The Press. — London, England, 1854-08-26 00:00:00

011111 WIN IMMIMM. 804 11/ " ./ . THE WEEK. FROM the Baltic, from the Black Sea, and from Asia, the accounts are of hostilities conducted on a vast scale. The operations of the allies thus far have been conducted with great prudence and complete suc cess; but in Asia, where the Turkish troops seem completely dis• organised, the Russians have gained victories which leave the country at their mercy. The capture of Bomarsund is chiefly remarkable as being the first decided success obtained by the allies. With highly commend. able humanity, the approaches against the forts were conducted so as to spare the men engaged as much as possible The attack on the first fort commenced on the 12th, and on the 18th the last and prin cipal fort surrendered. Two thousand prisoners, with stores for a twelvemonth, were the prize of the victors. The most singular cir cumatance connected with the attack was the effect produced on the apparently solid granite walls by the cannon-balls. Great was the speculation among the assailants whether the walls would yield to the shot. The uncertainty was dispelled almost as soon as the guns opened their fire. Down came huge blocks of granite that seemed to form a solid wall, and masses of rubble fell out in heaps. If these forts be a fair sample of the defences of Cronstadt, the " stone walls" would not long stand fire, if a position for attack could be taken up. It always seemed questionable whether a considerable French force would be left to garrison the rocks of Aland. The last accounts say that the troops had been re-embarked, after the defences had been blown up, and that the fleets had sailed in the direction of Hango or Sveaborg. If an attack is meditated on one of these places a sharp action may be anticipated, but the allied forces, we imagine, would be fully sufficient for the enterprise. It is now announced that the French Baltic army will winter at Copenhagen. A telegraph despatch received in town yesterday stated that sixty thousand men had sailed from Varna for Sebastopol. The report re quires confirmation, yet on the whole it is credible, from the extensive preparations known to be in progress. Five hundred vessels, with numerous transports and flat-bottomed boats, crowded the bay of Varna. The cholera made fearful ravages among the allied troops, and particularly among the French : in the division of General CANRO BERT, alone, three thousand are said to have perished. The hospitals afforded no accommodation for the s ick. Typhus added its horror cholera. More men have probably died from disease than would have perished in a decisive battle. At Sebastopol forty thousand Russians were reported to be encamped around Sebastopol, and that number, it was probable, would be largely reinforced. It is from this quarter, then, that in telligence will be expected with anxious impatience. The strength and importance of this great stronghold of Southern Russia, the com pleteness of its garrison and resources, the considerable bodies of troops sent to aid in its defence, on the one hand ; and the magnitude of the allied fleets, with the perfectly-equipped and powerful army, on the other, will render the struggle here, if indeed the expedition is destined for its capture, one of the most memorable in the world's history From Asia a despatch from General WRANGEL reports the defeat of a corps of 12,000 Turks under SELIM PACHA at Bayazid. According to this despatch the Turks were completely routed, with a loss of 2,000 killed, and a few hundred wounded. In these engagements between Turks and Russians quarter appears to be seldom given. General WRANGEL, noticing his surprise of a considerable body of the Turks, says, " The greater part were killed on the spot, only a few were " made prisoners, and not one escaped." The telegraph reports a much more considerable defeat of the Turkish army in Asia by Prince BEBUTOFF himself, but the details are wanting. It is singular that, while in the Danube the Turks have been almost uniformly success ful, in Asia they have been constantly defeated. The en h a nces our opinion of the ma sterly generalship of OMER PACHA.contrast More State papers have appeared this Nteek. Austria has taken cog nisance of the conditions laid down by the Western Powers as the only basis on which they will treat. The protectorate of Russia in the prin cipalities to be abolished ; the navigation of the Danube to be free ; Russia to have no exclusive protectorate over the Christian subjects of the Porte ; and the treaty of Kainardji to be revised. Austria further engages not to treat except on these bases, "if it " should happen itself to be forced to take part in the war." Austria does not appear to have made any great concession by this note, though our papers regard it as a diplomatic victory of the allies. The Austrian troops have at length entered the principalities in force, and the war in that quarter, therefore, may be considered at an end. London, though the full stream of traffic in commercial thorough fares seems to be positively on the increase, wears a dreary aspect in all its marts of fashion and pleasure. The cholera returns for last week show a further increase of deaths, which, with mortality from diarrhoea, amounted to more than nine hundred ; but the dread with which its advent was at first regarded has now abated. The mortality de pends mainly on the range of level. The elevated localities are almost exempt from it ; the localities near the level of high water suffer fearfully, A fearful accident occurred to an excursion-train from Dover to the Crystal Palace on Monday. An engine was on the rails at Croydon, taking in water, when the excursion-train came up. The signals were duly made, but the train could not be stopped hi time, and ran into the engine, causing a tremendous concussion. It is marvellous, con- - • "4** MIME THE PRESS. SATURDAY, sidering the numbers of persons in the train, that so few were killed. Two died almost immediately, and a great number of others were more or less hurt. One of the killed was the Rev. Mr. WILLIS, curate of Horamonden. He had left his house in the morn ing, intending to return in the evening. In the middle of the day a telegraphic despatch came to Mrs. WILLIS, stating that her husband was injured, and advising her to come up. She hastened to the station, but there another message reached her— her husband Was dead. He was an amiable and gifted man, in the prime of youth, and had been married but six months. The pro priety of allowing such excursion-trains at all is very questionable, as they never can be safe from their interference with the regular traffic, and the ignorance of the porters, drivers, &c., concerning them. Unsatisfactory accounts continue to reach us from Spain. The Juntas in Madrid and in some of the chief provincial towns were very violent. The entry of O'DoNNELL's division into the capital would, it was hoped, tend to assure tranquillity. Queen CHRISTINA remained shut up in the Palace. The Queen, with ESPARTERO, had appeared at a review of troops, and been well received. DIARY OF W. E. G. [The following fragments of a diary were picked up yesterday on the beach at Broadstairs, and were forwaided to us on account of their allusions to public affairs. They appear to be written by a person of importance, but we have no clue to the authorship beyond the above initials upon one of the leaved.] MONDAY. Arrived at Broadatairs. Private acknowledgments to patron saint for deliverance from House of Commons. Wrote letter to my friend the Bishop of --, assuring him I was not so corrupt as lam represented. Wrote also to condole with my friend O'Flaherty. Fear he has been very indiscreet. Three courses now open to me —to stay at the hotel, hire a lodging, or sleep in a bathing-machine. Preferred the second. Rainy evening. Occupied myself in reading " The Garden of the Soul" and " The Annuitants' Guide ;" also composed a " Prayer for the Rise of Stocks," to be inerted in the Manual of Private Devotion," which I am about to publish for members of the Stock Exchange. Bed at half past ten. TUESDAY.—Couldn't sleep after sunrise. Much disturbed by voices which appeared to be crying continually " Latcley, Lau:ley !" At first thought it supernatural, and crossed m 3 self. Then fancied it might be a device of D. to confuse me in my calculations. When I rose found it proceeded from the jackdaws in the cliff. Much relieved in consequence. After breakfast sent to the post-office for letters. One from Newcastle. Tells me he is gone to Brighton. Poor fellow ! I fear the sight of the sea will put him in mind of Stonor. A letter also from my friend O'Doo, which tells me he has been unfortunate in the bone and cardboard business at Wiesbaden, and hopes that his former conviction for petty larceny will not prevent my reccommendiug him for a judgeship in Van Diemen's Land. Another Birmingham clerk writing to ask in what respect his circumstances are bettered by the Coalition Ministry. Unseasonable impertinence ! Got to work on my next budget. Had nearly com pleted my estimate for the liquidation of the national debt by means of a land tax when I was again disturbed by those horrible jackdaws. Seized my hat and walked to Ramsgate. The bathing there shocking to a well-regulated mind. Returned to Broadstairs. Dined. Fro exas m dinner to sunset nothing but " Latcley, Lawley ! " from those perating birds. Think they must be the Opposition transformed by some diabolical agency. Would have read a service of exorcism if I had had one at hand. But there was none in my copy of the breviary. Went to bed in a state of excitement Instead of Ave Maria found myself repeating the multiplication table. WEDNESDAY.—This morning a letter from the Rev. Ignatius Mullion, of Oriel, telling me that my Tractarian friends are on the alert to take advantage of my University Bill. Mullion is sanguine in respect of the consolidation of the mediaeval interest, and thinks they can save me from being turned out at the next election. He tells me that all the men who have any pretensions to deaneries or prebendal stalls retain the fullest confidence in me, notwithstand ing—(those jackdaws will not even suffer me to finish his letter in peace.) On the other hand, Dryburd of Trinity reproaches me with opening the door to the Dissenters, and sends me a work for ownwhich he says he has no further u se, and which I find to bo my " Church Principles Considered in their Results." Nevertheless, " Virtute me involve." A good conscience is a good cloak ; and as mine's Oxford mixture it won't show the spots. (There go the jackdaws again.) Well, a man may live on his reputation as a bear on his fat, but some day or other he may come to the la y t laer. Imust begin t o accumulate afresh. Mem : to persevere in abstaining m from tame bargains, and to send for a hair shirt to the ecclesiastical warehouse in Southampton-street. THURSDAY.—Who'd have thought of meeting Sharkinson here ! With the experience he has had as a broker, it may be worth my while to consult him on some of my financial projects. Sharkinson enters into my views, and talks of the advantage of a mu t ua l understanding. Says he ha s a hi g h o p inion of my judgment in financial operations, and that my advice to any firm would be worth a good per centage. Reminds me of my distinction between the minister and the man, and that I need not use in one capacity the information obtained i n the other. Asked my opinion of a certain operation. Before I answer must be assured of my position in the matter. Can find nothing in " Sanderson's Cases of Conscience,' nor r does " Loyola" help me here. Must consult Laynez and Acquaviva. Also see what Consols were yesterday for money a and fo s sr to the a ccount. (" Lateley," " Lawley," " Lateley !") Anathem! I say you, ye fowl of evil omen. S:- 'V p I I