The Express. — London, England, 1853-11-25 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 25, 1853. Eke erprefss. beershopu would go down, and our humble homes would brighten by the same process that would make " the vine-covered hills and gay valleys of France" resound with the cheery songs of a prosperous TO CORRESPONDENTS. • Neat.' Witten TM Kaprees." ceatalsai the sew 'lmbues .thuatte," ie palalabed every luestley SM rriday a/aht. is has ex poet. _ _ _ - peasantry. We see very well how the fine old forests that need to be the pride of pur neigh bours will be cherished once more when the freedom of the iron trade shall make them more valuable than ever. We see how the singular trade in bonbons, which France might have all to herself from her peculiar skill, would increase indefi nitely, if cane sugar were admitted without restric tion, in addition to such beet sugar as it might still be found worth while to grow—though our own opinion is that the beet fields would presently be more profitably occupied by other crops. We have no doubt that French shoes and gloves would be found wherever there are fair ladies and carefully dressed men. We have no doubt that the classes who form the bulk of the French, as of every other nation, would be better fed, and clothed, and housed; and that they would become more intelligent through improved means of locomotion, and happier through increased stimulus to it. And it does not appear to us wholly incredible that even the mobilo and sorely-tried French people may settle down at last under some Government, stable in principle and substantial in form, when once that chasm is bridged over which now divides the metropolis from the provinces so radically as to preclude all immediate chance of forming a Government which shall be good for both. A firm and clear industrial basis is the plat form on which all Frenchmen may naturally meet to learn to do justice to, and sympathise with, each other ; and the ruler who shall build up this plat form, be he who he may, will be the best Sovereign for France is the nineteenth century. As for us, we do not pretend that our aspirations are all sympathetic and benevolent. We shall directly gain by the throwing open of commerce any and everywhere ; and we shall be benefited, mare or less indirectly, by whatever promotes the prosperity of a neighbour and ally. We believe that Free Trade will benefit everybody, and injure none; and therefore it is that we rejoice to see a beginning made, and hope to see the whole work achieved in time. There are some words of ARTHUR YOUNG'S, addressed to the French Govern ment of his day, which are very interesting at this moment, and quite as wise as any that can be prof ferred now : "First, secure prosperity to agriculture, by equal taxation, and by absolute liberty of culti vation and sale ; and secondly, do no more to encourage manufactures and commerce than by letting then; alone a policy exclusive of every idea of monopoly." We may safely affirm, and our assertions are founded on unquestionable facts, that any country will attain the utmost prosperity of which its Government is capable, that steadily pursues this conduct. 411.9;talimrsta Intruded be "11. Liprier," Lades Eresiag piper, wait be at Ow Mai lb, Illeaveeir direst, by Two delft es lb* day of pubilestics. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Taw DAT - Mot ui mg, Ma_ -.Abuse" h. MP. 70.1101141 - Zonal/. iIL NIL Mi. LO.VDON, FRIDAY, NOT 25. It• the Emperoe of the Faz.rat proceeds volun tarily in the Free Trade come on which he seems to have entered by a kind of compulsion, there may be more remarkable, and certainly happier, changes is ature fur France than any that have yet befallen that very changeable country. This warns a bold thing to say : but it may be said advisedly. No (hinge in the denueninatioo and form of the govern went of • country ; and not even transitions from war to peace, and from peace to war, can be of such consequence to its inhabitants at large as the free . . prevalence of the great natural laws of human so- ciety, or the violation of those laws. The violation of those laws occasions universal evils which no government can remedy ; and obedience to them generates blessings which are be yond the reach of political tyranny and folly. . . While the industry of a nation is impeded and de. rested by arbitrary restrictions, there must be • rest lessness among the sufferers which accounts for • good deal of political discontent and fickleness; and if the experiment is fairly tried of allowing to in dustry its free exercise sud its due reward, the world may even yet en the speetaele which would gratify all good hearts—of the great French Nation being settled and at peace; fed, clothed, cheered, and ani mated by industrial prosperity, and therefore in the . . best mood to decide how it would be politically go verned, and what to require of its rulers. From the badness of its commercial policy, France has really had ro chance yet of showing what she can be and do, except in the field of war and in passive political suffering. Before the tint Revolution—the great French Ravelu tion—bir state in regard to agriculture, manufac tures, and commerce. was such u it is now surprising to recall end read ot. On the great estates, which were for the most part shamefully neglected, the peasantry, dressed in urge frocks, with leather belts, - - without linen or cotton, or hats or ohoeo—with hair frizzled by sun and shower to the likeness of negro wool, and the feet thrust into wooden clogs which lamed a largo proportion of those who wore thaw— thew peasaiits were frequently kept op all night, when the great man was at the chateau, to whip the ponds and keep the frogs quiet ! If there was little live stock besides—scarcely any esttle and no sheep— Winter military executions are in progress at there were plenty of frogs, and more mischievous Bucharest under the directions of the Russian game, about the rich man's mansion. His woods General GORTSCUAKOFF. the Turks under Oxan might be dying from the top, his fields might be in- Fauna are seen to be still in the tolerant temper that tested with weeds, and his vineyard be as fickle as has all along characterised their proceedings. The any fine lady, 'for want of regulated management ; Muscovites order every Wallach who is susputed of but he had fish and frog ponds soaking down to the loyalty to the SrLTAN to be shot. A bad caw needs foundations of his houses and barns, wild beasts that support by violent means. Bloodshed and tyranny were better fed than his half-wild men, and a pea• have always gone hood in hand ; but every volley Bantry wko lounged over their profitless work in that sends an unfortunate shopkeeper of Bo the daytime, from the wearisome serve* that was cheroot to his last account for the crime required of them in the night. Such of the land as of not loving the Russian invader of his was in the hands of small owners fared ao better. country, adds another to the many hatreds which A stout man would walk a dozen miles to sell a the CZAR has already established in the Principalities, dozen eggs or a fowl, and sot think his day mis- and gives new reasons why the powers of Europe spent : and his wife would dawdle all day in a lane, should step in and, with a determined hand, leading the cow along a grassy hedge.: If she was stop such atrocities. That some such real inter remarkably notable, she would ply her distaff or vention is probable, there is much reason now to knitting-needles the while; and her children would believe. The presence of a second Pacha in the pick up sticks for the fire--supposing they could camp on the Danube is said to foreshadow an ar- Mud any that they might safely take. Such a con- mogement for stopping further bloodshed, on terms dition of agriculture betokened a wretched state such as Turkey may accept and her friends approve. of manufactures and commerce ; for agricultural Of course, any arrangement between the bellige improvement inevitably follows upon the rise and rents would include, u its first article, the increase of manufacturing towns. At that time, sucoation of the Principalities. The Russian indeed, and even to this day, there was that sign as down for conquest the Osmanli has of backward civilisation of which we may and simply taken up arms ter (defence, and is evidently traces still in the remoter vales of our mountain ready to keep his operations within purely defensive districts,—manufactures carried on in the cottages. limits, if such moderation can be made to secure the Where home-spun is still sees in our moorlands, the patriotic object in view. If proper terms can be tillage will be found to be execrable, and the fortunes made—if the CZAR is willing to be leas madly dis of the small proprietor declining ; and in France, honest than heretofore—if England and France, then and now, where the wheel and the loom are with the other powers, can put the Muscovites back found in the dwelling of the small proprietor, it may on their own soil without the need for further mili be concluded that social organisation has hardly tary active operations on the Danube, the reached the spot, and it will be wen that the tillage tolerant temper of the Sutras will no doubt is as barbarous as the commercial methods of the readily content itself with the arrangement. We vicinity. It will be found that wooden implements do not hear amounts of Omni PACTIA ordering Rua are used wherever possible, because iron and steel Man prisoners or WaUschian " sympathisers" to be are so dear. The object is merely to raise meow shot by sentence of drum-head court-martial; all rice for the household : for there is no encourage- such acts are reserved for Prince GORTSCUAKOIT runt to further enterprise; so free market for seeds, and since the Turks, under the most provoking ek ed, grain, fruits, and wine, in return for tools, stock, cumstances, still maintain their attitude of calm and manures, groceries, and clothing. We have slid patriotic determination, we may well believe that, from the past to the present tense; but the should the rumoured intervention be sufficiently real statement may stand; for the state of things is secure for them all that is just, they will be wa in the last century is only too like what it is tent to sheaths the sword that would never have bean now in the rural districts of Francs—ire those drawn if the CZAR had been honest or wise. The districts which present a greater contrast with Paris victories of theTarke on the Danube may well usable than any other country of Western Europe can show them to listen with dignity to the terms of an between its metropolitan and provincial life. honourable peace, should such be offered. Sash ea What has been going en along the coasts mean- arrangement is jut whet Russia ought to desire. while? When the commercial treaty of sixty years Her boasted reiufbreemeste do not appear in the ago was agreed upon by France and England, some Principalities. Her huge forces reported in the of the parties looked upon it with hope and others columns of the mmtbeental organs of despotism are with fear; and both found the result curious enough, not seen on the field. Where are they P Where is The Birmingham mannfactarers. and English veer- the corps that has for some weeks been talked about chants generally, soon complained that they got as marching to the support of CIORTSCHALOTP? Has nothing by it. The smuggling which had game on it been thought wiser tossed it forward to Quassia? before provided a better market than the regular Should the telegraph soon tell the world that another trade did afterwards. So AITITIM YOZNG told us at large MumecTUte form we e ne e d e d i n t h a t quarter, no the time; and we know that the French manufac- one would express surprise, for it is clear that in turcrs made the same complaints when we re. Asia the Russians have enough to do to hold their own. diced our silk duties. And what went on The interest of the great drams has hitherto the while in the towns? Except by the been chiefly concentrated upon the events on help of the smugglers, fabrics of silk, wool, the Danube; whilst little attention has yet and cotton are not to be had at all from foreign been paid to the transactions which have oc countries ; nor paper, nor glue and earthenware, nor awed in Asia. It may, however, be a matter • multitude of ether things which would animate of doubt whether the Asiatic portion of the war may commerce not a little if they were admitted. But it not be attended with effects even more int im weals that the French glovers anti shoemakers, portant than those which will follow the concha lino might, through their superior skill, glove and sioo of the struggle in Europe. Come what shoe the majority of civilised mankind, cannot get will, Russia will not be allowed to absorb foreign leather, nor the lawmakers foreign thread ; the provinces of European Turkey into her nor the cotton and linen manufacturers foreign yarn, own empire. If we cannot precisely predict the esm. Thus hampered and restricted, the towns cannot sequences of the defeat or the success of the Rviiiies attain their salami growth ; and, as an immediate in Europe, we know that there is a limit which the consequence, the agriculture in their seighbourtioods CZAR himself will not bo permitted to transgress. cannot thrive. It is very well known that there is a It is not at all certain, however, whether the war is vast amount of hoarding of gold and silver in France, Asia may not be attended with results more basil. partly from fear of political change, and partly from vial to the peace and civilisation of the world this the languishing state (in comparison with what.they the wildest enemy of the Russian power could at might be) of manufactures and commerce. If a first have imagined. natural traffic were allowed to spring up between The contests that have hitherto taken place in Asia Franco and other countries, the gold would come between the Turks and the Russians have been south out, the smuggling would cease, and a sudden in- of the great Caucasian range of mountains run ning crease in regular commerce would astonish all the along the isthmus between the Black and Caspian' world but those who are now pleading for Free Seas, and forming au almost impassable barrier te Trade in France. oppose the progress of any expedition from Russia No such increase would astonish us. We rejoice in Proper to the South. It might, in fact, be looked the beginnings just made, because we believe that upon as the natural boundary to check Russian such evident good will arise from the scantiest re• aggression in that direction. Over the inhabitants taxation as may well tempt the government of of this Caucasian district the Ottoman Empire held a France to an extension of the experiment. We know nominal sway, but on the cession of the provinces very well what would be the blessing to both coon- to Russia, in 1829, the latter power set to work trim of a free trade in French wines; how our worst ,at once to obtain a real dominion in the C 4001,011. The attempt has not only been an utter failure, but has resulted in the formation of what the moun taineers never before possessed—a national character. Formsrly they were isolated families or clans ; now they are a united nation. The physical boundary is fortiSed by a moral one. It is not only a chain of rocke, but a gallant nation which opposes Russia in its lust of Asiatic dominion. Even in their disunited state they have been able to maintain their independence from time immemorial. Their complete union renders their subjection by direct force nearly impoiribie. Never theless, a possibility exists of gaining by other meana that which could never be obtained by violence. Russia is in possession of territory both north and south of the Caucasus. She has the command of the Caspian Sea, and had until lately that of the Black Sea. Supposing, then, that her dominion in Asia to the south of the Caucasus were extended, and strengthened so as to enable her to pre vent all communication between the moon- taineers and the provinces on the south of them, the latter would have been hemmed in on four sides, and might have been starved into submission in the coarse of time. Now, the Asiatic war which is taking place at various points not many miles south of the Caucasian range, must have the effect, if the Turks are successful, of breaking through the southern boundary ; while the appearance of a Turkish fleet on the Circassian coasts of the Black Bea will place the mountaineers again in commercial communication with Europe. This is not all: the communication between the north and south of the Caucasus will be hermetically sealed by the Circassians and other tribes roused into action by the new hopes that are dawning upon them, and the Russian army in the south will then be blockaded on three sides. The Turks will oppose them with their armies on the south and with a fleet on the eut, while on the north they will have an impregnable chain of mountains swarming with a race which has never been subdued. It will be almost impossible to convey supplies to an army thus situated, and,:upon the supposition that the war will be carried on by the Turks with the same spirit in which it has been begun, the fate of the Russian troops could not be doubtful. Should the result be that the Russians were permanently driven to their position to the north of the Caucasus, the effect upon the peace and civilisation and happiness of the world would be incalcu lable. For Russia, in her dealings with nation., is not content with subduing them. She not only annexes, but paralyses and demoralises. The instant she takes possession of a country, she commences the process of denationalising it, by altering every form and custom by a Russian stan dard. "Every national development," says one of the latest travellers in the provinces annexed to 1 1 Russia, " that deviates from the Russian catechism, is a thorn in her eye." "If the Armenians will be civilised, let them learn Russian ; and if they will pray, let them pray in Russian," said a Muscovite general in answer to an appeal in favour of Armenia. New names are affixed to districts, and towns, and rivers, and everything is done to mould a conquered province into a Russian form. This process has been for years going on in Georgia, and all travellers re peanut the effect upon the national character u in conceivably bad. It will be fatal to all hopes of Asiatic civilisation if Russia is allowed to creep gra dually southwards, paralysing and .Ruesianising the nations in her way. If the issue of this contest be that which all good men desire, it will be a curious iustance:of a retribu tion falling upon a criminal through the very means he took to perpetrate his crime. All that was needed to make the Circas sian. powerful enough to resist the forces of the CZAR was a national unity. This they had not ; but it has been accomplished by the necessity which existed to oppose the Russians. The pressure from without has welded them into a solid uniform Lass. In the same way those elements of the Otto- man character which had made the nation formidable in times put, but which had become torpid, being roused into action by the injustice of Russia, have again come into action, and show that whether Turkey is capable or not of future wars of conquest, she is amply: powerful enough for defence. These are great results; and, although circumstances may occur to neutralise some of the good effects they may produce, they are in themselves sufficiently valuable to enable us to congratulate ourselves that something is gained even from a source from which nothing but evil was to be apprehended. We understand that no letters or newspapers to Australia will be sent by the Golden Age, American steam-ship, by the Post-office, in consequence of the owners of that vessel having objected to carry them for the payment made to British vessels under similar circumstances; that is, when the ship is not bound to start on a particular day, or to make the voyage within a certain time. It was quite open to the proprietors of the Golden Age to make a tender for the eonvemce of the ordinary mail, to be de spatchedon 4th of next month—indeed we an that they were specially invited to do so— and if, as is probable, they had been able to undertake to perform the voyage in less time than the sailing vessel which has obtained the contract, they would have received the 1,00 W., which will now be paid to the Matilda Wattenbach ; bat they stated, we under stand, that the loss they should sustain by delaying the departure of the Golden Age till the day for the regular mail would eat up the greater part of the specified remuneration, and they therefore declined to make a tender. When no such obligations as those re ferred to are imposed, the mail is paid for at the rate of twopence for each letter and a penny for each news paper. And surely any demand beyond this is exor bitant when the mail bag is mere freight, and carries with it no obligation except that it shall be sent ashore when the vessel arrives at her destination. The demand is in this case clearly an ungracious return for the privilege now conceded by our liberal commercial law, by virtue of which this American ship is allowed to enter our ports and trade with our colonies. We willingly offer to other nations terms of equality in such commerce, but the proprietors of the Golden Age demand more. They claim at one and the same time to he both English and foreign : in one capacity assuming all privileges and in the other rejecting all duties. OT EAST Yesterday • meeting of theliberaielecto ---- re;roloncentes. - shire resident in the neighbourhood of Cheltenham wee hold, when it was decided to get up a requisition calling upon Edward Holland, Esq. of Dambleton, to offer him self me a candidate. Mr. Holland is very popular among the liberal party in the county, and as a practical twist is well known to the farmers. He representeM. costenhire a short time, at the period of the Reform Rill agitation. The conservatives held • preliminary meeting on the previous evening at Gloucester, when steps were taken to obtain signatures to a requisition about to be pro minted to Sir M. Hicks Beach, Bart., of Williamstrip•park, calling upon him to allow himself to be put in acumination.; THE Noncom hit;EHEE.—The inquest on the body of Loren: Bella, who was murdered near Tittleehall on Friday last, was held at the Gran Inn, Tittleshall, be. fore W. Pilgrim, Esq., Bonner , on Monday. The jury, without hesitation, found a verdict of wilful murder against tth primacy, William Thompson. He will be tried at the nest Norwich assizes._ LAUNCU OF A LARGE SHIP AT GREENOCK.— Mean. John Scott sad Son launched, on Saturday, from their building yard, the largest sailing ship which has been constructed at this port. She is built for the inn of Maim. Henry Moore and Co., of Liverpool, after the heed of which firm she was named, and is designed for the Aus tralian trade. Her length over all is about 231 fort, and her tonnage is 1,307, new memurement.—Grensoc4 Ad- THE FOG was so dense at Wordsley on Monday night that it was the muss of many persons walking into the Nina Leeks and Sixteen Locks. We regret to add that ' five persons lost their lives—them females, a mm, and a boy; the rest were happily extricated. The greatest con sternation prevailed in tins neighbourhood, and hundreds of people were seen about the highways, with lanterns, seeking their children and relatives.—WoleerAmisplort Chrvakk. LATEST FROM ABROAD. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. VIENNA, WIDNZSDAT. .. - _ M. Machin, the Russian Consul, expelled frees Belgrade, arrived at Semlin on the 18th, with his consulate. ODESSA, Nov. 10. The fortress of Isaktehka has not been destroyed by fire. The Turks are throwing up new entrench ments. VIENNA, Nov. 19. A telegraphic despatch from rived this day, states that the bulk of the Russian troops are marching into Lesser Wallachia. In the Russian camp there arc frequent executions of would-be deserters. t, lir- VIENNA, Nov. 23. Up to the 14th, no English or French ships of war had gone into the Black Bea. A Transylvanian newspaper--the Hermannstadt Journal—says: " A highly credible letter of the 11th from Jassy says that the corps of Osten-Sacken, which was 35 days' march distant when the order to advance was given, cannot reach the Pruth before the Ist of December. In Jassy the Russians openly pressed a number of Jews, who could only escape the military service by paying a considerable sum. It is rumoured in the Walachian capital that the son of Prince Vogorides, who was married, and settled at Bucharest, had been sent in chains to St. Peters burg, u a consequence of his correspondence with Omar Pacha, in which the movements of the Rus sian troops were made known, having been inter cepted. Six Boyards are also said to have been sept to Siberia for keeping up a connexion with Omar Pacha." Front Constantinople, under date Nov. 10, we learn that the defeat of the Russians at Oltenitas, on the 4th, had been officially announced there, and that great rejoicings had taken place in consequence. The engagement continued for 6 hours, 800 Russians having been placed hors de combat, while the loss on the Turkish side amounted to no more than 113 killed, and 72 wounded. The Russian force employed on the occasion comprised 30,000 men. On the 10th the whole of the combined fleets were in the Bosphorus. EGYPT. ALEXANDRIA, Nov. 17. The prohibition (until now suspended) to make shipments of corn has come into effect, 400,000 ardebs having been already exported. Vessels half loaded with wheat are unable to complete their cargoes. INDIA AND CHINA. THE OVERLAND MAIL. (ET SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) TRIESTE, Nov. 25. The steamer Bombay, with the India Mail, ar rived here this morning, at 4 a.m., in 162 hours from Alexandria, with dates from Calcutta, Oct. 20; Madras, 24 ; Ceylon, 29 ; Hong Kong, 11; Singa pore, 18; Penang, 20; Bombay, 28; Burmah, 8. Another war is fully expected at Burnish. There is a strong report that the King of Barmah has been put to death. More fighting has taken place in the Nizam's do minions. Mr. J. It. Colvin is appointed Governor of the North West provinces. Trade at Bombay dull. Exchange at Calcutta on London, '2a. lid. Shanghai is still in poseerrion.of the Triad,. At Amoy there is still some fighting between the government troops and the rebels. The country round Piing-po is in a very disturbed state. Canton is at present quiet. Exchange at Hong Kong on London, ss. Bd. Trade brisk. The exportation of grain from Egypt is still permitted. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The following is given as the " Latest News" by tho Vienna correspondent of a morning contempo- rary under date of Nov. 21: the main force of the Russians is moving towards Lesser Wallachia, where it is said very stringent =assures will be employed, em the people exhibit symptoms of an inclination to rise against their Russian protectors. Two corps of 5,000 men each have been left near Oltenitza; the one at Negoieschti, and the other at Dobreni (not marked). Mention is also made of two extra batteries, four squadrons, and 1,000 Cossacks beidg placed near Giergevo. On the 14th, 15th, and 18th the Turks made attempts, probably feigned ones, to land opposite Nicopolis, Bistow, and Rustclak. The Archduke Charles Ferdinand, the brother of the Archduke Albrecht, has gone to Peterwardein to take the command of the 10th army corps. The accounts relative to the operations in Lower Wallachia given by the German journals have been very contradictory. Some have represented the Turks as having taken possession of Krajowa, others as having failed In their attempt, and been compelled to retreat. The You Gazette, which arrived this morning, gives a letter from Vienna, according to which the statement of the Turks having entered Krajowa was correct. General Fischbach, who was charged to maintain that position, commenced his retreat on the Bth. and the Turks occupied Krajowa, Caoerl, Bassevida, and Bajolesi. Letters of the 10th from Constantinople in the Petrie say the news of the Russian fleet having quitted Sebastopol is confirmed. A division had been met in the Black Sea making sail for the month of the Bosphorus. Accounts from Constantinople to the 10th have arrived, via Trieste. On the day before an aide-de camp of Omer Naha had reached the city with a , announcing the aim of the Turkish arms despatch, m itza. The following is a translation of the principal passages of the balletin published on the occasion: Oa tad November 12,000 man crossed the Danube, and took up • position at Oltenia', a village situated opposite • little island (which had been occupied for three days) at some distance from the lett bank of the Danube, at eight hours' march from Bucharest, and where there is a sanita post. Ohioans was occupied by 5,000 Russians, and their resistance did not last loog. They were obliged to fall beak on Buebanst. Oa the 4th a Russian cape creme* con sisting of 24 battalions of infantry, 3 regiments of c a valry, • ..g.eoees of Ceeraeke, sad 32 pies. of artillery. an all more than thirty thousand men, advanced on Oltenia' to give battle. The imperial troops took measures for riCely tog them. The centre was commanded by Ahmed Paths, the right wing by Monate& Puha and th e le ft wing by Ismail Pasha. Nadia Puha c ommanded the util laezaat Oltesitse, and Khaled Parka on the isle. The commenced at half-past twelve, and at seven o'clock all the Russian army was completely routed. it left on the field of battle • mass of muskets, ammunition, and baggage, which was conveyed to the asap of Omer Puha. Upwards of 800 killed were found, without count isg those who during the combat were carried off in twenty waggons as they fell, the Turks from humanity not attempt, tag to prevent the removal. The Turkish army bad 13 killed and 72 wounded. Chiefs and soldiers did their duty, and the report of Omer Poch* cites those who mat distin guished themselves. All the vessels of the two fleets had arrived at Constantinople, and had cast anchor iu the Bospho rus. The last vessels were towed in on the morning of the 9th. A new division of the Turkish fleet was preparing to sail on the evening of the 10th or the 11th for the Black Sea, where, according to the re ports of some captains of merchantmen, a certain number of Russian vessels had been seen proceedii towards the coast of Asia. The Porte had received from the English and French am bassadors the assurance that it might, in case of need, count on the effective co-operation of France and England; and that it could send its fleet into the Black Sea without fearing to leave the ca- Gtal exposed to a coup de main. It was known that eneral Baragaay d'liilliers, the new French ambas sador, was about to arrive. A letter from Constantinople, of the 10th, says, that the Turkish government has obtained a loan of 7,000,006 fr. from the firm of Messrs. Baltazzi, and that it is teed by the Egy ptian tribute. The Trawkrer learns , by offic ial statements of the 14th from Bucharest, that Prince Gortschakoff has "assumed the offensive." The meseing of which statement it would be difficult to fix. Prince Gorts chakoff was at Bucharest on the 14th, and from the accounts of the Amtria* Cuerespoodotce he appeared considerably obfuscated by the strange movements of the Turks, apprehending that they had only left Oltenitsa to play him some trick higher up the river. The Ottoman general acts as not willing to clear up his doubts, for on the 13th the Turks took the Russians by surprise at Turns, opposite Nicopoli, and having done considerable mischief retired. The Austrian Correspundeses says that the affair does not seem to have been very important, as men tion is made only of a few dead and wounded on either side. It, however, is important enough to occupy the serious attention of Russian commcnder-in-chief, who has been compelled to dislocate the forces he had concentrated at Kalafat. The latest accounts received from the eastern coast of the Black Sea show that Abdi Pacha and Schamyl are working in concert. While the Turkish army under Abdi Pacha is advancing along the coast of the Black Sea to the north, in order to attack the Russian line of fortresses in Abasian territory, Schamyl is advancing through the interior, on the Terek, in a parallel direction towards the Pass of Daniel. The Pass of Dan el is the great military road on which Russia depends for the preservation of her communi cation with the Tnas-Caucasian provinces. Should the Circassian chief succeed in his undertaking, Tiflis, and, indeed, the whole of Georgia, would be in immi nent danger. All supplies and reiliforcemet As must be sent by sea, with the chance of never arriving at their 1 destination, while by land Prince 11'oronzow's line of retreat is cut off. Russia is at this moment occupied at one and the same time on the Danube, in the Caucasus, and in the Black Sea. Are her military and financial I resouroes equal to the task ? There is strong reason to doubt it. The present war was not a sudden thought. Before Menchikoff arrived at Constant' Inople he was reviewing " armies," in Bessarabia, which the Russian press of all nations assured us only waited the word to go forth and overrun Turkey. And now these armies where are they ? They are broken up. As nearly as can be ascer tained fifty-fivethousand men crossed the Pruth in I July, and of these not more at the most than f or ty thousand can now be accounted for without the aid of the hospital surgeon. The rest have melted away or are melting away, as 25,000 men melt away every year in the government of Caucasus, and as 20,000 melted away in the brief Hungarian campaign. General Gortschakoff sends in haste to Bessarabia for the reinforce:heats which he believed awaited him there, and they do not come. It was announced that they were to cross the Pruth on the 4th instant, but the 7th arrived, and they were not at the Pruth ; then the 9th was to be the day, and the Austrian te legraph announced their arrival accordingly. But we have now letters of the 11th, and at that date no Osten Sackens corps had reached the frontier river. The truth can no longer be concealed. The men have been already sent to the Caucasus to attempt to hold the warlike Schamyl and his Lesghis and Tschetchcn in check. The deficiency has to be supplied in haste, as it best may, and now probably weeks must elapse before authentic reports of a new crossing of the Pruth by a corps can arrive. . At Aleppo two Sheiks have offered to equip the volunteers of that town at their own expense. A certain Ali-Nek Scherif Zade, who is described as a rich and strikingly handsome young man, has been appointed their leader. The Piicha girded a splen did sabre round the waist of the new chief, and the Grand Sheik blessed his flag. The appointment of this young man has produced a very good impres sion on the Christians, as they well know that the newly appointed chief has both the wi'l and the power to prevent any fanatical outbreak. 60,000 men, under the command of Islchrmed Rushdi Puha, are to be assembled at Adrianople. "A letter from Aleppo," says the Culoyne Gazette, " mentions an extraordinary fact in the annals of Islamism—namely, that the ulemas have fraternised with the Christian priests, and that on a recent occa sion, they drank in common to the annihilation of the Muscovites." With a purposed fickleness, a contemporary, who has lately lauded Omer Pacha's military combina tions, now represents that it has been necessary to send Fuad Effendi to the Turkish Marshal to restrain his military ardour, and to prevent " the recurrence of inattention to the wishes of the government." While it is probable that by this time Omer Pacha has received and obeyed instructions requiring him to recroas the Danube or confine himself to Kalafat, nothing is more certain than that the best possible understanding exists between the Marshal and the government. The Sultan and his ministers fully comprehend the necessity for leaving much to the discretion of a commander placed in circumstances so difficult as those which surround Omer Pacha, while the retrograde movement from Oltenitza shows that the Porte has confided its military affairs to a cap tain as prudent as he is bold. The appointment of Faad Effendi, the intimate friend of Omer Pacha, to the post of political chief on the Danube is a proof that the Porte has no feelings of distrust in this matter. FRANCE. TIIIIRSDAT EVENING. The government journals, which yesterday re produced with studied reserve the London news of the entry of the French and English fleets into the Black Bea, now contradict the statement with con siderable emphasis. The Constitationnel says: We reproduced yesterday, under all reserve, the de spatches from Vienna published by the London journals, announcing the antrum* of the English and French fleets into the Black Sea. This despatch was received with almost universal incredulity. For the allied squadrons to have made such a decisive movement, it must have been supposed that the Russians had passed the Danube, and were marching on the Balkans. Nothing of the kind was possible, and :we did not doubt a single instant the in correctness of the news. The fleets of England and France have taken up a position in the Bosphorus to be reaiy for all eventualities. In the above paragraph it is assumed that unless the Russians cross the Thumbs, the fleets are not authorised to enter the Black Sea. This is the first time that I have seen a report to this effect, long since circulated by the Russian organs, confirmed by a semi-official French journal. The Pays repeats the same doctrine, and explains the error into which it positively asserts the correspondents of the Morning armlets and Morning Post have been led, by saying that several merchantmen in the Black Sea laden with grain were in distress, end that some steamers were detached from the fleet to tow them into the Bosphorus. This act of "salvage " in some sort, was, according to the Pays, mistaken for a political act, the gravity of which would have been manifest. The Pays throws discredit upon the reports that the Russians are making preparations to cross the Danube. On the other hand, the Patric (also a government journal) says, in its " Latest News " this evening ; A private letter from Vienna, dated the 21st, assures us that recent news has been received from the theatre of war, and that ;the intention of the' Russians to assume the offensive, and attempt a grand operation on the Danube, by passing the river at two different points —at Roustchouck and Silistria—was considered certain. The roads from these two towns converge upon Chunsla,which is,witk Adrianople, one of the boulevards of Turkey in Europe. This news, should it be confirmed, must be considered as very import ant, for it would indicate on the part of the Russians, an intention to make a direct attack upon Constanainople. The important fact of the formation of a corps of Cossacks, subjects of Turkey, appears in the latest intelligence from Constantinople. This is the first instance of the introduction of the Christian element into the Ottoman army. It was reported that a Polish legion would shortly be formed destined pro bably to act in Asia. The articles in the morning government journals produced a rise at the Bounce. The Threes improved 30e. Bank of France rose sc. The railways were exceedingly firm. st. Germain rose 40fr. ; Lyons and Mediterranean, 17fr. 50c. ; Northern, 6fr. ; Grand Central, sfr.; Lyons and Geneva, 15fr. THE FOG IN YORNSIIIEL—The long-continued fog—writes our correspondent yesterday (Thursday)—has somewhat cleared off to-day, and snow has fallen in Leeds rather copiously. During the dense fog on Tuesday night two lives were lest by drowning—one being that of a female at Bradford, and the other that of a man at Hunglet. The deceased both pt into the water from missing their way. SCHOOL OF MINES.—The initiative has just been taken for the establishment in Cornwall of a School of Mines, for the improvement and education of miners and mechanics in the county. Sir W. Molesworth and other influential persons cistmected with the district appear to promote the measure. Vbe Court. -.•- WINDSOR. Nov. 24. The Q leen and Prince walked in the grounds adjacent to the Css:le this rooming. Prince Albert, with the Duke of Brabant and suite, ar rived at the Castle from Cambridge, at &re minutes before eight o'clock last evening. Messrs. Leggett had the honour of submitting to her Majesty and Priebe Aibert Barker's painting of Nel-on'e Receiving the Swords of the Officers on the quartet deck of the Sen Joael, after the Battle of St. Vincent. A deputation from the North Metropolitan R silway COM pany, consisting of Mr. W. Malin. (rhairmau), Mr. A. S. Avrton (deputy chairman). Mr. T. E. 1)...ey (director), Mr. John Fowler (engineer), Mr. J. H. Stevens (•i,istant engineer), Mr. W. Burchell (solicitor), and Mr. J. Hunch. man (secretary), had an interview with the Right lion. B. Cardwell, yesterday. at the Board of Trade. A deputation, including Mr. Bidder and Mr. Fulton, had an interview with Sir William Molesworth yesterday, at the Office of Works and Public Buildings, in Whitehall place. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England hat a Re . Decal meeting yesterday, at th e i r office in IVhitef.alhplace. Present: The Archbishop of Canterbury, the lixhops of London and Rochester. the Emil of Chiche.ter, the Right lion. Henry Gou'burn, and Mr. John Show Lefever. The Chancellor of the Exchequer left town yesterday for Ilawarden Castle, near Chester. The Commissioners for Inquiring into the Ststo of the Corporation of the City of London held a meeting yester day, at the Privy Council-uffice, in Downiug.street. She commissioners present were : The Right Hon. H. L a _ bouchere, the Right Hon. Sir John Patteson, and G. Corn,- wall Lewia ' Esq. Despatches were received at the Colonist-oflicc yesterday, from the Governor of Gibraltar. The Rev. Arthur Fraueis Sheppard has been in stituted to the rectory of Lamplugb, to the county of Cum berland. The patrons are the trustees of the late 3. Raper, Esq., sad the 'AUG of the benefice is 2501. with a house. The Rev. Richard Hcighway Kirby . has been Em mett to the perpetual curacy of Hoven- I, watt°,in the parch of Colton, in the county of . Lancaster, void by c t an on of nee. W. H. Hugel ' ; patr o n, Incumbentof Coltuu. 11.AIL1 'AYS FOR AUSTILILIA. DEPUTATION TO THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. Yesterday a deputation of gentlemen interested in railway communication between Sydney and Melbourne waited upon the Duke o[ Newcastle at his official residence in Dowsing street. The deputation consist:a of Mr. John Macgregor, M.P., Mr. Pigott, M.P., Mr. P. Grant, member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, Mr. Thomas Chandler, Mr. George F. Young, Mr. J. F. Harrison, Mr. William Ash ton, Mr. Joseph Wilkinson, Mr. Gcorgc L. Fuller, Mr. Henry Roberaton, Mr. Richard Duncan, Mr. E. N. Plow right, Mr. John Kent, &c. Mr. MAcn REGOR said the deputation wished to submit for the consideration of her Majesty's government the out line of a project for constructing a great trunk line of rail. way from Sydney to Melbourne. It might be regarded as the London and Liverpool of Australia. Mr. DREDGE and Mr. Bt:LL, the engineers, explained that the proposed railway would pass through the great gold fields of the southern district, and near to that of Mount Alexander. It would also pass through or near all the principal towns and stations between Sydney and Mel- bourne, and, in a geographical point of view, would give a seaboard to the valleys of the Lachlan Yeas Murrumbedge r and Murray. The total distance would be 500 miles, and of this about 2•io miles would be on a deed level. Owing to the favourable nature of the country, and the abundance of materials at hand, the line could he constructed for 3,000/. per mile, which was more than the average cast of the railways in the United States, on the principle of which it was to be constructed. Mr. P. GRANT said that Sir Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor- General of New South Wales, had carefully esaminid the maps of the proposed line, and had esprened his satisfac tion at and approval of the undertakingoshich he regarded as one of essential importance to the welfare and ads ance ment of the colony. The Duke of NEWCASTLE inquired what was the esti mated centime of the line ? The ENGINEER said that the capital proposed to be raised was 1,090,0001. The Duke of Nan - cams—Do you know anything of the line to Goulburn ? The ENGINEER said there was a line from Sydney to Goulburn in course of formation, and of which a few miles had been made. The Sydney and Melbourne Company in tended to take powers to buy that lino or work over it ; but their line would not oppose it. Mr. PLownto lir and other gentlemen having addressed the noble duke, The Duke of NEWCASTLE said that he need not explain to Mr. Macgregor, with whom he had repeated interviews on colonial subjects, that on a subject of this description the Secretary of State for the Colonies must really suspend anything more than a general opinion of its importance, of which, however, in this case, there seemed to be no doubt. Any question relating to public works, such, for instance, as the proposed railway, must be taken up in the first instance by the colony, which should decide on what plan to proceed. It would not do for the Secretary of State to take the initiative in such matters : he could only give a private opinion, because he could not say, not knowing anything of localities or of the feeling of the people, whether the proposed line would be the best that could be devised to meet the requirements of the districts. A line might look admirable upon paper, but he could not tell whether there might not be others which might be better for the colony. On some occasions it was also known that there were jealousies between rival towns, and any overtures for putting them in direct communication with each other might not be at first as much appreciated as it would be certain to be in the course of time. Under these circumstances he could not be expected t 3 express any official opinion upon the undertaking as explained by the deputation, until it was fairly introduced to the proper authorities at Sydney and Melbourne. Mr. Mucci zoos said that the deputation did net expect the noble duke to say more on the subject. Would the noble duke have the kindness to forward the plans to the colonial authorities at Sydney and Melbourne The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he would do so with plea- sure, sad that he would also forward any statement the de putation might like to make in writing. The deputation then thanked the noble duke for hie courtesy, and withdrew. DEATHS AT MIDDLESEX HOUSE OF CORRECTION —Yesterday Mr. Wakley held an inquiry at the House o• Correction, Coldbath-fields, touching the deat°e of Henry Liouyo, aged 55, formerly overseer of the extensive printing establishment known as Beaufort House, Strand, and John Thomas, aged 45, both prisoners under sentence from the Old Bailey.—The Coroner remarked that eight or ten years ago it war ascertained, by means of an inquiry like the present, that the prisoners' filet was insufficient, and that it did not consist of the materials of which it should chemi cally consist in order to preserve health. The matter came under the notice of the visiting magistrates, and able medi cal men were examined. The diet was changed, and since that time the health of the inmates had been extraordinary. Out of between 1,300 and 1,400 prisoners, there had not been twelve deaths during the year, a circumstance which war in the highest degree creditable to the establishment. Evidence was then given showing that the deceased had both died from natural causes, and that they had received the kindest possible treatment. Verdicts to that effect were therefore returned. BURNING OF ANOTHER STEAM AND WIND MILL AT Livansuot..—On Wednesday evening a fire broke out in Medan. Rawithorne's steam and wind mill, Limekiln lane, Liverpool. The fire rapidly progressed from floor to floor, until it burst out at the top, and roared with all the fury of a Gunton. It continued to rage fiercely for three hours, when the mill tails and a portion of the machinery attached fell upon an adjoining cottage with a terrific crash, completely destroying it, and such was the force of the concussion, that the tall shook the ground. Fortunately no one was hurt at the time. Two millers had a very nurser escape for their lives. There were altogether about twenty men employed upon the premises, and at the time the tire broke out the two named were at work in the storeroom at the top of the windmill. Theircompanions appear to have been so alarmed, that they forgot to communicate to them what had occurred, and the poor fellows only found out what a frightful situation they were in by the immense muses of smoke which came up the trapdoors and stair.. cases. In making their escape they were met by a great body of flame from the steam-mill, hut fortunately there was another staircase leading to the ground, by means of which they 'secured their safety. A few minutes more and they must have been either suffocated or burned to death. The windmill had just been newly renovated at n cost of 1,0001. The machinery drove nine train of grinding stones. The loss, including stock, dm, is estimated at 9,0001., audit is doubtful whether the premises were intend. RAILWAYS IN HEREFORDSHIRE.—The opening of the Shrewsbury and Hereford, Hereford, Ross, and Glou cester, and Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Rail ways, on the Gth of December, is to be observed at Hereford and the principal places in the district as a general holiday. I