The Press. — London, England, 1854-09-16 00:00:00

876 THE WEEK. THE position of the great Powers of Europe is at last defined with some clearness. Russia, according to the reply of Count NESSELRODE, will withdraw within her territories, and wait the eventualities of war; the allies, England, France, and Turkey, will prosecute hostilities until Russia will concede those material guarantees for the conservation of peace which she at present refuses ; Austria, occupying the Principali ties—the first bone of contention—will remain neutral with arms in her hands. Prussia, who desires nothing more than a return to the status quo, will watch for openings of negotiation, and meanwhile will make the most of the commercial advantages thrown in her way; Swe den refuses to listen to the voice of the allies, and will not break with her great northern neighbour ; and the minor States of the world re main indifferent spectators of the quarrel. Operations in the Black Sea are beginning just as operations in the Baltic have ceased. The fleets under NAPIER are coming home, and the expedition to the Crimea is going out. After the departure of the French troops, it was clear that no more would be attempted this season. The question of " wooden versus stone walls" has yet to be decided. It is perfectly true, no doubt, that no masonry can resist the concentrated fire of a line-of-battle ship ; and experiments to this end can only prove what every one perfectly well knew before. But shot at a long range would have comparatively little effect ; and the problem is—a problem not lightly to be tried, for the sake of curiosity merely — how ships can be brought into a position to act against land batteries, without being exposed to the chance of receiving as much damage as they inflict, or perhaps a great deal more. Copenhagen, Algiers, and Acre can scarcely be alleged in precedent ; as in this case powerful fleets are protected by the land batteries, which, in the case of our ships being materially crippled, might issue from their refuge and take them at a great disadvantage. For the year, we must be content with the success achieved at Bomarsund. The Crimea expedition—embarked in 600 vessels—is positively as serted to have sailed from Varna on the 4th. Marshal Sr. ARNAUD himself is on board the Charlemagne. Details arc wanting, especially as to the force which had actually sailed ; but we know enough to be sure that it is one of the most powerful armaments ever borne on the sea. The whole expedition was to rendezvous at an island at the mouth of the Danube, and it was not supposed would reach the Crimea until the Bth or 9th ; but we may now look hourly for some intelligence of it. We are still without reliable information of the Russian force assembled in the Crimea, and of the state of the defences on the land side of Sebastopol. Lately the Russians had been making prodigious preparations to strengthen themselves ; and the notice they received of an untended attack must have operated to quicken their movements. The Moniteur intimates, that, should the Russian force be found stronger than anticipated, the troops will retire, and return home. In other words, if Sebastopol cannot be taken by a coup-de-main, the troops will not, with the short season for operations before them, attempt to reduce the place by blockade, or by a regular series of ap proaches. Accounts vary widely as to the probable force of the Russians. We may be sure that the attack will be brilliant, and we may surmise that the defence will be desperate. Russia has a mighty stake at issue—a fleet, an army, a fortress, and a province. Contrary to expectation, the Russians, so lately victorious in Asia, have been assailed by another foe. Their old enemy, SCHAMYL, has descended from his mountains at the head of an army of cavalry, and, if the telegraph is to be believed, has gained a victory over the Russians near Tiflis, taking seven guns, and all the baggage of the camp. In presence of this formidable foe, the Russians appear to be concentrating their forces. We trust the report is not true that SCRAMYL has murdered forty Russian ladies whom he took prisoners. War will have its sacrifices. A new Russian levy demands ten men from every thousand in the west of the empire, and in France the 140,000 recruits of the class of 1853 are called into activity. Our recruiting sergeants are busy, but they work in silence, and the result is not known. The health of the metropolks is reported to be improving. The mortality last week was awful, and, as yet, no rational explanation has been given of the terrific outbreak in the Golden-square district Berwick street suffered the most. Few houses escaped, and from one dwelling five bodies were carried in quick succession. The Board of Health issues orders which, to have been of any service, should have been issued weeks ago. Nearly all that can be done now is to publish instructions for affording prompt relief in case of need. Differences as to the best mode of treatment pre vail as widely as ever. The calomel remedy is opposed by Dr. AYRE, of Hull, to the castor-oil remedy of Dr. JOHNSON ; and the large quantity of 70 to 144 grains is mentioned as having been administered with the best results to patients. The experience of both these eminent practitioners, however, points to the conclu sion that nature should in some way be assisted to throw off the disease which presses so heavily on the springs of life. The effervescence in Spain is rapidly subsiding. Honours and rewards are showered on the patriots who promoted the revolution. There was a sincerity of tone and holiest soldierly frankness about the declarations of General DULCE, which raised a presumption that he had really no other object at heart than the good of his country, and one is proportionably sorry to see that he accepts a grand cross and promotion as lieutenant-general for his part in the insurrection. SATURDAY, The Queen and Prince, with their beautiful family, made a rapid journey on Thursday from London to Edinburgh for Balmoral. Starting from the King's-cross station at eight o'clock in the morning, they arrived at Edinburgh at six, and slept for the night at Balmoral. There are so many worlds inbusy England,—fashionable, religious, political, scientific, literary, sporting, commercial, monetary, agricultural, and a hundred others,— that a newspaper is always in danger of missing some fact interesting to a class of its readers. How many thousands, or hundreds of thousands, we wonder have taken more interest this week in the St. Leger than in the Crimea expedition? The Knight of St. George beat Ivan, as it is proper he should. We don't know what odds constitutes an " outsider," but those who had confidence in tho Knight must have laid out their money to good advantage at 10 to 1. A question has been raised by a trial at the Middlesex Ses sions this week, whether a congregation of Mormons can claim the benefit of laws intended for Protestant dissenters. We know how our liberty-loving friends on the other side of the Atlantic would have treated the question. They would have pulled down the meeting house, shot the preacher, and have maltreated all the worshippers they could catch bald of. Here, however, we think it better to let folly run its course so long as it keeps clear of offence. There is good sense in as observation of the Times, that fanaticism, like a top, spins round the faster for being whipped. It was rightly decided that these Mormon fanatics were at liberty to meet without disturbance. The best cure for error like theirs is the course pursued at Norwich this week, where a free library was founded in the presence of the chief personages of the city and neighbourhood. The speech of Sir Frrzaor KELLY on the occasion was a noble one. Spite of the increasing probabilities of a protracted war, the funds rise, and are now higher than on an average of years we have been accustomed to see them in times of peace. The explanation is easy. Gold this week has been received to the amount of upwards of one million sterling. This precious metal to the value of 1500,0001. arrived in one day in various ships from Australia. THE WHAT AND THE WHY. A GERMAN PHILOSOPHIC SPECULATION. What is the senso of the note profound Illustrating Prussia's declaration? Can there in Downing-street be found One to explain the explanation ? What's a " material guarantee," As it offers itself to Clarendon's eye ? Why the same view cannot Prussia see ? Unriddle me that, the what and the why ! Why is Lord John consigned to sloth, The President's drowsy office in? Why do Newcastle and Herbert both Conduct the war—that's going to begin ? Why was Sir George kept pining out Till he whitewashed Lord John of perfidy? Where are the President's threats so stout? Unriddle me that, the what and the why ! What are the Austrians going to do ? What are those things they " bases " call? Shall we pass the Principalities through? Shall we ever get into Sevastopol? Why did they cheese the Bashi-Bazouks? Whose course to the Government's came so nigh? Why so black at the Bank are Gladstone's looks? Unriddle me that, the what and the why! And where is the Earl of Aberdeen? And when will the smoke be all consumed? And where the deuce has " Old Charley" been, Since Plumridge's guns at Uleaborg boomed? What work have we done in the Baltic deep ? Will Sweden a bout for Finland try ? Is St. German's in Dublin gone to sleep ? Unriddle me that, the what and the why ! What caused the Sewers Commissioners fall? What does Lord Palmerston find to do? What is the use of Sir Benjamin Hall? Who'll all his pretended work go through? Must we have obsolete Ministers still? Are the days of impeachment all gone by? How long will these humbugs their offices fill? Unriddle me that, the what and the why! NEXT BUDGET. (From a Ministerial Paper.) THE Chancellor of the Exchequer, desirous that the proposals which it will he his duty to submit to the House of Commons in April next should be fully ventilated in the meantime, in order that the opinion of the country may be obtained upon them, has requested ua to submit to our readers the following outline of the Budget of 1855, as matured by him, after some meditation, at a quiet watering-place on the coast of Kent. We must premise, however, that, though the following details are offered on authority, they are not official, and the Government is in no way bound to any one or more of them, should circumstance s seem to dictate a departure from the contemplated course. The House having resolved itself into committee, THE THE PRESS. L • - •