The Press. — London, England, 1853-08-13 00:00:00

AUGUST 13, 1853. THE FOR THE NEW CODE OF SIGNALS CHANNEL FLEET. BT LORD JOHN RUSSELL. (From a Naval Correspondent.) H.M.S. ---, SPITHEtD, August Mr. Editor, that we are all astonished here at the I CAN assure news. What news ? say you. Lord Jolt's RUSSELL has forwarded to the Commander-in-Chief a code of signals for the use of the squadron —of which we all expect him, by the way, to take command imme mediately. He has no regular office; and, indeed, has no employment except editing Fox and Moore ;—and from the way he achieves that it seems pretty clear it can't cost him much time. Add a couple of days' work per week at St. Bartholomew's, besides the time it takes him to make the personal acquaintance of his new friends (no pleasant ,job this, I should say !), and you will see that he has plenty of time to spare for naval employment. Accordingly wo expect him down here to hoist his flag soon : there will be friends enough to receive him, unless the service is altered. I remember, when I was in the West Indies, that we had three commanders in the squadron who bore the following names : H.M.S. Faction, Captain Et.uorr GREY RtssEt.t.. H.M.S. Spleen, Captain RUSSELL Et.uorr GREY. H.M.S. Supporter, Captain GREY RUSSELL ELuoTT. This was in the good old days. But, hillo ! belay there ! (I put this in to please the public, who seem to suppose that we always talk in this style.) 1 sun wandering from the point. Well, you know, it is customary to alter the signals now and then; in fact, when we fear that they are getting too well known abroad, we do so. Also, we keep the signal-book in a wooden case, bottomed with lead. Both facts Lord JonN considers symbolic—the first, of changes of opinion ; the second, of the constitution of Cabi nets. Hence, perhaps, he derived the notion, now acted upon, of furnishing us with a new code. I am enabled to forward you some hints from this work, to which I have obtained access through the kindness of Captain Lord JOHN retains the use of letters and numerals, and his prin cipal innovation consists in the artfulness with which he has devised short ways of expressing such new orders as the changed state of feel ing in English Governments may be expected to bring into demand 1. Instead of a tedious use of half-a-dozen flags run up and down to express "Russian Fleet to windward," which, of course, would have to be answered, and a long interchange made—Lord Tons proposes to hoist C. 3.—a combination as expressive as Burleigh's nod in The Critic; for it is to signify—" Russian Fleet to windward ; truly auful incident ; squadron to retreat in confusion inside the Wight." Here you have no absurd delay or botheration, but the policy of the Govern ment is tersely expressed in a single order. 2. Supposing that the Meditemnean Fleet, again, should get news at Besika Bay that the Russians have anchored in the Golden Horn, and that the French Fleet are being towed up the Dardanelles, B. 2. will signify—" Negotiate, Write home on sodded." 3. In the same way-4. 2. is to stand henceforth as the signal for "American frigate passing. Gire tray, and (lip ensign." (By-the-bye, it would be as well to be careful in such matters ; for I remember, in Malta, a Yankee bumping up against our quarter, instead of going out of the harbour straight, like a rational vessel.) 4. Under the head of boat-signals Lord JOHN comprehends a curious set of minor instructions, by which we are instructed to tele graph orders to our boats, how to pay attention to foreigners. Our barges and gigs are to be sent about harbours in which they may happen to be, at the disposal of the French, Yankee, Austrian, and Russian people. The object, here, is to make our Navy (Preface, p. 3) " the bum-boats of such Foreign Powers as the Coalition may think it necessary to truckle to." Thus, 3. 4. 5. will signify—" Send train-oil to Russian Flag-ship." 5. Alen of-war to strike their colours for the future on meeting merchant-ships, in homage to the Commercial Interest. (Formerly we used to make the traders lower their top-gallant sails when we passed, or bring 'em to if they didn't ; but all that is gone by.) P.S.—Should Lord Jolts take any active steps in the conduct of the Fleet, to-morrow, I will communicate with you further. • However, a good deal mast depend on the Second Edition of the Code ; for let no man judge of Lord JOHN'S works till he gets a second edition. We have been favoured with a revised " History of England," by Lord JonN, and from a paragraph the reader will see what we mean by our caution : " In 1050 the powerful William fitted ont an expedition against Ireland. and de• tested, on the shores of that kingdom, the army of Edward the Confessor, with great slaughter.'•—llialory of England. F'iral Edition. Note to Second Edition.—" It was nut against the Irish, but the Saxon•Englisb, that this expedition was directed; nor was Edward, but liarold, the ' king attacked. I fear, also, that the date is wrong."—J. R. ESS. THE MAIN. In the youth of the world, ere the pitiless Sun,' Melting Icarus' wings, brought him down by the run, Content with a crook, man held on to the plain, And Neptune went free on his empire the Main. First Athens, deeiph'ring the Delphiean stave. Built her walls of ship timber, and dwelt on the ways ; And she laek'd not,—why should she ?—place, honour. and gain! For the sai , ,rs of Athens were Lords of the Main. To Dido's fair city the sea belong'd next ; Her faith, over false, gave her sword a pretext; Till the Sons of A:fleas perceiv'd with disdain That Rome must be nowhere, or Queen of the Main. The Vikingir, nurs'd in the Fiords of the North, At Rollo's hoarse summons like whirlwinds burst forth ; And with daughter, and lands, was the French Monarch fain To purchase his homage whose fleets swept the Main. Then Wilke arose with her lion and book, His paw in the teeth of the Moslem he shook ; And CoLumars, presenting a new world to Spain. Gave her treasure, and empire, ►aid rule on the Main. But the Sailors of England had heard of that same, With a roving eommission they presently came , Say's DRAKE to JOHN SPANIARD-" My hearty! 'tis plain El Dorado's not safe while Queen BEss keeps the Main." We've had NELSON and .11Envis, nowt:, DeNcAN, and 131.AKE, And our oak is still sound—give its branches a shake! And the voiee of oppression shall threaten in vain, While a thousand brave ships wear our flog on the Main. Never doubt it, true friends, that with ardour unite In defiance of wrong, and protection of right ! For we'll sink, with our isle, ere dishonour shall stain The greatest flag yet that has waved o'er the Main. A comPuAtEN.r. Tut: Russian Prineesmes give the Alinistry credit for intending R delicate compliment by the review of Spithead. " How great," they say, " must you allow that nation to be against whom you were afraid to use this mighty armament." They regard Auminims as the Curs- TER FIELD of diplomacy, and they curtsey their acknowledgments for the leaders in the Timex. A NEW LEGEND OF MoNTROSE. [von Junsn.Es.] Jotoirti asked 14 a rctunL ticket. Did JOSEPH ask for a return ticket? IfJosEen asked for a return ticket, Where's the return ticket? &e., &e. A SPANISH BALLAD OMIT'I'EI► IN LoCKHALT's coLLECTIoN. (Wyman, 01.1vmaA, From the olive-grounds of Spain Thought til►ithend, like Talavera, On the mainland, not the main. Therefore, said that Caballero "If you'll let nie I would fain Offer Mrs. OLIVEIRA A ride there and back again.' Said the House, "Good 01.tvEtn.t, Just as well with horse and wain You could cross the Straits at Pent As get there by railway train. Therefore, gentle OuvionA, You and yours must not complain, In this geographic a.ra. If your tenderest Wish is vain." THE SMOKE NUIMANCE. IT is stated that Lord PALmEturros has been peremptory in this matter, for reasons founded on experience. " Time was," he says, " when this innocuous OSBORNE at n►s side poured forth a cloud of sooty sparks upon his neighbours. I got him fitted with the Minis terial appa►atus, and now no one would imagine him to be the same BERNAL. However foul he may be, 1w consumes his own awoke, and is now an example to the rest of the n►ctropolia," 1 1