English and Foreign.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 379, 21 June 1856, Page 7

English and Foreign.

SACRIFICE OF'KAKS. Dr. Sand with, the sole sojourner in Kars who has yet arrived in England, was entertained by bis fellow-townsmen at Hull, at a public breakfast at the Station Hotel. The mayor (Mr. Bannister) occupied the chair. After the usual loyal toasts, the mayor proposed the health of Dr. Sandwith, who thereupon said :—" It is scarcely necessary for me to notice the delicacies spread out before me, when but a fewweeks ago I was taking a luncheon.off a poor old cavalry horse. I cannot forget my gallant. old chief, who, though be lost ins city never lost a battle who,-althongh in one sense unfortunate, has crowned his honoured head with unfading laurels ; and I think, therefore, you will agree with me when I say that at the top of the list of glorious heroes which this war has culled V'forth, the name of General Williams stands preeminent. (Dr. Sandwith here related a skirmish, in which Colonel Lake and himself, w th a small troop, had to ctt through a large party of Russians.) A few days after this day's incident the alarm gun.from the lop of a battery was fired, and the word passed from mouth to mouth " The foe, the foe-— they come, they come !" (hear hear.) We sallied out, not from our entrenchments, but from the open camp that surrounded our breast-worfcSj.and.fthen we saw a compact body of men—their bayonets gleaming in the morning sun, their flanks protected by cavalry and artillery—there, I say, we saw them advancing towards our breast-works. Every soldier there said, "Thank, God, they have come at last. We are ready!'' (cheers.) I must lell you that at this time our total'force was about 17, 000, including a great number (if irregulars: the onejnys force-was 40,000 (hear, heatyhear.) As this huge body came nearer, we pushed out our irregular cavalry, who were

met by the Cossack irregular cavalry of the Russians, and never did my eyes rent on a more glorious and .magnificent scene. The grassy plain between the two armies was enamelled with myriads of flowers sparkling in the '.'morning sun, and there the two forces in their Asiatic dress and Asiatic armour, met band to hand, and chief to chief, like as in sonic arcient tournament (cheers). But soon this play, as it were, of warfare ceased. Their masses came on, and made a rush upon the extremity of our works, where they were met with a hail-storm of grape. Our cavalry sallied out, and met the advancing columns, and on all side raged the tide of war (cheers). The battle lasted but a short time—three hours at the utmost —and then the Russians retreated. Unluckily we bad no effective cavalry, or that mi«ht have been the first and last affair at Kars. (Renewed cheers.) It were long to tell you what followed. We had work enough to do, I can assure you. Day after day, week after week, passed without any succours showing themselves, and without any assistance being forthcoming. Nevertheless, the heart of the troops was in the right place- (Cheers.) The Tuikish soldier stood out wonderfully. Week by week rolled on, varied only by an occasional skirmish, an occasional feint, or an occasional slight attack. Still there were craven spirits who counselled surrender, and completely surrounded as we were, many of our poor, starved, unpaid soldiers gave way and deserted. General Williams at once adopted strong measures. Every soldier caught attempting to desert was tried by drumhead court-martial, and shot on the spot. Every man found communicating with the enemy was at once hung. (Sensation.) On the 29th of September—when our troops were giving way under the hope deferred which inaketh the heart sick—On the 29th September, shortly after the sun had risen, the roar of artillery was heard on the western extremity of our works, intermingled with the rattle of musketry. We kr>ew then what had happened. We knew from the constant roll of musketry and the incessant roar of the cannon that the hour of assault had arrived : and we thanked God in our hearts, and each man buckled on his sword and|rushed into the midst of the fray. (Cheers.) Seven mortal hours these poor troops fought against the enemy, whilst he made assault after assault- Some of our batteries were carried, but General Williams, with eagle eye, saw where raged the heaviest fight, and reinforcements were sent out where they were required, and drove out at the-point of the bayonet the Russians who had got into their batteries. (Cheers-) There they fought band to hand with club rifles, with daggers, even with stones. Agamy again, and agan, their columns came up to be mown by our artillery with grapeshot, and by the deadly and incessant fire of our riflemen. (Cheers.) After seven hours' mortal conflict, we saw at last the Russians retreating down tte bill. (Loud cheers.) They bad advanced doublequick time in their attack, but I cannot express to you the speed with which they retired. (Loud laughter and cheers-) 'We then saw every shopkeeper, tailor, shoemaker, and saddler in the place issue out, armed with their muskets and guns, and firing into the retreating soldiery. (Cheers.) The very women brought us ammunition in their aprons, and assisted us in ever}' way, crying out, "W e pray for you." "We will help you!" "May G o d sharpen your swords!" Some of these devoted and gallant women, I regret to say, fell ; but they fell gloriously—like true heroines as they were- (Cheers) Unhappily, at this time'every grain of barley had been consumed, and we had.not any cavalry force in the place, or this would have been the termination of our troubles. (Hear, hear,) The Russians were able to retire to their camp, where they had 10,000 cavalry yet untouched and uninjured; so that, although their infantry were tovri> and shattered to pieces, by means of their cavalry they were still enabled to surround us- I.cannot describe to you the horrors that ensued in the month or two following this attack. We saw women and children expiring by the wayside of famine; they turned reproachful glances at the soldiery, almost as starving.as they, exclaiming, " Why do you not go out to fight?" "Why keep us here to perish?" "Take the children; we can no longer support them." .Such a time as'that was the time for trying the true soldier. (Hear, hear.) And I am proud to say the soldiery then bore the test nobly. (Cheers.) The Turkish soldiers have been much abused, but they stood firmly and well under sufferingsfand trials which could scarcely be exceeded, and which I find it impossible to describe. (Hear, hear.) Many of,them dropped down dead at their posts from sheer hunger and exhaustion; and in the forts, where scanty provisions for three days were laid up, there was not a single instance of a biscuit having been stolen, The hospitals were,crowded with the sick and the dying, and death stared us in the face daily on every hand ; but those who died died like heroes, and to the last our works were maintained by that gallant band of starving soldiers. (Cheers.) At this time a Turkish pacha, whose name I cannot mention withoutindignation, was-constantly writing

to us from Erzeroum, whence we expected him to come with a relieving force—"Holdout, I am coming ;" " hold out two days longer ;" " hold out three days longer ;" " hold out, I am coining." We did hold out. day after day, and week after week, but relief never came. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps he had not sufficient force ; but however that was, if it had not been for his delusive promises of relief the garrison of Kars would to a man, have shoubiered their muskets and buckled on their swords, and cut their way through the Russian force, leaving a heap of ruins behind them. (Cheers.) Bet this was not to be. The time came at last, the dreadful hour of capitulation. Tiie hearts of every one swelled nigh to bursting with grief and indignation. (Hear, lu-ar, and cheers.) General Williams, one snowy morning, rode out to the Russian camp with a flag of truce. He was met and conducted with all due politeness and respect to General Mouravieff. Pie said, " I have come to arrange the terms of a capitulation. There are certain articles upon which I must insist; and if you refuse them—you must remember the gairihon has hot yet surrendered—if you refuse them, every gun in Kars shall be burst, every trophy destroyed. I have no wish to rob you of trophies which you have well earned ; hut if the terms I ask are refused, you will have nothing but a famished crowd of disarmed sokiiers"(hear, hear). That chivalrous and noble-minded man—for it would ill become me not to render justice to the chivalry of an enemy (applause) —that nobleminded man replied, " General Williams, you have won for yourself a name in history ; posterity shall stand amazed at your courage, at the endurance, and at the lofty qualities exhibited by you in this siege. Yourself and your troops are covered with glory, (cheers). I have no wish to outrage humanity by anything unbecoming me as a general, aud the terms you ask I accede to" (cheers). I leave you to imagine the emotion between these two brave generals, wiiose hearts were swelling with the nob-

lest, feelings that ever were culled forth in our nature (loud cheers). Ladies and gentlemen, I am unable to describe t'j you the melancholy day of our capitulation; our poor troops, feeble and tottering from starvation and disease, marched out to meet, iot a conquering, but a conquered . and defeated foe (hear, hear, and cheers). They laid down their arms to the conquered enemy.' They marched before a well-appointed, splendid and magnificent array of men, and yet an array whom that poor wretched body of captives had defeated. They yielded not to their formidable besiegers—they yielded only to famine —(hear, hear, arid cheers^. But two days' provisions were left them at the time of their capitulation, and those provisions consisted only of a handful of biscuit on each man's back Never shall I forget the scene of the capitulation. Women and children wailed from the house tops—old warriors wept aloud, exclaiming "How is it God has forsaken us? " The Turkish soldiers reproached their Government for thus deserting them; and it must be admitted that their Government was unworthy of such splendid troops (hear, hear, and cheers). Time will show who was in fault (hear, hear), but I think you will agree "with me that, upon whomsoever the blame may rest, the garrison of Kars has covered itself with glory. The Turkish soldiers are brave, loyal, and devoted, and have proved themselves to be so (cheers); but a certain corrupt clique of Turkish pachas command these soldiers who are not worthy to do so (cheers). I am unable to tell you how 1 admire the Turks, but I will not mix them up with those meu who, by their acts, heap content upon so noble a nation. (Dr. Sandwith sat down amid loud and continued cheering) The "health of General Williams" having been given, the meeting dispersed.

Mr Bright has been prevented from resuming his seat in Parliament this session by indisposition. When he attended the Manchester soiree, a few days before Parliament opened, he was unwell, and had been so for some days. The hon. gentleman is suffering from an affection of the liver and bilious attack, which unfit him for any active business. In a carriage case before the Court of Queeu's Bench recently, Mr. Hawkins had frequently to advert to that description of vehicle called a "Brougham," which he pronounced in proper dissyllabic form. Lord Campbell suggested that the word was as frequently contracted to " broom,'* which was just as well known, and the use of which would save a syllable. Henceforward Mr. Hawkins called it " broom." Presently the argument turned upon omnibuses, and Lord Campbell frequently used the word " omnibus," to which he gave its due length. " I beg your lordship's pardon," retorted Mr. Hawkins," " but if your lordship will call it 'bus' you will save two syllables, and make it much more intelligible to* the witnesses." Lord Campbell assented to the proposed abbreviation. Very considerable losses of property, and some loss oflife, were inflicted by a furious gale on the Eastern and Scotch coast ou Feb. 7.

The Bishop op Carlisle. — This prelate, whose death has been just announced, was the t bird son id the first Earl of Beverley, and was bom in the year 1784. He graduated M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1805, and was consecrated Bishop of Rochester in June, 1527. In September following he was translated to the See of Carlisle. The National Gazette of Berlin says that it has received from a.good authority the news that the Germanic Diet, in its silting of Feb. 14, came to a decision on the Austrian propositions. The Diet adopts the propositions as the basis of a solid and durable peace, and declares itself willing to undertake to maintain them. At the same time the Diet reserves to itself the right to pronounce on the as yet developed stipulations of the fifth point. We increase our preparations for war while negotiating for peace. The number of labourers at Woolwich Arsenal has been again augmented; there are now 9000 hands employed there, and the quantities of munitions of war prepared are immense.

Extraordinary Murder of a Gibl.—On the evening of the 17th of February, two police constables visited a house in Lintou street, Islington, kept by Mr. and Mrs. Somner, the former 29 year, of age, and the latter 26. They pioceeded directly to the cellar in front of the house, and there they discovered the dead body of a young girl, about 14 years of age. The child had evidently been murdered, for its throat was frightfully, cut. The constables immediately took Mr. and Mrs. Somner into custody, and conveyed them to the BToxton station-house, where they remained until the following morning, irhen they were taken before the magistrate at Clerkenwell police office, to undergo an examination ou the charge of murder. The priucipal witness on the occasion was a girl 15 years of age, who lived as servant with the prisoners. She said that about ten o'clock on the night of the 16th of February, the female prisoner went out. .having previously told her to go to bed. She did not do so, but some time afterwards, upon bearing her mistress return home, she got into bed, and when asked by the female prisoner if she was in bed, she made no reply. The witness then said that the female prisoner went up stairs and afterwards came down and drew the kitchen blind down. She then left the kitchen, and said to a little girl, "Comedown here." The girl did so, and then my mistress went into the cellar and told .the girl to come to her, but the girl stopped at the kitchen door. Mistress said, " Come here ; what are you afraid of ?" They both came into the kitchen. The girl then said, "I am not afraid; but it is a strange place to me, I have not been here before." They then went out into the area, when the little girl said, " Some one wants to cut my throat ;" when mv mistress said, " Suppose I was to cut it?" The girl said, " Oh, you are going to kill me,'' and then called out, " Murder!" This she called out several times, and said, " The Devil will take you ; the Devil will take you ; you will kill me ! I am dying! I am dying!" The girl then made a horrid noise, as if she was breathing hard, and my mistress said " Hush !'» several times. My mistress then put the candle out, came into the kitchen and walked up aud down in the dark several times, and said to herself, "I will kill you!'' She then got the lucifer-box, lit the candle, and went into the cellar again, and was there for some time, but I did not hear the girl speak again, and all was quiet. A short time after this she came in, shut the door, and went upstairs. My master was out at the time, but he came home about one o'clock. He let himself in with a key. After all was quiet, the female prisoner went to witness's bedside and said something about changing ha'f-a-crown to pay her the next morning. One of the police constables found a pair of stockings belonging to the prisoner, on one of which tlnrj were spots of blood. The female searcher at the Hoxton station-house deposed to the female prisoner's petticoat bdng covered with blood from the fore part down to the knee. There being no evidence against the male prisoner, be was discharged, and the female prs ncr was committed to take her trial for the murder. It appears from the investigations of the police, that the murdeied girl is an illegitimate daughter of the female prisoner, and had been under the care of a person named Harrington from its birth ; the prisoner, however, had taken the chiid away from its former guardian, under pretence of inability to pay for its support. The wretched woman, it is said, has since made a confession ol the murder.

"In the name of the Prophet—figs !'' A peripatetic vender of potatoes in London has this inscription on a brass plate affixed to a tin can—-" Kossuth for ever! Hot baked potatoes." We understand that it is resolved by France and England to despatch two special commissioners immediately to the River Plate, with a view to concert measures with Brazil for the prevention in future of occurrences such as have recently again rendered some of the finest portions of the east coast of South America a prey to revolutionary license.