The Press. — London, England, 1855-04-14 00:00:00

THE WEEK. IT was not without reason that Lord Joint RUSSELL sent for his family to join him at Vienna. He has already been absent these two months, and, as the real business of the Conference has hardly yet commenced, it would be vain to conjecture how much longer he may be detained. The Conference met on Monday, but only to be again adjourned, as ' the Russian Ministers had not received the instructions they required from St. Petersburg. It is said that those instructions are not ex pected until the beginning of next week—and, from the slow space at which the negotiation has hitherto proceeded, it would seem not un likely that some further occasion for delay may arise. As the allies raise no question concerning the reduction of Sebas- topol, the main point to be decided is whether Russia will consent to a limitation of her fleet in the Black Sea. Continental statesmen — presumed from their position to be cognisant of the views of the St. Petersburg Cabinet on this point—insist that she not, and that she will carry concession no further than to consent to the erec tion of a fortress on the shores of the Black Sea as a counterpoise to Sebastopol. The Russian party in Paris insist, we hear, that even this would be a great concession in the actual circumstances of the war. " Franchement c'est deja beaucoup," said a Prussian diplomatist in a distinguished Parisian circle this week ; and he intimated his opinion that should the allies demand more, on them would rest the respon sibility of rejecting the only practicable accommodation. Not much importance, however, is to be attached to the ideas which Russia skil fully disseminates through such channels. If she be really sincere in her professed desire for peace, it does not seem probable that she will break off on a point of such comparatively little importance as the strength of the navy to be maintained in the Black Sea, it being evi dent that until some vast change takes place in the relative position of the great Powers of Europe her ships could not keep the sea in face of the force which could readily be arrayed against them by the Western nations. The point is one admitting of easy adjustment, if we suppose that there is a disposition on one side or the other to put an end to the war. But the present safety of Sebastopol, and the un accountable inaction of the allied forces, may not improbably induce Russia to take higher ground than she would otherwise care to assume. When, in presence of a distinguished Russian lady in Paris, a hope was expressed that the allies might yet succeed in capturing Sebas topol—" Oh, mon Dieu, c'est a faire mourir de mire !" was her scornful reply. The weakness of our Government is becoming a byword on the Continent, and whatever prestigs once attached to Lord PA!. MERSTON'S name is fast being dissipated by the feebleness of his Ad ministration. The arrangements for the visit of the Emperor of the FRENCH, with his Empress, to our Court are now settled. It is decidedthat their Majesties are to leave Paris on Sunday, and sleep that night at Boulogne, and cross over to Dover the next morning. Prince ALBERT will arrive at Dover on Sunday, and will stay at the Lord Warden Hotel, where a dejeuner is to be prepared for their Majesties and the Prince at noon on Monday. A special train will leave Dover at two o'clock, and the Imperial party will praceed direct to Windsor Castle. The Court will remain at Windsor until Thursday, and will then repair to Buckingham Palace. The Imperial guests will go in state to the Opera on Thursday evening, and will leave London for Paris on Saturday. The Imperial suites, including personal attendants, servants, &c., will not number less than sixty persons. The Emperor sends forward fifteen horses, and a number of grooms. Great apprehension exists in Paris, we hear, as to the safety of the Emperor in London. It is stated that there will be collected in our metropolis several thousand of the vagrant rouge refugees, who would desire nothing better than to shoot his Majesty should an opportunity present itself. It is certain that every precaution is being taken, and that a detach ment of the Imperial police has been for the last ten days in London to discover the abodes and learn the sentiments of these desperate characters. By the letters of the different correspondents from the camp it would appear that the long and wearying work of the siege for the last four months was, in general opinion, upon the point of being changed for either active operations in the field or for the opening of the second bombardment. Of the result of this bombardment it is said that our engineer officers speak with great confidence, but the energy, determination, science, and skill, which the Russians continue to display upon every occasion certainly call for a little less confidence upon our part, and a little more respect for our enemies. Our main attacks, though certainly mounted in some instances with guns and mortars of heavier metal, are still at the same distance from the Russian lines as they were upon the 17th of October, and the injury which we have done to the town throughout the whole siege appears to be trifling. Since the attack upon our lines on the 22nd ult., the Russians have been singularly quiet. The accounts which have been received of that attack, and its complete repulse, shed fresh glory upon our gallant soldiers. The bravery with which a mere handful of men in the trenches withstood the desperate attack of an immensely iluperior body of Russians, and drove tham out at the point of the SATURDAY, bayonet, has never been surpassed in the records of heroism. But we have to mourn the loss of some most gallant officers and men. The despatch of General CANROBERT shows that the assault on the French lines was hotly made, and not repulsed without determined fighting. His army lost upwards of 600 men in killed, wounded, and missing ; but, as usual, the loss of the Russians was three or four fold that of the allies. It is computed that at least 2,000 were placed hors de combat. Up to the oth of April the bombardment had not commenced, though it is said that all preparations were completed and each gun furnished with 400 rounds of ammunition. A novelty in the art of war is to be met with in our lines at Sebastopol—the electric telegraph, which is now completed from head quarters to the different batteries. As an instance of its effect, it is told that on the 23rd the Russians unmasked a very heavy gun against the Seaman's Battery ; the intelligence was instantly trans mitted to Lord RAGLAN, with a demand for instructions. The reply to " fight it" was returned after a few seconds, and so well laid was our gun that the third shot snuffed out the enemy's fire, by knocking the gun to atoms. Omsa PACBA has not advanced from Eupatoria as generally stated. lie simply executed a reconnaissance in force on the 26th, and re turned to the town, awaiting further reinforcements before he com mences offensive operations against the enemy. Eight thousand Egyptian troops had sailed from Varna, and the cavalry and artillery were hurried off as fast as the means of transport allowed. There appears to be no doubt that the Russians are concentrating a very powerful force in front of Eupatoria, and that, ere this, probably au attempt to storm the town has been made, as the preparatory step to attacking the allied position at Bala.klava, and relieving Sebastopol. The papers which have been laid by Dr. ANDREW SMITH before Mr. ROEBUCK'S Committee fully exonerate the late Medical Inspector- General from any charge of want of forethought or arrangement for the requirements of the army in the field. In these three letters (April 4th, 13th, and May 11th, 1854), addressed to the proper autho rities, Dr. SMITH proposes, first, that a Hospital Corps should be immediately organised and attached to the army, in order to faciliate the removal of the wounded from the field of battle; that proper and suitable clothing, adapted to the peculiarities of the climate, both summer and winter, should be prepared for the use of the army with all despatch; and, finally, that a number of vessels should be imme diately fitted up and placed in readiness off the coast for the recep tion of the sick and wounded; convalescent hospitals to be established upon some healthy spot ; and a proper system of sea transport arranged by which the wounded might be removed rapidly to the established hospitals in Constantinople, and invalids periodically conveyed to England. It is only due to Dr. ANDREW SMITH to state that these recommendations were made by him to the Government upwards of five months before the English army took the field. This, at all events, is one instance in which the proper suggestions were made by the proper officer, and left unnoticed by the Government. Tho " Constitutional Government" which Lord PALMERSTON'S ad mirers boast that he succeeded in establishing in Spain, does not appear by its conduct to our ambassadors to appreciate very hig hl y its obligations to his Lordship. Lord HOWDEN has been involved in a dispute with the Government at Madrid, by rather zealously insisting upon the rights of Protestant residents attending service in the house of their Minister without interruption from the local authorities. It appears, however, from the explanations of the Governor of Seville. that the late outrage upon the English Protestants in that city was committed by the ecclesiastical authorities. Lord HOWDEN'S indignant protest has led to the anticipation that he will be recalled. The nomination of Mr. JOHN BALL, M.P. for Carlow, to the Under- Secretaryship of the Colonies, has come upon many people by surprise. Mr. BALL is a Raman Catholic, and the son of one of the judges in the Irish Court of Common Pleas. He was formerly a commissioner in the Irish Poor-Law Board, but at the time of Cardinal WISEMAN'S ag gression Mr. BALL began to take a warm interest in politics. His Parliamentary experience has been very brief, as he was elected for Carlow only at the general election of 1852, and yet he is now Under- Secretary for the Colonies, while the principal of his department is at Vienna. It is worth recollecting that the Roman Catholics in the colo nies never liked Lord JOHN RUSSELL as a Colonial Minister, and the appointment of Mr. BALL may be meant as a tribute to the sect, which for the time seems to aid Lord PALMERSTON. The Cavan election has resulted in a decided triumph for the Conservative candidate, Mr. BURROWEB. This victory is of consider able importance, as Mr. HENRY GEORGE HUGHES, formerly Solicitor- General for Ireland, strained every nerve to gain success. Every re source was put in requisition by the Liberals, and the influence of the Roman Catholic priesthood most unsparingly employed. It is stated that the tenantry of Sir JoHN YOUNG, late Chief Secretary of Ireland under Lord ABERDEEN, all voted for the Conservative candidate, a significant fact as to the growing desire of union amongst the Conser vative body at large. A letter from the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER to the members of the Stock Exchange was published yesterday, announcing that he would, with Lord PALMERSTON, attend at the Treasury on Monday next, to see gentlemen who might be willing to contract for a loan, and to state the amount he required. It is supposed that ten millions at least will bo required, or prebabl a y fifteen. THE PRESS. 352