The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-04 00:00:00

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

(From the Gazette of yesterday.)
WAR-OFFICE, SEPT. 3.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her in-
tention to confer the Decoration of the Victoria Cross on
the undermentioned officer and soldier, who have been re-
commended to her Majesty for that Deepration on account
of Acts of Bravery performed by them in riulia, as recorded
against their respective names, viz.:-
Lieutenant (now Captain) Frederick Robertson Aikman,
4th Bengal Native Infantry—This officer, commanding the
3d Sikh Cavalry on the advanced piequet,, with 100 of his
men, having obtained information, just as tho force
marched on the morning of the Ist of March last, of the
proximtty, three miles off the high road, of a body of 500
rebel infantry, 200 horse, and 2 guns, under Moosahib Ali
Chuckbdar, attacked and utterly routed them, cutting up
more than 100 men, capturing two guns, and driving the
survivors into and over the Goomtee.• This feat was per-
formed under every disadvantage of broken ground, and
partially under the flanking fire of an adjoining fort. Lieut.
Aikman received a severe sabre cut in the face in a persosal
encounter with several of the enemy.
Gunner William Connolly, Bengal Horse Artillery.—
This soldier is recommended for the Victoria Cross for his
gallantry in action with the enemy, at Jhelum, on
the 7th of July, 1857. Lieutenant Cookes, Bengal
Horse Artillery, reports, that " about daybreak on that
day, I advanced my half troop at a gallop, and
engaged the enemy within easy musket range. The
sponge-man of one of my guns having been shot during
the advance, Gunner Connolly assumed the duties of 2d
sponge-man, and he had barely assisted in two discharges
of his gun, when a musket-ball, through the left thigh,
felled him to the ground ; nothing daunted by pain and
loss of blood, he was endeavouring to resume his post,
when I ordered a movement in retirement, and though se-
verely wounded, he was mounted on his horse in the gun-
team, and rode to the next position which the guns took
up, and manfully declined going to the rear when the ne-
cessity of his so doing was represented to him. About 11
o'clock, a.m., when the guns were still in action, the
same gunner, whilst sponging, was again knocked
down by a musket-ball striking him on the hip,
thereby causing great faintness and partial uncon-
sciousness, for the pain appeared excessive 2 and the
blood flowed fast. On seeing this, I gave directions for his
removal out of action; but this brave man hearing me,
staggered to his feet, and said, 'No, sir, I'll not go there,
whilst I can work here,' and shortly afterwards he again
resumed his post as sponge-man.
" Late in the afternoon of the same day, my three guns
wore engaged at one hundred yards from the walls of a vil-
lage with the defenders, viz., the 14th N.I. (mutineers),
amidst a storm of bullets which did great execution. Gun..
ner Connolly, although suffering severely from his two
previous wounds, was wielding his sponge with an energy
and courage which attracted the admiration of his com-
rades, and while cheerfully encouraging a wounded
man to hasten in bringing up the ammunition, a musket-
ball tore through the muscles of his right leg; but with the
most undaunted bravery he struggled on; and not till he
had loaded six times did this man give way, when, through
loss of blood, he fell in my arms, and I placed him on a
waggon, which shortly afterwards bore him in a state of
unconsciousness from the fight."

FROM THE GAZETTE OF YESTERDAY.

At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 2d
day of September, 1858, present, the Queen's Most Excel-
lent Majesty in Council. Her Majesty having been pleased
to appoint the Right Honourable Edward Henry Stanley
(commonly called Lord Stanley), to be one of her Majesty's
Principal Secretaries of State, he was this day, by her Ma-
jesty's command, sworn one of her Majesty's Principal Se-
cretaries of State accordingly. It is this day ordered by her
Majesty in Council that the Parliament, which stands pro-
rogued to Tuesday the 19th day of October next, be further
prorogued to Thursday the 18th day of November next.

WAR-OFFICE, SEPT. 3.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders for
the appointment of Lord Bloomfield, K.C.8., her Majesty's
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the
King of Prussia, to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil
Division of the First-class, or Knights Grand Cross, of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
DOWNING-STREET, SEPT. 3.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint James Douglas,
Esq., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Vancouver's
Island, to be Governor and Commander-in-Chief, in and
over the colony of British Columbia and its dependencies.
Her Majesty has also been pleased to appoint Matthew
Baillie Begbie, Esq., to be Judge in the said colony.
COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS-LIEUTENANT

Cornwall Rangers Militia—Ensign Edward Saint Aubyn
to be Lieutenant, vice Ernest Frederick Peel, resigned.
RESIGNATION.—Lieut. John Borlase has resigned his
Commission.

Hampshire Regiment of Militia—The Hon. Oliver George
Lambert, late Lieutenant in the 12th Regiment, to be Cap-
tain, vice Capt. Thos. Buckner Henry Valentine, resigned;
George Francis Birch, Esq., late Captain in the West Mid-
cPcsex Militia, to be Captain, vice Capt. Henry Augustus
Brander, deceased; Edmund Wm. Crofts, Esq., late Cap-
tain in the 23d Royal Welsh Fusiliers, to be Captain.
County of Sussex—James Graham Donaville, Esq., to be
Deputy-Lieutenant.
Ist Royal Lanarkshire Militia—George Johnston Goss-
ling, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Townley, resigned.
oth or Royal Elthorne Light Infantry Regiment of Mid-
dlesex Militia—Ensign Joseph Balderson to be Lieutenant,
vice Seaton, resigned; D'Oyley William Battley, Gent., to
be Ensign, vice Nash, promoted.
[This article is substituted for that which appeared in th
Gazette of the 30th July 'last.]
County of Essex—Wiliam Michael Tufnell, Esq., to be
Deputy-Lieutenant.
Royal North Lincoln Militia—Richard Ellison Esq., to
be Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant, vice Colonel George
Tomline, M.P., appointed Honorary Colonel.