The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-16 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The paddlewheel steam-sloop Virago, 6, Com-
mander Montagu B. Dunn, which left Plymouth on
the 30th ult., in search of the troop-transport Born-.
bay, returned to the Sound on Monday evening.
She proceeded as far as 15 deg. west longitude,
experienced a heavy gale, and was obliged to
batten down. Both her sponsons, the head rails,
&c., were carried away, and considerable repairs
will be necessary. Thirteen miles north-east of
the Lizard she fell in with the Star of the
West, which had 19 of her crew on the sick
list and six unfit for active duty.- The Virago
arrived at Bantry Bay on Saturday the- 4th inst.,
and sailed therefrom on Thursday the 9th for
Queenstown, where she left the Royal Albert, Re-
nown, and Orion. The Brunswick and Racoon
continued in search of the Bombay. The Virago
brought 14 supernumeraries for the Victor Em-
manuel.

The Ruby mail packet, which was reported as
having got ashore in the fog of Monday evening,
was towed from her position on Tuesday night at
high water by powerful steamtugs, which were
placed at her stern, and screw jacks at her stem.
The force employed released her, and yesterday
morning she proceeded to Southampton.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Alexander Rattray, As-,
sistant-Surgeon to the Victory; Charles M. Nor-
mand, Assistant-Surgeon to the Himalaya.

THE ARMY.

On Tuesday afternoon Lieutenant-General Love,
K.C.8., Inspector-General of Infantry, paid a visit
to Colchester camp for the purpose of inspecting
the Indian depots now quartered in the garrison.
These form two battalions, the first, under the com-
mand of Colonel Dixon, C. 8., comprising the Ist
Royals, 6th, 54th, 56th, 66th, and 88th Connaught
Rangers ; tke second battalion, commanded by
Colonel Street, C. 8., consists of sth Fusiliers, 34th,
37th, 38th, 44th, and 97th. The men, in number
nearly 2,000, comprising a strong body of recruits,
were drawn up in line upon the chief parade
ground. Subsequently General Love inspected the
invalids in the hospital and on the books. The
several depots, which have been greatly diminished
by heavy draughts for India, are now being re-
plenished by a supply of recruits.
A general parade of the entire battalion of the
Chatham division of Royal Marine Light Infantry,
under the command of Colonel H. W. Parke, took
place yesterday in the square of the Royal Marine
Barracks at Chatham, for the purpose of hearing
read the proceedings of a general court-martial
which assembled on the 3d inst., under the presi-
dency of Lieut.-Colonel J. H. Gascoigne, Royal
Marines, for the trial of Private Benjamin Phipps,
17th company, attached to head-quarters of the
Chatham division, on the charge of having struck
Lieutenant Martin Hogge, Royal Marines, a violent
blow in the face with his fist, and also for threaten-
ing to kill that officer. The prisoner was convicted
of the charges, and it was proved that he returned
into barracks with a severe cut on his lips which
attracted the notice of the prisoner's sergeant, who
reported the circumstance to Lieutenant Hogge,
and the prisoner was taken before him. On the
officer asking "if that was the fellow," the pri-
soner replied, " Yes, that is the fellow," for which
insubordinate answer Lieutenant Hogge ordered
him into one of the cells attached to the guard-
room, and charged him with being drunk. The
prisoner replied that he was not drunk, and called
the officer a filthy name. After he had been
confined some time the sergeant again called the
attention of the officer to the prisoner's wound, and
suggested that he had better be allowed to see the
doctor. The prisoner was then ordered to be taken
out of the cell and marched, in charge of an escort,
to Melville Hospital. On being released he imme-
diately rushed at Lieutenant Hogge and gave him
a violent blow in the face with his fist, at the same
time threatening to take that officer's life. At the
trial Lieutenant Hogge swore that the prisoner
struck him several other blows on the back, but
this statement was contradicted by several wit-
nesses who saw the transaction, all of whom agreed
in their statement that only one blow was given.
The Court found the prisoner guilty, and in Con-
sideration of his former bad character, and also the
fact that he had before been convicted of striking
a non-commissioned officer, he was sentenced to
five years' penal servitude, at the expiration of
which period he will be discharged from the corps
with ignominy.
The entire corps of Royal Horse Artillery sta-
tioned at Woolwich were yesterday drawn up in
the square of the Artillery Barracks to witness the
degradation of a non-commissioned officer of Major
Arbuthnot's troop of Royal Horse Artillery, named
William Ewen, for a breach of discipline, in not
having, as it was stated, paid proper attention to
the orders of his superior officer in the men's bar-
rackroom. It appeared that Ewen was, as it is
termed, "skylarking" with an apple-woman, when
he was rebuked by the sergeant-major of the troop,
and was ordered to retire to his room, which order,
it appears by the evidence of a gunner who was
present, he did not obey with sufficient prompti-
tude. The prisoner was consequently arraigned at
a regimental court martial, when a rigid investi-
gation was entered into, and he was convicted and
was ordered to be publicly " broke" or to beg his
superior non-commissioned officer's pardon, which-
he expressed his unwillingness to do. The sentence
was accordingly put into effect yesterday in the
presence of the entire corps of officers and men. A
couple of drummer boys belonging to the troop,
after the !promulgation of the sentence, stepped
forward and commenced stripping off the decora-
tions which distinguished him as a non-commis-
sioned officer, and he was thereupon ordered to
serve as a private in the ranks.
The Royal Marine Artillery had some superior
practice yesterday from Fort Cumberland at targets
afloat, varying from 800 to 1,100 yards range. The
shells from the 8-inch garrison gun mounted on the
bastion would have been most destructive in effect
upon an enemy, every shell bursting with fatal
accuracy immediately off the target, working the
sea up to a perfect foam. The other practice was
from field-guns and howitzers of 8-inch calibre, and
from 24-pounders, 12-pounders, and 6-pounders.
Eighty-five rounds were fired. Fort Cumberland
is one of the strongest forts in the kingdom, and
commands the most important position, affecting
Portsmouth and Chichester, as well as Hayling
Island. It is defended by upwards of 120 pieces of
heavy ordnance. It is understood that it is under
the consideration of Government to purchase cer-
tain land in the immediate vicinity, so as to erect a
barrack contiguous to the fort which will accom-
modate 1,200 men, and with an unequalled drill
ground for artillery practice.
The greatest activity is observable at Chatham in
training the numerous troops at that garrison in
the use of the Enfield rifle, previously to their em-
barkation for India. In addition to the musketry-
instruction at Hythe and Eastbourne, there are
about 500 non-commissioned officers and men daily
undergoing instruction in the rifle exercise at
Chatham garrison.
It was not Ensign M'Leod, but Ensign Clowes,
who sailed in the Tartar, in charge of a draft of
the 74th Highlanders. Ensign M'Leod was to
have gone, but was attacked by scarlet fever.

[AnvEnnsmuENT.]—Rarey's Horse and Cattle Improv-
ing Food is equally adapted to improve the stamina of ill-
conditioned Horses,' Cows, Bullocks, Calves, Sheep, and
Pigs. It causes no extra expense, as it contains far more
and better nourishment than its cost of lid. per feed sup-
plies in corn and hay; hence ensures an actual saving. m
the keep. But its principal advantages are a great im-
provement in the digestive functions, the stamina and
general condition of horses enabling them to perform far
more labour without getting distressed. It imparts new
vigour to sick, debilitated, or old apparently worn-out
horses, and it puts rapidly the finest flesh on cattle gene-
rally, and improves the milk in cows, as it enables them to
extract the entire nourishment out of everything they feed
on. Rarey and Co., 77, Regent's Quadrant, Piccadilly,
oLfoonbdoount.
45P0acfekededs, oos
inth.l;s
of
ff
about
tt 91,000 9feedfszedlles.
£5,
; in
being
lid. per feed.

The Commissioners met yesterday in the Com-
-mittee-room, No. 11, House of Commone. Mr.
Selfe in the chair.
The first witness called was Sir Thomas Hastings,
late principal storekeeper in the Ordnance Depart-
ment. Had superirttended the keeping of stores
during the war in the Crimea, and was the respon-
sible person. (A return was handed to witness,
showing that between November, 1854, and May,
1855, there were 270 items for the Crimea, of which
200 were purchased by special contract, the others
being by tender.) The meaning of a special con-
tract was a contract made between the Board of
Ordnance and the individual without tender.
Messrs. Almond had 65 of those contracts; and
Mr. Almond was correct in his impression that
those contracts were open to other parties besides
their firm. In many cases a circular letter was
sent out, explaining the pressing nature of the
demands for the army. This was not done under
the authority of the Board of Ordnance. Every
contract was entered into under the direction of
the Secretary for War ; the Board 'Of Ordnance
had no initiative in the matter. The books of the
Ordnance Office would show how those contracts
were carried out, and he believed it would be shown
that they were then carried out much to the advantage
of the public. The cases to which reference has
been made were exceptional ones to the general
rule. He was sent for at the time by the Secretary
for War, who had received a telegraphic message
that the great transport ship Prince had been de-
stroyed, and that the troops were in absolute danger
of perishing from want of clothing, and he (witness)
was asked what was to be clone. A person in
whose ability confidence could be placed was sent
down into different counties to expedite matters,
and unlimited orders were given. This person
charged only a small commission above the contract
price, and those things were now coming into the
Tower. He and the Board of Ordnance had deviated
from the usual routine under the circumstances.
When the Board of Ordnance was broken up, a
most efficient department was broken up. They
had employed a broker as to the clothing as the
most efficient way of proceeding. The cause of
Messrs. Almond having so many other contracts
was analogous to that for the warm clothing: The
greatest anxiety prevailed as to the sufferings of
the troops in the Crimea. They were called upon
all of a sudden to make these supplies of coats,
leggings, &c., and he did not hesitate to say that
the authorities were in absolute dismay at the pos-
sible sufferings of our troops. In the usual course
of carrying out contracts, 14 days must have
elapsed before they could receive the tenders ; and
he would ask whether they would have been justi-
fied in waiting at least 10 days before they
attempted to furnish clothing for people who were
dying ? Mr. Sidney Herbert was then Secretary
at War. There never was any favour shown when
tenders were made. •In 99 cases out of 100
more ,than one tender was made. If firms bound
themselves to deliver the articles 10 days before
others, they paid more to accomplish that object,
and Messrs. Almond did so. In the 65 contracts
given to that firm, there were a large number, he
believed 35, which were not delivered in time. No
power was ever given to any subordinates to
enter into contracts with Messrs. Almond. He
did not mean to say that there were no per-
sons who were not authorised to make contracts.
At the period of the change being made he would
have thrown up his office, had it not been from a
sense of duty to remain fora time, because he found

that the business had ceased to be conducted in the
board room, and that he found himself made re-
sponsible for certain papers. He had had a differ-
ence with Captain Riddell as to the purchase of
1,100 capes at one guinea each. With reference
to Mr. Spill, he recollected there was a person came
to him who personated Mr. Spill. Whether Mr.
Almond came into the room on that occasion he
could not say, but Mr. Almond brought the real
Mr. Spill. He had understood in the first instance
that the person who presented himself to Captain
Riddell was the real Mr. Spill. He had some re-
collection as to Mr. Spill not being able to under-
take a large contract. If his opinion was asked on
the subject, he must say he thought all public de-
partments in making their contracts should keep
to open competition. But in certain cases thz
emergency was great; and while great blame hail
been attached to some of the authorities when
Messrs. Almond got the contracts, they were in
communication with many other persons at the
time.

Mr. Turner asked whether the witness did not
think it would be a better plan to adopt, which he
himself had pursued, of going at once to the most
respectable manufacturers of the articles required ;
because it appeared that many of these contracts
were thrown into the hands of middlemen, who
were not manufacturers themselves.

Witness quite agreed in that-opinion. A circular
was made out for persons whose names were on the
list, and when their answers were received their
names were entered on the books, and in all cases

it was the duty of the clerk in the contract depart-
ment to send letters to such contractors. Now and
then he found a name might be omitted. Did not
think the system of employingbrokers would gene-
rally work well. There were 49 contracts where
no time was named, and 23 of these Messrs. Almond
made.

Mr. Almond here interposed. They were some-
times delivering goods at twelve o'clock at night :
sometimes they sent them down to Woolwich to
meet the troops. This was done in all caKs where
no time was stated.

The Chairman having suggested that there was
an impression that Messrs. Almond's firm had been

favoured,
The witness said he did not know Mr. Almond.
He did not know him when he came into the room
that day. He knew of nothing which could lead
him to favour him. His impression respecting that
gentleman was, that he got the things required in
the most rapid manner. He was quite ready him-
self to assume all the responsibility of what had
been done. He never suffered any one to take his
business out of his hands. Mr. Elliott had no power
to make contracts, nor bad lie any influence with
bin' (the witness). He must Fay that in giving out.
these large orders (though he might be thought to
be hard-hearted at the time) his impression was
that during a period of the war they were doing too
much. He had seen circulars sent out for general
contracts where there was a difference of 30 or 40'
per cent., though described in the same name. The
authorities did their utmost to obtain the best arti-
cles at the lowest price.
In answer to suggestions put by Mr. Turner, the
witness, who was indistinctly heard whew we sat,

alluded to his own written Opinion, which he had
not published, and contended that the state of
things in some departments could not have hap-
pened under the former system. The mistake which
the Government had made was in vesting the sole
control in the Secretary for War. They should not
throw up the Board of Ordnance ; make them a

subordinate board always; do not let them suppose
that they were to have independent action, but
nwke them act under the Secretary of State; they
would then be able to carry on the business of the
country. In the face of the Treasury he had stated
that the Board of Ordnance was the best organised
department. The vast business of that hest,
was
made up of so many details that it must be utterly
impossible for any one individual to conduct it
with that precision which was necessary. Though
it was true that at Woolwich all the departments
acted under supervision, still he thought the sys-
tem was one which was vicious, and one which
might be abused. He contended that the country
lost £500.000 a year by the unnecessary number of
iron guns which were made. The manufacturers
at Low Moor now supplied the best pos-
sible guns, and in• several supplies not one
had burst, in consequence Of a discovery as to where
the defects were to be found. Suppose the Govern-
ment had a large factory, it could not be supposed
that any Chancellor of the Exchequer would find
the money for things which were not wanted.
After some further evidence on other details,
The Chairman said that Mr. C. Elliott was anxi-
ous, in consequence of certain remarks which had
been made upon him, in his public capacity, to ask
Sir T. Hastings to give him his testimony as to his
conduct and character in the position which he had
always held.

Sir T. Hastings said that during the time he was
a member of the Board of Ordnance Mr. Elliott
was brought under his notice by Mr. Stacey as
being a very active, intelligent person, and a fit
gentleman if he desired to employ any one to ascer-
tain doubtful points. He bad himself always em-
ployed Mr. Elliott, and always found him to be an
intelligent and active man, and he had every reason
to believe that he was perfectly faithful. He might
further say thal, at the time he was at the Board
of Ordnance, Mr. Elliott was so employed by
.Mr.
i Stacey andhimself that, even if he had the nclina-
tion to do so, he was so much under the vigilant
eye of Mr. Stacey, the superintendent, that he never
could have given any contract unfairly to any in-

__. NEWSPAPER'
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( tri ual. He was assured that .: _...7 ""*.el=-;,,,k ~;_-, ,y.
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tigated everything himself, and sat r_ ..—_,..„‘•4;,. - f 0,?..
1p
to the individuals employed under I .
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quite sure that Mr. Elliott never . , -:, llga '...:.k'
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undue influence. That was his firm e. I.: - ." „Itlzb,,of-1"_
The examination of witnesses having cdaludird, S
Mr. Selfe said he wished to say a few words
with reference to some observations which he had
made when the commissioners first met, when I. a
expressed ahope that all comments on the evidence,
&c., would be abstained from during the sittings
of the commissioners. When he said that he had
no id:a that their proceedings would have
been so prolonged. He had hoped that they
would have been finished in a fortnight or three
weeks ; but he had been a little misconceived, not,
indeed, with respect to the gentlemen who repre-
sented the press, andwho:knewtheir duties so well,
but elsewhere. He had meant only to advocate the
old flishioned but common feeling which every Eng-
lishman had, that if individuals were attacked they
should not be condemned till they were heard in
their defence. Unfortunately there had been at-
tacks made upon individuals which were often -
worthless. He only meant to convey that indivi-
duals should not be considered guilty e,f an offence
till they were heard in their defence. If the words
he had use-1 were calculated to create a different
impression, he most readily begged to retract them.
He felt that from the attendance of gentlemen of
t' e press many advantages had arisen which would
not otherwise have been afforded to the commis-
sioners. He had now nothing to do but to thank
those who had assisted them in this inquiry, and to
express the satisfaction of the commissioners at the
manner in which, on the whole, the witnesses had.
given their testimony.
Mr. Turner begged merely to add his concurrence -
in the remarks which the Chairman had just made.

He thanked the gentlemen of the press who had
attended in such numbers for the publicity which
they had R;iven to the proceedings of the commis-
sioners. He thought, in a general way, as far as
he had seen the different papers those gentlemen
represented, their reports had been faithfully and
accurately given; and in the comments themselvev
which had been added or supplied in leaders, the
commissioners had been fairly treatrd, and he was
very glad this publicity had been given to their
proceedings. He thought that the public at large
took a strong interest in their inquiry. It might
sometimes have appeared to be tedious ; some de-
tails might have been pursued further than was
necessary. But whatever the result, public atten-
tion had been called to the proceedings of public
departments, and though he should be sorry to do
injustice to any one of the departments, he thought
this a salutary lesson to them that the eyes of the
public would be directed to the management of
important affairs. An immense amount of money
was spent in the War Department, and though he
did not advocate cutting down what was necessary
for the defences of the country, he was of opinion,
and he thought the country at large agreed
with him, that a large diminution might be
made if the money was judiciously spent. He
could not say, for himself, that he had been
fairly dealt with as the head of this commission.
He had never received the slightest communication
from the authorities of the War-office, though con-
stant communication had been kept up with one
member of the commission and with the secretary.
From the first no communication had been made to
him. Whether he was considered by the autho-
rities at the War-office as a thorn in their side he
did not know, but he considered himself to be in
the position of a strict watcher of the public in-
terests. His endeavour had been to search out

neglect, error, and. mismanagement, whether at the
War-office or in the subordinate departments.

Mr. Selfe—The communications had been sent to
him from the War-office, as chairman of the com-
mission, though Mr. Turner was the head of the
commission ; but he was not aware that Mr. Turner
entertained any feeling on the point.

Mr. Turner did not think he had been treated
with proper courtesy.
Colonel French had held no communication with
the War•ofce ; he had applied to the Horse Guards
for information once respecting the clothing. •
Mr. Selfc said that it would be necessary fFr the
commissioners to meet once more to examine into
some accounts, and it was possible they might
require to hear some evidence ; but for the present
their proceedings must stand adjourned sine die.
Mr. Selfe, as the reporters were leaving the room,
said the commissioners had omitted one part of

their duty. They begged to tender their best
thanks to Mr. Cole, the shorthand writer to the
commission, the transcript of whose notes was made
with such marvellous accuracy, and with so much
discretion.
Mr. Tttrner• begged to confirm what Mr. Selfe
had said. The manner in which the whole pro-
ceedings had been taken was so correct, and so ably
arranged, that the comintsrrioneralound no difficulty
whatever in referring to any evidence they desired
to look at.
Colonel French begged to corroborate all that.
his co-commissioners had stated of the wonderful
correctness of Mr. Cole's reports of their pro-

ceedings.
The room was then cleared to allow the commis-
sioners to hold a conference.

MURDER IN NOTTS.

NOTTINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.

The village of Bulwell (about five miles from
Nottingham) was this morning the scene of painful
excitement in consequence of the death of Mr. John
Woodhead, landlord of the Masons' Arms.
It appears that on the previous Tuesday, at 8
o'clock in the evening, whilst the deceased was
waiting in the bar, he heard a noise in one of the
rooms overhead, and on approaching the top of the
•stairs, he received a severe blow on the back of his
head from an iron bar, which felled him on the
landing. The miscreant immediately decamped.
Information of the occurrence was instantly given
to the police, and surgical assistance procured for
Mr. Woodhead, but he gradually grew worse, and
this morning expired from the effects of the blow.
A man named John. Smith was apprehended (he
being in the house at the time the assault was com-
mitted), and this morning brought before the
county magistrates, and, after a short investigation,
the case was adjourned until an inquiry had been
instituted before a coroner's jury, which will take
place this day (Thursday). A man named West
was apprehended at the time of the assault, but
was afterwards discharged. The police are, how-
ever, instructed to re-apprehend him.

CANADA LANDED CREDIT CO3IPANY.—The pro-
spectus has been issued of this company, with a capital of.
£200,000, in £lO shares, with the view of making advances
en the mortgage of land on a system similar to that already
parsu.ed by existing undertakings. In the words of the
prospectus, " the object is to encourage the flow of capital
to the soil of Canada." It may be questioned, however,
if the flow in that direction has not been quite sufficient,
especially when it is considered that at this moment we have
two of the largest London joint-stock banks engaged in en-
couraging a flow of seven millions sterling to the soil of
Australia ; while the Council of India are week by week,
through the machinery of guarantees, performing a similar
service for the soil of India, to say nothing of the gold being
shipped to Chili and Turkey, and the prospective demands
on behalf of every region of the globe, while the most ordi-
nary requirements of our own metropolis are in vain urged
upon attention.
MADRAS IRRIGATION AND CANAL COMPANY.—
The prospectus has been published of this company, with a
nominal capital of £2,000,000, of which £1,000,000 is to be
first issued under a guarantee of 5 per cent. from the Indian
Government. The object is to construct a comprehensive
system of irrigation works and navigable canals in the
Madras Presidency, and also in Lower Bengal and some of
the neighbouring districts, especially thoSe adapted to the-
cultivation of cotton. For years past it has been demon-
strated on the clearest evidence that works of this descrip-
tion have yielded extraordinary results, both as regards the
welfare of the natives and remuneration for the outlay, and
the undertaking will therefore be viewed with satisfaction ;
but each new proposal of the kind naturally leads to the
questions, when are they to stop ? and whether it is impos-
sible to find means to stimulate native capitalists to enter
them?

WOMEN RAILWAY CLERKS.—III taking a ticket
the other day at the Edinburgh station of the Edinburgh,
Perth, and Dundee Railway, we were pleasantly surprised
on being waited upon by a blooming and bonnie lassie,
who, along with an activity quite equal to, exhibited a
politeness very rare in, railway clerks of the literally ruder
sex. We observed that the department was entirely occu-
pied by women, there being another giving out tickets,
and a third telegraphing. This innovation thuS far north
is rather startling; but instead of objecting to it, we think
it highly commendable, and hope to see the employment
of women in light occupations rapidly extended. The only
inconvenience we can see is that good-looking and intelli-
gent girls like those in tho. Edinburgh railway-office will
not book many passengers before they are booked titer,
selves for the life-long journey of matrimony, se that
company will soon lose their services. We wish them all
for that journey first-class tickets I—Scottish Press.

CHILD. STEALING IN DUBLlN.—Martiret Dere-
reux, a poor woman, on the Terge of distraction at the loss
of her child,, a female infant of four month:cold, applied at
the College-street Police-station on Monday, and made the
following statement :—She said she was only a poor beg-
gar-woman. She was carrying her child in her arms along
Dame-street on Saturday, when she was met by a respectably
dressed female, who accosted her, and said she would be
much obliged if informant would go into a shop opposite
which they stood at the time and tell Mr. Alcock that a per-
son wanted to speak to him. The female gave informant
lid., and volunteered to take charge of the infant whilst she
was doing her errand Informant did as she was requested, •
leaving her infant in the hands of the respectably dressed
stranger. She gave the message, and on returning into the
street she looked about for the female and the infant, but
found to her dismay that both had vanished. The poor
woman, whilst relating her story, seemed to become almost
♦insane with grief. The poor wont= seemed not to have
had either food or rest since the occurrence. The child was
a female, about four months old, rather small for its age,
exceedingly pretty, with light blue eyes,