The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

\ One hundred and forty-two soldiers who deserted from the regiment of Cordova made their submission on the 27th. Lieutenant-Colonel Latorre, their commander, was conducted to Saragossa, where he will be shot. PORTUGAL. Much interest is taken in Lisbon respecting the progress of the Eastern question, as it is imagined that a Portuguese auxiliary force will be required in the event of a collision taking place between the great aggressor and the Western powers. Rumour goes so far as to point out the Baron Lur as the most likely person to be selected to command a division of 10,000 or 12,000 men. In the Chamber of Peers, during the debate on the address, Count Thomar made a speech of three days' duration. He terminated by asserting that the Minister of Finance had falsified the estimates, and that he had proofs of the fact. This statement was allowed to pass unchallenged, although the incul pated Minister was present. RUSSIA. An imperial manifesto from the Czar to his people was issued on the 23rd ult. It runs as follows : " We, Nicholas 1., &c.,— " We have already informed our beloved and faithful subjects of the progress of our disagreements with the Ottoman Porte. " Since then, although hostilities have commenced, we have not ceased sincerely to wish, as we still wish, the cessation of bloodshed We entertained even the hope that reflection and time would convince the Turkish Govern ment of its misconceptions engendered by treacherous in stigations, in which our just demands, founded on treaties, have been represented as attempts at its independence veiling intentions of aggrandisement. Vain, however, have been our expectations, so far. " The English and French Governments have sided with Turkey, and the appearance of the combined fleets off Con stantinople served as a further incentive to its obstinacy; and now both the Western powers, without previously de claring war, have sent their fleets into the Black Sea, pro claiming their intention to protect the Turks, and to impede the fres navigation of our vessels of war for the defence of our coasts. After so unheard-of a course of pro ceeding among civilised nations we recalled our embassies from England and France, and have broken off all politica! intercourse with those powers. " Thus, England and Fiance have sided with the ene mies of Christianity against Russia combating for the or thodox faith. ... " But Russia will not betray her holy calling ; and, if enemies infringe her frontiers, we are ready to meet them with the firmness bequeathed to us by our forefathers. Are we not still the same Russian nation of whose exploits the memorable events of 1812 bear witness ? " May the Almighty assist us to prove this by deeds. With this hope, combating for our persecuted brethren, followers of the faith of Christ, with one accord let all Russia exclaim—` 0 Lord, our Redeemer; whom shall we fear ? May God be glorified, and His enemies be scat tered.' " St. Petersburg, 9 (21) Feb., 1854." The Emperor Nicholas and his family have left St. Petersburg to take up their temporary residence in the city of Warsaw, where the Czar hopes that he will be able to exercise his influence more effectu ally against Prussia and Austria. The messenger conveying the summons of France and England to the Czar requiring him to withdraw his troops from Turkey within a specified period left Vienna on Tuesday. Neither the Austrian nor the Prussian Government has joined the Western powers in this act. The ice in the Baltic had broken up on the 7th instant as far as Revel, and the Russian fleet in that harbour were making great exertions to join the division at Cronstadt. The fleet in Helsingfors was also preparing to put to sea immediately, immense numbers of men being employed to saw through the ice for that purpose. The Russian army which is to protect the coasts of the Baltic is to amount to 75,000 men. The Rus sian guards are to form a reserve in Poland, and not to be employed either on the Danube or on the Baltic. • The Russians who have broken up their residences at Paris and other continental cities are in a state of great excitement. It appears that the Emperor Nicholas has intimated that they will not be per mitted to remain in any part of Europe excepting Russia. The inconvenience felt is very great., as many of these personages resided in the different capitals of Europe, not for pleasure only, but on account of business or health. It appears, however, that the measure applies to all—the highest as well as the lowest—and that no exception is made even in favour of princesses. The Russian Government has prohibited the ex portation of corn from the Black Sea and the Sea of Azof. Field-Marshal Paskiewitsch has been definitively named Generalissimo of the army on the Danube. In the principalities, from the 14th to the 19th of February, the Russian columns have made demon strations against Kalafat. As yet nothing more than cannonades have taken place. Considerable masses of troops are being concentrated near Oltenitza, Kalarasch f and Caurgevo. The Russians appear to THE PRESS. be about to assume the offensive. The Turks have 30,000 men in Kalafat. The troops of Gon. Osten Sacken's corps d'armee, which have lately joined those of Gen. Luders, bear the Greek cross on their colours. A camp of 30,000 is forming at Odessa, and con siderable additions are being made to the fortifica tions of Sebastopol. TURKEY. Advices received from Constantinople of the 25th ult. state that hostilities were still suspended in consequence of the extreme cold. Sixty pieces of artillery had been landed at Trebizond and Batoum. The combined fleets were at Beycos on the 26th February. Admiral Sir E. Lyon had returned to the Bosphorus, after escorting the Turkish convoy. The Russian fleet was invisible. The Ottoman Government has at last given the necessary authority for the formation of foreign legions. General Wysocki is organising a Polish legion at Constantinople of 2,000 men. The nikiah (bethrothal) ceremony of the Sultan's daughter to Ali Galib Pacha, the son of Redschid Pacha, was to take place on the 2nd ult., without ostentation. The marriage is fixed for the month of June, and will go off in grand style, with public re creations for three days and three nights. Similar ceremonies cost upwards of 100,000 i. The Porte is in great distress for money, its finances being at the lowest ebb. In the case of Namik's Pacha's failure in raising a loan in London or Paris, an appeal will be made to the Ottoman nation. Sir John Lakeman, an English gentleman of for tune, who has distinguished himself by his military exploits in India and at the Cape, has arrived in Constantinople. He purposes raising a force of volunteers at his own expense. Lieut. Montagu O'Reilly, of the Retribution, has had a private audience of the Sultan, to present a plan of Sebastopol harbour and fortifications, which were sketched by that officer when the Retribution entered that inviolable port with despatches. His Majesty accepted the diagram and view, and ex pressed himself much gratified by the information it conveyed. The new American Minister at Constantinople, in his address to the Sultan on presenting his cre dentials, said " Although the religions and political institutions of the two countries are different, yet they have in some respects followed the same policy. In each of them the spirit of progress exercises a benignant influence. The two na tions have given an asylum to the political exiles of other countries ; and even in the times of the illustrious an. cestors of your Majesty the Christians have often found, under the crescent, that protection which had been denied them under the cross. In the great struggle in which your Majesty is engaged, you have the sympathy and the good wishes of the whole American nation. Whilst the policy followed by our Government impedes all na tional intervention in European questions, it never can prevent us, as a people, from demanding of Heaven that the arm, be it Mussulman or Christian, which holds the sword in a just cause, be strong. May y )ur Majesty be successful in preserving the integrity of an empire which has often given refuge to the exiled sons of liberty of other countries. This is the universal desire of the people of the United States." GREECE. An Athens letter of the Ist inst. states that the insurrection is extending in Thessaly. General Kanyos has joined the insurgents. The English and French Ambassadors have had a long audience with the King. Sir J. Church has been appointed general. The citadel of Arta has been taken by assault. The Turks have been beaten in several encounters with insurgents. Prevesa still held out. On the 25th ult. Zamit Pacha left for Salonica, with 4,000 men, to quell the insurrection. Her Majesty's steamer Niger has left for Albania. PERSIA. Persia, which remains neutral, is fortifying her frontiers towards Turkey. If the Affghans attack Candahar, Persia offers to mediate. The Khan of Khiva has sought a refuge at Bokhara, and calls upon the neighbouring khans to join him against the Russians. UNITED STATES. New York mails to the 23rd ult. have arrived by the Africa and America steamers. A violent hurricane and snowstorm swept over New York on the evening of the 20th and morning of the 21st ult. The high tide caused by the wind floated the Africa at six o'clock in the morning, and at twelve o'clock she reached her dock at Jersey City apparently uninjured. Dredging-machines had been at work at her side, with the hope of extricating her. About one hundred men commenced work when she reached dock putting in her coal, and by working day and night, with the use of four cranes and the aid of steam power, the Africa was enabled to leave New York on the afternoon of the 23rd ult. Numerous petitions from various cities and states of the Union have been presented against the Nebraska Bill. The same measure of support con tinuos to be given to it by the pro-slavery portion of SATURDAY ; the American press, and condemnation by the aboli tionists. The 22nd, the natal day of George Washington, was celebrated at New York with more enthusiasm than it has ever called forth heretofore. In a commercial letter from New York we find the following prognostics respecting the influence of European disturbance upon "American trade ": "We are speculating upon the influence which the European struggle will have upon our occidental fortunes. Our commercial world has hardly been depressed, except for the moment, with the prospect. We feel that there is no reason why we should be involved in any manner in this struggle. Our Yankee enterprise foresees new roads and channels of progress and influence, if an/ portion of the energies of Western Europe becomes partLysed. Our mer chantmen are looking for a large carrying trade. Our manufacturers are calculating upon a period of florid pros perity. Our agriculturists are feverish with hope, and the prospect of a European war has driven breadstuffs up to almost fabulous prices. It has given an impulse to our navy ; and so active are all our private shipyards that it is doubtful whether our Government can get its new steam frigates built by our people. Their hands are full of com missions from Europe." WEST INDIES. The Magdalene has brought the February mail from the West Indies. Jamaica dates are to the 11th ult. The island was healthy. The House of Assembly was still in session, and had agreed to the Responsible Government Bill, which would soon, therefore, be under the consideration of the Council. The deficiency of revenue during the " dead-lock" was ascertained to be about 120,0001. This the Assembly proposed to meet by the issua of half that amount of Exchequer Bills, bearing 0 per cent. interest, and half in island cheques. In Demerara the weather was propitious to the planter, and the cane-pieces were thriving luxu riantly. The President of Bolivia, it is stated, has insulted the English Charge d'Affairs, and ordered him out of the country. THE lONIAN ISLANDS. The Lord High Commissioner has issued a circular to the English residents of the lonian Islands, in which he recommends them to use their endeavours to convince the authorities and the peaceable inha bitants that the insurrectionary movement which has so unfortunately commenced in Greece was un doubtedly undertaken in order to destroy all hope of the amelioration of the condition of the Greek popu lation of Turkey ; that there is not the slightest chance of its success, the Sultan being supported by the most powerful Governments of Europe; and that the recent collective note from the Ministers of the Governments in alliance with the Potte at Athens is to he considered as an intimation to King Otho that he ought not to make himself responsible for acts contrary to all the laws of nations. Cud ant fastion. HER MAJESTY held a Court on Tuesday at Buck ingham Palace, at which Sir Hamilton Seymour had an audience on his return from St. Petersburg. On Wednesday the second levee of the season took place at St. James's Palace. The day following the Queen held a Privy Council, at which a proclamation was ordered to be issued, warning persons against infringing certain regulations under the Foreign Enlistment Act. Several evenings during the week have been occupied with palace dinner parties and royal visits to the Haymarket and Lyceum Theatres. Yesterday her Majesty left town for Osborne, in order to review the Baltic fleet previous to its de parture. PRINCE LEOPOLD OF SAXE COBURG arrived OH Mon day at Buckingham Palace, on his return from Lisbon, where his Serene Highness had proceeded on a visit of condolence to his brother, the King- Regent of Portugal. THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER continues to be seriously indisposed. On Thursday some improve ment was reported, and her Royal Highness was said to be rather better. MR. J. E. JONES, the sculptor, has just completed busts of her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, which are intended, when carved in marble, for presentation to Mr. Dargan, the spirited promoter of the Dublin Great Exhibition. THE SPEAKER OF THE COMMONS holds his first levee this (Saturday) morning. The right hon. gentleman gave his fourth parliamentary dinner on Saturday last. CABINET COUNCILS were held on Saturday and Monday lila. THE COUNTESS COLLOBEDO ' wife of the Austrian envoy, commenced her hospitalities for the present season on Wednesday evening with a grand " recep tion " at Chandos•house. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary were present at the reunion. VISCOUNT AND VISCOVNTESS PALMERSTON gate a grand entertainment on Saturday evening to thei 1 ,