The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

THE UTAH EXPEDITION.

The fate which seems Co impend over the expedi-
tion to Utah wears, in some sort, the aspect of re-
tributive justice. It was delayed so long in Kan-
sas, meddling in matters in which it had no busi-
ness to meddle, that the winter has caught it while
the advanced guard is still on this side the moun-
tains. From the very outset misfortunes seemed
to attend it. Great numbers of the trained sol-
diers of whom it was originally composed deserted ;
and it set out so late in the season that the grass
has failed, and the snow fallen heavily, before it has
made the smallest preparation for its own salva-
tion during the cold winter. For the present, it is
quite clear, our main anxiety must be, not as to
whether we shall within the next six months sub-
due Brigham Young, but whether we shall next
spring have a single man or officer of the old force
to begin the next campaign with.
It was quite clear that the arrangements were
made in the idea that we should enter the city of
the saints without opposition, and simply use the
, troops as Governor Cumming's posse, for the sub-
sequent enforcement of the laws. In short, the
expedition was fitted out, as was that of the British
to Turkey in the late war, as a corps of observation
in the suite of a plenipotentiary. It took with it
an enormous baggage train, parrying everything
necessary for the troops from Kansas to Utah ; and
this was all very well, but the very important item
of forage for the mules seems to have been lost sight
of. It now turns out that in this particular the
grass on the plains was wholly relied on, and if the
force had only started early enough in the season
this would have served them in just as good stead
as it serves some thousands of emigrants every
summer. But the fact is that they did not start
early enough, and the result is that the grass has
failed, the mules are dropping off, and with them
drop off, of course, the stores of every kind. The
scarcer the herbage the greater the necessity for
marching in small detachments, and the natural
consequence is that the Mormons are enabled to
perpetrate such outrages on these small bodies with
impunity as those of which each mail now brings
tidings.
It may fairly be laid down as a rule that a mili-
tary force should never be employed without taking
every precaution to insure its efficiency as a fighting
machine. Threatening demonstrations, without
being prepared to support tkem vigorously, are
neither very dignified in those making them, nor
very fair towards those whom they employ. If the
Mormons are only half as great a nuisance and dis-
grace as all accounts represent them to be, a proper
regard for our own dignity, as well as for the safety of
our troops, wouldhave dictated the despatch of 6,000
men in June, instead of 2,500 in the fall. Nobody
of course doubts for a moment what the issue of
this contest will be, but surely the gallant men
whom we have sent to vindicate the national
supremacy in the defiles of the Rocky Mountains
were entitled to every guarantee against all perils,
save those of actual conflict, which care and fore-
thought could supply. There is nothing very allur-
ing in the service, under ite best aspects. The field
is remote and the foe ignoble, but the authorities
have aggravated its drawbacks by placing amongst
their number the chance of a dog's death.—New
York Times.

A WHOLE TOWN BURNT BY AN INCENDIARY.—It may
be remembered that the small Polish town of Bolanowo
was some months since destroyed by fire. An inhabi-
tant of the place, a blacksmith, named Niegelt, has just
been tried and condemned to death as the author of that
este.strophe. Hi% house had been seized for debt, and
was about to be soli, when out of revenge he set fire to
it, and thus caused the destruction of the whole town
and the loss of a number of lives.—Galignani.
DEATH OF THE COUNTESS (DOWAGER) NELSON.—We
regret ti learn that the Countess (Dowager) Nelson died
suddenly at Paris on Tuesday last. The deceased coun-
tess, Hilard, was third daughter of the late Rear-Admiral
Sir Robert Barlow, K.C.8., and was widow of Mr.
George Ulric Railow, when she married, secondly, 26th
March, 1829, William, first Earl Nelson, only surviving
brother of the immortal hero of Trafalgar, Vincent
Nelson, she being that nobleman's second wife. After
the death of Earl Nelson, in February, 1835, the coun-
tess married, thirdly, 7th February, 1837, Mr. George
T. Knight, who survives her ladyship. The countess
was a pious and charitable woman, and the poor and
needy have lost a generous benefactress.
A PRIZE IN THE CHURCH,—Owing to the death cf
Mr. John Long, the patron of the living of Camberwell,
the advowson, one of the most valuable in the Church,
will shortly be offered for sale, the testator having di-
rected it to be disposed of, subject of course to the inte-
rest of the present vicar, now in his 53d year. the gross
annual value of the vicarage of Camberwell is 2,3371
Os. Sd. The income is derived from the following
sources :—Vicarial tithes commuted for a rent-charge
of 1,100/. per annum, out of which there is a rent-charge
granted to St. Pauli, Herne-hill, of 46/. 03. 6d.; ground
rents arising from glebe lands in North-terrace, 210/. ;
do., 12/. 2s. 61. ; do., 221. 104. ; ground-rent of six
houses in Sterling-place, 1201. ; do., in Brunswick-
square, 117/. ; annual payment by the Surrey Canal
Company, 20/. ; annual amount of surplice fees, includ-
ing interment fees from the Camberwell Burial Board,
400/.; interest on stock standing in the name of the Ac-
countant-General of the Court of Chancery, 4/. Bs. 2d. ;
Easter offerings, estimated at 100/. ; 9001. in Exchequer
bilk and 1271. Os. 7,1. in Consols standing to the credit
of the purchaser of the glebe laud in the hands of the
Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery, for the
purpose of purchasing freehold lund and herodi:aments,
in the parish of Camberwell, and producing 31/. per
annum. The vicar has also a fee of ls. 6d. per heal fur
common interments, and ss. for family vaults. The
Norwood Cemetery Company also pay him 12s- for
family vaults, and se. for common interments. These
feoa average annually 50/. To these varied sources of
income is to be added the value of the vicarage-house,
garden, and offices (the best of all the metropolitan pa.
risbes), valued at 150/. per annum. The land-tax is re.
deems I, end the total deductions for rates, taxes, and
tenths amount to 213/., leaving a net income of 2,114/.
Os. Si., or considerably more than the allowance of the
colonial bishops. The rent charge of 1,100/. per annum
is liable to vary with the average price of c )rn, and the
quantity of market garden ground in the parish ; but in
the course of years, as the building leases fall in, and the
market gardens are built upon, the revenue will be °oriel
durably increased. The time which it must necessarily
take to manage this enormous property must alone be
considerable, and from the nature of the revenue it is
increasing every year.
THE CONDEMNED CONVICT BEALE.—The execution of
John William Beale for the murder of Charlotte Pug4ley
in Leigh-woods has been fixed for Tuesday, the 12th
January. On the prieouer's return to Wilton gaol after
the trial the clothes which he had worn during the day
were taken off, and he was attired in the prison garb.
It is reported on good authority that before the trial
Beale ma e a statement to his prolesaional adviser ad-
mitting his guilt, by affirming that the two witnesses
Hancock and Jackson, who were called to depose to
having seen him in company with a woman in the vici-
nity of Nightingale-valley between 5 and 6 o'clock on the
night of the murder, were mistaken ; that the tragedy
was not perpetrated for several hours afterwards, and
Mr. Rudd Lucas, the surgeon, was nearly correct when
he stated his opinion that the body had not been dead
much more than 24 hours when he saw it early on
Saturday morning, the 12th September. Beale has also
negatived the suggestion made on the part of the prose-
cution, that the knife found in the butler's pantry at
Daventry was the instrument with which the unfortunate
girl's throat was cut. He says that the murder was
completed with a razor, which he afterwards threw away,
and which must have escaped the search which was
made in Leigh-woods for any article calculated to throw
light upon zhe mystery with which the case was so long
surrounded.

FIRES.--Early yesterday morning a fire broke out on
the premises of Messrs. Hughes & Co., tar workers and
turpentinedealere, notherhithe. 'rhedarnage is estimated
at 2,0001. On Christmas-eve the building known as the
Bow Brewery, belonging to Mr. E. Morton, caught fire,
and the flames communicated to the malthouses and the
steam engine-houses. The total loss, it is feared, will
amount to 5,0001., but the premises are insured.
A fire also happened on Christmas-eve, on the pre-
mises of Mr. Widdicomb, paper-hanging factor, 3, Ba h-
street, St. Luke's. It commenced in the second floor,
and Extended quickly to the finishing-rooms and ware-
-11,,t130 filled with valuabl' goods. The firemen succeeded
in extinguishing the flamer+, but not until the second
floor and finishing-rooms were burned out, and the rest
of the stock in the stores considerably damaged. The
premises of Mr. C. alley Sicc►ar, 69, Old-street, china
and glass merchant, were also damaged. The sufferers
were insured. A fire likewise took place at 102, High-
Holborn, belonging to Mr. H. Levy, glass and china
merchant, at which considerable damage was done to
the stock in trade and premises. Several other fires
happened during yesterday morning and the pre-
vious night,