The Press. — London, England, 1855-04-07 00:00:00

APRIL 7, 1855. the field of battle, the letters that have since reached us have revealed a grave circumstance which it is important to make known. We have learned that at the battle of Inkermann, English soldiers, who were considered wounded and incapable of taking part in the combat, fired on our troops, when the latter had passed in pursuit of the enemy. Our soldiers thus struck by balls from a hand they thought disarmed, may, in the heat of the combat, have given way to sanguinary reprisals. Humanity blames them severely, but were they not, to a certain extent, ex cited by an enemy who certainly could not be considered as being without defence, since he was able to make a murderous use of his atoms? War is subjected to laws which must be maintained. One of them deserves special mention—lt is that the enemy, at the moment he lays down his arms, cannot make use of them to kill the man who has spared his life. It is with regret that we hear of the example of an English officer who, while with one hand he held out his sword to a Russian sub-officer, with the other drew a pistol from his belt and laid him dead at his feet. If such acts as these characterise the fury of the straggle, they are also sufficient to account for the sad effects to which they have led. In reperusing attentively the minutes annexed to your letter of the 4th January, you will remark that in the majority of the cases there mentioned the reprisals exercised by the English soldiers were very sanguinary. Far from entertaining any idea of vengeance, we confine ourselves to observing that it would be equally desirable for both armies that the laws of humanity should be rigorously observed on the field of battle. Prince Mans chikoff, as far as he is concerned, has fully fulfilled the duties which the authority of his command and the for mally expressed wishes of the Emperor imposed on him. We rely with the same confidence on the honourable feel ings of the chief of the English army. Ido not hesitate to express this confidence in returning to you, M. le Baron, the documents which you have had the kindness to com municate to me. I have not failed to make them known to Prince Menschikoff, requesting him to seriously consider the evidence which they contain, in order that he may con tribute by all the means in his power to give to the pre sent contest that character of moderation which should never be lost sight of by two nations who have an esteem for each other, although engaged in a war to which we should be happy to promptly put an end, if the conciliatory intentions of the Government of her Britannic Majesty responded to our own.—Accept, dsc., NESSELRODE. TROOPS FROM INDIA. The first of the transports with troops from Bombay for the Crimea left on the 10th of January, and reached Suez on the Bth of February, occupying twenty-nine days on the way. The last of the 10th Hussars having been despatched, steamers and transports left Bombay on the 24th of January to carry the 12th Lancers from Mangalore, and the men were expected to be embarked and ready for sea by the 10th of March, reaching Suez on the 14th of April, and Constantinople, at the rate assigned, about the 7th of May, or about a month later than by the Cape. The Bombay Times says the orders for the troops through Egypt reached India early in Novem• ber, and considering the immense amount of tonnage at this season always at command, every man that could have been spared might have been embarked by New Year's day, and ninety days on the voyage to Gibraltar would have greatly exceeded the average of time taken. With steamers in readiness there to receive them on the Ist of March, the whole of the troops might have been in the Crimea by the Ist of April. The horses despatshed through Egypt are undersized for home service, they are unfitted for the climate of the Crimea, and will have cost the country 2001. a piece by the time they reach their destination. No blame attaches to any one in India for these blunders; the orders from home were peremptory. HONESTY OF THE TURKS. The writer of a letter from Constantinople, dated the 25th ult., says : I regret to state that the great majority of vagrants, thieves, and pickpockets infesting the Turkish capital are Christians and Europeans, and for the most part British proteges, Maltese and lonians. Hence the noble and cre ditable office of rescuing these vagabonds from the hands of justice devolves principally on the British consul, who, after having perchance imprisoned and punished them for a few days, sends them off to their own country, whence they are sure to return by the next steamer to pursue their calling with redoubled energy. These are all well-known facts, and it is to be hoped our rulers may find some prompt and efficacious remedy fur these crying abuses. The Mus sulman, whether from fear of the laws or conscience sake, is seldom found to engage in such abominable pursuits ; and the honour and honesty of Islam in many matters has all the force of a popular adage. For instance, a watch, a ring, a purse of gold, or any other valuable, left in a boat, public bath, &c., is as safe as it would be in the Bank of England, and sure to return to its rightful owner. A large amount of money, the whole contents of the strong box, are committed by commercial firms during the night to the charge of a poor Turkish porter, and there never has been a single instance of bad faith, or the smallest defalca tion. In like manner some thousands of pounds in specie are conveyed safely by a poor suntgi from one part of the country to another, and there is no example of accident on record, or of his having appropriated a single piastre to his own use. Again, in Turkish houses of distinction, the doors of the different apartments are all open—snuff-boxes, magnificent pipes, watches, and valuables, displayed in bright array on the divan—some twenty or thirty servants bustling about in every direction; a throng of visitors going and coining; and still, it is almost an incredible fact under such circumstances, that not a single instance of theft has ever corns to raiknowledge. No doubt, the pro• THE erection of huts in Heligoland for the troops is completed, and the officer of engineers charged with the superintendence of the work has gone up to Hamburg, on leave of absence granted him by Sir John Hindmarsh. There are altogether thirty-four huts, built on the high ground near the lighthouse, in a situation rather exposed to the wind, but healthy. Each hut is sixty feet long and twenty-two feet wide, and contains beds and accommodation for thirty men. This would consequently afford room for more than six thousand men. It is expected that the island will receive a strong garrison in the summer, probably a part of the reserve of the army about to proceed to the Baltic for operations on the Russian coast. is seldo'm found to engage in such abominable pursuits; finished fitting at the different ports, and perhaps Europe. Casimir, the last of the Piast line, died and the honour and honesty of Islam in many matters has may remain until her most gracious Majesty Queen without male issue, and the crown passed by election all the force of a popular adage. For instance, a watch, a Victoria and the Emperor of the French will be able to his nephew, Lewis, King of Hungary. The affairs ring, a purse of gold, or any other valuable, left in a boat, to pay them a visit. of the nation were neglected by this monarch for the public bath, Sze., is as safe as it would be in the Bank of superior interests of Hungary, and at his death the England, and sure to return to its rightful owner. A large THE erection of huts in Heligoland for the troops Poles unanimously elected Hedwige, the daughter amount of money, the whole contents of the strong box, are committed by commercial firma during the night to is completed, and the officer of engineers charged of Casimir, to the vac a nt throne, A.D. 1370. the charge of a poor Turkish porter, and there never has with the superintendence of the work has gone up Ringold, a native Lithuanian chief, a man of talent, been a single instance of bad faith, or the smallest defalca- to Hamburg, on leave of absence granted him by Sir acquirement, and bravery, tempered by a laudable tion. In like manner some thousands of pounds in specie John Hindmarsh. There are altogether thirty-four ambition, had collected together the rude masses of are conveyed safely by a poor iurugi from one part of the huts, built on the high ground near the lighthouse, the Schlavo-Finnish tribes, and consolidated them country to another, and there is no example of accident on in a situation rather exposed to the wind, but healthy, into a duchy of Lithuania, A.D. 12:15. This lengthened record, or of his having appropriated a single piastre to Each hut is sixty feet long and twenty-two feet wide, province commenced in a narrow slip of land on the his own use. Again, in Turkish houses of distinction, the and contains beds and accommodation for thirty Baltic, and extended nearly to the shores of the doors of the different apartments are all open—snuffhoxes, men. This would consequently afford room for more Blac k Sea. It interposed betwixt Poland and the magnificent pipes, watches, and valuables, displayed in bright array on the divan—some twenty or thirty servants than si x . thousand men. It is expected that the Grand Duchy of Novogomd, or Russia, originally bustling about in every direction ; a throng of visitors island will receive a strong garrison in the summer, founded by Iturik, which had been subsequently going aril coining; and still, it is almost an incredible fact probably a part of the reserve of the army about to parcelled out and divided after the irruption of the under such circumstances, that not a single instance of proceed to the Baltic for operations on the Russian Mongolian Tartars in the thirteenth century. The theft has ever come to my knowledge. No doubt, the pro. boa St. Lithuanians were heathens. THE PRESS. verbial honesty of the Osmanli fails him in certain condi tions—that is to say, as regards the beylick or the employs in which he may have been placed by the confidence of his sovereign. Moreover, if you depute him to purchase any article, be its value great or small, he is oftentimes unable to resist the allurements of illicit gain. This, all over the East from the earliest times, has been a blot on the na tional character, Bald which it is the anxious desire of the present Sultan to eradicate fundamentally, by the promul gation and rigorous enforcement of the Tauzimat. THE BALTIC FLEET. (From a Correspondent.) BALTIC FLEET, Tuesday, April 3. THE Baltic fleet, consisting at present of thirteen line-of-battle ships (steam) and six paddle steamers, were prevented from sailing to-day by bad weather ; but the Lords of the Admiralty paid a semi-official farewell visit to Admiral Dundas on board the Duke of Wellington, who has, with all his staff, taken up his quarters (he having been hying on shore) on board that ship. Everything is in readiness for starting at a moment's warning; the " God bless you, good bye," has been said, and officer and man, from highest to lowest, has to nerve himself to forget home and all that is dear for a while, and to serve his country with all his energies; nor must he forget that the service on which he is to be employed is not one as in times past, when the British sailor could show his supe riority to the world on his own element in engaging the fleets of the foe, but the more dangerous and dif ficult task of encountering a subtle, well-prepared enemy, who behind stone walls bids defiance to our eager squadrons—an enemy who must be dealt with by the greatest caution and discretion. All in this fleet must feel that something must be attempted, but that something, if already agreed upon and ar ranged by the " higher powers," is properly kept secret. Still we feel that something must be done. Wednesday morning, April 4th. Ten o'clock.—Signal just made to unmoor and prepare to weigh. Sir Thomas Cochrane, with his flag in the Vivid, accompanied by some of the Lords of the Admiralty, has come out to Spithead to see us off. Twelve o'clock.—The weather is very hazy, so that it appears doubtful whether the fleet will start to-day. Two o'clock.—The weather having cleared, signal was made to weigh, which was answered by the fleet under sailing orders for the Baltic now at Spithead get ting under weigh and making sail to the eastward in two lines, the steamers paddling along under steam near their respective liners. At four the wind bucame light, and orders were given to get up steam, and each line-of battle ship, soon being under command of this mighty scoffer of calms and head-winds, furled their sails and steamed at a rate of five knots e hour for the night, Admiral I)undas in the Duke of Wellington leading the weather, and Admiral Sey mour the lee, lines. Numerous yachts accompanied the fleet, and crowds of people loudly cheered the admiral. The weather was most beautiful, and our start altogether most auspicious. I shall not close this till our arrival in the Downs. We shall be joined in a few days by several (I think seven) line. of-battle ships, as our number is to consist of twenty or twenty-one line-of-battle ships. April sth.—The fleet has just anchored in the Downs after a fine passage round, the only accident having been a collision which unfortunately took place between a merchant ship and the Duke of Wel lington. The former, being distracted by the many lights of the fleet, put her helm the wrong way, and, running on board the Duke, sustained considerable damage, and dropped astern in a deplorable condi tion. Her name, it appears, could not be ascer• tained, and a steamer which was sent in search of her did not succeed in picking her up. Doubtless she found the Duke the hardest of the two. The fleet are now securely anchored, and here I imagine we wait the arrival of the stzay vessels not finished fitting at the different ports, and perhaps may remain until her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria and the Emperor of the French will be able to pay them a visit. POLAND. WHEN a Lord of the Treasury in addressing his con stituents speaks of restoring the ancient kingdom of Poland, and when the First Lord of the Treasury admits it to be a question of possible solution, a more than common value is attached to a statement that, in a manner, partakes of an official bearing. But then immediately follows the postulate, of what spe cific restoration, and of what specific Poland, do these words, calculated to raise hopes and aggravate ani mosity, truly treat? The Government, let it be called the constitutional Government of the Poland of tri partite division, was depraved, corrupt in the extreme, and not worthy of honour ; and the country so tyran nically dealt with by the three powers, without the sanction of Europe, consisted of Poland proper, and the principalities under the name of Poland, which had been acquired by the sword, without any national right. That division, or more strictly spoliation, of the famous country has been generally judged to have been the exclusive crime of Russia; but the idea, however, originated with Frederick of Prussia, in order to possess himself of the port of Dantzic, and the coast of the Baltic, for commercial purposes. The act emanated from a trading covetousness, kin dred to the class of which Messrs. Bright and Cobden are members. Rendering all honour to the Poland of old, and to the chivalry of her existing heroes, it is not less unwise than improper, both for the s ake of the one and the other, to misstate historic events and to overstate wrongs. Undue partiality converts history into a romance, interesting but valueless. Let the principal events of I'olish history be sum marily sketched. The four great stock races of northern and western Europe were the Schlaves, the Goths the Celts, and the Finns. The Schlaves were subdivided into the Wends, the Lekhs or Poles, the Czachs, the Croats, the Serbs, the Lets or Lithuanians, the Bulgarians, and the Russians. The Lekhs, Poles, or Polani, so called from their fertile plains, fixed the centre of their power first at Kruswitza, then at Gnesen, and subsequently at Cracow. The country was formed into a duchy by Lechus 1., A.D. 550, and assumed a more distinct shape in $42, when Piastus, a peasant, was elected to the ducal dignity. From this period the practice of election to the supreme rule appears to have been a principle of the constitutional system. Nevertheless the Piast dynasty, by popular choice—in virtue of their good deeds, by sterner means, or by St. Albanic causes—retained possession of the throne until the extinction of the male race in 1370. In 905, under Mieckeslaus 1., they abandoned Paganism, and adopted Latin Christianity. This peculiar con version severed them effectually from their eastern neighbours, the Russians, who, nearly at the same period, and by the pressure of other policies, were in duced to accept the doctrines and the formula of the Greek Church. This sectarian distinction sharpened those fierce enmities which rarely display their darkest characteristics save in the conflict that is said to be waged for the express glory of the Most High. Mieckeslaus, upon receiving Christian baptism, bad consented to do homage as a vassal of the empire, and, in reward for this submission, the royal crown of Poland was conferred on his son, Boleslaus, the Lion-hearted, by the Emperor Othcll., A.D. 1000. For the three following centuries the history of the country presents a varied account of invasion, revolt, and conquest—not tending to civilise the nature of the Schlave, if two common and authorised customs of that race may be taken as an example, namely, that of killing old men when arrived at decrepitude, and the destroying children born, or said to be born, imperfect. The obstetric judge incurred a fearful responsibility, even if superior to a bribe, and an im patient heir might not have been free from suspicion in his account of octogenarian incapacity. Ladislaus 11., A.D. 1300, an able and honest prince, by intro ducing salutary reforms, considerably ameliorated the government, and his son, Casimir the Great, followed out his father's policy, and, by a concentration of power, emancipated the country from tributary vassalage to the Holy Roman Empire. Thus was I'oland promi nently stationed amongst the independent States of Europe. Casimir, the last of the Piast line, died without male issue, and the crown passed by election to his nephew, Lewis, King of Hungary. The affairs of the nation were neglected by this monarch for the superior interests of Hungary, and at his death the Poles unanimously elected Hedwige, the daughter of Casimir, to the vacant throne, A.D. 1370. Ringold, a native Lithuanian chief, a man of talent, acquirement, and bravery, tempered by a laudable ambition, had collected together the rude masses of the Schlsvo-Finnish tribes, and consolidated them into a duchy of Lithuania, s.n. 1235. This lengthened province commenced in a narrow slip of land on the Baltic, and extended nearly to the shores of the Black Sea. It interposed betwixt Poland and the Grand Duchy of Novogorod, or Russia, originally founded by Iturik, which had been subsequently parcelled out and divided after the irruption of the Mongolian Tartars in the thirteenth eenttuy. Tba Lithuanians were heathens. t;