The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-16 00:00:00

THE ARMY OF THE CAUCASUS

The Journal des Debats makes the following re-
marks on the reverses which are said to have been
sustained by the Russian army of the Caucasus :
" The war of the Russians in the Caucasus, which
has already lasted some years, does not appear likely
to lead to the speedy subjugation of that country.
Fresh defeats have been recently spoken of as having
been sustained by the Russian troops. The Augsburgh
Gazette confirms the reports which had before reached
us, but we are still without the details.
"Schmal, who headed the Caucasians in their late
successful affair, is a sort of warrior prophet, who, for
some years, has governed and led to battle the Lesghis,
the Koubilchis, and the other Mussulman tribes of the
Daghestan. He is the Abd-el-Kader of those countries.
Derbend, the capital of the Daghestan, or Eastern
Caucasus, is a large and ancient city, with a popula-
tion of from 12,000 to 15,000 souls. Its foundation
is attributed to Alexander the Great. It is strongly
fortified, and stands in the middle of a long and
narrow defile, surrounded by inaccessible heights.
It is situated on the Caspian Sea. It has a trifling
trade ; but the port affords no shelter against the
heavy gales which occur on that coast, and which
drive the waves with great violence into the very
streets of the city. There is there a mausoleum of
the rulers who are honoured as martyrs, and to whose
tomb the Mussulmans of the Caucasus come from all
parts to do honour.
" The defile in which the town is situated at one
time bore the name of the Caspian Doors ; and, in
fact, it was closed towards the extremity of the city
by large iron gates. There are remains of a large
wall, built by Darius to stop the incursions of the
Scythians. The difficulty which Schmal would
therefore have had to encounter in getting possession
of a place of such strength, appears so great as to
throw some doubt on the report. But although it
may appear improbable, it still cannot be said to be
impossible, after the feats which he and his followers
have performed on former occasions against the Rus-
sian troops, defeating them in every point, even
where they considered them the most strongly posted.
The Russian army of the Caucasus is, however, but a
demoralized portiOn of the Russian farces, as they are
chiefly composed of men who are sent there as a
punishment. The officers, therefore, serve without
zeal, and without that ardour which they would
otherwise feel."

THE BURNS DEMONSTRATION.—Last Sabbath a
Dissenting clergyman in town, who, in the brief period
he has laboured here, has earned for himself no inconsi-
derable notoriety from his peculiar theological opinions,
took occasion to warn his hearers against attending the
Burns festival. In his strictures on the character of the
poet, the' bard was found greatly wanting by the stan-
dard of this rev. gentleman—he was admitted to have had
great genius, but the preacher insisted the devil was n
greater genius, yet no one thought of getting up a de-
monstration in favour of his infernal majesty. We can-
not help congratulating the rev. gentleman on the nice
sense of discrimination he possesses!—Kilmarnock Jour-
nal [The Witness newspaper has been gaining for
itself an unenviable distinction by venting its spleen in
the same kind of miserable twaddle.]—Scotsman.
A TESTIMONIAL TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF Comm()lis.—We really think, now that the session is
over, that a testimonial ought to be presented to the
Speaker of the House of Commons, as an expression of
public sympathy for his unprecedented sufferings this
year ; for if it be true, that there is nothing so
fatiguing as having nothing to do, what must it be to
watch six hundred people, night after night, doing
nothing for six months in the year ! Nye propose that
the testimonial consist of a handsome night-cap, with an
air cushion and pillow, a warming-pan, and a copy of
"Sleep at Will," to enable the Speaker to pass future
sessions in greater comfort and repose.—,Punch.