The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-18 00:00:00

MARCH 18, 1854. The Fairy, with her royal freight, led the van for a few miles, and then, lying to, allowed the whole fleet to pass by in succession. As each ship sailed past her ensign was dipped in obeisance to her Majesty, nd the crews cheered a lusty farewell. This cere mony was repeated with additional heartiness as the flag-ship went by, and then the Queen returned the compliment by waving her handkerchief. The Fairy remained motionless until the rearward vessel had passed far beyond the range of distinct vision. And thus was the Baltic fleet sent on its way. The total squadron, of which the first division had so prosperous a start on Saturday, will consist of about forty-four vessels, including three three deckers and twenty line-of-battle ships, in all, the total number of guns being 2,200, of men 22,000, and of horse-power 10,000. The sailing-ships will be rendered neatly as available as the screws by the assistance of the paddle fleet, and the whole will form the most powerful armament that ever left the shores of England. There is much speculation, of course, as to the probable plan of operations. The more ardent speak boldly of the bombardment of Cron stadt, and point to the large quantity of Moorsom's shells shipped as a proof that serious mischief is meant. It appears that the construction and ma terials of this terrible projectile is a Government secret, and so important is it deemed that each ship's supply is numbered and registered in a book, and, whenever one is used, the why, the when, and the place is carefully noted down, and the details for warded to the Admiralty. This, it is said, looks like bombardment; but the more cautious shake their heads, and say that to attack CI onstadt with its 800 guns would be sheer madness. Others again speak of blockade, and a third hint at the capture and oc cupation of the island of Aland, as commanding the Gulf of Finland, and at once settling the doubtful neutrality of Sweden. In support of this hypothesis it is alleged that sappers and miners go out, and that the ships take out a supply of scaling-ladders and other siege accessories. A few weeks or days will put to rest all these speculations. The fleet reached the Downs in the course of Sunday evening, and remained there at single anchor until the following day, awaiting final orders from the Admiralty. These arrived a little after noon on Monday, and at half-past two the signal "Prepare for sea" was made, and th a whole squadron at once weighed anchor, and in a very few minutes were rapidly progressing eastward. The fleet is bound first for Wingo Sound, on the coast of Sweden, where the ships will anchor for a time. Iu that possition they would guard the outlet of the Cattegat, and enjoy the advantages of being near a great town like Gottenburg, with its popula tion of nearly 30,000 souls. The next step would be to pass the Sound or the Great Belt, and enter the Baltic. Admiral Corry in the Neptune sailed on Thursday from Spithead, to join the North Sea fleet. Her Majesty came from Osborne in the Fairy to witness his departure, and accompanied the flag-ship of the second division to the Nab light, parting from her with an exchange of salutes, and amidst great enthusiasm from the crews. Many other ships be longing to the squadron were left at Spithead, their armaments not being complete, the Bulldog steamer alone departing in company with the Neptune. Admiral Corry will anchor in the Downs, there to await further orders and the remaining ships of his division. Her Majesty's steam-sloop Heela returned to Ports mouth on Monday, from surveying the Baltic as far as Copenhagen, to guide the masters of the Baltic fleet. The result of her sounding is, that Christian sand (Norwegian coast), Wingo Sound (on the Swedish coast), Nyborg in the Great Belt, and Kiel Bay on the Schleswig and Holstein coast, are re• ported the best rendezvous for large armaments, such as the Baltic fleet; the last named, being con tiguous to railway communication with Hamburg, is deemed most preferable of any. The Hecla fell in with the Baltic fleet in the Downs, and transferred eleven masters and five second masters, R.N. (whom she took out to survey the parts of the Baltic she visited), to the ships of the fleet they were drafted from, and also put on board forty skilled North Sea pilots (two on board each ship of the line). She afterwards came into Portsmouth harbour, and com menced re-coaling for further particular service. Lieutenant-Colonel Mundy, Assistant Quarter master-General at Kilkenny, has been appointed Military Secretary for War and the Colonies. Major-General the Earl of Lucan has been ap pointed to the command of the cavalry force to pro ceed to the East, m which Sir Richard England and Sir De Lacy Evans will command divisions. The Earl of Cardigan will command the light and Colonel Scarlett the heavy brigade. The day of departure of Lord Raglan, the Duke of Cambrige, and others of the staff is not yet decided upon. A Queen's messenger left London for Constanti nople on Monday night with despatches. He was accompanied by Captain Nolan, of the I.sth Hussars THE PRESS. who has been sent out, commissioned by Govern ment, to purchase 1,000 horses for the use of our army. Captain Nolan will be joined at Constanti nople by an officer of the commissariat. Up to Tuesday last, the Nth and 17th Cavalry Regiments alone had received official orders to pre pare for active service. It is now stated that the following cavalry force is under orders fur the East : Light Dragoons-Bth, 11th, 13th, and 17th • Heavy Dragoons-Ist, or Royal Dragoons, 6th Innis killings, 4th and sth Dragoon Guards. Two additional troops of horse artillery, with live more companies, are preparing for embarkation. The whole military force in the United Kingdom, including all arms of the service, have been warned to hold themselves in readiness fur immediate service. The Cunard screw-steamer Taurus has been en gaged to convey 400 troops—portions of the 41st and 47th Regiments—and will sail from Liverpool on this day (Saturday). The soldiers were to arrive from Dublin in the course of yesterday. _ . In Liverpool there are now six splendid ships being fitted out for the conveyance of troops to the East, and six of the horse-transports are now at Woolwich for the embarkation of the Royal Artillery. The 44th Regiment were preparing to embark at Gibraltar for the East by the steam-ship Orinoco, expected there in a few days. Accounts have been received from Malta of the safe arrival of the Cambria, with the 50th Regiment, on the 7th inst. ; of the Hinia/aya, on the Nth ; of the Vulcan and Emu, on the 11th; and of the Manila, on the 12th, with their respective detachments of troops on board, in excellent order and health. snip nA A STATUARY AND SCULPTOR in Gloucester•place, New-road, Mr. Smith, appeared at the Bankruptcy Court for examination on Saturday. The debts were considerable, but the bankrupt ascribed his difficul ties solely to his having been made a dupe by a Count Dunin, the inventor of a "model man," which at tracted some considerable attention at the Great Ex hibition of 1831, but who had lately disappeared, after having a fiat of bankruptcy struck against him : Mr. Smith said he was introduced to the count four years ago. lie lived in Westbourne-terrace, and had a inagniticently-fur- Whiled house. Witness was introduced by Mr. Tilbury, a coach maker, and he furnished him with statuary. The count said be was at work on his own invention, that his expenses had much ' increased, and asked witnese to accept bills. The count had a workshop, and several men at work upon expanding figures. Witness first accepted a bill for 2401.; that was paid, and three others. Had never accepted accommodation bills except for Count Duuin. Ilad been iu trade thirty years. Kept no billbook, but made notes on the wall when bills were due. Witness used to ask the count for the bills that were due. The count would say," Don't fidget so," and pretend to get into a passion, and thrust a piece of paper into the tire, on pretence that it was the bills, which witness at the time believed. The count used to talk about his estates in Russia, and that the figure he was making was for the Emperor of Russia, in order to induce him to get his estates restorei to him. It was well known that the Emperor of Russia took great pains in the dress of his soldiery, and would have their clothes fit them well. This was the purpose for which the expanding figure was intended. The casket of jewels which the count showed him appeared to be very valuable; he said he intended it for a present to a lady whom lie was about to marry, and who possessed a large fortune. There was one ruby fit for a Doge of Venice. He also saw an armlet of great value. The count at ono time rented a workshop of witness, in which he em ployed many men at work on models. Ills liosoutt said the ease would hold out a useful lesson to two or three classes of persons. It showed how frequently men of science and of skill In their peculiar vocations were led away from the course of strict propriety; and he (tile Commissioner) thought it would not be just to judge them according to the or dinary rules of trade. The bankrupt in this case had carried on business fur many years without a stain or blemish of any kind on his reputation. lie was going on prosperously, until his path was suddenly crossed by this so-called Count Dwain. The cer tificate would be granted forthwith. He wished the words of the RC " unavoidable loss and misfortune," had not been so strict, as he should have been glad if the bankrupt could leave the court with a first-class certificate, and if he (the Commissioner) could consistently with his duty give him one he would with great pleasure do so. He was reluctantly obliged to grant the certificate only of the second class; but was bound to pronounce that Mr. Smith's character was as unstained as that of any other man who had left that court. Mn. STEPHEN SMITH, an agent or rent,collector, appeared at Lambeth Police Court on Monday to answer an information laid by order of the chairman and commissioners of Inland Revenue, charging him with giving a receipt without affixing thereto the re quired stamp of one penny. Mr. Phinn, M.P. counsel to the Board of Inland Revenue, observed that it was the determination of the commissioners in every case like the present, where the act was violated, to press the law with the utmost rigour. The charge being proved a mitigated fine of 51. was inflicted on the defendant. AN INNKEEPER AT WESTBOURNE, IN SUFFOIJC, named Emery Spriggs, was tried at the Lewes Assizes on Tuesday for the murder of his wife. It appeared that on Twelfth-night last there was an entertain ment given at the prisoner's house, and that, after it was over and every one gone, some sudden quarrel arose between himself and his wife. Early next morning he called up a woman who lived near, tell ing her to come over, as he had shot his wife, whose body, on her reaching the house, was found lying on the threshold of the taproom, and quite dead. The 251 counsel for the defence pointed out the distinction between the crimes of murder and manslaughter— that the former arose from wickedness of heart, and was performed with premeditation, the latter from a sudden heat of passion. The jury adopted this view of the case, and found the prisoner Guilty of the lesser crime. He was accordingly sentenced to transportation for life. AN ADJOURNED CERTIFICATE MEETING took place at the Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday in the case of Mr. Strutt, a solicitor of Buckingham-street, and proprietor of the Era newspaper. The accounts were very voluminous, but the general result has already appeared : His HONOUR said: 1 cannot go beyond a second-class certifi cate. That will he granted after the matter has stood over, to give time for the bankrupt to complete the purchase the debt* alleged by the assignees to be of doubtlial value. beoond-cdaan certieate accordingly. THE TRIAL or DR. WILLIAM SMITH, lately & resi dent at the village of SL Fergus, in Aberdeenshire, for the murder of M•Donald, a farm servant, was commenced on Monday at the Edinburgh High Court of Justiciary. The respectable station hitherto occu pied by the prisoner, and the extraordinary grounds of suspicion alleged against him, gave the trial a degree of interest which has not been paralleled in Scotland for many years, and the court-room was densely crowded with a most respectable assemblage, not a few of whom had come from the locality, a distance of 150 miles, to witness the trial. 1)r. Smith, it was alleged, had effected various insurances on the life of M'l)onald, which were shortly about to expire at the time when the unfortunate man was found dead in a ditch near the prisoner's residence, having been apparently shot with a pistol. The Lord Advocate (who had come down ftem London for the purpose), with the Solicitor-General (Craufurd), and Mr. Clark, conducted the prosecution. The Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and Mr. Young appeared for the defence. The prisoner, a tall man, negli • gently dressed, of fair complexion, and about thirty five years of age, pleaded " Not Guilty." Throughout the day he maintained great composure, and often evinced cheerfulness. On the first day only fourteen out of eighty-one witnesses for the prosecution— chiefly the relatives of the deceased—had been examined. Next morning, on the meeting of the court, the progress of the ease was stopped by the absence of a juror, regarding whom medical evidence was given that he was labouring under a degree of mental excitement such as to disqualify him from discharging the duty for which he was sworn. The prisoner was, however, retained in custody, and anew trial will be commenced as early as possible. THREE MEN, named Marshall, Saunders, and Myers, were tried at Bedford on Saturday, the two former for having committed a burglary iu the house of Mathews, a jeweller, of Leighton Buzzard, and stealing a quantity of watches and plate to the value of POOL, and Myers with having received a portion' of the property : This case has been very lately before the public. The pri soners were men eminent In their walk of life, being well furnished not only with the choicest tools for entering and escaping from houses, but well equipped so as to appear smooth or hairy, florid or pale, as the ease might be. They cleared out the prosecutor's shop almost in the face of the town, and carried off the spoil to London, whore a considerable portion of it was traced in the possession of Myers, a buyer of stolen goods. When the prisoner Marshall was committed to. Bedford gaol he had a smooth face, but in a short time his whis kers began to grow, and of the carotty colour spoken to by several of the witnesses. When, however be was called to the bar and arraigned his own whiskers were brown. The judge thereupon questioned the gaoler, who, amidst peals of laughter, said they were rod when he was locked up the night before. The judge then stopped the pro ceedings, and ordered the gaoler to take him out of court and have his face washed. This was done, and the prisoner re tunied in his natural colours—red, very red. After hearing the evidence the jury were locked up for some time, and on returning to court delivered a verdict of Guilty against Saunders and Marshall for the burglary, and Guilty against Myers as a re• ceiver. The court sentenced the two former to be transported for twenty years, and Myers for fourteen years. A FRIGHTFUL EVENT took place in Birmingham on Monday morning. A young man named William Taylor, by trade a shoemaker, and residing with a widowed mother in Sherlock-street, after attempting to take the life of a young woman named Walton, cut his own throat and almost immediately expired. Mrs. Taylor, the mother, in attempting to interpose, was severely cut about the arms and wrists. Miss Walton was removed, and the surgeons happily consider her recovery far from hopeless. A LAsoe portion of the embankment wall on the new dock works in Wallesey Pool fell into the river on Monday, with a crash that was heard in Liverpool. The masonry gave way it appears from the pressure of water behind it to an extent of 200 feet, huge masses of stone being precipitated into the Mersey. The contractors will suffer a heavy loss, and the pro gress of the inner works of the docks will be delayed for more than two months. GEORGE WALKER, a Liverpool shipbroker, was committed for trial by the magistrates on Monday, charged by the Post-office authorities with having fraudulently obtained possession of a letter and a money enclosure for the sum of 114 105. 10d. ■ ■ lb I I 1=