The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-24 00:00:00

GERMANY.

_

The Swabian Mercury publishes the outlines of the
new constitution of the Germanic Confederation
which Austria proposes to sn'..;mit to the conslderation
of- the Council of States which she has assembled at
Frankfort. This constitution is a combination of all
projects which formerly have been started to meet the
difficulties_ of the question, viz.—a Directory, in which
Prussia and Austria preside by rotation, while the
lesser states are represented in batches ( gruppenweis );
and, -in -addition, a representation of the people,
or rather of the peoples, proceeding from the Diets
of the individual states. The Austrian Monarchy,
with all its Crown lands and dependencies, is to form
part of this Confederation.
The Kolner Zeitung has the following remarks re-
specting this plan, and its chances of success :—" In
the_first instance we are bound again to repeat that
a union of Germany, which exceeds the limit of an
international alliance, with the Austrian Monarchy,
composed as it is of a majority of non- German states,
is neither founded on natural wants nor supported by
historical precedents. Indeed, a want or necessity is quite
out of the question. Germany is large enough and strong
enough for all reasonable purposes, and the only thing
she wants is, to be left alone and undisturbed. But a
disturbance it would make if she were brought into
contact and Bound up with a variety of foreign and
semi-barbarous elements. Whatever advantages such
an union might offer to Germany are equally attain-
a)ple by common alliances and treaties, and there is
nothing which could indemnify us for our loss of cha-
racter, weight, and strength, if the foreigner were
entitled to dictate to us in our own affairs. As for
the system, of representing the lesser states in batches
(gruppen system), we can only say that it deprives
those states of that independence and equality in the
Confederatio,n which Prussia at all times clailned for
tAgm."

• HOLLAND.
'Thu HAGUE, SECT. 21.—1 n consequence of a reso-
ration lately passed by the Netherlands Government,
all the ditties, oetrois, and tolls hitherto imposed by
the Government'on,ibe Netherlands Rhine were abo-
lished in favour of every flag on that river on the 15th
instant.
The Government, has, however, reserved to itself the
privilege of claiming the various dues from those Ri-
verton States which shall impose less favourable
OuditiOna upon the Netherlands flag than upon
their own. j The energy of the Government in
taking this step while the question relative to aboli-
tioo, whole or partial, of those dues is a matter of
intricate deliberaqon by the Rhenish Navigation
Company COmMissiOners, will very materially lessen
.the difficulty. of their task. There can be no doubt
that the other GovernMents will do the same. The
Netherlands Government has likewise abolished all
transit, duties on its territory, and the navigation
dues on the Yssel ; similar measures are in progress
relative to the duties levied by France and Belgium,
'he Riverain states of that river.
The commission charged with the liquidation of the
succession of his late Majesty William IL, has ap-
pointed some members to examine the accounts and
the works of the edifice which his Majesty had built
.at the Ilague.—Dutch Papers.

M. DE LAROCHEJAQTJELIN AND
• THE LEGITT MATISTS.
The following is a translation of the letter addressed
by M. de Lerochejaquelin to the editor of the Eyene-
ment in reply to the manifesto of the Count de
Chambord :
" Monsieur le Re•lacteur,—Neither the officious
articles published in several journals, nor the semi-
official letter of M. Ponjoulat (of which I was not
aware until after that which I wrote to the journal
the Ordre on the 4th of this month), obliged nee to
break the respectful silence which I intended to pre-
serve, but now, in presence of the mad document
which you have published, I am compelled to reply
to my excommunication. As regards the Legiti-
matists of France, the circulars signed De Barthelemy
contain the authentic signature of the five persons who
are named in the manifesto which you publish.
" Ail denial on that point would be a falsehood. It
is therefore to toy great regret that I must reply to
an official document. I accept my excommunication
in full. It is evident that we do not hold the same
principles. I do not believe that legitimacy is a
mystery—that the representatives of France ought to
obey the crders of the King under the Republic no
more than under the Monarchy. I never had any
doubt on that theory. Parliamentary faults must in
future ascend higher than their authors—such is
the consequence of the orders which have been
issued. The legitimacy of national right com-
prised the expression of the national sovereignty of all
- the 'generations which have preceded us during 900
years. I could not find any titles more noble or
more French, or rights more respectable, than those
of an institution vshich constituted the lasi of our
fathers during so many centuses. I demanded that
the nation should return to the national principle—
I never demanded to create it. The right of legiti-
macy is now represented to us as a mystery which
must not be discussed, which it is dangerous to
fathom. It is represented to us that the national
will, freely expressed, is an attack on the rights of
legitimacy. In politics I cannot defend what I
do not understand. If the man holding a private
station could at a respectful interview, during
' which no discussion was permitted, personally make
• his love and his unbounded devotion subservient to
the desire expressed by an exiled Prince in such
terms as merely suppressed, but did not repudiate,
his honourable convictions, the politician cannot
accept, either for himself or for his friends, the
humiliation of this indescribable public manifesto,
'whose consequences would be'as fatal to the principle
.of authority as to the principles of liberty. This is
no longer a question of persons—it is a question of
principles. I have a right to say that mine are not
those of the men under whom I should have to make
an act of discipline. The appeal to the nation is not,
as has been said, a revolutionary act ; it is the nation
itself in its sovereignty putting an end to the era of
revolutions. I did not dements an appeal to the nation
on the principle of legitimacy. Every body can recollect
'. that the questio❑ was thus stated, ' Republic or
, Monarchy. The Legititnatists, by supporting them-
selves on the solid popular basis of au appeal to the
nation, levelled all the harriers which had been raised
more formidably than ever. If Monarchy had bee❑
proclaimed iu principle, there would have been no-
thing more necessary than to show the reason, tra-
dition, glory, and the passed utility of legitimacy.
• Political parties could not, in the position which cir-
cumstances had placed them, do otherwise than sub-
, mit honourably in presence of the national lew of
France of nine centuries, ntknowl,,,:dged and remem-
bered by the nation. They do not wish it. I
cannot help that. The severity of the language
of the neneifesto is not moderated by a single
world implying good intentions. I leave to others
henceforth the care cf defending those doctrines,
which, in my ignorance, I. believed I could main-
tain without being placed outside the pale of public
opinion. I shall ever remain faithful to the interests
of my country by obeying the laws which govern it,
without troubling myself in wishing for or anticipat-
ing the authority to which I shall have to submit
hereafter. It will be permitted me to guard religi-
ously in reserve, for the satisfaction of my conscience,
the political symbol which has hitherto formed the
faith o my whole life; but I admit it never can be
possibly applied if the manifesto which you have pub-
lished take effect.

" H. DE LAROCHEJAQUELIN.
" Paris, Sept. 21, 1850: "

COURT-MARTIAL ON CAPTAIN
STEEVENS, 44Tu REGIMENT.
MALTA, SEPT. 15.—A general court-martial as-
sembled on Thursday last, by order of Lieut.-General
Ellice, commanding the troops, when Capt. William
Steeveni, 44th Regiment, was put on his trial on the
following charge :—For having been drunk on duty,
and when under arms in command of the main guard,
on the 7th Sept., 1850.
Thee Court was composed of Lieutenant-Colonel
Emmett, R.E., President ; Lieutenant-Colonel Warde,
R.A. ; ' Major A. L. Cole, 69th; Captain Calleja,
• .R.M.F. • Captain Maltei, R.M.F. ; Captain Browne,
44th ; 4aptain Fieldeu, 44th ; Captain Bowen, 69th ;
Lieutenant-Colonel Paxton, 69th; Captain O'Hallo-
ran, 69th; Captain Tylee, R.A.; Captain Messiter,
;;Captain M'Mahon, 44th ; Captain Fenwick,
44th ; and Captain Baker; R.E., members. Captain
Gardiner, R.A.; officiating as Deputy Judge-Advocate:
The evidence for the prosecution tended to show
that Captain S. was drunk at the time expressed.
Lieutenant Cooper, his subaltern on duty, swore also
to that point, but he also swore that half an hour be-
fore, at the club, he was not drunk.
The prisoner's orderly, who was behind him from
his leaving the club till his arrival on the square, where
'• the main. guard is situated, also swore that he had not
seen him drink anything.
A sergeant of the guard swore he was drunk.
• Captain Spring, 44th, who placed him under ar-
rest, also swore to the same fact, as did one or two
others.
For the defence, Lieut. Llielethwait, 44th, swore
that at twenty minutes to half.past eleven he and
prisoner were, yachting. The prisoner steered the
boat as of was exposed to the sun. That from the
time of embarking till their return to Ricasoli, at
half•pat three P.M., they had drank three glasses of
brandy and _water between them, and Captain S.
;,,, was sober. That he was sober at five P.M., when he
:.•left Ricasoli for the club; and again at eight P.M.,
- • 'when he returned to Ricasoli under arrest, as he said,
for being drunk, he was sober.
Ensign
_Blood deposed to prisoner being sober at
'the club before going to main guard.
'Ensign Bell'deposed to conversing with him in the
square, and he was sober. -
Mr. Dingell deposed to talking to him before

7 '

141,.!
SJ;:
tc.

mounting guard, to seeing him go through the usual
routine of duty on guard, and that he was sober.
The defence was, that Captain S. was, from his
residence in the West Indies and the coast of Africa,
subject to vertigo, especially after exposure to the
sun, and was so seized.

Dr. Barry, P.M.P., proved on oath that a person
who had been abroad might be so affected, and espe-
cially at a time when the air was impure; that he
would then present appearances similar to a drunken
man.

The Court at one o'clock deliberated on their
verdict.

The result of the decision will not be officially
known until the proceedings have been sent to Eng-
land, as the general has no power to confirm the pro-
ceedings of any court in which the penalty of death
or cashiering is the award. It is currently reported
(upon what grounds I am ignorant) that the sentence
is fatal to Captain Steavens' commission, but that he
is strongly recommended to mercy. All who know
the captain hope most cordially that his commission
may be saved—or, at least, the regulated price•—in
case of a fatal verdict.

EXTRAORDINARY GALE IN THE

C HANN E L .
LOSS OF LIFE AND RIVER BOATS.
(From the Liverpool Albion.)
On Saturday evening a storm arose in the Channel,
which was marked by most extraordinary charac-
teristics of violence, and was, perhaps, unprecedented in
the suddenness with which it burst over the waters.
The principal sufferers were the small boats, or gigs,
out on speculating excursions for employment in
connexion with the vessels coming into port. A
great number of these left the river, as usual, during
the night and the early part of the morning, with the
wind north-east and a perfect calm, so that there was
no reason to apprehend the slightest danger, and many
of them ventured out a greater distance than usual.
About nine o'clock the wind veered round to the
south .west, and there were slight indications of a
coming storm, but nothing serious was anticipated.
About half-past nine, or thereabouts, the wind had
assumed a more westerly direction, and was accom-
panied by a drizzling rain. In an hour afterwards
a strong gale sprung up from the W.N.W., and the
change is described to have taken place as unexpec-
tedly as a flash of lightning or a clap of thunder.
Such was the strength of the gust that the small
craft were, with the greatest difficulty, preserved from
being capsized at the onset, and a heavy sea setting
in, they were tossed about like so many shells upon
the waves. It required the greatest skill to keep them
from being turned over or filled with water.
Two of gigs, in different parts of the Channel,
were completely overpowered, and that much life was
not sacrificed is only owing to those efforts of huma-
nity which are occasionally called forth, and which,
in fact, constitute a trait in the character of Bri-
tish seamen, and are, with rare exceptions, exer-
cised in every case of danger and distress where a
fellow-creature calls on them for aid.

Shortly after the gale commenced a boat called
the John, owned by a man named Lock, was de-
scried by Capt. Bell, of the Jenny Lind steamer, about
a mile and a half outside the North-west Lightship.
She was evidently in great distress, and the cap-
tain's attention was particularly directed to her by
thinking that she belonged to Peter Cropper, who,
with his men, had breakfasted on board the steamer
at six o'clock in the morning, and had afterwards left
in quest of a ship. Captain Bell no sooner saw the
boat and the state she was in than he determined at
all hazards to go to her assistance. The sea was
raging tremendously at the time, beating over the
paddle-box and the funnel, and the waves were of
such magnitude and strength that even the powerful
steamer seemed in the greateEt peril. The John,
when first observed from the steamer, would
be about a mile distant, and it was only oc-
casionally that she could be seen in con-
sequence of the foam by which she was sur-
rounded. At one time it was feared that she had en-
tirely disappeared, but, shortly afterwards, she was
observed again, a large wave having washed over her.
In another moment she was capsized, and rolled over
three times, and her crew, consisting of three men,
named Richard Gordon, Joseph Davies, and Jol,n
MA-lowan were struggling in the water for their
lives. M:Gowan and Gordon succeeded in getting on
the keel of the boat, and held fast by their hands and
knees, whilst the third, Davies, kept himself up with
the rigging and the oars. The Jenny Lind proceeded
towards the drowning men as fast as possible, and, a
screw-steamer being in advance, Captain Bell hailed it
to lower a boat and assist in saving the men. This ves •
sel being much nearer to the scene of the disaster, and
having proper boats on board, was much better quali-
fied to save life than the Jenny Lind. But, although
Captain Bell shouted to them till he was hoarse, no
one on board paid the 'least heed to his appeals be-
yond looking over the bulwarks at the men who were
struggling for their lives. We have not ascertained
the name of the vessel, but, doubtless, inquiry will
he made, which will lead to its discovery. Ceps
tain Bell also hailed an Irish steamer, which im-
mediately stopped its engine; but the Jenny Lind
had by this time approached near enough to render
all the assistance that could be afforded under the
circumstances. The object of those on board
,the
Jenny Lind was to get alongside the men, so as to
roach them with the lifebuoy without increasing
their danger, and this was a movement which re-
quired considerable caution. However, it was soon
accomplished, and the means of safety were first of all
extended to the unfortunate man Davies, who was
supporting himself upon the rigging, and appeared
nearly exhausted. The man immediately grasped the
buoy and was as quickly dragged on hoard the
steamer. Not a moment was lost in throwing the
buoy to the other men, and it was seized with
avidity by M'Gowan, who was also rescued.
As he left the keel of the boat his companion
called out to him for help, and caught
hold of his leg. The buoy was again thrown, but
Gordon, unable to hold out any longer, had let go his
hold of the keel and sunk. Another moment might
have saved him. It is supposed that the men had
been in the water nearly half-an-hour. At first they
gave themselves up for lost, but, when the screw-
steamer neared them, they had some hope, and
called out to one another to keep up their hearts.
They were, however, disappointed in their expec-
tations of help from that quarter. It is sail that
poor Gordon at once gave way to despair, and called
upon God to protect his wife and family. Davies and
APGo wan were supplied with hot coffee and clothing
on board the Jenny bind, and soon sufficiently re-
covered to express their gratitude to Captain Ball and
his crew, who had zo nobly rescued them from death.
I: is true their thanks were conveyed in rough and
ready phrase, but they were none the less sincere. An
effart was made to save the boat, but this was found
impracticable in consequence of the heavy sea which
prevailed.

The Jenny Lind, as it returned to Liverpool,
passed a sunken gig to the west of the Wharf Buoy,
Rock Channel. This would in all probability be the
Frank, a gig which had been capsized abreast of
Dove-bank, about nine miles out. It appears that the
Frank, with four men, was towing alongside of a ship
called the Juno, and another small boat, the Ellen,
owned by Daniel itoydan, was towing astern the
same vessel, with a complement of three men, When
the gale set in both boats were in imminent peril,
and it appeared inevitable that they would be lost.
The Frank, however, from some cause or other, as
yet unexplained, appeared in the greatest danger ;
and eventually the crew lost all control over their
boat, and it was overturned. The men kept hold as
long as they could, but in a few minutes they were
scattered amidst .the waves in different directions.
This was a trying moment for the hands in the other
gig. It was as much as they could do to preserve
themselves from a similar fate; and to unloose them-
selves from the ship, in order, if possible, to save the
drowning, would increase their risk. They,
however, boldly resolved to run the hazard'
and they immediately let go from the
larger vessel and launched themselves forth
to the assistance of those who called for help. The
storm was now at its height, and the waves every
moment threatened them with a watery grave. The
men in the water wereat ever and anon obscured by
andthe itmountains
obviousof
w
thaterif
which washed over them,
e utmost exertions were
not used
they would be entio hacl r
tel
o be
y
lost. They
Thlleoyn
wereoireede someup yoanrdes, distant from
at each other, and having
erxell
a different course to take up another.
they were all rescued; but it was only by trauoarP
nary effort and unexampled bravery. Cummings,l-
who was the owner of the capsized boat, had suril
and he was only saved by one of the men forcing an
oar under his body and buoying him up. In the
meantime the boat had become half full of water,
and it was expected every moment that she
would sink. Oae of the men, named Devlin,
was so impressed with this conviction that be ac-
tually took off his clothes and shoes in order, if ne-
cessary, to swim for his life. We are happy to say
Out the precaution proved unnecessary, and that,
after encountering one of the most violent gales ever
experi.eiced in this Channel, they arrived safely at
the Prince's Basin about noon.
several other boats were also placed in jeopardy,
and it is feared that more were lost than those men-
tioned. One belonging to Thomas Neale, vs hich was
missing for some time, turned up late in the after-
noon, having taken refuge at Crosby Lightship.
The unfortunate man Gordon, who was drowned,
was, we believe, very steady and deserving, and
he has left a wife and family of young children
to deplore his loss. The poor woman, who is near
her confinement, is in the greatest distress. This is
certainly a case which should recommend itself to the
benevolent, and we gladly yield to the suggestion
that subscriptions should be left at the office of the
Albion until some one more competent to undertake
the duty shall step forviard to provide for the blame-

diate wants of the widow and her children. The
brave men to whom those* saved are indebted for their
deliverance should not go unrewarded, and we feel
sure that we do not appeal in their behalf in vain.