The Express. — London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

ElieVPreAA• TO CORRESPONDENTS. A Mood E !is ion of "The Expre.e." containing the lallt! tff Dine. "Oaa,tte," u published ',try Tuesday and Friday night, in wee Ise post. . . _ deertvements Int/Ivied foe " The Tsprees," to:melon Eresmg paper, out be at the neat. 10, Beweerie-street, by Two o'c'.e.k ea Om day et pubLiatica. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tv@ DST—Morale', 2h. 15m Afterm 2b. Me. Temoutow—liortung, 2b. Aternwm, 2b. 16is, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2. A TURKISH force hu, it appears, crossed the Danube from Widdin and occupied Kalafat, on the left bank of the river. Upon this point all the several telegraphic messages received yesterday, from Vienna, in London and PaZiS are agreed. There are unessential differences as to the day on which the movement took place, the exact number of troops that had crossed, and the manner in which they were met by the Russians. The evidence appears to preponderate in favour of the version which represents the Turk as crossing the river on the 28th, to the number Of 20,900, and the Russians withdrawing their troops from Kalafat, leaving it to be occupied by the ammay. What imparts a degree of probability approaching le certainty to this news is, that it is the natural development of the military movements previously reported—the occupation of the island is f ro nt of Widdin by the Turks. Here then evaporates the talc of " an armistice " with which a contemporary startled the town from its propriety on Saturday last—disturbing the balance of power between Bulls and Bears upon 'Change. The journal in question stuck stoutly for a time to its legend of an armistice, pooh•poohing the account of the affair at lsaatchi, and every thing else tending to shake men's confidence in it. Hut the collision on the Lower Danube was confirmed ; and the armistice was ad mitted to be no armistice, only au instruction to the Turkish General to postpone for a few days the com mencement of hostilities, which instruction was sub seqsently announced to have been only conditional. Thus gradually and piecemeal has the figment which for a time sent up the drooping funds in Paris and London evaporated. _ _ It is now apparent that the Turks are in ear nest. The Russian steamers and other craft which attempt to pass up or down the Danube are fired upon from the Turkish forts. Omaa PAM!! has pushed his troops across the Danube at a point whence he can take the Russian forces in Wallachia in flank. The Russians, according to the most intelligible and credible accounts, extend along the river from in front of Bucharest to Kalafat, or near it. Their troops at the latter place have been called in. If Oxza PACUA advances along the river, they can at first present but a narrow front to him ; or he may strike inland and get in their rear, placing them between the detachment of the Turkish army which has already crossed and any detachment which may hereafter cross lower down. To obviate these disad vantages, the entire position of the Russian army would require to be altered; it would require to fall back upon Bucharest, at least, and present its front to tho west instead of the south. This may be the object with which the Russian ad vanced posts have been withdrawn from Kalafat, Or they may have evaded a rencontre with a view to keep up for some time longer the farce of pretending that they will act only on the defensive and in case of necessity. It is indeed a farce for them to speak of the defensive when they are so far advanced into the Turkish territory. Whatever be their schemes, they seem in no hurry to accept the defiance tkrown in their teeth by the Osmanli. In the rencontre at Isaatchi they appear to have had the worse, and now they show their backs to the enemy at Kalafat. Meanwhile the diplomatists seem to be renewing their pen and ink campaign with fresh vigour. A new Vienna note is said to have been sketched out, which the SULTAN can accept in all honour; and the Cz.e&, it is alleged, professes his readiness to consent to anything in reason for the avoidance of war. Could the slightest credence be afforded to this latter rumour, it might be reasonably hoped that hostilities, though commenced, would be of brief duration. It is in the power of the CZAR, and of the CZAR alone, to remove every cause of war. His armies are where they have no right to be upon Turkish territory. But for the crossing of the Pruth by the Russians, there would have been no mustering of Turkish forces, no declaration of war by the SCL TAN. Let the Russians beat a retreat out of Walla chia and Moldavia—recross the Pruth, and not an Ottoman soldier will follow into Bessarabia. The armies of the SULTAN will follow till they see their country cleared of enemies, and will remain for a reasonable time to watch the frontier, but they will not retaliate by invading Russia. But, war having begun, there can be no peace till Russia evacuates the territory it has so lawlessly seized, and expressly abandons her groundless pretensions and projects of aggrandisement at the expense of Turkey. At present everything appears to favour a speedy delotouetnent in this sense. Disease, it is known, prevails extensively among the Russian troops on the Danube, and, notwithstanding the road-making propensities that have been attributed to the Russian Government, the pushing forward of reinforcements cannot be a speedy, an easy, or an inexpensive operation. It is yet too early to judge of the strategy of OILER PAcuA— it has not yet been sufficiently developed—but what is seen is of good augury. France seems willing to play its part, by the substitution of BA HAGUAT IYHILLIERS, the man of war, for M. Da LA Coca, the man of peace. If France and England act with promptitude and energy it will be no difficult matter for them to cripple Russia. As thus : on the northern shores of the Black Sea the Crimea juts out boldly. Whatever Power or Powers are in possession of the Crimea, and have the upper hand at sea, can command the whole of the Russian ports from the Danube to Kherson inclu sive on the one hand, and upon the sea of Azoff on the other. Now the only place of real strength in the Crimea is Sebastopol, and though in front it presents a formidable array of guns and batteries, by landing a force a few miles to the west it may be turned as easily as the great fort in Burundi was the other day. The Russian fleet at Sebastopol looks vastly imposing, but some awkward revelations re specting its efficiency have just been published by Mr. OLIPHANT, who visited the place last year. Of all the stately ships not above three could be ventured round Cape Horn, of such wretched materials has Russian peculation caused them to be run up. The English, French, and Turkish fleets command ing the Black Sea, it would be an easy thing for the allies to seise and hold the Crimea, and thus para lyse the whole trade and industry (such as it is) of Russia on the Black Sea, and as far as Astrakhan, Nijnej Novogorod, and Kiew. This derangement of the Russian finances, coupled with the necessity under which the Cz ut lies to retain large garrisons in Poland, and send large reinforcements to Cir- cassia, would keep his Danubian armies on a footing that could give no great trouble to Onza PACHA. The course of all wars and all negotiations is uncertain. Unforeseen casualties may turn the tide at any time. But such are appearances at present. It oily ;swim to add, that it the Qs& maim obstinate, it will be necessary to keep an tje on the Baltic. The Russian fleet in that sea is, compared with its Black Sea fleet, almost an efficient one ; and it is reported from Copenhagen that Russian ships of war have been seen cruising in the vicinity of tho island of Bornholm. THE STRIKES. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. PRESTON, TVIIDAY. 2 o'CLocx. No communication from Wican hu as yet arrived, although five trains have been in since the departure of the troops, and the prevalent belief is that nothing has transpired at Wigan at least to give cause for anxiety. I remarked that I waited (pa tiently enough) for the arrival of the troops at the station, and the occupation of waiting . was tiring enough. The interval between the arrival of the troops at tho station and the time when the officer at the barracks received the order must have been at least two hours. Many persons here think that this delay is reprehensible. A similar delay took place on Friday, and strange rumours are cir culated as to the cause of it. As a non-military judge is not competent to decide upon the question of how long it ought to take to get 130 men in marching order in a disturbed district, I shall not give an opinion as to the amount of praise or blame to be awarded to the military authorities in the present instance. This, however, I, although a civilian, feel justified in assert ing, that I never witnessed greater confu sion thci that which took place in getting 0- e men into the carriagi; thei.: antral .t the sallow. You know how quickly many hundreds of passengers take their pllaaceess in a train after ten minutes' stop at a railway station. It is done in two minutes, although they have no concert with each other. Each one follows his own will, and yet there is very little disturbance. Hero there was a semi riot. Nothing was more easy than to have embarked a thousand men under perfect discipline in a few seconds. The carriages were all prepared. Their numbers had been calculated with a precise knowledge of the amount of force to be trans ported, each carriage was known to be able to hold • certain number of men, and nothing would have been easier than to tell off the men, with reference to the number which a car riage would hold. The affair thus managed would have occupied but a few minutes at most. As it was, there was as much confusion as if the regiment had sent a detachment of " unprotected females." The railway porters were rushing about frantically, pulling and shoving men into the various carriages; whilst most of the officers were smoking cigars, and looking as if they had little to do in the matter. I noticed one, it is true, who was evidently impressed with the seriousness of the business he bad to conduct, and he may have had some imitators, but I did not see them. In spite of the most earnest attempts to get at in formation here, and the partial success of many of the efforts I have made, which I will take care to put into a proper shape as soon as time is allowed to me to balance the evidence, I find the greatest difficulty in getting at the true solution of the nature of the present " situation," it indeed there is a solution. I perfectly agree with you in your leading article of to-day that nothing will ever afford the least help towards a proper adjustment of the dispute, but an arbitrating authority. It is, however, important to observe, that at present there is no possibility of getting at a proper arbitrating authority. The masters assert that they themselves alone are the proper judge of what is the right remuneration for ' their investments, and will brook no interference. At the same time the men declare that, since indivi dual protest is attended with nothing but ruin to the men protesting, they have no resource but to make common cause, and invest some mediatorial autho rity with the collective aggregate of their several powers. " Why," said I, to-day, to one of the best workmen at one of the largest firms in the town, " why do not appeal to the masters in your own proper person, if you are dissatiafied ?" " Be cause," he answered with a most contemptuous laugh, as if he thought that 1 was the smallest pigmy in the world, endeavouring to become acquainted with the affairs of giants, " because they would say no, and take on the first hand that they could get, in order to turn mo adrift. They'll ruin one man, if they asks a question, donut you see, so we sends 'em George Cowell wi' 25,000. How will they answer that ? " I think that the owners have a ready an swer as far as their power to maintain the strike is concerned. As far as lam able to judge, the masters must obtain for the present the victory, but it re mains to be seen how long they will be able to reap the fruits of it. _ . I just give you the heads of what I have noticed. To-morrow, most probably, I shall be able to give you some results. SECOND RIOT AT WIGAN. SEVEN PERSONS SHOT. (TROY ODA LOCAL COII4IIIPONDIIN WIGAN, ThIIDAT. The affair here last night wan of a rather more serious nature than might be inferred from the brief tele graphic account in the Express te-day. Eight or nine persons have been shot, and one, it is feared, may have been fatally injured. Yesterday morning the coalownere, true to their resolu tion of Friday, threw open their works to any of the turn outs who might be disposed to resume labour at the old prices. The colliers held a numerous meeting at the Lane Ends, Aspull, at which they came to a resolution not to re. turn to work on the terms offered. In the meantime the Welsh colliers, brought by Mr. Peace, agent to the Earl of Balcarres, to supplant the turnouts, and who have been lodged at the works of Earl Baleares, at the Spriaphridge Haigh, nearly two miles east of the centre of Wigan, ever einem their arrival, were sounded by the managers of the colliery, as to their intention of working. A portion of them signified their intention of taking the situations offered them, and descended the mines. About 24 ezpremed fears of violence, and at their own request were sent back to the principality, by railway, at once. The turnout colliers were very indignant when they learnt that the knobsticks," as they term them, had gone to work, and threatened revenge. These threats were uttered without much concealment, and towards evening it was rumoured in Wigan that the night would not peas over without vengeance being wreaked on some of the parties concerned. One report was That the turn-outs intended to attack the coal raise in which the Welshmen were at work, and fill it up—or, at least, so far to throw down earth as to make it a grave for the 1 1 obnoxious men. A second report was that they would attack these men at the saw-mills whilst in bed at night ; and a third was that an assault would be made on the house of Mr. Peace hintaell, at Haigh, neer the seat of Lord Balcarres. Mr. Peace resides • mile and a quarter from the saw-mills, and it was well known that both hie house and the saw-mills were prepared for such an eventu ality, and that Haigh Hall had also been put in a very out plats state of defence. Notwithstanding these rumours, people in Wigan were very incredulous, and pointed signi ficantly to the soldiers as a means of security. So things remained up to abaut half-past five yesterday evening. l The darkness so patiently waited for by the colliers as a cover to their movements, and to much feared by the inhabitants, was then Pest settling over the face of the earth. Immediately afterwards a mob of 3.50 to 400 Where, mostly youths of 19 or 20 years of age, marched through the town with fifes and drum, and the importance attached by the authorities to this movement was imme diately mule manifest by the hurry and bustle which suc ceeded in the disposition of the police and military. The bugle of the 31th infantry soun^ed through the streets, and the soldiers being hastily mustered, were placed under arms at the Public Hall. The borough police were assembled in the same building, the magistrates were in consultation, and messengers en foot and horseback were seen hurrying to and fro. The colliers, who had marched through the town so merrily with their music, had taken the road to wards the saw-mills, but the most prevalent rumour as to their designs was that this was a ruse, and that the real point of attack was Mr. Peace's house. I was anxious to see what these misguided men would really do, but it was seven o'clock before re liable information could he obtained—the authorities being apparently u much districted between coatending ru mours up to that time as the public. Unacquainted with the road to Springs-bridge, which is a bridge over the canal skis to the saw-maills,; at Hsieh 1 tried the hotels kw • THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2, horse or a vehicle; but tutor had seized the public mind, and the landlords were unwilling, as they expressed , it, " to trust either animal or vehicle, for love or money, among them colliers." The rail ba t thing was to get a guide The proposition was regarded as little less than madness ; for the road was said to bel not only dark and difficult, but blocked up with riotous and disorderly people. In proof of Me at one of the hotels I was taken tea horseman who had just made the passap—a servant of Lord Balcarras —who bad been despatched by Mr. Peace with a message to the authorities of Wigan for military aid. This man said the road would be dangerous, and it appeared that he bad received several blows on one leg as he rode to Wigan, one of which has slightly lamed him. A guide was at length obtained, however, and we got off, by way of Millgate, on the right track. We soon learnt that the military had 20 minutes' start of us, and various reports were flitting about as to a collision having taken place. Some said the military had fired upon the people al ready, and killed several; others said it was the Welsh hnobsticks who had been " blazing away" at them. We began to meet large groups of colliers coming back from the saw-mills, some of whom, on being:questioned, scowled angrily, and said there bad been nothing at all. The road was as black as the night, was very and the huge bluing fires lighted up on the coal-pit banks on either side the way cast a glare which was almost blinding. Now and then at an angle or curve of the road, the flickering lights would suddenly half reveal a group of colliers coming hastily from behind a hedge, having apparently been taking a short cut across the fields. Most of them had been running and were out of breath. These were the men who most strenuously and unciurtcously denied that there had been any disturbance. Taken unexpectedly with the question they stammered unintelligibly for a moment, as if an accusing witness were suddenly confronting them, before giving a direct denial; and there is probably little doubt that many of them had been actual rioters. Arriving an the Springs-bridge, which is at a considerable elevation above the canal, a singular scene presented itself. The saw mills are oa the left band side of the road, on the further bank of the canal. What are called the saw mills are in fact tile wink! generally of the sawyers, carpenters, and other artisans employed to prepare timber, waggons, ironwork, and other materials for the extensive colliery of the Earl of Ealcarres. Mr. Peace, the manager, has his offices there, and trimmacts his principal business at the works. The canal forms the left boundary of the premises, and substantist buildings of stone enclose it on the right and further side. As you enter it from the (rani, ' a temporary wooden fence, six or seven feet high, has been •T=llllMplete the enclosure on that aide, in which is dear. A pile of warehousing across the centre d the premises, with a gateway in the middle, divides Am into two spacious yards, the first about 100, and the eneend nearly 200 yards in length, varying in width from a few yards at the entrance to 100 yards along the greater portion of the place. We could not distinguish these out lines in the gloom of night, when we reached Spring's bridge ; a huge blazing fire, in the n yard, threw everything around into deeper shade, and the spectator had to look steadily down from the battlements of the bridge for some moments before he could distinguish the line of the canal underneath. There was no rioting going on now, but the light of the fire partly revealed to view a long file of infantry drawn up under arms. A good num ber of person!' were leaning on the battlement of the bridge looking at them, and a sullen voice near us was heard to mutter to his companion, " It would be easy work to pick one or two of those devils off from here !" Suddenly the word of command was given by Captain Wilt, and the steady tramp of the soldiers in motion wu heard. We found that th were retracing their steps to Wigan, and soon afterwar ds they passed over the bridge, followed now and then with a cry of disapprobation, but those who raised the cry hastily slunk into obscurity under the shadow of buildings or hedges. What was most surprising to a stranger was, the hardihood with which people who stood on the bridge, and acknowledged they had been there during the evening, denied that there bad been any attack on the premien—that there bad been any shooting—and that any one had received injury! We learnt, however, with some difficulty, that there could be no doubt at hut one man bad been shot, and that he had bees either killed er so seriously wounded as to be unable to walk, having been borne away on the shoulders of others. Some ac counts were that two men had been so borne away, and that others were wounded. This morning more reliable information is at hand. It appears that yesterday (Monday) morning a note was re ceived at the sawmills that two meetings of operative col lien were to take place—one at Wigan, the other at Aspuil, and after this one party were to attack the knobsticks at the sawmills and the other were to find work for the autho rities and military at Wigan. Inspector Oallott, with six men of the Bolton division of the county police, was sent for from Aspen to augment the small defensive force of workmen at the sawmills, and stationed them in the outer yard. About six o'clock in the evening a noise wes heard of a greater number of men coming from the direc tion of Wigan, and it was soon found that they were armed with heavy sticks and stones. The mob was about 350 in number. On reaching the front gates of the saw-mills, it appeared evident that they had expected to meet a large reinforcement of colliers from Agouti and Blackrod. One of the leaden said their promised allies were " soft —," and dared not join them. They passed on towards Asian!' • short distance, bat finding no reinforcement, they held a short consultation, wheeled about, end attacked the saw mills by trying to force the gates of the outer yard. They struck the gate with stones and pieces of wood, and threw stones at the police inside. Unable to force it, the word was given to scale the boarding ; but immediately the placed their hands on the top of this fence, the police struck them and beat them off. Mr. Peace was there with four of his men, and they and the ten police fought resolutely. The beelegers seemed equally determined, and several had to he struck heavily on the head, lacerating the scalp, before they could be dropped. After maintaining this point of defence for about a quarter of an hour, however, numbers prevailed. Many of the rioters got to • part of the wooden fence commanding the position of the defenders at the gate in flank and rear; and one of their huge missiles (which were bricks and stones) knocked a policeman down, and rendered him fora few moments senseless. A pa rty of the assailants were heard working steadily also to open • passage through the fence by tearing off some of the boards, sad this they effected. The police sergeant steadily refused Mme dreams, but said hie men should stand at the piss is keg as they could bold them. Mr. Peen seeing their danger—for the mob were mad dened by resistance, and yelled and uttered dreadful threats, hitting the party inside frequently with atones— now advised that they should withdraw to the inner yard, where they would be pble to keep their assailants at bay more effectually until the assist ance of the soldiery was at hand, which had already been sent for. Immediately upon this retreat the mob hunt into the yard in great numbers, and it was taken possession of by between 200 and 900 men, mostly active young colliers. A large fire was burning in the centre, and this they overturned, and commenced kicking and knock ing about to the serious danger of the surrounding pro perty. The police force held the door-way between the two yards, and Mr. Peace aad his men took up a posi tion in the warehouses, of which these gates form the centre, and the windows of which commanded the spot where the rioters were now assembled. One of the men in the warehouse now tired his gun at them through the window—having first broken the glass with its muzzle; and this struck them with a momentary panic, in which they retreated to near the outer gate. Some of the leaders here called out to their companions that they wen " soft if they were frightened at that, and they were rallied, and again ad vanced about 70 yards towards the inner yard. Here four more guns were discharged at them from the warehouse. which evidently took effect, and led to a precipitate and general retreat. The mob immediately evacuated the premises, and Sergeant Gillott with his men now left by a back entrance, and by a short circuit gained the main road,' . where he found the rioters dispersing towards Wigan. Mr. Superintendent Scott soon afterwards arrived with cutlasses for the police, and now took charge of them himself. In about half an hour afterwards the military arrived from Wigan, consisting of 150 nos , under Captain Wilt, with whom were Mr. Jos. Acton, magistrate; and the Hon. Col. Lindsay and the Hon. Colin Lindsay, sons of Lord Balcarrta, wind from Haigh Hall. They remained some time on the premises, and .ultimately a body of 50 soldiers wets left to protect the place, under Dent. Brown Weathead. The police force also still remain in charge. The police sergeant states that he subsequently learnt that several of the rioters were wounded, one man being shot in the leg, another through the arm and hand, and one in the face ; but nothing more has been heard respecting them. They were heard to say, in going away, that the man shot is the hand was the one who overturned the fire. . _ But from a better source of information than this we are able to state the exact effect of the shots fired. A collier, who there is reason to believe was present, says that the tint shot fired wounded two, striking one in the arm and the other in the breast. The next discharge of tout (but as he supposed only three) guns, also took signal effect. He says either do or seven were shot, one in the thigh (shat- tering the bone it was feared, for this man could not walk afterwards and bad to be carried away), and others in various parts of the body. In the whole there were eight or nine shot. This man states (giving the facts very reluctantly for fear of criminating himself - on the one hand with the authorities, and from a desire not to disclose say thing to injure others) that they parted with their band of music at &holes, en the way from Wigan ; that in fact they drove them away, not choosing that the musicians should know what was farther intended to be done. There was no further disturbance during the night, nor up to our report keying ; but there is great doubt if ano ther attempt will not be made in some quarter. About a quarter-past 2 this morning the military were reinforced by • troop of the let Royal Dragoon, under Captain Ainslie, from Manchester, who have taken up their quarters at the Royal Hotel, having left Manchester at half-put 10 on Monday night. DANGER OF USING LEAD, COPPER, OR ZINC Picas.—The Minister of Commerce, Agriculture, and Pub lic Works in France has just issued a circular to all pre fects, calling upon them to put a stop to the use of lead, copper, or zinc pipes in breweries. The minister in his circular states that " Experience proves that beer, by sim ple contact with lead, takes up an appreciable quantity of the metal, and thus acquires poisonous properties." Leaden pipes are not only need in breweries, but a custom has arisen in taverns, and in houses where wine is sold, of using a small pump, which communicates with the barrels in the cellar by means of a leaden pipe. The ue of the pipe in this instance is peculiarly objectionable, inasmuch as the action of the pump is at intervals only. A whole family' was poisoned by using for some time a pump o f thi s kind for drawing up their ordinary consumption of win..— .karma °JOG socift, of Arts. LATEST FROM ABROAD. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The following telegraphic communication has been received this morning by a commercial firm in the City : " VItNNA, Nov. 1. " The communication with the Lower Danube is entirely interrupted, in consequence of recent events." THE BALTIC. COPENHAGEN, Ocr. 26. Private letters from the Island of Bornholm state that several Russian ships of war—indeed a whole fleet—have been seen cruising and manoeuvring to the east of the island. The Imperial Russian war steamer Ottwaschnoi has been in our roads since last Saturday, and further out a Russian frigate is at anchor. TWO SICILIES. NAPLES, Om 24. M. Maupas, the French Minister, is reported to have demanded permissiou to form a naval depot at Brindisi, should circumstances render such necessary. The Neapolitan funds have fallen to a war price : Neapolitan Fives, 1061 ; Sicilian Fives, 99. Ex change on London, 554, and rising. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. Telegraphic despatches from Vienna announce that Omer Pacha crossed the Danube in force on Friday last from Widdin. Previous advices have made us acquainted with the extensive pre parations conducted at this point under th; e y e of the Turkish commander p oint the last three weeks. The eyot midway between Widdin and Kalafat was occupied by a Turkish force of 4,000 men on the 16th ult., and since this date batteries have been erected, and a bridge thrown across from the eyot to Kalafat, in Little Wallachia. Oa the same day (the 16th ult.) also the Turks paid a preli minary visit of inspection to Kalafat, and, on the 28th, as we are now informed, the passage was effected, with a force, variously stated, at from 20,000 to 50,000 men, the smaller quotation being accom panied by the remark that a great number more were in the act of passing. If we give this information, subject to the usual caution generally applicable to telegraphic despatches, it ought also to be said that it arrives with as many recommendations to belief as can be expected of communications by the same channel. -Omer Pacha's intention of crossing the Danube has been manifested in too many ways to be a subject of doubt, and, as pointed out yesterday, the order which, according to the Moniteur, was on the 21st ult. transmitted to him from Constantinople, was not of a character to interfere greatly with the previously formed pur poses of the General. In fact, however, it does not appear that any order not to cross the Danube was implied in the Sultan's message to Omer Pacha. Even Prince Gortschakoff could not say that the entrance of the whole Turkish army into Wallachia was in itself an act of hostility. The Czar has not yet pretended that the Principalities have ceased to be a part of the Ottoman empire, and the mere pass age of the Danube by Omer Pacha's army would do no more than bring about a de facto joint Russian and Turkish occupation, such as took place un• der Omer Pacha and General Luders in 1849, with no more right on the part of Russia than in the present instance. It is not meant to suggest that under actual circumstances the Turkish commander would be likely to content himself with such an inactive occupation of his master's territory, in the unwarranted presence of a foreign force, but while the diplomatic servants of many states are understood to be busily engaged in adjusting the difference between Russia and Turkey, it is well to measure the value of events which seem calculated to interfere with those efforts. Some of the de spatches which arrive from Vienna speak of an im mediate engagement which was expected. Such an encounter may or may not have taken place; the next telegraphic despatch may bear news of positive hostilities, but at present we only know that Omer Pacha has crossed from one section of his master's territory to another. This fact, however, is suffi cient to dispose of the story of an "armistice," the groundlessness of which was yesterday exposed in these columns. MALTA, Ocr. 26. H.M.S. Caradoc arrived from Constantinople this morning, at 6 a.m. She left Constantinople on Sun day, 23rd, and part of the French fleet off Gallipoli. H.r.34Britannia, with part of the English fleet, was below the first Castle. The whole of both fleets were en route for Constantinople, but it was blowing so hard that it rendered it impossible for the steamers to tow. FRANCE. 853. PARIS, —ONDLY EVININO. The appointment of General Bareguay d'Hilliers as ambassador to Constantinople is now publicly known, and beyond all doubt. It was even reported that he had left this morning for his post. The Patrie, however, " thinks it may say" the general is yet in Paris, but while making this announcement it admits, by implication, that he is appointed ambas sador. I am informed that General Baragnay d'Hilliers took leave of the Emperor this morning, but that he will not set out for his destination till the day after to-morrow. He will be accompanied by a numerous staff of officers of high rank, as well as many subalterns. This appointment, and the circumstances attending it, is considered here as an event of the highest im portance. I have heard it suggested that the officers accompanying the general may very possibly be des tined to afford that professional assistance to the Sultan which it was not thought politic to grant im mediately and directly when the application, of which you are aware, was made by the Porte some days since. A report, of which I will venture to say you will hear more, although I express no opinion whe ther it be well or ill founded, is in circulation, to the effect that Mr. Reeve, the secretary to the privy council, whose visit to Constantinople you will re member was strenuously asserted to be a private one merely, has reported to the English government that Lord de Redcliffe did not sufficiently represent the public feeling in England, and leant too credulous an ear to the promises and representations of the Austrian ambassador, M. de Bruck. According to this story, the real of Lord de Redcliffe will be disguised, and rendered in offensive to him by the allegation that the step now taken by France renders it fitting that England also should be represented at Constantinople by a military or naval man. . . There has been extraordinary excitement and vio lent fluctuation at the Bourse to-day. At the open ing the price of Consols appearing on the official placard to be / higher gave confidence, and the Bente was quoted at the highest price of Saturday— namely, 73.50. The settlement which was effected to-day gave rise to many sudden changes. Towards the close of business the English funds were reported to have fallen / ; and it was said that a serious engagement between the Turks and Russians had taken place on the 23rd. The Rente was at one time as low as 72.90, but reco vered to 73.10 for the close, with a fall of 40c. from Saturday. The Four-and-a-Half rose 20c. The railways closed upon the whole lower, though seve ral lines improved a little. PARIS, TrESDAY No official intelligence of the passage of the Danube by the Turkish forces has been received at the Foreign Office or at the Ottoman Embassy. The new Ambassador for Constantinople has not let left for his post. He has had, however, his last instructions from the Emperor and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He dines this evening with the lat ter, and it is probable that another hour or so will be passed in a tete-a•tete conversation between the military envoy and his immediate political superior, during which the ideas and intentions of his go vernment will be impressed upon him once more. The English steam corvette Fury, which awaited at Marseilles the orders of the British Cabinet, sailed in the afternoon of tho 28th for Constantinople, with despatches for Lord Bedcliffe. The captain had re ceired, on the preceding day, an electric despatch, or dering him to hold himself in readiness to put to sea immediately on receipt of those despatches. SPAIN. The Madrid Gazette of the 26th ult. contains royal ordinances relieving M. Nebier, on account of ill health, from the post of Spanish Ambassador at Constantinople, and appointing M. Riqueleme, Under Secretary or Foreign Affair., to the post. "It ap ars," says the Clamor Publie°, "that orders have been given for arming all the reserve." The fortifi cations of Mahon and other places were about to be ' repaired. The municipality of Cadiz is anxious to have a railway established between that port and Seville, and the Count de San Luis, Minister of the Interior, who belongs to Cadiz, has promised to fa vour the project. Meetings of the senators of the opposition continued to be held to prepare for the approaching session. NORWAY. We learn from Tromso, in the north of Norway, that a ship sent out from that port to fish in the Arctic Sea around Spitzbcrgen has just re turned under very peculiar circumstances. While the greater part of the crew, together with the cap tain, were absent in the boat, fishing, the vessel was, by the wind and ice, driven out into the open sea, and the two men left on board, being unable to manage her so as to bring her alongside the shore again, were obliged to let her go before the wind, and they soon reached the coast of Norway. The rest of the crew on their return deeming it certain death to remnin on the island exposed to the rigours of an Arctic climate without any means of subsist ance, determined to endeavour to reach home in the little boat. Their heroic attempt was crowned with success; for, about ten miles from Nordcap, they were taken up by a vessel bound for Hammerfest, and thence they returned to Tromso by steamer. The hardships they have bad to encounter on their long voyage across the Arctic Sea may be judged from the tact that their boat had no sails, that they had no food bat the raw flesh of an ice -bear, and no water to drink but the rain drops that fell from heaven, and which they were able to collect. CHRISTIANIA, OCT. 21.—The railway is now so far advanced that the traffic between Christiania and Dahl may be expected to commence next week. THE WEST INDIA MAIL The Royal West India Mail Packet Magdalena, Captain Geo. Abbott, arrived at Southampton yes terday, and landed her mails under the charge of Lieut. Tickell, R.N., Admiralty agent. Her dates of sailing are :—Vera Cruz, Oct. 5 ; Tampico, Sept. 30 ; Havannah, Oct. 11; Chagres, 9 ; Carthagena, 11; Jamaica, 12; Demerara, 10 ; Trinidad, 12; Bar badoes, 8; Antigua, 15; Martinique, 14; Grenada, 13; Porto Rico, 15; St. Thomas, 16; St. Kitts, 15; Jacmel, 14; Santa Martha, Sept. 23. The Magda lena left St. Thomas exactly to her time, on Oct. IG, at 4 p.m. The English packet bad not arrived. The Magdalena brings 43 passengers. The freight on board includes 482,192 dollars from Tampico; 7,5671. in gold dust and British coin. Amongst the specie is about 28,000 dollars on ac count of Mexican dividends. Oct. 11, H.M.S. Meyer& arrived at St. Thomas from Tortola, and proceeded next day for Barbadoes; all well on board. Oct. 12, on Teviot's departure from Jamaica left lying there her Majesty a ships Imams, Vestal, Buzzard, Daring, Brisk ; squadron healthy. After the Royal Mail steamer Magdalena's arrival at St. Thomas from England on Oct. 2, the intercolo nisi packets Teviot and Conway proceeded together the next morning out of harbour, each on their re apective routes—the former for Jamaica, the latter kw the islands, comprising the whole of the Wind ward group, carrying mails and passengers. The Conway had on board 37 passengers, including his Excellency the Governor-General and Lieutenant- Governor of Leeward Islands, returning from Tortola to the seat of government at Antigua. The Conway ed no further than St. Kitts, there unfor tely taking the ground at the south-western extremity of the island, on the Belle Tete Reef, at a quarter past three on the morning of the 4th. Bang to leeward the water was smooth, and after experiencing some heavy shocks the vessel lay quiet, but refused to go off. The passengers, sud denly aroused, behaved well, as scarcely any con fusion seemed to ensue. The ladies and others who wished to leave the ship were soon landed in the ship's boats, without much personal inconvenience, the village of Sandy Bay affording an asylum, conveniently situated about two miles and a half distant. Nothing could exceed the kind ness of Mr. Harper, the proprietor of a sugar estate in the vicinity, to the numerous guests who paid him and his family so unexpected a visit. Those who remained on board found the vessel gaiety slip off into deep water, with a disabled rudder, and leaking much, but not more than the engines could keep under eventually. The rudder was replaced by an excellent . jury ono, ob tained at Bane Terre (the roadstead originally bound for), from whence she steamed back to St. Thomas (speaking Magdalena en route), and after obtaining a temporary refit proceeded to Savannah for repairs. Early on the 7th the Magdalena, Captain Abbott, came to the rescue, as the Admiralty agent, Lieut. rickell, R.N. (after seeing . the mails secure) lost no time in procuring . assistance, by finding his way back to St. Thomas in a hired sloop, enabling the very efficient superintendent of the company, 'Mr. Cameron, to exert his promptness and tact in meeting the complicated duties of a company, involving more actual obligation by reason of the number of ports their ships visit, than almost all others united. By continuing her cruise amongst the islands the Atlantic vessel created some interest, not lessened either by her performance, averaging, as she did, 13 knots between some ports. Sir Henry Barkly had arrived at Kingstown, and esetuned the reins of government on the 7th, with great éclat. It was stated that his Excellency had subsequently suffered, but not seriously, from ea attack of fever. The legislature, which had con tinued in session, although no meetings of either branch had taken place for some time, was pro to meet on the 18th of October, to proceed to r in u at ass. Sir Charles Grey left Government House on the 6th of October, and was staying at his private saidence in Monk-street, Spanish Town. Ho would amain in Jamaica for about a month, and then pro ceed to England. Before retiring, Sir Charles Grey published his despatch to the Duke of Newcastle, dated May 26, in the colonial papers. In most of the islands, continued intense, almost stupifying heat, with occasional heavy rains, accom panied here and there with thunder and lightning, was complained of. In Demerara, the weather, after being very un settled for nearly a fortnight, had settled down op preseively hot and dry. The planters, notwithstand ing, were sanguine of a good crop. Yellow fever was still haunting the shipping; cr,wding the hospi tal with seamen, and the hotels with the captains and officers, many of whom have already fallen vic tims to this fearful scourge. In Trinidad the yellow fever has ceased its ravages. Deaths are very rare, but intermittent and other fevers of a less severe type are remarkably prevalent. The weather is reported fine. The Tobago legislature was opened on the 13th inst. The weather there continued favourable for vegetation, and next year's crop promises to be a good one. Among the deaths reported by the mail are those of the Hon. John Mars, of Richmond Park, St. An drew, Jamaica ; Dr. Stennet, member of the House of Representatives; the lady of Captain Booth, R.N. The St. Thomas' Times states, that another attempt has been made to set fire to Road Town, Tortola. The offender has not been traced. It is also stated that the Governor-General was about issuing a commission to institute a special court for the purpose of trying the rebels. COMMERCIAL. Sir Henry BarkfilTail, arrived, and the legislature was to meet on the 18th. This has had some effect on commercial affairs, as a speedy reimposition of the tariff was expected. Holders of breadstuffs and articles subject to heavy duties are therefore firmer. The governor has ordered the fees on vessels paid to the Island Secretary to be continued. Alewives with other articles are placed at 20s. Irish butter, 151. per lb. American, 131 d. Brandy is improving in value. Bread: there is not any foreign at mar. ket. Coffee: receipts from interior limited. c ant scarce. Codfish : the market was literally bare . Flours, 2ss. and 295.; finer, 30s. l'i mento, 335. to . 365. per 100!bs. Ruin, 3s. 6d. per gallon ; for export. 2s. 9d. Sugar inactive; tobacco, no sales. Exchan ge . 90 days, 1 per cent. prem.; ditto 60, 1; ; ditto 30,2. The Pacific Mail Company's steamer, John L. Stephens, arrived at Panama on the '29th of Septeru. her, with 1,300,000 dollars specie, having left San Francisco on the 16th of the same month. Intelligence of an interesting character has be en received from Sonora, Mexico, announcing the die covery of mines of extraordinary richness. In con sequence a decided spirit of filibustering has been revived in this State, and several gentlemen are engaged in the preliminary arrangements fur organ. icing expeditions. The intelligence from the Sandwich Islands is of an important character. A number of American anti other foreign residents are striving, ostensibly, to procure the dismissal of two members of the Xing's cabinet, but their real object is the subversion of the government, and the transfer of the Islands to the United States. These movements, howeet r, ar, inju rious to the cause of annexation, in the mean time, is progressing under ditkitnt and higher auspices. The news from all the mining districts continue most favourable. New placers are being daily dia. covered, and both companies and single miners are doing well. . . . Bu — siness is steady and prices generally good, Flour is rather lower. It is estimated that quite three-fourths of the daily consumption of the State is tow :being produced by domestic manufacture. Chile flour is not in demand. From Chile the mining operations are reported as in the most flourishing condition, and the yield of the ores not under 50 per cent. The construction of canal, for the purpose of irrigating the barren lands in the neighbourhood of Coquimbo, is in eontempla. tion. The benefits of such a work would be immense, and the expense estimated at only 40,000 dole. A moat important project for the purpose of esta blishing a steam communication with England through the Straits of Magellan, has been laid before Congress by an English company ; it was mast favourably and unanimously received. Bueinese has been fair during the past fortnight. Freights are a little lower, owing to the limited demand for vessels for Europe. The Puno correspondent of the Conerrio, under date of Sept. Ist, says, that the city of Santa Cruz has been abandoned by the revolutionists, who have retired to the Indian territory. Ten thousand dol. lays have been offered for the head of General Agrada. Private letters from Quito to the 20th of Septem ber state that on the 19th Congress was installed. The settlement of the claims of the liritish bond holders is progressing favourably. Mr. Mocatta, their agent, is at present in Quito, for the purpose of arranging the question with the Congress. The Ecuadorian journals still talk of another Flores ex pedition, and it is evident that he has still many friends in the country. Vbe Court. WINDSOR, Nov. 1. _ . The Duke and Duchess of Brabant, the Count of Flanders, and Princess Charlotte of Belgium, left Windsor Castle for London shortly before nine o'clock this morning, attended by Count and Countess Gustave de Lannoy. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the King of the Belgians, and attended by the Countess of Desart and the Gentlemen in Waiting, left the Carle at half-past ten, and proceeded by a special train on the South Western Railway to the private station at nine Elms, where car riages were in readiness to convey the royal party to the Crystal Palace at Sydenbam. The Duke and Duchess of Brabant, the Count of Flanders, and the Princess Char lotte, arrived there nearly at the same time, and joined her Majesty, who was received at the entr ance o f th e b u ildi ng by Mr. Laing, M.P., ra Chairman of the Crystal Palace C o . pany ; Mr. (leach, 111. P.; Messrs. Farquhar, Anderson, Calvert, and Phillips, directors. The Queen and Prince, she King of the Belgians, and the royal visitors, were then conducted over the building and gardens by Mr. Fuller, the managing director Mr. Ferguson, Sir Joseph Paxton, Mr. Owen Jones, sir. Digby Wyatt, Pro fessor Anstead, and Mr. Belshaw, and minutely inspected the progress of the works. After remaining till past three o'clock the royal party returned to Nine Elms station is four carriages, and proceeded to Windsor in a special train, which arrived at 20 minutes before 5, p.m. The dinner party yesterday included the King of the Belgians, the Duchess of Brabant, the Duke of Brabant, the Count of Flanders, the French Ambassador sad Conn test Walewski, the Belgian Minister sad Madame Van do Weyer, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Elgin, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Brabant, Lord Elphin stone, Lord Raglan, Major-General the Hun. Sir E. Cast, Sir James Graham, Count Gustave de Lannoy, Colonel de Moerkerke, Baron Penne, and Monsieur Hicken. The band of the Ist Life Guards attended in the Castle during dinner, and played the following pieces:- - - - "Funs Joseph" Overture, "Sophia Selection, Opera "Zayre" 1 H. IL H. the Duke I of Saxe Waiver, "Sylvan" Coburg. Fantasia Spaeth. Oak, Leutner. Her Majesty's Private Band afterwards performed in the evening the following compositions : Overture, " Lestocq" Selection, "Silvana' Coro, "NelSilenzlo" (11 Crociato) Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, Equerry, has relieved Colonel Wylde in his attendance on the Prince, and Lord Charles Fitzroy has succeeded Colonel the Hon. C. Grey as Equerry in Waiting to the Queen. The Duke of Brabant and the Count of Flanders returned from Woolwich at di o'clock last evening. The Commissioners for Inquiring into the State of the Corporation of the City of London, held a meeting yesterday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. The Commissioners present were the Right Hon. H. Lebouchere, the Right Hon. Sir John Patteson, and G. Cornewall Lewis, Esq. Despatches from Admiral Dundas, commander of the Mediterranean fleet, were brought to the Admiralty by an officer on Monday night, and were forwarded to Sir James Graham at Windsor Castle. Sir Edmund Lyons had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday at his official residence in Downing street. Despatches were sent from the Colonial. office yesterday to the Governors of the West India Islands. HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE CRIS• TAL PALACE AT SYDENHAM. --- 4 .--- To the brief notice of this event in yesterday's Expess, we add the following : The trite epithet of " A Queen's day" wee never more applicable to the state of the weather than yesterday, the Ist of November, when her Majesty was pleased 10 ' honour the yet incomplete Crystal Palace at Sydenharn with a visit, and carefully to inspect those works which, when finished, are destined to hold a prominent place among the wonders of the nineteenth century. November, foggy November, had completely forgotten its traditions; the sun shone out with all the genial glow of early spring time; the atmosphere was clear and elastic, and the green sward that stretched itself over the whole face of the land, from Westow-hill down into the fertile vale of Kant, showed as fresh • verdure, as if Nature were only putting forth her powers, instead of resting exhausted after the completed work of the year. The un expected character of the visit rendered it comparatively a private one, but still there was a tolerably strong muster of distinguished people within the building itself ; and the immediate locality now rapidly becoming populous, sap plied abundance of well-dressed groups, who occupied every vantage ground, and cheered loyally and enthusias tically as the royal cortege passed rapidly along, and also when the illustrious party entered and left the building. As the public may probably be glad to know to what happy combination of circumstances the " busy bees" who work so unceasingly on Penge•hill owe the honest! of a royal visit, it may be as well to mention that the directors, when calling the potent spirits of art and science about them did not forget photography. They secured the services :of Mr. de lal Motte whose duty it has been to take, weekly, sun pictures of the progress of the works, and copies are duly and regularly laid before her Majesty. The Queen's absence in the north caused a large accumulation of these pictures at Windsor, and on her Majesty's return so much (it is said) was she struck with these evidences of progress during her absence, that a royal visit was immediately arranged, and yesterday, pane tacitly at twelve o'clock. the royal carriages arrived at Syden ham. Those who have recently seen the works will probably imagine that the whole of the vast pile presented some scene of confusion. But no such thing. The royal intimation was only received on Saturday :evening, and on Sunday, of course, nothing could be done, but " organisation will do anything," and accordingly early on Monday