The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONID'ON, MONDAY EVEINING, APRIL 26, 1858.7

the leading characteristic of the new constitution for
India. • (Hear, hear.) Nothing appeared more natural,
and simple than the system of our general admi-
nistration by a committee of the Privy Council called a
Cabinet—(hear, hear)—but if it bad to be proposed for
the first time, and be were in opposition, he thought he
could show such a system was the most ridiculouse.
Yet it is found, on the whole, to work satisfactorily.
(Hear, hear.) He was inclined to believe that the
majority of the house was in favour of a Council to
assist the new Minister for India, and a real council
must possess those elements for whieh the Court of
Directors have been celebrated. Such a council ought
to be numerous, and not dealt with by the
limited number of nominees proposed by the noble lord's
bill. (Hear.) A single individual would be a mere ad-
ministrator, and if they had a council for bis advice and
assistance, it should consist of a considerable number,
and that being so, was the house prepared to say the
Crown should nominate tho whole ? He thought not,
and that being the case, how was that portion not nomi•
nated by the Clown to be appointed ? (Hear.) Her
Majesty's Government by this bill proposed they should
be elected by the Parliamentary constituencies of certain
towns named, but that had been met with the opposi-
tion of being unconstitutional and partaking of ciass-
iegi,lavea. The right hon. gentleman defeachtd such a
mode of election, remarking that it was class-legislation
that made England what she now WAS. (Hear, hear )
The only way to obtain men of the necessary character
for conducting the government of India was by having
recourse to the legislative policy, and if that principle
was to be adopted, by whom was it to-be exercised ?Ho
considered her Majesty's Government had devised the
best mode of carrying it out by confiding the election of
Indian councillors to the constituencies connected with
India by trade and commerce. The noble lord the mem-
ber for Tiverton, when he introduced his measure, rested
one of his objections to the present mode of home govern.
ment on the manner of electing the members of the Court
of Directors, and condemned the system of canvassing
for votes; and it was a strange coincidence that the ob-
jection made to the representative part of the Govern-
ment bill was, that there could be no canvassing of
the electors. (Hear, and laughter.) He looked on this as
one of the great recommendations of the measure,
and he proceeded at great length to defend that part of '
the bill propo ed by the present Goverement, observing 1
that the constituents were taken from those parts of the
United Kingdom as would produce a sympathy of suf-
frages,. The Government did not overlook before they
decided on taking the Parliamentary constituency, the
claims of the municipality, &c.,. of those towns to return
the Indian Council, but as regarded the Chamber of
Commerce they were but mere clubs, and could not be
taken as the representatives of the towns—(hear, hear)
and as to confinieg it to the municipalities, it was ob-
vious that it would keep the patronage of the Indian
Council in the hands of a small numbr of families of
these great towns. He was astonished to hear the
other night the contempt expressed of the ten-pound
franchise, and he was unable to compete with those
powers of invective and sarcasm to which the
great commercial towns had been treated by
the Liberal party. (Hear, The right honourable
gentleman in defence of his scheme referred to the freemen
of Liverpool baying returned Mr. Canning, who filled
the office of President of the Bard of Control, and was
afterwards appointed Governor-General of India, Mr.
Huskisson was also elected by them.

HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO ALDERSHOT.

Her Majesty's first state visit to the camp this
season terminated on Saturday evening, after one
of the most unfavourable days for witnessing the
evolutions of the troops that could have befallen
even at Aldershot. It was, we believe, intended to
have marked this occasioa with a sham battle on a
scale of unusual magnitude, and to be contested
with the most persistent obstinacy, but from one
cause or another the idea was abandoned, and the
day passed off with very little to distinguish it from
other days, save those barometrical vicissitudes
which checker the monotonous existence of all in
camp. It was whispered by those supposed to be
well informed in such matters that the reason for
the non-performance of the sham fight was that her
Majesty's charger would not stand fire, and this
may certainly have been one of the causes which led
to this portion of the programme being departed
from. We are inclined, however, to suspect that the
main obstacle to the review was the weather, and
when that is really unpropitious at Aldershot it re-
quires no ghost to account for any alteration of ar-
rangements which keeps the men within their huts.
On Saturday the weather was such as to put a sham
fight out of all question. The wind swept across the
vast extent of common with a violence that almost
attained the dignity of a gale, and the clouds of
dust it swept before it were quite a phenomenon in
their way. It is really useless attempting to
de,cribe the density of these simooms, but when
once the hapless visitor got involved in them he
was unable either to sYe or hear anything that
took place even within a few feet of him, and not
only was certain to lose his way, but almost ran
the risk of being literally suffocate]. Probably, of
its kind, few more curious spectacles could be wit-
nessed than the solemn, angry look at a distance of
the dark massive banks of dust tLat hung over the
greater part of Aldershot-common, and which now
and then ware urged up into the air to a height ap-
parently of sortie 150 feet or so. With the ground
on which the soldiers would have to manoeuvre in
such a state of agitation, it was not at all difficult
to account for the field-day being postponed and
artillery practice being substituted in its stead.
The firing was ordered to take place in the long
valley, which, being tolerably green and well shel-
tered from the wind, was about the only ground
near the camp where the dust was not absolutely
blinding. The batteries ordered out were the I
troop of Horse Attillery, with two field batteries ;
the F and No. 5. They were ordered to parade at
the ea.t end of the valley, and soon after 9 o'clock
were all in their places. The target was erected at
the w, st end of the valley, towards Caesar's Camp,
at a distance of about 1,090 yards from the guns.
The batteries remained for a considerable time in
their positions, for it was half-past 11 before her
Majesty was observed approaching the valley in a
pony chaise, of which only occasionalglimpses could
be got in the tornado of dust with which it was en-
veloped. Following her Majesty's carriage was his
Royal Highness Prince Albeit and a large staff of
officers, all of whom, like the Prince, were in un-
dress.uniform. The royal party having taken up
their position under a hill on the south side of the
valley, between the guns and the target, the pro-
ceedings were commenced by the evolutions of a
small detachment of the newly-formed corps of
mounted engineers. This detachment on Saturday
was called " the Lasso Train," th nigh for what rea-
son it was so distinguished it would be difficult to
say. Each man had a stout rope of 20 feet long fas-
tened to the side of his saddle, and with a running
noose at one end, so as to be easily fastened to any
object he might wish to drag away. The value of
this corps for taking guns or advancing them unseen
by the enemy was attempted to be shown on Sa-
turday, and two or three engineers, fastening their
ropes or lassos to a gun, the 12 pieces of the two
field batteries were moved down the valley at the
rate of somefive or six milesan hour. This evolution,
however, is so far from being peculiar to the new
corps, that it can be performed by Artillerymen,
or, indeed, by any men at all with a horse and a
rope, and the display, therefore, was met with no
little private ridicule among officers of all ranks.
The mounted Engineers were too few to cover the
advance of the guns, and,nef course, too few to pro-
tect them, and if their numbers were doubled it is
certain they could perform neither duty so well as
the Artillerymen themselves. What makes the in-
vention of such a lasso troop still more absurd and
needless is that the artillery horses are expressly
provided with all the requisite in the way of har-
ness for dragging the guns wherever they may
choose, while the "lasso" being only fastened to
a common saddle, the girths naust be drawia so tight
to enable the horse to pull at all that the animal
must be injured by the strain. In,short, the "lasso

LEFT SPEAKING.

DR. BERNARD AND THE STATE TRIAL.

From 8 o'clock until near midnight on Saturday
evening there was a large muster of people at the
Cafe Chantant, in Leicester-square, it having been
publicly announced, as well in a conspicuous part
of one of the morning papers of that day as by a
placard outside the cafe, that Dr. Bernard, ac-
companied by Mr. Edwin James, his counsel,
would make their appearance in the course of the
evening. On the previous night Mr. James and a
friend had strolled into this place of public enter-
tainment in a casual way as they were passing
through the square. They had hardly entered the
building when the well-known person of the
popular advocate was recognized by several of the
company. He was introduced to the proprietor, a
Frenchman, who expressed himself as flattered by
the visit and showed his guest some civilities. A
few of the people present, and these chiefly French,
approached Mr. James and tendered him their con-
gratulations for the successful efforts he had made
on behalf of their compatriot during the recent
State trial. These he politely acknowledged, and
expressed his admiration of the French nation. By
this time the name of the distinguished visitor had
spread through the room, and thence until his
departure he became an object of general interest.
During his stay, whether by chance or design,
the Marsellaise Hymn was sung by the professional
vocalists present with great enthusiasm.
For the benefit of some of our readers it may be
desirable to describe the place known as the Cafe
Chantant. The name not inaptly designates its
character, and its precise locality does much to
supply what is wanting, to the mind of a Londoner
at least. It is not a place where a man in search
of an evening's recreation may expect to meet the
archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, or
the Prince Consort ; but it is nevertheless a nightly
place of resort, with others of a kindred type now
scattered over the metropolis, to considerable num-
bers of people of different conditions in life and
of both sexes. In a large, lofty, and well-lighted
apartment, furnished in the French fashion with
mirrors, settees, and an almost endless number of
small marble tables, the visitors, some hundreds in

troop" can only do very ill what the Artillerymen
, have always done very well, and the feats of this
peculiar corps in this matter are only likely to equal
those of a nautical branch of her Majesty's service
whose equestrian performances are more talked of
than seen. Their invention, in fact, only reminds
the spectator of the clever archit et in Laputa who
discovered bow to build houses from the chimneys
downwards—a mode of proceeding which, theugh
it muSt-,bave been ingenious in the last degree, has,
nevertheless, not been adopted even to the present
day.
After the departure of the lasso train the ball
practice with Horse Artillery and field batteries
commenced. Of this very little need be said. It
both the foot and horse batteries had shown equal
skill in hitting almost everything but the mark, we
should have set the failure down to the weather,
which was certainly in the highest degree unfes
vourable. As, however the Horse Artillery fired
infinitely better than the batteries, it is fair to con-
clude that the practice on the part of the latter was
orily practice, and that they will require a great
more of it to inaie them perfect. Toe range for
the field guns was about 1,100 yards, and at this
fair distance, though the guns had been most care-
fully laid, two-thirds of the shots fell so wide of the
mark as to excite surprise. The first guns nearly all
struck too low, and afterwards too great an eleva-
tion was given, and the balls went wide over the
target, tearing up the hills and scatterimg the dust
like water. The Horse Artillery then advanced, and
at a shorter range, as they were of course lighter
guns, their practice was really excellent. It was
not alone that the silts actually struck the
target, but nearly every ball pitched within a few
feet of it. After this shrapnel shells and canister
shot were fired, and a sufficient illustration was
afford-cl of the devastating effects of each missile
when used against men by the way in which after
the balls scattered they ploughed the ground in
every direction, tearing up the earth as if it had
been a sheet of water. Even upon the ground the
effect of the shrapnel shells was something quite
awful to witness. The practice only lasted some
half an hour or so, and after the marching past of
the batteries her Majesty returned to the Pavilion.
In the afternoon the men paraded within their
lines, and her Majesty, before taking her departure
drove slowly through the camp. The royal party
started to town from Farnborough soon after five
o'clock. Messrs. Scott, Beattie, and Godson, of
the South-Western Company, were in charge of the
Royal train.
The tremendous fire which we mentioned in our
last notice of the camp as raging in the fir plan:sse
Lions near Woking on Friday continued, as we an-
ticipated, to burn throughout the whole of Friday
night and during Saturday. Some idea of the ex-
tent of this great conflagration may be f armed when
we say that it has destroyed plantations on an ex-
tent of no less than 5,000 or 6,000 acres. The tract
over which it has spread extends from the village
of Pirbright over the steep picturesque eminences
known as the Matchet hills and towards the Fritts-
ley ridges. It seems to have commenced near Pir-
bright, on a lonely road through a large fir planta-
tion, and which leads from the Guildford-road.
From the fact of its having evidently commenced
here on the wayside, it seems as probable as not
that its origin was acciden'al. It commenced
am ng the furze and gorse and heaps of pine con- s
that lay about. Fed by these inflammable materials
it seem to have spread rapidly, advancing simul-
taneouslyalong the old Guildford-road, and towards
the Mitchet hills. The views to be got from these
steep heights into the country below were pic-
turesque beyond description, and the little glens
and shady dales that lay between the ridges were
exceedingly beautiful. Now nothing can exceed
the desolate and weird-like aspect of the whole
scene. All except the largest trees have been con-
sumed, and the scorched and blasted appearance
of these only makes the det,o!ation still mere
striking in its appearance. The whole of the els-
tensive range of the Mitchet heights aupear like as
many huge mounds of charcoal, the black look of
hillswh ichranc plantationstras tsos
ttosadlys tah r otuhne
in-
tense silence, too, that pervades the great ex`ent
d.richThgeree
of hill and dale over which the fire has raged is
not the least mournful of its many impressive
features. Not the sound of a bird, not the stir of
a living creature, or even the a rustling of leaf
breaks a stillness that is actually 1 pit• fu and, in
place of a thick, blooming plantation' relolent !
with the scent of wild flowers, there is only the
smell of burning wood. It is, in fact, difficult to
imagine anything more mournful and desolate.
The fire wss still hurning actively on Saturday
evening, but the wind had chats.-ssd and the flarnee
were being turned back over the tract they lied
already devastated, so that it was likely to go out
for want of fuel during Saturday night or hi the
entree of yesterday.

number, spend their evenings in an atmosphere of
tobacco smoke, drinking coffee, consuming mutton
chops and Welsh rarebits, with potations of pale
ale, brandy, or gin. Some good music on the piano-
forte, a teepee able orchestra, and a corps of pro-
fesaional vocalists, the greater part of them ladies,
lend additional attractions to the place, which is
not without an air of decorum. Unlike Coger's
hall, or "Discussion Forum"—now known to fame
—no debating, political or otherwise, goes forward.
[t is frequented as much by English as by French
peopl-, and is not so much a haunt of political re-
fugees as other places in its vicinity.
At the Cafe Chantant, then, of all places, the
public were informed that Mr. Edwin -James and.
Dr. Bernard were to present themselves on S itur-
day evening, and th,?-re " the friends of liberty"—
so the announcement went—were to give them an
ovation.
At 8 o'clock, the hour they wore ex-
pected, there were comparatively few people in the
room. Among these, two or three men, having all
the unmistakeable mat ks of the refuee class weredistributing handbills invoking "eternal glory
on
the 12 jurymen"—naming them—" who upheld the
honour and independence of Old England ;" on
Mr. James who had vindicated the dignity of the
English law, and " lasting shame on the promoters
of the Conspiracy all." Tuis document, couched
in indifferent English, purported to emanate from
a "universal printing establishment" in B.olborn.
As the evening advanced the audience gradually
increased, until at length between 200 and 300
persons were present. They were, however, dis-
appointed, for neither Mr. James nor Dr. Bernard
made their appearance in the course of the even-
ing. At whose instance the announcement was
made that they were to attend does not appear ;
but that it was not Dr. Bernard's—still less, per-
haps, at Mr. James's—is certain from the fact of
the former having expresedgreat displeasure when
he was informed of the matter, adding that he was
not a Nana Sahib or a hippopotamus that any one
should presume to exhibit him for money, and that
he had no ambition for a niche in the Wallhalla of
Madame Tussaud.

Within the last few days a fact has come out ex-
tremely creditable, we think, to the jury by whom
Bernard 'vas tried. A committee, of whom Mr.
Nicholay, Mr. E. T. Smith, of Drury-lane theatre,
Mr. Beales, of Piccadilly, and others, are members,
has been embodied at Mr, Wyld's newsroom, in
Leicester-square, at which for the last few years
Bernard has been a constant visitor, for the
purpose of arranging a banquet at the Free-
masons Tavern in the beginning of May to the
jury and the counsel and solicitors engaged on
the trial for the defence. The jury were a•ked if
they would be disposed to receive such a token of
public approbation ; they met together to consider
the matter, sad the result is that they have respect.
fully declined the intended ovation. They have
stated, through their foreman, that on the occasion
in question they sought to discharge the important
duty which devolved upon them to the best of their
ability, and that for the manner.e
testimonyin whichf
their
o they per-
formed that duty they have th
own consciences, than whis:th they desire no higher
reward.

_ -
DEATH OF A VETERAN.—The Falkirk Herald reports
the death of a veteran—David Richardson, of the 21st
Fusiliers—" who bad the honour of teaching Sir Colin
Campbell the use of the sword."
The Tribunal of Correctional PoFee of BaHort (Haut-
Rhin) last month condemned a weaver named Jenny
three days' imprisonment and 16f. fin., for having in
a public-house spread the false news that the Emperor
was about to retire to a fortress and proclaim the re-
public, in order to prevent manufacturers from com-
pelling their men to work fourtsen houra a-day. Three
days back, he appealed to the Imperial Court of Colmar
altaghnaeginfrfeaere condemnation, and, as he bad done before
the tribunal, he solemnly denied that be bad used the
;dibgemdtitio:im, protested that he was not an
enemy of the Emperor, and represented himself to be an
ous workman. The court, however, confirmed
14:1171.GRAVIt CABTLIZ.—We hear from good authority
that Mulgrave Castle, the seat if the Marquis of Nor-
manby, has been let to Maharajah Dhuleep Sing.— York
shire Gazette,

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. arrived on Friday in Plymouth Sound, where she
was visited officially in the afrernoon, by the
Danish Consul, Mr. T. W. Fox, jun., and his wife.
Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, and Mr.
Hamilton Licdsay had au interview on Saturday
morning with Sir John Pakington at the Admi-
ralty.
Mr. W. G. Ridings and Mr. A. B. Johnson
have been appointed Assistant-Surgeons to the
Indus.

A general inspection and review of the troops
belonging to the corps of Royal Engineers, together
with the East India Company's Sappers and
Miners, now at their head-quarters, Brompton
Barracks, Chatham, took place on Saturday by
Lieut.-General Sir d. A. Wetherell, K. C. 8.,
Adjutant-General, and Cob J. W. Gordon, C. 8.,
Deputy-Adjutant-General to the Royal Engineers.
The whole of the companies of Royal Engineers and
the East India Company's detachments were formed
in the barrack-square shortly before 12 o'clock in
heavy marchingorder, and received Gen. Wether all
who was attended by his aide-de-camp, Col. Sand-
ham, director of the Royal Engineers, and the
principal officers of the garrison, with the usual
honours. Tie entire corps then broke into open
columns of companies, and marched past, after
which they performed a few other evolutions. Geri.
Wetherell and Col. Gordon afterwards proceeded
to inspect the men's kits and accoutrements, after
which they made a tour of the spacious barracks,
visiting the libraries, school rooms, and large model
room, formerly used as a chapel for the troops. The
General spent some time to the examination of the
various objects connected with warfare stored
within thisbuilding; the numerous articles brought
by the corps from the Crimea and the Baltic at-
tracted much attention. At 2 o'clock the troops
were re-formed in the barrack-square in review
order, and, each man having been supplied with
several rounds of blank cartridge, the entire corps,
headed by their band, marched to the Great Lilies
for the purpose of going through the evc lotions of a
field-day, under the direction Of L'eut.-Cel. A. P.
G. Ross. The troops, to the number of about
1,200 men, having been formed into line, General
We',;herall, attended by Col. H. Eyre, commandant
of Chatham garrison, Col. H. Sandham, Col. J. W.
Gordon, C. 13., Deputy-Adjutant-General, and a
numerous staff, rode on to the ground, when the
battalions were put by Lieut.-Col. Ross through a
variety of mauceuvres which lasted neatly two
hours, at the termination of which they fired a
general saliva. At the conclusion of the review
Lieut.-Gen. Wetherell was entertained by the offi-
cals of the Rtyal Engineers at an elegant repast in
their mess-room, which was attended by about 100
officers, including Col. H. Eyre, commandant, Col.
H. Sandham, R.E., Col. H. W. Parke, command-
ant of the R,yal Marines, Capt. G. Goldsmith,
C. B. superintendent of Chatham Dockyard, and
nearly all the heads of departments and command-
ing officers connected with Chatham garri:on. Be-
fore returning to the Horse Guards G-neral We-
therell inspected the 12th company of Royal
Engineers, who were under orders to embark for
the Cape of Good Hope. _
_ _

MILITIA.

On Tuesday Lieutenant Wyatt, of the Tower
Hamlets Militia, died suddenly at the Curragh
Camp, of apoplexy.
The Forfar Artillery Militia., a detachment of
whi'h corps is at present in charge of the barracks
in Kilkenny, on Wednesday recAved an order of
readiness to leave Limerick at short notice for
Dublin. The Forfarshiro Regiment has given
several volunteers, non-commissioned officers and
men, to Major Boothby's troop of Artillery in
Limei ick. _ _

Au Irish provincial paper says,—" It is pro-
poi.ied to give each subaltern of Militia regiments
about to be disembodied an allowance equal te six
mouths' pay ; an allowance equal to one year's pay
will be given to surgeons and assistant-surgeons
from the day of disetnbodiment inclusive ; and
paymasters will- be continuel on pay for three
months, and receive a gratuity of three months'
pay on rendering their final pay list. The cast) of
regimental captains and adjutants has not yet been
brought under the notice of the Secretary for
War."

EXPLORATIONS OF TEE AMO9R RIVER

In Consequence °ea notification which was re-
ceived late on Friday evening last at Woolwich,
that H. R. H. the General Commanding-in-Chief
intended to inspect the garrison on Saturday, the
whole of the troops were ass,,mbled in marching
order at an early hour on the Common, under the
command of Major-Gen. Sir W. Williams, drawn
up in contiguous quarter-distarse columns, having
three troops of Royal Horse Artillery on the right,
commanded by lieut.-Col. Maude, C. 8., andtbres
field batteries of Royal &vine ry, commanded by Col.
Teesdale, on the lefr. The infants y brigade, cunsisting
of one battalion of Royal Artillery, two battalions
of Royal Marine Light Infantry, the Oxford Regi-
ment of Militia, and East Keno Regiment of Mili-
tia, was commanded by Col. Brown, Royal Marine
Light Infantry. Two troops of the Military Train,
under the command of Major Salis, were posted in
rear of the line. His Royal Highness, having ben
received on arrival with a Royal salute, proceeded
to inspect tLe line, after which the troops marched
past in quick time in open column. The Royal
Horse Artillery ranked by threes at a trot, and
then trotted past by troops. His R ,ysl Highness
having ord red Col. Brown to ferns the brigade
into contiguous quarter-distance columns on the
top of the Common facing the Royal Artillery bar-
racks, then assumed the command, and ordered the
Horse Artillery to the front, which rapidly ad-
vanced and opened fire, under cover of which the
two battalions of Royal Marines and the Oxford
Militia deployed into line, and a field battery was
placed on each flank, the battalion of Royal Artil-
lery and the East Kent Militia, with a field battery,
forming the reserve. The Horse Artillery were
then ordered to retire through the line, for which
purpose tie battalions were wheeled back into open
columns of companies', and the line being re-formed
advanced, supported by the field batteries on the
flanks. The line was then halted and changed
direction, the one-eighth of a circle to the right,
on the tt ixel company of the 2d battalion. The
line was now ordered to refire in direct echelon of
battalions from the left, covered by the Horse Ar-
tillery, which had been advanced rapidly through
the intervals of the bAtalions. A second line was
formed, consisting of ones battalion of Royal Artil-
lery, a field battery, and the East Keut Militia,
through which the first line retired byopen columns

IN NORl'llbliN ASIA.

THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF MR,. COLLINS, -UNITED
STATES' COMMERCIAL AGENT TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT.

WASHINGTON. April 17, 1858.
The report call ,a for by Mr. Scott, of California,
a few days since, in relation to the exoloration. of
Major P. M'D. Collins on the Amnia- River, will
be submitt. dto the house in a few days. It.vvas
s-nt to the Stale D partment to-day, together with
two maps—one on the Arrwor River, and the other
showing the relative position of Northern Asia and
our Pacific coast.

The A moor, it will be recollected, is a river se-
cond only to the Mississippi, which flows from the
cen,re of Northern Asia into the Pac fie Ocean not
far north of Japan. The report will give a general
view of the interior commerce of Russia prepara-
tory to the gr and development of her Asiatic com-
merce and policy.
Mr. Collins obtained the appointment of com-
mercial agent from President Pierce, for the pur-
pose of making the exploration of the Amoor and
testing the practicability of its navLation.
In order to do this he was compelled to proceed
by way of St. Petersburg, to obtain the permission
of the Russian Government to enter the Amoor
country.
To have attempted its explorat;on from the sea,
without the assistance of steam, and alone, would
have been worse than folly ; therefore the neces-
sity of entering Russia by way of the Baltic. This,
of course, rendered the land journey across both
Europe and Asia necessary ; nor was this without
policy or aim—it was to witness that great inland
trade of Russia concentrating at Nijiie Norgorod
in Europe and Kyaelita iu Asia, and to trac,) this
line of commerce from the Baltic to the Pacific

If the Amoor could be ascended by steamers this
vast country could be opened to Americin com-
merce, and the very heart of Northern Asia made
accessible to our merchants.

Having obtained the appointmert, he proceeded
cal ly in the spring of 1856, via England and Don-
mark, to Cronstadt and St. Petersburg. Owing to
many circumstances, Mr. Collins was detained iu
St. Petersburg and Moscow until after the corona-
tion of the present Emperor ; it was not till after
that event that he could obtain the necessary for-
mal perinission to prosecute his voyage.
It was now too late to cross the two continents
in order to reach the Atnoor before winter woul I
set in ; he consequently remained in Moscow tau it
winter fairly set in, and the roads were rendered
good by a sufficient coating of snow.
His detention was not without its benefits, be-
cause it gave him an opportunity to become familiar
with the vast interior trade of Russia ; the wealth
of its great cities an the internal resources of a vast
Empire ; all of which was regularly communicated
to the Department of State, and in the meantime
to make himself familiar with the Slavonic language.

of companies from the right of battalions; the
Horse Artillery retired by the flanks. The second
line was ordered to advance, supported by three
field batteries, the first line being formed in con-
tiguous quarter-distanci columns in rear of the
centre. The whole of the troops were then f, rmed
into one line of contiguous quarter-distance
columns, the Horse Artillery on the right, in
column of troops, the field.-batteries on the left in
column of batteries. The line was ordered to ad-
vance in direct echelo❑ from the left, change front
a quarter circle to the right, form line on right
battalion, which manwuvre was executed with
steadiness and precision, and brought the troops on
their original ground. Major-General Sir W. F.

Mr. Collins*passed overland from St. Peter-burg
to the headwaters of the Amour, where he awaited
the approach of spring, and then i❑ a small boat,
with o•irs and five Cossack soldiers furni-hed him
by General Mouravieff, the Governor-General of
Eastern Siberia, proceeded down the three fivers
Ingailab, Schilkalt, and Atnoir, to the meth, a
distance by water of some 2,500 miles As he
proceeded entirely under the aumpicJs f the Russian
Government, he had every facility granted him in
obtaining information and for exploration. Start-
ing from Moscow in mid winter, Mr. Collins had
the rare opportunity of testing all the terrors of a
Russo-Siberian winter upon au Atinerican constitu-
tion.

Major Collins now proceeded in a sleigh wi.h
post-horses by way of Vladetnir, Nijne N.rgorod,
Kazan, crossing the Ural Mountains at EJatherine-
burg, and thus on by Omsk, Towok, and Kramoy-
ntik to Irkoutsk, the capital of Eastern
4,000 miles east of St. Petersburg. Spending some
time at Irkomsk, and being hospitably entertained
by Gen. Mouravieff, Mr. Collins thou visited the
cities of Kyachta and Mai-mat-Tschin. These
places are, by treaty between RiieSia and China,
the only points where commerce can be conducted
by the people of the two empire'. They are situ-
ated about 350 miles scuth-east of Irk,.utsk, and
1,000 miles north-east of Pekin, on the frontiers of
Mongolia and Siberia.
Mr. Collins had the rare opportunity of witness-
ing the opening of the great fair at the full or
6 white moon," in February.
• Grand feasts and entertainments were given in
honour of the occasion ; the town of Mai-mat-
Tschin was filled wi•h feasting, and illuminatad
with lanterns at night.
The trade conceuttated here is very important,
said to bo 20,000,000 of dollars ar:nually. After
findinz its way on the.backs of cam,ls and by bul-
locks from Pekin, it is taken up by the Russian
merchants in the winter on sledges, and in the sum-
mer by the rivers and waggons, and finds its way
across Siberia to the foot of the Ural mountains,
crossing which it concentrates at the great f lir of
Nijee Norgorod, where the commerce of 1856
summed up to 300,000,000 of silver roubles.
Upon the approach of spring. Mr. Collins Crossied
the Staunvey mountains, and fell upon the head
waters of the Amoor. Navigation not yet being
opened he made a full exploration of the gold and
silver country of Nerchinsk, the mines of which are
worked by the convicts from European Russia.
The country is very rich in silver and gold.
Returning from tle tour, he awaited at Chetah
the breaking of the ice in the Ingodah, whence he
prOceeded on his downward course t, the sea.
The country along the Amoor is fully described,
much of wh'ch is Buse p ible of farming and grazing.
But the great problem as to its navigability is fully
solved.

WilLams—thenre-assumed the command, officers
and colours were ordered to the front, and the
day's proceedings w re closed with a Royal salu e.
His Royal Highness expressed hinisd.f much
satisfied with the discipline and general good order
of the garrison. The troops were then, ralrched
to their respective quarters.
In The ,Suri, of Saturday it was stated that
Colour-Sergeant Bond, 70th, was branded with the
letter "D." It appears, however, that in con-
sequence of his former good character, tie was
not marked with "D."

The fietht ships Rwhester. Heather, master,
and the Hope, Dyer, master, have hauled up to
Chatltim dockyard, and have commenced shipping
war stores for Devon') art and Sheernes._ _

Three 60 horsa-ii,JNer gunboats— he Quail,
Ciieker, and Porpoise—wore forwarded to Wool-
wich on Saturday for Deptford, to be transferred
to the west for reserve.

Her Majesty's steam store transport Itliadamau-
thui, Master-Commander Sturdee, from the welt,
was received into bamin at Woolwich on Saturday,
to ship boilers and steam ge3r for her Majesty's
ships Lion and Orlando.

The Pembroke, 60 guns, screw steamship, Cap-
tain Edward P. Caarlewood, left Sheerness on
Saturday for Coastguard service at Harwich.
The Cressy, 80 guns, screw steam guard- hip of
ordinary, Captain Edward P. Halsted, waa put
out of No. 1 dry dock at Sheerness on Saturday,
and will in a few days be ready to receive her crew,
when she will be taken to her harbour mocringi as
guardship of the steam squadron cf reserve.
The new screw steam frigate Emerald, 51 gunit
is being fitted for the pendant in No. 3 dry dock
at Sheerness.

When Admiral Chad's squadron left Spithead on
Thursday morning they had orders to proceed
under canvass only. During the day the wirrd was
aft. The screw steamship Renown, 91, Captain
Arthur Forbes, proved the fastest. The screw
steam frigate Curaea, 31, Capt: Thos. 11. Mason,
kept nearly in a line with her. The screw steam-
ship Diadem, 32, Capt. Wm. Moorsom, was some
distance astern ; and the screw steam corvette Ra-
coon, 22, Capt. J. A. Paynter, was " nowhere.'
This squadron, with the Brunswick, 80, Hogue,
60, brig Nautilus, gunboat Lapwing, and Danish
brig Omen, 12, are at anchor iu Plymouth Soand.
The screw steam ship Brunswick, 80, Capt. E.
Ommaney, arrived at Plymouth on Saturday even-
ing. She left Co!ou March 3, arrived at Port Royal
on the 13th, left on the 17th, arrived at Havannah
on the 24th, and sailed therefrom on the 27th.
At Colon were the pad.dlewheel steam frigate Leo-
pard, 18,
Captain James F. B. Wainwright, and
the United States' corvette Jamestown, and st,iatn-
ship Fulton. At Port Royal were the receiving
ship Imaurn, 72,
Commander H. J. Grant, the
Leopard, the paddlewheel steam sloop Buzzard, 6,
Commauthr F. Peel, and the paddlewheel steam
sloop Basilisk, 6, Commander J. A. Phayre.
Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, in the paddlewheel
steam sloop Devastation, 6, Commander C. Wake,
acoomparated by the flagship Indus, 78, Capt. John
C. D. Hay, was expected daily in Port Royal. The
paddlewheel steam sloop Styx, 6, Commander 0.
Yesey, was at Havannah, accompanied by the gun-
boat Jaspr, Lieut. Pym. She took, on the 23(1 of
March, a valuable prize, supposed to be a slaver,
which had several thousand dollars on b )ard. The
Styx left Havannah again on the 24th for a
cruise. After leaving the Gild' of Florida
the Brunswick experienced on the 31st of.
March a very heavy gale, with the wind from
all points of the compass and occasional calm.
It was accompanied by thunder and intense
lightning, torrents of rain, and • large hail-
stones. The storm commenced at 5 and continued
until half-past 6 p.m., when it gradually followed
a track to the north-west. The Brunswick was
commissioned on the Ist of January, 1856, and
has been employed on the Home, Mediterranean,
and West India Stations, on the lazt of wireh
was for somi time enAag,,al watehing t he proceed-
ings of Waik,r's Fdlibusfering expedition.
His Dani-h Majesty's brig Ornen, 12, Captain
Smidth, 29 days from Santa Cam, for Copenhagen,

Mr. Collins states, without hesitation, that
steamers can ascend from the sea to Chetah, a dis-
tance of 2,600 miles, which great fact opens up
Sii,eriat,, our Pacific commerce tnroug I the Amoor.
This fact, hitherto unknown and not even gut sled
at, presents a new field for commerce, the ultimate
limns of which can hardly be grasped by the most
comprehensive mind.

Mangolia, Manchooria, Northern China, all the
Tartari,s, Thibet, and Siberia, will a population
of twenty to thirty minims, are approached by
this river, and a new route to the Indies opened.
The discovery of the north-western pa'sage sinks
into utter nothingness in comparison with the
utility and practicability of this route.
One most astonishing fact is elicited, which is,
that Irkontdc, the capital of Eastern Siberia, can
be approached with only about three hundred miles
of land carriage.
Mr. Collins is the first foreigner that has ever
descended the Amoor, the second American that
has ever crossed the Ural Mountains, and the first
that has crossed the mountains dividing the waters
of the Pacific from those of the Frozen Ocean.

He speaks in the highest terms of the Russian
officers and people upon his long journey, having
been treated with kindnels and hospitality.
At Kyachta, where ha- was invited to a public
dinner, the health of President Buchanan was given
m a regular toast, which was drunk standing, with
all the honours.

Mr. Buchanan is very popular in Russia, and
his election was hailed with delight throughout the
empire. As he was also our Minister at St. Peters-
burg, and negotiated the last commercial treaty
between the two countries, he is known to many
personally.
13y way of Hakodadi, Japan, up through the
sea ofJ apan to the Straits of Tartary and into the
mouth of the Amoor, the navigation presents no
unusual difficultio ; steam is wanted at the mouth
of the Amoor to tow vessels to and from sea, the
same as at the mouth of the. Mississippi.
Vessels approaching the Amoor will stop at De
Castries for a pilot, where they can also get wood
and: water, rind-the supercargo or captain can pro-
ceed by-way-of Eleezey, ak;ng a small portage
into the Amor,o and thus anticipate his vessel at
the mouth of the river.
That vast and valuable extent of country lying

along the Amoor, and more than that the naviga- ,
tion of that river from the sea to the interior pro-
vinces of Siberia through which alone she has an
approach to the Pacific, is of itself a sufficient ar-
gument for the acquisition by Russii. But aside
from this, the Amoor, for ages in the hands of Tar-
tars or the Chinese—who, like the dog in the man-
ger, will Loither use it themselves norlet any other
nation use it—justifies Russia now in its acqusition
as we weie in the acquisition of the Mississippi, by
Jefferson—peaceably if we could, forcibly if we
must.

The whole Amoor basin is as necessaryto Russia
in the development of that country, and to her
quiet intercourse into the heart of Siberia, as the
Mississippi valley was to us in 1803.
It is not only most desirable to Russia, but
equally so to progress and civilisation ; for with the
possession of this river, the Tartar power will be
completely hemmed in and approachable on all
sides.

Since Major Collins' vi,it to Irkoutsk and the
Amoor, a company, called the " Company of the
Arnoor," has bsen organised in St. Petersburg,
and received the sanction of the Emperor, with a
capital of four millions of francs, to be in-
creased to twelve millions, for the purpose of
" encouraging and developing the commercial
and industrial activity of the valley of the
Amoor, to open trade through the Pacific ports
with foreign countries, to trade with the
Indians, to build and maintain steamers and sailing
vessels, establish factories magazines, kc.
This shows at once the waking up of Russia to
the importanc, of the reannexation ot the Amo-,r.
It must be remembered that Russia once held
it e Amoor, and only suspended her claims there in
rho faCe Of great diffi.:ulties, to be renewed at a more
propitious season. This time has now at rived, and
she is pushing the task with vigour And to what
power but Russia die,s- the world owe the succ,ssful
beating 'back of the Great M 'guts who deva-stAtrd
Europe for centuries with fire and sword ? Take the
vast extent of country over which Russia now holds
sway, and it is one ot the most remarkable in his-
tory ; in control pre-eminent, in extent far surpass-
ing 'that of Rome in her palmiest days. Russia alone
has been able to control .the Tartar race, and has
whipped them into something like civilisations, and
from marauding hordes trained them to the plough
and the loom. It is to Russia alone that civilisation
owes the fact that you can now travel from Sr. Pe-
tersburg to Kamschatka quite as secure as in any
other portion of the globe, and needing, perhaps,
less precaution than over the same extent of terri-
tory on any other part of the ea, th's surface.
After leaving the Amoor in the fall of 1857, Mr.
Collins visited Japan, Kamschatka, and the Sand-
wich Islands, and returned to Washington by way
of San Francisco, California.