The Press. — London, England, 1856-03-08 00:00:00

followed up by the Chasseurs d'Afrique, and one or two prisoners were made. These describe the condition of the Russian army to he anything but satisfactory; owing to the want of transport, and the difficulty of obtaining sup plies from 11sktchi•Serai, the meu are hungry and out of heart.—Tinies ear., Feb. 18th. An attack on the Russian battery at Tractir is not anticipated by the Times correspondent : A report reached me on Saturday that the French and Sardinians were shortly to make an attack on a Russian battery at the foot of the Lukermaun heights, as nearly as may be in a direct line downwards from the battery known as Bilboquet. I cannot ascertain that there is any founda tion for tors rumour as regards the French, but as regards the Sardinians I have good grounds for believing there is none. The battery in question, which is a new one, fires only at night, and it is a matter of doubt whether the fire proceeds from guns sunk in the earth (in the manner of those which last August used to send round-shot from the Garden Battery into the fourth division camp) or from artillery brought up a'ter dark. I understand that some of the shot have fallen in the Zouaves' camp, and it is pos sible the French may contemplate a dash at the battery —lb. The work of demolition has been making progress both in Sebastopol and the Karabelnaia suburb. The explosions of small mines are now frequent sounds, and it is difficult to distinguish them horn the reports of the guns fired on the north side, or the shells bursting among the ruined buildings in the town. Now and then, under peculiar conditions of the atmosphere, the reports of the guns in the Russian batteries so rnd wonderfully near to the camps, towards which their muzzles, though a long distance off, are directed, while at other times their discharge is not even audible. Saveral of the underground bunks and bomb-proof barracks in the Reilaii were blown up yesterday. Some of these works wore so solidly constructed, framed of such massive timbers, and so deeply imbedded, that it woald have required infinite manual labour to have extri cated the wooden beams from the mass of earth and stones which was lying above them. Now that they have been broken up, the wood can be removed with comparative ease, and much of it is valuable for various purposes. It may also be a matter of policy, looking forward to future operations, to destroy all means of cover and materials for construction of batteries, which might be taken advantage of by a hostile force on these heights after the allies had retired within the lines of Kamiesch. A portion only of the stone barracks of the Karabelnata has been overthrown, but the whole will shortly disappear.—D. News car., Feb. 16. AN EXECUTION IN CAMP. The murderer of the artilleryman, a short time since, wag hanged on the 23rd ult., in the presence of the division to which he belonged : The execution of the young soldier Day, belonging to the 77th Regiment, of whom I wrote you yesterday, has taken place this morning. The light division was drawn up in an open square close to Cathcart's-hill. In the centre two upright posts and a cross-beam, from which a rope depended, marked the spot selected for the execution Outside the square the ground was kept by the 77th Regi ment, and spectators were not allowed to pass beyond, or rather inside this line. Behind it were many officers on horseback ; and on the high ground at the upper angle of the square was gathered a large number of pedestrians. The officers of the divisions were clued) , mounted and within the square. The rain passed away, but the strong wind continued. Soon the notes of the " Dead March in Saul" were heard, and then the prisoner, attended by a small guard on foot, a clergyman in white robes, and twelve provost-sergeants, mounted and armed, marched firmly and in an erect attitude into the sqnare and on towards the gallows, whence he could plainly see the grave preparzd for him, and which his corpse was so soon to fill. The music ceased. The hangman placed him under the fatal beam, took off his red jacket, adjusted the noose around his neck, placed a white night-cap over his face, and suddenly, before any one seemed to expect it, the drop fell. with instantaneous effect, for plenty of rope had mercifully been given. The neck was evidently broken. The head of the deceased fell on his shoulder, and the body swayed to and fro in the wind. The provost-sergeants remained drawn up in line, on one side of the gallows The chap lain and several milivary officers formed a group on the other side. All was over. Half the troops were marched off the ground before the body was cut down. It remained suspended about an hour, and then a party of soldiers ap proached, and the corpse was placed in the grave. The chaplain still remained on the spot, hut whether he said or read any prayers I cannot state, I was too distant to hear. While the grave was being filled in, the gallows was rapidly taken to pieces, and I turned homewards sickened by a sight which the law declares necessary, but which must ever shock the mind of those who have unfortu nately to witness it.-3f. Herald cor., Feb 23. Lord I'anmuru received a despatch on Thursday, from General Codrington, announcing the execution of the prisoner Day. RUSSIAN ARMY IN THE CRIMEA. The Times correspondent, writing on the 18th, states on high authority that the nominal strength of the Russian army in the Crimea from lately ob tained returns amoutes to 67,000 infantry, 19,000 cavalry and artillery, and :300 guns. Of• these, three divisions of the third corps d'armie, under the com • wand of General Soukhozanet (9,000 men and 36 guns) are stationed on the Upper Belbeck, and the same force at Korales, on Mackenzie's plateau, and on the lakermanu heights. The fourth corps cl'arruee of three divisions, commanded by General Osten- Sacken, has one division of 9,600 men and 30 guns on the Katscha, and two more of the same strength on the Jozaba and Mackenzie heights. This gives a total of 07,000 men, and 252 guns. THE PRESS. Of the cavalry in the Crimea, four regiments of six hundred and eight guns are off Eupatoria, three of eight hundred and eight guns at Perekop, and fif teen regiments of dragoons anti Cossacks distributed between Eupatoria and Kertch. Two divisions of grenadiers are supposed to be near Eupatoria. Also Black Sea Cossacks (infantry) and militia at Arabat, Kaffa. &c. The distribution of the whole Russian army out of the Crimea has also been stated to me :—First corps d'armee, Ismail ; second ditto, Nicolaieff; fifth ditto, Ukraine ; sixth ditto, Nicolaieff; Guards and Grenadiers less the two divisions of the latter supposed to be at Eupatoria, if they are there, Poland and army of the north. At Stavropol there are believed to be 22,000 men; at Kutais 24,000, under Beboutoff; Moura vieft's army is estimated at 100,000 men. The sources from which these statistics are derived being within the Crimea, I am disposed to rely more upon that part of them which relates to the Crimean army than to the Russian army in general, and I doubt Mouravieff having 100,000 men, although in that number are included all the Trans causasian garrisons and troops, regular and it regular. This, however, does not pretend to be more than an approxima tive estimate. Some of the troops stated to be at Nicolaieff are probably at Odessa —Times cor., Feb. 18th. Ortign doursponteurt. FRANKFORT, March 5. ON Sunday evening a telegraphic despatch was made public commencing:— Paris, Dimanche matin. Dans leur séance d'hier, lea plenipotentiaires ont signe dune maniere definitive lea prelitninaires de pal' conte• nant tour des casus Leli, c'est u dire, en realite, lapai'elle meme. The monetary effect on the Monday was evident, and yesterday the adverse reaction verified the usual course of " Btirse" transactions. There was joy in the "Judengasse." The earnest expression of desire for peace by Germany, though tardy, is still satisfactory ; and though the speech of the Emperor Napoleon did not absolutely confirm the fulfilment of the treaty, yet no doubt can be entertained of the certainty of a pacific solution. There is this, further, that the Germans, relinquishing petty differences for the moment, regard the Conferences of Paris as de termined to deal with the general interests of Europe directly and without hesitation, and the attitude of the allies is one well felt to be sufficient to command compliance with their demands. The "canards" of the Vienna journals are at a discount. France and England are too firmly allied to be endangered by cont►nental intrigue. It was verbally notified to M. de Brunow, by high authority, that any attempt to impair the integrity of the "entente" would be futile; and, thus united in spirit and deed, the deference paid to the military might of the two nations is as impos sible of denial as it is certain not to be abused. In the present position the casus belli occupies the at• tention of the Conference, which the "esprit de moderation et d'equite " will assuredly bring to a successful issue. That differences will exist is a matter of course, otherwise the conferences would be superfluous. It is precisely to discuss points not easy of solution that the plenipotentiaries have been commissioned by their respective Sovereigns to meet, in order that by mutual forbearance and compromise a satisfactory arrangement may be perfected. Whatever may be said to the contrary by the im placable advocates of war, for the sake of war, the meetings of the 25th and 28th of February, and the Ist of March, have been characterised by a marked advance towards pacification, consequent on the frank spirit of concession that sufficiently indicates the sincerity of action and the intent that all into rests should be fairly regarded, and national pro prieties duly respected. In itself this is a material point, and a guarantee that no effort will be spared to frame a treaty that shall be substantial and durable. This latter quality would not be possible unless it were acceptable to all. On the internal regulation of the principalities—the first point— there has been no essential difference of opinion. The second, treating of the Bessarabian boundaries, was shown by the Russian Plenipotent aries to be impossible ; and the topographical error of the Austrian Ministry a twitted only of a passive ac quiescence in the justice of the Russian remon strance. That point will, therefore, have to be readjusted at the cost of Austrian interests. The third proposition, relative to the Black Sea, has led to a strict explanation of the constructive meaning placed upon it by England and Russia, the terms having been too largely expressed to carry out, with out careful examination, details bearing upon so vast an extent of seacoast, parts of which are only ques tionably possessed by Russia. On the score of mili tary arsenals there is no dissent. Nicolaieff will be brought within the prescribed terms without any necessity for destruction. Less easy will be the understanding on the littoral fortresses upon the Georgian and Circassian coast : such as Anapa, RAlout-Kale, Mamai, &c. But the differences will end in succumbing to the spirit of the Austrian proposition. The fourth proposition, SAT_ unAY, 111 affecting the Christian population in Turke has been already settled at Constantino i ll b Y ' Ministers of England, France, Austria, and Turkey; and, strange to say, the terms have surpassed in latitude the demand of Prince Menschikoff, which was the ostensible cause of war. Having accom_ plished this diplomatic feat, no actual necessity existed to state that, on this subject, "la Russie sera invitee apres la paix a s'associer aux deiiberations des puissances." The " puissances " had already played the game of Russia, even beyond the ex pressed limit of her desires. "Le vrai nest ps s toujours vraisemblable." Here may be said to end the principles affecting the casus Belli. And now for the fifth point, which, according to the plenipotentiaries, " touche a d'autres propositions que celles de l'integrite de l'empire Ottoman," and possesses by their recorded expression " un interet Eu. ropeen." It is admitted that German interests are im mediately involved in the consequences of the fifth point; and the acknowledgment, if principle have any value, prescribes the necessity of consulting those who represent such interests before legislating upon the disposition of this " Lien d'autrui." Com. mon honesty cannot swerve from this moral and poli tical canon without an abandonment of character. It is not a case for argument, except upon "le droit du plus fort," without the confession of wrong as a motive for action. The reasons which may be brought forward in favour of inviting Prussia to the Con ferences, apply equally, if not with greater force, in support of Central Germany. Let the word "con federation " be set aside. The Diet, as assembled in this place, possesses only the attributes of a solemn farce ; whereas Central Germany is a political reality. The Diet is a mass of foreign corruption. Cen tral Germany stands up honestly for its natural and inherent right. Austria does not and cannot repre sent that cause, being moved by an interest adverse to such natural right : that is to say, it is the policy of Vienna to treat the Danube as an Austrian river; and it is proper and just for Cer.tral Germany to demand an open access to the Euxine, without inter mediate and fiscal impediment, exupting for general purposes of nverain preservation. Herein the two interests are essentially conflicting. Then let it be asked—has Austria, in her political acts of any age, at any epoch, and under any regime, given such warrant of trustworthiness that she may quote her antecedents as a justification for the confidence of Central Germany ? History, in the truth, does happen to be an old almanaek, and one, at times, especially disagreeable to transgressors, in its faith ful evidence of fact and time. It deposes, it bears witness, and it condemns. What has been said of the Danube will hold good of the Elbe. It must be distinctly said that the Con ferences have full power to argue upon the terms, and to conclude a treaty of peace upon the basis, of the four points, but the fifth is matter for a European congress ; without which all special agree ment thereupon will not be generally binding, will not be durable, and ultimately be of no avail. J. E. L. BRUSSELS, March 5. THE telegraph of Sunday brought intelligence that the preliminaries of peace had been signed at Paris on Saturday evening. The effect upon the Belgians, a people who owe their very existence as a nation to the kind offices of England iu combating the reason able and just opposition of Russia, was remarkable. In the morning of Sunday the report had been only partially known. Rumour, however, as in the time of pious iEneas, winged onwards, but instead of hiding its head in the clouds, it animated the several knots of persons congregated after the midday mass in the park and the adjacent clubs. A general dis satisfaction was enunciated—there was a lively dread that England would come out of the war stroNer than ever, and that the " Britanniques," by the force of circumstance, would be authorised to assume a tone more commanding than heretofore. The vexa tion of spirit could ❑ot be disguised by the forced smile of satisfaction that public decency prescribed on the cessation of international manslaughter. Hypocrisy ill performed its duty. The certainty of the Minister of Russia having officially visited his colleagues of England, France, and Sardinia increased the working of discontent, and every tongue was emulous in disseminating tales more apt the one than the other to disparage the character and the standing of the English nation. If the public accusation failed, the private libel was ready—if the social ma lice was proved to be purely inventive, the mischance of the Iledan was remembered with exultation. But, as relates the Virgilian verse, Nocte pluit tota—redeunt spectacula mane. The telegraph of Monday failed to confirm the fortunate noes of the foregoing day ; hopes, not of a high standard of morality, returned, and on the publication of the Imperial speech, without ralpt