." Beyond which
he goes on to relate how peculiarly unlucky they
have been out in the Chinese seas with their tran-
sports. Insomuch that their blundering and misfor-
tunes there in this respect form quite a companion
picture to our own, a few years back in the Eurine
and especially at Balaklava I Altogether the lament-
able result is summed up by this reliable eye-witness
(writing from the actual scene of the delays) in this
significant sentence. "From present appearances,
at least a month must elapse before our allies are
ready—a month which I suppose we must spend in
inaction !" So much for our active alliance with
France for the chastisement of the Chinese.
Brit for which active alliance we might ourselves
have advanced alone at once to the destruction of
the Taku forts, and of those at Tien-tsin, to the
summary capture of Pekin and to the routing of the
Imperial forces under SANG-KO-LIN-SIN, the Chinese
Generalissimo.

SIR W. ARMSTRONG.

TO TIER EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—Permit me to correct a paragraph which
appeared in The Sun of yesterday, to the effect that
I had resigned the superintendence of the Royal
gun factories.

I have neither tendered my resignation nor had
the slightest communication with the War-office on
the subject, but I may add that although my en-
gagement with the Government is for a term of
years, yet that I have no intention of retaining
either the office or the emolument longer than my
services may be required for perfecting the system
of artillery which I have been the means of intro-
ducing.

I may also be allowed to remark, lest certain
words in the paragraph should give rise to a con-
trary impression, that although the duties of the
office which I have the honour to hold do not de-
mand my constant attendance at Woolwich, yet
they are such as to absorb my whole time and
attention.—l am, air, your obedient servant,

W. G. ARMSTRONG,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Aug. 28.

THE GREAT EASTERN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,--In answer to the numerous inquiries al-
ready made with reference to the return of the
Great Eastern to America, I am desired to state
that the ship will be placed on the Gridiron at Mil-
ford as early as the tides will permit, and that she
will be shortly advertised to sail from that port to
New York on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
J. 11. YATES, Secretary.
11, King William-street, E. C., Aug. 29.

---
The ex-Queen of the French, before leaving
Tunbridge Wells, honoured Sir Walter and Lady Caroline
Stirling with a visit at their seat at Burrswood.
The Princess Doubovitsky has left Fenton's
Hotel for Paris.

The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton and family
are expected to arrive from Germany, on their way to
Brodrick Castle, isle of Arran, for the shooting season.
The Earl and Countess of Cork are staying at
Homburg, where the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanri-
carde, and Mr. Beaumont, M.P., and Lady Margaret Beau-
mont, are also residing.
The Countess Zelka and Mr. Gamier have
arrived at Maurigy's Hotel from the north.
The Countess de Spaur, accompanied by the
Count de Spaur, has arrived at Maurigy's Hotel from the
Isle of Wight.

Lord and Lady Charles Brudenell Bruce have
left Hertford-street for Jervaux Abbey, Yorkshire, the
seat of the ➢Marquis of Ailesbury.
Lady Margaret Charteris was confined of a
daughter, at Titness-park, Sunning-hill, Berkshire, on
Monday last.

Sir George C. Lewis left town yesterday for
Harpton Court, Radnor.

Mrs. Giffard and family have arrived at Mau-
rigy's Hotel from l'aris.

Mr. Jose Campo has arrived at Fenton's Hotel
from Madrid.

The Countess de Neuilly, with the Duke de Ne-
mours and family, the Prince of Wurtemburg, and their
numerous household, have left their residence at Tunbridge-
wells for Claremont, Surrey. The Count de Paris and the
Duke de Chartres are staying with their illustrious rela-
tives. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
d'Aumale and family are on a tour in ,Scotland,

Considerable amounts of gold continue to be sent
to Spain in payment for wheat. With this exception, the
Continental demand is not so pressing as might have been
expected.
The National Portrait Gallery, 29, Great George-
street, Westminster, will be closed for repairs and altera-
tions during the month of September, and will reopen on
Wednesday, October. 3.
THE LONG VACATION.—The long vacation has
commenced, and, with the exception of yesterday, at the
judge's chambers, where Mr. Baron Wilde attended after
the absence of a judge for some time, the "profession" may
be described as very dull. The long vacation ceases on
Oct. 24.
SINGAPORE AND BATAVIA CABLE.—Telegraphic
communication with Batavia was restored on the 9th July,
but again broken on the 13th by a fresh rupture of the cable
between Mintok and Singapore, which has not yet been re-
paired.—London and China Telegraph.
A pleasure train, conveying 1,800 persons, is
about to run from Vienna to Paris in 48 hours, stopping
at only four stations by the way. When the bridge of Kehl
shall be finished at the end of next month, the regular time
of an express train between Paris and Vienna will be only
42 hours.

THE WOODSIDE FERRY, LIVERPOOL.—The Bir-
kenhead Commissioners, at a special meeting held yester-
day, agreed to raise the sum of £103,000 for the purchase
of the Woodside Ferry and some land in Birkenhead-park,
the whole property of the trustees of the late Mr. Price.
Last year the ferry, which has been for many years worked
by the Birkenhead Commissioners, yielded a profit of £B,OOO.
In a short time the free stone pier at Woodside will be
superseded by a huge landing stage, now constructing by
the Mersey Dock Beard.
THE WINSLOW POISONING CASE.—It will be re-
membered, in connexion with the trial of Winslow, on the
charge of having poisoned Mrs. James, of Liverpool, that
the deceased bequeathed the good interest, &c., in her
business to Winslow, and the remainder of her property to
her nephews and nieces. We learn, however, that a caveat
to the will has been entered on behalf of Mr. Bennett, a
brother of Mrs. James, and a large wholesale stationer in
ondon.
CASE OF THE REV. S. SMITH,—A memorial to
the Home Secretary, praying for the remission of the re-
maining term of the sentence on this clergyman, has been
numerously and influentially signed in Bristol. Mr. Smith,
it will be remembered, was convicted at the Glocestersbire
spring assizes of 1858 of an aggravated assault on a Mr.
Leach, and was sentenced to four years' penal servitude. In
the meantime his family have been reduced to great dis
tress, and, as it is believed there were some mitigating cir-
cumstances in the case, the memorialists urge that the
penalty already suffered is a sufficient punishment for the
offence of which Mr. Smith was found guilty.
AN ECCENTRIC PERSONAGE.—A singularly-
attired man, who gave the name of Alexander Dignutn,
but who was recently better known as Dr. Boucher, a pro-
fessional phrenologist, was brought up yesterday, at the
New Bailey, on a charge of vagrancy. The prisoner had
called upon the Turkish Consul, at Fallowfield, and asked
for a suit of clothes. He made himself quite at home, and,
in order to get rid of him, he was presented with some
silver. No witnesses were present to establish the charge,
and Mr. Trafford ordered him to be remanded, and sum-
monses to be served on those who had been the means of
giving him into custody. It was stated that the prisoner's
real name is Bushell, and that he had once been sent by
the magistrates to the Prestwich Asylum. The prisoner
gave a very random account of himself, and he pulled off a
shabby looking wig to show how much better he looked
" under bare poles."—Manchester Guardian.
ACCIDENT AT FARNBOROUGH.—As Viscountess
Lismore, accompanied by her sister, Lady Cosmo Russell,
was taking a drive on Sunday last in a low phaeton, the
horse, shortly after leaving her residence, took fright, and
turning violently round the coachman was thrown from his
seat. The animal finding himself free, started off at full
speed, and making a rush at the iron gate of Farnborough
Park, the present residence of Lord Lismore, the lodge-
keeper endeavoured in vain to stop his progress, the horse
suddenly turned to the left up a hill, and on slackening
slightly his speed, Lady Cosmo Russell, in endeavouring to
get out, was thrown with much violence on the road,
severely cut about the hands and face, and much shaken.
Lady Lismore, with great presence of mind, kept her seat.
At the top of the hill the animal dashed the carriage against
a wall, breaking it to pieces, and Lady Lismore was extri-
cated from her perilous position by a groom and some offi-
cers near the spot. We regret to state that her ladyship
has been much indisposed since the accident.
SCOTCH VOLUNTEERS FOR GARIBALDI.—The
number of Scotch volunteers for Garibaldi continues rapidly
to increase. In Glasgow on Tuesday a large number came
forward to join the company forming in that city, in addi-
tion to those who had joined on the previous day. We be-
lieve that up to nine o'clock on Tuesday night, the number
which had joined in Glasgow was 160, and at that hour the
committee were busily engaged in enrolling additional
names. In Edinburgh the number of Garibaldian volun-
teers is now 110, and at the meeting in the Volunteer Arms
on Tuesday night, 15 guineas were subscribed towards the
fund now raising for defraying the expenses of the volun-
teers. It reit), be mentioned, as showing the prevailing
enthusiasm for Garibaldi, that among th applicants for
enrolment in the Edinburgh company there appeared a
young boy of twelve years of age, who had actually pre-
vailed on his father to bring him in from Dalkeith, that he
might have an opportunity of offering his services either
as drummer or in any other capacity in which he might be
useful. The services of the boy were of course declined,
and he had to return home greatly disappointed at being
unable to realise his expectations of joining the corps.—
Scotsman.
MANCHESTER UNITY FRIENDLY SOCIETY.—The
financial statement of the North London District of Odd
Fellows has been issued to the lodges. To statists, as well
as the members, it affords important information as to the
sick and funeral fund of this vast society—the chief fund
for providing the benefits assured. At the commencement
of 1860 the North London District contained 7,611 of the
305,214 members forming the TTnity. A year before the
numbers were 7,227. The entrance fees during 1859
amounted to £4ll 6s. 9d.; contributions, £7,840 9s. 6d. ;
interest, £1,419 17s. Bd., together £9,671135. 11d. The
amount paid in sickness during the year was £4,165 15s.
4d., and funeral levies £1,217 16s. 4d., together £5,383 lls.
Bd., the net increase being £4,288 2s. 3d., and making the
total capital of the district £50,241 10s. 3d. The number of
deaths were members 82, and wives 60. The society has
disappointed the expectations of actuaries, for if comparison
is made with former years, the-lodges are in a better posi-
tion, and, strange to say, though the members must be in-
creasing in age, this district is younger than it was 15 years
since (the average age of the members being 34 years 7
months), and the rate of sickness is not so high as the ex-
pected average; in fact the sickness does not increase in
proportion to the number of members. One cause of this is
the influx of young men, but a suspicion gains ground that
the true law of sickness has not yet been ascertained.
THE ROAD CHILD MURDER.—The following me-
morial has already received numerous signatures in Bath:—
" To THE RIGHT HON. THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR
THE HOME DEPARTMENT.
"The memorial of the Mayor and other inhabitants of
the city of Bath, being magistrates, clergymen, bankers,
commissioned officers in her Majesty's two services, mem-
bers of the legal and medical professions, &c., sheweth,—
That an extraordinary crime, and as far as we know, a crime
unique and unparalleled in the annals of this country, was
committed on the 29th of June last at Road, in the adjoin-
ing county of Wilts. That as living in the immediate
neighbourhood our attention has been specially directed to
it. That a miscarriage of justice has occurred, through the
defective manner in which the coroner's inquest was con-
ducted, that inquest having been closed after one sitting
without any attempt to ascertain and name the murderer.
That in consequence of this Samuel Saville Kent, his family
and household have never been examined and cross-exa-
mined. That the condition of the doors, windows, and fas-
tenings of the house prove that Road-house was not forci-
bly entered from outside during the night. That, therefore,
the murderer was an inmate of that house, or was secreted
there for the purpose, and that his accomplices before and
his accessories after tie fact are to be sought in that man-
sion. That Mr. Kent's household are, therefore, collec-
tively responsible for that murder, and that the innocence
of no one of them is to be assumed. That, nevertheless,
the inmates of that house have never been examined. That
we, therefore, humbly pray you to grant a special commis-
sion for the investigation of this crime, as the ordinary
means have entirely failed. That a special commission is
an unusual procedure, but that the crime is extraordinary
and unparalleled in its character and circumstances. We,
therefore, pray you to grant such special commission."
NEW TORY VOTERS FOR SELKIRKSFIIRE.—Last
year some of the Liberal bona fide electors of Selkirkshire,
stimulated by various circumstances formed " The Sel-
kirksbire Association of Liberal Electors," of which the
principal object was to promote and aid the registration of
duly-qualified persons. Accordingly, at the registration
courts of last year the Liberals placed on the roll 40 new
names, all on bona fide qualifications. This step seems to
have alarmed the Tory proprietors; and, from the claims
just lodged for this year, it seems plain that there is to
be a revival of the old expedient of mushroom growing.
Having vigorously attended to the registrations every year
the Tory agents have gleaned the field so bare that they
produce only eleven claimants ; and of these seven are
fictitious and non-resident: All the seven are life rents,
and all are claims of relatives to be enrolled en the pro-
perty of relatives. The remaining two (the others, we
believe, are enrolled already) of the Duke of Buccleuch's
sons, one of them barely of age, claim on the imagination
that they have bought from their father £lO a-year each
for life in the shape of the half of a fourth and a half part
of a sheep farm. The elder son of Lord Polwarth has sud-
denly become proprietor of a field, worth just £lO, in the
middle of one of his father's farms. Two sons of Mr.
Walker, of Bowland, have speculated in the twelfth part of
a piece of land at their father's avenue gate. Ensign Bal-
lantyne, residing at Canterbury, has prematurely become
Esq. of Birch Bush Park, which domain is to be cut off
from his father's estate at Holylee. Mr. Borthwick, of
Crookstone, in Mid-Lothian, has been treated with incredi-
ble generosity by his brother in-law, Mr. Pringle of Tor-
woodlee, who has presented him with half a farm in the
Selkifk. It may very well be doubted whether these curious
speculations in land will prove sound and profitable, even
should the Sheriff find himself able to pass them technically.
—Scotsman.
THE PRACTICE OF THE CHAMPION SHOT AND HIS
FATHER.—On Monday Horatio Ross, Esq., of Netherley,
and his son, Mr. Edward Ross, the champion shot of Eng-
land; Capt. Keith Stewart Mackenzie, of Seaforth ; Capt.
Moir, Stirling, and others shot at two distances-900 and
1,800 yards—the targets being casks placed in cobles in the
Montrose basin. A large number of gentlemen collected to
witness the practice. The shooting' of Mr. Edward Ross
with the Whitworth rifle gained by him at Wimbledon
was very precise, hitting the cask in regular succession
seven times, and missing very seldom. He sits while he
shoots, and although firing before many experienced
shots, took it remarkably cool. Hie firing with the
Whitworth at the long range was not nearly so good,
but with the Lancaster rifle ho made some good shots
at the 1,800 yards distance. Mr. Horatio Ross, his
father, the celebrated deerstalker, made beantiful prac-
tice with the Lancaster at the furthest distance, and
for many times struck the cask, while the shots invariably
were in close proximity to the.boat. His practice with the
Whitworth and Westley Richards (breach loader) at the
same distance always fell short. His shots with these latter
at 900 yards were, however, very accurate. Capt. API( en-
zie's practice was very good, although not to be compared
to that of the Messrs. Ross. Capt. Moir, Stirling, made
some good shots with the rifle won by Mr. Edward Ross,
the prize of the ladies of Northamptonshire, which has sub-
sequently been furnished with sights on Lord Elcho's prin-
ciple, and seemed to be much appreciated by both Captain
Moir and the owner. The shooting became general towards
the close. and some good shots were made. The firing clearly
showed the Lancaster rifle to be the best adapted for long
ranges ; but the arrangement of the sights on the barrel
seems to have something to do with this, and it was the
opinion of many on the ground that were the sights of the 1
Whitworth, &c., further forward on, the barrel, the defect
would be removed.--,Dtolce Argus,