The Press. — London, England, 1854-01-21 00:00:00

WM" 62 TO ADVERTISERS. The abolition qj the Duty on Advertisements enables us to insert at the price of Three Shillings the Advertisements for which we have hitherto charged Five; and Adver tisers generally will receive the full benr,fil of the change in the law. TO CORRESPONDENTS. It in Impossible to acknowledge the mows of letters we receive. Their insertion is often delayed, owing to a press of matter ; and when omitted, it is frequently from reasons quite inde pendent of the merits of the communication. We cannot undertake to return communications of which we do not avail ourselves. Cctumunications should always be legibly written, and on ono side of the paper only. If long it increases the difficulty of tloding space for them. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publica ►on, but as a guarantee of his good faith. Yljt 21 ritgg. LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1854. roSTSCRIPT. THE EASTERN QUESTION. THE instructions to the admirals of the French and English vessels are :—To salute Russian vessels ; to warn them to return to a Russian port; to accom pany Turkish vessels to different Turkish ports ; to cruise off the Turkish coasts ; to avoid all collision with Russian vessels, and to prevent the same be tween the belligerents; not to approach the Russian coast ; and, if attacked by Russians, to act simply on the defensive. _ _ Rumours have prevailed respecting the alleged receipt of orders from St. l'etersburg to the Russian admiral enjoining him to put to sea with his whole fleet, amounting, it is stated, to forty vessels of war, from Sebastopol. Incredible as the report appears under the circumstances, Admiral I)undas is said to have so tar believed in the posibility of such a mes sage as to keep his ships together instead of scat tering them, as he previously intended, on various services. Among other reports from the Black Sea is one to the effect that a Russian squadron was occu pying the harbour of Batoum. Full details are still wanting of the battles at Kalafat. It is known that the conflict which coin menced on the 6th was resumed on the two following days. Accounts received from Belgrade, and through southern routes of communication, assign a consi derable advantage to the Turks, who had repulsed for three days successively a large Russian force arrayed for the attack of Kale.fat, killing 3,000 men, wound ing many more, with General Aurep among the number, taken several cannon, and carrying off the ho nours and advantages of an actual victory. Despatches from Vienna and elsewhere, giving the Russian nar rative of the events, tell a different story. They reproduce, with slight variations, the statements, evidently fallacious, contained in Prince Gortscha koff's official bulletin, which ran as follows : " On the Ath of January the Turks, to the number o niece than 18,000 men, with twenty-four pieces of cannon,f attacked at Tchetate the right flank of General Count Aurep's detachment. Three battalions, with six guns that were at hand, heroically sustained the attack of the Turks until the arrival of General Bellegarde with four battalions upo i the right flank of the enemy. At the approach of this reinforcement a part of the Turks turned towards hint. The combat was very hot at first, but the enemy was soon compelled to retreat upon Kalafat. In this glorious affair, in which seven Russian battalions repulsed an enemy of three times stronger force, the Turks lost six guns and two beiraks, left a large quantity of arms and more than :1,000 dead upon the field of battle. Among the dead was found a Pasha." The known result of the whole affair is that the Russians retired to Krajowa, and the Turks to Kalafat. This looks like a drawn battle; but it must be remembered that the consequence is the total discomfiture of a grand attack which the Russian generals had planned against Kalafat for the 12th inst., New Year's-day according to the old style. Advice's have reached Paris from St. Petersburg, of the 12th of January, which describe the position of affairs as affording little hope for the maintenance of peace. The Emperor is described as living in a state of religious exaltation, regarding himself as the chosen instrument, under the hand of God, to drive the Moslem from Europe, and only regretting that he should have allowed so many years to pass by without fulfilling his destiny. 'l'he populace at St. Petersburg have worked themselves up to the highest pitch of fanaticism, cheering the Emperor whenever he appears in public with the wildest en thusiasm, and denouncing as traitors all who dare to speak of peace. The only Minister who is supposed THE PRESS. to advocate a peaceful course is Count Nesselrode, and he has entirely lost his influence with his Impe rial master. Count Orloff, on the other band, who is the Emperor's dearest friend, is eager for war. Rumours of the immediate recal of M. do Kisse • left have obtained currency in Paris almost daily, with daily versions of cause and pretext. All these reports, however, are traced to the Bourse, and no further. Letters from the shores of the Black Sea state that the Russians are establishing at different points, and mote especially in the Crimea, defensive en trenchments and coast batteries. They have changed the direction of the fires and lighthouses constructed to protect vessels arriving from the offing, and have also reinforced the garrisons of the towns beyond the maximum of war. It is rumoured in the diplomatic circles of Paris that the Emperor of Austria has made another strong appeal to the Emperor of Russia, and that hopes are entertained of its being successful. A Vienna letter of the 15th mentions a report that M. Buol Schauenstein, the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, was about to leave for Warsaw on a special mission. It was said that Count Nesselrode was at Warsaw waiting to receive him.' ROYAL VISIT TO HATFIELD-HOUSE. THE Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury have, during the week, given a succession of princely en tertainments at their seat in Herts, in compliment to their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, who have been sojourning there for four days. The Earl and Countess Dela. warr and Lady Arabella West, the Earl and Countess of Derby and Lady Emma Stanley, the Earl of Malmesbury, the Earl and Countess of Hardwicko and Lady Elizabeth Yorke and Lord Royston, Vis count Chelsea, Viscount Anson, Lord and Lady Rokeby and the Hon. Misses Montagu (2), Lord Robert Grosvenor and Miss Grosvenor, Lord Bing ham, Lord Grey de Wilke, Lord Somerton, the Hon. Captain Egerton, the Hon. P. Talbot, the Hon. H. Drummond, the Hon. William Wellesley, the Hon. and Rev. W. and Mrs. Talbot, Mr. Grosvenor, Mr. Vivian, and Mr. Norman Macdonald, arrived on Monday, to have the honour of meeting the Royal Duchess and the Princess, who travelled from Lon don by special train, on the Great Northern Railway, to the Hatfield station. That (Monday) evening there was a grand dinner party, covers being laid for forty persons. At the conclusion of the dinner the party adjourned to the saloon, where a carpet dance, brought to a close soon after midnight, termi nated the festivities. • The Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Malmesbury, the Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Robert Grosvenor, Viscount Anson, the lion. P. Talbot, and a party of gentlemen, went out on Tuesday morning shooting in the preserves within the park. In the evening there was another grand dinner, followed as on the night previous by a carpet dance. On Wednesday morning another shooting expedition was arranged. Above 1,000 head of game was killed in the two mornings' sport. The Marchioness of Salisbury having sent out invitations for a grand ball this (Wednesday) evening in honour of her royal visitors, the banquet took place at an earlier hour than customary. Afterwards the ball commenced, and was attended by a brilliant party of more than 504) guests, comprising nearly the whole of the nobility, gentry, and clergy connected with the county of Hertford. The majority of the visitors haying been introduced to their Royal Highnesses, the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary passed into the gallery, at the north end of which splendid apartment a dais had been prepared for the royal party. The ball was opened at half-past nine o'clock with a quadrille, the Princess Mary of Cambridge dancing with Lord Robert Grosvenor, the Marchioness of Salisbury and Viscount Anson dancing vis-a-vis. Shortly after midnight a magnificent supper was prepared in the winter dining-room, after partaking of which the company returned to the gallery, where dancing was resumed, and the ball proceeded until nearly three o'clock, when it terminated with the old English country dance of Sir Roger de Coverley. Their Royal Highnesses, who during their stay at Hatfield have occupied the suite of rooms set apart for the Queen when her Majesty and the Prince Consort paid their visit to the noble marquis in 1546, after taking leave of the noble marquis and marchioness, left yesterday by railway for town, cn route to the royal cottage at Kew. THE BANE OF FRANCE raised its rate of discount to 5 per cent. on Thursday. THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, held at the Tuileries on Thursday, resolved on several measures necessary for the embarkation of troops for the East; but the details are not known. TILE authenticity of the letter said to have been addressed by the Duchess of Orleans to the Due de Nemours, repudiating the "fusion," is somewhat faintly questioned by the Paris journals. airtina FROM THE POST-OFFICE INQUIRY which is still proceeding in Dublin it is anticipated that lu ny changes will result attended with increased conve nience to the public and economy to the Exchequer. From what has transpired of the investigation it is reported that the dead-letter office and the officers of the Receiver and Accountant- Creneral are to be swept away or amalgamated with head-quarters at St. Mar tin's-le-Grand. The office of " Secretary" is to be done away with, and the management of the estab lishment entrusted to a " Postmaster," the same as in Liverpool, Cork, Belfast, or any other provincial town. It is also contemplated to abolish the mail_ guards, and transfer the duties of those functionaries to the several railway companies who hold contracts for the conveyance of the mails. Altogether it is calculated that, by strict economy, and without in the least impairing the efficiency of the Irish branch of the Post-office, the treasury and the public will be gainers to the amount at least of 10,0001. per annum. IT has been determined to establish a maritime school in Belfast in connection with the National Board of Education, and with the co operation of the mercantile community. THE TRACT DISTRIBUTION CASE was decided on Tuesday in the Court of Queen's Bench, when the judges coincided iu &judgment directing that awrit of certiorari should issue. The effect will be that the proceedings in the case of O'Brilinan v. Smith, the informations, and the judgment of the police magic. trate, Mr. O'Callaghan, will be returned to the Court of Queen's Bench, where ulterior proceedings may be taken. AN influential meeting of the people of Drogheda, presided over by the mayor, was held on Monday for the purpose of memorialising Government on the ne cessity for constructing of a port of safety, or a har bour of refuge for shipping, at some eligible point on the eastern coast of Ireland. ACCORDING to a statement in a respectable Roman Catholic journal, the Galway Packet, it appears that " a peremptory order either has been or will shortly be issued by the Holy See prohibiting the priesthood in Ireland from taking any active or prominent part for the future in political matters." The Packet publishes an article embodying this announce ment in its most prominent column and largest type. Our contemporary nevertheless confesses some de sire for " more decided information " on the subject. A FARMER, named l'atrick Alllahon, residing near Crossmaglan, and who was waylaid and brutally beaten about a month since, died on Sunday from the eflects of the injuries then inflicted upon him. The Newry Telegraph asserts that the tmfortunate deceased had incurred the displeasure oftho Ribbon men by paying his rent with punctuality, contrary to the injunctions issued by those legislators ; and that the consequence was the outrage to which he has fallen a victim. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. Tuesday, Jan.l7. BANKRUPTCIES A N NULLED.—THOWAS ARCHER, Bram tree, It: woe:, woollen draper—Tuomas Bum., Bristol, shipowner — J OliN ROREUTIMAW China, Lalleallhire, iron founder. BANKRUPTS. FREDERICK MAYSTON, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, grocer—llia:Ai GazEs, Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk, baker—HENRY HOLMAN WOOL, 11443110 r, hostirX, ietualler— JAM S LEWIS LaRR, Norwood, Surrey, breser DENIS G RIF VITUS, Birminghtllll, tuilor—Joatrn CAMM, Quorudou, Leicestershire, miller-- EnwArtn Boss, Nottingham, lace cap manufacturer— CORNELIL S BOWE PALLIER, Newport, Mom rnoutlishire, porter merchant—Tnosiss Fut no, Manchester, Junk eepei —IV ILL lAK BR l' lITOPI, Bradford, Yorkshire, joiner— JANES FLAME, Liverpool, stationer bLacanisKi Manchester, publican. SCOTCIi SEQUESTRATIONS.—Joatt Anima, Slasgsvr. merchant—A LENA ND ER BnowN, Edinburgh, merchant-11 03 W °moon, Milacron of Braelangwell, farmer. Friday, January '2O. BAN KM: PIS.— B EtiJA 14111.1. ER, I.andport, Porisea, mu' cer and draper-6EOEOs NEWNAN, Stratford-place, Camden. town, builder-40nm MEER SWEET, Tunbridge Wells, need* man—TIMMY WINTON. 11AltILY JtIIN I,ANoRiDoE WINTON, and EDWIN WILLIAM WINTON, Birmingham, agricultural imple• meat makers—Wit-Liam TAYLOR WARREN, MATTHEW WARREN, and CHARLES DENROCIiE, Cardiff, contractors and builders — GEORGE KILLICE KENT, Taunton, pliunber and MANI lizsxmrit, Blitekbuni, manufacturer—Jons WORPLET, Miu,cleatield, cabinetinaker`—kKAßLßS Joint roofs, Bride water, Someractalliro, Utter. SUOTe II 81.1Q1' sTBAT lON—li mums !Kitt°, BlanPa tilek lienfrewaliire, distiller. painter—Nn• KALAFAT, of which so much has been said lately, is s town of 2,(XX) houses, surrounded with walls, with a quaint tine, a townhall, a cnstoni•house, three churches, and, cavalry barracks. It is the chief place of a sub•adnnsk trator's district. The redoubts raised by the Tnrks are of great extent and very strong. The/ are partly constructd on two high hills in the plain of Kalafst, about a tulle distant from each other, and have a numerous artillery. All the neighbouring country is commanded by these lulls in such a way that no approach to the Danube can be made. In 1te214 these hills were occupied and fortified by the Russians. Between \Viddin and Kalafat the Danube is little less than a mile wide, and the current very rapid. The island in which the Turks are fortified is situated nest. I the left bank ; it is partly covered with wood , and s defended by strong entrenchments in earth, bearing large artillery. Above Widdin the Turks have construct4 4l new citadel, according to the modern rules of art. SATURDAY, 1