The Press. — London, England, 1854-06-03 00:00:00

NO W JUNE 3, 1854. TURKISH DEFENCE OF FORTRESSES. IN the third volume, just published, of " Alison's History of the Peace " there is a detailed and eloquent narrative of the events of the last war between Turkey and Russia. Some particulars of the con test, illustrative of the indomitable courage of the Turks in defending fortified places, will be read with peculiar interest at this moment. As until lately the Turkish armies have been un disciplined, they were not a match for European armies in the open field, but in defending towns in their own peculiar way they were truly formidable. Vauban or Cohorn would pronounce a genuine Turkish fortification to be untenable. It has scarcely an outwork ; the approaches of the enemy are never resisted; but, seated on a plain wall, with a ditch be neath, the Turk smokes his pipe, and calmly watches the construction of the trenches. If, however, a solitary sentinel or vidette is seen in the distance, he will occasionally rouse himself to fire a round shot at it, but this is only for recreation, or to keep his hand in practice. The wall is breached—were the garrison European an Addiscome professor would take out his watch and tell to a second when the place would fall and at what cost of life. But the Turk reverts the scientific mode of defence. It is precisely when the breach is practicable that, in his opinion, the siege begins. The outer wall lie regards as a mere mask, a blind to hide the trap he has prepared within. There the streets are retrenched in the strongest manner, huge barricades of timber blockade every avenue, the houses are loophooled, and at every " coign of vantage" a practised marksman armed with more than one musket, and at least a pair of pistols, is stationed. By these means the head of the storming column is always swept away ; and if, by a sudden rush, the streets are penetrated, the order of discipline must almost necessarily be broken in the operation, and then the bayonet is no match for the curved scimitar and the short sword, with both of which the Turks are armed. At Roudschuck in 1810, and at Brahilow in 1828, the Russians were repulsed in the former case with a loss of eight thousand men, and in the latter of three thousand. In the war of 1828, when Nicholas had joined the army in person, an advance in the direction of Schumla was made with 55,000 men and 108 guns. The Turks, who were inferior in number, checked the Russian advance with their splendid cavalry, and in this arm they established a decided superiority. But the Russians were too strong in guns and in fantry, and the Turks retired in excellent order until they reached Schumla, which they occupied with 40,000 men. Nicholas, having been reinforced on the march, designed to strike a blow which should be decisive, and to capture Schumla. But when before it, and its strength became apparent, he left a corps of 30,000 men to observe it, and turned away himself with the remainder of the army to besiege Varna. Meanwhile Silistna was blockaded by General Roth with 10,000 men, whom the ultimate capture of Brahilov, after one bloody repulse, had released for this duty. This was in August. The guards and reserves which bad left St. Petersburg in May had not yet arrived, and without reinforcements the Russians were not strong enough to effect anything of importance. Under these circumstances the Emperor left the army. The corps in observation before Schumla was ha rassed by constant attacks, terminating generally in favour of the Turks. Nay more, that novelty in Eastern warfare, a nocturnal attack, which was ha zarded on a Russian redoubt, succeeded completely : six guns were captured, and General Wrede, with 500 men, was put to the sword. Foraging parties were constantly cut off, fodder failed, the horses died at the rate of more than 100 a day, and the Russian army was in the most serious danger. At this period, too, it must be remembered that not only was the sea open to them, but that they were its absolute masters, and the granaries of Odessa were at no great distance. Hoivever,towards the end of August, reinforcements having arrived, the siege of Varna Was actively prosecuted. Eight sale-of-the-line, with an equal number of frigates, completely blockaded it on the seaside, whilst, on the land, first I'rince Menscht koff, then Count Woronzow, and finally the Autocrat in person, urged on the effort of the besieging army. Varna was surrendered by the second in command on the 11th October, when the garrison, nearly 7,000 strongjstill possessed considerable stores of provision and ammunition. The Russian corps in front of Schumla had fallen back, so as to cut off all commu nication with Silistria, and, now that Varnahad fallen, it was hoped that General Roth, reinforced, might convert his blockade into an attack. But the ap proach of winter compelled the Russians to retire, and they recrossed the Danube into Wallachia. This campaign cost the Russians 80,000 men. In May ib th e f o ll ow i ng year t h e war comme n c ed with the siege of Silistria. According to European notions this town was weak ; the fortifications were imperfect, and commanded by some neighbouring heights. So singular are the Turks in their method THE PRESS. of defending towns that they had not taken the trouble to destroy the approaches which the Russians had constructed the previous year. The latter, there fore, had only to march into the trenches and com mence operations at once. On the 17th of May 35,0(10 men sat down before Silistria, while Diebitsch, with 40,000 in advance towards Sebumla, covered the siege. The garrison consisted of 10,000 men. Diebitsch was assisted by a powerful flotilla on the Danube, but the inundations of the river impeded the operations. A Turkish army which advanced to its relief was signally defeated at Kouleftscha on the 11th of June; nevertheless Silistria did not fall until the Ist of the following month. It seems highly improbable that Silistria will prove an easier " nut to crack " in 1854 than it was in 1829. The change inithe relative condition of the two armies is in favour of the Turks. And, even without their French and English allies, the Otto• mans, with a victorious army under a prudent gene ral, are in a much more favourable position than they were when, a quarter of a century ago, the garrison of Silistria held out for so loug a period against 75,000 men under the skilful guidance of Diebitsch. US t. - ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. TWELVE years ago, in 1842, Grisi made her first appearance on the London opera stage, and achieved, as Ninetta in the Gazza Ladra, the first of a series of triumphs which have been followed up, season after season and character after character, without check or interruption. Twelve nights more were promised to the London opera-goers during the present season, as opportunities for hearing the great artiste in her most celebrated parts before she bade them farewell for ever. This retirement has been long foreseen, and in former years more than once announced. But the melancholy event was as often postponed, for this among other causes, that no one could see " the reason why" it should occur. There were no failures to lament—and hardly any deficiencies to conceal, as artists know so well how to conceal them by the dexterities of their art. Grisi's voice might have lost a little brilliancy, but was just as faultless in tone, just as flexible, resonant, and true as ever. Her acting, now and then, showed less gracefully than at younger eras; but in mastery over all the chords of passion, in com mand of all varieties of character, from the comedy of Susannah to the tragic pathos of Semiramis and of Borgia, there was neither decadence nor rival to fear. Why, indeed, should Grisi retire, except upon the imperial maxim that a prima donna, like Cresar, should " die standing "? That consummation is now, however, within our view. Thursday was the first of the last twelve nights appointed for her farewell ap pearances. It was an " extra" night, and the prices were raised (with questionable policy) for the occa sion. Nevertheless an audience which could not be fuller crowded the Covent Garden Opera-house to the ceiling, waited for the syren's forthcoming with undisguised impatience, and welcomed her when she appeared with an enthusiastic burst of greeting, to which Grisi responded by a degree of emotion that rendered the first bars of her opening cavatina almost inaudible. In a few moments, however, she had re covered her self-possession, and proceeded to prove that the flattering acclaim she had just received was not merely an ovation for past triumphs. The opera was Norma ; we need not criticise it. Many a Druidess since Grisi first reaped mistletoe in the Haymarket has risen and set; but Grisi still exists for the British public as the Norma, not less and not more than she remains the Lucretia, the Semiramis, or (non obstante Jenny Lind) the Susannah of the lyrical drama. As to those "points" in the opera which stimulate an audience into a delirium of wonder and admiration, we have long been convinced that Grisi could make them when ever she pleased to " come out," without any reference to the opportunities afforded her by the composer and librettist. On Thursday she chose to " come out" upon the duet with Adaloisa in the second act, and especially in the trio, for which she had evidently reserved and concentrated her powers, with her rival and PoUio. But it is not rational to interpret Grisi's performance, as if it were Hebrew, by the " points." The whole personation was unrivalled, and the last scene, with the pathetic supplication at the feet of Groves°, was quite as genuine a triumph as the first. There was a double recal after the fall of the curtain, with bouquets and wreaths in actual showers. The subordinate parts were capitally filled. Lablache's ()roves() is too well known to need even an epithet for its recommendation. The Pollio of Tamberlik is the best, after Mario, on the stage ; and the Adalgiao of Mlle. Marai the best absolutely. With four such performers for the leading characters it would be almost hypercritical to complain that the chorus did not sing always in tune. Altogether there have been few performances more successful, 523 and no " farewell appearance" more full of regret and triumph. . _ _ . After welcoming the coming, we must speed the parting, guest with a word of regretful admiration for Mlle. Cruvelli. This lady made her last appear ance for the present season on Monday as Donna Anna, in Don Giovanni. Her stay has been brief this year, but has proved very agreeable to the fre quenters of the Italian Opera, and testified to no small progress accomplished on her own part towards the highest rank of artistic excellence. DRURY LANE. THE Lucia of Donizetti was produced here on Thursday in its Italian version, with Mr. Sims Reeves as the Edgardo, and Mlle. Agnes Bury for the heroine. Mr. Reeves is the best English tenor, and the Edgardo is his best impersonation. His name in the bills accordingly drew a crowded audience, who seemed to be well satisfied with their entertainment. As far as the two principal rates were concerned this was, perhaps, natural and right. But the less that is said of the performance, as a whole, the better. Ott prima. FRENCH PLAYS. M. LAFONT had his benefit on Wednesday at the St. James's Theatre. The performances opened with a slight and pleasant vaudeville by M. Scribe, Lea Premieres Amours. But the piece of the evening was Madame Girardin's play La Joie fait peur, of which one seems to learn with every repetition to appreciate more justly the skill of the authoress and the admirable delicacy and finish of the personation. Her Majesty made one of a thronged audience who honoured M. Lafont with their presence on that night. The Drury Lane managers contemplate, it is said, the production of a new muuical work by an English composer, the late Mr. Rooke, who left behind him an opera, entitled Caglioatro, reported to be a pro duction of great merit. fortign art, Xittraturt, Ikr. " THE STORK BIRDS " is the name of a collection of vigorous chansons which have just appeared in Stockholm. One of them is entitled " Sir Charles Napier ;" it is full of energy. A MAGNIFICENT VILLA OF MARBLE erected in the Park, Stockholm, at an immense expense, by the late Swedish sculptor Byrstom, on his return from Italy, has been purchased by another Swedish sculptor, Professor Molin, who has removed from Rome. This purchase is in connection with a large and liberal plan. Professor Molin intends to pro cure casts of all the great, works of art in every part of Europe, group and arrange them in the marble halls of the villa, and throw the whole open as a great museum of sculpture for a very trifling sum. This will be a great triumph and gain for Stock holm. THE recent death of Senor Cocina, a deputy, and proprietor of the Madrid journal Oriente, has caused that paper to stop after barely a year's existence, during which it cost its proprietor upwards of 15,000 dollars. THE great work of draining the Lake of Haarlem, recently completed, after many years' efforts, has thrown into cultivation land of the very richest quality. Large tracts have already been cultivated, with the most satisfactory results. On the 18th and 10th ult. the sixth sale of these recovered lands took place at Amsterdam, and large sums were realised. The total produce from the sales of the reclaimed lands hitherto made exceeds 4,000,000 florins, or 400,0(X)/. sterling. _ _ A FURTHER section of the Great Western of France Railway was opened on Sunday last with much pa rade. This extension comprises sixty-two miles of line, between Nogent-le-Rotron and Mane, to which latter place a railway communication is now complete from Paris. The inauguration of the line was cele brated in Mans with a benediction from the bishop of the city, with speeches from M. Dubois, Minister of Public Works, sundry local authorities, and Mr. Scholefield, for Birmingham, one of the di. rectors of the company, and with a banquet and ball in the evening. The tete lasted three days, including fireworks, illuminations, balls, concerts, horticultural shows, fine arts exhibitions, theatrical performances, ckc. The great feature was, however, a grand histo rical cavalcade, representing the entry of Charles 111 of Anjou, Count of Maine, into Mans in 1471. THE number of newspapers and periodicals pub lished at Berlin at present is 103. Of the political journals 45,451) copies are struck off, and 21,282 of them are subscribed for at Berlin. There is one journal for every nineteen of the population. THE EGYPTIAN RAILROAD is in good workingorder, and answers exceedingly well. The trains do not run on it at present at any stated periods. The speed is about twenty miles an hour. The railway will soon 'll 1 1 ■ ; 4