The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-01 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

1 SIR,—We shall feel obliged, and we think your
readers will be gratified by-the publication in The
Sum of the accompanying correspondence between
the. , jonel in command of the troor,and the
Captain of the far-famed Golden Fleet?'-Yours
truly, CROSKEY AND CO.
2, Royal Exchange-buildings, E.C.,
London, Nov. 30.

- " Steam-ship Golden Fleece, Calcutta, Oct. 15.
"My dear Captain Hall,—Our prosperous and agree-
able voyage baying now terminated, I trust you will
allow me not only to congratulate you upOn having, I
r believe, made the quickest passage between England
and Calcutta on record, but also to express to you,
in the mane of the officers of my own reaiment and
those cf the detachment of the 42d Highlanders,
our sense of the liberal and courteous treatment that
we have received while on board, and of the consi%
dera,tion and good feeling evinced by yourself and
alb youi officers in having studied in every possible
-way the comfort and convenience of both officers and
men, and I have to request that you will convey these-
sentiments. to Mr. Hurst and the rest of your- officers.
„I can safely say, after a good deal of experience, that
I have never yet sailed in a vessel in which troops
were so well accommodated and cared for as they have
been in this voyage.
. " I hive only. to add that our best wishes for ,the
prosperity of the Golden Fleice and all on board will
attend you wherever you go, and we hope that you
may have a safe and speedy return to our native land.
" Believe me truly yours,
n R. D. KELLY, Lieut.-Colonel, 34th Regiment,
Commandin.g Troops.
is Captain- Hall,
Commander, tteam-ghip Golden Fleece."

" Steam-ship GAlen Fleece, River Hoogbly,
October 15, 1857.

" My Dear Sir,—Allow me, in the name of my offi-
cers and self to thank you very sincerely for your
courteous and handsome letter of congratulations to us
on our safe and expeditious arrival at our destination.
Be assured we fully reciprocate all your kind wishes,
and we feel that very much of the comfort of the
voyage to which you refer has resulted from the ex
cellent discipline of the troops under ytur con►
mand, and is also in great measure due to the ready
compliance of yourself and officers with those sugges-
tions and regulations which we may have thought de-
sirable, and which are so necessary to the orderly con-
duct of a ship of this magnitude. The extraordinary
healthiness of the troops is a subject on which we may
offer you our sincere congratulations, nor do we doubt
but that the same attention- to detail which effected the
admirably conducted embarcation has by its continu-
ance, in matters of order and cleanliness contributed
largely (in conjunction with the ability of the medical
officers) to this satisfactory result. May the auspicious
voyage be a favourable augury for your further career,
arduous though it doubtless will be f We shall follow
your movements with much interest, and, hoping that
you will bestow an occasional thought on the Golden
Fleece and her officers, we unite most cordially in a re-
luctant farewell and kindest wishes to you all.
" With much esteem, I am dear sir, yours very faith-
fully, "JOHN VINE HALL.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly, &c., Commanding
Troops and 34th Regiment, Golden Fleece."

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

Capt. J. D. Downing and the party of non-com-
missioned officers and men of the 38th Regiment
who were stationed at Sheffield for the purpose of
taking charge of the recruits raised in that town
have rejoined their depot at Chatham garrison, as
the recruits who are now being raised at Sheffield
will be attached to the newly formed battalion of
the 2d Queen's Royals.
The following officers have joined the depot com-
panies of their respective regiments at Chathana
previously to embarking for India—viz., Capt. H.
W. P. Welman, 86th Regiment, for the purpose of
assuming the command of his depot stationed at
St. Mary's Barracks ; Ensign Webster, Bth Regi-
ment Ensign Ross, 24th Regiment ; and Ensign
Cumberland, 75th Regiment.
Considerable activity prevails in the shipbuilding
department at Chatham Dockyard in consequence
-of the Admiralty order for the completion with all
pcPsible despatch of the vessels now in progress at
that establishment.

Tice-Admiral Sir M. F. F. Berkeley, on quitting
the Admiralty, has bcstwed the promotion, as in
the case of ate admiral hauling down his flag, on
Commander Maxse, ser wing in the Ariel steam sloop
at Gibraltar. Commander Charles Bromley has
received the command of the Ariel, vice Maxse.
The Admiralty having placed a commander's
commission at the disposal of Rear-Admiral Sir
Michael Seymour for the reward of the lieutenant
who hai most t;istinguished hitnseli in the lateops-
rations in the China river, Sir Michael has con-
ferred it on Lieut. R. V. Hawkins, in command of
the gunboat Haughty. Sir Michael has appointed
Lieut. M. C. Seymour, junior additional lieutenant
of the Calcutta, to be his Flag Lieutenant.
Dr. Robert Beith, RN., has been appointed an
additional surgeon of the Royal Naval Hospital at
Has'ar to assist the inspectors. Re joined last week.
A detachment of Royal Marine Light Infantry,
consisting of Lieut. Butcher, 2 sergeants, 2 corpo-
rals, 1 bugler, and 43 privates, proceeded front the
divisional head-quarters at Gosport yesterday morn-
ing to Plymouth to join Her Majesty's chip
Cambrian, jest commissioned at that port One
sergeant, one corporal, and 20 gunners of the
artillery companies proceeded, at the same time,
from Portsmouth head-quarters for Chatham, -Li
join the steam csrvette Racoon at that port. One
corporal and 10 gunners are also ordered .to join
Her Majesty's ship Curacoa at Portsmouth.
The appointment of Barrackmaster of the Gos-
port division of Royal Marine Light Infantry is
about to become vacant by the retirement of
Major Moore.

touching the epidemic which. wo reported on
Thursday last as having necessitated the removal
of a number of the Royal Marine light Infantry
battalion quartered at Gosport to Woolwich and
other quarters we have made further inquiries, and
find the matter to be of some moment. The num-
ber of cases admitted into the wards of Halsar
Hospital under the directions of Dr. .Nesbit, the
Medical Inspector, led him to make Forne inquiry
as to the cause, and to represent the necessity of
certain sanitary measures, which the surgeon of the
Royal Marine Division felt also to be desirable.
The Adjutant• General of the Marine corps after-
wards arrived from town and instituted an inquiry
into the state of the barracks at Forton. A repre-
sentation was then made to the Admiralty through
Capt. Dacres, C. 8., and the result was an order to
remove two companies to another locality, to im-
prove the ventilation, and to abut up a well which
had been polluted by communication with a drain,
and get the water supply from-another source—St.
Ann's well, in contiguity with the barracks. The
number of cases of fever was daily decreasing.
During October the number sent to Hasler exceeded
100 ; during the present month about 30—of thee
4 have died, 3 within the last two days. As this
epidemic has shown itself elsewhere (at Fort Cum-
berland) with much the same results, it would be
difficult to attribute its appearance to any parti-
cular cause ; but in the present instance its effects
have, no doubt, been aggravated by local causes,
which have existed, more cr less, since the Forton
Barracks have been occupied by the Royal Marines.
The St. Vincent, 102, Capt. Eyres, C. 8., was
paid wages on Saturday in Portsmouth harbour,
and Rear-Admiral Martin mustered her crew.

The Diadem, 32, Capt. Moorsom, C. 8., is ex-
pected to make another trial of her speed to-day at
Portsmouth. _ _

The Rhadamanthus, steam transport, arrived at
Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon from Plymouth
with supernumeraries.
By the death of Admiral of the Red Thomas Le
Marchant Gosselin, the following promotions occur
immediately all through the flag list, the gallant de-
ceased being the senior admiral of the navy, and
probably the oldest man in it, having died at the
great age of 93.
Admiral of the White Sir G. Mundy, K.C.8., to
be Admiral of the Red.

Admiral of the Blue John Ayscough, to be Ad-
miral of the White.

Vice-Admiral of the Red Wm. Bowles, C. 8., to
be Admiral of the Blue.

Vice-Admiral of the White Sir B. Reynolds,
K.C. 8., Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth, to be
Vice-Admiral of the Red.

Vice-Admiral of the Blue Sir C. Sullivan, Bart.,
to be Vice-Admiral of the White.

Rear-Admiral of the Red Sir J. H. Plumridge,
K.O. 8., Superintendent at Devonport, to be Vice-
Admiral of the Blue.

Rear-Admiral of the White Win. Sandom, to Le
Rear-Admiral of the Red.

Rear-Admiral of the Blue the Right Hon. Lord
E. Russell, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the White.
Captain H. T. Austen, C. 8., to be Rear-Admi-
ral of the Blue.

By the promotion of Admiral Plumridge and
Captain Austen the Superintendence of Devonport
and Deptford Dockyards becomes vacant, and a

_
•SrAM:-.1r,31.
.
[ PP:WA -4

captain's good service pension reverts also to the
Admiralty. " •
Her Majesty has Leen pleased to sanction an
addition of 20/. to the grant for "distiuguisked
services" bestowed on Lieut.-Colonel J. M. Adye,
C.B , R.A., in July, 1856, making it up to 1Q(1.
per annum,• commencing on the 10th of April,
1857.

The Leopold steam-ship, with Royal Artillery
and other troops, which embarked early last week,
had not left Spithead last evening. The detach-
ment of the 94th had been re-landed and sent to
their depot by railway.
• Captain the Hon. G. F.. Hastings, C. 8., arrived
at Portsmouth on Saturday, and took up his com-
mission appointing him to the command of ker Ma-
jesty's steam two-decker, Blenheim, 60, mid the
superintendence of the steam reserve at Portsmouth,
yesterday. 'On Captain the Hon. F. J. Pelham,
C.B ~ leaving the -ship, which he has made the
"home" of all belonging to her during his com-
mand, the crew sprang into the rigging and gave
him the heartiest and repeated rounds of cheers.
The latter gallant officer will take his seat at the
Admiralty this day, we believe.
Captain D'Eyncourt arrived at Port:mouth yes-
terday, and took up his commission appointing him
to the command of the screw curvette Curagoa, 31,
when the pennant was hoisted.
The. following appointments were made at the
Adthiralty yesterday :-
Captain—T. H. Mapco, to the Curacoa.
Commander—Thomas Lethbridge, to the Renown.

Surgeons—John King, to the Cambrian ; Fya•h-r
Neguo, to the Curacoa ; W. 11. Sloggett to the Cal3ps ).
Assistant-Surgeons—Thomas Colaban, to the Ca n-
brian ; Machail M‘Grath, to the Cambrian ; Leonard
Lucas, to the Calypso ; James A. Skene, to the Made
gasa.r ;-11,§. Smart, to the Cumberland. •

LAUNCHING THE LEVIATHAN.

The tedious process of moving this gif.l.a.ntic struc-

tare to the water was recorninenced a tTh-o'clock yes-
terday morning, and was continued with the ut mo-t
success till a hitch occurred, and an annoying and
irremediable accident to one of the hydraulic ma-
chines stopped further progress. This time the fact
that the launch was taking place was of course very
generally known, but the public appeared also to
be aware that the whole process, after all, afforded
nothing particularly well worth seeing to people
who were outside the yard, and who could no more
detect the motion of the vessel than they could
discern the revolution of the earth.

The number of spectators, therefore, who braved
the sharp cold wind and raw air of the river for the
poor gratification which the sight afforded was very
small, and even with these half-an-hour's exposure
and speculation as,to whether the vessel was moving
at all or not seemed to satisfy the most ardent.

The work commenced at a few minutes before 9
o'clock. There were then no men in the yard but
Mr. Brunel and Capt. Harrison and their assiA-
ants, and, of course, also Mr. Yates, the Secretary,
who siuce the vessel made her first slip seems never
to have left the yard at all, but to have vedoubled,
if possible, the vigilance and care with which lie
has watched every step in her progresi for nearly
_

the last four years. In the first effort to start Ii -r
all the screw-jack,=, as well as the hydraulic ma-
chineg, were used, and, contrary to the expect t-
tions of many, who imagined that after remaining
a whole night upon the ways it would be very (hill-
cult to stir her again, the great mass got into mo-
tion on the first pressure, and began to c:etp
very slowly down the ways. HLr progre;s at first,
was at the rate of an inch in about two minutes,
but after a while it improved, and continued for
some time at an inch per 40 seconds. As the
vessel is now much advanced from the place at
which the hydraulic rams aro fixed, each time the
pistons aro driven out to their full pressure, con-
siderable delay is occasioned in again fitting in
beams of sufficient length to reach the cradles and
push ker on again In most cases the beams are

not long enough till joined in one or more places,
which again occasions loss of time, as in order to
prevent their giving way laterally under the tre-
mendous pressure iron plates have to be bolted down
to the ways over the joinings' and in widi ion they
have sometimes also to be loaded with iron ballast.
All these expedients are absolutely necessary and
essential to the safe progress of the ship ; thoug‘i,
nevertheless, they tell much upon her rate of ad-
vance. When the 1 o'clock ball rang for dinner the
total distance accomplished was 413 inches forward
and 423 inches aft, showing that during yesterday
morning's work the stern, instead of being 26 inches
behind the bows was in advance of teem. During

the whole morning the rate of advance was as
re(zular and noiseless as on previous occasion; the
only chance being that the metals, if anything,
showed still less signs of friction, :It'd there wits :tn
evident tendency of the vessel to move at a much
slighter rate of pressure.
The men returned from dinner and recommenced

their work a little before 2 o'clock, but the hour's
pause seemed tolhave exercised an adverse influence
on the further progress of the ship. For along time
it was very difficult to move her, though the screw
jacks and hydraulic machines were pressed to their
utmost, and the men at the double windlasses broke
the great mooring chain which dragged her bows
to the stream. . Suddenly; 'a the midst of all their
efforts, the monster slipped- on the ways-5 inches
forward and 9 inches aft. She slid this distance in
the space of a single second, and with an awful
rumbling kind of noise, which at once seemed dis-
tant and alarmingly near. This sudden motion
and her tremendous vibration surprised and
alarmed the me; who all dropped their tools
and stood prepared to run at the first signal
of danger. There was not, however, the least
occasion for alarm, and the pressure was-again gra-
dually applied to the cradles on every part with
redoubled vig ntr, but all in vain. The jerk and
sudden stoppage evidently fixed her with unusual
firmness, and no effort s could dislodge her, thought the
pressure from the rams was applied with such force
that a beam 17 inches square crumpled up like a
reed and bounded into the air from a strain of
about 800 tons. This wa4 soon replaced by another
and a stronger beam, which was bound to the ways
and loaded at the point with ballast. This held
out with the others for a lung time, and the
struggle between the pressure applied and the pas-
sive resistance of the great masses of timber at last
became one of almost terrible interest. The beam
strained, cracked, and vibrated, the escape valves
of the rams- were loaded with weights and held
violently down, the men could scarcely move the
handles, but still the vessel did not yield. In the
midst of these great united attempts a loud dull
explosion, followed by a rattling sound, occurred,
and in a minute after it was-known that one of the
10-inch hydraulic rams had burst its cylinder from
top to bottom. The thickness of solid in.n which
had thus given way under the pressure of a few
quarts of cold water was 7 inches, and a corn-
pariton of the diameter of the piston with the
force it was exerting on the area of timber showed
that the cylinder had only yielded under the stu-
pendous pressure of some 12,0001 b. or 13,0001 b. to
the square inch. Of course, no ill effects attended
its bursting. This accident, which put an end to
ail further efforts for the day, was much to be re-
gretted, as just before it took place it had been
decided to continue work all night, so as to bring
the Leviathan within good reach of this day's high
water. About an hour before the accidi-mt oc•
curred a message had b :en sent to Messrs. Easton
and Amos for two more hydraulic machines, and
one, if not both of these, will be fixed so as to enable
work to be resumed at an early hour to-day. Trot-
man's anchors will also be sunk in the river, and
the tackle which hauls the vessel in that direction
made secure to those powerful holdfasts. Never yet
since anchors were first made were any subjected to
the tests which these must undergo, for it all goes
well in the course of another day the Leviathan will
be quite out of reach of the hydraulic machines,
and must depend entirely on the strain from the
river. It was stated in our account of yesterday
that all the dockyard moorings which have been
used in these great attempts have repeatedly given
way, but this was an error. We are informed it
was the old city moorings which have broken down
and up so often. Out of all the chain cables sup-
plied by the dockyard only one has broken yet, and
every aid which the Deptford authorities could offer
Mr. Brunel has beeq.most cheerfully placed at that
gentlenian's disposal. The high tide of last night
would for the first ' time place about 12 inches of
water'under -the keel of the Leviathan. If an
average amount of success attend this day's efforts,
the high water at two o'clock will place about six
feet under her centre, and this, though, of course,
insufficient to float her, will at least take about
5,000 tons off the dead weight on her ways, and so
facilitate her progress that it is confidently hoped
by Wednesday or Thursday at latest she will be
brought all safe to her moorings in the Thames.

SURFETORSHIP OF HER MAJESTY'S PIOTTIRES.—The
Athenaeum of Saturday says :--" We- believe that' the
Queen has appointed Mr. Redgrave, R.A., Surveyor of
her Majesty's Pictures, in the place of the late Mr.
twine. The duties are said, to be extended to a super-
tntendence over all works of art in the royal collection."

• - -2
o:Ci, vI 1.:11, tieP-cl2
br.)ught

"On the morning on which the cityiand
:were 'finally evacuated the whole of the available
caValry.moved:Out through the submths ill the direc-
tion of, but not on the roar} to, the Kootub, 'and
marched to the tog of the -hill on which stands the
thence overlooking the camp of the
B .reilly-and Nnsseerabad mutineers, under 'Gene-
ral! Bucktowar Khan, quondam, Subadar _of_ Artil-
let y. It was soon perceived by unmistakable signs
ears that explosion
the rebels took
were place, that tlifteamp was being evacuated, and. soon attn.
a loud
tion previous to a fight, and Hodson's messengers
coming breathlessly in at the moment confirmed the
abczw whiching
up
told to practised
j
fact. Hodson immediately got leave to report it
to the general, galloping on his way tight along
the front of the city to see if this was clearly also.
He then obtained permission from the general to go
to the rebel camp itself, to see how the land lay.
"He started at once with his second in command,
Macdowell,hni 75 Sowers, and rcde right round the
city to the Delhi-gate ; having but few shots fired
at them, and clearing the road of stray rebels as
they went along, they found the camp all.but empty
(they soon made it quite so), and the Delhi-gate
open. They brought away three guns left by the
enemy, and made arrangements for bringing in the
empty tents, &c. They recovered the mess plate
of the 65th Native Infantry, their standards,
stripped however, and band instruments; polishing
off the big drummer, who, with his myrmidons,
gave some trouble.
" Next day Hodson asked. and obtained permis-
sion to go after the King, whose capture, with-that
of his favourite wife (mother of the heir apparent),
he successfully accomplished at the cost only,of vast
fatigue, some fighting, and imminent r;sk. His
Majesty was courteously disarmed, and then
.escoited into the city.
"Early the following morning Hodson set 'to
work to get the Princes, greater because more active
than their-father. He started with Mac-
.(s, cond only to his cointeandieg_4!ffic,r in
all soldierly qualities) and 100 men for the Tomb of
the Emperor Humayoon, where the rascals were
concealed. Ile took measures to cut off al access
to or egress from the building, and then sent in one
of the illegitimate scions of royalty (who had saved
his own life only by turning King's evidence) and
the one-eyed Moulvie, Rujub Ali (one of the
lamented Sir Henry Lawrence's most trusted emis-
saries) to bring out the Princes.

"After more than two hours of anxiety, strategy,
and no sma 1 practice of the arts of offence and de-
fence, they appeared, and were immediately sent
off in a bhylie,' under a small guard, towards the
city. Hodson, then, with the remainder of his
men, entered the enceinte of the tomb, and found
than, fromand a
c 53, 0c
oOntgor
e6g,aotoeod otfh
etrlete,
sceeurtmai nolyf Lotthe leeistsy
armed wilt weapons of all descriptions. It was in-
deed an hour of trial ; whea a bold front and a
determined voice was of more avail then even a
sharp sword. Wonderful to say, not a man of the
gallant little band was hit, and on Hodson sternly
reiterating his demand for instant surrender they
began to lay down their arms. 500 swords, and
twice tint number of firearms, besides horses, ele-
phants, &c., were., collected in less thin an hour
and-a-half, without another blow being struck.
Hodson and his men then moved warily off to the
city. At a short distiteco from the walls they
found the bhylie' was halted with much rabble
collected around, who turned on the little party
as they role up. This was no time for hesita-
tion or delay. Hodson dashed at once into the
midst—in few but energetic words explained ' that
these were the men who had not only rebelled
against the Government, but had ordered and wit-
nessed the massacre and shameful exposure of in-
nocent women and children ; and that thus there-
fore the Government punished such traitors, taken
in open resistance,'—shooting, them down at the
word. The effect was instantaneous and wonder-
ful ! Not another hand was raised, not another
weapon levelled, and the Mahomedana of the troop
and some influential Moulvies among the by-
standers exclaimed, as if by simultaneous impulse,
' Well, and rightly done ! Their crime has met
with its just penalty. These were they who gave
the signal for the death of helpless women and
children and outraged decency by the expcsure of
their persons, and now a righteous judgment has
fallen on them. God is great !' The remaining
weapons were then laid down, and the crowd slowly
and quietly dispersed. The bodies were then car-
ried into the city and thrown out on the very spot
where the blood of their innocent victims still
stained the earth. They remained there till the
24th, when, for sanitary reasons, they were re-
moved from the Ohibootra in front of the Kotwal-
lee. The effect of this just retribution is as mira-
culous on the populace as it was deserved by the
crini i nal 4.

" The popular wish now is, that HOdson, the
avenger of blood,' should be sent with a strong
force at his back to find and execute the like justice
on the arch-villain Nana Sahib. May they both
receive the reward of their deeds I"