The Press. — London, England, 1855-12-01 00:00:00

1144 THE WEEK. Ix political circles attention has been anxiously directed to the communications which are now well understood to be proceeding between this Government and that of France, on the important question of peace. The Emperor of the FRENCH is believed to have formed his opinion, and to have mapped his course, but the part which our Ministry will play is less certain. From certain indications, however, it is believed that Lord PALMERSTON, though he may endeavour to evade and procrastinate,—perhaps of all courses the most mis chievous,—will not refuse to negotiate on terms considered satisfactory by the Emperor. The most extraordinary circumstance connected with this new phase of affairs is the silence observed by our principal journals. The topic is discussed in all societies, it gives an upward movement to the Funds, it is talked of in every continental capital, yet day after day, when people look in our journals for information on it, they find only a reserve which looks like either affectation or a positive desertion of the public interests. How long will the silence last? Our chief papers seem unwilling to admit, yet afraid to deny, the statements which have appeared in this Journal. Their prudishness is something like that of American ladies, who imagine that certain objectionable things can be kept out of mind by being kept out of sight. There is nothing like muslin for hiding the legs of a pianoforte, and nothing like silence to prevent a great political movement—now a fact of the day—from being talked about. Of papers friendly to the Government the Morning Advertiser alone seems disposed to speak plainly out. That journal—of course in its own peculiar style—admits the fact of the negotiation in progress, and sounds a note of alarm. Will it meet with response ? Is there really any party in the country to put faith in the "Nationalities " cry, or to believe in the " Restoration of Poland ?" We shall probably soon find that those who were loudest and wildest in their advocacy of war for all sorts of impossible objects—and thus to the extent of their influence were most mischievous in misdirecting the public mind—will be the first to support a " just and honourable peace," should the cue be given to them by Lord PALMERSTON. The reception of the King of SARDINIA, yesterday, by the people of the metropolis was of the most hearty kind. As he was seated in an open carriage, Prince ALBERT by his side, he was well seen, and could not miss the tribute of cheers and waving of handkerchiefs freely rendered to him. His progress up Parliament-street was a veritable triumph. He received as cordial a reception as the Emperor of the FRENCH himself, but there was no Empress to grace the show with her beauty, or to win the hearts of the spectators with bright smiles and captivating salutations. Rumour will have it that the King is not unlikely to win a bride in the immediate circle of our Court. We can venture to say, with confidence, that as yet no arrangement has been made. But should his Majesty lose his heart while among us, and inspire a passion in return, why then, perhaps, not even that hard uncle, the leading journal, or that higher authority, the British Parliament, would feel disposed to forbid the banns. Yet all title to the British Throne,—however remote might be the chance of succession—would in that case have to be resigned. We imagine that the country, justly gratified with the conluct of his Majesty, would view with favour an alliance which established a connection between him and our Court,. Another subject, whenever the war ceases, will he open to discussion. Sardinia has made great sacrifices by joining the Western alliance. Inde• pendent of the loan from this country, she will have to raise further loans on her own account to support the expenses of the war. The kingdom is scarcely rich enough yet to support these burdens, and it would seem not generous, but just, in two Powers so great as France and England, to save their gallant Ally from being burdened with expenses incurred in their cause. If the blood of his army is freely spilt when required in our quarrel, does not Sardinia make sacrifices enough? The intelligence now received from the camp contains little matter for comment. The two armies of the Russians and the Allies have both apparently piled their arms for the present, and watch one another for the mere purpose of watching. The expedition to Kaffa has been given up, the men have disem barked, and a good portion of the French and. English fleets have left the Black Sea to seek more hospitable winter quarters. It is to he regretted that the Kaffa expedition was not carried out. In the south of the Crimea the Russians are still in considerable force, and with Arabat and Kaffa in their bands they may give us at Kertch some little trouble during winter. Already they have pressed General Vivi/ix at Yenikale, and a strong force of cavalry from Eupatoria, in addition to some cavalry of the Turkish Contingent, has been despatched to Kertcb. The sole event lately in the camp is the disastrous explosion of the French park at lnkermann. All writers agree that never during the siege was so tremendous an explosion witnessed. The origin, of course, will never be discovered—in all probability some act of casual carelessness in handling live shell, or examining powder, was the real cause. It is scarcely possible to assign any other to so dreadful an accident,. The explosion was so close to our own large powder magazine that the building was seriously damaged, and for some time, from the terrible fire raging in the French buildings, the liveliest fear was entertained of the resu l t. But in the face of this, amid showers of sparks and burning wood, a brave and gallant band of men entered the building, got out on the roof, covered it in with wet blankets and tarpaulins, and thus, as far as human skill could avail, secured it from danger. Happily, the wind shifted and drove the fire away from the building. The private letter published in our columns, give a vivid account of this terrible accident. The army remains healthy, but continues drunken. Nothing, Miss NIGHT INGALE is reported to have remarked, can equal the state of drunkenness and ♦ice in the English army. This is a sad slur upon the character of such heroic, THE PRESS. high-couraged men as we know that army to be composed of. Sir WILLIAM CODRINGTON has only lately assumed the chief command; his energy and love of discipline and good order are well known ; let us hope that he will endeavour to check this evil, or it will be the ruin of the army before the spring. He has the materials of a fine army now ; let him neglect this point, and before spring he will not have a man fit to march five miles. The Chaplain-General we understand has proposed some regulations to limit the sale of liquor, but his plan, though good so far as it goes, is only partial. If the sale of liquor is only limited to certain persons, it will give an impetus to sly grog-selling, which will be far more injurious to the army. Put a check upon the importation of liquor in the first instance both upon quantity and quality, certainly upon the latter point, and license as many publicans as choose to set up, but keep them under control. Deprive them of their licence if any drunkenness or rioting occurs on their premises, and for any private grog-selling in camp inflict the severest penalties and punishments. But the great point of all is to establish what the Duke had in the Peninsula, and what in THE PRESS we have repeatedly pro posed for many months past, a Head-quarters' Bank. Six men out of ten now spend their money because they have really no means of saving it. It is expecting too much to look for strong self-denial and extreme prudence in me n so situated as our soldiers are, without some fair help in shape of opportunity to assist them. Put the bank there guaranteed by Government, let them kn ow that they can get some one else than themselves to take care of their mon ey, and they would soon lay by that which the y now waste in wanton drunkennes s. The Deputy Keeper of the Rolls, in consequence, we believe, of the remarks make by THE PRESS and other contemporaries, has proposed to remove all the rubbish now stored in the new Rolls-house, and make room for the more valuable Records of the Kingdom. But where, in the name of all the gods at once, will it be believed this lumber is proposed to be removed ? In the great quadrangle of Somerset-house, where, under spare Balaklava hutting, it will be sheltered from the winds and rains, and watched over by the faithful keeper. Such a proposal strikes one at first as too ridiculous to be credible, but we believe it to be a fact that such a proposal has been made, and, moreover, it is whispered, by the Deputy Keeper himself. Let us hut in the only quadrangle we've got in London by all means, and fill it full of these valuable rolls. Somerset house is within convenient distance from the Rolls-house, and Sir FRANCIS PALORAVE will have the satisfaction of feeling that his favorite records are close at hand. MACAULAY'S New Zealander will be eclipsed by the affecting picture then prominent. Sir FRANCIS, forlorn, weeping over his musty Rolls in the great quadrangle, Somerset-house ! MAIUUS at Carthage will be forgotten under so touching an episode in the life of this antiquarian. Her Majesty's periodical visits to her sick and wounded soldiers in hospital are calculated to secure the most grateful enthusiasm of her troops. The proof of kindly interest, the desire frequently expressed to learn their sad history, tho careful inquiries after their comfort, and the searching inquisitiveness with which her Majesty follows up every corner of the building and every department of the institution, will do much to correct the many abuses which exist even now in military hospitals and barracks. At Chatham there is plenty of room for improvement in both. The Americans do not seem inclined to take much notice of the bullying tone of the Times. One or two papers think that a "smart war fever" may not improbably break out as the result, and at first the Government at Washington contemplated reinforcing their squadron in the Gulf of Florida, but three days' later dates tell us that, in consequence of the full explanation given by Lord PALMERSTON'S Government, that the act of reinforcing the British squadron in the West Indies bad no object in view hostile to the interest of the United States, Commodore PAULD/lIG would proceed alone in his flag-ship to the Gulf. However, Lord PALtaxas . ros's act of sending half a dozen liners and heavy steam frigates off in great baste, has had the effect of opening the eyes of the Americans to the comparatively helpless state of their coasts, and inefficiency of their navy. It will be curious to observe whether so practical a people will long permit so obvious an oversight to remain unremedied. The details received this week of the passage of the Ingour by OMER PACHA, though showing not so great an amount of fighting or so desperate a resistance on the part of the Russians as the first brief report led every one to believe, yet reflects, as we observed at the time, considerable credit on OMER PACHA for the capital generalship he displayed in beating the Russians out of a very strong position, with so little loss. Crossing the river at two points at fords considerably below the position of the main body of the enemy, he was enabled to take them in the flank and reverse while he engaged them in front, and at the critical moment by a bold attack forced their position at the point of the bayonet. His road of course is clear to Kutais, but it is probable the Russians will defend that position with considerable energy. Naturally strong, it is capable of being rendered almost impregnable with very little art. In the course of next week we shall probably hear of the arrival of the Turkish army off the position. If OMER PACRA fail, his position will be critical : winter is rapidly coming on, and means of transport are not in that thorough state of organisation which would permit the army to remain so far from its base and communications. Of MOURAVIEFF, rumour and report is so contradictory that it is not clearly known yet what his movements or position were. Up to the 29th of October he was watching Kars. On the 31st it is reported he was breaking up his camp and retreating on Gumri to Alexandropol. Prince BEBUTOFF was collecting every disposable man to defend Kutais and Tiflis, and one division had certainly been detached from MOURAVIEFF'S army in support. At Kars it was said the garrison were on quarter rations, but still no fear was felt for the result, provided OMER PAca& succeeded in forcing Kutais and compelling MOURAVIEFF to retreat. The Turkish authorities wets despatching troops in some force from Varna to Batoum and Soukhein Kaleh. .., SATURDAY,