The Express. — London, England, 1853-11-16 00:00:00

Ecttt: erorrOfs. TO cOrARESI'ONDENTS. k I•J F 4'A-a "t '•D. Uprose," 60:11.111dAs the ease evening's t, tto," & reete'eed every Tarte, eekt Imlay :.row for mot. Weftwellere t e in . Added We "The Enema," Lades Lorain( PIPPIN west be et the Ole., LG, bewerrlowireot, by Two o'cloali eb the del te PubaeatiOW. MOH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. 'taw Dat—lioraleg, lb. ........ Afterwm. lb. 33 toaloasow—Ranting, 2b. If .. Afterheroh. 2k 6 4a. LONDON, WEDNESDAT, NOVEMBER 16. THE intimation by electric telegraph,—rise Vienna of course,—that the Turks on the Danube had in some place and at some time (neither the when, nor the where, being specified) experienced a check, was not confirmed yesterday. The report appears likely to disperse into thin air before it can assume a definite ghapc. At least the argument is plausible that, inasmuch as the shortest read by which news can reach us from the theatre of war is open to the Russians, they would, had they gained a victory, have taken good care to "express" the news. Every intermission in the despatch of explicit bulletins from Wallachia may be fairly construed to mean that success continues to rest on the Turkish arms. Such of oar readers as have taken the trouble to follow the accounts we have from time to time given of the nature of the country in which warlike opera tions are being carried on, and of the relative positions of the hostile armies, can have little difficulty in forming a clear conception of how they stood to era other at the time of the latest detailed despatches. From where the Danube first touches the frontier et' Wallachia it will be remembered the course of the river is to the south till a little past Widdin, thence east to the vicinity of Kassowa, and thence north to a short distance from Galati. Tho length of this great bow is about four hundred miles (the windings of the river excluded), a straight line joining its extre mities, and representing the string of the bow, some where about two hundred and eighty miles. The Russian troops in Wallachia are placed between the bow and the string; the Turkish along the bow, and consequently enclosing their enemies on three sides. The Turks have forced the passage of the river in ecnsiderable numbers, in front of Widdin, and in front of Turtukan, threatening Krajowa by the one body and Bucharest by the other. Minor detach ments of the Turkish army have crossed the river at various intermediate stations, and between Turtukan and Kassowa. The main body of the Russians was stationed between Bucharest and the Turkish force that has crossed from Turtukan, bur , a line of posts had been occupied from Bucharest westward, extend ing beyond Krajowa. At all the points where the Turks had crossed the river (except Oltenitza, oppo site lurtukan) the.Rassians had retreated without offering any opposition, or after a very trifling show of opposition. At Oltenitza the Turks had made good their footing on the north side of the river after desperate attempts on the part of the Russians to dislodge them. It is to this quarter, if the brief and inexplicit reports received may be credited, that we are to look for the next news of serious fighting. Prince GORTSCHAKOFF, it is said, has advanced from before Bucharest to drive the assailing force back across the river. The rorps ttarmi , e, with which be seeks to effect this, is reported 24,000 strong, and the Turks who have crossed the river are said to be now at least equal to them in number. Meanwhile rein forcements from Sophia are pouring in upon the Turks who have crossed at W uldi u, and all along the road from Krajowa to Bucharest the Russians appear to be in full retreat. They have indeed little choice left them ; if they remain in position, the Turkish detachments swarming across the Danube at so many points may cut off their posts one after another; while on the retreat they necessarily present their flank to their assailants. These disadvantages of the Russian po sition will be complete if the news be true that a Turkish force is preparing to cross above Galata. The uuly route alocg which the Russians can retreat out of Wallachia must lie between the bend of the Danube above Galatz and the termination of the Transylvanian hills—a distance of some eighty miles as the crow flies. Occupying a country whose resources they must by this time have nearly ex hausted, assailed by sickness which is likely to increase now that the rains have set in, pressed by growing bodies of Turkish troops in front and in flank, with another in their rear, the situation of the invaders would indeed be desperate. It is reported from St. Petersburg that the CZAR intends to proceed to the army in Wallachia according to present appearances, he had need to make haste if he wishes to arrive while he has an army there. In Asia, as well as in Europe, the two hostile powers appear to be closing in serious conflict ; foe the collision in front of Baton was a mere affair of outposts. According to the latest accounts, the Turkish army stationed near Erzrum having received a reinforcement of 12,000 regular troops from Diarbekir and Kurdistan, Altl/I PACIIA had held himself warranted to march towards Kan at the head of 10,000 regulars, 13,000 redifs being already encamped near that city. Erarum is situated near the sources of the Tigris, about the highest eleva tion of the great table-land on which that river rises. The Tigris flows by Diarbekir and Bagdad southward to the Persian Gulf. Some two days' journey east of Erzrum are the mourns of the Armes, which flows eastward to the Caspian. And a little to the north of Ersrum are the sources of the Charuk-su, a much less considerable river, which flows north ward to Baton. Kars is situated about 120 miles (in a direct line) to the Gartb•eest of Erzrum, and only some thirty miles from the Russian frontier fort of Alexandropol. Akhaltzic, another Russian fort near the Georgian frontier, is fifty or sixty miles north of Alexandropol. It is said that 30,000 Russian troops are assembled near Aiezandropol, and 13,000 near Akhaltzic. It was apprehended that an attack would be made upon Batun (garrisoned only by 2,000 regular and 6,000 irregular troops), in combination with a Rus sian squadron, which was to bombard the place from :he see. The country between Akhaltzic and Baton, however, was occupied by 30,000 Turkish irregulars, and troops and war steamers were being despatched from Constantinople to Baton. 1 f the reports of nine Russian fortresses along the frontier having I been taken by the Kurds and the troops from Diarbekir, and of the threatening movements of the whole mountain populations yet unsubdued by Russia, may be credited, the Russian army in the Caucasian Peninsula will have enough to do without seeking to retrieve the laurels lost in front of Bata* And the intelligence from St. Petersburg that Prime WtecoNzow, commander of the army of the Candi ells, is urgent in his applications for relief, corrobo rates this view of their condition. Turkey is playing its part bravely, and is entitled to look for prompt action on the part of its allies, France and England. As tar, indeed, as any con. jecture can yet be formed of the ultimate fortunes of so uncertain a game as war, the ':'urka will be able to clear their European territory of their Russian invaders in a short time, and, with the aid of the independent mountaineers, to clip the wings of Russia in Asia. But security for the fature—hoth for Turkey and Europe—ix wanted, and towards the attainment of that France and England arc pledged to contribute their aid. All the insidious treaties by THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 16, 1853. which Russia has for a century and a half been labouring to entangle Turkey in its netsiare blown to the winds by the outbreak of hostilities. When the war eude, New Treaties meat regulate the re lations of the countries to each other and to the European system. The broad outlines of such con ventions as are dictated by equity are obvious enourh. In the first place, Turkey ought to insist upon eman cipation from all contracts under the shadow of which Russia can pretend to interfere in its domestic arrangements. In the second place, it can be no longer tolerated that the Black Bea shall be a Rus sian lake; France and England have each a large and crowing commerce there, and are entitled to watch over and protect it. To this end free ingress and egress by the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, in time of peace, for as many French and English men of-war as may be deemed necessary to protect the trading marines of the two countries ought to be arranged. Thirdly, Russia should be called on to renounce explicitly for the future all claims to establish paper blockades of the Circassian coast. And lastly, in conformity to the great principle established (in theory at least) by the treaty of Vienna, the navigation of the Danube ought to be thrown open, and the care of maintaining and improving it confided to a committee or congress of all the ,tats rirerains. Other minor points will require to be attended to ; but the above are essential and indispensable. THE great defender of the present licensing system is Mr. Alderman WIRE, an active, bustling, self-satis fied attorney, formerly very active in " the City Sheriff business", now a City Sheriff himself. Pro fessionally concerned for the Licensed Victuallers' Association, as their solicitor, he has, of course, con siderable experience in procuring the renewal of licenses for old public-houses when damaged a little in charecter, and in opposing the issue of licenses for new taverns when competition is disagreeable to existing interests. Every man, said Sir ROBERT Para.—generalising the case of the Scotch fish curer, who was so hugely delighted with all the new tariff except the item which concerned his own trade,—" Every man has his herring." The licensing system is Mr. Alderman Wise's " herring," and a very dry and salt one it is. Our worthy friend, as all the City knows, is in politics a peculiar Liberal ; as a Liberal, he professes to be a Free Trader in every. thing—except public-houses and law. Being him self in the legal profession, he never hesitated for an instant in assuring Mr. W. BROWN—in reply to inquiries in the Committee how Mr. WIRE would like to see restrictions introduced into his own profession —that he thought a restriction in the number of solicitors would be a very great public benefit; and, as • lawyer engaged for publicans, he is quite certain that a limitation of the num ber of public-houses is for the general good. But whilst he would restrict to the "people of England" the number of taverns, he denounces in the strongest language any restriction on the houses that are licensed. Not to permit tavern-keepers to keep fiddling for custom as much and as long as they choose is, Mr. Alderman WIRE thinks, " an unjust and tyrannical interference with tl'e liberties of the subject." Mr. ESTCOURT'S Act for restricting taverns is, according to him, the most useful and soundest of statutes; but the law of GEORGE THE SECOND, which restricts music in taverns was, on the contrary, " passed at a time when the liberties of the people were not regarded, and when legislators trod them under foot as the dust of the earth." To linger over such magniloquent inconsisten cies as these would be waste of time. It is sufficient to state them, for the purpose of showing into what absurdities an indiscreet advocate is sure to precipi tate his client's case, and then to pass on to the graver reasons on which the Alderman rests the defence of his favourite system. Mr. WIRE is not, however, quite satisfied with the system. He thinks that " the people of England" (who, we thought, had very emphatically laid down the doctrine of " unrestricted competition" as the rule of their commercial life) require greater restrictions than even now exist on the tavern trade. But what the restrictions are Mr. WIRE keeps entirely to him self; so that we have no opportunity of discussing the views which he—after the fashion of the Tooley street Tailors—fastens on "the people of England." When, however, we say that his main reason lee "adhering to the present law" is because, under it, magistrates " protect property," a very good notion of what are his general views may be obtained. In putting, however, the defence of the law on this ground, Mr. WIRE overlooks the very simple, bat irresistible fact, that the law was enacted, not to protect property but to protect morality ; and if it can be shown that it is supererogatory for the ►attar purpose, it has no locus standi for the former. The public may consent to maintain the last relic of restrictive legislation, if it does restrain vice and immorality; but if it only "protects property," then it clearly has not a log to stand on ; for artificial "protection" of that sort is just what the whole country has resolved to put an end to. Here, again, Mr. Wines zeal may be found carrying him into another indiscretion. We grant that Mr. WIRE does also defend the existing law on moral grounds; but his principal argument is that of property; to that be always sooner or later recurs. He is obliged to admit that, in spite of greater facilities for drinking than ever, the English people are becoming more and more temperate, an I that as the moderate use of beer is increasing, so their consumption of spiritsis decreasing. He asserts, too, what we believe is indisputable, that in London the character of the licensed victuallers has greatly improved, and that they do not encourage drunkenness ; and having, by these large admissions, exhausted the moral part of the case, he falls back on what he thinks the safer ground of property. The value of property in the trade altogether he estimates at 22,777,2001., and this, he boldiy contends, would be "altogether destroyed " by either opening it or by giving power of licensing to any persons but magistrates. The absurdity of this apprehension lies on the very face of the statement. The licensed victualling trade must always be a great trade in this country; and under a system of free competi tion old established homes with established reputa tion and sufficient capital, selling good articles, would have the same advantages that they have in all other trades. The same difficulties would exist in starting new houses as are to be seen in opening , new shop,. Confidence has to be inspired, credit to be established, custom secured; and these the older esta- ! ; bliahnieuts have already obtained. If, indeed, under a close and Restricted system, profits are too high, under a free system profits would fall, but not below a re. munerative rate ; for, in that case, capital would I leave the trade, and by its departure the rates of profit Iwould again rise to a living level. 1 So long as the Legislature protected Agriculture, rent was always eating up capital ; and something , very like the same process is going on in the Licensed 1 Victualling trade. For though Mr. Win': says that 1 magistrates can determine the wants of the public as to taverns " with mathematical certainty," he confesses that in old districts "there are too many houses." Yet a license once obtained is very seldom ' abandoned. When the number of beer-houses i exceeded the demand, under the operation of Free Trade, the number fell off ; but not so with licensed houses. The license is in itself deemed to he a property ; on it the great brewers will always advance money; so into this trade are attracted a snoesadex of persons with small and insufficient capitals, who, hiving exhausted their little means in an old district where " there are too many houses," are forced out and succeeded by others persuaded that they are certain to succeed in " the public lino." By this continual succession of persons in a " pro tected trade" the number of taverns is, in many parts of London, far larger than the demand requires; for magistrates, though they constantly refuse licenses on their view of the " public wants," never with draw them on any such grounds,—a pro perty having been created therein,—whilst in other districts the supply is far beneath what the demand needs. The immediate effect of a Free Trade would be to adjust on natural principles the supply to the demand; and how that adjust ment could destroy property, except in those cases where property has been artificially created, and is consequently a public injury and a national loss, it is impossible to see. The Magistracy of England have no mission, even if they had the power, to determine the public wants as to taverns. That is the right of the people themselves. There is no doubt that in very many, if not in all, districts Justices of the Peace do at tempt to exercise their authority honestly. But their licensing functions aim at accomplishing an im possibility, and there lies the vice of the system. The question of determining the public wants is owe that experience only can solve ; not the experience d country gentlemen in different districts, but the ex perience of trade : that is, the experience of profit and the experience of loss; and to deny to any man with undamaged reputation the opportunity of trying to succeed in keeping a tavern is to give to all others who have the opportunity a privilege abhorrent to unmercial freedom, and to a constitutional govern. meet. It is to create a monopoly which, so far u it represses competition and fair-play, must be a pecu niary burthen on the public. LATEST FROM ABROAD. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS. - BURNING OF BUCHAREST. The following startling despatch has been for warded by the correspondent of a contemporary at Vienna, who states that the source whence it is de rived is excellent, but that at the same time the intel ligence is of so extraordinary a character that it must be received with caution : " VIENNA, WEDNINIDAT MORNING. "The Turks have already passed Bucharest, which is in flames in three places. " The Russians are retreating on Cronstadt. " Fifteen thousand Turks have been despatched to intercept them through the Principality of Servia. " The Austrian Government have ordered an army corps to be immediately concentrated in Croatia." Cronstadt, in Transylvania, is situate in the direct line of retreat from Bucharest, supposing the Rus sians to have been cut off from their communications with Moldavia. CONSTAN CINOPLE, Nov. 3. Important reinforcements have been sent to Trebi sonde for Abdi I'acha'e corps. Tho Russians have from 15,000 to 20,000 men posted between Lamgan and Apra, on the road to Batoum, and a reserve of equal strength at the foot of the Dehala Dagh. The Turkish government is sending large numbers of regular troops, redifs, and riflemen to act with the volunteer and irregular forces. _ . The Circassianshave gained possession of the only good military road across the Caucasus. The Sultan has declared his intention to join the army. Volunteers present themselves in large num bers daily. VIENNA, TUTADAY. The Turks were attacked at Oltenitza on Friday lut by General Dannenbcrg's corps, but without succeu. VIENNA, Nov. 10. Letters from Batoum state that Selim Bey hu led an expedition into the Russian territory, and defeated 5,000 Russians. The Russians lost 230 men and 22 officers. The Turks, it is said, lost 195 men. The attack is said to have been organised in connection with Schamyl, who ope rated at the same time on the left flank of the principal Russian corps. According to the same report, conflicts between the Russians and Can- Guiana are of daily occurrence. VIENNA, MONDAY. The Austrian funds have again declined, and the Exchange on London continues to rise. Five per Cent. Metallics, 911. Exchange on London, 11.19. Bank shares, 1,300. _ _ The Oest Cos. contains a communique on the Rus sian and Turkish question. It is denied that the note published a few days since by the Dads as having been remitted to the Turkish Minister by the Austrian Internuncio, and in which the Porte wu urged, in the name of Austria, Prussia, France, and England, to accept the Vienna note, was delivered as a diplomatic document. It was never more than a scheme or plan:of a note, which was not presented, " because Franc* sad England refused their concur rence, and Austria would not proceed without them. u Of course" (it is further said) " the Austrian government does not suppose now that war has been declared on both sides, and is actually commenced, that a mere exchange of rotes between the Sublime Porte and the Imperial Russian cabinet can be the means of restoring peace. At the same time a good foundation has been laid for direct negotiations be tween these two powers in the material of the con clusions made at Olmutz by the Czar. These nego tiations the Austrian cabinet will do its best to pro mote, and its knowledge of the sentiments reigning . at Par is, London, and Berlin enable it while so doing to reckon on the co-operation of those courts." FRANCE. PARIS, TIALIDAT EVZNIKO. An article of very considerable pretensions, headed "Turkey and Russia before Europe," appears both in the Pays and the Constitutionnet, with the signa ture of M. de la Guerroniere. The writer sets out by saying that he now feels at his sue in treating of this Eastern question, which hitherto, on account of its vast importance, it has been necessary to ap proach with caution and reserve. But now that facts have spoken—now that there is au end to the mystery and uncertainty of negotiation—now that the question is no longer debated with closed doors round a green baize table, but in broad daylight on the field of battle between two nations, in the face of the world and of history, and in the presence of the European governments interested in the event, and re presented on theimposingscene by their material force, I the situation may be surveyed with a sure and confi dent eye, and the issue conjecturally deduced not from intentions more or lees sincere, but from patent and authentic facts. After this exordium it might be thought that the newly appointed political director of the twin . government journals was about to supply the conclusion remarked as wanting in the recent article in the Moniteur, and afford the public some indication of the course of action which is to supply the place of that diplomatic mystery, the time for which it is admitted has gone by. Any such expeo tation, however, iedoomed to disappointment. Forery thing that appears in the seven columns of M. de la Guerronniere'sarticle,thealliesof Turkey arestill wait ing for some undefined event before they will venture to say to Russia, " We have proclaimed you a wrong doer, and you turned a deaf ear to us. We will now arrest your course, and force you to repair the wrong that you have done." The article under considera tion argues at unnecessary length that, should war result from the present crisis, either as a " sad neces sity or a glorious duty," it would be no departure from the policy of peace, because in modern times the establishment of a solid peace is the only rational object of all war. The object and the interest of Europe in the present question is, in one word—the independence of Turkey. The " point de depart" of European policy, whether in action or negotiation, in the face of Rue. I Man pretensions, is, says the article, that Turkey' shall come out of the struggle without being either weakened or humiliated, for she could neither be weakened nor humiliated without injury to Europe. So far it is well said; but lower down the writer is careful to say that Western Europe will not humi ;iate Russia, and he does not attempt to show in what prac tical way this amiable policy of pleasing everybody is to be carried out,. T he Czar is spoken of in that tone of fear and trembling which has been adopted far too long, and will certainly never succeed in abating one jot of his insolent pretensions. "We know," it is said, " that Russia would prefer the moat terrible chances of war to any sacrifice of her dignity ; and she would be right, for governments, like men, have need of that prestige of consideration which ennobles authority. The bridge of honour across the Pruth or the Danube shall therefore not be cut away from him. His armies may retreat after having fought valiantly, as becomes a great nation, and his voluntary retreat will be on his part a recog nition of European right." It is painful to read this twaddle. It is perfectly childish to suppose that the Emperor of Russia will retire " voluntarily," unless Turkey submit to terms which she has dis tinctly rejected, and which France and England now admit she was right in rejecting. The Constitutionnet itself said the other day that Russia by her own con duct bad placed herself in this dilemma—that she must either suffer a " moral check or a material de feat." That is the truth. M. de la Guerronnieree porn curante language reminds one of the dandy in the farce, who, after many opinions had been given as to the best way to extinguish a fire, suggested that perhaps it would go out of itself. Indeed, there is too much reason to believe that while the Western Powers have been talking about peace, and professing a horror of bloodshed, they have but fanned the flame of war. These advo cates of peace no longer talk about a duel "for first blood." In this very article, it is said with exquisite complacency, "We do not delude ourselves into the belief that fortune will always be faithful to the Turkish arms. There will inevitably be cotta pensations for the first reverses suffered by Russia. The struggle will doubtless be prolonged with various results. Blood will again flow. Humanity will suffer and be sad." So then, it is calculated, ex- I petted, that hecatombs of human beings must be sacrificed before the finer feelings of the lawless aggressor', can be appeased, and his " voluntary withdrawal" from the prosecution of his unrighteous cause effected! And yet the time has not come for action by the . powers who stand forth professing that they have a right to interfere in this matter, and that they will not see injustice done! The article contains a remarkable confession of the imbecility of the Vienna Conference—l should rather say of the French and English members of it—for in all probability the Prussian and Austrian Ministers showed their ability by drawing them into a snare. I give this passage textually : It costs us nothing to admit that if we could for a single instant have imagined the result of the diplo matic negotiations, we should not have hesitated to advise the entry of the fleets into the Dardanelles the instant the Dugan army crossed the Pruth. We wish to be frank in this discussion, and we therefore owe a confession to our readers. There is a reason for the failure of the negotia tions—a reason less attributable to the conference than to an error of public opinion. Turkey was not en much con sidered by the Conference as she ought to have been. She was thought to be weak, falling, powerless. It was taken for granted that her weakness was to be protected rather than her rights acknowledged. Thus the diplomatists of Vienna, at the same time that they most honourably exerted themselves to preserve her independence, were lad away by an erroneous estimate of her weakness to seek rather sot what would be acceptable to the Sultan but what would be accepted by the Cur. They had so little doubt of this assent of the Divan, that they did not even communicate their project to Con stantinople. They lent it at ones to fit. Petereburg, and when the affirmative answer arrived, it them to doubt for a moment that the affair was settled. They took no thought of the answer from Constantinople. It appeared to them that Turkey had no will, because she bed no strength, no individuality, no resources, no character, Is a word because she was no longer a nation." At tho Bourse there was scarcely any variation to day, and very little business doing. About a month since a protestant was buried at Chelles (Oise). Three weeks later the sub-prefect furtively during a wet day, took up the body, dragged it through the mud, and buried it in a spot destined to receive the corpses of nabaptized infants. The priests came the next day to re-conse crate the burial-ground " polluted by a protestant interment." To add insult to injury, a bill of 66f. was sent to the family of the deceased for expenses of exhumation. Complaint has been made to the Ali- Mater of Public Worship, and it is to be hoped this illegal outrage will be promptly redressed. Tho Prince and Princess de Chimay, who had been invited by the Emperor to spend some days at the Palace of Fontainebleau, left Brussels on Saturday for that place. Before his departure, the Prince had the honour of a private audience of the King of the Belgians. The Moniteur publishes a decree of the Emperor, dated the 14th, for the better regulation of the ser vice of railroads and other modes of communication, &c. It is as follows : Art. 1. The railroad service at the Ministry of Agricul ture, Commerce, and Public Works shall form a general direction under the name of Direction Gi , ao , role des Chemins de ler. Art. 2. The aerviee of the roads and that of navigation are united, and will form one direction, under the name of Direction des Ponta it C'nausst;es. Art. 3. Count Eugene Dubois, maitre des requetes of the first class at the Council of State, and ca-director of public works in Aliteris, is appointed director-general of railroads. M. de Frenqueville, chef de division of navi. gation, is appointed director of pouts et chaussees, and M. de Buureuille, chief of the division of mines, is appointed director of mines. PORTUGAL. --~- The Severn brings advices from Lisbon to the 11th. A smart shock of earthquake was felt on the 4th. Elections in different parts of Portugal to fill up vacancies in the Chamber of Deputies had ter minated in favour of ministerial candidates. There was a great influx of gold, and English sovereigns consequently were at a discount of 50 reis. Silver was scarce. The Gem, from Denis, had put into the Tagus in a leaky state. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. A letter from Trebisonde announces that the Rus sian fortress of Dariel, situate in Circassia, on the right bank of the Terek, between kloadok and Tiflis, was surrounded by the insurgent Ossetes and by a large force of Circassian', and that it was on the point of falling into their power. The same letter announces that the authentic details had been re ceived of the affair which took place some time back, when 20,000 Russians, lately arrived in the country, were overpowered by Schamyl's troops, and all that were not killed were made prisoners, and are now at Ardiauskai, in Circassia. Letters f rom r St. Petersburg, of the sth, state that the manifesto of the Czar had been read in all the churches en the 4th. A corps dorm& was under orders to embark from Odessa, for Georgia, to rein force Prince Woronzoff, who urgently asks for suc cours. The embarkation has been countermanded since the proclamation of war by Turkey, as the naval forces of that Power in the Black Sea might effectually hinder the corps (formes from reaching its destination. The forces will now proceed to the Principalities. Russian cavalry had been ordered to proceed to the Danubian Provinces, but the state of those countries, in consequence of recent rain, is such as to preclude any operations, save en high road. The marching orders of the cavalry have, therefore, been withdrawn. The Sleek gives information, apparently obtained from the Turkish embassy, stating, in opposing the establishment of the Turks on the Wallachian side of the Danube on the 2nd and 3rd, the Russians lost 600 men and 18 officers. The attack was re-com menced on the 4th, and continued through part of the sth. The Russians had 1,200 killed or wounded. Almost all the commanders of corps fell. The Sieck has no details on the consequences of this second engagement, but from the summons made to Prince , Oortschakoff by Omer Pacha to deliver up all the fortified places into the hands of the Turks, and to evacuate the Principalities as promptly as possible, infers that the troops of the Sultan have assumed a real attitude of superiority. A Special correspondent of the Presse, writing from Trebizond on the 22nd October, says that Abdhi- Pacha left Erzeroum for Kars on the 12th October, at the head of 12,000 regular troops of all arms. 10,000 regulars had already arrived at head-quarters from Kurdistan and Diarbekir. 15,000 milts were also encamped in the neighbourhood of Kars. The overnment has called the Bashi-Bozouks into active service, and they were distributed along the whole frontier. These are irregular volunteers, armed with muskets without bayonets, pistols, and a kama (a kind of poignard with a large blade). There are nearly 30,000 at these troops between Batoum and Kars. A Russian army of 30,000 men had been encamped for the last twenty days at the foot of the mountain which commands the town of Alexandropol, situated 12 hours' march from Kars, on the Georgian territory. Another corps of 15,000 was at Akhalzikh, whose destination was to take Batoum, marching over the mountains which command it, while Russian ships would bombard the town by sea. On the 21st four Turkish steam-frigates disembarked at Trebizoad 1,500 riflemen, armed as the Chasseurs de Vincennes, and £,OOO infantry. All these are excellent troops, well armed and equipped. Twenty-two more steamers, with troops for Erze ream and Kars, were expected. It was thought that the Turkish government would in the next week send four or five thousand good troops from Con stantinople to Batoum. A correspondent calls attention to the despatch from Vienna, according to which the Russian autho rities have ordered all the subjects of Turkey to quit the Principalities, and remarks that " the order would include the entire population of the Principalities." Of course it would, and its absurdity is its chief claim to notice. The fact, however, is not to be called in question : the following is the exact language of the despatch as published by the Austrian government: " Russiseher Seits wurden elle Tiirkis chen Unterthanen aus den Fiirstenthumern Rogge wiesen, demzufolge bereits 20 Familien die Erlaubniss zum Aufenthalte in Dorna angesucht flatten." The obvious intention of the Russians and Austrians in employing this incorrect phraseology is to prepare the way for the direct assertion that the people of Moldo-Wallachia are not subjects of the Porte. ITALY. NAPLES, Nov. 4, To reduce the price of corn the government of Naples has thought proper not only to threaten corn dealers, but to arrest private persons who hold grain. Meanwhile, the King has purchased corn with a view of selling at such prices as shall bring down bread, and, if possible, prevent the poorer classes from revolution. The Grand Duke and Duchess of Tuscany have arrived in Naples. Neapolitan Fives, 106 ; Sicilian Fives, 94 ; Ex change on London, 562. The government is buying largely to keep up the quotations. No loan can be obtained just now, either from Rothschild's of Na ples, or Tortonia's of Rome. It is said government intends to add to the national debt by selling as much paper as they can at 105 for five per cent. The official journal has just published a strange article, endeavouring to defend the King and the government from the ill-feeling arising on account of the high price of bread. The mode of argument, if not logical, is at least amusing : " With regard to the anxiety which is felt on account of the price of corn, the increase cannot be attributed to scarcity, for in none of our markets is corn wanting. Dealers, in fact, are speculating; but they will soon find oat that this practice will turn to their disadvantage. It was a necessary consequence that our markets should feel the effects of high prices all over Europe. Our prices, however, are below those of other mar kets, especially the Italian; and this is due to the wisdom of the best amongst the sovereigns—of our august master, who has not left, and does not leave, any means in his power untried which might injure the interests of his beloved and faithful subjects (!)" All this means nothing. The facts are, the go vernment issued decrees prohibiting the exportation of grain when it was too late, and allowing corn to come in duty free when grain had advanced in price all over Europe. The general price of corn in the Two Siciliee was 17 carlini per totnole—it is now 28 and 30, and bread, of course, in proportion. 30 will allow merchants to import with profit; and orders have lett Naples accordingly. GERMANY. BERLIN, Nov. 12. You. Gazette publishes the death of General von Radowits. The statement it incorrect. The Baron appears to have passed through a crisis, and is stir very feeble. Yesterday he gathered his family around him, and was also visited by the King. To day he is something better. HESSE CASSEL. Nur. 11 The government is at its wits eud for money, and thinks of postponing payment of the salaries of em ployes. It has, however, just asked the chamber to vote 140,000 thalers per annum to the Countess of Sehaumbourg (the elector's wife by a morganatic marriage), end to make the allowance retroactive for ten years. It has been p:oposed iu the provisional Chamber to appeal to the Germanic Dint to have the state placed under its proper constitution with a re gular legislature. THE STE‘3I YARD AT KETllAlL—Preparations h‘ve commenced in the Police-station at this yard, for the reei mien of the f net. Inspector Polkinphorne of the 11ickyard pehe., has been transferred to Keyham; Ser geant Foe ha- been made inspector, rue Polkingtiorne ; and priretes Dr-okinit, Ilaua.e, have been promded to the rank Of sergeants. LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN HAILWAY.—This company, it is understood, have offered prises to their work men at Wolverton and Crewe for proficiency in mechanics and other accomplishments, to be adjudged by the lospoctors of Schools. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. (BY amecraic TILZOIPAPH.) (PROM ova OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY. Arrived, the Iberia, with Peninsular mails. Her dates are : Gibraltar, Nov. 8; Lisbon, 11. The Iberia received pratique at Lisbon, having been eight days in reaching that port. She left Lisbon with a clean bill of health, but was not al lowed to communicate at Gibraltar. The Governor having placed the Rock on a footing with England and in quarantine with Spain, all communication between Spain and the Rock is at an end. This subjects the inhabit __ltants of the latter place to a great 'inconve nience, as their principal supplies arc obtained from Spain. Messrs. Peacock and Carver have come home in the Iberia, deputed by the principal merchants to lay their grievances before her Majesty's Secretary of State. BRITISH SCBJECTS IN THE SERIIOE OF RCSSIA. PORTSMOVTH, TUUDAY. A gentleman, an Englishman, holding a situation in the Russian dockyard at Cron , tarlt, has arrived at this port. He brings word that the whole of the British arti. sans employed in that and other governmental establish ments in Ruske, of whom there are a large number, have been discharged. This step is supposed to have been taken in reference to the present relation. between the go vernments of the two countries. The greatest efforts are now being made by the officers of , he two Russian ships at this port, the Aurora (frigate) and the Navarine (corvette), to complete their refit, in or der to expedite their departure from this port. TAvtsrocx.—Thumas Nicholls, Esq., of the Bed ' ford Iron Works, is duly elected portreeve for the ensuing year for the ancient borough of Tayistock. He is one of the greatest employers of tabour in the locality, and a staunch liberal. 'Etc Court• - • - WINDSOR, Nos 15. There was no addition to the royal dinner part, Tt ti b n y fr ihe Windsor and previously inspected Ass, eiation for Imi roving the Dwelling' of tho L a b ouring yesterday. The Queen, attended by the Hon. Mary Seymour, ro d, in the Riding House this morning. Albertttagwe.e lately no built e 'h Clime'. • the model co m rin odel The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred took riding exercise. The Princess Royal and Princess Alice took their usl walk. The Commissioners for Inquiring into the S• s t e o f the • Corporation of the City of Do - ;doe7hViiiia mett-ig y eit r . day at the Privy Council Office in Downing-b•reet. The commissioners present were the Right Ron. 11. Libou c h ere the Right Hon. Sit Juba ?rumen, and U. Coruenii Lewis, Esq. A deputation from the Directors of the Rungerford Market Company, consisting of Messrs. Stutz ty, and Whitbread, accompanied by Mr. Kilpin, cretary to the company, had an interview with Sir worth yesterday, at the Office of Public) Worki..iiid ings in Whitehall-place, on the subject of the propoLed alterations of Charing-cross Bridge and appro..cnie thereto It is said that the government of British Guiana has been offered to Sir Edmund Walker lictd, Bart., the present Lieut.-Governor of New Brunswick, on a reduced salary of 4,0001. per annum. His reply does not appear yet to have been received. FLORENCE, Nov. 7.—A correspondent writes: Lord Miato is here, sod! hear from the ben authority tao not many days ago the police set spies to watch who went to call upon him at his hotel, such is the Fuspicion ot tius miserable government. The Military Secretary is not to hold a levee before Tuesday, the 22nd inst. Tho opening meeting of the 100th session of the Society of Arts is to take place this evening, when Mr. Harry Chester, the chairman of the council, is to read an address detailing briefly some of the more importsut move ments in wh eh the society had been inagagid , icce its for. motion, and also explaining what is propthid tc be done during the present session. Tee filth nanusl esitibition of articles which have been invented, patented, or registered during the preceding twelve mouths, will be owned at the same time. The London Sacred Harmonic Society arc to cam. mence their sixth season to-morrow with Jewel us Egypt. The Royal Observatory at Brussels has just been placed in electric communication with the Itoyat Observe. tory, Greenwich, fur the purpose of facilitating the deter mination in a direct manner of the difference of ►ongitude between the two establishments. This operation is one of extreme delicacy u well as of great importance to geodesy. The electric communication is made in such a manner that every oscillation of the pendulum at Brussels will be repre sented with accuracy at Greenwich, and vied verso. The observations are to commence this week. THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF BR.4BANT AT PLYMOUTH. Nov. 15.—Their Royal Highnesses tke Duke and Duchess do Brabant, accompanied by the Belgian Minister, M. Van de Weyer, and the Countess Lannoy, in attend ance on her royal highness, arrived here yesterday morn. ing by the mail train from Windsor. Tha distinguished party were met at the station by a guard of Latour fur nished by the Royal Marines, with the band, and there were also present Admiral Sir John A. Caminito., K.C.8., Sir James Dunbar, flag-captain, and other liitibbers or rue staff; and Major-General Sir Harry Smith, 0.C.8. Sir Harry Smith had the honour of being the only guest at breakfast at the Royal Hotel ; a guard of honour from the Light Infantry Company of the 50th regimeut did duty at the Royal Hotel during the day, and their roya; highnesses visited various places in the neighbourhood. Atter speed ing some time iu the Citadel, they procce , lel to Mount Wise about 10 o'clock, and embarked on board the Aeon, second master Commander Vietch, when the llelgian hag was run up and saluted by the Impregnable, lot, o apt. Lowe, the St. George, 120, Capt. Kingcombe. the &hi:burgh, ai, Captain Hewlett. The Avon proceeded to tt•e Loyal Wil liam Victualling Yard and Drake's Island, bat the royal visitors were unable to land at the latter 1,1-,:e in cut.se (pence of the tide being very low, upon whim: the vessel steamed to the Breakwater under a salute of 21 guns, from all the ships in the Sound excepting the Vulture, Desx rate, and Scorpion. Having steamed round the Break water, they landed, leaving her royal highness on board, and after inspecting the lighthouse walked about half-way over the noble structure. A visit was next pail to 11.51.5. Agamemnon, 91, Cept. Mends, which ship twinned yards on going on board, and on leaving a royal salute was tired ; Drake's Island was then walked over, and Moat Edgcumbe was the last place noticed. The Avon steamed to the Victualling Yard, and the royal party landed at three o'clock, carriages being is readiness at that establish. meat. His royal highness dined with Sir John Ommsnney, but the duchess remained at the hotel, beiug riv.igued and slightly indisposed. This morning (Tuesday) a grand re view of the troop* took place at Mount Wise, lay Sir lian7 Smith, in the presence of the Duke and Duchess, Lord Fitzroy, &e. They leave this evening by the 6.2-i train for Torquay, where they will sojourn at Webb's Royal Hotel. SALISBURY ELECTIO.V. Yesterday morning the polling commenced with much activity at eight o'clock, the lead beiug speedily ac quired and vigorously retained by Major-G. aeral Buckley. From the first hour it became manifest that many of thou on whom Captain Roberta was depending for support had either promised him in a spirit of levity or betrayed him with reckless indifference. As a natural coostylcace, ru mours not altcgether favourable to purity and freeuom of election acquired rapid circulation and ready credence. The following returns wiil beat show the nature and pro greas of the contest : HALF-PAST NINE O'CLOCK. General Buckley _ 123 Captain Roberta Majority TEN O'CLOCK. General Buckley 197 Captain Roberta Majority QUARTER VAST ELEYYN General Buckley Captain Roberts Majority ...... E O'CLOCK. 243 Captain Roberti 12S General Buckley Maj irity About a quarter before two o'clock Captain Roberts , rt tired from the contest, when the numbers stuAl thus: — General Buckley 2.5.5 Captain Roberts Majority The official declaration was made at the Council•house bj the Mayor, and General Buckley tendered his ackuuw• ledgmenta amidst much interruption from the crowd whttb had assembled, and who appeared to be iu favour of the unsuccessful candidate. THE STRIKES IN THE NORIR. (PROM ova LOCAL CORRISPONDENT.) At BURNLEY the masters at each miil wire =cut. ble to their workpeople on Saturday morning, and many of the operatives sought interviews. It was found that great numbers were already in a state of much destitutwas and were ready to give up all connexion with the combina tions, but still the employers are of opluiou that any attempt to re-open their mills at present would be prema ture. The employers' (list meeting after the close of the mills does not take place for some days. The meetings of operatives are frequent, and committees sit tidily. They have several committee-rooms open—inciuding one for the ands spinners, another for the throstle spinners, sod a third for the weavers—but the close 01 the mills has of course, a- an designed, curtailed their receipts to a very smell sum. Tho dividend for last week is reported to have been only lie. per head. The leaders have issued a report, which is headed " Ninth Bslance-sbeet of the District comprising Bewley, Color, Marsden, Nelson, Barrowford, Haggate, Lane, and Laneskawbridge," of which the following is 1 copy: After with act in the tentn manyo d rumours oub which thisinstance to hav n ebees im ci p re u s gu lstcd; tv honesty iu money matters, it will no doubt be elpected cast we shall attempt to justify ourselves. This no doubt we shall do, but not with the mere assertion that we are honest. We know this would be of no use. We invite investiga tion, and we trust that parties who have sub-cribed to our funds will lose no time in appointing auditor., and let oar accounts be fairly investigated. Those who thiak to deter the workers from co. cperation by such mean tricks, will be miserably mistaken. We stiffer enough from individual wealth to convince us that the time is now arrived when labour must emancipate itself by that means. Nothing can b e more in this do u t i n g imp --ciszidens fortune it them• /1 what we afford ow not, who some pro patience , the s;:iri The beta ne tl:ey hr put.:ic SCOW , ' t and wc named were MU