The Press. — London, England, 1855-07-28 00:00:00

Beagle, off the Town of Yenitohi, July 4, 185.5. I have the honour to inform you that on my arrival off this place, I immediately proceeded to minutely examine the communication between the town and Arabat Spit, and on so doing found it to Le by means of a ferry, of two large flats and hawsers, which I determined to destroy if possible. Accordingly, on the forenoon of yesterday, I despatched my gig, under Mr. John Hayles, acting gunner of this ship, and paddle•box boat, under Mr. Mart= Tracey, midship- man, of the VdatiVila. I have much pleasure in reporting that they succeeded entirely in destroying it by cutting the hawsers and casting the boats adrift, which was done under a very heavy fire of musketry at about eighty yards, the troops completely lining the beach, and the adjacent houses being filled with riflemen. Great credit is due to Mr. Bayles for his activity and zeal in destroying the same, and to Mr. Martin Tracey for the effectual fire he kept up in covering his retreat, the firing from the ship and paddle-box boat at the same time causing great contusion and loss amongst the enemy as they retired from their exposed position. Mr. Hayles speaks in the highest terms of the boat's crew, especially of Joseph Trewavas, ordinary seaman, lent I:coin the Agamemnon, who cut the hawsers. I inclose a hat of casualties, which I am happy to say is very small, although the gig and paddle-box boat were riddled with musket balls. W. N. W. HEwarr. LETTER FROM THE SULTAN TO LORD RAGLAN. The following is the translation of an autograph letter addressed by Sultan Abdul Medjid to the late Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in the Crimea:— TO LORD RAGLAN. My Lord,—The Queen, my august and intimate ally, sent you to defend my cause—a cause which, being alike just and lawful, becomes that of the whole civilised world. You and the brave army under your command have responded to the hope entertained by your country and by me. By your glorious exploits under a trying climate, you have merited and won universal admiration. The new feats of arms which you are adding to so many previous hrilliaut actions achieved in the Crimea, together with my soldiers, whom I love as my children, encourage me in Loping for an early definite result—a result which will be as glorious for these great allied nations as were the events which distinguished the opening of the cam• Paiffn• I feel a sentiment of oontent, so much the purer from the thought that the war, though a thing so terrible, will have served to reunite my peoples by indissoluble ties to the greatest nations of the West. As long as the noble motive of glory affects the human heart—those who have fought iu fraternal emulation, those who have shed their blood together upon a foreign soil, will not forget the companions they have been wont to regard as their brothers. That which hitherto has been a scourge for humanity, will have produced the satisfactory result of bringing together the peoples whose Governments were already allied, and thus this war will bring the germ of a rich and durable peace, to show itself in salutary fruits amongst those nations who desire to appreciate it. Desiring to offer to the brave combatants of the Crimea a proof of my lively satisfaction—a public testimony of my gratitude-1 charge my aidedescamp, General Ethem pasha, to deliver this letter to you. I love to think, my lord. that all the brave officers and soldiers placed under your command will feel persuaded that we make no die. tinction between any of the soldiers who combat for the common cause, and that the affection which I avow for them finds an echo in the hearts of all the people of Turkey—who love to Teooguise in them the oldest allies of my empire. I pray God to destine you to the moat glorious success and to have you in his holy keeping. A SUPFLEMENTAI4ORDNANCE ESTIMATE has ap peared. It relates, in the first instance, to the ex pense of the reorganised departments. The number of persons employed is 180, being a decrease of five upon the number employed under the old system, and the sum required is 70,7161., being a decrease of 3,003/. from last year. Besides this, a sum of 786,6321. is required, being 74,5001. for the store keeper's laboratory and carriage departments and the Tower; and 212,0001. for stores, 140,0001. for wooden huts, and 114,6321. for harness, waggons, 4c., for the Land Transport Corps. The whole vote amounts to 841,1381. THE STEAM-FRIGATE Panama sailed a few days since from Toulon for Odessa with 600 Russian prisoners, who are to be exchanged for as many Frenchmen. The Russian priest Wasilieff, who came to Toulon to select the Russians to be ex changed, returned in the Panama. Orders have been received at Toulon to prepare to embark 2,500 men, being detachments from the depots of the various French regiments serving in the Crimea. lr is reported in Paris that some intention exists of proposing that French decorations for high merit shall be given to English military men in the Crimea, and English decorations to Frenchmen. This would not be the least effectual means of cementing the union and exciting a glorious emula tion between the armies. LIEUTENANT WEBSTER, of the Ist Royals, who a few weeks since was dismissed her Majesty's ser vice, for his conduct in connection with the "sham duel " at Canterbury, and accordingly ordered to "sell out," has succeeded in obtaining a captaincy in the Turkish Contingent. THE PRESS. THE BALTIC FLEET. (From our Own Correspondent.) OFF CRONSTADT, JULY 11. The Arrogant and Magicienne, which generally come to the fleet from their cruising-ground at mail time, started again to-day for their station off Wiborg. It is much to be regretted that two such fine vessels, commanded by the most enterprising men in the fleet, cannot get within reach of that place, where there is a strong fortification, and about 6,000 troops. But the passage is blocked up by vessels full of granite having been sunk across the entrance to the position which would allow their guns the required range to admit of their bombarding the fort. There is an end of all encampments on the coast : they have been so vigilantly looked after that they dare not show their noses, from fear of the shells which directly they are seen are pitched into them with the greatest effect. The object of these bodies of men has been clearly illustrated by the unfortunate affair at Hango. Apropos of that affair, I must tell you that letters have been received from Lieutenant Geneste and others of the party, stating that they are all pretty well, and as happy as can be expected. The officers are on parole, and the people are civil enough to them. They remark but little about the capture, merely stating that the Russians insist that they had a gun in the bow of the boat—which is utterly false. The correspondence by flag of truce still continues about this affair. Of course it is im possible to know the contents of the letters that pass; but the documents are voluminous, and it is to be hoped satisfactory. JULY 12.—Intperieuse has arrived to-day from England with no end of supernumeraries on board. We are all glad to have this splendid frigate with us again, as she is quite equivalent to a line-of-battle ship for any purpose up here. It is very gratifying to be able to tell you that the fleet, is entirely clear of every epidemic whatever this year; whereas last year, at this time, we were attacked by three different diseases, all of which proved fatal to a great extent, one ship losing 61 men from cholera out of a crew of 650. I attribute this principally to the constant prevalence of fresh breezes, which keep the ships well ventilated. In Cronstadt, we hear from the officer who comes in charge of the flag of truce, there is also less sickness than is usual at this time of the year. JULY 13.—The general signal is made to " Prepare for sea." This signal has caused considerable ex citement. Admiral Baynes has arrived with his own ship the Retribution, the Hogue, Colossus, and three gun-boats. There has been a great deal of commu nication going on between the admirals (French and English), so we are all in great expectation. JULY 14.—At four o'clock this morning the Eury- alus weighed, and, taking the four mortar-vessels we have here in tow, proceeded by signal at full speed to Nargen. At eight the general signal was made to weigh, and the fleet on both sides of the Island of Cronstadt got their anchors up and steamed slowly to the westward. On arriving off Tolbouchin Light house all the ships excepting the Duke of Welling • ton (flag), Exmouth (flag), Tourville (flag), and 4usterlits, were ordered to place themselves under the orders of Admiral Baynes. The latter-named vessels steamed at full speed out of the fleet, steering westerly, while the others, forming two lines in close order, anchored about two miles to the westward of the lighthouse. What are we to conjecture from all this? Three admirals, taking with them the mortar vessels, start for Nargen, where there are fifteen other mortar-vessels. These, including the four with the admiral, will make our force nineteen as regards these formidable little craft. I will not attempt to convey to you any of the many ideas and opinions which are circulated, as none of them have the slightest foundation. There was considerable stir in Cronstadt on our getting up steam. I have not the slightest doubt that an attack was anticipated by the enemy. We could see troops marching—or rather running —in every direction, steamers getting up steam, furnaces for red-hot shot smoking on the ramparts, black flags hoisted on the hospitals, and other indications of preparation. Their minds must have been considerably eased when they saw us steaming away. We have heard a rumour from the Gulf of Bothnia that there has been some attack made by the boats of the squadron there on a small seaport somewhere near Abo, but that our boats had been beaten off with considerable loss. This story is of Russian origin, and must be taken for what it is worth. I don't believe it. We have had despatches from them yesterday, and no mention is made of such an occurrence. There are between 400 or 500 artillerymen arrived from France, principally for the mortar vessels. They have formed a camp on shore at Nargen, and regularly intrenched them selves. The ouly enemies, however, they are likely to have to deal with on shore there axe musquitoes, who certainly are very Ruesiaa in their bites. SATURDAY, Arrogant has arrived, and reports having had a small affair between her boats and the Russian forces near Wiborg. She lost two killed--one midshipman named Story—and five wounded, among whom, unfortunately, is Lieutenant Woolcombe, who was wounded in the face. The enemy brought four or five row gun-boats, under cover of some batteries hastily thrown up, and opened fire on our boats, who little expected such a reception. I have just heard that poor Story and the men of Arrogance boats who were killed lost their lives by the explosion of rocket in one of the boats. It is to be hoped that by next mail you will hear of something of interest from this quarter of the globe. Geyser goes with the mails. This service is not popular now, as every. body expects business now or never. Expect some.. thing by next mail. FUNERAL OF LORD RAGLAN. THE Caradoc steamer, bearing the remains of the late commander-in. chief in the Crimea, arrived in the Bristol Channel on Tuesday, and next day the funeral ceremony commenced, when the coffin con taining the body was landed and conveyed in solemn procession through Bristol on its way to Badminton. The morning was ushered in by the firing, from many points of the city, of minute guns and the chiming of the muffled bells. The body of the de ceased hero was trans-shipped from the Caradoc to the Star as early as six o'clock, and placed on a bier covered with black cloth and crape, and surrackanted by a catafalque of the same materials, on the deck of that vessel. At a little before eleven o'clock the mourners boarded the Star, as follow :—Lord Raglan, the Hon. Colonel Begot, Colonel Kingscote, Lieut.-Colonel Somerset, Lieut.-Colonel Lord Burghersh, Lieut.- Col. Nigel Kingscote, the Hon. Capt. Calthorpe, Lard Calthorpe, Commander Derriman, R.N., Commander Manse, the o ffi cers of the Cara doc, &c. The Star then commenced slowly steaming up the float, at tended by a guard of honour of about fifty boats, all uniformly manned—the different vessels anchored in her course firing minute guns. On the quay, where the landing had been appointed to take place, there was a spacious shed for the reception of the body and mourners, in the centre of which was a bier, the roof and sides being richly ornamented with festoons and draperies of black cloth and velvet, interspersed with rosettes of black crape. The procession having come up to the quay-head, the disembarkation took place at about twelve o'clock. The appearance of the quay at this period was exceedingly imposing : the decks of the ship ping, the windows and roof-tops of the houses, and every available spot from which a view of the cere mony could be obtained, were crowded with spectators while the melancholy nature of the occasion was at tested by the half-masted flags and other signs of mourning which were visible all round. As the body was being landed, the battery of artillery fired, at in tervals of a minute, nineteen pins. The coffin having been placed in the hearse, the funeral part of the procession was formed, and proceeded, accompanied by the military, to Princes-street, where it was joined by the mayor, corporation, and public bodies of the pity. The procession was of immense length, and its appearance was both solemn and imposing. With the exception of the military, every person engaged in it was habited in deep mourning, and the military themselves wore crape scarfs and hat-bands, and had their banners deeply craped. The state liveries of the mayor and high sheriff, and all the ornaments of the mayor's state coach, were covered with the same material, as were also the maces, staves, and batons of office; and there were mourning rosettes on the handles and hammercloths of the different carriages. The procession thus formed proceeded at a slow and solemn pace through the city. Every where the thoroughfares were densely crowded; but the disposition to pay due respect to the occasion was manifested throughout the entire route, and by every class of citizens, from the highest to the low est. The shops, the banks, and the warehouses of the city were closed ; the bells of the different churches chimed muffled; and of the thousands of ladies and gentlemen, and members of the middle class, who thronged the windows of the line of route, very few were to be seen who did not wear either partial or entire mourning. On the procession reaching the suburbs of the city, the roads and thoroughfares were even more densely crowded than the city itself. At every vantage-point stands had been erected, whilst the houses wore crowded from roof to ground-floor. After proceeding about a mile from Bristol the public bodies and a great portion of the military attendants returned, and the cortege became a pri vate one until it reached Badminton. ItEronTs of the resignation of General Simpson at present commanding the British army in the Crimea, have been current at Constantinople and Rortsmouth. lately.