The Press. — London, England, 1856-02-09 00:00:00

128 the Tschernaya valley precluded the idea of the advance of the enemy in that direction. The explanation now given is that the Russians, either by planting firmly in the ground some dismounted guns, as formerly done in the siege operations of Sebastopol, or by the use of mortars mole powerful than those hitherto employed, were seeking to reach the French encampments across the valley. If this were the object the attempt was a failure, for, as before mentioned, most of the shells exploded before they reached the ground, and neither they nor the shot were projected far enough to fall on the Fediukine ridge, or to touch the outposts at Tractir. At the same time that the firing was going on from the Mackenzie ridge, the Russian batteries on the heights above the lnkermann valley fired with more than their usual activity. Some of the works on the north side also sent au occasional shot or shell into the ruins of Sebastopol and its suburbs. The shelling Prom the Mackenzie heights continued rather heavy for about an hour, and then subsided into a dropping fire at distant intervals.—D. News cor., Jan. 22. Later intelligence, up to the 26th, states that an attempt was made in force by the Russians to sur prise the French advanced posts. The attempt mis carried, and many Russians were made prisoners alter a slight skirmish. Original ytttirs from ttt grinua. CAMP, CRIMEA, January 21, 1856. THERE is so little news out here that I scarcely know what to write about, though I am aware that even the trifling incidents of our every-day life have an interest at home. Well, then, to begin with the roads, which I am sorry to find from the last papers have lost their character in England. They are not to be cried down at all, I assure you. It is very true that the commencement of the wet season did rather try their constitutions, and their beautifully-carved backs sunk into little pits and hollows, especially where there was much embankment of newly-turned earth. It was only natural they should do so ; but the remedy was simple. Fresh "metal " was thrown into the cavities, and now they are as good as roads can be in so dirty a place. For the last week the weather has been much milder, and would seem to argue that the winter is breaking up : certainly the worst must be passed. " Shaves" are bandied about from mouth to mouth that this or that division is to start immediately for Asia or Bessarabia, and officers have been warned in general orders to "complete themselves with pack-saddles," Sze., forthwith. The expression is a curious one, but the idea conveyed is that a move (for part of the army, at any rate) is in contemplation. The condition of the troops is excel lent, and the young recruits must he getting expert in their duties, if it is in the power of constant drills and rifle practice to make them so. An expedient has been hit upon for curing the intemperance which prevailed to so fearful an extent when the extra sixpence for field allowance was first instituted. The allowance of bread has been limited to three days in the week, biscuit being issued on the remain ing four. Now, no British soldier will eat the latter, if he can possibly avoid it, and, consequently, the sixpences that once went in spirits are now in a great measure expended upon " tommy," which in soldiers' language stands for the staff of life. The only objection to the scheme is that it throws the money into the hands of the rascally tribe of canteen.. keepers and camp-followers. A melancholy accident occurred the other day which, now that casualties are rare, has cast a gloom over the whole camp. Captain J. H. Messenger, of the 46th Regiment, was killed by the premature ex plosion of a train for blasting rock on a new line of road. He is much and deservedly regretted by his brother officers, and by all who knew him. THE INTELLIGENCE OF PEACE has been received at Malta by the sailors of the fleet with a little in dignation, and a vast amount- of fraternisation with heir French friends. Jack is said never to be seen bbrithout two or three French soldiers, showing and explaining to them everything worth seeing in the island, and concluding the day at a vino with a diplomatic discussion on the impossibility of peace at present. Two MORE LARGE NUGGETS have been lately found at the Port Philip diggings, one of 715 oz., the other 864 oz.; there was a large mass of quartzlin each. The present population of the gold-fields is said to reach 150,000, of which 70,000 are diggers. The yield of gold still remains high, but double the number of people are required to produce it. A FINE PROMENADE, from the Croizette Point to the mouth of the Slagne, at Cannes, has been ordered to be constructed by the French Minister of the Interior. In commemoration of the landing of Napoleon 1., on March I, 1815, it will be called the Allee Napoleon. THE PRESS. tortign durrzspoubtuct. BRUSSELS, Feb. 6. Mucu animadversion has been bestowed upon the continental press for animosity to England ; but it has never equalled the low rancour with which the country has been assailed by Belgian journals. The iil•temper of Germany has been shown openly without fear of consequence, whereas that of Belgium vents itself in a style that should belong ex clusively to the nature of the uneducated and illbred. And there is this peculiarity, that, unlike honourable nations, the acerbity of public feeling is permitted to colour the usages of society, and to taint the springs of social intercourse. Studied insult, when out of harm's way, is indulged as a congenial pastime, and the selection of the objects whereon to vent morosity of temper is characteristic of the national attributes. An advocacy of Russia is so far creditable as proving that the duties of gratitude are not utterly extinct; but the disparagement and hatred of beauty is a novel feature in the social ethics of a nation, and certainly not participated in by their Russian allies, who are ever willing to join in the refrain, "Amour a la plus belle, honneur au plus vaillant." Is the supply short in Belgium? In furtherance of a specific object, society seeks to disseminate the libel dictated by the journalist—the lesson is easy, and the scholar apt. To give au example. At a " concert noble" the attention of a Belgian noble was directed by the encomium of a neighbour on some daughters of Albion. " Oui," replied the titular noble, " elles sont assez bien ; mais," and he ground his teeth in angry anathema, "je les detente toutes— toutes !" A social war against the comparatively de fenceless in a strange land, and under the " quasi " protection of hospitality, in this case inefficient, is peculiar to the climate of Gallia-Belgica. It is the measure of an unhappy nature; it is the voucher of a just appellation. Not thus are the hostile policies of nations treated by worthy belligerents or honour able neutrals. English prisoners in Russia receive more courtesy at the hand of their captors than the Belgians accord to the people of a nation upon whom they literally depend for national existence. E. R. SIENA, Feb. 4. Mum dissatisfaction has been caused throughout Upper Italy by the rude manner with which the Minister of Sardinia has been treated at Constanti nople, and General de la Marmora is said to have little reason to be pleaßed with the tone of affairs at Paris. The policy of France would appear to be the conciliation of Austria, and it follows, as a necessity, that the most grateful act towards Austria would be the degradation cf Sardinia, or, should that expression be too strong, it may be said the hin drance of free action by diplomatic bonds. That the French are popular—the most popular people of Europe—in Italy, is well known to all who have sojourned in that Southern region, and the govern mental regeneration of the peninsula, in alliance with the patriots and constitutionalists, is held to be their destined work. The English do not command the same sympathy. These Whig-Radical Govern ments have continually encouraged the Italian re formers by word, and broken their faith when the moment came to make good the word by deed. Potent reasons of self may be adduced for this lapse, and it has not escaped the attention of the most un thinking Italian that in England Liberalism and Radi calism are handles for party warfare. Hence the various Whig-Radical Governments, gambling with foreign factions and interests for private ends, have been essentially weak at home and powerless abroad. Nothing instructed the Continent more fully on this point than the Coalition against the Government of Lord Derby, irrespective of wrong or right; and the miserable failure of the Aberdeen Ministry that fol lowed, and of which the present is the wreck, has not encouraged confidence in the power or inte grity of a British Government. It has been said truly that the Aberdeen Cabinet was forced unwillingly to go to war, and that the Palmerston Ministry has been equally compelled with reluctance to entertain propositions of peace. On each occasion the Conservatives who forced the unwilling action in either case represented, and acted in concert with, the popular feeling. It will be for them to guard the interests of Sardinia. That country made sacrifices to join the allies ; it incurred a certain risk, and was hardly consolidated in its home government against the attacks of Austria and the Pope. Nevertheless, the Sardinian contingent did its workibravely, and received on all bands a just measure of f praise. In return for this loyal and SATURDAY, gallant conduct it has been decided that the country is merely to be accorded a nominal place in the European conferences, and is to have a voice only on those political questions that refer to Italian in terests. Then immediately arises the question, what Italian interests did Sardinia defend in joining the allies against Russia? If called upon by England and France to concur in a European war for Eu ropean objects, an obedience to that call con veyed a positive right to be a party to all proceedings connected with the European conflict. This is a question that Italy looks for the Conservatives to put frankly and concisely to the Minister of England, and the answer is awaited with anxiety. The "oui ou non " will entail consequences that are not directly understood. M. T. A. 3ortign nn 6olonial Inttliigtnte. FRANCE. The aproaching Conference absorbs every other feeling in Paris at this moment. Speculation, even, is dull, and the Bu uf Gras has traversed Paris this season without exciting a tithe part of the interest or amusement usually attached to this periodical pro cession. The Moniteur of Tuesday published the follow• ing official list of the Plenipotentiaries who will attend the Conferences Count Colonna Walcwski. France 1 Baron de Bourqueney. England 1 Lord Cowley. Austria 1 Baron de Hubner. Turkey . f Ash Pacha. 1 Mehemed Djemil Bey (Ambas• sador at Paris.) Sardinia Russia 1 Baron Brunow. Later intelligence throws a doubt upon the an nouncement that the Chevalier d'Azeglio will repre sent Sarainia. A telegraphic despatch on the 6th announced that the French Government had forwarded passports to tl e two Russian Plenipotentiaries, and further stated:— Count Orloff must have already left St. Petersburg. Barron 11runow leaves Frankfort on the ith, and M. de liourqueney leaves Vienna on the same day. The Plenipotentiaries will be lodged at their respective embassies, Lord Clarendon residing at the Hotel Cooper in the Champs Elysees. The sittings, it is believed, will be held at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and the period of the labours of the Congress is estimated at from twelve or fourteen days to three weeks. The Conference is expected to open about the 20th or 23rd inst. Although Prussia is not mentioned in the list of representatives by the Moniteur, the Pays states that in case of any change in the present situation, M. d'Alvensleben and M. de Savigny, with M. Belau, would represent Prussia. Warlike preparations were still pushed forward with great vigour at Cherbourg, and the sudden departure of General Espinasse, in command of the third division of the French army in the East, had created some remark. The forthcoming bank returns are anticipated as likely to be unfavorable. The Conititutionnel, in a semi-official article, has stated that the allied powers have resolved not to demand pecuniary compensation from Russia, point ing out that the increased commercial developments of France and England are sufficient compensation. AUSTRIA. The preliminary protocol was signed at Vienna on the Ist, the French and English Ministers having received instructions accordingly the day previous. At noon on the Ist, Sir Hamilton Seymour, M. de Bourqueney, Izam Bey, and Prince Gortfchakoff met at Count Buol's and signed the document. Izam Bey signed first, then Count Buol, Sir Hamilton Seymour, M. de Bourqueney, and, lastly, Prince Gortschakotl. The text of the document is as follows : Par suite de I'acceptation par lours Cows respectives des cinq propositions renfermees dane le document ci annexe, sous le titre de " Projet des Preliminaires," les soussignes, apres I'avoir paraphe, conformetnent a l'autorisation gulls ont recus a cet eftet, soot convenus quo lours Gouverre ments nommeront chacun des plenipotentiaires, qui, munis des pleins ponvoirs necessaires pour proceder a la signa ture des preliminaires 4e paix formels, conclueront un armistice et un traits de paix detinitif. Les dits pleni potentiaires auront I se reunir it Paris dans le terrne de trnis semaines a partir de ce jour, ou plutirt si faire se peat. bait a Vienne ce ler Fevrier. _ . (Les Cinq Signatures.) (Translation of the foregoing.) In consequence of the acceptance by their respective Courts of the five propositions contained in the document hereunto annexed, under the title of " Pnift of Prelulu. 1111111