The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-20 00:00:00

' MAY 20, 1854. CAUCASUS. A naval rendezvous has been opened at Waterford. Able seamen are in great demand, but the supply is decidedly limited. The Royal Albert, 131, was towed down the river on Sunday to be fitted fur sea at Sheerness, her great draught of water being likely to prove a source of delay had she been taken into the basin at Woolwich. The second of the two screw•frigates built for the Rus sian Government in Pitcher's dockyard, Northfleet, and, after being seized by the Customs, purchased by our Go vernment, was launched on Tuesday, in the presence of a L u xe concourse of spectators. The first of these twin ships intended for the Russian service was named the Cossack. The one uow launched was named the Tartar. sad accicent occurred at Malta on the sth. The Royal Artillery, while practising red•hot shot firing, allowed one shot to remain in the gun ten minutes ; the iron shot expand ing burst the gun, killed one man, knocked off the leg of another, wounded several, and dislodged several other guns. A party of the swell mob has arrived in the island, four in number, with the view of establishing a hell. As they aro closely watched it is not probable that they will do much. The West India Mail Company are, it is stated, getting 15,0001. a month from the Government for conveying troops. They have another new steamer nearly ready, called the Tamar. Advices from Valparaiso of the I 1 th of April mention, with reference to the force of the Russians in the Pacific, that they have one 60-gun frigate at that port, and are daily expecting three more of the same class, as well as an 80-gun line.of battle ship, each with 20u troops on board. " The Russian officers," it is added, "say that there are fourteen vessels of-war at Kamschatka, and boast of their superior force in these seas, and also of the mischief they will do to the homeward-bound gold-ships from Australia." Through San Francisco we learn that Russia has effected a treaty of commerce with Japan, and that English men-of war are in that neighbourhood awaiting the Russian squadron. SCHAMYL, THE PROPHET-HERO OF THE Faont Captain Spencer's work, just issued, on " Turkey, Russia, the Black Sea, and Circassia,'' we extract some interesting particulars of Schamyl- Bey, the energetic ruler of Circassia : Schamyl-Bey is one of those extraordinary men who now and then appear in the East, and astonish mankind by the depth of their wisdom and the tact they display in uniting hostile creeds and races. While the fanatic Turks and Persians have been massacring each other for centuries, because they cannot agree whether Ali or Omar was invested with the mantle of the prophet, in the same manner as the Latin and Greek Churches have been disputing respecting the orthodoxy of their respective creeds, our clever chieftain of I)aghestan has discovered not only the means of recon ciling Omar with Ali, but of uniting men of all religions in one common feeling of brotherhood, and hatred against the rule of the Moscov. Hence he has succeeded in at tracting to his standard thousands of deserters from the Russian army, and he now sees himself surrounded by a life guard, the Murids (Murtosigats), who, like Oliver Cromwell's Ironsides, are at once soldiers and religious enthusiasts, In addition to these he has under his command an army of at least 60,000 men ; all veterans, and for the most part composed of members of the various tribes of the Caucasus and strangers from every part of Eastern Europe and Asia. He has also succeeded in introducing various reforms into Laghestan ; established a regular Government ; tribunals of justice ; a posting system ; gene d'armes to protect tra vellers, with Kahns for their accommodation; he likewise levies taxes ; in fact, assimilated everything as much as possible to the customs and usages of civilised communities. His troops are regularly paid; and by instituting decorations and rank among his officers, and by rewarding their bravery with grants of money and lands, he has excited emulation, and encouraged strangers to take service in his army. For this, and many of the novelties of European discipline, and, indeed, the efficiency of his troops, he has been indebted to his friend and companions in arms, l)anial Bey, who rose to the rank of general in the Russian army, and is only second to Schamyl himself. If we are to believe the reports current in Russia, this new creed of which Schamyl is the prophet and expounder is exceedingly liberal in its tendencies, tolerant to the pro fessors of every faith, and, if it can be called Mahometanism, at all events it is devested of many of the superstitions and absurdities of that creed. This has no doubt contri buted to his success in no inconsiderable degree, and to the attachment manifested towards him by the members of so many rival creeds. In fact, the religion of Schamyl is not altogether new in the East; it originated many years ago in Arabia ; was first preached in the Caucasus by Elijah Mansour, and may be considered political in its tendencies, encouraging freedom and independence, and condemning the debasing materialism, which in the pre sent day degrades the religion of Mahomet. Scharnyl may be taken as a perfect specimen of his race, the Lesghian, who are said to be a mixture of the Alani and the Saracens. There is nothing of that rare beauty of feature, symmetry of form, and physical force that dis tinguishes the Circassian ; but they are active and agile in the highest degree, able to bear any fatigue, courageous in the field, persevering, and, we may add, vindictive, above every other race in the Caucasus. The vendetta of a Lesghian is a terrible affair ; with him blood can only be expiated with blood, and until vengeance has been taken he believes that the spirit of the deceased will never rest in peace. Hence when a Lesghian falls on the field of battle THE PRESS. __.,\ there is always some sworn friend ready to avenge his death ; thus perpetuating from generation to generation the intense hatred entertained by this people against their ancient foe, the Russians ; the necessity of a propitiatory sacrifice being impressed upon them by their parents and elders, as au atonement that must be made to the manes of their slaughtered ancestors. • • • • • • Schamyl-Bey commenced his military career as a Murid in the body guard of his predecessor, Khasi-Moullah, when he was distinguished among his comrades for his sanctity, abstinence, and heroic bravery. He was, how ever, indebted for his present elevated position to a very singular circumstance, which still remains a mystery. When the fortress of Hemry, his native town, was besieged, the garrison, which consisted chiefly of Murids, resolved to defend their chief, Khasi-Moullah, to the last extremity, and, forming as it does part of the religious obligation of a Murid, the slaughter of the Russians was indeed fearful, but the Generals Rosen and Willeminetf were determined, cost what it might, to take the fortress ; knowing they would at the same time capture the prophet, Khasi•Moullah. Fresh troops were therefore brought up, and every outlet invested, to prevent the possibility of escape. The cannon again played on the crumbling towers, the scaling-ladders were again raised, and the assailants as often driven back. At length the place was taken ; still the devoted Murids disputed every inch of ground with unexampled bravery, and when all was lost they formed a rampart of their bodies around their beloved chief, till they were shot or bayonetted by the exasperated soldiers, and their bodies hurled from the battlements into the Koi-sou beneath. Schamyl and his chief were the last who shared the fate of their comrades, of being thrown into the river, to be devoured by dogs or vultures. This terrible slaughter took place on the 14th of October, 183.2. The whole of Daghestan mourned over the loss of their beloved prophet and his heroic band of >i urids ' • when, lo ! to the astonishment of all men, two years afterwards, Hemry, after having declared for the new prophet, Hamsad-Bey, was again besieged by General Lanskoi. At the very moment the garrison was about surrendering, Schamyl, at the head of a large body of mountaineers, came to their rescue, and turned the fortunes of the day. If the heavens had opened, and Mahomet himself had come down in a chariot of fire, he could not have made a greater sensation throughout the whole of Daghestan than did the resurrection of Schamyl from the grave. Who could doubt but that he was invested with a mission from God—that he was destined to be the saviour of his country? Nor can it be wondered at that the whole nation should elect him as their chief and prophet. How competent he was to fill the proud position to which he was elevoted is well known, the fame of his exploits having spread not only over the Caucasus, but the whole of Europe. Schamyl was again lost sight of after the storming of Akhoulga, one of the strongest fortresses in Daghestan, where the Russians, after gaining possession, put every human being to the sword; and as the prophet was seen giving his commands, and fighting to the last, it could not be doubted but that his career was now finished; yet at the very time when all Daghestan was mourning his loss, and the Russians were celebrating a " Te Deum " in com memoration of the death of their terrible foe, his dreaded name again re-echoed throughout the neighbouring pro vince Avaria, where, at the head of 15,000 Lesghians and Tchetchenena, he was destroying all the forts they had taken so much pains to erect, and laying waste the entire country with fire and sword, because the inhabitants had submitted to Russia. We do not pretend to say that the great popularity of this very able leader is to be ascribed entirely to the mystery with which he surrounds himself; still it has great weight with a superstitious people, contributes not a little to the general prepossession in his favour, and the belief that a man who had escaped so many perils must be the favoured of heaven, delegated to fulfil a mission which the powers of earth would vainly seek to thwart. No doubt Schamyl, who knows his countrymen, finds it expedient now and then to have recourse to a coup de thetilre to keep up their drooping spirits, since, with all their perseverance and bravery, they cannot but despair of ever seeing their country delivered from a power that continues pouring in fresh troops in endless succession, numerous as the rand on the sea-shore. Mn. SIDNEY HERBERT AND THE NAMES OF HIS HORSES.—We have on several occasions adverted to the names which Mr. Sidney Hel bert has given to his horses, as showing the political predilections which he entertains. All his horses are named after some Russian original or other. We have the Auto crat, Grand Duke Constantine, the Empress, Grand Duke Michael, Grand Duke, Empress Catherine, and a host of others ; and we have beard it hinted that the two next will be respectively named the God of the Russias and the Knout.—Racing Times. THE COUNT AND COUNTESS DE CHAMBORD arrived r Vienna on the 11th from Frohsdorf. ;t was re ported that, out of delicacy towards the French Go vernment, the Emperor of Austria had requested the exiles of Frohsdorf not to pay their usual visit to Vienna this year. This scruple, if it ever existed, appears now to have been overruled. THE MORTALITY OF LONDON, as shown by the re gistration for the week ended last Saturday, is not so high as in the till ee preceding weeks, having fallen to 1,093. In the corresponding weeks of the ten years 1844-53 the average number, if raised in pro portion to increase of population, was 1,041. The present mortality is therefore still somewhat in ex cess of the estimated amount. _. _7'.....__....-..~_.._. ... ._.a tout 10 lastion. Tars day week her Majesty left Buckingham Palace for ‘Voolwich, to be present at the launch of the Royal Albert, 131 guns, of which we gave a pre liminary account in our last PRESS. The Queen herself named the ship, which was launched upon its destined element in the presence of an immense crowd, including the Court circle, the members of both Houses of Parliament, many distinguished re presentatives of the military and naval professions, a numerous gathering of Loudon fashionables, and a miscellaneous throng of, it was computed, more than 00,000 spectators. O Monday Prince Albert went to Aldershott common to inspect the site selected for a camp. The Queen had a dinner party in the evening. On the following day her Mejesty and Prince Albert drove to Hampton Court, and viewed the paddocks at Bushey. Returning through Twickenham, the Queen and Prince called on the Duke and Duchess of Amitele. On Wednesday the royal pair went to Gore-house and inspected the collection of the works of students iu the School of Design. In the evening the state ball took place at Buckingham Palace. On Thursday the Queen visited the Duchess of Glou cester, and went to the Italian Opera in the evening. TO-DAY (Saturday) is fixed for the celebration of her Majesty's birthday. An inspection of such household troops as still remain in London is to he held in the Tilt-yard, St. James's-park, by Lord Har dinge. Many Ministerial banquets will come off to-night, all the members of the Cabinet giving din ners except the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is in seclusion, owing to the death of Lady Glynn, the mother of Mr. Gladstone. lIER MAJESTY and the Prince Consort, accompanied by the youthful royal circle, are expected to leave Buckingham Palace on Monday next for Osborne house, where the Queen will remain in comparative retirement until the Bth of June. The Court will then return to London until Ascot races, when a distinguished circle will be invited to meet Dom Pedro V., King of Portugal. Her Majesty's birthday on Wednesday next will be privately celebrated at home. IT is reported that a chapter of the Order of the Garter will shortly be held, to take preliminary steps for expelling the Emperor of Russia from their order in consequence of his having broken the oath which l►e bad taken at his installation. A MARRIAGE will shortly take place between the Hon. George Byng and Lady Alice Egerton, eldest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere. The Hon. George Byng is the eldest son of Viscount Enfield, and M.P. for the borough of Tavistoek. THE STATE BALL. A oluen state ball was given by her Majesty on Wednes day evening at Buckingham Palace. The descriptions given of this fete by that official littfraieur the "Court Newsman" arc exceedingly gorgeous. The entire suite of state saloons was opened for the ball, and brilliantly lit with chandeliers, girandoles, and magnificent crystal lustre., containing wax lights. All the fireplaces were filled with the choicest specimens of flowering-plants in full bloom, and opportunity was taken of every architectu ral void throughout the state saloons to display beautiful groups of flowers bearing the most brilliant blossoms. The staircase by which the state looms are approached from the marble hall was also profusely decorated by flowering shrubs and plants of the most fragrant and beautiful species. The archway fronting the first flight was filled with a perfect screen of flowers to a very great height, and the walls on each side were adorned in a similar manlier. The ball-room and the throne-room were prepared for dancing, orchestras being erected and ornamented in a manner similar to the decoration of the apartments, within alcoves, for the use of the quadrille bands. Ilaut pas were erected in both rooms for the use of the Queen, the l'rince, and the Royal Family. They were covered with crimson Utrecht velvet, and on each was placed a chair of state for the use of the Sovereign, and chairs of figured crimson silk for the accommodation of the Prince and the royal visitors. Behind each haut pea alcoves were formed, in which were placed fine specimen. of azaleas, cacti, gera niums, fuschias, and other plants, the background being lined with white silk embroidered with flowers, and having draperies of crimson velvet in the throne-room and draperies of amber-coloured silk in the ball-room, to cor respond with the furniture of the respective apartments. The picture gallery was set apart tor the assembling of the general company, the Queen receiving the members of the Royal Family in the white drawing-room, which is one of the state rooms in the garden front of the palace. Sup per was served in the state dinner-room. A lofty buffet was erected opposite the entrance. It was lined with crimson, and brilliantly illuminated by wax lights from silver-gilt girandoles and sconces On it was displayed a matchless collection of ornamental gold plate designed by the most accomplished artists, ancient and modern. Some of the pieces were enriched with precious stones and beau tiful cameos. There were also some exquisite carvings in ivory mounted in gold. The tables were placed round three sides of the apartment, and were ornamented with vases, epergnes, ice-pails, and centrepieces of gold plate, relieved with flowers. The invitation to the receptionscomprised the members of the Royal Family, the whole of the diplomatic corps, with their wives and daughters, foreigners of distinction now