The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-29 00:00:00

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE., men were barbarously tortured and murdered
THIS EVENING will be performed
only three miles from the city, while seeking a
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM,
little fresh air out of the close factories. Ships
and brick walls are the only places, it would seem,
within which Englishmen may move or breathe

up with the screw 1 Rpairing, of oourse, while so
doing, the serious dasage dose during all those
seven-and-twenty year by the dry-rot ! Aud—
[a word in the ear of BULL] —" That's the
way the money goes!' Thousands upon thou-
sands squandered upcn the construction of ships
of war which are, mith wanton extravagance,
allowed to rot away upon the stocks before it
is ever dreamt of th:ir being launched ! And
—then, when the mischief has been done
effectually by time aid neglect—then, when the
very keel is decayed aid the hull is found to be
crumbling away piecemeal—then, forsooth, it is
sagaciously discovered that the whole affair has
been an egregious miitake from the very begin-
ning 1 It proves thee, and then only, that the
unfortunate " wreck,i-still-water " is not long
enough—is not heavy enough—is not, in point
of fact, big enough ; it has to be cut in two—
its length from stem to stern has to be increased
—it has, last but not least, to be fitted up de
110170 with the screw propeller ! It is precisely
thus at this very tine, as we have seen, with
H.M.S. The Royal Frederick. A magnificent
ship that has been lying in the stocks uninter-
ruptedly ever since the year 1830 ! A man-of-
war built, at the close of the reign of King
GEORIE IV.—allowed to remain idle and unmo-
lested in Portsmouth Dockyard during the whole
of the reign of King WILLIAM IV.—and at length,
in the twentieth year of the reign of her Most
Gracious Majesty Queen -VICTORIA, is found to
De in want of we don't know what all, before
there can be any possibility of her (even now)
being launched ! Like men, like ships :as "The
Immortal Bard " hath it—

After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, called
ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP;
or, Harlequin aind the Genii of the Ring. Harlequin, Mr.
Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; Co.
lumbine, Miss C. Adams.

at Canton. In the interior, not long after, a
French missionary was barbarously murdered,
and three others barely escaped with their lives,
all in direct contravention of the last Treaty.
Now, there does seem no conceivable reason
why Canton should longer evade the fulfil-
ment of treaties and agreements any more than
the other four ports. One of them, Fow-Chow,
wished to play the same game as Canton, but it
was not permitted to do so ; and the result has
been that we have had peaceful relations there,
and both natives and foreigners have profited by
our firmness. At Canton, on the contrary, for-
bearance has received the only interpretation
which semi-barbarians, like Russians and Chinese,
always put upon it—that fear was at the bottom.
Hance a series of unendurable insults and injuries,
till the English authorities apparently resolved
that the next must be the last. That next was
the boarding of the Arrow. Satisfaction was
demanded. It was granted in the style which,
if accepted, would only increase the radical
mischief ; and Admiral SEYMOUR, most properly,
we think, demanded that the haughty system,
directly in the teeth of treaties and subsequent
agreements, of refusing to foreign 'authorities
direct intercourse with Chinese officials should now
cease. Hitherto we must think the Admiral has
acted with equal humanity and courage. He has
destroyed nothing but forts built to protect vio-
lations of the treaty, and Government buildings
belonging to the obdurate and really guilty par-
ties. Canton, as yet, has been treated like Odessa.
Apparently with the same results, for YEE( has
set fire to the factories though we respected the
Chinese private property.
We must continue also to lay the same stress, as
we have yet done, on the cordial acquiescence of
the mercantile community at Canton in the Ad-
miral's proceedings. Both public and private in-
formation show that all the merchants approve
the measures taken. When we consider the ex-
traordinary sensitiveness of trade to any inter-
ruption, this circumstance has the greatest weight.
Merchants and traders generally are prone to bear
with too much for the sake of peace and quiet.
They are not the men for merely political wars or
revolutions, except under the most pressing neces-
sity. Think of the BRIGET and COBDEN class
endorsing au Admiral's acts ! We may
be sure when this is the case that
they were indispensable ; that the interruption
of trade itself was better than the continu-
ance of injuries and insults which longer forbear•
ance would engender. The time was come
to put a step to all that—to demand that fo-
reigners should be treated as equals of the
Chinese ; at least that they should enjoy at
Canton the reasonable privileges which they pos-
sess at the other Chinese ports, and to which
they are entitled by treaty.

" And so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe;
And so from hour to hour we rot and rot ;
And thereby hangs a tale I "

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVE.NING, JANUARY 29, 1857

LATEST NE WS.

MARSEILLES, WEDNESDAY.
By the Carmel, which left Constantinople on
the 19th, we have Eastern news to that date.
The Russians have evacuated the Isle of Ser-
pents.

The English squadron has left the Black Sea
and returned to the Bosphorus.

The disorders in Lebanon have been put down

The Circassians have divided their forces into
three corps. The first, the army of Abchasia ;
the second of Lesghistan ; the third, of Kabarda.
Their forces are very considerable, and have
alarmed the Russians, compelling them to concen-
trate their troops on the banks of the Kur.

► came out and surrendered themselves prisoners
of war. Another notable personage was taken,
who had, I believe, been sent down from Teheran
to raise the tribes against us, and whose Persian
title is translated 'Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The remainder of the garrison who marched out
gave up their arms, and being too numerous to
be retained in the present state of the Commis-
sariat, were escorted some distance into the interior
by the Poona Horse, and there set free. At
half-past 4 the British flag was hoisted by Lieut.
Clarkson, First of the Assays, at the Residency
flag-staff, the Shah's staff having been felled by
the garrison in their hurry to lower the flag.
" Thus easilY has Bushire fallen."

The Bombay Times of Jan. 2 gives the following
narrative of the capture of Bushire, and other
operations on the part of our fleet in the Persian
Gulf

The island of Karrack, held by us from 1839 to 1841,
had on the 4th been takes possession of and converted
into a military depot. On the 6th the fleet moved down
from opposite Bushire to Hallila Bay, where a body of
three or four hundred of the enemy making their ap-
pearance they were dispersed by shells from the gun-
boats. The troops were now permitted to disembark
without any molestation. There being no carriage cattle,
they were without tents or baggage of any description,
three days' rations having been carried with them in
haversacks. Forty-eight hours were required to get the
whole body on shore and in motion, when on the morn-
ing of the 9th they commenced their march northwards
by the line of the coast, the ships of war led by the Admi-
ral keeping abreast of them, and as near the land as the
depth of water permitted. By noon the old Portuguese
fort of Bushire began to be approached. The position was
naturally a strong one, the walls were good, and protected
by a dry ditch forty feet deep. In front was a heavy re-
doubt scarped on the side neat the sea, and the other
two were strong and well protected. The Assaye was
unable to approach within one thousand seven hundred
yards of the place, but at this distance her shells were
so effective that the bulk of the enemy fled, leaving
eight hundred, Who had been driven back by our ad-
vancing columns, within the work, and who seemed
determined to fight it out to the last. The garrison on
our approach had at first sallied out, and at one time
nearly attained possession of a gun. The vanguard,
which had pushed too much a-head, were compelled to
make a dash, and unfortunately charged at the bayonet's
point, sacrificing valuable lives that might have been
spared had the shelling bees continued. Brigadier Stop-
ford fell leading on the 64th, shot through the heart,
and pierced by many wounds ; while Liegtenants Utter-
son and Warren of the 20th were killed by his side ;
Captain Wood dangerously wounded. The enemy were
without artillery, but defended themselves stoutly with
their matchlocks; whets driven to flight, they were
charged down upon by the 3d Cavalry and fearfully
mauled. Here Colonel Malet fell, shot through the
heart by a wounded Arab, whom he had just ordered
to be spared. Here the troops bivouacked for the
night on the bare ground and under the open sky. Capt.
Jones was now deputed into the town with a flag of
truce in a small steamer carrying the summons of sur-
render, and the terms offered the garrison. The non-
combatants and women had permission to withdraw.
Private property of all descriptions was to be protected,
the fullest toleration in matters of religion secured, the
garrison to be suffered to march out with all the honours
of war. The Governor was allowed till dawn the follow.
ing day to give an answer to the terms proposed, but
the flag of truce was fired on ; and after waiting some
time on the assumption that this might possibly have
occurred from mistake, the envoy returned, his mission
unaccomplished. An apology was almost immediately
afterwards sent by the Governor on board the fleet, and
the declaration of war of the Governor-General and
letter of terms proposed were transmitted be the mes-
senger. Meanwhile General Stalker intimated to the
Admiral his intention of advancing with all his troops
on Bushire the following morning (10th December),
and the fleet was immediately disposed in order of battle
—first dismantling the enemy's newly-erected earthworks
and then moving with a view of breaching the south
wall of the town. The tide was favourable and so eager
was every one to close in, that every ship was laid
aground at high water, and daybreak found them all
ready to open on the fort. A second flag of truce beg-
ging for twenty-four hours' further delay, now made its
appearance. The request was at once refused ; and at
eight the signal to engage was hoisted, and a storm of
shot and shell at once poured in. The redoubt south of the
town, when the enemy had assembled in force to resist
our troops, was the chief object of attention, and, not-
withstanding the enormous distance, it was speedily
cleared, the defenders retiring within the walls. As this
work commanded the walls, much importance was
attached to it by both parties, and General Stalker was
advancing upon it when it was abandoned just as his
line was being formed. Though their small guns were
useless, the courage and perseverance with which the
larger ones were worked surpassed all expectation, and
the Semiramis, Feroze, Victoria, and Falkland, were
repeatedly struck both in hull and rigging ; strange to
tell, not a man was hurt. By noon the batteries were
all silenced, and the troops were preparing for the assault,
when the flag-staff was struck down in token of submis-
sion. The Governor and his staff immediately came and
surrendered themselves, the garrison, from one thousand
five hundred to two thousand in number, laid down
their arms, and at four o'clock the British flag was
hoisted over the town, the troops appointed to garrison
it having marched in at sunset. A large proportion of
the Persian arms had fled as we approached—numbers
were drowned in attempting to escape. About 3,000
in all were said to have perished. Sixty-five guns,
many of them brass, most of them in good condition,
and some of them of large calibre, with vast quantities of
warlike stores and small arms fell into our hands. Un-
less at Reshire, not a single mishap of any kind occurred
in capturing the maritime capital and securing the whole
sea-board of Persia. The fight shown was by a warlike
tribe of Arabs. Active operations having thus for a
time been brought to a close, the army prepared to en-
camp and throw up strong field-works and entrenchments
just under the walls of the town. The prisoners, after
being disarmed, were conveyed some way into the in
terior, and then liberated. The Governor and other
men of distinction have been brought to Bombay by the
Admiral, who returned in the Assaye. The transports,
meanwhile, are being recalled to prepare for the em-
barkation of a second army at least five times the size of
that already in the field.
The Bombay Times goes on to state, that a fur-
ther force of 25,000 men has been ordered to be
got in readiness in India for despatch, bringing the
invading army up to 30,000. By the time it has
assembled "we shall have at least 100,000 men,
including camp followers, to feed in a country so
destitute of supplies that everything for man and
beast must be sent from Bombay." Lieutenant
General Sir James Ontram, Resident at Luckuo
has returned before his sick leave was expired from
England, to assume supreme political and military
charge.
The Poonah Observer says :
The following troops of the army of this Presidency
have been warned for immediate service in the field,
field, and measures have been already taken to equip
them for this service. The troops under orders from
this station will leave Poonah for the Presidency on or
about the 10th Jan. H.M.'s 14th Light Dragoons atd
H.M.'s 78th Highlanders will then leave depots here—
the 4th troop of Horse Artillery, from Kurrachee ; the
Firs! Company 2d Battalion Earopean Foot Artillery,
with No. 2, Light Field Battery attached, now en route
from Sholapore to Poona; H.M.'s 14th Light Dragoons,
from Kirkee ' • one regiment of the Scinde Irregelar
Horse, from Scinde; H.M.'s 78th Highlanders, from
Poona; the 23d Regiment from Rajcote ; the
26th Regiment N. 1., now en route to Poona from Sa-
tara. A Flank Battalion, to be composed of the light
companies of the 2d Regiment N.I. (Grenadiers), 3d,
sth, Bth, 11th, 15th, 22,1, 25th, 28th, and 29th Regi.
ment,N.l., is to be formed.
Major-General Stalker, commanding the expedi-
tionary field force, says, in his despatch to the
Secretary of the Government : Political Department
of Bombay—

I would beg especially to mention the unwearied
exer-
tions and valuable aid rendered to me, from the landing
at Hallila Bay to the taking of Bushire, b
y my
CAadpj
tuat
iann t er
an
ye
,r a
thel L iAe us tsei
sntaanntt- CQo luoanret
el r
raYa osut
enrg bGuesnbearnad assistant;;
Major Hill, Commanding Engineers ; Captain-Dunster-
villa, Assistant Commissary-General ; and Dr. Macken-
zie, the Superintending
tdSh ueLrmige euoost nt g
Lieutenant-Colonel
nant-Colonel Malet died
.
gallant style. Brigadier
lae aoßdn irnni
commanding the 2d Infantry Brigade ; Lieut.-
gegra, od e r t
their°
Colonel SbephearC, who succeeded to the command
of the Ist Infantry Brigade; Lieutenant-Colonel
y
lyan, commanding the Artillery Brigade ; and Lieut.,-
commandingsfitrh
thee
Cavalry
B Brigade,
,:O;rinoende Colonel
Tapp,wa rmestthau
arduOus duties have been carried . .theirhae r
manneras laia whichls
also
Captain
aptain
Pottinger, Brigade Major of Artillery, whose exertions
were conspiacous ; and my best thanks are equally due
to Major Stirling; Commanding H.M.'s 64th Regiment ;
to Captain Macleod, who succeeded to the command of
the 20th Regiment ; Lieutenant Colonel Ramsay,
commanding 2d European L. I. ; to Major Manson,
Commanding 4th Rifles ; to Captain Hough, command-
ing 2d Belooch Battalion ; to Captain Forbes, who suc-
ceeded to the command of the 3d Light Cavalry ; to
Major Blake, Comma' ding the 4th Troop H.A. ; to
Captain Hatch, commanding No. 3 Light Fie!cl Bat-
tery ' • to Captain Gibbard, commanding No. E Light
Field Battery ; and to Captain Dickinson, commanding
the Sappers and Miners.
I have also derived every possible assistance from my
Aide-de-Camp, Captain Hunter ; Major Ballard, Head
Department; Major Boy e, the
oDfeptuhtey jullitigeleliAgednveae cateGeneral ; Captain Rigby, who
nas acted as my Persian Interpreter ; Captain Finni-
'core, Commissary of Ordnance ; Captain Collier,
Deputy Assistant Adjutant General ; Captain Shew€ll,
and Lieutenant Holland, Deputy Assistant Quarter
Master General ; Major Barr, Paymaster ; and Lieut.
Willoughby, Sub-Assistant Commissary General.
Lord Dunkellin, of the Coldstream Guards ; Major
Taylor, of the Persian Embassy ; and Mr. JoLnitene,
of the Indian Navy, also rendered most efficient service
(having attached themselves to my personal Staff); and
to Mr. Johnstone 's knowledge of the country and its