The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

CARLISLE CANONRIES. The committal of the Carlisle Canonries Bill, which suppresses one of the canonries in that cathe dral, and applies its revenue to the parishes of the city, was moved on Wednesday by Mr. FERGUSON and supported by Mr. T. CHAMBERS, on the ground of the poverty of the parish endowments of Carlisle. Its further progress was opposed by several members on account of the lateness of the session, and the im portance of the principle it involved. The motion for going into committee was carried by 36 to :21, but no progress was made with the clauses. TRAVELLING AGENCY TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY. On bringing up the report of the committee of supply on Wednesday, Mr. OTWAY took exception to the appointment of a German, M. Mundler, as salaried travelling agent to the National Gallery. Some other members said that such an appointment was an insult to British artists. Mr. WILSON defended it, saying that Mr. Mundler possessed an accurate knowledge both of the conti nental museums, and, what was equally needful, the continental languages. Mr. Mundlor had been ap. proved by Lord Aberdeen. If any English artist could have been found with equal qualifications he would have been appointed. A division took place, when the salary was allowed by 45 to 38. LIMITED LIABILITIES BILL. This bill passed the Commons on Thursday, after protests from Mr. CARDWELL and some other members. The Sale of Beer Bill, which permits the public houses to be open on Sundays from one to three, and from five to eleven, was read a second time in the Commons on Monday, after some opposition. It passed on Thursday in the morning, and was read a first time in the evening in the Lords. The regium donum met with some opposition when the vote was taken in supply on Monday. A division gave 90 for, and 32 against, the grant. The estimates for the British and Irish Universi ties and Colleges, Hospitals, and Public Establish ments, voted on Monday and Tuesday, amounted to about 750,0001. Lord PALMERSTON stated on Monday that the ses sion would close on the 14th, or at latest the 15th of this month. The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought up on Wednesday a message from the Queen, calling upon her faithful Commons to make provision for any ad ditional expenditure that might arise on account of the war, which message was ordered to be referred to a committee of supply. The Charitable Trusts Bill, after a short discus sion, was read a second time on Thursday. THE EASTERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY, which has been established for laying down a submarine tele graph, in the first instance, between the Dardanelles and Alexandria, have obtained from the Sublime Porte an exclusive right to telegraphic communica tion between Egypt and the Ottoman dominions in Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia Minor, for a term of fifty years, and have already secured an in• come of 4,5001. for twenty years from the Turkish Government, for the transmission of official mes sages. The capital of the company is fixed at present at 120,0001.; but, as the promoters have already marked out a line by which the telegraph will be extended to India, provision is made for augmenting the capital to 850,000/. Responsible contractors have offered to complete the line from the Dardanelles within twelve months from this time, and to hand it over to the company, complete and efficient, for the sum of 88,0001. The other expenses are not expected to exceed 17,0001.; and it is, therefore, considered that the capital will be sufficient for the efficient working of the enterprise. A SOVEREIGN STATE has disappeared from the map of Europe. Kniphausen has collapsed into a seig nory of the Grand Duke of Oldenburg. The impor tant fact is notified in an ordonnance just published by the Minister of State for Oldenburg. Kniphausen was the smallest State of the Germanic Confederation; its population did not exceed 3,500 souls, nor its territory 4,500 hectares. It was united to Oldenburg in 1813, but the Congress of Vienna not having re• cognised the incorporation, its separate rights have been kept alive with Prussian aid until the present time. The Oldenburg Minister announces that the right of Kniphausen to a separate national flag has now ceased. EGOVERNMENT is seriously engaged (according to the Atheneum) with the question of a new National Gallery. Ministers feel that the present mode of exhibiting the national pictures—at Windsor, Hirnpton Court, the British Museum, the National Gallery, and Marlborough-house — is eminently un satisfactory. Plans are before them for the consoli dation of these galleries. THE PRESS. THE WAR. No recent intelligence from the camp has been published either by the English or French Govern ments. The report continues to be that active hostilities are in abeyance, but that the allies are briskly carrying forward their approaches and arming new batteries, with the intention of renewing the assault very shortly under more favorable conditions than heretofore. The French works have been carried to within sixty yards of the Malakoff Tower. General Pelissier is said to be determined not to make another assault until he is certain of success. He examines every inch of ground, and has decided to leave nothing to chance. It is stated that the British Commissariat has concluded a contract for 9,000,000 of rations of dried vegetables, to be delivered at the rate of 1,500,000 rations per month. The latest dates from the Crimea are contained in a despatch from Prince Gortschakutf, who announces on the 30th of July that:— Nothing of importance had occured before Sebastopol. The enemy continues a partial cannon►de. We reply vigorously. Adverting to rumours of the recal and return of General Simpson, the Post observes, in a semi-official tone : These rumours are without foundation, as not only has General Simpson not been recalled, but there is no reason to suspect the slightest intention of recalling him. At the same time, it is proper to state that General Simpson's health is not of the strongest, and that, therefore, it will excite but little surprise if he find himself unable to cope for a protracted period with the vast labours and incessant anxieties of the chief command. It is not probable, in the event of General Simpson coming home, that a new corn mander-in-chtef will.be sent out from England, as Lord Rag lan was almost the only one of the veterans of our last great war that was really fit for service. Advices of the 29th from the Crimea announce the preparations for a grand expedition. The whole of the lighter vessels of the fleet had concentrated in Kamiesch Bay. The destination of the expe dition was unknown. The embarkation of troops and material continues uninterruptedly at Marseilles and Toulon. The allies have agreed to allow merchant ships to enter Kertch, and to take corn on board, on con dition of landing a third of their cargoes at certain points indicated. The Russians are stated to be erecting works called "Cavaliers," behind Malakoff. The exchange of prisoners of war still continues. The French officers speak highly of their treatment by the Russians. A reinforcement of 3,000 Piedmontese will leave Genoa for the Crimea about the middle of August. Egyptian reinforcements are preparing for the Crimea. The Viceroy is in negotiation with the Bedouins to serve in the war against Russia. The Russian engineer, General Todtleben, is not dead. According to the latest accounts, he was merely wounded, and is now declared convalescent. Schamyl, whose death was also reported, is now stated to be not only alive, but preparing to descend from the mountains and attack Tiflis. A despatch from Trebizond of July 20 says that the Russians have huspended operations, and con fined themselves to naming governors for the vil lages in the province of Kars. Ten guns have been sent to Erzeroum, which is now defended by 15,000 men. Reinforcements are continually leaving Con stantinople for Trebizond. The communication between Kars and Erzeroum is completely re-established. Omer Pacha was received with extraordinary honours in Constantinople, but does not seem to have succeeded in obtaining the obj,ct of his visit. lie wished for some independent command, and offered to head the Turkish army in Asia, but the Porte has resolved on sending him back to the Crimea. The preparations (says the Vienna Military Gazette) made by the allies for wintering in the Crimea are of truly astonishing proportions. Kamiesch, Balaklava, Enpatoria, Yenikale, have become military establishments of im mense importance. The works at the two first•named places more particularly are of a character to retain their importance even if the siege of Sebastopol were abandoned. The possession of these positions will compel the Russians to keep a large army in the Crimea. It is believed that the arrangements for the campaign of 1856 include the concentration of an army at Varna, Burgos, and on the Bosphorus, while the field artillery, cavalry, and means of transport will be stronger than that in the Crimea, and to which detachments of the army now in the Crimea would be added preparatory to operations in a new field. Whether the Karabelnia suburb be taken and the Russian fleet destroyed, or the next assault be repulsed, the siege will equally be raised, and only the four points above named be occupied. The following official despatches have been re ceived at the War-office this week:— Before Sebastopol, July 21. I have great pleasure to inform your lordship that the health of the army has greatly improved ; cholera has nearly disappeared, and although more sickness has ap• SATURDAY, peered amongst the officers, it is not of that character to cause uneasiness. With reference to the exterior army, the Russians hold their strong position on the Mackenzie heights, extending by Aitodor to Albat, with advanced posts by Chouli, Ogen • bush, and the strong range of heights overhanging Urkusta and the valley of Raider. It is reported they have also a force of artillery and infantry at Aloupka. The French have pushed forward the whole of their cavalry into the valley of Haider, resting upon the Sardinians, upon the left bank of the Souhai River, and communicating with the French upon the Tachernays, whilst the high ridge protecting Balaklava is guarded by the Turkish army. I purpose sending four squadrons of light cavalry into the valley of Haider to-morrow, to protect and afford con voys to the commissariat for the purpose of bringing in forage and supplies for the use of the army. Major-General Markham arrived on the 19th instant, and, agreeable to the instructions conveyed in your lord ship's telegraphic message, I have appointed hint to the command of the 2nd division. Sir Stephen Lushington, K.C.13., having been promoted to the rank of admiral, has been relieved in the command of the naval brigade by Capt. Hon. H. Keppel. I take this opportunity of recording my sense of the ability and zeal with which he has throughout conducted his arduous and responsible situation of commanding the naval brigade, which has rendered such excellent service in our batteries. I beg also to report to your lordship that Mr. Comumis sary•General Filder has been obliged to relinquish the com mand of his important department, and will have to return to England upon the recommendation of a medical board. JAMES SIMPSON, Lieut. General Commanding. An address of condolence from the Queen to the army on the death of Lord Raglan was communicated to the camp in General Orders on the 18th ult. as follows : Her Majesty the Queen has been pleased to command me to express to the army her Majesty's deep and heart. felt grief at the loss of our gallant and excellent commander, Lord Raglan, which has cast a gloom over the whole service. Her Majesty further desires to assure her army of her earnest hope and confident trust that all will continue to do their duty as they have hitherto so nobly done ; and that her Majesty will ever be as proud of her army as she has been, though their brave chief, who has so often led them to victory and glory, has been taken from them. JAMES SIMPSON, Lieut.-General Commanding. In addition to the above General Order, a retrospect of the career and eulogium on the character of the late Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, signed by the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Hardinge, has been pub lished and read to the troops in the Crimea. SIEGE CHRONICLE. The last letters from the camp are of the 21st ult., conveying intelligence of the siege operations between the 14th and that date. The following are extracts from the diary of the Times correspondent:— JULY 15.—High winds have prevailed during the past twenty-four hours, and dusky clouds fly along the sky, while the air has become damp and chilly even at noon day. But this will last but a few days, and then the heats of August will parch the ground once more, wells and tanks will again yield but a scanty supply, and summer will last until far into the month of September. To-day there has been heavy firing between the Malakoff and the advanced French batteries. Last night the Russians made a sortie from the Malakoff on the 16th of the French Line, who were at work. The affair took place about ten o'clock and lasted nearly an hour, ending as usual in the Russians being repulsed and retreating to their works, after more or less delaying those of the French. The loss of the French is stated by them to be two officers and thirty men hiss de combat, but from the duration and magnitude of the struggle it would appear to have been much greater. The French have pushed their works almost to the abattis of the Ma lakoff, and are so near that a man may throw a stone into the Russian position. The abattis is described to be a truly formidable obstacle. It is formed of trunks of oak and beech from the woods of the Crimea, and is more than six feet in height. Attempts will no doubt be made to destroy it with shot and shell before making any flesh assault. The Russians may still be observed continually at work on this position, which is now the recognised key of Sebastopol. They have also been engaged lately in re pairing the works of the Redan. which had suffered much from the continual fire of the English batteries. Last night a little sortie took place also on the French left, but, although the fire was heavy while it lasted, the affair was soon over. It is felt that nothing will be done on this part of the position, and that the real point of attack will he the Malakoff works, the capture of which will render the Redan untenable, and make the surrender of the south side of the place merely a question of a few weeks. JULY 16.—Heavy firing last night and this morning. Never since the beginning of the siege were both parties so thoroughly in earnest as at present. The exchange of shot and shell is almost incessant. The French, of course, can be supplied with these munitions of war to any extent, but to the means of their adversaries there must be, one would think, some limit. That there are foundries in Se bastopol there can belittle doubt—some of the shot thrown at us is perfectly smooth and new, and seems just turned out—besides which, it is impossible to believe that a great naval arsenal can be without the means of manufacturing its own munitions. Powder-mills probably also exist; but in both these cases the question occurs as to where the material for the manufacture is to come from. A small supply of iron may be obtained by recasting our shot and the pieces of shell, but probably a great part of the former goes into the harbour, and the supply is too small and precarious for it to be believed that a Government like the Russian would depend on it. It seems more probable that an organised system of transport feeds Sebastopol with munitions as well as corn, and that during the stunmer