The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-13 00:00:00

TILE A.R311:

The Commander-in-Chief reviewed the 100th
Regiment at Shorncliffe on Wednesday last. At
the close of the review his Royal Highness ex-
pressed his satisfaction at the state of discipline in
which he had found the regiment, and passed a
high eulogium on the loyalty of the Canadian
population in raising so fine a body of men at a
moment of need.

Nearly the whole of the volunteers to the Roya
Engineers who have been selected to proceed witl
the force of Royal Sappers and Miners ordered to
British Columbia have arrived at head-quarters,
Brompton Barracks, Chatham, from the various
companies of Engineers scattered throughout the
country, in order to embark with the expedition, on
Wednesday next, on board the clipper ship Thames
City, 1,500 tons. The expedition, it is now decided,
shall consist of 10 sergeants, 16 corporals, and
about 120 Sappers, the officers at present named to
accompany them being Colonel R. C- Moody, who
commands the whole force, Captain J. M. Grant,
Captain H. R. Luard, Lieut. A. R. Lempricre, and
Lieut. 11. S. Palmer ; Assistant-Staff-Surgeon J.
V. Seddall, proceeds in medicalcharge of the
expedition. None but the most robust and skilful
men among theßoyal Engineers have been allowed
to volunteer for this service, as the work they will
be called upon toperform will be not only attended
with some degree of hardship, but will also re-
quire a great amount of skill. With this view they
have been chosen from the various trades and han-
dicrafts of which the corps of Royal Engineers is
made up. They include not only carpenters, ma-
sons, blacksmiths, printers, painters, and miners,
but also surveyors, artists, engravers, photographers,
architects, draughtsmen, &c., whose services will
all be called into requisition. The pay given by the
Government is on a very liberal scale, the daily
pay of the Engineers in most cases having been
fixed at os., in addition to which it is proposed
that, as an inducement to faithful service and
good conduct, each of the Royal Sappers and
Miners who shall have served in British Columbia
for six years, and shall have borne a good cha-
racter during that period, shall be presented by
the Government with 60 acres of land, in addition
to the amount of pension to which he may be en-
titled. The married men proceeding with the ex-
pedition are to be allowed to take their wives and
families with them. Each man will be equipped
with the Enfield rifle, and it is also intended to fur-
nish him with Colt's revolver. The stores and
clothing of every description required for the expe-
dition will be despatchedfrom Chatham to-morrow.
• On Saturday detachments of troops, selected from
the depots of the Ist alai 3d battalions at Chatham,
left that garrison and proceeded to Eastbourne for
the purpose of undergoing a c )arse of instruction in
the Enfield rifle previously to embarking for India.
The recent experiments which have been made
at Chatham for the purpose of testing the supe-
riority of the Lancaster rifle musket, as used by
the corps of the Royal Engineers, over the Enfield
rifle in use by the troops of the Line, having at-
tracted much attention, some further experiments
have just been concluded at Chatham, with the
view of ascertaining whether the remarkable accu-
racy of aim arrived at with the Lancaster rifle was
not due more to the skill of the Royal Engineers
than to the superiority of that description of musket.
In order to put this supposition to a thorough test,
eight non-commissioned officers belonging to the
Royal Engineers, and a small number selected from
the 2d Battalion of Infantry were chosen to fire at

the targets, the range, as on former experiments,
extending from 350 to 600 yards. In this instance,
however, the muskets used by the two branches of
the service were exchanged on the ground, the
Royal Engineers taking the Enfield rifle, and the
non-commissioned officers of the Line receiving the
Lancaster rifled muskets from the Royal Engineers.
Each man was provided with 20 rounds of ammu-
nition and ball. On the occasion of the former ex-
periments the Royal Engineers displayed a surpris-
ing correctness of aim in firing at the-target, the
number of " points" gained by them being nearly

double those made by the battalion of non-com--

missioned officers. Idthe experiments which have
just been concluded the superiority of the Laneas-
_ ter rifle was again most decided, as in the compara-
tively unpractised hands of the battalion non-com-
missioned officers the average number of " points"
made was 14.00, while with the far superior firing
of the Royal Engineers only an average of 1215
points could be arrived at with the Enfield rifle.
The finest practice during the experiments was that
of Colour-Sergeant T. Barrow, R.E., who made the
large number of 20 points out of 20 rounds, a num-
ber which has rarely been exceeded with the En-
field musket. The result of these interesting experi-
ments may be taken as a fair test of the value of the
two descriptions of rifles used. The Royal Engi-
neers with the Lancaster rifle, and with practice
prior to the experiments, averaged 15.88, points ;
the battalion with the Enfield, and previous prac-
tice, averaged only 10.98 points. Again, the Royal
Engineers, using the Enfield rifle, with which they
had had no previous practice, made only 12.75
points, while the battalion with the Lancaster rifle,
with the use of which they were comparatively un-
acquainted, made 14.00 points. It thus appears
that, irrespective of the Lancaster rifle being the
best weapon for obtaining accuracy of aim, the
Royal Engineers are undoubtedly among the best
marksmen in the service.
It is reported that the barracks at Farley, Essex,
-are to be enlarged, so as to adapt them for a cavalry
depot.
Last week a further draught of 1 officer and 89
rank and file left the camp at Colchester for India.
On the morning of the 9th inst. the troopship
Octavia, with 10 officers and 426 non-commissioned
officers, rank, and file, under command of Major
Catty, 6th Regt., hound for Calcutta, which sailed
on the morning of the 4th inst. from Gravesend,
was off Vie Isle of Wight, all well, but had experi-
enced strong adverse winds.

THE MILITIA-.
On Friday the Northumberland Artillery Militia
met at Tynemouth, and after the whole force were
mustered they marched to the North Shields Rail-
way station and proceeded by special train to the
old border town of Hexham, where they will un-
dergo 28 days' drill. At present the garrison.; at
Newcastle and Tynemouth arc occupied by the
Sherwood Foresters. On Friday the Newcastle and
Northumberland Yeomanry Cavalry, after under-
going eight days' drill, were reviewed on the Town
Moor, Newcastle, by Col. Bell, their commander,
and by Col. Mellish, of the Sherwood Foresters.
The Northumberland Light Infantry Militia, com-
manded by Col. fligge, are to be called up at Aln-
wick on the 28th ; the Durham Artillery Militia
meet at Bishop Auckland on the 27th, under the
command of Col. 11. Stobart.

The King's Own Light Infantry (Ist Tower
Hamlets Militia) has, since its embodiment in Nov.
last, furnished upwards of 250 volunteeis to the line.
The regiment is stationed at the Curragh Camp.
The 3d Royal Lancashire Militia assembled for
21 days' training at Preston on the 7th inst., under
the command of Col. J. Wilson Patten, M.P., and
Aide-de-camp to the Queen, and mustered 836 men
of all ranks, with 23 officers. This regiment has
given upwards of 400 men to the line since the Ist
of March, 1857.

The Norfolk a
Artillell Militia, has assembled
(400 strong) at Great Yarmouth.
The West Essex Militia, which has a
Chelmsford for training and exercise, is
at
s 321 men
short of the nominal strength of the muster roll-
-662.
The Royal North Lincoln Militia, quartered at
Portsmouth, are held in readiness to proceed to Ire-
land on being relieved by the 2d Cheshire
Militia
from Aldershott.

GREAT FIRE IN WHITEcirArEL.--Last night
(Sunday) a fire took place in the extensive range of pre-
mises belonging to the East London Plate and Sheet-glass
Company, situate at No. 45, Leman-street, Goodman's-
fields, Whitechapel. The premises in which the disaster
began were two stories high, and contained a great quantity
of property. Owing to the inflammable nature of the contents
of the place, the flames :spread with amazing rapidity, so
ttelT,t, in a few minutes the whole of the manufacturingyre-
viesesfbeeame enveloped in flames. The parish engines,
fie. 0.40... the London Brigade, from Jeffrey-square, Well-
.,,l,,,:4_l_,tarse_,,
reWtatling-street, Farringdon-street, and
p`Ari7ast
work, brit
West of England engine were
not succeed in getting the mastery
over the flames until the warehouses and workshops were
nearly destroyed. As to the
be oltaollgin of the accident not the
least information could s
wmed. The loss is very heavy,
as the top of the workanshol
which have
with veneers and
jotthi:rhvahtarfogblteivittootilos,
clam
has partially
consumed, but
Y iimured, a

THE HEALTH AND EFFICIENCY OF
THE BRITISH TROOPS IN INDIA.

The following suggestions have been made by
Mr. J. R. Martin to the Chairman the Court of

Directors
1. It is stated by Col. Sir A. Tulloch, as the re-
sult of investigations in the War-office, made by
desire of Mr. Sidney Herbert, that among British
officers and soldiers of the Queen's and Company's
armies serving in the East Indies, there occurred,
from 1815 to 1855 inclusive, a total mortality, ex-
elusive of casualties, of about 100,000 men, " the
greater portion of whose lives might have been
-saved had better localities been selected for mili-
tary occupation in that country."
2. Dr. Burke, late Inspector-General of Hospi-
tals in Bengal, has stated that in the station of
Secunderabad alone, during 30 years of its occu-
pancy by British soldiers, the cost to the State on
account of loss of life amounted to £150,000, esti-
mating each soldier as worth £lOO. But, estimat-
ing the loss of life mentioned by Sir A. Tulloch at
the same valuation of £lOO each man, we arrive at
a loss in money of £10,000,000 sterling.
3. Then there has been enormous waste of the
public funds on account of barracks and hospitals
placed in stations so unhealthy that they were sub-
sequentty abandoned, The buildings for the Euro-
pean troops at Berhampore, Bengal, abandoned
since 1835 on account of its unhealthiness, arc stated
by the finance authorities of Calcutta to have cost
since 1757 nearly £17,000,000 sterling.* Tennant
declares that, up to this time, the sums expended
by the East India Company for the accommodation
of their European troops, " if laid out at the com-
pound interest of the country, would, at a determi-
nate period, not very remote, have equalled the
national debt."
4. Looking to these enormous sums, often abso-
lutely worse than wasted, of what account in the
comparison has been the cost of the medical esta-
blishment of India ? how truly saving of the
public revenues must be a well-ordered and well-
directed and a well-contented medical corps.
In truth, the importance of an efficient medi-
cal establishment is so great_that we cannot put a
money value on it.
5. As regards the preservation of European
health in India, and indeed in all tropical climates,
the due selection of locality is the first considera-
tion ; and next in importance stands the structural
arrangements in barracks and hospitals.
6. As to barracks, provided the site be of suffi-
cient elevation, well cleared, drained, and levelled,
with a good water supply, the material need not, I
think, be of a costly character—well-constructed
huts for the accommodation of 10 or 12 men forming
a good protection against the inclemencies of wea-
ther. Such simple and cheap structures will, I
believe, prove more conducive to the health of the
European soldier in the mountain ranges of India
than the most costly barrack, and the same may be
said of hospital-huts for the reception of the same
number of men—viz., 10 or 12. In stations on the
arid hot plains of India the same structures would
answer well ; but if large brick-built barracks and
hospitals be preferred, they should be very spacious,
double-roofed, and raised on arches.
7. The considerations involved in the subject of
the last paragraph are of the utmost importance,
whether viewed in a sanitary or financial light ;
and the subject has hitherto been altogether
neglected in locating troops in most of our foreign
possessions ; although our experience in all our
European campaigns have demonstrated that the
soldiers who were hutted fared well, while such as
were massed in barracks and general hospitals
perished at enormous rates.
8. This experience has been universally accord-
ant, whether the climate was hot or cold, whether
our men were serving in Holland or in the Crimea.
9. The Irish sufferers from typhus during the
famine who were massed in workhouses and hospi-
tals perished in enormous numbers, whereas those
who were thrown alpncs the roads and under the
hedges recovered in goodly proportions ; of so much
more avail is pure air towards tnc restoration of
health than a fine building. The thorough ventir
lation through the openings and crevices of huts
supplies the sick with what they don't obtain in
our ill-constructed barracks and hospitals—namely,
pure air.
10. They were not palaces that were constructed
by order of Sir C. Metcalfe on the mountains of
Jamaica, but a substantial form of hut, which, on a
pure and elevated soil, was all that was required.
Buildings such as those just referred to, constructed
of the most ordinary materials, have been found to
assure health, while Indian experiences prove that
costliness of material and splendour of structure,
apart from a good locality, will not prevent disease.
11. From the importance of determining the true
physical characters, and the exact medical topo-
graphy of all the mountain ranges throughout
India—especially of those situated in provinces in
which it is desirable that British troops may reside
—has now become imperative. European soldiers
cannot maintain health or vigour in the plain.;, and
the selection of suitable mountain stations has be-
come more than ever a State necessity.
15. The experiences of the Himalaya positions,
of those of the Ncilgherry mountains, and of those
of Ceylon, as sanitary stations, prove that by resi-
dence on their respective elevations the European is
removed greatly above the range of the malarious
fevers of India. But while this great and valuable
fact is admitted, it is undoubtedly true that lie is,
in too many instances, carried into the range of
another class of diseases—namely that of bowel
complaints. Thi.; circumstance has been found in
various of our mountain positions to constitute a
serious drawback from the otherwise great benefits
derived from a residence in them.
13. Another disadvantage of the hill stations
hitherto occupied by us in the East Indies was no-
ticed by me when serving in Bengal—namely, that
while the hill climates arc permanently serviceable
against the malarious fevers of the country, their
influences in conducing to the cure of these and
other diseases is limited in extent : the soldier being
troubled with relapses of his disorders on descend-
ing into the plains unless he is kept in the hills for
a long time. The mountain ranges, therefore, which
have hitherto been occupied by Europeans stand
forth as possessing climates preservative against
fevers, and as such we must improve them, and use
them wherever required.
14. When, on the other hand, we find the British
soldier lingering under chronic or structural dis-
eases contracted on the plains, a removal to the sea-
board, or to an insular sanitarium, or, still better,
to England, will be found the only effective means
of restoration ; and this last resource of medicine
should never be denied to him, for the climate of
the mountains, invaluable in prevention, will not
cure disease. •
15. Referring to what has been stated in para-
graph 12, how arc we to escape from the admitted
evils hitherto experienced in the very high positions
occupied by us ? Where and how are we to obtain
that amount of elevation which, while it removes
the European out of the range of malarious fevers,
may not place him in that of an exhausting and
dangerous diarrlnva ? This is the great desidera-
tum—one hitherto unascertained, because unsought
for ; yet no examinations which may fall short of
ascertaining this desired medium elevation can be
deemed satisfactory of our sanitary wants.
16. In the climates of yellow fever an elevation
of 2,500 feet is found sufficient to remove the Euro-
pean from the locality of pestilence, without
placing him in that of bowel disorders ; and in the
mountain stations of Jamaica the mortality among
British soldiers is found to exceed but
little, if at all, that of the same class of men in the
United Kingdom.. •
17. Let us, then, have a series of careful and
scientific examinations, by competent persons, of
the lower and medium ranges of hills throughout
India, in order that the great sanitary problem
may be solved in a conclusive manner—namely, the
providing a place of resort for our European troops
which shall be alike free from malarious fevers and
from disorders of the bowels. That such procur-
able
perseveringlylelocali ties arc to be found in the East, as they
have beeniitlie
sloVuegsht,tifsorm. y belief, and let them
18. Let the solitary
plains—be so
ugh t, and carefully examined ; they
give excellencies peculiar to
Lastly, let there be
each of
. emse Cs.
appointedthe
Ind
for
cies,
duties of the army, at
a medical officer of health an officer of scien-
tific attainments and of rank, who shall be attached
to the quartermaster-general's department ;
shall thus add to the department of military topo-
graphy that of medical topography. The medical
officer of health should preserve in his office, for the
use of the scientific persons concerned, plans and
models of the best barracks and hospitals which
may be from time to time approved by the military
powers of Europe, in order that the most recent
improvements may be rendered available wherever
buildings of the nature indicated may be found
Thenecessary.
du
t
ies of the medical officer of health should
be, in peace, to examine and report on all sites and
on the condition of camps, temporary military sta-
tions and cantonments, on convalescent stations and
sanitaria, on mountain ranges suitable for troops,
and on solitary mountains and their capabilities, on
the plans and structure of barracks and hospitals,
and on everything relating to the health and com-
fort of the soldier.
In war he should be attached to the quarter-
master-general in the field, and be always
in advance with this officer, so as to master the
medical topography of the scene of action ; and,
where military- reasons of imperative necessity

clipat9s2rr iate
Tighleace 91 •EQS

sity do not overrule sanitary considerations, the ad
vice and opinion of the medical officer of health
should be received on 'the sites of camps, whether
temporary or permanent, and on all matters having
reference to the sanitary condition of the camp.
In a recent report to her Majesty by a Royal com-
mission, of which I was ;a member, and which was
ordered to inquire into the orOnisation, govern-
ment, and direction of the medical department of
the British army, the appointment of a medical offi-
cer of health, as long recommended by me for the
service of the Indian army, was strongly urged
upon her Majesty's attention, with a view to the
great benefits to be expected from the services of
such an officer.

J. R. MARTIN.
Grosvenor-street, London, Aug. 12, 1857.

THE FALL OF •A TUNNEL ON THE

HAMPSTEAD RAILWAY,

The following, from the Observer, is a fuller ac-
count of the falling hi of the railway tunnel at

Hampstead, as noticed in our paper of Saturday :
The Hampstead Junction Railway joins the North
London Railway at Camden-town, where the latter
crosses the Kentish-town-road, and passes on

arches by means of an excessive curve in a nor-
therly direction, over the Hawley and Hartland-

roads, passing close to the St. Pancras Almshouses
and tho Governesses' Asylum, on the western• side
of the hamlet of Kentish-town, until it reaches
Gordon House-lane, where the arches r 3 substi-
tuted by an, embankment on another sore .e curve
in a westerly direction towards Hampstead. At
this point the line enters a cutting at the foot of
the spot well known as Parliament-hill, passing
onward still in a westerly direction between the
lowest of the Hampstead Ponds and Pond-street.
After reaching this point the cutting gradually
deepens until it arrives near the Hampstead-road,
at a point between Downshire-hill and the George
public-house. At this point a tunnel was being
constructed, and was intended to run under the
Rosslyn estate, near Rosslyn House, and that which
is known as the " Conduit-fields," terminating near
the Finchley-road, a distance of about three-quar-
ters of a mile.
The works of the line are of such magnitude,
and of such a character, that they have been let
to several contractors. Mr. -George Berkeley, of
24, Great George-street, Westminster, and -who,
we believe, was formerly connected with
the establishment of Mr. Robert Stephenson, is the
engineer ; and the original contractor for the con-
struction of that portion of the line of which the
Hampstead Tunnel forms part was Mr. Thomas
Heaton, who died shortly after the works were
commenced, in consequence of which the contract
was taken up by Messrs. Oliver, Banks, and Bar-
ton, contractors, stated to be well acquainted with
such description of work.
On sinking the original shaft for the tunnel, in
one portion of the conduit field an attempt was
made to sink a shaft known as No. 3 shaft ; but in
consequence of the vast amount of water met with,
it was abandoned, and a second No. 3 shaft was
sunk, which proved •comparatively dry, and the
works proceeded. It must be premised that the
strength of the tunnel, as specified in the contract,
was that the arches should be turned—that is, the
roof of the tunnel should consist of seven rings of
brick work; but there was, as we understand, no
stipulation as to whether the brick-work should
be set in Portland cement or mortar, the fat-
ter being used throughout. Notwithstanding
the geological difficulties which the engineer, as
well as the contractors, were aware they would
have to contend with in passing beneath the con-
duit field within fifty feet of a conduit arising from
natural springs, and which has been one of the
main sources of water supply to the town or village
of Hampstead for centuries, the works progressed
favourably till Sunday week, when the continued
crackings of the timber supports, as well as the
brickwork of the crown of the tunnel between Nos.
3 and 4 shafts, gave indication that something was
wrong. This was the more apparent when, through
the apertures created by the cracking and falling
down of the brickwork, water and quicksand rushed
in in large quantities. Notwithstanding that it
was Sunday, Messrs. Oliver and Co., the contrac-
tors, succeeded in getting a gang of from forty to
fifty of their men together, and commenced a more
secure shoring of the tunnel in the dangerous part.
These proceedings had scarcely commenced when a
large mass of the brickwork of-the tunnel fell in with
a loud noise, being completely crushed down by the
superincumbent weight of the earth above. At this
moment the' s were upwards of forty men at work
in the tunnel, ranged across fixing-up supports,
and the several narrow escapes they had are de-
scribed by some of them engaged as truly extraor-
dinary. After the first mama of the tunnel gave
way the brickwork came crushing in yard by yard,
and. it did so the men receded gradually, until at
last they were successful in getting up their bear-
ings and supports so as to stop its further progress.
This, however, was not effected till something like
eighteen lengths of brickwork, of eleven feet each,
giving a gross amount of very nearly 200 feet, had,
together with the earth above, fallen in and com-
pletely closed up the tunnel, thus destroying in a
few minutes the labour of months. Some idea of
the immense mass which fell may be conceived when
it is stated that from the surface of the ground to
the basement of the tunnel is 130 feet, and the
height of the tunnel 29 feet, so that the actual
amount of earth which came down, crushing the
brickwork beneath it amounted to many thousand

tons.
Oil the surface of the ground,just between Nos. 3
and 4 shafts, was erected an engine-house with a shaft
and machinery for working the tunnel, and lifting
earth and other materials' after blasting operations,
which has been in a great measure the mode adopted
in making this tunnel. When the fall took place it
carried with it the engine-house and machinery as
well as the shaft, and these premises present a most
singular appearance. The entire ground for the
distance mentioned has • sunk from the surface, a
depth of some fifteen or twenty feet, and -Una engine-
house has fallen over and leans against the sides of
the field ; but the chimney or shaft, which was
about thirty feet high, stands perfectly perpendi-
cular, as it did previously, its height above the sur-
face being, however, diminished to the extent of
the depth of the ground its foundation has de-
scended. The soil generally throughout the cutting,
and in the tunnel, was what is termed loamy clay ;
but for some clays prior to the occurrence it had
been observed that the workmen were coming upon
gravel, which is said to be a sure indication that
there was water in the vicinity.
The question of responsibility now arises, and
various statements and conjectures are afloat as to
who will have to bear the loss, which, when time
and labour is taken into consideration, is estimated
at very little short of £20,000. From all that can
be gleaned upon this point it appears that the con-
tractors had carried out the works to the satisfac-
tion of the engineer, who had duly certified to their
having been properly performed. If such be the
case then the company will have to bear the ex-
pense of the occurrence ; but there are, it is said,
very great doubts as to whether proper precautions
were taken by those who had the control of the.
works, and who were of course supposed.to,be fully
acquainted with the character of the ground
through which the tunnel was to pass. By some
of the other contractors it is asserted that in such
a case, and as soon as the indications of water and
shifting sand appeared, instead of continuing the
arch of the tunnel with seven rings of brickwork,
there ought at least to have been nine rings put in,
and that Portland cement, instead of mortar, should
have been used.
With a view to enable the company to arrive
at a proper conclusion, on Friday last the works.
were inspected by Mr. Robert Stephenson, the
celebrated engineer, accompanied by Mr. G.
Berkeley and several other railway engineers of
eminence, the result of which is an opinion that
the works are more seriously damaged than was
originally anticipated, and it was determined as
one course of proceeding to re-let the
wcoint are
contract.
There is, however, another, and still more im-
portant question involved in the affair. It is stated
pthat
abnyt theired fr o actfrom
interfering
of parliament
in
a nt,h, e company
way
surface of the land, for the purposes of their rail-
wayp
ed
beenand itnhter
°Fajun:eh:3,a-
t-
-10 ad,s bbeytwaeeenlautshee
said Hampstead
to lthe instance of Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson, as
Lord of the Manor, as the point where the tunnel
emerges on the west is close to that which Sir
Thomas Wilson has been so long endeavouring to
appropriate for building purposes. A cutting
through the conduit field, in lieu of a tunnel, is
therefore impossible, and it is even doubted whether
it will not be necessary to alter the line, and to
apply to Parliament next session for an amended
act, empoWering the company to make a deviation
from its present course.
The entire length of the Hampstead Junction
Railway will be, when completed, a little over five
miles, and it will, by means of the North London
Railway, unite in a more direct manner than at
present exists, the Great Western, North Western,
and Eastern Counties with the Blackwall and Dock
Junction lines, being, it is expected, a good line for
the conveyance of merchandise, as well as afford
for City people, whose residences are in the north-
western suburbs, an easy mode of transit to and
from their business daily. At present the Hamp-
stead Junction Railway Company is a distinct and
independent company, but it is stated that so soon
as the line is completed it will be handed over to
the Lenciu ands94lA Western Cvmpany, lylio will