The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-08 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

sick and wounded troops, awarded each man a pen-
sion previously to his discharge, varying in amount
according to his length' of service and the nature of
his wound.
A detachment of non-commissioned officers and
men of the Royal Engineers, to the number of 43
men of all ranks, left head-quarters, Brompton Bar-
racks, Chatham on Wednesday morning for Wool-
wich, for the purpose of doing duty with the Royal
Sappers and Miners at that station.

The annexed General Order relative to the Staff
College has been promulgated
" Horse Guards, S.W Sept. 30.

" The following regulations regarding the examination of
candidates for admission to the Staff College under the pa-
ragraph 13 of the Memorandum from this department dated
17th Dec., 1857, are published for the information of the
army.
" Any officers who desire to enter the Staff College for
one year only will present themselves at the annual exami-
nation of the junior division of students early in December
next (the exact date to be published hereafter), with the
view to their being examined in the subjects stated below.
" There will be three vacancies in that division, for which
officers in the Cavalry, Guards, or Line will be eligible.
" SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION.
" OBLIGATORY.

" Arithmetic.
" Algebra.—As far as quadratic equations, inclusive.
" Geometry.—Six books of Euclid, the fifth book solved
algebraically, or not, at the option of the candidate.
" Plane Trigonometry.
" Fortification.—The principle, construction, and appli-
cation of field works. The principles and construction of
permanent works, as exemplified in the first system of
Vauban, and the modern French system. The defence and
attack of field and permanent works.
" Military Topography.—A sketch done on the ground
with pocket sextant or compass will be required from each
candidate, with one or more finished plans (should he have
them in his possession), certified to be his own work.
" Military Art and History.—The principles of tactics and
strategy, with a critical abstract of one or more campaigns,
and of one or more battles, as evidence of the candidate's
knowledge of those subjects.
" French.

" VOLUNTARY.

" German, Hindostanee, Chemistry, and Geology.—The
following will be the marks allotted to each subject, viz.:—
Mathematics, 600 ; fortification, 600 ; military art, history,
and geography, 600 ; military drawing and survey-
ing, 300 ; French, 300 ; German, 300 ; Hindostanee, 300 ;
chymistry, 150 ; geology, 150. In the first five subjects—
viz., mathematics, fortification, military art, history, and
geography ; military drawing and surveying, and French
—a candidate will be expected to gain one-third of the marks
allotted to 'each subject, as a proof that he is qualified to
enter upon the course of the senior class of the college.
" By command of his Royal Highness the General Com-
manding in Chief!
" G. A. WETHERALL, Adjutant-General."

Yesterday orders were issued from the Horse
Guar& that the 6th battalion of the Military- Train
hitherto stationed at the encampment at Woolwich
Common is to proceed to the Curragh Camp, to ex-
change with the sth battalion of the Military Train
ordered to Woolwich.

MILITIA.
The Royal East Middlesex Militia; now assembled
for training at Hampstead, were on Thursday in-
spected by Colonel Douglas. The regiment now
numbers nearly 600 men, and are taking carefully
selected recruits at the rate of from eight to ten per
day. Their gallant and venerable colonel (who re-
ceived the reviewing officer at the head of his regi-
ment) has established a system which has not only
rendered this corps peculiarly. popular, but also
proved that a regiment 9f militia may, when well
commanded, be brought into an advanced state of
efficiency even in the brief period of 10 days' drill.
The inspecting field-officer addressed the regiment
in highly complimentary terms, and expressed a
confident hope that they would continue until the
day of dismissal that remarkable good conduct in
billets which had already earned for them a well-
merited good character. The day concluded with a
dejeuner and al fresco dance at the mess-house,
where Col. Wood and the regimental officers re-
ceived the inspecting officer and a numerous assem-
blage of their friends, the highly respected Colonel
presiding. In the evening the Lieutenant-Colonel
gave a musical party at his quarters.
The East Norfolk Militia, under the command of
Lieut.-Col. Mason, assembled on the 14th Sept. for
21 days' training and exercise, and were dismissed
to their homes on Monday last, the 4th of October.
The regiment mustered 500 volunteers. They were
inspected on 30th Sept., by Colonel Lewis, Grena-
dier Guards, who expressed himself much satisfied
with the appearance and discipline of the men.
The 3d Royal Middlesex Militia were inspected
at Turnham-green on Wednesday, the 6th inst.,
by the Inspector-General of Militia, Colonel
Douglas. At the conclusion of the inspection the
regiment, under the command of Colonel Glossop,
formed square, and Col. Douglas, addressing the
regiment, expressed himself highly satisfied with
the clean and smart appearance of the men, with
their activity under arms, and with the general in-
telligence which characterised their movements.
The conduct of some of the North Cork Militia,
now stationed in garrison at Sheerness, has re-
cently been most outrageous, and the lives of seve-
ral of the inhabitants have been threatened by them.
Night after night soldiers of the regiment—most
of them newly-raised men—have gone about in
groups of nine or ten, entering public-houses, and
in some cases shops and private houses, attacking
with their leather belts, stones, sticks, &c., indis-
criminately any persons they found, and in some
cases civilians have sustained severe injuries: On
Wednesday night the commandant ordered out
several very strong pickets, who succeeded in pre-
serving order in the town, and it is hoped that such
unsoldierlike conduct as we have referred to will
not be repeated.

The colonelcy of the 20th Regiment, vacant by
the death of Lieut.-General Thomas, will, in all
likelihood, be conferred on Major-General Marcus
Beresford, an officer of long Indian service, who last
year commanded the troops in the Madras Presi-
dency during the absence of Sir P. Grant.
Col. Yorke, C. 8., late of the Ist Dragoons, and
Col. Daubeney, C. 8., 55th Regiment, have been ap-
pointed inspectors of clothing.
Yesterday the freightship Thames City, laden
with several hundred tons of military stores, went
out of the London Docks, bound for Vancouver's
Island. She will drop down the river to Gravesend
to embark a detachment of Royal Engineers for
Columbia. The freightship Brieris has loaded up-
wards of 300 tons'of ordnancikstores, carriages, &c.,
for Vancouver's Island. Several persons appointed
to conduct the police of the colony and some mis-
sionaries take passage in this ship. Both vessels
are expected to sail from the Thames on Monday.
The Blenheim, 800 tons, Capt. T. Iledley, which
has been taken up by the Hon. Council of India for
the conveyance of reinforcements to India, will em-
bark the following troops at Gravesend to-morrow
for Kurrachec—viz., 16 men of the 27th Enniskil-
lens and 12 men of the 87th Royal Irish Fusileers,
from Canterbury; 25 men of the 81st Regiment
and 20 of the 94th, from Chatham ; and 15 men of
the 89th, from Fermoy. The following reinforce-
ments for Madras are under orders to embark at
Gravesend this morning in the Haverinc, :-12 men
of the Ist Royals, Ist batt. ; 30 men of the 44th
and 55 men of the 66th, from Colchester ; 12 men
of the 3d batt. 60th Rifles, from Winchester ; 14
men of the 74th Highlanders, from Aberdeen; 116
men of the 68th Light Infantry, and 18 men of the
69th, from Fermoy ; and 50 men of the 91st.
The following additional vessels have been taken
up by the Hon. Council of India for the conveyance
of troops to India during the present month :—The
Redan, 850 tons, Capt. E. Evans, for Calcutta ; the
Hougomont, 960 tons, for Calcutta ; the Blenheim,
800 tons, Capt. H. Hedley, for Kurrachee ; and the
Matilda Wattenbach, 1,000 tons, Capt. T. Denkin,
for Kurrachee. Each of the above ships will embark
their complement of troops at Gravesend.
Yesterday a number of convalescent wounded and
disabled troops, who have recently arrived at the
St. Mary's invalid establishment, Chatham, chiefly
from Lucknow and Delhi, received their free dis-
charge from the army at that establishment incon-
sequence of their unfitness for further service. The
Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, who previously
held a board at Chatham for the inspection of the

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 8, 1858.

THE LATE FIRE AT GREENWICH.

RE-EXAMINATION OF MR. ROPER.

Mr. R. Roper, corndealer, late of Royal-hill,
Greenwich, surrenderedto his bail at the Greenwich
Police-court, to answer the charge of attempted
fraud on the Kent Fire Insurance Company.
Mr. Scudamore, solicitor, Mr. London, secretary,
and Mr. Hodson, surveyor, attended on the part of
the prosecution ; and Mr. Ingle, as before, ap-
peared for Mr. Roper.
Mr. Sitgrave, auctioneer, of 28, Leadenhall--street,
City, deposed that he was employed by Mr. Hod-
soll to investigate the prisoner's claim against the
Kent Insurance Company. He had been employed
in such capacity between 30 and 40 years. He first
came to Greenwich on Wednesday after the fire,
and then went over the rums. Witness having
copied the claim into his book, went through the
items as they appeared in the list, and checked
them as far as practicable, which was a matter
of much difficulty. The first item was an Arabian
bedstead. Witness saw a portion of a four-post
French bedstead and relics of dimity furniture.
There was a charge of £2 15s. for the bedstead,
which he put down with the furniture at £1 155.,
considering that sufficient. The next was a palliass
and mattrass charged £2 10s. Witness found flocks
and shavings belonging to that particular palliass,
land therefore allowed 30s. _

Mr. Traill, in reply to Mr. Ingle respecting the
necessity of going separately through these items,
said that it might be a part of the case if it were
shown that the charges were excessive.
Mr. Scudamore said he considered that it would
be necessary.
Examination resumed—Witness enumerated the
articles which he met with in passing through the
various rooms, on the most of which he found an
excess of charge made, and entered them in his
book accordingly.. A claim for a dressing-case and
fittings was charged, but he could not find it. A
Spanish mahogany wardrobe, for which a claim of
£l4 was made and of which he found some remains,
he put down at £7. A marble top washstand and
fittings complete were charged at £4 4s. It was
standing there, and witness thought £2 6s. ample
for it. A claim was made of £2 2s. for wax flowers
and glass shade. Witness saw the bottom of a stand
covered with velvet, which had contained an orna-
ment, but not wax flowers. There was also a claim
made for books, various, £5. Witness did not see a
scrap. If they had been there he, must have seen
some portion of them. A claim of £lO was made for
china dinner service, complete, 150 pieces. Witness
examined the ruins, but did not find anything like
the remains of a dinner service. He saw some blue
crockery of a common kind, and of which he thought
he should have found more. From what he saw, he
thought 255. or 30s. would be quite a sufficient
charge, but from sympathy he allowed 60s. The
next claim was £7 7s. for china tea and coffee ser-
vice, which he put down at 405., having seen a
broken cup only. For wearing apparel, a charge
was made of £55 30. Mr. Roper's apparel, £5B ;
Mrs. Roper's, £63 10s. ; and children, including
babylinen, £33 13s. Witness found the wardrobe
entire, except the top, which was charred and de-
stroyed. He broke open the drawers, which 'were
locked. In the bottom drawer there were a pair of
child's boots and a child's satin cape. In the
middle drawer a satin jacket, a cotton jacket, an
old cotton apron, and a pair of kid gloves. In the
left hand top drawer there were three silk neck-
ties and three pairs of kid and time pairs of worsted
gloves, one purse, two sample bags, one linen
collar, one china cup, five studs, and two watch
keys, one of which was gold. In the right hand
corner drawer there was a piece of wadding and a
piece of a small glass scent bottle. At that time wit-
ness could not find any traces of men's outer cloth-
ing, nor of clothes belonging to Mr. Roper. He
saw some small portions of children's under ap-
parel, principally cotton. For the shop fixtures
witness allowed £2O, they being in his opinion in-
sured under their value. The claim for stock was
£Bl 14. The first item in that claim was 14 sacks
of flour at 335. per sack—£23 2s. Witness could
only identify a portion of flour in a sack, about a
quarter full. This was the only trace of flour or
sacks found.

By Mr. Traill—Had there been 14 sacks of flour,
witness must have found at least three-fourths of
it, the fire and water causing flour to become cal-
cined. Witness examined the cellar, into which
the flour might have fallen, but found no portions
of it nor sacks there.

Examination continued—From an observation of
the prisoner's shop-boy, witness put down two sacks
only at 335., and 14 sacks at 2s. 6d. each he allowed.
The next item claimed was £3 15s. for 2i sacks of
split peas. Witness found a quarter or one-third
of a sack of peas, and allowed £1 10s., being the
price of one sack. A claim of £4 19s. for 3 sacks
of beans was made. Witness, however, could find
no remains, but on information from the shop-boy he
put down £1 13s. After going over the whole of
the claim for stock, and judging from what he saw
and information received, he valued it at £25 155.,
the valuation being made wincipally upon the
statement of the shop-boy, there being no appear-
ance among the ruins which would lead him to
justify giving more than £5 or £6. He made the
whole value of furniture and wearing apparel, in-
cluding everything in claim, except stock in shop
and utensils in trade, at £192. Witness saw Mr.
Allwright on the Friday after the fire, at witness's
office, and had a long conversation with him about
the overcharge. Witness told him, in consideration
of the man's bereavement, he had consented to
allow £2OO. For the stock in the shop he allowed.
£35, and the £2O claimed for fixtures. He after-
wards saw Mr. Allwrightlwho produced a memo-
randum signed "R. Roper," agreeing to those terms.
Witness subsequently took two men to the ruins,
which appeared to have been sifted, and there found
some children's clothes and babylinen articles, and
some women's apparel, which witness believed prin-
cipally belonged only to the servant or nurse, the
whole value of which would have been about £8 or
£lO. Of men's wearing apparel he found a pair of
check trousers, a pair of black trousers, two boots, a
jean coat, a pair of cotton drawers, and two doeskin
waistcoats, value in all about £3 or £4. All these
things are included in the £BO allowed for wearing
apparel in the settlement. From the manner in
which witness found these articles it would have
been impossible for such a large number of articles
as those claimed to have been completely destroyed.
By Mr. Traill—ln allowing the claim which wit-
ness had previously stated he took for granted that
the particular items named were on the premises
at the time of the fire, with the exception of two
or three articles which applied to the furniture.
Had witness known that some of the articles had
been removed before the fire, he should have mis-
trusted the claim for those articles he could not find.

By Mr. v Ingle--Witness believed that he had
allowed a fair price for everything, but he had
known that nine times out of ten other valuers had
charged higher than he had. What he had allowed
he considered was sufficient to replace the articles
at the price of the present day. His instructions
were always to act liberally. Witness did not con-
sider that the intensity of the fire was such as
entirely to consume a double chest of drawers. He
should expect, if they had been there, to have found
some portion of them. He found neither the locks
nor knobs of drawers, neither did he find any brass
stair-rods.

Geo. Lilley, fireman attached to the Southwark-
bridge station of the London Brigade, was next
examined, and said that he was present at the
fire about 5 o'clock in the morning, and remained
in charge of the ruins until the Tuesday week fol-
lowing, when he gave up possession to the local fire-
man. During the time, he was in p2ssession the
ruins remained in the same state until the Saturday
following the fire, when Abbott came to him and
said the claim was settled, and then went into the
ruins and gathered some baby's caps together and
placed them in a back outhouse. Witness saw no
remains of a chest of drawers, and considered from
his experience that it was not a great fire, nor suffi-
cient to burn a chest of drawers entirely if they hai
been on the premises, as part of the flooring of the
room still remained. _ _

Elizabeth Waterfall deposed to having been in the
service of Mr. Roper for the last two years, and
that about a fortnight before the fire, by the direc-
tion of her master, she removed several things to
the house of Mr. Cowell, at Deptford. The shop
boy assisted in carrying the dinner, tea, and dessert
service, a portion of which her master also removed.
On the night preceding the fire witness carried a
writing-desk covered up by the direction of her
master. A quantity of books were also removed ;
they were put in a sack, she (witness) holding the
sack whilst her master put the books in it. Nume-
rous articles were then produced, consisting of din-
ner, tea, and dessert service, table lamps, decanters,
glass of various descriptions, writing desk, wax
flowers under glass shade, books, and wearing
apparel, the whole of which were identified by wit-
ness as her master's property, which had been re-
moved to Mr. Cowell's at Deptford.
In reply to Mr. Ingle, witness said the goods
were removed in order to prevent their breakage,
her master telling her that he had let the business.
Mr. Charles Nash, china dealer, of Stratford,
proved selling to the prisoner the dinner and tea
service produced. The charge for the former was four
gineas ; and the latter either £2 ss. or £2 10s.
(These articles were set down in the claim—Dinner
service, £lO ; tea service, 7 guineas.)
Mr. Traill, having intimated that he should pro-
ceed no further with the case that day,

Mr. Ingle applied that prisoner might again be
admitted to bail, as he believed he should be able to
produce e witness, who would. prove that he had
been negotiating with Mr. Roper for the purchase