The Express. — London, England, 1855-05-08 00:00:00

SITUATION OF THE WAR. THIS same Crimean Telegraph is at times rather I bewildering. Occasionally intelligence is received of an affair that has taken place before Sebastopol only four-and-twenty hours earlier—a curt, laconic state ment of an isolated event, unaccompanied by any of those details that are required to mako its bearing and importance folly felt. Some twelve days later comes the mail, with ample despatches containing all the outs and ins of the story. But in the mean time public attertion has been led on step by step to a period far in advance of that to which these des patches relate. No small exertion of attention and memory is required to prevent the various dates being confusedly apprehended, the moat adventurous com binations of facts made, and the most erroneous con clusions resnecting the actual position and prospects of the contending forces drawn. At present our detailed information relates to a period as far beck as the 24th of last month. At that time the bombardment was still in progress, though the hope. of its leadiog to any immediate result appear to have bi en daily glowing fainter ; a recomaiasarace had been made in the direction of Tchorguo, some thought as a prelimioary to active operations against the R4198h11311 in the field ; and OMER PAlll 1 had returned to Eupatoris, with a considerable portion of h . § troops, either to guard against a Russian attack, or to make a diversion in favour of the Allies. This news enables us to form a tolerably correct notion of the positions of the whole Allied forces in the Crimea on the 24th of last month. But it has been made a matter of remote history by telegraphic not icts of isolaail operations of a much more recent date. First came the intimation that the bombardment bad been suspended. Ministers have declared in Parliament that the swept ninon was only temporary ; bat the fact that a new siege train for the Frerch army has been ordered to be shipped at Marseilles would seem to indicate that the intermission of the tiro from the besieging batteries might last for a considerable time. Next comes intel ligence that the Russian Flagstaff Battery had been so ibjuattl as to be rendered incapable of further re pair, coupled with the intimation that new defensive works had already been constructed by the besieged immidistely behind those that were no longer tenable. Lastly come the accounts of the brilliant affairs in front of the English attacks on the lit and 6.h of May, and in front of the French attack on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of the same month. So far as we can under stand the tecessarily brief telegraphic despatches, the result of these affairs has been that in front of the Fri Itch attack the enemy have been driven within the line of their defences; that in front of the English attacks, most of the Russian rifle-pits hare been taken, and either incorporated into the works of the assailants or destroyed. But not a word is said of the renewal of the bombardment. We have confined ourselves in our retrospect to those statements which, as being poaitive and dis tinct, and contradicted by no one, may be regarded as perfectly reliable. The inference we would draw from them is, that the Allies continue to maintain that moral and physical superiority over the enemy, whenever they come intoactual collision, which they maintained in the bloody struggles of Alma, Balaklava, and Inkermann, but that there are as yet no visible prospects of an immediate termination of the strife. We say this in no spirit of despondency, and with no fear that the remark will cause despondency in others. Now, as from the first landing in the Crimea, whatever advantages have been gained have been gained by tho Allies. The French and English occupy an unassailable position in the Chersonesan penin sula; the Turks a very strong one at Etipatoris. The Russians, although their communications with the interior of the empire are uninterrupted, and although au unbroken intercourse is kept up between their army in the field and Sebastopol, feel it neces sary to keep on the defensive—for the numerous sorties of which we read are merely intended to harass and distract the besiegers. Of the amount of rein forcements that the Russians have already sent to the Crimes, or that are likely to follow, it is impossible to judge, but. the Russian accounts are palpably ex aggerated. On the other hand, the Sardinian Con tingent is on its way to the Crimea, the Turkish Contingent is being organised, and reinforcements are being despatched both from France and Eng land. The pressure of war, though not unfelt in these two countries, has not yet imposed any serious strain on their resources, or depressed tho national enthusiasm. On the contrary, it appears to be severely felt in Russis,m the communications from Warsaw and Odessa, which we publish to-day, and others which have previously appeared in our columns, sufficiently testify. _ _ It items clear from this review that the war needs only to be urged on by the Allies with energy, saga city, and singleness of purpose, in order to ensure the required humiliation of the barbarous and encroach ing Muscovite power at no distant date. The only misgivings that haunt the public in France and Eng land arise from the equivocal positions maintained by the Germanic Powers, the changes in the French and Turkish ministries, and the mystifying silence and apparently utter planlessness of our own Govern ment. Some consolation is drawn from the circum stance that the appointment of a commission by the Emperor of RUSSIA, to inquire into the whole subject of the war, seems to evince a confusion of counsels in the' enemy's camp quite equal to what Fovei . in our own. —Doily News. THE ATTEMPTED LTION. -e - Putsoat has been convicted, and his eeatence is death. Whether the sentence will be carried into execution, it remains with the Ex?Eacia to deter mine. His fate excites little interest in this country : few Englishmen have sympathies with an assassin. If the judgment of the Court be carried into execu tioa, it will be considered to be nothing more than the crushing of a wasp. It is, however, a curious coincidence that the record of the payment to Cate- Timms, the miusin who shot at the Duke of WlLL uxorox, of 10,354 francs, the principal and interest of the legacy left him by NAPOLEON 1., should appear in the same number of the Moonless that con tains the congratulatory address of the English residents in Peril to NAPOLEON 111., on his escape from the murderous attempt of Plssoiti. The terms of the bequest make this payment in some degree a sanction by the existing French Government of the principle of political assassination. We can perfectly enter into the feelings which have induced the Ex rmon to pay all the other legacies of his uncle; but surely payment of this one might have been withheld on the valid legal plea that it was contra bona mores. Connected with this payment the murderous attempt of PIANOS' almost appears like a providential rebuke of a tacit approval of nomination. Si a we have got upon this theme, we may be allowed to offer a brief comment on a pastor in the act. damnation (or indictment) of PIANORL London is described, in that document, as "that centre of the most audacious agitators—of these men whom rage and defeat have driven to madness, and who have Lome to each a point that appeal to crime is their only means to serve their ambitious designs, their material appetites, and their lust for power." We THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 8, 1855. Mt ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL should se little think of imputing blame to the French Government or people for this outbreak of a time serving lawyer, as we should of attaching blame to the Government and people of England for the noto rim line of defence adopted in the cue of (num TWI /MILL MM.) peace have fied, and yielded place to rough war. And here was some of war's handiwork. Never were nobler hearts, never worthier soldiers, ea.oh in his several sphere of duty, than those who heti been suddenly struck down in the midst of life anal energy, and who are now finding their last restiorplace on this spot. War engenders strange feelings, and works wonderful changes in men's natures: day after day the sudden transition from life to death is seers ; until at last the sight fails to produce even a passing agita tion in the spirit of the beholder ; but there were tew, among the many who testified by their presence to the worth of the dead, who were not. pierced with deep emotion as they heard the solemn words of the sacred eervice—" dust to dust"—end who saw the grave cover all that remained of the gallant Colonel Egerton and the brave soldiers by his side. Lord Raglan had signified, the day before, his in tention of being present at the funeral. After its I l conclusion, the Field Marshal had an interview with Captain Gilby, the senior captain who acted under Colonel Egerton in the affair, and with Colonel Yea, who commanded in the advanced work on the same occasion, and then paid a visit to the hospital of the 77th Regiment. On the way, one of the regimental buglers, named M'Gill, was introduced to Lord Raglan's notice. This young soldier had particularly distinguished himself ou the night of the attack. He was one of the first in the ambuscade, and having marked a Russian bugler there, he selected him for his antagonist, es if it were his particular province to attack a man of his own calling before any other. Although the Russian had the advantage in size, knocked him over, and eventually succeeded in securing him as a prisoner. He also carried off his bugle as a prize; but after a hard struggle, for the I Russian warmly contested his own right to this pro-1 perty. This trophy he had now the honour I of exhibiting to Lord Raglan, and on being / desired to sound same of the notes of the bugle, he at once blew the "advance." The instrument has a shriller tone than the English bugle, is small and portable, and has engraved on the bell the Russian imperial arms. In the straggle with the Russian bugler M'Gill inflicted a severe sword wound on a Russian soldier who came to the rescue, and after wards, having placed his prisoner in sate keeping, remained by his colonel's side till he fell. After visiting each of the hospital tents and huts, and speaking to some of the wounded, Lord Raglan returned to head-quarters. The cadet who was taken prisoner states that had we not taken the ambuscades, within a very short time they would have been joined together by the Russians themselves, and made to form part of a regular advanced trench to be connected with the works in rear. OF THE DAILY CAMP ABOVE BEBASTOPOL, APRIL 24. No event of particular interest has occurred in the siege operations since the 20th instant. The fire from the batteries hes continued slack, but changes' a importance are being made in the disposition of the siege artillery preparatory to future movements. There is talk of a repetition of the bombardment very shortly: if this should take place the fire will be heavier, for many of the larger guns have been con siderably advanced during the last few days. Se veral other engineeripg arrangements will be com pleted which were only in progress when the fire opened a fortnight ago. Perhaps a delay may take place until the railway shall have reached the two siege train depUte. The two branches, which diverge aeon after the main line has got to the summit of the hill above the Col di &dalliers, are fast advancing towards these two points in rear of our left sod right attack.. The requisite supplies of ammunition, the power of replacing guns which may happen to be disabled, and the carriage of munitions of war of all kinds will then be wonderfully facilitated. A rumour is also prevailing in camp that our allies will shortly have everything in train to ensure a success ful assault on that part of the town and works which are chiefly exposed to their attack. The capture of the ambuscades in front of Frenchman's-hill is en abling the engineers to advance still nearer to the Redsn the zigzag from the left of the advanced work in that situation. On the tight the French are gra dually sapping up toward the Mamelon Redoubt ; and, still further to the right, are extending their trenches towards the Russian redoubts on the west side of Careening Bay. It may be is well to mention that the large work which is alluded to in the English and French des patches as the " Nlamelon Redoubt," is called by the Russians the " Kauitschatka Redoubt." The " Kor niloff Bastion," which is frequently referred to in the Russian despatches, appears to be the work imme diately in front of the ruin of the old Hamad Tower, and now known as the Malakhoff batteries. The ravine which in the English camp is known as the " Middle Ravine," or eomeumes the " Otchakov Ra vine," is always spoken of as the " Karabelnaia" ravine in the French despatches. The French have given this name to it, because, in winding round to terminate in the valley of the south harbour, it passes by the Karabelnaia suburb of the city. The following are notes of some of the circum stances which have taken place since the last mail left. APRIL 21.—The advanced rifle pit in front of our new zigzag on Frenchman's-hill—which the night before was abandoned, after being taken, on the enemy returning in overwhelming force—was last night captured, and levelled to the ground. The Russian, did not engage in a contest for its posses sloe. They held it during the day, bet must have hurriedly retired soon after dusk, as they omitted to sorry off some of their arms and entrenching tools. The arms probably belonged to some of their comrades who had fallen the night before. Some of the English soldiers guarding the advanced works volunteered in the morning to go at that time and take the ambuscade. They made their request known to the field-officer commanding in the ad vanced work, and he communicated with the general of the right attack on the subject. The latter did not think it prudent that the affair should be under taken then, by daylight, and it was therefore deferred. The attempt would have been a bold one, and would no doubt have succeeded ; but would very probably have been attended with unnecessary loss of life, from guns being brought to bear on the ambuscade after it had fallen into our possession. Soon after dusk the parties told off to attack the ambuscade advanced. No fire was directed against them, and on entering the work they discovered the Russians had left it. Some muskets, and the bodies of two men who had been killed, were lying just within it. The working party at once set to work end levelled the parapet ; for the pit web not so placed es to be brought within the line of trench, as had been the case with the pit taken by the 77th Regi ment the night before. The capture of these ambuscades has since been found of great value, not only on account of the removal of an impediment to the progress of our sap in this direction, and of the annoyance caused by the fire of the Russian riflemen against our artillerymen, bat also on account of the opportunity it has afforded our men of interrupting the Russian artillerymen in the Redan. The ambuscade first taken, and now connected with our trench, at present forms a minia ture bastion, as it were, and from its loopholed wall, turned toward the enemy, our men discharge their Mines with impunity. The work is so close to the Roden, and in such a position, that its guns cannot be safficiestly depressed so as to bear against it. Some men of the let battalion of the Rifle Brigade have been also placed under cover on the opposite side of the left ravine—near to which, on the right, our zigzag is being formed—and have thus been brought to act is concert with the troops in the advanced trench on the right attack. The united fire of these two bodies has: for the present almost silenced the Iledan : a The following letter, from Timpartial of Smyrna, could not show himself near any of the em contains details respecting the operations of the left bwwlaa bat he was at once marked down, and the attack, which seldom come directly under the °beer- Remiss artillerymen were compelled to close these openings. In turn the enemy is constructing another vation of English correspondent.: formidable cover for his riflemen, taking advantage Before Sebastopol, April 21 to 24. la its formation of a large mousey a short way below At the rostra and the left the fire of the allies has outsider. the abatis which extends in front of the battery ably slackened, as it is not judged desirable to ezhaut too above. This work threatens to be strong and formid- quickly the store of ammunition, which so many months able. It assumes at present the appearance which were required to accumulate. Bet the question is, whether would be given by a number of crescent-shaped am- the enemy will not take advantage of this nearly total baseades joined together at the free extremities of suspension of ear fire to repair the ravages made in his their parapets. It will give cover to a large body of ' fortifications sad to remount his batteries ? riflemen, who will have the opportunity of throwing Sanday, April 22.—The fire of musketry was very out a diverging fire of very considerable range. The warm on the left attack the whole of last night, and cannon part of the Redau-hill on which it is placed has a shots boomed in quick succession. We have smog several steep incline, which will add to the difficulty of die- a i m i s th e ceme t er y, b e t ween the C entra l B aa u„ and lodging the enemy from this situation. that of the Quarantine, in order to bring our new works Colonel Egerton, Captain Lempridre, and four sol- nearer the emanated wall. Unfortunately these mines did dlera of the 77th Regiment , all of whom were k illed I not produce their effect on the side intended ; the explosion ba the first attack on the rifle-pits, were interred a I was rather towards us than towards the enemy, and th• little after 10 s.m. to-day. Lord Raglan, and a very f „ racow which were set fly i ng kill ed an d wounded several r aumeroue assemblage of staff and other officers, at- of our own men. We set to work immediately is the tended the funeral. They were buried on a gentle craters, notwithstanding the fire of rifles and grape. The declivity, where the bill in front of the light division works made good progress list night. We shall soon have slopes down toward the left ravine. The Woronsoff there, too, a fourth complete parallel at tees than 150 metres road to Sebastopol skirts the burying-place, and a I !from the crsaellatsd wall. In the:angle of that wall and neatly cut vent-atone marks the distanos--five the left flank of the Central bastion there is at present an vents—from the city. The picket-house, which has open breach that is computed to be about 150 metres broad. been so often spoken of, is a little way on in front. All the adjoining houses am dismantled and riddled by our Formerly the burials from this part of the stet. camp took place in the low ground of the Monday, April 23.—The night has passed at the trenches ravine itself, but many objections to this site with the greatest calm. Guns have been fired at rare and Were discovered, and the present mastery was se distant intervals. All is equally quiet this morning. The lacteal. The ground is not enclosed, but already en emy . do u ss . net appear_ re. to be more desirous than ourselves The Queen and Prince Albert, General Buckley, a few unpretending head -stones tell the names of of 110 tag the n . A spectator . might my that both Captain Da Plat, Mies Byng, and Miss Stanley, visited the some of the English soldiers whom remains lie sides were in an attitude of expectation. And yet no one Exhibition of Paintings, by Preach artists, yesterday. beneath. There are nearly a hundred graves here• here think. peace at all likely. Bat if the Etiessiess do not Nothing can exceed in beauty the magnificent aos- A new reason is now given for Lord Stratford de rot which opens in the view at this point.lt is fire a great deal , they work very hard. I have just paid • dying visit to the left attack, and seen nearly the whole of Sedeliffe's late visit to the Crimea. It is said that be west uere that, on ascending the hill from the plateau, I was amazed at the rapidity with which Se es to be able to hold direct communication with Lord traveller approaching by the high road would fi rst the English*" 'lda Resell, and Lords Clsreadon and Palmerston, by perceive the city and roadstead of Sebestopol. They I the enemy has repaired the injuries sustained by his dates = the telegraph. Looking at his lordship's parallel li ke a map sive works. The huge breach, for instance, that I had seen and the general Usibroglio, we may easily imagine s t re t c hed at the feet of the spectator, with my own eyes in the angle of the tessellated wall near mese very short pertinent questions, which it would be 0 r ... out before him, while the hills on the north Rattail fir his lordship to put, under the circumstances , mile and a vast expanse of omen complete the p i e- th i e th Cintral a b n e d sti i o l e e , d o li n ard e ly h ez o is: any lo li ag e er ; sacks filled az ter rise k btt saes to On Saturday the Rev. Reginald Norman Durant, hire. The Chereonese Cape and its lighthouse, the within thi d p f h alar wall in height, and thus dog LA was hemmed to the perpetual enemies of Itambergh long line of ships off the reset from the vessels ' it • r ° t • refi sus B. Michael, Brnth Elmbans, in Buff ilk, en the aemiss- Ruardielf Kamiesch to the sentry ships on watch the gap. Men of George Dermot, Esq., of Sock Birnbaum Hall. before the mouth of the great harbour, the works of The lead fortifications which terminate the defences of The new planet lately discovered at Dusseldorf has the French and those of our left attack are all visible the place on the Quarantine side, the Quarantine bastion Itaeolved the name of Leakothea. Its distinctive sign will at a glance. When there were vineyards and groves Itself, the Central and Flagstaff bastions, the faces of which, be as ancient light tower. in the valleys, and flocks and herds grazing on the together with the parapets and embrasures, seemed one The Cam has rewarded General Baron Osten- hills, and ships gliding in and out of the roadstead, mess of ruins, and the b a tt er i es of which won silenced, are p=s's merits as defender first of Odista, and next of the prospect must have been indeed charming—one low in a state for re-opening their lire. At first sight their topol, by raisin him to the dignity of a Count. of the finest in the world. Now, the serried lines inmate appearance is much the um* se it bas been for some • Washington Irving, says the flew York Courier, di v idi ng t h e b edews and besieg ed—the—the barriers gays past, bat when we examine them with the glass we Leaff,ring from a casualty sustained on the 18th of April. ; closing the harbour—the lifeless slips, prisoners in dissever that, amid the dismantled ee battered terraces, ties . Irving was riding on the river road seer Sunny Side, their own port—the ground furrowed by trenches in Jemmy has made openings to serve for embrasures. It is }bee his bons took fright and ran away. The animal's hoed was fortunately towards home which the plough has had no part—the scattered en- j ast the same with the batteries of the barracks and the terrible pus. Mr. Irving kept hi for which he made at s meat, aad might have oampmente,French,English,andltussian—the wreaths menet in front of the English attack. escaped unhurt, but as the bores tumid fro. the Main read of smoke from many batteries, and the booming of F re w, ra i c r araawacta reac h the Russians every day. We he fell cud threw his rider, she was takes up stunned bY th e guns—all these awaken far different emotions see f rom the heights to the north of the town their tents, the fall. Mr. Irving resained insensible for several hours, ".„ would have been evoked by the more peaceful' which are pitched in vast squares. In the Inkermann and, though for some time in danger, is now (April 21) considerably better, prospect of former days. Agriculture and the arts of wood and at the mouth of the pep in the mountains of The fire is the French batteries on the left has been very vigorous et intervals during the day. The Russians have replied with more energy than they have done for some time past. A body of Turkish cavalry made a reconnaissance in the valley of Balaklava to-day. They moved in a direction towards Tchorgouo. APRIL 23.—There was rather more than the usual amount of fire last night, and in the early part of the morning. At mid-day an armistice was arranged, which lasted near►y two hours, for the purposs of burying the dead near the rifle pits. About thirty bodies, among them the body of an officer, lying close beneath our parapet, as if he had been killed iu the act of mounting it, were removed by the enemy. The body of only one British soldier remained on the ground. The Russians had previously carried away a number of their fallen comrades, who had been killed a short distance from the work., during the night-time. There has been a rumour going about the camp that another serious attack has been made against Eupatotia, and even that it has been token. It is not unlikely that the Russians are concentrating a large force in the neighbourhood, and that this has given rise to the reports. Omer Pacha and a large body of Ottoman troops have proceeded there. There were races in the camp of the Third Division to-day. The health of the troops continues favourable. Fever is less prevalent. The General Hospital for cases of wounds and injuries from the front has been opened in the rear of the Fourth Division, and seve ral civil surgeons are in attendance there. Supplies of all kinds are abundant. The weather continues mild and dry. It is related from the camp that the remarkable inactivity of the defenders of Sebutopol under the fire of the Allies on the 9th ult., the first day of the re-, newt d general cannonade, a circumstance which was observed with wonder by the besiegers, is now traced to a plan of General t sten-Sacken, which our fire opened just in time to foil. The Russian general having learned that the garrison of Eupatoria had been reduced, by the departure of 15,000 Turkish ' troops under Omer Pacha, drew about the same number of men from Sebastopol, and marched to attack the former town. The remit was, that when our general fire opened before Sebastopol, the garri son was not sufficiently numerous to mart all the guns. Many persons in the camp believe that an assault might have been successfully attempted at this juncture; the besiegers, however, did not appear to become aware of their advantage until it had passed away, and until the roar of their artillery had recalled the Russian expedition back to the town, which it regained on the evening of the 10th ult. THE LEFT ATTACK. COURVOISIER. Bat we do think that the die eiple of the French Old Bailey school who indited these lines, might have been induced by recest events to have expunged them from his acte d'acetesation. In " that centre of the most auda cious agitators," NAPOLEON 111. passed unharmed, and safe even from insult, through dense crowds, with no other protection than our ba:oned police. In Paris not all the ramifications of a prying and in quisitorial secret police could prevent the attempt of the assassin. In England the EMPEROR was protected by the popular detestation of violence and cowardly, clandestine vengeance. The people of England have learned to conduct their popular movements by means of argument and votes, without recourse to arms. Even before they attained to this high grade of civilisation, they bad discovered the folly and criminality of assaseivation. With the exception of the Cato-street conspirators, we have had no political assassins in England, except • few maniacs; and the Cato-street con spiracy only excited abhorrecco and detestation. The rabid brawling of the vitriol declaimers of Dub lin would have aroused indignation had it not been so utterly contemptible. It is to the moral sense of the people of England that we are indebted for our emancipation from deeds of political bloodshed, public or clandestine. So strong Is the influence of this moral sense that even those who in other lands give the rein to their murderous propensities, pay homage to it, and conform to the customs of the country. Hence it is that England is a neutral ground, on which the most inveterate political antagoni,ts meet on terms of truce. It is a sacred asylum, within which they lay aside for the time their ferocious internecine propensities. Such declaimers as the author of PIANORI'S acts craccusation would gladly see England deprived of its character as an asylum, in order that they might gratify their short-sighted animosities by laying hold on their foes ; whereas this " centre of the moot audacious agitators," by serving as a school of humanity, saves even them selves from many perils. All this railing will not induce Englishmen to forego the proud distinction of their country, that on its soil political antagonists, though they may not cease to hate, must at least suffer each other to live in peace and security. It is not by sanguinary laws, or by police spies, that the other countries of Europe can hope to • attain to our exemption from political violence ; but by teaching their populations that liberty, though • it may occasionally be defended, never can be perma , neatly established and maintained by arms. We have within the lapse of less than thirty years man , cipated our Roman Catholic brethren, reformed our electoral institutions, abolished a grievous monopoly , to which the oligarchy clung with insane greed, all by peaceful agitation ; and we are now commencing a still more arduous agitation than any of these with the most perfect confidence that it will be prosecuted to ■ triumphant conclusion without any breach of , the peace. When the other nations of Europe have learned to imitate us in this then will their kings and nobles be safe from the plots of assassins, and not till then. We have ventured t suggest to the EMPEROR of the FRENCH that his payment of CANTILLON'S legacy may almost be regarded as an encouragement to the murderous attempt of Purim. Let us, in couclu lion, call upon such as may sympathise with the per verted principles of that poor foul to read aright the lesson taught by his failure. Had his plot succeeded he would only have plunged France into anarchy. His failure has only strengthened the EMPEROR of the FRENCH in the possession of despotic power. Peaceful arguments, and a conciliatory deportment, might have encouraged the French people to assert their claims to a greater share in the Government, and induced a man possessed of so much sagacity as NAPOLEON 111. to listen to their prayers. But the attempt upon his life will in all probability have the effect of stimulating him to further encroachments on popular liberty in self-defence; and fear of the anarchical state they have so narrowly escaped will prevail upon many Frenchmen to acquiesce in the stringency of a despotism they might otherwise have laboured to relax. This moral of the story of PleNom is not new. It is old as the debates in the schools on the merits, or demerits, of BRUTUS and CASSIUS. But it is not the less true and important on that account. —Doily News. VW Court. It is understood that her Majesty will give a second State Ball oa Friday, the let of Jane neat, and a second State Contact on Wednesday, the 20th of June. Her Majesty and Prises Albert, aeoempanied by the Princess of Hobe!'lobe Langenburg, visited the Exhibition of the French School of the Fine Arts, in Pall-mall yester day morning, attended by the Hon. Eleanor Stanley, the Hon. Beatrice Byog, Major General Buckley, and Captain Da Plat. Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, afterwards rode on horseback, attended by his Equerry in Waiting. The Prise's. Bohenlohe Langenburg visited the Duchess of Hest yesterday, at Clarence House, Bt. Jamie's. This Queen and Prince Albert, astoompealed by the Prin cess of Bobealohe Langenburg, and the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, honoured the Olympic Theatre with their pre tense in the evening. The royal suite consisted of the Coastal of Desert, Lord Darwin, Major-General Buckley, and Captain Du Plat. A deputation from the Steam Shipowners' Association had an interview with Lord Stanley of Alderley, and the Right Hoe. E. P. Bouverie yesterday, at the Board of Trade. The deputation consisted of Mr. Anderson (chair man), Mr. Roll, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Morgan (secretary). Mr. Rowland Bill had as iaterview with the Chancellor snits Eschequer yesterday, at his ofisial militate is Dowsing-street. His Royal Highness Prince Albert has intimated his pleasure that a meeting of the Royal Commis sioners of the Patriotic Fund, should take place in the Palm* at Westminster this afternoon, at 3 o'clock. Vofouska, near Batiklava, we c►n see with the glue large , encampments, which were not there a fortnight ago. The enemy is evidently collecting his forces, and means to try if he cannot keep the allies ►hut up in the triangle of seven or eight mum leagues we weepy in the Crimea. Per haps it is with the object of compelling him to draw off some of the forces in our rear that tamer Puha hes just taken back his forces to Eupatoria. That eppeare to me to be more probable than the necessity of so sudden a return for the defence of that small place, stilt held by nearly 25,000 men, and sufficiently fortified now to be secure against any sudden slunk whatever. I This afternoon, between 3 and 4 o'clock, the enemy hoisted • white flag on Fort Constantine, at the mouth of the harbour. The flag remained there nearly 25 minutia. During this time the batteries of the place did not suspend their fire, and, of coarse, the allies answered it. I don't knob what it meant, end could not even guess, for no flag was flyieg on the staff • little to the left of the Quarantine Bastion, where the 11 .g of trace is generally run up. TUESDAY, Aram 24.—A1l night long there has been a very hot fire of musketry, and a heavy cannonade going on, chiefly on the left attack. There has probably been some en gagement between our troops and thou! of the enemy, either for dislodging the ambuscades or for e!efeneling the workmen attacked by the Russians in their;works, which are rapidly approaching completion, especially throes facing the salient of the Flagstaff bastion. In the locus stands gained a week ago we are actually conatrusting • formidable breaching battery, at a distance of only 60 metres from the bastion. If the fortifleati:ns were of 11111Sonty, the result at such a distance would be infallible, but what wll be the effect of breaching earthen terraces ? P.S.—I have this instant received precise information of what occurred last night in front of the Flagstaff bastion. Tne Russians sprang a mine at 11 p.m., for the purpose of getting into . the craters o f th e groun d, w h ere I to ld you we I are constructing a breaching battery. Their mine produced no effect. A second one, which exploded at midnight, was slightly more sum slut, but without killing many of our men ; but a third mine, fired at three o'clock this morning, aid us a great deal of harm. Still , the enemy was nA able to penetrate our works, finding in the bayonets of our intrepid colliers an impenetrable rampart. THE MEDITI (EllOll TUE CORRESPONDENT OP THE DAILY NEWS.) MALTA, MAY 2. We continue to be visited by vessels, both French and English, en route to the Crimea. On the 30th ult. the Sardinian frigate Carlo Alberto (steamer arrived with 900 Sardinian troops, fine looking men, and sen sibly dressed, their hat, c , at, and trousers being really meant for use; no pipeclay nor anything to teazo the soldier, the feather in the hat—the only thing to find fault with—giving them rather a bre gandish, theatrical appearance. They were very clean, and very well conducted, and made a most favourable impression. They went on next day to Constantinople, where they expect to remain until joined by the rest of their force, when all will pro ceed together to the Crimea. The same day we had a large number of the French Guards, the finest French soldiers we have had here, who promenaded the town, and made things very plea sant. In the evening, when the Scotch band of the 72nd Highlanders played in the square, it had a very brilliant appearance. The fine strong men of the French Guard, the Sardinians, our own Highlanders, and the various uniforms of our different depots all mixed in the most friendly manner. The C.lllO Alberto brought us intelligence of the loss of the Crcesus steamer, which was received with great regret. The Indian, which arrived on the lot from Bala klava with invalids, was in consequence ordered to land them here and proceed to Genoa to take the place of the Crcesus, and she proceeds this morning. The Simla, Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer, arrived yesterday from Constantinople, which she left on the 27th, bringing news from the Crimea to the 24th. She will proceed to England, with the 230 Russian prisoners she brought, this morning, taking also a large number of passengers and horses from Malta. Lieut. Maclean, of the 13th Dragoon*, son of Sir Charles Maclean, takes a passage in her; he has been staying here with his father some time for the recovery of his health. The Lady Eglinton, steamer, also arrived yesterday from the Crimea with invalids. About the sth, the steamer Emperor and ILM.S. Cyclops will leave here for the Crimea, taking rein forcements, shot, shell, pickaxes, and warlike imple ments to Balaklava. The Emperor also takes malts. Our Ordnance appear to be very busy bending oft stores and powder. There was a report that the army was short of powder. It originated from there being a scarcity in camp, but it was speedily supplied from Baleklava. Our news from thence is up to the 24th. The firing had ceased for a short time, but is now resumed, but not with the e ff ect we could have wished. The men are in good spirits. Lord do Radcliffe and his family ate living on board the Caradoc, at Batiklava, enjoying the hospi talities of Captain Derriman. The Bishop of Gibraltar is also in the Crimea. We can see two transports with French troops being towed by the island to the Crimes, without stopping here. THE BALTIC FLEET. (7101 t THE OP TRZ 'MALT NENi .) KIEL, MAY 6. The splendid fleet left yesterday morning—in all twenty sail. The destination of the ships was kept a profound secret up to the last moment. Many officers left word at the poet-office to have their letters sent on to " Cronstadt or elsewhere;" bat the general im pression in the fleet was that they were going at once to Riga, if the state of the ice permitted it. From the course they steered on leaving Kiel harbour, it is impossible to guess their real destination. Proceed ing as they did outside (or to the northward of) the island of Folmar°, that track would lead them either to Copenhagen, °offload, or the Gulf of Fin land. Admiral Dundu is very popular in the fleet, and enjoys very much of the confidence of his officers and men. Admiral Seymour is also a general fa vourite. In coming down to Kiel the Lightning grounded between the islands of Langeland and Omoe, but got off again in a very short time without sustaining any damage. It must be added that a thick fog rendered it impossible to see the land on either side. Fortu nately the vessel was going very cautiously, at less than half speed, and when the water shoaled suddenly from nine fathoms to three her engines were imme diately stopped, and she got on the mud bank with out any concussion. A hawser was laid out astern, and by means of this and reversing the engines she soon managed to get afloat again. The Aftonbladet states that some of the ships of the flying squadron were seen off the island of Gothland on the 18th ult. RUSSIA. (rsou Our G DENT OP THE DAILY saws.) WARSAW, MAY 1. [Priam Paskiewitsch left this city last night for the fortress of Iwanogrod, *comp puled by his aide-de-camp, General Froloff. His departure, together with other military movements now taking plane in Poland, has annihilated all the hopes of peace to which the inhabitants were looking forward with so much anxiety. The appointment of the Privy Councillor and Senator Pogodin to be Com- ! missarrGeneral of the active army—the news of ! which arrived here the day before yesterday from St. Petersburg—is also considered as a fresh sign of the energetic continuance of the war. The Colonel of the 2nd Infantry Corps, General Paniutine, has re turned to his headquarters at Lublin ; and the Privy Councillor Czetyrkin, head of the medical department i of the active army, is gone to Kielcze, to make some arrangements in connexion with the hospitals. The cholera is still raging, particularly in the lower parts of the city, and thae nearest the river ; about 200 are ' attacked daily, and of these about a third die. Un happy Poland! ODESSA, Aran 26. Within the last twelve monthi it great . change in the outward appearanegof this ofty is perceptible, so much so, that persons who were here last year would scarcely know it again. Instead of the former coin mercial bustle and activity, the place is quiet and nearly begthus deserted have mbyasdvayilaihanast,uwphthcheiirn house., ,ofanadbon.m- 1 . i t • . . . 3 tired houses moveablet to tiro th p. property. interior tiop.,: 7i discharged, ohiNrtgoheted thcountry,esingle counting-h o us e s m emerchan t taking eha w t i t p h a e ei s t a nthoewirtofambeiliesseeanndinththee hmaearuvra,ltuhaeblep , numerous ar t of tlle r 1 i • work- men employed by the merchants in the corn wares I shut up, the Exchange deserted, and money at a great premium owing to its scarcity and the general insecurity. Oar merchants cow spend their time in reading, instead of making money. They speak very cautiously about public affairs, but it is easy to per- ceive and have no confidence in the ultimate success of the Russian arms, nor do they evince aey enthusiasm for , the cause of the Emperor. From the number of . spies about, they, however, feel and think more than t they say, for they are looked ou with suspicion, and every word that escapes them i s su bj ect to especial I examination from the numerous secret agents of the police. This is especially the case with the foreigners resident here, and even the consuls of neutral and • friendly powers are not exempt from this system of . surreillance. I Thisbe who have an opportunity of looking behind i the curtain will confirm what I say, that the so I ' I • loudly vaunted patriotism of the Russians ought not to be taken for more than it is really worth. Even : the enthusiastic che e ri ng h ear d i n pu bli c b y the soldiery, when a made-up despatch is read to them of an important and decisive victory over the enemy at Sebsstopul, or the particulars and even names of • . the English line-of-battle ships sunk and destroyed . . by the inimitable artillerymen of Fort Constantine, subsides into cold indifference on their arrival in barracks, after the order to cheer has been carried into effect. But it is more particularly in the hospitals that the true feelings of the men may be studied; .I . for on a bed of sickness, or whilst suffering from the I rudely performed amputation of a limb, and when • . hovering between life and death, the Ituseian soldiers i I' are apt to speak their mind, freely, and communicate to each other what they feel and think without mach tear of the knout in perspective, it being very proble- matical whether they shall live to undergo once more that well-known punishment, to which they have been accustomed all their days. 1 • The large and extensive building known as the se- minary for young noble ladies hos been fitted up as •I! a hoepital ;so have the barrack 4 for soldiers under a arrest, as well as several other government esta- blishments. But notwithstanding all these arrange- ments, your readers will be able better to judge of I the number of sick and wounded here when 1 state , . - that the existing hospitals are still not roomy enough, ' 1 and that upwards of 200 mili tar y pat i ents are at this moment inmates of the municipal civil hospital. ' Great pains are taken to keep all these things secret, but when ne.v hospitals are fitted up, it is evident i.l that those already existing are nut adequate to the , • number of patients. I The soldiers submii to their miserable lot without murinur.rig, and bear their hard fate with a sort of dogged resignation. Those who are nut in the hospitals are be ter fed than in time of pea ce , for now they actu- ally get rations of meat twice a week ; whereas when there is no war going on meat is a luxury with I which they are totally unacquainted. Th e y a l so : I now get a better description of bread, though still •, made of rye, and of very dark colour; but independ- ently of the risk of getting a rifle bullet through their head, they are obliged to work very hard at the de- fensive works in course of construction. The Russians have not been idle since the bombard- ment of last year, and have thrown up some very fermi able works for the safety of the place. Those ou the side towards the sea may be considered as finished. A very large battery has been built at Lusdorf, and armed with guns of heavy calibre. Another, with 12 large pieces of ordnance, has been made near the farm Langeron ; and then there is the so-called DschitFchi Battery, aimed with the guns of I the unfortunate Tiger, one of which, however, burst whilst exercising the Artillery recruits. Another battery has been formed in front of the house called Potemkin, and two others are placed on the pier of the harbour for ships of war ; and one, win It eight guns, ou the Androsow-pier. On the Boulevards are two new batteries, one before the palace containing I the offices of the governor-general, and the other before the house ,Carouta, whilst the two list in this formidable catalogue are ematrocted in the garden of the Archbishop of Webb& and iu that of Prince Na. . rislikin. The beautiful Custom-house has been fortified as defensive barracks, and is occupied by two regiments of infantry; whilst the offices of the Customs, that is to say, the archives, &c. (fur, on account of the war, there is no business to execute, and the employes hold temporary sinecures), have been removed to the house Attchinikoff, on the Alexander Boulevards. Those of your readers who have been at this place li will no doubt remember the fifteen large guns half embedded in the masonry of the great pier forming I the war harbour, and used for mooring the ships to. Tradition ascribes them as having been taken from the Swedes in some previous war. They have lately been disembedded, thoroughly cleaned inside and out, and although they were naturally found to be much honey-combed, yet they are still serviceable, and It have been mounted to reinforce the heavy artillery on the Schegetoff battery on the pier of the harbour for merchaut ships. On the road from Odessa to Bessarabia, through Tira'pol and Dalnick, much fewer troops will be • seen than might bo expected; but on the other side of the Dniester, and particularly in the neighbour- 'l I hood of the fortress of Bender, the extensive lines of i 6 newly erected carthwinke, redoubts, and other works 1 of defence abundantly testify to the diligent industry that the Russians have paid to the defence of their country, and prove that they are prepared to dispute , every inch of ground. The roads are in an almost i impassable state now that the frost is over. Waggons i and artillery sink up to the axletreee in the soft muddy soil, and upwards of sixty horses are not 1 unfrequently seen dragging one single gait. 6 The fine spring weather we have had lately pro- ~ . mises well for the crops , but the owners of estates . complain sadly of the want of hands to perform the i I farm work, as the country has been of late so much I drained of men for the army. In former years thou- . sands of able-bodied agricultural labourers tame down I from the provinces of Charkow, Kaluga, Orel, Nes- t chin, and Kursk, to seek employment. This year but j very few have arrived, and they have been ell engaged by the government to assist is the military I works of' defence above described. The German colonists are best off in this respect. &log exempted front military servitude, they are permitted to culti- vate their lands without interruption. Formerly the Russian workmen came to them to seek emplot tont. : At present they are visited personally by the Russian nobles, to induce them to assist in tilling the fields of the latter,, who are glad to obtain the use of their services under any conditions. 1 DESPATCH FROM LORD RAGLAN. , i (room • SUPPLIKINT TO THIB LONDON OAZITTII.) 11. WAR DEPARTMENT, May 7. Lord Panmure has this day received a despatch and its enclosures, of which the following are copies, , I addressed to his lordship by Field-Marshal the Lord , 1 Raglan, G.C.B. : " BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, APRIL 24. 1 1 "My Lord,—Nothing material has occurred since i I immediately in front of r I that which was taken on the night of the 19 th , w as 7, a T d h e e m ß y un re i p e o n rt ri t fl o epit, your lordship on the 21 st i t nst. 1 , t I destroyed by a party of volunteers on the morning of - , the 21st inst. These were headed by Lieutenant and •' i I stated to be an excellent officer, and to h ave co nduct ed manner. ' i' f ' himself on the occasion in the most spirited . "The pit was found to be empty, and being useless II . 1 i: immediately levelled and filled in. The enemy - was ~ f I Adjutant Walker, of the 30th Regi ment, who ls regret t I which, I to a I say, is heavy. The nearer w Hitherto it haft 3 I the more loss is to be appreheeded. ~, i I been lees than might have be tel expected. —l have, r did not interrupt uthpet list tlie 0 work. eae 3 I &c., naleties, approach theowe . RAGLAN. - " The Lord Nunn" *e. " ormoo OF CM , VALTUKFKOI. nut The Ts 111 X sus or APRIL, 1855, , ~,,,,,,,,,,,,--edi auaimeat td Foot-1 Teak and Ala, wounded. 17th . Feet-I rack and eL, killed. 19th Foot -T rank sued file, wounded. D vitt, Foot-3 rank and file, wounded. 4lat F,..0t-1 rank Bed file, 1 i kilted; 15 rank and file, wounded. 118th Foot -1 sergeant, wounded. 47th Foot-3 rank end file, united. 49th Foot- I rank and Ala, killed; 1 rank and Ilia.n NM roat.-1 sergeant, 1 rank and d Me, wounded. 57th Foot-. 2 Tank saw file, killed; 2 rank and file , I wounded. 62nd Foot-'. rank and tile, killed; 1 odeer, wounded. ' 77th Punt-1 rank and ale, wounded. be.h Foot-i rank and file. F. wounded. tad Walks MAI Brigade-7 rash sad fits, womb& ~. '. , - 4 ... tired 'midi of