The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-30 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—Among the various suggestions of Colonel
Simmons and others (for he is not the only one who
has formed the idea of, "so to speak," mannir,g
ships of war with marines instead of sailors), there
has been none offered as to what is to become
of the large number of sailors we have now em-
ployed, who are well trained, and every day being
trained in the art of gunnery, use of small arms,
and the various duties of a seaman, of which natur-
ally a military man can have little or no know-
ledge. _ _

We have had difficulty and expense enough
surely of late in procuring men for the ships now
in commission, and are we to sacrifice the expense
"of which the increased income-tax reminds us,"
and turn round to the men and say " We don't
require your services any more ? We are going to
put in your place marines',' (or artillerymen, he
seems to think, would be the best name fur this
new species of sailor, for sailor, to a certain extent,
he must be to be of any use on board ship iii bad
weather.) Again, what arrangement is to be made
with regard to the officers, as the nautical part of
the ship's crew is to be the contingent only.
Many valuable suggestions have appeared in
your columns for thinning out the over-clogged
"Navy List," but I fear matters would be more
complicated than ever were that the case. Mcire-
over, is it to be supposed that officers are to bc
picked up and drilled into shape as easily as recruits
for the ranks, and to be ready to take charge of
the deck and undertake the various duties of a naval
officer, which, in my opinion, take years to learn ?
Colonel Simmons's proposal can only be based
upon the supposition that ships areto be fitted with

what may be termed stump masts, with fore and
aft sails, which would be of no further use than
for lying to in a gale, to assist in steadying her
when under steam, or just to give steerage way
when the steam power was not in use,'eitlier from
there beindesomething wrong in the engine room or
some other reason. But though I admit rind think
that the size of the masts and yards our skips are
now fitted with might be considerably reduced, and
yet the ship be under perfect command wader sail
lone, and able to " thrash off a lee-shore," or make a
passage in the case of steam power failing, I deny
that it would be expedient to reduce them. to that
inefficient size, and trust so entirely to the steam
power as merchant vessels, packets, &c., cLo where
there is little chance of a shell' in the engine-room.
By reducing the size of the spars many advantages
would be gained and great expense saved. When
under steam the gain would be in having less top-
weight, and less resistance consequentliy. Less
hands would be required to leave the guns to work
the ship " in the case again of a shell in the engine-
room," and less motion in heavy weather, both at
sea or at anchor.

One of Colonel Simmons's arguments in favour
of his plan is the difficulty of procuring seamen on ,
an. emergency. That may be avoided by maintain-
ing a reserve, and I have not heard or read of any
better plan than that suggested by Sir Charles
Napier (than whom nobody has a better rigid to a
valued opinion on such matters from his long ex-
perience and having thought and said so much on
the subject) which . appeared in your valuable
columns in a letter addressed to Sir John Paking-
ton, viz., to keep up a Channel fleet of at least ten
sail of the line, manned by seamen with a small
detachment of marines on board—" in. a crew of
1,000, for instance, there should be 100"—these to
be constantly changed from ship to shore at periods
of three months or so, and vice versa, by way of
keeping up the efficiency per mare per terrain (the
present force at the naval ports to be increased of
course), and then in the event of an emergency half
of the seamen in each ship could be draughted into
the ships in the first class reserve, fill up the rest
of the complement with coast volunteers and the
full number of marines, and we should have 20 sail
of the line manned without touching the Coast-
guard and blockships.
I fear I have already trespassed too long on
you already, or I would adduce other reasons to
dispel the notion of substituting the marine
for the sailor. Nobody, lam sure, has a greater
respect for, or appreciates the invaluable ser-
vices of the Marine corps more than I do, and
I most fully agree with the words quoted in your
columns of the 19th inst., from a report to Parlia-
ment, in a very sensible letter from "A Colonel,
Royal Marines,"—" that, as an efficient body of
men, they are second to none in the service of the,
, State ;" and, moreover, I fully agree with him in
his opinion, that, were Colonel simmons's proposal
adopted, the result would be a deficiency of marines
as well as sailors.

One word on the most important part of this all-
important question, tlat is, always keeping up a
good navy, s 6 as to do away w ith the everlasting
difficulty of procuring seamen whenever warlike
clouds appear on the horizon ; to assist in doing so
I would arge that a greater number of boys be en-
tered and trained as they now are, "only to too
small an extent," on board those invaluable "school
brigs" (for it is from that school that our best men-
of-war's men come); that the continuous service
system be more fully carried out till every man
may be as liable to be called upon to serve at any
time as well as an officer may ; and that more seri-
ous notice should be taken of the crime of desertion
than it now is, for really the service may be com-
pared to a pocket with a hole in it just now.
Hoping you will favour these few remarks with a
place in your columns, I have the honour to be
yo it obedient servant,
Sept. 27.

A CAPTAIN, R.N.

THE AFFAIR OF THE PEIHO.

The following account of the engagement witl
the forts of the Peiho is written by an eye-witness

" GULF OF PECHELI, July 6, 1859.
" When the English fleet left Hong-Kong for an
expedition to the Peiho very few persons had the
slightest anticipation of anything otherwise than a
peaceful and successful trip to the Imperial city of
Pekin. Not a breath of suspicion was aloat ; not a
cloud appeared; the horizon was clear and calm,
and everything denoted peace. When we arrived
at Shanghae rumour did not preserve the same con-
sistency; reports were circulating freely, but they
did not agree ; some said one thing, some another;
one authority said every preparation was made for
the reception of our ambassador; another authority
stated that 100,000 troop 4 were collected around
Pekin to dispute our entrance ; but nobody said
that the forts of Peiho had been rebuilt, re-fortified,
and re-manned. Well, the Admiral had made
every preparation for any contingency that might.
arise. If the troops had to land they knew what
officers would command the divisions ; the naval
department, too, had its officers distinctly named
for the different duties entrusted to them. So far,
everything augured well for success in case of oppo-
sition. Officers, men, gunboats, ammunition, scal
ing ladders, and, in fact, all the minutiae of the
expedition had been carefully planned.
" We left Shanghae and arrived at the Gulf of
Pecheli about the 19t1 of June, thus allowing a
week for our trip to .Pekin, where the treaty was
to be ratified. The force here consisted of the
Chesapeake, flag-ship ; Highflyer, Capt. Shadwell ;
Magicienne, Capt. Vansittart ; Fury, Commander
Commerell ; Assistance, Commander Heath; Nim-
rod, Commander Winniatt ; Cormorant, Com-
mander Wodehouse ; Cruiser, Commander Bythe-
sea ; and nine gunboats—viz, Lee, Plover, Janus,
Haughty, Forester, Banterer, Opossum, Starling,
and Kestrel.
" In addition to this force the French steam-fri-
gate Duchayle and a gunboat tender, the American
frigate Powliattan and tender, were here, having
on board the representatives of their respective
Governments.

" The Chinese took not the slightest notice of our
arrival, and made no attempts to pay the ordinary
marks of resp ,ct to the ambassadors of the three
Powers, who were anxious to ratify the treaty of
1858.

" The admiral sent a boat on shore to communi-
cate with the mandarin ; and the information they
received was to the effect that ' no orders had been
received from Pekin,' and consequently he could not
allow any ships to go up the river.
" Such being the state of affairs the admiral,
after communicating with Mr. Bruce, determined
to storm the forts and force a passage. A delay of
some twelve hours ensued in carrying out the ar-
rangements for the purpose of allowing the French
and American forces to unite with ours.
_ _

" At length, on the morning of Friday, June 24,
the gunboats, with the Cormorant and Nimrod,
went in, towing some 12 or 14 boats, manned and
armed from the different ships.
" The first object of the admiral was to blow up the
boom (or, more properly, booms), and then, perhaps,
the gunboats might run the gauntlets of the forts
and take them in flank, should they show fight.
Capt. Willes had charge of the ' boom' party, and
about 11 p.m. three or four heavy reports told plainly
enough that the trial had been made. Unfortunately
the result was not satisfactory, for though the first
boom was blown up there still remained an impas-
sable barrier, which defied all assailants. And now
there seems to remain no chance of evading a ' fight.'
All our anticipations of viewing the far-famed capi-
tal of China, with its palaces, and temples, and pago-
das ; all the visions of receptions and banquets (the
indications of fraternity and amicable relationship)
vanish into thin air. The steps of the.barbarian
must not defile the pavement of the celestial city.
An officer sent a scrawl to his friend, and wrote,
' The Chinese intend to fight. . Yes, we were to he
saluted ! the English flag was to be saluted; but it
was not the salute of love. • Blood was to be shed
from human victims to ratify this celestial treaty.
It reminds one of the great Frederick, who stamped
his edicts with the hilt of his sword. The Chinese
are going to improve on that plan,U.nd intend in
future to ratify treaties with artillery. But passing
y preliminaries, let us come to business.
I,b
" The morning of the 25th was calm and clear.
Towards noon it became rather warm, and in look-
ing over the watery space between our position and
the forts one could discern the dancing wavy glare
of a summer day.
"The gunboats were evidently in position, formed
in three divisions; Capt. Shadwell having command
of the red, Capt. Vansittart of the white, Capt.
Willes of the blue, the divisions being distinguished
by the ensign at the mast head. At 2.40 p.m. the
report of a gun froth one of the forts announced the
b!-ginning of the action. Instantly the aprons*
were raised from the embrasures of the curtains,
and a volley of shot and shell from a hundred gun,,
fell with destructive effect on our force. The attack
was reciprocated in good earnest, and for the space
of five minutes the deep, heavy report of artillery,
as quick as hail, tells in unmistakeable terms how
fiercely they fought.
interval of 10 minutes. more another. Two forts
an"
ecl tplto.hseioenn,dpor(f)bsaoln)lye
afivien
ao6r six minutesraz,ine:alia there
af after
is
tt)
messen-
bcuult•ttaliine
continue to pour forth their
oa
tphpeera i: to
fortsbae
nddi s aebvleerdy,
co
nr
.1
bat r
al
seuarset
death-bearing
alongsilenced
tio i;
recison but not with
that crushing effect which we anticipated.
tglei er sfi.srse.
Some
it‘hvituhnarbaaptieddityv.igaonudr.p Thei gu, gunboats return
of the gunboats are ashore, and are exposed to a
gallingand murderous fire. The forts, once having

* All the emprasures appear to have an apron, which is
raised when the gun is in position for firing.

got the range of our boats, fire with merciless pre-
cision.

" Some of the guns require to be reinforced With
new crews, and in one or two instances the vessels
themselves are so shattered and riddled that it be-
comes doubtful whether they will not have to be
abandoned.

" Still, for two hours or more the battle rages
fierc-.4y; the white foamy smoke wreathes itself
into fantastic curdes, or slowly rises like a distorted
column high over ships and battlements till at
length a thick misty cloud of smoke almost shrouds
the combatants from our view. Now and then an
explosion takes place, and the mingled mass of fire
and smoke and dust, forms itself into some grand
spectral form, and slowly ascends to the npper re•
_ _ _

" The attack still continues, but the shot and
shell are not flying about so fast and furious as at
first, and after some three hours the enemy's guns
abate the rapidity of their fire. There comes at
length almost a lull in the dull bellow of artillery,
and boats are prepared to land fo'r the purpose of
storming one of the forts. Our landing party con-
sisting of marines and sailors, are eager for the as-
sault ; soon as the boats touch the shore the men
jump out and try to form. The boats are exposed
to the enemy's guns, and many a man lost his life
before even he could take up a position on shore.
StEadily officers and men struggle up, for the
ground is deep wiry mud, all eagerly striving for
the post of honour.

" Men and officers begin to fall ill all directions ;
still boldly do they bear themselves up, and reso-
lutely strive to gain the ramparts. The ditches have
to be crossed, and though full of water, ammunition
must be preserved—powder must be dry—until the
scaling ladder can be planted against the walls of
the fort.
" Of the few who cross the first ditch, the men
whose muskets will go off are the exceptions ; so
there they stand, food for powder, anxious to do
something, yet impotent for defence.
" And now a perfect storm of bullets and arrows,
shot and shell, whistles through the ranks ; the
carnage is terrific, for, as some of the men who were
there said, they mowed us down like grass.' Night
is fast closing in ; our advance is slow, owing to
the sticky clayey mud ; many of our leaders are
down ; Captains Shadwell and Vansittart, Colonel
Lemon, Lieutenant Clutterbuck, Captain Masters,

among others, fell wounded in front of their men.
To force them across the ditches under such circum-
stances is neither courage nor discretion, but a
simple and useless risk of human life. They re-
treat, but still ' they fall,' for the darkness is illu-
mined fire balls' which render the position of
our men as plain as daylight, and then the storm
of bullets, and arrows, and ball of all sizes is re-
newed with fatal precision. The boats are at length
reached, and they scramble into them as best they
can, and are then towed to their ships. The day's
work is over, but we have got no trophy to show
Except the mutilated forms of wounded and dying
men.

" The forts were firing at intervals till after mid-
night, and early on the next morning were they
making target-practice at the gunboats which were
on shore. Sunday morning dawns calm, a russet-
coloured mist hanging along the horizon, just like
those calm Sunday mornings you get in England.
" But what is the result of yesterday's fight ?
Where are its effects ? The gunboats lie in vety
much the same position, but some are high and
dry,' and some are almost sunk, but still we know
not the whole. And when told that more than
one-fourth of the force engaged is included amcng
killed and wounded,' you may easily imagine that
we were almost incredulous.
" Among the killed are Capt. -Mackenzie, of the
Royals ; Lieuts. Clutterbuck, Rason, Graves, R.N.,
Mr. Herbert. Lieuts. Wolridge and Inglis. But it
is unnecessary to give you a list as there will be
one published by authority.' Poor Clutterbuck!
he fell leading on his men. He was working for
his promotion, and had intended to scale the
walls, if any one could scale them. The only con-
salation for his untimely death is that he has
left many a friend behind him who knew his fine,
manly, genial qualities, and not an enemy who can
tell a bad one.
" But in addition to a list of killed and wounded,
embracing 30 officers and 300 men, we have lost the
Cormorant and the gunboats Plover and Lee, and
some five or six boats belonging to the different
ships lying in the gulf.
"It should also be stated that both the French
and Americans sent in a small force, though so
small in number as to rendei them of almost infini-
tesimal importance. They worked well, however,
with great energy and good-will, have a list of
killed and wounded, and express most earnest sym-
pathy fa our loss.

" The termination of this most disastrous affair
must necessarily excite discussion, and the whole
management will be brought to a searching scrutiny.
The way to meet danger is preparation—to avoid
defeat, investigation.
" In the first place, an overweening confidence in
the well-tried pluck of Englishmen, and an unrea•
sonable depreciation of Chinese skill in fortification
and gunnery, was the main cause of our failure.
" Under equal advantages there can be only one
result in a fight between English and Chinese, but
when English troops are exposed to a murderous
fire from an enemy behind mud walls, it is not a
matter of surprise that courage, and valour, and de-
termination succumb to their persevering though
inferior opponents. When our fleet came up to the
Gulf of Pecheli there was only one opinion as to
our fight with the Chinese in case they should prove
obstinate. Every officer and man would have volun-
teered his services for landing, for assault, for the
gunboats, or any duty whatever. Two hours' bom-
bardment, an assault, and then it was believed the
Chinese would abandon their guns, and leave the
place in our possession. Casualties on our side
were scarcely anticipated ; some two or Wive killed
and nine or ten wounded would form a very fair
estimate.
" Chinese
courage was thought to lie chiefly in
discretion ;' but the result of our last engagement
with them has given the lie to such opinions, and
for the future we must treat them with the consi-
deration which an energetic and civilised enemy
always commands.
"The undaunted and gallant condutt of officers
and men is a subject of constant remark. The per-
sonal courage of every man engaged was conspicu-
ous—no holding back, no cowardice. They fought
like lions ; and though the battle is for us a defeat,
yet there was much personal honour and glory de-
servedly won. To mention names is almost invidi-
ous under such circumstances, yet one cannot re-
frain from it. The admiral was wounded rather se-
verely early in the fight, yet still remained, quite
indifferent to pain and danger, in the middle of the
fire ; a second wound failed to subdue his incredible
energy and determination • and for a day or two
afterwards it was feared that his delay in allowing
himself medical assistance would endanger his life.
Officers and men were shot down at their guns, and
as quickly replaced. On shore there was the same
gallantry, both officers and men pressing on to the
fatal spot, regardless of danger and death. Capts.
Shadwell and Vansittart were wounded in the front
of their men—as was Col. Lemon ; and, in truth, to
tell you how bravely they behaved would require
me to recount the names of many besides the killed
and wounded. The name of Lieut. Evans, R.M., has
heen mentioned in the highest terms. The Plover
appears to, have been the most unfortunate of all
the gunboats. Her lieutenant was killed with a
round shot early in the engagement, and his place
supplied by the flag lieutenant till she was aban-
doned.

" Let me attempt to give you a description of the
entrance to the river and the fortifications erected
to defend it. The Chinese assert that the name of
' the river which we have been attempting to force
is not Peiho, but Wangho, or some other oh, the
Peiho running into the gulf about • 10 miles further
north. There is a river emptying itself at the
point stated, and communicating with the Tien-
Sing ; but whether we are right or the Chinese I
do not pretend to say, and for the present I shall
proceed on the supposition that we are right. The
Gulf of Pecheli covers an area of something like
16,000 square miles ; its shores on the west side,
and especially in the neighbourhood of the Peiho,
being very low ground. There is a low shelving
mud-bank, extending for several miles froth the
shore, carrying net more than from two to three
fathoms water, the bar of the river at low water
hating only two feet of water on it, and at high
water something like 10 feet. Nature has thus de-
fended the entrance to the Peiho against the ap-
proach of ships of war, except such as are of very
light draught. Our gunboats and despatch vessels
can cr. ter the harbour; but men-of-war, frigates, and
sloops, are entirely excluded. They must anchor
:otne six miles from the fortifications.
The river is not a large one, its average breadth
for 50 miles from its mouth being not more than 600
yards, and is thus rendered easy of defence against
the advance of any vessel along its whole course
from the mouth right up to Pekin. In short, if
the general, or mandarin, in command under-

,tanef;; the mere elements of fortification, he can de-
fend the harbour, and the 'whole navigation of the
river, against an attack from the most powerful
naval force that can be brought up.
" The booms, as at present arranged, consist of
four distinct barriers or barricades, each one pre-
sen tin.; a formidable appearance, and, independent
of their intrinsic value( are commanded by several
helivy guns. It should also be known that the state
of the defences here in June, 1859, is very different
from what they were in June, 1858. The number
of booms has been increased, the forts rebuilt, en-
larged, and strengthened—there has been some
science in the work, either Chinese or foreign—and

the result is a powerful and almost impregnable
fortress. I hesitate to give you a description of the
fortifications, for we saw so little of them that an
error could easily be committed, but what I tell
you is, though imperfect, true. There are eight
bastions, built very strong, the outer material being
chiefly a very thick coating of mud ; and for the
greater part of the line of defence there :are cur-
tains, some connecting two or three bastions,and some
presenting the appearance of an outwork. The num-
ber of heavy guns mounted is variously estimated,
some giving 70, some 90, some more than 100. The
admiral clearly underrates them when he says 50
or 60.

" The different embrasui;es right along the extent
of curtain were fitted with aprons or mantlets;
which were pulled up when the guns were to be
fired and lowered down while they were loading.
This expedient proved of the most essential service
to them, for had there been no such provision, our
riflemen would have picked off their gunners as fast
as they showed at the embrasures. It reminds one of
the defence of the Malakoff. The Chinese have taken
a lesson (as of course other nations will) from the
Russian method of protecting their gunners.
" There was an incident worth recording. You
may make what you can of it; but to us it presents
some of the elements which constitute a mystery,
though subsequent events may throw some light
on it.

" On the evening of the 25th, before the fight be-
gan,- two junks came laden with sheep, poultry,
vegetables, &c., as a present for the English. The
junks Isere accompanied by two mandarins, who
brought a letter of respect to the English Ambas-
sador from the Governor of Tein-Sing. As we were
on the point of opening warlike communications
with the mandarins of the Peiho, it was impossible
to hold amicable communications with these envoys
of the mandarin of Tein-Sing, and consequently the
present was not accepted.
" The junk returned to Tein-Sing about noon,
and in about three hours:subsequently the report of
artillery shattered every vestige of our hopes and
interests in the treaty of 1858. Was the present
given in an. amicable and honest spirit ? Did these
two mandarins represent a true friend or a feigned
one ? We shall see.

" Seven days afterwards the American Minister
had a friendly interview with some Chinese junks,
received a gift, consisting of sheep, poultry, &c.,
and entered into an arrangement to hold a parlez'
with the governor-general of the province on the
Tuesday following. The result of the conference
is not distinctly known, but it was understood
to be only a preliminary to a journey to Pekin. We
shall see.

" One word on this diplomatic ' ruse' of the Ame-
rican Minister. If he is going to enter into a treaty
with the Court of Pekin, independently of England
and France, and submit to terms which they cannot
accept (and such is the report), he is acting a double
game. Without bringing up any force that could
materially assist us in our operations against Canton,
hanging ou when we undertook our expedition to
Pekin, the American Minister now throws over all
the implied engagements which an honourable
Power would feel binding, and in the face of a disas-
trous defeat he calmly submits to accept as a favour
what was granted in our treaty of 1858. Such con-
duct deserves reprobation; for if we were right .iu
our attack he ought to abide by the results, if wrong,
he ought not to have joined us ; and I hope it will
not escape condemnation even in America. Sharp
practice' succeeds for the moment, but it must have
its reward.' In close connexion with this doubtful
conduct of the Minister, let me record, to the honour
of the American officers and men, the marked and
energetic sympathy displayed to us. The men of
the Powhattan told their purser that they wished
the fresh provisions which were served out to them
should be sent on board her Majesty's ship Chesa-
peake for the sick and wounded.

"The other ships received presents of sheep and
poultry from American generosity. But brother
Jonathan's diplomacy is too keen for anything—it is
ouble-edged, and will eventually cut his own throat
" I have now told all the news that is worth
communicating, how we went eager and hopeful
into the fray, and returned sad and mournful ; how
many a brave and gallant man returned from the
contest a mere wreck of his former self; how
many a noble spirit retired from its earthly
tenement in the quivering agonies of death. But
let me tell you further that the indomitable
spirit which animates our English soldiers and
sailors remains brave as before, and only wishes
for another opportunity for avenging their
defeat. Most of the wounded have been trans-
ferred to the Assistance, which has gone to the en-
trance of the Yangtse The Fury has gone to
Shanghai, and the Magicienne is going to the same
anchorage as the Assistance ."

THE RELIGIOUS DISSENSIONS IV S

GEORGE'S-IN-THE-EAST.

IMPORTANT VESTRY MEETING.

Last night a meeting of the Vestry of the parish
of St. George's-in-the-East was held under the pre-
sidency of Mr. Churchwarden Thompson.
The CHAIRMAN announced that the following
letter, in reply to a memorial to the Bishop of Lon-
don, had been received :

"Alva House, Stirling, Sept. 29.
" Sir,—l beg to acknowledge your letter of the 22d, which
has this day reached me, together with, first, a copy of a
resolution passed at the vestry of the parish of St. George's-
in-the-East on the 15th inst. • second, a copy of the rector's
letter to the vestry clerk, dated the 17th inst. ; and, third,
a statement of grievances on the part of the parishioners.
I shall not fail to give these documents myimmediate serious
attention, but I think it right to state that up to the present
time I have not received from the rector any such intima-
lion of his readiness to refer the various questions in dis-
pute to me as will enable me to proceed to act as mediator
between the parties who are at issue. I have, in answer to
a letter which I received from the rector within the last few
days, stated to him the nature of the unreserved reference
which is requisite to enable me to undertake the case, and
I have requested him to communicate with Mr. J. B. Lee,
my legal secretary, for information as to the mode of pro-
ceeding. Supposing the rector to be willing to refer the
whole case to me, and to undertake to be bound by my de-
cision' you will see that some time must necessarily elapse
(from the variety of matter which it includes) before I can
pronounce judgment.—l have the honour to be, sir, your
obedt. humble servant, " A. C. LONDON.
" W. L. Howell, Esq., Vestry Clerk."
The Vestry Clerk announced that the Church
Affairs Committee had assembled that morning on
receipt of his Lordship's letter, and had recom-
mended the following form of letter to the Bishop,
in reply to his communication now submitted to
the vestry :
.. _

" " St. Georges's-in-the-East, London, 1859.
My Lord,—l am directed by the vestry•of this parish
to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the
24th inst., and to express their surprise at its contents, as
they considered the preliminaries in regard to the submis-
sion to have been fully settled, and that the matter only
remained for your Lordship's consideration arid decision.
" In reference to the mention your Lordship makes of
having received some communication from the rector, the
vestry think it right to acquaint your Lordship that in a
letter written to the Rev. Bryan King, which accompanied
a copy of the stateptent of grievances forwarded by the vestry
to your Lordship, the rector was respectfully asked to fur-
nish the vestry with a copy of any communication he might
have made, or intended making to your Lordship on the
subject, but to which letter, or request, no answer has been
given, nor any copy furnished, so that the vestry, up to the
present moment, are entirely in the dark as to the nature
or contents of any such communication.
" With regard to the form of the preliminary agreement
of submission, the vestry do not think it necessary that the
same formal or legal accuracy need or should be observed,
as if it were a secular matter of business, and they, there-
fore, consider it unnecessary to require the
arbitrator rector to entor
into any instrument of a more binding character _as
explicit
the
thanh
what he has entered into by his letter to el
vestry clerk, of the 17th inst., which in
of
few my but myself
epl
was equally
parties
your Lordship's offer of mediation, whichoffer
acceptance
would accept
would
thepla i no affinede specific—namely,
mediator,that your
isf Lordship
both
join (as your Lordship recommended them to do) in f
sub-
mitting the whole case to your Lordship's episcopal arbitra-
tion; both parties binding themselves to act as your Lord-
ship directed. On the part of the vestry a resolution was
passed (of which your Lordship has a copy), agreeing to
submit the case wholly and unreservedly to your lordship's
decision, and engaging to abide by that decision, a copy of
which resolution was, on Friday, the 16th inst., forwarded
to the rector, with a letter from myself, requesting the favour
of his reply to the resolution previous to the following
Thursday, and to which on the following day a letter in
answer was received from the rector in those words :
" 'ln reference to the communication I received from
you last evening, I beg to inform you that I have accepted
the Bishop's offer of mediator.'
" And upon the faith of which letter the vestry proceeded
to lay before your lordship the statement of grievances on
behalf of the parishioners.
r iht
taevnesnuoc
hr i gah hit e
tt
toe
rs, uwp pi? A
re 0
ftuhsaet
ttohae
br ei
dcet obr;
rThhaevrnegs tiw• y
after
your lordship's decision, or to act •in conformity with it; at
all events, the vestry are willing to trust to his doing so
without requiring him to enter into any other a eement f
submission, for, however binding. it might agreement
o
be made, if he
did not think proper to perform it, the
the parishioners would never think
pel him. of
going to law to coin-
" Having thus, as far as lies in their power, removed all
impediments that seemed to stand •in the way, the vestry
hope and trust (from the intense
interest and excitemoll(
that prevail throughout the parish) that the matter NN 111
now be proceeded with at lordship's • nee.—
n your convent&
I have the honour to be, &c.,
"W. L. HOWELL Vestry Claic.
"To the Lord Bishop of London." 3
-
Mr. SMITh said the letter which had
been pro-
posed by the Church Affairs Committee corn')lete .l)
expressed, he thought, the views of the vestry, and
he moved that it be adopted, and f 'tat the vestry
clerk should be directed to forward it to the Bishop
of London. Ho did not know whether the rector
had any misgivings after having contented to allow
the Bishop to mediate, but whether he had or not
he thought it was the duty of the vestry to proceed
and if Mr. King insisted in not obeying the Bishop',
directions, the public would take it up, and perhag
would settle it better than any one else. (Rear.)
Mr. HERBERT, in seconding the motion, referrt d
to the proceedings at the Thames Police Court, re-
ported elsewhere. One Of the witnesses was a

lodger in a Tractarian house in Soho, where CUP"
thin Savage Hall, who was connected with a recent
disturbance in the church, also resided. lie looked
upon the prosecution of that poor foreigner as a
conspiracy.
The motion was unanimously adopted, and Mr.
Howell, the vestr clerk, was directed to forward
it to the Bishop of London.
Mr. STEPHENS inquired whether
the parish
church was to be opened next Sunday.
The Churchwarden shook his head. the
A resolution was adopted, empowering
Church Affairs Committee to conduct any etlrrthel;
spondence with the Bishop on the part of
vestry between the present time and the no"
vestr
Mr. meeting. •
dens
by BARRATT rose to present a petition sign
by 130 parishioners, requesting the church
resent
to call a public meeting to consider the presen
ecclesiastical state of the parish. and his
to mut he
eet
colleague would do anything they meld b
the views of the parishioners on the matter,
could not receive it here. business
After the transaction of some further
the meeting separated.
.••••••..1
Mr. Churchwarden THOMPSON said he

COUNTRY MARrETR. _ -

salTeshewreerwe
MANCHESTER—SEPT. 29. but
fra duau-
but low
acshiaeflfiyrmconfidenmedentdo gfooordusamew pElliesg.fist-;v.1.1-est;
er
ties of flour sold to a fair extent at full terms,
sorts were neglected. Oats and new oatmeal again dearer.
Beans and Indian corn no cheaper.

BIRMINGHAM—SEPT. 29. and
There was a short supply of new wheat todntbug.
the attendance was moderate. A trifling amount of roved
ness doing at rather more money. Barley is in ilnP
demand, and maintained quotations. Bean
dull. Peas and oats in more demand. s continuo v..,

. At.bu t the
A good amount ofLOUTH—SEPT , business was done to-A', red
prices were at no advance on last week, vi%.? '4BB.
and mixed, old and new, 40s to 448 per qr. ; vn" 10 to
Best samples of barley much inquired for. Oats,
24s ; beans, 42s to 455; barley, 38s to 41e.

'PLYMOUTH-BEn' 27.1 lipst
This market rather active, with more inquiry frehlvwhits
at a slight advance. Oats in fair demand• ligl3l. do 1 426
wheat, 45s to 47s ; red, 42s to 45s per qr; Fren_? 24, '
: and
to 44s ; grinding barley, 28s to 36s ; oats, 20s to
flour, fine, 33s to 34s ; seconds, 31s to 320.

a NEWARK---SHPT.
toneWA in Rlit7Se E
wrjea.2t7tisdo e
to.day, with
There was a better
fair supply, and prices as on last market day.

EDINBURGH GRAIN-WT. 2'

Sales were quick to-day, and prices better.
Wheat on the top 4s Od
Barley on'the top Os 9d up average 7d up•
Oats on the top Os 6d up. ...,.... average Os down•
Beans on the top is up .............average.. is 3a
Averages per Imperial quarter.
1-12ths
Wheat....
Barley
Oats 1 6; 6 6-12ths
average is
Beans
Total Supply and Sales.
168 ...
Wheat . 920 qrs .. Sold 619 qrs
Barley__ _2552 -
cl s ******** Sold 2329 qrs
4d up.
Oats
1371 rrs .• • ...... Sold 1027 (Fe
8ean5qr5......... Sold 86 qrs

:CORK—SEPT. 28.
The following were the quotations this morning • 160
wheat, 18s Od to 20s 6i ; white,'l7s Od to 23s Od; barley
Od to 15s 6d; oats, 9s Od to lls Od.

DERBY SMITHFIELD—SEPT. W. faft
th
The suiply of fat stock to-day was limited, to the
best
attendance of buyers ; high prices were asked fors
Ivo
quality, which was scarce. Sheep were in average,„( Dot
and the demand was good. Fat pigs numerous, u"
so well sold. 7d Y!7111

Beef
Mutton
Lamb Od to Od Rough fat, 5s 6d per
nd to 50 ; calf skins, 6d to 61a.