The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-29 00:00:00

,AIJ.;

WAR MOVEMENTS FOR CHINA.

Rumours are of course rife at the naval ports as
to the reinforcement& for China, Reports one day
are contradicted the next, hence it is difficult to
give a reliable account of the reinforcements actu-
ally going ; indeed it appears to us that the autho-
rities have in most cases only given instructions
that the particular ships and troops shall be in
readiness for orders, &c. The most reliable autho-
rities state that no troops of the line will be sent,
and that Major-General Sir Hope Grant is to have
the military command. We understand that Go-
vernment did not, at the Cabinet Council on the
17th inst., called on the China question, commit
themselves definitely to any course • and it is
pretty well known that Lord John Russell looks
more gravely on our making war on Pekin than
Lord Palmerston, and the rumour of dissatisfaction
at Mr. Bruce's actions is gaining ground.
The following vessels have been named for de-
spatch to China in the various orders transmitted
to the dockyards, but our readers may know that
the Admiralty are rather famous for orders and
counter-orders, so that we cannot look upon these
with any certainty. It is stated by the Times'
naval correspondent that 50 gun-boats are to be
despatched, and that a great number are in perfect
order in the covered slip at Chatham :—Challenger,
21, and Imperieuse, 5 guns, screw corvettes. Icarus,
11 ; Encounter, 14 • and Pearl, 20 guns, screw
sloops. Odin, 16; Sphynx, 6; Centaur, 6 • paddle-
wheel, frigates. Pioneer, Ringdove, and Mohawk,
screw sloops, each 6 guns. Renard, Snake, Alac-
rity, Foxhound, Wrangler, Eagle, and Victor, each
4 guns.

The gunboats Havoc, Hardy, Swinger, Grasshop-
per, Jackal], Flying Fish, Firefly, Locust, Skip
jack, Cockchafer, Weasel, Bouncer, and Snap have
been ordered to prepare.
The pioneer of the squadron sailed on the 22d
inst., and is appropriately called the Pioneer, Com-
mander Reilly. The Pioneer was put in commis-
sion for service on the West Coast of Africa, but,
having received counter instructions from the Ad-
miralty, was got ready within 24 hours for her pre-
sent duty. This is a spice of smartness, which
shows our Lords of the Admiralty capable of meet-
ing emergencies.
The Scout, 21, screw, Capt. John Corbett, sailed
from Spithead for China yesterday.
The Pearl, 21, screw, Capt. John Borlase, C. 8.,
is to follow in a few days.
The Odin, 16, paddle-wheel steam frigate, was
commissioned yesterday by Captain Lord John
Hay, C. 8., for China.--China Telegraph.

THE _EXPLOSION IV 13' IRMINGBAITI.

The precise number of deaths ascertained up to
last night was 18, and of the 75 persons who were
employed on the premises 65 have been accounted
for ; but as the books were burnt, and the addresses
of many of those who were engaged upon the pre-
mises were not known, the police have been unable
to ascertain what have become of the remaining
ten, but it is probable that some of them were ab-
sent at the time the explosion occurred. Several of
the bodies have not been identified, so that the in-
quest cannot take place before Thursday.
The ruins have been carefully dug over, and it is
believed that there are no more bodies entombed.
Those of the sufferers who were carried to the Gene-
ral Hospital have received the unremitting atten-
tion of Mr. Crompton and the other medical staff ;
Dr. Evans also visited them yesterday. Half-a-
dozen of the poor creatures who lie there have re-
ceived injuries of the most frightful character, so
that it is doubtful whether some of them will re-
cover-

No light whatever has yet been thrown upon the
cause of the explosion, but there appears to be no
doubt that gunpowder on the premises magnified
the disaster very greatly. A strong feeling exists
as to the duty of the Home-office to send down a
commissioner to attend the inquest, in order that
the investigation may be searching, and with the
view to the institution of an inquiry as to the pro-
bable quantity of gunpowder kept on the premises
of other parties in the neighbourhood in which the
explosion occurred, and also in reference to the
means adopted for its safe custody, which there is
reason to fear are much too lax.

A considerable number of the principal inhabi-
tants resident in the lor:ality of the explosion have
signed a memorial expressive of their opinion that
the time has arrived when duty calls upon them to
oppose the future continuance in towns of manu-
factories where so large an amount of combustible
material is required.
The Council of the Chamber of Commerce also
assembled yesterday—Mr. H. V. Wart, one of the
borough magistrates, in the chair. A resolution
was passed requesting the chairman to communi-
cate with the mayor in reference to the recent seri-
ous loss of life in the town by the several explo-
sions which have recently taken place.