The Express. — London, England, 1855-05-04 00:00:00

rib, eximegOt. laZarijor • — ril — bi - ZWeesVoisa avian poor, west be et the Mee. letto. by T oe Obiesk es the Ow et pittiltedee. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. ?us MT—lkeda& U. MR Atienecs. ft. sia. Tecos—lieralag. I. Hu Aftinwas. U. Ila. LONDON, FRIDAY, NAY 4. LATEST FROM ABROAD. THE CRIMEA. - 1 - A oorreepoodeaos wbicb appear in the Courrier di Marseille contains the following from the camp before Sebastopol, dated April 22od:— Geseral D. 'ems takes the command of the engineen in the Crimea ethant by the death of General Riot. Our sol diers are admirable for their coolness and tsourage. Wises they return to vamp after an action they set to and maks gardens, which they adore with flower" and 'knobs, without thinking for a moment that sassy of the poor fellows may be dead before the beds are finished. The ravine w►ich separates the Flsgs•aif and Central Bastions from our last parallel ins tr.. of 4 .-4 bodies of the Russians ; the soil was Mere sad the garrison did sot dare to 7•01..11 tom. The ~•my mast lose is intneeliOn number of men killed from our shell.. The let females still drawn up is bee of battle and ready to take pert in the ',Mi.'s. The work. on the left la *oat of the salient of the Flagstaff Bulb* ere terminated. In feet we have a puallel at 40 metres from the Bastion The taking of them outworks ought to ha very important, for the roadstead being cut in two, the Rawlins would he toned to overstate the south part of the city, otherwise fcry would be exposed to be driven from one moment to another into the sea. If this takes plane, as lam of opinion it will, we shall hare bell .. the city. THE BALTIC FLEET. .11, •1/1 TES IIAG111.) KIEL, TIitILIDAY. This morning at eight o'clock id' the ships of the British Beet under Admiral Saunders Dundas got under weigh, and quitted this harbour.—Daily News. The movements of Prince Peter of Oldenburg, a mem ber of the Imperial family of Russia, and a general in its army, are exciting attention is Germany. After a brief residence at Berlin, this personage has com menced the tour of the secondary and lesser German courts, it is suspected with the object of consolidating their opposition to any anti-Russian propositions which Austria may make in the Diet.—Daily News. FRANCE. The Moniteur of yesterday contains the following paragraph, su its largest type: " At the news of the attack from which Provi &see has preserved the Emperor. all Fraoce has been moved with the twofold feeling of indignation and gratitude. Everywhere the people have throned to she churches, there to thank God for kris( so visibly protected France, and to beseech Him to preserve a lite so precious. Although the Emperor has expressed the wish that on this occa sion no of address should be presented to him, his Majesty has not been able to witness, withant being profoundly affected, this unanimous and spoo- Weems isanifsetation of the nation's sentiments. ADMLNISTRATIVE REFORM. CONSIDIBABLI asiscooosption of the Administra tive Reform movement exism io some quarters, owing to the vagueness of the idea which men attach to the word "aristocracy." There in a real and a factitious aristocracy. Is every country—even in the United States of North America—there exists a compare- tively limited clam possessed of inherited wealth. It matters not bow this 'math has been originally acquired. In Europe during the middle ages the military and priestly classes contrived to appropriate the greater proportion of the national wealth. Since the close of the 15th century families whose ancestors accumulated property by mercantile enterprise have been to a great extent engrafted on this original stock. In the United States mercantile enterprise or the avo cations of the bar have been the chief sources of such " realised capital." Property once concentrated in large mama in the hands of a few iodividuals, has a natural tendency to remain unbroken for several generations. The fortunate possessors of lugs in herited fortunes, when they are of active and ambi tious tempers, have great advantages in starting in life. They can afford to educate themselves, they can command troops of servants, they can remain idle, "biding their time,' and watching their opportunity. Those of the class who are more indolent avail them selves of their wealth to enjoy life, and, as general society advances in intelligence and refinement, their social habits become more elegant. The wealthy by inheritance regard each other as " peers," and herd together. One common tons pervades the class. The political power it possesses, and the dignified corm of the deportment of most of its members, im pose upon the public, and thus its influence beseelee great and permanent. Such an aristocracy exists in every country, independent of titles or recognised social distinctions : it is a real aristocracy. In France, on the contrary, immediately before the Revolution of 1769, there was a recogiused aristocracy which had become almost entirely fedi time. The measures of Montagu, completed by Louis XIV., had concentrated all political power in the throne, and degraded the tableue into mere wart followers or salaried officers of state. The program of commercial enterprise, and the peculiar mode in which the public revenue was managed, had brought into existence a clan of roturiers more wealthy than the nobility, equally refined in their social habits, and equally, or more, conspicuous as patrons of art and letters. The aristocracy of France had become a speciosa but unreal shadow, which vanished amid the first storms of the Revolution. Oar English aria tangy is a compound of the real and factitious. It possesses great wealth: its more ambitions and enterprising members mingle In the contests of poll tim, and thus acquire hardihood and energy. It is a real power in the State. But the word " aristocracy," as it is seed in the rising movement against exclusive, or oligarchical role, doss not designate exactly the aggregate of our titled holiest, or even that wider circle which embraces along with the families of oar peers what may be called the untitled aristocracy. me aristocracy" against the emissive rule of which the country is now pretesting, is not very easy to define. Its nuclei. is composed of themes stirring and aspiring members of the aristocracy who have embraced polities as a prelacies. These individsals, when in Gibe, ars seeemarily in Gloss and frequent commui. cation with the Court; and when in opposition they still keep up a kind of intimacy with it as persons who have held ails% or who slay coo day hold it. This melon of the aristocracy bosoms, in seessqesece amts especially the sentre el theme circles el moiety whisk aspire to be thought logien tibia, To hays any chases of coming into familiar Womanes with them men most below/ to those exclusive circles. To have any gases of being amosiated with them in calm men must become their familiar companions. Moos it is that the education of the drawing rooms and saws has become more indispensable to ambitions politicians, than any preparation by study or experimental training in officio, for the discharge of official duties. A frivolous tone has thus been im parted to our ruling clam. In addition to this, the active politicians of the aristocracy are rarely the meet wealthy of their claw; and the parvenu adven turers who elbow their way into the exclusive circles of fashioo, with • view to political advancement, are rarely in affluent circumstances. The active and politically powerful "aristocracy" of England has, in fact, at the present moment, more analogy with the flattering, intriguing, indigent aristocracy of France under Loots XV., than with a real aris tocracy, and is something apart from, though connected with both the English House of Peers, and the English "aristocracy," in the wider acceptation of the term. Family predilections, and pecuniary necessities, have induced or compelled this dominant class to intrude their relations and dependents into every department of the public service, without the least regard being paid to their "official aptitude." It is to this that we owe the imbecility of our exe entire government in all its departments; and it is against this system of exclusive misrule—against the vesting of political power exclusively in this frivolous congeries of votaries of fashion and penny less adventurers that the nation is now raising its voice. The advocates of the admission of competent men to the civil offices of state, whatever their antecedents or social position, contemplate no attack upon our existing institutions. They are friendly to a Mon archy, and regard a Hereditary Peerage as a neces sary buttress to the Throne. They (for the most part) are of opinion that our electoral system might be amended by admitting some classes now excluded within its pale, by equalising the numbers of the constituencies, and by the adoption of secret voting; but they ars staunch friends of Parliamentary Government, and believe that even with our imperfect electoral system they can work out their ends by constitutional, Parliamentary mean.. They appeal to the electoral body to bring such a pressure to bear upon the House of Commons as will oblige it to support no Government but one composed of men selected solely on account of their competency, irrespective of their convention A social position. Their aim is to have the choice of the Crown in its selec tion of Ministers extended to the whole educated and intelligent classes of society. In old times the feudal Baronage and the Cnurch monopolised be tween them all who were competent to the task of government. In our day the great body of the middle classes are the equals of the nobility, in edu cation, in political koowiedge, and even in social re finement, nios sense of honour, and dignity of deport- ment. The nation is sick of that frivolous and exclu sive clue which at present monopolises administra tive appointments, and it insists that capable men, even though they do not belong to this class, alien hays a fair chance in the competition for high office in the State. Circumstances hays at present directed atten tion more especially to the necessity of pressing into' the national service men characterised by those qua-1 Sties which mercantile and industrial pursuits are more peculiarly adapted to develop. But the wish of the nation is that the services of other classes—of those who, either as mem bers of the learned professions, or u de voted to literature and science, have cultivated I faculties that can be rendered available for the public service, should also have the career of official ad- vanoement thrown open to them. The first step has been taken to widen the circle from which the Crown and the nation are to select those who shall serve them in the higher departments of government, and the movement cannot now be arrested. Its ultimate success, which is unquestionable, cannot fail to aug ment the energy and intelligence of the Executive, and raise Great Britain still higher in the scale of nations than she at present stands.—Daily 11 eras. ART CONTRIBUTIONS IN AID OF THE PATRIOTIC FUND. • • OP/ACING OF TUB EXHIBITION AND SALE OF WORKS At BURLINGTON . NOUSE, P ICCADILL Y. —The go- Tommeat bare wisely granted Me Art Contrantios Assoeia tics Om am at a lulus of rooms as the principal Moor of the above-mentioned stately manias. Aooordiog to the an mouneement we made a few days sines, the exhibition of the numerous works collected by the committee was opened to the midis yesterday. Considerisg the banana rupee for whisk the association is formed, and the attreetive cha racter of the exhibition, it seams superfluous to say that the 1006111 of the anectiatkos were aunerouly and fishioaably attended. ♦ Wale better adapted than Barlingtonhoose for the beneveleat and poutede undertaking I. which the ems mitt', are need it would be impossible to And ; and, independently of other more weighty cottei.ieratioss, the thanks of the aesornunity are due to the aminiation for the privilege of inspecting a building lanais Sir W. Chambers, the arehiteet of llesureetAmmes, truly dweribed whoa he remarked—" Few in this vast city sun pen, I believe, that behind an old brink wall in PkadLy there is one of the east pieces of anhiteetare is Europe." We hope these wards will penetrate the ears of government, and shield this truly rare sad besatifal sample of Palla dian art from ell sash desserations as "alterations and im precisions." The cone of taste eitelaisse against the exterior of this bullring being temhed. We (misled* oar present brief anise of this excellent mediation by listening our readers that sines Its formation, about Ave weeks dm, it has bees the mane of relieving twenty-ass widows (etyma having etillihres) of military and naval diem, the nun of 2,2301. hoots, been devoted to that purpose, leaving a baleen Ia the hands ef the am elation of VOL as the 28th of April. Copy of • Lotter from tko Ussery Secretaries of Jo Paulette Feud. "Royal Camiskaion of do Patriotic Toad, 16, Gnat Georforatroot, Wastiaiaotor, April 13, 1866. " ClestlemeavLWe us directed by iiiißoysi Highness Prises Albert to Mem to you the Wake of tie Royal Cusaiseles ter your very velaable sad eusesefel esertioas, wild bare ambled then to mist tbe widows sad orphans et odeers of an teaks. and alael aseistasee hes already pro dosed very grateful eekaewiedgeteate. —We have tier Wooer to I;s,gootiossoo, roar obedioat somata, " (J.lwo[Noumea, 1 Hen seaebuto. "J. H. • "To the Minns and Conacittto if tfo Mutest Artisle Stfilsollo, 121, Pan-10l ' ROYAL ITALIAN OPIRA.—Her Majesty the QUM sad Prises Albert lionaared the performances at the Biel Dallas Ogers with their preemies last Madill. The Quota sad the Priam were amompanied by the Primer Royal sad the Primeness Adelaide sad Feeders, sad Priam Pieter of Hohealobe. The royal suite maimed of the Comte.. ii Desatt, Lard Dalreria, Omen' Smithy, sad Captain De Plat. TER DEZIALATZIL—The iron ship Deerslayer, whisk west wound at the 'Misses to the Messy *beet six weeks ago, while as her mime from Paraiba to Liver pool. sad after remaining a considerable time ashore, was get el math obrathed, sad clothed, was sold seder lay la the rerge's Doak, yesterday, with her Wee masts sad hew ' sprit steadies, for the s of 1,6101. PIISZXTATION OF A !WONT/ TO MAION-GENZIAL BaLiss7 l 3(eii;r4;arral Bersieti having beta mode& ham the Crisee NI wpm family hasisese, hie aslabharit at imaley, Laassabisfb, ham availed themselves al Os ar paelmity. Nam ha moans. ft Few lam with a MN& same wad. The am at la iminsasmm eabearils/ b dis imam af aOw der *My, mil as Wedaseday swabs the mad wes rematiod la Me Femme et a crowded msselei at Om Ceset4iisse. Mt. Towsely, Tewaelrpmk, WOOL I ,717".IZalf"'". ;X P~ , WRAY THE WAR. Tlis following is trots a special despstoh of ihs " WAitsew, 20d.-32,000 Grenadiers are on their march from Poland into Lithuania. The Emperor and General &diger are expected. The amnesty has arrived." The following despatches are from another source : "BT. Prreasauzo, 2nd (via Baaux.)—Prince Gortchakoff writes from Sebastopol, under date of the 27th alt., that the ere of the Allied Armies had become moderate, and that the Hessians had este at 100 tains (the tams is somewhat over six feet English) in front of the bastion No. 4, a line of lodgments which have served to form a trench of continued communication." o VI624NA, 2od.—Oeseral von Hess leaves today to rejoin the army. The newspapers of this city say that yesterday Count de Baol, Baron de Boarqueney, and Lord Westmoreland, held a conference, and that immediately after, Count Buol had an audience of the Emperor." _ " CONSTANTINOPLE, APRIL 23.—1 t is reported that the mission with which MK. Murray and Bor rue were charged to the Persian government has hail lan unfavourable result. On the Persian frontiers there bad been a great movement of troops. It is said that Bejsaid has fallen into the hands of the Russians." Other accounts from Asia are satisfactory. Letters from Trebtrond state that 40,000 Circa's akin, united to a part of the Ttukish army, were about to march on MU. Fortifications were being actively constructed at !azeroeni. The Turkish army in Asia has been reorganised by the exertions of Vasaif Pacha and Williams Pacha. The Moniteur of yesterday contains the following : DESPATCH FROM GENERAL CANROBERT. The Marshal Minister of War has just received from the General Commanding-in-Chief the army ot the East to.e letter dated April 16, and the report dated the 17th, which we here subjoin : " Monsieur le Maiechal,—l hare the honour to send you an account seriatim of our operations before the place. " After a fire kept up during the day with signal superiority over that of the enemy, we advanced our saps, during the nights between the 9th aid the 12! b, in the direction ot the Flegstaff Bastion, successfully contending the while against the poets maintained by strong reserves, which the enemy keeps in his ambuscades. "In the night between the 13th and 14th, General Feheater took efficacious measures for secur ing our possession of the ground, in which the engineers intended sapping towards the central bas tion. The operation was divided into two portions : that on the right, in front of the T (en arant du T), directed by General Rivet ; that on the lett, towards the cemetery, directed by General Bretoo. "At the first, the enemy's ambuscades were carried with great vigour by tour companies of the 46th, under the orders of the Chef de Bataillon Julien, and a company of the bth Chasseurs (Lieut. Coin* The enemy's resistance was moat strenuous, and his reserves made several offensive rallies, which could not triumph over the resolution of the com panies engaged. Supported by a detachment of the Foreign Legion (Captain Robert), by two companies of the 42nd (Captain Brauregard), and a company of the 14th (Lieutenant Stove), they valiantly kept their ground. The ambuscades, notwithstanding the solidity of their conntruction, were razed. On the left and in the rear, the labour of the engineers was protected by three companies of the 26th, under the orders of Captain Michel, who had taken excellent dispositions, and who was wounded at the head of his men. " While these events were taking place, General Breton caused to be carried on the loft, with the same energy and success, all the Russian ambuscades of the cemetery by six companies of the 98th, com manded by the Chet de Butaillon Otemion. These companies, reinforced during the action by two others of the 9th battalion of Clamours, exhibited the most remarkable impetuosity and calm bravery. The 98th (23rd light regiment) bad here a brilliant debut. The enemy recoiled atter a very hot fire, before which our troops did not flinch for an instant. These am buscades were occupied and rued like thoes on the right. " Protected by this double operation vigorously carried out, the engineers were enabled to trace their lines and carry on their woilt4 with activity. A new parallel was formed, from which we expect to derive very great advantage. "We had in this nocturnal affair, which was a very sharp one, and reflecting the greatest honour on our troops, 40 men killed, 4 of them officers, and 117 wounded. "As for our saps towards the Flagstaff Bastion, the effects of the enemy's artillery, acting at a very shoe distance, rendered them nearly impossible, or, at all events, they were practicable solely on condition of our res , gning °omelets to continual losses. In this situation we endeavoured to form • trench half-way between our third parallel and the salient of the bastion, with the help of our fourneassz de mine, which had been suitably placed for this purpose. They were fired in the evening of the 16th. The operation was completely successful. The officers and sippers of the engineers immediately contrived to lodge themselves in an immense pit, averaging four metres in depth, a pit of which the enemy has not disputed our possession. His troops lined the fortiAostioe, and opened a very hot fire of musketry and artillery. " Our mortars, in their turn, rained down bombs on the enemy's assembled troops, and I have been in formed by a deserter, who was a non-commissioned officer, that the • suffered great losses there. Our workmen, ough in • difficult position, laboured actively in this ploughed-up ground. in order to com plete as much as possible the orown-work of the efeloresoire, and connect the new trench with the third parallel. Last night the troops continued this work with ardour. One hundred picked men of the 74th now occupy this fourth parallel by day. " In the midst of these painful combats and labours the troops have always shown the firmest attitude sod the best spirit. Goosed Ptlimier, who com mends on the lett, is extremely welled with them. •it the right, on the side of the Malakhoff tower. the superiority of oar artillery has been equally main tained, but without succeeding in silencing that of the besieged, except, however, in the two counter approaches of the Caresoing Ray, which have sot Bred for the last two days. In this part of our attack, as in the other, we advance slowly, perfecting our existing trenches, and leaving nothing to chance. The fin of a Dew battery meted in front of the aountor-approach, called the Orem Masseloa, cum- mended yesterday morning, sad is producing good effect& - —" Frogs the reports of deserters the garrison has sustained considerable losses, and the naval gunners, forming the most vital portion of it and exhibiting mast spirit, have particularly suffered. The Central and Flagstaff hastiest) are seriously damaged. The whole of their gam were often rendered unserviceable. but the almost usexhamtible resources of the plane in artillery have not failed it yet, and every night thossands of workman premed to make the repairs that are the most urgent. Before Sebastopol, Aprill6. " Monsieur le Marechal r —General Bizet has just suomenbed, at the very moment 1 wee receiving on all aides the assurance of his being nearly oat of danger. "His death is a real public misfortune; it is a grief for the whole srmy. General Bizet enjoyed le it a portlari.y meet hoeourably acquired. He carried his love of duty to enthusiasm, and for six maths we have seen him toiling day and night, de ploying amid the mast arduous diMealtiss the most extraordinary calm, insets' fortitude, perseverance, and serenity. Oar soldiers all knew him; they ad mired his ardour, hie bravery hot as that of a sub lieutenant, and they were sawed to see him ev ery day returning from the trenches, where ho had braved dupes with that iadahms• sad abase- 71,4 I 7' l ,it~'i Ifi . frElstlNG, MAY 4, 1 taboo that stamps* his merge with a. peculiar &a -1 roam "I should never end, Monsieur le Marechal, if I were to tell you here all that this excellent man was amongst us, and all the regret his lass occasions. His mind, full of resources and original conceptions, constantly showed itself equal to the task we are performing. " I am, Monsieur le Marechal, the organ of the Crimean army in reeking known to you the claims that this general officer had acquired on the gratitude of the Emperor. "It is also a duty for me to remind you of all that the Engineer Corps has deserved and deserves every day in this memorable siege; and to renew ;o you my urgent request that the services of these officers, no less brave than skilful and devoted, may be amply recompensed." SEBASTOPOL.- JOURNAL OF THE BOMBARDMENT. (1101 t TUB SPICL&L /411111.) MI DAILY CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, Aram 21. I resume my narrative of the leadiog events of the siege. The present enclosure embraces the operatiocs of the past week. APRIL 14.—Notwithstanding frequent fogs and showers, the fire irons the batteries has been active during the whole day. The enemy appears to have been adhering to the policy of reserving his fire as much as possible. The hfalakhoff and Mameion works, and the batteries between them and Careen ing Bay, have been remarkably silent. A very con stant fire has been kept up by the French works against the two Russian redoubts recently thrown up on the east side of Careening Bay, and their fire ap pears to have been in a great degree silenced. The butte ' on the opposite side of the roadstead have replied, however, with energy; but, it is said, have not been able to effect any damage to the French batteries. The Reda°, and adjoining batteries to the left as far as the Barrack flattery, near the South Harbour, have been the most unremitting of the Russian works in replying to the English guns. Their works appeared to be much injured, and several guns must have been disabled ; but towards sunset, as if to show that they had been able to replace them by others, they flied a round, sending a shot from each embrasure in ,accession. In the same wsy they fired an evening salute from the em brasures of the Hamlett) Redoubt. A vigorous dis charge has been maintained from the French batteries on the left, and the part of the town in tace of the right section of their attack appears a mass of ruin. It is stated also that a very favourable impres sion is being made by the French works against the Russian batteries connecting Quarantine Fort with the Central Bastion on that side. There is a rumour going round the camp that a I spy in the pay of the Commander-in• Chief has brought intelligence of the town and fortiti •ations having been very seriously injured by the bombard ment. The barracks in the dockyard, which used to show until lately a vast number of lights at night, seem to be deserted, for these extensive ranges of buildings are now left in total obscurity after sunset. Some of the large shells, weighing each upwards of two hundred pound., including their bursting dis charge, thrown from the 13-inch sea-service mortars on Frenchman's-hill, have fallen it not into, at any rate close to, these buildings, and must have inflicted great damage to their structure. The eminence on which the Redan is placed prevents the full effect of these projectiles from bring observed in front, and the Malakhoff-hill and other irregulari ties. in the ground obstruct the view of the arsenal mid dockyard buildings from other positions on the right. Latterly these sea service mortars have been directing their lire against the works on the Male khoff-hilL ---- Among our casualties to-day was Captain John Edward Michell, of the Royal Artillery, who was killed by a round shot in the right attack. Ensign Horatio Preston, 88th Regiment. received a mortal wound while in the advanced work of Frenchman's hill, and died about halt an hour afterwards. He was quite • boy in age and appearance, and bad only been with the corps just long enough to endear him self to all his brother officers. A ball freer one of the Russian riflemen found its way between two gabions and struck him in the body u he was walking along the trench. Several sailors and artillerymen were wounded in the batteries, and a few men of the covering parties in the advanced works by the fire' from the enemy's ambuscades. APRIL 16.-A constant discharge of shells was kept up during the night against the enemy's works. The fire during the day has been much the same in intensity from the siege batteries, but has been more active on the part of the Russi ans. A small three gun battery between the Redan and Barrack Battery, early in the morning, particularly distinguished itaelt by the frequency of its fire ; but some well-directed shots were sent against it, and after a time it was completely silenced. In the wane of the morning a shell which fell just within the salient angle of the Redan burst and blew up a platform, and must have damaged the neighbouring guns. A couple of shells which burst one after the other just within the Bar rack Battery appeared to do great execution, and for a time stopped the Are from this work altogether : it had previously been directing a heavy cannonade against the batteries on Greenhill. In the afternoon Fort Constantine fired three shots against • small steamer as it passed from the north ward toward the fleet, which was lying off the coast between Quarantine and Bamiesch Bays. The steamer was just oat of range, and passed on unhurt. Captain Crofton, of the Royal Engineers, who re ceived a severe fracture of the thigh fro m a round shot on the 12th instant, died to-day. His constitu tion had been much impaired by service at Hoag ' Kong, and to this fact, in • great degree, is attn. bated the fatal result of the injury. General Bigot, of the French Engineers, who has t h roughout the ' siege been particularly prominent in all the sogi ' neenag operations of our allies, alai died to-day from the effects of a wound. About a week previous, while in one of the advanced works of the centre (British) attack, be was struck by a rifle ball in the taw. It penetrated deeply, but effected an exit through the opposite (lurk. Severe inflammation followed, and led to his death. Hs is deeply regretted, not only by his own countrymen, bat by all who were acquainted with him in the British service. He earnestly cooperated with Mejor Gor don and the other commanding Royal Engineers during the earlier period of the siege in the prepara tion and execution of the several works. Latterly he has been constantly occupied in superintending the' advance of the new approaches towards the Hameln° and Malakhoff hills. Major Gordoo, who has not quitted his tent in cusp, as feet recovering from his wounds. We had floe, dry weather, with a westerly wind to-day, until the approach of evening, when the sky became clouded, aid rain tell. Aran, 18.—An active shelling was continued all night, and a heavy flee from all the batteries opened at daylight. The French sprung a mine last evening to the left of the Flagstaff Bastion. The gunpowder appeared to have bees injured by the continued rain of the previous day, and the result was not so satisfactory as had best anticipated. A considerable portion of the enumy's earthwork was, however, scattered, and a space @ancient for effecting a lodgment was cleared. At a later hour the Russians made a sortie in strong force against the right of the advanced French line, and after a severe contest were successfully repulsed. The number wounded smug oar allies is said to have been greater than usuaL The Russians mast have suffered severely before they reached the shelter of their ambuscades. Shortly after the fire of subtly commenced on the left, the attack gradually extended itself until it reached the line of &dressed works of the French on the right. The essmy did not come I against the British part of the line in force, and was easily repulsed. They appeared rather to be recon noitring, to moortila it our minks was out the alerts They were compelled to retire, with inanely any casualties on our side. In repelling same of the enemy from before the advanced work on French man's-hill, Captain Donovan, of the 33rd Regiment, accidentally injured himself. He had discharged one barrel of his revolver against a 'Lamaism in front of him, and was about to fire at another a short time afterwards when some one fell against him ; he was in the act of raising his pistol at the time, and the shock caused it to go off. The ball entered his foot, and the injury will very probably disable him for several weeks or a longer period. An explosion occurred in our right attack about half past 2 p.m. Fortunately it was only the expense magazine which suffered, and there was bat a small amount of gunpowder in it at the time. The work— a new 8-gun battery near the advanced work, and which was only opened three days previously —was, therefore, not damaged materially ; bat one man was killed, and several were wo.inded. Among the wounded was Lieutenant William Norris, lately transferred from the first to the second oattalion of the Me Brigade. He was struck in the chest by a fragment of stone, and it is hoped that the effects of the injury will be only of • temporary nature. The explosion was caused by a shell from one of the enemy's howitzers, which passed through an em brasure and entered the magazine by the wall at its aide. The 10th Hussars have been landing to-day. They have only lost 18 horses since the regiment left Bom bay. Colonel William Parlby, commanding, being some months senior to Colonel Lord George Paget, 4th Light Dragoons, will now take charge of the Cavalry Division, and Lord George Paget resume the command of the brigade of Light Cavalry. The 10th Hussars are to be attached to this brigade. The day has been flee and mild, but on several occasions a thick mist has passed over the plateau, without remaining longer than fifteen minutes, or halt an hour. at a time. APRIL 17.—There has ben no change in the character of the siege opetations to-day, and I have not heard of any occurrence in the batteries worthy of note. The 8-gun battery near the advanced work on Frenchman s-hill, which was injured by the ex plosion in the expense magazine the day before, was repaired last night, and all its guns are now in work ing order. The fire, both in our right and lett attacks, has been slackened. It is raid that the present stock of limes is nearly expended, but that • vessel bringing a fresh supply is hourly expected. I he fire of the French on the ;eft continues active. A body of Russian cavalry, supposed to be about 400 strong, and some columns of infantry, made a reconnaissacce to-day in a direction toward Heistlava. They approached from Tchorgnna, but took care not to advance within range of our guns. Several visitors have arrived lately, and inspected the camp and scene of operations before Sebastopol. The Earl of Selkirk is among their number. A stranger will now find a state of things very dif ferent from the condition which existed two or three months ago. There was a dense fog last night, and as it cleared away the day became sunny, bright, and warm. In the afternoon a north wind again brought dense mists from the sea, and as they swept rapidly by the eon became obscured, and the atmosphere damp and ch.lliog. These sudden changes of temperature, and variation, in the condition of the air, are very trying and injurious to the constitutions of invalids, and even the healthy require to guard against their influence. Theelectric telegraph wire being now submerged, I and a communication established between. Varna and Cape Sr. George, it is hoped that a very short time will elapse before the whole line to Vienna will be completed. A message may then be transmitted from the Crimea to Vienna in two or three hours, or from the Crimea to London in about eight hours. Similar means of communication are already in active operation between Lord Rsglan'a head-quarters and Balsklava, the right and left siege train depots, and our right attack. Mesuges can be sent from the station at any one of these points. The French con tinue to employ semaphore*. APRIL 18.—There was scarcely any firing from the bat tries last night. A heavy fog cleared away soon alter sunrise, and a warm fine day followed. Csptaiu rederiok King, of the Royal Engineers, was wounded by a rifle bell last evening, near the advanced work of the right attack. The ball entered near the hip, and has not been extracted, but the sur geons do not apprehend any serious results from the inj Ameeting u for athletic games and contests among the men of the Light Division took place to-day, on the slope of the hill between the Picket House and the ground occupied by the 90th and 97th Regi ments. About 30 prizes were distributed. The usual exercises of wrestling, leaping, running, and trials of strength, were engaged in. The mail doe on the 16th instant is not yet deli vered. The bag for head-quarters arrived safely yesterday, but the rest of the letters have been de tained by some accident, the nature of which is not known at the Post-office. Our fire from the batteries has been very slack to di—about thirty rounds having been discharged ft om each of the comparatively few guns in action. Nearly the same number of rounds was fired yesterday. The French fire on the left has continued to be more energetic than ours. The enemy has repaired much of the damage which has been done to their works, and though to-day some destructive practice has been made against the Mamelon and Mslakhoff batteries, yet generally the works appear as complete, and almost as well ordered, as when the fire began. It is evident now that the intention of assaulting, at least for the present, is abandoned. Several days ago an attempt might have been made. The great Restart was supposed to be practicable on Friday or Saturday last; it is manifestly not so now. We shall not, with our present siege materiel, in all probability reduce the fire from the fortifications to the same ex tent as it was then reduced. Gunnery on our side has almost done its utmost. Under these circumstances a new field is °pomad— e new plan of operations required. What this is to be is, perhaps, still under eonsideestioa by the commanders themselves; but it is manifest that, while a sufficient force remains to protect this posi tion and carry on the siege, a portion of the army will have to leave and commence a new campaign elsewhere. The ease of contest will he in part changed; our soldiers are likely to see some of the vaunted beauties of the southern and south-eastern parts of the Crimea. In the meantime, the progress of the siege works against the fortifications is not arrested; on the contrary, the attack by regular approaches continues to be systematically and ener getically advanced. Our allies on the right are slowly, but surely, gaining ground, inch by inch, toward the Mamelon and Ms fakhoff Tower ; we, in the same way, are sapping up to the Redan and works round the arsenal ; while on the left, again, the French are fast closing upon the outer line of de fences surrounding the town itself. We most wait for further events. Aram 19.—The mail arrives, with papers to April the 2nd. There is a marked change in the weather today. A cold, stormy wind, at times increased to a gale, is blowing from the north, and the sky is clouded and overcast. _ The fire freak oar batteries is mach diminished; the French fire on the left still continues active. A reconnaissance was made to-day toward Tahoe- The troops consisted of a mixed force of i retb, English, and Ottoman regiments I &boat four hundred of oar cavalry, among whom were two squadrons of the 10th Hussars, taking part in the expedition. The remainder of the cavalry con sisted principally of the amateurs d'Afriqes. The infantry was furnished from the Ottoman troops lately arrived in the Crimea. A French battery ac companied the force. Skirting the line of hills by Namara, they proceeded toward Tohorguns, where a few shots were exchanged by the mart forward skirmishers, and returned along the valley. It was stated that the chief object of the reconnaissance was to show Omer Naha the ground. As the body of troops retired some Canada advanced, but were compelled to return by the discharge of somerockets from a French battery on the right Bank overlooking the %Oakley' valley. Two marines, who from mo tives of curiosity had advanced too far toward Ka mars, were taken prisoners, and though their clap- i tore were pursued, they effected as escape with their Paw APZIL 10.—A very gallant attack wan tends last night on sons lissom nib pits in front of the new approaches being carried on from the silenced work oa Frenchman'.-hill : and though the undertaking was successfully accomplished. this MOOSUP MO purchased at a costly sacrifice. It was at first ar ranged that part of the force under Colonel Yes, 7th Fusiliers, told off to guard the advanced work, ' should make the attack, Colonel Egerton, 77th Regi. meat, being in reserve with 260 men of his regiment ; but this plan was subsequently changed, and the affair entrusted to Colonel Egerton himself and his men. Several weeks have now elapsed since the new ap proaoh alluded to was commenced. It was made to extend from the left of the advanced work on French- - msn'e-hill (right attack), and the zigzag had not pro ceeded far forwards, when the Russians cootnved OM night to throw up a large ambuscade in front of ft. Subsequently another was placed still further off which, in turn, was covered by other ambuscades that had been for a long time established by the enemy on the verge of the hill, where it loses itself in the dip of the ravine. The two rifle pits nearest to the zigzag approach were together capable of holding about 120 men, and the foremost, that nearest to the work, in particular, was the object of last night'. operations. It was necessary to secure this pit, as it lay in the proposed hoe of the advancing trench, which was being sapped towards it from an angle on the left. Its distance in front of the line of trench last finished was not more than twenty-five yards. It was so close, that a few days since the Russians tossed an empty glass bottle from it among oar mar in the trench t and they in return, not wish ing to expend uselessly their ammunition against the enemy who were securely protected behind the wall of the ambuscade, had contented themselves by pitching over some stones. This pit was about 160 yards in front of that part of our advanced work from which the zig-zag had started, and about 600 yards from the &den, towards which the Mg-sag Wes approaching. Not tar off, between it and the ahattie in front of the Redan, is a large quarry with ninny I loose moues scattered about: this quarry at night is always occupied by Russian riflemen. Shortly after nice o'clock Colonel Egerton gave directions for his men to move against the that am buscade, having previously ordered that it was to be carried at the point of the bayonet. The night was dark and favourable for the enterprise. It was arranged that the partite attacking should advance in two columns, so as to surround the pit. Captain Gilby led the left column, and Captain Lempriere the right. Scarcely any resistance was made at the first ambuscade, from which the enemy was no sooner driven than the at'ack was carried on against the second. This was so quickly accomplished that had it not been for some inadvertent shots which gave the alarm, the second pit would hive been captured with almost the same ease as the first. As it was, the Russians in this pit received the advancing party with a volley, and being reinforced by some men, probably those who had been concealed in the quarry, for some time made resistance. A struggle ensued, which termi nated in favour of the English troop'', by whom the ambuscade was then occupied. The working parties from the 55th Regiment now advanced the saps up to the first pit, and means were adopted to protect the ambuscade beyond, so as to prevent the Russians re gaining possession of it. Could they have got it, they would have annoyed the working party near the first pit by the fire of their rifles. It was too far to hope to sap up to it, also. The garrison was now aroused. The Russian. who escaped had barely time to reach their main supports, when confused noise and the rolling of drums told that the enemy was gathering in force, and preparing for attack. Nearly two hours elapsed, however, before the enemy were observed to advance in four dark columns; and shortly after, two field-pieces, charged with grape, were bought to bear upon the ambuscades. Previously a few shells had been thrown up, apparently from some ships in the creek, and the Redan had also fired several shots. The first pit had been turned by the time the field-pieces were brought, and was now secure. After these guns had discharged their flre, the Russian columns t ushed on. The we'll, gallant band protecting the more distant pit, finding themselves overpowered by numbers, tell back on the first pit. The enemy still came forward, and attempted to take this, bat was received so warmly that he fell back, and contented himself with recovering posses sion of the second ambuscade; but Colonel Egerton determined cot to permit him to hold even that pit without another struggle, notwithstanding the dispa rity of numbers, and was in the act of gathering his men for a second charge against the work when a rifle ball struck him in the angle of the mouth, and he fell mortally wounded. One single groan, and life was extinct. At the first attack he bad been struck by a bullet in the side, which, though it in flicted no wound, oinked him to feet faint, and com pelled him to lie down for some minutes. He is reported to have discovered the bullet among his clothes, and to have placed it in his pocket, with the intention of preserving it as a memento. After the death of Colonel Egerton the attack on the second ambuscade was abandoned. The large pit,which was immediately in front of our work, was now connected with the approach, and its front turned toward the enemy. Colonel Egerton was not the only victim. Captain Andley LempriAre, a lad in years and appearance, the darling of his company, and a general favourite in the regiment, also fell in this affair. He received a wound in the body, and on falliog, Colonel Egerton caught him up in his arms as if In had been a child, and calling out," Make war, men, while I carry my poor boy-captain away," took him to the trench in rear. But he was dead when he laid him down. This happened at the tint attack. It is related that when there was a hot fire near the second rifle pit, some men hesitating to ado oe were seen by young Lempriire, and that he called out "Come on, come on," and that the men at ones obeyed the call, and said, " Yes, we'll follow you anywhere." Officers and men all behaved most gallantly, and the 77th have gained fresh laurels in ' this affair. Lieutenant Knight distiognished himself at the first attack, by jumping on the parapet of the ' anitinteade, and into the midst of the Russians within. He yet escaped unhurt. / Colonel Egerton's death is a severe loss to the disi sion of the army with which he had been associated through the whole campaign, the Light Division, but more especially severe to the regiment of which he I had been so long the chief ornament. Of Herculean frame and strength, with courage in proportion, of singular independence of character, he was devoted ' to his profession, and to the welfare of the mew ' ander his command. THE BALTIC FLEET. __,•01.11117 or TIM DAILT news.) KIEL, Aram 29. Rear Admiral Dundsa arrived yesterday after noon from Copenhagen in the Dragon, steam frigate, and immediately shifted his Beg to the Duke of Wellington. During his two days sojourn at Copenhagen he wee greeted with every demonstra tion of respect by the Danes. He went over the arsenal and dockyard, and interchanged civilities with all the ministers and naval and mili tary authorities. Hs also went out with Mr. Buchanan, the English Minister, to Frederik.- borg Pal ace, and we. graciously received in • private audience by the King. The Msgicienne, Oeyeer, and Cuckoo were at Elsinore, with half-a dmen gun-boats, and those three steamers were to tow them to Faro Sound, which place the gun.bosts were to consider their head-quarters till such time as their screams might be required. Transports and colliers are also proceeding there; some 6,000 toes of opals already remain from last per. Intent puce has reached this pleats . some. potters, had been made by the dyin aqtadrent... cour t s - ma rtial have sat daring list day tv., g . first, on Lieut. Hon. H. A. Moreton, of ttla; r ~ 4 for d r unkenness, who is (bemired the service; - * , swain of the Driver, also dismimed for the Tr, °Bence; en assistant engineer but some ent s t? sting sirounistanoes saved him ieetionmisio*, l• se* loss of class and time. t will • -• . ` • man ea Tuesday, May 1, and all ve • a. err Ike. die port of - Kiel is prohibited site . .. o w . The Vulture and Basilisk have already started fee fire'flyieg squadron with stores and provisioas,aml the Driver will start also for the same purpoas immediately. The fleet consists at this time of the twelve mew liarof-hattls ships;; the Dragon, steam frigate ; Bull dog and Driver, amps; Merlin sad Fixtfly, survey mg 'web; and the Baby, gun-bat. VlOll TKZ - . ,- - - i 4 4 A IF t i ;ti t 1 1 i " 1 1 di I:i r i t I • I ' 1 1, 1 i l 1 I 11, 1 I i I 4 4 11. Pa