The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

THE WEEK. THE reception which the Parisians have unanimously .accorded to her Majesty is extremely gratifying. The utmost enthusiasm has been displayed by the people upon every occasion of the Queen's appearing in public, and a despatch, dated St. Cloud, from Lord CLARENDON tO Sir GEORGE GREY, bears high testimony to the jcordial welcome on French soil which has been given to the Queen. " Her Majesty," the despatch adds, "is profoundly sensible " of the spontaneous and universal kindness which has been dis " played towards her by the people of France." The week has been passed in a round of pleasures and gaieties, in which the visit to Versailles and to the Opera on Tuesday, and the ball at the Hotel de Ville on Thursday, and other state visits, have been agreeably. diver sified by some drives and walks incog. through the streets of the good city of Paris. Her Majesty's return remains, we believe, fixed for Monday, the 27th, as originally arranged. Lord PANDIIIRE seems to have made an extraordinary blunder in communicating to the press the telegraphic news he received at the close of last week. On Friday evening, the 17th inst., his Lordship " presented his compliments," and informed the world that the allied batteries were to open fire that morning. Every one believed that the bombardment preliminary to another assault had commenced ; and speculation was busy as to how long it would last, and what would be the result. Monday and Tuesday came and passed, and no further news appeared till, on Wednesday, the Moniteur asserted that an error had occurred in the telegraphic reading of the despatch, which merely referred to the covering fire of the batteries being reopened, in order to protect the completion of the advanced works. The details which we have received by telegraph of the battle of the Tschernaya leave us no room to doubt that the action was one of considerable magnitude in point of the numbers engaged, and that the Russians received as complete a defeat as they have yet met with during the war. It is difficult to find any strategical rule which should justify the plan of attack designed by the Russian Generals. From all we have yet heard, they appear to have advanced down a narrow defile—crossed the river at several points—and, attempting to storm the Jediouskin hills, upon which the French and Sardinians were camped, were thrown into confusion by the storm of shot and shell which met them from the allied batteries and intrenchments— were driven across the river in haste—forced to abandon the sapping tools, planks, fascines, and ladders, which they had brought in order to be ready to throw up intrenchments the moment they had got hold of the position—and, retreating up the deep ravine, were jammed together in inextricable confusion for some time, and pounded by the French and Sardinian guns with terrible severity The latest reports from the camp speak of the tremendous batteries which are thrown up by the Allies in front of the Redan and Malakoff. Upwards of two months have been required to repair the error of the 18th of June, and we are not yet, it seems, in a position to make the assault. The allied Generals seem to be heaping Pelion on Ossa in the vast works which they are still throwing up, and the enormous preparations they are making for thii fifth bombardment. The health of the camp is good; cases of cholera and fever are rare, but the losses in the trenches are very severe from their contiguity to the Russian lines. The French works are stated to be ready for open ing fire at any moment. Letters from the camp speak of a peculiarly destructive rocket which the French have lately tried. It has enormous range, and on trial several were seen to alight far away across the harbour on the northern shore, a distance of nearly three miles. The tremendous battery of sixty guns which they have formed at Careening Bay it is anticipated will totally destroy the Russian shipping. Expectation is at the highest pitch in the camp ; the wounded have been sent away in great numbers to Scutari, the hospi tals cleared out, new huts put up, and beds, bandages, and everything prepared for the reception of the wounded. Captain MONTAGUE, R.E., who has been a prisoner in the Russian camp since March last, has lately returned to the army, and given much important information to our Generals as to the means of defence possessed by the Russians, and of the exact locale of the Redan and Malakoff. The reports of the sufferings of the Russian army from want of provisions still continue prevalent, and, if authentic, may certainly be an induce. 'flout to the allied Generals to delay the assault till the last moment. The case of Mr. BAKEWELL, an assistant-surgeon to the army in the Crimea, whose services have very lately been dispensed with by the authorities, on account of his having written a letter to the Times— certain charges in which preferred against the superior medical officers of the camp, were not considered by the authorities on the spot to be justified by the facts of the case—has excited considerable comment. Mr. BAKEWELL appears to have acted hastily in writing to the Times, and to have been dismissed as summa rily, without even being heard in his own defence. The Duke of WICL I LINGTON used to say that the power of stringing words together SATURDAY, was a very dangerous quality in a young officer, even if be applied it only to his commanding officer. Mr. BAKEWELL'S sentence appears to have been severe. Keeping him at Scutari, and holding the Court of Inquiry upon his charges at the Camp, looks like a determination to get rid of him at all hazards. The details of the Sweaborg affair have come to hand, and those who were most forward last week in heralding the attack as a " triumph " over the " impregnable fortress " are compelled to own that it was simply a very well-planned and admirably-executed attack by the gun and mortar boats of the squadron against a Russian dock yard which was defended by a powerful fortress. The skill with which the whole operation was conducted reflects the highest credit upon the officers engaged, but the insufficient means afforded by the Govern ment prevented any substantial success like that of Bomarsund. It is doubtful whether the fleet will attempt much more this year; and, al though fresh supplies of sea-service mortars have been embarked for im mediate transport to the Baltic, the season will be almosttoo advanced, and the weather too uncertain, for any further great operations in that intricate sea. Partial bombardments here and there will probably take place more for the sake of harassing the enemy than with any ulterior purpose in view ; and Cronstadt and the Russian fleet will, we fear, rest securely for another winter. Mr. GAVAN DUFFY has within the last few days bade his farewell to the stage of public life as the " Last of the Young Irelanders: The secession of the priests from the cause of " Tenant Right" is the principal reason given by Mr. DUFFY for his becoming "an exile of Erin." For several years Mr. DUFFY exercised great influence over the popular party in Ireland. He was proprietor and editor of the Nation, and displayed considerable literary abilities. He composed also some spirited ballads ; in which he showed himself more loyal to the laws of metre than those of the land. Lady DEMME'S " Lament of the Irish Emigrant owes much of its celebrity to Mr. DUFFY'S edition of Irish Ballads ; and Lord JEFFREY, in his " Letters," gave great praise to the volume. Mr. GAVAN DUFFY presented in some respects a favorable contrast to the tribe of Irish agitators. Ho risked his health and his fortune for his party; he suffered severely in its service; and it was only when there was no one to follow the flag that he consented to haul it down. What fact can more strikingly testify to the social revolution in Ireland? On Monday M. MUSURUS ascertained the price which the Sultan would have to give for his guaranteed loan of five millions. There was never any doubt about the cash itself, the applications made through Messrs. ROTHSCHILD alone being five times greater than the whole amount required. The offer made by that firm proving the highest was accepted, and the loan will accordingly be issued at 1021. 12s. 6d. per 1001. This will give the Porte a surplus of 131,2601. on the sum borrowed, which is to be paid up with the last instalment. The new scrip has since been dealt in at 2 and 3 premium. As the old Turkish Bonds, which bear the same interest (6 per cent.), are now selling at 93, the advantage of the " guarantee " would seem to be at least 12 per cent. Turkey, for the time, obtains all the benefit of the difference ; but it remains to be seen whether England or France may not in the eud have to pay somewhat dearly for their good-nature in the transaction. The war in Asia is rapidly gaining in interest. General Mou. RAVIEFF having received large supplies of provisions and materiel from Alexandropol, at the head of some 40,000 men and eighty guns, has commenced approaches against Kars, and pushed forward a strong division of troops who are advancing rapidly on Erzeroum. Kars, which is amply provisioned and garrisoned with 15,000 troops, pro mises to hold out well ; but Erzeroum, although garrisoned also by 15,000 men, has but poor defences, not much more than a few weeks' provision, and no stores of powder or shot in the town, where the greatest alarm prevailed. The hitherto mysterious manceuvres of General MOURAVIEFF are now fully explained : it was not fear of the Circassians at Tiflis, but simply want of guns, which checked his first advance on Kars, which he now closely besieges ; yet, pro vided the Turks do not suffer themselves to be enticed from their walls, there is every probability of the town standing a good siege, and of time being given for the arrival of the Turkish reinforcements which are supposed to be hastening to the spot. The appointment of Omxn PAOHA to the command of the army in Asia is a wise step on the part of the Turkish Government. Freed,from the trammels of allied interference, the Turkish General will here have a fair field for his capacity, and we doubt not but that ho will prove himself a better general even than Russia's best man, MOURAVIEFF. A son of the Prince of Canino, LUCIEN BONAPARTE, is to receive a Cardinal's hat at the next Consistory. It will be more singular than improbable if the present generatim one day behold a Bonaparte — Pope of Rome. THE PRESS. 808