The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-07 00:00:00

THE ABYSSINIAN CAPTIVES.

Mrs. Stern has received the two following short
letters from her husband :

" Amba, Magdala, March 31, 1868.

" My dear Charlotte, —We have at last reliable
intelligence of the onward movement of the army.
On the 25th inst. Sir Robert Napier was only a few
days distant from our Amba, and it is expected that
he will be here on Monday or Tuesday next. The
King, it is said, receives through the peasantry daily
news of the progress of our troops. He is not a little
nervous about the issue of a con ttst he has most reck-
lessly provoked. Last Sunday he visited our fort with
all his European workmen, and most of his fol-

lowers. As usual, he indulged in all sorts of im-
potent brag. His subjects (?), his priests, and the
late Primate, with whom, as ever, he associated my
name, came in for a profuse share of abuse—the
well-known method by which he vents his rage on
those whom he has most wronged. To Consul
Cameron, Mr. Rassam, and others he also adverted,
and that, too, in no very gentle terms. With Mr.Ras-
sam he had a long chat. Their conversation was in
the uld conciliatory, friendly, and flattering strain,
interspersed here and there with exaggerated compli-
ments about the nobleness of Kings, the greatness
of their hearts, and the superiority of the mould
out of which they are formed. At Mr. Rassam's
especial request, his two companions, Mr. Prideaux
and Dr. Blanc, were relieved of their fetters, a
favour which he promised yesterday to extend to
all the other captives. Whether he will really do
so or not is not just now a matter of great signifi-
cance. IVe are, without exception, strictly guarded,
particularly the old prisoners. The motives which
prompted the Negus to impose on us this fresh
annoyance I do not feel disposed to interpret.
Perhaps he wants to intimidate us ; and also it
may be that it is a mere Abyssinian tonic to
fortify, by an ostentatious display of authority',
the courage of his timid band of adherents. Myself
and, I believe, the majority of fellow-prisoners are
quite impervious to these flashes of pride and indig-
nation. We may have a few more unpleasant
shocks, a few more ugly encounters and trying epi-
sodes, and then there will be freedom from fetters,
release from bondage, and rest from disquietude,
trouble, and suffering. Cheer up. God is with me
He will succour, shield, and deliver his oppressed
captive servant.

" April 3.
" You will be glad to know that yesterday the
Negus, at the earnest request of Mr. Rassam, re-
lieved us of our fetters. Mr. Rassam had a long
interview with him, in which he still dilated on his
faded greatness,and the ungracious repulses his prof-
fers of friendship had met with in foreign lands•
The Emperor Napoleon, he asserted, had taken
his envoy, Mr. Bardel, by the neck and turned bin►
out of his palace (?). Consul Cameron came back
and brought me no answer to my letter ; then 1
beat Stern. Subsequently I discovered that he had
written ill of me.' And then, as if to check him-
self in. his not very palpable accusation, he said,
in reply to a remark about his energy and per-
severance, Ah! even Stern calls me in his book
most wonderful man.' Such and similar topics
formed the staple of five hours' converse with Mr-
Rassam.
" Mr. Rassam deserves the most unqualified
praise for the adroitness sad tact which he has dis-
played in his intercourse with this strange King•
General Sir Robert Napier is very near us, and
with God's blessing, and that wisdom which corneal
from above, I believe all will en•l successfully and
prosperously.
" In great haste, yours affectionately,
" H. A. STERN."

NAVAL AND MILITARY IN7ELLIGENCg•

The Bellerophon, 14, screw (armoured) iron
frigate, Capt. R. J. J. S. Macdonald, has gone into
Portsmouth Harbour from Spithead, to complete
some gun carriage fittings and other trifling matters
preparatory to sailing to join the Channel Fleet at
its rendezvous in Portland Roads.

The Elk, 2, twin screw (composite built) gall'
boat, 465 tons, 120 horse power, launched daring
the past winter from Portsmouth Dockyard, an
subsequently fitted with her engines and boileril'
was placed ten weeks since in the old shipping
basin of the yard, to wait there the finishing of her
pair of screws, which were ordered to be cast front
enlarged patterns. On Tuesday last she was taken
out of the basin again and docked to receive her,
screws, which bad in the meantime been completed
for her. On attempting to clean the ends of the
shafting, however, to receive the screws, it was dis-
covered that galvanic action had been at work to
such an extent that the " key" pieces on the shaft:
ings were reduced to plumbago, and other parts n'
the metal " honeycombed." The fact appears to
._
be that the small area of water in the old ship basin
is but seldom opened to the admission of the tide
has always three or four copper-Bottomed vessel
floating upon it, and is, therefore, a chemical 1)30'
whose power has been so unexpectedly yet c°131:0
vincingly displayed upon the screw shafts of t
Elk.
The Dwarf, 2, twin screw (composite built) 10,1::
vessel, Commander C. Walker, sailed from sl3l'
head yesterday for China.
r
The sailing ludiaman Calcutta, Young, milste f
arrived at Spithead yesterday morning from CA
lo
cutta, with 153 time-expired soldiers belonging to

various regiments on board.
Her Majesty's paddle (despatch) steamship gelfi;
con, of the Channel Fleet, pursuant to or le e
Portland Harbour for the westward on Tuesci7;
last at a ]ate hour, notwithstanding the str°:d
easterly wind and heavy sea outside. It is supiPs,
the Helicon will call at Plymouth for further 1°
struct ions.

A court-martial, which lasted all day, was
yesterday on board her Majesty's ship Formidaue°
flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir B. W. Walker, Le,',13,..j.
on Mr. Thomas M'Lucas, carpenter of the t'o
class, belonging to the Sheerness steam reserve, .vor
two charges. First, with having called his ellPeriv 0
officer, Lieutenant Odevaine, " a --- scv ee:l3'd
and secondly, with refusing to receive a rePrie3-tfis
from Commander %V. Partridge, of her gajes4p,
ship Cumberland, on the quarter deck of that 0; se
for the first-named charge. The Court, alit: of
lengthy consultation, found the prisoner gin." (1
both charges, and sentenced him to be dimis
her Majesty's service. 61
The colonelcy of the 7th Regiment of Foot (g
Fusiliers) is vacant by the death of Sir Stlyitierple
Auchmuty, G.C.8., on the 30th ult., at P 311,.. Mr,
deceased General was the second son of the lawd the
Samuel Auchmuty, of Brianstown. lie entered fill
army as ensign, in October, 1797, and gagl eero4
his promotions by service in the field. Ile s ho
1809
several years in the West Indies, and in of to
accompanied the 2d battalion of the 7th -:,;_ei;eral
Portugal. As Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant'`ies of
to the 6th Division, he was present the h3tt ova
Busaco and Fuentes d'Onor. lie was APl3°s,Lic-
extra aide-de-camp to Gen. Sir Lowry Cole' anclea
seeding to the regimental majority be eotrnreigaclet
b
the light companies of Major-General Ross's se; at
and served with them at Orthes and rfouWel.
the latter was promoted Brevet Lieut.-Colonis fool
gallant General served on the Staff ill le..cleigb°
1848 to 1852. In 1857 he was madeGrOci
1861 a, of the
Commander of the Batb, and in
Cross of the Order. He had been Colonel
Royal Fusiliers since January, 1855.