The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-22 00:00:00

A battery of twelve pieces, the Bele remnant of the whole
artillery of the army, was spread upon the front of the
corps of Desaix.
These dispositions made, the First Consul rode
through the ranks of his soldiers, and addressed the dif-
ferent corps. My friends,' said he, wo have fallen
back far enough: recollect that I am accustomed to lie
on the field of battle.' Having reanimated the troops,
who, inspirited by the arrival of the reserves, burned
with, impatience to resume the fight, he gave the signal
for attack. A charge was beaten along the whole line.
" The Austrians, in order of march rather than in
order of battle, were proceeding along the high road.
The col.urnn urder the command of M. de Zach came
first. A little in rear, came the centre, half deployed in
the plain, and making front to Lannes.
" General Marmont all at once unmasked twelve
pieces of cannon. A thick shower of grape-shot fell
upon the head of the surprised Austrian column, which
expected no further resistance; for the enemy believed
that the French were decidedly retreating. Scarcely
bad it recovered from this sudden shock, when Desaix
set the 9th light in motion Go and inform the First
Consul,' sail he to Savary, his aides de-camp, that I
am charging, and that I am in want of caval.ry to support
me.' Desaix, on horseback, led on this demi brigade.
Ho ascended with it the slight rise of the ground which
hid it from the view of the Austrians, and abruptly re-
vealed himself to them by a fire of musketry discharged
within a fee, paces of them. The Austrians re-
turned it, and Desaix fell, pierced by a ball in the
chest. 'Conceal my death,' said he, to General Boudet,
his chief of division • it might dishearten the troops.'
Useless precaution Of that hero 1 His fall had been ob-
served, and his soldiers, like those of Turenne, insisted,
with loud shouts, on avenging their leader. The 9th light,
which on that day earned the title of incomparable, which
it bore till the termination of our wars—the 9th light,
having poured forth its fire, formed in column, and fell
upon the dense mass of the Austrians. At sight of it,
the first two regiments which opened the march, taken
by surprise, fell back in disorder on the second line, and
disappeared in its ranks. The column of Letterman's
grenadiers was then alone at the head, and received this
shock like crack troops. It stood firm. The conflict
extended on both sides of the high road. The 9th light
was supported on the right by Victor's rallied troops, on
the left by the 30th and 59th demi-brigades of Boudet's
division, which had followed the movement. Latter-
rean's grenadiers were defending themselves with diffi-
culty, when an unforeseen storm suddenly burst over
their heads. General Kellermann, who, on the applica-
tion of Desaix, had received orders to chat ge, set off at
a gallop, and, passingbetween Lannes and Desaix, placed
part of his squadron en potence, to make head against
the Austrian cavalry, which he saw before him ; then,
with the rest, he fell upon the flank of the column of the
grenadiers, already attacked in front by Boudet's in-
factry. This charge, executed with extraordinary
vigour, cut the column in two. lCellermann's dragoons
slaughtered to the right and to the left, till pressed on all
sides, the unrortunate grenadiers laid down their arms.
Two thousand of them surrendered. At their head,
Gen. Zech himself was obl ged to deliver up his sword.
The 'Austrians were thus deprived of their commander
during the conclusion of the battle ; for M. de Melt's,
as we have seen, thinking himself sure of the victory,
had retired to Alexandria. Kellermann did not stop
there ; dashing upon the Lichtenstein dragoons, he put
them to flight. The latter fell back upon the centre of
the Austrians which was deploying in the plain, in face
of Lannes, and threw it into some disorder. Lannes
then advanced, and attacked the shaken centre of the
Austrians with vigour ; while the grenadiers of the con-
sular guard and Cerra St. Cyr again moved towards
Castel Ceriolo, from which they were not far distant.
Along the whole line from San Giuliano to Castel
Ceriolo, the French had resumed the offensive ; they
marched forward, intoxicated with joy and enthusiasm,
on perceiving victory returning to them. Surprise and
discouragement had passed to the side of the Austrians.'
The loss on both sides is thus given :

" The losses, considering the number of the com-
batants, were immense, and out of the usual proportions.
The Austrians lost about 8,000 men, in killed and
wounded, and more than. 4,000 prisoners. Their staff
was cruelly decimated. General Haddick was killed;
Generals Vogelsang, Lattermann, Bellegarde, Lamar-
seine, and Gottesheim were wounded; and with them a
great number of officers. Thus they lost, in men hors
de combat or taken, one-third of their army, if it was from
36,000 to 40,000 strong, as it is generally said to have
been. As for the French, they had 6,000 killed or
wounded, and about 1,000 of them were taken prisoners,
which again exhibits a loss of one-fourth, out of 28,000
soldiers present at the battle. Their staff suffered as
severely as the Austrian staff. Generals Mainony,
Ric and, Malher, Champeaux, were wounded, the last
mortally. The greatest loss was that of Desaix. France
had not sustained one more to be regretted during a
ten 'ears' warfare. In the estimation of the First Consul,
this loss was great enough to diminish the joy that he
felt for the victory. His secretary, M. de Bou:Tienne,
hastening to congratulate him on this miraculous
triumph, said to him, What a glorious day ! " Yes,' re-
plied the First Consul, 'lt would have been glorious
indeed, could I but have embraced Desaix this evening
on the field of battle. I was going,' added he, to make
him Minister of War ; I would have made him a prince
if I could.' The conqueror of Marengo had as yet no
notion that he should, at no distant day, have it in his
power to bestow crowns on those who served him. The
body of the unfortunate Desaix was lying near San Giu
liano, amidst that vast field of carnage. his aideLde-
camp, Savary, who had been long attachei to him, sought
out his body from among the dead, and, recognising it
by his profusion of hair, had it removed, and wrapped in
an hussar cloak ; then placing it on his horse, he con-
veyed it to the head quarters at Torre di Garofalo."

MALTA.

Malta, in its soil and climate, belongs to Africa—in
its population, perhaps, to Italy—in its garrison and
commerce, to Europe—i.nd in its manners and habits,
.to the East. It is a medley of the three quarters of the
Old World ; and, for the time, a medley of the most
curious description. The native carriages, peasant
dresses, shops, furniture of the houses, and even the
houses themselves, are wholly unlike anything that has
before met the English eye. Malta, in point of religious
observances, is like what St. Paul said of Athens—it is
overwhelmingly pious. The church-bells tolling are
all day long. Wherever it is possible, the cultivation
of the ground exhibits the industry of the people.
Every spot where earth can be found, is covered
with some species of produce. Large tracts are em-
ployed in the cultivation of the cotton plant—fruit-
trees fill the soil—the fig tree is luxuriant—pomegra-
nate, peach, apple, and plum, are singularly produc-
tive. Tines cover the walls, and the Maltese oranges
have a European reputation. The British possession
of Malta originated in one of those singular events by
which short-sightedness and rapine are often made
their own punishers. The importance of Malta, as a
naval situation, had long been obvious to England,
and when, in the revolutionary war, the chief hostili-
ties of the war were transferred to the Mediterranean,
its value as a harbour for the English fleets became
incalculable. Yet it was still in the pos-
session of the knights ; and, so far as England was
concerned, it might have remained in their hands
for ever. A national sense of justice would have
prevented the seizure of the island, however
inadequate to defend itself against the navy of Eng-
land. But Napleon had no such scruples. In his
expedition to Egypt, he threw a body of troops on
shore at Malta ; and having either frightened or
bribed its masters, or perhaps both, plundered the
churches of their plate, turned out the knights, and
left the islar .1 in possession of a French garrison.
Nothing could be less sagacious and less statesman-
like than this act; for, by extinguishing the neutrality
of the island, he exposed it to an immediate blockade
by the English. The result was exactly what he
ought to have foreseen. An English squadron was
immediately despatched to summon the island ; it

eventually fell jai° the hands of the English, and
now seems destined to' rennin in English hands so
long as we have a ship in the Mediterranean.—The
0 verhaul Passage.

SIG/IT AND ITEARINa.-39,Albemarle-street,Picca-
dilly. Newly-invented spectacles, telescopes, opera-
glasses, microscopes, &c. Patronised by Generals Sir
Edward Paget, Sir Evan Lloyd, Frederick Maister,
Clayton, Galway, Grosveaor, Morrison, Dyott, Robert-
son, and Mackenzie ; Major-Generals Sir 11. Elphin•
stone, P. 1' yers, D. Macleod, Hamilton, and Wemyss ;
Liant.- Generals Sir Henry Bouverie, Sir J. Macdonald,
Sir R. Barton. Sir.T. Dallas, Lord John Hay ; Admirals
Sir George Cockburn, Sir George Munday, Sir G.
Martin, Sir James 11. Whitsbed, Sir D. Gold, and
Ross. By the use of these newly-invented spectacles,
imperfect vision becomes preserved and strengthened,
and very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight
at the most minute occupation, and can see with those
lenses of a much less magnifying power, nor will they
require the frequent changes to further helps ; also
newly -in vented achromatic waistcoat-pocket telescopes
and opera glasses. Every kind of telescope of larger
size with increasing powers, for shooting, sea purposes,
and, upon stands, for astronomical purposes, with the
same cm lebrated lenses, the powers are so great, and the
lenses so bright and brilliant, that minute objects at an
extraordinary distance are brought completely under the
eye. Sportsmen, tourists, and sea-side visitors will
have a great treat. Their invisible voice conductor gives
immediate relief to old standing extreme cases of deaf-
ness. Caution—Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, opticians
and aurists, are not in any way connected withi a person
of the same name in their immediate neighbourhood, nor
in any part of the country. To prevent mistakes be
cautious and observe, only to be had at 39, Albemarle •
street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel.
LONGEVITY OF ARTISTB.—In a work of which M.
Legincourt is the author, it is observed that artists are
not long lived. Among four hundred artists, more or
less celebrated, since the time of Raffaelle to the present
time, only one-fortieth of that number have attained to
the age of 70 to 99 years—these are,Vincent, 70 ; Hey.
nolck, 70; Luiresse, 71; Lebrun, 71; Poussin, 71; Cham-
pagne, 72; Terburg, 73; Salario, 73; Pannini, 73 J
°li-
ven, 73 ; Vernet (Joseph), 74 ; Reynault, 75 ; Ostade,
75 ; Leonardo da Vinci, 75 ; Guercino Bourgeois, 74 ;
David, 77 ; Sohnyder, 79 ; Bakliuysen, 78 ; Greuze, 79;
Carl Vernet, 79 ; Teniers, 80 ; Cousin, 80 ; Bellini, 80;
Primaticcio, 80 ; Jozepin, 80 ; Lagranea, 81; Grassi, 81;
Albano; 82; Claude Lorraine, 82; Tintoretto, 82; Bauze,
82; Gentileschi, 83; Barroccio, 84; Jordaens, 84; Alig-
ner°, 85; Richard, 85; Crayer, 87; Marratti, 88; Coy-
pal, 89; Bellini (Giovani), 90; Calabrese, 90; Vien, 93;
Titian, 99.—Art- Union.
It is said that Mr. Colburn has in the press a new
work by the author of " Coningsby."

PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
LESSEE, MR. J. M. MADDOX.
ON EASTER MONDAY, MARCH 24,
Will be perfermed the Play of THE STRANGER. The Stranger,
Mr. Graham ; Baron, Mr. Archer; Count Wintersten, 3lr.
Courtney ; Mrs. Haller, Miss Cushman.
After which, Mr. SANDS and his INFANT BROTHER, MAURICE,
will appear in their Pleasing and Wonderful Entertainment, DE
SALON', FREAKS OF FANCY.
To conclude with a New Grand Oriental Mele-dramatic Burlesque
Extravaganza, in Two Acts, called TIMOUR THE CREAM OF ALL
THE TARTARS. Thnour, Mr. Oxberry ; Zorilda, Miss E. Stanley.
Stage Manager, Mr. H. I. Wallack I Stage Director, Mr. Emden ;
Machinist, Mr. Edmund Bradwell.

Superbly decorated, and with extensive alterations ! forming one of
the most Elegant and Comfortable Theatres in the Metropolis I
THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM.
UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MRS. KEELEY.
This elegant THEATRE WILL RE-OPEN ON EASTER
MONDAY, MARCH 24.
The Performances will commence with a Comedy called THE
RECRUITING OFFICER. Supported by Messrs. Vining, P. Mat-
thews, Emery, Meadows, Bellingham, Wigan, and Keeley • Mrs.
Keeley, Miss Villars (her first appearance in London), Mrs. *igan,
and Miss Dawson (her first appearance).
After which, a New Farce (never acted), entitled LOIVTIIER
ARCADE. Characters by Messrs. Keeley, Meadows, F. Matthews ;
Miss Dawson, and Miss Grove.
To conclude with a Burlesque of English History, Pourtraying
Olden Ideas and Modern Notions—lnvested with all the Pomp and
Display of Seene--Painters engaged expressly—Costumes according
to Fancy—Mechanism, Ballet, Music, and Novel Stage Arrange-
ments—to be called, WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT I Dick
Whittington, Mis. Keeley; Muley Moloch, the Lien Tamer of tke
Dessert, Mr. Keeley ; the Cat, Mr. Collier, supported by Messrs.
Emery, F. Matthews, and Wigan; Miss Fairbrother, and Miss Grove.
The Box-office is open daily, under the direction of Mr. Grogan.

DAVIDGE'S ROYAL SURREY THEATRE.
GREAT ATTRACTION FOR THE RASTER HOLIDAYS.
ON EASTER MONDAY, MARCH 24,

Will be produced a New Drama, called MARGARET CATCH-
POLE.' Supported by Messrs. 11. Hughes, Hicks, Fredericks, R.
'former, S. Cowell, Heslop, Lewis, Mrs. Daly, Mrs. Lewis, and Mrs.
R. limner.
After which, THE IRISH TUTOR, in which the Infant Power,
Miss Heron, will appear.
To conclude THE MOOR MAIDEN, in which Messrs. Hicks,
Fredericka, Lewis, Mrs. Hughes, Miss Martin, and Mrs. 11.
Vining will perform.

Places and Private Boxes to be had of Mr. Kerschner, at the Box-
ofnee, from Eleven to Four.

THE GAME NUISANCE. -At the Nottingham
County Hall Petty Sessions, on the Ist inst., all the
penal cases, in number four, were under the game-laws,
and in each case the accused were unablo to pay the
penalty and costs, consequently sent to prison ; and thus
becoming a charge upon the county purse, and probably
one or more of a family thrown upon the parochial
rates. Does not this tell another "great-fact" against
the game-preserving system and the game-laws ?