The Press. — London, England, 1854-10-14 00:00:00

974 that the war should be carried on in a way to weary and disgust every advocate of such an unchristian practice. (Applause.) The leading persons among the audience were then presented to the Noble Earl, who entered special notes in his pocket-book of the communications they made to him. The meeting then broke up, and was being pelted by the populace when our reporter left the town. THE ART OF POLITICS. (AFTER TEE EPISTOLA AD PISONES.) Ut pictura pcosis.—Hor. 141. He who of Government hath seen each mode, From the Czar's ukase to Napoleon's code, Waded through sloughs of statutes, inch by inch, Digesting all—Justinian to " Judge Lynch,"* Draws tire from darkness—not the smoke from light,f Nor wastes, like Hume, in slow details the night. He ne'er, when vestry bills consume debate, Will, like Macaulay, Burn's five tomes relate ; Nor, where a turnpike claims the Senate's aid, Like Russell, tell what " Mr. Pitt" had said, — Never forgetting Chatham's maxim keen, " Try to say nothing when you nothing mean." *4- 154. If,—arduous task !—the House you seek to lead,: And of the people's praise still gain a me ed, Each " patriot' member's depth beware you scan, Nor deem each harlequin an honest man. No early flash nor " double-first " mistake For that which will St. Stephen's echoes wake. He who is able is not always bold, Dro” placed in sunlight outshines hoarded gold. At Eton, Winchester, or Harrow, first Desire of " tips " excels Pierian thirst ;§ By place denied the urchin's angry made, By bribes his rage as easily allayed. Then cotnes, in time, the dear long-cherished dream, When loosed from reins by Cam or Isis stream,ll The future patriot tries those pleasures all Which college tradesmen "necessaries" call. With Paine and port his well-smok'd room abounds, His dear associates Whigs, and hacks, and hounds ; Liberal of gold, the " Liberal side " he takes, The " Union's " roof with praise of Danton shakes, Till he—one tenth his sires small pittance left — Like Proudhon, thinks " all property is theft." Then time and duns compel his prompt resort To " schedule B." or the Insolvent Court. His choice is ta'en! 'Tis, clearly, now his fate, To guide through storms the vessel of the State ; • Qat mores hominum multorum vidit et urbes. + Non fnmum ei fulgore, sed ex fumo darelucem. Si plausoris eges auhea manentis et usque, &c. 6 Reddere qui voces jam sat puer, etc. Imberbis jnvenis tandem eustode remoto. TO CORRESPONDENTS. It is impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we receive Thcir insertion is conc. delayed, owing to a press of matter and when omitted, it le frequently from reasons quite inde pendent of the merits of the communication. We oannot undertake to return ootamunications of which we do not avail ourselves. Ccmmunications should always be legibly written, and on one aide of the paper only. If long it increases the difficulty of finding space for them. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publica tion, but as a guarantee of his good faith. Advertisements sent from the country must be accompanied by a remittance or a reference for payment in town. - (, - "IlT :1! rTgg+ LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 141 1854. POSTSCRIPT. THE CRIMEA. No official despatches have arrived since the letter written by Lord Raglan, from Balaklava, on the 2Stli ult., and given in another column. Telegraphic advices to the sth inst. have, however, been received through private channels vid Vienna. They state that the preparations for the siege of Sebastopol were actively continuing, that 125 pieces of heavy artillery bad been landed, that the trenches were pushed to within 1,500 yards of the fortification, and that, a strong portion of the siege work being completed on the 4th, a heavy bombardment was then commenced. The tire, it is stated, was in the first instance directed against the quarantine, in which two breaches were effected in the course of the following day. This fort is the most western, or seaward, of the defences of Sebastopol. The siege artillery was landed in a hay some miles nearer Sebastopol than Balaklava. 650 sailors and 2,000 marines from the fleet assisted in the land operations. All the water sources by which the town is furnished were in the hands of the allies ; but enormous water tanks are known to exist in the place itself, so that no pressure can be exercised on the garrison by depriving them of fresh supplies for some weeks probably. The fortifications of Sebas topol to the south appear to be but a single loopholed and embrasured wall, without any outworks. It may be battered.down without difficulty from a distance of 800 yards. Eight thousand cavalry belonging to the three nations, England, France, and Turkey, have been happily landed in the Crimea. All the troops that were at Varna have sailed for the scene of action. The Arrow steamer, with het new Lancaster cannon, able to csrry font. English miles, has arrived off Sebastopol, and tried the range of her guns against the forts. A party from the British fleet have established themselves in the lighthouse of Cape Chersonese, which forms the extreme eastern corner of the pro montory to the south of Sebastopol, and have relit the light which the Russians had extinguished. Balaklava Creek is one of the most curious anchorages imaginable. The shore of the Crimea rises gradually east ward, until about Balaklava it reaches a height of scarcely less than 1,0(10 feet of perpendicular chalk rock. The creek is so narrow that it is scarcely perceptible at a couple of miles off. Two ruined Genoese fortifications crown the entrance, which gradually enlarges itself into a space where a score of ships can lie, with water deep enough for ' the largest line-of battle ship. At the right hand side of the entrance is the village of ltalaklava, a few hundred houses, and at the bottom of the bay is another village, near to which some French troops are now etrcamped ; a few hundred of the British are also distributed in different • , li'l P R • . He seeks some borough; from &fares dire Shock As slyly saved as famous Tavistock ; Slobbers each voter's babe and bribes his wife, Then comes " the happiest moment of his life." Up, in the House, he gets. Thoy cough him down. A foolscap seems his hoped-for civic crown. The Press and Parliament, untired, he bores, In all debates his stream of words he pours. Till, like Apollyon, " Dissolution" come, And strike for aye the self-made statesman dumb. 33. 391. Yet not for these the art I sing began. It rose to stay man's enmity to man, To teach, while Labour claitns its guerdon due, Worth, Honour, ancient blood, demand it too. With gentle hand the needful rein to bold, Nor bow to Ignorance, nor worship Gold, To point the truth out fitthera long preserved,— " Where all are masters none can e'er be served." To care that work is not to slavery brought, In Freedom's name that Licence is not wrought, These are the lawful ends; and this the plan To show to kings the art to govern man.§ •• Difficilis, querulus, laudator terliporis acti Se puero censor, castigatorque ininoruni. + Graiis ingenium, Graiis dedit ore rotund.) Musa loquii praetes laudem nullius avaris. Romani pueri longis rationihus assem I)iscunt in partes centum Mtwara -3$ Et vitas monstrata via est; et gratis regum Pieriis tentata moths; -•- r thittithAt, Then, as old age comes slowly creeping on,** He tells how he to " listening senates" shone, What mighty measures floated through his head, Till Church and Tories trembled as they read. Such are the "peoples friends " that broad sheets laud, Such " conscript fathers " still the mob applkud! • Those bygone days we well with pride may namee When statesmen's avarice was alone for fame,. And each his country's safest path would show, In phrase of fire like Athens long ago. Now 'mid our rulers all such fire is lost, Our Greek's quite modern—how to count the cost,:: St. John in vain with classsie wit might speak, In vain might Prior venture puns in Greek, Where Lowe and Wilson's endless figures roll, • And Cardwell sums " the tottle o' %.he whole.' 4 Would you the Treasury benches hope to grace, Or bask like Greville in a well-paid place, Prove that we're sure to meet all Gladstone's bills, Each unproductive tax the Exchequer fills: In heaps of figures see you are ne'er at fault, To prove that safety lies in taxing malt, That every deficit's a profit been, By such fair arts you rise to serve a Queen. plates, the rest being some miles off, in the direction of Sebastopol. The inhabitants, who at first had left their houses, are gradually retailing. Several of the transports carrying the siege guns have already been towed in and are discharging. Respecting the position, fetrce, and intentions of the Russians, there is nothing but guess work to guide us. It is rumoured that the greater portion of their army shut itself up in Sebastopol, we ere a complete! . di so rganisation and. panic prvailed. Prince Menschikoff, with a body of 20,000 men, alone remained outside the wails of the fortress. Advices from Odessa to the 7th state that his right wing was at Rakchi Serai, his left wing at Alushta, his centre at Simferopol, where reinforcements from Perekop will concentrate. 15,000 infantry, 8,00 0 cavalry, and thirty guns are stated to have already joined him from Kertch, Kaffir., and Perekop. Twenty thousand men were expected to join Prince Menschikoff from Anapa. General Osten Sackers had been at Petokop since the fled, anal is awaiting the arrival of reinforcements from Odessa, to ad vance into the Crimea to the assistance of Prince Menschikoff. It does not seem probable that he will be enabled to do so before the middle of the month. The following Russian official despatch was pub lished in St. Petersburg on the 11th " Pothing fresh had occurred before Sebastopol up to the oth. Prince Menschikoff still retained his old position on the north side." It is thought probable that the Russians would blow up the town and all the fortifications of Sebas topol as soon as the besiegers had effected a prac ticable breach. The deserters say that there are mines prepared everywhere. After the death of Marshal St. Arnaud, Lotd Raglan became commanderinchief of the allied armies, and took his seat as president of the council of war. General Cattrohert succeeded to the com mand of the French forces: f