The Press. — London, England, 1854-02-18 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 18, 1854. of 100,0001. during the year 1853 in the revenue of the three principal custom-houses of Lisbon, Porto, and the Municipal. Meanwhile, the army and navy absorb nearly one-half of the income of the whole kingdom, nor has there been any reduction upon the amount of the interest of the debt. It is rumoured that an auxiliary force of Portu guese troops, amounting to 4,000 men, will be sent to the Mediterranean, at the request of the British Government. Some of the Spanish papers have announced the expedition as a fact. Admiral Corry's squadron had returned to the Tagus, but was expected to be very speedily ordered home. The admiral had officially notified to the captains and gunnery officers of the squadron that we are on the eve of a war with Russia, and he would expect to find that the ships were perfect in gunnery. Every attention has been paid to this important point of the service throughout the fleet, Prices of grain had risen enormously, in conse quence of considerable purchases for the English and French markets. Wheat cannot be shipped under 660 per alqueire, or 725. per qr. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The Sultan's departure for Adrianople is fixed for the middle of Match. The Porte has contracted a loan with two bankers for twenty millions of piastres, on account of the Servian tribute. Lord Stratford de Bedeliffe assisted in negotiating the advance. General Baraguay d'Hilliers, the Ambassador of France, left Constantinople on the 26th inst. on an excursion to Kara Rournou, accompanied by a nu merous suite of French officers attached to the embassy. They were to be absent three days. The object of this excursion was believed to be tx the purpose of fixing upon a suitable spot for the encamp ment of a French army. A corps of engineers is employed in marking out a camp at Bouyouk-Tchekmeelesche, near the Sea of Marmora, for 40,000 men. This place is six miles from Constantinople. Kurschid Pacha (General Guyon) has resumed the offensive against the Russians in Asia, with 30,000 fcot, 5,000 horse, and 140 guns. Schamyl had received from Turkey a large store of arms and money. He had also been joined by some officers to drill his men. He was pushing for ward his armaments with great energy, and almost all Abascia had pronounced in his favour. In the letter addressed by the aimirals to the Commandant of the port of Sebastopol a term of fifteen days was fixed for Russian vessels of war to return to their harbours in the Black Sea. Private letters from Sebastopol state that an English steamer, the Hayden, had been wrecked at Janikole, near, Sebastopol, on the 30th of January. She was declared a good prize, having Turkish troops on board. The latest news from the principalities, dated Kralove, February 11, states that there were then no preparations indicating an immediate attack on Kalafat. It is stated, however, that the Russian army of the Danube is being constantly reinforced, and that it will speedily number 200,000 men. Further details of some minor, though not unim portant, encounters have arrived. 800 Turks, with eight gun-boats and four sailing-craft, crossed the Danube from Rutschuk to Giurgevo early on the morning of the sth inst. They landed near the quarantine building, and arranged themselves in line of battle. They were received by two battalions of Russians with a murderous fire, which lasted for three hours. The Russians suffered severely, but the Turks finally returned to Rutschuk. It is asserted that the Russians lost in their second unsuccessful attack on Fort Shefkatil upwards of 2,000 men. The Patrie reports, that in the district of Mohe denz, in Wallachia, the peasants have risen against the compulsory service which was imposed on them, their wives, their daughters, and even their young children by the Russian officers, in conformity with the recent edict in the Waltachian Moniteur. At Isvorila, the country people having refused to per form them, the general sent a detachment of 200 Cossacks to punish them. The poor creatures de fended themselves courageously, but as they were without arms they could not long make resistance, and were massacred. Some of them contrived to escape, and gave the alarm in the neighbourhood. All the inhabitants of the villages round about, to the number of about 3,000, came up during the night, armed with guns and scythes, fell upon the Cossacks, and destroyed them. The general was preparing an act of dire vengeance, and had repaired to Giurgevo with his brigade for the purpose. As the Russians can no longer derive their provisions by the Danube, they seize on all descriptions of food, thus reducing the unfortunate inhabitants of the Danubian provinces to a state of absolute famine. The Russian troops in Lesser Wallachia are forbidden to go beyond a mile from their camp, or to have any dealings with the treacherous natives. THE PRESS. Letters from St. Petersburg mention that the three gentlemen forming a deputation from the Quakers of England and America had reached that city, had obtained an interview with Count Nessel rode, and were to be be admitted to an interview with the Czar the following day. These gentlemen, it appears, had no communication whatever with the British Embassy on their arrival in the Russian metropolis. Their mission is to present to the Czar a memorial in favour of peace from the great body of Quakers of England and the United States. From Alexandria we learn that the exportation of grain has been again allowed. Three Prussian vessels of war had arrived there. UNITED STATES. The last American mails bring little intelligence excepting reports of a long series of accidents. The town of Copula, on the Missi , sippi, with 8,000 bales of cotton, had been destroyed by fire. A patent cartridge manufactory at Ravenswood, Long Island, had been blown up, and twenty persons killed. The steamer Eagle had been burnt at Apalachicola, with 1,300 bales of cotton and four negroes. Another destructive fire had occurred at New York on the 30th ult. The scene of the catastrophe was in Pearl street, and property to the amount of 200,000 dollars destroyed. In Quobec the Parliament-house, with the buildings attached, was entirely destroyed by fire on the Ist inst. The fire originated in the south wing, in the furnace. It was believed part of the valuable library was saved, but the historical library was entirely destroyed. The building was insured for 36,0001. The sum subscribed in New York for the purpose of rewarding the commanders and crews of the ships Three Bells, Antarctic, and Kilby, for rescuing the passengers and crew of the San Francisco, amounted to 84,470 dollars. INDIA. The arrival of the full despatches by the last over land mail enables us to add a few details to the telegraphic summary published in the last number of the PRESS. The late Rajah of Nagpore died childless, and, the Indian Government having refused to allow him to adopt an heir, the valley of Berar reverts to the Company. The territory of Nagpore—better known by the name of Berar—bas an area of 76,432 square miles, a population of 4,650,000, and a revenue of 40,0001. sterling per annum. Berar is the finest country in India for wheat and cotton, and when under the management of British officers will, doubtless, greatly increase in every way. It is ex pected that the district will be united with the Madras Presidency. The survey of the extension lines of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company has begun, both above and below the Ghauts. The experi mental line from Bombay to Tanna, with a branch to Mahin, is working famously, and, with the partial extension to Calian, by the end of this year there will be nearly sixty miles of rail opened to the public in that presidency. A large staff of engineers and surveyors for the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway Company have arrived in Bombay, and commenced their labours with a quickness which argues well for the prosperity of the company that employs them. The reports of the practicability of the line are most favourable. It is said that this railway will not have a terminus in Bombay, but will start from Calian, to which the Great Indian Peninsular Railway runs already. From thence the Baroda and Central India undertaking will join the ordinary coast road between Bassein and Surat, and afterwards traverse through the most fertile parts of Guzerat, a country whose capabilities for cotton-growing are such that with proper means of export it alone might supply nearly three-fourths of the raw material required for all England. At the same time, the " Great Indian Peninsular" will branch off from Calian to the foot of the Ghauts, ascend those hills, and stretch with two lines through Candeish and the Deccan, the latter going on to Berar, the former to Malwa and the opium countries. A melancholy catalogue of crime and disaster is reported by this mail. A frightful slaughter of convicts has occurred at Prome, in consequence of an attempt made by these men to escape. They rushed upon the Sepoy guard, but the latter, being prepared, received them with a volley, by which some thirty persons were shot dead, end upwards of twenty wounded ; in the con fusion ten escaped. The Hon. Company's steamer Medusa has been totally lost in the Irrawaddy. She had left Prome to resume her post near the frontier of Pegu, up the river, on the oth of December, when she struck on a sunken rock, and stove in her bottom. One life only was lost, that of the captain's cook, but the rest of the crew had time to save themselves by swimming. Captain Latter, the deputy commissioner at Prome, was assassinated during the night of the Bth of December by some Burmese, who entered his quarters disguised as females, and who were allowed (153 to pass by the sentry on duty in consequence of his having received orders to permit such parties (spies) to enter unquestioned. Captain Latter was murdered when asleep, and it was not until next morning that his dead body was found in bed, pierced with three dagger wounds. A female's scarf was thrown over his corpse (an indignity according to Buiman estimation), and the murderers effected their escape so noiselessly that the precise time they left the spot is unknown. It is said that the Ava Government has instigated the perpetration of this tragedy. A man has been arrested on suspicion, upon whose clothes stains of blood were apparent., and in whose possession a sum of money has been found greater than men in his position of life generally possess. The Nizam's country is infested by bands of Rohilla robbers, whose proceedings are most daring and atrocious. Lieutenant-Colonel Bremner, of the 15th Regiment M.N.1., left Secunderabad, with his wife and grown-up daughter, by Palkee bawl:, on the 20th of December, for Nagpore. They proceeded with safety as far as Neerrnul, when they entered the hilly and jungle country, but just before reaching the fortress of Yedlabad were attacked by a large body of Rohillas, at sight of whom the Hamalls, as is their wont, disappeared. The colonel was severely beaten and plundered of all his property, even to the bedding of the palankeen, every particle of clothing on the persons of the travellers was taken away, and they were indebted afterwards to the sympathy of the Dawk runners at the nearest stage for some native clothing, with which they were obliged to be content, until relief was sent to them from Kamptee and Secunderabad. Cavalry detachments from Hyderabad, Hingolie, and Nagpore have been sent in search of the robbers. Lieutenant Chapman, of the engineers stationed in Scinde, was drowned in the Indus while proceed ing down the stream to spend Christmas with his family. The boat in which the unfortunate officer was embarked struck against a tree-stump im bedded in the river and sunk. Twelve natives and one European sergeant of the engineers were drowned also. WEST INDIES. The West India mail brought by the Plata comprises Jamaica dates to the 27th; Trinidad and Demerara to the 26th ult. Nothing of great importance bad occurred at Jamaica in political matters. The Assembly had re assembled. Mining operations were still progressing satisfactorily. The weather was very breezy, but no epidemic disease prevailed. A strike of the field-labourers had taken place at St. Vincent for an advance of wages. The cholera had abated at Nevis, and also in St. Thomas's, but was raging with violence in Tortola, where it was reported that Col. Chads, the governor, had died of the disease. The other islands were healthy. A disturbance had arisen at Dominica, and troops had been sent for from Antigua. The militia corps refused to turn out. Mr. Ford, the engineer who went out to survey the Isthmus of Darien, was dangerously ill. The steam sloop Virago had landed the provisions and stores for the surveying party at the isthmus. The Indians had attacked the officers and crew of the Virago, killed three of them, and plundered the stores. Great excitement prevailed amongst the Indians, and fears were entertained that the survey could not he proceeded with. The Plata brings on freight dollars to the valve of 25,0001., and would have brought a larger amount but that the specie boats on the Chagres river were snagged. The treasure was, however, perfectly safe, and will be sent home by the next packet. AUSTRALIA. The Great Britain arrived at Liverpool on Tuesday, after a 72 days' run from Melbourne. She brings 199 passengers, 194,465 ounces of gold on freight, besides a large quantity in the possession of return ing emigrants. The Australian news is highly satisfactory. A bill, which was giving dissatisfacUcn to the diggers, was before the Council, fixing the licence fees at 1/. per month; 21. for three months ; 41. for six months; and 81. per annum. Melbourne was rapidly improving, and an electric telegraph between that town and Williamstown was in full operation. It was proposed to make a ship canal from Hobson's-bay to Melbourne, and the con. necting raihoad was in a fair way of completion. Cad mt 'astion. HER Manny returned to Buckingham Palace on Monday for the season. The Royal Family travelled from Windsor by special train on the South. Western Railway to Vauxhall. The Queen gave a dinner party on Tuesday, and on Thursday held a Court, at which General d'Oxholm had his first audience, to deliver his credentials as Envoy Extraordinary and koloi.