The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-07 00:00:00

shorter their line would become, which was quite
true; for Lonato and Castiglione, .the two places
where all the Mincio passages lead to, are not more
than four or five miles distant from each other, and
in pushing back the enemy they might hope to en-
velope his right wing. This was evidently their
calculation, only it was wrong, and therefore failed.
If one is certain of victory, then one is justified in
choosing an order of battle which will make that
victory the most decisive, and the enemy's defeat
most complete ; but the events which have occurred
hitherto in this campaign scarcely justified the Aus-
trians in reckoning, even with a superiority in
numbers, on a certain victory ; it would have been
therefore wiser to be more moderate in their plans.
" In attempting. too much they weakened their
forces at the decisive point, and while they tried
their offensive movement on their left they lost the
key of their position at Solferino. One can, indeed,
forgive them for thinking this latter impregnable,
fortified and garrisoned as it was, but in warfare
there exist only greater or lesser probabilities, and
no absolute certainties.
" After the loss of Solferino nothing remained
but to think of retreat. The plain on both sides of
the road to Goito became untenable, for it could be
taken in flank from the spurs of the hills, and if
the resistance was too long continued there was
the danger of its being also taken in flank from
Medole, and so lose the road to Goito. The centre
could not assist it, for if it did move towards the
right it exposed its own line of retreat, which was
towards Valleggio.
" As it was, the line of retreat to Goito could only
be kept with the greatest sacrifices, and it is but
justice to say that the Austrians somewhat re-
deemed the mistakes which they made in their ad-
vance by the masterly way in which they managed
their retreat, under very unfavourable circum-
stances. I have spoken already of the Campo di
Medole, but I must go back to it, for it played a
prominent part in the retreat of the Austrian left
w in "
This Campo is an open piece of ground entirely
devoid of trees. It forms almost a parallelogram, of
which San Cassiano, the foot of the hills of Cavriana,
Medole, and Piure form the four angles; it is about
two miles in width and 2 miles in length, and is
intersected in its width by the roalto Goito, which
passes through Guidizzolo ; this, in its turn, is in-
tersected by the road from Medole to San Cassiano,
which runs just at the beginning of the Campo. This
open ground is mostly filled with scanty crops of
corn and fields of Indian corn as yet not full grown.
The borders of it are planted with rows of vines,
trained up like low trees, and large numbers of
mulberry trees.
" When the Austrians had to withdraw from their
first line they took up their position on the border
beyond this plain, in the front of the village of Gui-
dizzolo, which lies about one-third of a mile beyond
the open Campo. They were a cheval on the road
to Goito. Here they had to sustain in the after-
noon, from two o'clock till nightfall, a most formid-
able combined attack. The Ist. and 2d Corps and
the Guards began just about that time to scale the
heights of Cavriana, and advance on the lower
spurs of the hills towards the Campo. The 4th
Corps (Niel's), which had abstained from the
offensive until the position of Solferino was taken,
began to debouch from the woods on the Castiglione
side of the Campo, and from the cross-road which
leads from Piure to Guidizzolo. The cavalry of the
Guard and several regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique
were coming out from the main road of Castiglione
to Goito. The Austrian position was thus attacked
from three sides. The superiority of the French
artillery told nowhere more than at this point. Its
great range and precision were really marvellous,
for while every shell and shrapnel of the rifled can-
non could be seen striking and bursting in the
midst of the infantry lines of the enemy, and among
his batteries, the enemy's cannon could do but little
harm. This was most striking in the beginning,
when the distance between the two lines was still
great. You saw the shot and shell fall short ; the
shell, fired evidently at a very high elevation,
burst in the air before the French lines. In spite
of this disadvantage the Austrians brought up gun
after gun, and it was interesting to watch how soon
most of them were silenced. What seemed to me
surprising was, that the Austrians did not try to
make up by number what they wanted in range
and precision. They never brought up more than
three or four guns at a time, and those kept almost
always on the road, although the open Campo' was
well adapted for evolutions of artillery. I can only
think that they were not much inclined to lose
them, and had therefore their artillery dispatched
towards the Mincio, keeping only the most neces-
sary part of it with them—rather false economy, it
seems to me, for what they saved in cannon they lost
in men. The fields on both sides of the road in front of
Guidizzolo were strewn with dead and wounded.
Another thing which remains to be explained is,
that they did not take advantage of the large mass
of cavalry-12 regiments—which they had brought
over, and which, ably employed, might have been
of considerable use in protecting their retreat. Here
the reason seems likewise to have been economy, or
else that they could not bring up all their cavalry
on the road. encumbered by the retreat of the army.
At any rate, there seemed to me nothing like 12
regiments of cavalry in the field, every one of
which ought to have above a thousand horses in
war time. There were but two small charges of a
few squadrons of Lancers against the Chasseurs
d'Afrique, which looked very warlike, but which
did not contribute very much towards the success
of either side. It was the Austrian infantry which
had all the shock to bear, and their resistance was
unquestionably obstinate.
"If I have been clear enough in explaining the
respective position of the two armies, you must
have seen that, leaving aside the Piedmontese en-
gagement, which had no connexion with the opera-
tions on this side, our whole attack was made by
two large columns, the first, to the left, consisting
of the Ist and 2d Corps and of the Infantry of the
Guard ; and the other, to the right, of the 4th
Corps, with the 3d echelonned to the right of it.
Both these columns advanced from the plain, and
had for the object of their operations Cavriana,
which was the centre of the Austrian position.
They were to reach this point by two great flank
movements, in order to gain the range of heights to
the left, and to break through the Austrian line,
separating the centre at Cavriana from the left wing
at Guidizzolo and Ceresale. Accordingly, the Ist
Corps, which was on the left, and supported by the
Guards, advanced, at the base of the hills, as far as
the road of Solferino, and then passsed to the left
and scaled the position. Having done so, it took
again its original direction, and went over the crest
of the hills towards Cavriana. The 2d Corps, which
was to the right of it, continued to sweep the plain
and the hillside as far as San Cassiano, then
likewise faced to the left, and went up the
heights, which were at the same time attacked by
the left column, which had already gained the hills.
The 4th corps kept its original direction to the left
of the Goito road, until it came in front of Guidiz-
zolo. It threatened the extreme left of the enemy
and the line of retreat of this wing from Medole,
and then took likewise the direction towards the
hills, so as to throw itself between the centre of the
enemy's army and separate it from the left wing.
"The taking of Solferino and this movement of our
right column, to throw itself between the centre and
left wing of the Austrians, are the two great phases
of the day. Until 5 o'clock this second phase was still
undecided. Just about that time a heavy thunder-
storm came down, which lasted for more than half
an hour, and became the turning point. While the
4th corps continued its attack on Guidizzolo a divi-
sion of the 3d corps was brought up, and, crossing
behind the former, threw itself between the hills of
Cavriana and Guidizzolo. At the same time the
artillery was working on the flank, from the last
spurs of the hills of Cavriana. This was decisive,
and the Austrian line was soon broken through.
"As for the material results of the day, they were, as
you know by the bulletin, 30 guns and several thou-
sand prisoners ; but they are nothing in comparison
with the moral effect of the battle. The strategical
gain is the Mincio line. Unfortunately, it was not
possible to gain the Mincio passage. The enemy
was indeed defeated; but, apprehending danger to
his line of retreat, he began to retire early in the day
and in tolerably good order. It was nightfall before
he was driven out from Guidizzolo and Cavriana.
From there to the Mincio is about 10 miles, and the
troops had been On foot and fighting without food
since sunrise. Even those who had not taken part
in the action were exhausted by fatigue, hunger,
and thirst. The exertion would have been too much.
" The losses are far greater than I at first antici-
pated. They cannot be less than from 30,000 to
33,000 on both sides. You can only estimate them
after passing over the whole length of line in every
direction. In spite of the exertions made, it has
:lot yet been possible to find and bury all the dead
men ; as for the horses, they still lie about in
scores, infecting
the air.
" On the French side the proportion of the
wounded to the dead is greater than usual, which
is explained by the small projectiles of the Austrian
rifles. Most of the wounds are in the head, neck,
and limbs, which is in consequence of the fight
being on the steep hills. The large number of our
own wounded and those of the enemy made it im-
possible to provide for them at first, and it became
necessary to call in the efforts of the population.
Certainly Brescia may be proud of its population,
for nothing could be more striking than the noble
awhich it behaved. Not a
her small, which has not found
mone or more of the wounded,
loieduasuePs oatrtori family,etoi coNlnChaooli ent
and many deprived themselves not only of their
csuomffefroirutgs,sbouftthosofnece
e order to relieve the
whssoarie
fought for them. All those
Who had carriages at their disposal went out them-

tage by its precipitousness. The church, which is
built at the edge of it, forms likewise a prominent
feature. Just at the junction of this spur with the
mountain itself a very steep road leads down towards
Castiglione. The part of the village built about these
points is called the upper village. Towards Cavriana
the mountain falls off very precipitously, and just
at the base of it is built the lower village, to which
the road leads up by San Cassiano.
" As all the roads are between the different spurs,
each forms a sort of defile. The chief attacks were
consequently directed upon the heights themselves.
Most of these are so steep at their upper part that a
person -anencumbered by anything has the greatest
difficuly in climbing them, so you may imagine what
it was for the French soldiers to get to the top with
their packs. The Austrians on the top had left
theirs behind them, and waited the attack in this
manner. Add to this difficulty a scorching June
sun, several hostile batteries sending down grape,
and a dense mass of infantry firing down with their
rifles. It was noon before the heights were crowned.
A brigade of the first division of the Ist corps, and
one of the second division, Ist corps, did their best
to get possession of the heights, but they had to go
back again. It was then that the Emperor, who
was on one of the low hills directing the move-
ments, is reported to have said, " Il faut avoir ce
point, c'est la clef de la position. Dites aux Grena-
diers de la Garde de s'avancer ;' and then, as if re-
membering that they had had their share at Ma-
genta, he said Non ; envoyez la premiere brigade
des Voltigeurs ;' and the Chasseurs and the Ist bat-
talions of the Ist and 2d regiments of Voltigeurs
came on, and took the heights at a run, with the 12
guns which were placed there. Their dash was so
magnificent that the Emperor, and, in imitation of
him, the whole Staff, raised their caps, and shouted
Bravo les Voltigeurs
" I got to the place a short time after it had been
taken, and I must confess I never saw such destruc-
tion of humanity in so small a spece. You saw
what the fight cost both sides when you counted
the numbers and facings of the different regiments
engaged. The wonder to me, however, is how the
position could ever be taken. Those of the enemy
who were in the keep at the foot of the town were
taken prisoners. They had orders to defend the
place to the last man.
" The attack of the 2d corps, which, as you will
remember, was placed to the right of the first, and
had to clear the plain on the left of the road to
Goito, near the slopes of the hills, had no less diffi-
culties although of another kind. The ground is
as level as a table by nature, but has been inter-
sected with roads, hedges, rows of trees, ditches,
and banks. Every one of these artificial obstacles
became a new means of resistance to the enemy.
This resistance was greatly facilitated by the num-
ber of detached farmhouses, which abound there,
and every one of which became a little blockhouse,
which had to be taken.
" The 4th corps worked in the same way on the
right-hand side of the Goito road. One part of this
corps was sent to make a flank movement from
Medole, and debouch towards Guidizzolo, about
the heights of Cavriana. The fight, above all, in the
farmhouses was most obstinate, for the Austrians,
who saw themselves in danger of losing the Goito
road, and being thrown towards the hills, did every
thing to prevent the advance of the 4th corps. In
spite of this both the columns dedouched in the
afternoon on the Campo di Medole. No doubt, the
taking of Solferino relieved this side very much, for
from that moment the Austrians fought for their
retreat. A person in the house occupied by the Em-
peror of Austria says that when the latter saw the
retreat of his troops from the tower of Cavriana he
had tears in his eyes.
" While this was going on on our right the Pied-
montese, as had been agreed, sent forward their re-
connaissance—one column, a brigade of the sth
division, with two guns, towards Peschiera, and the
I other, a brigade of the 3d division, with four guns,
towards Pozzolengo. This last column had for its
support the other brigade of the sth division.
'While the first went across the country towards
Peschiera, the second followed the railway line
which leads from Desenzano to Peschiera, and then
leaving it at the intersection of the road by the
railway, rounded towards Pozzolengo.
"The country to the south of the Peninsula of
Sermione rises gently towards the mountains, form-
ing a kind of basin towards the lake. Thickly planted
with trees, it is not very favourable for observation.
The Sardinians, not suspecting the neighbourhood
of an enemy, advanced with their reconnaissance as
far as San Martino, which is a plateau to the right
of the road, rising abruptly from the lower coun-
try. This plateau is a few thousand feet square,
and at the foot of it are ensconced among the trees
a number of farmhouses. The officer of the staff
who accompanied the expedition thought he saw
figures moving towards the opposite side while
the Piedmontese passed, but he thought them
country people. The column passed on, therefore,
sending some skirmishers up to the plateau, who
found themselves received with rifle balls from the
houses at the bottom. The column faced round, and,
having disposed its guns to bear on the thicket, it
advanced towards the plateau, and succeeded,
though not without severe loss, in gaining the
height, and at the same time a messenger was sent
to hasten the advance of the next brigade. Before
this could arrive, however, the Austrians had brought
up fresh troops, and the Piedmontese were driven
from the position they had taken up. When the fresh
brigade had come up another attempt was made to
get possession of the heights, which, however, did
not succeed, and the Piedmontese retired, to form
again and to await the reinforcement of two fresh
brigades. These, the Brigades Aosta and Camou, ar-
rived at about 4 p.m., and then a new effort was
made. All the guns were united into one large bat-
tery, to throw down the houses at the foot of the
plateau, and three columns formed for an attack.
Although dead beat by the rapid march, they sealed
the heights, and finally not only maintained their
position, but followed the enemy close to Pozzolengo.
Their loss was very severe, about 4,000 killed and
wounded. They had for their adversaries the entire
Bth Corps d 'Armee of General Benedek, and were
therefore terribly overmatched. No doubt they
would have had even greater difficulties had it not
been for the success at Solferino and Cavriana, which
imperiously compelled a retreat on the right of the
Austrian army as well. Two Piedmontese generals
are wounded and almost every colonel of the regi-
mepts engaged.
During the fight a message came from the other
wine- to send a division towards Solferino, to act
on that side.
" I must interrupt my letter, for the mail leaves
More to-morrow.

" CAVRIANA, JUNE 2
" If I remember right, my account of the battle
broke off yesterday with the engagement on our left
wing, between the Piedmontese and the corps of
General Benedek. As far as our side is concerned
the engagement at San Martino must be looked at
as an entirely separate affair, not entering into the
general plan of the battle. It was only towards
noon, a short time before the taking of Solferino,
that their co-operation, as I said before, was de.
manded. Having two divisions and a-half already
engaged against a far superior enemy, and having
likewise to apprehend an advance of the Austrians
from Peschiera towards Desenzano, it was impossi-
ble to make the movement in the direction of Sol-
ferino which was wanted.
" On the side of the Austrians, on the contrary,
the movement all along the line was according to
one plan. The great difficulty was, however, to
give to the movements the necessary ensemble on
a line of from 12 to 15 miles in length. Until the
orders from Cavriana could arrive the situation was
very often entirely changed, and to choose the op-
portune moment for a movement is just one of the
most important conditions for the success of a battle.
As it was, the right wing at Pozzolengo was en-
tirely isolated from the rest, while the movements
of the left wing could likewise be only imperfectly-
controlled. The length of the line made the em-
ployment of the reserves
equally difficult, and
caused a want of cohesion in the whole, which
might have been far more fatal than it really was
had the Austrians not thought so early of their
retreat. All these great mistakes were up to a cer-
tain point counterbalanced by the number of lines
of retreat which the Austrians possessed. But this
advantage told only towards the end, and saved
tnem
fromwhat otherwise would probably have
been
eb, line
with
h a complete rout. During the battle it was
eu.rioas to watch the effects of the too great length
of
r then e
iatnd its corresponding weaknese. The
F
brtehakeiirno.firtbstronil eotru
pressing
o s it3-invariablythe
succeeded in
back
part of the line which theattacked, and before
the reserves came up they had usually succeeded in
throwing themselvss into the flank of the Austrians,
who still maintained their ground, thus forcing
them likewise to retreat. In spite of their nu-
merical superiority the Austrians found themselves
always too few at the decisive point and at
the decisive minute. They were thus pressed
back step by step. The more they retired the
greater became the length of the line and the cor-
responding disadvantage, for the road to Goito,
which was the line of retreat for their left wing,
and at the same time of vital importance, as one of
the chief passages of tbeMincio, runs off diagonally
towards the river. This was, of course, a
six passages on the
disad-
vantage which they could not help, but they ought
evidently not to have chosen a line of battle which
exposed them to it. They have
Mincio—at Peschiera, Salionge, Monzarabano,
Borghetto, Valleggio, and Goito. They wanted to
use, and had consequently to protect them all.
Like the hen with her numerous chickens, they
stretched out their wings so as to embrace them all.
They were probably very confident in their success,
and thought that the more they advanced the

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 7,' 1859.

selves to the French and Piedmontese lines to bring
back wounded. Others were waiting at the gates
of the town for their arrival, and carried off the
wounded as if they were a treasure which they had
found; others, again, in order to be beforehand in
the work of charity and patriotism, went out
several miles on the road to meet and invite them
to their abodes.
"These efforts were suddenly disturbed yesterday
afternoon by one of those panics which are com-
mon the day after a battle, when the excitement
has not had time to abate, and all minds are still
very sensitive to any outward impression. I hap-
pened to be on the road from Solferino to Castig-
lione about 3 p.m. It was covered with a long line
of carts and mules bringing in the wounded from
the battlefield. When not more than a few hun-
dred yards from the town I heard an unusual move-
ment behind, and saw clouds of dust arise. At the
same moment a man in the uniform of a Chasseur
d'Afrique passed on at full gallop, holding in his
hand his drawn sabre. The thing struck me so
much the more as on the evening of the battle,
when coming back from the Campo di Medole, I
also saw a person in the same uniform, and like-
wise with his sabre drawn, rush through the mules
and carts on the road. I tried to stop him, but
could not ; he went on, and after him came a rush
of mules, carts, and carriages, coursing along as
hard as they could, and jolting the wounded in the
most frightful manner. I hastened to get into the
town, to get out of this senseless rush. Here, too,
the confusion had spread; the sick who could still
walk tried to get off; the tricoloured flags disap-
peared in a moment., the shops were shut ; and all
this was caused by the notion that a detachment of
the enemy's cavalry had somehow or other come to
the high road, and cut off a convoy of provisions !
It was highly absurd, but it produced its impres-
sion, not only at Castiglione, but on the whole road
to Brescia and Milan even, growing at each station
to larger proportions. In Brescia it took the shape
that the Austrians were at the gates of the town.
But, again to the honour of the Brescians, it must
be said that the impression lasted only a few
minutes, and then the National Guard, troops, and
all those who could get hold of some weapon, went
to the ramparts, determined to resist.
" There was not the slightest ground for the
panic, so far as I can ascertain, and the impression
gains ground more and more that it was a false re-
port by Austrian spies. At any rate, a number of
individuals have been arrested, and I hear my
friend the Chasseur d'Afrique in disguise was shot
this morning.
" The evening of the battle the troops encamped
on the ground which had been occupied by the
enemy. Yesterday morning the line was extended
to Volta and Pozzolengo, and this morning we
are close to the Mincio. The head-quarters are
still at this most wretched of places, which has
been so plundered that the inhabitants live literally
by what they can get from the soldiers, having no
kind of provisions left for themselves.
" DESENZANO, JUNE 28.
" Here I am on the shores of the Lake of Garda,
looking across the smoothest, bluest, and most
transparent sheet of water to those bold Alpine
peaks which enclose the lake to the north. There
is Monte Baldo and the famous plateau of Rivoli
just distinguishable on the other shore, close to the
white dusky road which leads up in the valley of
the Adige. Right before me runs out from the
right the long peninsula of Sermione, with its
yellowish white churches reflected in the water.
The island marks for the moment the extent of
our domain on the lake, and beyond it you see
some green and dusky white, rather regular lines,
with a tower or two protruding from among them.
You take up your glass, and you distinguish the
fortress of Peschiera. You can see that the Aus-
trians have not lost time, and have considerably
increased the line of their works. It is too far to
distinguish the nature of these works, but from one
or two indications, you can make out a scientifically
fortified pentagon, with its lunettes before, and to
these have been added some more outer works.
Some of these are still in course of construction,
and as you look at the human ants digging away
on the mounds your memory carries you back in-
voluntarily to the first days of the siege of
Sebastopol, when every one ran up to the three
nameless hills, so famous afterwards, and looked
down eagerly on the Russians, who were heap-
ing up difficulty after difficulty, and obstacle
after obstacle. There, however, the comparison
must cease, for there is not much danger of these
molehills on the Lake of Garda becoming quite so
formidable as those of the great arsenal of the
Euzine. It will be rather interesting to watch the
changes which the rifled cannon will bring into the
system of fortification. If it answers here as well
as it does in the field one must begin to think of
remodelling the whole system. Peschiera, on this
side of the Mincio, is already invested, and, as soon
as the Mincio is passed, will be invested on the
other side. The sea side is open and accessible to
steamers, of which two still remain, the third, as
you know, being sunk the other day at Salo, where
she had gone to levy contributions. This morning
one of the two approached this place, and turned
once or twice, as if she was looking for a mooring
from which to greet the town with her fire ; but,
warned probably by the fate of her companion at
Salo, she got up steam again and went off to the
opposite shore.
"This place, which is quiet, little frequented,
and falling off since the railway has been con-
structed, is now drawn into the turmoil. Being on
the road to Brescia and Milan, there is a constant
movement going on in it, which contrasts strongly
with the grass-grown streets, tumbledown houses,
and the utmost poverty of resources. Still, it is a
charming change after the camp, for you have only
to look in the evening over the lake, illuminated
and surrounded with the halo of the sinking sun,
to forgat that a few miles from you are two power-
ful armies, intent on destroying each other as fast
and as effectually as possible.

'BIM

ENG

:AND.

" VOLTA, JUNE 29
"It is just two months to-day since the first Aus.
trian soldier crossed the Ticino, and to-day the
Franco-Sardinian army is deehelonised all along the
Mincio, waiting for the signal to cross this Rubicon
of the much talked of quadrilatere. The Emperor has
to-day transferred his head-quarters to Volta, and
to-morrow, or perhaps even to night, we shall be on
the other side of the Mincio. At any rate all pre-
parations have been made, although no resistance is
expected from the Austrians, who, according to all
accounts, have withdrawn all along the river.line.
If we pass the river without a battle, it will be the
result of the victory of Solferino. With arrivals so
uncertain and plans so changing as in the Austrian
army, we may find them in some strong position
about Casteggio or Formio Campo, just as we found
them, when we least expected, at Solferino. I think
from the lesson they received on St. John's day,
that they will not again risk a battle in the open
field, and will prefer retie ing into their positions
before Verona. Should they wish to try their luck
and skill again there are plenty of points almost as
favourable for them as their battle-ground five days
ago. Should they have more confidence in hilly
positions, there is a range on the other side of the
Mincio, exactly similar to that on this side. Should
they prefer a plain they have the whole country
between the Mincio, Villafranca, and the plateau of
Verona to choose from. All the most sanguinary
engagements during the war of 1848 occurred in
that neighbourhood ; Formio, Campeggio, Santa
Lucia, and Casteggio which decided the campaign.
The whole ground which we are about to tread has
been for years the study of the Austrian General
Staff, so it may be presumed that they will choose
what long and deep study has convinced them to
be the best.
" When our troops arrived at Volta they found
numbers of Austrians dead and dying left behind in
the place. They were left behind in the retreat,
and lying about in considerable numbers, infecting
the air. As the Austrians were not pursued to
Volta these must have been the wounded who had
been carried back from the battle-field of Solferino,
and who could not be taken away in the hurry of
retreat.
"There is a notion pervading the camp, which
has been probably imported from the other side,
that among their other means of defence the Aus-
trians have at Peschiera great locks on the Mincio,
by means of which they can send down any volume
of water, and increase its velocity to a degree which
no pontoon bridge ever made can resist. I give you
this as I have it, although I must say it seems to me
arrant nonsense.
" The road of communication to the south by
Cremona and Pavia on the one side, and Piacenza on
the other, is open, so that now the northerly, road by
Milan, which was formerly the only one used, will be
relieved of a considerable part of its traffic. The
bridge at Casetto over the Olio has been replaced
by a pontoon bridge. The Corps of Prince Napo-
leon, which came that way, is already so close to
the Great Army, that it can cooperate with it, and
before you have received this letter he will pro-
bably have taken up the position assigned to him.
One of his divisions, D'Autremar, was already at
Cassetto several days ago, while the rest, with the
Prince himself, was close to it at Tradina."

[ADvEnTisliNlENr.]—Holloway's Pills.— There is but
one disease, the fountain of all othersbad blood and
there is but one infallible remedy Holloway's Pills.
The blood is the life of life. There can be nothing in the
system permanently or radically unsound while that vital
fluid is perfectly pure and rightly tempered. Firm flesh, a
brilliant complexion, a quick and powerful digestion, an
elasticity of the animal spirits, and a consciousness of
health and strength, area few of the innumerable advan-
tages attendant upon purity of the blood, a blessing which
every one can obtnin who will take freely these inestimable
pills.—Plain directions for the guidance of patients in the
use of the pills are afthted to each box,

.ONOPOLY INT of Liverpool, Professor Gladstone, and Mr. John
Campbell, secretary.
The Sidon, paddle, Captain Crawford, was placed
in No. 2 dock at Portsmouth yesterday. She has
crossed her lower and topsail yards, and has battens
placed on her rigging in readiness for blacking and
rattling down.
The Ariel, 9, screw, Commander C. Bromley, will
pay off at Portsmouth this day.
The Pitt, coal depot, has been towed into Ports-
mouth harbour from her moorings off Ryde, for the
purpose of being fitted up as a coal depot for the
use of the fleet at Portland.
The gunboat Biter (tender to the Blenheim),
from Portland-roads, arrived in Plymouth on Tues-
day. morning.
The crew of the screw steamship Aboukir, 90,
Capt. Schomberg, were paid wages at Plymouth on
Tuesday.
The paddlewheel steam sloop Gladiator, 6, Com-
mander Hickley, was brought down Hamoaze to
the Rubble Bank on Tuesday to expedite her fitting
and for convenience of drawing stores.
The screw steam frigate Orlando, 50, was placed
in Keyham basin on Tuesday for the purpose of
being rigged. A division from the steam reserve
will perform this duty.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Lieut. H. F. Nicholson, to the
Trafalgar ; Lieut. Frederick J. Protheroe, to the
Wellington ; Lieut. Charles N. Streatfield, to the
Clio ; Richard J. Saunders, master, additional, to
the Asia ; Frederick Harvey, surgeon, to the Hero;
Robert Edwards, assistant-surgeon, confirmed in
the Pelorus ; Andrew Mullan, assistant-surgeon,
confirmed in the Tribune ; and Joseph H. Manley,
assistant-paymaster, to the Simoom.

THE ARMY.

Movements of troops for India have taken place
from Warley Barracks, Essex, during the last few
days. On Saturday a party of 200 Artillerymen
left, and yesterday a further draught took their
departure. They will be followed by others on
Saturday, and altogether no less than 700 will be
embarked for India.

PERPETUAL INVESTMENT, LAND,
AND BUILDING SOCIETY.

The eighth annual meeting of this society was
held yesterday evening, at Radley's Hotel, Black-
friars—John Gover, Esq., chairman of the board of

directors, presided.
Mr. J. E. TRESIDDER, secretary, read the report,
from which we extract the following paragraphs as
explanatory of the position of the society.:—
" The directors have deemed it conducive to the
interests of the members to consolidate the existing
business rather thau to extend it, and have there-

fore adopted plans having this object in view,
which, it is believed, will render the investments
made with the society both of a more permanent
and of a more profitable nature.
" The cash receipts for the year amount to
£133,547 ls. 7d., which sum, added to the receipts
of the seven previous years, makes an aggregate of
£674,324 lls. 7d.
" One thousand five hundred and thirty-six new
shares have been issued, making the total number
issued since the commencement of the society 19,276.
"The sum of £33,223 12s. 11d., has been received
upon investment shares, and the amount now stand-
ing in the books to that account is £133,407 9s. 2d.
" The sum of £33,242 lls. 11d., with the ordinary
interest, has, upon application, been repaid to the
shareholders.

" The subscription share accounts have been
credited with the amount of interest provided for
in the tables, and several of those taken for 74,- years
having expired, they have been paid off with the
accumulation of interest and profits ; the share-
holders, in many cases, re-investing the amount in
the purchase of new shares.
" The interest upon realised shares has either
been paid, or placed to the credit of the respective
accounts.

" The altered value of money during the past year
rendered it expedient to modify the rate of interest
upon realised shares and deposits, which has given
general satisfaction.
" The directors have, from the profits of the year's
business, paid off a tenth portion of the preliminary
expenses, leaving only £3BB ls. Id. to be paid by
instalments during the next four years. They have
also apportioned ten per cent. of the remaining
profits to the credit of the reserve fund, which
amount has been invested in Three per Cent.
Consols ; and they have added to the subscription
shares a bonus equal to 11 per cent. on shares upon
which twelve months' subscriptions or more have
been paid. This bonus, with the interest, has been
placed to the credit of the several accounts, a state-
ment of which can be obtained by any shareholder
upon application.
" The amount received in the deposit department
has been £22,003 14s. 5d., of which sum £11,976

7s. 7d. was in the savings' bank branch. The re
ceipts in this department have doubled those of the
previous year.
" The amount of deposits withdrawn has been
£18,467 4s. ; the interest being paid half-yearly,
or carried to the credit of the respective accounts,
and interest allowed thereon.
"The sum of £35,714 ss. ld. has been advanced
during the year, upon the mortgage of freehold,
copyhold, and leasehold property, making, with
former advances, £262,792 6s. ld.
" The sum of £1,922 ss. has been advanced to
shareholders during the year, upon the deposit of
their share certificates with a promissory, note.
" From the balance-sheet it appeared that the
working expenses of the society during the year
amounted to £3,013 7s. ld., and the balance at the
bankers £2,394 19s. 7d. The receipts for the year
amounted to £133,547 ls. 7d."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, explained, at some length, the operations of
the society from its establishment, and congratu-
lated the shareholders on the satisfactory report of
the last year's transactions. He then proceeded to
notice the great benefits which the society had con-
ferred not only on the shareholders, but on the
public at large. Its merits were not to be measured
so much by the profits it yielded to the shareholders
themselves as by the social advantages -which it
afforded to the thrifty, persevering, and
ofinvesting
industrious
tradesmwil There were many ways
capital, but none afforded such manifest advantages
tabs
etihr
ms
os
no cieye tiyn.
the F o ißr a
n nks t
oafn cEe ,n
gtlhaenyd moirg hi
invest
vlodge
t
in the funds ; but the rate of interest in either case
would not be so remunerative as that given by the
society. He was happy to say that 337 persons
had, during the past year, made deposits in the
savings bank department, and all these had ac-
knowledged the great benefits they had received
from the society.
There were, also, many persons
who could not ha e donoeusseos
wanitdhoulitttle
the pariodpoefrttiehse,
society. Moreovevre, such
.persons had the benefit of
the society's surveyors in valuing the property
without expense. How many had done themselves
mischief by purchasing property in building socie-
ties? This was not, however, to be imputed as a blame
to building societies, for no institution was without
defects. Every institution, however good, had been
abused ; but that was no argument against its
use. This was one of the many benefit societies
which had been found to work well for the middle
and lower classes, one which he believed would
confer advantages during life and enable the share-
holder, at the end of life, to leave something to his
relatives. The savings bank did much good, but
there was a difficulty in getting the money out
when it was wanted, the interest was small, and
there was not, as many erroneously supposed, any
Government security for the money deposited.
What he wished particularly to call the attention
of the meeting to was, that the directors had come
to the resolution to consolidate the existing busi-
ness rather than to extend it, and have therefore
adopted plans having this object in view, which,
it is believed, will render the investments made
with the society both of a more permanent and of
a more profitable nature. The society had a large
capital—they required no more deposits—they did
not see the wisdom of receiving money at four per
cent. and lending it at three, and therefore he
thought the resolution of the directors was judi-
cious. (Hear, hear.) ' The chairman concluded by
moving the adoption of the report.
Mr. G. MARSHALL seconded the motion.
Mr. KNOX approved of the report, but could see
no advantage in restricting the operations of the
society. He thought that, by extending its business,
much gain would be derived, for the same staff might
do much more work.
The CHAIRMAN said there was no disposition to
shut out the public from the advantages of the
society, but there was a danger of getting more
money than they could profitably invest. At pre-
sent the society were obliged to put £15,000 in the
funds, because they had no better mode of dispos-
ing of it.
After some remarks from Mr. Doxsey and Mr.
Pratt, the motion was agreed to.
Mr. Francis Cuthbertson, Mr. H. R. Sylvester,
and Mr. John Thomson were re-elected directors,
and Mr. Thomas Miers as auditor.
On the motion of Mr. E. HATCH, seconded by Mr.
BENDY, it was then resolved, "That this meeting
having regard to the stability of the institution,
has heard with considerable satisfaction the various
plans proposed durridnagtitohneopfathste ysoearefetfyo,rs
bthuesinmeasisn.;
tenance and cons°
passed
secretary t o the
and chair-
manauli- Votes of
otahradn kenofs
awi
re
er
cet
otrhs,
thpe
proceedings terminated.
tors, aannad the