The Express. — London, England, 1853-11-18 00:00:00

Ehe erpress. IluredMum pub Tim sem ' , mimes "Gonne.' t. laheal ',very Tesslay sod rids, Witt, u taa• Me poi. - - Apertlarrarau • la:aided far "The Improme. Imam Errata( paper, INA be It 'T. 1 1 , listveabritest by Two cetlesk is the day of yairla.atart. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tata Ii % 31.11. Aftersoos. 3.16 Tu4sua.sow—lioimag, It. 31... _auras" 41.. Ss. LONDO.Y, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18. Anour the Ttireo-ltussian war one thing is certain—that the campaign has opened with the achievement of successes by the Osmanli which have alarmed and stulvtied their foes, and inspired a large proportion of their friends with delighted sur prise. Some of the details may warrantably be received with a degree of scepticism; for, in addition to the obscurity resulting from the oracular brevity of electric telegraphs, the telegraphmongers at Vienna are so shockingly addicted to falsehood that one hesitates to be! cc even when they tell what may be conceived to go eg.iinst the grain with them. A suspicion will intrude that some stock jobbing motive may fur a time leave counterbalanced their inclina tion to falsify news in favour of Russia. But the Russian attempts to extenuate and apologise for their detente here claim consideration. They confirm the otherwise dubious testimony of the Vienna telegraph ; for, had the Russians not been beaten beyond all doubt, they would not give themselves the trouble to invent excuses. The stories circulated by the Russian partisans about Prince GORTSCIIAKOFF having been taken by surprise, or the Glut having ordered that the Turks should be allowed to gain some unimportant victories at first in order to in spire them with presumptuous carelessness, or a Polish outpost having treacherously failed in their duty, are all virtual confessions that the Muscovites have been beaten, and soundly too. And the last legend is, moreover, an awkward admission of the fears that haunt the Russians u to what effect a racoessful proleeution of the war by the Turks may have in Poland. Unfortunately, in proportion as the Turks display more clearly the energy and skill which lay hid be neath their former patient and pacific demeanour the English and French Governments appear to grow more languid. Their fleets, indeed, have passed the Dardanelles ; on the 3rd of November a detachment of the French fleet was anchored off St. Stephan, and two English and one French frigates were ascend ing the Bosphorus, each in tow of two war steamers, But on the 6th the Ambassadors of France and Eng land received, it is now said, a new draft of a note, with instructions to advise the Porto to adopt it. The Turkish Government, it is alleged, evinced an uncontrollable aversion to having this new wet blanket thrown over it ; which is credible enough, seeing that on the 31st of October the SULTAN had announced that hostilities had actually commenced, and that he was resolved to prosecute them vigorously. The inopportune arrival of this most mischievous note might in part be excused by the plea that when it was de spatched from London and Paris, the brilliant opening of the campaign by the Turks could not be foreseen in those capitals : but this is no apology for the iodeeision and apathy which seem to be in creasing instead of diminishing, in the French and English cabinets, since the news of the actual com mencement of hostilities and the successes of the Turks have been received. So long as doubts pre vailed respecting the ability of Turkey to cope with Russia in the field, the French and English cabinets deported themselves as if they were not disinclined to leave affairs to take their course ; now that the SULTAN seems to be in a fair way to overcome his adversary, they incline apparently to tie his hands by a renewal of negotiations. The only way to compel Russia to keep the peace for the future is to make Russia foal that it cannot break the peace with impunity. To render this lesson duly impressive, it is necessary that England and France co-operate heartily with Turkey, as they are pledged to do. The " clique" who opposed the interference of Frazee and England in aid of Turkey,—though they admitted that the maintenance of the Ottoman Empire in its independence and integrity would be a material gain for the repose and liberties of Europe, —opposed that interference on the plea that the Ottoman Empire could no longer be upheld, or that it was rotten and crumbling down beneath its own weight. The " clique" must now abandon that argument. Turkey has shown that it is still abun dantly supplied with vitality, and able to assert its place among the nations ; and that sectionsltpublicists who have been consciously or unconsciously abet ting the ambition of Russia, by trying to persuade men that Turkey was about to be swal lowed up by Russia in virtue of a necessary law of nature, must new coshes that they have been mistaken, and should exhort all to aid in the defence of that bulwark which they professed to abandon only because it was no longer maintainable. On this point we have sever been deceived, and have no partial recantation to make. Months ago we proved from trade returns that the large and growing oosuneres of Turkey demonstrated the existence is that enatry of a 'wearily of property which gave encouragement' to industry and enterprise, and of a generally dif fused intelligence and forecast among the inhabi tants, which enabled them to profit by such a state of affairs. Such, we argued, was not the condition. each wen not the virtues, of an enervated end decaying empire. On these grounds we maintained that a healthy and vigorous spirit pes wiei the Ottoman Empies in despite of all its adedded weaknemss and barbarians. We compared it is these respects with its antagonist, and showed how infinitely greater were the symptoms of life and ♦igour given by Turkey than those given by Russia. To us, therefore, it is not surprising to see Russia re coil at the very first from the collision it has provoked. The progress of hostilities adds daily fresh cor roborations of the opinions we have maintained. We see on the Danube OMER PACHA planning kis cam paign in a spirit at once comprehensive, daring, and cautions. We see him admirably and intelligently supported by ISMAIL PACHA on his left, and TI:sIM PACHA on his right, and by troops alike daring and manageable. In Asia we see &LIM PACHA and ABDI PACHA displaying similar qualities, acting harmoniously in concert, and seconded by the zeal of their troops. And turning to the head and centre of the Ration, we see the directors of affairs at Constantinople watching every movement, promptly despatching reinforcements wherever they are re quired, and evincing a rare skill in organisation, animated by sleepless activity. In short, we find the inference we drew from the increasing oommer- cial enterprise and material wealth of Turkey seri_ fied—that diffused throughout society, and thence rising into the Councils of State, there exist the quali ties required to make and maintain a powerful nation. It is clear, therefore, that, viewed only u an in tegral pert of the European system of states—as a bulwark against the avowed lust of domination and acqulaitioa that inspires the councils of Russia— Turkey is worth an effort and expenditure to accele rate and complete its victory over the Muscovites. Ent this is to take only a partial and incomplete view of the positioa of Turkey in the political eels- , Lions of the glebe, and its importance to the general eases of humanity. Of the system of Mahotnedan states—of the great world of Aslans—Turkey is the one which comes into closest local contact with Christen dom, and which is morally the best qualified to dis charge the office of intermediator between the two systems. The Mahometan faith is in the ascendant throughout Tarkey,Arabia,Persia,on the Oxus,and in Afghanistan, and over great part of Northern Africa. In Hindostan, the Asiatic Archipelago, Abyssinia, Mahometans form an important and influential part of the population. In Central Africa, and as far as Sierra Leone and the Delta of the Niger, all the more civilised and energetic negro tribes are Mahotnetans. Here is a large portion of the world's population united by the ties of a common faith, as intimately as the peoples of Christian states; and, like the Christians, divided among themselves by sectarian and national shades of difference. The Arabian Wababee, the Turkish Sunnite, and the Persian Sciite, differ among themselves in as marked a manner as the Protestant., Romanist., and Orthodox Greeks of Christendom. The Turks, Arabs, and Persians have national characters as charac teristically differing as the Teutonic, Romanee, and Sclavonian nations of Europe. Among all these races there has been diffused of late years a more extended and intimate acquaintance with Euro pean Christians, and as this acquaintance has ex tended, so has a kindlier feeling for those men of a different creed, and a desire to learn from them in the mechanical arts, and in the arts of military and civil organisation. Islam is thus becoming recon ciled and essimilated to Islam, and commerce and general civilisation—material wealth and intellectual power—are being incalculably extended thereby. Now, it is admitted by every one who has had op portunities of observing that of all the nations of Islam the Turk comes nearest in his qualities to the European. Without denying the intellectual acuteness of the Arab, or the. graceful vivacity and bonhommie of the Persian, both of them are inferior in civil and social life to the Turk. Wherever the races have come into contact the Turk has seized and maintained the ascendancy. He is among the Islamites what the Teutonic nations (Germans, Dutch, English) are in modern Europe, and what the Romans were in old Europe. He is the master of the rest ; —master in virtue of his greater forecast, greater power of persevering, consistent action, greater regard for his word. It is puerile ignorance to imagine that all the civil and social institutions of Islam are derived from the Koran. Islam was erected on the ruins of the Eastern Empire, as the modern system of European States was on the Western ; and both have derived a large proportion of their law and civil organisation from Rome,:the one through the scholars of JuvrislAN, the other through Greek professors of the same legal codes. The Arab has excelled in abstract science ; the Persian in poetry : but the Turk has a better notion of law and government than either, and one more in accordance with our notions. Independent, there fore, of the importance of Turkey as a dam to arrest the turbid torrent of Russian ambition, it is impor tant as the ,lahornetan State with which it is most easy to extend amicable relations, and most likely (both from local position and its influence in the general councils of Islam) to sot as a valuable channel of communication with the rest. One thing alone can check tie honors of the 81ave Trade in Cuba, and it is—The growth of anti slavery opinion in England. Spirt is too corrupt, too indolent, and too poor to release without compul sion the negroes now in her chief colony, or to stop the importation of fresh victims from Africa. The people of the United States, though boasting a con siderable, and an increasing, abolition-party, have too many slavery-sins and difficulties on theirown soil to offer any chance of help for the Cuban Degrees. The Yankees, if they had Cuba. might, and no doubt would, very promptly stop the importation of new slaves from Africa, but though they would thus abolish the greatest of the many evils of an infamous system, all the minor ones would doubtless flourish as completely as ever. The southern Americans would not deal in the commodity " foreign negro," but would go on as briskly as ever with their dealings in " home-grown blacks." Slaves would not be brought from Africa, but slaves from Virginia would be bred and bought, and sold more actively than ever. A Protectionist party in the Slave States would have the value of their human cattle kept up by the careful suppression of all foreigu-grown negroes. Though Cuba would thus in the hands of America get rid of slave importations, slavery would necessarily continue. Neither Madrid nor Washing ton, therefore, can be looked to for any willing ac tion for the abolition of slavery in Cuba. Neither Spaniards nor Yankees will, of their own accord, relieve the earth from the grievous sin. Where, then, must humanity turn for hope and help in this matter ? To England. This country was the first to set the world the example of a nation volun tarily taxing itself a huge sum for the manumission of its slaves ; and to the same quarter must we look for a continuance of the good work so nobly and disinterestedly begun. Nor is the teak so difficult as might be supposed. Spain is a wretched and corrupt country, whose creditors are to be found by thee. sands in Great Britain. She has neither money nee morale, and has a national existence as much by sufferance as by the possession of any inward force of her own, either commercial, social, or military. Being penniless, she has no means of evading by force an honest demand : without moral weight she has no possible means of evading justice if Eng land sternly requires her to fulfil the engage ments she has made by treaty for the suppression of the Slave Trade. She is bound, as completely as trea ties can bind her, to put down this abominable traffic to Cuba. She has been paid again and again, all the world knows too fully, fur the emcee miens to humanity she has undertaken to make on this subject. How often has English help preserved her national existence ? How much Inglish blood been shed to save her from her enemies ? How much English treasure been lavished to replenish her exhausted treasury exhausted by waste, by debauchery, and grime? How many Englishmen have b.en ruined by trusting to Spanish faith by taking Spanish bonds, and how many widows and orphans have bad to deplore the policy which sent English bayonets to win barren laurels on the fields of the Peninsula? Millions of money are now due to this country from the Government of Isaueua,—who indeed owes her throne itself to English assistance. With what chance of success, therefore, can the Spanish Government persist in outraging the con ditions of anti-slavery treaties ? Certainly with none, if the English Cabinet do their duty manfully. But Downing-street has other work to do. There is the Turco-Russian quarrel, the New Reform Bill, a whole host of internal improvements to be considered, Ministerial ground to be made good, and official jealousies and intrigues to arrange. In the I abundance of other work anything that is not et urgent consequence is sure to bo postponed by a Minister. A sense of justice and an honest indignation against wrong may lead the Foreign Secretary to send a sharp note to Madrid. Such a note may secure the upset of a court minion, of an obnoxious or corrupt Governor. But this is not enough. We must have engagements kept and the Slave Trade stopped. Spain has agreed to stop it—the terms are on record—the bargain was long since made, and Spain must bemade honest—in this in donee at all events. The English Cabinet have ample power and full justice on their side, and that power they can use and will use—when public opinion in England compels them to do so. But not before. When we stated that the Slave Trade was in full vitality in Cuba, Governor CANEDO cried out, " Calumny." FREDRIYA Bacseu now comes into court to support the evidence of previous witnesses against Negro Slavery. Will Cammo's friends now call her a calumniator, and forbid the sale of her book in Cuba ? We shall see ; but, meanwhile, let us ask—Will Lord ABERDEEN be content with the FREDRIKA BREMER'S last and very pleasant book, " Homes of the New World," sketches amongst other things the Homes of Cuba. She went to that beautiful island in a temper full of amiability, and with a pen ready to depict everything in its best light. But even she could not close her eyes to the horrors amongst which she there found herself. Evidently blind to very much : she was not blind to all. Unlike Mrs. Stowe, she did not search for the terrors of the great evil, and, painting them in all their abominable reality, complete a tableau that should stamp its image of hor ror on the minds of millions, and make them mentally protest against slave-dealing as one of the deadliest sins. Yet, in Miss BREMER'S book we find here and there certain explanatory references to Cuban slavery; and these, few as they are, amply bear out the statements before published on this subject. Women working day and night under the crack of the whip—slaves " worked out", that is, worked to death in six years—slaves regarded as cattle—slaves landed in flagrant violation of treaties, the government of the island receiving 50 dollars for each slave as " hush money." All these facts are supported by FREDRIKA BRE - 31E11'3 testimony, as may be seen by a few pumps from her book. She writes : Matanzas, March 1, 1851.--Slaves on the plaatations hers are regarded altogether as rata*, and the slave trade with Africa is still carried en actively, although privately. A few days ago a cargo of 700 nogrose was secretly (mimed from Africa to Havanaah. The goomment of the island received 60 dollen for sac► slave as "hush sassy," and was silent. recall of CANED, and the cry of " calumny," and Ariadse Liberia, March 7.—1 have now been here for more this a week in the very lap of slavery, and daring the Ant kw days of my visit I was so depressed that I wee not able to do much. Close before nay window I could sot avoid amiss, the whole day, agree, of Negro women work ing wider the whip, the cracking of which above their heeds and the driver's impatiently reputed cry of be quick ! gum ! kept them working on without may intermission. And through the night—the whole night—l heard their weary footsteps u they spread out to dry upon the flagged pavement, outside my window, the crushed sugar cane, which they carried from the wear mill. I know that the labourers on this plantation were changed every seven hours, so that they always kayo six hones is every twenty four hours for rem cad refreshment, sad that during two nights is the week the sugar mill rests, sad they are able to sleep—het still I could not reeensile myself to it. Bt. Amelia haulms, Marsh Amelia Inheguo is a large sugar plantation, sad I am sow sitting in the smoke of the sugar mill, which eaten through the open window into my room. This plantation is much larger than the one I visited in Limonar, and • considerable portion of the slaves (two hundred in number) have lately been brought hither from Africa, and have • much wilder appearance than thole I saw at Ariadae. They are worked also with much more severity, because here they are allowed only four and a half hours oat of the four and twenty for rest ; that is to say, for their meals and sleep, and that during six or *even months of the year! Through the remainiag por tion of the twelve months, the " dead season," as it is called, the slaves are allowed to sleep the whole night. It is true, nevertheless, that, even now, upon this plantatioa, they have one sight a week for sleep, and • few hours in the forenoon of each alternate Sunday for rest. It is extraordinary how any human beings can sustain existence under such circum stances; and yet 1 see here powerful negroes who have been on the plantations for twenty or thirty years. When the negroes bars once become accustomed to the labour and the life of the plantation it seems to agree with them ; but daring the first years, when they are brought here free and wild from Africa, it is very hard to them, and many seek to free themselves from slavery by suicide. This is frequently the case among the Luccomies, who appear to be among the noblest tribes of Africa, and it is not Ion; since eleven Laceomies were found hanging from the branches of a guasima tree—a tree which has long horizontal branches- They had each one bound hie breakfast in a girdle around him; for the African believes that such as die here immediately arise again to new life in their native land. Many female slaves, therefore, will lay upon the corpse of the selfmurdered the kerchief, or the head gear, which she meet admires, in the belief that it will thus be conveyed to those who are dear to her in the mother country, and will bear to them a salutation from her. The corpse of a suicide slave has been seen covered with hun dreds of such tokens! Shall we ever give these unhappy creatures a better refuge than suicide ? allow the Slave Trade after a little lull to be carried on as before P There is always the fear that a tired and worried Minister may forget a troublesome duty if public opinion is not brought to bear upon him— if it is so brought to bear, he dare not neglect its honest demands. THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 18, 1853. LATEST FROM ABROAD. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. PARIS. TXUNIDAT EVIMINO. The French Consul at Bucharest sends word that the Ruffians assure bim that the Turks have re crossed the Danube at °Unites. The Russian also affirm that they attacked the Turks with 40,000 men sod defeated them. The Consul declines to guarantee these state ments, but says that a cannonade on the Danube was audible when he wrote (N0v.14.) The two forces are contending for the island of Mokanon. The Russians give out that two army evrps are on their way to Wallachia. We have a telegraphic despatch from Berlin, stating that the Turks have gained another victory at Oltenitza. The despatch contains no date or other details. CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 3. On Monday last his Majesty the Sultan, attended by his suite, went to the Porte, where a Grand Council, composed of the ministers, the principal ulemas, and the chief civil and military func tionaries, was assembled. When the session was de clared opened, his Majesty gave to Reschid Pacha an imperial "hat" or declaration, addressed to hius tapha Pacha, the Grand Vizier. The minister having received it from his Majesty read it to the council. The following is a translation : " IMPERIAL HAT ADDRESSED TO THE GRAND VIZIER. ocr. 31. "My faithful Vizier,—l cannot sufficiently praise the zeal and enthusiasm of my troops, the devotion and fidelity of all my servants. and the sentiments which my subjects generally, during all the prepara tions that have taken place, have never ceased to display towards me since the day when the difference which had arisen between my imperial government and Rossi► appeared likely to end in war. " Now, however, war has actually broken out, and I do not doubt that every one will henceforth be ready to do his duty with more eagerness than ever. "As the true cause of this war consists only in a laudable resolve to preserve the sacred rights, and the independence of my empire, trusting in the om nipotence of the Creator of all things, and invoking the holy spirit of our prophet, I have determined to be present in person at the accomplishment of a patriotic duty at the commencement of the spring. "It is therefore At to look forward from the pre sent time, to the preparations which my cortege will require ; and as the first head quarters of my guard will be fixed at Adrianople, it is urgent that every thing necessary for the troops which will be under my command, should be previously prepared there. " Yon must, therefore, with all my ministers, hasten to take fitting measures to that end. " May the Most High, through his love for the holy prophet, render my empire in every circum stance victorious and triumphant ; and may all those who contribute to the success of that task be able to obtain happiness both in this world and in the next." After the reading of this document, his Majesty quitted the Porte, and returned to tho imperial Palace of Teheragan. Two French and British vessels are at anchor in the port of Constantinop!e. The admirals of the two fleets have landed, and are in the capital. A vessel of the Russian navy has been captured. She went ashore near Iregri, on the coast of Asia, and was taken by a Turkish cruiser. It is generally believed that the diplomatic corps Rill accompany the Sultan to Adrianople. VIENNA, THURSDAY. The Austrian Currespondeu: says: —" On the 13th, the Turks blew up their works at Oltenitea, and retired to Bulgaria." It is officially declared that the corps of observa tion, which is to In concentrated at Temesyar, is for the purpose of securing the Austrian frontier as well as to maintain the principle of neutrality. RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN RUSSIA. While in Turkey the Christians of all confession. enjoy full religions freedom, Ruins isjust now distioguished by persecutions of Roman catholic'. The Aim tie la Religsois says :—Re receive from Moscow most afflicting reports of the condition of the catholic. in Russia. The prior of the Dominican convent at St. Petersburg—a man highly esteemed in his orders —was, only 'few months ago, carried off by soldiers in the night, no one knows whither. He received pirate/dm only to take leave oleos of the ' brethren, who had been dmigeatml by the governmeat as his successor. All his papers were seised. The ground of this treatment is found in the fact that the prior had an swered a letter from Rome, in which some wheelers re spng the martyrdom of Father Bobola were requested. The atholics an subjected to annoymicies of every kind. Their frequent communion is forbidden, and at the confessional the conversation of the father is placed under restriction. The rulers of the united Greek church are persecuted in a similar manner. Their convent lass been sacked, and the monks have been deported to (Molnar. At the letter place they were at first treated mildly, aftt rwards they were required to go neer to the nun-united Greek church, the religion of the Emperor, and when they refused they were ill-treated in every conceivable manner. The brethren are all scattered and confined in Russian convents. Among them was owe very learned and able theologian, who sought interviews with the schismatical bishop. They 'discussed together the doctrines of their churches, and the end of the argument was the catholic priest was bruised and beaten in body. Several catholic prie.t. have been sentenced, why, no one knows, to punishment with the pletle, which has taken the place of the knout. A surgeon Mien& the indic tion and suspends the punishment if the victim's life is in danger. The sufferer is then taken to the hospital, reco vered, and then brought bock to receive the full comple ment of blows. One priest hes lately died under the treat meet. Last year more than 200 Polish families were com pelled to leave Odessa because they sent their children to the catholic school there. They have sines been compelled to enter their children at the schools of Moscow and Kief, where no priest of their own creed is allowed to me them. ila t fi c r made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, end there passel over to the united Greek church. When she re turned, she was apprehended, imprisoned, and otherwise ill-treated. AN OFFICIAL MISSING. TO THE EDITOIL OP THE EXPRESS. ElS,—Can you please to inform me, what has be come of our head factory inspector, Mr. Itedgrave, who was appointed by Lord Derby's government after the death of Mr. Sanders ? I have been waiting anxiously for the last fifteen months to see him, without success, and a person has told me to day, that he has been in the East Indies for above twelve months. Really Mr. Editor an this be true ? If it is, I think it is a great shame that he should receive 1,000/. per year to look after our interests, and be so many miles from home. I am, &e., Derby, Nov. 10. A SPINNER. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. Au army surgeon writes from Bucharest, on the 4th, as follows :—" In utter ignorance of what is going on a few miles from this plac,. (for all commu nications and reports are strictly forbidden), I write these few lines just to say that we aro quite overdone with sick and wounded. Besides Brancovan, Kolza (formerly a prison), Kaduwoda, Michavi-woda, and Brenta Pustulni, are full, and many other temporary hospitals have been opened. There is a great want of surgeons, for already we have wounded soldiers from Olteeitza, Kalarasch, Giargewo, Kalafat, and from before Krajowa. Judging from the transport of sick and wounded, there must have been very hard fighting at those places. It is especially noticed that a large proportion of the men have sword and bayonet wounds, as if they had been engaged in • hand to hand conflict. The cholera has found victims in all the detachments of the army, but its malignity is abated. On the other hand typhus is very preva lent. One of the great evils of the Russian army here is the practice of lodging the men in huts par tially excavated in the earth, and not sufficiently protected against the weather. The men cannot stand against its injurious effects, especially in the absence of fuel, of which there is a great lack. The present state of things cannot long continue without leading to endemic and epidemic diseases, from which may Heaven preserve us, in whose memories the horrors of war and plague in the Balkan, in 1829, are still fresh." Letters from Semlin state that the Turks were still passing over from Widdin to Kalafat, on the bth, with guns and ammunition. It was believed that they were constructing some important works there, as Umi Pacha refused to allow an Austrian steamer, on its way up the river, to toneh. Prince Gortscha koff had ordered General Fischbach to advance from Krajowa with 4,000 infantry, eight squadrons of horse, and two field trains, to drive the Turks over the Danube. Semi Pacha, upon hearing of this movement, sent out a force to meet the general and give him a befitting reception. According to later news received in Vienna by telegraph, the Turks and Russians were both strongly posted near Krajows, from which it is to be inferred that since the affairs of Oltenitza and Giurgewo the prince had counter manded the order to General Fischbach. Letters from Bucharest show the total ignorance prevailing among the inhabitants of that city regard ing the progress of the war within 40 miles of them. Although the conflict in the neighbourhood of Often itsa had been going on for three days, and had already resulted in serious disaster to the Russians, no news to that effect had been allowed by Prince Gortscbakoff to transpire op to the sth inst. Advice. received in the City are to that date, from a firm who announce that they were loading wheat at Oltenitsa for London, as if nothing out of the ordi nary course of affairs had taken place. The following bulletin bulletin printed in French and Russian, was posted up at Bucharest on the sth, by order of Prince Gortschakoff :—" Taking advantage of a very thick fog, the Turks occupied an island opposite Turtukai, and afterwards crossed to the left bank of the Danube. Yesterday a forced reconnoissance of tbe advanced guard of the imperial troop drove them back into the entrenchments which they had thrown up on the border of the river." The Univers publishes a letter from Bucharest of the 31st ult., containing the following facts, the truth of which, it says, it guarantees: After the publieatist of the first manifesto of the Em peror Nicholas, concluding with these words, " We will march to defend the orthodox faith," two Poles belonging to a regiment serving in Bessarabia having heard of the manifesto, waited on the colonel, and said to him, " We have just read the Emperor's manifesto, and as we desire to act as good soldiers we come to ask for our discharge, because, as good catholica, we cannot fight for the Greek religion." The colonel wrote to St. Petersburg for iastrne bons how to act, and was commanded to have the two soldiers shot. Four others, who made the same observations, met the awns fats in Moldavia Our Correspondent writes : CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 3. On the let inst. two Tatars arrived at Constanti nople front Widdin, which they left on the 29th ult., with tidings that on the 28th General Ismael Bache passed the Danube at Kalafat, with 25,000 men, and 20 guns. The entire body passed over in leas than 24 hours. The Russians at first made a tolerably brisk resistance, but afterwards withdrew towards Krajows, leaving some guns in the hands of the Turks, who have fortified themselves in this position 1 expecting further reinforcements. Omer Paella was to visit Widdin on the let of November. On Sunday last, about two o'clock in the after noon. the French war steamer Solon arrived from flesika with depatches for M. de la Cour. She steamed up to Thempia, waited there under steam until 11 o'clock at night, and then left to rejoin the squadron. Next morning the Chaptal arrived and also went to Therapia. Sbe returned at noon and went to join the French division, which has been at anchor since Sunday evening near San Stefano, ex pecting the English division. The French division i which s under the command of Admiral Barbier de Titian consists of the Henri IV., the Jupiter, the Oomer steam-frigate, with the admiral's flag, the fierce, the Magellan, and the ChaetaL The day before yesterday Admiral Dundee arrived in a steam frigate. His flag war saluted in passing the San Stefano by the Jupiter. Admiral Hamelin arrived shortly afterwards in the French frigate Mugador. On the same day rho English ship Vengeance was towed up the Bosphorus by two steam-frigates, and is now anchored at Beycos. The Albion has cast anchor before Psamatia, ;and near the French ship Jupiter. The Henri IV., towed by the Magellan and Sane, also took up her station at Beycos. The steamer from Trebizond brought despatches of great interest from Selim Fuchs, who is directing the operations of the Turkish forces near Eaten. On the 24th ult., an engagement, brought on probably without any intention on either side, took place on the Tchonrouk-sou. It had been known to the Turks that the Russians were, fur some purpose or other, strengthening their position on the other side of the river, and when Masaar Bey was making a recon noissance with a small force he was received with a fire of musketry from the other side. The noise of the firing attracted other corps on each side, and Selim Pacha coming up with some troops of the Mum and Bashi Bosouke, a fierce engagement ensued. The Tehourouk was crossed, and the Rus sian post on the other side attacked and carried. A fuller account of the engagement spoken of by our correspondent is given in the subjoined letter : "On the 14th Major Massa Bey, having been sent forward by a company to reconnoitre the fortifica tions that the Russians were making at the other side of the Tchourouk-sou, was received by a fire of mus ketry, which he immediately returned; and on sending for a reinforcement. Seltm Pacha despatched several battalions to his aid. The Russians having in the meantime also increased in number, an engagement ensued, which soon became general. Selim Puha crossed the Tchourouk-sou at several points, and drove the Russians back, after encoun wring a very serious resistance. The Russians were obliged to retreat, pursued as far as Orelii by the Turkish general, Hassan Pubs. The bulk of the Russian forces receded to Chevkedy. In this first action the Turks took two pieces of artillery from the Russians, and made 144 prisoners—the Rus sians losing 600 men, between dead and wounded. At Chevkedy a moat determined fight has, however, taken place. The Russians had received reinforce ments there, and then made a stout resistance. Selim Pacha took the town by storm, being obliged to attack the place twice. The Russians rare way at last, leaving a great number dead, three cannon, and upwards of 100 prisoners, amongst whom was Colonel Klatt, a chief of the Cossacks. The Turks captured 3,000 sacks of flour, a great deal of ammu nition, and 1,600 muskets. Five of the Russian prisoners were brought to Constantinople by Edhem Effendi, the rest are shortly expected, a steamer having been sent to Batum expressly to fetch them. Selim Pacha concludes his despatch by an nouncing that he is about to march on Sohoun Kale, two regiments of cavalry and three batteries of field artillery having been sent in pursuit of the enemy. Before surrendering Chevkedy the Russians set fire to different quarters of the town, burning a great portion of it. The principal object of Hassan Pacha in pushing on is to keep open the communica tions between Salim Pacha and Abdi Pacha. The Turks state their loss at the passage:of Tchourouk-sou to have been 60 dead'and 150 wounded, and at Chev kedy 150 dead and 300 wounded." rely Pacha, the Ottoman ambassador in Paris, has just purchased 40,000 new muskets and carahines de Vincennes, for which ho at once paid two millions of francs. The Prease of Vienna intimates that Lesser 'Wal lachia was chosen by Omer I'acha as the first territory to be occupied on account of the resolute and friendly character of its people. The capital, Krajowa, which is inhabited by a powerful and warlike race, is ex tremely anti-Russian, and in 1848, when the Lesser Wallachia resolved to attempt to shake offe the pro tection of Russia, the little province had 40,000 men under arms. Some of the recent ordinances plainly show that the Russian commander does not repose any great confidence in the Idoldo-Wallachian mi litia, which is 45,000 strong. Should the Turks win one pitched battle, the people would begin to move, and the Russians would require a powerful reserve army to keep the Principalities quiet. We read in the Sleek : Letters from Bucharest positively state that the loss of the Russians at Oltenitra amounts to 3,000 killed or wounded. It is this fact, according to these letters, which is said to have determined Prince Gortsehakoff not to renew the attack with 21.000 men, as he had decided on doing in a first movement of anger, which was very natural, after a defeat inflicted by the Turks on the Russians, who affected to treat them as enemies unworthy of them. The general opinion is, however, that a decisive affair will take place from the 12th to the 15th, fur the season urges ea Omer Pacha to act. It is positively stated that the private tele graphic de/patches relative to the war are now stopped at Berlin. The despatches from government to government and from embassy to embassy will alone have free passage on the line. If suck a measure lies been really adopted, the public will have the news a little later, but will be better protected against false news. One letter does not arrive alone at Paris, and if it curtails or transforms the truth, others re-establish it, and the news resumes a sincere physiognomy. Letters received yesterday from St. Petersburg state that the Czar has made known to the European courts that all further negotiations or mediation is out of the question while the Turks are on the left bank of the Danube, and while the Sultan's declara tion of war is not withdrawn. As the letters from Constantinople report a corresponding resolution on the part of the Porte, we may safely disregard the rumours of new notes which arrive from Trieste or elsewhere. From Kalisch it is stated that as soon as Prince Paakiewitch returned to Warsaw he ordered several generals of his staff to betake themselves at once to the Principalities, where they would be employed in their several capacities. Lieut.-General Lazareff Staniacheff was ordered to proceed to the fortress of Bobinisk,in the government of Mohilem, and conduct thence to Wallachia the siege train with which the Russians fancy they shall make short work with the Turkish fortresses. It is, however, considered very doubtful whether the train can be conveyed so far as Bucharest before spring, or at least before a hard frost solidifies the long, miry, and sodden roads. Prince de Radziwill, one of the suite of the Emperor, I has arrived at Warsaw with despatches from the Governor-General. All the Russian officers who are abroad are returning to Russia, Letters from St. Petersburg, of the 3rd inst., an nounce that a new levy of troops, in the proportion of seven men to every thousand inhabitants, has been commenced throughout the entire of the eastern part of the Russian empire. The Independance Beige says, on the authority of correspondence from Constantinople of Nov. 3, that it was proposed by the Ambassadors that only a small part of the fleets should come to Constanti nople, the main body remaining in the Sea of Marmon. Admirals Hamelin and Duodas objected to have their forces thus cut in two, and " in spite of the opposition of Lord Stratford de Radcliffe," all the ships were ultimately sent for. GERMANY. The Archbishop of Fribourg has pronounced a decree of excommunication against the superior members of the Catholic Ecclesiastical Council ap pointed by the government, and also against the go vernment commissioner. The Regent has forbidden the clergy to publish any such act, and is preparing to take further measures against the archbishop. TIIE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.—MEETING IN LIVER POOL.—A requisition is in course of signature in Liverpool to the Mayor, John B. Lloyd, Esq., asking him to call a meeting to consider the propriety of urging upon the go vernment the necessity of giving efficient support to Turkey in its present struggle with the Northern Autocrat. The promoters disapprove of the course adopted by the govern ment during the early phases of the dispute. FRANCE. l'AltIS, Titritsnty EYPNIKO. The Monaco,. contains an at tide explaining sa d justifying the course taken by the Emperor in relation to the food crisis. Flom the emphatic way in uhich the principle of letting commerce alone is laid dux,, it would be easy to see, were the fact not other% ise known, that the goverunn nt hos been softly pr ts ,d by ignorant importunity to regulate th e price sad interfere with the distribution of corn. The Moulton. says: " The state cannot escape thi s alternative, *All or nothing.' It once it t,,a s h es a single element of commerce, it embark s upon a fatal course in which it cannot stop. The substitution of the state for the action of industry is at once materially impossible, finauti-lly ruinous, and politically foolish. It is for commerce to supply the deficit in the harvest. What Nevoid be impossible, absurd, on the part of a govenmient is simple and easy for a whole nation." The defi- ciency in the harvest is estimated by the .ILEaftar at ten millions of hectolitres, and it is stated that 3,600,00) have already been imported from America and the Levant. The committee appointed by the Emperor to en eider the question of the iron duties is about to report in favour of the principle of reduc.ion, and will, it is said, propose a diminution of from 20 to $0 per cent., but the protectionists will be glad to learn that the committee is in favour of the maintenance of the " zones." Nevertheless the party of monopoly and restriction in commerce is in consternation. Th e i free-trade tendencies of the government are likely to be further developed, and a decree is shortly t xpt cted, lowerite , by per cent. the import d ut i ts upon a gre at variety of products. The sp..cial question about the octopi duty on iroa iu the city of Paris is hung up for the moment. The municipal council, as you arc awar e , proposed a large reduction in considerutieo of the dearness of wood, and with a view to encourage the use of iron in building. The city finance comtuntte opposed this innovation. The Council of State hare reported iu favour of it; but the Emperor, :cho is severely pressed upon by the " native wool' in terest, declines to confirm the report for the pret•ent. The matter awaits the issue f the general question of the iron duties. It is scarcely doubtful that the cry of the manufacturing ipterest for greater facili ties for the importation of coal will be attended to, and that in spite of all opposition a large reduction will be forthwith made. The Bourse has again been very calm. The Threes closed with a rise of Ine. The Rouen Railway fell life., and in the other lines there was not more then 2fr. or 3fr. change one wily or another. The meeting of the Council of the Bank of Prange to-day was unusually prolonged, and gre::t dith renee of opinion prevailed miring the !numbers. I under stand they have neither raked the rate of interest nor shertened tho date of b:Ils admitted to discount, but but they have resolved until further order to diminish by 30 per cent. the proportionate sums they bane .hitherto been in the habit of advancing upon the deposit of railway shares. I am told this evening, though I by no moans ven ture to guarantee the fact, that M. lis4tlef will go to Fou'ainebleau to-morrow, but will hare before Vely Fuchs arrives there. Prince Ghika's family has arrived in France, and the Hospodar himself is expected in Paris in a few dais. it is rumoured that the Austrian Minister for Foreign Aftars, M. Buol Sehatmein, is about to be replaced by M. Ficquelmont, tlr_ author of the pamphlet, " Europe and Lord Palmerston." Should the news be confirmed, the question of " Austrian neutrality " must be eunsideeed more doubtful than ever. THE WEST INDIES. (UT EI.ECTUIC TELE(:UAI.U.) (}MOM OUU OWN CoIatti.VONI.ENT.) SOL' itiAMPION, FamAy. Arrived, the Solent. pier clats are :—Janiaica, Oct. 27 ; St. Thomas, Nnv. I. Amongst her cargo is specie to the value of nearly one million of dollars. At Demerara, fever in its most malignant km had begun its ravages, confining itself, however, to new arrivals and the shipping. The weather was favourable. - 4. HAYMARKET. The Cure for Lore, which rat on with undimi nished success, was followed 1 ist night by a new co.:tie opera, iu one act, ealied Lovc's Alarms. As a drama this piece time most trifling description. 1: io innocent of subject, plot, or it tercet, being noshing but a wing of mugs, ballads, duets, and concerted pieces, intermixed with little bits of trivial and insipid dialogue, and enlivened by some buffoonery and practical jukes bum Mr. Compton. Perhaps there was more meaning in what was sung than in what was spoken ; but if so, the per formers kept it among themselves; for, iiecording to the gene ral and laudable custom of English singers, they took care that not an intelligible word 10,ould reach the audience. Of the music—which is by Mr. Edward Fitzwilliam, a ycuog composer who has written many pretty things, sud whose talents we have repeatedly had occasion to notice, it would be unfair to speak iu very decided terms, for it was very imperfectly executed. The Haymarket company, ti stang and excellent in some respects, is iesite incompetent to the performanee of opera. There are otiiy two performers who have any pretension whatever to the character of singers —Mies Featherstone and Mies °mimetic—and they are, LS yet, little more than debutantes. Alcs loathe ratoue is highly xifted by nature ; she is sc ry bauelsome—b.autiful me— sa face and person, and has a superb contralto voice, of which, by proper cultivation, an immense deal may be made. but thiseultivation has not been givan. Her execu tion is unfinished and her style untormed ; in abort, she has almost everything to learn as an artist. Miss Ortuonrte, also possessed of good natural gifts, is of about the same calibre as Mira Featherstone in artistic a; taMment. They are both promising young ladies, but at pres. rat wholly unfit to hold the position ofcrstne donne. Mr. W. Ferret' is pressed into the service to enact a lover and sing tenor, though singing is altogether out of this clever and agreeable actor's way. As to the concerted pieces, they were out of time and out of tone, and the conductor had a hard task sometimes in plying hie baton to keep them from falling into utter confusion. Through all these disadvantages we could per ceive that there were many pretty things in the music; graceful and flowing (though not very oi iginal) melodies, and ingenious and pleasing (though sometimes overlabcured) orchestral secompaniment,:. The piece had the semblance of success, as slmo,t all musical pieces have on their hest performance. There were many zealots friends who exerted themselves at the end of every sung to obtain so encore, though they succeeded only once or twice, and even then with much opposition. '1 he applause at the can elusion was partial and mixed with disapprobation ; but it was sufficient to bring the principal performers before the curtain, to make their bows an curtsies as usual. EXETER HALL. The London Sacred Harmonic Society commenced their season last night with, apparently, a fall complement of subscribers—the ball being crowded in every part. The performances consisted of Dr. Elvey's festival anthem. " The Lord is King," and Handel'a '• Israci in Egypt." Dr. Elvey's anthem, which consists of some dove pieces, both chorus and solo, was composed for the last Gloucester k tival and favourably received ou its production there. It is at least equal to the composer's previous efforts. Of courr the great teature of last night's programme was Handeia sublime oratorio, in which grand choral writing and poetic imagination are combined as only geniis and learning of the first order can combine them. Some of the choruses ut this oratorio are severe testa of choral efficiency. "He sent a thick darkness," and " The people shall hear," for instance, are full of difficulties of mere intonation by reason of the chromatic intervals 30.1 progressions with which they abound. It is not often that these diffi culties are satitictorily overcome, and they certainly were net in last night's performance. The chorus was frequently unsteady, nervous in attacking points, and often so unde cided iu intonation that it was difficult to decide whether the harmony was major or minor. There was a want ot resonance in the sopranos, the result either of timidity or disproportion of numbers, and the general elect was such as to leave no doubt that a great improvement would result from a reduction of the performers to one-halt the large number which is paraded in the programmes as a feature of attraction. Both this and the otter Sacred Harmonic Society lay great stress on the enormous numerical strength of their chorus and orchestra ; in the one case stated at ,tlt, in the other SOO. Now, even granting this to be the fact, and supposing, moreover (which is much more than doubtful) that all these 700 or SOO are competent performers , it would be impossible that so large a body should execute with precision and consentaneousnesa any music but that of the simplest and most diatonic character. Chromatic in tervals and passages of any rapidity will always he matter s of uncertainty where so many militants are concerned. The London Sacred Harmonic Society, instead of announc ing " eight hundred perf.rmers," will do much better by weeding and selecting until they reduce them to a mode rat! number of really efficicot artists and amateurs; and wemay then hope to hear the " Israel in Egypt" in Al its poetic grandeur, unmarred by executive failures. The solo singers of last night were Mires Birch and Stabbed:, Mr. and Mrs. Lockey, and Messrs. Lifter and Lawler. HERTFORD, WARE, AND WELWYN RAILWAY It is proposed to make a hue between them points, and to unite with the Great Northern at Wtil./a and Hntticld. The this 0 1 upon t, Slingst and • entitled •ocordii Ur- Ail Sir Rai 6 aaaaa Earth■ Prape Graham garden Freder Tboma UM Julia Dimita N Jones] Barna: Capnn A t mani AtUl Susan. The Thum Th bridp morn John Card to Te Tk Ken L a o 'Wri Chaff Can Kne. CM 0. 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