The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-17 00:00:00

//

PRICE 4D• STAMPED, 5D

slid and dragged themselves with difficulty. The
high winds soon dried this up. This morning the
sky is stormy and threatening, and I fear we have
not yet got rid of the bad weather.
CAMP IN FRONT OF CEUTA, DEC. 5.
As I predicted in my letter of yesterday, the
weather, fine for a day, speedily relapsed into its
precious inclemency. At noon yesterday it blew
a gale, which soon swelled into a perfect hurri-
cane, accompanied by showers of very heavy rain.
At three p.m. it was doubtful whether the
steamer, the Buena Ventura, that was to take the
post to Algesiras, would be able to cross the
Straits. As I then came up to camp lam unable
to Ray whether or not she finally left the har-
bour. The evening and night were worthy of
the afternoon. It was not a mere storm, but a con-
tinuous hurricane. We dined in momentary expec-
tation of the tent descending upon the table and
upon ourselves, and slept, as far as it was possible,
with similarly agreeable anticipations. The conti-
nual flapping of canvass and occasional bursts of
rain were varied only by the monotonovs Sentinela
alerta ! repeated every half hour by the long line
of sentries that protect the camp. The day broke,
cloudy and dreary, upon damaged tents and a deso-
late prospect. At the present time (half-past 8 a.m.)
there is little appearance of improvement. The
aspect of the camp is uncomfortable enough. Some
are struggling with their loosened tents, knocking
in pegs, which the softened ground will hardly re-
tain, mending broken poles, and straining damp
canvass, while others are making efforts, generally
not successful, to get up something in the shape of
breakfast. Here is a general philosophically con-
tenting himself with a cup of half-cold chocolate,
the first morning refection of most Spaniards ; yon-
der an unintelligent servant pours lukewarm water
into a pot, and evidently imagines that he is making
tea. The soldiers, poor fellows, must have had a bad
time of it during the past night, with no better
shelter than their little tentes d'abri, on the French
model ; and as for those in front of all, up on the
elevated redoubt, it is wonderful some of them have
not been blown over into the deep valley their po-
sition overlooks. An attack by the Moors was all
that was wanted to complete the disagreeables of
the night, but, luckily, what was bad for us was
equally so for them, and they would have had no
easy work to make their way towards us in the
teeth of the tempest and over most difficult ground,
soddened and slippery from rain. Moreover, the
Spanish forces are now very considerable. Troops
have been daily arriving, and the two esips (Tame°
(Ist and 2d) must now be nearly or quite complete.
The 3d will hardly be able to come here from Ma-
laga until the weather moderates, of which, at the
present moment, there is not the smallest sign.
We learn that another division is being formed of
troops raised in the north of Spain (the Basque
provinces, I believe), and that,as soon as completed
it will move down southwards. In presence of the
extremely unfavourable aspect of the weather, it
seems matter of general regret that it was not con-
sidered possible to postpone the opening of the cam-
paign until a less stormy and inclement season.
Had it commenced at the beginning of February
there would have been three months to operate in
before the heat became at all oppressive, and time
would thus have been obtained for preparations
which at present have been but imperfectly made.
[f this weather lasts it will be quite impossible to
do anything, and meantime the troops outlying,
Ind exposed to inclemency, cannot but suffer greatly
from sickness. I fear last night will have sent not
i, few into hDspital. Lying upon the damp ground
with a greatcoat and blanket for their sole protec•
ion, cannot but lead to dysentery and other dis-
srders. If we got only a fortnight of settled fine
weather, exempt from rain and wind, we might do
something—probably take Tctuan,but shall we get
it? One forms an idea that the climate of North
Africa must much resemble that of Southern Spain,
and that the soft breezes which render Malaga so
genial a residence are also to be found. on the coast of
Morocco. This is a manifest delusion. The Cell-
tans tell me that the weather we now have is very
common here at this season, an I that about Christ-
mas they are generally visited by piercing blasts
from the north, while snow is not unfrequently
ieen upon the mountains. Ido not wish to sketch
the prospects of this army in gloomy colours, but I
fear that, without any reference to the results of
their encounters with the enemy, their loss from
sickness will inevitably be very considerable. As
it is, I have this momentbeen informed, from a good
source, that the sanitary state of the army, although
not such as to inspire alarm, is by no means satis-
factory, and the number of sick men one daily meets
going from the front into the town, borne on
stretchers, is sufficient to give a certain confirma-
tion to this statement.

While the weather continues in its present state
there will be little to write to you as regards the
army. All is waiting and expectancy. It is now 2
p.m., the wind still high, although its force has
somewhat abated, and the sea very rough. Over the
range of hills to our front, where the Moors have
their fastnesses, hangs a dense grey cloud, seemingly
laden with humidity and storm. There are no arrivals
of transports. The post-boat got out yesterday, late
in the afternoon. Doubts are entertained as to the
departure of to-day's mail. Gibraltar is dimly dis-
cernible through the mist that shrouds the straits.
Various are the aspects of the double-headed rock
as seen from this, the opposite continent. Sometimes
it stands out, in leaden solidity, a dark grey mass ;
at others, through a clearer atmosphere, one discerns
the white lines of its houses and fortifications; now it
glitters in the full sunlight, or, as I the other morning
saw it, one half is bright and clear, while the other,
less favoured by the beams, remains of a uniform
dark slate colour. There stands the head and front
of England's offending in Spanish eyes. Gibraltar
is the thorn in the Spaniard's side, which may bo
forgotten while greater evils press and gall him, but
whick he is prone to revert to when those have
passed away, and prosperity appears about to return.
Of late, as may be easily imagined, the discussions re-
lative to the Morocco expedition, the representations
of the British Cabinet on the subject, and the ru-
mours of misunderstandings, and even of a possible
rupture between the English and French Govern-
ments, have revived the old grief and given promi-
nence to the vexed question. One hears frequent
conversations about Gibraltar—about its capacity
of resistance under the altered conditions of modern
warfare, and concerning the possibility of its rescue
from British hands, either by friendly or by forcible
means. Lately, I am told, in one of the large towns
of Southern Spain a toast was given to the
effect that Gibraltar might, within a year, be
crowned with the Spanish standard. Of course,
it would be easy to multiply and improve upon
such sentiments, and to drink to the recovery of
Mexico and of the whole of Spanish America, but
the toast shows the bent of public feeling at this
moment. There is little use in reasoning with
Spaniards on the subject ; it is one that touches
their national pride, and that they will not long
regard from any other point of view.
Besides Marshal O'Donnell, we have now two
Lieut.-Generals here—Zabala and Prim. The divi-
sion commanded by the former (second) lately
moved forward and relieved the first, which was in
the advanced line. The commander of the latter
division, Major-General Echague, is at present in
Ceuta, getting cured of a wound in his hand, which
he received in the affair of the 25th of November.
O'Donnell lives in a tent of very moderate dimen-
sions, and in no very sheltered position, and shares
the discomforts of his officers, which, under present
circumstances, are not a few. The Spaniards are
e of naturally,
aeam p l forife a
ther are alleviated,
most
various shifts and contrivances by which the evils
aalleviated,,buintexthpeeyriesenecinedtointatkhee
pretty readily to this sort of thing, and will doubt-
-1
, less become skilful campaigners, if the war lasts
long enough. What they now have to encounter,

'...P.,:\ PE lit
c7-.-777,477,c,
however, in the way of diffi d. culties:an ob4ao 0,41.--cl‘.!l'
'much less than they will meet upon illohlinVW, ft..\!,-.
march. It is very different bein •CpearroA4tor.. -;344;
close to Ceuta and their ships, an haying
to; 44 Rjr: ..'
1.1
a camp suddenly, at the close of a cs.y2S-ritareit 7:-!:1^'",
skirmishing, with sick and wounded tokle Wien s
care of, baggage to be got up, and everything to be
made right and safe for the night, at a time of the
year, too, when it is dark at 5 p.m., and hardly
light until 7 a.m. Nobody, however, seems to doubt
of coming triumphs, and the general confidence is
increased by the behaviour of Spaniards and Moors •
respectively in the skirmishes that have taken place.
Pending the arrival of better weather and more
stirring times, there is little to do here, sale to ride
up to the front or down into Ceuta, which latter
is, indeed, within an easy walk from head-quar- ,
ters. At the front, when one has been there once
or twice, there is not much to be seen, and the
roads, or rather tracks, are rough, steep, and
trying to horses. The advanced redoubt men-
tioned in former letters forms the right of our -
position. Beyond it, more to the right, but slightly
to the rear of the line or the redoubt is another emi-
nence crowned by a small building known as the
Casa del Renegado. To this house a legend is at-
tached of an escaped galley-slave, who, unable either
to return to his countrymen or forget his country,
established his residence there, in order to be within
constant view of the beloved Spanish shore. Such
is the tale told here, and, whether true or not, worse
subjects have been used by the ballad-maker than
the heintsucht of the unhappy convict. The rene-
gade's house is not occupied by the Spaniards,
although their light infantry went up there on the
80th. The Moors go up there, but as its position
includes it in our line, they quickly abandon it on
any appearance of a forward move on ourpart. For
the last day or two they have been very quiet.
Probably they like the bad weather as little as we
do.

DEc. 6.
The same dearth of news; the weather mending,

but still cloudy and uncertain. The Commander-in-
Chief rode out yesterday in front of the redoubt with

some Staff officers and troops. Very few Moors were
seen, and not a shot was fired. We hear that at

Madrid people are in a fever of impatience for news
from the seat of war, and in hourly expectation of

some great victory. If they Saw a.little of the difii•
culties this army has to contend with, mainly as
regards the weather, they would understand the ne-
cessity of taking patience. The lull in the wind this

morning, should it continue, will probably enable
Ros de Olano's corps to commence its movement.
But there seems no security for a calm of any du-

ration in these seas, and 10,000 or 11,000 men, with

corresponding baggage, stores, horses, and mules,
are not shipped in a day in Spain, even were there
transports sufficient. I should say it would be
very qUick work indeed, judging from the past, if
the Third Corps were landed complete in Africa

within an entire week of the movement of its first

detachment from Malaga. Then, none of the ea-

valry has come—that is to say there are 250 horses
or thereabouts, for escort and orderly duty, but
there are to be 2,000 with this army altogether.
. . .

the bulk of which are at Xeres and in its vicinity.

The transport of horses is what costs the most time,
the Spanish horses being for the most part ticklish
and fidgety, and hard to sling. At the Trocadero

,he other day it took the whole morniEg to get

about 80 on hoard a steamer, although that was due
in great part to the inexperience of the men em-

ployed. Then, when they get here, if there is any

sea on, there is a heavy surf, and landing them is

not easy. In short, it seems to me difficult that any-
thing of importanse should be done within a week,
unless Marshal O'Donnell intends commencing the
_ _ _

campaign with the two corps and General Prim's
reserve (I estimate them at 25,000 men, certainly
not more), already here, and leaving the others to
come up afterwards. This may be his intention ;
nothing has transpired of his plan. Whether we
are to begin with Tangier or Tetuan is still a favou-
rite subject of conjecture. Some think the former,
because, if we took Tetuan, we should have to
weaken ourselves by leaving a considerable force

here, owing to the size of the place and its small

means of defence.

The post closes at noon, and is likely to leave
punctually to-day, the weather having decidedly
improved. The report concerning tho health of the
army is that cholera is rather prevalent, but not
very malignant. At the first symptoms the' men
are taken down to hospital and cared for, and I am
assured that the percentage of deaths on cases is not
more than 15 or 20 per cent. I have received from
an officer who took a prominent part in it some
details of the action of the 25th, which appears to
have been sharply contested. The Moors fought
bravely, chiefly from behind trees, to which they
cling like serpents, shifting round them so as to
present the least possible mark to the enemy. Their
espingardas, very long-barrelled guns, require a
prop for their aim to be all sure. When thus sup-
ported, I am assured that they will kill at 400
paces. On the 25th a battalion of the Regiment
of Merida got into the rear of a large body
of Moors, who were defending a wood, and
charged them with the bayonet, killing a
good many of them. When thus attacked
they take their guns by the barrel and use them as
clubs. This mode of defence is found very ineffec-
tual against the bayonet, with which the little
Spanish soldiers run in upon them. The Moors
are described to me, by persons who have been in
close contact with them, and have seen many of
their dead bodies, as extremely fine men, most of
them tall, not a few nearly six feet high, bearded,
and of various complexions, varying from black, or
nearly so, to a tint almost as white as that of most
Europeans.. They are extremely dirty and
wretchedly clad, a white haik (a sort of tunic with
a hood) being their only garment. Their stature,
their wild and ferocious appearance and horrible
yells, might have been expected, perhaps, to have
an intimidating effect upon troops of which the ma-
jority are mere recruits ; but such does not appear
to have been the case. The officers engaged in the
combat of the 25th are highly satisfied with their
behaviour, and express themselves perfectly con-
fident of their standing firm against Moorish
cavalry, as they have already done against the at-
tacks of the infantry.
According to an account that has just reached
me, and in which I have reason to place confidence,
the corps of General Ros de Olano will not come
here, but will land on the coast near Tetuan, on
which place we shall march as soon as the weather
permits. The Moors are said to have 20,000 men
between Tangier and Tetuan, so, if they mean to
fight, we may expect an action before reaching the
,atter place.

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7

R OVAL

Eti GLISH OPERA,
COVENT-GA RDEN.

Under the mannement of Miss L. Fyne and Mr.W. Harrison.
THIS EVENING, wit be performed SATANELLA.
Messrs. W. Harrison. Santley, G. Honey, H. Corri, St. Albyn,
Xiss Cruise, Pilling, and Louisa Pyne.

Conductor, Alfred Mellon.

Ballet, LA FIANCEE. Messrs. W. H. Payne, H. Payne,
F. Payne, Mdlle. Lequine, Pasquale, Pierron, Clara Morgan,
and Mons. Vandris.

Doors open at half-past 7—Commence at 8 o'clock.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING the performances will commence with
A GAME OF SPECULATION.
After which, by desire, THE CONTESTED ELECTION,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles 3rathews, Mr. Buckstone, &c.
And SHOCKING EVENTS.
CoTrunence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Lessee, Mr. A. Harris.

THIS EVENING. the new drama, entitled HOME
T itUTHS. Messrs. G. Melville, J. G. Shore, F. Matthews,
Miss C. Lec-ercq and Mrs. Charles Young.
To be followed by the new Petite Comedy, entitled
GOSSIP. Messrs. Ryder, Meadows, H. Bland, J. G Shore;
and Mrs. C. Young,.
After which, Mons, Espanosa (Premier Danseur Comique),
will appear, with Madlle. Nariquita, assisted by the Ladies of
the Corps de Ballet, in Le Grand Pas du Dervish de Faust, as
danced by him 150 consecutive nights at the Theatre de la
Porte St. Martin, Paris.
To conclude with NURSEY CHICKWEED. Messrs. H.
Widdicomb, Meadows, H. Saker ; Miss L. Keeley and Mrs.
Weston.

NEWW THEATRE - ROYAL, AD ELPHI.
THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster.

THIS EVENING, THE DEAD HEART. Messrs
B. Webster. .I. L. Toole, David Fisher, Paul Redford. Stuart,
Billinzton, C.. 1. Smith, Ehurre, Moreland; Miss Wootzar,
and Miss K. Kelly.

Followed by the successful piece of extravagance, called
DINORAIT UNDER DIFFICULTIES. Messrs. J. L. Toole,
P. Bedford, C. J. Smith, Eburne, and Hiss K. Kelly.
Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box-
Moe open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats,
nor for bills of performance. All fees to servants of this
establishment are strictly prohibited.
Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith.

THEATRE-ROYAL LYCEUM.—
Sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste.

-- -
THIS EVENING, a new Vandeville Comedietta, called
THE KEY UNDER THE DOOR-MAT. Messrs. James
Vinning, Jno Rouse, Sm. ; Mesdames A, H. Hatton and Julia
St. George.
To be followed by the new Drama Fantastique, entitled
PARIS AND PLEASURE ; or, home and Happiness.
Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, J. Vining, J. John-
stone, F. Villiers ; Misses Julia St. George, Hudspeth, Kate
SaVille, A. Burdett, and Madame 'eleste.
Po conclude with ST. MARY'S EVE. Madame Celeste
and Mr. Rouse.

ROY AL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE,
King-street, St. James's. Lessee. Mr. T. B. Chatter-
ton. The nearest Theatre to Chelsea. Pimlico, and West-
minster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passen-
gers all hour:, of the night.
THIS EVENING, THEY'RE BOTH TO BLAME.'
Followed by MAGIC TOYS, supported by Miss Lydia
Thompson, Clara St. Casec, Azc.
After which, A DESPERATE GAME.
To conclude with the New and Original Burlesque, by L.
Buckingham, Etq., of VIRGINILTS ; or the Trials of a Fond
Papa. Virginius, Mr. Charles Young.

Reduced Prices—Gallery, 6d ; Pit, is. The Box-office open
from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past six ; perform
ance commences at 7.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
Westminster-road.

Sole Lessee—Hr. William Cooke, his Farewell Season.
THIS EVENING, the grand melo-dramatic production,
by Tom Taylor, Esq., called GARIBALDI ; illustrating the
principal events in the Life of the Great Italian GeneraL
To belollowed by New and Transcendant Equestrian Talent
of Young Menoni, supereminent in his somersaults and inap-
proachable—The brilliant Lady Rider, Miss Emily Cooke—
Tne Wonderfully-schOoled Dogs and Monkeys, and Intelli-
ent Elephant—Amazing jErial Rondiues by John Henry
Cooke, the first horseman in the Universe—Equestrian Blind
Man's Buff—Vaulting Ambition, by the treble-headed Won-
ders—Sig. Delavanti and his admirable Protegees, varied by
those heralds of fun, the Clowns, Mimes, and Drolls.

To commence at 7.
Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips

CANTERBURYHALL CONCERTS.-
J EVENING.—The Music of Verdi's Opera of
MACBET II (now first made public.in England at these Con-
certs).
And a Grand Se ection from Meyerbeer's new opera of
DINORAH.
Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come-
dian and Mimic), W. T. Critchfield, and E. W. Maclmey.
Several Interestinfr, Pictures are added to the Fine Arts
Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and
beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant
eights of the metropolis.
ROSA BONHEUR'S celebrated PICTURE of the HORSE
FAIR is now added to the already magnificent Collection of
Paintings in the Canterbury Hall Fine Arts Gallery. The
gallery is open from 9 a.m. till 12 p.m. Admission, Six-
pence.

THE WEATHER.—Sux OFFICE, DEICEMBIIIt 17,
THRICKOMETEIty IN THE SHADS.
32—highest since noon yesterday.
28—lowest this morning and during the night.
32—this day at noon.

BAROMETER-29.65.
WIND, South-Easterly; light, with dull, cold, hazy,
foggy weather.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.—Morning, 7h. Bm.—Afternoon, 7h. 39m•
To-moßßow.-Morning, Bh. Ilm.—Afternoon, Bh. 43m

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..L1

THE SUN.

1,(INT)ON, SATURDAY, DEC. 17, 1859

It were idle to predicate what the coming Con-
gress will achieve. Their professed object is to
organise a system of universal peace; but if the
rumours teeming in from all quarters may be sup-
posed to have any indication that
"Coming events cast their shadows before,"
matters would seem to congregate in complexity.
Count CAveuu is now said to be going to Con-
gress. What! in very spite of the "master
of the situation 9" If it prove true, there may be a
longer trice than warlike politicians have reckoned
on. But jurl.::ing from the tendency of public affairs
in Europe generally we sec hut little hope of a
satisfactory scttlement while the mind of nations is
to be kept in bondage by the will of the few.

What the Duke of WELLINGTON, the Duke, had
such a wholesome horror of—namely a little war—
is now fairly begun between the Moors and the
Spaniards upon the north-western frontiers of
Morocco ! It is a melancholy spectacle, and in
every sense of the word a little war! It is little in
its origin, in its aim, in the very manner of its
inauguration. It commenced in the paltriest du-
plicity. It began from the rery smallest begin-
nings. Its purpose is quite obvious, the meanest
territorial robbery—it can be nothing else—it is so
notoriously. Conclusive evidence indeed, that this
is the one shameless design of the Cabinet
of Madrid being furnished by the flagrant
audacity with which the demands of Spain were
increased by successive stages—the very reverse
of PRIOR'S " small by degrees, and beautifully
less," being, in truth, large by degrees and impu-
dently more—as 'despatch succeeded despatch in
tho diplomatic correspondence between the repre-
sentatives of the Spanish and Moorish Govern-
ments. And now that the war itself has commenced,
that war which the Madrid Cabinet had from

the very outset resolved should be brought about
as a most desirable political speculation—as
a means of kindling some semblance, at least of
enthusiasm in favour of Queen ISABELLA'S rule,
and of investing with some shadowy appearance of
popularity the dubious ministerial repute of Marshal
O'DONNELL! Now that this war,upon the arrange-
ment of which O'DONNELL and his colleagues in
the administration were manifestly (months ago)
pre-determined, now that this war has actually com-
menced— How has it commenced ? Has it
not commenced. in every particular, like
the smallest of little wars—by skirmishes that
could not by possibility have resulted in anything
beyond bootless bloodshed ? The only conflicts
that have yet taken place have all been in the
immediate vicinity of Ceuta—and of these the
severest (that of the 25th ultimo) was, after all,
nothing more than " a sharp little combat," as it is
called by one writing thence almost as an eye-
witness, by one at any rate who is there in the
immediate neighbourhood in his capacity as
the Times Special Correspondent. With that