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

JUNE 3, 1854. Arrears of nearly 1,000,0001. sterling had accumu lated during seventeen months, in the course of which period only 200,0001. had been forwarded from Constantinople for pay and supplies. A letter from Trebizond, dated May 5, states : " The news of the bombardment of Odessa was received with enthusiasm. The consuls of France, England, and Austria hoisted their flags, and the Paella went and paid them a visit. Souchonm•Kaleh, abandoned by the Rus sians, has just been occupied by the Abasiates, who took possession of the warehouses and the merchandise they contained, and hoisted the Turkish flag. The Russians, to the number of 5,000 or 6,000, marched upon Redout- Kaleh, whence it is thought they will endeavour to reach Tiflis. They have evacuated and burnt Anapa." The Russians, at the demand of the Turks, have promised not to fire on the hospitals in the fortress. The Turks are stated to have evacuated Turtukai, Nicopolis, and Sistowa. Only the first-mentioned island has been occupied by the Russians. The Russians had completed a bridge for crossing over to the bank on the Silistrian side. If Silistria should fall Luders' corps would then form the left wing of the corps operating against the Balkan. News from Bucharest of the 18th says, notwith standing all that has been hitherto reported to the contrary, that Little Wallachia is not entirely evacuated, in consequence of counter orders from St. Petersburg. According to a letter from Constantinople, in a Marseilles journal, Omer Pacha has officially corn municated to Marshal SL Arnaud and General Lord Raglan the following statement of his regular forces : 128 battalions of infantry, each 700 strong Four battalions of chasseurs 64 squadrons of cavalry (on an average 125 men per squadron) .. Artillery '224 pieces, and 4,000 men (the latter ex cellent troops) 2 battalions of engineers, each 000 strong Total ... The irregular troops were stated to consist of 13,745 infantry, not well disciplined, but robust and intrepid, and excellent for harassing the enemy. The irre gular cavalry consists of 14,355 men, who are gene rally well mounted, and can be usefully opposed to the Cossacks. The total of irregulars is consequently 28,100, and these, added to the regulars, make a grand total of 132,300. Letters from Belgrade and Widdin state that the Austrian troops are continually coming down the Danube, in the direction of Orsova and the Walla chian frontier. Very considerable forces are now con centrated in Hungary and Transylvania. A judicious suggestion for the treatment of the Russian prisoners, who are accumulating in consider• able numbers upon the hands of the commanders in the Black Sea and Turkey, is thrown out by a corre spondent from the spot when writing to one of our daily contemporaries : " The question is what can be done with these men. To confine them on board of prison-ships is barbarous and unprofitable. Indeed, I can see no reason why they should be taken to England at all. There is plenty of work to be done in Turkey, even for the safety and com fort of our troops, if there were but willing hands to do it. Roads and bridges are to be made ; entrenchments have to be thrown up. Our army is small enough to all purposes, and it is a pity that a large part of our available force should be locked up in trenching. Why should not the Russian prisoners be used for work of this sort •.' Their condition in the Czar's service is not so enviable as to instil into them a strong wish to rejoin their regiments, and, if their treatment and food were only tolerable, it would in their eyes be excellent. If kept in good order they might be highly useful. Let those in England whom it may con cern think about this matter." How Cronstadt may be taken is discussed in a letter from an officer belonging to the Baltic fleet, dated May 15. He says:— " I suppose our friends in England, ' who live at home at ease,' are much dissatisfied with us for not having achieved anything fnrther than the capture of a few mer chant -ships. However, I can assure you that the admiral is not to blame, as the ice has not yet disappeared from the upper partof the gulf; but if it had I cannot see that we can commence operations upon Cmnstadt until the fleet at Helsingfors is either destroyed or disabled, otherwise we should have it harassing oar rear, and placing us between two fires. Again, we must wait until gun-boats arrive from England. These must be of a very light draught of water ; and we require also some large fiat-bottomed boats, besides at least 2,000 soldiers, as we cannot spare 200 men to form landing -party. Many persons consider Cronstadt to be impregnable. This, however, is far from being the case, and I think it might be taken with a comparatively trifling loss. lam neither captain nor admiral, but, had I a voice in the matter, I would say by all means silence Alexander Fort, on the north-east part of the island, and simul taneously land a large body of troops in the flat-bottomed boots, covered by the fire from the gun-boats and those yes eels that can venture close enough; and I believe Cronstadt is not so well garrisoned as to spare many men to oppose the landing. Some of the forts and batteries for the pro tection ofthe channel are, I understand, open on the land aide, so that, while the fleet bombarded the forts in detail, the troops on shore would keep up & galling fire from the THE PRESS. heights upon the gunners. There are certainty two or three redoubts which must be bombarded by the gunboats and carried at the point of the bayonet. The only difficulty that I apprehend is that the Admiralty will send us gun boats totally unfitted for the service, as they ought not to draw more than six feet of water, and should be built of sufficient scantling to bear the concussion of heavy artil lery." THE VIENNA CONFERENCE. (From the Morning Herald.) TEN days have elapsed since we, following our weekly contemporary the PEase, have preferred against Ministers a charge which is one of the most serious character. We have already disclaimed any know ledge, except that which we, in common with the public, derived from the columns of that well. informed journal ; but, on the authority of that journal, we repeated the accusation, and demanded that Minis ters should at least reply to it. From that hour to this no denial had been hazarded, either in Parlia ment or in the press. Let us now earnestly recal the attention of Englishmen to what the accusa tion is. On Saturday week it was stated in the PRESS that asqurances had been given by the British Govern ment, both to Austria and Prussia, that in no result of the war would England disturb the present tern tonal extent of the Russian empire. That is, our Ministers have promised that, no matter what may be the successes of the allied arms, those successes shall not damage the position of the Czar. Before we comment on the effect of such a stipulation, let us refer to the corroboration it receives. A joint memorandum has been prepared by the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin, and transmitted to their envoy at the Germanic "‘iet. From the translation of this document we extract the following remarkable passage : " Both Cabinets have agreed with (rich begeguetan) those of Paris and London in the conviction that the conflict between Russia and Turkey could not be prolonged without affecting (berukres) the general interests of Europe, and those also of their own states. They acknowledged in common that the maintenance of the integrity of the Otto man empire, and the independence of the Sultan'sGoveru went, is a necessary condition of the political balance, and that the war should, under no circumstances, have for result any change in existing territorial positions. The respective declarations and assurances of the belligerent parties offered a prospect of success to the mediatory activity of the four powers represented in conference at Vienna. The particulars of these negotiations, and the grounds of their failure, are apparent from the five protocols of this Con ference, which are herewith laid before the High Diet. The last of these shows that, albeit France and Great Britain have, meanwhile, entered into the war against Russia, the four Cabinets invariably adhere to the principle proclaimed heretofore by them in common, and have united in regard to the basis (princip ) on winch to deliberate in common as relates to the appropriate (geeigneten) means for attaining the object of their endeavours (rinverneh mens )." Here it is plainly stated that there is an agreement in common betweeu the four powers " that the war should under no circumstances have for result any change in existing territorial arrangements." This agreement extends plainly to the territories of Rus sia. There is a common agreement that the terri torial arrangements of Russia are not under any cir cumstances to be disturbed. No matter what may be her crimes or her defeats, Russia is not to lose a single province. With this engagement we are en tering on the war. This is not all ; we are further assured that, "albeit France and England have mean while entered into war against Russia," we are at this moment united with Austria and Prussia, that we have agreed upon the basis of not disturbing Rus sia in any of her acquisitions, and that upon this agreement " the mediator• activity of the four powers represented in conference at Vienna" is revived—the result of that activity being shown in no less than " five protocols." We take breath to understand this astounding revelation. It is little to say that it confirms to the letter the statement in the PRESS—England has entered into an engagement that no result of the war shall take from Russia any one of her pos sessions. England is at this moment disgracing and compromising herself by entering into new negotia tions with the Czar. The infamies of the Vienna note are multiplied in five protocols ; and as this memorandum, with killing candour, declares the war which is now amusing England is but an "ad interim" war, negotiations, say the despotic powers, are going on, "albeit that France and England have IN THE MEANWHILE declared war against Russia." If this document means anything it means that the war in which we are supposed to be engaged against Russia is carried on in concert with, and in subser vience to, negotiations of Austria and Prussia with the Czar. That England has assented to these nego tiations we are plainly told; that our Ministers have furthermore agreed that under no circumstances shall the status quo be disturbed ; and a little further on we are told that both Prussia and Austria are convinced 513 " that the prolongation of the development of military force on the Lower Dantibe is inconsistent (imerreiribar) with the most important neighbouring interests of Austria, and also with those of Germany. Not only will existing political state relations mark rerhalimiaseri) be menaced in a manner detrimental to Germany, but will most acutely prejudice the development of its material welfare." For what, let us ask, is this a preparation ? It is a declaration that the German powers are anxious to end the war upon any terms. It is also a declaration that those terms shall not include the alteration of existing territorial arrangements. No territory is to be taken from Russia. None, we admit, from Tur key ; but, short of a cession of territory, the Ottoman Porte may be compelled to submit to any conditions of humiliation. The Conference that framed the Vienna note is to be revived. What if the same Con ference, from blunder or treachery, frame another note to which Russia will accede, and which Turkey will reject? Is this impossible ? Is this improbaole ? U so, Russian intrigues will have triumphed. The whole result it is not possible to predict ; but this much is plain, that those who believe the prolonga tion of military operations on the Danube inconsis tent with the interests of Europe will turn their arms to force those conditions upon the l'orte. These are dangers neither imaginary nor distant. In these renewed negotiations at Vienna we see nothing but the triumphs of Russian intrigue and the success of Russian gold. One thing they incon testably prove, that up to this hour we are not ho nestly at war. Underhand negotiations are going on which are retarding the movements of our armies and paralysing the operations of our fleets. Court sub lastrion. HER MAJESTY returned to town on Tuesday from Osborne-house. On the following day the Queen held a Court at Buckingham Palace, at which the Chevalier Bunsen, late Prussian Envoy, presented his letters of read. Last evening (Friday) the second grand state concert was gives the palace, for which 500 invitations were issued, and the principal Italian artistes now in London engaged to perform. The Queen visited the Italian Opera on Tuesday and the French Plays on Wednesday evening. HER MAJESTY will hold a levee on Friday next, the 9th inst. On the 20th her Majesty will give a second state ball. THE DUCHESS OF KENT Visited the Sydenham Crystal Palace on Thursday. THE KING OF PORTUGAL was expected yesterday evening at Southampton on his visit to the Queen and Prince Albert. THE MICHBISHOP o CANTERBURY wag honoured by the company of I'rince Albert at Lambeth Palace on Tuesday evening, at an entertainment given by his grace to the Prince and other stewards of the Bicen tenary Festival of the Sons of the Clergy. ON Monday evening Lady Peversham gave a first grand soiree datuante this season, at the town man sion in Belgrave-square. THE MAII QUIN LANbDOWNE opened the saloons of Lansdowne-house on Tuesday evening for the re- ception of company. A brilliant assemblage honoured his lordship with their presence. ON Wednesday evening Lady Hall (of Llanover) had a small reception, and a performance of genuine Welsh music. About twelve of the =out beautiful ancient national melodies were executed by the Llanover harpers Gruffydd and Watcyn on die triple stringed harps of Wales ; they also sang with their harps. Grutfydd is the same harper who a few years ago had the honour of playing before her Majesty at Buckingham Palace, with his master, the late cele brated Jones; and Watcyn is the pupil of Grulf)dd. VISCOUNT AND VLSCOUNTRSS COKIRRDERE gave • grand banquet to their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary on Wednesday at their mansion in Belgrave-square. The same evening Lady Hume Campbell gave a grand ball at Hill-street, to wh►ch the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary proceeded after leaving Lord Comber mere's. THE DUKE D'AVNALE has invitations out for a grand banquet on Tuesday next, the oth inst. THE MARQUIS OF EXETER has also issued invita tions for a banquet on Tuesday, at his mansion ►n Grosvenor-square. Volittal anli Otntral. PORTSROUTH is quite deserted, owing to the war. There is but one solitary screw steamer at Spithead. No one scarcely is seen walking in the streets. The contrast is very great between Portsmouth with and without a fleet at Spithead. A CRYSTAL PALACE has been built in Cheltenham, forming a miniature model of the Sydenham Palace. Thursday last was appointed for the opening of this edifice. which was to be accompanied by considerable ceremony. • I ■ ~A