The Press. — London, England, 1855-11-10 00:00:00

NOVEMBER 10, 1855. landed in the first fortnight of October, and the advanced guard had already started on the road to Kutais. The question of the alliance of the Cir cassians seems to have been satisfactorily settled, as far as Omer Pacha was concerned, but the point was evidently surrounded by difficulties. A commission had been appointed by the Porte to take into consideration the offers of the Circas sians : Omer Pachs (writes on the 19th the correspondent of the Times) will want to promise everything, so as not to com• promise the safety of his army The civil commissioners will promise nothing, so as not to compromise their Go vernments. They will both be perfectly justified in their separate lines of conduct. On the 13th ult. the news of the battle of Kars arrived at Soukham Kaleh. Omer Pacha harangued the advanced guard just as they were setting out, and roused their enthusiasm to the highest pitch : It was an inspiriting sight, after having exhorted his soldiers to march to the entire annihilation of the army which their comrades have almost destroyed, to see his Highness. upon a prancing charger, lead his battalions to the war: 5,000 men, with two batteries of artillery, fol lowed him elong the Kutais road. The moment was well chosen, and the music of their bands harmonised well with the booming of the heavy guns, which were still cele brating the victory. The troops were in good heart, and have perfect confidence in their general and in the suc cessful issue of the campaign in which they are engaged.— Times cur., Oct. 13. THE BATTLE OF KARS. More details of this desperate assault have ap peared in an extract from a private letter. The Russians, with their usual caution, commenced moving up before daylight, and at the first streak of dawn 28,000 men, in massive columns, assaulted the town upon all points, making a false attack upon the eastern and throwing their whole weight on the southern forts. For the moment they carried one or two of the advanced batteries, but General Williams, by immense exertions, drove them out at the point of the bayonet : The rolling fire of musketry was incessant, and the thunder of artillery from the numerous batteries never ceased for a moment. At one time, and only once, some little symptom of giving way was observed, but no sooner observed than the fresh fire from reinforcements de _ _ apatched by General Williams and Colonel Lake, and ably handled by General Kmetz, changed the backward into a forward movement; the loud hurrahs of the Russian hosts were soon mingled with the yells of the Turks, who fought with the ferocity of tigers, charging repeatedly with the bayonet. White-turbaned citizens were seen rushing into the fight, hewing with their scimitars ' • and Dui moun taineers springing like wolves from behind rocks, and charging with the clubbed rifle or broad two-edged dagger. The grey-coated Russians, too, fought with wondrous courage; again and again they advanced to the deadly breastworks, and were blown from the very mouths of the guns or bayonetted in the batteries.—Extraci from Private Letter, Oct. 2. The want of cavalry was severely felt by the gar rison, as the Russian army was so completely de feated that it would have been almost destroyed by a few regiments of cavalry. The loss of the Russians appears to have been even more severe than was at first stated: 6,304) Russians had been buried, and their total estimated loss was 15,000 men : Numbers were carried off by the enemy besides. A deserter came last night into our camp, and he tells us that the second in command was killed, and numbers of the highest Russian officers. Some thousand carts were sent to Guniri this morning full of wounded. A heavy rain haft fallen during the night, which prevents Mom ravieff from moving. Had we but two regiments of cavalry the entire destruction of his army would be a cer. tainty Oct. 3. The garrison at Kars do not appear to fear any further attacks : General Mouravieff, after the battle, despatched his baggage to Alexandropol. This has given rise to the belief that he intends to retreat, although he makes a pre tence of preparations to follow up the siege. If he really has determined to persist, be will have to wait till his nails are frozen—to use an expression of one of our generals— before he will be enabled to get possession of Kars. The difticnlty in his case is augmented by the enthusiasm of the Turkish army on account of the success which it has achieved. The Turks are also in better condition, from the present abundance of rations: there are enough at present to last more than a month. A fresh attack on Kars would be impossible. If the Russians remain in the vicinity, and keep up the blockade, it will be for the purpose of giving the troops breathing time, and attending to the wounded. Whatever may be the case, the garrison at Kars is ready to receive them. — D. .News Er:crown cor., Oct. 16. GENERAL ESPARTERO was reported the other day at Madrid to be about to dispose of his house at Lagrono. The municipality of Valladolid immediately set on foot a project for erecting apalace by subsctip tion, to be presented to the distinguished general as a testimony of the national esteem. Espartero, however, declined to accept the honour intended for him, observing that as his wants were few, he was resolved to provide for them by his own exertions. THE PRESS. THE BALTIC FLEET. (From our Own Correspondent.) NAIIOEN, Nov. 1. WE have had very heavy gales since I last wrote, so that the admiral has thought it advis able to send a large part of his fleet to Kiel (Nile, Cressy, Royal George, Edinburgh, Blenheim, Cesar, Arrogant, unders orders of Captain Codrington), and will, in all probability, follow with the remainder (excepting, of course, the flying or blockading squadron, who are to be under the orders of Admiral Baynes) in about ten days time. The squadron from Seskar, under Admiral Seymour, have left that place. They encountered a very heavy gale on the way from there to this anchorage, only two of them being able to stem the gale. These were the Orion and Eurya/us ; the others took shelter under the island of Hogland. The Cossack has arrived here from Wormsoe ; her officers have been most hospi tably entertained by Baron and Baroness Stackle berg, the owners of that island. Provisions are to be got there In great abundance, and at very low prices, which is an important fact when it is taken into consideration that this place is to be the head quarters of our blockading ships. They can procure, it appears, bullocks at 41. a piece, thereby over coming the great difficulty of obtaining bullocks from Elsinore, which at this season of the year be comes so very serious and precarious an undertaking. Geese, turkeys, and fowls are only one shilling each, so that our poor fellows, who have the arduous work of cruising during the heavy snow storms and long dark nights, will, at all events, be well off in the food line. The Blenheim put back here, having found it impossible to make headway against the south-western gales she encountered. Dining her stay at Hango she has found eighteen long 421 b. guns, which bad been thrown into the sea when the Russians destroyed their fortifications there last year. She first hit upon them when sounding, and persevering she fished up the aforesaid eighteen guns and two splendid mortars, all of which she is taking borne. The weather having moderated, she started again on Sunday. Lightning left the same day for Dantsic, at which place she is to remain for the purpose of taking the mails to Kiel, when the commander-in-chief makes a move in that direction. This little vessel and the French steamer Pelican —a vessel much of the same class—are the last of the small fry that leave these waters ; and, indeed, it is high time they were out of them. The weather sometimes is perfectly fearful, and the sudden changes make it most dangerous. The Eurya/us was the last vessel that left the waters of Cronstadt. She made a final effort to induce the Russians to take advantage of her isolated position as regards the allied fleets, no vessel being within fifteen miles of her. A vessel laden with charcoal was lying under protection of the batteries on the north side of Cronstadt. The Euryalus deliberately steamed in and cut her out with her boats. The Russian gun boats made a move, and great bustle was apparent in the harbour ; but the firm determi nation which appears to have existed on the part of the Russian authorities during this campaign in the Baltic to act entirely on the defensive appears to have prevailed, and no attempt was made to dispute our proceedings; the Eurraus accordingly secured, and steamed away with, her prize, whose large cargo of charcoal has been of great service in the fleet for culinary purposes, and has proved a useful acquisi tion. The Geyser has been ashore, but was got off with very little damage. The Cesar and Arrogant have broken the main shafts of their screws, and are sent home vii Kiel under sail. Admiral Baynes is ex pected here in a day or two, and will receive his orders relative to the proceedings of the blockading fleet. Let us trust that this season we shall not hear that all our work of blockade for the year has been nullified by the bad look-out, to say the least of it, that was kept, permitting very many cargoes of the greatest importance to the enemy to escape our cruisers, and arrive in Russian forts. The Amphion and Magicienne have been on a strict cruise, visiting every hole and corner II the east Gulf of Finland. They found that in &lithe fishing villages the coasting vessels were hauled upon the beach, all wood and other trades being entirely stopped. All hands are well and happy in the prospect of soon going home. THE OLD NOBILITY OF PRUSSIA refuse to take their seats in the First Chamber on the opening of the approaching session, unless the Government shall consent to restore the privileges (exemption from taxation and military service, (Sze.), of which they were deprived in 1848. Negotiation; were recently undertaken between them and the Government on the subject, but they led to no result; the King, how. ever, has ordered that they shall be resumed. 1069 tortign Corrtsponbtatt. FRANKFORT, Nov. 5. THE elections of Prussia, in their popular manifes tations, have been singularly in disfavour of the Government. A very general disapproval has been evinced at the conduct of Ministers, and the ribald abuse that M. de Gerlach, the Minister of the King, has been authorised, by consent, to lavish against the English nation, the Queen of England and her army, has been most distasteful alike to the Prussian people of till classes and to the military. Both the "Croix" and "Gotha" parties have been numerically strengthened at the expense of the extreme "gauche" ; there remain, however, 110 new mem bers whose opinions are yet to be declared to their full extent, the majority of them having been returned by the Liberal interest. Every possible mode of violence, intimidation, and corruption has been put in operation by the Government to swell their ranks, without meeting the extent of success which they had hoped. The Rhenish provinces held firm, as usual, to the Prince Royal. Many of the more distinguished among the party, M. de Bunsen, De Wincke, and others, have declined to take their seats. Satisfied with the hearing of public opinion in Prussia and Protestant Germany, they do not care to anticipate uselessly that change in the Royal Government of Prussia which the law of nature will accomplish. In the Duchies, the firm conduct of the Duke of Saxe Gotha has very materially assisted the " pattl Gotha." It is well known that the Prince is not of a temper to give way upon a principle of right, and there is an English daring about him that is brave surety of not being wanting in nerve when placed in a position requiring determination of purpose and action. That the Gotha party consider the gauntlet to have been thrown down, and are prepared to rally round the Duke in a liberal and Protestant sense, does not admit of a question, and they will and do make common cause with the Prince Royal adherents in Prussia. A political spy, rather than a common swindler, has been arrested lately at Berlin. This personage styled himself "Monseigneur Leon VII. de Lusignan Rougenian, Prince d'Armenie et de Korikos." His arrival in the capital was pompously announced in the Nouvelle Gazette de Prune, and he took up his residence in the Beyrenstrasse, placing the princely arms of Armenia above the gateway of his hotel. His Highness had been a resident at Constantinople, Paris, and London. In the latter capital an action of crim. con. had been brought against him, and damages found to the extent of 7501., which not being able to pay he quitted the country in time, ana l says the Berlin Chronicle, Le noble libertin, spree avoir lance de foudroyantos pro- clamations coutre la Russie dana le Afm n ing A &wavy et le Times, s'esquiva et alla prendre sa residence A Paris puts i Turin. It needs a sharp fellow to "do" the Times, yet it was a " fait accompli." Circumstances induced the Prince to hasten his departure from Turin, some say from want of money—the more probable cause was that he had seen or heard that which ho wanted ot had been commissioned to observe. He afterwards proceeded to Berlin, and was affectionately hailed by the organ of the " parti de la Croix." Anti-Russian " quand memo" at London, Paris, and Turin, he quaffed " Clicquot" in Prussia in honour of the King and his Muscovite nephew:— line manqua pas d'être souvent recu par le Ministre de la Runic, et nikne d'obtenir et de Bien toucher une forth pension de M. De Benkendorf. Foils un fait bien eon , state. M. Steiber, the Minister of Police, had secret in formation given him, and, according to the Steiber police account, the Prince being backward in paying the rent of his hotel to the landlady, "son West* iinpatientee et femme curieuse avant tout"—Steiber is a wag•—" commit l'indiscretion d'ouvrir un paquet avec force cachets que le factenr lui avait remits, et qu'elle supposait devoir contenir de l'argent"—the Steiber " indiscretion" was a gross " eserocquerie " or a secret police act—"main qni, a sa grande surprise, contenait des papiers forts compromettants pour le Prince." These papers were written in cipher, of which most assuredly the lady had not the key. This is a Steiber slip. " L'hotesse, femme svelte et age' Tante," much to the annoyance of the Frau Steiber, had an interview " a quatre yetis" with the amiable and gallant Minister of Police, et les revelations de l'hetesse amenerent nne descents domieiliere dans l'eppartement du Prince, on l'on censtata avec toutes les prt•nces les escrocquenes ',lessees et pre sentes do pretendu Prince Leon VII. e'Armenie et de Korikos, qui n'etait entre chose qu'un Juif Hollastdius, s'appellant " Joseph Joannis." This tale is given according to the version of M. Steiber, Minister of Police. A few omissions, how- ever, have been made—viz., that a quantity of gold and notes was found in the desk of Leon Joseph, "~ ; $