The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-11 00:00:00

AUG. 11; 1855. and words of oommand, given in a loud tone. The result justified their anticipations, as the Russian bugles sounded the assembly, and their troops were seen crowding into the malakoff, ready to repel the supposed premeditated attack. Immediately the guns and, mortar; bearing on the threatened point poured forth their iron hail. Grape, cannister, and shells fell amongst the besieged "fast and furious," and only ceased when the fire from the enemy showed that the panic had passed away. On the whole this ruse de guerre was satisfactory in the extreme to all con cerned, except the sufferers. The Times publishes a letter, dated the 28th ult., from the Turkish camp in the Crimea. The writer bays : The French camp on the Tschernaya, as well as the Turkish and Piedmontese contingents, has for the last few days been kept on the alert, owing to the news brought by a Russian deserter. According to his account, the Russians intended to attack in great force the Tschernaya line, and bad prepared thirty brigades of infantry and four of artillery. Their chief object, he pretended, was to break through the Turkish line. The consequence of this news, which came from French head-quarters, was that both the Pied montese and Tullis)) troops passed a sleepless night. But the night of Wednesday, as well as the following ones. was passed without bringing the Russians. The Sardinians occupy Tchorgoun as usual ; the French . and English cavalry, and lately a Turkish detachment, the valley of Baidar ; and nowhere have any traces of the enemy been discovered. Either the Russians have been kept back by the heavy rains which we have had for the last three days, or else, as is more probable, the threatened attack was only one of those stories with which deserters try to ingra tiate themselves on their arrival. The Russians would have found it at any rate rather tough work to force the Tschernaya line. Lower down towards Inkermann, where the valley is broad, the infantry could not have forded the river, for, in oonsequence of the late rains, the Tschernaya is considerably swollen; the bridge of Traktir, the only ready passage, is guarded by a strong tile-de pont, and to construct bridges under the fire of the enemy is one of those things which are sometimes talked of, but not often done. Higher up, near Tchor goun, the difficulties are not less. The Sardinians have constructed beautifully-finished intrenchments on every available position, and they assume daily the appearance of an intrenched camp. Besides. the ground on this side is too much broken to form on it, and the Russians would have exposed themselves to be crushed before they could have formed. Omer Paella has not yet returned from Constantinople, and for some time the opinion has been gaining ground that he would not return to the Crimea. In the front the last few days have passed without inci dents, but not without use. The check experienced by the allied armies on the 18th of last month, instead of discou raging, seems to have given them new strength and fresh energy. In spite of the furious firing of the Russians, the works extend their grasping fingers in every direction— slowly, but irresistibly. They creep 'up the sides of the Malakoff and envelope the Redan more and more. The French batteries directed against the Bastion du Mit have likewise found their voice, which has been so long silent, and for the last few days a good deal of firing has been going on there. Expectation is pitched to a high degree. Battery after battery is constructed, and trench after trench, so everybody is eagerly waiting for the decisive moment; but never, per • haps, was public rumour more at a loss for conjectures than in the present instance. Scarcely anybody ventures to give an opinion. There are only vague hieas about anther assault, about working our way by saps under an overpowering fire of artillery, and other such general assertions, which cannot even be honoured by the name of " shaves." THE HANGO OUTRAGE. Further despatches relating to this affair have been published during the last few days. Prince Dolgo• rouki writes to state, and defend, the refusal of the Russian Government to release the prisoners ae cording to the demand sent by Admiral Dundas, and proceeds to cite various instances in which, as he alleges, the British have made improper use of flags of truce To this letter Admiral Dundas has trans mitted an elaborate reply. In the present series of papers, however, there appears for the first time, in extenso, a letter from Lieutenant Geneste, who commanded the boat's crew of the Cossack, upon whom the outrage was perpetrated. The lieutenant reports as follows his commanding officer, Captain Fanshawe lielsingfora, July 8, l8"55. In obedience to your order, on Monday, the sth of June, I proceeded to the landing-place at Hango Head in the cutter, carrying a flag of truce, in order to land Russian prisoners and communicate with the officer at the telegraph ',Cation. We arrived at the pier, and no person being visible on the shore, except two or three women standing bear the houses, I landed the Russian prisoners, and in company with them and Dr. Easton proceeded towards the hones to communicate with the people, and with the officer of the telegraph. The three stewards also accom panied us, in order, if possible, to purchase fresh provisions But all the boat's crew were left in the boat, with strict orders not to land, as you had directed. We also carried with us a white flag of truce on a boarding-pike, Norton, the midshipman's steward, carrying it beside me. We had only proceeded about fifty yards from the boat, when sud denly Russian soldiers ( who had lain concealed behind the rocks and houses, and of whose vicinity we were completely ignorant) rose anti fired on us and the boat from all sides. Taking the white flag from the steward Norton, who was shot down by my side, I endeavoured with it in my hand to prevent the soldiers from. tiring at the boat, and so 0440 1 t Ittoition of their dicer, who Q 114120 near sue, to THE PilE. it. However, I regret to state that the firing did not cease until many of our people had been hit. As we were completely surrounded by soldiers, it was impossible to effect our escape, the soldiers bring within a few yards of the boat on every side, and seeing the inutility of making any resistance, not having a loaded musket in the boat, and the greater number of our small boat's crew of eleven men being killed and wounded by the first fire of the enemy, not a shot was fired on our side. We were all seized by the soldiers, taken to the houses, and without a moment's delay placed in carriages, which appeared to me to be ready for us, and transported to Eckness, where we ar rived the same afternoon. I regret to have to state that we have lost six of our men killed, and four have been wounded badly, nearly all the others having slight scratches. One Finnish captain was also killed and two Russian captains wounded. The wounded men were carried to Eckuess, and placed in hospital there. I inclose a list of the killed and wounded. The fate of several of the killed I know only by the Russian report, as we were hurried away too quickly from the scene of action to ascertain it for our selves; but I fear their report is too true, as we have six men missing. and they report seven dead bodies at Hango Head, which would be correct with our six men and the old Finnish captain, whom we saw shot down and bayoneted. We remained at Eckness during Tuesday, and on Wed nesday Mr. Sullivan, myself, and the four unwounded men were removed to this place, leaving the four wounded men at Eckness, with Dr. Easton to attend to them. The wounded men were aU doing well when we left Ecknesa. One of them, Gliddon, had to undergo amputation of his right arm, near the shoulder, which had been successfully performed. Since our arrival at Eckness we have received every attention and kindness from the Russian general and °Beers that our position would admit of. The wounded men have been treated with the greatest care and consiter ation. I requested General Moller, the officer commanding at Ecknesa, to send a boat on the day following this unfor tunate affair, to the ship, with a flag of truce, to inform you what had happened, but he declared it to be impossible. I do not know how this letter will reach you, but the general will forward it by the first opportunity. As we were taken prisoners under a flag of truce, I presume we shall he shortly released, but am at present in perfect ignorance of their intentions with respect to us. I send this letter opened and unsealed. LOUTS GswesrE, Lieutenant. THE OFFICERS OF THE " TIGER." The thirteen British naval officers and midshipmen belonging to the unfortunate Tiger, who were not so lucky as their first lieutenant to he set at liberty and write a book on Russia, but were detained priso ners of war, have at length also been liberated, and arrived at Stettin on the 31st ult., via Dantsic, on their way to England. They have been exchanged against a similar number of Russian officers of equal grades, and were accompanied to the frontiers of Prussia, where they were set at liberty, by a picket of Cossacks. They were prisoners of war for five months, and were obliged to swear by the honour of their swords to remain inactive and take no part in the war for seven months more. On their arrival at Stettin twelve of these gentlemen proleeded on im mediately to Berlin for England. Lieutenant Sey mour was the only one of the party who preferred resting some time from the fatigues of his journey before proceeding to England. THE BALTIC FLEET. The expectations of some serious blow being struck by the fleet under Admi' al Ditndaa had become almost certainties when the last mail was despatched, Helsingfors or Revel, or perhaps both, being believed to be the destined points of attack. The following vessels were at Nargen on the 31st ult., expecting im mediate orders to commence some important opera tions :-- ENGLISH —The Duke of Wellington, 131 ; Exmouth 91 ; Russell, 60 ; Cornwallis, 60 ; Hawk, 60 ; Hastings, 60 ; Edinburgh, 58 ; Arrogant, 48 ; Euryalus, 51 ; Am phion, 34 ; Cossack, 20 ; Tartar, 20 ; Vulture, 6; Geyser, 6 ; Lightning, 3 ; Merlin, 4 ; Calcutta and iEolus, maga zine store-ships; Belleisle, hospital•ship ; Volcano. black smiths' shop, and engineers' factory ; fifteen gun-boats, and sixteen mortar-vessels. Fa.ENcu.—The Tourville, Austerlitz, Isis, Aigle, Pelican, one gun boat, and five mortar-vessels. The Times publishes the subjoined letter from the fleet, dated "off Nargen," on July 31 : We have all been on the qui rive during the last week, expecting an attack to Le made upon Sweaborg, and believe our hopes have only been disappointed by the non arrival of the Cilcutia and iEulua with the reserve ammu nition. On Wednesday, the 25th. at noon, the Locust and Hawke joined the fleet from Bamsund. During the morning of the 26th the Merlin, Skylark, Hind, and Princess Alice arrived from Cmnatadt, and in the afternoon were followed by the Thistle, bearing despatches from the enemy to the commander in-chief, received under a flag of truce. These it is believed relate to the Hango prisoners. The Vulture was afterwards sent to Faro to bring up the Belkisle, hospital-ship, which has been lying comparatively idle there, instead of being with the fleet. On the 27th H.M S Centaur arrived from England. The gun-boats have each been getting in a tlB•potinder gnn from the block-ships. The French ship Austerlitz has been on a cruise in the Gulf of Riga, and returned on the 29th ; she touched the ground there, injuring her bottom and false keel. The ships are rapidly flocking in from all parts to swell th e lu mber o,peoftirits atN.argeii. Tkie Austerlitz and Jigk arrived on the 28th from Ledaund, followed by the iriOurvh 737 and the seven gun-boats. 4r4OPie, it eare4 Pelter, Badger. Lark, Redwing, and Dapper, from Cronstadt, where they left Admiral Baynes and his squadron, heartily sick of nothing to do. The Atapkisa and Gleaner also arrived from Sweaborg, the former having broken her screw-shaft. At 6.10 p.m. the Lightning arrived with the mails from Dantsic, and the Isabella Napier, with bullocks, from Copenhagen. On the 80th the Arrogant, with the squadron which went to liotica, the Hawke and Biter gun-boat, and the l'ullure, with the Belleisle in tow, arrived, making the fleet here at present to consist of nearly sixty sail. During the last three or four days we have had cold north-easterly winds, accompanied by fogs and rain, show ing a tendency to a break up of the summer weather. The following official despatches announcing the success of some additional operations of minor cha racter have been published by the Admiralty :-- Duke of Wellington, at. Nargen, July 30. Having received, on the 24th instant, from Captain Yel verton, of H.M.S. Arrogant, information which appeared to render it desirable that he should again examine the south-western shores of the island of Kotka, J took untrue dime measures to strengthen the squadron under his orders by the addition of four gunhosts, to be detached from off Cronstadt by Rear-Admiral Ba)nes, together with the further addition of four mortarsvessels hence, which he had hoped to be able to employ. I have much satisfaction in transmitting for their lord ships' information the iuclosetl report of proceedings of Captain lelverton, who, with the squadron under his orders, has again succeeded in completing the destruction of buildings and military stores to a considerable extent on the island of Kotka; and I beg once more to express my entire approbation of the manner in which he has executed the service intrusted to him, and of the conduct of the officers and men employed on the occasion. I am happy in having this opportunity to recommend to the favorable notice of their lordships the conduct of Mr. George Giles, master of the Arrogant, and Mr. Macfarlane, the master of the Magicienne, who have now been con stantly employed in those ships on the various services which I have recen ;ly had occasion to report. R. S. DUNDAS. ( Inclosure,) H.M.S. Arrogant, off the Mouth of the Kymene, July 28. Sir,---I have the honour to inform you that very early on the morning of the 20th I was joined, off the island of Hogland, by the Cossack and Magicienne, bringing with them the mortar-vessels•Prempt, Pickle, Rocket, and Maser. I stood immediately to the northward, leaving the Ruby to bring on the gun-boats, which were not then in sight. They joined at noon, and at two p.m. we all anchored off Fort Rotsensholm. As the safety of our expedition rested chiefly on our in vesting and holding the entire possession of the fortified island of Kotka, I determined upon taking it at once. Accordingly I anchored the mornusvessels out of range, and, leaving two gun boats to look after them, I pro eeeded with the rest of the vessels to the westward of Kotka for the purpose of destroying the bridge, so as to cut off the retreat of the garrison, and prevent their re ceiving reinforcements from the mainland. Captain Van sittart, of the Magicienne, with his accustomed zeal and activity, threaded his way at once through the shoals, and destroyed the bridge. As soon as all the vessels had an chored, so as to command the great military road leading from the fort of Hogfors Holm, and also the channel dividing the island from the main,l landed all the marines, under command of Captain S. N. Lowder, R.M., with Lieut. George D. Dowell, R.M.A., and Lients. H. C. Mudge and P. R. Holmes, RM., who took possession without being opposed, as the garrison (no doubt apprised of our coming by the telegraphs along the coast) had very recently evacuated, leaving behind them a large amount of military stores, which have since been burnt. I beg to inclose a list of all the Crown property destroyed by Captain Lowder, including barracks, magazines, ord nance stores, storehouses, stables. guardhouses, and other Government buildings, with an immense amount of timber intended for building and other military purposes. The following morning .I weighed, leaving Captain Fan shawe with the Cossack in charge of this most important point, which required the utmost care and attention, as the enemy on several occasions threw out reconnoitring parties, as if inclined to attempt the recovery of the island. I feel it due to Mr. George Giles, master of this ship, and Mr. George A. Macfarlane, master of the Magicienne, to mention the zeal and attention with which they have sounded and buoyed, night and day. the intricate channels of this coast, enabling me (without the assistance of pilots) to get into many places where our presence was least expected. H. R. Yen% KIVION, Captain. I'S. Owing to a change of wind to the eastward I regret to say that the village unfortunately caught fire from some Government buildings, and I fear much injury was done to it. It is, however, a source of congratulation to he able to add that the fine church en the island sustained no damage whatever, owing to the precautions that were immediately taken to save it. THE garris ne of Jersey and Guernsey are to be placed on a war footing, and the governor of each will be selected from the major-generals of the army, in stead of from the etaff-colonels, as at present. LORD HowDm , / has remitted from Paris, where he now is, a donation of 1,000 francs for the relief of the sufferers from cholera in the city of Granada. BARON DE DiEraicit of Vienna, who has just died, has left a fortune of 20.000,000 florins (about 50,000,000 f.) consisting chiefly .of landed property. The whole of this vast sum goes to his grandson aged sem,