The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-02 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Punyolo of Alilan publishes a letter from
Rome, in which the following curious but unau-
thenticated account is given of the interview be-
tween the Pope and Fiere Jacques, Count Cavour's
confessor :—" His Holiness, on receiving him, sum-
moned him in a severe tone to give an exact account
of his conduct at the time of Count Cavour's death.
Frere Jacques did so, concluding with the decla-
ration that what he had done he bad done in an

Constantinople letters and journals tithe 24th
July have reached us. The Lavant Herald pub-
lishes the following:—
" Amongst the myriad other abuses which grew
into established system at the Ministry of War
under the regime of Riza Pacha, was the enrolment
as officers of many hundreds of his own and his
friends' pipe-bearers, cavejees, boys, and other de-
pendants, with every rank from lieutenant up to
that of colonel. It is needless to say that these
gentry neither understood nor rendered military
service, but they nevertheless drew pay and ra-
tions more regularly by far than the most de-
serving subalterns or field-officers in the corps
d'armee of Roumelia, Irak, or Arabistan. Such,
too, was the case with scores of juvenile sons of
the disgraced Minister's partisans. Crowds of
these unfledged warriors held the rank of bimbashi,
caimacam, and even mir-allai, and drew both the
pay and rations of their grades. At one fell
swoop Namik Pasha has annihilated this whole
army of parasites—sending the chibouquejees and
cavejees back to their pipe-sticks and flinjans, the
boys—to whatever they are fit for, and the sons,
to the proper charges of their fathers. It is
reckoned that no fewer than a thousand " officers"
have been thus at once got rid of. Besides this
important elimination, the numerous body of offi-
cers, native and foreign, who are not engaged in
active service, are to be at once placed on half
pay without rations, the latter being allowed'
only to those of them who have been twenty
years on the muster-rolls of the army.
Similar weeding is to take place amongst
all the civil employes of the department, which will
result in the clearance of several hundreds of
useful kiatibs and other subordinate sinecurists. In
addition to these wholesome changes, the new
minister has already abolished the system of ultimas,
or recommendations, by which the most worthless of
the classes of officers above referred to passed at once
over the heads of the most deserving who did not
happen to possess the vicious influence by which
these passports to promotion were obtained. The
whole system of contracts is also to undergo the most
radical changes, after the accomplishment of which
such jobs as public rumour lays to the joint ac-
count of Mr. Falanga and the late head of the de-
partment will, it is hoped, be no longer possible.
Besides these important reforms in the central
administration—the total of which will, it is
reckoned, effect a saving of 35,000,000 p. a year
—confidential commissioners are to be sent to the
head-quarters of the various corps d'armee, to as-
certain by direct comparison of the regimental
muster-rolls with the men actually under arms,
the exact effective strength of each regiment,
division, and corps d'armee. In those of Irak
and Arabistan, enormous discrepancies between
the late Seraskier's returns to the Grand Council
and the force positively under arms in these two
corps are expected to be discovered. In both of
them the actual will, it is believed, be found to
be short of the nominal strength by fully one-
third.—Such are a few of the wholesome reforms
inaugurated by the new Minister."

CIRCASSIA.

The following interesting letter is taken from the
Levant .Herald

" Adriba, June 29.

" On the 11th of Tune 3,000 Russians left Aboun-
kalessi to proceed to Soudjouk-Kalessi. informed
of this movement, the Circassians assembled to the
number of 8,200, and in two days marched for 40
hours, having attacked the enemy, who did not
expect to be encountered. They beat and pursued
them to Galendjike-Guba, until they entered the
fortress of Soudjouk-Kalessi. During this combat
of three days, the Russians lost in killed and
wounded more thau 1,000 men. Besides those
which they succeeded in interring, we have dis
covered 77 bodies, among whom were four officers.
At Adriba, Galendjike, and Guba we found three
or four mounds freshly raised ; the wounded, in
consequence of the difficulty of transport, have
been sent, by means of steamer, from Galendjik to
Soudjouk-Kalessi. If the news of the sortie of the
Russians had reached me two days sooner, 1
would have had time to arrive with all my troops,
and not a single Russian would have been saved
at Soudjouk-Kalessi. But God be praised for
what has been done! I found myself with Ibra-
him Bey at Übassk. The Russian column was
commanded by General Ba-bouch ; we have taken
from the enemy two ammunition waggons. Our
loss in all has been one dead and seven wounded.
The Russians burned at Adriba three houses and
have taken away a goat and horse. On the 15th
June another strong Russian column of 3,000 in-
fantry and cavalry, having left Aboun-Kalessi,
were directed towards Chapsoul, Nehri-Bau-
houdour, Here-Anthy, and Nehri Hable, near
the Kouban, to destroy the harvest, by cutting
down and trampling over the fields with the
horses, in order to force, by famine, the popula-
tion to submit. Immediately seventhoinutsoaralCir-
cassians fell upon them and threw them
com-
plete rout. The Russians with difficulty trans-
ported 800 wounded to Adagoun-Kal
numberssi,abandonof-
ing on the field of battle a considerable
dead. Our loss amounted to 14 killed, 27 wounded,
and and 59 horses killed.
On the 25th a third Russian
column, composed of infantry and cavalry with
waggons, proceeded to cut down the prairie
Circassians gave them time to finish this work,
and at the moment when, after having loaded the
waggons,the
a Russians
a
ed
stehm
preparede
300 s horsemene who
, and massacred all
h
could attacked t
n themsely, s. The to
Cir-
cassians found on the ground 240 Russians killed;
they haye killed 124 oxen, 140 saddle hors% all c

On the 16th 800 Federal troops went up ahead
of the passenger train as far as Millville, 30
miles above St. Charles, on the North Missouri
Railroad, where the track was torn up. The
Federal troops were fired into, when an engage-
ment ensued, resulting in the loss of seven Con-
federates killed and several taken prisoners. One
man who was caught with a gun in his hand
was immediately hung, and another who attempted
to escape was riddled with balls. The fighting
still continued when the passenger train passed
up. The Federals had lost three killed, seven
wounded, and 30 of their horses had been cap-
tured.

On the Ist instant the Montgomery (Alabama)
City Council adopted the following resolution :--
" That a tax be and is hereby levied on all
property belonging to alien enemies living out
of the Confederate States, both real and personal,
said tax to amount to 5 per cent. on assessed
value of real estate in the city limits, on per-
sonal property, consisting of negroes, a tax of
20 dols. on negro men, 100 dols. on women, 5 dols.
on children, and where it consists of stock in
corporations, a tax of 8 per cent., and that the
clerk be instructed to collect said tax."

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

Miss Louisa Angel, the daughter of the veteran come-
dian, Mr. Angel, made her are', appearance last evening at
this theatre, in the part of Clara Douglas, in Sir E. B.
Lytton's comedy of " Money." The character does not
demand very great exertion, yet it is one admirably suited
to a young and juvenile actress making her first appear-
ance before a London audience. That such an one was
chosen by Miss Angel shows great modesty as well as good
taste on her part, and the result must be gratifying to herself
and pleasure to her father. In appearance Miss Angel is
very prepossessing. She is young, has a fine mellow voice,
her countenance is radiant with beauty, sensibility and intel-
ligence; added to which her manner is graceful, easy, and
ladylike. As an actress she exhibits the greatest ease and
self-control, which is somewhat remarkable in s°
young an artiste, - and from he; essay last evening
the brightest hopes may be held out for the future.
Mr. H. Vezin's Evelyn was one of the most natural and
vigorous performance of the character we have ever seen-
We may almost say, as Sir Walter Scott did of Mr. Mackay
in the character of Bailie Nicol Jarvie, that ho personified
the very individual Sir Bulwer Lytton meant when 10
wrote the play. At the end of the fourth act he received a
well-deserved and enthusiastic call before the curtain. 3lr'
Ryder's Graves was also a very excellent display of dra-
matic art; and Mr. Shore's Sir Frederick Blount was a
natural and well• conceived bit of acting: Mr. Widdicombe
has greatly moderated his embodiment of Benjamin Stout,
yet it is still very far from the real idea of the author. At'
the termination of the comedy Miss Angel, in obedience to
most enthusiastic applause, was led forward by Mr. Vezi
to acknowledge the compliment.

The piece was very tastefully put upon the stage.

THE WEATHER.

WEATHER PROBABLE TO-MORROW.
North Variable, light soo.therly wnd ; fine.
East Westerly wind; fine, but variable.
West North-westerly, fresh wind ; cloudy.
South Southerly, light breezes ; overcast.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS.

This Day,
t etween 8 and B. E. M. D. F. C. I. S•
9 a.m.
---
Nairn 29'65 59 58 E. 2 9 o. 1
Aberdeen
Leith. 29'67 62 58 S.W. 1 8 0.
Berwick 29.68 61 57 S. 4 9 o. 2
Ardrossan
roan, sh ..
Shields
Galway 29'55 61 60 W, i 3C. 2
Scarborough 29'84 62 59 S.W. 3 5 c.
Liverpool
Valentia
Queenstown 29'54 62 61 W.S.W. 5 6 o.
Yarmouth 29 87 65 64 S.S.E. 2 3 C. -
London 29 85 65 61 S. 3 7 C. 2
Lover 29'89 68 64 E.N.E. 3 2 0. 3
Portland
Plymouth ... 29'71 GO 69 S.E. 5 7 r.
enzance ... : I 29'r.8 61 60 S. 3 8 ' °:____—

EXPLANATION.—B. Barometer, corrected and reduced
to 32 deg at mean sea level ; each 10 feet of vertical rise
causing about 1-100th of an inch diminution, and each 10
leg above 32 deg causing nearly 3-100ths increase. B.
Exposed thermometer in shade. M. Moistened bulb (for
evaporation and dew-point). D. Direction of wind (true
not magnetic). F. Force (1 to 12—estimated). C. Cloud.
1,1 to 9). I. Initials :—b,, blue sky; e., clouds (detached) ;
C., fog. ' • h,, hail ; 1., lightning ; m., misty (hazy) ; 0.,
overcast (dull) ; r., rain ; s., snow ' • t., thunder. A letter
repeated augments—thus, r.r., much rain. S. Sea disturb.
Ince (1 to 9).

A CHALLENGE TO VOLUNTEERS.—ALL Scov
LAND AGAINST ALL ENGLAND.—The following challenge
of all Scotland, I am requested to challenge 11
appears in the Scotch papers :—" On behalf of 11 Volun-
teerslo shots at 900 yards, with any
oVolunteerse
wo
nagl 1
conditions—viz.,
Englandndi ti
on shoot tlao match
shots
af or r 270000
ygaur idns also,
dwthout any artificial rest or telescopic
sirn-
ss de-
scriptionihgoh shots atTooBfobOre yards
for at such time and place as the um'
pires may appoint. lam prepared to nominate an umpire
on the acceptance of this challenge by England. The two
umpires nominated may select a third to determine all
questions which may arise.--ROBERT TAYLOR, Hon. Sec.
Angus and Mearns Rifle Association, and Scottish Rifle
Gathering."

OVERLANDexa ry
engaged
theriXntigPllEtehDe u EXPEDITION FROM CHINA TO INDIA.
and the passes of tho
—lntelligence has just been received from Capt. Blakiston,
of
r oneoal
at e
say s offrom
intoa n
lexploringChina partyuhgehTx e
phnei
cibo v t
Royalin examining
tion started from Shanghai, and proceeded 700 miles up the
y
_ Yang-tse river in the vessels of the squadron of Admiral
Hope. Beyond this point they proceeded in one gunboat
and a small iron steamer to Foo-chow, 140 miles above
Hankow, where the vessels will remain until the return of
the party. Capt. Blakiston is of opinion that the objects of
the expedition will not be accomplished until the summer of
1862. At present the party has penetrated to a point beyond
any hitherto reached by European travellers. The dis-
trict around Nankin is wasted by the civil war, which has
stopped all trade ; but higher up the Yang-tee river there
were indications of great contentment and prosperity, the
stream being crowded with junks, and the adjacent country
being thickly populated. Captain Blakiston has also for-
warded to Mr. -Whiteley, of Woolwich, cases containing
birds shot on the upper reaches
.of the river, including the
eagle, harrier, cormorant, kite, grebe, pheasant, &c., which
will be deposited in the Royal Az tillery Institution.